Neil O'Brien, 62, of Rathbeggan, Dunshaughlin, Co. Meath, pleaded guilty to forging cheques, transfer instructions and withdrawals from bank accounts in the names of his former wife and daughter between 2002 and 2008, and to false accounting between 2009 and 2013. He admitted fraudulently obtaining €721,000, largely used for family expenses, including a credit card not in his name and a €3,000 cheque drawn by his daughter. The court heard that O'Brien had no previous convictions, was estranged from his family, had serious mental health issues and no financial means. Judge Karen O'Connor, noting exceptional circumstances, imposed a three‑year fully suspended sentence on the condition that O'Brien continue psychological services and medication. The sentence was granted without a custodial term, reflecting the court's view that a custodial sentence would not benefit the victims. The case involved no evidence of greed or gambling, and the prosecution highlighted O'Brien's financial inadequacy and early guilty plea.
Marian Minarik, a 40‑year‑old Slovakian national living in Ireland for 12 years, was arrested after Luxembourg authorities reported his downloading of child pornography from a specific website. Gardaí seized a laptop and hard drive from his Mountjoy Square home, uncovering 39,792 images and 404 videos of child pornography. Minarik admitted to gardaí that he first began downloading such material at age 15 and that he sometimes derived sexual gratification from viewing the images, though he denied any compulsion to have sex with children. He pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of child pornography between March 2009 and July 2010. Judge Cormac Quinn remanded him on continuing bail until November 9 for sentencing and ordered a probation report. No prior convictions were recorded. The forensic psychologist's report highlighted concerns about Minarik's lack of insight and recommended a specialist treatment programme. He is on medication for depression.
A Dublin man has been sentenced to three and a half years imprisonment after pleading guilty to dangerous driving causing serious harm to a teenage pedestrian from Donegal. At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, the court heard that John Maguire, aged 38, struck a young man with his van on Memorial Road, Dublin on 18 March 2017, despite medical advice to refrain from driving for twelve months following an epileptic seizure two months prior. The victim, who had travelled from Letterkenny to attend an event in the city, was crossing at a green pedestrian light when struck. He sustained serious injuries including skull fractures and brain damage, leaving him dependent on family care for the remainder of his life. Maguire pleaded guilty to driving whilst suffering from a condition rendering him a danger to the public. Judge Martin Nolan imposed the sentence whilst acknowledging Maguire's early guilty plea and remorse, but found he bore serious moral culpability for ignoring a known risk. A six-year driving disqualification was also imposed.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, a 34‑year‑old severely autistic man, Sean Winters, was found not guilty by reason of insanity after assaulting Judge Miriam Walsh on 11 December 2015. During the two‑day trial, forensic psychiatrists Dr Anthony Kearns and Dr Ronan Mullaney testified that Winters' autism spectrum disorder and associated mental disorder made it impossible for him to control his actions, describing him as emotionally dysregulated and triggered into unpremeditated aggression. The jury of nine men and three women returned a unanimous verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity. Judge Walsh reported that Winters punched and kicked her repeatedly, causing her to seek hospital care, though X‑rays showed no broken ribs. Following the verdict, Judge Cormac Quinn ordered Winters to be committed to the Central Mental Hospital in Dundrum until the next Monday pending an updated psychiatric report.
In a Dublin burglary on 28 November 2017, Matthew Fahy (40) and two accomplices, disguised as Gardaí, entered a family home in Castleknock. They presented themselves as police, produced an imitation handgun, and demanded cash from the occupants, who included the homeowner, his wife, their seven‑year‑old son, the homeowner's brother, the brother's partner and a lodger. Fahy escaped through the back door, pursued the child who had run out, and forced him back into the house. The burglary lasted about two minutes and no one was injured. Fahy pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary and possession of an imitation firearm. On 25 July 2018, Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to seven years' imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended, to run consecutively with a term he was already serving. The sentence reflected Fahy's guilty plea, cooperation, drug‑addiction history and the trauma inflicted on the family. No other arrests were made.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 70‑year‑old Greg Walsh pleaded guilty to 119 thefts totalling €998,476, including €280,000 from Carline Learning Centre, a charity he directed and treasurer for, and four thefts totalling €150,000 from Bank of Ireland in 2015. Walsh misappropriated charity funds to pay tax bills by routing cheques into his own account before making direct debit payments to Revenue. He also stole money from friends and family who entrusted him as a bookkeeper or tax agent, repaying them as dividends while diverting the funds from Revenue. Victims suffered losses ranging from €10,000 to €14,138, and two brothers sued him for a €150,000 debt, which he paid by transferring cheques from an empty Ulsterbank account to his trading account. Walsh's guilty pleas were accepted, and the judge adjourned sentencing to allow him to attend clinical appointments for a serious heart condition, with the matter set for October.
