In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Carol Sanders, aged 50, pleaded guilty to producing a weapon likely to intimidate her mother, Mary Sanders, after a jealous attack on 24 November 2015. Sanders, an alcoholic with a personality disorder, held a carving knife to her mother's throat and later to her chest, saying "You have to die," after learning her sister and uncle were returning from Canada. She also kicked her mother, tried to choke her, and threw a dinner plate in rage. The court considered two other charges of producing a weapon and an assault. Mary Sanders escaped, alerted Gardaí, and obtained a barring order. Sanders spent two months in the Dóchas Centre, now lives in supervised accommodation, and has increased medication and abstained from alcohol. The case was adjourned for sentencing to 24 October.
Brian Reilly, 20, of Boyne View, Navan, was convicted of reckless endangerment and theft of a vehicle after he stole a post van and drove over a postman's foot on 22 August 2013. In March 2015 Judge Patrick McCartan imposed consecutive sentences of five years for the endangerment and four years for the theft, suspending the last three years to deter re‑offending. Reilly appealed, and on 5 July 2016 the Court of Appeal, led by Justice Garrett Sheehan, found that the judge had not identified a headline offence and had not explained why a consecutive sentence was necessary. The appeal court also could not determine how mitigation and Reilly's guilty plea had been considered. Reilly's sentence was reduced to six years, with the final eighteen months suspended for the endangerment and three years for the theft, the sentences running concurrently and back‑dated to 11 September 2014.
Joseph O'Neill, 41, pleaded guilty to possessing €1.4 million worth of heroin with intent to supply. He was caught with 10 kg of heroin concealed in two fire extinguishers. While in Cloverhill Prison, O'Neill became chairman of the jail's Red Cross organisation and worked on a programme to reduce prison violence. He gave a speech at an international conference in Dublin Castle and was left standing on Dame Street for an hour before guards escorted him back to prison. O'Neill apologised to gardaí, admitted he was a chronic cocaine addict and had been motivated by debt after losing his truck‑driver job. He asked the court to consider suspending part of any sentence imposed. He will be sentenced on 15 July.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Judge Patrick McCartan sentenced 43‑year‑old Robert Kealy to five years' imprisonment, suspending the final year on probation, after Kealy pleaded guilty to possession of heroin for sale or supply. Kealy was arrested following a Garda stop outside The Barge Pub, where he was found with heroin worth €7,598. A subsequent search of his home uncovered weighing scales and drug‑dealing "tick lists". The judge said the sentence was intended to remove one more dealer from the streets, noting Kealy was selling drugs to support his own habit despite medical warnings of possible amputations. Kealy's record includes 42 prior convictions for drug dealing, assault, theft, burglary and criminal damage. His defence counsel, Sarah‑Jane Callaghan, described him as a chronic drug user who was deeply sorry for the harm he caused. Garda Paddy Farrell confirmed Kealy's role as a trusted distributor within the local drug‑using community.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 5 July 2016, Thomas Wall, aged 29, pleaded guilty to attempted burglary at a foreign student's apartment on High Street. Wall claimed he had missed his daughter's First Communion because he was "locked up" and was trying to obtain money to give her after the event. He also said he had recently lost his mother and wanted money to put a picture on her gravestone. The apartment was occupied by a Venezuelan woman studying English; she woke to a noise, saw Wall on the balcony attempting to open the window, screamed, and called for help. Gardaí arrested Wall outside the balcony. He was remanded in custody until 24 October, when his sentence would be finalised. Wall, a heroin user, has 74 prior convictions, including 15 for burglary, and has been making progress in addressing his addiction.
In a case heard by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Sergejs Sluncevs, aged 37, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm after his Audi A4 collided head‑on with a taxi on Dublin Road, Celbridge, on 21 December 2012. Sluncevs had been heavily intoxicated after a Christmas party and, after leaving his keys in his car, decided to drive home. Witnesses described the taxi driver seeing the car approach with full beams, the vehicle swerving onto the taxi's side and crashing. The taxi driver's leg was trapped inside the car; he was rescued by bystanders and later treated for injuries to his leg, arms, ribs and chest. Within thirty seconds of the taxi being pulled from the vehicle, the car caught fire. Sluncevs' defence argued the incident was a "life‑changing mistake" and that he was remorseful, requesting the court consider alternatives to custodial sentencing.
