Wayne McDonnell, 39, pleaded guilty to possessing a drone with intent to fly €500 worth of heroin into Cloverhill Prison. Garda Tadhg McCarthy testified that prison staff observed a drone over the prison on 12 February 2024, and that a tracking system was used to locate the drone's flight path. McDonnell was arrested when he refused to open his pockets for a search and was found with two black Samsung phones, one being the drone controller. A copper pipe attached to the drone contained five deals of diamorphine, totaling 4.9 g with a street value of €587. McDonnell, who has prior convictions for drug possession, theft and public order offences, was sentenced to 14 months' imprisonment by Judge Elma Sheahan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The judge noted aggravating factors such as the seriousness of the offence and mitigating factors including McDonnell's early guilty plea, work history and his role in supporting his father.
Jamie Stalker (37) of Liverpool and Niall Maher (38) of Dublin were jailed for five years, with the last 12 months suspended, after pleading guilty to possession of cannabis for sale or supply. The offence involved 104 kg of cannabis, valued at €2.08 million, found at a Dublin industrial estate. Stalker had travelled from the UK to meet the consignment and was found with a car‑ferry ticket; his phone data suggested he was acting under a third party's direction and his role was to count the drugs. Maher's role was to move the consignment from one location to another. Both men were arrested on 24 May 2023 after a garda surveillance operation. The court noted Stalker's background as a former amateur boxer with bipolar disorder and Maher's 52 prior convictions, including 44 road‑traffic offences.
The Central Criminal Court heard evidence in the trial of Rachel Redmond, who is accused of assisting her then-partner, Wayne Cooney, to evade prosecution for the murder of Jordan Davis. Ms Redmond has pleaded not guilty to two counts of impeding apprehension or prosecution. The prosecution contends that Davis was killed on May 22, 2019, following acrimony with drug dealer Robert Redmond, the accused's brother. Detective Garda Kevin Farrell presented WhatsApp messages from May 3, 2019, sent from a number saved as 'Rew' to Davis, which included threats such as "very soon bang bang." The State alleges Robert Redmond, who pleaded guilty in May 2013 to possessing heroin worth almost €37,000 and was jailed for five years, was involved in the conflict. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul Burns and a jury of three men and nine women.
The prosecution alleges that on 9 December 2022, 23‑year‑old Viorel Doroscan and 24‑year‑old Otniel Richardo Clejan murdered 22‑year‑old Mahamud Ilyas after a stolen bag of cannabis led to a confrontation at Robert Burns's home in Blanchardstown. Burns, 59, and Lorenzo Cantaragiu, 21, are accused of impeding the apprehension or prosecution of Doroscan and Clejan by committing various acts on the same day. According to the State, Ilyas was beaten to death, wrapped in a cloth, placed in a car, and taken to County Meath where his body was dumped in a wooded area on Belgree Lane. The accused deny all charges. The trial is set to continue before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and a jury. Robert Burns pleaded not guilty.
Gemma Greene, 28, of Coolock, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment and a four‑year driving disqualification after a high‑speed pursuit on the M50 on 1 March 2021. She pleaded guilty to recklessly driving in the direction of a Garda, two counts of dangerous driving and had four prior convictions, including two for road traffic offences. During the chase, Greene drove a white Mercedes at speeds up to 200 km/h, ignored stingers and pursued by Garda helicopters, and live‑streamed the incident from her mobile phone. She was arrested at 6.50 pm, detained and charged. The court noted her prior warning of a threat to her life, her cocaine use on the day, and her statement that she had "nothing to live for." Judge Nolan imposed the custodial term, citing the high speeds, the hour‑long pursuit and the danger posed to the Garda who had to take evasive action.
Wayne Gilligan, 29, of Rosebank Court, Clondalkin, pleaded guilty to violent disorder for an unprovoked attack on Euston Street on 8 May 2023. Garda Chloe Rochford testified that Gilligan instigated the assault, punching the victim several times, kicking and stamping on him, while other men also struck and stabbed the victim with a bladed weapon believed to be a machete. CCTV footage was shown. The victim suffered deep cuts to the head and a finger, was taken to hospital, and refused to cooperate with Gardaí. Gilligan has 137 prior convictions, including affray, assault, endangerment and drug offences. He was sentenced to four years and three months' imprisonment, with an earliest release date of August 2027. The court noted his engagement with services and completion of an anger‑management course, but did not suspend any portion of the sentence.
