In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Istvan Bogdan, a 42‑year‑old Hungarian lorry driver from Mohacs, pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for supply after being caught unloading cardboard boxes containing €1.5 million worth of cannabis at Northwest Business Park, Co. Dublin on 5 May 2014. Bogdan admitted his role in the offence and that he was to receive €5,000. He claimed he was unaware of the drugs' value initially but was told he could not back out. The prosecution, led by Garrett McCormack BL, highlighted Bogdan's admission and the substantial drug quantity. The defence, represented by Dominic McGinn SC, argued for a human‑terms approach, citing Bogdan's family—wife, three children, and two ill parents—and requested a suspended sentence if he left Ireland. Judge Martin Nolan noted the difficulty of serving a sentence in an Irish prison for Bogdan, given his family's distance, but emphasised the seriousness of the drug amount.
A 16‑year‑old who hijacked a taxi in Dublin armed with a meat cleaver received a two‑and‑a‑half‑year suspended sentence. The teenager, who cannot be named, pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a BMW, robbery and production of a knife in Terenure on 18 May 2014. At the time of the offence he was 15 and lived in a care home. He had a prior theft conviction. His defence lawyer, Ronan Kennedy BL, noted that he was accompanied by his mother, a social worker and his sports coach, who is a role model. Judge Martin Nolan emphasised rehabilitation, suspending the sentence and warning that failure to change would lead to future custody. Garda Lee Hunt described the incident: the boy demanded money, threatened the driver with a four‑inch meat cleaver, fled, crashed into another taxi, was chased and arrested, and the cleaver was recovered from him.
In a Dublin city‑centre robbery, 38‑year‑old Deborah Lee lured drunken Mark O'Brien onto a dark back street, where two accomplices seized him in a choke hold and threatened him with a syringe. Lee pleaded guilty to the robbery of O'Brien on 9 June 2014 at Great Strand Street. Judge James O'Donoghue sentenced her to six months, noting the sentence was already served from a prior offence, and conditioned it on her participation in a residential drug‑treatment programme. The judge described Lee's role as a minor, non‑violent consort who set up the robbery but did not take part in the assault. CCTV footage of the trio cashing the victim's winning betting slip led to their arrest. Lee had no convictions at the time of the robbery, though she had been on bail for other offences, and the judge believed she could turn her life around with treatment.
Michael Byrne, 25, was sentenced to five years in prison after pleading guilty to two robberies. On 27 April 2014 he robbed a G4 cash‑in‑transit van at Raheny Shopping Centre, taking a cash box that contained €50,000. He had been travelling in a stolen car wearing a balaclava and had struck a security worker, then seized the box and fled. On 1 March 2014 he robbed a teenager on the DART from Sutton to Bayside, stealing an iPhone, iPad Mini, iPad Classic and Beats headphones worth €1,700. Byrne admitted he had taken the items after the teen had shown him his phone. Garda Andrew Fox described Byrne's use of a stolen vehicle, a balaclava, and the subsequent attempts to dispose of the cash box. The court noted the seriousness of both robberies and Byrne's admissions. The five‑year sentence was imposed by Judge Nolan.
Eddie Winston, a 60‑year‑old father of seven, and Lee Bracken Kennedy, a 21‑year‑old student, were sentenced for their roles in a large‑scale drug deal in Kildare. Winston met Kennedy at a Leixlip industrial estate to hand over nearly €20,000 worth of cannabis herb, but Gardaí intercepted them. A key found on Winston led to a lock‑up unit containing just under €180,000 of drugs, a gun and ammunition. Winston was sentenced to six years' imprisonment for possession of €176,325 worth of heroin, cocaine and cannabis resin, and for possession of a 12‑gauge double‑barrel shotgun with 238 rounds. Kennedy received a three‑year suspended sentence and was bound to the peace for three years for unlawful possession of cannabis herb. Both pleaded guilty; Winston initially denied involvement but later admitted it. The judge noted their gross errors of judgment.
In a Kildare case, a woman appealed to Judge James O'Donohoe not to imprison her ex‑partner, Tadgh Delaney, who assaulted and robbed her. She argued that Delaney had reformed and was not seeking vengeance, but wanted the €130 he stole. Delaney, 41, pleaded guilty to assaulting the 36‑year‑old woman on 29 January 2014 at Call a Cab, Celbridge, and to robbing her mobile phone and cash. He had seven prior convictions for traffic offences and theft. The judge offered 240 hours of community service instead of a six‑month jail term if Delaney was deemed suitable. The case was adjourned to March to determine eligibility for community service. The victim described Delaney as a former heroin addict who had been working with Catholic youth organisations and was turning his life around.
