A former Revenue employee received a fully suspended eighteen-month sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for her role in generating fraudulent tax refunds. Linda Kinsella, aged 38, pleaded guilty to two counts of dishonestly inducing a gain by deception and one count of using a false instrument at Revenue offices on Belgard Road, Dublin 24, between December 2013 and June 2015. She created false tax returns totalling over €8,000 for her ex-boyfriend Eric Maher and his twin brother Brian Maher. Both men also received suspended eighteen-month sentences after pleading guilty to stealing from the Revenue Commission. Eric Maher obtained €1,921.95 while Brian Maher, with an address in Charlestown Shopping Centre, Finglas, obtained €6,121.45. Judge Martin Nolan noted Kinsella was the "vital cog" in the scheme, though the brothers had imposed upon her to some degree. All three accused have since repaid the money in full. Kinsella lost her job following the investigation.
Albino Sabino Dos Santos Filho, 30, was sentenced to a fully suspended one‑year imprisonment for sexually assaulting a 16‑year‑old boy in Dublin in August 2019. The assault occurred on a public street after the victim asked to borrow the defendant's phone. Dos Santos Filho, who was intoxicated and had limited English, claimed he misunderstood the interaction. Garda Alma McGovern described the victim's fear and the physical struggle that followed. The defendant pleaded guilty, and the judge, citing mitigating factors and the defendant's lack of prior convictions, imposed a suspended sentence with strict conditions, including a €1,000 compensation payment to the victim. The court noted the defendant's remorse, his compliance with the sex offenders register, and his desire to remain in Ireland. The case was heard at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
In a case heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Aleksander Janik, aged 23, pleaded guilty to engaging in offensive conduct of a sexual nature at Dundrum Town Centre on 10 August 2019. Janik had placed his phone under a public toilet cubicle to capture images of a male occupant. The incident occurred after a man used the toilet at 6 pm, discovered a live phone in the cubicle, and confronted Janik, who then locked himself in the disabled toilet. Gardaí were called, and Janik was arrested. A subsequent garda interview and a search of his phone revealed images of shoes, legs and a toilet. Justice Karen O'Connor described the offence as a significant invasion of privacy, noted Janik's cooperation and mental health counselling, and suspended a one‑year prison term on the condition that he engage with the Probation Service for nine months and comply with all directions.
Kellie Walton, a payroll administrator at Virgin Media Television, stole €872,437 over ten years, beginning in 2009. She pleaded guilty to multiple thefts and false accounting, with the largest single theft exceeding €120,000. Walton's role gave her exclusive access to the payroll system, enabling her to make unauthorised payments to former employees and transfer the money to two bank accounts she controlled. She was arrested in January 2020 and, after a series of interviews, pleaded guilty to sample charges. In December 2021, Judge Melanie Greally considered her circumstances, including her husband's unemployment and her family's financial stress, and imposed a four‑year sentence, suspending the final two years on strict conditions. The court noted Walton's lack of prior convictions and her efforts to mitigate the impact on her children. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Kevin Lappin, 37, and his partner Jemma Dinnigan, 35, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of drugs for sale or supply on 9 January 2019. They claimed they had €28,000 worth of cannabis to make cannabis oil for Lappin's mother, who had cancer in 2018 and later died. Garda Paul Nolan stopped Dinnigan's car after detecting a strong cannabis smell; she was found over the driving limit and later searched, revealing €28,360 of cannabis in the house and €224 in the car. Lappin was arrested the following month and admitted ownership of the cannabis. Judge Pauline Codd noted the unusual aspect of attempting to produce cannabis oil for personal use, accepted their early guilty pleas, and, citing low reoffending risk, imposed a three‑year suspended sentence on both, with conditions.
Ken Costello, 49, pleaded guilty to copyright infringement and dishonest computer operation for a 'dodgy box' scheme that streamed premium TV via altered set‑top boxes. He acted as a "customer service" agent on social media, offering support to users of the illegal service. The court found he provided unauthorised access to Sky Sports and Sky Cinema between March and September 2018, and that money from sales was funneled through a PayPal account belonging to his wife and then to his bank. Costello had no prior convictions. Judge Elma Sheahan imposed a 15‑month prison term, fully suspended on strict conditions, after noting his cooperation and the confiscation of €22,000 he had received. The case highlighted the operation's use of social media advertising and the role of a secondary player in the enterprise. The sentence was delivered in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court sentenced Ethan Zeitman and Levani Shavgulidze to two years' imprisonment each after both pleaded guilty to charges related to an immigration fraud organisation. Zeitman, 46, admitted to money laundering, possession of fraudulent documentation, and organising or facilitating the entry of illegal immigrants or asylum seekers between 2017 and 2019. Shavgulidze, 24, pleaded guilty to stealing €5,950 in pandemic unemployment payments, money laundering, possession of fraudulent documentation, and facilitating illegal entry between 2018 and 2020. Judge Martin Nolan described the men as "gofers" at the bottom of a hierarchy that caused a surge in Georgian nationals arriving in Ireland. The judge noted Zeitman's involvement ended over a year before his arrest when he became drug-free, while Shavgulidze had no previous convictions. Both men have been in custody since late 2020. The court heard the investigation began in 2018 following international referrals, with the accused distributing false documents via post or courier. Defence counsel highlighted Zeitman's addiction-driven involvement and Shavgulidze's lack of profit, but the judge imposed the two-year sentences, considering their foreign national status and roles in the organisation.
