Peter Brazil, 41, was caught on CCTV stealing six kegs of beer from The Great Wood Wetherspoons Pub in Blanchardstown on 7 September 2016. He pleaded guilty to theft of €800 worth of Fosters and Beamish kegs. Brazil, who has 268 previous convictions, was identified by Gardaí and is the driver of a white transit van that transported the stolen kegs. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, and sentencing is adjourned to 2 November, with a court order for him to engage with the Probation Service on methadone.
Patrick Harte, 78, a former school teacher, was due to be sentenced in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for indecent assault of seven primary school boys at Synge Street between 1968 and 1970. He had been convicted in March of the previous year on eleven counts. Harte, who is on bail, did not attend the sentencing hearing; his defence lawyer, Patrick Gageby SC, submitted medical documents on his behalf, citing diabetes, chronic heart disease and the risk of COVID‑19 for someone over 70. Gageby requested a two‑month adjournment, arguing that Harte should not be compelled to attend court during the pandemic. Prosecutor Anne Rowland SC opposed the application, noting that five victims were present and that the case required finality. Judge Martin Nolan acknowledged Harte's health but ruled that the sentence must proceed, adjourned the hearing to the next day and scheduled it for 4 pm, when the court building would be relatively empty. Harte denied the allegations.
John Lawrence, 29, was spared a prison sentence after pleading guilty to possession of a stolen caravan and driving dangerously in a high‑speed pursuit. The court heard that he had completed an addiction studies programme and was volunteering as a mentor in a prison after‑care programme, a role described as "inspiring" by professionals. Lawrence, from Drogheda, drove a Jeep towing a €12,000 caravan stolen from Hertfordshire, England, at speeds over 140 km/h in a 100 km/h zone, forcing gardaí and the public to avoid collisions. He had prior convictions for theft, deception and traffic offences. Judge Karen O'Connor, after hearing mitigation, suspended a two‑year prison term on the condition that Lawrence continue his studies and voluntary work with prisoners.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Michael Doyle, aged 52, was found guilty of two counts of exposure after an incident on Rathmines Road. Doyle had consumed a bottle of wine in addition to prescribed medication, including Diazepam and sleeping tablets, and was described as "off in his own world." While seated in his car with his 11‑year‑old son, he was seen dancing near a tree outside the Swan leisure centre, pulling at his pants and then exposing his penis to passers‑by, including elderly ladies and a woman with her five‑year‑old grandson. Doyle began touching himself, raised his arms, and verbally abused a Garda, calling him "prick" and "cunt." He pleaded guilty on 24 June 2017. Judge Karen O'Connor imposed a 12‑month prison term, suspended on the condition of good behaviour and compliance with Probation Service directions, citing Doyle's vulnerability, addiction issues and lack of prior convictions for similar offences.
James McDonagh, aged 33, was sentenced to two-and-a-half years' imprisonment after pleading guilty to two counts of attempted robbery and one count of assault causing harm. On 15 March 2020, while intoxicated, he approached two women returning from IKEA, claiming his girlfriend had coronavirus, and attempted to steal handbags, kicking and punching when they resisted. A third woman intervened, leading McDonagh to target her handbag; both women fell and the incident was recorded. Later that day he assaulted Patrick Sylvester, punching him and throwing a traffic cone. McDonagh admitted drinking that day and cited prior alcohol problems. He has 55 previous convictions, including assault and public order offences, and has two children. Judge Martin Nolan emphasised that McDonagh should stop drinking if he wishes to reform. The court imposed the two-and-a-half year custodial sentence.
Deborah Malcolmson, 43, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for stabbing her former partner, Brian Kelly, 56, in their home on 29 July 2019, an act that left him seriously injured and requiring a colostomy bag. The court heard that the couple had a "dysfunctional" and "combustible" relationship, with both experiencing alcohol problems and periods of homelessness. Malcolmson also pleaded guilty to threatening Kelly's son and assaulting Kelly in St James Hospital on 11 September 2019, when she swung a punch at him while he was receiving treatment. The judge noted her long‑term alcohol difficulties and her early guilty plea, but imposed the sentence without a medical report that might have elevated the charge. She has 52 prior convictions and was living without a fixed abode at the time of sentencing. The court considered her history of violence and alcohol issues but did not alter the three‑year term.
A 29‑year‑old Italian man was sentenced to two‑and‑a‑half years in jail for sexually assaulting his flatmate while she slept on a couch in their Dublin home on 27 April 2018. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in January. The Court of Appeal found the original sentence excessive and reduced it by six months, leaving a final term of two‑and‑a‑half years with six months suspended. The judge accepted the man's expressions of shame and remorse but deemed a jail term necessary due to the severity of the offence and the victim's trauma. A condition was imposed requiring the man to stay away from the victim for four years. The appeal was heard by Justices Birmingham, McCarthy and Kennedy, who set the headline sentence at four years before applying the suspension and condition. The case remains at the appeal stage.
