Clyde Keogh, 29, formerly of Pembroke Road, Dublin 2, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for assault causing harm. He pleaded guilty to assaulting a man with a claw hammer at a school in South County Dublin on September 22, 2023. The court heard that following a dispute between parents, Keogh returned to the scene and attacked the injured party, who was pushing a double buggy. Keogh shouted at the victim to put the baby down before swinging a hammer at his head. The victim sustained cuts to his head and hand and scratches on his elbow but declined to make a victim impact statement. Keogh has 75 previous convictions. Judge Elva Duffy noted that while Keogh expressed remorse, she could not avoid imposing a custodial sentence given the seriousness of the offending and the use of an implement. She handed down a two-and-a-half year sentence, suspending the final year on strict conditions. Consequently, Keogh will serve 18 months in custody. His defence counsel stated he is currently working in construction in Cork and has adhered to bail conditions. Keogh's partner was present in court and wept as he was led away to begin his incarceration.
Richard McGreevy, 29, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to two counts of making a threat to kill or cause harm. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a prison sentence of three and a half years, with the final 15 months suspended on strict conditions. The court heard that McGreevy posted videos on TikTok in July last, in which he allegedly threatened Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald and Garda Commissioner Drew Harris. Although the judge found no intention to carry out the threats, he described them as extreme and frightening. McGreevy's defence counsel described him as a lonely keyboard warrior acting from impulse, citing his mental health issues and remorse. Deputy McDonald, who was not present, read a victim impact statement stating she was left in fear by the threat but would not allow any bully to prevent her from doing her job. Commissioner Harris declined to provide a statement, noting his complaint captured the impact. Martin Lanigan, Deputy McDonald's husband, made the initial complaint. The matter was finalised with the imposition of the sentence.
A 54-year-old Brazilian man has been sentenced to nine years imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following his conviction on multiple charges related to operating a brothel network across rural Ireland. Ilamar Rodrigues Ribeiro pleaded guilty to 19 sample counts, including brothel-keeping, using false instruments, and possession of proceeds of crime totalling €788,982 across multiple bank accounts. He also admitted possessing child sexual abuse material on his mobile phone when arrested at Dublin Airport in November 2023. The investigation, led by the Garda Human Trafficking and Co-ordination Unit, identified ten rental properties used as brothels in locations including Longford town, Ballyconnell, Ballymahon, Carrick-on-Shannon, and Ballaghadereen. Judge Patricia Ryan noted the offences involved elaborate planning and premeditation. She imposed a global sentence of ten and a half years, suspending the final eighteen months on strict conditions, with the term backdated to his arrest date.
A 65-year-old man was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for the sexual abuse of his niece. The defendant, who cannot be named to protect the victim's identity, pleaded guilty to three charges of sexually assaulting the girl between 1992 and 1998, when she was aged four to ten. Judge Martin Nolan jailed the man for a further 21 months, to be served consecutively to the nine-and-a-half-year sentence he is already serving for offences committed between 1984 and 1986, for which he was jailed in 2022. Prosecution evidence indicated the abuse occurred at the victim's grandparent's home in Dublin. The victim, who made a formal complaint in February 2023, described the man as grooming her and detailed the long-term psychological impact, including paranoia, depression, and suicidal thoughts. The defendant admitted to an additional incident not previously known to gardaí. Defence counsel Michael Bowman SC submitted that the man understood the lifelong consequences of his actions. Judge Nolan described the conduct as a severe breach of trust, noting the considerable age difference and stating there was no excuse for the behaviour. The judge accepted the guilty plea and the defendant's remorse but emphasised the lasting harm to the victim's peace of mind and her fear for her own children.
A 60-year-old truck driver from Belturbet, County Cavan, has been sentenced to four and a half years imprisonment following his conviction for drug trafficking. Gerard Doran pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of cannabis worth approximately €1.02 million for sale or supply. The drugs were discovered on 25 February 2021 when his vehicle was searched at Dublin Port after arriving from Wales. A detector dog identified cannabis herb concealed in eight bags within the truck's cab. Doran also admitted possessing £4,195 in cash, knowing or being reckless as to whether it constituted proceeds of crime. He cooperated fully with the investigation, immediately accepting responsibility and directing gardaí to the money. Judge Martin Nolan acknowledged Doran's admissions and cooperation, noting he had been under financial pressure at the time. The judge considered Doran's medical conditions when determining the sentence.
