In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 37‑year‑old man and a 27‑year‑old woman pleaded not guilty to one count of female genital mutilation (FGM) and one count of child cruelty, claiming their one‑year‑old daughter was injured by falling on a toy. Prosecutor Shane Costelloe argued that the parents' explanation was not reasonably possible, citing medical evidence that only the glans and body of the clitoris were excised, with no bruising or lesions elsewhere. He asserted the parents permitted the FGM and were present during the act, failing to intervene. Defence counsel Colman Fitzgerald and Patrick Gageby countered that the parents were loving, caring, and had no history of abuse, and that the alleged fall was hearsay. The trial was set to continue before Judge Elma Sheahan and a jury.
Robert McCabe, aged 48, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to seven burglaries committed between 11 November and 21 December 2018, targeting six commercial premises, including a restaurant twice. He admitted stealing €2,170, a computer tablet, and other items, and was found with burglary tools and cash. McCabe's defence counsel, Emmet Nolan, described him as a "gentleman burglar" with a lifelong heroin addiction that motivated the offences. Judge Martin Nolan noted McCabe's extensive criminal record of 123 convictions, 54 for burglary, and his inability to stop. He accepted McCabe's guilty pleas, cooperation, and efforts to leave heroin, and sentenced him to four and a half years' imprisonment. The court highlighted that McCabe's primary motive was to obtain funds for heroin. The judge also acknowledged the defendant's ongoing methadone programme and employment since remand.
In a Dublin manslaughter trial, a witness testified that he and the deceased, Patrick Mullally, approached Jonathan Dargan because Dargan was aggressively confronting a nervous woman. The witness, who was drunk, could not recall the exact words exchanged but said he was struck in the face and later treated for a broken finger. He claimed he had tried to stop Dargan from beating the woman, though the prosecution argued it was merely an argument. Dargan, aged 49, pleaded not guilty to unlawfully killing Mullally on 6 March 2016 and to two assault charges on 5 March 2016. The trial is proceeding before Judge Pauline Codd and a jury of five women and seven men. The witness, aged 19 at the time, expressed regret for his involvement. The case remains in court.
In a case heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, 19‑year‑old David O'Neill pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after he mistakenly believed a 23‑year‑old passerby had stabbed his brother. O'Neill struck the victim with one punch, causing the victim to fall, hit his head, and lose consciousness for about six minutes. The victim suffered a fractured skull and a minor brain injury but has since fully recovered physically, though he experienced psychological effects. O'Neill, who had already been serving a separate prison sentence with a release date of 26 February 2021, was given a one‑year sentence to run consecutively to that term. Judge Martin Nolan noted O'Neill's good work record, family support, apology, and expressions of remorse, and said he would have imposed a three‑year sentence had those mitigating factors not been present.
During the FGM trial, a medical expert, Dr Deborah Hodes, testified that the damage to the one‑year‑old girl could not have resulted from falling backwards onto a toy. She explained that the clitoris was missing its glans and body on examination DVDs, indicating tissue removal consistent with FGM. Dr Hodes argued that a fall would have caused broader injury and that the toy was not sharp. The accused couple, a 37‑year‑old man and a 27‑year‑old woman, pleaded not guilty to FGM and child cruelty. The man described the day's events, claiming he did not cut his daughter and that he was unaware of doctors' doubts. The trial, held at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, continues before Judge Elma Sheahan and a jury. The couple's legal representatives remain present. The case remains at the trial stage.
During a Garda search for another matter, 857 grams of cannabis worth €17,148 were found under the bed of Anthony McNamee, 33, in his bedroom at Mercer House, Mercer Street, Dublin. McNamee pleaded guilty to one count of possessing cannabis for sale or supply. He had a prior conviction for attempted robbery in 2005 but no history of drug dealing. The court, noting the old robbery conviction and lack of further offences, imposed a three‑year sentence but suspended it under conditions.
In a Dublin manslaughter trial, witness Shaun O'Donoghue testified that he saw Jonathan Dargan, aged 49, throw several powerful punches at an older man, Patrick Mullally, aged 57, while shouting "bang, bang" on Harold's Cross Road. O'Donoghue described the assault as involving quick, forceful blows directed at the head, and he later observed Mullally lying on the ground with blood from the back of his head. Mullally was found dead the next day, and a post‑mortem revealed a fractured jaw, cheekbone, and a subdural haemorrhage caused by blunt trauma to the back of the head. Dargan pleaded not guilty to unlawful killing and related assault charges. The case is proceeding before Judge Pauline Codd with a jury of five women and seven men.