William Kinlan, 36, with 206 prior convictions, was jailed for 16 months after stealing a phone from a young woman on a bus stop in Dublin. He cycled past the victim, took her phone, and left it on a windowsill. Garda Michael O'Donnell, who heard the woman scream, recognised Kinlan and pursued him, arresting him on the spot. Kinlan claimed he was a drug addict needing money to repay a drug debt. He pleaded guilty to theft at O'Connell Street on 29 February 2020, the same offence for which he had just been released from a previous sentence. The phone was returned to the victim. Judge Martin Nolan, noting Kinlan's extensive criminal history and drug addiction, imposed a 16‑month sentence consecutive to the term he was already serving, expressing doubt about his likelihood of reform. The case was prosecuted by Maurice Coffey BL and defended by Derek Cooney BL.
In December 2018, Tomi Jinad, a 24‑year‑old KBC bank customer‑services worker, deactivated a security feature that required customers to receive a text‑message authorisation code for online transactions. This action enabled approximately 100 fraudulent transactions totalling €21,460, with individual amounts ranging from €100 to about €500. Jinad passed account details to unidentified parties. He pleaded guilty to multiple counts of unlawfully operating a computer to gain or cause loss to others. The offences occurred between 22 and 30 December 2018. Jinad had a prior drug‑dealing conviction and claimed he was persuaded by others to act. He did not receive any money. The court noted his apology, youth, and that he ceased the activity before the investigation. Judge Patricia Ryan suspended a two‑and‑a‑half‑year prison sentence for four years, conditioned on peace‑keeping, and ordered annual payments of €5,200 until the stolen sum was repaid.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 2 July 2020, 27‑year‑old Emilio Flynn pleaded guilty to robbery, false imprisonment and extortion after he attacked Dr Patrick Duffy on Buckingham Street on 26 June 2015. Flynn approached the doctor after his shift at James' Hospital, demanded his wallet and phone, and after the doctor withdrew cash at an ATM, Flynn took the money and later returned the SIM card. He then wrote a note demanding further payment, threatening that the doctor would be "done" if he did not comply. Flynn, who was homeless at the time and claimed his judgment was affected by medication, admitted to 29 prior convictions. Judge Elma Sheahan, noting Flynn's role as a father of four, imposed a 12‑month probation bond, requiring him to remain drug‑ and alcohol‑free and to attend anger‑management and grief‑counselling sessions. No custodial sentence was imposed.
In July 2020, Gerard Griffin, aged 63, was remanded in custody after a series of violent incidents involving chef Bilal Ahmed at the Chicken Hut on Clanbrassil Street. Griffin had previously damaged the restaurant in 2017 with a hockey stick, smashing glass counters, displays, and CCTV cameras, and had assaulted Ahmed. In February 2020, while Ahmed was waiting outside the restaurant, Griffin stabbed him in the right hand with a kitchen knife. Griffin also inflicted a superficial wound on his own throat with a Stanley blade during a confrontation with Gardaí, who described a "siege" in his apartment where he threatened to pour boiling water and use booby traps. He pleaded guilty to assault, criminal damage, and threats of serious harm. The court remanded him pending sentencing, with a judge noting his history of 30 prior convictions and alleged mental collapse. The chef remains injured, suffering stiffness and pain in his right arm.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Judge Martin Nolan explained that Patrick O'Neill, 27, had a lifelong neurological development disorder stemming from a birth brain injury, which severely impaired his cognitive function. O'Neill had been caught in October 2017 with over €50,000 worth of heroin, cocaine and cannabis at his home in Kilronan View, Clondalkin, and pleaded guilty to possession for sale or supply. He had previously received a four‑month prison sentence in 2018 for drug dealing. The judge noted that O'Neill's condition made him vulnerable to manipulation by more serious criminals, who could exploit his weaknesses. He was concerned that O'Neill, despite knowing right from wrong, might be re‑exploited and re‑offend. Consequently, the judge suspended a four‑year prison term on the condition that O'Neill continue to engage with Probation Services.
