Sean Mooney, 40, and John Brown, 38, pleaded guilty to possessing drugs with intent to sell or supply on 17 August 2016. Garda investigation found Mooney's fingerprints on a Lidl shopping bag containing 27 g of heroin (value €3,780) and Brown's fingerprints on two drug bags in a shed at a Barry Drive property, one bag holding 122.9 g of heroin (value €17,206) and another a kilo of cannabis (value €20,000). Mooney, who has 34 prior convictions, claimed his defence counsel collaborated with Gardaí to secure a guilty plea. Judge Martina Baxter sentenced Mooney to 2½ years' imprisonment, suspending the final 12 months on strict conditions, and Brown to 4 years' imprisonment, suspending the final 18 months. The judge cited the drug values, prior convictions and community impact as aggravating factors, while noting the defendants' remorse and community standing as mitigating factors.
Rodney de Khors, a 54‑year‑old former League of Ireland footballer, was sentenced to 16 months in jail after pleading guilty to one count of harassing a man he had never met. Between August 2019 and August 2020, de Khors used the Twitter account IrishSteve@BadboyDublin to post doctored images and false allegations, calling the victim a paedophile, sexual predator and danger to women and children. The victim, who had a child with the woman who encouraged the harassment, said the campaign was a "living nightmare" that caused severe anxiety, depression and PTSD. De Khors claimed he was acting as a "good Samaritan" for the woman, who alleged the victim was not providing adequate child support. The court noted de Khors had no prior convictions and was at low risk of re‑offending. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a three‑year sentence, suspending the final 20 months, and ordered psychiatric care while in custody.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 9 February 2024, Cal Redmond, aged 26, pleaded guilty to reckless endangerment and dangerous driving for incidents on 24 July 2018 in Foutunestown Way and Bawnlea Avenue. Redmond had 15 prior convictions, two driving bans and a suspended sentence at the time. A Garda patrol car, en route to a stabbing incident, was diverted when Redmond was observed driving 80‑100 km/h, making a sudden left turn that forced two children to jump out of the way, driving on the wrong side of the road and through red lights. He was arrested after stopping in Bawnlea Avenue and running into a garden. The court noted his mental health difficulties and ADHD, and that he was attempting to turn his life around.
A 23‑year‑old man, Taner Saricayir, was sentenced to 16 months' imprisonment and a lifetime ban on contact with a woman he had become infatuated with while they were students in 2019. He pleaded guilty to breaking into her home in Donnycarney on 19 June 2022, after a chance meeting in a Dublin Starbucks. He entered the house through an unlocked front door, rummaged through her underwear drawer, used a toothbrush with toothpaste on the sink and door, and held her dog while waiting for her to return. He later admitted he had entered through a window. The court considered a separate count of harassing her between 2021 and 2022. The judge noted the woman's distress and the seriousness of the break‑in, and imposed the 16‑month term and lifetime contact ban.
Alexander Ortauf, an 18‑year‑old South African who had lived in Bristol, was denied entry to Ireland in February 2020 after an immigration officer discovered he intended to meet a 13‑year‑old girl he had met online. The officer called the girl from Ortauf's phone and realised she was very young, leading to his denial of permission and alerting Gardaí. Gardaí found about 20 images and ten videos of a sexual nature of the child on his phone. Ortauf pleaded guilty to one count of possessing child pornography and one count of using information and communication technology to facilitate the sexual exploitation of a child. He had no prior convictions. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court sentenced him to a fully suspended term of two and a half years, with the judge noting his youth and lack of previous convictions as mitigating factors. The sentence was suspended in full, with no custodial time imposed.
Dale Kavanagh, 29, of Arklow, was sentenced to two and a half years' imprisonment for assault causing harm, unlawful seizure of a vehicle and driving without insurance. He was driven to Dublin by a man to buy crack cocaine, then attacked that man, hijacked his car with a knife and dragged the owner about ten metres. Garda Tom Balfe reported that Kavanagh had been driven to Dublin for drug purchase, that the car owner was known to him, and that the hijacking involved a knife and the theft of €200. Kavanagh pleaded guilty, was found to have a history of drug use from age 14 and heroin addiction from 21, and was described by his lawyer as remorseful and drug‑free.
Adrianne St Clair, a 25‑year‑old US woman, was arrested on 22 December after a customs sniffer dog detected over 22 kg of cannabis in two large suitcases she carried from Los Angeles. She had been paid €5 000 to transport the suitcases, which she claimed contained clothing, to London Gatwick Airport. St Clair admitted possessing €460 880 worth of cannabis on the date in question and pleaded guilty at the District Court. She has no prior convictions. Her defence counsel described her as naive and vulnerable, citing her deep‑seated Christian faith as a factor that made her trust others. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, hearing the case on 8 February, found her culpability to be recklessness rather than actual knowledge and sentenced her to three and a half years' imprisonment, back‑dated to her arrest.
