Frederick Thompson, 34, of Maryland, Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for violent disorder. He pleaded guilty to his part in a brawl at Morrissey's Pub, Cork Street, on January 7, 2013. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a 20-month prison sentence, backdated to May 23, 2014, when Thompson was first remanded in custody. Thompson had been extradited from Amsterdam and has been in custody since. The court noted he has 29 previous convictions. A co-defendant, Anthony Harte, 24, of Inchicore, also pleaded guilty to violent disorder. Harte was previously given 220 hours of community service by Judge Mary Ellen Ring in lieu of a two-year prison term. A third man was acquitted of violent disorder by a jury. The judge stated Thompson likely started the row and threw a bottle. Prosecution evidence described a serious fracas where Thompson slapped the victim, took him into a headlock, and flung a beer bottle at him. Harte was seen kicking and punching the victim. Defense counsel noted the incident was sparked by slagging and that no one was seriously injured. Thompson offered apologies to the court and those present.
A 49-year-old resident of Ballyjamesduff in County Cavan has pleaded guilty to threatening a Criminal Assets Bureau officer and submitting a false tax return. Pascal Kelly entered guilty pleas at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to delivering an incorrect income tax return to the office of the Collector General in October 2004, and to uttering threats against Detective Garda Mark Gallagher at CAB offices on Harcourt Square in April 2011. His defence counsel informed the court that Kelly faces a third charge, pending CCTV evidence. Judge Martin Nolan remanded Kelly in custody and adjourned the matter to 20 March 2015 for sentencing, when counsel indicated the final case would also be addressed.
Michael Fogarty, a 50‑year‑old Dublin drug addict and award‑winning poet, was spared a new prison term for robbing Hickey's Pharmacy in Tallaght on 2 March 2014. He pleaded guilty to stealing prescription tablets and about €100 cash. Fogarty had previously served 12 years for attempted murder in London. At the pharmacy he left a handwritten threat note, used a knife, and was stopped by a security guard before being taken to Tallaght Hospital where he was treated after swallowing a large quantity of the stolen tablets. His lawyers argued he was suicidal and had mental health difficulties that day. Judge Martin Nolan, noting Fogarty's prior 12‑year sentence, imposed a two‑year sentence and suspended it in total for two years. All recovered cash was returned. The case was heard in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Two Lithuanian men have been sentenced to four years in prison with the final two years suspended at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following their conviction on extortion and threatening-to-kill charges. Deividas Sutkevicius, aged 29, of Fox Lodge, Ratoath, County Meath, and Arturas Jankus, aged 52, of Cortolvin View, Monaghan, were found guilty of demanding €3,500 and €2,500 with menaces from a Monaghan-based fitter on separate dates in March and April 2011. They were also convicted of threatening to kill or cause serious harm to the same man on those occasions. The offences occurred at a garage between Carrickmacross and Ardee. Both men have been ordered to remain away from the injured party and his family for twenty years. Judge Patricia Ryan imposed the sentence on each count. Both defendants have no previous convictions.
Colin Goggin, 52, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for sexually abusing two teenage boys and an additional two years for possession of child pornography, with all sentences running concurrently. He fled to Spain after the first victim came forward in 2007, remained there for five years, and was returned to Ireland on a European Arrest Warrant. Goggin failed to attend his trial, was remanded in custody, and later pleaded guilty to the offences. The judge noted that Goggin's role as an athletics coach gave him access to young victims. He had previously worked as a photographer and external sports coach at a south Dublin school. During a photo shoot at his home, he sexually assaulted one boy, and while training another, he attempted a forced act that the boy resisted. Gardaí found about 2,000 images of child pornography in his home, including material in the second most offensive category on a five‑point scale.
Paul Norton, 26, was sentenced to seven years in prison for his role as a getaway driver in a failed cash van robbery at the Northside Shopping Centre on 6 June 2012. The court noted that Norton had been disqualified from driving eleven times before the incident and had 71 prior convictions for road traffic offences, including two for robbery and attempted robbery. He also had convictions for false number plates. Judge Patrick McCartan imposed a seven‑year sentence with the final two years suspended and disqualified Norton from driving for life. The case involved a G4S cash van driver who was robbed of €30,000 when a motorbike rider seized the cash box. Norton was apprehended after fleeing in a motorbike, was later found injured, and pleaded guilty on a third trial date. The judge described his record as a "very serious picture.".
