Joseph Heffernan, aged 43, pleaded guilty to theft and making a false statement to Gardaí after staging a burglary at Body & Soul Salon in Rathmines on 25 July 2019. He had stolen €6,670 and £40 from the lockers of two employees while his then‑partner, the salon owner, was away. He later admitted to taking money from the salon over several months to repay the salon. He returned most of the stolen money and paid €1,120 in court to cover the remaining balance. Judge Patricia Ryan, noting the breach of trust and the amount involved, imposed a two‑year imprisonment sentence, suspended in its entirety on strict conditions, and ordered 90 hours of community service within 12 months. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The judge highlighted Heffernan's guilty plea, admissions, good employment record and gambling addiction as mitigating factors.
Martin Connors, 18, was caught on CCTV wearing flip‑flops and white socks while breaking into a family home on Versoy Avenue, Citywest. He later joined a robbery of a pizza delivery man that night. After fleeing the robbery in a Fiat Punto, his flip‑flops were found in the getaway car. Connors pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to burglary and robbery, with 42 prior convictions. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to five years, suspending the final 18 months on probation. The judge noted the burglary was swift and frightening for the family, and that Connors had learning challenges and a desire to reform. The case involved a group that used a golf club to break in, and the pizza delivery man was threatened and robbed before the car crashed into hedging. Connors was arrested and identified as Micheal McDonagh, 12, during the pursuit. The prosecution and defence highlighted Connors' background and his wish to change.
A 15‑year‑old boy was stopped on his bike in Dublin city centre with a backpack containing €40,000 worth of cannabis. Gardaí recovered two kilos of the drug and the boy was charged with possessing cannabis for sale or supply. He pleaded guilty and had no prior convictions. The boy explained that he had been given the drugs in exchange for transporting them for his mother, a drug addict, and that he used cannabis to help him sleep. He also said he had been born with neonatal drug addiction. Judge Martin Nolan noted the boy's vulnerable background and decided not to detain him, instead imposing a three‑and‑a‑half‑year detention sentence that was suspended on conditions including two years of probation. The boy's mother was present at the hearing. The court heard that the boy helps his younger sibling with schoolwork and is described by a teacher as well‑behaved but easily led.
A 22‑year‑old man, Francis Lyons, pleaded guilty to attempting to rob two Dublin shops on 16 April 2018. He entered Topaz armed with a golf club and a pint glass, failed to obtain money, threatened to return and kill staff, and then went to the neighbouring Eurospar demanding money. Security staff restrained him, one of whom was head‑butted, and Lyons was arrested. He admitted to the Gardaí that he had been drinking at home and listening to rap music when something "triggered" in his head, and that he had not taken medication or drugs, only alcohol. He described himself as "tipsy" and said he acted because he owed money for bills. His defence counsel, Mark Lynam, expressed concerns about possible psychiatric issues and requested a psychiatric assessment. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court adjourned sentencing to 27 January to allow a psychiatric report to be prepared and to consider a probation report for community service.
A 41‑year‑old man was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment for assaulting his wife and his 15‑year‑old step‑daughter on 3 December 2018 at their home. The assault began when the man, armed with a kitchen knife, attacked his wife in front of small children who ran to get the older sister. The step‑daughter tried to protect her mother, was struck several times, and the man then turned on her, hitting her four times. The wife reported that the man had previously assaulted her in June 2018, pushing her against a wall and biting her shoulder. The man pleaded guilty to both assaults, had no prior convictions, and had been taking antidepressants while also abusing alcohol. The judge noted his cooperation, remorse, and good work history, but imposed a custodial sentence to serve as a deterrent. The wife expressed that she did not want him jailed, but the court considered the impact on the family.
A 52‑year‑old man was jailed for three years after pleading guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to sexually assaulting a six‑year‑old girl he was looking after while her mother worked. The offences occurred between 20 May 2018 and 30 June 2018. The man met the mother on a dating app in 2017, moved into her one‑bedroom flat two weeks later, and while she worked night shifts he looked after the daughter. He slept on the couch but when alone with the child he slept in the same double bed. The mother consented to him bathing and showering the daughter. On the last day of June the girl told her mother that the man had touched her inappropriately. The man admitted to four incidents in which he had rubbed his penis on the child, touched her vagina, smacked her bum and kissed her mouth, claiming he was not erect and did not ejaculate.
