Andrzej Slyk, a 40‑year‑old informal courier from Poland, was arrested in Dublin after Gardaí found €140,000 in cash in his rucksack during a raid described as a "tornado." The cash was discovered while the officers were searching for cannabis. Slyk initially claimed he had found the bag on a ferry from Poland but later admitted it was given to him by two people he met in the city centre. He pleaded guilty to possessing the proceeds of crime on 31 August 2023, an offence punishable by up to 14 years. His defence argued he was reckless, not knowing the contents until the Gardaí arrived, and had not performed due checks. The court accepted his recklessness, noted his lack of prior convictions, and imposed a 33‑month sentence, reduced from a headline six‑year term, after considering mitigating factors. Slyk is now barred from leaving the country and from operating as a courier.
A 43‑year‑old man who organised a charity sports event to raise money for his daughter's cancer treatment was found to have stolen about €25,000 from the event. He pleaded guilty to theft for an offence committed between January and June 2020. The court heard that he had paid €9,400 to the child's mother and had since repaid €20,000, leaving €5,000 outstanding. He admitted that he had spent the majority of the money on drugs, claiming a cocaine binge and a drug problem at the time. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a four‑year sentence, suspended in full, and ordered the remaining €5,000 to be paid over nine months. The judge noted the defendant's partial repayment, his drug addiction, and the aggravating factor that he used his daughter to facilitate the theft.
The Special Criminal Court trial of Saeid Hassani and Harold Estoesta, who are alleged to have possessed 2.25 tonnes of cocaine on the MV Matthew, continued with evidence regarding the vessel's navigation systems. Both defendants, who pleaded not guilty to three charges including possession for supply and participation in a criminal organisation, are accused of disguising the ship's true position. Expert witness Gary Delaney testified that the vessel's Automatic Identification System (AIS) broadcasts were manipulated, including a period where the ship reported a simulated position off Guyana while actually being off Venezuela. Delaney noted that messages in a WhatsApp group indicated awareness of these efforts to conceal the vessel's route. The prosecution alleges the defendants directed the transfer of drugs to a fishing boat. While Hassani and Estoesta face trial before Justice Melanie Greally, four co-accused—Mykhailo Gavryk, Vitaliy Vlasoi, Soheil Jelveh, and Cumali Ozgen—previously pleaded guilty to similar offences connected to the seizure. The trial was adjourned and is scheduled to continue next Tuesday.
The jury in the trial of Brian McHugh, a 40‑year‑old man, continues to view a CCTV montage that the prosecution says shows McHugh's movements after the killing of Lisa Thompson, aged 52, on 9 May 2022. McHugh, who lives in Ballymun, has pleaded not guilty to the murder. In his opening speech, counsel for the Director of Public Prosecutions, Fiona Murphy SC, described Thompson's body as found inside her home with multiple stab wounds to the chest and a blind cord wrapped around her neck, and said a mixed DNA profile was found on the cord that could not exclude McHugh as a minor contributor. The prosecution has presented witness evidence that Thompson was dealing prescription drugs from her home and that her death was caused by a combination of ligature strangulation and multiple stab wounds.
The jury in the trial of Brian McHugh, a 40‑year‑old man from Ballymun, is watching a CCTV montage that the prosecution says shows his movements near the home of Lisa Thompson, a 52‑year‑old mother of two, on the night of her murder in May 2022. McHugh has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Ms Thompson, who was found inside her home with multiple stab wounds and a blind cord around her neck. The prosecution alleges a mixed DNA profile on the cord that could not exclude McHugh as a contributor. Witnesses have testified that Ms Thompson was dealing prescription drugs from her home and that her death was caused by ligature strangulation and multiple stab wounds. The trial is proceeding before Justice Karen O'Connor with a jury of four men and eight women.
The trial of Filipino Harold Estoesta (31) and Iranian Saeid Hassani (39) continues in the Special Criminal Court, where both defendants have pleaded not guilty to three charges including possession of cocaine for sale or supply and participation in a criminal organisation. The prosecution alleges the pair were involved in the seizure of 2.25 tonnes of cocaine, valued at €157 million, from the MV Matthew. Counsel for the State outlined evidence of messages sent to the vessel's bridge instructing the crew to set a course for Africa at full speed and to burn the drugs if intercepted by a helicopter. The State contends that Estoesta was alone on the bridge during the pursuit, placing him in control of the cargo, and that he actively suggested methods to evade law enforcement, including preparing gasoline to burn the contraband. Evidence also highlighted discrepancies in the ship's navigation data and the failed rendezvous with the fishing vessel The Castlemore. While the trial for Estoesta and Hassani is ongoing, four co-accused—Ukrainians Mykhailo Gavryk and Vitaliy Vlasoi, Iranian Soheil Jelveh, and Dutch national Cumali Ozgen—previously pleaded guilty to similar offences connected to the seizure. The matter remains at the trial stage, with proceedings expected to last approximately six weeks under the presiding judge.
