William Connors, aged 30, pleaded guilty to providing false documents for a fake passport application. He supplied his birth certificate and other papers to a third party who used them to apply for a passport at a Garda station in Kildare in January 2020. The application was certified by a Garda who is now facing charges. The Passport Office detected that the photos did not match Connors' previous passport and launched an investigation. Connors has 19 prior convictions, all for road‑traffic offences. He was sentenced by Judge Martin Nolan to a two‑year term, suspended on conditions, after the court accepted his remorse and the minor nature of his earlier offences. The case is part of a broader investigation involving several co‑accused, including the certifying Garda, who are due to stand trial next year.
Cian Jones, 22, was found guilty of two counts of robbery and two of attempted robbery for leading a gang that robbed mobile phones from four teenage boys on a northbound Dart train between Dun Laoghaire and Tara Street. The court described the offence as serious, noting the victims were travelling home and were forced to sit beside the robbers, who threatened to stab them and demanded their phones. Jones took three iPhones and a Samsung A52, returned a blue iPhone and the Samsung, and demanded a factory reset from one victim. He also demanded cash, which the boys did not have, and warned them not to report to Gardaí. The judge imposed a four‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence, suspended the final 18 months on strict conditions, and noted Jones's early guilty plea and personal circumstances as mitigating factors.
Killian McCabe, aged 27, was arrested on 20 November 2022 in Knocklyon, Dublin, with €718,240 worth of cannabis, cannabis resin, cocaine, amphetamine and heroin in two vans. He also had €30,800 in cash seized. Charlene Murphy, aged 33, was found with €87,240 worth of cannabis resin in her car and an additional €4,480 worth of cocaine in her home. Both pleaded guilty to possessing drugs for sale or supply; McCabe also pleaded guilty to possessing proceeds of crime. McCabe, with 43 prior convictions, was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment. Murphy, with 25 prior convictions, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment. The sentences were imposed by Judge Martin Nolan in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The article reports the convictions and sentences only, without further speculation or future outcomes.
A 17-year-old male was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to one count of assault causing harm on January 17, 2023, and one count of production of an article, a vice grip, during a dispute on December 5, 2022. Judge Elma Sheahan described the unprovoked attacks on two victims, including one on the Luas, as "disturbing" and "appalling," noting the defendant's significant role and use of the vice grip in a "frenzied manner." While the judge initially intended to impose a global period of detention of 34 months, with the final six months suspended under Probation Service supervision, she determined this order was not enforceable under the Children's Act. Consequently, she imposed a sentence of 28 months in detention, with the teenager required to liaise with relevant services during this period. The court considered mitigating factors, including the defendant's lack of previous convictions, age, expressions of remorse, and family support, alongside aggravating factors such as the level of violence and the unprovoked, repeated nature of the offending.
Mark Dolan, 49, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to masturbating in front of a child at a north Dublin address on 6 May last year. Judge Martin Nolan set a sentence date of 20 March and remanded Dolan on continuing bail until that date.
Dainius Sakevicius, 54, pleaded guilty to one count of assault causing harm on 26 December 2022 after drinking for five days. He entered his former partner's bedroom about 30 minutes after she had gone to bed at 10.10pm, looking for a speaker, and punched her repeatedly on the forehead, right eye, nose and mouth. The victim sustained bruising, swelling, a loose tooth and arm soreness, and was treated at St Vincent's Hospital before being referred to St James's Hospital. Photos and a medical report were presented to the court. Gardai found Sakevicius intoxicated at his Bray address and deemed him unfit for interview. The victim later withdrew her statement and declined a victim impact statement. The case was adjourned to 14 April for finalisation, with a probation report to be compiled. The court noted Sakevicius had no prior convictions and had paid over €4,000 for the victim's medical costs.
A man from Letterkenny, County Donegal, has been sentenced to twenty-one months in prison following a dangerous driving conviction at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Kevin McMenamin, aged forty-two, pleaded guilty to causing serious bodily harm to a cyclist in Ballsbridge on July twenty-second, twenty twenty-one. The court heard that McMenamin drove through a red light and made a sudden left turn, striking the woman and trapping her beneath his truck for two metres. The cyclist, in her late sixties, sustained a fractured pelvis and severe leg injuries, requiring hospitalisation for nearly five months and placement in an induced coma. McMenamin was disqualified from driving at the time of the incident. Judge Martin Nolan noted McMenamin's thirty-three previous convictions, including road traffic offences, and stated he showed no regard for the law. The judge imposed an additional five-year driving disqualification.
