Albert Redmond, 43, was sentenced to three years in prison for a series of thefts, including trespassing and stealing bank cards and cash. He admitted to entering a Dublin city centre office twice, taking a cheque worth almost €9,500, and depositing it into his own account before traveling to Blackpool. While on holiday, he claimed the money was stolen from him, which he said gave him some empathy for victims. Redmond also pleaded guilty to stealing €28 in cash at a Spar, €28 at a bank, and €9,479 at Permanent TSB, among other offences. He had 294 prior convictions, mainly for trespass, theft, and burglary. The judge, noting Redmond's lack of violence and his personal struggles, imposed a three‑year sentence, back‑dated to his June 2023 custody entry.
James Farrell, 35, of Ballyfermot, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to robbing a Spar shop in Chapelizod on 24 March 2017, to unlawful possession of a knife during that robbery, and to the unauthorised taking of a car. He had 67 prior convictions, including robbery and burglary. Farrell brandished a silver steak knife, held it to a shop assistant's throat, demanded the till be opened, and received €175 before leaving. Gardaí identified him from CCTV, and the car he used was later found abandoned and previously stolen. He was arrested that same day. Judge Patrick Quinn sentenced Farrell to three years' imprisonment, suspending the final two years on condition of attending probation appointments, completing a drug programme, and refraining from illicit drugs. The sentence was back‑dated to 27 March of the previous year.
A 20‑year‑old Dublin man, Martin Keenan, was found not guilty of murdering 33‑year‑old Wesley Mooney, who was stabbed with half a garden shears in Keenan's mobile home. The case was the first murder trial under the Defence and the Dwelling Act 2011. Keenan and his wife returned home to find two strangers in their bedroom. Keenan claimed the deceased attacked him and he struck him with the nearest object. The jury heard that the law allows homeowners to use reasonable force against intruders. Keenan's defence cited the 2011 Act and a Court of Criminal Appeal ruling that burglary is an act of aggression. The prosecution argued the force was unreasonable and that Keenan had fabricated his account. After 4 h 15 min of deliberation, the jury returned a majority verdict of not guilty. The judge discharged Keenan, who had been on bail.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 29‑year‑old Romanian burglar, Constantin Bogdan Chirila, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for a burglary that involved a physical altercation with homeowner Kevin O'Donnell. O'Donnell, who had returned from a school run, found a bicycle outside his home and a small hole in the front door lock. Garda Finbar Fleming reported that O'Donnell believed the hole had been drilled and that he confronted the intruder, shouting and banging to frighten him. The two men scuffled twice, both inside and outside the house, before Chirila escaped on a bicycle carrying a bag of tools. O'Donnell later described the fight as "blurry" but noted his arms, ribs and kidney were sore. Chirila, who had no fixed abode, had previously pleaded guilty to burglary on 12 October 2016 and had six earlier convictions in Ireland. He was arrested for the burglary in September 2017.
Gary O'Brien, aged 20, was jailed for three years after pleading guilty to burglary and two counts of assault at a Dalkey home on 26 September 2017. He had been "out of his head" on tablets and Sambuca and was restrained by a 74‑year‑old man on the bathroom floor until Garda arrival. O'Brien, who has 49 prior convictions, suffered an acquired brain injury at 16 after being struck with a hammer, a fact noted by Judge Martin Nolan. The judge imposed a three‑year sentence, consecutive to a 22‑month district court term O'Brien is serving, citing the brain injury as a mitigating factor. The burglary caused €3,000 of damage, and the victim's daughter, aged 40, described feeling "battered" and anxious the following day. O'Brien claimed he had no memory of the events and had not intended to harm the occupants. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
In the Central Criminal Court, Ciara Tynan, the girlfriend of the 33‑year‑old Wesley Mooney, testified that the accused, 20‑year‑old Martin Keenan, was a professional bare‑knuckle fighter and questioned why he did not use his fists when he stabbed Mooney on the decking outside Keenan's home. Tynan denied the defence's suggestion that Keenan was defending himself after discovering the couple burglarising his house. Prosecutor Garnet Orange SC re‑examined Tynan, asking her about the claim that Keenan moved toward the victim before being stabbed. The defence, represented by Séamus Clarke SC, questioned Detective Sergeant Alan Brady about the bare‑knuckle fighter allegation, to which Brady replied that he had not seen any videos of Keenan on YouTube. Brady also confirmed that the deceased had 59 prior convictions, including burglary, threatening to kill, and possession of an imitation firearm with criminal intent, but no assault convictions. Martin Keenan pleaded not guilty.
