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2019-01-31 · Louth
The prosecution's case has closed in the trial of retired surgeon Michael Shine, 86, who is accused of groping boys during medical examinations at Our Lady of Lourdes hospital in Drogheda and two private clinics. He pleaded not guilty to thirteen charges of indecent assault. The trial will continue tomorrow before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury.
2019-01-30 · Dublin
During the trial of retired surgeon Michael Shine, who pleaded not guilty to thirteen charges of indecent assault at Our Lady of Lourdes hospital and two private clinics in Drogheda, a medical expert, former consultant surgeon Richard Stevens, testified. Stevens, who now teaches at the Royal College of Surgeons, had examined the medical records of all seven complainants and was aware of their allegations. He told the court that there was no reasonable reason for Shine to examine the genitals of a patient who had undergone finger surgery, as alleged. Stevens described the allegations that Shine masturbated a 13‑year‑old to ejaculation as "incredible" and said he was "quite shocked" by the whole thing. He explained that normal practice involves examining testicles after surgery for testicular torsion, but there is no medical basis for a surgeon to masturbate a patient's penis, nor to examine a child's genitals in the absence of a parent.
2019-01-30 · Dublin
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Mark Doyle (34) and Patrick Farrelly (32) were given suspended prison sentences after they damaged The Village Inn in Clondalkin. The pair had been thrown out for drunkenness, refused to leave, and then returned to the pub, smashing heaters, picture frames and vodka bottles. Farrelly punched bar staff member Patrick McCarthy, breaking his jaw, while Doyle assaulted pub manager Alan McKenzie. Both men pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and criminal damage on 9 September 2012. Judge Melanie Greally suspended an 18‑month term for Doyle, noting his remorse, and a two‑year term for Farrelly, citing his alcohol abuse but efforts to address it. Each man paid €2,200 as a token of remorse. No further Garda attention has been reported since the incident.
2019-01-30 · Kildare
In a case heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, 33‑year‑old Eric Hogan pleaded guilty to criminal damage after crashing a grey Peugeot into the outer gates of the British Embassy in Ballsbridge on 9 June 2018. Garda Declan Dunne, who was on duty outside the embassy that night, observed Hogan's vehicle collide with the gates, which were knocked off their rails. Hogan was shouting but his speech was incoherent, leading the Garda to suspect intoxication. However, the defence counsel, Pieter Le Vert, argued that Hogan was "off his medication" and dealing with psychiatric issues, and that he had no knowledge of drinking. Hogan had five prior convictions for public order offences and is the sole carer of his eight‑year‑old son. The judge, Pauline Codd, ordered a psychiatric report and adjourned sentencing to 12 April 2019. The repair cost for the gates was €33,500 plus VAT.
2019-01-30 · Dublin
Steven McGinty, a 47‑year‑old former nurse from Swords, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of 260 child‑pornographic images and four videos and to distributing such material between 2006 and 2013. He received a wholly suspended sentence on 15 March 2018. The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed, arguing the sentence was too lenient, but the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal, confirming the suspended sentence was within the judge's discretion. The judge noted McGinty's cooperation, remorse, low risk of reoffending, and lack of prior convictions. He also highlighted the difficulty of detecting private offences and the need for deterrence. McGinty's sentence was upheld, and he was not sent to prison. The case was heard by a three‑judge panel, including Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, Mr Justice George Birmingham, and Ms Justice Marie Baker.
2019-01-29 · Dublin
Stephen Browner, aged 36, received a suspended 20‑month prison sentence for eight counts of sexual assault against a girl aged eight to ten while he was a teenager between December 1997 and December 1999. The court heard Browner admitted guilt and expressed remorse, describing intense feelings of shame. Judge Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin noted the victim's lasting sadness and the impact on her view of love. Browner was ordered to complete all Probation Service treatment programmes, including victim‑awareness training, and to inform future partners of his sex‑offender register status. He was found to be a minor at the time of the offences, 14 to 16 years old, and was considered a low risk of re‑offending. The judge emphasised that Browner had not yet taken concrete steps such as counselling. The victim's family had reported the abuse in 2016, and Browner's apology letter was rejected by the victim's family. Stephen Browner pleaded guilty.
2019-01-29 · Louth
The trial of retired surgeon Michael Shine, aged 86, is in legal argument before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury. Shine has 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 at two private clinics in Drogheda. The jury is set to return tomorrow.
2019-01-29 · Dublin
Jason Tuite, aged 20, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of a knife with intent to cause injury after providing a flick knife to his cousin, Alan Tuite, who used it to slash a Luas passenger, Sebastian Rostas, at Rialto Luas Stop on 3 July 2017. Tuite also faced an additional assault charge. He received a two‑year prison sentence, with the final two and a half years suspended under strict conditions, including 12 months of Probation Service supervision upon release. Alan Tuite, aged 28, was sentenced to five years, with 18 months suspended, for assault and knife production. The court noted Tuite was 17 at the time and acted under his cousin's influence. The case involved CCTV evidence of the attack and the subsequent arrest of Alan Tuite. The victim incurred significant medical costs and ongoing anxiety. The judge highlighted the distinction between the two men and the role of the knife provision.
