Derek Hearns, 35, was sentenced by Judge Patricia Ryan in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after a February trial on eight counts related to an attack on David O'Sullivan's home in Baldoyle in February 2016. He was found guilty of producing a knife, robbing €10 and stealing a mobile phone, while the jury could not agree on the remaining charges, which were struck out. Hearns maintains his innocence on all counts. The judge, noting the night‑time assault occurred when O'Sullivan's partner and child were present, imposed a three‑year sentence with the final year suspended under conditions. Hearns, a father of four with 46 prior convictions, is now confined under strict Covid‑19 prison rules, spending 22 hours and 40 minutes a day in his cell and unable to see his family. He had hoped to represent Ireland in bodybuilding before the pandemic and has recently completed drug rehabilitation. Derek Hearns was acquitted.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 30 April 2020, the judge refused bail for 21‑year‑old Dominic Rogers, who had been on bail since June 2019. Rogers had been caught with a stolen car and later broke into a home in Lucan. He has five prior convictions, all while on bail, including drug possession and traffic offences. He pleaded guilty to possession of a stolen car at M1 Toll Plaza on 28 June 2019 and to burglary at Foxpark on 26 September 2019. Rogers has taken nine bench warrants between May and July 2019 and failed to comply with bail conditions, notably signing on at Lucan Garda Station 83 times. The judge, citing the likelihood of a custodial sentence and concerns that Rogers might commit further offences, remanded him in custody and set sentencing for 13 May 2020.
A construction worker from Sligo has been sentenced to three years' imprisonment for his involvement in a tax fraud scheme at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Martin Stokes, aged 35, pleaded guilty in April 2016 to charges under the Theft and Fraud Offences Act, including forgery and deception, relating to offences committed in 2006, 2008 and 2011. He was one of five people who registered as contractors while falsely undertaking to remit tax payments on behalf of sub-contractors. Revenue issued approximately €107,000 in tax refunds and credits to bank accounts controlled by another individual, which were subsequently withdrawn via ATMs. Stokes failed to appear for sentencing in June 2016 and was arrested abroad before being returned to Ireland. Judge Martin Nolan described the scheme as relatively sophisticated and noted it exploited weaknesses in the contractor tax system. Stokes, who has previous convictions for dangerous driving, deception and counterfeiting, was credited with character references and community contributions, resulting in a reduction from an indicative sentence of five years.
William Nolan, 30, was sentenced to eight‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment for a spree of offences in Tallaght. He pleaded guilty to burglary, criminal damage and endangerment at several sites, including a petrol station, a supermarket, a residential home and a shop. The most serious offence was the crash of a stolen van into the front of a Maxol petrol station, which caused €68,000 in damage and endangered two Gardaí. Nolan also stole a van, a vape machine and other items, and had 127 previous convictions. He was on bail for an earlier burglary when the later offences occurred. The judge described the offences as a "tsunami of criminality" and imposed a sentence of eight years, with the final six months suspended on strict conditions. The one‑year sentence for the March burglary runs consecutively to the eight‑year term.
Sean Keenan, a 24‑year‑old homeless man, pleaded guilty to robbery at Red Cow Luas Stop on 4 November 2017. Garda Christopher Hogan described how Keenan and two other men followed Andrew O'Sullivan, who had just disembarked from a bus carrying a duty‑free bag with two bottles of spirits and 400 cigarettes. The men attacked O'Sullivan, with Keenan punching and kicking him, and the third man striking him in the head with a bottle. They threatened to kill him before leaving. Cigarettes taken from O'Sullivan were found in Keenan's possession and his clothes bore the victim's blood. Keenan had 99 prior convictions, including robbery, attempted robbery, criminal damage, burglary and car theft, and was highly intoxicated during the offence. He had no recollection of the attack. The judge noted the assault was "extremely violent and vicious" and sentenced Keenan to five years' imprisonment, suspending the final two years on strict conditions, including 12 months of probation after release.
During a sentencing hearing in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, a 64‑year‑old man was convicted of sexually assaulting his seven‑year‑old son in 1989. The victim, who was a child sexual assault survivor himself, gave a victim impact statement in which he described how his father had taken him swimming, hypnotised him, and then sexually assaulted him. He recalled being told by his father that he was "washing him, cuddling him, sucking him" and that he was "just playing around with his penis" to bond with him. The defendant, who was a victim of abuse at Letterfrack Industrial School as a teenager, denied the offence and claimed it was false. Judge Pauline Codd sentenced him to four and a half years' imprisonment, suspending the last six months on the condition that he engage with the Probation Service.
