Patrick Byrne, 28, formerly of Cloverhill Road, Dublin, appeared before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court where he pleaded guilty to one count of assault causing harm, one count of production of a broom handle in the course of a dispute, and one count of making a threat to kill at an address in Clondalkin. He also pleaded guilty to one count of threatening a witness in criminal proceedings on dates between April 11 and May 20, 2024. The court heard allegations that Byrne assaulted his then-partner over two days in February 2024, including whipping her with a broom handle and holding a blade to her throat. While in custody, he allegedly threatened the complainant via text messages, urging her to drop charges. Byrne has 44 previous convictions, including a recent two-year, nine-month sentence for assault. Defense counsel Mark Lynam SC described the relationship as toxic and requested a probation report to assist with rehabilitation upon release. Judge Pauline Codd noted Byrne's "horrendous anger issues." The matter was adjourned for sentence on October 20, with the court ordering urine analysis, a governor's report, and a probation report.
Keith Smithers and Peter White were sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following a trial concerning the death of Brian Hogan on January 13, 2023, at Collins Place in Finglas. Both men had pleaded not guilty to the unlawful killing and robbery. Smithers was convicted of manslaughter and robbery, while White was acquitted of the killing but convicted of robbery. Judge Martin Nolan handed Smithers a global sentence of nine years, comprising nine years for manslaughter and a concurrent four and a half years for robbery. White was jailed for four and a half years for robbery. The judge noted there was little formal mitigation, citing extensive previous convictions for both defendants, though he acknowledged Smithers' remorse as a small level of mitigation. The court accepted that the robbery context was serious and that there was a common design. A victim impact statement from Lyndsey Doyle, Hogan's partner, described witnessing the killing as brutal and cruel. The judge directed that both men receive credit for time served and granted a defence application to extend legal aid for a potential appeal.
Tammy O'Connor, 29, of Craigie Court, Finglas, Dublin 11, pleaded guilty to criminal damage, arson and theft after she set her neighbour's taxi on fire. The victim, a taxi driver, discovered his car's front passenger window smashed and rear tyres slashed at 1.30 am on 4 July 2023, with €100 in a coin tray and a dash‑cam taken. On 28 July, he found the car's interior on fire after a fire alarm sounded. Gardaí obtained CCTV showing O'Connor smashing the window and throwing a homemade pipe bomb, which she had Googled after receiving an eviction notice. She admitted the act, citing stress, addiction and mental‑health difficulties. Judge Elva Duffy sentenced her to two and a half years, suspending the final 18 months on strict conditions, including 18 months of probation engagement. The sentence reflects the recklessness of the offence and the impact on the victim.
Dean Boland, aged 37, was convicted of unlawfully killing Ohari Viera, who was living in an upstairs apartment of a Dublin residential property, after Boland broke into the downstairs apartment, stole a rucksack and set the building on fire on 21 August 2018. Viera and two other men evacuated safely when the fire started. Viera later returned to the burning building for an unknown reason and did not survive. Boland was sentenced to eight years in prison in December 2022. In an appeal, Boland's counsel argued that Viera's voluntary decision to re-enter the blaze broke the chain of causation, thereby negating Boland's culpability. The Court of Appeal noted that causation is a jury matter and that the fire was the substantial cause of Viera's death, with the decision to re-enter being a matter for the jury to decide. The appeal judgment was reserved. Dean Boland pleaded not guilty.
John Stokes, 22, was placed under Probation Service supervision ahead of sentencing at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He pleaded guilty to one count of careless driving causing serious bodily harm to a woman, a charge accepted by the DPP on a full facts basis. The offence carries a maximum penalty of two years' imprisonment and/or a fine of up to €10,000. The incident occurred on May 2, 2021, at Lower Lucan Road, where Stokes lost control of his vehicle, colliding head-on with another car. The collision left a woman with fractured spine and ribs, requiring her to be cut from the vehicle. Stokes, who was on bail for another offence at the time, had previously failed to appear for sentencing, resulting in a warrant for his arrest. He later presented himself to gardai after living in the UK. The court heard he was a learner driver accompanied by a licensed passenger and not under the influence of intoxicants. Victim impact statements detailed ongoing pain, mental health struggles, and financial difficulties. Defence counsel highlighted Stokes' age at the time of the offence, mental health history, and role as a father. Judge Elma Sheahan noted the seriousness of his failure to attend court and his status as an on-bail offender. She ordered a six-month probation period, a good behaviour bond, and the submission of probation, GP, and counselling reports before the matter is finalised on November 24.