2019-01-29 · Dublin
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, a 67‑year‑old former primary school teacher was convicted of 15 counts of indecent assault and three counts of sexual assault against five pupils between 1972 and 1998. He denied the allegations. The judge sentenced him to three years imprisonment, consecutive to a ten‑year term for raping and abusing a female relative. On appeal, the Court of Appeal upheld the conviction, finding the trial satisfactory. Justice Isobel Kennedy rejected the defence's arguments that the indictment should have been severed, that evidence from one victim was prejudicial, and that missing roll books warranted an acquittal. She noted commonalities among the allegations, such as the victims' ages, their status as pupils, and the teacher's role, and dismissed the appeal. The conviction remains in force.
2019-01-25 · Louth
The trial of retired surgeon Michael Shine, aged 86, at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court involves thirteen charges of indecent assault allegedly committed during medical examinations at Our Lady of Lourdes hospital in Drogheda and two private clinics. Shine pleaded not guilty. On the seventh day of the trial, Detective Garda Seamus Nolan informed the court that he had no dealings with the support group Dignity 4 Patients, but was aware that the group had referred people to Gardaí. He explained that Dignity 4 Patients is a support group for victims of medical abuse and that any campaign it ran was a matter of the group's own initiative. Nolan noted that Gardaí did not attend the group's meetings and that he had not examined the group's website. He met with Shine after the complainants had made statements to Gardaí, and Shine had prepared a statement denying all allegations.
2019-01-25 · Dublin
Michael Maughan, 24, of Hazel Hill, Tallaght, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 21 January 2018 to handling €80,000 worth of stolen jewellery. The items, seized after an accomplice tried to sell them to a cash‑for‑gold shop, were stolen in a burglary in Lucan three days earlier. Garda Redmond O'Leary described a surveillance operation outside Gold Digger Jewellery that led to Maughan's arrest when a Volkswagen Golf stopped and a woman was found carrying two bags of jewellery. The jewellery, weighing one kilogram, included 48 adult bracelets, three baby bracelets, rings, cuff links and earrings, many of which had sentimental value. Maughan's 40 prior convictions included trespass, theft, criminal damage, road traffic offences and failure to appear at court. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a four‑year sentence, suspending the final two years. She noted the jewellery's sentimental value and the fact that some items were permanently damaged.
2019-01-25 · Dublin
A 23-year-old man has been sentenced to three and a half years imprisonment, with the final twelve months suspended, following a high-speed car chase across Kildare and Dublin last May. Christopher Prentice, of Tallaght, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to unlawfully using a stolen vehicle and three counts of dangerous driving. The court heard that gardaí observed Prentice driving a jeep reported stolen on the Naas Road and pursued him as he drove at speeds exceeding 180 kilometres per hour, broke red lights, crossed lanes, and forced oncoming traffic to swerve. The chase ended when Prentice lost control, mounted a kerb, and came to a stop on Raphoe Road. Judge Melanie Greally described it as miraculous that no injuries or damage occurred. Prentice was also disqualified from driving for five years. He has thirty-three previous convictions. The sentence was backdated to May.
2019-01-25 · Dublin
Antonia McGrath, a 26‑year‑old single mother from Clondalkin, was found in possession of over €450,000 worth of cannabis and was sentenced to three‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment by Judge Martin Nolan on 30 April 2018. The sentence was upheld by the Court of Appeal on 25 January 2019. McGrath admitted she had agreed to hold the drugs for sale or supply both at her home and in the vehicle of co‑accused Keith Tiswell, who was also convicted and jailed for the same period. McGrath's apartment had been under surveillance after a Garda tip‑off; CCTV showed her handing the drugs to Tiswell. She claimed she feared for her life and that of her son and gave no further information. The Court of Appeal found no error in the original sentencing and dismissed her appeal. Antonia McGrath pleaded guilty. Keith Tiswell pleaded guilty.
2019-01-25 · Dublin
Paschal Kelly, aged 53, of Cootehill, County Cavan, has been convicted at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of false imprisonment, robbery, and threatening to kill three women during a tiger kidnapping in September 2014. The convictions relate to the abduction of postmistress Susan Lawlor, her daughter Emma Carter, and an Italian student from their Malahide home, followed by a €92,000 robbery at Bayside Post Office in Sutton. Kelly was also found guilty of possessing a stolen vehicle. He had pleaded not guilty to all charges. The trial extended to nine weeks. DNA evidence recovered from items at the scene linked Kelly to the offence. The court heard of his sixty previous convictions, including assault, robbery, and road traffic offences. Sentencing has been adjourned to the following week, with Kelly remanded in custody. The three women's victim impact statements were submitted but their contents were not disclosed in court at their request.
