Kyle Walsh, 30, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to burglary and making a threat at his former partner's home on 30 December 2019. In a "spasm of jealousy," he threw a brick at the door, entered the house, and threatened to kill her before leaving. The judge, Martin Nolan, described the offence as frightening and serious, noting Walsh's lack of prior convictions and that the incident had not recurred. He acknowledged mitigation through Walsh's plea, cooperation and good work history, but considered the seriousness of the conduct. Nolan imposed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year prison term, suspended in full, and ordered Walsh to avoid unnecessary contact with the victim. The court warned that any further harassment would result in imprisonment. The case remains at the sentencing stage.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 28 October 2022, Declan McGowan, aged 33, admitted acceptance of a jury verdict after being found guilty in March 2023 of attempted coercion, impersonating a Garda, assault and assault causing harm. The offences stemmed from an incident on 18 September 2021 at Kimmage Road Lower, where McGowan approached a woman, Andra Calauz, claiming to be a Garda, showed her what he said was official ID, and pressured her to get into his car. He also threatened to involve Tusla to remove her children. McGowan's husband, Daniel Ion, testified that McGowan choked him and threatened to call Tusla if the couple did not comply. McGowan had previously been convicted of impersonating a Garda in July 2019 and had 31 other convictions, including threats to kill and assault causing harm. The court heard that the incident lasted about 15 minutes on a public road near housing. Declan McGowan pleaded not guilty.
Daniel Kerins, 26, pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine for sale or supply in St Ronan's Crescent, Clondalkin, on 25 November 2019. He had previously been convicted three times for drug possession. Gardaí, acting on confidential information, set up a surveillance operation in Donomore, Tallaght, on the day of the offence. Kerins was seen entering a taxi, travelling to St Ronan's Crescent, exiting with a package, and then entering another vehicle with a co‑accused. Both were arrested and the package contained €69,993 of cocaine. Kerins' role was to transport the drugs to pay a €7,500 drug debt; the co‑accused was to break down and sell them. The court heard Kerins was in the throes of drug addiction, had attended residential treatment, and had not reoffended since the offence. Judge Melanie Greally, satisfied that Kerins had been pressured to act as a courier, imposed a suspended three‑year sentence.
Stephen Butler, aged 30, was jailed for burglary and criminal damage after breaking into a Canada Goose shop on Grafton Street while it was closed for Covid‑19. CCTV showed him smashing the front door and stealing ten jackets and jumpers worth €7,100, causing €5,600 in damage. Butler had a history of 54 convictions and was serving a suspended sentence of two and a half years at the time of the theft. He suffered a brain injury from a 2016 car accident, which left him with a learning disability, and had a drug addiction. Judge Martin Nolan, noting Butler's vulnerability and drug issues, imposed a sentence of two years and nine months, recognising his lesser culpability compared to his co‑accused and not reactivating the previous suspended sentence. Butler pleaded guilty, admitted his role, and expressed remorse. The court considered his medical background and early admission of guilt.
Mark Doyle, 45, of Barnaville Park, Ballyfermot, was sentenced by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to six years' imprisonment for three counts of assault causing harm. The court heard that Doyle repeatedly attacked his former partner with a wrench, cable wire and other weapons, knocking out two of her remaining three teeth and causing severe facial injuries. He also threatened to pour boiling water and sugar over her face. The victim, who declined to give evidence, reported being struck with a cable wire, a pen, a brush and a wooden stick, and being left with blood‑stained wounds and broken teeth. Doyle denied the assaults and was on bail at the time of the incidents. The judge described the attacks as "pretty harrowing" and noted Doyle's habit of violent behaviour. The sentence was imposed on 27 July 2021 and runs consecutively.
In a 2002 case, Jim Fitzsimons, a former shop manager, lured a 12‑year‑old boy to a flat in Dublin where he and convicted sex offender Kevin Brazil sexually assaulted the child. Fitzsimons used promises of employment and cash gifts of €150 and €50 to groom the boy, while Brazil offered alcohol. The boy reported the abuse to his father, who took him to a Garda station, but the investigating officer failed to forward the file to the Director of Public Prosecutions, a mistake the judge described as regrettable. Fitzsimons pleaded not guilty to three counts of sexual assault and was convicted on 10 October 2022. The judge imposed a headline sentence of 40 months, reduced to 30 months after considering mitigating factors. Brazil, aged 52, had previously been jailed for a similar offence and had pleaded guilty to assaulting a 12‑year‑old child.