James Casey, aged 25, was severely beaten in a Tallaght halting site clash on 20 September 2015. He did not report the assault to the gardai but later armed himself with a slash hook and was charged with possession of an article with intent to cause injury or intimidate others. In Dublin Circuit Criminal Court he pleaded guilty. Judge Melanie Greally suspended a two‑year prison sentence for four years, citing Casey's role as a peace maker who had since helped calm disputes and moved away from the site. Sarah‑Jane Callaghan BL defended Casey, noting his fear for his life and the attack on his home. The case also referenced Casey's three prior convictions for public order offences and possession of stolen goods. The court's decision was based on his demonstrated change in behaviour and efforts to maintain peace.
John O'Dowd, 42, was jailed for one year after admitting to the gardai that he had relapsed into viewing child pornography. He had previously received a nine‑month suspended sentence in the UK in 2003 and was on the sex offenders register, which led to monitoring by the Irish gardai when he moved to Ireland. On 4 September 2010 he pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of child pornography at his home. Seventeen‑hundred images were seized, most at the lowest level of categorisation, with 39 files at level four depicting penetrative sex between children and adults. Judge Melanie Greally imposed an 18‑month sentence, suspending the final six months on strict conditions, including full participation in therapy. O'Dowd had completed a treatment programme at the Grenada Institute and was currently unemployed but seeking work.
The trial of former Anglo Irish Bank chairman Sean Fitzpatrick is scheduled to begin in September at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Fitzpatrick, 66, of Greystones, Co Wicklow, has pleaded not guilty to 27 alleged offences under the 1990 Companies Act. These charges include 21 counts of making misleading, false, or deceptive statements to auditors and six counts of furnishing false information between 2002 and 2007. Judge John Aylmer set September 21 for the swearing-in of a specially enlarged jury of 15 members. The court noted that jury swearing will occupy a full day, followed by two days of legal issues to be addressed in the jury's absence. Evidence is expected to commence on Monday, September 26. The trial is estimated to last twelve weeks. The matter is currently at the trial stage, with the proceedings formally set for the upcoming month.
An Ecuadorian man, Angel Felix Garcia, aged 30, was jailed for nine months after attempting to smuggle cannabis into Ireland to fund an eye operation for his daughter. Garcia was arrested at Dublin Airport on 5 February 2016 after a customs officer searched him and found 150 cannabis pellets weighing 1.5 kg, valued at under €9,000. He admitted swallowing the pellets and had purchased €2,500 worth of drugs with savings, hoping to sell them for €6,000 to cover the €5,500 operation. Garcia explained that the 2016 Ecuador earthquake had destroyed his family's home, placing his two daughters and former partner on the missing persons list. He pleaded guilty, showing "uncommon candour," and received an 18‑month sentence with the final nine months suspended, back‑dated to his arrest. The judge noted his early guilty plea and his willingness to search for his family.
Haulier John Needham, 31, was sentenced to eight years in prison at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to possession of cannabis and supplying a prescription-only medicinal product otherwise than in accordance with marketing authorisation. The offences occurred in July 2015 at a location in Finglas. Gardaí recovered 100 kilograms of cannabis resin valued at €580,000 and 400,000 Zopiclone tablets valued at €800,000 from a truck Needham was unloading. He admitted to being paid €500 to transport the goods, believing they were only tablets. Judge Melanie Greally noted that Needham had previously received a three-year sentence in France for a similar cannabis offence, with the final 18 months suspended. Despite mitigation that he was "easily led" and acting to help his financially troubled father, the Judge stated it was inconceivable he would repeat the offence for such a small reward. She found he had learned little from his prior incarceration and played a crucial role in bringing significant drugs into the country. The eight-year sentence was imposed as the final disposal for these admitted charges.
John Findi, 38, of Rathkeele in Clondalkin, Dublin, pleaded guilty to four charges of stealing from various people between 25 July and 1 September 2015. He admitted using a specially adapted clothes hanger to fish letters out of post‑boxes minutes after delivery, retrieving a credit/debit card from one box and hoping to obtain the PIN to withdraw money. Findi claimed he was unemployed, living in the same accommodation for 19 years, and that a friend had shown him how to do it. Gardaí found a BMW parked nearby, a woman's card, a driving licence, saving certificates, cheques and a bank statement in his home. He denied following the postman and said he had come to the complex at random. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a three‑year sentence, suspended in full for three years, noting that none of the victims suffered a financial loss. The case was prosecuted by Paul Carroll BL and defended by Aoife O'Leary BL.
