The Special Criminal Court heard that Eamonn Cumberton, 30, of Mountjoy Street, Dublin 7, pleaded not guilty to the murder of 35‑year‑old Michael Barr, who was shot seven times at the counter of the Sunset House pub on 25 April 2016. The prosecution argued that Cumberton was "inextricably linked" to items recovered from a silver Audi, the alleged getaway car, which was found partially burnt near the scene and whose items were also linked to the shooting. Jonathan Gallagher, a Emirates employee, testified that on 26 April Cumberton tried to board a flight to Dubai but his passport was invalid; he later returned with a new passport and attempted to board again the next day. Garda Shane Connolly presented CCTV footage showing a car driving toward the pub, parking opposite, then moving to Walsh Road where it was set on fire.
The Special Criminal Court refused bail to 20‑year‑old Nikita Murtagh, charged with unlawful possession of a CZ 70 pistol, two rounds of 7.65 Browning ammunition and a shotgun cartridge recovered by gardai at Connolly Station on 19 July. The State objected on grounds that she might commit a further serious offence or be a flight risk. Judge Isobel Kennedy, with Judges Patricia Ryan and James Faughnan, ruled that the court was not satisfied to grant bail, noting it was probable she would seek to evade justice if released.
The High Court dismissed three legal challenges to the construction of a new 3,110‑metre runway at Dublin Airport, a project costing €320 million and covering 261 hectares north and north‑west of the terminal. The court found the development lawful and upheld the extension of planning permission granted to the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA). Residents from Kilreesk Lane, St Margaret's, Co Dublin, who argued that the runway was illegal and that Fingal County Council had ignored their concerns about its impact on homes and land, will appeal the dismissal. They will seek permission for the Court of Appeal to hear their case later this month. An environmental group, Friends of the Irish Environment, also intends to appeal the dismissal of its claim that the runway would increase greenhouse‑gas emissions, though the judge accepted a constitutional right to an environment but ruled it did not apply in this instance.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, judges ruled that the arrest of Eamonn Cumberton, 30, accused of murdering Michael Barr, 35, at the Sunset House pub on 25 April 2016, was lawful. Cumberton pleaded not guilty. The prosecution argued he was linked to items recovered from a partially burnt car near the scene, and that forensic evidence connected him to the shooting. Evidence was presented that Cumberton was arrested at Dublin Airport on an outstanding bench warrant one month after the murder and later, on 27 May, was arrested by Inspector Brian Delaney on suspicion of murder. The court found the arrest valid and proper, rejecting the defence's claim that it was a contrivance. The case continues.
In a non‑jury Special Criminal Court hearing, Gardai objected to bail for 20‑year‑old Nikita Murtagh, charged with unlawful possession of a CZ model 70 semi‑automatic pistol, two rounds of 7.65 Browning ammunition and a shotgun cartridge recovered at Connolly train station on 19 July. Garda Marguerite Reilly argued that bail should be denied to prevent a further serious offence and that Murtagh was a flight risk. Murtagh denied that she would commit a serious offence if granted bail. The court adjourned the hearing to Wednesday morning for the defence to submit documentation to the State.
In the Special Criminal Court, the trial of Eamonn Cumberton, aged 30, for the murder of 35‑year‑old Michael Barr at the Sunset House pub, has progressed to the hearing of DNA evidence. The prosecution presented a full DNA profile from a cigarette butt seized at Bridewell Garda Station, where Cumberton had been taken after his arrest at Dublin Airport on a bench warrant. Forensic Science Ireland's Rodney Lakes also analysed a rubber mask recovered from the alleged getaway car, finding a mixed DNA profile of two men. The DNA from the cigarette butt could not be excluded as a contributor to the mask's mixed profile. The court is hearing legal arguments on the admissibility of this evidence, with the trial continuing before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, Judge Patricia Ryan and Judge James Faughnan. The defence is challenging the legality of Cumberton's arrest. The case remains in the voir dire stage. Eamonn Cumberton pleaded not guilty. Sunset House pleaded not guilty.
A legal dispute between farmers Rory Bridgette and Albert Murphy and Sainfoin Property Company, part of the Comer group owned by brothers Luke and Brian Comer, has been resolved. The applicants claimed rights to five acres of land at Turnapin, Cloghran, near Dublin Airport, which they used for grazing horses, alleging they were bullied and intimidated by company representatives. The defendant denied these allegations, stating the farmers had no rights to the land purchased in 2014 and that the claims were made to denigrate the firm. The matter was heard before Mr Justice Brian McGovern at the Commercial Court. Counsel for the applicants, Martin Hayden SC, stated the proceedings had been resolved and the claim withdrawn, requesting a costs order in favour of the defendant. Counsel for the farmers, Eanna Mulloy SC, confirmed an agreement to remove a lis pendens registered against the lands. The judge welcomed the resolution. Previously, in September, Ms Justice Eileen Creedon discontinued a temporary injunction obtained by the farmers, preferring the company's evidence that there was no basis for the claims of interference or trespass. The court noted the farmers had fenced off the land since the early 2000s, while the company alleged the farmers attempted to extort compensation. The current hearing concluded with the withdrawal of the claim and the agreed removal of the lis pendens.
