In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 15 March 2022, Marko Lovric, 28, pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography after showing a video of a child and an adult simulating sex to a colleague at the National Lottery Headquarters. The incident, which occurred on 1 September 2019, led to a Garda investigation that seized four videos depicting child abuse, including rape and exposure of genital areas. Lovric, who had no prior convictions, cooperated fully with the investigation and expressed remorse. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a nine‑month sentence, suspended in full on the condition that he engage with the Probation Service for 18 months. He was also required to participate in "safer lives" and "harmful sexual behaviour in the community" programmes while under supervision. Lovric was suspended from work and is registered as a sex offender. He hopes to return to Croatia after the matter is resolved.
A man from Ballymahon in County Longford has received a suspended sentence after pleading guilty to possessing stolen power tools at a market in Dublin. Brian Nevin, aged 30, admitted to 13 counts of possession of stolen goods found at Balbriggan Sunday market on 21 January 2018. The tools, valued at approximately €3,000, included drills, a screw gun, laser level, and other equipment. A tradesman from Tullamore recognised one of his stolen drills at the market and alerted gardaí. Following investigation, gardaí recovered the items and arrested Nevin, also seizing cash and the van used. At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, the judge imposed a 12-month custodial sentence suspended for 12 months on strict conditions, noting that Nevin had no further convictions since 2015 and remained engaged in his community. Nevin has 29 previous convictions.
Philip Yeboah, 25, pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Gardaí discovered 210 videos and 110 images of child abuse material linked to Yeboah's email, phone, and screen address, with 80 videos and 45 images deemed explicit involving children aged 7 to 15. Yeboah admitted receiving images via two websites and participating in chats and groups that shared links. He was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder in 2014 and cooperated fully with Gardaí. The Probation Service recommended continued engagement, and Judge Melanie Greally acknowledged Yeboah's cooperation and vulnerability. Consequently, she imposed a 16‑month suspended sentence, requiring Yeboah to remain under Probation Service supervision for the full period, with no custodial term imposed. The case remains at the sentencing stage.
Anthony Dunne, 61, secretly recorded a work colleague, Paula Jordan, while she showered at the factory where he worked, using a phone camera hidden behind boxes. He also captured intimate images of his partner's daughter‑in‑law, Leanne Daly, in her home bathroom. Dunne pleaded guilty to harassment at an address in Clondalkin, Dublin, between February and April 2020, and to recording an intimate image without consent at O'Neills Factory, Walkinstown, on 23 March 2021. He has no prior convictions. The court heard that Jordan's victim impact statement described the incident as pre‑meditated and extremely distressing, affecting her trust, sleep and use of the shower facilities. Daly reported nightmares and lasting stress. Gardaí recovered the phone, analysed the footage, and found the images of Daly. Dunne resigned from the factory and was remanded on continuing bail, with the matter to be finalised on 5 April.
Michael McGuinness, 61, a former army driver who served 21 years, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for indecent assault on three boys aged seven to thirteen between 1979 and 1990. The offences, committed while he was a trusted local figure, involved sexual abuse in his car and home, including forcing the boys to masturbate. McGuinness pleaded guilty to five counts; four carried a maximum of two years each, and a final count carried a maximum of ten years. Judge Melanie Greally imposed consecutive sentences totalling three years, suspended the final twelve months, and back‑dated the sentence to his first custodial period in November. McGuinness admitted the abuse to Gardaí in 2019, described it as a "dark dirty secret", and expressed remorse. He has no prior convictions and has engaged in therapeutic interventions. The court noted the lasting impact on the victims and the low risk of re‑offending.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Philip Byrne (41) pleaded guilty to assault, threatening to kill or cause serious harm, production of a kitchen knife and false imprisonment after a knife attack on his wife on 2 December 2020. Byrne stabbed his wife in the abdomen, then again in the breast and hand, causing permanent nerve damage and requiring surgery. The wife, who later withdrew her statement and claimed the incident was accidental, had previously reconciled with Byrne. Byrne, with 39 prior convictions mainly for traffic offences, was remanded in custody and the sentencing was adjourned to June. The judge ordered a spousal assault risk assessment by the Probation Service. Byrne's defence highlighted his remorse, reconciliation with his partner, and the impact of his 15‑month custody during Covid, including the loss of his mother.
During a trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, former Permanent TSB commercial head Sean Alger denied that the bank had ignored a repayment condition on a €1.9 million loan to Michael Lynn. Alger said the bank had robust credit procedures and that any delay in repayment would normally raise a red flag, but he was not aware of any error. He rejected claims that the bank had turned a blind eye, stating there was no culture of ignoring conditions. Alger also noted that the borrower was primarily responsible for meeting loan conditions, with the bank's role being to ensure compliance. The trial, which continues next week, involves 21 counts of theft against Lynn, who has pleaded not guilty. The case is before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury.