A man has been sentenced to ten years imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following his conviction on twenty-four counts of indecent assault. Thomas Patton, aged 51, was found guilty by jury in July of abusing his young cousin over a six-year period between 1984 and 1990 at Castlefinn, County Donegal. The offending began when the victim was six years old. Judge Melanie Greally imposed four years for offences committed when Patton was a minor and six years for those committed in adulthood, to run consecutively. The judge cited the extreme nature of the abuse, its duration and regularity, the victim's age, breach of trust, and severe psychological harm as aggravating factors. In mitigation, she noted Patton's youth during the initial offences, absence of previous convictions, and subsequent productive life. The victim, who waived anonymity, described lasting trauma and family division resulting from disclosure. Thomas Patton pleaded not guilty.
David O'Brien, aged 67, was sentenced by Judge Karen O'Connor at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to a total of eight years' imprisonment for indecent assault on four boys between 1972 and 1981. The sentence was imposed on four separate counts, each carrying two years, and the final 18 months were suspended on the condition of 12 months' probation. O'Brien pleaded guilty to eight counts of indecent assault and had previously been jailed for six and a half years in 2015 for similar offences. He admitted to molesting a number of boys while a scout leader, including fondling and non‑penetrative acts, and claimed he had abused between 30 and 40 children. The court noted his guilty plea and expressed remorse, but emphasised the breach of trust and the victims' loss of childhood innocence. The victims gave impact statements describing lasting physical and emotional harm, and the judge praised their courage.
Patrick Lyons, a 45‑year‑old taxi driver from Cabra West, was found guilty of theft after he kept a customer's bank card and withdrew €550 from her account. The incident occurred after the woman and her friend hailed his taxi to return home from a night out. Lyons claimed he had returned the card before withdrawing the money. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 12 December 2018. The judge noted his prior District Court convictions for similar thefts between December 2017 and August 2018, and that he had already paid €3,800 in restitution. Lyons had €500 to compensate the victim and was drug‑free, making good progress. Judge Karen O'Connor described the offence as "devious and unpleasant" and imposed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year suspended sentence on strict conditions, stating that re‑offending would result in imprisonment.
Ellavita Flynn, 25, stole designer goods from Dublin's Brown Thomas over two weeks in late 2017 and early 2018, including a €395 Michael Kors watch, a €2,400 Prada handbag, a €1,490 Gucci handbag and a €2,280 Louis Vuitton handbag, the only item recovered. She pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Flynn had three prior theft convictions handled at District Court. Judge Elma Sheahan sentenced her to twelve months imprisonment, suspending the final three months for six months on strict conditions, including compliance with Probation Service directions. Flynn is currently in custody on her own request, participating in a methadone programme and a hairdressing course. The judge noted her high risk of re‑offending, the seriousness of the offences, her addiction and homelessness background, and her remorse and family support as mitigating factors.
Darren Cusack, 47, of Crumlin, Dublin, was sentenced to eight and a half years in prison at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply and possession of three stun guns at Ballyfermot Drive on July 17, 2017. Prosecutors alleged he was part of a large-scale drug distribution hub where 188kg of cannabis and 2.9kg of cocaine were found. Judge Martin Nolan noted that while Cusack admitted to carrying boxes into the garage, evidence indicated he did not own the drugs or act as the chief organiser. The judge considered the Court of Criminal Appeal's recent decision to increase co-accused Stephen Sarsfield's sentence from seven to ten years for undue leniency, distinguishing Cusack's role as less significant because Sarsfield possessed the truck keys. A third co-accused, Mark O'Dwyer, was sentenced to five years in May 2018, with his case also subject to a Court of Criminal Appeal review on grounds of undue leniency. Cusack's defence highlighted his role as a father to an autistic child, but the court imposed the custodial sentence.
Ciaran McGuire, aged 21, was sentenced by Judge Martin Nolan to a fully suspended three‑year prison term for assault causing harm after he mistakenly struck Stephen McQuillan, believing McQuillan had insulted his girlfriend. McGuire's attack left McQuillan with a fractured jaw, a cut to his face, loss of three teeth and €20,000 in dental costs. The court imposed strict conditions, requiring McGuire to pay €3,000 in compensation to the prosecuting Garda and an additional €10,000 within 18 months, with the possibility of the money being transferred to charity if McQuillan declined. McGuire pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, had no prior convictions, and expressed contrition, apologising for his actions. The judge noted McGuire's cooperation and the court's willingness to enforce the suspended sentence under the stated conditions.
