A 31‑year‑old, Anthony Walsh, was found guilty of murdering 54‑year‑old Dermot Byrne in Swords on 16 July 2017 after a drunken altercation over a cigarette. The jury, after deliberating 2 hours 41 minutes, returned a unanimous verdict. Shawna Byrne, the victim's daughter, gave an emotional statement describing the loss of her father's life and dignity, noting that the family's world stopped that day. Walsh was sentenced to mandatory life imprisonment for the murder and an additional seven years for theft of the victim's bank card, Zippo lighter and keys. The court also noted Walsh's prior convictions for public order, burglary, criminal damage and drug misuse. The trial concluded with the judge expressing sympathy for the Byrne family and confirming the life sentence.
A man from Edgeworthstown in Longford has received a partially suspended sentence after pleading guilty to trespassing with intent to commit an offence at a Dublin residence. James Smith (35) of Mostrim Oaks, Ballymahon Road, entered a house on Bloomfield Avenue on October 4, 2015, where he told the occupants that someone was pursuing him. When the homeowners informed him that gardaí were en route, he replied "good". At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Pauline Codd sentenced Smith to three and a half years imprisonment, crediting 17 months already served in custody and suspending the remainder. The court heard Smith had broken a kitchen window and admitted seeking to steal items to sell, stating he needed money urgently and was unaware anyone was home. Nothing was taken from the property. Smith carries 116 previous convictions, including 17 for burglary. The judge cited his guilty plea, difficult personal circumstances including brain damage, and addiction history as mitigating factors, while noting the window damage and impact on the family as aggravating elements.
James Cronin, a 36‑year‑old rapist serving a burglary sentence, was given an additional two‑year term for threatening to burn down a prison officer's house at Arbour Hill Prison. He told the officer he knew where she lived and would set her home alight if she refused to serve him tobacco at the prison tuck shop. The court noted that prisoners have scheduled times to use the tuck shop and that Cronin had lied about being unable to attend his slot a day later. Garda Redmond O'Leary said this was the first time the officer felt compelled to report the threat, despite 17 years of similar incidents. Judge Melanie Greally described the threat as "sufficiently menacing and convincing" and imposed a two‑year sentence with nine months suspended, citing Cronin's history of mental health issues and prior convictions for false imprisonment, rape, attempted rape, sexual assault and burglary.".
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Matthew Ellis, aged 38, admitted to threatening a shop security guard, Patrick Collins, that he would return to kill him after finishing a pizza. Ellis claimed he knew the guard's shift end time and would come back once he had eaten. He had previously threatened the guard earlier that day and returned around 9 pm holding five bullets between his teeth, which he displayed to the guard. He called the guard a "garda informer" and shouted, "You finish at ten o'clock. I own Inchicore. I'm gonna kill you." Gardaí were called, stopped Ellis, and the bullets fell from him. Ellis pleaded guilty to making a threat to kill or cause serious harm. He has been in custody since the incident and has 71 prior convictions, including assault, burglary, possession of knives, drug dealing and robbery.
Two men have been sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in relation to an attempted robbery at Greendale Pharmacy, Kilbarrack on January 26, 2018. Brendan Raynor (30) of Tulip Court, Darndale and Dean Slattery (28) of Briarfield Grove, Kilbarrack pleaded guilty to the charge. Both men armed themselves with knives and wore balaclavas before entering the shop and demanding Diazepam. The incident was observed by gardaí conducting surveillance in the area. Detective Sergeant Dave Ennis stated that Slattery attempted to flee and was struck with a baton, while Raynor was caught in a nearby field. Emma Smith, a shop worker who was six months pregnant at the time, provided a victim impact statement. Raynor has 103 previous convictions, including possession of knives, robbery, and burglary. He was previously sentenced to seven years with two suspended for an aggravated burglary in 2015. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a five-year sentence on Raynor, suspending the last two years and nine months. Slattery has 87 previous convictions, including robbery, drug offences, car theft, and assault. Dt Sgt Ennis was previously sentenced to four years with two suspended for a 2014 cash in transit van robbery. Judge Greally sentenced Slattery to four and a half years with the final 18 months suspended. Both men were remanded in custody.
In a burglary at Wainsfort Manor Grove, Terenure, Dublin, on 13 December 2017, Carlos Lawrence (27) and his partner Catherine Dempsey (26) entered the home of Alan Greene, who was asleep, using a wedge hammer and a black‑clad disguise. They forced Greene to open the front door, demanded money, and threatened him. Lawrence smashed the French doors, took Greene's phone, and made calls claiming a debt of €200,000. The couple stole €15,000 in cash from a bank the next day and withdrew an additional €1,200 from an ATM. They recovered €12,500 from Dempsey's possession, and Greene later received €12,455 of the €16,350 stolen. Both pleaded guilty to theft and aggravated burglary; Lawrence had 51 prior convictions, Dempsey seven. The case was remanded in custody until 31 October, with sentencing scheduled for later that month. The court noted the burglary's impact on Greene, who now blocks his doors and fears returning home.
