Ongoing industrial action by solicitors affected criminal hearings, including a case involving alleged organised prostitution by Brazilian nationals across the capital. Brazilian woman Bruna Da Silveira was listed for sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on a charge of participating or facilitating the activities of a criminal organisation. Defending counsel informed Judge Orla Crowe that his instructing solicitor would not be attending, "in solidarity with all other solicitors". The case was adjourned to Friday for a sentence hearing. Da Silveira pleaded guilty to participating or contributing to the activities of a criminal organisation. The court heard that the defendants were linked to the recruitment in Brazil of vulnerable young women who were coerced into sex work here. The allegations related to ten brothels and the defendants were considered flight risks with no ties to this jurisdiction.
Ricky Adame (27) has been jailed for 12 months after customs at Dublin Airport discovered 2,000 cannabis capsules in his lost luggage. He arrived in Dublin on January 11, 2026, and reported his luggage missing the following day. Customs found the capsules, which had a total street value of between €22,000 and €55,000. Adame pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply. He has no previous convictions and was in custody since his arrest. The court heard that he travelled with a co-accused who was found in possession of €240,000 of cannabis. Adame's defence argued that he was a 'bit of a patsy' who did not know what was in the bag but knew it was illegal. He was experiencing financial difficulties at the time and was due to receive €2,000 for his role. Judge Elma Sheahan noted the seriousness of the offence but accepted mitigating factors, including Adame's good character and his signed guilty pleas. She imposed a two-year sentence, suspending the final 12 months on strict conditions.
A judge has described it as 'outrageous' that solicitors who had left the criminal legal aid panel instructed another solicitor not to represent their client at a contested bail hearing. Patrick Daly (57) of Burton Park, Leopardstown Road, Dublin 18, appeared in custody before Dún Laoghaire District Court, where gardaí objected to bail on the grounds that he was a flight risk. Mr Daly faces five charges, including failing to appear in court, two counts of being intoxicated in a public place, refusing to provide his name and address to a garda, and causing €80 worth of criminal damage by urinating in the custody area at Dundrum Garda Station. Judge Watkin asked solicitor Andrew Vallely, who was present in court, to speak to the accused and consider representing him for the bail application. Mr Vallely initially told the court that he was reluctant to step in because the accused was already represented by another solicitors' firm.
A Carlow man, Patrick Connors, was jailed for three years and nine months after a fatal crash in 2014. The Ford Puma he was driving was found to be unroadworthy, with failed NCT, no working handbrake, and rusted brakes. Connors was speeding at 111 km/h in an 80 km/h zone when he lost control, leading to a collision that killed his uncle, Patrick Doran. The court heard that Connors fled to the UK after the incident and was brought back via a European Arrest Warrant. Judge Mary Morrissey acknowledged the impact of the tragedy on the Doran family and noted their compassion towards Connors despite the loss of their loved one. The judge also considered aggravating factors, including Connors' previous convictions and his flight from the jurisdiction. The sentence included a suspended portion and a 10-year driving ban. Patrick Connors pleaded guilty.
Derek Boyd, 31, of Finglas, Dublin 11, and Chantelle Harcourt, 34, of Darndale, Dublin 17, are currently on trial at the Central Criminal Court. Boyd has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Mark Carroll, 34, at his home on June 9, 2024, and to assaulting Megan Rock. Harcourt has pleaded not guilty to impeding the apprehension or prosecution of the person who committed the murder. The jury, comprising seven men and five women, began deliberating on Monday afternoon and has spent five hours over two days in the jury room. On Monday evening, the foreman reported that the jury had not reached a verdict on any of the three counts. Ms Justice Melanie Greally adjourned the deliberations, instructing the jurors to return to court at 10.30am the following morning. In her charge, the judge warned the jury against using Boyd's previous conviction for the manslaughter of his sister to infer a propensity for violence, labeling such reasoning impermissible. She clarified that this prior conviction, for which Boyd was sentenced to five years with three suspended, may only be considered if relevant to the evidence, such as his state of mind or flight from the jurisdiction. The judge outlined the legal framework for self-defense under the Criminal Law (Defence and the Dwelling) Act 2011, emphasizing the requirement for proportionate force. The jury may return verdicts of guilty of murder, not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter, or not guilty for Boyd, and guilty or not guilty for Harcourt.
A Somalian woman, Muna Sharif (47), has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for assisting a fellow national in entering Ireland illegally. Sharif, who works as a healthcare assistant in Birmingham, UK, pleaded guilty to providing a fraudulent Swedish passport and helping Asia Mohammad Ahmed enter the country. The court heard that Sharif and Ahmed had travelled from Düsseldorf, Germany, but disembarked separately at Dublin Airport. Ahmed presented a passport with a mismatched photo and claimed asylum, while Sharif was observed in the baggage hall and seen taking a suitcase with a name matching the passport. Records showed that Sharif had booked and paid for Ahmed's flight using a bank card found on her at her arrest. A WhatsApp thread between Sharif and the genuine owner of the passport was also discovered, in which Sharif offered 1,500 Swedish Krona for its use. Sharif claimed she was helping her sister, Ahmed, escape a forced marriage in Somalia, but there was no DNA evidence to support this.
