Court archive
2026-03-25 · Galway
PJ Lyons received a global eight-year sentence after pleading guilty to an arson attack on a house in Castlepark, Ballybane, where Mary Sweeney and her four children were asleep. The family escaped through an upstairs window, were treated for smoke inhalation and lost their possessions; Judge Brian O'Callaghan described the risk to their lives as shocking.
2025-06-23 · Galway
A 27-year-old man from County Galway has brought an appeal against his five-year sentence for money laundering, contending the term was disproportionate. Brian Cummins, Balgaddy Road, Tuam, pleaded guilty to money laundering contrary to the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Act 2010. He was sentenced to seven years with the final two suspended at Galway Circuit Court in July 2024. The Court of Appeal heard that Cummins had connections to organised crime figure Barry Young, who was convicted of directing a criminal organisation. Cummins facilitated a €1,000 transfer to an account nominated by Young following criminal damage to a house in Tuam in October 2019. Defence counsel argued the sentence was excessive given the modest sum involved and Cummins' limited involvement with the criminal enterprise. The Director of Public Prosecutions opposed the appeal, stating the judge had exercised proper discretion. Justice Tara Burns indicated judgment would be reserved until 14 July.
2024-11-08 · Galway
A Galway man was convicted on 30 November 2022 of five counts of indecent assault against two sisters‑in‑law and one brother‑in‑law, all of whom were children at the time of the alleged offences. The jury found him guilty on all counts except one directed acquittal. He was sentenced on 15 June 2023 to 23 months' imprisonment, with six months suspended on the first charge and six months suspended on the three charges against his brother‑in‑law. A €500 fine was imposed for the second sister‑in‑law's charge. The man, who pleaded not guilty, has appealed, arguing that the jury's verdict was "perverse" because the judge refused to sever the indictment and that the evidence contained inconsistencies. The Court of Appeal has reserved judgment on the appeal. The case remains at the trial stage, with no further outcome reported.
2020-06-22 · Galway
Joseph O'Shaughnessy, 32, of Ballyfermot, travelled to Galway and carried out a spree of burglary, criminal damage and theft offences on 6 June 2019. He pleaded guilty to three burglary, three criminal damage and two theft offences in various Galway business premises, causing almost €90,000 of damage and stealing about €5,000 of goods. He was found under a table in a Woodies DIY store. Judge Rory McCabe sentenced him to six years in prison, describing the offences as an "orgy of burglary, theft and criminal damage" and noting that O'Shaughnessy had no legitimate reason to be in the city. O'Shaughnessy appealed, arguing that the judge had failed to impose proportionate sentences for each offence. The Court of Appeal, with Justice George Birmingham, Justice Patrick McCarthy and Justice Aileen Donnelly, quashed the original sentence and replaced it with a five‑year term. The new sentence was deemed proportionate by the DPP's counsel, Elva Duffy BL.