Daniel Wildes, aged 32, was found guilty of assault causing harm after attacking Natasha Cummins on 1 April 2018. He threatened to shave her head, kicked down a bathroom door, and choked her while she was locked in the bathroom. A jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict for assault causing harm and not guilty verdicts for threats to kill and false imprisonment. Judge Patricia Ryan sentenced Wildes to four years' imprisonment, suspending the final year on the condition that he keep the peace and be of good behaviour for three years post‑release. The suspended year was also conditioned on Wildes staying away from Ms Cummins, her property and place of employment for 30 years, and on him not contacting her or having anyone contact her on his behalf. The sentence was back‑dated to 12 April 2018, when Wildes entered custody.
Darren Mullarney, 41, of Fortlawn Park, Blanchardstown, was sentenced by Judge Melanie Greally at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to five years' imprisonment for unlawful possession of a sawn‑off shotgun. The gun, loaded with two cartridges, was found in his bedroom wardrobe during a Garda search on 25 May 2018. Mullarney pleaded guilty and claimed he kept the weapon because of a "real threat to his life" from a serious member of the criminal fraternity, citing a prior shooting on 8 May in which he was wounded. The judge accepted the prosecution's statement of threat, set a headline sentence of seven years, but suspended the final 18 months, citing mitigating factors such as Mullarney's cooperation, early plea and insight into the seriousness of his offence. The sentence was back‑dated to 25 May 2018, when he entered custody.
Alan McDonagh, 33, was caught driving a stolen Europcar that had a tracking device. He pleaded guilty to burglary and unauthorised taking of a car on Camden Street Upper on 8 September 2017 and to robbing a young woman of her purse at Stephen's Green East on 3 November 2017. The court noted he became addicted to heroin at 16, has spent over half his life in custody, and has 173 previous convictions, 13 for Circuit Court offences. He is on bail for other offences. The court adjourned sentencing to 7 February to allow him to finish methadone treatment. He has requested to serve his sentence at Midlands prison to stay near family and avoid influences at Mountjoy. He has written apology letters to both victims. The sentencing will occur on 7 February.
Michael Cummins, aged 32, of Applewood Avenue, Swords, pleaded guilty to stealing an iPhone, making a threat to kill, burglary, false imprisonment and assault in Swords on 9 August 2017. He threatened to pour acid into a boy's eye and to blow up their house, actions that occurred during a drug‑induced paranoid episode. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court sentenced him to two years' imprisonment on 27 February 2018. The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed, arguing the sentence was unduly lenient. The Court of Appeal added a two‑year suspended sentence, to be applied upon his release. Cummins' final net sentence is four years' imprisonment, with the last two years suspended. The case involved two teenage boys, aged 13 and 15, who were falsely imprisoned and threatened with violence. The Court noted Cummins' 230 prior convictions and the serious nature of the offence, including a racial element. The suspended sentence will be activated if he reoffends.
Alan Ellis, 26, of Rathmines, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to threatening to kill or seriously harm a prison officer and to producing a blade during a dispute at Mountjoy Prison on 28 June 2016. He attempted to slice the officer's wrist with a blade moulded into a toothbrush handle while the officer was handing him toilet paper. Ellis claimed he had decided to "get" the officer because he was disrespectful and intended to slice his wrist, but later expressed guilt. He has 35 prior convictions, including assault on a peace officer, false imprisonment, burglary, theft, trespass and possession of knives. Judge Patricia Ryan sentenced him to four years' imprisonment, suspending the final year on the condition that he keep the peace and be of good behaviour for three years after release. The sentence was back‑dated to 21 July 2017, the date he entered custody for this matter.
A 21‑year‑old Dublin man was sentenced to two and a half years' imprisonment for having sex with a 14‑year‑old neighbour. The offence occurred between 1 and 24 July 2014. The man pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He has 47 prior convictions for assault, drug offences, false imprisonment, criminal damage and road traffic matters. Judge Martina Baxter sentenced him to two and a half years, suspending the final six months on strict conditions. He must engage with the Probation Service for two years after release, keep the service informed of his address, and participate in any sex‑offender treatment programmes and addiction counselling recommended. The victim, aged 14, reported the incident to her school chaplain, who notified her family and Gardaí. She suffered depression, attempted suicide, and had to give up school, but her condition has improved with treatment.
In a 2016 incident at Concord Pub, three men—Joseph Crabbe (33), Dean McDonnell (29), and Thomas Smith (36)—were charged with violent disorder after a bar fight that involved throwing stools, snooker balls, and glasses. All pleaded guilty. Judge Patricia Ryan sentenced each to two and a half years' imprisonment, suspending the full terms on the condition that they keep the peace and behave well for two years. Crabbe had 26 prior convictions, McDonnell nine, and Smith five. Garda Kevin Farrell presented CCTV footage showing each man's involvement: Crabbe lifting a table and throwing objects, McDonnell throwing a pint glass and a stool before using a pool cue, and Smith striking someone with a stool and tossing a snooker ball. The judge praised the bar manager for preventing the situation from worsening. No further police action has been taken against the men since the incident.
