James Butler, aged 33, was sentenced by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to five years' imprisonment, with two and a half years suspended, for possessing 1.3 kg of cannabis herb. The drug, valued at €27,424, was found in his Tallaght home on 3 April 2013 after Gardaí forced entry. It was hidden in two sport bags, one in a wardrobe and one in the attic, with weighing scales and individual drug bags in a sweet tin. Butler admitted to holding the cannabis to pay off a heroin‑related debt, stating he had stopped using heroin just before Christmas that year but still owed money. He claimed he did not know the drugs' value and that he had not attracted Garda attention since his arrest. The judge imposed the sentence with strict conditions on the suspended portion. James Butler pleaded guilty.
At the trial of Wicklow Detective Garda Catherine McGowan (48), who is based at Bray Garda Station, she has pleaded not guilty to one count of forgery on January 15, 2009 at Bray Garda Station and two counts of using a false instrument at Bray Garda Station and at Harcourt Street Garda Station between June 21 and 22, 2011. The alleged false instrument is a letter from the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), dated January 14, 2009, directing that there be no prosecution in the clerical abuse case. Retired Chief Supt Thomas Conway testified that it was not unusual for McGowan not to be asked to report on the progress of the clerical abuse investigation for four years. He stated that a lot of things in relation to the case shocked him, but he did not find it shocking that Detective Sergeant Eamonn O'Neill did not ask about the case. Judge Mary Ellen Ring asked Conway if there was a system for auditing cases dealt with by gardai, to which he said there should be a system, but in this case, it was closed off after the original 2005 investigation and the new case was not recorded in PULSE. The trial continues before Judge Mary Ellen Ring and a jury of six men and six women.
Barry Nolan, 40, was jailed for four months after he broke into Michael Maguire's house at 2.30am, punched him, and repeatedly threatened to kill him. Nolan had earlier visited the house that evening and was denied entry. He punched Maguire in the face, neck and head, kicked him in the ribs and head, and shouted "I am going to kill you." Maguire, who was injured and feared for his life, called 999 and later reported the assault. Nolan pleaded guilty to burglary, making threats to kill or cause serious harm and assault causing harm. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to two and a half years, suspending all but four months on strict conditions. Nolan has a history of alcohol misuse and has since sought psychotherapy. He paid €3,500 to help repair Maguire's front door. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Stephen Kiely, 45, of Thomastown, Enfield, Kildare, pleaded guilty to criminal damage at his shared home in Oldbridge Park, Lucan, on 9 June 2013. The offence followed an argument at a birthday party when he discovered his girlfriend was texting a man she had met a week earlier. After retrieving her phone, he saw what he described as 'very graphic confirmation' of an affair. He smashed the phone, broke two televisions, a microwave, a bathtub, shower doors, a chest of drawers, mirrors, bannisters, the legs of two dining chairs, slashed two couches and cut cables from a barbecue, hair straightener and hoover. Lorcan Staines BL argued that Kiely was enraged, humiliated, in despair and angry, citing a recent Prozac prescription. Judge Martin Nolan ordered a €5,000 payment to the injured party and imposed a two‑year suspended sentence. The judge noted that the relationship's abrupt end had caused Kiely's world to fall apart.
Linda Nugent, 43, was remanded in custody after stabbing her 77‑year‑old friend Desmond Garland three times in the neck and chest on 14 September 2013. The attack followed an alleged request from Garland for a romantic relationship. Garland suffered a heart attack immediately after the stabbing, required emergency surgery, and spent 28 days in intensive care before a further six months in a ward. He was later transferred to a nursing home where he died of cancer in December 2015. Nugent pleaded guilty to intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm. She has a mild learning disability, takes medication for epilepsy, and has two prior convictions for public order offences. The court adjourned sentencing to 12 March to allow her medical treatment. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, with the Director of Public Prosecutions describing it as a high‑level case.
Keith O'Brien, 37, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment by Judge Martin Nolan after pleading guilty to possessing 3.5 kg of heroin worth €532,339. O'Brien had previously agreed to hold €8,000 worth of drugs for "serious criminals" after losing his job, but the drugs were destroyed by damp. Garda Patrick McAvinue testified that O'Brien was seen placing a shopping bag behind the driver's seat of a Volkswagen, and a search of his home uncovered €498,000 worth of heroin. O'Brien claimed he was coerced by higher‑level offenders and had no financial gain from the operation. He was described as a family man who had been assaulted and pressured into the role. The court accepted his full admissions and cooperation with the investigation. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the offence and the circumstances surrounding his involvement.
