Anthony Hatton, 36, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to a smash‑and‑grab burglary at the Eir building, Heuston South Quarter, on 6 February 2018. A black Opel Corsa, driven by a co‑accused, was used to smash the building's windows; Hatton entered, removed a podium of laptops and phones, and placed it in the car. Gardaí arrived while he was still inside; he was arrested and taken to a garda station where he was initially deemed unfit for interview. The car was later found in Naas, Co. Kildare, and the driver was arrested the same day, found with two smartphones. The burglary caused €10,000 of damage, requiring replacement of two glass panes. Hatton, who has 150 prior convictions including five for burglary, was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment, back‑dated to 7 July 2022. The co‑accused received a three‑year sentence with 18 months suspended.
At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, the prosecution concluded its case against four men accused of participating in a violent attack on security personnel at a repossessed farm in Falsk, Co Roscommon, in December 2018. Martin O'Toole, Paul Beirne, David Lawlor, and Patrick Sweeney, who are currently defending themselves or represented by counsel, have all pleaded not guilty to 17 charges each. The alleged offences include false imprisonment, assault causing harm to four guards, aggravated burglary, arson of four vehicles, criminal damage, violent disorder, robbery, and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. Senior Counsel Anne Rowland argued that the defendants were part of a common enterprise to ensure the guards would not return through violence and humiliation. She presented evidence including body-cam footage, mobile phone data, and witness testimony linking each accused to the scene or the organisation of the event. The trial is at the sentencing stage following the completion of the prosecution's closing speech, with defence submissions scheduled to begin immediately. The court has not yet delivered a verdict or sentence, and the matter remains under active judicial consideration.
The trial of Patrick Sweeney, Martin O'Toole, Paul Beirne, and David Lawlor continues before Judge Martina Baxter and a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The four men, who have all pleaded not guilty, face 17 charges each, including false imprisonment, assault causing harm to four security personnel, aggravated burglary, and arson of four vehicles. Prosecuting counsel Anne Rowland SC delivered her closing speech on day 38 of the trial, which began last February. She alleged that the group was "bent on violence and domination" during an attack on a repossessed farm in Co Roscommon in December 2018. The State's case relies on joint enterprise, arguing that all participants are liable for the criminal acts committed by the group. While the prosecution noted that the case is mainly based on circumstantial evidence, it pointed to direct video footage identifying Mr. Sweeney and Mr. O'Toole committing offences. The jury was reminded to decide the case on the facts rather than sympathy for the victims. The matter is currently at the appeal stage of proceedings and has not been finalised; the trial continues.
Graham Campion, aged 29, pleaded guilty to a single count of trespassing on 9 December 2013 at a property in Sutton Cross, Sutton. CCTV footage identified him as the person looking into the windows of the house at lunchtime that day. The following day the house was burgled and a safe containing €40,000 and a child's piggy bank containing €500 were stolen; the money was never recovered. Campion denied any involvement in the burglary. He has 84 prior convictions, mainly post‑2013 road‑traffic offences, and is currently serving a four‑year‑six‑month sentence for an earlier endangerment offence. The court, noting the case's antiquity and Campion's rehabilitation progress, sentenced him to four months' imprisonment, back‑dated to 4 May, and did not extend his custodial period. The sentence was imposed by Judge Orla Crowe. The case was delayed in part due to the Covid‑19 pandemic.
A man accused of participating in a vigilante attack on security personnel at a repossessed farm in Co Roscommon told gardaí that he organised people to 'take back the house peacefully'. Paul Beirne (56) of Croghan, Boyle, Co Roscommon, stated in December 2018 that he drove a group of around 30 men to the property and broke the front door down with a sledgehammer. He claimed he did not know how the situation escalated. Co-accused Patrick Sweeney (44) of High Cairn, Ramelton, Co Donegal; Martin O'Toole (58) of Stripe, Irishtown, Claremorris, Co Mayo; and David Lawlor (43) of Bailis Downs, Navan, have each pleaded not guilty to 17 charges at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The charges include false imprisonment, assault causing harm, aggravated burglary, arson, criminal damage, violent disorder, robbery, and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. The prosecution evidence concluded on Monday afternoon, and the trial continues before Judge Martina Baxter in the absence of the jury until Thursday morning, when the panel is due to return.
A man accused of participating in an attack on security personnel at a repossessed farm in County Roscommon has told gardaí he was asleep at his home on the night in question. Paul Beirne, aged 56, of Croghan, Boyle, faces charges including false imprisonment, assault causing harm to four security workers, aggravated burglary, and arson concerning multiple vehicles at Falsk, near Strokestown, on 16 December 2018. During interviews with gardaí, extracts of which were presented to the jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Mr Beirne stated he was present at the property during an earlier eviction on 11 December 2018, claiming he was there to purchase cattle. He declined to provide a detailed account of events. Regarding the early-morning incident five days later, when approximately 30 armed men allegedly arrived at the farm, Mr Beirne maintained he was at home and asleep. He stated he had no knowledge of his cattle lorry's movements that night, despite tachograph records. Three co-accused have also pleaded not guilty to identical charges. The trial continues before Judge Martina Baxter.
