The 20‑year‑old ringleader of a "spine chilling" aggravated burglary, robbery and false imprisonment at Botanic Avenue, Dublin 9, was sentenced to six years' detention on 29 March 2012. He was found guilty on 27 April 2011. The Court of Appeal later reduced the term, suspending the final 12 months. The offender, who was 15 at the time of the offence, had 23 prior convictions and was on bail for other robberies. He entered the victim's home with accomplices, threatened the student with a knife, demanded money and the PIN of an ATM card, and forced the student's girlfriend to be held back while the student was "frog marched" to an ATM. The victims withdrew €600, and the offender threatened further withdrawal. The appeal judge noted the offender's young age and the need for rehabilitation, and required a €100 bond for good behaviour during the suspended period and for two years after release.
Joseph Bates, aged 36, appeared at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following a guilty plea to burglary at Milltown Institute on Sandyford Road, Dublin on 21 July 2013. The charges allege that while trespassing in the building, he committed theft and criminal damage. Bates had previously received a three-year suspended sentence from Longford Circuit Court for burglary in County Longford, imposed on condition he keep the peace for five years. The prosecution indicated the matter requires return to the Midlands Circuit, with Judge Desmond Hogan adjourning the case for mention at Tullamore on the following day. The breach of the suspended sentence condition raises the prospect of activation of the earlier custodial term.
Vasile Stratan, a 35‑year‑old Moldovan who had been in Ireland for only four days, pleaded guilty to burglary at a Carrick‑on‑Suir home on 26 September 2013. He was sentenced to six years' imprisonment by Judge Thomas Teehan on 13 March 2014. Stratan claimed he travelled to the scene on the "promise of working in a circus" and that he was merely "casing houses", not the organiser of the offence. His barrister, Pauline Walley, argued that the sentencing judge had not considered his guilty plea, lack of prior convictions, health problems and his status as a non‑national with no English. On appeal, Justice Seán Ryan agreed that the judge had erred in not giving weight to these factors and, with some reluctance, ordered that the final 18 months of the sentence be suspended, leaving Stratan with a reduced custodial term. The appeal did not alter the assessment of the crime itself.
Michael O'Brien, 46, was sentenced to three and a half years' imprisonment for sexually assaulting a one‑year‑old baby while the child's parents were out drinking. The court found the baby was left in O'Brien's care in a house lacking clean clothes, electricity and food, with food stored only in a freezer for social worker inspections. O'Brien had previously served a twelve‑year sentence in 2008 for abusing two children under six and a four‑year term in 1993 for assaulting a 60‑year‑old woman during a burglary. Judge Sarah Berkeley described the assault as "a vile and monstrous act" and, after suspending 18 months of a five‑year term, ordered O'Brien to continue treatment in prison and cooperate with probation services. He pleaded not guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and was convicted by a jury earlier this year.
Niall Fitzpatrick, 48, from Corrin Close, Glen, Cork, was convicted of attempted aggravated burglary and possession of a pump‑action shotgun and ammunition at Patrick Glavin's home in Glanmire on 11 August 2013. He pleaded not guilty at Cork Circuit Criminal Court. After a three‑week trial, a jury found him guilty and Judge David Riordan sentenced him to 14 years' imprisonment on 13 November 2014. On 16 June 2015 Fitzpatrick lodged an appeal on 16 grounds, alleging the judge failed to discharge the jury on several matters. His counsel, Brendan Nix SC, argued that evidence from Garda Dan Lucey was prejudicial and that a juror had been improperly excused after the judge allowed the Court Registrar to enter the jury room and discuss the case. Mr Nix said the registrar's conversation was not publicly recorded and that justice must be administered in public.
Eoin Daly, aged 29, was sentenced to five and a half years in prison for a series of burglaries committed between July and September 2013 across Dublin suburbs and Leixlip. He pleaded guilty to five counts of burglary, one of trespass and attempted theft. The judge noted that Daly had been granted bail repeatedly after each arrest, questioning why he was not remanded earlier. Daly's lawyer described him as a "one‑man crime wave" linked to chronic heroin addiction. The judge suspended the final 18 months of the sentence on the condition that Daly cooperate with the Probation Service upon release. Daly had 30 prior convictions, including burglary, robbery, firearm possession and threats of killing. The sentence reflects the judge's concern that, if he does not change, he will spend his thirties in court and prison.
George Murray, 46, was sentenced to three and a half years in prison for harassing a couple, Gareth Sexton and Nora Artola, over a period of almost six months. He repeatedly threatened to kill the occupants, screamed at them, and entered their garden, causing the couple to install CCTV cameras. Murray pleaded guilty to harassment and burglary at Church Avenue South, Rialto, between 12 November 2014 and 3 March 2015, and had 37 prior convictions. Judge Martin Nolan initially suspended the last 12 months of the sentence, but after Murray shouted and cursed at the judge and his lawyers, the judge imposed the full term. Murray has a chronic psychiatric disorder, uses anti‑psychotic medication, and has a history of substance abuse. The couple's CCTV footage and victim impact reports were presented in court but not read out. The judge noted that while Murray's mental health is serious, his crime was serious and the couple felt threatened.