In March 2018, a Dublin man, Michael Doyle, 27, was jailed for six years after breaking into a neighbour's house, holding a knife to the homeowner's throat while heavily intoxicated on alcohol and prescription drugs. Garda Michael McGuinness reported that Doyle's intoxication made him "impossible to put down" when officers used pepper spray and batons. The pepper spray had no effect; Doyle fought and threatened five officers, resisted arrest, and threatened to kill the homeowner. He had previously pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary and threats to kill in May 2017. Doyle had 45 prior convictions, including assaults and public order offences. He was found unfit for interview for six hours but later presented as a "different person" after sobering up. The court accepted that his extreme intoxication contributed to the incident and imposed a six‑year custodial sentence, back‑dated to his arrest in May 2017.
The Central Criminal Court trial of Martin Keenan, who has pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Wesley Mooney (33) at St Joseph's Park, Dunsink Lane, north Dublin on June 5, 2016, continued before Mr Justice Paul Butler and a jury. During cross-examination, the defence challenged the character of the deceased and the circumstances leading to the incident. Ciara Tynan, identified as the deceased's girlfriend, denied allegations that Mr Mooney was aggressive or that he moved towards the accused prior to being stabbed with garden shears. However, she acknowledged that CCTV footage played in court showed Mr Mooney raising his middle finger at staff at a Tesco Express around 9.50pm, though she maintained this gesture did not constitute aggression. She also rejected the defence suggestion that the couple was committing a burglary in the accused's home. The prosecution and defence are presenting evidence regarding the events outside the accused's home in Finglas. No verdict has been reached, and the trial is ongoing, with proceedings scheduled to continue this afternoon.
In the Central Criminal Court, Martin Keenan, aged 20, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Wesley Mooney, aged 33, which occurred on 5 June 2016 at St Joseph's Park, Dunsink Lane, Dublin. Ciara Tynan, the deceased's girlfriend, testified that she and Mooney had been traveling to a trailer owned by a man named Davy 'Good-looking' and had been invited to St Joseph's Park by a man in a car who claimed the front door was open. Tynan said they entered a bedroom, the owner returned shouting, and she claimed the accused stabbed Mooney after the owner left. She described herself as shouting for help, but the ambulance arrived an hour later. During cross‑examination, Tynan denied any burglary and said she had no convictions. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul Butler and a jury of ten men and two women.
The Court of Appeal has adjourned the matter following an appeal by the Director of Public Prosecutions seeking to increase the sentence of Mark McCarthy. McCarthy, a 32-year-old from Ballyfermot, pleaded guilty to the false imprisonment of Warren and Jean Marie Nawn and their ten-week-old baby in County Louth between August 1st and 2nd, 2011. He was originally sentenced to nine years' imprisonment by Judge Patricia Ryan on May 19, 2017. The DPP argued the sentence was unduly lenient, contending that the starting point should have been significantly higher than the 15 years fixed by the trial judge before mitigation. Prosecutors highlighted the severity of the ordeal, including threats to the infant and the use of surveillance equipment, comparing it to the aggravated burglary case of DPP v Dean Byrne. Defence counsel Derek Cooney BL countered that McCarthy acted under duress due to a drug debt and credible threats to his life, factors absent in the comparative case. The bench, comprising Mr Justice George Birmingham, Mr Justice Alan Mahon, and Mr Justice John Hedigan, heard submissions on whether a headline sentence of 25 years to life would have been appropriate. The court reserved its judgement, meaning the appeal is not yet concluded and the original sentence remains in effect pending the final decision.
John Paul Mulready, aged 40, was sentenced to two and a half years' imprisonment by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for stabbing and biting his upstairs neighbour, Dermot Byrne, after an alleged "incessant" recitation of poetry. Mulready entered Byrne's flat with a serrated knife, shouted about music, and after a brief standoff in which Byrne brandished a frying pan, Mulready tackled him to the ground, stabbed him in the leg and bit him on the face. Byrne, a poet, defended himself with a vodka bottle and was helped by another neighbour. Mulready pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary with a knife in 2015 and has 116 prior convictions, including drug offences, knife possession, assault and criminal damage. He admitted the attack was triggered by the upstairs poetry. The court noted his history of offending and his recent drug‑ and alcohol‑free status at a residential treatment centre, but deemed the crime too serious for a suspended sentence.
Michael Cummins, 32, was jailed for two years after a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court found him guilty of falsely imprisoning and threatening two teenage boys during a drug‑induced paranoid episode in Swords in August 2017. Cummins, who had 230 prior convictions, approached a 13‑year‑old and a 15‑year‑old from across the street, demanding they look him in the eyes and threatening to pour what he claimed was acid into their eyes and to blow up their house. He struck the younger boy twice, forced the older boy to delete pictures from his phone, and entered the boys' home, where he also stole a wallet and an iPhone. Gardaí recovered the stolen items and the boys later reported increased fear and distress. Cummins pleaded guilty to theft, burglary, false imprisonment, assault and a threat to kill, and the court accepted his remorse, noting his drug‑induced paranoia but holding him fully liable for his actions.