Ryan Callaghan, aged 25, was found with drugs worth over €44,000 after his landlady reported a burglary at her Palmerstown home. He pleaded guilty to possessing drugs for sale or supply at a rented property on 31 July 2015. Callaghan had two prior convictions for minor traffic offences. Judge Karen O'Connor sentenced him to three years' imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended, provided he remains peaceful and well‑behaved upon release. Garda Owen Sheehan explained that officers discovered €24,103 of heroin, €14,746 of cannabis, and €5,348 of cocaine, along with drug paraphernalia, six mobile phones, weighing scales, surgical gloves and plastic cut‑offs. Text messages suggesting drug dealing were found on one phone. Callaghan's father had paid €10,000 to alleged debtors, and the judge noted the aggravating value of the drugs and the mitigating factors of his early plea, addiction history, child, and decent family background.
A court heard that Jonathan Goulding (28), also known as Goulding Aka Farrell, pleaded guilty to burglary at Mr Price, Coolock Retail Park, on March 27, 2017, and dangerous driving around the Malahide area, Dublin, on October 2, 2014. The charges were admitted, and the case was at the charge_or_pretrial stage. Goulding has 48 previous convictions, including burglary, theft, and a seven-year sentence for a past drugs offence. The court heard that during the burglary, Goulding held a screwdriver in a menacing way towards the shop staff. In the dangerous driving incident, he was involved in a high-speed chase, drove the wrong way on a dual carriageway, and caused multiple vehicles to take evasive action. Judge Melanie Greally noted that Goulding had been in the throes of drug addiction at the time of the offences. She commended his successful rehabilitation, including completing a drug treatment programme and taking up full-time employment in construction. The judge imposed a fully suspended three and a half year prison term and a two-year driving ban. Conditions included remaining sober and substance free and continuing to attend AA meetings. The matter was adjourned.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 8 October 2018, Jason Melia (27) and his brother Glen Melia (22) faced trial for burglary and criminal damage at a house on Shancastle Drive, Clondalkin, where the alleged offences occurred on 6 November 2015. Both pleaded not guilty at a July hearing. During the proceedings, Garda Hugh O'Connell reported that a witness in her 20s, who had previously failed to appear, was brought to court after a bench warrant. O'Connell said he heard Jason Melia call her a "weasel" and Glen Melia refer to her as a "rat cunt". The DPP's barrister, Maurice Coffey BL, argued that these remarks constituted witness intimidation. Jason Melia's barrister, Conor McKenna BL, denied the name‑calling, while Glen Melia's counsel was absent. After a brief adjournment, both men pleaded guilty to the criminal damage charge. Judge Patricia Ryan remanded them on continuing bail until their sentencing on 18 January 2019.
In a court hearing on 5 October 2018, Danny Whelan, a 30‑year‑old from Thurles, was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Samantha Walsh, a 31‑year‑old mother of four. Walsh had recently returned home from an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting and had no alcohol in her system when Whelan, who was high on drugs, beat her to death in an apartment in Waterford City. Whelan pleaded guilty to the murder, which occurred on or about 28 April 2017. Forensic evidence showed blunt‑force trauma to Walsh's head and face, with bloodstains indicating a swinging weapon. Whelan had a history of 73 convictions, including burglary and possession of a knife, and had previously served an eight‑year sentence with part suspended. The court imposed the mandatory life sentence, and Whelan was taken to prison to begin his custodial term.
Carl Freeman, aged 23, pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary at the home of Mr William Crean (72) and Mrs Kathleen Crean (65) in a rural area outside Ashford Village, Co Wicklow, on 12 March 2015. He was originally sentenced to seven years' imprisonment, with the final three years suspended, by Judge Michael O'Shea on 26 July 2017. The Court of Appeal, following an appeal by the Director of Public Prosecutions, found the sentence too lenient and re‑sentenced him to ten years' imprisonment, with the final four years suspended. The decision was made by a three‑judge panel headed by Mr Justice John Edwards. The case involved a violent burglary in which the intruders used hurls, assaulted Mr Crean, threatened Mrs Crean, and stole approximately €150 in cash, a landline, and Mr Crean's mobile phone.
In 2018 the Court of Appeal upheld the eight life sentences imposed on a 49‑year‑old Wexford man for raping a 60‑year‑old mother and her daughter in Dublin between 2 and 5 July 2015. The man pleaded guilty to rape, false imprisonment, attempted rape, aggravated burglary, threats to kill and aggravated sexual assault. He had previously been convicted of repeatedly raping his daughter between 2000 and 2004. The sentences were concurrent and the Court of Appeal found the offences "wholly exceptional" and "appropriate" for life imprisonment. The judge noted the mother's vulnerability, the prolonged nature of the assault, the use of a knife, restraints, threats, and the fact that the daughter heard the rape on a voicemail. The appeal was dismissed, with the Court affirming the life terms as justified by the severity and violence of the crimes. The defendant's guilty plea was deemed insufficient to reduce the sentences.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, a 17‑year‑old minor was due to be sentenced for assault after throwing a stone at a fellow youth's head, an act the victim described as homophobic. The victim, a young actor, sustained a facial scar requiring 11 stitches. The teenager pleaded guilty to assault causing harm on 17 July 2016 and has 24 prior convictions for assault, theft, burglary, criminal damage and trespass. He has been suspected of involvement in a burglary, a mugging, two assaults and criminal damage. Judge Melanie Greally adjourned the sentencing to 3 December to review updated reports from the agencies dealing with the teenager, who has a history of missing from his care home 20 times in the last three months and is still addicted to cannabis. The case remains pending.