The 20‑year‑old ringleader of an attack in which a student was forced to withdraw money from an ATM and threatened that his girlfriend would be raped by two accomplices has won an appeal against his sentence. He had pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary, robbery and false imprisonment at Botanic Avenue, Dublin 9 on 27 April 2011 and was sentenced to six years' detention by Judge Martin Nolan on 29 March 2012. The Court of Appeal heard that the offender, who was 15 at the time of sentencing, held a knife to the student's throat, demanded €40 and later €600, and threatened to harm the student's girlfriend if the PIN was not supplied. The Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan, found that the judge had not given sufficient regard to the Children's Act and that rehabilitation should have been considered.
A man from Cork has had his sentence backdated following a successful appeal to the Court of Appeal. Nicky O'Driscoll, aged 37, of Killala Gardens, Knocknaheeny, pleaded guilty at Cork Circuit Criminal Court to burglary at Inishannon on 7 January 2014. He received a three-year sentence with the final six months suspended in May 2014. O'Driscoll appealed on the basis that the sentencing judge had been incorrectly informed of his previous convictions for burglary. Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan found the sentencing court had been told O'Driscoll had 20 previous burglary convictions when he in fact had eight among his 68 total convictions. The judge described this as a clear error in principle, though not attributable to fault on the part of the trial judge. The Court of Appeal upheld the original sentence but backdated it to 12 May 2014 to account for the misinformation. O'Driscoll was also required to enter into his own bond of €100 for 12 months.
Lewis Smith, 18, previously of Glenshane Grove, Tallaght, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to burglary in Tallaght on September 2, 2014. He is accused of breaking into the home of a profoundly deaf woman with a 17-year-old co-accused, who also pleaded guilty to the same charge. The teenagers allegedly stole a computer tablet, a mobile phone, and a television. Garda Jennifer Grogan stated that the homeowner later discovered a message written on the sitting room wall. Smith has previous convictions for criminal damage and stealing a car. Judge Martin Nolan adjourned the case to July 30 next to allow for the preparation of a probation report to assess Smith's suitability for community service. The judge remanded Smith on continuing bail until then, imposing conditions that he live with his grandmother in Saggart, adhere to a curfew from midnight to 8am, and sign on three times a week at Tallaght Garda Station. Judge Nolan noted that while the woman's peace of mind was greatly affected, it was highly unlikely the teenagers knew she was deaf. Defense counsel George Burns BL stated that Smith had written letters of apology to the victim and the court and expressed remorse.
A 43‑year‑old Nigerian man, Dayo Akinsuyi, was sentenced to 21 months' imprisonment for burglary and assault causing harm after he and an accomplice broke into an apartment on 20 August 2013. They entered the flat shortly after 9 a.m. and attacked the resident, George Cristo, with a scalpel and a fake gun. Cristo suffered cuts to his forearms, head and defensive wounds on his hands. Akinsuyi pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The judge noted that the men had apparently been searching for money, but the offence was deemed very serious. Akinsuyi had minor prior convictions for road traffic offences and had shown remorse. He was described as a good father and partner, and his good work history was taken into account. The sentence was imposed after the court accepted his guilty plea and the evidence of the assault. The case was prosecuted by James Dwyer BL and investigated by Garda Shane Moriarty.
Three burglars—James Cash (28), Thomas Wall (23), and William Wall (32)—were convicted at Cork Circuit Criminal Court on four burglary counts committed in Cork City on 1–2 December 2012. They had been acquitted of three other burglary counts and of possessing burglary implements. Cash received a seven‑year sentence with one year suspended; the Walls each received seven years with two years suspended. On appeal, all three had their sentences reduced. Cash was sentenced to four years with 21 months suspended, giving an effective custodial term of 3 years 9 months. The Walls each received four years with two years suspended, giving an effective custodial term of 2 years 10 months. The appeal court noted Cash's extensive prior record and the Walls' lack of significant convictions, and adjusted the starting points accordingly. The new sentences were imposed by Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin on 4 February 2014.
Lee McDonnell, 23, of Ballyfermot, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of an imitation firearm with intent to commit robbery at Sarsfield Service Station on 21 January 2012, and to robbery of cigarettes, a sunglass case and a shop assistant. He was originally sentenced to six years imprisonment, three of which were suspended. The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed, arguing the sentence was too lenient. The Court of Appeal set a new effective sentence of six years imprisonment with the final year suspended, and a concurrent four‑year sentence for the robbery charge. The new sentences run concurrently with a five‑year sentence for a burglary committed in 2011, and McDonnell is already serving a nine‑year sentence with two years suspended for aggravated burglary. The appeal was heard by a three‑judge panel, and the court noted McDonnell's 111 prior convictions at the time of sentencing.