An extradited criminal, Dragos Cirstea, 38, was sentenced to two and a half years in prison for laundering money and purchasing luxury goods with €51,000 stolen from Adare Manor. He pleaded guilty to three money‑laundering counts in Dublin on 3 June 2019 and had four prior UK convictions. Cirstea used a bank card to buy items at Brown Thomas, Arnotts and Weir & Sons, spending €51,044, including a Rolex watch and jewellery worth about €44,000. The money had been sent by a Belgium Vintage Automobile Club to a fraudulent bank account, not to the hotel. No luxury items were recovered. The judge noted Cirstea's guilty plea and good work history as mitigating factors but also his role as a vital link in the criminal enterprise. He will receive credit for time served. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, with Judge Martin Nolan presiding.
James Doyle, a 37-year-old from Walkinstown, appeared at the Court of Appeal to challenge his three-and-a-half-year prison sentence for dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm. In January of last year, Doyle pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to striking pedestrian Emily Doyle on Cromwellsfort Road in Walkinstown on April 23, 2020. The prosecution alleged he was travelling at speeds up to 130km/h in a 50km/h zone, causing spinal and leg fractures. Judge Martin Nolan originally sentenced Doyle, noting the victim's significant physical and emotional trauma. Doyle's counsel, Paul Carroll SC, argued the sentence was excessive and disproportionate, contending the trial judge placed too much weight on speed and failed to account for the absence of other aggravating factors. Carroll submitted the sentence should have included a suspended element to encourage rehabilitation. The State, represented by Jane McCudden BL, countered that the sentence was appropriate given the grave harm and Doyle's disregard for public safety, noting he had already received a 50% mitigation reduction. Mr Justice George Birmingham described the case as one of real seriousness and reserved his judgment until February 1. Consequently, the matter was adjourned and remains pending final determination.
Stephanie Hoey, 33, told the court that a 23‑year‑old ex‑partner, Conor Murphy, punched her in the eye during an unprovoked attack at her Clondalkin home, causing a blow‑out fracture and permanent vision loss. She described the assault as "foaming at the mouth" and detailed the severe physical injuries, including the need for hip bone graft surgery, ongoing migraines, nerve and muscle damage, and PTSD. Murphy had previously pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm, burglary and knife possession. Judge Orla Crowe set a headline sentence of ten years, then imposed seven and a half years in prison with the final 18 months suspended, and ordered probation for one year after release. Hoey's victim impact statement highlighted how the attack has torn her life apart, affecting her mental health, daily functioning and her daughter's well‑being. The court noted Murphy's drug use and prior convictions, and that he had been in custody since May 2023.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a woman who was violently assaulted by her then‑partner in her own home told the court that she sometimes wished he had killed her that night. The victim, who had a protection order in place, described how the man entered through an unlocked door, threatened to kill her, smashed her car, punched her, and choked her. She sustained a black eye and other injuries. The man pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, making threats to kill or cause serious harm, and breaching a protection order. He was intoxicated and had no prior convictions. The judge, noting the severity of the assault and the victim's fear, imposed a custodial sentence of three years, with the final 18 months suspended on strict conditions.
A 33‑year‑old mother of three, Aisling Dekker, was given a suspended three‑year sentence after pleading guilty to possessing and cultivating cannabis at her home. The police seized over €24,000 worth of cannabis, including two mature plants, when they searched her house following a warrant. Dekker claimed she was growing the plants to relieve joint pain from an autoimmune condition and that she had no drug debt. She cooperated with the Gardaí, took responsibility for the drugs, and expressed remorse. The court noted her lack of prior convictions and her role as a stay‑at‑home mother, but also considered the quantity of drugs and the potential societal harm. Judge Orla Crowe imposed a suspended sentence on strict conditions, citing mitigating factors such as early guilty plea and cooperation. The sentence was fully suspended, with no custodial time to be served.
John Murphy, 47, pleaded guilty to three counts of making false bomb reports in August and October 2022, with a fourth considered. He had previously made 100 hoax calls in one night claiming a bomb at Garda Headquarters in Phoenix Park. The judge noted his long period of homelessness and recent stable accommodation at Reuben Square. Defence counsel urged leniency to preserve his home. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a fully suspended three‑year sentence, ordering Murphy to exhibit good behaviour. The court highlighted the inconvenience and stress caused to emergency services and the public, and urged Murphy to stay away from phones. No victim impact statements were presented. Murphy's prior convictions included 30 offences, including three for false reports. The sentence reflects the judge's view that his current stability should not be disrupted by imprisonment.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 17 January 2024, a 23‑year‑old man named David Mbaya was sentenced to two years and ten months in prison for possessing €189,000 worth of cannabis for sale or supply at his home. The cannabis, weighing 9.4 kg, had been delivered to his Balbriggan address by gardaí after a sniffer dog detected it at Foyne's Logistics, Dublin Airport. Mbaya pleaded guilty on 3 October 2022. Judge Martin Nolan noted that had Mbaya been older he might have faced a longer sentence, but he considered his youth and described him as intelligent and capable of reform. Mbaya had previously been convicted of nine minor road‑traffic offences and was living with his sister, hoping to return to landscaping work and regain contact with his two children. The delivery had a strong smell, and Mbaya signed for it before being arrested. The drugs were analysed by Forensic Science Ireland.
