Jimmy Cash, 25, was convicted in February 2013 of endangerment, dangerous driving, driving while disqualified and no insurance after driving the wrong way up the M50, crashing into cars. He received a six‑year sentence with the final 18 months suspended. In March 2014 Judge Patricia Ryan imposed the sentence. Cash appealed against the sentence, but in July 2015 Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan dismissed the appeal, noting that the court had seriously considered increasing the sentence in light of Cash's prior convictions and subsequent offences. The court also considered the circumstances of the M50 incident, including the police response and the injuries Cash sustained. The appeal was rejected, and no additional jail time was imposed. The case remains at the sentencing stage, with no further outcome reported. Jimmy Cash pleaded guilty.
A 33‑year‑old Chinese national, Chang Jun Zhao, was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to a two‑year prison term suspended for two years after pleading guilty to evading tax duty on cigarettes on three occasions in 2013. He was caught three times by customs officials with untaxed cigarettes: first on May 9, then on October 10, and finally on June 12. In each instance, authorities discovered thousands of Chinese‑branded cigarettes at his address or in a nearby shop, and he provided his phone number, which was later found on a website advertising Chinese cigarettes. The total loss to the State was estimated at €6,000. Despite his claim of ignorance about the penalties, the judge noted that Zhao had not ceased the activity and imposed the suspended sentence, citing the aggravating factor that he continued to evade duty. The case was prosecuted by Anne Rowland BL and defended by Fiona Sheehan BL.
In July 2015 the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court sentenced 26‑year‑old Keith Johnson to a suspended three‑year term with two years of probation supervision for assaulting shopkeeper Sarwan Gill and his son Daljat Gill. Johnson had entered Gill's Indian Mini‑Market while "out of his head" and tried to steal sweets. After being confronted by Daljat, Johnson threatened to kill him, punched him, and fled in a Mercedes. Gill pursued Johnson's car, struck it with a wooden "martial arts training sword" that broke the car, and later chased Johnson back to the shop. Johnson then used the broken sword to strike Sarwan, breaking his wrist, and struck Daljat about five times, knocking him unconscious. Johnson was identified on CCTV, arrested, and pleaded guilty to two counts of assault causing harm. The judge noted the rapid escalation and the shopkeeper's right to defend himself, and imposed the suspended sentence with probation.
Diana Karacsony, 32, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assisting in keeping and managing a brothel in an apartment at The Asgard, Custom House Harbour, Dublin 1 between 1 January 2011 and 30 May 2012. Judge Martin Nolan remanded her on continuing bail and adjourned sentencing to 28 July.
Bernard Flynn, 63, of Cannon Burke Flats, Cabra, Dublin, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for committing €25,000 of social welfare fraud. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to 11 sample charges of stealing from Social Protection at River Valley Post Office, River Valley Swords, between August 2011 and April 2014. The charges represented 123 visits to the post office for job seekers allowance and 13 visits for both job seekers and rent allowance under the name Brendan Flynn. Flynn used a different PPS number and date of birth to claim the benefits. He was caught using facial recognition software when Garda Sergeant Kevin Mention arrested him on 4 April 2014 after he collected both allowances. Flynn had ten previous convictions, including breach of the peace, larceny, careless driving, public order and illegal possession of Garda equipment.
Keith Farrelly, 40, of Kilbarrack, Dublin, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment after pleading guilty to transporting 5.7 kg of cannabis worth €115,945 on 9 September 2014. Garda James McGeough reported that Farrelly was under surveillance following a tip, and that he left an apartment in Baldoyle in a Nissan Almera with a shopping bag in the boot. A search of the vehicle uncovered 1.6 kg of cannabis worth €32,000, and a subsequent search of the apartment revealed an additional 4.1 kg worth €84,000 in a locked press. Farrelly's defence highlighted his early football career, his family responsibilities, and a gambling debt that he claimed motivated his involvement. Judge Martin Nolan accepted that Farrelly was a low‑level participant and imposed the three‑year term. The court noted that Farrelly had no prior relevant record and had admitted the offence. The case was heard in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Three former Anglo Irish Bank officials – Tiarnan O'Mahoney, Bernard Daly and Aoife Maguire – are on trial for alleged tax‑evasion offences in 2003 and 2004. The prosecution claims they hid offshore accounts linked to former chairman Sean FitzPatrick and deleted references to these accounts from the bank's Core Banking System. The accused deny removing names from lists supplied to Revenue and deny deleting accounts. The trial heard that O'Mahoney had set up a team to assist Revenue's audit of the bank's compliance with Deposit Interest Retention Tax. Patrick Peake, a former fraud‑prevention officer, testified that the team gathered documents and searched for emails containing key names, including those of the accused. He also described a series of changes to FitzPatrick's account records, including name and address alterations, and the removal and re‑addition of FitzPatrick's name in 2004. The case is being heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court before Judge Patrick McCartan and a jury of twelve. Aoife Maguire pleaded not guilty.
