Roza Komorova, 46, from Ballinteer, pleaded not guilty to stealing paintings worth over €28,000 from artist Louise Mansfield's home in Cabinteely on 5 September 2011. In court she said she did not understand Gardaí questions and claimed the paintings were hers, to be hung on her wall, and that Mansfield had asked her to move them. She also alleged an affair with Mansfield's husband, Theo Hanley, who denied any infidelity. Mansfield denied ordering Komorova to take the paintings and said Komorova only helped move them under her supervision. The trial continues before Judge Mary Ellen Ring.
Shane Connell, 27, of Coolock, was jailed for five years after he stole an ESB van, drove through red lights, and rammed a Garda van four times while being chased through Dublin suburbs. He also caused damage on Ranelagh Road and collided with several cars. Connell claimed he had drunk two bottles of vodka and could not remember the incident. Judge Pat McCartan sentenced him to four years, suspended the final eighteen months, and activated a previously suspended two‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence for burglary and assault, giving an effective five‑year term. Shane Connell pleaded guilty.
A 35‑year‑old Dublin man, Francis Whelan of Cushlawn Park, Tallaght, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of a pipe bomb found in his tracksuit pants on 13 October 2012 in the Killinarden Heights area. He claimed he was set up by an acquaintance that day and did not know the item was a pipe bomb, saying he carried it for a €100 reward of cannabis. Prosecutor John Quirke BL described the bomb as a viable explosive with serious potential consequences, while defence lawyer Dean Kelly BL noted Whelan's positive participation in the St Dominic's community‑based project and lack of further police attention. Judge Melanie Greally warned of the extreme and horrifying results of pipe bombs, described Whelan as somewhat apathetic, and urged him to change his life. She imposed a two‑year suspended jail sentence, conditioned on engagement with addiction support services and regular drug testing.
David Towell, 36, of Tallaght, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to attempted robbery and possession of an air pistol at Paddy Power bookmakers in Saggart on 6 July 2013. He had 20 prior convictions and had planned the robbery with an accomplice he met only the night before. Towell rode a moped driven by the accomplice, but an off‑duty Garda and his father intervened, knocking him off the scooter and preventing the robbery. He struck the cash desk, left with nothing, and was arrested on the spot. Judge Catherine Murphy sentenced him to four years, with the last year suspended, citing the seriousness of the offence and his drug‑addiction history. He was ordered to remain under Probation Services supervision, attend addiction services, and engage in victim‑awareness work.
In a 2015 Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, Suzanne O'Connell (42) and Daniel McMahon (23) pleaded guilty to the armed robbery of an Applegreen petrol station in Clonsilla on 19 September 2013. O'Connell, acting as getaway driver, had met McMahon that night and picked him up with a third man. The trio entered the shop wearing balaclavas; McMahon brandished a pellet gun that was a convincing replica of a 6mm Colt handgun, while the other man held a knife. They demanded cash, filled a plastic bag with about €800, and fled. Gardaí, who had followed O'Connell's car, arrested all three. McMahon claimed he did not know O'Connell prior to the robbery. Both defendants had no prior convictions, and O'Connell's past offences were traffic and a 2002 drug‑dealing charge. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a suspended five‑year prison term on each, contingent on maintaining peace for that period, citing their personal circumstances, guilty pleas, and cooperation with police.
Gary Hanley, 26, of North Great Clarence Street, Dublin 1, was convicted of possessing five bars of cannabis resin for sale or supply at the Alfie Byrne apartment complex on 10 April 2009. A jury found him guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and he was sentenced to six years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended by Judge Patricia Ryan on 16 March 2013. Hanley appealed the conviction, arguing that the case should have been withdrawn from the jury and that there was no case to answer. Judge Garrett Sheehan rejected the appeal, noting that a Garda had searched a large wheelie bin at the complex, where a blue hold‑all bag and a yellow Dunnes Stores bag were found. Inside the plastic bag were five bars of cannabis resin, and a partial forefinger mark matching Hanley's fingerprints was on the tear of the bag. Gary Hanley pleaded not guilty.
