In a coercive control trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, a 52‑year‑old man was charged with coercive control, intimidation, endangerment and multiple assaults against his former partner. He pleaded not guilty to one count of controlling behaviour between 1 January and 22 September 2019, and to 13 assault counts, one endangerment count and one intimidation count covering May 2018 to January 2020. The endangerment charge involved an incident at a Dublin bridge where the accused allegedly pushed the woman toward the railings, creating a serious risk of death or injury. Assault allegations included burning her foot with a cigarette, pushing her down stairs, head‑butting, punching, standing on her head, stamping on her arm and strangling her. Witness testimony described the woman's injuries and the accused's claim that he had "saved her" by taking her off the street. The case is pending before Judge Elma Sheahan and a jury.
A man from Longford who pleaded guilty to resisting arrest following an incident in Dublin in 2016 has received a four-month suspended sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Brian Farrell, aged 40, of Longford Villas, Sallynoggin, had initially denied charges of assaulting gardaí and possessing a claw hammer and knuckle duster. Two days into his trial, he changed his plea to guilty on two counts of resisting arrest, which the prosecution accepted. During the hearing, gardaí described encountering determined resistance when they attended the scene following a report of property damage. Judge Martin Nolan noted the incident occurred four years prior and that Farrell had remained out of trouble since then, though he remarked the defendant had behaved disgracefully. The suspended sentence came with conditions, and Farrell was ordered to pay €1,000 to a charity of the complainant garda's selection. The court heard Farrell has seven previous convictions, most dating back a decade.
Gary O'Brien, 32, was sentenced to 15 months in prison after pleading guilty to assaulting prison officer John Cullen at Mountjoy Prison on 27 August 2016. O'Brien had been observed ingesting something in his cell and was unsteady when staff attempted to escort him to the reception area. He resisted and acted aggressively, telling staff he would not be searched. Officer Cullen sustained a broken finger, requiring two surgeries and a steel fixer in his hand, and reported the assault had a devastating effect on his mental health and mobility. O'Brien, who has 55 prior convictions, expressed deep shame and apologized, but Officer Cullen did not accept the apology. The court noted the incident had a "life altering" impact on Cullen and imposed the sentence with a suspended year, subject to probation, substance misuse work, and anger management.
A 39‑year‑old woman who discovered her husband was having sex with her 16‑year‑old daughter was charged with reckless endangerment of a child. After the discovery, she kicked both the man and her daughter out of their home. The couple stayed in Dublin city‑centre hostels, where staff noticed the man's behaviour and contacted Gardaí. The Gardaí found the pair, and the woman told them she was aware of the man's presence but did not disclose the sexual relationship. The Gardaí, after a second encounter, deemed the child at immediate risk and placed her in Tusla care. The woman pleaded guilty to one count of reckless endangerment and was given a suspended sentence. The stepfather remains charged with multiple counts of defiling a child, and the case is still before the courts. The daughter, now 18, lives with a foster family. The woman's baby, born with severe health issues, died shortly after birth.
During a trial in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Pat O'Brien, head of airport police at Shannon Airport, testified that he had never considered the airport a legitimate military target. He described inspecting the perimeter fence after the alleged 2016 incident where Colm Roddy (78) and Dave Donnellan (60) allegedly cut the fence and painted red crucifixes on the runway. O'Brien noted the fence appeared cut and folded back, emergency repairs costing about €300, with total estimated repairs at €3,500. Maintenance manager Mark Reidy explained the costs were estimates because the repair programme was ongoing. O'Brien also mentioned the airport's plans to respond to major incidents such as aircraft crashes, bomb scares, chemical spills and terrorist attacks. The trial continues before Judge Karen O'Connor and a jury. Colm Roddy pleaded not guilty. Dave Donnellan pleaded not guilty.
