In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, an 18‑year‑old teenager was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for assault causing harm after he threw a stone at a fellow teen's head during an incident on 17 July 2016. The victim, a young actor, sustained a permanent facial scar above his right eye, requiring 11 stitches, and has since lost acting opportunities in Belgium because of the injury. The judge described the assault as "extremely nasty" with "undertones of homophobia," noting that the accused denied the homophobic aspect but the victim heard slurs such as "a fag." The sentence was suspended for two years, with the first year to be served, citing the defendant's remorse and the fact that he was 15 at the time of the offence. The court highlighted the defendant's unstable upbringing, multiple prior convictions, and ongoing issues with cannabis and ADHD. The unnamed 18-year-old pleaded guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 36‑year‑old Graham Stafford was found guilty of false imprisonment after breaking into a terminally ill woman's home in the early hours of the morning. Stafford, who had previously been convicted of minor drug and public order offences, entered the house believing a family member owed him €3,000. He repeatedly struck the 32‑year‑old male occupant, who was the son of the ill woman, for over four hours. Stafford kicked, hit, and used a kitchen knife to threaten the man, and struck him with a Yankee Candle. The victim sustained a cut to his left eye, head lumps, and mouth wounds, and reported dizziness and headaches afterwards. Stafford was remanded in custody pending sentencing, with a Probation Service report to be submitted before the April hearing. The court did not read the victim impact statement.
Joseph O'Connor, a 58‑year‑old former Garda from west Dublin, was convicted in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of possessing child pornography. He pleaded not guilty to five counts of possession of images and videos of children in sexual acts. Evidence seized from his home in August 2011 included a laptop with videos in the recycle bin depicting boys under ten and under 17 in sexual acts, and 16 different images of children exposed or involved in sexual acts. A jury convicted him of four counts and acquitted him of one count involving duplicate images. Judge Elma Sheahan sentenced him to two years' imprisonment, citing the severity of the material and his Garda position. The maximum custodial sentence for the offences is five years. O'Connor's conviction was upheld despite his denial of responsibility and claims of bad faith prosecution. The case highlighted the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission's involvement in a related assault complaint.
James Redmond, aged 25, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for mugging his 92‑year‑old neighbour, Deirdre Tobin, in Monkstown, Dublin. Redmond admitted to owing money to drug dealers and said he targeted Tobin because she was an easy victim. On 9 March 2018, after Tobin had collected her pension at the post office, Redmond waited for her at home, grabbed her bag from behind, causing her to fall, and stole €487 in cash. Garda Tony Corcoran described the victim lying on her back when he arrived. Redmond was identified from CCTV footage, arrested at his home, and pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Melanie Greally noted that Redmond had cooperated with police, expressed remorse, and that Tobin was a vulnerable woman who had since entered a nursing home. The court considered the victim's age and vulnerability in sentencing.
A 26‑year‑old Dublin man, Keith Gilroy, was sentenced to five years in prison for transporting a loaded Smith & Wesson .357 Magnum revolver and 11 rounds of ammunition, after being on bail for drug offences. He had previously pleaded guilty to possessing €2,590 of cocaine and over €40,000 of cannabis and crack cocaine, and to laundering €4,415. Gilroy admitted to holding drugs for others to offset a debt of €30,000 and to supplying "grass" to creditors. Gardaí found him lying in bed at the Sean O'Casey Avenue address, where they seized €15,347 of cannabis, crack cocaine worth €25,309 and €4,415 in cash. He was also intercepted in a taxi with a shoebox containing the loaded revolver and ammunition in July 2018. Judge Melanie Greally, noting his candid admissions and early guilty pleas, imposed an eight‑year sentence with the final three years suspended, and ordered 12 months of post‑release supervision.
Mark Connolly, 44, a father of three, was sentenced to five years in prison, with two-and-a-half years suspended, after pleading guilty to possessing €311,000 that he believed was the proceeds of drug dealing. He admitted to collecting the cash to pay off a €4,000 cocaine debt, having been paid €300 for each of six runs. Gardaí found €291,790 hidden behind a panel in a wardrobe in a rented Dublin apartment, plus an additional €19,950 in a rucksack. Connolly had been given keys, a phone and instructions on where and when to collect the money. He acknowledged the money likely came from drugs, but claimed he had not transported drugs himself. The court noted his cooperation, guilty plea, financial pressure and low risk of re‑offending, and gave him credit for his post‑arrest conduct and counselling. The sentence was imposed by Judge Melanie Greally at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Michael Smullen, a 31‑year‑old Dublin taxi driver and father of two, was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment for possessing drugs in a €3.5 million operation. Gardaí observed him taking two bags from a lock‑up facility, driving a short distance and handing them to another man. The bags contained cannabis and cocaine worth over €114,900. Investigators later found 18.5 kg of cocaine, heroin, ketamine, cannabis herb and resin, and €51,000 of MDMA in the lock‑up, behind boxes of dried flowers, with a total drug value of €3,592,374. Smullen pleaded guilty to two possession charges at St Joseph's Avenue and St Columba's Road Lower, Drumcondra, on 20 December 2017. He had no prior convictions except minor traffic offences. His counsel argued that Smullen had taken on his cousin's debt to dealers under pressure and that he had a tendency to assume other people's problems.