A 32‑year‑old man was given a suspended three‑year sentence for sexually assaulting a woman who was asleep at a party. He admitted to entering the bedroom after she had gone to bed, kissing and touching her in the hope she would think he was her partner. He also admitted to digitally penetrating her. Judge Catherine Murphy suspended the sentence in full, imposing conditions that he address his alcohol problems and engage with offence and victim awareness services. He was previously declared a sex offender. The judge suggested he consider living alcohol‑free and urged him to make the most of the chance. The man pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He offered €2,000 as a token of remorse, but the prosecution requested it be paid to the Rape Crisis Centre, which the judge directed his solicitor to do.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 46‑year‑old house cleaner Roza Komorova pleaded not guilty to stealing paintings worth over €28,000 from artist Louise Mansfield's home on Brennanstown Road, Cabinteely, on 5 September 2011. A video of Komorova's garda interview was shown to the jury, in which she claimed the paintings belonged to her and that she intended to hang them on her wall, but she refused to explain how she obtained them. Prosecutor Ms Elva Duffy read transcripts of two further garda interviews. In one, Komorova was shown CCTV footage of Mansfield's house and admitted that she had removed the paintings, placed them in her van and driven away. Police later found 21 signed paintings in the back of her vehicle. The trial, presided over by Judge Mary Ellen Ring, continues with a jury.
Glen Hogan, aged 25, was sentenced to three years in prison for driving a stolen Mitsubishi Pajero through red lights and onto footpaths during a high‑speed chase in Dublin. He pleaded guilty to one count of driving a stolen car, two counts of dangerous driving and one count of driving under the influence. Judge Patrick McCartan suspended the final year of a four‑year term on the condition that Hogan remains drug‑free and keeps the peace, and banned him from driving for ten years. The judge also back‑dated the sentence to start in August 2014. Hogan has eight prior convictions for car theft, 71 total convictions including drug offences, and a previous six‑year sentence for assault. The court noted his drug addiction and offered him a residential treatment programme through the Peter McVerry Trust.
David Manning, 45, of Brighton Terrace, Monkstown, Dun Laoghaire, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to 16 theft charges for stealing €46,691 from the State by claiming his dead aunt Mary Hegarty's pension. The thefts occurred between February 2010 and August 2013, with 115 sample counts. Manning had been Hegarty's full‑time carer until her death in February 2010. He admitted to collecting the pension for three years, using the money for funeral costs, medical bills, nursing home expenses and a neighbour's roof repairs. Garda Orla Meehan confirmed the thefts with CCTV footage from Blackrock Post Office. Manning informed on himself and repaid the full amount. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to three years' imprisonment, suspended in full, citing his self‑incrimination and restitution as mitigating factors.
Judge Mary Ellen Ring said that the Director of Public Prosecutions failed to inform the court that Mark Moran, 37, had committed a new crime while his previous suspended sentence was still active. Moran, who had been convicted in 2010 of possession of cannabis worth over €250,000 and sentenced to seven years with four years suspended, was released in October 2011. In December 2012 he pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine and cannabis for sale or supply in Clontarf, with an estimated drug value of €5,000. The DPP did not mention the active suspended sentence at the time of the new offence. Ring noted that under Section 99 of the 2006 Criminal Justice Act any new sentence must run consecutively to the suspended sentence, but she would not address the prosecutorial failure. Moran is currently in drug rehabilitation, remains free on bail, and will appear again in July for sentencing.
In a Kildare incident, Tadgh Delaney, aged 41, assaulted and robbed his ex‑girlfriend, a 36‑year‑old woman, on 29 January 2014. He pleaded guilty to assault and to robbing her mobile phone and €130 cash. The victim, whose identity is protected, appealed to Judge James O'Donohoe to avoid jail, arguing that Delaney had turned his life around. The judge had previously indicated a possible 240‑hour community service sentence in lieu of a six‑month jail term. Judge Martin Nolan confirmed this order after a Probation Service report deemed Delaney suitable for community service, requiring the work to be completed within one year. The case highlighted Delaney's history of road‑traffic offences, theft, and a former heroin addiction, and the victim's claim that he had begun to change after their relationship ended.
In March 2015 a Dublin court heard that a 68‑year‑old bus driver at a care facility for people with severe disabilities had been absolved of wrongdoing by the facility and cleared to return to work before he was convicted of sexually abusing a woman with the mental age of three. The driver was caught molesting the victim and forcing her to touch him. He denied the charge, claiming he was merely "gesticulating" during conversation. He was later sentenced to four years in prison, with the final two and a half years suspended on strict conditions, including no further contact with the victim. The facility and the man's identity remain anonymous to protect the victim's anonymity. The driver had been on paid leave at the time of the incident and declined the offer to return to work, eventually retiring at 65.
