Le Wang, 42, a taxi driver from Dundrum, was found guilty of harassing a Chinese student who had rented a room in his house. Between December 2022 and March 2023, Wang secretly filmed the student twice while she showered and attempted a third time when she discovered his phone hidden in a laundry basket. He threatened her with retaliation if she exposed the videos, sent harassing texts demanding she leave, and repeatedly tried to contact her via social media, culminating in 18 attempts before the harassment ceased on 11 March 2023. Gardaí seized his phone, uncovering the two videos and related screenshots. Wang had no prior convictions, cooperated with investigators, and was described as introverted with a low risk of reoffending. He was remanded in custody for two weeks pending sentencing on 16 May, where the judge will consider the case further.
A 32‑year‑old man was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for three counts of assault causing harm against his partner in a Dublin suburb between July and September 2023. The court heard that the defendant repeatedly attacked the woman, including on the day their baby died and after the funeral. He kicked her in the head and legs, threw bottles and plates, and hit her with a bottle of bleach. The victim fled but was tripped and fell, sustaining injuries that required hospital treatment. The defendant had 29 prior convictions, including assault and endangerment of the same woman. He pleaded guilty, denied the allegations during questioning, and has been in custody since his arrest on 16 September 2023. Judge Orla Crowe described the attacks as "nasty, heartless" and sentenced the defendant to three years on each count, to run concurrently and back‑dated to his custody date.
Kevin Murphy, 41, of Tallaght, admitted to possessing 15 kg of cannabis worth almost €300,000 after a delivery he expected to be a small package turned out to be large black bags. He pleaded guilty to possession for sale or supply at his Mountain Park address on 20 February 2023. Gardaí Brian Foran described how a delivery was made in a BMW jeep, with other men transferring the bags into Murphy's vehicle. Thirty vacuum‑packed packages were seized, valued at €298,760. Murphy, who has seven prior convictions including three for assault, was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to four years' imprisonment. The court noted his remorse, family tragedies, health issues, and recovery progress, and accepted that he was merely a transporter and holder, not the owner of the cannabis.
Dorothy Roe, 37, pleaded guilty to possession of proceeds of crime after authorities found €42,430 in cash in her car. She kept ledgers at home and owned a Hyundai with a concealed compartment, though she had no expertise to install it. Defence argued she acted as a "stooge" for others, motivated by a brother's drug debt and her own addiction. Gardaí had surveilled her following confidential tips, noting her visits to properties in Lucan and Clondalkin and a stop at Bluebell where the cash was seized. Roe admitted possession, expressed remorse, and cooperated. She has no prior convictions for this type of offence, receives social welfare, and is a carer for her son and mother. The case was adjourned to July 8 for a probation report.
Michael Tuzuka, 46, of Orchard Drive, Stamullen, pleaded guilty to 11 counts of using false instruments for counterfeit cheques totalling €98,250, lodged between March and April 2018 at branches of Permanent TSB in Drumcondra, Swords, Malahide, Ashbourne and Drogheda. Gardaí, alerted by Permanent TSB on 12 April 2018, identified Tuzuka on CCTV making the lodgements and later spotted him driving a Jaguar to another bank at about 1 am. The cheques were immediately flagged by bank software and frozen, so no loss was incurred. Tuzuka had 11 prior convictions, including theft and abusive behaviour, and had previously served a three‑year sentence during which he contracted TB. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to three years' imprisonment, noting his cleverness but that he was defeated by the software. The court heard he had struggled to find work after release and was motivated by a desire to support his family.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Judge Sarah Berkeley adjourned the case of Martin Awoke, a 26‑year‑old from Tallaght, to July 8, giving him an opportunity to avoid prison by raising compensation for two victims who paid a total of €9,820 for student accommodation in Limerick. Awoke pleaded guilty on 12 August 2022 to handling the proceeds of crime, but the court noted his role was limited to allowing his bank account to be used; he had no involvement in the scheme itself. He had no prior convictions, had recently lost his job, and had cooperated with Gardaí. The judge directed a probation report and suggested Awoke find new employment to help pay the victims, who had lost money intended for their children's college. The judge emphasized that Awoke could choose to comply or go to custody, and requested payslips and documentation for the next hearing.
On the morning of a child's communion, shots were fired at Joanne Finnegan's mother's Dublin home, sparking heightened emotions. A woman from the opposing faction was later seen at a nearby Applegreen petrol station, where three women—Michelle Finnegan (38), Joanne Finnegan (37) and Caitlyn Donoghoe (22)—attacked her. They pulled her hair, dragged her down, kicked, punched and struck her head against the ground. CCTV footage was shown in court. The victim did not give a statement and was not seriously injured. Michelle and Joanne pleaded guilty to assault with intent to commit violent disorder and violent disorder respectively; Donoghoe pleaded guilty to violent disorder. Judge Martin Nolan, after hearing mitigating circumstances, suspended the two‑year sentences for Michelle and Joanne in full and, under Section 100, decided Donoghoe would not receive a criminal record, adjourned her case to July 24 and ordered good behaviour until then.
