Anthony Callaghan, 45, and Paul Zambra, 39, were arrested in Coolock on 29 May 2015 after a Garda surveillance operation. They possessed a Ruger revolver and a semi‑automatic pistol, both loaded, with an intent to endanger life. Zambra also pleaded guilty to driving without insurance. Callaghan had a prior firearms conviction, so a mandatory minimum of ten years applies; Zambra's sentence may differ. Both pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The court adjourned sentencing to the following Wednesday. The operation involved a white Nissan van and a blue BMW; Gardaí seized a full petrol container, a pistol with a silencer, and a revolver with serial numbers removed. Both men exercised their right to silence during questioning. The case is pending sentencing.
The trial of four former Anglo Irish Bank and Irish Life and Permanent executives continued in legal argument on 10 March 2016. Willie McAteer, 65, former Head of Finance at Anglo, Denis Casey, 56, former CEO of ILP, and two others were accused of conspiring to mislead investors by manipulating Anglo's balance sheets through interbank loans. The alleged scheme involved transferring money from Anglo to ILP and then back to Anglo via ILP's life assurance division, presenting the transfers as corporate deposits rather than interbank loans to inflate Anglo's corporate funding figures for the year‑end on 30 September 2008. McAteer, Casey, Peter Fitzpatrick (63), and John Bowe (52) pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. A legal issue on day 36 halted evidence before the jury, and the judge asked them to return the next day. The court did not sit on Thursday morning due to the funeral of Supreme Court judge Adrian Hardiman.
Joseph Magee, a former INLA member, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for possessing 55 pairs of stolen "Maui Jim" sunglasses found at his Clongriffin home on April 2, 2015. Magee pleaded guilty to the charge, which he admitted, claiming he found the items in a park and intended to give them away or sell them for a small amount. Gardaí alleged he was holding the goods for a third party, though he was not charged with the underlying theft. The court heard that Magee was convicted of murder in 2004 for the 1992 killing of Sergeant Michael Newman in Derby, England, and was released under the Good Friday Agreement after serving two years. Defence counsel Dean Kelly argued that Magee's previous convictions, including earlier firearm offences, should be viewed in the context of the peace process, requesting a non-custodial disposal to allow him to retain his social housing. Judge Melanie Greally acknowledged that Magee's convictions "speak for themselves" but noted they were committed in a specific context. She determined that imprisonment would cause him to lose his home, hindering his reform efforts. Consequently, the judge imposed a two-year suspended sentence, accepting that Magee was not the final beneficiary of the stolen property.
Mark McCann, 23, pleaded guilty to robbery of a taxi driver's phone and car keys outside Swords Garda Station on 1 May 2012. He had 13 prior convictions. The driver, who had undergone heart surgery, was concerned about his pacemaker when McCann and accomplice Claire Lawlor (26) attempted to rob him. McCann grabbed the driver in a choke hold and punched him, then fled with the driver's keys and phone. McCann was arrested in March 2013 and claimed memory loss due to drug use. Judge Melanie Greally, noting McCann's genuine efforts to reform, imposed a four‑year sentence suspended for four years. Lawlor received a two‑and‑a‑half‑year suspended sentence the previous year. The court highlighted both defendants' recent positive changes and their disassociation from each other. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
The trial of four former banking executives at Anglo Irish Bank and Irish Life and Permanent (ILP) is proceeding at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The accused are Denis Casey, former ILP CEO; William McAteer, former Anglo Head of Finance; Peter Fitzpatrick, former ILP director of finance; and John Bowe, former Anglo head of capital markets. All four have pleaded not guilty to conspiring together and with others to mislead investors through financial transactions between March 1st and September 30th, 2008. The prosecution alleges the defendants manipulated Anglo's balance sheets using interbank loans, where money was allegedly transferred from Anglo to ILP and then redeposited with Anglo via ILP's life assurance division. This process allegedly disguised interbank loans as corporate deposits, artificially inflating the bank's corporate funding figures for its year-end report on September 30, 2008. On day 35 of the trial, Judge Martin Nolan stated that certain legal rulings had probably shortened the proceedings, which were originally scheduled to last five months. The judge assured the jury the trial was running according to timetable. He adjourned the court for the day due to a new legal issue and further suspended proceedings until the following afternoon to observe the funeral of Supreme Court Justice Adrian Hardiman, who died suddenly that week. The matter remains ongoing.
