Nikiwe Dube, 41, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to four charges of using a false instrument and two counts of deception. Judge Elva Duffy stated that Dube, who admitted to the offences, had posed as a child psychologist without the required academic qualifications, abusing the trust of vulnerable children and adolescents. The court heard that Dube used forged documents, including a psychological transcript with a false garda stamp, a fake PSI identification badge, and a false medical certificate, to secure employment. He dishonestly induced TTM Healthcare to place him on their books of employment between August 15, 2021, and September 9, 2021, causing a loss, and induced the HSE to give him an interview for employment on August 18, 2022. Dube received €172,000 in wages and expenses while working for Gateway Residential Care in Sligo. Judge Duffy noted that gardaí have not been able to confirm Dube's true identity, which is of concern to the court. While acknowledging mitigation factors such as his immediate admissions, remorse, and lack of previous convictions, the judge determined the case warranted a headline sentence of five and a half years. The final sentence of four years was backdated to August 5, 2022, when Dube first went into custody.
Stephen Carberry, 45, of Sandymount Avenue, Dublin 4, was found guilty of possessing over €1.5 million worth of cocaine and ecstasy in a decade‑old drugs operation. He was convicted on five counts of possessing cannabis and ecstasy for sale and supply at The Strand, Donabate, on 23 May 2013. The trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in April led to a headline sentence of 11 years, later reduced to nine years with the final 12 months suspended. Judge Elma Sheahan credited Carberry for over 360 days already served and back‑dated the sentence to April of the current year, giving a total custodial term of about six years and ten months. Carberry had 62 prior convictions, mainly for traffic offences, and had spent just under a year in custody before release. He was re‑charged in 2014, refused bail, and has remained in custody since the trial's conclusion.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Daniel Webb, 33, pleaded guilty to two counts of active and passive corruption for receiving confidential Garda Pulse system intelligence from former civilian employee Holly Hayden, 27. Webb had been spending up to €200 a night on cocaine and Xanax when Hayden supplied him with 17 lines of intelligence, including screenshots, about Webb and his associates on 6 and 9 September 2019. Hayden also provided a synopsis of Pulse data via Telegram and sent information on Garda checkpoints to a third party. Webb cooperated during a search of his home and car, and his mobile phone was seized. Hayden later pleaded guilty to disclosing confidential information and accessing it for personal gain. The court adjourned Webb's case for finalisation on 6 October, and Hayden's case on 6 November. Judge Orla Crowe noted the seriousness of the breach and considered Webb's clean record and early guilty plea before sentencing.
Anthony Donnellan, 26, pleaded guilty to unlawfully taking a 2006 Toyota and possessing stolen property after breaking into a man's home in Glentworth Park, Coolock, on 12 October 2018. The victim, who was downstairs at 8:30 am, saw Donnellan attempting to start the car and, with two neighbours, removed him from the vehicle. A citizen's arrest was made before Gardaí arrived, who confiscated a steak knife and found a bag of stolen items in the car, including laptops, jewellery, alcohol, medication and a Chromecast. Donnellan, who had eight prior convictions and was heavily intoxicated, had written an apology letter and was undergoing treatment for drug addiction. Judge Martin Nolan fully suspended a two‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence, requiring one year of probation and good behaviour. The victim expressed being shaken and hoping for Donnellan's rehabilitation.
John Paul McDonagh, 41, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for a series of threats against Gardaí. While on bail, he barricaded himself in a house armed with a hatchet and knife, and repeatedly threatened to kill a named female Garda and a male Garda, calling the female a "dirty slut." He also threatened another officer, saying he would deal with them when he got out. McDonagh pleaded guilty to producing threatening articles in Howth on 27 and 28 March 2020, and to making threats to kill or cause serious harm to Gardaí at the same location and date. He has 131 previous convictions, including threats to kill, assault, weapons possession and witness intimidation. The judge imposed two concurrent three‑year terms for the threats, with the final 18 months suspended and a requirement for alcohol‑use treatment. The sentence will commence in April 2024 after his current term is completed.
Five men were sentenced to suspended prison terms for a violent assault on three friends in Dublin. The men—Vasilii Birca (32), Ion Mustesta (19), Gheorge Onila (32), Nicanor Ionas (29) and Ion Soponari (24)—had believed they were helping a friend who had been misled into thinking he was the victim of an assault. They pleaded guilty to one count each of affray on Golden Lane on 3 April 2022. All had no prior convictions. The court heard they offered €26,000 in compensation and sincere apologies to the injured parties, and that probation reports placed them at low risk of reoffending. Judge Pauline Codd imposed headline sentences of two and a half years for each, suspended in full for 18 months (Birca, Onila, Ionas), 12 months (Musteata), and 16 months (Soponari). The men were ordered to keep the peace and behave well during the suspension period. The sixth man involved remains before the courts.
