In a laneway on Adare Lane, Andrew Stammers died of a drug overdose during the night of 19 October 2017. Owen Comerford (34) and his accomplice, John Murdiff (33), entered the lane and rummaged through Stammers' pockets, taking cigarettes, cash and other items. They later returned to alert emergency services, staying with Stammers until medical help arrived. The court heard that Stammers had been off drugs for years and had been a recovering addict. Judge Melanie Greally found the theft an opportunistic crime against a vulnerable man who was either dead or dying, imposing an 18‑month prison term. Comerford's earlier convictions for burglary and threatening offences added an additional five and a half years, with 12 months suspended on condition of drug‑treatment participation. Murdiff received a two‑year sentence for his role in the theft. The case highlighted the distress caused to Stammers' grieving partner and the broader impact on the community. Owen Comerford pleaded guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Stefan Sorici, aged 40, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to a domestic‑violence victim on 14 July 2016. Sorici had held the woman captive in her home, kicking and choking her, and threatened to "do extra time" for her life. The victim, who was walking her young son to school when she saw Sorici hiding behind a wall, escaped by jumping from the first‑floor window and running barefoot to a pub where a customer helped her call Gardaí. The assault left her with bruises on her face, neck and wrists. Judge Pauline Codd suspended the final year of Sorici's three‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence on the condition that he keep the peace and enrol in a domestic‑violence programme, and ordered no contact with the victim. The victim, who had been relocated by Women's Aid to escape "extreme danger", expressed ongoing fear of further harm.
Qiuping Chen, 35, pleaded guilty to running a brothel at Jasmine Massage Parlour on Dorset Street, Dublin, from January 2016 to July 2017. She continued to provide "happy endings" – a sexual act resulting in climax – despite three Gardaí warnings. In January 2016 a Garda posed as a client, was offered a happy ending, and was warned that such acts were illegal in Ireland. Subsequent Gardaí visits in October 2016 and April 2017 found Chen still offering the acts, and a warrant in July 2017 uncovered seven vibrators, four bottles of lube, a ledger of customers, and CCTV footage of Chen and another person in a shower. Chen denied responsibility for the sex acts, claiming she employed masseuses. Judge Karen O'Connor noted no evidence of exploitation or human trafficking, accepted a cultural misunderstanding, and suspended a two‑year prison term. She praised Chen's cooperation with Revenue and Criminal Assets Bureau and her new work as a hairdresser.
A 21‑year‑old teenager, Xolani Mdakani, was found guilty of assaulting a woman in a laneway on 9 February 2018. He grabbed her in a headlock, threatened her, and struck her with a bottle while she tried to escape. A woman in an apartment shouted at him, prompting him to flee. The incident was captured on CCTV, which Mdakani admitted to being. He has 36 prior convictions, including assault, theft, burglary and trespass. Mdakani, who arrived in Ireland from South Africa as an unaccompanied minor around age 13, has been in custody since last October. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and is expected to be sentenced early next year, with sentencing adjourned to 23 February 2021. The case has been referred to the Probation Service. The victim declined to give a victim impact statement. The court noted Mdakani's remorse and his desire to return to South Africa after his sentence.
Sean Maher, aged 20, was arrested for possession of drugs for sale or supply on 27 June 2019. While being led to a patrol car by Garda Brendan Murphy, he attempted to discard drugs hidden in his underwear. Garda Murphy stopped him, searched him, and found a small amount of cannabis. Maher was handcuffed and, during a physical altercation, he dropped drugs onto the ground. All drugs were recovered. A search of Maher's home uncovered additional cannabis, cocaine, heroin, ketamine, and concealed weighing scales, with a total value of €13,220. Maher pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He had no prior convictions. Judge Pauline Codd sentenced him to three years imprisonment, fully suspended on strict conditions, citing his drug addiction and lack of prior convictions.
Viktor Voloshin, 51, a Ukrainian national, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment with the final two‑and‑a‑half years suspended on strict conditions. He stole €95,744 in social welfare payments, claiming Jobseeker's Allowance and Rent Supplement under two false Lithuanian identities between 2008 and 2016. Voloshin obtained false Lithuanian documents and a false passport to enter Ireland in 2004, and applied for a PPSN in 2015. Gardaí discovered Lithuanian identity cards in the names of Tadeus Mezanec and Gintaras Baranauskas at his Bray address, and he pleaded guilty to using false instruments and possession of a false instrument. He admitted to purchasing the false passport and that he "did not want to beg." The court described his conduct as mean‑spirited and lacking respect for ordinary taxpayers.
