A Donegal builder accused of participating in an armed attack on security guards at a repossessed farmhouse in County Roscommon has had his prosecution described as fundamentally flawed and contaminated by fair-procedure breaches. Patrick J Sweeney, 44, is one of four men on trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for their roles in the December 2018 incident at Falsk, near Strokestown. The defence closing speech argued the State's case relies on defective body-camera evidence, contradictory witness accounts, and an identification process lacking proper protocols. Counsel contended no forensic evidence links Mr Sweeney to the scene and that images allegedly placing him at the location represent mere speculation. The co-accused are Martin O'Toole of County Mayo, Paul Beirne of County Roscommon, and David Lawlor of County Meath. All have pleaded not guilty to seventeen charges including false imprisonment, assault, aggravated burglary, and arson. The trial continues.
An 88‑year‑old former Christian Brother was found guilty of indecent assault by a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The trial concerned 30+ charges of assaulting six boys at a Kilkenny primary school between August 1975 and June 1976. The defendant pleaded not guilty to all offences. After about five hours of deliberation, the jury unanimously convicted him of 28 counts involving four complainants, found him guilty by majority of two counts involving a fifth complainant, and returned a not‑guilty verdict on one count involving a sixth complainant. Judge Elma Sheahan thanked the jury, remanded the defendant on continuing bail pending a sentencing hearing on 30 June, and ordered victim impact statements and medical reports. Prosecutor Patrick McGrath SC presented evidence that the alleged inappropriate contact included touching and fondling, and that the complainants, now men in their 50s, were pupils at the school where the defendant taught.
A 58‑year‑old former construction worker, John Reeves, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment for possession of cocaine and heroin for sale or supply at his Dublin Southside home. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 20 October 2022. During a search of his residence, Gardaí discovered a pink suitcase containing eight small blocks of heroin and seven blocks of cocaine, each block weighing about half a kilogram for heroin and one kilogram for cocaine. The heroin was valued at roughly €560,000 and the cocaine at about €490,000. Reeves admitted he had taken possession of the suitcase in a shopping centre car park, claiming he thought it contained cannabis and was unaware of the drugs inside. He stated he had addiction issues and financial difficulties, including a €3,000 drug debt, and that his family was not involved. He had no prior convictions and had not attracted negative Garda attention before this incident.
Anthony Hatton, 36, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to a smash‑and‑grab burglary at the Eir building, Heuston South Quarter, on 6 February 2018. A black Opel Corsa, driven by a co‑accused, was used to smash the building's windows; Hatton entered, removed a podium of laptops and phones, and placed it in the car. Gardaí arrived while he was still inside; he was arrested and taken to a garda station where he was initially deemed unfit for interview. The car was later found in Naas, Co. Kildare, and the driver was arrested the same day, found with two smartphones. The burglary caused €10,000 of damage, requiring replacement of two glass panes. Hatton, who has 150 prior convictions including five for burglary, was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment, back‑dated to 7 July 2022. The co‑accused received a three‑year sentence with 18 months suspended.
At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, the prosecution concluded its case against four men accused of participating in a violent attack on security personnel at a repossessed farm in Falsk, Co Roscommon, in December 2018. Martin O'Toole, Paul Beirne, David Lawlor, and Patrick Sweeney, who are currently defending themselves or represented by counsel, have all pleaded not guilty to 17 charges each. The alleged offences include false imprisonment, assault causing harm to four guards, aggravated burglary, arson of four vehicles, criminal damage, violent disorder, robbery, and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. Senior Counsel Anne Rowland argued that the defendants were part of a common enterprise to ensure the guards would not return through violence and humiliation. She presented evidence including body-cam footage, mobile phone data, and witness testimony linking each accused to the scene or the organisation of the event. The trial is at the sentencing stage following the completion of the prosecution's closing speech, with defence submissions scheduled to begin immediately. The court has not yet delivered a verdict or sentence, and the matter remains under active judicial consideration.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 35‑year‑old Jonas Alves received a six‑month prison sentence suspended on strict conditions after pleading guilty to careless driving causing the death of 76‑year‑old pensioner Mrs Treasa McKiernan on Ballinteer Avenue on 8 April 2019. The collision occurred at 7:57 pm when Mrs McKiernan was crossing the road at a non‑appointed place; Alves was travelling about 60 km/h on a 50 km/h limit. No intoxicants were found in Alves's system and the motorbike was in good working order. Alves, who had no prior convictions, apologized to the family and offered to surrender his licence. The McKiernan family, represented by son Desmond Barry McKiernan, had written to the Director of Public Prosecutions expressing "great concern" and "deep reluctance" to pursue prosecution, arguing that a trial would feel like revenge and cause further harm.