Gary Partridge, 29, was jailed for one year after threatening to kill Gardaí and detonate a bomb. He claimed he was merely seeking attention because a report of a suspected device had been ignored. Gardaí, led by Detective Sergeant Eddie Carroll, responded to a call at 2.30 am. Partridge pointed a gun at officers, threatened to shoot them, and claimed he had a remote to detonate a bomb. The firearm was an air pistol. Gardaí managed to subdue him, and he later apologized. Partridge pleaded guilty to possession of an air pistol. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to five years, suspending four years on strict conditions, citing the seriousness of his actions and the potential danger posed to the public and officers.
Carl Feighery, 32, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to dangerous driving causing death after killing 77-year-old Rose Douglas in Finglas, Dublin 11, in January 2013. Judge Martin Nolan adjourned the sentencing until May 5 to allow for a Probation Service report to determine Feighery's suitability for community service. The judge indicated that the driving did not justify a custodial sentence, describing the loss of focus as a human frailty rather than an aggravating circumstance like drink driving or excessive speed. Feighery was remanded on bail and disqualified from driving for five years. The court heard that Feighery had zero alcohol in his blood and was not speeding. The Douglas family, represented by Dermot Douglas, described the devastating impact of their mother's death, noting she was a community volunteer and church minister. Feighery, an electrician from Ashbourne, County Meath, expressed remorse and accepted full responsibility. He has one minor previous conviction and a 2007 drink-driving offense. The matter remains adjourned pending the probation report.
Darran O'Brien, 35, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment for threatening to "chop up" his sister Patricia Dunne and her family over a dispute about selling their family home. He had called his niece searching for Dunne, threatened to cut her hand off, and said he would "chop them all up" if anyone interfered. O'Brien texted Dunne with violent threats, later arriving at her home with an axe, a hammer and a knife. Gardaí were called after his partner reported him, and a specialist negotiator was involved. O'Brien pleaded guilty to threatening to kill his sister and to threatening to kill Gardaí. The judge cited his 67 prior convictions and the family's sale plan as aggravating factors. The sentence included an 18‑month suspended period and strict probation conditions. Ms Dunne's victim impact statement described her fear and distress caused by O'Brien's behaviour. The case was heard at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
In a tragic incident on 9 January 2013, 77‑year‑old Rose Douglas was struck by a silver Peugeot while crossing the North Road in Finglas, Dublin. The driver, 32‑year‑old electrician Carl Feighery, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death. He was found sober, not speeding, and had a prior drink‑driving conviction. The court heard a victim impact statement from Douglas's son Dermot, detailing her roles as wife, mother, grandmother, great‑grandmother, church minister, and hospice volunteer. Feighery remained at the scene, offered a voluntary statement, and expressed remorse. The sentencing hearing was postponed to allow the judge to consider the case overnight. The family expressed relief that Douglas was not at fault and hoped Feighery might engage in charity work in her memory. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
In March 2015, lawyers for Wicklow Detective Garda Catherine McGowan, aged 48, described the investigation into her alleged forgery of a DPP letter as one "nobody seemed to know anything about." McGowan pleaded not guilty to one count of forgery and two counts of using a false instrument, relating to a January 2009 letter and incidents in June 2011. The case was prompted by the Murphy Report on clerical sexual abuse, which named a priest involved in McGowan's investigation. During cross‑examination, Detective Sergeant Eamonn O'Neill admitted he had assigned the case to McGowan in March 2007 and had brief interactions with her in July 2007, but claimed he had not followed up on the investigation. O'Neill denied recalling any request for an update. The prosecution presented a covering report dated October 2008, which O'Neill said he had never received. The trial is ongoing before Judge Mary Ellen Ring and a jury.
In March 2015, the supervisor of Detective Garda Catherine McGowan denied telling her that she would be "looked after" if she admitted wrongdoing. McGowan, 48, pleaded not guilty to forgery and false instrument charges related to a letter allegedly from the Director of Public Prosecutions dated 14 January 2009. The case arose after the Murphy Report on clerical abuse. McGowan had investigated a priest mentioned in the report, and the letter in question was said to question a rape allegation. The supervisor, Detective Inspector Frank Keenaghan, was questioned about a claim that he offered McGowan protection if she confessed. He denied making such a statement, stating he had not used the phrase and had not initially accused McGowan of forgery. The trial, presided over by Judge Mary Ellen Ring, continues with a jury of twelve.