Peter Byrne, 44, pleaded guilty to two robberies committed on 29 and 30 November 2014 at the School Supply Centre in Village Green, Tallaght, and the Abberley Hotel on Belgard Road, Tallaght. He used a scalpel to threaten an employee at the shop and a hotel front‑desk staff member, demanding cash. Byrne admitted the offences, apologized, and claimed he was homeless and needed money for a deposit. He had 91 prior convictions, including four robberies, burglary, theft and assault. Judge Martin Nolan, hearing the case at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, accepted Byrne's expressed desire to reform but questioned his capacity to comply. Nolan imposed a four‑year jail term, suspended the final 18 months, and ordered Byrne to serve the remaining two and a half years in custody. The court noted Byrne's age, his long prison history, and the impact on the hotel staff, who had begun self‑defence courses after the incident.
Vincent McNally, aged 32, was sentenced by Judge Patrick McCartan to an eight‑year prison term for three burglaries committed in the Shankill area in February 2014, plus possession of burglary gloves on 28 April 2014. The judge suspended the final five years of the sentence for five years on strict conditions, leaving McNally to serve three years in custody. McNally pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He has 54 prior convictions, including 24 for burglary, one robbery, one aggravated burglary, one theft and one for handling stolen property. The burglaries involved forced entry into homes, theft of €5,000 worth of property in the first raid, and removal of electronics and jewellery in the second and third raids. McNally's defence counsel had earlier suggested a different judge handle the case, and the judge had previously joked about being burgled himself. The court noted that McNally had been jailed for almost every offence he committed.
James Byrne, 34, of Crumlin, pleaded guilty to four burglaries committed while on bail for other offences. Between 3 and 13 October 2014 he broke into Drimnagh Castle Primary School, St Agnes Church, Assumption Church in Walkinstown, and St Mark's Junior School in Tallaght. He also pleaded guilty to criminal damage at St Mark's. In St Agnes he entered after asking to see a priest, was told to wait, then fled; a witness heard coins rattling in his jacket and he later claimed to have taken €56. At Assumption he was seen by an 80‑year‑old man counting coins, who tried to stop him; Byrne locked the door and escaped with an estimated €200‑€300. At St Mark's he caused €3,500 of damage to doors and windows but claimed he took nothing, borrowing €10 from his ex‑wife.
Derek O'Brien, aged 33, was jailed for four years after a robbery at a shop on Fortfield Park, Terenure, on 26 May 2014. He threatened the shop owner with a knife, jumped over the counter and stole €600. O'Brien pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He had previous convictions for assault, theft, burglary and drug offences and had been released from prison a few months earlier. He had a five‑year sentence for three robberies in July 2012, with the final two and a half years suspended. Judge Martin Nolan re‑activated two years of that suspended sentence and added a consecutive two‑year term for the Terenure robbery, giving a total of four years. Garda Keith Morrissey and other officers identified O'Brien through CCTV and a distinctive shoe print left on the counter. O'Brien was later arrested on Aston Quay with €460 in his bag, but no further charges were brought.
Daryl Bolger, aged 23, was sentenced to three and a half years' imprisonment for endangerment, five counts of dangerous driving and driving without insurance after a high‑speed pursuit in January 2015. He had taken 20 tranquiliser tablets and, while a passenger, moved to the driver's seat and fled the Garda's questioning. The chase, lasting 20 minutes around Tallaght, saw the toddler in the back seat unrestrained, causing school children to flee the road and motorists to swerve. Bolger's vehicle broke red lights, lifted off the road and, at one point, performed a handbrake turn that nearly collided with a patrol car. He was arrested at his home after hiding under a bed, with the child still in the car. The court noted his 91 prior convictions, including hijacking, theft and burglary, and his unlawful release from Mountjoy Prison for drug treatment. Daryl Bolger pleaded guilty.
Robert Hedderman, aged 30, was jailed for three years for burglary, criminal damage and unlawfully producing a firework that threatened a Garda. On 6 May 2014 he broke into a flat on North Great Georges Street, used a hacksaw to cut the window bars, and was discovered by a neighbour who called the Gardaí. When the Gardaí arrived, Hedderman told them to leave or he would kill them and burn the flat. He brandished a large kitchen knife, held a lighter and attempted to ignite fireworks, causing small explosions. Gardaí called for armed backup and the Dublin Fire Brigade arrived. Hedderman barricaded himself inside, but after three warnings he dropped the knife and was arrested. The damage to the door cost €500. Hedderman has 25 prior convictions, including robbery and burglary, and was previously jailed for robbery. Robert Hedderman pleaded guilty.