Terence Weldredge, 43, was sentenced to 18 months in jail for sending explicit photographs of his penis and menacing messages to a 13‑year‑old girl between September 2011 and January 2012. He attempted to contact her 273 times over two days, asking for sex and sending a photo of a man in a balaclava with a gun. The victim reported being harassed "24/7", suffering depression, and attempting suicide. Judge Mary Ellen Ring suspended the final 18 months of a three‑year sentence on the condition that Weldredge attend psychotherapy or other services directed by Probation Services. He also admitted attempting suicide after being caught and has mental health difficulties linked to drug abuse. The court noted his cooperation with Probation Services and his efforts to address substance abuse issues. Terence Weldredge pleaded guilty.
The trial of Noel Hayes and William O'Leary, both accused of forging the will of Matthew Hayes between December 1998 and January 1999, continued before Judge Patricia Ryan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Both defendants have pleaded not guilty. On the seventh day of the trial, Noel Hayes, a vegetable wholesaler from Ramsgrange, Co Wexford, was cross-examined by prosecuting counsel Philip Sheahan SC. Hayes suggested that the main prosecution witness, Charlie O'Leary, who previously pleaded guilty and received an 18-month suspended sentence plus an order to pay €30,000, acted out of a 'vendetta' against his brother, William. Hayes described himself as the 'meat in the sandwich' in this dispute. Counsel questioned Hayes on whether it was odd for William O'Leary to 'concoct' a story exposing himself to imprisonment to 'shop his best friend' due to a vendetta. Hayes acknowledged it would be odd for a normal person but not for Charlie O'Leary, stating that 'nothing mattered to him except to bring down his brother.' Counsel also alleged that Hayes' repeated requests for William O'Leary to join a 2004 land deal stemmed from anxiety that the will had not been executed, a claim Hayes denied, citing their lifelong friendship. The trial continues.
Robert McLoughlin, aged 66, was arrested after gardaí received an anonymous tip and searched his Marino home. The search revealed seven cannabis plants in his attic, heat lamps, and cultivation paraphernalia worth €5,600. McLoughlin pleaded guilty to cannabis cultivation on 3 October 2012. He claimed the plants were for treating his back pain, a condition caused by a car crash in the United States 25 years earlier. The court noted his medical problems, cooperation with authorities, and guilty plea. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year suspended sentence, citing personal circumstances and the fact that the house had since burned down, with an ongoing arson investigation. The sentence was suspended, with no custodial term imposed. The case highlighted the complexities of cannabis cultivation laws before legislative changes.
A 32-year-old carpenter from Longford has avoided a custodial sentence following his admission to permitting the supply of heroin within his vehicle. Robert Nevin pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to an offence relating to a controlled substance found in a van he was driving on August 15, 2012. Gardaí stopped the white Ford Transit after observing a red light breach and discovered approximately 120 grammes of heroin, valued at over €18,000, concealed within the vehicle. Nevin had travelled from Mullingar to Dublin with another man to collect the drugs. Judge Martin Nolan suspended a three-and-a-half-year sentence. The defence outlined that Nevin, who had previously operated a carpentry business serving Donegal and Sligo, developed a heroin addiction following personal difficulties and his mother's death in 2007. His co-accused received a similar sentence with a portion suspended.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Joseph Lee, aged 30, was found guilty of assault causing harm after a domestic dispute over a dog. Lee, who had a prior assault conviction, pinned his partner Amanda Brothers down and repeatedly punched her in the head. The victim suffered a broken bone in her hand, bruising to her eye, cheek and chin, and required stitches to her lip. Lee pleaded guilty and was sentenced to a two‑year jail term, suspended on the condition that he obeys Probation Services and keeps the peace for two years. The judge noted Lee's consumption of alcohol that night and the couple's prior relationship history, but decided that imprisonment would be unjust given their current living situation with their children. The court did not read the medical or victim impact reports aloud.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 28 January 2015, Jason Kirwan, aged 28, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for his role in a burglary at Buttercup Park, Darndale, on 3 October 2011. Garda Kevin Hinde presented evidence that Kirwan was linked to the break‑in through blood drops found on the stairs, after four men had smashed a door to gain entry. The men had previously threatened a doorman who had asked people to leave a pub, claiming they knew where he lived. The burglary involved the theft of military uniforms belonging to Corporal Michael O'Shea. Kirwan's 80 prior convictions included 72 road‑traffic offences, one robbery and a drug‑dealing conviction. The judge noted the burglars appeared to be seeking vengeance against the doorman, who was believed to be living at the former residence. The court imposed a three‑year sentence, reflecting the seriousness of the offence and Kirwan's extensive criminal record. Jason Kirwan pleaded guilty.