Firemen searching for a fire at Passion Tanning & Beauty in Tallaght discovered a concealed cannabis grow‑house behind a false partition in a beautician's wardrobe. The grow‑house contained 39 mature cannabis plants valued at €31,200 and several smaller plants destroyed by the fire. Elwira Syfert, 40, pleaded guilty to cultivation of cannabis at the premises on 22 January 2017. In an interview she said a man had offered her €400 a month to use the concealed space, initially unaware of its purpose, and later threatened her with violence if she reported the activity. She claimed the man demanded she water and feed the plants. Defence counsel argued she had only performed watering duties. The court found Syfert under pressure and sentenced her to three years' imprisonment, suspended in full on strict conditions.
Michael Cole, 28, of Clondalkin, Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to possession of the proceeds of criminal conduct and possession of cannabis. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a sentence of two and a half years imprisonment, which was suspended in full on strict conditions. Cole admitted to receiving €20,000 into his Bank of Ireland account at Newlands Cross on May 17, 2016, as part of a €1.1 million money laundering operation involving a Danish company. Prosecution evidence indicated that Cole acted as a "money mule," directing the conversion of funds into US Dollars and UK Sterling under the instruction of others, for which he received €1,200 in cash and a phone. He also pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis at his address on November 14, 2017. The court noted that Cole had no previous convictions and was involved in a custody dispute at the time of the offence. While €960,000 of the laundered funds has been recovered, €80,000 remains outstanding. The judge accepted that Cole was not the main operator of the scheme, describing him as having been used by individuals more adept in crime.
A 19‑year‑old Brazilian model, Jhennifer Garcia De Araujo, was sentenced to six years' imprisonment, with five years suspended, after pleading guilty to importing cocaine and possessing it at Dublin Airport. She claimed an armed man forced her to swallow 51 pellets of the drug, which had a street value of €49,203. Garcia De Araujo said she believed she was meeting a man to discuss a modelling contract but was threatened with a gun and told to ingest the drugs. She denied receiving payment and stated she was not an addict. The judge noted the social harm of drugs and praised Gardaí and customs for their work. The case was heard in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, and the sentence was imposed by Judge Pauline Codd.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Mamour Lowe Nicolas, 35, born and raised in Gambia, and his co‑accused Michail Angelopoulos, 27, and Kosmas Ompante, 31, all homeless, were found guilty of assault and robbery after a violent mugging that left a victim unconscious with a fractured skull. The trio followed the victim after a night out, stole his phone, wallet, prayer book and keys, and then attacked him. Nicolas kicked the victim eight times in the face, while Angelopoulos and Ompante also struck and dragged him to the ground. The victim suffered a skull fracture, a deep cut to the left front of his face and a cut on his ear. Judge Patricia Ryan imposed concurrent four‑year sentences on each defendant, back‑dated to May to account for time already spent in custody. The court noted the serious harm caused and the defendants' guilty pleas.
Siva Kadiminisetty, a 36‑year‑old new father from Rathmines, was given a three‑year suspended sentence after he exploited a banking glitch that allowed him to steal over €25,000 from a bank over eight weeks. He admitted using a false passport to open a bank account in February 2009 and stealing cash at Dunnes Stores in July and August 2012. Kadiminisetty said he passed some of the money to a friend who helped him open false accounts, and he used part of the proceeds for college fees, flights home to India and groceries. He also withdrew cash by using an unsigned Visa debit card at supermarkets on four occasions. The judge noted his lack of prior convictions, good work history and unlikely re‑offending, and therefore suspended the custodial term on strict conditions. Siva Kadiminisetty pleaded guilty.
Anthony Conway, 35, of Sheridan Court, Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of a knife with intent to intimidate after entering Dominick Inn topless on 12 August 2018. He had heard a rumour that his partner was having an affair with the barman and went to confront him. The barman used a pole to defend himself and the confrontation ended quickly; Conway dropped the knife and left. He had 18 prior convictions, including theft, drug offences and public order offences. Judge Pauline Codd noted that Conway was under the influence, had a difficult background, and was involved in caring for his five children. She sentenced him to two years imprisonment, suspended in full, with strict conditions including supervision by the Probation Service for two years.
Two Dublin men, David Reilly (36) and Daryl Howe (23), were jailed for assaulting Andrew Smith during a feud. Reilly chased Smith into a house, slashed his face with a Stanley knife while Smith tried to shut a door, and Howe followed from the back, striking Smith with a club. Smith sustained lacerations and a facial scar. Both men pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Martin Nolan, noting the seriousness of the offence and the men's remorse, imposed a 27‑month sentence on Reilly and an 18‑month sentence on Howe, each having spent nine months in custody on remand. The judge considered their family responsibilities and prior records, concluding a custodial sentence was necessary. Smith did not give a victim impact statement. The case highlighted the feud's dissipation and Smith's wish that Reilly not be imprisoned.