Ruzmond Muwaniri, 32, was sentenced to four years in prison for a series of unprovoked assaults that took place between April 29 and June 12, 2019. He admitted attacking two men in April, a woman in June, and head‑butting Garda Barry Ryan while the Garda was taking his details at Bridewell Garda Station. Muwaniri pleaded guilty to three charges of assault causing harm and one charge of assault. He has 71 previous convictions, including seven for assault. The judge noted his diagnosed schizophrenia, cannabis use, and mental health difficulties, and suspended the final 12 months of the sentence on strict conditions, including engagement with the Probation Service for a year after release. The court emphasised the need to protect society while acknowledging the possibility of future re‑offending. The sentencing took place at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Austin Byrne, aged 43, was sentenced to three-and-a-half years' imprisonment for a series of burglaries committed in April 2019. He pleaded guilty to breaking into three Dublin residences: Wintergarden on 10 April, Byrnes Lane on 17 April, and Fitzwilliam Street Lower on 19 April. The offences involved the theft of clothing, foreign currency, an Apple MacBook, an Apple Watch, earrings, chains, anti‑epileptic medicine, a wedding ring, and other jewellery. Byrne had 73 prior convictions, including burglary, aggravated burglary and robbery. The judge, Melanie Greally, noted that Byrne's primary motive appeared to be raising money for drugs, and that his previous convictions and the value of the stolen items aggravated the case. She gave credit for his guilty pleas and engagement with addiction services, and suspended the final 12 months of the sentence on strict conditions.
A Facebook analyst, Abed Benchenna, aged 25, was sentenced to two years in prison without any suspended portion after failing to return from France for several months. He was found in possession of €7,500 worth of cannabis and had previously been convicted six times, including for obstructing a drug search. Benchenna had been given two opportunities by the court, including a chance to plead guilty early and provide negative urine samples, but he did not engage with probation services or notify authorities of his return from France. He claimed injuries from insect bites and a dislocated shoulder prevented his return, but the judge deemed these excuses insufficient. The court noted his failure to cooperate wasted the court's time and the probation service's resources, and he is now in custody following the bench warrant.
Anthony Rossitter, a 32‑year‑old drug addict from County Wexford, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to three attempted robbery charges after threatening staff in three city‑centre shops on 15 May 2019 with a large pair of stainless‑steel scissors. He entered a Gala shop on Abbey Street, placed a plastic bag on the counter and demanded cash, threatening to cut a staff member if he did not comply. After leaving without money, he went to a Spar shop in Temple Bar and then to a Gala shop on Dorset Street, again demanding cash and showing the scissors, but left empty‑handed and was arrested shortly thereafter. Rossitter has 85 prior convictions, including 46 for traffic offences, and a history of assault and drug dealing. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to four‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment, suspending the final 12 months on strict conditions, including 12 months of probation after release.
Martin Stokes of Woodford Heights, Clondalkin, was arrested during the Covid‑19 lockdown after failing to appear for a sentence hearing in 2016 for tax fraud offences under the Theft and Fraud Offences Act. He had pleaded guilty in April 2016 to charges relating to tax registration on dates in 2006, 2008 and 2011. The court had adjourned the case for a week when his lawyers claimed he was an employed father of three, but he did not appear a week later, leading the judge to issue a bench warrant. The warrant was executed last Monday, and Judge Melanie Greally refused bail, remanding Stokes into custody for sentencing. His defence lawyer, Keith Spencer BL, argued that Stokes could not attend court because he was in a 14‑day quarantine imposed by the Prison Service, and that a video‑link meeting had been booked but not attended.
Myles Byrne, 28, was sentenced to ten months' imprisonment after a shop robbery in Dublin's city centre. He entered a Tesco at about 9 am, attempted to purchase four cans of cider, and when staff refused to sell him alcohol he threatened a staff member with a syringe, saying "get away or I'll stab you" and that he was lucky he didn't rob the tills. Garda Aine Hogan reported that staff feared for their lives, and the deputy manager described Byrne as "out of it" and "swaying". Byrne pleaded guilty to robbery and to making a threat to kill or cause serious harm. He has 79 prior convictions, including assault, robbery and traffic offences, and was on bail when the offence occurred. His defence counsel, Rebecca Smith BL, noted his ongoing alcohol problems and lack of memory of the incident, and that he wished to address his addiction but was unable to access residential treatment due to pandemic restrictions.