Danny Povey, a 43‑year‑old British scaffolder living in London, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to possession of cannabis for sale or supply. He was caught at Dublin Airport on 4 September 2024 with 29 kg of cannabis valued at €596,000, after customs detected anomalies in his luggage. Povey claimed he believed he was transporting gold or watches, saying he had been paid by a third party and that the suitcases were locked with combination locks. He had travelled to Thailand with his girlfriend, who was also stopped with a similar amount of cannabis. Povey had no prior convictions, cooperated with investigators, and entered an early guilty plea. The judge, citing his work history, single child, and the circumstances of the offence, imposed the custodial sentence, backdated to his September 2024 arrest.
In a High Court hearing, a stay was granted on the conviction of a Dublin man, Jason Malone, who was sentenced to nine months' imprisonment for possession of cocaine and heroin in July 2022. Malone, aged 42, challenged the admissibility of forensic evidence presented by a Forensic Science Ireland employee, arguing that the certifying officer had no direct involvement in the analysis of the substances. His lawyers contended that the absence of "essential proofs" and the lack of the officer's first‑hand knowledge rendered the certificate inadmissible under the hearsay rule, thereby undermining the court's basis for conviction. The High Court, presided over by Ms Justice Mary Rose Gearty, described the case as "very interesting" and adjourned it for mention on March 11, following the grant of a stay on the conviction order. The case remains pending review of the legal issues raised by Malone's counsel.
Christine Ward, 37, and her former partner Derek Bewley, 49, were convicted of violent robbery and burglary in Artane on 2 November 2018. Ward was sentenced to eight and a half years in prison, with 18 months suspended, after a judge described the offences as "most serious". Bewley received the same custodial term. Ward appealed, arguing that her previous convictions were not violent and that a psychological report on her mental health and drug use should have been considered. Counsel also claimed Ward was a better rehabilitation candidate than Bewley. The Court of Appeal rejected the appeal, stating that the original judge had treated the offenders similarly and that no error in principle had been proven. Ward's appeal was dismissed, leaving her eight‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence intact. Derek Bewley pleaded guilty.
A 24‑year‑old man was sentenced to 15 months' imprisonment for defiling his 16‑year‑old cousin and infecting her with chlamydia after offering her cocaine. He pleaded guilty to the first offence on 9 May 2021 at a flat he shared with his mother and a second offence in July 2021 at the same location. The court heard that he was 21 when the offences were committed. The victim, who was visiting her aunt, was offered drugs and a bottle of vodka at the early hours, then taken to the defendant's flat where they had sex. She later reported the incident to Gardaí, was examined at the Rotunda, and confirmed she had chlamydia. The defendant had no prior convictions and was found to be at moderate risk of reoffending. Judge Martin Nolan noted the aggravating factor of the second offence and the victim's age, and imposed the 15‑month sentence.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Sean Howard, 38, pleaded guilty to a robbery on Dame Street on 13 April 2024. Howard, who has 151 prior convictions for theft, burglary, criminal damage, drug and traffic offences, was sentenced by Judge Orla Crowe to a headline term of six years, reduced to four and a half years with the final six months suspended. The sentence was back‑dated to 13 April 2024 to credit time spent in custody. Howard's attack on a foreign doctor was described by the judge as a "vicious, unprovoked" assault, during which he stamped the doctor's head 151 times and kicked him. The doctor suffered a swollen eye, back pain and knee pain, and was unable to use public transport for two weeks. Howard admitted the offence and expressed remorse, while the prosecution noted the victim's impact statement of fear walking around the city centre for months.
Too Tian Yng, 32, of Kuala Lumpur, was sentenced to three and a half years in prison after pleading guilty to importing €340,000 worth of cannabis into Ireland from Thailand. He admitted to smuggling the drugs at Dublin Airport on 4 June 2024, following an X‑ray of his suitcase that led to a search by customs and excise officers, who found 17 kg of cannabis. Yng claimed he had taken the suitcase from an airport in Bangkok and that he had been coerced, but he did not elaborate on the source of the coercion. He said he was scared of something or someone, but did not identify any names or sources. Yng had no prior convictions and was not known to Malaysian authorities. The court accepted that he acted as a courier, not as a criminal mastermind, and sentenced him accordingly.
Damien Donnan, serving a life sentence for the manslaughter of his mother Jennifer in 2000, is seeking to quash a decision that refused him parole. Donnan, who was 18 at the time of the offence, was convicted after a trial in February 2002. He had originally been charged with murder but was found guilty of manslaughter. The offence involved a dispute over a cigarette, during which Donnan broke his mother's neck and strangled her. In 2006 he received a suspended life sentence, but the suspension was removed in 2007 after he failed to comply with medication and drug‑abuse conditions. The High Court is hearing his application to overturn the parole board's refusal, which was made in September 2024. Donnan's lawyers argue that the board conflated Sections 13 and 30 of the Parole Act, creating an error in law. The court has adjourned the application for leave to seek judicial review to the following month.
