Craig Coyle, 37, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to threatening to publish intimate images of a woman and to harassment from September to December 2023, plus two trespasses at her home in December 2023 and January 2024. The offences fall under Coco's Law, which allows fines or up to seven years' imprisonment. Judge Pauline Codd read several abusive emails, describing them as "grotesquely pornographic" and "debasing not only to this woman but all women in general." The woman, who had been a victim of a serious sexual assault, reported that Coyle's behaviour forced her to install a security alarm and cameras, and that she suffered severe mental distress, including nightmares and loss of self‑esteem. Coyle admitted to loitering around her home, sending abusive messages, and catfishing her. He was arrested on 30 January 2024 and admitted the harassment. The case was adjourned to 17 February pending a psychologist's report on his emotionally unstable personality disorder.
Patrick Byrne, 27, of Cloverhill Road, Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two years and nine months in jail for assault causing harm. He pleaded guilty to one count of assaulting a 33-year-old man at Westmoreland Street, Dublin 2, on October 15 last year. Judge Orla Crowe described the unprovoked attack, in which Byrne allegedly struck the victim with a bike saddle, as senseless and brutal. The sentence was backdated to the date Byrne first entered custody. Byrne has a history of 36 previous offences, including a suspended six-and-a-half-year sentence for attempted robbery in 2020. Prosecution counsel sought leave to re-mention the case to address whether the offence was committed while Byrne was on that suspended sentence. The matter was adjourned to deal with this procedural issue. Defence counsel acknowledged the assault was vicious but argued it was a case of mistaken identity and noted Byrne's history of drug abuse. The victim stated he now avoids the city centre due to the trauma and visible scarring.
Jason McDonagh, aged 31, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for assaulting his partner, her sister and her mother in a Dublin hotel. The attack, which took place on 16 February, involved McDonagh dragging his partner around the room, threatening to bite her ear, and punching all three women after they fled. CCTV footage showed him wearing a pyramid‑shaped ring that was described as a knuckle duster, which aggravated the injuries. The 65‑year‑old mother suffered severe head pain and eye problems, while the partner sustained lacerations to her head and ear and the sister had bumps and bruising. McDonagh pleaded guilty to three counts of assault causing harm, a charge punishable by up to 10 years. Judge Orla Crowe, noting his mental health issues and lack of prior convictions, imposed a two‑year sentence, suspended the final six months, and back‑dated it to his arrest.
Sinead White, 38, of Collins Place, Finglas, Dublin 11, who has 210 prior convictions including 158 thefts, pleaded guilty on 1 September 2023 to witness intimidation after sending threatening voice messages to a future witness. The messages were played in court and described as threatening, intimidating and wrong. White was intoxicated at the time and admitted the wrongdoing, expressing remorse and apologising. Judge Martin Nolan, noting the seriousness of the offence and its impact on the victim, imposed a 21‑month prison sentence, crediting only time already served on other matters. The court accepted that White had no history of violence or assault convictions and that she had no contact with the victim since the incident. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, with the victim expected to testify in a 2025 trial. The sentence reflects the judge's view that intimidation of witnesses must be punished, but that White was not an "insidious person.".
Deji Oshinowo, 51, of Myrtle Square, Baldoyle, Dublin 13, was convicted at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on three counts of possession of false passports. He had seven prior convictions, including for custody of false instruments, the most recent in 2012. An investigation by Gardaí on 21 June 2017 found three passports – two from the Republic of Benin and one from South Africa – in an upstairs room of his residence; none bore his picture and were later confirmed false. Oshinowo was arrested and interviewed, and the court noted his cooperation. Judge Patricia Ryan sentenced him to two and a half years, suspending the term under a number of conditions. Oshinowo, married with three children, is currently completing courses and has requested leniency, while his progress toward citizenship remains paused due to the criminal proceedings.
Robert Hanratty, 48, of Whiteacre Place, Ballymun, pleaded guilty to possession of zopiclone tablets at his home and a location in Ballymun for sale or supply on 6 January 2023. He held over €30,000 worth of sleeping tablets, claiming he did so to deter vandalism by local youths who had targeted his home. Hanratty, described as vulnerable and with a drink problem, had four minor prior convictions unrelated to drugs. Judge Orla Crowe noted the statutory minimum for the offence is 10 years but, citing his cooperation and lack of prior drug convictions, set a headline sentence of three years, reduced to two years and four months, and suspended the entire term. The court emphasized that a suspended sentence remains a real penalty and may be re‑entered if further issues arise. The case involved 15,680 tablets recovered, valued at €32,200, and a psychological report detailing Hanratty's mental health and alcohol use. No further convictions were reported.