Dominik Kaczmarek, 32, of Naas, Co Kildare, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to one count of possessing cocaine for sale or supply at his then home address in Tallaght on April 24, 2023. The court heard that gardaí seized two kilos of cocaine from his car during a raid, but one kilo was allegedly 'inadvertently destroyed' by officers before analysis, resulting in charges based on the remaining one kilo. Judge Martin Nolan noted Kaczmarek's long history of addiction and that third parties had exploited this to use him for drug transport. The judge handed down a five and a half-year sentence, suspending the final year on a number of conditions. Kaczmarek has previous convictions, including a prior two-year sentence for a drug offence. His defence counsel highlighted his dysfunctional family life, drug addiction, and lack of financial benefit from the offence. The matter was finalised with this sentencing.
Omar Adbuqadir, 31, was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment for attempting to smuggle a Somalian journalist into Ireland. He gave her his wife's Swedish identity card, hoping she could enter Ireland via a flight from Madrid. An immigration officer at Dublin Airport noticed the card's photo did not match the woman's face, and her real identity documents were found after her luggage was searched. The journalist had paid about €2,800 to a man in Somalia, who connected her with Adbuqadir, and she has since been granted asylum in Ireland. Adbuqadir pleaded guilty to one count of people smuggling on 3 November last year. He has no prior convictions except minor traffic offences, and he has been in custody since entering the country. The judge accepted that he acted for "altruistic purposes" and back‑dated the sentence to the date he entered custody.
Ryan Fitzpatrick (26) was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to four years' imprisonment for perverting the course of justice and corruptly offering a gift to access Garda intelligence. The court heard that Fitzpatrick pleaded guilty to attempting to destroy a mobile phone linked to a SIM card in Malahide on May 27, 2020, and to corruptly offering a gift to Lauryn McCann to influence her employment acts. Judge Martin Nolan noted that Fitzpatrick threw his phone into water during a raid, an act described as "crude but effective," though Gardaí salvaged the SIM card. This evidence linked him to messages with McCann, a former civilian employee who was jailed for two and a half years in November 2022 after admitting to corruptly agreeing to accept an inducement and disclosing Garda Pulse system files. McCann had sent approximately 70 photos to an individual referred to as "R" in exchange for cash. Fitzpatrick, who has 30 previous convictions, fled Ireland and was extradited via a European Arrest Warrant. The judge set a headline sentence of six years but reduced it to four years, with the final three months suspended, allowing for time spent in custody.
A 36‑year‑old man, already on bail for assaulting his former partner, was jailed for an additional 18 months after breaking into her home and attacking her again. He pleaded guilty to criminal damage, endangerment, assault and trespass for the January 2021 incident. The court noted his 79 prior convictions and that he had previously received a three‑year sentence with six months suspended. Judge James O'Donohue described the new assault as "very bad" and "traumatising," citing the victim's fear and PTSD. He imposed a one‑year‑six‑month sentence for endangerment to run consecutively to the sentence he is already serving, crediting him for six months already served. The judge ordered counselling during custody and for six months after release. The case highlighted the victim's ongoing trauma and the defendant's expressed remorse and participation in educational programmes while in custody.
Abderrahmane El Aaour, 58, was sentenced to 21 months' imprisonment for sexually assaulting a 20‑year‑old woman with special needs in November 2016. The victim was in her second year of a special‑needs training course when El Aaour approached her outside a church, asked for a cigarette and then a coffee. She later agreed to go for coffee, but after a short time in the café he forcibly kissed her and touched her breasts. He then asked her to go to a hotel, she shook her head, but he took her hand and followed her onto the DART. He forced her to stay, stole her phone, and later called her. The woman's mother reported him, and he was arrested. El Aaour pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Joseph Parker, 32, of Crowfall, Bridge Road, Dublin 18, was convicted of sexual assault of a sleeping woman at a Dublin hotel on 9 September 2020. He pleaded guilty on the basis of recklessness, a plea that reduced the maximum ten‑year sentence. While on bail for a rape charge, he assaulted the woman, who had earlier told him she did not want intimacy. After she fell asleep, Parker entered her room, forced himself on her, and later tried to persuade her not to report the incident. The court, hearing the case at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, noted that Parker had cooperated with investigators and expressed remorse. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a headline sentence of four years, but, considering the guilty plea and cooperation, set a final sentence of two years imprisonment to be served consecutively to his existing term. The decision was made on 26 April 2024.
