An off‑duty Garda, Detective Paul Johnson, used a traffic cone to stop and apprehend two robbers, Kevin Penrose (49) and Larry Brazil (52), after a raid at a Centra store on Westland Row. Brazil, a father of five from Cappagh Avenue, Finglas, pleaded guilty to robbery of €2,288 and possession of a knife, receiving a four‑year suspended sentence. Penrose, a father of three from Casement Road, Finglas, pleaded guilty to robbery and was jailed for four years, currently serving a six‑year term for a May 2014 robbery. Brazil had 82 prior convictions, including theft and drug offences, and had not committed a violent crime since 2003. Penrose had 79 prior convictions. Judge Martin Nolan praised Johnson's actions, the public's assistance, and Brazil's rehabilitation, noting he was now methadone‑free and seeking reform. The case highlights the Garda's proactive intervention and the judicial consideration of personal circumstances.
A 52‑year‑old Dublin man was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment for repeatedly sexually abusing his seven‑year‑old sister over a period from 1983 to 1987. He pleaded not guilty to 16 counts of indecent assault at the family home. The victim, now 39, disclosed the abuse to her mother 13 years later and reported it to Gardaí in 2012. She described the abuse as occurring in the shared bedroom, involving oral sex and repeated attempts to have sex, with the brother offering sweets and money. The court noted the offender's repeated conduct, estimating it exceeded a couple of hundred times, and highlighted the seriousness of an adult assaulting a child. The judge imposed a nine‑year sentence, citing the offender's continued disregard for the victim's well‑being. The victim's impact statement detailed long‑term psychological harm, excessive drinking, painkiller use, self‑harm, and the desire for justice and healing. The unnamed 52-year-old was convicted.
A 25‑year‑old Dublin man, Ross O'Leary, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to entering a house on East Road, East Wall, Dublin 3 with intent to assault and to assaulting John Shannon on 1 October 2011. O'Leary used a small knife, struck Shannon, who defended himself, and then fled. Gardaí were alerted and Shannon was taken to hospital, where he spent 14 days, including intensive care, and suffered a fractured skull, lacerations, seizures and ongoing medication. O'Leary had 16 prior convictions. Judge Martin Nolan described the offence as very serious, imposed a five‑year sentence and ordered credit for time already served. The case noted that O'Leary and his girlfriend had broken up about nine weeks earlier, and that O'Leary had been living a chaotic lifestyle. O'Leary expressed remorse, submitted a letter of apology, and had previously been granted bail to attend residential drug treatment.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 31‑year‑old man pleaded guilty to defilement of his partner's 14‑year‑old daughter and one of her friends, and to sexual assault and attempted sexual assault of two 13‑year‑old friends. The offences took place at the partner's house between 2006 and 2007. Judge Martin Nolan described the conduct as "deeply reprehensible" and imposed a total sentence of twelve years, with four and a half years suspended, and ordered two years of post‑release supervision. The court heard that the accused had sex with the 14‑year‑old on several occasions, had attempted to touch the vagina of a 13‑year‑old, and had sexually assaulted another 13‑year‑old while demanding sex. The accused was living with the partner and her daughter at the time of the offences. The victim impact statements described ongoing trauma and depression.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Joseph Morgan, aged 31, received a suspended three‑year prison sentence for stealing from the parochial house of Fr Joseph McLoughlin in Blanchardstown on 7 July 2012. The judge, Mary Ellen Ring, suspended the sentence in full on the condition that Morgan be supervised by probation services for 18 months and comply with drug treatment, rehabilitation, training and employment directives. Morgan had previously failed to appear at a court date, leading to a bench warrant, but the court noted that probation services remained willing to work with him. He had been found in possession of stolen items, including a box of tablets and foreign‑currency notes, and had a history of 65 prior convictions, including two burglaries. The judge warned Morgan that he was "running a fine line" and urged strict adherence to the terms of his sentence. Joseph Morgan pleaded guilty.
Jonathan Chubb, a former employee of a Dublin letting agency, was found guilty of stealing €8,660 in rent payments from tenants across several properties between July and December 2012. He admitted to taking the money to address his own financial difficulties and claimed he intended to repay it. Chubb had previously been convicted of minor traffic offences. The theft involved redirecting rent payments to his personal bank account instead of the company's account, a scheme uncovered when the agency's receivership firm contacted tenants who had not received funds. Chubb was dismissed from his position and had not repaid any of the money. He pleaded guilty to eleven charges at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Martin Nolan, noting the offence as a form of white‑collar crime, remanded Chubb on continuing bail and adjourned the case to consider whether he might be eligible for community service.