In a case heard at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Alan Lee, a 45‑year‑old bin lorry driver from Greenfort Avenue, Clondalkin, pleaded guilty to careless driving that caused serious bodily harm to cyclist Tim O'Herilihy on 26 October 2012. Lee was driving a refuse collection truck when he cut in front of O'Herilihy at the Killiney Towers Roundabout, which had recently been altered to give cyclists the right of way at exits. O'Herilihy, cycling on the roundabout's cycle path, was struck, suffering broken ribs, a shattered pelvis, a broken ankle and internal bleeding, requiring five operations over six months. Judge Martin Nolan, surprised by the drastic changes to the roundabout's rules, decided not to disqualify Lee from driving, citing the lack of clear signage and the potential injustice of disqualification. He imposed a €500 fine. The court noted that the roundabout had been reverted to its previous system after the incident.
Martin Whelan, 31, was jailed for five and a half years after pleading guilty to possession of cannabis for sale or supply at Old Church Avenue, Clondalkin, Dublin. Gardaí raided a house in The Square, Larchill, Coolock, where Whelan and Paul Carroll, 38, were found in the kitchen weighing and bagging about ten kilograms of cannabis herb. The seized drugs were valued at €200,860, with a portion worth €50,000. Whelan admitted collecting cannabis for distribution and claimed a drug debt owed since the previous Christmas. He had a prior UK conviction for importing 16 kg of cocaine, for which he served five of ten years. Judge Martin Nolan also sentenced Carroll to three and a half years, backdated to February 2014. No evidence of assets or a high‑life lifestyle was found. The case was prosecuted by Maurice Coffey BL.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Detective Garda Catherine McGowan, aged 48 and based at Bray Garda Station, pleaded not guilty to one count of forgery and two counts of using a false instrument. The alleged false instrument was a letter from the Director of Public Prosecutions dated 14 January 2009, which McGowan claimed was a copy she had received and later delivered to the Murphy Tribunal. Detective Inspector Frank Keenaghan, the supervisor, testified that he showed McGowan the letter and asked her to consider its authenticity. McGowan insisted she could not have forged it, and Keenaghan clarified that he was not accusing her of forgery. The trial, presided over by Judge Mary Ellen Ring with a jury of twelve, is scheduled to continue for another week.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Derek O'Keeffe, aged 39, pleaded guilty to two robbery counts and one attempted robbery at three petrol stations in November 2013. He stole cash from a Maxol Garage on Tymon Road, a Discount Fuels on Fortunestown Road, and a Topaz on Greenhill Road. During the incidents he threatened a security guard with a syringe and held a pregnant employee, Anna Zajac, at a 23‑inch knife point, forcing her to open tills. Zajac reported feeling emotionally destroyed and fearing for her unborn child after the robbery. Garda Simon Whelan testified that O'Keeffe was chased over ten garden walls before being tackled and captured. O'Keeffe's 36 prior convictions include manslaughter, assault, and robbery. Judge Patricia Ryan remanded him in custody to be sentenced next October.
John Stanley, aged 53, avoided jail after a court found he had produced 49 boxes of counterfeit €50 notes, worth €3.3 million, but had not distributed them. He had a €2 million property judgment against him and was under severe financial pressure. Stanley used his printing equipment to create the notes, printing watermarks and other security features, but sent them elsewhere for holograms. Only €9,250 of the notes were finished and ready for distribution. He destroyed some templates and decided to abort the operation before public release. The judge, Martin Nolan, noted that the only reason Stanley was spared prison was that he did not put the notes into the public. Stanley pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and was given a four‑year term, suspended in full for four years. He was from Coolock, Dublin, originally from Northern Ireland.
Aaron McCarthy, 22, of Crinan Strand, Dublin 1, was convicted of robbery and taking a vehicle without authority after punching a taxi driver and stealing his taxi, mobile phone and bank cards on 13 August 2011. He also admitted stealing a bicycle that day. A jury at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court found him guilty and sentenced him to five years' imprisonment. McCarthy had been on bail pending an appeal. On 2 March 2015, the Court of Appeal dismissed his appeal on two grounds: the trial judge's handling of a Garda's evidence and a reference to a possible Garda career risk if McCarthy had been acquitted. The judges – Alan Mahon, George Birmingham and Garrett Sheehan – upheld the conviction and McCarthy was returned to prison to serve the remainder of his sentence. He has not yet appealed the sentence's severity. Aaron McCarthy pleaded not guilty.
Jonathan Chubb, a 35‑year‑old former Dublin letting‑agent employee, was sentenced to 200 hours of community service instead of a prison term for stealing €8,660 from tenants across the country between July and December 2012. He pleaded guilty to 11 charges of stealing rent money from properties managed by Grant Thornton Receivers. Chubb claimed he had intended to repay the money and had taken it to ease his own financial difficulties. The judge, Martin Nolan, noted that the crime was a form of white‑collar theft and that Chubb had been found eligible for community service by the Probation Service. Chubb must complete the hours within 12 months. The case was prosecuted by Gerardine Small BL and defended by James Dwyer BL, who highlighted Chubb's prior financial hardship following the economic crash.
