Court archive
2026-03-11 · Dublin
Craig Johnson received a six-year sentence, with the final 18 months suspended, after pleading guilty to arson and burglary offences in Dublin. The court heard that a spark caused the fire at Peruke and Periwig and that he left an antique shop empty-handed.
2025-11-14 · Dublin
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Johan Monzon, a 35‑year‑old Venezuelan, was sentenced to two years in prison for possession of cocaine for sale or supply at Dublin Airport on 20 May 2025. Monzon had been on a flight from Spain when he suffered severe seizures, leading to a diversion to Dublin where he was admitted to Beaumont Hospital. He had swallowed 48 cocaine pellets, one of which ruptured, and remained hospitalised for five weeks until 1 July. A garda witness estimated the street value of the drugs at €40,768. Monzon admitted to ingesting the pellets in Colombia, Brazil, France and Spain, and claimed he had not received the promised $3,000 payment. The judge back‑dated the sentence to the date of his arrest, noting his lack of family ties in Ireland and his financial desperation. The court did not discuss any further legal proceedings.
2025-10-22 · Dublin
Dean Madden, 32, of Balcurris Road, Ballymun, Dublin 11, was sentenced to 16 months' imprisonment after pleading guilty in Dublin District Court to possession, production and distribution of child pornography. The charges stemmed from a March 2024 raid on his home, where 3,832 images and 162 videos were seized. Garda Paul Higgins identified Madden through his email and username on a particular app. Of the material, 1,601 images and 151 videos were classified as the most serious category, depicting sexual activity involving children as young as two years old with other children or adults; 1,818 images were classified as child exposure images, while the remainder were animated or computer‑generated. Madden also admitted simple possession of drugs, with a small amount of cannabis seized. He had no prior convictions and had not attracted Garda attention before the arrest.
2024-11-15 · Tipperary
Cahir O'Higgins, a prominent criminal defence solicitor, was found guilty by a jury of stealing €400 and attempting to pervert the course of justice on four counts. O'Higgins, 49, had pleaded not guilty to the charges, which related to events in 2016 and 2017. The trial heard that O'Higgins withdrew €600 from the bank account of Spanish national Raul Sanz Quilis, who had admitted to criminal damage in a Dublin District Court case. O'Higgins claimed he had permission to use Quilis's bank card and that he returned €400 to the defendant. However, Quilis testified that he was not aware of the withdrawal and that O'Higgins did not return the money. The jury found O'Higgins guilty on all five counts after deliberating for nearly five hours. Judge Martin Nolan remanded O'Higgins in custody and adjourned the case for sentencing on November 25. Cahir O'Higgins had the case struck out.
2024-11-07 · Tipperary
The trial of criminal defence solicitor Cahir O'Higgins, who has pleaded not guilty to one count of theft and four counts of perverting the course of justice, continues before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury. The prosecution alleges that on July 30, 2016, O'Higgins withdrew €600 from an ATM at a Londis shop on Parkgate Street using the bank card of applicant Raul Sanz Quilis, keeping €400 for himself after paying a €200 court fee. Sanz Quilis, who was charged with criminal damage, consented to the withdrawal solely to pay the fine. Evidence from Courts Service clerk Derek Bunyan confirmed the case was struck out after the payment. Additionally, the State alleges O'Higgins provided gardaí in December 2017 with notes he claimed were made on July 30, 2016, which the prosecution says contained untrue information. Natwest Group Fraud Control Manager Michael Wilson testified that records show three €200 withdrawals were made from the Spanish-issued card between 4pm and 5pm on that date. O'Higgins denies all allegations, maintaining he acted in good faith. The matter is currently at the trial stage and has not been finalised.
2024-04-15 · Dublin
A barrister from Castlebar has had his public order conviction overturned on appeal. Simeon Burke, aged 25, was convicted in July 2023 at Dublin District Court and fined €300 following an incident at the Four Courts on Inns Quay in March that year. The breach of the peace charge related to his behaviour during proceedings involving his brother's legal case before the Court of Appeal. At the District Court Appeals hearing on 15 April, Judge John Martin allowed Mr Burke's appeal and quashed the conviction. The judge found insufficient evidence that Mr Burke's conduct met the criminal threshold required for a public order offence under the relevant legislation. Garda witnesses had testified that Mr Burke resisted and obstructed officers during removal from the courtroom, including making comments about unrelated matters. However, Judge Martin concluded the requisite standard for criminal conviction had not been established beyond reasonable doubt. Mr Burke had argued that gardaí adopted an overzealous approach and removed him without a valid judicial order to do so.
