A man classified as a "high risk" sex offender, whose name cannot be disclosed, had a six‑month jail sentence for breaching Section 33(1) of the Sex Offenders Act 2001 overturned on appeal. He had pleaded guilty in the District Court to failing to attend a scheduled meeting with a supervising officer after his release in July 2021. The appeal court noted an "overall pattern of non‑compliance" and that he had missed an appointment on 4 November 2022, had a high risk of sexual reoffending, and had used drugs. He had previously been convicted of sexual assault and attempted rape in 2017 and sentenced to five years in custody. On appeal, the judge suspended the custodial sentence for 12 months, conditional on the defendant remaining drug‑free and engaging with probation services.
In Tallaght District Court, 45‑year‑old Norman Purfield pleaded guilty to simple possession of heroin under Section 3 of the Misuse of Drugs Act after a police stop on Old Bawn Road. He was found with 6.8 g of heroin, worth about €952, and claimed it was for personal use, bought in bulk to avoid theft. Judge Patricia McNamara dismissed the original charge of possession for sale or supply, citing insufficient proof beyond reasonable doubt, and convicted him of simple possession. She imposed a three‑month sentence, suspended for 12 months, conditional on Purfield attending a drug treatment programme in Deonach, Tallaght. Purfield, who has 42 previous convictions including three drug‑related offences, was warned that failure to attend treatment could lead to the sentence being imposed. The judge noted the lack of weighing scales, paraphernalia, or evidence of supply, and accepted Purfield's explanation and willingness to engage with treatment.
An 18-year-old defendant, previously convicted of violent disorder during the fatal assault on Tristan Sherry at Browne's Steakhouse, pleaded guilty to multiple offences at the Special Criminal Court. The charges relate to incidents at Tolka Valley Park, Blanchardstown, on May 7/8, 2024, including the possession of a side-by-side shotgun, 15 rounds of 9mm Makarov ammunition, and ten 12 Gauge shotgun cartridges. He also faced charges for possessing controlled drugs, including cannabis, diamorphine, cocaine, ketamine, and Phenacetin, allegedly for supply. Garda evidence indicated the defendant was burying these items for the Hennessy criminal gang. The court heard that the defendant is currently serving a sentence of two years and four months for the earlier violent disorder conviction, with the final year suspended. Defence counsel argued the defendant acted under the direction of others and cited his difficult background. Judge Karen O'Connor, presiding, adjourned the matter to July 7 for sentencing. The defendant was 17 at the time of the park offences but has since turned 18. The court noted the separate conviction for violent disorder arising from the Christmas Eve 2023 incident where Sherry was beaten to death.
A man in his 20s was denied bail after a court heard that armed Gardaí had to break into his mother's Dublin home to remove him, who is accused of breaching a barring order issued in August 2024 to protect his mother, a woman in her 60s. The order, under Section 33(1) of the Domestic Violence Act 2018, prohibits the man from being at the residence. Gardaí responded to a midnight call from the mother, who reported her son was present despite the order. The man refused to engage, barricaded himself, and Gardaí forced the back door to gain entry. The mother, who was at a relative's home, later testified that she feared her son, describing him as aggressive when drinking or using drugs, and that he had threatened to kill her and her family. The man's solicitor denied the threat allegations and argued the man believed he had the mother's consent.
Brian Carroll, 24, pleaded guilty to possession of MDMA and cannabis after his girlfriend died following drug use at the Forbidden Fruit festival and later at a house in south Dublin. Gardaí seized €44 of cannabis, €16.14 of MDMA and a small amount of cocaine, all for personal use. Carroll, who had been in a relationship with the deceased for two and a half years, voluntarily presented himself to Gardaí and has not been involved with the police since. He has engaged in trauma counselling, tested negative for drugs in recent months, remained in full‑time employment and volunteered during the pandemic. Judge Conor Fottrell, after considering the tragic circumstances and Carroll's remorse and recovery steps, decided not to impose a conviction, noting the low value of the drugs and the absence of prior convictions. The case concluded with a €1,000 charitable donation.
A 24‑year‑old man named Brandon Deegan of Redwood Court, Tallaght, was sentenced by Tallaght District Court to 15 months in jail for a series of offences committed between April and September 2023. The offences included possession of cocaine on two occasions, possession of a silver extendable baton, and obstructing Garda Neil Lynch during a drug search. Deegan pleaded guilty to all charges. The court noted that he had prior convictions, including a six‑month sentence for drug possession in 2020 and a three‑month term in May 2023 for a similar offence. Defence counsel described Deegan's background as a "deeply traumatic upbringing", with 18 years in State care, the loss of his mother's body at age 18, the death of his father in 2014, and the loss of a close friend in a road traffic incident.