A garda sergeant testified in the appeal trial of four men accused of attacking security personnel at a repossessed farm in Co Roscommon. The trial is ongoing before Judge Martina Baxter and a jury. Patrick Sweeney (44), Martin O'Toole (58), Paul Beirne (56), and David Lawlor (43) have each pleaded not guilty to 17 charges, including false imprisonment, assault, aggravated burglary, arson, criminal damage, violent disorder, robbery, and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. Garda Sergeant Enda Daly stated that Roscommon District Court had previously convicted a person, not one of the accused, of an assault on Ian Gordon of GS Agencies on December 11, 2018, and fined them €200. The appeal is scheduled to be heard later this year in Roscommon Circuit Court. Sgt Daly confirmed that gardai were present at the property on December 11, 2018, to ensure no breach of the peace and that they used 'reasonable force' to remove individuals from the premises. The trial continues.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 2 May 2023, 29‑year‑old Michael O'Reilly pleaded guilty to raping a 13‑year‑old girl in Dublin on 11 April 2021. He claimed in a letter to the victim that he "honestly did not know" her age and expressed shame and disgust. The court heard that the victim had been sexually assaulted after a teenage boy had finished consensual sex with her. O'Reilly allegedly forced the girl to the ground, removed her clothing and raped her. CCTV footage of the victim's upset reaction was shown to O'Reilly, who denied any involvement. He was remanded in custody until 10 July for finalisation of the case. The teenage boy was charged with engaging in a sexual act with a child but the charge was later withdrawn. No prior sexual convictions were recorded for O'Reilly, though he had convictions for assault, theft and burglary.
A garda detective has given evidence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in the trial of four men charged in connection with an alleged attack on security personnel at a repossessed farm near Strokestown, Co Roscommon. The court heard that a two-second body-camera clip was not disclosed to the defence as the officer believed it was not relevant. Detective McDonnell acknowledged he had inadvertently recorded the footage while the camera was in garda custody and accepted that withholding it did not constitute best practice. The trial heard evidence regarding an incident on December 16, 2018, when approximately 30 armed men reportedly arrived at the property and attacked four security guards. Patrick Sweeney, Martin O'Toole, Paul Beirne, and David Lawlor, all pleaded not guilty to 17 charges each, including assault causing harm, false imprisonment, aggravated burglary, arson, and violent disorder. The trial continues before Judge Martina Baxter and a jury.
A 32‑year‑old drug addict was jailed after terrorising his mother, threatening to stab her dog, petrol‑bombing her home and writing "rats out" on her door. He broke her jaw, forced her to hospital and was convicted of assault, possession of a knife and burglary. The mother, who had obtained a protection order, described the abuse and her fear. The court noted the high risk of reoffending and the offender's remorse. Judge Elma Sheahan sentenced him to three years and two months, suspending the final eight months on conditions including offence and victim focus work with the Probation Service. The mother expressed a desire to reunite her family and accepted his apology, while the defence highlighted his addiction and prospects for rehabilitation. The unnamed 32-year-old pleaded guilty.
A garda superintendent has firmly rejected suggestions that policing failures contributed to a violent incident at a repossessed house near Strokestown, County Roscommon, in December 2018. At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Superintendent Seamus Boyle disputed a defence assertion that gardaí failed to intervene timeously and properly before armed men attacked security personnel. Four men—Patrick Sweeney of Ramelton, County Donegal; Martin O'Toole of Claremorris, County Mayo; Paul Beirne of Boyle, County Roscommon; and David Lawlor of Navan, County Meath—have each pleaded not guilty to seventeen charges. These include false imprisonment, assault causing harm, aggravated burglary, arson, violent disorder, and animal cruelty, arising from the early-morning incident on 16 December 2018. The superintendent confirmed he prepared a policing plan and visited the property but maintained An Garda Síochána's role was limited to preventing breaches of the peace. The trial before Judge Martina Baxter and a jury continues. Patrick Sweeney was convicted. Martin O'Toole was convicted. Paul Beirne was convicted. David Lawlor was convicted.
A security guard gave evidence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of a violent attack at a repossessed property in Strokestown, County Roscommon, on 16 December 2018. The witness described being struck with a nail-studded bat and cut with a blade during an incident involving approximately thirty armed men. Four defendants—Patrick Sweeney of Ramelton, County Donegal; Martin O'Toole of Claremorris, County Mayo; Paul Beirne of Boyle, County Roscommon; and David Lawlor of Navan, County Meath—have pleaded not guilty to seventeen charges each. These include false imprisonment, assault causing harm, aggravated burglary, arson, criminal damage, violent disorder, robbery, and animal cruelty. The trial before Judge Martina Baxter and a jury continues at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
A 58-year-old man from County Mayo has told gardaí he was not present at a December 2018 incident at a repossessed farm near Strokestown, County Roscommon, and denied seeing a firearm at the scene. Martin O'Toole of Claremorris faces charges of false imprisonment and assault causing harm to four security personnel, along with aggravated burglary, arson, violent disorder, robbery and animal cruelty. The trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard evidence today of three garda interviews conducted over two days in January 2019. In the recorded interviews, which O'Toole has pleaded not guilty to all charges relating, he stated he never witnessed a gun at the property, though he later acknowledged travelling to Elfin before the incident. Security personnel had previously testified that armed men, numbering approximately 30, attacked the farmhouse five days after its repossession. Three co-accused men face identical charges. The trial continues.