John Paul Gantley, a 31‑year‑old drug addict from Crumlin, was sentenced to two years in prison for two smash‑and‑grab robberies at newsagents in Dublin. In the first incident, on 2 February 2014 at Loughlinstown, he pretended to buy a Cadbury's Creme Egg, persuaded the shop staff to open the till, and then stole €105. In the second, on 18 February 2014 at Cardiffsbridge Road, Finglas, he entered a Spar, paid for a Creme Egg with a single euro, and while the sales assistant was giving him change, he grabbed cash from the till. He was caught shortly after with the stolen €105. Gantley pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a three‑year sentence, suspended the final year on the condition that Gantley engage with Probation Services for one year after release.
Padraig Seery, 27, a Castle Celtic footballer, was charged with assault after head‑butting Leixlip Town captain Mark Coyne during a United Churches Football League match. Seery first kicked Coyne's ankle and then head‑butted him, causing a broken nose that required surgery. The referee issued a red card and the incident was witnessed by several Leixlip players who described it as unprovoked. Seery pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Martin Nolan suspended an 18‑month jail sentence and ordered Seery to pay €5,000 to Coyne. Seery had offered the payment as a token of remorse and an apology. Coyne accepted the payment, though he had not yet paid for his operation. Seery had previously sought anger‑management counselling and legal advice. The case was heard in February 2012 and concluded with the suspended sentence and financial penalty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Damien Fleming, 28, was found guilty of attempting to rob a woman in Herbert Park, Ballsbridge, on 4 November 2013. He ambushed the woman from behind, slapped her over the mouth, and fled when she escaped. Three passers‑by apprehended him and handed him over to Gardaí. A carpet knife was later discovered in his pocket, though it was not presented during the incident. Fleming claimed he was in a drinking binge and had intended to take money from the victim, but changed his mind. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to a suspended three‑year term and ordered him to pay the victim over €8,000, with the court deciding the payment's destination if the victim rejects it. Fleming, who has three prior assault and public‑order convictions, is now living in Cork and has reportedly completed a residential alcohol‑treatment course.
Craig Gardiner, 63, of Gibbons Terrace, Balbriggan, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment for possession and distribution of child pornography. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of child pornography at Cyberzone cafe, Drogheda Street, Balbriggan on 1 November 2010 and to three counts of distribution of child pornography between June and September 2010. The judge, Martin Nolan, suspended the final two years of the sentence on the condition that Gardiner undergo probation supervision for two years. Gardiner's offences were discovered after a computer he used at an internet cafe became infected with a suspicious virus. Garda Louisa Gernan reported that two mobile phones seized from Gardiner contained 755 images of child pornography, including 39 images of boys aged two to ten. Emails sent by Gardiner were found to contain 217 similar images. Gardiner had no prior convictions and had briefly fled to Northern Ireland before voluntarily returning.
During the trial of William O'Leary and Noel Hayes for forging a will, a retired nurse, Marian Argue, testified that she had advised a caller that the elderly farmer Matthew Hayes might not have been medically capable of making a will. Argue, who worked on St Aidan's Ward at Wexford General Hospital in 1998, described Hayes as thin, emaciated, incontinent, and bruised on his right hip. She noted that he was receiving IV fluids and was nursed on alternative sides, and that he responded very little, making it difficult to understand him. Argue could not confirm whether Noel Hayes visited each day or was present at Matthew's death. The trial, held in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, continues with Judge Patricia Ryan presiding and a jury of eight men and four women. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty. Noel Hayes pleaded not guilty.
In a 2015 case, Christopher Cooney, a 19‑year‑old father of one, was sentenced to 16 months of detention after pleading guilty to assault causing harm. The offence occurred on 22 February 2013 at the St James' Luas stop when Cooney, armed with a Stanley knife, unprovokedly slashed Peter English across the face. English required 13 stitches and sustained a 9‑cm scar, and a victim impact report noted his difficulty finding employment and heightened paranoia. Cooney's counsel described the act as "horrific but spontaneous," noting no prior convictions and no subsequent offences. The court imposed a four‑year detention sentence, suspending all but the first 16 months on the condition that Cooney remains law‑abiding for the remaining period. The case highlighted the severe physical and psychological effects on the victim and the legal consequences for the offender.
In the fourth day of the trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, William O'Leary (51) and Noel Hayes (61) pleaded not guilty to forging the will of Matthew Hayes. The prosecution witness, Charles O'Leary, denied to defence counsel that he was exploiting a sick child of friends. He had previously pleaded guilty to the alleged forgery, received an 18‑month suspended sentence and was ordered to pay €30,000. O'Leary claimed he had received £12,500 for his role but gave the money to his sister and a family friend, and that he had not mentioned to the Gardaí that he was the guarantor on a boat loan. Defence counsel accused O'Leary of inserting his brother into statements about the forgery and of acting deviously. The trial continues before Judge Patricia Ryan.
