In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Conor Deering, aged 24, pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply on 25 September 2021 at several sites in Lucan. The case began when Gardai stopped his car for a seatbelt offence, discovered a backpack containing 100 g of cannabis and €3,900 in cash, and subsequently obtained a search warrant for his home. A search of his residence uncovered drugs valued at over €159,000 and an additional €4,000 in cash, bringing the total value of seized drugs to €161,690. Deering had no prior convictions. Judge Martin Nolan, taking into account Deering's early guilty plea, imposed a three‑year prison sentence, departing from the mandatory minimum of ten years. The court noted that Deering was not on the Garda radar and that his home showed no signs of wealth.
An unnamed 20-year-old man was sentenced today at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for possessing improvised petrol bombs with intent to cause injury. The defendant, who was 16 at the time of the offence, pleaded guilty to one count of the charge. The court heard that on August 25, 2021, he participated in a dispute between rival groups of young people from the northside and southside of Dublin at a block of flats on Pearse Street, Dublin 2. During the incident, which involved between 80 and 100 individuals, the defendant allegedly threw two improvised petrol bombs from a balcony, narrowly missing people below. Judge Orla Crowe described it as a "miracle" that no one was injured. In sentencing, the judge acknowledged the defendant's troubled childhood, including being taken into care at age four, and his status in homeless accommodation at the time of the offence. However, she noted his "exceptional" progress since the incident, citing his current stability and ambition. Taking these mitigating factors into account, Judge Crowe set a sentence of two years, which she suspended in its entirety. The suspension is subject to conditions, including that the defendant remain under the supervision of the Probation Service for one year.
Diarmuid Molloy, a 45‑year‑old Dubliner, was sentenced to 12 years in prison for a series of robberies in Dublin city shops. He pleaded guilty to three robberies and the possession of a knife to intimidate customers. The incidents included an attempted robbery at Tesco on 21 June 2022, a robbery and false imprisonment at Brady's Pharmacy on 22 June 2022, and a robbery at Thomas Street Pharmacy on 23 June 2022. During the Brady's Pharmacy robbery, Molloy put a 78‑year‑old sales assistant in a chokehold and repeatedly threatened to "slit" her throat. At Thomas Street Pharmacy he held a customer in a chokehold, produced a six‑inch knife and threatened to stab her. He was also in possession of a knife at the pharmacy on 24 June 2022. The court noted that CCTV footage was central to the investigation of the Thomas Street Pharmacy robbery.
David O'Callaghan, 41, pleaded guilty to driving a white Ford Transit van into gates at Leinster House, Aras An Uachtaráin and the Custom House on 2 August, causing €60 000 of damage. He was found to have been suffering from a paranoid delusion and later diagnosed with schizophrenia, for which he is receiving treatment. Garda Niamh McCarthy described how O'Callaghan performed a sweeping u‑turn in front of the Aras gates, reversed into them, then drove to the Custom House and repeated the manoeuvre, breaching the gates and causing about €2 000 of damage. At Leinster House he struck three sets of gates in quick succession, breaching the Ministers' Entrance gate and damaging a perimeter gate, resulting in over €52 000 of damage. He admitted consuming alcohol and cocaine that evening and claimed he believed his food had been spiked.
During a sentence hearing in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, a woman in her 20s gave a victim impact statement about being sexually assaulted by taxi driver Samir Lakhlef, 53, who had a prior sexual assault conviction. She said she had chosen a taxi for safety, trusting the driver, but was touched on her leg and thigh while in the vehicle. She later walked to a nearby house, pretended it was her home, and was left alone in the taxi. She called her mother and was helped by a passer‑by. Gardaí obtained CCTV showing a silver Toyota Prius, Lakhlef's registered car, and DNA evidence linking him to the victim's clothing. Lakhlef pleaded guilty to sexual assault on 13 February 2022. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a three‑year sentence, refusing to suspend any portion, citing the driver's position of trust and his previous convictions. The woman expressed ongoing fear of using taxis alone and the impact on her life.
Michael Keane, a former professional footballer aged 42, was sentenced to two and a half years in prison by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for sexually assaulting a 20‑year‑old college student while driving her in his taxi to Bull Island. The victim was forced to pay a €77.77 fare after the assault. Keane had previously been convicted in the UK for theft and assault causing actual bodily harm. He pleaded guilty in November 2023, after initially denying the allegation. The court noted the victim's fear, shock and ongoing trauma, and that Keane had lost his taxi licence and was now on social welfare. Keane's lawyers presented testimonials from former club associates and family, arguing the offence was out of character and a one‑off incident. The judge imposed the custodial term without a suspended portion, citing the aggravating circumstances of the victim's vulnerability and Keane's role as a taxi driver.