Two men have gone on trial at the Special Criminal Court, where they deny possessing 2.2 tonnes of cocaine for sale or supply on board the Panamanian cargo ship MV Matthew. Iranian Saeid Hassani (39) and Filipino Harold Estoesta (31) were arraigned and pleaded not guilty to all charges. They are alleged to have possessed controlled drugs, namely cocaine, for the purpose of selling or supplying them in contravention of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations, 2017 to 2023, on September 24, 2023, within the State's territorial sea. They are further charged with possessing cocaine for sale or supply to a value of €13,000 or more between September 24 and 26, 2023, at locations outside the State. Each man also faces a charge of participating in or contributing to the activity of a criminal organisation with knowledge of its existence, intending to facilitate a serious offence. The trial is due to begin before the non-jury Special Criminal Court, with Ms Justice Melanie Greally presiding over the three-judge court. Four co-accused – Ukrainians Mykhailo Gavryk (32) and Vitaliy Vlasoi (32), Iranian Soheil Jelveh (51), and Dutch national Cumali Ozgen (49) – last week pleaded guilty to similar offences connected to the seizure. The 2.25 tonnes of cocaine seized from the MV Matthew has an estimated value of more than €157 million. The ship was boarded in a dramatic operation by the Army Rangers in September 2023.
Nathan McDonnell, a former chief executive of Ballyseedy Garden Centre, pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to importing methylamphetamine and directing a criminal organisation. The trial heard that McDonnell was to be paid €150,000 to store a machine containing 564kg of crystal meth, valued at €32.4 million, before its export to Australia. Prosecutors alleged the drugs were imported from Mexico via the Sinaloa Cartel. While the State asserted McDonnell facilitated the operation, it was noted that a different individual was charged with directing the criminal organisation. McDonnell admitted to storing the machine and arranging its shipment but claimed he was unaware of its contents. He has no previous convictions. Ms Justice Melanie Greally, presiding with Judges Sarah Berkeley and Grainne Malone, remanded McDonnell in custody. The court stated it hoped to finalise the case by the end of the month. Co-accused James Leen was also present. The matter was adjourned for sentencing.
A hospital worker from Tallaght has received a fully suspended three-and-a-half-year sentence after pleading guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Daniel O'Neill, aged 40, admitted the offence relating to an incident on 12 November 2023 at Pinewood Park, Tallaght. The court heard that while hungover, O'Neill had given his cousin a lift to Cabra, where four suitcases containing €360,000 worth of cannabis and cocaine were placed in his vehicle. Upon detecting the smell of cannabis during the return journey to Tallaght, O'Neill realised what had occurred. Two suitcases were transferred to another car under garda surveillance, resulting in O'Neill's arrest within metres. The remaining cases were found to contain €138,568 of cocaine. His cousin and a third man, James Glynn of Claremorris, County Mayo, were also arrested. Judge Martin Nolan determined O'Neill did not merit imprisonment, considering he had been placed in an unfortunate position and had received no payment.
Alan McCabe, 26, pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply at a house in Ballymun. He was found with €9,886 of cannabis and drug paraphernalia, though he did not live there and was not responsible for other drugs seized. McCabe had no prior convictions and had quit drug use five years earlier, remaining drug‑free. He has spoken publicly about his negative drug experiences and has shown remorse, submitting an apology letter and a probation report indicating low reoffending risk. The court noted his rehabilitation efforts and the absence of a prior criminal record. Judge Pauline Codd imposed a headline sentence of four years but ultimately sentenced McCabe to two and a half years in prison, suspended in full for three years. The decision reflected the significant drug value and the mitigating factors of his rehabilitation.
Ryan Jennings, a 30‑year‑old British man from Durrow, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of a controlled drug after a customs officer noticed him acting suspiciously at Terminal One, Dublin Airport, on 24 August 2024. He was found with a large black suitcase containing 32 vacuum‑sealed bags of cannabis valued at €320,100. Jennings admitted that the death of his son in 2022 had led him to heavy drinking and a £15,000 debt, and that he had burned out his work van to try to clear that debt. He claimed the job of transporting cannabis was a "foolish venture" to escape his financial troubles. The court heard his cooperation, early guilty plea, lack of prior convictions and the family tragedy as mitigating factors.
The murder trial of Brian McHugh, 40, is ongoing at the Central Criminal Court before Justice Karen O'Connor and a jury. McHugh, of Ballymun, Dublin 11, has pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Lisa Thompson, 52, at Sandyhill Gardens on May 9, 2022. Prosecution counsel Fiona Murphy SC outlined that Ms Thompson's body was found with multiple chest stab wounds and a window blind cord around her neck. A mixed DNA profile on the cord could not exclude McHugh as a minor contributor. Witness Sandra McMahon testified that Ms Thompson dealt prescription drugs, including Zimovane, from her home and had given a neighbour €20,000 to hold in case of a Garda raid. Chief State Pathologist Dr Linda Mulligan stated the cause of death was a combination of ligature strangulation and eleven stab wounds to the left chest, including six penetrating the heart. She noted it was impossible to determine which injury occurred first or if both were inflicted by the same person. Detective Garda Janette O'Neill reported the property was ransacked with no signs of forced entry. The trial continues tomorrow.