A Chinese national who lived under an assumed identity for eight years has received a fully suspended four-year sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Wenzi Wang, aged 39, of Blanchardstown, Dublin, obtained a legitimate Northern Irish birth certificate belonging to another person in 2009 and used it to secure an Irish passport under the name Sau Kee Lee. He subsequently acquired a driving licence, taxi licence, Public Service Card and mortgage using the false identity. Wang pleaded guilty to providing a false birth certificate in connection with a passport application at a Garda station in County Donegal in May 2009, and to six counts of deception between October 2010 and April 2017. He also pleaded guilty to two counts of providing false information to a registrar and to possessing an air rifle and garda-style apparel. Judge Pauline Codd noted Wang had paid taxes and committed no offences whilst using the false name. His wife remained unaware of his true identity until 2017. The judge imposed strict conditions on the suspended sentence.
Alexander Cribbin, 21, of Woodford Downs, Clondalkin, was discharged from an indictment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after abiding by the conditions of a deferred sentence. Cribbin pleaded guilty to possession of the proceeds of criminal conduct within the state on November 1, 2019. The court heard that a doctor narrowly avoided losing €18,000 in pension funds in an email misdirection scam. The doctor mistakenly believed he was replying to his pension broker but was actually communicating with a third party who provided Cribbin's bank details. Cribbin had lent his bank account to a friend for "trading" but became suspicious when the large lodgement arrived. He did not use the funds, allowing the bank to successfully recall the money and return it to the victim. Judge Martin Nolan previously noted that Cribbin's actions meant the money "could never have been taken from the account" and granted him leniency. The judge imposed a deferred sentence, requiring Cribbin to be of good behaviour for six months, with a proposed disposal of six months' imprisonment if he failed to abide by that condition. At the final hearing, the court confirmed Cribbin had met these conditions, and Judge Nolan discharged him from the indictment.
Patrick O'Brien, a 69‑year‑old father of seven from Oakwood Grove, Clondalkin, was arrested in June 2020 after Gardaí received information from the online child exploitation unit that he had downloaded child pornography onto a mobile phone linked to his address. Gardaí entered his Dublin home, where his wife and two adult children were gathered, and asked them to wait while O'Brien was located. When he returned, he admitted the wrongdoing, saying there was no point in covering up and that it was his fault. He handed over the phone, which was later found to contain about 200 images of children in sexually explicit poses, 55 images of naked children, and 75 images showing children as young as three being sexually abused by adults. O'Brien pleaded guilty on 6 June 2020 to possession of child‑abuse images under the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act, 1998.
Michael McDonagh, aged 30, crashed his partner's car into a tree during a high‑speed Garda pursuit, then fled the scene. His partner reported the vehicle stolen and filed an insurance claim. Gardaí seized McDonagh's and his partner's phones, uncovering messages that McDonagh had driven the car and had asked his partner to falsely state it was stolen. McDonagh pleaded guilty to knowingly making a false statement at Tallaght Garda Station on 3 April 2020 and to attempting to deceive RSA insurance between 3 April and 5 May 2020. He also had a prior drink‑driving conviction that resulted in a four‑year driving ban. At the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to two years' imprisonment, fully suspended on strict conditions. The court noted the tree replacement cost was just over €2,000 and that the insurance claim for €7,000 was never paid.
Daniel Joyce, a 29‑year‑old former League of Ireland footballer, was arrested after Gardaí stopped him for erratic driving on the M50. A search of his car revealed over €27,000 worth of cocaine in the boot and about €5,400 in cash. Joyce, who had a history of drug use after his playing career ended, pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine for sale or supply. He also admitted to a drug debt of a few hundred euros and a loan of €5,000. The court found he had used his address for cutting up and distributing cannabis. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to three years' imprisonment, noting Joyce's mature status but gross error of judgment. The sentence reflects the drug offence and the associated financial debts.
