Martin Stapleton, 30, of Ballyboden, Dublin, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to distributing and possessing child pornography. Judge Martin Nolan handed down the sentence following Stapleton's admission to charges relating to offences committed on July 17, 2014, and July 1, 2015. Prosecution evidence indicated that gardaí received information from Merseyside police that indecent images had been sent via Skype from Stapleton's address. A subsequent search seized electronic devices containing 119 images and 18 videos of child pornography. Detective Garda Donagh Mannix testified that Stapleton sent a specific video depicting a female child being orally raped to three different locations on separate occasions. While Stapleton admitted to possessing and distributing the material, he denied ever touching a child inappropriately. Defence counsel Patrick McGrath SC highlighted a four-year delay in prosecution, which the judge attributed to a lack of resources for device examination. Judge Nolan noted that had the matter been dealt with expeditiously, the sentence would have been approximately three years. Stapleton has no previous convictions.
Martin Guerin, 68, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to knowingly possessing 901 images and 146 video files of child pornography at his Portmarnock address on 17 September 2014. He was found to have held material depicting children, including girls under 15 and as young as two, in sexual activity, and images of children with exposed genitals. Gardaí traced the material to Guerin via an IP address and seized devices during a search. Guerin admitted responsibility and cooperated with investigators. Judge Martin Nolan, noting no aggravating factors and Guerin's guilty plea, good work history, and lack of prior convictions, imposed a fully suspended sentence of two and a half years, conditional on good behaviour for that period. The court considered a non‑custodial sentence appropriate given the circumstances. No mention of prior convictions or future sentencing was made. The case was presented as a single charge of possession of child pornography.
David Swords, 23, pleaded guilty to assaulting his girlfriend Jessica Walsh in Glasthule on 21 June 2017 after believing she had kissed his cousin. He admitted punching her more than five but less than ten times, holding her with his left hand and striking with his right. The assault was described by Judge Martin Nolan as unprovoked, sudden and vicious. Swords had no prior convictions and was cooperative, having begun weekly anger‑management and domestic‑abuse courses. The judge cited his guilty plea, lack of criminal history, education, employment and steps to control his temper as mitigating factors. He was sentenced to three years' imprisonment, fully suspended on strict conditions, including a €12,500 payment to be forfeited if the victim declined it. The court did not read the victim impact report, and Walsh was treated for swelling and bruising at hospital. The case was adjourned overnight for further consideration.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, truck driver Oleksandr Hrudovyy, aged 47, was found not guilty of dangerous driving causing the death of 80‑year‑old William Carrick on 22 May 2015. The jury, after about an hour and a half of deliberation, returned a unanimous verdict. Hrudovyy, a professional driver from Clonee, claimed he was not driving dangerously; he had no alcohol or drugs, was not tired, and had not been speeding. He argued that Carrick, who had left a pub and was attempting to cross a pedestrian crossing partially blocked by the truck's rear, may have been in a blind spot. Dashcam footage showed Carrick crossing in front of the truck before Hrudovyy moved forward, but the footage did not capture the driver's view. Hrudovyy stopped the truck immediately, was shocked, and cooperated with Gardaí. The prosecution alleged Hrudovyy was inattentive and did not check mirrors.
Judge Martin Nolan, presiding over the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, sentenced Carley O'Connor, 31, and Gemma Reilly, 27, to three years imprisonment each for possession of cocaine for sale or supply. Both pleaded guilty to offences involving €34,489 worth of cocaine found in a black plastic bag in a Ford Mondeo's glove compartment. The judge noted that neither had prior convictions, had cooperated with Gardaí, and had no criminal record. He emphasized that most drug defendants are not large traffickers but individuals desperate for money or debt relief, and that Section 15a of the Misuse of Drugs Act is applied when drug values exceed €13,000. Both sentences were suspended in full on the condition that the women keep the peace and behave well for three years. The court highlighted that the defendants were not major drug pushers but "pawns for the slaughter.".
A 25‑year‑old man, Adam Marlowe, was convicted of aggravated burglary, robbery of €50 and assault on an 81‑year‑old farmer in north Co Dublin. The conviction was based on DNA evidence recovered from a small piece of blue latex material found in the victim's bedroom, described as a fingertip of a latex glove. The DNA matched Marlowe's profile 93%, with the remaining 7% from two unknown persons. No gloves were found in the house and there was no evidence the perpetrators wore gloves. Marlowe appealed, arguing the trial judge failed to direct the jury to acquit and misdirected the weight of forensic evidence. The Court of Appeal upheld the conviction, stating the evidence was sufficient to link Marlowe to the crime. He was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment, with a suspended portion of a previous sentence for violent disorder. The victim suffered bruising, a deep cut requiring stitches, and reported lasting trauma. Adam Marlowe pleaded not guilty.
