In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 17 January 2023, Kevin Shipley, a 37‑year‑old UK national residing in Spain, was sentenced to 33 months' imprisonment for possession of cannabis for sale or supply and handling €14,000 in cash, the proceeds of criminal conduct. The case centred on the seizure of approximately 3,000 cannabis jellies from a car and premises on Bluebell Road, Dublin, on 8 August 2021. Gardaí estimated the street value of the jellies at €10 each, totalling €33,000, while defence counsel presented an independent valuation of about €1 each. Judge Martin Nolan ruled that the true value was likely between the two figures and decided the court need not determine it for sentencing. Shipley's sentence was back‑dated to the time of his arrest, and the €14,000 in cash was confiscated. The court noted Shipley had been in custody for about 18 months prior to sentencing. Kevin Shipley pleaded guilty.
During a sentencing hearing at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 16 January 2023, Judge Pauline Codd addressed the case of Dean Pouch (31) and Jacek Luczyn (31), who pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and violent disorder for an incident on Jervis Street on 26 May 2021. The judge noted that the accused had opportunities to walk away but chose not to, and that Gardaí had been called at 10:45 pm after reports of an assault. CCTV footage showed Pouch kicking and punching the victim, who sustained a fractured cheek, and Luczyn also kicking and punching. Both men were intoxicated and expressed remorse. Judge Codd imposed a five‑year sentence for the violent disorder charge, suspending the final two and a half years on strict conditions, and a two and a half year sentence for assault causing harm, to run concurrently.
On 1 April 2021, Nathan Kiernan (21) drove an uninsured Ford Focus at high speed, causing a chase that ended in a crash that seriously injured his passenger, Jason O'Rourke, who suffered a ruptured bladder, fractured pelvis and pubic bone fractures. Kiernan was arrested after a patrol car spotted the vehicle with no headlights. He pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm, endangerment for driving at high speed, and driving without insurance or a licence. Judge Martin Nolan, after hearing evidence, ordered Kiernan to undergo a Probation Service assessment and imposed 200 hours of community service in lieu of a two‑year prison term, noting he had no prior convictions and was suitable for community service. Kiernan was remanded on continuing bail until the hearing. O'Rourke fully recovered and the two remain friends. The incident involved multiple patrol cars, a high‑speed chase, and a crash into a traffic island and tree.
Patricia Kelly, 61, widow of the late Paul Kelly, former chief executive of the suicide‑prevention charity Console, has been given a trial date of 11 January 2024 by Justice Patricia Ryan at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. She faces two counts of fraudulent trading and one count of money laundering. The first fraudulent trading charge covers the period from 6 December 2006 to 31 May 2015, alleging that she knowingly participated in running Console Suicide Bereavement Counselling Ltd for a fraudulent purpose, misusing the company's property that was meant for its charitable objectives. The second fraudulent trading charge concerns 1 June 2015 to 14 July 2016, alleging the same wrongdoing. The money‑laundering charge covers 1 September 2010 to 1 July 2016, alleging that she concealed the true nature, source, location, disposition, movement or ownership of property of Console Ltd or acted recklessly about whether that property was the proceeds of criminal conduct.
The court heard that a 19‑year‑old woman, who was first found in possession of child abuse material at age 13 and again at 15, pleaded guilty to three counts of possession of child pornography on dates in 2017 and 2019. She had previously been subject to reporting‑restriction orders and had been placed in a secure special‑care unit after the second offence. A psychotherapist report and an after‑care plan were presented. Judge Martin Nolan described the case as very complicated, noted the woman's actions were extremely wrong, and imposed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year suspended sentence with the same period of probation supervision. He ordered that officers liaise with the services currently interacting with the defendant. No further criminal proceedings were reported at the time of the hearing.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, retired bus driver David Stamper, aged 68, was sentenced to a year in jail for a series of frauds and thefts that cost the Citybus Employees Credit Union over €100,000. Stamper, who joined the Credit Union in 1994 and became chair of its board in 2013, began misappropriating funds in 2009. He pleaded guilty to 10 counts of forgery, 41 counts of theft and 31 counts of money laundering between August 2009 and September 2015. The court found that he issued false cheques totalling €351,642, profiting €107,730. The judge noted the devastating impact on the Credit Union's members and the loss of trust, and imposed a custodial sentence of one year, suspended for 18 months on conditions. The Credit Union closed in 2019 following the fraud. The case highlighted the serious breach of trust and the financial damage caused to the members.