A frequent international traveller, Khaled Almoghayer, has been given a suspended sentence on the condition that he leaves the country. He was found with €120,000 in cash in his luggage at Dublin Airport and pleaded guilty to attempting to leave the European Union with €10,000 or more. Almoghayer claimed the money was his life savings and intended to buy property in Turkey and get his teeth done. However, he had no bank statements or records to prove the money was his. He had travelled 22 times in the last 12 months to various countries, including Egypt, Morocco, and Palestine. Judge Elma Sheahan noted the seriousness of the offence but considered mitigating factors such as his early plea and lack of previous convictions. She gave him a 12-month sentence, backdated to January, and suspended the balance on the condition that he leaves Ireland within seven days.
A Brazilian brothel-keeper, Ilamar Rodrigues Ribeiro, has had his appeal to reduce his prison sentence dismissed by the court. Ribeiro, who operated a brothel network across rural Ireland and laundered €800,000, was arrested at Dublin Airport in 2023 with child abuse material on his phone. He pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including brothel-keeping, money laundering, and possession of child pornography. The child abuse material, which included images and videos of pre-pubescent children, was described as the most serious category. Judge Patricia Ryan imposed a 10-and-a-half-year sentence in 2025, which included consecutive terms. Ribeiro's lawyers argued that the court should have suspended the sentence for the child abuse material due to his lack of prior convictions. However, Mr Justice Paul Burns ruled that the child pornography charge was of a different nature and required a separate sentence. He stated that the court could not ignore the severity of the offence. The investigation into Ribeiro began after two women came forward with trafficking allegations, leading to the identification of multiple properties used as brothels across Ireland.
A 24-year-old man from Dublin has been refused bail after being charged with raping and sexually assaulting a teenage girl in a laneway on September 29, 2025. Appearing before Dún Laoghaire District Court, Judge Anne Watkin refused bail under Section 2 of the Bail Act, citing the seriousness of the alleged offences and the strength of the evidence, including CCTV and DNA evidence. The defence argued the accused was not a flight risk and had cooperated with gardaí. However, the judge noted the complainant was very nervous and that the evidence was compelling. She described the case as one of the most difficult she had dealt with, but ultimately ruled that the seriousness of the charges and the evidence meant bail must be refused. The accused was remanded in custody to Cloverhill Prison until July 7, with legal aid assigned.
A Kerry firearms dealer has had his conviction for importing and possessing a prohibited component for a WW2-era machine gun overturned on appeal. Judge James O'Donoghue ruled that Patrick O'Mahony Jnr (56) had no 'nefarious intent' in possessing the component. His defence argued that the item was a curiosity to be displayed in a glass case and fell under an exception in the Firearms Act for antique firearms used as a 'curiosity or ornament'. O'Mahony was previously fined €2,000 and had a destruction order made against the component. He appealed, citing his family connection to the weapon and his status as a licensed firearms dealer. Customs officers stopped him at Dublin Airport in 2021 with the component, which was identified as a bolt carrier for a Browning 1919 machine gun. Garda investigations confirmed O'Mahony was a restricted firearms dealer with valid licences. A garda ballistics expert stated the component was prohibited as it could be used in a functioning firearm. However, the judge found no evidence of nefarious intent and allowed the appeal, overturning the conviction.
A senior Aer Lingus manager who ordered the demotion of a pilot from captain to first officer has expressed feeling 'cheated' upon learning a rumour that the pilot was delivering training for a rival airline in Britain. The pilot, Declan McCabe, is pursuing multiple legal complaints against Aer Lingus, including under the Protected Disclosures Act and the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, over his demotion in 2024. The incident in question occurred on 8 June 2023, when McCabe's flight failed to link up with a radio navigation beacon. The airline's chief pilot, Captain Eamon Kierans, testified that McCabe's aircraft was flying in the wrong direction until air traffic control intervened. McCabe disputes the company's findings, claiming he was not required to file a safety report and that the incident was a 'low severity' occurrence. Kierans criticized McCabe for rejecting internal safety systems and for providing inaccurate information. McCabe alleges he was targeted for whistleblowing, citing a prior dispute involving a flight operations safety officer.
An American drugs mule left his contact details with airport staff when the luggage in which he was smuggling 14kg of cannabis went missing, a court has heard. Ulises Mendez (30) had flown in from Chicago and left his contact details with airport staff when he found that his suitcase had gone missing. When the luggage showed up, a scan revealed an anomaly and a search of it revealed several black packages wrapped in t-shirts, which were found to be 14.4 kg of cannabis with an estimated street value of €242,516. Mendez returned to the airport the following day but instead of collecting his luggage, he attempted to get a flight back to the States. He was arrested and brought in for questioning and has been remanded in custody since. Mendez pleaded guilty to having the drugs in his possession for sale or supply at Dublin Airport on January 11, 2026. He has no previous convictions. Garda Emmet O'Byrne told the court that Mendez made full admissions when questioned by gardaí.