A 15‑year‑old boy, who had previously been convicted of assault, robbery and drug offences, attacked a man who had confronted a group of youths after a ball struck his car. The boy struck the man once on the right side of his face, knocking him unconscious and causing a serious head injury that has prevented the man from returning to work. The boy fled the scene by train, but was identified through Irish Rail CCTV and admitted to the assault. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 21 March 2021. Judge Orla Crowe noted the boy's early guilty plea, remorse, maternal support and an ADHD diagnosis, and considered the impact of the Covid pandemic and his negative peer group. She imposed a 12‑month probation supervision order and required an updated probation report for the year. The boy is now 17 years old and remains unnamed as a juvenile.
A 23‑year‑old man with 41 prior convictions was sentenced to three and a half years in prison for his role in a gang attack on a man who was held in his own home for six hours. The victim was stabbed repeatedly, suffered a 10‑15 cm laceration to the scalp, was hit with a vodka bottle, had most of his right ear almost severed and was told he would be killed. The judge noted the severity and sustained nature of the assault, the victim's lifelong injuries and the fact that the attackers took turns cutting the ear. The offence was placed at the upper end of the scale, with a headline sentence of five years. The court imposed a three‑year‑six‑month sentence, suspended the final six months for two years, and required the offender to remain under probation supervision for one year after release. The unnamed 23-year-old pleaded guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 21 July 2023, 45‑year‑old Wesley McGill pleaded guilty to one count of possession of cannabis for sale or supply. The offence stemmed from a mistaken search warrant that was actually for a stolen electric bike. McGill opened the door, led Gardaí to two cardboard boxes containing 2,800 g of cannabis valued at €256,000, which he claimed he was holding for someone else, and a small amount of cocaine worth €81. He had borrowed €5,000 from moneylenders to renovate his house and could not repay the debt. McGill, who began using cannabis at 16, expressed remorse and provided character references, including one from his son. Judge Martina Baxter sentenced him to five years' imprisonment, suspending the final two years on strict conditions, and ordered 12 months' probation supervision post‑release.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 21 July 2023, Karl Core, aged 34, was sentenced to two years in prison for an unprovoked knife attack on his friend David Fox on 19 June 2021. Core, who was high on crack cocaine at the time, swung a 15‑inch kitchen knife over a garden gate and stabbed Fox's right cheek, creating a hole that penetrated into Fox's mouth cavity. Fox was treated at hospital and received stitches. Core pleaded guilty to one count of assault causing harm. Judge Orla Crowe described the assault as very serious, noting the severe facial injury and potential lifelong scarring. She imposed a headline sentence of four years, then reduced it to three years with a 12‑month suspended portion, and ordered Core to remain under probation supervision for 12 months after release. Core's guilty plea, family support, adherence to bail conditions, and prior minor convictions were considered mitigating factors.
In a Circuit Court hearing on 21 July 2023, a 52‑year‑old man, David Mullen, pleaded guilty to possession of an imitation firearm after brandishing a 6mm green gas‑operated air pistol that resembled a Glock in a residential estate on a summer evening. Gardaí responded at 9 pm, evacuated the surrounding houses, and requested armed assistance. Mullen, intoxicated with whiskey and Valium, was arrested within ten minutes of the gardaí's arrival. The air pistol was seized and sent to the Ballistic Technical Bureau. Judge Martina Baxter sentenced Mullen to 15 months in prison, suspended in full for 15 months under strict conditions, and ordered him to remain under probation supervision for one year, with random urine analysis and addiction counselling. The judge highlighted Mullen's remorse, his role as his mother's carer, and the aggravating factors of the weapon's appearance and the public setting. The court commended the gardaí for their swift and careful action.
Gigi Birsan, 33, of Dundalk, pleaded guilty to 103 thefts and 33 attempted thefts between late 2016 and late 2017, stealing over €3,000 from colleagues and housemates to fund online poker. He returned the full amount, €3,164, and has addressed his gambling addiction. Judge Orla Crowe set a headline sentence of three years but imposed an 18‑month suspended sentence, ordering Birsan to keep the peace and behave well for that period. The case arose after staff at the Drury Buildings restaurant noticed small deductions from bank accounts, leading to an investigation that traced a PokerStars account linked to Birsan. He was arrested in Romania under a European Arrest Warrant and admitted all transactions. Birsan has no prior convictions and has shown remorse, writing a letter to the judge and claiming rehabilitation. The court noted his low risk of reoffending and stable relationship with his wife.