David O'Brien, aged 67, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to four counts of indecent assault on three boys under 15 between January 1972 and December 1978, including incidents in Larch Hill, Roundwood, Co Wicklow, and an unknown location. He also pleaded guilty to three counts of indecent assault on two of the same boys in Powerscourt, Co Wicklow, and two unknown locations between January 1976 and December 1978, involving fondling of the boys' penises. O'Brien, who is currently in custody and appeared frail, was previously jailed for four-and-a-half years in October 2015 for sexually abusing six boys on camping trips in the late 1970s and 1980s. Reporting restrictions were lifted today by Judge Karen O'Connor. The case remains pending sentencing, with the judge adjourned the matter for a hearing on Thursday. The prosecution noted the sentence could take up to a day.
A former soldier has withdrawn an appeal against a €150,000 damages award in the Court of Appeal following an assault on his former partner. Jonathan McSherry, formerly of Dublin, had challenged the High Court's assessment of damages for assault and battery. The attack occurred in December 2015 when McSherry assaulted the mother of his two children at her home, causing fractures to her skull, eye sockets and cheekbones. He subsequently served 22 months of a three-and-a-half-year custodial sentence imposed in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. In the civil proceedings, McSherry accepted responsibility for causing extensive facial injuries to his former partner. The three-judge panel, comprising Mr Justice John Edwards, Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy and Ms Justice Aileen Donnelly, was informed of the withdrawal before the hearing commenced. Legal costs were awarded against McSherry following an application by counsel for the plaintiff.
Craig Courtney, 23, of Tallaght, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to three money‑laundering counts involving €10,000, €14,600 and the transfer of a car's ownership between February and March 2017. He had four prior convictions. During a Garda search of his home, officers found €1,115, an iPhone, Prada runners, a Rolex watch, an An Post deposit book with €10,000, and additional cash hidden in a painting and under cushions. The book was linked to a €14,895 Volkswagen Golf purchase and a €14,600 credit‑union cheque that was allegedly used to buy a car. Judge Martin Nolan, noting Courtney's cooperation and the seriousness of the offence, imposed a two‑year custodial sentence. Courtney's defence highlighted his youth, family support, drug‑free status and a plea for community service instead of imprisonment. The case remains at the sentencing stage.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Oleksandr Hrudovyy, a 47‑year‑old professional truck driver, pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of William Carrick, an 80‑year‑old pedestrian. The incident occurred on 22 May 2015 when Hrudovyy stopped his 16.9‑metre truck in heavy traffic at a green light on Swords Road, Cloghran, and then moved forward, crushing Carrick who had just left a pub and was crossing the road. Carrick died from multiple fractures and blood loss. The prosecution alleged Hrudovyy was inattentive, failed to check mirrors, and did not perform required checks before moving the vehicle. Dashcam footage showed Carrick crossing in front of the truck, while Hrudovyy claimed he did not see him. Defence argued the evidence did not meet the Supreme Court's definition of dangerous driving and that the stop was merely inconsiderate. The jury was instructed to remain impartial and consider the facts presented.
Aaron Kiely, 35, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assaulting American tourist Sean Beauchamp on 13 August 2017. Kiely, who has 185 prior convictions, was jailed for 18 months after the court heard Beauchamp suffered injuries to his head, ear, face and arm when a group intervened in a fight between Kiely and his girlfriend. Kiely claimed he could not have bitten Beauchamp because he has no teeth, a statement accepted by the court. The judge noted Kiely was intoxicated on the day of the incident. Beauchamp, who works for an airline, was treated in hospital and later paid €15,000 in medical costs, €11,000 of which was covered by insurance. Kiely was identified as a suspect through CCTV footage. The case was prosecuted by John Byrne BL and defended by Oisin Clarke BL.
Crystal Coady, 26, of Bluebell Road, Dublin, was jailed for four years after pleading guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply. Gardaí, acting on confidential information that controlled drugs were stored in the Bluebell area, set up an operation on 24 August 2018. They observed Coady leave her house with a pink holdall bag, which she handed over a railing to another woman. Gardaí later retrieved the bag from the woman's address, finding about 3 kg of heroin and almost ½ kg of crack cocaine, valued at roughly €470 000. Coady's solicitor admitted responsibility for the drugs, noting the recipient was unaware of their contents. Coady had 17 prior convictions, mainly traffic offences, and was a single mother of three. The court considered her vulnerable status, cocaine use, debt, and role as a caring mother.