Eoram Dobnam De Lima, a 26‑year‑old university student, pleaded guilty to three counts of stealing €6,936 from his employer, Centra, in Charlemont Street between 1 November 2019 and 15 January 2020. He regularly voided transactions on the till and, at the end of his shift, took the cash. De Lima had no prior convictions. He was sentenced by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to 120 hours of community service in lieu of 18 months imprisonment. The judge noted he had made full restitution to the injured party, Robert O'Leary, and had engaged in restorative justice. De Lima is studying for a Master's in Dispute Resolution and was on the Pandemic Unemployment Payment. The sentence was adjusted to avoid undue interference with his studies and work commitments.
Two young men, Joel Kialunda, 20, and Emmanuel Esuku, 23, were sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to fully suspended one‑year imprisonment for laundering money defrauded from a Swedish trade union. The fraud involved fraudulent emails claiming that three ventilators would be purchased for donation to a hospital for Covid‑19 treatment. The union transferred €27,594.63 into an account provided in the email, which was later found to belong to Kialunda. Over €23,000 was withdrawn or transferred elsewhere, including €3,000 sent to a Revolut account belonging to Esuku. Both men pleaded guilty to money laundering on 22 and 23 April 2020, respectively. Judge Martin Nolan, citing their age and mitigation, suspended the sentences in their entirety on strict conditions. The court noted that neither accused had been involved in the initial defrauding of the union and that the money had been recovered and returned to the union.
Ali El Taweel, 24, received a four‑year suspended sentence after a series of car crashes during an episode of psychosis linked to an abrupt withdrawal from cannabis. He left a car park without paying, drove against traffic, hit a motorcyclist, collided with two cars, a patrol car, a truck and a taxi, causing injuries to the taxi driver and passenger. He pleaded guilty to two counts of endangerment, driving without insurance, criminal damage and refusing to provide a urine or blood sample. The court noted psychiatric reports and a letter from his father detailing his cannabis dependency and sudden withdrawal. Judge Melanie Greally highlighted his subsequent engagement with mental‑health services, marriage, fatherhood, a law degree and a low risk of re‑offending, and imposed the suspended term on strict conditions, including continued medication compliance and a five‑year driving disqualification.
A 15‑year‑old boy was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for stabbing his friend twice during an arranged fight called a "straightener" after a dispute over their girlfriends. The boy, who pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, had no prior convictions. He had lit toilet paper on fire and placed it on the victim's car to lure him outside, then used a knife in a two‑minute fight. Facebook messages showed they had agreed no weapons would be used, but the boy still stabbed the victim. He claimed he was "stoned" and that the fire was not intentional. The judge, noting his remorse, the support of his family, and his progress while remanded, set a two‑year, three‑month detention period, deferred to July 29, on strict conditions to keep the peace and comply with the Probation Service.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Gheorghe Morar, aged 36, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment, back‑dated to 15 May 2020, for sexual assault of an 18‑year‑old woman he met in a nightclub. Morar admitted that he and the woman were touching each other's genitals and kissing, and that he believed she was consenting, though he acknowledged it was a possibility she was not. He claimed he was not more sober than her and that she was heavily intoxicated. The court noted that the woman could not give full consent due to her drunken state. Morar had previously denied the offence but pleaded guilty on the basis of recklessness. He had no prior convictions in Ireland except a minor public order matter in Spain. The judge reduced the headline sentence to two years, citing sincere remorse and lack of prior offending.
Matthew Curry, aged 30, pleaded guilty to two robberies at Off Beat Donuts and Marks Models in Dublin 2 on 28 May 2021. He claimed during the incidents that members of his family had been kidnapped or were in danger from drug dealers, and that drug dealers would kill his brother. He also claimed his mother had been kidnapped earlier that day. The court heard that Curry had been battling drug addiction since his early teens and that the robberies were committed to obtain money to support his addiction. Judge Melanie Greally noted no weapons were used and the robberies were poorly planned. She imposed consecutive sentences totalling four years, suspending the final 15 months, and considered his genuine efforts to address his addiction and desire to become a productive member of the community.
Mahissat Anastacia Correia Djaura, a 24‑year‑old UK care worker, was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to 18 months in prison for evading excise duty on €40,000 worth of cigarettes found in her luggage at Dublin Airport. The court noted she was not the mastermind of the offence and had no prior convictions. Judge Melanie Greally imposed the sentence with the final 15 months suspended on strict conditions, crediting time already served. Djaura pleaded guilty and expressed remorse, citing financial pressure and a difficult prison experience. She had travelled from Lagos, where she purchased the cigarettes for cash, and arranged for a person to collect them for £1,000. The prosecution highlighted her cooperation during the interview, while the defence emphasised her lack of addiction and previous clean record. Djaura must leave the country upon release.
