In the longest criminal trial in Irish history, four former bankers—John Bowe, Willie McAteer, Denis Casey and Peter Fitzpatrick—were accused of conspiring to defraud the public by orchestrating a €7.2 billion circular transaction scheme between 1 March and 30 September 2008. The jury, which had been deliberating for over 23 hours after a 78‑day trial, was suspended when a juror was hospitalised. Judge Martin Nolan adjourned the proceedings until Monday morning, expecting the juror to recover by the following week. Peter Fitzpatrick pleaded not guilty.
The jury in the trial of four former Anglo Irish Bank and Irish Life & Permanent executives, accused of conspiracy to defraud the public in 2008, was sent home after six days of deliberations. The defendants—John Bowe, Willie McAteer, Denis Casey and Peter Fitzpatrick—were charged with conspiring 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. Judge Martin Nolan reminded jurors to base their verdict solely on evidence presented in court. The jury will resume tomorrow morning. Peter Fitzpatrick pleaded not guilty.
Darren Donovan, 18, of Parlickstown Gardens, Mulhuddart, was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to five years' imprisonment for stabbing homeless man John Joseph Joyce in the chest and head and for two robberies – a €400 theft from a city centre Spar and a wallet robbery in a city centre laneway. Donovan pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and the two robbery offences. The judge noted he believed Joyce had previously assaulted his brother and that Donovan planned the offence as revenge. The final 18 months of the sentence were suspended on conditions including good behaviour.
The jury in the Anglo Irish Bank and Irish Life & Permanent trial has finished its fifth day of deliberations after an 80‑day hearing, the longest criminal trial in Irish history. Four former executives—John Bowe, Willie McAteer, Denis Casey and Peter Fitzpatrick—are accused of conspiring 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. The jury will resume deliberations tomorrow morning.
The jury in the Anglo Irish Bank conspiracy trial, which has been in session for 79 days, was sent home for the day after a juror fell ill. The four former executives—John Bowe, Willie McAteer, Denis Casey and Peter Fitzpatrick—are accused of conspiring to mislead investors about Anglo's financial health by creating a €7.2 billion circular transaction scheme between March and September 2008. The scheme allegedly involved Anglo lending money to Irish Life & Permanent (ILP), which then returned the money through its assurance arm, Irish Life Assurance, to Anglo. The prosecution claims the deposits were treated as customer deposits to inflate Anglo's balance sheet from €44 billion to €51 billion, a 16 % increase. The defendants maintain the deposits were legitimate and were correctly recorded, and that they had no intention to defraud the public. The jury will resume deliberations tomorrow at 10 am. Peter Fitzpatrick pleaded not guilty.
The jury in the trial of four former Anglo Irish Bank and Irish Life & Permanent executives has been sent home after a third day of deliberations. The defendants – John Bowe, Willie McAteer, Denis Casey and Peter Fitzpatrick – are accused of conspiring to mislead investors about Anglo's financial health by setting up a €7.2 billion circular transaction scheme between 1 March and 30 September 2008. The scheme allegedly involved Anglo lending money to ILP, which then returned the money via Irish Life Assurance, treating the deposits as customer deposits rather than inter‑bank loans. The prosecution claims this inflated Anglo's customer deposits from €44 bn to €51 bn, a 16 % increase, thereby misleading readers of the bank's accounts. The defendants have pleaded not guilty, and their lawyers argue the deposits were legitimate and correctly accounted for, with no intent to defraud the public. The trial, the longest criminal case in Irish history, will resume on Monday.
The jury in the trial of four former Anglo Irish Bank and Irish Life & Permanent executives, accused of conspiracy to defraud in 2008, was sent home after a second full day of deliberations. The defendants—Denis Casey (56), John Bowe (52), Willie McAteer (65) and Peter Fitzpatrick (63)—had pleaded not guilty to charges that they conspired to mislead investors by setting up a €7.2 billion circular transaction scheme between 1 March and 30 September 2008. The scheme allegedly involved Anglo lending money to ILP, which then returned the money via Irish Life Assurance, treating the deposits as customer deposits to inflate Anglo's balance sheet from €44 billion to €51 billion. The prosecution argued the scheme was designed to mislead readers of Anglo's accounts, while the defence maintained the deposits were real, correctly accounted for, and that the defendants had no intention to mislead the public.