Samantha Ward, a 30‑year‑old healthcare worker, was found with €182,450 of drug gang proceeds hidden in the bottom of a wardrobe at her home in Wheatfield Grove, Clondalkin. Gardaí received a confidential tip, obtained a search warrant, and raided the house where Ward lived with her husband, mother and brother. The cash was concealed behind a modified kickboard. Ward pleaded guilty to one count of possession of the proceeds of crime on 3 December 2023. She had no prior convictions. In court, her defence counsel said she cooperated with authorities and had a drug problem, using the money to pay a €5,000 debt. Judge Martin Nolan, noting her vulnerability and mitigation, imposed a headline sentence of six years but reduced it to three years effective from the sentencing date. No other charges were brought against her husband.
Three Spanish men—Pedro Pablo Ojeda Ortega (36), Raul Tabares Garcia (48) and Angel Serran Padilla (40)—were denied a bid to have their charges dismissed in the Special Criminal Court. Their lawyers had applied under Section 4E of the Criminal Justice Act 1999 to prevent disclosure of evidence and arguments. Justice Karen O'Connor, with Judges Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin and Marie Keane, rejected the applications. The men face conspiracy charges for importing controlled drugs worth over €13,000 between 27 February and 14 March 2024, and the case was adjourned to 18 June.
Thomas Greene, 33, of Sarsfield Street, Sallynoggin, Co Dublin, was sentenced to three months' imprisonment by Judge Conor Fottrell at Dún Laoghaire District Court after pleading guilty to 14 charges covering theft, public intoxication, abusive behaviour in a public place and repeated failures to appear in court. The offences, committed between March 2021 and March 2023, included stealing €10 worth of petrol from Applegreen, shoplifting four Kindle products and a €25 scarf, stealing €140 worth of Bulmers cider, and pushing a buggy while heavily intoxicated. Greene, who has 107 prior convictions including robbery, assault, drug and firearms offences, was already in custody since June 2 on multiple bench warrants. The court noted his history of drug use, a drug‑induced coma, seizures and fractures, and his current treatment at St Michael's Unit, Beaumont Hospital. Judge Fottrell back‑dated the custodial sentence to June 2 and rejected a cash recognisance in favour of an independent surety.
Brian Early, a 54‑year‑old from Newbridge, pleaded guilty to theft, possession of stolen property and possession of certain articles in two incidents in February 2024. He stole 17 bottles of spirits worth about €700 from Dunnes Stores, removing security tags with wire cutters and making a small purchase to appear legitimate. Two bottles of Bombay Sapphire gin were recovered. Early admitted the theft was to repay a drug debt, citing a serious crack cocaine addiction that worsened after a five‑year cancer battle and his father's death. He has been clean for 10 months, has not attended a formal drug programme but has sought support from Pieta House following a mental‑health crisis, and receives a disability allowance. Judge Conor Fottrell, considering the guilty plea, personal circumstances and support engagement, imposed a 12‑month probation bond requiring Early to keep the peace and continue engaging with Pieta House and any further counselling.
The Special Criminal Court heard mitigation submissions for eight defendants who pleaded guilty to offences arising from the seizure of 2.25 tonnes of cocaine on the MV Matthew. The court heard that the Dubai-based organisers considered crew members Jamie Harbron and Vitaliy Lapa "completely expendable" after their vessel, the Castlemore, ran aground. Harbron and Lapa pleaded guilty to attempting to possess cocaine for sale or supply. Mykhailo Gavryk, Vitaliy Vlasoi, Soheil Jelveh, Saeid Hassani, Harold Estoesta, and Cumali Ozgen pleaded guilty to possessing cocaine for sale or supply. Defence counsel argued that the defendants were hired for specific roles, were not the leaders of the enterprise, and relied on their guilty pleas and foreign imprisonment as mitigation. Harbron, the only defendant with prior convictions, was described as being on the "lowest rung" of the operation. Counsel for others highlighted their good character and financial vulnerabilities. The court, comprising Ms Justice Melanie Greally, Judge Sarah Berkeley, and Judge Grainne Malone, will deliver sentences on July 4.
James Fuery, 32, pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis for sale or supply after customs officers at Dublin Airport seized €404,520 of cannabis in a suitcase he had brought from Ibiza. The drugs, weighing just under 22.5 kg, were found in 45 vacuum‑sealed packets. Fuery claimed he was under pressure from a €15,000 drug debt and that this was his first time bringing drugs into the country. He described difficulties with cocaine and cannabis, a relapse into addiction, and previous homelessness due to addiction. He has eight prior convictions for road traffic, theft and public order offences but none for drug offences. The court accepted his early guilty plea, noted his cooperation and lack of wealth, and remanded him in custody while ordering a urine analysis. The case was adjourned for finalisation on 7 July.
