In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, former manager Donal Moroney, aged 70, was fined €500 for unlawfully storing and administering the euthanasia drug Dolethal to two dogs at Ashton Dog Pound in Castleknock on 24 July 2020. The drug, containing Pentobarbital Sodium, is only permitted to be stored at a veterinary practice and administered intravenously by a qualified vet. Moroney pleaded guilty to three counts: using the pound to store a veterinary‑only remedy, possessing it without being a vet, and allowing a layperson to give it orally to a Bichon Frise and an Akita. The court noted that staff lacked the experience or qualifications to handle the drug, described Moroney's culpability as "quite low," and considered mitigating factors such as his guilty plea, cooperation with Gardaí, long history of animal care, and serious health problems. He was ordered to pay the fine within three months.
Ronnie Wilde, aged 23, was sentenced to three and a half years' imprisonment for a series of unprovoked assaults and a robbery. On 1 September 2023 he robbed a Dublin 8 shop of €40 worth of groceries while armed with a possible knife. The following day he assaulted a delivery driver at his home, punching him several times. On 26 September 2023 he punched a woman twice in the face in the A&E department of St James's Hospital, causing her to fall and sustaining extensive facial injuries. Wilde pleaded guilty to all three counts. He has 52 prior convictions, most from his juvenile years, and was highly intoxicated and under the influence of drugs at the time of the attacks. The judge, citing his long history of offending, set a headline sentence of five years, reduced to three and a half years after mitigating factors, and backdated it to his October 2023 arrest.
Daniel O'Connell, 42, pleaded guilty to possession of heroin for sale or supply after a Garda search of his home in Cherry Orchard Park, Ballyfermot, uncovered 113 g of diamorphine worth €15,904. He claimed he was holding the drugs for a third party to reduce a €5,000 debt and said it was the first and last time he would hold drugs. O'Connell, who has 19 prior convictions including three drug offences, voluntarily contacted Gardaí after the search and attended the station the next day. Judge Orla Crowe, noting his efforts to turn his life around and his engagement with addiction treatment, imposed a two‑year suspended sentence, suspended in its entirety for three years, and ordered 12 months of supervision and after‑care support. The court also heard that he has a job offer and has completed an up‑skilling programme.
Wade O'Brien, 32, of Wicklow, was sentenced to three years in prison for his central role in a savage attack on a homeless man at Rathsallagh Park, Shankill, on 5 April 2021. O'Brien pleaded guilty to affray, and the court accepted the plea based on full facts. CCTV footage showed O'Brien entering the victim's house, beating him with a baseball bat, and then bundling him into the boot of a car that had been pre‑arranged with the boot open. The victim was later found bleeding heavily and required medical treatment for a fractured wrist and severe bruising. O'Brien's 172 prior convictions, including 42 for road traffic offences, were noted. The judge set a headline sentence of five years, reduced to four, with the final year suspended on strict conditions, including remaining drug and alcohol‑free for the term. The case highlighted the victim's lack of cooperation and the strong evidence presented by the prosecution.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 46‑year‑old Greek pizza delivery driver Georgious Nikolas pleaded guilty to importing 13.8 kg of cannabis, valued at about €276,000, after customs officials discovered the drugs in his luggage on 19 October. Nikolas had believed he was transporting tax documents for a business, not drugs, and was shocked, angry and upset when told the contents. He admitted to the customs officers and later to Gardaí, claiming he wanted extra money for his son's education and had been offered €500 by an acquaintance. He had no prior convictions in Ireland or elsewhere. The judge, citing his cooperation, early guilty plea, lack of previous convictions and personal circumstances, imposed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence, back‑dated to his arrest, and suspended the final 18 months, leaving him in custody for the remaining 18 months.
A 37-year-old truck driver from County Fermanagh has been granted bail on appeal to the High Court following his arrest in a West Cork garda drugs operation. Sean Curran, with an address at Carrickyheenan, Aughnacloy, Enniskillen, was charged with conspiracy to import drugs valued at €13,000 or more under the Criminal Justice Act 2006. He was among ten men arrested in Cork in March 2024 during an investigation into an alleged sophisticated drugs trafficking operation. Mr Justice Karen O'Connor had refused his bail application in April, but Mr Justice Michael MacGrath overturned that decision on appeal today, finding the trial judge ought to have assessed Mr Curran's circumstances separately from his co-accused. Bail was granted subject to conditions including residence at a Monaghan address, daily signing at a local garda station, surrender of travel documents, provision of €15,000 independent surety, and a prohibition on leaving the State.
Shem Maher, 26, was sentenced to three years in prison for a violent robbery at Usher Street, Dublin 8, on 27 October 2021. He attacked a young woman, knocking her to the ground, punching and kicking her, ripping her bra and grabbing her breasts while shouting "Where's my drugs?" Forensic DNA evidence linked him to the bra. Maher denied the offences but pleaded guilty to two counts of robbery. He had seven prior convictions and had been in custody since March. The court noted the victim's fear of rape and her attempt to flee, as well as the presence of a second injured party who was also frightened. Judge Jonathan Dunphy imposed a headline sentence of six years, reduced to four years concurrent sentences, suspended the final year, and credited Maher for time served. The case involved a robbery with invasive search and physical assault, with no evidence that either victim had drugs.