The jury in the trial of four former Anglo Irish Bank and Irish Life & Permanent executives, accused of conspiracy to defraud in 2008, was sent home after just over three hours of deliberation and will resume on Thursday. The defendants—Peter Fitzpatrick (63), Denis Casey (56), John Bowe (52) and Willie McAteer (65)—all pleaded not guilty to conspiring to mislead investors by creating a €7.2 billion circular transaction scheme between March 1 and September 30, 2008. The scheme involved Anglo lending money to ILP, which returned it via Irish Life Assurance, making the deposits appear as customer deposits and inflating Anglo's balance sheet from €44 bn to €51 bn. The prosecution presented 545 exhibits, including transcripts of telephone calls, and the jury received a laptop and USB keys with searchable indexes. The trial, now the longest criminal trial in Irish history, will continue with a 12‑member jury after a ballot reduced the enlarged jury of 13.
The jury in the trial of four former Anglo Irish Bank and Irish Life & Permanent executives accused of conspiracy to defraud has resumed deliberations after receiving an index of 545 exhibits. The accused—Peter Fitzpatrick (63), Denis Casey (56), John Bowe (52) and Willie McAteer (65)—had pleaded not guilty to conspiring to mislead investors by creating a €7.2 billion circular transaction scheme between March and September 2008. The scheme involved Anglo lending money to ILP, which returned it via Irish Life Assurance, making the deposits appear as customer deposits and inflating Anglo's balance sheet from €44 bn to €51 bn. The prosecution argued the scheme's sole purpose was to mislead the public. Judge Martin Nolan asked the jury to resume deliberations, and the jury received a searchable index on USB keys and hard‑copy folders from all five legal teams.
In the longest‑running Irish trial, four former Anglo Irish Bank and Irish Life & Permanent executives—Peter Fitzpatrick (63), Denis Casey (56), John Bowe (52) and Willie McAteer (65)—are accused of conspiring to mislead investors by creating a €7.2 billion circular transaction scheme between March and September 2008. The scheme allegedly involved Anglo lending money to ILP, which returned it via Irish Life Assurance, with the deposits treated as customer deposits to inflate Anglo's balance sheet from €44 bn to €51 bn. The prosecution argues the scheme was dishonest and intended to mislead the public, while the defence claims the defendants authorised the transactions in good faith and were not personally profiting. Judge Martin Nolan outlined the legal issues, emphasising that the jury must be satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that the scheme was dishonest and that each defendant was involved before any conviction can be made. The trial is ongoing. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
Judge Martin Nolan addressed a jury in the longest-running Irish trial, stating that four former Anglo Irish Bank and Irish Life & Permanent executives—Peter Fitzpatrick (63), Denis Casey (56), John Bowe (52) and Willie McAteer (65)—are entitled to a fair hearing and that prejudice must be avoided. The defendants are charged with conspiring to mislead investors by arranging a €7.2 billion circular transaction between March 1 and September 30, 2008 to strengthen Anglo's balance sheet. At the end of day 74, Nolan began his charge, emphasizing the need for impartiality. Defenders Brendan Grehan SC and Michael O'Higgin SC argued that the prosecution failed to prove intent or personal gain, citing the absence of evidence of fraud or stolen funds and the lack of a "smoking gun." They contended that the defendants were unaware of any wrongdoing and that the alleged scheme was a misguided attempt to support Anglo during a period of financial distress. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty. Peter Fitzpatrick pleaded not guilty. Denis Casey pleaded not guilty. John Bowe pleaded not guilty. Willie McAteer pleaded not guilty.
In a closing‑stage criminal trial in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, four former executives from Anglo Irish Bank and Irish Life & Permanent (ILP) were accused of conspiring to defraud investors by misrepresenting Anglo's financial health through a €7.2 billion circular transaction scheme between 1 March and 30 September 2008. The defendants – Denis Casey (56), Peter Fitzpatrick (63), John Bowe (52) and Willie McAteer (65) – pleaded not guilty. Defence counsel argued that the Financial Regulator's actions, while not approving the deal in advance, were consistent with approving it after 30 September, and that the transactions were not dishonest or criminal. The prosecution presented evidence that the Regulator was aware of the deal in detail by October, before Anglo's balance sheet was published in December.