A 44-year-old builder from County Donegal is on trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court accused of participating in an armed attack on security personnel at a repossessed farm near Strokestown, County Roscommon on 16 December 2018. Patrick Sweeney of Ramelton faces charges including false imprisonment, assault causing harm, aggravated burglary, arson, violent disorder and animal cruelty. During interviews with gardaí, he denied being the man depicted in security footage wielding a chainsaw during the incident, which involved approximately 30 armed men. He stated he had never harmed anyone. Detective Sergeant Mark Geraghty gave evidence of five interview sessions conducted over 48 hours. Mr Sweeney has pleaded not guilty to all 17 charges. Three co-accused, Martin O'Toole, Paul Beirne and David Lawlor, face identical charges and have similarly pleaded not guilty. The trial continues.
Martin O'Toole, aged 58, of Stripe, Irishtown, Claremorris, County Mayo, stands trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on charges including false imprisonment, assault causing harm, aggravated burglary, arson, violent disorder and robbery relating to an incident at Falsk, County Roscommon on December 16, 2018. The trial heard that on that date, approximately 30 armed men, some masked, attacked security personnel at a repossessed farm near Strokestown. During garda interviews, Mr O'Toole initially denied attending the property, later conceding he was present after being shown body-camera footage. He stated he attended to observe and believed the gathering would be peaceful, claiming events escalated unexpectedly. He expressed views that court proceedings constituted unlawful authority. Three co-accused, Patrick Sweeney of Ramelton, County Donegal, Paul Beirne of Boyle, County Roscommon and David Lawlor of Navan, County Meath, face identical charges. All four defendants have pleaded not guilty. The trial continues.
Four men accused of participating in an armed attack on security personnel at a rural property near Strokestown have pleaded not guilty to 17 charges each at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The trial, now in its twentieth day, heard evidence of WhatsApp messages and phone records retrieved from an iPhone allegedly found in a vehicle linked to one of the defendants. Garda James McCann told the court that specialist software extracted communications from the handset, including messages from a group titled "Roscommon group". A message sent on December 10, 2018, allegedly sought assistance for the following morning at Strokestown. The attack occurred on December 16, 2018, when approximately 30 armed men descended on the repossessed property at Falsk and assaulted four security guards. The accused men—Patrick Sweeney of County Donegal, Martin O'Toole of County Mayo, Paul Beirne of County Roscommon, and David Lawlor of County Meath—face charges including false imprisonment, assault, aggravated burglary, arson, and violent disorder. Defence counsel submitted that her client denies knowledge of the messages in question.
The Roscommon eviction assault trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has been adjourned until Monday, April 17, following the Easter break. Defendants Patrick Sweeney, Martin O'Toole, Paul Beirne, and David Lawlor have each pleaded not guilty to 17 charges. These include false imprisonment, assault causing harm to four security personnel, aggravated burglary, arson, criminal damage, violent disorder, robbery, and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. The alleged incident occurred on December 16, 2018, at Falsk, where a group of armed men attacked security guards at a repossessed property. On Day 19 of the trial, evidence was presented regarding a search warrant executed at Mr. Beirne's home in Co Roscommon on December 19, 2018. Gardaí seized electronic devices and keys to a Volvo lorry, which was later impounded. Mr. Beirne was arrested under section 30 of the Offences against the State Act and detained at Castlerea Garda Station. Testimony detailed his refusal of food and medical attention, leading to a doctor's visit for indigestion. The matter remains ongoing and was adjourned, not concluded.
A homeless addict, Dean Boland, 35, was sentenced to eight years in prison for the unlawful killing of Ohari Viera, an Angolan man, after Boland broke into a downstairs apartment of a Dublin residential property, stole a rucksack and set fire to the building on 21 August 2018. Viera, who lived upstairs with two other men, had evacuated the building when the fire started but returned to the house for an unknown reason and never re‑entered. The fire engulfed the property, preventing anyone from re‑entering. Boland was convicted by a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court jury of unlawful killing, arson and burglary. He had pleaded not guilty. Judge Elma Sheahan, noting Boland's drug addiction, homelessness and intoxication at the time, imposed an eight‑year sentence, acknowledging the victim impact statement of Viera's daughter and the circumstances that made the case unusual. The sentence runs from the date of his December conviction.