2019-01-25 · Dublin
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Noel O'Doherty, aged 28, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and possession of a large kitchen knife with intent to injure Gardaí. The offence occurred on 23 October 2016 when O'Doherty, after punching his girlfriend unconscious, ran at Gardaí while wielding a knife. Gardaí pursued him into his home, where he was found sitting on his hands in a narrow wardrobe. Judge Gerard Griffin sentenced him to two years' imprisonment, suspending the final six months provided he keep the peace, behave well and engage with probation services for three years. The court noted O'Doherty's 11 prior convictions, the injuries inflicted, and his refusal to drop the knife when directed, while also recognising his guilty plea, lack of recent convictions, employment history and remorse. The judge praised the accused's father for allowing Gardaí entry and informing them of children inside the house. The case was heard in Hartstown, Hartstown Road, Hartstown.
2019-01-24 · Louth
During the trial of retired surgeon Michael Shine, a man testified that he experiences flashbacks of being masturbated by Shine during a 1975 examination when he was 13. The man, who had never disclosed the incident except to his wife, said the memory resurfaced after he filed a complaint with the Gardaí. He described the examination as occurring after Shine performed surgery on his testicles, with the man's father present but not in the room. The witness claimed the incident had never left his memory and that it was traumatic to recount. He denied any objection to the examination of his testicles, stating it was the area Shine had operated on. The testimony was delivered to Hugh Hartnett SC, with the trial continuing before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury. Michael Shine pleaded not guilty.
2019-01-24 · Dublin
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 24 January 2019, Mark McKenna, aged 29, pleaded guilty to possessing €64,660 of cannabis at his Castlewood, Huntstown home on 20 October 2016. Garda Mark Quill reported that officers found 3 kg of the drug and €150 in counterfeit notes. McKenna had no prior convictions and had admitted to storing the cannabis to offset a drug debt. Judge Karen O'Connor imposed a fully suspended three‑year sentence, provided McKenna keeps the peace, behaves well for three years, engages with the Probation Service for 18 months and completes a residential drug treatment programme. The court noted McKenna was "extremely far down the pecking order" in the drugs trade, was unemployed, and had been in the sphere of influence of serious people.
2019-01-24 · Dublin
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Jeanette Murray, a 44‑year‑old senior accountant at Brooks Hotel, pleaded guilty to 12 sample theft charges covering September 2003 to November 2008. Over five years she stole more than €200,000, comprising €137,200 in cash and €67,600 in cheques and bank drafts. She spent the cash on personal items and did not lodge the cheques, which were later returned to the hotel. Murray deleted and falsified hotel system records and supplied incorrect audit reports each year to conceal the thefts. The case was brought to court after irregularities were noted in 2009 while Murray was on maternity leave. Judge Melanie Greally remanded her on continuing bail until next May, ordered a Probation Service report on her family situation, and kept all sentencing options open, including a community service assessment.
2019-01-23 · Louth
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, retired surgeon Michael Shine, aged 86, pleaded not guilty to thirteen charges of indecent assault. Witnesses testified that Shine groped and stroked the privates of teenage patients during medical examinations at Our Lady of Lourdes hospital in Drogheda and at two private clinics. One witness, aged 13 in 1971, described how Shine asked him to pull up his shirt and trousers, pressed around a wound, then fondled his testicles and stroked his penis while claiming to check for damage. A second witness, also 13 in 1975, recounted a similar incident at Lourdes hospital, where Shine examined his testicles, then masturbated his penis for 10–15 minutes. Both witnesses said they felt embarrassed and left the rooms quickly. The trial is set to continue tomorrow before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury.
2019-01-23 · Dublin
Michael Connors, aged 25, was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to escaping custody twice in 2017 and 2018. He also admitted unlawfully possessing two stolen cars in April 2018 and was charged with producing a hammer and possessing stolen property. Gardaí found stolen car keys and an RF radio signal jammer at his home. Judge Melanie Greally suspended the last year of a five‑year sentence and disqualified him from driving for six years. Connors had previously escaped custody while being treated for a bitten ear at Tallaght Hospital, slipping his handcuffs and fleeing. He had 38 prior convictions, including burglary, knife possession, endangerment and escaping lawful custody. The court heard he had a troubled background, early school leaving, drug use, and had undergone psychiatric treatment. The judge noted his apology and desire to change.
