A 25‑year‑old man, Adam Marlowe, was convicted of aggravated burglary, robbery of €50 and assault on an 81‑year‑old farmer in north Co Dublin. The conviction was based on DNA evidence recovered from a small piece of blue latex material found in the victim's bedroom, described as a fingertip of a latex glove. The DNA matched Marlowe's profile 93%, with the remaining 7% from two unknown persons. No gloves were found in the house and there was no evidence the perpetrators wore gloves. Marlowe appealed, arguing the trial judge failed to direct the jury to acquit and misdirected the weight of forensic evidence. The Court of Appeal upheld the conviction, stating the evidence was sufficient to link Marlowe to the crime. He was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment, with a suspended portion of a previous sentence for violent disorder. The victim suffered bruising, a deep cut requiring stitches, and reported lasting trauma. Adam Marlowe pleaded not guilty.
John Connors, aged 22, was sentenced to two years in prison for burglary at Hamlet Lane, Balbriggan, on 4 January. He entered the house of Peter Sanya, who was watching television, claiming he had been directed to the house to find a man named Jason. Connors admitted to being intoxicated and claimed he had stolen items, but was not found with a hammer or knife at arrest. Gardaí recovered five watches, silver cufflinks, a gold chain and an iPhone from him. He had seven prior convictions, including burglary. Connors pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The judge imposed a three‑year sentence, suspending the final year on strict conditions, including compliance with the Probation Service for one year after release. The case was prosecuted by Philip Rahn BL and defended by Derek Cooney BL. The incident was reported by Detective Garda Gerard Mulroney.
Martin Conroy, aged 45, has failed in his appeal against a sentence imposed by Castlebar Circuit Court in June 2018. Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin sentenced Conroy to five years imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended on condition of residential treatment for alcohol addiction, following his conviction for burglary. A further charge of impersonating a garda was taken into consideration. The offence occurred on 12 December 2017 when Conroy broke into a home in Castlebar, County Mayo, and falsely identified himself as a garda to the elderly householder. He fled when asked to produce identification and was subsequently located by gardaí. Conroy pleaded guilty and made full admissions. His legal team argued the sentence was excessive, citing lack of premeditation and his acting alone. However, the Court of Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice John Edwards, upheld the original sentence, finding it not disproportionate given Conroy's 50 previous convictions and the psychological impact on the victim.
Dean Heapes, 34, of Swords, Co Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to 10 burglaries of premises on South William Street, Dublin 2, committed on December 13, 2016. He also admitted to three further burglaries in the city between January 2017 and April 2018, as well as using a false instrument when attempting to cash a stolen cheque on Grafton Street in November 2016. The court heard that Heapes, who has ten previous burglary convictions, was captured on CCTV stealing 13 laptops during the initial incident, five of which were later recovered. Judge Karen O'Connor noted that while the offences were serious, Heapes had no history of violent offending. The judge considered his chronic drug addiction, difficult upbringing, and periods of homelessness, alongside his cooperation with gardai and expressed remorse. Judge O'Connor imposed consecutive sentences totalling five and a half years but suspended the final 18 months. She stated that Heapes has much to be hopeful for, including a supportive partner and young child, but warned that if he does not take this opportunity, he will spend the remainder of the sentence in prison.
A man from Aughavas, County Leitrim, has been sentenced to seven and a half years imprisonment following his conviction on money laundering charges at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Simon Gold, aged 54, pleaded not guilty to charges including money laundering, theft, deception and control of false instruments relating to offences between January 2010 and October 2012. A jury returned guilty verdicts on 20 counts after over 12 hours of deliberation, following more than two weeks of evidence. The court heard Gold operated fraudulent companies under multiple identities and targeted vulnerable individuals experiencing severe financial difficulty. Judge Martin Nolan described the crimes as devious and dishonest, noting Gold exploited men in desperate circumstances. The sentence was backdated to May 2018, when Gold first entered custody. Gold has 17 previous convictions, including 12 recorded in the United Kingdom for burglary, theft and larceny.
Adam Marlowe, a convicted person, appeared before the Court of Appeal regarding his conviction for aggravated burglary, robbery of €50, and assaulting Malachy Turley at a home in rural north Co Dublin on July 29, 2016. Marlowe had pleaded not guilty but was found guilty by a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and sentenced to 12 years imprisonment. His legal team argued that the DNA evidence linking him to the crime was insufficient, claiming the jury speculated on the origin of a 93% DNA match found on a blue latex glove fingertip. Prosecutors countered that the evidence was overwhelming and the trial judge properly directed the jury. The court, comprising Mr Justice John Edwards, Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, and Ms Justice Aileen Donnelly, reserved its judgment. Consequently, the matter was adjourned, and Marlowe must wait to hear the outcome of his appeal. At the time of the offence, Marlowe was on bail for two district court offences and serving the suspended portion of a sentence for violent disorder. The victim, an 81-year-old farmer, suffered bruising and a deep cut requiring stitches, describing the incident as traumatic.