Rafal Winter, a 37‑year‑old former shop assistant manager from Clonee, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to stealing more than €10,000 worth of lottery scratch cards from a Spar store in Mulhuddart between 2 July and 24 September 2017. He admitted taking up to 30 books of cards over several weeks, claiming jealousy after friends discussed pay rises. Winter voluntarily presented himself to the Gardaí, explained that he scratched the cards himself, and offered to resign and repay the €10,500 he had stolen. He has since worked as a security guard and has not attracted further Garda attention. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to 18 months' imprisonment, suspended entirely, subject to a number of conditions. The judge noted his efforts to repay the money and his lack of prior convictions in Ireland or Poland. The case was prosecuted by Diarmuid Collins BL and defended by Jennifer Jackson BL.
Neil McKay, a 75‑year‑old retired primary school teacher who had lived in Ireland for over twenty years, was jailed after admitting possession of 13,557 images, 1,685 videos, 91 animations and four documents of child pornography. He pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to distributing child pornographic material via Yahoo between 26 November and 2 December 2011. Garda Johanna Doyle described documents that included Google Earth printouts with Scottish locations, boys' names and ages, and a document titled "David's story" detailing sexual activity with an 11‑year‑old boy. McKay's distribution offence involved a conversation in which he offered a folder containing 99 videos of boys in sexual activity. He had previously been convicted in Scotland for indecent photography and for failing to disclose his address to the sex offenders registrar, receiving a 14‑month sentence. After a European Arrest Warrant, he was returned to Ireland and has been on remand since.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Keith Murtagh, 35, of Mariners' Port, Sheriff Street, was set to be sentenced for his alleged role in the armed robbery of the Roebuck post office on 5 January 2016. Murtagh had pleaded not guilty to robbery, possession of a shotgun and possession of a shotgun cartridge. A ten‑day trial in July concluded with a jury finding him guilty on all counts. Detective Garda Lisa McHugh recounted that two men entered the post office, one armed with a handgun and the other with a shotgun, who fired two blasts into a glass partition before Murtagh allegedly climbed over the desk into the back of the office. The robbery yielded €2,754 from the post office and €420 from a fine‑food shop on the premises. Murtagh's defence, Garnet Orange SC, highlighted his long prison history and charitable activities, yet acknowledged the evidence presented.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Alan Barrett, 42, was sentenced to nine months in custody for diverting trust money held for event organisers into his personal account to keep the ticketing company Event Elephant LTD afloat. Barrett, who had previously served a two‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence for tax offences in 2017, pleaded guilty to theft between December 2010 and August 2013. The judge described the offence as an "unusual theft" arising from Barrett's stewardship of company funds, noting that a substantial portion was spent on company expenses. Barrett had already served part of his earlier sentence and was disqualified from being a company director. The court imposed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence, suspending all but nine months, reflecting Barrett's cooperation, remorse, and the impact of his actions on the company's financial difficulties.
Eddie Farnan, 37, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, threatening to kill Lisa Power and criminal damage on 2 June 2017. He dragged her by the hair, swung her, threw her across a room, and placed his hands around her throat. The attack ended when he began hitting himself in the face and Power grabbed her baby and fled. A medical report found bruising on her neck and whiplash. Power still suffers daily headaches, nightmares and panic attacks. Judge Karen O'Connor imposed a suspended sentence of two years and nine months, suspended entirely on conditions. She noted Farnan had no prior violence history and had made significant rehabilitation efforts. The judge warned that any future violence would trigger the full custodial term. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, a 35‑year‑old man was found guilty of sexually assaulting a seven‑year‑old boy who was the son of a friend. The man, whose name is withheld to protect the victim's anonymity, had pleaded not guilty to three sexual assault charges. The jury convicted him on the count involving the seven‑year‑old, but acquitted him on one of the other two charges and was directed to find him not guilty on the remaining charge. The boy, now 14, testified that the assault caused him ongoing sleep difficulties, fear, and other life problems. His mother also spoke about the impact, describing the family as victims of the man's cruel actions. The judge remanded the defendant in custody and set a finalisation date for November 29.
John McClean, 74, former rugby coach and teacher at Terenure College, faces trial for indecent assault on nine males between 1973 and 1989. He was sent forward from the District Court earlier this year. Judge Martin Nolan set a trial date of 2 November 2020, with a pre‑trial hearing on 29 July 2020.