A 46-year-old man from Carrickmacross, County Monaghan, has been imprisoned for 14 months following a conviction at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for stealing over €3,300 from a vulnerable woman. Michael McGauley pleaded guilty to two counts of theft committed in October 2018, when he defrauded the woman by falsely promising to carry out insulation work on her home and to invest money on her behalf. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a three-year sentence with the final 22 months suspended on condition that McGauley repay the full stolen amount, which he has already begun doing. The court heard McGauley was struggling with gambling addiction and outstanding debts at the time of the offences. He has 25 previous convictions, including five for theft, and was on probation when the crimes occurred. His defence counsel indicated McGauley has since sought treatment through Gamblers Anonymous and has secured employment while making regular repayments to his victim.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Wayne Keogh, aged 28, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for stabbing his mother, Carol Keogh, on 28 January. The attack, which began as a verbal dispute over a pair of tracksuit bottoms, escalated when Keogh repeatedly stabbed his mother in the back and neck. Carol suffered four stab wounds, a punctured lung and a laceration to her liver, and a knife blade became embedded in her back, requiring surgical removal at Mater Hospital. She remained in hospital for four days and has fully recovered. Keogh, who had been in custody since the incident and has 102 prior convictions, was apprehended after leaving the house. He pleaded guilty to one count of assault causing harm, and the judge noted the seriousness of the assault and considered a psychological report in sentencing.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 37‑year‑old man and a 27‑year‑old woman pleaded not guilty to one count of female genital mutilation (FGM) and one count of child cruelty for allegedly mutilating their one‑year‑old daughter on 16 September 2016. The woman, who said she was a victim of FGM as a child in Somalia, claimed the daughter's injury was caused by a toy, not a blade, and that no FGM had been performed. She described being questioned by Gardaí on 22 September 2016 and said doctors had suggested the child had been mutilated. The man, who had lived in Ireland since 2008, stated he had never witnessed FGM, that he opposed it, and that the injury occurred after the child was changed and ran away. The trial was set to continue before Judge Elma Sheahan and a jury.
Sean Kearns, 33, was given a three‑year suspended sentence and ordered to pay €10,000 to Marcelo Valencia after he deliberately drove through Valencia on Drimnagh Road, Crumlin, on 27 August 2014. CCTV showed Kearns driving straight at the cyclist, who was cycling along the road when a car passed close to him. Kearns, who had previously admitted to driving the car, denied that he knocked Valencia down. Valencia suffered minor injuries and has since fully recovered. Kearns pleaded guilty to endangerment. The judge, Martin Nolan, described Kearns as "intemperate and reckless" and noted mitigating factors such as his good work history and efforts to improve. The sentence was suspended on conditions including payment of the €10,000 within two years. The case was heard in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Terence Gavin, 27, was given a two‑year suspended sentence after pleading guilty to stealing €320 from taxi driver Imram Shahzad on 4 August 2016. Gavin was driven home by Shahzad that night and was asked to pay his fare before a group of teenage boys attacked the driver. While the assault was underway, Gavin took the driver's wallet and fled. CCTV footage identified him at the pub where Shahzad had been picked up. The teenagers were never identified. Gavin, a flooring contractor, paid €5,620 to Shahzad as a token of remorse and to cover the stolen money and windscreen damage. He has 12 prior convictions, including theft, traffic offences and threatening to cause serious harm. The judge, Martin Nolan, sentenced Gavin on the theft charge, not the assault, and suspended the sentence on conditions including restitution to Shahzad.
Richard Bourke, aged 36, was sentenced to eight years in prison for arson after setting fire to the front door of Detective Garda John Griffin's house in Finglas. The incident occurred on 26 February 2019, when Bourke first lit a small flame and then threw petrol, creating a fireball that forced the Griffins to call 999. The attack caused smoke damage to the hall and required the front door to be replaced. Bourke pleaded guilty to two counts of arson at two Finglas locations and to stealing petrol from a Circle K station. He also admitted setting fire to a derelict building near the airport. The court noted premeditation, the occupied nature of the house, and Bourke's history of bipolar disorder and drug abuse. The sentence was 11 years with the final three years suspended, resulting in an eight‑year custodial term. The Griffins suffered an "indelible scar" and increased security measures following the attack.
In November 2019, Brian Johnston, a 32‑year‑old with 205 prior convictions, was jailed for 15 months after making a hoax 999 call claiming a shooting at a pub on Cappagh Road, Finglas. The call diverted Gardaí, an armed support unit, two fire brigade vehicles and an ambulance from an attempt to remove him from his ex‑partner's home. Johnston had been released from prison shortly before the incident and was homeless, living in a car that was seized. He pleaded guilty to the false report, to stealing a car battery, to producing a hammer while appearing to commit an offence, and to driving without a licence or insurance. Judge Martin Nolan described the act as a "reprehensible crime of desperation" and imposed concurrent sentences totalling 15 months. The case involved the Gardaí's attempt to breach the property, the diversion caused by the hoax call, and the subsequent arrest of Johnston at 4 a.m.
