A member of An Garda Síochána from Bundoran, County Donegal, has gone on trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court charged with harassment offences. Garda Donal Maguire, aged 40 and residing at Rock Road, Bundoran, pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to two counts of harassing a woman at a Dublin location. The alleged conduct occurred across two separate periods: between 18 February and 11 March 2012, and between 1 August 2012 and 4 February 2013. The trial commenced before Judge Elma Sheahan and a jury and is anticipated to conclude within two days.
William Beresford, aged 45, was convicted of manslaughter in 1999 after killing his brother during a fight. He pleaded guilty to robbery at the Station's Sport Club in August 2015, using a pellet gun to threaten former colleagues. Beresford, who had 28 prior convictions for minor offences, surrendered to Gardaí four days after the robbery. He admitted embarrassment and regret, citing drug addiction as a motive. Judge Melanie Greally revoked his bail and remanded him in custody until a sentencing hearing on 11 November, ordering a probation report. The robbery involved a €4,400 theft that was never recovered. Beresford's background includes a history of drug abuse, four children aged 12 to 29, and a marriage that ended in 2012. The case highlights his ongoing legal and personal difficulties.
A judge at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has ordered the return of cash stolen from a Leitrim takeaway after it was recovered from an employee at Dublin Airport. Vlad Emanuel Blanaru was stopped by customs officers on August 30, 2015, as he and his girlfriend prepared to board a flight to Amsterdam. Officers discovered over €6,900 in cash that gardaí in Carrick-on-Shannon later established had been taken from the safe at Marius Takeaway in Drumshanbo the previous day. Blanaru, of Carrick Road, Drumshanbo, claimed he had earned the money through his work at the establishment, though he later told the customs officer he intended to purchase an engagement ring. The takeaway owner subsequently reported the theft, stating €7,600 had been stolen, including €3,000 belonging to an employee. Judge Melanie Greally concluded the seized cash represented proceeds of theft and ordered its return to the rightful owners rather than forfeiture to the State.
A homeless mother of five, Lisa Blake, aged 38, was staying in a Dublin hotel with her children when she entered another resident's room and attacked her with a chisel. The victim, Michelle Lowry, sustained minor injuries, including a small scar on her nose. Blake, who had previously lived in her own home and worked at The Regency Hotel, claimed that the economic downturn and heroin addiction had caused her to lose her home. She pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm on 30 July 2013. Garda James Woods described the incident as involving Blake entering the victim's room, hitting and kicking while shouting "you're a rat," pulling the victim by the hair, and using a chisel. The altercation involved the victim's four‑year‑old daughter and teenage son, and was broken up in the corridor by other residents. Judge Elma Sheahan adjourned the sentence to October to allow Blake to engage with Probation Services.
Tony Walsh, a former "singing" priest, was convicted of indecent assault on a boy aged 10‑13 between 1980 and 1982. He pleaded not guilty to five counts but the jury found him guilty on all after a three‑day trial. The court heard that the boy described being forced to sit on Walsh's knee, having his trousers pulled down, and being fondled, with incidents involving a crucifix and alleged sexual acts. Walsh denied knowing the boy and claimed the allegations were false. He admitted to prior offences against children from 1980 to 1986, having served prison terms and undergone treatment, but maintained he had not re‑offended. The judge remanded him in custody for sentencing on 4 July. The case was heard in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
A man who became involved in selling a stolen car to reduce his drug debt has been given a suspended sentence. Karl Burke (27), of Oatfield Lawns, Clondalkin Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to handling a stolen car and possession of a false Vehicle Registration Certificate (VRC) at The Park Shopping Centre, Carrickmines on October 30, 2014. The case was heard_or_decision. Burke admitted to the charges and was found guilty. Judge Melanie Greally noted that Burke had no longer been using drugs and had a supportive family. She imposed a three-year sentence, which was suspended in full. Garda Paschal Carley stated that gardai were alerted by an official at Wicklow County Council about suspicions regarding a VRC. The investigation revealed the car had been stolen from Castleknock and had a cloned chassis number. Burke had initially met the buyer in Clondalkin and later sold the car at Carrickmines, producing a driver's licence in a false name. Burke told gardai he had become involved in the offence to pay off a cocaine debt of between €8,000 – €10,000. He was to have €500 taken off his debt for his role. Mary Rose Gearty SC, defending, said Burke had taken care of the main catalyst for the offence and no longer wants anything to do with drugs or his old associates. He is a father of two and wishes to return to full-time education.