The Special Criminal Court heard a sentencing hearing for eight defendants who pleaded guilty to offences arising from the seizure of 2.25 tonnes of cocaine on the MV Matthew. Mykhailo Gavryk, Vitaliy Vlasoi, Soheil Jelveh, Saeid Hassani, Harold Estoesta, and Cumali Ozgen pleaded guilty to possessing cocaine for sale or supply between September 24 and 26, 2023. Vitaliy Lapa pleaded guilty to attempting to possess cocaine for supply within the State between September 21 and 25, 2023. Jamie Harbron pleaded guilty to attempting to possess cocaine for sale or supply during the same period. Detective Superintendent Keith Halley testified that an organised crime group in Dubai instructed the crew to evade capture, with one individual allegedly ordering the drugs be destroyed by fire. Army Rangers boarded the vessel in treacherous weather, risking their lives to prevent the destruction of the cocaine. The investigation into the wider criminal network remains ongoing. The matter was adjourned to Wednesday for the continuation of the sentencing hearing before Ms Justice Melanie Greally, Judge Sarah Berkeley, and Judge Grainne Malone.
Robert Ward, 30, of Walker Grove, Parkside, Clongriffin, Dublin 13, appeared before Tallaght District Court after a drunken outburst on 6 October 2024. The incident occurred near the N81 in Tallaght, shortly after a League of Ireland match at Tallaght Stadium. Ward, who had been filming a bus that had stalled with passengers inside, shouted a profanity at Gardaí and ran into oncoming traffic. He was heavily intoxicated, threw three cans of Bulmers on the ground, and was arrested. Ward pleaded guilty to two public order offences – threatening behaviour and intoxication in a public place. He has 122 prior convictions, including traffic, theft and drug offences, and two bench warrants. At the time of the incident he was serving a five‑month suspended sentence for trespassing. Ward has two bench warrants outstanding and a history of convictions for traffic, theft, and drug offences. He has a suspended sentence for a trespassing conviction.
Edyta Scibior, 36, owner of 'Home of Shellac' in Carlow, pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply on 22 February 2023 at Carlow Circuit Criminal Court. She was found with cannabis and amphetamines in her home's utility room and a nail salon store room, though she claimed ignorance and that she never entered the utility room. Her husband, Kamil Scibior, 42, also pleaded guilty to having drugs for sale or supply, with a higher offence carrying a mandatory 10‑year term. Judge Eugene O'Kelly jailed Kamil for six years and imposed a four‑and‑a‑half‑year suspended sentence on Edyta. The suspended term is conditional on her engaging with the Probation Service for 18 months. The court noted her role as an employer and mother of two 14‑year‑olds, and considered her guilty plea as acceptance of responsibility. The total drugs seized were valued at €229,204.
Bruna Alves De Campos, a 35‑year‑old mother of four from Brazil, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to importing 109 cocaine pellets worth €63,653 on 2 November 2024 at Dublin Airport. She admitted ingesting the pellets to finance the care of her ill parents, who had since passed away, and claimed she was a drug mule. Garda Anthony Boyle described her arrival at customs as suspicious, noting photographs of the pellets on her phone and her admission of ingestion. De Campos was taken to hospital, arrested, and later cooperated with investigators by providing phone numbers and email addresses, though she did not name the recipient, citing fear. She had no prior convictions. Judge Orla Crowe sentenced her to three years' imprisonment, to be served in full, citing the role of drug mules in drug importation and the hardship of her situation.
Daniel Buckley, 32, pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply after Gardaí raided his cabin on 21 April 2024. He was found throwing a gym bag over a wall; the bag contained €46,358 worth of cannabis and cocaine, plus €1,710 in cash. Buckley admitted he knew the bag held drugs but did not know their value, citing a €10,000 drug debt. He had held the drugs for two weeks, expecting others to take portions. He has prior convictions for theft and drug offences. The court sentenced him to three years, with the final six months suspended on strict conditions. He will be supervised by the Probation Service for 12 months after release to aid rehabilitation and vocational reintegration.
Philip Moore, 41, was found guilty of assault causing harm and false imprisonment of Alan Rossiter after a night of heavy drinking and drug use. The jury did not convict him of producing a knife or threatening to kill. Moore claimed Rossiter had attacked him the night before, but investigators found no evidence and no prosecution was brought against Rossiter. He also blamed friend Shane Coady, who pleaded guilty to assaulting Rossiter. The trial heard that Rossiter was held against his will in a kitchen and then bundled into the boot of Moore's mother's car, where forensic evidence supported Rossiter's claim of being in the boot. Moore was remanded on bail pending sentencing later this month. The jury deliberated for almost three hours before reaching its verdict. Philip Moore pleaded not guilty.
Vladislovas Jurevicius, a 39‑year‑old chef, was arrested in February 2024 after Gardaí discovered he had cloned fuel cards from a trucking logistics company and used them to steal an estimated €25,000 worth of diesel between August 2023 and February 2024. He pleaded guilty to possession of a card with intent to commit theft and five counts of stealing diesel at an Applegreen service station in Ballymount, as well as one count of cultivating juvenile cannabis plants at his home in Greenfield Heights, Rathwire, Co. Westmeath. Gardaí found 35 cannabis plants, two empty 200‑litre fuel barrels, and photographs of the cloned cards on Jurevicius's phone. He has no prior convictions and was described by his employer as a valuable staff member. The court ordered a probation report and adjourned the case to October 6, allowing Jurevicius to provide additional restitution to the affected company.