A tribunal upheld the dismissal of Alan O'Neill, a senior Aer Lingus flight attendant, who was accused of abusing his power by refusing a passenger access to the onboard bathroom, leading to the passenger being reduced to tears. The tribunal found that O'Neill's actions amounted to gross misconduct, and the airline decided to terminate his employment after 12 years of service. The incident occurred during a flight from Marseilles to Dublin, where O'Neill allegedly refused the passenger access to the bathroom on safety grounds. The passenger was reportedly upset and swore at O'Neill, leading to a confrontation. O'Neill was accused of using an angry and unprofessional tone, and the passenger was temporarily banned from flying. The tribunal heard that O'Neill claimed he was under personal strain and that the passenger triggered him. The airline's legal team argued that the disciplinary process was fair and that the dismissal was a reasonable response. The tribunal concluded that the disciplinary process was fair and that the dismissal was warranted.
A senior Aer Lingus manager, Captain Conor Barrett, has explained that a second error in a disciplinary investigation report, which appeared to support a pilot later demoted by the airline, was due to a spelling mistake. The error occurred in a passage where he wrote: "A review of the safety manual and the operating manual indicates a strong structure to believe this viewpoint." This was in reference to the view of pilot Declan McCabe, who argued that the company safety manual allowed him to use his judgment to file a report after an incident on a flight into Dublin airport. Captain Barrett clarified that the word 'believe' was a mistake and should have been 'belie'. Earlier, a typographical error had also been highlighted by adjudicator John Harraghy as significant and unexplained. On Wednesday, Barrett stated that when he used the word 'belies' elsewhere in the report, he meant something different. The tribunal was hearing the 11th day of evidence in a whistleblower penalisation claim brought by McCabe.
A senior Aer Lingus manager, Captain Colm Wynne, told a tribunal that a 'spelling mistake' on his part reversed the meaning of his finding in a disciplinary probe involving a pilot, Declan McCabe. McCabe was demoted from training captain to flight officer in 2024 and told he would 'never' be allowed to conduct training again as a disciplinary sanction. The tribunal heard that McCabe disputes the company's view that he was obliged to file a safety report after an incident involving an Airbus A320. McCabe said the relevant Aer Lingus manual left it up to his judgment to decide whether to report it. The tribunal heard that a senior manager in flight operations, Captain Colm Wynne, wrote to McCabe about an inquiry from Air Nav Ireland, but McCabe wrote directly to the regulator without copying Wynne on the correspondence. McCabe said he was concerned about 'retribution' from Wynne about filing safety reports arising from an earlier dispute with his employer. The case has been adjourned overnight.
A demoted Aer Lingus pilot, Declan McCabe, may be able to return to command within weeks, according to the airline's chief pilot, John Kelly. McCabe was demoted following an incident at Dublin Airport in 2023, where an Airbus A321neo failed to link up with the radio navigation beacon for the new north runway. McCabe claimed the event was a "non-event" and that he had the discretion to decide whether to report it. The tribunal heard that McCabe had written directly to the regulator without copying his manager, Captain Colm Wynne, due to concerns about retribution. McCabe was taken off flying duties pending a safety probe and was later demoted. His legal team argued that he was penalized for raising protected disclosures, while the airline maintained that McCabe failed to fulfill safety reporting duties. The tribunal is continuing, with the chief pilot stating that McCabe may be able to return to command after spending enough time on the line under review.
Raul Tabares Garcia, a Spanish national accused of conspiring to import drugs, has lost his appeal against a High Court ruling refusing him bail. At the Court of Appeal, Mr Justice Alexander Owens upheld the decision, stating the court saw no error in principle or law. Mr Garcia, of Cadiz, faces a charge of conspiring contrary to section 71 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006 to import drugs in excess of €13,000 between February 27 and March 14, 2024. He was one of ten men arrested in March 2024 during operations near Skibbereen, west Cork, where vehicles and nautical equipment were seized. Prosecutors alleged the group was involved in a transnational drug trafficking operation linked to 840kgs of cocaine valued at approximately €60 million. The High Court judge had previously deemed Mr Garcia a serious flight risk due to his foreign nationality and potential resources. Although his counsel argued he had local connections and proposed sureties, the Court of Appeal rejected these arguments, noting his lack of connection to the country. Seven co-accused, including Mario Angel Del Rio Sanz, Anuar Rahui Chairi, Aleksandar Milic, Kiumaars Ghabiri, Pedro Pablo Ojeda Ortega, and Angel Serran Padilla, have already pleaded guilty to drug trafficking charges and were sentenced to a combined 70 years in prison last December. The matter was adjourned following the refusal of the bail application.