Mark Donohoe, a 40-year-old man from Navan, Co Meath, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for an assault that occurred on September 2, 2013, at Eurospar, Hartstown Shopping Centre. The defendant pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, specifically on the basis that his actions were excessive, a plea accepted by the prosecution as excessive self-defence. The court heard that the incident began when the victim, Alan McIllroy, head-butted Donohoe following a dispute over personal space in a queue. Donohoe subsequently used a knife to attack McIllroy, who suffered severe facial injuries, including a wound from his ear canal to his cheek. Judge Patricia Ryan found that while Donohoe acted in self-defence, he used force beyond what was required. The judge suspended a two-year prison sentence on the condition that Donohoe keeps the peace and is of good behaviour for that period. Additionally, the court ordered that €4,000, offered by Donohoe in remorse, be paid to the victim. In mitigation, the judge noted Donohoe's unblemished record, excellent educational and working history, volunteer engagement, and his unequivocal state of being under attack.
Darren McKevitt, 26, of Walkinstown, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to arson of a car, dangerous driving, driving under the influence, driving without insurance, three counts of assault, possession of a stolen Toyota Avensis, a PSV certificate, an Irish driving licence and insurance certificate, and unlawful possession of a stun gun. The offences occurred between October and November 2014, including a bonfire incident on Halloween where he drove a car into a bonfire, jumped out, and assaulted three gardaí on Durrow Road, Crumlin. Blood tests showed he was five times over the alcohol limit. Judge Patricia Ryan imposed a five‑year sentence, back‑dated to November 2014, with the balance suspended, and ordered continued work with probation officers, drug rehabilitation and employment training. The court noted McKevitt had nine previous convictions, including drug possession for sale or supply. The case was prosecuted by Monika Leech BL and defended by Libby Charlton BL.
During a funeral in Dublin, Liam O'Connell, aged 26, attacked Seamus Mooney, 58, after attempting to kick one of Mooney's dogs. O'Connell punched Mooney between six and ten times while Mooney lay on the ground, and also kicked the dog. Mooney defended himself with a walking stick, which he carried after a recent hip replacement. O'Connell pleaded guilty to assault causing harm at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Witnesses observed the assault, and a passing motorist stopped the attack before O'Connell and his family left in a taxi. Gardaí later identified O'Connell and arrested him. Mooney was taken to hospital for swelling, bleeding, cuts and facial numbness. O'Connell was sentenced to 14 months' imprisonment, with no compensation or community service imposed. The case highlighted O'Connell's 16 prior convictions, including violent disorder. The judge noted his drunken state and mourning as mitigating factors but still imposed the jail term.
Professional boxer Jamie Kavanagh, aged 26 and now based in the UK, has a new trial date set for 14 June 2017 for a violent disorder charge. The alleged incident took place at Harcourt Street on 23 September 2014. The trial, originally scheduled to start the following week at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, was adjourned by consent because a witness was ill. Judge Melanie Greally instructed the defence to inform Kavanagh of the new date, and the trial is expected to last two to three days.
Sean McKevitt, aged 30, received a three‑year suspended sentence after pleading guilty to assaulting tourist Zoe Jackson in Temple Bar Square on 6 May 2013. McKevitt, who was homeless and on a methadone maintenance programme at the time, had been in a group listening to buskers when Jackson's boyfriend refused him a cigarette. McKevitt allegedly aimed a punch at the boyfriend, who moved, but the blow struck Jackson, fracturing her right eye socket and causing a laceration. She was hospitalized for five days and suffered temporary double vision. McKevitt had 117 prior convictions, mainly for public‑order offences. Judge Patricia Ryan, after hearing evidence of his recent housing and drug‑treatment progress, imposed the suspended sentence. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
In a case heard at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Tautvydas Tamulis, aged 30, pleaded guilty to assaulting Garda Patrick O'Rourke in Finglas on 30 June 2015. Tamulis had consumed a bottle and a half of spirits before the incident and his recollection of the events was described as "sketchy at best." He had previously been convicted 25 times in district courts, including for dangerous driving that caused serious harm. The court adjourned sentencing to 20 October to allow a probation report to be prepared, noting a significant background of alcohol abuse. Tamulis had pretended to be a Garda, flashing an ID card to a shop assistant who then called the police. He was arrested, but during the arrest he jumped out of the patrol car, pursued by Garda O'Rourke, and a struggle ensued. O'Rourke was punched several times and had a finger of Tamulis inserted into his eye, though he suffered no long‑term damage.
A man has been sentenced to three years imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for his role in two violent car-jackings committed on the same night in April 2014. David Thomas, aged 32, of Glenties Avenue, Finglas, Dublin, pleaded guilty to unlawful seizure of a vehicle at Shankill, Dublin. The court heard that Thomas and another man pulled the driver from his car, assaulted him, and threatened to shoot him after he witnessed their faces. The stolen vehicle was subsequently abandoned on the N11 near Wicklow. Thomas went on to forcibly remove a second driver from a van in the vicinity. Judge John Aylmer imposed a concurrent sentence, stating the Shankill incident was the more serious offence. The victim reported experiencing significant fear and psychological distress following the attack. The defence argued the incidents constituted a chaotic, alcohol-fuelled episode, with no actual firearm involved.
