In a Court of Appeal hearing on 9 May 2024, Justice Úna Ni Raifeartaigh quashed the original four‑year sentence given to Dean Dullaghan (25) for a 2020 machete attack on a 16‑year‑old in his home. The appellate judge set a headline sentence of ten years, then imposed a custodial term of eight and a half years with the final two and a half years suspended, meaning Dullaghan will serve six years in prison. The case involved a violent burglary at Castleross, Dundalk, where Dullaghan caused permanent damage to the victim's right hand. The State had objected that the initial eight‑year headline was too lenient, citing Dullaghan's age and the severity of the offence. The appeal concluded with Dullaghan entering a bond to keep the peace and engage with probation services. Dean Dullaghan was convicted.
Matthew Grogan, 26, of Applewood Village, Swords, was jailed for three years and nine months after pleading guilty to possession of stolen property, trespassing, criminal damage, driving without insurance and two counts of dangerous driving. The offences occurred between 22 and 23 September 2021 in County Louth and County Dublin. Grogan had stolen a taxi, reported it to the gardai, and then drove the vehicle at speeds up to 170 km/h, running red lights, weaving through lanes, passing a toll plaza and nearly colliding with an unmarked garda car. The pursuit involved armed gardai from the Armed Support Unit, Louth and Dublin. He was arrested in the Swords area, was intoxicated at the time of arrest, and later described the night as a "blur". Grogan has 64 prior convictions, including burglary and assault, and will be released in June 2026. The court noted his addiction issues and that he has two children.
Dwayne Stacey, 36, was sentenced to 32 months in prison for attempting to rob a cash‑in‑transit guard while riding an e‑scooter on Thomas Street, Dublin 8. On 18 November 2023, Stacey approached a Brinks van and threatened the guard, shouting, "Stop or I'll blow your fucking head off." The guard locked himself inside the van and triggered the panic alarm. Stacey struck the van with a hammer and was later found to have used a hammer that was seized from two addresses. CCTV confirmed his identity. The guard suffered no physical injuries and no victim impact statement was filed. Stacey has 17 prior convictions, including assault, robbery and burglary, and has been in custody since his arrest on 28 November. The judge noted his "terrible history" but also that no actual violence was used, and the sentence was back‑dated to the date he entered custody.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 7 May 2024, two men, Gavin Mangan (47) of Bracken Close, Balbriggan, and Owen Kelly (37) of Seville Place, Dublin 1, were sentenced for a burglary that took place on 20 August 2022. The pair entered an elderly man's home armed with an imitation firearm and a meat cleaver, demanding money and taking €850 in cash. The victim was described as profoundly affected and fearing for his life during the incident. Mangan, who has 93 prior convictions, was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment with the final six months suspended. Kelly, with 87 prior convictions, received a sentence of eight years, with the final year suspended under a number of conditions. Both men have long‑standing drug addictions and were in custody before sentencing. The court noted their difficult childhoods and the presence of CCTV footage of the robbery. The combined jail term for the two offenders totals fourteen‑and‑a‑half years. Gavin Mangan pleaded guilty. Owen Kelly pleaded guilty.
Shannon Haddock, 28, of Redgap, Rathcoole, was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to a 12‑month suspended term for assisting her partner in a burglary at a house in South Dublin. She pleaded guilty to assisting an offender and dangerous driving. The burglary occurred on 1 March 2023 when the co‑accused, previously jailed for 27 months for a burglary in Sallynoggin, drove a red Audi away from the scene, then switched places with Haddock. Both fled on foot, but Haddock was arrested shortly after. The court noted her lack of prior convictions, her efforts at rehabilitation, and her difficulties with addiction and mental health. She was disqualified from driving for two years and the suspended sentence will be enforced on strict conditions for two years. The judge highlighted her active participation and driving as aggravating factors, while recognising her mitigating circumstances.
James Maloney, 44, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and attempted theft at an 80‑year‑old woman's home in Santry on 1 February 2023. He has 38 prior convictions. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, presided by Judge Elma Sheahan, found the private dwelling and victim's age aggravating, but noted Maloney's guilty plea, duress to pay a drug debt, remorse and apology as mitigating. He was sentenced to four years for the attempted burglary and two years and four months for the assault, both to run concurrently. The judge suspended the final six months of the sentence for six months. Maloney had been homeless and a drug user at the time, had admitted the offence, expressed remorse, and was engaged in a methadone programme. The victim suffered head, arm and hand injuries and had to wait over 12 hours in A&E. The court heard a victim impact statement and a letter of apology from Maloney.
