In a dangerous driving trial, Garda John Culleton accepted that the accused, Paul Nugent, faced no criticism of his driving beyond a "failure to react speedily" when Thomas Clinton, 80, walked onto Harbour Road in Howth on 8 January 2018. Nugent, 58, was driving a BMW at just over 50 km/h. CCTV showed Clinton stepping out between parked cars and the BMW's brake lights activating 0.24 s before impact. The garda report estimated Clinton visible for 2.88 s; the defence report estimated 2.28–2.32 s. Culleton concluded Nugent's reaction time fell within acceptable limits, noting that a 1.5‑second reaction would have stopped the car 3.65 m before the collision, while a 2‑second reaction would have stopped it 3.5 m after. The trial proceeds before Judge Karen O'Connor and a jury. Paul Nugent pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Judge Pauline Codd acquitted 60‑year‑old truck driver Joseph Coughlan of a charge of careless driving causing serious harm to a five‑year‑old schoolboy. The judge found the prosecution case to be speculative and lacking evidence of careless driving. Coughlan had pleaded not guilty to one count of driving without due care or attention and causing serious bodily harm. The incident occurred on 16 February 2016 when Coughlan was turning into a delivery bay at Sweeney Mews, Ongar, and a child was briefly trapped under the front wheel of his truck. The boy spent 23 days in intensive care and has made an excellent recovery, though he has permanent abdominal scarring. The judge thanked the jury and formally acquitted Coughlan.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Paul Nugent, a marketing manager aged 58, pleaded not guilty to a charge of dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm after his BMW struck Thomas Clinton, an 80‑year‑old pedestrian, on Harbour Road, Howth, on 8 January 2018. Nugent claimed he had no time to react when Clinton stepped onto the road from behind a parked car. Clinton suffered life‑threatening injuries, including head trauma, a broken leg, a dislocated shoulder and significant chest fractures, and was hospitalized in intensive care for several weeks. Prosecutor Derek Cooney described Clinton's habit of walking from Raheny to Howth and noted the high mortality risk for his age group with such injuries. Nugent's defence maintained that he was driving safely and that the collision was unavoidable. The case remains before Judge Karen O'Connor and a jury.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Joseph Coughlan, 60, was tried for careless driving that caused serious harm to a five‑year‑old boy who was trapped under a truck's front wheel while walking to school with his family. The incident occurred on 16 February 2016 near Sweeney Mews, Ongar, when Coughlan was turning into a delivery bay. Witnesses described the boy lying between the truck's wheels and the mother's shock. Coughlan pleaded not guilty to one count of driving without due care or attention. He was breath‑tested and found negative for alcohol, and the truck was in good condition. The boy spent 23 days in intensive care, required ventilation, surgery and skin grafting, and has permanent abdominal scarring. The trial is ongoing before Judge Pauline Codd and a jury.
In a case heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, 45‑year‑old Pierce Byrne of Hazelwood Crescent, Hartstown, pleaded guilty to theft after stealing a packet of 20 cigarettes from a Spar shop on 19 August 2019. Byrne entered the shop, requested the cigarettes, and after receiving them asked the shopkeeper if he could pay later. The shopkeeper refused, and Byrne left with the cigarettes, refusing to return them when pursued outside. CCTV footage identified Byrne, and he admitted the offence during an interview. He has 46 prior convictions, including manslaughter, robbery, burglary, theft and assault. Byrne's defence highlighted his addiction history and that he had stopped taking bipolar medication around the time of the offence. Judge Patricia Ryan sentenced him to 10 months' imprisonment, back‑dating the term to 1 December 2019 when he first entered custody.
