An arsonist, David Fannin, 29, was jailed for 16 months after setting fire to a house in Ballymun on 24 September 2020 while a woman and her two young children were inside. Fannin admitted he had been instructed by another man, to whom he owed money, to carry out the arson. He smashed the back door and a back window, which a child was wounded by broken glass while escaping. The court heard that the woman's ex‑partner was the co‑accused who has fled the country. Judge Martin Nolan noted the seriousness of arson and that Fannin was "inveigled" by the other man, but that he knew his actions were wrong. He was given a four‑year sentence, with the final 32 months suspended on strict conditions. The case highlighted the danger of arson and the need for punishment. David Fannin pleaded guilty.
Danny Povey, a 43‑year‑old British scaffolder living in London, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to possession of cannabis for sale or supply. He was caught at Dublin Airport on 4 September 2024 with 29 kg of cannabis valued at €596,000, after customs detected anomalies in his luggage. Povey claimed he believed he was transporting gold or watches, saying he had been paid by a third party and that the suitcases were locked with combination locks. He had travelled to Thailand with his girlfriend, who was also stopped with a similar amount of cannabis. Povey had no prior convictions, cooperated with investigators, and entered an early guilty plea. The judge, citing his work history, single child, and the circumstances of the offence, imposed the custodial sentence, backdated to his September 2024 arrest.
Gemma Greene, 27, of Bunratty Road, Coolock, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to endangerment for recklessly driving toward a Garda on the M50 on March 1 2021, forcing the officer to take evasive action. The incident, which was live‑streamed on social media, involved a car chase at junction 9 northbound. Prosecutor Maddie Grant said the State accepted the plea on the basis of recklessness. Defence counsel Gregory Murphy noted the client had not attracted Garda attention since and was experiencing personal difficulties at the time. Judge Martin Nolan set a sentencing date of March 19.
David Nally, 43, of Balbriggan, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to six charges for scamming two men out of over €900,000 through a fictitious cattle and machinery scheme between 2014 and 2016. He promised to buy livestock from a bank after farm repossessions and sell them at a profit. The victims invested more than €700,000 and €218,000 respectively. Nally returned some money, but the first victim remains owed about €390,000 and the second has lost €175,000. Gardaí found he never purchased cattle from a bank; the maximum he bought was 230 animals, not the claimed 3,000. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a six‑year custodial sentence, suspended the final 18 months, and ordered Nally to hand over €300,000 to be distributed to the victims within three months. The case is now before the High Court.
Paul Craven, 55, a former manager of Daughters of Charity family centres, was sentenced to a global term of four years in prison for sexually abusing his nephew, Alan Jenkins, between 1989 and 1999. Judge Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court convicted Craven of 11 counts, including sexual assault and indecent assault. The judge noted that Craven breached the trust of a vulnerable boy aged six or seven, using his position as a youth worker to groom and isolate the victim. Aggravating factors included the abuse occurring in the victim's home and the significant age disparity. Although Craven received glowing references and had no previous convictions, the judge highlighted that he did not accept guilt or express remorse. Mr Jenkins, who waived his anonymity, described the abuse as taking away his childhood and criticized a previous Tusla investigation that found his allegations unfounded. He stated that Craven continued working with vulnerable children until 2022. Defence counsel Kathleen Leader SC argued that the offences were not at the top of the scale and highlighted Craven's long history in youth work. Craven was remanded on bail following a previous hearing to sign contracts for a house purchase, which defence counsel confirmed had been completed. The matter was adjourned for the purpose of this bail arrangement prior to the final sentencing.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 11 February 2025, Jamie Reid, aged 33, pleaded guilty to endangerment, dangerous driving, driving without insurance and without a licence after he jumped into an idling council litter van on Parliament Street and drove it at high speed through the capital. Reid, who later admitted he was a "cokehead", drove erratically, broke red lights, and pursued by gardaí. The pursuit ended when the van crashed through a level‑crossing barrier at Sutton, striking a woman who was running and causing her leg injuries. Reid himself also suffered leg injuries. He has 39 prior convictions and was sentenced to three years and nine months' imprisonment, with a five‑year driving disqualification, and the sentence was back‑dated to July 2024. No serious injuries were reported among the gardaí involved.