Kevin Ahmetay, a 26‑year‑old Albanian national with no fixed abode, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to one count of unlawfully assisting a friend's entry into Ireland. The offence stemmed from an incident at Terminal One, Dublin Airport, where Ahmetay and his friend, both from Albania, were stopped after arriving from Italy. Gardaí discovered that the friend used a false name and a false Bulgarian passport, while Ahmetay had produced a genuine Bulgarian passport in his own name and claimed no connection to the other man. However, authorities linked the two men by their shared booking and sequential check‑in. Ahmetay admitted he had held his friend's genuine Albanian passport, which he intended to return after they entered Ireland for onward travel. He had a prior UK conviction for cannabis production, resulting in a suspended sentence.
Gerard Nevin, 41, of Grove Park, Rathmines, was sentenced to four years in prison at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for sexually abusing his two step‑daughters, Catalina and Alexa Grancea, over an eight‑year period. Nevin pleaded guilty to 22 counts of sexual assault committed between 2012 and June 2020 at locations in Clondalkin, Lucan and Palmerstown. The abuse began when Catalina was aged eight to sixteen and Alexa was aged seven to fifteen. The court imposed a global sentence of six years, with the final two years suspended on strict conditions. The victims, who waived anonymity, reported the abuse to Gardaí in June 2020. Nevin was arrested in 2021 and had previously indicated he would plead guilty to avoid further trauma to the complainants. The case highlighted the prolonged nature of the abuse and its impact on the victims' mental health.
In a criminal trial, solicitor Cahir O'Higgins, aged 49, faces charges of theft and attempting to pervert the course of justice. He is accused of withdrawing €200 from a Spanish national's bank card to pay a court fine, then making additional withdrawals totalling €600 from an ATM and pocketing €400. The prosecution alleges he provided Garda Tao Yu with false notes and a prepared statement admitting the €600 withdrawal. O'Higgins recorded a conversation with Garda Yu in May 2020, unaware of the recording, in which he expressed concern that other Gardaí might influence the evidence. He denies all allegations. The case is before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury, with O'Higgins pleading not guilty to all counts. The trial continues.
Two men, a former Soviet fighter pilot and a former construction company owner, were sentenced to a combined 18 years in prison for smuggling 60 kg of heroin into Dublin. The pilot, Zoltan Nemeth, flew a Cessna 210 that landed at Weston Airport with 120 packages of heroin, each about half a kilo, valued at €8.4 million. Nemeth claimed he was unaware of the cargo, believing it to be prohibited metal for microchips, while the co‑accused, Aradi Ignac, admitted transporting the drugs and said he had fallen into debt to dangerous individuals. Ignac had ten prior convictions, including theft and fraud, and had been involved in planning the operation. The court imposed headline sentences of 13 years for Ignac (actual term ten years) and 10 years for Nemeth, with both sentences backdated to the day they were arrested. Both men have been in custody since December and are on 23‑hour lock‑up for their own protection. Aradi Ignac pleaded guilty. Zoltan Nemeth pleaded guilty.
Charles Darcy, aged 35, was sentenced to two years in prison for possession of .38 special calibre Sellier and Bellot ammunition and for criminal damage after throwing a fire extinguisher through the window of an Applegreen Service Station. The court heard that Darcy had 59 prior convictions, including attempted murder, robbery, assault, possession of a realistic firearm, violent disorder, public order, assault on a police officer, breach of bail and violent behaviour in a Garda station. He pleaded guilty to the ammunition offence on 26 May 2018 and to the fire extinguisher incident on 13 October 2018. The judge noted his long history of offending, his membership of the Travelling community, his mental health and drug‑addiction struggles, and that he is currently drug‑free and willing to undertake an intensive probation programme. The sentence was suspended for six months and back‑dated for time already served.
Wayne Fairhurst, a 33‑year‑old former teaching assistant from Warrington, was sentenced to four years in prison for acting as a 'drugs mule' by transporting €251,000 worth of cannabis from Los Angeles to Dublin. He was caught with 12.5 kg of cannabis in 28 plastic packages in his suitcase at Dublin Airport's Terminal 2. Fairhurst had been offered £10,000 to carry the drugs, after initially refusing £7,000, and accepted the offer after being told to book the trip himself and paying £1,400. He claimed he was threatened and felt compelled to comply. At the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court he pleaded guilty to possession of the drugs for sale or supply. The judge, citing his background of poverty, domestic abuse, ADHD, dyslexia and recent personal losses, imposed a five‑year sentence with the final year suspended, noting he would serve the term in another jurisdiction.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Daljeet Singh, a 52‑year‑old British delivery driver from Oldbury, West Midlands, pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis herb for sale or supply at Dublin Port on 3 April 2021. Customs officers stopped his van after a routine search following a ferry from Holyhead. They found 50 brown cardboard boxes containing 55 kg of cannabis, valued at roughly €1 million, hidden in the back of the van. Singh had claimed he was transporting food and bottled water to Cork and had not inspected the van. During a series of seven Garda interviews, he eventually admitted knowing he was carrying cannabis, though he insisted he believed it was only one bag. He said he was to be paid £1,000 sterling to clear an overdraft and that he had been pressured by third parties. Singh has no prior convictions and lives with his elderly parents in the UK.
