Court archive
January. Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
2026-05-18 · Dublin
A Salvadoran man, Dennis Mendoza, has been jailed for 30 months after sexually assaulting a sleeping tourist in an unregistered hostel in Dublin. Mendoza, who had no previous convictions, was found guilty by a jury of the assault, which occurred in September 2021. The victim was staying in a shared room at what he believed to be a legitimate hostel when he was sexually assaulted by Mendoza. The victim awoke to find Mendoza groping him, and a second unknown male fled the scene. A substance found in the room was identified as semen, but DNA did not match the victim or Mendoza. Mendoza claimed he was in the room to close a window. His defense highlighted his difficult background and mental health issues, but the court noted his brazen lying and the lack of consent. Judge Martina Baxter imposed a 40-month sentence, with the final ten months suspended, including probation and mental health support.
2017-12-14 · Mayo
James Clarke, aged 62, formerly of Devlis Cottage in Ballyhaunis, County Mayo, has had his sentence for child pornography offences increased by eighteen months at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Clarke was originally sentenced in 2013 to ten years imprisonment, with the final two years suspended, after admitting possession and distribution of child pornography. Further analysis of images and videos recovered during the same investigation, delayed due to a backlog at the Garda Cyber Crime Bureau, led to additional charges. Clarke pleaded guilty to possessing 785 images on devices at his Mayo address in 2012 and 1009 images plus three videos found at a former Drogheda address in 2010. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a consecutive three-and-a-half-year sentence with two years suspended, citing the need to punish additional wrongdoing while acknowledging Clarke's cooperation, prison conduct, and the systemic delay. Two years probation supervision was ordered.
2015-10-23 · Dublin
Jonathan McLoughlin, 34, of Sheephill Park, Blanchardstown, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to aiding and abetting an unknown person in a deception offence in August 2013. He had previously been convicted of criminal damage and possession of a knife. McLoughlin admitted that he had been receiving small amounts of cannabis and that he had provided his bank card and account details to an unknown man. The scam involved advertising tickets for the Electric Picnic on the Donedeal website and a man who had posted an ad for a car engine. A total of €2,630 was transferred to McLoughlin's account, most of which was withdrawn from ATMs. Gardaí stopped the account after the victims reported it, and the balance of €1,845 was frozen. McLoughlin was not arrested until February 2014, when he made admissions. The case was adjourned to January to allow a Probation Service report.