In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Sharon Hickey, 45, pleaded guilty to possessing 2.9 kg of heroin for sale or supply outside the Lamplighter pub on 12 April 2022. The heroin, worth €417,480, was found in a green Aldi bag given to her by co‑accused Gregory Dunne, who also handed her €500 in cash. Hickey had been told to hide the drugs to reduce a debt from bills, credit cards and drugs, and was promised the cash in exchange. She admitted the offence, expressed regret and remorse, and has since become drug‑free, is fully employed and her risk of reoffending has fallen from moderate to low. Judge Elma Sheahan, after a year's adjournment, imposed a headline sentence of five years, but suspended a three‑year term in full for four years, citing her progress and rehabilitation. The case remains adjourned for finalisation.
Christopher Connaughton, a 45‑year‑old painter and decorator from Enniscorthy, was sentenced to four years in prison at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for his role as the 'warehouse man' in a €726,000 cannabis shipment. He pleaded guilty on 18 July 2023 to possession of cannabis herb and resin after Customs and Gardaí seized two pallets at a Greenhills Industrial Estate warehouse. Connaughton signed for the delivery under a false name, unloaded the drugs, and took the pallets to a Tallaght warehouse where further searches uncovered the full value of the drugs. He admitted his involvement, claiming he acted to pay a drug debt, and stated he had no financial interest in the shipment. His only prior conviction was for drink driving. The judge noted his low‑to‑middle level involvement and imposed the four‑year sentence, citing mitigation but also the substantial drug amount.
In the Special Criminal Court, six of seven men accused in connection with the seizure of 2.25 tonnes of cocaine on the MV Matthew are set to apply for dismissal of charges under the Criminal Procedure Act. The hearings, expected to last three to four days, will determine if the cases proceed to trial. The seized drugs, valued at over €157 million, were recovered in September 2023 during an Army Rangers operation. The six applicants include Ukrainians Mykhailo Gavryk, Vitaliy Vlasoi, and Vitaliy Lapa; Iranians Soheil Jelveh and Saeid Hassani; Dutch national Cumali Ozgen; and Filipino Harold Estoesta. However, Vitaliy Lapa is not making an application and remains accused of offences under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977 and the Criminal Justice Act 2006. The other six face similar charges, with five additionally charged under the Criminal Justice (Illicit Traffic by Sea) Act 2003. Separately, UK national Jamie Harbron, 31, has already pleaded guilty to attempting to possess cocaine for sale or supply between September 21 and 25, 2023. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for later this year. The court noted that details of the dismissal applications cannot be reported. The matter regarding the six applicants is currently at the pre-trial application stage, with the trial itself not yet concluded.
A second Malaysian drugs mule who believed the €389,000 in cannabis he was smuggling in his suitcase was a consignment of edible bird nests has been jailed. Chong Chong Nen (50) pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis for sale or supply at Terminal 1, Dublin Airport, on June 2, 2024. He has no previous convictions and has been in custody since his arrest on the day of the offence. Judge Dara Hayes noted the deleterious effect of drug crime on communities and on wider society. She said there were "specific and exceptional" circumstances in the case which allowed her to depart from the presumptive minimum sentence of ten-year imprisonment, citing the manner in which Chong Nen had dealt with the case, his early plea and his cooperation and admissions. She set a headline sentence of five and a half years before imposing a term of three years and six months, suspending the final nine months. Kim Low Swee (35), also from Malaysia, received a sentence of three years and six months, with the final 12 months suspended earlier this month, after the court heard he was under significant financial pressure. The second Malaysian drugs mule, who also believed he was carrying bird nests, has been jailed. The matter was adjourned at the sentence stage.
Sam Collins, a 30-year-old electrician from Sandyford, Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of drugs for sale or supply following an incident on August 26, 2023, at Charlestown Place, Finglas. Gardaí discovered approximately €58,879 worth of drugs during a search of his vehicle and home after he was observed at the location. The court heard Collins was storing the drugs for a third party and that he had no previous convictions. Defence counsel highlighted his mental health difficulties at the time and noted his otherwise solid work history and family circumstances. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a four-and-a-half-year prison sentence, fully suspended, citing exceptional circumstances including Collins' early guilty plea, clean record, and unlikely prospect of reoffending.
In a Court of Appeal hearing, Mr Justice John Edwards increased the sentence of Soufiane Mountassir, a 40‑year‑old on‑the‑run arsonist, from three to five and a half years for false imprisonment and assault causing harm. Mountassir had forced his former partner into the boot of her car, driving her to dark locations where he beat her for an hour and 40 minutes, causing her to fear for her life. He had been drinking, taking Dalmane, cocaine and cannabis during the attack. The Court noted the dominance, coercion and abuse of power in the intimate relationship, and that the original sentence was too lenient. The new headline sentence was set at eight years, with a two‑and‑a‑half‑year reduction for mitigating factors, resulting in the final five‑and‑a‑half‑year term. The decision was based on the aggravating nature of the violence and the victim's prolonged trauma. Soufiane Mountassir pleaded guilty.