Amy Mongan, 25, of Kilbarrack, Dublin 5, pleaded guilty at Tallaght District Court to stealing €1,387 worth of cosmetics from Boots in Tallaght on September 21, 2023. The court heard that Mongan committed the offence while on bail and has 28 previous convictions, including 24 for theft. She is currently on a 12-month probation bond and had previously received a suspended sentence in December 2024. Defence counsel Lauren Flanagan BL, instructed by Padraig O'Donovan, stated that Mongan struggled with addictions and is no longer using drugs. Counsel noted that Mongan is caring for her unwell mother, her own child, and her sister's children. Judge Catherine Ghent described the offence as serious given Mongan's record but ordered a community service report to assess her suitability. The matter was adjourned to July 18, and Mongan was remanded on bail. The judge told Mongan, "Too many people are depending on you now for you not to be available to them."
Stephen Wilson, a 49‑year‑old chronic offender with 95 prior convictions, appeared in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 23 May 2025. He had previously pleaded guilty to two attempted burglaries at commercial premises on Mount Street on 24 April 2020. During the hearing, Wilson refused to accept the bond and the 18‑month sentence imposed by Judge Orla Crowe, demanding a new trial date and a jury trial. The judge upheld the sentence of three years, with the final 18 months suspended for two years, and adjourned the imposition until 30 May. Wilson's case involved CCTV evidence of an attempted burglary using a plastic "glide" and a screwdriver with his DNA. The court noted his extensive criminal history, including burglary, possession of stolen property, and drug addiction, and placed him under probation supervision for one year after release. The sentence was back‑dated to the date he entered custody for the matter.
The Central Criminal Court has convicted four men of offences arising from the murder of Mahamud Ilyas. Viorel Doroscan and Otniel Richardo Clejan, who pleaded not guilty, were unanimously convicted of murder and remanded in custody. They face a mandatory term of life imprisonment at a sentencing hearing scheduled for June 23. Lorenzo Cantaragiu, who also pleaded not guilty, was convicted of impeding the prosecution or apprehension of Doroscan and Clejan and cleaning his car to impede the prosecution. The jury rejected his defence that he acted under intimidation. Cantaragiu was remanded in custody until June 23, with a probation report directed. Robert Burns, who pleaded guilty to one count of cleaning the apartment where the assault occurred, had his remaining charges indicated for dismissal at a later hearing. The court described the disposal of the victim as grotesquely inhumane. The matter for all defendants is adjourned to June 23 for sentencing or further proceedings.
John Power, 35, pleaded guilty to two robberies and an attempted robbery at Dublin city shops in March 2023. He has 106 prior convictions, 99 in District Court and seven in Circuit Court. Judge Martina Baxter sentenced him to two and a half years for the attempted robbery and four years for each robbery, all concurrent. She suspended the final 18 months of the 2½‑year term, backdated the sentence to October 2024, and ordered 18 months of post‑release supervision. Power's earlier guilty pleas, remorse, insight, and a drug‑free urine test were mitigating factors, while his addiction and past convictions were aggravating. The court noted that a shop worker resisted him during the attempted robbery, and CCTV footage identified him wearing a distinctive jacket. Power apologized to the judge and pledged never to use drugs again. The case was prosecuted by BL Miranda Egan‑Langley.
Karl Finnegan, 41, was found by Gardaí with €230,860 in cash and five Rolex watches during a search of his Dublin home on 16 September. The watches, valued at about £89,000, were sent to the UK for expert analysis. Finnegan pleaded guilty to possession of the proceeds of crime and was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to four years' imprisonment, backdated to his arrest, with the final 12 months suspended. He must remain under probation supervision for 12 months post‑release, stay drug‑free, undergo random drug testing and participate in treatment programmes. Finnegan, who has five children and a history of drug addiction, was described by the judge as an "important cog" in assisting a criminal organisation. The court noted the cash and watches were likely proceeds of crime, though Finnegan claimed the cash was his and the watches were second‑hand. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the offence and the mitigating factors presented.
Conor Stewart, 31, of Kilcross Court, Sandyford, Dublin 18, was found in possession of €280 worth of cocaine during a car stop on the Dundrum Bypass on 9 April 2022. He pleaded guilty at Dún Laoghaire District Court to a Section 3 offence under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977, and was charged under Section 27(1) of the same Act, as amended by the Misuse of Drugs Act 1984. Garda Brian Gallagher reported that Stewart was a nervous passenger when the vehicle was stopped in the early hours, leading to a search that uncovered the drug. Stewart has 84 prior convictions, including 12 for drug offences, seven public order offences, theft and criminal damage. He is already serving a three‑year sentence, one year suspended, for other offences. Judge Anne Watkin added a one‑month term to run consecutively, raising his total sentence to three years and one month, with a €500 recognisance for appeal.