Loyal Sequeria, 28, of Cypress Garth, Templeogue, Dublin, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to unlawful possession of a blank‑firing EKOL Firat Magnum 9mm gun and 93 rounds of ammunition, which he had bought over the Internet for protection after a burglary. He also pleaded guilty to stealing an unfinished Irish passport from his workplace, intending to give it to someone for falsification. Garda Enda Dowling found the passport in a camera bag in Sequeria's child's bedroom and the gun and ammunition in the child's wardrobe. Sequeria had one prior road‑traffic conviction. He claimed he was unaware a licence was required for the blank‑firing gun. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to two and a half years, suspended for two years, and noted it was unlikely he would appear again in court.
Aaron Brophy, aged 24 and without a fixed abode, was sentenced to three and a half years' imprisonment for robbing Patrick Birmingham, a man with cerebral palsy, outside a Dublin post office on Ormond Quay Upper. Brophy followed Birmingham, put his arm around his neck, kicked him to the back of the knee, knocked him to the ground, called him a paedophile and then stole his wallet containing €20 and various cards. He pleaded guilty to robbery on 9 January 2014 and has 48 prior convictions, including robbery, assault, violent disorder, theft, burglary and criminal damage. Birmingham, who works in the Four Courts and usually takes lunch breaks at nearby Civic Offices, described the attack as a low point in Brophy's criminal career and said it has left him mentally and physically affected, making him wary of people on the street.
Jimmy Cash, 25, appeared in the Court of Appeal on 9 July after being refused bail pending his appeal against a six‑year sentence for driving the wrong way up the M50 motorway. He had pleaded guilty in February 2013 to endangerment, dangerous driving, driving while disqualified and having no insurance. The offence caused a five‑car collision with serious injuries, and Cash himself was seriously injured, not wearing a seatbelt. He had 85 previous convictions, including 16 for dangerous driving and 31 for burglary. Cash was assaulted on Monday of the week, requiring 20 stitches to his left cheek, and his barrister argued this as a special circumstance. The three‑judge panel, led by Mr Justice George Birmingham, found Cash fell "way short" of the bail threshold and refused bail, noting the early appeal hearing date and lack of request for a different date.
Trevor Purdy, 41, was found guilty of aggravated burglary, possession of a firearm and ammunition, false imprisonment, making threats to kill and assault causing harm at Kilbarrack Avenue, Dublin, in September 2006. A jury at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court convicted him on all counts and Judge Patrick McCartan sentenced him to ten years in prison on 19 May 2010. Purdy appealed, arguing that his sentence had not been properly backdated and that the sentencing judge had effectively "thrown away the key". The Court of Appeal, hearing the appeal, confirmed that Purdy had spent nine months in custody for which he had not received credit. Consequently, the Court backdated his sentence by nine months, leaving the ten‑year term, the suspended portion and effective custody unchanged. The appeal did not alter the conviction or the nature of the offences. The case remains at the appellate stage. Trevor Purdy pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 13 April 2015, Trevor Byrne, a 32‑year‑old former convict, pleaded guilty to an attempted robbery and two burglary offences committed on 15 September 2009. He had been sentenced in 2011 to eight years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended on strict conditions, including close supervision by the Probation Service and abstention from alcohol. Since his release in March 2014, Byrne had repeatedly breached these conditions, including a six‑month jail term in April 2014 for possession of six cans of cider and a phone call to a mental hospital nurse in which he threatened violence. He was again released in October 2014. In the present hearing, Byrne represented himself, expressed a desire to return to prison, and declined to contest the Probation Service's request to revoke the suspended portion of his sentence.
In a High Court hearing on 27 March 2015, a male prisoner on a nearly 50‑day hunger strike over his detention conditions was examined. The prisoner, whose identity is protected, is serving a long sentence for burglary and assault and has a substantial criminal record. He has mental health difficulties and a troubled upbringing. He has lost significant weight and is at risk of coma and death. The State seeks a declaration that the prisoner has the capacity to refuse all medical assistance if he becomes incapable of making a decision, and that the prison authorities' decision not to force‑feed him is lawful. The prisoner, in solitary confinement for over three years, demands that his meals be served by staff, not other inmates, and that two officers escort him during his hour in the exercise yard. The prison offered alternative meal arrangements and a different unit, which he declined.
Brian Reilly, 18, of Boyne View, Navan, was sentenced to nine years in prison for reckless endangerment and theft of a post van after he stole the vehicle and drove over the foot of postman Gerard Devlin. Reilly, who has more than 100 prior convictions including 22 for car theft, was already serving a sentence for burglary. At the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Patrick McCartan imposed consecutive sentences of five years for theft and four years for reckless endangerment, suspending the last three years to discourage further offences. The incident occurred on 22 August 2013 at Rosscourt Grove, Lucan, when Reilly entered the van, started the engine, and reversed sharply, striking Devlin's foot and dragging him along the ground. Devlin, an independent contractor for An Post, was left in fear for his life. The van was later recovered in Dunshaughlin using a tracking device, and Reilly was arrested nearby. Brian Reilly pleaded guilty.