Martin Collins (42) and his brother Michael (33) were sentenced to three years in prison for a series of thefts carried out between March and August 2020. The brothers used modified people‑carrier cars, blackening windows and removing rear seats to conceal stolen tools from building sites. They were found guilty of possessing a vehicle with intent to commit theft at Barclay Court, Blackrock, on 23 March 2020, and of participating in organised crime. Martin admitted possession of plant equipment worth €5,080 stolen from Irish Rail on 19 August 2020, including a leaf‑blower, an Alpha mixer and an Atlas Trench Whacker. Judge Martin Nolan set a headline sentence of four and a half years, deducted 18 months, leaving an effective term of three years. The brothers had previously served 16‑month sentences for similar offences. The court noted their family background, mental health issues and efforts to disengage from crime.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 25 April 2024, Jose Bejarano, aged 43, was handed a suspended 18‑month prison sentence for acting as a money mule in a scam that defrauded the Trinity College hardship fund of €6,800. The fund, which supports students in financial distress, had reported the fraud to the gardai in November 2021, and an investigation was ongoing. Bejarano provided his bank account details to a third party, and four payments totalling €6,800 were transferred to his account between April and May 2021. He withdrew the money and gave it to a third party, receiving €300–€400 in return. He had no prior convictions, cooperated with investigators, and claimed he acted in good faith, believing the security guard who requested the transfer was trustworthy. The judge noted the fund's loss and imposed the suspended sentence, taking his personal circumstances into account.
Brian Wildman, 41, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing €293,313 in cocaine and cannabis for sale and €19,130 in cash proceeds, after gardaí raided his Clonsilla home on 1 August 2020. He was caught attempting to flush a bag of cocaine down the toilet; authorities seized drugs worth €158,047 and cannabis resin worth €135,266. Wildman's co‑accused, Keith Banks, 45, had been jailed for five years in June 2022 for the same offences. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Wildman to three years' imprisonment, a lesser term than Banks, after hearing extensive evidence of Wildman's medical difficulties. He has neurosarcoidosis, chronic seizures, and requires chemotherapy and immunosuppressants; medical reports described him as "fragile" and not medically fit for prison. The court ordered all medical reports to be forwarded to the prison service and urged Wildman to inform prison authorities of his condition.
Thomas Cullen, 60, of Carrick on Shannon, Co Leitrim, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two and a half years in prison after pleading guilty to two counts of making a gain by deception. Judge Martin Nolan set a headline sentence of five years but reduced it, noting Cullen was unlikely to reoffend and was likely the "face" of a larger scheme rather than the organiser. Cullen agreed leasing arrangements with Capital Flow Finance and Finance Ireland in March 2017, using false documents including a forged driving licence to secure over €160,000 for Hitachi excavators that were never located. Both companies remain at a loss. Cullen admitted the documents were false and stated he was paid €5,000 for his role. He has 35 previous convictions. This follows the sentencing of Charles Mavitty, 66, of Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh, who was jailed for two and a half years last month for defrauding financing companies of over €240,000 to buy two Hitachi excavators. Both cases are part of a major cross-border probe into scams involving the leasing of heavy plant machinery.
Saira Mooneeswamy, 53, of Blessington Street, Dublin 7, pleaded guilty to stealing €13,360 from Hyde and Seek Childcare, Shaw Street, Dublin 2, between 1 April 2018 and 15 July 2019. The money was handed to her by parents who wanted to stop paying monthly fees by direct debit while applying for a mortgage. Mooneeswamy, who was the crèche manager at the time, never transferred the funds to the crèche's bank account. She has since repaid the full amount and cooperated with Gardaí. At a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, she was given a fully‑suspended sentence of one year. The court noted her lack of prior convictions, her long employment history, and her quick repayment of the money. The judge described her as unlikely to reoffend and having "succumbed to temptation" over a persistent pattern of behaviour. The case arose after an RTÉ Prime Time investigation into breaches of regulations at several Dublin childcare facilities.
Stephen Leech, 40, was sentenced to six years in prison after pleading guilty to possessing over €680,000 worth of cannabis for sale or supply at Kincade, Sutton, on 5 May 2023. He also admitted to possessing €3,500 in cash as proceeds of crime. Gardaí and customs officers intercepted a consignment of almonds from Bilbao that contained more than 31 kg of cannabis, valued at €682,400, along with over €4,000 worth of heroin, small amounts of cocaine and 30 alprazolam tablets. Leech was caught attempting to flee the premises and was found with 50 deals of heroin on his person. The court noted his early plea, cooperation, work history and family background as mitigating factors, and highlighted his past drug addiction and current clean status. Judge Martin Nolan described Leech as a "holder, receiver and transporter" but said his culpability was low, as he was imposed upon by third parties.