A former National Asset Management Agency official, Enda Farrell, aged 38, was charged with 13 offences for disclosing confidential information in 2012. He failed to appear in court to enter a plea. Farrell, now residing in France, had been granted a three‑week adjournment by the prosecution, citing his wife's two‑week commitment in Germany and his need to care for two young children. Judge Martin Nolan set a new hearing for 16 March 2015 and warned that a bench warrant would be issued if Farrell did not attend.
Rafal Chylinski, 32, of Ennis, Co Clare, received a three-year suspended sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to possession of cannabis and having the drug for sale or supply. The offence occurred on August 22, 2013, at Kylemore Road, Ballyfermot. Prosecution evidence indicated Chylinski was part of a larger operation involving co-accused David Gill, 38, of Leopardstown Road, who was jailed for seven years last year after pleading guilty to possessing €600,000 worth of drugs at three Dublin locations on the same date. Chylinski admitted he was paid €200 to collect and hold the drugs for a few days. Gardaí intercepted him in a Bluebell industrial estate car park after he received a black plastic bag from Gill. The bag contained €19,996 worth of cannabis, and a further €10,000 worth was found at his father's house in Castle Curragh Vale, which Chylinski admitted owning. He exonerated his father and another man present in the vehicle. Defence counsel highlighted Chylinski's financial pressure due to an injury and lack of wealth. Judge Mary Ellen Ring noted Chylinski's immaturity and that he was not profiting from the drugs, resulting in the suspended sentence.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, a 45‑year‑old Clare man was found guilty of sexually assaulting a one‑year‑old baby between April 2005 and October 2006. The trial lasted three days, with a jury of nine men and three women deliberating for just under four hours before returning a majority guilty verdict. The prosecution's key witness was the victim's older sister, who was ten at the time of the incident and later aged 19. She testified that the baby was left in her care while the parents drank, and that the man had inserted his fingers into the baby's bottom. She described how she struck the man with a poker to stop him. The court heard that the baby's foster mother had taken her for a paediatric examination in July 2011, where a consultant noted skin tags that were likely the result of trauma. The unnamed 45-year-old pleaded not guilty.
A court has ordered a 63-year-old Dublin man, previously convicted of sexual assault, to have no interaction with children and not to loiter where children gather. The application was brought by gardai under section 16 of the 2001 Sex Offenders Act, which allows the court to prohibit the actions of a respondent if it is necessary to protect the public from serious harm. Judge Martin Nolan granted an exclusion order sought by the State, noting that the 2001 act was there to protect youngsters in the country from predators. In 2007, the man was sentenced to two years imprisonment for the sexual assault of a juvenile. He was convicted again in 2008 of another sexual assault and sentenced to two years with one suspended. In 2010, he was released from Dublin's Arbour Hill Prison, subject to a condition that he comply with the directions of the Probation Services for five years. The court heard that he previously scored high on a risk assessment test, which would have considered his alcohol abuse problems as a contributory risk factor. The order sought that the man be prohibited from having any interaction with any child and from loitering around areas where children usually congregate. Dean Kelly BL, defending, said that any order under the act must be proportional and argued that the prohibitions may be too vague and too broad. The judge refused to include an order that the man not consume any alcohol in a public place.
In February 2013, Michael Jennings (19) and Aaron Handyside (18) threw stones at a night bus on Wyattville Road, Ballybrack, Dublin, injuring passenger Darren Brien when a stone shattered a window and struck his eye. Both men pleaded guilty to damaging the Volvo bus and to assault causing harm. They had no prior convictions. On 27 February 2015, Judge Martin Nolan sentenced them to one night in custody and suspended a nine‑month prison term for each, conditional on keeping the peace. The court noted their limited education and the defendants' remorse, including a €1,500 payment by Jennings. The judge emphasised the obvious danger of throwing stones at buses and the potential for serious harm. No further sentences or convictions were mentioned in the article.
Neil Curran, 32, of Baldoyle, Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for the assault causing harm to Peter Lynch. The incident occurred on December 17, 2013, at Airside Retail Park in Swords. Mr. Lynch, who was Christmas shopping with his family, confronted a woman for littering. Curran, identified as the woman's boyfriend, allegedly struck Mr. Lynch from behind on the head, causing disorientation. The court heard that Curran continued to hit the victim until his nose bled, then kicked him before fleeing the scene. Mr. Lynch sustained severe head injuries, including a soft tissue injury to one eye, cheek swelling, and a chipped tooth. Curran pleaded guilty to the charge. Judge Martin Nolan handed down a sentence of three and a half years, with the final 22 months suspended on strict conditions. The judge noted Curran's early guilty plea and cooperation with gardaí but described the act as a "cowardly assault." Curran had previously apologized to the victim and offered a €3,000 bond as a token of remorse. The matter was finalized with this custodial sentence.
