Mark Twomey, aged 21, was sentenced to eight years in prison, with the final three years suspended, after pleading guilty to intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to Melody Mbadugha. The offence occurred on 14 August 2018 when Twomey used a Stanley blade to slash Mbadugha's cheek. The judge described the injuries as "as horrible an injury as I have ever witnessed" and noted that Mbadugha would be left with a significant scar that could affect her self‑esteem. Twomey was found to have mental health difficulties and cognitive problems, but the judge said he understood the difference between right and wrong. The prosecution considered the crime to lie at the high end of the spectrum for such an offence. Twomey's cooperation with the Garda investigation and acceptance of his substance‑abuse problems were factors in the suspended portion of the sentence. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Paula Underwood, 56, of Balbriggan, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment with 18 months suspended for unlawfully using a computer to steal €23,213 from 91 pensioners between July 2008 and October 2013 at Donabate Post Office. She withheld weekly payments, manipulating the system to take money that was not hers. An Post refunded all affected customers and blamed the IT system in letters. The postmaster, Mr Neill Smith, was held liable and set up a repayment plan, paying €5,000 initially and still owing about €6,000. Mr Smith, who had been proud of his post office, expressed betrayal and health impact. Underwood was dismissed, made a voluntary statement to Gardaí, and admitted wrongdoing. She had no prior convictions and was planning to start a state‑funded fashion design course after sentencing. The judge described the crimes as despicable breaches of trust against elderly persons. Paula Underwood pleaded guilty.
Dubliner Annie Trieu (29) pleaded guilty to one count of laundering money at Tallaght district credit union between September 13 and September 31, 2017. The court heard that Trieu withdrew €34,587 from her account, as instructed by her former partner, and deposited part of the money into her credit union account in four separate lodgements. Her lawyer stated that Trieu was subjected to domestic violence by her former partner, including incidents where she presented to hospital battered and bruised. A detective described Trieu as a 'puppet' in the scam, noting she was not involved in the initial email scheme. The court heard that the email scam involved General Hardware Supplies Ltd in Co. Cavan and Ballytherm Ltd in Co. Limerick, with suspicions arising when Ballytherm confirmed they had not received payment. Gardaí traced the money to Trieu's account. Judge Pauline Codd noted Trieu was 'blinded by love' for her former partner. She was sentenced to eighteen months imprisonment, but the sentence was suspended in full, taking into account her guilty plea and the violent nature of her relationship with her former partner.
Adrian Savage, 57, of Bolton Court, Dublin, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to three counts of possession of child pornography at various Dublin locations in March 2016 and to a further count in December 2017. He admitted viewing images of underage girls while using an internet café on Cavendish Road and downloading material onto USB sticks. Gardaí found 15 USB sticks and a black binder with over 90 images of child pornography at his home. Savage claimed he had never harmed a child and that his attraction was to teenage girls, not children. He has eight prior convictions for possession of child pornography. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to five years imprisonment for the 2016 offences and to a two‑year term for the 2017 offence, which was suspended in its entirety on strict conditions, to run consecutively with the first term.
Karl McDonnell, 27, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm at the Generator Hostel in Smithfield on 15 April 2018. The incident involved a tourist from Switzerland who claimed McDonnell followed him into a toilet cubicle with his penis exposed, punched him, and then was punched back. McDonnell denied this, saying he was provoked when the tourist commented on his manhood and tried to grab his penis. Gardaí had conflicting accounts from both parties. McDonnell had 19 prior convictions for minor offences. The court heard the tourist declined to give a victim impact statement. Judge Martin Nolan, finding McDonnell's version reasonably believable, sentenced him to two and a half years' imprisonment, suspended in full, on condition he hand over €1,000 in compensation and raise an additional €1,500 over 18 months.
Four young men – John (22) and Christopher (23) Connors, Paddy (22) Connors and James (19) Wall – were sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for attacking a family home with stones and rocks on 23 December 2016. The assault, which took place at 2.45 am, left the occupants, including a newborn and a girl with special needs, homeless and forced them to spend Christmas in a hotel. The men pleaded guilty to criminal damage. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a 12‑month probation bond on John Connors, adjourned to 31 July 2020, and a two‑year suspended sentence on James Wall. Paddy Connors received a four‑year sentence with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions, while Christopher Connors was sentenced to four years with the final 18 months suspended. All sentences reflected the men's intoxication and the impact on the victim family.
In July 2019, a Dublin couple, Clare Ellis (34) and Gareth Boyle (32), pleaded guilty to attempting to obtain services by deception from KBC Bank after forging documents to secure a €239,000 mortgage. They had believed they would never qualify for a housing loan and had paid a "creative accountant" €2,500 for the false paperwork. The bank, suspicious of the documents, notified Gardaí, who found the couple cooperative and contrite. Judge Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin, noting the case was "not a highly sophisticated" deception, sentenced Ellis to 120 hours and Boyle to 100 hours of community service, replacing six‑ and five‑month prison terms. The judge highlighted that the bank suffered no loss but was misled, and that the couple's actions were driven by a desire to keep a roof over their heads and those of their children. The sentencing reflected the judge's view that the offence was "highly unusual and exceptional.".