Stephen O'Connor, a 19‑year‑old from Castle Manor, Newcastle, Co Wicklow, stole two bags of cash totalling €12,480 while employed by G4S Cash Services Ltd. He pleaded guilty to theft of €4,890 on 31 October 2017 and €7,590 on 2 November 2017 at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. O'Connor claimed the money was needed to repay a €6,000 drug debt that had risen from an original €4,000 "taxed" debt. He admitted hiding the bags under his jumper and that he had been on sick leave after the second theft. G4S detected the loss via CCTV analysis and an internal investigation led to his admission. Judge Karen O'Connor sentenced him to an 18‑month prison term, suspended in full on strict conditions, noting his cooperation, lack of prior convictions, and family support. The sentence was imposed with the expectation that he would not return to such conduct.
David McCarton, a former defence forces member aged 38, was sentenced to six years' imprisonment with the final two years suspended for possession of child pornography and sexual exploitation of a child. The offence involved a young girl aged 11‑13 who believed she was communicating with a 14‑year‑old girl. McCarton recorded and possessed multiple illegal video and image files, including category one and category two child pornography, and admitted to viewing them out of curiosity. He also pleaded guilty to theft of ammunition and a magazine clip. The court noted his lack of prior convictions, his cooperation, and remorse, as well as the aggravating circumstances of the offence's nature and duration. The sentence, back‑dated to his custody, includes strict probation conditions and participation in a sex offenders treatment programme. No further offences have been reported since his admission of guilt.
Ryan Callaghan, 25, of Ballyfermot, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing drugs for sale or supply at a rented property in Palmerstown on 31 July 2015. Gardaí were alerted to a burglary at the house and found Callaghan's bedroom the only ransacked room. They seized €6 of prescription medication, €24,103 of heroin, €16 of cannabis resin, €14,746 of cannabis herb and €5,348 of cocaine, along with six mobile phones, weighing scales, surgical gloves and plastic cut‑offs. Text messages on one phone suggested drug dealing. Callaghan was questioned at his girlfriend's home and later allowed to retrieve some property, but nothing was found on him. The court noted a strong cannabis smell and that Callaghan's father had paid €10,000 to alleged debtors. Judge Karen O'Connor remanded Callaghan on continuing bail, adjourned sentencing to 8 October, and ordered an updated probation report.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 22‑year‑old Emily Stewart of Coolock pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Shannon Ryan and her mother Sabrina Ryan on a Dublin bus in March 2017. Stewart was found to have pulled clumps of hair from Shannon's head, left her with facial scratches and bleeding, and later bit, punched and scraped Sabrina's face. The judge, Martin Nolan, fully suspended a six‑month sentence, citing pre‑existing tensions between the families. Stewart, who has three prior theft convictions, was also noted to suffer from mental health issues, anger problems, borderline personality disorder, and drug addiction at the time of the assaults. She was ordered to pay €750 to each victim within one calendar year. No jail term was imposed. The case remains at the sentencing stage.
A couple, Muhammed Kashif (42) and his wife Deepa Vaswani (39), were found with an "Aladdin's cave" of stolen goods in a Dublin hotel room. Garda analysis of Kashif's laptop revealed 200 pages of chat where four people shared stolen credit‑card details. The couple used these details to purchase €1,452 worth of toys from Smyths Toys, €161 of sex toys, a six‑night stay at the Fitzwilliam Hotel (€2,781), flights from Dublin to New York (€3,592) and to Kuala Lumpur (€8,798). Seized items included a camera, a €4,000 watch, six phones, new clothes and €15,000 of foreign currency. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced them to four years, suspending three, and ordered them to leave Ireland for 20 years. They pleaded guilty to handling stolen card information, fraud, theft and criminal damage. They have no prior convictions.
Two Dublin grandparents, Annette McCluskey (57) and her husband Edward McCluskey (61), admitted fraudulently claiming over €72,000 in social welfare payments over 11 years. Annette worked as a cleaner under an assumed name while Edward falsely claimed adult‑dependent allowance payments. Both pleaded guilty to multiple counts of stealing adult‑dependent allowance and other related offences. The court imposed a three‑year suspended sentence on Annette and a two‑year suspended sentence on Edward, after arrangements were made for the couple to pay €28 a week to the Department of Social and Family Affairs and having already repaid over €3,000. The judge noted their ill health, lack of lavish lifestyle, and the impact of Edward's alcohol addiction, concluding that the couple had learned a "salutary lesson" and were unlikely to re‑engage in such offences. The court did not impose a custodial sentence or community service.
