Karl Murphy, 40, of Blanchardstown, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for witness intimidation. He pleaded guilty to intimidating Lyndsey Doyle on September 1, 2023, by sending threatening voice notes. Judge Orla Crowe described the messages as vile and menacing, noting Doyle's vulnerability as the principal witness in the trial of Keith Smithers and Peter White for the unlawful killing and robbery of Brian Hogan in Finglas. Murphy, who has 66 previous convictions and is currently serving a burglary sentence, received an 18-month jail term with the final six months suspended. His then-partner, Sinead White, 39, also pleaded guilty to witness intimidation and was jailed for 21 months in November 2024 by Judge Martin Nolan. In the underlying trial, Smithers, 41, pleaded not guilty but was convicted of both charges and sentenced to nine years last June. Peter White, 40, also pleaded not guilty; he was acquitted of the unlawful killing but convicted of robbery and jailed for four and a half years. The court acknowledged Murphy's remorse and progress in custody, including reduced methadone intake, while emphasizing the seriousness of interfering with justice.
A man from Castlefinn, County Donegal has been sentenced to six and a half years imprisonment by the Central Criminal Court following his conviction for rape. Kevin McGovern, aged 28, was found guilty by jury of one count of rape committed on 21 August 2021. Two further charges, comprising sexual assault and burglary, resulted in a nolle prosequi after the jury could not reach agreement on these matters. Ms Justice Melanie Greally imposed a seven-year sentence with the final six months suspended. She identified grave aggravating factors, including breach of trust, the violation occurring in the victim's own home and bed whilst she slept, and the profound impact on the injured party. The judge noted McGovern's lack of previous convictions. He was directed to accept Probation Services supervision for twelve months following release. His sentence was backdated to 18 November when he entered custody. An earlier trial at Carrick-on-Shannon had been discharged following a procedural issue.
Shop workers described the fear and trauma they experienced during the Dublin riots, with one of the perpetrators, Thomas Dannevig (21), pleading guilty to burglary. Victims from Footlocker and Lifestyle Sports stores recounted the panic and lasting psychological effects of the riots, including nightmares and anxiety. Dannevig was identified through CCTV footage and admitted to taking items from the shops, though he claimed he was not involved in the riots themselves. The court heard that Dannevig acted alone but was part of a larger group. He expressed remorse and apologized for his actions, acknowledging the impact on the shop workers. The judge noted Dannevig's youth and prosocial background, and recommended a probation report to assess his suitability for community service. Dannevig is willing to carry out community service and has offered to increase his contribution if given more time.
The Court of Appeal has ruled that the combined sentences of 35 years imposed on a notorious rapist were justified, as the offences are at 'the highest level of gravity.' Michael Murray, who was found guilty in 2021 of making death threats against his lawyers and harassing his victim, had appealed the severity of his 16-year sentence. The court dismissed the appeal, stating that there were no mitigating factors and that the sentences were justified given Murray's re-victimisation of his rape victim, the attack on the lawyers involved, and his 'appalling criminal record.' Murray, who has 34 previous convictions, including those for common assault, carrying firearms, robbery, and aggravated burglary, was sentenced to nine years for the threat to one lawyer and seven years for the threat to another. The judge ordered that these sentences be served consecutively to each other, for an effective operative sentence of 16 years. The court emphasized that the sentences were necessary to ensure that the punishment was 'condign but proportionate' and that the totality principle was correctly applied. Michael Murray pleaded not guilty.
A man has been jailed for eight years for his role in an aggravated burglary during which a woman was attacked with a wrench in the bedroom of her home. William Doyle (24) of Knocknarea Road, Drimnagh, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to aggravated burglary on November 20, 2021. His co-accused, who was responsible for the attack on the woman and a second attack on her husband, has previously been jailed for 12 years. Doyle was 19 years old at the time of the burglary and had initially denied the offences and elected for trial. He fled to the UK and was arrested and extradited back to Ireland in July this year. Garda Stephen Daly told the court that the woman woke to an intruder in her bedroom just before midnight. She was attacked with a wrench, requiring stitches to her face and head. Her husband was also attacked with the wrench. The burglars escaped before gardaí could catch them. Doyle was ultimately nominated as a suspect and was arrested in April 2021.
A former couple who carried out a 'prolonged' three-hour attack on a grandmother, who lost an eye after being struck several times with a hammer and tied up in a bin bag, have had their convictions upheld by the Court of Appeal. Gerard Stokes (44) and Samantha Campbell (36) were convicted of seriously assaulting the woman, falsely imprisoning her, and committing an aggravated burglary. The attack, which occurred at Stokes' home in December 2018, involved Stokes repeatedly hitting the victim with a hammer and threatening to kill her. The woman was tied in a bin bag and subjected to severe injuries, including the loss of her eye. Stokes received a 13-and-a-half-year sentence, with two years suspended, while Campbell received a 12-year term, also with two years suspended. The pair appealed their convictions, arguing that the victim's statement to gardaí should not have been admitted as she was 'in and out of consciousness' at the time. However, the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal, stating that the statement was made voluntarily and was reliable.