Sven Spollen Behrens, aged 54, a former lobbyist and director of the Small Firms' Association, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two counts of stealing €10,250 each from the Dun Laoghaire Business Improvement District and the Sandyford Business Improvement District in 2017. He used the stolen money to pay private school fees and also diverted an additional €48,500 from Sandyford to Dun Laoghaire to aid cash flow, intending to return it when possible. Behrens had no prior convictions, had cooperated with Gardaí, and repaid over €40,000. Judge Martin Nolan, noting his financial difficulties and the impact on future employment, imposed a two‑year suspended sentence, concluding that a custodial term was not warranted. The case highlighted the misuse of company funds for personal expenses and the legal consequences of such theft.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 16‑year‑old boy was sentenced to three years' detention for stabbing another 16‑year‑old seven times with a kitchen knife outside Vela nightclub's car park. The attack, lasting 10‑15 seconds, left the victim with life‑threatening injuries, including a collapsed lung and severe blood loss, requiring intensive care, surgery and a period in a wheelchair. The perpetrator, who had no prior convictions at the time, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, violent disorder and producing a knife. He was later convicted of knife possession a week after the incident. The court noted the boy's abandonment by family, homelessness and lack of support, and highlighted the need for rehabilitation in detention. The victim's mother gave a victim impact statement, while the victim declined to speak. The knife was never recovered. The sentence was back‑dated to the boy's custody in September.
Mark Carty, 55, of The Mill Race, Chapelizod Village, pleaded guilty to several counts of theft and fraud involving €13,662 taken from various post offices and a Bank of Ireland ATM in January 2017. He also admitted fraudulently obtaining a Visa debit card in the name of Edward Glennon in April 2019 and using it to check Glennon's bank balance. The court heard that Glennon had been reimbursed for the €52,000 stolen, but the bank remained at a loss. Carty, who has 25 prior convictions, was arrested in August 2019 and denied knowledge of the thefts, claiming he was a recovering drug addict with a gambling problem. He was given a suspended two‑year sentence, with the judge citing his role as a caretaker for his terminally ill partner and their eight‑year‑old child. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
Oleg Mihalas, 28, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after a verbal row over a football pitch at UCD. He tackled a 13‑year‑old boy to the ground and kicked him in the face, causing bleeding, a swollen lip, a graze to the arm and bruising to the leg. The boy fully recovered. Mihalas was sentenced by Judge Orla Crowe to an 18‑month prison term, fully suspended for three years on strict conditions. He was described as remorseful, had no prior violent history, and had cooperated with Gardaí. He brought €2,500 to court as a token of remorse, covered the boy's GP costs and clothing, and handed a letter of apology. The court noted the seriousness of the charge and the victim's trauma. The sentence was imposed with full suspension and strict conditions.
Jamie Walsh, 18, was sentenced to 20 months in prison for assault causing harm after he and a co‑accused attacked a man on Naas Road, Dublin, on 18 November 2021. The incident began when the victim and his partner were kissing on a Luas stop; a boy shouted "It's so gay" and the two teenagers then punched and kicked the victim, leaving him unconscious with bruises, a swollen lip and a broken eye. CCTV identified Walsh and he was arrested a month later. Walsh had 48 prior convictions, including theft, robbery and assault. The court noted his upbringing in state care and his parents' criminal history. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a three‑year sentence, suspended the final 16 months, and ordered good behaviour and probation supervision for one year upon release. The victim's impact report was filed but not read aloud. The co‑accused, aged 14, had already been dealt with by the courts. The unnamed teenager pleaded guilty.
John McClean, a former rugby coach and teacher at Terenure College, admitted to indecently assaulting two boys during the 1980s. He pleaded guilty to four counts of indecent assault, each involving two separate incidents, committed between 1981 and 1983 and again between 1987 and 1988. The court remanded him in custody for sentencing on February 23. McClean also faces 49 additional counts of alleged sexual assault involving 20 former students, which will be addressed at a later hearing. The sentencing may last up to two days.
Shane Finn, 24, of Killinarden Estate, Tallaght, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for possessing €74,000 worth of cannabis at his home on 17 July 2021. Finn pleaded guilty to the offence of possession for sale or supply. He claimed he was coerced by masked men who threatened to kill him and to have his brother "cut up in prison" if he did not hold the drugs. The court heard that Finn was on bail for a previous drug offence when the cannabis was seized during a separate robbery investigation involving his brother, Jamie Finn. Finn admitted responsibility for the drugs, stating he had no knowledge of their quantity and had been forced to keep them. The judge noted the coercion but held Finn liable for breaking the law, and rejected a second suspended sentence, imposing a custodial term of two years.