David Marsh, 29, an IT worker, defrauded colleagues, tag‑rugby teammates and a Limerick couple of nearly €8000 and €76,000 respectively. He promised the couple a cheap house in Castletroy and a UFC ticket deal, but withdrew the money to buy an Audi, a rugby tour and a New York holiday. He also took €7,785 from rugby friends and workplace colleagues for a UFC event and a Barbados trip he never used. Marsh pleaded guilty to dishonestly inducing others to transfer €76,000 to his AIB account for a site at Fox Hollow and to 12 counts of dishonestly inducing others to give him cash for various items. He was remanded on bail pending sentencing on 20 June, with a forensic psychologist report to be considered. No compensation was offered to victims, and the Audi seized by Gardaí remains in state possession. The court heard victim impact reports detailing the financial and emotional harm caused.
Liam Corr, 21, who was granted bail in April for possession and distribution of child pornography, has requested to be remanded in custody due to fears for his life. His barrister, Sandra Frayne, told the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court that Corr, staying in a hostel, heard something that made him feel he was in imminent danger and had nowhere else to go. The court agreed to remand him until his sentencing on 26 June. Corr's mother had previously banned him from using a smartphone after she discovered 28 pornographic files, including images of under‑age girls and bestiality. He pleaded guilty to the offences between 26 July 2015 and 13 August 2014. He has no prior convictions. The case was prosecuted by Caroline Cummings BL, with the Director of Public Prosecutions having previously dropped a case against him. The Probation Service assessed him as low to moderate risk of re‑offending and recommended psychological help.
Patrick Duff, 49, was arrested after firing a sawn‑off shotgun in a Dublin park. He was wearing white latex gloves and had the gun hidden in his jeans when Gardaí stopped him. Duff was aggressive, struggled with officers and head‑butted one. He claimed to be an IRA member, saying he had fired test shots when no one was around, and that he was suicidal. He pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm on Ballyfermot Parade. The court noted his history of severe depression and limited prior convictions. Judge Melanie Greally suspended a three‑year prison term, requiring Duff to attend an addiction response programme and abstain from alcohol. Duff admitted he was likely intoxicated and had paid €500 for the gun. He had two earlier convictions from 1981 and 1987. The case was adjourned for further investigation into his suicidal claim.
Angelo Zullino, a 49‑year‑old former Swiss bank clerk, was stopped by customs at Dublin Airport while preparing to fly to London. Officers, acting on a confidential tip‑off, searched his luggage and found 5.4 kilos of cocaine hidden in false inserts and an empty laptop bag. The drugs were valued at €382,620. Zullino had been lured into the smuggling scheme after falling for a fake inheritance internet scam involving a woman named Chantelle who claimed she owed him £275,000. He paid £200,000 and later was told to travel to Dubai to collect luggage that supposedly contained documents for a London property transfer. He was convicted of possession of cocaine for sale or supply on 27 September 2015 and sentenced to three and a half years' imprisonment, back‑dated to the September he entered custody. Angelo Zullino pleaded guilty.
Jonathan Rafferty, 38, was jailed for seven and a half years after a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing. He pleaded guilty to a series of offences: robbery of a security cash box containing €19,000 in October 2013, possession of an imitation firearm, possession of cannabis resin and herb, and stolen artwork in October 2013; robbery of a second cash box containing €230 in March 2014 with an imitation firearm; burglary at Sunrise Dry Cleaner in February 2015, along with dangerous driving and criminal damage to a car. The court noted he had been using cocaine daily and was under a €6,000 drug debt at the time of the offences. Judge Patricia Ryan imposed consecutive sentences totalling eleven years, suspending three and a half years, for a net effective custodial term of seven and a half years. Rafferty had 12 prior convictions and had written a letter of apology to the court.
At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, a man from Dublin has been sentenced to 240 hours of community service after pleading guilty to possession with intent to supply prescription medication without authorisation. Alan McDermott, aged 54, of Clonliffe Avenue, was apprehended on Philipsburgh Avenue on 16 August 2014 following gardaí surveillance in the Drumcondra area. Officers discovered approximately 149,000 Zopiclone tablets, valued at approximately €299,000 on the illicit market, concealed in boxes within his vehicle. McDermott admitted he had agreed to transport the boxes to settle a personal drug debt, intending to park the van and leave it unattended. Judge Melanie Greally suspended a three-year custodial sentence, having received a positive probation assessment recommending community service. McDermott, with no previous convictions, expressed remorse for his involvement.