2024-03-11 · Dublin
In a Dublin District Court hearing, an enforcement order was issued against a massage parlour that had been found to have subjected a worker to egregious sexual harassment. The court awarded the worker a record whistleblower penalisation of €91,000, the maximum under the Workplace Relations Commission's jurisdiction, along with additional sums for unfair dismissal and other workplace rights breaches, bringing the total to €102,550. The massage parlour's owner, who was not present, had failed to pay the award by the 56‑day deadline and remains in operation. The court also ordered the payment of legal costs and court fees, and granted anonymity for the parties involved. The case highlighted the worker's claims that managers pressured her to provide sexual services, denied her pay, and retaliated against her refusal, leading to her dismissal and unpaid wages.
2023-01-20 · Dublin
Brendan Leahy, a former Trinity College facilities manager, withdrew his bid to be reinstated after the college sought to question him about a sexual assault case. Leahy had pleaded guilty in 2018 to assaulting a woman at Kehoe's Pub and received a suspended three‑month sentence, a fine, and a compensation payment. He appealed to the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and was granted the benefit of the Probation Act in July 2021. In August 2021 he wrote to the college's HR department that the Circuit Court order meant his conviction was "disposed of". He filed an unfair dismissal claim under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977 after being sacked in 2021. The Workplace Relations Commission hearing, held on 20 January 2023, considered evidence from the college, Leahy's barrister, and witnesses, and concluded with the adjudicator reviewing the case after a third and final hearing.
2023-01-20 · Dublin
A former senior manager at Trinity College Dublin, Brendan Leahy, claims he was unfairly dismissed from his €120,000-a-year post after the university learned that he had pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting an American tourist in 2018. The Workplace Relations Commission is hearing his complaint under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977. Leahy was given a suspended three‑month sentence by Dublin District Court, required to complete a sex offenders course and pay a fine and compensation. He appealed to Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and received the benefit of the Probation Act in August 2021. Trinity placed him on paid leave and launched an investigation in August 2021, following a second allegation of sexual harassment from a former employee, Ms X, who accused him of miming oral sex at a karaoke party. Leahy argues the investigations were procedurally flawed and pre‑determined, citing the Probation Act order as a basis for dismissal of his conviction.
2022-10-18 · Dublin
In a court hearing on 18 October 2022, the judge considered the case of Myles Howe, aged 49, who on 22 August 2020 broke into the Garda roads policing office at Dublin Castle through an emergency exit. Howe stole handcuffs, a radio, pepper spray and items of Garda uniform. CCTV footage later showed him attempting to conceal the stolen items in grass and a bin, after which the radio and handcuffs were recovered by Gardaí. The stolen uniform items were found at Howe's home in Dublin 8. Howe pleaded guilty to trespass and theft at Dublin Castle and also pleaded guilty to a burglary of a flat on Dawson Street in October 2021. He had previously been convicted of burglary, theft, assault and criminal damage. The case was initially before Dublin District Court, where the Director of Public Prosecutions had consented to summary disposal, but Judge Brian O'Shea refused jurisdiction and referred it to the Circuit Court.
2022-02-24 · Wicklow
A Circuit Court judge lifted a gagging order that had prevented the naming of Garda William Ryan, 35, who is charged with false imprisonment and three counts of sexual assault at Aughrim Garda Station on 29 September 2020, and a further charge of false imprisonment on the same date and location. Ryan also faces a charge of offensive sexual conduct between 23 August 2019 and 25 February 2020 at another location in Leinster. The trial is scheduled for 4 June 2024. The order was originally imposed by District Court Judge Treasa Kelly after a defence solicitor's application, and was challenged by lawyers for several media organisations. Judge Melanie Greally, hearing the case, found no evidence that publishing Ryan's name would impair his right to a fair trial and therefore lifted the restrictions.
2021-02-11 · Dublin
Dr Ronan Keogan, 48, of College Square, Terenure, Dublin 6W, faces trial on 8 November 2022 in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He is charged with five counts of possessing child pornography images at his clinic and three counts of knowingly distributing such images in 2017. The offences relate to section 6(1) and 5(1) of the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act 1998. He was remanded on continuing bail and a no‑publicity order was lifted after media inquiries.
2021-02-10 · Galway
Michael Small, a 54‑year‑old former solicitor from Renville, Oranmore, Co. Galway, faces a trial set for 9 January 2023 in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He is charged with multiple counts of theft, deception, failure to keep accounting records and the use of false accounting documents, alleged to have occurred over a two‑year period while he was practising in Limerick. Earlier, in 2008 and 2009, he appeared before the Dublin District Court on similar charges. The case involves allegations of €1.2 million in fraud, and free legal aid was granted for the circuit court proceedings.