Glen Conroy, 35, pleaded guilty to robbing the Triangle Coffee Shop in Donabate on 25 June 2023, using a broken glass bottle to demand money. He was arrested on 27 July 2023 after fully admitting the offence and cooperating with Gardaí. The robbery resulted in the loss of approximately €300, with no recovery of the stolen money. Conroy has 67 prior convictions, including five for robbery. Judge Patricia Ryan, hearing the case at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, noted the aggravating factor of the bottle and the impact on the two young workers present, aged 18 and 19. Mitigating factors cited were Conroy's early guilty plea, admissions, cooperation, and his background of being institutionalised from age two and incarcerated from 14. The judge imposed a headline sentence of four years, suspending the final eighteen months for three years, and placed Conroy under probation supervision for two years.
Brandon Crosbie, aged 25, was sentenced to six years' imprisonment for violent disorder in Mountjoy Prison on 18 December 2018, when he and five others attacked a prisoner, stamping on his head and leaving him unconscious. He also pleaded guilty to several charges for a high‑speed car chase on 22 May 2022, including endangerment, unlawful use of a vehicle, reckless conduct creating a substantial risk of death, criminal damage, driving without insurance and without a licence. The chase involved breaking red lights, driving on the wrong side of a roundabout, forcing a taxi to swerve, and driving at up to 160 km/h, culminating in a tyre deflating after a stinger was fired. Crosbie was arrested when he exited the vehicle. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to six years for the violent disorder and four years for the endangerment, with both sentences running concurrently, and disqualified him from driving for five years.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Shane Byrne (35) and his brother Luke (28) pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and criminal damage after a St Stephen's Day incident at Boomers Bar, Woodford Walk, Clondalkin. The brothers, who had been refused further drinks, entered the pub, damaged the exterior and several parked cars, and then attempted to re‑enter after the pub was closed. A customer tried to stop Luke, who pushed him to the ground, causing a 90‑degree ankle twist and a bad fracture that required surgery. Both brothers then kicked and punched the victim, who was off work for three and a half months. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Shane to 16 months in prison, describing him as the "initiator" of the "obstreperous behaviour", while Luke received a fully suspended 16‑month sentence and was ordered to pay €4,000 to the victim or a charity of the victim's choice.
James Maguire, 59, of Cabra Park, was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison after pleading guilty to possessing €597,188 worth of heroin, cocaine and tablets for sale or supply. Gardaí seized the drugs in his apartment in the Old Distillery, Smithfield, Dublin 7, where they found bags of cocaine and heroin, tablets, weighing scales, €5,995 in cash, a drug press, bottles of ammonia, €2,050 hidden in a washing machine, and a machine for compressing drugs. Mixing agents such as caffeine, paracetamol and benzocaine were also recovered. A BMW parked in the apartment's garage contained over €350,000 worth of cocaine and heroin, bringing the total seized value to €597,188. Maguire, who has 64 prior convictions including three for drug possession, was backdated to his custody entry on 18 December 2022. Judge Martin Nolan noted his guilty plea and cooperation as mitigating factors, yet emphasised his decision to engage in serious drug dealing.
At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Wesley Williams (46) of Foxlodge Manor, Ratoath, Co Meath, was sentenced to two and a half years in prison after pleading guilty to one count of making a gain for himself in a scheme that took place over a decade ago. His co-accused, Silvio Rabbitte (55) of Woodberry Gardens, Castleknock, Dublin, was given a fully-suspended sentence of two years after pleading guilty to one count of impeding the apprehension of Wesley Williams on dates between September 2012 and July 2014. Rabbitte's counsel argued that he had been 'duped' and should have known the scheme was 'too good to be true'. The court heard that Rabbitte received €350,000 from an account shared with Williams, as co-directors of One Stop Shop Catering Ltd, into which €1.4 million from German investors was transferred. The money was quickly dispersed, with Rabbitte receiving €350,000. Rabbitte was arrested, and a laptop containing phone call recordings was seized. The court heard that Rabbitte signed a contract before the money entered the account, which made it harder for Williams to be prosecuted. The matter was adjourned for mention in March to deal with an allegation of theft of a €15,000 watch faced by Williams. Simon Gold (59) of Windy Ridge House, Cartontroy, Athlone, Co Westmeath, was jailed for seven years in 2019 after being found guilty of money laundering, theft, deception, and control of false instruments.