Two men were sentenced for laundering over €160,000 in a worldwide invoice‑redirection fraud investigation. Emanuele Cocco, 29, received a ten‑month sentence for possessing €17,923 as proceeds of crime in AIB, Bank of Ireland, Revolut accounts and cash. Daniel O'Carroll, 28, was given a fully‑suspended 16‑month sentence for holding just over €26,000 in various bank accounts. Cocco is already serving a two‑year drugs sentence and will be released in December 2023; O'Carroll has no prior convictions. The judge noted Cocco's lack of direct control over the Bank of Ireland account and that the phone number linked to it was changed to O'Carroll's. Garda investigations revealed fraudulent international payments from Germany, Belgium and Denmark, and the court heard that the money had been withdrawn before it could be recalled. Both men pleaded guilty to possessing proceeds of crime in specific accounts during 2019 and 2020.
Martin O'Brien, 40, of Brookwood Heights, Artane, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment and a five‑year driving disqualification for driving without insurance. He had 68 prior convictions, 40 of which were traffic offences. O'Brien admitted to one count of endangerment on Cheeverstown Road, six counts of dangerous driving in Tallaght, and one count of driving without insurance. He claimed he had panicked when an unmarked Garda car appeared and drove at speeds between 80 and 120 km/h, using bus lanes, mounting footpaths, breaking red lights and overtaking dangerously. The car, falsely registered, eventually crashed into a parked BMW. The judge noted no injuries but significant danger to other road users. The sentence was back‑dated to 4 June, when O'Brien was taken into custody for the offence. Martin O'Brien pleaded guilty.
A Dublin taxi driver, Mark Byrne, 47, was sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty to possessing about €100,000 worth of cannabis for sale or supply at Watermill Drive, Raheny, on 22 February 2021. He also admitted to possessing €3,500 in cash as proceeds of crime and a Nokia mobile phone used to facilitate a drug trafficking offence at Springdale Road, Raheny, on the same date. Byrne, who had no prior criminal record and had worked as a taxi driver for 20 years, was described by Judge Martin Nolan as having made a "huge misjudgement" and being "highly unlikely" to appear again in court. The judge noted Byrne's financial difficulties and the psychological report indicating he was easily manipulated and suffered from severe anxiety and depression. Byrne's taxi licence was revoked, and he was paid €3,500 as compensation or reward for transporting the drugs.
Michael Small, 55, of Renville, Oranmore, Co Galway, admitted to deception at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He pleaded guilty to dishonestly inducing a woman to issue loan funds at Permanent TSB on 2 September 2008, with the intention of making a gain for himself or another. The plea was entered on a non‑prejudice basis. Judge Martina Baxter set a sentence date for 27 March 2023, when all evidence will be heard, and remanded Small on continuing bail until that date.
A high‑ranking member of a West African organised crime gang, Junior Boboye, aged 28, was sentenced to six years in prison, with the final year suspended, for his role in an €800,000 money‑laundering and fraud operation. The operation involved the theft of €792,000 from eight businesses through invoice‑redirect fraud, of which €319,000 was recovered. Boboye pleaded guilty to multiple offences for the benefit of a criminal organisation between August 2017 and May 2018, and to 13 counts of money laundering and using false instruments. He was described by the judge as an active lieutenant and recruiting sergeant within the gang. The case also involved other defendants: Emmanuel Olanyian, who received a four‑year sentence with the final year suspended; Taiwo Ajike, who received a suspended one‑year sentence; and Onyebuchi Aduba, who was dealt with under the Probation Act and will not receive a conviction.
Michael Joyce, 25, of Prussia Street, Dublin 7, pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary and false imprisonment on 9 January 2021. He attacked a 71‑year‑old neighbour, who lived alone, by pushing him into his apartment, demanding €10,000 and later €5,000, striking him with a hammer on knees, toes and ankles, and swinging a shovel that hit the victim's head. Joyce tied the victim's wrists and ankles with cable ties, locked the door, and demanded €100 a week from the pension. The victim escaped, raised the alarm and was hospitalised for six days. Joyce, who had 40 prior convictions, was sentenced by Judge Martin Nolan to four years in prison, to run consecutively to an existing sentence, after a guilty plea and mitigating factors were considered. The sentence was imposed at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The victim declined to give a victim impact statement.