Kathleen Kiely, 32, of London, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to handling stolen property and handling assorted stolen jewellery on January 21, 2018. She was caught attempting to sell €90,000 worth of damaged gold jewellery, traced to a burglary in Lucan, to a cash-for-gold shop in Tallaght. Judge Karen O'Connor sentenced Kiely to two years' imprisonment but suspended the entirety of the sentence on strict conditions. The court noted aggravating factors including premeditation and impact on the victim, balanced by mitigating factors such as her guilty plea, good character, and status as a mother. Her former partner, Michael Maughan, 25, of Tallaght, also pleaded guilty to handling assorted stolen jewellery on the same date. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced Maughan to four years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended. The prosecution highlighted that gardaí had placed the shop under surveillance after receiving information about the planned sale. Defence counsel argued Kiely was influenced by Maughan and was not the primary target of the investigation. No previous convictions were recorded for Kiely. The matter was finalised with these sentences imposed.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court jury trial, Daniel Dos Santos, 24, was found guilty of robbing a Spanish restaurant worker of a mobile phone and a bottle of wine. The jury returned an 11‑1 verdict. Dos Santos also pleaded guilty to burglary, criminal damage to a house in Churchtown, and unlawful carriage in a vehicle, for which he received suspended sentences. The robbery occurred on 10 May 2016 when Dos Santos, accompanied by a second man, grabbed a Spanish waitress on Bridge Street and struck her in an unprovoked, violent attack. The judge noted he was not the prime mover. The victim's impact statement described lasting fear and financial loss. Dos Santos was sentenced to four years' imprisonment for the robbery, with consecutive terms of two and a half years for burglary and one year for unlawful carriage, all suspended for three years upon release.
Dubliner Christopher Dunne (34) has been sentenced to five and a half years in prison for his role in a series of robberies and attempted robberies across Dublin between October 24, 2017, and December 11, 2017. Dunne, who has no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to the charges at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Karen O'Connor imposed consecutive sentences of three years and four and a half years. A portion of the sentence was suspended for 24 months on the condition that Dunne keep the peace. The court heard that Dunne used weapons such as a knife, screwdriver, and claw hammer during the crimes. Garda Aoife O'Brien stated that Dunne robbed cash from Applegreen, Howth Road, Clontarf, on four occasions and committed further robberies in Killester, Artane, and Clontarf. Dunne was also involved in a robbery at a shop in Waterville, Blanchardstown, and acted as the getaway driver in another robbery on Oxmantown Road, Stoneybatter. Dunne has 89 previous convictions, including for robbery, burglary, theft, and drug possession. His defence acknowledged that he was a drug user who committed the crimes to fund his addiction. Judge O'Connor noted that the crimes caused fear and distress to victims and that Dunne is a chronic drug addict who pleaded guilty to the charges.
Jason O'Connor, 41, was sentenced to three years in prison for assaulting a man at The Paddocks pub in Clonee on 3 November 2018, and for making threats to kill or seriously harm Detective Sergeant Shane McCartan and Detective Inspector Joseph McLoughlin during a search of his home on 5 November 2018. The threats were recorded by a documentary film crew and played in court. O'Connor pleaded guilty to both the assault and the threats. He has 64 previous convictions, mainly traffic offences, but also knives, burglary and a mobile phone in prison. The judge, Martin Nolan, imposed a concurrent one‑year sentence for the threats, back‑dated to reflect time already spent in custody. The court noted that O'Connor had been in his boxer shorts when the Emergency Response Unit breached his door, and that he had a history of mental health issues and substance misuse.
A 30-year-old man from Ballymun has received a two-year suspended sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for stealing twenty bottles of spirits valued at €900 from Copper Face Jack's nightclub on Harcourt Street in May 2017. Jason Whelan pleaded guilty to the burglary charge after being identified on CCTV footage removing the alcohol from the venue's Premier Bar. The court heard that Whelan has 91 previous convictions, 43 of which relate to burglary offences, and that his criminal activity was motivated by a long-standing drug addiction. Judge Melanie Greally noted that since the theft, Whelan had undertaken treatment at Coolmine and received a favourable probation report. The judge cited his guilty plea, demonstrated remorse, and rehabilitation efforts as mitigating factors. The suspended sentence is conditional on Whelan maintaining the peace and accepting twelve-month supervision from the Probation Service.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Brian Bridgeman, 36, was sentenced to 28 months' imprisonment for burglary and criminal damage at St Michan's Church. Bridgeman admitted stealing the mummified head of an 800‑year‑old Crusader from the crypt, leaving two skulls in a bag on the church grounds with a note. He also pleaded guilty to five counts of criminal damage, including two for damaging a dead body. The court heard that the crypt's outer wrought‑iron doors were opened and an inner metal door was pulled down, a lock on the Hamilton family vault was damaged, and a coffin was broken. The 300‑year‑old mummy of "the nun" was disturbed, with bones broken and the head set at an almost 180‑degree angle. Reverend David Pierpoint delivered a victim impact statement, describing the burglary as devastating to clergy and parishioners and citing a loss of €35,000 in revenue and €15,000 in repairs.