In a 2015 burglary and criminal damage case at the Halligan household in Coolock, Dublin, 23‑year‑old Josh Byrne, assisted by two other men, used baseball bats to smash windows, a front door and various household items. The assault was carried out under the direction of Byrne's mother, Alice Byrne, who had a telephone argument with the mother of Byrne's girlfriend, Rebecca Halligan. Byrne's mother opened the house to the men, who wore balaclavas and demanded to see Dean Halligan, who was not present. Byrne had prior convictions for traffic offences and obstruction, the latter ending in July. He was sentenced to two and a half years' imprisonment, suspended on condition of engaging with the Probation Service, and a €2,000 compensation was offered to the victims. The mother's sentencing was adjourned pending a probation report. Josh Byrne was found guilty.
Donal O'Hara (26), of Glin Park, Coolock, Dublin 17, has been sentenced to three years imprisonment with one year suspended by the Special Criminal Court for his role in a coordinated intimidation and assault on June 9, 2015. O'Hara pleaded guilty to assaulting John Roche at The Towers, Garter Lane, Saggart, County Dublin, and to falsely imprisoning Martin Byrne at the same location. The court heard that O'Hara was part of a large group who confronted Mr Byrne following a deteriorated business relationship, subsequently assaulting Mr Roche when he attempted to prevent their entry to the complex. CCTV footage and forensic evidence linking O'Hara to the assault were presented. Mr Justice Tony Hunt noted O'Hara was the "brawn and not the brains" of the operation and considered his youth, early guilty pleas, and remorse as mitigating factors. The sentence is to run consecutively to a previous aggravated burglary conviction. O'Hara will be subject to probation supervision for two years upon release.
In a Dublin burglary on 28 November 2017, Matthew Fahy (40) and two accomplices, disguised as Gardaí, entered a family home in Castleknock. They presented themselves as police, produced an imitation handgun, and demanded cash from the occupants, who included the homeowner, his wife, their seven‑year‑old son, the homeowner's brother, the brother's partner and a lodger. Fahy escaped through the back door, pursued the child who had run out, and forced him back into the house. The burglary lasted about two minutes and no one was injured. Fahy pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary and possession of an imitation firearm. On 25 July 2018, Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to seven years' imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended, to run consecutively with a term he was already serving. The sentence reflected Fahy's guilty plea, cooperation, drug‑addiction history and the trauma inflicted on the family. No other arrests were made.
A Dublin man has pleaded guilty to assault and false imprisonment at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin. Donal O'Hara (26), of Glin Park, Coolock, Dublin 17, admitted assaulting John Roche and causing him harm at The Towers, Saggart on 9 June 2015. He also admitted falsely imprisoning Martin Byrne at locations in Rathcoole and Saggart on the same date. The court heard that Mr Byrne was forcibly removed from a meeting and brought to his residence where Mr Roche was subsequently dragged from a nearby house and assaulted by multiple men. CCTV footage was presented to the court, and forensic evidence linked O'Hara to the assault. His defence counsel acknowledged the gravity of the offence but urged leniency given his age. O'Hara, who has previous convictions for assault and aggravated burglary, was remanded in custody pending sentencing on 31 July.
A 38-year-old Roscommon man has pleaded guilty to threatening to kill a woman and harassing her, whilst facing a separate attempted murder charge. Gerard Mooney of Castle Hill, Castlerea appeared before the Central Criminal Court on 23 July 2018, where he admitted to burglary at a residence in Cartron, Carrick-on-Shannon on 12 February 2017. He also pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, possession of a shotgun, making threats to kill or cause serious harm, and criminal damage during the same incident. Additionally, Mooney admitted to harassing the woman by persistently following, watching and communicating with her between 7 and 12 February 2017. Mr Justice Michael White remanded him in custody pending trial on the attempted murder charge and outstanding counts scheduled for 27 May 2019. The court noted that the firearms offence carries a presumptive minimum sentence of five years, with sentencing to follow after trial.