Mairead Latimer, a 35‑year‑old financial controller from Howth, pleaded guilty to four counts of stealing over €82,000 from Chopped Limited between December 2016 and July 2018. She authorised fictitious payments to "ghost" employees, sending more than €43,000 to her father's account, and inflated her own wages by over €12,000 without director approval. She also took more than €22,000 from Chopped stores on Grafton Street and Lucan and authorised over €3,000 in increased pension payments to her own plan. At the time of the hearing, she had repaid €73,546, leaving €7,852 outstanding. The court noted that she was dismissed from Chopped on 1 August 2018 after the fraud was discovered, and that she had been cooperative during her arrest and subsequent garda interview. The matter was adjourned for finalisation on 13 October.
Alan Bohan, 53, of Santry, pleaded guilty to unlawfully possessing 375 rounds of .22 calibre ammunition found in a shed during an unrelated search. He claimed he had forgotten the bullets after handing over his rifles when his licence expired. The court noted he had no prior convictions and used the rifles for shooting vermin. Judge Orla Crowe accepted the exceptional circumstances and set a headline sentence of three years but imposed an 18‑month suspended sentence. Bohan was not living at the family home where the search was executed; he had access only to a shed used for car repairs. He had previously surrendered his firearms voluntarily. The court heard he intends to recover his guns and that he is a mechanic on disability. No further legal actions were described.
A 44‑year‑old Dublin man was jailed for 12 months after pleading guilty to threatening to kill his former partner in June 2019. He sent dozens of abusive messages, including the threat "I am going to f**king murder you." The judge described his conduct as "reprehensible and vulgar" and ordered him to have no contact with the victim for ten years, stay away from her home, and remain under probation supervision for 12 months after release. He received an 18‑month sentence with the final six months suspended. The victim, who suffered post‑traumatic stress and panic attacks, said the threats caused her great suffering and forced her to leave her job. The defendant, who has 71 prior convictions, was also ordered to engage in offence‑focused programmes. The judge noted his behaviour had harmed both the victim and her child.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Stacey Harcourt, 41, pleaded guilty to unlawful cultivation of cannabis at her home. The court found that she had grown the plant from seed, clipped the leaves, and used about five grams each evening for pain relief after her skin cancer diagnosis in 2010 and subsequent chemotherapy failure. Gardaí seized 448 grams of cannabis herb, valued at €8,966. Harcourt, who had eight neck operations and 15 malignant melanoma operations, claimed she never sold the plant. Judge Martina Baxter, after a Probation Service assessment, imposed 240 hours of community service in lieu of a two‑year prison term, citing Harcourt's remorse, rehabilitation efforts, and cancer‑free status. The sentence also noted her prior convictions for traffic offences and a 2005 incident involving a post officer raider. Harcourt expressed gratitude to the judge and stated she would try to reduce her use but could not stop entirely.
Garda Emma Brady, who was assaulted while trying to arrest Aiden McKevitt, a 40‑year‑old with 168 prior convictions, said the attack has left her with physical injuries and a loss of enthusiasm for her job. Brady suffered a fractured elbow and wrist, soft‑tissue injuries to her shoulder, neck and chest, a finger injury and a broken tooth. She described ongoing sleep difficulties, fear of further assault and a sense that her life has changed forever. Brady's victim impact statement, read during McKevitt's sentencing, highlighted her emotional distress and the impact on her sporting ambitions. McKevitt pleaded guilty to assaulting a peace officer and obstruction of a peace officer on 9 November 2022 and was sentenced to three years' imprisonment, a sentence back‑dated to his initial custody in February. The court noted Brady's injuries and the effect on her career. The judge imposed a headline sentence of four years, reduced to three years after mitigating factors.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Jack Quirke, aged 24, was sentenced to eight and a half years in prison for leading a gang that held a man in his own home for six hours, stabbed him multiple times, severed most of his right ear, and forced a phone charger cord down his throat. The court noted Quirke's 27 prior convictions, his guilty plea, and mitigating factors such as remorse and a recent serious road traffic accident. The judge highlighted the severity of the violence, the victim's disfigurement, and Quirke's youth at the time of the offence. Quirke was the ringleader, with another co‑accused receiving seven and a half years. The victim's impact statement was submitted but not read aloud. The case involved a mixed group of men and women who entered the victim's house after a call from his daughter.
