At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Ross Hanway and Patrick Lawlor pleaded guilty to possessing €412,000 on May 26, 2020, which was alleged to be the proceeds of crime. Detective Garda Ronan Dillon testified that ledgers seized from an international crime gang showed the group generated over €12 million in 2019 and paid Hanway an average of €4,000 monthly to move cash. Gardaí arrested both men after observing Lawlor enter a taxi driven by Hanway; the rucksack contained the seized cash. Lawlor, who also faces a separate drug possession charge, is scheduled for sentencing on May 9. Judge Melanie Greally adjourned Hanway's sentencing to October 6 and ordered a probation report. Defence counsel highlighted Hanway's lack of prior convictions, his subsequent departure from the taxi trade, and his current drug-free status. The court noted that Hanway's involvement was limited to money-laundering, distinct from the gang's drug operations. The matter was adjourned, and no final sentence was imposed at this stage.
Elaine Kelly, 49, of Donaghmede, pleaded guilty to driving away from an armed robbery at an off‑licence in Kilbarrack on 22 October 2018. The court heard she was a vulnerable woman struggling with drug addiction and that she drove the getaway vehicle after the raider abandoned a bicycle. Dashcam footage showed the raider and Kelly exiting a blue car that was later seen pulling into a driveway. Kelly had 13 prior convictions but had not been in contact with the Gardaí since the 2018 offence. Judge Martin Nolan suspended a two‑year prison term on the condition that Kelly keeps the peace and behaves well for two years. The judge noted that Kelly was in fear of the robber, who is serving a separate 14‑year sentence. The sentence was imposed without a custodial term.
Anthony Gannon, 34, of Huntstown Rise, Mulhuddart, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for assaulting Maria Lee O'Farrell. Gannon pleaded guilty to the charge of assaulting Ms Lee O'Farrell, causing her harm, at Aldi in Mulhuddart Village, Dublin, on February 14, 2017. The incident involved Gannon attempting to hijack Ms Lee O'Farrell's vehicle while her five-week-old son was inside. Judge Melanie Greally noted that Gannon's actions were driven by psychosis induced by drug consumption, acknowledging his history of mental health difficulties and substance addiction. Despite these mitigating factors, the judge emphasized the severity of the threat to the victim and her child. Gannon, who has 23 previous convictions, was sentenced to three years in prison. The final six months of this sentence were suspended on strict conditions, requiring him to engage with the Probation Service for 12 months upon release. The court accepted that Gannon has since made efforts to address his addiction and engage with psychiatric assessments, describing him as currently stable. The victim suffered physical injuries and ongoing anxiety as a result of the attack.
In a case heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, a construction worker, Mohamid Benchouat, aged 25, was given a suspended 12‑month prison sentence for driving without due care and attention, causing the death of Ilmars Zorge, a 33‑year‑old Latvian fruit picker, on the R125 in Swords on 24 June 2018. Benchouat failed to notice Zorge lying on the road, passed the victim and drove over him. Witnesses reported that Benchouat left the scene but later cooperated with Gardaí who traced his vehicle. The judge, Melanie Greally, noted Benchouat's remorse, character references, and previous convictions, including driving without insurance. Benchouat was ordered to keep the peace for the suspended period and pay €2,000 to Zorge's family. The court highlighted the emotional distress and financial burden faced by the victim's family, who had no relatives in Ireland. The case was presented as a serious breach of road safety, with no evidence of extreme speed or intoxication. Mohamid Benchouat pleaded guilty.
Two US army veterans, Ken Mayers (85) and Tarak Kauff (80), were fined €5,000 each after a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court jury found them guilty of interfering with the operation, safety or management of Shannon Airport. The men, who had cut a hole in the airport's perimeter fence with bolt cutters on St. Patrick's Day 2019, entered the runway area, causing the airport to close for about 40 minutes and delaying flights. They were acquitted of criminal damage to the fence and of trespassing with intent to commit an offence. The court noted their age, cooperation, lack of prior convictions and that they had already spent 13 days in Limerick prison. The fine was imposed as the penalty for the interference charge, with the men required to lodge an additional €2,500 each as a condition of bail. The case highlighted the men's anti‑war activism and their belief that their actions were justified to protect lives. Ken Mayers pleaded not guilty. Tarak Kauff pleaded not guilty.
