Eoin Jarvis, 26, of Corduff Grove, Blanchardstown, was sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty to dangerous driving, driving without insurance, reckless endangerment and unlawful use of a vehicle. On 11 April 2017, he drove a stolen car at 180 kph along the N1/M1 motorway, causing it to become airborne over a roundabout before crashing on the far side. Jarvis had taken 28 sleeping tablets before driving and was heavily intoxicated at the time of arrest. Garda John Delaney reported that the crash was witnessed by two plain‑clothes officers. Jarvis exited the vehicle, ran across four lanes of traffic and was taken to a petrol station where he was arrested. The court noted his 57 previous convictions and that he was not involved in the burglary that stole the car. Judge Martin Nolan acknowledged Jarvis' guilty plea and cooperation, and imposed the three‑year sentence.
During the 52nd day of David Drumm's trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, former Anglo Irish Bank non‑executive director Michael Jacob testified that the bank sourced "excellent people" to conduct "healthy checks and balances" amid the 2008 financial crisis. Jacob explained that Anglo's financial reporting had evolved and that the bank had engaged the firm PWC to review its audit and risk committees, ensuring no overlaps or gaps. He described the period as an "exceptional time" in international finance, noting the disappearance of major companies and the resulting funding challenges. Jacob also recounted attending a board meeting on 24 October 2008, where he could not recall any discussion of the Anglo‑Irish Life & Permanent transaction, which was first documented in a PWC report circulated to directors. The trial, now in its tenth week, continues before Judge Karen O'Connor and a jury of ten men and four women. David Drumm pleaded not guilty.
Blaine Coakley, 31, pleaded guilty to robbing cash from a Dublin grocery shop on 8 August 2017. He is currently in custody awaiting sentencing, which has been adjourned twice since December. Coakley requested compassionate bail to visit his grandmother's grave, claiming he had never said goodbye. His lawyer, Luigi Rea, also applied for bail. Judge Karen O'Connor denied the request, stating she could not entertain it under the circumstances and that the State had not been notified.
Samuel Peprah, a 42‑year‑old Ghanaian‑born man living in Clondalkin, was sentenced to two years in prison for fraudulently claiming more than €60,000 in social welfare payments between October 2013 and November 2016. While employed full‑time in the kitchens of the Merrion Hotel, Peprah used his own name to claim Rent Allowance, Jobseekers' Allowance and Basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance, and also claimed under an assumed name. He pleaded guilty to 22 counts of fraud. The State suffered a loss of €63,218. Peprah admitted that he had used his brother Ebenezer Amedayaw's Belgian identity to facilitate the fraud, offering his brother up to €200 a month for the use of his identity. He has repaid about €1,500 and is making weekly repayments of roughly €70, a pace that would take 17 years to clear the debt. Peprah is now employed by the HSE as a care assistant.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Adam Barrett, 24, to four years' imprisonment for possessing €24,000 worth of cocaine found at his Spencer Dock apartment. Barrett owned the drugs, unlike most offenders who merely transport or hold them to pay debts. He pleaded guilty to possessing drugs for sale or supply and to holding about €3,000 in cash. The judge noted the headline sentence was six years but reduced it, citing Barrett's work record and rehabilitation efforts. Gardaí discovered 355 g of cocaine, five mobile phones in Barrett's bedroom and seven in the living room, and a digital weighing scale. Barrett had 65 prior convictions, mainly traffic offences, and had cooperated with police but exercised his right to silence during five interviews. The sentence was back‑dated to 15 December of the previous year.
Patrick Dunne, 30, of Santry Lodge, Ballymun, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to robbing Briarswood Stores in Blanchardstown on 29 September 2017. He entered the shop with a scarf over his face and two five‑inch screwdrivers, demanding the cashier open the till. He took €195 in coins from the till. Garda Brendan O'Hora identified him from CCTV and fingerprints. Dunne has 95 previous convictions, including theft, burglary and criminal damage, and was already serving a four‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence for brandishing an imitation firearm in Ballymun. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a two‑year prison sentence, noting Dunne's drug addiction and the possibility of a positive change. The judge said he would not extend Dunne's custody beyond the sentence, hoping he will "turn the corner.".
The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial of former Anglo Irish Bank CEO David Drumm, who faces conspiracy to defraud charges, has been ongoing since January. Judge Karen O'Connor informed the jury that she is very hopeful the proceedings will conclude at the beginning of June. The jury began hearing evidence on February 9 after initial legal arguments. Drumm's barrister, Tessa White, acknowledged that multi‑million euro transactions occurred between Anglo and Irish Life & Permanent in 2008 but denied they were fraudulent. On day 51, former Anglo treasury director Peter Geisel testified that Credit Suisse had rejected a "back‑to‑back deal" proposal in the summer of 2008. The trial, now in its tenth week, continues before Judge O'Connor and the jury. Drumm, aged 51, has pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to defraud and false accounting for the 2008 deposit figures. The case remains in the trial stage.