Ian Mansfield, 24, and his accomplice Eugene Byrne, 21, were arrested after a "terrifying" armed raid on Clonsilla Post Office on 16 December 2013. Mansfield fled the scene on a motorbike, leading Gardaí on a chase from Dublin to Mullingar, Westmeath. He pleaded guilty to attempted robbery at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a suspended five‑year sentence, conditioned on Mansfield's good behaviour for that period, noting his lack of prior convictions and good family background. The post mistress suffered nightmares and remains cautious. Witnesses reported Mansfield brandishing a hammer and Byrne holding a silver gun; both wore motorcycle helmets. The raid lasted about a minute, ended without cash, and the men escaped on a motorcycle. Byrne also pleaded guilty and is scheduled for sentencing in March.
In a first of its kind, a man who pleaded guilty to sexual offences in 1998 and 1999 and received a four‑year sentence is now seeking to be removed from the sex‑offender register. The request is made under Section 11 of the 2001 Sex Offenders Act, which allows an offender to apply for deregistration if the public interest no longer warrants continued registration. The man has been released from prison for twelve years, satisfying the ten‑year waiting period. Judge Martin Nolan, hearing the application, noted that the state would need evidence of the man's conduct since release and that an ongoing risk to society would be a key consideration. A probation report will be prepared before the hearing, scheduled for May 6, and the man's name will remain confidential during proceedings. The case is still at the application stage, with no outcome yet determined.
During a two‑week trial at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Detective Garda Catherine McGowan, aged 48, pleaded not guilty to forging a letter from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) dated 14 January 2009. The letter was alleged to be a false instrument used to influence a case involving a priest accused of child abuse. On the third day of the trial, DPP officer Henry Matthews testified that he could not locate any case file for the priest in question, despite a request in July 2011 to check the DPP's filing system. Legal secretary Caroline Halstead confirmed that no records of the priest existed between 2005 and 2009 in either manual or computerised filing systems. The complainant had earlier stated that McGowan claimed to have sent a file to the DPP, which was not pursued.
Gerry Connors, 28, was jailed for four years after a burglary in Killiney, Dublin, where he stole a safe containing €190,000 worth of jewellery and €10,000 in various currencies. He had entered the house by jumping a garden wall, smashed a window, and discovered the safe. Connors claimed he thought the jewellery was scrap and exchanged it for €500 worth of heroin. Gardaí found CCTV footage linking him to the getaway van and blood stains at the scene. He had previously committed a burglary in Shankill, stealing car keys and items worth €2,000, and had 115 prior convictions, including 90 for traffic offences and 12 for burglary. He pleaded guilty to the Killiney and Shankill burglaries in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The judge noted the extensive damage and the lack of appreciation for the value of the stolen items. The case highlighted Connors' ongoing drug habit and the role of his associates in the burglary.
Daniel Keenan, aged 20, was arrested after a Garda officer rang a stolen phone number, pretending to be the owner, and arranged a meeting to buy the phone back. Keenan claimed he had no involvement in the original robbery and said he had obtained the phone from a "junkie" he had just met on the street. He appeared at the agreed meeting point on a bicycle, shouted to the victim that he had the phone, then fell off his bike while turning into a laneway. Gardaí who had been monitoring the meeting found the phone in Keenan's sock. Keenan pleaded guilty to handling a stolen phone on 16 February 2013. He had nine prior convictions for theft, handling, road traffic, public order and criminal damage offences. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to two and a half years in prison, suspended in full on the condition that he cooperate with the Probation Service for one year.
Colin Joyce, 34, a former medical student at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, was sentenced to a three‑year suspended term after pleading guilty to ten counts of sending threatening letters to ten former tutors and staff between June and October 2012. The letters contained threats to release confidential patient information, demands for money, and claims of conspiracies against him. Joyce, who had left the college in 2007 due to mental health difficulties, also threatened to involve paramilitaries and to release sensitive data. He was found to have no prior convictions. The judge, citing Joyce's psychotic vulnerability and lack of insight, imposed a suspended sentence with a 12‑month probation period and a prohibition on approaching or contacting the RCSI or its staff. The court noted that no further harassment of RCSI staff had occurred. The case highlighted Joyce's history of mental health treatment and his attempts to complete his medical degree after repeated setbacks.