Kevin Brazil, 53, was sentenced to 15 months' imprisonment for sexually assaulting a 13‑year‑old boy in Wicklow between January and July 2020. The boy was befriended by Brazil, who gave him money, alcohol and cigarettes, and took him to Blessington Lakes where Brazil offered drinks and cigarettes. The assault involved Brazil touching the boy's leg. Brazil has a long criminal record, including eight years already served for earlier sexual assaults, a 2004 sentence of three years with the final year suspended, and a 2021 sentence of two‑and‑a‑half years for a 12‑year‑old victim. He also pleaded guilty in 2024 to sexual assault and communication offences in the State. The court noted the boy's mother observed a "massive change" in her son after the offence. Brazil's 15‑month term is back‑dated to January and he will not be released from his other sentences until January 2027.
A Longford accountant pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to filing false tax returns for five clients between July 2016 and August 2019. Robert Browne, aged 53, of Treanlawn, Killoe, admitted using his former employer's Audit Registration Number without permission to conceal late filings. The court heard that Browne had taken on excessive work after establishing his own practice and, rather than disclose delays, unlawfully used the ARN to mask non-compliance. The deception caused financial harm to the affected companies, including credit downgrades and strikeouts, and necessitated re-auditing. Judge Pauline Codd noted the serious breach of trust involved, though acknowledged no personal financial gain and Browne's genuine remorse. She imposed a two-year suspended sentence conditional on recompense to two remaining clients within six months. Browne has already reimbursed three clients and faces professional strike-off.
A 22‑year‑old mother, Shauna O'Brien, remains gravely ill in intensive care after the De Paul Hostel on Little Green Street, Dublin 7, was set on fire on 26 March. She is permanently blind, unable to speak and suffers chronic nerve damage after falling unconscious while escaping the blaze. Her lungs are severely scarred from inhaling toxic smoke, requiring a ventilator, and she has undergone multiple surgeries to remove scar tissue, though the tissue keeps growing back. She is in an induced coma and her prognosis is uncertain, with discussions about a possible end‑of‑life pathway. Keith Riggs, 38, pleaded guilty to two counts of arson and one count of endangerment. He was seen on CCTV entering the hostel, setting fire to a toilet, moving through rooms, and eventually leaving after calling 999. He has a history of drug addiction, schizophrenia and previous convictions. Riggs will be sentenced on 16 January, with a psychiatric report pending.
Bernard Fagan, a 57‑year‑old taxi driver from Dublin 17, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing €83,750 of suspected crime proceeds on the M1 motorway in Swords on 9 December 2021. He had a few minor convictions dating back to 1990 but no recent Garda attention or remorse. Judge Dara Hayes imposed a headline sentence of two and a half years but, citing Fagan's lack of relevant convictions and the crime's lower‑range nature, reduced the custodial term to 18 months and suspended it in full. The judge warned that Fagan had come close to imprisonment and urged him to use the opportunity. Fagan was arrested after Gardaí discovered the cash in a blue plastic bag in his vehicle's front passenger footwell. He had been promised €200 to transport the money, a proposition he accepted while struggling financially after the pandemic.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Alexandru Petica, 39, pleaded guilty to possessing €408,820, the proceeds of crime, after being involved in moving the money for an organised crime group. Petica, who drove a Toyota carrying the cash, was given a headline sentence of four years, but the judge suspended the sentence in full for three years on strict conditions. The case also involved Ion Nostas, 42, who arranged Petica's participation and was jailed for four years. Petica's defence highlighted his early plea, remorse, good character and employment record, while the judge noted his role was limited and that an immediate custodial sentence was unnecessary. The court's decision reflected mitigating factors and the absence of a broader criminal role for Petica.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Tesfahannes Weldibanos, aged 50, pleaded guilty to assaulting a woman who had fled her home after a domestic attack in October 2021. The woman, who later moved to Mall House, Cork, described how Weldibanos, in a rage of jealousy, slapped, bit, and threatened her, causing head injuries and a scar to her eye. She escaped the property and called for help, eventually reaching the home of criminal barrister Lorcan Staines, who and his wife called an ambulance. Weldibanos, originally from Eritrea and a 20‑year Irish resident with no prior convictions, was sentenced by Judge Martin Nolan to a suspended three‑year term. The sentence includes conditions such as paying an additional €3,000 to his former partner within a year and no direct contact for three years. The court noted the assault was a one‑off incident rather than a pattern of abuse.