Christopher Gannon, 36, of Ballyfermot, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm at Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin, on 6 October 2018. He attacked his former partner, who was there with their son, twice, punching her numerous times and causing a fractured nose and temporary double vision. The assault occurred while the child was in the hospital. Gannon had a prior conviction for assault and public intoxication. Justice Patricia Ryan noted the seriousness of the injuries, the hospital setting, the repeated attacks and the victim's repeated blows, but also cited Gannon's guilty plea, admissions to Gardaí, apology, good work record and lack of prior Garda attention as mitigating factors. She sentenced him to three years' imprisonment, suspending the final 18 months on strict conditions. The case was heard in the criminal court on 18 October 2019.
An Armagh man, Adrian Grant, 48, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to three counts of dishonestly by deception. He used false documentation bearing the name "Gerard Grant" to submit two mortgage applications in 2011 and 2014 and a hire‑purchase application to Volkswagen Bank in 2013. The mortgage applications for a property in Kells failed, but he obtained €18,000 in car finance, which he has since repaid. Grant had a prior conviction in Northern Ireland for selling counterfeit washing powder. He explained that he had lost two properties after being let go from construction work and was under severe financial pressure, caring for a seriously ill wife. The court noted his cooperation with Gardaí and the absence of victims. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a three‑year sentence, suspended in full.
John Connors, aged 22, was sentenced to two years in prison for burglary at Hamlet Lane, Balbriggan, on 4 January. He entered the house of Peter Sanya, who was watching television, claiming he had been directed to the house to find a man named Jason. Connors admitted to being intoxicated and claimed he had stolen items, but was not found with a hammer or knife at arrest. Gardaí recovered five watches, silver cufflinks, a gold chain and an iPhone from him. He had seven prior convictions, including burglary. Connors pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The judge imposed a three‑year sentence, suspending the final year on strict conditions, including compliance with the Probation Service for one year after release. The case was prosecuted by Philip Rahn BL and defended by Derek Cooney BL. The incident was reported by Detective Garda Gerard Mulroney.
Michael Doherty, a 39‑year‑old former wine and school lunch delivery businessman, was sentenced to a suspended three‑and‑a‑half‑year prison term for robbery after a judge noted his efforts to rehabilitate. On 31 March 2017, Doherty entered a Maxol station on Newcastle Road in Lucan, threatened staff with a claw hammer, and when the till would not open he struck it and stole about €400. He fled in a black car that Gardaí linked to him, leading to his arrest. Doherty pleaded guilty to the robbery of Kim Heffernan. He had 24 prior convictions, mainly for road traffic offences, and the prosecution and defence agreed the robbery was out of character. Counsel argued that the breakdown of his marriage had devastated him, leading to drug abuse and business failure, and that he committed the robbery to fund his addiction.
Sarah Clarke, a 25‑year‑old mother of one, was sentenced to six years' imprisonment for possessing heroin and cocaine for sale or supply. The drugs, worth €553,000 in heroin and €34,600 in cocaine, were found in her apartment in Tallaght after a Garda search. Clarke admitted she was aware that drugs were stored there to pay a €5,000 debt, but claimed she did not know the contents or value. She pleaded guilty on 17 October last year and had no prior convictions. Judge Martin Nolan accepted her early guilty plea, cooperation with Gardaí, personal circumstances and lack of previous convictions as mitigating factors. He suspended the final three years of the sentence on the condition that she keep the peace and be of good behaviour during incarceration and for three years after release.
David Weafer, 33, was jailed for 16 months after breaking into his former family home, threatening his ex‑partner Jennifer Staunton with a knife, kneeing her in the face and head‑butting her. He pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and threatening her on 10 February 2018. The court, hearing that the couple's five children, aged 1 to 14, hid in another room and called 999, described the attack as "serious" and noted that the older child tried to intervene. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a three‑year sentence, suspended the final 20 months, and imposed conditions including staying away from Staunton and the family home. Weafer admitted he was intoxicated that night and expressed remorse, hoping to regain his ex‑partner's trust.
Olivia O Mahony, 22, of Boyerstown, Navan, received an 18‑month suspended sentence after pleading guilty to possessing property known to be the proceeds of criminal conduct. She had allowed her then‑partner to transfer €15,000 into her Bank of Ireland account, from which she withdrew about €13,000 in cash within two hours before the account was frozen. The money was part of a €1 million fraud that involved a fraudulent email sent to a Danish company, which transferred the VAT refund to an Irish Rabo Direct account. O Mahony claimed she had no knowledge that the transfer was illegal and said she handed the cash to her boyfriend. The court noted she had been manipulated and had not profited from the crime, leading to the suspended sentence.