Eddie Valentine, 44, and Mark Kavanagh, 40, both from Rathfarnham, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to stealing a cash register from Leisureplex in Stillorgan on 4 May 2017. Judge Karen O'Connor remanded them in custody and adjourned sentencing to 1 March next month.
Sean O'Kelly, 24, was sentenced to six years in jail for arson that endangered an elderly woman, her granddaughter and a ten‑week‑old great‑grandson. He set two cars on fire in a driveway, melting the front door and forcing the family to seek refuge in the back garden. The court heard that the blaze could have spread, posing catastrophic risk. O'Kelly also vandalised six other cars, stole items, and was convicted of robbery, burglary and criminal damage on the same night. He admitted to arson in an underground carpark, causing an estimated €90,000 in damage, later settled for over €76,000. He has 24 prior convictions, including theft and firearms offences. The judge imposed consecutive sentences totalling 12 years, suspended the final six years on strict conditions, citing his rehabilitation efforts and lack of offences since 2017. The court considered his drug addiction, his apology letters, and the testimonies in his favour. Sean O'Kelly pleaded guilty.
Liam Deegan, 27, an escaped prisoner from Mountjoy, was sentenced to five years after a night‑time chase on the M50. He abandoned his Volkswagen Passat in a garage forecourt, then pulled over at 2 am when Garda John Ryan ordered him to stop. Deegan reversed, performed a U‑turn across three lanes, and drove the wrong way down the motorway. A Garda helicopter detected heat from a wheelie bin where Deegan hid. He was arrested and pleaded guilty to endangerment between junctions 7 and 9 on the M50. The court noted his 39 prior convictions and his apology to Gardaí. Judge Melanie Greally suspended the final 18 months of the sentence on strict terms, requiring Deegan to engage with the Probation Service for 12 months upon release. No injuries occurred during the pursuit. The case was prosecuted by Garret Baker BL and defended by Niall Storan BL.
Ciaran Wolverson, 53, of Edenmore Crescent, Coolock, Dublin, was found to have allowed drug dealers to mix and bag hard drugs in his home after his mother's death. He received a threatening text warning that houses in the area were being smashed and his could be next. Wolverson admitted that a number of youths would come to his house, he would retreat to a back room while they handled the drugs, and that they would leave him a small piece of heroin for personal use. Gardaí, acting on confidential information, searched his home on 5 October 2017 and seized eight bags of cocaine in a Gucci bag and cocaine and heroin in a plastic freezer bag, valued at about €17,000 and €740 respectively. He pleaded guilty to permitting his home to be used for the sale or supply of controlled drugs.
A jury could not reach a verdict in the trial of Dr Kevin Mulcahy, 61, of Creggane, Lombardstown, Mallow, Co Cork, who was accused of sexually assaulting a teenage patient in his surgery in Mallow in February 1995 and again in 1996. Mulcahy pleaded not guilty to both counts. The complainant's brother had taken her to the doctor in early 1995, where the doctor allegedly touched her breasts and the incident "didn't feel right". In the summer of 1996 the complainant returned to the doctor, who allegedly exposed his penis and placed her hand on it. The jury deliberated for over five hours but failed to reach a verdict. Judge Pauline Codd thanked the jurors for their care and attention and adjourned the case for mention on 26 February.