Stephen Wilson, a 49‑year‑old chronic offender with 95 prior convictions, appeared in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 23 May 2025. He had previously pleaded guilty to two attempted burglaries at commercial premises on Mount Street on 24 April 2020. During the hearing, Wilson refused to accept the bond and the 18‑month sentence imposed by Judge Orla Crowe, demanding a new trial date and a jury trial. The judge upheld the sentence of three years, with the final 18 months suspended for two years, and adjourned the imposition until 30 May. Wilson's case involved CCTV evidence of an attempted burglary using a plastic "glide" and a screwdriver with his DNA. The court noted his extensive criminal history, including burglary, possession of stolen property, and drug addiction, and placed him under probation supervision for one year after release. The sentence was back‑dated to the date he entered custody for the matter.
Alida Kuiken, 50, of Knockraha, Cork, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to allowing €16,997 of stolen money to be transferred through her bank account on 27‑28 September 2022. The money had been sent by a fraudster who posed as a U.S. marine and claimed to be her fiancé. Kuiken had met him online in February 2021 but never met him in person. She admitted she was "utterly naive" and had transferred the money to an account she believed belonged to the man, later sending it by Bitcoin. Gardaí seized her diary, which listed goals such as paying back the money and finding a husband. The judge accepted her plea on the basis of recklessness and imposed a one‑year suspended sentence, fully suspended, with no custodial term. No prior convictions were recorded.
John Power, 35, pleaded guilty to two robberies and an attempted robbery at Dublin city shops in March 2023. He has 106 prior convictions, 99 in District Court and seven in Circuit Court. Judge Martina Baxter sentenced him to two and a half years for the attempted robbery and four years for each robbery, all concurrent. She suspended the final 18 months of the 2½‑year term, backdated the sentence to October 2024, and ordered 18 months of post‑release supervision. Power's earlier guilty pleas, remorse, insight, and a drug‑free urine test were mitigating factors, while his addiction and past convictions were aggravating. The court noted that a shop worker resisted him during the attempted robbery, and CCTV footage identified him wearing a distinctive jacket. Power apologized to the judge and pledged never to use drugs again. The case was prosecuted by BL Miranda Egan‑Langley.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 77‑year‑old man pleaded guilty to two counts of indecent assault on his former girlfriend's sisters, committed when he was about 16 between 1964 and 1965. The assaults occurred in the sisters' family home when they were alone in a downstairs room. The older sister, then about nine, was digitally penetrated, while the younger sister, then about seven, was touched inappropriately. The court, bound by the legislation in force at the time, imposed consecutive sentences and, after considering mitigation, set a headline sentence of one year and two months, reduced to reflect the defendant's youth. The man had a prior conviction for child pornography, for which he received a suspended two‑year sentence in the late 2010s. The victims' impact statements were read, and the defendant apologized and pleaded guilty early. The judge noted the breach of trust, age disparity, prior conviction and victim impact as aggravating factors.
Joseph Doyle, a 68-year-old pensioner from Monkstown, Co Dublin, appeared at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on appeal regarding his conviction for possession of child sexual abuse material. Doyle pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography on May 27, 2019. The court heard that Garda Online Child Exploitation Unit officers seized two laptops, two external hard drives, and a desktop PC from his home. A total of 954 images were identified, including 220 in the most serious category, 580 depicting child exposure, and 216 anime images. Doyle admitted to gardai that accessing the material became a "challenge" due to its difficulty to obtain. He expressed remorse and noted his co-operation, including providing passwords and making admissions after caution. Defence counsel Justin McQuaid BL highlighted Doyle's lack of previous convictions, his early guilty plea, and the absence of any distribution or sharing of the material. Judge Martin Nolan, noting the Court of Appeal precedents favouring non-custodial sentences in the absence of aggravating factors like distribution, handed Doyle a two-year sentence. This sentence was suspended in full on strict conditions. The judge acknowledged the time elapsed since the offence and Doyle's efforts towards rehabilitation, while noting the public odium associated with the crime.
Karl Finnegan, 41, was found by Gardaí with €230,860 in cash and five Rolex watches during a search of his Dublin home on 16 September. The watches, valued at about £89,000, were sent to the UK for expert analysis. Finnegan pleaded guilty to possession of the proceeds of crime and was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to four years' imprisonment, backdated to his arrest, with the final 12 months suspended. He must remain under probation supervision for 12 months post‑release, stay drug‑free, undergo random drug testing and participate in treatment programmes. Finnegan, who has five children and a history of drug addiction, was described by the judge as an "important cog" in assisting a criminal organisation. The court noted the cash and watches were likely proceeds of crime, though Finnegan claimed the cash was his and the watches were second‑hand. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the offence and the mitigating factors presented.