During a forgery trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, an alleged victim of clerical sexual abuse, a 44‑year‑old woman from Wicklow, testified that she was upset when she learned a file on her case had never been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). She recounted that in the 1980s she was abused by a local curate and that she had met Detective Garda Catherine McGowan in 2005 and again in 2007 to discuss the matter. McGowan had informed her that the DPP had received the file and would not prosecute. The victim said she was shocked, had a breakdown, and considered suicide. In 2011 a special task force discovered the file had not been forwarded to the DPP; it was finally sent in summer 2011, but the DPP directed no prosecution. The trial, presided over by Judge Mary Ellen Ring, continues with a jury of twelve. Catherine McGowan pleaded not guilty.
Stephen Mulvaney, 39, and his father Paul Mulvaney, 62, were sentenced in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for running a cannabis growhouse in an industrial unit. Stephen admitted responsibility for 94 cannabis plants and was jailed for four years. Paul, who had been in prison two or three times before, received a three‑year suspended sentence after admitting he may have unknowingly assisted his son. The court noted that stolen vehicles—a Hyundai Santa Fe jeep and a Volkswagen Jetta—were found in the unit, along with parts from other dismantled cars. Stephen claimed he knew the jeep was stolen and hid it to avoid detection, and he admitted debt of €22,000 from loans and gambling, which he said motivated the operation. He pleaded guilty to possession of the stolen jeep and possession of cannabis for sale or supply. Paul pleaded guilty to cultivation of cannabis.
A former deputy head of security at Croke Park has received a fully suspended sentence for the theft of premium season ticket booklets. John Gibson, aged 45, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to stealing seven booklets containing 33 tickets each from the stadium between January and March 2014. The booklets, valued at €9,313, were taken while Gibson worked at the Hogan Stand security desk for Brinks Allied. The court heard the tickets could not be sold individually and therefore held no resale value, with Gibson making no financial gain. He subsequently distributed the booklets among family members and associates. Judge Martin Nolan imposed an 18-month prison sentence suspended in full, noting Gibson's considerable remorse and acceptance that his loss of employment constituted sufficient punishment. The judge described him as a decent man who had made a serious mistake. Gibson, of Rush, County Dublin, had no previous convictions.
Darren Byrne, 34, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for biting off a large portion of Niall Kearns' ear during an unprovoked pub attack at The Village Inn, Clondalkin, on 23 June 2012. Byrne pleaded guilty to assault causing harm. He claimed he was on heavy medication and believed six men were attacking him, which he used as a defence. The judge, Martin Nolan, described the assault as "a savage attack" and noted it was at the highest level of the offence. Byrne had 15 prior convictions for minor matters. The victim, Kearns, reported that Byrne had been growling in his ear and that the ear could not be re‑attached by surgeons. The sentence was imposed despite Byrne's health issues and claims of being a former heroin addict. The case was prosecuted by Fiona McGowan BL and defended by Garnet Orange SC.
A man with a 43-conviction record has been sentenced to three years in prison at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following guilty pleas to six counts of burglary. Dermot Carter, aged 46, of O'Rourke Park, Sallynoggin, Dublin, targeted three businesses in Dun Laoghaire on 16 April 2012 and two residential properties and a sports facility in Sandycove and Glenageary on 15 July 2014. During one incident, Carter stole a trilby hat from a home he entered while occupants were present, then wore it whilst attempting further break-ins nearby. The distinctive headwear proved instrumental in his identification through CCTV footage and photographic evidence. He was also linked to the scene via blood samples matching his DNA. The court heard Carter was on methadone maintenance at the time. Judge Martin Nolan described him as "an ineffective burglar, but a burglar nonetheless" and imposed consecutive sentences of 15 months for the 2012 offences and 21 months for those in 2014.
Mark Cooke, 26, of Derry Park, Crumlin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for drug offences. He pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply, admitting to being caught with heroin and cocaine in March and May 2013, as well as possession of Diazepam and heroin for sale or supply on March 6, 2013. Judge Martin Nolan suspended a three-year prison sentence on the condition that Cooke keeps the peace for that period. The judge noted it would be unjust to jail Cooke, who is in rehabilitation for long-term consequences of an assault, citing that he is practically housebound. Cooke suffers from weakness on his left side, long-term memory impairment, and depression resulting from an unprovoked attack on July 9, 2013, at St James Walk, Rialto, which left him in a 26-day coma. His childhood friend, Daniel Clarke, 20, of Dolphin House, Dolphin's Barn, pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm to Cooke during that incident. Clarke was previously sentenced to eight and a half years, with the last 18 months suspended. The court heard Clarke straddled the victim and drove a broken glass bottle into his face. Cooke has nine previous convictions, including one for possession of drugs for sale or supply and one for attempted robbery.