In a coercive control trial, a 43‑year‑old woman accused a 52‑year‑old Dublin man of holding a knife to her throat and of multiple assaults. She said she would kill herself first "before I let him do it to me". The accused is charged with coercive control, intimidation, endangerment and 13 counts of assault. The endangerment charge involves an incident on a Dublin bridge where he allegedly pushed her toward the railings. Assault allegations include burning her foot, pushing her down stairs, head‑butting, punching, standing on her head, stamping on her arm and strangling her. The trial is before Judge Elma Sheahan and a jury, with the accused pleading not guilty to all counts. The case continues at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Two peace activists, Colm Roddy, 78, and Dave Donnellan, 60, were tried in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for criminal damage to the perimeter fence and runway at Shannon Airport on 5 May 2016. They pleaded not guilty. The court heard that Detective Sergeant Con Ryan, now retired, met the men in the terminal after they were brought there by airport police. He reported that Roddy spoke most of the time, complaining about American actions in the Middle East and Syria, and that the pair had entered the airfield by lifting the wire and passing under a gate. Ryan tried to explain the danger of animals or objects on the runway potentially threatening inbound flights, but the men refused to accept these concerns and returned to their comments about US bombings. Roddy told Gardaí that he had a lawful excuse and was trying to prevent a greater illegality at Shannon. The trial continues before Judge Karen O'Connor and a jury.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 36‑year‑old man pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting his sister between 2000 and 2001 and to possession of 642 images and 61 videos of child pornography found in his home in 2016. He also pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of child pornography. The judge, taking into account the man's age and the long‑term harm to his sister, imposed a custodial sentence of three years, suspending the final 15 months on condition of probation supervision. The sister, who was 15 when she reported the abuse, described feeling isolated, using drugs, and suffering depression, panic attacks, self‑harm and a suicide attempt. She said she hopes the case being open will allow her to move on. The man cooperated with Gardaí, admitted wrongdoing, and showed insight into his behaviour. The court noted the distribution of child pornography was not for profit.
During a coercive control trial, a 43‑year‑old woman testified that she sometimes stormed away from her partner before any physical injury occurred, saying she "knew what was coming." She admitted that she would sometimes become hysterical during arguments, believing that being loud might stop him because she expected violence. The accused, a 52‑year‑old Dublin man, is charged with coercive control, intimidation, endangerment and multiple assaults. He has pleaded not guilty to one count of controlling behaviour and to 13 counts of assault, one count of endangerment and one count of intimidation. The trial is ongoing before Judge Elma Sheahan and a jury. The woman also discussed shared alcohol problems and denied certain allegations about burning her foot and pyjamas. The case continues tomorrow.
Abdifatah Nur, 38, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment for possession for sale or supply and unlawful importation of khat, a drug he brought into Ireland worth €10,000. He pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Nur claimed he had purchased the khat in Somalia for €500, where it is legal, and was unaware of its illegality in Ireland. He said he intended to supply the drug at his brother's wedding for the elders' celebration, not for profit. He was stopped by customs at Dublin Airport on 30 November 2019 and found in possession of the drug. The judge, Patricia Ryan, suspended the balance of the sentence on the condition that he keep the peace and be of good behaviour for one year. No prior convictions were recorded. The case was prosecuted by Eoin Lawlor BL and defended by Ciaran O'Loughlin SC.
Stephen Ennis, a 30‑year‑old heroin addict, was sentenced to one year in prison after he stabbed a treating doctor three times in the back at St James' Hospital on 7 March 2020. Ennis had been found collapsed outside a Garda station with a seizure and was brought to the hospital by ambulance. While in the hospital he refused to stay on his trolley, bothered nurses, and eventually withdrew a needle he had taken from his own arm. He held the needle over his head and charged at the doctor, who fled down the corridor. The doctor was not aware of the stabs until a colleague informed him. Ennis pleaded guilty to assaulting a person providing medical care. He has 72 prior convictions, including violent disorder, drug possession, knife possession, burglary and begging. The judge noted that Ennis probably did not intend the assault and that the doctor has made a full recovery.
Two men, Tayab Kourtishe (47) and Jagjeet Singh (41), were sentenced to two and a half years in prison, suspended in full on strict conditions, for stealing almost €18,000 from Expo Casino in The Square, Tallaght. Kourtishe and Singh were caught on CCTV footage manipulating the casino's machines. Kourtishe removed the glass cover from a roulette table, placed a ball on a number, and then used a stolen key to unlock the fruit machine and withdraw the money that a third person had loaded into it. Singh later cleared the machine's transaction records, erasing evidence of the €50 notes that had been deposited. Kourtishe stole €8,895 from the fruit machines and the roulette table, while Singh stole €8,988. Both pleaded guilty, made full restitution, and had no prior convictions. The judge noted their actions were a breach of trust and that the offences were out of character, but accepted their cooperation and restitution.
John Tierney, aged 53, of Rockhouse, Gowna, County Cavan, received a fully suspended sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following his guilty plea to dangerous driving causing death. The collision occurred on the N4 motorway near Junction 3 in Lucan, County Dublin, on 10 December 2018, when Tierney's vehicle suddenly moved into a bus lane, striking the motorcycle of Stephen Fee, who was fatally injured. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a one-year custodial sentence, suspended in full, and disqualified Tierney from driving for eight years. The court heard that Tierney's vehicle had begun losing power due to a diesel particle filter issue, leading him to change lanes without ensuring the path was clear. Tierney had no previous convictions. The judge characterised the driving as a misjudgement rather than reckless behaviour, citing strong mitigating factors including Tierney's guilty plea, cooperation with gardaí, and significant health difficulties. Impact statements from the victim's family were read to the court.