Martin Gilroy, a 34‑year‑old former engineer from Dungannon, was arrested at Dublin Airport after a car was found containing more than €600,000 worth of heroin and cocaine. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing the drugs for sale or supply. The court, hearing that Gilroy was a recovering drug addict who had worked as an engineer, described him as a "valuable player but not a major player" in the offence. Judge Martin Nolan noted that Gilroy had been "less than candid" about his involvement and that he was unlikely to be the ultimate owner of the drugs, whose profit was intended for other parties. Gilroy was sentenced to seven years in prison, a sentence back‑dated to 21 July. The drugs were seized from a car that had been parked outside Terminal Two, and a co‑accused man was also arrested after leaving the terminal.
Jadesola Agbalade, 51, pleaded guilty on 20 July 2016 to knowingly distributing child pornography after forwarding a clip that showed a child aged between two and five being raped. She claimed she sent the video via WhatsApp to warn a friend about the dangers of leaving her children with her boyfriend. The clip was discovered during an investigation of a man arrested for credit card fraud at Dublin Airport in July 2017; the phone used to send the clip was traced back to Agbalade. She admitted to receiving and sending the clip, and also sent it to a female friend with three children, who has not been identified. Agbalade has no prior convictions, lives in temporary accommodation, and has one teenage child and two adult sons. Judge Karen O'Connor adjourned the case to 1 March 2018 to obtain a psychological report, citing that Agbalade did not understand the gravity of her actions.
The High Court has dismissed three legal challenges against plans for a new €320m runway at Dublin Airport. Mr Justice Max Barrett ruled on actions concerning the proposed 3,110-metre development on 261 hectares north and north-west of the terminal. The first challenge, brought by Friends of the Irish Environment, alleged non-compliance with the Habitats Directive and the 2000 Planning and Development Act, and claimed the project would increase greenhouse gas emissions. The judge dismissed this, finding the group lacked the right to participate in the decision to extend planning permission under section 42 of the Act and failed to prove disproportionate interference with constitutional environmental rights. The second action, by St Margaret's Concerned Residents Group, claimed pre-construction works in December 2016 constituted unauthorised development in breach of planning conditions. The judge rejected this, noting that while mistakes happen, he was not exercising discretion to rule in the residents' favour. A third action by 22 individual residents alleged the development was illegal and that Fingal County Council failed to address their concerns. This was also dismissed. Dublin Airport Authority, Fingal County Council, the State, and Ryanair all rejected the claims. The cases have been adjourned for a week to allow the various parties to consider the decisions. It is not known if an appeal will be taken.
A 29-year-old man pleaded guilty to burglary at a takeaway in Castlebar, County Mayo on 18 May 2015. Yasir Ali of Lighthouse Apartments, East Wall, Dublin removed equipment valued at €11,484.50 from Thomas Street Takeaway, including commercial freezers, deep fat fryers, and stainless steel fixtures. Ali had been operating the premises after subletting it without the owner's consent. He was arrested shortly after the theft and subsequently apprehended at Dublin Airport attempting to leave the country with false documentation. Following his arrest, Ali cooperated with gardaí and led them to a farmhouse at Hollymount, County Mayo, where the stolen equipment was recovered. At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, the judge noted Ali's cooperation and adherence to bail conditions. He received a three-month suspended sentence for the false documentation offence. Sentencing on the burglary charge has been adjourned to 18 December to allow submission of medical reports. Ali has no previous convictions.
A 51‑year‑old mother of three, Jadesola Agbalade, pleaded guilty on 20 July 2016 to knowingly distributing child pornography after she forwarded a clip of a child being raped to a friend via WhatsApp. The clip, showing a child aged between two and five, was an international recording that had circulated since about 2014. Gardaí discovered the clip when investigating a man arrested for credit‑card fraud at Dublin Airport in July 2017; the man's phone contained the clip and the sender's number traced back to Agbalade. She admitted to sending the clip to a female friend with three young children to warn her against leaving her children with her boyfriend. Agbalade has no prior convictions, lives in temporary accommodation, and will be sentenced on 9 November. The court ordered a probation report and remanded her on continuing bail.