2019-08-21 · Dublin
Oliver Callely, a 27‑year‑old man charged with assault causing harm for allegedly igniting a firework in the smoking area of Copper Face Jacks nightclub on 6 September 2015, appeared before Dublin District Court on 2 July. He has not yet indicated how he will plead. At a vacation sitting of Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Martina Baxter temporarily relaxed his bail conditions to allow him to work in the UK. The conditions were eased between 26 August and 5 September and the requirement to sign daily at Malahide Garda Station was reduced to once a week. The court adjourned the application to return his passport, which would enable him to work as a driver for his brother‑in‑law, a car dealer, until 18 September. Callely is due to be arraigned on 30 October. The case remains at the bail‑relaxation stage.
2019-07-26 · Dublin
Oliver Callely, 27, of St Lawrences Road, Clontarf, Dublin, faces trial for an alleged assault causing harm to a man at the Copper Face Jacks nightclub on Harcourt Street on 6 September 2015. He appeared before Dublin District Court on 2 July and was present on bail. On a new mention before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, his lawyers requested an arraignment date, which Judge Martin Nolan set for 30 October. The court also granted a variation of his bail, with the DPP consenting.
2019-07-22 · Dublin
Gary Kinlan, 42, with 129 prior convictions, was sentenced to three years after robbing a cash‑in‑transit driver of €25,000 on 3 December 2018. The robbery occurred after Kinlan left Dublin District Court, where he had just received an eight‑month suspended sentence for another offence. While the driver was returning a cash box to his van, Kinlan, carrying nail clippers, threatened him with a metal object he claimed was a knife. The driver, fearing for his safety, dropped the box; Kinlan seized it and fled. Witnesses photographed him carrying the cash, and Gardaí were alerted by members of the public. Kinlan was arrested after attempting to evade officers, and a set of keys and nail clippers were seized. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, and the judge, noting his drug and alcohol issues and the opportunistic nature of the crime, imposed a three‑year sentence back‑dated to December 2018.
2019-05-27 · Dublin
A 35‑year‑old electrician, Sean Nolan, was arrested on 22 October 2018 after the discovery of his partner, 32‑year‑old Amanda Carroll, dead at her home in Cabra, Dublin. He was charged with her murder and remanded in custody following his appearance at Dublin District Court on 23 October. In the Central Criminal Court, Mr Justice Michael White set 13 July 2020 as the trial date, expecting a two‑week hearing. Nolan did not attend the court session that morning and was remanded in custody until the trial.
2018-07-05 · Dublin
The trial of Regina Keogh, Thomas Fox, and Jonathan Keogh, who are accused of murdering Gareth Hutch, continued before a three-judge court. All three defendants have pleaded not guilty to the murder charge. Mr Fox has additionally denied unlawfully possessing a Makarov 9mm handgun. The prosecution alleges the killing was premeditated, with Mr Keogh threatening the victim the day before and acting as a shooter alongside an unidentified man, while Ms Keogh and Mr Fox were instrumental in planning. Evidence presented included testimony that Detective Sergeant Enda O'Sullivan seized earplugs from Mr Keogh during his extradition flight from the UK to obtain DNA evidence. Defence counsel argued the seizure was unlawful and breached constitutional rights, while the prosecution contended the earplugs were optional. The court reserved its decision on the admissibility of this evidence until Monday. The trial also heard that Mr Keogh booked a ferry to Scotland the day after Mr Hutch was fatally shot outside Avondale House flats. The matter remains ongoing, with the trial continuing before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, Judge Patricia Ryan, and Judge Michael Walsh.
2017-12-14 · Dublin
The State withdrew the attempted murder charge against 26‑year‑old Dwayne Keane after the alleged victim, a 42‑year‑old man, died of natural causes. Keane had been charged in November 2016 at Dublin District Court for an incident on Raheen Drive, Cherry Orchard. Sean Gillane SC requested a nolle prosequi, and Justice Patrick McCarthy discharged Keane, who was released on bail.
2017-12-13 · Dublin
In December 2017, Dwayne Keane, 26, of Monasterevin, was released from custody after the alleged victim of his attempted murder charge died. Keane had been charged in November 2016 at Dublin District Court for attempting to kill a 42‑year‑old man on Raheen Drive, Cherry Orchard. He was remanded until bail was granted by Justice Patrick McCarthy, requiring him to sign twice a week at Rathcoole Garda Station and post a €200 bond.
2017-07-05 · Dublin
In a Dublin District Family Court hearing, a mother seeking a safety order was told that she could not be in the same room as her child's father because medical evidence showed that such contact would cause her significant trauma and negatively affect her mental health. Her solicitor, Shehzad Bajwa, presented letters from her GP dated April 2017 and August 2015, both stating that the mother should not have contact with the father and that separate rooms during proceedings would greatly reduce stress. The mother had previously been granted a protection order in June, and the father had given a UK court undertaking in February 2016 to have no contact for three years, which the mother's solicitor argued did not apply in Ireland. The father, who lives in the UK and visits Ireland once a month to look after their child, denied the medical letters.