A 22‑year‑old Meath man, Graham McGuinness, was sentenced to four years in prison for driving a stolen car into a crowded viewing area at Dublin Airport. He pleaded guilty to unlawful use of a car and a second charge of dangerous driving. McGuinness, who had been disqualified from driving for ten years, drove recklessly up an embankment, jumped out of the moving car, and caused a large crowd of plane‑spotters to scatter. The judge, Martin Nolan, noted that McGuinness had "put the fear of God" into bystanders and suspended the final year of the sentence, citing his youth and potential for rehabilitation. McGuinness had 41 prior convictions, including criminal damage, theft, burglary, drug offences and threats to kill, and had struggled with alcohol and drugs. The court heard he had been in care from age 12 to 17 and had a very difficult, unsettled life with little stability.
In a Dublin court, Joseph Robinson, aged 25, was sentenced to four and a half years' imprisonment for the death of his best friend, Alex Doyle, also aged 25, after Robinson, driving a taxi while intoxicated and without a licence, crashed into a pole on 8 June 2014. Witnesses saw Robinson leave the wreck, leaving Doyle, who suffered fatal head injuries and a severed arm, on the ground. Robinson pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death, dangerous driving, criminal damage, drink driving and driving without a licence or insurance. The judge noted Robinson's long criminal history of 58 convictions, including drug and drink‑driving offences, and his disqualification from driving at the time. Robinson was also disqualified from driving for seven years and the sentence was back‑dated to the date of the offence. The court emphasised the tragedy for both families and the need for rehabilitation.
In a 2015 court hearing, an off‑duty Garda and his father intervened during an attempted robbery at a Paddy Power bookmakers in Saggart. The offender, David Towell, 36, had just left the bookmaker's premises without taking any cash and was attempting to escape on a moped with an accomplice. The Garda and his father knocked both men to the ground as the vehicle took off. Towell pleaded guilty to attempted robbery and possession of an air pistol on 6 July 2013. He has 20 prior convictions. The Garda explained that Towell had struck the cash desk's window while the cashier was searching for a panic button, and that the accomplice fled the scene. Towell was remanded in custody pending sentencing, with a report from the probation and welfare service due in March. The case was prosecuted by Mark Fitzgerald BL and defended by John Kelly BL. The judge, Catherine Murphy, noted this was Towell's first violent offence.
Gareth Byrne, 32, was arrested after pouring petrol on himself outside Clontarf Garda Station and threatening to set himself and the station on fire. He had been stopped during a routine traffic check, his car seized for lack of proof of insurance, though it was later found to be insured. After the seizure, Byrne became irate, returned to the station, and declared he would burn it down. He bought petrol, returned, poured it on himself, and held a lighter above his head for about a minute before the gardaí persuaded him to drop it. He pleaded guilty to reckless endangerment. Judge Desmond Hogan imposed a two‑year suspended sentence, ordered 240 hours of community service, and required 12 months of supervision by the Probation Service. Byrne has 41 prior convictions, including road traffic offences, drug possession and knife possession.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, Joseph Robinson, aged 25, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of his best friend, Alex Doyle, also aged 25, after a taxi crashed into a pole on June 8, 2014. Witnesses reported Robinson leaving the wreck and walking away, while Doyle suffered fatal head injuries and a severed arm. Robinson also pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, criminal damage, drink driving and driving without a licence or insurance on the same date. He has 58 prior convictions, including drug offences and drink driving. Robinson was disqualified from driving and was over twice the alcohol limit. The court remanded him in continuing custody pending sentencing next week. The victim's uncle expressed shock and a desire for compassion rather than vengeance. The case highlights the severity of drink‑driving offences and the court's focus on the defendant's past record.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Gerard O'Neill, a 35‑year‑old former "delivery boy" in the drugs trade, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended on strict conditions. O'Neill pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis herb for sale or supply at three locations in 2011, with a total value of €64,928. He had previously been involved in the trade to repay a significant drug debt and had four prior convictions, including a 2004 drugs offence. O'Neill was also a victim of shootings in 2012 and 2013, which left him with physical and psychological injuries, and he has since been in a coma for three weeks after the second shooting. The judge ordered forfeiture of the cash recovered at the scene, O'Neill's van, and the destruction of the drugs. The case was prosecuted by Cormac Quinn BL and defended by Caroline Biggs SC.