Wayne Gilligan, 28, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment and a three‑year driving disqualification after pleading guilty to endangerment, criminal damage and dangerous driving. The offence occurred on 10 February 2020 in Tallaght when Gilligan drove recklessly, narrowly avoiding collisions with several vehicles and forcing school children to run off the road to escape being struck. Garda Vincent Jaffray described how Gilligan's car, lacking a front bumper, was driven at high speed, over speed bumps, through red lights and in the wrong direction around a roundabout, causing damage to a patrol car and another vehicle. Gilligan's 89 prior convictions, many for road traffic offences, were noted by Judge Martin Nolan, who accepted his remorse and progress in prison while on remand. The judge emphasised that the custodial term was imposed before the driving disqualification. The case was prosecuted by Diana Stuart BL.
A 17‑year‑old was warned that detention is the only option after pleading guilty to two counts of assault causing harm and a count of production of an article. The first assault occurred on 5 December 2022 on the Luas red line, where the teenager and others attacked a passenger, striking him with a vice grip and causing a tooth injury. The second assault took place on 17 January 2023, when the teenager and four others attacked a man on the street, kicking and punching him until he fell and sustained a head wound requiring staples. CCTV footage of both incidents was shown to the court. The judge, citing the Children Act, adjourned the case to 22 January and directed that the teenager be placed in detention until that date. The defendant accepted responsibility, showed remorse, and has a supportive family and psychological reports indicating vulnerability and a history of autism and ADHD.
Nicole Donohue, 32, of Harolds Cross, Dublin, was driving an uninsured car that contained more than €130,000 worth of pills when gardaí stopped the vehicle on Armagh Road in Crumlin on 5 December 2019. The car, not owned by Donohue, had no insurance disc and its NCT had expired. Gardaí found a black bag with over 65,500 Alprazolam tablets, valued at €131,108, after a smell of cannabis prompted a search. Donohue pleaded guilty to impeding the apprehension of an offender and driving without insurance. She claimed she was unaware of the drugs. The man in the car fled and was later arrested but not charged. Donohue received a suspended three‑year sentence, with a two‑year driving disqualification and other conditions, as the judge believed she was unlikely to reoffend. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Gavin Smith, 33, was sentenced to two years in prison after stealing money from four clients for landscaping work that was never carried out. Between May and October 2022, he took payments of €4,400, €3,150, €2,500 and €5,000 from a woman, a man, another woman and an 87‑year‑old woman whose garden he had only worked on for half a day. Smith had previously received a suspended 21‑month sentence in January 2022 for a similar offence. He pleaded guilty to four counts of theft. The court noted that each victim spent weeks and months trying to recover their money, which was never repaid. Smith admitted to a cocaine addiction and to taking on too many jobs. Judge Martin Nolan said a custodial sentence was unavoidable given the prior suspended sentence and the victims' hardship. The sentence was imposed today.
Derek Guildea, 61, of Balbriggan, was sentenced to two and a half years' imprisonment for making 4,819 nuisance 999 calls between January 2021 and October 2022. He pleaded guilty to three counts of persistently calling emergency services to cause annoyance, inconvenience or needless anxiety. The calls were directed at the Garda emergency control room, the National Ambulance Centre and the 999 answering service, and included threats to a paramedic and to a call taker, saying he would kill the paramedic's children. The judge noted the sheer volume of calls disrupted ambulance and fire brigade responses and caused fear among emergency personnel. Guildea's sentence was suspended for 18 months on conditions that he desist from contacting emergency services unless a genuine need arises, and the sentence was back‑dated to his October 2023 arrest. He has 18 prior convictions and was diagnosed with a terminal illness in 2008. The court highlighted that alcohol was a core issue in his conduct.