Olusola Omobamidele, 51, pleaded guilty to careless driving simpliciter for a collision on 19 October 2014 that killed 38‑year‑old motorcyclist Keith McGann. The court found his driving did not cause McGann's death and imposed a €500 fine, the maximum for this offence, with no prison sentence. Omobamidele had been driving a Dublin Bus and had no prior convictions. He had been working for Dublin Bus for 12 years before the incident and had left the company shortly after. McGann's widow, Cynthia, read a victim impact statement describing the loss of her husband, father of three, and the toll of a five‑year legal process. The judge noted Omobamidele's self‑imposed driving ban and expressed condolences to the family. The sentence was delivered at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court by Judge Martin Nolan.
Shane Farrelly, aged 20, was convicted of public disorder and two counts of damaging property during a riot at Oberstown Children Detention Campus on 29 August 2016, when staff were on strike. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to three-and-a-half years, with the final 18 months suspended. Farrelly was part of a group of teenagers who caused €3 million in damage to the detention centre, including smashing televisions and windows, and also contributed to an additional €500 000 in damage to other units. He had 21 prior convictions, including assault, criminal damage and threats to kill. Three co‑accused who pleaded guilty to arson received five‑year sentences, with the last two years suspended. The court noted that Farrelly did not set fire to the building but participated in violent disorder that caused the damage. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The article does not mention any further proceedings.
A 35-year-old man from Ballyjamesduff, County Cavan has been sentenced to six years imprisonment following his conviction for serious offences against his former partner. Derek Fay pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm and false imprisonment at a hotel in Parkwest, Dublin on 16 and 17 November 2015. The court heard that Fay trapped the woman in a hotel room overnight, during which he made violent threats, destroyed her mobile telephone and punched her repeatedly in the face, causing a serious injury to her nose. The woman remained awake throughout most of the night in fear for her safety. Fay subsequently left the jurisdiction and was returned to Ireland on foot of a European Arrest Warrant. Judge Martin Nolan imposed the custodial sentence, describing the accused's conduct as prolonged and vicious. The sentence was backdated to January 2018, when Fay first entered custody in connection with the matter.
In a drunken altercation over a PlayStation game, 36‑year‑old Jonathan Dwane stabbed his friend John Paul Bradley in the back three times, lacerating Bradley's kidney. The incident occurred after the pair, both long‑time drug addicts, had been drinking and playing games in Dwane's bedroom. Dwane, who kept a knife for protection, was arrested and pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and producing a knife. He was sentenced to 40 months' imprisonment by Judge Martin Nolan, who described the act as a gross over‑reaction. Bradley was taken to hospital and underwent surgery; he made a full recovery and declined to give a victim impact statement. Dwane's father intervened and disarmed him during the struggle. The case was heard in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 1 November 2019.
Robert Glynn, 42, of Knockmore Park, Tallaght, pleaded guilty to threatening to kill and possessing a firearm after pulling a gun on his sister‑in‑law, Suzanne Campbell, during a family dispute. On 10 March, Glynn confronted Campbell's partner outside her home, pointing a black modified handgun at him and threatening to shoot. Campbell pleaded with him not to fire, and he fled. Gardaí found the unloaded, unusable gun under Glynn's mattress. Glynn has 34 prior convictions, mainly traffic offences, plus criminal damage and larceny. He was in custody since March. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to three years' imprisonment, suspending the final two years on strict conditions and backdating the sentence to his initial custody date. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, with Glynn's defence citing a "moment of madness.".
Brendan Clifford, 34, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to sexual exploitation of a child and sexual assault of another child at Tallaght Hospital in 2015. The victims, siblings aged nine and ten, were brought to the hospital by Clifford, who posed as a talent agent named David White. He administered cream to the children's legs, bum and penis, and requested removal of their underwear during treatment. The mother, suspicious after receiving an email from a purported agent, discovered the deception. Clifford had no prior convictions and is married with three children. He was sentenced to five years' imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended on strict conditions, including probation supervision for 18 months after release. The judge described his conduct as "very devious" and "perverse.".
Patrick Fennell, 45, of Greenfort Avenue, Clondalkin, pleaded guilty to four pharmacy robberies committed over seven months. He was convicted of two robberies at Smyths Pharmacy in Clondalkin (19 July and 10 September 2018), one at Boylan's Pharmacy in Ballyfermot (8 October 2018) and one at Leonard's Corner Pharmacy on South Circular Road (22 February 2019). In each incident he used a knife, demanded drugs, and in some cases received cash. Garda accounts detail his use of a balaclava, erratic behaviour and the acquisition of large quantities of prescription drugs. Fennell had nine prior convictions, including for production of an article. He was sentenced by Judge Martin Nolan to three years for each count, with all but the final offence running concurrently and the last running consecutively, giving an effective six‑year custodial term.