An arsonist who had his manslaughter conviction quashed by the Court of Appeal has been re-sentenced to six years in prison. Dean Boland (37) was originally jailed for eight years in March 2023 after being convicted of the unlawful killing of Ohari Viera in August 2018. Boland had broken into a Dublin residential property, stole a rucksack, and set fire to the building. Mr Viera, who was living upstairs with two others, managed to evacuate safely, but he later returned to the property for an unknown reason and did not return. The fire engulfed the building, and Mr Viera died from cardiac arrest due to smoke inhalation. The Court of Appeal quashed Boland's manslaughter conviction, stating that Mr Viera's return to the fire broke the chain of causation. The case was returned for sentencing on the counts of arson and burglary. Judge Elma Sheahan imposed a six-year sentence on Boland for arson, backdating it to December 2022. She noted Boland's 32 previous convictions and the serious nature of the offence.
A 19-year-old man who participated in the Dublin riots two years ago, throwing glass bottles and burgling a Footlocker and Spar, has received a suspended sentence. The teenager pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including burglary, theft, and rioting. The riots were sparked by a stabbing incident that injured a child and a crèche worker. The Spar shop owner reported significant losses, including €17,150 in stolen goods and €9,000 in repair costs. The teenager was identified through CCTV footage and arrested in November 2024. He admitted to throwing an object at gardaí and expressed remorse, stating he is now working as an apprentice roofer and participating in boxing. His defense highlighted his cooperation, lack of prior convictions, and progress since the incident. The judge imposed a two-and-a-half-year suspended sentence with conditions, emphasizing the need for rehabilitation.
A burglar who entered a hotel with a suitcase pretending to be a guest, stole alcohol, and ordered breakfast before charging it to a room has been jailed for three years. Enda Murray (44) of Bellavista Mews, Deansgrange Road, Blackrock, Co Dublin, entered the Royal Marine Hotel in Dun Laoghaire on February 3, 2025, and stole €365 worth of alcohol. Murray, who admitted to committing four burglaries in the Deansgrange and Dun Laoghaire areas between December 2024 and April 2025, has 56 previous convictions, including 14 for burglary. Detective Garda Andrew Diamond detailed how Murray broke into Kelly's Beauty in Deansgrange on April 20, 2025, and was identified through CCTV footage. Murray was removed from the premises by the occupant and admitted to breaking in to charge an electric scooter. He was detained but deemed unfit for interview due to intoxication. Murray also entered a pub by placing a wheelie bin beside the wall, stole alcohol, and smashed some bottles. At Caribou bar, he stole an iPhone valued at €1,000. Enda Murray pleaded guilty.
A burglar's jail time was halved after his sentence for criminal damage at a Lidl store was replaced with a suspended term on appeal. Thomas Carlyle (50), of no fixed abode in Dublin 2, was convicted of burglary at 'Saint Street Sneakers' and damaging a coin drawer at the Lidl store. He was initially sentenced to four months in prison for both incidents. Carlyle appealed against the severity of his sentence, citing personal circumstances, including drug use. Sergeant Stephen Walsh provided evidence that Carlyle was in possession of a screwdriver and that blood-stained sneakers were found at the scene. Carlyle has 17 previous convictions. Defence counsel Lydia Daly BL argued that Carlyle has stable accommodation arranged for his release and is an enhanced prisoner with a good work ethic. Judge Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin affirmed the four-month sentence for the burglary but suspended the sentence for the criminal damage incident for one year, under conditions of good behaviour and engagement with the probation service.
George Hackett, a 39-year-old man with over 200 previous convictions, had his six-year jail sentence reduced to four years and six months on appeal. Hackett was found guilty of burglary and two attempted theft charges after breaking into a house and stealing a Revolut card. During the burglary, he threatened to use a knife when restrained by a neighbor. The Court of Appeal noted that the original sentence was too harsh and that Hackett's rehabilitation efforts should have been considered. The court acknowledged the aggravating factors, including the burglary at a dwelling and the threat of violence, but also recognized Hackett's willingness to engage in rehabilitation. The new sentence includes six months suspended, and Hackett is encouraged to seek help to break the cycle of criminality.
A man who repeatedly stabbed his friend without any clear reason has been sentenced to three years in prison. Gerard Baird (39) of Kilbarron Road, Coolock, Dublin 5, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm on October 31, 2021, at an address in Beaumont, Dublin. The incident occurred during a social gathering where both men had consumed alcohol. Baird was leaving the victim's home with a bike and a can of alcohol when the victim noticed he had a knife. Baird called the victim a "rat" and stabbed him multiple times in the stomach, chest, and neck. The victim was seriously injured and required surgery but has since made a full recovery. Baird remained at the scene and called emergency services using the victim's phone. He later told gardai that the victim was stabbed after answering the door. Baird has a long history of criminal convictions, including burglary, assault, and public order offences. The court heard that he has serious alcohol issues and was homeless at the time of the incident.