Mohammad Bah, a 20-year-old part-time employee at a United Parcel Service facility in Finglas, County Dublin, pleaded guilty to two counts of theft of phones on August 2, 2019. The court heard that Bah was caught by company investigators with five stolen phones hidden in his trousers and work boots. He admitted to participating in a group of employees who stole, sold, and divided profits from the devices. Although Bah stated he was initially a lookout, he later became directly involved in the thefts. The total value of the phones in his possession was just over €1,900. During the sentencing hearing, Judge Elma Sheahan noted that Bah had no previous convictions and was working to support himself while studying. The judge ordered the €1,900 held by the defense to be donated to St Vincent de Paul. She also directed Bah to engage in a restorative justice programme and ordered a probation report. The matter was adjourned for sentencing on March 5 next year. The report notes that another individual involved in the alleged operation is currently before the courts, but no specific plea or sentence was recorded for that person in this proceeding.
Thomas Deegan, 55, of Finglas, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to one count of indecently assaulting a boy at a field in Dublin between May 1982 and October 1985. The court heard that Deegan, then aged approximately 18, approached the victim, who was around eight years old, and indecently assaulted him after the child felt intimidated into following him. Deegan allegedly threatened the boy not to tell his parents. The victim, now 45, read a statement describing the long-term impact on his self-esteem and anxiety, stating that Deegan's power over him as a child is gone. Deegan had previously failed to appear for a trial, leading to his arrest in Donegal. He entered his guilty plea on the first day of a retrial. Defence counsel Seoirse O Dúnlaing BL submitted that the offence was a single, isolated incident, noting Deegan has no previous convictions and wished to formally apologise for his "shocking and disgraceful" actions. Mr O Dúnlaing urged Judge Elma Sheahan to consider imposing a suspended sentence, highlighting Deegan's otherwise good character and isolated life. Judge Sheahan adjourned the matter to December 15 for sentencing.
Karl Fields, a 26‑year‑old father of two from Ballymun, was sentenced to 21 months' imprisonment for acting as a lookout during a cocaine‑cutting operation that yielded almost €70,000 worth of cocaine. He pleaded guilty to possession of more than €13,000 of cocaine for sale or supply at a Finglas address on 3 January 2018. The court noted that Fields had a drug debt of about €28,000 and that his parents had died of overdoses, with him placed in state care at 13. He had 173 prior convictions, including drug possession and theft. Judge Karen O'Connor imposed a three‑year, nine‑month sentence, suspending the final two years on strict conditions. The court also heard that his co‑accused received a four‑year sentence with the last two years suspended.
Chrissy Mwandira, a 23-year-old Malawian national, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for possession of the proceeds of criminal conduct. She pleaded guilty to possessing €10,000 in stolen funds deposited into her account on September 18, 2018. Prosecution evidence indicated that emails regarding a payment from the Peninsula Group to the Herbert Group were hacked, allowing false bank details to be substituted. Mwandira stated she had met an individual on the dating app Tinder, whom she believed was a romantic contact assisting her with school fees. She provided her bank details to this person and was shocked when the funds appeared. The judge noted there was no suggestion Mwandira was linked to the hacking or had offered her account for the offence. Judge Melanie Greally described the case as one of negligence rather than intent, characterizing Mwandira as a diligent, hard-working person who was taken in and cast aside. Mwandira, who has no previous convictions, was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment. However, the sentence was suspended in full on strict conditions. The court also ordered that €500 in compensation, raised by the defendant, be handed over to the injured party.
Donal Gannon, 58, a former bomb‑maker convicted in London in 1997 of conspiracy to cause explosions and sentenced to 35 years, was remanded on bail while the court assessed his suitability for community service. He pleaded guilty to providing false information and documents in a passport renewal application for the name David O'Brien, a man who died in 1986. Gardaí found CCTV footage and photographs linking Gannon to the application, and seized a mobile phone and a genuine passport in his name. Gannon denied making the application and claimed the photographs were planted. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court adjourned the case, ordered a Probation Service report, and will consider community service before finalising the matter. The case remains at the bail stage.
Caroline Connors, aged 34, threw a television from the second‑floor balcony of her apartment in Sandyford, Dublin, in what she described as a "moment of madness" triggered by her ex‑partner. The TV fell onto a grandmother who was walking hand‑in‑hand with her granddaughter across a pedestrian crossing. The grandmother sustained leg and chest injuries and was taken to hospital that day. Connors, who had been intoxicated at the time of arrest, pleaded guilty to endangerment at her address on 27 June 2018. She had two prior convictions for criminal damage and public order. The court heard that the grandmother feared she and her granddaughter might have been killed. Judge Pauline Codd sentenced Connors to three years' imprisonment, suspending the entire term on strict conditions.