Jamie Harbron, 31, of Billingham, UK, pleaded guilty before the Special Criminal Court to a drugs offence for attempting to possess cocaine for sale or supply between 21 and 25 September 2023, under the Misuse of Drugs Act. He also faces a further charge of contributing to an activity that could facilitate an organised crime group. The offence relates to the seizure of 2.25 tonnes of cocaine, valued at over €157 million, from the Panamanian‑registered bulk carrier MV Matthew in Irish waters. Eight men, including Harbron, were charged after the raid. Harbron's counsel, Michael O'Higgins SC, argued that the early guilty plea should mitigate the sentence, typically allowing a 25 % reduction from the headline sentence. The remaining seven defendants are scheduled for trial in January, and Harbron will also appear to set a sentencing date. He remains in custody awaiting sentencing.
A man described as middle management in a significant drug operation has been sentenced to seven years in prison at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Philip Lawless, aged 48 and from Leixlip, County Kildare, pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis and cocaine worth over €3.18 million for sale or supply at two Dublin locations on 3 April 2024. Gardaí conducted surveillance operations last April, tracking vehicles to a storage unit in Ballymount, Tallaght, and a subsequent stop on Beresford Street, Dublin 7. Searches uncovered substantial quantities of drugs at both locations. Phone analysis revealed Lawless was directing the activity of two other men, with one having saved his contact as "boss man". Evidence indicated he received instructions from a person further up the operation's hierarchy. Judge Dara Hayes imposed a headline sentence of twelve and a half years, reduced to eight and a half years, with the final eighteen months suspended. Lawless must engage with the Probation Service upon release.
Derek Landers, 42, who has lived in Lanzarote, Spain for 20 years, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of drugs for sale or supply after a pallet of cannabis was seized at Dublin Port. The pallet, weighing 54 kg and valued at €1,046,000, was hidden under towels and discovered by customs and Gardaí. Landers admitted he believed he was collecting horse feed and was offered €250 for the job, later claiming he was asked to do a job for €1,000. He has 19 prior convictions in Spain and Ireland. Judge Elva Duffy, noting that Landers was not at the top rung of the drug‑distribution ladder, sentenced him to five years' imprisonment. The case involved a joint customs‑Garda operation that intercepted the shipment and examined the contents. Landers expressed remorse and apologized to his family, society and the court. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the offence and Landers' guilty plea.
A sentencing hearing for former garden‑centre owner Nathan McDonnell, 44, was adjourned to 13 January after he pleaded guilty to importing crystal meth and facilitating an organised crime group. McDonnell admitted that between 16 October 2023 and 12 February 2024 he helped a criminal organisation import, sell and supply controlled drugs, knowing of its existence. He had earlier pleaded guilty to importing one or more controlled drugs, namely methylamphetamine, on 16 October 2023 at Cork Port, Ringaskiddy, in breach of the Misuse of Drugs Act. The State's case alleges the drugs were imported from Mexico, stored at a garden centre, then transported to Cork for export to Australia. The seizure of 564 kg of crystal meth, valued at €32.8 million, occurred on 16 February 2024 at Cork Port, leading to McDonnell's arrest after follow‑up searches in Kerry and Cork.
Paul Bourke, aged 56, was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment after pleading guilty to eight counts, including possession of cocaine for sale, possession of €18,100 in cash from criminal proceeds, and possession of three Glock 17 pistols. The offences occurred across several locations: his home in Tullyvolty, Johnstown, Co Kilkenny; Ballygall Parade, Finglas, Co Dublin; Tallaght, Co Dublin; and Ashbourne, Co Meath. On 3 November 2023, Bourke was arrested in Finglas after a Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau operation, following a confidential tip‑off. He was observed leaving his Kilkenny home in a transit van, dropping packages in Tallaght, Ashbourne and Finglas, where each package was seized and the recipients arrested. The Tallaght package contained just over €70,000 of cocaine; the Ashbourne and Finglas packages each held over €17,000 of cocaine. In Finglas, his van contained €18,100 in cash.
A man has been convicted of manslaughter at the Central Criminal Court following a ten-week trial in connection with the death of a drug dealer in Dublin. Dean Caffrey, aged 38, of Beaucort, Achill Road, Drumcondra, was acquitted of murder but found guilty of the unlawful killing of Sean McCarthy, 28, on August 2, 2022. The jury reached their majority verdict after more than twelve hours of deliberation. The court heard that Caffrey, a cocaine and cannabis user with accumulated drug debts, allowed McCarthy to use his apartment to store drugs as part payment. On the day in question, Caffrey told gardai that McCarthy arrived agitated and armed, accusing him of theft and making threats. During a struggle, Caffrey claimed the gun discharged fatally. Following McCarthy's death, Caffrey placed the body in a wardrobe, where it remained for four days whilst he continued his daily routine. He attended work and visited his ex-girlfriend before presenting himself at Ashbourne Garda Station and directing gardai to the remains. Dean Caffrey pleaded not guilty.