Mark Hyde, 42, of Kippure Park, Finglas, was sentenced to 32 months' imprisonment for possession for sale or supply of cannabis. He pleaded guilty after Gardaí found 15 seed trays, plants in two tents, and four large Tupperware tubs of cannabis leaf at his home on 4 February 2020. The leaf was valued at just under €7,000. Hyde admitted he intended to harvest and sell the plants to three friends to pay his bills, claiming financial hardship. He had a prior conviction for cultivation in 2012, for which he received a suspended three‑year sentence and community service for forgery. The judge noted his moderate risk of reoffending and imposed a suspended 16‑month portion, with one year of probation supervision and a requirement to engage with the Probation Service to learn skills to avoid future drug cultivation.
David Keegan, 43, known locally as the "Del Boy of Cabra," was found in possession of over 229,000 untaxed cigarettes and €135,000 worth of counterfeit luxury goods during a joint Gardaí and Revenue raid on his rented lock‑ups. He also had 19 stolen televisions. Keegan pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to evasion of excise duty on cigarettes, offering for sale goods resembling trademarked items without authorisation, and handling stolen property, all at The Rise, Glasnevin, on 2 August 2017. He had seven prior convictions, including drink driving. In December 2019 Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to 18 months' imprisonment for the cigarette offence. At the 2022 hearing, Nolan, after hearing evidence on the counterfeit goods and stolen TVs, suspended the 18‑month sentence in its entirety on strict conditions, deciding not to impose further custodial time.
Evan Keogh, aged 26, was sentenced to two years and nine months in prison for three assaults on his partner between April 2017 and January 2018. In April 2017 he pulled her down the stairs, causing her to fall and injure her arm. In December 2017 he bent her ankle, inflicting pain and leaving her limping for days. In January 2018 he struck her face, splitting her lip and biting her finger, which had been broken three years earlier. Keogh pleaded guilty to three counts of assault causing harm at various locations in Dublin. The court described the attacks as "reprehensible" and imposed a 15‑month sentence for the first assault and a consecutive 18‑month term for the subsequent assaults, backdated to March 2021 when he entered custody.
Mary Aderonke Adeola, 41, of Mac Uilliam Green, Tallaght, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two counts of money laundering for allowing over €20,000 obtained from an email redirect fraud to be transferred into her account and withdrawn. The fraud involved emails purporting to be from an Irish brewing company that claimed the company's bank details had changed, leading to €15,718 being transferred into her account in November 2019 and withdrawn, and a further €6,862 in December 2019, of which she partially withdrew before the account was frozen. Adeola repaid the unrecovered amount from the second transfer. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced her to 12 months imprisonment, suspended in its entirety on strict conditions, including payment of over €500 to the Red Cross for Ukrainian nationals. She has no prior convictions and was described as a good mother of five with an excellent employment history in the caring sector.
Murad Kandokar, 49, of Gleann Ribh, Lusk, Co. Dublin, was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to 16 months in prison for two sexual assaults. He pleaded guilty to an assault on a Luas train in Dublin on 26 May 2021 and to an assault on a Galway‑to‑Dublin Airport City Link bus on 17 July 2019. The court heard that on the Luas incident a young woman was approached by Kandokar, who pressed his body against her and displayed an erection, causing her to disembark at the Four Courts and seek assistance from Garda Sonya Mooney. In the bus incident, a woman was found with Kandokar's hand in her crotch area; she shouted at him and he moved seats before being arrested. Judge Martin Nolan described the acts as compulsive yet criminal, sentencing Kandokar to two and a half years with fourteen months suspended, leaving a net 16‑month custodial term.
In a case heard at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Louise Heaney, aged 49, received a fully suspended 18‑month sentence for publishing photographs of the two boys convicted of murdering Ana Kriégel. Heaney posted a picture on Facebook that identified the boys as "Boy A" and "Boy B" and later removed it. She admitted that the post was made in a "momentary lapse of judgement" and that she was "probably overcome with emotion" after the murder trial, which reminded her of a friend's son who had also been murdered. Heaney had no prior convictions and had been aware of the court order prohibiting the publication of any identifying material. The judge, Martin Nolan, noted that the offence was at the lower end of the scale and that very few people had seen the photograph. The sentence was suspended on strict conditions, and Heaney expressed regret and apologized to the Gardaí. Louise Heaney pleaded guilty.