A 44‑year‑old former Croatian café worker, Mario Hanzic Broz, was found homeless after his work hours were cut, leading to a court hearing in Dublin. Broz attempted to rob two post offices in May 2018, carrying a 6mm air pistol. In the first incident at Botanic Road Post Office, he entered the building, shouted for money, but left without taking any cash. The elderly postmaster, aware of firearms from past robberies, could not see him on CCTV and later discovered he was gone. Two days later, at Berkeley Road Post Office, Broz approached a cashier, produced the pistol from a plastic bag, demanded money, then turned around and fled. Gardaí arrived after the panic button was pressed, and Broz was arrested at Blessington Street Basin. He pleaded guilty to attempted robbery and possession of an air pistol at both locations, with no prior convictions in Ireland.
Michael Jones, a 24‑year‑old roofer from Whitestown Drive, was found guilty of dangerous driving causing the death of Hong Qing Qu, a father of two, at Blanchardstown Road South on 17 November 2015. Jones drove an Audi A3 that broke a red light at a speed estimated between 115 km/h and 137 km/h, well above the 60 km/h limit, and collided with Qu's Mitsubishi Colt. The collision occurred around 1 am near the top of a slip road close to Blanchardstown shopping centre. Witnesses described the Audi's occupants being dragged from the vehicle and placed in a Volkswagen Passat after the crash. Qu was found in the passenger seat of his own car, choking on his blood, and later died. The jury returned a guilty verdict after just over two and a half hours of deliberation. Judge Patricia Ryan remanded Jones to custody and set a sentencing date for 14 January of the following year. Michael Jones pleaded not guilty.
James Ahearne, 49, pleaded guilty to assaulting his brother Mark Ahearne, who he was caring for, on three occasions in August and September 2017. The assaults resulted in Mark's fractured arm and bruising on his ribs. Mark withdrew his complaint in October 2017. Judge Melanie Greally, noting Mark's significant psychiatric condition and the context of caregiver stress, imposed an 18‑month suspended sentence on James, fully suspended on the condition that he seek any support he requires as a carer. She also ordered 12 months of supervision with the Probation Service and required James to accept all assistance offered for his employment and accommodation needs. No jail time was imposed. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Paddy McCarthy, 35, pleaded guilty to assaulting former cabin crew member Glen Verdun on 30 July 2016 at a Subway store in Dublin. McCarthy, intoxicated, entered the store early in the morning, shouted at Verdun when the latter asked for space, was escorted out, returned, and punched Verdun on the right side of his face. The blow caused Verdun to fall and sustain a broken eye socket, leading to permanent vision impairment, double vision, and the loss of his pilot career. McCarthy had no prior convictions. Judge Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin, noting the single punch and McCarthy's remorse, imposed 240 hours of community service instead of a prison term. Verdun suffered surgery, an eight‑month sick leave from Ryanair, and a €9,000 financial loss. McCarthy had raised €15,000 in compensation for Verdun. The court heard McCarthy's father had been a disciplinarian and that McCarthy had been caring for him at the time of the incident.
Tony Walsh, aged 64, was sentenced by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to five years' imprisonment for indecently assaulting a teenage boy in 1983. The sentence was partially suspended: the final 18 months were suspended for two years on the condition that Walsh keep the peace, behave well and engage with probation services after release. Walsh, a former "Singing Priest" from North Circular Road, Dublin, has 14 prior sex‑related convictions from the mid‑1970s to the mid‑1980s, including a seven‑and‑a‑half‑year term for raping another boy three times in the 1980s. He pleaded guilty, and the judge noted aggravating factors such as the seriousness of the offence, the victim's age and the breach of trust, while mitigating factors included his guilty plea, age, apology and prior 13‑year imprisonment. The sentence was back‑dated to 17 July, the day Walsh entered his plea.
Alice Byrne, 44, of Ashtown, Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to four years in prison for assault causing harm. She pleaded guilty to attacking Sandra Comer outside James Connolly Hospital on August 13, 2017. Judge Pauline Codd suspended the final 12 months of the sentence. Byrne also pleaded guilty to trespass and criminal damage at Clonshaugh Road, Coolock, on October 1, 2015, for which she received a nine-month prison sentence backdated to December. The court heard that Byrne directed her son, Josh Byrne, and two other men to smash windows and contents at the Halligan household in Coolock on the same date. Josh Byrne, 23, pleaded guilty to burglary and criminal damage. He received a two-year fully suspended sentence on the condition that he engage with the Probation Service. The victim, Ms. Comer, suffered nerve damage, facial disfigurement, and psychological trauma, describing the attacker as having "Incredible Hulk" strength. The court noted that Byrne had previously been involved in an argument with the Halligan family prior to the property damage incident.