A 28‑year‑old Irish national, Iskilu Awolumate, was sentenced to 18 months in jail, with the final year suspended, for his role in a large‑scale smishing fraud that targeted Permanent TSB customers. The court heard that between March 2020 and January 2021 he handled €25,800 that had been transferred from 22 affected accounts, though only three victims were identified. Awolumate's account was used to move the money, and Garda evidence suggested he was not merely a mule but part of a wider operation. He had previously moved to the Netherlands, where he works as an engineer, and had been contacted by Gardaí 13 times before surrendering to Tallaght Garda Station. He claimed he was coerced and feared for his safety. The judge noted the operation was "large‑scale" and that the money could not be accounted for by ordinary work. Iskilu Awolumate pleaded guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Christopher Murphy (33) and his partner Malika Amraoui (35) faced charges after a high‑speed car chase and subsequent confrontation at a house on Swiftbrook Drive. Murphy had crashed a black Range Rover into traffic lights, causing €15,473 of damage, and fled on foot. A garda sergeant entered the house to arrest him, but Murphy resisted, threatened to bite the officer, and was pepper‑sprayed before being taken into custody. Amraoui, who had been with Murphy, removed the garda's gun from its holster and was forced back by the sergeant. Both pleaded guilty to their respective offences. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a fully suspended three‑year sentence on Amraoui and a three‑year custodial term with a five‑year driving disqualification on Murphy, citing their disgraceful conduct and the danger they posed during the pursuit.
Paul Finnegan, 37, of Grand Canal Bank, Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing criminal proceeds. On 30 November 2020, CCTV captured him placing a rucksack containing €199,900 at the feet of a Dutch national in a Santry café. Garda surveillance confirmed the bag held bundles of €50 and €20 notes, some vacuum‑packed, and a baseball cap with Finnegan's DNA. The Dutch national remains untried, with a European arrest warrant pending. Finnegan had 18 prior District Court convictions from Northern Ireland. His defence argued he acted as a courier, citing a letter from his partner noting behavioural change and a forthcoming child. Judge Martin Nolan acknowledged the illicit nature of the cash and, after considering mitigating factors, set a headline sentence of six years, reduced to four years. The sentence reflects the money‑laundering offence, with no mention of a suspended portion or effective custody beyond the four‑year term.
Camila Alves Cintra Ribeiro, a 25‑year‑old Brazilian woman, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to importing 100 pellets of cocaine into Ireland on 6 June 2024. She had agreed to swallow the drug for a payment of just under €1,000, but later tried to withdraw her offer. Ribeiro claimed she was under financial pressure and that her daughter needed surgery. Gardaí seized €1,000 in cash from her and seized the drug, worth an estimated €69,000. She was in custody from the day of her arrival. The court noted that an immigration officer spoke Portuguese with her and that she admitted swallowing the capsules. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Ribeiro to two years' imprisonment, back‑dating the term to the day she first entered custody. The sentence reflects her cooperation and the court's view that she was exploited by others who threatened her.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, the container‑handling manufacturer Scruttons (NI) Ltd and the Swedish firm Kalmar Solutions AB were fined a combined €450,000 for breaches of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act. The fines followed the fatal 2019 incident in which 55‑year‑old haulier Nicholas Collier was run over by a Kalmar container handler at Dublin Port. The court heard that the handler's design created blind spots and that neither company had carried out adequate risk assessments or provided sufficient safety devices to mitigate restricted visibility. Kalmar pleaded guilty to failing to ensure the machine was safe, while Scruttons pleaded guilty to failing to identify, assess and document the hazard. The judge imposed €150,000 on Kalmar and €300,000 on Scruttons, with a six‑month payment deadline. The case highlighted the companies' responsibility for workplace safety and the need for proper risk management.
Wayne McDonnell, 39, pleaded guilty to possessing a drone with intent to fly €500 worth of heroin into Cloverhill Prison. Garda Tadhg McCarthy testified that prison staff observed a drone over the prison on 12 February 2024, and that a tracking system was used to locate the drone's flight path. McDonnell was arrested when he refused to open his pockets for a search and was found with two black Samsung phones, one being the drone controller. A copper pipe attached to the drone contained five deals of diamorphine, totaling 4.9 g with a street value of €587. McDonnell, who has prior convictions for drug possession, theft and public order offences, was sentenced to 14 months' imprisonment by Judge Elma Sheahan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The judge noted aggravating factors such as the seriousness of the offence and mitigating factors including McDonnell's early guilty plea, work history and his role in supporting his father.
Cameron Cooper, 23, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for dangerous driving causing death after he hit 21‑year‑old apprentice electrician Dylan Killalee Maher at double the speed limit on Naas Road. Cooper fled the scene, falsely claiming his car had been stolen, and later pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death, driving without insurance, making a false report and failing to offer assistance. The judge, Ronan Munro, described the offence as a homicide and imposed a five‑year, three‑month term, suspending the final year for five years on conditions, and disqualified Cooper from driving for nine years. The sentence was met with emotional reactions from the Maher family, who called for the maximum sentence for dangerous driving causing death to be raised to at least 14 years. The court noted Cooper had no prior convictions and that the victim's family did not attend the hearing.