Anthony Goodman, aged 74, was convicted of indecent exposure at a Malahide restaurant on 13 August 2018 and on a bus on 20 August 2018, and of sexual assault on 20 August 2018. He pleaded guilty to all three offences. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to nine months imprisonment for each indecent exposure, to run consecutively, and to two and a half years imprisonment for the sexual assault, also to run consecutively, giving a total of four years. The final 18 months of the sentence were suspended for five years on conditions of good behaviour, engagement with Probation Services, and restriction to public transport only with Garda permission. The sentence was back‑dated to 23 August 2018, the day he first entered custody. Goodman has 201 previous convictions, including sexual assault, indecency, arson, threats to kill and firearms possession, and had breached a sex‑offender order that prohibited him from riding a bus without Garda notification.
Geraldine Doyle, aged 63, was sentenced to a suspended three‑and‑a‑half‑year term after pleading guilty to four counts of theft from the Department of Social Protection. She had claimed her deceased partner's €200 weekly pension for four years, from 2012 to 2016, after his death was not registered. The total amount stolen was €44,652. Doyle also received other social welfare payments, including rent allowance. She has no prior convictions. Doyle repaid €10,000 and agreed to pay €150 a week to clear the remaining debt. The judge noted her remorse, health issues and efforts to repay the state, and therefore imposed a suspended sentence rather than imprisonment.
Steven McGivern, 42, of Belfast, was sentenced to 30 months in prison for possessing 9,595 images and 178 videos of child pornography. The material, found in his apartment after a search warrant issued following Canadian police information, showed preteen boys and girls with exposed genitals, engaging in sexual activity with each other and with adult males. McGivern admitted downloading the content for sexual gratification and acknowledged the illegality of his actions. He also provided a credit card used to pay for some of the videos. Judge Sinéad Ní Chúalacháin noted his three prior convictions for indecent assault and attempts to take indecent photos of children, and cited the volume of material, the duration of the offence, and the ages of the children involved as aggravating factors. The judge highlighted that the offence was not a victimless crime, as real children were exploited, and that financial gain was involved. Steven McGivern pleaded guilty.
Swiatoslaw Jaroszynski, 34, was jailed for 20 months after a violent attack in Clondalkin, Dublin, on 26 May 2018. He assaulted a woman jogging on the outer ring road, tried to bite her, and then attacked a passerby, Robert Keogh, during the struggle. Jaroszynski forced a woman driving with her 11‑ and 9‑year‑old children to stop, jumped onto her car's bonnet, headbutted the windscreen, smashed the rear passenger window, and tried to bite the woman's throat. He also grabbed the children and struck them. He had previously been involved in a head‑on collision and fled the scene. Jaroszynski pleaded guilty to three assault‑causing‑harm charges and unlawful interference with a car. He had a history of a suspended drug sentence and a robbery conviction. The judge noted his PTSD and drug use, but imposed a 20‑month sentence, citing the case's violent and unusual nature.
Marie Penny, a 56‑year‑old woman from Landsdowne Gate, Drimnagh, Dublin, was sentenced to two years in prison after pleading guilty to possession of heroin, cocaine, cannabis and cannabis resin at her home on 18 January 2019. She had been holding drugs valued at over €130,000 for others to pay her rent and debts after falling on hard times. Garda Michael Ormonde reported that officers entered Penny's kitchen with a search warrant, found the drugs, and Penny told them she had agreed to hold the drugs for money to pay bills. She was paid €200 per week and was a holder rather than a dealer. Judge Cormac Quinn, considering the value and type of the drugs as aggravating factors and her age, personal circumstances and cooperation as mitigating factors, imposed a four‑year sentence and suspended the final two years on strict conditions. The mandatory minimum of ten years did not apply.
Keegan Davidson, 25, was sentenced to three years in prison, with the final two years suspended, for laundering €104,107 obtained through an "invoice redirection" fraud. He supplied his bank account details to a criminal gang that used them to receive payments from a bogus email sent to an engineering company. Davidson withdrew about €43,759 from various bureaux de change and post offices in Dublin, converting portions to British pounds and US dollars. He pleaded guilty to four offences under the 2010 Money Laundering Act for transferring or converting money knowing it was the proceeds of crime. The court noted he had no evidence of involvement in the fraud beyond laundering, and that the bank recovered roughly €46,000 from his account. Davidson's prior convictions include possession of knives, public order, theft, trespass, and a suspended sentence for possession of a sawn‑off shotgun. The judge acknowledged his efforts at rehabilitation and imposed the suspended sentence on conditions.