Patrick Sweeney, Martin O'Toole, Paul Beirne, and David Lawlor have pleaded not guilty to 17 charges each at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The defendants are alleged to have participated in an attack on four security guards at a repossessed property in Falsk, Strokestown, on December 16, 2018. The charges include false imprisonment, assault causing harm, aggravated burglary, arson, criminal damage, violent disorder, robbery, and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. On day 17 of the trial, Detective Garda Enda Jennings testified that he identified Sweeney in body-camera footage based on prior acquaintance in Ramelton. Defense counsel challenged the reliability of this identification, noting that protocols governing such recognitions were not implemented in 2019. The court heard that the identification process lacked a second witness and contemporaneous notes, which are now required under 2023 guidelines. The trial continues.
Four men have pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to charges arising from an assault at a repossessed farmhouse near Strokestown, County Roscommon on December 16, 2018. Patrick Sweeney, Martin O'Toole, Paul Beirne and David Lawlor each face 17 charges including false imprisonment, assault causing harm, aggravated burglary and arson. On day 16 of the trial, Detective Sergeant Shane Killeen testified that he seized two mobile phones from O'Toole's home in Claremorris during a search warrant execution in January 2019. Defence counsel for O'Toole challenged the evidence, questioning whether the phones were recovered from the house or taken from the accused's person, and noting that mobile phones were not mentioned in the information sworn to obtain the search warrant. Detective Sergeant Killeen denied the challenge and disputed that contemporaneous records contradicted his account. The trial continues.
In a case heard by the Court of Appeal, William Lyons, aged 49, was found to have led a group of 11 men in a pre‑meditated invasion of a family home in Caherconlish, Co. Limerick, on 17 February 2021. Lyons and two others entered the house, armed with pitchforks and hurleys, and threatened to kill the resident woman. The incident caused a child to be injured by shattered glass. Lyons had pleaded guilty to burglary, making a threat to kill and violent disorder. The original sentencing judge had imposed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year term, with a final year suspended. The State appealed, arguing the sentence was unduly lenient. The Court of Appeal quashed the original sentence and imposed a four‑year imprisonment term, with no portion suspended, citing Lyons' role as leader and the seriousness of the offence.
Larry O'Connor, aged 40, was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment in May 2022 after a two‑week trial in which he was convicted of recklessly discharging a firearm, possession of a firearm and ammunition, aggravated burglary and criminal damage. The offence involved firing four shots from a pump‑action shotgun into the home of his first cousin, Danny Harty, where infant twins were sleeping. O'Connor fired two shots from outside the house, then entered and fired two more shots, striking a kitchen fridge, a window and a ceiling. He was found to have acted without a feud or "bad feeling" between the cousins, a point he raised on appeal. The Court of Appeal heard arguments about the use of the term "bad feeling" and the relevance of alleged animosity, but no judgment was issued. Daniel O'Connor, his brother, received a seven‑year sentence with the final year suspended for burglary. The appeal remains pending. Daniel O'Connor pleaded guilty.
Patrick Sweeney, Martin O'Toole, Paul Beirne, and David Lawlor have pleaded not guilty to 17 charges each at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The defendants are accused of false imprisonment, assault, aggravated burglary, arson, criminal damage, violent disorder, robbery, and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal at a property in Falsk, Roscommon, on December 16, 2018. The trial heard that a video circulated on social media two days prior to the alleged attack, depicting security personnel at the repossessed residence and describing them as "mercenaries." Sergeant Bernard Kilroy testified that after viewing the footage, a garda presence was maintained at the property, though staffing levels prevented coverage past 3am. The court also heard evidence from court messenger Padraig Gilligan regarding the repossession order. The trial continues before Judge Martina Baxter and a jury.
At the ongoing Roscommon eviction trial, a veterinarian testified that an injured Belgian Shepard dog was euthanised due to severe open wounds and distress following an attack at a property in Falsk, outside Strokestown. The incident occurred on December 16, 2018, five days after the property was repossessed. Patrick Sweeney (44), Martin O'Toole (58), Paul Beirne (56), and David Lawlor (43) have each pleaded not guilty to 17 charges at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The charges include false imprisonment, assault causing harm, aggravated burglary, arson, criminal damage, violent disorder, robbery, and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. The prosecution alleges that a group of approximately 30 armed men attacked four security guards present at the property. Security company owner Ian Gordon stated that one of the attackers struck the dog with a baseball bat, causing severe injuries. The trial continues before Judge Martina Baxter and a jury.
Fire brigade officers gave evidence on day 13 of the trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court concerning an incident at a property near Strokestown, County Roscommon, on 16 December 2018. Peter Carney, station officer at Elfin fire station, described arriving at the repossessed farmhouse at Falsk to find vehicles on fire and three or four seriously injured security personnel outside. He told the jury that fire officers cordoned off the property following a risk assessment and controlled access to the scene. Brendan Foy, station officer at Strokestown fire station, testified that security guards requested re-entry but were prevented from doing so due to safety concerns and the site being a crime scene. He confirmed standard procedure involved erecting cordon tape and stationing an officer to prevent tampering with evidence. Four men, Patrick Sweeney, Martin O'Toole, Paul Beirne and David Lawlor, have each pleaded not guilty to 17 charges including false imprisonment, assault causing harm, aggravated burglary and arson. The trial before Judge Martina Baxter continues.