The trial of Roza Komorova, 46, a housecleaner from Brehon Grove, Balinteer, continues in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. She is accused of stealing paintings worth over €28,000 from artist Louise Mansfield's home on Brennanstown Road, Cabinteely, on 5 September 2011. Komorova pleaded not guilty. Mansfield denied instructing Komorova to take the paintings, stating that Komorova only moved them under her supervision. The case is before Judge Mary Ellen Ring and a jury, with proceedings set to continue tomorrow.
Jamie Griffin, aged 20, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to affray for a violent attack in a Ladbrokes bookmakers shop in Tallaght on 13 December 2012. Griffin, two other men and a short blade were involved. They entered the shop at 5.30pm, targeted a customer, and one attacker stabbed the man repeatedly while customers were still being served. The victim's brother intervened, but the attackers later returned and attacked him. Gardaí were called; both injured men were taken to Tallaght Hospital, one with multiple stab wounds and the other with a broken hand. Griffin, already serving a six‑year sentence on another charge and with 13 prior convictions, was given a three‑year custodial sentence with the last year suspended on condition of good behaviour. The other two men were charged separately with violent disorder. The court noted that Griffin was only 17 at the time of the offence.
Patrick McGrath, aged 35, received a three‑year jail sentence for a series of violent offences. He pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to producing a knife during a dispute on 17 July 2012, to attempted hijacking of a car that same night, and to intimidation of a witness by threatening Sinead Murphy on 19 July 2012. McGrath also threatened the Murphy family, saying he would return with a gun and shoot them. The judge, Martin Nolan, back‑dated the sentence to April 2014, noting evidence of reconciliation between McGrath and the Murphy family. McGrath's defence argued he was a hard‑working man acting out of over‑protectiveness for his son, who has a serious congenital brain condition. The court imposed the three‑year term, with no mention of a suspended portion or effective custody beyond the sentence itself.
Altin Meci, a 30‑year‑old chip shop owner from Kosovo living in Santry, Dublin, pleaded guilty to eleven counts of making a false instrument for supplying fake driving licences between October 2008 and April 2010. He had an arrangement with a civil servant, identified in court as "Officer A", who worked in the Motor Tax Office. Meci charged foreign nationals €1,000 per licence, which did not require an Irish driving test, and received €5,000 from the scam while Officer A allegedly received €5,000. The court, considering Meci's early guilty plea and full admissions, imposed a one‑year suspended sentence and fined him €5,000. Officer A remains before the courts and has yet to enter a plea. Meci is married to a British woman, has a son, runs a takeaway in Coolock, employs several people, sponsors local soccer teams, and is involved in charity work.
David Murphy, aged 24, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two assault charges after a violent incident on 12 December 2013. He stabbed his mother, Angela Murdock, in the neck and arms with a bread knife, then attacked his brother, Andrew Murphy, stabbing him five times until the knife handle broke, leaving the blade in Andrew's arm. The court noted a long‑standing strained relationship between Murphy and his family. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a four‑year prison sentence, suspending the last 18 months on the condition that Murphy keeps the peace and obeys Probation Services instructions for one year after release. The sentence was back‑dated to December 2013, when Murphy entered custody. Both victims received stitches and reported nightmares from the attack. Murphy expressed remorse and claimed he had always felt like the black sheep of the family.
Roza Komorova, a 46‑year‑old Dublin artist, pleaded not guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to theft of paintings worth €28,595 from Louise Mansfield's home on Brennanstown Road, Cabinteely, on 5 September 2011. In court, Mr John Berry, the defence counsel, suggested that Mansfield's husband, Theo Hanley, had been having an affair with Komorova between 2003 and 2011 and that Hanley had paid money into a credit card account in Komorova's name and given her two cars. Mansfield denied any knowledge of such payments or gifts, describing the allegations as ludicrous. She said she had never seen the credit card statement and that her relationship with Komorova had been cash‑only. Mansfield claimed she had called Gardaí after her favourite painting disappeared in summer 2011, and that a detective had observed Komorova arriving in a white van and later carrying items to the van. The trial is ongoing before Judge Mary Ellen Ring.
A Roscommon man has been sentenced to six months imprisonment by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for sexually assaulting his daughter between 2004 and 2006. The man, aged 59, pleaded guilty to sexual assault of the child at the family home. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a two-year sentence with all but six months suspended, having considered the guilty plea, remorse expressed, and the defendant's serious medical condition. The court heard the child was subjected to abuse by multiple family members. Her mother is currently serving a 14-year sentence, with four and a half years suspended, for sexual assault and child cruelty, while a neighbour received 14 years for rape and related sexual offences. Judge Nolan noted the girl is now receiving support from foster carers and declared the man a sex offender. He determined post-release supervision was not necessary.
