A 15‑year‑old boy, who had previously been convicted of assault, robbery and drug offences, attacked a man who had confronted a group of youths after a ball struck his car. The boy struck the man once on the right side of his face, knocking him unconscious and causing a serious head injury that has prevented the man from returning to work. The boy fled the scene by train, but was identified through Irish Rail CCTV and admitted to the assault. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 21 March 2021. Judge Orla Crowe noted the boy's early guilty plea, remorse, maternal support and an ADHD diagnosis, and considered the impact of the Covid pandemic and his negative peer group. She imposed a 12‑month probation supervision order and required an updated probation report for the year. The boy is now 17 years old and remains unnamed as a juvenile.
John Titiloye, aged 28, was sentenced to ten years in prison with the final year suspended for two years, backdated to his arrest on 11 August 2021, after being found guilty of murdering his 25‑year‑old friend Ademola "Dizzy" Giwa. The killing occurred on 10 August 2021 in Tallaght, following a dispute over a €100 debt and a stolen scooter. Titiloye stabbed Giwa in the neck with a knife he had bought that afternoon, an act described by the judge as a rapid, spontaneous response triggered by the defendant's perception that his father had been attacked. The court noted that Titiloye had 23 prior convictions, mainly for minor traffic offences and some drug offences, and that he had attempted to justify his actions to the probation service. The judge highlighted the disproportionate use of force and the fact that the victim's father was also assaulted during the altercation. John Titiloye pleaded not guilty and was acquitted.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 21 July 2023, 45‑year‑old Wesley McGill pleaded guilty to one count of possession of cannabis for sale or supply. The offence stemmed from a mistaken search warrant that was actually for a stolen electric bike. McGill opened the door, led Gardaí to two cardboard boxes containing 2,800 g of cannabis valued at €256,000, which he claimed he was holding for someone else, and a small amount of cocaine worth €81. He had borrowed €5,000 from moneylenders to renovate his house and could not repay the debt. McGill, who began using cannabis at 16, expressed remorse and provided character references, including one from his son. Judge Martina Baxter sentenced him to five years' imprisonment, suspending the final two years on strict conditions, and ordered 12 months' probation supervision post‑release.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 21 July 2023, Karl Core, aged 34, was sentenced to two years in prison for an unprovoked knife attack on his friend David Fox on 19 June 2021. Core, who was high on crack cocaine at the time, swung a 15‑inch kitchen knife over a garden gate and stabbed Fox's right cheek, creating a hole that penetrated into Fox's mouth cavity. Fox was treated at hospital and received stitches. Core pleaded guilty to one count of assault causing harm. Judge Orla Crowe described the assault as very serious, noting the severe facial injury and potential lifelong scarring. She imposed a headline sentence of four years, then reduced it to three years with a 12‑month suspended portion, and ordered Core to remain under probation supervision for 12 months after release. Core's guilty plea, family support, adherence to bail conditions, and prior minor convictions were considered mitigating factors.
Two British men pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing approximately €2.3 million worth of cannabis for sale or supply on 22 December 2022. Daniel Bowker, aged 40, of Bolton, United Kingdom, and Ibrar Sharif, aged 47, also from Bolton, were arrested in Dublin after gardaí conducted a surveillance operation at an industrial estate in Chapelizod. Officers observed the men unloading cardboard boxes from a van at a residential address in Kilmainham, where 119 kilos of vacuum-packed cannabis was later seized, concealed beneath frozen chicken. The court heard both men occupied a minor role within an organised crime operation and were vulnerable to exploitation owing to financial hardship and alcohol dependency. Defence counsel submitted character references and noted neither man had displayed signs of material benefit from the crime. Judge Orla Crowe adjourned sentencing to 9 October pending educational and prison governor reports.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Stacey Harcourt, 41, pleaded guilty to unlawful cultivation of cannabis at her home. The court found that she had grown the plant from seed, clipped the leaves, and used about five grams each evening for pain relief after her skin cancer diagnosis in 2010 and subsequent chemotherapy failure. Gardaí seized 448 grams of cannabis herb, valued at €8,966. Harcourt, who had eight neck operations and 15 malignant melanoma operations, claimed she never sold the plant. Judge Martina Baxter, after a Probation Service assessment, imposed 240 hours of community service in lieu of a two‑year prison term, citing Harcourt's remorse, rehabilitation efforts, and cancer‑free status. The sentence also noted her prior convictions for traffic offences and a 2005 incident involving a post officer raider. Harcourt expressed gratitude to the judge and stated she would try to reduce her use but could not stop entirely.
Christopher Gaynor, 39, of Woodavens, Clondalkin, pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine for sale or supply after Gardaí seized 40 kg of cocaine worth €2.8 million and €21,100 in cash from his family home. The drugs were found in the attic of a house in Collinstown Grove, where Gardaí had observed suspicious activity and monitored the area following a tip‑off. Gaynor, who had accrued €70,000 in gambling‑related debt, admitted to being involved in the drug trade but not profiting from it. Judge Orla Crowe sentenced him to seven years' imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended for three years, and directed him to be supervised by the Probation Service for 18 months after release. The court noted the high value of the drugs, the social harm caused, and Gaynor's lack of prior convictions and early guilty plea. The sentence was back‑dated to 26 June.