Patrick Sherry, 32, of Ventry Park, Cabra, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to attempting to obtain a €171,000 mortgage by submitting false documentation between 8 June and 8 August 2015. He had paid a €19,000 deposit when contracts were exchanged, but the mortgage did not materialise and the sale fell through, leaving him with a financial loss. The court considered additional charges of possessing and using false documents to support the application. Judge Melanie Greally, after hearing evidence, imposed 240 hours of community service within 12 months instead of a two‑year prison term, noting Sherry's remorse and the lack of loss to the bank. The case was adjourned last October and concluded with the community service order.
Alan Kenny, 26, of Islandbridge, Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to being in possession of €106,950 believed to be the proceeds of criminal conduct on January 12, 2017. Judge Melanie Greally ordered Kenny to carry out 240 hours of community service within 12 months in lieu of a four-year prison sentence. The court heard that Kenny, who has no previous convictions, claimed he was coerced into holding the cash after being threatened that he would be murdered like his cousin, James Kenny McDonagh, whose body was found in the Dublin Mountains in 2012. Prosecution evidence indicated that Gardaí found the cash, a weighing scale, and a taser-type firearm in Kenny's bedroom during a search. Defence counsel Matthias Kelly SC argued that Kenny was holding the money for another person and that the firearm belonged to his late cousin. Judge Greally noted a probation report stating Kenny had tackled his risk factors, addressed drug addictions, and secured stable employment and relationships. She described his circumstances as an "extremely significant turnaround," resulting in the suspended prison term being replaced by the community service order.
The trial of 24‑year‑old Michael Jones, a professional roofer, is hearing allegations that he was driving an Audi A3 at more than double the speed limit when it collided with a Mitsubishi Colt driven by Hong Qing Qu. The fatal collision occurred at about 1 a.m. on 17 November 2015 near Blanchardstown shopping centre, on a slip road where the speed limit is 60 km/h. Garda Patrick McIlroy presented evidence that the Audi was travelling between 115 km/h and 137 km/h before impact, based on the angle of collision and damage patterns. He noted that the front of the Audi struck the side of the Colt, with the Audi's front heavily damaged while the rest of the car remained relatively intact. Garda Alex McDermott‑Roe reported that Jones confirmed ownership of the Audi but denied driving it at the time. The case is proceeding before Judge Patricia Ryan and a jury. Michael Jones pleaded not guilty.
A jury convicted Garda Warren Farrell, 35, of careless driving causing the death of 75‑year‑old Elizabeth Core in August 2014. Farrell, a patrol officer in Clondalkin, was driving a marked car responding to a panic button call at a Topaz garage when it struck Core on Fonthill Road South. He pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving causing death. Judge Cormac Quinn explained that careless driving is below the standard of care expected of a competent driver, creating a risk of harm. After four hours of deliberation, the jury of six men and six women returned a majority verdict of guilty on careless driving. Farrell was remanded on continuing bail until February 22 for sentencing. The Core family attended the trial and accepted the court's schedule. The prosecution sought time to prepare victim impact statements, which the judge granted.
Owen McKeever, 63, of Crumlin, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to fraudulently claiming over €40,000 of Jobseeker's Allowance in his brother Brendan's name between 2009 and 2013. He was also making a legitimate claim in his own name at the time. The court, after receiving signed guilty pleas for 50 counts of social welfare fraud, imposed 200 hours of community service to be completed over 12 months, instead of a prison sentence of two years and three months. The fraud was uncovered through facial imaging technology introduced in 2013, which matched McKeever's photograph with one purporting to be his brother's. McKeever admitted the fraud, stating "I put my hands up," and accepted the €41,871 loss to the Exchequer. He had already paid €4,700 to revenue and an additional €3,500 to his solicitor for repayment.
Matthew Ellis, 38, was sentenced to three and a half years in prison, with the final 12 months suspended, after pleading guilty to threatening to kill a shop security guard. The incident occurred on 26 October 2017 at Spa Road, Inchicore, when Ellis, holding five bullets between his teeth, told the guard he would return after finishing his pizza to kill him. He also called the guard a "garda informer" and claimed ownership of Inchicore. Gardaí intervened, confiscated the bullets, and Ellis was taken into custody. He had 71 prior convictions, including assault, burglary, knife possession, drug dealing and robbery. Ellis's defence cited his intoxication, a perceived slight over shop entry, and his history of drug addiction. The judge noted his guilty plea, remorse, poor physical and fragile mental health, and previous drug‑treatment efforts, and accepted a €5,000 compensation from his family.
