A man accused of conspiring to steal vehicles with garda killer Aaron Brady has been refused bail ahead of his retrial at the Special Criminal Court. James Flynn, aged 43, with an address in Newry, County Down, faced objections from gardaí who contended he poses a flight risk. Ms Justice Karen O'Connor, presiding over the three-judge, non-jury court, noted that Mr Flynn holds citizenship of the United Kingdom and the United States and has established businesses in both jurisdictions. The judge cited evidence of his financial capacity to evade justice and rejected submissions that his ties to the Republic of Ireland are sufficiently substantial. Proposed bail conditions, including residence with his mother-in-law in Monaghan, did not allay the court's concerns regarding the seriousness of the charges and the probable sentence upon conviction. The Court of Appeal previously quashed Mr Flynn's conviction on the conspiracy charge and ordered a retrial, finding the Special Criminal Court had breached his constitutional right to natural justice by amending the indictment without consulting legal representatives.
At the Special Criminal Court, Det Inspector Mark Phillips raised concerns about potential witness intimidation if James Flynn (34) is released on bail. He detailed incidents during Aaron Brady's trial for the murder of Det Gda Adrian Donohoe in 2020, including alleged attempts by James Flynn's father, Eugene Flynn Snr, to intimidate witnesses and jurors. Det Insp Phillips also highlighted alleged intimidation by Tony Brady, Aaron Brady's father, and an associate who sent a Snapchat message to a witness. Aaron Brady has pleaded guilty to conspiring with another man to dissuade a vital prosecution witness from giving evidence at his trial. The court heard that James Flynn was extradited from the UK in 2022 and has access to significant funds. He was originally charged with conspiracy to steal cars and participation in the robbery of the Lordship Credit Union, where Aaron Brady killed Det Gda Donohoe. The Special Criminal Court acquitted Flynn of the robbery charge but found him guilty of conspiring to steal a Volkswagen Passat used as a getaway car. The Court of Appeal previously ruled that the amendment of the indictment against Flynn was a breach of his right to natural justice. Defence counsel Bernard Condon argued that there is no evidence linking Flynn to witness interference or flight risk and that Flynn has no connection to Tony Brady. Ms Justice Karen O'Connor adjourned the decision to tomorrow morning.
Amy McQuaid, 30, was arrested at Dublin Airport on 4 September 2024 after X‑ray revealed 29.8 kg of cannabis worth €597,000 in her luggage. She claimed she believed the bags contained gold and watches, a statement her barrister described as "patent nonsense". McQuaid accepted that the bags were in her control but insisted they were not hers. She had travelled to Thailand with her then‑partner, who was later jailed for four and a half years for a similar offence. McQuaid was interviewed three times and said she was paid £4,000 and given a holiday in Thailand. The court found her explanation to be "transparent and stupid" and, after considering mitigating factors, imposed a sentence of four years and three months, back‑dated to her arrest. The sentence is to be served in a foreign jurisdiction.
A 52‑year‑old Kuwaiti man, Faleh Al Anisi, was sentenced to two and a half years' imprisonment, backdated to the day he entered custody on 24 May 2024, for assisting the entry of six non‑nationals into Ireland. He had travelled from Lisbon to Dublin, claiming the trip was a holiday but the court found the explanation implausible. At Dublin Airport he handed over his British passport, revealing his Kuwaiti origin, and later returned to customs to explain that he had flown from London to Lisbon the day before and then to Dublin. He admitted carrying a brown paper bag containing genuine passports of the six individuals, who had no documents and had arrived on the same flight from Lisbon. Al Anisi pleaded guilty to three counts of assisting the entry of a person in breach of Section 5 of the Immigration Act 2004.
Rachel Redmond, 34, was found guilty by a jury of impeding the Garda investigation into the murder of drug dealer Jordan 'Jordo' Davis. The jury heard that Redmond collected the shooter, Wayne Cooney, from a bus stop minutes after he killed Davis and later checked him into the Clayton Hotel near Dublin Airport. Redmond denied knowing Cooney had committed murder, claiming she was unaware of his criminality and that she had only helped him because she loved him. The prosecution described her testimony as "risible" and argued that she knowingly obstructed the investigation. The judge remanded Redmond in custody pending a sentencing hearing on 12 May. No other charges or outcomes were reported in this article.
Skyline View Ltd, a subsidiary of JMK Hospitality Group, was ordered to pay former head of operations Mark Langham €125,000 for unfair dismissal. The company claimed it had reduced operational needs in Ireland after renewing a €23 million deal to rent its Holiday Inn at Dublin Airport to the State's International Protection Accommodation Services as a direct provision centre, and cited financial considerations. Langham said the real reason was a personality clash with Sonia Kajani, the founder's daughter, and that the redundancy process was a "cloak" for his removal. The tribunal found no evidence that the company was in a financial position to justify the redundancy and that the dismissal breached the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977. The award was the first six‑figure sum granted by the Workplace Relations Commission in 2025. The case remains at the unfair dismissal stage, with no further verdicts announced.