Michael Connors, 26, of Marlfield Crescent, Tallaght, pleaded guilty to burglary at Commons Road, Shankill, on 21 April 2018, and to unlawful use of a vehicle at Whitehall Road, Dublin 12, on 22 April 2018. He was sentenced by Judge Elma Sheahan to four and a half years' imprisonment, with the final six months suspended on strict conditions. The court noted that Connors, while unlawfully at large from custody, broke into a house, stole a car's keys, avoided contact with the house's son, and caused €500 of damage to a gate while attempting to exit. He has 40 prior convictions, including 13 for burglary, and had previously pleaded guilty to escaping custody on 10 November 2017 and 20 April 2018.
Douglas Byrne, 47, of Clondalkin, pleaded guilty to handling stolen property and possession of scissors at Rolestown Garda Station on 18 August 2018. He was found by gardaí in a highly intoxicated state, fled, was arrested, and searched. A large amount of money, €1,731.50, was discovered in his underwear and identified as belonging to Far East Chinese Restaurant on Ballyfermot Road. Byrne had 120 previous convictions, including burglary, theft and drug offences. He was charged with burglary of the restaurant but pleaded not guilty and the charge was dropped. Judge Melaine Greally sentenced him to three years' imprisonment, suspending the final 12 months on strict conditions. The sentence was backdated to 28 August, when he first entered custody for the matter. The court noted Byrne's long history of drug addiction and prior convictions as mitigating factors.
Patrick Dempsey, 52, of Cluain Caislean, Ferns, Co Wexford, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of heroin for sale or supply on 9 January 2017. He was found with a small package of heroin, valued at €1,988, concealed in his anus after Garda Sergeant Cillian Duffy searched him at a garda station. Dempsey admitted he had obtained the heroin for his partner and to supply friends, and that he travelled weekly to Dublin to purchase the drugs. He has 25 previous convictions, including theft and aggravated burglary. Judge Patricia Ryan imposed a three‑year imprisonment sentence, fully suspended on the condition that Dempsey keep the peace, behave well for three years and comply with the Wexford Substance Misuse Team. The court noted his cooperation, guilty plea, admissions and efforts to rehabilitate, including training to become a chef and participation in the Cornmarket Project choir.
In a case heard by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Joseph Heffernan, aged 43, admitted to staging a burglary at Body & Soul Salon in Rathmines on 25 July 2019 to conceal theft from two employees. Heffernan claimed the salon's owner, his former partner, was absent and that he was helping run the business. He told Gardaí that a front‑door incident had occurred, but omitted that €6,670 and £40 had been stolen from employee lockers. CCTV showed him entering the salon and leaving with a bag shortly after. He later confessed to taking money over months and stealing from employees to repay the salon. Heffernan also claimed he had dropped a laptop and recording box in a skip, only to find them missing later. He has a prior speeding conviction. The court ordered a probation report and assessment of his fitness for community service, with sentencing set for 25 October. Joseph Heffernan pleaded guilty.
Noel Ryan, 42, of Charleville Mall, Dublin, was sentenced to four years in prison, with the final year suspended, after pleading guilty to handling a stolen Toyota Land Cruiser, deceiving a victim at Woodie's car park in Lucan on 27 June 2016, and unlawfully taking a Ford Fiesta from Northside Shopping Centre, Coolock on 24 March 2017. The judge noted that Ryan had committed similar offences before and that the victims suffered significant losses. Ryan admitted to selling the stolen Land Cruiser on DoneDeal for €11,600 after the buyer had paid cash, and later stealing a Ford Fiesta that had been advertised on the same site. He was also found in possession of the victim's driver's licence, which he had altered. Ryan has 16 prior convictions, including burglary and robbery, and has struggled with a crack cocaine addiction. He has been on bail during these offences.
The Court of Appeal has quashed the sexual assault conviction of an unnamed 25-year-old man, originally from Azerbaijan, while leaving his burglary conviction intact. The appellant had pleaded guilty to burglary but not guilty to sexually assaulting a woman in her south Dublin home on June 15, 2014. He was initially found guilty of sexual assault by a jury and sentenced to three-and-a-half years' imprisonment by Judge Martin Nolan on June 15, 2018. The appeal succeeded on the grounds that the trial judge erred in his instructions to the jury regarding the ingredients of the offence. Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, sitting with Mr Justice George Birmingham and Ms Justice Máire Whelan, determined that the judge's instructions amounted to an error in principle, specifically by erroneously indicating that the complainant's state of mind was relevant rather than the accused's. The court noted the victim was alone and sleeping when she discovered the man in her bedroom, leading to the alleged assault. The quashing of the sexual assault conviction does not affect the burglary conviction, for which the man remains in custody serving his sentence. The matter regarding whether a retrial will take place has not been concluded and will be decided at a later date.