Cesar Fernandes Borges Filho, 34, was sentenced in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to seven counts of deception. The charges related to dishonestly inducing individuals to take out purported motor insurance policies at an unknown location in the State during 2019 and 2020. Judge Martin Nolan noted that Filho targeted members of the Brazilian community who were unfamiliar with the Irish insurance system, collecting approximately €12,500 for policies that were not valid. The judge stated that Filho had taken advantage of a situation, leaving trusting people at a loss. In passing sentence, Judge Nolan acknowledged excellent mitigation due to Filho's cooperation with gardaí and his guilty pleas, noting he was unlikely to reoffend. The court imposed a three-year prison sentence, suspending the final year on specific conditions. These conditions require that Filho's motorbike be sold and the proceeds divided among his victims to provide compensation. The matter was finalised with this sentencing order.
Andrew Jordan, a 71‑year‑old former GP and director of the National Association of General Practitioners (NAGP), was fined €10,000 for failing to keep adequate accounting records for the NAGP, a lobbying group that went into liquidation in 2019. Jordan pleaded guilty to two counts of failing to keep proper accounts for a company that wound up and could not pay its debts, creating uncertainty about its assets and liabilities. The offence took place between January 2017 and December 2018. Jordan, who worked voluntarily for the NAGP and was not paid, had been due about €60,000 from the organisation to cover expenses he incurred by hiring a locum to cover his practice days. Judge Martin Nolan described Jordan as "derelict in his duties as secretary and director" but noted he did not profit from the offence and had no prior convictions. The judge ordered the fine to be paid within six months.
The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial of former rugby star Brendan Mullin, aged 61, focused on a €500,000 transfer from Bank of Ireland Private Bank to Spice Holdings in 2011 that has never been recovered. Mullin faced 15 charges, including nine theft counts, five false accounting, and one deception count, but the jury was directed to find him not guilty of deception. The prosecution alleged Mullin, as managing director of the private bank, stole €573,281 between 2011 and 2013, comprising the €500,000 transfer and about €61,000 in personal legal fees paid by the bank, plus smaller payments to Grant Thornton and Beechwood Partners. Mullin claimed the €500,000 was a payment to his company Quantum to settle a future debt, while the bank argued it was a processing error.
Former rugby international Brendan Mullin, aged 61, was found guilty by a jury of 12 of 14 charges in a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial. He was accused of stealing more than €570,000 from Bank of Ireland Private Bank between 2011 and 2013, and of five false accounting offences. The jury returned not‑guilty verdicts on a deception charge involving a payment authorisation letter and on two charges relating to Beechwood Partners. Mullin denied all allegations. The trial, lasting three weeks, examined evidence of payments to McCann Fitzgerald, Beechwood, and Grant Thornton, and the transfer of €500,000 to Spice Holdings in the British Virgin Islands. The judge remanded Mullin on bail ahead of sentencing, ordered him to surrender his passport, and set a sentence date for 25 November. No further details of the sentence were provided in the article.
The jury in the €570,000 theft trial of former rugby international Brendan Mullin will resume deliberations on Tuesday after having spent about five and a half hours on the case before being sent home. Mullin, 61, of Stillorgan Road, Donnybrook, Dublin 4, is accused of stealing more than €570,000 from Bank of Ireland Private Bank between 2011 and 2013 while serving as managing director. He denies all charges. The trial continues.
A 50‑year‑old man was sentenced to a fully suspended term of three months and two weeks for kicking his partner in the head and breaking her jaw while she held their two‑year‑old toddler. He pleaded guilty to common assault, a lesser offence than the original assault‑causing‑harm charge, and the Director of Public Prosecutions accepted the plea. The incident occurred on 10 September 2010 in their home; the victim later required surgery and has since had sole custody of the child. She reported the assault in 2021, and the man was arrested in 2022. A safety order remains until May 2026. The judge, citing the victim's injuries, the lack of apology, and the aggravating circumstances, imposed the suspended sentence and ordered the defendant to pay €500 for medical costs, with an option to accept the remaining €1,500 or have it directed to a women's refuge.