During the trial of Michael Lynn, a solicitor claimed that a signature on a €3.7 million loan undertaking was not hers. Lynn, aged 53, faces 21 counts of theft involving about €27 million from seven banks. Prosecutor Cathal MacCarthy, a former Permanent TSB legal officer, explained that Lynn applied for a €3,725,625 loan in May 2007 to buy 12 properties, offering a first legal charge as security. Lynn signed a letter of approval in June 2007, and a letter of undertaking was supposedly signed by solicitor Fiona McAleenan, granting Lynn's irrevocable authority. MacCarthy later discovered that the signature on the undertaking was not McAleenan's, an issue that raised alarm in October 2007. Lynn denies wrongdoing, arguing that McAleenan routinely allowed her signature to be used on various documents. The case proceeds before a jury. Michael Lynn pleaded not guilty.
During a trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, former solicitor Michael Lynn, aged 53, is accused of stealing about €27 million from seven financial institutions. The prosecution alleges that Lynn secured multiple mortgages on the same properties while banks were unaware of each other's financing. Evidence was presented that Lynn had a €1.9 million borrowing with a bank when he applied for a €4.9 million loan in 2007 to buy eight residential investment properties. A bank manager, Ciaran Farrell, emailed that the outstanding €1.9 million was cleared only a week later due to a "clerical" error, and that Lynn was "embarrassed and annoyed" by the delay. Documents relating to Lynn's overseas investment company, Kendar Global Properties, were shown, and a €3.7 million loan was drawn down, though a subsequent €5.5 million refinancing offer was not pursued. Michael Lynn pleaded not guilty.
Philip Murphy, 41, had recently been released from a 10‑year sentence for false imprisonment when he sexually assaulted two women in Dublin in February 2016. He grabbed each victim from behind, threatened to kill them and demanded sex. Murphy pleaded guilty to both assaults and was originally sentenced to six years' imprisonment for each offence, to run concurrently, by Judge Melanie Greally at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed, arguing the sentence was unduly lenient and that consecutive sentences were warranted because the attacks constituted a crime spree. The Court of Appeal quashed the original sentence and ordered Murphy to serve a total of 10 years behind bars for the two offences. The decision was based on the fact that Murphy had been released the day before the attacks and the impact on the victims.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, John Tobin of Corran Ard, Athy, was found guilty of assault causing harm after he kicked in the door of a man's home and carried out a prolonged attack. Tobin claimed he had been misinformed that the victim had harmed a woman, the victim's partner, and that his actions were a misguided attempt to help. He admitted his wrongdoing. The victim, who wished to remain unnamed, suffered cuts, a punctured lung and other injuries but no serious consequences. Tobin, who has prior convictions for assault and public order offences and a history of alcohol and cocaine abuse, was given €1,000 as an expression of remorse, which the victim accepted. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a 30‑month prison sentence, suspended the final 15 months, and required Tobin to keep the peace and engage with Probation Services for 15 months after release.
A 19‑year‑old named Nathan Kelly was sentenced to five years in prison for a series of violent offences committed over a 20‑month period, including the theft of a nurse's wallet. The court heard that Kelly had a troubled background, was diagnosed with post‑traumatic stress disorder, and had a history of addiction. He pleaded guilty to three assaults, three robberies and trespassing likely to cause fear, with offences dated between 28 February 2019 and 28 October 2020. The judge noted his early exposure to domestic violence, his ADHD and PTSD diagnoses, and his high risk of reoffending. Kelly has expressed remorse, is engaging with his addictions, and is in a stable relationship. The judge imposed consecutive sentences totalling 78 months, suspended the final 18 months for 12 months on strict conditions, and ordered a five‑year custodial term.
Karl Cummins, 29, a serial driving offender with 65 convictions including 15 for dangerous driving, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for a dangerous driving offence on 21 July 2017. Cummins had been banned from driving for 16 years since 2015. At the sentencing hearing, he offered €500 as a token of remorse, which the judge directed to be paid to the Irish Red Cross Crisis Appeal to aid Ukrainian refugees. The case was adjourned to 16 June for a community service report. Cummins, who lives on Drumcairn Avenue, Tallaght, has claimed to have turned his life around, describing himself as a committed father and community volunteer. The prosecution noted the incident involved a high‑speed pursuit by Gardaí that was halted to avoid endangering other road users. The judge accepted the charity nomination and ordered the payment to the Red Cross campaign. Karl Cummins pleaded guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 39‑year‑old man and a 37‑year‑old woman were jailed for 14 years each for the savage abuse of their then nine‑year‑old daughter, who suffered a catastrophic brain injury. The parents claimed the child was possessed by an evil spirit and inflicted "wanton cruelty" by punching, beating with a belt and stick, choking, biting and burning her. Evidence showed the father performed a ritual to expel the "devil" from her body. A jury convicted them of two counts of assault causing serious harm and three counts of child cruelty. Judge Martin Nolan noted the parents' belief in possession offered no defence. The girl now lives in a care centre, unable to walk, talk or sit independently, and will require 24/7 care for the rest of her life.
