Scott Grant, 31, of Balbriggan, north Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to two counts of attempted robbery. The offences occurred on December 11, 2016, at a Costcutters shop on Hampton Street, and on April 17, 2018, on Clonard Street. In the first incident, Grant allegedly threatened staff while holding a piece of timber; in the second, he used a tree branch. He was identified in the first case by pink gloves and in the second by cashing scratch cards. The court also heard that while on bail for these charges, Grant allegedly robbed a woman of her handbag on September 26, 2018. Judge Patricia Ryan imposed a six-year prison term, suspending the final two years on conditions that Grant keep the peace and engage with the Probation Service for two years post-release. Defence counsel Pieter Le Vert BL noted Grant's efforts to address his addiction and his history as a labourer, stating he had previously served a two-year sentence for attempted robbery and became clean of heroin during that custody before relapsing. The matter was finalised with this sentence.
A 70-year-old man, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the victim, has been sentenced to ten years in prison for the sexual abuse of his step-daughter, which began before her First Holy Communion. The man was convicted by a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of 72 counts of indecent assault, which occurred between October 31, 1973, and August 24, 1979. Judge Elma Sheahan noted the severe psychological impact on the victim, who stated in a victim impact statement that the abuse had taken away her childhood and left her scarred forever. The judge imposed consecutive sentences of 14 years on a number of counts before setting a final sentence of ten years. She acknowledged the man's good work history and family life in recent years as mitigating factors. The abuse, which included multiple forms of sexual contact, ended when the victim was around 13 years old. The accused was in a long-term relationship with the victim's mother and was effectively her step-father. His only other previous convictions are for drunk driving.
A 22‑year‑old man, Dean Donovan, brandished a machete at a Garda while fleeing a shop robbery with his uncle, Jonathan Donovan (33). The robbery took place at a Spar shop on Martin's Road, Chapelizod, on 8 April 2018, where they stole €305 in cash. Dean produced the machete as Garda James Keogh approached, forcing the officer to step back. Both men were pursued, arrested, and later pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Dean admitted robbery and possession of a machete; Jonathan pleaded guilty to driving without insurance. Dean also pleaded guilty to six burglary counts from 2015 and 2018, while Jonathan had 83 prior convictions, including a suspended six‑year sentence for assault. The court adjourned finalisation to consider various reports. The article details the escape, arrest, and the men's prior criminal histories.
Derek Claffey, aged 30, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment for unlawful seizure of cars in Lucan and Ardevin on 25 September 2017. The judge suspended the final year of the sentence on strict conditions and backdated the term to 20 September 2018, the date of his first custody in the matter. Claffey had discharged himself from hospital after a road‑traffic accident and had taken heroin earlier that day. He attempted to car‑jack two female drivers at knifepoint, using an eight‑inch serrated steak knife. In one incident he offered a woman €50 for her car keys; in another he cut a seat belt and threatened a woman's son. He has 64 previous convictions, including possession of knives, robbery and dangerous driving. The judge cited his guilty plea and personal circumstances as mitigating factors, while noting his history of substance abuse and the knife as aggravating factors. The prosecution requested a destruction order for the knife.
A 22‑year‑old Dublin man avoided jail after pleading guilty to sexual defilement of a 15‑year‑old girl he knew from a residential care home. The girl, still in care at the time, left her care workers without permission, travelled on a Luas tram into town and met the man, who was 18 when they first met. They went to a city park, chatted and "ended up having sexual intercourse with each other", according to the court. Gardaí visited the man's house and he admitted he knew the girl was below the age of sexual consent. He had 64 prior convictions, including assault, burglary and firearms offences. Judge Karen O'Connor suspended a two‑year prison sentence, requiring the man to keep the peace, engage in victim‑awareness and offence‑focused work with the Probation Service, and imposed the custodial sentence if any conditions were breached.
A 32-year-old man has been sentenced to three years imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following guilty pleas to nine burglaries and one count of criminal damage committed across Dublin locations between April and September 2018. Dean Moore, with an address in Crumlin, was captured on CCTV during the offences, in some instances cycling to and from premises while wearing a high-visibility jacket. The burglaries targeted various locations including retail premises, residential buildings, a school, and company offices, with stolen items including cash, laptops, and other goods totalling significant losses. Moore's previous convictions number 114, including 19 burglaries. Evidence indicated the offences were committed to fund drug and gambling habits. Judge Melanie Greally imposed an additional two-year sentence for a burglary at Transport Club, suspended in full on strict conditions. The court acknowledged Moore's early guilty plea and admissions to gardaí as mitigating factors, alongside his difficult childhood and addiction history, balanced against the aggravating nature of his extensive prior convictions for burglary.