Three Romanian nationals – Marius Crisan (29), Codrin Manoli (26) and Calin Scintei (32) – pleaded guilty to a range of offences involving cash‑trapping devices used to steal money from AIB ATMs. Crisan was convicted of two counts of criminal damage, two counts of stealing cash, four counts of possessing cash‑trapping devices with intent to use them, and one count of participation in a criminal organisation. Manoli faced similar charges, with four counts of damage, four of stealing cash, two of possessing devices and one of organisational participation. Scintei was convicted of one count of damage, one of stealing cash and three of possessing devices. Judge Orla Crowe sentenced Scintei to three years' imprisonment back‑dated to July 2024, Manoli to three years with the final six months suspended for two years, and Crisan to a fully suspended three‑year sentence.
David Slattery, a 50-year-old married man from Celbridge, Co Kildare, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He pleaded guilty to one count of obtaining a child for sexual exploitation and one count of possessing child sexual abuse material, known in law as child pornography, on dates in 2023. The court heard that Slattery befriended a 16-year-old girl on Snapchat, providing her with money, alcohol, and drugs in exchange for sexual favours, including taking her to hotels on two occasions. Additionally, gardaí discovered two images and two videos of a 13-year-old child on his device during a search. Slattery claimed he believed both victims were 17. Judge Martin Nolan noted the defendant's remorse and mitigation, including his rehabilitation from a cocaine addiction, but stated that Slattery "must suffer a prison term for what he did." The judge imposed a sentence of three years. The victim, who attended the hearing, read a statement describing the lasting trauma and loss of trust she experienced. Slattery has three previous convictions for minor road traffic offences. The matter was finalised with the imposition of this custodial sentence.
Oisin Mullen, 25, of Rush, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after an unprovoked road‑rage incident on Upper Main Street, Rush, on 25 May 2023. While a passenger in a Volkswagen Golf, he repeatedly punched, kicked and stomped on a female driver who had made a U‑turn at a designated spot. The driver's two children witnessed the assault and shouted at Mullen to stop. Mullen claimed self‑defence, but the court heard he had no prior convictions and that the victim suffered head injuries and abrasions. Judge Martin Nolan described the attack as unprovoked, noted Mullen's anger‑management issues, and imposed a two‑year suspended sentence with strict conditions. Mullen was ordered to pay €3 000 to the Gardaí and an additional €500 within three months, with the total offered to the victim or to charity if declined. No jail time was imposed.
Amy McQuaid, 30, was arrested at Dublin Airport on 4 September 2024 after X‑ray revealed 29.8 kg of cannabis worth €597,000 in her luggage. She claimed she believed the bags contained gold and watches, a statement her barrister described as "patent nonsense". McQuaid accepted that the bags were in her control but insisted they were not hers. She had travelled to Thailand with her then‑partner, who was later jailed for four and a half years for a similar offence. McQuaid was interviewed three times and said she was paid £4,000 and given a holiday in Thailand. The court found her explanation to be "transparent and stupid" and, after considering mitigating factors, imposed a sentence of four years and three months, back‑dated to her arrest. The sentence is to be served in a foreign jurisdiction.
Jason Wosser, also known as Jason Bonney, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to a number of charges including robbery, attempted robbery, and threats to kill or cause serious harm. Judge Elma Sheahan imposed a 10-year sentence but suspended the final year on strict conditions. Prosecution counsel Fiona Pekaar BL alleged that Wosser robbed two taxi drivers on separate occasions, threatening one with a knife and punching another in the face. He was also accused of kicking a man in Smithfield Square and robbing a student of his phone in Merchant's Arch. Wosser has 96 previous convictions. Defence counsel Ian Woodland BL described the defendant as deeply apologetic, citing a drug addiction that began at age 12 following his brother's death in a house fire, as well as ADHD and dyslexia. Judge Sheahan noted that two prior robberies involved vulnerable young men and gratuitous violence. She identified aggravating factors, including the seriousness and repeated nature of the offending, the fact that Wosser was on bail, and the harm caused to the injured parties. The judge acknowledged the value of the early plea to the victims and noted the defendant's desire to seek employment upon release, though she had no discretion over his place of imprisonment.
A Nigerian woman has been sentenced to three years' imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to making false statements to gardaí. The 34-year-old woman arrived at Store Street Garda Station in October 2019 claiming she had been trafficked to Ireland and forced into prostitution. Over subsequent months, she provided five statements detailing her alleged captivity in Balbriggan. Gardaí conducted an extensive investigation spanning hundreds of hours, including searches of the area and CCTV analysis. Investigation ultimately revealed the account was fabricated. Handwriting experts linked documentation found in her hostel accommodation and a discovered diary to the woman. Evidence from bank records and CCTV footage contradicted her narrative. The woman, previously resident in Carrickmacross, Monaghan, pleaded guilty to three counts of knowingly making false statements between October 2019 and December 2020. Judge Ronan Munro described her actions as premeditated and calculated, noting they diverted resources from genuine victims and undermined legitimate trafficking complaints.