In a case heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Martin Polak, aged 34, pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary after pointing a group of men to the home of an innocent family in Clondalkin, Dublin, on 27 July 2019. Polak claimed he believed the address was vacant, though the homeowner, a man with his wife and child, lived there. The men forced entry, held a knife to the homeowner's throat, kicked him, and fled with the wife's handbag after finding the intended target absent. Polak, who has 22 prior convictions including one in the Czech Republic for aggravated theft, was found to have high moral culpability for enabling the burglary. Judge Elma Sheahan imposed a three‑and‑a‑half year sentence, suspended the final year, and noted Polak's remorse, cooperation, and rehabilitation efforts. The court considered the incident a serious nighttime invasion that terrified the victim. The prosecution, represented by Oisin Clarke BL, accepted Polak's responsibility and cooperation.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 25‑year‑old Gerard Dempsey pleaded guilty to robbery after stealing a woman's phone to fund his drug habit. Dempsey, who has no fixed abode and sleeps rough in Dublin 1, said he had not been receiving money from charity due to Covid‑19, which had disrupted his usual source of revenue. On 18 May 2020, while the victim was walking home from a pub, Dempsey followed her, grabbed her shoulder, pulled her to the ground, and attempted to take her phone. He also made an unintentional contact with her privates, which the victim did not consider a sexual offence. Dempsey admitted the offence, claimed withdrawal symptoms, and had 57 prior convictions. Judge Patricia Ryan ordered a probation report, recommended psychiatric assessment, and adjourned the case to 13 November for finalisation.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 49‑year‑old Mark Morgan was found not guilty of slitting the throat of 22‑year‑old Dean Purdue on 20 January 2017. The alleged assault took place outside Purdue's family home on Belcamp Lane, Priorswood, where Purdue was seated in his girlfriend's parked car. Purdue described a sudden attack, a jagged four‑centimetre cut, and a subsequent run‑off by the assailant. He identified Morgan as the attacker, but no independent witnesses, CCTV or forensic evidence were presented. Morgan denied the charge, claiming he did not know Purdue personally. After a two‑hour, ten‑minute deliberation, the jury returned a not‑guilty verdict. Judge Pauline Codd thanked the jury for their duty during this difficult time.
In a case involving a Dublin-based Garda officer aged 43, the defence has applied to keep the officer's name unpublished until the trial judge can fully consider the matter. The officer faces charges of threatening to kill or seriously harm his then‑wife and coercing her at their Dublin‑area residence in October 2012. Judge Paula Murphy issued a temporary gag order in July, restricting publication until the circuit court could review the facts. The defence, represented by Breffni Gordon BL, requested that Judge Melanie Greally postpone the decision until the trial judge could examine the issue, arguing that existing media coverage might prejudice the case. Prosecutor Dean Kelly BL informed Judge Elma Sheahan that the State was not opposed to the application. The trial is scheduled for 4 April 2022, with a pre‑trial date on 16 December 2021.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, 49‑year‑old Mark Morgan pleaded not guilty to assault causing harm after allegedly cutting the throat of 22‑year‑old Dean Purdue outside Purdue's family home on 20 January 2017. The jury deliberated after a two‑day hearing before Judge Pauline Codd. Purdue testified that he was seated in his girlfriend's parked car, watching a video, when he felt a nudge and a sudden coldness, then a heat along his neck. He claimed a man, whom he identified as Morgan, shouted at him and fled. Purdue described a four‑centimetre jagged laceration, blood spurt, and subsequent surgery. Morgan denied the attack, stating he did not know Purdue personally and refused to disclose his whereabouts. The prosecution argued the case hinged on Purdue's recognition of Morgan, while the defence highlighted the absence of independent witnesses, CCTV, or forensic evidence. The jury was instructed to consider these points before returning a verdict.
An unnamed 71-year-old man has appealed his conviction and sentence at the Court of Appeal. He was convicted in March 2019 by a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of 72 counts of indecent assault, allegedly committed against his step-daughter between 1973 and 1979. The appellant, who denied the charges, was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment. Counsel Mr Paul Greene SC argued the appeal on five grounds, including a 42-year delay in prosecution, the trial judge's refusal to remove certain counts, and inadequate jury warnings regarding delay and corroboration. He further claimed the trial was unfair due to late-emerging evidence not in the Book of Evidence and issues concerning the victim's mother's whereabouts. The State, represented by Mr Diarmuid Collins BL, countered that no new witnesses could provide detail on the intimate nature of the abuse and that the appellant was not prejudiced by the delay. The three-judge panel, presided over by Mr Justice John Edwards, reserved its decision for a maximum of two weeks before an electronic judgment is released. The matter remains pending and has not been finalised.
A jury in Dublin acquitted a 62‑year‑old man of seven charges of abusing his two nieces in the 1970s. The defendant denied molesting an older niece from age eight to twelve and a younger niece from five to seven. He had pleaded not guilty to ten counts of indecent assault on the older niece at his former address and other Dublin locations between 4 January 1972 and 3 January 1979, and to two counts of indecent assault on the younger niece at his former address and in a car between 6 November 1975 and 5 November 1977. After deliberating for five hours and 32 minutes, the jury returned not‑guilty verdicts on the seven counts. They could not reach verdicts on three counts relating to alleged assaults on the older niece; Judge Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin had directed a not‑guilty verdict on two of those.