Enda Farrell, a former National Asset Management Agency official, is set to stand trial in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 13 charges of disclosing confidential information in May, June and July 2012, contrary to the 2009 NAMA Act. The case was forwarded from the District Court where Farrell appeared last year. His defence, led by Michael Bowman SC, requested a trial date, noting that the disclosure was largely completed. Judge Martin Nolan scheduled the trial for January 18, 2016, and the prosecution, represented by Kerida Naidoo BL, sought witness and exhibit orders for that date.
A 26‑year‑old systems analyst, Colum Hanlon, pleaded guilty to assaulting Jack Larkin on 15 November 2013 at Camden Street, Dublin. The unprovoked punch broke Larkin's nose, sinus bone and left eye socket. Hanlon, who claimed he was very drunk and had no recollection of the attack, received a three‑year suspended sentence from Judge Martin Nolan. The judge described the assault as a "spasm of misplaced jealousy" and noted that alcohol was not an excuse. Hanlon was ordered to pay €10,000 in compensation to Larkin and to raise an additional €5,000 within 18 months. Larkin suffered severe injuries, required surgery, and missed final year studies at St Patrick's Teacher Training College. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, with no prior convictions for Hanlon. The judge accepted his remorse and considered the incident a one‑off.
Three men – Gary Freeman (27), Barry Gannon (36) and John Redmond (38) – were found guilty of assault causing harm and violent disorder after a 12‑day trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The offence took place in the yard of Mountjoy Prison on 28 August 2012 when the men attacked prisoner William McDonagh, pushing him to the ground and kicking him, as shown on CCTV footage. The court saw that Gannon struck McDonagh with a mop head, Redmond kicked and punched him, and Freeman punched and stamped on his head. McDonagh suffered lacerations, a damaged ear and bruising, and required 30 sutures. Each defendant was sentenced to three years' imprisonment with the final year suspended; Freeman's and Gannon's terms were back‑dated to 26 February 2015, and Redmond's to 18 December 2013. The judge noted the defendants' prior convictions and their expressions of remorse and rehabilitation efforts. Gary Freeman pleaded not guilty. Barry Gannon pleaded not guilty. John Redmond pleaded not guilty.
Stephen Dolan, aged 20, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assaulting taxi driver Mohammed Maeem and robbing €90 from The Snuffbox newsagents. On 5 September 2014, Dolan directed Maeem to remote roads outside Finglas, punched him twice in the face, and later robbed the newsagents the day before. Maeem suffered a deep forehead gash, swollen lip, bruising and required stitches; he has since lost a month's earnings. Dolan admitted taking prescription drugs and was described by a newsagent as "an absolute idiot." The court sentenced him to four years, with the final year suspended, citing his 45 previous convictions and attempts to reform. The judge described the assault as sinister and noted Dolan's ADHD and dysfunctional background. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the assault and robbery.
Luke Curry, 25, was found asleep on a couch with a pile of €275 of stolen cash after a pharmacy robbery in Tallaght on 12 February 2013. He had opened the security door while his masked accomplice, armed with a kitchen knife, entered the shop and demanded money and tablets. The pharmacy staff, recognising Curry as a customer, opened the door and were threatened by the armed man. Staff handed over €400, of which €275 was later recovered. Curry pleaded guilty to robbery at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Desmond Hogan imposed a three‑year sentence, suspended in full on the condition that Curry completes 240 hours of community service. He was also charged with drug dealing and has 12 prior convictions. The case was prosecuted by Elva Duffy BL and defended by Sarah Jane O'Callaghan BL.
Two men were jailed for their roles in a sophisticated cannabis import scheme that involved nearly €5 million worth of drugs. Sean Mahony, 39, and Peng Cheng, 24, pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply at locations in North Dublin. Gardaí observed the pair arriving at an IKEA store in vans, then transporting the drugs to a warehouse at North City Business Park. The drugs were concealed in pallets of legitimate goods, including Basmati rice, and were marked with a coded barcode system. Gardaí seized 72.7 kg of cannabis in Mahony's van and an additional 137 kg of herbal cannabis and 88 kg of cannabis resin in the warehouse, bringing the total value to almost €5 million. Peng was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment, while Mahony received six years. Both men had no prior convictions. The case highlighted the use of legitimate import routes and coded packaging to conceal large quantities of drugs.