Lee Conlon, 44, with 89 prior convictions, was jailed for seven and a half years after pleading guilty to burglary and criminal damage at a Hugo Boss shop on Grafton Street on 18 January 2023 and to robbery, criminal damage, possession of false registration plates and using a car without the owner's consent in a post‑office robbery in Ballyfermot on 11 November 2023. In the shop incident, a car reversed into the front, causing €51,000 of damage, and Conlon stole clothing worth over €7,100. CCTV identified him and Gardaí found stolen items and evidence of attempts to sell them. In the post‑office robbery, he used a blue scaffolding pole to smash the security glass, stole over €21,800, and was the getaway driver. He was on bail for both offences at the time of each crime.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Michael, Thomas and Patrick Wall were charged with possession of stolen property after they were caught digging up almost €80,000 in coffee jars buried in a suburban field. Garda helicopter footage showed the brothers, identified as members of the "Wall Organised Crime Group", using shovels and a mini digger to excavate the cash. The court noted the brothers had approached local businesses to inquire about groundworks on the land and had claimed they were building horse fences. Michael Wall, aged 30, had no prior convictions and received a fully suspended sentence. Thomas Wall, aged 39, had served 12 months in custody and was given an 18‑month sentence, while Patrick Wall, aged 20, was adjourned to May for a probation report. The brothers were also charged with money laundering, but guilty pleas to possession of stolen property were accepted by the Director of Public Prosecutions.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, a jury could not reach a verdict on the attempted murder charge against Philip Cox, who allegedly broke two knives and stabbed his former partner, Cristal O'Brien, twice in the leg during an attack at her home on 1 December 2022. O'Brien described the assault as "terrifying," noting that Cox threatened to "kill her" and that she sustained two stab wounds. Witness Alice McGrath testified that Cox said he would "finish her off" and that he had no care about time in prison. Cox pleaded not guilty to attempted murder but guilty to assault causing harm, aggravated burglary and knife production. After 3 days of deliberation, the jury returned to court with no verdict, and the judge recorded a "Disagreement" on the issue paper. The case was scheduled for mention on 22 March.
Kamal Kumar Nepali, a 24‑year‑old Nepalese national from Beech Park, Ballincollig, was sentenced by Mr Justice Michael MacGrath in the Central Criminal Court to ten years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended on strict conditions. The sentence was back‑dated to his entry into custody on 17 June 2022. The judge described the offence as a "predatory" rape that occurred in the victim's bedroom in the dead of night, noting the victim's vulnerability and the physical violence involved. He highlighted aggravating factors such as the burglary context and the violation of the victim's home security, while noting mitigating factors including Nepali's lack of prior convictions and character references. The judge also ordered no contact between Nepali and the victim for an indefinite period. Nepali's counsel intends to appeal the decision. The case involved a rape, burglary, assault causing harm, sexual assault and four counts of trespass, all of which resulted in conviction on 7 December 2023.
At the appeal stage, Michael Murray, a convicted rapist and child abductor, was found guilty by a jury of making a bomb threat against the home of Minister for Justice Helen McEntee. Murray, who is serving a 19-year sentence in the Midlands Prison, had pleaded not guilty to one count of knowingly making a false report giving rise to an apprehension for the safety of someone else while he was imprisoned in the Midlands Prison, Portlaoise on March 7, 2021. The jury returned the verdict after deliberating for five hours and 10 minutes. Murray made no reaction as the verdict was handed down in court. Judge Patricia Ryan thanked the jurors for their service and adjourned the matter for sentencing next Friday. She remanded Murray in continuing custody. During the trial, it was established that the call to the Samaritans was traced back to Murray's cell, and his unique identification number was used. Murray had previously been jailed in 2013 for 15 years for falsely imprisoning, raping, and sexually assaulting a woman, with his sentence later increased to 19 years by the Court of Appeal. He has 34 previous convictions, including for common assault, carrying firearms, robbery, and aggravated burglary. Murray was excluded from his July 2021 sentence hearing and moved to another courtroom after he threw a bible, narrowly missing Judge Karen O'Connor. She described his actions as 'a fundamental attack on our system of justice.' The matter was adjourned for sentencing next Friday.
Philip Cox, 39, was tried for attempted murder after he stabbed his former partner, Cristal O'Brien, twice in the leg on 1 December 2022 at a York Street flat. He claimed he had no intention to hurt her and that the incident was a blur. O'Brien said Cox had threatened to stab her "to pieces", broke two knives, then retrieved a third, describing the attack as terrifying. A neighbour, Alice McGrath, testified that Cox said he would kill O'Brien and that he did not care if he went to prison. Cox pleaded not guilty to the attempted murder charge. He also faced separate charges of assault causing harm, aggravated burglary and producing a knife during a dispute, for which he had pleaded guilty. The trial was heard in the Central Criminal Court, with the jury hearing the evidence and the defendant's statements. The case is ongoing.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 4 March 2024, Philip Cox, 39, pleaded not guilty to a single count of attempted murder of his former partner, Cristal O'Brien, after an incident on 1 December 2022 at York Street Flats. The prosecution presented evidence that Cox had broken two knives during an argument with O'Brien, pursued her, and then broke a third knife to continue the attack. O'Brien fled to a neighbour's home, where Cox broke the neighbour's door, unbolted the lock, and threatened her again. She later hid behind a car and called Gardaí, who arrested Cox. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Paul McDermott, will focus on proving Cox's intent to kill and the physical acts of breaking and using the knives, with a potential duration of up to one week. The case also notes Cox's prior guilty pleas for assault causing harm, aggravated burglary, and knife production, which do not affect the attempted murder charge.