Stephen Sarsfield, 39, was jailed for seven years after admitting possession of over €4 million worth of drugs. Gardaí discovered 188 kg of cannabis herb and 2.9 kg of cocaine in a garage in New Street Gardens, Dublin 8, where a large‑scale drug distribution hub had been operating. The garage also contained a money‑counting machine, two plastic bag sealers, three stun guns and weighing scales. Sarsfield, who had four minor previous convictions, pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply. He admitted using cocaine three or four times a week and having a gambling debt, but gave no details of his role in the operation. The court found ample evidence against him, noting his involvement was likely driven by debt and that he was a small but important part of a larger scheme. The judge highlighted his good standing in the community and his vulnerability to exploitation.
Richard Evans, aged 34, was sentenced to three months' imprisonment for burglary of a Dublin house at Coke Lane. He pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 6 February 2017, and Judge Petria McDonnell also imposed a separate sentence for criminal damage. Evans had 127 prior convictions, including 17 for burglary, at the time of sentencing. The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has requested a review of the sentence, arguing it was "unduly lenient." DPP counsel Garrett McCormack highlighted that Evans was caught in possession of the victim's property, that the victim had identified him in an identification parade, and that CCTV footage showed his movements from the Criminal Courts of Justice to Coke Lane. The Court of Appeal has reserved its judgment, with Judges Alan Mahon, John Edwards and John Hedigan to deliver it soon. Evans is currently in Mountjoy Prison, not for this appeal. The DPP described Evans as a "chronic recidivist.".
Jonathan Conway, 36, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for stealing a BMW that had been left with its keys inside by the owner. He drove the vehicle in a highly dangerous manner, losing control at a roundabout, briefly becoming airborne and crashing into a lamppost and the wall of a pub. Two female passengers suffered minor injuries. Conway had 120 prior convictions, mainly for traffic and public order offences, theft and court‑appearance failures. He pleaded guilty to taking possession of a car without consent, dangerous driving, driving without insurance and refusing a sample. The judge imposed a five‑year driving ban and noted Conway's limited cooperation with Gardaí, his guilty plea and rehabilitation efforts. He was also in custody on other district court matters. The court heard he had lost a local‑authority accommodation in Blanchardstown. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court by Judge Melanie Greally.
In August 2017, Norman Duff, a 45‑year‑old serial thief, stole a baby's custom hearing aid, $5,700 in US dollars, £2,700 in sterling, a diamond ring, earrings, gold and silver chains, passports, a mobile phone and the child's cochlear implant from Gino Gelato's Ice‑Cream Parlour in Dublin 2. The theft was captured on CCTV and a suspect description was broadcast over Garda radio. Garda Derek Brereton located Duff at a nearby hostel where staff confirmed his presence. The stolen items were recovered and returned to the family. Duff pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and was sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment. The judge noted the Garda's efficiency in securing a quick arrest and the return of the belongings, describing the offence as opportunistic. The hearing aid was valued at $10,000 and was custom‑designed for the child. The case highlighted the swift investigative response and the recovery of high‑value personal property.
In a criminal hearing at Dublin Circuit Court, former Anglo Irish Bank CEO David Drumm was accused of conspiring to defraud depositors and investors by misrepresenting the bank's deposit levels. Drumm, who signed a statement to the Irish Stock Exchange on 3 December 2008, claimed that customer funding had risen to €51.5 bn, a figure that was later alleged to be inflated by €7.2 bn. He admitted that multi‑million‑euro transactions occurred between Anglo and Irish Life & Permanent (ILP) in 2008 but denied any fraud or dishonesty. Dermot Kieran, a former finance manager, testified that he learned of the transactions after they happened and that Drumm had asked him to sketch the balance sheet and forecast it for September 2008. Michael Casey, ILP's treasury manager, confirmed that a £978 m sterling transaction with Anglo on 25 September 2008 was authorised by temporarily overriding the credit limit. David Drumm pleaded not guilty.