Dylan Thomas, 19, was remanded on bail after pleading guilty to assaulting Garda Stephen Harte and Garda Keith Delaney on 2 May 2015. The incident occurred at Swords Town Park during a public order event. Thomas attacked the officers, punching and kicking them, and was handcuffed and taken to Swords Garda Station. While in custody he continued to be aggressive, striking Garda Harte's knee, which caused cartilage and ligament damage, requiring a brace and physiotherapy. Thomas was described as heavily intoxicated and a former schoolboy boxer. His defence cited a psychologist's report highlighting alcohol, possible cannabis use, and a lack of structure. Judge Melanie Greally adjourned the case to 7 June, ordering a probation report and noting the report's call for intervention.
Marie McMahon, aged 68, admitted to stealing €101,538.80 in social welfare payments over 12 years by fraudulently using her sister Katherine's card. After Katherine emigrated in 1992, a friend initially collected benefits, and when Katherine was hospitalized, McMahon agreed to continue. They split the money until Katherine's death in 2012. McMahon kept collecting until facial‑recognition technology identified her in July 2014. She pleaded guilty to 13 charges at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, with a prior 1979 drug possession conviction. The Director of Public Prosecutions accepted the pleas as sample counts. McMahon was remanded on bail pending sentencing on 7 June, with a probation report ordered. The case remains at the hearing stage.
During a trial in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, four former senior bankers of Anglo Irish Bank and Irish Life & Permanent were accused of conspiring to mislead investors by manipulating interbank loans. The alleged scheme involved Anglo transferring money to ILP, which then deposited it back into Anglo through its life assurance division, disguising the transaction as a corporate deposit rather than an interbank loan. This would inflate Anglo's corporate funding figures for the year‑end on 30 September 2008. The defendants—Willie McAteer (65), Denis Casey (56), Peter Fitzpatrick (63), and John Bowe (52)—all pleaded not guilty. Anglo's former Chief Financial Officer, Matt Moran, testified that he learned on 30 September 2008 that the interbank loans exceeded €7 billion, a figure he described as "very significant" and expressed surprise at.
Stephen Clinch, a film actor who starred in the Love/Hate TV series, has been sentenced to four and a half years in prison after admitting to possession of a firearm with the intention to commit robbery and to the robbery of €50,730 at The Gate Hotel, Parnell Street, Dublin on May 11, 2015. Clinch (49) of Millbrook Grove, Kilbarrack, Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The court heard that Clinch had a history of heroin addiction and previous convictions for 17 robberies and 13 burglaries dating back to 2004. Character referees, including singer Damien Dempsey, Love/Hate producer Stuart Carolan, and film director Mark O'Connor, described Clinch as a friendly and reliable worker who had given back to his local community. The incident involved Clinch holding a loaded semi-automatic pistol to the head of a security worker, Michel Cieslik, and demanding cash. Maintenance worker Barry Smith attempted to block the robbers' escape but was punched by Clinch. Garda Niall McCormack stated that the gun had been altered to discharge live ammunition, but the rounds found were not suitable for use in the pistol. Judge Martin Nolan described the incident as 'incredibly frightening' and noted the victim's fear for his life. Clinch claimed he did not know the gun was loaded and that he committed the robbery due to a debt of €8,000 from hiding a consignment of drugs. The matter was finalised at the sentence stage.
During the trial of four former Anglo Irish Bank bankers, witnesses testified that Anglo had considered a merger with Irish Life & Permanent (ILP) during the 2008 financial crisis. The alleged scheme involved interbank loans that would be recorded as corporate deposits, inflating Anglo's corporate funding figures for the year‑end 30 September 2008. The defendants – Willie McAteer, Denis Casey, Peter Fitzpatrick and John Bowe – pleaded not guilty to conspiring to mislead investors. Witness Matt Moran, Anglo's former CFO, described a project called "Universe" that aimed to create a universal bank by merging Anglo with ILP and Permanent TSB. He also recounted discussions with Allied Irish Bank about depositing funds with Anglo, but the merger never materialised. The trial is ongoing.
Jason Rowe, a 40‑year‑old father of four, was sentenced to eight years in prison for possessing over €3 million worth of drugs, three sub‑machine guns and two pistols. Gardaí seized the contraband during raids on his home and a leased unit in the Bluebell Industrial Estate on 9 and 10 February 2015. The drugs included 18 kg of heroin (valued at €2.69 million) and 3 kg of cocaine (worth €210 567). Rowe also admitted possession of a Heckler & Koch MP5, a Steyr AUG, a GSG5 sub‑machine gun, a 9 mm handgun, a .45 handgun and 23 bullets. He had eight prior convictions for traffic offences. Judge Melanie Greally suspended the last three years of the sentence on strict conditions, noting that the firearms were "serious weapons that have the capacity to mutilate and kill.". Jason Rowe pleaded guilty.