Daniel Ramamoorthy, 38, a former government adviser, social media influencer and motivational speaker, was convicted by a jury of sexually exploiting a 13‑year‑old boy he met while volunteering as a Christian camp guide. The offence involved requesting the boy to send a picture of his penis over Snapchat in 2017. A second trial after a hung jury resulted in a headline sentence of three years, reduced to two years and four months, with the judge noting the serious breach of trust and the significant age disparity. Ramamoorthy also pleaded guilty to possessing child sexual abuse material, for which he received an 18‑month sentence; both sentences run concurrently. He was ordered to be placed on the sex offender register and will not be allowed to remain in Ireland upon release. The court recorded that the boy suffered loss of trust and stress from the trials, and that Ramamoorthy maintains his innocence regarding the exploitation charge.
Ian Maloney (37) of Cashel Road, Crumlin in Dublin, pleaded guilty to possession of a 9mm semiautomatic firearm with intent to endanger life on February 10, 2022 at an address in Crumlin. Maloney has 109 previous convictions, including two relevant ones for a robbery in 2008 and an assault causing harm in 2009. He was arrested and interviewed seven times over a number of days but made no admissions. However, while in custody in Cloverhill Prison in December of that year, his solicitor contacted gardaí to say Maloney wished to make a statement about the shooting. Maloney admitted to firing several rounds of 9mm-calibre ammunition at the house, where the occupants included a couple, their adult children, and a young child. The householder contacted gardaí to report the incident. Garda Ian Ward stated that the front door, window, and a car in the driveway were damaged with bullets. Maloney became a person of interest due to social media posts showing an ongoing feud with one of the occupants. The judge directed a probation report and remanded Maloney in custody until sentencing on May 22. Maloney was sentenced to 12 years with the last two suspended for that crime.
Two men, Robert Costello and Ciaran Whelan, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after attacking a Mongolian couple in Dublin City Centre on 9 August 2016. The male victim suffered a third of his ear separated and required a skin graft, while the female victim sustained a broken nose and underwent surgery in Mongolia. The couple returned to Mongolia after the incident. Costello, aged 35, has 29 prior convictions, last in 2017; Whelan, also 35, has 33 prior convictions, last in 2012. Both men were intoxicated and had addiction issues at the time. The court accepted their guilty pleas and considered their personal circumstances, and adjourned the case for finalisation until 20 June to allow Whelan to pursue rehabilitation and raise additional restitution. The court did not impose a sentence in this article.
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court sentenced Ionut Leonard Petriu, who pleaded guilty to assisting a Romanian organised crime group, to a three-year prison term suspended in full on strict conditions for four years. Judge Orla Crowe noted Petriu's low risk of re-offending and his role in facilitating the gang, which included allowing his car to be used for transport and housing members. The court heard Petriu was not involved in the actual burglaries. His co-accused, Ricardo Stancu and Daniel Murgea, also pleaded guilty to burglary, criminal damage, and organised crime offences. Stancu was previously sentenced to five years in prison, with the final 12 months suspended. Murgea received a six-year sentence, reduced from a headline eight years, due to his significant history of dishonesty in France and Italy. The offences involved ram-raiding commercial premises, including a phone shop in Dublin city centre and a Vodafone shop in Newbridge, using a 'dummy car' to cause extensive damage. The judge described the crimes as highly organised, targeting unoccupied premises over two days. Petriu's case was adjourned for the preparation of a probation report before finalisation.
Former Ireland hockey international Catriona Carey, 46, of Co Carlow, was granted an arraignment date before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on money laundering charges. She is charged with three offences contrary to Section 7 of the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Act 2010, alleged to have occurred in 2019, 2020, and 2021. It is alleged that she converted, transferred, or handled proceeds of criminal conduct involving funds in a Wise Europe SA account under Careysfort Asset Estates Ltd. Judge Sarah Berkeley listed the case for 30 June, when Ms Carey will be formally asked to plead. Her co-accused, John Steadmond, 48, of Co Wexford, and Paddy Maher, 57, of Co Wicklow, also appeared before the court. Each man faces 17 related charges, including allegations that they unlawfully acted as solicitors without qualification. The majority of these charges allege they induced individuals to pay deposits by falsely representing that Careysfort Asset Estates Ltd could secure finance for distressed mortgage holders, with the intent to gain for themselves or cause loss to others. Mr Steadmond and Mr Maher were also assigned the same arraignment date of 30 June. The matter remains at the pre-trial stage, with no pleas entered or findings made.
In a Dublin City Centre robbery attempt on 9 November 2020, Samantha Osbourne (33) and Adam Casey (22) were jailed for their roles. Osbourne pleaded guilty to attempted robbery and was sentenced to 16 months in prison, backdated to her custody date. Casey pleaded guilty to one count of attempted robbery and one count of assault causing harm, receiving a four‑year prison term with the final year suspended and probation supervision for one year after release. The victim, who was walking to the city centre, was attacked by all three men, suffered a concussion, facial injuries and a minor brain bleed, and was taken to St James' Hospital. Andrew Cash (32) had already been sentenced to five years for the same attack. The court noted the victim's injuries and the defendants' histories, including Osbourne's 90 prior convictions and Casey's 15 prior convictions. The judge emphasised the seriousness of attacking a defenseless man.