Innocent Aigbekaen, 31, of Dundalk, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two money‑laundering counts involving €75,816 and €60,989 between April 2016 and October 2017. Garda detective Jennifer Connolly described a scheme that ran for 18 months and laundered about €331,000. Judge Pauline Codd said Aigbekaen was a "mule herder" who recruited people, including his wife and co‑workers, to use their bank accounts for the illicit proceeds. He was sentenced to four years in prison, with the final three years suspended for three years on strict conditions. The sentence was reduced from an initial headline of five years because of his guilty plea and long employment history. Aigbekaen's defence noted he had not been involved in any other offences since the offence, apart from a cannabis case that was struck out. The court accepted that he had taken responsibility for his role in the scheme.
Arslan Cheema, 29, received an 18‑month suspended prison sentence for sexually assaulting a 19‑year‑old student outside her accommodation in Dublin in April 2021. The victim, who had been on first‑name terms with Cheema and had ordered takeaways from him, described the assault as a profound violation of trust that left her emotionally devastated, requiring hospital treatment and medication. Cheema pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assault. Judge Orla Crowe imposed the suspended sentence on strict conditions for three years, noting the breach of trust and the victim's impact statement. Cheema will be listed on the sex offenders' register and warned that any negative Garda attention during the period could lead to a different view. He has no prior convictions and had lost his Bus Eireann job following the case's publicity.
Herbert Kilcline, a 62‑year‑old former solicitor, was found guilty by a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of eight counts of property fraud involving two Dublin City properties on Phibsborough Road and St Marys Road. The charges included failing to apply required measures as a designated person, using a false instrument and fraudulent procurement of entry to the land registry between September 2016 and June 2018. Kilcline had previously been jailed in May 2021 for a €120,000 social welfare fraud. The jury deliberated for four hours and 15 minutes. Co‑accused Matthew Murphy, aged 52, was acquitted of four counts, including money laundering, theft and failing to keep records between April 2017 and April 2018, with two counts dismissed by the judge's direction. Philip Marley, 53, pleaded guilty to three counts of fraudulent procurement of a false deed, fraudulent entry into the land registry and deception. All counts relate to the two properties.
Driver Margaret Casey, 73, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm. On June 17, 2023, at Orwell Road, Rathgar, Dublin 11, Casey's vehicle mounted a kerb and struck a pedestrian on the footpath. The defendant pleaded guilty to the charge. Judge Orla Crowe noted that Casey had a momentary lapse in concentration following a difficult hospital visit to her brother. The court accepted that no aggravating factors, such as intoxication or speed, were present, and Casey's conduct at the scene was exemplary. The victim, a man in his sixties, suffered a fractured jaw and injuries to his skull, ribs, and neck, requiring five days in hospital. He has since significantly recovered and did not wish to make a victim impact statement, stating Casey had been through enough. Judge Crowe set a headline sentence of two years imprisonment. However, considering the mitigating circumstances and Casey's personal situation, including her care for her ill brother, the judge imposed a 12-month sentence fully suspended for two years. Additionally, the offence carries a mandatory four-year driving disqualification.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 1 November 2024, Feliks Andrianov, 54, was found guilty of assault causing harm after an incident at a McDonald's restaurant near Dublin Airport on 5 July 2019. The case involved a security guard, Michael Norris, who had clamped Andrianov's taxi after the driver left the car to visit a nearby Circle K. Andrianov returned, confronted the guard, and grabbed him, resulting in a dislocated left shoulder for Norris. Andrianov claimed he had been struck first, but CCTV and body‑cam footage showed no contact from the guard. The prosecution presented a victim impact statement detailing Norris's injuries and subsequent employment loss. Judge Elma Sheahan, noting the seriousness of the offence and mitigating factors such as Andrianov's good character and family ties, sentenced him to 18 months' imprisonment, suspended in full for 18 months. Andrianov represented himself at the sentencing hearing.
Katie Farrell, 27, of The Orchard, Ardee, Co Louth, was arrested at Dublin Airport on 16 January 2024 after a search of her luggage revealed 14.9 kg of cannabis with a street value of €299,626. She had travelled alone from Alicante, Spain, and was stopped when her luggage was screened. Farrell made no admissions during her interview and was described by the Garda detective as a courier acting under the instruction of a third party. She has no prior convictions but has a history of drug addiction and low self‑esteem. In the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Elva Duffy noted her cooperation, voluntary surrender, and personal circumstances, describing her as a vulnerable person who was manipulated. The judge imposed a four‑year prison term, suspended the final twelve months for two years, and ordered twelve months of probation upon release. The sentence was back‑dated to the day she entered custody.