Anthony Handley, 63, of Whitethorn Grove, Artane, is charged with dangerous driving causing the death of 31‑year‑old primary school teacher Olivia Dunne and serious bodily harm to her five‑month‑old baby Aoibhe. The incident occurred on Dublin Road, Balbriggan, on 17 January. Dunne died after pushing her buggy away from an oncoming vehicle, saving her baby's life. Handley appeared at Balbriggan District Court, was sent forward to Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, and remains on bail with a €300 bond. Judge Dermot Dempsey gave him an alibi caution and allowed two senior counsel for defence.
Desmond O'Toole, 46, of Dun Laoghaire, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for offences committed at the Sallynoggin Inn in Sallynoggin on June 9, 2014. The defendant pleaded guilty to possession of a gun with intent to endanger life, assault causing harm, and possession of two rounds of .22 calibre ammunition. Judge Martin Nolan described the incident as incredibly serious, noting O'Toole's intent to harm and significant recklessness. Prosecution evidence indicated that after a dispute with a group of men, O'Toole returned to the pub, fired a shot into the crowd which missed, and subsequently fired again outside. The second bullet struck a security guard in the chest, causing severe injury requiring surgery and resulting in Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. O'Toole was arrested two days later and identified the location where he dumped the firearm, though it was never recovered. He made no admissions during ten interviews but later expressed remorse in a letter. Defence counsel highlighted that O'Toole is a carer for his blind mother. The court imposed a ten-year custodial sentence, reflecting the severity of the violence and the danger posed to the public.
Linda Nugent, aged 43, was sentenced to seven and a half years' imprisonment for stabbing her 77‑year‑old friend Desmond Garland three times in the neck and chest on 14 September 2013. She pleaded guilty to intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm. The judge described the offence as unforgivable and noted it carries a maximum of life imprisonment. Nugent is pregnant and may give birth in prison. Garland suffered a heart attack immediately after the stabbing, underwent emergency surgery, spent 28 days in intensive care and later six months in a ward before being moved to a nursing home where he died of cancer in December 2014. Garland's son read a victim impact statement describing his father as a gentleman who was deeply affected by the assault. Nugent has a mild learning disability, epilepsy, and two prior public order convictions.
A jury has begun deliberating in the trial of Wicklow Detective Garda Catherine McGowan, aged 48, who is charged with forging a letter from the Director of Public Prosecutions. McGowan pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to one count of forgery relating to an incident on 15 January 2009 at Bray Garda Station, and to two counts of using a false instrument concerning events on 21 and 22 June 2011 at Bray and Harcourt Street Garda Stations. The alleged forged letter, dated 14 January 2009, purportedly instructed that no prosecution should proceed in a clerical child‑abuse case, citing the complainant's allegation of rape as conjecture. The investigation was triggered by the Murphy Report, which examined the response of church and state authorities to clerical sexual abuse in Dublin. Judge Mary Ellen Ring addressed the jury of six men and six women before sending them out to deliberate, with a return scheduled for the next day.
A 33‑year‑old Dublin father of two, Keith Byrne, was sentenced to five years in prison after authorities discovered approximately €860,000 worth of heroin in the back of a rental Toyota Corolla. Byrne pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing the drug for sale or supply at Castlebaggot in Newcastle, Co. Dublin, on 7 May 2014. Gardaí had received confidential information and monitored Byrne's home in Lucan, where they observed him placing a black hold‑all bag in the vehicle and driving toward Newcastle. The car was stopped near Baldonnell, and the drugs were seized. Byrne admitted responsibility, claiming he did not know the substance was heroin or its value. He stated he had to transport the drugs "from A to B." Prosecutor Noel Devitt BL noted that Byrne's cooperation and full admissions helped the investigation.
A former army officer, Gerard Daly, has been sentenced to three and a half years in prison for possessing nearly 20 kilograms of herbal cannabis valued at €399,260. Daly, who had 12 years of service in the Defence Forces before being discharged due to a prior drug offence, pleaded guilty to the charges. He admitted to holding the drugs in return for €1,000 as he was financially desperate. Judge Martin Nolan noted that Daly had made a serious error of judgment and was aware of the risks involved. The court heard that Daly had been tipped off about a delivery of cannabis, leading to a surveillance operation outside his home in Lucan. Gardaí found the drugs in a shed after obtaining a search warrant. Daly had 17 previous convictions, all for road traffic offences, which his defence attributed to a long-standing alcohol problem.