Graham Armstrong, 33, was sentenced to 20 months' imprisonment for stabbing Thomas McDonnell, his partner's father, in the back of the neck with a screwdriver on 11 September 2015. The wound measured two to three millimetres and McDonnell recovered after a tetanus injection. Armstrong also pleaded guilty to an attempted robbery at Eddie Rockets on 16 December 2015, where he tried to force a worker to bring cash into the restaurant. He was arrested an hour later. The court noted Armstrong had 42 prior convictions, including possession of stolen property and burglary, and that he had been struggling after his mother's death in 2016. He was ordered to pay €1,500 to his victims as a token of remorse. Armstrong and his partner have since reconciled, and McDonnell declined to pursue the matter further. The judge, Martin Nolan, imposed the custodial sentence on the basis of Armstrong's serious criminal record.
A man has been sentenced to two years' imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following a burglary at Carndonagh Park, Donaghmede, Dublin, in June 2017. Mark O'Mahony (33) of St Donagh's Road, Donaghmede, pleaded guilty to burglary and to possessing property belonging to another person found at the scene. The court heard that the householder discovered O'Mahony asleep in his kitchen armchair in the early morning and retained him until gardaí arrived. O'Mahony, who was in an exceptionally intoxicated state, had also taken approximately €100 in cash from a bag in the kitchen. Judge Martin Nolan noted the non-violent nature of the offence and described the burglary as inept. The sentence was backdated to June of the previous year when O'Mahony entered custody. The defendant has eighty-six previous convictions.
Alice Connors, 46, of Kiltalown Path, Tallaght, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for burglary after she tricked her way into the home of an 84‑year‑old dementia sufferer in Newcastle, Co. Dublin, on 14 March 2017. Connors pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. She had 98 prior convictions, including 20 for burglary. The victim was visited by her 75‑year‑old sister when the two women, accompanied by a child, knocked on the door. Connors and co‑accused Margaret Cawley, 27, entered the house, brushed past the homeowner into the sitting room, and stole handbags. The stolen items were recovered from a maroon car that fled the scene. Connors was found remorseful; the judge noted no violence and described the offence as a "crime of stealth." She was given credit for time already spent in custody on this charge alone.
A 36‑year‑old labourer, Aidan O'Hara, was sentenced to 27 months' imprisonment for assaulting his ex‑girlfriend, Jessica Ayodeji, in their car while driving around Dublin. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that O'Hara, of Hand Caravan Park, dragged Ms Ayodeji back into the vehicle after she tried to escape at traffic lights, and that he had also pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and failing to remain at the scene of a collision on the same day. The court noted that O'Hara had 14 prior convictions, including assaults, drug offences, burglary and criminal damage, and that he had a history of violent conduct toward partners. He was also banned from driving for two years. The judge highlighted that O'Hara had cooperated with Gardaí, shown remorse, and completed an alternative to violence course while in custody. The sentence was back‑dated to the time he entered custody in July 2017.
The Court of Appeal has remanded cousins Michael Casey and David Casey in custody until April 17, the date set for judgment on their appeal. Both men pleaded guilty to a series of burglaries, including an incident at the home of John O'Donoghue in Doon on August 27, 2015. Mr O'Donoghue collapsed and died while confronting the intruders, who fled without assistance. In December 2016, Judge Tom O'Donnell at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court sentenced both to four-and-a-half years imprisonment, with the final year suspended. The Director of Public Prosecutions sought a review, arguing the sentences were unduly lenient. Counsel Thomas O'Malley BL submitted that the men targeted four properties and entered three, noting David Casey was on bail at the time. While it was not alleged that the Caseys directly caused Mr O'Donoghue's death, a causative link was identified. The DPP urged the court to treat residential burglary as a "special case" due to its severe social impact. The three-judge panel, comprising Justices Birmingham, Mahon, and Edwards, found the original sentences unduly lenient. As the Caseys are due for release in mid-April, days before the judgment, the court ordered them to remain in custody until the decision is handed down on April 17.
In February 2018 the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court extended the prison term of 22‑year‑old Eric Harcourt by one year for a burglary at the home of two elderly sisters aged 78 and 80 in Ballybough on 22 October 2015. Harcourt, who had been in custody since age 13 and had previously been sentenced to six months for violent disorder in December 2015, pleaded guilty to the burglary. He had been out on High Court bail for two and a half weeks when he broke into the sisters' house, broke a lock, and removed items from a cupboard. Garda Mark Deasy described the break‑in as "random" and noted Harcourt had not known the occupants' ages. The sisters declined to give a victim impact statement.