James Cash Wall, a 27‑year‑old from Wicklow, was sentenced to 16 months in prison for burglary and trespassing after he gate‑crashed a 21st birthday party at Aine Kenny's home on Stillorgan Road, south Dublin. The homeowner confronted him on the stairs, and when he claimed to be "with Jason" she realised he was lying and called for security. Private security and Garda Patrick Collins were present. Wall tried to flee, tripped, and dropped stolen jewellery. A crowd at the party blocked his escape and demanded he empty his pockets. He was arrested, found very drunk and initially unfit for interview. Wall pleaded guilty to the December 30 offence. He has 79 prior convictions, including car theft, public order offences and nine burglaries. The judge, Martin Nolan, noted that Wall was drunk but still attempted to steal, and the sentence was back‑dated to December when he entered custody.
Mark Taylor, aged 30, was driving a stolen VW Golf at a fuel pump in Newcastle, Co. Dublin, on 22 February 2019 when Gardaí noticed he had not paid for fuel and was driving at high speed. He overtook two vehicles dangerously, then drove off without Gardaí being able to keep up. The next day he was again seen in the same car and, after a high‑speed chase, he reversed at speed, smashed into another car, mounted a traffic island, crossed the road, drove the wrong way down the carriageway, broke a red light, mounted a footpath and drove away at speed, losing Gardaí in pursuit. Later that day Gardaí in Naas were alerted to a VW Golf driving dangerously on the N7; the car pulled into a service station on the M7 where an armed unit arrived and approached Taylor. He became aggressive and abusive and was arrested. Mark Taylor pleaded guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, a 59‑year‑old man was convicted of sexually assaulting a four‑year‑old girl he had babysat. The case was notable for the child's testimony, which was given and cross‑examined over nine days. The man denied the charges and was sentenced to eight and a half years in prison, with the sentence running concurrently with a six and a half year term for a second offence. Judge Elma Sheahan highlighted the egregious breach of trust, the premeditated nature of the assaults, and the psychological impact on the child, including night terrors and bed wetting. She noted mitigating factors such as the defendant's psychological vulnerability, his role as a father to a special‑needs son, and his community volunteer work, but declined to suspend any portion of the sentence because he refused to accept the verdict.
Gareth Levins, aged 33, was sentenced to two‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment for stealing €10,549 from a woman who lived in a care home and has since died. The thefts took place over a three‑week period in late January and early February 2017, when Levins used a bank card that had been obtained by a relative who had worked as a carer for the victim. None of the money was recovered. Levins pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, and the court noted that the victim's daughter had discovered suspicious transactions and alerted the bank. Levins had been on bail for an assault conviction that was due to expire in April 2021. Judge Martin Nolan described the offence as "pretty cunning" and sentenced Levins to two‑and‑a‑half years, suspending the final 14 months on strict conditions and ordering that the sentence run consecutively to the three‑year sentence Levins is currently serving.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a man in his 50s, already serving a prison term for repeated sexual abuse of a teenage boy from 2009 to 2015, pleaded guilty to five counts of sexual assault against two victims. He admitted forcibly kissing and grabbing the bottom of an underage girl in mid‑2014, and similarly assaulting a second victim by grabbing her bottom, placing a hand on her bottom and kissing her neck between July 2011 and July 2012. Judge Karen O'Connor remanded him in continuing custody until 29 June 2020.
Anthony Sweeney, 37, of St Marks Crescent, Clondalkin, was sentenced by Judge Melanie Greally at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to seven-and-a-half years imprisonment for multiple robberies, including two at McDonald's Liffey Valley on 5 August 2019 and 5 September 2019, a robbery of a nail salon on Collinstown Road, and a robbery of a pedestrian on the Liffey Valley footbridge on 27 May 2019. He pleaded guilty to all charges. The court noted his 35 prior convictions, his drug addiction, and his attempts to address it while in custody, though the school he attended closed due to coronavirus. The sentence was aggravated by the use of a knife, placing it near a victim's throat, and by the fact that the last offence was committed while he was on bail. Two years of the term were suspended on strict conditions, including probation supervision for six months before release and 12 months after release.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Judge Martin Nolan sentenced 44‑year‑old Keith McCarthy to four years' imprisonment for a series of robberies carried out after a relapse into drug addiction. McCarthy, a former drug counsellor who had previously overcome his addiction, pleaded guilty to two robberies at Eddie Rocket's in Finglas, a robbery at BoyleSports in Donabate, an attempted robbery at Ladbrokes in Mulhuddart, and two driving‑without‑insurance offences. He admitted stealing almost €2,000 from Eddie Rocket's and €5,000 from BoyleSports, using an imitation firearm and a scarf to conceal his face. The judge noted McCarthy's history of 38 convictions, including 30 traffic offences, and his prior suspended robbery sentence in 2015. He highlighted McCarthy's remorse, cooperation with Gardaí, and his role as a caring father and son, while emphasising the need for him to overcome his addictive habits. McCarthy was also disqualified from driving for four years.