An Irish couple had €177,000 earmarked for a retirement home stolen in a phishing scam and transferred to a money mule. Mark Farley, 42, allowed his bank account to be used in the fraud and pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to handling the proceeds of criminal conduct between 8 and 18 December 2020. He received a fully suspended sentence of three years. Farley has 16 previous convictions, including traffic, public order and criminal damage. The judge said Farley had run up a debt and that third parties had taken advantage of his hold over him, but that his own activities put him under their sway. The authorities discovered the fraud in time and the €177,000 was returned to the couple within 16 days. Farley's account was frozen and he had not used it for some time, though it had been used for his electrician business.
A 41‑year‑old Dublin woman pleaded guilty to assault causing harm on her 16‑year‑old daughter on 10 November 2021. The court heard that the dispute escalated from verbal to physical, with the mother punching the daughter and striking her with an object. The daughter suffered swelling, bruising and a head laceration. Police found a smell of alcohol and the mother admitted drinking wine with a neighbour that night. She was arrested, admitted to causing injuries, and expressed remorse, calling herself a "bad mother" and vowing never to drink again. The court, Judge Martin Nolan, described the case as "sad" and imposed a 16‑month suspended sentence, deciding she did not deserve prison at that point. Tusla took the three children into care; the victim has used Tusla's after‑care services and a safety plan has been put in place. The mother has complied with all instructions and engaged fully with the agency.
Gerard O'Keeffe, 44, of Tallaght, pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography on his phone. He was found with four videos, ranging from 2½ to 30 minutes, three classified as Category 1 (explicit sexual acts involving female children) and one as Category 2 (children exposing genitalia). Gardaí, alerted by the Garda Online Child Exploitation Unit, seized his phone under a warrant; he cooperated, handed it over, and admitted to downloading the material from a chat website used by 50–60 users over three to five months. O'Keeffe, who has a prior assault conviction from his teens, expressed remorse and shame, and a letter of apology was presented. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a fully suspended two‑year sentence, noting no aggravating factors and ordering one year of probation supervision. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 7 February 2024.
A 53‑year‑old man from Coolock was sentenced to three years' imprisonment, with the final 20 months suspended, for attempting to meet and have sex with a 13‑year‑old girl who was a decoy bot set up by a vigilante group. The man, Shane Corrigan, used an online account to contact the bot, asking for explicit sexual acts and proposing a meeting at a hotel. He also asked the bot to bring her friends and a six‑year‑old cousin, and when the bot indicated she wanted to have sex with the six‑year‑old, he agreed. Defence counsel argued that Corrigan suffers from a mild intellectual disability and is a vulnerable adult. The court noted his early guilty plea, cooperation, good work history and lack of prior convictions as mitigating factors, but also stated that he knew his actions were wrong.
Christopher Dunne, 39, of The Charter, Santry Cross, Dublin, was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment for a series of armed robberies committed between July and October 2022. He pleaded guilty to four counts of robbery from three different stores – Applegreen, Eurospar in Ballymun and Spar on Dorset Street Lower – and was also charged with attempted robbery. In July 2022 he robbed two tills, taking €720 from Applegreen and €400 from Eurospar, and €540 from Spar, all while armed with a knife. After being released on bail, he robbed a Tesco Express in Bolton Street with a realistic imitation revolver, demanding a cashier hand over €2,000 and ordering a security guard to kneel. He then attempted to rob a Gala shop, was sprayed with insect repellent and fled. Gardaí located him at his Santry address after a tip‑off; he was found hiding in a bathroom and was taken into custody.
An American man, Caleb Williams, 35, was sentenced to five years in jail in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after being found with 60 packs of cannabis worth €542,000 in his luggage on his first trip outside the United States. Williams, who had no prior convictions in the US, claimed he thought the drugs were a small amount and was unaware of their quantity, stating he had not opened the suitcases. He said he was transporting the cannabis for a fee of about $5,000–$6,000 and did not know that cannabis is illegal in Ireland, though it is legal in his native Florida. Williams was stopped by customs after acting uneasily at Dublin Airport, where his three suitcases were searched. He was detained upon arrival and has been in custody since. Caleb Williams pleaded guilty.
