Judge Melanie Greally adjourned the matter to next October, when she will set dates for the trials of 19 defendants, including Anti-Austerity Alliance TD Paul Murphy and Alliance Councillor Michael Murphy, who are accused of falsely imprisoning former Tánaiste Joan Burton. The charges stem from a water charges protest in Jobstown in November 2014, where it is alleged violence broke out, delaying Ms Burton for approximately two hours. At the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, the Director of Public Prosecutions proposed dealing with the accused via three separate trials, a structure the judge previously ruled was necessary to avoid placing unrealistic demands on jurors. Defence counsel, including David Staunton BL and Peadar Ó Maolain BL, argued that their clients would be disadvantaged in the third trial because prosecution witnesses would have already been cross-examined twice, removing the element of surprise. Prosecuting counsel Tony McGillicuddy BL stated that scheduling the trials would inevitably disadvantage some parties. Before hearing submissions, Judge Greally warned that anyone recording proceedings on mobile phones could be removed from the courtroom and found in contempt of court. Several defendants, including Paul Murphy, were absent as their attendance had been previously excused due to work commitments. The court also noted related proceedings before the Children's Court. The matter was adjourned, not concluded.
Anthony Fitzgerald, a 32‑year‑old former professional boxer from Gloucester Place, Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm after a confrontation with bus driver Toufik Slali on North Circular Road on 18 November 2014. The incident began when a Mini pulled out in front of Slali's bus without signalling, forcing the driver to brake hard and honk. Fitzgerald, who had been on the bus, shouted at Slali, accusing him of being a "foreign" and demanding he speak to him. When Slali did not respond, Fitzgerald allegedly struck him with an open hand, head‑butting him on the nose and then punching him. Slali suffered dizziness, blurred vision, headaches and a fractured nasal bone that required surgery. Fitzgerald denied head‑butting and punching but admitted striking with an open hand.
Sean Bird, 25, of Ard Mor Lawn, Fortunestown, Tallaght, Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to five years in prison for possession of drugs for sale or supply. The final three years of the sentence were suspended on strict conditions. Bird pleaded guilty to possessing €34,000 worth of heroin found at his home on December 18, 2014. He initially denied the charge but changed his plea to guilty on the second day of trial, after which he was remanded in custody pending sentence. Judge Patrick McCartan noted that Bird had no previous convictions and acknowledged evidence of mental health issues, citing his mother's testimony regarding prior psychiatric assistance. The judge praised Garda Fran Glennon for his police work in stopping Bird and removing the drugs from circulation. Despite offering leniency due to Bird's supportive family and good character, Judge McCartan emphasized the need to send a strong message against assisting drug trafficking. He expressed dismay that the Direction of Public Prosecution left the sentencing decision to the court, given Bird's late guilty plea. The judge also noted that while defense counsel submitted Bird only abused cannabis, reports indicated he had also taken heroin and cocaine. The matter was finalized with this sentence, reflecting the court's balance between leniency for a first-time offender and the severity of the offense.
Christopher Byrne, 29, of Coolock, was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended, for slashing the face of his ex‑girlfriend's 17‑year‑old brother in February 2015. Byrne pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and to possessing a stun gun without a certificate. The incident occurred at the ex‑girlfriend's apartment in Santry when Byrne, acting under a "cloud of anger" after their relationship ended, grabbed a knife from the kitchen sink and struck the boy across the nose and cheek, leaving him in a pool of blood. The boy required 16 stitches and reported being afraid to leave home for a month. Byrne had 28 prior convictions, including two for assault. He was described as remorseful, drug‑free, in a new relationship and training to become a fitness instructor. The judge characterised the assault as vicious, unprovoked and an act of rage, noting the victim's disfiguring laceration.
Paul Dempsey, 51, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment with the final year suspended after he was caught by Gardaí hiding a heroin‑filled football in a front garden. He had been caring for his son's maternal grandmother when Garda Stephen Byrne noticed him acting suspiciously and attempting to conceal a round object. A warrant was issued and within an hour the drugs were discovered. Dempsey pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of the drugs for sale or supply in Rathmines on 6 May 2015. He had previous convictions for road traffic offences and possession of drugs. Garda Eoin Hickey noted that a palm print on the package matched Dempsey's, but the court accepted that he was not the owner of the drugs. The judge acknowledged his past heroin addiction, recent gambling problems and positive steps taken to address his addictions, and imposed a four‑year sentence with the final year suspended on strict conditions.