Joseph Walshe, a 49‑year‑old former general manager of Nevinar Cosmetics Ltd, was found guilty of ten counts of theft between January 2010 and December 2011. He stole Clarins cosmetics worth over €700,000 in retail value, selling them to a UK wholesaler who believed he acted on behalf of Nevinar. Walshe received €204,122.38 for the goods, while the company lost €181,582.00. A jury trial lasted 12 days, and on 15 June 2017 he was sentenced to two‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended. The judge ordered him to pay the company €181,582.00. The Director of Public Prosecutions has appealed, arguing the sentence is unduly lenient, citing pre‑meditated fraud, abuse of trust and greed as aggravating factors. The Court of Appeal has reserved its judgment. The article reports only the sentencing stage and the appeal request, without any subsequent outcome. Joseph Walshe pleaded not guilty.
A 38‑year‑old driver, Aisling Keogh, pleaded guilty to careless driving causing serious harm after striking a pedestrian, Paschal Walsh, in Rathfarnham on 29 December 2015. Keogh had been driving at 43 km/h, within the 50 km/h limit, and applied her brakes when she first saw the man. She left the scene, tended to the injured man, called an ambulance and later reported the collision to Gardaí. CCTV and forensic analysis confirmed the circumstances. Walsh was taken to Tallaght Hospital, suffered a sore arm and ribs, was later put into an induced coma and died, but the court ruled his death was not a direct result of the collision. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court sentenced Keogh to 125 hours of community service in lieu of a six‑month prison term, imposed a four‑year mandatory driving ban, and confirmed her suitability for community service.
Stephen Morgan, 46, of Ferrycarrig Green, Coolock, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to stealing €3,050.18 from St Monica's Nursing Home, Belvedere Place, Dublin 1, by submitting fraudulent receipts between December 2014 and March 2015. He had been hired to carry out general maintenance, receiving cash to buy materials and then submitting receipts. Staff noticed delays in receipt submission, prompting a review that revealed inflated VAT and quotes masquerading as invoices. The nursing home recovered the full amount, which Morgan repaid. Judge Melanie Greally noted a "considerable level of dishonesty and breach of trust" but, citing his prior good record, imposed a two‑year suspended sentence. Morgan, a father of three with minor previous traffic convictions, has not attracted further attention since. He also suffers from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Gerard McDonnell, aged 27, and Christian Goonery, aged 30, were sentenced for hijacking a skip‑hire truck. McDonnell, who was already serving a seven‑year driving ban, pleaded guilty to stealing a mechanically propelled vehicle, unlawfully seizing the truck, endangerment and two counts of dangerous driving. Goonery pleaded guilty to unlawfully taking the vehicle and being a passenger. Judge Cormac Quinn imposed a five‑year prison term on McDonnell with two years suspended and a ten‑year driving ban. Goonery received four years' imprisonment with the final two years suspended. The court noted the incident was opportunistic, involved a hammer threat, and resulted in the driver sustaining bruises and a knee injury. The defendants' prior convictions and mitigating factors were considered in sentencing.
A 39‑year‑old man, described by the court as a paedophile who poses a serious threat to society, was sentenced to six and a half years in prison for sexual assault and child pornography offences. He pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault against an older boy aged 10‑11 and to producing child pornography involving that boy between September and December 2012. He also pleaded guilty to producing child pornography involving a younger boy aged 4‑5 in July 2013, and admitted possession of child pornography in December 2014 and contravening a sex offenders order in May 2016. The judge imposed a suspended 18‑month period and required the offender to engage in services and counselling while in custody. Gardaí seized laptops, an external hard drive and a USB key containing thousands of category‑one and category‑two images and videos of the two boys, which were identified by the police and specialist interviewers.
In the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Mr David Drumm, 51, pleaded not guilty to conspiracy and false accounting charges related to Anglo Irish Bank's 2008 deposits. He claimed that external auditors Ernst & Young issued a clean opinion on the bank's year‑end accounts, though he suggested a qualified opinion could have been issued. Drumm admitted that multi‑million euro transactions occurred between Anglo and Irish Life & Permanent (ILP) in 2008 but denied they were fraudulent or dishonest. Witness Kevin Kelly, an accountant, testified that Ernst & Young auditors entered Anglo's headquarters in November 2008 and that the audit team had been briefed beforehand. Kelly also noted that the transaction with ILP was described as "technically sound" and that he was only informed of its details in 2009. The trial, now on day 43, is proceeding before Judge Karen O'Connor and a jury of ten men and four women.
A 43‑year‑old Nigerian mother pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to four counts of child cruelty for beating her two children with household items between October 2011 and April 2013. The court heard that the abuse involved excessive physical chastisement, verbal and mental abuse, and that the children were taken into care and foster care before returning to their mother. Detective Garda Donal O'Connell noted that the treatment would have been considered acceptable in Nigeria and that the children had not been deprived of food or clothing. The mother had made domestic violence allegations against her husband but had not filed an official complaint. She had worked hard to educate herself and had changed her parenting style after engaging with a migrant family support service. Judge Cormac Quinn, citing the seriousness of the offences and the mother's mitigating factors, imposed a one‑year suspended sentence for three years.