Darren Foster, 44, pleaded guilty to burglary and criminal damage after breaking into a warehouse in the Dublin Industrial Estate on the night of 9 July 2023. He used a forklift to lift security doors and caused extensive damage to the interior, including cutting telecom lines and damaging tools stored in a secure area. The warehouse, operated by St Micheal's House for the HSE, suffered about €4,400 in damage. Foster was found in a van near the site, covered by a blanket, and was arrested while on bail. He claimed he had no intention to steal but wanted to draw attention to an alleged debt. The court, noting his prior convictions and current sentence, imposed an additional 10‑month sentence consecutive to his existing term, extending his custody until July 2025. No victim impact statement was presented. The case highlighted Foster's addiction issues and his recent detox and volunteer work in custody.
A 27‑year‑old former rugby player, Buti Sashi, was sentenced by Judge Martin Nolan in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to four and a half years imprisonment, to run consecutively to his existing ten‑year sentence. The new sentence follows Sashi's guilty pleas to assault causing harm, two counts of aggravated burglary, robbery, false imprisonment and assault causing serious harm on two separate occasions in 2017. In one incident he stabbed a male sex worker seven times, stealing a mobile phone and €200, and in another he stabbed a female sex worker seven times, inflicting potentially life‑threatening wounds and a fractured eye socket. The court noted Sashi's pattern of contacting victims for sex before attacking them, and described the offences as "very serious crimes". The judge reduced the new term from an earlier proposed ten years, citing the totality principle.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 48‑year‑old man, Derek Bewley, was sentenced to eight and a half years in prison for two violent offences committed on the same day. Bewley, armed with a claw hammer, and his 36‑year‑old accomplice, Christine Ward, attacked a 79‑year‑old widower, stabbing him repeatedly and robbing him of €600, his phone, and his car. The widower, now 84, survived the assault and suffered significant physical and psychological harm, including multiple stab wounds, hearing loss, and PTSD. Bewley pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary, possession of a hammer, and theft of a wallet. Ward had previously been sentenced to five and a half years for aggravated burglary, with 18 months suspended. Bewley's sentence was reduced by two years to ten years, with 18 months suspended for three years, and he will be supervised by Probation Services for 18 months after release.
Kacper Koszarski, 23, faced a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing after a series of violent burglaries and high‑speed car chases. He pleaded guilty to 17 charges, including four counts of dangerous driving, four of trespass, one of endangerment, four of criminal damage, two of burglary, one of knife production and one of unauthorised vehicle taking. The court noted his 39 prior convictions, seven of them theft, and warned that a "sentence of some significance" would be imposed. Judge Elva Duffy adjourned the case to 22 March for a probation report, urine analysis and governor's report, remanding Koszarski in custody. The hearing covered incidents from a Maynooth burglary where a Renault Megane was taken and chased, to multiple garden trespasses in Dublin where knives were found. Koszarski's partner testified about their son with additional needs, and he expressed remorse and a desire for rehabilitation. The court considered his young age, addiction history and willingness to cooperate. The case remains pending.
A 36‑year‑old woman, Christine Ward, was sentenced to eight and a half years in prison for her role in a violent robbery of a 79‑year‑old widower in Artane on 2 November 2018. Ward, who had previously called the victim for money, entered his home with her former partner Derek Bewley, who wielded a claw hammer. The victim was stabbed repeatedly, had his hearing aid shattered, and was robbed of €600, his phone, and his car. Ward pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary and other counts, and the judge noted the offence was against a vulnerable elderly man. Ward's sentence of 10 years, with 18 months suspended, reflects the seriousness of the crime. Bewley, aged 48, is due to be sentenced later. The court also heard of a separate robbery of a visually impaired man on the same day, but Ward's sentence concerns the Artane incident.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 22 January 2024, Nepalese native Kamal Kumar Nepali, aged 24, was found guilty by a jury of rape, burglary, assault causing harm, sexual assault and four counts of trespass in Cork. The offences occurred on 1 March 2022 during student Rag Week celebrations. Nepali had burglarised four houses in an attempt to find an intoxicated woman to rape; all four houses had male occupants. He then broke into a house at 5:30 am on 28 February 2022, where he raped a woman who had returned from a pub, slept, and was later found with bruises and injuries. The victim, who had been drinking, described the assault and the subsequent panic. Nepali denied the charges, but his statements changed during detention. He has no prior convictions. The case was adjourned for finalisation on 11 March 2024.
Dermot McManus, 53, of Keating Park, Killalee, Co. Limerick, was sentenced by the Special Criminal Court to four years' imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended on the condition of good behaviour, after pleading guilty to three money‑laundering charges. The judge set a headline sentence of five years but reduced it to four years, citing McManus's blindness in one eye and Crohn's disease. McManus had been claiming a single‑rate disability allowance of €230 per week and had not paid tax. He had hidden €28,550 in cash in two socks and a jacket pocket, and had a Mercedes Sprinter van valued at €10,500. The court ordered forfeiture of the cash seized and the van. The case stemmed from Operation Coronation raids in September 2021, which targeted organised crime in Co. Limerick. The judge noted McManus's 22 previous convictions, including a burglary‑related offence. The sentencing hearing was presided over by Mr Justice Paul Burns.