The Special Criminal Court has fixed a trial date of January 13, 2025, for eight men accused of involvement in the seizure of 2.25 tonnes of cocaine from the MV Matthew in September 2023. The accused are Vitaliy Lapa, Mykhailo Gavryk, Vitaliy Vlasoi, Jamie Harbron, Soheil Jelveh, Harold Estoesta, Saeid Hassani, and Cumali Ozgen. Lapa and Harbron face alleged possession of drugs and contributing to criminal organisation activity. Gavryk, Vlasoi, Jelveh, Estoesta, Hassani, and Ozgen are accused of contributing to criminal organisation activity, illicit traffic by sea, and misuse of drugs. All charges are alleged or contested, with no pleas entered or findings made at this procedural stage. Mr Justice Tony Hunt stated that a guilty plea would only be considered early in mitigation if entered before December 13. The matter was adjourned to October 21 for a video-link mention. The case was transferred to the non-jury court by the State, citing the complexity of the organised crime allegations.
At the Special Criminal Court on 24 June 2024, 46‑year‑old Jason 'Jay' O'Connor of Whitestown Grove, Blanchardstown, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to murder Charlie Cooper, who was shot at his home in Mulhuddart on 5 December 2016. O'Connor had previously been accused of the attempted murder of Cooper and of possessing a 9 mm firearm and 12 rounds of ammunition with intent to endanger life at the same location and date. He also faced a charge of facilitating a criminal organisation in the commission of serious offences, namely murder and the sale or supply of drugs. During the hearing, O'Connor answered "guilty" to the charges of conspiracy to murder and of participating in or contributing to activities that could facilitate a serious offence by a criminal organisation. The case was adjourned to 30 July for further proceedings. The court did not yet impose a sentence.
In a case before the Workplace Relations Commission, telehandler driver Mark John Power was awarded €5,000 for an unfair dismissal by BPH Construction Limited (Blueprint Homes). Power denied ever smoking cannabis on site, a claim made by a supervisor who alleged a smell of cannabis in the cab of a machine he operated and that a bag of cannabis was found in the vehicle on a separate occasion. Power said no such allegations were ever presented to him before his dismissal on 8 September. He argued that other factors, including complaints of verbal abuse and heavy drinking by colleagues, contributed to his termination. The employer admitted it dismissed him without investigation or procedures, though it paid all outstanding wages. The adjudicator found the dismissal unreasonable and ordered the compensatory sum, reflecting about six weeks' wages. The decision was based solely on the evidence presented in the complaint.
Charles Santos, a 30‑year‑old Deliveroo rider from Adelaide Road, Dublin, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of cannabis, cannabis resin, cocaine and MDMA after a Garda search of his bedroom on 15 February 2023. The search, conducted under a warrant, uncovered €9,328.60 worth of drugs in shoe boxes and a chest of drawers. Santos admitted to using cannabis and buying large amounts with friends, but denied knowledge of the remainder of the drugs. He claimed the shoe boxes were left in his room after a trip to Brazil. The court noted that the house, a six‑bedroom dwelling, appeared "riddled with drugs from top to bottom." Santos had no prior convictions and was cooperative. Judge Pauline Codd, considering his early guilty plea and lack of previous offences, imposed a ten‑month prison sentence, suspended in full for two years, and required him to remain drug‑free during that period.
At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Elma Sheahan sentenced four men for their roles in a violent incident in East Wall, Dublin, where a drug buyer sustained a traumatic brain injury after reversing his car at a group. Daryl Donnery (23) pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and affray, receiving a two-year, nine-month sentence with the final 12 months suspended. Dylan Martin (21) pleaded guilty to affray and was sentenced to two years, suspended in full on strict conditions. Josh Doran (23) and Brandon Leech (25) both pleaded guilty to affray and production of an article, respectively. The judge set headline sentences of three years for both, reduced to two years after considering mitigating factors. The matter for Leech and Doran was adjourned for 12 months to allow engagement with probation services. The court noted that none of the four were involved in the drug transaction that precipitated the violence. Donnery has five previous convictions, while Leech, Doran, and Martin each have 15. The injured man, who is now the subject of a European Arrest Warrant, discharged himself from hospital against medical advice after nine days.