A former construction worker, Noel Ryan, 42, was jailed for breaking into a basement flat on North Strand Road on 7 March 2018. Ryan, who had relapsed into heroin addiction after losing his job, told the court he believed the basement was an unoccupied office and hoped to find a cash box. The flat belonged to a dentist who ran a clinic on the ground floor, and Garda Jun Han confirmed there was no indication the basement was residential. Three college students were left traumatised; two hid in the back garden and one in her bedroom. When Ryan entered, he was caught by Garda Han and arrested. Ryan pleaded guilty to burglary. Judge Melanie Greally suspended the last 18 months of a five‑year sentence on the condition he engages with addiction services in prison. The case was heard in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Mudassar Khan, 27, was arrested at Dublin airport after customs officers discovered 13 kg of heroin in a suitcase he had brought from Dubai. He was stopped when attempting to enter the EU "blue channel" and was subsequently detained by Gardaí. In court, Khan pleaded guilty to importation and possession for sale or supply of heroin. He admitted living in the UK, being a drug addict with a £2,500 debt, and claimed he had agreed to transport a package he thought contained cigarettes. When questioned about the source of the drugs, he refused to name anyone, citing fear of retaliation. The judge noted his lack of knowledge of the contents did not excuse the reckless transport of a large quantity of contraband. He was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment, with the court taking into account his remorse and the pressure he faced. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
The trial of a man accused of coercing a woman into marriage has been discontinued at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Yasir Ali, aged 31, of Lighthouse Apartments, East Wall, Dublin, had pleaded not guilty to coercion at apartments in Ballinrobe and Hollymount, County Mayo, between January and July 2015. The jury was discharged on the opening day of the trial after the State prosecutor received instructions from the Director of Public Prosecutions to enter a nolle prosequi, ending the case. The prosecution had alleged Mr Ali played a significant role in intimidating the complainant. Evidence heard from the complainant described arriving in Ireland from Lithuania with promises of employment, having her travel documents withheld, and being pressured into marrying a stranger she had never met. The case proceeded no further.
The jury has begun deliberations in the trial of Dr Kevin Mulcahy, 61, of Creggane, Lombardstown, Mallow, Co Cork, who has pleaded not guilty to two counts of sexual assault. The first alleged assault occurred in February 1995 when the complainant's brother brought her to Mulcahy's surgery; the complainant says Mulcahy touched her breasts and it "didn't feel right." The second alleged assault took place between 8 May 1996 and 31 December 1996, when the complainant says Mulcahy exposed his penis and placed her hand on it. Judge Pauline Codd sent the jury home at 4 pm to resume deliberations the next day. In closing speeches, the prosecution's counsel, Maddie Grant BL, urged jurors to assess the complainant's truthfulness and reliability, noting her bipolar disorder and that she has never relented from her allegations since 2005.
Brendan Treacy, 35, will be sentenced in July for making a false emergency call that a gangland member had been shot at Peadar Kearney House, Railway Street, Dublin. The call prompted 11 Garda units, a fire brigade truck and an ambulance to respond, and the emergency operation lasted 24 minutes before being called off. Treacy admitted the call was a "moment of madness" while heavily intoxicated on tablets and vodka. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to making a false report at an unknown location in Dublin 1 on 23 August 2017. Treacy has 40 previous convictions, including theft, road traffic and drug offences. He has since detoxed from tablets, is methadone and heroin free, and seeks treatment at a residential centre. Judge Martina Baxter adjourned the case to allow Treacy to access treatment, warning that such conduct is unacceptable in a democratic society.
In a Dublin case, Liam Byrne, aged 37, chased a former partner into a community centre with a broken brush handle and attacked her in front of children. He had earlier pulled a knife from a kitchen drawer and threatened to kill her after inviting her to his home. Garda Louise Moran reported that Byrne's mother intervened twice, causing him to leave the scene. The victim escaped to a nearby community centre dressing room where Byrne struck her and threatened her again. Byrne pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and threats to kill on 16 May 2018. He was sentenced to 21 months imprisonment, fully suspended for 21 months on the condition of keeping the peace, good behaviour and engaging with probation services. The victim declined a victim impact statement and expressed willingness to forgive Byrne if he stays on the right path. The judge noted Byrne's mental health difficulties and drug use as factors but upheld the suspended sentence.
In a 2019 Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 23‑year‑old Ryan McLoughlin was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for stabbing Scott Byrne in the stomach and buttock on the Tallaght Bypass on 26 May 2013. McLoughlin, who had previously been convicted of two drug offences and traffic matters, inflicted a serious injury on his own left hand during the attack, slashing an artery. He pleaded guilty and was given a suspended final 12 months, conditional on complying with probation directions for 12 months and distancing himself from "negative peers". The court noted McLoughlin's youth, intoxication, family responsibilities and self‑injury as mitigating factors, while the prosecution highlighted delays in the case's arrival to court and the lack of cooperation from McLoughlin during police interviews.
The trial of Dr Kevin Mulcahy, 61, at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court involves his plea of not guilty to two counts of sexual assault against a teenage patient in Mallow, Co Cork, in 1995 and 1996. On the third day of the hearing, Dr Bobby Burns, an adult psychiatrist at St Stephen's Hospital, testified that he first met the complainant in August 2005 when she was transferred from the UK with acute delusional psychotic disorder. Burns said the woman later alleged assault by Mulcahy and that he advised her to discuss the allegations with another team member. Burns continued to treat her, diagnosing bipolar disorder and noting that her condition is now managed with medication. Burns stated that her illness did not influence her allegations, and under cross‑examination, the defendant acknowledged that the complainant once had delusions of being the mother of the baby Jesus, which disappeared when she became well.