Lynda Goldsmith, aged 65, stole more than €2,700 from a 90‑year‑old friend over three months. She took cash from the victim's bank account by using the victim's debit card to buy groceries and also withdrew money from the victim's purse, which was kept in a drawer in the victim's bedroom. Goldsmith admitted in a Garda interview that she stole the cash because she felt her pension was insufficient and that she thought it would be "nice to have a bit of money". She pleaded guilty to four charges of stealing cash and one of theft of an ATM card, representing a sample of 31 thefts between 16 January and 4 April 2019. The court heard that after stealing the victim's card in hospital, Goldsmith accepted €70 from the victim's son, claiming it was owed for petrol money.
Joseph O'Brien, a 50-year-old businessman from Ballyfermot, Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for possession of drugs for sale or supply. He pleaded guilty to the charge after gardaí discovered 7.5kg of cannabis resin, with an estimated street value of €45,810, in his camper van during a surveillance operation on February 7, 2019. The court heard that O'Brien had gone to meet drug dealers to intervene regarding a young man's significant drug debt. Judge Melanie Greally noted that the dealers allegedly "foisted" the package on him and threatened him not to dispose of the drugs. While acknowledging the case was unusual and involved an otherwise respectable family man, the judge described his actions as foolhardy but did not believe he intended to hold the drugs. Taking mitigating factors into consideration, including his status as a pro-social community member and the impact of the pandemic on his catering business, Judge Greally set a sentence of two and a half years imprisonment. This sentence was suspended on the condition that O'Brien keep the peace and be of good behaviour.
Roxana Dufficy, aged 32, was sentenced to a fully suspended two‑and‑a‑half‑year term for harassment of a man over a five‑year period. She repeatedly sent threatening messages to the victim's family, friends and workplace, claiming he was not the father of his girlfriend's unborn child and threatening to release compromising photos of him. Dufficy also made constant phone calls to his work and sent letters to his mother's home. She was arrested in June 2018 and pleaded guilty to harassment at unknown locations between 1 October 2013 and 12 June 2018. The court imposed a suspended sentence on the condition of good behaviour and prohibited her from contacting the victim or his relatives. She has not contacted him since her arrest. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 43‑year‑old woman gave video‑link testimony about her former partner's alleged abuse. She said he forced her to sit naked on the couch while he verbally abused her, calling her names and threatening to kill her family. She recalled a "bad day" in summer 2019 when he repeatedly made her sit naked and threatened to kill her father, brother, and grandchildren, insisting she watch. The accused, 52, faces charges of coercive control, intimidation, endangerment and multiple assaults. He pleaded not guilty to one count of controlling behaviour and 13 counts of assault, one count of endangerment and one of intimidation. The trial, presided over by Judge Elma Sheahan, continues tomorrow with a jury. The woman described a life of fear and loss of privacy during the relationship, and said she has since returned to full‑time work and normal family life. The case remains at the trial stage.
In a coercive control trial, a 52‑year‑old Dublin man was charged with intimidation, endangerment, multiple assaults and controlling behaviour toward his former partner. He pleaded not guilty to 13 assault counts, one endangerment count involving a bridge incident where he allegedly pushed the woman toward railings, and one intimidation count. The woman, aged 43, gave evidence via video‑link, describing a series of violent acts: burning her foot with a cigarette, pushing her down stairs, head‑butting, punching, standing on her head, stamping on her arm, strangling, and cutting her face and neck with a pizza slicer. She also alleged he threatened to circulate naked images of her online and to her family if she did not withdraw assault allegations. The trial is set to continue before Judge Elma Sheahan and a jury.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Colm Roddy, 78, and Dave Donnellan, 60, pleaded not guilty to criminal damage charges for allegedly cutting the perimeter fence and runway of Shannon Airport on 5 May 2016. Prosecutor Tony McGillicuddy presented evidence that the defendants used bolt cutters and spray paint to mark red crosses on a substation and the runway, claiming €3,500 in damage. Garda Corporal Thomas Dillon testified that he and colleagues were on duty that night, observing the men near a US aircraft and noting their requests for a search of the plane. Dillon described the men's actions and his own warning of the men's weapons. The defendants questioned the Garda's duty to protect US military aircraft. The case remains before Judge Karen O'Connor and a jury.