Adam Nevin, 27, of Clondalkin, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to three charges of having MDMA for sale or supply at Sin Nightclub, Clondalkin Community Centre and Clondalkin Shopping Centre in September 2012. He had 23 prior convictions, including two for drug dealing in the District Court. Nevin sold ecstasy to an undercover Garda on three occasions, first offering four tablets for €20, then ten tablets for €60, and finally 100 tablets for €300. The Garda operation involved officers in unmarked cars and a mountain bike. Nevin was arrested after discarding a bag of tablets, which were recovered and analysed as MDMA. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Nevin to a two‑and‑a‑half‑year suspended sentence, revoking his bail and remanding him in custody for two weeks before sentencing. The judge noted Nevin's attitude to work and his previous chance from the District Court. Nevin has since moved to Norway for work.
Mark O'Reilly, 37, pleaded guilty to attempted robbery and possession of an imitation firearm at a service station in Tallaght on 11 March 2012. He was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to three years' imprisonment, with 18 months suspended, on 7 April 2014. The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed the sentence as too lenient, but the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal. O'Reilly pointed a realistic‑looking imitation handgun at two Gardaí during the robbery attempt. The attendant, Mr Rizman Ali, acted quickly, pressed the emergency button and counted the money while facing threats. Gardaí arrived, produced firearms, and arrested O'Reilly. He did not admit guilt in detention but claimed he had only pointed the gun at the attendant. O'Reilly's suspended sentence was reactivated after a Probation Service application, and he is now serving the suspended portion.
David Flynn, a 42‑year‑old father of three from York Street, Dublin, was convicted of arson at the Nirvana head shop on Capel Street on 12 February 2010. He set the shop on fire because he held a grudge over his brother's drug‑related death, which the court said may have involved the shop's sale of drugs. CCTV footage showed Flynn with another man and later with bolt cutters entering the shop's side gate. The blaze caused €1 million in damage, forced residents to evacuate, and closed a busy city‑centre street for days. Five Dublin Fire Brigade units were required to control the flames, which also destroyed a neighbouring head shop and an adult store. Flynn pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and was sentenced to six years' imprisonment by Judge Martin Nolan, who noted his 65 previous convictions and his low risk of re‑offending.
In February 2015, Neilus Keogh, a 27‑year‑old former Limerick rugby player, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm after attacking Michael Frisby during a poker game at The Sporting Emporium Casino in Dublin. Keogh struck Frisby in the face and threw a chair, causing three broken facial bones and nerve damage that required surgery with metal plates and screws. Frisby's victim impact statement described being struck while lying unconscious. Keogh had previously been ordered by Judge Patrick McCartan to attend anger‑management counselling and to pay €10,000 to Frisby as a sign of remorse. The court imposed the Probation Act, so no conviction is recorded, and required Keogh to pay the €10,000. The case ended with Keogh's rugby contract not renewed and his subsequent employment as a labourer in London. The judge noted the loss of Keogh's career as a regrettable but inevitable consequence of his wrongdoing.
David Bersabe, a 38‑year‑old Spanish national, was sentenced to three years in prison after authorities discovered almost €8,000 of cannabis resin concealed in his body at Dublin Airport on 1 April 2014. Garda Kevin Nolan noted Bersabe had already passed 18 drug pellets before being arrested and spent the night in hospital passing the remainder. Bersabe pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and admitted he intended to sell half of the stash in Ireland and the rest in Austria. He had a prior 2011 conviction for importing 78 pellets of cannabis resin into Ireland.
Jorge Garcia, a 41‑year‑old care assistant in Cheeverstown, Dublin, stole €960 from six intellectually disabled residents over six months by falsifying withdrawal forms and using a photocopied signature. He pleaded guilty to six counts out of 32 theft charges dated between 18 April and 8 August 2013. The court noted he had repaid the money and had no prior convictions. Garcia had been sending funds to Spain to support his elderly parents and had suffered financial pressure after a back injury and sick pay. Judge Desmond Hogan accepted his cooperation with the Gardaí, imposed a two‑year suspended sentence, ordered 240 hours of community service, and placed him under Probation Services supervision for 12 months. The case highlighted the vulnerability of the residents and the breach of trust by Garcia.