A 31‑year‑old man, Alan Melia, was sentenced to two years in prison for head‑butting a veteran flower seller at Palmerstown Cemetery on 15 December 2020. Melia, who was on bail at the time, had pleaded guilty to assault causing harm. He had 113 prior convictions and was already serving a seven‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence for a 2020 robbery. The victim, a man who had sold flowers outside the cemetery for 40 years, suffered broken glasses, a cut on his nose and required stitches. Judge Orla Crowe imposed a headline sentence of three years, suspended the final year, and directed the two‑year term to run consecutively with the sentence Melia is currently serving. The judge noted the assault's profound psychological impact on the single victim and ordered Melia to remain under Probation Services supervision for two years after release. The robbery sentence will expire in May 2026.
Gemma Greene, 28, of Coolock, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment and a four‑year driving disqualification after a high‑speed pursuit on the M50 on 1 March 2021. She pleaded guilty to recklessly driving in the direction of a Garda, two counts of dangerous driving and had four prior convictions, including two for road traffic offences. During the chase, Greene drove a white Mercedes at speeds up to 200 km/h, ignored stingers and pursued by Garda helicopters, and live‑streamed the incident from her mobile phone. She was arrested at 6.50 pm, detained and charged. The court noted her prior warning of a threat to her life, her cocaine use on the day, and her statement that she had "nothing to live for." Judge Nolan imposed the custodial term, citing the high speeds, the hour‑long pursuit and the danger posed to the Garda who had to take evasive action.
A 27‑year‑old Dublin man was jailed for three years after he pleaded guilty to masturbating in the presence of his three‑year‑old son and showing the child a video of a woman engaging in sexual activity. The incident, which took place in June 2022, was captured on a social media platform and later identified by British police, who alerted Irish Gardaí. The video, about 17 minutes long, shows the man first masturbating in his bedroom, then bringing his son into the room, showing him the video, and later masturbating again in front of the child while guiding the child's hand to touch his penis. The judge, citing the parent‑child duty of care, imposed a headline sentence of six years, reduced to three years due to mitigating circumstances. The man had previously been arrested in October 2023, admitted guilt, and expressed remorse, claiming intoxication and mental health issues at the time.
Sodiq Jimoh (30) of Rossfield Close, Rossfield, Tallaght, Dublin 24, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to contributing to the activities of a criminal organisation and nine charges of money laundering on dates between May 2019 and August 2020. Jimoh admitted to laundering €1,000,065 from various individuals and small Irish companies. The court heard that some of the victims' money was reimbursed and some of the cash was recovered. Detective Garda Ester Devally stated that Jimoh was involved in a global investigation into invoice redirect fraud and compromised email scams, known as Operation Skean. Gardaí found suspicious activity in accounts with Bank of Ireland and Allied Irish Bank, with various lodgements totalling €26,000 into accounts linked to Jimoh over a 16-month period. Analysis of his phone revealed WhatsApp conversations with others involved in the fraud, including a comment from Jimoh stating, "Fam, at the end of the day it's free money." Jimoh was arrested and questioned multiple times, but no evidential value was gained from the interviews. Victim impact statements were submitted but not read out. Defence counsel highlighted Jimoh's background, including his early arrival in Ireland and a promising football career, and his role as a family breadwinner during the pandemic. Judge Martin Nolan acknowledged Jimoh's mitigation but stated that the wrongdoing was serious and sentenced him to five years and four months, with credit for six weeks spent on remand in custody.
Danny Cirstea, 27, of Dublin 2, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment for his role in a money‑laundering scheme and for obtaining €15,000 in social welfare fraud. He pleaded guilty to possession of the proceeds of criminal conduct, possession of drugs and deception. Garda investigations revealed that Cirstea's address was used to open bank accounts for himself and a co‑accused, and that he had control over a third‑party account. Payments totalling over €5,500 were made to his account in November 2019, and approximately €43,000 was lodged in an AIB account between August and June 2019. Around €58,000 moved through a further account between July 2019 and April 2020. A search of his home in December 2020 uncovered a small amount of cannabis, valued at €140, and later, in August 2022, four bags of tetrahydrocannabinol in edible chocolate, valued at €80, were seized.
Clive Dixon, 53, of North Frederick Street, Dublin, pleaded guilty to burglary on 14 January 2019 at a house in the Harold's Cross area. He had 113 previous convictions, 78 of which were for burglary, and was already serving a nine‑year sentence with the final four years suspended, with an earliest release date of 2027. Gardaí observed a damaged glass pane on the front door and noted that several rooms had been entered, the back sliding doors were ajar, and a rock had been left on a bed upstairs. Diamond earrings, an antique engagement ring, two watches including a Patek Philippe, and a gold chain, totalling €22,500, were taken and have not been recovered. The homeowner reported €500 worth of damage to the door. A plastic shopping bag containing a chisel, an empty water bottle and a toy car was found in the house; Dixon's DNA was identified from the bag in September 2019.