Sean Banks, a 19‑year‑old from Tallaght, was found in possession of a 12‑gauge double‑barrel shotgun, cannabis, cocaine and a stolen BMW motorbike at his home. Gardaí raided the house after a tip that drugs were stored there. Banks initially denied the presence of drugs but later admitted responsibility for €725 worth of cannabis and cocaine. The shotgun, stolen in a burglary in Kildare, was discovered under a bed with one cartridge. The motorbike, stolen two months earlier in Stepaside, had no ignition or registration plate. Banks pleaded guilty to possession of the gun, drugs and the stolen motorbike. Judge Martin Nolan, noting Banks' youth, prior minor convictions and cooperation, imposed a three‑year sentence, suspended in full on strict conditions. The case was heard in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, with the judge emphasising the seriousness of the firearm possession but also recognising the defendant's potential for reform.
In July 2014, Bogdan Hainal (28), a Romanian national, participated in a violent robbery at the home of Paul and Patrick Kenny, both in their sixties, in Prosperous, Co Kildare. The raiders arrived in a black BMW, entered Patrick's bedsit, tied him with neckties, threatened him, and demanded money. They beat him, stabbed his hand and arm, and tied him to a sink with a rubber inner tube while covering his eyes with a woolly hat. The ordeal lasted one hour and six minutes. Hainal pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary on 8 July 2014. Judge Patricia Ryan set a headline sentence of 11 years, suspending the final two years on the condition that Hainal stay away from the victims for 30 years and engage with Probation Services. The victims described fear for their lives, and Paul Kenny was hospitalised for six weeks, while Patrick Kenny has suffered high blood pressure and will require lifelong medication.
Peter Bradshaw, 55, of Glin Court, Coolock, Dublin, pleaded guilty to arson at his apartment on 24 January 2018. The fire spread to neighbouring flats, causing €782,027 in damage and forcing residents into emergency accommodation. He was sentenced by Judge Martin Nolan to 11 years' imprisonment, with the final three years suspended on strict conditions. After the fire, Bradshaw went to Clontarf Garda Station and confessed to a fictitious murder, claiming he had assaulted a man, set a mattress on fire, and attempted to fake his own death. He later admitted he had not murdered anyone. Bradshaw has 40 prior convictions, including arson, burglary and theft, and had a five‑year sentence for arson in 2009. The judge noted his propensity for setting fires and the danger he posed to society.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Judge Pauline Codd sentenced 30‑year‑old Romanian national Constantin Bodgan Chirila to three and a half years' imprisonment for burglary, theft and possession of stolen property committed shortly after his arrival in Ireland in July 2016. The judge noted that Chirila had been involved in several offences within the first few months of his stay, including a burglary of an apartment at Clonmore Villas, Ballybough on 7 August 2016, for which he pleaded guilty. The sentence was back‑dated to 23 November 2017, when he was first placed in custody for another offence, and the final nine months were suspended. Chirila admitted breaking the front door lock and stealing €80 in cash, but denied taking a €400 laptop. He had seven prior convictions, most between August and October 2016, and had been in custody since November 2017.
A 20‑year‑old Wicklow man, Aiden Hargreaves, was sentenced by Judge Martin Nolan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to consecutive terms of three years and two years for two separate knifepoint robbery offences. The first offence was an attempted robbery at Harbour Court, Dublin on 31 October 2018, and the second was a robbery at Carlingford Parade, Dublin on 29 January 2019. Hargreaves pleaded guilty to both. The final 15 months of the sentence were suspended on strict conditions. The court heard that in October 2018 Hargreaves approached a man who was rolling a cigarette, produced a knife, and the man fled after smashing a bottle. In January 2019, while on bail for the earlier offence, Hargreaves approached a Spanish national, produced a knife, and demanded the man's wallet and phone, which the man handed over. Hargreaves has 33 previous convictions, including burglary, theft, drug possession and failure to comply with a Garda direction.
Thomas Healy, 46, of Upper Fair Hill, Cork, pleaded guilty to burglary of a residential apartment at Mount Vernon, Belgrave Avenue, Wellington Road, Cork, on 21 July 2017. He was sentenced on 15 February 2018 to five years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended, by Judge Brian O'Callaghan. The Court of Appeal upheld the sentence. Judge Patrick McCarthy, in a three‑judge panel, noted that Healy entered the apartment with another man while the resident was absent, stole 70 cents, and used socks from the home as gloves to avoid detection. He had 67 prior convictions, including two burglary convictions in the Circuit Court. The Court of Appeal found no error in the sentencing decision and dismissed the appeal. The case was heard by Mr Justice McCarthy, Mr Justice George Birmingham and Mr Justice John Edwards.