In a tragic incident on 28 July 2017, a six‑year‑old boy, Cian Marren, was struck and killed by a van driven by James O'Brien, who was later jailed for four years after pleading guilty to dangerous driving causing death. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, where Cian's father, Liam Marren, read a victim impact statement expressing profound grief yet offering forgiveness to O'Brien. He described the moment Cian stepped onto the road, the van's red‑light violation, and the fatal head injuries sustained. O'Brien, who had 32 prior convictions, was found to have been driving 10 km/h over the limit and had not seen the red light. The judge noted the severity of the offence, the child's innocence, and the family's extraordinary generosity of spirit, and sentenced O'Brien to four years in prison. The article focuses on the sentencing hearing and the family's response, without mentioning any subsequent legal developments.
A jury has begun deliberations in the trial of Garda Warren Farrell, 35, charged with dangerous driving causing the death of 75‑year‑old Elizabeth Core. Farrell, a patrol officer in Clondalkin, was driving a marked Garda car responding to a panic button call at a Topaz garage when it struck Core on Fonthill Road South on 28 August 2014. He pleaded not guilty. Judge Cormac Quinn told the jury they could convict on either dangerous driving causing death or careless driving causing death and that a unanimous verdict was required. On day six, the jury deliberated for an hour before leaving for the night. Prosecutor James Dwyer argued that Farrell had seen Core from 200 m away, failed to brake until 10–13 m before impact, and continued at 56–58 km/h on a 50 km/h road, constituting dangerous driving.
Michael Jones, 25, was accused of causing a fatal collision on 17 November 2015 near Blanchardstown. He was driving an Audi A3 that allegedly ran a red light and struck a Mitsubishi Colt driven by Hong Qing Qu. Jones pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving causing death. After the crash, he was admitted to James Connolly Hospital where he gave a false name, Michael McDonagh, and claimed he had injured his leg in a fall. A nurse attempted to lift him but his ankle was limp. Jones told investigators he had not left the scene, had collapsed, and was carried to the hospital by friends. He also said he had worn an orange jacket that was removed by his friends. The trial is ongoing before Judge Patricia Ryan and a jury.
In a December 2017 incident, Lithuanian man Arturas Bulksas (55) stabbed his housemate in the torso, neck and ear during a domestic dispute at his Santry home. Bulksas, who had no prior convictions, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He admitted using a kitchen knife after drinking a bottle of vodka. The victim spent two days in hospital but declined a victim impact statement or medical report. Bulksas claimed he was leaving the country and wanted no further involvement. The court noted the injuries were not life‑threatening and that Bulksas had a good record and no family in Ireland. Judge Melanie Greally adjourned sentencing to February next year, ordering community service and probation reports, and highlighted the case's peculiarities and the likelihood of a custodial sentence given the injuries.
A 37‑year‑old man was sentenced by a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court jury to four years' imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended, for sexually assaulting his 15‑year‑old daughter while she was napping in a bed he shared with his partner. The court heard that the man had pleaded not guilty to one count of sexual assault at an address in Dublin on 26 July 2015, and that this was the second time the case had gone to trial. He had told Gardaí he was "groggy" when he went to bed with the two girls and had mistaken his daughter for his partner. The victim's impact report, read by Karl Finnegan BL, described how the girl had looked up to her father as a child, felt jealous of her friends' relationships with their fathers, and after the abuse felt dirty, could not sleep and found it hard to trust others. The unnamed 37-year-old was convicted.
In a fatal two‑car collision on 17 November 2015 near Blanchardstown, Michael Jones, a professional roofer, was driving an Audi A3 that allegedly ran a red light at speed and struck the side of a Mitsubishi Colt driven by Hong Qing Qu. Mr Qu, who was on his way home with his partner and two children, called his partner that night to say he was finished work and heading home. The partner reported that this was a routine call. Gardaí later arrived, informed her of the accident, and took her to the hospital where she identified Mr Qu's body. Dr Linda Mulligan, the deputy state pathologist, concluded that Mr Qu died from a severe head injury and multiple traumatic injuries to the right side, consistent with a side‑on collision. The unnamed man pleaded not guilty.