Darren Snee, a 25‑year‑old boxing coach from Palmerstown, pleaded guilty to possessing ecstasy, cannabis and cocaine. A Court of Appeal ruling declared ecstasy and other drugs unconstitutionally banned, leading the Director of Public Prosecutions to withdraw the ecstasy charge. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year suspended sentence for the remaining cannabis (worth €819) and cocaine (valued €399) offences. Snee had previously been convicted of burglary. At the sentencing hearing, Garda John McWeeney presented evidence of Snee's drug dealings, including six bags of cocaine, a bag of rock cocaine hidden in a can of Coors Light, 24 deals of cannabis, €2,260 in cash, a digital weighing scale, and a black drum containing 19 bags of MDMA. Snee claimed he was holding the drugs for others and that the cash was personal gifts. His defence, led by Pieter Le Vert BL, highlighted his reduced cannabis use and future aspirations in architecture and sports.
In a burglary that turned violent, Shane Cooney, aged 24, was sentenced to five years in prison for attacking Father Diarmuid Byrne, 70, with an iron bar on St Anthony's Road, Rialto, on 16 October 2013. The assault left the priest with a fractured skull and numerous facial wounds, requiring 26 stitches. Gardaí found blood‑stained iron bar and other items outside the priest's home after neighbours reported a disturbance. Cooney, who had 74 prior convictions, pleaded guilty to burglary and assault. Judge Mary Ellen Ring imposed a five‑year sentence, suspending the final 18 months. The court noted the victim's age and the impact of the attack, but no further details of the sentence's effective custodial term were provided in the article. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Vincent McNally (32) pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to three burglaries in the Shankill area in February 2014 and admitted possession of gloves with intent to commit burglary in Shankill on April 28, 2014. He has 54 previous convictions, including 24 for burglary. Judge Martin Nolan, who had been burgled twice in the past, referred the case to Judge Patrick McCartan after learning that McNally had burgled his house. Judge McCartan described McNally as a 'serious committed criminal' and remanded him in custody pending sentence until May to allow for him to be assessed by the Probation Service. He noted that McNally had been jailed for almost every offence he committed. Judge McCartan said he was ordering a report from the Probation Service to see what can be done with the likes of McNally and added that if McNally has any interest in dealing seriously with his problems, he would give him a chance. The matter was adjourned to May 25 next.
Shane Connell, 27, of Coolock, was jailed for five years after he stole an ESB van, drove through red lights, and rammed a Garda van four times while being chased through Dublin suburbs. He also caused damage on Ranelagh Road and collided with several cars. Connell claimed he had drunk two bottles of vodka and could not remember the incident. Judge Pat McCartan sentenced him to four years, suspended the final eighteen months, and activated a previously suspended two‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence for burglary and assault, giving an effective five‑year term. Shane Connell pleaded guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 25‑year‑old Darren Snee pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine, cannabis and MDMA for sale or supply. Judge Martin Nolan remanded him in custody pending sentencing on 27 March. During the hearing, defence counsel Pieter Le Vert raised the Court of Appeal's recent ruling that the illegality of certain drugs is now unconstitutional, arguing that possession of MDMA, headshop drugs and crystal meth is no longer an offence. Judge Nolan noted that Snee also possessed cocaine and cannabis, which remain illegal, and upheld the remand. The Court of Appeal had declared Section 2(2) of the 1977 Misuse of Drugs Act unconstitutional, but the ruling does not affect substances such as cannabis, heroin or cocaine. Snee's case involved evidence of drug sales, hidden drugs in his home, and a prior burglary conviction. The court will determine his sentence on 27 March.
Barry Nolan, 40, was jailed for four months after he broke into Michael Maguire's house at 2.30am, punched him, and repeatedly threatened to kill him. Nolan had earlier visited the house that evening and was denied entry. He punched Maguire in the face, neck and head, kicked him in the ribs and head, and shouted "I am going to kill you." Maguire, who was injured and feared for his life, called 999 and later reported the assault. Nolan pleaded guilty to burglary, making threats to kill or cause serious harm and assault causing harm. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to two and a half years, suspending all but four months on strict conditions. Nolan has a history of alcohol misuse and has since sought psychotherapy. He paid €3,500 to help repair Maguire's front door. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Gerry Connors, 28, was jailed for four years after a burglary in Killiney, Dublin, where he stole a safe containing €190,000 worth of jewellery and €10,000 in various currencies. He had entered the house by jumping a garden wall, smashed a window, and discovered the safe. Connors claimed he thought the jewellery was scrap and exchanged it for €500 worth of heroin. Gardaí found CCTV footage linking him to the getaway van and blood stains at the scene. He had previously committed a burglary in Shankill, stealing car keys and items worth €2,000, and had 115 prior convictions, including 90 for traffic offences and 12 for burglary. He pleaded guilty to the Killiney and Shankill burglaries in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The judge noted the extensive damage and the lack of appreciation for the value of the stolen items. The case highlighted Connors' ongoing drug habit and the role of his associates in the burglary.