Rihards Lavickis, 25, of Longford, is on trial at the Central Criminal Court for the murder of Akadiusz 'Arek' Czajkowski, 31. Lavickis pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter; the plea was not accepted. The trial is currently at the finding stage before Justice Una Ni Raifeartaigh. State Pathologist Professor Marie Cassidy testified that the deceased died from a stab wound to the heart, with toxicology revealing valium, amphetamines, and alcohol in his system. She noted evidence of chronic alcohol use. Forensic Science Ireland confirmed blood on the accused's jacket matched the deceased. Detective Sergeant Eric Godfrey presented CCTV showing Lavickis chasing the deceased with a raised arm. The prosecution alleges Lavickis stabbed Czajkowski moments later. Both men had prior convictions: Lavickis has 20, including drug possession, while Czajkowski had 15, including driving with excess alcohol and burglary. The trial continues.
Gary Culhane, a 40‑year‑old Limerick man, was sentenced to four years in prison for breaking into the parochial house of The Good Shepherd Church in Churchtown, Dublin, on 15 October 2016. He pleaded guilty to burglary and was found to have 102 previous convictions, including assault, robbery and theft, and had spent 20 years in prison. Judge Melanie Greally suspended the final year of the sentence, ordering Culhane to complete a residential drug rehabilitation course at Tiglin treatment centre and to follow all after‑care plans. The priest, who had been away saying mass, was "very shaken" when he returned to find €650 stolen from his house, including money, collections and the poor box. Garda Áine Bolton identified Culhane after the priest downloaded CCTV footage.
A Dublin man has been sentenced to two years imprisonment for his role in an aggravated burglary at a home in Crumlin on 7 December 2013. Declan Maxwell, then aged 16, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to the offence. The court heard that Maxwell and another man, now deceased, forced entry to the property and tied up the occupants with rope before threatening them with an imitation firearm whilst demanding money and bank details. A third person used stolen cards to withdraw €440 from an ATM. Electronics and other items valued at approximately €1,000 were taken from the home. Maxwell, originally from Achill in County Mayo, was apprehended the following day and confessed to gardaí. Judge Martin Nolan described the crime as reprehensible. The court imposed a five-year sentence with three years suspended, and ordered 18 months post-release probation supervision.
Garda Paul Leavy, who was off duty when burglars broke into his father‑in‑law's house in Tallaght on 8 December 2012, sustained serious injuries including stab wounds to his eye, shoulder, hand and chest. He applied for compensation under the Garda Compensation Acts, but the Minister for Justice refused the claim, ruling the injuries were not malicious or reckless. Leavy's lawyers argue the refusal is unreasonable, factually unsustainable and breaches fair procedures. The High Court has been asked to quash the Minister's decision and declare that the Minister and Oireachtas cannot constitutionally deny him access to the courts. Mr Justice Seamus Noonan granted permission ex‑parte, setting a return date for April. The case remains a judicial review challenge to the Minister's refusal.
Sean O'Leary, 40, was jailed for three and a half years for aggravated burglary after he burst into a 75‑year‑old man's Dublin home wearing a balaclava and wielding a knife. He forced the elderly victim to open his mouth, rummaged through his pockets and stole €900 in cash. The victim did not see the knife during the incident, but Gardaí later matched O'Leary's DNA to a blade left on the kitchen table. O'Leary pleaded guilty at Moatview Court on 31 March 2016 and had 28 previous convictions. The court heard the victim was knocked to the ground, suffered an economic loss, and had to move to a nursing home due to increased anxiety. O'Leary expressed remorse, saying he hoped the man could forgive him. The judge noted the crime's impact on the victim and imposed the sentence with credit for time already spent in custody.
Michael Royal, aged 41, was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to six and a half years in prison, with the final 18 months suspended. He pleaded guilty to assaulting Prison Officer Paul Hayes at Mountjoy Prison on 27 October 2012, to trespassing and theft of a BMW, an iPhone 5s and a TV on 2 December 2013, and to a burglary that led to a car theft. Royal had previously left Ireland after a trial date for the burglary but was returned to the country. The judge, citing Royal's history of 40 convictions for robbery, burglary, assault and drug offences, described him as a "menace to society." Royal was also ordered to undergo 18 months of post‑release probation supervision. The court noted that Officer Hayes suffered fractured bones and a jaw injury requiring surgery after the assault. The case highlighted Royal's long‑term drug addiction and the impact of his criminal behaviour on the community.
The Court of Appeal granted a "last chance" to a 22‑year‑old ringleader of a 2011 burglary in which a student was forced to withdraw money from an ATM while the student's girlfriend was threatened with rape. The offender had pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary, robbery and false imprisonment and was sentenced to six years' detention in 2012. In 2015 the Court suspended the final 12 months of that sentence, citing the offender's youth and the need for rehabilitation. The appeal highlighted that the offender, who had 23 prior convictions, had re‑engaged with probation services and secured accommodation. The Court noted that the case involved a "spine‑chilling" threat of violence and that the offender's engagement with probation was deemed unsatisfactory, leading to the suspended period and a bond of €100 for good behaviour. The offender was returned to Wheatfield Prison to continue serving the remaining term.