A 43-year-old Dublin man has pleaded guilty to possessing approximately €3.9 million worth of cannabis for sale or supply at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Justin McCormack, originally from Boyle, Co Roscommon, was arrested on October 11th last year after gardaí stopped a white transit van and discovered a large quantity of drugs wrapped in plastic bags. A further 1,174 kg of cannabis was subsequently recovered from a business unit on Esmond Avenue in Fairview. Defence counsel described McCormack, a cabinet maker of over twenty years, as an "ordinary, hard-working man" who transported the drugs due to financial desperation and impaired judgement arising from substance misuse. The court heard McCormack had accumulated significant legitimate business and personal debts at the time of his arrest. Judge Orla Crowe adjourned the case until November 14th to allow time for consideration of extensive documentation, including psychological and prison governor reports. McCormack has remained in custody since his arrest.
Carl Armstrong, who had been serving a suspended portion of a 10‑year sentence for a similar offence, was caught in December 2022 with €400,000 worth of cocaine and heroin at an apartment in Dublin. He was charged with possession of cocaine and diamorphine for sale or supply. Armstrong had been released from the custodial part of his earlier 10‑year sentence 18 months before the offence, and the judge reactivated the suspended portion. The court found that he had carried out the offence for financial gain, citing pressure from his family. He pleaded guilty, showed remorse and had undertaken rehabilitation. Judge Patricia Ryan imposed a 13‑year sentence, suspended the final three years, and set conditions for the suspended period. The sentence was back‑dated to the day of the search, with the suspended portion running concurrently with the custodial term.
Mark O'Neill, 51, pleaded guilty to possessing a loaded Smith and Wesson revolver and ammunition on 7 September 2022. He had ten prior traffic convictions. Judge Orla Crowe, after noting his remorse and that the incident was out‑of‑character, set a headline sentence of seven years but reduced it to four and a half years, suspending the final six months. O'Neill had pointed the gun at a relative during a family dispute, issuing threats and claiming the man owed him money. Gardaí recovered the revolver and six rounds of ammunition from his home, and DNA matched O'Neill. He had a history of drug addiction and intoxication, but his defence argued the event was isolated and he had since ceased drug use. The judge acknowledged his good behaviour and health issues but upheld the sentence.
Jamie Geoghan, aged 28, was one of four men who entered a Dublin boys' secondary school on 13 October 2022 and violently confronted a teenage student. CCTV showed Geoghan throwing a steel pole at the student, narrowly missing him and a staff member, while the student had taken a hammer from his bag in self‑defence and fled. Geoghan pleaded guilty to violent disorder and was sentenced to two years' imprisonment, back‑dated to 22 July 2024. He is already serving a six‑year sentence for another offence. The other three men – Jack Craig (21), Josh Neary (22) and Scott Purdue (25) – had already been sentenced to 16‑month terms, with Craig's sentence suspended in full. No physical injuries were reported, but the incident caused widespread fear among students and staff, leading to the retirement of one staff member. The court noted Geoghan's long history of offending, with 79 convictions since 2013, and his previous promising football career.
During a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, a witness, Peter Gray, former head of financial control at New Ireland Life Assurance, testified that former Ireland rugby star Brendan Mullin, then managing director of Bank of Ireland Private Bank, requested in August 2011 that a €500,000 payment owed to the bank be transferred to a client account, an action Gray described as "unusual" and "not standard practice." Gray explained that the payment had initially been transferred to the private bank in July 2011 and returned to New Ireland within days, raising suspicions. In a phone conversation, Mullin suggested two possible client accounts, one possibly Spice Holdings, and claimed the transfer would be "administratively more simple." Gray noted his unease and recorded the conversation, later noting that the bank's compliance and senior management questioned the legitimacy of Spice Holdings and ultimately directed that no payment be made to a client account.
Nebojsa Rasic, 26, was jailed for four years after a high‑speed chase in Dublin that saw him drag a garda, strike another officer, and drive through an accident scene, endangering firefighters, civilians and cyclists. Rasic, who had no licence or insurance, was caught after a pursuit that involved throwing cannabis packages and resisting arrest. He pleaded guilty to three endangerment charges, possession of cannabis for sale, three dangerous driving offences and driving without licence or insurance. The judge, citing Rasic's mental health issues, imposed the sentence and an eight‑year driving disqualification. Rasic's defence highlighted his epilepsy, recent suicide attempt and remorse, urging the court to consider a chance for rehabilitation. The case was heard in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
During a theft trial, Bank of Ireland Private Bank client services director Nicola Johnston testified that former rugby international Brendan Mullin, then managing director, approached her in July 2011 and asked her to sign a €500,000 payment authorisation to Northern Trust in France, referencing a company called Spice Holdings. Johnston said she had no supporting documents and was told by Mullin that she need not know details, so she signed. She later cancelled the authorisation the next morning and informed Mullin, who did not return. Johnston raised the issue with senior bank officials, but the only evidence of the transaction came from a December 2011 compliance sign‑off. Defence counsel argued Johnston's account was fictional, citing a note from finance officer Kim Lloyd that Mullin had counter‑signed the authorisation earlier that day. Mullin denies all 15 charges, including the €500,000 theft, and has pleaded not guilty to related counts of deception and false accounting. The trial continues.