A man with a 43-conviction record has been sentenced to three years in prison at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following guilty pleas to six counts of burglary. Dermot Carter, aged 46, of O'Rourke Park, Sallynoggin, Dublin, targeted three businesses in Dun Laoghaire on 16 April 2012 and two residential properties and a sports facility in Sandycove and Glenageary on 15 July 2014. During one incident, Carter stole a trilby hat from a home he entered while occupants were present, then wore it whilst attempting further break-ins nearby. The distinctive headwear proved instrumental in his identification through CCTV footage and photographic evidence. He was also linked to the scene via blood samples matching his DNA. The court heard Carter was on methadone maintenance at the time. Judge Martin Nolan described him as "an ineffective burglar, but a burglar nonetheless" and imposed consecutive sentences of 15 months for the 2012 offences and 21 months for those in 2014.
Sean Brady, 34, of Clonliffe Road, Drumcondra, was sentenced at Swords District Court for the burglary of Kinsealy Pet Store in North Dublin on October 24, 2013. Brady pleaded guilty to the offence, which resulted in over €600 worth of birds dying due to shock and cold. Garda Killian Layden testified that the store owner, Aidan O'Connor, discovered an intruder in the aviary area around 10:30 pm and saw a male fleeing toward a red BMW. O'Connor struck the vehicle with a hatchet, causing him to jump out of the way. Brady was arrested after his blood was found at the scene. Defence counsel Patrick Jackson noted that Brady has ten previous convictions and a drug habit, and that he had recently had a one-year portion of a three-year suspended sentence re-activated at Trim Circuit Court for unlawful possession of drugs for sale or supply. Judge Denis McLoughlin stated that committing an offence under a suspended sentence carries consequences. Consequently, Brady was sentenced to three months in prison, to run consecutively to the sentence he is currently serving. The judge also fixed recognisance in the event of an appeal.
Andrew Larkin, aged 31 of Phibsboro Road, Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to burglary committed on 23 April 2013. Garda evidence indicated that Larkin and another man forced entry to Charlestown Shopping Centre on Cardiffsbridge Road, Finglas, at 1am and broke into the Romeo and Juliet hair salon. They attempted to access cash registers, retrieving only €30, before taking approximately €1,000 worth of hair care products and equipment in black bin bags. The stolen goods were recovered during a subsequent garda search of Larkin's home at Dunsink Drive, Finglas. When presented with CCTV footage, Larkin admitted his involvement. He has two prior convictions for burglary. Judge James O'Donohoe imposed a one-year jail sentence, suspended for two years, conditional on Larkin engaging in drug counselling.
Martin Reilly, 27, of Father Matthew Court, Tipperary Town, was convicted of burglary at a private home on Cashel Road, Clonmel, on 27 June 2011. He was found guilty by a jury at Clonmel Circuit Criminal Court and originally sentenced to eight years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended. In the Court of Appeal, Reilly's conviction was upheld but his sentence was reduced by two years. The Court, led by Mr Justice George Birmingham, noted that the victim was a restaurateur who discovered his house "upended" and his life savings of €35,000 had been taken. Gardaí recovered the money after Reilly fled, dropping the bag into nettles. The Court considered Reilly's prior convictions and, after reviewing the case, imposed a new sentence of six years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended. The appeal was heard by Mr Justice Birmingham, Mr Justice Seán Ryan and Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan. Martin Reilly pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 28 January 2015, Jason Kirwan, aged 28, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for his role in a burglary at Buttercup Park, Darndale, on 3 October 2011. Garda Kevin Hinde presented evidence that Kirwan was linked to the break‑in through blood drops found on the stairs, after four men had smashed a door to gain entry. The men had previously threatened a doorman who had asked people to leave a pub, claiming they knew where he lived. The burglary involved the theft of military uniforms belonging to Corporal Michael O'Shea. Kirwan's 80 prior convictions included 72 road‑traffic offences, one robbery and a drug‑dealing conviction. The judge noted the burglars appeared to be seeking vengeance against the doorman, who was believed to be living at the former residence. The court imposed a three‑year sentence, reflecting the seriousness of the offence and Kirwan's extensive criminal record. Jason Kirwan pleaded guilty.