Michael Hanney, 23, was sentenced to five years in prison for transporting a 9mm Makarov pistol, a silencer and three rounds of ammunition. He was caught in July 2015 after Gardaí noticed him driving out of a gated residential area in Ballymun. The pistol was found in the passenger footwell of his vehicle. Hanney pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Martin Nolan accepted that Hanney was transporting the weapon and noted that he "obviously knew it was going to be used to kill, injure or at least threaten someone." The judge also acknowledged good references showing Hanney's willingness to work and his contribution to his family and community, and suspended the final two years of the sentence on strict conditions. Daniel Kavanagh, 25, was also jailed for five years for possession of the weapon, ammunition and silencer. The case was prosecuted by Martina Baxter BL.
A man from Cabra West in Dublin has been sentenced to eight years imprisonment, with the final two years suspended, following his conviction for involvement in a cocaine importation scheme at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Michael Moore (62) of Killala Road pleaded guilty to possession of one kilogramme of cocaine discovered at Finglas on 4 September 2009. Gardaí intercepted thirteen packages addressed to a bogus engineering company at Dublin Airport; Moore and a co-accused were arrested while examining one such package at a UPS depot. During detention, Moore received threatening text messages demanding he answer his phone and warning he was "playing a dangerous game". He initially denied involvement but later admitted arranging for the package's collection, claiming he believed it contained cash rather than drugs. Moore told officers he had been provided a phone by associates in Spain and feared for his family's safety. He was released on High Court bail but subsequently absconded for six years before his arrest last May following his return to Ireland.
Glen Kiely, 29, of Ballymun, pleaded guilty to violent disorder at Balbutcher Lane on 27 November 2013. He was sentenced to three‑and‑a‑half years in prison with the final 12 months suspended by Judge Patricia Ryan on 19 October 2015. On appeal, the Court of Appeal increased the suspended period by 12 months, making the total suspended period 24 months. The three‑judge panel, led by Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan, found that the original judge had not given sufficient credit for Kiely's progress in overcoming addiction, securing employment at the Dogs Trust and completing a detoxification programme. Kiely must remain of good behaviour for two years after release; if he fails, he will be returned to prison for two years. He entered a good‑behaviour bond for the suspended period and agreed to abide by it.
Richard Molloy, 45, of Naas, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of equipment for producing counterfeit €20,000 in bills sold to an alleged IRA member, and was found to have prepared an additional €2 million. He was sentenced to six years' imprisonment by Judge Patricia Ryan on 6 November 2015. Molloy's counsel, Giollaíosa Ó Lideadha SC, has appealed, seeking a reduced sentence and a suspended portion, arguing that the judge did not consider Molloy's rehabilitation prospects, his alcohol‑related mental state, and his role as a caring father to a 12‑year‑old child. The Director of Public Prosecutions, Vincent Heneghan BL, noted that the counterfeit money was exchanged with "members of the IRA" and that a follow‑up search uncovered €189,000 in complete notes and an additional €2 million in preparation. Judge Garrett Sheehan, sitting with Justices Alan Mahon and John Edwards, said the Court of Appeal would decide next Thursday.
Dinah Loughlin, a 30‑year‑old GAA star from Kilbeggan, Westmeath, pleaded guilty to twenty counts of theft for stealing more than €28,000 from her employer, senior counsel Marguerite Bolger, over a five‑year period. While working as a legal secretary, Loughlin used Bolger's credit‑card and bank accounts to pay for transcription work and to make personal purchases, including online shopping at Asos, River Island, Amazon, and gift‑cards from an office‑supply site. She also withdrew cash from an ATM and bought CDs, DVDs, an iPod, and paid her motor tax through Bolger's account. After the thefts were discovered, Loughlin repaid the money with savings earmarked for a wedding and sold her car. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, hearing that Bolger had a "very benevolent view" of the offence, imposed a two‑year suspended sentence, suspended for two years, noting Loughlin's previous good character and repayment. The judge warned that she was "perilously close" to jail.
Tony Walsh, a former priest aged 62, was sentenced by Judge Elma Sheahan to seven and a half years' imprisonment for raping a boy three times, including once with a crucifix. The offences, committed between 1980 and 1982 when the maximum penalty was two years, were treated as indecent assault under the Criminal Law (Rape) Amendment 1990, which allows up to 14 years for sexual assault of a child under 17. Walsh pleaded not guilty to five counts of indecent assault but was found guilty on all counts. The judge imposed consecutive sentences: two years for the rape, 15 months for the remaining indecent assault charges, and an additional 15 months for the other two charges, with the total term reduced by one year for prior convictions. Walsh's sentence is back‑dated to his conviction last month, making him eligible for release in June 2023.
Evidence is still being presented in the trial of Eamon Shield, 45, who is accused of running a fake motor business to defraud 12 people out of €178,000. Prosecutor Shane Costelloe SC told the jury that Shield fabricated the business and that no legitimate operation existed. Shield, of Weston Meadows, has pleaded not guilty to 15 theft counts and 12 deception counts covering June 2011 to February 2012. On the fifth day, several alleged victims gave further testimony about meeting Shield and investing in his scheme. The trial continues before Judge Patricia Ryan and a jury.