A trial date of 11 January 2021 has been set for former solicitor Michael Lynn, aged 51, who faces 21 charges of theft totalling almost €30 million from seven financial institutions. Sample counts include €4.1 million stolen from Irish Nationwide on 4 April 2007 and €3.6 million from Ulster Bank on 20 October 2006. Judge Martin Nolan of the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court scheduled the hearing. Lynn's defence, led by Karl Monahan BL, estimates the trial will last up to six months, while the prosecution, represented by John Berry BL, expects it to finish within 16 weeks.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Joseph Behan, aged 45, was sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment for shooting two men during an attempted robbery of Mizzoni's Pizza on 1 January 2019. He fired twice when the workers resisted, and a paramedic's early intervention likely saved one victim who sustained a serious gunshot wound to the lower abdomen. The other victim suffered a less serious injury. Behan's brother, Anthony Behan, 60, pleaded not guilty to impeding his brother's apprehension and was convicted and sentenced to two-and-a-half years' imprisonment. Both were remanded in custody by Judge Martin Nolan, who noted Behan's reprehensible conduct and the potential for greater harm. The court also considered the brothers' personal histories as presented by their counsel. The sentence was delivered on 3 April 2020.
Claire Burke, a 30‑year‑old mother of two from Kilkenny, pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm after stabbing a man in the arm with scissors on Temple Lane South, Dublin 2, on 12 November 2018. The incident followed an attempt to sell the man "grass" for €15, during which Burke stabbed him in the left wrist and attempted a second stab to his right leg. The man was later assisted by a third party who was arrested and the stolen bicycle recovered. Burke, who has 13 prior convictions and was living on the streets at the time, was released on bail pending sentencing. Judge Melanie Greally described the offence as "very nasty" and adjourned the case for finalisation on 13 October, noting the possibility of a custodial sentence and a probation report. The sentencing hearing was postponed due to the prosecuting Garda's self‑isolation. The case remains pending.
A 34‑year‑old Dublin man, who has accumulated 33 bench warrants since 2004, was granted bail by Judge Melanie Greally in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The judge noted that the defendant had pleaded guilty to a theft offence and was due to stand trial in April on a separate, undisclosed offence. Two of the warrants were issued for failing to attend court dates on 2 March and a pre‑trial hearing on 12 March. Prosecutor Garda Shannon Breen had objected to bail on the basis of his warrant history, arguing he would not attend his next court date. Judge Greally, citing the "dire public health situation", decided that it was prudent to avoid adding to prison populations if possible. She set bail conditions requiring the defendant to remain contactable, live at an agreed address, and stay away from the Ballymun area.
Amy Cully, 26, a recovering drug addict, was arrested after punching Kathleen O'Neill on Usher's Quay on 26 July 2019 while under the influence of crack cocaine, heroin and alcohol. The punch left O'Neill with bruising to her nose, eye and cheek. Cully then grabbed O'Neill's bag and fled, but was caught by a garda a short time later. O'Neill's sister joined the struggle and Cully also attempted to take her bag. Local residents helped the women before Cully was arrested. Cully pleaded guilty to robbery and assault of O'Neill and to attempted robbery of Megan O'Neill. She has 80 previous convictions, including assault and thefts, and had a one‑year sentence for a 2019 theft. The court, after a psychological assessment, imposed a four‑year sentence, suspending the final two years on the condition that Cully comply with probation, drug treatment, mental health services and victim awareness programmes. The sentence reflects her remorse and progress in confronting her issues.
Micheal Bayly, 26, was denied bail by Judge Melanie Greally after he pleaded guilty to a street robbery on 29 March 2018. Bayly, a recovering drug addict, had failed to appear for his sentencing hearing in November, prompting a bench warrant. Gardaí arrested him on the warrant and a new sentencing date of 21 April was set. Bayly's defence, Keith Spencer BL, argued that his pregnant partner, who is self‑isolating with Covid‑19 symptoms, and their children were now cared for by extended family, and that Bayly was clean from drugs. Spencer requested bail on compassionate grounds, but Detective Garda Paul Geraghty opposed it, citing Bayly's history of missing court dates. Judge Greally noted Bayly's prior assurances to other judges and declined to grant bail. Bayly has 24 bench warrants, four related to the 2018 robbery.