Ryan Callaghan, 25, of Ballyfermot, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing drugs for sale or supply at a rented property in Palmerstown on 31 July 2015. Gardaí were alerted to a burglary at the house and found Callaghan's bedroom the only ransacked room. They seized €6 of prescription medication, €24,103 of heroin, €16 of cannabis resin, €14,746 of cannabis herb and €5,348 of cocaine, along with six mobile phones, weighing scales, surgical gloves and plastic cut‑offs. Text messages on one phone suggested drug dealing. Callaghan was questioned at his girlfriend's home and later allowed to retrieve some property, but nothing was found on him. The court noted a strong cannabis smell and that Callaghan's father had paid €10,000 to alleged debtors. Judge Karen O'Connor remanded Callaghan on continuing bail, adjourned sentencing to 8 October, and ordered an updated probation report.
Eoin Morrow, 38, a Louth bricklayer, will be sentenced for possessing cannabis and prescription drugs worth €1.38 million. Gardaí set up a surveillance operation on a Scania truck that met Morrow's Volkswagen Jetta. They observed Morrow and truck driver John Needham, 31, removing boxes from the truck onto a trolley bound for a storage unit in Newcourt Business Park. A subsequent search uncovered four large cardboard boxes of cannabis resin and 29 boxes of Zopiclone tablets. The 96 kg of cannabis was valued at €580,200 and the 400,000 Zopiclone pills at €800,000. Morrow pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis resin and supplying a prescription‑only drug. He has 15 previous convictions, including assault, burglary and theft. He fled to Europe after a bench warrant was issued but returned and surrendered. Needham also pleaded guilty to the same drug offences and was sentenced to eight years earlier this month.
A court heard that a serial burglar, Lewis Smith, 21, was linked to a 2015 burglary after a two‑year delay in a forensic report that identified his DNA on blood left at the scene. Smith had 30 prior convictions, ten of which were burglaries, and pleaded guilty to trespass and theft at Hazel Grove, Tallaght. The burglary caused €1,400 in damage and theft of items worth €800. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a two‑year sentence with nine months suspended and reactivated six months of a partially suspended robbery sentence to run concurrently. Smith was already serving another sentence due to expire next year. The judge noted the burglary lacked aggravating factors but had an upsetting effect on the victim, who declined to give a victim impact statement. Smith's personal turmoil, including a family death, was cited as a factor in his criminal behaviour.
In November 2016 a burglary at a mosque in Milltown Bridge, Dundrum, saw 30‑year‑old Stefan Boyle, who has 110 prior convictions, including 63 burglaries, stab him with a knife and steal his phone. Boyle, who has a history of drug and alcohol addiction, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Earlier this year Judge Karen O'Connor granted him bail to attend a drug‑treatment residential programme, but he later used cocaine and the judge offered one more chance. At a hearing in June Boyle asked to be remanded into custody because he was struggling on bail. The judge adjourned the case to 20 July, told Boyle he looked healthier than before, and Boyle thanked her for "saving" his life by sending him back into custody. The court noted Boyle had previously admitted to stealing two phones from the mosque's caretaker, Ali Yassine, and had returned them after a chance encounter. The case remains pending.
Michael Kaiser, a 24‑year‑old Polish national, was found guilty of burglary and assault causing harm to an off‑duty Garda in Naas on 1 July 2016. He was originally sentenced to two years' imprisonment with the final six months suspended. The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed, arguing the sentence was unduly lenient. The Court of Appeal agreed and increased his term to two‑and‑a‑half years, crediting time already served. The judge noted that Kaiser and a co‑offender had been drinking at the Ivy Inn, entered the kitchen without permission, attacked the head chef with a mop, and then assaulted Garda James Keating, who had come to the pub for lunch. The assault on the Garda was aggravated by the fact it was committed on an off‑duty officer. The court emphasised that Kaiser had no prior convictions, had been a good employee, and had returned to Ireland in breach of a deportation order. Michael Kaiser pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, Adam Marlowe, 24, was convicted of aggravated burglary, robbery of €50, and assault on 81‑year‑old farmer Malachy Turley. DNA evidence linked Marlowe to a blue latex glove fragment found in Turley's bedroom. Turley, who lives alone in a rural north County Dublin cottage, suffered bruises, a deep hand cut requiring five stitches, and lasting trauma. Marlowe, who has 79 prior convictions and was on bail for other offences, maintains his innocence. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to 12 years' imprisonment, citing the pre‑planned, violent nature of the crime against an isolated, vulnerable victim, while noting mitigating factors such as Marlowe's age, family background, and current stable relationship. The sentence reflects the aggravated burglary headline of 15 years, reduced to 12 years with a suspended portion and effective custody as stated in the court order. Adam Marlowe pleaded not guilty.
On 17 December 2017, Andrew Peel of Coultry Drive, Ballymun, Dublin, after a "three‑day bender", attacked neighbours in their homes. He struck Kim Hutchinson with a golf club, breaking a bone in her arm, and hit David Tyson with a cue ball, rendering him unconscious and hospitalised. Peel's behaviour was described as "out of character" and "not the person they knew". He pleaded guilty to criminal damage, burglary and assault causing harm. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, hearing victim impact statements, found Peel intoxicated that night. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a 33‑month sentence, back‑dated to the arrest, noting Peel's history of drug possession, assault, knife possession and car theft. Peel has since worked as a courier, assisted homeless soup runs and is training for social care. The court highlighted his mother's testimony of his long‑standing mental health and drug problems. Peel was sentenced to 33 months in custody.