Amy McAuley, 26, pleaded guilty in 2015 to stealing €132,355 from Nordzucker Ireland Ltd between July 2013 and February 2014. Judge Patrick McCartan imposed a wholly suspended two‑year sentence, requiring her to stay out of trouble and make full restitution within ten years. The Court of Appeal upheld this sentence, rejecting the Director of Public Prosecutions' appeal that it was unduly lenient. The appeal cited the ingenuity of the theft, its connection to a prior €90,000 theft that had been fully repaid, and the significant breach of trust. The court noted McAuley's youth, self‑reporting, early guilty plea, remorse, partial restitution, and her status as an accomplished musician. It modified the repayment schedule, setting 30 % of the debt due within five years, another 30 % within seven‑and‑a‑half years, and the balance by ten years, with €30,000 already paid and €102,000 outstanding.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 24‑year‑old Natasha Kavanagh of La Rochelle Apartments was found guilty of assault causing harm after a disturbance outside her bedroom window. The incident began when Catriona Traynor and her friend Karen Carter woke Kavanagh's boyfriend by shouting at the window. Kavanagh responded by shouting back, throwing a carton of milk at Ms Carter, and later, after a scuffle, striking Ms Traynor twice on the head with a hammer that had been handed to her by her boyfriend. Ms Traynor sustained cuts to her head, bruises to her neck, a pulled hair, and other minor injuries. Kavanagh admitted the assault, denied using the hammer, and pleaded guilty to the July 2014 charge. Judge Martin Nolan suspended a two‑year sentence on the condition that Kavanagh remain peaceful and comply with Probation Service instructions for one year, citing mitigating evidence of her mental health and background.
A man from County Mayo has been sentenced to four and a half years imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following his conviction on eight counts of indecent and sexual assault against his four young daughters. Bernard Cunningham, aged 66, was found guilty by unanimous jury verdict in April 2016 of offences committed between 1978 and 1992. He had pleaded not guilty to all charges. Judge Patrick McCartan stated that Cunningham had demonstrated an absolute absence of remorse and noted the victims endured what was described as a "horror of a home" involving sustained physical, mental and sexual abuse. The judge observed that character references describing Cunningham as kind and compassionate could not be reconciled with the evidence of his cruelty. During sentencing, the court acknowledged the victims' bravery in testifying, with one reporting lasting trauma including mental health difficulties. Cunningham's legal team highlighted recent health challenges but the judge emphasised the absence of any apology or acknowledgement of wrongdoing.
In a landmark case, Denis Casey, former Group Chief Executive of Irish Life and Permanent Group, was found guilty of a €7.2 billion conspiracy to defraud. The trial, the longest in Irish history, lasted 14 days with 61 hours of jury deliberation. Casey, aged 56, and three other ex‑banking executives had pleaded not guilty to charges of misleading investors, depositors and lenders about Anglo's financial health in 2008. The jury also convicted Anglo's former head of capital markets, John Bowe (52), and finance director Willie McAteer (65) of conspiring to mislead the public about Anglo's balance sheet, while Peter Fitzpatrick (63) was acquitted after 47 hours of deliberation. The scheme involved a circular transaction that inflated Anglo's customer deposits from €44 bn to €51 bn, a 16 % increase, by moving €7.2 bn between ILP and Anglo through Irish Life Assurance.
The jury in the trial of former Irish Life and Permanent CEO Denis Casey, aged 56, will resume deliberations tomorrow morning after 58 hours of discussion over 13 days. Casey and three other former banking executives were charged with conspiring to defraud by a €7.2 billion scheme intended to mislead investors, depositors and lenders about Anglo Irish Bank's true financial health in 2008. The jury had previously convicted Anglo's former head of capital markets John Bowe (52) and the bank's former finance director Willie McAteer (65) of conspiring to mislead the public about the bank's balance sheet, and had found Peter Fitzpatrick (63) not guilty after nearly 47 hours of deliberation. The case centers on a circular transaction scheme that allegedly inflated Anglo's customer deposits from €44 billion to €51 billion, a 16 % increase, to present a stronger financial position.
Christopher Warburton, 22, of Montpelier Park, Dublin, was sentenced to two years in prison after pleading guilty to assaulting his ex‑girlfriend, Ashley Caulfield, on 1 September 2015. Warburton approached Caulfield on Kinvara Avenue, Navan Road, after their break‑up in May 2015, and after refusing to let her leave, he grabbed her wrist and forced her to walk with him. While a bystander tried to intervene, Warburton verbally abused the man and a second person in the car before punching Caulfield in the nose. The blow fractured her nose, exposing the bone and leaving a scar. Caulfield was taken to Mater Hospital, where she received four stitches. Warburton, who had 16 prior convictions and was on bail at the time, claimed he had not hit her. The judge described the assault as a serious crime and noted Warburton's history of anger issues. The sentence reflects the severity of the offence.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, Christopher Dunne, aged 22, was given a three‑year suspended sentence for assaulting Scott Chapman at a house party on 24 January 2013. Dunne threw a wooden chair at Chapman and then chased him with a kitchen knife, demanding his car keys. Chapman was struck on the face, suffered a cut on his forehead that required six stitches, incurred €300 in medical costs, lost three weeks of wages and bears a permanent scar. Dunne later contacted Chapman via Facebook, apologising and claiming he could not recall the attack due to alcohol and tablets. He offered €1,000 to Chapman as a token of remorse. Judge Melanie Greally accepted Dunne's remorse and insight, suspended the sentence on the condition of 18 months probation and 180 hours community service within 12 months. Dunne has ten prior convictions, including possession of knives and an imitation firearm. The unnamed man pleaded guilty.