At a hearing_or_decision in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Jonathan Goulding (28) and Goulding AKA Farrell pleaded guilty to burglary at Mr Price, Coolock Retail Park, on March 27, 2017. Both defendants admitted the charges and entered pleas of guilty. The matter was adjourned, and no sentence was imposed. Judge Melanie Greally adjourned sentencing until October 8, 2018 and requested a report from Tiglin for that date. The court heard that Goulding, who was a chronic drug user at the time of the offence, is now drug free and progressing well in a residential treatment programme at Tiglin. The incident involved Goulding picking up a screwdriver in the shop and asking a staff member if he thought he would stab him. No one was physically injured during the incident. The court was informed that this was the first time Goulding had made an effort to address his issues, and his defence asked the court to allow him to complete the treatment programme prior to sentencing. The court heard that the burglary was committed to feed his drug habit at the time. Garda Kevin Hynes confirmed the details of the incident, and the defence agreed that the incident, while frightening, did not result in any physical harm. The matter was adjourned and not finalised.
In a Dublin burglary case, 27‑year‑old Margaret Cawley, with a co‑accused and a child, entered the home of an 84‑year‑old dementia sufferer by pretending to be an acquaintance. The elderly woman's 75‑year‑old sister opened the door after a visit. Cawley and her accomplice entered the sitting room, spoke to the resident as if they knew her, and offered tea. While in the kitchen, Cawley stole the resident's handbag from her rollator walker; the co‑accused took the sister's bag. They fled in a Nissan Almera, later found by Garda Stephen Broderick, who recovered the bags, a walking stick, disabled parking discs, prescriptions, bank, social welfare and medical cards, and €100 cash. Cawley pleaded guilty to trespass and theft at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, was already serving a 22‑month district court sentence for a previous burglary, and was sentenced to three years' imprisonment.
Martin O'Brien, 31, from Coolevin, Balybrack, was convicted of burglary at the home of Mrs Marian Shanley, widow of the late High Court judge Peter Shanley, on 31 August 2016. He had been serving a four‑year suspended sentence for a 2013 burglary of an 85‑year‑old man's home. On 20 February 2017, Judge Pauline Codd sentenced him to three years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended, for the Shanley burglary. The Court of Appeal dismissed the Director of Public Prosecutions' appeal that the sentence was "unduly lenient", holding that it was not so far outside the norm. O'Brien had 103 prior convictions, including six for burglary, and had previously been employed as a groundsperson at Leopardstown Racecourse. He had struggled with heroin addiction and mental health issues, but had detoxified and entered a residential drug treatment programme before the trial. Martin O'Brien pleaded guilty.
Martin O'Brien, 31, pleaded guilty to burglary at an 85‑year‑old man's home in Glenageary Woods on 5 August 2013. In January 2015 Judge Mary Ellen Ring imposed a wholly suspended four‑year sentence. Eighteen months later he pleaded guilty to another burglary in Dublin and received a three‑year sentence, two years of which were suspended, by Judge Pauline Codd on 20 February 2017. The Director of Public Prosecutions now seeks a review of his 12‑month jail term, arguing it is unduly lenient. The Court of Appeal will decide on Tuesday.
Two men, Joseph Connors (22) and John Connors (20), were sentenced to three years' imprisonment for violent disorder after an unprovoked attack on three Afghan nationals, including a thirteen‑year‑old boy, in Marlay Park on 5 May 2016. Judge Cormac Quinn suspended the last 18 months of each sentence on the condition that the men keep the peace and engage with Probation Services. The attack involved shouting, physical assault and the use of kicks and punches, with CCTV footage showing the Connors men striking the Afghanis. One victim sustained a broken nose and the teenager subsequently left Ireland. Both men had prior convictions; Joseph had 56, including burglary and public order offences, while John had two minor traffic convictions. The court denied a request for Joseph to remain on bail until after Christmas, citing his wife's due birth. The Connors were present with €1,000 in compensation for the victims. Joseph Connors pleaded guilty. John Connors pleaded guilty.
Michael Alexis, 53, appeared at Store Street Garda Station in a distressed state and admitted involvement in a burglary that occurred on 25 September 2015 at The Gasworks Apartments, Dublin 4. He was a lookout and claimed he had not known about the burglary in advance, that the individual he was with had a key, and that he had spent the €200 he received. Gardaí recovered stolen electrical equipment, including four laptops, a tablet and an iPad mini, and returned it to the owners. Alexis pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Karen O'Connor noted his mental health issues, alcohol difficulty and nine prior convictions. She imposed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year suspended sentence, ordered addiction treatment and offence‑focused work under probation supervision, and urged him to address his problems. The burglary took place between 9.30 am and 11 am while residents were away.