Edward Stokes, aged 25, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for endangerment and dangerous driving after a high‑speed chase in Clondalkin and Ballyfermot. On 3 October 2016, Stokes drove through a red light, over a Luas line, and attempted to ram a Garda patrol car, forcing the officers to take evasive action. He then drove into a traveller's site, crashed into a bollard, and fled into an attic where he was arrested. Stokes had 23 prior convictions, including violent disorder and driving offences, and was disqualified from driving at the time of the offence. The court noted his medical condition (necrotising pancreatitis) and his expressed remorse. Judge Cormac Quinn imposed a three‑year sentence, suspending the final 18 months on strict conditions. Edward Stokes pleaded guilty.
Michael McDonald Agu, 57, a father of five, was jailed for 18 months after two child‑pornography videos were found on his phone during a 2018 Garda search for drugs. The first two‑minute clip showed a juvenile male raping an infant male; a second six‑minute clip depicted a woman interacting with three juvenile males. Agu had been charged with possession of child pornography and, after withdrawing his challenge to the evidence, pleaded guilty to both charges on 31 October 2018. He was already serving a four‑year sentence for drug possession, with release scheduled for September 2021. Judge Martin Nolan confirmed the videos were undoubtedly child pornography, noted that Agu had accepted responsibility, and set the 18‑month term to begin immediately rather than run consecutively with the drug sentence. Agu is married, has five daughters and a ten‑year‑old granddaughter, and suffers from several medical conditions.
Patrick Ward, 41, was sentenced to three years in prison after stabbing Edel Delahunty, his neighbour, three times with scissors. The attack occurred after a quarrel at Delahunty's home while they were watching the World Cup. Ward punched Delahunty before stabbing her, and she discovered the wounds when she heard blood on the floor. She was treated in hospital for three stab wounds and required surgery after a lung puncture, staying six nights. Ward pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and possession of a weapon at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 16 June 2018. He had prior convictions for affray, assault, breach of a barring order, production of an article, criminal damage, theft and drugs. The judge noted Ward was very drunk but not excused, and accepted his remorse. Gardaí arrested Ward after he threatened to kill anyone entering his home. He later expressed regret and apologized to the victim.
Dean Heapes, 34, of Swords, Co Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to 10 burglaries of premises on South William Street, Dublin 2, committed on December 13, 2016. He also admitted to three further burglaries in the city between January 2017 and April 2018, as well as using a false instrument when attempting to cash a stolen cheque on Grafton Street in November 2016. The court heard that Heapes, who has ten previous burglary convictions, was captured on CCTV stealing 13 laptops during the initial incident, five of which were later recovered. Judge Karen O'Connor noted that while the offences were serious, Heapes had no history of violent offending. The judge considered his chronic drug addiction, difficult upbringing, and periods of homelessness, alongside his cooperation with gardai and expressed remorse. Judge O'Connor imposed consecutive sentences totalling five and a half years but suspended the final 18 months. She stated that Heapes has much to be hopeful for, including a supportive partner and young child, but warned that if he does not take this opportunity, he will spend the remainder of the sentence in prison.
Vincent O'Donoghue, a former solicitor, was refused an extension of time to appeal his conviction for fraudulently converting cheques. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice George Birmingham with Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, denied the application. O'Donoghue had previously pleaded guilty to converting cheques totalling IR£34,828 (€44,231) intended as property deposits in Dublin and Belfast in the late 1990s. He was sentenced in July 2014 by Judge Mary Ellen Ring to 220 hours of community service in lieu of a two-year prison term. The judges noted that O'Donoghue, a former solicitor, entered his guilty plea while represented by legal counsel and had sworn affidavits that failed to demonstrate any substantive point for appeal. The court emphasized that finality and certainty are important litigation objectives, concluding that the interests of justice would not be served by granting more time. The matter was adjourned regarding the extension request, which was refused, leaving the original conviction and sentence intact.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a homeless couple, Stacey O'Dwyer (34) and Ciaran O'Toole (35), avoided jail after pleading guilty to possessing €8,000 worth of heroin for sale or supply. The drugs were found in O'Dwyer's tracksuit after a checkpoint search on 27 April. O'Dwyer resisted arrest, kicking, screaming, lying on the ground and later biting a Garda, while O'Toole remained calm. Both pleaded guilty, O'Dwyer also to obstructing an officer. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a suspended three‑year sentence, noting O'Dwyer's mental health history, remorse and rehabilitation progress, and O'Toole's acceptance of responsibility. The pair, living in homeless accommodation, plan to marry in a civil ceremony in early November. The court considered their prior convictions and personal circumstances before deciding the suspended sentence.