Emmett Henry, 35, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of a submachine gun and silencer, and possession of various drugs for sale or supply, both occurring at an apartment block in Finglas in November 2022. The court heard that gardaí discovered a cannabis growing facility in Henry's flat, including 1,500 cannabis jellies, while a separate search of a locked storage area revealed a silenced submachine gun, ammunition, and significant quantities of cannabis and cocaine. Judge Orla Crowe noted that while the offences carried presumptive minimum mandatory sentences of ten years for drugs and five years for firearms, she departed from these minimums due to exceptional circumstances. She acknowledged Henry's role as a trusted operative in a sophisticated operation but considered mitigating factors, including his guilty pleas, difficult childhood, and rehabilitation efforts for his drug addiction. Judge Crowe imposed consecutive sentences totalling seven and a half years. She suspended the final six months of the sentence under Probation supervision to incentivise Henry's continued rehabilitation. The matter was finalised with this sentencing.
Soufiane Mountassir, 39, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for false imprisonment and assault causing harm after he forced his former partner into the boot of her own car and beat her for one hour and 40 minutes. The victim, who was his partner at the time, was subjected to repeated blows, was forced to drive to dark locations, and suffered injuries including blood on the steering wheel and gearstick. Mountassir, who was drinking, taking Dalmane, cocaine and smoking cannabis, claimed to be Moroccan and gave vague answers to Gardaí. He was also wanted in Germany for arson, for which a separate sentence of three years and one month had been imposed. The State argued the sentence was too lenient, citing the severity of the assault, the abduction, and the aggravating factors, while Mountassir's counsel maintained the judge had imposed an appropriate sentence. The Court of Appeal will reserve judgment. Soufiane Mountassir pleaded guilty.
Aaron Gumble, 28, was sentenced by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to eight years in prison, with the final 18 months suspended, for dangerous driving causing death, leaving the scene and theft of an e‑scooter. The offence involved the hit‑and‑run killing of 87‑year‑old Mary Bernie on Eccles Street, Dublin 7, on 20 June last year. Gumble, who had been on bail for theft offences, was also disqualified from driving for ten years. He pleaded guilty and was found to have 140 previous convictions, including theft, burglary and drug offences. The judge noted his guilty plea and substance‑abuse history as mitigating factors, but highlighted the aggravating factor of leaving the scene. Gumble's sentence will run consecutively to a three‑month term he is already serving for burglary offences, and he will remain under probation supervision for 18 months after release.
Donna Dineen, aged 28, was sentenced to five years and three months in prison for hijacking a taxi on 26 July 2023. She used a seat belt to choke the driver, who was in his late 60s, and then dragged him out, punching or kicking him before driving off. The victim was left battered and bruised and has not returned to taxi driving. Dineen pleaded guilty to unlawful seizure of a vehicle and assault causing harm. The judge noted the brutality of the assault and the victim's inability to resume work, but also acknowledged Dineen's rehabilitation efforts. The final nine months of the sentence were suspended on strict conditions, including 12 months of probation supervision. Her co‑accused, Gillian Byrne, will be sentenced separately next year after pleading guilty to the same offences. The court heard Byrne had called 999 voluntarily and expressed remorse. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
A secondary school teacher from Donegal Town has appealed her conviction for indecently assaulting a 13-year-old male student in 1985. Jacinta McSherry O'Connor, now 64, was found guilty following a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial in October 2023 and sentenced to three years imprisonment on each of two counts, with the final six months suspended. At the Court of Appeal, her legal team contended that the trial judge erred in allowing the jury to hear portions of her garda interview in which she disclosed being a victim of sexual assault herself. The prosecution argued this evidence was relevant to establishing a pattern of grooming behaviour. The court heard that McSherry O'Connor had discussed sexual matters with the boy, who had developed a crush on her, during private tutoring sessions in his home. Judges expressed concern about a teacher sharing such details with a young pupil. Judgment has been reserved.