In June 2016 a 16‑year‑old Dublin teenager was sentenced to four‑and‑a‑half years' detention for a series of robberies in which he threatened four women with a large knife. He pleaded guilty to false imprisonment and four robbery charges in the Tallaght area. The court noted that the teenager had 29 prior convictions but this was his first violent offence. He admitted to using a knife and drugs to feel brave enough to commit the robberies. Judge Martin Nolan suspended the final two years of the sentence on the condition that the teenager engage with the Probation Service for two years after release and take every educational opportunity while in custody. The case was prosecuted by Fiona Murphy BL and defended by Cathal McGreal BL, who highlighted the defendant's borderline intellectual disability and history of abuse. The incidents involved threatening victims, demanding cash, and stealing phones and bank cards.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 16‑year‑old girl was sentenced to three years' detention for stamping and kicking a Brazilian national, Marcus Guimaraes, on his head 15 times, as captured on CCTV. The girl, who could not be named, admitted no recollection of the night but reported feeling sick after seeing herself in the footage. Garda Maria O'Hara confirmed the footage showed the girl delivering the blows, and noted Guimaraes suffered a dented head, black and bloodshot eyes, a swollen nose and face, though he did not require medical treatment. The court found the assault was violent and unprovoked, and the girl's history of 26 prior convictions. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a three‑year sentence, suspending the final 15 months on the condition she engages with the Probation Service for 15 months. The girl, now 17, has a baby due later this year and has reportedly made positive behavioural changes. The unnamed 16-year-old pleaded guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, ambulance driver Dylan Gray (19) and co‑accused Dylan Barry (19) avoided jail for a violent attack on Nigel Kennedy at Missoni's chipper, Sallynoggin, on 13 December 2014. The court heard that the pair punched and kicked Kennedy, with Gray dragging him to the ground where the attackers continued to strike him. Kennedy refused to give a statement, preventing assault charges. Judge Melanie Greally noted the extreme violence, including a kick to the head and punches while Kennedy was on the ground. Both men pleaded guilty to violent disorder. The judge, citing their youth, lack of prior convictions, and remorse, suspended a three‑year sentence on the condition of 240 hours of community service within a year. Gray's father, Derek Gray, expressed disbelief and a sense of parental failure, while Barry's lawyers highlighted a history of bullying and trauma, noting his remorse during Garda interviews.
Hoummada El Habri, a 44‑year‑old Moroccan from Wolseley Street, Dublin, was sentenced at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for a violent robbery that took place on 25 October 2014. He assaulted Damien O'Brien on Adair Lane, knocking him to the ground, kicking him until he was unconscious, and then stole O'Brien's mobile phone, a wristwatch worth €300 and €70 in cash. El Habri pleaded guilty and was found to have 16 prior convictions, including theft, handling stolen property and robbery. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a three‑year prison term, suspended the last 18 months on the condition that El Habri leave the State within 14 days of release and not return for ten years. The court noted that El Habri had previously set himself on fire outside the Dáil to protest his residency application, but the judge said this was not an excuse for his criminal conduct. The defendant expressed remorse for his actions.
In March 2015, 18‑year‑old Niall Brooks and two other youths assaulted Brendan Cahill and Derek McDonald at the Luas terminal on Belgard Square East. CCTV showed a scuffle that escalated into the attackers repeatedly kicking the men in the head and body while they were unconscious. The assault caused extensive injuries: skull fractures, broken eye sockets, broken cheekbones, and other trauma. Both victims reported severe physical and psychological impacts, including loss of confidence, anxiety, and economic losses. Brooks pleaded guilty to two counts of assault causing harm and will be sentenced in October. He has three prior convictions and is currently serving a sentence for a robbery. The court noted the attack was "appalling" and ordered a Probation Services report before sentencing. The victims' statements highlighted lasting health and financial consequences from the incident.
Liam Corr, 21, was sentenced to three years in prison for possessing and distributing child pornography between July 2015 and August 2014. The final 18 months of the sentence were suspended on strict conditions, including participation in a sex offenders treatment programme while in custody and engagement with the Probation Service for 18 months after release. Corr had been granted bail in April, but he requested custody due to fears for his life. Gardaí found 28 video files on his phone, including material involving under‑age girls and bestiality. He pleaded guilty and showed remorse, and the judge noted his psychological difficulties and the need for treatment. No prior convictions were recorded. The case was heard in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, with counsel Sandra Frayne and prosecutor Caroline Cummings BL present. The sentencing judge, Melanie Greally, emphasised the importance of rehabilitation and addressing Corr's mental health issues.