Rachel Redmond, who pleaded not guilty to two counts of assisting Wayne Cooney to evade prosecution after the murder of Jordan Davis, is on trial at the Central Criminal Court. The prosecution alleges that on or about May 22, 2019, Ms Redmond knowingly drove Cooney away from the scene in Darndale and checked him into the Clayton Hotel near Dublin Airport to impede his apprehension. State counsel Seoirse Ó Dúnlaing SC argued that Ms Redmond's claim of ignorance was "absolutely risible," noting she parked away from the hotel and used her own name for the booking. He submitted that she knew Cooney had committed the killing and was hiding him. In closing, defence counsel Dominic McGinn SC urged the jury not to convict Ms Redmond by association, emphasizing that her brother Robert Redmond was the killer's co-conspirator. Mr McGinn described the bus stop collection as unlike a "slick getaway" and argued there was no evidence Ms Redmond knew of prior threats or the crime. The jury has heard that Robert Redmond pleaded guilty in April 2024 to conspiring with Cooney to murder Mr Davis and was sentenced to seven years in prison. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul Burns.
A 54-year-old Brazilian man has been sentenced to nine years imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following his conviction on multiple charges related to operating a brothel network across rural Ireland. Ilamar Rodrigues Ribeiro pleaded guilty to 19 sample counts, including brothel-keeping, using false instruments, and possession of proceeds of crime totalling €788,982 across multiple bank accounts. He also admitted possessing child sexual abuse material on his mobile phone when arrested at Dublin Airport in November 2023. The investigation, led by the Garda Human Trafficking and Co-ordination Unit, identified ten rental properties used as brothels in locations including Longford town, Ballyconnell, Ballymahon, Carrick-on-Shannon, and Ballaghadereen. Judge Patricia Ryan noted the offences involved elaborate planning and premeditation. She imposed a global sentence of ten and a half years, suspending the final eighteen months on strict conditions, with the term backdated to his arrest date.
Rachel Redmond, 34, pleaded not guilty to two counts of assisting Wayne Cooney to evade prosecution following the murder of Jordan Davis in May 2019. The State alleges she drove Cooney away from the scene and checked him into the Clayton Hotel near Dublin Airport to impede his apprehension. In her defence, Ms Redmond denied having an "agenda," stating she did not know Cooney had committed a crime when she collected him. She told the jury she was in love with him and only realized the severity of his actions after viewing CCTV footage in 2020. The court heard that her brother, Robert Redmond, pleaded guilty in April 2024 to conspiring with Cooney to murder Davis and was sentenced to seven years in prison. Ms Redmond admitted to paying for the hotel room but maintained she was unaware of the murder at the time. She denied directing her friend Stacey Hayes to collect Cooney, claiming she merely asked for a lift. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul Burns.
Wayne McDonnell, 39, pleaded guilty to possessing a drone with intent to fly €500 worth of heroin into Cloverhill Prison. Garda Tadhg McCarthy testified that prison staff observed a drone over the prison on 12 February 2024, and that a tracking system was used to locate the drone's flight path. McDonnell was arrested when he refused to open his pockets for a search and was found with two black Samsung phones, one being the drone controller. A copper pipe attached to the drone contained five deals of diamorphine, totaling 4.9 g with a street value of €587. McDonnell, who has prior convictions for drug possession, theft and public order offences, was sentenced to 14 months' imprisonment by Judge Elma Sheahan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The judge noted aggravating factors such as the seriousness of the offence and mitigating factors including McDonnell's early guilty plea, work history and his role in supporting his father.
The Central Criminal Court trial of Rachel Redmond, 34, continues before Mr Justice Paul Burns. Ms Redmond, from Coolock, has pleaded not guilty to two counts of assisting Wayne Cooney to evade prosecution for the murder of Jordan Davis on May 22, 2019. The prosecution alleges she drove Cooney from the scene and checked him into the Clayton Hotel near Dublin Airport. Evidence presented includes testimony from Ashling McNally, former partner of Robert Redmond, who stated she collected Robert from Belcamp Lane at 4:13 pm, minutes after the shooting. Robert Redmond, Ms Redmond's brother, previously pleaded guilty in May 2013 to possessing heroin worth almost €37,000 and was sentenced to five years in prison. Detective Garda Shane Kelly identified Cooney in CCTV footage, while hotel staff confirmed a booking under Ms Redmond's name. The jury is tasked with determining if Ms Redmond knew or believed Cooney committed the murder. The trial was adjourned and is scheduled to continue on Tuesday.
A Brazilian man has pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to operating a network of brothels across rural Ireland using falsified documents and landlord deception. Ilamar Rodrigues Ribeiro, aged 54, rented ten properties under a false Italian identity, with two located in Roscommon Town and others in Longford, Cavan, Leitrim, Carlow, Wexford and Kildare between 2018 and 2023. When arrested at Dublin Airport in November 2023, gardaí from the Human Trafficking and Co-ordination Unit recovered approximately €788,000 in proceeds of crime across multiple bank accounts. He also pleaded guilty to possessing child sexual abuse material on his phone comprising nine images and sixteen videos. Ribeiro entered guilty pleas to nineteen sample counts including fraud, inducing landlords to rent properties under false pretences, and possession of criminal proceeds. The investigation began following trafficking allegations from two women who identified properties being misused as brothels. Ribeiro has remained in custody since his arrest. Sentencing proceedings are scheduled for 21 March.