In a 2015 case, a judge ruled that Gardaí used a threat to induce Philip Finnegan, 26, to confess to owning a blank firing semi‑automatic pistol found in a box of toys in his bedroom. Finnegan had pleaded not guilty to unlawful possession of the firearm at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. During a search, Gardaí located the gun in a box with toys and video games in a bedroom shared with his three younger brothers. Finnegan initially claimed the firearm belonged to his brothers but later told officers to charge him instead. After reviewing video footage of his interviews, Judge Mary Ellen Ring found that Garda references to arresting his brothers were threats that undermined the voluntariness of his statement. Consequently, the Director of Public Prosecutions entered a nolle prosequi, dropping the charges. The ruling emphasized that the prosecution must prove a statement was voluntarily made, a burden not met in this case.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, Noel Hayes (61) and William O'Leary (51) pleaded not guilty to forging the will of Matthew Hayes, dated between December 1998 and January 1999. The prosecution's key witness, Charles O'Leary, had earlier admitted participation in the alleged forgery and received an 18‑month suspended sentence and a €30,000 payment to Matthew Hayes' next of kin. During cross‑examination, O'Leary denied threatening to "bury" Hayes or Noel, denied calling Hayes a "greedy bastard," and denied remarks about "bringing those two down." He also denied claims that he was "shafted" in a land deal and that he had threatened to "bury" his brother. O'Leary stated he had been seeing a psychiatrist since 1994, citing depression during the period of the alleged forgery. The trial, presided over by Judge Patricia Ryan, continues with a jury.
A man has pleaded guilty to facilitating the escape of a prisoner from lawful custody in Ballyfermot on March 6, 2012. Lee King, aged 27, was part of a group that ambushed a garda car transporting a man from Longford to Cloverhill Prison. Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that when the vehicle stopped at traffic lights, the group opened the rear door and extracted the prisoner, who had a broken leg. During the incident, King punched one of the gardaí in the head before fleeing the scene. He has remained in custody since March 2012. His defence counsel noted he has eighty previous convictions but expressed an intention to reform and participate in community employment upon release. Judge Martin Nolan adjourned sentencing to March 26 for a determination on the appropriate penalty.
A 17‑year‑old Dublin teenager was sentenced to three years' detention, with the final two years suspended, after a judge described the custodial sentence as a last resort to protect society. The judge said the boy "has little or no regard for other people's lives" and that he must learn the hard way if he does not change. He pleaded guilty to burglary on 10 November 2013 and to robbery of Frank Locke and Gerard Watkins on 2 February 2014, including the seizure of a Skoda Octavia and a Nissan Primera by force. The court noted that the teenager was on bail when the robberies occurred and that a probation report raised doubts about his ability to stop committing crime. Gardaí found cash, a yellow torch, a silver watch and a knuckle duster on him at his arrest. The boy's parents, who have no criminal record, were described as embarrassed and ashamed by his actions.
Sean Donnelly, aged 20, was sentenced to ten years for his role in an armed raid on a Portmarnock credit union. During the raid, a gun was pointed at Garda Michael Bolton and a car was hijacked. Donnelly attempted to calm the other raider, who threatened staff and a customer with a hand pistol. Bolton pursued the raiders on his bicycle, was threatened with a gun, and later chased the hijacked car until it crashed near Belmayne Road. Donnelly had previously pleaded guilty to robbery of €2,900 from the credit union, possession of a firearm, and hijacking in 2012, and to robbery of a cash‑in‑transit worker in 2014. He had 43 prior convictions. Judge Martin Nolan imposed consecutive sentences totaling ten years, suspending the final three years on strict conditions. The case highlighted Donnelly's involvement in multiple criminal acts and his relationship with his father, who is serving a life sentence for murder.
John McMahon, 40, was sentenced to three and a half years' imprisonment after he attacked Christina Joyce at a Dublin methadone clinic. While waiting in line, Joyce was struck in the face and then had her arms and hands slashed with a blade. McMahon pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and possession of a pointed blade. The judge described the attack as vicious, noting Joyce required emergency surgery to save a severed artery and now bears serious disfiguring scars, loss of sensation in two fingers, and ongoing psychological distress. McMahon's 23 prior convictions were mainly for public‑order, drug and traffic offences. The sentence was back‑dated to his initial remand in December 2012. The court accepted his guilty plea as a substantial value to the State, given the difficulty of prosecuting such incidents in methadone clinics. The case highlighted the severe impact on Joyce's life and the challenges of securing witnesses in this setting.