Laura Rice, daughter of Alan Rice, who died after being struck by a car in Skerries, Co Dublin, has called on drivers to be more cautious on the roads, stating that 'accidents don't happen, they are caused'. Alan Rice died on April 13, 2021, after Terry Gaff (56) veered onto the wrong side of the road while navigating a bend on the R127. Gaff pleaded guilty to careless driving causing death and was handed a six-month suspended sentence, along with a €1,000 fine. Judge Martin Nolan noted that Gaff had no previous convictions and that there were no aggravating factors, such as speeding, alcohol, or drug use. The judge acknowledged the devastating impact of the collision on Mr Rice's family and expressed condolences. Victim impact statements from Mr Rice's family highlighted the profound loss they have experienced, describing Alan Rice as a loving, supportive, and adventurous father, husband, and friend.
A 57‑year‑old Dublin mother was given a suspended sentence of two and a half years for child neglect after her 15‑year‑old daughter was hospitalised twice for a severe head lice infestation. The court heard the girl's hair was "rock solid" with lice and eggs, with a head lice expert finding between 900 and 1,000 lice. The mother had left the daughter alone in the summer of 2018, taking €100 for food and travelling to the UK, while the daughter was left without shower facilities and with a matted, lice‑laden head. The mother pleaded guilty to one count of child neglect covering 2013‑2018. Judge Martin Nolan described the neglect as "cruelty by omission" and suspended the sentence in full, noting the daughter's condition had improved since the incident.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Thomas Lawrence, 62, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to his niece after a nightmare. The incident occurred on 29 August 2020 when Lawrence entered his niece's house, shouted abuse, then chased her to a café, grabbed her by the hair, punched her head and repeatedly struck her against a metal counter. The assault left her with superficial injuries. Lawrence also pleaded guilty to an attempted theft of three wine bottles from Spar in 2014, a case delayed by Covid. He was arrested shortly after the assault. Judge Martin Nolan, noting Lawrence's health problems—pancreatitis, epilepsy, chronic depression, alcoholism—sentenced him to 20 months, suspended in full, rather than imprisonment. No further court actions were described in the article.
Peter Gill, aged 64, served as secretary for Drumcondra Football Club and was found to have stolen €7,500 in cash between 2012 and 2015. The theft was discovered when the club's chairman, preparing to leave his role, closed the club's bank account and noticed an ATM card issued to Gill had been used for several transactions. Gardaí investigation revealed that some transactions were legitimate, but the total amount stolen was €7,500. Gill admitted the theft and pleaded guilty to one count of theft. He had no prior convictions. The court noted his gambling addiction at the time of the offence and his health issues. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to 20 months, which was suspended in full, thereby avoiding imprisonment.
Brandon Highfield, a 23‑year‑old British man from Wolverhampton, was sentenced by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to four and a half years in prison for importing almost 27 kilos of cannabis valued at €538,760. He was caught at Dublin Airport when sniffer dogs detected drugs in his luggage while he was in transit from New York to Manchester. Highfield pleaded guilty to possession for sale or supply on 11 November 2023. The judge accepted that he had been transporting the drugs for third parties and that some level of coercion had been applied, describing him as slightly vulnerable with no prior convictions and unlikely to reoffend. The sentence was back‑dated to the November arrest. Highfield is a foreign national who will receive little or no visits while in custody.
John Murray, 43, of Kimmage, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment after pleading guilty to ten counts of possessing the proceeds of crime. The charges stemmed from his wife, Kellie Walton, 42, who as a payroll administrator at Virgin Media siphoned €872,470 into Murray's Bank of Ireland account over a decade. The money was largely spent on foreign holidays, premium TV subscriptions and phone services. Walton had previously received a four‑year sentence in 2023, with the final two years suspended, and is now working part‑time. Murray denied the allegations initially but pleaded guilty on the day of his trial. The court noted that the couple had squandered all the funds, leaving them with nothing, and that Murray had no prior convictions. He was deemed unlikely to reoffend.
A 54‑year‑old man, Dainius Sakevicius, pleaded guilty to one count of assault causing harm on 26 December 2022 after drinking for five days. He assaulted his partner, punching her multiple times, causing bruising, swelling, a loose tooth and arm soreness. The victim was treated at St Vincent's and St James's Hospitals. Gardaí found Sakevicius intoxicated at his Bray home and later charged him. The woman withdrew her statement and declined a victim impact statement. Judge Orla Crowe imposed a suspended sentence of 1 year 9 months, suspended in full on strict conditions, including 18 months of Probation Service engagement, participation in Men Overcoming Violence and alcohol treatment programmes. The court noted Sakevicius had no prior convictions, had paid over €4,000 for the victim's medical costs, and had no previous Garda attention. The sentence was given on the day of the hearing.