Patrick Murphy, 52, was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Joseph Brosnan, 53, who was stabbed to death in Abbey Court, Tralee, on 22 May 2022. Murphy had pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, yet the jury found him guilty of murder after a two‑hour deliberation. The judge described the attack as a "cowardly" and "vicious" knife assault carried out in a "drunken rage" against a "defenceless and unarmed" man. Murphy had been drinking and had brought a large kitchen knife to the apartment where he and Brosnan had shared drinks with a Polish friend, Kamil Lisowski. The victim's family delivered emotional impact statements, describing Brosnan as a beloved son, father and grandad, and expressing profound grief and anger at the loss. The court noted Murphy's 15 prior convictions, mainly for traffic, public order and drug offences. The judge thanked the family for their statements and emphasised the seriousness of the crime.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court has paused deliberations after approximately eleven hours of consideration in the trial of Dean Caffrey, who denies murdering Sean McCarthy. The twelve jurors will resume their discussions on Monday after being unavailable tomorrow. Mr Caffrey, aged 38 and from Achill Road in Dublin, faces charges of murder in connection with the death of Mr McCarthy, a 28-year-old drug dealer. Mr McCarthy died from a single gunshot wound to the head sustained at Mr Caffrey's residence. The defence maintains Mr Caffrey acted in self-defence during a struggle, while the prosecution contends he intentionally killed his victim. Mr McCarthy's body was discovered four days after he went missing on 2 August 2022, concealed in a wardrobe at the accused's home. Mr Justice Paul McDermott has instructed the jury they must determine guilt on the charge of murder, manslaughter, or acquittal. Mr Caffrey presented himself to gardaí days after the incident and disclosed the location of the deceased's remains. Dean Caffrey pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 35‑year‑old man pleaded guilty to one count of child neglect after his infant daughter was found blue and shivering in a car he had left behind while intoxicated. Gardaí launched a search that involved all available officers and a helicopter, locating the vehicle at 4:55 am. The child, dressed in a babygrow, was rescued, wrapped in blankets, and taken to Temple Street Children's Hospital where her temperature was normalised. The court noted the child's full recovery and that she was placed in the care of other family members until her mother returned. The defendant's car was seized and traces of cocaine were found. The judge remanded the accused into custody, with the matter adjourned for finalisation next Tuesday. The maximum sentence available is seven years in prison or a fine.
Four men have been sent forward for trial before the Special Criminal Court on charges relating to a large-scale drug importation conspiracy. The accused are Kiumaars Ghabiri and Ali Ghasemi, both from the Netherlands; Mario Angel Del Rio Sans, originally from Spain; and Sean Curran of Clones, County Monaghan. They are charged with conspiring to import controlled drugs valued in excess of €13,000 between late February and mid-March 2024, contrary to the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977. Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo ordered the matter be tried before the three-judge, non-jury court following an application by the Director of Public Prosecutions. The transfer means the case will proceed without a jury panel.
Gavin Minto, 29, pleaded guilty to possession of three controlled drugs for sale or supply at Kingswood Cross, Clondalkin, on 16 July 2020. Gardaí searched a residential property, finding 151,110 MDMA tablets, 33.6 kilos of cannabis, 668.6 grams of Eutylone and other drug‑related items, with a combined value of €2.21 million. The court described the garage as a drugs distribution centre and noted Minto's involvement. The original sentence of eight‑and‑a‑half years was quashed by the Court of Appeal, which found the sentencing judge had not given sufficient weight to a psychological report detailing Minto's chronic substance abuse, mental health issues and willingness to address his problems. The appeal judge set a headline sentence of 11 years, then re‑sentenced Minto to seven years in prison, back‑dated to March 2023, after considering mitigating factors such as his homelessness, debt, dyslexia, poor academic record, and attempts at rehabilitation.
A 35‑year‑old Malaysian named Kim Low Swee was arrested at Dublin Airport after customs found €380,000 worth of cannabis in his suitcase. He claimed he believed the bag contained edible bird nests, a delicacy, and that he had been told to say so if stopped. Low Swee admitted he knew the contents were prohibited but thought they were harmless. He said he had been promised €4,300 for the transport and that financial pressure, job loss, and family stress motivated him. He pleaded guilty to simple possession, possession for sale and supply, and importation of cannabis. The court accepted his early pleas and mitigating circumstances, and imposed a sentence of three years and six months, with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions, backdated to the day he was taken into custody.
Siquen Buongiovanne Rey, 36, a former chef with no fixed abode in Spain, was found with 11 kg of cannabis worth €220,000 in his luggage at Dublin Airport on 5 April. Customs officials, alerted by his suspicious behaviour after arriving from Malaga, X‑rayed his luggage and discovered 11 black‑plastic‑wrapped packages. Rey admitted possession to the Gardaí, claiming the drugs were for personal use, and pleaded guilty. He had no prior convictions in Ireland or Spain and was in custody since his arrest. The court accepted his early plea and the fact that he had financial difficulties after losing his job during the Covid‑19 pandemic. Judge Dara Hayes, noting the seriousness of the offence and the quantity of drugs, imposed a sentence of two years and nine months, back‑dated to 5 April, and allowed the early plea to reduce the mandatory minimum. Rey intends to serve the remainder of his sentence in Spain if permitted.