Jody Vij, 35, was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to five years' imprisonment after pleading guilty to possessing cannabis for sale or supply. The offence occurred on 17 May 2008 when gardaí stopped a vehicle in Dalkey, Co. Dublin, and found a bag containing 20 packages of cannabis worth €117,912. Vij admitted buying 10 kg of the drug for €60,000 and planning to sell it at a profit of €2,000 per kilo. He described himself as a "heavy gambler" spending €500–€600 daily on betting. Garda Val Russell reported that confidential information about a drug delivery led to the stop. Additional cannabis was seized at a house on Park Avenue, Glenageary, and at Castleforbes Business Park, where Vij rented rehearsal space. Betting slips and a Star newspaper with lists of names and amounts were also found.
Alan Rees, 31, of Tinure, Dunleer, was sentenced to 18 months in prison at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for possessing cat litter and other items used in a fuel laundering scheme that cost the Revenue €67,731. He pleaded guilty to possession of prohibited goods used to remove the green marker dye from agricultural diesel at Ballycoolin Business Park on 17 May 2013. The court noted the crime was serious and difficult to detect, and the judge refused to suspend part of the sentence or defer its start. Rees was found with a filtration system that used cat litter to strip the dye from green diesel, allowing it to be sold as fuel for cars. The operation was uncovered when a maintenance man noticed diesel fumes and cat litter in the unit, leading to a customs inspection.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, Detective Garda Catherine McGowan, aged 48, pleaded not guilty to forging a letter from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and to using a false instrument in 2009 and 2011. The alleged forged letter, dated 14 January 2009, claimed no prosecution would be brought in a clerical child‑abuse case. McGowan's actions were investigated after the Murphy Report examined church and state responses to clerical abuse. The State's counsel argued that McGowan had fabricated the forgery to mislead investigators, citing her repeated lies to solicitors and alleged victims. Defence counsel maintained that McGowan had acted diligently and refused to admit wrongdoing when confronted with evidence of forgery. The trial concluded with the State and defence delivering closing speeches; Judge Mary Ellen Ring will now direct the jury to deliberate.
Patrick Browne, 26, of Berryfield Road, Finglas, was remanded in custody for two months pending sentencing after a series of violent offences. On 15 March 2013, he stabbed Constantine Consier seven times over a cigarette lighter at Hickey's Pharmacy, Phibsboro Shopping Centre, leaving Consier with a punctured lung and multiple stab wounds. Browne had earlier robbed the shop twice on 24 December 2013, taking €1,050 in cash. He also robbed Daybreak on New Cabra Road on the same day, first taking €150 and later €900, using a knife and a white Hallowe'en ghost mask, then a white skull mask. Browne pleaded guilty to assault and robbery at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He admitted the crimes, citing alcohol consumption and mental health issues, and was remanded pending sentencing. The judge ordered a report on his prison adaptation due to medical problems.
In March 2014, George Croitoru, a 29‑year‑old Romanian, attacked Dawn Critchlow‑Burke on Dublin's North Circular Road. He dragged her to the ground, repeatedly kicked her in the face and head, punched her, and threatened her while she tried to escape. The assault left her with a perforated eardrum, fractured nose, black eyes and extensive bruising. Croitoru pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Martin Nolan described the attack as persistent, vicious and prolonged, noting that Croitoru "lost complete control." He imposed a sentence of three and a half years, with the final two years suspended, and ordered Croitoru to pay €1,000 to the victim as a token of remorse. The case was prosecuted by Martina Baxter BL, and Croitoru's defence argued he was intoxicated and had no prior convictions. The judge emphasised the seriousness of the assault and the need for custodial time.
Maurice Sheehy, a 43-year-old van driver from Raheny, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to careless driving causing the death of Sister Helen Power. The incident occurred on August 7, 2013, on the Tallaght bypass of the N81. Prosecutors stated that Sister Power crossed the road at the Old Bawn junction while pedestrian lights were red and without looking for traffic. A witness described her as appearing to be in a trance. Garda Bridget Malone testified that Sheehy was driving well below the 80 kph speed limit, was not distracted, and had recently passed his NCT. She alleged that Sheehy made a failure of observation to see the victim. In mitigation, defense counsel Paul Greene, SC, noted that Sheehy was distraught after the impact, asking bystanders if the victim was alive. The court heard that Sheehy subsequently attended Sister Power's funeral and met with her religious order, who served as her family. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Sheehy to a fine of €500. The judge opted not to disqualify him from driving, stating it would be a major punishment on his family, as Sheehy works night shifts to care for his five-year-old daughter. Judge Nolan acknowledged that while Sister Power was in a world of her own, there was some failure on Sheehy's part to avoid the incident, even though it was not of his own creation.