The Court of Appeal has heard submissions in an appeal by Gerard Stokes and Samantha Campbell, who were convicted of seriously assaulting a woman, falsely imprisoning her, assaulting her friend, and aggravated burglary. The matter was adjourned as the court reserved judgment. Stokes, 44, received a 13-and-a-half-year sentence with two years suspended, while Campbell, 36, received a 12-year term with two years suspended. The victim, a grandmother in her 50s, lost an eye in the attack and now uses a prosthesis. Defence counsel Roderick O'Hanlon SC argued that the victim's hospital statement should not have gone before the jury because she was "in and out of consciousness" and "virtually asleep" during the reading back. He contended that medical evidence confirming her fitness to testify was absent, and that morphine may have still been administered. Counsel for the State, Timothy O'Leary SC, countered that a substantial voir dire took place and the circumstances were serious. The appeal centres on the admissibility of the statement, with the court hearing that the victim later sought to withdraw it due to memory loss. The procedural stage is an appeal, and the finalisation is an adjournment.
Aaron Waddington, 36, of Louglinstown Park, Loughlinstown, Co Dublin, was sentenced to three years in prison at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to the burglary of a 94-year-old man's home on March 14 last. Judge Martin Nolan reduced a headline sentence of five years to three years, taking into account Waddington's guilty plea and mitigating factors, including his immediate departure when confronted by the victim. The sentence was backdated to March of this year, when Waddington first went into custody. The court heard that Waddington entered the property by smashing a window with a brick, cutting his leg and leaving a blood trail that linked him to the crime. He stole two watches before being stopped nearby. The victim, who struck the intruder with a shoehorn, described Waddington as "docile." A victim impact statement noted the elderly man's ongoing distress and anxiety. Waddington has a history of offending, including drugs, road traffic offences, criminal damage, and theft. His defence counsel highlighted his drug addiction and remorse, noting he is a father of three.
Adeleke Adelani, 27, of Riverside View, Lower Main Street, Letterkenny, Co Donegal, has been sentenced to a consecutive 21-month prison term for laundering €100,397 in criminal cash in November 2019 and in January 2020, and for laundering the proceeds of crime on dates between October 2018 and February 2021. Adelani pleaded guilty to these charges. The court heard that €124,000 passed through his bank accounts, with only €3,500 accounted for, primarily from social welfare payments. The State's case is that Adelani was not involved in setting up the invoice redirection scams but was a recruiter for money mule bank accounts to facilitate the thefts. The court heard that the money ended up in the bank account of a 41-year-old Dublin woman who received a suspended prison sentence in March 2022. Adelani admitted to withdrawing cash and purchasing high-value items. Gardai found 50 images of other people's bank accounts on his phone. Adelani has previous convictions for assault, false imprisonment, burglary, and production of an article. He is currently serving a partially suspended seven-year sentence with a release date in November 2029. The judge stated that Adelani was 'up to his neck in money laundering' and that he was procuring bank accounts for substantial rewards. The 21-month sentence will run consecutive to his existing sentence.
Mark Duffy, aged 44, was convicted of burglary under section 12(1b)(3) of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001 and of trespassing, possession of stolen property and possession of certain articles. He was sentenced to nine months imprisonment for burglary and six months consecutive for trespassing, with the final three months suspended, for a total of 12 months in custody. Duffy appealed against the severity of the sentence. Judge Deirdre Browne, hearing the appeal, noted that Duffy had "been around the block" and was "well aware of what he was doing". She affirmed the original sentence, stating that the District Court had "considered matters very thoroughly" and that the order was "carefully thought through and structured". The appeal was dismissed and the original 12‑month custodial sentence was upheld. Mark Duffy pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 7 November 2025, Eugene Tolan, aged 47, pleaded guilty to three burglaries committed on 10 October 2024 and 15 December 2024. He admitted stealing a laptop that contained a draft thesis, preventing the victim from completing her master's degree. Tolan, who has 23 prior burglary convictions, claimed he had a baby on the way and needed a pram. Judge Martin Nolan, noting Tolan's remorse and that he fled when encountering a resident, sentenced him to a cumulative term of three and a half years, backdated to his custody entry. The judge highlighted the victim's loss of peace of mind and the significant trauma caused by the loss of her thesis. No further sentences or appeals were mentioned in the article.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a victim was forced to sell his Audi S8 after a criminal, Stuart Tighe, attempted to hijack the car twice within five days. The first attempt occurred outside the victim's workplace on 29 January 2024, when Tighe and a companion tried to steal the vehicle but were thwarted. The second, more violent, attack took place on 3 February 2024, when Tighe entered the victim's home with a meat cleaver, causing the victim to lose part of his ear and sustain other injuries. Tighe pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary, assault causing harm, and attempted theft. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a headline sentence of 12 years, reduced to nine years with a one‑year suspension, citing the victim's impact statement and the evidence presented. The case highlighted the severity of the assaults and the court's focus on rehabilitation.