2016-02-22 · Dublin
In a 2016 decision, the Court of Appeal ruled that evidence linked to an associate of former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi could be presented at Dublin District Court. Frank Agrama, based in Los Angeles, had sought a judicial review of the Justice Minister's appointment of a judge to take this evidence for an Italian criminal investigation. The Court, citing the complexity of the case and the involvement of multiple parties, denied leave for the review. It noted that Agrama had been charged with aggravated misappropriation and tax fraud, was acquitted of the former, and that the Italian prosecutor had appealed the acquittal of the latter. The Court also highlighted that the Italian Supreme Court appeal would be heard in March 2016, and that the evidence would be considered at the District Court hearing scheduled for 2 pm on the day of the ruling.
2016-02-05 · Dublin
In a spring afternoon on O'Connell Street, a confrontation erupted when Sinn Féin supporters, including Gerry Adams, Martin McGuinness and Danny Morrison, tried to stop Garda detectives from arresting Evelyn Glenholmes, a young Belfast woman. A plain‑clothes detective fired three shots into the air, prompting shoppers to flee. Morrison calmly confronted the detective and ordered him to put the gun away. The Garda subsequently withdrew, and Glenholmes was arrested and taken to Bridewell. She appeared before a District Court judge who, after hearing that nine extradition warrants issued by Scotland Yard were defective, ordered her release. The incident, which began with a court appearance on March 2, 1986, escalated into a public melee on O'Connell Street, with shots fired and supporters and detectives clashing outside the court. The case highlighted tensions over extradition requests for IRA suspects and led to accusations of Dublin being "soft" on terrorism.
2014-01-29 · Dublin
Diarmuid Connolly, a 25‑year‑old Dublin footballer, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Anthony Kelly, who sustained a fractured eye‑socket in an unprovoked attack at McGowan's pub in Phibsboro on 6 August 2012. Connolly had issued an unreserved apology, accepted by Kelly, and paid €5,000 to Barnardos and the Rape Crisis Centre, though Kelly declined compensation. Judge Patrick Clyne, after reviewing updated medical reports and Kelly's victim impact statement, described the assault as unprovoked and noted that Connolly's charitable donations exceeded the maximum fine the court could impose. The judge ordered Connolly to complete an anger‑management course and requested a certificate of completion, adjourned the case to May, and asked for a probation report. Connolly's offence carries a possible sentence of up to one year in prison.
2014-01-28 · Dublin
Martin Maloney, a 30-year-old actor from Swinford, Co. Mayo, is scheduled to stand trial in Dublin District Court on May 6 regarding two alleged assaults. The defendant, known for his role in the series Hardy Bucks, has pleaded not guilty to two counts under Section 3 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act. He is accused of assaulting security staff Brian Smith and Mark O'Shaughnessy on October 9, 2012, following an alleged dispute over a toilet queue at The Big Tree pub. Prosecution evidence alleges Maloney placed Smith in a headlock, exacerbating a previous injury, and later struck O'Shaughnessy, causing dental injuries that required fillings and root canal treatment costing between €700 and €1,000. Judge Patricia McNamara accepted jurisdiction for a non-jury trial at district court level, declining to send the case to the Circuit Court. She emphasized that Maloney remains presumed innocent. Defence solicitor Tony Collier confirmed the charges are being contested, noting the availability of significant CCTV footage and the expectation of up to eight prosecution witnesses. The trial is anticipated to last a full day. Legal aid was previously granted to Maloney, as the court heard his work is not steady and he could not fund legal fees independently. The matter is currently at the pre-trial stage, with the hearing date fixed for May 6.
2014-01-28 · Dublin
In a Dublin District Court hearing on 28 January 2014, a 44‑year‑old bus passenger, Robert Fogarty of Cardy Rock Court, Balbriggan, was charged with possessing a meat cleaver as a weapon. The incident occurred on the 102 bus route at Atrium Road, Dublin Airport, on Monday night. According to the court, Fogarty was highly intoxicated and abusive when he boarded the bus. He demanded that the driver pull up at a "non‑stop" stop, and when the driver refused, Fogarty produced a meat cleaver from his backpack and swung it at the driver, who was behind protective glass. Garda reports and CCTV footage were to be presented to the court, and Fogarty's lawyer claimed his client had another view of the allegations. Bail was granted on the condition of regular reporting to the local Garda station, and Fogarty was scheduled to return to court on 4 March.