David Nevin, 46, of Quay Road, Terryglass, Nenagh, Tipperary, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for a series of fraud offences. He used forged bank statements and payslips to obtain a €40,000 loan and to lease an Audi A5. Nevin pleaded guilty to inducing the hand‑over of the car at Leaseplan in Dublin on 14 June 2018, to presenting a fake AIB statement at Leaseplan Fleet Management Services on 28 May 2018, to using a false payslip in a KBC credit‑card application, and to deceiving a staff member at the Bank of Ireland Operations Centre in Cabinteely to authorise the loan. He had previously repaid €5,500 and brought an additional €1,000 to court. The car was returned to the leasing company. Judge Elma Sheahan noted the offences were pre‑meditated and part of an "aspirational lifestyle." She imposed a two‑year sentence, suspending the final six months.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, a 62‑year‑old man accused of abusing his two nieces appeared at the stand and denied the allegations. He denied molesting the older niece from age eight to twelve and the younger niece from five to seven, and denied any sexual assault in a hay barn, car, motorbike or woodland area. He pleaded not guilty to ten counts of indecent assault against the older niece at his former address and other Dublin locations between 4 January 1972 and 3 January 1979, and to two counts against the younger niece at his former address and in a car between 6 November 1975 and 5 November 1977. He said he first learned of the allegations when Gardaí contacted him in 2016, and denied saying "it is time to put this to bed." The trial continues before Judge Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin and a jury.
Paul Connolly, 38, of Cregg Court, Kilmeague, Robertstown, Co Kildare, dropped his appeal against an eight‑and‑a‑half‑year prison sentence imposed by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in May 2019. Connolly had pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm to Michael Igoe, 54, and Francis Dhala, 19, after driving onto a busy footpath while under the influence of drugs on Coolmine Road on 1 May 2018. The incident left Dhala, a law student, with a catastrophic brain injury. Connolly was driving his young child to school at the time and had a 25‑year driving ban and had been released from prison a month earlier. He also pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of drugs, possession of cannabis, failing to remain at the scene, failing to offer assistance, failing to alert Gardaí, and driving without insurance or a licence. The judge, Melanie Greally, imposed the sentence but suspended the final 18 months.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 62‑year‑old man accused of abusing his two nieces denied molesting either sister. He pleaded not guilty to ten counts of indecent assault against the older niece and two counts against the younger. The younger sister testified that, when she was five or six, the accused had taken her to a wooded area under the pretense of showing her kittens, after which she was forced to lie on the ground with her underwear pulled down. She claimed the man was above her with an erection and told her she could touch it, but she refused. She later told her mother that no kittens were present. The sister also recounted an incident in a car where the accused allegedly wiped her legs with a tissue, claiming it was bird spit but later realizing it was sperm.
A 62‑year‑old Dublin man has gone on trial at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for alleged indecent assault of his two nieces during the 1970s. He denies molesting the older niece when she was eight to twelve years old and the younger niece when she was about five. The prosecution, led by Philip Rahn BL, claims the abuse began in 1972 when the accused was a teenager and living with his mother at a Dublin address. He faces ten counts of indecent assault of the older niece at that address and other Dublin locations between 4 January 1972 and 3 January 1979, and two counts of indecent assault of the younger niece at the same address and in a car between 6 November 1975 and 5 November 1977. The unnamed 62-year-old pleaded not guilty.
A jury has failed to reach a verdict in the trial of two brothers accused of sexually abusing their younger brothers over 40 years ago. The trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard allegations that the defendants repeatedly abused the two children between 1979 and 1988. The eldest brother, now aged 55, pleaded not guilty to 35 sample counts of indecently assaulting his two younger brothers on dates between 1979 and 1985. The second oldest brother, now aged 50, pleaded not guilty to 16 sample counts of indecently assaulting his younger brother between 1985 and 1988. On day six of the trial, the jury of seven women and five men deliberated for just under five hours before the foreperson told Judge James McCourt that they were unable to reach a verdict, stating they were 'deadlocked'. Judge McCourt had earlier directed jurors that the court could accept a majority verdict on which at least ten of them agreed. He thanked the jurors for their service and had been addressing the jury via video-link from his home where he is social isolating because of a close contact with somebody who has Covid 19. After discharging the jury, Judge McCourt remanded the defendants on continuing bail to appear at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on October 12th.
Judge James McCourt, who had close contact with a Covid‑19 case, directed a jury from his home via video link to the Criminal Courts of Justice in Dublin. He informed the jury that he was socially isolating after the contact tested positive, and that he himself had tested negative. The trial concerns two brothers accused of repeatedly indecently assaulting their younger brothers between 1979 and 1988. One complainant testified that he was raped up to 1,200 times over several years. The trial began last week; the jury started deliberations on Thursday but were sent home on Friday because Judge McCourt was absent. The brothers, aged 55 and 50, have pleaded not guilty to 35 and 16 sample counts respectively. The jury, composed of seven women and five men, resumed deliberations this morning. The defendants are not named to protect the complainants' anonymity. The alleged abuse took place at the family home in Dublin. The trial is ongoing.