Susan Royal, 49, of Croftwood Park, Ballyfermot, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing cannabis at her home for sale or supply on 30 April 2021. She had agreed with an unknown person to hold over €14,000 worth of cannabis in exchange for receiving some for her own use to manage severe pain from fibromyalgia. Gardaí seized 730 g of the drug, along with scales and bags, after a search warrant was executed on the day of the offence. Royal, a mother of two with no prior convictions, cooperated with investigators and had previously attended a Garda station voluntarily. Judge Orla Crowe sentenced her to 18 months, suspended in full, after noting her extensive medical history and the fact that she had not ceased cannabis use entirely. The court described the case as "unusual.".
The trial of Patrick Sweeney, Martin O'Toole, Paul Beirne, and David Lawlor continues before Judge Martina Baxter and a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The four men, who have all pleaded not guilty, face 17 charges each, including false imprisonment, assault causing harm to four security personnel, aggravated burglary, and arson of four vehicles. Prosecuting counsel Anne Rowland SC delivered her closing speech on day 38 of the trial, which began last February. She alleged that the group was "bent on violence and domination" during an attack on a repossessed farm in Co Roscommon in December 2018. The State's case relies on joint enterprise, arguing that all participants are liable for the criminal acts committed by the group. While the prosecution noted that the case is mainly based on circumstantial evidence, it pointed to direct video footage identifying Mr. Sweeney and Mr. O'Toole committing offences. The jury was reminded to decide the case on the facts rather than sympathy for the victims. The matter is currently at the appeal stage of proceedings and has not been finalised; the trial continues.
Debbie Paget, 56, of Knowth Court, Ballymun, Dublin, was found guilty by a jury of dishonestly inducing by deception James Byrne to give her €10,000, after she claimed her deceased father had instructed him to do so. The jury returned a not guilty verdict on a second charge of inducing Maria Byrne to give her €200. Paget pleaded not guilty to both offences. The trial, held at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, lasted a little over four hours. Judge Pauline Codd remanded Paget on continuing bail until July 10 for a sentence hearing. Paget thanked the jury and described the case as highly unusual, noting her long‑standing reputation as a psychic medium. She denied ever charging for readings or receiving money from the complainants. The case highlighted the use of alleged supernatural claims to obtain funds.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Darren Caffrey, 39, was sentenced to an additional three years in prison for drug offences. Gardaí had obtained a search warrant for his home on 1 May 2020, breached the house, and found crack cocaine, cocaine, heroin, prescription drug mixtures, and €16,560 in cash. Caffrey, who has 230 prior convictions, was already serving a five‑year sentence for possession of drugs for sale or supply valued over €77,000, with release scheduled for March 2025. He pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply and having proceeds of criminal conduct in cash. The judge, noting his addiction history and good behaviour in custody, imposed two concurrent three‑year sentences, starting from the day of sentencing.
A jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has begun deliberations in the trial of a woman accused of defrauding two siblings of €10,200 through representations involving spiritual communications. Debbie Paget, of Knowth Court, Ballymun, Dublin, has pleaded not guilty to two counts of dishonestly obtaining money by deception from James Byrne and Maria Byrne. The prosecution alleges that Ms Paget, who worked as a home carer, conducted purported readings during which she claimed their deceased father had instructed them to provide her with cash totals. Mr Byrne testified he withdrew €10,000 from his bank account and gave it to the accused following such a session. His sister stated she provided €200 after similar representations. Ms Paget denied conducting readings for the complainants or receiving any money from them, maintaining she has offered psychic services free of charge for four decades. Judge Pauline Codd completed her legal directions to the jury, which commenced deliberations on the afternoon of 15 May 2023 and will resume the following day.
In a Waterford case, Dean Hurley, aged 53, was convicted in 2021 of sexually assaulting his 12‑year‑old stepdaughter between 1 and 30 October 2013. The jury sentenced him to three years and six months, with the final six months suspended. Hurley appealed, arguing that a post‑conviction victim impact statement contradicted earlier testimony. The Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice George Birmingham, rejected all four grounds of appeal. The judges found the new statement did not materially affect the core allegation and that the trial judge's decisions on evidence admissibility and indictment amendments were correct. Consequently, the conviction was upheld and the appeal dismissed. The case remains at the conviction stage, with no change to the imposed sentence.