2014-01-21 · Dublin
Leroy Harris, 19, a young actor known for a controversial cat‑killing scene in the RTE drama Love/Hate, was given another opportunity to cooperate with the Probation Service before sentencing for cannabis possession. Harris had pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of €100 worth of cannabis and to having it for sale or supply at Sheriff Street, Dublin, on 14 October. He had no prior convictions. The Dublin District Court had adjourned sentencing to prepare a pre‑sentence probation report, but Harris missed his hearing, prompting Judge Denis McLoughlin to issue a bench warrant. Defence solicitor Cahir O'Higgins argued Harris had no prior convictions and had been away with family, and that an aunt attended court. The judge cancelled the warrant and ordered an updated pre‑sentence report, adjourned the case until March. Harris was searched by Gardaí after being seen placing a suspected drug package on his trousers. He claimed the cannabis was for friends.
2014-01-20 · Dublin
Martin Maloney, a 30-year-old actor from Swinford, County Mayo, appeared at Dublin District Court to contest assault charges arising from an incident at a public house in October 2012. Maloney is accused of two counts of assault causing harm to two security staff members during an altercation over a toilet queuing system. One assault charge was struck out as statute barred. Judge Patricia McNamara declined to send the remaining charges to Circuit Court, accepting jurisdiction at district court level. Maloney was remanded on continuing bail. The judge determined he remains presumed innocent. A trial date is to be set at a further mention next week. The defence indicated the case will be contested, with evidence expected to include up to eight prosecution witnesses and significant CCTV footage, with trial anticipated to last a full day.
2014-01-16 · Dublin
The trial of Paul Byrne, 47, a businessman from Fallon & Byrne, has been postponed because a medical report needed for the case is not yet available. Byrne was charged with assault causing harm to a man at the Leeson Lounge on March 5. He has not entered a plea and appeared again at Dublin District Court. Judge Michael Walsh noted that the Director of Public Prosecutions has requested a summary disposal, which could allow the case to be heard at the district court level rather than the Circuit Court. However, the trial venue has not been decided. A court garda sergeant confirmed the absence of the medical report. Byrne's lawyer expressed concern about the report's contents and whether it would influence the court's decision. The judge deferred a ruling on the trial venue to allow time for the report to be obtained. Byrne was remanded on continuing bail, and the case is set to resume next week.
2014-01-16 · Meath
Ruairi O Ceallaigh, aged 42, pleaded guilty to stealing nearly €3m from his family‑run law firm, Sean O Ceallaigh & Company, in Dublin. He was arrested by the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation and charged with seven offences under the Theft and Fraud Act. The charges cover a four‑year period of misappropriation, including €1,551,366 between September 2008 and November 2008, and additional sums of €134,831, €151,078, €250,000, €509,646, €75,000 and €144,644 from client accounts. The Director of Public Prosecutions directed a trial on indictment, so the case will be heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. O Ceallaigh appeared at Dublin District Court, accepted the signed plea, and was remanded on continuing bail with his father acting as surety. He will face sentencing at the Circuit Court on 7 February. The court noted that a book of evidence was not required for the signed plea. The case remains at the indictment stage.
2014-01-10 · Dublin
Kenneth Cummins, 27, and Sabrina Cummins, 36, were charged with the murder of 63‑year‑old Thomas Horan, who was found dead in his Cambridge Court flat in Dublin. The body was discovered at 4 a.m. on Monday, and a post‑mortem by Dr Marie Cassidy confirmed death from internal injuries. The siblings were detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 and appeared before Dublin District Court, where they made no reply to the charges. The court, unable to grant bail in a murder case, remanded them in custody to appear again next Thursday. Both defendants were granted legal aid and orders for medical attention while remanded. The case remains at the district court stage, with any bail application to be brought to the High Court.
2014-01-07 · Dublin
A 34-year-old businessman from Armagh has been charged in connection with an alleged diesel laundering operation worth approximately €9 million annually. The man, a company director with an address in Crossmaglen, was arrested by appointment in Dublin and charged under the Finance Act in relation to an alleged incident at Castleblayney, County Monaghan, in September 2011. Gardaí alleged he was found red-handed at a yard during surveillance, with large quantities of green diesel and laundering equipment present. The operation was said to be capable of processing 18 million litres of diesel per annum, resulting in substantial revenue loss. The Director of Public Prosecutions has directed trial on indictment, meaning the case will proceed to Circuit Court level. Dublin District Court set bail with strict conditions, including a €7,500 personal bond, a €15,000 independent surety, and passport surrender. He was remanded in custody pending a further hearing at Cloverhill District Court on 14 January.