Marie McMahon, 68, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to 13 charges of stealing social welfare payments from James's Street Post Office between September 1, 2002, and June 11, 2014. The prosecution alleged that McMahon fraudulently claimed benefits using her sister's card, resulting in a total loss of €101,538.80. Although the Director of Public Prosecutions accepted the pleas as sample counts, the court noted the fraud spanned over a decade. Defending counsel Lorcan Staines BL highlighted that friends had gathered €6,000 towards repayment and that McMahon's benefits would be reduced by €15 per week. He also cited her age, medical difficulties, and previous involvement in women's rights protests. Judge Melanie Greally, who had previously adjourned the matter to consider testimonials and a probation report, stated that McMahon appeared to have useful skills and that community service warranted investigation. However, the judge noted potential medical unfitness. Consequently, the case was adjourned to October to allow the probation service to assess her suitability for community service. The matter was not concluded at this hearing.
The jury in the conspiracy‑to‑defraud trial of former Irish Life and Permanent CEO Denis Casey, aged 56, will resume deliberations tomorrow morning after 53 hours of discussion. Casey and three other former banking executives had pleaded not guilty to a €7.2 billion scheme intended to mislead investors, depositors and lenders about Anglo Irish Bank's true health in 2008. The trial, the longest criminal case in the State's history, reached day 87 when Judge Martin Nolan told the jury to return in the morning. Earlier, the jury had convicted Anglo's former head of capital markets John Bowe (52) and finance director Willie McAteer (65) of conspiring to mislead the public about the bank's balance sheet, and had found Peter Fitzpatrick (63) not guilty after 47 hours of deliberation.
A man convicted of breaching sex offender notification requirements has failed in his appeal against conviction at the Court of Appeal. Ian Bissett was found guilty by jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in November 2014 of failing to notify gardaí of a changed address within seven days between July and August 2011, contrary to the Sex Offenders Act. He was sentenced to two years imprisonment. The Court of Appeal dismissed his appeal on all grounds today. Mr Justice Alan Mahon, sitting with Mr Justice George Birmingham and Mr Justice John Edwards, rejected arguments that hostel records admitted as evidence breached hearsay rules, finding they were maintained for ordinary business purposes. The court also found no merit in submissions that Bissett had not been expressly informed that breaching notification requirements carried criminal penalties. Bissett is due for release from custody in August.
In the longest criminal trial in Irish history, jurors at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court acquitted former ILP Finance Director Peter Fitzpatrick of conspiring to mislead investors. The verdict followed nearly 47 hours of deliberations, the longest in the State's history. Judge Martin Nolan discharged Fitzpatrick from the indictment. This leaves former ILP CEO Denis Casey as the sole remaining defendant in the trial, which began in mid-January. Casey is accused of conspiring with others to mislead investors by establishing a €7.2 billion circular transaction scheme between March 1 and September 30, 2008, intended to bolster Anglo Irish Bank's balance sheet. He pleaded not guilty to these charges. Earlier in the trial, Anglo's former head of capital markets, John Bowe, and then finance director Willie McAteer were convicted of the same offence. Both men, who also pleaded not guilty, have been remanded on bail pending sentence until July 25. The prosecution alleged the scheme artificially inflated Anglo's customer deposits from €44 billion to €51 billion. Defence counsel for Casey and Fitzpatrick argued their clients had no control over Anglo's accounting and no intention to mislead the public. The jury will continue considering a verdict on Casey's case.
Trevor Curtis, aged 35 and of no fixed abode, has been sentenced to five years imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following guilty pleas to two separate offences. Curtis pleaded guilty to possession of a syringe to threaten injury or intimidate another person on Bedford Lane, Temple Bar, Dublin on April 14, 2014, and to robbery of a betting shop on Wicklow Street, Dublin on October 27, 2014. During the first incident, Curtis was experiencing hallucinations after consuming a head shop drug and believed he was being attacked by demons. When gardaí arrived, he was found holding a syringe which he waved aggressively, leading to his being pepper-sprayed. In the second offence, he jumped over the counter and brandished a syringe at a pregnant employee, demanding money. Judge Martin Nolan suspended the final year of the sentence and backdated it to 2014 when Curtis entered custody. Curtis has 43 previous convictions, including three for similar syringe-related offences.