Craig O'Donnell, aged 21, was convicted in 2014 of aggravated burglary, burglary, possession of a knife, robbery, possession of a firearm and escape from lawful custody in Limerick. He received a ten‑year sentence, with 18 months suspended, imposed by Judge Tom O'Donnell on 5 May 2017. In a Court of Appeal hearing, Mr Justice George Birmingham asked whether the sentence should be increased in light of recent guidance on burglary sentencing. The three‑judge panel, led by Mr Justice John Edwards, upheld the original eight‑and‑a‑half‑year jail term. Edwards noted that O'Donnell's first offences were committed at age 17 and 18, that he had a history of drug problems and four prior convictions, and that the Court of Appeal found no error in principle. The appeal was dismissed, leaving the sentence unchanged. Craig O'Donnell pleaded guilty.
Ian Browne, aged 44, was jailed for two years after he hid in a Supervalu shop under renovation and stole alcohol, cigarettes and food worth €2,031 when the store was closed. He concealed himself behind building materials, damaged fire doors and attempted to open cash registers, as captured on CCTV. The store manager alerted Gardaí, who found missing spirit bottles and five damaged tills. Browne pleaded guilty to burglary and criminal damage at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 20 August 2017. He has 94 previous convictions and is already serving a sentence of two years and nine months for another burglary. The court noted his long history of homelessness and heroin addiction, his recent drug‑free period, and his efforts to stabilise himself in custody. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a three‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence, suspending the final 18 months to motivate him.
Jason Byrne, a 38-year-old from Clondalkin, Dublin 22, has lost his appeal against his conviction. Byrne had pleaded not guilty at Wexford Circuit Criminal Court to a series of offences, including three counts of burglary, one count of aggravated burglary, assault causing harm, and unauthorised use of a vehicle, allegedly committed in the south-east in 2008 and 2009. Following a lengthy trial, a jury found him guilty, and Judge Barry Hickson sentenced him to six years imprisonment on April 15, 2016. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice George Birmingham with Mr Justice Alan Mahon and Mr Justice John Hedigan, dismissed the appeal, holding that the trial was satisfactory and the conviction safe. The prosecution alleged Byrne was part of a gang targeted by An Garda Síochána's Operation Slope. Key evidence came from Des Kavanagh, an accomplice in the Witness Protection Programme, who implicated Byrne in incidents including a burglary at Bunclody and an assault at an Esso filling station. Byrne's lawyers argued Kavanagh's evidence lacked credibility and transparency. However, the Court of Appeal noted the trial judge had issued clear warnings to the jury regarding the dangers of relying on such evidence. The court concluded that the matter was quintessentially for the jury to decide, and they were content to convict based on the evidence presented.
Two teenage boys, aged 15 and 16 at the time of the offence, were given suspended sentences after they "thrashed" a metalwork room at Oberstown detention centre for three hours, using hammers to smash items and causing €14,290 of damage. The boys threatened their teacher and refused to leave the room when asked by staff and Gardaí, leading to the Public Order Unit's intervention. They pleaded guilty to criminal damage at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 14 June 2017. The older boy, now 17, has 36 prior convictions including criminal damage, arson, vehicle seizures, theft and public order offences; the younger boy, now 16, has 28 prior convictions including criminal damage, robbery, burglary, threat to kill and public order offences. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a two‑year sentence on the 16‑year‑old and a two‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence on the 17‑year‑old, both suspended on strict conditions including probation supervision.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 11 June 2018, Mr Justice Paul Butler imposed a two‑year suspended sentence on Gabriel Prunariu, aged 24, for attempting to defile a 16‑year‑old girl. Prunariu pleaded guilty to attempted defilement of a child at his Dublin home on 6 February 2016. The judge noted that the offence carried a maximum five‑year custodial term, that no violence was involved, and that Prunariu had no prior violent convictions. He had one minor conviction for burglary. The court considered that Prunariu was now on the Sex Offenders Register, which would affect his future, and that he had cooperated fully with the investigation. The judge therefore suspended the custodial sentence, leaving the non‑custodial penalty in place. The case was prosecuted by Garnet Orange SC and defended by Michael Bowman SC. The victim's impact statement described flashbacks, missed school and emotional distress.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Joseph Rafferty, aged 38, was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment for a cocaine‑fuelled rampage that lasted eight hours and covered 45 km. Rafferty seized multiple vehicles at gunpoint, pursued Gardaí in a high‑speed chase, and committed false imprisonment, aggravated burglary, threats with a sub‑machine gun and reckless endangerment. He pleaded guilty to burglary at Watergate Estate, assault of a homeowner, criminal damage, two carjacking counts, three counts of possessing a sub‑machine gun, unlawful possession of 9 mm Luger ammunition and reckless endangerment. He also admitted stealing a vehicle from Carroll and Roche Subaru. The judge noted his 34 prior convictions and reduced a potential 14‑year sentence to nine years, citing guilty pleas and remorse. No serious injuries were reported, though a man sustained a head laceration during a break‑in. The case highlighted the extensive police response, including 50 Gardaí, air support and the Garda Dog Unit.