April Reid, aged 34, was found guilty of robbery at an Ulster Bank ATM in Dublin on 23 March 2019. She targeted a woman who was withdrawing money, physically confronting her and causing a minor injury to the victim's left hand. The robbery resulted in €200 being stolen. Reid, who has a long history of drug addiction and was intoxicated with crack cocaine at the time, offered an apology after being identified on CCTV. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced her to four years' imprisonment, suspending the final two years on strict conditions, including compliance with the Probation Service for 12 months after release. She was also ordered to pay €250 in compensation to the victim. The case highlighted Reid's past theft‑related offences and her ongoing struggle with substance abuse.
Michael Hennessy, 63, of Coneyboro, Athy, is awaiting trial for alleged property purchase frauds involving Spanish properties. A circuit court judge adjourned the trial because Covid‑19 prevented witnesses in Spain from travelling. Hennessy was granted short‑term bail, described as a vulnerable person in an overcrowded environment, after his wife attempted to sell a car to pay his surety. He may attend his father‑in‑law's funeral and must present bank documents to investigating Gardaí and comply with strict conditions. The case is now set for a new trial date on 16 June, with Hennessy observing proceedings via video‑link from prison. The judge warned that any breach of conditions would result in his return to custody until the trial.
A jury in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court could not reach verdicts on 18 of the 23 sexual assault counts against a 29‑year‑old childcare worker accused of assaulting four girls aged five to eight between August 2014 and December 2016. The jury delivered five not‑guilty verdicts on two of the four complainants, acquitted the man on three charges relating to the first girl, and acquitted him on both charges relating to the fourth girl. After 21 hours and 41 minutes of deliberation, the jury asked Judge Elma Sheahan for more time to consider the remaining counts. Judge Sheahan thanked the jury, remanded the man on continuing bail, and adjourned the case to 16 June. The trial continued during the coronavirus outbreak with social‑distance measures for jurors. The unnamed 29-year-old pleaded not guilty.
Two men, Nathan Benson (22) and Harry Walsh (19), were sentenced to four years each in prison for a violent robbery that took place on Wellington Quay on 22 October 2017. The robbery involved the victim's Rolex watch, valued at €7,500, which the men seized after spotting the watch in a Dublin nightclub. During the assault, the victim was kicked, punched and left with physical injuries and lasting psychological impact. Judge Melanie Greally described the robbery as "extremely violent and vicious" and noted the defendants' histories of violent offending and drug addiction. Benson's case was influenced by his upbringing and mental health struggles, while Walsh's record included numerous prior convictions for extreme violence. Both men pleaded guilty and were given sentences with the final 12 months suspended. The court also considered their behaviour in custody and potential for rehabilitation. The sentencing highlighted the seriousness of the offence and the defendants' personal circumstances.
Paula Dos Santos, an Italian national aged 22, was sentenced to 18 months in prison, with the final six months suspended, for escorting three illegal immigrants onto two flights from Italy to Dublin. She acted as an escort for an Albanian man and his fiancée, who had been issued with bogus Italian identity cards, and also for another Albanian man who arrived under similar circumstances three months earlier. Dos Santos pleaded guilty to three charges of knowingly facilitating the entry of persons she knew or had reasonable cause to believe were illegal immigrants or asylum seekers. She had no prior convictions and was on remand since her arrest at Dublin airport in August of the previous year. The judge acknowledged her cooperation and lack of previous convictions, and noted that she was motivated by financial strain, receiving €500 for her role. The sentence was back‑dated to August of the previous year.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 29‑year‑old childcare worker was found not guilty of sexually assaulting one of four child complainants in a crèche. The jury delivered verdicts on five of 23 charges after 22 days of trial. The defendant had pleaded not guilty to 23 counts of assaulting girls aged five to eight between August 2014 and December 2016. Allegations arose when a girl reported kissing the man's privates, leading to CCTV review and child interviews in January 2017. The jury acquitted the defendant on three counts for one child and on two counts for a fourth child, leaving seven and two charges outstanding respectively. The trial highlighted the use of video‑link cross‑examination and the prosecution's claim of "quick, furtive, audacious" assaults outside CCTV view. The defense cited suggestibility among the children. The verdicts were reached by majority after one juror was discharged.