Zachary Purcell, 36, a serial burglar with over 200 convictions, was on bail when he entered the Christ Church Deanery in Dublin 8 on 23 July 2022 during a wedding hosted by Dean Dermot Dunne. He stole an iPad, jewellery worth €2,000, and a church credit card, which he used to purchase €50 of goods. Purcell was identified through CCTV and DNA on a water bottle. He had previously pleaded guilty to a burglary at the Morgan Hotel on 9 July 2022, two weeks earlier. The court noted Purcell's long history of drug addiction and his recent rehabilitation. Judge Orla Crowe sentenced him to four and a half years' imprisonment, suspending the final 12 months under conditions. The sentence reflects the two burglaries committed while he was on bail.
A 33‑year‑old man pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to his former partner on 28 March 2021 at her Dublin home. He climbed through a window, shouted insults, grabbed the woman, threw her onto the bed, punched her up to ten times and verbally abused her while her two‑year‑old child watched. The woman suffered cut lips, bruises, jaw pain and head bumps, and later reported being unable to work for days and fearing for her children's safety. The man failed to appear for his sentencing in May 2024 and again in October 2024, citing a car breakdown. Judge Orla Crowe set a headline sentence of three years, reduced to two years and three months, taking mitigating factors into account. He is now jailed and has been in custody since his arrest two weeks ago.
Andrerson Lana, 46, a Brazilian without fixed abode, was jailed for two and a half years after pleading guilty to possessing €280,119 worth of cocaine at Dublin Airport on 4 November 2024. He admitted that he had carried the drugs in his luggage from Brazil to Amsterdam and then to Dublin, with an accomplice holding an Italian passport who helped him pass customs. Garda David Walsh explained that Lana had been pressured by loan sharks, owing just over €100,000 after friends defaulted on loans taken in his name. He agreed to transport the drugs to reduce the debt. The court accepted his full admission and cooperation, noting his lack of prior convictions and vulnerability. Judge Pauline Codd imposed a seven‑year sentence, suspending the final four and a half years on strict conditions and ordered Lana to leave Ireland within a month of release.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Francis Broughan, 47, was jailed for eight years after pleading guilty to unlawfully seizing a vehicle in August 2022. Broughan, who had 56 prior convictions and was on bail, had earlier hijacked an octogenarian's car by holding an object to the driver's neck. He then stole a Skoda belonging to a mother and her 10‑month‑old baby, leaving the infant face down on the side of a busy road. The baby's seven‑year‑old brother ran to the family home to alert his mother. Paramedics checked the infant on scene and found no further medical need. The judge, Elva Duffy, noted the seriousness of the offence, the trauma to the victim and the vulnerability of the child, and imposed the eight‑year term. The court also heard Broughan's statements of remorse and his history of drug addiction. The sentence reflects the judge's concern over the harm caused and the offender's personal circumstances.
Raphael Gilmore, a 53‑year‑old solicitor from Dundela Haven, Sandycove, Dublin, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of false instruments between August 2017 and November 2018 and to theft in July 2016, having stolen €28,000. An audit by the Law Society in 2017 revealed a deficit in a client account; Gilmore responded by forging an accountancy document and a bank statement, which the court found to be obvious forgeries. Four clients had given him money to pay stamp duty, but he retained the cash to cover the shortfall and never paid the duty. He claimed he was "in dire straits" and that his mismanagement and inability to run his practice led to the offences. The judge described the acts as "acts of desperation", noted Gilmore's lack of prior convictions and remorse, and imposed a two‑year suspended sentence on strict conditions, with no immediate custodial term.
Yannick Kamina, 38, of Rathmines, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of child pornography after admitting he sent a 54‑second video of a child engaging in a sexual act with an adult male to a group of acquaintances as a warning. The court found his explanation to Gardaí implausible and noted that such a video was unnecessary to raise awareness of the dangers of child sexual abuse. Kamina had no prior convictions and was fully cooperative, providing passwords and accepting that he should not have sent the video. Judge Orla Crowe refused a request to apply the Probation Act, deeming the offence too serious, and imposed an 18‑month sentence, which she suspended in full. The case stemmed from Gardaí receiving information about the video in February 2018, tracing it to an IP address in Rathmines and Kamina's Facebook account, and securing a warrant to search his home.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 19 May 2025, Frienna Rockett, 29, pleaded guilty to careless driving causing serious bodily harm after she broke a red light at a pedestrian crossing on St Peter's Road, Crumlin, and struck an 81‑year‑old woman who was walking her dog. The victim suffered a brain bleed, fractures to her legs, pelvis and clavicle, and a dislocated shoulder, requiring intensive care and rehabilitation. She now lives with constant pain, uses a walking aid and mobility scooter, and relies on her son for care. Rockett, who had no prior convictions, was driving a Volkswagen Golf at about 12:30 pm, did not speed, tested negative for alcohol, and had valid insurance. CCTV and dashcam footage showed the red‑light violation; Rockett claimed she was looking for her sister's house.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Christopher Dooris, aged 38, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended, after pleading guilty to possession of a controlled drug for sale or supply. The case stemmed from a July 27, 2022 Garda search of his Rathmines apartment, where investigators found €18,084 of ketamine and over €7,200 in cash, along with his passport. Dooris was not present during the search, and no evidence was obtained from his interview. He has 36 prior convictions, including drugs, public order and road traffic offences, and a previous conviction for cocaine possession for sale or supply, for which he had been ordered to carry out community service. The judge cited his guilty plea, efforts at drug counselling and mental‑health support, and his stable family situation as mitigating factors, reducing the headline six‑year sentence to four years. The suspended portion is subject to conditions set by the court.