In a tragic incident on 3 October 2021, 20‑year‑old Craig Hunter was killed when the car he was riding in, driven by 33‑year‑old Stephen Kennedy, collided with a street lamp on Sarsfield Road. Kennedy, who was unlicensed, had no insurance and was drinking seven times the legal limit. He pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death, driving under the influence and driving without a licence or insurance. The court sentenced him to four years' imprisonment, disqualified him from driving for five years for the no‑insurance offence and imposed a mandatory two‑year disqualification for drink driving. Kennedy's plea and cooperation were noted as mitigating factors, while the speed, high alcohol level and unsafe vehicle were aggravating factors. The case was heard in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, with the victim impact statement of Hunter's mother read by the judge. The court also considered credible threats against Kennedy that were being investigated by the Gardaí.
Gheorghe Gherge, 35, of Drumcondra, pleaded guilty to two counts of using a false instrument and two counts of money laundering for activities between June 2016 and April 2019. He opened 17 bank accounts under eight false names, receiving about €570,000 from criminal activity and laundering a total of €670,000. The accounts were linked to a fraud scheme selling farm equipment, where victims paid €11,700 for a tractor that was never delivered. Gherge had two prior UK convictions for similar offences and was extradited in 2021. Dublin Circuit Criminal Court sentenced him to six and a half years' imprisonment, with the final three years suspended on the condition of good behaviour for seven years and a prohibition on returning to Ireland for seven years. He was also ordered to leave Ireland upon release. The judge noted his role was limited to opening accounts and making withdrawals, but his actions facilitated the frauds.
Sean Connell, 32, of Poppintree, Dublin, is serving a six‑year sentence for the seizure of €1.5 million of cocaine at Rosslare Harbour. He pleaded guilty to possession of diamorphine for sale or supply on 10 March 2020. Gardaí later found nearly €70,000 of heroin in his car, and he was on bail when he and another man led gardaí on a high‑speed chase after shots were fired at a house in Finglas. The pursuit ended when the car overturned and Connell was taken to hospital. He pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and possession of a firearm on 29 September 2020. Judge Orla Crowe sentenced him to seven and a half years for the drug offences, with six months suspended, and to 18 months for the firearm and dangerous driving offences, with six months suspended. The sentences are consecutive to the Wexford drugs matter, and he is disqualified from driving for two years.
Bradley Spencer, 28, of Corian, Pueblos Los Olieos, Malaga, was found with €4.5 million worth of cocaine in the boot of a Toyota Yaris that had been specially altered. The drugs, 67 kg in six black refuse bags, were seized on Leopardstown Road, Dublin, on 3 June 2022. An investigation led to the discovery of Spencer's passport and a vacuum packing machine in an apartment whose key was found on him. Spencer pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, admitting possession but denying DNA on the packaging. He had no prior convictions. Judge Dara Hayes set a headline sentence of 12 years, then imposed nine years with 18 months suspended on strict conditions. Spencer has been remanded since arrest and is described as a previously good character who has shown remorse and cooperation with the Garda investigation.
A former Christian Brother was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for indecently assaulting five boys in the late 1970s. The defendant, who pleaded not guilty to all charges, was found unanimously guilty on 38 counts after a jury deliberated for four hours and 26 minutes. The court heard that the accused, who was teaching the victims aged nine and ten, used his position of authority to commit the assaults. Judge Elma Sheahan noted the seriousness and repetitive nature of the offending, as well as the significant breach of trust. While acknowledging mitigating factors such as the defendant's medical issues, his status as a model prisoner, and character references, the judge emphasized the lifelong impact on the victims. Ronan Kennedy SC, representing the applicant, highlighted the defendant's voluntary return to Ireland for interview and his health conditions. Judge Sheahan sentenced the man to five years and eleven months in prison but suspended the final eleven months. The matter was finalized with this sentence, reflecting the court's balance between the severity of the crimes and the presented mitigations.
Anne Butterly, 65, of Channel Road, Rush, admitted to stealing €34,496 from Rush Credit Union. She pleaded guilty and her defence counsel issued an unreserved apology to all concerned. Judge Martin Nolan adjourned the case to 23 January for sentencing and ordered victim impact statements for that date.
Ryan Dowling, aged 20, was sentenced to ten months' imprisonment for his role in a violent disorder incident on South William Street, Dublin, on 17 June 2021. While on bail, Dowling was part of a group of four men who harassed a heavily pregnant woman dining with her partner, threw furniture and beer cans at restaurant staff, and threw a wine bottle at a worker. Garda Eoin McLoughlin reported that staff intervened and the brawl was captured on mobile phones. The court heard that Dowling was not the chief aggressor, that he had consumed a large amount of alcohol, and that he had a history of 16 prior convictions. He pleaded guilty, apologized, and the judge noted his young age and lack of maturity as mitigating factors. The judge imposed a two‑year sentence, with fourteen months suspended, and strict conditions for release. The final custodial term is ten months.