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Tomas Kennedy, 43, received a fully suspended one‑year prison sentence for careless driving that caused the death of 91‑year‑old Beatrice Ryan on 25 March 2017. Kennedy was not speeding or intoxicated; his mobile phone and blood tests showed no distraction or alcohol. Witnesses heard a thud and saw Ryan on the bonnet before the car stopped, but did not see the impact. Ryan suffered an unrecoverable brain injury, remained unconscious, and died three days later. Kennedy, who has no prior convictions, pleaded guilty and expressed remorse. The judge noted his attempts to recover memory failed and that he had been admitted to a psychiatric hospital three months after the collision. The sentence was suspended, with a maximum penalty of two years. The court heard a victim impact statement from Ryan's nephew, Eugene Downes, describing her legacy as a teacher and activist. The judge extended condolences to the family.
Richard Joyce, 24, of Swans Nest, Kilbarrack, pleaded guilty to possession of stolen articles on 15 December 2016 in Portmarnock. He stole a TopCon surveying machine, worth €48,000, from a building site and was caught by gardaí while driving. The machine was recovered intact. Judge Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin sentenced Joyce to 18 months, fully suspended for the same period. The judge noted the offence was opportunistic, not pre‑meditated, and that Joyce had no idea of the machine's value. He had previously been convicted of possession of stolen items and failure to appear in court. The judge cited his turbulent childhood, PTSD, depression, anxiety and psychosis, and his history of addiction, as factors in the decision to suspend the sentence and encourage rehabilitation.
Selem Abbas, aged 22, was one of three men who threatened a teenager with scissors and a hurling stick, forced the victim into a car, and demanded he withdraw €100 from an ATM. The incident, which involved false imprisonment, was reported to the Gardaí. Abbas pleaded guilty to attempted robbery, robbery, production of scissors and a hurling stick, and false imprisonment. He had 22 prior convictions. At the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Abbas to six years' imprisonment, suspending the final 18 months on strict conditions. The sentence reflected the seriousness of the robbery, the use of weapons, and the false imprisonment of the teenager. Abbas was described as a frequent drug user at the time of the offence, but the court noted he was clean of drugs and had good family support. The teenager did not submit a victim impact statement. The case was prosecuted by Derek Cooney BL and defended by Brian Storan BL.
Daniel Mordukhov, a 33‑year‑old Russian national, entered Ireland using a false Lithuanian passport to escape police pressure in Russia that he claimed was aimed at entrapment of drug dealers. He obtained a PPS number and an Irish driving licence under the bogus identity, which enabled him to work and claim nearly €24,000 in state benefits from December 2005 to July 2011. He pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to forging a PPS number, forging a driving licence and stealing welfare payments. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a three‑year suspended jail term, requiring Mordukhov to surrender €15,000 he had in court and pay an additional €5,000 to the State within three years. He has no prior convictions in Ireland or Russia and is married with two children. The case was prosecuted by Eoin Lawlor BL, with Garda Michael McGreal reporting that Mordukhov voluntarily disclosed his false identity to immigration authorities.
Eddie Smith, 45, of Clondalkin, was sentenced by Judge Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin to 16 months imprisonment, fully suspended for 18 months, after pleading guilty to sexual exploitation for sending explicit Facebook messages to a 15‑year‑old boy on 19 June 2015. The messages, sent at 3 a.m., invited the child to have sex, including oral sex, and contained graphic remarks. Smith had no prior convictions. The judge noted the offence appeared unpremeditated, likely a spur of the moment after alcohol consumption, and considered mitigating factors such as Smith's guilty plea, his difficult personal circumstances, and his medium risk assessment by probation services. Smith was ordered to engage in victim support work, mental health services, and the Matt Talbot Community Trust, and to be added to the sex offenders register for five years. The sentencing reflected the seriousness of the impact on the victim, who now plans to move to Australia.
Paul Fanning, 59, was jailed for six months after a vigilante group called Emerald Hunters Ireland set up fake dating‑site profiles to catch him. The group, operating a sting on Badoo, created decoy accounts for girls under 16. Fanning contacted the accounts, asking for explicit images and proposing a meeting. He arranged to meet a 13‑year‑old named Ali at Merrion Square, where vigilantes confronted him and livestreamed the encounter on Facebook. Gardaí were called and evidence of his texts was presented. Fanning denied intent to have sex but admitted he believed the girls were underage. He pleaded guilty to attempting to communicate with a child for sexual exploitation between 30 January and 11 February 2018. Judge Pauline Codd sentenced him to two and a half years, suspending two years on condition of therapy. The case highlighted the use of vigilante stings and the legal complexities surrounding such investigations.