An unnamed 16-year-old defendant appeared at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, where he pleaded guilty to five counts of sexual assault in the Balbriggan area of Co Dublin. The charges relate to incidents involving four women and one teenage girl last year. The court heard that the first alleged assault occurred on January 20, 2015, when the teenager allegedly grabbed a 39-year-old woman walking to work. Subsequent alleged offences included an incident on January 24 involving a 19-year-old woman, an attack on a 34-year-old woman on January 26, an assault on a 14-year-old girl on February 1, and an incident involving a 35-year-old woman on February 5. The defendant was arrested on February 6, 2015, and admitted the offences during interview. Counsel Tara Burns SC submitted that the teenager had made strong efforts to address the matter. Judge Patrick McCartan imposed a sentence of 12 months detention, suspended for two years. The suspension is conditional upon the defendant completing the recovery programme in which he is currently participating.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, former Anglo Irish Bank executive John Bowe, aged 52, was described by his defence counsel as "open and frank" with the Financial Regulator, claiming he believed no wrongdoing had occurred. The case involves Bowe and three other ex‑executives—Willie McAteer (65), Denis Casey (56) and Peter Fitzpatrick (63)—who are charged with conspiring to mislead investors through a €7.2 billion circular transaction scheme from 1 March to 30 September 2008. Defence lawyer Diarmaid McGuinness SC presented evidence that Bowe discussed the scheme with regulator Mary Elizabeth Donoghue in October 2008, describing the arrangement as "balance sheet dressing" or "window dressing" and stating it was not about liquidity. Denis Casey pleaded not guilty. Peter Fitzpatrick pleaded not guilty.
Anthony Connors, 40, with 47 prior convictions, was arrested after breaking into the Daughter's of Charity Community Services centre on 13 October 2015, three weeks after his release from an 11‑year sentence in September 2015. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Connors had relapsed into drug use after release and now seeks residential drug treatment. Judge Karen O'Connor adjourned sentencing to 10 October to allow him to attend treatment, ordering that he be collected from prison by Coolmine therapeutic community staff and that Gardaí be notified if he leaves the program. Garda Aidan Noonan reported that a staff member found a laptop missing from her desk; CCTV identified Connors acting suspiciously, leading to his arrest the next day. Connors had previously received an 11‑year sentence in 2009 for burglary, false imprisonment, robbery and handling stolen property. He was released on 26 September 2015.
Wayne Ellis, 34, of Landen Road, Ballyfermot, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of a firearm at Knocklyon Shopping Centre on 5 July 2012. He was given a wholly suspended five‑year sentence by Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring on 26 May 2014. The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has appealed, arguing the sentence was "unduly lenient" because Ellis had two prior firearms convictions, making a mandatory minimum of five years imprisonment required. DPP counsel Gerardine Small said the judge had been advised of the mandatory minimum and that the sentence was a fundamental error. Ellis's counsel, Caroline Biggs, noted that Ellis had challenged aspects of the law in the High Court and that the prosecution accepted that his offences were linked to a drug habit, but that by sentencing he had "completely rehabilitated" himself. Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan, sitting with Mr Justice Alan Mahon and Mr Justice John Edwards, reserved judgment on the appeal.
Stephen Cheung, a 39‑year‑old chartered accountant, was sentenced to two years in prison after pleading guilty to 18 theft offences. Between 2009 and 2013 he stole €454,309 from nearly 20 former clients, acting as their liquidator. Cheung, who had a gambling addiction that began in 2004, turned himself in to Gardaí in January 2014 after feeling pressured and suicidal. He has four young sons and a stepdaughter, and his partner's low‑paid payroll job left the family financially strained. Cheung cooperated fully with the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation and had no prior convictions. He had been attending Gambler Anonymous meetings and giving talks on addiction. Judge Patrick McCartan noted Cheung's courage in reporting the thefts but imposed the sentence because the thefts caused significant loss to the beneficiaries.
In 2016 a Wicklow civil engineering company, RSJ Civil Ltd, was fined €30,000 after a fatal incident on Kill Avenue, Dun Laoghaire. Polish worker Grzegorz Burczak, aged 31, was struck to death by a manhole cover when a traffic cone that had been knocked over by a passing car detached and hit the cover. The company had failed to provide adequate warning signs, a safety exclusion zone, or sufficient traffic cones. RSJ had entered a plea of guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for failing to ensure the safety, health and welfare of its employees during work on manhole covers. The court accepted that the accident was largely due to human error and a lapse in training, and noted the company's cooperation and regret. The company subsequently completed a full health and safety review and engaged a consultant to improve its systems. The incident was described as an unavoidable and unnecessary loss of human life.
Abraham Turner, 47, of Cherry Grove, Walkinstown, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to burglary of cash and gold at Hatton Goldsmiths, Citywest Shopping Centre, on 16 January 2014. CCTV footage showed him jumping over the stall counter, prying a locked press open with a screwdriver and removing €1,050 in cash, gold worth €2,156 and two cheques totalling €750. Turner initially denied involvement but later admitted the burglary, saying he used the proceeds to pay a €1,500 drug debt from his heroin addiction. He has 106 previous convictions, including manslaughter (served five years, released 1991) and drug supply (served, released 2010). Judge Melanie Greally, acknowledging his substantial criminal record, imposed a three‑year suspended sentence, fully suspended on the condition that Turner completes a residential drugs programme. The sentence was given in full, with no custodial term imposed.