A jury found Dean Boland, 34, guilty of unlawful killing of kitchen porter Ohari Viera, who died after the house he lived in was set on fire. Boland pleaded not guilty to unlawful killing, arson, burglary and theft at Oaklands Terrace, Terenure, Dublin, on 21 August 2018. The prosecution alleged he broke into the house, stole a rucksack and set the property ablaze. Viera re‑entered the house before emergency services arrived and later died of cardiac arrest in hospital. Witnesses described a confrontation between Viera and Boland and a fire that began in the ground‑floor bedroom. Forensic evidence indicated the fire was a deliberate act, but no DNA or fingerprints linked Boland to the scene. The trial lasted eight days, with a verdict reached after six hours and one minute. Judge Elma Sheahan set a sentencing date of 10 March 2023.
Derek Boyd, aged 28, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for the accidental manslaughter of his 34‑year‑old sister, Sandra Boyd, who died after a gunshot in their Finglas home on 19 March. Boyd pleaded guilty to manslaughter and to unlawful possession of a semi‑automatic pistol and live ammunition. He had obtained the firearm because he feared threats from a "gangland" figure. During the incident he was holding the gun in his pocket, had cocked it, and when he pulled the slide to eject a round his finger slipped, causing the gun to fire. He immediately fled, later telling Gardaí he was ashamed. The court, noting Boyd's remorse and the family's suffering, imposed a five‑year sentence with the final three years suspended for the firearms offences and a four‑year sentence with the final two years suspended for the manslaughter, with both sentences running concurrently and back‑dated to his arrest in March.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 26‑year‑old Ailbhe Smith died on 1 October 2020 after taking two lines of cocaine and MDMA pills supplied by her boyfriend, 28‑year‑old IT technician Glen Burke. A post‑mortem found a cerebral bleed caused by MDMA toxicity and cocaine use. Burke pleaded guilty to possession for sale or supply of MDMA and cocaine valued at less than €100. He admitted that after the drugs were taken, Smith began sweating, was made to drink water, then became convulsing and limp; he called 999. He claimed he loved Smith, had met her online six weeks earlier, and blamed himself for the tragedy. Judge Pauline Codd imposed a fully‑suspended two‑year sentence, noting the case as a warning about drug use and expressing condolences to Smith's family. The hearing highlighted the immediate impact of the drugs supplied by Burke on Smith's death.
Chelsea Dooley, a 23‑year‑old childcare worker from Blanchardstown, pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of the proceeds of criminal crime after her bank account was used to launder nearly €25,000 stolen from an AIB account. Gardaí were alerted on 5 January 2021 when a man reported money missing from his account. Between 21 December 2020 and 4 January 2021, nine transactions totalling €24,900 were taken, with €23,899 transferred to Dooley's account and €1 to another account. The theft was linked to a smishing fraud. Dooley was arrested, interviewed, and admitted she had lost her bank card; CCTV showed an unknown male using it. Her defence argued she did not profit and had no prior convictions. The court accepted her guilty plea, noted her good character, and ordered a probation report before sentencing on 31 March 2023.
Brandon Carroll, aged 19, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison for robbing seven mobile phones and an electric scooter from boys at several south Dublin DART stations between 8 and 15 January. The judge suspended the final two years of the sentence. Carroll pleaded guilty to seven counts of robbery and one of attempted robbery. He was accompanied by a juvenile companion who threatened to stab victims and chased a 15‑year‑old boy down a railway track. The court noted Carroll's remorse, shame, difficult background, and vulnerability, including a history of 33 convictions and a borderline intellectual level. The judge ordered Carroll to engage with probation, addiction, and anger‑management services for two years upon release. Victims reported fear and anxiety about using public transport after the incidents.