Gary Foy, 21, pleaded guilty to careless driving causing serious bodily harm, driving without insurance and driving under the influence of cannabis after a scrambler collided with a stationary quad bike in a Dublin park on 17 September 2020. The collision left a two‑year‑old toddler with a traumatic brain injury. Foy, who had ridden scramblers for ten years, claimed he could not remember the incident. Judge Melanie Greally set a headline sentence of two years for the careless driving count and five months for each of the other two counts. She imposed a 16‑month prison sentence for the careless driving offence, suspended on strict conditions, and 180 hours of community service for the remaining counts. Foy was also disqualified from driving for five years and placed under probation supervision for 12 months. The court noted the child's serious injuries and Foy's remorse and steps to address his addiction.
The liquidator of Arden Forestry Management Ltd, a company accused of operating as a Ponzi scheme, seeks to hold two former directors, David Peile and Garret Hevey, personally liable for the firm's €3.8 million debt. Mr Declan De Lacy, appointed liquidator in 2016, argues that the directors deceived mainly older foreign investors by promising that their money would buy forest land and later yield returns. In reality, the company spent only €133 000 on land and returned €393 000 to investors, while the bulk of the €6.4 million raised was misappropriated. Hevey was sentenced to six years' imprisonment after an appeal, and Peile to three years. De Lacy's application, presented to Mr Justice Brian O'Moore, requests High Court orders declaring the directors' intent to defraud creditors and making them personally liable for the debt. The case will return next week.
Kerrie O'Byrne, 46, of Monalea Grove, Firhouse, Dublin, was found guilty of over 30 counts of theft between 2013 and 2019, having taken €34,250 from her former engineering company. She used a company credit card to purchase petrol, clothes, flowers and gifts for others. O'Byrne pleaded guilty, admitted the thefts, and apologised. She had no prior convictions. The court noted that she had been able to repay the full amount, as her husband had sold property, and that she had taken steps to address the root causes of her offending. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year prison sentence, suspended on strict conditions, and ordered O'Byrne to repay the company within a month. The sentence was given in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 27 October 2022.
Marius Pughineanu, 42, was sentenced to ten months in prison after pleading guilty to possessing an ATM bank reader and criminal damage to an ATM on Main Street, Lucan, on 7 January 2008. He also admitted using two stolen credit cards to purchase PlayStation consoles worth about €1,200 at GameStop stores in September 2007. The court heard that he had absconded twice, including a seven‑year stay in Thailand after bench warrants were issued. Garda Stuart Gleeson presented evidence that the stolen cards were traced to U.S. owners who had not authorised the transactions. Pughineanu was arrested in January 2008 after tampering with a Bank of Ireland ATM, where CCTV showed him removing the front of the machine with a Stanley knife. He has three prior burglary convictions but claims to have reformed, working 45 hours a week as a fire‑proofer and paying taxes.
Ion Nostas, 42, pleaded guilty to money‑laundering for moving €408,820 in cash for an organised crime group. He was arrested after Gardaí observed him and two others transporting large bags of cash between a BMW and a Toyota in Rosemount Business Park, where the money was recovered. Nostas claimed he was paid €1,000 for the job, kept €800, paid €200 to a co‑accused, and had no role beyond moving the cash. He admitted the mistake and apologized. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, hearing the case on 25 October 2022, imposed a four‑year prison sentence, back‑dated to 13 January 2022, after considering mitigating factors such as his lack of prior convictions and cooperation with Gardaí. The sentence reflects the seriousness of assisting in the relocation of criminal proceeds.
Charles Dwan, 66, of Coach House Square, Ballinteer, Dublin 16, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to possession of child sexual abuse material. The court heard that gardaí searched Dwan's home after an IP address was linked to accessing such images. Two devices were seized, containing a total of 28,342 images and 58 videos. Prosecution stated that Dwan admitted to downloading and viewing the material between September 4, 2014, and February 2, 2018. It was noted that a significant portion of the images were animations, and there was no suggestion of contact offending or payment for the material. Dwan has no prior convictions. Defence counsel submitted references from his family and a psychological report indicating low re-offending risk, alongside evidence of his mental health history and cardiac issues. Judge Martin Nolan acknowledged the volume of images and the duration of the downloads as aggravating factors but considered Dwan's cooperation, admissions, and lack of previous record as mitigating. The judge sentenced Dwan to 15 months in prison.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 25 October 2022, two teenagers, Clayton Mulhall (23) and Daryl Donnery (21), were found guilty of violent disorder and assault after a 2018 attack on a patrol garda. The incident involved the youths blocking a patrol garda's path, punching him, and using pepper spray. Mulhall struck the garda's face, while Donnery was later found in possession of MDMA. Both pleaded guilty to violent disorder; Donnery was acquitted of assault. Mulhall also pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, and Donnery pleaded not guilty to that charge. The court imposed fully suspended prison sentences: Mulhall received a three‑and‑a‑half‑year term suspended on conditions including probation, drug‑free status, and payment of €800 to the passerby whose bike he stole; Donnery received a four‑year term suspended on two years of probation. The judge noted the seriousness of the attack, the garda's injuries, and the defendants' remorse and prior convictions.