A 40-year-old man from Longford has pleaded guilty to two counts of resisting arrest at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Brian Farrell initially faced charges of assaulting gardaí and possessing a claw hammer and knuckle duster following an incident at Sallynoggin Road on October 16th, 2016. The prosecution withdrew those charges following his guilty pleas on the second day of trial. Garda evidence during the proceedings indicated that when officers attended Farrell's home, he emerged holding a Pit bull terrier and a claw hammer, and allegedly directed the dog to attack gardaí. Farrell's defence disputed this account, stating he was recording activity outside his home when he was tackled by gardaí. The trial revealed significant disagreement between prosecution and defence regarding the presence of the dog and the nature of the arrest. Judge Martin Nolan remanded Farrell on continuing bail and adjourned sentencing to October 16th. Brian Farrell pleaded not guilty.
At the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Jonathan Coelho (29) was sentenced to 20 months in prison for four counts of dangerous driving, one count of endangering pedestrians, and one count of driving without insurance on July 31, 2019. Coelho had previously pleaded guilty to these charges and admitted to driving at speed through red lights and in the wrong direction in Dublin city centre before crashing into a lamp post. The court heard that Coelho was disqualified from driving in the UK at the time of the incident. Judge Melanie Greally backdated the sentence to account for the time Coelho had spent in custody since his arrest in July 2022. Coelho was acquitted of charges of endangering and assaulting Garda Conor Murray, following a jury's not guilty verdict. His co-accused, Federico Carvalho (31), pleaded not guilty to the same charges and was not sentenced. Coelho's legal representative highlighted his recent cancer diagnosis and requested the sentence be suspended to allow him to return to Italy for treatment. The judge noted that Coelho posed a risk to pedestrians and road users and paid tribute to the gardaí for their efforts in stopping the dangerous driving. The matter was concluded at the sentence stage.
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard evidence in the trial of Dubliner Brian Farrell, who has pleaded not guilty to possession of a claw-hammer and knuckleduster and assaulting two gardai on Sallynoggin Road on October 16, 2016. Garda Garvan Allen testified that he saw the accused emerge from a house holding a pit bull terrier aloft in one hand and a claw hammer in the other. The garda alleged that as officers attempted to arrest him, Farrell shouted instructions to the dog, including "Get them Buster, bite them Buster." Farrell denies any dogs were present that evening. Allen described a melee during which Farrell violently resisted arrest, kicking and scratching officers, resulting in one garda drawing blood. A black metal knuckleduster was found in Farrell's pocket, and a claw-hammer was seized. In cross-examination, defense counsel Eoghan Cole BL presented Farrell's account that he was recording the scene with a phone and torch when tackled by three gardai, claiming he was struck and punched. Allen disputed this, maintaining all violence originated from Farrell. Allen acknowledged that only Farrell had medical evidence of injuries. The trial continues before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury.
A trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court is ongoing regarding allegations of historical sexual abuse by two brothers against their younger siblings. The accused, referred to as 'Unnamed accused,' 'eldest brother,' and 'His brother,' are alleged to have indecently assaulted their younger brothers between 1979 and 1988. All three defendants have pleaded not guilty to the charges. The eldest brother faces 35 sample counts of indecently assaulting his two younger brothers between 1979 and 1985, while 'His brother' faces 16 sample counts of indecently assaulting the youngest brother between 1985 and 1988. The trial has heard that one of the complainants alleged he was raped up to 1,200 times over several years. The defence has argued that the allegations were concocted due to a family will dispute. The jury has begun deliberations and will resume on Friday. The case is at the trial stage with no findings, sentences, or finalisations yet determined.