Ian O'Heaire, 36, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to one count of criminal damage for breaking the front door of his former partner's home in Cabra on 3 October 2021. The damage, estimated at €150, included the door, lock and frame. O'Heaire had previously sent abusive text messages to the victim, who had left her home for a party and received a photo of the stairs from him at 2.45 am. He had 30 prior convictions, mainly traffic offences, and one earlier criminal‑damage conviction. Judge Pauline Codd imposed a four‑year prison sentence, suspended in full, with strict conditions: O'Heaire must be under Probation Services supervision for two years. He has shown remorse, sent money to cover repair costs, and has no further contact with the victim. He has also sought treatment for addiction and expressed a desire to work in addiction services.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court manslaughter trial, 34‑year‑old Dean Boland pleaded not guilty to the unlawful killing of Ohari Viera, arson, burglary and theft at Oaklands Terrace, Terenure, on 21 August 2018. Boland allegedly broke into Viera's house, stole a rucksack and set fire to the property. Viera re‑entered the house before emergency services arrived and later died of cardiac arrest in hospital. Defence counsel Garret Baker argued that the prosecution's case had a "massive gaping hole" because it could not show how Boland started the fire. He highlighted forensic evidence that the fire began in the bedroom of the ground‑floor apartment and that the window was opened during the blaze, implying the fire pre‑dated Boland's entry. Prosecutor Seamus Clarke maintained the case was based on circumstantial evidence, asserting that if the fire was the substantial cause of Viera's death, Boland would be guilty of manslaughter.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Gheorghe Gherge, aged 35, pleaded guilty to two counts of using a false instrument and two counts of money laundering for an organised crime group. Between June 2016 and April 2019, he opened 17 bank accounts under eight different names using fake IDs. The accounts received about €570,000 from criminal activity, including proceeds from a fraudulent farm‑equipment website that sold a tractor for €11,700 that was never delivered. In total, €670,000 was laundered through these accounts, with evidence of multiple withdrawals. Gherge had two prior UK convictions for similar offences and was extradited in 2021 after serving a sentence. He claims he was not personally enriched and was merely following instructions. The judge adjourned the case for finalisation on 19 December.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 20‑year‑old man pleaded guilty to distributing intimate images of his ex‑girlfriend without her consent. The offence occurred in September 2021, just months after the law criminalised such conduct. The man, who was 19 at the time, posted a collage of four intimate photos on Snapchat, where he had 1,100 followers, after the couple had broken up. The images were taken during their relationship, some when she was 17 and she was 18 at the time of the offence. Gardaí were alerted, and he was arrested in October 2021. He admitted the offence and made full admissions to the police. The victim did not attend the sentencing hearing, and a victim impact statement was submitted but not read. The judge, citing the immaturity and lack of foresight of the defendant, ordered a Probation Services report and adjourned the case for finalisation on 27 March next year.
The appeal of Tony Dean (70) of Woodhaven, Milltown, Dublin, who was found guilty of three charges relating to breaches of a waste management licence and environmental pollution at a site in Kerdiffstown, Naas, Co Kildare, between October 2003 and November 2008, is ongoing. Dean, who previously pleaded not guilty to the charges, was convicted by a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The charges include two counts of disposing of or recovering waste at the facility in Kerdiffstown otherwise than in accordance with the waste licence, and a third charge of holding or recovering waste in a manner likely to cause environmental pollution. The prosecution case was that Dean was negligent rather than that he had connived or consented to commit the offences, which are contrary to the Waste Management Act, 1996. Dean has a previous conviction for recovery of waste without a licence relating to a site near Baltinglass, Co Wicklow, in 1998. The matter was adjourned by Judge Melanie Greally to January 30 next, pending further evidence regarding Dean's health and any scheduled heart surgery.
Milad Khalili Ghanbari, 35, a former movie‑set caterer who had worked on the Star Wars franchise, was arrested after robbing phones from five people on St Patrick's Day 2021. He had recently split with his girlfriend and was described by counsel as having a "mental breakdown." Ghanbari gave Gardaí a false name and his neighbour's apartment number as his address. When officers entered that apartment they detected a strong cannabis smell and found 11 cannabis plants with a full grow‑out system. He pleaded guilty to two counts of robbery and one count of cultivating cannabis in Dublin city centre. He has eight prior convictions, including a failure to stop after an accident. He has been in custody since the offence. Judge Patricia Ryan sentenced him to six years' imprisonment, suspending the final year and back‑dating the term to the date he entered custody. The court noted his remorse and guilty pleas as mitigating factors.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Mohamed Morsy Ahmed, aged 54, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment for facilitating the entry of 13 economic migrants into Ireland. The court found that Ahmed had collected genuine refugee travel documents—seven from Greece and five from Germany—believed to have been issued in those countries, and had handed them to the migrants who arrived at Dublin Airport on a flight from Lisbon on 19 February 2021. The migrants, who had no valid travel documents, applied for international protection at the airport. Ahmed pleaded guilty to six counts of facilitating entry of people who may be illegal immigrants. He was back‑dated to February 2021, when he was taken into custody. The judge described him as a "vital cog" in the operation. The case did not address any subsequent movement of the migrants to the United Kingdom.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Dean Boland, aged 34, pleaded not guilty to the unlawful killing of Ohari Viera, a kitchen porter, during a house fire on 21 August 2018. Boland allegedly broke into the Oaklands Terrace residence, stole a rucksack and set the property alight. Viera, originally from Angola, died of cardiac arrest after re‑entering the burning house. Witnesses, including Viera's daughter Tatianna and resident Antonio Borges, testified that Boland tried to enter the house after Viera but was stopped by smoke. Boland's voluntary statement claimed he sought his friend George Cullen, saw smoke, and attempted to re‑enter the house. The prosecution presented a pathologist's report attributing Viera's death to smoke inhalation. The trial, presided over by Judge Elma Sheahan, continues with a jury.