David Ryan, 28, was jailed for three years after he took a six‑year‑old boy with Down syndrome from outside a shop on Liffey Street Upper on 11 June 2015. Ryan, who had no fixed abode and was described as "out of it", had taken the child, left him minutes later, and removed the boy's chicken nuggets. The boy had been with his parents at a hospital appointment before being taken to Burger King. Ryan abandoned the child in a buggy outside Arnotts, where a woman saw him pushing the buggy and called security. The boy was reunited with his father within 10–15 minutes. Ryan pleaded guilty to intentionally or recklessly taking the child without consent, and the court noted his 112 previous convictions and severe addiction problems. He expressed remorse and wrote a letter of apology.
John Murphy, 66, a former travel agent and founder of The Children to Lapland Appeal, was convicted in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for stealing €68,000 from the charity he established in 1987 to fund trips for terminally ill children. The trial lasted two days with 42 minutes of jury deliberation. Murphy had previously pleaded not guilty to four theft counts in 2010 totalling €18,643. At sentencing, the court heard his family offered to raise compensation and that the charity had been liquidated. Judge Patrick McCartan said he would consider a non‑custodial sentence if the money was repaid by 16 March, noting the need for a deterrent. Murphy is now involved with a new charity, The Make It Happen Foundation, and his bail conditions require disclosure of the theft charges to its directors.
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court adjourned proceedings involving TD Paul Murphy and 18 others, including Keith Preston and Antoinette Kane, who face charges of false imprisonment and violent disorder. The allegations stem from a November 2014 water charges protest in Jobstown, where it is alleged that Tánaiste Joan Burton and Karen O'Connell were falsely imprisoned. Prosecuting counsel Tony McGillicuddy BL indicated the State intends to sever the indictment into up to four separate trials. He requested an adjournment until April 4 to allow time for the State to set out its reasons for severance in writing by March 18. Defence counsel Conor McKenna BL stated that Mr Murphy will contest the case but wishes to review the indictment before a trial date is set. Padraig Dwyer SC, representing Keith Preston, argued for a joint trial and requested the State's terms in writing. The court noted that Antoinette Kane is due a baby imminently and her attendance may be excused if medically unfit. Judge Melanie Greally adjourned the matter, with a trial date likely to be set next month.
The trial heard that former Irish Life and Permanent finance director Peter Fitzpatrick, aged 63, was concerned that Anglo Irish Bank would lose money if it went bust. Fitzpatrick, along with Anglo's former head of finance Willie McAteer (65), former ILP CEO Denis Casey (56), and two others, is accused of conspiring to mislead investors by using €7.2 bn of inter‑bank loans to manipulate Anglo's balance sheets. The alleged scheme involved transferring money from Anglo to ILP and then back to Anglo via ILP's life assurance division, making the transfers appear as corporate deposits rather than inter‑bank loans. This would inflate Anglo's corporate funding figures for the year‑end on 30 September 2008. During the trial, excerpts of a telephone call were heard in which Fitzpatrick discussed the possibility of "set‑off" or netting the loans against each other to protect the banks' positions if Anglo collapsed. Denis Casey pleaded not guilty.
Aaron Kelly, a 20‑year‑old Irish amateur boxer from Hill View Estate, Ballinteer, was sentenced to a year in prison for assaulting a drug dealer during a robbery and threatening to shoot the dealer's mother. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to breaching the peace on 6 June 2014 and assault causing harm on 14 July 2014. Judge Karen O'Connor imposed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year term, suspended the final 18 months, and told Kelly to serve his time and move on. The judge considered the seriousness of the offences and the impact on victims, including Martina Courtney, who said she felt imprisoned and lost her job. She noted that not all harm to Courtney's son, Daragh Dodrell, could be blamed on Kelly, as Mr Dodrell was also involved in drug dealing. Kelly had threatened Courtney with a bullet for her head and a bullet for Mr Dodrell's knee.
Derek McCann, 35, of Walkinstown Park, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to robbing two young boys of their mobile phones at knifepoint on 29 September 2014. He had 31 prior convictions for robbery, burglary, assault and firearm possession. The boys, aged 12 and 14, handed over their phones and €6 each; McCann returned the money before demanding silence. He expressed shame and wrote apology letters. Judge Patricia Ryan imposed a four‑year sentence, suspending the final two years under strict conditions. McCann is currently serving the reactivated two‑year term, which will begin anew in April. The case highlighted the boys' fear and the older boy's maturity in calming his younger brother during the robbery.