John Mangan, 54, escaped from Loughlan House open prison in October 2021 and was captured riding a motorcycle at high speed through the Dublin suburbs on a November afternoon. During the chase, which lasted about 20 minutes, he ignored Garda instructions, ran red lights, overtook vehicles, drove the wrong way around a roundabout, and nearly collided with several cars. The pursuit ended when Gardaí, with air support, blocked him on Carpenterstown Road. Mangan pleaded guilty to endangerment, dangerous driving and driving without insurance. He was sentenced to 15 months in prison, to be served consecutively to his existing term, and was disqualified from driving for two years. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and is expected to be brought before the District Court for the escape charge.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Jakub Chrzanowsli, aged 45, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended, for stealing over €150,000 from Polish businessmen. He had met the investors through a Polish business community group and promised astronomical returns, claiming to act as a middle‑man for Dublin City Council in selling council properties. The court found that the properties were not for sale and that Chrzanowsli had fabricated contracts and meetings in cafés or fast‑food outlets. He pleaded guilty to theft from a company and an individual between May 2017 and May 2018, and had one prior conviction. The judge noted his guilty pleas, lack of relevant convictions, and potential for reform as mitigating factors, and ordered €9,000 he had brought to court to be divided among the victims. The court also set up a repayment plan of €500 monthly, with €40,000 still outstanding.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 35‑year‑old Artiom Cerenkov pleaded guilty to possession of a realistic imitation firearm after a drunken incident on Abbey Street. Garda Ciaran Harford, on duty, confronted Cerenkov who was waving the imitation gun, restrained him, and secured the item. The armed support unit confirmed the firearm was an imitation. Cerenkov, who has 26 prior convictions mainly for shoplifting and has struggled with alcohol and homelessness, was found extremely intoxicated. Judge Martin Nolan, noting Cerenkov's guilty plea and his efforts at rehabilitation, sentenced him to two and a half years' imprisonment, suspended in full. The judge praised Garda Harford's bravery and sensible handling of the situation and acknowledged the defendant's desire for a second chance. The case concluded with the suspended sentence and no custodial term imposed.
Gavin Murphy, 31, is serving a life sentence for the murder of his former partner, Jennie Poole, and will not receive additional jail time for an earlier assault on two men. In January 2021, at a Clondalkin address, Murphy pleaded guilty to demanding money with menaces and two counts of assault. The incident involved Dwayne Jones and his father David, who answered a knock from a relative of Murphy. Murphy demanded €200, and during the confrontation he slashed Dwayne Jones's face with a blade, leaving permanent scarring, while David suffered a broken thumb. The court noted Murphy's remorse and imposed a four‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence, which cannot run consecutively to his life term. The sentence is to run from the date of the hearing.
Fine Gael TD Jennifer Carroll MacNeill urged women who receive unwanted sexual messages to contact Gardaí after a man sent her explicit videos during the 2020 election campaign. Gerard Culhane, 43, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to harassing the TD at unknown locations between 13 January and 26 March 2020. He was given a suspended one‑year prison sentence and ordered to stay away from the TD and her workplace. Carroll MacNeill, who has no previous convictions, highlighted that her position as an elected representative added extra interest to the case and that other women also face unwanted advances. She thanked the court, the DPP, Detective Sergeant Rachel Kilpatrick and her Fine Gael colleagues for their support, and stressed that the criminal justice system is there to help victims. The TD's remarks were made outside the court on the day of the sentencing.
Gerard Culhane, 43, pleaded guilty to harassing Fine Gael TD Jennifer Carroll MacNeill with 13 messages, including three sexually explicit videos, between 13 January and 26 March 2020. The court found the harassment particularly disturbing because it occurred during the general election campaign when the TD was meeting the public. Judge Patricia Ryan imposed a one‑year custodial sentence suspended for 12 months on strict conditions and ordered Culhane to have no contact with the TD in person, by social media or through a third party for five years. He was also directed to stay away from the TD's workplace at Leinster House, her constituency offices and her residence. The sentence reflected mitigating factors such as the guilty plea, lack of prior convictions and cooperation with Gardaí, while aggravating factors included the volume of messages and the impact on the TD's safety and election activities.