Four men entered a Dublin secondary school at about 2 pm on 13 October 2022 and violently confronted a teenage boy. CCTV showed the men entering the school, the boy taking a hammer from his bag in self‑defence and fleeing, and the fourth man—who is not yet before the courts—throwing a steel pole at the boy, narrowly missing him. The third man, Josh Neary (22), grabbed the boy's bag and threw it. Staff removed the men from the school; no physical injuries were reported. Garda Aisling Halligan told the court that students were frightened and a staff member retired because of the incident. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced the three men who pleaded guilty to violent disorder to 16 months' imprisonment, suspending the sentence in full for Jack Craig (21) who had no prior convictions and played a minor role. Neary and Scott Purdue (25) received the full 16‑month terms.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Judge Elva Duffy heard that Lee Byrne (23) and Sam Garvey (25) pleaded guilty to robbery on Phibsborough Road on 1 October 2022. The robbery involved a mobile phone taken from a cyclist who was then punched, threatened and struck with a bottle. The victim suffered bruising and swelling to the back of his head and reported lasting emotional distress. Byrne and Garvey were arrested after a search that recovered the stolen phone. Both men have prior convictions and have been in residential treatment for addiction. The judge noted their rehabilitation efforts but emphasised the robbery's profound effect on the victim. She adjourned the case to 20 January 2025, remanded them on bail, and said further positive steps would influence future sentencing. The hearing included the victim's impact statement and letters of remorse from the accused.
Aaron Ryan, aged 23 when the incident occurred, was punched in the head by his former best friend Jamie Tyler, who was serving a suspended sentence for a drug offence. The blow caused Ryan to fall, hit the floor and suffer a catastrophic brain bleed, leaving him unconscious and severely injured. Ryan spent eight months in hospital and rehabilitation, with permanent short‑term memory loss, paralysis, pain, headaches, vertigo, hypersensitivity and PTSD. He has been unable to perform simple tasks and lives with constant double vision and fear of noise. Tyler, aged 27, was sentenced to two years in prison for assault causing serious harm. He has denied full responsibility, offered no apology, and has not called emergency services. The court noted his remorse and the mitigating circumstances, reducing the sentence to two years. The case will return on 15 February to decide how to apply Tyler's suspended sentence.
A 41‑year‑old man was sentenced to 18 months in prison, with the last six months suspended, for sexually assaulting his partner's 15‑year‑old niece at a birthday party in her family home. He pleaded guilty on 19 September 2020 after initially denying the charge. The assault involved the accused placing his hands on the girl's hips, making sexual suggestions, entering her bedroom after she went to bed, touching her bottom and digitally penetrating her. The victim's mother witnessed the man in the bedroom and the girl later reported the incident to Gardaí. She has since experienced suicidal thoughts and self‑harm. The judge cited the age difference, power imbalance, the setting in the victim's home and the serious impact on the victim as aggravating factors, while noting the defendant's guilty plea, remorse and lack of prior convictions as mitigating factors. The sentence includes 12 months of probation supervision after release.
Phung Sein Tran, 43, an American from Seattle, pleaded guilty to smuggling 27 kg of cannabis into Dublin Airport on 29 May. The drug, valued at €540,820, was found in two large suitcases after an X‑ray anomaly. Tran admitted the purpose was to smuggle the cannabis for €8,000, meeting an unknown person at the Burlington Hotel. He was arrested, entered custody on the same day, and was sentenced by Judge Martin Nolan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to five and a half years in jail, a sentence backdated to the arrest date. Tran had cooperated with Gardaí, pleaded early, and had a good work history, though he has minor juvenile misdemeanour and traffic offences. He has shown remorse and is training with the Irish Red Cross in prison. The judge noted his previous good behaviour and unlikely re‑offending.
Lucas Procopio Jefferson, 24, was sentenced to two years in prison for smuggling 1.9 kilos of cocaine, worth about €138,000, into Dublin Port on 1 June last year. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Martin Nolan described the offence as a "crime of desperation" carried out to relieve threats against him and his family, and possibly for profit. Jefferson came from a very poor background in rural Brazil, had lived in Portugal for several years, and had no prior convictions in Ireland, Brazil or Portugal. Garda officers stopped him at the immigration desk, examined his suitcase and found the concealed compartment with the drugs. Jefferson cooperated and made admissions. He is seeking asylum in Ireland and has used his time in custody constructively, working in the kitchen and studying. The sentence was back‑dated to the date of his arrest in June.
Miley McDonald, 19, was sentenced by Judge Orla Crowe to a fully suspended two‑year imprisonment for robbing €4,000 in cash from a woman who had withdrawn the money to buy a car for her autistic son. The robbery took place on 18 November 2021 in Wicklow Town when McDonald, then 17, followed the victim from an AIB branch, seized the envelope of €50 notes, and fled in a silver Peugeot. The money was recovered under the passenger seat after the vehicle was stopped at a Garda checkpoint. McDonald pleaded guilty and expressed remorse, noting the incident was isolated. The judge highlighted the victim's ongoing distress and the lack of prior convictions, and warned that any future Garda attention could lead to the sentence being re‑entered. The case remains at the District Court stage.