Mark Egan, 41, of Cabra Road, Dublin 7, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to two burglaries and one attempted burglary at Bishop Street, Dublin 8, on May 28, 2019. Prosecution evidence presented by Garda Greg Moroney alleged that Egan entered a building housing multiple organisations, stealing laptops valued at €4,700 and cash from two companies, while ransacking the offices of a third without taking items. Egan admitted responsibility during interview after viewing CCTV footage, noting he was on medication that prevented him from recalling the events. Judge Melanie Greally acknowledged Egan's 41 previous convictions and his history of relapse following a probation bond, but commended his recent successful supervision and efforts to address addiction. During the hearing, Egan requested to remain in custody to complete a two-month drugs course at Mountjoy Prison. The judge agreed to finalise sentencing, imposing a three-year prison term. However, she suspended the final two years of the sentence on strict conditions. The sentence was backdated to January 17, the date Egan first went into custody, resulting in an effective custody period of one year.
In September 2015 a low‑level drug dealer, Ciarán Murphy (29), was stabbed 16 times and set on fire at his home in Coolcor, Offaly, after his ex‑girlfriend spread a false rumour that he was a Garda informant. Murphy suffered 96 % burns from the neck down, multiple stab wounds including to the heart cavity, and lost both ears. He was treated at Tullamore Regional Hospital and later St James's Hospital, Dublin, undergoing several emergency surgeries and skin grafts. David Keena (21) was remanded in custody after admitting he was present when Shaun Groome (31) stabbed Murphy and poured petrol over him. Keena pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm and criminal damage by arson. Groome had been charged with assault causing serious harm in November 2015, but no prosecution has yet taken place. The case was adjourned to 28 July 2020 for sentencing.
James Holland, aged 52, was convicted of possessing €900,000 worth of cannabis resin for sale or supply. He was arrested in 2009, fled to the UK where he lived homeless for several years, and returned to Ireland in April 2024 to surrender to Gardaí. The offence involved moving the drugs from a truck to an industrial unit in Donabate and then transporting them in a van that was stopped in Dunboyne, where 150 kilos of resin were seized. Holland pleaded guilty to the single charge. He has a prior minor conviction from 2004. The court heard he had been a community worker and minibus driver until his relationships and employment collapsed, leading to debt and involvement with drug traffickers. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to five and a half years in prison, noting his difficult circumstances and low likelihood of re‑offending.
Mark Skelly, aged 19, was found in possession of a rare Mac‑10 machine pistol, ammunition and a silencer at his father's home in Ballyfermot on 21 May 2019. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of the firearm. The weapon, capable of firing 1,140 rounds per minute, was discovered in a wheelie bin. Skelly claimed he had a "level of knowledge" about firearms from playing the computer game Call of Duty, and admitted having discharged the gun previously, though he did not provide details. He had no prior convictions, left school at 15, and had begun abusing cocaine and cannabis. The court remanded him in custody pending sentencing on 21 July, revoking his bail. The case was adjourned for sentencing, with the prosecution noting the high‑velocity nature of the weapon and the defendant's drug‑related debt as key factors in the prosecution's case.
Thomas Green (20), of Bluebell, Dublin 8, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to arson at Oberstown Children Detention Campus on August 29, 2016. He also admitted two charges of unlawful use of a vehicle and one count of robbery involving two mobiles and cash. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a total of five years imprisonment, suspending the final year. The court noted Green had 93 previous convictions and a drug problem. Prosecution evidence described Green as playing an active role in the incident, which caused €3 million in damage to the unit. In related matters, co-accused Shane Farrelly (20) was previously jailed for two years after pleading guilty to public disorder and damaging property at the centre. Three other youths who pleaded guilty to arson were jailed for five years, with the final two years suspended. Green was not charged with stealing the vehicles he drove, nor with damage to a convenience store or a jewellery shop, though he admitted shattering a window in the latter. The judge acknowledged Green's apology and potential for rehabilitation.
Daragh Hart, 27, of Dublin 12, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to three counts of criminal damage to railings and two vehicles at Harold's Cross on October 17, 2019. He also admitted to failing to provide an oral sample and driving without insurance or a licence. The court heard that Hart was driving at high speed, causing his car to become "semi-airborne" before colliding with a Ford Ranger and a Skoda, resulting in approximately €6,000 in damage to the railings and both vehicles being written off. Garda DJ O'Connor testified that Hart had trouble standing and was visually impaired post-crash. Judge Pauline Codd noted that Hart's actions turned the car into a "deadly weapon." Hart is currently serving a lengthy prison sentence for false imprisonment convicted at Wexford Circuit Court. Judge Codd banned him from driving for eight years and suspended the final 18 months of a six-year sentence, conditional on his engagement with Probation Services.