Stephen Devoy, aged 33, was given a three‑year suspended sentence after pleading guilty to threatening to kill Garda Sam Taylor on 26 February 2012. The court heard that Devoy had been extremely drunk and had been binging on a cocktail of drink and drugs for days after selling his car for €700. He was arrested outside Ned's pub on Townsend Street in the early hours of the morning. Devoy had no recollection of making the threats, but later made full admissions. He has 14 previous convictions, all dealt with in the District Court, including theft, public order offences and violent behaviour in a garda station. Judge Desmond Hogan noted that Devoy has been drug‑free for over a year and is attending Crumlin College studying Graphic & Web Design. He was also placed on a peace bond for three years and directed to undergo a drugs and alcohol treatment programme.
In a 30‑minute incident in south Dublin, 41‑year‑old Francis Gavigan, a drug addict, forced a woman, Eleanor McCarthy, to drive his car while threatening to Taser her and take her children. He showed the children a memorial card of his late mother and claimed he was a "bad apple" desperate to avoid bank robbery. Gavigan pleaded guilty to robbery and false imprisonment. He was sentenced to five years in prison, with the sentence backdated to May 17, 2014. The court noted the victims felt severely threatened but that Gavigan had no intent to harm them. He had 34 prior convictions, including vehicle theft and violent theft, and was reported to be engaging with prison chaplaincy and drug‑addiction support at the time of sentencing.
Michael Whelan, 33, of Lucan, was sentenced to five years in prison for robbing three taxi drivers in July 2013. He admitted carrying out robberies on July 2, 4 and 7 at Croftwood Gardens and Blackditch Road, Ballyfermot. During the incidents he threatened victims with a syringe, used a knife, punched one driver breaking his two front teeth, and stole phones, CDs, a SatNav and cash. Judge Martin Nolan, hearing the case at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, described Whelan as a "menace to society" and noted the vulnerability of taxi drivers. The judge suspended the final 18 months of the sentence, ordered 18 months of probation on release, and allowed credit for time already spent in custody. Whelan has 29 prior convictions, including robberies, and has a history of mental health issues and a childhood in State care. Michael Whelan pleaded guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Sandra Doyle, aged 37, was found not guilty of stealing over €102,000 from the AIB bank account of retired chef Fergus Brugha, aged 62. Doyle had pleaded not guilty to 131 theft charges covering transactions between September 2008 and May 2010, including payments to Ticketmaster, a veterinary clinic, a beauty clinic, a Dundrum credit union, and mobile phone top‑ups. Judge Patrick McCartan directed the jury to acquit, stating the evidence was "entirely confused and inconclusive" and that there was insufficient proof to sustain the charges. Doyle denied all allegations, claiming she had not made any payments without permission and had not used Brugha's card. The judge noted Brugha's own uncertainty about some transactions and his admission that he may have authorized certain payments, leaving the jury to decide which, if any, were authorized. The case concluded with Doyle's acquittal.
Andrew Larkin, aged 31 of Phibsboro Road, Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to burglary committed on 23 April 2013. Garda evidence indicated that Larkin and another man forced entry to Charlestown Shopping Centre on Cardiffsbridge Road, Finglas, at 1am and broke into the Romeo and Juliet hair salon. They attempted to access cash registers, retrieving only €30, before taking approximately €1,000 worth of hair care products and equipment in black bin bags. The stolen goods were recovered during a subsequent garda search of Larkin's home at Dunsink Drive, Finglas. When presented with CCTV footage, Larkin admitted his involvement. He has two prior convictions for burglary. Judge James O'Donohoe imposed a one-year jail sentence, suspended for two years, conditional on Larkin engaging in drug counselling.
Nina Lee, 19, from Hardwick Street, Dublin, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after attacking a man with an umbrella on Lord Edward Street on 2 August 2013. Lee, who was heavily intoxicated, could not recall the incident and was shocked to see herself on CCTV. She admitted the attack was "cowardly and violent." The victim, walking home after a night out, was struck by Lee and later treated at St James Hospital. The court described the assault as unprovoked and nasty. Judge Martin Nolan imposed an 18‑month suspended sentence, citing Lee's first offence and remorse, and declined to order a fine, noting her care for a sick grandmother. The case remains a single‑charge conviction with a suspended custodial term.
Mary Maughan, a 39‑year‑old mother of six from Palmerstown Woods, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended, after pleading guilty to assault causing harm. The offence occurred on 29 November 2011 at the Mill Shopping Centre in Clondalkin when Maughan, carrying a Stanley blade, attacked her sister‑in‑law Teresa Maughan. Maughan shouted insults, struck Teresa with the blade, slashing her neck and face. Teresa suffered severed tendons in her hands and required surgery. Garda Kamil Pawel Linder reported that Teresa was shopping in Dunnes Stores when the attack began, and that an off‑duty Garda intervened before Maughan was arrested. Maughan had two prior convictions involving the same sister‑in‑law, including a 100‑hour community service order for damaging her car.