Jonathan Gill, aged 44, faced a High Court bail hearing in connection with an extradition warrant issued by Northern Irish authorities. He is charged with murder in relation to the death of Robbie Lawlor on 4 April 2020, and with possession of a 9mm self-loading pistol between 2 and 5 April 2020. Both charges carry potential life sentences. The Criminal Assets Bureau has assessed a liability of over €860,000 against Mr Gill, primarily comprising interest on unpaid income tax dating to 2005. Gardaí objected to bail, citing the seriousness of charges, alleged links to organised crime, and concerns regarding access to cash and potential flight risk. Mr Gill's father offered an independent surety of €100,000, which the State accepted as suitable. Mr Justice Patrick McGrath adjourned the bail application to 3 June, pending clarification regarding Mr Gill's tax payments. The extradition hearing is scheduled for the same date.
A Polish man who caused mayhem at Dublin Airport and threatened the garda who arrested him has had his jail term halved on appeal. Robert Filipuk (44), who resides in Newry, Co Down, was originally sentenced to five months in jail with one month suspended for obstructing a garda, intoxication in a public place, and using threatening or abusive language. He later appealed the severity of the sentence. During the appeal, a garda testified that Filipuk was drunk, resisted arrest, and threatened to fight him and 'kick the f**k out of him' while being transported from the airport. He also used a Polish slur against the garda. Filipuk is currently serving a separate sentence from the Circuit Court, with a release date in 2027. His defence counsel, Caroline O'Connell BL, stated that Filipuk is due to be deported and has offered an apology for his actions. Judge Ronan Munro acknowledged the gravity of threatening gardai but reduced Filipuk's sentence to two months, to be served consecutive to his current term. Robert Filipuk was convicted.
A 31-year-old man from Killeshandra, County Cavan, has received a fully suspended two-year sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for sexually assaulting a Ryanair cabin crew member during a flight to Dublin Airport. Aaron Brady pleaded guilty to the assault, which occurred approximately 40 minutes before landing. The court heard Brady had consumed approximately five bottles of wine before boarding and between 12 and 15 mini bottles during the flight. Judge Jonathan Dunphy imposed the suspended sentence on strict conditions, including probation service supervision, offence-focused work, addiction support engagement, and attendance at a residential alcohol treatment programme. Brady has paid €3,130 to cover the woman's out-of-pocket expenses and received a five-year ban from Ryanair, which Judge Dunphy noted should be for life. The woman resigned from her position following the incident and described experiencing severe emotional and psychological consequences in her victim impact statement.
A senior Aer Lingus executive, Adrian Dunne, denied giving false evidence at an employment tribunal and rejected the claim by a sacked pilot's lawyer that he is a "bare-faced liar." The tribunal is hearing complaints by former A320 captain Tom O'Riordan, who claims he was penalized for making protected disclosures about alleged toxic fumes on an aircraft. O'Riordan alleges he was poisoned by fumes and suffered brain damage, ending his flying career. His complaints under the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 and other legislation are denied by Aer Lingus. O'Riordan was terminated for breaching the airline's social media policy. His lawyer, David Byrnes BL, accused Dunne of providing false evidence about the airline's reporting obligations. Dunne denied the allegations, stating that the pilot was responsible for ensuring an air safety report was filed. The tribunal is continuing with further legal exchanges and is due to continue later this month.
Clayton McLoughlin, 19, of Ballymun, Dublin 11, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for assault causing harm. He pleaded guilty to acting as a lookout during an attack at the Applegreen Service Station in Santry on September 28, 2024. The court heard that McLoughlin, then 17, stood at the door holding a hockey stick while a co-accused, who remains at large, assaulted the victim with a hurley. The victim sustained a concussion, serious eye swelling, and permanent hearing loss. Judge Jonathan Dunphy noted that while McLoughlin did not inflict the injury, he was charged on the basis of joint enterprise and armed himself, limiting the victim's chance of escape. The judge described the incident as a planned, cowardly attack linked to a drug debt, which subsequently sparked a local feud. Aggravating factors included McLoughlin's failure to assist the convulsing victim and his subsequent flight from the jurisdiction, for which he was later remanded in custody. Mitigating factors included his early guilty plea, his age at the time of the offense, and his self-reported detoxification. Judge Dunphy imposed a sentence of four years and six months, with the final 18 months suspended on strict conditions for two years. The sentence was backdated to October 2025, when McLoughlin entered custody.
A senior Aer Lingus flight attendant, Alan O'Neill, who was sacked for refusing to allow a passenger to use the bathroom for 45 minutes, has opted not to testify in his unfair dismissal claim. His legal team argued that the case had already been proven by the airline's own evidence. The incident occurred during a delayed flight from Marseilles to Dublin in April 2024, where the passenger was reduced to tears. The airline's barrister, Tom Mallon BL, argued that the tribunal should dismiss the case as O'Neill refused to testify. The airline's internal investigation found that O'Neill had submitted an inaccurate report, leading to the dismissal. O'Neill's legal team challenged the airline's handling of the disciplinary process, while the airline defended its actions. The case is now pending a decision from the adjudication officer, with the airline arguing that the dismissal was fair.