Erika Gould, 39, of Kilmacud, was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to three years' imprisonment, with the final two and a half years suspended on strict conditions. The sentence follows her guilty plea for harassing a neighbouring couple from June 2020 to May 2023, during which she shouted threats from her back window, brandished a phone, threatened to petrol‑bomb the house, and made threats against the couple's children. She also threw empty bottles and sticks into their garden and called the fire brigade falsely. Gould has 209 prior convictions, including assault, threats to kill and criminal damage, most of which were alcohol‑related. She was previously jailed in June 2021 and released in October 2021, after which she continued to make threatening calls. The court noted her acute mental‑health diagnosis and ordered her to be supervised by the Probation Services upon release. The sentence reflects her history of harassment and the impact on the victims.
Egidijus Stasaitis, 41, of Mount Drynam Avenue, Kinsealy, Swords, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing serious harm after illegally turning across a junction at Pinnock Hill on 25 September 2023. He struck a motorcyclist who suffered a broken pelvis, wrist, ankle and finger, and was still in rehabilitation two and a half months later. Stasaitis was travelling from the opposite direction, made an illegal right turn across a double white line in a 60 km/h zone, and hit the rider who had entered the bus lane. CCTV showed Stasaitis's BMW was written off. Garda Mark Gandola, who witnessed the crash, testified that the rider was travelling at excessive speed and that Stasaitis had no intoxication. Judge Martin Nolan acknowledged the rider's serious injuries and Stasaitis's lack of prior convictions, noting his temporary lapse of judgement. He imposed a 20‑month sentence, suspended in full on strict conditions. The court did not hear the speeds of either party.
Levi McCarthy, 33, was sentenced to six and a half years in prison for a campaign of violence against his partner, Victoria Keogh, between July 2021 and July 2023. The court found him guilty of coercive control, assault causing harm, making threats to kill or cause serious harm, perverting the course of justice and robbery. McCarthy had previously been convicted of burglary of Keogh's parents' home and other offences, including a French conviction for threatening a former partner. During the period of coercive control, he repeatedly beat Keogh, threatened to knife her dead, and put a bullet in her head. He also sent intimidating letters to Keogh and her parents while on remand. The judge imposed a headline sentence of nine years, a four‑year term for coercive control, and a consecutive two‑and‑a‑half‑year term for assault, and ordered a 15‑year prohibition on contact with Keogh and her family.
Tom Colton, 49, of Celbridge, was given a suspended nine‑month sentence after pleading guilty to acting as director of Grá agus Solas ULC, a spiritual wedding and funeral business, between August 2016 and May 2018. He had been automatically disqualified from company directorship on 5 December 2014 following a 2014 theft conviction that carried a four‑year prison term with 18 months suspended for the theft of €322,000. Colton used his Irish name, Tomás Mac Cultan, to file company documents and was unaware of his disqualification until 2018, when he resigned. The court noted no system informs defendants of automatic disqualifications. He also had a prior Companies Act conviction for acting as a statutory auditor without approval. The judge imposed a 10‑year disqualification under the Companies Registration Act and suspended the nine‑month sentence in full.
Martin O'Flaherty, aged 73, was convicted at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of 14 counts of indecent assault and one attempted indecent assault against seven boys who were his pupils between 1978 and 1981. He had previously been tried five times since 2022 and had 103 convictions for indecent assault of 22 other boys. He is serving an effective sentence of eight years, two months and three weeks, with an earliest release in August 2028. Reporting restrictions were lifted as no further matters are pending. Judge Elma Sheahan imposed a global five‑year sentence for the seven victims in this case, bringing his total convictions to 29 boys. The court heard that O'Flaherty denied the allegations, cooperated with the investigation, and does not intend to appeal. The judge noted his age, health, and past service as mitigating factors but also cited the seriousness of the offences and the breach of trust as aggravating factors.