In 2010, Gerard Brett, aged 68, was found guilty of dangerous driving that caused the death of Benedict Brady, 87, on Portrane Road, Dublin. He was sentenced in 2012 to two years' imprisonment. On appeal in 2014, the Court of Appeal suspended the remaining 18 months of his sentence, citing his serious kidney condition requiring dialysis three times a week and his previously unblemished character as a psychiatric nurse. The court noted that Brett had driven while intoxicated, weaving across the road, and that his impaired capacity contributed to the fatality. The suspended portion was conditional on Brett keeping the peace, maintaining good behaviour, and entering a €100 bond. He was also directed not to apply for a driving licence. The decision was made by Mr Justice Sean Ryan, with counsel for the applicant Mícheál P O Higgins SC and counsel for the State Vincent Heneghan BL presenting their arguments.
In December 2014, the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court set a March hearing for Alan Wilson, 34, to appeal his conviction and seven‑year sentence for assault causing harm at Dromheath Drive, Blanchardstown, on 3 June 2009. Wilson had pleaded not guilty to trespass and assault, was found guilty by a jury, and sentenced by Judge Desmond Hogan on 12 April 2013. He applied for bail pending appeal. Judge Michael Peart, joined by Judges John Edwards and George Birmingham, noted the Court of Appeal's reluctance to decide the bail application without DPP submissions or a trial transcript, yet scheduled the appeal for 23–24 March to avoid prejudice. Wilson's barrister, Padraig Dwyer SC, argued that Wilson's prior conviction and lack of victim evidence, combined with the jury's perception of a bullet‑proof vest implying gang involvement, prejudiced the verdict. Dwyer contended the judge's jury charge effectively conceded this prejudice. The appeal will address both conviction and sentence.
In a case involving a 23‑year‑old man from Ballyfermot, Lee McDonnell pleaded guilty to possession of an imitation firearm with intent to rob a service station, robbery of cigarettes and a sunglass case, and robbery of a shop assistant. He received a six‑year sentence, with three years suspended, in November 2012. The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed the three‑year custodial portion as too lenient. The appeal was scheduled for the Court of Appeal, but McDonnell was absent, and the hearing was postponed to January 26.
Dean Slattery, aged 24, pleaded guilty to robbery at Raheny shopping centre on 8 April 2014, where he and two other men in balaclavas attempted to steal about €50,000 from a cash‑in‑transit van. Slattery remained in the rear of the Ford Focus during the robbery, which involved a failed attempt to open the cash box that was later recovered with a pick axe protruding. He was sentenced by Judge Melanie Greally to four years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended on strict conditions. The court noted the gravity of the offence and the fact that Slattery had admitted the robbery was to repay a heroin debt. He has 16 prior convictions, including theft, handling stolen property and possession of knives, and his defence argued he had made genuine efforts to address his drug addiction. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the robbery and the circumstances surrounding it.
Rachel Breen, a 46‑year‑old Dublin‑based occupational therapist, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm after she drove through a poorly marked junction on Naul Road, Balbriggan, on 6 October 2012. The incident left a two‑year‑old boy with permanent facial scars. Breen was found at the scene administering first aid and was later disqualified from driving for four years. Judge Desmond Hogan described her as a "decent woman" who made a "serious error of judgement" and imposed a €5,000 fine, noting that no aggravating factors such as speed or intoxication were present. The court did not impose a custodial sentence, and all injured parties were compensated through Breen's insurance. The judge highlighted that the fine would impact Breen's working life due to her driving ban.
Thomas Lyons, a 56-year-old road engineer from The Warren, Malahide Road, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to permitting an apartment at Burnell Court, Northern Cross, Malahide Road, to be used as a brothel between February 22 and June 22, 2011. Judge Mary Ellen Ring suspended a sentence of two and a half years on the condition that Lyons engage with offence and victim-focused work. She also ordered him to pay €10,000 to Ruhama, an organisation dealing with the damage done by prostitution. Lyons admitted to gardai that he advertised the property on an escort website to help pay mortgages on three properties and support his family after splitting with his Brazilian girlfriend, who was involved in the escort industry. Prosecution counsel Gerardine Small BL noted that Lyons made full admissions during interview and that he had not trafficked the women or acted as a pimp. Defence counsel Colm O'Briain BL highlighted Lyons' respectable background, his full cooperation, and his ongoing financial responsibilities. Judge Ring acknowledged Lyons' good character but stated that this was not a victimless crime, noting that he played an important part in the offence and put his family's future at risk. The matter was finalised with the suspended sentence and financial order.
Jonathan Byrne, a 33‑year‑old former national cycling champion from Tallaght, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for possession of cocaine. He pleaded guilty to possessing the drug for sale or supply at Belgard Heights on 31 October 2013. The court found him caught red‑handed, with Gardaí discovering two bags of cocaine, a suspected tick list and two weighing scales during a search of his rented accommodation. Byrne admitted selling the drugs to a few people but claimed he made no money and used most of it himself. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a two‑year sentence, suspending the last 18 months on the condition that Byrne remains drug‑free and keeps the peace for two years. He was also found to have a substantial drug debt of €15,000 and had previously received a six‑year sentence with two years suspended for an arson offence.