Megan Coleman, aged 20, pleaded guilty to burglary of Footlocker on O'Connell Street on 23 November 2023, with a second burglary charge of the Asics store considered. Garda Brian Kenny presented evidence that a public appeal for information on 99 persons of interest was part of the Dublin Riots investigation, and that Coleman was named by a member of the public and later formally identified by Gardaí. CCTV footage showed her entering Footlocker three times and Asics once, but did not capture any protest or criminal damage. The court was informed that Footlocker suffered €435,201 in losses and Asics €135,367. Coleman admitted taking items, apologised, and had no prior convictions. Judge Martin Nolan imposed an 18‑month fully suspended sentence, placed her under Probation Services supervision for one year, and noted her youth and lack of previous convictions.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Noel Smullen, 58, of Silverdale, Clara, Co. Offaly, was sentenced to six and a half years' imprisonment for the unlawful importation of 40 kilos of cocaine, worth €2.8 million, hidden beneath a legitimate cargo of Lego toys. Smullen's role was described as lower than that of co‑accused Killian McNay, 40, who received a seven‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence earlier that month. Smullen pleaded guilty to the offence, which occurred at Dublin Port on 22 September 2024, after customs officers detected a concealed metal compartment in his lorry's trailer. He had nine prior convictions, including burglary and possession of stolen property. The judge, Martina Baxter, noted his cooperation, early guilty plea and lack of drug‑dealing convictions, and suspended the last 18 months of his sentence for two years on the condition of good behaviour and engagement with the Probation Service.
In October 2025, Eric Norton, a 32‑year‑old drug dealer who advertised cocaine and tablets on Snapchat, was sentenced to five and a half years in prison. He pleaded guilty to three counts of possessing drugs for sale or supply and two counts of possession of drugs at addresses in Dublin in October 2020 and March 2021, and to one count of burglary at a Tesco store in Adamstown on 26 March 2023. Norton had 101 previous convictions. An undercover Garda rang him after seeing his Snapchat ad, and the Garda bought drugs from him on three occasions. In February 2021, Gardaí discovered a basement flat leased by Norton containing Diazepam tablets, cannabis, ketamine and documents linked to him. In March 2023, Norton and three men disguised as workmen entered a Tesco store during a fire test, accessed the store through an open shutter, and stole €89,000 worth of mobile phones, razors and cigarettes.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 41‑year‑old serial burglar, Thomas Redmond, received a five‑year prison sentence for breaking into a house in Clonskeagh, Dublin 14, where a mother and her infant were present. Redmond, who had previously lived in Ard Donagh, Ennistymon, Co Clare, had been on bail for a 2022 trespass offence in Stillorgan, Co Dublin, when he committed the 2024 burglary. He admitted that his typical method involved cycling around estates, checking for unoccupied houses, and then entering to steal and leave. When he realised occupants were present, he fled. The victim, a mother asleep with her baby, heard a loud doorbell and noise, saw Redmond running up the stairs, and pursued him to protect her child. She later described the psychological impact of the intrusion. Judge Martin Nolan accepted that Redmond's intent was to target empty houses and, upon discovering people inside, he attempted to escape. Thomas Redmond pleaded guilty.
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court sentenced Michael Tuite and Patrick Morgan for their roles in the burglary of six commercial units at Premier Business Park, Ballycoolin, and a subsequent high-speed chase. Both men entered signed guilty pleas to six counts of burglary and possession of an implement with intent. Tuite additionally pleaded guilty to endangerment, unauthorised taking of a vehicle, and unlawful escape from custody, while Morgan pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and allowing himself to be carried in a vehicle without consent. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Tuite to six years' imprisonment and disqualified him from driving for six years. The judge noted Morgan was less culpable and imposed a five-year sentence. Both defendants were directed to receive credit for time spent in custody. The court heard that Tuite escaped custody by climbing a wall at Blanchardstown District Court, dropping 15ft, before being apprehended nearby. Morgan's detention was suspended due to his level of intoxication. The judge described Tuite's driving as "pretty disgraceful" and noted both men were aggressive during arrest. Mitigation included their guilty pleas, expressions of remorse, and efforts to address addiction issues.
Thomas Carlyle, 49, who is already serving a 12‑month sentence for burglary, was given a one‑month prison term that runs concurrently with his existing sentence after pleading guilty to stealing a €5.58 Buzzball can from a Spar store in Stillorgan on 27 September 2024. The offence was committed in breach of Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 2001. Carlyle repeatedly interrupted the hearing at Dún Laoghaire District Court, prompting Judge Anne Watkin to ignore his rudeness and contempt, pause the case until he calmed down, and later hear his plea. Defence counsel Michael O'Brien highlighted Carlyle's long‑standing addiction struggles, recent bereavement, and lack of convictions between 1998 and 2021, noting his improved behaviour in custody. The judge noted the low value of the stolen item but imposed the one‑month sentence, to run concurrently with the existing term.
The Criminal Assets Bureau seized a range of items from Jamie Geoghegan, a 29‑year‑old former footballer who was jailed for six‑and‑a‑half years for a 2023 assault involving dragging a victim into a Jeep, driving him to a caravan, tying him up, beating and stabbing him. At sentencing Geoghegan pleaded guilty to assault and false imprisonment and had 75 prior convictions, including theft, burglary, firearms and drug offences. He had represented Ireland at under‑age level and at the Homeless World Cup. In a High Court hearing on 15 October 2025, Geoghegan did not contest the CAB's application to seize assets deemed proceeds of crime. The court was told the CAB had identified 23 items – €4,000 cash, £2,000 cash, a VW Golf, a Skoda Superb, a modular home and a watch – seized from his Dublin home and another location.