Judge Martin Nolan sentenced four members of the Lawrence family at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for multigenerational insurance fraud. Eileen Lawrence (52) pleaded guilty to deception and attempted deception between 2010 and 2016. Despite acknowledging her serious involvement, the judge imposed a three-year prison sentence, suspended in full on strict conditions, citing her role as a primary carer for family members with additional needs. Her husband, Patrick Lawrence (54), pleaded guilty to deception and attempted deception between 2013 and 2018. The judge imposed a two-year custodial sentence, noting his medical and mental health issues but stating the wrongdoing merited imprisonment. Their sons, Tom Lawrence (24) and John Lawrence (26), both pleaded guilty to attempted deception and deception respectively, with offences occurring between 2014 and 2016. As they were minors at the time, the judge imposed one-year suspended sentences on both men, deeming it unjust to imprison them. The family allegedly used false identities to submit personal injury claims, resulting in payouts of €9,370, €15,000, and €6,155. Grandmother Winnifred Lawrence was separately sentenced last year to three and a half years, with 18 months suspended, for similar offences.
Kenneth Philpott, 64, of River Forest, Leixlip, was stopped by Gardaí for driving in a bus lane and was found to be carrying over €200,000 worth of cannabis. He pleaded guilty to possession of the drugs on 10 April 2024 at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Garda Ronan Doolin reported that the vehicle was searched after the driver, who was nervous and cooperative, claimed there were packages in the car. Gardaí seized 7 kg of cannabis in taped packages, valued at €140,000, and later found an additional €80,000 worth of cannabis at Philpott's home. Philpott admitted that he had been pressured by parties who had taken advantage of his €2,400 gambling debt to traffic the drugs. He had no prior convictions. Judge Martin Nolan, taking into account Philpott's cooperation, good history, work record and the fear and coercion involved, set a headline sentence of six years but reduced it to three years imprisonment.
Lee Nolan, 28, of Beechbrook Lawn, The Donaghies, Dublin 13, was sentenced to three years and nine months in prison, with the final nine months suspended on strict conditions, after pleading guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to drug offences. He admitted to acting as a drug dealer, storing over €80,000 worth of cannabis in his home, and driving a car while intoxicated with drugs and without insurance in the Lucan area on 25 April 2023. Nolan claimed he had been misdiagnosed with Non‑Hodgkin lymphoma and used cannabis as a cheaper treatment, which led to debt and subsequent drug dealing. He was also given a four‑year driving disqualification from the date of his release. The judge noted his medical history and the impact of his offences on society. The case was prosecuted by Pieter Le Vert BL and represented by Gerardine Small SC.
Patrick Lawrence (54) was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to deception and attempted deception between 2013 and 2018. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a two-year prison term, acknowledging Lawrence's medical and mental health issues but deeming the conduct serious wrongdoing. His wife, Eileen Lawrence (52), also pleaded guilty to deception and attempted deception between 2010 and 2016. The judge noted her significant involvement but cited her role as a primary carer for a son with additional needs as a factor against immediate imprisonment. The matter was adjourned, with Judge Nolan indicating he would reflect over the weekend before imposing a sentence on Tuesday. The court heard that the couple used false identities to pursue personal injury claims, resulting in payouts of €9,370 and €15,000 respectively. Their mother-in-law, Winnifred Lawrence (74), was jailed last year for three and a half years, with the final 18 months suspended, for similar claims between 2012 and 2014. She fraudulently received €23,150. The investigation was triggered when a private investigator photographed the family attending medical appointments under false names.
A 24‑year‑old pregnant woman was sentenced to 20 months in jail for money laundering after depositing €33,715 into her bank account between January 2021 and April 2022 and spending over €20,000 on designer goods while receiving the Pandemic Unemployment Payment. The court heard that she had no knowledge of the money's source and had not asked her former partner, who was also charged, about it. She is protected by a court order and has fled to a women's refuge due to domestic violence. Gardaí discovered the illicit activity after finding €700 in cash and designer items in a Mercedes Benz in Coolock in June 2021, and later recovered luxury goods from the couple's home. The defendant had a prior theft conviction in Spain and was between 20 and 22 at the time of the offences. The judge acknowledged mitigating circumstances but imposed the custodial sentence for her recklessness and participation in the laundering scheme. The unnamed 24-year-old pleaded guilty.