The jury has begun deliberating in the trial of Lateef Bello, a 42‑year‑old Dublin man from Clonee, who has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to attempted murder of Adejoke Opesusi, burglary, criminal damage, endangerment and assault causing harm. The prosecution, represented by Paul O'Higgins SC, presented evidence that Bello, a former taxi driver, believed his wife was having an affair and that he was hearing voices and experiencing religious delusions. He allegedly broke into Mr. Oroleye's house, smashed property, drove his car at Mr. Carrick, and then approached Mrs. Opesusi at Littleplace Close, stabbing and choking her. The defence, led by Michael Bowman SC, described Bello's behaviour on 19 February 2012 as terrifying and mentally unwell, citing a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia and a two‑month stay at Central Medical Hospital. Mr. Justice Paul McDermott instructed the jury of seven men and five women to return a unanimous decision.
A 22‑year‑old Meath man, Graham McGuinness, was sentenced to four years in prison for driving a stolen car into a crowded viewing area at Dublin Airport. He pleaded guilty to unlawful use of a car and a second charge of dangerous driving. McGuinness, who had been disqualified from driving for ten years, drove recklessly up an embankment, jumped out of the moving car, and caused a large crowd of plane‑spotters to scatter. The judge, Martin Nolan, noted that McGuinness had "put the fear of God" into bystanders and suspended the final year of the sentence, citing his youth and potential for rehabilitation. McGuinness had 41 prior convictions, including criminal damage, theft, burglary, drug offences and threats to kill, and had struggled with alcohol and drugs. The court heard he had been in care from age 12 to 17 and had a very difficult, unsettled life with little stability.
A 17‑year‑old Dublin teenager was sentenced to three years' detention, with the final two years suspended, after a judge described the custodial sentence as a last resort to protect society. The judge said the boy "has little or no regard for other people's lives" and that he must learn the hard way if he does not change. He pleaded guilty to burglary on 10 November 2013 and to robbery of Frank Locke and Gerard Watkins on 2 February 2014, including the seizure of a Skoda Octavia and a Nissan Primera by force. The court noted that the teenager was on bail when the robberies occurred and that a probation report raised doubts about his ability to stop committing crime. Gardaí found cash, a yellow torch, a silver watch and a knuckle duster on him at his arrest. The boy's parents, who have no criminal record, were described as embarrassed and ashamed by his actions.
Stephen Kelly, 20, of Crumlin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to consecutive terms totalling seven years. He pleaded guilty to violent disorder at St Patrick's Institution on March 18, 2013, possession of a rifle on March 25, 2014, and burglary on March 12, 2014. The court heard that Kelly and three other inmates caused €33,000 in damage during an incident described as a "mini riot," during which prison officers were attacked. In the burglary, a house was ransacked, and items including a laptop, wedding ring, watches, a necklace, a silver pen, and a camera were stolen; these were later recovered from a BMW in which Kelly was a passenger. Regarding the rifle, Garda Enda Daly testified that Kelly held the weapon in a threatening manner, though examination later found it was not capable of firing. Judge Martin Nolan noted the gardaí had reason to believe their lives were in danger. The judge accepted there was "some hope" for Kelly's rehabilitation, noting his recent employment in prison laundry and course completion. The other three inmates involved in the violent disorder were previously sentenced by Judge Patricia Ryan; two brothers received four-year sentences with the final two years suspended, while the fourth man received a four-year sentence with two and a half years suspended.
In a Swords District Court hearing, two men, Sean Brady (34) and Damien Byrne (45), pleaded guilty to burglary at Kinsealy Pet Store on 24 October 2013. Brady also pleaded guilty to careless driving. Garda evidence showed the owner, Aidan O'Connor, discovered an intruder around 10.30 pm, and the store's doors were left open, causing €660 worth of birds to die from cold exposure. Blood at the scene matched Brady's DNA. O'Connor saw a male fleeing the aviary toward a red BMW, struck the vehicle with a hatchet, and had to jump out of the way. Garda Kevin Farrell noted the BMW, driven by Byrne, was stopped at Artane Roundabout. Brady, with ten prior convictions, will have his case sent back to Trim Circuit Court for a Section 99 re‑entry on 3 February next year.
Paul McGee, 21, was placed on a 12-month Probation Bond at Balbriggan District Court after pleading guilty to causing criminal damage and breaching a protection order. The charges relate to an incident on July 22nd at Selskar Avenue, Skerries, where Garda Anthony O'Connor alleged McGee kicked in a door and used threatening behaviour. Judge Dermot Dempsey ordered McGee to comply with Probation Services requirements. In a separate matter, Derek Gildea, 51, is charged with the unlawful possession of a combat knife allegedly found at Balbriggan Garda Station on October 24th. His case was adjourned to January 15th for a hearing. Additionally, Thomas Weldon, 32, is alleged to have committed burglary and assault causing harm in Brega on June 14, 2014. His case was adjourned to February 9th at Swords District Court. Finally, Daniel Michalow, 28, is alleged to have breached a protection order in Rush on December 7th by assaulting a woman. Sergeant Tony Tighe requested an adjournment to seek directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions regarding potential further charges. Judge Dempsey adjourned Michalow's case until February 26th.