A man from Wicklow has been sentenced to six and a half years in prison after pleading guilty to drug trafficking offences at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Ryon Fitzpatrick, aged 34 and with an address in Enniskelly, was arrested in October 2020 as he accompanied a van containing approximately 304 kilograms of cannabis concealed in shoeboxes near Swords, County Dublin. The drugs, imported from Spain, had an estimated street value of €6.08 million. Fitzpatrick, who was driving a lookout vehicle, fled to Spain following his initial arrest and questioning but was apprehended there last year and extradited to Ireland in December. Judge Pauline Codd imposed a headline sentence of eleven and a half years, reduced to nine years following mitigation, with the final two and a half years suspended on conditions. Two co-accused, Anthony Kinghorn and Mark Nesbitt, both from England, were separately convicted and received eight-year sentences in 2021 and 2022 respectively.
David Weir, 49, of Eastham Park, Bettystown, was found guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of possession of cannabis for sale or supply in his home and in Raheny on 22 February 2021. He admitted possession of an air rifle and had seven prior convictions, including drug and traffic offences. Weir was arrested after handing a large black bag of cannabis to taxi driver Mark Byrne, the target of a Garda surveillance operation. Gardaí seized 5 kg of cannabis at Byrne's home and 2.7 kg at Weir's Bettystown home, along with an air rifle, weighing scales and a vacuum packaging machine. Judge Pauline Codd sentenced Weir to seven years, suspended the final two and a half years on the condition of good behaviour, and imposed a five‑year custodial term. The judge noted Weir's advanced lung disease and mental health history, and considered these factors in the sentencing. The case highlights the role of a "gillie" in drug distribution.
A 23‑year‑old American woman, Tamia Forbes, was found guilty of possession of cannabis for sale or supply after she transported a locked suitcase containing 27 vacuum packs of cannabis worth €260,000 into Dublin Airport. Forbes claimed she believed the drugs were legal in Ireland and said she had financial difficulties. She pleaded guilty and had no prior convictions. The court, mindful of the impact of drug trafficking, imposed a headline sentence of eight years but, considering her youth, guilty plea, character references and mitigating circumstances, reduced the sentence to five years with the final two and a half years suspended. The suspended portion is conditional on Forbes leaving the jurisdiction within three weeks of her release. The case was heard in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 17 June 2024.
Victoria Dalton, 28, pleaded guilty to theft at a Circle K petrol station in Dundrum on 24 March 2020. She entered the shop at about 9:15 pm, asked for children's medicine, and was then approached by a man who held a knife to her throat and demanded €120 from the till. The staff, fearing for their safety, complied. Dalton later claimed she had been acting as a victim and denied participation in the robbery. Judge Orla Crowe sentenced her to 18 months' imprisonment, suspending the final nine months, and directed her to probation supervision for two years. The sentence was back‑dated to 30 March 2020, when she entered custody. Dalton has a history of drug addiction and a prior conviction for possession of drugs for personal use in March 2022. She is currently receiving treatment and intends to attend a residential drug programme after release.
Peter Lam, an 80-year-old defendant from Belfast, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of drugs for sale or supply at Busaras, Dublin 1, on October 11, 2021. The court heard that Lam was intercepted by gardai upon arriving by bus from Donegal with two large boxes containing MDMA valued at €470,982, which were hidden among pottery and children's toys. Lam alleged he was acting as a courier to pay gambling debts, stating to gardai that he dreamed of Roulette. Judge Mary O'Malley Costello noted that while Lam had a previous 2013 conviction for cannabis cultivation and possession, his current role as a courier made him an important part of the drug trade. The judge acknowledged mitigating factors including Lam's guilty plea, age, health conditions such as dementia, and lack of English, but emphasized the need for deterrence and societal protection. Lam had spent ten months in custody on remand. Judge O'Malley Costello imposed a sentence of four years, suspending the final ten months. She ordered that Lam be given credit for the ten months already served in custody.
Daniel Sheehan, aged 24, was sentenced by the Special Criminal Court to three years' imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended for two years, after pleading guilty to possessing 263 rounds of ammunition in suspicious circumstances. The ammunition was found in a bag in his shed on 3 June 2022, alongside a replica pistol and a small amount of cannabis. Gardaí also discovered Republican memorabilia at his home. Sheehan admitted the ammunition to the police and had previously been involved in Republican colour parties, pipe bands and commemorations. He had no serious prior convictions, had been working in construction, and had expressed remorse. The judge noted his youth, lack of maturity, and potential for rehabilitation, and ordered that he have no contact with militant or paramilitary individuals. The charge of membership in an illegal organisation was later dropped. The sentence was set at a headline of six years, mitigated to three years, with the 18‑month suspension applied.
Eoin Claxton, a 37‑year‑old hotel worker from Rathgar, was arrested after a Garda posing as a courier delivered a parcel containing 4.8 kg of cannabis herb to his home. The package, valued at €79,824, had been intercepted by customs and was addressed to a Jackie O'Shaughnessy from a Molly Maguire. Claxton, who had 36 prior convictions, pleaded guilty to possessing drugs for sale or supply on 14 December 2020. He explained that he had been laid off during the pandemic, had accrued a gambling debt of €8,000‑€9,500, and accepted the drug deal to pay it off. Judge Elma Sheahan sentenced him to 18 months in custody, suspended for three years, and remanded him on bail until July. The court noted his employment, family responsibilities, and remorse, but emphasised the seriousness of the offence.