In February 2025 the Court of Appeal increased the sentence of Paul Clarke, 42, who had previously been convicted 115 times. Clarke, who had been released on bail for a robbery, later robbed a Lidl on Malahide Road on 13 November 2019, firing a handgun into the ceiling and threatening the manager. The original six‑year term, set by Judge Orla Crowe in October 2023, was deemed too lenient. The appeal judge, Mr Justice Brian O'Moore, imposed a new headline term of nine and a half years, reduced to seven years and one month after mitigation. Five months of the effective sentence were suspended for four years to encourage Clarke to avoid drug use. The new term will run from the date of the original hearing. The decision was based on CCTV evidence of the shooting, the threat to staff, and Clarke's extensive criminal history.
Four men were remanded in custody until February 24 after pleading guilty to possessing 2.25 tonnes of cocaine for supply on the Panamanian-registered vessel MV Matthew. The defendants, Mykhailo Gavryk, Vitaliy Vlasoi, Soheil Jelveh, and Cumali Ozgen, appeared before the Special Criminal Court following the refusal of their application to dismiss charges. The seized cocaine, valued at over €157 million, represents the largest such seizure in Irish history. The court listed the case for mention on February 24 to fix a sentencing date. Separately, Vitaliy Lapa pleaded guilty to attempted possession of cocaine for supply and participation in a criminal organisation. He is scheduled to appear for sentencing later this year. UK national Jamie Harbron also pleaded guilty to attempted possession of cocaine for sale or supply and will appear for a sentencing hearing later this year. Two other defendants, Saeid Hassani and Harold Estoesta, are set to stand trial on Monday before the Special Criminal Court. The court noted that the guilty pleas were acceptable to the Director of Public Prosecutions on a full facts basis.
Irene Cahill, aged 69, was sentenced to 15 months in prison after pleading guilty to three counts of possession of large quantities of cannabis. The drugs, valued at about €68,800, were found under her bed in her Clondalkin home during a Garda raid on 16 June 2023. Cahill admitted she had taken small portions and handed them out, claiming she was holding the cannabis for a family member who owed a drug debt of €7,000. She said she had been in possession for about four weeks and that this was her first offence. Cahill has no prior convictions but has a long history of drug addiction, having been on methadone since 1990. The judge noted her age and lack of previous convictions, and considered her cooperation with the investigation, before imposing the 15‑month sentence.
Osama Sarhan, 27, of Belvedere Place, Dublin, pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary and assault on two women on 11 February 2024, and to two further burglaries on 14 February 2024. He broke into a woman's apartment while she and her roommate slept, entered the bedroom armed with a knife, and struck one woman, who was taken to hospital with severe hand injuries. The knife was later found discarded under a car. Sarhan was arrested three days later after smashing a window with a tree branch at another burglary scene. He also broke into the Cassidy Hotel, smashing a window and stealing a till worth €300. In court, the judge accepted his guilty plea and mitigating circumstances, including drug use and a difficult period, and imposed a five‑year prison sentence with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions for rehabilitation.
Liudmyla Budash, 46, a Ukrainian refugee, was found with €500,000 in cash and pleaded guilty to money laundering at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in July 2024. Judge Elva Duffy originally sentenced her to 15 months, reduced to two years, with nine months suspended. The Court of Appeal quashed the original term and, on 5 February 2025, Mr Justice Patrick MacGrath resentenced her to four and a half years in prison. He noted her active, premeditated role in moving large sums, her lack of prior convictions, and her status as a mother of three. The headline sentence was set at seven years before a two‑and‑a‑half‑year reduction, resulting in the final term. The case involved a Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau operation that seized the cash in Temple Bar on 12 April 2024. The appeal argued the initial sentence was too lenient, citing the seriousness of the offence and the amount involved.
A 50-year-old woman, November Phelan, was remanded in custody until March 3, when she will be sentenced, following a sentence hearing at the Central Criminal Court. Phelan pleaded guilty to manslaughter when she was arraigned before the Central Criminal Court, admitting to the charge of manslaughter when she fatally stabbed her partner, David Ennis (36), in a Dublin apartment. The court heard that Phelan used excessive force in self-defence, claiming she was in 'total fear' and did not intend to kill him. The incident occurred in the early hours of November 8, 2022, at Claddagh Court in Ballyfermot. The court was informed that Phelan and Ennis had been in a relationship for two to three years, during which drugs were a significant factor. The deceased had a history of drug use and had suffered a fall from a balcony a few days before the incident. CCTV footage showed Ennis arriving at Claddagh Court at 11.30pm on November 7, and Phelan arriving around 1.20am on the morning of November 8. The court heard that Phelan had a history of 26 previous convictions, mostly for public order offences and non-appearance before court. The matter was adjourned and will be finalised on March 3, when the sentence will be determined.