Gerard O'Neill, 66, was placed on a two‑year probation bond after pleading guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing and distributing 225 child‑pornography videos found on his seized laptop, hard drive and CDs. The videos, dated between 15 April and 13 May 2015, included 214 scenes of pre‑teen boys with other children or adults and 11 scenes of boys with exposed genitalia. O'Neill, who had no prior convictions, was arrested in March 2018. The judge ordered him to attend a sex‑offender treatment programme, obey all directions of his probation officer, avoid contact with anyone under 18 unless supervised, and reside at an address agreed with his officer. He was also required to apologise and was warned that any breach could lead to further action. The court will review his progress on 12 May 2021.
Jeanette Murray, a 44‑year‑old mother of two from Knockdarragh, Newry, was found guilty of stealing more than €200,000 from Brooks Hotel in Dublin while she worked as a senior accountant. Over a five‑year period she took €137,200 in cash and €67,600 in cheques and bank drafts, spending the cash on personal items and failing to lodge the cheques, which were later returned. She pleaded guilty to 12 theft charges covering September 2003 to November 2008. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a fully suspended sentence of three and a half years, requiring Murray to keep the peace, be of good behaviour, transfer €70,000 to the hotel owners, and complete 240 hours of community service within 12 months in lieu of two years imprisonment. The court noted her guilty plea, cooperation, remorse, and the impact on her young children as mitigating factors, while the large value and prolonged nature of the theft were aggravating factors.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 16‑year‑old from Bray, Co. Wicklow pleaded guilty to burglary of a house in Dalkey on 29 February 2016. The burglary involved the theft of a camera and laptop that held the last photos and videos of the widow and her late husband. The homeowner's husband had died about four months earlier, and the victim reported that an urn containing his ashes had been disturbed and "gone through". The teenager, who cannot be identified, admitted he did not understand the impact of his actions at the time but now feels remorse and apologised. He has prior convictions for robbery, criminal damage, public order offences and breaches of the road traffic act. He has been in Oberstown children detention centre since last year, and the court noted his progress in completed courses. Judge Melanie Greally adjourned the case to 17 October.
Keelan Hand, 28, of Cyprus Grove, Birr, was placed on a 12‑month probation bond after pleading guilty to assault causing harm on 26 August 2016. The assault occurred when Hand punched a victim in the face over an alleged drug debt of €8,200. The victim withdrew his complaint, but the DPP proceeded. Judge Melanie Greally noted Hand's strong links to the criminal community and his history of addiction, mental health issues and a difficult family background. She ordered Hand to undergo probation supervision, comply with his officer's recommendations, have no contact with criminal associates, and submit to urine analysis and updated probation and psychiatric reports. Hand's 26 previous convictions include assault, drug and firearms offences, criminal damage and public order. The court adjourned the case to April next year, warning that compliance must be absolute to avoid custodial sentencing.
Rasvan Stefanescu, 33, of Richmond Avenue, Fairview, Dublin, was jailed for two years after assaulting a man with a hammer, breaking the victim's arm. The incident occurred after a party at his then partner's house. The next day Stefanescu met the victim by chance, threatened him, and followed him to a car park where he struck the victim's back and attempted a head blow. The victim defended himself, but the hammer hit his arm, fracturing a forearm bone. The victim was out of work for two months and suffered a substantial loss of income, though he fully recovered from his injuries. Stefanescu pleaded guilty to assault causing harm on 14 July 2014. Judge Melanie Greally suspended the final 18 months of a three‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence, ordered a €3,100 compensation payment, and noted that Stefanescu had no prior violent convictions, was in stable employment, and had adopted a responsible fatherhood attitude.
A 42‑year‑old Dublin man was sentenced to five years' imprisonment for child pornography offences and for sexually abusing a young boy. He pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault, sexual exploitation and producing child pornography between 2011 and 2013, and to possession of child pornography for distribution in 2006 and possession of child porn images, videos, texts and documents in 2013. Gardaí seized over 55,000 images, more than 6,000 videos and almost 4,500 text files from the man's computer, external hard drive and mobile phone. The court heard that some 13,000 images depicted children, mostly pre‑teenagers, in sexual activity with adults, and that 19 videos showed extreme child abuse, including victims as young as five months. The man had previously been convicted in 2006 of sexual assault of a child and received a suspended sentence.
Jason Farrell, 26, of Finglas, Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to assaulting James McDonagh with intent to cause serious bodily harm and producing a 12-inch kitchen knife on February 2, 2018. The court heard that Farrell entered The Auld Triangle pub armed with two knives, including a 14-inch blade, before being ejected by a group of men. Garda Sergeant Ken Houlahan testified that he witnessed the melee and arrested Farrell after he refused to drop the weapons. Judge Pauline Codd noted that while Farrell intended to assault Mr. McDonagh, the intervention of others prevented him from using the knives. The judge acknowledged Farrell's 30 previous convictions, including assaults and robbery, but accepted his early guilty plea and his recent efforts to remain drug-free and complete job training. She imposed a three-year sentence, with the final two-and-a-half years suspended. The suspension is conditional on Farrell attending all Probation Service appointments and engaging in victim and offence-focused work. The matter was finalised with this sentencing order.