Ricardo De Freitas Correia, a 34-year-old Portuguese national with an address in Dublin 15, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to deception and theft offences. The charges related to incidents in May 2019 at retail locations in Blanchardstown, Clondalkin, Swords and Tallaght. Gardaí established that Correia had exploited a debit card processing vulnerability, removing cards when machines prompted him to do so, then swiping them again to complete purchases without entering PINs. He acquired approximately €400 worth of goods including a watch, video games, perfume and an electric toothbrush through this method. All property was recovered. The court heard Correia was acting under direction from another person. Judge Elma Sheahan described the offending as organised and noted Correia's considerable knowledge of circumventing security measures. She imposed a two-and-a-half-year sentence, fully suspended on condition of Probation Service supervision following completion of a sentence he was already serving.
Edwards Wall, 46, was sentenced to 16 months in prison for two burglaries at The Well pub in Dublin. He had 177 prior convictions, including 68 for burglary. On January 8, 2020, CCTV captured him entering a restricted area of the pub and stealing six bottles of Jameson whiskey worth €360. Two days later he returned and stole another six bottles. No items were recovered. Wall pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He was arrested on January 11, 2020, and has been in custody since. The judge noted his extensive criminal record, drug addiction, and that the thefts were discovered by "happenstance." He described Wall as "not a very accomplished burglar" and highlighted the seriousness of burglary, imposing the sentence backdated to account for time already spent in custody. The sentence was imposed during the Covid‑19 pandemic, limiting family visits. The court did not mention any future appeals or additional charges.
Aaron Byrne, 20, of Knowth Court, Poppintree, Dublin, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment after Gardaí seized nearly €100,000 worth of cannabis from him on 28 September 2019. Byrne, who has prior convictions for drug dealing, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession for sale or supply. Garda Kevin Brennan reported that Byrne and another man were seen at a waste ground called "Seven Pitches" near an IKEA store, placing cannabis into clear plastic bags. Byrne fled but was apprehended; the other man was injured in a motorbike crash. Byrne's mother wrote that he had turned to drugs after his sister's death seven years earlier. Judge Martin Nolan noted Byrne's previous record and the seriousness of the drug amount, but also acknowledged his potential for reform, before back‑dating the sentence to the date of arrest.
In a drunken brawl on 24 April 2018, Natalie Mulligan (33), Mark Connolly (25) and Stephen McNamee (25) pleaded guilty to three assault‑causing‑harm charges after a derogatory remark about Mulligan's weight triggered a fight. The incident began when Paul O'Kelly, a graphic designer, was denied entry to a pub in Rathmines. O'Kelly approached Mulligan, who was eating a kebab, and made a comment about her weight. A confrontation ensued, involving members of a local GAA club. The trio then attacked O'Kelly in the car park of Rathmines Garda Station, punching and kicking him while he lay on the ground. CCTV footage showed the assault, leading to the defendants' remorse and acceptance of responsibility. O'Kelly suffered nerve damage to his thumb, required surgery, and has undergone counselling. Sentencing was adjourned to October, with the court awaiting the victim's wishes regarding restitution. The defendants had no prior convictions and expressed genuine remorse. The case remains at the sentencing stage.
Jamie McMahon, 19, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and to making threats to kill or cause serious harm on 23 October 2018. The attacks occurred at Snugboro Road Extension and West Way View, where he repeatedly punched and bit his foster mother, Anne Hogan, and threatened to kill her. McMahon had been in Hogan's care since infancy and had no prior convictions. The court, hearing Hogan's letter urging the court not to incarcerate him, imposed a fully suspended three‑year sentence on strict conditions, including 12 months of probation and limited, mediated contact with the victim. He remains in a residential care centre following the offence. The judge described the assault as very serious and noted Hogan's long‑term care of McMahon.
Jagpal Alsingh, a 50‑year‑old from Glasgow, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for attempting to lodge a counterfeit €568,100 bank draft. The court heard that Alsingh had created a Bank of Ireland account in February 2019 using a forged utility bill to supply an address. On 2 September 2019 he was arrested at the Bank of Ireland on O'Connell Street after a teller noticed the draft was not genuine – it lacked a hologram and used incorrect ink and colour. He had also tried to lodge a similar draft at Dublin Airport on 14 May 2019, which was flagged and retained by the bank, causing no loss. Alsingh pleaded guilty, admitted setting up the account with false documents, and claimed he was unaware the drafts were fake.
Judge Melanie Greally adjourned the case of former soldier John McElroy, 60, who was found with 1.1 kg of cocaine worth €70,840 in his car in Cabra, Dublin, on 25 January 2020. McElroy, who had a clean record and was on disability benefit after a cancer diagnosis, claimed he had only accepted the package an hour earlier to pay €200 toward his son's €50,000 drug debt. He pleaded guilty to possessing cocaine for sale or supply. At the sentencing hearing, defence solicitor Dominic McGinn argued the case was exceptional due to McElroy's health and his son's situation, questioning the public interest in incarceration. Judge Greally warned that engaging with drug dealers out of fear is not the answer, and said the matter would be finalised on 19 March 2021. The court noted McElroy had no prior involvement in the drug scene and that the incident was a one‑off attempt to help his son.