2019-01-22 · Dublin
Gary Walsh, aged 32, was jailed for four years after a burglary and assault at a house in Rialto, south Dublin, on 1 July 2018. He admitted to breaking into the home, punching the homeowner Gerry Godley eight times, biting him twice, and assaulting Godley's partner Elish Bul when she tried to stop him. Walsh claimed he had been invited to play Playstation and was intoxicated, but the court found him disoriented and guilty. He was found with a bank card and a bag of the householder's property, though no significant items were taken. The homeowners, including a young daughter, reported nightmares and fear. Judge Melanie Greally noted the lack of premeditation and Walsh's remorse, suspending the final two years of a six‑year sentence on the condition of good behaviour and engagement with probation services for substance abuse and mental health issues.
2019-01-22 · Louth
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, an 86‑year‑old surgeon, Michael Shine, faced thirteen indecent assault charges linked to examinations at Our Lady of Lourdes hospital and two private Drogheda clinics. A male witness, aged 10 when first examined, recounted that Shine asked him to undress to his underpants, examined his throat, torso and abdomen, then groped his genitals, describing the act as a prolonged, painful experience. The witness claimed Shine also performed a rectal examination, inserting a gloved finger and again touching his genitals. He reported that after a later surgery for a wound, Shine repeatedly examined the wound while touching his genitals. The witness said he was 19 in 1982 when he woke to find Shine's hand on his penis, describing it as "masturbating me." The trial, with a jury, continued under Judge Martin Nolan. The witness had previously pursued civil action, concluding in 2012. The surgeon pleaded not guilty.
2019-01-21 · Louth
Andrei Negura, a 36‑year‑old Moldovan, was sentenced to a three‑year prison term that was fully suspended on strict conditions after pleading guilty to assaulting Bohuslav Kalias with a claw hammer and causing criminal damage to a car. Negura claimed a fight with Kalias and denied attacking him, but evidence showed he struck Kalias's arm repeatedly, leaving the victim with a broken arm, 38 stitches, and lasting pain that limits arm movement and affects daily activities. The assault also damaged the victim's car, costing €1,900. Negura had six prior convictions and had addressed heavy drinking. The judge noted his remorse, lack of prior violent convictions, and low re‑offending risk, and accepted the victim's willingness to accept the €1,900 compensation. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, with the judge's decision announced on the day of the hearing.
2019-01-21 · Dublin
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, 86‑year‑old retired surgeon Michael Shine pleaded not guilty to thirteen charges of indecent assault against seven teenage boys. The allegations stem from medical examinations at Our Lady of Lourdes hospital in Drogheda and two private clinics. One complainant, aged 14 in 1972, recounted that Shine, who had been his consultant for a knee operation, would visit his room in the evening to play chess and then groped and fondled his genitals, pulling down his trousers and stroking his penis. The boy said Shine justified the conduct by claiming it was a way to "tell a lot." Another complainant, aged 15, alleged that during an examination for a torn foreskin, Shine masturbated him for five to ten minutes and squeezed his penis, after which the boy felt shocked and did not return for a recommended circumcision. Both complainants are also involved in civil actions against Shine.
2019-01-21 · Dublin
Richard Rattigan, 39, of Cooley Road, Drimnagh, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of Zopiclone and Alprazolam for sale or supply at his home on 27 September 2017. Gardaí found 40,344 tablets with a street value of €80,688 after a warrant search. Rattigan admitted owning about 27,000 tablets, paid roughly €2,000 for them, and had no prescription. He claimed the €1,370 cash seized during the raid came from gambling, work and "nixing". He expressed remorse in a letter to the court and described himself as being in a "dark place". Judge Melanie Greally, noting his admissions, guilty plea, and family support, sentenced him to four years' imprisonment. The sentence reflected his lack of prior similar convictions and his current employment and care for his daughters. The case was presented as a step‑up offence for Rattigan.
2019-01-21 · Dublin
Michael Lynch, aged 34, was given a fresh three‑year prison sentence, with no suspended portion, for burglary of a house on Newbridge Avenue, Dublin 4, where a medical surgery was located in the basement. The burglary took place on 26 February 2017 while Lynch was on temporary release for other charges. He entered the house, confronted the occupants, stole a handbag, and locked the injured party inside her bedroom. The husband, a doctor, pursued Lynch and called the Gardaí, who later identified him after he discarded a wallet taken from the house. Lynch had already completed the custodial part of his previous sentence and had 27 charges pending appeal. The Court of Appeal, hearing an application from the Director of Public Prosecutions, imposed the new sentence, citing Lynch's extensive criminal record of 121 convictions, including 16 burglaries, seven thefts, two robberies, one assault and 56 traffic offences. Michael Lynch pleaded guilty.