The Special Criminal Court has refused an application by six men to dismiss charges related to the seizure of 2.25 tonnes of cocaine from the MV Matthew, the largest such seizure in Irish history. The defendants, including Ukrainians Mykhailo Gavryk and Vitaliy Vlasoi, Iranians Soheil Jelveh and Saeid Hassani, Dutch national Cumali Ozgen, and Filipino Harold Estoesta, are charged with drug trafficking offences at sea. The court, presided over by Ms Justice Melanie Greally, delivered its judgment under Section 4E of the Criminal Justice Act 1999, which prohibits reporting of the evidence and arguments. Following the decision, Ms Justice Greally adjourned the matter until tomorrow to allow time for the defence to assimilate the ruling. Separately, Ukrainian national Vitaliy Lapa pleaded guilty to attempting to possess cocaine for sale or supply, with a market value of at least €13,000. He also faces a charge of participating in a criminal organisation, though his status regarding this specific allegation remains contested. UK national Jamie Harbron previously pleaded guilty to an offence arising from the seizure and is scheduled to appear for sentencing later this year. The source text does not specify sentences or finalisations for Lapa or Harbron, nor does it detail the outcome for the six men beyond the refusal of their dismissal application and the subsequent adjournment.
Ryan Fitzpatrick, 27, of Malahide, has appealed his sentence of three years and nine months in the Court of Appeal. Fitzpatrick, the appellant, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to corruptly offering a gift to a civilian working for An Garda Siochana to convince her to do an act in relation to her employment on a date unknown. He also pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice by attempting to destroy a mobile phone linked to a specific SIM card in Malahide on May 27, 2020. His defence counsel, Pieter Le Vert BL, argued that Fitzpatrick was treated unfairly compared to his co-accused, the civilian employee, who received a two-and-a-half-year sentence for providing sensitive information from the Garda Pulse system. The defence contended there was no justification for the disparity in sentencing. Joe Mulrean BL, representing the Director of Public Prosecutions, responded that there was no error and the sentence imposed was "perfectly appropriate." He highlighted that Fitzpatrick pleaded guilty to both corruption and perverting the course of justice, noting he was on bail at the time, exploited a vulnerable co-accused, and has multiple previous convictions for drugs, road traffic, and endangerment offences. Although Fitzpatrick threw his phone in a toilet during a raid, gardaí salvaged the SIM card, which was linked to messages and images taken from the Garda Pulse system. Fitzpatrick fled Ireland and was later extradited. Mr Justice John Edwards, presiding, stated that the court will deliver judgment at a later date, meaning the matter was adjourned.
Karl Humphries, a Cork resident, was convicted in July 2021 of three counts of possession of cannabis worth about €58,000. He claimed he was hunting rabbits and that the drugs were found by Gardaí during a sting operation. Humphries denied any involvement in the drug trade and pleaded not guilty, asserting he never touched the bag. The jury found him guilty by a 10‑2 majority and the judge sentenced him to ten years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended. In 2023, at age 40, he appealed, arguing the trial judge had mis‑instructed the jury on the standard of proof. The Court of Appeal rejected the appeal, and the Supreme Court refused to allow the appeal to be heard, stating the matter was not of general public importance. The case remains at the conviction level.
A 36‑year‑old corporal in the Irish Defence Forces, Richard Kearney, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing €25,000 of suspected drug‑proceeds on 6 May 2022. Garda Vincent Jaffray presented evidence that a phone seized from Kearney's rented flat contained communications with known drug dealers, revealing that he had laundered €6.6 million and £250,000 between April 2021 and May 2022. The search uncovered €10,455 in cash hidden in a bed frame and €15,000 wrapped in clingfilm in a freezer. Kearney admitted he was the sole occupant of the flat and that the phone was his. Bank‑statement analysis showed no legitimate source for the money found at his home. The court noted Kearney's lack of prior convictions, his family responsibilities, and his role as a corporal. Judge Martin Nolan, after considering mitigating factors, imposed a headline sentence of six years, reduced to three years.
Brandon Hennessy, aged 21, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing cocaine for sale or supply in Blanchardstown on 21 January 2021, when he was 17. Garda surveillance at TUD Blanchardstown's grounds caught him and a co‑accused, who was about 25, attempting to bury a large package of drugs. Hennessy was apprehended at Mulhuddart Cemetery after the pair fled. A search uncovered 454 g of cocaine worth €31,808 and 10 g of heroin worth €1,482. Hennessy had two prior minor traffic convictions. The prosecution noted his father's murder on Christmas Eve 2023 and his mother's struggle, while the defence highlighted his positive traits and community involvement. Judge Martin Nolan, recognising his youth, guilty plea, cooperation and family circumstances, imposed a three‑year sentence suspended in full, conditional on 18 months' engagement with the Probation Service.
Tony Ward, a 53‑year‑old Dublin City Council employee, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing drugs for sale or supply on 10 May 2023. He admitted that he had transported a package of cannabis, worth €6,000, in his work lorry after being approached by co‑accused Michael Little, who had already pleaded guilty to the same offence and received an 18‑month suspended sentence earlier that year. Garda Tara Higgins explained that officers had been monitoring the area following Little's suspicious behaviour; Ward was stopped and arrested when the package was discovered. Ward's defence argued that he acted as a drug mule because his son owed a drug debt. Judge Martin Nolan accepted that Ward was pressured by his son's drug habit, noted his long work history and unlikely re‑offending, and sentenced him to 18 months in prison, suspended in full on strict conditions.