2014-01-07 · Dublin
A 49‑year‑old man, James Donohoe of Harold's Cross Road, Dublin, was remanded in custody after being charged with assault causing harm and attempted sexual assault against a woman in her twenties on Effra Road, Rathmines. He was brought before Judge Michael Walsh at Dublin District Court, where he initially declined a solicitor and a court‑appointed lawyer, but later accepted solicitor Lorraine Stephens. Garda Ciaran O'Mahony testified that Donohoe did not respond to the first charge and said, "I am not going to plead to that," when the second charge was presented. The court directed that Donohoe receive psychiatric treatment while in custody and that he be granted legal aid. A file will be sent to the DPP, and the next hearing is scheduled for 14 January at Cloverhill District Court. The case remains pending.
2014-01-02 · Louth
In Drogheda, 30‑year‑old Wayne McQuillan was stabbed to death on New Year's Day, with the attack occurring near Rathmullen Park at about 1.30 am. Gardai found him collapsed with stab wounds in a front garden and he was taken to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. A post‑mortem was later carried out. 40‑year‑old Paula Farrell of Rathmullen Park was arrested the same morning. She was remanded in custody and appeared before Judge Michael Walsh at Dublin District Court. Farrell, wearing a blue denim jacket, white and grey jumper and black trousers, did not speak during the brief hearing. She was charged with McQuillan's murder. The court could not consider bail, and her defence solicitor, Patrick Goodwin, consented to her remand and requested medical treatment for her health. Judge Walsh granted free legal aid and directed appropriate medical care while she remains in custody.
2014-01-02 · Dublin
In a New Year's morning attack in Tallaght, a young man, Dale Creighton, suffered serious injuries and later died. Two people, Graham Palmer (24) and Aisling Burke (20), were charged with violent disorder in connection with the incident. They appeared at Dublin District Court, where Judge Michael Walsh heard that further serious charges could be brought. Garda officers alleged that Palmer was seen on CCTV striking the injured party, fled the scene, and was found with blood believed to be the victim's on his face and hands. Burke was also alleged to have been seen on CCTV and was found with blood on her shoes. Both were granted conditional bail with €750 bonds, €300 cash lodgement, and independent sureties of €2,000. Conditions included residence at specified addresses, staying out of Tallaght, curfew, daily sign‑in at local garda stations, and no contact with witnesses or alleged participants. They will face their next hearing on 16 January.
2013-12-20 · Dublin
Diarmuid Connolly, a 25‑year‑old Dublin football star, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Anthony Kelly at McGowan's pub in Phibsboro on 6 August. The attack, described as unprovoked, occurred at 3.40 a.m. and involved Connolly punching Kelly in the face and continuing to strike him on the ground, resulting in a fractured eye‑socket. Connolly issued an unreserved apology, accepted by Kelly, who shook hands with him after a hearing but declined compensation. Connolly paid €5,000 to Barnardos and the Rape Crisis Centre. The case was listed again, but Connolly was excused from attending. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for 29 January before Judge Patrick Clyne. The offence carries a possible sentence of up to one year. Connolly has no prior convictions.
2013-12-20 · Limerick
A former clerk at Anglo Irish Bank, Gordon O'Brien, 42, is set to stand trial for alleged computer fraud amounting to just over €200,000. He was arrested in Dublin and charged with nine counts of unlawful use of a computer under Section 9 of the Theft and Fraud Act. The alleged offences occurred while he was operating a computer at the bank's Limerick branch between September 2010 and June 2011. O'Brien has not responded to the charges. He is currently working in the UK but maintains a Limerick address and returns there weekly. The court granted bail, requiring him to report to Roxboro Garda station each Saturday. He has no prior convictions and has cooperated with investigators. The case will be heard at Circuit Court level, with a 10‑week remand to allow completion of the evidence book. He will appear again on 10 February for further proceedings.
2013-12-19 · Dublin
In a Dublin District Court hearing on 19 December 2013, a 24‑year‑old man was denied bail after a judge heard he stabbed his mother in the neck and left a blade embedded in his little brother's arm during a frenzied knife attack at their north Dublin family home on Monday. The man, who was jobless and had been arrested on 18 December, made no reply when charged with assault causing harm to his mother and brother. Detective Garda Adrian Mulligan described the incident as occurring in the kitchen, where the man used a kitchen knife to knock his mother from her seat and stab her while she lay on the ground, causing eight injuries, including four significant wounds to her neck. The mother and her son, who is in his mid‑teens, were hospitalised but the mother was released and attended the hearing.