Owen Comerford, 27, of Dublin 1, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for multiple theft and robbery offences committed between April 2, 2012, and January 9, 2013. He pleaded guilty to charges including robbing Slovak Point on Arran Quay twice in April 2012 and stealing from Decobake on Bachelor's Walk. Judge Mary Ellen Ring noted that six offences occurred while he was on temporary release from Mountjoy Prison. Comerford also admitted to robbing €200 from The Butler's Pantry in Sandycove on May 8, 2012, alongside co-accused Shane Pollard, 41. Pollard, who has 29 previous convictions, received a three-year sentence with the final two years suspended, consecutive to a four-year term he is serving for another robbery. Comerford, who has 131 previous convictions, was also charged with escaping from lawful custody at Donnybrook Garda Station in July 2012 and was rearrested on August 9, 2012. His final offence involved robbing a pharmacy at Summerhill Parade on January 9, 2013, where he brandished a knife. Judge Ring imposed a seven-year sentence on Comerford, with one year suspended. Defence counsel Michael Bowman SC highlighted Comerford's severe drug addiction and requested an adjournment to secure a treatment bed at Tiglin Residential Treatment Centre, but the court proceeded to sentence him.
At the appeal stage, Kevin Tucker (52), a former accountant, was found to have admitted failing to make tax returns between 2002 and 2011. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, where Judge Martin Nolan imposed a suspended one-year sentence. The judge noted that Tucker had a history of being unsympathetic to tax offenders, having previously imposed a six-year sentence on another individual for tax fraud. However, in this case, the judge acknowledged that Tucker's actions coincided with the rearing and eventual death of one of his children, who had severe and complex health issues. Tucker has repaid a large portion of the outstanding tax and currently owes €81,650. He pleaded guilty and stated that he had intended to address the matter but had put it off. His defence counsel highlighted that Tucker no longer works as an accountant and is now employed as a business consultant. The judge stated that it would be unjust to impose a custodial sentence in this case, noting that Tucker was not charged with tax evasion but with failing to make returns.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, French musician Serge Elmalem, aged 57 and without a fixed address, was convicted of simple possession of cocaine and two related charges of having the drugs for sale or supply at Dublin Airport on 11 February 2014. The court found that 1.84 kg of cocaine, valued at €123,000, had been hidden in a false bottom of his suitcase, discovered when customs officers x‑rayed him upon arrival from Madrid. Elmalem had previously denied any knowledge of the drugs, claiming a woman had handed him the bag in São Paulo, but he admitted the cocaine was in his possession. He had no prior convictions and had been remanded since the arrest. Judge Patricia Ryan, taking into account his serious health problems, sentenced him to eight years' imprisonment with the final four years suspended, back‑dating the sentence to his initial custody date.
Gillian O'Donnell, 38, received a four‑year suspended sentence for aggravated burglary at an Artane house on 19 April 2013. She pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and admitted she was driven to the home by a third person who suggested the burglary would repay a debt. O'Donnell claimed she had no knowledge of the violence that would occur and that her ex‑boyfriend, Alex Harris, had 52 prior convictions and was later sentenced to six years for the same offence. The judge noted O'Donnell's drug addiction and her plans for residential treatment, accepted her lesser role, and suspended the sentence under strict conditions. O'Donnell expressed remorse, described duress and a lack of anticipation of Harris's actions, and stated she would not have participated had she known the extent of the violence.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Thomas Dillon, aged 34 and without a fixed address, was sentenced to two and a half years' imprisonment for aggravated burglary and possession of a knife. On 6 February 2014, Dillon broke into St Canice's Church in Finglas, smashing a stained‑glass window and entering the parish office by kicking the door. He attempted to steal cash, a laptop and two bags of mobile phones that had been collected for the Jack & Jill Foundation. Garda Ronan Farrelly reported that Dillon was found at the foot of the altar armed with a knife, that lights were turned on and he was ordered to drop the weapon. The damage to the church, including the window repair, was estimated at €2,800. Dillon pleaded guilty to both offences and has been in residential treatment since September.
In December 2014, Glen Walsh, a 27‑year‑old AIB teller, was remanded on bail pending sentencing after a theft of €40,000 from the Crumlin Cross branch. The theft had been uncovered during an audit triggered by a tiger kidnapping raid in June 2010, during which Walsh was forced to withdraw €210,000 under threat. Walsh had earlier attempted to reimburse the bank with a €20,000 cheque, but the bank was closed. He later repaid the full €40,000. Walsh pleaded guilty to the theft, had no prior convictions, and had left for Australia before being extradited back to Ireland. David Vickery, also 27, pleaded guilty to possession of €10,000 in stolen money and had a minor traffic offence conviction. Both men were remanded on continuing bail, with sentencing scheduled for February 23. The court noted Walsh's gambling addiction and his expressed remorse, as well as Vickery's rehabilitation efforts.