A 51-year-old UK man, Mark Nesbitt of Whitefield House, Cecil Crescent, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, has been sentenced to eight years in prison following an appeal at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Nesbitt was found guilty by a unanimous jury verdict in January of possessing cannabis for sale or supply at Stockhole Lane, Cloghran, Swords, Co Dublin on October 23, 2020. He had pleaded not guilty to the charge. Judge Martin Nolan noted that if Nesbitt had pleaded guilty, he would have received a sentence of five or six years. The court heard that Nesbitt was 'inveigled' by his co-accused, Anthony Kinghorn, who was described as being at a higher level in the drugs operation. Co-accused Kinghorn (49) of Har Lane, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, pleaded guilty to the same offence and was sentenced last July to ten years in prison with the final two years suspended. Nesbitt wrote a letter to the judge appealing for leniency and expressing that he felt 'utterly let down' by his friend. The matter was adjourned for the appeal stage.
Dean Boland, 33, pleaded guilty to attempted robbery at a Centra shop in Santry on 7 November 2021. He entered the shop with another man, demanded cash from staff, but the staff refused and a supervisor told them to leave. Boland then removed his mask, took a bottle of Lucozade, and waited for Gardaí. When asked why he had committed the robbery, he replied, "So I could go into custody," and added that he feared for his life. He has a history of chronic drug use and 30 prior convictions. The judge described the incident as "somewhat bizarre" and noted that Boland had removed his mask in front of CCTV. He was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment, backdated to his November 2021 arrest. The judge urged that medical help could be sought through other means such as a doctor.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Suzanne Shannon, aged 37, pleaded guilty to possessing €69,608 worth of heroin at her Avondale House home on North Cumberland Street. She admitted warehousing the drug for Darren Nolan, 50, who was also found guilty of possession for sale or supply at his Lower Oriel Street address. Garda surveillance and an armed support unit raid on 23 June 2017 uncovered cash, heroin wrapped in socks, and other evidence at both locations. Shannon, with 46 prior convictions mainly for theft, claimed her involvement was at Nolan's behest and that she had been given small amounts of heroin for personal use. She has a daughter and two sons, one of whom wrote a letter to the court. The judge adjourned her sentencing to 25 July, with a request for remand to assess her drug use and a probation report.
Two US army veterans, Ken Mayers (85) and Tarak Kauff (80), were tried at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for actions taken during an anti‑war protest at Shannon Airport in 2019. The jury acquitted them of criminal damage to the perimeter fence and of trespassing with intent to commit an offence, but found them guilty of interfering with the operation, safety or management of the airport by entering the runway area and causing the airport to close. The verdict was 10‑to‑2. The men had cut a hole in the fence with bolt cutters, walked onto airport land, and were stopped by an airport officer. Their protest was aimed at inspecting US military aircraft and protesting the use of Shannon as a staging point for Middle East operations. The judge ordered them to return passports and set a sentencing date for the following day. Ken Mayers pleaded not guilty. Tarak Kauff pleaded not guilty.
The jury in the multi‑million euro theft trial of former solicitor Michael Lynn was sent home again after Judge Martin Nolan informed them that Lynn, who is 53 and lives in Millbrook Court, Red Cross, Co Wicklow, remains ill. The trial, now in its 13th week, had been paused last week when Lynn tested positive for Covid. The judge adjourned the proceedings to tomorrow, noting that the jury would be contacted later to determine the next steps. Lynn faces 21 counts of theft for €27 million stolen from seven financial institutions between October 2006 and April 2007. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 37‑year‑old Owen Dempsey, a homeless man, pleaded guilty to four counts of assault, possession of a knife and threatening to kill. The offences stem from three separate incidents on 28 August 2020. Garda Orla Cashell, patrolling Talbot Street, was alerted to a knife‑wielding man threatening staff at Isaacs Hostel. She confronted Dempsey, who refused to drop the knife and fled. After a chase, she successfully pepper‑sprayed him, subdued him, and arrested him. Earlier that day, Dempsey had entered the hostel, demanded a single room, and when denied, struck staff member Paul Fermoyle, kicked at a door and window, and threatened to kill them. He returned with a blue‑handled knife. CCTV captured the incidents. Dempsey was taken to Store Street Station, decontaminated, and examined by a doctor.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, octogenarians Ken Mayers (85) and Tarak Kauff (80) faced six counts of trespass, criminal damage and interference with Shannon Airport's operation after cutting a hole in the fence and walking onto the airfield on 17 March 2019. Both men, former U.S. Army veterans and members of Veterans for Peace, pleaded not guilty and claimed they acted to protest U.S. military use of the airport as a staging point for Middle‑East operations. The prosecution, led by Tony McGillicuddy, argued the defendants had no lawful excuse, citing no evidence of weapons on board or a need to protect anyone, and urged a guilty verdict on all counts. Defendants' counsel, Michael Hourigan and Carol Doherty, emphasised the defendants' sincere, honourable motives and the possibility of a lawful defence under the Criminal Damage Act. The jury deliberated for two hours and twenty minutes before resuming on Tuesday.