A 23‑year‑old substitute teacher pleaded guilty to two counts of defilement for having sex with a 16‑year‑old pupil. The offences occurred in early 2018 at Gormanston Beach and the Carlton Hotel, after the teacher had bought the boy gifts on his birthday. She waited until his 16th birthday, believing that was the legal age of consent, and then engaged in sexual activity in her car and at the hotel. Judge Martin Nolan accepted her belief but found her reckless and that, as a teacher, she should have known the law. He sentenced her to three years' imprisonment, suspending the final two years on the condition of good behaviour for two years after release. The judge noted her early guilty plea, cooperation and lack of prior convictions as mitigating factors. The teacher's contract was terminated and she is no longer employed in education. The boy suffered anxiety and depression as a result of the abuse.
Oliver Callely, 27, of St Lawrences Road, Clontarf, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to setting off fireworks at Copper Face Jacks nightclub on 6 July 2015. Prosecutor Maurice Coffey BL requested a victim impact statement for sentencing. Judge Martin Nolan set a sentencing hearing for 2 December and remanded Callely on continuing bail until that date.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 23‑year‑old substitute teacher pleaded guilty to two counts of defilement after having sex with a 16‑year‑old pupil. The teacher, who had been working at the school when the boy was in his fifth year of secondary school, met him in an over‑18s nightclub and began communicating via Snapchat. In early 2018, on the boy's 16th birthday, she drove him to Gormanston Beach where they kissed and had sexual intercourse. A month later, she took him to a hotel room she had booked, where they again kissed and had sex. The boy later told his parents he had stayed at a friend's house, and the teacher's contract was terminated after the school discovered her identity. The teacher claimed she believed 16 was the legal age of consent and had no prior convictions. The court adjourned the case for a verdict.
A man who shoved and pushed a 67-year-old woman around her home while demanding money has been sentenced to six years in total for this incident, an earlier robbery, and for breaking into 13 cars. Lee Byrne (21) of Termon Court, Poppintree, Ballymun Dublin pleaded guilty to burglary and theft, assault causing harm and false imprisonment of the woman at her home in Drumcondra on October 9, 2018. He also pleaded guilty to criminal damage of various vehicles on St Margaret's Road in Finglas on April 1, 2018, and to attempted robbery at Spar on Upper O'Connell Street on September 9, 2018. Byrne had 51 previous convictions, 24 of which were committed as a child. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced Byrne to an 18-month term in June this year for the criminal damage charges, which was backdated to when he was first remanded in custody, resulting in a release date in December this year. Today, Judge Greally sentenced Byrne to an additional four and a half years, which is to run consecutive to the 18-month term. She suspended the final 12 months of this sentence, taking into account Byrne's youth, extreme addiction, and genuine remorse. The burglary of the woman's home was deemed the more serious offence due to the violation of her home and the violence inflicted upon her. The matter was adjourned for the purpose of this summary.
A former Irish footballer, Eric Donnelly, aged 21, was sentenced to 20 months in prison for a prolonged knife assault on Ronan Collins. The incident occurred on 15 August 2018 after Donnelly, who had been drinking for up to five days following a breakup, met Collins at the latter's apartment in Stillorgan. Donnelly became aggressive, seized a dinner knife, and held it to Collins' throat while repeatedly punching him, breaking his nose. Collins fled, tripping and dislocating his knee, and was pursued by Donnelly who continued to punch him in front of a witness. Both suffered severe hand lacerations. Gardaí identified Donnelly via CCTV and his Instagram. Judge Martin Nolan, noting the prolonged nature of the assault, imposed the custodial sentence. Collins suffered lasting injuries requiring surgery and physiotherapy. Donnelly, who had no prior convictions, expressed remorse and acknowledged the truth of Collins' account. Eric Donnelly pleaded guilty.