A man accused of repeatedly slapping his wife after she did not cook him dinner has been granted bail, despite telling gardai he would 'go to India and not return'. The accused, in his forties, is charged with assault causing harm under the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act. Garda James Norris stated the alleged incident occurred late at night when the man returned home intoxicated. He allegedly slapped his wife multiple times, pulled her duvet, and followed her into the kitchen, where he slapped her again, causing her to fall. The alleged victim, who was not present at the hearing, is now seeking a safety order through the Family Courts. Garda Norris opposed bail, citing the accused's flight booking to India and his potential flight risk. The defence, led by Patricia Camillon, argued the accused has strong family ties, works part-time, and cares for their children. She noted his limited English and that he had a return flight booked. The accused is willing to surrender his passport permanently and has no prior court history.
An Aer Lingus manager has stated that a senior flight attendant's role as a trade union shop steward was 'absolutely not' a factor in her decision to confirm his dismissal. Marie Walsh, manager for customer and on-board service at the airline, was questioned at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) regarding the appeal raised by Alan O'Neill, a senior flight attendant who was sacked in 2024. The company is defending a complaint under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977 brought by Mr O'Neill. His dismissal followed allegations of gross misconduct over his alleged treatment of a passenger on a delayed flight in April 2024. Ms Walsh confirmed that Mr O'Neill was dismissed on appeal. Mr O'Neill was accused of refusing to allow a passenger to use the bathroom for up to 45 minutes after take-off. His legal team disputes the length of time the passenger had to wait, stating he was following standard procedures. Mr O'Neill claimed he was under personal strain and that the passenger's swearing triggered him.
Irish air safety authorities reportedly showed no interest in an Aer Lingus pilot's concerns about alleged cabin air contamination, according to his legal team. However, within two weeks of the pilot raising the issue with the European Air Safety Authority (EASA), the airline grounded several planes in anticipation of an airworthiness directive. The pilot, Tom O'Riordan, claims he was unfairly dismissed after raising concerns about toxic fumes on a flight and suffered health issues as a result. The tribunal heard that the grounding of the planes was linked to potential damage to engine seals and gaskets. O'Riordan's legal team argues that he was penalized for whistleblowing, while the airline maintains there was no connection between the pilot's disclosure and the grounding of the planes. The case is ongoing, with the tribunal considering whether the pilot was unfairly dismissed and whether the airline's actions were influenced by his disclosures.
Aaron Brady, 31, of Killeshandra, Co Cavan, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to sexually assaulting a Ryanair cabin crew member on an inbound flight to Dublin Airport. The matter is currently at the charge or pretrial stage. Judge Jonathan Dunphy adjourned the case to June for finalisation to allow Brady to address the victim's expenses outlined in her impact statement. The court directed that €5,000, offered by Brady as a gesture of remorse, be paid within 24 hours for onward transmission to the woman. Judge Dunphy remanded Brady on continuing bail so he could continue working, noting the court's concern regarding the victim's financial losses, which exceeded €3,000 due to sick leave and her subsequent resignation. Brady admitted to consuming significant amounts of alcohol before and during the flight and stated he has no memory of the incident. He has one previous conviction for failing to report a hit and run. The victim described the assault as shattering her sense of safety, leading to her resignation from the job she loved. Brady's defense counsel highlighted his early guilty plea, good work record, and willingness to repay further expenses if given more time. The judge expressed a desire to finalise the case in a manner that allows everyone to move on.
Lee Somers was jailed after pleading guilty to possessing 29 kilogrammes of cannabis worth €597,000 at Dublin Airport. He left the luggage on a carousel after arriving from Canada, telling staff his conscience had intervened; Dublin Circuit Criminal Court accepted he was under some duress but had made a serious decision.
Khed Alkhedr has been jailed for money laundering after a customs dog alerted to his luggage at Dublin Airport. Officers found €142,690 and £60 concealed in clothing. Judge Orla Crowe imposed three years, backdated to his first day in custody, after finding he played an active role in the money laundering. The unnamed man pleaded guilty.
Madison Jenkins, who had no previous convictions, pleaded guilty after customs officers found 15 packages of cannabis in her suitcase at Dublin Airport. The court heard she had travelled from Bangkok via Abu Dhabi, and Judge Elma Sheahan put the case back for finalisation on March 25 while the prosecution examined her account.