Lee McMullen, aged 22, pleaded guilty on 31 July 2019 to two counts of endangerment and two counts of dangerous driving after driving a car on the wrong side of a motorway at high speed with its lights off. The incident, which lasted eight to ten minutes, involved McMullen driving at speeds up to 160 km/h, crossing road dividers, and continuing onto the motorway in the outbound lane. Garda Michael Martin chased the vehicle, which eventually broke violently at the Leixlip junction and was abandoned. McMullen was apprehended nearby; passengers were later found in a taxi. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a sentence of 21 months for the endangerment count, with the remaining two years and three months suspended on strict conditions. The sentence reflects McMullen's eight prior convictions and the serious nature of the offence.
Mantas Sankalas, aged 33, was jailed for 16 months after stealing more than €10,000 worth of designer clothes from Deja Vu, a Dublin shop. He was arrested days after the burglary when Gardaí stopped him cycling the wrong way on a one-way street. Sankalas was found carrying two designer bags, one containing items stolen from the shop, with a total value of €10,807. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to the burglary that occurred between 8 and 13 September 2018. Judge Melanie Greally noted the crime was opportunistic and that Sankalas had originally intended to seek shelter for the night. She sentenced him to 24 months imprisonment, suspending the final eight months on the condition that he engage with drug treatment programmes and keep the peace for eight months after release. The burglary caused the owner to close the business. The case also involved a second person, as DNA evidence suggested.
Niall Smyth, aged 30, was sentenced to 240 hours of community service for his role in a 2019 incident of "wanton thuggery" in Tallaght. He was one of six men who entered a garden on Dromcarra Avenue, smashed the windows of a Mini car parked in the driveway, and then smashed the downstairs window of a house. Smyth was the only member whose face was visible on CCTV, which identified him. He pleaded guilty to two counts of criminal damage. The incident stemmed from an altercation between Smyth's family and another family. The victims did not cooperate with Gardaí and did not give a victim impact statement. Smyth had no prior convictions except two old road traffic offences in 2011, and he was described as extremely remorseful. Judge Melanie Greally noted his lack of previous convictions, his work ethic, and employment history before ordering the community service.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 20 October 2022, Judge Martin Nolan sentenced 26‑year‑old Martin Collins to a 21‑month prison term suspended on strict conditions after Collins pleaded guilty to assault causing harm for punching a Tesco security guard in Santry on 5 July 2019. Collins entered the store with his partner, bought groceries and cigarettes but did not pay for the groceries. When a security guard asked him to pay, Collins, who identified himself as a boxer, punched the guard in the face. The guard fell, sustained a swollen right eye and thumb injury, and was later assisted by other guards. CCTV showed Collins raised his fist and threw three punches, two of which connected. Collins attempted a third blow but was blocked.
John Kane, a 52‑year‑old former administrator for a family‑owned heating and plumbing business, was sentenced to two and a half years in prison for stealing nearly €180,000 from his employer, Gerard Fox. Between 10 April 2017 and 4 June 2019, Kane stole amounts ranging from a few hundred euros to over €3,000 on 18 occasions, with the indictment comprising 66 theft charges and a total taken of €176,914. He admitted to spending up to €1,300 a day on gambling, claiming VIP treatment from bookies. During an audit in 2019, missing funds were discovered, and further investigation revealed that Kane had increased his own wages, paid himself twice weekly, under‑declared for tax, and made unauthorized payments, including €4,000 holiday pay. He had 37 prior convictions, including a 2012 three‑year sentence for similar thefts. John Kane pleaded guilty.
Ruth Ennis, 46, of Clondalkin, was sentenced to 18 months in prison after she attacked her neighbour Daniel Casey with a screwdriver during a dispute over a borrowed Dyson vacuum cleaner. The incident occurred on 19 September 2021 when Ennis, who had charged the vacuum's battery and wanted to use it, confronted Casey at his home. Ennis swiped at him with a screwdriver, inflicted wounds on his arm and elbow, and later struck him with a steel trim from the kitchen floor. She was intoxicated during the attack. Ennis pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, property damage and possession of a screwdriver in a dispute. She had 11 prior convictions, including theft and robbery, and had completed an "alternatives to violence" course while in custody. The judge, citing her guilty pleas and apology, backdated the sentence to the day of the assault.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 18 October 2022, Christopher Carthy, aged 25, pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a young woman who was unconscious near a LUAS stop on 1 April 2021. The victim, a vulnerable person in her 20s, had been drinking since about 10 am and was taken home by friends. She later told Gardaí she remembered nothing between sitting at the LUAS stop and speaking to a female Garda. A witness saw Carthy approaching her, speaking to her, and later returning to find him on top of her, touching her groin. Gardaí dragged Carthy away. Carthy claimed he was so drunk he was oblivious to his behaviour. The court found his actions "gravely reprehensible" and sentenced him to four years' imprisonment, noting he had no prior convictions for sexual violence and was unlikely to reoffend. The victim's impact statement described feeling down and struggling to sleep, blaming herself for the assault.