Real IRA leader Seamus McGrane was bugged by the Gardai as he plotted in a well-known Dublin pub with another man to carry out an operation involving explosives during the run-up to the State visit of Prince Charles two years ago. The Garda National Surveillance Unit planted a sophisticated listening device in the snug of the Coachman's Inn on the Airport Road, which recorded conversations between McGrane – a founder of the Real IRA – and engineering graduate Donal O'Coisdealbha. McGrane (63), from Dromisikin in Co Louth, is only the second person to be convicted of directing a terrorist organisation in the State. His former colleague and fellow founder of the Real IRA Michael McKevitt was jailed for 20 years in 2003 for directing terrorism between August 1999 and October 2000. He was released from prison in 2016. During McGrane's trial at the Special Criminal Court, during which there was no cross-examination of prosecution witnesses, the court heard recordings of the conversations between McGrane and O'Coisdealbha in April, 2015. McGrane told O'Coisdealbha: 'Go with whatever plan you wish. I think he's coming on the 19th (a reference to Prince Charles). I don't like an embarrassment.' McGrane then mentioned 'military significance.' 'Symbolic,' O'Coisdealbha replied. 'Symbolic is right,' replied McGrane. The two men were heard in the recording of April 19th discussing a location 'around 400 metres from the target.' Detective Sergeant Padraig Boyce said that the location being discussed was approximately 400 metres from the Cross of Sacrifice, a monument in Glasnevin Cemetery commemorating British and Irish soldiers who fought in World War 1. The two men were also recorded discussing a bomb found on a train line in Northern Ireland in February 2015 and an attack on MI5 Headquarters in London in April, 2010. The court also heard that gardai found bomb making components in a field adjacent to McGrane's house. McGrane was jailed for four years by the Special Criminal Court in 2001 after he pleaded guilty to training others in the use of firearms.
In February 2016, customs officials at Dublin airport seized €71,000 from Ramon Rodriguez, who was staying at the Maldron Hotel in San Isidor, Sabadell, Spain. The money was concealed in a biscuit tin and bed sheets. Rodriguez claimed the cash belonged to the "Moldovan mafia" and said he intended to hand it over to a Moldovan man in Spain. He had previously been convicted in the UK for importing 10 kilograms of cannabis. Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that Rodriguez feared for his life and would not return to Ireland. Counsel applied for forfeiture under section 39 of the Criminal Justice Act 1994, arguing the cash was proceeds of drug trafficking. Judge Karen O'Connor granted the forfeiture, ordering the €71,000 to be transferred to the State as proceeds of crime. The case highlighted the concealment method and Rodriguez's explanations as key factors in the court's decision.
In the High Court, Mr Justice Max Barrett reserved judgment in separate proceedings challenging Fingal County Council's decision to extend planning permission for a new €320 million, 3,110-metre runway at Dublin Airport. The applicants include the environmental group Friends of the Irish Environment and 22 individual residents, most of whom reside on Kilreesk Lane in St Margaret's, Co Dublin. A third related action was brought by the St Margaret's Concerned Residents Group against the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA). The DAA and Ryanair are notice parties in the proceedings, while the respondents and notice parties have opposed the actions. The challenges target the council's decision to extend the DAA's planning permission to construct the second runway, which is located on townlands north and north-west of the airport terminal. Following the conclusion of submissions on Wednesday, the judge stated he would deliver his decision "as soon as possible," acknowledging the parties' anxiety for a resolution. He noted the significant volume of submissions and documents in the three cases, which commenced on October 3rd. The court has previously reserved its decision in the third challenge brought by the St Margaret's Concerned Residents Group. The matter remains pending, with the judge indicating that his review of the extensive legal submissions would now begin.
The High Court heard submissions in three separate challenges to Fingal County Council's decision to extend planning permission for a second runway at Dublin Airport. In the first action, Friends of the Irish Environment claims the extension violates the Habitats Directive and the 2000 Planning and Development Act, and asserts a constitutional right to an environment. State counsel Ciaran Toland SC argued that no such unenumerated right exists in the Irish Constitution, describing the group's reliance on international consensus as speculative. The second challenge, brought by 22 residents from St Margaret's, Co Dublin, alleges the development is illegal because the Council failed to address local concerns or conduct a required Environmental Impact Assessment. The third action, brought by the St Margaret's Concerned Residents Group, claims pre-construction works by the Dublin Airport Authority in December 2016 constituted unauthorised development, a claim the DAA denies. The court has reserved its decision in the third case. The hearing of the first two actions before Mr Justice Max Barrett continues. The DAA, a notice party, intends to build a €320m runway as part of its hub plans, while Ryanair is also a notice party. Respondents oppose all actions.
In two separate cases, customs officers recovered cash at Dublin Airport and the amounts were forfeited to the State by order of Judge Karen O'Connor under section 39 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1994. In the first case, €9,200 was seized from Eddie O'Loughlin of St Finbars Terrace, Bohermore, Galway, on 13 May 2016. O'Loughlin was travelling to Amsterdam that day, had no known source of income, and was receiving job seekers allowance. He had a history of drug convictions and a six‑year and a half‑year sentence for assisting organised crime. He gave a "less than credible explanation" for the cash and did not engage with the process, leading to forfeiture. In the second case, US$10,000 was seized from Laimonas Baltrusis of Baileys Village, Johnstown, Navan, Co Meath, on 14 June 2015.