Andrew Cash, 32, was sentenced to eight years in prison, with the final year suspended, after pleading guilty to multiple offences including theft, robbery, attempted robbery and assault causing harm. The court heard that between May and November 2020 he carried out a series of violent robberies across Dublin, most notably an attack in Crane Lane where he punched a victim, kicked him to the ground, stamped on his head and left him with a concussion, slipped discs and a minor brain bleed. CCTV footage showed Cash returning with two accomplices to repeat the assault. He also pleaded guilty to a robbery at a launderette and theft of a debit card and mobile phone from an unconscious man. The judge cited his 66 prior convictions, the violence used and the threat of knives as aggravating factors, while noting his guilty plea, homelessness and substance abuse as mitigating.
Kacper Koszarski, 23, faced a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing after a series of violent burglaries and high‑speed car chases. He pleaded guilty to 17 charges, including four counts of dangerous driving, four of trespass, one of endangerment, four of criminal damage, two of burglary, one of knife production and one of unauthorised vehicle taking. The court noted his 39 prior convictions, seven of them theft, and warned that a "sentence of some significance" would be imposed. Judge Elva Duffy adjourned the case to 22 March for a probation report, urine analysis and governor's report, remanding Koszarski in custody. The hearing covered incidents from a Maynooth burglary where a Renault Megane was taken and chased, to multiple garden trespasses in Dublin where knives were found. Koszarski's partner testified about their son with additional needs, and he expressed remorse and a desire for rehabilitation. The court considered his young age, addiction history and willingness to cooperate. The case remains pending.
Jonathan Moles, aged 30, was sentenced to eight and a half years in prison by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for a series of violent offences. He pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a woman and assault causing harm to her at a flat on Botanic Avenue on 8 August 2020, to assaulting a man at an ATM on Capel Street on 8 July 2019, to assaulting a man on 18 November 2019 and robbing him of over €2,000, and to assaulting a man on 18 November 2019. The court noted Moles' "violent disposition" and cumulative misbehaviour. He has 40 prior convictions, mainly for money laundering and drug possession, and no other convictions for assault or robbery. The judge accepted his guilty pleas, remorse and rehabilitation efforts, and imposed the sentence accordingly.
Ciaran Foster, 30, a former Defence Forces member, was jailed for a year after pleading guilty to a robbery on Westmoreland Street, Dublin 2, on 23 July 2019. He punched an unarmed victim, knocking him unconscious for three and a half minutes, and stole a bag, a mobile phone and a watch. Garda Sean Tully reported that the victim had stopped to chat with someone he knew when Foster attacked him. CCTV footage showed the assault and Foster's escape. Foster was arrested on 9 November 2019. He had 13 prior convictions for traffic offences, criminal damage, public order and drug misuse. Judge Elma Duffy described the attack as "callous" and "unprovoked", noting Foster's difficult childhood and Defence Forces service as mitigating factors, but also the cowardly nature of the robbery as aggravating. Foster was sentenced to two and a half years' imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended on strict conditions.
Michael Kelly, 34, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assaulting a female taxi driver after they refused to pay her fare. The incident occurred on 19 December 2022 when Kelly and his partner left a taxi without paying, walked into their home, and the driver pursued them to the front door. Kelly pulled the driver by her jumper and punched her several times, causing bruising and tenderness to her face. CCTV contradicted his claim of self‑defence. He has seven prior minor traffic convictions. The judge, Martin Nolan, imposed a suspended two‑year jail sentence and ordered Kelly to pay the driver €3,000 within nine months, or donate the amount to charity if she declines. The sentence was suspended on conditions, and no custodial time was imposed at this stage. The driver suffered nausea and dizziness and was treated at hospital the next day.
Oliver Moore, 55, was sentenced to a four‑year suspended term for attempting to set fire to a house on 18 November 2022. He had a long‑standing grievance with the former resident, unaware that the house was now occupied by three students. Gardai found him early in the morning trying to push burning newspaper through the letterbox, claiming he intended to "burn him out." The students heard banging, saw him shouting, and fled to the garden before calling the police. Moore pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The judge noted his attempts were ineffectual but serious, and, citing mitigating factors, imposed the suspended sentence with conditions, warning him it was his first and last chance. He had no prior convictions and had not returned to the property since the incident.
A 42‑year‑old convicted murderer, Richard Kearney, was sentenced to eight years in prison for a series of offences committed while on temporary release from a life sentence. In March 2023 he briefly imprisoned a former prison chaplain in her bathroom, then robbed and assaulted an 86‑year‑old woman in Clondalkin, and later attacked two priests in Clondalkin. He attempted to choke a 74‑year‑old priest, broke the hip of an 86‑year‑old priest, and locked both priests in an office while taking a phone and cash. The court noted the victims were elderly and unable to resist. Kearney's temporary release was revoked after the offences, and the Parole Board will consider his conduct separately. The judge highlighted that the attacks were similar to the murder for which Kearney was originally convicted in 2001. The sentence was back‑dated to March 2023. Richard Kearney pleaded guilty.