Michael Coleman, 34, a convicted robber, was sentenced to 18 months in custody for an unprovoked assault on two Louth brothers, Christopher and Joseph Lennon, on 26 June 2014. The attack occurred on Camden Street, Dublin, while Coleman was on bail for a prior robbery. He called Christopher a "culchie," punched him, and then joined in attacking Joseph, punching and kicking him while he was on the ground, causing Joseph to lose consciousness. The brothers had been drinking at Flannery's pub and were heading home when the incident happened. Joseph Lennon suffered a broken jaw on both sides, requiring metal plates and still cannot fully open his mouth; he also experiences flashbacks. Coleman had 25 prior convictions, including robbery and firearms offences. He pleaded guilty, and the judge noted his cooperation and attempts to address drug issues. The 18‑month sentence will commence after his current five‑year term ends.
In a case heard at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Michael Mongan, then 15, was found guilty of violent disorder and three counts of assault causing serious harm after a pub brawl at The Castle Inn Pub, Rathfarnham, on 16 October 2012. CCTV captured Mongan picking up a glass or bottle and striking John Mongan, 25, repeatedly, causing deep cuts that required 24 staples. Mongan also threw a bottle at Simon Reilly, 28, which struck Reilly's head and shattered, sending shards toward a nearby Garda. Mongan pleaded guilty and was sentenced to a suspended prison term of two and a half years, conditional on completing 240 hours of community service. The judge, Martin Nolan, rejected a request for anonymity under the Children Act, stating Mongan was not a child in the eyes of the law and that proceedings should be public.
During a trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, three former Anglo Irish Bank officials—Bernard Daly, Tiarnan O'Mahoney, and Aoife Maguire—were accused of temporarily repaying loans to former chairman Sean FitzPatrick to make the bank's year‑end accounts appear healthier. Evidence showed that in September 1998 an IR£196,000 loan from the Sean FitzPatrick/Crohan O'Shea Trust was moved into an internal Anglo staff‑loan account called SRLADV, and similar amounts were later returned to the original accounts on 6 October. The same pattern was alleged to have occurred in September 1999 and 2000. The defendants denied deleting references to accounts linked to FitzPatrick's brother‑in‑law, John Peter O'Toole, from the bank's Core Banking System and from a list of non‑resident accounts over €100,000 in 1995. The case remains before Judge Patrick McCartan and a jury of twelve. Aoife Maguire pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Ronan Gormley, aged 30, received a suspended sentence after pleading guilty to assault causing harm, producing an instrument and obstructing a peace officer at Wrights Café Bar in Swords on 11 November 2013. The incident involved Gormley taking off his belt and striking Mark Rogers, who was socialising in the smoking area. Rogers sustained a 1.5‑cm wound on his left eyebrow that required stitches. Security restrained Gormley until Gardaí arrived. Gormley was described as abusive and aggressive while intoxicated, but later calm. He has paid €2,000 in compensation to Rogers and has taken steps to address his alcohol use. Judge Mary Ellen Ring, after considering Gormley's guilty plea, compensation, lack of prior convictions and his adult responsibility, imposed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence with the entire term suspended, directing him to engage with probation services for eighteen months.
In a court hearing on 2 July 2015, Gardaí raided the home of Debbie O'Reilly, a 35‑year‑old former resident of Maple Avenue, Ballybrack, while her family staged an intervention for her drug‑related behaviour. O'Reilly, who had been addicted to PVP and had sold cannabis from her house, pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis for sale or supply on 4 August 2013. The search revealed a kilogram of cannabis worth €21,920, 8 g of PVP worth €312, €8,200 in cash, a digital weighing scale and an iPhone with drug‑dealing evidence. She had no prior convictions. The court noted her rehabilitation, including letters from drug‑treatment programmes and a certificate of completion of an addiction‑study course. Judge Mary Ellen Ring suspended a five‑year jail term, directing O'Reilly to cooperate with probation services for twelve months, citing her responsibility to her son and her efforts to address her addiction.
A childminder from Cavan is to stand trial for a second time at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court next May on a charge of intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to a ten-month-old baby in March 2012. Sandra Higgins, aged 34, of The Beeches, Drumgola Wood, Cavan town, denies the allegation. A previous jury trial concluded last month without reaching a verdict. The Director of Public Prosecutions has directed that a new trial proceed. The court heard that scheduling expert medical witnesses presented difficulties, and May was agreed as a suitable timeframe by all parties. Judge Martin Nolan fixed the trial date for 25 May 2016, with liberty reserved to re-mention the matter should witness issues arise. Ms Higgins, who remains on bail, attended the hearing.