Danny Cirstea, 27, of Dublin 2, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment for his role in a money‑laundering scheme and for obtaining €15,000 in social welfare fraud. He pleaded guilty to possession of the proceeds of criminal conduct, possession of drugs and deception. Garda investigations revealed that Cirstea's address was used to open bank accounts for himself and a co‑accused, and that he had control over a third‑party account. Payments totalling over €5,500 were made to his account in November 2019, and approximately €43,000 was lodged in an AIB account between August and June 2019. Around €58,000 moved through a further account between July 2019 and April 2020. A search of his home in December 2020 uncovered a small amount of cannabis, valued at €140, and later, in August 2022, four bags of tetrahydrocannabinol in edible chocolate, valued at €80, were seized.
Kenneth Philpott, 64, of River Forest, Leixlip, was stopped by Gardaí for driving in a bus lane and was found to be carrying over €200,000 worth of cannabis. He pleaded guilty to possession of the drugs on 10 April 2024 at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Garda Ronan Doolin reported that the vehicle was searched after the driver, who was nervous and cooperative, claimed there were packages in the car. Gardaí seized 7 kg of cannabis in taped packages, valued at €140,000, and later found an additional €80,000 worth of cannabis at Philpott's home. Philpott admitted that he had been pressured by parties who had taken advantage of his €2,400 gambling debt to traffic the drugs. He had no prior convictions. Judge Martin Nolan, taking into account Philpott's cooperation, good history, work record and the fear and coercion involved, set a headline sentence of six years but reduced it to three years imprisonment.
The Central Criminal Court trial of Rachel Redmond, 34, continues before Mr Justice Paul Burns. Ms Redmond, from Coolock, has pleaded not guilty to two counts of assisting Wayne Cooney to evade prosecution for the murder of Jordan Davis on May 22, 2019. The prosecution alleges she drove Cooney from the scene and checked him into the Clayton Hotel near Dublin Airport. Evidence presented includes testimony from Ashling McNally, former partner of Robert Redmond, who stated she collected Robert from Belcamp Lane at 4:13 pm, minutes after the shooting. Robert Redmond, Ms Redmond's brother, previously pleaded guilty in May 2013 to possessing heroin worth almost €37,000 and was sentenced to five years in prison. Detective Garda Shane Kelly identified Cooney in CCTV footage, while hotel staff confirmed a booking under Ms Redmond's name. The jury is tasked with determining if Ms Redmond knew or believed Cooney committed the murder. The trial was adjourned and is scheduled to continue on Tuesday.
Lee Nolan, 28, of Beechbrook Lawn, The Donaghies, Dublin 13, was sentenced to three years and nine months in prison, with the final nine months suspended on strict conditions, after pleading guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to drug offences. He admitted to acting as a drug dealer, storing over €80,000 worth of cannabis in his home, and driving a car while intoxicated with drugs and without insurance in the Lucan area on 25 April 2023. Nolan claimed he had been misdiagnosed with Non‑Hodgkin lymphoma and used cannabis as a cheaper treatment, which led to debt and subsequent drug dealing. He was also given a four‑year driving disqualification from the date of his release. The judge noted his medical history and the impact of his offences on society. The case was prosecuted by Pieter Le Vert BL and represented by Gerardine Small SC.
The Central Criminal Court trial of Rachel Redmond (34) continues before Mr Justice Paul Burns. The State alleges that Redmond, who has pleaded not guilty to two counts of impeding the apprehension or prosecution of Wayne Cooney for the murder of Jordan Davis, drove Cooney away from the scene and later checked him into a hotel. Prosecution evidence presented includes "tick lists" found at addresses linked to Robert Redmond, Rachel's older brother. Detective Garda Alan Roche testified that a list found in Kinsealy listed the nickname "Jordo" owing €153,000, while another list found at Woodview Close in Donaghmede showed "Jordo" with €70,000 and the words "not yet." The court heard that in May 2013, Robert Redmond pleaded guilty to the possession of heroin worth almost €37,000 and was jailed for five years. Sergeant Shane Behan also testified that he observed Robert Redmond and Jordan Davis on Grafton Street in August 2018, where Davis handed over cannabis. The jury, comprising three men and nine women, is tasked with determining whether Rachel Redmond knew or believed Cooney committed the murder. The matter was adjourned and the trial continues tomorrow.
Daniel Byrne, 26, of Camolin, was sentenced to five and a half years in prison after pleading guilty to making threats, demanding cash and handling proceeds of crime between February and June 2024. He extorted €22,750 from a former classmate who had contacted him to buy a small amount of cannabis. Byrne threatened the victim and his family, demanding €700, then €5,000, and later collected €15,000 in multiple meetings. He also threatened the victim's father and contacted the victim at his workplace. Byrne's prior convictions include money laundering, possession of drugs, obstruction and threatening behaviour. He was on a suspended sentence for money laundering when the extortion began. The court reduced the initial headline sentence of seven and a half years to five and a half years, citing mitigating factors and Byrne's guilty plea. The victim's impact statement was not read in court.