Stewart Goodwin, 46, of Ashbourne, was found guilty of deceiving Old Borough National School in Swords by installing inferior flooring, resulting in a loss of €15,240. He pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after a District Court charge. Goodwin had been hired to repair a flood‑damaged floor, paid a deposit, and agreed on a specific type of wood. He instead ordered cheaper, lower‑quality timber, removed the old floor, and installed a thinner, untreated surface. The school cancelled the contract and demanded a refund. Goodwin repaid €9,510 in June but still owed €15,240. He expressed remorse, claiming he intended to improve the floor later. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a 21‑month suspended sentence, requiring Goodwin to repay the full €15,240 within one year under strict conditions. No victim impact statement was prepared.
Three men – Steven Byrne (36), Jonathan Dolan (47) and Anthony Grogan (55) – pleaded guilty to two counts of assaulting Gardaí and one count of violent disorder for an unprovoked attack on two Gardaí outside a takeaway on Ballyfermot Road on 21 November 2022. The Gardaí, Phillip Nash, Sean Savage and Nicole Malcolmson, were injured; Savage required staples and stitches to his head and Malcolmson suffered a knee injury. CCTV footage was shown in court. The men were arrested at the scene or later that day. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced each to 27 months imprisonment, to run concurrently on each count of assault and the violent disorder count. The sentence was imposed after the men pleaded guilty, cooperated, made admissions and expressed remorse. The court noted the Gardaí were performing their lawful duty when assaulted. The men's prior convictions were mentioned but did not affect the sentencing. The sentence was delivered in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
A 32‑year‑old South African woman, Anele Ngwenya, was sentenced to 16 months' imprisonment in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for assisting the entry of a 16‑year‑old Congolese girl into Ireland on a fake passport. Ngwenya pleaded guilty to the offence of assisting the entry of another person at Terminal Two, Dublin Airport on 5 October 2023. She claimed she had agreed to escort the girl for €971 after being approached by members of her church in Johannesburg, describing the act as a "crime of desperation". The girl, who is now under Tusla's care, travelled from Paris with Ngwenya, who was questioned by immigration officers about her purpose of travel. Ngwenya had no prior convictions in Ireland or South Africa. The court accepted that there were no aggravating features and imposed a 16‑month custodial sentence, describing the offence as serious but not an insidious human trafficking case.
A 36‑year‑old woman, Christine Ward, was sentenced to eight and a half years in prison for her role in a violent robbery of a 79‑year‑old widower in Artane on 2 November 2018. Ward, who had previously called the victim for money, entered his home with her former partner Derek Bewley, who wielded a claw hammer. The victim was stabbed repeatedly, had his hearing aid shattered, and was robbed of €600, his phone, and his car. Ward pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary and other counts, and the judge noted the offence was against a vulnerable elderly man. Ward's sentence of 10 years, with 18 months suspended, reflects the seriousness of the crime. Bewley, aged 48, is due to be sentenced later. The court also heard of a separate robbery of a visually impaired man on the same day, but Ward's sentence concerns the Artane incident.
Mark Kelly, 26, of Blanchardstown, Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to three and a half years in prison. Kelly pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply and possession of cash believed to be proceeds of crime, both alleged to have occurred at his home on June 29, 2022. The court heard that Gardaí found cocaine with an estimated street value of €285,000, along with €3,575 in cash, weighing scales, knives, and baggies during a warrant search. Kelly admitted to officers that he was holding the drugs to settle a €3,000 debt incurred through his own cocaine use, stating he had been threatened and was in debt for approximately six months. Defence counsel Tony McGillicuddy SC submitted that Kelly had no previous convictions, had lost his job, and immediately took responsibility for the drugs to protect others. Judge Martin Nolan acknowledged that Kelly acted at the lower end of the enterprise and had "got in over his head" due to addiction, but noted he was a "vital cog" in the supply chain. The judge jailed Kelly for three and a half years.