Ronald McMillan, 69, was jailed for importing 30 kg of the banned plant khat into Ireland. He was caught at Dublin Airport and had previously been linked to a stolen rental car that he had taken to Portugal. McMillan pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to theft of a Toyota Yaris on 10 March 2016 and to possession of khat for sale or supply and importation of the drug at Dublin Airport ten days later. Gardaí found the khat in wet form in a bag he claimed contained clothes, with an estimated street value of €15,000. McMillan has 28 prior convictions from 1971 to 2016, including offences in Gibraltar, Algeria, Austria, Australia, Monaco, France, Spain, Morocco and Yugoslavia. Judge Cormac Quinn sentenced him to two years, suspending the last 12 months on the condition that he keep the peace.
The High Court heard that local residents' concerns regarding Dublin Airport Authority's (DAA) application to extend planning permission for a new €320m runway were not considered by Fingal Council. Counsel for 22 individual residents, including members of St Margaret's Concerned Residents, argued that the council excluded their submissions, claiming they were "shut out" of the process. The residents allege the extension is illegal because the council failed to address their concerns and did not carry out a required Environmental Impact Assessment. A separate action by Friends of the Irish Environment contends the decision breaches the Habitats Directive and the 2000 Planning and Development Act. The respondents, including Fingal County Council and the State, oppose both actions, with Ryanair listed as a notice party. In a related matter, Mr Justice Max Barrett reserved judgment on a challenge by St Margaret's Concerned Residents Group, who claim pre-construction works by the DAA constitute unauthorised development due to an alleged breach of waste management conditions. The DAA denies this claim. The current hearing, which is the second of three sequential challenges, continues and is expected to last several days.
The first of three legal challenges to the proposed €329m second runway at Dublin Airport opened at the High Court before Mr Justice Max Barrett. The St Margaret's Concerned Residents Group, acting as applicants against the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA), alleges that pre-construction works carried out in December 2016 constitute unauthorised development. Counsel for the residents claimed the DAA breached a 2007 planning permission condition by failing to submit a waste management plan to Fingal County Council before demolition began, with the plan only submitted in February 2017. They further alleged that removed materials contained toxic substances, including asbestos. The DAA, represented by counsel, opposed the action, arguing no unauthorised development occurred. They stated the late submission was an error that was rectified before the legal action commenced and that the plan was adhered to thereafter. Counsel for the DAA requested the court exercise discretion to deny the sought orders, citing the project's public importance. The hearing of this case continues and is expected to conclude on Wednesday. Two further challenges are pending: one by 22 individual residents alleging Fingal Council failed to address local concerns, and another by Friends of the Irish Environment. The latter argues the planning decision violates the Habitats Directive and the 2000 Planning and Development Act, and will increase greenhouse gas emissions. These subsequent actions are brought against Fingal County Council and the State, with the DAA as a notice party.
Freddie Thompson, 36, was charged with the murder of David Douglas, 55, on 1 July 2016 at Bridgefoot Street, Dublin. In a High Court hearing on 3 October 2017, Judge Paul McDermott refused Thompson's bail application, citing flight risk and the seriousness of the charge. Thompson, wearing a grey zip‑up jumper, shouted obscenities at the judge, saying "Fuck off, I'm not listening to that" and "I'm not fucking going back in", and attempted to leave the courtroom. Two women present left before the judge finished ruling. The State, represented by Ronan Prendergast BL, objected to bail on the grounds of flight risk and potential further serious offences. Sergeant Brendan Brogan of Pearse Street Garda Station and Chief Superintendent Francis Clerkin provided evidence supporting the refusal under Section 2A of the Bail Act. Thompson was remanded in custody and the DPP had previously obtained an order for him to face trial at the Special Criminal Court.
A High Court judge will decide whether 36‑year‑old Frederick "Freddie" Thompson, who lives on Loreto Road, Maryland, Dublin 8, should be granted bail. Thompson is charged with the murder of 55‑year‑old David Douglas, who was killed on Bridgefoot Street, Dublin, on 1 July 2016. The Director of Public Prosecutions had previously obtained an order for Thompson to be tried at the Special Criminal Court, arguing that ordinary courts were inadequate for effective administration of justice. Thompson applied for bail in the High Court, but the State objected. Sergeant Brendan Brogan of Pearse Street Garda Station told the court that the seriousness of the charge made Thompson a flight risk and that his release could lead to further serious offences. Chief Superintendent Francis Clerkin also testified that, under Section 2A of the Bail Act, refusal of bail was necessary to prevent the commission of a serious offence.
Darren Gleeson, 35, a Dublin father of one, was charged with membership of the Irish Republican Army on 18 May 2017. He was remanded in custody after the alleged offence and applied for bail on 31 August 2017. The Special Criminal Court, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, rejected the bail application. The court cited a probable flight risk and noted that both Gleeson's daughter's mother and his own mother offered €3,000 each for bail. Gleeson remains in custody until 4 October for the production of evidence.