Michael Noonan, a 34‑year‑old stonemason, was sentenced to three and a half years' imprisonment for two unprovoked serious assaults. The first, on 5 May 2014 at Club 92 in Leopardstown, involved Thomas Kelly who was knocked to the ground, left with multiple skull fractures and haemorrhaging, and spent five days in hospital. The second, on 7 September 2014 at The Magic Carpet Bar in Cabinteely, saw Noonan punch a glass into Gary Rigley's face and then beat Rigley's brother Shaun. CCTV footage showed Noonan and Rigley speaking before the attack. Noonan pleaded guilty to both assaults at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and admitted the acts were not pre‑meditated. He had ten prior convictions, mainly for public order offences, and a suspended sentence in 2005 for an earlier assault. Judge Martin Nolan described the blows as extremely forceful and noted Noonan's history of loss of control, concluding the assaults were totally unforgivable.
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court sentenced brothers Erol and Ali Basak for their involvement in a counterfeit clothing operation based in Tallaght, south Dublin. Erol Basak, 43, of Lucan, pleaded not guilty to twelve counts of fraudulent possession of goods bearing trade marks and eleven counts of fraudulent application of trade marks. A jury unanimously convicted him of all charges, which were committed in November 2012. Ali Basak, of Edenderry, Co Offaly, pleaded guilty to similar offences contrary to section 92 of the Trade Marks Act, 1996. Judge Mary Ellen Ring suspended a sentence of two and a half years imprisonment for both men, conditional on each paying €5,000 by December 2017. The judge specified that €2,000 of this sum should cover State expenses for trademark witnesses. She noted both men had unblemished records and were unlikely to re-offend. The court heard the operation could have caused an estimated €3 million loss to multinational companies if all seized unused labels had been used. Judge Ring directed that seized counterfeit clothing be donated to charities such as Focus Ireland rather than destroyed, noting the items were useful. The prosecution estimated finished items would have caused a €65,000 loss. The men, both Turkish nationals, had previously operated a legitimate clothing importation business before moving to the container premises.
Michael Fagan, 24, was jailed for five years after attempting to rob Collins Food Store on Mount Pleasant Avenue, Dublin 6, on 22 May 2014. While an off‑duty Garda, Brendan O'Toole, was restraining his teenage accomplice, Fagan pointed a replica gun at the Garda's head and threatened to shoot him. O'Toole replied, "I am a Garda, don't shoot," and the threat was not carried out. Fagan was arrested, pleaded guilty to attempted robbery and possession of an imitation firearm with intent to commit robbery, and had 48 prior convictions. The judge noted Fagan's lack of remorse at the time but acknowledged later reflection. The case highlighted the danger posed by realistic replica firearms and the impact on the Garda involved. The teenage co‑accused received a two‑year suspended sentence. The trial concluded with the five‑year custodial sentence for Fagan.
The trial of former Anglo Irish Bank officials Tiarnan O'Mahoney, Bernard Daly, and Aoife Maguire continues before Judge Patrick McCartan and a jury. The three accused, who have all pleaded not guilty to seven alleged offences committed in 2003 and 2004, are charged with attempting to hide bank accounts from the Revenue in an alleged tax evasion scheme. Specifically, Mr. Daly and Mr. O'Mahoney deny omitting the name of John Peter O'Toole from a list provided to the Revenue Commissioners, while Mr. O'Mahoney and Ms. Maguire deny attempting to delete six other accounts connected to former chairman Sean FitzPatrick from the bank's Core Banking System. On day ten, former fraud officer Patrick Peake testified that Mr. O'Mahoney and Mr. FitzPatrick jointly received a US$1.2 million bridging loan in 1997 to fund a share deal. Mr. Peake also presented evidence that details on several closed accounts, including Lock Ltd/Susie Ltd and Carnahalla Ltd, were altered on the internal computer system years after closure. He noted that Mr. FitzPatrick's name was removed from a Triumvirate Properties Ltd account record between 2003 and 2012. The trial is ongoing, with Mr. Peake's evidence continuing before the court.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, Mark Sheridan, aged 25, was convicted of threatening to kill Mark Jones on 20 October 2013. Sheridan denied the charge and also denied having a firearm and harassing Jones between 1 July and 19 October 2013, but the jury acquitted him of those offences. The jury heard that Jones was stopped at traffic lights, with Sheridan behind him in a blue Honda Accord. Jones described Sheridan kicking the driver's door, punching the window, and shouting "You're dead. You're a rat." He also recalled a shout of "You're dead. Get out of the car" and a mention of a pipe bomb. After the verdict, Judge Mary Ellen Ring remanded Sheridan on continuing bail, adjourned sentencing to 24 July, and ordered a victim impact report. The case was heard over four days and concluded with Sheridan's conviction for the threat of death.