Philip Murphy, 40, was released from prison two days before he sexually assaulted two women in Dublin in February 2016. He had served most of a 10‑year sentence for false imprisonment. In the first incident, he grabbed a woman from behind on Jervis Lane, threatened to kill her, and attempted to force sex. She tried to escape, screamed, and was aided by bystanders. In the second incident on Moore Street, he similarly attacked a woman, threatening her life and attempting to choke her. CCTV footage showed him wearing gloves and following the victims. Murphy denied the offences, claimed he had received psychological treatment, and said he was gay. He was extradited from the UK in June after a European arrest warrant. The case is set for sentencing in February, with a probation report due. Philip Murphy pleaded guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Karl Fields, aged 26, pleaded guilty to possession of more than €13,000 of cocaine for sale or supply at Abbotstown Avenue, Finglas, on 3 January 2018. The court heard that Fields had a drug debt of about €28,000 and that he acted as a lookout while others "cut" the cocaine inside the house. Four men were present in the kitchen when Garda David Moran and his colleagues entered on a search warrant; two escaped, while Fields and a co‑accused were arrested. Gardaí seized large bowls of white powder, a blender, a hydraulic press, weighing scales and mobile phones, with the total value of cocaine found at €69,074. Fields has 173 prior convictions, including drug offences, theft, knife possession, traffic and public order offences. The co‑accused received a four‑year sentence with the final two years suspended earlier in the month.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 23 November 2020, Judge Martin Nolan faced a dilemma over the release of 26‑year‑old John Delaney, who had no fixed abode and was awaiting trial for assault, intimidation and criminal damage at the Fr Peter McVerry shelter. Delaney was on the waiting list for the Central Mental Hospital, which was full, and had spent nine months in Portlaoise prison. After a consultant psychiatrist confirmed Delaney was unfit to stand trial, the judge remanded him in custody but later ordered his immediate release, citing the lack of accommodation. The Peter McVerry Trust was found to provide housing, and Delaney was referred to Tallaght Mental Health Services for treatment. Dr John Francis Kelly, a psychiatrist, noted Delaney's deteriorating autistic spectrum disorder and his inability to understand the proceedings. The court thanked all parties and hoped the new arrangements would benefit Delaney.
Ciaran Moore, 63, of Castleknock, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to knowingly possessing child pornography on four devices. He admitted to viewing such material for about five years, having first been alerted by Gardaí to two images posted in July 2016. The images were traced to his IP address, leading to a search of his home in November 2016. In May 2019, forensic analysis of the devices revealed 536 images and 35 video files depicting children aged one to fourteen in sexual activities, including penetrative sex involving girls aged six to ten. Moore, who has no prior convictions, acknowledged the harm caused to victims, his family, and the public. He was remanded on bail pending a Probation Service report, with the case adjourned to February 22 for sentencing. He has been registered as a sexual offender since his guilty plea.
Alma O'Connor, 51, of Finn Street, Oxmantown Road, Dublin 7, pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply with a value exceeding €13,000. On 5 December 2018, Gardaí obtained a search warrant for her address and were allowed into the house by her daughter. O'Connor showed them a black bag containing about 9,800 Alprazolam tablets, valued at €19,640. Garda Donal Donoghue explained that the tablets were delivered by post under the instructions of another person who had put O'Connor in fear. The defendant was described as an "easy target" by an individual of a more experienced criminal element. O'Connor had no prior convictions. Judge Pauline Codd sentenced her to two‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment, fully suspended on strict conditions, and noted it would be unjust to impose the mandatory minimum. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Judge Martin Nolan expressed that he was in a "terrible position" after being asked to release John Delaney, a 26‑year‑old autistic man, into society. Delaney, who has spent about nine months in Portlaoise prison, was charged with assault, intimidation with a butter knife, and criminal damage at the Fr Peter McVerry shelter in Finglas on 18 February 2020. A consultant psychiatrist testified that Delaney was unfit to stand trial. Judge Nolan initially ordered a release in one week, but the prosecution advised that this was not legally permissible. He therefore stayed the release until Monday, hoping a suitable accommodation could be found, and warned that releasing Delaney without proper care would leave him "in limbo" and potentially endanger the community.
Shaun Groome, aged 32, pleaded guilty via video link to a 2015 attack on drug dealer Ciarán Murphy. He admitted to causing serious harm and to criminal damage by arson at Murphy's home in Coolcor, Offaly, between 6 and 7 September 2015. Groome's co‑accused, David Keena, 21, had been jailed for five years for assault causing serious harm and arson. Murphy, 29, was stabbed 16 times and set on fire after a false rumor that he was a Garda informant. He suffered 96 % burns from the neck down and multiple stab wounds, including to the heart cavity. The court heard Groome was arrested at Baldonnel Aerodrome; a warrant had been issued. Judge Martin Nolan remanded Groome in custody and scheduled a sentencing hearing for 21 December, when full facts will be considered.