A 41‑year‑old serial burglar, Steffan Pavlov, was sentenced to 14 months in jail for a February 20 theft of two Acer tablets from the kitchen of Dublin's Shelbourne hotel. The tablets, worth €500, were taken by Pavlov, who had previously entered the hotel around 8 pm and removed them from a wall in the kitchen store room before anyone noticed. CCTV footage captured the incident, leading to Pavlov's arrest at his home after he had initially tried to block his front door with a wardrobe. Pavlov pleaded guilty to one count of trespass and theft and has 86 prior convictions, mainly for burglary, theft and handling stolen property. Judge Martin Nolan, who questioned whether Pavlov was a member of the "burglar party," noted the high number of his previous convictions and described the burglary as "pretty inoffensive." The sentence was back‑dated to March, when Pavlov first entered custody.
Keith Murtagh, 35, of Mariner's Port, Sheriff Street, Dublin, was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment for armed robbery of the Roebuck post office on 5 January 2016. He had pleaded not guilty to robbery, possession of a shotgun and possession of a shotgun cartridge. A 10‑day trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court ended with unanimous guilty verdicts on all charges. Judge Melanie Greally noted the pre‑meditated nature of the offence, the discharge of a firearm, and Murtagh's prior conviction for a similar offence. She credited him for voluntarily meeting Gardaí, providing a DNA sample, his difficult childhood, his charitable activities and his efforts to improve himself in prison. The sentence was back‑dated to his first custody date in November 2017. The robbery involved two men, one armed with a handgun and one with a shotgun, who stole €2,754 from the post office and €420 from a fine‑food shop on the premises.
Petr Balint, a 41-year-old former night security guard at All Hallows College, Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to theft charges. He admitted to stealing 33 art prints and an incunabula, defined as a book printed before 1501, from the college between January 2013 and June 2014. Balint also pleaded guilty to the theft of four prayer books and six other books during the same period. Judge Martin Nolan noted that while theft from employers is a serious matter, the value involved in this case did not approach the thresholds cited by the Court of Appeal for significant custodial sentences. Consequently, the judge determined that a custodial sentence was not appropriate. Balint was imposed a two and a half-year sentence, which was suspended in full. The court heard that Balint had sold some of the stolen prints through Sotheby's auction house, claiming they belonged to his mother, and had later returned the incunabula to the college. Defence counsel highlighted that Balint had no previous convictions, was a married father of one, and had used the proceeds to supplement his low wage. The judge accepted that Balint had been working alone and succumbed to temptation while the college was winding down operations.
Timothy Milner, a 31-year-old Malawian refugee residing in Waterford, has been sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for his involvement in an invoice redirection fraud. The defendant pleaded guilty to the charge of possession of €20,448, knowing or being reckless as to whether it was the proceeds of criminal conduct, on August 21, 2017. Prosecution evidence indicated that a Limerick company was defrauded when it transferred funds to Milner's bank account following a fraudulent email. While there was no suggestion Milner sent the redirecting email, he admitted to withdrawing the cash to hand over to third parties in exchange for a promised €500. Judge Martin Nolan noted that the victim company suffered a financial loss, making the matter serious. However, in mitigation, the court considered Milner's guilty plea, his cooperation, his lack of previous convictions, and his status as a refugee who arrived in Ireland in 2013. The judge found that Milner was approached by others who had a scheme and required a bank account. Consequently, the court imposed a two-year suspended sentence, allowing the defendant to avoid immediate custody.
In a 2019 Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Declan Connolly, 36, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment for robbery, with the final two and a half years suspended. Connolly, the getaway driver, pleaded guilty to robbing a 73‑year‑old woman outside her Templeogue home on 7 October 2016 after she had won €23,000 at the Fitzwilliam Casino. Brian English, 27, who monitored the woman in the casino and passed information to Connolly, received a three‑year suspended sentence for theft. English had no prior convictions. The court noted that CCTV footage showed English watching the victim and that communication between the two men's phones linked them to the crime. Both men pleaded guilty; Connolly expressed remorse, while English's plea was accepted as a theft charge. The court ordered English to hand over €6,500 to the victim. The actual mugger had not yet been brought before the courts.