Ibrahim Azeez, 28, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to handling two stolen laptops, a phone and a camera that had been bought through a fake PayPal account. The items, worth €2,875, were sent by registered post to a man in Lucan who never paid. A post office worker, suspicious of fake ID, reported the incident; CCTV and a utility bill linked the man's car registration to Azeez, leading to his arrest. Azeez denied wrongdoing and claimed he would raise money to reimburse the owners. The court described the offence as a devious crime but, finding it unfair to imprison him, Judge Martin Nolan imposed a suspended sentence of two and a half years. Azeez must pay €3,000 within a month and an additional €2,000 within 12 months to the victims, with the full sentence suspended on that condition.
Graeme Burke, aged 34, was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment after he was found storing over €1.3 million worth of cocaine in a rented storage unit. He had leased the unit in his own name and used his personal documents to secure the lease. Two encrypted mobile phones were discovered in his possession; Garda Redmond O'Leary explained that such devices are costly to run and are typically used by organised crime gangs, making the information on them inaccessible to law enforcement. Burke pleaded guilty to possession of 19 kg of cocaine, valued at €1.336 million, at a storage facility on the N2 in Ashbourne. He had three prior convictions, including a four‑year suspended sentence for robbery in 2005. The judge noted that Burke's role involved storing, transporting and distributing the drugs and that he had been equipped with the encrypted phones. He was jailed for eight years.
Patrick Byrne, 23, pleaded guilty to attempted robbery and assault with a knife in Clondalkin on 9 October 2018. Byrne approached David Cleary, 41, who was visiting his mother, and demanded money. When Cleary refused, Byrne attacked him with a knife, kicking him to the ground and inflicting cuts to his back, index finger and eye. Cleary sustained significant visual impairment from the eye injury. Byrne, who has 21 prior convictions including robbery and assault, was sentenced to six‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended on strict conditions. The sentence will run concurrently with the five‑year term he is currently serving for other offences, including possession of drugs. The judge noted Byrne's history of addiction and the victim's status as a vulnerable person. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Shane Halpin, 25, of Lusk, Co Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assaulting Garda Derek Dalton, causing him harm, at his address on September 2, 2018. Judge Melanie Greally desisted from imposing a sentence and discharged Halpin from the indictment forthwith. The judge previously imposed an indicative sentence of two years imprisonment, deferred until April 1, contingent on Halpin complying with a bond to keep the peace and be of good behaviour. The case was automatically referred to the current date due to the pandemic. Judge Greally invoked an exceptional provision to minimise the effect of the conviction, describing the incident as a complete aberration for a defendant with no previous convictions. Prosecution evidence stated that Garda Dalton had driven the intoxicated Halpin home after finding him unconscious on the road. Halpin allegedly became aggressive, grappling with the garda, ripping his radio and torch, and biting him on the hand and knee. Garda Dalton suffered a fractured hand bone, bites, and a groin injury, preventing him from returning to duty for six months. The judge directed Halpin to hand over €3,000 to Little Blue Heroes, a charity nominated by Garda Dalton.
Brandon Giltrap, 21, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession for sale or supply of cocaine (estimated €16,000 street value) and heroin (worth €1,633), and to possession of €8,039 proceeds of crime under the Money Laundering Act 2010. The charges followed a Garda search of his family home in Clondalkin on 8 November 2018, where investigators found the drugs, €19,000 in cash, weighing scales, mixing agents and bagging material. Giltrap had no prior convictions. In court, his defence counsel, Anne Rowland SC, explained that the death of his mother when he was 12 had left him with a drug debt that his father later cleared. Judge Pauline Codd set a headline sentence of six years, then suspended a prison term of four and a half years on the condition that Giltrap engage with Probation Services for that period.
Derek Carrick, aged 43, was sentenced to five and a half years' imprisonment after pleading guilty to aggravated burglary in Ballyfermot on 11 February 2019 and unlawfully seizing a car on 10 October 2019. Carrick, a nephew of three brothers in their 50s and 60s, entered their home armed with knives and wearing a balaclava. Two brothers were held at knife‑point downstairs while Carrick took a third victim upstairs and stole €12,000 from an envelope and €80 from a bag. He also jumped into a 68‑year‑old woman's car, which he started without a key, and drove away. The car was later recovered with Carrick asleep inside. Carrick had 44 prior convictions, made full admissions, and apologized to the woman. Judge Martin Nolan described the burglary as "despicable" and noted the crime was frightening, though not violently extreme. He imposed the sentence after noting Carrick's remorse and the disappointment felt by the victims.