A top US college athlete, Kristaps Kambala (22), has been sentenced to three and a half years in prison for having cannabis for sale or supply at Dublin Airport on June 23, 2025. Kambala pleaded guilty to the charge and admitted that he was carrying the drugs. The court heard that Kambala was stopped at Dublin Airport after arriving from Bangkok and that his luggage was found to contain 19 kilogrammes of cannabis, valued at approximately €381,000. Kambala claimed that someone else had packed the luggage and that he was helping a friend. He stated that he had no knowledge of the weight or consequences of carrying the drugs. The court heard that Kambala is a Division One basketball player and has no previous convictions. His counsel submitted character references and highlighted his academic and sporting achievements. Judge Orla Crowe noted that Kambala was carrying a considerable amount of cannabis and that the value of the drugs was an aggravating factor. She imposed a sentence of three and a half years, backdated to when Kambala went into custody. The matter was validated at the sentence stage.
Hellasha Tingman (49), a single mother from New York, was sentenced to three years in prison at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to having cannabis for sale or supply at Dublin Airport on July 6, 2025. Judge Orla Crowe imposed the sentence, backdating it to the date Tingman first entered custody. The court accepted that Tingman acted out of financial desperation to address rent arrears and an eviction notice in the US, having been promised €2,000 for the transport. She was stopped by customs with just over 20 kg of cannabis, valued at approximately €434,760. Although the judge acknowledged exceptional circumstances allowing a departure from the mandatory minimum term of ten years, she noted that Tingman deliberately took the risk. Separately, her son, Shawndell Gaston (31), was jailed for four years by Judge Martin Nolan last week after pleading guilty to importing the same cannabis at Dublin Airport on the same date. Both defendants admitted their respective charges. Tingman has no previous convictions and is currently an enhanced prisoner.
Rogerio Afonso, 56, pleaded guilty to one count of sexually assaulting a 19-year-old woman at Dublin Airport on August 4, 2025. The court heard that Afonso, who has a history of bipolar disorder, followed the complainant, sniffed her hair, and hugged and kissed her against her will. He has been in custody since his arrest and has no previous convictions. Judge Jonathan Dunphy sentenced Afonso to 12 months, noting aggravating factors such as the persistence of his actions, but acknowledged his improved mental health while compliant with medication in custody. The judge indicated a willingness to suspend the sentence in full, given Afonso has already served seven months in custody. A condition of the suspended sentence requires Afonso to return to Brazil in the care of his daughter. The finalisation of the sentence was adjourned to later this week to allow time for Afonso's daughter in Malta to be informed and to make travel arrangements. The judge requested that a family member attend the finalisation hearing to ensure they are aware of the conditions. Afonso was remanded in custody on the same terms until the adjourned date.
The Court of Appeal has refused bail to four accused individuals linked to an alleged Lithuanian organised crime group, rejecting their appeals against a High Court decision. Jonas Pavillions, Alexandres Kuznecovas, and Stacey Walsh are charged under section 73 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2006, with committing serious offences for the benefit of a criminal organisation. Ausra Motriuk faces charges of money laundering under section 7 of the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Act, 2010, and participating in an organised crime group under section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2006. Pavillions is additionally charged with drug possession, supply, and two counts under section 9(1) of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act regarding two billhooks and a machete. Kuznecovas is also charged with drug possession and supply. Counsel argued that the appellants were not flight risks, noting Motriuk's passport is with the Gardaí and Pavillions offered a Carlow address. The State contended that the alleged offences carry penalties of up to 15 years and that the group's access to false documents posed a risk. Delivering the judgment, Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy stated the Court of Appeal found no error in the High Court's refusal of bail. Consequently, the appeal was rejected, and the four accused remain remanded in custody.
Nicolae and Florin Mazarache have been ordered to pay the State's legal costs after losing their appeal over Covid-era fixed penalty notices issued after they travelled to Dublin Airport. The Court of Appeal held that questions about the notices and any prosecution belonged in the District Court; Ms Justice Nuala Butler made the opposed costs order.
Shawndell Gaston, 31, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to importing cannabis at Dublin Airport after travelling from New York with his mother. The court heard 48 packets worth €424,000 were found in their suitcases. Judge Martin Nolan jailed Gaston for four years; Hellasha Tingman is due to be sentenced separately.
Evidence at the Workplace Relations Commission heard that senior Aer Lingus flight attendant Alan O'Neill allegedly refused a passenger access to a toilet during a delayed Marseilles-to-Dublin flight. Witnesses differed on the delay, but one said the passenger was crying when he eventually used the lavatory. The evidence arose during O'Neill's unfair-dismissal complaint, which remains ongoing.
Sabouni Abdelhamid, an Algerian man, has been jailed for three years for passport fraud after falsely claiming to be the son of an Irish woman murdered in the 1980s. He used multiple aliases and forged documents to obtain an Irish passport, including a French identification document and a utility bill. Abdelhamid was stopped at Dublin Airport in 2025 after discrepancies were found in his documents. He pleaded guilty to possession of a false instrument and providing misleading documentation. The court heard that Abdelhamid had a previous conviction under a different alias for a similar offence. Judge Orla Crowe noted the sophistication required to carry out the fraud and stated that a headline sentence of six years was warranted, but reduced it to three years due to mitigating factors, including Abdelhamid's guilty plea and his behavior in custody.