John Byrne, aged 28, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for stealing a white Mercedes worth over €50,000 and driving it recklessly on the M3 motorway. The vehicle was taken from Charlemont estate near Griffith Avenue on 3 February 2015, and a Garda pursuit began shortly after. Byrne's car hit a roundabout at high speed, nearly flipped, then crashed through a stop sign and a fence before stopping in wasteland. He fled the scene, wading through a river, before being captured. The car was badly damaged and written off. Byrne pleaded guilty to using a car without the owner's consent and recklessly damaging it. He had six prior convictions, including drug misuse and property damage. The court found his actions "appalling" and "extraordinarily reckless," and sentenced him to three years' imprisonment, with the two counts running concurrently.
Patrick Davis Snr (51), of Marrowbone Lane flats, Dublin city, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for two charges of assault causing harm to Garda Kieran Byrne and Brian Dunphy on Thomas Street, Dublin, on February 9, 2014. Davis Snr pleaded guilty to both charges. Judge Patrick McCartan imposed a three-year jail sentence, noting that Davis Snr used considerable and determined violence against the garda, who suffered a fractured eye socket. The court heard that the attack on Garda Byrne occurred after the accused and his son, Patrick Davis Jnr, had earlier assaulted the Dunphy brothers. Davis Jnr, who was sentenced last November to a suspended term of two and a half years by Judge Martin Nolan, had initiated the confrontation. Defense counsel Emmet Nolan BL argued that Davis Snr acted out of misguided loyalty to his son and in a state of drunkenness. The accused, who has 14 previous convictions including for assault on a garda, offered €600 in compensation. The judge rejected mitigation, emphasizing the severity of the injuries and the repeated identification of the victim as a garda during the sustained assault.
Laura Pennick, 29, pleaded guilty to stealing €41,935 from her elderly neighbour Marie McNally between January 2010 and December 2012. Pennick had become McNally's "unofficial carer", collecting her pension and paying her bills, and had access to McNally's ATM cards and two bank accounts, including one holding an inheritance from her late mother's house. She withdrew amounts ranging from very small sums up to €600, spending the money on home improvements, fashion purchases, home furnishings, appliances and holidays. McNally discovered the loss, was extremely upset and her financial position became perilous. Pennick, who has 29 previous convictions including five thefts, claimed financial worries and expressed remorse, offering €3,900 to McNally. Judge Melanie Greally adjourned the case for a probation services report, noting the serious breach of trust, and the sentencing is scheduled for November 7.
Marcin Wojciechowicz, 34, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of child pornography on a mobile phone on June 2, 2015. The court heard that gardaí discovered over 16,000 images and 300 videos classified as child pornography on his USB stick, mobile phone, and laptop after he left a USB key in a co-worker's van. Among the material were 700 images at the highest level depicting sadism and cruelty to young children, including toddlers and infants. Wojciechowicz, who has been in custody since his arrest, told gardaí he was trying to catch paedophiles and downloaded the images by accident. Defence counsel Padraig Dwyer SC stated that Wojciechowicz accepted responsibility but maintained a long-term plan to hand the material to authorities. Dwyer noted that Wojciechowicz had a past diagnosis of schizophrenia, no previous convictions, and no evidence of commercial or distribution purposes. He added that the defendant was prepared to leave the country as part of any suspended sentence. Judge Melanie Greally adjourned the case to October 5th to allow time for consideration and for gardaí to ascertain the period over which the images were collected.
Patrick Brunell, 35, was jailed for five years after Gardaí seized €2.5 million worth of drugs and a large weapons cache at his father's transport company in Tallaght. He handed over 29 kg of cocaine, 6.4 kg of heroin, a Czech CZ rifle with silencer, a Beretta shotgun, a Yugoslavian AK‑47 style assault rifle and a German Sauer rifle with telescopic sight, plus 105 rounds of ammunition. Brunell, who had held the items for two weeks, claimed he was paid €1,500‑€2,000 and that he had no choice. He pleaded guilty to possession of the drugs and weapons. Judge Patrick McCartan, citing the seriousness of the weapons but noting Brunell was not the dealer, imposed a seven‑year sentence with the final two years suspended. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The article reports no further legal developments.
Joseph O'Neill, 41, of Ballyfermot, was sentenced to seven years in prison for possessing €1.4 million worth of heroin concealed in two fire extinguishers. He pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply on 19 August last year. O'Neill had been in Cloverhill Prison for nine months when he became chairman of the jail's Red Cross organisation and worked on a programme to reduce prison violence. He had given media interviews and spoke at an international conference in Dublin Castle, where he was one of four Irish prisoners invited and was not restrained. The judge noted his transformation and imposed a seven‑year sentence, suspending the final three years on strict conditions, backdating it to the date he entered custody. O'Neill apologized, said he was a chronic cocaine addict, and expressed remorse for the potential harm caused by the drugs. The operation was described as sophisticated, with the heroin hidden in hollowed fire extinguishers.