Jamie Griffin, 29, with over 40 prior convictions, was on bail when he joined a group assault at Bow Lane Bar, Aungier Street, while high on cocaine. He pleaded guilty to two counts of assault causing harm. Tommy Doran, 32, with no prior violent convictions, also pleaded guilty. The incident began when an unidentified person attacked three men; Doran escalated the violence, punching a victim, kicking him, and striking him with a chair, causing a fractured nose. Griffin, though not the initiator, quickly joined and inflicted violence on two men. Both defendants paid €4,000 in compensation. Judge Pauline Codd sentenced Doran to two and a half years, fully suspended, with conditions including victim‑focused work and addiction services. Griffin received a four‑year sentence, fully suspended, with similar conditions. Both were released after sentencing.
David Carroll, 48, of Dublin 2, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to five offences committed between December 2023 and April 2024: three thefts at St Francis Xavier Church on Gardiner Street, one theft at Erin College on North Great George Street, and one burglary of an apartment in Dublin City Centre. CCTV footage identified him at each incident. The court heard that Carroll's motivation was to fund a drug habit, and that he had previously received a diploma in addiction studies from Dublin Business School. He had 30 prior convictions and had become homeless after his hostel was raided. Judge Orla Crowe sentenced him to three years' imprisonment, back‑dated to his arrest on 29 April 2024, and suspended the final six months for 12 months, placing him under Probation Services for 12 months. The sentence was imposed after Carroll's guilty pleas, admissions, cooperation with Gardaí, and a letter of apology were considered mitigating factors.
A 31‑year‑old tenant, Dmitrus Aleinkovs, was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment for raping his landlady in June 2016. The victim had earlier been raped by a drug‑spiking courier who left her in a temporary state of paralysis after she took cocaine. Aleinkovs had been sub‑letting part of the house and had a history of consensual sexual contact with the victim, which ended when he stopped paying rent. After the courier's assault, Aleinkovs entered the sitting room, saw the victim still in a state of paralysis, and raped her for five minutes. He later returned the victim's jeans and left. The court noted the breach of trust, the victim's vulnerability, and Aleinkovs' lack of prior convictions. He was extradited from Latvia in December 2022 and has been in custody since. The judge imposed a seven‑year sentence, back‑dated to his December 2022 custody.
Joanna Zochowska, a 40‑year‑old Polish artist, was found at Dublin Airport with a pink suitcase containing 13.5 kg of cannabis worth €270,208. She claimed she had not packed the bag herself and believed it held precious metals to avoid customs duties. Zochowska said she was contacted via an app, promised $10,000 CAD, and received $1,000 for flight costs. She admitted to being in an abusive relationship and feeling financially pressured. The court accepted her early guilty plea and cooperation, noting her vulnerability and lack of prior convictions. Judge Dara Hayes sentenced her to three years and three months, suspending the final 21 months, and backdated the sentence to the day she was taken into custody. The judgment highlighted her naivety, financial hardship, and the aggravating factor of the drug amount and promised payment.
Stephen Tynan (46) and Raymond Fitzgerald (41) have appealed their convictions for the murder of Andrew Guerrine, Tynan's cousin, who was stabbed 20 times in May 2015. The appeal argues that both men were only accessories after the fact, not principals. Tynan's counsel claims another person was involved in a drug transaction and that Tynan only assisted after the murder. Fitzgerald's counsel challenges the admissibility of CCTV footage and Automatic Number Plate Recognition evidence, arguing the system's accuracy is unproven. They also contest a voluntary caution statement taken in June 2015, asserting it was not given under custody and therefore inadmissible. The court has reserved judgment on these grounds. The appeal is heard in the Central Criminal Court, with the original convictions based on circumstantial evidence linking the defendants to the murder vehicle and location. The case remains pending. Stephen Tynan pleaded not guilty. Raymond Fitzgerald pleaded not guilty.
Kamila Henrique Lopes, 28, a Brazilian drugs mule, was intercepted at Dublin Airport on 5 June 2024. She admitted to swallowing 102 pellets of cocaine and hiding three more in a condom in her vagina to settle a €163 loan‑shark debt. The total value of the drugs was €83,510. Garda Emmet O'Byrne reported that Lopes had borrowed the debt from a street lender in Brazil, with penalties raising it to about €580. She cooperated with Gardaí, revealing that she was instructed to swallow the pellets in a hotel room in Brazil and that she found it physically difficult. Lopes has no prior convictions and was taken to Beaumont Hospital, where she passed the 102 pellets. She has been in custody since 10 June 2024 and has taken educational courses. Judge Elva Duffy, after considering mitigating factors, set a headline sentence of five and a half years, reduced to three years and nine months, backdated to 5 June 2024. Kamila Henrique Lopes pleaded guilty.