In February 2025 a Tunisian man, Sami Skhiri, aged 35, was found guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of assault causing harm and possession of a broken glass shard after he attacked a woman outside her home during a psychotic episode. He held a shard of glass to her throat, slashed her face with a 9‑cm shallow cut that did not require stitches, and continued a stabbing motion before being stopped by bystanders. Skhiri resisted arrest but was handcuffed and searched, where a scissors, a large stone and a broken shard of glass were seized. He was remanded in custody and later sentenced to three years, with the final year suspended on the condition that he leave Ireland upon release and live with his brother in Germany. The court noted his mental illness and medication lapse as mitigating factors, but stressed he must continue his treatment to protect himself and society.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 29‑year‑old man pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after attacking his former partner and her 15‑year‑old brother. The assault took place at the woman's home in November 2020, when the man, who had a barring order, forced entry, choked the pregnant woman, punched her, and threatened to kick her unborn child out. The victim's brother was also struck. The woman escaped through a window and reported the incident. The court noted that neither she nor her brother gave a victim impact statement and that the child has since been safely delivered. The man has ten prior convictions. He is now the sole carer of the children, who would enter State care if he were imprisoned. The judge, after considering the children's welfare, imposed a two‑year prison sentence suspended in full on strict conditions, citing the seriousness of the assault but the need to protect the children.
Judge Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin rejected a probation report that described Liam McGrane, 59, as "open and honest" and at low risk of re‑offending. The judge noted that the full record of McGrane's previous convictions was not supplied to Probation Services and that the court was not satisfied with the report's assessment. McGrane pleaded guilty to two counts of robbery at Dublin hotels in December 2018 and August 2019, where he took €1,500 and €1,800 respectively from escort clients. He had earlier admitted to similar offences and had no current employment, with financial pressure cited as a factor in his past crimes. The judge sentenced him to four years' imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended on strict conditions, and warned that any change in his circumstances could increase the risk of re‑offending.
A 24‑year‑old man was sentenced to 15 months' imprisonment for defiling his 16‑year‑old cousin and infecting her with chlamydia after offering her cocaine. He pleaded guilty to the first offence on 9 May 2021 at a flat he shared with his mother and a second offence in July 2021 at the same location. The court heard that he was 21 when the offences were committed. The victim, who was visiting her aunt, was offered drugs and a bottle of vodka at the early hours, then taken to the defendant's flat where they had sex. She later reported the incident to Gardaí, was examined at the Rotunda, and confirmed she had chlamydia. The defendant had no prior convictions and was found to be at moderate risk of reoffending. Judge Martin Nolan noted the aggravating factor of the second offence and the victim's age, and imposed the 15‑month sentence.
Eugene O'Sullivan (62) of Dorset Street Upper, Dublin 1, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two counts of the possession of child pornography at his home on November 19, 2018. During a previous hearing, Detective Garda Sean Harrington stated that a warrant was issued for O'Sullivan's home following confidential information, where a USB stick and a folder of printed images were recovered. The USB contained 160 images of child sexual abuse material, all described as 'category one' images, while the folder contained 170 printed images, with around 25 also described as 'category one'. O'Sullivan was cooperative with gardai and made some admission at the scene. He was not arrested until 2023, after which he made a voluntary statement and was charged. O'Sullivan's defence counsel, Fiachra Treacy BL, stated that O'Sullivan had a difficult childhood and has suffered from chronic anxiety for the past 14 years. He also noted that O'Sullivan is at a high risk of suicide and that prison would be very difficult for him. Judge Dara Hayes noted that the creation of such images involves the sexual abuse of children, an aggravating factor, and that a 'reasonably significant quantity' of images in O'Sullivan's possession fell within 'category one'. He also noted O'Sullivan's guilty plea, co-operation, and efforts to rehabilitate. However, the judge stated that a wholly suspended sentence was not appropriate in this case, as it was not at the lowest level of seriousness. He imposed an 18-month custodial sentence with the final six months suspended on strict conditions. The matter was adjourned for the purposes of appeal.
A 77‑year‑old De La Salle Brother, originally from Northern Ireland, was convicted at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in November 2024 of five counts of sexual assault against a boy who was about 12 at the time, occurring between April and July 1991 and April and December 1992. The brother, who had been a teacher and a local GAA club member, abused the boy by touching him inappropriately while visiting the family home, sometimes bringing him to football matches and gifting him football gear. The boy tried to resist and later denied the abuse to his father. The court heard the brother's long‑term relationship with the family, his role as a trusted figure, and the boy's emotional and educational impact. Judge Dara Hayes imposed a sentence of two years and three months, with nine months suspended, and directed the brother to probation for 12 months after release. The brother accepted the verdict and will not appeal.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Sean Howard, 38, pleaded guilty to a robbery on Dame Street on 13 April 2024. Howard, who has 151 prior convictions for theft, burglary, criminal damage, drug and traffic offences, was sentenced by Judge Orla Crowe to a headline term of six years, reduced to four and a half years with the final six months suspended. The sentence was back‑dated to 13 April 2024 to credit time spent in custody. Howard's attack on a foreign doctor was described by the judge as a "vicious, unprovoked" assault, during which he stamped the doctor's head 151 times and kicked him. The doctor suffered a swollen eye, back pain and knee pain, and was unable to use public transport for two weeks. Howard admitted the offence and expressed remorse, while the prosecution noted the victim's impact statement of fear walking around the city centre for months.