The Court of Appeal has dismissed sentence appeals by Dawid Michalik and Daniel Stepien, who were convicted of blackmailing a teenage girl by threatening to leak explicit photos from her OnlyFans account unless she paid €10,000. Both men pleaded guilty to making an unwarranted demand for money with menaces between March 6 and 9, 2021. At the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Michalik to two years' imprisonment and Stepien to three-and-a-half years. David Ostrowski, who also pleaded guilty to demanding money with menaces, received 150 hours of community service in lieu of 21 months' imprisonment due to his age at the time of the offence. Michalik and Stepien, who had cannabis possession charges taken into account, argued their sentences were excessive, with Michalik claiming a minimal role. The Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice Birmingham, rejected these arguments, describing the scheme as a sophisticated plan designed to maximize intimidating effect. The court noted that both appellants had previous convictions and that the sentences were not unduly severe. Consequently, the original custodial sentences were upheld, and the matter was concluded with the dismissal of the appeals.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on June 26, 2022, Liam Joyce, aged 25, pleaded guilty to two counts of assault causing harm after unprovoked attacks on a hostel resident at the Four Courts Hostel and Merchants Quay. The victim was approached outside the hostel around 10.30pm, where Joyce punched him twice, struck his face with a glass bottle, and later, inside the hostel, punched him again, pulled him to the ground and stamped on his head up to 16 times. The porter tried to intervene, but Joyce removed a six‑inch knife from his pocket, which fell to the ground. CCTV footage and medical reports of cuts, bruising and swelling were presented. Joyce, who had prior assault and traffic convictions, was remanded from September 5, 2022, until bail on March 29. Judge Nolan imposed a 28‑month sentence, backdated to September 4, 2022. The court noted Joyce's homelessness, substance issues and mental health concerns.
A court heard that Declan King, 39, of Courtney Place, Ballybough, pleaded guilty to trespassing at several homes in Clontarf and Marino in August and September 2022. On the night of 7 September 2022, a resident of Marino left a small sitting‑room window slightly ajar and locked all other doors and windows. The next day she discovered her car missing from the driveway, the keys gone, and five bottles of spirits—including a bottle of Jameson whiskey—absent from the larder. Other items taken were a laptop, weighing scales, an apron, yellow rubber gloves, brown sunglasses, a black bra, a Lidl shopping bag, and medication bearing the victim's name. Garda Sharon English reported that the car was later recovered in nearby Ballybough. Gardaí identified King and found the medication and other items at his home. King's 283 previous convictions include 175 under the Theft and Fraud Act.
Debbie Paget, a self-described psychic medium, is on trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, where she has pleaded not guilty to two counts of dishonestly by deception. The prosecution alleges she induced James Byrne and Maria Byrne to provide two sums of cash totalling €10,200 by claiming their deceased father instructed them to do so. Complainant James Byrne testified that during a reading, Paget told him his father said to give her €10,000, adding that failure to comply would be a sin. He stated he felt pressured and subsequently handed her the money in an envelope. His sister, Maria Byrne, testified that she gave Paget €200 after being told her deceased father communicated with the accused. Paget denied all allegations, telling gardai she had never charged for her services and did not conduct readings for the Byrnes. She claimed the siblings were attempting to destroy her life and noted that Mr Byrne had previously gifted her a television and a freezer. Under cross-examination, Mr Byrne acknowledged a 2000 conviction for sexual offences but argued his past was irrelevant. The matter is currently at the trial stage before Judge Pauline Codd and a jury, and the proceedings continue.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 12 May 2023, a 27‑year‑old man pleaded guilty to threatening to kill his former partner, burn her house, and "dance" on her face over access to their baby daughter. The offences, committed between June and July 2022, included threatening to kill the woman, damaging her home, harassing her, and violating a Family Court order by repeatedly contacting her. The man had been in a relationship with the woman for about a year and they share a child. A care order gave the mother full custody and the right to decide the father's access. The man sent harassing emails and WhatsApp messages, calling the woman a "selfish c***" and threatening violence. He remains under supervised access to his daughter, is barred from contacting the woman except for child‑access matters, and is required to pay maintenance. He has two prior assault convictions from 2017.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 58‑year‑old John Reeves pleaded guilty to possessing cocaine and heroin for sale or supply at his south Dublin home. Gardaí searched the property on 20 October 2022 and found a pink suitcase in the attic containing eight half‑kilogram blocks of heroin and seven one‑kilogram blocks of cocaine, valued at approximately €560,000 and €490,000 respectively. Reeves admitted he had taken possession of the suitcase in a shopping centre car park, claiming he thought it contained cannabis and only later learned it held hard drugs. He stated he had addiction issues, financial difficulties, and a drug debt of €3,000, and that he had no control over the quantity or type of drugs. Reeves had no prior convictions, had completed drug treatment, and had no family involvement. The court heard he was ashamed of his actions and had taken responsibility.