Christian Goonery, 33, was sentenced to two‑and‑a‑half years in prison after pleading guilty to aggravated burglary at Kilcronain Cross, Clondalkin, on 11 June 2020. He entered the home armed with a knife, claiming a "romantic falling out" as the motive. The owner of the house, a man in his mid‑sixties, saw Goonery walk in with the knife and threatened to stab him. The owner, his grandson and another man barricaded themselves in a shed; Goonery kicked at the shed door, screamed threats, and placed a gas cylinder through the window. Small children were present. Goonery discarded the knife in the driveway and was later found asleep on the side of the road by Gardaí, who arrested him. The court noted his intoxication and history of substance abuse, and Judge Martin Nolan praised the owner's courage and sentenced Goonery accordingly.
John Lewis, 52, of Lucan, Dublin, was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment for sexually abusing and "prostituting" a 16‑year‑old girl between February and October 2018. Lewis admitted to having sexual intercourse with the victim on 10 to 20 occasions, claiming he had become her "master" while she was his "sub". He also admitted to defilement of a child, sexual exploitation of a child, and possession of child pornography. Evidence included a handwritten "contract" binding the victim to obey Lewis, a list of 128 sexual acts, a black leather dog‑collar, and 77 images and five videos of child pornography. Lewis had previously been convicted of road traffic offences. The court noted that the victim had never engaged in such behaviour before meeting Lewis and that Lewis had cooperated with the investigation. Judge Martin Nolan imposed the sentence without any suspended portion, citing Lewis's immediate cooperation and the seriousness of the offences. John Lewis pleaded guilty.
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court sentenced Jordan Ennis, Lucy Ennis, and Aaron Flanagan for violent disorder and assault causing harm at Edenmore Park, Raheny, on September 19, 2015. All three defendants pleaded guilty. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Jordan Ennis to two and a half years' imprisonment, having stated his actions initially merited four years. He suspended the final year of the sentence on conditions that Ennis keep the peace and hand over €14,249 to the victim as a token of remorse. Lucy Ennis received a suspended prison term of 18 months. The judge noted she had likely misinformed her brother but accepted her mental health background and lack of prior convictions. Co-accused Aaron Flanagan was sentenced to a suspended prison term of two years, with a condition of good behaviour for that period. The judge cited Flanagan's age at the time as the primary mitigating factor. The court heard that the attack followed a dispute involving teenage girls, during which Jordan Ennis stabbed the victim multiple times while others assaulted him with crutches. The victim was hospitalised for ten days. The judge described the attack as savage and noted that Ennis acted on his sister's accusations, despite the victim denying any prior aggression.
Edward Wall, 46, was sentenced to nine months in prison for a series of burglaries in which he repeatedly entered unoccupied bars in open pubs during daylight hours and stole alcohol. Lawyers for Wall told the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court that most of his 68 prior burglary convictions involved this pattern of theft. Garda Niall Cunningham described how Wall slipped into closed bar areas and took drinks, noting that the judge considered this his "specialisation". In November 2019, Wall entered the Vat House bar in Temple Bar, slipped behind the bar, and stole two bottles of Jameson whiskey; the theft was discovered later during a stock take and CCTV footage was examined. On 10 January, he entered a bar at the Mercantile Hotel on Dame Street, again walked behind an unmanned bar, and was confronted by staff while holding a bottle of whiskey. Wall pleaded guilty to trespass and theft on both occasions.
An appeal has been heard in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court regarding the case of Aaron Flanagan, Jordan Ennis, and Lucy Ennis, who admitted to charges of violent disorder and assault causing harm at Edenmore Park, Raheny on September 19, 2015. The three appellants pleaded guilty to the charges. During the hearing, Judge Martin Nolan remanded the three in continuing custody for sentence tomorrow. The incident involved a 15-year-old victim who was repeatedly stabbed, punched, and kicked by a group of teenagers after he intervened to protect a friend. The victim, now an adult, cannot be identified due to a recent Court of Appeal decision on the identification of juvenile victims of crime. The court heard that the victim was in the park when he saw a group of four teenage girls shouting at another girl, accusing her of making comments on Facebook. The victim attempted to assist the girl, leading to an altercation. The court also heard that Lucy Ennis was the instigator, and her brother Jordan Ennis was involved in the attack. The victim was later assaulted again by Jordan Ennis and others. The court heard that Jordan Ennis had a previous record of being a law-abiding young man and that the attack was out of character for him. The matter was adjourned for sentence.