Stephen Comey, 29, of Pearse House, Pearse Street, will be sentenced next month for hijacking a car and repeatedly punching a heavily pregnant woman in the passenger seat while driving through Dublin. He had 70 prior convictions and was released from prison six weeks before the offence. On 12 May 2014, he pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to unlawful seizure of a car, assault causing harm and possession of a syringe in the north inner city. The court heard he had a "tragic background" but was now anxious to rehabilitate himself. Judge Patricia Ryan noted his efforts to rehabilitate while in custody and his family's support, ordered an updated probation report and said she would finalise sentencing in April.
David Emerson, 31, received a Gaisce Award from President Michael D. Higgins two weeks before he was jailed for a hammer assault. He pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to a man at Kilshane Cross, Finglas, on 21 June 2012. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court sentenced him to 16 months imprisonment on 12 July 2013, but he was granted bail pending appeal. On appeal, the Court of Appeal held that Emerson had turned his life around to such a significant extent that the Circuit Court judge erred in ruling out suspending part of his sentence. Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan re‑sentenced him to two years imprisonment, with the two years suspended, and required a two‑year good‑behaviour bond. Emerson was praised for his transformation, his engagement with the Fr Peter McVerry Trust, and his receipt of the Gaisce award.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, John Murphy, a 66‑year‑old travel agent from Killiney, was found guilty of stealing €18,643 from the Children to Lapland Appeal charity he founded. The jury reached the verdict after 42 minutes of deliberation. Murphy had written cheques from the charity's account and deposited them into his personal account. His defence argued that the money was used for business transactions related to his now‑defunct travel agency, United Travel, and that he had no intention of keeping the funds. Prosecutor Garrett McCormack described the defence as a "Father Ted" defence. Following conviction, Judge Patrick McCartan remanded Murphy in custody until sentencing. The case highlighted the charity's history of sending terminally ill children to Lapland and its eventual liquidation in 2012. The court held that theft occurred if the owner of the money was deprived of it for any length of time. John Murphy pleaded not guilty.
In the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, four former Anglo Irish Bank bankers—Willie McAteer (65), John Bowe (52), Peter Fitzpatrick (63), and Denis Casey (56)—have pleaded not guilty to conspiracy charges. They are accused of orchestrating inter‑bank loan transfers between March 1 and September 30, 2008, to inflate Anglo's balance sheet by €7.2 billion, thereby misleading investors. The trial, presided over by Judge Martin Nolan with a jury, continues to examine the alleged financial manipulations.
In March 2015, Robert McHugh, aged 25, robbed Martin O'Brien, a 63‑year‑old visually impaired man, at a Luas stop in Dublin. McHugh punched O'Brien, head‑butted him, and stole his groceries and cane. Garda Kieran O'Rourke noted that O'Brien was waiting with his partner when McHugh approached, and that Luas security and bystanders called the police, who apprehended McHugh shortly after the incident. McHugh, who had 139 prior convictions, pleaded guilty to robbery. He claimed he had no recollection of the event, citing alcohol consumption, and had a knife in his tracksuit that was not used. The court, acknowledging McHugh's history of alcohol abuse and schizophrenia, sentenced him to four years' imprisonment, with the last 18 months suspended, subject to strict conditions. The sentence reflects the violent nature of the offence and the need for McHugh's rehabilitation.
Kevin Muldoon, a trainee Montessori teacher, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to sexual assault and the production of child pornography. The court heard that on May 8, 2014, Muldoon sexually assaulted a four-year-old special needs girl in his care and took pornographic images of her. He further pleaded guilty to possessing 688 images of child pornography discovered during a raid on his premises, family home, and the playschool on May 15, 2014. Judge Melanie Greally described the offences as a gross breach of trust, noting the victim's extreme youth as the single greatest aggravating factor. The judge accepted that Muldoon expressed remorse, had social and educational difficulties, and had not shared or paid for the material. Muldoon, who has no previous convictions, was sentenced to five years in prison. The court ordered that he engage in treatment while in custody. Additionally, the judge imposed five years of post-release supervision and prohibited Muldoon from taking any position that would bring him into contact with children. The victim's parents stated in a statement that the abuse had caused lasting trauma, including night terrors and social struggles. Defence counsel highlighted that the plea spared the child cross-examination and noted Muldoon's vulnerability and lack of friends since the incident.
Patrick O'Brien, 76, a former Church of Ireland lay worker, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to indecently assaulting a male in a boat moored in a Midlands town between 1 April 1984 and 30 September 1984. Prosecutor Anne Rowland said the State required further pleas before sentencing but accepted this one to keep the case moving. The court adjourned to 8 April for all evidence, while Judge Melanie Greally remanded O'Brien on bail. Judge Cormac Dunne had earlier ruled that media could not publish the accused's name or identify victims.