A 36-year-old man from Ballinrobe, County Mayo, has been sentenced to four years imprisonment, with the final twelve months suspended, following a series of attempted robberies across Dublin and County Louth in early 2014. Arthur Boland pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two counts of attempted robbery at post offices in Dublin 2 and one count of making threats to kill or cause serious harm at Pearse Street Garda Station. He also admitted to robbery at the General Post Office on O'Connell Street, a robbery at a bookmaker on Marlborough Street, and a robbery at a post office in Clanbrassil Street, Dundalk on 25 February 2014. Boland handed written notes demanding money to staff at multiple premises, simulating a firearm by keeping his hand in his jacket pocket. He obtained €4,110 from the Dundalk post office and €35 from the Dublin bookmaker. The sentence was backdated to his arrest in March 2014. Judge Mary Ellen Ring noted Boland's efforts at rehabilitation while in custody, including his participation in educational and counselling programmes.
A 27‑year‑old man who met a 16‑year‑old girl on Facebook and had sex with her nine days later was found guilty of two counts of defilement of a child in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He pleaded guilty in January and February 2013 at two Dublin locations. Judge Desmond Hogan adjourned sentencing to February next year and requested a Probation Service report. The defence lawyer, Caroline Biggs SC, argued that there was no lack of consent and that rumours of the case were exaggerated. In a Facebook exchange read in court, the offender claimed a friend had said he had raped the girl, to which she replied she knew he had not. The court heard that the victim's parents had not contacted her recently and that she had "gone off the radar". The defendant had previously sent naked photographs to the victim and had also received such images from her.
Peter Kennedy, aged 75, was convicted of 27 counts of indecent assault against 18 boys over an 18‑year period from 1968 to 1986. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced by Judge Martin Nolan to 10 years' imprisonment on one count, with all other counts considered. The appeal was dismissed by Justice George Birmingham, who noted that a consecutive sentencing on each count would not have benefited Kennedy. He highlighted that all complainants were schoolboys, except one, and that the abuse had a profound impact, with many victims experiencing long‑term difficulties. Birmingham affirmed that Kennedy's sentence was within the judge's discretion and that there had been no offences since 1986. The judgment was delivered in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 8 July 2013, and the appeal was rejected on 16 December 2014.
Christiane Moringa Fortis, a 28‑year‑old Brazilian, was arrested at Dublin Airport after immigration officials discovered she had concealed 79 cocaine pellets in her vagina, bra, and sanitary towels. She had presented forged documents from an Irish college to appear as a student. Fortis admitted she was promised €3,500 for transporting the drugs, which she intended to use for legal fees to regain custody of her child. Judge Patrick McCartan denied a suspended sentence, citing her sophisticated concealment method and limited English. He imposed a four‑year prison term, backdated to her May 2014 arrest. The total drug weight was just under a kilogram, valued at €64,000. Fortis pleaded guilty to importation of drugs at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The case highlights the use of forged documentation and the role of a "mule" in drug smuggling operations.
The Court of Appeal has adjourned the sentencing appeal of Cathal Murtagh until January 19. Murtagh, a Louth man, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of drugs for sale or supply at a warehouse on Malahide Road on April 25, 2011. In March 2012, Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to five years' imprisonment. The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) appealed this sentence on grounds of undue leniency. Counsel for the DPP, Mr Ronan Kennedy BL, argued that the sentencing judge failed to adequately consider the offence's maximum penalty of life imprisonment and the presumptive minimum of ten years. He further contended that excessive weight was given to mitigating factors, such as Murtagh's guilty plea and lack of prior convictions, while insufficient regard was paid to the value of the drugs, which included cannabis and ecstasy tablets worth over €3.5 million. Counsel for Murtagh, Ms Mary Rose Gearty SC, highlighted that he has been at liberty since September 30. President of the Court of Appeal, Mr Justice Sean Ryan, reserved the decision, meaning the matter was adjourned and not concluded.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 34‑year‑old David Brady was sentenced to three years in prison for assault causing harm to Kevin Duggan, who was left with permanent facial scarring after Brady attacked him with a Stanley knife. The incident occurred on 8 March 2013 at The Belfry, Belamine Estate, Stepaside, when Brady, who had been drinking and taking cocaine, entered the apartment of his partner Caroline Kane and, upon hearing Duggan, shouted "I know what you're at" before brandishing the knife. Brady cut Duggan's face, chest and arm. Brady had a prior 2003 conviction for assaulting his girlfriend. Judge Desmond Hogan suspended the final year of the sentence on the condition that Brady keep the peace and participate in a drug and alcohol treatment programme. The court noted that the two couples had regularly socialised together in a pub before the night of the assault. David Brady pleaded guilty.