Mark Davis, 35, with 207 prior convictions, was sentenced in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for stealing a DPD delivery van on 4 December 2023. Judge Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin imposed a headline sentence of three years, reduced to two, but suspended the entire term. Conditions include engagement with the Probation Service, drug treatment, employment or education, and victim‑focused work. Davis was also disqualified from driving for five years. He pleaded guilty to the van theft, stealing 66 packages worth €901, and driving without a licence. The judge noted his lack of insight into the seriousness of the offence but acknowledged pro‑social support from family. Davis had previously been under a 20‑year driving ban and had a history of hit‑and‑runs, burglary, theft and other offences. The court remanded him on bail pending the sentencing hearing.
A 28‑year‑old man, John Glynn, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment by the Central Criminal Court for six counts of sexual assault against a girl aged between eight and thirteen who was being minded by his mother at his family home in Co. Kildare. The victim, who chose to waive anonymity, described ongoing fear, trust issues and psychological distress in her impact statement. Glynn pleaded guilty to the assaults, which occurred between 2013 and 2018, and was also charged with possession of child sexual abuse material, a charge pending sentencing in May. The judge noted Glynn's high risk of re‑offending, his admission of shame, and his ongoing cannabis use, and imposed a two‑year post‑release supervision order and a requirement to engage in a sex‑offender treatment programme. The sentence was reduced from a potential seven years to five years and six months, reflecting that Glynn was a juvenile for part of the offending period.
Brian McHugh, 40, was sentenced to the mandatory term of life imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court for the murder of 52-year-old Lisa Thompson. The sentence was backdated to July 11, 2022, when he entered custody. McHugh had pleaded not guilty to murdering Ms Thompson at Sandyhill Gardens, Ballymun, Dublin 11, on May 9, 2022. A jury unanimously found him guilty after rejecting his defence that she was a "woman of secrets." The court heard three emotional victim impact statements from Ms Thompson's teenage daughter, son, and sister, Ashley Duckett. The daughter described the injuries as resembling "horror movies" and stated McHugh's face would haunt her. The judge, Ms Justice Karen O'Connor, noted the "horrific and brutal circumstances" of the death. Prior to sentencing, the Court of Appeal overturned a pre-trial ruling that had excluded CCTV identification evidence, restoring it for the trial. Evidence included McHugh's DNA on a blind cord used to strangle the victim and text messages from a named woman referencing the killing. McHugh has 50 previous convictions, including theft, robbery, and drug offences. The matter was concluded with the imposition of the life sentence.
Two Brazilian drug mules, Felipe Oliviera Gaspar, 30, and Valter Soares, 26, were apprehended at Dublin Airport in separate incidents within weeks of each other, each carrying a kilogram of cocaine in their bodies. Gaspar swallowed 67 pellets and inserted three larger ones rectally; Soares swallowed 120 pellets. The cocaine recovered from Gaspar was valued at just under €70,000, while Soares' was worth €71,000. Gaspar pleaded guilty to possession for sale or supply and to drug importation, had no prior convictions, and was arrested by customs, taken to hospital for eight days of treatment, and later sentenced by Judge Martin Nolan to two years and nine months in prison, backdated to his custody date. Soares pleaded guilty to drug importation, had no prior convictions, and was sentenced to two years and three months, also backdated to his custody date. Both men cited debt to loan sharks and fear of criminal gangs as motives for smuggling the drugs.
A Moldovan national has been sentenced to six and a half years in prison following his conviction for drug trafficking at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Stefan Copiimulti, aged 42 and residing in Dublin 15, pleaded guilty to possessing cocaine worth €1.12 million with intent to supply on 19 June 2023. Gardaí stopped a Hyundai vehicle at The Ward, Finglas, after conducting surveillance based on confidential information. Officers discovered the cocaine concealed within a hidden compartment located near the vehicle's radio console, operated by electronic fobs. Copiimulti provided false accounts regarding how he came to be driving the car, which CCTV footage and subsequent investigation contradicted. Judge Martin Nolan acknowledged mitigating factors including the defendant's early guilty plea, full cooperation with gardaí, absence of prior convictions, and work history. The judge departed from the mandatory ten-year minimum sentence on these grounds. The sentence was backdated to June 2023.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 37‑year‑old man named Daniel Blanaru, who pleaded not guilty to the murder of his 26‑year‑old partner Larisa Serban, told Gardaí that it was possible he had put a knife into her body during a pushing and shoving argument. Blanaru, from Rathmore, Athboy, claimed that after an argument in their Co Meath home, Larisa had a knife in her hand and that he had taken it from her. He said the knife was already in his hand when he turned with her and that it was "possible" he had put it into her body, indicating the left side near the heart. He said he struck her once when trying to take the knife away. Gardaí questioned him about his reaction to her being stabbed and his subsequent taking of cocaine, to which he replied that he had taken the cocaine before the knife was in her chest.