In March 2022, a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court sentenced a 39‑year‑old father and a 37‑year‑old mother to 14 years' imprisonment for the savage abuse of their nine‑year‑old daughter. The parents, originally from North Africa, claimed the child was possessed by an evil spirit, but the court found no defence. The girl was repeatedly punched, beaten with a belt and a stick, choked, bitten and burned, resulting in catastrophic brain injury that left her unable to walk, talk or sit independently. The couple were convicted of two counts of assault causing serious harm and three counts of child cruelty. They had been in custody since August 2019, and their children were taken into care. The judge described the conduct as "grossly reprehensible" and noted the child would remain dependent on carers for life. The sentence reflects the sustained, extreme nature of the abuse.
Lee O'Brien, 35, was sentenced to three years and nine months imprisonment after a jury convicted him of attempted robbery at Centra, Drimnagh Road, Crumlin, and robbery at Spar, Walkinstown Roundabout, Crumlin on 23 April 2018. During the first incident he threatened staff with a butter knife, which was removed by the staff, and he failed to steal the till. In the second incident he entered Spar with a small knife, threatened a staff member, jumped over the counter, stole the till containing €260–€300, and fled in a car that was later traced to his girlfriend's house. O'Brien had 175 previous convictions, including robbery, theft, drug possession, and criminal damage. He pleaded not guilty to the charges. Judge Martin Nolan noted no actual violence but the threat of violence in both offences, and gave credit for his cooperation in the trial process. The judge also considered his desire to rehabilitate and his drug treatment history.
A jury has begun deliberating the trial of Declan McGowan, a 33‑year‑old builder from Branswood, Athy, who is accused of attempting to coerce Andra Calauz into his car on the night of 18 September. McGowan pleaded not guilty to the charge of attempting to coerce Calauz, to assaulting her by kissing and hugging her, to impersonating a Garda, and to assaulting her husband Daniel Ion. Calauz testified that she was walking alone on Kimmage Road Lower at about 2.30 a.m., arguing with her husband on a video call when McGowan's car pulled up beside her. He told her he was a Garda, praised her beauty, kissed her hand, and hugged her. She claimed he urged her to get into his car. Her husband, Daniel Ion, said McGowan choked him, claimed to have a gun, and that McGowan only restrained him after Ion struck Calauz. Both Calauz and Ion denied this version of events.
During a trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, former solicitor Michael Lynn (53) denied 21 theft counts, claiming he intended to stay in Ireland to address the allegations. Prosecutor John Berry presented evidence that Lynn had secured multiple mortgages on the same properties from seven banks without their knowledge of other lenders. Thomas Brennan, a senior manager at Bank of Scotland Ireland, testified that Lynn had approached the bank in 2006 with a proposal to purchase ten investment properties, seeking 70% financing. Over a three‑month period in 2007, Lynn obtained ten loans. In October 2007, newspaper reports about Lynn's business prompted a meeting where Lynn asserted his intention to remain available to bankers to resolve the issues. The bank subsequently reviewed Lynn's affairs, discovering that nine of the ten properties were already secured by other banks, including Bank of Ireland, Permanent TSB and Ulster Bank. Michael Lynn pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 33‑year‑old builder, Declan McGowan, was accused of assaulting a man and attempting to coerce a woman into his car while claiming to be a Garda. The prosecution described McGowan's account as "fantastical," asserting that when the woman's husband, Daniel Ion, intervened, McGowan "flew into a rage" and assaulted him. McGowan denied assaulting the woman, stating he never touched her and that he had only tried to protect her from the husband. He also denied impersonating a Garda, claiming any reference to being a Garda was a misunderstanding due to a language barrier. McGowan pleaded not guilty to attempted coercion, assault, impersonation of a Garda, and assault of Mr. Ion. The case remains at the trial stage, with jurors set to deliberate after the judge's instructions.