A 23‑year‑old Georgian national was sentenced to three years' imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for organising and distributing false identification cards and driving licences that enabled illegal immigrants to enter Ireland. He pleaded guilty to 13 charges, including possession of false documents, deception, money laundering and trafficking of illegal immigrants between 5 October 2017 and 23 May 2019. The court found he was a "vital cog" in a larger scheme that produced bogus identities for Georgian migrants, who paid him a total of €23,817 for the documents. He received the money, sorted the paperwork and sent the finished products back to clients via DHL or An Post. The judge noted his guilty plea, lack of serious prior convictions and his willingness to learn a lesson, and imposed the custodial sentence. The other three accused are yet to be listed for trial or plea.
Ben Merriman, aged 22, was sentenced by Judge Melanie Greally at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to a fully suspended two‑year imprisonment for assault, trespass and criminal damage committed on 27 March 2018 at a house in Flemington Lane, Balbriggan. The offence involved Merriman and a co‑accused who entered the home in search of the co‑accused's former partner. They threatened the woman's parents, shouted that they would kill her, and forced the door down with a metal bar. Merriman spat in the mother's face, kicked the father while he was on the ground, and the other man struck the father with the metal bar. The court noted Merriman's full‑time employment, stable relationship, and compensation offered to the injured parties. The sentence is suspended on the condition that he keeps the peace and behaves well for two years. No prior convictions were recorded for Merriman. Ben Merriman pleaded guilty.
During a demolition at a Dublin building site, a workman discovered a black bag containing 65 rounds of ammunition and four firearms, including a 7.62 calibre assault rifle, two revolvers and a semi‑automatic pistol. Robert Smullen, 35, of Halliday Road, Dublin 7, was arrested two months later. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of ammunition and the assault rifle at waste‑ground in O'Devaney Gardens on 14 August 2018. Smullen, who has 17 prior convictions and is already serving an eight‑year sentence with the final 18 months suspended, was sentenced to two years in prison, to be served consecutively to his existing term. The court noted his cooperation, forensic evidence linking him to the weapons, and his ongoing rehabilitation efforts in custody. The sentence was imposed despite his defence's argument that the discovery was fortuitous and that he was vulnerable due to drug debt and addiction.
Alan Flynn, 29, of Swords, was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment for possession of €1.2 million worth of cocaine, with the final three years suspended on strict conditions. The offence was committed on 29 September 2019 when a silver VW Golf was stopped on O'Casey Road, Parkwest, by an unmarked Garda patrol. Flynn was driving the vehicle with his two‑year‑old daughter in the front passenger seat. Gardaí found 18 packages of cocaine in the car's footwell and an open cardboard box, totalling €1,263,920. Flynn admitted he had a debt for cannabis and had been instructed by a contact to pick up the drugs and deliver them to a gym in Parkwest. A search of his home revealed a stun gun and pepper‑spray, which he claimed were for his own protection. He has seven prior convictions for road traffic offences. Alan Flynn pleaded guilty.
At the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Naranbat Ganbat (37), Altankhundaga Badrakh (37), and Gantulga Turbayan (42) pleaded guilty to providing false documentation when applying for an Irish passport on a date unknown between July 23, 2015 and August 12, 2015. The same offence was also alleged on the basis that they were reckless. The case was at the sentence stage. Ganbat was sentenced to a three-year suspended sentence, with the condition that he keep the peace and be of good behaviour. Badrakh received a suspended sentence of two and a half years, with the condition that she keep the peace for that time. Turbayan was sentenced to a two-year suspended sentence, with the condition that he be of good behaviour for two years. The matter was not finalised and was not described as concluded. The charges against another Mongolian national were alleged or contested, and no plea was entered. The court heard that the couple paid €19,000 to an intermediary to obtain a false naturalisation certificate, while Turbayan paid €25,000 for the same. The court also heard that the couple used doctored Czech passports and the PPSN of another Mongolian native to work in Ireland. The case was brought to light through Operation Porcelain, a garda operation investigating the issuing of Irish passports to non-nationals using false documentation.
A 52‑year‑old Dublin man appeared before the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 12 October 2020, denying 17 charges of coercive control, intimidation, endangerment and multiple assaults against his partner. He pleaded not guilty to one count of controlling behaviour at various locations, including their home, between 1 January and 22 September 2019. He also pleaded not guilty to 13 counts of assault causing harm, one count of assault, one count of endangerment and one count of intimidation between May 2018 and January 2020. The endangerment charge involves an alleged incident at a Dublin bridge where he pushed the woman toward the railings, creating a substantial risk of death or harm. The assault allegations include burning her foot with a cigarette, pushing her down stairs, head‑butting, punching, standing on her head, stamping on her arm and strangling her.