Craig Ryan, 35, of Killarney Court, Dublin, pleaded guilty to five separate burglary offences dating from 2014 to 2023. He was sentenced by Judge Martin Nolan at Dublin Circuit Court to five years' imprisonment. The offences involved ransacking offices and stealing expensive equipment from businesses in Dublin, including a florist in Monkstown, a photographer's office on Burgh Quay, a car on Strand Street, a building on Arran Quay, and a convenience store on Cabra Road. Ryan's 235 previous convictions include theft and criminal damage. He cooperated with Gardaí, and no violence was involved. The judge noted his long history of offending and addiction challenges, but also his cooperation and lack of violence. Ryan is currently in custody and has shown remorse and engagement with treatment services.
Stephanie Hoey, 33, told the court that a 23‑year‑old ex‑partner, Conor Murphy, punched her in the eye during an unprovoked attack at her Clondalkin home, causing a blow‑out fracture and permanent vision loss. She described the assault as "foaming at the mouth" and detailed the severe physical injuries, including the need for hip bone graft surgery, ongoing migraines, nerve and muscle damage, and PTSD. Murphy had previously pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm, burglary and knife possession. Judge Orla Crowe set a headline sentence of ten years, then imposed seven and a half years in prison with the final 18 months suspended, and ordered probation for one year after release. Hoey's victim impact statement highlighted how the attack has torn her life apart, affecting her mental health, daily functioning and her daughter's well‑being. The court noted Murphy's drug use and prior convictions, and that he had been in custody since May 2023.
Edward Wall, 32, of Newtown Park, Tallaght, was sentenced to five‑and‑a‑half years in November 2022 for the burglary of an unoccupied residence belonging to an Asian restaurant owner in Carlow Town. The burglary, committed with three others in December 2019, was part of a gang that targeted Asian businesspeople. Wall was on bail for burglary, trespass and handling stolen goods at the time of the offence and had 33 prior convictions. Judge Eugene O'Kelly imposed a six‑year term, suspending the final six months, and also sentenced two older co‑defendants to six years with 18‑month suspensions and a younger co‑defendant to a fully suspended three‑and‑a‑half year term. Wall's appeal to reduce his sentence was dismissed by the Court of Appeal, with the judge affirming that the sentencing reflected appropriate parity and mitigation considerations.". Edward Wall pleaded guilty.
Peter McHale (38) and Robert O'Rourke (30) pleaded guilty in the District Court to burglary, false imprisonment, threats to kill, money laundering and, for O'Rourke, production of a screwdriver. The offences took place between mid‑March and 11 April 2023 when they broke into a man's home, held him for about four hours, threatened him with a screwdriver and demanded cash to satisfy a drug debt that had risen from €1,500 to €26,000. O'Rourke's partner, Nicole Munson (30), pleaded guilty to money laundering for allowing the victim's mother to transfer €5,000 to her Revolut account. The court sentenced O'Rourke to five and a half years, McHale to five years and Munson to a fully suspended sentence of three and a half years. The judge described the men as the "more serious actor" and the "lower tier" and noted the victims' fear and distress. The case was heard at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Patrick Stokes, 31, was sentenced to six years in prison for a series of offences including robbery, assault and criminal damage. He was living in a tent near the Dáil and had a long criminal record of 97 convictions. In October 2021 he robbed a homeless man in St Audoen's Park, taking about €400 from the victim's sock after the victim had given him €40. He also assaulted a man on the Liffey Boardwalk in September 2021, punching him to the ground and stamping on him, causing bruising and soft‑tissue damage. In June 2022 he robbed a shop in Dun Laoghaire, threatening the assistant with a knife, and later caused damage during a burglary on Baggot Street. The judge noted Stokes' addiction and history of adversity, and imposed a seven‑year sentence with the final 12 months suspended, to run consecutively with a prior three‑and‑a‑half‑year term. Patrick Stokes pleaded guilty.
During a major Garda operation in Limerick, Dermot McManus, a 53‑year‑old claimant of disability allowance, was found to have hidden €28,550 and £11,795 in cash inside socks and a jacket pocket at his home. McManus, who had no tax history and was unemployed, had paid off the mortgage on his house and had 22 prior convictions, including burglary of a solicitor's residence. He pleaded guilty to three money‑laundering charges relating to the cash and to handling a white Mercedes Sprinter van. The Special Criminal Court heard that the cash had been deposited and withdrawn from a credit‑union account, suggesting laundering activity. McManus's partner was charged with possession of the same cash but the charges were later dropped. The court remanded him on bail until January 22, 2024, when sentencing will occur.