Mark Allen, 36, of Mulhuddart, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for falsely imprisoning Ciaran Noonan on October 20, 2011. Allen pleaded guilty to this charge, as well as destroying phone evidence. The court noted that Allen was not charged with the victim's death, though Judge Patrick McCartan stated Allen's actions ultimately led to Mr Noonan's death. Allen received a nine-year prison sentence. Co-accused Daniel Quinn, 24, of Balbriggan, pleaded guilty to unlawfully killing Mr Noonan between October 20 and November 4, 2011, and destroying phone evidence. Lynn Issacson, 34, of East Wall, pleaded guilty to destroying phone evidence on October 20, 2011, and received a three-year suspended sentence. The court heard that Mr Noonan, a father-of-one, was abducted from Russell Avenue, East Wall, after owing Allen drugs money. His body was found near Trim on November 4, 2011. A post-mortem revealed neck compression as the cause of death. Allen had previously skipped bail conditions and was arrested in Holland earlier this year. The judge expressed sympathy for the Noonan family, describing the victim as a young man who was dearly loved and whose departure left his family deeply traumatised.
Edward McDonagh, a 35‑year‑old father of six from Lucan, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to 15 charges of theft of property from the Health Service Executive and Department of Social Welfare for fraudulently claiming over €44,000 between August 2009 and April 2011. He used the false names Matthew Patterson and John Paul Ward to claim €22,193.80 and €21,789.44 respectively, while also legitimately claiming a disability allowance. The court, after hearing evidence and considering his limited repayment efforts, sentenced him to two and a half years in prison but substituted 240 hours of community service. McDonagh admitted the fraud, stated he had been instructed by an unnamed person, and claimed he had been paying back the money through reductions in his welfare payments, though full reimbursement would take decades. He also disclosed past substance misuse and depression, noting he had ceased drinking and drug use.
Joseph Lawrence, 21, of Gardiner's Hill, Balbriggan, was sentenced to four years in prison for arson at McNeil Hall apartment complex on 9 April 2012. He admitted setting the fire deliberately while drinking alcohol and taking cocaine. Lawrence and friends had entered a vacant apartment by breaking a patio door, and after leaving, he and another man set chairs on fire for "the buzz." The blaze spread to the balcony, causing €115,000 of damage, accelerated by turpentine. He has 35 prior convictions. The court noted he was the only one to admit his role and that he is no criminal mastermind. Judge Martin Nolan backdated the sentence to 12 September 2013, the date of his first custody, and suspended the final 16 months. The sentence reflects the seriousness of setting fire in a built‑up area. Joseph Lawrence pleaded guilty.
A Dublin man has avoided a custodial sentence after pleading guilty to possessing cannabis valued at approximately €12,000 at his home in Kilmore West, Ballyshannon, County Donegal, in February 2013. Jason Lawless, aged 38, received a three-year sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, which was suspended in full. Judge Catherine Murphy commended his rehabilitation progress over the preceding eighteen months, noting she had rarely witnessed such substantial advancement. The court heard that Lawless, who had struggled with drug addiction for seventeen years, is now drug-free and engaged in education, counselling and therapeutic services. A search of his residence had also uncovered cocaine and drug paraphernalia. Lawless stated he was holding the drugs to discharge a debt. The suspension is conditional on him remaining substance-free and avoiding further offences for three years.
Ibrahim Moradi (23) of Birchwood Heights and Adnan Mohamadzadeh (24) of Belgard Square, both in Tallaght, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to falsely imprisoning Roman Bobowicz on June 25, 2012. Both admitted to the charge and pleaded guilty. Judge Mary Ellen Ring ordered Moradi and Mohamadzadeh to perform 220 hours of community service in lieu of a two and a half year sentence. Both men handed over compensation in court, with Moradi contributing €1,500 and Mohamadzadeh €2,000. They also offered an apology to the victim. Jalal Moradi (24) of Pinelawn, Old Bawn, was previously sentenced last July and ordered to perform 220 hours of community service in lieu of a two and a half year sentence. He had handed over €1,000 compensation on that date and was given 12 months to gather a further €1,000. The case is at the sentence stage, with no suspended portions, effective custody, or adjournments mentioned.
A former apprentice butcher pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to stealing €49,204 from McArdle Meats in Charlestown Shopping Centre, Finglas, on 24 December 2013. James Cahill (22), of Ferrycarrig Park, Coolock, took advantage of his knowledge of the shop's safe codes to remove two days of takings in the early hours of Christmas Eve. He had no previous convictions. Gardaí recovered €17,000 in a bag handed over by Cahill and a further €5,000 hidden in a laneway. The court heard Cahill was struggling with cocaine addiction at the time and had been absent from work due to his condition. The business ultimately suffered a loss of €17,000 after receiving €10,000 in insurance compensation. Judge Desmond Hogan described the offence as falling at the higher end of the middle range of seriousness but acknowledged Cahill's drug-induced state, early guilty plea, remorse and rehabilitation progress. Sentencing was adjourned until March 2015 to assess suitability for community service, though a custodial sentence has not been ruled out.