Michael Lynn, aged 55, was found guilty of 21 counts of theft involving nearly €18 million stolen from six banks during a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial last year. The jury reached verdicts on 10 counts but could not agree on the remaining 11. Lynn, a former solicitor and property developer, had pleaded not guilty to all charges. He has no prior convictions and has been in custody since his conviction just before Christmas. The sentencing hearing scheduled for 15 January 2024 was adjourned for two weeks to allow his defence team to obtain a psychological report. Judge Martin Nolan set a new sentencing date of 19 February 2024. The adjournment was requested to address matters concerning Lynn's psychological health and detention status.
Patrick McCann, 75, was sentenced to nine months' imprisonment for making offensive sexual remarks to a 15‑year‑old boy at an Applegreen petrol station on Stillorgan Road on 23 March 2023. The court heard that McCann, who has 391 prior convictions dating back to the 1960s, including two rapes, four sexual assaults and five breaches of the Sex Offenders Act, asked the boy questions such as "Are you a virgin?" and "Do you know how to break it in?" and told him he was a "handsome boy". The boy was alone when the offence occurred, a factor the judge said aggravated the conduct. McCann pleaded guilty early, was homeless for a long period, and has a history of alcohol addiction and other hardships, which the judge considered mitigating. The nine‑month term was back‑dated to the date he entered custody.
Bernard Corrigan, 39, with 147 prior convictions, was further sentenced for head‑butting a prison officer at Mountjoy Prison on 27 December 2021. The officer suffered bruised and bulging spinal discs, left‑arm, torso and neck injuries, and was unable to work for six months. Corrigan pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to a prison officer. Judge Orla Crowe described the attack as unprovoked and reprehensible, noting the large number of prior convictions as an aggravating factor, while mitigating factors included his guilty plea, the officer's full recovery and Corrigan's apology. She sentenced him to two years and nine months, back‑dated to his guilty plea on 25 October 2023, to run concurrently with his existing sentence, with an earliest release date of 2 March 2027. The court heard the officer's victim impact statement detailing the pain, fear of future assault, and financial costs. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 12 January 2024, Aaron Costello, 24, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to a male victim in Ballymun on 12 October 2022. The court noted that the victim, who had no animosity toward Costello, accepted the apology and expressed a "generous and spirited" attitude, stating he did not wish the defendant to be jailed. Judge Pauline Codd, after viewing CCTV footage showing Costello striking the victim from behind and kicking him twice while he was on the ground, found the assault unnecessary and placed the offence in the upper mid‑range of offending. Costello had no prior convictions and expressed genuine remorse, bringing €5,000 to court as a token of regret. The judge sentenced him to 18 months' imprisonment, suspended in full for two years, and imposed a lifetime criminal conviction.
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court sentenced four men for money laundering offences linked to €121,000 stolen from a Dublin solicitors' firm via invoice redirect fraud. Judge Martin Nolan warned that the court is "totally fed up" with young money mules using "stupidity as a shield" and stated that those providing bank details after January 2022 face potential custody. Cameron Fanning, 25, pleaded guilty to two counts of money laundering and one count of giving false information to gardaí. He was sentenced to three and a half years in prison, suspended in full on strict conditions. The judge noted the court would not use Fanning as a "sacrificial lamb" given his reckless but believable explanation. Mubarak Salawu, 22, pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering and possessing €600 Balenciaga runners bought with proceeds of crime; he received a suspended two-year prison sentence. Olumide Lawal, 27, admitted to two counts of money laundering and possession of an iPhone bought with proceeds of crime; he was also given a suspended two-year prison sentence. Aaron Clancy, 21, pleaded guilty to possessing €3,020 in proceeds of money laundering and a further unrelated count of possessing €4,650 in proceeds of crime; he received a suspended two-year prison sentence. The judge noted that for Salawu, Lawal, and Clancy, the amounts involved were lower and all three were young men with their "futures in front of them".
Richard Cox, 40, of Tallaght, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography on 26 October 2020. Gardaí, acting on confidential information, searched his home on that date and seized a mobile phone, two Xboxes and a USB stick. The phone contained 269 images and 39 videos of child abuse; 53 images and 39 videos were category one, showing children in or witnessing sexual activity. A production order from Google Ireland recovered an additional 110 images and 37 videos that had been automatically uploaded to the cloud. Cox admitted to accessing the material while at home during a Covid‑19 lockdown, when he was not working and was taking drugs and drinking. He had no prior convictions and cooperated with Gardaí. The court, noting the early guilty plea and his cooperation, imposed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence, fully suspended on strict conditions, and referred him for therapy to address underlying addiction issues.