Christopher Gaynor, 39, of Woodavens, Clondalkin, pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine for sale or supply after Gardaí seized 40 kg of cocaine worth €2.8 million and €21,100 in cash from his family home. The drugs were found in the attic of a house in Collinstown Grove, where Gardaí had observed suspicious activity and monitored the area following a tip‑off. Gaynor, who had accrued €70,000 in gambling‑related debt, admitted to being involved in the drug trade but not profiting from it. Judge Orla Crowe sentenced him to seven years' imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended for three years, and directed him to be supervised by the Probation Service for 18 months after release. The court noted the high value of the drugs, the social harm caused, and Gaynor's lack of prior convictions and early guilty plea. The sentence was back‑dated to 26 June.
Derek Brady, 59, pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary, threat to kill, and false imprisonment on 12 June 2022. He was sentenced by Judge Martin Nolan on 26 January 2023 to five years' imprisonment with the final 15 months suspended. The State appealed, arguing the sentence was unduly lenient. The Court of Appeal, led by Justice George Birmingham, found the original sentence too light and quashed it. A headline sentence of ten years was set, with a one‑third discount applied, resulting in a net sentence of six years and eight months. Brady's suspended portion was removed, and the court ordered that the suspended year of his two‑year robbery and attempted robbery sentence be suspended to encourage rehabilitation. The revised sentence is consecutive to the robbery convictions, with no further changes to those terms.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Jordon Doyle, aged 23, pleaded guilty to two counts of assault causing harm against Nikita and Gareth Kenny at their Mountjoy Square apartment on 30 January 2023. Doyle, who had 16 prior District Court convictions including violent disorder and possession of explosives, entered the home armed with an iron bar. The assault on Mr Kenny resulted in nine stitches, while Ms Kenny sustained two lumps on her head after a struggle. Judge Pauline Codd, citing the iron bar as the most aggravating factor and Doyle's previous violent disorder conviction, imposed a headline sentence of four years for Mr Kenny's assault and three years for Ms Kenny's. After considering mitigating factors such as Doyle's early guilty plea and personal circumstances, the judge sentenced Doyle to three years for Mr Kenny's assault and two years for Ms Kenny's assault, with both sentences running concurrently and backdated to his earlier custody.
A 17‑year‑old was ordered to pay a €1,000 fine for assaulting another teenager, which left the victim in a nine‑day coma. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, where the victim had asked for leniency for the defendant, who was deemed a low risk of reoffending. The defendant, who was 16 at the time of the incident, pleaded guilty to a single count of assault causing harm. He had a prior conviction for no car insurance. Judge Pauline Codd noted the seriousness of the charge and the severe injuries sustained, but also cited the victim's generosity and a very positive probation report. She considered a four‑year custodial sentence if the defendant were an adult, but ultimately imposed the fine, to be paid before October. The court heard that the victim has fully recovered and that the defendant has expressed remorse and is distancing himself from past anti‑social behaviour.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Angela Manning, 59, admitted stealing €122,000 from the elderly couple Laetitia Lynam and Enda O'Regan during the pandemic. Manning, initially hired as a carer, used an ATM card and PIN given by Lynam to withdraw cash between April 2019 and September 2021. She claimed the money was a loan to a fictitious U.S. soldier named Sam, whom she met on Facebook. Manning converted the cash into cryptocurrency and sent it to a fake account. The couple's home deeds were transferred to them, and Manning also took her husband's retirement savings. The court noted that the couple's assets were now in their possession and that Manning had no prior convictions. The case was adjourned for finalisation on 27 July. Angela Manning pleaded guilty.
A 19‑year‑old Dublin man, Cameron Curtis, was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment for a series of violent assaults on his 20‑year‑old partner, Alannah Corrigan. Curtis pleaded guilty to seven counts of assault causing harm, one count of false imprisonment and a further assault on 19 July 2022 while they were staying overnight at the Royal Marine Hotel in Dun Laoghaire. He also admitted assaults on 12, 13, 14 and 16 August 2022 at Binary Hub, Bonham Street, Dublin 8. The court heard that Curtis repeatedly punched, kicked, slapped, dragged by the hair, spat in Corrigan's face, strangled her in a chokehold and threatened to kill her, including locking her in a bathroom and threatening to use scissors. He was sentenced to two years and six months, with 12 months suspended, and the sentence was back‑dated to 19 September 2022 to account for time already spent in custody.
Mark Casserly (49) of Rowlagh Park, Clondalkin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for giving a false account of the movement of a suspect. He pleaded guilty to providing gardai with a false alibi regarding his son, Anthony Casserly, during the investigation into the murder of Wayne Whelan in November 2019. Judge Pauline Codd handed him a five-year prison sentence suspended in full on strict conditions. The court noted that Casserly Sr. gave two statements claiming his son was at home, but CCTV footage contradicted this by showing Anthony leaving the property. Anthony Casserly (26), who was convicted of assisting in the murder, was sentenced in January 2022 to seven years in prison. The judge stated that while Casserly Sr. was motivated to assist his son, his actions perverted the course of justice. The matter was finalised with the imposition of the suspended sentence.