Paul Smith, 49, of Ballyfermot, Dublin, and Stephen Smith, 41, of Dundalk, Co. Louth, were acquitted at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of assaulting Jenny Lynch causing her harm on March 7, 2015. Both men had pleaded not guilty to the charge. The jury, comprising four women and eight men, returned its verdict after 25 minutes of deliberation on the third day of the trial. Judge Martin Nolan discharged both defendants from the indictment. During the proceedings, the accused testified that their brother, Andrew Smith, was solely responsible for the attack. Andrew Smith, who had previously pleaded guilty to assaulting Ms. Lynch and was sentenced to two and a half years in prison, gave evidence that he struck the victim twice in the head while his brothers did not. He stated that Stephen Smith was on crutches at the time due to a recent shooting. Ms. Lynch, who alleged all three brothers assaulted her, described injuries including a busted nose and stitches to her lip. Defence counsel suggested to the jury that Ms. Lynch's accusations were motivated by a belief that the Smiths were responsible for the death of her son, Eddie Lynch, although neither Paul nor Stephen Smith has ever been charged with that killing. Paul Smith testified that he attempted to restrain Andrew Smith, while Stephen Smith stated he would never harm the mother of his best friend. The court concluded the matter with the acquittal of the two defendants.
During a trial at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, a witness named Mark Hilliard testified that he had met Eamon Shield, a 45‑year‑old accused of running a fraudulent motor business, after responding to a newspaper advert seeking investors. Shield allegedly promised to buy repossessed cars from banks at low prices and sell them at a profit. Hilliard agreed to invest €20,000, signing a contract that the money would be repaid in full after 60 days. He claimed to have made repeated attempts to meet Shield to view the motor stock, but no cars were ever shown, and the list provided did not include registration numbers. Hilliard said he had not received any repayment after two months and felt he had been duped. The trial, presided over by Judge Patricia Ryan, continues with a jury. Eamon Shield pleaded not guilty.
A 23‑year‑old man, Jordan Cunningham, was sentenced to six and a half years' imprisonment for a series of robberies committed while on bail. He pleaded guilty to burglary at Event Fuel (July 19 2015), robbery at Tuttys corner shop and South Circular Pharmacy, attempted robbery at Cahills Pharmacy (July 22 2015), and robbery at Ladbrookes (October 22 2015). In each offence he used knives or a broken bottle to threaten staff and demanded money. Cunningham was released on bail for the burglary and later on high‑court bail to attend drug treatment, yet he continued to commit offences to repay drug debts. The judge noted his long‑standing drug addiction and the escalation of violence he was willing to use. Consecutive sentences totalling six and a half years were imposed, with the final year suspended. The court highlighted Cunningham's admissions, apologies and progress in rehabilitation courses while in custody.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 14 July 2016, an elderly woman, Jenny Lynch, denied that she had wrongly accused her neighbours, Paul Smith (49) and Stephen Smith (41), of assaulting her. Lynch, who is in her eighties, claimed that both men had attacked her and that she had believed they were responsible for the death of her son, Eddie, who died of a ruptured spleen after being struck by a car. She rejected the defence's suggestion that she had misinterpreted Andrew Smith's assault as an opportunity to target Paul and Stephen. Lynch also denied that she had sent a mass card to the Smiths or that she had asked Paul to intervene for her son. The Smiths pleaded not guilty to the assault charge. The hearing focused on Lynch's allegations and the defendants' denials, with no verdict reached in the article.
Michael Brennan, 29, with a prior conviction for attempted murder, was seen by Gardaí chasing a group while armed with two knives. He pursued the group to a parked car, attempting to open or stab it, before Gardaí ordered him to drop the knives. Brennan, from Almayne Park South, Balgriffin, had previously pleaded guilty to knife possession in January 2016 and had 67 prior convictions, including attempted murder, intimidation of a witness and threats to kill. He was released in May 2015 after a ten‑year sentence for the 2007 attempted murder. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard the incident stemmed from a family dispute and that Brennan was relapsing into drug addiction. Judge Melanie Greally remanded him in custody until 11 October, noting his high risk of re‑offending and concern over his capacity for extreme violence. The court considered a probation report that was positive but highlighted the need for support structures to prevent future offending.