Darrel Brown, 43, of Leeds, was arrested at Dublin Airport after a sniffer dog detected cannabis in his suitcase. The drugs, weighing just under 14 kg, were valued at €253,730. Brown pleaded guilty to possession and importation for sale and supply. He was a low‑level participant in the drug trade, having been recruited to transport the cannabis from Spain to Dublin. Brown explained that he had left his job and relationship, struggled to find work in Spain, and was offered €2,000 for the job. He has one prior traffic offence conviction and has been in custody since his arrest. The court noted his mental health issues and lack of a lavish lifestyle, and accepted his early guilty pleas and cooperation. The case was adjourned to 24 March 2025 for finalisation.
Suzanne Shannon, 40, of Avondale House, Dublin, was jailed for two and a half years after pleading guilty to eight thefts of beauty products from two Boots stores in Rathmines and Donnybrook between January and April 2024. The thefts, valued between €500 and €1,000, were committed while she was serving the suspended portion of a two‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence for a drug‑dealing offence involving €69,608 worth of heroin. Garda Stephen Walsh arrested her after a panic alarm at Boots, Rathmines, and she admitted the stolen goods and her intent to sell them to fund her drug addiction. Judge Orla Crowe imposed a consecutive term of two years and three months for the thefts, suspended the final three months of the drug sentence on strict conditions, and ordered her to engage with the Probation Service for one year upon release.
At the Central Criminal Court, defence counsel for Dean Caffrey has urged the jury to acquit his client of murdering Sean McCarthy, arguing that the prosecution case lacks foundation. Lorcan Staines SC submitted that conviction would constitute a travesty, contending there is no evidence Mr Caffrey lured the deceased to his apartment for execution. Mr Staines criticised the Director of Public Prosecutions for partisan presentation and breach of disclosure obligations, noting that material supporting the defence was withheld until six weeks into the trial. Mr Caffrey, aged 38 of Beaucourt, Achill Road, Drumcondra, Dublin, has pleaded not guilty to murder. The prosecution alleges Mr McCarthy was executed; the defence maintains he was shot during a struggle after arriving armed at Mr Caffrey's home in August 2022. Mr Staines emphasised Mr McCarthy's background as a drug dealer with known firearm access, contrasting this with his client's lack of violence history. The jury will hear Mr Justice Paul McDermott's charge on Friday before retiring to consider their verdict.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, prosecution counsel Cathleen Noctor SC described Dean Caffrey, 38, as "cool as a cucumber" after CCTV footage showed him buying a suitcase with cash taken from the dead man, Sean McCarthy, 28. Noctor alleged that Caffrey lied about the circumstances of the fatal shooting in his apartment, claiming the deceased had brought a firearm and threatened him. She said Caffrey denied murdering McCarthy, who was known to gardaí as a drug dealer. Noctor highlighted inconsistencies in Caffrey's statements to gardaí, noting he initially claimed both men had the gun during the struggle, then later said he fired after McCarthy lunged. She also presented evidence that Caffrey purchased a clean‑up kit, disposed of the firearm and the deceased's phone, and deleted messages. Noctor urged the jury to consider that Caffrey shot McCarthy in the head with intent to kill, and that he should be convicted of murder.
In a Central Criminal Court case, Cailean Crawford, aged 28, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Thomas McCarthy, who was shot seven times at his mother's home on 27 July 2020. The State alleges a conspiracy to kill McCarthy, with Crawford as the gunman, citing CCTV footage of a blue Ford Fiesta and the use of a van and phone. Crawford's defence argues he was merely involved in drug dealing and that he loaned his van and phone to Charles McClean, who allegedly used them for drug transport. Crawford testified that he was "blamed" as the centre point of a murder he did not commit. Judge Tony Hunt emphasized that the prosecution's case hinges on who had the van and phone after 9 a.m. The jury, consisting of six men and six women, has deliberated for over six hours and will continue tomorrow.
A court ruled that the State may stop paying the €100,000‑per‑week cost of maintaining the MV Matthew, a cargo ship seized in September 2023 by the Army Rangers. The ship was used in a major drug haul that yielded 2.2 tonnes of cocaine worth about €157 million. Eight men are to be tried next year at the Special Criminal Court. The judge ordered the State to dispose of the ship, allowing a two‑week stay before the disposal process begins. No defence team objected, but they may raise issues at the next hearing.
A 22‑year‑old man, Brandon Gavin, was sentenced to a mandatory life term in prison for the murder of his former friend, Marius Mamaliga, who was stabbed in the neck on 23 February 2023. The victim's parents, Inga and Victor Mamaliga, delivered an emotional impact statement, describing the loss as a void that will never be filled. Gavin had pleaded not guilty, claiming self‑defence after a drug debt dispute, but the jury found his defence "self‑serving nonsense." Witnesses testified that Gavin had been messaging women on Tinder minutes before the attack and had searched for "prison sentence for murder in Ireland" the day before. Marius was in the driver's seat with two friends when Gavin entered the rear passenger side, reached across, stabbed him once in the neck, and fled. He was taken to hospital in critical condition and died three days later.