Dillon Andrews, 26, was jailed for two and a half years as the getaway driver in an armed robbery at a Lidl supermarket in Coolock Retail Park on 13 November 2019. The robbery involved a co‑accused who entered the shop after 7 pm, fired a shotgun into the ceiling, demanded cash, and attempted to access the safe. The manager triggered the panic alarm, locking the robber inside; the robber was released, fled, and escaped with Andrews in a vehicle. Gardaí recovered €550 from the car, found drug paraphernalia, and detected gunshot residue on the co‑accused's hands. Andrews denied involvement but admitted being present; he pleaded guilty to the robbery. The judge noted the seriousness of the incident, the presence of children, and accepted Andrews' plea before sentencing. The manager did not submit a victim impact statement. The case was prosecuted by John Berry BL and defended by Luigi Rea BL.
Gareth Duffy, 44, of Stella Gardens, Irishtown, Dublin 4, was found guilty of assault causing harm after he stomped on a friend's head and repeatedly kicked him while the victim lay unconscious on a packed Luas tram on 6 July 2019. CCTV footage showed Duffy leaving the tram, returning twice, and continuing to strike the victim's head. He had 144 prior convictions, including assault, public order and violence in a Garda station. Duffy pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The victim did not cooperate with the Garda investigation or give a victim impact statement, and no medical report was presented. Judge Pauline Codd described the violence as appalling, noted Duffy's rehabilitation efforts, and imposed a four‑year sentence, suspending the final three years on strict conditions. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 43‑year‑old Darren Sweeney pleaded guilty to one count of attempted robbery after he put a knife to a victim's neck on a bus at the Darndale Roundabout on 22 March 2022. The victim, who was waiting for a bus at Clarehall Shopping Centre, fought back, cutting his fingers and punching Sweeney before the attacker fled. Sweeney was identified by CCTV, searched, and arrested. He has 42 prior convictions, including assault, theft and traffic offences, and had recently been fined €200 for theft. The victim's impact statement described the incident as turning familiar streets into places "filled with shadow", causing anxiety, nightmares and hypervigilance. Sweeney, who has a serious drug problem, has been in methadone treatment and has expressed remorse. The judge adjourned the case to 6 November to prepare a probation report. The case remains at the attempted robbery stage.
A 54‑year‑old man from Boyerstown, Navan, was jailed for 18 months after a sting operation by an online vigilante group exposed his attempts to sexually exploit a child. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to one count of attempting to communicate with a child via electronic means to facilitate sexual exploitation between 3 March and 6 May 2019, and a second charge of attempting to meet a child for sexual exploitation on 6 May 2019 at St Stephen's Green. Judge Martin Nolan found his actions "very wrong", noting that the man believed he was speaking to an 11‑ or 12‑year‑old child, but was actually communicating with members of the Child Protection Awareness Group posing as a child. He received a sentence of three and a half years, with the final two years suspended on strict conditions, and was ordered to be supervised by the Probation Service for two years after release.
An on‑bail criminal, 34, with 97 prior convictions, was sentenced to two years and six months in prison for threatening to kill his former partner during a family court hearing. He pleaded guilty to one count of making a threat to kill, admitting he wanted the victim to believe the threat would be carried out. The threat was made in the courtroom when he said, "I'm going to fucking kill you." He denied the threat when questioned by the judge, but the victim recounted the words. He also said, "You want to watch yourself," and claimed he would have choked her if he had had the chance. He apologized to Gardaí, said he was angry, and admitted he intended only to frighten the victim, not to act on the threat. The judge noted his extensive criminal record, his bail status, and the victim's former‑partner status as aggravating factors. The sentence was back‑dated to 7 June.
A former civilian employee of An Garda Siochana, Holly Hayden, 27, pleaded guilty to disclosing confidential information from the Garda Pulse database in exchange for cocaine. Hayden admitted to providing details of a named individual on 29 October 2019, and to sending Pulse data to a person she knew on 9 September 2019 and again between 28 April and 11 May 2020. She also sent images of Covid‑19 checkpoint locations via WhatsApp and Telegram, receiving cocaine in return. Hayden's addiction to alcohol and drugs was highlighted by her admissions and her mother's testimony. She expressed remorse and acknowledged her actions as a gross disloyalty to her employer. The court considered a urine analysis before proceeding with sentencing, with a potential adjournment to 6 November to facilitate the test.