Dan Moorehouse, 26, of Richmond Park, Monkstown, Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to two counts of assault causing harm and one count of burglary at an address on Monkstown Road, south Dublin. The court heard that Moorehouse, who has 60 previous convictions, allegedly broke into the home and attacked two sisters who confronted him. Prosecution evidence stated he punched one woman in the face, bursting her lip and cutting her cheekbone, and struck the other in the nose. Judge Martin Nolan described the incident as a traumatic ordeal, noting that Moorehouse allegedly burgled the house to fund a drug habit. While acknowledging the defendant's difficult background and mental health issues, the Judge stated that Moorehouse knew right from wrong. Moorehouse was sentenced to a six-year custodial term. The Judge suspended the final 18 months of this sentence, resulting in an effective custody period of four and a half years. The matter was finalised at the sentencing stage.
Thomas Thompson, aged 59, was given a suspended two‑year sentence for burglary after entering a Dollymount house through an unlocked back door. He had rung the bell and asked to speak to the homeowner, but the teenage son, who was in a back room, told him the woman was asleep. A scuffle ensued when the son tried to remove Thompson from the house. Thompson claimed he had a knife, but no weapon was found, and the victim believed none existed. The homeowner's mother later confronted Thompson, who called her a "rat." Thompson had previously been reported for disturbances near the home. He pleaded guilty to burglary on 19 May 2024, has 28 prior convictions, and the court noted his PTSD diagnosis from the 1970s Dublin bombings. Judge Martin Nolan suspended the sentence on the condition that Thompson stay at least one kilometre from the victim's home.
Brian Comiskey, aged 46, was first arrested in 2013 after robbing a Texaco service station in Shankill, Co Dublin, on Valentine's Day. The robbery was televised on RTE's Crimecall, and an anonymous tip led to his arrest, but insufficient evidence prevented charges. In 2021, an off‑duty detective spotted Comiskey entering the same service station armed with a hammer, wearing a face covering and latex gloves. He was taken to a Garda station before he could steal anything and claimed he had robbed the station in 2013. That confession was inadmissible. Comiskey pleaded guilty to one count of robbery at the Texaco station and one count of burglary at Centra on the same day, February 14, 2013. He had 45 prior convictions, including robbery, burglary, knife possession and public order offences. Sergeant Bernard Dunne described how Comiskey entered Centra, stole a screwdriver, left, then demanded €700 from a worker at the Texaco station, taking the money and leaving.
Thomas Fox, 22, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to a global custodial term of five and a half years after pleading guilty to multiple offences arising from the November 23, 2022 riots. Judge Martin Nolan set a headline sentence of eight years before reducing it to the final term. Fox admitted to committing a riot on Burgh Quay, violent disorder, burglary of Foot Locker on O'Connell Street, interfering with a bus mechanism on O'Connell Bridge, assaulting Sergeant Brendan Eddery causing him harm, and possession of cocaine for sale or supply in his Lord Edward Street hostel. The prosecution accepted the assault charge on the basis of joint enterprise. Fox was identified by two gardaí via CCTV and arrested in July 2024. During the hearing, Sergeant Eddery read a victim impact statement detailing his injuries and the psychological trauma caused by the live-streamed attack, which his family later viewed. The judge acknowledged Fox's sincere remorse and apology, noting his history of drug addiction and homelessness. Despite the significant damage caused by the riots, estimated at €10 million, the court imposed the custodial sentence, concluding with Judge Nolan wishing the sergeant luck.
Terry Maughan, 47, of Balbriggan, Dublin, had a seven‑month jail term for stealing nearly €9,000 of electrical cable and a six‑month concurrent sentence for burglary at Skerries Sailing Club overturned on appeal. The District Court Appeals Court replaced both sentences with a fully suspended sentence for 12 months, conditional on compliance with probation. Maughan was identified on CCTV stealing €8,982 worth of cable from an industrial estate in Santry and later admitted the theft, selling the cable for €535. He was also caught on CCTV removing a €300 barbecue from a concrete shed at the sailing club, which he returned. He has 133 prior convictions, including 15 thefts, and was described by Garda Jake Digney as "massively cooperative" and "deeply sorry.".
A 23‑year‑old e‑scooter rider, Jason Thornton, was convicted of a public order offence after shouting abuse at Garda Jack Hamilton during a criminal damage investigation on 15 June 2024 in south Dublin. Thornton, who was on an e‑scooter on a nearby walkway, raised his middle finger and shouted "F*** you, you red prick" while Hamilton was speaking to the injured party. Hamilton tried to issue a warning but Thornton accelerated away, and a crowd gathered. The court found that the incident, occurring while Gardaí were already dealing with a criminal damage case, met the threshold for a public order offence. Thornton pleaded not guilty, but Judge Anne Watkin convicted him. He has 38 prior convictions, including assault, criminal damage, misuse of drugs, burglary, robbery, theft and threats to kill, and his most recent conviction was under the Misuse of Drugs Act on 16 May 2025.