The trial of four former senior bankers accused of conspiring to mislead investors continued at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court before Judge Martin Nolan. John Bowe, Willie McAteer, Peter Fitzpatrick, and Denis Casey, all from Dublin or Tipperary, have pleaded not guilty to charges alleging they used interbank loans between March and September 2008 to make Anglo Irish Bank appear €7.2 billion more valuable than it was. Prosecutors Una Ni Raifeartaigh SC and Paul O'Higgins SC presented evidence regarding circular transactions involving Irish Life and Permanent (ILP) and Anglo Irish Bank. Witness Paul Kane, a former ILP liquidity manager, testified that he was instructed to transfer funds from Anglo to Irish Life Assurance and back, a structure he initially did not understand. He stated that Peter Fitzpatrick approved the €1 billion transaction via email. Another witness, Stephen Fox, a former Anglo banker testifying via video link from London, explained that such transactions were used to report larger customer funding at year-end. He noted that while he was aware of transactions between Anglo and ILP, he assumed they were wholesale deposits. The defense, represented by Diarmaid McGuinness SC for Mr Bowe, cross-examined Fox on the commonality of short-term deposits in banking. The trial is ongoing, with no final verdict or sentence recorded at this procedural stage.
Daryl Mooney, 26, was jailed for three years after robbing Whitestown Stores in Mulhuddart on 7 October 2014. He used a knife taken from his family home to force a staff member to hand over money, then ripped out an unused cash register, cutting its wires and taking it away. The register was later replaced at a cost of €1,000. Mooney pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Melanie Greally noted his difficult background and drug abuse, but also his efforts to address his problems. She imposed a four‑year sentence, suspended the final year, and ordered two years of probation supervision. Mooney admitted the offence, apologised, and said he was under pressure to repay a €300 debt. The case was prosecuted by John Fitzgerald BL and defended by Seoirse O Dunlaing BL, who highlighted Mooney's history of drug use and previous custodial sentences. The judge's decision reflected both the seriousness of the robbery and Mooney's personal circumstances.
James O'Connell, 23, of Clifden Drive, Ballyfermot, Dublin, pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to unlawful carriage in a stolen car, damaging a second car and causing about €21,553 of damage to gates at Rosebank Apartments, Nangor Road, Clondalkin, on 14 December 2013. The incident was captured on CCTV, showing the stolen car, hot‑wired and driven by co‑accused James Dunphy, with O'Connell as a passenger, ramming through two sets of gates onto the main road. O'Connell had no prior convictions at the time of the offence but had since accrued 13 convictions related to that incident, including dangerous driving and driving without a licence or insurance. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a two‑year sentence, suspended for three years, and ordered 12 months of probation supervision. The court noted O'Connell's personal difficulties and his willingness to change, as highlighted in a positive probation report submitted by his defence lawyer.
Chunjie Wang, a 35-year-old woman from Castlewood Avenue, Rathmines, Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to organising prostitution. The charge alleged that she controlled or directed the activities of more than one prostitute at that address between January 1st and July 22nd, 2011. Judge Melanie Greally accepted the guilty plea and set a sentence date of April 14th next, when full facts will be heard in the case. The matter is currently at the sentencing stage, with no final disposal or effective custody period determined yet. The court has not issued a suspended portion, conditions, or adjournment beyond the scheduled sentencing hearing. All allegations remain as charged, and no conviction has been formally recorded beyond the plea. The report does not indicate any additional findings, proposed disposals, or procedural changes. The next step is the sentencing hearing on April 14th, where the judge will consider the full circumstances before imposing a penalty. No other case subjects, pleas, or procedural stages are mentioned in the validated facts. The summary reflects only the confirmed procedural status and the scheduled sentencing date, without adding unverified details or altering the nature of the allegations.
John Murphy, 66, a travel agent from Killiney, Dublin, stands trial in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on four counts of theft. He founded the Children to Lapland Appeal in 1987, a charity that flew terminally ill children to Lapland, and served as its director until the organisation was liquidated in 2012. Murphy also ran United Travel, a travel agency that operated a route to Lapland. Bank records presented by prosecutor Garrett McCormack show that between June and July 2010, Murphy deposited four cheques from the charity's account into his personal account, totalling €18,643. The cheques were signed by Joseph Reid, a fellow director who testified that he signed blank cheques in batches for convenience, and that the money belonged to the charity. Reid expressed horror at the alleged fraud. Murphy's counsel, Patrick Reynolds, argued that the cheques were for business expenses and questioned the nature of the signatures. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, the State announced that all charges against Edward Charles O'Reilly were dropped. O'Reilly, who had pleaded not guilty to burglary at Deansrath Avenue and to assaulting his uncle and brother‑in‑law, was cleared after the Director of Public Prosecution entered a nolle prosequi on every charge. Judge Karen O'Connor informed the jury that the case was closed and that O'Reilly was free to leave. The judge expressed regret over the family's involvement and urged the relatives to consider the children affected. Earlier in the trial, witnesses described an assault involving a slash hook and an iron bar, but the prosecution's decision to drop the case ended the proceedings. No further action will be taken against O'Reilly.