Ronald Hill, aged 44, received a three‑year prison sentence with the final two years suspended for assault causing harm to a 59‑year‑old woman and her 42‑year‑old son during a home invasion on 31 December 2010. Hill, who had 52 prior convictions including a seven‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence for firearm possession and robbery, was on bail for that offence when the attack occurred. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The court noted Hill's prostate cancer and his history as a carer for a brother who died of cancer. Defence counsel argued Hill's judgment was impaired and that he had no intent to harm. The judge imposed the sentence, citing Hill's impaired judgment and the lack of justification for the assault. No victim impact statements were filed by the injured parties. The case concluded with Hill's sentence to run consecutively to his current term.
Trevor Dixon, 57, of Hazelwood, Shankill, Co Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to 26 counts of tax evasion covering 2002‑2008 while he spray‑painted Dublin buses. He admitted issuing incorrect VAT invoices, fraudulently evading income tax, failing to file returns and failing to pay VAT. Revenue claimed he owed €1,409,119, but his defence argued he owed only €61,670, citing significant outgoings and the fact that he had paid for paint and equipment. The judge noted Dixon had been non‑compliant, only becoming tax‑compliant after a month in custody. He was sentenced to 220 hours of community service in lieu of two and a half years' imprisonment. Dixon is now unemployed, has two grown‑up children, and does not claim social welfare. The court also noted his Irish Life pension of €77,000 was being returned to Revenue.
Sheng Dong Pan, 31, a Chinese father of two, was sentenced by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to eight years in prison, with the final four years suspended. He pleaded guilty to cultivating cannabis after being apprehended by Gardaí at a Clondalkin Industrial Estate unit that contained €725,828 worth of cannabis. Pan had been working as a gardener at the growhouse, initially hired as a chef, and claimed he did not realise the plants were cannabis. Gardaí found over 16,000 g of cannabis material and 496 plants. Pan, who has no fixed abode and had a skin condition, was noted to have no prior convictions and had endured hardship as a foreign national in custody. Judge Patricia Ryan imposed the sentence, suspended the last four years, and ordered Pan to keep the peace for three years upon release, back‑dating the sentence to 23 July 2013.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 12 December 2014, 23‑year‑old Cian Haddock pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after punching Caolan Fanning during a shouting match at a Luas stop. The single blow sent Fanning onto the tracks, breaking four teeth. Haddock, who had no prior convictions, paid €8,400 to Fanning as a practical expression of remorse. Judge Patricia Ryan, acting under the Probation Act, imposed no custodial sentence but ordered Haddock to keep the peace and be of good behaviour for six months. The judge noted Haddock's early guilty plea, lack of previous convictions and cooperation with Gardaí as mitigating factors, while Fanning, who had asked the court not to jail his attacker, expressed hope that Haddock would learn from the incident. The case was heard as an assault causing harm, with no further charges or convictions reported.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 32‑year‑old electrician Alan Farley pleaded guilty to possessing £48,510 as proceeds of crime. The money was found in his home during a surveillance operation that targeted other individuals. Farley admitted he had "stupidly" agreed to hold the cash after an old associate asked him to do so, claiming he did not realise the amount was illegal. He denied any wider involvement in organised crime. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to four years, suspended in full for three years, citing the incident as isolated and one‑off. She noted Farley's lack of prior convictions, his role as sole provider for a wife who cannot work, and his positive community contributions. The judge ordered him to keep the peace and be of good behaviour for the suspension period.
In August 2013, Michael McDonald (44) broke into the parochial house of a priest on Cherry Orchard Avenue, Tallaght, stealing a Yankees baseball cap and a Lourdes‑branded purse containing €660. The intruder was caught by Gardaí hours after the burglary, still wearing the stolen cap and carrying the purse. McDonald pleaded guilty to burglary at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, where Judge Patricia Ryan adjourned sentencing to July of the following year and ordered him to keep the peace and participate in victim empathy programmes. McDonald, who has 27 prior convictions and was previously sentenced to three years for robbery and assault in 2002, admitted the theft and apologized to the priest. His defence counsel, Keith Spencer BL, highlighted McDonald's background in the Travelling community and his son's success as a professional footballer. The case remains at the sentencing stage.
At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Karen O'Connor sentenced three men for cultivating cannabis at a grow-house on Commons Road, Clondalkin. Mark Clooney, 40, pleaded guilty to the charge. His brothers, Wayne Burgess, 32, and Jason Burgess, 33, also pleaded guilty to the same offence. The court heard gardaí discovered 77 cannabis plants with a potential value of €61,600, along with cultivation equipment in a sealed tent. Judge O'Connor accepted that the defendants' roles were at the lower end of the scale of criminality, noting they had been offered work watering the plants. She sentenced Clooney and Jason Burgess to two years in prison, suspended in full on the condition that they keep the peace for two years. Wayne Burgess was sentenced to 20 months in prison, also fully suspended, with an order to keep the peace for the duration of the sentence. The judge noted Wayne Burgess had been threatened and that Jason Burgess had lost his plumbing business during the downturn. Clooney, a taxi driver, admitted financial difficulties. The judge stated all three were at low risk of re-offending and had pleaded guilty early, describing the operation as professional but acknowledging the defendants' limited involvement.