The ESB was fined €250,000 after a 22‑year‑old apprentice electrician, Shane Conlon, was killed on 15 January 2013 at St Margret's Road, Finglas, when he was confused about which parts of a 38 kW indoor cubicle (T142) were live. The court found no visual warning signs or flags inside the cubicle to alert workers to live electrical apparatus overhead. The ESB pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to failing to manage and conduct maintenance work safely. An HSA inspector noted that the person in charge had limited experience and that supervision for the vulnerable apprentice was lacking. Judge Martin Nolan accepted the fine as a serious matter and the ESB agreed to pay the HSA investigation and prosecution costs of nearly €16,000.
Alan Boggans, 39, of Newcastle, was convicted of possessing over €1.9 million worth of cannabis resin for sale or supply at Celtic Truck Wash and Park, Rathcoole, on 1 September 2009. A jury at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court found him guilty and Judge Patrick McCartan sentenced him to 13 years' imprisonment on 24 June 2013. Boggans appealed the conviction, but the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal. Judge Garrett Sheehan confirmed that Boggans had received a fair trial. The case centred on a Garda surveillance operation that led to a search warrant issued under section 26 of the Misuse of Drugs Act. Evidence included drugs found in a white Mercedes van, fingerprints matching Boggans, and mobile phones linked to him. Boggans' counsel argued the warrant was issued too hastily and that the Superintendent was not independent, but the court rejected these arguments and upheld the conviction. The appeal was dismissed on all grounds. Alan Boggans pleaded not guilty.
Michael Carolan, aged 39, was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to three years' imprisonment for possessing a double‑barrel sawn‑off shotgun, 28 rounds of ammunition and 586 g of powder that contained only 0.6 % to 1.4 % cocaine, the remainder being a legal anaesthetic used to cut cocaine. The offence occurred at his former home on Kimmage Road West, Dublin, on 19 October 2005. Carolan pleaded guilty, admitting he was holding the drugs for a third party, but denied knowledge of the gun and ammunition, some of which was found in a container of child's colouring pencils. He had fled to the UK but was returned to Ireland to face the charges. The court, after considering a psychological report and a defence claim of coercion, imposed a three‑year term for the gun possession, concurrent with a two‑year term for the drug offence, back‑dated to his entry into custody on 23 August 2014.
James Walsh, 57, of Wyanstown, Oldtown, Co Dublin, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to cultivating cannabis plants at his home on 20 June 2013. The court, presided over by Judge Martin Nolan, suspended a two‑year prison sentence on the condition that Walsh keeps the peace for that period. During a planned search, Gardaí discovered 23 plants in a "grow tent" in a small bedroom, equipped with specialised lighting, heating and an air vent. The plants were at harvesting stage and were estimated to be worth €20,800 on the street. An additional 16 early‑stage plants were found in a greenhouse, valued at €12,800, and two more plants were located in the living room. Walsh said he would use cuttings from these plants to avoid buying seeds, and that he intended to smoke the plants and produce cannabis oil for medicinal use.
Michael Murray, 43, of Killiney Oaks, Dublin, was convicted in 2013 of rape, sexual assault, child abduction and other offences committed in February 2010. He was sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy. The Director of Public Prosecutions has appealed his sentence on grounds of undue leniency. During case‑management procedures in the Court of Appeal on 9 March 2015, Murray confirmed that no lawyers were acting for him and claimed that the State had recorded his solicitors' telephone conversations during his trial. He said the prison service admitted to accessing and recording those calls, a fact he believes will affect his conviction appeal. Murray has no objection to the DPP's undue‑leniency application and will not instruct a legal team on it, stating he considers it an abuse of process. The Court of Appeal has directed that the DPP's application proceed and that Murray's conviction appeal be postponed until the judicial review is resolved. Michael Murray pleaded not guilty.