In a Circuit Court hearing, professional footballer Jeff Hendrick, aged 24, was set to face a violent disorder charge linked to an incident on Harcourt Street, Dublin 2, on 12 October 2013. The case was transferred from the District Court after a judge declined jurisdiction. Hendrick, residing at Kilmore Drive, Artane, and co‑accused Jonathan Doran, 25, of Kilmore Close, Artane, both pleaded not guilty. Judge Melanie Greally scheduled their trial for 3 July 2017, with a pre‑trial hearing in May 2017, and excused Hendrick from that hearing.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, former Irish Life and Permanent finance director Peter Fitzpatrick, aged 63, was acquitted of conspiracy charges relating to a €7.2 billion scheme that allegedly defrauded Anglo Irish Bank in 2008. The jury, after nearly 47 hours of deliberation, returned a not‑guilty verdict. Fitzpatrick, who had pleaded not guilty, was discharged from the indictment by Judge Martin Nolan. The case involved allegations that Fitzpatrick, along with former ILP CEO Denis Casey (56), Anglo's former head of capital markets John Bowe (52), and Anglo's former finance director Willie McAteer (65), conspired to mislead investors, depositors and lenders by creating a circular transaction scheme between March 1 and September 30 2008. The scheme purportedly inflated Anglo's customer deposits from €44 billion to €51 billion, a 16 % increase. Fitzpatrick's lawyers argued that the deposits were genuine and properly accounted for, while the prosecution alleged intent to deceive. The other accused, Casey, remains on trial.
The jury in the trial of former Irish Life & Permanent executives Denis Casey (56) and Peter Fitzpatrick (63) has been sent home after nine days of deliberations, with no verdict yet. Judge Martin Nolan of the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court ordered the jury to return the next day to continue. The case concerns a €7.2 billion circular transaction scheme in 2008 that allegedly misled investors, depositors and lenders about Anglo's financial health. The jury had previously convicted Anglo's former head of capital markets John Bowe (52) and finance director Willie McAteer (65). Denis Casey pleaded not guilty. Peter Fitzpatrick pleaded not guilty.
A 23‑year‑old man named Sean Carlyle was sentenced to three years for violent disorder after a savage brawl at Kusanta Snooker Club in Tallaght on 22 December 2013. The incident involved a group that used snooker cues, bottles and a metal security pole as weapons. CCTV footage was shown to the court. Carlyle pleaded guilty to violent disorder and production of articles. Two other men remain before the courts and a fourth, Christopher Wynne, has died. The brawl left three injured parties – two men and a woman – with serious wounds, including stab wounds to a lung and broken arms. Judge Melanie Greally described the group's actions as "extreme acts of violence" and imposed a three‑year sentence, suspending the final year. The case was prosecuted by Noel Devitt BL, with Garda Aidan Ferris testifying about the injuries and the chaotic scene.
Trevor Cooke, aged 40, pleaded guilty to robbing a cash transit van at Bawnogue Post Office in Clondalkin on 3 October 2013. He entered the post office while two G4S security guards were dropping off cash, approached one guard and held an imitation firearm to his face, ordering him to hand over the cash box. Cooke seized the box, which contained €50,000, and fled in a car that had been reported stolen two weeks earlier. Gardaí pursued him, and after a traffic chase he abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot. He was arrested in the rear garden of a house, hiding behind a wheelie bin, and was sprayed with pepper spray before being taken into custody. A fake gun was recovered from the car, and the cash box was opened, releasing a dye that destroyed all the money. Cooke has 48 prior convictions and was already in custody for a previous burglary.
Mary Cullen, an 82-year-old woman from Portland Row, Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to 30 sample counts of falsely claiming social welfare, using false instruments, and possession of false instruments between 1987 and 2015. The charges relate to her claiming over €206,000 in social welfare payments using the identity of her partner's deceased wife, Mary Rose Hart. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a three-year suspended sentence. The judge noted that while the offence was reprehensible, he could not in good conscience jail an 82-year-old, stating that if Cullen were 20 years younger, she would likely face prison. He also remarked that he did not believe the Court of Appeal would overturn the suspended sentence if the Director of Public Prosecutions appealed it as too lenient. Cullen's defence counsel, Luigi Rea BL, cited her hard life and work history in mitigation. Garda Enda Connolly testified that he was asked to investigate suspicions of identity fraud and observed Cullen claiming payments under both her own name and the deceased's name. Cullen admitted to using the false identity at her partner's suggestion and stated she gave the extra money to him and later to a relative. The Department of Social Protection has since reduced her pension payments by €35 a week.
Agata Pracz, 39, of Swords, Co Dublin, pleaded guilty to dishonestly inducing Yumi Takekoshi, a 58‑year‑old Tokyo woman, to hand over €8,990 on 15 July 2014 by promising access to a container of cash worth €6.8 million. Pracz, posing as a UN diplomat named Sandra Daly, met Takekoshi at Dublin Airport, took the money at a bar, and promised further details of the container. Takekoshi became suspicious, took a taxi to the Japanese embassy, and alerted Gardaí. Pracz was arrested on the M1 motorway after CCTV footage identified her car. Gardaí found just over €4,000 and a heavily encrypted laptop at her home. She had no prior convictions in Ireland but had three fraud convictions in Poland. Judge Patrick McCartan, after hearing the evidence, sentenced her to a suspended three‑year term, noting she had fully repaid the money and expressing reservations about her account of events.