Nicolae Dulea, 36, of Tyrellstown, Dublin, was jailed for 18 months after pleading guilty to non‑payment of duty on 40,000 untaxed cigarettes and to keeping 60,600 cigarettes and 4.5 kg of fine‑cut tobacco without tax stamps. The cigarettes were discovered in a pallet that a detection dog flagged on 11 November 2021; the pallet, listed as children's playthings, contained two boxes of untaxed cigarettes totalling a €24,580 loss to the State. A separate search of a storage container rented to Prunesso Europe Ltd on the same day uncovered 60,600 cigarettes and 4.5 kg of tobacco, a €38,198.75 loss. The total loss to the State was €61,788. Dulea had two prior convictions, the most recent in 2013. He claimed to be a wholesaler of dried fruits and said he was collecting the boxes for a friend. He was cooperative, pleaded early, and his wife attended court.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 33‑year‑old Daragh Houlihan pleaded guilty to robbery for an incident on 4 May 2021 in which he attacked his pregnant girlfriend, wrestled with her over a knife, pushed and kicked her, and stole her phone. The judge described his conduct as "utterly reprehensible" and noted the victim's pregnancy and the relationship's end. Houlihan's addiction to cocaine and heroin was cited as a mitigating factor. The court imposed a headline sentence of three years, reduced to two years and three months, and suspended the entire term for three years on strict conditions, including no contact with the victim and notification of any new intimate relationship. Houlihan agreed to participate in programs addressing intimate partner violence, anger management, and offence‑focused intervention. The victim's impact statement highlighted her fear and emotional distress following the assault. The case concluded with a fully suspended sentence and no custodial time.
A 61-year-old former scout leader has been sentenced to six years imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following his guilty plea to three counts of sexual assault committed between 1991 and 2000. The man, whose identity is protected to safeguard victims' anonymity, abused three boys aged between 11 and 14 at a scouting den in Dublin and at locations in Waterford and Monaghan. The abuse included inappropriate touching, masturbation and oral sex. Judge Martin Nolan described the defendant's conduct as "very serious" and "very reprehensible," noting he had abused his position of trust and authority over vulnerable, impressionable children and their families. The court imposed three-year sentences on each count, with two to run consecutively. Three victim impact statements were presented, with victims describing long-term psychological harm, damaged trust and ongoing mental health difficulties. The defence highlighted the defendant's guilty plea, work history and psychological assessment indicating low re-offending risk, though the judge found these factors provided only limited mitigation.
Debbie Paget, 56, of Knowth Court, Ballymun, Dublin, was convicted in May 2024 for dishonestly inducing James Byrne to give her €10,000 by claiming his deceased father had instructed her to receive the money, and for a lesser charge of inducing Maria Byrne to give €200. The jury found her guilty on the first count and not guilty on the second. She was jailed for one year by Judge Pauline Codd on 10 July. In the appeal, counsel argued that the trial judge erred by not directing a not‑guilty verdict at the close of the prosecution case, citing alleged inconsistencies in witness statements. The Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal, affirming the jury's findings and the conviction. The case remains at the sentencing stage, with no further outcome reported in the article.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, William Cassidy, 59, was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment for arson at Apache Pizza and three and a half years for assault causing harm, the last two years suspended. Cassidy had thrown two petrol bombs into the pizzeria on 9 July, set his jacket on fire, and then attempted to stab a female pedestrian on Drumcondra Road. He told Gardaí he sought "suicide by cop" and that the petrol bombs were intended for self‑harm. The court noted he had previously complained about noise from the shop, had a history of suicidal ideation and had stopped seeing his psychiatrist. Cassidy pleaded guilty to arson, possession of petrol bombs, assault, and possession of a knife. The judge described him as a dangerous man suffering mental health difficulties and said he was unlikely to reoffend with proper treatment.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Chen Hsien Tsai, 59, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment for money‑laundering after he was found carrying more than €1.78 million in cash at Dublin Airport's Terminal One on 7 March. The cash, in euro, sterling and US dollars, was discovered in two envelopes and in bags that also contained food and sanitary items. Tsai, who has no fixed abode in Ireland and no prior convictions in Ireland or the UK, claimed he was merely transporting the money for a friend and was not paid for the service. He admitted to being afraid and frightened when arrested. Judge Martin Nolan noted that an English‑speaking national might have received a longer sentence and that the prison could be a lonely place for a foreign national. The sentence was back‑dated to the day of his arrest. The case has attracted the interest of UK authorities. Chen Hsien Tsai pleaded guilty.
Tadhg Keely, 19, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for stealing a Toyota Aqua from Belview Court, Blackrock, Co Dublin, and endangerment on the N81 Tallaght bypass. He pleaded guilty to these charges and further admitted to dangerous driving on the N7 in Naas, Co Kildare. Judge Martin Nolan described the incident as extremely dangerous, noting Keely's "disgraceful behaviour" when he drove through traffic cones, forcing a workman to "jump for his life." The court heard Keely led ten garda patrol cars on a 40-minute chase at speeds exceeding 160km/h, blowing two tyres and driving on the wrong side of the road. He was sentenced to three and a half years in prison, with the final year suspended due to his young age, guilty plea, and difficult background. Judge Nolan disqualified Keely from driving for three years and ordered one year of probation supervision upon release. Keely, who has 36 previous convictions, was in State care at the time. The matter was finalised with this sentence.