John Paul Lennon, 34, of St Anthony's Park, Rialto, Dublin 8, will be sentenced on 17 April for a series of offences committed while on bail. He pleaded guilty to two robberies on 31 December 2013 at a Spar shop in Dolphin's Barn and at Basin Street, where he entered wearing a balaclava, threatened staff with a large butcher's knife, and took cash that he later spent on drugs. Lennon also admitted to robbing a taxi driver in Dun Laoghaire on New Year's Day 2014, threatening the driver with a six‑inch knife and a pair of scissors, and to possessing €2,025 of heroin for sale or supply on 23 April 2011, when 13 grams were found concealed between his buttocks. Additionally, he pleaded guilty to an attempted robbery of an Esso garage on 16 April 2014.
The trial of Sandra Doyle, aged 37, continues at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. She denies stealing money from the AIB bank account of retired chef Fergus Brugha, aged 62, over a three‑year period. Evidence shows disputed transactions to Ticketmaster, online motor tax, a veterinary clinic, a beauty clinic, a Dundrum credit union account and mobile phone top‑ups. Doyle, of McCabe's Villas, Booterstown, pleaded not guilty to 131 theft counts at AIB Bank, Morehampton Road, Donnybrook, covering September 2008 to May 2010. Judge Patrick McCartan told the jury to return tomorrow after the State finished its evidence.
In a Dublin bar, Karl Harffy, 34, struck Ronan Flood, 24, with a glass after a confrontation. Harffy first punched Flood and then hit him again with a glass. Flood sustained minor cuts and was treated at the Eye and Ear Hospital, where no glass entered his eye. Harffy was identified by a barman and later claimed self‑defence, saying Flood and his friends provoked him. He pleaded guilty to assault causing harm for an incident on 1 December 2013. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to a two‑year term suspended in full and ordered a €3,000 payment to Flood, to be paid over 18 months. Harffy, a first‑time offender, was described as a hard‑working man who had married since the incident. The judge noted that drunkenness does not excuse the offence.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Fergus Brugha, aged 62, testified that he never authorised Sandra Doyle, aged 37, to withdraw €102,000 from his AIB bank account over a three‑year period. Doyle, who lives in Booterstown and previously in Gorey, pleaded not guilty to 131 theft counts covering the period from September 2008 to May 2010. The disputed transactions included payments to Ticketmaster, online motor tax, a veterinary clinic, a beauty clinic, a Dundrum credit union account and mobile phone top‑ups. Brugha explained that he had given Doyle money for a college course and a catering job, and that they had a non‑sexual, friendship‑based relationship. He noted that he had not regularly checked his statements and that he had been unaware of the withdrawals until he noticed money moving to a credit union account. The trial, presided over by Judge Patrick McCartan, is scheduled to continue until Friday.
Paul Carabini, aged 48, was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment with three years suspended for a series of armed robberies in Dublin. He pleaded guilty to the robbery of €3,050 at Permanent TSB in Phibsboro on 16 November 2012, to €300 from Mr Sims Shop on 13 June 2013, and to €280 and four pairs of shoes from Shoe Rack on 4 December 2013. He also pleaded guilty to attempted robberies at Hamilton Pharmacy, Dowling's Pharmacy and McDonald's in Phibsboro. During the TSB robbery he held a knife to a pregnant bank worker's stomach while demanding €10,000, and he held a knife to a shop worker's torso at Mr Sims. The court noted his history of 21 prior convictions, heroin addiction since age 16, and lack of formal education. Judge Martin Nolan described him as a "menace to society who caused fear and terror.".
Jeffery Smith, 42, was sentenced to five years in prison at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for possession for sale or supply of €108,114 worth of cannabis resin and €1,269 of diazepam, found in his home on Donomore Avenue, Killinarden, Tallaght. Smith admitted owning two stolen laptops and a stolen iPad, also discovered in his house. He claimed the drugs were held to pay a €25,000 debt incurred after becoming dependent on valium following a 2003 back injury. Smith denied being a dealer. The judge noted his modest criminal record and that he should have known the seriousness of his actions. Smith, with 20 prior convictions, did not reveal who he was holding the drugs for, citing fear of being shot. Defence counsel described Smith as having gotten involved in a situation far beyond his control.