Dylan Mangan, 26, of Dublin 1, pleaded guilty to making unwarranted demands with menace in March 2020. He threatened two innocent victims, saying he would kill them, slit their children's throats and burn down their homes. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Mangan to five years' imprisonment, describing the offence as "insidious" and noting the threats were menacing and frightening. The case involved co‑accused Des Smyth, 25, who pleaded guilty to the same offence and received a four‑year sentence with the final 18 months suspended for three years to aid his drug rehabilitation. The victims were unrelated to the drug trade; one owed a debt to a half‑brother who was a drug dealer, and the other was the victim's boss. The threats were made after the assailants arrived at the first victim's workplace on 20 March 2020, as shown by CCTV footage.
Nikita Ronan, aged 29 and without a fixed abode, was sentenced to two and a half years in prison for a series of "wilfully violent" assaults in Dublin city centre during 2023. She had 134 prior convictions, including assault, theft, burglary, drugs and traffic offences. Between March and May 2023 she attacked a woman in the Morgan Hotel, assaulted a friend on Aston Quay and attempted to rob her handbag, and on Merchant's Quay she stole a phone and slashed a man's arm and head with a knife. She pleaded guilty to one count of assault, one count of assault causing harm, two counts of assault causing harm and theft of a phone. Judge Elva Duffy described her as a danger to others due to intoxication, imposed a sentence of three years and two months, and suspended the final eight months under conditions. The court noted her remorse, methadone programme and plans to live with her father upon release.
Brad Dempsey, 24, of Crumlin, was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment for firing five shots at a car on Donore Avenue, Dublin 8, on 19 January 2022. He pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful possession of a firearm, a charge reduced from an initial attempt to endanger life. The court heard that a dispute between Dempsey's associate and another person led to the shooting, which was captured on CCTV. Dempsey emerged from the scene with a firearm, fired at the vehicle, and the rear passenger‑door glass shattered. He was in custody since August 2023. The judge, citing the seriousness of the offence, set a headline sentence of 12 years, reduced to eight years and back‑dated to the time of his custody. No injuries were reported. The case reflects Dempsey's history of violent disorder and drug offences.
Lemos Luise Rocha, 24, from São Paulo, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for smuggling 1.23 kg of cocaine worth €80,000 onto an aircraft. He admitted possession of the drugs at Dublin Airport on 31 March 2024 and explained that he swallowed half of the pellets while the remainder was wrapped around his groin and in his shoes. Rocha claimed he was coerced by a man who promised a "nice life" and offered him a hamper and €500. He also said he had an affair with his teacher when he was 14 and has a child with her. The court noted his lack of prior convictions, his fear for his life, and the fact that he was a foreign national. Judge Martin Nolan, after considering the mitigating circumstances, imposed a three‑year term, back‑dating it to 31 March 2024 for time already spent in custody. Lemos Luise Rocha pleaded guilty.
A 27-year-old fitness instructor from Donabate has been sentenced to six and a half years' imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following his conviction for drug trafficking. The man pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis on 26 May 2023 in the Balbriggan area of North Dublin. An intelligence-led garda operation led to his arrest after he collected a hired van from a gym in Finglas and travelled to Cavan, where he collected drugs before being stopped by gardaí near Balbriggan on his return journey. Approximately 186 kilograms of cannabis herb and 291 bars of cannabis resin, valued at just under €3.9 million, were recovered from the vehicle. The defendant, who had no previous convictions, told gardaí he had experienced financial difficulties and accepted a one-off payment to transport the van, claiming ignorance of the quantity involved. Judge Martin Nolan departed from the mandatory minimum ten-year sentence, citing the defendant's early plea, cooperation, employment history, and low likelihood of reoffending.
Ukrainian national Vitaliy Lapa pleaded guilty in the Special Criminal Court to attempting to possess cocaine for supply, an offence committed between September 21 and 25, 2023. The court accepted the plea on a full facts basis. Lapa also faces a separate charge of facilitating a serious offence by a criminal organisation, which the prosecution stated would be dealt with in the usual way. Ms Justice Melanie Greally, presiding with Judges Sarah Berkeley and Grainne Malone, remanded Lapa in custody until February 24 for a case mention. She declined to order a probation report at this stage but indicated it might be considered later. Lapa was one of seven men linked to the seizure of 2.25 tonnes of cocaine from the MV Matthew, the largest such seizure in Irish history. The other six accused—Mykhailo Gavryk, Vitaliy Vlasoi, Soheil Jelveh, Saeid Hassani, Cumali Ozgen, and Harold Estoesta—applied to have their drug trafficking charges dismissed. The court is scheduled to rule on these applications this week. Separately, UK national Jamie Harbron previously pleaded guilty to attempting to possess cocaine for sale or supply arising from the same incident. He is awaiting a sentencing hearing later this year.