Two teenage boys, aged 15 and 16 at the time, used hammers to "thrash" a metalwork room at Oberstown detention centre for three hours, causing €14,290 of damage. They threatened their teacher and smashed items, threw objects, and used fire extinguishers, resulting in extensive damage. The boys were removed by the Public Order Unit after staff and Gardaí were alerted. Both pleaded guilty to criminal damage at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 14 June 2017. The older boy, now 17, has 36 prior convictions including criminal damage, arson, vehicle seizures, theft and public order offences; the younger boy, now 16, has 28 prior convictions including criminal damage, robbery, burglary, threat to kill and public order offences. Judge Melanie Greally adjourned sentencing to review reports and structure a suitable sentence. The boys admitted their roles, and Gardaí noted no injuries occurred.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, Adam Marlowe, aged 23, was found guilty of aggravated burglary, assault, and robbery of 81‑year‑old farmer Malachy Turley in July 2016. The jury, after one hour of deliberation, returned unanimous verdicts on all counts. Evidence included DNA from blue latex material, described as a fingertip of a latex glove, found in Turley's bedroom. Marlowe was remanded in custody for sentencing on July 6th. Adam Marlowe pleaded not guilty.
The trial of Adam Marlowe, 23, of Walkinstown, is ongoing in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He has pleaded not guilty to aggravated burglary and assault of 81‑year‑old Malachy Turley, who was injured during a burglary at Kettles Lane, Kinsealy, on 29 July 2016. Marlowe also pleaded not guilty to robbing €50 from Turley on the same date. On the third day of the trial, Dr Yvonne O'Dowd presented DNA evidence. She swabbed a piece of blue latex material found on Turley's bed, believed to be the tip of a glove, and generated a DNA profile that matched Marlowe 93 %. The remaining 7 % matched two other unidentified profiles. A pair of combat trousers with a mixed DNA profile of three people was also examined; the profiles did not belong to Marlowe or Turley.
In a Dublin trial, Adam Marlowe, aged 23, pleaded not guilty to aggravated burglary and assault of an elderly farmer, Malachy Turley, at Kettles Lane, Kinsealy, on 29 July 2016. He also pleaded not guilty to robbing €50 from the 81‑year‑old complainant on the same date. On the second day of the hearing, evidence of a blue latex glove fragment was presented. Garda Kevin Hynes testified that the material was found under clothing on the victim's bed. Vincent Heneghan SC argued that the fragment appeared to be the tip of a glove, suggesting a cut could expose a finger. Hynes could not recall the exact condition of the bed when first entered, and Garda Warren O'Sullivan noted photographs were taken before the search. Garda Thomas Tighe reported finding the material after moving clothing, placing it in a bag, but the evidence was mistakenly labeled under Hynes's name.
A 26-year-old Dublin man has been remanded in custody pending sentencing at the Special Criminal Court following his guilty pleas to assault and false imprisonment offences. Donal O'Hara, of Glin Park, Coolock, Dublin 17, admitted assaulting John Roche at The Towers, Saggart, County Dublin on June 9, 2015, and falsely imprisoning Martin Byrne at Rathcoole and Saggart. False imprisonment charges against two other individuals were taken into consideration. The court heard that Mr Byrne, a security worker, was brought to an office meeting where multiple men entered and told him he would be removed from his residence by day's end. He was subsequently driven to The Towers in a three-vehicle convoy, where Mr Roche was located and assaulted by five men including O'Hara. Gardaí attended following a resident's emergency call. Forensic evidence linked O'Hara to the assault. The defendant has previous convictions for assault causing harm and aggravated burglary. The three-judge court, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, ordered a probation report and remanded O'Hara in custody until July 24.
Joseph Shannon, 46, had 38 prior burglary convictions and used the DART and LUAS to "case" homes before breaking in. He pleaded guilty to eight burglaries in Dublin between April and August 2014 and was originally sentenced to three years, with all but 14 weeks suspended, by Judge Petria McDonnell on 11 April 2016. The DPP appealed, arguing the sentence was "unduly lenient." In the Court of Appeal, Judge John Edwards re‑sentenced Shannon to three years imprisonment on each count, with the final nine months of each suspended, and backdated the sentence to account for the 14 weeks spent on remand. The new term is two years and three months, and Shannon must enter a good‑behaviour bond. The court noted his relapse after the initial suspension and his failure to take the opportunities for rehabilitation that had been offered. The decision was made by a three‑judge panel including Judges George Birmingham and Alan Mahon.