During the 15th day of Michael Lynn's trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, a witness, former senior underwriter Olivia Greene, testified that former Irish Nationwide boss Michael Fingleton had denied signing off on a €4,125,000 loan for a Howth house. Greene said Fingleton had asked her who approved the loan, and she claimed he had agreed it in his office. Fingleton allegedly wanted someone else to "take the flak" for the loan, which was later written off at a loss of over €4 million. Greene noted that Fingleton had special powers from the board to alter loan terms and offer preferential rates. She could not confirm any secret profit deals. The trial, which continues before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury, involves 21 counts of theft against Lynn, who has pleaded not guilty. The case covers seven financial institutions, including Irish Nationwide Building Society. The proceedings remain ongoing.
In a case heard at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Fred Davis, 42, received a suspended six‑month prison sentence for driving without due care and attention, causing serious harm to a one‑year‑old infant. On 21 June 2017, while operating his work van on the Malahide Road in Coolock, Davis failed to observe a red pedestrian light at a crossing. A mother, with a green light for pedestrians, was pushing her buggy across the road when the van struck the buggy, fracturing the child's skull and ribs. The infant spent 13 days in hospital and has since recovered. Davis, a painter and decorator with no prior convictions, pleaded guilty. The judge, citing the child's severe injuries and Davis's remorse, imposed a four‑year driving disqualification and a suspended six‑month custodial term, noting that the maximum penalty for the offence is two years. The victim remains unnamed in accordance with the Children Act.
Phillip McBride, aged 44, was arrested with a loaded semi‑automatic handgun, ammunition, gloves, a balaclava and a burner phone. He and his co‑accused Derek Byrne were both wearing two sets of clothing at the time of arrest. McBride pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition on 3 December 2019. He has six prior convictions for road traffic offences and no prior violent convictions. Byrne, aged 38, had 78 prior convictions, including drug possession and public order offences, and had previously been sentenced to seven‑and‑a‑half years with 18 months suspended. At sentencing, Judge Melanie Greally imposed a six‑year term on McBride, suspending the final three years on strict conditions, including 12 months of probation. The judge noted McBride's cocaine addiction and his efforts at rehabilitation, describing him as a pro‑social person who had fallen into debt and drug‑related pressure. Byrne's earlier sentence was not altered in this hearing.
Darren Casey, aged 44, was found in possession of 400 child sexual abuse images and five videos on his mobile phone. Gardaí searched his home in November 2020 after being alerted to child abuse material from an IP address linked to his address. The images included 70 child‑explicit pictures, 100 involving child exposure, and the rest in lesser categories. Casey pleaded guilty to one count of possessing the material between 1 August and 1 September 2020. He has 13 prior convictions, including public order and traffic offences. At the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to three years, suspending the final two years on conditions. The judge noted Casey's guilty plea, cooperation, and low risk of reoffending, and emphasised that possession of child pornography is not a victimless crime.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Gardaí raided the home of Jurijs Savcuks (40) and Vladimirs Savcuks (43) after discovering €19,000 worth of cannabis hidden beneath "strong smelling homemade sausages" in a car stopped in Cork. The brothers, both from Chapelton, Hollystown, pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis for sale or supply on 31 January 2020. Gardaí found cannabis plants, stored in tubs of pickled gherkins and ice‑cream, and a bundle of cash worth about €8,000, bringing the total value of seized cannabis to €85,330. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced Jurijs to eight years' imprisonment, suspending the final two years on strict conditions, and Vladimirs to eight years, suspending the final 12 months on strict conditions. Both were described as non‑addicts and the operation as financially driven. The court noted the brothers' prior convictions and the amount of cash found as evidence of a commercial enterprise.
During the 13th day of Michael Lynn's trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, former Irish Nationwide auditor Killian McMahon testified that he had no knowledge of any alleged secret deal between the accused and former bank boss Michael Fingleton. McMahon, who worked as an internal auditor for the society between 2003 and 2006, denied awareness of any files or secret profit arrangements involving Fingleton and high‑net‑worth individuals. He stated that he had no reason to believe such files existed and that there were no secret loan deals. McMahon also said that any meeting between Fingleton and Lynn over coffee was unlikely to have been documented. The defence counsel, Feargal Kavanagh, used the testimony to argue that Irish Nationwide's lending practices were reckless and that the bank had been misled by false information supplied by Lynn. The judge, Martin Nolan, cautioned the counsel against making unsubstantiated comments. Michael Lynn pleaded not guilty.