Zilvinas Antanovas, a 27‑year‑old Lithuanian, was given a suspended sentence after pleading guilty to possession of heroin, assaulting two gardai, and possession of M‑CAT in Dublin. He was arrested in Dublin's city centre after Garda officers found €305 worth of heroin and a bag of M‑CAT on him. During the arrest he bit two officers and resisted, prompting the use of pepper spray. Judge Mary Ellen Ring imposed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence, suspended the remainder on the condition that Antanovas be flown back to Lithuania from Mountjoy Prison on Sunday. He is barred from returning to Ireland for five years. Antanovas has prior convictions for handling stolen property and for dealing heroin, and his defence claimed he was coerced into drug dealing by a gang that took his passport in Lithuania.
Darren Byrne, 44, was jailed for three years after a stand‑off with armed gardaí in which he waved a toy handgun from his front bedroom window and threatened to shoot anyone who approached. The officers, all armed, took cover and called in the Emergency Response Unit, which entered the house and arrested Byrne. His elderly parents were downstairs during the incident. Byrne, who had been drinking and taking drugs, later told an interview that he wanted to die and hoped the officers would shoot him. Judge Martin Nolan suspended the last year of a four‑year sentence, describing Byrne's actions as "deeply reprehensible" and praising the gardaí for their restraint. Byrne pleaded guilty to making threats to kill or cause serious harm to three gardaí on 1 August 2013. The case also considered a charge of making a false report. The gardaí were commended for their bravery and self‑restraint during the encounter.
Thomas McGuinness, 34, a chronic drug addict with 127 prior convictions, was sentenced to ten years in prison with 18 months suspended for a robbery and two attempted robberies committed earlier in 2014. He pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to robbery at Lloyds pharmacy on 21 January, attempted robbery at Hardwicke Place on 22 January, and attempted robbery at Supervalue on 10 February. The court noted no injuries occurred, though victims were distressed. Judge Mary Ellen Ring imposed consecutive sentences totaling ten years, suspending the final 18 months, citing McGuinness's history of partially suspended sentences. Defending counsel Dean Kelly highlighted McGuinness's early heroin use at age 14, subsequent crack cocaine use, and his engagement with addiction services, including a methadone program, while noting family support. The sentence reflects the court's view that rehabilitation steps were insufficient given his past record.
Richard Devane, a 42‑year‑old homeless man with mental health and drug problems, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to unlawfully seizing his adoptive mother Hester Devane's car at Heuston Station on 29 June 2013. Judge Mary Ellen Ring, after hearing evidence earlier in the year, imposed a three‑year suspended prison sentence, conditioned on Devane remaining at Priorswood House treatment centre, engaging fully with staff, staying on medication, and not taking illegal drugs. He must also stay under Probation Service supervision for 12 months and continue his mental health treatment. A Protection of Person's Order barred Devane from any direct or indirect contact with his parents and brother for five years, with breach leading to separate prosecution. The judge noted Devane's cooperation with Priorswood and the Probation Service and his participation in an employment programme, hoping for future independent living.
A 51-year-old man was remanded on bail at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court ahead of trial next year on charges relating to alleged sexual offences against two young girls. The man faces 50 counts in total, including 40 counts of child exploitation involving the alleged production of child abuse material, three counts of sexual assault, and seven counts of defilement of a child under 17. The offences are alleged to have occurred between 2007 and 2011 at locations in Dublin and Donegal. The man was sent forward from the District Court earlier this year. A pre-trial hearing has been scheduled for June 5, 2015, with trial proceedings set to commence on July 13, 2015. The trial is expected to last approximately two weeks. The court heard that substantial disclosure material remains under review by both defence and prosecution teams.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 28‑year‑old James Gallagher was sentenced to two and a half years for stealing a €26,200 Rolex from Weir's Jewellers in Dundrum and for dangerous driving on the M50. Gallagher snatched the watch from a customer, fled in a Volkswagen Golf, and was pursued by Gardaí. During the high‑speed chase he allegedly threw the watch out of a car window near Wesley College, Ballinteer, but a subsequent search failed to recover it. The judge noted Gallagher's actions endangered the public by forcing Gardaí to chase him at speeds over 120 kph on a 50 kph road, breaking red lights and driving the wrong way. Gallagher admitted the theft was to support his crack cocaine habit and is now addressing his drug addiction. The sentence was back‑dated to the date of his arrest. James Gallagher pleaded guilty.