Michael Shine, an 86‑year‑old retired surgeon from Ballsbridge, Dublin, was found guilty by a jury of thirteen charges of indecent assault against seven boys he examined over a thirty‑year period. The offences occurred during medical examinations at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda and two private clinics between 1971 and 1992. The trial, held in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, concluded on day 17 with a guilty verdict after just over six hours of deliberation. Judge Martin Nolan adjourned sentencing to 22 February and remanded Shine on bail. During the trial, each complainant described how Shine groped or masturbated on them during examinations, with incidents ranging from 1971 to 1988. Shine denied any improper conduct and claimed no memory of the alleged acts. The judge thanked the jury for their service. Michael Shine pleaded not guilty.
In 2016, an English tourist and a Finnish woman were attacked at Dublin's Generator Hostel when a man struck them with a pool cue. The tourist, Paul Maguire, suffered a deep 4‑cm wound to his chin, while the woman received a scar on her forehead. Both were taken to Mater Hospital; the tourist required stitches and endured pain for days. Maguire, aged 32, pleaded guilty to two counts of assault causing harm. He had 26 prior convictions. The court accepted his offer of €5,000, to be donated to Temple Street Children's Hospital, as a mitigating factor, though the victims declined the money. The case was adjourned to May 9 for sentencing pending a probation report. The judge described the assault as an "outrageous outburst of impatience and anger" toward unsuspecting tourists. The incident left the tourist's view of Ireland tainted and made him apprehensive about returning. The woman's scar caused her embarrassment.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, retired surgeon Michael Shine, 86, faced thirteen indecent assault charges linked to medical examinations at Our Lady of Lourdes hospital and two private clinics in Drogheda. Defending counsel Hugh Hartnett SC argued that the complainants' memories could be shaped by media exposure and the prospect of financial compensation, noting that each had pursued civil actions. Hartnett highlighted that one complainant had testified that, in hindsight, he believed the incidents were abuse. He questioned whether televised coverage could influence recollections. Judge Martin Nolan instructed jurors to consider each charge separately and to weigh counsel's submissions on the evidence. He noted that a medical expert had testified the alleged actions were medically inappropriate and could constitute indecent assault if accepted beyond a reasonable doubt. The jury was to resume deliberations the following day. Michael Shine pleaded not guilty.
Alan McDonagh, 33, was jailed for four years after stealing a rental car fitted with a tracking device. He pleaded guilty to burglary and unauthorised taking of a car on September 8, 2017, and was tracked by gardaí to the N7. McDonagh, who has 173 previous convictions including 31 for burglary, has spent more than half his life in custody and became addicted to heroin at 16. The court accepted his desire to become drug‑free and suspended the last year of a five‑year term on the condition he keep the peace, engage with the Probation Service for 12 months and remain drug‑ and alcohol‑free. He also admitted robbing a woman at St Stephen's Green on November 3, 2017, for which a concurrent sentence was imposed. All sentences are back‑dated to July 18, the day he entered custody.
During a five‑day trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Barry O'Donoghue, aged 38, was convicted of assaulting and threatening to kill his former partner at his Drimnagh home on 20 and 21 October 2016. The victim testified that O'Donoghue knocked her to the ground, punched and kicked her in the eye, and told her he had been planning to hurt and kill her for two years. She also said he threatened to shoot her in the face so her mother would not be able to have an open casket. O'Donoghue was acquitted of falsely imprisoning her and of a separate threat to kill or seriously harm another woman at the same location and dates. He denied all charges and has no prior convictions. Judge Elma Sheahan remanded him in custody pending sentencing in April and ordered a psychologist report.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 31‑year‑old Michael Smullen pleaded guilty to two charges of possessing cannabis and cocaine. Gardaí had seen him take two bags from a lock‑up facility, drive a short distance and hand them to another man. The bags contained drugs worth over €114,900, and investigators later found 18.5 kg of cocaine, heroin, ketamine, cannabis herb and resin, and €51,000 of MDMA in the lock‑up, bringing the total value of all drugs to €3,592,374. Smullen, a father of two living on Oak Park Avenue, Royal Oak, Santry, claimed he had taken over his cousin's debt to dealers and was under pressure. His lawyer argued a psychologist report showed a tendency to take on others' problems and presented character references. The court remanded him in custody pending sentencing. The other man involved received a six‑year sentence with two years suspended for possession of the bags.