Dermot Whelan, 67, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of child pornography on two computer devices at his Tallaght address on 21 July 2014, and to knowingly distributing child pornography at the same address on an unknown date between 20 October 2012 and 21 July 2014. He had no prior convictions. The case began when an undercover FBI agent, monitoring internet chat rooms suspected of hosting child‑pornography users, placed an advertisement that attracted a response from an email address that sent 25 child‑pornographic images. The FBI agent notified Yahoo, which identified the address as Irish. Gardaí obtained a search warrant, seized a laptop and a desktop, and found three explicit child‑pornographic videos, 53 explicit images, 182 child‑exposure images on the laptop, and further images on the desktop.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 34‑year‑old Eoin Connolly of Oak Lawn, Portlaoise, was sentenced to six and a half years' imprisonment for possession of drugs for sale or supply. Connolly, who had 27 prior convictions, pleaded guilty to the offence committed on 16 March 2019 at Outer Ring Road, Clondalkin, where Gardaí seized 8.1 kg of cocaine and other drugs, totalling €580,210 in value. He claimed he was acting under duress, saying he had been threatened and was paying off a drug debt, but the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau's Detective Garda Brian Foran told Judge Martin Nolan that this claim was not accepted. The judge placed Connolly in the "middle to lower" range of involvement, noting he was unlikely to be the owner or main beneficiary of the drugs and that he had transported them for reward.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 22 June 2020, Ross Maher, aged 22, was charged with possessing a large carving knife during a dispute. On 23 May, he was found topless and covered in blood on Ross Street near Christchurch Cathedral, wielding a 12‑inch knife with a seven‑inch blade. Gardaí were called after reports of a drunken, topless man brandishing a knife. Maher repeatedly refused to drop the weapon despite commands from Sergeant Niall Godfrey and the use of pepper spray, until his father intervened and persuaded him to surrender the knife. He was arrested, taken to St James's Hospital, and later pleaded guilty. Maher had no prior convictions, had been drinking and taking pills that day, and had recently fought with his brother. The judge, Karen O'Connor, deferred sentencing under the Probation Act, ordered good behaviour, and scheduled a final hearing for 9 November. The case remains pending.
Jamie Nulty, aged 22, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to burglary at Castaheany, Clonee on 15 July 2017, when he was 19. He broke into the home of Sarah Kearney while she was in bed, armed with a screwdriver that he had entered through a downstairs window. Nulty demanded money, took her bank card and PIN, and searched the house while holding the screwdriver. He attempted to take a computer and later tried to stop Kearney from calling 999, grabbing her arm and throwing her onto the bed. The ordeal ended when he left, putting a tea towel on his head and riding a bike. Kearney suffered post‑traumatic stress disorder and claimed €1,000 in losses. Nulty also pleaded guilty to dangerous driving on 17 February 2017; he was remanded in custody and will be sentenced on 29 July. The court heard he had 23 previous convictions and was on bail for the earlier offence.
Kelly Simpson, a 27‑year‑old mother of three, was found by Gardaí in her Dublin apartment, where over €19,000 worth of drugs had been stored. Gardaí, acting on complaints of suspicious activity, monitored the premises and observed three men entering and leaving in quick succession. When the warrant was executed, the officers discovered Simpson, her children, and a strong odor of cannabis. She pleaded guilty to possessing 177 g of crack cocaine (worth €12,417) and 329 g of cannabis (worth €6,588) from March 31, 2017. Simpson had two prior convictions, including a fine for bringing drugs into prison. She explained that she stored the drugs to raise money for her children, citing financial hardship and a lack of support from their fathers. She also admitted using benzodiazepines to manage panic attacks.
Deborah Malcolmson, 43, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after stabbing former partner Brian Kelly, 56, with a kitchen knife during a domestic dispute in Rathfarnham on 29 July 2019. The attack left Kelly seriously injured, requiring intensive care and a colostomy bag. Malcolmson also pleaded guilty to threatening Kelly's son and assaulting Kelly in St James Hospital on 11 September 2019, where she swung a punch at him. The court noted both parties had serious alcohol problems and periods of homelessness, and that their relationship had been described as "dysfunctional" and "combustible." Judge Martin Nolan, after considering mitigating factors and the absence of a medical report, set a starting point of five years but indicated a three‑year imprisonment sentence would be imposed on the next hearing. The sentencing was adjourned to 19 July to allow Kelly to give victim impact evidence if he wished.