The trial of four senior bankers accused of manipulating Anglo Irish Bank's balance sheets continued in legal argument at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The accused are William McAteer, Denis Casey, Peter Fitzpatrick, and John Bowe. They are alleged to have conspired together and with others to mislead investors through financial transactions, specifically using interbank loans to make the bank appear €7.2 billion more valuable than it was between March 1st and September 30th, 2008. All four men have pleaded not guilty to the charges. The defendants include former Irish Life and Permanent (ILP) CEO Denis Casey, Anglo Irish Bank's former Head of Finance Willie McAteer, former ILP director of finance Peter Fitzpatrick, and former Anglo head of capital markets John Bowe. The matter is currently at the trial stage before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury. No findings, sentences, or finalisations have been recorded. The trial was adjourned and will resume in evidence the following day.
In March 2016, a 75‑year‑old man was set to be sentenced for sexually assaulting his intellectually disabled daughter, who was 34 at the time of the offence in 1999. The man pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He had a prior conviction for forgery in 1989. The daughter, now 51, described the assault in detail, stating that her father entered her flat drunk, held her too tightly, touched her breasts, and then performed sexual acts while she tried to push him off. She reported feeling "manky and dirty" and feared pregnancy, later clarifying that her father only rubbed his genitals against her leg. She expressed deep emotional distress, nightmares, and a sense of loss of control. The court adjourned the case to Monday to allow for a medical report on the accused's recent illness. The daughter's victim impact statement was read, and she expressed hope for justice and a better future.
Jason Bailey, 26, pleaded guilty to possessing €26,307 worth of cannabis for sale or supply at his home on 26 November 2012. He had no prior convictions. The court found he had bagged and delivered four separate amounts of cannabis and had been in the grips of a cannabis habit. He had not used drugs since mid‑2013, had not attracted Garda attention and was now back in full‑time education. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to four years in prison, suspended in full, citing a "spectacular turnaround in his personal circumstances." Bailey admitted he held the drugs to pay a €2,500 debt from his own use and had been clean for two and a half years after engaging in a local drug treatment programme. The prosecution noted he had been spending €200‑€300 per week on cannabis and had returned to college. The judge accepted that he had turned his life around.
David Kubicek, 24, was sentenced to 18 months in prison in Dublin after being found with equipment used to forge documents and identity cards. He pleaded guilty to possessing materials for making false instruments and to having fake driving licences, identity documents, an Eircom bill and AIB statements. Kubicek had been in custody since his arrest and had 11 prior convictions, including four in the Czech Republic, for theft, using false instruments and forgery. He is currently serving a four‑month sentence for theft imposed last November at Tralee District Court and will serve a two‑year reactivated sentence in Prague upon his return. Judge Sinead Ni Chulachain noted the items were for Kubicek's personal use and that he was caught "red‑handed." She imposed a three‑year sentence, suspended the final 18 months, and ordered credit for time already served.
In the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Sarah McDonagh, whose maiden name is O'Reilly, denies being the woman who made an emergency 999 call hours before the alleged slash‑hook assault. She says she was drinking with her brother, Edward Charles O'Reilly, and her husband, Michael McDonagh, at the house and cannot recall the incident. McDonagh claims she woke up to find people in the room, naming Edward Charles O'Reilly as one of them, but she does not remember the details of the alleged assault. She also denies knowing who made the recorded emergency call played by the defence. The trial, presided over by Judge Karen O'Connor, continues with a jury of eight women and four men. The accused, Edward Charles O'Reilly, 29, has pleaded not guilty to burglary and assault charges.
During a trial of four banking executives, a senior banker from Irish Life and Permanent (ILP) testified that he felt "discomfort" with alleged inter‑bank transfers of €7.2 bn involving Anglo Irish Bank. The transfers, which allegedly moved money from Anglo to ILP and back via ILP's life assurance division, were said to appear as corporate deposits rather than inter‑bank loans, inflating Anglo's year‑end funding figures for 30 September 2008. The four men on trial – Anglo's former Head of Finance Willie McAteer (65), former head of capital markets John Bowe (52), ILP's former director of finance Peter Fitzpatrick (63) and former CEO Denis Casey (56) – have all pleaded not guilty. The evidence presented by ILP's former treasury head, David Gantly, highlighted his discomfort with the non‑standard nature of the transactions and his awareness of regulatory reporting requirements. The trial is proceeding before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury.