Philip Crowley, 33, of Lein Park, Raheny, was sentenced to three years in prison with the final 16 months suspended on strict conditions after pleading guilty to assault causing harm for stabbing a man twice in the back of his head. The incident occurred on 22 October 2021 when the victim was walking his seven‑month‑old baby and encountered Crowley, who had just exited a taxi. A tussle ensued, and after the victim left the house, Crowley pursued him, striking him with a knife. The victim required stitches for two wounds and was taken to hospital by ambulance. Crowley had previously been convicted 12 times for drug possession and traffic offences. He offered apologies to the victim and the Gardaí, wrote a letter of apology, and paid €5,000 to the victim. The court accepted his remorse and noted his supportive family and former sporting background.
Dylan Deegan (26) and Evan Campbell (26) were jailed for 33 months after pleading guilty to importing €80,000 worth of cannabis into Ireland at Dublin Port on 26 November 2022. Deegan, from Oldtown Avenue, Santry, had 65 prior convictions, mainly minor offences and a previous drug offence, and said he transported the drugs to reduce a €7,000–€12,000 debt caused by his addiction. Campbell, from Beauvale Park, Artane, had 35 prior convictions, including drug‑dealing, and claimed a €5,000 debt would be cleared by the transport. Judge Martin Nolan noted that both men were "authors of their own misfortune" and had been exploited by third parties who took advantage of their vulnerable situations. The men were caught "red‑handed" at Dublin Port after disembarking from a ferry from Holyhead, where eight vacuum‑packed bags of cannabis were found hidden in the car doors.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a woman and her husband were forced to sell their house and relocate after a drugs offender, Graham Potts, harassed them for a supposed cocaine debt owed by their son. Potts, who had a drug debt himself, repeatedly called the couple's home, demanded €3,000, then €6,000, and later €7,000, threatening property damage and claiming the debt was for cocaine. He visited the house, demanded payment, and threatened to call the son's workplace if the son did not comply. The woman reported the harassment to Gardaí, who confirmed no money was extracted and that Potts had no concealed identity or gang links. Potts, with 41 prior convictions, was sentenced to four and a half years' imprisonment, with no backdating of the sentence. The victim impact report noted the family's sale of their home and move away from South Dublin.
A 41‑year‑old Dublin man was sentenced to five years' imprisonment for coercive control and assault against his partner. He had forced her to keep a doorbell camera on her at all times, monitored her movements, isolated her from family, and restricted her access to a phone and welfare payments. He also installed a house alarm but withheld the code, locked doors, and used a Ring doorbell to demand she answer instantly and show her hands. The victim's impact statement described daily beatings, injuries sustained in Dublin, Co Clare, Scotland, and Spain, and a fractured finger when she tried to protect herself. She had two children with him, a miscarriage, and a fourth pregnancy during which he assaulted her. The court noted the man's drug use and that he was now drug‑free. Judge Martin Nolan set a headline sentence of eight years, reduced to five years, citing repeated physical and verbal violence, control, and humiliation. The unnamed 41-year-old pleaded guilty.
Cian Smullen, 30, was sentenced to four years in prison, with the final year suspended, at the Central Criminal Court for coercive control, false imprisonment, burglary, criminal damage and threats to cause criminal damage. He had repeatedly attacked his former partner, threatened to plant drugs in her home to have Tusla take her child, and tried to break into her house with an axe and screwdriver. The victim described ongoing abuse, bruises, a black eye, and fear of losing her daughter. Smullen pleaded guilty in November and admitted to a long history of cocaine and alcohol use. The judge noted his high risk of re‑offending, limited remorse, and the need for post‑release intervention, while acknowledging his claim of turning his life around. The sentence was back‑dated to November for time already spent in custody.
Joseph Collins, 27, of Avila Park, Finglas, pleaded guilty to robbery at Boyles Sports on 27 November 2023. He held a Stanley blade near the cashier's face, demanded €280, and left before closing. CCTV identified him; he was arrested and charged. Collins has ten prior convictions and a history of alcohol and drug abuse, having completed residential rehabilitation at Coolmine Treatment Centre. He expressed deep shame and a willingness to work, supported by family and Probation Services. Judge Orla Crowe acknowledged the seriousness of the offence and the victim's frightening experience, but noted Collins' rehabilitation efforts. She imposed a custodial sentence of three years, suspended the final 18 months, and ordered structured release with strict conditions, including two years of Probation Service engagement. The court considered Collins' lack of violence history and his commitment to rehabilitation.