Ali Adnan Duran, 52, was sentenced to nine years in prison after a court in Dublin found him in possession of nearly €1 million worth of heroin. The drugs were discovered in a suitcase in his room at a bed‑and‑breakfast on Mill Road, Rathcoole, following a Garda surveillance operation in August 2019. Duran had previously been convicted in Turkey in 2016 for trafficking 59 kg of heroin and had a bench warrant pending for another offence. He pleaded guilty to possession for sale or supply of heroin. The judge, noting Duran's cooperation with the investigation and his admissions, set a nine‑year term, back‑dated to August 2019, departing from the mandatory ten‑year minimum for the offence. The sentence reflects the court's discretion under the statutory framework for drug‑related offences.
Jonathan Fagan, 24, was jailed after a burglary at a JD Sports shop on Henry Street, Dublin. He and an accomplice broke the shop's window, entered, and stole over €1,300 worth of clothing. CCTV footage showed them entering and exiting the shop. Garda Aisling Gralton found Fagan on Wolfe Tone Street, lying on the stolen clothes, bleeding and intoxicated. He pleaded guilty to burglary on 31 October 2019. With 167 prior convictions, Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to 20 months' imprisonment, back‑dated to the arrest date, and noted his drug‑addiction background.
Noel Tobin, a 46‑year‑old businessman from Dublin, pleaded guilty in December 2016 to cultivating cannabis at his home and to possession of cannabis for sale or supply. He explained that he grew the plant to manage pain after breaking his wrist twice and to avoid dependence on painkillers. Tobin purchased seeds and equipment legally from head shops. At the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Pauline Codd suspended a four‑year prison term, stating she did not condone his behaviour but accepted his reasons for using cannabis. The court noted that no drug‑dealing paraphernalia were found, only nine plants worth €7,200 and two jars of herb worth €4,800. Tobin's prior conviction for drug possession and his charitable work were considered. The sentence was suspended on the condition that he keep the peace and not be charged again with drugs offences.
Jordan Ward, 23, of Clondalkin, Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of cannabis for sale or supply on December 4, 2017. The case is at the sentencing stage, where Ward faces a presumptive mandatory minimum sentence of ten years under section 15a of the Misuse of Drugs Act. Prosecution evidence stated that gardai found a suitcase containing cannabis valued at €35,604 at his residence. Ward admitted to holding the drugs to settle a debt. Defence counsel, Giollaiosa O Lideadha SC, argued that Ward's role was minor, describing him as being at the bottom of the ladder, and submitted that a wholly suspended sentence was up for consideration if exceptional circumstances were found. The defence highlighted Ward's cooperation, reduced drug use, and efforts to assist his family. Judge Pauline Codd adjourned the matter until November 2 to allow Ward the chance to deal with his drug use. The judge stated she was not giving any indications but wanted to observe how well Ward could stay off drugs before proceeding.
Daniel Murphy, aged 21, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for two offences. He pleaded guilty to assault causing harm on 6 September 2018 and to aggravated burglary on 4 January 2020. The assault involved a Latvian man whose stolen bike was unlocked by another man; Murphy and a third man punched and kicked the victim, who required stitches and suffered a black eye. While on bail for the assault, Murphy and another man broke into a flat on James' Street. The resident confronted them, and Murphy jabbed a screwdriver at her. They attempted to steal her TV and phone, smashing a window in the process. The court noted 53 prior convictions, many from juvenile years. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a one‑year term for the assault and a three‑and‑a‑half‑year term for the burglary, running consecutively, with the final 18 months suspended for an effective custodial term of three years.
Joseph McGrane, a 60‑year‑old Dublin fruit and veg seller, had his 12‑year conviction for 11 counts of indecent assault and seven counts of sexual assault upheld by the Court of Appeal. The offences, committed between 1985 and 1993, involved four young employees aged 13 to 18 and a 22‑year‑old woman. McGrane, who denied all charges, was found guilty by a jury in March 2019 and sentenced to 13 years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended. He appealed on grounds including alleged procedural errors, delays, and the handling of the indictment and jury directions. The Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal, affirming that the trial judge had given the jury clear instructions and that no injustice had occurred. The conviction and sentence remain in force.
A 16‑year‑old boy was caught holding €35,000 worth of cannabis in schoolbags that were stashed in two cars. Gardaí executed a search warrant at his Dublin home on 20 May, finding the bags in the cars. The boy, who was present with his grandmother, admitted he had been holding the drugs for someone and said he had been "forced" into the role. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to one count of allowing two vehicles under his control to be used for the sale and supply of drugs. Judge Martin Nolan accepted that the boy was young and placed him on a two‑year probation bond, requiring full cooperation with the Probation Service and warning that any further offence could lead to sentencing. The boy has no prior convictions and is now 17 years old.