Kelli Kilpatrick, a 34‑year‑old freelance travel agent from St Aongus Estate, Tallaght, was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to a fully suspended three‑year prison term for stealing nearly €29,000 from 31 holiday makers between April 2017 and August 2018. Kilpatrick had offered discounted holidays after returning to Ireland from a "toxic relationship" in the UK, using her experience in corporate travel to secure cut‑price packages. She failed to keep track of payments, using customer deposits to fund other bookings, and in some cases falsified receipts. The court heard she had previously been convicted in 2016 of stealing £239,000 worth of mobile phones in Reading, England. Kilpatrick pleaded guilty to eight counts, expressed remorse, and agreed to hand over €25,000 and pay an additional €3,000 in compensation within a year, conditions under which the judge suspended the custodial sentence.
The trial of Ken Mayers, 85, and Tarak Kauff, 80, two former U.S. Army veterans and anti‑war activists, is in its closing stages at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. They are charged with criminal damage to a perimeter fence at Shannon Airport on 17 March 2019, trespassing with intent to commit an offence or unlawfully damage property, and interfering with the operation, safety or management of the airport by entering a runway area and causing it to be closed. Both pleaded not guilty to all charges. In their own defence, the men admitted cutting a hole in the fence and walking onto the airport to protest the U.S. military's use of Shannon as a stop‑over for operations in the Middle East, claiming it breached Irish neutrality and that they were acting to defend international law. The prosecution case concluded on Wednesday, and the defendants gave evidence in their own defence.
Two American octogenarians, Ken Mayers (85) and Tarak Kauff (80), are on trial in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for trespassing and criminal damage at Shannon Airport on 17 March 2019. They pleaded not guilty to causing damage to a perimeter fence, trespassing the curtilage of a building, and interfering with airport operations by entering a runway area. During the trial, Mr Kauff admitted to damaging the fence, stating he acted on moral beliefs and that the US and Irish governments had broken the law. Both defendants claimed that the Irish Government was in breach of international law by allowing US military aircraft to use Shannon, and that their actions were mandated by God and aimed at preventing greater harm. They argued that inspecting US planes was necessary to uphold Irish neutrality. The trial continues.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 23‑year‑old Denis Condron pleaded guilty to harassing his former girlfriend, Elva Duffy, between December 2019 and March 2020. Condron, who had been dating Duffy for several months, claimed that a car crash had altered his personality, making him paranoid, obsessive and possessive. He allegedly called her up to 15 times a day, demanded photographs to prove her identity, video‑called her while she slept, and threatened to kill himself and to send intimate photographs to her parents. After the relationship ended, he continued to contact her, sometimes following her to public places and her college. Judge Martin Nolan found the cumulative behaviour amounted to harassment, imposed a two‑year sentence suspended in full for two years, and ordered Condron no contact with Duffy for 30 years. No custodial sentence was imposed. The court noted that the harassment lasted three months and that both parties had since gone their separate ways.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Alan Joyce, aged 27, was sentenced to two and a half years' imprisonment for an unprovoked assault on a woman outside St Patrick's Mental Health Hospital. Joyce approached the victim on Stephen's Lane, Kilmainham, demanding she be his girlfriend, forcibly embraced her, and after she refused, knocked her to the ground, exposing her breasts. He attempted to mount her, she resisted, kicked him, and shouted for help. Joyce fled, calling her a prostitute and a whore. The victim sustained minor cuts to her breasts, forehead and wrist. Joyce pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, had ten prior convictions, and had been remanded in custody since a bench warrant was executed. The judge described the attack as insidious and unprovoked, noting Joyce's intoxication but rejecting it as an excuse. The sentence was back‑dated to his January custody entry.
Jack Murphy, aged 23, was sentenced to five years in prison after a series of violent offences. On 11 April 2021, while at his partner's home, he became agitated during a playdate, shouted at a child, and assaulted the mother, who was pregnant. He threatened to "kick that baby out of you" and later called her twice, threatening her and her child. Murphy also assaulted the mother's partner with a metal pole. Two days after his release from prison, he robbed an Iceland supermarket in Coolock, shouting at the till and taking money, and then robbed a Tesco in Artane, taking vodka bottles and leaving without paying. He pleaded guilty to robbery, theft, assault and a threat to kill.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, former Shannon Airport fire officer Richard Moloney described Ken Mayers (85) and Tarak Kauff (80) as the most courteous protesters he had met. The men, both U.S. residents, were arrested in March 2019 after allegedly cutting a hole in a perimeter fence and trespassing on airport land. They claimed to be peace protesters checking an American aircraft, holding a banner that read 'US veterans say respect Irish neutrality. American war machine out of Shannon Airport'. The court heard that the airport was shut for 30–40 minutes, delaying two departing planes and a Turkish Airlines cargo aircraft. Both men pleaded not guilty to criminal damage, trespassing and interfering with airport operations. The case remains before Judge Patricia Ryan and a jury.