At the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, the trial of two men accused of indecently assaulting their younger brothers up to 40 years ago continues. The eldest brother, now aged 55 and living in Co Meath, has pleaded not guilty to 35 sample counts of indecently assaulting his two younger brothers between 1979 and 1985. His brother, a 50-year-old Dublin man, has pleaded not guilty to 16 sample counts of indecently assaulting one of the complainants between 1985 and 1988. The sister of the accused testified that she never saw one of the accused sexually assault any of the boys. She stated that there was a dispute in the family over their late mother's will, which lasted for seven years and was a difficult time. Another witness testified that the complainant had approached her years ago, asking her to remember an alleged incident involving his brother. The trial continues before Judge James McCourt.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, two brothers faced charges of indecent assault against their younger siblings, with allegations spanning up to 41 years. One complainant, aged 45, claimed his older brothers, aged 55 and 50, abused him from infancy. He recounted that at six months old, the eldest brother lifted him from a pram and molested him, and later forced him to perform oral sex. The complainant said the abuse was constant by age eight and that the brothers' word was considered gospel in the family. He also mentioned telling a child and family agency worker about memories of being in the womb, though he did not disclose that he had recovered some memories through hypnosis. The 55‑year‑old accused pleaded not guilty to 35 sample counts of indecent assault between 1979 and 1985, while the 50‑year‑old pleaded not guilty to 16 sample counts between 1985 and 1988.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, two men, Jonathan Coelho, 29, and Federico Carvalho, 31, were acquitted of assaulting and endangering Garda Conor Murray. The case centred on an incident on 31 July 2019 at St Lukes' Avenue, Dublin 8, where the accused were driving a vehicle that reversed at speed, causing Garda Murray to be thrown from the car. The jury, after 18 minutes of deliberation, found the men not guilty of the assault and endangerment charges. Coelho had pleaded guilty to dangerous driving offences, admitting he had driven at speed through red lights and in the wrong direction, and had crashed into a lamp post. He was remanded in custody pending sentencing for those dangerous driving charges. Carvalho was discharged from the indictment and released. The trial concluded with the jury's unanimous verdict and the judge adjourned the case for sentencing next Friday.
In the trial of Jonathan Coelho, 29, and Federico Carvalho, 31, the jury heard closing speeches after the defendants were charged with assault causing harm to Garda Conor Murray. The incident occurred on 31 July 2019 when the car, driven by Coelho, reversed at speed with Garda Murray hanging out of the passenger window. Coelho pleaded guilty to dangerous driving charges, admitting he drove at speed through red lights and in the wrong direction, but denied the endangerment charge. Carvalho denied striking the Garda. Garda Murray described being pulled half‑inside the vehicle, the driver kicking him repeatedly, and being thrown from the car after a final kick. The prosecution argued that CCTV and witness testimony proved the defendants' guilt, while the defence contended that the Garda's actions and the defendants' intentions were misrepresented. The jury will be instructed by Judge Melanie Greally on Monday.
During the third day of the trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Jonathan Coelho (29) and Federico Carvalho (31) were heard by a jury about an incident on 31 July 2019 in which Garda Conor Murray was dragged by a car that reversed at speed. Coelho told the court that he had driven off because he had no insurance, claiming he had never had trouble with police before and that his only mistake was not having insurance. He denied punching or kicking the Garda and said he would never attack police. He also said the accelerator was stuck after the crash, causing the car to reverse, and that he was not pressing it. Carvalho, a passenger, said he repeatedly urged the driver to stop and that he was terrified. He denied hitting the Garda and said he would never hurt anyone. Jonathan Coelho pleaded not guilty. Federico Carvalho pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, Lloyd Saunders, aged 32, pleaded not guilty to assault causing harm, false imprisonment and threatening to kill or cause serious harm. The alleged incident occurred on 17 December 2016 at Saunders' Finglas address, where his then‑girlfriend Kelly Evans claimed he assaulted her for at least an hour and a half, including slapping, strangling and threatening her with death. Evans said Saunders had been angry, had taken a drink, and had asked her to leave but she refused. Saunders allegedly propped her up, asked if she was "ready for round two" and then let her leave after the assault. The jury, composed of five women and seven men, could not reach a verdict after three days. Judge Martin Nolan remanded Saunders on continuing bail and adjourned the case to 6 October. The trial was the first criminal trial in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court since March of that year.
On 31 July 2019, Jonathan Coelho, 29, drove a car at speed through red lights in Dublin, crashing into a lamp post. He pleaded guilty to dangerous driving charges. Coelho and Federico Carvalho, 31, are accused of assaulting Garda Conor Murray, who was dragged into the moving vehicle's passenger side window. Murray claims he was pulled in, struggled, and was kicked repeatedly, including a final kick to his face, before being thrown out. He also alleges the driver kicked him with his left foot while the car was moving, a claim his counsel deems mechanically impossible. Murray disputes this, stating the car was moving at speed and that he was struck multiple times. The trial is ongoing before Judge Melanie Greally and a jury.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, Lloyd Saunders, aged 32, pleaded not guilty to assault causing harm, false imprisonment and a threat to kill or cause serious harm. The alleged incident occurred on 17 December 2016 at Saunders' home in Finglas, where his then‑girlfriend, Kelly Evans, was reportedly confined to a bedroom and subjected to slapping and strangulation lasting at least an hour and a half. Saunders told Gardaí that Evans had marks on her face when she arrived, describing them as "not that bad", and that she had cried when he refused to let her stay. He also claimed Evans had faked a 999 call and that a tyre puncture was caused by a third party. Evans' medical report listed bruising on her eyes, forehead, hairline, neck, arms, chest and legs, with no fractures. The case is being heard by Judge Martin Nolan with a jury of five women and seven men. The trial continues tomorrow.