Geovane Ferrnandes, a 31‑year‑old Brazilian, was jailed for three and a half years after being caught at Dublin Airport with 6.7 kg of cocaine, worth €489,790. He pleaded guilty to possessing the drug for sale or supply at Terminal One on 18 March. Ferrnandes claimed he was motivated by the need to fund expensive medical treatment for his daughter, who suffers severe asthma and requires frequent hospital stays. He said he had no knowledge of the contents of the parcel he carried and had not received any payment for the smuggling. The court noted he was caught "red‑handed" and had no prior convictions in Ireland. Judge Orla Crowe set a headline sentence of six years but imposed a term of three and a half years, back‑dated to his March arrest. Ferrnandes has expressed remorse and intends not to return to Ireland after serving his sentence.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, former Ireland rugby international Brendan Mullin, aged 60, denied 15 charges of theft and fraud involving over €570,000 from Bank of Ireland Private Bank. Mullin testified that he had always borne personal responsibility for his legal fees and that he had not indicated the bank would pay any portion. He argued that statements suggesting the bank would cover part of his costs were inaccurate and unfair. Mullin's solicitor, Roddy Bourke, confirmed that the bank had indeed provided assistance with legal fees, but Mullin maintained he had not authorized such arrangements. The court heard evidence of Mullin's meetings with Bourke in April 2013, his claims of not seeing the bank's memorandum, and the bank's subsequent inquiries into invoicing. The trial, presided over by Judge Martin Nolan, continues with a jury hearing the case.
John English, 47, of Dublin 2, was sentenced to 18 months in prison, with the final three months suspended for six months, after pleading guilty to brandishing a small knife at a shop worker on South Circular Road. The incident followed English's theft of a Pot Noodle earlier that day, when he was denied service. CCTV footage showed him shouting abuse at the male shop worker while holding the knife, and a female security guard was also engaged. English has about 130 convictions, including a rape conviction from 2004, and most of his offences since 2014 are public order crimes. He is homeless, an alcoholic, and has struggled with drug use. The judge noted his guilty plea, personal circumstances and addiction issues as mitigating factors, but imposed a headline sentence of two years to deter similar conduct. The suspended portion is subject to strict conditions, including supervision by Probation Services.
Gavin Minto, 29, pleaded guilty to possession of three controlled drugs for sale or supply at Kingswood Cross, Clondalkin on 16 July 2020. Gardaí searched a residential property on a warrant and found 151,110 MDMA tablets, 33.6 kilos of cannabis and 668.6 grams of Eutylone, plus a tablet press, weighing scales and a powder, with a combined value of €2.21 million. The court described the garage as a drugs distribution centre and imposed an eight‑and‑a‑half‑year jail term. Minto, who was homeless, in debt and had a difficult background, appealed, arguing the sentence was excessive and that a portion should have been suspended. The Court of Appeal heard arguments from counsel for Minto and the State, noting the judge had considered mitigating factors such as Minto's early plea, cooperation, rehabilitation steps and his cognitive difficulties, but also his nine previous convictions, including three drug offences.
Robert Hanratty, 48, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of 15,680 zopiclone tablets, valued at €32,200, found in his home and a location in Ballymun. He claimed he held the drugs to deter attacks by "juvenile delinquents" who had targeted his residence, and that he would receive a small payment. Hanratty has four prior minor convictions unrelated to drugs and does not use drugs, though he struggles with alcohol. Defence counsel Padraig Dwyer presented a psychological report detailing Hanratty's mental health issues, low mood, and heavy alcohol consumption, describing him as a "hapless" and "sad" man. The judge, Orla Crowe, deemed the case unusual and adjourned sentencing to 8 November to consider the circumstances.
The trial of former Ireland rugby international Brendan Mullin and McCann Fitzgerald litigation partner Roddy Bourke continues at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury. Both men, who have pleaded not guilty to all charges, face 15 counts each, including stealing over €570,000 from Bank of Ireland Private Bank, one count of deception, and five counts of false accounting. The prosecution alleges that Mullin, who was managing director of the bank at the time, authorised payments for personal legal and accounting work. Evidence presented includes emails and invoices where Mullin allegedly instructed that bills should not be sent to the office but to him personally. The court heard details regarding the manipulation of invoices for litigation costs, including handwritten alterations to change billing addresses and descriptions to facilitate payment by the bank. The matter is currently at the trial stage, with no findings, sentences, or finalisations recorded. The trial continues.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, former McCann Fitzgerald solicitor Rosie Freeman testified that she received a couriered invoice from Bank of Ireland Private Bank in March 2013 with handwritten amendments. Freeman, who was a PA to partner Roddy Bourke, described the invoice as unusually altered: the original home address of former rugby star Brendan Mullin was crossed out and replaced with the bank's address, the description of the work was changed to "Quantum Investment Strategies," and amounts were reduced to €18,792.65. Freeman said she was alarmed by the markings and could not comply because a partner's signature was required. She also recounted a voicemail from Mullin and a handwritten note instructing her to amend and issue the invoice. The testimony is part of the prosecution's case that Mullin authorised payments to McCann Fitzgerald, Grant Thornton and Beechwood Partners for work carried out for his company or personally. Brendan Mullin pleaded not guilty.