Ellavita Flynn, aged 24, admitted to stealing more than €6,500 worth of designer goods from Brown Thomas on Grafton Street between 19 December 2017 and 2 January 2018. She took a Michael Kors watch (€395), a Prada handbag (€2,400), a Gucci handbag (€1,490) and a Louis Vuitton handbag (€2,280) without paying, four times over two weeks. The Louis Vuitton handbag was recovered; the other items were sold on the street for "relatively small money". Flynn pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. She has three prior theft convictions dealt with at District Court level. The court heard she had no fixed abode and had addiction issues, having begun abusing substances at 18 after being in care as a teenager. The judge adjourned the case for six months to allow Flynn to demonstrate she is addressing her drug problems and gaining employment training, and remanded her on continuing bail until July.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 86‑year‑old retired surgeon Michael Shine pleaded not guilty to thirteen indecent assault charges alleged to have occurred during medical examinations at Our Lady of Lourdes hospital and two private clinics in Drogheda. On the fifteenth day of the trial, the prosecution presented a witness who claimed that in 1971, when Shine was 13, a patient's appendix surgery was followed by Shine fondling the patient's genitals. Shine denied the allegation, stating there were no medical records and arguing that it was unfair to bring events from decades ago to trial. He also denied claims that he masturbated a 13‑year‑old patient after a testicular torsion operation, describing the allegation as "unbelievable" and "shocking". The prosecution noted that all complainants had similar accounts and had pursued civil action through Dignity 4 Patients. The trial was set to continue before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Garda Richard O'Donnell was punched in the face by Willie Connors (42) while attempting to escort him into court. O'Donnell was knocked to the floor, suffered a permanent scar on his upper lip, and was unable to work for a week. The assault, the second in two weeks, prompted his wife to advise him to leave the job and avoid front‑line duties. O'Donnell expressed guilt for putting himself in danger and reported a loss of confidence in hostile situations, raising personal safety concerns for his family. Connors, from Bachelors Walk, pleaded guilty to assault on 10 October 2017. Judge Melanie Greally suspended the final 18 months of a three‑year sentence, conditional on anger‑management and victim‑focus work, and backdated the sentence to April 2018. The court noted Connors' 141 prior convictions and his history of drug abuse. The hearing focused on the assault and the sentencing decision.
Aaron Doran, a 32‑year‑old taxi driver, was sentenced to one year in prison for sexually assaulting a friend of his fiancée at the engagement party on 21 June 2015. The assault took place at Kilcarraig Close, Tallaght, after a night of heavy drinking. Doran entered the victim's bedroom, touched her vagina and demanded she show him her clit before leaving. The victim, who had waived anonymity, described the incident as traumatic and a betrayal of trust. Doran pleaded not guilty, claiming he was drunk and had mistaken the victim for his girlfriend. The judge noted his lack of acknowledgement of wrongdoing and the breach of trust, but suspended the final 18 months of a 2½‑year sentence, citing his good character and employment history. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Aaron Doran was convicted.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, 86‑year‑old retired surgeon Michael Shine pleaded not guilty to thirteen charges of indecent assault alleged to have occurred during medical examinations at Our Lady of Lourdes hospital in Drogheda and two private clinics. Shine claimed he had "some senile dementia" and insisted that a nurse was always present during patient appointments, stating he saw about 18,000 patients a year. When questioned about a complainant's testimony that he groped a patient's genitals after a finger surgery, Shine denied the allegation, saying he had no memory of it and that he would never grope a patient. He also dismissed allegations of inappropriate examinations, such as masturbating a patient's penis during a rectal exam, calling them "nonsensical" and "crazy." The trial was set to continue the following day before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury.
Slaven Tokic, 40, was arrested after he punched Andy Lynch in the face at Dublin's Portobello Bar, claiming Lynch had laughed at his penis while he was urinating. Tokic said Lynch had pointed at him and laughed, and that they were both leaving the bathroom when the incident occurred. Lynch reported that Tokic punched him, knocking out two front teeth and splitting his lip. Tokic pleaded guilty to assault causing harm at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He has no prior convictions. The case was adjourned to February next year, with Tokic remanded on continuing bail. The judge considered a potential settlement of €4,000 with the victim and discussed future dental costs. Tokic is a Croatian national living in Ireland for five years, recently married, with an eight‑month‑old daughter and a new house. The court played CCTV footage showing Tokic swinging twice at Lynch, with one punch connecting with the face.