An electrician, Karl Lawlor, 40, was jailed for five and a half years after Gardaí stopped his untaxed van in Clondalkin. The van contained just under 25 kilos of cocaine worth €1.74 million and €220 worth of cannabis. Lawlor pleaded guilty to possession on 15 April 2022. He admitted having a drug debt of €7,000 and that he had been forced to carry the drugs. The court noted his severe cocaine addiction, visible septum erosion, and that he had been using drugs recreationally before escalating after his father's death. Judge Martin Nolan cited mitigating factors such as no prior convictions, a long work record, a guilty plea, cooperation, remorse, and a low likelihood of reoffending. The sentence reflected his maturity and the circumstances of his substance abuse. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Patrick Challoner, a former AIB manager aged 54, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment with the final 12 months suspended for two years after a 16‑year scheme that saw €2.7 million stolen from the bank. He created bogus loans and investment accounts, taking money from customers who believed they were authorising investments that were never made. The scheme involved over 100 charges and thousands of transactions, with the bank suffering a total loss of €3.2 million. Challoner did not personally profit; he repaid €60,000 and expressed remorse. He pleaded guilty to five theft charges and one deception charge, and the court noted his early guilty plea, cooperation, and good character as mitigating factors. The judge highlighted the seriousness, amount involved, duration, and repetitive nature of the offence as aggravating factors. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
A secondary school teacher from Donegal Town has been sentenced to two and a half years imprisonment following her conviction for indecently assaulting a male pupil in 1985. Jacintha McSherry O'Connor, aged 63, was found guilty of two counts of indecent assault at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after a trial in October 2023. The offences occurred when she was a student teacher and the complainant was 13 years old. Judge Elma Sheahan considered the serious breach of trust, the age disparity between the parties, and the lasting impact on the victim in determining sentence. Mitigating factors included the defendant's previously unblemished record and her cooperation with gardaí. McSherry O'Connor was sentenced to three years on each count to run concurrently, with the final six months suspended. She will be supervised by the Probation Services for six months following release and must register as a sex offender.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Adam Murphy, aged 22, pleaded guilty to manslaughter after he threw businessman Ian McDonnell from the bonnet of McDonnell's own car while attempting to steal it. Murphy also pleaded guilty to multiple counts of vehicle theft, attempted vehicle theft, property theft and possession of stolen property. His co‑accused, Keith McCormick Smith, also pleaded guilty to similar offences. The court heard that McDonnell was stopped at his business, Ozone Car Sales, and that Murphy and Smith had stolen several cars earlier that day. CCTV footage showed Murphy driving McDonnell's car, accelerating, and throwing McDonnell 46 metres before the car was abandoned. McDonnell was taken to Tallaght Hospital but died on 28 January 2022. The court noted the maximum sentence for manslaughter is life, but the Director of Public Prosecutions suggested a 10‑15 year range. The case was adjourned for finalisation on 12 February.
Soufiane Mountassir, 39, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for false imprisonment and assault causing harm after he attacked a woman who had let him into her home. The court heard that on the night of 13 November 2022 he forced the woman into the boot of her car, repeatedly punched and smashed her face against the vehicle's interior, and drove the car onto the footpath, damaging the wheel. Witnesses described him as "full of anger" and "entering into a blind rage", and the victim said she was left with blood all over her face and body. Mountassir pleaded guilty, was described as remorseful and ashamed, and the judge noted his lack of prior convictions in Ireland. He is currently under 23‑hour protection in Wheatfield Prison and is wanted in Germany for arson. The sentence was back‑dated to the date he entered custody on 13 November 2022.
A 42‑year‑old man was sentenced to four years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended, for four counts of sexual assault of a girl aged between four and seven, committed between 2016 and 2020 while her mother was away. The assaults included one on the girl's sixth birthday. The judge highlighted the man's position of authority, the large age gap, and the impact on the victim as aggravating factors, while noting his good work history and mental health difficulties as mitigating factors. The sentence was back‑dated to the man's entry into custody on 29 July. The court heard that the man had begun a relationship with the mother in 2015, moved in with her family, and looked after the children when the mother worked. He had taken the victim into the mother's room on several occasions, touched her private parts, and told the child not to inform her mother. The unnamed 42-year-old was found guilty.