Sean Hulgrain, 23, of Thornfield Square, Clondalkin, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assaulting Garda Wayne Keown at a Swedish House Mafia concert in Phoenix Park on 7 July 2012. Hulgrain struck Keown in the face, breaking his nose, after insulting him as a "garda scumbag." The assault followed a bump between Keown's group and Hulgrain's group, with Keown's friend having previously met Hulgrain in Crete. Hulgrain had 17 prior district court convictions, including a threat to kill. Judge Mary Ellen Ring imposed a suspended sentence of three years, noting Hulgrain's transformation since his release from custody in April, his participation in anger‑management and alcohol‑awareness programmes, and his cooperation with Probation Services. The sentence was suspended on the condition that he maintains peace and continues his probation work. The court also heard that Keown had tracked Hulgrain via Facebook and that Hulgrain had denied attending the gig when later arrested.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 20 January 2015, Mihail Lurescu, aged 28, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after striking his former wife on 17 July 2013 at their former Dublin home. Judge Martin Nolan remanded Lurescu in custody for three weeks, stating the detention would serve as a warning against future similar conduct. The victim, who is now legally separated from Lurescu and has a child with him, reported that he punched her in the head, told her to clean blood from her face, took her mobile phone, and threatened to go to jail. She suffered a fractured cheekbone and bruising. Garda Enda Muldoon informed the judge that jailing Lurescu would not aid the family. Lurescu's defence, represented by Keith Spencer BL, argued the incident was isolated and that the victim did not want him imprisoned. The judge noted Lurescu's ten prior convictions were for traffic and non‑violent public order offences.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Paulius Taracvius, a 34‑year‑old Lithuanian mechanic from Finglas, pleaded guilty to possession of stolen property. He admitted that he had delivered a stolen Audi Q3 to a yard on Flemington Road, Balbriggan, where a Garda raid recovered four high‑end vehicles worth €100,000, including an Audi A5, the Q3, a Nissan Qashqai and a BMW 3‑series. The cars had been stolen from homes in Rathmines, Rathgar and Celbridge in September 2013, with keys often taken from letterboxes. Judge Martin Nolan, after hearing the case, suspended a two‑year prison sentence, noting that Taracvius's role was limited to delivering the Audi. The court also noted that other individuals involved in dismantling and shipping stolen vehicles had received weekly payments and faced separate sentences. The case highlighted the broader investigation into the dismantling and export of stolen high‑end cars from Ireland to Eastern Europe.
Declan Doran, 23, of Ballyfermot, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of €6,806 worth of cocaine for sale or supply at his home on 2 February 2012. Garda Andrew Lyons reported that a warrant was obtained to search the house, where 83 g of a white powder was found in the shed. The substance was tested and found to contain 26 % cocaine purity, which Doran said was average for the market. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a four‑year suspended prison sentence, conditional on good behaviour.
In January 2014, Thomas Greene McDonagh, a 22‑year‑old drug addict from Mullingar with no fixed address, robbed Darragh Losty, a 22‑year‑old man with Freidreichs Ataxia who has a mental age of about 12. McDonagh approached Losty on O'Connell Street while he was heading to the Central Remedial Clinic, offered drugs, and lured him into a secluded area. He then threatened Losty, seized his coat, hat, mobile phone and bus pass, and forced him to stay put. Losty later managed to escape and called his mother for help. Garda John Saunderson presented evidence that the robbery occurred on the first day Losty was attempting independent travel to the clinic. McDonagh pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and was sentenced to four years' imprisonment, back‑dated to the date of his arrest. The sentence was imposed by Judge Martin Nolan, who noted that Losty's special needs were obvious to anyone.
A 22‑year‑old woman from Poppintree, Ballymun, was acquitted of recklessly causing serious harm to Natasha Mooney, a 25‑year‑old woman who lost sight in one eye after an incident at Dusk Nightclub in Coolock on 18 March 2013. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court jury, consisting of six men and six women, returned a not‑guilty verdict after 1 hour 16 minutes of deliberation. Judge Desmond Hogan thanked the jury, and the defence and prosecution noted the case was still pending further instructions. The unnamed 22-year-old pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Tara Scott, 21, testified on the third day of a trial concerning an assault at Dusk Nightclub on 18 March 2013. Scott, who was with Emma Hammond, 22, warned the alleged attacker, Natasha Mooney, 25, to stop smiling at her before the incident. Scott described how Mooney approached her in the smoking area, telling her to stop looking at her with a grin, and that Mooney then said, "Just wait until we get inside." Scott said she tried to intervene, shouting Hammond's name, but Mooney had already begun running at her. During the altercation, Scott sustained scratches from shattered glass and had drink in her eyes. Cross‑examination revealed CCTV footage that contradicted some of Scott's statements, but she maintained that her recollection was not perfect. The trial continues before Judge Desmond Hogan and a jury of twelve. Emma Hammond pleaded not guilty.