Four men are to be sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for their roles in a multi-million euro investment fraud involving Custom House Capital Ltd (CHC) between October 2008 and July 2011. Former CEO Harry Cassidy, former Head of Private Clients John Whyte, and former Head of Finance Paul Lavery pleaded guilty to conspiring to defraud investors and clients by intentionally misleading them regarding asset placement. John Mulholland pleaded guilty to one count of neglecting his duty as a non-executive director of CHC. Judge Orla Crowe is scheduled to read 197 victim impact statements before passing sentence. The four defendants, who were remanded on continuing bail, face charges related to dishonest acts inducing clients to entrust funds. Separately, Ciara Kelleher, the firm's former senior portfolio relationship manager, pleaded not guilty to a charge of conspiring to defraud investors. Her case was not concluded; a jury failed to reach a verdict earlier this year, and she will face a re-trial in 2025. The court previously noted the need to review extensive material before finalising the proceedings for the four guilty parties.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 20‑year‑old Jake Emmet pleaded guilty to making unwarranted demands with menace at a family home in Malahide on 16 May 2022. Emmet threatened to burn down the house, claiming the homeowner owed him a €500 drug debt. The incident was captured on a doorbell camera, showing Emmet telling the homeowner's mother that her son owed money for "green and a little bit of cocaine" and that he would "torch the house." Emmet's father, a career criminal serving a prison sentence, had left the family when Emmet was a child. Emmet admitted to having no understanding of the trauma he caused, and his counsel noted his cocaine use and homelessness. The judge adjourned sentencing to 25 July, ordering Emmet to cease his association with the people he was "playing the hard man" with.
A man accused of participating in a vigilante attack on security personnel at a repossessed farm in Co Roscommon told gardaí that he organised people to 'take back the house peacefully'. Paul Beirne (56) of Croghan, Boyle, Co Roscommon, stated in December 2018 that he drove a group of around 30 men to the property and broke the front door down with a sledgehammer. He claimed he did not know how the situation escalated. Co-accused Patrick Sweeney (44) of High Cairn, Ramelton, Co Donegal; Martin O'Toole (58) of Stripe, Irishtown, Claremorris, Co Mayo; and David Lawlor (43) of Bailis Downs, Navan, have each pleaded not guilty to 17 charges at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The charges include false imprisonment, assault causing harm, aggravated burglary, arson, criminal damage, violent disorder, robbery, and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. The prosecution evidence concluded on Monday afternoon, and the trial continues before Judge Martina Baxter in the absence of the jury until Thursday morning, when the panel is due to return.
John Lindsay, 47, was sentenced to two and a half years in jail for his role in a €1.2 million drug seizure. He pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale on 15 March 2023, after having spent up to €1,000 a week on cocaine and trying to reduce a €20,000 drug debt. The court noted that Lindsay had not owned the drugs but acted in a warehousing and delivery capacity, assisting in their onward transmission. He had one prior assault conviction. The judge, citing Lindsay's charitable work, early guilty plea, drug‑free status, strong work history and rehabilitation, imposed a four‑and‑a‑half‑year term with the final two years suspended. The sentence was a departure from the mandatory minimum, reflecting the circumstances of the case and Lindsay's reformed character. The seizure involved heroin worth €831,000 recovered from a hold‑all bag and €420,000 found at Lindsay's home.
A 36‑year‑old man, whose name is withheld to protect the children's identities, pleaded guilty to threatening to kill a TUSLA social worker on 20 January 2022. He had previously been convicted of child cruelty in April 2021, receiving a one‑year suspended sentence, and had nine other convictions. Judge Martin Nolan, hearing the case in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, found that while the threats were believed by the victim, he did not think the man intended to carry them out. He described the invective as frustration and imposed a three‑year suspended sentence, warning that any minor infraction would lead to prison. The judge also adjourned a hearing on the activation of the earlier suspended sentence for two weeks. The social worker, who had been at the accused's former partner's home to discuss a case conference, was threatened by the man after a confrontation with the children's mother.
A man accused of participating in an attack on security personnel at a repossessed farm in County Roscommon has told gardaí he was asleep at his home on the night in question. Paul Beirne, aged 56, of Croghan, Boyle, faces charges including false imprisonment, assault causing harm to four security workers, aggravated burglary, and arson concerning multiple vehicles at Falsk, near Strokestown, on 16 December 2018. During interviews with gardaí, extracts of which were presented to the jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Mr Beirne stated he was present at the property during an earlier eviction on 11 December 2018, claiming he was there to purchase cattle. He declined to provide a detailed account of events. Regarding the early-morning incident five days later, when approximately 30 armed men allegedly arrived at the farm, Mr Beirne maintained he was at home and asleep. He stated he had no knowledge of his cattle lorry's movements that night, despite tachograph records. Three co-accused have also pleaded not guilty to identical charges. The trial continues before Judge Martina Baxter.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Christopher Fox, a 33‑year‑old with no prior convictions, pleaded guilty to robbery and criminal damage for a 2018 incident in which he and an accomplice attacked a taxi driver in Ballybrack. Fox forced a door at an angle and punched a window, causing considerable damage, while the other man took €150 from the vehicle. The court adjourned sentencing for six months, ordered Fox to pay €3,000 to the victim, and required ongoing urine analysis. Fox, who had been heavily using cocaine at the time, has since turned his life around, moved in with his aunt, and is now working and engaged. The case is set for a hearing on 6 November 2023. The prosecution described the robbery as "thuggish" and "cowardly" violence. Fox maintains he did not grab the driver from behind. The defence highlighted his drug‑free period and low risk of reoffending.