A 48‑year‑old woman, Olesja Hertova of Hastings Lawn, Balbriggan, admitted to unlawfully killing her partner, James Ryan, in North County Dublin last year. She pleaded guilty to manslaughter on 11 August 2024 and was arraigned today at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. She began crying when the charge was read and pleaded guilty. Her barrister, Bernard Condon SC, requested the earliest sentencing date. Judge Orla Crowe remanded her in custody for sentencing on 3 July 2025.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 47‑year‑old builder Francis Halpin pleaded guilty to three offences stemming from a garden shed dispute. He admitted producing a Samurai‑style sword and causing criminal damage at the neighbour's house on 20 November 2021, and to abusive behaviour in a public place after waving a hammer on 7 July 2021. The incidents involved verbal and racial abuse, a threat of violence, damage to a front door and a van windscreen costing €200. Halpin, who suffers from a rare back condition and uses a wheelchair, had no prior convictions except two minor traffic offences. The judge, citing mitigating medical circumstances, imposed a two‑year sentence suspended in full, noting the behaviour was irrational and threatening but not warranting imprisonment. The victims have since moved house.
Dean Howard, 33, of Rathfarnham, Dublin 14, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to assault causing harm to a male victim on July 10 and 11, 2022. The court heard that Howard entered his ex-girlfriend's home uninvited and assaulted her new partner while they were in bed. He also brandished a pint glass, used abusive language, and followed the victims in his car. Although initially facing additional charges including harassment, the DPP accepted a guilty plea to assault causing harm on a full facts basis. Judge Orla Crowe noted the severe impact on the victims and described Howard's behavior as abusive and disrespectful. Considering mitigation, including Howard's lack of previous convictions, his remorse, and personal circumstances, the judge imposed an 18-month prison sentence, suspended for three years. Howard was also directed to have no contact with the female victim for three years and ordered to pay €2,500 to a women's refuge in Dublin. The matter was finalized with this sentence.
An appeal has been heard in relation to the convictions of Andrew Noonan and Keith Quinn for their roles in a €2.769 million heroin importation enterprise. Andrew Noonan, a former football manager and League of Ireland player, was convicted of three drugs offences in relation to the possession, sale and supply of heroin at Rosemount Business Park, Dublin 11, on August 5, 2020. He was also convicted of possession of a phone with an encrypted application, Enigma, giving rise to a reasonable inference that it was to be used in connection with a drug trafficking offence. He was acquitted of possession of a signal blocker. Noonan denied any role in the drugs and claimed he was facilitating a friend in relation to storage of equipment for a sick child. Keith Quinn, a former professional footballer, pleaded guilty in relation to his own role and received a seven and a half year sentence with the final three and a half years suspended in 2021. This was later increased by the Court of Appeal to eight years imprisonment with 18 months suspended. Quinn gave defence evidence during Noonan's trial that Noonan had no responsibility for the drugs and that he had lied to Noonan about the parcel contents when he asked to use the office for storage. Quinn's sentence hearing heard how he became involved in the offence due to gambling debt, that he was under pressure and was carrying out the offence to get himself out of debt. The matter was adjourned.
Amy McAuley, 35, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to using a false instrument by submitting a false death notification form to Wexford County Council on January 19, 2023. She also admitted attempting to pervert the course of justice on January 23, 2023, and forging a medical report on November 23, 2022. The court heard that McAuley faked her death to avoid attending trial for prior theft and fraud offences. Judge Orla Crowe described the matter as complex and directed Probation Services to prepare a risk assessment report. The case was adjourned to October for finalisation. Defence counsel Rebecca Smith BL noted McAuley is now living in Dublin and successfully applied to change the Garda station where she must sign on twice weekly. Judge Crowe granted this application and remanded McAuley on continuing bail. The court also noted that the Director of Public Prosecutions had previously appealed a 2015 sentence of two years, suspended for ten years, for theft of nearly €111,000, citing undue leniency. The Court of Appeal declined to alter that sentence but extended the repayment period to seven-and-a-half years, with the balance still outstanding.