At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Melanie Greally ruled that Anti-Austerity Alliance TD Paul Murphy and 18 other accused, including Dublin Councillor Kieran Mahon and Alliance Councillor Michael Murphy, must face separate trials on charges of false imprisonment, violent disorder, and criminal damage. The allegations stem from a water charges protest in Jobstown in November 2014, where it is alleged that violence delayed TD Joan Burton and her entourage for approximately two hours. Prosecutors argued that the 45-count indictment should be divided into manageable blocks, while the defence initially contested the court's jurisdiction to sever the case. Judge Greally determined she had the authority to alter the indictment, stating that trying all 19 defendants together would place unrealistic demands on jurors and exceed the physical capacity of the court complex. She ordered the accused be separated into groups relevant to the proposed evidence. The matter was adjourned to July 22 to allow for legal argument regarding the proposed groupings and to set trial dates. All accused were remanded on bail until that date.
In May 2016 a former National Asset Management Agency (NAMA) official, Enda Farrell, was sentenced to a two‑year suspended term for unlawfully disclosing confidential NAMA valuation data. Farrell, aged 40, sent records covering hundreds of properties—including those of major developers, NAMA's hotel portfolio and German holdings—to QED Equity Ltd. and Canaccord Genuity between May and July 2012. He pleaded guilty to eight counts under the 2009 NAMA Act. The court found no evidence that Farrell benefited personally or that NAMA's business was harmed. Judge Karen O'Connor noted the breach of trust and Farrell's attempts to bypass security as aggravating factors, but also his cooperation and admission of wrongdoing. The sentence was fully suspended, with no custodial time imposed. Farrell had not profited from the leaks, and NAMA suffered no loss from the disclosures. The case highlighted the pressures faced by NAMA staff and the importance of safeguarding confidential information.
Breffni O'Rourke, aged 67 and living in Ferrybank, Waterford, was convicted in 2012 of indecently assaulting a nine‑year‑old girl in his home in 1987. He had pleaded not guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The jury found him guilty and Judge Desmond Hogan sentenced him to two years' imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended. O'Rourke appealed the conviction, but the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal on several grounds. Justice Garrett Sheehan, sitting with Justices Alan Mahon and John Edwards, noted that O'Rourke was single and lived alone in a cottage, worked in credit control, and gave music lessons. He had begun teaching the victim in 1985, later moving lessons to his home. The court found the evidence of a 1992 meeting and subsequent complaints credible, and concluded that any alleged prejudice was minimal. The appeal was rejected.
A man from Cavan pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm and attempted sexual assault following an incident at a McDonald's restaurant on Grafton Street in June 2014. Adrian Smith, aged 33, of Curkish, Bailieboro, entered a ladies' toilet where a woman was present and attempted to sexually assault her before punching her in the face when she screamed for help. Smith initially fled but later turned himself in to gardaí after his parents identified him on the RTE programme Crimecall in September 2014. Judge Patrick McCartan described Smith's actions as "sinister in the extreme" and noted the significant trauma caused to the victim. The judge expressed concern about Smith's claims of intoxication, stating his behaviour showed calculated deliberation. Smith, who has offered €10,000 in compensation and joined the Pioneer Association, was remanded on bail pending sentencing in July 2016.
Michael Kehoe, 48, of Huntstown Avenue, Hartstown, Dublin, was sentenced to three and a half years in prison for possession of cannabis for sale or supply. He pleaded guilty to offences at Garter Lane, Saggart and his home on 21 October 2015. Kehoe had no prior convictions and was found to have stored and delivered some of the drugs, which totaled €811,800. Judge Karen O'Connor noted his law‑abiding character, remorse and a drug debt, and imposed a five‑year sentence with the final 18 months suspended.
Naila Zaffer, 38, a former senior claims manager, was given a two‑and‑a‑half‑year suspended sentence after pleading guilty to ten charges of forgery, using a false instrument and theft from IPB Insurance between April 2007 and August 2012. She stole €221,685 in 18 transactions by forging documents, adding fictitious claimants, and directing cheques to accounts she controlled. The fraud was uncovered when a colleague noticed anomalies, leading to an internal investigation, her suspension and eventual dismissal in February 2014. Zaffer claimed the theft was driven by a "physical compulsion" to pay a spiralling drug debt, admitting she spent about €250 a day on cocaine. She has no prior convictions, is currently on social welfare, and the judge suspended the sentence on the condition she attend residential treatment and remain under probation supervision for the full period.