Patrick Rogers, aged 33, was sentenced to ten months' imprisonment for two counts of possession of child pornography, one in November 2015 and another in June 2016, after gardaí discovered 41 images and a video on his family home. He also pleaded guilty to making threats to kill or seriously harm his former girlfriend, Heather Bartlett, between January and March 2016. A three‑year suspended sentence was imposed for the threats, conditional on Rogers not contacting Bartlett or her family again. The court noted Rogers' guilty pleas, cooperation and remorse, and his history of drinking problems and family support. Rogers is now registered as a sex offender. The sentencing took place at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, where Judge Martin Nolan delivered the judgment.
Kerrie Fitzpatrick, 41, of Loughnamona Park, Leixlip, Co Kildare, was sentenced to 16 months in prison for attempting to smuggle 63 grams of heroin, worth €9,575, into Mountjoy Prison on 14 January 2017. She pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and had a prior conviction for a similar offence at Portlaoise Prison. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice George Birmingham, upheld the sentence after an appeal. Birmingham noted evidence that Fitzpatrick had been coerced and that her relationship with her former partner was violent and abusive, factors that may have influenced her decision to bring the drugs. He also remarked that the heroin was a "very significant quantity of hard drugs" likely intended for general supply within the prison, and that a custodial sentence was necessary given the seriousness of the offence. The appeal was dismissed by the panel of judges.
In the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, a couple accused of mutilating their one‑year‑old daughter on 16 September 2016 pleaded not guilty to one count of female genital mutilation and one count of child cruelty. Dr John Hoade, a forensic scientist, testified that no blood was found on the toy the accused claimed caused the injury. He examined the scene on 23 September 2016, noting that a carpet area had been cleaned and that light blood staining was found only underneath the carpet and on the underlay. The DNA profile from that blood matched the complainant, with a probability of less than one in a thousand million of being unrelated. Hoade also examined knives, scissors and other tools, finding no blood on any of them. The trial will continue tomorrow with legal arguments before Judge Elma Sheahan, and a verdict is expected next Monday.
Ross Hutch, 27, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to robbing €200 from Boles Pharmacy in Drumcondra on 12 April 2019. He entered the shop after noon, wearing an orange jacket and a bicycle saddle, and threatened staff member Catherine Raymond, 70, to hand over cash. Raymond fled, a customer protected her, and Hutch took money from the till. Staff left through a side entrance, activated the alarm, and a customer disarmed Hutch. Hutch was later stopped by Gardaí on his bike, arrested that night, and DNA matched his jacket. He had 73 prior convictions, including firearms possession, endangerment and theft. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to two‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment, backdated to the robbery date, citing his early plea, remorse, and difficult family history.
Shane McKeever, aged 28, stole Thomas Stephens' car while Stephens was disposing of recycling. McKeever drove the vehicle, pinned Stephens against a wall, and crushed his ankle against a curb. After reversing, McKeever knocked Stephens to the ground. Garda Mark Walsh assisted and later found McKeever involved in a collision with a recycling truck on the M50, where the stolen car was propelled across traffic and overturned. McKeever was arrested after refusing a drug test and pleaded guilty to endangerment, car theft, failure to provide a sample and driving without insurance. He had 86 prior convictions and had been disqualified from driving two weeks earlier. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to six years' disqualification and four and a half years' imprisonment, citing remorse and steps taken to address his addiction. The court considered CCTV footage and victim impact reports, noting Stephens' ongoing injury and reduced income. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a paediatric surgeon, Dr Sri Paran, testified that the genital injury observed on a girl did not align with the father's account of a fall onto a toy. He described the injury as a cut with bleeding above the expected clitoral location and noted the absence of the clitoral head. Dr Paran warned that if the bleeding had not been stopped, the child could have suffered breathing difficulties and shock within 20 hours. He also stated that the injury was unlike any he had seen before and that the child appeared well‑nourished otherwise. Dr Sinead Harty, a forensic paediatrician, confirmed that the injury was inconsistent with a fall, noting no bruising or swelling, and concluded it was likely the result of female genital mutilation. Both parents denied involvement, and the trial was set to continue the next day before Judge Elma Sheahan and a jury. The unnamed 37-year-old pleaded not guilty.
The trial of a couple accused of mutilating their daughter's genitals began before a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The unnamed 37‑year‑old man and 27‑year‑old woman pleaded not guilty to one count of female genital mutilation and one count of child cruelty, both alleged to have occurred on 16 September 2016. Prosecutor Shane Costelloe argued that the couple brought their one‑year‑old daughter to a hospital after she began bleeding. A paediatric surgeon performed a procedure to stop the bleeding and concluded the injury was not accidental. He stated that the clitoral head had been excised and removed. The surgeon and colleagues referred the matter to Gardaí, who began an investigation. The prosecution claimed the couple aided, abetted or procured the act and were present at its commission. The case is now before Judge Elma Sheahan and a jury.