2013-12-18 · Dublin
Three former senior officials from two financial services institutions are to stand trial for conspiring to mislead Anglo Irish Bank investors about €7.2 billion transactions between March and September 2008. The defendants are John Bowe (50), former head of capital markets at Anglo Irish Bank; Denis Casey (54), former chief executive of Irish Life and Permanent; and Peter Fitzpatrick (61), former director of finance at Irish Life and Permanent. They are accused of transferring €7.2 billion to Anglo Irish Bank to create a false impression that the bank had larger deposits, thereby inducing investors to make decisions on that premise. Bowe also faces an additional charge of falsifying accounts on 3 December 2008 under the Theft and Fraud Act. The men were arrested, charged, and remanded on bail with conditions, and are scheduled to appear again on 12 March for trial. The case is unrelated to the trial of former Anglo executives set for January 2014.
2013-12-17 · Dublin
In December 2013, Detective Inspector Paul O'Brien, a senior Garda, was summoned to Dublin District Court to face a charge of attempting to frustrate a drink‑drive prosecution under Section 4 of the Road Traffic Act 2010. The allegation is that he consumed alcohol at his home on 6 May with the intention of undermining the prosecution. O'Brien pleaded not guilty, and the judge, Bryan Smyth, scheduled a non‑jury trial for February, noting that seven witnesses would be called and the hearing would last about two hours. No evidence had been presented at the initial hearing.
2013-12-13 · Dublin
Edward Connors, aged 20, was sentenced to four months in prison by a Dublin court for failing to notify the Gardaí of his name, address and date of birth after fleeing from Northern Ireland. Connors had previously been convicted in the North for raping an American tourist twice when he was 15, and had served eight years, including four in custody. He was arrested in Labre Park, Dublin, and after a bail hearing at Cloverhill District Court, was released on conditions including residence at Labre Park, a curfew, daily sign‑ins at Ballyfermot Garda station and confirmation of contact with the PSNI station in Belfast. Connors missed a subsequent court appearance, leading to a bench warrant. He was remanded, and on 5 December 2023 Judge Grainne Malone imposed the four‑month sentence. The case reflects the application of the Sex Offenders Act 2001 and the requirement to notify authorities upon entering the jurisdiction.
2013-12-09 · Dublin
Martin Maloney, the actor known for his role in Hardy Bucks, appeared at Dublin District Court to face three assault charges. He is accused of assaulting a male and causing harm to two other men at The Big Tree pub on Dorset Street in central Dublin on October 9 last year. Maloney, who resides in Swinford, Co. Mayo, made no reply when charged in September and has not yet indicated how he will plead. The matter is at the pre-trial stage, with the decision on jurisdiction regarding the trial venue adjourned. Judge Alan Mitchell noted that directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions are pending due to difficulties viewing CCTV evidence. These directions will determine whether the case remains in the District Court or is sent to the Circuit Court. Medical reports are to be furnished to Maloney's solicitor, Tony Collier. The judge ordered Maloney, who is on bail, to appear again next month. Additionally, the court granted Maloney free legal aid after he demonstrated an impecunious position, with a weekly income not exceeding €250. His lawyer stated that Maloney lacks steady work to fund legal fees, and cash found on him at arrest was attributed to previous work payments.
2013-12-06 · Dublin
Maria Fusco, a 50‑year‑old fashion stylist living on Leeson Street Upper, pleaded guilty to shoplifting €21 worth of groceries from Tesco on Baggot Street on 21 August. She appeared at Dublin District Court, where Judge Hugh O'Donnell heard that the goods were recovered in resalable condition and that Fusco had been stopped by security outside the store. Defence solicitor Niall O'Connor noted that Fusco had paid for other items that day but lacked the funds for the stolen goods. The judge applied section 11 of the Probation Offenders Act, sparing her a criminal record, fine or sentence.
2013-12-05 · Dublin
Ruairi O Ceallaigh, a 42‑year‑old former solicitor, was arrested by the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation and charged with seven offences under the Theft and Fraud Act. He is accused of misappropriating about €2.8 million from client accounts at his family‑run firm, Sean O Ceallaigh & Company, over a four‑year period. The alleged thefts include €1,551,366 from a named estate between September 2008 and November 2008, and six other sums ranging from €134,831 to €509,646 from client accounts between 2006 and 2010. O Ceallaigh was brought to Bridewell Garda station, then appeared before Judge Patricia Ryan at Dublin District Court, where he was remanded on bail of €200 with his father, Sean O Ceallaigh, acting as surety for €5,000. He is to face trial on indictment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, with no plea indicated yet. The case will proceed before a judge and jury.