Mark Clarke, a 50‑year‑old father of three from Kenure Park, Rush, was arrested after walking into Martin's Bar carrying a decommissioned pump‑action shotgun and a belt of shotgun cartridges. He had previously held a licence for the gun until 2010, after which he surrendered it and it was rendered inoperable. Clarke admitted to possessing the firearm, 13 live and blank cartridges at his home and in the bar on 15 February 2019. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The judge noted that no one was threatened, that Clarke's behaviour was out of character, and that family pressures and financial stress were contributing factors. He was sentenced to three and a half years' imprisonment, suspended in full on strict conditions, including 12 months' engagement with the Probation Service to address alcohol use. The case was defended as a non‑pre‑meditated, non‑criminal‑intent incident.
Scott Purdue, 22, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of cannabis for sale or supply after a court heard that he had been caught with a Kinder Surprise egg containing about €4,300 of cannabis. The egg was found wrapped in a sock beside a car in Shancastle Park, Clondalkin, on 20 October 2019. Purdue's defence counsel, Breffni Gordon BL, described a history of violent attacks on the defendant, including being shot in the head in 2017, shot in the lower abdomen in 2018 on the anniversary of the first shooting, and having two fingers forcibly removed when he was 16. Gordon also noted that the head wound left a round lodged in Purdue's head and caused significant impairment to his peripheral vision. Judge Martin Nolan, after considering a two‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence, imposed a 15‑month imprisonment term in light of the defendant's misfortunes.
Wojciech Strojek, 37, was sentenced to five‑and‑a‑half years in prison after he held a knife to the throat of his then‑girlfriend in her Dublin home, threatening that she would never see her children again. The incident, which lasted about 30 minutes, also involved Strojek cutting her left wrist and pouring water over her trousers. Earlier that year he had pleaded guilty to false imprisonment, assault causing harm, production of an article and making threats to kill at Barnwell Lane, Ongar, and to assault causing harm at James Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown. He had also assaulted the victim's ex‑husband and a paramedic in the months leading up to the attack. Strojek had no prior convictions in Ireland but had ten convictions in Poland for assault, threats, intoxicated driving and public order. The court noted his history of alcohol abuse and his claim of memory loss regarding the incident. Judge Martin Nolan imposed the sentence.
In a 2018 incident on Finglas Road, 20‑year‑old Ryan Thompson, armed with a golf club shaft, attacked two men he believed were harassing teenage girls outside a supermarket. The men were known to Gardaí. During the confrontation, one target pulled a Stanley knife and cut Thompson's throat under his chin, a wound only millimetres from being life‑threatening. Thompson was taken to hospital and later admitted his role in the attack but expressed fear of the two men, one of whom is awaiting trial. He pleaded guilty to violent disorder. The court, noting his youth and lack of prior convictions, discharged him under the Probation Act, requiring him to keep the peace for two years, rather than imposing a prison term. The judge highlighted the extreme fright caused by the injury and Thompson's good character and family support.
Conor Freeman, aged 21, was sentenced by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to three years imprisonment for his role in an online theft of $2.19 million worth of cryptocurrencies. He pleaded guilty to possession of the proceeds of crime, specifically 142.75682712 Bitcoin, and to stealing $100,000 in cryptocurrency from Darran Marble, $1,921,335 from Seth Sharpiro, and $167,622.22 from Micheal Templeman between 15 and 18 May 2018. Freeman also pleaded guilty to three counts of dishonestly operating a computer for gain during the same period. He had no prior convictions. Judge Martin Nolan noted mitigating factors such as Freeman's guilty plea, cooperation, youth, and lack of prior offences, but imposed a custodial sentence to punish and deter. The sentence was reduced to two years and 11 months crediting time already spent in custody. Freeman's co‑accused are before courts in the United States.
Desmond Murphy, 49, was convicted of attempted robbery and robbery at two south Dublin building societies on 15 February 2018. He first held up a teller at EBS Main Street Blackrock with a gun, forcing the teller to lock the door and push him back into the public area. Fifteen minutes later he returned to EBS Georges Street Dun Laoghaire, pointed a gun at a female staff member and demanded "tiger money" – cash with serial numbers recorded for such incidents. He stole €10,380. CCTV captured a swallow tattoo on his left hand. Gardaí recovered €8,320 from his home, some matching the tiger‑money serials. Murphy has 51 prior convictions, has attended a drug rehabilitation course, and his lawyers argued he had turned his life around. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to 18 months, noting the gun was likely an imitation but the threat was serious. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Desmond Murphy pleaded guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Conor Freeman, aged 21, pleaded guilty to knowingly possessing proceeds of crime, amounting to 142.75682712 Bitcoin, and to stealing cryptocurrency from three victims in May 2018. He admitted to stealing $100,000 from Darran Marble, $1,921,335 from Seth Sharpiro, and $167,622.22 from Micheal Templeman. Freeman also pleaded guilty to three counts of dishonestly operating a computer to make a gain between 15 and 18 May 2018. The court noted that Freeman was identified by U.S. Homeland Security as the person behind certain internet handles linked to the offences. He had been part of an online group that targeted individuals with cryptocurrency, using social media to obtain email addresses and phone numbers, and then exploiting password‑reset protocols to access accounts. Freeman's co‑conspirators transferred phone numbers to SIM cards and initiated protocols to gain access.