Kevin Brazil, aged 52, was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to five and a half years' imprisonment for sexual assault and related offences committed between January 2019 and August 2020. The court found that Brazil had driven a 13‑year‑old boy in his car, given the boy money, cigarettes and alcohol, and on occasions invited him to stay at his home. Brazil also pleaded guilty to communicating by technology with a child to facilitate sexual exploitation. The judge re‑activated two years of a previously suspended three‑year term and imposed a consecutive term of three and a half years, making the total term five and a half years. Brazil is currently serving a term that is due to expire on 24 November. The case was brought by the prosecution after Garda investigations revealed Brazil's extensive history of child sexual assault, including 33 prior convictions. The judge praised the Gardaí for their work in apprehending Brazil.
Rebecca Mukoko, a 21‑year‑old nursing student, was charged with one count of money laundering for acting as a money mule in a fraud that cost an international energy company €6,541. She supplied her bank card, PIN and online banking details to a "friend of a friend," who used her account to transfer the money. Mukoko claimed she was pressured and received no financial benefit. She had no prior convictions. Judge Martin Nolan accepted her "bad error of judgment," noted her good future prospects, and, after a six‑month period of good behaviour, discharged her from the indictment, imposing a €400 fine. The judge warned that similar cases would likely result in custodial sentences, stressing that this discharge is not a precedent. The court heard that the fraudulent transfer involved a Kuwaiti energy company and that the money was withdrawn via an ATM and online transfer. Rebecca Mukoko pleaded guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Emilio Flynn, aged 27, pleaded guilty to robbery, false imprisonment and extortion after robbing Dr Patrick Duffy on Buckingham Street in 2015. Flynn demanded money, took cash from an ATM, and threatened future extortion, giving his phone number and demanding payment later. He claimed his judgment was affected by medication and that he was homeless. Flynn had 29 prior convictions. The court noted that the victim moved and stopped walking home after the incident. Judge Elma Sheahan had previously placed Flynn on a 12‑month probation bond with conditions of drug and alcohol abstinence and counseling. Flynn failed to comply, travelled to the UK, and was later arrested in April 2022. The judge sentenced him to three years in prison for each robbery, to run concurrently, citing mid‑range offending. The sentence reflects the court's view that Flynn had been given a second chance.
Two American octogenarians, Ken Mayers (85) and Tarak Kauff (80), have gone on trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, accused of criminal damage and trespass at Shannon Airport on March 17, 2019. Both men, residing in New Mexico and New York respectively, pleaded not guilty to three counts each: criminal damage to a perimeter fence valued at €590, trespassing with intent to commit an offence or damage property, and interfering with airport operations by entering a runway area and causing its closure. Prosecuting counsel Tony McGillicuddy BL alleged the pair, wearing 'Veterans for Peace' vests, broke through the fence using bolt cutters and walked onto a taxiway, forcing a runway closure that delayed an incoming flight. He stated the prosecution case is that both men were involved in the damage and unlawful interference. Defending counsel Michael Hourigan BL and Carol Doherty BL noted their clients admitted to making an opening in the fence and entering the airport lands but maintained they were treated respectfully. The trial is ongoing before Judge Patricia Ryan and a jury.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Liam Dowds, aged 40, pleaded guilty to stealing razors, lamb and champagne from a Tesco supermarket, assaulting a customer, David Cunningham, and causing criminal damage at Finglas Garda Station. Dowds bit off Cunningham's ear while attempting to stop the theft, swallowed the ear, and claimed he had HIV. He also left a bottle of methadone in his bag and admitted to drug addiction. The court heard Dowds had a history of mental health issues and drug addiction, and that he had previously been arrested for similar offences. Cunningham reported feeling self-conscious and unsafe after the attack. Dowds expressed remorse and wished to apologise. The judge noted psychosis and vindictiveness in the case and adjourned sentencing to July 8.
Noel Gleeson, 37, of Ballymount Road Lower, Walkinstown, Dublin, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended for two years, after pleading guilty to possession for sale or supply of drugs. He was found with a sports bag of cannabis worth just over €13,000 in a car parked outside his home, following a search warrant issued on 3 August 2020. Gleeson claimed he had travelled to the UK to collect drugs after being threatened over a €10,000 crack cocaine debt. He has three prior convictions for drug dealing, the most recent in 2017, and was deemed a high‑risk reoffender by the Probation Service. The court noted his participation in a community employment program with an addiction response clinic after his 2019 release, but that he had reoffended. The suspended portion of the sentence is subject to conditions including cooperation with a drug rehabilitation service.