During the trial, the jury examined CCTV footage that the prosecution claims shows Rachel Redmond checking Wayne Cooney into the Clayton Hotel near Dublin Airport on the night of May 22, 2019, the same night Jordan Davis was shot dead in Darndale. The footage shows a Ford Focus arriving at the hotel at 00:03, Redmond booking a room with her name and credit card, and Cooney leaving the car to stay the night. Later footage shows Cooney exiting the hotel at 11:39, taking a taxi to the AUL Sports Centre, and returning to the same Ford Focus at 11:49. The prosecution also presented evidence of Cooney's tattoos, including a series of €50 bank notes and the Ha'penny Bridge on his right hand, a crown with "RR" on his left hand, and other markings on his legs. The unnamed man pleaded not guilty.
Two Brazilian drug mules, Felipe Oliviera Gaspar, 30, and Valter Soares, 26, were apprehended at Dublin Airport in separate incidents within weeks of each other, each carrying a kilogram of cocaine in their bodies. Gaspar swallowed 67 pellets and inserted three larger ones rectally; Soares swallowed 120 pellets. The cocaine recovered from Gaspar was valued at just under €70,000, while Soares' was worth €71,000. Gaspar pleaded guilty to possession for sale or supply and to drug importation, had no prior convictions, and was arrested by customs, taken to hospital for eight days of treatment, and later sentenced by Judge Martin Nolan to two years and nine months in prison, backdated to his custody date. Soares pleaded guilty to drug importation, had no prior convictions, and was sentenced to two years and three months, also backdated to his custody date. Both men cited debt to loan sharks and fear of criminal gangs as motives for smuggling the drugs.
Rachel Redmond, 34, from Coolock, is on trial at the Central Criminal Court for two counts of knowingly or believing that Wayne Cooney committed murder and then acting to impede his apprehension or prosecution. The prosecution alleges that on 22 May 2019, after Jordan Davis was shot dead in a cold‑blooded execution while pushing his infant son in a pram, Redmond drove a vehicle with witness Stacey Hayes, picked up Cooney, and later checked him into the Clayton Hotel near Dublin Airport using her name and credit card. The prosecution claims these actions were intended to help Cooney evade prosecution. Redmond pleaded not guilty. The trial is scheduled to continue before Mr Justice Paul Burns and a jury, with an expected duration of three weeks.
Christopher Doyle, a 34‑year‑old aircraft technician at Dublin Aerospace Ltd, was suspended from his airport identity card after a failed security intelligence check in November 2024. He claims the check was linked to a video he recorded in December 2023, in which another employee praised Gerard 'The Monk' Hutch during the 2024 General Election. Doyle says he shared the clip privately via WhatsApp but did not post it publicly; the video later appeared on Instagram, X and TikTok. He has no criminal convictions and asserts no family or associates have links to criminality. Doyle appealed the suspension on December 5, 2024, but received no reasons for the failure and was placed on unpaid leave. He is seeking a judicial review and a mandamus order to compel the Dublin Airport Authority, the Minister for Justice and Garda Síochána to complete his appeal. The High Court has adjourned the case to April 1, 2025, after refusing an ex‑parte hearing.
The High Court has placed a stay on the extradition of a 66-year-old man from Arva, Co Cavan, who is wanted in Northern Ireland for the murder of a part-time Ulster Defence Regiment member in 1979. James Donegan faces charges relating to the death of Joseph James Porter at Mountnorris, Co Armagh, in June of that year. He is also charged with firearm and ammunition offences and membership of a proscribed organisation. Mr Justice Patrick McGrath had previously ordered Mr Donegan's surrender to UK authorities, but has now granted a stay to permit an appeal of the extradition decision. Mr Donegan was arrested at Dublin Airport in June following his return from holiday. He has maintained his innocence. The Northern Ireland authorities issued the extradition warrant following a post-mortem examination that established Mr Porter died of gunshot wounds.
Jack Myers, a 30‑year‑old from Devon, was arrested at Dublin Airport on 5 September 2024 after X‑ray revealed 40 packages of cannabis weighing almost 20 kg, with an estimated street value of €398,000. He was held in custody and later pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply. Judge Martin Nolan noted that Myers had been induced by an acquaintance to travel to Thailand to acquire the drugs and intended to bring them back to the UK, with a planned ferry to England. The judge acknowledged Myers' vulnerabilities and that he had probably been taken advantage of, but held that he should have known he was transporting drugs. A headline sentence of six or seven years was considered, but the judge imposed a three‑and‑a‑half‑year term, back‑dated to the date of his initial arrest. The sentence reflected Myers' lack of prior convictions, early guilty plea and admissions of impulsive decision‑making.