A Dublin man has been convicted of harassing a garda sergeant through approximately 50 online posts and harassing phone calls over a two-year period. Sean Carraher, aged 55, was found guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of harassing Sergeant Conor Gilmartin between March 2009 and May 2011. The posts, made on legal profession websites, included allegations that the sergeant had withheld evidence and claims regarding his personal conduct. Carraher had pleaded not guilty but was convicted by jury following deliberation. He claimed the posts constituted protected freedom of expression and that he was acting as a whistleblower exposing alleged garda corruption. The court heard no findings of wrongdoing have been established against Sergeant Gilmartin. Following conviction, Carraher was remanded in custody despite the prosecution not objecting to bail. He is due for sentencing on 27 July, when a victim impact report from Sergeant Gilmartin will be presented to the court.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 13 July 2016, two men, Paul Smith (49) of Oranmore Road, Ballyfermot, and Stephen Smith (41) of Gate Lodge, Dundalk, Co. Louth, pleaded not guilty to assaulting an elderly woman, Jenny Lynch, on 7 March 2015 in Ballyfermot. Lynch testified that she was attacked while walking home from mass, describing severe injuries: blood from her nose and mouth, a busted nose, two black eyes, a lump on the side of her head, a sore shoulder, and the need for stitches to her lip. She claimed the attackers pushed, thumped, and dug her, and identified the Smiths as the assailants. Lynch also mentioned that Andrew Smith, the accused's brother, had previously pleaded guilty to assault in another court. The trial focused on Lynch's account of the assault and the defendants' denial of guilt. No verdict or sentencing was reported in the article.
Padraig Murphy, 30, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended, for assault causing harm to Tracey Pavone, 39, in the Cottage Inn pub, Bluebell Avenue, Dublin. The offence occurred on 8 June 2014 when Murphy, who was out on bail for a separate assault, grabbed Pavone by the neck, dragged her out of the pub, and called her a "whore". A woman with Murphy punched and kicked Pavone. CCTV captured the incident. Pavone suffered bleeding, bruising and tenderness, and later reported panic attacks, recurring nightmares and confidence difficulties. Murphy had previously been jailed for 18 months for another assault and was released in May of the same year. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Melanie Greally noted his history of violent convictions and the seriousness of the offence, sentencing him to three years' imprisonment with the final 18 months suspended.
In the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, a jury deliberating the case of Sean Carraher, 55, was sent home overnight after declaring a deadlock. Carraher, of Stradbrook Hill, Blackrock, has pleaded not guilty to harassing Garda Sergeant Conor Gilmartin between March 2009 and May 2011. He is accused of posting around 50 messages on Rate‑Your‑Solicitor and Victims of the Legal Profession, alleging that the sergeant withheld evidence in a prior case, and of making harassing phone calls. At his arrest, Carraher claimed to be a whistle‑blower exposing Garda corruption via the internet.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 13 July 2016, Shane Byrne, aged 28, pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm in his home between 1 and 7 March 2012. Gardaí, acting on a search warrant, entered a house in Castleknock that Byrne shared with his older brother, Michael. Byrne led officers to his bedroom where a shotgun was found tucked under an armchair. A second shotgun and a quantity of drugs were also seized. Byrne claimed the gun had been left there by his brother and that he had no involvement in the illegal items. The court noted that Byrne had no prior convictions. Judge Melanie Greally ruled that the shotgun was not Byrne's property, attributing responsibility to his brother. She imposed a three‑year sentence, suspended in its entirety, and highlighted the harm firearms pose to society.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 13 July 2016, a 27‑year‑old man named Mark Davis, who has 207 prior convictions, was found guilty of two counts of dangerous driving. The offence involved a ten‑minute high‑speed pursuit through Tallaght on 27 March 2015, during which Davis drove between 80 and 100 km/h in a 50 km/h zone, repeatedly crossed to the wrong side of the road, broke several red lights and nearly collided with a Luas tram. Garda David Jennings recounted that the pursuit was halted after ten minutes because it was too dangerous, citing heavy traffic and children playing on the roads. Davis was arrested after presenting himself at a garda station. The judge, Melanie Greally, described the incident as "terrifying" for the many road users exposed to danger and adjourned sentencing to 10 November 2016.