2019-01-18 · Dublin
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Tony Carrick, aged 41, received a partially suspended sentence for robbing Aoife O'Reilly at a Finglas petrol station. Carrick demanded the time, seized her wallet, and fled in a car. O'Reilly chased him, ending half inside and half outside the vehicle. The driver shouted threats and punched her, while Carrick threatened to kill her if she left. The driver drove 200 yards with O'Reilly's legs dangling, then forced her out and left. Carrick, already serving a five‑and‑a‑half‑year term for burglaries and an attempted car‑jacking, pleaded guilty to robbery and endangerment on 13 December 2016. Judge Karen O'Connor added the new sentence to run consecutively, bringing his total to eight years, with the final two‑and‑a‑half years suspended. The driver involved in both incidents is now deceased. Carrick's 110 prior convictions include assault, burglary, robbery and unlawful possession of ammunition.
2019-01-18 · Dublin
The trial of retired surgeon Michael Shine, 86, accused of indecently assaulting seven boys during medical examinations at Our Lady of Lourdes hospital in Drogheda and two private clinics, has been adjourned because a juror is unavailable. Shine pleaded not guilty to thirteen charges. The case will resume next Monday before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury.
2019-01-18 · Dublin
Barry Grogan, a 38‑year‑old truck driver from Kilbarrack, pleaded guilty to careless driving that caused the death of Martina Loughlin on the M50 near Lucan on 11 November 2015. The court found that Loughlin's car had broken down and was stopped on the motorway, and that Grogan's Volvo lorry struck her vehicle, sending it 60 metres forward. A second vehicle collided with Loughlin's car seven seconds later. Loughlin was pronounced dead on 14 November 2015. Grogan was sentenced to one year's imprisonment, the whole term suspended for one year on the condition that he keep the peace and behave well. He was also disqualified from driving for four years, effective 18 March. The judge noted Grogan's guilty plea, cooperation, voluntary statement, lack of prior convictions, good employment record and remorse. No other charges were brought against Grogan.
2019-01-17 · Dublin
Michael Connors, aged 25, was sentenced later this month for escaping custody at Tallaght Hospital on 10 November 2017 after a fellow inmate bit him on the ear, and for escaping custody at Tallaght Garda Station on 20 April 2018. He also pleaded guilty to unlawfully possessing two stolen cars on 19 and 27 April last year, and to four counts of producing a hammer and possessing stolen property. Gardaí found stolen car keys and an RF radio signal jammer at his home. Connors had 38 previous convictions, including 13 for burglary, and had a history of drug use and self‑harm. He apologized to the court and expressed a desire to turn his life around and work as a gardener. The case was adjourned for sentencing next Tuesday.
2019-01-17 · Louth
The trial of Dr Michael Shine, 86, began at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 17 January 2019. He faces thirteen charges of indecent assault alleged to have occurred during medical examinations at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda and two private clinics. The first complainant, a 15‑year‑old patient, testified that after a finger surgery in 1988 he was asked to stand in the examination room, where Shine groped his genitals while resting his head on the boy's chest. The boy described feeling terrified and confused, and that Shine's breathing became "creepy." A second complainant, 13 at the time of a testicular surgery in 1985, recounted that Shine examined a scar on his scrotum, then touched his penis and moved the foreskin, leaving him confused. Both complainants said they later brought a third party to subsequent appointments. The case is set to continue before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury. Michael Shine pleaded not guilty.
2019-01-17 · Dublin
Michael Jones, a 25‑year‑old roofer from Dublin, was found guilty of dangerous driving causing the death of Hong Qing Qu in a collision on Blanchardstown Road on 17 November 2015. Jones had broken a red light and was travelling between 115 km/h and 137 km/h, well above the 60 km/h limit. He pleaded not guilty, but a jury convicted him in December 2016. Judge Patricia Ryan sentenced him to five years' imprisonment, back‑dating the term to 19 December 2015, the day he entered custody, and disqualified him from driving for life. The sentence reflected Jones' admission of driving the Audi, his lack of prior convictions, his young age, his remorse, and the fact that he was injured in the crash. The court also considered the victim impact statement from Mr Qu's widow, who described the loss of her husband and the effect on their children.
2019-01-16 · Dublin
In a 2019 assault case, 21‑year‑old Aaron Nolan of The Glen Woodpark, Ballinteer, was charged with assaulting his then‑19‑year‑old girlfriend on 5 November 2017. Garda Ronan Goggin described how Nolan punched, kicked, and dragged the woman across a green area and down laneways, pulling clumps of hair and destroying her handbag. He allegedly acted on a "baseless" belief that she was texting another man, and became increasingly violent when she denied it. The attack left her with a burst eardrum, swollen face, blood‑matted hair, and severe pain, leading to vomiting for a night. The victim, who suffered post‑traumatic stress, depression, neck pain, and hearing loss, did not speak about the incident. Nolan admitted intoxication, expressed remorse, and claimed love for the woman. He was remanded in custody, with the case adjourned to April for a defence plea in mitigation. Aaron Nolan pleaded guilty.