A 33-year-old man from Claremorris, County Mayo, has been sentenced to four and a half years imprisonment, suspended in full, after pleading guilty to possession of cannabis for sale or supply at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. James Glynn was apprehended in November 2023 following a garda surveillance operation in Tallaght, Dublin, during which officers observed him receiving a suitcase containing 10.7 kilograms of cannabis valued at approximately €215,000. During interview, Glynn disclosed that he had accumulated a €1,000 drug debt whilst relocating from Dublin to Mayo. When he later sought to settle this obligation, he was informed the amount had escalated to €26,000, with additional "tax" imposed. He agreed to transport the drugs to repay the inflated debt under duress. Judge Pauline Codd noted the circumstances as exceptional, describing it as extraordinary that a modest debt could multiply so dramatically at the discretion of higher-level drug traffickers. The sentence includes 12 months' probation supervision and mandatory continuation of counselling.
Joseph Collins, 27, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to a single robbery at Boyles Sports in Finglas on 27 November 2023. He entered the shop around 7 pm, approached the counter, muttered "Money", and produced a Stanley blade that he placed under the glass, a foot from the cashier's face. Collins handed over €280 before leaving. Garda Dwayne O'Brien obtained CCTV footage that identified Collins, leading to his arrest. Collins has ten prior convictions and a history of alcohol and drug abuse, though he has completed residential rehabilitation at Coolmine Treatment Centre. He expressed deep shame, denied violence, and requested an apology to the cashier and co‑worker. Judge Orla Crowe noted his rehabilitation work and lack of violent history, ordered a probation report, and remanded him in custody until 3 March 2025 when the case will be finalised.
In an appeal hearing, Keith McCormick (23) of La Touche Drive, Bluebell, Dublin 12 and Riverview, Church Road, Mulhuddart, Dublin 15, who pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply on May 12, 2020, and other charges including burglary, unlawful use of a vehicle, possession of stolen property, and driving without a licence or insurance between September 2020 and May 2021, had his sentence reviewed. McCormick, who has 44 previous convictions, was previously sentenced in February to a three-year and two-month prison term with the final 12 months suspended for his role in a series of offences on January 23, 2022, during which a man died. Judge Orla Crowe imposed a global sentence of six years and six months, suspending the final 15 months on strict conditions, including keeping the peace and being of good behaviour for two years and engaging with the Probation Service for 12 months upon release. Adam Murphy (23) of Cherry Orchard Crescent, Ballyfermot, Dublin 10, pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was handed a 12-year sentence with the final two-and-a-half years suspended on strict conditions. The matter was adjourned for further consideration.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, 28‑year‑old Cailean Crawford pleaded not guilty to the murder of Thomas McCarthy, claiming he was wrongly blamed for the killing because he had loaned a van to associate Charles McClean on the day of the murder. Crawford said he had lent the van to McClean, who allegedly needed it to collect drugs, and that he had also given McClean a Lyca SIM card used for drug‑related calls. He denied being a "rat" or misleading the jury, stating he would rather be branded as such than be convicted of a murder he did not commit. Prosecutor Bernard Condon questioned Crawford about his fear of McClean, the van's whereabouts, and phone calls made from the SIM. The trial focuses on the hours between 9 am and 12 pm on 27 July 2020, when the van and phone were involved in the incident. The case continues before Mr Justice Hunt and a jury.
Harry Archer, a 23‑year‑old former junior cricketer from Kellys Bay Rocks, Skerries, was found with €4,886 worth of cannabis at his home on 18 January 2022. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, where Judge Orla Crowe accepted that he is now drug‑free, has not attracted police attention since, and has a job offer. The judge imposed a 12‑month sentence, suspended in full, after noting Archer's "turned a corner" and ordered him to engage with the Probation Service for two years. Archer had 13 prior drug and traffic convictions. He had previously been caught with drugs, had a separate custody case, and had not appeared at the Garda station as promised. The case highlighted repeated attacks on his family home and his past cricket achievements, but the court focused solely on the current possession offence and the suspended sentence imposed.
Brian McKee, 29, pleaded guilty to arson that set fire to his partner's family home on 27 July 2018, causing that house and two adjoining terraced houses to be demolished. The fire began on a couch in the living room and spread through the attic, where furniture had been stored, igniting the neighbouring houses. McKee, who had recently stopped drinking, admitted drinking a can of Coors Light and gin and possibly taking cocaine before the incident. He was found outside the house at 5 am, covered in blood, holding a knife, and later detained by Gardaí. The court heard victim impact statements from the owners of the damaged houses, detailing loss of belongings, financial hardship and emotional distress. McKee's defence highlighted his bipolar disorder, past rehabilitation and lack of prior convictions. Judge Pauline Codd imposed a seven‑year prison sentence, suspending six years on conditions including engagement with addiction services and full cooperation with his mental‑health care plan.