A 36-year-old man has been sentenced to two years in prison for sexually assaulting his daughter's 13-year-old friend. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court jury convicted the appellant last November after he pleaded not guilty to a charge of sexual assault committed at his Dublin home on April 10, 2021. Although the man does not accept the victim's evidence, he has stated he will not appeal the conviction. Judge Dara Hayes described the conduct as a serious breach of trust with a considerable impact on the teenager. The judge set a headline sentence of four years, reduced it to three years and three months, and suspended the final 15 months on strict conditions, including engaging with the Probation Service for two years upon release. The sentence was backdated to when the man was first remanded in custody last November. He was registered as a sex offender. The court heard the victim reported the incident to gardaí the same day, alleging the man touched her buttocks, hips, waist, and chest while asking if she had a crush on him. The man claimed he only spoke to her about her clothing. A victim impact statement detailed the teenager's ongoing trauma, including paranoia and trust issues. The Probation Service assessed the man as low risk and willing to work with the service.
Radu Budai, 40, of Lucan, was found guilty of Revenue offences for selling untaxed Romanian cigarettes and alcohol in his shop on Upper Dorset Street. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 7 March 2023. Revenue officers, led by Marie Treacy, entered the shop and discovered bottles of wine without Irish tax stamps, boxes of brandy and wine, and homemade alcohol in large plastic containers. A female employee showed officers a Romanian identity card and was interviewed. Budai was present during the search but was not questioned. The court heard that the goods were seized. In mitigation, his defence counsel argued that Budai was trying to compete with larger shops, had family responsibilities, and had health issues including sleep apnoea and a gastric balloon surgery. Judge Martin Nolan acknowledged Budai's family situation but noted the profit motive and the €27,000 loss to Revenue.
Thomasz Pysz, 46, of Clonee, Dublin, was found guilty of four counts of theft from the Department of Social Welfare between 2019 and 2021. He used the PPS number of a relative who had left Ireland in 2016 to claim benefits while working under a different PPS number. Pysz received €9,235.50 in Disability Allowance and €16,303 in Pandemic Unemployment Payments through this scheme. Garda Stephen Byrne reported that the relative's bank account was used for wages and that the relative was not charged with any offence. Pysz repaid part of the money and has an outstanding debt of €21,814. He pleaded guilty, citing mental health issues and marital breakdown. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a 20‑month suspended sentence, requiring the freezing and transfer of €10,917 from Pysz's account to the Department of Social Welfare and noting a separate payment agreement with the Department.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Noel Ryan, 48, pleaded guilty to hijacking a car and abducting a child. He took a vehicle in Mountjoy Square on 23 September 2024, leaving a five‑month‑old baby alone for almost three hours while the mother struggled to stop him. CCTV showed the mother holding the door as Ryan drove away, and the baby's tears were captured. Ryan used the mother's credit card 12 minutes after the theft. He was arrested the next day and admitted he did not know a child was in the car. The court heard victim impact statements from the mother and father, describing terror and lasting trauma. Judge Martin Nolan, noting Ryan's addiction and early guilty plea, imposed a headline sentence of nine and a half years, reduced to seven years in prison, back‑dated to his custody date.
William Kiely, aged 52, was sentenced to six years' imprisonment after pleading guilty to three counts of dishonestly appropriating money from Barrington Capital Ltd's accounts between 2007 and 2010. The court found that he had transferred about €2 million of investors' funds into unauthorised stock‑market trades, losing roughly $1.47 million USD and €700,000 in the process. Kiely also pleaded guilty to operating the company with intent to defraud creditors from July 2008 to February 2010 and to falsifying a financial statement on 12 March 2010. He had set up Barrington Capital as a legitimate investment vehicle to buy U.S. commercial property, but after the 2008 crash he diverted the money to the stock market and used it for lifestyle expenses and personal payments. No investors received any restitution, and the court noted the significant financial and emotional harm suffered by the victims. Kiely is also disqualified from serving as a company director for five years.
Nathan Robinson, 30, of Dublin 7, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of stolen property after selling a Live U600 electronic transmission device, valued at €25,000, for €50. The device had been stolen from an RTE cameraman's car and was tracked via an Apple AirTag to an electronic hardware store where Robinson was seen on CCTV entering, opening a rucksack, and taking the equipment. Garda Conor Flynn obtained a search warrant for Robinson's home, seizing clothing matching the footage. Robinson, who has prior burglary convictions and a history of handling stolen property, admitted possession and was cooperative. No victim impact statement was presented. Judge Martin Nolan, noting Robinson's drug addiction and cooperation, sentenced him to a fully suspended 20‑month prison term, with the sentence suspended in full.