Carmen Egan, a 55-year-old street trader from Mulhuddart, Dublin, was sentenced to 15 months imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Egan pleaded guilty to the possession of unstamped cigarettes and tobacco at her address on December 1, 2018. Prosecution evidence indicated that Garda Colm Ryan discovered unstamped cigarette packs near the ILAC Shopping Centre, leading to a search of Egan's home where approximately 58,000 cigarettes and 51 pouches of tobacco were found. The state's loss in excise duty and VAT was calculated at €30,192.33, and cash totaling €15,085, $818, and 870 Turkish Lira was also seized. Egan has 44 previous convictions, including 21 for possession of unstamped tobacco products. Defense counsel Cathal McGreal BL highlighted Egan's lifelong work as a Moore Street trader, her recurring life-threatening illness, and her role in caring for a newborn grandchild. Judge Martin Nolan noted the case was aggravated by Egan's status as a recidivist for these specific offences. Following the guilty plea, the judge imposed a custodial sentence of 15 months imprisonment.
Patrick Morgan, 33, of Kilbarron Avenue, Kilmore, Dublin, was found in Mountjoy Prison on 6 April 2016 with Kinder Surprise Eggs that contained cannabis and heroin. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of cannabis and heroin for sale or supply. Garda Daniel Keaney reported that Morgan was under the influence of an intoxicant when he was searched, and that the search revealed a number of Kinder Surprise Eggs, one of which burst open to reveal cannabis, and others that had been stored internally but were removed. The eggs contained €468 of heroin and €656 of cannabis. Morgan is already serving a five‑year sentence for dangerous driving that caused the death of jogger Karl Robertson in 2017, with a scheduled release in February 2022.
In a 2019 case, Mark Halligan, aged 45, pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to threatening to kill or seriously harm a parish priest, Father Peter Byrne, at a church in Balally, Dundrum, on 11 September 2016. Halligan, who suffers from a religious persecution disorder—a form of schizophrenia—followed the priest into the sacristy with a large knife and warned that he would cut the priest's fingers off. A parishioner witnessed the threat and called the Gardaí, who arrested Halligan on the scene. He has 17 prior convictions, including theft, drug misuse, criminal damage, public order offences and road traffic offences. The judge accepted that Halligan was delusional at the time and, after confirming he had received suitable treatment and had not repeated such behaviour, imposed a three‑year prison sentence, fully suspended on the condition that he keep the peace, behave well for three years and be supervised by the Probation Service for 18 months.
Joseph O'Connor, a 58‑year‑old former Garda, was convicted of possessing child pornography and sentenced to two years' imprisonment. He pleaded not guilty to five counts of possession of images and videos of children being sexually abused, with evidence seized from his home in August 2011. The material included videos of boys as young as ten and under 17, and 16 images of children exposed or abused. O'Connor was acquitted on one count but found guilty on the others. He maintains his innocence, claiming he never saw the material and that a man who visited his home days earlier corrupted his computer. He has appealed the conviction in the Court of Appeal, where the judgment is reserved. The appeal argues that the trial judge erred in rulings and that the prosecution failed to prove O'Connor knowingly possessed or deleted the material. The court will decide on the appeal.
In a case heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Daniel Smyth, aged 28, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after an incident on a Dublin bus on 1 July 2018. While a Dublin Fire Brigade member, Paul Bateman, was attending to Smyth, who had passed out on the bus, Smyth attacked Bateman once he had helped him to his feet. Smyth struck Bateman in the face, knocking out his two front teeth. Smyth later returned to the scene and attempted a second attack. He claimed he had no memory of the assault, citing detox from benzodiazepines and a prohibition on alcohol. Smyth had 24 prior convictions and was homeless at the time. Judge Cormac Quinn sentenced him to 20 months' imprisonment, suspending the final 10 months on strict conditions.