In a Dublin junction at Swords Road and Collins Avenue, truck driver Prince Aibangbe (51) was sentenced to three years' imprisonment, with a two‑year suspended portion, after he broke a red light and fatally struck 21‑year‑old Gerard Whyte. Aibangbe had stopped past the white stop lines and, believing he had a green filter light, pulled off to the left. Witnesses and CCTV confirmed he moved through a red light. He pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death. The judge noted his guilty plea, remorse, and cooperation, and disqualified him from driving for six years. Aibangbe had nine prior convictions, including four for traffic offences, and had previously been fined for driving without insurance and failing to display an NCT. The sentence was intended as a deterrent for large‑vehicle drivers at junctions.
Michael Mahon, aged 29, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for a savage, prolonged, drink‑fuelled assault on his then‑girlfriend Catherine Brennan, aged 36. On 12 December 2019, in her home in Ongar, Dublin 15, Mahon, who was extremely drunk, repeatedly punched, kicked and threatened Brennan, saying he would "put a lump of lead into your head" and that he would "cut yiz all in two" and "chop the head off you". Video taken by Brennan on her mobile phone showed Mahon wielding a butcher's knife and a pair of scissors, attempting to cut off her toes and threatening to stab her. Brennan suffered bruising to her face, stomach and legs, and she was in fear for her life. Mahon pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and threatening to kill, and the judge accepted his remorse and cooperation with authorities, back‑dating the term to 14 December 2019.
A man from Castlebar, County Mayo, has been sentenced to 18 months in prison at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for sexually exploiting children online. Mark Keogh pleaded guilty to 14 charges of child sexual exploitation and possession of child pornography. Between November 2013 and May 2014, he created a fake Facebook profile posing as a teenage girl named Nicole Doyle and contacted 14 boys aged 13 to 16, requesting naked photographs. Gardaí discovered over 700 sexually explicit images of children on his laptop during a search in February 2016, approximately 400 of which depicted the 12 victims. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a five-year sentence but suspended the final three and a half years. The judge noted Keogh's severe autism, psychiatric difficulties, and genuine need for specialist care, whilst acknowledging the seriousness of the offending and impact on the victims. Keogh has no previous convictions.
The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed the entirely suspended sentence given to Eddie Farnan for a 'terrifying attack' on his partner, Lisa Power, which left her unable to lift her child and suffering whiplash. Farnan, 37, had pleaded guilty to assault and domestic violence on June 2, 2017, and was sentenced by Judge Karen O'Connor to two years and nine months, suspended in full under conditions. The DPP argued that the full suspension was unduly lenient, citing the severity of the assault, the presence of a child, the domestic setting, Farnan's continued violence and resistance to arrest, and changes in societal attitudes to domestic violence. The appeal was heard by the Court of Appeal, with Justice George Birmingham, Justice Patrick McCarthy and Justice Úna Ni Raifeartaigh reserving judgment. The case highlights the DPP's stance that a fully suspended sentence is insufficient for such domestic violence.
The State has withdrawn the charges against David Galloway, 54, of Crumlin, Dublin, who had been tried in February for alleged trademark offences involving washing powders such as Persil, Ariel, Fairy, Daz and Bold. Galloway had pleaded not guilty to seven counts of unlawful trademark application to buckets and fourteen counts of possession of trademarked buckets, labels and boxes, mainly said to have occurred at Greenogue Business Park, Rathcoole on 7 June 2014. After a jury failed to reach a verdict and a prior hearing collapsed, the prosecution requested a nolle prosequi, which Judge Martin Nolan granted, ending the case.
David Rodgers, a 47‑year‑old language teacher, was arrested on 30 October 2018 for selling cannabis on Henry Street, Dublin. Gardaí found nearly €25,000 worth of cannabis in his home, including glass jars and a makeshift grow‑house. He initially claimed the plants were natural herbs but later admitted to selling cannabis. Rodgers pleaded guilty to one count of possession of cannabis for sale or supply. He has 12 prior convictions, mainly for theft and public order offences. His defence lawyer described him as having an unusual profile: he left school at 15, later returned to complete his Junior and Leaving Cert exams, and became an English teacher for foreign students. He has lived abroad and speaks Spanish, German and Arabic. Rodgers suffered a brain injury after being assaulted by his brother, leading to memory and learning difficulties. He had been studying for a languages degree at DCU but had to abandon it.