Niall McCarthy, aged 43, was sentenced to three years in prison for possessing €379,400, the proceeds of a drug gang's crime. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 24 May 2021. McCarthy admitted a cocaine addiction and a €25,000 drug debt. He had no prior convictions. The court noted that he had packaged, stored and handed the money to a co‑accused, Derek Murray, who was also jailed for three years. Judge Martin Nolan highlighted the seriousness of handling such a large sum and praised McCarthy's cooperation, lack of prior convictions, work history and community contributions as mitigating factors. Garda investigations recovered the cash from a van and from McCarthy's home, where items used for packaging were found. The sentence reflects the court's view that McCarthy was a useful intermediary for the gang's financial operations.
Donal Kelly, 60, was sentenced to 18 months in jail, with the final six months suspended, for possessing 120 videos and 303 images of child sexual abuse. The court heard that Kelly claimed the material showed a "loving interaction" between children and abusers, a claim met with disbelief by Judge Elma Sheahan. She noted the material's depravity, describing it as grotesque and offensive, and highlighted aggravating factors such as a video of an abused infant being force‑fed urine. Kelly admitted guilt, cooperated with Gardaí, and has begun therapy. He lost his taxi licence, will be placed on the sex offender register, and has no prior convictions. The sentencing reflected the seriousness of the offences and the court's view of Kelly's limited insight into his wrongdoing. Donal Kelly pleaded guilty.
A 21-year-old student from Dublin has received a suspended sentence after pleading guilty to handling criminal proceeds and money laundering offences. Michael Fakinle, with an address in Rathfarnham, allowed his Bank of Ireland account to be used by unknown individuals operating a fraud scheme targeting multiple victims across Ireland. Between 2020 and 2021, the account received funds obtained through email hacking, including a retirement fund of €71,892.41 belonging to a recently retired woman in the southwest, which was recovered before being removed. Other victims, including business owners in Donegal, Cork, and the midlands, lost sums ranging from €1,100 to €5,000 that were never recovered. At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Pauline Codd imposed concurrent sentences totalling three and a half years, suspended for four years on strict conditions. She noted Fakinle operated at a low level within the conspiracy but acknowledged his recklessness in engaging with criminal associates. The court ordered €1,000 compensation be distributed among injured parties.
A father of five was jailed for four years after a jury found him guilty of two counts of child cruelty for attacking his partner's toddler, who was left with extensive bruising and required two days of hospital treatment. The toddler, aged two and a half at the time, suffered injuries to his face, ears, back, buttocks, thighs and genital area, and was described by his grandmother as looking like a child from an ISPCC ad. The man, who had 43 prior convictions including assault, was seen threatening the child on four occasions. He maintains his innocence. The mother, aged 21 when the assault occurred, received a three‑year suspended sentence in 2020 for allowing the abuse. The judge noted the child's vulnerability and the man's criminal record, and gave credit for time already served. The sentence runs concurrently on both counts.
A Dublin man, James O'Beirne, aged 32, was sentenced to 33 months in prison for possession of drugs worth €125,211. Garda Kieran O'Neill presented evidence that a search warrant was executed on a Clondalkin property on 15 February 2021. Gardai found O'Beirne and a woman sleeping on the couch, a bag of white powder on the coffee table, a shopping bag containing a block of brown powder, two plastic tubs of white powder and four weighing scales. The drugs were identified as cocaine, heroin and morphine. O'Beirne, who had eight prior convictions, claimed he was holding the drugs to pay a debt and was unaware of the heroin or its value. He admitted responsibility, cited chronic kidney disease, anxiety and depression, and noted he was a father of two. The court heard he was now drug‑free, had completed a treatment programme, and was undertaking education and training as a trainee support worker for troubled youths. The unnamed accused pleaded guilty.