A 50-year-old woman, November Phelan, was sentenced to six years imprisonment with the final year suspended for a period of three years, on the condition that she remain under the supervision of the probation services and engage with counselling and addiction services. The sentence was passed by Mr Justice Paul Burns at the Central Criminal Court following a validated procedural stage of sentence. Phelan had pleaded guilty to manslaughter when she was arraigned before the court. The court heard that Phelan had been in a relationship with the deceased, David Ennis, and that both had significant problems involving long-term substance abuse. Mr Justice Burns noted that Phelan had acted in self-defence in response to an anticipated attack from Ennis. The judge acknowledged Phelan's guilty plea, her expression of remorse, and her long-term struggle with drug addiction and depression. The matter was not adjourned and was finalised with the sentence being backdated to October 27, 2023, when Phelan went into custody.
A 47‑year‑old man was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for sexual assault and exploitation of a teenage girl in foster care. He pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assault, five counts of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child and three counts of using technology to facilitate the sexual exploitation of a child. The offences took place between November 2021 and April 2023, when the victim was aged 14 to 16. The court heard that the man was in a relationship with the daughter of the girl's foster mother and that the abuse was discovered after the foster mother found sexual messages. The girl described repeated incidents of the man masturbating in front of her, giving her vapes and cannabis, and touching her breasts. She also reported that the man sent explicit voice messages in exchange for vapes.
Nathan McDonnell, former chief executive of Ballyseedy Garden Centre, was sentenced by the Special Criminal Court to 12 years imprisonment for facilitating an organised crime group and 6 years concurrently for drug importation, backdated to his custody. The judge found McDonnell, aged 44, had been "committed to and invested in" a €32 million crystal‑meth operation linked to the Sinaloa Cartel. He stored a machine containing the drugs at his premises, paid shipping charges, and arranged export to Australia, receiving no payment. McDonnell admitted to Gardaí that he was unaware of the machine's contents. The court noted his financial hardship, family responsibilities, and the impact on his three sons. The sentence reflected the international reach of the criminal organisation and the large quantity of drugs involved. The judge also considered McDonnell's cooperation, good character and lack of prior convictions in mitigation.
Derek Fee, a 37‑year‑old Dubliner, was jailed for six and a half years after a series of drug‑related offences while on bail. In June 2022, Gardaí stopped him in Tallaght and seized three deals of cocaine, 300 diazepam tablets, a weighing scale and a burner phone. A warrant led to a search of his home, where no drugs were found, but a false compartment in a car he had owned for four weeks yielded €14,000 worth of cannabis. The following month, while driving a rental van, Gardaí discovered a kilo of cannabis under the passenger seat, valued at €20,000. Fee pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply on both occasions. The court, noting his prior convictions and the mitigating evidence presented, imposed two and a half years for the first offence and four years for the second, to run consecutively.
Ian Kidney, a 37‑year‑old Dublin resident, was sentenced to seven years in prison for his role in a €3 million cannabis and cocaine operation. He had no prior criminal record but was under Garda surveillance from 3 April last year. Kidney pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of drugs for sale or supply: one for transporting drugs on Dublin's north side and another for a haul at a south‑side storage facility. Garda Brian Kirwan testified that Kidney drove a van to Finglas, delivering two boxes to Liam Mellows Road, where €320 000 of cannabis was found. He then drove into Dublin City Centre, where a stop on Beresford Street led to the seizure of €198 332 of cannabis. A self‑storage unit in Ballymount yielded €2.28 million of cannabis herb, €5 572 of resin and €694 858 of cocaine; Kidney held one of two keys.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 37‑year‑old man named Daniel Blanaru, accused of murdering his 26‑year‑old partner Larisa Serban, appeared at a Garda station with blood on his clothes and was described as crying hysterically. Blanaru told officers he had drunk half a bottle of whiskey the night of the stabbing at their Co Meath home. He also claimed he had begged the deceased's brother for cocaine that night. Garda John Wallace recounted seeing Blanaru pacing, handing over his licence, and later crying while in custody. Garda Rachael Carr observed him crying repeatedly in the cell. The trial, presided over by Ms Justice Eileen Creedon, will continue next Monday with an enlarged jury. The State maintains that Blanaru was a jealous and controlling partner who stabbed Larisa on or about 12 August 2022. The accused has pleaded not guilty.
Debbie Fowler, 44, of Blanchardstown, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing cannabis for sale or supply at her home on 16 July 2021. The cannabis, weighing just under six kilograms and valued at €118,770, had been delivered to her address after being intercepted by customs and a controlled delivery was arranged. Fowler admitted she knew the parcel contained cannabis and that she had been paid €200 to accept it. Garda Anthony Quinn described her as an easy target, noting her alcohol difficulties and that she was under the influence when she accepted the package. The court considered her single‑mother status and co‑parenting responsibilities. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a four‑year suspended sentence on strict conditions, citing her low culpability and caring duties. The sentence was not immediate custodial, reflecting the exceptional category of the case.