In a 2016 robbery at Woodbine Park Post Office, Glen Kavanagh (44) held a loaded Makarov pistol to a customer's head, fired eight shots, and attempted to escape. An ESB repairman tackled him, kicking the raider's ankle and causing the gun to fly, striking an ESB colleague on the head. The incident, described as an "aggressive struggle," resulted in €455 stolen and the recovery of the pistol and cartridges. Kavanagh pleaded guilty to robbery and unlawful possession of a firearm. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to 12 years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended, and ordered concurrent service with a ten‑year firearms sentence, both backdated to 1 January 2018. The sentence includes strict conditions and 18 months of probation post‑release. Kavanagh's drug‑related history and lack of memory of the raid were noted by the court. The case was heard in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 11 October 2019. Glen Kavanagh was convicted.
Kerrie Fitzpatrick, a 40‑year‑old mother of three from Loughnamona Park, Leixlip, was found guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of attempting to smuggle 63 grams of heroin into Mountjoy Prison on 14 January 2017. Garda Derek Gibney reported that a prison officer randomly selected Fitzpatrick for a check, during which she claimed to have concealed drugs inside her body. The package she handed over was discovered to contain heroin worth €9,575. Fitzpatrick said she had received a phone call instructing her to deliver a package to her former partner in prison, and that she had been given the package by an unknown man who she believed contained pills. She has 11 prior convictions, including a similar offence involving Portlaoise Prison, for which she had benefited from the Probation Act.
Dermot Richardson, a 53‑year‑old south Dublin county councillor, was sentenced to a suspended two‑and‑a‑half‑year term for assaulting Tony Greene, Greene's new partner, on the night of 11–12 March 2017 at Richardson's former family home in Tallaght. Richardson head‑butted and punched Greene, knocking out two front teeth and causing serious injuries that required dental surgery costing €3,740. In court, Richardson pleaded guilty, apologised and admitted his actions were "totally out of order." Judge Martin Nolan, noting the victim's severe injuries and Richardson's community standing, imposed a suspended sentence on the condition that Richardson pay €7,500 to Greene – €2,000 immediately and €5,500 within 18 months – and that the money be disposed of by the court if Greene declined it. The judge emphasised that the sentence was a punishment rather than a custodial sentence, and that Richardson was unlikely to repeat such behaviour.
David Byrne, 32, was jailed for producing and distributing child pornography after sending naked photos of himself to underage girls and requesting similar images. Garda Philip Munds presented evidence from Byrne's devices showing 11 incidents of direct contact with girls, including requests for images of children up to 14 years old, with a preference for six‑ or seven‑year‑olds. Byrne pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession and production of child pornography between 11 October 2016 and 11 January 2017. He had prior drink‑driving and public‑order convictions. Judge Martin Nolan imposed concurrent sentences totalling four years, suspending the final two years on strict conditions. The sentence reflected Byrne's guilty plea, cooperation, good work history and psychiatric reports, while noting the seriousness of the distribution offence. The case involved 159 child‑explicit pictures and 21 videos, plus additional suggestive material seized during a search of Byrne's home.
Christian Herbert, 40, of Blanchardstown, Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to possession of cocaine for sale or supply. The court heard that on November 16, 2018, the accused was caught transporting approximately €136,000 worth of cocaine at Blackcourt Road, Corduff, allegedly on behalf of another person in exchange for a €500 reduction in a drug debt. Judge Elma Sheahan noted the offence was aggravated by its seriousness but mitigated by Herbert's early guilty plea, cooperation with gardaí, genuine remorse, and his previous work as a drug counsellor. The judge also considered his moderate risk of re-offending due to addiction, his current methadone treatment, and his status as a cleaner in custody. Judge Sheahan sentenced Herbert to three-and-a-half years' imprisonment. However, she suspended the final 12 months of the sentence for 24 months on strict conditions. The sentence was backdated to November 16, the date Herbert first went into custody. The matter was finalised with this sentencing order.