Ignac Aradi, 51, a Hungarian national, was sentenced to a concurrent 21‑month term for possessing child sexual abuse material after he was caught flying €8.4 million worth of heroin into Ireland on a light aircraft. While being arrested by Gardaí, 1,480 child sexual abuse images were found on his phone, including 820 category‑one images depicting sexual activity involving children and 57 category‑one videos. The remaining images were category‑two, involving child exposure. Aradi pleaded guilty to one count of possessing child pornography. He had previously been convicted of embezzlement, theft, counterfeiting, fraud and drug importation. He has five children, one of whom died in a car crash at age 21. Judge Martin Nolan imposed the 21‑month sentence without extending his existing 10‑year term for the heroin importation offence. The sentence is to run concurrently with his current custodial term.
The Court of Appeal has reserved its judgment in an appeal brought by the State against a High Court decision regarding an action filed by Independent Senator Gerard Craughwell. Sen Craughwell alleges that a secret international agreement exists allowing the RAF to intercept rogue aircraft in Irish airspace, claiming such an arrangement is unconstitutional unless approved by referendum. The State, represented by Brian Kennedy SC, argued that the claims are political rather than legal and therefore not justiciable. Counsel for the State contended that the plaintiff's pleadings contained only "bare assertions" without sufficient factual basis to meet the threshold for trial, noting that the State could neither confirm nor deny the alleged security arrangements due to sensitive policy. Conversely, Gerard Humphreys, counsel for Sen Craughwell, argued that the existence of an arrangement requiring constitutional approval was evident from previous Dáil statements by then-Taoiseach Bertie Ahern. He maintained that the Government's failure to control airspace breached the Constitution and requested the court to force the State to admit or deny the existence of a treaty. The three-judge panel, including Mr Justice Charles Meenan, heard these arguments on the preliminary issue of justiciability. If the State succeeds, the case will fall before a full hearing. The court has reserved its judgment on this appeal.
Danny Povey, a 43‑year‑old British scaffolder living in London, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to possession of cannabis for sale or supply. He was caught at Dublin Airport on 4 September 2024 with 29 kg of cannabis valued at €596,000, after customs detected anomalies in his luggage. Povey claimed he believed he was transporting gold or watches, saying he had been paid by a third party and that the suitcases were locked with combination locks. He had travelled to Thailand with his girlfriend, who was also stopped with a similar amount of cannabis. Povey had no prior convictions, cooperated with investigators, and entered an early guilty plea. The judge, citing his work history, single child, and the circumstances of the offence, imposed the custodial sentence, backdated to his September 2024 arrest.
A tribunal upheld the dismissal of Gerard Carey, a senior Dublin Airport executive, after he was sacked for gross misconduct following his arrest over allegations of theft from terminal shops. The Workplace Relations Commission rejected Carey's complaint under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977. Carey, who had worked at the airport since 1998, was arrested on 29 June 2023 for alleged theft but was not convicted in ordinary courts. The airport argued that airside staff must maintain the highest trust and confidence, and that Carey's role as a senior executive in a highly regulated safety position made dismissal necessary. Carey's appeal, heard by Ms M, was dismissed as a rubber‑stamping of the disciplinary decision. The tribunal found that natural justice had been observed and that the complaint failed, also dismissing a secondary claim for statutory notice pay.
Mark Langham, a former senior executive earning €160,000 a year at Skyline View Ltd, a subsidiary of JMK Hospitality Group, has filed a complaint under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977 claiming he was made redundant as head of operations in Ireland in June 2023. Langham alleges the redundancy was due to a "personality clash" with Sonia Kajani, the daughter of the parent firm's founder. The WRC was told that the Holiday Inn at Dublin Airport, one of JMK's four Irish hotels, had been contracted to the State's International Protection Accommodation Services as a direct provision centre for asylum seekers, a contract worth €20‑23 million a year.
Too Tian Yng, 32, of Kuala Lumpur, was sentenced to three and a half years in prison after pleading guilty to importing €340,000 worth of cannabis into Ireland from Thailand. He admitted to smuggling the drugs at Dublin Airport on 4 June 2024, following an X‑ray of his suitcase that led to a search by customs and excise officers, who found 17 kg of cannabis. Yng claimed he had taken the suitcase from an airport in Bangkok and that he had been coerced, but he did not elaborate on the source of the coercion. He said he was scared of something or someone, but did not identify any names or sources. Yng had no prior convictions and was not known to Malaysian authorities. The court accepted that he acted as a courier, not as a criminal mastermind, and sentenced him accordingly.
Ryan Jennings, a 30‑year‑old British man from Durrow, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of a controlled drug after a customs officer noticed him acting suspiciously at Terminal One, Dublin Airport, on 24 August 2024. He was found with a large black suitcase containing 32 vacuum‑sealed bags of cannabis valued at €320,100. Jennings admitted that the death of his son in 2022 had led him to heavy drinking and a £15,000 debt, and that he had burned out his work van to try to clear that debt. He claimed the job of transporting cannabis was a "foolish venture" to escape his financial troubles. The court heard his cooperation, early guilty plea, lack of prior convictions and the family tragedy as mitigating factors.