The jury in the trial of a 29‑year‑old childcare worker accused of sexually assaulting four girls in a Leinster creche has reached verdicts on nine of the 23 counts presented. The jury foreman informed Judge Elma Sheahan that the verdicts were not yet delivered to the court and that deliberations would resume on Monday. The jury has been deliberating for over 12 hours in an empty courtroom to observe social distancing, having been in session for nearly six weeks. The accused pleaded not guilty to all 23 counts, which cover alleged assaults between August 2014 and December 2016 when the girls were aged five to eight. The case protects the identities of the complainants, and no parties are named.
A 40‑year‑old Dublin prisoner, whose name is withheld for legal reasons, has been denied bail while awaiting trial for a sexual assault charge. He is accused of assaulting his former partner on 17 March 2019, an allegation he denies. The trial was scheduled for Monday but could not proceed. The prisoner was present via video link rather than in court. Garda Donal Tully relayed the victim's claims that the man beat her, grabbed her neck, and forced his fingers into her vagina while asserting he knew what she wanted and that she liked it. In an interview with Gardaí, the prisoner admitted assault but denied sexual assault. Barry White SC, the defence solicitor, noted the prisoner has been in custody since March 2018, suffered pneumonia, and has a compromised immune system, raising health concerns. Judge Karen O'Connor refused bail, citing reasons that cannot be disclosed, and adjourned the case to 12 June for mention.
The jury in the trial of a 29‑year‑old child‑care worker accused of sexually assaulting four girls at a Leinster crèche will continue deliberations tomorrow. The defendant has pleaded not guilty to 23 counts of assaulting the girls, who were aged five to eight, between August 2014 and December 2016. Allegations state he touched the children's genitals over their clothes on several occasions in the crèche building and on the crèche bus. The jury, composed of seven men and five women, began deliberations on Wednesday afternoon and continued on Thursday, having deliberated for a little over seven hours. Judge Elma Sheahan instructed jurors to suspend deliberations and return tomorrow morning. During the trial, which began last month at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, the jury viewed DVD recordings of interviews with the four child complainants from January 2017 and cross‑examined the children via video‑link.
John Bayly, 31, of Foxdene Gardens, Lucan, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of drugs for sale or supply at Foxdene Avenue on 2 June 2017 and at Clonburris, Clondalkin, on 27 September 2018. In June 2017, Bayly was observed by plain‑clothes Gardaí in the middle of a drug transaction; when approached he fled on his bike, leaving a plastic container that contained crack cocaine and heroin worth €2,283.12. In September 2018, Gardaí on plain‑clothes duty observed a group of drug addicts in Clonburris; Bayly arrived, asked several people what they wanted, including two Garda members, took orders, walked away and returned with a plastic bag containing heroin, crack cocaine and Alprazolam tablets worth €7,832. Bayly has 69 previous convictions, including drug possession and road traffic offences. He was sentenced to three‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment, with the final nine months suspended on strict conditions.
A jury has begun deliberating the trial of a 29‑year‑old child‑care worker accused of sexually assaulting four girls aged five to eight at a Leinster crèche between August 2014 and December 2016. The accused pleaded not guilty to 23 counts. Judge Elma Sheahan delivered her charge on day 19 of the trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, emphasizing that jurors must remain unbiased and that the accused is presumed innocent until the prosecution proves guilt beyond reasonable doubt. She noted that the allegations from each child are uncorroborated by independent evidence, though the fact that four children made similar claims could provide strong support if the jury is satisfied that they were not influenced or contaminated. The defence argued that Gardaí failed to assess the children's suggestibility, did not inform them of the importance of truth‑telling, and that the girls' allegations may stem from jealousy, competition for attention, or suggestibility.
In March 2020 the Criminal Courts of Justice building was quieter than usual, with only four Dublin Circuit Criminal Court judges present. Judge Melanie Greally heard a short list of arraignment cases and adjourned all sentences involving defendants on bail to 15 June, as those defendants were not required to attend due to Covid‑19 restrictions. She finalised two cases involving defendants in custody and dealt with several other matters listed for mention. Five cases, including one alleging dangerous driving causing serious harm, were scheduled for trial and Judge Karen O'Connor adjourned them to 19 June. President Patricia Ryan directed that all non‑custody matters for the rest of the term, except ongoing trials, be adjourned to dates in June and July. Two judges remained at trial, and the Courts Service implemented special accommodations for juries, seating them spread out across the courtroom to maintain social distancing.