Kevin Braney, a Dublin man living at Glenshane Crescent, Tallaght, was arrested last week on charges of membership in the Irish Republican Army (IRA). He applied for bail, but the Special Criminal Court refused it. The court cited concerns that Braney could be a flight risk and might interfere with witnesses. Detective Inspector Nigel Mulready argued that Braney's release could lead to further serious offences, while Detective Chief Superintendent Tom Maguire supported the objection under Section 2A of the Bail Act, stating that preventing interference with witnesses was a "very live and real concern." Judge Tony Hunt, with Judges Patricia Ryan and Gerard Haughton, agreed and refused bail on that basis alone. Braney was remanded in custody until 5 October, when his case will be mentioned again. He was required to appear in person, as the court deemed the video‑link system inadequate.
Jade Seddon, a 25‑year‑old mother of three from Oldham, Manchester, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for importing €70,000 of cocaine into Dublin Airport on 30 March 2017. She admitted to carrying just over one kilogram of the drug in a suitcase when she flew in from Brussels. After her arrest, Seddon told Gardaí she had flown to Amsterdam to collect the package, knowing it contained cocaine, and that she was to meet a man in Dublin to receive €3,000. She claimed she did so because her home was being repossessed and she needed money for a rent deposit. Defended by Luigi Rea, she was described as a single mother of limited means who had previously worked as a bingo caller and cleaner. Jade Seddon pleaded guilty.
Ethan Emmett, 24, of Finglas, Dublin, received a two-and-a-half-year suspended sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to assault causing harm and criminal damage in Finglas on March 31, 2011. Judge Karen O'Connor described Emmett's conduct as "disgraceful" but suspended the sentence, citing the time he has already spent in custody and his young age. Prosecution evidence alleged that Emmett threw beer bottles at a chipper owner after being refused a phone charger loan, causing approximately €2,000 in damage. Emmett fled to Australia on bail in 2011 and was not returned to Ireland until March of this year, following the completion of a five-year and eleven-month sentence for reckless wounding in Australia. He was arrested by gardaí upon his arrival at the airport. The court noted Emmett has 30 previous convictions, mostly from his minority, including assault and public order offences. The matter was finalised with the imposition of the suspended sentence.
A 33‑year‑old man accused of raping a woman in her 50s on the grounds of Pollerton Castle in Carlow was refused bail by the Central Criminal Court. He had previously been denied bail at the District Court. The State argued the seriousness of the rape and assault charge, the potential for a lengthy sentence and a flight risk. Justice Paul Coffey accepted these objections and denied bail.
Two men, James Walsh, 33, and Jonathan Harding, 44, were arrested after a firearms cache was found in Greenogue Business Park, Rathcoole. They face charges under the Firearms Act for unlawful possession of five revolvers, 20 rounds of ammunition and a silencer. Both applied for bail in the High Court, but the State objected, arguing they were flight risks. Detective Sergeant Michael Cuffe and Detective Chief Superintendent Patrick Lordan presented evidence that bail would risk further serious offences. Judge Tony Hunt rejected the bail applications, remanding the men in custody.
Two men, James Walsh, 33, and Jonathan Harding, 44, were arrested on 24 January after a firearms cache was found in a Greenogue Business Park unit. The cache included five revolvers, 20 rounds of ammunition and a silencer. They face charges under the Firearms Act for unlawful possession. A High Court judge will decide whether to grant bail. Detective Sergeant Michael Cuffe argued that if released they would be flight risks and might avoid trial. Detective Chief Superintendent Patrick Lordan presented evidence that bail should be refused to prevent a serious offence. Justice Tony Hunt will deliver his judgment tomorrow.
Ethan Emmett, aged 24, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm for an incident that occurred on 31 March 2011 in Finglas. The assault took place at a chipper where Emmett, then 18, had been denied a phone charger and returned with beer bottles. He threw the bottles at the owner, threatened to kill him, and used a small knife before fleeing the premises. The owner suffered injuries and the restaurant incurred an estimated €2,000 in damage. Emmett was arrested three days later and released on bail. While on bail he fled to Australia, where he served a five‑year, eleven‑month sentence for a separate stabbing offence in 2012. He returned to Ireland in March after completing his Australian sentence and was arrested at the airport. He has 30 prior convictions, mainly for assault, criminal damage and public order offences. Judge Karen O'Connor adjourned the sentencing to 28 July.
In February 2014, Mohamed Okda, a 30‑year‑old Egyptian national, was convicted by a jury of raping a woman who had become lost during a night out in Dublin. The woman, who was drunk and disoriented, had been staying with friends and had lost contact with them. Okda approached her, offered help, and invited her to his flat. While she was unconscious, he allegedly forced sexual acts upon her, including rape. She later testified that he had taken her glasses and phone, coerced her into oral sex, and threatened her. After the incident, she fled the flat, was found by a taxi driver, and reported the assault to Gardaí. Okda was remanded into custody for sentencing on 28 July. The trial lasted seven days, and the jury returned unanimous guilty verdicts on all counts within just under three hours. The court rejected a bail application, citing flight risk concerns. Mohamed Okda pleaded not guilty.