Cody Ferguson, a rail engineer, was jailed for five and a half years after being caught with nearly €350,000 worth of cannabis at Dublin Airport. He was arrested in August 2025 after customs officers found 34 packages of cannabis in his suitcase. Ferguson initially claimed he was on holiday in Thailand but later admitted to acting as a drugs courier to pay off a drug debt. He pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis for sale or supply. Ferguson has 11 previous convictions in the UK, including ten for drug offences. His defense highlighted his status as a qualified rail engineer and a father to a seven-month-old baby. Judge Martin Nolan reduced a headline sentence of nine years to five and a half years, taking into account Ferguson's early guilty plea and other mitigating factors.
Riley Burke, a 25-year-old Canadian delivery driver, was jailed for five years after being caught with €716,000 worth of cannabis at Dublin Airport. Burke arrived on a flight from Toronto on July 26, 2025, and a suitcase containing cannabis burst open on the luggage belt. Customs officers used a dog to detect a second suitcase, which was also found to contain cannabis. The suitcases did not have Burke's name on them but belonged to two other individuals who were not on the flight. CCTV footage showed Burke waiting for the bags and checking the labels. Burke claimed he had forgotten that he had not checked any luggage and had mistakenly picked up the two suitcases. However, the garda did not accept this explanation. Burke has no previous convictions and has been in custody since his arrest. His defense argued that he was at the lowest rung of the ladder and had no financial interest in the drugs. Burke admitted to having a financial debt and said he was trying to pay it off.
A trial has heard that Henry McGowan, accused of murdering his father John McGowan at a five-star resort in Co Laois, suffered from schizoaffective disorder and was under the delusional belief that his father needed to be sacrificed to protect the plane. Two psychiatrists testified that McGowan was experiencing an acute psychotic episode and met the criteria for a special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity. The trial heard that McGowan had previously lunged at a family on a flight to Paris in 2022, believing he needed to sacrifice an infant to prevent a war. He was involuntarily admitted to a psychiatric hospital in Paris for 28 days and later received long-term antipsychotic treatment in the US. McGowan's mental state was described as profoundly psychotic, with delusions that his father was an imposter involved in a conspiracy. He believed he was ordained by God to kill his father, who he saw as a source of evil. The trial continues with the jury considering the evidence and the possibility of a not guilty by reason of insanity verdict.
Henry McGowan, a 31-year-old US national, described in detail how he strangled his 66-year-old father with his bare hands, putting a full fist into his throat, just over an hour after arriving at a five-star midlands resort. The prosecution's case outlined that McGowan had pleaded not guilty to the murder of his father by reason of insanity. The trial heard that McGowan was under the delusion that the person he was killing was not his father but an imposter. Expert psychiatrists for both the prosecution and defense agreed that McGowan was experiencing a relapse of schizoaffective disorder when he killed his father. The prosecution's barrister, Will Fennelly, outlined that McGowan had previously encountered mental health challenges and had not been taking his medication. McGowan arrived at Dublin airport on November 11, 2024, and was later found at the Ballyfin Demesne hotel where he killed his father. McGowan told gardai that he had killed his father and that he had strangled him in a bathroom. The unnamed accused was found not guilty by reason of insanity.
Alan Burke, an electrician who had worked as an asset technician at Dublin Airport since December 2023, lost his job after An Garda Síochána revoked his green security clearance on 13 June 2025. Burke claims the revocation was based on a security intelligence check that returned a 'red' status, and that the decision was made without a fair hearing. He argues that the Garda Commissioner acted irrationally and arbitrarily, denying him an oral hearing and failing to provide information for his appeal. Burke maintains he does not pose a threat to national security, is not a member of any illegal organisation, and has never been tried for an offence linked to such an organisation. He has applied to the High Court for permission to challenge the decision and to obtain a declaration that the Commissioner's actions were contrary to fair procedures and natural justice. The case is adjourned to next month.
The Workplace Relations Commission has ordered Ryan's Investments Unlimited Company, trading as Hertz Rent-A-Car, to pay €10,000 in compensation and issue an apology to applicant Kim Murphy. The adjudicator upheld Murphy's complaint of disability discrimination under the Equal Status Act 2000, finding that the franchisee's policy of imposing a €150 valet charge for hair shed by her guide dog, Django, placed her at a particular disadvantage. The tribunal determined that the company's refusal to waive the fee, despite being notified of the guide dog's presence, was unreasonable and failed to accommodate the needs of a person with a disability. Murphy alleged that her husband, Anthony Murphy, was charged for "damage" upon returning a rental vehicle from the Dublin Airport branch in April 2024, despite the dog being a trained service animal. The adjudicator directed the respondent to update its rental policies to accommodate similar customers. Sean Beatty BL represented the applicant, while Eve Bolster BL appeared for the franchisee. The decision constitutes a finalised sentence ordering the specified financial compensation and formal apology.