John Langfield, 35, was jailed after deliberately reversing his car into a Garda patrol car on the M7 motorway at 200 km/h on a wet March night. The high‑speed chase began in a housing estate in Kill, Co. Kildare, and ended when Langfield performed a handbrake turn on Nangor Road, Clondalkin, struck the patrol car a second time and mounted a traffic island. He was arrested at the scene and later pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two counts of dangerous driving, criminal damage to a patrol car and having no insurance. Judge Karen O'Connor accepted his remorse, suspended the final 18 months of a three‑year sentence and imposed a custodial term of 18 months. The patrol car suffered €1,400 in damage and was out of service for five days. Langfield had 23 prior convictions, including a suspended sentence for drug possession in 2009.
In a violent incident on 2 July 2016, 21‑year‑old Nathan Benson attacked Cormac Doyle outside the "District 8" nightclub on Francis Street, Dublin, punching and head‑butting him and stealing his iPhone. Doyle pursued Benson, who fled down Bridgefoot Street into a crime scene being preserved by Garda Derek Tubridy. Benson ran under the tape, was stopped, and after a brief apology and a blood‑stained appearance, he was searched and found with three mobile phones, including Doyle's. He became aggressive, attempted to assault the garda, and was forcibly arrested. In court, Benson pleaded guilty to robbery on Thomas Street, Dublin 8. Judge Elma Sheahan sentenced him to three years' imprisonment, suspending the final 12 months on the condition of good behaviour and compliance with the Probation Service for 12 months. The judge noted the lasting impact of Benson's "thuggish behaviour" on the victim, who had temporarily left the country out of fear.
Barry O'Donoghue, 38, of Drimnagh, was convicted by a jury at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for assault causing harm and for threatening to kill his former partner on 20 and 21 October 2016. Judge Elma Sheahan sentenced him to five and a half years for the threat to kill and three years for the assault, with both sentences running concurrently. The final six months of the sentence were suspended for a 12‑month period post‑release, conditional on good behaviour, compliance with the Probation Service, and participation in anger‑management. The judge also ordered O'Donoghue to have no contact with the victim except through solicitors. The court heard that O'Donoghue had kicked the woman in the face, threatened her with a bread knife, and told her "tonight was her execution." The victim suffered eye surgery and facial nerve damage and expressed fear of revenge. O'Donoghue had no prior convictions.
Kenneth Cooke, 56, of Limekiln Green, Walkinstown, Dublin, lost an appeal against a 14‑year jail term imposed for sexually assaulting two boys. He pleaded guilty to 21 counts of assaulting a boy aged 11‑13 between January 2000 and July 2003, and pleaded not guilty to 56 counts of assaulting another boy between December 1980 and December 1985. Judge Patricia Ryan gave a nine‑year sentence with four years suspended for the first victim and an eleven‑year sentence with two years suspended for the second victim, making the sentences consecutive. The Court of Appeal upheld the 14‑year net sentence, finding no error in the judge's decision or in the application of mitigation. Cooke was led away to begin serving the sentence in November 2016. The appeal was dismissed. Kenneth Cooke was convicted.
A 54‑year‑old South African grandmother was sentenced to two and a half years in prison, with the final 15 months suspended, for illegally trafficking a nine‑year‑old child into Ireland. She flew into the country with the child, claiming to be the child's mother at immigration control, and presented a forged affidavit and birth certificate. WhatsApp messages between her and the child's father, who had abducted the child from the mother's custody, directed her on what to say at the border. The father had been living in the UK and had arranged the fake documents and €1,310 found on her. The grandmother pleaded guilty, admitted she had no knowledge that the child had been kidnapped, and expressed a desire for a romantic relationship with the father. The judge noted her lack of prior convictions and her difficult background, and imposed the suspended sentence on the condition she leave the jurisdiction and never return.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 22‑year‑old Emmet Prizeman received a suspended 18‑month prison sentence for assaulting Stephen Merchant, a professional referee from England, after a row with his girlfriend escalated outside a Harcourt Street nightclub. CCTV showed Prizeman punching Merchant once and then kicking him twice while he was on the ground, striking him on the head. Merchant was briefly unconscious, taken to hospital, and fully recovered. Prizeman pleaded guilty to assault causing harm on 24 May 2017. The judge, citing his lack of prior convictions, good work record, and a character reference from a catering teacher, reduced a headline three‑year sentence to 18 months, suspended on the condition of keeping the peace for two years and engaging in victim‑ and offence‑focused work with the Probation Service.