Glen Carolan, 21, pleaded guilty to robbing a McDonald's in Santry on 1 May 2018, claiming he was forced to do it or be killed. He admitted using a knife to threaten staff and taking €513, along with his clothes and the knife, to the people who instructed him. Carolan said he had accumulated debt from drug addiction and gambling and was told his family home would be "smashed up" if he did not pay. He apologized to the staff and to Gardaí, describing the situation as a "do or die" one. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, where Judge Melanie Greally noted his lack of prior convictions and the high level of threat used. She remanded him on continuing bail until 8 May to allow time for engagement with the Probation Service and to attend all appointments.
In February 2017, Dean Fitzpatrick, 26, assaulted David Curran on Grafton Street, causing a broken nose, three jaw fractures and a fracture above his eye. Curran required surgery, multiple stitches and spent seven months recovering, suffering nerve damage and losing several teeth. The assault left him traumatised, leading to a drop‑out from college and loss of his degree. Curran's victim impact statement, read by Antonia Boyle BL, detailed his mental health decline, social life disruption and ongoing physical injuries. Fitzpatrick pleaded guilty to assault causing harm at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Melanie Greally adjourned the case to 25 July to allow Fitzpatrick to complete a residential drug treatment programme and ordered a probation report. Garda Paul Jordan recounted finding Curran with blood from nose and mouth, and that the incident followed a night out at a nightclub and McDonald's. Fitzpatrick's 70 prior convictions include assault, theft, public order and road traffic offences.
Tony Ward, 40, of Castlecurragh Park, Mulhuddart, Dublin, was convicted at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for endangerment, dangerous driving, assault causing harm and unlawful seizure of a vehicle. The offence occurred on 29 August 2017 between Dublin city centre and Finglas when Ward hijacked a taxi, threatened the driver with a knife, and forced the vehicle into a high‑speed chase that ended with the taxi colliding with two Garda cars. Garda Ciaran Garry was injured, suffering a large wound to his left arm that required 30 stitches. Ward pleaded guilty, was sentenced to three and a half years' imprisonment, with the final 21 months suspended on the condition of good behaviour and compliance with probation for 12 months. He was also disqualified from driving for two years and credited for time already spent in custody.
In February 2019, Dr. Kevin Mulcahy, 61, stood trial in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for alleged sexual assault of a teenage patient in Mallow, County Cork, in 1995. He pleaded not guilty to the first charge and denied a second charge of assault between May and December 1996. The complainant, now 41, testified that she was 17 when she visited Dr. Mulcahy after a family death. She described being asked to undress, feeling uncomfortable as the doctor examined her breasts and pressed on them. She claimed he later sat with his legs apart, rocked her, and attempted to kiss her, saying he was "what a loving dad does to a child." The final alleged assault occurred in summer 1996 when the doctor exposed himself and touched her hand, offering to "teach" her. The case was heard by Judge Pauline Codd with a jury of twelve. The trial was scheduled to last a week.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 86‑year‑old retired surgeon Michael Shine pleaded not guilty to thirteen indecent assault charges linked to medical examinations at Our Lady of Lourdes hospital in Drogheda and two private clinics. On the thirteenth day of the trial, Shine told the jury he had no memory of any of the seven complainants and denied any improper conduct during examinations. He explained that he began working at Lourdes in March 1964 and continued until 1995, and that he had written a paper on misdiagnosis of testicular torsion. Shine argued that touching testicles is necessary during such exams, that touching the penis is unavoidable, and that he could not have masturbated a young patient in a hospital bed. He also dismissed Bernadette Sullivan's campaign as "over, over the top." The trial was set to continue the next day before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury.
In a case heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Daniel Mazur, aged 20, pleaded guilty to possession of a black gas‑powered revolver handgun and six brass bullets containing ball bearings, which he had found on Firhouse Road on 9 June 2017. The court noted that Mazur had 14 prior convictions, including burglary and possession of knives. Judge Melanie Greally had adjourned sentencing to allow for a Probation Service report and psychiatric and psychological assessments. She later sentenced Mazur to three and a half years' imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended. The judge highlighted that Mazur's possession of the weapon posed a danger to motorists, that he had no family support, was homeless, and lived a chaotic lifestyle. The reports concluded he had psychological issues but no mental disorder.
Gerard O'Neill, 66, was arrested in March 2018 after 225 child‑pornography videos were found on a laptop, hard drive and two CDs seized from his Dublin home. The items were searched in May 2015 following reliable information. O'Neill pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing and distributing child‑pornography videos between 15 April and 13 May 2015. Of the videos, 214 showed pre‑teen boys with other pre‑teen boys or adults, and 11 showed pre‑teen boys with exposed genitalia. A chat conversation in which a video was shared was also recovered. O'Neill's home was attacked by a large group when his criminal behaviour became public, and he later sold the property at a significant loss. He is now living in hostel accommodation. Judge Melanie Greally remanded him on continuing bail and adjourned sentencing to 1 May 2019, with a probation report ordered for the next date.