Peter McHale (38) and Robert O'Rourke (30) pleaded guilty in the District Court to burglary, false imprisonment, threats to kill, money laundering and, for O'Rourke, production of a screwdriver. The offences took place between mid‑March and 11 April 2023 when they broke into a man's home, held him for about four hours, threatened him with a screwdriver and demanded cash to satisfy a drug debt that had risen from €1,500 to €26,000. O'Rourke's partner, Nicole Munson (30), pleaded guilty to money laundering for allowing the victim's mother to transfer €5,000 to her Revolut account. The court sentenced O'Rourke to five and a half years, McHale to five years and Munson to a fully suspended sentence of three and a half years. The judge described the men as the "more serious actor" and the "lower tier" and noted the victims' fear and distress. The case was heard at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
The multi‑million euro theft trial of former solicitor Michael Lynn, aged 55, ended after two trials totalling 24 weeks. The first trial in spring 2022 failed to reach a verdict after 16 weeks of evidence. The second trial, held in October 2023, lasted eight weeks. Lynn was charged with 21 counts of theft for taking about €27 million from seven financial institutions between October 2006 and April 2007 while working as a solicitor and property developer. He pleaded not guilty. The prosecution alleged that Lynn obtained multiple mortgages on the same properties, forged documents, and used the loans for overseas property developments. Lynn denied the allegations, claiming banks had allowed him to use the money for such projects. The trial concluded with the jury still undecided, and no verdict was reached.
Declan Service, a 63‑year‑old former multinational employee now a carer, was fined £60,000 at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for insider trading. Between 18 and 22 May 2020, he used confidential information about Open Orphan's discounted share sale to sell his 3.89 million shares before the public announcement and then buy back a smaller amount at the lower price. The court heard he made a profit of about £11,500, which could have risen to £44,000 if he had held the shares for a year. Service pleaded guilty, admitted the wrongdoing, and expressed regret. He faces a potential 18‑month prison term when sentencing is finalised next February. The judge noted his cooperation, good character, and mental health issues as mitigating factors, but confirmed the insider‑trading offence. The fine was ordered to be paid to his solicitor's account.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a jury convicted former solicitor Michael Lynn on ten counts of theft, finding him guilty of stealing approximately €17.9 million from six financial institutions between 2006 and 2007. The verdicts were delivered after a two‑day, eight‑week trial and six and a half hours of deliberation. The jury could not reach a verdict on the remaining eleven counts, including a single count against Bank of Ireland alleging a €2.7 million theft. Judge Martin Nolan remanded Lynn in custody and set a sentencing date for 15 January. Lynn, who had pleaded not guilty to 21 theft charges, had previously been struck off the roll of solicitors and had spent time in Brazilian prison before extradition. The case centred on Lynn's alleged use of "off‑the‑books" agreements to obtain multiple mortgages on the same properties, a practice he claimed was common in Celtic Tiger Ireland.
Giorgi Bazadye, a 50‑year‑old Georgian resident of Dublin, was sentenced to two years in prison after pleading guilty to possessing false Slovakian identity documents. The court heard that he and his adult son had attempted to send a package to Italy containing four high‑quality fake Slovakian national identity cards and four matching driving licences. Gardaí had been alerted by DHL staff who expressed concern about the contents. Bazadye, who moved to Ireland in 2007, has 79 prior convictions, mainly for shoplifting and traffic offences, and his visa was revoked following earlier offences. He is married to a Lithuanian woman and has three young children, the youngest 14 months old. The judge emphasised deterrence and the seriousness of undermining the immigration system when imposing the sentence.
Roman German, a 41‑year‑old fishmonger from Vilinus, Lithuania, was arrested at Dublin Port on 6 December 2022 after a sniffer dog detected a bag containing €420,405 in cash. German had flown into Ireland on 5 December, stayed near Croke Park, then travelled to a security deposit box facility in Dublin 4 where he collected the money. He pleaded guilty to money‑laundering at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Garda Sean Dineen explained that German had no prior convictions in Ireland or Lithuania and that he was acting as a courier, not the owner or beneficiary of the cash, and was to be paid €200 for the service. Defence counsel Michael O'Higgins SC noted German's business had failed and that he had no criminal record. Judge Elma Sheahan, taking into account his guilty plea, family and low re‑offending risk, sentenced him to 18 months' imprisonment, back‑dating the term to the date of his arrest.
Joao Silva Pinto, 25, of Mabbot Lane, Dublin 1, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography on a phone at his address on 18 June 2022. He had downloaded 78 videos, 43 category‑one and 35 category‑two, and 784 CGI anime images, category‑four, from a file‑sharing site and stored them on Google Drive. Gardaí seized his phone and documents during a search, and a warrant had been obtained in February 2022. Judge Martina Baxter, hearing the case in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, noted aggravating factors such as the nature of the material and harm to real child victims, and mitigating factors including his early plea, full cooperation, remorse and family support. She sentenced him to 12 months' imprisonment, suspended in its entirety on strict conditions, and emphasised the need for rehabilitation and deterrence in his sentence structure.