Tom O'Connor, 47, former director of O'Connor Plant Hire & Ground Works, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to handling a stolen Volvo A25D dumper truck in Brittas, Co. Dublin, between December 2009 and April 2010. He admitted possession of the vehicle, which had its chassis, VIN and engine numbers altered, but denied involvement in its theft or cloning. O'Connor had five prior convictions, including a 2011 offence for possessing a stolen John Deere tractor. He resigned as director in 2013 and was declared bankrupt in 2012. Judge Desmond Hogan imposed a four‑year sentence, suspended in full for five years, and ordered O'Connor to complete 240 hours of community service and to keep the peace for five years. The judge noted O'Connor's moderate risk of re‑offending but accepted that he had not participated in stealing the truck. The case was prosecuted by Gerardine Small BL and defended by Tony McGillicuddy BL.
Ronald Walsh, 61, of Limerick, pleaded guilty to possession of €215,000 of cocaine and cannabis herb for sale or supply at Heuston Station, Dublin, and St Patricks Road, Limerick, on 2 February 2013. He admitted carrying €140,000 worth of cocaine on a train to Dublin to pay off a drug debt. Walsh said he began taking heroin in his forties to relieve back pain after other treatments failed, and that he had been a controlled heroin addict for five years before the addiction spiralled. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, presided over by Judge Desmond Hogan, gave Walsh a ten‑year suspended sentence, noting the drug value and the lack of custodial purpose. He will be supervised by probation for 12 months and must undergo drug counselling.
David Church, a 39‑year‑old father of four from Parnell Street, Dublin, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment for fraudulently claiming €478,052 in Jobseekers' Allowance and Rent Allowance over a 12‑year period. He used six false identities, obtained by purchasing birth certificates in the UK, to file welfare claims in Dublin between 2002 and 2013. The fraud was uncovered when facial‑recognition software matched the same photograph on multiple welfare identities. Church pleaded guilty to 13 sample counts at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, admitting he had used the money for drinking, gambling and loans, while also providing for his family. The court noted his lack of prior convictions and his cooperation with Gardaí, and Judge Martin Nolan highlighted his potential for rehabilitation. The case was brought by the Department of Social Protection and the Gardaí, who detected the scam through image‑matching and CCTV evidence.
The Electricity Supply Board (ESB) will be sentenced on 9 March after a guilty plea was entered in December for breaching the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005. The offence concerns a workplace incident at an ESB substation in Finglas on 15 January 2013, where a 38 kW indoor cubicle (T142) lacked a visual warning sign, leading to the death of employee Shane Conlon. The case is now before the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, with the hearing expected to last one hour.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, Emma Hammond, aged 22, pleaded not guilty to assault causing serious harm after an incident at Dusk Nightclub on St Patrick's Day 2013. The case stems from a feud between Hammond's family and that of Natasha Mooney, 25, allegedly sparked by a pair of shoes left at Mooney's house. Hammond claimed she had never fought Mooney before and that she was unaware of the extent of Mooney's injuries until rumours emerged. She described an altercation where she had a phone in one hand and a glass in the other, stating she did not intend to hit Mooney with the glass. A friend of Mooney, Danielle Mahon, testified that she saw glass fall from Mooney's bra in hospital and that she was shocked by the sight of Mooney's eyelid hanging down. The trial continues before Judge Desmond Hogan and a jury.
David Church, a 39‑year‑old father of four from Dublin, pleaded guilty to 13 counts that represented 199 charges of fraudulently claiming Jobseekers' Allowance and Rent Allowance between September 2002 and July 2013. He used six false identities, created in the UK by purchasing birth certificates, to claim a total of €478,052 from the State, an average of about €40,000 a year. The fraud was uncovered when facial‑recognition software matched the same photograph on multiple welfare identities. Church admitted to using the names Adam Cole, Paul Anthony O'Brien, Derek O'Brien and Darren O'Brien, and later confessed to five additional names. He had no prior convictions and was arrested in July 2013 after Gardaí observed him claiming benefits under false names at post offices. The court will sentence him tomorrow, with a remand in custody.