A man with a Roscommon address has been sentenced following a burglary in Dublin over a decade ago. Tomasz Bebenek, aged 34, of Harbour Road, Tarmonbarry, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to trespass and theft at a residence in Rathgar on 15 March 2010. He took two laptops, a camera, a camcorder and a music device valued at €1,080, none of which were recovered. Blood evidence left at the scene remained unmatched until 2019, when changes to European DNA sharing procedures enabled An Garda Síochána to identify Bebenek through a UK database match. Judge Martin Nolan imposed an 18-month sentence, backdated to September 2022. The court heard Bebenek has 44 previous convictions and is currently in custody pending a European Arrest Warrant relating to matters in Poland.
A security guard gave evidence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court regarding an attack on a repossessed farm at Falsk, near Strokestown, County Roscommon, on 16 December 2018. The witness told the court he was struck repeatedly, cut on the legs with a meat cleaver, doused in petrol, and bound with cable ties during an assault by a large group of armed men. The incident occurred five days after the property's repossession. Four men—Patrick Sweeney of County Donegal, Martin O'Toole of County Mayo, Paul Beirne of County Roscommon, and David Lawlor of County Meath—have each pleaded not guilty to 17 charges including false imprisonment, assault causing harm, aggravated burglary, arson, violent disorder, and robbery. The trial is ongoing at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Under cross-examination, counsel challenged inconsistencies between the witness's account to gardaí and his testimony regarding events in the kitchen during the attack.
Patrick Sweeney, Martin O'Toole, Paul Beirne, and David Lawlor have pleaded not guilty to 17 charges each at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The defendants are alleged to have committed false imprisonment, assault causing harm, aggravated burglary, arson, criminal damage, violent disorder, robbery, and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal at Falsk, Strokestown, on December 16, 2018. The trial is currently ongoing before Judge Martina Baxter and a jury. Evidence presented includes testimony from KBC Bank officer Danny Noone, who stated the bank repossessed the property in December 2018 after legal proceedings began in 2009. Noone indicated that public records showed the mortgage holder owned approximately 170 acres and other residential properties. Defense counsel Blaise O'Carroll SC argued that the execution order used for the eviction was invalid due to a missing affidavit of non-compliance. A security guard witness described an attack by approximately 30 armed men who forced entry into the farmhouse, using weapons including batons, crowbars, and a chainsaw. The witness reported being struck and overpowered while attempting to defend himself and colleagues. The trial continues with further evidence scheduled for presentation.
In a Court of Appeal hearing on 20 March 2023, the State successfully appealed the sentence imposed on William Lyons, a 49‑year‑old from Limerick, for his role in a "vigilante mob" attack on a woman in Caherconlish on 17 February 2021. Lyons and three others entered the victim's home with faces covered and weapons, threatening to kill her and causing damage to the property. He had pleaded guilty to burglary, making a threat to kill and violent disorder. The original sentencing court had imposed a headline sentence of five years, reduced to two‑and‑a‑half years after a discount of 18 months for the guilty plea and other mitigating factors, and suspended an additional year for rehabilitation. The Court of Appeal found this to be unduly lenient, noting the seriousness of the offence and the physical and psychological harm inflicted, and ordered a re‑sentencing hearing for 28 March 2023.
Adam Schuster, 21, pleaded guilty to demanding €3,500 from a woman in Lucan in June 2020 and to armed burglary in September 2020. He was arrested on the victim's property after a short chase and admitted to carrying a knife. The victim, who had to move homes due to fear, said the incidents caused her family to break up. Schuster's mother testified that he was under pressure from drug debt and had been receiving threatening calls. Judge Orla Crowe sentenced him to a four‑year term, suspended in full on strict conditions, including two years of probation. The court noted his lack of prior convictions, his efforts to rehabilitate, and his moderate risk of re‑offending. The judge described the crimes as an appalling start to his adult life and a huge violation of the homeowner's safety.
A security guard has testified at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in the trial of four men accused of an assault on a rural Roscommon property in December 2018. Michael Kane told the jury he was asleep in a security van at the 30-acre estate near Strokestown when he was awakened by shouting and roaring at approximately 5am on December 16. He described witnessing a colleague being struck and falling to the ground, and hearing a loud mechanical sound. The witness said he and three other security personnel fled the scene, believing they would be killed. Upon returning when emergency services arrived, Mr Kane found the yard ablaze with two cars and four vans on fire. He said he feared finding "charred dead bodies" of his colleagues. Patrick Sweeney, Martin O'Toole, Paul Beirne and David Lawlor have each pleaded not guilty to 17 charges including false imprisonment, assault causing harm, aggravated burglary, arson and violent disorder. The trial before Judge Martina Baxter and a jury continues.
