Pair fail to attend sentencing hearing; bench warrants issued

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Michael Ward (33) and Melissa Collins (26) failed to appear at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on November 24, 2025, for a sentencing hearing over theft charges linked to an alleged student accommodation fraud in south Dublin. Judge Martin Nolan issued bench warrants for both and adjourned sentencing to allow the warrants to be executed.

Ward had pleaded guilty to stealing €1,800 from a bank account, and Collins had pleaded guilty to stealing €600. The District Court had previously heard that the case involved alleged accommodation fraud against international students.