Mihail Lurescu, 28, of Thurles, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to his former wife on 17 July 2013 in Dublin. The judge, Martin Nolan, sentenced him to a two‑and‑a‑half‑year suspended term after a three‑week pre‑sentencing custody period. Lurescu had previously been convicted of ten non‑violent offences. The assault involved repeated punches to the woman's head, a fracture to her cheekbone and bruising. He also took her mobile phone and threatened further violence. Garda Enda Muldoon reported that the victim was too frightened to return to her apartment. Lurescu admitted partial remorse, saying "a part of me is." The judge noted that alcohol was a factor but not an excuse. The couple, now legally separated, share a child. The sentence was imposed to deter future behaviour.
Dermot Molloy, 36, of Dunshaughlin, pleaded guilty to robbery and attempted robbery on Capel Street in July 2012. He had 57 prior convictions, 15 for robbery. In Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Martin Nolan accepted his plea but, citing his apparent rehabilitation, imposed a three‑year suspended sentence rather than imprisonment. Molloy was captured on CCTV during the raids: on July 7 he entered a hair salon, shouted for money, brandished a knife, and fled after a customer resisted; the next day he and another man stole €420 from a salon using a syringe. He was arrested in November 2012 while on remand for other offences. The case was defended by Willie Hughes BL, who presented evidence from the TV3 documentary "Prison Families" and a producer, but the judge declined to consider it. The prosecution, led by Fiona McGowan BL, highlighted the CCTV evidence and the victim's account of Molloy's threat with a knife.
James Gantley, a 62-year-old Dublin playwright, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to demanding money with menaces from DX Ireland staff between October 11 and November 11, 2011. The court heard that Gantley was recruited for his voice characterisation skills to act as a "spokesperson" in an extortion scheme following the theft of a DX van containing legal documents, including NAMA files. He phoned DX staff and Managing Director Kevin Galligan, claiming the documents would be destroyed unless €100,000 was paid. Although Gantley admitted to the charges, he stated he hoped to make "a few bob" but received nothing. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a five-year sentence, suspended in full. The Judge described the case as a "close run thing" but ruled that an immediate custodial sentence would be unjust. He noted that the method of demanding money through menaces regarding legal documents was baffling. Gantley, who has ten previous convictions dating back to 1993, was identified via a recorded phone call where he haggled the demand between €50,000 and €100,000. His defence counsel highlighted his ill health, role as sole carer for his wife, and his description of the behaviour as "stupid."
Paul Bradley, 34, with 101 prior convictions, was sentenced to 20 months in prison for robbing Hickey's Pharmacy on Harold's Cross Road on 14 December 2013. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The robbery involved Bradley demanding money from the till, smashing the cash registers, and taking €480, while an accomplice stole prescription medication. Garda Paula Burke reported that neither man carried weapons but their hands in pockets caused concern. Both fled the pharmacy and were chased by Gardaí; Bradley was caught in a taxi but escaped through gardens before being arrested the next day. Judge Martin Nolan, who had previously described Bradley as a "gentle giant", noted his long-term drug addiction and his desire to rehabilitate, and accepted his plea of guilty before sentencing. Luigi Rea BL argued for a chance to prove his client's commitment to drug treatment. The sentence reflects the robbery and Bradley's extensive criminal history.
Christopher McDonagh, aged 30, was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to five years' imprisonment, with the final three years suspended, for possessing 471 grammes of heroin worth €70,695. He admitted to holding the drugs for a week after being instructed by his dealer, who supplied him with prescription medication. McDonagh had previously pleaded guilty to the offence on 24 February 2013 and had ten earlier convictions. Garda Anton Keating, who agreed with the defence counsel, noted that McDonagh, though addicted to medication, had an anti‑heroin stance and had tried to help friends quit. He was found to have been in fear of the man to whom he owed money. The judge, Mary Ellen Ring, accepted his full responsibility, noted his cooperation with Gardaí, and back‑dated the sentence to 11 November 2014, ordering him to comply with probation services for 18 months upon release.
Christopher Coakley, a 23‑year‑old heroin addict, pleaded guilty to unlawfully seizing a woman's car with her child in the back seat on 5 August 2012. He was sentenced to three years' imprisonment by Judge Desmond Hogan on 25 February 2013. The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed, arguing that the judge had not adequately considered Coakley's 92 prior convictions and the fact that he had previously received a fully suspended five‑year sentence. The Court of Appeal, led by Justice Seán Ryan, agreed that the original sentence was unduly lenient and ordered a new sentence to be imposed on 27 March. Coakley has been a heroin addict since age 13 and has spent most of his life in custody since age 14. He has been drug‑free since September, according to his mother, Paula Johnston. The Court of Appeal has remanded him in custody pending the new sentence.