Marius Purcil, 39, of Woodbrook Hall, was sentenced to six years in prison for sexual assault and assault causing harm at a holistic treatment centre in Dublin on 21 January 2017. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Martin Nolan imposed five years for sexual assault and three years for assault causing harm, to run consecutively, and suspended the final two years on strict conditions. Purcil entered the premises, requested a massage from a receptionist who was absent, offered money for sex, and when she refused, he became aggressive, struck her, held a knife to her throat, and forced her to undress. He cut her leggings and underwear and inflicted lacerations to her genitals, as well as injuries to her face, head and neck. The victim, who was unconscious, later described the assault in a victim impact statement, expressing fear and a desire not to hate the attacker.
Keegan Davidson, 25, appeared before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court where he pleaded guilty to four offences under the 2010 Money Laundering Act. The charges relate to engaging in the transfer or conversion of monies knowing they were proceeds of crime, or being reckless as to whether they were, on September 30, 2017. Prosecution evidence indicated that Davidson provided his bank account details to a criminal gang involved in an "invoice redirect" fraud scam. A bogus email directed an engineering company to pay €104,107 into Davidson's account. He subsequently withdrew approximately €43,759 across various bureaux de change and post offices in Dublin, using his Irish passport for identification. Detective Garda Thomas Burke stated there was no evidence Davidson was involved in the initial fraud, only the laundering of proceeds. Around €46,000 was later retrieved by the bank. Davidson's previous convictions include possession of knives, public order, theft, and trespass; in 2011, he received a suspended sentence for possession of a sawn-off shotgun. Defence counsel Luigi Rea BL noted Davidson's history of psychosis exacerbated by drug abuse. Judge Pauline Codd adjourned the case to July 1 for sentencing and remanded Davidson on continuing bail. The matter was adjourned and not concluded at this stage.
Dwayne Barry, a 30‑year‑old former homeless man, was sentenced to three years in prison for arson at two Dublin locations. He set wheelie bins on fire to heat his sleeping bag, then tried to extinguish the flames when they spread. Barry pleaded guilty to arson at Ardoyne House, Pembrooke Park, Ballsbridge, where a blaze on 25 January 2016 caused €45,000 damage to two cars, and to arson at Burlington House, Waterloo Lane, Ballsbridge, where a fire on 28 February 2016 caused structural damage of over €18,000. He has 86 prior convictions, including theft, robbery and criminal damage. Judge Karen O'Connor, after multiple adjournments, imposed a three‑year sentence with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions, acknowledging Barry's genuine remorse and willingness to engage with addiction services. The judge noted the seriousness of arson and the difficulty of controlling fire, and accepted Barry's apology and attempts to put the fires out.
Keith Duffy, aged 31, was sentenced to five and a half years' imprisonment for endangerment, dangerous driving and criminal damage after a high‑speed chase that ended with him repeatedly ramming a Garda patrol car. The incident, which took place on 30 March 2018 in the Dublin 7 area, involved a 26‑minute pursuit that saw Duffy's van stop on a humpback bridge, wait for the patrol car, and then attempt to ram it, forcing the vehicle onto the footpath. Two other patrol cars joined the chase, which concluded when Duffy's van turned into a cul‑de‑sac at Newgrange Road, reversed, and twice rammed another patrol car before being blocked by a third. Garda Sean Kelly described the event as the worst dangerous driving he had encountered in ten years. Duffy, who has 66 prior convictions, pleaded guilty and was also found guilty of robbery at Kiely's Chemist on 29 March 2018, stealing drugs worth €225.
Jason Spooner, 45, was arrested after attempting to rob cigarettes from a Centra store in Finglas on 25 February 2017. He waited outside the shop, entered when a pregnant staff member opened the doors at 7.30 am, locked the doors behind him, and used a metal bar to try to open the safe. The staff member fled to a back office and locked herself in; Spooner followed and attempted to force the office door open. He was stopped by Garda Sergeant Conor Scully, who tackled him and removed the bar. Spooner admitted he had been awake all night after taking a load of pills and wanted to "go grab a smoke and leg it." He pleaded guilty to attempted robbery of cigarettes worth €300 and possession of a crowbar. He has 16 prior convictions, including traffic, theft and public‑order offences. The pregnant victim, five months along, expressed concern for her baby and difficulty sleeping after the incident.
Frank Kamara, 29, pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 17 January 2018. He had sent a video of a boy aged one or two being raped to his supervisor, who watched it for two seconds before deleting it. Kamara claimed he sent the video to warn his supervisor about child sexual exploitation. The video, 4 minutes 59 seconds long, was the only child‑pornographic material found on his phone. Kamara had no prior convictions, was a cleaner at the time of the offence, and had a history of charitable work. Judge Elma Sheahan accepted the case as a one‑off offence, noted mitigating factors such as his guilty plea and remorse, and imposed a 12‑month imprisonment sentence suspended on the condition of good behaviour for 12 months.