Edward Farrell, 49, admitted to possessing €2,173,920 worth of cannabis for sale or supply, with 105 kg found in a white Ford Transit van outside his Knocklyon home and an additional 15 kg in three black bin bags transported to Mountain Park, Tallaght. Gardaí also seized signed Oasis memorabilia, expensive whiskey, designer trainers, a disguised stun gun, drug paraphernalia including a vacuum‑packing machine, weighing scales and a mobile phone used for encrypted drug‑distribution messages. Surveillance captured Farrell moving the bin bags into a BMW X5 and then to a BMW 3 Series, where co‑accused Kevin Murphy, 41, was met. Murphy, who pleaded guilty to 15 kg of cannabis, was sentenced to four years earlier this year. Farrell, who has 32 prior convictions and claims to be on social welfare and HAP assistance, will be sentenced on 22 July.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 6 June 2024, Cedric Ingle, aged 50, was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment, with the final six months suspended, for assault causing harm after putting his 91‑year‑old father, Christopher Ingle, in a headlock on 4 April 2020. The incident occurred at the father's Glenageary home, where the father was shaking and had cuts on his hands. Ingle had previously been convicted 19 times and had a history of drug use, including cannabis and heroin. He pleaded guilty, and the court noted that the offence took place in the victim's own home, that the victim was elderly and vulnerable, and that the assault was not intended to cause serious injury but was an attempt to seize the father's keys. The judge, Elma Sheahan, considered the guilty plea and Ingle's lack of recent Garda attention as mitigating factors, but found the custodial threshold met, resulting in the sentence described above.
In a 2016 hijacking, 29‑year‑old Ryan Cannon stabbed a taxi driver seven times, leaving the victim severely injured and bleeding on a road. The driver, who had parked outside a McDonald's in Airside Retail Park, was attacked after two men entered his cab. Cannon forced the driver to drive, then stabbed him while the driver tried to escape. The cab was later found burnt out in Balbriggan. Cannon, who had previously been convicted of drug and public‑order offences, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and unlawful seizure of a vehicle. The court, noting the victim's extensive injuries and the use of a knife, imposed a four‑year prison sentence on Cannon, with no part of the sentence suspended. The judge highlighted the seriousness of the offence and the victim's forgiveness, but did not reduce the custodial term. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Leroy Roche Dumbrell, 37, of Griffith Rath Hall, Maynooth, Co Kildare, was sentenced to three years in prison for assault causing harm after attacking a man in Dublin City Centre on 30 August 2022. The victim, who had a deep facial cut and other injuries, later died, but the death was unrelated to the assault. CCTV identified Dumbrell as the assailant. He has 81 prior convictions, including serious offences such as setting a woman on fire and a prison brawl. He was charged in September 2023, spent months in custody, and was granted bail on strict conditions in December. A urine test showed cannabis and benzodiazepines. Judge Jonathan Dunphy imposed a headline sentence of four and a half years, reduced to three years, and suspended the final 12 months on the condition that Dumbrell engage with the Probation Service for two years after release. Roche Dumbrell pleaded guilty.
A 35‑year‑old chronic drug abuser with 153 prior convictions was sentenced to four years in prison, with the final year suspended for three years, for a degrading sexual assault and robbery at a Luas stop in Dublin 12 on 26 January 2023. The court heard that the victim was forced to undress, had her legs held open, and was searched inside her vagina by a female co‑accused while the defendant held her down. The victim's €200 was taken, she suffered injuries, and a local man intervened with a golf club. The defendant, who has no prior sexual convictions, was described as having mental health problems and schizophrenia. The judge noted the assault was part of a robbery and set the headline sentence at six years, but ultimately imposed the suspended term. The victim remains in treatment and has experienced severe trauma and relapse into drug use. The unnamed 35-year-old pleaded guilty.
Thomas Kane, 29, of Ard Mor Drive, Tallaght, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of cannabis and cocaine with intent to sell or supply on 10 June 2020. Gardaí obtained a warrant and searched his apartment, finding more than 30 g of cocaine and 47.5 g of cannabis in the hot press, an additional 10 g in the kitchen, and almost 3 kg of cannabis in two Adidas bags in a bin marked with his apartment number. The drugs were valued at €60,946 for cannabis and €2,149 for cocaine. Kane claimed he kept the drugs to protect his brother, an addict with a drug debt, from threats to his life. The court accepted this explanation. Judge Patricia Ryan sentenced Kane to five years, which she suspended in full on a number of conditions.