During a trial at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, defence expert Adrian Armstrong testified that Garda Warren Farrell, a 35‑year‑old patrol officer, could have avoided the fatal collision with Elizabeth Core if he had slowed his marked car when he first saw her crossing Fonthill Road South. Armstrong reviewed the 2016 collision report prepared by Garda Edward Davin, which estimated the vehicle's speed at impact to be between 56 and 58 km/h, above the 50 km/h speed limit. He noted that the windscreen damage suggested a speed closer to 50 km/h and that the distance Core was projected after impact could not be precisely measured, making the speed calculation uncertain. Armstrong argued that Farrell had less than 200 metres to react and that, even at a speed of 70 km/h, he would have had enough time to brake to a stop if he had acted earlier. Warren Farrell pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Corrie Grimes, 22, was found to have threatened a female Garda with violence at Ferrymans Crossing on 28 February 2017. Grimes, who initially denied the threat, later pleaded guilty and apologized. The incident involved Grimes approaching a patrol car with a clenched fist, shouting that he would "slit her throat" and "smash her face." The Garda, who had been on duty with a colleague, was present with her grandmother, Anne Grimes. Grimes had previously been convicted 11 times, nine for drug offences, and was in recovery from addiction. The court noted his lack of contact with the Garda since the incident and ordered a probation report to assess his rehabilitation efforts. He is scheduled for sentencing on 12 March 2025.
An apprentice electrician from Donaghmede has received a non-custodial sentence after pleading guilty to causing serious harm to a schoolmate at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Adam Clarke (20) punched the victim at a nightclub on Francis Street, Dublin 8, on 3 July 2016, in an incident motivated by jealousy. The assault left the injured party permanently deaf in one ear and hospitalised for five days with a complex head fracture. Judge Melanie Greally imposed 240 hours of community service in lieu of a three-year prison term and ordered Clarke to pay €10,000 compensation. The judge noted the victim's hearing loss has significantly impacted his academic progress, sporting ability, and career prospects. Clarke, who initially showed no remorse during garda interview, later visited the victim in hospital and expressed contrition. The court considered his youth, early guilty plea, lack of prior convictions, and a probation report indicating low re-offending risk when determining the sentence.
Sean O'Kelly, aged 24, admitted to endangering three generations of a family when he set two cars on fire in their driveway, forcing an 80‑year‑old woman, her granddaughter and a ten‑week‑old great‑grandson to seek refuge in the back garden. The heat from the blazing cars melted the front door shut, and the family feared they would have to choose between saving the infant or the grandmother if the house caught fire. O'Kelly also vandalised six other cars and stole items from them on the same night. He pleaded guilty to one count of endangerment, one count of robbery, two counts of burglary and six counts of criminal damage. Separately, he admitted arson of two cars in an underground carpark, causing an estimated €90,000 of damage, for which an insurance settlement of over €76,000 was later made. The court noted O'Kelly's 24 previous convictions, his rehabilitation from drug addiction, and his apology letters.
Otis Reynolds, 21, of Crumlin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assaulting Andrew Cummins causing him harm at Raphoe Road, Crumlin, on March 9, 2017. The court heard that Cummins had punched Reynolds during a fight 15 months prior. On the day of the incident, Cummins approached Reynolds' Ford Focus to apologise. Garda John Griffin testified that Cummins was struck by the vehicle, thrown into the air, and landed heavily on his right side, resulting in numbness in his left leg and soreness in his back. Reynolds, who has 16 previous convictions for theft, drugs, and traffic offences, was on bail for another charge at the time. He claimed he panicked and did not intend to hit Cummins, though he later retracted a claim that Cummins was about to strike him. Judge Martina Baxter suspended a two-year prison term on the condition that Reynolds keep the peace for two years. She also ordered him to complete 200 hours of community service over that period. Reynolds had raised €1,000 from his wages for Cummins as an expression of remorse. Defence counsel highlighted Reynolds' young age, his admissions, and his current plumbing apprenticeship.
In a hearing at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Alan Ellis, 26, pleaded guilty to threatening to kill a prison officer and producing a blade during a dispute at Mountjoy Prison on 28 June 2016. Ellis used a blade moulded into a toothbrush handle to strike the officer's wrist while the officer was delivering toilet paper. Ellis admitted he intended to slice the officer's wrist, saying "Fuck you, I'll chop you up," and later expressed guilt. The officer's victim impact statement described the assault as unnerving and left him shaken. Ellis has 35 prior convictions, including assault on a peace officer, false imprisonment, burglary, theft, trespass and possession of knives. He had been in solitary confinement for most of the last four years and was serving a sentence for false imprisonment at the time of the attack.