Ciaran Moran, 29, who is serving a life sentence for murder, was sentenced to two and a half years in prison for assaulting Philip Massey at Bentley House hostel in Dun Laoghaire on 7 June 2013. Moran admitted kicking, punching and stabbing Massey in the abdomen after Massey said something "unpleasant" to him. The assault caused a wound that required stitches and Massey was discharged from hospital the next day. Moran, who has 24 prior convictions including manslaughter and murder, was intoxicated that night and made full admissions, which the judge considered when imposing the sentence. Ciaran Moran pleaded guilty.
Martin Reilly, a 59‑year‑old former Canada Life agent, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison after pleading guilty to 80 counts of theft. Between 2002 and 2011 he persuaded 18 clients, including a priest, to withdraw money from their Canada Life policies and invest it in non‑existent products. He then deposited the funds into an EBS account in his own name. Reilly's address was West Side Estates, Togher, Cork. He had no prior convictions. Canada Life reimbursed all victims and suffered a €1.2 million loss. Reilly admitted a gambling addiction, confessed to stealing the money, and has since sought treatment with Gamblers Anonymous and spoken about gambling in schools and groups. The judge noted the prolonged pattern of misbehaviour and the pernicious nature of gambling. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the repeated thefts.
Dean O'Reilly, a 42‑year‑old former newspaper delivery man from Castlemoyne, Balgriffin, was sentenced to 18 months in prison by Judge Martin Nolan after pleading guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to failing to remit VAT from January 2008 to December 2011. O'Reilly owed Revenue €246,206 in unpaid VAT, income tax, penalties and interest, with the unremitted VAT originally estimated at €69,699 and later revalued at €59,226. Revenue's investigation began when it discovered O'Reilly had received VAT‑inclusive payments from Newspread Ltd, a newspaper distribution company, and found he had made no VAT returns since 1995 or income tax returns since 1994. O'Reilly admitted he had not managed his accounts properly. He has five prior convictions for minor road traffic offences and receives unemployment and child benefits to support his family of four. The judge noted the seriousness of Revenue fraud, while acknowledging O'Reilly's role as a hard‑working family man.
Patrick Walsh, a 33‑year‑old former Canada Life tied agent from Bruff, was sentenced to two and a half years in prison after pleading guilty to 75 fraud and theft charges. Between February 2010 and November 2011, he created 38 fictitious insurance policies, using names similar to his own, his estranged wife's, or genuine clients, and received commissions and performance bonuses totalling about €265,000. He also stole €90,000 from Canada Life, which paid him for the fake policies, and paid €50,000 in bonuses. The fraudulent policies were worth €75,000, but Walsh profited €215,000, leaving Canada Life with a €230,000 loss. He admitted that the scheme began to finance a house he was building with his former partner, but the scheme spiralled out of control. The court described the conduct as a "long pattern of criminal behaviour" and imposed custodial custody, noting that no genuine policy holders were left out of pocket.
Michael O'Brien, 46, was sentenced to three and a half years' imprisonment for sexually assaulting a one‑year‑old baby while the child's parents were out drinking. The court found the baby was left in O'Brien's care in a house lacking clean clothes, electricity and food, with food stored only in a freezer for social worker inspections. O'Brien had previously served a twelve‑year sentence in 2008 for abusing two children under six and a four‑year term in 1993 for assaulting a 60‑year‑old woman during a burglary. Judge Sarah Berkeley described the assault as "a vile and monstrous act" and, after suspending 18 months of a five‑year term, ordered O'Brien to continue treatment in prison and cooperate with probation services. He pleaded not guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and was convicted by a jury earlier this year.
Patrick Walsh, a 33‑year‑old former Canada Life tied agent, admitted to creating 38 fictitious insurance policies between February 2010 and November 2011, generating €215,000 in fraudulent commissions and €50,000 in performance bonuses. He also stole 37 times from Canada Life, receiving commissions on the fake policies. The company suffered a loss of €230,000. Walsh claimed he fabricated policies to fund a house he was building with his estranged wife, but the scheme spiralled as he needed more money to keep the policies from lapsing. He paid €90,000 to produce the policies, which were worth €75,000 when discovered. Walsh also set up direct debits from genuine policyholders' accounts, refunding them from his own account when questioned. He pleaded guilty to 75 fraud and theft charges and is to be sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on Monday.
Paul Clarke, 31, was sentenced to one year in prison for handling stolen goods after a cash box containing €50,000 was found in a garden shed at Marigold Crescent, Darndale. Gardaí discovered the box on 28 April 2014, with a pickaxe protruding and green dye indicating a security device. Clarke, who had green dye on his clothing, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He was arrested alongside Michael Byrne, 25, who had previously received a three‑year sentence for robbery, and Dean Slattery, 25, who was sentenced to four years with two years suspended. Garda Padraig McInerney explained the cash‑in‑transit van was robbed during delivery to AIB Bank, Raheny. Clarke claimed he had no role in the robbery and was only involved in attempting to open the box after the theft. He was known to Gardaí as a heroin addict and had spent most of the last 15 years in prison.