Dylan Fogarty, aged 26, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment after pleading guilty to multiple offences. He bit a man on Dame Street, Dublin, in an "act of savagery" following a minor altercation, and also bit his pregnant former partner's face after an argument. In addition to the assault on the man, Fogarty pleaded guilty to assaulting his former partner at their home in April 2019, criminal damage to a plasterboard wall in June 2019, and harassment at various locations between April and November 2019. He has five prior convictions. Judge Martin Nolan noted Fogarty's difficulty with anger control when intoxicated, imposed concurrent sentences totalling three years, and ordered a ten‑year restriction on contact with his former partner. Fogarty has been clean of drugs in custody and is attending anger‑management courses. The court accepted his apology and expressed willingness to support his rehabilitation.
Stephen Kenny, 44, of Belarmine Hall, Stepaside, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of cannabis for sale or supply and to cultivation of cannabis at Tomdarragh, Roundwood, Co Wicklow, on 30 June 2016. Garda Brian Griffin said enquiries led to the discovery of nearly €140,000 worth of cannabis plants, plant materials and herb in a house that had been vacant since December 2014 and rented out on a short‑term basis. Kenny's fingerprints matched those found in the house, and the garda argued that the operation was "hands on" with no evidence of a superior. The court heard the house was "destroyed" and that the cost to fix it was substantial. Judge Pauline Codd sentenced Kenny to five years, suspending the final two years on conditions, after noting his guilty plea, family circumstances and the high value of the drugs as aggravating factors.
Paul O'Leary, 51, of Follyhouse Lane, New Ross, Co Wexford, was sentenced by Judge Melanie Greally in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to five years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended. The sentence was imposed after O'Leary pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply at Sir John Rogerson's Quay, Dublin, on 24 April 2017. Garda surveillance had revealed O'Leary's van parked at the quay, where he and a second driver transferred two cardboard boxes containing just over 17 kg of cannabis, valued at €350,104. O'Leary's role was described as that of a courier with no wider involvement. He has two minor prior convictions for public order offences. The judge noted his modest work history, gambling addiction, mental health issues, and role as a devoted father to three children, and accepted that a favourable probation report placed him at low risk of re‑offending.
In March 2019, Phuong Nguyen, aged 42, carried out an "orgy of criminal damage" against his relatives in Dublin. Armed with a meat cleaver and a shatter hammer, he set fire to his aunt's apartment in Newtown Court, Coolock, and later to his sister's house and cars at Templeview Green, Clarehall. The arson caused €165,000 of damage. Nguyen also threatened to kill two family members and was found to be experiencing a psychotic episode due to illicit drug use, including crack cocaine, at the time. He pleaded guilty to five counts of arson, four of criminal damage, three of possessing a meat cleaver in a dispute, and two of threatening to kill. On sentencing, Judge Elma Sheahan imposed a nine‑year prison term, suspending the final three and a half years on conditions, after noting Nguyen's remorse and drug‑free status. No serious injuries occurred, though a two‑year‑old child was present during the incidents.
A 60‑year‑old taxi driver, Gerard Gunnery, pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a late‑night passenger in Dublin on 23 December 2017. The victim, who was asleep in the front seat, woke to find Gunnery's hand inside her and masturbating. He then became aggressive, demanded payment, and threw her out of the car, leaving her on the side of the road. She suffered bruising to her elbows, kneecaps and jaw. Gunnery's lawyers argued the incident was out of character, presenting testimonials of him as a hard‑working, good man. The court heard the victim's impact statement, describing fear, guilt and flashbacks. Judge Karen O'Connor remanded Gunnery into custody for sentencing on 11 December. The case is pending sentencing.
Richard Bourke, aged 37, appealed against an 11‑year sentence for setting fire to the home of Detective Garda John Griffin. The appeal was dismissed by a three‑judge Court of Appeal. Bourke had pleaded guilty to two arson counts in February 2019, claiming he was intoxicated and that the attack was a "f*** you" to the detective, who had charged him with murder two decades earlier. The court noted premeditation, the fact that the house was occupied, and the damage caused. Judge Patricia Ryan had imposed an 11‑year term with the final three years suspended, citing mitigating factors such as Bourke's early guilty plea and his work record. The Court of Appeal found no reason to increase the sentence and upheld the original ruling. The case remains a criminal proceeding with no further outcome reported.