Nalavan Samy, 42, a former manager at Quinn's Centra in Ballymun, stole €9,349.78 over a nine‑month period from September 2019 to June 2020. He did this by creating false refunds on the till, taking cash up to four times a week. The theft was discovered when an employee noticed a discrepancy in stock levels for a product that had zero sales but seven refunds recorded. Samy admitted the theft to the operations manager and later to Gardaí, citing financial hardship and a gambling problem. He had no prior convictions. The court, considering his role as sole provider for his wife and non‑verbal daughter, imposed a 20‑month prison sentence that was fully suspended on strict conditions. He was ordered to pay €1,000 to the Simon Community over eighteen months and to donate the €4,000 he had saved to the former business owners. The business has since been sold. Nalavan Samy pleaded guilty.
Joseph Curran, aged 22, was sentenced to eight-and-a-half years' imprisonment for a series of robberies targeting elderly women in Crumlin, Walkinstown and Beechwood in 2021. He stole bags from four women, including a 76‑year‑old, a 67‑year‑old, an eight‑year‑old and a 72‑year‑old, causing injuries to the 76‑year‑old who was pushed to the ground. The robberies were aggravated by the victims' age and vulnerability. Curran pleaded guilty to robbery and theft at three locations and had a prior burglary conviction in 2019. He has 65 previous convictions. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a suspended two‑and‑a‑half‑year portion of the sentence, subject to strict conditions, after noting his negative drug test and a probation report indicating motivation to cease offending. The case was prosecuted by Aideen Collard BL and defended by Marc Thompson BL. The court considered the impact on the victims and Curran's addiction history.
James Murphy, 48, a care worker with no prior drug‑dealing history, was sentenced to five years in prison after Gardaí discovered nearly €30,000 worth of cocaine, a machine gun and a handgun in his Ballymun home. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that following his parents' deaths, Murphy began abusing cocaine, accrued a drug debt and was compelled to store the drugs and firearms for the people who supplied them. He pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine, heroin and cannabis, and to unlawful possession of a submachine gun and a Smith and Wesson revolver. Garda Conor Garland reported that Murphy cooperated with the search, which uncovered the loaded revolver under the floorboards and the machine gun, as well as the drugs. Murphy's only previous convictions were for traffic offences in 2007. The judge noted his good work history, personal challenges and community involvement, and imposed the five‑year sentence.
Joseph O'Brien, aged 35, was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended, for a series of robberies and violent assaults committed while serving a suspended sentence. On 21 January 2019, he struck a robbery victim on the back of the head with a glass bottle, then repeatedly kicked the man 20–30 times before stealing his phone. The victim suffered a laceration, facial bruising, black eyes and a broken tooth. O'Brien had previously robbed the same pharmacy on 19 January and again on 23 April 2019, using a knife and a screwdriver to threaten staff and steal cash. His 56 prior convictions include robbery, burglary, theft, assault of a peace officer and drug‑related offences. The judge noted the offences were aggravated by his suspended sentence and his drug difficulties, and he must comply with strict probation conditions for 12 months after release. Joseph O'Brien pleaded guilty.
Anthony Dunne, 61, was sentenced to one year in prison for secretly recording a female colleague while she showered at his workplace and for capturing intimate images of his partner's daughter‑in‑law in her home. The court heard that Dunne attached a camera to his phone and hid it behind boxes at the factory, recording the colleague on March 23 2021, and that he had also filmed the daughter‑in‑law between February and April 2020. He pleaded guilty to both offences, had no prior convictions, and was ordered to have no contact with the victim for two years after release. The judge highlighted the premeditated nature of the acts and the breach of trust, noting the victims' ongoing distress and the impact on their sense of safety. The case was prosecuted by Mark Lynam BL and heard by Judge Orla Crowe in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 41‑year‑old man was sentenced to 27 months' imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended, for sexually assaulting his best friend at his Wicklow home on 20 November 2020. The victim, who had trusted the man and described the assault as a severe violation of trust, was taken to a sexual assault treatment unit after the incident. The man pleaded guilty, admitted the wrongdoing, and expressed regret, shame and remorse. Judge Melanie Greally noted his early guilty plea and cooperation, his status as a registered sex offender, and the aggravating factors, and imposed a two‑year probation supervision order and required participation in the Safer Lives programme. The court also considered the victim's impact statement and the defendant's lack of prior convictions. The sentencing reflected principles of rehabilitation, personal deterrence and general deterrence. The man's conviction was the first in his criminal record.