James McGinley, aged 40, was arrested after plain‑clothes gardai spotted him walking with a fire extinguisher in the early hours. He pleaded guilty to burglary and criminal damage at Fitzwilliam Square West, Dublin, on the night of 29–30 July 2017. McGinley and a co‑accused broke into a Georgian building housing several businesses, using a fire extinguisher to force open office doors. Six laptops and a mobile phone were taken; a solicitor's office was ransacked but no items were removed. The total damage was €2,500. McGinley admitted he needed money for a relative's birthday and said he should have bought a card instead. He was sentenced by Judge Cormac Quinn to three years' imprisonment, with the final six months suspended, and is currently in custody. The co‑accused awaits sentencing in the District Court.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 56‑year‑old Joseph Tyrell, who has 85 prior convictions, was found to have spent more time in prison than in the community. Since age 16, he has been in and out of custody, with the longest period outside prison in the last 40 years lasting only 15 months. His convictions include 27 for burglary, three for aggravated burglary and four for robbery. Tyrell pleaded guilty to a burglary at Lower Kimmage Road on 31 August 2016, where he entered through an open window, stole a wallet containing €600, and was identified by CCTV. The prosecution and defence agreed the offence was opportunistic. The judge adjourned sentencing to 2 March 2018 and ordered an updated probation report. The defendant, a father of three, expressed a desire to complete courses and provide drug‑free urine analysis before transfer to another prison. The court noted his improved health and commitment to bettering himself.
Anthony Connors, aged 42, was sentenced to four years in prison for a burglary that turned violent when he attacked Michael Tonra in Tonra's home on 20 June 2016. Connors had convinced Tonra he was looking for a long‑lost friend and, after Tonra offered to write down his contact details, Connors entered the house, pushed Tonra, and tried to force his way past him. Tonra resisted, and a struggle ensued in which Tonra pinned Connors to the ground, struck him, and forced him out of the house. Connors shouted threats of return and demanded his jacket, which he had taken during the fight. The court noted Connors' 60 prior convictions, including burglary and robbery, and his history of drug abuse. Judge Karen O'Connor, after hearing the case, imposed a five‑year sentence, suspended the last year on the condition that Connors participate in Probation Service programmes to address violent offending and substance abuse. Anthony Connors pleaded guilty.
A man has received a two-year suspended sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following his guilty plea to burglary at a takeaway in Castlebar, County Mayo. Yasir Ali, aged 29, of Lighthouse Apartments, East Wall, Dublin, stole equipment valued at €11,484.50 from Thomas Street Takeaway on 18 May 2015. The stolen items included commercial freezers, deep fat fryers, a burger fryer, microwave, food blender, and stainless steel fixtures. Ali was arrested shortly after the offence and subsequently apprehended at Dublin Airport attempting to leave the country with false documentation. Following his arrest, he cooperated with gardaí and led them to a farmhouse at Hollymount, County Mayo, where the concealed equipment was recovered in July 2015. Judge Karen O'Connor imposed the sentence in full suspension. Ali received an additional three-month suspended sentence for the false documentation offence. The court heard he has no previous convictions and had adhered to bail conditions.
Warren Brennan, aged 26, was re‑sentenced to ten years' imprisonment with the final three years suspended after the Court of Appeal found his original seven‑year sentence unduly lenient. Brennan had pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary, robbery and related offences at a bookmakers shop on Lombard Street in December 2014 and at Alderwood Park in October 2015. He was convicted of robbing a 71‑year‑old pensioner with a hammer, repeatedly striking him on the head and body, and also striking the victim's nephew. Brennan had previously been convicted of 54 offences, including robbery and possession of a firearm. The Court of Appeal, judging that the evidence was overwhelming and that the guilty pleas had earned excessive credit, imposed a consecutive five‑year term with the final three years suspended, requiring a good‑behaviour bond for the suspended period.
In a Court of Appeal hearing on 18 December 2017, the court found that the 4½‑year sentences imposed on cousins Michael Casey (34) and David Casey (23) for a fatal burglary at the home of 62‑year‑old John O'Donoghue were unduly lenient. The men had pleaded guilty to a series of burglaries, including the incident on 27 August 2015 when O'Donoghue collapsed and died as he confronted the intruders. Judge Tom O'Donnell had originally sentenced them at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court to four‑and‑a‑half years, with the final year suspended. The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed, arguing the harm caused, including the distress of O'Donoghue's sister who witnessed his death, warranted a harsher penalty. The three‑judge panel, led by Mr Justice George Birmingham, agreed and ordered a fresh sentencing hearing to be scheduled for January.