Eoin Murphy, 19, was jailed for driving a stolen car at Garda Karen Duffy, causing her a six‑centimetre scar on her forehead. The incident occurred on 28 August 2013 when Murphy, allegedly "stoned" on tablets, drove a stolen Nissan Micra at high speed between a patrol car and a parked vehicle. The Micra's passenger door struck Duffy's head as she tried to re‑enter her patrol car, breaking her nose and opening a wound on her forehead that required 30 stitches. Duffy suffered severe bruising, photophobia and was diagnosed with Post‑Traumatic Stress Disorder. Murphy, who had 30 prior convictions including three for car theft, pleaded guilty to reckless endangerment and unlawful use of a car. Judge Mary Ellen Ring sentenced him to three and a half years, suspending the last year due to his good work with Probation Services.
A 33‑year‑old Chinese national, Chang Jun Zhao, was caught three times by Irish customs officials with untaxed cigarettes and faces a possible five‑year jail term. He pleaded guilty to evading tax duty on cigarettes on 9 May and 10 October 2013 and to evading duty with intent to defraud the State on 12 June 2013. Customs officers tracked cigarette parcels delivered to Zhao's address, discovering 7,620 Chinese‑branded cigarettes on 5 May 2013 and 7,920 cigarettes on 12 June 2013, all without Irish tax stamps. On 22 October 2013 he was caught carrying 300 cigarettes. The total loss to the State was reported as €6,000. Zhao has no prior convictions. The judge noted his guilty plea and good record but also that he did not stop after the first offence, and remanded him in custody for sentencing in two weeks.
Irish Ferries Ltd, of B & I Ferryport, Dublin 1, was fined €125,000 at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to failing to provide designated pedestrian walkways in a cargo handling area. The charge relates to an incident on October 28, 2011, where Stephen Bayfield, a crane driver employed by outsourced contractor Scruttons Northern Ireland Ltd, was crushed to death by a crane tyre. Company representative Paul Sullivan entered the guilty plea on behalf of the firm, which has no previous convictions. Prosecuting counsel Fionnuala O'Sullivan BL presented evidence from Health and Safety Authority inspector Padraic McMahon, who stated that Bayfield was struck while walking through a gap between containers. Although the crane had working klaxons and flashing lights, the site lacked designated walkways at the time, a deficiency Irish Ferries has since rectified. Defending counsel Shane Murphy SC argued that the outsourced company held responsibility for day-to-day site management. Judge Martin Nolan accepted the plea and noted the company's full cooperation and apology to the deceased's family. The judge imposed the fine, allowing the company two months to pay, while extending condolences to the Bayfield family.
A jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has failed to reach a verdict in the trial of a registered childminder charged with causing serious harm to a ten-month-old infant. Sandra Higgins, aged 34, of Cavan town, had pleaded not guilty to intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to the child on 28 March 2012. The trial heard that the baby presented at Cavan General Hospital with a brain bleed, detached retina and fractured ribs after being in Ms Higgins's care. Prosecution medical experts testified the injuries were consistent with violent shaking and non-accidental trauma. Defence experts suggested the evidence indicated head trauma and possible reactivation of an earlier injury. After deliberating for just under six hours on day eight of proceedings, the jury of twelve informed Judge Patricia Ryan they could reach neither unanimous nor majority verdict. Ms Higgins was remanded on continuing bail. The case has been listed for mention on 2 July before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
A jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has been instructed that it may return a majority verdict in the trial of a registered childminder charged with causing serious harm to a ten-month-old child. Sandra Higgins of Cavan town has pleaded not guilty to intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to the baby on 28 March 2012. The twelve-member jury, which had deliberated for almost five hours, was initially directed to reach unanimity but was advised by Judge Patricia Ryan that a verdict supported by at least ten jurors would be acceptable. The jury requested clarification on the legal definition of recklessness and sought to rehear evidence from expert witnesses, including a consultant paediatrician and a neuropathologist. The prosecution contends the child's injuries, including a brain bleed, detached retina and fractured ribs, resulted from violent shaking whilst in the accused's care. The defence maintains the evidence suggests head trauma or reactivation of an existing injury. The accused has denied the allegations.
During a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Patrick Peake, a former fraud officer, testified that an Anglo Irish Bank employee had created a computer programme to delete records of Susie Ltd from the bank's Dublin Investment System. Peake described an email sent to consultant Shane Crowley about a programme intended to remove the company's records. Susie Ltd, sharing an address with Anglo's Isle of Man branch, had directors and staff linked to that operation. Peake also revealed 275 cash withdrawals totalling €173,800 from John Peter O'Toole's account, with only four transactions supported by documentation. He presented evidence of monthly €410 payments from an account in the name of Sean and Triona Fitzpatrick, signed by "Mary O'Toole," and transfers of IRL£71,000 and US$22,460 to Susie Ltd. The case involves former officials Bernard Daly, Tiarnan O'Mahoney, and Aoife Maguire, who plead not guilty to seven alleged offences related to account deletions and omissions.