Mark O'Neill, 51, of Knockmore Drive, Tallaght, was remanded in custody after pleading guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing a Smith and Wesson revolver and ammunition on 7 September 2022. He had ten prior convictions for road traffic offences. Gardaí were called to his relative's home after O'Neill produced a handgun and pointed it at the man, threatening to shoot him unless he paid money owed and claiming the man had stabbed him. O'Neill also threatened the man with death. A second male attempted to defuse the situation before the parties left in a car. The revolver was recovered from bushes near O'Neill's home, containing six rounds of ammunition, and his DNA was found on the firearm. O'Neill's case was adjourned to 30 October to allow the judge to consider the circumstances.
The court heard that CCTV footage captured a man, Sean O'Neill, 22, lying injured on the ground in Dublin City Centre after an assault. The footage showed several people standing over him and stealing his belongings, including a watch valued at €9,000. O'Neill had previously pleaded guilty to violent disorder on 4 October 2023 and robbery on 19 September 2023. He was arrested the following day after a warrant was issued. During interrogation he claimed he could not remember the incident and said he was "strung out," but he identified himself on the footage. The court noted his 39 prior convictions, including drug offences, and his history of homelessness. The judge, Martin Nolan, accepted his guilty plea and admissions, and imposed a four‑year prison sentence, back‑dated to the time he entered custody, with the final year suspended for one year. The victim and the injured man declined to give victim impact statements.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 31‑year‑old Geovane Ferrnandes pleaded guilty to possessing 6.7 kg of cocaine, valued at €489,790, at Terminal One, Dublin Airport, on 18 March. He was caught when customs X‑ray revealed an anomaly. Ferrnandes claimed he had no knowledge of the contents, having received a parcel from an unknown woman and packed it himself. He said he had been offered about €2,000 for transport but received no payment. Ferrnandes cited his daughter's severe asthma and costly treatment as a motive, noting she is housebound and hospitalized twice weekly. He has no prior convictions, speaks limited English, and has worked various jobs since age nine. He expressed remorse, apologized to Gardaí, and vowed never to return to Ireland after serving his sentence. The case was adjourned for finalisation on 23 October.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Arslan Cheema, 29, pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assault committed on April 4, 2021, outside a student accommodation in Dublin city centre. The victim, aged 19, described how Cheema placed his hand on her genitals and attempted to kiss her, causing her to feel "frozen and shook" for about ten seconds. She later suffered a breakdown, required hospital treatment, and was prescribed anti‑depressants and anti‑psychotics. Cheema, who had previously worked for a food delivery service, is now employed as a Bus Eireann Expressway driver and has a young child. The court adjourned the case to November 4 to consider mitigation and to impose a sentence. No prior convictions were noted. The hearing focused on the victim's impact statement and Cheema's admission of guilt.
The trial of Brendan Mullin, a former Bank of Ireland senior executive and ex‑Ireland rugby international, is ongoing. Mullin, aged 60, denies 15 charges of theft, deception and false accounting alleged to have occurred between July 2011 and March 2013. Prosecutors claim he authorised payments to solicitors and accounting firms for work by his company Quantum Investment Strategies or for himself, and that he stole €500,000 from the bank during a miscommunication about a payout to life‑assurance customers. They also allege he authorised a payment of €500,000 to Spice Holdings, a company registered in the British Virgin Islands, and that the money was later repaid to the bank in July 2015. Mullin pleaded not guilty to one count of stealing €500,000 and eight other counts totalling about €73,000, plus one count of deception and five counts of false accounting. The case is before Judge Martin Nolan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The trial continues.
Jordan Boyle, 27, was sentenced to four years in prison, with the final 12 months suspended for two years, backdated to January 9, after pleading guilty to five counts of assault causing harm. The offences occurred in Dublin 15, including a supermarket and a bus, where Boyle bit his former girlfriend twice, head‑butted two security guards, dragged her onto a bus, and threatened to kill her. The victim was attacked on multiple occasions, requiring two hospital visits. Boyle's history includes 29 prior convictions and substance abuse. He has expressed remorse and is completing a Fás carpentry course, aspiring to become an electrician. Judge Orla Crowe described his conduct as "utterly flagrant and reprehensible" and noted the victim's severe trauma. The sentence reflects the sustained, public nature of the assault and the use of biting.