Zachary Purcell, 36, a serial burglar with over 200 convictions, was on bail when he entered the Christ Church Deanery in Dublin 8 on 23 July 2022 during a wedding hosted by Dean Dermot Dunne. He stole an iPad, jewellery worth €2,000, and a church credit card, which he used to purchase €50 of goods. Purcell was identified through CCTV and DNA on a water bottle. He had previously pleaded guilty to a burglary at the Morgan Hotel on 9 July 2022, two weeks earlier. The court noted Purcell's long history of drug addiction and his recent rehabilitation. Judge Orla Crowe sentenced him to four and a half years' imprisonment, suspending the final 12 months under conditions. The sentence reflects the two burglaries committed while he was on bail.
Andrerson Lana, 46, a Brazilian without fixed abode, was jailed for two and a half years after pleading guilty to possessing €280,119 worth of cocaine at Dublin Airport on 4 November 2024. He admitted that he had carried the drugs in his luggage from Brazil to Amsterdam and then to Dublin, with an accomplice holding an Italian passport who helped him pass customs. Garda David Walsh explained that Lana had been pressured by loan sharks, owing just over €100,000 after friends defaulted on loans taken in his name. He agreed to transport the drugs to reduce the debt. The court accepted his full admission and cooperation, noting his lack of prior convictions and vulnerability. Judge Pauline Codd imposed a seven‑year sentence, suspending the final four and a half years on strict conditions and ordered Lana to leave Ireland within a month of release.
Two men, Viorel Doroscan (23) and Otniel Richardo Clejan (24), were found guilty of murdering 22‑year‑old Mahamud Ilyas after a dispute over a stolen bag of cannabis. The jury, after seven hours and 52 minutes of deliberation over four days, returned a unanimous verdict rejecting the defence's claim of self‑defence. The prosecution presented evidence that Doroscan and Clejan beat Ilyas to death, using a hammer and a fruit knife, and then disposed of his body in a wooded area on Belgree Lane, County Meath. Witnesses described Ilyas as bound, bleeding from the nose, and in pain while the accused shouted for the stolen drugs. The trial also considered the role of co‑accused Lorenzo Cantaragiu (21), who faced charges of impeding the prosecution and was found to have driven the accused and the deceased to the site. Viorel Doroscan pleaded not guilty. Otniel Richardo Clejan pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Francis Broughan, 47, was jailed for eight years after pleading guilty to unlawfully seizing a vehicle in August 2022. Broughan, who had 56 prior convictions and was on bail, had earlier hijacked an octogenarian's car by holding an object to the driver's neck. He then stole a Skoda belonging to a mother and her 10‑month‑old baby, leaving the infant face down on the side of a busy road. The baby's seven‑year‑old brother ran to the family home to alert his mother. Paramedics checked the infant on scene and found no further medical need. The judge, Elva Duffy, noted the seriousness of the offence, the trauma to the victim and the vulnerability of the child, and imposed the eight‑year term. The court also heard Broughan's statements of remorse and his history of drug addiction. The sentence reflects the judge's concern over the harm caused and the offender's personal circumstances.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Christopher Dooris, aged 38, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended, after pleading guilty to possession of a controlled drug for sale or supply. The case stemmed from a July 27, 2022 Garda search of his Rathmines apartment, where investigators found €18,084 of ketamine and over €7,200 in cash, along with his passport. Dooris was not present during the search, and no evidence was obtained from his interview. He has 36 prior convictions, including drugs, public order and road traffic offences, and a previous conviction for cocaine possession for sale or supply, for which he had been ordered to carry out community service. The judge cited his guilty plea, efforts at drug counselling and mental‑health support, and his stable family situation as mitigating factors, reducing the headline six‑year sentence to four years. The suspended portion is subject to conditions set by the court.
An appeal has been heard in relation to the convictions of Andrew Noonan and Keith Quinn for their roles in a €2.769 million heroin importation enterprise. Andrew Noonan, a former football manager and League of Ireland player, was convicted of three drugs offences in relation to the possession, sale and supply of heroin at Rosemount Business Park, Dublin 11, on August 5, 2020. He was also convicted of possession of a phone with an encrypted application, Enigma, giving rise to a reasonable inference that it was to be used in connection with a drug trafficking offence. He was acquitted of possession of a signal blocker. Noonan denied any role in the drugs and claimed he was facilitating a friend in relation to storage of equipment for a sick child. Keith Quinn, a former professional footballer, pleaded guilty in relation to his own role and received a seven and a half year sentence with the final three and a half years suspended in 2021. This was later increased by the Court of Appeal to eight years imprisonment with 18 months suspended. Quinn gave defence evidence during Noonan's trial that Noonan had no responsibility for the drugs and that he had lied to Noonan about the parcel contents when he asked to use the office for storage. Quinn's sentence hearing heard how he became involved in the offence due to gambling debt, that he was under pressure and was carrying out the offence to get himself out of debt. The matter was adjourned.