A 33‑year‑old Dublin woman, Aisling Dekker, was found with more than €24,000 worth of cannabis, including two mature plants, at her home. She admitted to possessing cannabis for sale or supply and to cultivating it on 28 July 2021. Gardaí seized the drugs and related paraphernalia after a search warrant was executed while she was returning from the shops. Dekker claimed she was growing the plants to use a cannabis derivative to relieve joint pain from her autoimmune condition, urticaria, and that she was smoking the drug at the time of the offence. She had no prior convictions and cooperated with the police. The court ordered a probation report and adjourned the case for finalisation on 4 October. The judge noted her vulnerability and expressed concern about her future reoffending. Aisling Dekker pleaded guilty.
A garda sergeant testified in the appeal trial of four men accused of attacking security personnel at a repossessed farm in Co Roscommon. The trial is ongoing before Judge Martina Baxter and a jury. Patrick Sweeney (44), Martin O'Toole (58), Paul Beirne (56), and David Lawlor (43) have each pleaded not guilty to 17 charges, including false imprisonment, assault, aggravated burglary, arson, criminal damage, violent disorder, robbery, and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. Garda Sergeant Enda Daly stated that Roscommon District Court had previously convicted a person, not one of the accused, of an assault on Ian Gordon of GS Agencies on December 11, 2018, and fined them €200. The appeal is scheduled to be heard later this year in Roscommon Circuit Court. Sgt Daly confirmed that gardai were present at the property on December 11, 2018, to ensure no breach of the peace and that they used 'reasonable force' to remove individuals from the premises. The trial continues.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Kamil Naumczyk, 40, pleaded guilty to assaulting an eight‑year‑old boy, breaking the child's nose, after a dispute involving his daughters. Naumczyk followed the boys into a back garden and punched the child, causing him to fall and suffer a deviated septum that required surgery. The boy was taken to Tallaght Hospital and later to a specialist. Naumczyk admitted the act and said he was defending his daughters. Judge Martin Nolan, after reviewing a report confirming Naumczyk's suitability for community service, imposed 240 hours of community service in lieu of an 18‑month prison sentence. The judge noted Naumczyk's remorse, cooperation with Gardaí, long work history, family responsibilities and lack of prior convictions, and expressed hope that he would not repeat the offence. The victim's impact statement was not read out. The court considered but rejected monetary compensation, citing the victim's minor status.
Stephen Spenneberg, 55, an American actor and podcast host, was sentenced to two years in prison with 12 months suspended for harassing an Irish woman he met 20 years ago. The harassment spanned from May 2020 to January 2023 and included repeated phone calls, emails, social‑media messages, voicemails, and attempts to contact her through various platforms. Despite being told by Gardaí, Kentucky police and other authorities to stop, he persisted. He also travelled to Ireland in December 2022, visited a commercial premises linked to the woman's family, and was arrested on 7 January 2023. The court imposed a permanent no‑contact order, forbidding any direct or indirect contact with the woman, her family, friends, co‑workers or professional cohort, and prohibited publishing any identifying details about her. The sentence was back‑dated to 7 January 2023. The 12‑month suspended portion is subject to a three‑year period of supervision. Stephen Spenneberg pleaded guilty.
Ronan Keogan, a 51‑year‑old former GP, received a fully‑suspended one‑year prison sentence for distributing child pornography. He pleaded guilty to knowingly distributing child pornography at an unknown location in March 2017 and to possessing three child pornography images in May 2017. Gardaí found 10,000 images on his phone, including three child‑pornographic images, one of which he sent to an adult woman he was meeting for sex. Keogan claimed the girl in the image was 15, later stating 17. He was described as engaging in "thrill‑seeking behaviour", meeting many women online, and had a history of anxiety and depression. The judge noted the impact on his career and family, imposed the suspended sentence, and noted he would become a registered sex offender. No other convictions or charges were mentioned.
A garda detective has given evidence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in the trial of four men charged in connection with an alleged attack on security personnel at a repossessed farm near Strokestown, Co Roscommon. The court heard that a two-second body-camera clip was not disclosed to the defence as the officer believed it was not relevant. Detective McDonnell acknowledged he had inadvertently recorded the footage while the camera was in garda custody and accepted that withholding it did not constitute best practice. The trial heard evidence regarding an incident on December 16, 2018, when approximately 30 armed men reportedly arrived at the property and attacked four security guards. Patrick Sweeney, Martin O'Toole, Paul Beirne, and David Lawlor, all pleaded not guilty to 17 charges each, including assault causing harm, false imprisonment, aggravated burglary, arson, and violent disorder. The trial continues before Judge Martina Baxter and a jury.