Graham Keating, 23, pleaded guilty to affray after a fight that spilled into the lobby of the Clayton Hotel, Santry, on 1 January 2020. He was sentenced to nine months' imprisonment by Judge Martin Nolan, who noted Keating's history of 18 prior convictions, mainly for minor public‑order offences, and his severe difficulty with alcohol. Garda Jessica Hardington reported that Keating moved from a bus shelter outside the hotel toward a group of four men, then followed them, pushing, shoving and punching. The altercation escalated to eight men, and Keating entered the crowded lobby, where he shouted threats and attempted to grab a stick. He fled before Gardaí arrived, was arrested, and admitted to being intoxicated. Keating claimed he had gone to the hotel for safety and was remorseful, with his defence citing intoxication as a mitigating factor. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the offence and Keating's prior record.
An elderly St John Of God Brother, Aidan Clohessy, aged 82, former principal of St Augustine's School for boys with learning disabilities, faces nine charges of indecent assault against four boys. The alleged offences occurred between 31 August 1968 and 17 August 1986. Clohessy appeared at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, where Judge Martin Nolan set a trial date for 18 November 2024 and remanded him on continuing bail. Earlier, Judge Nolan lifted reporting restrictions that had prevented the media from naming the defendant, following an application by several news organisations.
Paschal Kelly, a convicted criminal with 60 previous convictions, opened an appeal at the Court of Appeal against his 2018 conviction and 18-year sentence for a 2014 post office robbery in Sutton, Dublin. Kelly was convicted of trespass, false imprisonment, robbery, threatening to kill, and possession of a stolen vehicle. The charges relate to the abduction of postmistress Susan Lawlor, her daughter Emma Carter, and student Gabriella Saisa, who were bound and held overnight before being taken to the Bayside Post Office. Kelly denied all charges. His counsel, Martin O'Rourke KC, submitted ten grounds challenging the conviction and four against the sentence, arguing the trial judge erred in admitting CCTV identification evidence. O'Rourke contended the footage did not positively identify Kelly and that Garda witnesses failed to provide a specific description of the driver during initial interviews. The appeal, heard by Mr Justice John Edwards, Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, and Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, was adjourned to December 19. On that date, State counsel Roisin Lacey SC is scheduled to reply to the appellant's submissions. The matter remains pending and has not been concluded.
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court sentenced Patrick Lawlor (56) and Ross Hanway (32) for their roles in an organised crime gang's money laundering operation. Both pleaded guilty to possessing €412,000 in proceeds of crime on May 26, 2020. Lawlor, of Collins Avenue West, also pleaded guilty to possessing €477,370 in cash, foreign currency, and an encrypted mobile phone. Hanway, of Ashbourne, Co Meath, was found to have acted as a courier. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a sentence of eight years on Lawlor, with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions. Hanway received a four-year sentence, with the final two years suspended on strict conditions. The court noted the gang had an income of nearly €12 million in 2019. Ian Lawlor (24), also of Collins Avenue West, pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine, ketamine, MDMA, and €12,000 in cash found in his bedroom. Judge Greally stated his offending was a separate enterprise. He was sentenced to three years, with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions. All three defendants had no previous convictions and entered early guilty pleas.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Andrew Brennan, aged 41, was sentenced to a fully suspended prison term after pleading guilty to assault causing harm and threatening to kill his ex-partner on 6 May 2021. The incident occurred after a 24‑hour binge of alcohol and drugs, during which Brennan punched, kicked, and stood on the woman's neck, threatening to kill her. The victim sustained significant bruising, two black eyes, damaged teeth, and incurred €600 in medical expenses. Brennan was ordered to pay €2,500 to the victim or a charity. Judge Martin Nolan described the attack as "savage" and noted that Brennan had no prior convictions, concluding that imprisonment would be unjust. The case highlighted the toxic nature of the couple's relationship, marked by repeated alcohol and drug binges.
George Finglas, 46, of North Circular Road, Dublin, was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment for transporting over €2.5 million worth of cannabis. On 2 February 2021, Revenue officials and a sniffer dog discovered two pallets of cannabis herb, concealed under portable gas heaters, at Dublin Port. Gardai set up a surveillance operation and carried out a controlled delivery to an industrial estate in west Dublin. Finglas, acting as a transporter, was directed by an unidentified "Suspect B" to unload the pallets into a rented van. He later drove the van to a commercial premises in Baldongan, Lusk, where he was arrested. Mobile phones recovered from the van contained encrypted messages referencing the drugs and payments. Finglas admitted moving the drugs under direction, citing a €25 000 gambling debt and fear of creditors. He had previously pleaded guilty to possession for sale or supply of drugs and had earlier suspended sentences for assault and a drunk‑driving conviction.