James McMahon, 23, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to possession of a loaded shotgun on September 11, 2013, and multiple driving offences in Lucan, Dublin, on April 5, 2013. The driving charges included endangerment, dangerous driving, failing to stop for gardaí, driving while disqualified, and driving while uninsured. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced McMahon to seven years in prison, with three years suspended, stating that the dangerous driving offences were taken into account. Prosecution evidence indicated McMahon left the Beretta shotgun in his girlfriend's home after babysitting their son; he ignored her requests to remove it and warned her not to touch it because it was loaded. His home had previously been shot at, and his family was later evacuated when his house was set on fire. Defence counsel argued McMahon armed himself in a misguided attempt to protect his family from perceived threats. The court noted McMahon had 63 previous convictions, mostly for road traffic offences. The matter was finalised with the imposition of the custodial sentence.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, Edward Connors, a 30‑year‑old deaf mute with no fixed abode, was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment for the unlawful killing of Eoghan Dudley, 28, who died after being knocked under a bus on Dawson Street on 6 December 2012. Connors had pleaded not guilty to the murder charge, but a jury found him guilty of manslaughter after an eight‑day trial. Judge Patrick McCartan described Connors as a serious danger to society, citing his history of aggression and violence, and noted his severe communication difficulties stemming from lifelong deafness. The judge also ordered Connors to be assessed for rehabilitation services in the UK, as no suitable services exist in Ireland for deaf offenders. Connors had previously pleaded guilty to two counts of threatening injury with a syringe, for which he received two concurrent two‑year sentences.
In February 2015, Glen Walsh, a 27‑year‑old bank teller, was sentenced to a suspended one‑year term at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after stealing almost €500,000 from AIB Crumlin Cross over six months. He handed the cash to co‑accused David Vickery, who used it for betting. The pair later reimbursed the bank, but a €40,000 shortfall remained after losing bets during the 2010 World Cup. Walsh pleaded guilty to theft of €40,000 and was ordered to attend gambling‑addiction counselling. Vickery, also 27, pleaded guilty to possession of €10,000 in stolen money and received a suspended one‑year sentence. Both men were cleared of any involvement in a tiger kidnapping that had forced Walsh to withdraw €210,000 from the bank during a raid, which led to the discovery of his theft. The court noted that the bank was fully recompensed and that neither was likely to reoffend.
Dan Cirpaci, a 26‑year‑old Romanian, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for stealing almost €13,000 from two women who were deceived at separate ATM machines. In each incident the women were told they had dropped a €10 note, after which their cards were swapped for others without their knowledge. Cirpaci used the stolen cards to make unauthorized purchases at shops, post offices and off‑licenses, totaling €12,795. He pleaded guilty to four counts, including €200 from Anne O'Reilly on 17 November 2012, €898 from Ms O'Reilly at Blackrock Post Office the same day, and €899 each from Valerie Casey at Leonard's Corner and Rathmines Post Offices on 19 November 2012. He faced 30 counts in total; the judge suspended the last year of a three‑year sentence. Both women were reimbursed by their banks. The case was heard in 2015.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Thomas Callery, aged 42, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Danielle Byrne, aged 22, after a melee at a pub during Callery's child's christening. Callery threw a pint glass that struck Byrne in the face, causing her to black out and fall. The glass hit her right eye, resulting in nerve damage, scarring to her eyebrow and cheek, and ongoing anxiety. Byrne reported daily eye drops and anxiety attacks. Callery, who has 14 prior convictions including a 2006 common assault, was remanded in custody pending sentencing. The judge noted Byrne's intoxication and the altercation but emphasized Callery's responsibility for the injury. The case remains at the sentencing stage, with no final sentence announced yet.
Charles Dillon, 33, was found guilty by a jury of assault causing harm to Polish national Piotr Kozub, 59, after an incident at the Castle Inn Pub in Rathfarnham on 13 December 2008. Dillon, a father of six, had pleaded not guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Desmond Hogan imposed a three‑year jail sentence but suspended it, requiring Dillon to keep the peace for two years and complete 240 hours of community work. The judge noted Dillon's awareness of the consequences of his actions and his previous convictions for public order offences. Kozub suffered severe personal injuries, including black eyes, broken teeth, and required five weeks off work and dental surgery in Poland. Dillon's brother, who ran the karaoke that night, was also involved in the altercation. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Judge Martin Nolan expressed shock that Club Lapello on Dame Street served an already intoxicated UK customer, Daniel Rains, 31, up to 15 additional alcoholic shots before he launched an assault rampage. Rains, an electrician from Manchester, pleaded guilty to assaulting Mauritian national Ramanasmany Manthaly, causing a fractured cheekbone, and to assaulting two other customers and two security officers on 26 January 2014. He had four prior UK convictions for assault. Garda Ciaran O'Sullivan noted Rains had no recollection of the attacks and had expressed remorse. The judge imposed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year jail term, crediting time already spent in custody awaiting bail, and criticised the club for allowing Rains to remain on the premises after staff had warned him to "quieten down.".