During a 2018 incident, Garda Thomas Gallagher (39) attempted to seize a vehicle driven by Christina Joyce (30), who was under the influence of crack cocaine. Gallagher held onto the Volvo's driver's door to avoid being dragged under the car. He fell, skidded into a parked vehicle, and sustained severe injuries, including a dislocated knee and shoulder damage that required an eight‑week brace and a two‑year sports hiatus. Joyce, a mother of three with no fixed abode, admitted assaulting Gallagher and causing him harm on 9 April 2018, along with charges of trespass, damaging a wall, and damaging a car. She also admitted to driving at speed, crashing into a Dublin City Council van, and breaking into two homes while evading Gardaí. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced her to four and a half years, consecutive to a term she was already serving, and disqualified her from driving for six years.
In a Dublin street incident, 23‑year‑old Donna Dineen, a homeless woman who had recently given birth in custody, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after slashing a stranger's stomach with a 25‑cm wound. The victim, Saurjan Syergaz, was found bleeding from Dorset Street to St Benedict's Gardens and later underwent surgery. Dineen claimed self‑defence, stating the man had pulled a knife on her, but she also admitted to robbing his wallet. The court noted her 17 prior convictions and her history of abuse and addiction. While her defence sought a suspended sentence to allow her to keep her infant son for 18 months, Judge Melanie Greally rejected this, citing the severity of the wound. Dineen remains in custody, with sentencing postponed to November pending further reports. The co‑accused remains unnamed as his case is still before the courts.
Brian O'Grady, 32, of Finglas, pleaded guilty to possessing 20 kg of cannabis resin worth €122,000 in February 2016. He had delivered the drugs to pay off his step‑brother's €2,000 debt. The original court gave a wholly suspended five‑year sentence, a decision the Director of Public Prosecutions challenged as unduly lenient. The Court of Appeal, in a three‑judge panel, imposed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year jail term, with the remaining two‑and‑a‑half years suspended. O'Grady had 11 prior convictions and had lost his job six months before the offence. He is now in Britain working in construction. The appeal court found his decision to commit the crime was a conscious choice, not merely a product of addiction or family pressure, and therefore the suspended sentence was too lenient. The new sentence will run from the date he first goes into custody.
Eoin Morrow, 38, a Louth bricklayer, will be sentenced for possessing cannabis and prescription drugs worth €1.38 million. Gardaí set up a surveillance operation on a Scania truck that met Morrow's Volkswagen Jetta. They observed Morrow and truck driver John Needham, 31, removing boxes from the truck onto a trolley bound for a storage unit in Newcourt Business Park. A subsequent search uncovered four large cardboard boxes of cannabis resin and 29 boxes of Zopiclone tablets. The 96 kg of cannabis was valued at €580,200 and the 400,000 Zopiclone pills at €800,000. Morrow pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis resin and supplying a prescription‑only drug. He has 15 previous convictions, including assault, burglary and theft. He fled to Europe after a bench warrant was issued but returned and surrendered. Needham also pleaded guilty to the same drug offences and was sentenced to eight years earlier this month.
Ross Thompson, 19, was jailed for 16 months after deliberately driving a Toyota Yaris at a Garda patrol car three times during a high‑speed chase. Thompson, who had no valid licence or insurance, repeatedly drove over the median strip, broke red lights, entered residential green areas and drove on the wrong side of the road. He performed numerous hand‑brake turns and, in three instances, positioned the vehicle to face the patrol car head‑on before driving straight at the officers. He pleaded guilty to two charges of endangerment and one of dangerous driving. Garda Robert English noted that Thompson's driving frightened other road users and that no one was injured or damaged. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Thompson to 16 months in prison, consecutive to his current term, and disqualified him from driving for six years. Thompson is due for release in December 2019.
A court heard that a serial burglar, Lewis Smith, 21, was linked to a 2015 burglary after a two‑year delay in a forensic report that identified his DNA on blood left at the scene. Smith had 30 prior convictions, ten of which were burglaries, and pleaded guilty to trespass and theft at Hazel Grove, Tallaght. The burglary caused €1,400 in damage and theft of items worth €800. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a two‑year sentence with nine months suspended and reactivated six months of a partially suspended robbery sentence to run concurrently. Smith was already serving another sentence due to expire next year. The judge noted the burglary lacked aggravating factors but had an upsetting effect on the victim, who declined to give a victim impact statement. Smith's personal turmoil, including a family death, was cited as a factor in his criminal behaviour.
A 42‑year‑old Pakistani man, Muhammed Kashif, and his 39‑year‑old Singaporean wife, Deepa Vaswani, were arrested in a Dublin hotel after Gardaí discovered an "Aladdin's cave" of stolen goods. Their laptop contained 200 pages of chat logs revealing the use of thousands of stolen credit‑card details. They used these cards to purchase €1,452 of toys from Smyths Toys, €161 of sex toys, and a six‑night stay at the Fitzwilliam Hotel costing €2,781. Flights from Dublin to New York (€3,592) and Dublin to Kuala Lumpur (€8,798) were also bought with stolen cards. Over 140 items were seized, including a €4,000 watch, six phones, new clothes, and €15,000 in foreign currencies. The couple pleaded guilty to handling stolen card information, fraudulently buying flights, obtaining hotel accommodation, theft from Smyths and Love Toy Shopper, and criminal damage to toy packaging. They remain remanded in custody, with no prior convictions.