Henry Byrne, a 45-year-old Dublin financial trader, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to stealing €10,000 from Manortown United FC on two separate occasions. The applicant, Comiskey O'Keefe, acted as Byrne's defence counsel. Byrne admitted to withdrawing the first sum in February 2006 to cover a personal property investment shortfall, which he later repaid using funds borrowed from his sister. He subsequently withdrew a second €10,000 in September 2009 to repay his sister. Although Byrne initially claimed the withdrawals were for club facilities or banking errors, he later admitted and apologised for the theft. Sergeant Jonathan Kelly testified that the unauthorised withdrawals were discovered when the club restructured. Judge Martin Nolan acknowledged that Byrne had repaid the stolen amounts before any formal complaints were made and had cooperated fully with the investigation. The judge noted that Byrne, a father of three with no previous convictions, had served as treasurer for 25 years and had already suffered significant public shaming and community ostracism. Judge Nolan stated that imprisonment would be unjust given these mitigating factors. Consequently, he suspended a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence on strict conditions, accepting that the reputational damage constituted a punishment in itself.
Shane O'Brien, a 29‑year‑old Westmeath resident, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to theft from the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation (IBRC) between November 2011 and July 2013. While working in the early arrears team, he took cash payments from four clients in mortgage arrears and pocketed the money instead of passing it on to offset their mortgages. He admitted to stealing a total of €2,886 and to having alerted his employers to the thefts. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a one‑year suspended sentence on the condition that O'Brien repay the full amount within a month. O'Brien had no prior convictions and had not been involved with the Gardaí since the incident. The judge noted that O'Brien claimed he was in great need of the money and that he had never been in trouble before or since.
A jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court adjourned its deliberations in the trial of a Cavan childminder accused of assaulting a ten-month-old baby. Sandra Higgins, aged 34, of The Beeches, Drumgola Wood, Cavan town, has pleaded not guilty to intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to the child on 28 March 2012. The jury of eight men and four women suspended their deliberations after four hours and will resume tomorrow. The trial heard evidence that the child presented at Cavan General Hospital around 5pm on the date in question with a brain bleed, detached retina and fractured ribs, subsequently suffering seizures. The prosecution contends the injuries resulted from violent shaking while the child was in Ms Higgins's care. Medical experts called by the prosecution stated the injuries were non-accidental and likely sustained in her custody. Defence experts suggested the evidence indicated head trauma potentially from reactivation of an earlier injury. Ms Higgins denied the allegations to gardai.
A jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court will begin deliberating tomorrow in the trial of a childminder charged with assaulting a ten-month-old baby. Sandra Higgins, aged 34, of Cavan town, Co Cavan, has pleaded not guilty to intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to the infant on 28 March 2012. The prosecution alleges Ms Higgins caused injuries consistent with violent shaking, including a brain bleed, detached retina and fractured ribs, while the child was in her care. Medical experts who treated the child stated the injuries were non-accidental and likely occurred during Ms Higgins' supervision. The defence presented expert witnesses suggesting the injuries could result from earlier trauma. Judge Patricia Ryan instructed the jury to base their verdict solely on evidence and common sense, disregarding sympathy for any party. Closing arguments focused on medical evidence, the timing of injuries, and competing expert interpretations regarding the cause of the child's condition.
Titilayo Kilanko, a 38‑year‑old care worker from Carrigmore Lawn, Citywest, Dublin, pleaded guilty to ten counts of theft from Ulster Bank on 22 June 2012. She admitted making 115 fraudulent withdrawals totalling €57,708 from ATMs in Dun Laoghaire, Lower Kilmacud Road, Stillorgan, Main Street, Blackrock and the Beacon Centre in Sandyford. Kilanko claimed the money was used to pay a man to donate a kidney to her father in Nigeria, where he was being treated at University College Hospital in Ibadan and owed €80,000 for treatment and dialysis. She flew to Nigeria with the cash, converted it to naira, and paid a donor €25,000. The court sentenced her to three years' imprisonment with 15 months suspended, noting she had no prior convictions and had cooperated with authorities. The judge expressed regret at sentencing her but stated the repeated theft could not be condoned.