In February 2015, Joseph O'Toole, aged 19, avoided a jail term after pleading guilty to two counts of robbery at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The court, led by Judge Mary Ellen Ring, sentenced him to three years in prison but suspended the sentence in full, citing his efforts to address drug addiction. O'Toole was involved in two separate attacks on Church Road, Mulhuddart. The first, an assault on a pensioner named Fred Mulligan, involved a bicycle strike, kicking, and a demand for money, resulting in Mulligan receiving €100 and hospital treatment. The second attack targeted Isabella Szyrajew, who was cycling with groceries; O'Toole and a co‑accused knocked her off her bike, beat her, dragged her by her rucksack, and stole €50 worth of goods. Garda Alan Gordon witnessed the second assault and later arrested O'Toole after a violent struggle.
Adam O'Mara, aged 20 and resident in County Louth, received a suspended sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following a high-speed pursuit on the N1 Motorway near Drogheda on 8 February 2012. O'Mara pleaded guilty to unlawful use of a stolen white Toyota Dyna, dangerous driving, and driving without insurance. During the 40-minute chase, the then 17-year-old attempted to ram a garda vehicle on four occasions whilst weaving through traffic and overtaking dangerously. He also threw objects from the vehicle before it came to a stop due to mechanical failure. Judge Mary Ellen Ring imposed a two-and-a-half-year custodial sentence, wholly suspended, and disqualified him from driving for four years. In mitigation, the court noted O'Mara's completion of a welding course and his engagement with drug treatment services since the offence. He was ordered to comply with probation supervision and maintain good behaviour for the period of the suspended sentence.
Vicky Dempsey, 34, of Stannaway Road, Crumlin, pleaded guilty to violent disorder at Purrrfect Pets on 5 February 2011. She was sentenced by Judge Mary Ellen Ring to two years in prison, suspended in full, and ordered to comply with Probation Services for 12 months and to follow any education and training directions. Dempsey, who has 12 prior convictions mainly for road traffic offences, was involved in the incident after her brother Karl Dempsey, also of Stannaway Road, had a dispute in the car park. Dempsey dragged a woman backwards by her hair while the woman's partner was attacked. The judge accepted that Dempsey acted on impulse and expressed extreme remorse. Karl Dempsey is due for sentencing later this year when full facts will be heard. The incident also involved Mark Eagers, who sustained injuries, and Lasra Long, who was pulled backwards by her hair.
The case against former minister Michael Lowry, aged 60, was adjourned at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Lowry faces four charges of knowingly filing incorrect tax returns in 2003 and 2007. He had appeared before Thurles District Court last year and was sent to Nenagh Circuit Court on a €500 bail bond. The trial was later transferred to Dublin at the request of the Director of Public Prosecutions. Judge Martin Nolan adjourned the case to a further mention date on 27 February 2015, and Lowry is excused from attending the next court date.
Michael Mongan, 38, of Whiteclare Avenue, Baldoyle, Dublin 13, was arrested after he walked into a Garda station to complain that his fraudulent Social Welfare claim had been suspended. He had used a false identity, claiming to be Robert Anthony Gavin, to obtain €2,905 in welfare payments between 4 December 2009 and 10 March 2010 while also claiming benefits under his own name. Mongan pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to using a false identity to steal almost €3,000 from the State over a three‑month period. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to two years in prison but suspended the sentence in full on the condition that he keeps the peace for two years. The judge cited Mongan's guilty plea, cooperation with Gardaí and the short duration of the false claim as reasons for the suspension. Mongan has not yet repaid the money to the State and has four previous convictions, including shoplifting and deception.
Jonathan Gilmore, 42, of Rowman House, Mespil Road, was sentenced to one year in prison at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for embezzling over €35,000 in fines. The defendant, a former Court Service administrative officer, entered signed guilty pleas to 50 charges of theft dating from September 2010 to August 2012. He had stolen cash paid by the public to offset fines, using subsequent payments to cover previous debts until the scheme collapsed. Judge Martin Nolan imposed the custodial sentence, stating that Gilmore had betrayed a position of trust by handling State monies. The judge noted that while he had sympathy for Gilmore, who had cooperated fully and repaid all stolen funds, the breach of trust necessitated incarceration. Gilmore, who had no previous convictions and was dismissed from his role, had significant gambling debts and had spent €440,000 on bets between 2008 and 2013. The case had been adjourned overnight following evidence heard on Wednesday. Defense counsel highlighted Gilmore's cooperation and financial ruin, while the prosecution detailed how complaints about unpaid fines led to his arrest and full admissions in April 2013.