Gareth Prior, 36, of Ramblers Court, Newbridge, Co. Kildare, was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment for his role in a heroin transaction worth an estimated €560,000. He had pleaded guilty in December 2015 to possession of cocaine and heroin for sale or supply. The Court of Appeal dismissed his appeal against the severity of the sentence, citing the need to protect society from drug trafficking. Prior was observed by Gardaí travelling to an Aldi supermarket on Fonthill Road, Clondalkin, where he was seen placing a rucksack in a car. Gardaí seized four packages containing four kilograms of heroin, and a search of his Newbridge address uncovered 2.5 kg of cocaine, 487 g of cannabis and 56 g of ketamine. He had 17 prior convictions, including seven for drug offences, and was found in possession of drug paraphernalia.
Gerard Lawlor, 68, of Balrothery, Tallaght, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to 11 counts of fraudulently claiming €167,874 in social welfare payments from 2005 to 2015. The fraud was uncovered when his ex‑wife was audited by Revenue, revealing that Lawlor had claimed pre‑retirement, adult dependence, and jobseeker allowances while not living with his partner and while self‑employed. He also received rent payments for a co‑owned property and sold and purchased properties during the period. Lawlor, a father‑of‑three with no prior convictions, cooperated with Gardaí and entered an early guilty plea. He was sentenced to a wholly suspended three‑year term on 15 June 2017, a decision upheld by the Court of Appeal after the Director of Public Prosecutions appealed for a custodial sentence.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, Lydia Simpson, 35, pleaded guilty to robbery at the Liffey Valley Shopping Centre car park on 21 January. The victim, a mother, was seated in her car with a five‑year‑old son. Simpson attempted to take a purse from the front seat; the owner resisted, and during the struggle the purse ended up in the back of the car. Simpson reached over the front seats to retrieve it and unintentionally struck the child, who sustained no injuries. Paul Carroll SC described the incident as frightening for the children. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Simpson to two years' imprisonment, to run from next January, noting her history of drug addiction and prior convictions for shoplifting and trespassing. Simpson admitted the robbery was motivated by a need for money to buy drugs and expressed remorse, saying she was ashamed and "at the bottom.".
Judge Melanie Greally sentenced four men to a total of 53 years for their roles in the 2005 €2.08 million robbery of Paul Richardson and Securicor, along with the false imprisonment of the Richardson family. Mark Farrelly, Christopher Corcoran, David Byrne, and Niall Byrne, all of whom pleaded not guilty, were convicted by a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court jury. Farrelly, identified as the mastermind, received 17.5 years. David Byrne was sentenced to 13.5 years. Corcoran was sentenced to 12 years, with the final five years suspended due to his age and health. Niall Byrne, the former Securicor worker convicted of conspiracy to rob, received 10 years. The jury failed to reach a majority verdict on a kidnapping charge against Niall Byrne. The judge noted the victims' "uncommon and unbending faith" in the justice system after five trials. She ordered the forfeiture of €19,220 in cash and a BMW belonging to Niall Byrne. This sentencing follows previous legal history where convictions for Farrelly and Corcoran were overturned in 2012 and later acquitted in 2015 before those acquittals were overturned by the Court of Appeal.
Barry Watters, a 42-year-old man formerly of Infirmary Road, Dublin, and originally from Dundalk, Co Louth, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two counts of indecency in December 2014 and possession of child pornography on October 20, 2016. The court heard that Watters exposed himself to children on their way to school in 2014, an incident that led to his arrest. In 2016, gardaí observed him viewing illegal images at an internet cafe on Middle Abbey Street; a USB key recovered from him contained 23 illegal images of child pornography and 422 images of children in various states of undress. Watters has six previous convictions, including a four-year sentence in 2012 for possession of child pornography, with the final year suspended. He also received a three-year sentence in 2010 and a two-year suspended sentence in 2009 for similar offences. Judge Martina Baxter remanded Watters in custody and ordered a psychologist's report to address community protection concerns. The matter was adjourned to December 3rd for the finalisation of his sentence, with a plea in mitigation to be concluded in the same month.
In November 2016 a burglary at a mosque in Milltown Bridge, Dundrum, saw 30‑year‑old Stefan Boyle, who has 110 prior convictions, including 63 burglaries, stab him with a knife and steal his phone. Boyle, who has a history of drug and alcohol addiction, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Earlier this year Judge Karen O'Connor granted him bail to attend a drug‑treatment residential programme, but he later used cocaine and the judge offered one more chance. At a hearing in June Boyle asked to be remanded into custody because he was struggling on bail. The judge adjourned the case to 20 July, told Boyle he looked healthier than before, and Boyle thanked her for "saving" his life by sending him back into custody. The court noted Boyle had previously admitted to stealing two phones from the mosque's caretaker, Ali Yassine, and had returned them after a chance encounter. The case remains pending.