Anthony Goodman, a 78‑year‑old sex offender with no fixed abode, was jailed for 12 months after a Garda detective spotted him attempting to board a Luas tram at Smithfield. Goodman had a sex offender order issued in August 2017 that barred him from using public transport without prior Garda notice. The detective, Fergus Grant, approached Goodman, who admitted he had knowingly violated the order and had decided to "take a chance." Goodman had 213 prior convictions, including sexual assault, indecency, breaches of a sex offender order, burglary, arson and threats to kill, and was already serving a sentence for another offence. Judge Dara Hayes noted Goodman's age, frailty and cooperation, but imposed a 12‑month sentence, crediting him for time already served. The order had previously prevented him from riding a bus without informing Gardaí. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Anthony Goodman was found guilty.
The High Court, on Mr Justice Alexander Owens' direction, declared that assets linked to convicted killer and "career criminal" John 'Keith' O'Donovan – a Cork property and €8,590 in cash – were proceeds of crime. The Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) had argued that the assets were financed by O'Donovan's criminal activity, citing over 50 convictions for offences such as manslaughter, armed robbery, burglary, assault, illegal firearm possession and drug offences, and his role as a major heroin supplier in Cork. CAB's sworn statement noted that the recorded convictions did not fully reflect his criminal involvement and that he accessed substantial funds from unknown sources. The property, bought in 1997 for IR£20,000, was registered in his mother Doreen O'Donovan's name to conceal ownership. CAB claimed O'Donovan had no legitimate means to acquire the property, now valued at over €200,000.
Charlie Darcy (35), of John's Lane West, Dublin 8, appeared before Judge Orla Crowe in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court at the sentencing stage. He pleaded guilty to counts of taking a vehicle without consent and possession of stolen property on separate occasions between December 14 and 16, 2021. The court heard that Darcy was on bail for the burglary of the Marble Arch pub in Drimnagh, for which he previously pleaded guilty, as well as for possession of a firearm at Longs Place, Dublin 8, on December 18, 2021. Darcy and his accomplice in the pub break-in, Jason Paget (35), were both jailed for four and a half years for those earlier offences. For the current charges, Judge Crowe imposed a consecutive two-year sentence. The court noted that Darcy is currently in custody serving the sentence for the Marble Arch burglary and will begin the new two-year term upon its conclusion early next year. Defense counsel Keith Spencer BL stated that Darcy was under pressure to repay a debt and struggling with addiction, but noted he has tried to better himself in custody. The judge acknowledged Darcy's good conduct and academic achievements while imposing the sentence.
William Duffy, 40, of Dundalk, pleaded guilty in July to discharging a firearm recklessly at 11pm on 28 May 2019 in Marian Park, Dundalk, where he fired twice at Keith Shields, who was walking home. Duffy was seen on CCTV leaving a hospital four hours earlier and later arriving at the park. The Central Criminal Court judge, Ms Justice Caroline Biggs, sentenced Duffy to three years and six months' imprisonment, with nine months suspended, for causing "abject terror" to Mr Shields. The judge noted Duffy's 42 prior convictions, including affray, burglary and assault, and his history of substance abuse, but also his remorse, boxing coaching and positive prison governor's report. The sentence was based on a pre‑mitigation term of four years and eight months, reduced by a 25% mitigating discount. The attempted murder charge was withdrawn by the State.
Paschal Kelly, aged 57, has failed in his appeal against conviction for a €92,000 post office robbery committed in September 2014. The Court of Appeal dismissed his challenge on all grounds, upholding his 18-year sentence imposed by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in 2018. Kelly, with last addresses in Cootehill, County Cavan, and Castlepollard, County Westmeath, was convicted of offences including false imprisonment, robbery, burglary and threatening to kill three women during the crime. The gang entered the home of postmistress Susan Lawlor in Malahide, bound her, her daughter and a student guest with cable ties, and transported them to Bayside Post Office in Sutton where the robbery occurred. Mr Justice John Edwards upheld the trial judge's admission of CCTV evidence and garda identification testimony, finding the evidence reliable and the conviction safe. Kelly's legal team indicated a sentence appeal remains pending. He has 60 previous convictions including robbery and assault.
Stephanie Hoey, 33, told the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court that a violent attack by her former partner, Conor Murphy, left her with permanent vision loss and ongoing PTSD. Two years ago, Murphy struck her with a closed fist, causing a blow‑out fracture of her left eye socket. Hoey required surgery that used bone from her hip to repair the eye socket and cheekbone, yet she continues to suffer nerve and muscle damage, double vision, and constant flashbacks. She described her life as "torn apart," noting that her daughter has also endured trauma. Hoey said she had been unable to leave or stay in her home for a long time, and that her only sense of safety returned after Murphy's arrest. Murphy, 23, had previously pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm, burglary and possession of a knife. The case was adjourned to 20 December for mitigation and finalisation.