In the Central Criminal Court, the jury heard that Daniel Blanaru (37) begged his brother, David Serban, for cocaine on the night Larisa Serban (26) was found stabbed in her home. Blanaru, from Rathmore, Athboy, Co Meath, pleaded not guilty to her murder. The State argued that Larisa was killed by her jealous, controlling partner. Serban testified he left the house at about 1 a.m. on 12 August 2022, with no arguing, and that he had stopped at a bank to withdraw money for rent. He denied planning to buy cocaine or return to Rathmore after. He claimed he was the last person to see Larisa alive and that he would have been present if a struggle had occurred. Garda evidence showed Blanaru presented himself at a station at 6 a.m., shouting in a foreign language and saying "my wife, my wife, we fight." The trial continues tomorrow.
In a case described as "desperately sad," a 70‑year‑old man, Zbigniew Bednarczyk, was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment for the manslaughter of his 37‑year‑old son, Rafal Bednarczyk Jacyna. The son, who had bipolar disorder and was under medical supervision, died after Bednarczyk severed the femoral artery in his leg during an altercation that began when the son returned home under the influence of alcohol and drugs. The court noted that the knife was being used for food preparation and that the severing of the artery was unexpected. Bednarczyk entered a plea to manslaughter in October 2024, and the judge imposed a two‑year sentence with the final six months suspended, subject to 12 months of probation. The sentence was reduced from an initial three‑year recommendation after considering the plea and the defendant's low risk to the community.
In a Dublin rape trial, the jury was shown a 40‑minute CCTV clip of the complainant and a second man having a sexual encounter in a B&B hallway hours after the alleged rape. Judge Caroline Biggs warned the footage could be intrusive and distressing but deemed it necessary to play. The accused, a 33‑year‑old Louth man, pleaded not guilty to raping a 19‑year‑old Spanish tourist on a Dublin Castle street on 1 January 2019. The State alleged the victim could not consent due to alcohol or drugs. After the alleged rape, the victim walked with the accused, then sought help from a couple who directed her to a B&B where she met the second man. She described persistent kissing, anal sex, and pain, and later claimed she had been raped by both men. No charge was brought against the second man.
Robert Cummins, 45, of Cushlawn Park, Tallaght, was jailed for ten years after pleading guilty to two drug offences. In August 2023 he was found with €196,540 worth of cannabis and €68,327 of cocaine for sale or supply at his home, and in July 2024 he was found with €55,695 of cocaine and €12,912 of cannabis for sale or supply while on bail for the first offence. Cummins admitted responsibility for the drugs, claiming they were hidden in a shed and that he had them for a few hours after work to reduce a gambling debt. He said he feared those to whom he owed money. His defence highlighted his family life and remorse. Judge Martin Nolan accepted pre‑meditation and imposed a seven‑year term for the first offence and a consecutive three‑year term for the second, totalling ten years in custody.
A 33‑year‑old Spanish tourist, who was accused of rape on New Year's Eve 2019 in Dublin's Castle area, denies being affectionate with the alleged rapist on CCTV footage. She pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court. The State alleges the man raped her on a street, claiming she could not consent due to alcohol or drugs. She testified she was trying to find a bar, was led into a dark area where the alleged rape occurred, and felt powerless. Afterward she walked with the man back through the city centre, then met a couple outside a shop. She says she was frightened, held the man's arm to avoid falling, and later met a second man at a B&B where she was kissed and had anal sex. She claims she was coerced and that no charge has been brought against the second man. The trial continues before Ms Justice Caroline Biggs and a jury.
A 45‑year‑old gambler, Karl Jess, was sentenced to two years and nine months in prison after he deceived a vulnerable man into believing they were in a romantic relationship. Jess persuaded the man to hand over €25,350 in ten instalments between August and November 2023, claiming the money would repay creditors. The victim, described as having lower than average cognitive ability, was assisted by his brother who provided WhatsApp messages showing the false relationship. Jess admitted to a gambling addiction and previous drug‑related convictions. Gardaí noted the victim's life savings were largely lost, affecting his mental health and family relations. The judge highlighted the aggravating factor of exploiting a vulnerable person and imposed the sentence accordingly. Karl Jess pleaded guilty.
David McNamara, aged 24, was sentenced to five years in prison at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for a series of violent offences. He pleaded guilty to assaulting his 16‑year‑old girlfriend in September 2019, to assaulting a second girlfriend and coercive control of her between 17 and 19 July 2023, to hijacking a taxi and threatening to stab the driver on 20 July 2023, and to possession of cocaine and heroin for sale at the time of his arrest on 5 September 2023. The court heard that McNamara had repeatedly failed to appear for court dates, was granted bail twice, and that armed support and a helicopter were required to surround his Tallaght home before he was finally arrested. He denied the allegations of violence and coercion, but the judge noted the seriousness of the assaults and the threats made to the taxi driver.