Dylan Pennie, a 34-year-old air conditioning engineer from Clonshaugh, Coolock, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for drug-related offences. He pleaded guilty to the possession of €575,000 worth of drugs at his parents' address on May 5, 2024, and to laundering €52,320, the proceeds of criminal conduct, on the same occasion. Gardaí discovered the drugs, which included cannabis, cocaine, ketamine, MDMA, and benzodiazepine, primarily in the eaves of a converted attic, along with the cash. Pennie admitted he was holding the items to settle a €4,000 drug debt under pressure. Defence counsel Paul Murray SC highlighted Pennie's lack of prior convictions, his remorse, and his engagement with rehabilitation, requesting a departure from the mandatory minimum sentence. Judge Martina Baxter acknowledged the request for a fully suspended sentence but stated that consequences were necessary. However, she accepted that exceptional circumstances allowed her to depart from the standard minimum. She imposed a sentence of four years, suspending the final two years on specific conditions. Pennie is therefore required to serve two years of effective custody. The matter was finalised with this sentencing.
Michael Fitzpatrick, 47, of Tallaght, was remanded on bail pending sentencing in July after pleading guilty to possessing drugs for sale or supply. Gardaí stopped him on July 25, 2024, after spotting him driving in the middle of the road. He appeared nervous and, when told they intended to search his car, handed over a silver package he claimed was cocaine, saying he had been asked to move it for a friend. He admitted to transporting the drugs and that he would be paid €50 for moving them from point A to point B. A subsequent search of his home found no drugs or paraphernalia. The drugs were estimated to have a street value of just over €34,500. Fitzpatrick had no prior convictions and was not known to the Gardaí. He was taken into custody, remanded on continuing bail, and the case was adjourned for sentencing on July 14.
Nko Mpase, 62, of Rush, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to smuggling a Congolese national into Ireland. On 16 May 2020 she and the woman arrived at Terminal One on a Ryanair flight from Paris Beauvais, used the same immigration booth, and the woman presented a travel document that did not match her appearance. Garda Sean McGlynn noted that WhatsApp messages and a ticket photo on Mpase's phone linked the two women, and CCTV showed them together on the plane. Mpase admitted travelling with the woman from Paris but made no further admissions. She had two prior convictions for minor traffic offences and one for threatening behaviour. The court heard she had no financial gain and had visited family in Paris for five days. The maximum sentence for the offence is 10 years imprisonment. Judge Patricia Ryan adjourned sentencing to 25 July and ordered a probation report and further documentation of Mpase's educational and work history.
Graham Kinsella, 21, of Clondalkin, Dublin 2, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for assault causing harm. He pleaded guilty to an incident on May 19, 2024, where he allegedly kicked a teenager off an e-scooter on Liffey Street and punched him. Judge Elva Duffy described the CCTV footage as "poor and shocking viewing" and noted the attack involved a "level of lawlessness which was hard to watch." The judge characterized the act as an unprovoked "revenge mission" focused on the scooter rather than the individual. Kinsella was handed a sentence of two years, with the final six months suspended on strict conditions. Judge Duffy stated that an immediate custodial sentence was required despite mitigating factors, including Kinsella's lack of previous convictions, his guilty plea, and his efforts to address drug issues. The court noted Kinsella was not responsible for puncture wounds sustained by the victim, who was stabbed by a co-accused still before the courts. The victim made a full recovery. Defense counsel Marc Thompson-Grolimund BL highlighted Kinsella's remorse and his status as a "work in progress." The matter was finalized with this sentence.
James Gilleran, 70, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to five counts of indecent assault committed between 1983 and 1987. The court heard that Gilleran, a former scout leader, abused three boys aged 11 to 13 while in a position of trust. The offences were brought to light after one survivor recognised Gilleran on the Late Late Show in 2021, prompting formal complaints to the Garda. Judge Orla Crowe described the conduct as a gross violation of the children's bodily integrity and innocence, noting predatory behaviour including the exposure of victims to alcohol and pornography. Although Gilleran had a previous conviction for sexual assault in 1997, the judge considered mitigating factors, including his early guilty plea, good work history, and health issues, before imposing the two-year custodial sentence. The three injured parties waived their anonymity and provided impact statements detailing the lifelong psychological effects of the abuse. Gilleran's defence counsel highlighted his 30 years of offending-free life and his desire to atone. The matter was finalised with the imposition of the sentence.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Kevin Geraghty, 31, was sentenced to three years and nine months in prison, with the final nine months suspended, for an unprovoked assault on a 25‑year‑old Spanish student. The victim, studying English in Ireland, was punched in the face after Geraghty and another man shouted homophobic slurs while he waited outside a bar on Cuffe Street in the early hours of 19 September 2024. The attack left the student with a broken jaw that required surgery. Geraghty, who has 70 prior convictions, denied shouting the slurs. The court noted the assault's homophobic overtones and the victim's financial impact. The sentence was imposed by Judge Orla Crowe, who highlighted the attack's unprovoked nature and the defendant's criminal record. Kevin Geraghty pleaded guilty.