Sean Keyes, a 34‑year‑old Paddy Power employee, stole €67,554 from the company after discovering a glitch in its gambling machines. He pleaded guilty to six counts of theft and six counts of producing a false instrument at various Paddy Power stores in Dublin between October 2019 and March 2020. Keyes admitted the theft to his employer and to Gardaí, and he immediately gambled the stolen money back into the company, so Paddy Power did not suffer a financial loss. The court noted that Keyes had a gambling addiction that began at age 14 and that he had taken out high‑interest loans to try to pay them off. He was a father of three, played soccer at a high level, and had a consistent employment history. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to two and a half years, suspended on a number of conditions, citing the unique fact that the company did not lose any money.
John Hanley, a 45‑year‑old tile shop co‑owner in Coolock, was sentenced to four years in prison after pleading guilty to knowingly permitting the importation of drugs. On 10 October 2020 a pallet containing €1.94 million worth of cannabis was delivered to his shop on Malahide Road and signed for by a shop worker. Gardaí raided the premises and seized the drugs. Hanley told the court that he had accepted the delivery because he believed he was targeted due to his legitimate business and that he did so out of fear for his safety and that of his family. He claimed no other shop staff were aware of the drugs and that he had been threatened by individuals to hold them. Hanley had two prior convictions for minor offences.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Jake Merriman, aged 31, was sentenced to 20 months in prison for endangering a garda during an anti‑lockdown protest on Grafton Street on 27 February 2021. Merriman threw a firework, which was lit by a juvenile, into the crowd, perforating Garda Mark Walsh's right eardrum. He also punched a garda in the face and kicked another in the testicles. The court noted Merriman's violent conduct and his admission that he had been drinking the night before and intended only to cause a disturbance. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a custodial sentence, acknowledging Merriman's remorse and his payment of €10,000 as a token of regret. The garda's hearing has since recovered, though he suffered temporary loss of hearing. The case highlighted the serious impact of Merriman's actions on the garda and the protest environment.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 11 October 2022, taxi driver Dermott Reynolds, aged 51, was sentenced to an 18‑month suspended term for deliberately colliding with a cyclist on North Strand Road on 20 September 2018. Reynolds admitted to one count of endangerment and had two prior minor traffic convictions. Video evidence showed him accelerating and veering into the cyclist's path twice, causing the cyclist to fall heavily. The cyclist, who was on his way to work just after 6 am, managed to brake and later confronted Reynolds, who claimed the incident was accidental. The judge, citing mitigating circumstances such as the driver's recent bereavement and caring responsibilities, imposed the suspended sentence and ordered Reynolds to pay €2,000 to the victim within six months, or to a charity if the victim declined the payment. No custodial term was imposed. The case remains at the sentencing stage. Dermott Reynolds pleaded guilty.
Patrick Maughan, 23, of Poddle Close, Kimmage, Dublin 6, pleaded guilty to robbery and the production of a 15‑inch breadknife. In January 2021 he was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to five years' imprisonment, with two years suspended, for the robbery that took place on 13 February 2018. Judge Melanie Greally described the incident as "very serious" and noted that Maughan had claimed it was "just a joke" and that he was "off his head". The court heard that Maughan's family had been "disgusted" by his actions and had removed him from the house. Maughan had no prior convictions at the time of the robbery, but had been convicted of producing an article, criminal damage and breach of a safety order during the case. In the Court of Appeal, Maughan's lawyer, Luigi Rea BL, argued that the sentence was too severe, citing Maughan's lack of readiness and the fact that the knife was "produced more than used".
Marcus Wynne, 41, principal of Grace Park Educate Together National School in Drumcondra, was found guilty of stealing €44,370 from the school between August 2016 and January 2019. He used the school bank card to withdraw cash and purchase items such as groceries, fuel, hotels, jewellery, clothing, taxis, holidays and restaurants, and forged invoices to cover the missing money. He pleaded guilty to nine counts of theft and eight counts of producing a false instrument. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to a suspended three‑year term, ordering him to repay €30,000 immediately and to save the remaining €14,370 over two years. The court noted his addiction problems and that he had no prior convictions. He has since worked in a factory and is likely to be struck off the teachers' register.
Lorcan Fahey, 42, of Saint John Street, Blackpits, Dublin 8, was sentenced to 15 months' imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to possession of child pornography. The offence involved three images and eight movie files of abuse material found at his home on 30 May 2020. Fahey had a prior conviction for the same offence a decade earlier. During the Garda search, 11 items were seized, including two smartphones. The material depicted boys and girls aged two to 17, some naked and some in sexual activity. Fahey admitted he could not see his child again but did not elaborate further. He has a nine‑year‑old son and was registered as a sex offender, required to meet reporting obligations for ten years. The judge noted his cooperation and willingness to undergo therapy, but imposed custodial time for the repeat offence.