Marcus Gantley, 23, was sentenced to a three‑year term with the final 18 months suspended after pleading guilty to obstructing a peace officer, assaulting a Garda, and two separate possession of controlled drug offences. The Court of Appeal upheld the sentence, describing it as "very lenient" but not "unduly lenient." Gantley was found in possession of €700 worth of heroin after a violent struggle in a Spar shop and €17,000 worth of cocaine at Dublin Airport, where customs officers confronted him over a black bag. He was on bail for the earlier charges at the time of the cocaine offence. The judge noted Gantley's history of drug addiction, chaotic lifestyle, and high risk of reoffending, and highlighted that the offences were committed over a short period, showing a disregard for bail conditions. The Court of Appeal dismissed the Director of Public Prosecutions' application for a review, leaving the original sentence intact.
Ryanair has been joined to legal actions concerning the extension of planning permission for the development of a new €320m runway at Dublin Airport. The actions were initiated by the Friends of the Irish Environment Group and 22 individual residents, including those residing at Kilreesk Lane, St Margaret's, Co Dublin, against Fingal County Council's decision on March 7th last year to extend planning permission for the new 3,110 metre runway. The extension was sought by the Dublin Airport Authority, as the August 2007 permission is set to expire in August 2017. The proposed development will occupy 261 hectares north and northwest of the airport terminal. At the Commercial Court, Mr Justice Brian McGovern permitted Ryanair to become a notice party to the actions, which are aimed at overturning Fingal County Council's and the State's decision. Ryanair's Director of Operations, Adrian Dunne, stated the airline has a significant interest in the runway's construction, as it is essential for Ryanair's expansion. The actions are based on allegations that the planning permission decision does not comply with EU directives, including the Habitats Directive, and the 2000 Planning and Development Act, and is unlawful. The proceedings, along with a third action by the St. Margaret's Concerned Residents Group, are scheduled to be heard by the Commercial Court in October.
Stephen Penrose, 35, of No Fixed Abode, was charged with attempted robbery and possession of a screwdriver after an incident in a supermarket car park in Kilcock, Co Kildare on 14 May. He had been remanded in custody following a 17 May appearance at Naas District Court and sought bail in the High Court on 26 June. Counsel for the Director of Public Prosecutions, Barry Ward BL, argued that the State objected to bail on several grounds, citing the O'Callaghan principles and Section 2A of the Bail Act. Ward cited concerns that Penrose was a flight risk, might commit further offences, and could interfere with witnesses. He referenced statements from Chief Superintendent Gerard Roche and Detective Sergeant Aidan Hannon of Leixlip Garda Station. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy considered the evidence and, under Section 2 of the Bail Act, refused the bail application, stating the refusal was necessary to prevent the commission of a further serious offence.
Patrick O'Reilly, 49, of Brownswood, Enniscorthy, was denied bail by the High Court after being charged with threatening to kill Garda Paul Donoghue and Detective Inspector John Hunt in February in Limerick. The State argued that O'Reilly was a flight risk and could interfere with witnesses, citing O'Callaghan objections and Section 2A of the Bail Act. Justice Michael Moriarty ruled the bail refusal necessary, hearing evidence from Chief Superintendent John Roche and the two Gardaí who were allegedly threatened. O'Reilly now awaits trial at Clonmel Circuit Court.
Mairtin Manning, 22, a relative of former Lord Mayor Christy Burke, was granted bail after being charged with knowingly possessing four kilograms of TNT and an RGD33 grenade head in Dublin's city centre. He faces a charge of possessing an explosive substance. His co‑accused, Declan McDermott, 28, is charged with membership of an unlawful organisation, namely the Irish Republican Army. The Special Criminal Court, hearing the case on 14 June 2017, denied the State's objections based on flight‑risk concerns under the O'Callaghan principles. Both men were released on bail with strict conditions: they must provide their dates of birth, surrender passports, sign twice daily at Garda Station, observe a curfew, stay within the jurisdiction, avoid Northern Ireland, and not attend Republican gatherings. Manning must live on Ballybough Road and may only associate with certain relatives; McDermott must reside with his partner and mother at Buckingham Street.