In a stand‑off lasting about an hour and a half, 44‑year‑old Darren Byrne of Tallaght waved a toy handgun from his front bedroom window, threatening to shoot anyone who approached. Byrne, who had been drinking a two‑litre bottle of vodka and taking drugs, called 999 and claimed he had a gun and would have a shoot‑out with gardaí. The officers, all armed, took cover and called in the Emergency Response Unit, which entered the house and arrested Byrne after he dropped the toy gun. Byrne's elderly parents were downstairs during the incident. He pleaded guilty to making threats to kill or cause serious harm to three gardaí and to making a false report. The court noted Byrne's remorse and personal circumstances, but Judge Martin Nolan remanded him on bail, stating he would consider a prison sentence the following day. The case carries a maximum term of ten years in prison.
Geraldine McMenamy, 48, of Tallaght, Dublin, was acquitted at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of two charges of assisting an offender by impeding the apprehension or prosecution of her son, Paul McMenamy. The defendant pleaded not guilty to allegations that she assisted her son in escaping justice following an assault on care worker Nicola Murray on February 5, 2012. The State alleged that on February 8, 2012, Ms. McMenamy took her son to Dublin Airport and provided him with €400 cash to facilitate his departure. Judge Martin Nolan directed a not-guilty verdict on the charge of providing transport, citing a lack of evidence that she was driving the vehicle. A jury subsequently acquitted her of the charge of providing money. The court heard that Mr. McMenamy had assaulted Ms. Murray, leaving her unconscious, and was later arrested at a hotel near the airport with a one-way ticket to Manchester. In 2013, Mr. McMenamy was sentenced to six years, with one year suspended, after pleading guilty to assault causing serious harm to Ms. Murray. The defence argued that the defendant acted out of fear and that her son was a free man not yet charged. The matter was concluded with the acquittal of the defendant.
Glen Douche, 27, of Termon Abbey, Drogheda, lost an appeal against his assault sentence. He had pleaded guilty to two counts of assault causing harm and one count of endangerment in Darndale, Dublin, on 11 July 2009. Judge Martin Nolan had sentenced him to three years imprisonment in December 2012, to run consecutively after a prior nine‑and‑a‑half‑year term for possession of explosives imposed in 2010, with the final two‑and‑a‑half years suspended. Mr Justice John Edwards dismissed the appeal, noting that the sentencing judge had considered Douche's cooperation, literacy and addiction problems, difficult family history and the loss of two brothers, one killed in Mountjoy Prison. Douche had 109 previous convictions, mainly for road traffic offences, and the court was not inclined to allow the appeal. The case involved a party at a stab victim's home, a confrontation with Mr Anthony Byrne, and Douche's driving of his car at a group of people.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, the court considered the case of Edward Connors, a 30‑year‑old homeless deaf mute who was found guilty of manslaughter after an eight‑day trial. Connors had previously pleaded guilty to two counts of threatening people with a syringe. He claimed that the CCTV footage showing a punch was actually an attempt to stop the victim, Eoghan Dudley, from falling under a bus, which resulted in Dudley's death. The judge, Patrick McCartan, adjourned the case to allow Connors to be assessed for rehabilitation services in the UK, where facilities for deaf offenders exist. Dr Brendan Thomas Monteiro, a consultant psychiatrist, diagnosed Connors with a "primitive personality" stemming from lifelong hearing loss and lack of language, and warned that without treatment he would revert to his old ways. The judge ordered further assessment and inquiries into funding and legal issues for Connors' treatment abroad. Edward Connors pleaded not guilty.
Craig Ryan, a 22‑year‑old from Coolock, Dublin, pleaded guilty on 25 January 2013 to possessing more than €33,000 worth of drugs for sale or supply in his bedroom and to possessing two shotgun cartridges. He admitted immediately to Gardaí when they searched his home, pointing to a wash bag that contained cocaine, mixing material and 710 tablets of a diazepam substitute. The total street value of the drugs was €31,618, with the tablets valued at €1,420. Judge Mary Ellen Ring sentenced him to five years in prison at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court but suspended the sentence in full, citing "exceptional circumstances." She noted the seriousness of the offence, Ryan's lack of prior convictions, his immediate admissions, and his steps toward rehabilitation, including regular attendance at Narcotics Anonymous. The judge ordered him to keep the peace and maintain good behaviour for five years.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Geraldine McMenamy, aged 48, pleaded not guilty to two charges of assisting her son, Paul McMenamy, in evading arrest and prosecution for a serious assault on his then‑partner, Nicola Murray. The court heard that Paul assaulted Murray on 5 February 2012 and was arrested three days later at a hotel near the airport, carrying a one‑way ticket to Manchester and €600. Prosecutor Gerard Clarke SC alleged that Geraldine took Paul to the airport and gave him €400 to help him escape. Paul had previously been released without charge after his initial arrest. He later pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm and was sentenced in 2013 to six years' imprisonment, one year suspended. Geraldine had earlier told Gardaí that she feared her son and had been threatened by him, but later retracted that statement. The trial continues before Judge Martin Nolan.