Sean Brady, aged 26, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment for two burglaries committed on the night of 9 May 2017 in Dublin's north. He broke into the home of a mother who was in bed with her two children, brandishing knives and demanding money, and also entered the house of an innocent man whom he called a paedophile, stole his laptop and attempted to escape through a window. Brady pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and had 22 prior convictions. The judge noted Brady's intoxication was self‑induced and that he had not fled when confronted. He was given a six‑year term, with the final year suspended on strict conditions, and was ordered to serve five years in custody. The court described the offences as "terrifying" and the victims as having endured a traumatic experience.
In October 2019, 31‑year‑old Ian Morton, after being asked to leave a pub in Harold's Cross for drunkenness, drove to a nearby garage, bought €5 of petrol, and set fire to the doorway of a house on Harold's Cross Road. Witnesses at the pub saw the fire and extinguished it with a fire extinguisher, but the building, which housed several apartments, was evacuated and suffered smoke damage. Morton, who had burns on his arms, hands and face, was arrested the next day at his aunt's house. He pleaded guilty to one count of arson. The court noted he had two prior drink‑driving convictions, had no memory of the incident, and was deeply remorseful. He has stopped drinking, is seeking rehabilitation, and has €2,000 available as a token of remorse. The matter was adjourned for finalisation on 7 December.
A 25-year-old student has received a fully suspended 12-month sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for money laundering. Jonathan Angbalu pleaded guilty to facilitating the lodgement of a stolen and altered €9,000 cheque into his bank account between March 2016. Gardaí established that the cheque, originally issued by market research firm Millward Brown, was intercepted and modified before being deposited in Angbalu's account at Permanent TSB on St Stephen's Green. The account was subsequently frozen, and €6,094.50 was recovered. The court heard that Angbalu was approached by three men who promised him €2,000 to use his account for lodging and withdrawing funds. He was instructed not to display nervousness during withdrawals. Angbalu later realised the arrangement was fraudulent. He never received payment and withdrew only €700 before providing it to the men. Judge Pauline Codd imposed the sentence on strict conditions, noting his youth and lack of previous convictions. Angbalu brought €1,350 to court as an expression of remorse.
Denis Ward, 39, was given a two‑year suspended sentence after he head‑butted Daragh Comerford at D Two Nightclub on Halloween 2017. Ward, who had been dressed as Superman, took a fake bible from Comerford and then lunged at him, leaving Comerford with a broken nose and a deviated septum that required surgery. Gardaí were alerted to the assault and security staff identified Ward as the Superman costume wearer. CCTV footage showed Ward removing the pretend bible before the attack. Ward pleaded guilty to assault causing harm. He had four prior convictions, including three road traffic offences. Judge Melanie Greally, after hearing a victim impact statement that Comerford lost €1,100 in medical bills and time off work, suspended the two‑year sentence in full. The judge noted that alcohol was a significant factor and that Ward's behaviour was out of character.
Gerard Griffin, 63, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for a series of violent attacks on the staff of the Chicken Hut on Clanbrassil Street, Dublin. The first assault occurred in April 2017, when he punched the owner, threatened staff and smashed the shop with a hockey stick. He later stabbed the owner's hand in February 2020. Griffin pleaded guilty to assault, criminal damage, threats to kill and possession of a knife. He also admitted to earlier offences, including assault, firearms possession and theft. The judge noted his mental collapse following the death of a son and the loss of four children, and suspended the final three years of a six‑year sentence on the condition that he stay away from the flat. He was ordered to engage with the Probation Service to address bereavement and racism issues. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the repeated violent conduct and the impact on the victim.
In a drunken brawl on 24 April 2018, Mark Connolly (25), Stephen McNamee (25) and Natalie Mulligan (33) chased Paul O'Kelly from a chipper in Rathmines, punched and kicked him as he lay on the ground, and then attacked him again in the car park of the Rathmines Garda Station. CCTV footage showed the trio striking O'Kelly, who later suffered nerve damage to his thumb and required surgery. All three pleaded guilty to assault causing harm. Judge Karen O'Connor, after viewing the footage, placed them on bond to keep the peace until 15 January and indicated she intended to order 100 hours of community service in lieu of a one‑year prison term. Each defendant brought €1,500 to the court as a practical expression of remorse. The court heard that the defendants were intoxicated and expressed remorse, and that O'Kelly had also consumed cocaine and cannabis that night.