2013-12-03 · Dublin
A 27‑year‑old man, Ciaran Moran, was charged with the murder of Gerard Donnelly, a man believed to have been from Tallaght who was found dead in Phoenix Park after a fire near the Wellington Monument. Donnelly, who had a fractured skull and was identified by dental records and DNA, had been sleeping rough in the park. Moran, who had a bruised eye and cuts on his head, was arrested and detained under Section Four of the Criminal Justice Act. He was charged at Cabra Garda Station and made no reply after caution. The court remanded him in custody for one week to appear again at Cloverhill District Court on 10 December. Legal aid and continued medical attention were granted for Moran during his remand.
2013-12-02 · Dublin
Dublin District Court handed down sentences to four telephone companies for alleged breaches of communications regulations, following a case brought by the Data Protection Commissioner. Judge John O'Neill noted that Eircom, Meteor, and Vodafone pleaded guilty at an early stage and co-operated with the investigation. Eircom, which faced two charges including an alleged unsolicited visit to a customer who had opted out, was fined €3,000. Meteor pleaded guilty to three offences, including sending unsolicited marketing texts to a customer who had previously opted out, and was ordered to pay fines totalling €9,000. Vodafone, which faced 11 charges involving alleged unwanted promotional calls and texts despite prior opt-out requests, was fined €21,000 and ordered to donate €12,000 to charities. O2, which faced three counts and had no prior convictions, was spared a conviction but ordered to pay €2,000 to three charities. The court heard that O2 had sent texts to approximately 78,000 customers who had not consented to promotional messages. Meanwhile, a separate case brought by the Data Protection Commissioner against Pure Telecom was adjourned.
2013-11-28 · Dublin
A 58‑year‑old construction worker, Edward Winston of Montpelier Park, Dublin 7, was remanded in custody after being charged with unlawful possession of cannabis, cocaine and heroin, and possessing the drugs with intent to supply, following the seizure of about €200,000 worth of drugs in Dublin and Kildare. Detectives from the Garda National Drugs Unit seized cannabis at Ryebrook Business Park, Leixlip, and later recovered cocaine and heroin in Finglas, Dublin. Winston made no reply to the charges at Leixlip Garda station. Judge Ann Watkin noted that he was willing to stand bail but required time to meet the €30,000 surety condition. He was remanded to appear at Cloverhill District Court on 3 December. The operation also recovered over 250 rounds of ammunition and a double‑barrelled sawn‑off shotgun. A 20‑year‑old man arrested in the same operation was released without charge, and a file will be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.
2013-11-26 · Dublin
Leroy Harris, 19, a young actor known for a controversial cat‑killing scene in the RTE drama Love/Hate, pleaded guilty to a cannabis dealing charge. He admitted unlawful possession of a quantity of cannabis worth €100, intended for sale or supply, at Sheriff Street in north inner city Dublin on 14 October. Harris was caught with two packets of cannabis; he was searched by Gardaí after a suspected drugs package was found on his trousers. Defence solicitor Cahir O'Higgins said Harris had the drugs for friends and highlighted his acting potential, noting he had taken up acting at Marino College and had a role in Love/Hate. The court heard that Harris also teaches acting to youngsters voluntarily. Judge Michael Walsh adjourned sentencing to January to allow time for a probation report. Harris was remanded on continuing bail and did not address the court. The case remains pending sentencing.
2013-11-20 · Dublin
A 42‑year‑old woman, Gail O'Rorke of Tallaght, was charged under Section 2 of the Criminal Law (Suicide) Act 1993 for allegedly assisting the suicide of Bernadette Forde, a 51‑year‑old multiple sclerosis sufferer, between March 10 and June 6, 2011 in Dublin. O'Rorke was arrested at Donnybrook Garda Station and pleaded not guilty. The DPP directed that she face trial on indictment, with the book of evidence already completed. Judge Michael Walsh ordered her to be sent to the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, where her next hearing is scheduled for December 13. Bail was not opposed and could be set at €100. O'Rorke was remanded on bail, and the defence solicitor requested legal aid, which was granted. A conviction for assisted suicide can carry up to 14 years' imprisonment.
2013-11-19 · Dublin
Bernard Daly, 65, former Anglo Irish Bank executive, appeared at Dublin District Court after arrest by the fraud squad. He was charged with four offences under the Taxes Consolidations Act 1997, alleged to have concealed a named account, conspired to obstruct a Revenue officer, and produced incorrect documentation between March and November 2003. Daly pleaded not guilty to each charge. He was remanded on bail with conditions: a €1,000 bond, residence at his current address, 48‑hour notice before traveling outside Ireland or the UK, and weekly sign‑in at Santry Garda station unless abroad. The case will proceed to trial on indictment at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, with a 12‑week adjournment to prepare the book of evidence. His next hearing is scheduled for February 6, when he and a co‑accused will receive the evidence book and return for trial. The judge ordered no prejudicial reporting.