Eight men charged in connection with the largest cocaine seizure in Irish history have had their cases transferred to the Special Criminal Court. State solicitor Ciara Vibien successfully applied for the transfer, arguing that the non-jury court is necessary to secure the effective administration of justice. The charges stem from the seizure of approximately 2.25 tonnes of cocaine, valued at over €157 million, from the Panamanian-registered vessel MV Matthew in September 2023. The accused are Vitaliy Lapa, Mykhailo Gavryk, Vitaliy Vlasoi, Jamie Harbron, Soheil Jelveh, Harold Estoesta, Saeid Hassani, and Cumali Ozgen. Lapa and Harbron are accused of possession of drugs and contributing to criminal organisation activity. The remaining six men face similar organised crime charges, along with allegations of illicit traffic by sea and misuse of drugs. The vessel was interdicted by a joint task force including the Revenue Customs Service, Naval Service, and An Garda Síochána, with Army Rangers securing the ship before it was escorted to port. The matter is currently at the trial stage, with all charges alleged or contested. No pleas, findings, sentences, or finalisations have been recorded, and the case has not been concluded.
The Health Service Executive (HSE) was ordered by the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) to review its recruitment policy and pay €1,000 to Anthony Cummins for age‑related discrimination. Cummins, a 22‑year veteran of part‑time relief cover at the National Drugs Treatment Centre, had his application for a permanent role rejected by an external recruiter who used software to filter candidates. The WRC found that the HSE's insistence on a Health Care Assistant (HCCA) Level 5 certification, which Cummins did not hold, amounted to indirect age discrimination. The HSE argued the requirement was well‑known and part of national frameworks, but the adjudicator noted that many experienced staff were kept in place without the qualification to keep centres open. Cummins had no complaints about his work or attendance, and the WRC directed the HSE to reconsider how prior learning and experience are weighed against formal qualifications.
Nathan McDonnell, a 43‑year‑old businessman from Ballyroe, Tralee, was charged with possessing more than €13,000 worth of crystal meth for sale or supply under Section 15A of the Misuse of Drugs Act. The alleged offence took place at Ballyseedy Garden Centre between 27 October 2023 and 12 February 2024. McDonnell was arrested after a joint Gardaí and Revenue operation seized 564 kg of methamphetamine, valued at €32.8 million, from a container at Cork Port on 16 February. The drugs were said to have been imported from Mexico, stored at the garden centre, then transported to Cork for export to Australia. He was denied bail in the High Court in April and appealed to the Court of Appeal, which also refused bail because of the high value of the drugs. McDonnell remains in custody awaiting the serving of a book of evidence. If convicted, he faces a minimum of ten years in prison.
Two British men, Dylan Shears, aged 20, and Ainsley Stevenson, aged 26, were jailed after being stopped at Dublin Airport with €690,000 worth of cannabis destined for the UK market. They pleaded guilty to smuggling over 30 kg of the drug into Terminal 2 on 17 October. Stevenson, from Halifax, was sentenced to five and a half years in prison, while Shears, from Bradford, received a three‑year sentence. Judge Martin Nolan noted that if Stevenson had been an Irish national he would have received a six‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence, and that Shears' younger age warranted a lesser term. The men were caught by customs officers after arriving from Las Vegas, where they had collected the cannabis and planned to transport it via Dublin to Manchester on behalf of an unnamed individual. Neither had prior convictions. Both men cooperated with Gardaí and made admissions.
Robert Redmond (35) was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court for conspiring to murder Jordan Davis in 2019. Redmond, who is already serving a life sentence for the murder of Barry Wolverson, pleaded guilty to the conspiracy charge. Mr Justice Paul McDermott imposed a seven-year term, which runs consecutively to Redmond's existing 12-year sentence for firearms possession. This results in a total of 19 years' imprisonment to be served concurrently with his mandatory life sentence. The judge rejected defense arguments that the consecutive structure constituted a disproportionate 'quasi-life sentence,' citing Redmond's 'deep involvement' in the 'cold-blooded' killing and his 99 previous convictions. Evidence presented included threatening text messages from Redmond to Davis regarding a €70,000 drug debt and 'tick lists' found at addresses linked to Redmond. Wayne Cooney (33), who was convicted of the actual murder of Davis in July 2022, is currently serving a life sentence. The court noted that Davis was shot while pushing his infant son in a pram near a school in Darndale.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Jason O'Connor, 46, of Whitestown Grove, Blanchardstown, was charged with facilitating a criminal gang in murder and drug dealing. O'Connor had previously faced charges for an attempted murder of Charlie Cooper on 5 December 2016, and for possession of a 9 mm firearm and 12 rounds of ammunition with intent to endanger life at the same location and date. The new charges allege that between 2 August 2016 and 7 December 2016, O'Connor, knowing of a criminal organisation, participated in or contributed to activities that could facilitate the commission of a serious offence by that organisation or its members, specifically murder and the sale or supply of controlled drugs. The charges are under Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006. The case is adjourned to 11 June for mention, and O'Connor has been granted free legal aid for the new charges.