During the Central Criminal Court hearing, Brian McHugh, 40, denied murdering Lisa Thompson, 52, who was found stabbed 11 times in the chest with a blind cord wrapped around her neck. McHugh claimed he had been "in and out" of Thompson's Ballymun home for the last three years, a statement he repeated when asked to explain the presence of his DNA on the cord and on jewellery seized from his Cairn Court residence. Forensic evidence showed a mixed DNA profile on the cord that could not exclude McHugh as a minor contributor, and DNA from the jewellery matched Thompson's. The prosecution also presented evidence that Thompson had been dealing prescription drugs and that she and McHugh had a brief affair the year before her death. McHugh pleaded not guilty and the trial continues before Ms Justice Karen O'Connor with a jury of four men and eight women.
A Spanish tourist, aged 33, gave evidence in the Central Criminal Court that she was raped on January 1, 2019, in Dublin's city centre. She described feeling "like a doll" and having no strength, and that she was unable to consent due to alcohol or another drug. She recalled walking with the accused, a 33‑year‑old Louth man who is anonymous until the trial ends, and that he held her arm and waist tightly. She said he penetrated her vagina, though she has no clear memory of the act. She later claimed a second rape occurred in a B&B, where she was forced into anal sex. The accused denies any wrongdoing and has pleaded not guilty to one count of rape. The trial continues before Ms Justice Caroline Biggs.
During the trial, a forensic scientist presented evidence that a blood‑stained blind cord wrapped around the neck of 52‑year‑old mother‑of‑two Lisa Thompson contained a mixed DNA profile. The profile could not exclude Thompson as a major contributor and could not exclude 40‑year‑old accused Brian McHugh as a minor contributor. DNA from jewellery seized at McHugh's home also matched Thompson's DNA. The jury heard that Thompson had been dealing prescription drugs from her home and that she and McHugh had a brief relationship in the year before her death. Thompson was found dead in her home with multiple stab wounds and ligature strangulation. McHugh pleaded not guilty to her murder. The trial continues before Justice Karen O'Connor and a jury.
Graham Doherty, a barber from St John's Crescent, Clondalkin, was sentenced to seven and a half years' imprisonment on his 34th birthday after pleading guilty to possessing 40.34 kg of cocaine for sale or supply on 9 July 2024. The drugs, worth €2,823,000, were seized following a search warrant issued after a reliable report of suspicious activity. Garda Charles McPartland described Doherty as a well‑respected barber who had fallen on hard times and accrued a drug debt, making him vulnerable. Gardaí found 28 kg of cocaine in a suitcase, seven in a SuperValu bag, one loose, and further bricks in a kitchen oven. During the seizure Doherty admitted responsibility, saying, "I'm going to get a degree inside." Judge Martin Nolan noted Doherty's good work history and the lack of evidence he was the owner or would benefit greatly, but acknowledged his role in a serious drug‑dealing enterprise.
In a sentencing hearing at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Romanian man Cristian Topiter, aged 39, was jailed for six years for setting fire to St Michan's Church crypt, destroying two mummified bodies and damaging others, including an 800‑year‑old "Crusader". The court heard that Topiter had been deported from Northern Ireland six years earlier after a prior arson conviction that caused €300,000 of damage. He also has convictions for drug possession, burglary, theft and assault. Archdeacon David Pierpoint described the fire as an act of desecration and sacrilege, noting the loss of irreplaceable relics and the financial impact on the parish. Topiter pleaded guilty, expressed remorse, and cited intoxication and mental health difficulties as factors. Judge Martin Nolan imposed the six‑year sentence, back‑dating it to the day of his arrest, and highlighted the seriousness of the offence and the aggravating prior conviction.
Kia O'Connor, 34, pleaded guilty to robbery on 8 June 2024 in Dublin City Centre and was sentenced to two and a half years' imprisonment. O'Connor, who has 67 prior convictions and was previously jailed for violent disorder, participated in a robbery of two New Zealand tourists on a footpath outside the Belvedere Hotel. The tourists were approached by O'Connor and Joseph Boyle, 42, who demanded €20. When the victims refused, Boyle produced a knife and pointed it at the male tourist. O'Connor removed an iPhone, a Kindle e‑reader and a wallet from the female victim's bag before leaving. Gardaí recovered the stolen items, except the wallet, which contained no cash. O'Connor admitted the robbery but insisted no knife was involved. The court noted her early guilty plea, drug‑free status in custody and mitigating circumstances, and imposed the sentence. Boyle received a separate three‑and‑a‑half‑year term for his role.