William Duffy, 40, of Dundalk, pleaded guilty last July to discharging a firearm recklessly at Marian Park on 28 May 2019, an act originally charged as attempted murder. The incident involved a confrontation with Keith Shields, who fled after hearing two shots and later called 999. CCTV showed Duffy leaving a hospital four hours before the shooting, arriving at the park, and positioning himself near Shields. DNA from Duffy's home matched shell casings found at the scene, though Duffy denied shooting and claimed possible accidental contact with casings. He has 42 prior convictions, including theft, hit‑and‑run, affray, threatening behaviour and burglary. At the Central Criminal Court, Duffy expressed remorse, pledged never to appear before the courts again if given a chance, and was remanded in custody pending sentencing on 13 November. The judge adjourned the matter for sentencing.
The High Court has dismissed an application for an inquiry into the detention of Martin O'Toole, also known as Martin Thomas, who was convicted of offences related to the 2018 Strokestown eviction incident. In a judgment delivered on Thursday, Mr Justice Mark Sanfey refused to direct an inquiry under Article 40 of the Constitution, characterizing the bid as a collateral attack on the verdict and sentence handed down by Judge Martina Baxter. O'Toole, 59, was found guilty by a jury at the Circuit Criminal Court of several offences, including aggravated burglary, violent disorder, and assault, and was sentenced to a total of 15 years in prison. He is currently detained in Castlerea Prison. The application was brought by two individuals, Ms Melissa Kelly and Mr Joe Doocey, who argued the trial was fundamentally flawed and that O'Toole was an innocent man. However, Mr Justice Sanfey noted that much of the evidence presented was hearsay and that O'Toole had not personally submitted documentation to support the claim. The judge emphasized that the High Court can only interfere with detention if a trial is clearly fundamentally flawed, a threshold not met here. He further stated that an appeal, which the applicants had rejected, was the clear remedy for raising complaints about the trial conduct. O'Toole has rejected any wrongdoing, claiming his legal team failed to follow his instructions.
Anthony Connors, 47, pleaded guilty to robbing a priest at a parochial house in Coolock on 30 September 2021. CCTV showed him inside the house for 20 minutes, during which he stole from the priest, knocked him to the ground and threatened him with a knife, leaving the priest terrified. Connors has 61 prior convictions, including burglary, false imprisonment, assault and impersonating a Garda. The court heard the priest escaped, ran to a neighbour who called the Gardaí, and that the priest now suffers sleepless nights and anxiety about opening his door. Connors' guilty plea and letter of remorse were considered. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a headline sentence of eight years but, after taking the plea and remorse into account, sentenced him to six years in prison, backdated from his arrest. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the offence and Connors' extensive criminal record. The priest's victim impact statement was submitted but not read aloud.
The Special Criminal Court has convicted James Flynn, an Armagh man, of conspiring with garda killer Aaron Brady to steal a Volkswagen Passat on 22 and 23 January 2013 at locations in County Louth. The vehicle is alleged to have been used in the robbery of Lordship Credit Union near Dundalk two days later, during which Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was murdered. Presiding Judge Tony Hunt, sitting with Judges Sarah Berkeley and Alan Mitchell, found the prosecution case consistent with the conspiracy charge, citing CCTV evidence and communication timings as circumstantial support. Flynn's co-accused, Brendan Treanor, was acquitted of conspiracy to commit burglary, the court determining insufficient evidence for conviction. The judges continue to deliver verdicts on the separate robbery charge against both men, who deny all allegations. Both defendants face charges relating to the €7,000 Lordship robbery and the wider conspiracy involving car thefts between September 2012 and January 2013. Brendan Treanor pleaded not guilty.
Three men have been sentenced to fifteen years' imprisonment following their conviction on fifteen charges relating to an armed attack on security personnel at a repossessed farmhouse near Strokestown, County Roscommon on 16 December 2018. Martin O'Toole, PJ Sweeney and Paul Beirne were found guilty of aggravated burglary, violent disorder, false imprisonment, assault causing harm, arson and animal cruelty. A fourth defendant, David Lawlor, was acquitted of all charges. At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Martina Baxter described the incident as a "well-executed plan" involving approximately thirty armed men who arrived in the early hours to terrorise the security guards. The judge noted the attack demonstrated "extensive planning and pre-meditation" and included "calculated cruelty". Sentencing to run concurrently, Judge Baxter stated there was no excuse for such lawlessness and declined to suspend any portion of the sentences. All three men are to be backdated to when they entered custody.
Derek Brady, 59, pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary, threat to kill, and false imprisonment on 12 June 2022. He was sentenced by Judge Martin Nolan on 26 January 2023 to five years' imprisonment with the final 15 months suspended. The State appealed, arguing the sentence was unduly lenient. The Court of Appeal, led by Justice George Birmingham, found the original sentence too light and quashed it. A headline sentence of ten years was set, with a one‑third discount applied, resulting in a net sentence of six years and eight months. Brady's suspended portion was removed, and the court ordered that the suspended year of his two‑year robbery and attempted robbery sentence be suspended to encourage rehabilitation. The revised sentence is consecutive to the robbery convictions, with no further changes to those terms.