David Masterson, 54, from Tallaght, Dublin, was remanded in September 2017 after being caught with child pornography. He pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to three defilement charges dated between February and December 2016, and to possession and distribution of child pornography on 14 November 2015. Masterson had sexual encounters with three under‑age girls, one of whom was 17 when the relationship began in February 2016 and continued after she turned 18. The other two girls were 15 and 17 at the times of the alleged encounters. A laptop seized in November 2015 contained 5,121 images and 196 videos, many depicting pre‑teen boys and girls in sexual activities with adults. The court adjourned the case to 20 December, ordering psychological and governor's reports. Masterson has not taken bail since his remand.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, a 17‑year‑old boy was sentenced to 18 months in jail for defilement of a 14‑year‑old girl. The accused, now 19, had previously claimed he believed "consent was consent" and was unaware that a person under 17 could not consent. He pleaded guilty to the offence committed in May 2018 at a Dublin location while in state care. The judge, Martin Nolan, noted the boy's cooperation, lack of prior convictions, and difficult upbringing, but also that the girl's age made the offence aggravating. He imposed a three‑year sentence, suspending the final 18 months. The prosecution and defence both highlighted the boy's lack of knowledge of the age of consent and his remorse, but the court upheld the custodial sentence. The case remains at the sentencing stage.
A 28‑year‑old man from Donnybrook, Dublin, pleaded guilty to possession and distribution of child pornography in July and August 2014. Gardaí traced an email address linked to a child‑pornography website to his home, seized his computer, and found 48 images and 340 videos, 45 images and 251 videos falling into the most serious category. He had no prior convictions and had been cooperative, providing passwords and access codes. Over the five years since the offence he attended a psychologist and received counselling. The court, noting the case's exceptional circumstances and his low risk of re‑offending, imposed a three‑year sentence suspended in full, with no custodial term. The judge considered the distribution to be at the lower end of seriousness and allowed a non‑custodial outcome. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
A 23-year-old man from Carrick-on-Shannon, County Leitrim, has been sentenced to 40 months imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm. John Dowling pleaded guilty to the offence, which occurred on 19 August 2017 on Drynam Road, Swords. The incident took place after Dowling left a public house where he had been celebrating his 21st birthday. While driving, he was marginally over the drink-driving limit, exceeded the speed limit whilst overtaking another vehicle, and lost control of his car after striking the kerb. The vehicle collided with a tree and wall. His passenger, Mark Kelly, sustained catastrophic injuries and remains in a vegetative state. Judge Martin Nolan noted the case was tragic and that Mr Kelly's family had been devastated. The judge imposed the sentence having considered aggravating factors including alcohol consumption, excessive speed, and lack of vehicle insurance, alongside mitigating factors including Dowling's guilty plea and demonstrated remorse.
A 32‑year‑old mother, Suzanne O'Rourke, pleaded guilty to assaulting a neighbour outside the Timbermills apartment complex on 25 September 2018. She repeatedly punched the woman and then kicked her in the stomach. O'Rourke claimed the attack was triggered by a perceived slight to herself and her child, saying the other mother had spoken to a group of children, including her own, in a way that upset her. She told Gardai the victim deserved the assault and that she had not done half of what she wanted to do. The court noted she had no prior convictions and that she was the sole carer of a child. Judge Martin Nolan described the attack as "pretty vicious" and "without a reasonable reason." He imposed a 20‑month custodial sentence but suspended it on the condition that O'Rourke pay €3,500 as a token of remorse within 18 months, citing the impact imprisonment would have on her child.
Christopher Ward, aged 63, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of 102 images and 29 videos of child pornography that were stored on electronic devices in his family home on Cashel Road, Crumlin, Dublin. Gardaí seized two hard drives and five CDs during a search conducted under a warrant. The material depicted boys and girls aged between four and 14 years old being sexually abused by adult males, and showed girls with exposed genitals. Ward had no prior convictions and was living with his mother at the time of the offences, who is now deceased. The court considered mitigating factors such as Ward's guilty plea, cooperation, lack of previous convictions, ill health, low risk of re‑offending, and the antiquity of the offences. Judge Patricia Ryan imposed a three‑year imprisonment sentence, fully suspended for three years on strict conditions, including one year of supervision by the Probation Service.
Graham Corbally, aged 44, was convicted by a jury in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 22 October 2019 after a seven‑day trial for unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition. The offence occurred on 18 January 2017 at Johnstown Gardens, Finglas, when Gardaí discovered Corbally in possession of an unloaded 22‑gauge Winchester sawn‑off shotgun and a white rubber glove containing three 12‑gauge shotgun cartridges. Corbally fled from Gardaí, throwing the package over garden walls and climbing into multiple rear gardens before being apprehended. Forensic DNA matched the firearm and glove to Corbally; fingerprints yielded no evidence. He had 42 prior convictions, including robbery, false imprisonment, drug possession and knife possession. Corbally pleaded not guilty, was sentenced to five and a half years, with the final six months suspended and the sentence back‑dated to 22 October 2019. He was acquitted of an alleged threat‑to‑kill charge.