John Maher, 48, of Drimnagh, was found asleep by Garda Caroline Kelly in possession of stolen jewellery and later pleaded guilty to two burglaries. The first was at Keeper Road, Drimnagh, on 19 October 2017, where a back window was smashed and electronic items worth €1,200 were stolen; blood on the wall matched Maher's DNA. The second was at Crumlin Road, Crumlin, on 18 October 2018. In both cases Maher claimed he had no memory of the offences. He has 42 prior convictions, including aggravated burglary, burglary and criminal damage, and a serious heroin addiction, though he has been on methadone since 2002. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to three and a half years' imprisonment, suspending the final 12 months on strict conditions. The suspended portion is separate from the effective custodial term. All stolen items were returned. The court noted his guilty plea, good prison behaviour and the link between his addiction and offending as mitigating factors.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Shane McDonnell, 29, pleaded guilty to unlawful use of a car, three counts of dangerous driving, driving without insurance or a licence, and possession of a stolen laptop and PlayStation. McDonnell, who has 25 prior convictions and a 10‑year driving disqualification, drove a stolen VW Passat at high speed around Dublin's city centre on 17 April 2017, running red lights, overtaking on the wrong side of the road and causing other drivers to swerve. He was arrested after a foot chase. McDonnell later told Gardaí he had been paid €300 to move the stolen car for someone. He also admitted he had been asked to pick up stolen items from a Terenure burglary for €50. The court noted he had used his time in custody well, describing a transformation, and sentencing was adjourned to 12 July 2019.
During Storm Emma, Mohammed Smew (26) entered the Centra supermarket in Tallaght, Dublin, with a sledgehammer and participated in a looting that caused significant damage to the shop and the local community. He pleaded guilty to burglary and possession of a sledgehammer at Kiltalawn on 2 March 2018. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to a headline term of four and a half years, reduced to three years with the final 18 months suspended, citing his guilty plea, lack of serious prior convictions, educational background, remorse, and commitment to reform. The judge noted his family's respectable professional background and that the incident was an aberration. Smew had already spent seven months in custody and was credited for this time. The court also heard letters and testimonials from family, friends, and Griffith College supporting his case. The incident involved a large group, a con saw cutting a hole in the shop's steel shutter, and a Garda's attempt to apprehend the suspect.
A 22‑year‑old man, Dean Donovan, and his uncle Jonathan Donovan (33) robbed a Spar shop on Martin's Road, Chapelizod, on 8 April 2018, taking €305 in cash. While fleeing, Dean brandished a machete at Garda Peter Smyth and Garda James Keogh, who were approaching the shop. The pair escaped in an Opel Corsa, but were pursued and arrested. Dean was sentenced to six years' imprisonment with the final two years suspended; Jonathan received six and a half years' imprisonment with the final 18 months suspended and was disqualified from driving for five years. Both pleaded guilty to robbery; Dean also pleaded guilty to six burglary counts in Dublin and to possession of a machete, while Jonathan pleaded guilty to driving without insurance. The judge noted each defendant's prior convictions, addiction history and efforts at rehabilitation. The sentences reflect the seriousness of the robbery and the use of a weapon.
A warrant has been issued for the arrest of a man who failed to attend his sentencing hearing at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Hassan Bilal, aged 38, of Church Street, Tullamore, Co Offaly, had pleaded guilty to burglary and theft of catering equipment valued at over €10,000 belonging to a Mayo businessman. The items stolen on 18 May 2015 included a commercial freezer, deep fat fryers, mixing bowls, trays, a chip holder, a burger fryer, microwave, food blender and chopping boards. Bilal has 24 previous convictions for road traffic offences. His defence counsel informed the court she was unable to contact her client and could not oppose a prosecution application for an arrest warrant. Judge Elma Sheahan granted the warrant.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 22 May 2019, Eoin Comerford, aged 33, was found guilty of producing an article capable of inflicting serious harm after a series of incidents at two Dublin shops on 10 August 2018. The first incident occurred at the Gala shop on East Wall Road, where Comerford was caught tampering with sweets and, after being asked to stop, threatened the shopkeeper with a screwdriver and called her a "fucking prostitute." He spat at her and, when her husband tried to escort him out, he threatened to burn the shop down. In a second incident at a premises on Amiens Street, he threatened a security guard with the screwdriver, saying he would "stick this in your neck" if the guard tried to hold him again. The court noted that Comerford had 169 prior convictions, including burglary, robbery, drug dealing and assault, and that he had a history of heroin and crack cocaine addiction.
Two men, Martin Lumsden (35) and John Finn (32), were remanded in custody after pleading guilty to trespass and theft at Gaelscoil Cholmcille, a primary school, on 18 April 2018. They stole €880.78 from Trócaire charity boxes, which were found ripped open and almost empty. Lumsden also pleaded guilty to robbery and possession of a firearm at Mace, All Saints Park, on 7 May 2018, where he stole about €500 from two tills and was armed with a gun. Lumsden has 110 previous convictions, including hijacking, false imprisonment, robbery and burglary; Finn has 17 previous convictions, including burglary, theft, criminal damage and drug misuse. Judge Melanie Greally remanded Lumsden in custody with a condition to attend Coolmine Therapeutic Community until the completion of a treatment programme. She proposed a two‑year sentence for Finn with the final 12 months suspended, pending confirmation of his drug‑free status.