A Brazilian man has pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to operating a network of brothels across rural Ireland using falsified documents and landlord deception. Ilamar Rodrigues Ribeiro, aged 54, rented ten properties under a false Italian identity, with two located in Roscommon Town and others in Longford, Cavan, Leitrim, Carlow, Wexford and Kildare between 2018 and 2023. When arrested at Dublin Airport in November 2023, gardaí from the Human Trafficking and Co-ordination Unit recovered approximately €788,000 in proceeds of crime across multiple bank accounts. He also pleaded guilty to possessing child sexual abuse material on his phone comprising nine images and sixteen videos. Ribeiro entered guilty pleas to nineteen sample counts including fraud, inducing landlords to rent properties under false pretences, and possession of criminal proceeds. The investigation began following trafficking allegations from two women who identified properties being misused as brothels. Ribeiro has remained in custody since his arrest. Sentencing proceedings are scheduled for 21 March.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 38‑year‑old husband and his 41‑year‑old sister‑in‑law were convicted of assault after a domestic dispute over laundry. The husband was found guilty of two counts of assault causing harm and one count of common assault, while the sister‑in‑law was convicted of two counts of assault causing harm. The incident occurred at the couple's shared home, where the husband and his wife argued upstairs, then the husband slapped the wife, who was later struck by the sister‑in‑law. The wife suffered bruises, cuts and breathing difficulties and was taken to hospital. She has since moved to emergency accommodation and has expressed that the abuse has caused her health problems and emotional distress. The defendants denied the allegations and had no prior convictions.
Stephen McKeever, 49, of Drimnagh, was jailed for three years after pleading guilty to assault causing harm to a neighbour in a SuperValu Walkinstown carpark on 22 November 2023. The attack, described as "90 seconds of madness", followed McKeever's consumption of 17–18 pints of beer the night before. CCTV showed him kicking and punching the victim for up to two minutes, resulting in a broken nose, fractured eye socket and chipped teeth. The victim required surgery and spent three days in St James' Hospital. McKeever, who has no prior convictions and is a father of ten children and ten grandchildren, expressed remorse and claimed the incident was a moment of madness. The judge set a headline sentence of seven years, reduced to four with the final year suspended, and imposed a one‑year probation period and a three‑year restriction on contact with the victim.
In a Dublin City Centre incident, a 25‑year‑old man, Sinore Iosca, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment for false imprisonment after he controlled a 23‑year‑old woman with Down syndrome for about two hours. Iosca forced her to withdraw €420 from ATMs and to purchase an iPhone X costing €1,349, which he later took. The victim's family testified that the woman had been independent before the attack but has since withdrawn socially and suffered psychological injury. Iosca pleaded guilty to false imprisonment in 2018 and to three theft charges in 2019; the theft charges were later struck out. He was extradited from Germany after a bench warrant and was found guilty of the false imprisonment charge, leading to the four‑year custodial sentence. The court noted the victim's trust issues and the family's distress but did not award compensation.
Daniel Byrne, 26, of Camolin, was sentenced to five and a half years in prison after pleading guilty to making threats, demanding cash and handling proceeds of crime between February and June 2024. He extorted €22,750 from a former classmate who had contacted him to buy a small amount of cannabis. Byrne threatened the victim and his family, demanding €700, then €5,000, and later collected €15,000 in multiple meetings. He also threatened the victim's father and contacted the victim at his workplace. Byrne's prior convictions include money laundering, possession of drugs, obstruction and threatening behaviour. He was on a suspended sentence for money laundering when the extortion began. The court reduced the initial headline sentence of seven and a half years to five and a half years, citing mitigating factors and Byrne's guilty plea. The victim's impact statement was not read in court.
In a Dublin City Centre incident on 23 July 2020, Peter Burns, a 50‑year‑old truck driver from Tallaght, caused a cyclist to be crushed between his vehicle and another after failing to check his mirrors. CCTV showed the cyclist's backpack caught in the wheels, spinning her body so her lower limbs were trapped rather than her head. The cyclist was taken to hospital in critical condition, suffered multiple fractures and crush injuries, and has undergone at least six surgeries with ongoing rehabilitation. Burns pleaded guilty to careless driving causing serious injury. Judge Martin Nolan, hearing the case at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, imposed an eight‑month suspended sentence and did not impose a driving ban, citing Burns' lack of prior convictions and the absence of aggravating factors. The judge noted Burns' responsibility to observe all road users and his failure to give the cyclist a wider berth.
Craig Maples, 29, of Green Briar, Dublin, is serving a seven‑year sentence for violent disorder and assault causing serious harm to Austin Doherty in 2022. In December 2023 he pleaded guilty to a 2020 assault on a housemate in Huntstown, Dublin 15, where he and two men attacked the victim, who was sleeping in his rented room. The victim suffered head wounds and a fractured elbow, required surgery, and later emigrated to Croatia after becoming homeless and unable to work. Maples was sentenced to two years and three months for the 2020 assault, back‑dated to his guilty plea, meaning he will not serve additional time beyond his existing sentence. The court noted the victim's life was severely disrupted by the attack. The other two men were never identified. The sentence was imposed by Judge Orla Crowe.
Badruzzaman Masum, a 47-year-old taxi driver from Swords, Co Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for the sexual assault of an 18-year-old passenger. Masum pleaded guilty to the charge, which relates to an incident on November 27, 2024. Prosecution evidence presented by Garda Ciara Ryan alleged that Masum touched the victim's thigh, made crude sexual comments, and roughly groped her breast as she exited the vehicle. The victim had ordered the taxi via an app, and Masum was identified through CCTV and app analysis. Although Masum made no admissions during his interview, he has expressed remorse and has not worked as a taxi driver since entering his plea. Judge Patricia Ryan noted the significant breach of trust and the victim's young age as aggravating factors, while acknowledging Masum's lack of previous convictions. The court imposed a two-year custodial sentence. Additionally, Masum was ordered to be placed on the sex offender's register. The matter was finalised with this sentence.