Keith Carter, a 32‑year‑old amateur boxer and comedian with thousands of social media followers, appeared before the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 12 May 2025. He pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine and heroin for sale or supply at his Ballymun home on 19 September 2023 and to laundering €1,055, the proceeds of that offence. Garda Máire Ruddy reported that a search of his home uncovered €5,371 worth of drugs, including a small amount of cannabis and ecstasy for personal use. Carter admitted a cocaine addiction and that he held the drugs to pay a debt. He had five prior drug convictions in 2021, including two for sale and supply. Defence counsel Oisín Clarke highlighted Carter's family responsibilities, his work for his brother, and his role as a single father. He also noted Carter's boxing career, his knee injury, and his upcoming charity fights.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 16‑year‑old girl who was groped by Jasmin Nasic during a grocery shop described the emotional toll of having her counselling notes handed over to the defendant's legal team. She said the assault, which involved Nasic placing his hand on her buttocks, had no precedent in her life and that the trial, prompted by his plea of not guilty, caused her stress, anxiety and sleepless nights. The court noted the case took 1,375 days from the offence to conviction. Judge Martina Baxter praised the girl's courage and urged Probation Services to assess Nasic for recidivism. Nasic, a 36‑year‑old from Lucan with no prior convictions, was found guilty of one count of sexual assault and one count of offensive conduct of a sexual nature, offences carrying maximum sentences of 14 and 2 years respectively. He will now be registered as a sex offender.
Jason Buckley, a 28‑year‑old plumber from Verschoyle Vale, Saggart, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for endangerment after he drove at Matthew Kenny, the boyfriend of Buckley's ex‑partner, on Fairgreen, Saggart, on 21 March 2021. The incident occurred while Kenny was helping the ex‑partner move house; he saw Buckley revving his engine and then driving at him. CCTV from a neighbour's house confirmed the revving. Kenny suffered a badly sprained left wrist, cuts, bruises and lacerations, and he described living in constant fear and anxiety, taking large amounts of medication, and being unable to pursue his dream of becoming a barrister because of medical bills. Buckley pleaded guilty, had eight prior convictions, and claimed the act was not pre‑planned.
On 27 March 2024, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that Charlene Dwyer (35) of Corkagh Grange Avenue, Clondalkin, had hidden in a wardrobe to avoid detection by gardai who had found two stolen motorbikes in her house. She pleaded guilty to possession of stolen motorbikes. The bikes were a brand‑new model worth €11,000 and a second worth €2,000, both reported stolen. Dwyer was arrested, taken to a garda station and later sentenced by Judge Orla Crowe to one year and 11 months, with the final six months suspended.
Derek Callaghan, 65, a former army officer with a "stellar career," pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis for sale or supply on 19 January 2022. Gardaí searching his Dublin 15 home found 608 g of cannabis worth €13,608, €3,110 in cash, drug paraphernalia, a ticklist and a burner phone. Callaghan accepted responsibility for the drugs but denied selling them, claiming the cash was savings. He has one prior road‑traffic conviction. Judge Orla Crowe, after hearing evidence, imposed a headline sentence of four years but reduced it to three years, citing mitigating factors such as his age, family and unblemished record. The three‑year term was suspended for five years on strict conditions. The court noted the serious consequences of drug dealing for victims and society.
Conor Stewart, 29, of Kilcross Court, Sandyford, Dublin 18, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm and possession of a samurai sword after a €50 drug debt dispute. On 18 June 2020 at Kilcross Grove, Stewart left a van, armed with a samurai sword, and attacked a man who had been carrying an adjustable wrench. The victim sustained a cut to the back of the head and a larger wound to the side of the head, requiring stitches, and later fully recovered. Stewart's prior convictions include criminal damage and burglary. The court accepted his guilty plea as valuable, noting reconciliation between Stewart and the victim's brother, and sentenced him to four years' imprisonment. The judge highlighted the seriousness of the weapon used and the potential for future offending if Stewart does not change. The sentence reflects the court's view that Stewart's guilty plea and the circumstances warranted a custodial term of four years.
Amy McAuley, 35, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to one count of using a false instrument by submitting a false death notification form to Wexford County Council on January 19, 2023. She also admitted attempting to pervert the course of justice on January 23, 2023, and forging a medical report on November 23, 2022. Additionally, McAuley entered guilty pleas to five counts of theft and one count of possession of the proceeds of crime on separate dates between November 2015 and May 2023. The court heard that the Director of Public Prosecutions appealed her 2015 sentence of two years, suspended for 10 years, for stealing nearly €111,000 from a former employer, citing undue leniency. The Court of Appeal declined to alter the sentence but extended the repayment period to seven-and-a-half years. Judge Orla Crowe adjourned the case for finalisation next week.