Sean Kemp, 29, raided an Applegreen petrol station in Inchicore on 1 October 2020, brandishing a realistic imitation handgun and demanding cash. He forced staff to fill a bag with €315 before leaving. CCTV identified him and he was arrested, admitting the robbery and apologising. Kemp had a history of 73 convictions and was spending up to €70 a day on drugs, including heroin, methadone and crack cocaine. He used the robbery proceeds to pay a drug debt and claimed the offence was out of character. Judge Orla Crowe sentenced him to a headline five‑year term, reduced to three years and nine months, with the final nine months suspended on strict conditions after noting his rehabilitation work. The court highlighted that drugs were a root cause of his offending. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Sean Kemp pleaded guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 15 December 2023, former solicitor Michael Lynn, aged 55, faced 21 counts of theft for allegedly siphoning about €27 million from seven banks between October 2006 and April 2007. Prosecutor Karl Finnegan SC portrayed Lynn as a "greedy risk‑taker" who used multiple mortgages on the same properties, claiming the banks were unaware of other lenders. Lynn testified that he had "off‑the‑books" agreements and a secret deal with former Irish Nationwide chief Michael Fingleton to use Irish Nationwide funds for overseas property development. Finnegan argued that the alleged arrangements were "implausible" and that the banks had no knowledge of any conspiracy. Defence counsel Paul Comiskey O'Keeffe BL countered that Lynn's "profit‑share" agreement with Fingleton and the banks' awareness of his borrowing meant no deception had occurred, and that the prosecution's case relied on alleged "undertaking‑only" mortgages that the banks had never formally documented. Michael Lynn pleaded not guilty.
Paul Collopy, 48, of Ennis, Co Clare, had a four‑year suspended sentence for money laundering in 2017. He was caught again laundering €67,900 in July 2014, and the suspended term was reactivated after a further offence in November 2020. In that offence, he was observed tampering with a car's bonnet at Carnally House, Clare Castle, and €16,695 was recovered from the vehicle's air filter. Judge Francis Comerford imposed a five‑year, four‑month sentence in October 2023. Collopy also serves a ten‑year sentence from a 2022 conviction for possession of €50,000 worth of cannabis. The court activated two years of the suspended four‑year term, making it consecutive to the 64‑month sentence, after the judge concluded that Collopy had not learned his lesson. Paul Collopy pleaded guilty.
Stephen Cunningham, 55, of Cushlawn Park, Tallaght, was sentenced to three and a half years in prison, with the final 12 months suspended, after pleading guilty to dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm to Paul Sutton, 55, on 25 October 2022. Cunningham reversed his car onto the footpath, striking Sutton who fell to the ground and suffered a shattered knee, requiring two surgeries and six weeks in hospital. The court heard that Cunningham had no evidence of speeding, had been waiting at his home for Gardaí, and had handed over the car keys. He was disqualified from driving for ten years. The judge described the act as a "moment of madness" and noted Cunningham's early guilty plea and previous good character as mitigating factors. No evidence of alcohol or drugs was presented. The incident caused lasting mobility issues for Sutton, who can no longer walk or run.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Lisa Joyce, aged 38, was sentenced to four years in prison on each of two counts of attempted robbery for an incident on O'Connell Street on 21 May 2023. The case involved Joyce dragging a teenage girl by the hair while attempting to rob the girl and her 13‑year‑old cousin. Joyce, who has 100 prior convictions and a history of substance abuse, pleaded guilty and expressed remorse. The judge, Elma Sheahan, set a headline sentence of five years but, after considering mitigating factors such as Joyce's early guilty plea and the impact on the victims, imposed a four‑year term on each count to run concurrently, with no portion suspended. The sentence was back‑dated to the date Joyce entered custody. The court noted that Joyce had no memory of the incident due to intoxication and had expressed depression during detention.
Gheorghita Ilie, 23, pleaded guilty to possession of a realistic imitation firearm after pointing it at a family relative during a dispute over an alleged affair. The incident occurred on June 5, 2021, when Ilie confronted the woman's husband, then returned to his home and produced a black handgun on the steps. The weapon, a 6mm calibre air pistol, was seized and identified as a realistic firearm. Ilie claimed he bought the gun for play and had not worn it on his belt. He apologized, expressed remorse, and acknowledged panic. The court, noting his guilty plea, cooperation, and pro‑social history, imposed a two‑year sentence suspended in full on strict conditions, avoiding custodial time.