David Marcinkiewicz, a 34‑year‑old Polish man, was sentenced to six years in prison in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for a hit‑and‑run that left former kick‑boxing champion Padraic O'Hennraich with a fractured skull, severe lacerations and a life‑changing injury. The incident occurred on 19 June 2007 on the N4 Palmerstown Bypass when Marcinkiewicz, after an unprovoked fight at a petrol station, drove his car into a group of three men, causing a metal fragment to act as a scalpel and inflict serious wounds. Marcinkiewicz pleaded guilty to assaulting O'Hennraich and to two counts of endangerment involving Eoin Walsh and Daniel Byrne. He had previously fled Ireland in 2008, changed his identity in Poland in 2016, and was later tracked down and arrested in July of the current year. The judge imposed concurrent sentences of six years for the endangerment charges and four years for the assault, noting the severity of the offences.
Eve Doherty, a former detective sergeant, moved to appeal her conviction for harassing State solicitor Elizabeth Howlin. Doherty was found guilty by a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of sending abusive letters and emails to Ms Howlin between September 2011 and March 2013. She was found not guilty on two counts of making false statements. In January 2018, Judge Melanie Greally sentenced Doherty to three years imprisonment, describing the communications as containing outright and "scurrilous" lies. Doherty, who maintains her innocence, argued that the conviction should be overturned because the State retained technical evidence, including a static IP address and data from a Canadian server, under the Communications (Retention of Data) Act 2011. Her counsel, Michael O'Higgins SC, contended that this Act was "doomed" and breached EU law, which had been struck down by European Courts. He submitted that the trial judge erred in failing to exclude this evidence, as well as other documents and an email regarding the Garda Commissioner, citing privacy breaches and lack of authorship proof. The appeal panel, led by President George Birmingham, heard that the 2011 Act was the law of the land at the time of the alleged offences. The matter was adjourned, with the DPP's counsel, Kerida Naidoo SC, scheduled to make submissions on Thursday next.
A Dublin man, Robert Ward, aged 24, was sentenced to three years in prison for fraud after he altered a €11,321 cheque taken from a flooring company and attempted to lodge it at AIB on Swords Road, Santry, on 13 June 2014. He also admitted using a €5,221 cheque as a false instrument at an AIB branch on St Brigid's Road, Artane, on 12 May 2014. Gardaí arrested eight people in connection with the fraud offences. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced Ward to four years, suspended the final 12 months, and credited him for seven months already spent in custody. Ward had previously pleaded guilty to stealing a safe containing €500 from Teo's Takeaway in Coolock on 27 March 2017. He has 106 prior convictions, including 18 for theft and three for Circuit Court offences.
In a case heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, William Butler, aged 52, was sentenced to three years' custody for stealing €19,380 from the pension fund of a widow, Kathleen Carroll, who had let him stay at her home. Butler admitted taking the money over three months between November 2013 and January 2014, using her banking details to withdraw the funds from the Bank of Ireland. He had no prior convictions. Judge Karen O'Connor described Carroll's husband as having died months earlier and noted that Carroll was a vulnerable person who was preyed upon by Butler's regular withdrawals. Butler was given a full admission of guilt, pleaded guilty, and was ordered to undergo treatment programmes for gambling and alcohol if required. The judge suspended the final 12 months of the sentence and commended Carroll for her dignified conduct in court. The sentence was imposed with consideration of Butler's personal difficulties and the impact on his family and reputation.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Daniel Wildes, aged 32, was found guilty of assault causing harm after attacking former partner Natasha Cummins on 1 April 2018. The assault involved kicking down a bathroom door, grabbing Cummins' hair, throwing her around, kicking her back of the spine, and threatening to shave her head with an electric razor. Cummins suffered extensive bruising and reported possible concussion, flashbacks and nightmares. Wildes pleaded not guilty to additional charges of threats to kill and false imprisonment, and the jury returned not‑guilty verdicts on those charges. Wildes has 40 prior convictions, including two for assault causing harm. The judge adjourned the case to 20 December for finalisation. The court heard that Wildes had been babysitting their four children and had previously suggested Cummins get some sleep. The prosecution noted that Cummins found empty beer cans in her house after a night out.
In a 2014 fatal collision on Fonthill Road South, Dublin, Garda Warren Farrell (35) was driving a marked patrol car responding to a panic button call when he struck pedestrian Elizabeth Core. Farrell, who pleaded not guilty, told the Garda Ombudsman that the incident could have been avoided if Core had not accelerated her walking. He claimed he had deactivated the siren briefly, reactivated it, and observed Core crossing the road without reacting to the flashing blue lights or siren. Farrell said he applied brakes, entered the bus lane, and attempted to mount the curb, but the left tyre burst and the car struck Core, pushing her onto the windscreen. A forensic crash investigator estimated the impact speed at 56–58 km/h and noted heavy braking. The trial recorded Farrell's assertion that Core's unexpected behaviour caused the collision, but no further legal outcome was reported in the article.