Mansoor Uddin, 41, a taxi driver from Castleway, Adamstown, pleaded guilty to three sexual assault offences committed between January and February 2016. He sexually assaulted an 18‑year‑old German national, a 20‑year‑old woman, and an 18‑year‑old schoolgirl within two weeks. The first victim was forced to stay in the car, was touched and verbally abused, and later reported Uddin. The second victim was also touched and coerced, then left the vehicle. The third victim was touched and an attempt was made to touch her underwear; she resisted and tried to photograph Uddin. Gardaí used CCTV, a database of registered public service vehicles, a computer‑generated likeness, and GPS data from the HALO app to identify Uddin. The case was adjourned to May 8 for sentencing, and Uddin remains on continuing bail. Victim impact statements describe fear, isolation, and loss of trust in taxi services.
Eddie Smith, 45, sent explicit Facebook messages to a 15‑year‑old boy inviting sexual activity, claiming the boy was "hot" and offering to meet at the Gay Pride Festival. The messages, sent at 3 am, also asked about the boy's penis size and feet. The boy did not reply and showed the messages to his older sister, who contacted Smith. Smith later claimed the messages were sent by mistake to a man with the same name. Garda Paul Dempsey obtained a warrant after Smith failed to attend a trial date; he was taken to hospital and later pleaded guilty to sexual exploitation for inviting a child to sexual activity on 19 June 2015. He has no prior convictions. Judge Sinéad Ní Chulacháin remanded him on bail until 1 July, ordering a probation report to assess his risk of re‑offending and to address his mental‑health issues. The case was prosecuted by Maurice Coffey BL.
In 2019 a Dublin man, Graham Stafford, 36, was sentenced to four‑and‑a‑half years in prison for breaking into the home of a terminally ill woman and repeatedly beating her 32‑year‑old son over four hours. Stafford entered the house early in the morning, claiming a family member owed him €3,000. He kicked and struck the son in front of his mother, who was suffering from cancer and has since died. The son reported that Stafford appeared "off his head on drugs" and that Stafford used a large kitchen knife and a Yankee Candle as weapons. Stafford, who had 11 prior convictions for minor drug and public‑order offences, pleaded guilty to false imprisonment in 2015. Judge Pauline Codd described the offence as "heinous", imposed a six‑year sentence with 18 months suspended, ordered addiction counselling and training, and back‑dated the sentence to July 2015.
Evan Dunne, 20, of Ballyfermot, Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to possession of cocaine for sale or supply. The offence occurred on February 15, 2018, at a car park in Dowdstown, Maynooth, Co Kildare. Gardaí seized seven packages of cocaine from a van Dunne had purchased the previous day, with an estimated street value of just over €492,400. Judge Pauline Codd identified the high value of the drugs and the planning involved in purchasing the vehicle as serious aggravating factors. However, she noted mitigating circumstances, including Dunne's guilty plea, his insight into the crime, his low risk of re-offending, and his employment history. The court heard that Dunne claimed he committed the offence to raise funds for a garage business and had developed a cocaine addiction from age 17. Judge Codd imposed a seven-year sentence, with the final four years suspended for that period. She ordered four years of Probation Service supervision, requiring Dunne to follow all directions, including victim empathy work and therapeutic supports. The sentence was backdated to November last year, when Dunne first went into custody, resulting in an effective custody period of three years.
Michael Rae, 39, was convicted of arson and criminal damage after petrol bombing a family home and vehicle at Knockmore Park, Tallaght, on 26 May 2017. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced on 14 June 2018 to five years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended, by Judge Melanie Greally. The Court of Appeal upheld the sentence. The appeal judge, Mr Justice George Birmingham, noted that the victim saw Rae near the driveway that night, that CCTV captured him filling a plastic bottle with petrol, setting it alight and throwing it at the house, and that the attack caused damage to the vehicle, a wall and a window. Rae had 29 prior convictions, including two for non‑arson criminal damage and 15 for traffic offences, and was intoxicated on the night of the attack. The appeal was dismissed.
In 2015, Waquil Alatise, a 52‑year‑old Master's student, collapsed in front of a woman's car in Clondalkin and later claimed she had hit him while she was on her phone. He admitted making a false statement to Gardaí and pleaded guilty in February 2019. The court found his premeditated behaviour caused the victim significant distress and called the offence "most serious." Alatise was sentenced to 16 months in prison, with the final four months suspended on the condition of keeping the peace for four months after release. He had previously filed a civil claim with the Personal Injuries Assessment Board, which he withdrew. The victim, a careful driver with 20 years of licence, said the ordeal had shaken her confidence and left her nervous on the roads. Alatise has no prior convictions in Ireland or the UK.