A 66-year-old man from Arva, County Cavan, has been ordered by the High Court to be extradited to Northern Ireland to face murder charges. James Donegan is wanted in connection with the death of Joseph James Porter, a part-time Ulster Defence Regiment member, at Mountnorris, County Armagh, between June 22 and 25, 1979. Mr Porter's body was discovered near his farm entrance on June 24, 1979, with a post-mortem examination revealing fatal gunshot wounds. Mr Donegan is also charged with firearms offences and membership of a proscribed organisation. He was arrested at Dublin Airport in June 2024. Mr Justice Patrick McGrath rejected arguments from Mr Donegan's legal team regarding abuse of process and the fairness of trial proceedings following the significant passage of time. The judge found no evidence suggesting he would not receive fair treatment in the prosecuting jurisdiction. The court adjourned proceedings to February 7 pending surrender.
Lemos Luise Rocha, 24, from São Paulo, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for smuggling 1.23 kg of cocaine worth €80,000 onto an aircraft. He admitted possession of the drugs at Dublin Airport on 31 March 2024 and explained that he swallowed half of the pellets while the remainder was wrapped around his groin and in his shoes. Rocha claimed he was coerced by a man who promised a "nice life" and offered him a hamper and €500. He also said he had an affair with his teacher when he was 14 and has a child with her. The court noted his lack of prior convictions, his fear for his life, and the fact that he was a foreign national. Judge Martin Nolan, after considering the mitigating circumstances, imposed a three‑year term, back‑dating it to 31 March 2024 for time already spent in custody. Lemos Luise Rocha pleaded guilty.
Cheong Sik Hong, 38, of Kampung, Paya Bemban, Malaysia, was sentenced to three years in prison after customs officers discovered over €280,000 worth of cannabis in his suitcase. Hong admitted possession of 14 kg of cannabis, estimated at €281,000, for sale or supply at Dublin Airport on 7 July 2024. He claimed he was paid to transport edible bird nests and had no knowledge of the drugs. Garda Jamie Connor reported that a customs dog alerted to the suitcase, which Hong said belonged to a friend and was forced open. Hong stated he had been told he would stay in Ireland for seven days and would receive further instructions upon arrival. He had no prior convictions, pleaded guilty early, and cooperated with the investigation before being jailed for three years.
Lee Zhu Xuan, a 21‑year‑old Malaysian from Pereak, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to importing cannabis worth just over €360,000 into Ireland via Terminal 2, Dublin Airport on 5 June 2024. Garda Alex Murphy reported that a Revenue officer observed Xuan acting suspiciously, searched his bag and found 36 vacuum‑packed bags of cannabis. Xuan claimed he had no knowledge of the contents, saying a friend had given him the bag and booked the flight. He was promised €2,800 for his role and said he was studying music and had high educational fees. During the garda interview he expressed deep regret for his actions. The court heard that Xuan had no prior convictions, cooperated with customs and the gardai, and made admissions.
A key prosecution witness, Kallum Coleman, 23, who was due to testify in the trial of barrister Diarmuid Phelan, 56, was arrested on a warrant issued during Phelan's trial. Coleman had left Ireland for Spain after the trial began and later agreed to return, but the jury heard he had a "change of heart" and fled when gardai stopped for refreshments en route to a Spanish airport. Coleman was involved in a trespassing incident on Phelan's Hazelgrove Farm on 24 February 2022, during which Phelan shot Coleman's dog and then fired three shots from a handgun, killing Keith Conlon. Phelan was acquitted of murder after a 10‑week trial that ended on 3 January. Coleman failed to appear on 30 October, leading to a warrant and his arrest last week. The Director of Public Prosecutions has informed the court that Coleman faces contempt proceedings before Ms Justice Lankford, who is currently conducting a trial in Cork.
Diarmuid Phelan, a law professor and farmer, was accused of murdering Keith Conlon by shooting him in the back of the head on his farm. During a March 2022 High Court bail hearing, the State opposed release, citing flight risk. Phelan, appearing via video-link from Cloverhill Prison, denied any intention to evade justice. The court heard he held significant assets, including farms in Wexford and Tallaght, and was a US citizen. Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy refused bail, finding him a serious flight risk with a powerful incentive to evade justice. Phelan subsequently appealed to the Court of Appeal. Mr Justice George Birmingham noted Phelan had left the High Court judge "totally in the dark" regarding his finances. The Court of Appeal granted bail, requiring a personal bond of €50,000 and an independent surety of €50,000. Phelan's murder trial later opened before Ms Justice Siobhan Lankford. He did not take the stand to give evidence in his defence. The prosecution suggested he was a skilled shooter, while his defence included a US firearms expert. The report details his professional background, financial arrangements, and the procedural history of his bail application and subsequent trial proceedings.