In the Central Criminal Court, jurors are deliberating a murder case involving Viorel Doroscan (23) and Otniel Richardo Clejan (24), who deny killing 22‑year‑old Mahamud Ilyas on 9 December 2022. The State alleges the men sold drugs and beat Ilyas after a dispute over a stolen cannabis bag, while the accused claim self‑defence after Ilyas entered an apartment with a weapon. Ilyas's body, found at Belgree Lane, Co Meath, shows blunt‑force head trauma typical of hammer blows. The jury, consisting of seven men and five women, has spent five hours and 35 minutes over three days and will resume on Tuesday. The judge explained that a verdict of murder requires proof of a joint enterprise to cause serious harm, while manslaughter could result if the death was due to unlawful assault without intent. The case also involves co‑accused Lorenzo Cantaragiu, who faces charges of impeding the prosecution and has pleaded not guilty.
In May 2025 the Court of Appeal sentenced Susan McGovern, 44, to three years' imprisonment after quashing her fully suspended four‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence from Waterford Circuit Criminal Court. McGovern had been convicted of robbery under the Criminal Justice Theft and Fraud Offences Act 2001 and a Section 3 assault for luring a man to her apartment and attacking him with a knife. The appeal judge, Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, found the earlier full suspension too lenient, citing McGovern's 19 prior convictions, including theft, knife possession and child abduction, and her history of drug addiction. The new sentence retained the four‑and‑a‑half‑year term with 18 months suspended, and the court noted that the knife caused facial injury to the victim, who required stitches. McGovern had previously been jailed for five years in 2001 for abducting a newborn from a Cork maternity hospital. Susan McGovern pleaded guilty.
A 46‑year‑old serial offender, Stepan Pavlov, who had 93 prior convictions, had a 15‑month jail sentence for burglary in three separate incidents at Dublin restaurants replaced by a fully suspended term on appeal. The District Court had found him guilty of burglary under the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act, 2001, for stealing more than €1,000 from staff lockers at Murray's Bar on O'Connell Street on 14 July 2023, a wallet and laptop worth over €1,600 from Chequer Lane on 10 March 2023, and a purse worth €200 from a restaurant on Molesworth Street on 10 October 2023. The appeal court, hearing on 14 July 2023, granted a two‑year suspended sentence on the condition that Pavlov keep the peace, provide monthly urine analysis and stay out of the city centre without just cause. The decision was based on his rehabilitation efforts for drug addiction, as presented by his defence counsel.
Dylan Pennie, a 34-year-old air conditioning engineer from Clonshaugh, Coolock, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for drug-related offences. He pleaded guilty to the possession of €575,000 worth of drugs at his parents' address on May 5, 2024, and to laundering €52,320, the proceeds of criminal conduct, on the same occasion. Gardaí discovered the drugs, which included cannabis, cocaine, ketamine, MDMA, and benzodiazepine, primarily in the eaves of a converted attic, along with the cash. Pennie admitted he was holding the items to settle a €4,000 drug debt under pressure. Defence counsel Paul Murray SC highlighted Pennie's lack of prior convictions, his remorse, and his engagement with rehabilitation, requesting a departure from the mandatory minimum sentence. Judge Martina Baxter acknowledged the request for a fully suspended sentence but stated that consequences were necessary. However, she accepted that exceptional circumstances allowed her to depart from the standard minimum. She imposed a sentence of four years, suspending the final two years on specific conditions. Pennie is therefore required to serve two years of effective custody. The matter was finalised with this sentencing.
Michael Fitzpatrick, 47, of Tallaght, was remanded on bail pending sentencing in July after pleading guilty to possessing drugs for sale or supply. Gardaí stopped him on July 25, 2024, after spotting him driving in the middle of the road. He appeared nervous and, when told they intended to search his car, handed over a silver package he claimed was cocaine, saying he had been asked to move it for a friend. He admitted to transporting the drugs and that he would be paid €50 for moving them from point A to point B. A subsequent search of his home found no drugs or paraphernalia. The drugs were estimated to have a street value of just over €34,500. Fitzpatrick had no prior convictions and was not known to the Gardaí. He was taken into custody, remanded on continuing bail, and the case was adjourned for sentencing on July 14.
Graham Kinsella, 21, of Clondalkin, Dublin 2, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for assault causing harm. He pleaded guilty to an incident on May 19, 2024, where he allegedly kicked a teenager off an e-scooter on Liffey Street and punched him. Judge Elva Duffy described the CCTV footage as "poor and shocking viewing" and noted the attack involved a "level of lawlessness which was hard to watch." The judge characterized the act as an unprovoked "revenge mission" focused on the scooter rather than the individual. Kinsella was handed a sentence of two years, with the final six months suspended on strict conditions. Judge Duffy stated that an immediate custodial sentence was required despite mitigating factors, including Kinsella's lack of previous convictions, his guilty plea, and his efforts to address drug issues. The court noted Kinsella was not responsible for puncture wounds sustained by the victim, who was stabbed by a co-accused still before the courts. The victim made a full recovery. Defense counsel Marc Thompson-Grolimund BL highlighted Kinsella's remorse and his status as a "work in progress." The matter was finalized with this sentence.