Anthony Ward, 27, was sentenced to five years in prison, with the final 18 months suspended on condition of compliance with the Probation Service, after pleading guilty to two robberies in Santry in April 2018. Ward, who had 125 previous convictions, robbed a Spar shop on Shanowen Road at 12:40 pm, taking €250 and threatening the shop assistant with a knife. The next morning he entered a Maxol Service Station on Swords Road, demanding money and taking the assistant's wallet; a struggle left the assistant with two cut fingers. Gardaí identified Ward via CCTV and arrested him after a vehicle stop. Ward's lawyer noted his long‑standing drug problems, early guilty plea, remorse, and supportive pregnant partner, while the judge highlighted his difficult prison experience and respectable background in structuring a rehabilitative sentence.
Brian O'Grady, 32, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing cannabis resin for sale, valued at €122,000, after agreeing to deliver 20 kg to help pay his step‑brother's €2,000 drug debt. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a wholly suspended five‑year sentence, departing from the mandatory 10‑year term, citing O'Grady's low moral culpability and his intent to protect family. The Director of Public Prosecutions seeks a review, arguing the sentence is unduly lenient and that the judge erred in suspending the whole term. Counsel for O'Grady highlighted his upbringing, employment history, and family dynamics as mitigating factors. The Court of Appeal has reserved judgment. Gardaí surveillance linked O'Grady to two men from Cork who were later arrested; O'Grady admitted the delivery but refused to name the men. O'Grady has six prior convictions and is a qualified electronic technician. The other two men received seven‑year and two‑year sentences.
An African national, aged 28, was convicted in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to two former partners by infecting them with HIV between November 2009 and June 2010. The jury, after an eleven‑day trial and four and a half hours of deliberation, returned unanimous guilty verdicts on both charges. The judge refused bail, citing a flight risk and the likelihood of a custodial sentence, and remanded the defendant to appear again on 26 July for sentencing. The prosecution argued that the defendant knew of his HIV status, lied to the complainants, and continued unprotected sex despite being advised on safe sex. The defense contended that the complainants' evidence was unreliable and that phylogenetic analysis could not prove transmission. The case is the first of its kind in Ireland. The unnamed 28-year-old pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, a 28‑year‑old African national was charged with intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm by infecting two former partners with HIV between November 2009 and June 2010. The defendant pleaded not guilty. The State argued that the defendant knew his diagnosis and that the infection constituted serious harm. The jury, consisting of nine women and three men, was asked to consider whether the virus could have come from a fourth person. The foreman requested clarification on a specific mutation, M36V, common to the defendant and the complainants, and whether it could have been transmitted from another source. Judge Martin Nolan explained that no evidence was presented on this point and that the court could not add new evidence or provide transcripts. The jury asked for the genetic evidence to be replayed on the Digital Audio Recording system.
The Director of Public Prosecutions has discontinued proceedings against a Cavan childminder who faced allegations of causing serious harm to an infant. Sandra Higgins of Drumgola Wood, Cavan, had pleaded not guilty to a charge of intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to a baby at her home on 28 March 2012. The case proceeded through four trials at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court before the prosecution applied to withdraw the charge. The fourth trial, presided over by Judge Pauline Codd, ended with jury discharge after undisclosed expert witness communications raised fair trial concerns. Previous trials had also resulted in jury discharge and failure to reach verdict due to various procedural issues. At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court today, Judge Melanie Greally discharged Ms Higgins from the charge and entered a nolle prosequi following the prosecution's application.
A jury has begun deliberations in a trial where a 28‑year‑old African national is accused of intentionally or recklessly infecting two former partners with HIV between November 2009 and June 2010. The defendant pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The State alleges he was aware of his HIV diagnosis and deliberately transmitted the virus, causing serious harm. Prosecutor Dominic McGinn presented expert testimony that all parties share the same virus subtype and mutations, that the complainants used condoms with previous partners, and that the defendant lied to a doctor about his status and failed to take prescribed antiviral medication. Defence counsel Paul Greene argued that the complainants' sexual histories were unreliable, that the virus strain was not definitively African, and that phylogenetic analysis was not performed, questioning the reliability of the evidence. The jury retired for the day and will resume tomorrow.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, a 17‑year‑old boy pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after throwing a stone at a 16‑year‑old victim's head on 17 July 2016. The victim, a young actor, sustained a facial scar requiring 11 stitches above his right eye. Garda Eoin Brennan reported that the boy and another youth had called the victim "a dope" and "a fag" before the stone struck. The victim described the scar as a constant reminder of being attacked because of his sexuality, expressing fear, low confidence, stress, anxiety, and a belief that the scar had cost him acting opportunities. Judge Melanie Greally adjourned the case to set a sentencing date later in the month, noting the defendant's 24 prior convictions and serious risk factors, and remanded him on continuing bail until 25 July. The defendant accepted responsibility and expressed shock at the seriousness of the injury. The case remains pending sentencing.