Gareth McGrath, 35, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison for a series of violent offences against his then‑girlfriend. The court heard that the couple met while attending residential addiction treatment and that their relationship quickly turned violent. McGrath pleaded guilty to assault causing harm on 29 July and 8 August 2023, to threatening to kill her on 8 August 2023, and to intimidating a person assisting Gardaí in the investigation of an offence in August 2023. He had 15 previous convictions. The victim's impact statement described repeated unprovoked assaults, a forced attempt to withdraw her Garda complaint while she was in hospital, and lasting psychological effects. Judge Pauline Codd noted McGrath's history of violence and intimidation, commended the victim's resilience, and imposed a concurrent sentence of five and a half years with the final year suspended, subject to conditions including no contact with the victim and engagement with services.
Too Tian Yng, 32, of Kuala Lumpur, was sentenced to three and a half years in prison after pleading guilty to importing €340,000 worth of cannabis into Ireland from Thailand. He admitted to smuggling the drugs at Dublin Airport on 4 June 2024, following an X‑ray of his suitcase that led to a search by customs and excise officers, who found 17 kg of cannabis. Yng claimed he had taken the suitcase from an airport in Bangkok and that he had been coerced, but he did not elaborate on the source of the coercion. He said he was scared of something or someone, but did not identify any names or sources. Yng had no prior convictions and was not known to Malaysian authorities. The court accepted that he acted as a courier, not as a criminal mastermind, and sentenced him accordingly.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, William Ryan, a 41‑year‑old Garda, was sentenced to six years' imprisonment for three counts of sexual assault and one count of false imprisonment. The offences occurred on 29 September 2020 at Aughrim Garda Station, where Ryan prevented a woman from leaving the station, sexually assaulted her on multiple occasions, and held her captive. The victim, whose identity is protected, described feeling "broken" and "degraded" during the trial and testified that Ryan's version of events was false and "badly‑written erotica." Ryan admitted guilt, resigned from the force, and had no prior convictions. Judge Elma Sheahan set a headline sentence of eight years, reduced to six years after mitigation, and backdated it to the time Ryan entered custody. The sentence reflects the breach of trust inherent in the offence. The court heard the victim's impact statement, detailing long‑term psychological harm and the effect on her family.
Andrew Sankey, aged 57, pleaded guilty to two counts of sexually assaulting a child between September 1996 and October 2000, when the victim was about eight or nine. The abuse occurred while the child's parents were on holiday; Sankey took the child and her brother to a B&B, then forced the child to touch his penis and later digitally penetrated her under the pretext of bathing her. Sankey had previously been convicted of indecent assault in the UK in 1989 and of possession of child abuse material in Ireland, for which he served six months. The complainant, now in her 30s, testified that the abuse had a deep, lifelong impact, causing anxiety, distrust and anger. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Sankey to two and a half years' imprisonment, a reduction from the headline sentence of three and a half years. The sentence reflects the maximum five‑year term for the offence.
Ganson Building and Civil Engineering Contractors, based in Balbriggan, pleaded guilty to two counts relating to the fatal June 2019 accident at St Oliver Plunkett National School, Malahide, where worker John Joe McAfee was crushed by a falling steel structure. The company admitted failure to protect employees from risk and to coordinate safe‑working procedures. The court noted that McAfee's steel frames were unstable and unanchored, and a site engineer had left early despite a contract to supervise. Ganson subcontracted the work, and the chain of subcontractors ultimately placed McAfee on a mobile platform that collapsed. The judge, considering guilty pleas and cooperation with the Health and Safety Authority, fined Ganson €250,000, payable within six months, and expressed deep sympathy for McAfee's family, who suffered ongoing grief and financial hardship after his death.
Kian Gill, 22, of Stillorgan, Co Dublin, appeared at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on appeal regarding an assault charge. He pleaded guilty to assaulting a teenager, causing him harm at Sutton Cross, Dublin, on July 18, 2022. Prosecution evidence, presented by Edward O'Mahony BL, described an unprovoked attack following a dispute in a takeaway restaurant. CCTV footage showed Gill kicking the victim in the head while the teenager lay on the ground, causing him to lose consciousness briefly and sustain a head cut requiring hospital treatment. Gill was identified as a person of interest following an appeal on RTE's Crimecall and was subsequently arrested. He made no admissions during his interview. Judge Martin Nolan had previously revoked Gill's bail and remanded him in custody for two days pending sentence. Today, the Judge handed down a sentence of two years, which was suspended on a number of conditions. The court noted that Gill would return to custody if he breached any of these conditions. Gill, who has no previous convictions, is currently living in a hostel and working as an apprentice carpenter. His defense counsel, Vanessa Frawley BL, attributed his actions to extreme immaturity and a turbulent living situation, while acknowledging he did not strike the first blow.