2019-01-16 · Dublin
Geoffrey Cotter, 48, received a suspended two‑year prison sentence after he punched taxi driver David Carey unconscious during a parking dispute in Dublin. Cotter, who was on a lunch break delivering oil, parked in a taxi rank and, when Carey asked him to move, told him to "fuck off" and threatened to punch any taxi driver who clamped him. He then entered Carey's car, removed his top, and began punching the driver, causing bruising and unconsciousness. CCTV footage showed the assault. Cotter admitted assault causing harm and was ordered to pay €3,000 to his solicitor as a token of remorse, to be given to charity if Carey declined. The court noted Carey's recovery and ongoing anxiety, and Cotter's prior convictions for dangerous driving and assault. Judge Martin Nolan described the attack as unprovoked and suspended the sentence on the condition of good behaviour.
2019-01-15 · Dublin
Alan Behan, 27, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to robbing 87‑year‑old Robert Lynch of €2,500 on 26 August 2016 outside a Bank of Ireland branch in Walkinstown. Lynch had withdrawn the money from an ATM, and Behan seized it as Lynch tried to protect his cash, causing Lynch to fall and suffer a small arm cut. Behan was identified on CCTV and arrested months later. He has 17 prior convictions. The judge, Karen O'Connor, sentenced him to four years' imprisonment, fully suspended. Behan, suffering from bipolar disorder and a manic episode, had not taken his medication and was under the influence of cannabis and other drugs at the time. He apologized to Lynch, who accepted his apology, and agreed to pay €600 in compensation. The court noted Behan's remorse and his living situation in temporary accommodation with his partner and three children. The sentence was suspended in full.
2019-01-15 · Dublin
Garrett Hanley, 33, of Oliver Bond House, Dublin, was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to four and a half years' imprisonment for possessing heroin worth €77,301 and cannabis worth €2,100 at his home on 12 May 2015. The heroin was discovered in a gas main after a Garda surveillance operation, while the cannabis was found in a wheelie bin. Hanley had five prior convictions, including a five‑year term for possessing €292,707 worth of heroin in August 2010, from which he was released in February 2013. Judge Karen O'Connor suspended the final 18 months of the sentence, citing that Hanley had not attracted Garda attention since his arrest and that he had held the drugs to repay a debt. She imposed the custodial sentence because Hanley had assisted in supplying drugs to society, and ordered him to engage with the Probation Service and attend any recommended addiction and mental health services upon release. Garrett Hanley pleaded guilty.
2019-01-15 · Dublin
Nan Wu, 37, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to controlling and directing prostitution for gain in 2015. Judge Elma Sheahan sentenced her to two years imprisonment, fully suspended for three years on condition of good behaviour. Wu owned massage parlours in Dublin, including one in Olivemount, where a Garda obtained a search warrant and found a naked woman and man in a treatment room. Wu admitted knowledge of sex acts for money and that a second parlour operated similarly. Defence argued no coercion and that Wu believed the acts were legal, with employees learning from others. Wu had no prior convictions, lives with two children, and is originally from Dalian, China. The Criminal Assets Bureau is also pursuing proceedings against her.
2019-01-14 · Dublin
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Stefan Boyle, aged 31, was sentenced to two and a half years in prison for an aggravated burglary at Ali Hussain House, Milltown Bridge, Dundrum, on 2 November 2016. Boyle, who has 110 prior convictions including 63 for burglary and a history of drug and alcohol addiction, broke into a mosque with a knife, stole two phones from caretaker Ali Yassine's bedroom, and later returned them after a chance encounter. Yassine, who did not realise the theft until after Boyle left, later met Boyle again, who handed back the phones and apologised. Boyle pleaded guilty, and Judge Karen O'Connor noted his chaotic background and failure to complete a residential drug treatment programme. The judge imposed a three and a half year sentence with the final 12 months suspended, citing the Probation Service's inability to supervise him.
2019-01-14 · Dublin
Joseph O'Connor, a 58‑year‑old former Garda from west Dublin, was convicted in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of four counts of possession of child pornography. The evidence came from a laptop seized in August 2011 during an investigation of an alleged assault. The laptop's recycle bin contained videos of boys under ten and under 17 being sexually abused, and 16 images of children in sexual situations. A jury acquitted him of a fifth count involving 56 duplicate images. O'Connor, who had served 25 years as a Garda before his 2012 suspension, denied knowing the material and claimed it was corrupted by a visitor. The case was delayed by an unrelated assault investigation. He has been added to the register of sex offenders, and sentencing was adjourned to 15 February to allow a psychologist's report to be considered. The maximum penalty is a €5,000 fine or five years' imprisonment. Joseph O'Connor pleaded not guilty.