Tatiana Viera, daughter of the late Ohari Viera, spoke at the sentencing hearing for Dean Boland, who was convicted of unlawful killing, arson and burglary in August 2018. Viera said she had grown up with a distrust of the police as an African national but had learned "the truth of the system" through the trial and praised the "kind humanity" of the gardai. She thanked the judge, jury and prosecution team, expressed sympathy for Boland, and urged the African community that there is no need to be afraid of the police. Viera described her father's death as the tragic end of a "complicated journey" from Angola, and she highlighted the trauma she experienced when her father was taken to St James' Hospital and later died of cardiac arrest caused by smoke inhalation. The sentencing was adjourned to March 30. Dean Boland pleaded not guilty.
The trial of Patrick Sweeney, Martin O'Toole, Paul Beirne, and David Lawlor continues before Judge Martina Baxter and a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The four men, who have all pleaded not guilty, face the same 17 charges each. They are accused of false imprisonment and assault causing harm to four security guards, including Mark Rissen, at a repossessed farm in Falsk, Strokestown, on December 16, 2018. The State alleges the group also committed aggravated burglary, four counts of arson, criminal damage, violent disorder, robbery, and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. Mr. Rissen testified that he was pushed to the ground, struck, and had his hands tied with cable ties during the attack. He reported bleeding from a leg gash and smoke inhalation, requiring treatment at Mullingar Hospital. The court heard that the accused allegedly arrived armed with various weapons, smashed the property, and set vehicles on fire. The trial is currently at the evidence stage, with the prosecution presenting witness accounts of the alleged assault and property damage.
Conor O'Flaherty, 25, of Spiddal Park, Ballyfermot, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two burglaries in Chapelizod on 17 July 2022 – one at a private home and one at a medical centre. The first burglary involved a kitchen window smashed at 4 am, with homeowners finding a man holding car keys outside. O'Flaherty was later found at the medical centre, filling his pockets with supplies, after gardai followed an alarm sound. DNA from blood linked him to the earlier crime. He apologized and offered to pay for the broken window. O'Flaherty has two prior convictions and was in custody after missing a court date. The court considered his work record and remorse, and Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to two and a half years, suspended in full under conditions. The sentence was imposed today.
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard testimony on 13 March 2023 in the trial of four men charged in connection with an attack on a repossessed farm near Strokestown, County Roscommon. The managing director of Trinity Asset Management Services described executing a repossession order at Falsk on 11 December 2018, following which he met a large group at Strokestown church before driving in convoy to the property. The State alleges that five days later, approximately 30 people, some masked and carrying weapons, attacked the rural premises, assaulted four security personnel, damaged vehicles, and injured a guard dog. The defence barrister characterised the convoy operation as resembling frontier justice. Patrick Sweeney, Martin O'Toole, Paul Beirne, and David Lawlor, all pleaded not guilty to 53 charges in total, including aggravated burglary, assault causing harm, arson, false imprisonment, criminal damage, and violent disorder. The trial before Judge Martina Baxter and a jury continues.
Paul Meehan, 47, of Dublin, pleaded guilty to burglary at Fit4Less gym in Finglas on 2 May 2020 during the first Covid‑19 lockdown. A woman passing the gym at 9.30 pm on 5 May 2020 saw Meehan removing an exercise bike from the closed premises and later gave a detailed description to the Gardaí. CCTV footage, recovered from a single hard drive, showed Meehan entering the gym as the front door was open and cutting the CCTV system. He was arrested on 6 May 2020 and, after two interviews, identified himself on the footage. The bike was not recovered. Meehan has 204 prior convictions, including over 20 for burglary. The court, after considering a medical report and his engagement with mental‑health services, imposed a 16‑month prison sentence fully suspended on strict conditions, including supervision by the Probation Service. The sentence was handed by Judge Martin Nolan.
The trial of Patrick Sweeney, Martin O'Toole, Paul Beirne, and David Lawlor continues at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court before Judge Martina Baxter. The four men, who have pleaded not guilty to a total of 53 charges, are accused of participating in an attack during the Strokestown repossession case. The State alleges that on December 16, 2018, a group armed with various weapons assaulted four security guards, caused criminal damage, committed aggravated burglary, false imprisonment, arson, robbery, and animal cruelty. Each defendant is separately charged with 17 of these offences. During cross-examination, witness Ian Gordon, who testified to being forced to eat dog faeces, identified himself in bodycam footage from an eviction five days prior to the alleged assaults. Gordon stated his unlicensed security company was hired to execute a court order at the McGann family property. He described lifting a resident out of a seat to escort him out, denying any use of reinforced knuckle gloves or physical abuse beyond necessary restraint. The jury viewed this footage, which showed the resident being moved while his sister protested. The trial is ongoing and will resume on Monday.