Dubliner James Maughan (36) was given a four-year suspended sentence for endangerment, dangerous driving and driving without insurance at locations around Blanchardstown and Mulhuddart on February 27, 2020. The matter was heard at the sentence stage in court. Maughan pleaded guilty to the charges. Judge Pauline Codd noted that Maughan had already served time in custody on this matter and imposed a four-year sentence suspended in full for four years from today. The sentence is subject to two years of probation supervision. Maughan was also banned from driving for life. His defence highlighted that he suffers from paranoid schizophrenia and that his 20-year-old nephew was in the car and allegedly threatened him with a Taser during the chase. The court heard that gardai abandoned the high-speed chase due to the danger it posed. Judge Codd acknowledged Maughan's background, vulnerabilities and the support he has from his family and the probation service. The case was finalised at the sentence stage with no adjournment. Maughan has a history of road traffic offences, including 10 for dangerous driving, 23 for driving without insurance and 21 for driving without a licence. His defence also noted that his nephew was a ringleader in many of these offences and has a history of convictions dating back to his juvenile years.
Gavin Forde, 21, was caught by a garda in broad daylight with a bundle of €16,235 in cash protruding from his pocket. He fled but was apprehended minutes later. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court accepted that Forde was obtaining the money to transfer it elsewhere, though its origin was not explained. Forde pleaded guilty to possession of the proceeds of criminal conduct. He had two prior convictions for possession of drugs and obstruction of justice. Judge Karen O'Connor sentenced him to 150 hours of community service in lieu of 15 months' imprisonment, citing his youth, lack of prior serious offending, addiction issues and early admission of guilt. She warned that failure to complete the community service could lead to reinstatement of the sentence. The other man involved was not charged. The cash was deemed proceeds of criminal conduct.
James McDermott, a 55‑year‑old from Buttercup Avenue, Darndale, was arrested after he locked his wife and later his son in a bedroom while holding two pairs of scissors. He pleaded guilty to possession of the scissors during a dispute on 2 March 2020. McDermott has 32 prior convictions, including drug‑related offences and traffic violations. Judge Patricia Ryan sentenced him to 12 months' imprisonment, suspended the balance of the sentence, and credited him for time already served. The court noted he had the full support of his family and that the incident was an out‑of‑character episode. McDermott had previously been remanded for about four months and was released on bail after his arrest. The judge accepted that he had complied with bail conditions and that the incident was influenced by drug use. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Ian Moore, 31, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for the unlawful killing of Jason Kearney, 25, who had broken into Moore's home on 12 September 2020. Moore claimed he had heard noises, entered the house, and punched Kearney once after a brief confrontation. Kearney fell, hit his head, and died ten days later in a coma after the ventilator was turned off. Moore said he had no intention to use a knife he had been given by his pregnant partner and that he had returned to the scene to call emergency services and assist Kearney until an ambulance arrived. The court noted Moore's lack of prior convictions, his guilty plea, remorse, and cooperation with investigators as mitigating factors. The judge emphasised that Moore had taken the law into his own hands and that the act was impulsive, emotional and violent, but not pre‑meditated.
A man convicted of robbing a university student on the Dublin City University campus in February 2021 has received a fully suspended sentence from Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Alex Cullen, aged 27, and Alan Giles, aged 30, both of Finglas, pleaded guilty to robbery following a vicious attack on the first-year student as he returned to his accommodation. The victim was punched and kicked during the incident and had his phone and cards stolen. Two other students intervened and the men left the scene. Judge Melanie Greally noted the assault was "highly vicious and violent" and appeared drug-fuelled. She sentenced Cullen to five years imprisonment, suspended entirely on condition he comply with Probation Service directions for one year. Giles was remanded on continuing bail pending finalisation of his case on 1 July. Both men were ordered to pay €1,000 compensation to the victim. The victim, from Donegal, has since returned to his studies.
Cian White, 21, of Corduff Park, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to stealing a car in Northwood, Dublin 9, on June 26, 2020. He also admitted to dangerous driving and endangerment by ramming train barriers at Ashtown Level Crossing on the Navan Road while a train was imminent. Additionally, White pleaded guilty to allowing himself to be carried in a stolen car and possessing vice grips on August 8, 2021. Judge Melanie Greally imposed consecutive sentences totalling five years. She suspended the final 18 months of the term on strict conditions, requiring White to engage with alcohol and drug treatment for 18 months upon his release from prison. Consequently, he faces three and a half years of effective custody. The judge also disqualified White from driving for six years. The court noted White had 74 previous convictions and was already disqualified at the time of the offences. Judge Greally acknowledged his young age, expressed remorse, and difficult early life in foster care, while describing the driving as prolonged and intensely dangerous. The matter was finalised with this sentencing.