Three men—Stephen Rooney (35), Vincent Brunton (33) and Alan Richardson (27)—will be sentenced on 13 July for forging a National Car Test certificate on 20 April 2011. Rooney and Richardson, who live at The Paddocks Grove, Adamstown, Dublin, and Brunton, who lives at Priory Square, St Raphaels Manor, Celbridge, pleaded guilty on a without‑prejudice basis at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. They were arrested after a four‑year Garda investigation prompted by an RTÉ Primetime documentary in 2011. Judge Karen O'Connor set the hearing for half a day, when full facts will be heard.
In a conspiracy‑to‑defraud trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, four former Anglo Irish Bank and Irish Life & Permanent executives—John Bowe, Willie McAteer, Denis Casey and Peter Fitzpatrick—were charged with conspiring to mislead investors about Anglo Irish Bank's financial health. The prosecution alleged that between 1 March and 30 September 2008 the accused authorised a €7.2 billion circular transaction scheme to inflate Anglo's customer deposits. The State's case centred on the claim that the ILP executives were aware of Anglo's intent to misrepresent the deal on its balance sheet and that they knowingly participated in a scheme that did not provide real liquidity. The defence argued that the executives believed the transactions were legitimate collateralised deals and that they had no control over Anglo's accounting. The trial was ongoing, with the jury instructed to consider whether the accused intended to mislead the public. The case was still pending at the time of reporting. Denis Casey pleaded not guilty. Peter Fitzpatrick pleaded not guilty.
Petrica Lucaci, 26, was jailed for four years after a series of violent incidents on the M50 and at Dublin Airport. He abandoned his car at a toll booth, walked to the airport, hijacked a BMW and pursued a taxi driver, breaking red lights and driving against traffic. During the chase he struck three Gardaí, one of whom was cut behind the ear, and later assaulted two security officers at Beaumont Hospital. Lucaci pleaded guilty to unlawful seizure of a vehicle, attempted unlawful seizure, assault on Kevin O'Brien, assault on Garda Adrian McHugh, assault on two security officers, endangerment and dangerous driving. He had no prior convictions. Judge Terrence O'Sullivan sentenced him to five years with the final year suspended, banned him from driving for six years, and ordered anger‑management treatment under probation supervision. The judge noted Lucaci's hyper‑aggression and the physical and psychological impact on victims, including a five‑year‑old girl.
Craig McManus, 23, of Kiltalown View, Tallaght, was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to four years' imprisonment, with the last 18 months suspended. He pleaded guilty to possession of €101,537 worth of heroin in his home in May 2014 and to possession of €8,225 worth of heroin on 26 October 2014. The court noted his 80 prior convictions, including drug dealing, theft and public order offences, and that a probation report placed him at moderate risk of re‑offending. Judge Karen O'Connor cited his supportive family, rehabilitation and lack of association with criminal peers, and the fact that his mother had previously paid off his drug debts after threats. The judge imposed the custodial sentence, suspending the final 18 months on strict conditions.
In a case heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Danilo Rodriguez, 44, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Garda Niall Mulvaney. The incident occurred on June 10, 2015, when Rodriguez, after being directed to leave a bus lane, drove his van for 51 metres while a Garda's arm was trapped in the driver's window. The Garda was forced to run backwards as the vehicle moved at about 30 km/h. Sgt Anthony Collins reported that the Garda suffered nerve damage and tendinitis, remaining in pain and out of work for nine months. The court imposed a suspended two‑year prison sentence on Rodriguez, with the judge noting the Garda's fair treatment and Rodriguez's early guilty plea and remorse. The Director of Public Prosecutions withdrew a dangerous driving charge that would have carried a mandatory driving ban. The case highlighted the Garda's injuries and the court's decision to suspend the custodial term.
Anthony Handley, 64, was jailed for two years after his off‑road jeep, while he was in a brief micro‑sleep, veered off the road and struck a young mother, Olivia Dunne, and her 15‑week‑old daughter, Éabha Dunne, near Balbriggan on 17 January 2014. Olivia Dunne, 31, died instantly; Éabha suffered severe injuries, including multiple broken bones, and remains in a coma with ongoing medical needs. Handley had no alcohol or drugs in his system and had only four hours of sleep the night before. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Patrick McCartan refused a suspended sentence, citing Handley's fatigue as an aggravating factor, and imposed a two‑year custodial term and a ten‑year driving ban. The judge emphasised the need for drivers to remain alert and expressed sympathy for the victims' families. The case highlights the dangers of driving while tired.