Lewis O'Keeffe, 22, of Ballyfermot, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to multiple counts of possessing controlled drugs and nearly €30,000 in cash. Gardaí seized cocaine worth €2,500 inside a house on O'Moore Road and an additional 7.5 kg in a van outside the house, giving a street value of over €527,000. O'Keeffe admitted he did not own the drugs but was aware of them, claiming a drug debt of €31,000. He had removed his tax and insurance discs from his car and placed them in the van. His defence counsel described him as a "patsy" or "fall guy" in the operation, noting his young age and family background. Judge Martin Nolan accepted that O'Keeffe had a low level of culpability and had been under severe pressure, concluding that young people can make bad decisions under pressure.
Adam Rzepka, 39, was released on bail for a €400k money‑laundering offence and was found the next day surrounded by over €1.1 million in drugs hidden in dog food. He pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis worth €1.1 million, to having a car used in drug trafficking, to possessing a mixing agent for drug trafficking and to possessing €33,090 in cash that was the proceeds of criminal conduct. The drugs were seized at Hickey's Yard, The Ward, Co. Dublin, where Rzepka was the only person present and was found in a loft beside vacuum‑packed cannabis. The court imposed a 15‑year global sentence, consecutive to the seven years he is already serving for money laundering, with the final two years suspended on condition of good behaviour. The judge cited the high value of the drugs and the lack of remorse as aggravating factors.
Eamon Larkin, a 69‑year‑old man from Kilcock, was found guilty of possession of cocaine for sale or supply on 12 June 2023. Gardaí stopped a Skoda in Ashbourne, discovering six kilos of cocaine in the boot, valued at €420,000. Larkin admitted he was approached in a pub and offered €200 to transport the drugs, though he claimed he did not know the type of drug. CCTV showed him swapping vehicles with another man at a petrol station an hour before the Skoda was seized. He has six prior road‑traffic convictions and has been living in Portugal. The court noted his poor physical and mental health, financial pressure, and long work history. Judge Martin Nolan accepted the guilty plea and mitigation, sentencing Larkin to two years' imprisonment. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the offence while considering his health and cooperation.
Daniel James Johnson, a 34‑year‑old UK national with no fixed abode in Lancashire, was found at Dublin Airport on 28 September 2023 carrying more than 16 kilos of cocaine in his luggage. The drugs, valued at €1.1 million, were intended for the UK market. Johnson had flown from Washington DC to Ireland to collect the drugs and then planned to travel onward to London Gatwick. He pleaded guilty to one count of importing cocaine. Johnson claimed he did not pack the bag or book the flights and said he was to be paid for the operation, though the amount was not specified. He also expressed fear for his family's safety. He has nine prior convictions in the UK for minor offences. On 13 May 2024, Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to six and a half years' imprisonment, back‑dating the term to the time he entered custody in September 2023.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 10 May 2024, Akuac Mawien, 26, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment for importing 12.5 kg of cannabis worth €250,000 into Ireland. Mawien, who had no fixed abode in Toronto at the time of the offence, had flown to Dublin on 15 September 2023 with the cannabis in her suitcase, which was x‑rayed by customs. She pleaded guilty to charges of importing cannabis and possessing cannabis for sale or supply at Dublin Airport. Mawien told the court she was homeless and needed money for her six‑year‑old son, and that she had agreed to bring the suitcase in exchange for about €3,000. She admitted she knew the suitcase contained something "dodgy" but did not know its extent.
Elliot Toale, 18, was jailed for two years after hijacking a mobility scooter and pushing an older man off it for 'fun', fracturing the man's hand and snapping his dentures. The incident occurred outside a Centra shop in Dublin city centre on Capel Street. Toale, who had 23 prior convictions, also stole a kitchen knife from the shop and brandished it at a Scottish tourist. He pleaded guilty to assault and theft. Judge Martin Nolan suspended the final 16 months of the sentence because of Toale's age. The victim, in his sixties, suffered serious injuries, including a broken left hand and damaged fingers. Toale admitted he had taken cocaine and alcohol that night and expressed remorse, noting he would be upset if a family member had been harmed. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 9 May 2024, Diane Travers, 31, pleaded guilty to producing a syringe at Dealz on Lower Liffey Street on 22 October 2018. Travers, who has 114 prior convictions, had been barred from the shop but returned and became abusive toward a male shop worker. She threatened the employee, spat on him, and then produced a syringe, claiming she had "full‑blown AIDS" and threatening to use it. The shop worker reported the incident as "very traumatic" and had to wait weeks for test results. Garda John Tansey identified Travers via CCTV, and she was arrested and interviewed. Travers admitted to drug addiction and homelessness. Judge Elva Duffy, noting her guilty plea and progress since 2019, sentenced her to two years and three months in prison, suspending the final 15 months, and ordered her to remain under probation supervision upon release. The sentence was back‑dated to the date she entered custody.