Kevin O'Keefe, 35, was released on bail pending sentencing for a series of thefts and burglaries committed on 15 August 2017 in Dublin. He pleaded guilty to three burglaries, two thefts, criminal damage, unlawful use of a car and dangerous driving. O'Keefe told the judge that he was tired of his life, had learned to read and write in prison, and wanted to become a proper father and give back to people. Judge Melanie Greally adjourned the finalisation of his case to 14 October, released him on bail and imposed conditions including living with his sister, providing a mobile number, and observing a curfew from 10 pm to 7 am. She warned that any breach would bring the case back before the court. The judge expressed scepticism but offered him a chance to change. No victim impact statements were presented. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
In October 2017, John Murdiff, aged 33, and an accomplice stole items from Andrew Stammers, a former heroin addict, in Adare Lane, Dublin. Stammers had overdosed that night, but it could not be determined whether he was dead when the theft occurred. Murdiff later returned to the lane, discovered Stammers was not breathing, and sought help. He was charged with theft and pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Murdiff had 50 prior convictions, including theft, public order, and assault causing harm. He was sentenced to two years' imprisonment, consecutive to a three‑year term for assault, after a judge noted his remorse and the tragic circumstances surrounding Stammers' death. The case highlighted the difficulties in determining the exact time of Stammers' death and the impact on his family.
Patrick Harte, a retired Dublin school teacher aged 78, was found guilty of 11 counts of indecent assault against seven boys who attended Sancta Maria Christian Brothers on Synge Street between September 1968 and September 1970. The boys, then about ten years old, alleged that Harte had fondled them after calling them to the top of the class, placing his hand down their trousers and touching their genitals. One complainant, now in his 60s, also claimed Harte had physically assaulted him. Harte denied all allegations, arguing that the classroom was busy and that such actions would have been impossible. The jury, after more than six hours of deliberation, returned a guilty verdict on all counts, with two jurors dissenting. Judge Martin Nolan remanded Harte on continuing bail and scheduled a sentencing hearing for 27 April. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
The prosecution presented evidence that a 29‑year‑old childcare worker sexually assaulted four girls aged five to eight between August 2014 and December 2016 at a Leinster crèche. The accused faced 23 counts, including touching the girls' vaginas, licking a girl's vagina, and pressing a phone against a girl's vagina. He denied all charges. The prosecution argued that the assaults were carried out in a "quick, furtive, audacious" manner, often in blind spots of the crèche such as a book corner, a toilet cubicle, a windowsill and the crèche bus. The defence portrayed the worker as a sincere, responsible carer who sought help to manage physical contact and claimed the allegations were false or fabricated by the children. The jury heard closing arguments from both sides before the trial resumed on Wednesday before Judge Elma Sheahan.
On 16 March 2020, Judge Melanie Greally of Dublin Circuit Criminal Court informed lawyers that those scheduled to attend court that morning had been advised not to attend due to the Covid‑19 outbreak. She announced that all cases would be adjourned to an unspecified date after 10 June, with investigating Gardaí and the courts service coordinating to inform defendants and practitioners of the new dates. Defendants in custody could either be adjourned or observe proceedings via video link. One man, Mark McCabe, 26, a homeless remand prisoner, was sentenced to four years with the final two years suspended after pleading guilty to robbery at Spar on Malahide Road on 25 October 2019; no cash was taken and no weapon was used. Judge Greally adjourned several cases, including a plea of guilty with a July sentencing date subject to review.
The jury has retired from the trial of Patrick Harte, a 78‑year‑old retired Dublin school teacher, who is accused of fondling school boys at the Sancta Maria Christian Brothers on Synge Street between September 1968 and September 1970. Harte faces 11 counts of indecent assault involving seven complainants, all of whom were around ten years old at the time. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges. The prosecution, led by Anne Rowland SC, presented testimony that Harte allegedly called boys to the top of the class and then fondled them, including placing his hand down a boy's trousers while sitting on his knee. A complainant, now in his 60s, recounted a similar incident and noted prior physical assault by Harte. Harte denied the allegations, arguing that the classroom's busy environment and the presence of other teachers and inspectors would have made such actions unlikely.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, Mark Byrne, a 35‑year‑old homeless man, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and production of a knife after stabbing a stranger in a random street disagreement on Winetavern Street on 16 July 2016. Byrne's defence counsel argued the incident was a one‑off event between two street‑dwelling strangers with no prior animosity, and that Byrne had carried a knife for self‑defence after a threat earlier that summer. The judge noted the victim suffered a bowel perforation and was hospitalised for weeks, and that Byrne had regained equilibrium and remained drug‑free recently. The judge imposed a five‑year sentence, suspending the final year on conditions including drug treatment and mental health services. Byrne expressed remorse, describing his actions as "disgraceful and appalling.".