Kevin Brazil, 52, was caught driving a 13‑year‑old boy in his car four days after a suspended sentence for sexually abusing another child. The boy was given money, cigarettes, alcohol and was invited to stay at Brazil's home, where Brazil offered the boy money for sexual acts. Brazil had previously received a three‑year suspended sentence in July 2020 for sexual assault offences dating back to 2002, and in 2021 was sentenced to two‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment for the sexual assault of a 12‑year‑old child in Dublin. He also pleaded guilty to sexual assault and communication with a child for sexual exploitation between 2019 and 2020. The court heard that the boy's mother reported the abuse three days after the incident. No victim impact statements were presented. Judge Elma Sheahan remanded Brazil in custody and adjourned the case for finalisation on 26 April.
Mary Bridget McCann, aged 19, was a resident at a Dublin 2 hostel when a fight erupted between her and another woman. A porter tried to intervene as McCann brandished a steak knife; she bit the porter's finger and held it for ten seconds. A cleaner later assisted the porter and was stabbed in the thigh by McCann. The cleaner suffered significant blood loss and a possible arterial rupture, while the porter sustained a 2 cm thigh cut. McCann, who has 23 prior convictions including nine for assault causing harm, pleaded guilty to two assault‑causing‑harm charges. Judge Melanie Greally, noting McCann's youth, vulnerability and engagement with services, imposed concurrent two‑year sentences, suspended for two years on strict conditions. No further Garda attention has been recorded since the offence. The cleaner forgave McCann and urged her to consider the impact of her actions. The porter, anxious about the incident, has not returned to hostel work.
In the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, a solicitor from Michael Lynn's firm, Ms Fiona McAleenan, testified that her signature was forged on several loan documents without her permission. She confirmed that a loan document purporting to be from a firm called 'Fiona McAleenan Solicitors' was an entire forgery, noting that no such firm ever existed. Ms McAleenan, who joined the firm in 2004 and left in 2007, said she had little knowledge of conveyancing and was not involved in the property purchases that formed the basis of the alleged theft. She also denied giving permission for her name to be used on documents, including family home protection papers and solicitor undertakings for mortgage applications. The trial, presided over by Judge Martin Nolan, continues with 21 counts of theft against Mr Lynn, who has pleaded not guilty. The case involves seven financial institutions, including Bank of Ireland, Danske Bank, and Irish Nationwide.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, former solicitor Michael Lynn, aged 53, faced 21 counts of theft alleging he stole about €27 million from seven banks between October 2006 and April 2007. Lynn, who denies the allegations, was accused of securing multiple mortgages on the same properties while banks were unaware of other lenders. Elizabeth Doyle, a former legal executive at Lynn's firm, testified that she often signed documents on his behalf, sometimes under his instruction, and that she had signed signatures that appeared to be Lynn's, Fiona McAleenan's, and his wife Bríd Murphy's. Doyle admitted she had signed some documents in his name and that she had not recalled the exact method of instruction. She also revealed that she and her husband had taken a €240,000 mortgage through Lynn's firm and that compensation from the Law Society was used to repay that loan. Lynn pleaded not guilty.
A 21‑year‑old Dublin man, Dylan Maughan, was sentenced to eighteen months in prison for endangerment and dangerous driving after a 40‑minute high‑speed chase on the M50. The court heard that Maughan drove over 200 km/h, turned his headlights on and off, drove in the wrong direction on a dual carriageway, and failed to obey traffic lights and stop signs. Gardaí used air surveillance and stingers to stop his vehicle, finding four other occupants. Maughan was highly intoxicated and pleaded guilty. Judge Melanie Greally, considering his guilty plea, age, and cooperation with probation, imposed a three‑year sentence with the final eighteen months suspended, a six‑year driving disqualification, and conditions of good behaviour and addiction services. The sentence was back‑dated to account for time already served.
During the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 24 March 2022, former solicitor Michael Lynn, aged 53, faced 21 counts of theft involving approximately €27 million taken from seven financial institutions. The court heard evidence that Lynn's firm, Michael Lynn & Co, consistently paid only a five‑per‑cent deposit when purchasing properties, whereas the standard required was ten per cent. The firm also delayed returning signed contracts, missed sale closing dates, and failed to pay interest on outstanding balances. Several solicitors testified that Lynn repeatedly failed to meet agreed closing dates, prompting 28‑day notices and claims for interest. The State alleged that Lynn obtained multiple mortgages on the same properties without banks' knowledge of other lenders. Lynn pleaded not guilty to all counts. The hearing also noted that a former personal assistant, Liz Doyle, was scheduled to give evidence the following day.
A man from County Roscommon has received a fully suspended sentence following his conviction for possessing cocaine worth over €34,000. Conor Costello was stopped by gardaí on November 22nd, 2018, as he drove from an estate in Tallaght, west Dublin. A search of his vehicle revealed a bag containing white powder in the passenger footwell, later confirmed as cocaine with an estimated street value of €34,104. Costello pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He told gardaí he had accumulated a drug debt in Athlone and agreed to collect and transport the package in exchange for €300 credit against that debt. Judge Greally imposed a two-and-a-half-year sentence, fully suspended, taking into account his youth, lack of previous convictions, early guilty plea, and difficult personal circumstances at the time. The court noted Costello is now training as an apprentice electrician and has been assessed by the Probation Service as presenting a low risk of reoffending.