In Tallaght District Court, Melissa O'Shea, 44, pleaded guilty to a series of thefts from Dublin retailers, including clothing, alcohol, cosmetics and household goods. She admitted to stealing €103 worth of clothing from Dunnes Stores, €150 worth of cosmetics, €41 worth of alcohol, vodka from Tesco, and €68 worth of goods, among other offences. O'Shea has 47 prior convictions, 38 for theft, and is currently serving a custodial sentence that will not end until June 2026. Judge Patricia McNamara imposed an additional 10‑month prison term to run consecutively with her existing sentence, with no portion suspended. The judge noted O'Shea's extensive offending history but also her positive engagement in prison, including drug‑free status and participation in support services. The court heard she had been remanded on bail in October 2024 before being committed to custody later that month.
Keith Carter, a 32‑year‑old amateur boxer and comedian with thousands of social media followers, appeared before the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 12 May 2025. He pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine and heroin for sale or supply at his Ballymun home on 19 September 2023 and to laundering €1,055, the proceeds of that offence. Garda Máire Ruddy reported that a search of his home uncovered €5,371 worth of drugs, including a small amount of cannabis and ecstasy for personal use. Carter admitted a cocaine addiction and that he held the drugs to pay a debt. He had five prior drug convictions in 2021, including two for sale and supply. Defence counsel Oisín Clarke highlighted Carter's family responsibilities, his work for his brother, and his role as a single father. He also noted Carter's boxing career, his knee injury, and his upcoming charity fights.
Karl Adams, 53, of Portland Street, North Circular Road, Dublin, was sentenced to five years in prison for sexually assaulting a woman in her own home in June 2019. Adams pleaded guilty in January 2025 after failing to appear for his trial in 2019, which caused a delay. The victim, who prefers to remain unnamed, described being awakened by Adams tugging at her leggings, then being sexually assaulted twice. She reported a profoundly damaging impact, losing trust in people, struggling to sleep, and experiencing constant flashbacks. A probation report placed Adams at moderate risk of re‑offending, noting a lack of insight and minimisation of his actions, and highlighted his lifelong alcohol addiction and drug abuse. Justice Melanie Greally set a headline sentence of 80 months, reduced to 70 months for the guilty plea, and suspended the final 12 months on the condition that Adams engage with the Probation Service upon release.
Damien Long, aged 26, was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment for raping a 17‑year‑old girl in 2018. The Central Criminal Court heard that Long forced the girl to lie on the floor, raped her, and repeatedly told her that "a boy has got to do what a boy has got to do when he is horny." He also threatened her, saying he would not stop because he was enjoying it, and later locked her in his bedroom before leaving. The victim, who wishes to remain unnamed, suffered severe emotional distress, began drinking, fought with her family, and engaged in self‑harm, resulting in 23 hospital admissions. Long had no prior convictions at the time of the rape but had 24 convictions for drug dealing, road traffic and public order offences. The unnamed 17-year-old pleaded not guilty.
Liam Devoy, 23, was sentenced at Tallaght District Court after pleading guilty to driving without insurance, dangerous driving and possession of cannabis and cocaine. He had been disqualified from driving for four years in June 2023 and was caught driving a Volkswagen Golf on the N81 Tallaght Bypass on 7 July 2023, still disqualified and without a licence. Gardaí found small amounts of drugs in the car, and a blood sample was taken. Judge Patricia McNamara imposed a five‑month prison sentence, suspended for two years on the condition that Devoy does not drive or control a vehicle during that period. He was also disqualified from driving for an additional five years and fined €500, payable within five months. The court noted he had 17 previous convictions, including three for driving without insurance. The defence counsel highlighted his employment and impending fatherhood, but the judge warned that any future offence would lead to immediate arrest and imprisonment.
Derek Callaghan, 65, a former army officer with a "stellar career," pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis for sale or supply on 19 January 2022. Gardaí searching his Dublin 15 home found 608 g of cannabis worth €13,608, €3,110 in cash, drug paraphernalia, a ticklist and a burner phone. Callaghan accepted responsibility for the drugs but denied selling them, claiming the cash was savings. He has one prior road‑traffic conviction. Judge Orla Crowe, after hearing evidence, imposed a headline sentence of four years but reduced it to three years, citing mitigating factors such as his age, family and unblemished record. The three‑year term was suspended for five years on strict conditions. The court noted the serious consequences of drug dealing for victims and society.