David Murphy, 39, was sentenced in October for an attempted robbery of a Centra shop on Camden Street, Dublin, on 28 December 2017. He had been released from a seven‑year prison term in August 2017 and had 64 prior convictions. Murphy planned the robbery to help his 21‑year‑old son, who had a drug debt. He entered the shop at about 6 pm, wearing a scarf and armed with a scissor, and threatened the shop assistant, Marco Moniz, saying he would stab him if he did not give money. Moniz tackled Murphy to the ground; his colleague, Hyeon Seok Kim, called the Gardaí. Officers arrived while Murphy was on the floor. Murphy pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Melanie Greally remanded him in custody until 25 October for sentencing and ordered a probation report, noting that no post‑release supervision had been in place after his August 2017 release.
The trial of a 28‑year‑old African national accused of intentionally or recklessly infecting two women with HIV has reached its closing stages. The State alleges the accused was aware of his diagnosis when he infected the women, constituting serious harm. Evidence presented shows that virus samples from the accused and both complainants contained the same mutation. Dr Cillian De Gascun of the National Virus Reference Laboratory analysed the genetic sequences and found all three viruses were of the B‑type strain, with a specific mutation identified in a 2008 sample from the defendant, a May 2010 sample from one complainant, and 2010 and 2012 samples from the second complainant. While the comparison cannot confirm transmission from one person to another, it cannot be excluded. The trial is before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury of nine women and three men, with closing speeches scheduled for tomorrow. The unnamed 28-year-old pleaded not guilty.
Ronald Lawlor, 36, who had been disqualified from driving for 15 years, led Gardaí on a high‑speed chase in Dublin's Belmayne area. Garda Neil Plunkett reported that Lawlor, with 164 prior convictions mainly for road traffic offences, ignored warnings and drove at speeds up to 140 km/h, even driving the wrong way around a roundabout and colliding with a Garda patrol car, causing nearly €3,000 in damage. During the pursuit, Lawlor threw a beer can out of the window and refused to provide a breath sample after his arrest. He pleaded guilty to endangerment, dangerous driving, damage to a Garda vehicle and refusal to give a breath sample. Judge Melanie Greally remanded him in custody until 3 October, ordered a probation report, and noted his intention to abstain from alcohol, while emphasising the seriousness of his offences and the need for future management of his drinking.
During the sentence hearing in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Paul Richardson, a former Securicor worker, read his victim impact report about the 2005 tiger kidnapping of his family. He described the lasting psychological trauma, saying he still hears the kidnapper's voice and that the event has left him unable to work for three years and unable to walk to the shop. He spoke of the loss of a part of his life, the burning of a sentimental blanket, and the betrayal he felt from a former colleague. Paul also mentioned the fear for his wife and sons and how the crime has made him avoid Halloween and pictures of armed criminals. Marie Richardson, his wife, read her own statement, emphasizing the destruction of their home, the need to rebuild, and the enduring love that keeps them together. Both expressed that justice has finally prevailed, though the memory of the crime remains.
Judge Melanie Greally adjourned the sentencing of Niall Byrne, Mark Farrelly, Christopher Corcoran, and David Byrne until July 16, remanding them in continuing custody. The men were convicted by a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court jury for their roles in the €2.08 million robbery of Paul Richardson and Securicor on March 14, 2005, and the false imprisonment of the Richardson family at their Raheny home on March 13 and 14, 2005. All four defendants had pleaded not guilty. The jury convicted Farrelly, Corcoran, and David Byrne of robbery and false imprisonment. Niall Byrne was convicted of conspiracy to robbery, while the jury failed to reach a majority verdict on a kidnapping charge against him. This was the fifth trial for the case; previous convictions for Farrelly and Corcoran were overturned in 2012 due to unconstitutional search warrants, and subsequent acquittals were reversed by the Court of Appeal. During the hearing, victim Paul Richardson described the crime as "heinous and inhumane" and driven by greed. His wife and sons also submitted impact statements detailing the long-term trauma. The court noted Farrelly had 25 previous convictions, while Corcoran, David Byrne, and Niall Byrne had prior records for minor offences. The matter was adjourned for sentence.