2019-01-14 · Dublin
Michael Jones (25), a roofer from Whitestown Drive, Dublin, pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of Hong Qing Qu at Blanchardstown Road South on November 17, 2015. The jury returned a guilty verdict on day nine of his trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court last December 19, after deliberating for just over two and a half hours. In her victim impact statement, Mr Qu's widow expressed the profound impact of her husband's death on her family, including her children who are too young to understand death. She stated that her husband's parents had not seen their son in ten years by the time they saw him lying dead in the hospital. She asked the court to picture an old man shouting and screaming at his son to wake up. She said she wanted justice and for the law in Ireland to be seen as truthful, with the person who made the mistake taking responsibility. After reading her statement, she held up a photo of her husband to Jones and shouted that she wanted him to see how young Mr Qu had been at the time of his death. Sergeant Stephen Byrne told Dominic McGinn SC, prosecuting, that Mr Qu was driving home from work when his car was struck by an Audi A3 driven by Jones. Mr Qu sustained serious injuries and was brought to James Connolly Hospital in Dublin where he was pronounced dead. Sgt Byrne said that gardaí were able to determine that Jones had driven through a red light and had been travelling between 115km/h and 137km/h at the point of collision. The speed limit of roads in the area was 60km/h, the court heard. Jones was taken from the scene by men who put him into a Volkswagen Passat and drove him to a hospital, where they left him lying on the ground. Jones gave a false name and said he had injured his leg in a fall. Padraig Dwyer SC, defending, said his client wished to express his remorse for his actions. Mr Dwyer submitted that this case fell in the medium range of offending and that a term of imprisonment of four or five years would be appropriate. Jones has no previous convictions. Judge Patricia Ryan adjourned the matter for finalisation this Thursday, January 17.
2019-01-11 · Dublin
A 24‑year‑old man, Gamiya Muftau, will be sentenced later for his role in a €350,000 fraud that stole money from Maynooth University. In summer 2015, university staff paid a contractor, Rhatigans, into a fraudulent account after a phone call from someone claiming to be from the firm. The university transferred €362,810 to the fake account, which was then moved through 15 transactions to several accounts, one belonging to Muftau. He pleaded guilty to possessing €18,100 as proceeds of crime at AIB, Capel Street, on 25 August 2015. Muftau was arrested in December 2016, gave false addresses, and later admitted he was squatting. He claimed he was unaware the money was stolen and had no access to it. He has seven prior convictions, mainly traffic offences. Judge Melanie Greally ordered a probation report and adjourned sentencing to 14 March.
2018-12-21 · Dublin
A 17‑year‑old, who cannot be named under the Children Act, was sentenced to two years' detention for firing a stolen Winchester Super Grade 12‑gauge double‑barrel shotgun into bushes along the Grand Canal in Dublin. The youth, who had pleaded guilty to possessing the stolen firearm and 39 cartridges on 31 August, admitted he fired the gun because he was "bored and 17 years of age." Gardaí had observed him raising the gun in front of CCTV cameras, pursued him, and seized the weapon and ammunition. The gun had been stolen from its owner's unlocked car a month earlier. The defendant has 40 prior convictions, including assault, robbery, drug misuse, theft and criminal damage. The judge, noting his young age, immaturity and difficult upbringing, set a headline sentence of six years but, under the Children Act, imposed a two‑year detention followed by two years of probation with conditions on addiction, training and employment.
2018-12-21 · Dublin
A 62-year-old British man has been sentenced to four years imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, with the final 12 months suspended, for possession of nearly 150,000 prescription sleeping tablets valued at approximately €298,000. Michael Hall, from Bedfordshire in England, pleaded guilty to possessing Zopiclone tablets for supply on August 16, 2014, at the Regency Hotel in Drumcondra. He was arrested following a garda surveillance operation in Dublin four years prior. The court heard that Hall and two co-accused were observed transferring boxes of tablets between vehicles in a carpark before leaving in convoy. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a headline sentence of six years but reduced it due to mitigating factors, including Hall's significant health issues. She also imposed a ten-year ban on his return to the Republic of Ireland following release. The judge noted that whilst Zopiclone was not a controlled substance at the time of the offence, it has since become controlled due to its appeal among people with drug addiction.
2018-12-21 · Dublin
An English national, Simon Cummins, aged 49, was convicted in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for stabbing Thomas McCarthy in the neck with a Leatherman multi‑tool on 22 April 2018. Cummins claimed he had been robbed and was experiencing a psychotic episode while under the influence of alcohol and drugs. He pleaded guilty, citing a previous public‑order conviction in Ireland (2007) and 64 convictions in the UK, ten of which were assault‑related. The court noted that McCarthy was taken to hospital, sutured, and made no victim impact statement. Judge Martin Nolan, after considering Cummins' early guilty plea, remorse, and the need for treatment, imposed a three‑year sentence suspended in full. The sentence is conditional on Cummins leaving Ireland immediately and not returning for five years. Cummins' family, present in court, expressed a desire to take him back to England for community‑based care.