Andrew Moore, a 19-year-old college student from Charlemont, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm in Alchemy nightclub, Temple Bar, on March 28, 2014. Judge Martin Nolan suspended a two-year prison sentence, imposing a condition that Moore collects €3,000 to be offered to the victim as a token of remorse. The judge ordered this payment to be made to the gardaí within 18 months, noting that if the victim declines the funds, the court will determine their disposition. The judge described the unprovoked attack as a "cowardly act" and suggested it stemmed from a "spasm of misguided jealousy," while acknowledging Moore's guilty plea and lack of previous convictions. Garda Sergeant Mark Looby testified that the victim, a juvenile, suffered slight scarring at her eye and has become more cautious when going out. Moore had consumed five pints of lager and ten Jager bomb cocktails before swinging at the victim from behind, knocking her to the floor. Defending counsel Karl Monaghan BL characterized the incident as extreme over-indulgence in alcohol, noting Moore has no anger management issues. The matter was finalized with the imposition of the suspended sentence and financial condition.
Cian Johnston, a 19‑year‑old Dublin student, received a four‑year suspended sentence after pleading guilty to possession of almost 1,800 ecstasy tablets. Gardaí found 980 tablets in his backpack and 802 at his home, with the drugs valued at €17,820. Johnston claimed he was paid €300 to transport the tablets to a Luas stop at the Point Theatre, stating he had no intention of using them and was merely "minding and transporting" them for money. He was nervous and reluctant to name the individuals who hired him, fearing retribution. His defence highlighted his lack of prior convictions, his cooperation with police, and his law‑abiding family background. Judge Martin Nolan noted Johnston's age and cooperation, and imposed a suspended four‑year sentence, warning that future offences could lead to imprisonment.
Istvan Hatos, 31, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to cultivating cannabis at his home to treat sleep apnoea. Gardaí raided his house on 17 February 2014 and found 32 mature plants in two tents upstairs, 10 immature plants in a downstairs bathroom, and dried leaves on a bedroom door. Hatos said he bought seeds online, learned growing from YouTube, and had not intended to sell the crop, hoping instead to have a year's supply for his condition. He had previously been convicted of using a false instrument to claim welfare. Judge Martin Nolan noted the unexpected success of the cultivation, Hatos' cooperation, and lack of intent to sell, and sentenced him to 18 months in prison, suspended on strict conditions.
Daniel Keenan, aged 20, was arrested in Cabra after a Garda officer, posing as the owner of a stolen phone, arranged a meeting to buy it 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. 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 scene found the phone in Keenan's sock. He pleaded guilty to handling a stolen phone on 16 February 2013 and has nine prior convictions. Keenan was remanded in custody until 25 February pending sentencing. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The article does not state the final sentence.
In a February 2015 hearing, a court discussed how Garda detectives might revise investigative methods following a ruling that barred prosecutors from using telephone records in a criminal trial. The case involved Thomas Hunt, 40, who was charged in December with withholding information related to the fatal shooting of Alan Ryan on 3 September 2012. Hunt had allegedly purchased a car that later served as the getaway vehicle in Ryan's murder. He was arrested in October and pleaded not guilty to withholding information between 3 September and 23 October 2012. The State withdrew the charges after Judge Catherine Murphy ruled that telephone records stored on a mainframe computer could not be relied upon because there was no evidence the computer was operating correctly at the relevant time. The court heard that the State's case was that Hunt owned a mobile phone used to buy the car.
Sean Powell, 23, was sentenced to two and a half years' imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for robbing two shops in five minutes to obtain cash for a Valentine's date. He was arrested after Gardaí spotted his getaway car and found him hiding in a wardrobe, his feet protruding from the closet. Powell was intoxicated and unfit for interview for four hours. He admitted to the robberies, claiming he wanted money to take his girlfriend out. The court heard the couple had recently become engaged and had one daughter. Powell pleaded guilty to robbery of Eurospar and Carry Out Off Licence in Hartstown Shopping Centre on 27 January 2014. He had seven prior convictions for minor offences. Judge Martin Nolan accepted his admissions and rehabilitation efforts, but deemed a custodial sentence unavoidable, sentencing him to two and a half years.
Adam Nevin, 27, of Clondalkin, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to three charges of possessing MDMA for sale or supply at Sin Nightclub, Clondalkin Community Centre and Clondalkin Shopping Centre in September 2012. He had 23 prior convictions, including two drug‑dealing offences dealt with in the District Court. Nevin had approached an undercover Garda at a nightclub, offered to sell ecstasy tablets, and the officer paid €20 for four tablets, then €60 for ten tablets, and later €300 for a bag of tablets. Nevin was arrested after discarding the bag, which was recovered and tested as MDMA. Judge Martin Nolan revoked Nevin's bail and remanded him in custody until his sentence on 17 February. Nevin's defence counsel argued that he had secured work in Norway and was working to overcome his addiction, requesting the court not to imprison him. The case remains pending sentencing.