A hospital worker from Tallaght has received a fully suspended three-and-a-half-year sentence after pleading guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Daniel O'Neill, aged 40, admitted the offence relating to an incident on 12 November 2023 at Pinewood Park, Tallaght. The court heard that while hungover, O'Neill had given his cousin a lift to Cabra, where four suitcases containing €360,000 worth of cannabis and cocaine were placed in his vehicle. Upon detecting the smell of cannabis during the return journey to Tallaght, O'Neill realised what had occurred. Two suitcases were transferred to another car under garda surveillance, resulting in O'Neill's arrest within metres. The remaining cases were found to contain €138,568 of cocaine. His cousin and a third man, James Glynn of Claremorris, County Mayo, were also arrested. Judge Martin Nolan determined O'Neill did not merit imprisonment, considering he had been placed in an unfortunate position and had received no payment.
Alan McCabe, 26, pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply at a house in Ballymun. He was found with €9,886 of cannabis and drug paraphernalia, though he did not live there and was not responsible for other drugs seized. McCabe had no prior convictions and had quit drug use five years earlier, remaining drug‑free. He has spoken publicly about his negative drug experiences and has shown remorse, submitting an apology letter and a probation report indicating low reoffending risk. The court noted his rehabilitation efforts and the absence of a prior criminal record. Judge Pauline Codd imposed a headline sentence of four years but ultimately sentenced McCabe to two and a half years in prison, suspended in full for three years. The decision reflected the significant drug value and the mitigating factors of his rehabilitation.
Cezary Halicki, 22, of Balbriggan, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession and distribution of child pornography. In April and December 2022, he was found with 12 videos depicting children aged 10 to 14 engaged in sexual activities, and he had forwarded these videos to others on four occasions. Garda Stephen Murphy explained that the case began when the US National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children alerted authorities to a suspicious video, leading to an IP trace to Halicki's home and a warrant for a December search. The search seized a laptop and three mobile phones, revealing 16 videos and messages in which Halicki expressed a desire for younger victims. A psychological report concluded he is not attracted to children. Judge Martin Nolan, noting Halicki's lack of prior convictions, education, and remorse, sentenced him to two years' imprisonment suspended for two years, imposed one year of probation supervision, and ordered his placement on the sex offenders register.
Ryan Jennings, a 30‑year‑old British man from Durrow, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of a controlled drug after a customs officer noticed him acting suspiciously at Terminal One, Dublin Airport, on 24 August 2024. He was found with a large black suitcase containing 32 vacuum‑sealed bags of cannabis valued at €320,100. Jennings admitted that the death of his son in 2022 had led him to heavy drinking and a £15,000 debt, and that he had burned out his work van to try to clear that debt. He claimed the job of transporting cannabis was a "foolish venture" to escape his financial troubles. The court heard his cooperation, early guilty plea, lack of prior convictions and the family tragedy as mitigating factors.
Stephen Geoghegan, 35, of Neilstown Park, Clondalkin, was jailed for money laundering after a search of his home revealed €85,520 in cash, a jet ski, a van, a luxury watch, sterling, and a bag of €63,000 wrapped in cling film. He pleaded guilty to possession of the cash on November 1, 2023, claiming ignorance of its source. Geoghegan, who receives social welfare and has no prior convictions, cooperated with Gardaí and admitted the money was his, though he would not disclose its origin. The Gardaí had confidential information that led to the search. Judge Martin Nolan accepted Geoghegan's lack of previous convictions and his cooperation, but noted he held the money on behalf of a criminal organisation. He imposed a headline sentence of five years, reduced to a custodial term of two and a half years, and forfeited the seized items to the State. The case remains at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Irene Cahill, aged 69, was sentenced to 15 months in prison after pleading guilty to three counts of possession of large quantities of cannabis. The drugs, valued at about €68,800, were found under her bed in her Clondalkin home during a Garda raid on 16 June 2023. Cahill admitted she had taken small portions and handed them out, claiming she was holding the cannabis for a family member who owed a drug debt of €7,000. She said she had been in possession for about four weeks and that this was her first offence. Cahill has no prior convictions but has a long history of drug addiction, having been on methadone since 1990. The judge noted her age and lack of previous convictions, and considered her cooperation with the investigation, before imposing the 15‑month sentence.