During a trial in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Garda Conor Murray recounted an incident on 31 July 2019 in which he was attacked and dragged by a reversing car. He claimed he had been holding the handbrake lever while his legs dangled from the passenger window. After the vehicle, driven by Jonathan Coelho (29) and with Federico Carvalho (31) as passenger, crashed into a lamp post following a high‑speed chase, Murray said he was pulled into the car as the driver started it again. He described being struck by punches and kicks, the passenger kneeling on him, and both men shouting in a foreign language and repeatedly saying "fuck you." Murray said he struggled to escape, was thrown from the car, and was dragged a short distance before the vehicle stopped. He sustained serious injuries, was taken to hospital, and the case remains before Judge Melanie Greally and a jury. The unnamed accused pleaded guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Lloyd Saunders, aged 32, pleaded not guilty to assault causing harm, false imprisonment and a threat to kill after allegedly slapping and strangling his girlfriend for at least an hour and a half in his bedroom in December 2016. The prosecution, led by Garrett McCormack BL, described the incident as the first criminal trial in the court since March of that year. Kelly Evans, the victim, testified that Saunders arrived an hour late, became angry, and after refusing to leave, repeatedly slapped her and strangled her while she fought and screamed. She claimed he threatened to kill her if she moved and that the assault ended when she fled, leaving her keys and glasses behind. Evans called 999 after leaving and a recording of the call was played in court.
Stephen Power, director of SM Logistics, was jailed for six months after pleading guilty to four counts of filing incorrect end‑of‑year tax returns and four counts of failing to pay income tax between 2010 and 2013. He created bogus invoices purporting to be from a French consultancy that never worked for his company, using the money to pay mortgages on French property. The tax avoided was €47,700, including corporate and income tax. The case arose after a random audit of SM Logistics in 2012 and a personal audit of Power. Judge Martin Nolan noted that early cooperation with Revenue could have avoided prosecution. Power was sentenced to 18 months, with the final year suspended, and the company was fined €500. He has no prior convictions and has repaid the tax owed to Revenue.
A 67-year-old Co Monaghan farmer has been sentenced to eight years imprisonment, with the final two years suspended, following his conviction for sexual assaults on his grandchildren. Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard the abuse came to light in late 2014 when one child disclosed to her mother that her grandfather had exposed her to explicit material before committing a sexual assault. Two further grandchildren subsequently reported similar offences during sleepovers at his home. The man initially denied the allegations and attempted to shift blame to another family member. Judge Patricia Ryan described the victim impact statements as harrowing, noting the offences represented a profound breach of trust within a family setting where the children should have been safe. She acknowledged his previously good character but imposed the custodial sentence reflecting the severity of the crimes and their lasting impact on the victims.
Cahir O'Higgins, a 45‑year‑old criminal defence solicitor, appeared before the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to set a trial date for charges of theft and perverting the course of justice. He is accused of stealing €400 from Raul Sanz Quilis at a Londis shop on 30 July 2016 and of giving Detective Garda Colm Kelly false notes in December 2017. O'Higgins denies the allegations. His barrister, Karl Monahan BL, told the court that the prosecution has severely damaged his personal and professional life and that he wishes to confront the case head‑on and restore his reputation. Judge Martin Nolan, citing a backlog of custody cases, scheduled a pre‑trial hearing for 10 March 2022 and a trial for 4 April 2022. O'Higgins will be defended by Michael O'Higgins SC, while Ronan Kennedy SC prosecutes the matter. The judge allowed Kennedy to refer to the case in October if another issue arises.
In a case heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Luka Tomljanovic, aged 33, pleaded guilty to two counts of assault causing harm after punching sisters Aoife and Shauna O'Connor at Sam's Bar, Dawson Street, on 19 January 2019. The incident began when a bottle smashed Aoife's glass, leading to a confrontation between Tomljanovic's fiancée and the sisters. Tomljanovic entered the altercation, delivering nine punches, two to Aoife's face and one to Shauna's face, before being restrained by security. He claimed he was defending his fiancée, who had been pulled by hair. The court accepted his apology and a €2,500 compensation offer. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to 12 months imprisonment, fully suspended, with the condition that he hand over the compensation to the victims or a domestic‑violence charity if they decline it. The judge noted the incident was a one‑off, out‑of‑character event and that Tomljanovic had no prior convictions.