Adam Marlowe, a convicted person, appeared before the Court of Appeal regarding his conviction for aggravated burglary, robbery of €50, and assaulting Malachy Turley at a home in rural north Co Dublin on July 29, 2016. Marlowe had pleaded not guilty but was found guilty by a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and sentenced to 12 years imprisonment. His legal team argued that the DNA evidence linking him to the crime was insufficient, claiming the jury speculated on the origin of a 93% DNA match found on a blue latex glove fingertip. Prosecutors countered that the evidence was overwhelming and the trial judge properly directed the jury. The court, comprising Mr Justice John Edwards, Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, and Ms Justice Aileen Donnelly, reserved its judgment. Consequently, the matter was adjourned, and Marlowe must wait to hear the outcome of his appeal. At the time of the offence, Marlowe was on bail for two district court offences and serving the suspended portion of a sentence for violent disorder. The victim, an 81-year-old farmer, suffered bruising and a deep cut requiring stitches, describing the incident as traumatic.
In 2016 a 15‑year‑old attacked a young man with autism in St Stephen's Green, Dublin, leaving the victim blind in one eye. The assault was filmed by friends and used by Gardaí. The teenager pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm. Under the Children Act 2001 the case was adjourned for a year of probation supervision. Judge Martin Nolan, noting the boy's age, lack of convictions and family support, imposed a three‑and‑a‑half‑year detention order, deferred for one year. At the hearing the judge suspended the entire detention, giving the teenager a chance to comply with probation. The victim suffered permanent loss of vision and was treated at the Eye and Ear Hospital. The defendant had no prior convictions and expressed remorse.
Stephen Keane, a 30‑year‑old former British Army land sergeant who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for a series of offences committed on 25 August 2018. He pleaded guilty to impersonating a Garda at BoyleSports, unlawfully seizing a vehicle at Firhouse Shopping Centre, and robbery at Dwan's Off‑Licence. Keane admitted that he had been suffering from PTSD and had developed a heroin and crack cocaine addiction after his service, which he said motivated his desperate actions. He was given a six‑year prison term with the final three years suspended, conditional on engaging in probation, offence‑ and victim‑focused work and drug treatment. The judge noted his remorse and the frightening impact of his conduct on victims, while acknowledging his addiction and drug debt as driving factors. Keane has 68 prior convictions in Ireland and the UK.
Kathleen Kiely, 32, of London, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to handling stolen property and handling assorted stolen jewellery on January 21, 2018. She was caught attempting to sell €90,000 worth of damaged gold jewellery, traced to a burglary in Lucan, to a cash-for-gold shop in Tallaght. Judge Karen O'Connor sentenced Kiely to two years' imprisonment but suspended the entirety of the sentence on strict conditions. The court noted aggravating factors including premeditation and impact on the victim, balanced by mitigating factors such as her guilty plea, good character, and status as a mother. Her former partner, Michael Maughan, 25, of Tallaght, also pleaded guilty to handling assorted stolen jewellery on the same date. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced Maughan to four years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended. The prosecution highlighted that gardaí had placed the shop under surveillance after receiving information about the planned sale. Defence counsel argued Kiely was influenced by Maughan and was not the primary target of the investigation. No previous convictions were recorded for Kiely. The matter was finalised with these sentences imposed.
Two men were jailed at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 29 July 2019 following their convictions for defrauding over 140 foreign investors of approximately €5.5 million through Arden Forestry Management between January 2014 and mid-2016. Garret Hevey, described by the court as the scheme's architect, pleaded guilty to dishonestly inducing investment and making deceptive payment requests. David Peile, who joined the company in 2015, entered similar guilty pleas. The fraud involved misrepresenting forestry investment opportunities, with investors led to believe their funds would purchase land generating returns through government grants and forest harvesting. In reality, the company owned only 30 acres when investigated, insufficient to service the claimed 858 acres of investor holdings. Judge Melanie Greally characterised the offence as calculated fraud, noting significant harm to victims, many of whom had invested for their children. Hevey received five years imprisonment with the final year suspended, while Peile was sentenced to four years with one year suspended. The court heard that €1.98 million remained in company accounts when frozen by gardaí.