Prosecutors seek a review of the sentences imposed on cousins Michael Casey (34) and David Casey (22) for a series of burglaries, including a fatal burglary at John O'Donoghue's home in Doon on 27 August 2015. The men pleaded guilty and were sentenced by Judge Tom O'Donnell at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court to four-and-a-half years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended. The DPP argues the sentence was unduly lenient, citing the death of Mr O'Donoghue, the trauma to his sister, and the aggravated nature of the burglary spree. Counsel for the DPP highlighted the inherent risk of residential burglary and the need for a headline sentence that reflects the harm caused. The Court of Appeal reserved its judgment, while counsel for the defendants argued the suspended year was justified and that the defendants had shown remorse and personal difficulties. The case remains pending.
Thomas McCann, 43, of Morristown Estate, Newbridge, Co Kildare, was sentenced by Judge Patricia Ryan in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to a total of six years' imprisonment, with two years suspended. He has spent 22 years in custody and has 150 prior convictions, mainly for burglary and theft. McCann pleaded guilty to smashing a glass panel on a house on Strand Road, Sandymount, and was found guilty of burglary at a house on Maretimo Place, Blackrock, on 30 September 2011. He was acquitted of a second burglary attempt at comedian Mario Rosenstock's home. Judge Ryan sentenced him to four years for the Maretimo burglary, with one year suspended, and to two years for the 2016 criminal damage, with one year suspended, to be served after the first sentence. McCann, who has been drug‑free for 27 years, expressed remorse, thanked the court, and pledged to dedicate the rest of his life to his wife and child.
Dean Byrne, aged 25, was serving an 18‑year sentence for a 2013 aggravated burglary when he climbed onto the roof of Cloverhill Prison during a riot on 29 May 2015. He remained on the roof for 13 hours, during which he threw a pole down at inmates below. Byrne pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting violent disorder. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court added six months to his sentence, to be served after the existing term, citing his actions on the roof as a nuisance during the riot. The court noted that Byrne had 122 prior convictions and that he had been in institutions for half his life. The judge refused to reduce the extension, imposing the additional six months as a separate penalty.
Jason Whelan, 28, of Woodhazel Terrace, Ballymun, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to trespass and theft offences at Clifton Court Hotel and The Gresham Hotel in 2017. He admitted stealing a receptionist's phone and seven bottles of spirits worth €225, and burglary of €257 worth of spirits at Clifton Court. Garda Michelle Fitzpatrick reported that Whelan also took €43 worth of spirits from The Grand Central pub after leaving ten bottles in a bag behind a function room door. Whelan has 28 prior burglary convictions, ten theft convictions and other handling‑stolen‑property offences. Judge Martin Nolan remarked that Whelan "cannot stop himself from committing burglaries" and sentenced him to two and a half years' imprisonment, crediting time already served. His brother, Stephen Whelan, 34, pleaded guilty to the same offences and received a 16‑month sentence. No violence was reported in any incident.
The Court of Appeal has dismissed an appeal against the severity of a 15-year prison sentence imposed on Michael Maughan for aggravated burglary. Maughan, aged 24, pleaded guilty to breaking into the caravan of Martin and Winnie McDonagh on Turlough Road, Castlebar, on November 18, 2013. During the attack, Maughan allegedly used a machete to slash the occupants, including an 11-year-old child, causing severe lacerations. The original sentence was handed down by Judge Rory McCabe at Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court on February 19, 2016. On appeal, counsel for the Director of Public Prosecutions argued the offence was among the most serious possible, while the defence compared it to a less severe Tipperary case. The three-judge panel, led by Mr Justice George Birmingham, rejected this comparison, stating both cases represented the highest level of seriousness for aggravated burglary. The court noted that Maughan was also sentenced on four other bills of indictment for violent disorders and robbery committed after the caravan attack. Judge McCabe had imposed concurrent sentences for these additional offences, made consecutive to the aggravated burglary term but suspended in their entirety. The Court of Appeal found that the 15-year sentence for the aggravated burglary fell within the appropriate range and that no error in principle was identified, thereby upholding the original custodial term.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, Kastriot Boza, a 44‑year‑old Albanian national with no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to burglary at the home of Teresa (83) and Edward Keenan (86) on 28 June. The couple had withdrawn €9,600 for an inter‑generational holiday, but Boza knocked them to the ground, stole €3,000 from Teresa's wallet, €5,000 from her bag and €300 from her purse, and fled. Gardaí recovered the money and arrested Boza in Swords the next day. He was sentenced to five years' imprisonment, back‑dated to the date he entered custody. The court noted the victims' panic attacks, sleeplessness, anxiety and stress, and the impact on their confidence and family life. Boza had 33 prior convictions, including robbery, and the judge considered his apology and remorse in imposing the sentence.