Ifeanyichukwu Nwaneri, 37, of Donore Avenue, Dublin 8, was convicted by a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court jury of four counts of money laundering for the period February to October 2017. He pleaded not guilty but admitted in Garda interviews that he had handed his bank accounts to another man for use in a larger laundering scheme. The accounts were used to lodge €34,918, €17,109 and €10,000, with an additional €7,000 bounced back. Nwaneri allowed further lodgements into a second account after the first was frozen. Judge Elva Duffy noted his accounting studies should have given him some awareness of the activity. He was sentenced to three years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended on strict conditions. The case involved Innocent Aigbekaen, who recruited Nwaneri and was sentenced to four years, three of which were suspended. Nwaneri had no prior convictions and had been in Ireland since 2015.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, the court was told that Kasonga Mbuyi, 52, who stabbed a German passenger at Dublin Airport, was acting out in a "cry for help". Mbuyi had been seen behaving erratically and was not wearing shoes. He had a paranoid delusion and was later diagnosed with schizophrenia, with a history of cannabis misuse. He had been arrested on September 17, 2023, for assault causing harm and production of a pen knife. The victim suffered eight superficial wounds and required 12 stitches. Mbuyi had been homeless, living in a hostel after his Limerick accommodation was sold, and had recently been treated for a broken foot and dislocated knee. He accepted responsibility and said he was trying to get help. The case was adjourned to July, with a probation report, governor's report and urine analysis to be prepared.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Judge Martin Nolan warned David O'Callaghan, 41, that any repeat offence would lead to prison. O'Callaghan, who suffered a paranoid delusion and was later diagnosed with schizophrenia, had driven a white Ford Transit van into the gates of Leinster House, The Custom House and Aras An Uachtaráin, causing over €60,000 in damage. He pleaded guilty to driving into the rear gates of Leinster House and two counts of criminal damage on 2 August 2024. The judge imposed a four‑year prison sentence, suspended on strict conditions, including 21 months of Probation Service supervision. O'Callaghan was told he must comply with the Probation Service and that any repeat offence would bring him back before the court. The court noted his 11 previous convictions, including drug offences, and his ongoing psychiatric treatment. The case was adjourned for finalisation of the suspended sentence conditions.
In a Dublin Circuit Court hearing, Judge Ronan Munro sentenced 24‑year‑old Dylan Gilligan to six and a half years in prison for carrying a firearm with intent to assault Scott Purdue on 17 December 2019. The final 18 months of the sentence were suspended on strict conditions. Gilligan, who denies any involvement, maintains he was not the shooter and claims the incident was a stand‑alone case. The judge highlighted the lack of direct evidence linking Gilligan to the shooting, noting no bullets, shell casings or recovered firearm, and that Purdue declined to give evidence. Munro emphasised Gilligan's youth and absence of a significant offending background, urging him to choose a crime‑free life upon release. The court also heard that Gilligan had been struck by a car in October, for which he is receiving rehabilitative treatment. Dylan Gilligan was convicted.
Luke Murphy, 38, was sentenced to five years for threatening to kill his ex‑partner. He is now to be sentenced again for making harassing phone calls from prison in September and October 2019, in which he threatened to burn her house, smash her head, rip her teeth out, torture her, and butcher her when he gets out. The calls were recorded and presented to the court. Murphy pleaded guilty to harassment on 30 September, 1 and 2 October 2019. He has five previous convictions. The court heard he had two boys with the complainant and that he had previously received a five‑year sentence with two years suspended for the same woman. The prosecution was based on circumstantial evidence and the complainant did not give a statement. Judge Elva Duffy adjourned sentencing until July for a probation report.
Derek Callaghan, 65, a former army officer with a "stellar" career, pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis for sale or supply on 19 January 2022. Gardaí searched his home in Ashfield Grove, Huntstown, Dublin 15, and seized 608 g of cannabis valued at €13,608, €3,110 in cash, drug paraphernalia, a ticklist and a burner phone. Callaghan accepted responsibility for the drugs but denied selling them, insisting the cash was his savings. He also denied that he had sold drugs from his address. He has one prior road‑traffic conviction. His defence counsel, Carol Doherty, highlighted his unblemished record, his army service, his family, and the pressure he faced, and requested that the court consider a non‑custodial sentence. Judge Orla Crowe adjourned the case for finalisation later this month.