Three men have been sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following a violent home invasion in Monkstown, Co Dublin on August 21st, 2023. Michael Royal, Thomas Dwyer and Patrick Fitzgerald pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary and false imprisonment. The court heard that four men, one of whom remains unidentified, forced their way into the family home in the early morning, restraining a man in his 70s with cable ties and removing his wife, daughter and six-year-old grandchild from their beds. During the attack, the homeowner was struck on the head with a metal bar, requiring 13 staples, and his daughter was dragged by her hair when attempting to escape. The intruders demanded information related to a bank where the victim had worked two decades earlier. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a headline sentence of ten and a half years, sentencing Royal and Fitzgerald to seven and a half years each and Dwyer to five and a half years, taking account of his comparative youth and lesser criminal history.
Stephen Kavanagh, 50, was sentenced by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to 240 hours of community service instead of prison for stealing alcohol worth €21,000 while on bail for a similar offence. He pleaded guilty to the theft on 20 September 2023, having 29 prior convictions including a 2022 theft. The judge accepted his guilty plea and noted he had not attracted Garda attention since. A headline sentence of two years was reduced to 18 months, but the court imposed community service within two years. Kavanagh, who had been a successful businessman whose firm had liquidated, claimed financial necessity and debt to "serious individuals" as motive. He had no addiction issues, and his defence highlighted his health difficulties and loss of his mother. The case was adjourned earlier to prepare a Probation Service report to assess suitability for community service.
Ryan Fitzpatrick, aged 27, pleaded guilty last year to perverting the course of justice by attempting to destroy a mobile phone linked to a SIM card in Malahide on 27 May 2020, and to corruptly offering a gift to Lauryn McCann to influence her employment. He was sentenced to four years' imprisonment, with the final three months suspended, by Judge Martin Nolan. Fitzpatrick's appeal against the severity of the sentence was dismissed by the Court of Appeal. The court rejected the argument that he should be treated more leniently than the civilian employee who received a two‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence for providing the intelligence. The judge noted Fitzpatrick's conduct was corrupt and highly aggravated, including the destruction of evidence and absconding from justice, and that the sentence was well within the sentencing judge's margin of appreciation. Fitzpatrick had 30 previous convictions and had fled Ireland after the raid, later being extradited to face the charges.
Patrick Flynn, 60, of Islandbridge, Dublin 8, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to having child pornography at his home in June 2020. The court heard that gardaí, acting on information from the US National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children regarding suspicious online activity, searched Flynn's residence. Officers discovered multiple images and videos of child abuse material, including a screen recording of a child rape upload. Flynn, who has a mild to moderate learning disability, admitted the material was on his phone but claimed he had deleted it, a statement Detective Sergeant Elaine Murtagh described as "patently untrue." Prosecutors noted Flynn's previous 2018 conviction for sexual assault. Defense counsel highlighted Flynn's intellectual difficulties and his willingness to work with Probation Services. Judge Martin Nolan considered whether a custodial sentence was just, noting Flynn's "serious deficiencies" and reclusive lifestyle. The judge stated it would be "unfair and unjust" to imprison Flynn given his personal circumstances. He imposed a two-year prison sentence, suspended in full on strict conditions. These conditions require Flynn to place himself under the supervision of the Probation Services for one year.
Two individuals have been sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following their guilty pleas to conspiracy charges relating to a scheme to impersonate learner drivers during theory examinations. Alina Glont, aged 42, of Charlestown Place, Finglas, Dublin 11, and Daniel Stepien, aged 29, of Annfield Court, Clonsilla, Dublin 15, were convicted of conducting unauthorised theory tests on behalf of third parties between September 2018 and June 2021. Gardaí identified 124 incidents where members of a five-person group sat tests for others, with Stepien completing 68 examinations and Glont 20. Third parties reportedly paid between €1,000 and €2,000 each to the group. Judge Martin Nolan described the operation as a serious criminal enterprise generating approximately €100,000 in profits. Stepien received a 32-month sentence, backdated to December 2024, while Glont was sentenced to two and a half years, with the judge accepting elements of her duress claim involving an ex-partner.
In a Circuit Court hearing on 30 January 2025, Judge Elva Duffy sentenced Anthony Condron, 29, to three years' imprisonment, suspending the final six months, after he pleaded guilty to multiple counts of criminal damage and trespassing in an underground car park at Hampton Wood Drive, Finglas, on 29 September 2022. Condron, who has 76 prior convictions including 30 for criminal damage, admitted he had no idea how THC had entered his system, despite two of three urine samples testing positive. CCTV footage showed him entering the car park via the exit ramp, damaging windows, mirrors, stereos, windscreens, touch screens, wheel arches and five fire doors, causing €14,000 in damage and writing off one vehicle. He was cooperative and remorseful, and the judge noted his participation in educational courses while in custody. The court emphasised that the sentencing aimed to halt his pattern of behaviour.