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has scheduled a criminal trial for eight men, who are alleged to have committed assault causing harm and violent disorder in Dublin in February 2015. Judge Patricia Ryan set the trial to begin on January 25, 2021, at Croke Park. The venue was selected to facilitate social distancing measures. The eight defendants face these charges, which remain alleged or contested, and no pleas, findings, sentences, or finalisations have been recorded at this procedural stage. The matter is currently set down for trial, with no adjournments, suspended portions, effective custody, or specific conditions noted in the available report. This decision reflects the court's procedural arrangement for the upcoming hearing, ensuring compliance with public health guidelines while proceeding with the legal process. The allegations against the eight men are strictly attributed as such, and no conviction or final determination has been made. The trial date and venue represent the current status of the case, with further developments expected as the proceedings advance.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 42‑year‑old Sergio Arriaga pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography. He had downloaded 2,745 images and 234 videos, some depicting children as young as two, from a peer‑to‑peer network. The material was stored on 11 hard drives seized during a 2013 search warrant, which was executed after information from German parties. Arriaga, who has no prior convictions, claimed the material was a coping mechanism for loneliness, isolation and depression, and denied any sexual interest in real teenage girls. He admitted he first encountered the material in a block download and became interested in adolescent images, but insisted he did not distribute or produce any files. The judge adjourned the case to 15 October to decide on a probation report.
The widow of the late founder of the suicide‑prevention charity Console, Patricia Kelly, aged 59, appeared in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 9 October 2020. She was charged with two counts of fraudulent trading and one count of money laundering covering a ten‑year period from December 2006 to July 2016. The first fraudulent trading charge alleges that between 6 December 2006 and 31 May 2015 she knowingly participated in running Console Suicide Bereavement Counselling Ltd for a fraudulent purpose, misusing the company's property that was meant for its charitable objectives. The second charge covers 1 June 2015 to 14 July 2016 and repeats the same allegation. The money‑laundering charge alleges that between 1 September 2010 and 1 July 2016 she concealed the true nature, source, location, disposition or ownership of property of Console Ltd or acted recklessly regarding whether that property was the proceeds of criminal conduct.
In October 2020 the State appealed a five‑year jail term imposed on 46‑year‑old Mark O'Dwyer, who had pleaded guilty in July 2017 to possession of drugs for sale or supply at a Ballyfermot Drive address. The drugs, worth €4,170,932, were found in a garage in a Dublin housing estate, described by Gardaí as a large‑scale drug distribution hub. O'Dwyer had 41 prior convictions and also pleaded guilty to three charges of possessing stun guns. He was recruited on the day with a promised €1,500 that never materialised. The appeal cited the case of Stephen Sarsfield, who received a seven‑year sentence for the same offence, as a comparator. The DPP argued that O'Dwyer's five‑year sentence was unduly lenient and a substantial departure from sentencing norms, and that the judge erred in granting an excessive reduction from the mandatory minimum of ten years.
Michael Cawley, aged 22, was sentenced to an additional two and a half years' imprisonment for two counts of endangerment, dangerous driving and driving without a licence. The sentence, imposed by Judge Karen O'Connor at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, was suspended for 18 months on strict conditions and will run consecutively to the three and a half year term he is currently serving for burglary and unauthorised taking of a car. The offence involved Cawley driving a Volvo at speeds up to 140 kilometres per hour, reversing and then driving straight at a Garda on a junction in Tallaght, narrowly missing the officer and forcing other motorists and pedestrians to take evasive action. The Garda lost sight of the vehicle while it was still on the road. Cawley's 35 previous convictions were noted, and the judge highlighted his young age, the aggravating circumstances of the incident, and his progress in custody. Michael Cawley pleaded guilty.
Gerard Cunningham, 48, a former homeless father, was evicted from his rented home and stayed with his sister‑in‑law before Christmas 2018. He took a €1,000 loan from someone he believed was a friend to buy a car for work, and under pressure to repay, agreed to store heroin and cocaine for the lender. On 22 December 2018 Gardaí searched his Tallaght address and found a black bag containing heroin and cocaine valued at €465,024. Cunningham pleaded guilty to possession of heroin and cocaine for sale or supply at his residence. He had seven prior minor traffic convictions. The judge, Melanie Greally, suspended the final 12 months of a four‑year prison term on the condition that he engage with Probation Services for a year after release. The case highlights the impact of the housing crisis on vulnerable families.
James McShane, 55, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to multiple thefts from the addiction charity LifeRing Ireland, of which he was a co‑founder, and to six false‑accounting charges and one deception charge. The thefts, occurring between 18 February 2013 and 21 September 2017, amounted to almost €36,000, which McShane has fully repaid by borrowing money from his brother and wife. He also repaid the money taken in the false‑accounting cases. McShane, who has no prior convictions, described the offences as "shameful" and offered a heartfelt apology. Judge Elma Sheahan, noting his status as a reformed alcoholic, imposed 200 hours of community service in lieu of a two‑and‑a‑half‑year suspended sentence, recognising that the debt had been repaid in full. The case remains at the sentencing stage, with no further convictions or appeals reported.