Brendan Doolin, 37, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended, for harassing six female journalists and writers through hundreds of abusive online messages between 2012 and 2018. The court noted that Doolin had left his home only twice in the previous 17 years and described him as an "internet troll." He pleaded guilty and expressed remorse, factors that mitigated the sentence. The judge imposed strict conditions, including two years of probation, a lifetime prohibition on contacting the six victims, and a maximum seven‑year sentence for any breach. Doolin used multiple email addresses and a monitoring program to send the messages, which included insults, threats, and personal images. The victims reported feeling stalked and psychologically harmed, and the court highlighted the severity of the online harassment. The case underscored the court's view that such conduct constitutes serious criminal behaviour.
Martin Hanley, 55, pleaded guilty to robbing a 65‑year‑old man outside a bookies on Gardiner Lane, Dublin, on 23 November 2017. He knocked the victim, Frank O'Neill, to the ground with a punch, demanded money while O'Neill lay on the ground, and stood on his leg. O'Neill's tibia was broken, leaving him unable to run or walk for a period and preventing him from walking his dog. Hanley, who is undergoing cancer treatment and has had a lung removed, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended, by Judge Karen O'Connor on 29 March 2019. The Court of Appeal upheld the sentence, rejecting the appeal that it was too severe. The appeal was dismissed by Mr Justice George Birmingham, who noted the violence and injury inflicted and the victim's refusal of a €2,000 token of remorse offered by Hanley's family. The final sentence was three years' imprisonment, with no further suspension or adjustment.
Lorcan Ross, 25, of Ballyfermot, was sentenced to four and a half years' imprisonment and a six‑year driving disqualification after pleading guilty to endangerment, dangerous driving and driving without a licence and insurance. The offence involved a 30‑minute high‑speed pursuit through Ballyfermot, during which Ross drove in the middle of the road, ran red lights, performed hand‑brake turns and turned corners without regard for other vehicles. Vehicles had to mount footpaths and pedestrians had to move to avoid being struck. No injuries were reported and no victims were identified. Ross had 78 prior convictions, including 30 for road traffic offences. He voluntarily stopped the vehicle, did not resist arrest and was not aware of any injuries caused. The judge noted Ross's extensive offending history and the seriousness of his endangerment, leading to the custodial sentence.
Glenn Jordan, a 42‑year‑old sales executive, stole more than €33,000 worth of iPads from MJ Flood, claiming they were ordered by the IT department at Beaumont Hospital. He created two fake orders, intercepted the delivery, took the devices and sold them. Jordan later admitted a gambling addiction and that he was out of his depth. He has since repaid the company. In Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, he pleaded guilty to three counts of theft between March and May 2017. Judge Martin Nolan adjourned the case to February next year, ordering a probation report to assess Jordan's suitability for community service rather than an immediate custodial sentence. The court noted Jordan had no prior convictions and had been employed by MJ Flood since November 2016, with his employment terminated in May 2017 due to performance issues. The prosecution highlighted that Jordan had admitted his wrongdoing and reimbursed the company.
Patricia Rea Suarez, a 40‑year‑old Bolivian mother, was jailed for one year after swallowing 41 pellets of cocaine, weighing more than 1.3 kg, before boarding a flight from São Paulo to Dublin via Lisbon. She was arrested at Dublin Airport on 22 May and spent five days in hospital, where doctors feared the pellets might burst inside her. Suarez pleaded guilty to possessing drugs for sale or supply and to importing illegal drugs. Judge Martin Nolan accepted that she ingested the drugs in exchange for €2,000 cash, citing her poverty and desperation. He noted her remorse, cooperation with Gardaí, lack of prior convictions, and that she would not return to Ireland after release. The one‑year sentence was back‑dated to the day she entered custody, with the judge suggesting she would be released shortly after Christmas.
Mark Carlisle, aged 30, was convicted of violent disorder and assault causing harm after he kicked a man up to 12 times while the victim lay on the ground. The incident occurred on 12 October 2015 in Crumlin when the victim was returning home and was attacked by a group of five or six men. Carlisle was the only one who continued to kick the victim, who suffered a fracture to the base of the skull, intracranial haemorrhage and extensive facial trauma. He had 109 previous convictions, including three for violent disorder, and was already serving a three‑year sentence for a firearms offence. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to seven‑and‑a‑half years in prison on 26 July 2018. The Court of Appeal upheld the sentence, dismissing Carlisle's appeal and confirming the severity of the punishment. The decision was made by Mr Justice George Birmingham, with Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy present. Mark Carlisle pleaded not guilty.