A second Malaysian drugs mule who believed the €389,000 in cannabis he was smuggling in his suitcase was a consignment of edible bird nests has been jailed. Chong Chong Nen (50) pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis for sale or supply at Terminal 1, Dublin Airport, on June 2, 2024. He has no previous convictions and has been in custody since his arrest on the day of the offence. Judge Dara Hayes noted the deleterious effect of drug crime on communities and on wider society. She said there were "specific and exceptional" circumstances in the case which allowed her to depart from the presumptive minimum sentence of ten-year imprisonment, citing the manner in which Chong Nen had dealt with the case, his early plea and his cooperation and admissions. She set a headline sentence of five and a half years before imposing a term of three years and six months, suspending the final nine months. Kim Low Swee (35), also from Malaysia, received a sentence of three years and six months, with the final 12 months suspended earlier this month, after the court heard he was under significant financial pressure. The second Malaysian drugs mule, who also believed he was carrying bird nests, has been jailed. The matter was adjourned at the sentence stage.
A 35‑year‑old Malaysian named Kim Low Swee was arrested at Dublin Airport after customs found €380,000 worth of cannabis in his suitcase. He claimed he believed the bag contained edible bird nests, a delicacy, and that he had been told to say so if stopped. Low Swee admitted he knew the contents were prohibited but thought they were harmless. He said he had been promised €4,300 for the transport and that financial pressure, job loss, and family stress motivated him. He pleaded guilty to simple possession, possession for sale and supply, and importation of cannabis. The court accepted his early pleas and mitigating circumstances, and imposed a sentence of three years and six months, with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions, backdated to the day he was taken into custody.
Siquen Buongiovanne Rey, 36, a former chef with no fixed abode in Spain, was found with 11 kg of cannabis worth €220,000 in his luggage at Dublin Airport on 5 April. Customs officials, alerted by his suspicious behaviour after arriving from Malaga, X‑rayed his luggage and discovered 11 black‑plastic‑wrapped packages. Rey admitted possession to the Gardaí, claiming the drugs were for personal use, and pleaded guilty. He had no prior convictions in Ireland or Spain and was in custody since his arrest. The court accepted his early plea and the fact that he had financial difficulties after losing his job during the Covid‑19 pandemic. Judge Dara Hayes, noting the seriousness of the offence and the quantity of drugs, imposed a sentence of two years and nine months, back‑dated to 5 April, and allowed the early plea to reduce the mandatory minimum. Rey intends to serve the remainder of his sentence in Spain if permitted.
Joanna Zochowska, a 40‑year‑old Polish artist, was found at Dublin Airport with a pink suitcase containing 13.5 kg of cannabis worth €270,208. She claimed she had not packed the bag herself and believed it held precious metals to avoid customs duties. Zochowska said she was contacted via an app, promised $10,000 CAD, and received $1,000 for flight costs. She admitted to being in an abusive relationship and feeling financially pressured. The court accepted her early guilty plea and cooperation, noting her vulnerability and lack of prior convictions. Judge Dara Hayes sentenced her to three years and three months, suspending the final 21 months, and backdated the sentence to the day she was taken into custody. The judgment highlighted her naivety, financial hardship, and the aggravating factor of the drug amount and promised payment.
Kamila Henrique Lopes, 28, a Brazilian drugs mule, was intercepted at Dublin Airport on 5 June 2024. She admitted to swallowing 102 pellets of cocaine and hiding three more in a condom in her vagina to settle a €163 loan‑shark debt. The total value of the drugs was €83,510. Garda Emmet O'Byrne reported that Lopes had borrowed the debt from a street lender in Brazil, with penalties raising it to about €580. She cooperated with Gardaí, revealing that she was instructed to swallow the pellets in a hotel room in Brazil and that she found it physically difficult. Lopes has no prior convictions and was taken to Beaumont Hospital, where she passed the 102 pellets. She has been in custody since 10 June 2024 and has taken educational courses. Judge Elva Duffy, after considering mitigating factors, set a headline sentence of five and a half years, reduced to three years and nine months, backdated to 5 June 2024. Kamila Henrique Lopes pleaded guilty.
Darrel Brown, 43, of Leeds, was arrested at Dublin Airport after a sniffer dog detected cannabis in his suitcase. The drugs, weighing just under 14 kg, were valued at €253,730. Brown pleaded guilty to possession and importation for sale and supply. He was a low‑level participant in the drug trade, having been recruited to transport the cannabis from Spain to Dublin. Brown explained that he had left his job and relationship, struggled to find work in Spain, and was offered €2,000 for the job. He has one prior traffic offence conviction and has been in custody since his arrest. The court noted his mental health issues and lack of a lavish lifestyle, and accepted his early guilty pleas and cooperation. The case was adjourned to 24 March 2025 for finalisation.