Laurence Christie, 31, of Tallaght, Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to possessing cocaine and cannabis for sale or supply at his home on December 22, 2017. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a two-year custodial sentence, stating he could not consider a non-custodial option because Christie intentionally involved himself in the affair due to his own addiction problem. The prosecution presented evidence that a search of Christie's residence, following a garda tip-off, revealed just under 200g of cocaine valued at €13,416, 2kg of cannabis valued at €39,914, and €795 in cash. While Christie initially denied using drugs or owing money in interview, Sergeant Darren Coller testified that Christie later admitted "off the record" to having a cocaine addiction, running up a debt, and holding the drugs under threat to pay it off. Defense counsel Damien Colgan SC highlighted that Christie is now drug-free, employed, and a responsible family man with two children. Judge Nolan acknowledged Christie's cooperation and positive references but maintained that the sentence reflected the seriousness of the offense and the defendant's personal culpability. The matter was finalized with the imposition of the custodial sentence.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 44‑year‑old Muhamet Gashi pleaded guilty to assault causing harm for stabbing Anton Donca on 14 April 2016. Gashi claimed Donca had threatened his children with remarks such as "I fuck your wife, I fuck your kids". Gashi, who lives in North Clarence Street Flats, said he was warned not to touch his kids and that Donca had a knife. The victim was walking to meet a friend when Gashi approached, and Gashi stabbed him, perforating his colon and requiring 11 days in hospital. Gashi had no prior convictions and was described by his defence as a man of very good character. Judge Martin Nolan accepted Gashi's account, noted the seriousness of the knife assault, and sentenced him to 28 months imprisonment. The case involved a relationship that had since broken down between Donca and Gashi's former wife.
Petru Pinto, 50, pleaded guilty to reckless assault causing harm after a five‑a‑side football match in Santry, Dublin, on 16 November 2012. He was sentenced by Judge Pauline Codd to a two‑and‑a‑half‑year prison term, suspended in full on the condition that he pay €5,000 to Paul Ceusan within three years. Ceusan suffered a Grade 4 renal injury, a split kidney, requiring a stent and resulting in 25 % loss of kidney function, high blood pressure, €1,350 in medical costs and about 20 weeks of work absence. The court noted that Pinto had no prior convictions in the six years since the assault, had expressed remorse, and was a founding member of the local football club. The judge described Pinto's tackle as a dangerous, conscious disregard for the victim's safety, and highlighted that the injury was not anticipated in a normal game. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
James Leddy, 55, of Blanchardstown, was convicted in December 2019 of three counts of indecent assault on 13‑year‑old Colm Bracken, aged 51, at Leddy's former home in Artane between May and September 1981. Leddy pleaded not guilty but was found guilty by majority verdict. Judge Pauline Codd sentenced him to eight months' imprisonment, suspending the final five months on strict conditions, including engagement with the Probation Service. The sentence was the maximum of two years allowed for offences committed in 1981. Leddy admitted guilt, expressed remorse, and has since led a pro‑social life, never re‑offending. He is now on the Sex Offenders' Register. The case highlighted the long‑lasting impact on Bracken, who described the abuse as a living nightmare and reported suicidal thoughts and hospitalisation. The trial was conducted at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The judge noted Leddy's lack of recollection but acceptance of the verdict and his mental health history.
Alex Bravo, a 60‑year‑old arthritis sufferer, was found by Gardai with over five kilograms of cannabis resin in his Dublin flat, after a confidential tip that the drugs were being stored for a criminal gang. The cannabis, in a suitcase, was valued at €31,460. Bravo claimed he used the drug to manage his arthritis pain, micro‑dosing two‑tenths of a gram of cannabis oil, and that the suppliers had asked him to store the drugs on Sherrard Street. He pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Karen O'Connor accepted his fear of the suppliers, noted no evidence of him profiting from distribution, and suspended a two‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence, citing his good character and long residence in the area. She also ordered him to engage in offence and victim‑focused work.
Mark Sorahan, 44, of Ferrycarrig Drive, Coolock, Dublin, pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of heroin for sale or supply and obstruction of a Garda in the course of a search on Priorswood Road on 16 March 2018. He was found with two packages of heroin, one concealed within his buttocks, with a total estimated street value of €1,497. Sorahan admitted responsibility and cooperated with Gardaí, explaining that he had bought the drugs to fund repairs for his girlfriend's car. He also claimed a desire for a normal life and an interest in music. Judge Karen O'Connor imposed a suspended jail term of two and a half years for the possession charge and a separate suspended sentence of five months for the obstruction charge, stating that he had engaged in unacceptable behaviour and that he would either mend his ways or spend considerable time in prison.
A man from Aughavas, County Leitrim, has been sentenced to seven and a half years imprisonment following his conviction on money laundering charges at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Simon Gold, aged 54, pleaded not guilty to charges including money laundering, theft, deception and control of false instruments relating to offences between January 2010 and October 2012. A jury returned guilty verdicts on 20 counts after over 12 hours of deliberation, following more than two weeks of evidence. The court heard Gold operated fraudulent companies under multiple identities and targeted vulnerable individuals experiencing severe financial difficulty. Judge Martin Nolan described the crimes as devious and dishonest, noting Gold exploited men in desperate circumstances. The sentence was backdated to May 2018, when Gold first entered custody. Gold has 17 previous convictions, including 12 recorded in the United Kingdom for burglary, theft and larceny.