Jason Paget, aged 38, was sentenced to three and a half years in prison at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on charges of possessing stolen property taken from a Dublin 8 apartment on 6 December 2021. The items included a motorised skateboard and headphones belonging to a young woman whose home was broken into. Paget pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of stolen property. Judge Patricia Ryan noted aggravating circumstances, including that Paget was on bail for 25 matters and serving a suspended sentence at the time of the offence. The judge imposed the sentence with a backdated commencement of 23 March 2023. Paget, currently imprisoned at the Midlands, has an extensive criminal history including convictions for aggravated sexual assault and aggravated burglary dating to 2003, when he was 16 years old.
Jack Cummins (21), of Rossmore Road, Ballyfermot, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to procuring the commission of assault causing serious harm to Alanna Quinn Idris on Ballyfermot Road on December 30, 2021. The court heard that Ms Quinn Idris was blinded in one eye during the attack. Judge Patricia Ryan remanded Cummins on continuing bail and directed the preparation of a probation report and victim impact statement ahead of sentencing on May 12. The matter was adjourned. Darragh Lyons (21), of Chapelizod, also pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm to Ms Quinn Idris, assault causing harm to Louis O'Sullivan, and violent disorder. He was similarly remanded on continuing bail with sentencing set for May 12. Josh Cummins (20), of Ballyfermot, previously received a five-year sentence in November 2023, with the final two years suspended, after pleading guilty to intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to Ms Quinn Idris, violent disorder, production of a hurl, and assault causing harm to Mr O'Sullivan. A fourth gang member was sentenced to four and a half years in March 2023.
Two individuals pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to conspiracy charges relating to a scheme in which they impersonated learner drivers and sat theory tests on behalf of third parties. Alina Glont, aged 42 of Charlestown Place, Finglas, Dublin, and Daniel Stepien, aged 29 of Annfield Court, Clonsilla, Dublin, carried out 88 tests between September 2018 and June 2021. Detective Garda Barry Cormack outlined that a total of 124 incidents were identified, with Stepien completing 68 tests and Glont 20. The Road Safety Authority initiated an investigation in January 2021 following confidential information, subsequently reporting 36 potential impersonations to gardaí. Evidence indicated third parties paid between €1,000 and €2,000 for the service. Upon searching Glont's home, gardaí recovered seven prepaid debit cards registered with false names and used to book over 100 tests. Both defendants presented mitigation, with defence counsel highlighting Stepien's status as lowest-ranking participant and Glont's claims of coercion by an ex-partner. Judge Martin Nolan adjourned sentencing to the following day.
A 36‑year‑old corporal in the Irish Defence Forces, Richard Kearney, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing €25,000 of suspected drug‑proceeds on 6 May 2022. Garda Vincent Jaffray presented evidence that a phone seized from Kearney's rented flat contained communications with known drug dealers, revealing that he had laundered €6.6 million and £250,000 between April 2021 and May 2022. The search uncovered €10,455 in cash hidden in a bed frame and €15,000 wrapped in clingfilm in a freezer. Kearney admitted he was the sole occupant of the flat and that the phone was his. Bank‑statement analysis showed no legitimate source for the money found at his home. The court noted Kearney's lack of prior convictions, his family responsibilities, and his role as a corporal. Judge Martin Nolan, after considering mitigating factors, imposed a headline sentence of six years, reduced to three years.
Brandon Hennessy, aged 21, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing cocaine for sale or supply in Blanchardstown on 21 January 2021, when he was 17. Garda surveillance at TUD Blanchardstown's grounds caught him and a co‑accused, who was about 25, attempting to bury a large package of drugs. Hennessy was apprehended at Mulhuddart Cemetery after the pair fled. A search uncovered 454 g of cocaine worth €31,808 and 10 g of heroin worth €1,482. Hennessy had two prior minor traffic convictions. The prosecution noted his father's murder on Christmas Eve 2023 and his mother's struggle, while the defence highlighted his positive traits and community involvement. Judge Martin Nolan, recognising his youth, guilty plea, cooperation and family circumstances, imposed a three‑year sentence suspended in full, conditional on 18 months' engagement with the Probation Service.
In a case heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, a 19‑year‑old named Nikita Dvoynin pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography after Gardaí discovered over 1,800 images on his devices. The material, uploaded via the Discord app, included 1,141 very explicit images of children as young as two years old. Garda Brendan Cafferkey explained that a warrant was obtained following the discovery of the material, leading to a search of Dvoynin's home where he voluntarily surrendered several digital devices. Dvoynin admitted the devices contained child pornography and later provided a statement detailing how he obtained the material. He had no prior convictions and was cooperative throughout the investigation. Judge Martin Nolan, noting Dvoynin's cooperation, remorse, and lack of previous convictions, imposed a two‑year sentence fully suspended on strict conditions, including 12 months of engagement with the Probation Service. The sentence was delivered with the understanding that Dvoynin would not be imprisoned.