James Murphy, 37, was stopped by Gardaí for erratic driving and found with €44,712 worth of cannabis in his boot. He pleaded guilty to possession for sale or supply at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. A follow‑up search of his home uncovered an additional €404 of cannabis. Murphy had seven prior convictions, including larceny, traffic offences and drug possession. During the interview he claimed he had smoked a joint two hours earlier and that he was transporting drugs "from A to B" for "bit of weed". Judge Melanie Greally, after a cold analysis of the evidence, imposed a five‑year suspended sentence, noting Murphy's efforts to rehabilitate and his low intellectual functioning. The sentence includes 240 hours of community service and 18 months of engagement with the Probation Service. The hearing also recorded Murphy's admission of debt and his desire to leave the drug habit.
Emmet McAuley, 31, pleaded guilty to robbery at a Celbridge off‑licence on 30 May 2015. He was armed with a plastic McDonald's knife, which he claimed to hold, and was pursued on foot by the shop owner. The robbery lasted about 60 seconds, involved no violence, and the robbers escaped with cash and cigarettes, which were later recovered. McAuley was restrained without resistance and later arrested. He has 22 prior convictions. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a three‑year sentence, suspended in full on strict conditions, including a €1,000 payment to the injured party. The court noted McAuley's cooperation with Gardaí and his completion of a residential drug treatment programme. No further convictions or outcomes were mentioned in the article.
A garda from Bundoran, County Donegal, has been committed to the Central Mental Hospital following a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The officer was found not guilty on two counts of harassment against a married female sergeant after a jury determined he was suffering from a mental disorder at the time of the offences, which occurred between February 2012 and February 2013. Medical evidence established that the garda had frontotemporal dementia, diagnosed as early onset, which impaired his judgment and impulse control. The court heard the harassment caused significant distress to the complainant and affected her work and family life. Judge Elma Sheahan ordered the garda's detention at the Central Mental Hospital for inpatient care and treatment, following a clinical assessment indicating he required ongoing treatment at a designated centre.
Daniel Kavanagh, aged 25, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment on 18 February 2016 for possessing a 9mm Makarov pistol, a silencer and three rounds of ammunition. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 13 July 2015. The judge, Martin Nolan, held that Kavanagh must have known the weapons would be used to kill or injure, and that the most innocent explanation was that he was transporting the gun for others to use. Garda Alan Carbery testified that the firearm was found in a silver metal case inside a black bag in the footwell of a car in which Kavanagh was a passenger. Ballistic tests confirmed the gun and silencer were compatible and capable of firing the ammunition. The serial number on the gun had been deliberately erased. Kavanagh had nine prior convictions, including three for drug dealing. The driver of the car, an associate, pleaded guilty to related offences and will be sentenced next month.
Lucas Lima, a 25‑year‑old Brazilian student living at Mountjoy Square, Dublin, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to importing cocaine into Ireland. He was offered €1,000 to €3,000 to transport a bag containing €139,650 worth of cocaine from Spain to Dublin Airport on 11 January 2016. Revenue officials intercepted him at the airport using customs profiling; they found three plastic bottles in a second suitcase, the lids of which were glued and contained cocaine when opened. Lima claimed he needed money to renew his student visa and pay for an English‑language college, and that a Brazilian acquaintance offered him payment for the delivery. Garda Kevin Nolan said Lima knew he was bringing illicit goods. Judge Elma Sheahan, noting the circumstances, imposed a six‑year sentence, suspended the final three and a half years, and allowed her to depart from the mandatory ten‑year minimum for the offence.
In a 2016 case, Judge Patrick McCartan dismissed charges against Sheshi Kota, a 40‑year‑old former Dublin resident, who withdrew €13,600 from an Ulster Bank ATM during a computer fault that allowed unlimited withdrawals. The prosecution failed to prove the existence of the legal entity "Ulster Bank Ireland Ltd." and that the bank had not consented to the withdrawals. Kota had pleaded not guilty to 23 counts of theft, claiming the withdrawals were overdrafts. The judge directed the jury to find him not guilty on all counts, noting that proving theft requires evidence of a legitimate owner and that the ATM's malfunction was not caused by Kota. The bank had later treated the matter as a civil debt and involved Gardaí, but Kota eventually repaid the money. The case was closed with no conviction.