The trial of David Lawlor, Martin O'Toole, Paul Beirne, and Patrick Sweeney continues before Judge Martina Baxter and a jury. The four defendants, who have pleaded not guilty to 53 charges including aggravated burglary, false imprisonment, arson, robbery, and animal cruelty, face allegations of a violent attack on security guards at a property in Falsk, Co Roscommon, in December 2018. Witness Ian Gordon testified that he was forced at gunpoint to eat dog faeces and identified Lawlor's voice during the incident. Under cross-examination, Gordon acknowledged his former service with the Ulster Defence Regiment and admitted his security company, GS Agencies Ltd, operated without a company licence, for which he previously entered a guilty plea. Defense counsel suggested Gordon was mistaken in identifying Lawlor, but Gordon maintained he was 100% certain of the identification. The State alleges a group of approximately 30 armed men assaulted four guards, set fire to vehicles, and beat a guard dog unconscious. The defendants are charged with criminal damage, assault causing harm, and violent disorder. The matter is currently at the trial stage, with proceedings ongoing.
Four men are standing trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 53 charges arising from an alleged attack on security personnel during a property repossession at Strokestown, County Roscommon, in December 2018. Patrick Sweeney of Ramelton, County Donegal, Martin O'Toole of Claremorris, County Mayo, Paul Beirne of Boyle, County Roscommon, and David Lawlor of County Meath have each pleaded not guilty to charges including aggravated burglary, false imprisonment, assault causing harm, arson, criminal damage, violent disorder, robbery and animal cruelty. A security guard testified that approximately 30 masked individuals arrived at the property armed with weapons, assaulted four security staff, set vehicles alight and fatally injured a guard dog. The witness further told the court of previous hostile encounters with one of the defendants at other eviction sites. The trial is ongoing.
A security guard has given evidence to Dublin Circuit Criminal Court regarding an alleged assault at a rural property in Roscommon on 16 December 2018. The witness, who owns a security company, described the moment a dog in his care was struck with a baseball bat during the incident. He told the court that a group of approximately 30 to 40 men arrived at the farmhouse in the early morning, some wearing balaclavas and high-visibility clothing, and that he feared for his life as the assault unfolded. Four men have pleaded not guilty to 53 charges in relation to the incident, including aggravated burglary, false imprisonment, assault causing harm, arson, violent disorder, robbery and animal cruelty. The defendants are Patrick Sweeney from Ramelton, County Donegal; Martin O'Toole from Claremorris, County Mayo; Paul Beirne from Boyle, County Roscommon; and David Lawlor from County Meath. The trial before Judge Martin Baxter continues.
Four men have gone on trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court accused of involvement in a sustained and brutal attack on security personnel at a repossessed property near Strokestown, County Roscommon in December 2018. Patrick Sweeney, Martin O'Toole, Paul Beirne and David Lawlor each face 17 charges including false imprisonment, assault causing harm, aggravated burglary and arson. The prosecution alleges that approximately 20 to 30 people arrived at the rural house around 5am on 16 December 2018, armed with various weapons, and attacked four security guards who were guarding the property. The court heard that the guards were seriously assaulted, had their hands tied with cable ties and their shoes removed. A German Shepherd dog at the property was beaten and subsequently had to be put down. All four defendants have pleaded not guilty. The prosecution intends to rely on the legal principle of joint enterprise to establish liability. The trial, before Judge Martin Baxter, is scheduled to run for five weeks.
A man has been sentenced to three years' imprisonment following a burglary at a residential property in Dundrum, south Dublin on July 2nd, 2022. Gary Bailey, aged 45, of Gleann Na Ri, Druids Valley, Loughlinstown, pleaded guilty to the offence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. During the incident, the male occupant confronted the intruder and a struggle ensued in which Bailey grabbed the homeowner by the groin. As Bailey attempted to escape through a bedroom window, the resident struck him several times with a golf club, causing Bailey to become briefly suspended upside down from the window blinds before falling. Judge Martin Nolan noted that Bailey's primary objective upon being confronted was escape rather than violence. The court heard Bailey had acted impulsively, telling gardaí the burglary was not premeditated and that he had been under the influence of medication at the time. The judge accepted that Bailey had displayed remorse and wished to apologise to both victims.
Two men, Thomas Harvey (42) and Daniel Kavanagh (29), were sentenced by Judge Martin Nolan to 18 months in prison, suspended in full, for stealing 60 kilos of meat from Captain Americas on Grafton Street. Harvey climbed a fire‑escape ladder to the storeroom, stole the meat worth €2,000, and passed it to Kavanagh, who tried to sell it in a taxi to a hotel but failed. The meat was later sold to a mother of eight for €100. Both pleaded guilty to trespass and theft. The judge noted their drug use at the time but that they are now drug‑free, and remarked that their burglary was not the most insidious. Kavanagh apologized to Gardaí, saying he acted to survive, and both men had numerous prior convictions. The court heard that none of the meat was recovered.