Karl Smith, 19, will be sentenced in July for a series of violent offences committed over a month. He pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to a 21‑year‑old man, threatening to kill a 16‑year‑old boy, criminal damage to a front door and two counts of producing a weapon. On 30 May 2015 Smith broke into Devon Whiston's house, damaged the door, entered the kitchen, held a steak knife to Whiston and prevented the occupants from leaving. Two weeks later he bit Whiston's arm, stabbed him with a barbecue fork, beat him with a rolling pin and stole a TV, an X‑Box and a computer. On 15 June he returned to the house, repeated the assault and robbery. On 27 June he crashed a house party, held a knife to a 16‑year‑old's face, cut his cheek and threatened to kill him.
At the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, a jury returned majority verdicts finding former Anglo Irish Bank executives John Bowe and Willie McAteer guilty of conspiring to mislead investors. The trial, which marked the longest criminal trial in the State's history, concluded on day 84 after 38 hours of deliberations. The prosecution alleged that Bowe and McAteer, along with others, set up a €7.2 billion circular transaction scheme between March 1 and September 30, 2008, to artificially bolster Anglo's balance sheet. The scheme allegedly involved Anglo lending money to Irish Life and Permanent (ILP), which was then returned to Anglo via Irish Life Assurance to be recorded as customer deposits. This inflated the reported customer deposits from €44 billion to €51 billion. Both Bowe and McAteer had pleaded not guilty to the charges. Judge Martin Nolan remanded the two men on continuing bail until Friday, noting there was no objection to bail. The jury is still considering charges against former ILP chief executive Denis Casey and his 2008 finance director, Peter Fitzpatrick. Casey and Fitzpatrick also pleaded not guilty to the same conspiracy charges. The matter regarding Casey and Fitzpatrick remains under deliberation and has not been finalised.
Damien Halpin, 29, fled to Australia in 2011 after being labelled a "rat" following a drugs conviction and a subsequent attack on his home. He was convicted in Australia in 2015 for arson, assault and being armed with intent, claiming it was a prank gone wrong. He served one year in New South Wales before being deported to Ireland. In January 2016 he was arrested by Gardaí at Dublin Airport. Halpin has 21 prior convictions in Ireland, mainly for road traffic and public order offences. He pleaded guilty to possession of €17,318 of cocaine in 2009 and to assault causing harm in 2010. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court adjourned his sentencing to July 27, 2016, to allow an updated probation report. Bench warrants were issued in March 2012 when he failed to appear in court for both cases.
Eoin Daly, 30, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to one count of possessing heroin for sale or supply and one count of possessing cocaine on May 10, 2015. The court heard that Daly, who was on remand in Cloverhill Prison for a burglary offence, was granted compassionate bail to attend his son's communion. Upon his return, he was placed in an observation cell where he was found asleep on the toilet with a package between his legs. Detective Garda Stephen Cullen stated that Daly had ingested the drugs, which were subsequently recovered. The package contained heroin with a street value of €7,350 and cocaine with a street value of €787. Cullen noted that serious threats were made against Daly to bring the drugs into the prison, though Daly declined to name the individuals for safety reasons. Judge Patrick McCartan noted Daly's "appalling" criminal record, which includes 32 previous convictions, and that he is currently serving a five-and-a-half-year sentence for burglaries. Although the judge expressed skepticism regarding Daly's claims of rehabilitation, he ordered a probation services report and drug testing before making a final decision. The matter was adjourned and will return to court on July 28 for sentencing, with the judge indicating Daly faces a significant term of imprisonment.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Davide Sanfillipo, 30, was given a two‑year suspended sentence for violently assaulting his ex‑girlfriend on the day of their child's christening. He attacked her in front of their infant, repeatedly punching her and tearing out clumps of her hair. The judge described the act as a "cowardly attack" but noted Sanfillipo's lack of English would make prison difficult, so he was not jailed. He was ordered to pay over €3,000 to the victim. Sanfillipo pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, had prior minor convictions in Italy, and had served in the Italian military before working as a car valet in Ireland. The prosecution acknowledged his admission of a mistake, while his defence counsel described the behaviour as "immature" and "unforgivable.".