Petru Pinto, a 50‑year‑old former professional footballer from Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to reckless assault causing harm after a five‑a‑side match on 16 November 2012. The incident occurred at Ellenfield Park, Santry, when Pinto, during a heated verbal exchange with Paul Ceusan, ran toward him and jumped with his knees raised. Pinto's knees struck the side of Ceusan's torso, causing Ceusan to fall and suffer a Grade 4 renal injury, commonly called a "split kidney". Ceusan required a stent and has since lost 25 % of kidney function, suffers high blood pressure, incurred €1,350 in medical costs and was unable to work for about 20 weeks. The court heard that the original charge of intentional assault failed to reach a verdict, leading to the amended reckless assault indictment. Pinto, who works as a painter and decorator and has sole custody of his 17‑year‑old son, has prior minor traffic convictions.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 4 February 2019, 22‑year‑old Dillon Harris pleaded guilty to several offences. He admitted spraying "blood, phlegm and saliva" into the faces of Garda Gerard Whelan, Garda Peter Byrne and Dublin Fire Brigade Sub Officer Peter Fitzgerald on 21 November 2017, after a stolen Volkswagen Estate crashed into a wall. Harris also pleaded guilty to driving a vehicle without the owner's consent and to reckless endangerment on the same date. He caused €3,456 of damage to an Opel Corsa and was deemed unfit for interview after arrest, later consenting to a blood sample. The court heard he had no prior convictions, was not involved in the theft, and was dealing with addiction problems. The judge remanded him on continuing bail until later this year, when sentencing will occur.
John Murphy, 69, founder of the Children to Lapland charity, was convicted of four counts of theft totalling €18,643 between June and July 2010. The charity, established in 1987, raised funds to send terminally ill children to Lapland. Murphy also ran United Travel, a travel agency that closed in 2012. At trial, he claimed the charity owed him money and that funds moved normally between accounts, a defence described by the prosecution as the 'Father Ted defence'. A jury found him guilty after 42 minutes, and Judge Pat McCartan imposed a wholly suspended three‑year sentence on 16 March 2016. Murphy has now appealed, arguing that the trial judge denied the jury the chance to consider an 'honest belief' defence and that the judge incorrectly stated no defence was available. The Court of Appeal has reserved judgment. Murphy was not present at the appeal hearing. John Murphy pleaded not guilty.
Keith Harris, 42, of Seville Place, Dublin, was convicted of assault causing harm after stabbing his former partner's 18‑year‑old son, Darrell Hutch, in the stomach during an argument over drinking. The incident occurred on the morning of 30 August 2016 when Harris, who was heavily intoxicated, entered the home, shouted at the son, and then pulled a knife from his tracksuit and jabbed it near the belly button. He fled and was later found asleep in a nearby flat. Harris pleaded not guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court but was found guilty by a jury on 21 November 2018. Judge Pauline Codd sentenced him to four and a half years' imprisonment, suspending the final six months on the condition that he keep the peace, behave well, and follow probation directions for six months after release. The case highlighted Harris's 18 prior convictions, none of which were for violent crime.
Michael Ward, 19, of Co Longford, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to criminal damage, assault causing harm, and assault while attempting to commit theft at Oberstown Children's Detention Campus in Lusk, Co Dublin, on May 29, 2017. The court heard that Ward is currently serving a four-year sentence, with the final 12 months suspended, for prior criminal damage offences at the same facility. Prosecution evidence alleged that Ward assaulted a staff member, barricaded himself in an office with other youths, and struck Campus Director Pat Bergin in the head with a metal bar. Ward and two others allegedly used an angle grinder to cut through the campus fence to escape, causing €17,135 in damage. Ward has 56 previous convictions. Judge Patricia Ryan noted that Ward minimised his actions and ordered a governor's report and a probation report to be prepared. The matter was adjourned for sentencing to March 22 of this year.
Ian Kidd, 52, pleaded guilty to one count of criminal damage after pouring diesel inside St Agnes' Church in Crumlin on 26 July 2017. The diesel was spilled on the altar, a Carrara marble surface, and damaged a monstrance, a crucifix and a Paschal candle that belonged to Father Paul Tyrell. The damage is estimated at €100,000. Kidd appeared before the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, where Judge Melanie Greally adjourned sentencing to 12 April and ordered a victim impact statement for that date.