A judge has said that an Italian drugs mule who was rumbled when he went back to Dublin airport to seek out his lost luggage containing €294,000 in cannabis was 'not a criminal mastermind'. Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that Alfonso Turano had completed a lost luggage form in his real name and replied 'Mamma mia!' when he was told what was in the suitcase. Turano (41) arrived in Ireland the day before the suitcase, which contained 14.7kg of cannabis. The defendant, with an address in Calabro, Italy pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis for sale or supply on March 1, 2025 at Dublin Airport. Today, Judge Ronan Munro handed Turano a four-year sentence, with the final 20 months suspended for 10 years on strict conditions. The judge said the court accepted that Turano was 'not a criminal mastermind', but was also satisfied that the defendant would have known the suitcase contained illicit substances.
Judge Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin commented that she might not have a job if it were not for the scourge of drugs and the low-level mules who help in the illegal trade. Michael Hayter, a UK national, was jailed for four years for importing nearly €750,000 worth of cannabis through Dublin Airport. Hayter pleaded guilty to having the drugs for sale and importation. He was approached in Cambodia and offered £2,000 to transport the drugs. The judge acknowledged that Hayter was acting as a courier or mule but emphasized that his actions enabled drug dealers to thrive. She set a headline sentence of eight years but reduced it to four years due to Hayter's early guilty pleas and lack of previous convictions. The judge noted that Hayter would be separated from his family during his time in prison. Hayter was recently diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and lost his job. His counsel expressed remorse and stated that Hayter was engaging with addiction support services. The judge accepted that Hayter had no history of offending and lived a pro-social life otherwise.
A man from Ballyhaunis, County Mayo has been sentenced to eight years imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court for a sustained campaign of domestic violence against his former partner spanning seven years. Mark White, aged 54, pleaded guilty to six counts of assault causing harm, one count of threatening to kill and one count of sexual assault at their family home between 2010 and 2017. The court heard White subjected his partner to beatings, including an attack when she was 24 weeks pregnant, broke bones in her face and drove a vehicle towards her at speed. He also held a knife to her throat and sexually assaulted her. Some incidents occurred in front of their two children. White left the jurisdiction before gardai could interview him in 2019 and was subsequently arrested at Dublin Airport in November 2024 following a European Arrest Warrant. Mr Justice Paul McDermott imposed a headline sentence of eleven years, reduced to nine years and six months, with the final eighteen months suspended.
A Canadian drugs mule, Mohamad Alaha (20), was jailed for three years after being caught 'literally red-handed' with €400,000 worth of vacuum-packed cannabis at Dublin Airport. He was arrested after customs officers noticed suspicious behaviour during a flight from Canada. Alaha admitted to importing 20 kilograms of cannabis into Ireland on April 26, 2025, and had no previous convictions. His defence, Marc Thompson SC, explained that Alaha was fleeing Syria with his family when he was 11 and moved to Canada. He suffered from mental health issues and developed a drug addiction, which led him to seek treatment in Egypt. However, he accumulated debt and relapsed. To settle his debts, Alaha sold personal items and eventually agreed to transport drugs. His defence argued that his choices were limited. Judge Orla Crowe acknowledged his guilty plea and noted that drug trafficking is a societal scourge. She accepted that Alaha was cooperating and had been doing well in custody, but sentenced him to three years in prison, backdated to the day of his arrest.
Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) has paused an investigation into its chief executive, Kenny Jacobs, following a High Court challenge to his suspension. Jacobs was suspended on December 23 after allegations of discriminatory behavior, which he described as "baseless." He claims he was "ambushed" and "humiliated" when told to leave work and not communicate with staff. DAA is resisting legal action from Jacobs, who is seeking to overturn his suspension and halt the investigation. The case is set for an urgent hearing, with both sides agreeing to file affidavits. Jacobs claims the stress from the suspension has been "immense" and that he was left "shell-shocked" after the meeting with the board. The High Court will determine the next steps in the legal dispute.
The WRC reported on two distinct employment matters involving applicants Ali Izzy and Fernando Oliveira. In September, Ali Izzy, a former software salesman at Solar Winds Software Europe DAC, alleged he was dismissed for insubordination after his ex-boss approved a €500,000 discount in a side deal with a supplier described as having a history of corruption. Izzy claimed he was left without work and resorted to food delivery. The WRC is currently considering his case. In October, Ryanair lawyers challenged the filings of flight attendant Fernando Oliveira, pointing to phantom legal rulings potentially generated by AI. Oliveira initially denied this but later acknowledged he may have used AI. The tribunal deemed the phantom citations egregious and an abuse of process. Following this, the WRC published guidelines stating parties must take full responsibility for submissions and that AI tools should not be relied upon as legal advice. In a separate October case, a chef who admitted using ChatGPT to draft a statement was found to have made a misrepresentation regarding a sexual harassment complaint, which was rejected. These rulings highlight the tribunal's scrutiny of AI-assisted legal submissions and the ongoing adjudication of complex employment disputes.