Anthony Gaffney, aged 54, pleaded guilty to robbing the Topaz service station in Dublin on 22 June 2016. He was first charged, then failed to attend his sentence hearing and lived "under the radar" for eight years. He was arrested later, re‑arrested earlier this year, and has been in custody since. Gaffney has 84 prior convictions, most before 2012, and has not re‑offended since 2016. He was sentenced today to 18 months' imprisonment. The court noted his serious health issues, including COPD, and that his criminal activity is likely to be curtailed by his condition. The sentence was imposed after the court heard that an off‑duty Garda, who was with his family, had confronted Gaffney and a second robber, seized the getaway car keys, and that Gaffney had used a knife in the scuffle. The judge praised the Garda's courage and described the incident as frightening for the Garda, his wife and children.
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that the Director of Public Prosecutions is investigating whether assets linked to Michael Lynn are benefits of crime. The DPP alleges Lynn stole just over €18 million from six financial institutions in 2006 and 2007. He was convicted of 10 of 21 theft counts and jailed in February for five-and-a-half years. The investigation targets three bank accounts containing €2.8 million, a house in Brittas Bay purchased by a corporation strongly linked to Lynn, and €3 million confiscated by Portuguese authorities. Prosecution counsel Joe Mulrean BL stated the DPP is engaged in enquiry under sections 9, 10, and 11 of the Criminal Justice Act 1994. Defense counsel Paul Comiskey O'Keeffe BL required proof of service before adjournment. Judge Martin Nolan adjourned the matter, noting it is likely to be contested. The case returns to court on July 8. Separately, the Court of Appeal recently required Lynn to provide a statement of financial means before legal aid could be granted for his appeal against conviction. Lynn has recently changed solicitors and intends to apply for further legal aid.
A 77-year-old man was sentenced to two and a half years in prison by Judge Sarah Berkeley at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for eight counts of indecent assault against his teenage daughter. The defendant, who pleaded not guilty, was convicted by a jury following a trial in February. The offences occurred on unknown dates between 1985 and 1987 at a location in Leinster. The court heard that the victim, who made a statement to gardai in December 2020, disclosed that she was digitally penetrated and touched by her father while a teenager. The judge described the acts as "vile" and a heinous crime, noting the victim's ongoing suffering from panic attacks and depression. Although the defendant denied the allegations, claiming he never touched her, the jury found him guilty. In mitigation, defence counsel highlighted the defendant's lack of previous convictions, his lifelong work history, and his serious cardiac health issues, which require specific care and medication in prison. Judge Berkeley set a headline sentence of five years but reduced it to two and a half years, taking into account the defendant's poor health and the fact that he supported his family. The judge acknowledged the victim's closure and return to education, stating that while the defendant is now sentenced, his daughter will live with the consequences of his actions for the rest of her life.
Emma Burgess, 38, of Parkview, Rathborne, Dublin 15, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment after pleading guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing €280,000 worth of cocaine for sale or supply at her home on 5 May 2023. Garda Shane Cunningham reported that Burgess admitted to gardaí that she had been supplying a small amount of cocaine, had run up a drug debt of about €15,000, and had agreed to keep the drugs at her home to repay part of that debt. A warrant secured a search of her home, where four kilograms of cocaine were found on top of a wardrobe in a bedroom. Burgess admitted responsibility for the drugs but could not identify the person who had given them to her. She said she had arranged to pick them up from the carpark at Crumlin's Children's Hospital, met an unknown person there, and was handed a heavy black bin.
Matthew O'Connell (20) and Evan Vella (19) pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm and violent disorder, respectively, for a mob attack on a 16‑year‑old Italian student in Blackrock Park on 27 November 2021. The attack began after a bottle was mistakenly blamed on the victim's group, leading to a confrontation that escalated into a group assault by up to ten young men. O'Connell was described as a main antagonist and Vella admitted punching the student once. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a three‑year suspended sentence on O'Connell, ordering him to pay €5,000 and raise an additional €5,000 within a year, and a 16‑month suspended sentence on Vella, ordering him to pay €1,500 to the victim within six months or donate it to charity. Both sentences were suspended, with no custodial terms imposed. The judge highlighted the defendants' young age, lack of prior convictions, and potential for rehabilitation.