Sonia Collins, 38, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to one count of possessing cannabis for sale or supply at her home in Kilcronan Avenue, Clondalkin, Dublin, on March 4 last year. The court heard that Collins told gardaí she was under financial pressure ahead of her child's confirmation and had incurred a €200 drug debt after purchasing cocaine for social use. She claimed she agreed to hold the drugs for a short period but they were never collected. Garda Vincent Jaffray testified that officers searched the residence following a tip-off, and Collins immediately showed them the cannabis stored under the stairs. A small child was present during the search, and Collins was not arrested on the spot; she presented at Tallaght Garda Station days later to be charged. Collins declined to identify the person who supplied the drugs, citing safety fears. Defence counsel James Dwyer SC highlighted mitigating factors, including her status as a single mother of three, her early guilty plea, cooperation with gardaí, and lack of significant criminal history, arguing against the mandatory minimum sentence. Judge Melanie Greally suspended a prison sentence of two-and-a-half years on the condition that Collins remain drug-free.
A 20‑year‑old named Nathan Flynn was jailed for three‑and‑a‑half years after being repeatedly caught by Gardaí selling cannabis, cocaine and heroin from a vacant cabin in Rossfield Park, Tallaght. Flynn, who lived in the cabin, was arrested six times between June and August 2019, each time with drugs and cash seized. He pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply at the cabin and at his former address in Killinarden Heights. The court noted that Flynn was homeless and had been kicked out by his mother because of his drug use. The judge described his behaviour as "pretty stupid" and said he was probably working for someone else. Flynn's sentence was imposed for his repeated misbehaviour.
Robert Cullen, aged 28, was sentenced to seven-and-a-half years in prison for attempting to rob Paddocks Pub in Clonee on 11 June 2018. He entered the pub with a sawn‑off shotgun, threatened two workers with the gun, and fired four shots while they were hiding in an office. Cullen also threw a heater through a window to "draw attention to their plight." He fled in a car that was later found burnt out. Cullen pleaded guilty to attempted robbery, possession of a double‑barrelled sawn‑off shotgun and discharging a firearm. He has 44 prior convictions, including robbery and obstruction, and was already serving sentences for other offences with a release date of 30 November 2023. The judge described the weapon as "vile" and the act of threatening the workers as "very heinous.".
In a Dublin District Court hearing, lawyers for a 43‑year‑old Garda accused of threatening to kill his wife in October 2012 sought a gag order to prevent the media from publishing the officer's name. The officer faces charges of threatening serious harm and coercion at the same address. Judge Paula Murphy had earlier issued a temporary gag order, restricting publication until the case was fully presented before the circuit court. The matter was forwarded for trial and appeared for mention at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Breffni Gordon, the defendant's counsel, requested the continuation of the restrictions, arguing that the case contains deeply private material and that naming the defendant could expose other parties. Dean Kelly, representing the DPP, noted that the test for restricting publication is whether it would affect the right to a fair trial. Judge Melanie Greally expressed uncertainty that publishing the name would jeopardise the trial's fairness but acknowledged potential privacy concerns.
Martin Kenny, 48, was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment for three robberies committed over 15 months. The first robbery took place at a local bookmaker's on 11 January 2019, where Kenny grabbed a woman in her 60s, held a knife to her throat, demanded cash and fled with €190 after punching another customer. The second robbery occurred on 30 March 2019 at the South Circular Road, where he stole €300. The third robbery was on 18 April 2020 at a Maxol petrol station, where he pointed a knife at a staff member, demanded €50 notes and left with €400. Kenny was arrested at a Luas stop after the third incident. He pleaded guilty to robbery and assault causing harm. Judge Sarah Berkeley imposed a consecutive sentence of eight years, suspending the final two years on the condition that he engage with the Probation Service for two years upon release.
Patrick Kelly, 52, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment by Judge Melanie Greally at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for sexually assaulting two teenage girls while he was their Taekwon-Do instructor. The victims, now aged 20 and 23, waived anonymity and provided victim impact statements. Kelly had previously been convicted in December 2017 of sexual assault and exploitation of two children, receiving a nine‑year sentence, and in the Central Criminal Court a consecutive four‑year term for rape, sexual assault and exploitation of a girl he met at a bus stop. The new sentence follows Kelly's guilty pleas to three offences: forcefully kissing and grabbing the first victim's bottom in mid‑2014, and grabbing, kissing and touching the second victim's bottom between July 2011 and July 2012. Judge Greally noted the abuse's devastating impact, Kelly's lewd text‑message conduct, and the victims' lasting fear and loss of trust.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Charlie Magaharan, aged 25, received an 18‑month suspended prison sentence for assaulting three men during a violent attack that began when he was seen kicking a city‑rental bike. The incident, captured on CCTV, involved Magaharan and three accomplices who assaulted Lorcan Travers, Peter Hardy, and Marcus Thomas. Travers suffered a concussion, fractured cheekbone and sprained ankle; Hardy sustained cuts, a dislocated shoulder and a black eye; Thomas had a fractured eye socket, lip cuts and a sprained shoulder. Magaharan pleaded guilty to three counts of assault causing harm, admitted the fight, expressed remorse and apologized to the victims, offering €1,000 each. The judge considered his guilty plea, remorse, young age and employment history, and imposed the suspended sentence while ordering probation and engagement with Probation Services.