Les Byrne, 49, of Shancastle Park, Clondalkin, was found with four pipe bombs in the back of his van during a Garda search on 24 March 2024 after an overwhelming cannabis smell was detected. Byrne pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession or control of the devices, which were later confirmed to be effective bombs. He has 24 prior convictions. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to six and a quarter years, noting Byrne acted under instructions from third parties but played a vital role in the operation. The judge highlighted Byrne's guilty plea, cooperation, family responsibilities, and the fact that he was a low‑rung member of an organised crime group involved in a feud that has escalated with arson, intimidation and attacks on homes. The case involved text‑message evidence showing Byrne's reluctance to keep the bombs and his desire to dispose of them.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Eric Thomas, 49, was found guilty of false imprisonment and sexual assault of a teenage boy aged 14 or 15 between January 2004 and July 2006. Thomas, who has 34 prior convictions including ten for sexual assault, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended for two years under Probation Services supervision. The victim, who was a happy, class‑clown teenager, described feeling sick, dirty and scared after the assault, and said the incident changed his life, leading to aggression, drug use and a desire to leave. Thomas denied the allegations and claimed he had never known the victim. The court noted Thomas's history of mental health issues, rehabilitation efforts in prison, and his acceptance of the verdict. The judge highlighted the seriousness of the offence and the victim's profound impact. The sentence reflects both aggravating and mitigating factors.
Paul McGrath, 66, of Dublin 1, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment for laundering nearly €150,000 in crime cash. He pleaded guilty to concealing the source of property, knowing it was proceeds of crime, at the Coachman Inn on 4 October 2024. Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau had received confidential information about a man suspected of receiving large sums from criminal gangs and laundering them for a fee. McGrath met the third party at the Inn, handed a plastic bag containing €146,950 to the other man, and was later stopped by Gardaí. A hidden compartment in his Volkswagen Passat, opened with an electronic fob, was found to contain the cash. Two phones were seized from McGrath's vehicle and 17 unused phones from his home; Gardaí believed they were used for criminality. McGrath, who has 42 prior convictions, claimed he owed money for an "ounce of green" and had a dependency on alcohol and cannabis.
Marius Elisei, 47, of Whitworth Road, Drumcondra, was sentenced to 20 months' imprisonment for assault causing harm after striking an off‑duty Garda with a bottle outside Heuston Station. The incident occurred on 25 September 2023 when the Garda, who had just disembarked from a train, confronted Elisei for drinking in public. Elisei, holding a beer bottle, raised it and hit the Garda on the forehead, causing a gash that required three stitches. The Garda was off work for 15 days following the attack. Elisei, a repeat offender with 22 prior convictions, including 16 public order offences, pleaded guilty. He was in custody since 21 January after a bench warrant was executed. The judge, citing Elisei's history of alcohol‑related aggression, imposed the 20‑month sentence backdated to 25 January. The Garda declined to give a victim impact statement. The court noted Elisei's remorse and his difficulty being away from family. The sentence was imposed by Judge Martin Nolan.
Stephen Connolly, a 40‑year‑old businessman from Rath Gael, Clondalkin, was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to four years' imprisonment for laundering €291,790 that he claimed was the proceeds of a drug offence. The money was found rolled and in separate bags during a planned search at Beacon South Quarter, Sandyford, on 4 May 2017, and Connolly's fingerprints were on the cash. He admitted possession of the money and that he had stored and counted it with his brother, Mark Connolly, who had previously received a two‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence for his role. Connolly's defence counsel, Dominic McGinn SC, argued that his client was a family man with mental health issues and was not directing the operation, and presented a heartfelt apology. Judge Martin Nolan noted Connolly's responsibilities as a business owner and family provider before imposing the four‑year term. Stephen Connolly pleaded guilty.
A 35‑year‑old Ukrainian man, Oleksandr Strymbu, was sentenced to five years in prison by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for laundering more than €1 million in cash in exchange for food. He pleaded guilty to handling €1 058 575 of proceeds of crime at his rented house in Knocklyon on 13 June 2024. Garda Kate Gilligan reported that the house was searched and over €1 million in cash was found in six shopping and gift bags in his bedroom, some in vacuum packs and others tied with elastic bands, with a cash‑counting machine on the coffee table. An additional €25 900 was found in an upstairs bedroom. Strymbu claimed he was merely collecting money for a housemate, had no knowledge of the source or amount, and was not paid but received fuel and food. He described himself as an idiot and said he trusted a relative.
In the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Natalie Brennan, a 33‑year‑old junior finance administrator at the College of Anaesthesiologists of Ireland, pleaded guilty to three counts of theft for taking €22,857 between September 2022 and January 2023. Brennan had been hired in 2014 and was regarded as exemplary until behavioural changes were noted in 2019 after a new relationship. She had previously received wage advances to pay her boyfriend's debt, which were repaid. In December 2022 she took leave and returned in January 2023, when discrepancies were found in the accounting system. Brennan admitted the theft, apologized, and resigned. Garda Sergeant Fionnuala Lawlor testified that the stolen money was transferred to accounts in Brennan's name. The court, noting her cooperation, remorse, and lack of prior convictions, imposed a fully suspended sentence of two and a half years, citing domestic financial pressure as a contributing factor. The judge highlighted the breach of trust but deemed imprisonment unjust.