James Hawkins, 24, of Ellis Quay Hostel, pleaded guilty to a single robbery on 21 February 2023 at College Green, Dublin. He violently took a woman's purse after she withdrew €200 from an ATM at about 6.30 pm. The victim, an American student in her early 30s studying at Trinity College, was left with cuts to her knees and torn tights. CCTV from Grafton Street showed Hawkins running away; he was identified, arrested, and admitted the offence. Hawkins has 76 prior convictions, all District Court matters, and was homeless with heroin and crack addiction at the time. He cooperated, pleaded early, and apologized. Judge Orla Crowe imposed a three‑year custodial sentence, suspended the final six months for two years, and ordered 12 months of probation. Hawkins will be released on bond before being led away.
In an appeal hearing, the case of Keith McCormick (23) of La Touche Drive, Bluebell, Dublin 12 and Riverview, Church Road, Mulhuddart, Dublin 15, who pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply on May 12, 2020, and other charges including burglary, unlawful use of a vehicle, possession of stolen property and driving without a licence or insurance between September 2020 and May 2021, was adjourned for finalisation on November 27. McCormick, also known as McCormick-Smith, has 44 previous convictions. In February, he was handed a three-year and two-month prison sentence with the final 12 months suspended for his role in a series of offences on January 23, 2022, during which a man died. Co-accused Adam Murphy (23) of Cherry Orchard Crescent, Ballyfermot, Dublin 10, pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was handed a 12-year sentence with the final two-and-a-half years suspended on strict conditions. The matter was adjourned for finalisation on November 27. The court heard that McCormick's earliest current release date is June 2027. Probation and psychological reports were handed to the court, and the defence asked the court to consider the principles of proportionality and totality when imposing sentence.
Luke McGann, 20, of St Catherine's Green, Rush, Co Dublin, was sentenced at the District Court after pleading guilty to 24 charges of theft. The court heard that McGann allegedly stole €14,886 from his grandmother's partner, who had won €87,000 in the lottery in April 2023. Prosecution evidence stated that after assisting the victim in setting up a bank account, McGann added the card details to his Apple Pay account and made 24 unauthorised transactions between June and July 2023. He admitted to being under financial pressure due to a drug debt and using the funds to pay off debts and purchase a motorcycle. The bank fully reimbursed the victim, who forgave McGann. Judge Orla Crowe described the acts as a significant breach of trust but noted McGann's immediate admissions, cooperation with the Gardaí, and lack of previous convictions. She reduced the headline sentence from 18 months to 12 months, which was suspended in full on strict conditions. The Judge commented that McGann, described by defence counsel as a young man with a bright future, deserves a chance to contribute to society. The matter was finalised with this suspended sentence.
In August 2022, Robert Carroll, a 39‑year‑old construction worker, fired two shots from a revolver into the air outside his Finglas home while experiencing psychosis and not taking his medication. Garda armed support and a negotiator were called after reports of the discharge. Carroll's behaviour was erratic; he threw items from windows and was incoherent when approached. He voluntarily left the house after 75 minutes, was arrested under the Mental Health Act, and taken to hospital where a medical report confirmed a transient psychotic episode with a background of cocaine use. He was later formally arrested, interviewed without admissions, and a search of his house revealed five bullet casings, a revolver, one live round, and €10,050 in cash. Carroll pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm and ammunition in suspicious circumstances. He has 21 prior convictions, the most recent from 2019. Judge Sarah Berkeley remanded him in custody, with the case adjourned to 26 November for finalisation.
A 43‑year‑old drug dealer, Toma Dani, was caught by Gardaí attempting to dispose of part of an almost €474,000 cannabis stash in a carpark bin when a search warrant was executed at his home. Dani, who claimed he was trying to pay off a €100,000 gambling debt, pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply on September 10, 2023. Gardaí recovered €6,370, identified as proceeds from drug sales, along with drug paraphernalia such as bagging and scales. He had no prior convictions and had reduced his gambling debt to €70,000 over the previous year. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, hearing his back injury and lack of a drug problem, imposed a four‑year and six‑month sentence, following a headline of six years, citing mitigating circumstances and his remorse. The court noted his apology letters and the impact of drugs on society.
Paul Bissett, 38, pleaded guilty to robbery and criminal damage on 22 December 2023. He held up a cash‑in‑transit guard armed with a hammer, demanded a cash box, and fled with it. He attempted to open the €17,200 box by dropping it from the first and second floors of a stairwell, but failed. The attempt triggered an alarm and released dye that stained the area and his clothes. Garda Zoe Johnston reported that Bissett was later found hiding on a roof, where he cooperated with the Garda Armed Support Unit and left with them. The court noted his 68 prior convictions, including assault and robbery, and his history of drug addiction. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a four‑year sentence, crediting any time already served, and highlighted the need for Bissett to rehabilitate on his own. The decision was based on the threats made but no violence was committed.