In 2019, Mark Farrelly (48), David Byrne (46) and Niall Byrne (37) appealed convictions for the 2005 tiger kidnapping of the Richardson family and the €2.08 million robbery of a Securicor cash‑in‑transit van. The original trial, the fifth time the case had been heard, found them guilty of false imprisonment and conspiracy to rob. Farrelly, deemed the mastermind, received 17½ years; Byrne, one of the kidnappers, 13½ years; and Byrne, the inside man, 10 years. Their appeal, lodged on 29 October 2019, argued that mobile‑phone data used by Gardaí was gathered under the 1993 legislation, which did not cover the type of data now available and had been superseded in 2005. Counsel contended the evidence was inadmissible, citing the 2015 Supreme Court case 'JC' and the pending 'Dwyer' case. The appeal was heard by the Court of Appeal, with the Director of Public Prosecutions set to reply the following day. Mark Farrelly pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 48‑year‑old carpenter Mervyn Heffernan was dragged under the getaway car of 24‑year‑old Daniel Maughan for about 30 yards after Heffernan had confronted Maughan at the side of his van. Heffernan suffered third‑degree burns, 11 missing teeth and a head injury. Witnesses reported Heffernan standing in front of the vehicle with his arms raised, and that workers shouted for the car to be stopped before Maughan fled. DNA from a phone left in the car matched Maughan, and stolen items were found in the van's boot. Maughan pleaded guilty to endangerment, had 56 prior convictions, and was sentenced to four years' imprisonment and a five‑year driving disqualification. Heffernan was discharged from hospital after a week, having incurred €20,000 in dental costs. The court noted Maughan's remorse and his efforts to address drug problems while in custody.
Gerard Ryan, a 44‑year‑old butcher, was sentenced to eight years in prison after being found with more than €2.5 million worth of drugs hidden in packets of men's boxer shorts. Ryan admitted to possessing ketamine, MDMA and cannabis for sale or supply at his Kilbarrack home on 17 July last year. He claimed he was pressured to collect the drugs from a warehouse in Ashbourne to satisfy a €1,500 debt and deliver them to unknown parties, fearing harm to his family if he identified the dealers. Gardaí seized €1.73 million of MDMA, €840,000 of ketamine and €16,000 of cannabis during a search of his van and garden shed.
Alex Kane, aged 22, was convicted of a series of arson and trespass offences that caused over €700,000 in damage to two apartment blocks in Dublin. In 2014 he set fires in the underground carparks of Fairhaven and Abbey Glen Apartments, destroying eight cars and forcing the evacuation of both buildings. He also admitted to trespassing and criminal damage at Auburn Lodge Apartments. In 2018 he pleaded guilty to handling stolen property after being found in possession of a stolen cheque and cash. Kane was sentenced to five years in prison for the arson and a consecutive one‑year term for the stolen property charge. The court noted he had no prior convictions and that the damage cost the owners €751,409, largely covered by insurance. The judge described Kane as "well capable of reforming" and sentenced him to a total of six years in custody.
John McDonagh, aged 29, was sentenced to three years in prison for his role in a street assault that left a man, Saurjan Syergaz, with a severe stomach slash wound. McDonagh, who lives in Ballymun, admitted to kicking and punching Syergaz during a confrontation with Syergaz's partner, Donna Dineen, who later inflicted the slash and stole the victim's wallet. Dineen had already been jailed for four years in November for her part in the attack. McDonagh's sentence, imposed by Judge Melanie Greally, reflected his extensive criminal history of 86 prior convictions and the aggravating circumstances of the incident. The judge acknowledged that McDonagh did not participate in the stabbing but noted the "extremely nasty" nature of his assault. The final 12 months of the four‑year term were suspended on conditions. The victim, who has since returned to Mongolia, was not given a victim impact statement. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. John McDonagh pleaded guilty. Donna Dineen pleaded guilty.
Michael Ward, 30, was jailed for two years after a drunken burglary of Mary's Bar on Wicklow Street. He entered the unoccupied bar early on November 5, broke three cash registers but found no money, and stole bottles of vodka, whiskey, gin, rum and three boxes of salt sachets. CCTV footage identified him; he did not conceal his face or wear gloves. Ward pleaded guilty and had 145 prior convictions, including theft, burglary and criminal damage. The court noted his homelessness, drug and alcohol addiction, and a difficult childhood, as well as his remorse. Judge Melanie Greally described the offence as opportunistic and carried out under the influence of alcohol, and said the damage disrupted business operations. She imposed a three‑year sentence, suspending the final 12 months on conditions, and the effective custodial term is two years.