Adrian Stralynski, 22, pleaded guilty to laundering €13,100 in a smishing scam that cost a victim €16,000. He has 13 prior convictions for drug possession, assault, public order and road traffic offences. The court heard that the victim, Aidan Hall, received a fraudulent text claiming a Bank of Ireland login and was tricked into entering a verification code, after which €13,100 was transferred through accounts linked to Stralynski. Stralynski admitted he was high and was persuaded by a friend to facilitate the fraud, but denied sending the text. Judge Orla Crowe noted his early guilty plea, lack of recent Garda attention, and remorse, and sentenced him to 18 months in prison suspended in full for two years. The co‑accused has taken a trial date. The case was heard in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Dylan Reddington, 28, of Cherry Orchard Grove, Ballyfermot, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving offences that included high‑speed pursuits on December 15, 2020 and October 7, 2021. He drove at high speed, failed to stop for Gardaí, overtook cars dangerously, ran red lights, drove the wrong way around roundabouts, and drove on the wrong side of the road. The first pursuit ended when he collided with a concrete marker in a residential estate; he was arrested on foot. The second pursuit began on October 7, 2021, when he drove a red Ford Focus at speed up Cloverhill Road, again driving the wrong way and overtaking oncoming traffic, before being arrested in a house in Cherry Orchard. Reddington had 65 prior convictions, including dangerous driving and endangerment. He had completed 16 months of residential treatment before sentencing.
Patrick Maughan, 39, was sentenced by Judge Pauline Codd to two years in prison, with the final six months suspended on strict conditions, for stealing €9,250 worth of tools from a construction worker's van at the National Rehabilitation Hospital. Maughan broke a van window, used a false registration plate, and fled with the equipment. He had 75 previous convictions, including theft and possession of stolen property. The tools were recovered after Gardaí spotted a silver van with a different plate. Maughan pleaded guilty to the theft charge. The court noted the offence's deterrence value for workers in the building trade and considered Maughan's guilty plea and personal circumstances in sentencing. No victim impact statements were submitted by the injured parties. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Sinead Byrne, 46, pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis for sale or supply and to knowingly permitting her home to be used for the sale, supply or distribution of a controlled drug, as well as possession of cocaine, all on 19 December 2021. A Garda search found 1.5 kg of cannabis in an ensuite, 10 kg in the attic, a metal safe with €248 of cocaine, a digital scale and €1,200 cash. Byrne was not present during the search; she later contacted Gardaí, was arrested by appointment, and admitted knowledge of the cannabis in the ensuite but denied knowledge of the attic stash. She claimed the money was to pay rent and was under pressure from a drug debt. Judge Orla Crowe imposed a three‑year prison sentence, fully suspended on strict conditions, including 18 months of probation supervision.
Two young men, injured when a drink‑driving driver crashed into them on a Dublin footpath, told the court that the incident has left a "trail of devastation" in their lives. One victim, unable to work for five months, now struggles with mortgage, childcare and medical bills, and suffers chronic back pain, nightmares and panic attacks. The other, suffering multiple fractures and ongoing excruciating pain, reports severe mood swings and existential dread. The driver, Sean Creighton, 38, was sentenced to three and a half years' imprisonment and a four‑year driving disqualification. He pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing serious harm, dangerous driving at speed and drink‑driving. Creighton, a public servant and community volunteer, expressed remorse and offered €3,000 to the victims. The court noted the victims' long‑term physical and emotional sequelae. The sentencing judge highlighted Creighton's good character and community work as mitigating factors.
A 61‑year‑old Libyan man, Tareq Elkudir, was arrested after disembarking from a Ryanair flight from Manchester to Dublin. He was highly intoxicated, drinking from a litre bottle of whiskey during the 45‑minute flight, and was accused of sexually assaulting a 16‑year‑old girl. The victim described being repeatedly grabbed, hit on the arm, kissed, and having his hand rubbed near her breast area. She also reported being punched twice on the shoulder. Elkudir pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assault at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Martin Nolan, after hearing the case, imposed a fully suspended 18‑month sentence, noting the victim had not filed an impact statement and was ready to move on. The judge also allowed the victim to accept or redirect a €3,000 apology payment. Elkudir has no further criminal record since the offence and is married with three children. The case was heard at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Ayasha Littlejohn, 22, was jailed for three and a half years after transporting 22.6 kg of cannabis worth €453,640 from New York to Dublin, destined for the UK. She was stopped at Dublin Airport in October 2023 when customs officers noticed her luggage. Littlejohn pleaded guilty to possessing drugs for sale or supply. Judge Martin Nolan described her as naive and said she had been pressured by third parties. She had no prior convictions and was pregnant, expected to give birth in June at the Dóchas Centre. Littlejohn cooperated with Gardaí, claimed she was manipulated by a man she met in London, and expressed remorse, hoping to become a good mother. The sentence was back‑dated to her October 26, 2023 arrest.