David McCullagh, an IT manager dismissed by Ballyseedy Restaurant Ltd, has been awarded €77,848 by the Workplace Relations Commission for unfair dismissal and employment rights breaches. The company, linked to the Ballyseedy Garden Centre, ceased trading in February following the arrest of its chief executive, Nathan McDonnell. Mr McDonnell pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court in September to drug importation and facilitating an organised crime gang, and is due to be sentenced in December. McCullagh alleged he was forced out after raising a grievance over unconsented pay cuts and short-time working. The adjudicator found his dismissal unfair, noting that his job search may have been curtailed by the company's collapse and the association with the criminal case. The award includes €50,000 for unfair dismissal, €24,000 for unpaid leave and wages, and €3,848 for the absence of a written contract. Ballyseedy Restaurant Ltd was placed into liquidation by the High Court this month. The court report confirms the procedural stage for McDonnell is sentence, with his guilty plea to the specified charges admitted.
During a party at Browne's Steakhouse on Main Street, Blanchardstown, on Christmas Eve 2023, gunman Tristan Sherry was shot in the shoulder and stabbed 16 times before being beaten to death. State Pathologist Dr. Heidi Okkers testified that Sherry's death was caused by traumatic blunt‑force injuries combined with 27 sharp‑force injuries, including 16 stab wounds and 11 incised wounds. The single gunshot entered his left shoulder and exited the back, causing only superficial damage and not contributing to his death. Sherry had recently used cocaine and cannabis, but drug use did not contribute to his death. Three men—Noah Musueni, David Amah and Michael Andrecut—are charged with Sherry's murder, while Jonas Kabangu, Diarmuid O'Brien and Brandon Hennessy are charged with violent disorder. All accused plead not guilty.
Sandile Hlatshwayo, 43, of Riverwood Hall, Castleknock, pleaded guilty to endangerment after striking a three‑year‑old on a bike while speeding on 31 October 2020. He also pleaded guilty to failing to remain at the scene, refusing a drug test and driving without a licence. The child was taken to hospital with fractures and required emergency surgery. Hlatshwayo, who has 26 prior convictions, mainly for road offences including four drink‑driving convictions, was sentenced by Judge Elma Duffy to three years in prison, with the final 12 months suspended, and banned from driving for 15 years. He was also ordered to keep the peace and exhibit good behaviour for 12 months upon release. The judge described his aggressive conduct as "incomprehensible" and noted the severe impact on the child's family. The sentence was imposed to encourage Hlatshwayo's return to work and community contribution.
A 43-year-old cabinet maker from Boyle, Co Roscommon, has been sentenced to eight years imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following his guilty plea to drug offences. Justin McCormack pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis worth €3.9 million for sale or supply at a business unit in Fairview and in a white transit van on 11 and 12 October 2023. Gardaí stopped McCormack while driving the van on the evening of 11 October and discovered a substantial quantity of cannabis. A subsequent search of the business unit, which McCormack had been using for his kitchen manufacturing trade, uncovered a further 1,174 kilograms of cannabis. Judge Orla Crowe imposed concurrent sentences of nine years on each count, suspending the final twelve months. The judge acknowledged McCormack's financial difficulties but stated that financial hardship alone does not justify criminal involvement. She noted his active role in transporting and storing the drugs constituted significant aggravating factors. The sentence was backdated to October 2023 when McCormack entered custody.
Adrian Mah Yew Beng, a 40-year-old Malaysian national, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for possessing cannabis herb valued at €560,000 for sale or supply on February 28. Beng pleaded guilty to the charge. Judge Martin Nolan noted that while drug transportation is serious, Beng operated at the lowest level of the trade. The judge set a headline sentence of eight years, which was reduced to an effective custodial term of four and a half years, backdated to February 28. Prosecution evidence indicated Beng arrived at Dublin Airport with two locked suitcases containing 30kg of cannabis in 56 vacuum-sealed packages. He claimed he did not pack the luggage, believed it contained cigarettes, and was to be paid approximately €600. Defense counsel John Byrne SC described Beng as a "Joe Soap from Malaysia" who took a chance for small money. The court heard Beng has no previous convictions, is cooperative, and is willing to leave Ireland and not return upon completing his sentence. He has two children and cares for his mother. The matter was finalized with the imposition of the custodial sentence.
A 40‑year‑old Lithuanian man, Donatas Koncevicius, was sentenced to five and a half years in prison at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for possessing cannabis herb worth €258,224 in a lead‑lined compartment in his car. Gardaí stopped his vehicle at Junction 4 of the M3 after he had travelled from Dublin to Cherbourg, France, on a ferry. The car's elaborate concealment, located between the back passenger seat and the boot, was accessed by a switch under the driver's seat and required over an hour of forced entry. Koncevicius pleaded guilty to possession for sale or supply and to possessing a concealed compartment to facilitate drug trafficking on 2 March 2024. He had no prior convictions, was married with two daughters, and had been in Ireland for 20 years.