Mark Fitzgerald, 39, of Clondalkin, Dublin, voluntarily turned himself in to Gardaí in May 2022 after admitting he had sent sexually explicit messages and photos to over 100 under‑age girls on Snapchat. Gardaí recovered 1,490 conversations from April 2022, in which Fitzgerald had initiated 136 chats with girls aged 12 to 14, asking for their age and photos, and offering to send pictures of his genitalia. He also requested images of the girls' faces, bodies and genitals, and claimed he had no sexual intent. Gardaí preserved the material and presented it to the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Martin Nolan, noting Fitzgerald's self‑reporting and mitigating circumstances, imposed a two‑year prison sentence.
Sean O'Faolain, 48, of Castleknock, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after punching his ex‑partner at Dublin's Olympia Theatre and again outside the venue, leaving her with a permanent scar. He was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to 20 months' imprisonment, back‑dated to 19 February 2025. The court noted the victim suffered a deep cut to her chin, fractured jaw, damaged teeth, bruising and ongoing medical and dental costs. O'Faolain had no prior convictions, had pleaded guilty early, and had character references. The judge considered his intoxication and work history but found a custodial sentence appropriate. The sentence was imposed with no suspended portion, and the effective custodial term is the full 20 months. The case remains at the sentencing stage.
Raymond Fortune, 43, of Latchford Drive, Castaheany, Dublin 15, was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 2 April 2025 for possessing drugs worth over €1.4 million. He pleaded guilty on 4 July 2024 to two counts of possession of drugs for sale or supply. Garda surveillance, triggered by confidential information, led to his arrest when he was driving a white Transit van. Gardaí seized 7 kg of cannabis (valued at €140 000) and, after searching a storage unit at Rosemount Business Park, found 64 kg of cannabis (valued at over €1.2 million) and 623 g of ketamine (valued at €37 380). Adult diapers were used as a "cover load". During a home search, mixing agents were discovered. Fortune admitted addiction to cocaine and alcohol, claiming his addiction spiralled after his brother was charged with murdering their father in 2019.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 2 April 2025, the court considered the case of a 17‑year‑old driver, Aleksandrs Garkovskis, who struck a cyclist on 13 June 2021 at Sheriff Street Upper, Dublin 1, after running a red light. The collision threw the cyclist higher than a double‑decker bus, causing catastrophic brain injuries, fractures and ongoing health problems. The cyclist has no memory of the incident, suffers slurred speech and receives rehabilitative treatment in assisted accommodation. Garkovskis pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm and was sentenced to two and a half years, deferred until 11 April to allow him to complete college exams. The judge noted the aggravating factors of the red‑light violation and the driver's failure to remain at the scene, but reduced the sentence due to his young age. The court also heard evidence of prior payment frauds and the driver's admission of guilt after CCTV was presented.
Conor Stewart, 29, was sentenced to four years in prison after pleading guilty to assault causing harm and possession of a samurai sword at Kilcross Grove, Sandyford, on 18 June 2020. The offence stemmed from an alleged €50 drug debt owed to the victim's brother. Stewart, who lives in Kilcross Court, Sandyford, was accompanied by another man when they attacked the victim, striking him on the back of the head and leaving a cut on the left side of his head. The victim was treated in hospital for a cut to the back of his head and a larger wound to the side of his head, which required stitches, and has since fully recovered. Stewart's previous convictions include criminal damage and burglary. The court accepted his guilty plea as valuable and noted that he had been on remand in prison, only recently receiving a bed in his cell due to overcrowding.
Tony Wasiu Amusa, 30, of Russell Green, Tallaght, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to three counts of possessing the proceeds of crime between 2020 and 2021, with a total amount of €33,733. Judge Martin Nolan described Amusa as an energetic participant in the laundering scheme but judged him to be "not much of a threat to society." He imposed a 27‑month sentence, suspended in full on strict conditions, and warned Amusa that this was his last chance before any further court appearance.
Conor Stevenson, 26, of Abbot Court, Cualanor, Dun Laoghaire, was sentenced to three and a half years in prison for a violent robbery that took place on 30 March 2021 in Glenageary, Co Dublin. Stevenson pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The incident involved a 15‑year‑old boy who refused to hand over his backpack. Two men approached the teenager and his friend, demanding the bag. The boy resisted, grabbing his backpack and telling the men to "fuck off." Stevenson grabbed the boy's neck, pushed him to the ground, and dragged him into nearby bushes where he continued to assault him. The teenager eventually yielded, saying "fine – you can take the bag," and the robbers fled. The boy reported the mugging immediately. Gardaí analysed CCTV footage, identified Stevenson as a suspect, and arrested him. During the trial, the prosecution described the robbery as "impulsive" and not pre‑meditated.