Patrick Lynch, 50, of Rosemount Glade, Dundrum, was sentenced to six months' imprisonment by Judge Anne Watkin at Dun Laoghaire District Court for a series of burglaries. He pleaded guilty to multiple counts of burglary, theft and trespassing. On 9 January 2024 he unlawfully entered the Rosemount Resource Centre at Waldermere Terrace, stole five Samsung tablets worth €5,500 and was prosecuted under Section 4 of the Theft and Fraud Offences Act 2001. The next night, 10 January, he returned, stole additional Samsung devices and €450 in cash. Gardaí later recovered five of the stolen tablets. While on bail, he committed further offences on 29 and 30 April, including entering a property through an open window and stealing a phone and a laptop worth about €1,000. Lynch has 134 prior convictions, including 11 for theft under the 2001 Act, and a history of drug addiction and mental health difficulties.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Mr Justice Tony Hunt explained that two men, Viorel Doroscan (23) and Otniel Richardo Clejan (24), could be found guilty of murder if they were part of a joint enterprise that intended to kill or cause serious harm, and if one of them used a weapon to fatally wound 22‑year‑old Muhamud Ilyas during a dispute over a stolen cannabis bag. The judge noted that if one participant exceeded the agreed plan, only that person would be guilty of murder. He also clarified that a verdict of manslaughter could be reached if the jury found no intent to kill, or if the death resulted from an unlawful assault without intent. The judge further addressed the case of Lorenzo Cantaragiu, who faced charges of impeding the arrest of Doroscan and Clejan, and explained the evidential requirements for conviction. Viorel Doroscan pleaded not guilty. Otniel Richardo Clejan pleaded not guilty.
Conor Stewart, 31, pleaded guilty on 26 May 2024 to making an unwarranted demand with menace, threatening the parents of his former partner that their house would "go up like a Christmas tree" if a €4,000 debt was not paid. Garda Aaron Carney testified that Stewart called the house in Sandyford, where the father opened the door and saw Stewart on his phone, with a third party apparently directing him. The incident was recorded by a doorbell camera. Stewart, who has 84 prior convictions and was on bail for another offence, admitted he was in difficulty and had been told to do it. He has signed up for drug counselling while in custody. Judge Orla Crowe sentenced him to two years and three months, with nine months suspended for two years, to run consecutively to his current sentence, and ordered 12 months of probation supervision after release.
Conor Stewart, 29, of Kilcross Court, Sandyford, Dublin 18, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm and possession of a samurai sword after a €50 drug debt dispute. On 18 June 2020 at Kilcross Grove, Stewart left a van, armed with a samurai sword, and attacked a man who had been carrying an adjustable wrench. The victim sustained a cut to the back of the head and a larger wound to the side of the head, requiring stitches, and later fully recovered. Stewart's prior convictions include criminal damage and burglary. The court accepted his guilty plea as valuable, noting reconciliation between Stewart and the victim's brother, and sentenced him to four years' imprisonment. The judge highlighted the seriousness of the weapon used and the potential for future offending if Stewart does not change. The sentence reflects the court's view that Stewart's guilty plea and the circumstances warranted a custodial term of four years.
William O'Gorman, 36, of Pine Lodge, Mooncoin, Kilkenny, was convicted on 17 April 2024 by a jury at the Waterford Circuit Court for unlawful cultivation of cannabis and possession of cannabis over €13,000 for sale or supply at a premises in Tramore, Waterford, on 18 January 2019. Judge Eugene O'Kelly sentenced him to ten years' imprisonment. O'Gorman appealed the severity of the sentence, arguing that the judge had erred in applying the mandatory minimum and had over‑valued his lack of cooperation and the absence of a guilty plea, while under‑valuing his family circumstances and efforts to address drug addiction. The Court of Appeal, hearing the case on 6 May 2025, found that the defence's arguments did not meet the threshold for departing from the mandatory minimum. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy dismissed the appeal, holding that no special circumstances of an exceptional nature were present to justify a lesser term. The ten‑year sentence remains in force. William O'Gorman pleaded not guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Lorenzo Cantaragiu, 21, was defended by Michael Lynn SC who argued that Cantaragiu was terrified when he drove alleged murderers Viorel Doroscan (23) and Otniel Richardo Clejan (24) from west Dublin to an isolated area where the victim, Muhamud Ilyas, was later found dead. Lynn said Cantaragiu believed he was at risk, had been threatened by the co‑accused, and had no way to escape. He claimed Cantaragiu told Gardaí he was shaking, had been beaten before, and feared for his family. Cantaragiu faces four charges of impeding prosecution or apprehension, having pleaded not guilty. The prosecution alleges the two men fatally assaulted Ilyas after a dispute over a stolen cannabis bag on 9 December 2022. Ilyas died from blunt‑force head trauma. The case is set for jury deliberation tomorrow.
An 18‑year‑old Dubliner, who was a minor when he appeared before the courts, was convicted of violent disorder in the melee that led to the death of steakhouse assassin Tristan Sherry. He has now pleaded guilty to a drugs offence, admitting possession of diamorphine for sale or supply on 8 May 2024 at Tolka Valley Park, Dublin 15. He had previously pleaded guilty to possession of a side‑by‑side shotgun, cannabis and 630 g of phenacetin, offences that were linked to drug trafficking on 7 May 2024. Fiona Murphy SC, for the Director of Public Prosecutions, said one of the 15 charges would be dropped at a later hearing and asked the court to consider the remainder when sentencing. Justice Karen O'Connor ordered a probation report and adjourned the sentencing to 18 June. The teenager remains awaiting sentence for the violent disorder offence that occurred at Browne's Steakhouse in Blanchardstown on Christmas Eve 2023.