A 13‑year‑old boy, Lee Henry, was fatally injured when a black VW Golf driven by Dean Shelley struck him while the vehicle was speeding on the R139 in Coolock. Shelley, 29, pleaded guilty to careless driving causing death and failure to stop. The boy was running across the road with friends when the collision occurred around 9 pm on 22 October 2016. Shelley fled the scene, abandoning his car at Clare Hall, and was later found with his wallet and licence. Emergency services attended the scene and Lee was pronounced dead at Temple Street Hospital. Shelley's prior convictions include drug possession and other traffic offences. The court heard a victim impact statement from Lee's mother, describing his aspirations and the tragedy of his loss. Judge Karen O'Connor ordered a probation report before sentencing, which is set for 12 December.
Eileen Ryan, 26, pregnant and six months along, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to driving with unrestrained children, dangerous driving, and driving without insurance on 25 March 2018. Two children, aged two and five, sat in the back without seat belts. Garda Michael Brisbane described a high‑speed chase in Tallaght where the car broke red lights, drove over the white line, and swerved, with glass bottles thrown at the patrol car. Ryan was abusive, smelled of alcohol, and had slurred speech. She refused blood samples and had four prior District Court convictions. The judge imposed a four‑year suspended sentence, conditional on Ryan keeping the peace for three years, and a mandatory four‑year driving ban. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, with no further verdicts reported in the article.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, Sandra Moore, aged 54 and a resident of Bru Hostel on Thomas Street, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm on 27 June 2017. The assault involved Moore grabbing the victim's throat, shaking her, and pushing her to the ground while taking a radio. The victim received medical assistance and was later hospitalized; she subsequently died of liver failure, a death the court found unrelated to the assault. Moore was sentenced to a suspended two‑year prison term by Ms Justice Patricia Ryan, who imposed the suspension on the condition that Moore keep the peace and engage with Probation Services. Moore thanked the judge, stated she had stopped drinking, and was supported by her sister in court. The victim's mother forgave Moore and expressed prayers for her. Moore's defence cited a bipolar disorder diagnosis and conveyed regrets to the victim's family.
Laurence Bryan (36) pleaded guilty to four robberies and two attempted robberies at shops in the Tallaght area between March 31, 2016 and April 8, 2016. Bryan, who has 132 previous convictions, including a five and a half year sentence with the final 18 months suspended imposed in 2014 for previous robberies, admitted to committing the crimes while in the throes of a crack cocaine and heroin addiction. Judge Melanie Greally noted that Bryan had undergone a residential drug treatment program and had since made a 'complete turnaround' in his life, including undertaking a horticultural course and beginning to move into the employment market. The judge stated that the robberies were extremely serious and committed during an extremely destructive addiction. She imposed a five-year prison sentence, which was suspended in full on strict conditions. The matter was adjourned in 2017 to allow the residential drug treatment program to be completed. Bryan was identified on CCTV in the earlier cases and taken from Cloverhill Prison to be interviewed. He made admissions and told gardai that he did not want to hurt anybody but needed the money for drugs.
Jason Mahony, a 35‑year‑old former butcher from Avonbeg, Tallaght, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to handling stolen property and money laundering in May 2016. He had received €15,861 stolen from a break‑in at McLoughlin's butchers in Ballyfermot and later deposited €9,705 in cash, along with €3,460 in coins, into his bank account. Garda Ronan Coffey presented evidence that Mahony had visited the address of a former partner in Tymonville Lawn, where a rental car was found with a key in Mahony's possession and cash in envelopes bearing the names of the butchers' employees. Mahony's previous convictions for theft were noted, and a Probation Services report indicated a low risk of re‑offending. Judge Patricia Ryan imposed a suspended prison sentence of three years, conditional on Mahony keeping the peace for that period.
Ross Hutch, aged 29, appeared before the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and pleaded guilty to a single count of robbing €200 from Boles Pharmacy in Drumcondra on 12 April. He was seen in court wearing a white Adidas t‑shirt and tracksuit bottoms and is currently in custody. The judge adjourned sentencing to 20 November, with the hearing expected to last about 20 minutes.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 25 October 2019, a 36‑year‑old woman, whose name is withheld to protect her children, was found to have breached the conditions of a suspended two‑year sentence imposed in January 2017 for wilfully neglecting her six‑year‑old and 13‑month‑old children. The 2017 case involved the older child being discovered wandering a Dublin street in a distressed, cold, wet state, and the younger child found in a buggy in the mother's living room, both in a distressed condition with soiled nappies and clothes. The mother was described as in a "disorientated state" and was dealing with alcohol addiction at the time.