Alan Leech, 38, was jailed for two years for extortion after he was hired by Bryan Kennedy to murder a couple with whom Kennedy's wife was having an online affair. Leech demanded money from Kennedy and Kennedy's wife on three occasions in January 2020, threatening violence and claiming he had third‑party killers. Kennedy, who had already been sentenced to four and a half years for soliciting Leech, paid €8,000 but failed to pay an outstanding €2,000, prompting Leech to send more threatening messages. Leech never contracted any third parties and had no gang connections; he was described as a "local junkie" with a history of drug addiction and 43 prior convictions. The court noted Leech's remorse and reduced the headline sentence of three years to two years, citing mitigating factors. The case highlighted the threats and intimidation faced by Kennedy's wife, who reported ongoing fear and PTSD after the incidents. Alan Leech pleaded guilty.
A 32‑year‑old drug addict was jailed after terrorising his mother, threatening to stab her dog, petrol‑bombing her home and writing "rats out" on her door. He broke her jaw, forced her to hospital and was convicted of assault, possession of a knife and burglary. The mother, who had obtained a protection order, described the abuse and her fear. The court noted the high risk of reoffending and the offender's remorse. Judge Elma Sheahan sentenced him to three years and two months, suspending the final eight months on conditions including offence and victim focus work with the Probation Service. The mother expressed a desire to reunite her family and accepted his apology, while the defence highlighted his addiction and prospects for rehabilitation. The unnamed 32-year-old pleaded guilty.
Trevor Brown, 40, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for offences committed on May 7, 2022. Brown pleaded guilty to creating a serious risk of harm by driving dangerously at Meakstown Cottages, Finglas, two charges of assaulting a police officer, and one charge of stealing a car at Fassaugh Avenue, Cabra West. The court heard that Brown reversed a stolen vehicle at speed, pinning Garda David Lewis's leg between the vehicles, before resisting arrest and assaulting Garda Lewis and Garda Louise Moran. Both officers sustained injuries and were certified unfit for duty. Judge Patricia Ryan noted Brown's 165 previous convictions, including 58 for theft and 41 under the Road Traffic Act. While acknowledging mitigating factors such as his guilty plea, time in custody, and engagement in drug treatment, the judge rejected Brown's claim that he was reversing slowly. Judge Ryan sentenced Brown to two and a half years for the unlawful taking of a car and five years for the assault on a police officer. The final year of the assault sentence was suspended under strict conditions. Both sentences run concurrently and are backdated from the date he went into custody.
Emanuel Adrian Marcu, 29, of Dublin 8, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after punching a co‑worker during a night out at Temple Bar on 29 January 2019. The victim, who was on a work night out, was punched twice in the face, sustaining a broken jaw that required surgery and several days in hospital. Marcu, who was intoxicated that night, later claimed he could not remember the incident and that someone had pushed him, but he admitted the attack was unprovoked. He voluntarily appeared at Garda station, offered an apology and brought €2,000 to court. Judge Martina Baxter, noting the seriousness of the injury and Marcu's lack of prior convictions, imposed 240 hours of community service in lieu of a two‑year prison sentence. The sentence was deemed suitable by the Probation Service.
At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, a jury heard that a journalist who filmed burning vehicles during an alleged attack on a repossessed farm near Strokestown, County Roscommon, declined to disclose his source to gardaí. Emmet Corcoran, former editor of The Democrat, gave evidence that he attended the property at Falsk in the early hours of 16 December 2018 and recorded footage later provided to gardaí. Mr Corcoran stated he refused to identify his source, citing constitutional and European legal protections for journalistic privilege. He declined to surrender his phone password despite gardaí obtaining a search warrant, though ultimately handed the device over. The High Court subsequently granted a restraining order preventing phone access, and the Court of Appeal quashed the search warrant after noting the District Court judge had not been informed of the journalist's privilege claim. The Garda Commissioner has appealed to the Supreme Court. Four men, Patrick Sweeney, Martin O'Toole, Paul Beirne, and David Lawlor, have each pleaded not guilty to seventeen charges relating to the incident.
A 51‑year‑old GP, Ronan Keogan of Terenure, pleaded guilty to knowingly distributing child pornography and to possessing three child pornography images. The offences were committed in March and May 2017. A woman he met on the affairs website Ashley Madison complained to Gardaí after he sent her images of a girl he claimed was 15, later stating she was 17. Gardaí obtained search warrants for Keogan's medical centre and home; the centre search yielded over 10,000 images, three of which were child pornography. Keogan was cooperative during the searches and denied intent to exploit underage girls. He has no prior convictions. The case was adjourned for sentencing on 3 May 2023. Keogan has been removed from the Medical Council, his practice closed, and he has lost all income as a result of the offences.