A delivery driver has been jailed at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following his conviction for a violent assault on another van driver. Aiman Khalel, aged 40, of Rathmines, Dublin, was found guilty after trial of assault causing harm and production of a wheel lock during an incident on Clanbrassil Street Upper on 12 September 2018. The assault arose from a dispute over overtaking between the two drivers. Khalel struck the victim three times around the head and hand with a steering wheel lock he had removed from the victim's vehicle. The victim, who was hospitalised for approximately four days and subsequently required multiple surgeries, was bleeding from head and chin wounds. Judge Sarah Berkeley described the broad daylight attack as "shocking and vicious" and noted the victim's ongoing medical needs. Khalel, who has lived in Ireland for 17 years and has no previous convictions for violence, received a three-year custodial sentence with the final year suspended, conditional on engagement with the Probation Service. Aiman Khalel pleaded not guilty.
Hani Ali Showky and Nicolina Velic, a married couple from Dun Laoghaire, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to running brothels, organising prostitution, money laundering, and using false instruments in Co Dublin. The court heard the pair operated nine properties with 25 escorts, generating an estimated €5,000 weekly profit. Showky admitted to renting properties using fake bank statements and subletting them to escorts, while also establishing a company to facilitate a money laundering scheme. Judge Pauline Codd sentenced Showky to five years' imprisonment, suspending the final 12 months on strict conditions. She noted his 31 previous convictions but considered his early guilty plea and personal circumstances. Velic, who had no prior convictions, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment, with the sentence suspended in its entirety on strict conditions. The judge acknowledged Velic was less actively involved and under Showky's influence, citing her role as a sole carer for a young child. Both defendants admitted the charges, and the court noted that the escorts were not coerced or trafficked, nor were they illegal immigrants. The matter was finalised with these sentences imposed.
John Matthews, 42, returned to Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after breaking into a house on Upper Glenageary Road on 5 September 2020, a month after his release from prison on a suspended sentence. He had served half of a nine‑year term for 56 burglaries committed in 16 months; the second half was suspended on conditions including keeping the peace for five years and attending drug treatment. Matthews pleaded guilty to the September burglary, which involved a smashed back window and the theft of small‑value cash, including a 200,000 Thai baht note. The note was later found at Matthews' home. He has 124 previous convictions, 115 of which are burglary convictions. Judge Pauline Codd noted his record is shocking, acknowledged his drug habit, and adjourned the case to 21 February next year to consider his placement on a drug treatment programme. She said he is now facing a substantial amount of time in prison.
Noel Shannon, a 40‑year‑old electrician from Finglas, pleaded guilty to disclosing personal data from a Garda intelligence board that contained information on 108 people. He photographed the board while working on emergency lighting at Kilmainham Garda Station in March 2019, later sending the images to two other electricians. The pictures were subsequently circulated on social media. The case was the first criminal breach of the Data Protection Act 2018 prosecuted on indictment. Judge Melanie Greally found no premeditation or malice, noting the offence was committed while intoxicated. She imposed a headline sentence of three years but, considering mitigating factors such as his early guilty plea, remorse, stable family and work life, she suspended a two‑year custodial term in full for two years. The court recorded that Shannon had four prior convictions, including theft and a public order offence. The prosecution and defence agreed that Shannon had not foreseen the consequences of his actions.
Jessy Feval, 31, was fined €750 after pleading guilty to driving without reasonable consideration when he struck 78‑year‑old Michael Jenkins, who was attempting to cross Rathgar Road on 7 November 2016. Jenkins, aged 83, suffered a fractured leg and a blood clot to his brain, and his wife had to care for him. Feval, who had no prior convictions, remained at the scene, admitted the offence, and cooperated with Gardaí. A breathalyser test was negative for alcohol or drugs. The court noted the incident was "the kind of thing that could have happened to any of us" and that Feval's good character and lack of previous convictions were mitigating factors. Judge Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin imposed the fine and did not disqualify Feval from driving. No further court matters were pending.
Jonathan Kearns, 24, pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis for sale or supply at his Tallaght home on 13 March 2020. Gardaí executed a search warrant, finding 437 g of cannabis in a Tesco bag and a weighing scale. Kearns, who was not present during the search, later admitted the drugs were his and claimed he was forced to hold them to pay a drug debt. The court noted the high value of the drugs (€8,754) and that Kearns had not been in contact with gardaí since his arrest. He is a father of two children, one with a serious illness. The judge, citing mitigating factors such as a difficult childhood, addiction history, and current drug‑free status, imposed a headline sentence of four years. The sentence was reduced to a three‑and‑a‑half‑year suspended term, suspended in full for three years, with conditions of probation supervision for two years and mandatory drug testing.