Dermot Griffin, 57, of Ballyfermot, was convicted of manslaughter for setting fire to a makeshift den on 1 September 2001, which killed 12‑year‑old Stephen Hughes. The 13‑day trial concluded with a 15‑year sentence imposed by Judge Patricia Ryan on 23 June 2014. Griffin appealed the conviction, but the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal on all grounds. Mr Justice George Birmingham, sitting with Mr Justice Alan Mahon and Mr Justice John Edwards, upheld the conviction, noting that the evidence, including witness testimony and video footage, supported the finding that Griffin started the fire. The appeal was rejected because the Court found no substantive errors in the trial or grounds to discharge the jury. The conviction and sentence remain in force.
Former solicitor Michael Lynn, aged 49, will be arraigned on 21 charges of alleged theft totalling almost €30 million from seven financial institutions. He appeared via video‑link from Cloverhill Prison, saying only greetings to the judge. His barrister requested an arraignment for 8 May, which Judge Martin Nolan accepted. Sample counts include €4.1 million stolen from Irish Nationwide on 4 April 2007 and €3.6 million from Ulster Bank on 20 October 2006. Lynn was extradited from Brazil earlier this month.
Mark McCarthy, aged 32, had his nine‑year prison sentence for the tiger kidnapping of the Nawn family increased to 15 years after the Director of Public Prosecutions appealed. The kidnapping, which took place on 1–2 August 2011, involved the abduction of Warren and Jean Marie Nawn and their 10‑week‑old baby in County Louth and County Dublin. McCarthy was found guilty of false imprisonment and the theft of €661,125 from the Post Office in Drogheda, an amount that has never been recovered. The Court of Appeal described the original sentence as "unduly lenient" and, after considering mitigating factors such as alleged duress and a drug debt, imposed a 15‑year term. The decision was made by a three‑judge panel headed by Mr Justice George Birmingham. The case remains a rare example of a tiger kidnapping in Ireland.
A Polish roofer, Slawomir Gierlowski, aged 33, was found guilty by a jury of carrying out three random violent sexual attacks on women in Dublin between 2011 and 2016. The first attack occurred on 11 September 2011, when he dragged a woman to the ground, sexually assaulted her and punched her repeatedly. The second, on 3 September 2015, involved a leather belt and duct tape, followed by sexual assault. The third, on 16 May 2016, took place in daylight on Knockmeenagh Lane; Gierlowski, armed with a hunting knife, pulled a woman backwards, threatened to slit her throat, and cut tendons in three fingers when she grabbed the blade. DNA evidence linked all three incidents to Gierlowski, who had been in custody since his arrest in June 2016. The trial, held at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, concluded with unanimous guilty verdicts for all three offences, and he remains remanded for sentencing.
A jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court found Slawomir Gierlowski, 33, guilty of six counts of sexual assault, assault and false imprisonment against two women in Clondalkin over a four‑year period. The convictions relate to attacks in 2011 and 2015, when Gierlowski dragged the women to the ground, used a leather belt or duct tape, and sexually assaulted them. A third attack on 16 May 2016 involved a hunting knife; the victim was pulled backwards, cut three fingers, and escaped. DNA evidence linked Gierlowski to all three incidents, matching blood, semen and other trace material from the scenes. The jury deliberated over three additional charges from the 2016 attack, which will be considered tomorrow. The case remains at the jury stage for those further charges. The unnamed woman pleaded not guilty.
Edward Doherty, 65, of Belgard Heights, Tallaght, was convicted of fraudulently claiming nearly €40,000 in illness benefit between 2010 and 2016 while he was self‑employed. He had previously claimed legitimate benefits for sciatica but continued to submit monthly sick certificates after becoming self‑employed, without notifying authorities. Doherty pleaded guilty and admitted making false declarations to obtain the benefit. He had entered a repayment plan of €150 per month and had repaid €2,100 over the past 14 months. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court noted his cooperation, lack of prior convictions, and his status as a family and community man, but found the pattern of misbehaviour too serious for a non‑custodial sentence. He was sentenced to 14 months imprisonment.