Richard Meredith, 71, of Windmill Park, Crumlin, was convicted by a jury at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for four counts of indecent assault against his 11‑year‑old niece between 24 November 1976 and 31 May 1978. The assaults occurred at the niece's grandparents' home, with the first three taking place in the kitchen and the final one in the bathroom. Meredith forced the victim to kiss him, touched her chest, and attempted to have her touch his penis, which she refused. The victim, who remains unnamed, reported the abuse to Gardaí in 2017 and later made a formal complaint. Meredith denied the allegations and gave an interview to Gardaí. He had no prior convictions. The court sentenced him to 15 months' imprisonment, noting the seriousness of the breach of trust and the lasting impact on the victim's life. The judge highlighted the victim's bravery and the need for protection of children.
Debbie Paget, 55, of Knowth Court, Ballymun, was convicted by a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court jury in May 2023 of dishonestly inducing by deception James Byrne to give her €10,000 after claiming his deceased father told her to ask for the money and that the devil would take his soul if he did not. She was also charged with inducing Byrne's sister, Maria, to give her €200, but the jury returned a not guilty verdict on that count. Paget pleaded not guilty to both charges. The judge described her as an "old‑fashioned confidence trickster" and sentenced her to 18 months' imprisonment, suspending the final six months on strict conditions. The case was heard in Dublin, with the judge noting that Byrne was a vulnerable person who believed the supernatural threat. No evidence was presented as to where the money was spent.
David Cooney, 44, of St Anthony's Road, Rialto, Dublin 8, pleaded guilty to trespassing with intent to commit theft at a house on the South Circular Road on 6 April 2022. He was found with a large shopping bag containing a Samsung tablet, perfume bottles and jewellery, items that matched those reported missing by the house's owner. Garda Fergal Burke, on mobile patrol, spotted Cooney in the Lotts Lane area at 9.15 pm, and after he hid behind a car and dropped the bag, the officers searched it and discovered the stolen items. Cooney was arrested and later sentenced by Judge Martin Nolan to eight months in prison, the maximum allowed under the law. He has 95 previous convictions and a history of addiction and mental‑health problems. The court heard that the offence was "very frightening" for the victims, who had found their dogs in the back garden and the house's interior disturbed.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 7 July 2023, a 30‑year‑old man pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and burglary at his former partner's home on 3 June 2020. The court heard that the man punched his former partner and her toddler son, who is on the autistic spectrum, during a prolonged attack that lasted several hours. He also stamped on the victim's face, broke a TV, smashed windows, and threatened to stab himself. The victim sustained facial swelling and bruising; the child was diagnosed with PTSD. The judge, Martina Baxter, described the offence as "reprehensible", expressed concern about the defendant's attitude toward women, and adjourned the case to 27 October, remanding the man on bail and ordering a probation report. The defendant's mother attended the hearing and the defendant accepted responsibility for his actions. The case remains at the pre‑sentencing stage.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 38‑year‑old Irene Cullen testified that her step‑father, Noel Foran, sexually abused her about ten times between 1991 and 1998, mostly while she slept. Cullen recalled a specific incident on New Year's Eve 1996 when she was 11, describing how Foran forced himself on her in her bedroom. She said the abuse caused PTSD, self‑harm with razor blades, and long‑term sleep disturbances. Foran pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual assault and was sentenced to three years' imprisonment, with his name placed on the Sex Offenders' Register. The judge praised Cullen's courage in reporting the abuse and noted Foran's lack of prior convictions and remorse. Cullen's statement highlighted the lasting impact of the abuse on her life and her protective stance toward her own children.
An 18‑year‑old, Josh Cummins, admitted to intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to Alanna Quinn Idris, who was blinded in one eye during an organised attack by a gang of four youths on Ballyfermot Road on 30 December 2021. Ms Quinn Idris, now 18, was struck in the face with the saddle of an electric scooter, resulting in unconsciousness, a shattered tooth, a broken cheekbone, a ruptured eyeball and permanent loss of vision in her right eye after multiple reconstructive surgeries. Cummins pleaded guilty before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and will be sentenced on 14 November. In March, his co‑accused Darragh Lyons was sentenced to four and a half years for assault causing serious harm to Ms Quinn Idris, and for assault causing harm to Louis O'Sullivan and violent disorder in the same incident. Two other accused have also been charged.