David Drumm, former CEO of Anglo Irish Bank, pleaded guilty to ten counts of authorising unlawful financial assistance for the purchase of bank shares by the Maple Ten group between 10 and 17 July 2008. The loans were part of a scheme to unwind a 28 % stake that businessman Sean Quinn had built in the bank using contracts for difference (CFDs). Drumm's defence argued that he was trying to resolve a problem entirely created by Quinn, who had used CFDs to speculate on Anglo shares and whose position threatened the bank's stability. Drumm, aged 51, was transferred from Mountjoy Prison, where he is serving a six‑year term for a separate €7.2 bn fraudulent loan scheme, to the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for sentencing. The court heard that Drumm had attempted to persuade Quinn to reduce his CFD position and, after other options failed, proposed that ten high‑net‑worth individuals purchase a portion of the Quinn shareholding. David Drumm was convicted.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Daryl Coyle, 27, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Brian Griffin on 16 October 2015. Coyle admitted striking Griffin with a "sucker punch" after a friend of the victim threw a drink at him. The prosecution highlighted Coyle's 34 prior convictions, including assault, violent behaviour in a police station and drug possession, describing a chaotic lifestyle of drug use and anger management issues. Defence counsel argued that a hormonal imbalance and self‑medication with steroids may have contributed to his aggression, citing the phenomenon of "roid rage." Judge Martin Nolan suspended a one‑year prison sentence, conditioning it on Coyle's good behaviour and engagement with the Probation Service, and warned that any further aggression would trigger the full sentence. The court also heard that Coyle's earlier drug use had ceased and that he was working two jobs.
Mark Carlyle, a former All Ireland junior boxing champion aged 28, was sentenced to three years in custody for unlawfully possessing a sawn‑off shotgun in Pearse Park, Crumlin, on 21 June 2015. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The court noted his 108 prior convictions, including assault and obstruction of a garda, threatening behaviour, intoxication in public, dangerous driving and allowing a horse to pose a danger. Judge Martin Nolan highlighted Carlyle's early boxing success and subsequent poor choices, citing his alcohol misuse as a factor in his career decline. Carlyle was found with a 12‑gauge semi‑automatic shotgun wrapped in plastic, which was discovered in undergrowth after a witness heard a bang and called the police. The gun was seized, and forensic tests revealed firearms residue on Carlyle's clothing. The judge back‑dated the custodial sentence to last May.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, Adam Marlowe, 24, was convicted of aggravated burglary, robbery of €50, and assault on 81‑year‑old farmer Malachy Turley. DNA evidence linked Marlowe to a blue latex glove fragment found in Turley's bedroom. Turley, who lives alone in a rural north County Dublin cottage, suffered bruises, a deep hand cut requiring five stitches, and lasting trauma. Marlowe, who has 79 prior convictions and was on bail for other offences, maintains his innocence. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to 12 years' imprisonment, citing the pre‑planned, violent nature of the crime against an isolated, vulnerable victim, while noting mitigating factors such as Marlowe's age, family background, and current stable relationship. The sentence reflects the aggravated burglary headline of 15 years, reduced to 12 years with a suspended portion and effective custody as stated in the court order. Adam Marlowe pleaded not guilty.
On 17 December 2017, Andrew Peel of Coultry Drive, Ballymun, Dublin, after a "three‑day bender", attacked neighbours in their homes. He struck Kim Hutchinson with a golf club, breaking a bone in her arm, and hit David Tyson with a cue ball, rendering him unconscious and hospitalised. Peel's behaviour was described as "out of character" and "not the person they knew". He pleaded guilty to criminal damage, burglary and assault causing harm. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, hearing victim impact statements, found Peel intoxicated that night. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a 33‑month sentence, back‑dated to the arrest, noting Peel's history of drug possession, assault, knife possession and car theft. Peel has since worked as a courier, assisted homeless soup runs and is training for social care. The court highlighted his mother's testimony of his long‑standing mental health and drug problems. Peel was sentenced to 33 months in custody.
A Dublin businessman has admitted to submitting fraudulent documents to obtain a €71,000 mortgage from Ulster Bank in April 2016. Kevin Molloy, aged 49, of Dublin Road, Celbridge, County Kildare, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to three offences under the Theft and Fraud Acts committed between December 2014 and August 2016. The owner of a debt recovery business had initially applied to Bank of Ireland in late 2014, but that application was declined after officials questioned the authenticity of his documentation. When Molloy subsequently approached Ulster Bank, he provided altered bank statements, a falsified P60 tax document, and wage slips from companies in liquidation. The offences came to light in July 2016 following a Bank of Ireland report to gardaí. Molloy continues to reside in the property with his family and maintains mortgage repayments. Ulster Bank has not pursued charges. Judge Melanie Greally adjourned sentencing to October 2018 and ordered a community service assessment. Molloy was remanded on continuing bail.