A 16‑year‑old boy with 62 prior convictions was convicted of robbery on a bus in Dublin on 23 March 2021. He dragged a victim off the bus, punched him, threatened him with a knife and stole his phone and ear‑phone. The victim suffered facial swelling and cuts and was a promising footballer. The boy pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Melanie Greally noted the victim's psychological effects and the boy's history of violence, drug use and association with anti‑social peers. She said the boy was making good progress in education and skill development while in detention. The judge sentenced him to two‑and‑a‑half years' detention. The boy had been on bail for assault and theft offences at the time of the robbery. The defence counsel highlighted the client's family difficulties and foster placements, and that no knife was actually produced during the incident. The boy is receiving counselling for addiction while detained.
The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard evidence that Michael Lynn, a former solicitor aged 53, applied for mortgages on ten residential investment properties between September and December 2006. The applications involved four properties with a combined loan of €945,000, three with just over €1 million, and three with €1.4 million. The properties were one‑, two‑ and three‑bed apartments in East Wall, Parnell Square, Bolton Street and Gardiner Street. Lynn faces 21 theft charges for allegedly stealing about €27 million from seven financial institutions, but he denies all charges. Prosecutor Patrick McGrath presented cheques showing the loan amounts drawn and credited to Lynn's account, with the last repayment in October 2007. An internal memo from Irish Nationwide Building Society urged that Lynn's applications be prioritised because he was "under pressure to close". The case is before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury.
Sean William O'Rourke, 21, an apprentice electrician, pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering after he answered a Snapchat advertisement offering a "couple of thousand euro" for handing over his bank card. He admitted giving his card to a money launderer, who used his account to transfer €52,186 into a wrong account. The fraudulent sum was traced to O'Rourke's account, which was frozen, and the €50,000 was returned to the company. O'Rourke had no prior convictions. At a sentencing hearing in November, Judge Martin Nolan noted the prevalence of similar cases involving young people with no criminal record. The judge decided not to jail O'Rourke and instead ordered 100 hours of community service, subject to suitability by the Probation Service. The Probation Service confirmed his suitability, and the sentence was confirmed today. The case highlights the involvement of criminal gangs in Tallaght, Blanchardstown and Coolock in money‑laundering operations.
A 26-year-old postal worker from Dublin has been sentenced to two and a half years in prison following his conviction on drug trafficking charges. Darren Cumberton was arrested in April 2021 after gardaí observed him transferring cannabis from a van to a car at a Dublin location. The total quantity recovered amounted to approximately €79,000 worth of cannabis herb. He pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of drugs for sale or supply. The court heard that Cumberton had incurred substantial gambling debts and borrowed money from an unlicensed lender, leading him to become involved in drug trafficking. At the time of his arrest, his partner had recently given birth. His defence counsel highlighted his previously unblemished record, stable employment history, cooperation with gardaí, and engagement with treatment services. However, Judge Martin Nolan determined that whilst departing from the mandatory minimum ten-year sentence, the case did not warrant a non-custodial outcome.
Richard Power, a 35‑year‑old letting agent, was found guilty of stealing €69,530 in tenant deposits from his employer, Wyse Property Management Ltd, between June 2018 and June 2020. He logged into the company system, altered tenant bank details to his own account to receive refunds, then reverted the changes before detection. Power admitted the theft and claimed a gambling addiction as context. He has repaid all but about €7,500 of the stolen money through personal savings and parental support. Judge Elma Sheahan sentenced him to three years' imprisonment, fully suspended on strict conditions, including repayment of the remaining amount within six months. Power, who had no prior convictions, is now unemployed, lives with his parents, and has lost his property‑management licence and a €5,000 fine.
A man from Finglas has been jailed for purchasing two vehicles that were used in an arson attack on a property seized by the Criminal Assets Bureau. Joseph Richards, aged 30, of Lanesborough Square, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two counts of money laundering between August 6 and August 12, 2020. Gardaí identified Richards as a suspect through analysis of mobile phone records and CCTV footage. During interview, he stated he was unaware the cars would be used for arson and had simply purchased them for payment without enquiring about their intended use. Richards has 83 previous convictions, including robbery and drug-related offences. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a sentence of three years, suspending the final 18 months on strict conditions. The judge noted Richards played an important but subordinate role in what she described as an enterprise orchestrated by more significant criminal elements. She observed that whilst in custody and abstinent from drugs, he demonstrates capacity for prosocial living and remains motivated to overcome his addiction.