Aaron Dawson, aged 23, was released from Swords Garda Station after being arrested for a public order offence and giving Gardaí a false name and address. Within an hour and a half of his release, he burglarised six nearby buildings within about 250 metres, leaving blood, fingerprints and documents bearing the false name he had supplied. The burglaries included Dillons Hair Salon, Zest, Abbey Travel, Havana Therapy and Pink Elephant Thai Restaurant. He damaged doors, took items such as an iPad, a watch and cash, and left his blood at the restaurant and fingerprints at the salon. The court heard he had been drinking heavily, up to two bottles of whiskey per day, and that no planning or disguise was involved. He pleaded guilty to eight burglary and criminal damage charges and was sentenced to three years, with two years suspended, to run consecutively to a term he is currently serving.
In a dangerous driving case, Garda Warren Farrell, 35, was charged with causing the death of pedestrian Elizabeth Core. The incident occurred on August 28, 2014, when Farrell was driving a marked patrol car responding to a panic button call at a Topaz garage. Garda Declan Bambrick, a passenger, testified that they were scanning for a suspect vehicle and that Core was stepping into the bus lane. Bambrick said he saw Core cross the road at a solid white line and that Farrell applied hard brakes, moving the car left into the bus lane. The car struck the kerb and hit Core, who was found on the ground with blood gushing from her mouth. Both Farrell and Bambrick were described as being in shock after the collision. The trial is proceeding before Judge Cormac Quinn with a jury of twelve. Warren Farrell pleaded not guilty.
An eye witness testified that a garda patrol car driven by Warren Farrell (35) struck and killed pedestrian Elizabeth Core on Fonthill Road South on 28 August 2014. Farrell, who has pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving causing death, was driving a marked patrol car responding to a panic button call at a Topaz garage when the collision occurred. Witness Alma Ozakauskiene described the road as curved and the car moving at high speed, noting she did not hear a siren or see lights. Geraldine Brown, who was on her mobile phone, observed Core crossing at a normal pace and saw the patrol car hit her, with no siren audible. The trial is ongoing before Judge Cormac Quinn and a jury.
An eye‑witness, Jean Fitzgerald, testified at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court that she believes the deceased, Michael Jones, was at fault for the fatal collision that killed Hong Qing Qu. Fitzgerald said she does not think Jones was guilty of dangerous driving and that Qu caused the accident. She had given two statements to Gardaí: the first, made three days after the crash, blamed Jones, but the second, given on Monday, blamed Qu. She claimed the Garda had altered her words, possibly to favour the defendant. Fitzgerald also recounted that she had climbed into Qu's car, held his head, and that he was unconscious. She explained that she signed the original statement under distress, citing PTSD and the traumatic experience of seeing Qu die in her arms. The trial continues with Judge Patricia Ryan and a jury.
In December 2018, a 35‑year‑old man was jailed for four years after pleading guilty to sexually assaulting his partner while she slept. The assault occurred on 14 April 2016 at a Dublin house, following earlier admissions of rape and attempted anal rape in 2010 and 2011. The victim, who has a nine‑year‑old child with the man, reported that the man had tried to initiate sex when she was unwell, but she resisted and later discovered her leggings had been pulled down and she was being assaulted. She had previously been raped by the same man and had learned that the safest response was "nothing." The court noted her vulnerability and past abusive relationships. The judge imposed a four‑year sentence, with the final 18 months suspended on conditions including probation, a sex‑offender treatment programme, and addressing alcohol and addiction issues. The victim is receiving treatment for post‑traumatic stress and social reclusion.
In a case heard at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Serena O'Leary, aged 43, pleaded guilty to assaulting Caroline Madden on 20 August 2016. O'Leary arrived at Madden's home the following morning, soaked and smelling of alcohol, and produced a nine‑inch knife after claiming Madden had said something to her partner. Madden managed to restrain O'Leary's arm, preventing a stab to her stomach, while O'Leary threatened her with death, punched her in the face and continued to threaten her until Madden's brother intervened and removed her from the premises. O'Leary, who has nine prior convictions for minor public‑order and traffic offences, was described by the detective as having suffered a low point in her life, including drug abuse and homelessness. The judge noted that no injuries were inflicted and adjourned sentencing to 28 March next year, ordering an updated Probation Service report. The case was presented by prosecutor Dean Kelly BL and defence counsel Bernard Condon SC.
During a trial for dangerous driving, witnesses described a fatal collision that occurred at 1 a.m. on 17 November 2015 near Blanchardstown. Michael Jones, driving an Audi A3, allegedly ran a red light and struck the side of a Mitsubishi Colt driven by Hong Qing Qu. The crash left Qu's body squashed between seats and choking on his own blood. Witnesses reported that after the impact, three men dragged Qu from the Audi and placed him in the back of a Volkswagen Passat, which was then driven away toward Corduff. Several observers, including Louise Murphy, Jean Fitzgerald, Claire Bruton and John Gannon, recounted seeing Qu in a severely injured state, with blood from his ears, nose and mouth, and described the chaotic removal of his body from the scene. The case remains before Judge Patricia Ryan and a jury.