Paula Underwood, 56, pleaded guilty to unlawfully using a computer to divert over €23,000 from pensioners at Donabate Post Office between 2008 and 2013. She withheld payments from 91 pensioners across 156 transactions, understating entitlements and exploiting vulnerable customers. An Post refunded the money and held the then postmaster, Mr Neill Smith, liable, requiring him to repay the sum. Underwood was sentenced to three years imprisonment with the final 18 months suspended on 30 July 2019. She sought to withdraw an appeal against the severity of her sentence, but the Court of Appeal required her to present €750 to compensate Mr Smith. After the payment was produced, the appeal was withdrawn, allowing her to remain released from prison. Mr Smith, a 32‑year postmaster, expressed betrayal and health impact but received no apology. The case highlights breaches of trust against elderly pensioners.
Seven men were sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for violent disorder on a LUAS tram at Chancery Street, Dublin 7, on February 6, 2016. Sean Kindillon, Jamal Garamanli, Ian Baker, Patrick Dunne, Michael Farrell, Jamie Whelan, and Andrew Byrne each pleaded guilty to the offence. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced all seven to two years' imprisonment, but suspended the sentences in their entirety on strict conditions. The court ordered six of the men to pay €2,500 each within 18 months, while Byrne was ordered to pay €1,500, with funds directed to charity. The incident involved an altercation with members of a far-right anti-Islam organisation travelling to a demonstration. Prosecution evidence included CCTV footage showing Dunne striking a man with an umbrella and Byrne aiming a kick. The judge noted the defendants were working, had good prospects, and expressed remorse, deeming imprisonment unjustified. Kindillon and Garamanli stated they intervened to defend themselves or friends against perceived attacks. None of the far-right group members were charged. A separate co-accused, who pleaded guilty in the District Court, was sentenced to 140 hours of community service in lieu of 14 months' imprisonment for striking a man with an iron bar.
Derek Tuohy, 37, of Lucan, was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment after pleading guilty to assault causing harm at his home on 1 November 2017. The offence involved him head‑butting his then partner, Samantha Murphy, picking her up by the neck and throwing her out of the house. The incident followed a Halloween party where Tuohy had been intoxicated. He punched Murphy three times on her right thigh, head‑butted her to her right temple, kicked her in the stomach, and then lifted her and threw her out of the house. Murphy suffered a fall down the stairs and was left barefoot on the street. She later obtained a protection order. Tuohy had nine prior convictions for road traffic and public order offences and had made no contact with Murphy or their child since the incident.
Derek Lennon, 34, was jailed for four and a half years at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to two counts of threatening a witness, criminal damage to CCTV cameras, assault causing harm, production of a length of wood, and threatening to kill or cause serious harm on October 2 and November 13, 2018. The offences stemmed from a 2017 District Court road traffic prosecution where Lennon, found guilty of dangerous driving, was sentenced to 90 hours of community service and banned from driving for six years. Following an appeal regarding the severity of that sentence, Lennon allegedly intimidated State witness Niall Fitzgerald, who was too afraid to attend court. In November 2018, Lennon allegedly attacked Fitzgerald with a plank of wood and punched him, causing facial injuries and dental damage. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a substantial custodial sentence, noting Lennon's 72 previous convictions and his inability to reform. The sentence was backdated to when Lennon was first remanded in custody last November. Defense counsel highlighted Lennon's remorse and fixation on his driving ban, while the victim reported lasting trauma and diminished faith in the justice process.
In February 2019, Dillon Brophy, aged 22, entered Rose Garden Chinese Restaurant on South Circular Road with a large serrated knife and demanded cash from staff closing for the night. When the staff refused, Brophy threatened the man with the knife, holding it to the back of his neck. A struggle ensued, causing both men to fall down the stairs. Staff restrained Brophy until Gardaí arrived. He pleaded guilty to robbery at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and was sentenced to 27 months' imprisonment. The judge noted the seriousness of the knife and Brophy's intent to rob, while acknowledging his history of 41 convictions and his potential for reform. A victim impact report recorded a small thumb injury. Brophy's defence highlighted his desire to rebuild his life with his girlfriend and child, and his completion of educational courses while in custody.
A 68‑year‑old Dublin man pleaded guilty in July 2019 to five counts of indecent assault on his daughter between 1985 and 1986, when she was aged nine to ten. He later denied the abuse to the Probation Service, claiming he had no idea why his daughter would make the allegations. He appeared in court unrepresented and confirmed he did not wish to alter his guilty pleas, stating he was "guilty" and would feel "forever guilty." Judge Elma Sheahan sentenced him to nine years, suspending the final year on the condition he completes all available sexual‑abuse courses in custody. The sentence was delivered in the presence of the victim, who broke down in tears. She said she had spoken out to stop abuse that had persisted for three generations and expressed forgiveness toward her father.