Five men have been sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for their roles in an affray during which a man was attacked with weapons including a slash-hook and hatchet on Hartstown Road, Dublin on 7 February 2015. The victim sustained scalp and shoulder cuts and a fractured upper arm bone. A young child was present in the vehicle during the incident. Brendan Donavan, Eddie McDonagh, James McDonagh, Michael McDonagh and James Whelan all pleaded guilty to affray. Judge Elma Sheahan noted the seriousness of the offending and the presence of a child as aggravating factors. Michael McDonagh, Eddie McDonagh and Donavan each received three-year sentences with the final six months suspended. James McDonagh received an 18-month sentence with eight months suspended, plus a consecutive 12-month term with six months suspended for a separate matter. James Whelan received an 18-month sentence with ten months suspended. All defendants must keep the peace during their suspension periods. The court heard other persons remain to face charges relating to the attack.
Gardai followed a trail of blood to catch Kevin Maughan, 48, a serial offender with 240 convictions, carrying a stolen cash register from a high‑end bar closed during the first lockdown. Maughan broke a window that bore a "stay safe, stay home" sign, cutting his hands and leaving DNA‑containing blood throughout the bar. He stole a cash register and alcohol during the break‑in on 28 April 2020 at Bar 37, Dawson Street. The blood trail led to St Stephen's Green where Maughan was seen carrying the register. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Melanie Greally noted his intoxication, the damage caused, and his addiction‑related offending. She imposed a three‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence, suspending the final year on strict conditions, including drug and alcohol intervention and cooperation with community mental health treatment.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 22‑year‑old Letitia Barry was sentenced to eight months' imprisonment, fully suspended, for driving through a red light and fatally striking pedestrian John Byrne on Whitestown Road, Rush. Barry admitted driving without due care and attention, causing Byrne's death. The court noted Byrne had waited for the pedestrian green light and that a six‑second gap existed between the vehicular red light and the pedestrian green light. Witnesses said the traffic lights were red for drivers when Byrne was struck. Barry's defence argued she was inexperienced, having held her licence for only three months, and that she had not seen the red light. The judge cited Barry's guilty plea, cooperation, lack of prior convictions, and youth as mitigating factors, and imposed a six‑year driving disqualification. The sentence was suspended on strict conditions.
Kaitlin O'Driscoll, a 21‑year‑old mother from Cork, was arrested in Dublin after Gardaí discovered 200 g of heroin, worth €28,000, wrapped in a nappy in her bag at a house on Bride Street. She had travelled from Cork with cash given by an unidentified man and had taken her child with her to the house, claiming she was doing a favour for someone she could not identify. Gardaí also arrested a man in the house, finding €4,450 in envelopes that he said belonged to another man. O'Driscoll pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply. The court noted her 15 prior theft convictions but no drug‑dealing convictions. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced her to a three‑and‑a‑half‑year prison term, back‑dated to her arrest, and suspended the final 18 months on the condition that she engage with the Probation Service addiction support programme.
In a case heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, 36‑year‑old Jason Goddard of Cloonlara Road, Finglas, was discharged from an indictment under the Probation Act after pleading guilty to violent disorder on 16 October 2018. The incident involved Goddard and 21‑year‑old Ryan Thompson following a man known to Gardaí who had made a lewd suggestion to teenage girls and produced a knife. The pair entered a nursing home where an altercation occurred; Thompson sustained slash marks and was taken to hospital. Goddard later admitted to Gardaí that he could not recall details due to drug influence. Judge Elma Sheahan noted Goddard had no Garda attention since 2014, had engaged well with the Probation Service, and had reduced his risk of re‑offending to low. She discharged him on the condition of good behaviour for 12 months, citing his minor previous convictions and lack of subsequent offences.
Christopher Donoghue, 40, of Dublin 2, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to possession of cocaine with intent to supply at his address on May 19, 2017. Sergeant Barry Moran stated that gardaí conducted a surveillance operation following a tip-off, securing a warrant for a raid. Donoghue cooperated with officers, volunteering that he possessed two bags of cocaine, weighing 25.199 grams with an estimated street value of €1,763. He admitted some was for sale and some was intended for his daughter's first communion. The court noted he had 12 previous convictions for drug dealing, theft, criminal damage, and public order violations, though he had not come to the attention of gardaí since 2017. Defending counsel Mark Lynam BL highlighted that Donoghue is terminally ill with pancreatic cancer, currently receiving palliative care after a tumour removal in 2020 and chemotherapy. Judge Orla Crowe acknowledged the highly unusual situation, noting that but for Donoghue's health, she would have imposed a two-year and six-month custodial sentence. Considering his guilty plea and cooperation with the gardaí, Judge Crowe imposed a sentence of two years imprisonment, which was suspended entirely due to his medical condition. Donoghue thanked the judge and left the court.