Three men—Eoin Leonard (28), Gary St Ledger (31) and Noel Metcalfe (60)—were convicted in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for possessing €197,400 worth of cannabis. The drugs were seized on 2 April 2015 in Santry after Gardaí were tipped off about a delivery. Leonard handed two boxes to Ledger and Metcalfe. All three pleaded guilty, claiming they were delivering the boxes for others and were unaware of their contents, though they suspected illegal items. Defences cited financial pressures, debt, and threats. Leonard's counsel noted a drug debt and fear for his life; Ledger's counsel said he received €300 to buy a communion dress for his daughter; Metcalfe's counsel highlighted a significant debt and threats. The court found the men were not high‑ranking drug operators. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Ledger and Metcalfe to 3½ years each, and Leonard to 4 years, citing his slightly more serious role.
The jury in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial of four former Anglo Irish Bank bankers—John Bowe, Willie McAteer, Denis Casey and Peter Fitzpatrick—has been sent home after 33 hours of deliberation over seven days. The case, the longest criminal trial in Irish history, alleges the men conspired to mislead investors by creating a €7.2 billion circular transaction scheme between 1 March and 30 September 2008 to strengthen Anglo's balance sheet. All four pleaded not guilty. Judge Martin Nolan ordered the jury to resume tomorrow for an eighth day of deliberation.
Michael Waters, a 44‑year‑old barrister, was convicted of assaulting Marian Wallace at the Busy Bees Creche in Stillorgan in January 2012. He pleaded not guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, but a majority jury found him guilty and Judge Patricia Ryan imposed a three‑year suspended sentence on 2 July 2013. Waters has appealed the conviction and, in a motion before the Court of Appeal, sought to add new grounds. Justice John Edwards allowed only one ground, alleging the prosecution failed to disclose the complainant's statement, and rejected the rest.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, 42‑year‑old Donna Hutch, who had 313 prior convictions, pleaded guilty to producing a syringe in the city on 15 May 2015. She was sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment on 18 June 2015. The Court of Appeal rejected the Director of Public Prosecutions' application to review the sentence, citing that it was "unduly lenient". Hutch's offence involved an attempt to stab Garda John O'Donovan with a syringe needle on Amiens Street. Garda O'Donovan saw her shouting, falling, and holding a syringe with blood on it; Hutch struck out with her right hand, but a member of the public intervened and Hutch dropped the syringe. She later swallowed the barrel of the syringe. Hutch claimed she was hallucinating after ingesting crystal methamphetamine and had no intention to harm anyone.
On 28 August 2015 a Limerick man, Warren Hehir, 25, was stopped on the Long Mile Road in Dublin after a wrong turn. Gardaí searched his vehicle and found €43,970 in his tracksuit and €635 in his pocket. Hehir, who had no legitimate income, claimed the money was a loan from his mother to buy an Audi for his girlfriend, but his mother denied giving him the money. Hehir had 33 prior convictions, including drug dealing and theft, and was linked to known criminals in Limerick. He denied using the money for drugs. The prosecution, led by Grainne O'Neill BL, presented an affidavit from Sergeant Mark Campbell. Judge Melanie Greally, after hearing the affidavits, ruled the cash was proceeds of crime or intended for criminal use and accepted the State's application to forfeit €44,000, with Hehir offering no objection.
Daniel Martin, 26, of Blanchardstown, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and recklessly causing a risk of serious harm after a high‑speed chase that ended with a collision with a car carrying an elderly woman on Stonemasons Way, Ballinteer, on 2 June 2014. Gardaí pursued him at about 150 km/h, and he accelerated to over 200 km/h before veering and colliding head‑on. The woman was taken to hospital but suffered no serious injuries. Martin, with eight prior traffic convictions, received an 18‑month suspended prison sentence, 200 hours of community service and a two‑year driving disqualification.
Sharon Naughton, 38, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for assault causing harm to Brian Kenny after she threw boiling water and sugar on him, claiming he had offered her heroin. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that the incident occurred on 27 June 2015 in a flat on Prussia Street, where a confrontation between Naughton, her partner and Kenny escalated when the partner threatened Kenny with a knife. Naughton, who had a history of drug addiction and was reportedly the youngest person on a methadone programme at 15, admitted the attack and denied any sexual assault allegations. She expressed remorse, stating she should never have scalded anyone. Judge Karen O'Connor noted the assault was out of character due to drug influence and suspended the final 18 months of the sentence, citing medical treatment and a recommendation for custodial benefit. The court also heard that Kenny was left scarred and frightened by the attack. Sharon Naughton pleaded guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, a 17‑year‑old schoolboy pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after striking a fellow student with a hammer, fracturing the victim's skull. The incident occurred on 25 January when the boy, armed with his father's hammer, attacked the victim during a dispute over a €50 cannabis deal. The victim suffered serious injuries, requiring hospital treatment and a drop in academic level. The judge, Martin Nolan, described the assault as "deeply reprehensible" and imposed a three‑and‑a‑half‑year suspended sentence with a two‑year probation period. The boy was remanded in custody before sentencing. No custodial term was imposed, and the court highlighted the seriousness of the offence and the impact on the victim's future. The boy's defence noted his prior drug issues and attempts at rehabilitation. The case remains at the sentencing stage.