Jordan Fay, 25, was jailed for three years after setting fire to a wheelie bin in the underground carpark of an apartment complex, causing €40,450 worth of damage. Fay entered the carpark by forcing his way into a security hut, claiming to be a security guard, and was arrested when Gardaí arrived. He pleaded guilty to arson at Parkgate Place, Parkgate Street, Dublin 8, on 3 November 2018, and a charge of stealing a phone and high‑visibility jacket was also taken into account. Fay had 53 previous convictions, all dealt with in the District Court. The court noted his drug addiction and intoxication at the time of arrest, and he was found to have no obvious or malicious motive. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a four‑year custodial sentence, suspended the final year on condition that Fay engage with the Probation Service for a year upon release.
Stephen Kearney, 35, a convicted killer with 113 prior convictions, was jailed for one year after robbing a Centra shop in Santry on 12 February 2019. He had previously pleaded guilty to a robbery of a wallet and bag in Dublin on 2 July 2018. On the day of the 2019 robbery, Kearney bought a can of coke and a bag of jellies, left the shop, returned minutes later in new clothes and a snood, addressed the shopkeeper by name, produced a firearm and demanded the till be opened, taking €250. He was known to the shopkeeper and had recently visited his mother. The judge imposed a concurrent one‑year term for both offences, to be served consecutively to his existing sentence. Kearney admitted to using the robbery proceeds to buy crack cocaine and heroin. The victim's impact statement noted no ill effect on her, and Kearney was described as remorseful and struggling with addiction.
In a robbery at the Allied Irish Bank on Westmoreland Street, Dublin, 34‑year‑old Gareth Flynn demanded €14,000, threatened to shoot if the panic alarm was pressed, and fled after the alarm was triggered. He later left Ireland but returned to the Garda station in November, where he admitted the crime and was found attempting to hide Zopiclone tablets in his trousers. Flynn's bag, found near the scene, contained his clothes and a work pass with his photo. He pleaded guilty to robbery, threat to kill or cause serious injury, and possession of drugs. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to 40 months' imprisonment, noting Flynn's remorse and the lack of pre‑planning. The case highlighted Flynn's troubled background and the ease of his detection due to his own mistakes.
Rebecca Coates, aged 45, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to arson at Avondale Park, Mulhuddart, on 10 March 2019. She set fire to her sister's camper van after a verbal disagreement at a hen party in the city centre. Coates used an empty bottle of Prosecco and nail polish remover as an accelerant, intending to frighten her sister. The fire was discovered by her nephew, who extinguished it, and the damage amounted to €800. Judge Pauline Codd noted Coates' mental health decline following her daughter's suicide in 2017 and her history of domestic violence. She sentenced Coates to four years' imprisonment, suspended in full, with strict conditions including compliance with the Probation Service for two years and payment of €800 to the prosecuting Garda within six months. The injured party may nominate a charity to receive the money.
A 50-year-old Dublin man has been sentenced to six years and nine months imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for sexually abusing his step-daughter and secretly recording her in the bathroom. The man pleaded guilty to sexual assault, producing child pornography, and distributing child pornography between 2014 and 2016. A search of his home uncovered 96 videos and 82 images of child abuse material across two devices. The recordings were sent to another man in Donegal. Judge Elma Sheahan noted the deliberate nature of the concealed camera, hidden inside a clock, and described it as a continuation of the abuse itself. The victim, who was aged 12 or 13 at the time of the assault, delivered an impact statement describing lasting psychological harm. The final nine months of the sentence have been suspended on condition of two years' probation supervision following release.
Paul O'Leary, 51, of Follyhouse Lane, New Ross, pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply after a Garda surveillance operation uncovered two cardboard boxes containing just over 17 kg of cannabis with a street value of €350,104 in his van. O'Leary's role was described by his lawyers and the Garda as that of a courier; he had no wider involvement in the drug transfer. He had two minor previous convictions for public order offences and no criminal history beyond that. O'Leary had advertised himself online as a "man with a van" offering delivery jobs to escape debt, a strategy that attracted others. He expressed deep shame and remorse, and his counsel highlighted his ordinary background, employment history, and community contributions. Judge Melanie Greally adjourned sentencing to 16 November 2020 to allow a probation report to be prepared.