In 2017, 41‑year‑old Robert Kane was convicted of burglary and criminal damage at Patrick Morrissey and Co Solicitors in Dun Laoghaire. He denied the offences, claiming he was homeless and seeking a place to sleep. The jury found him guilty and sentenced him to three years' imprisonment, with the final six months suspended. In May 2019 the Court of Appeal quashed Kane's conviction because the trial judge failed to adequately explain the defence case to the jury, particularly the claim that Kane was homeless and that no items were taken. The appeal also highlighted problems with the police interview process, including attempts to interview Kane while handcuffed and without his solicitor present. Lawyers for the DPP confirmed that no retrial was being sought. Kane had already served his sentence when the conviction was overturned. The Court of Appeal allowed the appeal and no retrial will be pursued.
Kathleen Kiely, 31, of London, pleaded guilty to handling stolen property at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after attempting to sell €90,000 of stolen gold jewellery to a cash‑for‑gold shop in Tallaght. Garda surveillance had been placed on the shop following tips that two men would call. Kiely entered the shop the day before the offence, asking the owner how much he would pay for 18‑carat gold, claiming her husband had some to sell. She was stopped by Gardaí who found a second bag containing badly damaged gold jewellery, originally valued at €90,000 but reduced to €37,000 due to damage. The jewellery was traced to a burglary in Lucan. Kiely had no prior convictions and was influenced by her former partner, Michael Maughan, 25, who also pleaded guilty to handling stolen jewellery. Maughan was sentenced to four years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended, and a probation report was ordered.
Noel Ryan, 42, of Charleville Mall, Dublin, pleaded guilty to handling a stolen Toyota Land Cruiser and deception on 27 June 2016 and to unauthorized taking of a Ford Fiesta on 24 March 2017. He sold the stolen Land Cruiser on DoneDeal, arranging a meeting at Woodie's car park in Lucan where the buyer paid €11,600 after noticing marks on the car. The victim later learned the log book was false and that the vehicle had been stolen from Drogheda. Ryan also advertised the Fiesta on DoneDeal, met the buyer at Northside Shopping Centre, and stole the car after a test drive, taking the driver's licence and superimposing his own photo on it. He had 16 prior convictions, including aggravated burglary and robbery, and was on bail at the time of the offences. The case is pending sentencing at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, with a probation report to be prepared before the hearing on 21 June.
In 2019 the Court of Appeal quashed the burglary and criminal damage conviction of Robert Kane, 41, who had been found guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and sentenced to three years' imprisonment with the final six months suspended. Kane had claimed he was homeless and was looking for a place to sleep when he was arrested at Patrick Morrissey and Co Solicitors in Dun Laoghaire on 3 February 2017. The appeal was based on the trial judge's instructions to the jury, which the Court of Appeal said failed to adequately explain Kane's defence and may have misled the jury. The judge had not mentioned key elements of the defence, such as the possibility of another intruder and the lack of any items taken. The Court of Appeal allowed the appeal and referred the case back for the Director of Public Prosecutions to decide whether to seek a retrial.
Darragh O'Hare, 27, was sentenced to 28 months in prison for stealing a €150 bicycle and a burglary that occurred in Balbriggan in May 2017. He had 91 prior convictions, 73 of which were committed while on bail for other offences. The Director of Public Prosecutions sought a review of the sentence as "unduly lenient", but the Court of Appeal upheld the judge's decision, noting the sentence was within the discretionary range, though at its outer limits. O'Hare had previously been on bail for dangerous driving and unauthorised vehicle use when the theft and burglary took place. He pleaded guilty on his first appearance in the Circuit Court, and the judge considered his past drug difficulties and a letter from Fr Peter McVerry stating he was now drug‑free. The appeal was dismissed, leaving the 28‑month sentence in place.
Damien Reilly, 36, of Camden Street, Dublin, pleaded guilty to two robberies in Stoneybatter on 24 February and 7 April 2017. In the April incident, he threatened a nurse with a syringe needle, grabbed her PIN, and forced her into a headlock before fleeing. He also assaulted another woman after a yoga class, stealing €575 and injuring her. Reilly's victims reported significant emotional distress and loss of personal items. The court noted Reilly's 17 prior convictions, including robbery, burglary, firearm possession, and syringe threats, and his history of drug abuse. Judge Pauline Codd sentenced him to five years' imprisonment, suspending the final two years, and imposed a two‑year supervised release with probation, drug treatment, and employment directives. The sentence was back‑dated to 7 May 2018.
A 22‑year‑old man, Dean Donovan, brandished a machete at a Garda while fleeing a shop robbery with his uncle, Jonathan Donovan (33). The robbery took place at a Spar shop on Martin's Road, Chapelizod, on 8 April 2018, where they stole €305 in cash. Dean produced the machete as Garda James Keogh approached, forcing the officer to step back. Both men were pursued, arrested, and later pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Dean admitted robbery and possession of a machete; Jonathan pleaded guilty to driving without insurance. Dean also pleaded guilty to six burglary counts from 2015 and 2018, while Jonathan had 83 prior convictions, including a suspended six‑year sentence for assault. The court adjourned finalisation to consider various reports. The article details the escape, arrest, and the men's prior criminal histories.