A bench warrant was issued for Michael Dunne, 50, after he failed to attend sentencing at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for a criminal damage offence involving the Luke Kelly statue, which was damaged with blue paint costing €240. Dunne, who has 51 prior convictions since 1986 including five for criminal damage, had previously pleaded guilty on 12 July 2020. The court had adjourned the case to allow preparation of reports, but when Dunne was absent and his lawyers could not contact him, Judge Orla Crowe issued the warrant. Garda David Kelly had identified Dunne from CCTV footage of the damage, and he had been arrested, though no further evidence was obtained. Dunne's defence lawyer, Katherine McGillicuddy, noted his long‑standing drug addiction and that he had received drugs as a reward for the act, and expressed sincere apologies for the offence. The case highlights the ongoing issue of repeated criminal behaviour and the impact on the local community.
Rafik Ben Salah, 36, was taken to Dublin Airport for extradition to Spain. While being escorted by Gardaí and Spanish police, he violently resisted, broke free from his bonds, and fled. Pursued by officers, he was eventually detained after a struggle on the stairs. Spanish police refused to board him and left Ireland. A second extradition attempt on 22 December 2022 failed when Gardaí discovered Salah had defecated himself and had self‑harm cuts; the Spanish police and flight captain refused him boarding, leading to withdrawal of the warrant. Salah, who has no fixed abode and has prior convictions in Ireland and Germany, pleaded guilty to attempting to escape Garda custody. Judge Elma Sheahan sentenced him to eight months in prison, back‑dated to his earlier custody, after a headline sentence of ten months was reduced for mitigating factors. The sentence is to be served in Ireland.
An 84‑year‑old widower was attacked by a couple who robbed him for drug money. The pair, who had 104 prior convictions, stabbed the widower with a clawhammer and a kitchen knife, causing severe injuries and financial loss. The widower, aged 79, survived and described the ordeal as a test of faith. The attackers, Christine Ward (36) and Derek Bewley (48), had previously robbed a visually impaired man on the same day, stealing his wallet, iPhone and car. Ward initially denied involvement but was later identified in CCTV footage. Bewley had 79 prior convictions, Ward 25. The court heard the widower's injuries, PTSD, and the financial impact of the robbery. Ward will be finalized on 29 January, Bewley on 1 February. Christine Ward pleaded guilty. Derek Bewley pleaded guilty.
Craig Mooney, 28, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two counts of possession of a controlled drug for sale or supply. Garda Kevin Kehoe recounted that on 25 January, a taxi driver reported an intoxicated, "obstreperous" passenger who could not be awakened. Gardaí removed Mooney from the taxi; he became abusive and was arrested. A search of the taxi revealed €725 worth of cocaine and 12 benzodiazepine tablets. A subsequent search of Mooney's residence on 2 February uncovered 2.3 g of cocaine (valued at €149) and 145 g of cannabis (valued at €2,914). Mooney has 32 prior convictions, including arson, road traffic offences and criminal damage. He has been in custody since February. Judge Martin Nolan, noting Mooney's intoxication and lack of wealth, imposed an 18‑month sentence back‑dated to February, taking mitigating factors into account.
Zahir Boudahane, 50, of Balbriggan, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to dangerous driving causing serious injury to William Burke, 32, on O'Connell Bridge on 10 June 2022. Boudahane, a professional truck driver with no prior convictions, was travelling in the bus lane on Bachelor's Walk, broke a red light and made an illegal right turn onto O'Connell Bridge. Burke was crossing the road from the Eden Quay direction when Boudahane's vehicle struck him head‑on, dragging him under the front of the truck. Burke's left leg was severely damaged, leading to a below‑the‑knee amputation and his current use of a wheelchair. The court, noting Boudahane's lack of intoxication, low speed (17 km/h), cooperation at the scene, and the loss of his livelihood, imposed a headline sentence of two years but reduced it to a fully suspended 18‑month sentence.
During a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 12 December 2023, former solicitor Michael Lynn, aged 55, explained that he had engaged in "off‑the‑book" loan arrangements with bankers, including former Irish Nationwide chief Michael Fingleton. Lynn said he met Fingleton in 2006 to sign a "memo of understanding" that would give Fingleton a stake in the third stage of Lynn's Portuguese apartment development, Cabanas 3. He claimed the memo was drafted by an English lawyer and that other bankers received discounts on apartment purchases, naming Ciaran Farrell of Permanent TSB as one who allegedly benefited from an "artificial deposit" on a Portuguese apartment. Lynn said the off‑book documents were mainly emails sent to bankers' addresses linked to his property companies, Kendar Holdings and Kendar Global. He denied that any other banker agreed to a stake in a development and said the Portuguese project never proceeded after 2007. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.