Barry O'Donoghue, 38, was found guilty by a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of assault causing harm and threat to kill or cause serious harm. The offence took place at his home on 20‑21 October 2016, when he confronted his former partner, knocked her to the ground, punched her, kicked her in the face, and continued to hit her in the kitchen. He threatened her with a bread knife, saying "tonight was her execution" and asking if she wanted to be shot. The victim, who had to undergo eye surgery and suffered facial nerve damage, described nightmares of her death and fear of revenge. O'Donoghue had no prior convictions and was remanded in custody, with the case to be finalised on 12 April. The court noted his lack of previous offences and his age as factors in the sentencing decision.
Mario Hanzic Broz, aged 44, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison for two attempted robberies at Dublin post offices on 8 and 10 May 2018. He entered the offices armed with a 6mm air pistol, but left without money. Broz pleaded guilty to attempted robbery and possession of an air pistol at both locations. He had no prior convictions in Ireland. The judge noted his history of service in the Balkans, where he witnessed atrocities and suffered post‑traumatic stress disorder, and his use of drugs to cope. He was given credit for his guilty pleas, cooperation, remorse and personal difficulties. The final two years of a six‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence were suspended on the condition of keeping the peace and obeying probation services. No victim impact statements were filed for the second offence.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 4 April 2019, Keith Curran, 40, pleaded guilty to a one‑punch assault that fractured the skull of a 32‑year‑old male outside The Clock pub on 18 June 2017. The victim, who suffered permanent hearing loss, loss of smell and taste, and ongoing headaches, had been refused entry to the pub due to intoxication. Curran, who had no prior convictions, was sentenced to 240 hours of community service instead of a three‑year jail term. Judge Melanie Greally noted the assault occurred after a verbal disagreement fueled by alcohol, and that the victim had known Curran's family. She credited Curran's guilty plea, cooperation and remorse, and ordered the community service to be completed within 12 months.
Paul Mooney, 31, had been sentenced to ten years in prison in 2014 for possessing €27,900 of cannabis and synthetic cannabis, a crime that fell under Section 15A of the Misuse of Drugs Act. He had already served six years and had seven prior convictions, including a 2009 serious drugs offence. In 2019 Judge Melanie Greally reviewed his sentence and suspended the remaining four years, citing his current drug‑free status and the Probation Service's assessment that he posed a low risk of re‑offending. The suspension requires Mooney to undergo 12 months of post‑release supervision, attend drug counselling, provide urinalysis, and comply with all Probation Service directions to address his emotional and psychological needs. The review was prompted by a routine Garda patrol that led to his arrest and the discovery of the drug cache at his home. The case was prosecuted by Dean Kelly BL and defended by Fiona Murphy SC. Paul Mooney pleaded guilty.
Paul Fields, 29, a former soldier, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to stealing €3,840 from a Ladbrokes shop in Priorswood on 9 March 2018. He claimed the theft was a "moment of madness" driven by a drug debt and threats of death. Fields had previously served in Chad and had a history of nine convictions, mainly traffic offences. Garda Fergal Duffy reported that the manager, who believed Fields would return the money, was left with a cash bag that Fields snatched while holding the door. Fields was arrested, found with €300, and the rest of the money was unrecovered. Judge Martin Nolan, noting Fields' cooperation and personal circumstances, imposed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence suspended in full on strict conditions.
A 57‑year‑old Dublin grandfather, Joseph Tyrell, will be sentenced for two burglaries and an attempted bookies robbery. He cut himself while smashing windows at the burglarised properties and left blood at the scenes. DNA from the blood linked him to the crimes, and CCTV footage identified him during the attempted robbery, where he threatened to shoot two cashiers. Tyrell pleaded guilty to burglary at Sundrive Road, Crumlin, on 23 March 2016, and at Blarney Park, Kimmage, between 17 and 19 August 2016, and to attempted robbery at BoyleSports, Greenhills Road, on 7 April 2016. He has 85 previous convictions over 40 years, including robbery, aggravated burglary and drug offences, and is currently serving a five‑year sentence for another burglary. The court heard that the burglaries were opportunistic, lacked sophistication, and were carried out by a drug‑addicted offender who had struggled with addiction since his teens. The victims suffered financial loss, property damage, and emotional distress.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 4 April 2019, John Gavin, 31, pleaded guilty to threatening Garda Sergeant Amanda Flood at the Four Courts on 29 May 2015. Gavin, who was already serving a six‑year sentence for rape, followed the sergeant around the courtroom, shouting that the law was corrupt and that she would "get run over by a bus." He also threatened to "smash this court up" and said "I hope you die roaring," until additional Gardaí arrived. The court heard that Gavin had 108 prior convictions, including assault and violent disorder, and that he had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and was taking anti‑psychotic medication. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to 20 months imprisonment, to run consecutively to his existing sentence. The victim impact statement noted that the incident was the most distressing of Sergeant Flood's 15‑year career, prompting her to return home for a few weeks.