Mazin Albaqir, 51, was sentenced to four years in prison with the final two years suspended after pleading guilty to seven counts of stealing €178,000 in social welfare payments between February 2002 and December 2009. He failed to disclose a property in the UAE valued at about €110,000 and savings of €47,500. Albaqir, an Irish citizen originally from Iraq, had lived in Ireland since 1999 and is a married father of three. He used part of the stolen money to fund a master's degree and has repaid €56,000, leaving a debt of just under €123,000. The court noted his cooperation, guilty plea, and lack of prior convictions, and accepted that he is not a risk of re‑offending. Judge Pauline Codd highlighted that welfare fraud undermines fairness and social solidarity. The suspended portion reflects his remorse and cooperation. The case also mentioned his recent hospital admission for suicidal ideation and separation from his wife.
Michai Wisniewski, a 36‑year‑old Polish national with no fixed abode, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to robbing two mobile phones from Pizza Macs in East Wall on 30 August 2017. He entered the restaurant visibly intoxicated, carrying a bottle of whiskey, attempted to order food but could not speak English, drank the bottle, and spat the remaining whiskey onto the floor. During a commotion that followed when another man entered, Wisniewski assaulted a staff member and fled with two phones, one of which was later recovered. He was on bail at the time, having previously received a nine‑month suspended sentence for public‑order offences. Judge Martina Baxter sentenced him to 18 months imprisonment back‑dated to 29 October 2017, suspended the balance of the sentence on the condition of good behaviour, and noted his early guilty plea, remorse, cooperation with Gardaí and the difficulty of imprisonment for a foreign national.
David McDermott, 43, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm after a dispute over a garden. He entered his stepson Daniel Conlon's house, punched him in the eye, repeatedly struck him in the head, kicked him in the torso and threatened to slit his throat. Conlon, 23, recorded the assault and later presented the audio to Gardaí. McDermott initially denied the assault and the threat, claiming he had only urged Conlon to get a job and that he loved him. He admitted to drinking heavily before the incident. The court noted McDermott's lack of prior convictions, his relationship with Conlon's mother, his four children, his health issues and his father's critical condition. Judge Martina Baxter sentenced him to two and a half years imprisonment, fully suspended on the condition of good behaviour and peacekeeping. The sentence was imposed after McDermott's early guilty plea and other mitigating factors. Conlon was commended for not retaliating.
Alan Jackson, 32, a homeless man with no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to criminal damage by arson at Patricia Martin's flat in Rathmines on 21 August 2017. The fire caused over €29,000 in damage and forced Martin and her daughter to leave their 17‑year home. Jackson was sentenced by Judge Martina Baxter to six years' imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended for 18 months on condition he engage with Probation Services after release. He had 50 prior convictions, including burglary, threats to kill, and robbery, and had recently received a four‑year suspended sentence for robbery. The court noted Jackson's early guilty plea, troubled family background, drug addiction history and remorse as mitigating factors. The sentence was back‑dated to 23 August 2017, the day he entered custody.
A 29-year-old man from Ballymun pleaded guilty to burglary at Copper Face Jacks nightclub in Dublin on 27 May 2017. Jason Whelan admitted stealing approximately 20 bottles of spirits valued between €700 and €900 from the premises. Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that Whelan entered the nightclub on three occasions and took bottles from behind the counter. CCTV footage captured him committing the thefts, and he was subsequently identified and arrested. Whelan has 91 previous convictions, including 43 for burglary offences. In a letter to the sentencing judge, he expressed remorse and stated his intention to become an honest member of society and positive father figure. His counsel noted Whelan is currently drug-free and receiving methadone treatment. Judge Melanie Greally acknowledged the sincerity of his expressed commitment to rehabilitation and adjourned sentencing to 13 March pending probation and prison reports.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 7 December 2018, Judge Melanie Greally praised an 84‑year‑old woman for her "great resilience" after a burglary at her home in Temple Cottages, Broadstone, Dublin 7, two years earlier. The woman, who had lived in the house since 1958 and lived alone since her husband's death, was shocked when burglar Wayne Murphy, a 43‑year‑old from North Frederick Street, entered through an open kitchen window. She screamed, tried to grab him, but he fled with her wallet and €125. Neighbours helped, and Murphy was arrested. The judge noted the victim's stoic attitude, her increased security measures, and her refusal to let the event affect her life. Murphy pleaded guilty to trespass and theft, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment with the final 12 months suspended, and is due for release next year.