Peter Moore, 25, of Lynnwood, Ballyboughal, pleaded guilty to criminal damage after using a crow bar and angle grinder to destroy a parking meter at Chapel Lane, Swords, on 20 January 2015. He had been in custody for a few weeks when the case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a two‑year suspended sentence and ordered Moore to pay €3,000 to Fingal County Council, with a further €3,000 to be raised within two years. The council estimated the damage at €11,000, covering replacement of the meter, disposal of the damaged unit and removal of the concrete base. Garda Amanda King, who arrested Moore, said he admitted the damage was caused by anger over a parking fine. Moore's defence highlighted his cocaine and alcohol addiction, his role as a carer for his mother with motor neuron disease, and his work with the Homeless World Cup charity.
Closing speeches have been heard in the trial of a childminder charged with assaulting a baby at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Sandra Higgins, aged 34, of Cavan town, County Cavan, has pleaded not guilty to intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to a ten-month-old child on 28 March 2012. The prosecution alleges the child presented with seizures, brain injuries and fractured ribs after being brought to Cavan General Hospital, having been normal earlier that day. The defence contends the prosecution cannot conclusively establish when the injuries occurred. Prosecuting counsel argued the evidence demonstrates non-accidental injury inflicted through violence. Defence counsel submitted that expert evidence confirmed injuries cannot be timed conclusively, and questioned why his client should account for older injuries when she was not the sole caregiver in preceding weeks. The jury of eight men and four women is expected to begin deliberations tomorrow. Judge Patricia Ryan presides.
A defence witness at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has testified that shaken baby syndrome lacks scientific validation. The neuropathologist told the trial that she formerly supported the diagnosis but changed her view after research overturned key elements underpinning it. Sandra Higgins, a registered childminder from Drumgola Wood, Cavan town, has pleaded not guilty to intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to a ten-month-old child in her care on 28 March 2012. The defence witness told the court there was evidence of pre-existing subdural haemorrhage in the child and of older injuries. She also noted that babies can experience a lucid interval following head injury. The witness cautioned against assuming the timing of injury based solely on when a child collapsed. Closing speeches were to follow, with proceedings before Judge Patricia Ryan and a jury continuing.
A 50‑year‑old man stands trial in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for harassing six people, including five relatives, between 2012 and 2014. He has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity under the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act 2006, a law that allows a jury to return a special verdict if the accused was not mentally responsible at the time. Both prosecution and defence argue that the man was mentally ill during the incidents. The prosecution, led by Fergal Foley BL, described a "virtual campaign of harassment" involving numerous phone threats, including 530 calls to a Garda officer and accusations of persecution by Barack Obama. Defence counsel Feargal Kavanagh SC said the man was influenced by media and believed the recipients were corrupt or criminal. The trial, to be heard by Judge Sarah Berkeley, will conclude after the jury considers evidence from a consultant psychiatrist. The case remains at the trial stage.
A County Laois resident, Moldovan national Axenia Alexei, aged 30, was sentenced to a two‑year suspended term for fraudulently claiming €15,339 in unemployment benefits. Alexei entered Ireland in 2009, bought a false Latvian passport online, and used the resulting PPS number to work and later to claim Jobseeker's Allowance after losing her job. She pleaded guilty to stealing the benefits between July 2012 and March 2014 and to possessing the fake passport on 15 September 2014. She had no prior convictions. The court found she could have claimed over €7,000 using her real PPS number, and that she had worked part‑time in 2012 with her real number while also claiming benefits with the false number. The judge suspended the sentence for two years, ordered the return of €2,000 to the Department of Social Protection, and gave her an additional two years to repay €6,000.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Christopher Green, a 32‑year‑old father of six from Thornton Heights, Inchicore, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for dangerous driving and reckless endangerment. The offence involved a high‑speed chase in the north of the city during which Green reversed a Nissan Almera out of a housing estate, forced a pedestrian Garda to jump out of the way, and performed a handbrake turn that caused a patrol car to swerve. He also nearly collided with a car at a junction, forcing an elderly lady and her dog to flee. Green pleaded guilty to two counts of reckless endangerment and dangerous driving at Woodbine Park, Raheny, on 12 September 2014. He has 49 prior convictions, including one for possessing an offensive weapon in Northern Ireland. The judge, Martin Nolan, noted Green's history of authority problems, banned him from driving for two years, and accepted his early guilty plea and remorse.
James Bennett, 22, pleaded guilty to attempted robbery at Leonard's Corner Post office on 17 October 2013. He approached the counter at about 11.30 am, placed a note under the hatch stating "I have a bomb strapped to my body", and then drew a pellet gun. The two female workers fled to the back office and Bennett left. CCTV identified him and he was arrested on Clanbrassil Street; his pellet gun was found in a nearby bin. In a victim impact statement, Geraldine Smith said the incident was "on the lower end of the scale" and that she felt "kind of sorry for the chap". Judge Mary Ellen Ring acknowledged the resilience of the victims and, noting Bennett's willingness to work with the Probation Service and his desire to improve his circumstances, sentenced him to three years in prison, suspended in full. He must remain under probation supervision for 18 months and keep the peace for three years.