Seán Mulhall, 26, a homeless drug addict, was sentenced to five years in prison for a series of armed robberies over ten days last year. He targeted an off‑licence, a pharmacy and a bike shed at St James' Hospital, using a firearm that appeared to be a fake Colt or Beretta. Mulhall stole nearly €9,000 from charity collection boxes and a safe, and threatened a security guard with the phrase "I'll f**king pistol you." He had 34 prior convictions, including theft and drug offences. Judge Martin Nolan imposed an eight‑year headline sentence, reduced to five years on mitigation, citing Mulhall's terrorising of staff and desperation for drugs. Mulhall is now engaged in rehabilitation, having cut his methadone dose and awaiting treatment at Coolmine, and will receive full credit for time served.
Jonathan Mafolo, a 26‑year‑old British citizen from Manchester, was arrested at Dublin Airport on 9 October after customs officials intercepted a passenger travelling from JFK to Birmingham. He was found carrying two padlocked suitcases containing over 32 kilos of cannabis worth more than €650,000. Mafolo pleaded guilty to the importation charge, claiming he did not know what was in the luggage and had no code to open it. He said he had discovered the bags outside his hotel in New York and could not have known their contents. He denied personally taking the drugs and stated he was acting to help his brother, who was in debt. The court heard that Mafolo had a clean record, a good work history, and strong community support. Judge Martin Nolan accepted his cooperation and mitigating circumstances, and imposed a headline sentence of seven years, reduced to a five‑year custodial term backdated to the arrest date.
Sean Boland (41) of Dundalk, Co Louth, and co-accused Jeffrey Reynolds (34) of Bray, Co Wicklow, were sentenced at the procedural stage of sentence following their convictions for possessing cannabis. Boland admitted possessing approximately 12kg of cannabis valued at €240,000 across three locations on October 17, 2022, and was sentenced to five years in prison. Reynolds pleaded guilty to possessing about €88,000 worth of cannabis herb on the same day and was sentenced to three years in prison. Prosecution evidence indicated gardaí acted on confidential information regarding a suspected transaction, leading to the search of a van driven by Reynolds, which contained 4.4kg of cannabis. Further searches of Boland's apartment in Dundalk and another unit in the same complex revealed over 7kg of cannabis, along with a vacuum sealer, scales, and a tick list. Boland made full admissions upon arrest, stating he had handed a box of cannabis to Reynolds to settle a debt. Reynolds' defense counsel noted his client operated at street level and worked on a farm to become drug-free. Judge Nolan accepted both men had good work histories and mitigation, finding them unlikely to reoffend, before imposing the respective custodial sentences.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 7 May 2024, two men, Gavin Mangan (47) of Bracken Close, Balbriggan, and Owen Kelly (37) of Seville Place, Dublin 1, were sentenced for a burglary that took place on 20 August 2022. The pair entered an elderly man's home armed with an imitation firearm and a meat cleaver, demanding money and taking €850 in cash. The victim was described as profoundly affected and fearing for his life during the incident. Mangan, who has 93 prior convictions, was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment with the final six months suspended. Kelly, with 87 prior convictions, received a sentence of eight years, with the final year suspended under a number of conditions. Both men have long‑standing drug addictions and were in custody before sentencing. The court noted their difficult childhoods and the presence of CCTV footage of the robbery. The combined jail term for the two offenders totals fourteen‑and‑a‑half years. Gavin Mangan pleaded guilty. Owen Kelly pleaded guilty.
In a High Court hearing on 3 May 2024, Glen Oglesby claimed he had been living in a caravan on the ESB's Gloucster Place Upper substation site in Dublin 1 and said he had "nowhere else to go." He warned that if forced to leave, he might end up in homeless shelters or turn to drugs. Oglesby said local residents had not objected to his presence and admitted ownership of a Doberman Pinscher on the site. He also stated that the ESB had previously brought proceedings against his brother, Paul Oglesby, who he said was not the person residing there. The ESB's counsel argued that the person on the site was Paul, not Glen, and requested that Glen be added as a defendant. Judge Mark Sanfey agreed to add Glen to the action, adjourned the case to a later date in the month, and urged him to prepare a response.
Raider Ian Byrne, 41, was sentenced to two and a half years in prison for an attempted robbery. The court heard that on November 15, 2022, Byrne allegedly attempted to rob John Brereton of Brereton's Jewellers on Capel Street while the victim, aged in his 70s, was opening the shop. Prosecutors stated Byrne was armed with a butcher's knife, but Mr. Brereton used a shutter pole to force him to back off. Byrne had previously pleaded guilty to one count of robbing a post office on Dorset Street, Dublin 7, and one count of possessing an imitation firearm on November 1, 2022. For those admitted offences, he was jailed for 21 months last December. In his defence, counsel Emmet Nolan BL described Byrne as a single man living with his mother who had an excellent work history until a knee injury led to drug addiction and debt. Judge Martin Nolan accepted Byrne was in desperate need of money but noted the seriousness of the offence involving a knife and an elderly victim. The judge handed down a sentence of two and a half years, to start from the date of sentencing.