In the longest criminal trial in Irish history, a juror has been hospitalised and will not be able to finish deliberations. The jury has been debating for about 28 hours over six days in the case against four former Anglo Irish Bank executives who are accused of conspiring to mislead investors about the bank's financial health. The trial is being held at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and is now on day 82. Judge Martin Nolan received a note from the jury foreman that a female juror is in hospital and will be unavailable for at least a week. The judge agreed to allow the remaining 11 jurors to continue deliberating. The accused—John Bowe (52), Willie McAteer (65), Denis Casey (56) and Peter Fitzpatrick (63)—have all pleaded not guilty to conspiracy charges involving a €7.2 billion circular transaction scheme from 1 March to 30 September 2008. The case will resume tomorrow for a seventh day of deliberation.
James McGinley, 38, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to four counts of breaking into office buildings between 30 January and 17 July 2014 and to criminal damage for three desks damaged during one burglary. He is already serving a two‑year sentence for two similar burglaries committed in 2014 and is due for release in April 2017. Garda Shane Behan reported that McGinley entered four office buildings at Fitzwilliam Square and Windsor Place in Dublin 2, either late at night or in the early morning, when the premises were empty. He stole approximately €1,100 in petty cash, 15 laptops, an iPad and personal belongings. McGinley was identified from CCTV footage and fingerprints were found at one scene. Defence counsel Anne‑Marie Lawlor described him as homeless, drug‑abusing, and "desperate" following a long‑term relationship breakdown.
Agata Pracz, 39, of Swords, pleaded guilty to dishonestly inducing Yumi Takekoshi, a 58‑year‑old Tokyo woman, to hand over €8,990 on 15 July 2014. Pracz, posing as a UN diplomat named Sandra Daly, contacted Takekoshi via LinkedIn, claiming a container of cash worth €6.8 million was at a bonded warehouse in Dublin and that she would give Takekoshi access for €8,990. Takekoshi flew to Dublin, met Pracz at the airport bar, and handed over the money. Pracz then claimed she would call with details of the container. Takekoshi became suspicious, took a taxi to the Japanese embassy, and the embassy contacted Gardaí. Pracz was arrested on the M1 motorway after CCTV footage identified her car. Gardaí recovered just over €4,000 and a heavily encrypted laptop from her home. She has no prior convictions in Ireland but has three fraud‑related convictions in Poland.
In a 2016 court hearing, the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal of Darren Canning, a 36‑year‑old former Luas driver, who had pleaded guilty to burglary at an apartment block in Tallaght on 1 March 2015. Canning had been sentenced to three years' imprisonment by Judge Martin Nolan on 27 July 2015. The appeal was rejected because the Court of Appeal held that the jail term could not be deemed excessive. The case was presented as a "public service" by the Luas driver who, after seeing Canning smash a ground‑floor window, alerted her controller and prompted Gardaí to intervene. During the arrest, pepper spray was used and Canning was found with a camera, mobile phone, jewellery and two cans of beer. The judge noted Canning's 67 prior convictions, including 18 for burglary, and his long‑standing heroin addiction, but also his early engagement with rehabilitation services.
James Maughan, 38, was identified by facial‑recognition software after a photo was taken for a public services card. He had been claiming disability benefit under his own name and had also fraudulently claimed €438 of Jobseeker's Allowance in July 2015 using the false name "Terence Maughan." The Department of Social Protection discovered the deception and the case was brought to the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Maughan pleaded guilty to inducing another to submit a false application and to stealing the allowance. He has 11 prior social‑welfare fraud convictions from 2013, for which he received a six‑month sentence. At the last hearing, evidence was presented that €689 of the €1,674 repayment due for the 2013 fraud remained outstanding. The judge adjourned the sentencing to 15 June to allow further investigation of the repayment issue. The case remains pending, with no final sentence yet imposed.
A 17‑year‑old south Dublin schoolboy was remanded in custody while a judge considers his sentence after pleading guilty to assault causing harm. He used his father's hammer to strike a fourth‑year secondary school student on the forehead, fracturing the victim's skull and causing internal bleeding. The incident followed a dispute over a €50 cannabis deal between two teenage groups. The boy, who had never met the victim, claimed he brought the hammer for protection and became angry after a phone call from the other group. The victim, who had to drop from an honours Leaving Cert to a Leaving Cert Applied course, gave a victim impact statement describing the injury's long‑term stress and pain. The boy's defence argued he was remorseful, had a history of drug addiction from age 13, and had enrolled in an addiction centre.