Tony Ward, a 53‑year‑old Dublin City Council employee, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing drugs for sale or supply on 10 May 2023. He admitted that he had transported a package of cannabis, worth €6,000, in his work lorry after being approached by co‑accused Michael Little, who had already pleaded guilty to the same offence and received an 18‑month suspended sentence earlier that year. Garda Tara Higgins explained that officers had been monitoring the area following Little's suspicious behaviour; Ward was stopped and arrested when the package was discovered. Ward's defence argued that he acted as a drug mule because his son owed a drug debt. Judge Martin Nolan accepted that Ward was pressured by his son's drug habit, noted his long work history and unlikely re‑offending, and sentenced him to 18 months in prison, suspended in full on strict conditions.
Dylan Mangan, 26, of Dublin 1, pleaded guilty to making unwarranted demands with menace in March 2020. He threatened two innocent victims, saying he would kill them, slit their children's throats and burn down their homes. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Mangan to five years' imprisonment, describing the offence as "insidious" and noting the threats were menacing and frightening. The case involved co‑accused Des Smyth, 25, who pleaded guilty to the same offence and received a four‑year sentence with the final 18 months suspended for three years to aid his drug rehabilitation. The victims were unrelated to the drug trade; one owed a debt to a half‑brother who was a drug dealer, and the other was the victim's boss. The threats were made after the assailants arrived at the first victim's workplace on 20 March 2020, as shown by CCTV footage.
Nikita Ronan, aged 29 and without a fixed abode, was sentenced to two and a half years in prison for a series of "wilfully violent" assaults in Dublin city centre during 2023. She had 134 prior convictions, including assault, theft, burglary, drugs and traffic offences. Between March and May 2023 she attacked a woman in the Morgan Hotel, assaulted a friend on Aston Quay and attempted to rob her handbag, and on Merchant's Quay she stole a phone and slashed a man's arm and head with a knife. She pleaded guilty to one count of assault, one count of assault causing harm, two counts of assault causing harm and theft of a phone. Judge Elva Duffy described her as a danger to others due to intoxication, imposed a sentence of three years and two months, and suspended the final eight months under conditions. The court noted her remorse, methadone programme and plans to live with her father upon release.
Brad Dempsey, 24, of Crumlin, was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment for firing five shots at a car on Donore Avenue, Dublin 8, on 19 January 2022. He pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful possession of a firearm, a charge reduced from an initial attempt to endanger life. The court heard that a dispute between Dempsey's associate and another person led to the shooting, which was captured on CCTV. Dempsey emerged from the scene with a firearm, fired at the vehicle, and the rear passenger‑door glass shattered. He was in custody since August 2023. The judge, citing the seriousness of the offence, set a headline sentence of 12 years, reduced to eight years and back‑dated to the time of his custody. No injuries were reported. The case reflects Dempsey's history of violent disorder and drug offences.
Harpreet Gosal, aged 33, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to four counts of fraud for dishonestly inducing golf clubs to purchase equipment and then withdrawing payment instructions. The clubs were Beaverstown Golf Club, Stackstown Golf Club in Dublin, and Powerscourt Golf Club in County Wicklow. The equipment, valued between €2,000 and €10,000, included electric caddies, drivers, a set of irons and golf balls. Judge Martin Nolan described the scheme as a "scam" where Gosal and an accomplice contacted clubs, arranged purchases, paid over the phone, and then withdrew bank instructions. A bench warrant exists for the co‑accused. Gosal was sentenced to a headline term of four years, with a custodial term of two and a half years. The court noted his 48 prior convictions in England and his parents' letter of support. The equipment was never recovered.
Marine Terminals Ltd (MTL) was fined €15,000 by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for health and safety breaches following the death of able seaman Dennis Gomez Regana in November 2018. The company pleaded guilty to failing to ensure that individuals at the place of work were not exposed to risks, specifically citing fragmented verbal and radio communications between vessel personnel, quayside workers, and crane operators. Safety inspector Frank Kerins testified that while the breach did not directly cause Mr. Regana's death, it contributed to the incident where a 20-foot steel container fell on him while he attempted to rectify a missing twist lock. The court heard that MTL had a good safety record and had appointed staff to improve communications. Judge Nolan noted the communication breakdown but considered the guilty plea and the company's cooperation. The fine of €15,000 was imposed with six months allowed for payment. The matter was concluded with this sentencing decision.
Lemos Luise Rocha, 24, from São Paulo, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for smuggling 1.23 kg of cocaine worth €80,000 onto an aircraft. He admitted possession of the drugs at Dublin Airport on 31 March 2024 and explained that he swallowed half of the pellets while the remainder was wrapped around his groin and in his shoes. Rocha claimed he was coerced by a man who promised a "nice life" and offered him a hamper and €500. He also said he had an affair with his teacher when he was 14 and has a child with her. The court noted his lack of prior convictions, his fear for his life, and the fact that he was a foreign national. Judge Martin Nolan, after considering the mitigating circumstances, imposed a three‑year term, back‑dating it to 31 March 2024 for time already spent in custody. Lemos Luise Rocha pleaded guilty.