Four Dublin men, linked to the drugs trade, were stopped at Dublin Airport in February 2016 and had €17,600 in cash seized. The men were preparing to travel to Malaga, Spain on one‑way tickets. Customs and Excise officials, while screening outbound passengers, confiscated the cash after hearing contradictory explanations about its use. Kieran Kelly BL, for the State, argued that the cash represented proceeds of crime or was intended for criminal conduct. Judge Karen O'Connor granted forfeiture under section 39 of the Criminal Justice Act 1994. The court heard that Gerard Claxton Jnr claimed the money was for buying an apartment in Malaga, while his father claimed it was for furnishing a Spanish apartment. Claxton Jnr had prior convictions for firearms possession and attempted robbery; his father had a burglary conviction. Lee Boylan and Michael Jones had no prior convictions.
Aer Lingus was fined €250,000 after a cargo driver, John Murray, aged 55, died from head injuries when he fell while climbing down a loading dock at Dublin Airport on 5 November 2014. The company admitted it had allowed non‑employees to access the loading bay by climbing onto a three‑foot high dock, a practice that had become routine. The court found Aer Lingus failed to implement written procedures to protect drivers from the risk of falling and to manage access to the loading bay. Judge Martin Nolan noted the death was devastating for the Murray family and that the company had a generally good safety record, but the offence carried a maximum fine of €3 million. The judge imposed the €250,000 fine, citing the company's early guilty plea and apology. The Murray family has lodged a claim for damages in the High Court.
James Walsh, 33, of Neilstown Drive, Clondalkin, was arrested on 24 January for unlawful possession of five revolvers, 20 rounds of ammunition and a silencer at a unit in Greenogue Business Park, Rathcoole. He faces three charges under the Firearms Act. The State objected to bail, and Detective Sergeant Michael Cuffe argued that Walsh would be a flight risk and might not attend trial. Detective Chief Superintendent James McGowan also testified that bail should be refused to prevent a serious offence. Justice Tony Hunt rejected the bail application.
Edward Hanrahan faced the Court of Appeal in January 2017 following the dismissal of his judicial review proceedings in the High Court. Originally charged with three burglaries in Galway District Court in December 2009, Hanrahan absconded before his scheduled March 2010 hearing. He evaded gardaí for several years across multiple counties before being apprehended in a Donegal village in November 2014 whilst allegedly attempting to cross the border. Upon his recapture, two charges were withdrawn but one remained. The Director of Public Prosecutions subsequently directed trial in the Circuit Court rather than summarily. Hanrahan contested this decision as unfair and sought judicial review. The High Court rejected his application, finding no procedural breach. The Court of Appeal unanimously upheld this judgment, with Mr Justice George Birmingham stating the uncertainty surrounding the original District Court proceedings could not benefit Hanrahan, who bore sole responsibility for his flight and consequent circumstances.
Piotr Pawel Skiba, wanted in Poland to serve two prison sentences, was arrested in Ireland under a European Arrest Warrant. The High Court ordered his surrender on December 1, with the plan that he would be flown from Dublin to Poland on a commercial flight accompanied by Polish police. At the departure gate, Skiba refused to board and the flight captain decided not to take him on. The surrender attempt was abandoned and Skiba was returned to Cloverhill Prison. The High Court set a new surrender date of January 5, citing circumstances beyond the State's control. The Court of Appeal upheld the order, lifting the stay. Skiba's solicitor later informed authorities of a claimed fear of flying, but no medical evidence was provided, and the court found the claim insufficient to justify the delay. The appeal was dismissed, and the surrender order remained in force.
Larry McCarthy, 37, of Limerick, was denied compassionate bail by the Special Criminal Court to attend his grandmother's funeral. McCarthy faces multiple charges: threatening to kill Noel Moore and to damage Moore's house on 28 July 2015, and threatening unlawful violence with two others and assaulting David Foran on 25 November 2014. The court had previously set trial dates for these offences. The State objected to the bail application, citing McCarthy as a serious flight risk and the potential to interfere with witnesses. Detective Sergeant John Cleary and defence counsel Mark Thompson BL argued for bail, but no conditions were offered to satisfy the court's concerns. Judge Paul Butler, with Judges Robert Eagar and Sinead Ni Chulachain, upheld the refusal, noting no change in circumstances since the prior denial under Section 2A of the Bail Act. The decision was made on Friday, 30 December 2016.
Muna Ali, a 23‑year‑old Norwegian national, was stopped at Dublin Airport after a flight from Nairobi. X‑ray scans of her suitcases revealed a green, herb‑like substance identified as khat, a controlled drug. The estimated street value of the drugs was €7,200. Ali pleaded guilty to unlawful importation of a controlled drug on 9 July 2016. She was originally from Somalia, moved to Norway with her mother, and was attending university when she travelled to Kenya. While there, she met a man via Facebook who offered her €2,000 to transport two suitcases from Nairobi to Glasgow. Ali claimed she did not know the contents of the suitcases. The court, noting her early guilty plea, lack of prior convictions and absence of family ties in Ireland, imposed a ten‑month sentence back‑dated to the day she entered custody.