The Special Criminal Court heard evidence in the trial of six men accused of offences arising from an incident at Browne's Steakhouse in Blanchardstown on December 24. Michael Andrecut, Noah Musueni, and David Amah are charged with the murder of Tristan Sherry, while Jonas Kabangu, Diarmuid O'Brien, and Brandon Hennessy face charges of violent disorder. All accused have pleaded not guilty. Prosecution witness Detective Sergeant Mark Murphy detailed Andrecut's arrest and his statements to gardai, in which he described Jason Hennessy Senior, who was fatally shot during the incident, as a father figure. Andrecut told detectives he reacted out of a "fight or flight" instinct when he saw Hennessy Senior wounded. The court also heard that gardai attempted to use a special provision to draw inferences from Andrecut's failure to answer questions regarding a black metal bar, a wooden chair, and knives allegedly used in the assault. Andrecut's counsel, Dominic McGinn SC, is expected to argue tomorrow that these inference interviews should not be admitted into evidence. The matter is currently at the charge or pre-trial stage, with the trial overseen by Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo, Judge Elma Sheahan, and Judge James Faughnan. No finalisation or sentencing has occurred, and the proceedings remain ongoing.
Adrian Mah Yew Beng, a 40-year-old Malaysian national, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for possessing cannabis herb valued at €560,000 for sale or supply on February 28. Beng pleaded guilty to the charge. Judge Martin Nolan noted that while drug transportation is serious, Beng operated at the lowest level of the trade. The judge set a headline sentence of eight years, which was reduced to an effective custodial term of four and a half years, backdated to February 28. Prosecution evidence indicated Beng arrived at Dublin Airport with two locked suitcases containing 30kg of cannabis in 56 vacuum-sealed packages. He claimed he did not pack the luggage, believed it contained cigarettes, and was to be paid approximately €600. Defense counsel John Byrne SC described Beng as a "Joe Soap from Malaysia" who took a chance for small money. The court heard Beng has no previous convictions, is cooperative, and is willing to leave Ireland and not return upon completing his sentence. He has two children and cares for his mother. The matter was finalized with the imposition of the custodial sentence.
In the murder trial of law professor Diarmuid Phelan, the jury heard that 23‑year‑old Kallum Coleman, who had agreed to testify, booked a one‑way ticket to Spain and was hiding in a hotel when a bench warrant was issued. Gardaí attempted to locate him at his family address and other acquaintances' addresses but found no trace. They later identified him in Marbella, where he was "holing up." While Gardaí were stopping for refreshments en route to the airport, Coleman exited the car and fled, refusing to cooperate with the courts. The defence counsel, Michael Bowman, described Coleman's "change of heart" and his decision to "leg it." The trial also covered Phelan's 2017 trespassing case, where threats were made against him in court, and the circumstances of the 2022 shooting that killed Keith Conlon. The case continues before Ms Justice Siobhan Lankford and a jury. Diarmuid Phelan pleaded not guilty.
Lucas Matley, a 19‑year‑old from Manchester, was caught at Dublin Airport with 12.8 kg of vacuum‑packed cannabis worth about €257,860. He had travelled to Las Vegas for five days to pick up the suitcase and then flew to Ireland, claiming he was paid £5,000 to transport the drugs. Matley pleaded guilty to having the drugs for sale or supply at the airport on 10 March 2024. Judge Orla Crowe noted his lack of prior convictions and cooperation with Gardaí, and considered mitigating factors such as letters from his former school. She imposed a headline sentence of four years but reduced it to three years, suspending the final six months for one year. The sentence was imposed at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after a Garda investigation that found 28 vacuum‑packed packages in his luggage.
Kevin Ahmetay, a 26‑year‑old Albanian national with no fixed abode, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to one count of unlawfully assisting a friend's entry into Ireland. The offence stemmed from an incident at Terminal One, Dublin Airport, where Ahmetay and his friend, both from Albania, were stopped after arriving from Italy. Gardaí discovered that the friend used a false name and a false Bulgarian passport, while Ahmetay had produced a genuine Bulgarian passport in his own name and claimed no connection to the other man. However, authorities linked the two men by their shared booking and sequential check‑in. Ahmetay admitted he had held his friend's genuine Albanian passport, which he intended to return after they entered Ireland for onward travel. He had a prior UK conviction for cannabis production, resulting in a suspended sentence.
Two men, a former Soviet fighter pilot and a former construction company owner, were sentenced to a combined 18 years in prison for smuggling 60 kg of heroin into Dublin. The pilot, Zoltan Nemeth, flew a Cessna 210 that landed at Weston Airport with 120 packages of heroin, each about half a kilo, valued at €8.4 million. Nemeth claimed he was unaware of the cargo, believing it to be prohibited metal for microchips, while the co‑accused, Aradi Ignac, admitted transporting the drugs and said he had fallen into debt to dangerous individuals. Ignac had ten prior convictions, including theft and fraud, and had been involved in planning the operation. The court imposed headline sentences of 13 years for Ignac (actual term ten years) and 10 years for Nemeth, with both sentences backdated to the day they were arrested. Both men have been in custody since December and are on 23‑hour lock‑up for their own protection. Aradi Ignac pleaded guilty. Zoltan Nemeth pleaded guilty.