Joseph Boyle, 42, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for violent offences committed while on bail. He pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm, robbery, theft, and threatening to kill or cause serious harm. Judge Martin Nolan jailed Boyle for eight and a half years, imposing a five-year sentence for the assault causing serious harm and a consecutive three-and-a-half-year term for the remaining charges. The court heard Boyle had 86 previous convictions and that his single punch to a victim's head on Phibsborough Road resulted in a life-threatening traumatic brain injury, requiring five and a half months of hospitalisation. Other offences included knife robberies of tourists and security staff. In a related matter, Kia O'Connor, 34, pleaded guilty to violent disorder for throwing a bottle at a woman during an altercation in which Boyle brandished a knife. Judge Nolan jailed O'Connor for one year. Both defendants were of no fixed abode. The judge noted Boyle's chronic drug problem and violent temperament, describing him as a menace. O'Connor's defence highlighted her personal setbacks and drug addiction. The matter was finalised with these custodial sentences.
Three men aged 34 to 42, with addresses in Dublin and Wicklow, are on trial for seven counts of rape, oral rape and sexual assault against a woman at an unknown location in a car and a Dublin house on 31 August 2019. The defendants have pleaded not guilty. One defendant, 34, admitted to recording two videos of the incident – one 30 seconds long and one six seconds – and sharing them in a group chat he described as a "locker room chat" for a laugh. He claimed the videos were taken in darkness and that he did not see any rough play or force. He denied giving the woman cocaine and insisted she consented throughout. The court has seen the videos, which contain only a female voice saying "No" and a male voice allegedly saying "Stick it up her arse." Forensic evidence showed bruising on the woman's arms and legs but no genital injuries.
In a tribunal hearing on 22 January 2025, Aran Burrows, a former Weltec Engineering subcontractor, alleged that his February 2024 contract non‑renewal was whistleblower penalisation under the Protected Disclosures Act 2014. Burrows claimed a voice note he recorded, containing remarks about "cocaine use, smoking joints, b**ches and h*es" and unsafe work at height, was used by the company as a "cover‑up" to justify the non‑renewal. Weltec's safety manager, Dave Kerrigan, and health and safety manager, James Hackett, testified that the voice note was deemed a protected disclosure because it contained "some satire" but also raised legitimate safety concerns. They argued the note revealed breaches of Intel's safety policy, such as working at height without a clipped‑off system. The tribunal heard that the report had not been read by company staff and that the decision to not renew Burrows' contract was made jointly by senior managers following the voice note's discovery.
Cheong Sik Hong, 38, of Kampung, Paya Bemban, Malaysia, was sentenced to three years in prison after customs officers discovered over €280,000 worth of cannabis in his suitcase. Hong admitted possession of 14 kg of cannabis, estimated at €281,000, for sale or supply at Dublin Airport on 7 July 2024. He claimed he was paid to transport edible bird nests and had no knowledge of the drugs. Garda Jamie Connor reported that a customs dog alerted to the suitcase, which Hong said belonged to a friend and was forced open. Hong stated he had been told he would stay in Ireland for seven days and would receive further instructions upon arrival. He had no prior convictions, pleaded guilty early, and cooperated with the investigation before being jailed for three years.
Four men accused of conspiring to import more than €13,000 of controlled drugs into Ireland between 27 February and 14 March 2024 have had their cases transferred to the non‑jury Special Criminal Court. The transfer was granted by Ms Justice Melanie Greally, sitting with Judge Sarah Berkeley and Judge Grainne Malone, after an ex‑parte application by the Director of Public Prosecutions. The defendants – Pedro Pablo Ojeda Ortega (36) of Cadiz, Aleksandar Milic (27) of Belgrade, Juan Antonio Gallardo Barroso (56) of Spain, and Anuar Rahui Chairi (42) of Malaga – are charged under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977 with conspiring to import controlled drugs in excess of the statutory threshold. The decision follows the earlier transfer of six other men, including one from Northern Ireland, to the Special Criminal Court. The men were arrested in March during operations near Skibbereen, where vehicles and a rigid inflatable boat were seized as part of the suspected smuggling operation.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, Des Smyth, aged 25, pleaded guilty to making unwarranted demands with menace in March 2020. He and a co‑accused attempted to extort €20,000 from two unrelated victims: a man whose half‑brother was a drug dealer and his employer. CCTV showed Smyth and the co‑accused arriving at the first victim's workplace, demanding money and threatening to slit the victim's children's throats if the money was not paid. The victims had no connection to the drug trade. Gardaí identified the suspects through CCTV and confidential information. Smyth was described by the judge as a henchman in an extortion attempt. He received a sentence of four years, with the final 18 months suspended for three years to support his drug rehabilitation.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Alan Morrison, 45, pleaded guilty to possessing a realistic imitation firearm after he appeared unannounced at Geoffrey Keating's home, threatening to shoot him. Morrison demanded €30,000 for an alleged drug debt, though Keating had never been involved in drugs. Gardaí found the imitation firearm in Morrison's trouser leg and a small black handgun on the ground. Keating, who had been handcuffed, used his son's weapon to subdue Morrison. Morrison, who has 67 prior convictions mainly for traffic offences and a 12‑year sentence in 2009 for drug possession, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment with the final 12 months suspended for two years. The court noted Keating's increased security measures, new driving licence, and purchase of a car for family safety. Morrison's defence highlighted his PTSD and rehabilitation efforts. The judge emphasised that the offence was not drug‑related.