In February 2015, a Dublin court heard the case of Rafal Wojciechowski, a 47‑year‑old Polish man, who pleaded guilty to possessing an imitation firearm. The incident began when a bus driver, believing the plastic orange and black gun to be real, restrained Wojciechowski and called emergency services. Garda Christopher Kelly testified that the driver had followed Wojciechowski on Cavendish Road and that the gun, which had an orange bit protruding from the barrel, was clearly a toy. Wojciechowski, who had no prior convictions, claimed he had bought the gun for his nephew and was intoxicated at the time. Judge Martin Nolan, noting Wojciechowski's "idiotic" behaviour, imposed a six‑month suspended sentence. The case had reached the Circuit Court after a District Court judge had declined jurisdiction. The defendant had lived in Ireland for about eight years and worked as a gardener, with limited English.
Two Colombians, Pedro Ruiz (38) and David Sanchez (29), were sentenced to seven years' imprisonment each for possessing 32 kilograms of cocaine in Dublin. The men pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after the drugs were seized at a bed and breakfast on Stillorgan Road in Donnybrook on 26 June 2014. Their lawyers argued that the men were acting under duress from other Colombians to whom they owed money, and requested that Judge Martin Nolan avoid the mandatory ten‑year minimum. The judge accepted that the men had been under pressure and, believing there was hope for rehabilitation, imposed a seven‑year term backdated to the date of their arrest. The prosecution's counsel, Anne Marie Lawlor BL, said the men's claims of coercion were not corroborated and had not been mentioned in Garda interviews.
In a 2015 Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, 44‑year‑old Declan Christie pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after a fight on Infirmary Road. Christie, who had 19 prior convictions, stabbed victim Ian Dunne in the lower back with a knife he found at the scene, claiming self‑defence. Garda Jennifer Woods noted that Christie voluntarily turned himself in when authorities sought him. Judge James O'Donohoe sentenced Christie to two years' imprisonment, suspended for three years, and imposed a €100 bond and a good‑behaviour condition.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Jiri Vecernik, a 45‑year‑old Czech national residing in Tipperary, pleaded guilty to possession of a blank‑firing revolver found in his checked‑in luggage at Dublin Airport on 22 December 2013. The revolver, manufactured in Germany, could discharge cartridges containing a pepper‑spray‑type substance but was incapable of firing lethal ammunition. Vecernik had purchased the pistol online for €70, believing it would protect him after a physical altercation with a Slovak colleague over a dog. He claimed the incident had left him fearful that the colleague might return. Gardaí found no prior convictions for Vecernik, who had lived in Ireland since 2006 and worked as a handyman. The judge, citing the unusual circumstances and Vecernik's lack of criminal history, opted for a conviction under the Probation Act rather than a custodial sentence, noting that Vecernik had not breached any bail conditions and had fully cooperated with the investigation.
Raymond Quinn, 46, a Kildare businessman, was convicted in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for stealing his elderly mother's credit card and using it to make unauthorised purchases, including hotel stays and flights, totalling €14,153. He pleaded guilty to six charges of theft at AIB and Ulster Bank branches and one charge at Brittas. Quinn had no prior convictions. The judge noted the breach of trust and the fact that his mother, now in a nursing home with dementia, had been defrauded. A three‑year suspended sentence was imposed, and Quinn was ordered to pay €8 a week for three years to repay the debt. He receives a weekly social welfare payment of €188 and has been urged to begin repaying the money to his mother. The case highlighted his financial difficulties and the impact of his actions on his family.
Ross Cahill, 22, of Portrane, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to the unlawful seizure of a taxi van at Castleknock on May 18 last. Judge James O'Donohoe sentenced him to five years in prison but suspended the final two years, noting that Cahill has since been charged with eight other offences and has 30 previous convictions, including two for robbery. The court heard Cahill was highly intoxicated during the attack, where he encouraged an accomplice to stab the driver, Feargal MacEoin, after a €5 fare. In a separate matter concerning a violent attack on MacEoin in April 2012, James Murphy, 20, and Dean Daly, 19, both of Tallaght, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and robbery of a mobile phone, wallet, and cash. Judge Mary Ellen Ring suspended a three-year prison sentence for both men, citing their youth and lack of previous convictions, while describing the incident as a shocking and unprovoked attack. MacEoin stated the 2012 incident left him with significant mental and physical scarring. The accomplice in the 2013 hijacking remains before the courts.