A 23‑year‑old Norwegian national, Muna Ali, was stopped at Dublin Airport after a flight from Nairobi. X‑ray scans of her suitcases revealed a green, herb‑like substance identified as khat, a controlled drug. The estimated street value of the khat was €7,200. Ali pleaded guilty to unlawful importation of a controlled drug on 9 July 2016. She was originally from Somalia, moved to Norway with her mother, and was attending university when she travelled to Kenya. While there, she met a man via Facebook and agreed to transport two suitcases from Nairobi to Glasgow for €2,000. She claimed she did not know the contents of the suitcases. The court noted her early guilty plea, lack of prior convictions, and absence of family ties in Ireland. Judge Terence O'Sullivan announced a partially suspended sentence and adjourned sentencing to 21 December to allow her flight to Norway.
A man from Drumlish, County Longford, has been sentenced to eight and a half years imprisonment following his conviction by the Special Criminal Court on charges relating to the placement of an explosive device on a passenger bus and the making of bomb threats during Queen Elizabeth's State visit in May 2011. Donal Billings was found guilty of unlawful possession of an explosive substance at Longford railway station car park and four offences under the Criminal Law Act of 1976 involving false reports of bombs at multiple locations including Busáras, Sinn Féin headquarters, Dublin Castle, and Cork airport. A suspicious object containing gunpowder and petrol was discovered in the luggage compartment of a Dublin-bound bus. The investigation utilised mobile phone records and CCTV analysis to identify the accused. Billings maintained his innocence during trial and claimed to have found the SIM card used to make the calls. Mr Justice Tony Hunt noted the dangerous nature of the offences while acknowledging mitigating factors including the accused's age and cooperation with proceedings.
Samuel Templeman, a 36‑year‑old unemployed handyman from the UK, flew from Argentina to Dublin carrying 34 cocaine pellets, 17 of which he had placed in his rectum and two between his buttocks after failing to swallow the full 100 pellets he was instructed to ingest. He was intercepted by customs on arrival on 8 May and pleaded guilty to possessing cocaine for sale or supply at Dublin Airport. He received a three‑year sentence, with the final two‑and‑a‑half years suspended, and was described by the judge as a vulnerable prey of drug dealers. Templeman has no prior convictions, was diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome, and has since behaved as a model prisoner, working in a trusted position and receiving drug counselling in the UK. The sentence was back‑dated to his initial custody, making him eligible for release under the imposed conditions.
Declan Duffy, 43, of Hannover Street West, Dublin, faces charges of false imprisonment and violent disorder for incidents at The Towers, Garters Lane in Saggart on 9 June 2015. The Special Criminal Court, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt with Judges Martin Nolan and Cormac Dunne, refused bail. Garda objections were based on the risk of flight and Section 2A of the Bail Act, with evidence from Detective Inspector Colm O'Malley and Detective Chief Superintendent Lorraine Wheatley. Duffy remains in custody until 3 October next year, when his trial is expected to commence.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Declan Duffy, aged 43, faces a bail application while charged with three counts of false imprisonment and violent disorder linked to an incident at The Towers, Garters Lane, Saggart, on 9 June 2015. The bail hearing, held at Cloverhill District Court, included objections from Gardaí citing Duffy as a flight risk, and from Detective Chief Superintendent Lorraine Wheatley, who invoked Section 2A of the Bail Act to argue that denying bail was necessary to prevent a serious offence. Judge Tony Hunt, with Judges Martin Nolan and Cormac Dunne, will decide the application tomorrow morning.
A Dublin man, Darren Hogan, aged 43, was extradited to the United Kingdom to serve the remaining five years of a 14‑year sentence for importing eleven kilograms of cocaine. Hogan had already served seven years of his sentence before breaching probation by returning to Dublin, where he was born. He pleaded guilty at Chelmsford Crown Court in October 2005 and was stopped by customs at Stansted airport in August 2005 after travelling from Faro, Portugal, with ten tape‑wrapped blocks of the drug. In October 2012 he was released on licence from HM Prison Liverpool under supervision, but in July 2014 he failed to attend an appointment with his probation officer and was later found to have travelled back to Dublin. The High Court, presided over by Ms Justice Aileen Donnelly, heard that the central issue was whether Hogan's family rights would be violated by his surrender to the UK.
Ihab Abou Alfa, 45, was jailed for three months after he tried to withdraw his guilty plea for importing €4,000 worth of cigarettes into Dublin Airport on 21 November 2013. The court found his conduct "unfortunate" because he attempted to change his plea and refused to accept responsibility. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to six months imprisonment, with the final three months suspended, citing the offence as low‑level but the conduct serious. Alfa had been caught red‑handed when Customs and Excise officer John Sinclair observed him acting strangely in the blue channel. The bag contained about 8,200 cigarettes valued at €3,832, costing the exchequer €2,324. Alfa had previously lived in Ireland, ran a painting business, and suffered a road traffic accident and persistent pain. He denied guilt and showed no remorse. The judge noted a non‑custodial sentence would have been appropriate but was overridden by his conduct.