A 33‑year‑old woman from Vico Rock, Dalkey, was fined €1,000 and disqualified from driving for six months after she hit a 91‑year‑old man, Patrick Connell, with her car at a complex junction on Castle Street, Dalkey, on 24 January 2017. The junction had five feeder roads and no controls, and a bin lorry parked on double yellow lines obstructed the driver's view. Connell fell, fractured his hip, underwent successful surgery, but later died on 30 January 2017 from unrelated health issues. Connell's daughter, who witnessed the incident, told the court that she did not believe the driver had been careless. The court, noting the serious injury and the driver's good character, imposed the fine and a six‑month disqualification rather than the usual two‑year period. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, where the driver pleaded guilty to driving without due care or attention.
In March 2019, Laurence Grocott, aged 36, fired a machine gun through the front window of a Dublin family home while two children were inside. He pointed the gun at the mother's face and, after she shouted that children were present, he fired two shots that struck the mantelpiece. CCTV footage showed the children cowering and the mother's panic as she moved them to safety. Grocott pleaded guilty to creating a substantial risk of death or serious harm and to unlawful possession of the submachine gun. He also received a separate two‑year sentence for drug possession. Judge Karen O'Connor, noting the premeditated and indiscriminate nature of the attack, imposed an eight‑year prison term, suspending the final year on condition of peacekeeping for one year, for a final operative sentence of ten years with one year suspended. The case highlighted Grocott's history of drug abuse and prior convictions.
David Saunders, 29, was jailed for three years after a 70‑minute incident on the roof of his Fassaugh Avenue home in Cabra, Dublin, where he was naked and threw slates at armed Gardaí. The event followed an earlier pub altercation involving Saunders. He pleaded guilty to creating a substantial risk of death or serious harm to others and to damaging two cars on 23 September 2018. Judge Patricia Ryan sentenced him to six years, suspending the final three years on strict conditions. Saunders admitted drinking seven bottles of wine and taking a few grams of cocaine, and claimed he could not recall the night. He had prior convictions for hijacking a car and intimidation of a witness, and was serving a six‑month suspended sentence for property damage at the time of the roof incident.
Gerard Dempsey, 25, a homeless man with no fixed abode, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for robbery at Barrow Street, Ringsend, on 18 May 2020. He attacked a woman at night, stealing her phone to sell it for drugs after Covid‑19 stopped him from receiving charity money. The court noted his substance abuse as the main reason for the offence, and that he had four children with whom he had no contact. The offence was aggravated by its violent nature and the victim's isolation. Judge Patricia Ryan imposed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year term, suspending the final six months on strict conditions. The case involved a detailed account of the assault, the victim's attempts to escape, and Dempsey's admission of the crime. He had 57 prior convictions, including assault, burglary, theft, criminal damage and threats of serious harm. Gerard Dempsey pleaded guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Rodrigo Amaro, aged 33, was sentenced to one year in prison for assaulting his friend Eduardo Pereira. Amaro, who was intoxicated with liquid ecstasy and cannabis, struck Pereira with a glass at Ukiyo Bar on 22 December 2016, causing a permanent facial scar. Pereira, who now feels labelled a "troublemaker," declined Amaro's apology. Amaro pleaded guilty to one count of assault causing harm and had four prior traffic convictions. Judge Elma Sheahan imposed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence, suspending the final 18 months under conditions, and backdated it to July of the same year when Amaro entered custody. Amaro's lawyer, Pieter Le Vert, described the defendant as horrified by the injuries inflicted and noted Amaro had ceased drug use and provided a €5,750 token of remorse to Pereira. The case ended with Amaro's first custodial term.
A 44‑year‑old recovering addict, Albert Redmond, was sentenced to 12½ years in prison for a spree of 20 burglaries, two criminal damage offences, three counts of possession of stolen credit cards, a handbag theft and four deception counts involving stolen cards. The crimes, committed between October 2019 and March 2020 in south Dublin, were linked to a relationship that began after his release from prison. Redmond claimed he had devised strategies to avoid relapse, but the relationship introduced him to a partner with a crack cocaine problem, leading to drug use and further offences. Judge Elma Sheahan, after a probation report, imposed the sentence and suspended the final four and a half years on the condition that Redmond engage with the Probation Service and drug counselling programmes upon release. The judge noted his past drug‑free period in 1996 and his desire to remain drug‑free while in custody.