Gerard Wilson, 46, serving a two‑year sentence in Mountjoy Prison for burglary, knife possession and criminal damage, was further sentenced by Tallaght District Court after a relapse. On 25 March 2024, Gardaí found him intoxicated in another person's car in the car park of The Square Shopping Centre, Tallaght, where he admitted to being under the influence, threatening and abusive behaviour. Five days later, on 30 March 2024, he stole items from Dealz in Nutgrove Shopping Centre, Dublin 14; the goods were recovered only after his apprehension. Wilson, who holds a diploma in addictions studies from UCD, pleaded guilty to public order, road traffic and theft offences. Judge John O'Leary imposed a three‑month sentence for the traffic offence and a two‑month sentence for the public order matter, to run concurrently and take effect immediately. He also imposed a separate two‑month sentence for the theft at Dealz, to run consecutively to Wilson's current prison term.
Bradford Meehan, a 54-year-old serial offender with 116 previous convictions, had his five-month prison sentence suspended on appeal. Meehan was convicted in the District Court of burglary contrary to section 12(1b)(3) of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act, 2001, after allegedly causing €5,000 worth of damage to an apartment complex on Bonham Street, Dublin 8, in July. He was originally sentenced to five months consecutive to a 42-month sentence he is currently serving for a different matter. Meehan appealed against the severity of this sentence. Defence counsel Seosaimhín Ní Chathasaigh BL argued that Meehan's reoffending was driven by a chronic drug addiction and that he is now a model prisoner in Mountjoy Prison, free of illicit substances. Judge Christopher Callan acknowledged that seeking a suspended sentence was "a stretch" given Meehan was on release from prison when the alleged crime occurred and had succumbed to addiction again. However, the judge decided to suspend the five-month sentence for two years. The conditions require Meehan to keep the peace and come under the supervision of the probation service upon release. Additionally, the judge directed that Meehan remain on the enhanced privilege regime while in custody.
Mark Kavanagh, aged 48, was sentenced by Judge Orla Crowe to a global term of six years and nine months, with the final 18 months suspended on strict conditions. The sentence follows a high‑speed chase on 28 April 2024 in which Kavanagh attempted to ram a Garda patrol car, drove at speeds up to 120 km/h, and was later apprehended after the vehicle crashed. He pleaded guilty to endangerment, criminal damage, dangerous driving, driving without insurance, and failing to provide a blood or urine sample. Kavanagh also pleaded guilty to two counts of burglary and handling stolen property in 2024, including an intrusion into the home of an 85‑year‑old man on 10 June 2024, where a key was taken. He has 168 prior convictions, including burglary, trespass, firearms and drug offences, and is disqualified from driving until 2030.
Daniel Kelly, 36, of Tallaght, was sentenced to three years and nine months in prison for aggravated burglary after he forced his way into a Dublin home on 6 July 2024. He entered the house armed with a large kitchen knife, threatened to stab the homeowner, and demanded money. The victim, a woman with an autistic child, was terrified; the child was present and distressed. Kelly handed over €20 and a box of cigarettes before fleeing with his former partner, who had knocked on the door under the pretense of selling clothes. Kelly, who has 71 prior convictions, claimed he was under the influence of crack cocaine and heroin at the time. He pleaded guilty, and the judge noted his difficult childhood, guilty plea, and drug rehabilitation efforts as mitigating factors. The judge imposed a four‑year, six‑month sentence, suspending the final nine months under conditions. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Keith Macken, aged 44, was sentenced to nine years in prison for assaulting Lisa Lynch, a grandmother, with a wheel brace outside Dublin Airport. The attack left Lynch choking on her own blood, requiring emergency surgery to remove a ruptured spleen and resulting in serious injuries including a fractured rib, lacerated liver and spleen. Lynch suffered flashbacks and panic attacks, describing a changed relationship with men and a withdrawal from socialising. Macken had previously pleaded guilty to a burglary in Swords, for which he received an 18‑month sentence. The court imposed a total of 10½ years, nine years for the assault and 18 months for the burglary, to run consecutively. The case highlighted the severity of the assault and the impact on the victim's health and wellbeing. Keith Macken pleaded not guilty.
Mark McAnaw, aged 53 and previously of Letterkenny, County Donegal, has been sentenced to an additional ten months in custody following a breach of suspended sentence conditions at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. McAnaw pleaded guilty last month to harassing three female journalists in August 2023 and was handed an eleven-year sentence for those offences. He had been released from custody in July 2023 on the suspended portion of an earlier eight-year-four-month sentence for aggravated burglary, imposed in 2023. Judge Martin Nolan activated ten months of the sixteen-month suspended element, to run consecutively to the existing eleven-year sentence. The court heard McAnaw sent threatening emails and messages to the women and attended their workplace. He is currently detained in the Central Mental Hospital. A lifelong contact prohibition and exclusion order have been imposed.