Murad Khandokar, 47, was sentenced to three years in prison for sexually assaulting a 26‑year‑old woman on a Dublin bus on 30 April 2016. During the 15‑20 minute journey he attempted to pry the woman's legs apart and tried to penetrate her with his fingers, while also touching her thighs and attempting to use a baseball cap to conceal his hand. The victim, who was wearing leggings, resisted and froze, describing the experience as being "hemmed in" and terrified. Khandokar had previously been convicted of sexual assault, harassment and breach of a barring order. He pleaded guilty, and Judge Martin Nolan imposed a four‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence, suspending the final 18 months on conditions including probation supervision after release. The case was brought by Garda Louise Carroll, who noted the victim's complaint and CCTV evidence that identified Khandokar. The victim's impact statement highlighted her frustration, anger, shame and desire for consequences.
Susan Foley, 67, of Ronanstown, Dublin, was sentenced to 16 months in prison after pleading guilty to fraudulently obtaining €150,000 in social welfare payments. She deceived the state to receive €75,695.90 of carer's allowance between 2004 and 2010, and €75,185.90 of job seekers allowance between 2010 and 2017, while continuing to claim an invalidity pension. The fraud was uncovered when a higher executive officer noticed identical photographs on two claims. Foley admitted the deception, cooperated with investigators, and entered a repayment arrangement, returning a lump sum of €30,000 from her sister's estate. Judge Martin Nolan noted her long‑term hardship but also her repeated deception, and imposed the 16‑month sentence. She has no prior convictions. The case was prosecuted by Garrett McCormack BL, with defence counsel Anne‑Marie Lawlor SC.
David O'Brien, a former scout leader, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to eight counts of indecent assault relating to four boys between January 1, 1972, and December 31, 1981. The court heard that O'Brien admitted to gardaí in 1997 that he was "molesting" young boys in the scouts, yet a direction was made not to prosecute. He was previously jailed for four-and-a-half years in October 2015 for sexually abusing six young boys on camping trips in the late 1970s and 80s. Prosecution evidence detailed allegations of fondling and non-penetrative abuse during scouting trips in Wicklow and Meath. Victim impact statements described lasting psychological and physical effects, including trust issues and stress-related health problems. Defense counsel noted that O'Brien accepted he committed grave wrongs and apologized for his behavior. Judge Karen O'Connor remanded O'Brien in custody and adjourned the matter for sentencing on November 7.
Brendan McSherry, a 27-year-old electrician from Artane, Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for an assault causing harm. He pleaded guilty to the charge of assaulting Caoimhin McCarthy on Coast Road, Portmarnock, on October 8, 2017. Prosecution evidence stated that the 18-year-old victim was outside getting air when McSherry punched him to the side of the head, causing him to fall onto the road. The victim suffered bleeding to the ear, facial numbness, and ongoing psychological effects, including nightmares. Judge Martin Nolan described the incident as a cowardly and unprovoked attack on a blameless young man. Although the judge noted his instinct was to imprison McSherry, he considered the defendant's lack of previous convictions and low risk of re-offending. Judge Nolan concluded that McSherry did not deserve a custodial sentence. He suspended a three-year prison term on the condition that McSherry pays €12,500 to the victim. The judge characterized this financial penalty as a form of punishment. Defense counsel stated that McSherry was ashamed and regretful of his actions. The matter was finalized with this suspended sentence and payment condition.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, Thomas Locke, 26, pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary and false imprisonment after breaking into a woman's apartment on 31 October 2018. Locke, who was on bail for a prior offence, entered the bedroom with a foot‑long knife, told the woman to leave the bed, and claimed he would not harm her. He smoked in her kitchen, asked about money, and together they went to a petrol station where the woman withdrew €300 for him. Locke threatened to "cut her" if she told anyone. He was identified through CCTV and fingerprints on the fridge. Locke had 68 prior convictions and was already in custody since 26 November. The judge, citing his guilty plea, remorse, addiction, and past record, sentenced him to five years imprisonment, crediting time already served. The sentence is to commence after the completion of his earlier 12‑month term.
Stephen Gregan, 38, pleaded guilty to sexual assault of an 11‑year‑old in a Penneys shop in Dundrum Town Centre on 10 June 2017. Garda Jennifer Quinn reported that the child was with friends when Gregan pushed up against her and squeezed her behind, an act the child described as deliberate. Gregan initially claimed it was accidental but later admitted intent. He has no prior convictions. His defence counsel, Ger Small, highlighted his remorse, depression, and ongoing counselling, and noted his placement on the sex offenders register. Judge Martin Nolan, recognising Gregan's mental health issues and the offence's lower end of the sexual assault scale, suspended a nine‑month prison term and ordered a €5,000 payment to the victim, stating that further offences would result in imprisonment. The court did not impose custodial custody.