Gillian O'Donnell, 38, received a four‑year suspended sentence for aggravated burglary at an Artane house on 19 April 2013. She pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and admitted she was driven to the home by a third person who suggested the burglary would repay a debt. O'Donnell claimed she had no knowledge of the violence that would occur and that her ex‑boyfriend, Alex Harris, had 52 prior convictions and was later sentenced to six years for the same offence. The judge noted O'Donnell's drug addiction and her plans for residential treatment, accepted her lesser role, and suspended the sentence under strict conditions. O'Donnell expressed remorse, described duress and a lack of anticipation of Harris's actions, and stated she would not have participated had she known the extent of the violence.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Thomas Dillon, aged 34 and without a fixed address, was sentenced to two and a half years' imprisonment for aggravated burglary and possession of a knife. On 6 February 2014, Dillon broke into St Canice's Church in Finglas, smashing a stained‑glass window and entering the parish office by kicking the door. He attempted to steal cash, a laptop and two bags of mobile phones that had been collected for the Jack & Jill Foundation. Garda Ronan Farrelly reported that Dillon was found at the foot of the altar armed with a knife, that lights were turned on and he was ordered to drop the weapon. The damage to the church, including the window repair, was estimated at €2,800. Dillon pleaded guilty to both offences and has been in residential treatment since September.
Simon Gentles, aged 29, pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary at a home in Sixmilebridge, Co Clare, on 7 January 2010. He was originally sentenced to four years imprisonment by Judge Carroll Moran at Ennis Circuit Criminal Court on 6 February 2012. On appeal, the Court of Appeal, following an application by the Director of Public Prosecutions, increased his sentence to ten years imprisonment, with the final four years suspended. Mr Justice Alan Mahon noted that Gentles forcefully burst into the home of Ms Fitzpatrick, wearing a balaclava and carrying a sawn‑off shotgun that was loaded. He threatened to shoot Ms Fitzpatrick's head and pointed the gun at her 15‑year‑old son. The judge highlighted the violent and threatening nature of the offence and the use of a loaded firearm, and considered Gentles' prior convictions and prison courses when determining the suspended portion. Gentles will serve the new sentence of ten years imprisonment, with the final four years suspended.
A Letterkenny chiropractor has had his sentence for burglary reduced on appeal. Kevin Ginty, aged 47, pleaded guilty to burgling the home of a woman with whom he had been in a relationship. He was initially sentenced to five years imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court in July 2013 for the offence committed in April 2010. The Court of Appeal has now reduced the sentence to two years, to run from the date of his conviction. The court found that insufficient weight had been given to Ginty's lack of previous convictions and his standing in the community. Whilst acknowledging the seriousness of the burglary, which involved an assault on the woman in her own home, the appellate court determined that a two-year custodial sentence was more proportionate for a first-time offender in cases of this nature.
In August 2013, Michael McDonald (44) broke into the parochial house of a priest on Cherry Orchard Avenue, Tallaght, stealing a Yankees baseball cap and a Lourdes‑branded purse containing €660. The intruder was caught by Gardaí hours after the burglary, still wearing the stolen cap and carrying the purse. McDonald pleaded guilty to burglary at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, where Judge Patricia Ryan adjourned sentencing to July of the following year and ordered him to keep the peace and participate in victim empathy programmes. McDonald, who has 27 prior convictions and was previously sentenced to three years for robbery and assault in 2002, admitted the theft and apologized to the priest. His defence counsel, Keith Spencer BL, highlighted McDonald's background in the Travelling community and his son's success as a professional footballer. The case remains at the sentencing stage.
The trial of Dean Evans, Edward McGrath, and Sharif Kelly for the alleged murder of Peter Butterly and related firearm offences continued at the Special Criminal Court. All three defendants, who are accused of killing the 35-year-old father of two in Gormanston, Co Meath, have pleaded not guilty. Evans and McGrath also face firearm charges on the same occasion. On the fortieth day of the trial, David Cullen, a former accused who turned State's witness, testified that he would have "lied through his teeth" if he had stood trial for murder. Cullen admitted to a history of dishonesty, including lying to gardai and committing thefts, but denied being prepared to commit perjury. He stated he would lie to avoid life imprisonment. The prosecution alleges Cullen was part of the murder plan before his cooperation. The court heard evidence regarding Cullen's credibility and past criminal conduct, including a faked burglary and theft of rings and a phone. The trial is ongoing, with no findings, sentences, or finalisations recorded at this stage.