A man from the Glenties area of Donegal has been sentenced to a total of 15.5 years in prison following his conviction at the Central Criminal Court for facilitating a gangland shooting in Dublin. Patrick Fitzgerald, aged 48, was convicted of participating in activities of a criminal organisation between November 2021 with intent to facilitate a serious offence. He provided getaway vehicles used in an attempted murder of Dublin criminal Gary Carey on 17 November 2021. Justice Eileen Creedon imposed a seven-year sentence to run consecutively with an existing 7.5-year sentence for aggravated burglary. The court heard Fitzgerald purchased two vehicles through an online platform and provided them as escape cars following the shooting at Ballyfermot Crescent. Mr Carey sustained gunshot wounds and subsequently relocated his family abroad. The judge noted the case involved a national and international drug smuggling gang and considered the profound impact on the victim's family. Fitzgerald has 72 previous convictions.
Patrick Fitzgerald (48), with an address in Glenties, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to facilitating a criminal organisation between November 11 and 18, 2021. The court heard that Fitzgerald, known as 'Mr Fishy', purchased and provided getaway vehicles used in an attempted murder of Dublin man Gary Carey on November 17, 2021. Carey was shot ten times and sustained gunshot wounds to his torso but survived. He subsequently died from injuries sustained in a second attack in August 2022. Fitzgerald was arrested in December 2021 and exercised his right to silence during interviews. The court heard he has 72 previous convictions. While on bail for an aggravated burglary charge, Fitzgerald was jailed for seven and a half years in February this year following a home invasion that terrorised a family including a six-year-old child. Sentencing was adjourned to July 7. Victim impact statements detailed the family's trauma and loss of safety following the shooting.
Stephen Wilson, a 49‑year‑old chronic offender with 95 prior convictions, appeared in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 23 May 2025. He had previously pleaded guilty to two attempted burglaries at commercial premises on Mount Street on 24 April 2020. During the hearing, Wilson refused to accept the bond and the 18‑month sentence imposed by Judge Orla Crowe, demanding a new trial date and a jury trial. The judge upheld the sentence of three years, with the final 18 months suspended for two years, and adjourned the imposition until 30 May. Wilson's case involved CCTV evidence of an attempted burglary using a plastic "glide" and a screwdriver with his DNA. The court noted his extensive criminal history, including burglary, possession of stolen property, and drug addiction, and placed him under probation supervision for one year after release. The sentence was back‑dated to the date he entered custody for the matter.
Zachary Purcell, 36, a serial burglar with over 200 convictions, was on bail when he entered the Christ Church Deanery in Dublin 8 on 23 July 2022 during a wedding hosted by Dean Dermot Dunne. He stole an iPad, jewellery worth €2,000, and a church credit card, which he used to purchase €50 of goods. Purcell was identified through CCTV and DNA on a water bottle. He had previously pleaded guilty to a burglary at the Morgan Hotel on 9 July 2022, two weeks earlier. The court noted Purcell's long history of drug addiction and his recent rehabilitation. Judge Orla Crowe sentenced him to four and a half years' imprisonment, suspending the final 12 months under conditions. The sentence reflects the two burglaries committed while he was on bail.
A 46‑year‑old serial offender, Stepan Pavlov, who had 93 prior convictions, had a 15‑month jail sentence for burglary in three separate incidents at Dublin restaurants replaced by a fully suspended term on appeal. The District Court had found him guilty of burglary under the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act, 2001, for stealing more than €1,000 from staff lockers at Murray's Bar on O'Connell Street on 14 July 2023, a wallet and laptop worth over €1,600 from Chequer Lane on 10 March 2023, and a purse worth €200 from a restaurant on Molesworth Street on 10 October 2023. The appeal court, hearing on 14 July 2023, granted a two‑year suspended sentence on the condition that Pavlov keep the peace, provide monthly urine analysis and stay out of the city centre without just cause. The decision was based on his rehabilitation efforts for drug addiction, as presented by his defence counsel.
Seán Keogh, 34, of Emmet Crescent, Inchicore, pleaded guilty to burglary at Morehampton Road, Donnybrook, on 26 December 2023. The break‑in, which took place at about 3 pm, involved the theft of a PlayStation 5, a laptop and a phone, with a total value exceeding €5,000. Keogh was charged under Section 12(1)(b) and (3) of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001. Garda Conor McCarthy testified that he was stopped shortly after the incident. Keogh has 88 prior convictions, including burglary, theft, criminal damage, public order offences, violent behaviour in a Garda station, and 31 road‑traffic offences. He had a five‑month suspended sentence for a July 2024 driving‑without‑insurance offence. Judge Anne Watkin imposed a six‑month custodial sentence, recognising €500 in the event of an appeal, bringing his total convictions to 89.
Patrick Lynch, 50, of Rosemount Glade, Dundrum, was sentenced to six months' imprisonment by Judge Anne Watkin at Dun Laoghaire District Court for a series of burglaries. He pleaded guilty to multiple counts of burglary, theft and trespassing. On 9 January 2024 he unlawfully entered the Rosemount Resource Centre at Waldermere Terrace, stole five Samsung tablets worth €5,500 and was prosecuted under Section 4 of the Theft and Fraud Offences Act 2001. The next night, 10 January, he returned, stole additional Samsung devices and €450 in cash. Gardaí later recovered five of the stolen tablets. While on bail, he committed further offences on 29 and 30 April, including entering a property through an open window and stealing a phone and a laptop worth about €1,000. Lynch has 134 prior convictions, including 11 for theft under the 2001 Act, and a history of drug addiction and mental health difficulties.