Michael Dunne, 50, a serial offender with 51 prior convictions, was sentenced by Judge Orla Crowe at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to 18 months for throwing blue paint on a Luke Kelly statue, causing €240 damage. Nine months of the sentence were suspended on strict conditions. Dunne pleaded guilty on 12 July 2020 and had previously missed a sentencing date in December, leading to a bench warrant. The judge cited aggravating factors such as his criminal history and the bench warrant, but also noted mitigating factors including his guilty plea, expressions of remorse, vulnerable history, and personal circumstances. Garda David Kelly identified Dunne through CCTV footage. Defence counsel highlighted his drug addiction, mental health difficulties, and the impact on his family. The court acknowledged the case's media attention but emphasized that Dunne must face the consequences of his actions.
Steven Russell, 47, of Cooperhill, Julianstown, was given a fully suspended one‑year prison sentence after pleading guilty to exposing his penis to a 10‑year‑old school girl in September 2020. He was ordered to pay €5,000 to the child's parents or guardians within six months to help cover therapy and counselling costs. The case had been listed for trial three times before the guilty plea, with the child prepared to give evidence each time. Russell had no prior convictions. The court noted the offence's seriousness and the impact on the child, but also considered his early plea, lack of previous convictions, family responsibilities, and the brief nature of the interaction. The offence does not result in Russell being registered as a sex offender. The suspended sentence means no custodial time unless the sentence is later activated.
Nathan Kirby, 22, of Grand Canal House, Lower Rathmines Road, Dublin 6, was given a fully suspended two‑year sentence and ordered to pay €7,500 to a 76‑year‑old pensioner who was injured on Lower Rathmines Road on 6 January 2022. Kirby pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after an argument over change in a Holland and Barrett shop where he worked. He punched and kicked the pensioner, fracturing his jaw, breaking his dentures and knocking out a front tooth. The court noted Kirby's guilty plea, good work history and lack of prior convictions as mitigating factors. Judge Martin Nolan said Kirby had lost his temper but was unlikely to reoffend, and ordered him to maintain good behaviour for the suspended period. Kirby admitted the assault, expressed remorse, and is currently employed by Hertz Car Hire, planning to open a café in the future.
Anthony Dennis, 39, of Ballyfermot, was sentenced to an additional year and nine months in prison for threatening to kill a prison officer at Cloverhill Prison on 29 September 2020. The judge described the conduct as part of a "pattern of intimidation" that included several incidents. Dennis, who has 331 prior convictions—almost 200 for traffic offences—has spent half his life in custody. The first threat occurred while he was smoking on the prison landing, after which he ignored officers' requests to return to his cell. He later called the officer a "tramp" and a "scumbag" and threatened to "blow his head off" after being placed in a close‑supervision cell. The court noted that Dennis had been remanded since 12 January and that he has three prior assault convictions but no prior convictions for threats to kill. The sentence was back‑dated to 12 January. Anthony Dennis pleaded guilty.
A 75-year-old milk collection haulier from Castlederg, County Tyrone, has received a fully suspended sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for failing to remit over €160,000 in VAT to the Revenue Commissioners between 2012 and 2015. James Wauchope pleaded guilty to six sample counts of the offence. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a headline sentence of five years but suspended it in full for three and a half years, citing extenuating circumstances. The court heard that Wauchope suffers severe post-traumatic stress disorder following an incident in which he was locked in one of his trucks with a bomb by the IRA, and that he endured the death of a son who required round-the-clock care following a 1986 road accident. The judge stated that life had inflicted sufficient punishment on the defendant. Wauchope was ordered to repay €65,000 to Revenue within one year, in addition to €60,000 already repaid. He has no previous convictions.
In a high‑speed chase on 27 December 2022, 20‑year‑old Kian Andrews drove a Toyota Avensis at 160 km/h in a 50 km/h zone, repeatedly rammed two Garda patrol cars, and drove on the wrong side of the road. Garda Sergeant Daniel Cuffe, patrolling the Sandyford and Dundrum area, pursued the vehicle, but Andrews refused to stop and continued to drive at dangerous speeds. When the Garda cars blocked the Avensis, Andrews attempted to drive into Sergeant Cuffe's car, prompting the officers to produce firearms. Andrews immediately raised his hands, cooperated, and was arrested. A small amount of cocaine and a flick knife were found in the vehicle. Andrews pleaded guilty to endangerment, dangerous driving and possession of drugs, and was sentenced to three years' imprisonment and a three‑year driving disqualification. The judge noted that the firearms produced by Gardaí had the desired effect in securing his arrest.