A Dublin man, Adam Marlowe, 23, is on trial for aggravated burglary and assault of an 81‑year‑old farmer, Malachy Turley, on 29 July 2016. Marlowe pleaded not guilty. Turley, who had retired from farming and allowed horses on his land for €100 a month, was living alone at his family home since 1986. He described how three men in homemade balaclavas entered his house, beat him with bats, a small blade and an imitation gun, and demanded money. Turley was pushed onto his bed, beaten, and left unconscious for up to 30 minutes. He later found €50 missing from his wallet and two small bags of coins taken from his bookshelf. He received five stitches to his hand, bruising, and painkillers. The trial is before Judge Melanie Greally and a jury of eight men and four women.
A burglar, Matthew Ahern, 53, was jailed for 17 months after a CCTV video captured him having a haircut in a barbershop next to the house he broke into. He pleaded guilty to burglary at Collins Avenue East, Killester, on 17 February 2016. The home was occupied by a mother and her twins who were napping when the crime occurred. Ahern entered the house, stole an iPad, a laptop, and two mobile phones, and left without any weapons. He had 48 prior convictions, including seven for burglary, dating back to 1982. Judge Karen O'Connor, noting the seriousness of violating a family home, sentenced him to three years' imprisonment with the final 19 months suspended, citing his guilty plea and efforts to change his lifestyle. The suspended portion was intended to keep him out of trouble while in custody. The sentence reflects the judge's concern for the victim's safety and the property stolen.
Stephen Doherty, 50, was jailed for two-and-a-half years after robbing an Applegreen petrol station in Baldoyle, Dublin, while high on heroin. He used a meat thermometer, which he initially claimed was an ice pick, to threaten a cashier and force the release of €200. Doherty also attempted to rob a woman outside the station, who escaped. He pleaded guilty to one count of robbery and one count of attempted robbery on 31 October last year. Doherty, who has 62 prior convictions including theft, burglary and drug misuse, told the court he committed the robbery to raise money for his mother's funeral, the only family member who could not contribute. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to two-and-a-half years, backdated to the time of his first arrest in October. The sentence was imposed in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The case highlights the intersection of drug addiction and criminal activity.
Don Duggan, aged 30, had 28 prior burglary convictions and pleaded guilty to burglary in Tipperary and a threat to kill on 23 December 2015. He received a ten‑year sentence with four years suspended, imposed by Judge Thomas Teehan at Clonmel Circuit Criminal Court on 11 May 2016. He also pleaded guilty to several burglaries between 18 and 24 August 2015 and was given a six‑year sentence with three years suspended, imposed by the same judge at Nenagh Circuit Criminal Court on 17 June 2016. The sentences were consecutive. Duggan appealed both sentences, but the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal, holding the sentences were appropriate. The Court noted the victim's fear for her 10‑year‑old son, the threat of shooting, and Duggan's history of 115 convictions, including 28 for burglary, 13 for theft, and four for robbery with violence. The Court found no error of principle and affirmed the consecutive sentences.
Leon Byrne, a 21-year-old with 64 previous convictions, had his sentence doubled following a successful appeal by the Director of Public Prosecution, who argued the original term was unduly lenient. Byrne had previously pleaded guilty to robbery, aggravated burglary, assault causing harm, and unlawful taking of a vehicle in Dublin between April 2014 and April 2015. In July 2017, Judge Karen O'Connor sentenced him to a net three-and-a-half-year term. Today, a three-judge court presided over by Mr Justice John Edwards re-sentenced Byrne to seven years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended. The court noted Byrne's troubled history, including addiction and homelessness, but emphasized the need for rehabilitation. As a condition of the suspended portion, Byrne was required to enter into a good behaviour bond, which he undertook to do. The effective custody period is five years, reflecting the totality principle applied by the court.
Richard Evans, aged 34, was originally sentenced to three months' imprisonment for burglary of a domestic dwelling in Dublin on 18 February 2015. He had 127 prior convictions, 17 of which were for burglary. The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed, arguing the sentence was unduly lenient. The Court of Appeal, hearing the case on 26 April 2018, increased the sentence to two years and six months' imprisonment, with the final nine months suspended. The court noted that Evans had previously served a suspended burglary sentence that had been activated and was currently being served. The judge highlighted Evans' extensive criminal history and the seriousness of the burglary offence, concluding the original three‑month term was too light. The new sentence reflects the Court of Appeal's view that the burglary offence warranted a harsher penalty than the concurrent criminal damage sentence. Richard Evans pleaded guilty.
The Court of Appeal has increased the prison sentences of cousins Michael Casey and David Casey, who pleaded guilty to a series of burglaries, including an incident at the home of John O'Donoghue in Doon on August 27, 2015, where Mr. O'Donoghue collapsed and died. The original sentence of four-and-a-half years imprisonment, with the final year suspended, imposed by Judge Tom O'Donnell at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court in December 2016, was found to be unduly lenient following a review by the Director of Public Prosecutions. The Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice George Birmingham, re-sentenced both men to seven years imprisonment, with the final eight months suspended. This decision was based on aggravating factors, including the pre-planned nature of the burglary spree, the ransacking of a dwelling, and the serious harm caused to the victim. The court also established new sentencing guidelines for burglary, categorizing offenses into mid-range and highest categories based on factors such as planning, violence, and previous convictions. The Caseys received concurrent terms for other related offenses, and the court emphasized the need for general deterrence in cases involving residential burglaries in rural areas.