Lorcan Merriman, a 21‑year‑old Dubliner, was sentenced to five years in prison for unlawful possession of a semi‑automatic machine gun and ammunition that he had hidden in his parents' attic. He admitted that he had agreed to hide the weapon to pay off a drug debt. The gun was found to be functioning and had been altered for criminal use, and it was accompanied by working ammunition. Judge Melanie Greally initially imposed a headline sentence of ten years but reduced it to five years, citing Merriman's age, chronic drug addiction, early guilty plea, and the support of his parents who attended the hearing. The case was assessed by the Director of Public Prosecutions as falling in the higher range of firearms offences, with a presumptive mandatory minimum of five years, which the court upheld. The judge noted that the weapon's purpose was for the commission of criminal offences and potentially serious harm or death.
A 24‑year‑old Latvian man, Evalds Markos, was jailed for two and a half years after swallowing 52 cocaine pellets, worth just under €36,000, before being caught by customs at Dublin Airport. He pleaded guilty to possessing drugs for sale or supply in the customs hall of Terminal One on 28 October. After his arrest he was taken to Beaumont Hospital where he passed the pellets and was later discharged. Markos admitted he had been told to swallow the pellets by an associate in Amsterdam and that he expected payment of €1,500, though he claimed he had not been paid. He had no prior convictions in Ireland but had a history of theft, fraud and robbery in Latvia and shoplifting and criminal damage in France.
In a sting operation, a Garda officer disguised as a postman used an An Post van to deliver a parcel containing 36,000 ecstasy tablets to Philip Noonan, who signed for it and was immediately arrested. Customs had flagged the package as suspicious after it arrived from Germany to Portlaoise Mail Centre in June 2015. The parcel, addressed to Noonan, was found to contain MDMA tablets worth €288,000. Noonan, aged 49, had previously been convicted of 20 offences, including a robbery in 1992, and was charged with possessing drugs for sale or supply. He pleaded guilty at his trial in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and was sentenced to two and a half years' imprisonment. The judge noted he was not the owner of the drugs but had knowingly received the package for onward delivery. The sentence reflected the seriousness of the drug‑dealing activity, despite mitigating circumstances.
A 67‑year‑old Dublin man, whose name is withheld by court order, was jailed after being caught masturbating at a children's party a day after his release. He has two prior convictions for sexual assault on juveniles and had an 18‑month sentence imposed in March 2017 for breaching an order that prohibited interaction with children. The sentence was suspended on the condition that he complied with all Probation Service directions and remained abstinent from intoxicants. He had previously failed to appear in court, leading to bench warrants. The court found he had been intoxicated and had his hand on his crotch with his zip undone at the party. Judge Patricia Ryan re‑activated the suspended sentence and ordered the man to appear again in September for the indecency allegations. The Probation Service had noted his alcohol abuse as a contributory risk factor. The unnamed 67-year-old pleaded guilty.
Niamh Fitzpatrick, 39, was sentenced to five years in prison with the final two years suspended, following a guilty plea at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for possessing a Smith & Wesson revolver in an air vent at her home on 23 February 2017. The judge, Melanie Greally, found her explanation for how she acquired the gun uncredible and noted her 21 prior convictions, mainly minor traffic offences, and her history of heroin addiction and mental health issues. Fitzpatrick claimed the firearm was for self‑protection after a threat on her life, a claim the judge said did not stand up to scrutiny. She was ordered to remain under 18 months of probation supervision upon release. The case involved a search that seized the gun, heroin, mobile phones and €4,200 in drugs, with Fitzpatrick admitting possession of heroin and the gun during the interview.
A 35‑year‑old Nigerian wedding photographer, Adewale Yusuf, avoided jail after repaying all stolen money he had transferred from an account that had been used by a Russian company to receive €30,000 from an Italian firm. The money, totalling €9,002, had been transferred to Yusuf's account and then to other accounts linked to him. Yusuf pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two counts of transferring property that was the proceeds of criminal conduct while knowing or being reckless about its source. Judge Karen O'Connor suspended a two‑year prison sentence, noting Yusuf's low risk of re‑offending and his full repayment. Yusuf admitted he had no knowledge of the money's origin and had transferred it because he lacked a card for the account, which normally held little money. He had five prior traffic convictions and had been in financial trouble in 2013.
Costel Tudor, a 44‑year‑old Romanian, was sentenced to two and a half years in prison for his role in a bank‑machine scam that targeted elderly victims in Dublin. Tudor recruited two women to distract ATM users after they entered their PINs. One woman tapped the victim's shoulder, claiming a €20 drop, while the other, who had seen the PIN, swapped the victim's card for a different one. Tudor then used the swapped card to withdraw cash. The scheme took place at the Bank of Ireland in Stillorgan Shopping Centre on 27 April 2015 and at Permanent TSB on Main Street, Dundrum on 7 November 2015. Garda Stephen Dunican noted Tudor's extensive criminal record, including convictions in the Netherlands, Finland, England and Germany. Judge Melanie Greally, citing the women's instrumental role and the CCTV evidence, imposed the sentence and suspended the final 18 months of a 10‑year ban on returning to Ireland.