Cornelius Price, a 38‑year‑old former gang boss from Drogheda, has appealed a ruling that upheld the calculation of his release date from Wheatfield Prison. Price was convicted in February 2017 for recklessly endangering life or safety in an incident at Balbriggan Garda station in January 2014, where he drove a van at high speed at Garda Gary Dillane. He served three‑quarters of a three‑year sentence, with a quarter remission, and was released on 18 May 2019. Price argues the Irish Prison Service used days to calculate his release, whereas he believes months should have been used, which would have released him on 17 May 2019, 24 hours earlier. His counsel, Paul Carroll SC, contended the IPS's method was unsatisfactory and not based on statutory provision. The Court of Appeal heard the case on Wednesday, with the High Court having previously dismissed his challenge. The appeal remains pending, with the Court of Appeal reserving judgment.
Ben O'Leary, 20, of Balinteer Gardens, Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for harassment and making an unwarranted demand for cash. The defendant pleaded guilty to harassment occurring between December 2018 and January 2019 and admitted to making an unwarranted demand for cash on December 11, 2018. The court heard that O'Leary allegedly demanded €6,000 from a family in Templeogue, Dublin, claiming their son owed him money related to a purported drug debt. He allegedly threatened the family, including warnings about property damage and advising them not to contact gardaí. On one occasion, a second man in a vehicle with O'Leary allegedly threatened the mother, stating her son would be killed. Judge Melanie Greally noted that while O'Leary was not the individual who issued the specific threat to the mother, he was part of the enterprise. The judge acknowledged O'Leary's efforts to address his cocaine addiction since his arrest in March 2019. Judge Greally sentenced O'Leary to three years in prison, with the final 18 months suspended. Additionally, the court ordered that O'Leary have no contact with the injured parties or their family for seven years.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Derek O'Brien, 38, pleaded guilty to burglary and unlawful possession of a motor vehicle after a patrol officer noticed a silver VW Polo driving on its rim with a missing tire. Garda Ronan Kennedy described the vehicle as sparking and swerving, and O'Brien admitted he had stolen the car keys from a house he had burgled earlier that evening. The burglary also involved a small amount of cash and a broken rear window. O'Brien claimed the damage was caused by the car hitting a path while he was driving. He has 91 prior convictions and has completed a detox programme. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to 21 months imprisonment. The car was economically written off after the incident. The case was heard at Ailesbury Park, Ballsbridge. The court noted O'Brien's intent to complete his Leaving Cert while in custody.
David Weafer, 34, who had received a partially suspended three‑year sentence in October 2019 for assaulting his ex‑partner Jennifer Staunton and threatening to kill her, was released from custody on 1 April 2020. He violated the conditions of his probation by re‑entering his former family home uninvited, threatening Staunton with a knife, kneeing her in the face and head‑butting her. He also failed to remain alcohol‑free, beginning to misuse alcohol immediately after release. The five children of the couple, aged between one and 14, hid in another room and called emergency services. Gardaí arrived shortly after the assault. Staunton suffered facial swelling but declined to give a victim impact statement. Judge Martin Nolan, hearing the case, decided to remove the Probation Service from the situation but left the probation bond in place, noting that if Weafer approaches the injured party the full 20‑month suspended portion of his sentence would be activated. David Weafer pleaded guilty.
Matthew Grogan, aged 22, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for assault causing harm at Applewood Square, Swords, on 25 October 2019. The victim, Nikita Olijniks, was a delivery driver and former schoolmate of Grogan. During the incident, Grogan, seated in the driver's seat of a car with a girlfriend, a second passenger, and a lookout, punched Olijniks twice or three times in the face after Olijniks had stepped out to make a delivery. Olijniks was also struck in the head by another person and fell. Grogan later admitted the assault and expressed remorse, noting he only realised he knew the victim after the attack. The court, hearing Grogan's 42 prior convictions, imposed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence with the final 12 months suspended, conditional on good behaviour for 18 months. Matthew Grogan pleaded guilty.