Kieran Creaven, a 59‑year‑old former RTÉ producer, was sentenced by Judge Melanie Greally to a total of ten years in prison for four counts of child exploitation, two counts of sexual assault of a child and four counts of child pornography. The offences occurred in Ireland, the UK and the Philippines between 2014 and 2017. After his release, Creaven will be supervised for three years, must attend all appointments directed by a Probation Service officer, provide his address and any changes, engage in offence‑focused work and be available for a sex offender treatment programme. He will remain on the sex offender register for life. Judge Greally warned that failure to comply with these conditions would be an offence in its own right. Creaven pleaded guilty, expressed remorse, and has undergone psychotherapy and rehabilitation work for the last two years. He has lost his job, future employment prospects and his marriage.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Jonathan Glynn, 31, pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply at his home in Rathgar. He admitted buying over €11,000 worth of cannabis herb in bulk from an Instagram account, stating the drugs were "all over Instagram and Facebook." Garda Gary McCormack had seized the drugs after a warrant search following a strong smell of cannabis at Glynn's house. Glynn, a former fruit and veg worker who had been laid off, claimed he used the money from his previous job to purchase the drugs and had only sold a portion to a relative. Judge Pauline Codd, noting Glynn's lack of prior convictions and his guilty plea, suspended a three‑year prison term on the condition he engage with the Probation Service for one year. The case highlights the use of social media platforms for drug distribution and the court's approach to first‑time offenders.
Moira Gleeson, 62, of Donabate, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to three counts of theft and three of forgery, with offences alleged to have occurred between April 2010 and March 2015. The charges relate to the theft of approximately €47,000 from the businesses of John McQuaid, a former Olympic cyclist. Gleeson admitted to forging McQuaid's signature on cheques and cashing them, attributing the payments to invoices already settled in cash. Judge Pauline Codd sentenced Gleeson to two years' imprisonment, suspending the final 15 months on the basis that she is a first-time offender with a low risk of reoffending. She was ordered to engage with the Probation Service for 15 months post-release. The judge noted that while Gleeson expressed remorse, her failure to make any repayments rendered her apology hollow. McQuaid described the betrayal as a "kick in the face," stating the thefts caused significant financial stress and mental suffering. Although the source text mentions an appeal as the validated procedural stage, the report details the sentencing hearing where the guilty plea and sentence were imposed. No other defendants were named in the finalisation details provided.
Michelle O'Leary, aged 31, broke into the home of a 90‑year‑old neighbour in St Peter's Court, Phibsborough, by pretending to be a police officer and demanding money. She produced a knife, took €60 from the victim's pocket, dropped the weapon and fled. The victim identified her and she was arrested at her mother's apartment, where she was not supposed to be staying. O'Leary pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary, production of a knife and making a false statement to Gardaí on 15 April 2021. She has 30 prior convictions for robbery, assault and theft. She has been remanded in custody since the arrest and is scheduled for sentencing in February 2022. The case was adjourned by Judge Melanie Greally to allow time for reports and she remains in custody until the hearing. The victim's family is seeking a nursing home placement for the neighbour. The incident was described as swift and frightening by Garda Kelly Mannion.
A 54‑year‑old man was jailed for two years after sexually assaulting a 16‑year‑old girl who was staying in his family home. He also sent the girl a sexually explicit text message after the assault. The girl showed the message to her mother, who confronted the man. He left the house and attempted suicide at a pier, but was persuaded to return by Gardaí and RNLI. He pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault and a charge of sending an explicit message to a child. Judge Elma Sheahan initially set a headline sentence of four years, citing repeated assault and the insulting text messages as aggravating factors. After considering mitigating factors such as remorse and a psychological report, the sentence was reduced to two and a half years with the final six months suspended on the condition of therapy and treatment.
Nikkita Brogan, 24, of Letterkenny, Co Donegal, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for her role in a violent taxi hijacking. The validated procedural stage for this report is an appeal, as the case was previously sent to the Court of Appeal by the Director of Public Prosecutions to clarify a procedural matter regarding the service of books of evidence. Brogan pleaded guilty to the unlawful seizure of a vehicle at Rutland Grove, Crumlin, on May 6, 2019. She admitted to unbuckling the taxi driver's seatbelt and assisting in reattaching the gearstick knob while two men assaulted the driver. Judge Melanie Greally handed down a 32-month sentence, suspending the final 12 months on conditions. Brogan has been in custody since January. The court noted her remorse and rehabilitation efforts. The two male accomplices, Peter and Jason Collins, were sentenced in December 2019 for robbery, assault causing harm, and unlawful seizure of a car. Peter Collins received four and a half years' imprisonment, while Jason Collins received three and a half years, with the final 12 months suspended. Brogan has 76 previous convictions, mainly for shoplifting, and was on bail for theft offences at the time of the incident.