In the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, a jury began deliberating on the case of Terence Maguire, 63, who cut a gas pipe in his home and took sleeping tablets before lighting a cigarette, causing a gas explosion that destroyed his house and damaged neighbouring buildings. Maguire pleaded not guilty to charges of recklessly creating a substantial risk of death or serious harm and to 13 counts of criminal damage. The judge instructed jurors to assess whether Maguire acted recklessly, considering his state of mind and belief about the risks. Defence counsel Brendan Grehan argued that Maguire intended only to kill himself and had no intention to cause the explosion, while the prosecution, led by Eoin Lawlor, maintained that Maguire was fully aware of the consequences and had disregarded the risk. Maguire had a 13‑year history of depression and had been treated in psychiatric hospitals from 2009 to 2014.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Terence Maguire, 63, pleaded not guilty to charges stemming from a 2014 gas explosion that destroyed four buildings. He admitted cutting a gas pipe in his home, taking sleeping tablets, and lighting a cigarette, which caused the blast. Maguire claimed he was not in a rational state of mind, citing 13 years of depression and multiple psychiatric hospital stays from 2009 to 2014. He described extreme suicidal thoughts on the day of the explosion and said he had no awareness of the danger of lighting a cigarette in a gas-filled room. He acknowledged that, in hindsight, his actions were reckless but asserted that his urgent suicidal intent overrode any consideration of recklessness. The case remains pending before Judge Elma Sheahan.
Mark McNally, 27, of Seacourt, Clontarf, Dublin, was found by Gardaí to be downloading child pornography when they raided his home on 25 February 2014. Garda Donal Bolger obtained a warrant and, during the search, discovered McNally's laptop on a bed with 35 images and 32 videos, mainly of pre‑teen boys and girls in sexual activity. McNally admitted he had been downloading such material since age 13 and had done so between 2010 and 2014, when he was aged 19 to 23. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of child pornography. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a three‑year imprisonment sentence, fully suspended on the condition that McNally keep the peace, be of good behaviour for three years and follow Probation Service directions for two years. He has no prior convictions and had not attracted Garda attention before this incident.
Luke Murphy, 32, of Abbey View, Monkstown, Dublin, was sentenced to five years in prison for threatening to kill his former partner and her children. He pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to making threats to kill or cause serious harm on 12 and 13 February 2018. The judge, Melanie Greally, suspended the final two years of the sentence on strict conditions, including engagement with the Probation Service and attendance at a domestic‑violence perpetrator programme if deemed suitable. Murphy had two prior drug convictions. The judge described the offences as a breach of trust, extremely menacing, accompanied by pictures and concrete suggestions of execution, and noted the substantial trauma inflicted on the victim and children. The case had previously involved a protection order issued on 2 January 2018, and Garda Aaron Bradshaw had recorded multiple threatening communications and altercations between Murphy and the victim.
Aaron Nolan, 21, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison for assaulting his then‑girlfriend, 19, on 5 November 2017. The court heard that Nolan punched, kicked and dragged her over a green area and down a laneway, pulling clumps of hair and causing her to vomit all night. He also burst her eardrum and inflicted severe facial injuries, including a swollen face, blood‑matted hair, a burst nose and lip. Nolan pleaded guilty to two assault charges and had no prior convictions. Judge Melanie Greally suspended the final 18 months of the sentence on strict conditions: two years of Probation Service supervision, no contact with the victim, and attendance at a domestic‑violence programme if suitable. The victim suffered post‑traumatic stress disorder, depression, neck pain and hearing loss, and she now speaks less and feels trapped by the memory of the attack.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, 63‑year‑old Terence Maguire pleaded not guilty to charges of intentionally or recklessly creating a substantial risk of death or serious harm by causing a gas explosion during an alleged suicide attempt on June 1, 2014. Maguire allegedly cut through the inlet pipe of his domestic gas meter, placed towels under doors to trap gas, put a warning sign up, took sleeping tablets, and fell asleep. He later opened the back door, lit a cigarette, and an explosion occurred, demolishing his home and damaging neighbouring houses and cars. Witnesses described the blast as "utter devastation," with walls blown out, ceilings collapsed, and a mushroom cloud seen by a nearby driver. The trial, presided over by Judge Elma Sheahan, continues before a jury.