The Special Criminal Court has ruled that burglary and robbery charges against two men will be heard together, rejecting an application to separate the trials. Brendan Treanor, aged 34, formerly of Dundalk, County Louth, and James Flynn, aged 32, from South Armagh, face conspiracy charges relating to house burglaries between September 2012 and January 2013, and robbery charges stemming from a credit union incident in Bellurgan, County Louth on 25 January 2013. Both have pleaded not guilty. Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding over the three-judge court, exercised his discretion to combine the trials while confirming each charge will be considered separately. The court heard evidence from Virginia and Monaghan residents describing break-ins and car thefts during the relevant period. Detective Garda Laura Bolger provided maps charting distances between alleged theft locations and properties connected to the accused. Aaron Brady, previously convicted of murder and burglary in the same matter, is serving a life sentence with a forty-year minimum and is appealing his conviction.
In February 2023 a Dublin court heard that Graham Armstrong, 38, had broken into a woman's home armed with a knife and threatened to kill her. The victim had met Armstrong on Tinder the day before, and he had stayed for about an hour, appearing "nice and normal." After a brief outing, she returned to find a draught and a shadow, then was pushed and held by Armstrong who demanded money. He forced her to hand over her passport, €150, and other cards, and took her mobile phone. The victim later contacted a friend who advised her to call the police. Armstrong had previously mugged a 75‑year‑old woman in August 2020 and had been convicted of robbery and burglary in 2021. He pleaded guilty to both offences and was sentenced to two years for the robbery and a consecutive three‑year term for the burglary, with the judge noting the seriousness of the knife‑wielding intrusion.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, defence counsel Sean Guerin SC argued that the prosecution sought to introduce evidence of burglaries committed by Brendan Treanor and James Flynn to prejudice them in the Lordship Credit Union robbery case that resulted in the death of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe. Guerin said the burglaries had no connection to the robbery and requested separate trials for each charge. Bernard Condon SC supported this position for Flynn. Prosecutor Brendan Grehan SC countered that the burglary and robbery charges were joined because of a continuum of facts, citing similarities in location, timing, method and mobile phone evidence. He argued the burglary evidence would show the accused were not in innocent association on the day of the robbery. The court would rule on the matter next Tuesday. Treanor (34) and Flynn (32) have pleaded not guilty to both the burglary and robbery charges.
Two men have been charged with conspiracy to commit a series of burglaries known as "creeper burglaries" across Ireland between September 2012 and January 2013. The Special Criminal Court heard that the offences involved late-night break-ins at residential properties, where car keys were stolen and vehicles removed. A Volkswagen Passat taken during a creeper burglary in Clogherhead, County Louth in January 2013 was subsequently used in a robbery at Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgan on 25 January 2013, during which Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was shot dead. Brendan Treanor, 34, formerly of Dundalk, and James Flynn, 32, from South Armagh are charged with conspiracy and with the credit union robbery. The prosecution indicated it would rely on circumstantial evidence including phone records, cell-site data, and CCTV footage. Aaron Brady, previously convicted of murdering Detective Garda Donohoe, is serving a 40-year sentence. The trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and two other judges.
The Special Criminal Court will start a full‑day opening for the trial of Brendan Treanor and James Flynn, accused of a credit union robbery that led to the death of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe. Treanor, 34, and Flynn, 32, are charged with conspiracy to steal a car key and robbery of €7,000 at Lordship Credit Union on 25 January 2013. Aaron Brady, 31, is already serving a 40‑year sentence for Donohoe's murder and the burglary. Treanor's counsel intends to sever the conspiracy and robbery charges, a move also supported by Flynn's counsel.
In the Special Criminal Court, Gerard Cruise and Paul Crosby pleaded guilty to facilitating the murder of Keane Mulready-Woods in Drogheda, Co Louth, between January 11 and 13, 2020. The court heard that Cruise admitted to dropping the victim and Crosby at the murder scene, while Crosby had prior convictions including an acquittal for attempted murder. The presiding judge, Mr Justice Tony Hunt, noted that the defendants' apologies may appear empty to the victim's family given the horrific nature of the crime. The matter was adjourned to February 13 for sentencing. The report notes that Gerard McKenna was jailed last year for four years for assisting in the clean-up of the crime scene. Cruise's previous convictions include public order matters and a burglary in 1990. The court acknowledged Crosby's early guilty plea, which entitles him to a 25 percent discount on any headline sentence, and Cruise's early guilty plea. The investigation into other individuals involved in the murder remains ongoing.
Michael Joyce, 25, of Prussia Street, Dublin 7, pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary and false imprisonment on 9 January 2021. He attacked a 71‑year‑old neighbour, who lived alone, by pushing him into his apartment, demanding €10,000 and later €5,000, striking him with a hammer on knees, toes and ankles, and swinging a shovel that hit the victim's head. Joyce tied the victim's wrists and ankles with cable ties, locked the door, and demanded €100 a week from the pension. The victim escaped, raised the alarm and was hospitalised for six days. Joyce, who had 40 prior convictions, was sentenced by Judge Martin Nolan to four years in prison, to run consecutively to an existing sentence, after a guilty plea and mitigating factors were considered. The sentence was imposed at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The victim declined to give a victim impact statement.