Asiah Boudakhan, aged 20 and without a fixed address, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm at Temple Bar Square on 14 March 2024. CCTV footage showed her sitting on the victim's legs while restraining him, then punching him, and later another accomplice striking the victim with a bottle. The victim's injuries were described as relatively minor, and no medical report or victim impact statement was presented. Boudakhan was intoxicated at the time and had no prior convictions. Defence counsel noted her history of early drinking and homelessness. Judge Martin Nolan, recognising the victim's full recovery and Boudakhan's lack of a criminal record, imposed a 20‑month suspended sentence, suspending the entire term in full.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Lee Roche, aged 33, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and criminal damage on 15 December 2023. The assault took place at his then‑partner's home in Donaghmede, where Roche dragged her headfirst down the stairs, pulled out her hair extensions, grabbed her breast, pushed into her ribs and struck her on the head, causing her ear to ring. He also hit her again after a brief conversation. Roche had no prior convictions and was reported to have a cocaine‑use problem, which he was addressing. He has since cared for his children and grandfather, and set up a running club in Coolmine. Judge Martin Nolan, citing a letter from the victim praising Roche's current contributions to family and community, imposed a four‑year suspended sentence, fully suspending the custodial term. The sentence was not read aloud in court. The victim's impact statement was submitted but not read.
Gerard Tier, 34, of Casement Drive, Finglas, pleaded guilty to threatening to kill or cause serious harm on 21 August 2021. The court also considered two other counts of possession of an explosive substance and a threat to kill or cause serious damage. A Molotov cocktail was found at Tier's house and he threatened to burn it down. Garda Paul Higgins described Tier as extremely violent, resisting arrest and requiring four officers to restrain him. Tier head‑butted the floor, threatened the officers, and claimed he had previously killed a Garda. While in hospital he admitted to drinking and taking cocaine. The court noted a petrol smell and a bottle with petrol and a rag, confirming the Molotov cocktail. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a custodial sentence of two years, citing Tier's violent conduct and the dangerous nature of the device. The sentence was imposed at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Court proceedings in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 31 March 2025 found Courtney Fitzpatrick, aged 26, and Leah York, aged 22, guilty of money laundering for possessing proceeds of crime. The offence stemmed from a Revolut scam that cost a doctor €11,000. The doctor received a call from an unknown person claiming to be a Revolut agent, who told her her account was compromised and requested app access. The caller then transferred €5,500 to each woman's account, which was subsequently moved into a cryptocurrency account. The women were identified and interviewed by Gardaí; they did not name the scammer, citing fear. The judge noted their cooperation but also that they were aware the activity was criminal. He imposed a one‑year sentence on each, suspended on the condition that each pays €1,500 to the doctor within nine months. The sentences were suspended to punish and deter future gullibility.
Luke Kelly, 54, of Griffith Parade, Glasnevin, was sentenced to five years in prison after pleading guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply on 4 August 2023. Garda Gary Duke explained that police had received confidential information that some DHL employees were using the company as a cover to deliver drugs. A search warrant was executed at Kelly's home after he was stopped driving a yellow DHL‑branded van. Officers found six kilograms of cannabis in the van and an additional kilogram in the passenger seat, all wrapped in DHL packaging. Kelly led officers to a shed at his mother's house where they discovered 30.5 kilograms of cannabis and 11.04 kilograms of cocaine, valued at €1.38 million. He had no prior convictions. The court noted his long marriage, children, grandchildren and lifelong employment, and that he had been under significant stress and substance misuse at the time.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Michael Ward, aged 44, was sentenced to four-and-a-half years' imprisonment for assault causing harm after pleading guilty to two separate assaults on a 19‑year‑old woman. The first assault occurred on 16 December 2023 when Ward, who had 53 prior convictions, allegedly locked the woman in an apartment on Parnell Street, struck her, and prevented her escape. She jumped from the first‑floor balcony, sustaining injuries and later receiving medical care. A second assault on 3 March 2024 involved Ward striking the woman, choking her, and threatening her with a pliers. The court noted the woman's repeated attempts to leave and the ongoing relationship between the parties. Ward's plea of guilty and expressed remorse led the judge to reduce the initial seven‑year sentence to four-and-a-half years, backdated for time already spent in custody.