A 22‑year‑old Dublin man avoided jail after pleading guilty to sexual defilement of a 15‑year‑old girl he knew from a residential care home. The girl, still in care at the time, left her care workers without permission, travelled on a Luas tram into town and met the man, who was 18 when they first met. They went to a city park, chatted and "ended up having sexual intercourse with each other", according to the court. Gardaí visited the man's house and he admitted he knew the girl was below the age of sexual consent. He had 64 prior convictions, including assault, burglary and firearms offences. Judge Karen O'Connor suspended a two‑year prison sentence, requiring the man to keep the peace, engage in victim‑awareness and offence‑focused work with the Probation Service, and imposed the custodial sentence if any conditions were breached.
A 32-year-old man has been sentenced to three years imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following guilty pleas to nine burglaries and one count of criminal damage committed across Dublin locations between April and September 2018. Dean Moore, with an address in Crumlin, was captured on CCTV during the offences, in some instances cycling to and from premises while wearing a high-visibility jacket. The burglaries targeted various locations including retail premises, residential buildings, a school, and company offices, with stolen items including cash, laptops, and other goods totalling significant losses. Moore's previous convictions number 114, including 19 burglaries. Evidence indicated the offences were committed to fund drug and gambling habits. Judge Melanie Greally imposed an additional two-year sentence for a burglary at Transport Club, suspended in full on strict conditions. The court acknowledged Moore's early guilty plea and admissions to gardaí as mitigating factors, alongside his difficult childhood and addiction history, balanced against the aggravating nature of his extensive prior convictions for burglary.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 16‑year‑old from Bray, Co. Wicklow pleaded guilty to burglary of a house in Dalkey on 29 February 2016. The burglary involved the theft of a camera and laptop that held the last photos and videos of the widow and her late husband. The homeowner's husband had died about four months earlier, and the victim reported that an urn containing his ashes had been disturbed and "gone through". The teenager, who cannot be identified, admitted he did not understand the impact of his actions at the time but now feels remorse and apologised. He has prior convictions for robbery, criminal damage, public order offences and breaches of the road traffic act. He has been in Oberstown children detention centre since last year, and the court noted his progress in completed courses. Judge Melanie Greally adjourned the case to 17 October.
A 57‑year‑old Dublin grandfather, Joseph Tyrell, will be sentenced for two burglaries and an attempted bookies robbery. He cut himself while smashing windows at the burglarised properties and left blood at the scenes. DNA from the blood linked him to the crimes, and CCTV footage identified him during the attempted robbery, where he threatened to shoot two cashiers. Tyrell pleaded guilty to burglary at Sundrive Road, Crumlin, on 23 March 2016, and at Blarney Park, Kimmage, between 17 and 19 August 2016, and to attempted robbery at BoyleSports, Greenhills Road, on 7 April 2016. He has 85 previous convictions over 40 years, including robbery, aggravated burglary and drug offences, and is currently serving a five‑year sentence for another burglary. The court heard that the burglaries were opportunistic, lacked sophistication, and were carried out by a drug‑addicted offender who had struggled with addiction since his teens. The victims suffered financial loss, property damage, and emotional distress.
The trial of farmer Patrick Quirke, 50, for the alleged murder of Bobby Ryan, a part-time DJ known as Mr Moonlight, continued at the Central Criminal Court. Quirke, of Breanshamore, Co Tipperary, has pleaded not guilty to the charge. The prosecution alleges he murdered Ryan to rekindle an affair with Ryan's girlfriend, Mary Lowry. Ryan went missing in June 2011 and his body was found in an underground tank on a farm leased by Quirke in April 2013. Chief Superintendent Dominic Hayes, testifying for the defence, stated that injuries to Ryan's body were not caused by debris falling when the concrete lid covering the tank was removed. He confirmed that only minor debris fell and that the detachment of Ryan's arm was the only damage sustained during removal. Hayes also testified that Quirke has no previous convictions and is not suspected of other crimes, noting that prior burglary charges were withdrawn by the DPP. The cross-examination covered various investigative details, including the timing of phone masts, the examination of Lowry's home, and the handling of fingerprints and phone data. Hayes acknowledged that fingerprints from Ryan's van were not tested against Quirke's until recently, attributing this to a responsibility issue at Garda headquarters. He also noted that the Deputy State Pathologist did not attend the scene, which he stated had no negative impact on the examination. The matter was adjourned, with cross-examination to continue before Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury.