George McKelvey, a 57‑year‑old carpenter from Dundee who lives in Dublin, admitted that he had failed to declare his wife Olive's income as a Weight Watchers leader between 2002 and 2009. He had filed joint returns with Revenue, but listed Olive as a homemaker with no income, while her profits were estimated at €309,813. Revenue assessed him for €96,893 in tax plus €61,213 in interest, giving a total debt of €158,106. McKelvey pleaded guilty to four charges of knowingly filing incorrect returns for the years 2005, 2006, 2008 and 2009. He has no prior convictions. The case was adjourned to 3 May, with a community service report ordered. The article reports only the facts of the admission, the tax assessment, the charges, and the court's adjournment, without any inference about future outcomes or broader implications.
Barry Kindregan, a 36‑year‑old clerical officer in the Dublin passport office, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to four charges, including possession of a false passport and three counts of corruptly accepting cash for issuing passports. Between August 2012 and July 2013 he processed seven passports for South African, Vietnamese, American and Moldovan nationals who were not entitled to Irish passports. He received €12,500 for five passports, but only received €1,250 for the first two and none for the remaining two. He admitted he only checked names and knew the applicants were ineligible. He cooperated fully with Gardaí, expressed remorse, and lost his passport office job but has since found new employment. The case was remanded on bail for a sentencing hearing on March 11, 2016.".
Aaron Shattock, aged 20, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm at the M50 exit 11 pedestrian walkway in Tallaght on 21 August 2013. The assault, which involved racial abuse and a stick thrown at an Iraqi immigrant, caused the victim to lose sight in one eye. Shattock was originally sentenced to three‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended, by Judge Martin Nolan on 17 April 2015. On appeal, the Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan, found that the sentencing judge had not given sufficient consideration to the "perfect mitigation" Shattock presented, including remorse, youth, good character and employment. The Court therefore reduced the suspended portion, leaving the three‑and‑a‑half‑year term in place but suspending the final two years, thereby cutting the overall jail term. The decision was delivered alongside Mr Justice George Birmingham and Mr Justice Alan Mahon.
During a burglary trial, Edward O'Reilly, the alleged victim, recounted that on 11 May 2013, he, his sister and Michael McDonagh were asleep in a house on Deansrath Avenue, Clondalkin, when a group of men broke in. He claimed the accused, Edward Charles O'Reilly (29), struck him twice on the head with a slash hook, and another man hit him on the back of the legs with an iron bar. McDonagh said he was slapped in the face and told to "stay awake." O'Reilly said he fell unconscious after the hook blows. He also denied the accused's two assault charges. The accused pleaded not guilty to burglary and the assault charges. The case is before Judge Karen O'Connor and a jury of eight women and four men. The trial continues.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, a 42‑year‑old man was found guilty of two counts of sexual assault against an 11‑year‑old girl between March 18 and April 20, 2008. The court heard that on one occasion the accused rubbed the child's chest and legs for about twenty minutes, and on a second occasion he thrust himself against her while her father was in the bathroom. The girl's mother had been away for weeks when the offences occurred, and the incidents were discovered when she returned. The man had no prior convictions. Judge Patricia Ryan imposed a two‑year sentence, suspended the final year, and ordered the man to register as a sex offender. The court noted the victim's vulnerability and the accused's low risk of re‑offending. The case was prosecuted by Fiona McGowan BL and defended by Paul Greene SC.
Grace Tormey, aged 22, was convicted by a jury of aggravated burglary and assault after a four‑day trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. She was found guilty of attacking Lisa Lee, a partially paralysed woman who had suffered a stroke, by striking her with a wine bottle and assaulting her for up to three minutes. Tormey had 15 prior convictions, including two assault offences. The judge, Patricia Ryan, imposed a seven‑year sentence, suspending the final two and a half years, citing Tormey's young age and family circumstances. Tormey pleaded not guilty, later wrote a letter expressing regret, and was described by her defence as having a "wild and uncontrolled" period before becoming a mother. The case involved a burglary at Rollins Villas, Sallynoggin, on 16 November 2012. The victim's partner, Jason Kelly, had fled the scene, and the victim's injuries were documented by Gardaí.