Conor Stewart, 29, of Kilcross Court, Sandyford, Dublin 18, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm and possession of a samurai sword after a €50 drug debt dispute. On 18 June 2020 at Kilcross Grove, Stewart left a van, armed with a samurai sword, and attacked a man who had been carrying an adjustable wrench. The victim sustained a cut to the back of the head and a larger wound to the side of the head, requiring stitches, and later fully recovered. Stewart's prior convictions include criminal damage and burglary. The court accepted his guilty plea as valuable, noting reconciliation between Stewart and the victim's brother, and sentenced him to four years' imprisonment. The judge highlighted the seriousness of the weapon used and the potential for future offending if Stewart does not change. The sentence reflects the court's view that Stewart's guilty plea and the circumstances warranted a custodial term of four years.
Jim Connors, 30, pleaded guilty in the District Court to assault a Circle K worker with a wine bottle on Christmas Eve, 2021. The assault, described by the judge as "terrifying," occurred after Connors tried to steal three bottles of wine at a Circle K on Enniskerry Road, Kilternan. He was arrested after fleeing the scene. The case also included other 2021‑22 charges: theft, a public‑order offence and failure to produce a driving licence, for which he received a four‑year disqualification. Connors has 55 prior convictions, including traffic offences, burglary, public‑order violations and theft. On appeal, Judge Catherine White increased the original custody sentence from three to six months but suspended the jail term for 12 months, conditional on Connors staying away from the Kilternan Circle K. The defence counsel, Lydia Daly BL, argued only the severity of the sentence was appealed.
James Lawlor, 44, with 168 prior convictions, stole €3,000 worth of items from the Mater Hospital Foundation a week after his release from prison. He pleaded guilty to burglary on 7 February 2024 and had served three years for a previous burglary. CCTV showed him entering the A&E department, registering as a patient, then later entering the foundation's building and leaving with two bags. The burglary caused €380 in damage and involved three laptops, an iPhone, three headsets and bags, totalling €3,736.50. Lawlor denied involvement but admitted to the CCTV footage. He was arrested on 11 February 2024 and has been in custody since. The court noted his long history of drug use and rehabilitation efforts. Judge Orla Crowe imposed a sentence of three years and nine months, suspending the final nine months for two years on strict conditions, and directed him to be supervised by Probation Services for 12 months after release.
A 40‑year‑old man, Philip Cox, was sentenced to five‑and‑a‑half years in prison for twice stabbing his partner of 18 years, Cristal O'Brien, with three knives. The judge noted that the first knife broke on a stairwell wall, yet Cox returned with another knife and threatened to finish her off. He also committed aggravated burglary by smashing Ms O'Brien's neighbour's front door, breaking a window and entering the dwelling. Cox had previously pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, aggravated burglary and the production of a knife. The judge imposed a consecutive sentence of three years and six months for the knife production and three years and three months for the assault and burglary, suspending the last 15 months. The custodial term is back‑dated to 2 June 2023, and Cox must not contact the two women or approach within 100 metres of their homes.
PJ Sweeney has lost his appeal against a 15-year prison sentence for his role in a violent attack on security workers at a repossessed farmhouse in Strokestown, Co Roscommon. In the Court of Appeal, Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, speaking for the three-judge court, dismissed the appeal, finding no error in principle in the original sentence imposed by Judge Martina Baxter. Sweeney, of High Cairn, Ramelton, Co Donegal, was convicted in June 2023 of 15 charges, including aggravated burglary, violent disorder, criminal damage, false imprisonment, assault, arson, and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. Defence counsel Michael Bowman SC argued the sentence was excessive and disproportionate, citing Sweeney's good character and lack of prior convictions, and requested a suspended element. However, the Appeal Court rejected these arguments, noting there was no evidence of insight, remorse, or apology from Sweeney. The court emphasized the brutal nature of the attack, which aimed to inflict fear and terror, and upheld the maximum penalty for several offences. Sweeney's co-accused, Martin O'Toole and Paul Beirne, had previously dismissed their legal teams ahead of their own appeals. The Appeal Court confirmed that the trial judge was entitled to impose a custodial sentence without suspension given the circumstances.
Levi McCarthy, 33, was sentenced to six and a half years in prison for a campaign of violence against his partner, Victoria Keogh, between July 2021 and July 2023. The court found him guilty of coercive control, assault causing harm, making threats to kill or cause serious harm, perverting the course of justice and robbery. McCarthy had previously been convicted of burglary of Keogh's parents' home and other offences, including a French conviction for threatening a former partner. During the period of coercive control, he repeatedly beat Keogh, threatened to knife her dead, and put a bullet in her head. He also sent intimidating letters to Keogh and her parents while on remand. The judge imposed a headline sentence of nine years, a four‑year term for coercive control, and a consecutive two‑and‑a‑half‑year term for assault, and ordered a 15‑year prohibition on contact with Keogh and her family.