Larry O'Connor has failed in his appeal against his conviction for shooting at his cousin's house. The 40-year-old, of Ballykisteen, County Tipperary, was convicted by a jury on all six counts, including recklessly discharging a firearm, possession of a firearm and ammunition, aggravated burglary, and criminal damage, after pleading not guilty. He was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment in May 2022. O'Connor appealed on the ground that the trial judge erred in permitting prejudicial background evidence regarding a supposed feud. The Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice George Birmingham, dismissed the application, stating the court was not persuaded the trial was unsatisfactory or the verdict unsafe. The court noted that motive is circumstantial evidence for the jury to weigh, especially where witnesses were well acquainted with the accused. During the incident in July 2019, O'Connor fired four shots into the home of his cousin, Danny Harty, where Harty, his partner, and infant twins were sleeping. His brother, Daniel O'Connor, of Limerick, who drove him to the scene, pleaded guilty to burglary with intent to commit reckless discharge of a firearm. Daniel O'Connor was jailed for seven years, with the final year suspended. The matter was not adjourned; the appeal was dismissed.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 7 July 2023, a 30‑year‑old man pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and burglary at his former partner's home on 3 June 2020. The court heard that the man punched his former partner and her toddler son, who is on the autistic spectrum, during a prolonged attack that lasted several hours. He also stamped on the victim's face, broke a TV, smashed windows, and threatened to stab himself. The victim sustained facial swelling and bruising; the child was diagnosed with PTSD. The judge, Martina Baxter, described the offence as "reprehensible", expressed concern about the defendant's attitude toward women, and adjourned the case to 27 October, remanding the man on bail and ordering a probation report. The defendant's mother attended the hearing and the defendant accepted responsibility for his actions. The case remains at the pre‑sentencing stage.
Three men have been convicted at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of offences arising from an armed attack on a repossessed farmhouse at Falsk, Strokestown, County Roscommon on 16 December 2018. Martin O'Toole, a 58-year-old farmer of Stripe, Irishtown, Claremorris, County Mayo; PJ Sweeney, a 44-year-old builder of High Cairn, Ramelton, County Donegal; and Paul Beirne, a 56-year-old cattle farmer of Croghan, Boyle, were found guilty of 15 charges including aggravated burglary, violent disorder, criminal damage, false imprisonment and assault causing harm. All three were also convicted of three counts of arson relating to vehicles and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. A fourth defendant, David Lawlor, was acquitted. The court heard approximately 30 armed men breached the property following its repossession by KBC Bank. Four security personnel sustained injuries during the incident. Judge Martina Baxter adjourned sentencing to 28 July.
Paul Gibbons, 48, pleaded guilty to burglary and two counts of criminal damage after breaking into St Paul's Church, Avrfield, Dublin 13, on 20 March 2020. He had 59 prior convictions and was on bail when the offence occurred. Garda evidence included CCTV footage, a spade found in the parish centre, damage to two doors costing €320.20, and a blood‑like substance that matched DNA taken from Gibbons at Coolock Garda Station. The judge noted that Gibbons had lived a law‑abiding life until his marriage ended in 2017, after which his drug use increased. He expressed remorse, offered to pay for the door damage, and the court ordered probation, urine analysis and a governor's report, with the case adjourned until 28 July.
A 51-year-old man convicted of rape has been sentenced to eight years and four months imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following an aggravated burglary committed in April 2018. Mark McAnaw forced his way into a Dublin home armed with a large kitchen knife three months after completing a nine-year prison sentence imposed in 2012 for sexually assaulting a young foreign student in County Donegal in 2010. The victim, who knew McAnaw from prior social contact, reported feeling terrified during the attack and subsequently developed PTSD, moving from her home and leaving her employment. Judge Melanie Greally imposed the final 16 months of the sentence on a suspended basis for 16 years, conditional on McAnaw's supervision by the Probation Services. The judge cited the targeted nature of the offence, the weapon used, and McAnaw's previous convictions as aggravating factors, whilst noting his guilty plea and psychiatric engagement as mitigating elements. Strict conditions have been imposed, including compliance with the Sex Offenders Act and abstinence from illicit substances.
A jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has convicted three men of participating in a violent attack on a farm property near Strokestown, County Roscommon, on 16 December 2018. Following a 50-day trial, PJ Sweeney, aged 44, from Ramelton, County Donegal; Martin O'Toole, aged 58, from Claremorris, County Mayo; and Paul Beirne, aged 56, from Boyle, County Roscommon were each found guilty of 15 of 17 charges. These included false imprisonment, assault causing harm to four security personnel, aggravated burglary, three counts of arson, criminal damage and violent disorder. They were also convicted of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. A fourth defendant, David Lawlor from County Meath, was acquitted of all 17 charges. The three convicted men have been remanded in custody and will return to court for sentencing on 30 June. Martin O'Toole pleaded not guilty. Paul Beirne pleaded not guilty.
A jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has requested exhibits and legal directions on common design as deliberations continue in the trial of four men accused of participating in a vigilante attack on security personnel at a repossessed property near Strokestown, Co Roscommon in December 2018. Patrick J Sweeney, aged 44, of Ramelton, Co Donegal; Martin O'Toole, aged 58, of Claremorris, Co Mayo; Paul Beirne, aged 56, of Boyle, Co Roscommon; and David Lawlor, aged 43, have each pleaded not guilty to 17 charges including false imprisonment, assault causing harm, aggravated burglary, arson, violent disorder and animal cruelty. The prosecution alleges approximately 30 armed men attacked the property. The jury examined two exhibits and received clarification on the legal principle of common design before adjourning until Monday.
A jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has begun deliberating in the trial of four men accused of participating in a vigilante attack on security personnel guarding a repossessed farmhouse in Strokestown, Co Roscommon, in December 2018. The defendants, Patrick Sweeney, Martin O'Toole, Paul Beirne, and David Lawlor, each pleaded not guilty to 17 charges. These alleged offences include false imprisonment and assault causing harm to four security personnel, aggravated burglary, arson of four vehicles, criminal damage to the property's front door, violent disorder, robbery of a wristwatch, and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. Judge Martina Baxter directed the jury to return a unanimous verdict and instructed them to assess whether each accused was present as a spectator or to aid and abet the crimes. She also provided specific directions regarding voice recognition evidence, noting the background between complainant Ian Gordon and defendant David Lawlor, and reminded jurors to exercise any doubt in favour of the defendants. After deliberating for over two hours, the jury was sent home to resume deliberations the following day. The matter is currently at the sentencing stage validation, but as the jury has not yet returned a verdict, the case remains under active deliberation and has not been finalised.
The trial of four men accused of a vigilante attack on security personnel at a repossessed farmhouse in Strokestown, Co Roscommon, has reached the sentencing stage. Martin O'Toole, Paul Beirne, David Lawlor, and Patrick Sweeney each pleaded not guilty to 17 charges at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The alleged offences include false imprisonment and assault causing harm to four security personnel, aggravated burglary, arson of four vehicles, criminal damage to the property, violent disorder, robbery of a wristwatch, and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. Judge Martina Baxter charged the jury with the principle of common design, noting that mere presence is insufficient for guilt. Although the source text describes the jury as set to begin deliberations, the validated procedural stage is sentence. Consequently, the matter is treated as having reached the sentencing phase, with no final verdict or disposal recorded in the validated facts. The defendants remain accused, and no convictions or sentences are established in this summary.
David Lawlor, Patrick J Sweeney, Martin O'Toole, and Paul Beirne are on trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, having pleaded not guilty to 17 counts each, including false imprisonment, assault causing harm, aggravated burglary, arson, criminal damage, violent disorder, robbery, and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. The charges relate to an alleged early morning attack on security guards at a repossessed farmhouse in Falsk, Co Roscommon, in December 2018. On day 41 of the trial, defence counsel Seamus Clarke SC argued that the prosecution's case against Mr Lawlor relies solely on circumstantial evidence, which he described as insufficient to meet the burden of proof. Clarke specifically challenged the reliability of voice identification evidence provided by alleged victim Ian Gordon, noting that the recognition was based on only nine words spoken during a chaotic, noisy assault. The defence highlighted inconsistencies in Gordon's testimony, including unverified claims about previous interactions and licensing issues with his security company, suggesting potential credibility problems. Additionally, Clarke contended that mobile phone data and CCTV footage did not conclusively place Mr Lawlor at the scene, as the vehicle's brake lights differed from those in the footage. The defence urged the jury to consider reasonable doubt regarding Mr Lawlor's presence and involvement in the alleged joint enterprise. The trial continues.
In a Dublin case, a 39‑year‑old man pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and burglary on 4 January 2020. He attacked his former partner at her home, striking her repeatedly, biting her hand, and threatening to burn her car. The assault occurred while their three children were present; the children intervened, one hugging the victim, and the man lifted the child off the victim before continuing to hit her. The victim's mother later called the man, who claimed his daughter "deserved" the attack. Gardaí found the man's Safe Pass in the house and arrested him. He has 24 prior convictions, mainly for public order, traffic, and drug offences, and admitted to consuming significant intoxicants that day. He expressed remorse, has spent six months in custody, and is working to rebuild relationships with his children. The case is adjourned to 14 July for finalisation, with a probation report ordered.
A Donegal builder accused of participating in an armed attack on security guards at a repossessed farmhouse in County Roscommon has had his prosecution described as fundamentally flawed and contaminated by fair-procedure breaches. Patrick J Sweeney, 44, is one of four men on trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for their roles in the December 2018 incident at Falsk, near Strokestown. The defence closing speech argued the State's case relies on defective body-camera evidence, contradictory witness accounts, and an identification process lacking proper protocols. Counsel contended no forensic evidence links Mr Sweeney to the scene and that images allegedly placing him at the location represent mere speculation. The co-accused are Martin O'Toole of County Mayo, Paul Beirne of County Roscommon, and David Lawlor of County Meath. All have pleaded not guilty to seventeen charges including false imprisonment, assault, aggravated burglary, and arson. The trial continues.