Ian Belton, 47, received an 18‑month suspended sentence for possessing child pornography. He was found with 75 images of pre‑teen and teenage girls and a 46‑minute video of younger girls in sexual acts. The images were classified as category two, and the video moved the case to the lower end of the mid‑range. Belton pleaded guilty on 26 May 2018 and had no prior convictions. The judge noted his cooperation with Gardaí, his psychiatric history, and his role as a caring father and brother. He had undergone psychotherapy, showing remorse and a low risk of re‑offending. The judge believed that the stigma, loss of reputation, and registration requirements would deter future offences, so she imposed the suspended sentence. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 52‑year‑old man was convicted by jury of coercive control, intimidation and multiple assault offences against his former partner. The jury found him guilty after a four‑week trial that detailed his controlling behaviour, threats to drown her, kill her family and circulate naked images if she withdrew her statements. He also pleaded guilty to a separate charge of intending to pervert the course of justice for telephone contact with the woman between March and July 2020, encouraging her to withdraw her statements. Judge Elma Sheahan remanded him in continuing custody until 12 January. The jury acquitted him of an assault‑causing‑harm charge and a single endangerment count. The court also upheld a publication ban on identifying details of the parties.
A 45‑year‑old Latvian beef farmer, Dmitrijs Venskovics, was sentenced to eight years in prison after pleading guilty to transporting 36 kg of cocaine worth €2.52 million. He admitted that a Russian man had offered him €150‑€200 to move a consignment of boxes in his lorry, which he later handed over to a Ford Transit van. Gardaí found the cocaine in the van's concealed compartment. Venskovics claimed he never handled the drugs and that his role was purely that of a transporter. He had no prior convictions and was in custody since his arrest. The judge noted his cooperation with the investigation, his low level of involvement, and his status as a family man, but emphasised the seriousness of the offence due to the amount of drugs involved. The sentence reflects the offence's gravity while acknowledging his limited role in the wider operation.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Donal Gannon, 58, a former bomb maker convicted in London in 1997 for conspiracy to cause explosions and sentenced to 35 years, was found to have attempted to renew an Irish passport in the name of David O'Brien, a man who died in 1986. Gannon, released under the Good Friday Agreement in 2000, pleaded guilty to providing false information and documents for the passport renewal between 7 May and 30 May 2017, and to using a false instrument at Kevin's Street Garda Station on 7 May 2017. Gardaí obtained CCTV footage that identified Gannon as the person presenting the passport, and seized a mobile phone with the same number used in the application. Gannon denied making the application, claiming the photographs were planted. The court noted his nine previous convictions, including assault and attempted burglary, and adjourned the case for finalisation on 25 November, with Gannon remaining on bail.
Tony Hunt, 47, was sentenced to two years in prison after the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court found he had no choice but to hold 198 rounds of 9mm Parabellum ammunition. The bullets were moved from a wheelie bin into the spare wheel well of his car when the bins were due for collection. Gardaí discovered the package during a random stop after seeing the car leave a known drug dealer's home in Kildare. Hunt initially claimed the ammunition belonged to a deer‑hunting colleague, later admitting he had been told a package would be left in his bin for 24 hours but did not know its contents. He pleaded guilty to possession of the rounds, which were mainly used in semi‑automatic handguns. Judge Pauline Codd suspended the final three years of a five‑year sentence, requiring Hunt to keep the peace for the entire period. Hunt's only prior conviction was for possession of stolen property in 2004.
Jake O'Neill, aged 22, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for assault causing harm and robbery. In August 2016 he attacked an Austrian doctor and his son outside a café in Temple Bar after they refused to give him money. O'Neill punched the doctor's son and then the doctor, who suffered a broken eye socket, fractures to his cheek and jaw, and lost teeth. In October 2017 he participated in a robbery on James' Street, where he and another person assaulted a man who had given him a cigarette, taking the man's phone, wallet and keys. O'Neill pleaded guilty to both offences, admitted the robbery was an "act of bravado" after drinking and drug use, and was found to have a history of drug addiction. The judge suspended the final six months of the sentence on strict conditions. The case was heard in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Wanye Kelly (33) has been given a three-year suspended sentence for endangerment at Ninth Lock Road, Clondalkin on May 24, 2017, following a guilty plea. The incident occurred after a verbal exchange with Peter Adams (38), who was in court for sentencing. Kelly initially denied attempting to knock Adams down but changed his perception after viewing CCTV footage. He has nine previous convictions, including public order, trespass with a knife, criminal damage, and assault causing harm. At the sentence hearing, Garda David Gilmore noted that Kelly presented himself at the station on the day of the incident before gardaí had nominated him as a suspect. His defence, Paul Comiskey O'Keeffe BL, stated that Kelly had stopped taking painkillers for an ankle injury around that time, which may have contributed to his quick temper. Judge Melanie Greally acknowledged Kelly's remorse and mitigating factors, including his sobriety for three years, engagement in restorative justice, and running a successful business. She described his driving as 'an absolute outrage' but decided not to impose an immediate custodial sentence. Kelly had €3,000 in court as a token of remorse for Adams. The matter was adjourned for the sentence hearing, and the suspended sentence was handed down with conditions.