Shannon Haddock, 28, of Redgap, Rathcoole, was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to a 12‑month suspended term for assisting her partner in a burglary at a house in South Dublin. She pleaded guilty to assisting an offender and dangerous driving. The burglary occurred on 1 March 2023 when the co‑accused, previously jailed for 27 months for a burglary in Sallynoggin, drove a red Audi away from the scene, then switched places with Haddock. Both fled on foot, but Haddock was arrested shortly after. The court noted her lack of prior convictions, her efforts at rehabilitation, and her difficulties with addiction and mental health. She was disqualified from driving for two years and the suspended sentence will be enforced on strict conditions for two years. The judge highlighted her active participation and driving as aggravating factors, while recognising her mitigating circumstances.
During a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Alan Dunne, aged 48, testified that he was abused by 74‑year‑old Bernard Swaine between 1983 and 1986. Dunne, who was between seven and ten at the time, described Swaine's repeated indecent assaults, including a first incident where Swaine penetrated him while they shared a bed. Over the next three years, Swaine allegedly touched Dunne's genitals while he masturbated, a pattern that continued for about three years. Dunne's victim impact statement highlighted the lasting psychological damage, citing depression, anxiety and self‑loathing. Judge Orla Crowe, acknowledging the severity of the abuse, sentenced Swaine to six years' imprisonment, with concurrent terms for the remaining counts. The sentence reflected Swaine's mitigating circumstances, including his age and health, and the court's assessment of the long‑term harm to Dunne. The case underscored the profound effect of childhood sexual abuse on a survivor's life. Bernard Swaine pleaded not guilty and was convicted.
Jason Owens, a 34‑year‑old former Irish taekwondo international, pleaded guilty in June 2023 to assaulting Conor Kelly in a pub toilet on New Year's Day 2020, causing life‑threatening injuries. The trial judge sentenced him to 2½ years' imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended, after a pre‑mitigation headline of seven years. The State appealed, arguing the sentence was too lenient, citing a 50 % global reduction and the late guilty plea. The Court of Appeal, hearing the case in April 2024, dismissed the appeal. Justice Úna Ní Raifeartaigh upheld the 2½‑year term, noting mitigating factors such as Owens' first‑time offender status, late plea, apology, compensation and psychological issues. The court also recorded that Owens had paid €10 000 to Kelly, which was donated to Acquired Brain Injury Ireland. No further sentence adjustments were made.
Leon Byrne, 27, was convicted of robbing an empty cash‑in‑transit box at a Brinks‑guarded Maxol garage in Dublin on 17 February 2022. He brandished a kitchen knife, forced the guard to hand over the box, and fled to his mother's flat across the road. Gardaí followed a trail of green dye from the scene to the flat, where the dye was found on clothing and in the apartment. Byrne had previously been jailed for hijacking a taxi with a sawn‑off shotgun. He pleaded guilty to the robbery, which was valued at €3,000, and was sentenced to four years, with the final two‑and‑a‑half years suspended. He will serve an additional 18 months on top of the sentence he is already serving, having been in custody since March 2022. The court noted Byrne's difficult upbringing and urged him to seek psychological support while in custody.
In April 2024, the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that James Foley, aged 53, had carried out two robberies in Dublin City Centre in April 2023. The first robbery occurred on 15 April at Eurogiant on Abbey Street, where Foley, wearing a facemask, threatened a cashier with a knife and stole €250. The second robbery took place on 20 April at Blackhall Pharmacy on Ellis Quay, where Foley again threatened staff with a knife and stole €200. Gardaí used CCTV footage from both businesses and surrounding areas to track Foley's movements until he removed his facemask, allowing them to identify him. Foley was arrested from a hostel, pleaded guilty to two counts of robbery, and was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment by Judge Martin Nolan. The court noted Foley's long history of drug addiction and his participation in a residential treatment programme, but deemed the offences too serious to avoid custodial time.
Wesley Williams, 46, of Foxlodge Manor, Ratoath, was already serving a two‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence for receiving €1.4 million from European investors in a money‑laundering scheme. On 9 April 2024 a judge declined to extend his sentence after Williams pleaded guilty to stealing a watch worth over €15 000. He received a 20‑month concurrent sentence for the theft, which occurred between February and June 2012. Gardaí searched his property in 2013, finding a safe that could not be opened; a locksmith later opened it and discovered the watch. Williams claimed he was unaware the watch was in the safe and was embarrassed that he could not open it. The court noted he had no prior convictions and, after considering mitigating factors, imposed the 20‑month term. The earlier money‑laundering conviction remains unchanged. The case also involved co‑accused Silvio Rabbitte, who received a two‑year suspended sentence for impeding Williams' apprehension.