2018-12-21 · Dublin
Brendan Heaney, a 51‑year‑old father of two from Kimmage, Dublin, was arrested after gardaí discovered a large quantity of drugs in his home, including 395 g of heroin and numerous pharmaceutical tablets. He claimed that the drugs were stored to protect his daughter, a recovering crack cocaine addict who had accrued €26,000 in debts to a Finglas‑based drug gang. According to Heaney, the gang threatened to kill his daughter and had previously threatened to slash her face. He said he had no intention of profiting from the drugs and that he had only stored them to prevent harm to his daughter. He pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 4 April 2017. Judge Martin Nolan accepted that Heaney's circumstances had forced him into the offence, noted his prior five‑year UK sentence, and imposed a 16‑month prison term.
2018-12-21 · Dublin
James Jack, aged 20, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after an incident on Custom House Quay on 6 February 2016. He was 17 at the time of the assault, which involved three men who were trying to stop vandalism of public rental bikes. Jack joined the attack after a phone call and was seen on CCTV throwing punches and kicks. One victim, Markus Thomas, suffered a fractured left eye socket and a tear to his right shoulder, though the article does not state who inflicted the injuries. Jack had no prior convictions and had not been involved with Gardaí since. Judge Karen O'Connor imposed an 18‑month probation bond, noting aggravating factors such as the vandalism and Jack's violent behaviour, and mitigating factors including his guilty plea, youth and cooperation with CCTV evidence. The judge urged Jack to learn from the incident and move on.
2018-12-21 · Dublin
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 21 December 2018, a 29‑year‑old Latvian national, Olgerts Romanovs, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm outside a synagogue on Rathfarnham Road, Terenure, Dublin, on 1 September 2018. Romanovs, who had no fixed abode and was living in a tent in St Stephen's Green, had cycled down the footpath and spat at a security guard. After the guard challenged him verbally, Romanovs threw his bike, approached the guard aggressively, spat in his face, threatened to kill him with a spanner, and then pulled a silver kitchen fork from his bag and hurled it at the guard. The fork lodged in the side of the guard's head, causing a deep wound that required stitches. Garda Brian Greally later arrested Romanovs after witnesses were interviewed. The judge, Cormac Quinn, sentenced Romanovs to fourteen months' imprisonment, backdating the term to the day he first entered custody in September 2018.
2018-12-21 · Dublin
Greg Walsh, 70, of Castleknock, pleaded guilty to 119 thefts totalling €998,476 from Carline Learning Centre and other parties between 2008 and 2016, and to four thefts totalling €150,000 from Bank of Ireland in 2015. He misappropriated charity funds to pay tax bills and used money from friends and relatives as a tax agent, failing to forward revenue payments. The court heard victims suffered losses of €10,000 and €14,138, and civil proceedings were initiated by two brothers over a €150,000 debt. Judge Pauline Codd sentenced him to four years' imprisonment, suspending the final two and a half years on the condition of good behaviour for two and a half years after release. The sentence reflected the multiplicity of offences, breach of trust, duration of conduct, and the amount stolen, while noting his guilty pleas, cooperation, and health issues as mitigating factors.
2018-12-20 · Dublin
In a case heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, a vulnerable homeless man, Darren Larkin, 32, pleaded guilty to assaulting a motorist, Ms. January Russell, on the N11 Stillorgan on 8 March 2018. Larkin threw a large rock through her passenger window, shattering the glass and striking her arm, causing bruising and forcing her to pull over. He also pleaded guilty to assaulting Mark O'Donoghue on Old Dublin Road and Dan O'Donovan at a McDonald's outlet on the same day, and to damaging a glass window at the McDonald's. Larkin, who had been sleeping in a church car park and had been allowed to use the McDonald's washroom for months, also threw a full can of beer and a tray at O'Donovan, then attempted to pick up a till before being locked out. He later threw a brick through a parked car's window and punched O'Donoghue.
2018-12-20 · Dublin
Eve Doherty, 50, was found guilty by a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of harassing State solicitor Elizabeth Howlin between September 2011 and March 2013 by sending abusive letters and emails. She was convicted of harassing a State solicitor and was sentenced to three years imprisonment in January 2018. Doherty was found not guilty on two counts of making false statements in March 2012, where she claimed Ms Howlin was perverting the course of justice. She has appealed her conviction on more than a dozen grounds, including that the State retained her data under the Communications (Retention of Data) Act 2011, which she argues was "doomed" under EU law. The Court of Appeal has reserved its judgement. The appeal focuses on the legality of the data used by the prosecution and the alleged breach of EU privacy directives. The case remains at the appeal stage, with no further outcome announced.