Daniel Fitzpatrick, aged 32, was sentenced to three and a half years in prison for stabbing three men outside a Dublin pub on 9 September 2015. The attacks occurred on Oscar Traynor Road, where Fitzpatrick, who had previously been convicted of manslaughter in Birmingham, had engaged in an argument with other men. The three victims approached the group to intervene; one suffered tendon damage and a large scar on the back of his head, while the other two were treated for stab wounds and have since recovered. No victim impact reports were presented. Garda Alan Roche noted that a metal bar with a pointed end was found near the scene, presumed to be the weapon. Judge Martin Nolan imposed the three and a half year term for the most serious assault and two concurrent two‑year sentences for the other two attacks, back‑dating the sentences to July 2020 when Fitzpatrick first entered custody. Daniel Fitzpatrick pleaded guilty.
Faye Buckley, aged 43, was jailed for 18 months after stealing €204,834 from her employer, music booking agency Audio Networks, over a six‑year period. She diverted client booking deposits into her personal account, exploiting her close friendship with employer Mark Downing, who had been her best man at her wedding. Buckley pleaded guilty to seven of 71 theft counts between May 2014 and May 2020. She admitted compulsive gambling as the motive and expressed remorse, offering €45,000 to Downing and moving in with her mother‑in‑law to save money for repayment. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced her to two and a half years, suspending the final year on strict conditions, including handing over the €45,000 within 11 months of release. Downing's victim impact statement highlighted the emotional betrayal and financial harm caused by the theft. Buckley has prior convictions, including a 2004 dangerous driving offence. The case was heard in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Michael Lawrence, 55, filmed his daughter Jessica Maughan, 28, viciously beating his mother‑in‑law Mary Maughan, 65, as she left a doctor's appointment, and also recorded his other daughter Marie Stokes, 31, attacking Mary's daughter Rosie while Rosie waited in her car. The video was shared on social media and viewed 3,500 times. The court heard that the victims, though physically recovered, suffered psychological harm from the humiliation. Lawrence and the two daughters pleaded guilty to assault causing harm. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced each to a two‑year suspended sentence, ordered them to pay €1,000 to the Garda, and remanded Stokes and Lawrence in custody pending sentence while allowing Jessica Maughan to remain on bail. The judge described the assaults as disgraceful and vicious, noting the humiliation was aggravated by the footage's online presence. The court did not impose any custodial term on the father or the daughters.
Mary Sutcliffe, 41, was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment, with 12 months suspended, for perverting the course of justice by wiping blood from a door handle after an alleged assault in Ranelagh, Dublin. On 11 August 2018, five people entered an apartment where two men were present. One man was punched after a confrontation. CCTV later identified Sutcliffe and two women walking to the apartment; one woman held the door open while two men entered. Sutcliffe was seen wiping the door handle, apparently removing blood. Two men were arrested shortly after. Sutcliffe admitted the act in court, claiming she did not know the men and acted under duress. She has no prior convictions, was under the influence of narcotics, and has a history of drug difficulties and domestic abuse. The judge noted her high risk of reoffending but also her efforts to improve her situation. Mary Sutcliffe pleaded guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 7 October 2022, a 20‑year‑old man was given a one‑year suspended sentence for the defilement of a 13‑year‑old girl when he was 16. The court heard that in June 2018 the girl's mother reported that her daughter had been sexually assaulted at a house party. The girl and her older sister were staying at a house and invited friends for a party. The accused arrived with a group of males. The girl was in a bedroom when the group entered, asked her age, and the accused, after learning she was 13, performed oral sex on her for about two minutes. He then commanded her to "get on her knees" and she again performed oral sex. A second male, also 16, entered and the girl performed oral sex on him and had sexual intercourse. The unnamed 20-year-old pleaded guilty.
Eoin Hickey, aged 23, was sentenced to 16 months in jail for the prolonged, persistent and serious harassment of a teenage girl, who was 15 to 18 at the time of the abuse. Hickey sent hundreds of sexually explicit messages and videos, including a male masturbating video and messages such as "suck my dick" and "give us a wank." He created fake online accounts to bypass safety measures and stalked the victim, who feared a school acquaintance and avoided school and social outings. The victim, now 20, described constant terror and lasting trust issues. Hickey, diagnosed with developmental disorders including autism spectrum disorder at 14, was warned by Gardaí but continued the harassment. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a three‑year sentence, suspended the final 20 months, and imposed conditions that Hickey must have no further contact with the victim. He has since joined a restaurant job and a rugby club for people with special needs. Eoin Hickey pleaded guilty.