Leslie Hunt, 37, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison for possessing €29,763 worth of heroin in 2013. He had a history of drug dealing in Dublin's Darndale area and 41 prior convictions, 13 of which were drug offences. Hunt had entered a residential drug treatment programme in April 2014 and claimed to have turned his life around, describing himself as a "beacon of light" for the community. His defence argued that his rehabilitation should be considered, but Judge Martin Nolan noted the seriousness of the offence, Hunt's record and age, and imposed the custodial sentence. Hunt, a father of three, expressed remorse and commitment to ongoing treatment, while his partner also began a drug treatment programme. The prosecution highlighted Hunt's long‑term heroin use beginning at age 15. Leslie Hunt pleaded guilty.
Li Zhongbo, a 33-year-old Chinese national from Rathfarnham, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm at Sin Nightclub in Temple Bar on March 25, 2013. The court heard that Li swung a glass jug during a melee between groups of men, striking an uninvolved bystander, Adam Cleary, who suffered facial and chest injuries requiring 29 sutures. Judge Patrick McCartan noted that Cleary had graciously told Garda Eoin Carroll he did not want Li jailed, viewing the act as out of character. The judge highlighted Li's lack of previous convictions, his sincere apology, and his offer of €1,000 in remorse. Consequently, the court applied the Probation of Offenders Act, allowing Li to walk free. The judge described the victim as generous and fair. Li, a married father of two who has worked legally in Ireland for ten years, shook hands with Cleary after the sentencing. The matter was finalised with this disposition.
Stephen Kelly, 20, of Crumlin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to consecutive terms totalling seven years. He pleaded guilty to violent disorder at St Patrick's Institution on March 18, 2013, possession of a rifle on March 25, 2014, and burglary on March 12, 2014. The court heard that Kelly and three other inmates caused €33,000 in damage during an incident described as a "mini riot," during which prison officers were attacked. In the burglary, a house was ransacked, and items including a laptop, wedding ring, watches, a necklace, a silver pen, and a camera were stolen; these were later recovered from a BMW in which Kelly was a passenger. Regarding the rifle, Garda Enda Daly testified that Kelly held the weapon in a threatening manner, though examination later found it was not capable of firing. Judge Martin Nolan noted the gardaí had reason to believe their lives were in danger. The judge accepted there was "some hope" for Kelly's rehabilitation, noting his recent employment in prison laundry and course completion. The other three inmates involved in the violent disorder were previously sentenced by Judge Patricia Ryan; two brothers received four-year sentences with the final two years suspended, while the fourth man received a four-year sentence with two and a half years suspended.
Paul Gibbons, 29, pleaded guilty to robbery at a Spar on Malahide Road, Artane, on 23 December 2013. He and two others entered the shop armed with knives, demanding money. Gardaí were alerted after a staff member tackled the raiders; the robbers fled, but Gibbons was arrested shortly after. The robbery yielded €347. Gibbons, who was on social welfare and had lost access to his ten‑year‑old son due to unpaid maintenance, said the act was the "most stupid thing" he had ever done. He cooperated with the investigation and made admissions. Judge Martin Nolan, considering his cooperation and the circumstances, sentenced him to three years' imprisonment, suspended in full. No other charges were brought against the two co‑raiders, and Gibbons has not been involved in further criminal activity since his arrest.
Robert Canning, 31, was jailed for 33 consecutive months after pleading guilty to robbery and handling stolen vehicles. Gardaí first noticed him near a petrol station in the rain and later saw him running with a plastic bag. Officers chased him to an estate where he was hiding; they found a large kitchen knife, money, and notes in his pockets. The knife was used to threaten a heavily pregnant staff member at a Maxol Service Station, who later reported that Canning had taken €450 from the till. Canning had previously pleaded guilty to handling a stolen Nissan Qashqai, BMW, and Nissan Primastar van, each worth €7,000 to €11,000, and to the robbery of the service station. He had 62 prior convictions, including 50 traffic offences and drug‑related offences. The judge cited his drug problem and debt as factors in sentencing.
Robert Melia, aged 48, was sentenced to eight years in prison after pleading guilty to false imprisonment, assault causing harm and making threats to kill. The case stemmed from an incident on 19 May 2013 at the Caulfields Hotel, where Melia forced a drug‑addicted woman to jump from a first‑floor window, threatened to take her to the mountains and chop her up, and strangled her. He had previously been convicted of rape in 1987 and had three other violent sexual assault convictions in October 1997. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a ten‑year sentence, suspending the last three years on the condition of good behaviour for three years. The court noted Melia's pattern of extreme hostility and violence towards women. The victim suffered fractures, bruising and ongoing psychological trauma, but did not attend the hearing as she was in a drug treatment programme. The case was prosecuted by Ronan Kennedy BL.