A woman with 234 previous convictions, Winne Cash (46) of Blessington Road, Tallaght Dublin, has been sentenced to four years in prison for stealing a handbag from a 73-year-old woman and trespassing on the curtilage of a house at Main Street, Baldoyle on November 23, 2015. Cash pleaded guilty to the charges at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Melanie Greally noted that Cash had previously received a three-year sentence for burglary in 2013 and surmised that she would not have been out of prison for long at the time of this offence. The judge described the offence as particularly nasty with some degree of premeditation and imposed a four-year sentence, suspending the final year. The matter was adjourned for the purposes of the court's consideration of the suspended portion of the sentence. The case-subject, Tallaght Dublin, also admitted to the same charges and pleaded guilty, but no sentence was imposed at this procedural stage.
In a Crumlin checkpoint incident, Gardaí Cathal McGeoghan and David Currivan pursued two armed men who had entered a Spar shop. The robbers, armed with a meat cleaver and a metal bar, threatened cashiers and fled with nearly €400. McGeoghan chased them on foot while Currivan attempted to block them in a patrol car. McGeoghan used pepper spray when the men raised their weapons, arresting the man with the metal bar. Currivan chased the other robber, Ciaran Kenny, over a wall; a helicopter later spotted Kenny hiding in a garden, leading to his arrest. Kenny, aged 20, pleaded guilty to robbery and possession of a meat cleaver on 30 November 2015. Judge Elma Sheehan remanded him in custody until October for sentencing, while his co‑accused is being dealt with separately. The case highlights the Gardaí's swift response and use of pepper spray to protect themselves during the pursuit.
Christopher Coleman, 27, was jailed for two and a half years for dangerous driving that caused the death of Eugene Maher, 62, on 30 June 2015. Coleman, who had been banned from driving and had no licence, drove a car at speed through a red light on Clontarf Road, Dublin, striking Maher and leaving the scene. He also admitted driving without insurance. The judge, Melanie Greally, placed the sentence in the lower half of the medium band, imposing a 30‑month term and a 15‑year disqualification from driving. Witnesses described the car's sudden appearance in the bus lane, its speed, and the driver's attempt to stop with a handbrake. Coleman pleaded guilty, expressed remorse, and acknowledged responsibility for the fatal crash. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
A judge has given the 19 people accused of falsely imprisoning former Tanaiste Joan Burton one week to raise any issues they have with their trial listing. The accused include TD Paul Murphy and 18 others, including Councillors Kieran Mahon and Michael Murphy. Judge Melanie Greally had earlier ruled that the accused should have separate trials, stating that a joint trial would place unrealistic demands on jurors. Prosecutor Tony McGillicuddy told the court that the DPP proposed to try the first four accused together, followed by three groups of five. Two accused had formally objected to this listing. Lawyers for the accused said they could not point to any specific prejudice but would reserve the right to raise the issue again. The judge instructed that any objections must be written to the DPP within seven days, after which they would not be entertained.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, Judge Melanie Greally ruled that an accused's alleged income from criminal activity could not be considered when assessing his eligibility for legal aid. The man, charged with drug dealing and firearm offences, had applied for legal aid, but Gardaí believed he possessed income from crime. The judge agreed with Garda Janice Gray that seized cash and vehicles were suspected to be from illicit sources, but stated that only legal assets could be used to assess the accused's ability to pay for his defence. The accused receives disability benefit and rent supplement payments, and the judge found no significant lawful income. The case remains pending, with the trial scheduled for next year.
Lucas Lima, a 25‑year‑old Brazilian language student, admitted to transporting a bag of cocaine from Spain to Dublin to raise money for college fees. He was offered between €1,000 and €3,000 to carry €139,650 worth of cocaine. At Dublin Airport on 11 January 2016, customs officials, using profiling techniques, stopped him and discovered three plastic bottles in a second suitcase; the lids were glued and the contents were cocaine. Lima had returned from a two‑day trip to Barcelona and had an extra suitcase. He claimed that a Brazilian acquaintance, aware of his financial difficulties, offered the money if he completed the delivery. Garda Kevin Nolan said Lima knew he was carrying illicit goods and was aware of the risk. Judge Elma Sheahan adjourned sentencing to a Thursday, stating she needed time to consider her verdict. The defence argued the offence was out of character and that Lima would leave Ireland and never return.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Aisling McCann, aged 34, pleaded guilty to nine harassment charges stemming from two months of anonymous phone calls, emails, and orchestrated deliveries directed at a former family friend. The harassment began in September 2015 after a minor school‑banter incident between the women's daughters. McCann, who was experiencing personal stress, including financial hardship and her daughter's entry into secondary school, used a blocked number and her own smartphone to contact the victim. Garda Sergeant Gerry Holland described the behaviour as irrational and completely remorseful once confronted. Judge Melanie Greally, noting McCann's lack of prior convictions and early guilty plea, imposed a 12‑month prison sentence but suspended it, citing her vulnerable life stage and the absence of further offences. The victim declined to give a victim impact statement, expressing relief that the harassment had ceased. The former friendship between the families was reported as irretrievably broken.