The jury in the trial of a 29‑year‑old childcare worker accused of sexually assaulting four girls in a Leinster crèche has been urged by Judge Elma Sheahan to continue with the case despite the coronavirus outbreak. She informed the jury that no new criminal trials will start for two weeks, but ongoing trials will proceed to conclusion. She acknowledged the stress the jurors may be experiencing and asked them to remain focused for the next week. She noted that court attendance would be much lower from Monday, with fewer crowds, and offered assistance if needed. The trial, which has run for five weeks, is set to finish next week with closing speeches on Monday. No evidence was heard today. The accused denies the 23 counts of sexual assault against girls aged five to eight between February 2015 and December 2016.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, a 59‑year‑old man was convicted in January of two charges of sexually assaulting a four‑year‑old girl at his home between July 2016 and July 2017. The trial lasted nine days and included testimony from the child, who described being touched and licked in her genital area, and from her mother, who reported the child's distress and subsequent night terrors and school changes. Forensic evidence showed DNA from the man on the child's underwear, with a 1 in 6,700 chance of a coincidental match. The man denied the allegations, claiming the DNA was due to the child's play. His defence argued that a Facebook post naming him and his address, allegedly encouraging violence against his family, should be considered as extra‑judicial punishment. The prosecution said the post was under Garda investigation and should not influence sentencing.
Jamie Mullen, 23, of Rowlagh Avenue, Clondalkin, Dublin, was found guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of hiding a large quantity of ammunition in his family home on 20 September 2017. Gardaí recovered the ammunition from two sites – a hot‑press and beneath a wardrobe in Mullen's bedroom – during a search. The cache included 30 shotgun cartridges, a .22 Winchester magnum rimfire cartridge and a .9 mm blank cartridge, all of which ballistics tests confirmed were in good condition and suitable for discharge from firearms. Mullen pleaded guilty, citing his right to silence during the Garda interview, and expressed a desire to apologise and "put things right." He had 24 prior convictions and had left school at 15. The judge, Melanie Greally, noted the seriousness of the seizure, Mullen's youth and lack of prior firearm offences, and sentenced him to four years' imprisonment with the final 12 months suspended.
In a case heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Nicole Byrne, aged 26, pleaded guilty to robbery of a Subway shop on 27 May 2018. Byrne entered the shop wearing a hoodie and a scarf, brandishing a knife and demanding cash from the staff member behind the counter. She seized €230 from the till and left. The next day she returned to the shop, identified by the staff, and told her she would not threaten her with a knife and that she wanted a drink. The staff member fled to a bathroom and called the police. When Gardaí arrived, the till was empty, containing €289 and Subway cards. Byrne was identified from CCTV footage and claimed she had just taken "crack" before the robbery, stating she did not intend harm and did not know where the till was. She had two prior convictions.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Garda Sergeant Diarmuid O'Donovan explained that the four children who had alleged sexual assault by a 29‑year‑old child‑care worker were not re‑interviewed after initial interviews conducted within five weeks of the allegations being reported on 12 December 2016. The children, aged six to eight at the time of the first interviews in January 2017, were interviewed by child‑specialist interviewers and their recordings were used as evidence. O'Donovan said the decision not to re‑interview was taken on welfare grounds, citing the traumatic nature of the process for the children and their families. He noted that while the investigation team considered re‑interviews, the final decision was that it would not be in the children's best interest, and that efforts were made to corroborate the complaints through other means. The unnamed 29-year-old pleaded not guilty.
Lisa Comerford, 46, and her partner robbed a homeless man on a Dublin city street. Comerford approached the man, demanded €5, and when he refused, she grabbed his feet and forced him to the ground. The victim, who was homeless, later reported that he was kicked, punched, and had his throat squeezed by Comerford. She then searched his pockets and took his rucksack, which contained his phone and clothes. A nearby security guard intervened and called the Gardaí. Both Comerford and her accomplice were present when the police arrived. Comerford was arrested, and the victim's belongings were returned. She pleaded guilty to robbery at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for an incident on Winetavern Street on 16 March 2019. She has 80 prior convictions, including theft and robbery. The judge adjourned her case to 11 June, revoked her bail, and remanded her in custody, ordering a probation report. The case remains pending.