The trial of Wicklow Detective Garda Catherine McGowan, aged 48, was adjourned for a day because a jury member fell ill. McGowan pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to one count of forgery for an alleged forged letter from the Director of Public Prosecutions dated 14 January 2009, and to two counts of using a false instrument relating to a clerical abuse case in 2011. The case was prompted by the Murphy Report on clerical sexual abuse. The trial will resume tomorrow before Judge Mary Ellen Ring with a 12‑person jury.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Detective Garda Catherine McGowan, aged 48 and based at Bray Garda Station, denied forging a letter from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to conceal a clerical sex‑abuse investigation. McGowan pleaded not guilty to one count of forgery and two counts of using a false instrument, relating to alleged forgery of a DPP letter dated 14 January 2009 that supposedly directed no prosecution in a clerical abuse case. The letter, which McGowan claimed she had forwarded to the DPP for review, was said to have been fabricated by combining parts of other documents. She denied forging the letter, denying any relation to the priest involved and denying that her alleged failure to send a file could have exposed others to abuse. The trial, presided over by Judge Mary Ellen Ring, continues with a jury of twelve.
James Cahill, a former apprentice butcher, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to the theft of €49,204 from McArdle Meats on December 24, 2013. Judge Desmond Hogan suspended a four-year prison sentence for three years, imposing conditions that Cahill keep the peace for that period and complete 240 hours of unpaid community work. The court heard that Cahill, who had no previous convictions, admitted knowing the shop's safe codes, which allowed him to steal two days of takings during a period of chronic cocaine addiction and drug-induced paranoia. Prosecution evidence indicated that Cahill later handed €17,000 of the stolen money to gardaí and led officers to a further €5,000 stashed in a shoe. It was noted that a third party had threatened Cahill with a lump hammer for some of the cash, though his father managed to retrieve a portion of it. The butchers remained out of pocket by €17,000 after receiving €10,000 in insurance compensation. Judge Hogan described the offence as being at the higher end of the middle range of seriousness but accepted Cahill's genuine remorse, early guilty plea, and significant strides towards rehabilitation.
Three Lithuanian men—Darius Adamonis (46), his son Darvydas Adamonis (27) and Linas Butrinovicius (29)—were sentenced in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for false imprisonment of student Richard Nagle (25) on 16 October 2013. The men, acting on instructions from landlord Peter Downey, forcibly evicted Nagle from a bedsit in Cabra Park, Dublin. They blocked his exit, demanded his belongings, and led him to his room, where Butrinovicius brandished an air pistol. Nagle, who had paid a €500 deposit for the room, fled with his possessions and reported the incident. The court found the men unaware of the illegality of their actions. Butrinovicius received a two‑year sentence, Darius Adamonis an 18‑month term, and Darvydas Adamonis a two‑year suspended sentence. The case highlighted the unlawful nature of the forced eviction. Darius Adamonis pleaded guilty. Darvydas Adamonis pleaded guilty. Linas Butrinovicius pleaded guilty.
In March 2015, Thomas Callery, aged 42, was sentenced to 18 months in jail for assaulting Danielle Byrne, aged 22, during a christening event at the Swiss Cottage pub in Santry. Callery threw a pint glass at Byrne after a melee broke out between Byrne and other guests. The glass struck Byrne's face, causing her to black out, suffer nerve damage to her eye, and receive scarring on her brow and cheek. Byrne reported anxiety attacks and the need for daily eye drops. Callery pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and was given a three‑year sentence with half suspended, plus twelve months of probation. The judge noted Byrne's intoxication and the chaotic circumstances but held Callery responsible for the injuries inflicted. The case highlighted the seriousness of violent conduct at public gatherings.
Wayne Donnelly, 28, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, false imprisonment of a taxi driver and unlawful seizure of a car. He was sentenced to a six‑year prison term with four years suspended, conditional on keeping the peace and attending a drug treatment programme. The case involved an attack on a taxi driver who was tied up, robbed of his phone and €250, and had his car taken. Donnelly also assaulted a man in Palmerstown, claiming the man owed money to drug dealers, and threatened to use grenades. He had 26 prior convictions. The judge described Donnelly and a co‑accused as "bullyboys." The sentencing was delivered by Judge Desmond Hogan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The article reports no further legal proceedings beyond the suspended sentence and conditions.
Stephen Lawlor, a 26‑year‑old father of two from Ard Mor Court, Tallaght, was sentenced to four years in prison after pleading guilty to possessing 630 g of heroin and €94,500 worth of drugs and ammunition, which he claimed were held to pay a €10,000 cocaine debt. Gardaí, acting on confidential information, searched his home and found the drugs, ammunition, and additional cocaine and shotgun cartridges. Lawlor had 16 prior minor traffic convictions. The judge acknowledged his history of depression and that he had been a victim of criminals, but imposed the custodial sentence.