Sean Carraher, 55, stands trial in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for harassing Sgt Conor Gilmartin between March 2009 and May 2011. The State alleges Carraher posted about 50 messages on Rate‑Your‑Solicitor and Victims of the Legal Profession, accusing the sergeant of withholding evidence in a prior case and of other misconduct, and made harassing phone calls. Carraher claims he was a whistle‑blower exposing garda corruption and that the internet was his only means to retaliate against alleged conspiracies. He admitted making four phone calls, arguing they were a response to the sergeant's repeated hang‑ups. Carraher also admitted posting unverified claims about the sergeant's personal life, stating he did so because he heard them. The prosecution maintains that regardless of any alleged corruption, the repetitive nature of the calls and posts constitutes harassment. The jury will deliberate after a judge's address. Sean Carraher pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, two Kerry men testified that Eamon Shield, 45, had promised them a 100% return on their investments within 60 days by flipping repossessed cars at a significant markup. The prosecution, led by Shane Costelloe SC, described Shield's scheme as a pyramid scheme, arguing that he merely attracted new investors to pay off earlier ones. Shield, who pleaded not guilty to 15 theft counts and 12 deception counts, allegedly stole €178,000 from 12 people between June 2011 and February 2012. The trial, which began on Monday, was delayed due to a juror issue and will continue before Judge Patricia Ryan and a new jury. The case is expected to run for two weeks. The defendants, David O'Grady and Malcolm Griffin, each invested €3,000, received only partial payments, and later complained to Gardaí in Listowel. The court has not yet delivered a verdict.
In the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Adebowale Okunade, 41, pleaded guilty to possessing the proceeds of crime and to four counts of dishonestly appropriating money from Dunboyne Credit Union and Waterford Credit Union between 14 November and 19 December 2014, as well as to using an electricity bill in another name to open a Ballyfermot Credit Union account on 15 December 2014. Okunade admitted that he had transferred €27,127 from a Bank of Ireland account into his own account in September 2014, and that the money originally came from a Mexican woman's brokerage account, which had been stolen. He exploited a "glitch" in the credit union system, using compromised credit cards to lodge and withdraw money, resulting in a total loss of €13,950 to the credit unions. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to three years' imprisonment for possessing the proceeds of crime, suspending the final 12 months of the term.
John O'Rourke, 18, pleaded guilty to robbery of Chinese man Fen Ling Wang on Liffey Street on 10 July 2015. The attack involved seven teenagers who assaulted Wang, delivering kicks and blows that left him unconscious. The gang robbed his phone and shoes before abandoning him. Gardaí monitored the assault live via CCTV and interviewed the attackers after a six‑hour delay. O'Rourke was sentenced by Judge Melanie Greally to a three‑year suspended term, with conditions of good behaviour, probation supervision and participation in drug, alcohol and anger‑awareness programmes. The court noted his difficult childhood and positive steps taken in his life. Other members of the group received separate sentences, including a ten‑month term for one male and a five‑month term for a 14‑year‑old girl. The case highlighted the violent nature of the assault and the victim's significant injuries and medical costs.
A 15‑year‑old was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after he threw black paint at a 16‑year‑old on a crowded Luas tram. CCTV captured the assault, and the victim had previously reported a violent attack by the boy and a group of local youths a month earlier. The teenager, who had one prior conviction and 33 subsequent offences including violent disorder, robbery, dangerous driving and car theft, was not complying with bail conditions such as a curfew. He is currently serving a sentence in a detention centre and is due for release next October. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a three‑year detention sentence, deferring its imposition until 25 November, and allowed the boy to be released on bail pending review of his behaviour. The judge set strict bail conditions, including a curfew and restrictions on contact with certain youths in Tallaght. The unnamed 15-year-old pleaded guilty.
A retired consultant surgeon, Dr Michael Shine, aged 83, faces trial in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for eight charges of indecent assault against six victims, with incidents dating from November 1964 to June 1991. Judge Melanie Greally set the trial for 2 October 2017, following a pre‑trial hearing on 7 July 2017. Shine remains remanded on continuing bail, and the trial is expected to last two weeks.
Anne Fennell, 57, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to sending obscene phone messages to Aras an Uachtarain, the Department of Finance, the European Commission Representation, An Post Dublin Mail Centre and the constituency offices of TDs Alan Kelly, Aodhan O Riordain and Noel Coonan between 2 February and 1 December 2014, and to harassing Fr Desmond Byrne at his home in Clondalkin between September and October 2006. She also admitted to making persistent annoying phone calls and sending obscene or menacing messages to the president's office and to the European Commission. Fennell had no prior convictions. Judge Melanie Greally heard evidence of a campaign of harassment, including threats to bomb the president and repeated nuisance calls to the priest, and noted that Fennell had made significant improvements to her living conditions since January. The case was adjourned to next November with an updated probation and psychological report required.