A garda handwriting expert has given evidence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in the trial of a childminder accused of assaulting a baby. Sandra Higgins, aged 34, of The Beeches, Drumgola Wood, Cavan town, County Cavan, has pleaded not guilty to intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to a ten-month-old child in her care on 28 March 2012. Detective Garda John Leonard examined a notebook used as a diary and handover book between Ms Higgins and the child's mother. He identified that a time entry of 12.50pm on the date in question had been altered, denoting the end of the child's morning sleep. However, Mr Leonard acknowledged under cross-examination that he could not determine when the original entry had been amended. The trial before Judge Patricia Ryan and a jury continues.
A consultant paediatrician has given evidence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in the trial of a childminder charged with assaulting a baby. Sandra Higgins, aged 34, of The Beeches, Drumgola Wood, Cavan town, has pleaded not guilty to intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to a ten-month-old child in her care on 28 March 2012. Dr Christopher James Hobbs told the court that bruising to the infant's back and ear represented a "classic textbook picture" consistent with violent shaking. He noted that bruising in such locations is unusual in accidental injury but common in non-accidental cases. A defence witness, Dr Julie Mack, a paediatric radiologist, countered that bleeding identified on brain scans resulted from rupture of a smaller blood vessel rather than the larger vessels typically associated with shaken baby syndrome. The trial before Judge Patricia Ryan continues with a jury of twelve.
A US paediatric radiologist gave evidence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in the trial of a childminder accused of assaulting a baby. Sandra Higgins, aged 34, of The Beeches, Drumgola Wood, Cavan town, County Cavan has pleaded not guilty to intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to a ten-month-old child in her care on 28 March 2012. Dr Julie Mack, testifying by video-link for the defence, stated that bleeding identified on the child's brain scans was too limited to indicate the rupture of larger blood vessels typically associated with abusive head trauma. She suggested the bleeding on the brain membranes could have resulted from bruising caused by impact. Under cross-examination, Dr Mack acknowledged disagreeing with standard medical consensus on the mechanisms of injury in shaking cases and admitted unfamiliarity with certain clinical findings and medical reports concerning the child's injuries. The trial before Judge Patricia Ryan and jury continues.
In a case heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, 21‑year‑old Zoe Thompson of Tallaght pleaded guilty to two counts of assault causing harm after striking Aidan and Colm Brown with the heel of her stiletto shoe at the Abberley Hotel on 15 April 2013. Judge Desmond Hogan sentenced Thompson to three years for each count, suspending the sentences in their entirety. The judge noted Thompson's cooperation, the presence of a doctor's letter citing pregnancy complications, and her payment of €2,000 as a gesture of remorse, which was ordered to be divided between the two victims. Thompson's previous convictions include four road‑traffic offences, one for drunk driving. The court heard that Aidan Brown, a barman, suffered seven surgical staples to his head and lost €1,000 in wages, while Colm Brown received five staples and lost €690 in wages.
Patrick McDonagh, 27, of Clondalkin, pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a stun gun on 28 November 2014. The device, disguised as a mobile phone, was found by Gardaí during a search unrelated to him. McDonagh had bought it "for a bit of fun" while on holidays in Cyprus and had never used it. He received a one‑year suspended sentence, with no mention of a license requirement. The case was heard in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and the judge accepted the lack of prior convictions.
Vasilica Stan, a 21‑year‑old Romanian who had lived in Dublin since age 14, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assaulting Haseeb Ghous and Majid Khan on 7 December 2013 at the Alchemy nightclub. He claimed he had been motivated by a text that the men had harassed a female friend, describing his actions as "misguided chivalry". The court found no physical provocation and accepted that Stan was remorseful. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year suspended sentence and ordered Stan to pay €2,000 to Ghous and €1,000 to Khan within a year. The assault occurred at 2:10 am; Ghous was knocked unconscious, suffered dental and facial injuries, and was treated at Mater Hospital, while Khan was hit twice, later experiencing dizziness and neck pain. Stan admitted the assault but denied kicking Khan when he was on the ground. The court received reference letters from his employer, girlfriend and landlord.
A 54‑year‑old Dublin man, who pleaded not guilty to 60 counts of sexual assault against six daughters of a former partner, was found guilty on all counts and originally sentenced to seven years, two of which were suspended. After a failed appeal, the Director of Public Prosecutions successfully sought a review on the grounds that the sentence was unduly lenient. The Court of Appeal imposed a new sentence of nine years imprisonment, removing the suspended portion because the defendant is unwilling to participate in a sex offenders programme. The court noted that the abuse, which occurred over many years and involved repeated sexual contact and forced viewing of pornography, was a severe breach of trust. The new nine‑year term is the final imposed sentence, with no suspended part. The case remains at the appellate stage.