Daniel Barrett, 23, pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary at a neighbour's house on 13 August 2015, armed with an imitation shotgun. He was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment by Judge Rory McCabe on 23 November 2016. Barrett had planned to appeal the severity of his sentence. During the Court of Appeal hearing, Judge George Birmingham reminded him that the court could increase sentences. Barrett's counsel, Garnet Orange SC, informed the court that Barrett had decided to withdraw the appeal. The appeal was withdrawn and Barrett was taken to continue serving his sentence.
Stephen Feery, 28, of The Water Rill, Malahide, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing a stolen vehicle and criminal damage to electric gates at an apartment block in Balgriffin. He stole a Euro Car rental on 24 February, was pursued by Gardaí, sprayed with pepper spray, collided with gates, fled, and was later found hanging from a window of his brother's apartment. The damage to the gates cost €3,500. Feery has 128 prior convictions, including burglary, dangerous driving and driving without insurance, and a 2008 suspended sentence for endangerment. He left school at 12, has three children, and had completed a residential drug programme. Judge Patrick Quinn sentenced him to two years, suspending ten months, with strict conditions. The case was investigated by Garda Jason Flynn.
Michael Darcy, a 37‑year‑old Dubliner, was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for making a false insurance claim to AXA. He alleged that jewellery worth over €40,000 had been stolen during a fictitious break‑in on 1 September 2013. Darcy had previously listed an 18‑carat gold engagement ring (€25,000), a lady's bracelet (€11,000) and a man's bracelet (€5,400) on his AXA policy, though he never owned them. He also forged an AIB bank statement to show €48,783.42 in his account, when the real balance was €34.42. The court noted his prior convictions for burglary, theft and traffic offences, but also his capacity for work and reform. The sentence was back‑dated to 27 October, when he entered custody. The judge described the fraud as a "thought‑out" white‑collar crime. The case highlighted the cost to AXA, which spent €6,200 on the investigation. Michael Darcy pleaded guilty.
Terence Gavin, 25, was found guilty of fraudulently claiming job seekers allowance for two years under a false name and also claiming other state benefits in his own name. He admitted to stealing €8,100 from the Department of Social and Family Affairs at An Post, Donaghmede Shopping Centre between October 2010 and July 2012. Gavin has ten prior convictions, including burglary and theft. Garda Gareth Ryan explained that social welfare officials had flagged a suspicious claim made under the name "Alan McDonagh," which Gavin had used. CCTV footage from the post office identified him when the claim was paid. The judge, Melanie Greally, noted Gavin's difficult upbringing and limited work history but emphasized the seriousness of his dishonesty. She ordered him to complete 240 hours of community service within 12 months, with one year to be served in default, and imposed a one‑year suspended sentence on strict conditions.
Daniel Farrell, aged 22, was jailed for eight months after a burglary at Castlewood, Clonsilla on 5 May 2016. He fled the scene while his two accomplices were restrained by the house's residents. Garda Mark Quill identified Farrell through a fingerprint left on the window frame, matching the one found inside. Farrell pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He had three prior convictions. The court noted his difficult childhood, drug avoidance until age 19, and association with a negative peer group. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a two‑year sentence, suspending all but eight months on strict conditions.
Bashkim Osaj, 39, pleaded guilty to robbery and false imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended, on the condition of good behaviour and keeping the peace. Osaj had fled to Belgium after informing Gardaí he would not attend his trial, but was later arrested and returned to Ireland. The robbery involved the owner of a takeaway, Nunzio Del Duca, who was bound, gagged, and stabbed with a screwdriver. Osaj was one of two men who entered the premises, and a third man had lured Del Duca to the house. Osaj had 26 prior convictions, including burglary and robbery. The judge noted the violence was "of a particular nasty nature" and considered mitigating factors such as his guilty plea, difficult background, and family responsibilities. The case was heard in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
John Power, 28, pleaded guilty to burglary and unlawful taking of a car at Baggot Court, Dublin, on 22 June 2017. The victim used a "locator app" on his stolen mobile phone to pinpoint Power's location in a laneway off Parnell Street. Garda Enda Dowling reported that the occupiers woke to find their home burgled and car stolen while they slept. Power was found sleeping rough in the laneway, and the victim later discovered him with a Nike bag that matched his own. Gardaí recovered the stolen mobile phone, laptop, tablet and other items from the bag. CCTV showed Power opening the victim's car with the key fob, driving off, and later returning on a bike. Power, who has 75 previous convictions, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended on strict conditions. The judge noted the burglary was non‑violent and a crime of opportunity, and that Power had expressed a desire to rehabilitate.