Jonathan Cheung, 52, a former Chinese restaurateur, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to filing incorrect VAT and P35 returns for 2007‑2009. He owed €156,930 in VAT and €179,584 in PAYE/PRSI liabilities. Cheung had a "secret" red ledger in Cantonese that recorded actual sales, which differed from the figures reported to Revenue, leading to substantial under‑declaration. Revenue's investigation began in 2011, revealing total tax due of €336,514 at liquidation. The High Court ordered Cheung and a co‑accused personally liable for €1.9 million of company debts and barred them from directorship for seven years. Cheung cooperated fully, made restitution, and provided an apology letter. Judge Karen O'Connor imposed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence, suspended in full on the condition of continued restitution.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, Eamon Shield, aged 45, faced 15 theft counts and 12 deception counts for allegedly running a pyramid scheme that claimed to double investors' money by selling repossessed cars. Shield, from Lucan, was accused of soliciting €178,000 from 12 people, promising a two‑month profit, but no cars existed and no business was carried out. Prosecutor Shane Costelloe argued that Shield took money from one investor and redistributed it to others, offering a partial repayment of €55,000 while the remaining investors received nothing. Shield pleaded not guilty. The trial, set to continue before Judge Patricia Ryan and a jury, was expected to last two weeks. The case highlighted Shield's alleged deception and the absence of any legitimate vehicle sales.
In the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Catherine Murphy sentenced 20‑year‑old Buti Sashi to nine months' imprisonment for robbing a taxi driver on 23 August 2014. Sashi, a former Blackrock College rugby player, beat the driver, stole his iPhone, SatNav and €220, and left his passport, mobile phone and a necklace in the taxi before reporting the passport lost at a Garda station. He pleaded guilty to the robbery, failed to attend probation and restorative justice conferences, and tested positive for cocaine and speed. Sashi had not completed a Rathmines College course or an anger‑awareness course, and his employer reference was deemed unsatisfactory. He apologized to the court, calling himself an "idiot" for taking drugs, and Judge Murphy urged him to use his custodial time constructively. The sentence reflects the court's view that Sashi had been given many opportunities to improve his situation.
Anthony Connors, 40, pleaded guilty to burglary at the Daughter's of Charity Community Services in Dublin on 13 October 2015. He had been released from an eleven‑year sentence in September 2015 after a 2009 conviction for burglary, false imprisonment, robbery and handling stolen property. Connors had 47 prior convictions and had relapsed into drug use after release. Garda Aidan Noonan reported that an employee found a missing laptop, CCTV identified Connors acting suspiciously, and he was arrested the next day. Judge Karen O'Connor, after hearing evidence in May, noted his long history of custody and chronic drug addiction, but that he was now methadone‑free. She imposed a one‑year sentence, suspended it in full, and warned that failure to seek help would lead to more prison time. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Patrick Moran, a 40‑year‑old financial controller from Knocklyon, was jailed for stealing €281,000 from Deutsche Bank by using his company credit card without authorisation, falsifying documents and submitting false records to AIB to raise the card limit. He pleaded guilty to charges of stealing cash, falsifying documents and using a false instrument between November 2011 and January 2013. In July 2015 he received a three‑year prison sentence from Judge Martin Nolan. On appeal, Justice Alan Mahon re‑sentenced him to three years imprisonment with the final 12 months suspended, citing his first‑time offender status, lack of prior convictions, and evidence of rehabilitation. Moran admitted the fraud, diverted funds to a PayPal account and ultimately to his own account, causing a loss of about €281,000. The Court of Appeal also required him to enter a good‑behaviour bond. The civil judgment and costs remain against him.
Sean Carraher, aged 55, is on trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for harassing Sergeant Conor Gilmartin by posting about 50 messages on Rate-Your-Solicitor and Victims of the Legal Profession, alleging that Gilmartin had withheld evidence in a prior case. He is also accused of making between ten and twenty calls to the sergeant. Carraher claims he was being harassed by Gardaí who subjected him to unwarranted arrests and that he was a whistle‑blower exposing Garda corruption. On the third day of his trial, Garda Rosemary Clancy told defence counsel that she had arrested Carraher at least five times over allegations that he had harassed his wife and breached court orders, and that he had been convicted six times in relation to these allegations, five of which were later overturned on appeal. Clancy also confirmed that she called Carraher on 24 December 2008 to inform him of his next court appearance, a call Carraher denies was harassment. Sean Carraher pleaded not guilty.
A 31‑year‑old Romanian man, Ovidiu Raducanu, pleaded guilty to burglary at Mountjoy Square on 6 September 2013. He had pretended to sell DJ equipment for €2,500 to lure a victim, who later discovered that the equipment was not present. Raducanu met the victim outside his home, called the victim to let him into the apartment, and then left. Two other men entered the apartment, held the victim hostage, and stole the €2,500. The victim was tied up, punched, and threatened with a knife but eventually freed himself and called the Gardaí. Raducanu admitted he had set up the victim, denied the offence initially, and claimed he had been threatened by the men. He brought €2,500 to court as a "practical expression of remorse." Judge Patricia Ryan adjourned sentencing to October to allow a probation report to be prepared. The case is pending sentencing.