Brendan Heaney, 51, was sentenced to 16 months in prison after a Garda search of his Kimmage home uncovered a large quantity of drugs, including 395 g of heroin and various prescription tablets. He admitted to storing and supplying these drugs for a Finglas-based gang after his daughter, a recovering crack cocaine addict, was threatened by dealers who said they would kill her. Heaney claimed he was forced into the activity to protect his daughter, who had accrued €26,000 in debt to the gang and had been threatened with violence. He had previously received a five‑year sentence in the UK for drug possession. Judge Martin Nolan, acknowledging Heaney's circumstances and his lack of profit from the operation, reduced the mandatory minimum of ten years to a 16‑month custodial term. The sentence was deferred until early this year at the request of his defence counsel. Brendan Heaney pleaded guilty.
James Jordan (51) of Laochfail, Outfarm Lane, Castleknock, Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to knowingly and wilfully submitting 16 incorrect VAT returns, six incorrect income tax returns, four incorrect invoices and three false claims of income tax relief. Judge Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin expressed concerns regarding a report on Jordan's fitness for community service, noting that Jordan presented his fraudulent claims as an "oversight" and attributed responsibility to certain employees. The judge questioned whether Jordan accepts responsibility for his offences. Séamus Clarke SC, defending, submitted a signed agreement between Jordan and Revenue, under which Jordan will pay approximately €5,000 per month. Jordan has already made payments totalling €57,500. The court heard that Jordan came to the attention of a special Revenue unit due to his large property portfolio in the 2000s. Former Revenue Officer Elizabeth Keane testified that Jordan failed to pay capital gains tax on the sale of five properties between 2004 and 2010. Jordan also submitted four incorrect invoices which lowered his VAT liability. Judge Ní Chúlacháin noted that Jordan failed to pay tax on rental income and waived a tax exemption he was entitled to. She also highlighted that Jordan made false claims for Income Tax relief for properties not registered to the PRTB. The total figure owed by Jordan, including interest and penalties, was €1,236,881. Jordan has one previous conviction from 2017 for failure to file an income tax return. Mr Clarke stated that Jordan runs a carpet business and that people would lose their jobs if he received a custodial sentence. Judge Ní Chúlacháin ordered an updated probation report and adjourned the matter for sentencing on February 18, of this year.
A man from Cootehill, County Cavan, has been sentenced to eighteen years imprisonment following his conviction on multiple charges related to a tiger kidnapping at a post office in north Dublin. Paschal Kelly, aged fifty-three, was convicted of false imprisonment, robbery, threatening to kill, and possession of a stolen vehicle. The offences occurred on 25 September 2014, when Kelly and two accomplices entered the home of a postmistress in Malahide, bound three women with cable ties, and transported them to Bayside Post Office in Sutton. During the incident, Kelly threatened to set the women alight. At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Karen O'Connor commended the three women for their courage and resourcefulness, noting that one victim's quick thinking enabled gardaí to intervene and recover approximately €92,000. The judge found the offence premeditated and aggravated by the violation of the home, use of firearms, and threats made. Kelly's conviction followed a nine-week trial. Credit for time already served in custody has been applied to the sentence.
Trevor Walsh, a 53‑year‑old taxi driver, was sentenced to two years in prison for stealing €75,000 from the bank account of 83‑year‑old Pamela O'Brien, who suffers from dementia and now resides in a nursing home. Walsh used O'Brien's bank card and forged her signature on documents to open a new account and transfer funds from her old EBS account. He also withdrew cash up to €500 and paid utility bills using her card. The thefts, uncovered after friends reviewed her statements, spanned 21 months and included five admitted counts out of 21 charges. Walsh admitted the thefts, cited a drinking problem, and offered €4,000 to the victim. Judge Pauline Codd noted the breach of trust and the vulnerability of the victim, suspended the last year of a three‑year term on the condition that Walsh attend alcohol‑addiction programmes under the Probation Service.
A 25‑year‑old Dublin man, John Keogh, was arrested while attempting to move a stolen Ford Mondeo. Keogh claimed he had been asked to collect the vehicle as a favour for third parties and that he had received the key earlier that day from "some fellas." He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of a stolen vehicle at the Louis Fitzgerald Hotel in Clondalkin on 24 March 2017. The car had been reported stolen from Laytown, Co. Meath, ten days earlier and was found parked outside the hotel with false number plates. Gardaí had set up surveillance after receiving confidential information about its location. Keogh tried to discard the key when approached by Gardaí and was arrested after a brief struggle. He admitted the facts during the interview. The judge, after considering his 29 previous minor convictions and his family background, imposed a three‑year suspended sentence.