The trial of four former Anglo Irish Bank and Irish Life & Permanent executives for conspiracy to defraud has entered its final phase. John Bowe, Willie McAteer, Denis Casey and Peter Fitzpatrick, all pleading not guilty, are accused of orchestrating a €7.2 billion circular transaction scheme between 1 March and 30 September 2008 to inflate Anglo's year‑end balance sheet. The scheme involved moving money through a series of corporate deposits that were presented as legitimate bank deposits, thereby misleading investors, depositors and lenders who relied on the published accounts. The prosecution, led by DPP counsel Una Ní Raifeartaigh, argued that the executives knowingly implemented the transactions with the intent to deceive. The jury, after hearing the state's case, will deliberate on the evidence presented by the defendants' lawyers. The trial is scheduled to conclude with closing speeches and a final verdict.
Sean FitzPatrick, former chairman of Anglo Irish Bank, has been scheduled for a new trial on 27 offences under the 1990 Companies Act, including 21 charges of misleading auditors and six of providing false information between 2002 and 2007. The trial, set for Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, will last two to three months and require a 15‑member jury. Judge Rory McCabe adjourned the original May start after concerns that the trial could not finish before the court's summer recess, and set a new start date of 4 October 2016. Sean FitzPatrick pleaded not guilty.
In a care home in Monkstown, a burglar named Stuart Perry, 42, was discovered asleep in a corridor beside a "do not disturb" sign. He and a female accomplice fled the scene with a bottle of detergent and were later arrested outside. Garda David Maloney reported that staff noticed the sign had been knocked to the ground and found a male body and a female standing over it. Perry, who had previously tried crystal meth that night, was arrested with the keys to an office and the detergent bottle. He pleaded guilty to burglary at Richmond Cheshire Home on September 19, 2014, and has 67 prior convictions. Judge Patricia Ryan adjourned sentencing to July 15 to allow a probation report. Perry later admitted to drug use, expressed remorse, and explained he had simply wanted to sleep. The only items taken were the office keys and the detergent bottle. The case remains pending sentencing.
Jason Kearns, a 30‑year‑old new father from Crumlin, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of 61 g of cocaine worth €4,300 and 1,515 g of cannabis herb worth €30,300, which he had stored at his home on 20 March 2015. He had two prior road‑traffic convictions. Judge Melanie Greally, after hearing evidence and ordering a probation report, considered the case "borderline" and decided whether the facts were exceptional enough to impose a suspended sentence. She accepted Kearns' full cooperation with the Gardaí and his minor prior convictions, and imposed a five‑year sentence, which she suspended in full on strict conditions. Garda Catriona Gallagher reported that the drugs were found after a tip‑off and a search of Kearns' home. Kearns said he stored the drugs because of a debt his brother had incurred after drugs he had been holding were seized by the Gardaí.
Gavin Guinan Cahill, 38, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment after he stabbed David Hawkins in the chest, cut his arm and then used a broken knife handle to cut Hawkins' neck during an attempted robbery on Aungier Street on 17 February 2014. Hawkins required lung re‑inflation and stitches for his chest wound. Guinan Cahill pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and two attempted robbery charges at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He had 35 prior convictions, including a 2005 assault where he stabbed a man and threatened a taxi driver. At the time of arrest he had two knives on his leg. The judge, Melanie Greally, noted his long history of drug abuse and the serious risk posed to Hawkins, and imposed the five‑year term. No further outcomes or future actions are mentioned in the article.
A 44‑year‑old Cork man was sentenced to a three‑year prison term, with the last year suspended, for sexually assaulting a friend's daughter on three occasions between January and November 2013. The offences occurred at addresses in Limerick and County Clare while the victim was aged 11 and 12. The man pleaded not guilty but a jury found him guilty on all counts. Judge Patricia Ryan imposed the suspended sentence on the condition that he keep the peace for three years after release and placed him on the sex offenders register. The court heard the victim's interview, describing the assaults, and a victim impact report detailing her fear of older men and the effect on her life. The judge noted the defendant's position of trust and the victim's young age as aggravating factors, while his lack of prior convictions was a mitigating factor.
In a 2016 Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, VF Coldstores Ltd was fined €200,000 for health and safety breaches that caused the instant death of warehouse supervisor Robert Ceremuga, 32, when a 36‑tonne racking collapsed onto him on 28 November 2013. The company pleaded guilty, and Judge Melanie Greally imposed a €100,000 fine payable within two years and a second €100,000 payable within four years. The collapse was attributed to an accidental impact with pallets on a forklift operated by a newly hired employee who lacked the proper licence. An engineer's report confirmed the racking was overloaded and pallets had not been removed before the forklift was used. No CCTV footage existed to verify the operative's claim. The court heard that VF Coldstores had a safety statement and risk assessment, but the forklift operator had not received appropriate training.