A 54-year-old woman from Dublin has received a fully suspended five-year sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for storing over €192,000 worth of drugs at her home. Catherine Byrne pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply on May 29, 2018. Her co-accused, Robert Yeates, aged 32, also pleaded guilty to possession of a shotgun at a location in Finglas North on the same date. The court heard that Byrne became involved in the offence to settle her daughter's drug debt after threats were made against her family. Judge Martin Nolan found her culpability low, noting she acted under duress to protect her daughter from serious individuals. Yeates received a three-and-a-half-year suspended sentence conditional on keeping the peace and maintaining good behaviour for that period. Byrne has 21 previous convictions for road traffic offences, while Yeates has two similar prior convictions.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court jury trial, Daniel Dos Santos, 24, was found guilty of robbing a Spanish restaurant worker of a mobile phone and a bottle of wine. The jury returned an 11‑1 verdict. Dos Santos also pleaded guilty to burglary, criminal damage to a house in Churchtown, and unlawful carriage in a vehicle, for which he received suspended sentences. The robbery occurred on 10 May 2016 when Dos Santos, accompanied by a second man, grabbed a Spanish waitress on Bridge Street and struck her in an unprovoked, violent attack. The judge noted he was not the prime mover. The victim's impact statement described lasting fear and financial loss. Dos Santos was sentenced to four years' imprisonment for the robbery, with consecutive terms of two and a half years for burglary and one year for unlawful carriage, all suspended for three years upon release.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 29 July 2019, Keith McDonnell, aged 29, pleaded guilty to criminal damage to his Mountjoy Prison cell on 21 May 2013. The offence followed the suicide of his former partner, after which McDonnell reportedly "lost his head" and caused over €1,700 worth of damage, including a smashed washbasin, damaged waste pipes, a 22‑metre glass viewing panel, a modesty screen door, a laminated mirror and a spyhole. McDonnell, who had 68 previous convictions, had been serving a separate sentence for criminal damage at the time. Judge Melanie Greally, noting his guilty plea and efforts at rehabilitation, imposed an 18‑month sentence and suspended it in full for 18 months. The court heard that McDonnell had fled to the UK in 2014, returned to Ireland last year to address outstanding warrants, and that the death of his former partner had had devastating effects on him.
Dubliner Christopher Dunne (34) has been sentenced to five and a half years in prison for his role in a series of robberies and attempted robberies across Dublin between October 24, 2017, and December 11, 2017. Dunne, who has no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to the charges at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Karen O'Connor imposed consecutive sentences of three years and four and a half years. A portion of the sentence was suspended for 24 months on the condition that Dunne keep the peace. The court heard that Dunne used weapons such as a knife, screwdriver, and claw hammer during the crimes. Garda Aoife O'Brien stated that Dunne robbed cash from Applegreen, Howth Road, Clontarf, on four occasions and committed further robberies in Killester, Artane, and Clontarf. Dunne was also involved in a robbery at a shop in Waterville, Blanchardstown, and acted as the getaway driver in another robbery on Oxmantown Road, Stoneybatter. Dunne has 89 previous convictions, including for robbery, burglary, theft, and drug possession. His defence acknowledged that he was a drug user who committed the crimes to fund his addiction. Judge O'Connor noted that the crimes caused fear and distress to victims and that Dunne is a chronic drug addict who pleaded guilty to the charges.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 29 July 2019, a 14‑year‑old juvenile and his 18‑year‑old accomplice, David O'Neill, pleaded guilty to four counts of robbery and a theft charge. The court heard the pair carried out three robberies in the early hours of one morning, punching victims and knocking them unconscious. CCTV footage showed the juvenile and O'Neill punching a medical student from Saudi Arabia, a second man leaving a nightclub, and a third man at Temple Bar. The juvenile also robbed a young man of his bank card and forced him to withdraw money from ATMs. The judge, citing the juvenile's age, remorse and cooperation, imposed a two‑year detention sentence. O'Neill received a four‑and‑a‑half‑year prison term with the final 18 months suspended. The court noted the victims suffered facial injuries and were taken to hospital.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, Tumenbayer Dashnamjil, aged 48, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after attacking his then partner on 17 March 2018. The incident began after Dashnamjil had consumed a bottle of Jack Daniels around midnight, during which he threw objects and later punched his partner on the right cheek. He then followed her to the bathroom, choked her, and threatened that he would "kill everyone." The victim reported feeling in fear for her life and that Dashnamjil had repeatedly said he was not afraid of the Gardaí and would kill her if she called them. Dashnamjil, who has 13 prior convictions including assault, theft and public order offences, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions. The judge noted a disturbing background of alcohol‑related behaviour and previous convictions. The sentence was imposed in the presence of the victim's testimony and Dashnamjil's admission of guilt.
In July 2018, a 33‑year‑old Dublin man pleaded guilty to six charges of sexual assault against four of his young female cousins, with offences occurring between 2000 and 2006. The victims, now in their twenties, were aged four to eight at the time of the assaults. They testified that the family, once close, was torn apart by the revelations. The man, who had no prior convictions, admitted the acts after police first met the women. Judge Sinead Ní Chúlacháin imposed a four‑year suspended sentence, with jail terms ranging from one to four years for each charge, but suspended all of them. She noted his moderate risk of re‑offending and his limited understanding of the impact on his victims. The sentence was accompanied by a psychological report highlighting his weaknesses in reasoning and empathy. The judge emphasised that no penalty could restore the victims' lost innocence, trust or sense of security.