Hassan Bilal, 38, of Tullamore, Co Offaly, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to burglary and theft of catering equipment valued at €10,16 on May 18, 2015. The items included a commercial freezer, fryers, mixing bowls, trays, a chip holder, a burger fryer, a microwave, a blender, and chopping boards. Judge Elma Sheahan adjourned the matter to May 27 to allow Detective Garda Sweeney to ascertain the specific financial losses incurred by victim Gerry Hughes. Bilal was remanded on continuing bail. The court heard that Bilal, along with co-defendants Yasir Ali and Sabih Hassan, had sub-let the premises in Castlebar, Mayo, without permission. Ali, of East Wall, Dublin, previously received a two-year suspended sentence in December 2017 for the same offence. Sabih Hassan received a three-year suspended term in February 2018. A victim impact statement stated Hughes suffered severe physical, mental, and financial stress, noting he remained out of pocket four years later. Defence counsel Niamh Barry BL submitted Bilal was of limited means and had made efforts to change his circumstances. The prosecution noted no evidence supported Bilal's claim of having paid a deposit or rent.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 2 April 2019, Simon Whelan, aged 32, pleaded guilty to trespassing and theft in four student apartments at Gateway Student Village, Ballymun, on 4 October 2018. He also admitted to burglaries at Salamanca Restaurant (23 July 2017), Lush (16 August 2018), 777 Restaurant (20 August 2018) and Nisbits Catering Equipment (7 September 2018). Garda Sergeant Colm McGallagher recounted that Whelan broke into the apartments while occupants slept, stole laptops, speakers, watches, wallets and cash, and was caught after a garda saw him struggling with a heavy bag. Whelan claimed "I don't care about getting caught, it's about the hit." He has 105 prior convictions, including 57 burglaries, and has been in custody since 2007, developing an addiction to crack cocaine and heroin. The judge ordered a probation report, urine analysis, and remanded him in custody, with sentencing set for 30 May.
A 29‑year‑old man from Kiltalown Park, Tallaght, was sentenced to two and a half years in prison after a high‑speed chase in which he drove a Volkswagen Passat at up to 120 km/h in a 50 km/h zone, forcing other motorists to take evasive action. The judge noted that he had been under a 40‑year driving ban and had eleven prior convictions for dangerous driving. He was convicted of three counts of endangerment and three counts of dangerous driving. The judge suspended the last year of a three‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence on the condition that he engage with addiction services, drug treatment and victim‑focused work, and imposed a ten‑year driving disqualification. He denies the offences and claims he is turning a corner toward a better life. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Three Dublin youths – Harry Walsh (18), Gordon Robinson (20) and Darragh Smith (20) – filmed themselves laughing after a violent hour‑long rampage that involved seven separate incidents of violent disorder and assaults on eight members of the public between 3am and 4am on 3 November 2017. The court heard CCTV showing the trio attacking victims on Camden Street, Harcourt Street and Montague Street, with injuries including a shattered eye socket, fractured cheekbone, broken jaw, knocked‑out teeth, unconsciousness and cracked ribs. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a five‑year sentence on Robinson and a four‑year sentence on Smith, each with the final 12 months suspended, and adjourned Walsh's sentence until July. The judge directed that the €11,000 raised by the offenders be used to offset medical expenses, with any remaining balance divided equally among the injured parties. The court noted the extreme nature of the offences and the unit operation of the three assailants. Harry Walsh pleaded guilty. Gordon Robinson pleaded guilty. Darragh Smith pleaded guilty.
In 2017, Jack Hall Ellis, a 21‑year‑old apprentice carpenter, punched 20‑year‑old Luke O'Reilly once after a night of heavy drinking. The assault occurred on Old Blessington Road, Tallaght, when O'Reilly was walking away from a pub. The single blow to the right side of O'Reilly's head caused a fall that left him with brain injuries. He was taken to hospital in a coma and died 13 days later. Ellis, who had consumed seven to ten double Captain Morgan rums that night, pleaded guilty to unlawful killing at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The court adjourned sentencing to allow reports to be prepared and will hear a plea in mitigation next month. O'Reilly's mother, Janet O'Brien, delivered a victim impact statement describing her son as a gentle giant and expressing the family's profound loss. The case highlights the fatal consequences of a single punch delivered in a drunken state.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 19‑year‑old Clayton Brennan was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment for an unprovoked assault on Mexican national Jose Mondragon on Bachelors Walk on 27 April 2016. Brennan, who claimed he wanted to appear tough before friends, punched and kicked Mondragon, who was sitting on the Liffey boardwalk. The attack left Mondragon with half of his front teeth lost, costing €4,205 to repair. Brennan, who was 16 at the time of the offence, had eight prior convictions, including a serious assault in May 2016 and a violent disorder, arson and criminal damage case that had a five‑year sentence with the last two years suspended. Judge Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin imposed a two‑year term, suspended the final six months on condition of no mind‑altering substances and compliance with the Probation Service. Brennan is to be released on 30 January 2020 and remain under probation supervision for 18 months. Clayton Brennan pleaded guilty.