Joseph Boyle, 42, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for violent offences committed while on bail. He pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm, robbery, theft, and threatening to kill or cause serious harm. Judge Martin Nolan jailed Boyle for eight and a half years, imposing a five-year sentence for the assault causing serious harm and a consecutive three-and-a-half-year term for the remaining charges. The court heard Boyle had 86 previous convictions and that his single punch to a victim's head on Phibsborough Road resulted in a life-threatening traumatic brain injury, requiring five and a half months of hospitalisation. Other offences included knife robberies of tourists and security staff. In a related matter, Kia O'Connor, 34, pleaded guilty to violent disorder for throwing a bottle at a woman during an altercation in which Boyle brandished a knife. Judge Nolan jailed O'Connor for one year. Both defendants were of no fixed abode. The judge noted Boyle's chronic drug problem and violent temperament, describing him as a menace. O'Connor's defence highlighted her personal setbacks and drug addiction. The matter was finalised with these custodial sentences.
Eimear Barron, 53, pleaded guilty to 12 counts of theft totalling €25,793, representing 41 unauthorised transactions between February 2019 and November 2021. She worked as a payroll manager for a contractor that handled payroll for two companies. The companies noticed suspicious activity in March 2022 and reported it to Gardaí. Barron transferred the stolen funds to her bank and a Revolut account, updating employee records with her own account numbers and making batch payments. She was arrested in May 2023 and admitted the money was used for living expenses and bills. She had no prior convictions. Judge Orla Crowe imposed a two‑year prison sentence, fully suspended on strict conditions for three years, and directed that the €25,793 be paid to the injured parties. Barron's family home had been sold, making the full amount available for repayment.
Dean Kelly, 37, was sentenced to 27 months in prison after pleading guilty to attempted theft of a man with an acquired brain injury. On 16 September 2022, Kelly called the victim's home, calling him a "kiddie fiddler" and threatening to release naked photographs unless the victim gave him cash. He then accompanied the victim to an ATM, urging him to withdraw €40, but tried to withdraw an additional €700. The victim managed to recover his card and alerted the Gardaí. Kelly had a history of 65 theft and fraud convictions, plus robbery and handling stolen property. He is currently serving a sentence for theft and is due for release in November. The judge noted Kelly's long offending history but also his positive behaviour in prison, and imposed a 27‑month term.
Cheong Sik Hong, 38, of Kampung, Paya Bemban, Malaysia, was sentenced to three years in prison after customs officers discovered over €280,000 worth of cannabis in his suitcase. Hong admitted possession of 14 kg of cannabis, estimated at €281,000, for sale or supply at Dublin Airport on 7 July 2024. He claimed he was paid to transport edible bird nests and had no knowledge of the drugs. Garda Jamie Connor reported that a customs dog alerted to the suitcase, which Hong said belonged to a friend and was forced open. Hong stated he had been told he would stay in Ireland for seven days and would receive further instructions upon arrival. He had no prior convictions, pleaded guilty early, and cooperated with the investigation before being jailed for three years.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court sentencing hearing, Victoria Quinn, 46, pleaded guilty to careless driving causing serious harm after colliding with an elderly couple's car at a crossroads on the R125 in Swords on 4 June 2022. The collision left the 72‑year‑old woman with a fractured back and other injuries, and the couple's husband died 19 days later from unrelated pneumonia. Quinn received a suspended two‑year sentence, a €8,000 fine payable in six months, and no custodial term. The court noted Quinn's earlier statement to Gardaí that she had approached the junction slowly, which witnesses contradicted by describing her driving at speed and failing to see the stop sign. Quinn's cooperation and remorse were acknowledged, but the judge found her statement inconsistent with the evidence. The case ended with the court's full condolences to the victim's family.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 17 January 2025, two young women recounted the lasting impact of a violent late‑night robbery that took place in the city centre on 18 August 2022. The attackers, a 45‑year‑old woman named Joanne Cuffe and an unidentified man armed with a stick, threatened the victims with "dirty needles" and forced them to an ATM. Cuffe, who pleaded guilty to robbery, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment. The court heard that the robbery left the women feeling unsafe, on "high alert" and emotionally unsettled. One victim described the event as unforgettable and noted the broader harm to her family and friends. The judge acknowledged Cuffe's remorse and background, expressing hope that she would reform after release. The case highlighted the severe physical and psychological injuries suffered by the victims and the serious consequences of the attackers' actions.