A 52‑year‑old Dublin man, Brian Manning, pleaded guilty on 15 March 2017 to possessing 37 images and one video of child pornography accessed via the Kik Messenger instant‑messaging app. The images mainly showed pre‑teen girls in explicit sexual activity with adults. Canadian authorities alerted Irish Gardaí in February 2017 that the username "biman4377" was distributing child pornography on Kik. Garda Ronan Swan confirmed that two images were sent from an IP address registered to Manning. Manning voluntarily appeared at Crumlin Garda Station, admitted the offence, and cooperated fully. His Samsung S5 phone was seized and a forensic examination found the 37 photos and video. Manning claimed he had used Kik for less than a year, no longer used it, and had not intentionally downloaded or stored the material. He expressed remorse, stating he was in a "bad place" and that he had no sexual attraction to children.
Matthew Horan, 26, was sentenced in January to nine‑and‑a‑half years for possession of child pornography and coercing girls to send sexual images. The final two‑and‑a‑half years were suspended. Judge Martin Nolan, after a probation report, ordered that Horan not enrol in a computer programming course and that he enter a bond of good behaviour for two years, undergo two years of post‑release supervision and access all available services. The court heard that Horan used Skype, Snapchat, Instagram and Kik to exchange child porn and to coerce girls, including a nine‑year‑old, into sending graphic material. He threatened to post an 11‑year‑old's nude images if she did not comply. Horan pleaded guilty to multiple counts of sexual exploitation and child‑pornography possession, with no prior convictions. The judge described his sexual interest as unhealthy, insidious and debased, noting that Horan understood the harm yet continued his actions.
Conor O'Hora, 40, of Heather Walk, Portmarnock, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to harassing RTÉ newsreader Sharon Ní Bheoláin between 27 March 2013 and 7 January 2014 without lawful authority or excuse. He also pleaded guilty to knowingly possessing child pornography on a hard drive on 18 February 2014. His defence counsel, Pieter Le Vert BL, argued the plea was based on recklessness and requested time for a therapeutic report before sentencing. Judge Martin Nolan set the sentencing hearing for 16 May 2018, when full facts will be considered.
John Matthews, aged 38, was sentenced by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to four and a half years imprisonment for 56 burglaries committed over a 16‑month period, 33 of which occurred while he was out on bail. The judge suspended an additional four and a half years on the condition that Matthews keep the peace for five years after release and attend drug treatment programmes. Matthews, from Desmond Avenue, Dun Laoghaire, had 124 previous convictions, 115 of them for burglary. Prosecutor Marie Torrens BL described how Matthews would knock on doors, check for occupants, then break in by smashing windows or door glass. Victims reported loss of jewellery, a wedding ring, Christmas presents, and €20 in loose change, and one elderly victim incurred €30 in window repair costs. Matthews pleaded guilty to sample counts of burglary between 19 January 2015 and 22 April 2016 at locations in south Dublin, including Rathfarnham and Dun Laoghaire.
During a trial at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, former Anglo Irish Bank executive Declan Quilligan testified that he witnessed a banker crying at a foreign investment meeting in Amsterdam in September 2008 after Lehman Brothers collapsed. Quilligan, who was present at the meeting, described the banker's distress as a result of having invested in Lehman Brothers a few days earlier, leading to a "corporate run" on Anglo. He also explained that Anglo's funding initiatives had fallen away and that the market had worsened due to Lehman's demise, causing the bank's balance sheet to appear weaker at year‑end. Quilligan agreed with the defense that Anglo had been a successful bank up to 2007 and that actions taken during the credit crisis could be misinterpreted. He further discussed the bank's interactions with Irish Life & Permanent and the Central Bank's role in the crisis.
Albert Redmond, 43, was sentenced to three years in prison for a series of thefts, including trespassing and stealing bank cards and cash. He admitted to entering a Dublin city centre office twice, taking a cheque worth almost €9,500, and depositing it into his own account before traveling to Blackpool. While on holiday, he claimed the money was stolen from him, which he said gave him some empathy for victims. Redmond also pleaded guilty to stealing €28 in cash at a Spar, €28 at a bank, and €9,479 at Permanent TSB, among other offences. He had 294 prior convictions, mainly for trespass, theft, and burglary. The judge, noting Redmond's lack of violence and his personal struggles, imposed a three‑year sentence, back‑dated to his June 2023 custody entry.
Noel Coleman, 36, a chronic heroin addict, was arrested after a CCTV‑recorded incident in which he waved two knives at Gardaí and threatened to stab them. He was approached by officers after a live bench warrant was issued for his arrest. When questioned, he became agitated, produced the knives, and shouted, "I'll fucking kill you." Garda Brian O'Reilly and a colleague sprayed pepper spray, but Coleman fled. Gardaí pursued him, and when he was told an armed unit was on the way, he replied, "They will have to fucking shoot me." He was eventually subdued by Tasers, threw the knives to the ground, and was taken into custody. Coleman had previously pleaded guilty to robbery on 17 May 2017 and to threatening to kill or cause serious harm to Garda O'Reilly on 20 May 2017. He was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for these offences.