Cahir O'Higgins, a 47‑year‑old criminal defence solicitor, pleaded guilty to assaulting former colleague Stephen O'Mahony on 11 February 2023. The incident occurred at Wolfe Tone Quay, Dublin. O'Higgins apologized to O'Mahony, his family, and his own family for the shame and embarrassment caused. The prosecution requested a victim impact report for the upcoming sentence hearing. Judge Melanie Greally set a sentence date for 18 October and remanded O'Higgins on continuing bail. O'Higgins has been a top earner in the legal aid scheme over the past decade.
A 64‑year‑old taxi driver, Tajudeen Balogun, was sentenced to 14 months in jail for careless driving that caused serious harm to a German couple on Trinity Street, Dublin, on 6 September 2018. Balogun failed to look ahead before turning right from Dame Street onto Trinity Street, driving straight into the couple as they crossed. The driver's car struck Verena Schneider, who sustained minor bruising, and her husband Benjamin Schneider, who was thrown onto the road, sustaining multiple skull and spinal fractures and severe brain trauma. The court found no evidence of intoxication or speeding. Balogun pleaded guilty; the judge noted his good character and lack of prior convictions but imposed a custodial sentence. The sentence was 21 months, reduced to 14 months with six months suspended, and Balogun was disqualified from driving for four years.
Philip Cooke, aged 34, was arrested by Gardaí on a mobile patrol in Dublin after displaying nervous and agitated behaviour while walking. Garda Paula Carter observed him holding his jacket in a manner suggesting concealment and noted his hurried demeanor. When questioned, Cooke admitted possession of cocaine and claimed he had "a lot" of drugs. He then opened his jacket to reveal a blue shopping bag containing eight smaller bags of suspected cocaine, later confirmed by analysis to be worth €61,684. Cooke pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to having the drugs for sale or supply on Greencastle Road, Coolock, on 14 December 2020. He had no prior convictions. The court, considering his cooperation, family circumstances, and engagement with the Probation Service, imposed a headline sentence of five and a half years, reduced to a four‑year custodial term with the final 18 months suspended on strict conditions, including 12 months of probation after release.
Jack Cleary, 25, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to threatening to kill Leanne Maher and to harassment. He had no prior convictions. Evidence showed he threatened to throw acid at Maher's face and kill her during a phone call after their relationship ended, and later appeared outside her home, making further threats. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to four years' imprisonment, suspended for four years, with conditions that he engage with the Probation Service for 12 months and avoid any contact with Maher or her family home within 500 metres. The judge noted Cleary's mental health difficulties and his subsequent re‑engagement with services, granting credit for his early guilty plea and lack of prior convictions. The sentence was fully suspended, with no custodial term imposed. The case remains at the sentencing stage.
John Fearon, 55, of Ballymun, Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after entering signed guilty pleas to charges of having cannabis valued at €159,438 for sale or supply in a vehicle on March 15, 2021. Fearon alleged he transported the drugs to settle a €6,000 drug debt incurred by his son, claiming he was threatened that his son would be harmed if the debt was not paid. He admitted to Gardaí that he collected the drugs for delivery to a chipper and acknowledged a small amount of cannabis found in his home, which he stated was for personal use. Prosecution evidence indicated he was stopped following a tip-off and had €1,020 in cash, which Gardaí accepted was not proceeds of crime. Defense counsel highlighted Fearon's 20-year record of no further convictions, his remorse, and his rehabilitation from previous substance abuse. Judge Melanie Greally set a headline sentence of six years, reducing it based on his early guilty pleas and favorable probation report. The court imposed a sentence of three years, suspending the final 12 months on strict conditions, including engaging with the Probation Service for 12 months upon release from prison.
A Latvian man, Ainars Grants, aged 43, was jailed for three years after he strangled and beat his partner, Danguole Abukeviciute, with a saucepan and a bottle. The assault occurred on 13 August 2020 in their Dublin apartment. Abukeviciute, who could speak little English, reported the incident at Bridewell Garda Station, describing bruises and a badly bruised face. She claimed Grants had threatened to kill her if she returned home. Grants pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, was denied bail, and has been in custody since the attack. He has 40 prior convictions, including 24 for public order offences. Judge Patricia Ryan suspended the final six months of a three‑and‑half‑year sentence on the condition that Grants not contact Abukeviciute. The court noted his anger‑management programme and his intent to remain alcohol‑free after release.