In July 2018, Gary Kelly, a 41‑year‑old plumber for Dublin City Council, pleaded guilty to threatening to kill two colleagues, John Maher and Brian Fitzpatrick, by saying he would "get a bullet" on them. The threats were made in January 2018 while Kelly was experiencing severe mental health problems, including depression and psychosis, and he believed he was being followed by drones and ISIS. Gardaí arrested him at his home, where his wife had expressed concern about his mental health. After a probation report was presented, Judge Melanie Greally sentenced Kelly to a fully suspended three‑year term, citing the seriousness of the threats and the lasting impact on the victims. The sentence was suspended on the condition that Kelly remain in good behaviour, attend all mental‑health appointments, and have no contact with the victims or their families for three years.
Piotr Waleza, 46, of Balbriggan, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two counts of handling stolen vehicles in 2014. He sold a Hyundai Santa Fe and a Ford Focus, each stolen three days earlier, for €6,000 and €5,850 respectively, to self‑employed buyers who suffered financial loss and emotional distress. The court heard that Waleza had a terminal illness with a poor prognosis and had been living in Ireland for 14 years, with prior convictions in Ireland and Poland for drink‑driving, fraud and driving without a licence. Judge Karen O'Connor imposed a suspended three‑year jail term, citing the seriousness of the offences and Waleza's ill health. She ordered €1,000 to be divided between the two injured parties and noted that Waleza had admitted to Gardaí that he knew the vehicles were stolen and sought to profit from them. The sentence reflects the judge's view that the crimes were pre‑meditated and dishonest.
Leendert Stolk, 50, a Dutch national living in England, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to fraudulently claiming €226,701.08 in social welfare benefits between June 2011 and June 2018. He falsely submitted claims for Jobseeker's Allowance, Rent Allowance, Back to Work Allowance and Back to School Allowance while residing outside Ireland, regularly returning every two weeks to claim payments. The court noted he had been entitled to Jobseeker's Allowance while in Ireland but never to Rent Allowance. Stolk had no prior convictions and was diagnosed with Obsessive‑Compulsive Disorder. He and his family offered €2,500 in compensation. Judge Patricia Ryan imposed a headline sentence of eight years, reduced to four years after considering his guilty plea, remorse, illness and lack of wealth. The sentence is a four‑year prison term.
Joseph Hussey, 41, pleaded guilty to assaulting Garda Gemma Twohig on 13 October 2018 and threatening to kill a woman in his home on 19 January 2019. He has three prior convictions. The court described him as a "Jekyll and Hyde character" who is calm when sober but violent when drunk. Judge Martin Nolan remanded him overnight and later sentenced him to 18 months imprisonment, fully suspended on the condition of good behaviour for 18 months. The judge noted the abuse of Gardaí friendships and the animal cruelty offence. Hussey had previously threatened Gardaí, feigned unconsciousness, and was handcuffed after becoming abusive to ambulance and medical staff. The victim impact report detailed Garda Twohig's injuries and emotional distress. No further legal outcomes were mentioned.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 25‑year‑old Liam O'Neill pleaded guilty to robbing 58‑year‑old Paul Mullarkey on Grattan Parade, Drumcondra, on 29 November. O'Neill had consumed heroin, cocaine and alcohol that day. CCTV showed him jostling Mullarkey, thrusting a sharp piece of a small tree branch into his stomach and throat, threatening to stab him, kicking and punching him, then biting parts of his ear and nose. The attack lasted about six minutes, during which O'Neill stamped on Mullarkey's head and torso and stole €50. Mullarkey suffered cuts, scratches and bite injuries, requiring treatment at the Mater. O'Neill was arrested that evening after erratic behaviour outside Mater Hospital; DNA on his clothing matched Mullarkey's. O'Neill had 82 prior convictions, including violent offences, and had served a four‑year term for a previous robbery. Judge Martin Nolan described the robbery as "serious" and the assault as "visceral and barbaric".
Glen Carolan, 21, pleaded guilty to robbing a McDonald's in Santry on 1 May 2018, taking €513. He claimed he was forced to do it or be killed, citing debts from drug addiction and gambling. Carolan admitted he used a knife to threaten staff while wearing a balaclava and blue latex gloves, demanded money, and placed the cash in a plastic bag. He fled on a push bike, which was later found, and was subsequently located hiding in shrubbery. Judge Melanie Greally suspended a five‑year prison sentence for five years, ordering him to engage with the Probation Service for 12 months for addiction services and drug screening. The court noted his lack of prior convictions and the "do or die" situation he described. The sentence was imposed on the condition of compliance with the probation order.