Sean Doherty, 29, of Rory O'Connor House, Dublin, pleaded guilty to robbery on 7 July 2017 after claiming he was in the IRA. He had 25 prior convictions, including burglary, aggravated burglary, assault, and drug offences. The victim had gone out for drinks, and after a night of drinking, Doherty entered the victim's apartment, threatened him with a knife, and said "I'm in the IRA." He struck the victim twice on the head with an empty vodka bottle, stole his mobile phone, and the victim fled to the balcony. The victim was taken to St James Hospital and received stitches. Doherty was on bail at the time of the offence and was already serving a five‑year sentence. Judge James McCourt, after considering Doherty's guilty plea, mental health issues, apology, remorse, drug dependency and troubled background, sentenced him to four years in prison to run consecutively to his existing sentence.
Stephen 'Rossi' Walsh, aged 75, had his 2010 conviction for indecent assault of a seven‑year‑old girl overturned by the Court of Appeal. Walsh had previously been sentenced to 10 years for raping a nine‑year‑old in the early 1990s, and in 2010 received a three‑year sentence for the 1988 assaults, followed by a 12‑year sentence in 2011 for further sexual offences. The appeal centred on pre‑trial media coverage, notably Sunday World and News of the World articles published the day before his trial, which portrayed Walsh as a convicted pervert and gang member. Walsh argued that this coverage prejudiced the jury and that the trial judge failed to give adequate warnings. The Court of Appeal quashed the conviction, noting the coverage was "highly egregious" and that the judge's instructions were insufficient. The court left it to the State to decide whether a retrial is required.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, the son of a man whose sexual‑assault trial collapsed was punched in the face in the Criminal Courts of Justice round hall. The incident occurred after the son allegedly made a gun‑gesture toward a female complainant as she left the courthouse. The complainant's boyfriend, who was with her, struck the son, who fell and sustained head injuries. The court noted the son's psychological damage, including loss of smell and taste and a six‑month course of anti‑seizure medication. The judge, Pauline Codd, accepted that the son's gesture could be seen as threatening but found no excuse for the violence. She considered the son's role as sole breadwinner, his apology letter, and his non‑violent conviction history. The son was sentenced to a suspended three‑and‑a‑half‑year prison term, conditional on maintaining peace and good behaviour. The unnamed accused pleaded guilty.
Kevin Cradden, 33, of Kilkenny, pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assault at a Dublin house on 31 May 2021. He was described as "dumb drunk" after consuming a large amount of alcohol at a barbecue. The victim, a tenant, woke to find Cradden in her bed, kissing her and touching her vagina. She recognised him as "Kevin" and was confused. Her housemate confronted him, and he left the house naked from the waist down. Cradden has no prior convictions and has not been in contact with Gardaí since the assault. He has expressed remorse, has no memory of the night, and has engaged in counselling. The case was adjourned for a probation report to assess his risk to society, with sentencing scheduled for 23 May next year. The victim's impact statement was read in silence by Judge Orla Crowe.
Craig Hanney, aged 26, pleaded guilty to robbery, production of an article and assault at Sillogue Garden and Sillogue Green, Ballymun, on 10 and 11 November 2021. He was found in custody after throwing a plant pot at a woman, causing serious facial injuries, including a fractured cheekbone and permanent scar. Hanney had previously produced a broken bottle while robbing a taxi, where he was intoxicated and abusive. The court, presided over by Judge Martina Baxter, imposed a four-and-a-half‑year sentence for the robbery, with the final six months suspended on strict conditions, a four‑year sentence for the assault, and a two‑year term for producing a broken bottle. All sentences run concurrently. The victim suffered anxiety, panic attacks and breathing difficulties, and her children were frightened by her injuries. Hanney's mother's letter highlighted his childhood mental health issues and his desire for treatment.