Jordan Ryan, 28, sold a financed car for €13,700 to a buyer who was unaware of the outstanding debt. Ryan had missed two repayments and had tried unsuccessfully to arrange a payment plan. After the buyer discovered the debt, Ryan paid €2,500 and later an additional €10,000 to the buyer. He pleaded guilty to deception on 9 February 2023. The court noted his addiction, gambling, mental health issues and a personal tragedy but said these did not excuse his conduct. Judge Elva Duffy imposed an 18‑month sentence, suspended in full on strict conditions, and ordered Ryan to pay €2,000 to the buyer within six months. The buyer remains €1,200 short of the original purchase price. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
James Lawlor, 44, with 168 prior convictions, stole €3,000 worth of items from the Mater Hospital Foundation a week after his release from prison. He pleaded guilty to burglary on 7 February 2024 and had served three years for a previous burglary. CCTV showed him entering the A&E department, registering as a patient, then later entering the foundation's building and leaving with two bags. The burglary caused €380 in damage and involved three laptops, an iPhone, three headsets and bags, totalling €3,736.50. Lawlor denied involvement but admitted to the CCTV footage. He was arrested on 11 February 2024 and has been in custody since. The court noted his long history of drug use and rehabilitation efforts. Judge Orla Crowe imposed a sentence of three years and nine months, suspending the final nine months for two years on strict conditions, and directed him to be supervised by Probation Services for 12 months after release.
Evan Clarke, 33, borrowed a friend's car and drove it the wrong way into a Circle K car wash on 10 November 2019, causing damage worth €57,408 and writing the facility off. He drove without a licence or insurance, with three passengers in the vehicle. Clarke pleaded guilty to one count of criminal damage, one count of driving without insurance and one count of driving without a licence. He has 41 prior convictions, including assault, theft and drug offences. CCTV footage identified him, and a matching fingerprint was found on the car's bonnet. His defence cited significant drug and alcohol addiction, early cannabis use, mental health issues, ADHD and ASD, and supportive parents. The case was adjourned to 21 July for updated reports.
During sentencing of Keith Daly, 31, at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Garda Sergeant Wes Kenny read a victim impact statement. Kenny, injured when Daly resisted arrest on Killakee Road, described his finger as forcibly bent and injured, noting a heightened fear and psychological toll. The incident began when Garda Natasha McAleese and Kenny stopped a car at 11.10pm; Daly, a passenger, became agitated, opened the door aggressively, and shouted. A struggle ensued, Kenny was thrown to the ground, and Daly fled. Kenny seized a bag of 9.6g cannabis, valued at €192, and two smaller bags with €3,445 cash. Kenny was treated for his finger injury. Defence counsel apologized, noting 33 of Daly's 55 convictions were juvenile. Judge Orla Crowe called the case unusual, directed a probation report, and acknowledged Daly's efforts to turn his life around. The unnamed man pleaded guilty.
A 73‑year‑old former school teacher and convicted rapist was sentenced to an additional five years in prison for indecently assaulting eight boys between 1977 and 1984. He had already been convicted of 118 counts of indecent assault and was serving a 14‑year‑five‑month sentence with an earliest release date in August 2025. The abuse involved inappropriate touching, and in one case included masturbation and oral sex. The victims were aged six to 14 and were taken to various locations, including the school, the teacher's home, and his car. The teacher, who also had a conviction for raping a teenage girl, maintains his innocence. Judge Orla Crowe described his conduct as manipulative, exploitative, persistent and highly predatory, and imposed the extra sentence to reflect the severity of the offences. The judge noted the victims' courage and the profound impact on their lives. The sentence will take effect after the current term expires in August 2025.
Paul Kelleher, 61, of Esker Gate, Mountmellick, was convicted at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of three counts of sexual assault against three customers of his tattoo and piercing shop, Newfaze Ink, in Portlaoise. The assaults occurred between August and December 2015 and in January 2018. Two victims were receiving piercings when assaulted; the third, a 14‑year‑old girl, was having a piercing cleaned. Kelleher was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions. He maintains his innocence, has denied the allegations, and said he would change his legal team. The victims expressed profound harm, loss of trust in male professionals, and described the trial as degrading. Kelleher has two prior convictions, including a four‑year sentence for a similar offence. The judge noted his age disparity with the victims and his abuse of a position of trust. The sentence was imposed with a suspended portion and a requirement to attend counselling.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 38‑year‑old man pleaded guilty to assault, controlling behaviour and other offences against his former partner and mother of their children. The judge found that over a period from 2019 to 2020 he subjected the woman to coercive control and intimate partner violence, culminating on 21 April 2020 in a "brutal, vicious attack" where he tried to choke her and placed a bag over her head while their two children were present. He also physically assaulted her, used a shopping bag in a tug‑of‑war, and later threatened her with a pitchfork. The court noted the victim's isolation, the man's alcohol use, and the presence of other incidents over the years. The judge sentenced him to three years, suspended the final 18 months, and ordered no direct contact with the woman for five years.