Two Romanian burglars, Constantin Gheorghe (44) and Lacramioara Anei (22), were arrested by Garda Kevin Bamrick after he recognised them as suspects in a previous burglary attempt. He observed them approaching several premises, and later saw Gheorghe and another man break into an apartment block while Anei acted as a lookout. The trio were arrested with a backpack containing stolen items. Both pleaded guilty to attempted burglary on Aughrim Street, Dublin 7, on 17 August 2017, and burglary on North Circular Road, Dublin 1. The court noted Gheorghe had five prior convictions in Ireland, Denmark and Romania, and Anei had four prior convictions in Romania. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a two‑year sentence on Gheorghe and a one‑year sentence on Anei, both back‑dated to August 2017. The sentences were imposed while the defendants cooperated with Gardaí but did not make admissions.
Martin O'Brien, 36, was sentenced to 16 months in prison for burglary after DNA matched blood spatters left when he cut his hand to smash a glass front door at a Foxrock home on 11 November 2015. He stole jewellery, electronic equipment, cash and checks worth over €15,000, causing €300 damage to the door, and left the house after a young woman saw him. O'Brien, who has 64 prior convictions and is already serving a four‑year robbery sentence, will serve the new term consecutively. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, admitted he was on heroin and tablets at the time, and expressed remorse. Judge Martin Nolan noted his cooperation, early guilty plea and difficult background, and imposed the 16‑month sentence to run after his current term.
Eoin Jarvis, 26, of Corduff Grove, Blanchardstown, was sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty to dangerous driving, driving without insurance, reckless endangerment and unlawful use of a vehicle. On 11 April 2017, he drove a stolen car at 180 kph along the N1/M1 motorway, causing it to become airborne over a roundabout before crashing on the far side. Jarvis had taken 28 sleeping tablets before driving and was heavily intoxicated at the time of arrest. Garda John Delaney reported that the crash was witnessed by two plain‑clothes officers. Jarvis exited the vehicle, ran across four lanes of traffic and was taken to a petrol station where he was arrested. The court noted his 57 previous convictions and that he was not involved in the burglary that stole the car. Judge Martin Nolan acknowledged Jarvis' guilty plea and cooperation, and imposed the three‑year sentence.
Patrick Dunne, 30, of Santry Lodge, Ballymun, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to robbing Briarswood Stores in Blanchardstown on 29 September 2017. He entered the shop with a scarf over his face and two five‑inch screwdrivers, demanding the cashier open the till. He took €195 in coins from the till. Garda Brendan O'Hora identified him from CCTV and fingerprints. Dunne has 95 previous convictions, including theft, burglary and criminal damage, and was already serving a four‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence for brandishing an imitation firearm in Ballymun. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a two‑year prison sentence, noting Dunne's drug addiction and the possibility of a positive change. The judge said he would not extend Dunne's custody beyond the sentence, hoping he will "turn the corner.".
Richard Evans, aged 34, was sentenced to three months' imprisonment for burglary of a Dublin house at Coke Lane. He pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 6 February 2017, and Judge Petria McDonnell also imposed a separate sentence for criminal damage. Evans had 127 prior convictions, including 17 for burglary, at the time of sentencing. The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has requested a review of the sentence, arguing it was "unduly lenient." DPP counsel Garrett McCormack highlighted that Evans was caught in possession of the victim's property, that the victim had identified him in an identification parade, and that CCTV footage showed his movements from the Criminal Courts of Justice to Coke Lane. The Court of Appeal has reserved its judgment, with Judges Alan Mahon, John Edwards and John Hedigan to deliver it soon. Evans is currently in Mountjoy Prison, not for this appeal. The DPP described Evans as a "chronic recidivist.".
John Matthews, aged 38, was sentenced by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to four and a half years imprisonment for 56 burglaries committed over a 16‑month period, 33 of which occurred while he was out on bail. The judge suspended an additional four and a half years on the condition that Matthews keep the peace for five years after release and attend drug treatment programmes. Matthews, from Desmond Avenue, Dun Laoghaire, had 124 previous convictions, 115 of them for burglary. Prosecutor Marie Torrens BL described how Matthews would knock on doors, check for occupants, then break in by smashing windows or door glass. Victims reported loss of jewellery, a wedding ring, Christmas presents, and €20 in loose change, and one elderly victim incurred €30 in window repair costs. Matthews pleaded guilty to sample counts of burglary between 19 January 2015 and 22 April 2016 at locations in south Dublin, including Rathfarnham and Dun Laoghaire.