In a north Dublin incident on 24 January 2023, 63‑year‑old John McDonagh struck a 95‑year‑old woman who mistakenly believed she had a green pedestrian light while crossing the road at Drumcondra Road Lower and Botanic Road. McDonagh was turning right when the filter lane's light turned green, but he did not see the woman and collided with her. The court heard that the traffic lights' sequencing did not indicate a green pedestrian signal, and that the investigating Garda agreed the victim may have assumed a green man. The elderly victim suffered fractures and other injuries, requiring a mobility walker after a 13‑week hospital stay. McDonagh pleaded guilty to careless driving, had no prior convictions, and was fined €1,000 with a six‑month payment period. The judge described the incident as unfortunate and noted McDonagh's low culpability due to his slow speed and lack of expectation of the victim's presence.
Paul Byrne, 52, faces a trial set for 10 June 2026 in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after a defence application. He has not yet entered a plea. Byrne was charged in the District Court with three counts of assault causing harm to a woman, alleged to have occurred between September 2017 and May 2022. The court expects the trial to last four days.
Nathan Ndaba, 26, of Coolmine, Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to money laundering €8,500 on August 15, 2019. The court heard that an injured party fell victim to a phishing scam, resulting in an unauthorised transfer to Ndaba's account. Garda Darragh Cash testified that Ndaba was approached by a man known as "Black John" to use his account, though another individual later attempted to withdraw the funds. Under cross-examination, the garda acknowledged Ndaba's peripheral role, his early plea, and that the full amount was recovered. Judge Nolan noted Ndaba's 29 previous convictions for road traffic offences and failing to appear, but accepted his defence counsel's mitigation that these were not of a similar nature. The judge stated that the appropriate sentence was 20 months, which he suspended in full on strict conditions. Additionally, Ndaba was ordered to pay €1,000 to gardai for application to a charity within three months. The judge remarked that providing one's bank account to others indicates wrongdoing, and the fine was intended to remind Ndaba not to re-offend.
Mark Davis, 35, with 207 prior convictions, was sentenced in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for stealing a DPD delivery van on 4 December 2023. Judge Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin imposed a headline sentence of three years, reduced to two, but suspended the entire term. Conditions include engagement with the Probation Service, drug treatment, employment or education, and victim‑focused work. Davis was also disqualified from driving for five years. He pleaded guilty to the van theft, stealing 66 packages worth €901, and driving without a licence. The judge noted his lack of insight into the seriousness of the offence but acknowledged pro‑social support from family. Davis had previously been under a 20‑year driving ban and had a history of hit‑and‑runs, burglary, theft and other offences. The court remanded him on bail pending the sentencing hearing.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, Lucas Da Silva Cruz, a 30‑year‑old Brazilian, was found guilty of sexually assaulting a 23‑year‑old flatmate on 4 July 2019. The assault occurred while the victim was sleeping on a sofa in a three‑bedroom house shared with 12 others. Da Silva Cruz claimed the act was consensual, but the victim's impact statement described ongoing anxiety, sleepless nights, nightmares, anger, sadness and vulnerability, and her need for regular therapy. She also noted her pregnancy and gratitude for justice. Da Silva Cruz had no prior convictions, had resigned from his IT job after conviction, and was supporting his elderly mother in São Paulo. Judge Orla Crowe sentenced him to three years' imprisonment, back‑dated to 17 January, and placed him on the sex offenders register. The sentence was reduced from a headline four‑year term. The case highlighted the breach of trust and the victim's lasting psychological harm.
Two Brazilian drug mules, Felipe Oliviera Gaspar, 30, and Valter Soares, 26, were apprehended at Dublin Airport in separate incidents within weeks of each other, each carrying a kilogram of cocaine in their bodies. Gaspar swallowed 67 pellets and inserted three larger ones rectally; Soares swallowed 120 pellets. The cocaine recovered from Gaspar was valued at just under €70,000, while Soares' was worth €71,000. Gaspar pleaded guilty to possession for sale or supply and to drug importation, had no prior convictions, and was arrested by customs, taken to hospital for eight days of treatment, and later sentenced by Judge Martin Nolan to two years and nine months in prison, backdated to his custody date. Soares pleaded guilty to drug importation, had no prior convictions, and was sentenced to two years and three months, also backdated to his custody date. Both men cited debt to loan sharks and fear of criminal gangs as motives for smuggling the drugs.