On 7 March 2022 a double‑decker bus driven by 60‑year‑old aircraft maintenance engineer Francis Leonard crashed into a rail bridge on Moyne Road, Baldoyle, shearing off the top of the vehicle while 15 school children were aboard. No passengers were injured and the bridge sustained only minor chipping. Leonard, who had been asked to drive a double‑decker on short notice, had intended to take a different route but was forced to change course due to roadworks. He stopped the bus to allow a car to pass and was travelling at low speed when the collision occurred. He pleaded guilty to one count of driving a vehicle over the bridge's height limit. At a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing Judge Orla Crowe discharged him from the indictment after he had complied with a €500 fine, kept the peace and met other conditions imposed earlier. No further charges were brought.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 25‑year‑old man pleaded guilty to one count of coercive control for a series of violent and threatening incidents against his partner between December 2019 and August 2020. The court heard that the man repeatedly struck, verbally abused, and threatened the woman, including calling her names, threatening to kill her and her family, and forcing her to urinate in a glass. He also threatened the woman's mother, calling her a "scumbag" and "rat" and saying he would shoot her and her family. The woman denied that coercive control had occurred, and no victim impact statements were submitted. The judge noted the woman remained in the relationship and that the man had 48 prior convictions. Judge Orla Crowe sentenced the man to two years, giving credit for time already served, and considered the threat to the mother a serious aggravating factor.
A 29‑year‑old man awaiting trial on sexual assault charges threatened to kill his estranged wife's family members, including the alleged victim, and to throw acid at her sister in a series of WhatsApp voice notes. The court heard that the defendant also threatened to damage two properties and intimidate witnesses, including his wife's brother, whom he is accused of sexually abusing. He pleaded guilty to seven counts, all occurring on 19 January 2022, and has nine prior convictions including arson and robbery. The defendant is also before the Central Criminal Court on a separate sexual assault allegation involving his brother‑in‑law. Garda Patrick Browne presented the voice messages, which described violent threats and a desire to "go to the UK" after "ripping out one of their throats." The defendant was on bail at the time and has been in custody since the incident. Judge Martina Baxter ordered a Probation Services report and adjourned sentencing to 9 October.
In a case heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Victoria Dalton, aged 26, pleaded guilty to one count of theft after a petrol station robbery at Circle K, Dundrum, on 24 March 2020. Dalton entered the station at about 9.15 pm, asked for children's medicine, and was approached by a man whose face was covered with a scarf. He held a knife to her throat and demanded €120 from the till, threatening to kill her if she refused. The staff, fearing for their safety, handed over the money. Dalton later told Gardaí she was fine, but when a second officer arrived she admitted the knife had been held to her neck. She denied any role in the robbery, claiming she had gone to buy medicine for a toothache. The man, who matched the description of the accomplice, fled to a nearby apartment complex. Dalton was arrested shortly after the theft.
Ross Maher, 26, of Poolbeg Quay, Ringsend, Dublin 4, was given a suspended 12‑month sentence after pleading guilty to making threats to kill or cause serious harm to a man who owed him €2,200 for cocaine supplied on credit. Maher had initially sold the victim €200 worth of cocaine, later increasing the debt to €2,200 by providing drugs on a "tick" basis. The victim received repeated threatening messages, including a statement that he was "a dead man," and was also subjected to aggressive phone calls. Maher admitted to supplying the drugs and to the debt, claiming the messages were made in the heat of the moment. The victim's impact statement described the situation as extremely stressful. Judge Pauline Codd, noting the aggravating factor of drug‑related activity, imposed a 12‑month sentence suspended in full on strict conditions.
An 87‑year‑old former Christian Brother from County Waterford was found guilty by a jury of 30 counts of indecent assault on five boys at a County Kilkenny school between August 1975 and June 1976. He was acquitted of one count involving a sixth boy. The maximum sentence for the offences is two years, but Judge Elma Sheahan sentenced him to three years and two months, with no suspended portion, citing his lack of remorse and continued denial. The judge ordered that he receive appropriate medical treatment while in custody, noting his age and health issues. The five complainants, now men in their 50s, gave victim impact statements describing how the abuse ruined their education, caused depression, anxiety and, for some, alcohol problems. They also said they were let down by the school and the Christian Brothers. The judge praised their bravery for coming to court and urged them not to feel shame.