Wayne Fairhurst, a 33‑year‑old former teaching assistant from Warrington, was sentenced to four years in prison for acting as a 'drugs mule' by transporting €251,000 worth of cannabis from Los Angeles to Dublin. He was caught with 12.5 kg of cannabis in 28 plastic packages in his suitcase at Dublin Airport's Terminal 2. Fairhurst had been offered £10,000 to carry the drugs, after initially refusing £7,000, and accepted the offer after being told to book the trip himself and paying £1,400. He claimed he was threatened and felt compelled to comply. At the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court he pleaded guilty to possession of the drugs for sale or supply. The judge, citing his background of poverty, domestic abuse, ADHD, dyslexia and recent personal losses, imposed a five‑year sentence with the final year suspended, noting he would serve the term in another jurisdiction.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 1 November 2024, Feliks Andrianov, 54, was found guilty of assault causing harm after an incident at a McDonald's restaurant near Dublin Airport on 5 July 2019. The case involved a security guard, Michael Norris, who had clamped Andrianov's taxi after the driver left the car to visit a nearby Circle K. Andrianov returned, confronted the guard, and grabbed him, resulting in a dislocated left shoulder for Norris. Andrianov claimed he had been struck first, but CCTV and body‑cam footage showed no contact from the guard. The prosecution presented a victim impact statement detailing Norris's injuries and subsequent employment loss. Judge Elma Sheahan, noting the seriousness of the offence and mitigating factors such as Andrianov's good character and family ties, sentenced him to 18 months' imprisonment, suspended in full for 18 months. Andrianov represented himself at the sentencing hearing.
Katie Farrell, 27, of The Orchard, Ardee, Co Louth, was arrested at Dublin Airport on 16 January 2024 after a search of her luggage revealed 14.9 kg of cannabis with a street value of €299,626. She had travelled alone from Alicante, Spain, and was stopped when her luggage was screened. Farrell made no admissions during her interview and was described by the Garda detective as a courier acting under the instruction of a third party. She has no prior convictions but has a history of drug addiction and low self‑esteem. In the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Elva Duffy noted her cooperation, voluntary surrender, and personal circumstances, describing her as a vulnerable person who was manipulated. The judge imposed a four‑year prison term, suspended the final twelve months for two years, and ordered twelve months of probation upon release. The sentence was back‑dated to the day she entered custody.
A murder trial at the Central Criminal Court has heard evidence concerning the day after a man's death in a Drumcondra apartment. A work colleague testified that Dean Caffrey, who is accused of murdering Sean McCarthy on August 2, 2022, appeared to be in good form while working at Dublin Airport three days after the alleged incident. The witness said Caffrey chatted about sport and women during their shift and was frequently on his phone, mentioning plans for a holiday. Separately, Caffrey's ex-girlfriend told the court she had planned to visit his home that day but changed her mind after he said he had been napping. The trial heard that Caffrey later attended Gardaí voluntarily and directed officers to McCarthy's body, which was found wrapped in plastic inside a suitcase in a wardrobe. Caffrey, aged 38, of Beaucort, Achill Road, Drumcondra, has pleaded not guilty to murder. The prosecution alleges he intended to kill or cause serious injury. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury.
Geovane Ferrnandes, a 31‑year‑old Brazilian, was jailed for three and a half years after being caught at Dublin Airport with 6.7 kg of cocaine, worth €489,790. He pleaded guilty to possessing the drug for sale or supply at Terminal One on 18 March. Ferrnandes claimed he was motivated by the need to fund expensive medical treatment for his daughter, who suffers severe asthma and requires frequent hospital stays. He said he had no knowledge of the contents of the parcel he carried and had not received any payment for the smuggling. The court noted he was caught "red‑handed" and had no prior convictions in Ireland. Judge Orla Crowe set a headline sentence of six years but imposed a term of three and a half years, back‑dated to his March arrest. Ferrnandes has expressed remorse and intends not to return to Ireland after serving his sentence.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 31‑year‑old Geovane Ferrnandes pleaded guilty to possessing 6.7 kg of cocaine, valued at €489,790, at Terminal One, Dublin Airport, on 18 March. He was caught when customs X‑ray revealed an anomaly. Ferrnandes claimed he had no knowledge of the contents, having received a parcel from an unknown woman and packed it himself. He said he had been offered about €2,000 for transport but received no payment. Ferrnandes cited his daughter's severe asthma and costly treatment as a motive, noting she is housebound and hospitalized twice weekly. He has no prior convictions, speaks limited English, and has worked various jobs since age nine. He expressed remorse, apologized to Gardaí, and vowed never to return to Ireland after serving his sentence. The case was adjourned for finalisation on 23 October.
Elizabeth Lock, 56, was jailed for two and a half years after customs officials at Dublin Airport discovered 30 vacuum‑packed bags of cannabis worth €270,460 in her luggage. A drugs dog had indicated the presence of contraband, and a search revealed the cannabis. Lock claimed she had been given the bags in Canada by a third party and believed she was transporting precious metals for tax‑avoidance purposes. She said she had answered an online job posting, was in financial difficulty, and was promised $10,000. She pleaded guilty to possession and importation of a controlled drug for sale and supply. Judge Orla Crowe cited the large quantity and financial motive as aggravating factors, but noted Lock's medical issues, lack of prior convictions, and guilty plea. The judge imposed a three‑year sentence, suspended the final six months, and backdated the term to her March arrest.