Sean Mooney, aged 26, was jailed for three and a half years after a prisoner pressured him into planning to fire a sawn‑off shotgun at a family home in Dublin. Two adults and four children, including a baby, were present when Mooney pointed the gun at the front door. CCTV footage showed him wearing black with his face covered; the weapon jammed and he walked away, later returning with the gun. A phone was thrown at the door, causing a bang, and Mooney fled. No shots were fired and no injuries occurred. Mooney claimed he was "casing" the area to find houses to burgle to pay a €5,000 gambling debt, but Garda Stephen Tierney said the footage contradicted this. Mooney had communicated with a prisoner in Mountjoy who instructed him to intimidate the occupants because of a grudge against a former resident. Sean Mooney pleaded guilty.
A jury has begun deliberating in the trial of Slawomir Gierlowski, a 33‑year‑old man from Drimnagh, Dublin, who is accused of carrying out violent sexual attacks on women in Dublin. Gierlowski denies all nine charges, which include false imprisonment, sexual assault and assault. He denies attacking and sexually assaulting women on dates in 2011 and 2015 at locations around Clondalkin in south Dublin, and also denies attacking a woman with a knife in 2016. One woman testified that on 16 May 2016 a man armed with a hunting knife attacked her on Knockmeenagh Lane, and she grabbed the blade to stop the attack, causing the knife to cut tendons in three of her fingers. Another woman said that on 3 September 2015 a man put a leather belt around her neck, knocked her to the ground, wrapped duct tape around her face and hands and sexually assaulted her.
Joseph Kiernan, aged 34, was deported from the Netherlands after serving a partially suspended three‑year robbery sentence. He was then jailed in Ireland for six years for a series of driving and drug offences. In November 2014 he pleaded guilty to unlawful use of a stolen Ford Mondeo and possession of €648 of cannabis near Dublin Airport. In January 2015 he pleaded guilty to unlawful use of a stolen BMW and dangerous driving around Gormanston, Meath. In May 2015 he pleaded guilty to possession of €3,566 of cannabis at a premises he shared with his partner on Gardiner Street, Dublin. The court imposed a four‑year sentence for the earlier drugs charge, consecutive to another four years for the later drugs offence, with the final two years suspended. Kiernan was banned from driving for 20 years. He had 55 prior convictions, including robbery, vehicle theft, burglaries and possession of stolen property.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, former Anglo Irish Bank executive David Drumm, aged 51, pleaded not guilty to conspiracy and false accounting charges. He is accused of colluding with ex‑bank officials to defraud depositors by falsely claiming Anglo's 2008 deposits were €7.2 billion larger than they were. Drumm also faces a false accounting charge for providing misleading information on December 3 2008. The trial, now in its seventh week, focuses on evidence that Anglo's €7.2 billion transactions with Irish Life & Permanent (ILP) were not fraudulent, as Drumm's former chief executive admits. Key evidence includes recorded phone calls from September 2008 where former liquidity head Ciaran McArdle discusses the back‑to‑back loan with ILP, noting that other funding options had failed and that ILP was the only viable source. The case is before Judge Karen O'Connor and a jury.
During the trial of Slawomir Gierlowski, a 33‑year‑old man from Drimnagh, the prosecution presented DNA evidence as the central link between him and three violent sexual attacks on women in Clondalkin and Knockmeenagh Lane between 2011 and 2016. One victim recounted a 2016 assault where a man with a hunting knife threatened her throat and she cut his blade, leaving tendon injuries on her fingers. Another victim described a 2015 incident where a man wrapped a leather belt around her neck, knocked her to the ground, and used duct tape to restrain her before sexually assaulting her. The third victim reported a 2011 attack involving punches and sexual assault. The prosecution argued that DNA from Gierlowski's semen and blood was found at each scene, including on a jacket he owned and a Polish beer bottle near the 2016 site, and that cable ties linked to his van were found near the 2016 scene. Slawomir Gierlowski pleaded not guilty.
Stephen McCullagh, aged 38, fell through a skylight at a vehicle glass repair shop, sustaining arm injuries that nearly caused him to bleed to death. Blood trails led from the skylight to various offices and drawers he had rummaged through. Gardaí were alerted by Dublin Fire Brigade members, and medical staff forced shutters open and unlocked the building to reach him. McCullagh, who had previously been told he might have bled to death but survived due to air bubbles in his heart, pleaded guilty to criminal damage on 4 June 2017. He has 69 prior convictions, including burglaries, thefts, drug possession and traffic offences. In court, he showed scars and described numb fingers; counsel noted his physical punishment. Judge Martin Nolan accepted the near‑fatal incident, described McCullagh as a "sad case", and imposed a two‑year suspended sentence.