Catherine Gaffney, 53, of Donaghmede, pleaded guilty to two counts of theft and two of money‑laundering after running a fake property company, Hamilton Aherne Partners, that lured buyers into paying deposits for non‑existent or already‑sold houses. The company claimed to offer lower prices by dealing directly with banks, but the buyers were told to ignore official prices and pay a deposit. Gaffney opened a bank account for the company, withdrew the deposits, and was caught on CCTV. She was sentenced to four and a half years' imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended on strict conditions. The case highlighted pre‑planning, loss of money to victims, and Gaffney's guilty plea and personal circumstances as mitigating factors.
Jason O'Connor, 41, was sentenced to three years in prison for assaulting a man at The Paddocks pub in Clonee on 3 November 2018, and for making threats to kill or seriously harm Detective Sergeant Shane McCartan and Detective Inspector Joseph McLoughlin during a search of his home on 5 November 2018. The threats were recorded by a documentary film crew and played in court. O'Connor pleaded guilty to both the assault and the threats. He has 64 previous convictions, mainly traffic offences, but also knives, burglary and a mobile phone in prison. The judge, Martin Nolan, imposed a concurrent one‑year sentence for the threats, back‑dated to reflect time already spent in custody. The court noted that O'Connor had been in his boxer shorts when the Emergency Response Unit breached his door, and that he had a history of mental health issues and substance misuse.
A father‑of‑three, Alan Lyons, aged 12 to 17 during the offences, was jailed for five years for the sexual abuse of a 12‑year‑old boy by Dirk Jager, a 57‑year‑old former prisoner serving a life sentence for murder. Jager pleaded guilty to six charges – three of sexual assault and three of gross indecency – committed between December 1992 and December 1997. The abuse began when Jager, then 31, convinced the child that a relationship was desired, escalating to full penetrative sex. Jager admitted the abuse in January 2017 and expressed remorse in a letter to the victim. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a headline sentence of five years, reduced to three and a half years, and a total of six years with the final year suspended for five years on condition that Jager engage with the Probation Service. Alan Lyons was convicted.
Kessy Ferraz, 31, pleaded guilty to sexual assault at Rochestown Lodge on 14 May 2018. The court sentenced him to 18 months imprisonment, fully suspended on the condition he keep the peace and be of good behaviour for 18 months. He was also ordered to raise €2,000 in compensation, which may be handed to the victim if she agrees. The incident occurred when Ferraz sought toilet rolls and followed a woman into a ladies' bathroom cubicle, where he kissed her neck, grabbed her hand and attempted to pull it down to his genitals. The victim resisted and escaped. Ferraz had no prior convictions, had been an unaccompanied minor from Angola, and had recently taken steps to find his family. The judge noted his guilty plea, cooperation, remorse, lack of record and difficult life path as mitigating factors. The sentence was deemed unlikely to result in re‑offending.
A 30-year-old man from Ballymun has received a two-year suspended sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for stealing twenty bottles of spirits valued at €900 from Copper Face Jack's nightclub on Harcourt Street in May 2017. Jason Whelan pleaded guilty to the burglary charge after being identified on CCTV footage removing the alcohol from the venue's Premier Bar. The court heard that Whelan has 91 previous convictions, 43 of which relate to burglary offences, and that his criminal activity was motivated by a long-standing drug addiction. Judge Melanie Greally noted that since the theft, Whelan had undertaken treatment at Coolmine and received a favourable probation report. The judge cited his guilty plea, demonstrated remorse, and rehabilitation efforts as mitigating factors. The suspended sentence is conditional on Whelan maintaining the peace and accepting twelve-month supervision from the Probation Service.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Brian Bridgeman, 36, was sentenced to 28 months' imprisonment for burglary and criminal damage at St Michan's Church. Bridgeman admitted stealing the mummified head of an 800‑year‑old Crusader from the crypt, leaving two skulls in a bag on the church grounds with a note. He also pleaded guilty to five counts of criminal damage, including two for damaging a dead body. The court heard that the crypt's outer wrought‑iron doors were opened and an inner metal door was pulled down, a lock on the Hamilton family vault was damaged, and a coffin was broken. The 300‑year‑old mummy of "the nun" was disturbed, with bones broken and the head set at an almost 180‑degree angle. Reverend David Pierpoint delivered a victim impact statement, describing the burglary as devastating to clergy and parishioners and citing a loss of €35,000 in revenue and €15,000 in repairs.
Dominik Kaczmarek, 27, of Maplewood Green, Springfield, Tallaght, Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of 3,944 MDMA tablets found in his home on 8 October 2018. He had agreed to hold €39,000 worth of ecstasy tablets for €500 because of a gambling debt. Judge Martin Nolan noted Kaczmarek's gambling problem, his willingness to hand the drugs to third parties, and his good work record and cooperation with Gardaí. He had four prior convictions for minor road traffic offences but no relevant previous convictions. Garda Vincent Jaffray reported the tablets were found in a bedroom drawer and a jacket pocket, along with a weighing scale. Kaczmarek was jailed for two years, with the judge refusing a fully suspended sentence. The case highlighted his gambling addiction and his desire to turn his life around.