A garda superintendent has firmly rejected suggestions that policing failures contributed to a violent incident at a repossessed house near Strokestown, County Roscommon, in December 2018. At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Superintendent Seamus Boyle disputed a defence assertion that gardaí failed to intervene timeously and properly before armed men attacked security personnel. Four men—Patrick Sweeney of Ramelton, County Donegal; Martin O'Toole of Claremorris, County Mayo; Paul Beirne of Boyle, County Roscommon; and David Lawlor of Navan, County Meath—have each pleaded not guilty to seventeen charges. These include false imprisonment, assault causing harm, aggravated burglary, arson, violent disorder, and animal cruelty, arising from the early-morning incident on 16 December 2018. The superintendent confirmed he prepared a policing plan and visited the property but maintained An Garda Síochána's role was limited to preventing breaches of the peace. The trial before Judge Martina Baxter and a jury continues. Patrick Sweeney was convicted. Martin O'Toole was convicted. Paul Beirne was convicted. David Lawlor was convicted.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Roy Reilly, 53, was sentenced to seven years in prison after authorities seized €560,166 worth of heroin, cannabis and cocaine from a modified Opal Insignia car and a Dublin 8 apartment described as a "small drugs factory." Gardaí found £42,960 in laundered money, 19 g of cocaine, 2 kg of heroin, 11 kg of cannabis, 560 g of cocaine, a hydraulic press, a blender, bagging material, scales, ten mobile phones, 1.3 kg of benzocaine, 2 kg of caffeine and paracetamol. Documents including Reilly's driving licence, passport and vehicle registration were recovered. Reilly pleaded guilty to possession of the money and drugs, admitting possession of heroin, cocaine and cannabis for sale or supply. The judge described him as a trusted participant in a large enterprise, noting his high level of culpability and that he had pleaded early. The sentence was back‑dated to the day he was taken into custody.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 39‑year‑old Ashley Cooper of Raheny admitted allowing her home to be used for the sale and supply of controlled drugs after a financial crisis. Cooper had borrowed €3,000 from an unnamed man to support her three children during Christmas. When she could not meet the weekly €100 interest, the lender demanded she accept two bags of drugs worth about €297,000. Cooper pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of permitting a premises to be used for drug supply. Gardaí seized 9.8 kg of cannabis (valued €196,780) and 1.4 kg of cocaine (worth €100,240) from her house, and the driver of the van that delivered the drugs was charged. Cooper, with no prior convictions, cooperated with investigators and expressed fear of the lender. She has a history of depression and financial hardship, and has performed voluntary work for a homeless charity.
Paul O'Brien, a 38‑year‑old computer technician from Tallaght, pleaded guilty to three counts of copyright infringement for selling Android boxes that enabled cheap access to thousands of TV channels. Between June 2016 and December 2017 he sold about 150 boxes, charging customers €12 a month for activation codes that unlocked roughly 4,000 channels. Gardaí traced the scheme after a Sky investigator purchased a box in October 2017, leading to warrants and a raid in December 2017 that seized computers, flyers, business cards and a black tower PC containing data on activation codes. O'Brien's bank account held €34,017, about 60 % of which came from the illegal sales. At the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to 240 hours of community service, ordered the forfeiture of €20,410 and the destruction of the seized equipment, and noted that a custodial sentence was considered but ultimately not imposed.
A 42‑year‑old taxi driver was given a suspended six‑month sentence after pleading guilty to assaulting his 11‑year‑old son 20 times with a metal umbrella. The incident occurred on 16 February 2020 when the son was locked out of the father's house after an access visit. The son, who had been told by his father that he would be "thrown in the hell fire by God" if he told his mother, was left outside for over an hour, cold and wet, before being brought back to the father's home. There, the father beat him in the sitting room, repeatedly asking "Will you run away again?" The son suffered bruises and a cut to his knee. The father denied ever physically punishing his children and has no prior convictions. He has since taken parenting and conflict‑resolution courses. The judge noted the seriousness of the breach of trust and the boy's continued fear and distress.