In July 2016 a teenager, Ciara Maguire, 18, was forced to jump from a moving car onto a busy Dublin road when her father's car was stolen from a petrol station. Sean Dowdall, 22, had taken the vehicle after the driver, Susan Maguire, entered the shop to pay for fuel. He saw Ciara in the back seat and drove off, refusing to exit the car. The incident caused Ciara to suffer cuts, bruises and ongoing nightmares. Dowdall, who was on a "binge" and disqualified from driving, pleaded guilty to false imprisonment and car theft. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court sentenced him to two and a half years for the theft and false imprisonment, warning that further offences would lead to longer sentences. He had 55 previous convictions and admitted the car was taken to sell for debt repayment. The case highlighted the danger of vehicle theft and the impact on the victim.
In a Luas robbery on 14 August 2012, 42‑year‑old Suzanne McGowan and 37‑year‑old David Larkin robbed Izabela Portyka, taking her handbag. McGowan spat at Portyka and Larkin punched her several times before the pair fled. The incident involved verbal abuse, a threat to grab the bag, and Larkin's assault, including a punch to the head and pushing Portyka's head into a steel column. Portyka suffered neck and head injuries, later treated in hospital, and now experiences migraines and psychological issues. Both defendants pleaded guilty. Larkin, with 30 prior convictions, received a four‑year sentence with the final two years suspended. McGowan, with 24 prior convictions, was given a two‑year suspended sentence, suspended in full for three years. The court noted the offence was "out of character" for McGowan, a mother of two, and that she had not appeared for a prior probation report, leading to a bench warrant and remand until sentencing.
A man charged with harassing a garda sergeant considers himself a whistleblower exposing police corruption, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard. Sean Carraher, aged 55, of Stradbrook Hill, Blackrock, Dublin, has pleaded not guilty to harassing Garda Sergeant Conor Gilmartin between March 2009 and May 2011. The prosecution alleges Mr Carraher posted approximately 50 messages on websites including Rate-Your-Solicitor and Victims of the Legal Profession, accusing Sergeant Gilmartin of corruption and evidence tampering. He is also accused of making between ten and twenty calls to the sergeant. The defendant claims the contact followed a complaint he made to the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission regarding alleged assaults on his sons. No findings of wrongdoing have been established against Sergeant Gilmartin. Mr Carraher stated he was exercising freedom of expression rights and invoked comparison with the McBrearty family case in Donegal. The trial continues before Judge Patrick McCartan and a jury.
John McCarthy, 28, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm at Jervis Street on 23 August 2013. He had 22 prior convictions. Judge Melanie Greally noted his limited involvement and lack of recent Garda attention, imposed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence suspended in full, and ordered 240 hours of community service. McCarthy was arrested at the scene after punching the delivery driver once; other men also punched the driver. A positive probation report preceded the court. One other participant in the assault has died and charges were dropped against another accused.
Gavan Murphy, a 31‑year‑old horticulture student from St Aidan's Park, Marino, Dublin, pleaded guilty to cultivating cannabis plants on 12 August 2015. Gardai, acting on a tip, searched his house and discovered a garage converted into a grow‑house equipped with grow tents, a heating system and tin foil. The garage contained twelve mature plants and 33 smaller ones, plus three jars of buds and seeds in the bedroom. The estimated street value of the 55 plants was €44,000. Murphy claimed he grew the plants for personal use to avoid buying from a dealer and that half would die within a week. He had no prior convictions. Judge Melanie Greally suspended a three‑year sentence on the condition that he remain drug‑free, noting his steps to address cannabis dependency.
A harassment charge against a garda from Bundoran, County Donegal has been withdrawn at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Garda Donal Maguire, aged 40, had previously been found not guilty by reason of insanity on two counts of harassment following a trial last month. The jury returned that verdict after hearing evidence that he had sent a Valentine's card, emails and a social media friend request to a married female sergeant despite being instructed by superiors to cease contact. Mr Maguire, who suffers from early onset dementia, was committed to the Central Mental Hospital following the trial. The Director of Public Prosecutions entered a nolle prosequi on the additional harassment charge, relating to conduct between February and March 2014, resulting in its withdrawal.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 30 April 2014, Michael Hanrahan, aged 35, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after slashing Martin Wall with a Stanley blade on Henry Street. The attack left Wall with a permanent disfiguring scar requiring 43 stitches to his head, nose, lip and face. Hanrahan, who lives on Mac Uilliam Parade, Tallaght, had 68 prior convictions for road traffic offences, assault, burglary, criminal damage and assaulting a Garda. Judge Martin Nolan described the injuries as a "very apparent disfiguring scar" that would have a long‑term effect and said the attack was one that Wall "certainly didn't deserve." Hanrahan was sentenced to three years and nine months' imprisonment. The case was prosecuted by Elva Duffy BL, with Garda Nicola Connolly reporting that she responded to the incident at 4 pm and that CCTV footage identified Hanrahan, who was arrested the following November.