In March 2017, 20‑year‑old Lee Fetherson punched and kicked a 15‑year‑old pupil in a St Vincent's CBS corridor, briefly knocking him unconscious. The victim suffered a broken nose, concussion and ongoing breathing difficulties. Fetherson, who had no prior convictions, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm. Judge Elma Sheahan sentenced him to 18 months imprisonment, suspended in full for 24 months on strict conditions. He paid €2,500 to court, which the judge ordered to be handed to the Gardaí for the victim's medical costs. The incident was captured on CCTV and presented to the judge. Fetherson had initially intended to break up a dispute but reacted violently after being shoved. He expressed remorse, offered compensation, and had no drug or alcohol issues. The victim's mother accepted the funds to aid his recovery. The case highlighted the seriousness of the offence and the mitigating factors of Fetherson's youth, good character and cooperation.
Maximilian Lang-Orsini, 24, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to sexual assault at Hanover Lane, Dublin, on November 16, 2013. The prosecution alleged that Lang-Orsini exposed himself and masturbated in front of an injured 64-year-old woman, standing over her while she lay on the ground. Judge Martin Nolan accepted the submission that the charge was based on the victim's apprehension of imminent sexual assault, noting a reasonable basis for the charge while acknowledging Lang-Orsini did not intend to physically injure or sexually assault her. The judge described the behavior as shameful and stated that the only reason Lang-Orsini avoided immediate custody was his lack of prior convictions. He sentenced Lang-Orsini to two years in prison, which was suspended in full for two years. Additionally, the court ordered Lang-Orsini to raise €10,000 to be handed over to Garda O'Brien within 18 months, a sum the judge described as a punishment intended to deter future offenses. If the victim does not accept the money, the court will dispose of it. Judge Nolan emphasized that he would have imposed a custodial sentence if he believed Lang-Orsini deserved one. The defense noted Lang-Orsini had no previous convictions, was intoxicated on MDMA at the time, and had apologized unreservedly.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a Spanish woman who had come to Dublin to learn English suffered permanent facial scarring after being glassed by Rosangela Wyzykowski (34) in a city‑centre pub. Wyzykowski, a trained physiotherapist from Brazil living at Talbot Street, threw a large glass at the victim's face after a confrontation that began when the Spanish woman asked her to stop bumping into her while dancing at Dicey's bar. The glass struck the victim's face, causing a deep wound that required eight hours in A&E at St Jame's Hospital and subsequent surgery at a private clinic in Lucan to remove the glass. The victim incurred €2,600 in medical costs and lost about €400 in wages. Wyzykowski was sentenced to two years' imprisonment, fully suspended on the condition of 12 months' probation, and she brought €10,000 and a letter of apology to the court.
Michael Geoghegan, 36, a former Crufts best dog handler, was placed on a probation bond after pleading guilty to three knife‑point robberies in Swords, north Dublin. The judge, Patricia Ryan, adjourned his sentence to January, citing his efforts to address drug and alcohol addiction and a probation report supporting his rehabilitation. Geoghegan handed €2,500 as a gesture of remorse to be divided among the victims. He had previously admitted to producing a large kitchen knife and an iron drill bit to intimidate victims and resisting arrest. The court noted his past convictions for robbery with an imitation firearm (2005) and drug offences. He threatened a Garda with a knife during the arrests, but the officer used a baton to disarm him. The case remains pending, with the sentence to be decided next year.
Alan Keogh, a 42‑year‑old self‑employed truck driver from Tallaght, was sentenced to 16 months' imprisonment after pleading guilty to 11 counts of failing to file VAT and income tax returns between 2010 and 2016. He had initially complied with tax obligations, registering for VAT in 2004 and filing returns until 2008, but cancelled his registration in 2009 claiming his business was no longer viable. Despite this, he continued to receive payments from GLS, a parcel delivery company, and subcontracted work to other drivers, with payments made to an AIB account in his name. Revenue officials found him liable for €375,732, and investigations revealed he had not maintained proper bookkeeping or declared subcontractor payments. Keogh had no prior convictions and was described by his employer as a hard worker. The judge accepted that he had complied fully with the tax code and would have been entitled to tax relief, but deemed a 16‑month sentence appropriate.