Jim Duffy, a 45‑year‑old father of three from Dundalk, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing a stolen John Deere tractor between June and September 2013. The tractor, valued at €50,000, had been taken from a farm in Portlaoise during a burglary on 29 May 2013 and later found on Duffy's farm in Hollywood Little, Ballyboughal, with several identifying features altered or removed and a false UK registration plate. Duffy claimed the tractor was left on his farm by a man who owed him money and insisted he had never taken anything. He had three prior minor convictions for road traffic offences. The judge, citing his lack of serious convictions, suspended a four‑year custodial sentence and ordered 240 hours of community service, avoiding immediate imprisonment.
Folajimmy Awode, 32, of Ballinteer House, Tyrellstown, Dublin, was convicted of sexually assaulting a female patient while employed as a care assistant at Mater Private Hospital, Eccles Street, Dublin, in November 2013. He pleaded not guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. A jury found him guilty and Judge Patricia Ryan sentenced him to two years' imprisonment, with the final six months suspended, on 21 July 2015. Awode has now filed an appeal against the conviction. His counsel, Kevin White BL, argues that the trial judge erred in her directions to the jury, failing to explain the nature and purpose of complaint evidence, its relevance to consistency rather than facts, and the role of corroboration. White also contends the judge did not adequately present the defence's case, which alleged that the complainant was mistaken or "dreaming" and that Awode was entitled to be on the ward.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, the back‑seat passenger of a stolen Nissan Micra recorded a high‑speed Garda chase on Snapchat. The driver, Brandon Grant, 19, was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment, with the final nine months suspended, and disqualified from driving for five years. Grant, who was on bail for 14 offences, had driven dangerously around Swords, forcing pedestrians to jump out of the way and motorists to brake hard. The pursuit ended when he lost control on icy roads and crashed into a pole, after which the car was written off and he was arrested. He pleaded guilty to driving a stolen car and two dangerous driving charges, and the judge noted his 25 prior convictions, including five for stolen‑car offences. The suspended portion was conditional on 12 months of probation engagement. The case highlighted the driver's substance abuse and family difficulties as primary causes of his behaviour.
A garda from Bundoran, County Donegal, has been found not guilty by reason of insanity of harassing a married female sergeant at a Dublin garda station between February 2012 and February 2013. The 40-year-old man had sent a Valentine's card, numerous emails via the garda Pulse system, and a Facebook friend request to the woman despite repeated warnings from superiors and an oral undertaking to cease contact. Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard the behaviour caused the complainant significant stress and affected her work and family life. Two forensic psychiatrists gave evidence that the accused was suffering from frontotemporal dementia, an early-onset condition causing erotomania and an inability to understand the impact of his actions or control his behaviour. The jury returned a not guilty verdict after deliberating for one hour. Judge Elma Sheahan committed the man to the Central Mental Hospital pending a report for 27 June to determine appropriate steps.
Noel Clarke, 33, was caught trespassing at the Honourable Society of King's Inns in Dublin on 16 June 2014. He admitted to entering the building after seeing an unsecured door, claiming he only wanted to look around and had no intention of stealing. Garda Louise Pepper reported that Clarke was caught red‑handed, wearing a hoodie and white gloves, and that he had been using a large amount of tablets at the time. He had ten previous convictions, five for burglary, but was not considered a violent offender. Clarke pleaded guilty to trespass with intent to commit theft. Judge Melanie Greally noted his efforts to address his difficulties and his genuine commitment to reform. She imposed an 18‑month sentence, suspended in full for two years, and accepted his probation report outlining progress in dealing with his problems.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Christopher Coleman, 27, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of Eugene Maher, 62, who was struck by Coleman's car at a red light on Clontarf Road on 30 June 2015. Coleman, who had been banned from driving at the time, admitted leaving the crash scene and driving without insurance. Witnesses described the vehicle entering the junction at speed, the driver's attempt to stop with a handbrake, and the subsequent escape at high speed. The court noted Coleman's 15 prior convictions, including four for driving without insurance, and his 2012 disqualification. The hearing focused on Coleman's admissions, remorse, and the impact on the Maher family, without addressing sentencing or future legal outcomes.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Samuel Hutch, 40, a cousin of the murdered Gary Hutch, was found to face special security arrangements in prison that would isolate him from visitors, other inmates and prison facilities. The court heard that these measures were imposed because of an "environment of fear and tension" and that Hutch would be "extremely lonely." Breffni Gordon BL argued that Hutch was a different character from the Hutch family's criminal brand, citing his 89 prior convictions, including 39 burglaries, possession of a stolen bicycle, and a burglary in Cabra. Hutch pleaded guilty to trespass, possession of a stolen bicycle, damaging a car door, and a burglary. Judge Melanie Greally adjourned sentencing to July 21 to allow a victim impact report and urinalysis. Gordon noted that Hutch had been in drug rehabilitation before the 2015 family tragedies, including his cousin's murder, caused a relapse.