Anthony Paget, 39, of Carnlough Road, Cabra, was jailed for two years after pleading guilty to robbing Mark O'Brien in Dublin city centre on 9 June 2013. Paget had 39 prior convictions, including a serious assault. He was arrested following police work and admitted the offence. Garda Patrick Gallagher described the robbery: O'Brien was walking along Millennium Bridge when a girl with a Dublin accent approached him, told him to "clear off," and a man behind him lifted him into a choke hold while another man patted him down. O'Brien could not describe the men but reported that they took his wallet, which contained a winning Boyle Sport betting slip, a bank card and a Luas card. The next day CCTV from a nearby Boyle Sports shop showed Paget and two accomplices cashing in the betting slip. Paget later claimed he spent the money on snow blow and alcohol.
Stephen Walsh, 39, of Portland Close, Portland Row, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for assault causing serious harm to his girlfriend Maria Sunner. The offence occurred on 24 November 2013 at their home on Poplar Row, Ballybough, when Walsh beat Sunner so severely that she required surgery to insert plates and bolts into her leg. Walsh had 32 prior convictions, including robbery and handling stolen goods. Judge Nolan described the attack as involving punching, pulling, dragging, kicking and stamping, and noted Sunner was left with a disfiguring scar. The sentence was back‑dated to when Walsh first entered custody in June 2013. Walsh pleaded guilty, claimed an element of self‑defence, and later apologized, stating his relationship ended over his "cowardly actions.".
Two Wexford businessmen, Noel Hayes (61) and William O'Leary (51), were acquitted of forging the will of Matthew Hayes, dated between December 1998 and January 1999, at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The jury, composed of eight men and four women, returned a not‑guilty verdict after about two and a half hours of deliberation on the ninth day of the trial. The prosecution's key witness, Charlie O'Leary, had previously pleaded guilty to a related offence and received an 18‑month suspended sentence, and he testified that the will was signed a week after Matthew Hayes' death. He alleged that Noel Hayes sought to resolve an old land dispute and that the O'Leary brothers had a bitter business relationship that led to ongoing legal disputes, including a high‑court case where Charlie O'Leary was awarded around €3 million. William O'Leary pleaded not guilty. Noel Hayes pleaded not guilty.
Jonathan Crilly, 29, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of Martin Rooney, 42, in a van crash on 24 April 2013. Crilly was over twice the legal alcohol limit and was driving between 120 and 140 km/h. He was sentenced by Judge Patrick McCartan to three years' imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended on the condition of good behaviour for two years after release. He was also disqualified from driving for ten years. The incident involved Crilly, Rooney and a third passenger, all from Northern Ireland, who were on a construction job in Dublin. Rooney died at Beaumont Hospital after the van collided with a wall following a red‑light violation. Crilly's prior dangerous driving conviction in Northern Ireland was noted by the court.
Paul Hanbury, 23, was sentenced to five years in prison for setting fire to the bed in his partner's apartment in Tallaght on 4 October 2014. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Martin Nolan described the offence as extremely serious, noting that fatalities could have occurred. The final 18 months of the sentence were suspended and backdated to the time of arrest in October 2014. Garda Michael McGrath reported that Hanbury had entered the apartment at 2 p.m., drank with his girlfriend and her sister, and that the couple's two‑year‑old and four‑month‑old sons were present. After a quarrel sometime after midnight, Hanbury locked himself in a bedroom, set the mattress on fire, and left the window open. The fire was discovered by the girlfriend and her sister, who evacuated the children and called the fire brigade.
In a Dublin court hearing, 42‑year‑old Michael Bonner pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after stabbing Gary Dawnay twice in the shoulder with a steak knife. The attack occurred at Hayworth Terrace, Ongar, when Bonner discovered Dawnay in bed with his ex‑partner. Dawnay's left lung collapsed over 50 % and he required a chest drain. Bonner admitted the stabbing immediately, apologised and claimed he had drunk eight or nine pints that night. He was described as a long‑time barman who has worked at The Vineyard in Blanchardstown for 12 years and has been involved in charity work. Judge Desmond Hogan noted the lack of pre‑meditation and that the assault was a "frenzied" reaction. Sentencing was adjourned to allow Probation Services to assess Bonner's suitability for the Restorative Justice Programme, while a custodial sentence was not ruled out. The victim impact statement was presented but not read out.