Jason Kane, aged 24 of St Attracta Road, Cabra, Dublin, has been sentenced to three years imprisonment following his guilty plea to assault causing harm and production of a knife at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The offences occurred on September 3, 2018, outside his residence. The court heard that Kane slashed a woman's face with a Stanley knife during an altercation, causing a six-centimetre wound to a cosmetically visible area that will leave a permanent scar. Kane claimed he initially believed the knife in his pocket was a lighter and intended only to stun the victim with its handle. The judge noted that application of a knife to the head or face constitutes serious offending. In mitigation, the court considered Kane's guilty plea, expression of genuine remorse, and work history as a chef. The sentence was backdated to September 5, 2018, when Kane first entered custody. Kane has previous convictions for assault and public order offences.
Warren Farrell, a 33‑year‑old Garda from Ballyfermot, was driving a marked patrol car when he struck 75‑year‑old Elizabeth Core on Fonthill Road South, Dublin, on 28 August 2014. He pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving causing death but was convicted by a jury on an alternative charge of careless driving causing death. Judge Cormac Quinn, at a sentence hearing in March, ordered Farrell to pay €5,000 to the Irish Road Victims' Association and a €2,000 fine within four months, with a proposed nine‑month prison term deferred under Section 100 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006. The judge confirmed Farrell had complied with the conditions and therefore did not impose the prison sentence. The court noted Farrell's speed was 50‑56 km/h, above the 50 km/h limit, and that he had failed to slow down after seeing Core cross the road.
In a 2019 Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 74‑year‑old man pleaded guilty to indecent assault of his nephew, a boy aged about 13 or 14, committed between 1980 and 1983. The judge, citing the offence's maximum sentence of two years, imposed 16 months imprisonment, noting the defendant's age, remorse, guilty plea and mitigation. The court heard that the victim had been watching an Elvis Presley film when the uncle entered, forced the boy onto the couch, removed his clothes, and performed an anal rape. The uncle threatened the boy with death and family breakup if he disclosed the abuse. The defendant had 30 prior convictions, including firearms, drug possession and indecent assault. Gardaí had received an admission in 1989 that the defendant had done something "wrong" to the victim but did not investigate or inform the victim.
Lee Murray, 24, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison after pleading guilty to two separate assaults. In November 2016, he attacked Sam Hess on a Luas tram, using a screwdriver and attempting to rob him, causing Hess to suffer injuries and seek medical attention. In July 2017, he assaulted shopkeeper Brian O'Carroll on Drumcondra Road after a dispute over stolen alcohol, knocking O'Carroll unconscious. The court imposed a four‑year term for the Luas assault and a consecutive two‑year term for the shop assault, suspending the final 18 months on the condition that Murray keep the peace. Murray's history of 34 prior convictions, drug addiction, and homelessness were considered in sentencing, and he expressed remorse and has entered a rehabilitation programme. The judge noted the seriousness of the assaults and the use of a screwdriver as aggravating factors.
In a case heard at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Zak Dunne, aged 22, was found guilty of assault causing harm after stabbing a man in the stomach during a celebration of his Leaving Cert. The incident occurred on 18 July 2015 at McDonald's, Liffey Valley Shopping Centre, where Dunne, then 18, perceived the victim's brother as aggressive. A confrontation ensued, and Dunne stabbed the victim in the left lower abdomen. The victim was hospitalized, receiving 13 staples, and was immobile for a week, missing two weeks of work. Judge Karen O'Connor sentenced Dunne to two and a half years' imprisonment, fully suspending the term on strict conditions, including attendance at an anger management course. The court noted the seriousness of the attack, the unprovoked nature of the assault, and the use of a knife, while also citing mitigating factors such as Dunne's youth, good character, strong work ethic, desire for rehabilitation, and family support. Zak Dunne pleaded not guilty.
A 41‑year‑old man was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for three counts of sexual assault against a 14‑year‑old girl who was invited to his home for sleepovers in October 2016. The judge suspended the final six months on condition of probation supervision. The victim, now 16, described feeling "dirty, depressed and angry," having self‑harmled and experiencing suicidal thoughts, and said her parents had been deeply affected, with her father unable to work for three months. The man had denied the charges but was found guilty by a jury. He had no prior convictions, had represented Ireland in sport, and was described by his defence as an "aberration" in his life. He will be registered as a sex offender and subject to post‑release supervision. The sentence was back‑dated to the date he entered custody.
Michael Connors, 26, of Marlfield Crescent, Tallaght, pleaded guilty to burglary at Commons Road, Shankill, on 21 April 2018, and to unlawful use of a vehicle at Whitehall Road, Dublin 12, on 22 April 2018. He was sentenced by Judge Elma Sheahan to four and a half years' imprisonment, with the final six months suspended on strict conditions. The court noted that Connors, while unlawfully at large from custody, broke into a house, stole a car's keys, avoided contact with the house's son, and caused €500 of damage to a gate while attempting to exit. He has 40 prior convictions, including 13 for burglary, and had previously pleaded guilty to escaping custody on 10 November 2017 and 20 April 2018.