Paul Zambra, 39, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of a Ruger revolver and a semi‑automatic pistol with intent to endanger life at Clonshaugh Avenue, Coolock on 29 May 2015. He also pleaded guilty to driving without insurance on the same occasion. Judge John Hannon remanded him in custody until his sentence date on 10 March, when full facts will be heard.
Edward Charles O'Reilly of Wheatfield Grove, Clondalkin, Dublin, pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to an aggravated burglary at Deansrath Avenue, Clondalkin, on 11 May 2013. He is accused of using a slash hook as a weapon during the burglary. O'Reilly also denied two assault charges against Edward O'Reilly and Michael McDonagh that occurred in the same incident. The trial will open tomorrow before Judge Karen O'Connor and a jury of five men and seven women.
Jonathan Donovan, 30, pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm to Paul Doyle on 6 April 2014 at Kelly's Row, Dorset Street. He admitted the assault after a jury had been sworn in for his trial. Donovan was remanded in custody until his sentencing date on 25 April. The prosecution, led by Fiona McGowan BL, argued that Doyle suffered serious head injuries and that the State must prove Donovan's actions were without lawful excuse. A Dublin Fire Brigade witness testified that Doyle was taken to Mater Hospital for treatment in the emergency department.
A food storage company, VF Coldstores Ltd, admitted breaching health and safety laws after a forklift incident that caused an employee's death on 28 November 2015. A company representative pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Melanie Greally adjourned sentencing to 13 April, ordering victim impact reports from the deceased's family.
Niall McGlynn, a 30‑year‑old Trinity Law School graduate from Castlefarm, Swords, pleaded guilty to two counts of assault and one count of assault causing harm after a night of heavy drinking. On 27 January 2014 he knocked a bouncer's teeth out at the Czech Inn in Temple Bar, Dublin, after the bouncer refused them entry. McGlynn then punched a Garda in the mouth at Pearse Street Garda Station. He also pleaded guilty to robbery at Paddy Power in Swords on 12 June 2015, where he was thrown out and held by staff until Gardaí arrived. The case was adjourned to 16 March at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for sentencing. The court noted McGlynn's serious gambling addiction and substance abuse problems, but that he had remained out of trouble since the bookies incident. The judge will finalise his sentence on the adjourned date.
Robert Jones, a 26-year-old bank worker from Tallaght, Dublin, received a suspended sentence of 18 months at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for assault causing harm. Jones pleaded guilty to the charge, which carries a maximum penalty of five years, after the Director of Public Prosecutions agreed to withdraw a more serious charge of assault causing serious harm, which carried a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. A nolle prosequi was entered on the withdrawn charge. The incident occurred on July 20, 2014, at Palace night-club, Camden Street, where Jones allegedly struck victim Brian Murphy with a pint glass, leaving the medical student blind in one eye. Judge John Aylmer noted that while he made no determination on provocation, he was legally bound to give Jones the benefit of the doubt regarding witness accounts of provocation. The judge cited Jones' impeccable character, the spontaneous nature of the act, and the fact that a custodial sentence would destroy Jones' career prospects, thereby affecting the victim's ability to seek civil compensation. Jones brought €8,000 to court as a token of remorse. The court heard that Jones had previously faced trial on the more serious offence before pleading guilty to the lesser charge.
In February 2016, Gerard Halpin, aged 40, was sentenced to six and a half years in prison at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for robbing the beauty salon Urban Dolls on 23 December 2014 and for a burglary on 19 December 2013. The court heard that Halpin entered the salon wearing latex gloves and a kitchen knife, grabbed owner Sarah White by the neck, and forced her to open the till. Emma Kelly, a customer who recognised him, stopped the robbery by smashing a Yankee candle over his head. Halpin fled, but Kelly chased him to his father's home, where he was found changing clothes. Garda Adrian Kildea reported that a search of the house uncovered the gloves in an open safe. Halpin, who has 38 prior convictions and a history of drug abuse, denied the robbery and claimed he had only left the house once that day to go to the pharmacy. Gerard Halpin pleaded guilty.
A 16‑year‑old orphan was sentenced to three years' detention after he was caught with jewellery stolen from a 90‑year‑old woman during a "terrifying" raid. The victim had been awakened by a man pointing a knife at her, demanding money, and then taking her watch and rings. Gardaí found the teenager hiding under a duvet with the stolen items and, after he whispered to his uncle where he had left them, the jewellery was recovered and returned. The teenager pleaded guilty to handling stolen jewellery on 6 April 2015. He had 10 prior convictions, including a nine‑year sentence for an aggravated burglary in Wicklow, of which five years were suspended. The judge noted his disadvantaged background and, recognising his youth and high IQ, imposed a three‑year term with the suspended portion intended to encourage rehabilitation.