After her long‑term partner, the father of her four children, died, Elizabeth Grey was told she had to pay off his €5,000 drug debt. She agreed to keep a portable safe in her home, which was later found to contain almost €20,000 worth of cocaine. When the Gardaí raided her house in 2020, Grey, aged 34, admitted she knew the safe held drugs but claimed she was not stupid and had a good idea of its contents. She pleaded guilty to one count of possessing cocaine for sale or supply. Judge Melanie Greally, recognising the pressure Grey faced and her role as sole caregiver to children aged two to eight, imposed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year custodial sentence, which she suspended in full on a number of conditions. Grey has since begun part‑time work as a cleaner and has not been in contact with the Gardaí again.
Laurence Grocott, aged 38, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for an unprovoked assault at Capel's Bar in Dublin on 12 October 2018. He pleaded guilty to one count of assault causing harm to a man. CCTV footage showed Grocott approaching the victim and his friend, punching the victim several times to the head and face, leaving a one‑inch scar on the victim's jaw. The victim and his friend were drinking when Grocott and his friends offered them drugs; they declined and moved seats, after which Grocott attacked without warning. The victim tried to defend himself and was taken to hospital. Judge Melanie Greally imposed the 18‑month sentence to run concurrently with Grocott's existing nine‑year term for drug offences and a machine‑gun attack, noting he is making progress in custody and is now drug‑free. Grocott has a history of various jobs and is a grandfather.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 13 December 2021, Martin Ward, 43, was found guilty of possession of a stolen school safe and possession of burglary articles. Ward, who has 42 prior convictions, was on bail for 11 other offences when he was caught by gardai running down a busy city street with a school safe under his arm. Gardaí had earlier observed him attempting to enter premises using a plastic slip, and on 4 August 2020 he was seen trying to gain entry to an apartment block on Bolton Street. He was apprehended in the foyer before accessing any apartments. The safe, taken from St Declan's school, was returned to the school. Judge Melanie Greally imposed consecutive sentences totalling three years, suspending the final six months to encourage Ward's efforts to address his drug difficulties.
A 20‑year‑old woman, who was sexually assaulted by her mother's partner, Dean Hurley, when she was 12, has begun training as a police officer in the UK. She gave permission for Hurley's name to appear in the sentencing report but asked that she not be named. She disclosed the abuse a year later after learning about sexual abuse in school, left the family home, and has lived with her father in England since. Hurley, 51, was jailed for three years after a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court convicted him following a three‑day trial in October. He pleaded not guilty to the assault that occurred between 1 and 30 October 2013. The woman's victim impact statement described the abuse, her mental health struggles, and her hope to help other abused children through her future policing work.
Gavin Challenger, 27, of Sillogue Green, Ballymun, pleaded guilty to criminal damage and unlawful intimidation after damaging a white Renault Master van and attacking its owner, Jason O'Byrne, with a hatchet on 21 March 2020. CCTV showed Challenger and a co‑accused, a lifelong friend, causing the damage and threatening O'Byrne. Challenger admitted taking "tablets" that day and had 71 prior convictions. He was on bail for 14 months for a drug offence and had previously served a sentence in Mountjoy. Judge Pauline Codd, noting his guilty plea, remorse and potential for rehabilitation, sentenced him to three years' imprisonment with the final two years suspended for the damage charge, and two years for intimidation with the final year suspended, both running concurrently. The suspended periods are conditional on good behaviour, supervision and drug testing upon release.
Kenneth Williams, a 38-year-old appellant from Finglas, Dublin, was found guilty by a jury of 20 offences, including dangerous driving, endangerment, and criminal damage, arising from a high-speed Garda pursuit in March last year. The court heard that Williams, who has 130 previous convictions, was on bail and already disqualified from driving at the time of the incident. Prosecution evidence detailed that he drove at 120km/h in a 60km zone, drove on the wrong side of the road, and rammed Garda patrol cars. Despite the title referencing a six-year term, Judge Pauline Codd handed down a seven-year sentence, suspending the final year on conditions. She also disqualified Williams from driving for 20 years. The judge praised the courage of the Gardaí involved in apprehending him. Defence counsel cited mental health issues and PTSD as mitigating factors. Williams has indicated he plans to appeal his convictions. The matter is currently at the appeal stage.
Michael Keogh, a 40‑year‑old resident of Harelawn Crescent, Clondalkin, was found by Gardaí holding nearly €100,000 in cash that had been seized during a search on 2 December 2020. The cash was discovered in four bundles in the master bedroom drawer, a sealed vacuum pack in another bedroom wardrobe, and a small amount of cannabis in the kitchen boiler press. Keogh told the Gardaí he was holding the money for an unidentified third party, later claiming it was to pay a drug debt, but he did not mention this during his arrest interview. He pleaded guilty to laundering money under the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Act 2010. Judge Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin sentenced him to 180 hours of community service instead of an 18‑month custodial term, noting his cooperation, drug‑free urine tests, and that his five prior convictions were for traffic offences and a casual trading act.