Hassan Bilal, 38, of Tullamore, Co Offaly, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to burglary and theft of catering equipment valued at €10,16 on May 18, 2015. The items included a commercial freezer, fryers, mixing bowls, trays, a chip holder, a burger fryer, a microwave, a blender, and chopping boards. Judge Elma Sheahan adjourned the matter to May 27 to allow Detective Garda Sweeney to ascertain the specific financial losses incurred by victim Gerry Hughes. Bilal was remanded on continuing bail. The court heard that Bilal, along with co-defendants Yasir Ali and Sabih Hassan, had sub-let the premises in Castlebar, Mayo, without permission. Ali, of East Wall, Dublin, previously received a two-year suspended sentence in December 2017 for the same offence. Sabih Hassan received a three-year suspended term in February 2018. A victim impact statement stated Hughes suffered severe physical, mental, and financial stress, noting he remained out of pocket four years later. Defence counsel Niamh Barry BL submitted Bilal was of limited means and had made efforts to change his circumstances. The prosecution noted no evidence supported Bilal's claim of having paid a deposit or rent.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Sandra Warren, aged 43, pleaded guilty to robbing a foreign student on May 23, 2016. The student, who had been in Ireland for four days, was led down a lane by Warren after asking for directions. Warren, who was using drugs at the time, grabbed the student's bag, taking her wallet, bank cards and phone. Garda Daniel Hanlon described the victim as traumatised, left confused and with "whiplash injuries," and noted she had difficulty trusting people after the incident. Warren admitted she was under pressure from a man to obtain money and has since ended that relationship. The court adjourned sentencing to July 1, 2019, to allow a psychiatric assessment and to consider a proposal for restitution. Warren has eight prior convictions for robbery, burglary and theft.
John Cash, 37, was sentenced to three and a half years in prison for driving at a Garda while attempting to escape arrest for burglary. He had previously been jailed for eight years in 2008 after pleading guilty to dangerous driving that caused the deaths of two French tourists, Martine Talon (54) and Martine Liotard (53), on the Kylemore Road in Dublin on 16 May 2007. Cash had been banned from driving for 20 years after that conviction. In December 2017 he pleaded guilty to burglary at Aldi, Old Lucan Road, Palmerstown Lower, and dangerous driving. During the burglary, he drove his car at Garda Barry O'Shea, smashing the patrol car's windscreen with a baton and then driving into the patrol car, forcing the Garda to jump out of the way. The court described the act as "callous" and noted Cash's prior guilty plea for dangerous driving that caused death.
Patrick Stokes, aged 38, was convicted of robbing Claire Coulter's handbag on a footpath in Grangegorman Lower, Dublin, on 2 October 2018. The robbery involved three men; Stokes was one of them. Coulter was walking home when the men approached, one of whom grabbed her handbag, which contained €450, a mobile phone and house keys. The strap broke during the struggle, and Coulter screamed and chased the assailant toward Stoneybatter. Witnesses followed him and helped apprehend him. Stokes claimed he was not the one who took the bag, saying another man had taken it, but he later pleaded guilty to the robbery. He had 49 prior convictions and was serving a suspended sentence for burglary at the time. The court sentenced him to two years' imprisonment, to run consecutively with his current custodial sentence. The victim's impact statement expressed that she no longer feels safe walking home.
Stephen Finn, aged 32, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended, for a series of burglaries at Trinity College and other locations in 2017. He had 115 prior convictions, including 21 burglaries, and was known for stealing to fund a drug habit. The court heard that Finn stole laptops from outside lecture halls, causing a student to fail an exam due to the loss. CCTV identified Finn, who evaded detection during the thefts. He pleaded guilty to burglary at two Trinity departments, the Central Hotel, and a business on Pearse Street. The judge noted the severe consequences for victims, Finn's remorse, efforts to address drug addiction, and his role as a father. Finn's sentence reflects the seriousness of the offences and his established pattern of theft.
Andrew Shannon, 54, was convicted on 31 January 2014 of handling a stolen Frederick Goodall oil painting, a 1892 desert scene taken from Bantry House in Cork in March 2006. Gardaí discovered the painting, valued at about €5,000, during a 2014 search of his home on unrelated grounds. A jury found him guilty after a two‑day trial, and Judge Patricia Ryan sentenced him to two years' imprisonment in November 2014. He was due to appeal the conviction today but had dismissed his solicitor and intended to represent himself. Judge George Birmingham warned him that the Court of Appeal, a three‑judge panel, was unconvinced he could do justice alone and urged him to secure counsel. The case was scheduled for hearing on 16 May. Shannon has 51 prior convictions, including theft, burglary and handling stolen property, and was previously jailed for damaging a Monet painting at the National Gallery of Ireland in 2012.
Alan Hutch, 36, was jailed after breaking into the Offices of the Revenue Commissioners on 7 March 2018, stealing a mobile phone and assaulting Karl Higgins, who tried to stop him. Hutch entered the building through an unlocked door, walked to Higgins' office, took a white box containing the phone, and when Higgins confronted him, a scuffle ensued. Hutch punched Higgins several times, grabbed a steel pole and struck him in the neck or chest area. Two colleagues subdued Hutch until Gardaí arrived. Hutch was arrested, pleaded guilty to burglary and assault, and was sentenced by Judge Melanie Greally to four years' imprisonment with the final 18 months suspended on strict conditions. The sentence was back‑dated to the date of the offence. Hutch has 73 prior convictions and has been in custody since his arrest. No victim impact report was filed.