Dylan Culloty, 21, was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to 200 hours of community service in lieu of a two‑year prison term for his role in a €40,000 smishing scam. Culloty allowed his account to be used to launder the money and withdrew cash from post offices, purchasing foreign currency. He pleaded guilty to two counts of money laundering for transactions between 14 and 19 August 2019. The court noted that the scam involved text messages that appeared to be from a bank, directing victims to a website where they entered banking details, enabling the scammers to access accounts. A total of €43,800 was taken from two bank accounts and transferred to Culloty's account; he withdrew the money at An Post offices. The Bank of Ireland refunded the victims in full, but the money was never recovered. Culloty had no prior convictions.
Peter O'Shea, aged 55, was found guilty by a jury in November 2021 of five counts of indecent assault on three children aged between seven and 13 in the early 1980s. He had pleaded not guilty to all charges. The court heard that O'Shea, who was between 14 and 19 at the time of the assaults, still denies the allegations and does not accept the verdict. Garda Niall Gibbs described the assaults, including repeated sexual contact and attempts to expose the victims' genitals. The victims, who were present at the hearing, had prepared impact statements. O'Shea's solicitor, Garnet Orange SC, reiterated his client's denial and lack of prior convictions. Justice Patricia Ryan adjourned sentencing to 1 March 2022.
Ross Hutch, aged 29, was denied bail after being charged with slashing the face of his ex‑partner's boyfriend with a knife and later assaulting his then girlfriend. He is also accused of making phone calls to his ex‑partner in which he allegedly threatened to kill her or cause her serious harm. Hutch appeared before the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 18 February 2022, where he was remanded in custody. The court considered the seriousness of the allegations, including assault causing harm, threats to kill or cause serious harm, and possession of a knife between 22 and 24 August 2021. The judge refused bail, adjourned the arraignment to 29 April, and noted that a treatment bed previously available in a residential treatment centre was no longer accessible due to security concerns. The case remains pending for arraignment.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, lawyers for the national media argued that there was no reason to keep the name of a 35‑year‑old public servant, accused of false imprisonment and sexual assault, from being published. The defendant, who lives in the midlands, was charged with three counts of sexual assault at his workplace in the east of the country on 29 September 2020, a charge of false imprisonment on the same woman at the same place and date, and a charge of offensive sexual conduct at another location in the same county between 23 August 2019 and 25 February last year. The media had previously applied to lift a reporting restriction imposed by Judge Treasa Kelly in October, but the order was upheld. Mr.
In a DART incident on 31 May 2020, 23‑year‑old Ivan Bruton, who was already serving a suspended sentence for assault, bit John Rock Sr. and punched his son Adam after Rock Sr. tried to stop Bruton's verbal dispute with a woman. Bruton, who had prior convictions for assault, stolen property and drugs, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and assault at Salthill & Monkstown DART Station. Judge Martin Nolan, noting Bruton's age and the "chivalrous" intervention of the Rocks, imposed a 16‑month prison term but suspended it entirely, subject to strict conditions including 12 months of probation. The judge also ordered Bruton to hand over €500 he had in court to the victims or a charity and to raise an additional €1,000 within a year. Bruton's lawyer highlighted his remorse, full‑time employment and young daughter, and the judge expressed hope for reform.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, Adam Murphy, aged 32, pleaded guilty to assaulting his then‑girlfriend, Roisin Macken, aged 31, on 3 July 2015. During an argument, Murphy pinned Macken to her bed and punched her face, fracturing her nose and causing two black eyes. The court described the offence as a very serious assault within a romantic relationship, noting the prolonged emotional and psychological impact on Macken. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced Murphy to four‑and‑a‑half months' imprisonment, suspending the final one‑and‑a‑half months on strict conditions, including probation and treatment for violent emotions. The €4,000 he had in court was ordered to be transferred to Women's Aid. The case was resolved by a plea to common assault, carrying a maximum sentence of six months. No prior convictions were recorded for Murphy. The victim's impact statement highlighted lasting physical, financial and mental effects, and her reliance on a new boyfriend for support.
Adrian Power, 50, recently released from prison, broke into Sheeran Insurance Brookers in Sandymount to escape the cold. He entered by kicking a PCV door, sat in an armchair, and told Gardaí he needed a place to stay. No damage or theft was reported. Power had previously pleaded guilty to trespass in May 2020 and had 87 prior convictions. He now claims he has turned his life around, is drug‑free, and lives with his partner in Athlone. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court sentenced him to a six‑month prison term, suspended for one year, on the condition that he keeps the peace and behaves well. The sentence was imposed after the court heard that Power had been awake on the Luas, walked around Sandymount, and sought shelter in the office. The court noted that Power had no fixed abode at the time of the offence.