William Kiely, a 49‑year‑old former Director of Corporate Finance at Cantor Fitzgerald Ireland, was charged in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court with 15 counts of alleged property fraud under the Criminal Justice Theft and Fraud Offences Act. The alleged offences involved investors who wanted to invest in U.S. property between August 2008 and February 2013, with claims of losses ranging from €50,000 to €120,000 each and a total estimated defrauded amount of €750,000 to €1 million. Gardai began investigating in 2012, but Kiely was not charged until July 2019. He sought a judicial review to halt the proceedings, arguing that the delay breached his right to a fair trial. In March, High Court Justice Miriam O'Regan rejected the application. Kiely appealed to the Court of Appeal, where Justice George Birmingham dismissed the application today, stating a written judgment would follow.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Dennis McAuliffe, 51, a site foreman for McAleer & Rush Ltd, was fined €12,500 for failing to notify two staff members about asbestos on a city centre building site. The incident occurred on 23 June 2016 at Findlater House, Cathal Brugha Street, where a subcontracting team had discovered an asbestos warning sticker under roof tiles. McAuliffe had not informed his own staff after the subcontractors left, and two men began cleaning the site without direction. The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) had sealed the area and investigated, confirming asbestos presence. McAuliffe pleaded guilty, had no prior convictions, and cooperated fully with the HSA. Judge Pauline Codd set a headline fine of €30,000, reduced to €12,500 after mitigating factors, to be paid within 12 months. The case highlighted the importance of proper asbestos notification and site closure procedures.
Harry O'Brien, 22, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to the importation of cannabis and possession of cannabis and Ketamine for sale or supply at Trinity Halls, Rathmines, on March 13, 2019. Judge Melanie Greally set an indicative sentence of 16 months imprisonment but deferred its imposition under Section 100 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006. The court ordered O'Brien to pay a €500 fine, complete three months of voluntary work for St Vincent de Paul, and keep the peace and be of good behaviour during the adjourned period. If these conditions are met, the judge stated she would discharge him from the indictment. The matter was adjourned to March 21, 2022. O'Brien, who has no previous convictions, admitted to purchasing the drugs via the dark web for personal use, denying he was a dealer. The court noted his mental state was precarious at the time of the offence but acknowledged his subsequent academic success and founding of a disabled students' advocacy group.
Jacob Breaw, aged 24, was sentenced by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to five‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment for robbery and possession of over €29,000 of cannabis. Breaw's lawyers explained that in an 18‑month period he fell from a law‑abiding life into drug addiction and crime. In May 2019 he was found with a school bag of cannabis in his mother's bedroom during a Garda search; he pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis for sale or supply. In November 2019 he robbed a victim at Cherbury Park, armed with a knife; he pleaded guilty to robbery. Breaw has four prior convictions, including knife possession and public order offences. Judge Melanie Greally noted his remorse, his commitment to drug treatment, and the support of his family. She suspended the final two years of the sentence on the condition that he remain law‑abiding and engage with the Probation Service.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Richard Power, a 35‑year‑old former letting negotiation manager for Wyse Property Management Ltd, pleaded guilty to stealing €69,530 in tenant deposits over a two‑year period. Power accessed the company's system and altered tenant bank details to redirect refunded deposits to his own account, then reverted the changes before detection. The theft, uncovered during an audit prompted by a supervisor's notice of missing refunds, was linked to Power's gambling addiction. He admitted manipulating accounts and confessed to ongoing counselling for the addiction. Power has no prior convictions, is currently unemployed, and lives in a parent‑owned property while receiving pandemic unemployment payments. He has lost his property management licence, was fined €5,000, and the court adjourned sentencing to February 1. The case highlights the misuse of employee access to client funds for personal gambling expenses.
Thomas Doran, 29, with 64 prior convictions, was jailed for six years after driving the wrong way on the N7 dual carriageway in the early hours of 21 September 2020. Doran, who was on bail and disqualified from driving for ten years, drove 700 metres against traffic before colliding head‑on with a Toyota Yaris. The collision killed driver Anatolie Butucel and seriously injured passenger Serghei Grigoras and Doran's uncle Patrick Connors. Doran was uncooperative at the scene, refusing to give details and telling Gardaí to "fuck off." He was found guilty of dangerous driving causing death and serious bodily harm. The judge set a headline sentence of eight years but, after considering Doran's guilty plea, remorse, €1,500 payment to Grigoras, and his poor mental health, imposed a final sentence of six and a half years with the last six months suspended on strict conditions, and a 20‑year driving disqualification.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Joseph O'Brien, aged 35, was found to have robbed a victim on James Street on 21 January 2019. O'Brien struck the victim twice on the back of the head with a glass bottle, then kicked him 20 to 30 times while he lay on the ground before stealing his phone. The victim suffered a laceration requiring stitches, heavy facial bruising, black eyes and a broken tooth. Witnesses saw O'Brien use the bottle and a woman also kicked the victim two or three times. O'Brien had previously committed a pharmacy robbery two days earlier, where he forced a staff member to open the till and stole about €300. He has 56 prior convictions, including robbery, burglary, assault and drug‑related offences. The court noted his history of drug addiction and homelessness, and Judge Melanie Greally ordered a Probation Service report and adjourned sentencing to 29 March, indicating a likely lengthy sentence. Joseph O'Brien pleaded guilty.