A security guard gave evidence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of a violent attack at a repossessed property in Strokestown, County Roscommon, on 16 December 2018. The witness described being struck with a nail-studded bat and cut with a blade during an incident involving approximately thirty armed men. Four defendants—Patrick Sweeney of Ramelton, County Donegal; Martin O'Toole of Claremorris, County Mayo; Paul Beirne of Boyle, County Roscommon; and David Lawlor of Navan, County Meath—have pleaded not guilty to seventeen charges each. These include false imprisonment, assault causing harm, aggravated burglary, arson, criminal damage, violent disorder, robbery, and animal cruelty. The trial before Judge Martina Baxter and a jury continues at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Joao Silva Pinto, 25, of Mabbot Lane, Dublin 1, downloaded 78 videos of child sexual abuse material to his Google Drive, which Google reported to the Gardaí. The online child exploitation unit was alerted to the content on an account in Silva Pinto's name, and a mobile number linked to him was used to upload 784 CGI anime images classified as category four material. Gardaí obtained a warrant in February 2022 and searched Silva Pinto's home on 18 June 2022, seizing his phone and identification documents. Analysis of the phone revealed 78 videos, 43 of which were category one and 35 category two. Silva Pinto pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography on a phone at his home. He has no prior convictions and has not attracted Garda attention since the incident. The case was adjourned to 18 July for finalisation.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, a 72‑year‑old former sports coach admitted to 13 counts of indecent assault on five teenage boys between December 1979 and March 1990. The admissions followed Judge Martin Nolan's ruling that incidents involving complainants aged 15 or older should not be considered by the jury, as the law at the time allowed consensual activity post‑15. The defendant had initially pleaded not guilty to 266 counts covering 1978‑1993. He denied wrongdoing, claiming some allegations were fabricated or that he only acted after the boys turned 15. The judge remanded him in custody and adjourned sentencing to 22 May, noting the conduct was "grossly immoral" but not criminally illegal under the 1980s law. The case remains pending sentencing.
Michael Noonan, 61, pleaded guilty to stealing €22,400 from Hyde Court Property Management Company Ltd in August 2016 and to creating false invoices and accounting entries in 2015 and 2018. He admitted writing cheques to himself for money he claimed was owed due to unpaid fees by property owners, and that he used his own money to cover day‑to‑day bills while the company's bank account was "cleaned out". The court noted his long work history and previous good reputation, but found the thefts pre‑meditated and planned. Judge Martina Baxter imposed a four‑year prison sentence, fully suspended for five years on the condition that Noonan keep the peace. Civil proceedings have concluded and the money has been returned. Noonan has no intention of sitting on a management company again and is legally disqualified for five years.
Wayne Cooney, 32, of Tallaght, pleaded guilty to demanding money from a mother in Raheny on 21 April 2019, claiming her son owed €11,000. He threatened her, saying they would return to collect. The woman, frightened, photographed him and reported him. Cooney had 26 prior convictions, including murder, firearm and ammunition offences. Judge Orla Crowe, hearing the case, noted the aggravating factors of his criminal history and the daylight setting, but also considered his guilty plea, apology and remorse as mitigating. She sentenced him to three years' imprisonment, adding to his existing life term. The court heard that the victim did not wish to give an impact statement, and that Cooney expressed shame and a desire to apologise. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 72‑year‑old former sports coach pleaded not guilty to 266 counts of indecent and sexual assault against five boys. The court heard that the complainants, now men in their 40s and 50s, had been in contact with the accused as boys or teenagers through sports and family friendship. The State alleged that the accused exposed himself, fondled, masturbated, handcuffed, urinated and defecated with the boys, and that he offered money for sexual acts. The accused denied suggesting that a second complainant could pay off a loan by letting him watch the complainant's wife and him have sex. He claimed the relationship with the second complainant became sexual only after he turned 18 and that any acts were consensual. The trial continues before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury.
A former League of Ireland footballer, Edward Fitzpatrick, 39, and two other men were jailed for moving almost €200,000 in crime cash. Fitzpatrick pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering, while Jonathon Barton, 42, and Gary O'Neill, 40, pleaded guilty to counts of money laundering. Garda surveillance showed Barton driving a van to Fitzpatrick's home, where they entered the property together. Barton later left with a heavy blue shopping bag, which was found in O'Neill's car containing €199,505 in cash and an additional €2,250. The court noted the men's remorse, guilty pleas, and family responsibilities. Justice Melanie Greally imposed four‑year, 42‑month and 30‑month sentences on Barton, Fitzpatrick and O'Neill respectively, suspending the final year of each sentence. The men had no prior convictions for serious offences, and the court considered their rehabilitation efforts. The case highlighted the role of drug debt and addiction in the operation.
A 24‑year‑old man was sentenced to 16 months' imprisonment for sexually assaulting a six‑year‑old neighbour when he was 15. The offence occurred on 14 October 2014 at the victim's home in the east of Ireland. The girl, who was a frequent visitor, reported bleeding and cuts on her private area after falling from a bed. She identified the boy as the one who touched her. The boy was asked to leave the house and an exchange took place on the doorstep. The court heard that the boy had no prior convictions, had cooperated with Gardaí, and had not been involved with the police since. The judge noted the victim's psychological impact and the boy's continued denial of guilt, and imposed the sentence without suspension. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The unnamed 24-year-old pleaded not guilty.