Kevin Murphy, 41, of Tallaght, admitted to possessing 15 kg of cannabis worth almost €300,000 after a delivery he expected to be a small package turned out to be large black bags. He pleaded guilty to possession for sale or supply at his Mountain Park address on 20 February 2023. Gardaí Brian Foran described how a delivery was made in a BMW jeep, with other men transferring the bags into Murphy's vehicle. Thirty vacuum‑packed packages were seized, valued at €298,760. Murphy, who has seven prior convictions including three for assault, was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to four years' imprisonment. The court noted his remorse, family tragedies, health issues, and recovery progress, and accepted that he was merely a transporter and holder, not the owner of the cannabis.
Dorothy Roe, 37, pleaded guilty to possession of proceeds of crime after authorities found €42,430 in cash in her car. She kept ledgers at home and owned a Hyundai with a concealed compartment, though she had no expertise to install it. Defence argued she acted as a "stooge" for others, motivated by a brother's drug debt and her own addiction. Gardaí had surveilled her following confidential tips, noting her visits to properties in Lucan and Clondalkin and a stop at Bluebell where the cash was seized. Roe admitted possession, expressed remorse, and cooperated. She has no prior convictions for this type of offence, receives social welfare, and is a carer for her son and mother. The case was adjourned to July 8 for a probation report.
Dominik Kaczmarek, 32, of Naas, Co Kildare, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to one count of possessing cocaine for sale or supply at his then home address in Tallaght on April 24, 2023. The court heard that gardaí seized two kilos of cocaine from his car during a raid, but one kilo was allegedly 'inadvertently destroyed' by officers before analysis, resulting in charges based on the remaining one kilo. Judge Martin Nolan noted Kaczmarek's long history of addiction and that third parties had exploited this to use him for drug transport. The judge handed down a five and a half-year sentence, suspending the final year on a number of conditions. Kaczmarek has previous convictions, including a prior two-year sentence for a drug offence. His defence counsel highlighted his dysfunctional family life, drug addiction, and lack of financial benefit from the offence. The matter was finalised with this sentencing.
Robert Redmond (35), a convicted murderer currently serving a life sentence for the killing of Barry Wolverson, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to conspiring to murder Jordan Davis. The 22-year-old victim was shot dead in 2019 while pushing his infant son in a pram. Prosecution counsel Bernard Condon SC stated the plea was acceptable to the DPP, and a nolle prosequi will be entered on the original murder charge after sentencing. Mr Justice Paul McDermott remanded Redmond in custody until May 13 for a sentence hearing, where a victim impact report is expected. Redmond is the second person dealt with regarding this offence; in 2022, Wayne Cooney (33) was jailed for life for the murder after a jury found he fired eight shots at Davis. Separately, Redmond and co-accused Jamie Gray (27) previously pleaded guilty to possessing a RAK PM-63 submachine gun in 2020. Redmond was jailed for six years in 2023 for that offence. Bernard Fogarty (34) was also sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Wolverson in December 2022. The matter was adjourned for sentencing.
In 2024, a 46‑year‑old man was convicted at the Central Criminal Court in Waterford for repeatedly raping a girl aged eight to eleven between 2014 and 2017. The offences included eight counts of rape, nine of anal rape, eight of oral rape and nine of sexual assault. The court found him guilty of all but three counts of rape, sentencing him to 13½ years for the vaginal rape, later reduced to 11 years, plus two years of post‑release supervision. He appealed, arguing the judge failed to consider mitigating factors such as his constructive use of prison time, schooling, mental health and drug courses, and his job as a cleaner. He also challenged the trial judge's handling of hearsay, the addition of the victim's mother's complaint evidence, and the lack of a corroboration warning. The Court of Appeal heard the case and noted the judge's decision to reserve all aspects of its ruling. The unnamed 46-year-old was acquitted.
The Court of Appeal has ruled that a fully suspended sentence imposed on Dylan Clements for drug possession was unduly lenient. Clements, a 29-year-old man from Finglas, pleaded guilty on March 2, 2023, to one count of possession of drugs for sale or supply under Section 15A of the Misuse of Drugs Act. He was sentenced by Judge Martin Nolan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court the following day to three and a half years, which was fully suspended. The remaining four counts on the indictment were taken into consideration. The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed, arguing the sentencing judge failed to adequately weigh the gravity of the offence, the presumptive mandatory minimum sentence, and the combined market value of the seized cocaine and cannabis, which exceeded €28,000. The DPP contended that no wholly exceptional circumstances existed to justify full suspension. Defence counsel argued there was no error in law and that the judge was entitled to consider Clements' lack of prior convictions and cooperation. The three-judge panel, led by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, found that the trial judge erred by failing to apply recent case law and that the sentence was unduly lenient without evidence of extraordinary special circumstances. The court ordered that a probation report be prepared and adjourned the matter to July 23, when it will proceed to quash the original sentence and resentence the respondent.