Mark McAnaw, 52, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to the harassment of Nicola Tallant, Amanda Brunker, and Deirdre Reynolds on various dates in August 2023. The court heard that McAnaw, who has previous convictions including rape and kidnapping, sent explicit and threatening emails to the three women, who are journalists. He also turned up at the Sunday World's office and contacted Ms. Brunker via social media. McAnaw is currently detained in the Central Mental Hospital. The court noted that at the time of the offending, he was not taking his medication. Judge Pauline Codd adjourned the case until June 5 to prepare a probation report and obtain an up-to-date psychiatric report. The matter was adjourned and not concluded. McAnaw previously received an eight-year, four-month sentence for an attack in 2018, with the final 16 months suspended for 16 years, and was placed under Probation Services supervision. The victims described living in fear due to the threats.
Colm Bergin, aged 26 and a qualified dog trainer, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison for two robberies in Artane on 17 November 2023. In the first incident, he approached a commuter around 8:30 am, demanded his mobile phone and threatened to have his Pit‑bull bite him, then stole €25 and left on a bicycle with the dog on a lead. In the second, he confronted another commuter at a bus stop, demanded all his belongings, and when the man refused, set his dog on him. The dog bit the victim's leg twice or three times, causing bleeding. Bergin also stole the victim's backpack, which contained a laptop and wallet, and used the victim's card to make purchases. The victim suffered lasting physical and psychological harm, reporting difficulty walking for six months, back pain, anxiety and nightmares.
Brian Jackson (63) of Cherrywood Road, Cabinteely, Co Dublin, was convicted at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of careless driving causing serious bodily harm. The case was at the sentence stage. Jackson initially faced a charge of dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm, but the jury returned a guilty verdict on the lesser charge, which carries a penalty of two years imprisonment or a fine of up to €10,000. The court heard that Jackson collided with a motorcyclist on Cromwellsfort Road, Walkinstown, on December 9, 2019, leaving the motorcyclist with serious internal injuries and a five-week coma. The victim described the injuries as a 'life sentence' due to their permanent impact on his ability to live. Judge Patricia Ryan imposed a fine of €3,000 and a two-year driving disqualification from April 2025. The judge noted the victim's ongoing injuries as an aggravating factor but took into account Jackson's personal circumstances, including his work record, absence of previous convictions, and that he has not come to other negative garda attention. The matter was not adjourned and was finalised at the sentence stage.
David O'Callaghan, 41, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to ramming a rear gate of Leinster House on 2 August. Judge Martin Nolan set a sentence date of 10 April and remanded O'Callaghan on continuing bail until that date. The court noted that he may be required to enter pleas to further counts on the sentencing date.
Oisin Peavoy, 39, of Granby Row, Dublin, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two counts of production of a weapon at Parnell Square and Gardiner Street Upper on 28 May 2024. He was found to have wielded a knife in front of two separate busloads of school children, one near a creche and the other en route to Dublin Zoo. Peavoy, who has no prior convictions and is diagnosed with schizophrenia, was arrested at 10:00 am and remanded before being transferred to the Central Mental Hospital. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to three years' imprisonment, suspending the final two years for two years, and imposed 18 months of post‑release supervision by Probation Services. The sentence was back‑dated to 28 May 2024. The court noted Peavoy's mental health difficulties and his non‑compliance with medication at the time of the incidents. The victim impact statement from the creche worker was not read out.
A Moldovan national has been sentenced to six and a half years in prison following his conviction for drug trafficking at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Stefan Copiimulti, aged 42 and residing in Dublin 15, pleaded guilty to possessing cocaine worth €1.12 million with intent to supply on 19 June 2023. Gardaí stopped a Hyundai vehicle at The Ward, Finglas, after conducting surveillance based on confidential information. Officers discovered the cocaine concealed within a hidden compartment located near the vehicle's radio console, operated by electronic fobs. Copiimulti provided false accounts regarding how he came to be driving the car, which CCTV footage and subsequent investigation contradicted. Judge Martin Nolan acknowledged mitigating factors including the defendant's early guilty plea, full cooperation with gardaí, absence of prior convictions, and work history. The judge departed from the mandatory ten-year minimum sentence on these grounds. The sentence was backdated to June 2023.
Colin Brady, a 35-year-old man from Kilcloon, Co Meath, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to two counts of possession of child pornography, one count of exposure in a public area, and recording videos of another without their knowledge or consent. The offences occurred between May 2021 and September 2022 at various locations in Dublin, including pubs, shopping centres, petrol stations, and his workplace. Detective Garda Kevin Bold stated that Brady was detained after being observed suspiciously in a Tallaght pub toilet, leading to the seizure of two mobile phones and other digital media. Analysis revealed 1,355 videos on SD cards, including footage of men using urinals and 25 videos depicting children. The court heard that seven men were identified in the recordings, one of whom was an off-duty garda. Defence counsel Geraldine Small SC highlighted Brady's early guilty plea, lack of previous convictions, and engagement with counselling. Judge Martin Nolan described the case as unusual and noted the prolonged and repeated nature of the behaviour. While the judge inferred the intent was to video men and children were recorded by accident, he noted Brady did not delete the footage. Having considered the mitigation and Brady's personal circumstances, the judge imposed a two-year prison sentence.