Gary O Hare, 49, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after a tussle with his brother on 3 November 2019. The incident began when O Hare objected to his brother bringing his partner to the family home. He struck his brother's partner with a glass, which accidentally hit the brother's face, causing a laceration below the left eye that required stitches. The victim, who had moved out of the house but was looking to return, said he believed the offence did not warrant a prison sentence and that the family had endured enough. O Hare, who has no prior convictions and is the primary carer for his father, was described by the judge as having behaved very aggressively and used derogatory language. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to 16 months imprisonment, suspended in its entirety on strict conditions, citing the incident as an isolated act of violence and aggression.
William Kiely, a former Director of Corporate Finance at Cantor Fitzgerald Ireland, is appealing a High Court decision that allowed criminal proceedings to proceed against him for alleged theft and fraud offences. The case involves 15 counts under the Criminal Justice Theft and Fraud Offences Act, alleged to have occurred between August 2008 and February 2013, involving investors who claimed losses between €50,000 and €120,000 each, with a total alleged defrauded amount ranging from €750,000 to €1.2 million. Kiely, aged 49, was charged in July 2019 after an investigation that began in 2012. He argued that the delay in prosecution breached his right to a fair trial and sought a judicial review, which was rejected by Ms Justice Miriam O'Regan in March. He is now appealing that decision to the Court of Appeal, where his lawyers contend the delay was so great that prohibition of the proceedings is warranted.
Tanya Breen (30) had her custodial sentence reduced on appeal after pleading guilty to possessing €59,710 in cash, alleged to be proceeds of crime, at a Maxol Service Station on the Longmile Road, Dublin, on February 11, 2020. She also admitted to a second count of possessing the proceeds at her home on the same date. Originally sentenced by Judge Elma Sheahan to three-and-a-half years, with six months suspended, Breen appealed the decision. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice George Birmingham, found that the sentencing judge erred in not setting a longer suspension period. Consequently, the final 15 months of Breen's sentence were suspended, reducing her effective custody. The court noted she made a conscious decision to become involved in serious criminality for financial gain. Her co-accused, Laurence Keane (42), also pleaded guilty to possessing the same cash at the service station. Keane was sentenced to two-and-a-half years imprisonment, with the final six months suspended. During the original sentencing, Judge Sheahan stated the defendants were willing to risk their good character for small sums, describing the offence as a lifestyle choice with high culpability. The DPP argued the sentence was appropriate given Breen was not in poverty or under threat, while defense counsel highlighted her status as a sole carer for her son.
Michael McDonagh, aged 23, was convicted of three armed robberies in Dublin 8 on 10 and 11 January. He used a firearm, a balaclava, gloves and a weapon that victims believed to be real, threatening staff and customers, including a pregnant woman. The robberies took place at an Applegreen, a Centra and a Eurospar, where he stole €700, €1,500 and a large quantity of cigarettes and tobacco. CCTV footage of him on a distinctive black bike led to his arrest. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to five-and-a-half years' imprisonment, with the sentence backdated to January. The court noted his seven prior convictions and his ongoing drug‑free progress in custody. The case was adjourned to March to address post‑release supervision.
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard the case of Dubliner James Maughan, who pleaded guilty to endangerment, dangerous driving, and driving without insurance at locations around Blanchardstown and Mulhuddart on February 27, 2020. Prosecution evidence detailed a high-speed incident where Maughan drove straight at a garda, forcing the officer to jump aside, before continuing at speed through red lights and into oncoming traffic. Gardaí ultimately abandoned the pursuit due to the serious risk posed to the public. Maughan claimed his 20-year-old nephew, who was a passenger, threatened him with a Taser, compelling him to drive. Defence counsel highlighted Maughan's diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia and argued the nephew was the ringleader. The court noted Maughan's extensive criminal history, including 174 previous convictions and prior driving bans in 2011 and 2018. Judge Pauline Codd described the record as horrendous but adjourned the matter to February 14 to allow time for an assessment by the Probation Service. No sentence was imposed at this stage.