Dean Smith, 30, of Killinarden Heights, Tallaght, was sentenced to three and a half years in prison after pleading guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of 19 kg of cannabis herb, worth €359,000, found in his home on 11 November 2021. The drugs were discovered under his child's bed and in a drawer in the same room during a Garda search. Smith confirmed he had placed the drugs there and that his son slept in the room. He had a prior conviction for a separate drug offence. Smith cooperated fully with the investigation and had no evidence of benefiting from drug sales. His defence argued that his drug debt stemmed from cocaine addiction and that he had no control over the quantity supplied. Judge Martin Nolan accepted the mitigating factors, including Smith's cooperation, early guilty plea, family responsibilities and rehabilitation efforts, and imposed the sentence.
Padraig Thornton Waste Disposal Limited, trading as Thorntons Recycling, was fined €60,000 by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for health and safety breaches that led to the death of employee Tomasz Orzel in 2020. The court heard that a bin‑lifting lorry used by the company was defective and unsafe on 19 March 2020. The vehicle's footboards, on which workers stood, were damaged, and a proximity sensor switch designed to prevent reversing while the footboards were down had been interfered with by plastic cable ties, aluminium pull rings and additional wiring that shorted the system. The switch's failure allowed the lorry to reverse and strike Orzel. Thorntons pleaded guilty to failing to manage and maintain the vehicle, breaching the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 and related regulations. The company, founded in 1979 and employing 800 people, has since reviewed its vehicle monitoring procedures.
A 73‑year‑old pensioner, whose identity is protected, lost an appeal against his conviction for sexually abusing his young daughter in the 1980s. He had pleaded not guilty to two counts of indecent assault but was found guilty on two other counts and sentenced to three years and six months' imprisonment, to run concurrently. The appeal argued that missing evidence from a "healer" and delays in the prosecution had made the trial unfair. The Court of Appeal, led by Justice Patrick McCarthy, rejected the appeal, stating there was no basis that any healer's involvement was relevant to the charges or that missing evidence existed. The judge upheld the trial judge's warning to the jury about delays and found no prejudice against the appellant. The conviction remains in place.
A 46‑year‑old man was jailed for 12 months for assault causing harm and a two‑year sentence for witness intimidation, with 12 months suspended on strict conditions. He was convicted after a trial at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in February. The case involved his wife withdrawing an earlier assault complaint at a Garda station in October 2020, then later re‑affirming her withdrawal in April 2021. She had initially claimed the husband had spat, hit and insulted her, showing bruises, but later said she was afraid of him. The jury heard her first statement and a medical report, but the judge noted she had not given a victim impact statement. The judge emphasised the seriousness of witness intimidation in a domestic setting and imposed the concurrent sentences, hoping the conditions would deter further incidents. The defendant did not accept the verdict and did not express remorse, though he acknowledged causing some injuries. The unnamed 46-year-old was acquitted.
Sean Power, a 32‑year‑old Dublin City Council driver, was fined €1,000 for careless driving after striking a pedestrian in a white Ford Transit van on a narrow, poorly lit T‑junction near Cherry Orchard Industrial Estate. The victim, in his 50s, suffered a catastrophic brain bleed and a broken leg, requiring three weeks in hospital and ongoing rehabilitation. Power, who had been employed with An Post before the accident, cooperated with Gardaí, offered first aid, and later wrote an apology letter. The court noted Power's lack of intent to cause injury, his cooperation, and mitigating personal circumstances, including being the sole breadwinner for three children. No driving disqualification was imposed, and the case remains civilly actionable. The incident occurred on 14 January 2020, and Power's van and phone were seized. The court imposed the fine within six months.
Patrick Joyce, 43, of Rossfield, Tallaght, was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to three and a half years' imprisonment, with the final six months suspended, after pleading guilty to two counts of endangerment and two counts of dangerous driving. The offence involved a 35‑minute high‑speed pursuit around Dublin, during which Joyce's gold Skoda Octavia ran red lights, crossed roundabouts, and drove through residential estates on the M50. He was disqualified from driving at the time and was arrested at the scene; CCTV footage from Garda Air Support was shown to the court. The court heard that Joyce's breath smelled of intoxicants and that he had drug and alcohol addictions. The judge noted his guilty plea, remorse, addiction issues, and a tragic family loss as mitigating factors, while citing the seriousness of the offence and his disqualification as aggravating factors.