A 17‑year‑old boy in State care was sentenced to four and a half years' detention for a series of robberies committed with a group of teenagers. Between 23 June and 15 November 2015 he pleaded guilty to seven robberies in Dublin city centre and Tallaght. The offences included the early‑morning robbery of three men on 23 June, a robbery of a Chinese man on 10 July, and a robbery of three women on 15 November. The boy had prior convictions for burglary, theft and drug offences. Judge Melanie Greally noted his difficult family background, periods of homelessness and influence from negative peer groups. She observed that when away from these influences he showed insight, remorse and shame. The judge imposed a five‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence with the final year suspended, giving a total of four and a half years' detention.
In May 2016 a 29‑year‑old man named Michael Brennan, who had a prior conviction for attempted murder, was seen by Gardaí chasing a group of people while armed with two knives. He pursued them to a parked car and appeared to try to open the door or stab the vehicle. Gardaí ordered him to drop the knives; he complied, threw them on the ground and was arrested. The incident stemmed from a family dispute and Brennan was reportedly relapsing into drug addiction at the time. He had previously pleaded guilty to possession of a knife at Cromcastle Drive, Kilmore, and had 67 other convictions, including intimidation of a witness and threats to kill. He was released in May 2015 after serving a ten‑year sentence for the 2007 attempted murder conviction. Judge Melanie Greally postponed sentencing to 14 July 2016 and ordered a probation report, noting Brennan's attempts at rehabilitation.
The State has finished presenting its evidence in the Anglo‑ILP conspiracy trial, where four former bank executives—Peter Fitzpatrick (63), Denis Casey (56), John Bowe (52) and Willie McAteer (65)—were accused of conspiring to mislead investors by arranging a seven‑billion‑euro circular transaction scheme to inflate Anglo Irish Bank's balance sheet. The defendants pleaded not guilty to conspiracy charges relating to financial transactions between 1 March and 30 September 2008. On day 67, the Director of Public Prosecutions informed Judge Martin Nolan that the State's case was complete, and the trial moved to the legal argument stage. The prosecution's case centred on back‑to‑back deals between Anglo and Irish Life & Permanent (ILP) aimed at boosting Anglo's deposits figure for its year‑end accounts.
Sean Ducque, aged 32 and without a fixed abode, was sentenced by Judge Patricia Ryan to five years in prison for an attempted car‑jacking on 26 March 2013 at Terrace Place, Dublin, and for producing a knife during the attack. The victim, taxi driver Noel Fairman, recounted that he felt his life flash before him and feared death, heart rupture, or throat injury while Ducque held a knife to his neck. Fairman resisted, managed to open the car door, and escaped. Ducque repeatedly demanded the car keys and the knife, refusing to release them. The court noted Fairman's prior heart surgeries and stent implants. Judge Ryan imposed an eight‑year sentence, suspending the last three years on the condition that Ducque engage in addiction programmes run by the Probation Services. The case highlighted Ducque's 39 prior convictions, including robbery, burglary, drug dealing, and theft, and his history of drug addiction and homelessness. Sean Ducque pleaded guilty.
Dr Carlos Cruz Soriano, a 76‑year‑old retired US surgeon, was found in possession of 1.86 kg of cocaine valued at €107,000 in a red bag at Dublin Airport on 1 September 2015. He had been lured by a phishing scam that promised a $2.3 million inheritance from a long‑lost relative. The scammers had sent him on a "dry run" to Hong Kong and later to Colombia, where he received the bag and paperwork. Soriano pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine. Judge Melanie Greally, noting his isolation, depression and early‑onset dementia, imposed a fully suspended five‑year sentence, ordering him to leave the country within 24 hours. He had no prior convictions and was released after the sentencing.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, former ILP head of finance Peter Fitzpatrick, aged 63, denied acting alone in a March 2008 transaction that allegedly moved €1 billion from Anglo Irish Bank to ILP and €750 million back to Anglo via ILP's non‑banking subsidiary, Irish Life Assurance. Fitzpatrick said he had received approval from ILP chief executive Denis Casey, who had been instructed by the regulator to pursue a "green jersey" agenda of mutual support among Irish banks. Fitzpatrick claimed Casey had directed him to execute the deal and that it was risk‑free for ILP. He also stated that the transaction was a back‑to‑back, collateralised arrangement and that he could not have proceeded without Casey's approval. The case involves four former executives who all pleaded not guilty to conspiracy charges relating to the alleged €7.2 billion circular scheme. The trial is ongoing.