Lee Zhu Xuan, a 21‑year‑old Malaysian from Pereak, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to importing cannabis worth just over €360,000 into Ireland via Terminal 2, Dublin Airport on 5 June 2024. Garda Alex Murphy reported that a Revenue officer observed Xuan acting suspiciously, searched his bag and found 36 vacuum‑packed bags of cannabis. Xuan claimed he had no knowledge of the contents, saying a friend had given him the bag and booked the flight. He was promised €2,800 for his role and said he was studying music and had high educational fees. During the garda interview he expressed deep regret for his actions. The court heard that Xuan had no prior convictions, cooperated with customs and the gardai, and made admissions.
Jason Smith, 31, of Beechdale Lawn, Ballycullen, Dublin 24, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of cannabis, cocaine and cannabis jellies in the Dundrum area on 1 June 2023. Garda Kevin Keogh reported that Smith had been seen pulling up beside a parked van, removing an item and placing it in his car. Gardaí later seized a hidden compartment in the van containing vacuum‑packed bags of cocaine. The total value of the drugs seized was €143,697, including €21,612 of cocaine and €119,219 of cannabis. Smith claimed he was unaware the items were drugs, stating he was addicted to Xanax and had accrued a drug debt. He admitted responsibility, expressed remorse, and had cooperated with the investigation. Judge Martin Nolan accepted the mitigating circumstances and sentenced Smith to three years' imprisonment, reducing the headline sentence of six years.
Brandon Cunningham, 25, of Amiens Street, Dublin 1, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for assault and violent disorder arising from a February 15, 2021, incident on the Luas. Cunningham pleaded guilty to the charges. The court heard that he bit part of a man's ear off during a brawl between George's Dock and Busáras stops, an altercation that forced the tram out of service. Judge Martin Nolan jailed Cunningham for three years, with the sentence backdated to when he first entered custody. The judge noted that while Cunningham did not start the attack, biting off part of an ear was a "pretty savage thing to do." Defense counsel Carol Doherty BL highlighted Cunningham's personal history, including being a "heroin baby," and his remorse. Anthony McDonald, 26, of Cromcastle Court, Dublin 5, was also sentenced for violent disorder for his involvement in the same incident. Judge Nolan stated that McDonald's culpability was lesser than Cunningham's but noted he had participated in the event. McDonald was jailed for 18 months. Defense counsel Derek Cooney BL argued that McDonald did not inflict the injury and was unable to leave the tram until it stopped. Both sentences were handed down following the presentation of CCTV footage and evidence regarding the dispute between the parties' families.
Paul Costello, 54, of Cois Cairn, Bray, was jailed for four years at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to possession of cannabis for sale or supply on 30 January 2024. Gardaí seized 10 kg of cannabis worth €200,180 in his van and €52 of cocaine in the front. Costello admitted responsibility for the drugs, saying the cocaine was for personal use and that he had been instructed by a group of men to place the drugs in the van. He claimed he was a courier, not an owner, and that he would receive €100 per kilo. He also stated he would rather take the blame than a "bullet in the head". The judge noted his 16 prior convictions, none drug‑related, his health issues, early guilty plea and cooperation, and considered him unlikely to reoffend to the same degree.
A 54‑year‑old man from Hazelmere, Naas, Co. Kildare, with no prior convictions, was sentenced to six years' imprisonment for transporting over €3.2 million worth of cannabis. He admitted to possessing 161.5 kg of the drug on the M50 motorway on 20 March 2024, after being paid €100 to drive a van that had been seized by Gardaí. The van, stopped on the M50, contained boxes of suspected cannabis; a mobile phone and a lottery ticket were also found. Cox claimed he was unaware of the contents, stating he only knew he was to meet a person. He had been suffering financial hardship following a heart bypass, a motorbike accident, a marital break‑up and homelessness. The court noted his guilty plea, cooperation with Gardaí, lack of prior convictions and financial difficulties, and imposed a six‑year sentence, a decision made after considering the mandatory minimum of ten years and mitigating circumstances.
Dean O'Brien, 39, of Blakestown Cottages, Clonsilla, Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of 9.5 kg of cannabis worth €194,940 found in a vehicle parked in Whitestown Park, Blanchardstown on 5 August 2023. Garda Conor Finnegan noticed a smashed back window and suspected the car had been stolen; the registered owner was O'Brien's partner. The car was searched, revealing 1,000 tablets worth €2,000 in the front seat and cannabis in the boot. O'Brien admitted he had taken full responsibility for the drugs, explaining he had stored them to pay a €10,000 debt to violent criminals owing to his cocaine habit. He claimed his partner was unaware of the drugs. O'Brien has since undergone drug rehabilitation. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to three and a half years' imprisonment, citing his cooperation, guilty plea, and steps taken to address his addiction. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the offence and the circumstances presented.