Jack Myers, a 30‑year‑old from Devon, was arrested at Dublin Airport on 5 September 2024 after X‑ray revealed 40 packages of cannabis weighing almost 20 kg, with an estimated street value of €398,000. He was held in custody and later pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply. Judge Martin Nolan noted that Myers had been induced by an acquaintance to travel to Thailand to acquire the drugs and intended to bring them back to the UK, with a planned ferry to England. The judge acknowledged Myers' vulnerabilities and that he had probably been taken advantage of, but held that he should have known he was transporting drugs. A headline sentence of six or seven years was considered, but the judge imposed a three‑and‑a‑half‑year term, back‑dated to the date of his initial arrest. The sentence reflected Myers' lack of prior convictions, early guilty plea and admissions of impulsive decision‑making.
In February 2024, a pallet of flat‑pack furniture was seized by Customs after a sniffer dog signalled the presence of drugs. Gardaí conducted a controlled delivery and, upon breaking into the wooden shelves, discovered €830,000 worth of cannabis herb hidden inside. The suspect, Arnoldas Paleckis, 33, of Mariners View, Castletownbere, was apprehended when he arrived in a rental van to collect the pallet. He pleaded guilty to one count of possessing drugs for sale or supply in Newcastle, Co Dublin, and to possessing an encrypted phone for the commission of an offence. Paleckis had a prior conviction for drug production in the UK, for which he received a two‑year sentence. At sentencing, Judge Martin Nolan accepted his guilty plea and remorse, noting the pressure he faced, and imposed a jail term of six years and nine months.
David Roe, 41, was jailed for one year after assaulting two gardai at his parents' home on Ribh Avenue, Artane, Dublin. On 7 February 2021, his mother called the gardai because he had been taking drugs all night and was abusive. When the officers arrived, Roe, described as "out of it on tablets," refused to leave and became aggressive. He pushed a female garda, causing her to fall and hit her head, then grabbed a male garda by the legs and punched him twice, cutting his lip and pulling at his cheek. The male garda was treated for swelling and cuts. Roe claimed he did not remember the incident due to drug use. The court noted his 55 prior convictions, mainly traffic offences, and sentenced him to one year imprisonment for assault causing harm to the male garda, taking the assault of the female garda into consideration. The unnamed man pleaded guilty.
Saeid Hassani and Harold Estoesta pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to possession of cocaine for sale or supply on board the MV Matthew, a Panamanian-registered vessel carrying 2.2 tonnes of the drug worth an estimated €157 million. The prosecution alleged the pair played an essential part in a sophisticated international drug trafficking operation, specifically directing the transfer of drugs to a fishing boat and concealing the vessel's position. Their pleas were accepted on a full facts basis. They are the last of eight defendants to plead guilty in this case, which resulted in the largest cocaine seizure in Irish history. Earlier, four other men pleaded guilty to similar offences, while Vitaliy Lapa and Jamie Harbron pleaded guilty to attempting to possess cocaine for sale or supply between September 21 and September 25, 2023. The MV Matthew was seized by Irish Army Rangers after being pursued by the navy patrol vessel LE William Butler Yeats. Ms Justice Melanie Greally remanded Hassani and Estoesta in custody until February 24, when the court intends to fix a date for their sentencing hearing. The matter was adjourned for this purpose and is not yet concluded.
Ignac Aradi, 51, a Hungarian national, was sentenced to a concurrent 21‑month term for possessing child sexual abuse material after he was caught flying €8.4 million worth of heroin into Ireland on a light aircraft. While being arrested by Gardaí, 1,480 child sexual abuse images were found on his phone, including 820 category‑one images depicting sexual activity involving children and 57 category‑one videos. The remaining images were category‑two, involving child exposure. Aradi pleaded guilty to one count of possessing child pornography. He had previously been convicted of embezzlement, theft, counterfeiting, fraud and drug importation. He has five children, one of whom died in a car crash at age 21. Judge Martin Nolan imposed the 21‑month sentence without extending his existing 10‑year term for the heroin importation offence. The sentence is to run concurrently with his current custodial term.
Brian Keane, 41, pleaded guilty on 3 February 2024 to possession of a Makarov 9mm semi‑automatic pistol in suspicious circumstances, an offence that carries a maximum sentence of 14 years. A search of his Finglas home uncovered the pistol, 13 rounds of Makarov calibre Seller and Bellot ammunition and a silencer. Keane told Gardaí that he had a €5,000 drug debt and was asked to hold a package, unaware it contained a firearm. Defence counsel Mark Lynam argued Keane was not the end user but a person who could be leaned upon to store the weapon, citing his vulnerabilities and a turbulent situation. The court accepted that Keane was holding the weapon under duress and that he had a good work history with only minor prior convictions. Judge Martin Nolan set a headline sentence of six to seven years but, after considering mitigating factors, imposed a three‑year sentence.