In a 2016 case, 19‑year‑old Eric Ryan received a suspended three‑year sentence for dangerous driving that caused serious bodily harm to 32‑year‑old Evelyn Nealon. Nealon was struck by Ryan's car while crossing a green pedestrian light at the junction of Clanbrassil Street and South Circular Road. The impact threw her under a parked bus, leading to four operations on her pelvis and leg. She suffered long‑term injuries, including early‑onset arthritis, a limp, a dropped foot and a lifelong leg brace. Ryan, who was driving a blue car that collided with a white car before spinning and hitting Nealon, fled the scene. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, was found guilty of dangerous driving, and was also disqualified from driving for four years. The court noted his young age, early plea and remorse when imposing the suspended sentence.
In May 2016, a 22‑year‑old man named Shane Murphy hijacked a taxi in Dublin after threatening the driver, Joseph Aladegbola, that he would blow his head off. Murphy demanded the driver exit the vehicle, which Aladegbola complied with and fled to a nearby house for help. Aladegbola later told Gardaí that Murphy had placed his hand in his jacket pocket, leading Aladegbola to believe a gun was present. Murphy was charged with unlawfully seizing a vehicle by force or threat and dangerous driving. He pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The case was adjourned to October 12, 2016, with a judge ordering Murphy to continue rehabilitation work. No gun was recovered, and the incident was described by Aladegbola as a nightmare that left him in fear for his safety and that of his family.
In 2016, former Irish Life & Permanent chief executive Denis Casey, aged 56, was questioned by Gardaí about authorising a €7.2 billion transaction with Anglo Irish Bank. Casey claimed he did so because he felt obliged to support Anglo under a "green jersey agenda" promoted by the Financial Regulator and Central Bank, which encouraged Irish banks to back each other. He said he believed the transaction was collateralised and would not expose ILP to financial loss. Casey denied that the deal was intended to bolster Anglo's deposits and insisted he had no reason to doubt Anglo's integrity in September 2008. He admitted he only became aware of potential exposure in February 2009. The case is part of a trial where four former executives are charged with conspiring to mislead investors through a circular transaction scheme between March and September 2008. The trial is ongoing at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 3 May 2016, TD Paul Murphy and 18 other defendants challenged a State application for four separate trials on 45 counts, including false imprisonment of Tánaiste Joan Burton, violent disorder and criminal damage, arising from a water‑charges protest in Jobstown. Prosecutor Tony McGillicuddy argued that the case should be divided into manageable blocks, citing UK case law that multiple accused could burden the judge and jury and that no courtroom could handle 19 defendants. Defence counsel, including Colman Fitzgerald for Antoinette Kane, contended that Judge Melanie Greally lacked jurisdiction to grant severance and that the State's application was illogical, as the Director of Public Prosecution had drafted the indictment. They warned that separate trials would create multiple "trials within a trial" and that a single jury should assess the entire incident for justice. Judge Greally said she would decide on 12 May and excused some defendants from the next sessions.
Gavin Guinan Cahill, 38, was found guilty of assault causing harm and two attempted robbery charges after stabbing David Hawkins in the chest and cutting his arm and neck during a 2014 incident on Aungier Street. Hawkins required lung re‑inflation and stitches. Guinan Cahill pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. While at the Garda station for questioning, he attempted to choke himself with his boxer shorts, was handcuffed for safety, and later refused medical treatment. His defence sought a full adjournment so he could attend his son's communion; Judge Melanie Greally granted this. Guinan Cahill has 35 prior convictions, including a 2005 assault where he stabbed a man and threatened a taxi driver. He was arrested with two knives on his leg and has a history of drug use and mental health issues as noted by a forensic psychiatrist. The case is set for sentencing next Monday.
Owen Travers, a 61‑year‑old former assistant manager at AIB in Clondalkin, pleaded guilty to 15 counts of theft from seven customers, all of whom were also friends. He stole between €200 and €25,000, totalling over €127,000, but the actual loss to victims was just under €90,000 because he moved money between accounts. The thefts were uncovered in February 2012 when a customer noticed a large sum missing from her mother's account; she later discovered €10,000 had also been taken from her own company's account. Travers admitted the thefts to the victim, his boss, and to Gardaí, claiming he was dealing with alcoholism, depression, gambling debts and suicidal thoughts. He has no prior convictions, is now the primary homemaker for his wife and two children, and will never work in the financial sector again. The case was adjourned for sentencing on 11 July.