A man has been convicted of assaulting his brother and sister-in-law with a fire extinguisher during a family gathering in Dublin. David Fludgate (39) pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to causing them harm at a public house on Old Lucan Road, Palmerstown on 13 December 2015. The incident occurred during their father's 70th birthday party following a dispute about helium balloons. CCTV evidence showed Fludgate swinging the extinguisher twice at his brother, Noel Fludgate, and once at Tracy Fludgate, causing both to fall to the ground. Noel Fludgate sustained a head wound requiring seven staples, while his wife received treatment for injuries. Fludgate, who is currently residing at hostel accommodation on Longford Street Little, was sentenced to 21 months imprisonment. The judge noted the assaults were serious but reduced the headline sentence of four years due to his guilty plea and rehabilitation efforts.
Secora Kavanagh, 50, of North Great Charles Street, pleaded guilty to permitting the preparation of 178 g of heroin and 2 g of cocaine at her home on 11 March 2017. She had let her boyfriend's cousin stay at the flat while she was on holiday. The cousin had called her minutes before Gardaí arrived, telling her to move the drugs. Kavanagh told officers she had suspicions but had turned a blind eye. Garda Emmett Brannigan said the police obtained a search warrant after witnessing a drug transaction on the street. During the search officers found a bag of heroin and cocaine in a navy bag under the stairs, a tick list and other evidence. Kavanagh had no previous convictions. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a two‑year suspended sentence, suspended for two years.
The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court will hear closing speeches in the trial of Slawomir Gierlowski, a 33‑year‑old man from Drimnagh, who is accused of violent sexual attacks on three women between 2011 and 2016. Gierlowski denies all nine charges, which include false imprisonment, sexual assault and assault. The prosecution, led by Roisin Lacey SC, has presented evidence from the three alleged victims. One victim recounted an attack on 16 May 2016 when Gierlowski, armed with a hunting knife, threatened her on Knockmeenagh Lane and she forced the knife to cut her fingers. Another victim described an assault on 3 September 2015 in Clondalkin, where Gierlowski used a leather belt and duct tape before sexually assaulting her. The third victim reported being punched and sexually assaulted on 11 September 2011 in Clondalkin. Judge Pauline Codd informed the jury that closing speeches would be delivered next Tuesday, followed by a charge on Wednesday and the start of deliberations.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 16 March 2018, Darren Rowe (22) and Eoin Greene (23) pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after punching, kicking and knocking down a female wheelchair user, Mandy Kennedy, outside her home on 21 November 2017. The judge, Karen O'Connor, described the attack as gratuitous violence against a vulnerable person and said the men acted out of a misplaced sense of loyalty to each other amid a dispute with Kennedy's son. Kennedy, who became a wheelchair user after a spinal injury, suffered a fractured eye socket and ongoing psychological distress. O'Connor noted both men's drug addictions and past convictions—Rowe 26, Greene 34—and sentenced Rowe to 3½ years with 12 months suspended, and Greene to 2½ years in prison. The judge urged them to choose rehabilitation over further prison time.
James Farrell, 35, of Ballyfermot, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to robbing a Spar shop in Chapelizod on 24 March 2017, to unlawful possession of a knife during that robbery, and to the unauthorised taking of a car. He had 67 prior convictions, including robbery and burglary. Farrell brandished a silver steak knife, held it to a shop assistant's throat, demanded the till be opened, and received €175 before leaving. Gardaí identified him from CCTV, and the car he used was later found abandoned and previously stolen. He was arrested that same day. Judge Patrick Quinn sentenced Farrell to three years' imprisonment, suspending the final two years on condition of attending probation appointments, completing a drug programme, and refraining from illicit drugs. The sentence was back‑dated to 27 March of the previous year.