Damien Graham, a 53-year-old firearms dealer from Co Carlow, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to four firearm offences. The court heard that Graham arrived at Dublin Airport on November 28, 2021, with 15 firearm components in his suitcase following a trip to a Florida gun show. He admitted to possessing and importing a prohibited machine gun bolt, as well as possessing and importing an assault rifle conversion kit without the required certificate. Prosecution evidence indicated Graham concealed the items in bubble wrap and duct tape, initially claiming they were tools before acknowledging they were firearm parts. Judge Martin Nolan accepted there was no sinister motive, describing Graham as an enthusiast whose enthusiasm got the better of him. However, the judge noted that machine gun parts have been illegal in Ireland for generations and criticized the reckless nature of surreptitiously bringing such components into the country. Graham has one previous conviction for a road traffic offence. The judge determined that Graham did not deserve a custodial sentence and handed down a six-month term, which was suspended on a number of conditions.
Damien Clarke, 40, of North Strand, Drogheda, was sentenced to two and a half years in prison for threatening to kill or seriously harm prison officers at Cloverhill Prison on 3 January 2022. He pleaded guilty to two counts of making such threats. Judge Orla Crowe noted that prison officers perform an important function and that threatening one during work is a serious offence. The judge accepted Clarke's early guilty plea and his mental health and poly‑substance abuse issues at the time. Clarke received a three‑year sentence with the final six months suspended, subject to strict conditions including engagement with the Probation Service for two years after release. He had 44 prior convictions, including theft, public order offences and assault, and was on remand at the time of the incident.
Lesley Dyer, 40, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two thefts totalling €1,050 from an elderly woman she cared for in Bray, Co Wicklow, on 18 June 2022 and 13 August 2022. The victim, suffering from dementia, had left €1,000 in a handbag and later discovered the money missing; CCTV later showed Dyer taking €50 from a card. Dyer admitted the thefts, citing financial pressure and a recent split with her partner. Judge Orla Crowe described the offences as a "really serious breach of trust" and adjourned the case to allow a Probation Service assessment for suitability for community service. If deemed suitable, Dyer may be ordered to complete 240 hours of community service in lieu of an 18‑month prison term. The case is set for a hearing on 3 November 2023.
Dean Synnott, aged 28, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended on strict conditions, after pleading guilty to two counts of assault causing harm for a serious, determined attack on his partner on 14 October 2017. The court heard that Synnott repeatedly punched and choked the victim, shouted threats such as "Silly little bitch, I'm going to kill you," and attempted to strangle her while she tried to leave the house. He also followed her onto a road, punched her again, and told her that no one would help her when she screamed for assistance. The victim sustained a head injury, bruises, and a cut on her lip; she reported panic attacks and difficulty sleeping as a result of the incident. Synnott had nine prior convictions, all at the District Court, and was described as intoxicated during the attack.
Michael Dunne, aged 50 and a long‑time drug addict, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 12 July 2020 to criminal damage after he threw blue paint on a Luke Kelly statue. He had 51 prior convictions, including five for criminal damage, dating back to 1986. Garda David Kelly discovered the damage and used nearby CCTV footage to identify Dunne, who was arrested but no further action followed the initial garda interviews. The defence, led by Katherine McGillicuddy, argued that Dunne was vulnerable, had no intention to damage the statue, and received drugs as a reward for the act. The court heard that the paint caused €240 in damage. Judge Orla Crowe adjourned the case to 12 October for sentencing, allowing time for the preparation of various reports.
Francie Stokes, 23, of Lucan, pleaded guilty to possessing €52,355 as proceeds of crime in his AIB account. The money was fraudulently transferred from a German aviation company. Stokes had a prior money‑laundering conviction for €3,000 in 2020 and a one‑month probation in 2021. AIB recovered €28,000; about €24,000 remains withdrawn. Gardaí noted multiple ATM and internet withdrawals, but CCTV showed none of the accused. Stokes was arrested on suspicion of money laundering, had no legitimate source for the €52,000, and had been receiving pandemic unemployment payments. Judge Martin Nolan, after Probation Services' assessment, sentenced Stokes to 150 hours of community service instead of 18 months' imprisonment. The sentence reflects Stokes' reckless conduct, his family responsibilities, and his prior record of money‑laundering.
David Gregan, 43, was sentenced to 150 hours of community service instead of 18 months' imprisonment after pleading guilty to making a false statement to a solicitor. In 2017 he claimed he had been injured in a collision between a bus and a car in Dublin city centre, alleging soft‑tissue injuries to his shoulders. The incident involved Dublin Bus and a car registered to Trinity College. An anti‑fraud investigator reviewed CCTV footage and found Gregan, though on the footpath, was not close enough to be struck by the vehicles. He withdrew the claim in 2018 and no payment was made, but the parties incurred €9,000 in legal fees. Gregan has no prior convictions, has worked in security for 25 years, and has a history of mental‑health difficulties. Judge Martin Nolan noted that Gregan had "succumbed to the temptation of easy money" and therefore did not impose a custodial sentence.