Kevin Conway, 34, of Carpenterstown, Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to possessing child pornography on July 30, 2016, and one count each of sexually exploiting a child, producing child pornography, and distributing it in June and July 2013. The court heard that Conway allegedly posed as a 17-year-old girl on Skype to exploit a 12-year-old victim, encouraging her to perform sexual acts while recording her without her knowledge. He subsequently shared a video of the girl with another user. Gardaí discovered 403 images and 12 videos of child pornography at his home, many in the most severe category. Judge Pauline Codd noted that the possession was not a victimless crime and that Conway deliberately used a female profile to attract children. While accepting his remorse, the judge handed down a three-year sentence, suspending the final two years on a number of conditions. Conway has no previous convictions and lost his employment following the case.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 6 October 2020, Thomas Locke, aged 28, was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment for aggravated burglary and assault causing harm, with the final two years suspended. Locke, who claimed no recollection of the events, was found guilty of stabbing a 24‑year‑old victim nine times, including a wound that pierced the victim's kidney. The victim described the ordeal as lasting an hour, with significant injuries and lasting psychological impact. Locke was identified through forensic evidence, including gloves, a beer can, and knives found at the scene, and was noted to have a history of drug addiction. The judge took into account Locke's plea of guilty and his addiction difficulties when determining the sentence.
John O'Meara, 42, a superintendent pharmacist who owned three pharmacies in Wicklow, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of prescription tablets for sale or supply at his home on 24 August 2018. Gardaí seized 1,700 Xanax tablets and 330 Ritalin tablets, worth an estimated €4,000. An investigation by the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland led to a High Court order in September 2018 suspending O'Meara from acting as a pharmacist. He complied with the order, remains the owner of the pharmacies but cannot be involved in their running, and has appointed a replacement superintendent pharmacist. Judge Pauline Codd imposed an 18‑month suspended sentence, taking into account O'Meara's cooperation, mental health issues, and the fact that he had not been involved in the "party lifestyle" since the arrest. The sentence was suspended on the condition that he keep the peace and be of good behaviour for those 18 months.
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard the case of Dubliner Stuart McManus, 44, who pleaded guilty to making a threat to kill or cause serious harm to a woman at her home on Ferguson Road, Drumcondra. The incident occurred on Hallowe'en night after McManus was taunted by children throwing fireworks at his residence. He allegedly confronted the victim, holding a travel cup he claimed contained boiling water and sugar, and threatened to throw it at her or her son. McManus admitted frightening the victim but stated he was provoked by the anti-social behaviour. In a victim impact statement, the woman expressed no animosity towards McManus, praising his situation and stating she did not wish for him to be punished. Judge Karen O'Connor acknowledged the victim's "kind and generous spirit." Defence counsel Karl Monaghan BL highlighted McManus's background, including childhood exposure to domestic violence, his status as a recovering drug addict, and his living situation with his mother. The court accepted that McManus was a target for local anti-social behaviour. Judge O'Connor placed McManus on a 12-month probation order, requiring him to keep the peace and be of good behaviour for that period. The matter was finalised with this sentencing decision.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Noel McCabe, aged 25, was found to have threatened his ex‑partner after being charged with assaulting her in March and April 2018. McCabe, who is already serving a six‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence for multiple offences, allegedly called the victim and warned that if she did not leave the country within a week her entire family, including her daughter, would be shot. He also demanded she drop the assault charges, which she refused. The court noted that the victim had been in a relationship with McCabe for 18 months and described it as a "nightmare" in her impact statement. McCabe pleaded guilty to obstructing the course of justice by intimidating a witness in June 2018 and will be sentenced early next year, with the judge adjourned the sentence to February 1. The case highlights McCabe's history of 34 prior convictions, including assault, possession of ammunition and road traffic offences.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, marketing manager Paul Nugent, aged 58, was acquitted of a dangerous driving charge after striking 80‑year‑old Thomas Clinton on Harbour Road, Howth, on 8 January 2018. Nugent was driving back into town after a business meeting when his car hit Clinton, who fell, lost consciousness, and sustained life‑threatening injuries including head trauma and a broken leg. Nugent pleaded not guilty. The jury, after just under two hours of deliberation, returned a unanimous not‑guilty verdict. The State argued Clinton was visible 2.88 seconds before impact and that Nugent's reaction time was insufficient, while the defence contended the available time was overestimated and Nugent's reaction was within acceptable limits. Nugent has no prior convictions and was not speeding at the time of the incident. The judge thanked the jury for their civic duty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, Paul Nugent, 58, pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm after his car struck 80‑year‑old Thomas Clinton on Harbour Road, Howth, on 8 January 2018. Clinton suffered life‑threatening injuries and was in intensive care for weeks. Nugent's defence, led by Martin Dully BL, argued that the prosecution's evidence was fundamentally flawed, citing a 2.88‑second observation window that the state claimed was sufficient for a reaction. Dully contended the actual visible time was only 2.3 seconds, giving a reaction time of 2.08 seconds, which he said was within acceptable norms. He also highlighted that Nugent was not speeding, had no prior convictions, and had checked his phone before the collision. The prosecution, represented by Derek Cooney BL, maintained that Nugent failed to react in time, noting the presence of a telegraph pole and the defendant's conflicting statements to Gardaí.