Brian McHugh, aged 31, was sentenced to four years in jail after a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court found him guilty of robbery. The case stemmed from a dispute over a laptop at Megan Lawlor's home. McHugh entered the house, kicked down the bedroom door, and allegedly held a knife to Lawlor's neck, threatening to slash her face. He then took her phone and left. Lawlor reported the incident, and McHugh was later stopped by Gardaí. He denied the robbery and the threat, but a jury convicted him of robbery and acquitted him of the threat. McHugh also pleaded guilty to criminal damage to the door. The judge noted his 47 prior convictions and imposed the four‑year term, with no mention of a suspended portion or effective custody beyond the sentence itself. The court did not address any subsequent legal actions.
Andrew Shannon, 51, was jailed for one year for possessing 57 stolen antique books, including a 1660 King James Bible, after a jury conviction in February. The books had been taken from Carton House library in Kildare in 2006 and were found in Shannon's home in March 2007. Shannon, who had previously been jailed for damaging a €10 million Monet painting, pleaded not guilty to the possession charge. Judge Petria McDonnell sentenced him to one year with the final six months suspended. He had denied the charge but was convicted. The books were valued at €6,500. Shannon's 35 other convictions include theft and burglary. He had appealed his earlier conviction for the Monet damage, but that appeal was still pending at the time of this article.
Garda Donal Maguire, 40, of Bundoran, Co. Donegal, is on trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on two counts of harassing a female sergeant between February 2012 and February 2013. He has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. Prosecution counsel Gerardine Small BL stated that while the harassment is not disputed, the jury must determine if Maguire suffered from a mental disorder at the time. Two forensic psychiatrists, Dr. Brenda Wright for the State and Dr. Conor O'Neill for the defence, testified that Maguire was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia, an early-onset condition, from approximately 2010. They concluded that his disorder, which included symptoms such as erotomania and a lack of empathy, meant he did not appreciate his actions were wrong and lacked the ability to form intent under the Criminal Law (Insanity Act 2006). Both experts noted that his persistent behaviour, despite warnings from superiors, was consistent with his diagnosis. Defence counsel Ronan Kennedy BL described the case as tragic, noting Maguire's promising career was affected by his illness. Maguire is currently being treated in the Central Mental Hospital with no immediate plans for discharge. Both legal teams urged the jury to return a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity. The jury, comprising three women and nine men, was addressed by Judge Elma Sheahan and is expected to retire to consider their verdict.
In October 2014, at Cloverhill Prison, convicted murderer Ciaran Moran (30) tied up his cellmate Dean Fagan, threatened to slit his throat, and cut Fagan's head with a homemade shiv. The hostage situation lasted 90 minutes before Moran walked out of the cell. Moran pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and false imprisonment. The court considered the possibility that the incident was an attempt to make a claim against the State or involved collusion between Moran and Fagan, but found no evidence. Judge Melanie Greally noted Moran's dissatisfaction with the seizure of a letter he had sent and imposed a prison term of three and a half years to run alongside his life sentence. Moran also faces separate convictions for manslaughter, assault and aggravated burglary. The incident involved negotiations by prison officers and a brief threat to Fagan's life.
A garda stationed in Bundoran, County Donegal, has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to two counts of harassment against a female sergeant at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The accused is alleged to have sent a Valentine's card, multiple emails and a Facebook friend request to the woman between February 2012 and February 2013, despite repeated warnings from senior officers to cease contact. The prosecution does not dispute that harassment occurred but contends the central issue for the jury is whether the accused was suffering from a mental disorder at the time. The court heard that the woman, who is married with children, had made clear her lack of romantic interest and that the unwanted contact caused her significant distress, affecting her work and family life. A consultant psychiatrist is expected to give evidence that the accused was unable to understand his actions were wrong. The trial continues before Judge Elma Sheahan and jury.