Michael Mooney, 40, pleaded guilty to threatening to kill or seriously harm his ex‑girlfriend's new partner on 23 July 2020. He sent about 50 Facebook Messenger messages in one day, including threats such as "stay away from her or you'll pay with your life" and calling the victim a "nobody". He later apologized, saying his words were "all talk". Mooney has a history of three threats to kill, three criminal damage convictions and 30 road traffic offences. He met with Gardaí, exercised his right to silence, and a victim impact statement was submitted but not read aloud. The judge, Martin Nolan, imposed a two‑year suspended sentence, directed Mooney to pay €2,000 to the victim or a charity, and warned that his behaviour was not cost‑free. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
An unnamed 44-year-old woman was sentenced in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to possession of cannabis with intent to supply. The offence occurred on 16th January 2023 at her Dublin home. During the search, a minor son indicated the presence of drugs, and the defendant admitted to possessing cannabis and her own methadone. Police recovered cannabis, plastic bagging, and two sets of electronic scales, with the drugs valued between €12,000 and €14,000. The defendant has 12 previous convictions, including three for drug possession for sale or supply, all dating back more than 20 years. Her defence counsel highlighted her history of addiction, noting she began using methadone at age 12 and has remained on it since. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a three-year term of imprisonment but suspended it in full. The matter was finalised with this suspended sentence.
Stephen Bedford, 38, was sentenced to 16 months in prison by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for driving a jeep into a crowd at an anti‑immigration protest on 15 February 2023. Bedford, who had previously been convicted for overstepping the line at protests, was livestreaming the incident to Facebook. Garda Eoin Cannon testified that Bedford's vehicle collided with an injured protester, who was later taken to hospital. Footage from Bedford's phone showed him leaving a blocked junction, crossing onto the opposite side of the road, and turning into a lane where the protester stood. Bedford pleaded guilty to driving through a crowd, creating a substantial risk of death or serious harm. The judge noted the speed was not great but that Bedford could have caused injury, and he was jailed for 16 months.
A 26‑year‑old father of three was given a three‑year suspended sentence after pleading guilty to two counts of possession of cannabis for sale or supply at his Dublin home in July 2023. He admitted that he had been holding €17,000 worth of cannabis for a fee of €100, claiming the money was to help cover the costs of his children's illnesses. Gardaí found the drugs in a backpack when they entered the apartment after the defendant had left for ten minutes. The defendant said he was motivated by his children's health problems, all of whom suffer from hip dysplasia, with the eldest having had surgery and the middle child two surgeries. He had a prior conviction for possession of knives, which was under a suspended sentence at the time. Judge Martin Nolan, after considering the circumstances, imposed the suspended sentence.
William Greene, 48, of Bective Square, Phibsborough, was jailed for 16 months after making 11,043 nuisance calls to emergency services between 8 March and 9 November 2023, jamming lines for 129 hours. He pleaded guilty to two counts of persistently using the telecommunications system to cause annoyance, interference or needless anxiety. The calls, made from two phone numbers, were monitored and linked to Greene, who was arrested in October 2023. He denied owning the phones but was found with a Nokia mobile and a second phone during searches. Greene had a suspended sentence for giving false information in a hoax 999 call and 20 prior convictions. The court noted his alcohol addiction and mental health issues, and he was sentenced to three years with the final 20 months suspended on bond.
In a victim impact statement read to the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, a woman who was sexually abused by her cousin when she was eight years old addressed the 40‑year‑old defendant, telling him: "May you never be free. May you be haunted like I have been." The defendant had pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assault committed in 1999 when he was 15 and the victim was eight. He was sentenced to three years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended on strict conditions. The court noted the repeated nature of the offences, the victim's ongoing suffering, and the defendant's guilty plea, expressions of remorse, lack of prior convictions and good work history. The victim described the abuse as not innocent curiosity, detailing the impact on her trust, mental health and life trajectory. The defendant was instructed to apologise, and the court considered his family situation as context rather than excuse.
Paulius Baltrunas, a 35‑year‑old Lithuanian national with no fixed abode, was sentenced to four years in prison after pleading guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to transporting more than €160,000 worth of cannabis for sale or supply at Fonthill Retail Park on 18 May 2024. Baltrunas had arrived in Ireland three months earlier with the intention of establishing a vape business, but that plan failed. Gardaí were alerted to suspicious activity in the area and observed Baltrunas at a service station in Fonthill Retail Park. They searched him and his vehicle, finding a strong odor of cannabis and a large shopping bag containing the drugs. The Gardaí reported that no further evidence emerged from Baltrunas's subsequent interview. Judge Martin Nolan, noting that Baltrunas had come to Ireland "with great expectations" that were not realised, inferred from the evidence that he intended to transport the drugs for payment and imposed the four‑year custodial sentence.