A 26‑year‑old man from North Strand Road, Dublin, was sentenced to one year in prison for his part in a taxi hijacking that took place on 28 August 2017 in Cabra. Daniel Barry pleaded guilty to unlawful seizure of a vehicle at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He was not considered the "prime mover" of the offence, having been cooperative after arrest and making admissions. Barry was involved in the hijacking after a co‑accused threatened the taxi driver with a knife and forced the driver to drive away. Barry entered the hijacked taxi as the accomplice drove off and tried to evade Gardaí. He was arrested after being chased to Aylward Green. The judge imposed a three‑year sentence, suspending the final two years, and noted Barry's good behaviour and steps toward reform while in custody. The taxi driver did not give a victim impact statement.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Besnik Vucaj, a 49‑year‑old former Albanian refugee, pleaded guilty to five counts of deception for inducing the Department of Social Protection to pay rent supplements and three counts for inducing it to pay carer's allowance. He had purchased two Italian identity cards from a resident at his former address and used them while working for a Dublin construction firm. Between June 2012 and March 2016, Vucaj claimed over €51,000 in rent supplements and carer's allowance under false identities. Garda Thomas Burke explained that Vucaj would need more than 31 years to repay the debt if he set aside €30 a week from his wages. He had repaid €1,680 to date and offered to repay €100 a week. Judge Pauline Codd adjourned sentencing to gather evidence of his financial pressures and current earnings, ordering probation and community service reports and returning the case for finalisation in May.
Steven McGinty, a 46‑year‑old former nurse from Cherry Garth, Swords, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of 260 images and four video files of child pornography and to distributing such material within the State between August 2006 and October 2013. Gardaí found the material on his laptop, which had been stored at his home on 24 October 2013. McGinty voluntarily provided his computer passwords and directed officers to the storage location. Judge Karen O'Connor noted the relatively small volume of material, the absence of commercial activity, and McGinty's cooperation, including his attempts to seek rehabilitation. She also cited the long period over which the offences were committed and the impact on vulnerable children as aggravating factors. The judge imposed a four‑year jail sentence, fully suspended, with the sentence effectively suspended for the period of the sentence.
Paul Callaghan, aged 32, was sentenced to four months' imprisonment for sexually assaulting a 20‑year‑old student on Dublin Bus No. 75 between Dun Laoghaire and Nutgrove on 16 December 2016. The victim witnessed Callaghan masturbating and then, after sitting beside her, stroking her thigh. He shouted "Don't be scared" and later claimed to be "eight" when asked his age. Callaghan, who has 18 prior convictions including 14 public‑order offences, pleaded guilty. Judge Martin Nolan described the offence as a "shocking experience" and imposed a two‑year custodial sentence, suspending the final 20 months and ordering 12 months' post‑release probation. The court noted Callaghan's schizophrenia, his intoxication at the time of the offence, and his previous arrests under the Mental Health Act. The bus driver had called Gardaí, leading to Callaghan's arrest shortly after he disembarked. The prosecution and defence both highlighted his medication regime and family background.
Paul Carew, a 41‑year‑old Dublin man, was sentenced to eight years in prison for three money‑laundering offences involving over €600,000. On 27 August 2016 he was caught transporting €191,160 of criminal proceeds in a van at Liffey Valley Shopping Centre; two months earlier, on 24 June 2016, he was arrested at Dublin Auto Prestige Car Wash after placing a €350,000 cash box into a van. Carew had previously received a suspended sentence in 2014 for possessing almost €68,000 of criminal proceeds. He pleaded guilty to all three charges. Judge Martin Nolan, hearing the case at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, noted Carew's "blameless life" before his first offence and his willingness to reform, and set the sentence at eight years, back‑dated to 24 June 2017. The court heard that the money largely came from drug dealing and that Carew was described by Gardaí as a "trusted" courier within an organised crime cartel.
William Brennan, aged 34, was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two and a half years' imprisonment for laundering €250,000 for criminals via Western Union. Brennan first used his own passport to transfer cash to Pakistan, but later received fake identification to continue the transactions. He pleaded guilty to five counts of possessing property that was the proceeds of criminal conduct at various north Dublin locations between September 2013 and December 2014, and to possessing a false driving licence on 31 October 2014. Brennan had no prior convictions. Gardaí began investigating 87 Western Union transactions after confidential information was received; CCTV footage showed Brennan using his own ID and later false documents. The court noted that Brennan was pressured to continue after receiving fake IDs and that he was unlikely to appear again in court.
Prince Ajibola, a 50‑year‑old father of four from Castlegate Place, Adamstown, Lucan, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing a child‑pornography clip that showed a child under five being raped. The clip, sent to his phone via WhatsApp on 20 July 2016, was discovered when his two mobile phones were seized after his arrest at Dublin Airport on 1 September 2016. Ajibola admitted he had only viewed the clip once, then shut it down, and claimed he had forgotten it was on his phone. He denied forwarding it to anyone. The judge, citing his early guilty plea, remorse and cooperation, imposed a one‑year suspended sentence and ordered that he be entered on the sex offenders register. The sender of the clip has pleaded guilty to distribution and will be sentenced next month.