Amir Essalhi, 39, with 69 prior convictions, turned himself in after a three‑day spree of robberies in Dublin, claiming he had relapsed on crack cocaine. He admitted to stealing nearly €1,000 from a tanning shop, an off‑licence and a grocery store, and to an attempted robbery of a pharmacy. Essalhi apologized to Gardaí and to the victims, stating, "it's not me, it's the drugs." He was sentenced by Judge Orla Crowe, who noted the unusual nature of his voluntary surrender. The sentence, back‑dated to May 19, 2022, reflects his cooperation and current participation in prison training and addiction counselling. Essalhi's brother, Adil Essahli, was murdered in 2011, a fact mentioned in the court hearing. The court also noted Essalhi's ongoing work and rehabilitation efforts in custody. Amir Essalhi pleaded guilty.
Dillon Andrews, 26, was jailed for two and a half years as the getaway driver in an armed robbery at a Lidl supermarket in Coolock Retail Park on 13 November 2019. The robbery involved a co‑accused who entered the shop after 7 pm, fired a shotgun into the ceiling, demanded cash, and attempted to access the safe. The manager triggered the panic alarm, locking the robber inside; the robber was released, fled, and escaped with Andrews in a vehicle. Gardaí recovered €550 from the car, found drug paraphernalia, and detected gunshot residue on the co‑accused's hands. Andrews denied involvement but admitted being present; he pleaded guilty to the robbery. The judge noted the seriousness of the incident, the presence of children, and accepted Andrews' plea before sentencing. The manager did not submit a victim impact statement. The case was prosecuted by John Berry BL and defended by Luigi Rea BL.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 43‑year‑old Darren Sweeney pleaded guilty to one count of attempted robbery after he put a knife to a victim's neck on a bus at the Darndale Roundabout on 22 March 2022. The victim, who was waiting for a bus at Clarehall Shopping Centre, fought back, cutting his fingers and punching Sweeney before the attacker fled. Sweeney was identified by CCTV, searched, and arrested. He has 42 prior convictions, including assault, theft and traffic offences, and had recently been fined €200 for theft. The victim's impact statement described the incident as turning familiar streets into places "filled with shadow", causing anxiety, nightmares and hypervigilance. Sweeney, who has a serious drug problem, has been in methadone treatment and has expressed remorse. The judge adjourned the case to 6 November to prepare a probation report. The case remains at the attempted robbery stage.
A former civilian employee of An Garda Siochana, Holly Hayden, 27, pleaded guilty to disclosing confidential information from the Garda Pulse database in exchange for cocaine. Hayden admitted to providing details of a named individual on 29 October 2019, and to sending Pulse data to a person she knew on 9 September 2019 and again between 28 April and 11 May 2020. She also sent images of Covid‑19 checkpoint locations via WhatsApp and Telegram, receiving cocaine in return. Hayden's addiction to alcohol and drugs was highlighted by her admissions and her mother's testimony. She expressed remorse and acknowledged her actions as a gross disloyalty to her employer. The court considered a urine analysis before proceeding with sentencing, with a potential adjournment to 6 November to facilitate the test.
In a Central Criminal Court case, a 33‑year‑old man was sentenced to ten years for raping a 15‑year‑old girl in Westmeath on 20 January 2019. The jury found him guilty of a single count of rape. The defendant, who was 29 at the time, denied the conviction. Mr Justice Paul Burns noted that the victim was left alone with the accused, that the defendant verbally abused her and inflicted physical injuries. He also considered a forensic psychological report detailing the defendant's anxiety, depression, drug and alcohol misuse, and low intellectual functioning. The judge imposed a ten‑year sentence, suspending the final year for three years under probation supervision. The victim did not give a victim impact statement. The defendant had prior convictions for assault, violent disorder, public order and road traffic offences but no prior sexual convictions.
Tony McInerney, a 27‑year‑old former resident of Glenina, Gort Road, Ennis, Co Clare, has admitted to two new offences after previously pleading guilty to attempted murder. He was arraigned on a charge that on 18 January 2020 at Pound Street, Sixmilebridge, Co Clare, he intentionally or recklessly discharged a firearm, creating a substantial risk of death or serious harm to another. He was also arraigned on a charge that between 1 January 2019 and 18 January 2020 at Inis Eagla, Shannon, Co Clare, he threatened to kill or cause serious harm to Daniel Harty Snr, intending Mr Harty Snr to believe the threat would be carried out. McInerney pleaded guilty to both charges. He had previously pleaded guilty to the attempted murder of Daniel Harty Jnr on 18 January 2020 and was jailed for 12 years, later reduced to ten years by the Court of Appeal. The judge set a sentencing hearing for 16 October.
Ross Maher, 26, of Poolbeg Quay, Ringsend, Dublin 4, was given a suspended 12‑month sentence after pleading guilty to making threats to kill or cause serious harm to a man who owed him €2,200 for cocaine supplied on credit. Maher had initially sold the victim €200 worth of cocaine, later increasing the debt to €2,200 by providing drugs on a "tick" basis. The victim received repeated threatening messages, including a statement that he was "a dead man," and was also subjected to aggressive phone calls. Maher admitted to supplying the drugs and to the debt, claiming the messages were made in the heat of the moment. The victim's impact statement described the situation as extremely stressful. Judge Pauline Codd, noting the aggravating factor of drug‑related activity, imposed a 12‑month sentence suspended in full on strict conditions.
A 41‑year‑old Dublin man was jailed for six years after pleading guilty to three counts of defiling a 14‑year‑old girl between September and October 2016. The girl, who had been friends with the man's teenage nephews and was once a girlfriend of one of them, was given alcohol and offered cocaine by the defendant. On the first occasion he met her in a park, gave her alcohol, attempted to kiss her, then forced her into the bushes, pulled down her clothes and had sex with her. Two further incidents occurred at an apartment building where he engaged in sexual activity and sent pornographic material. The girl's mother noticed a message from an older man and the girl confided in a guidance counsellor. The girl had ADHD, depression, self‑harm and hospital treatment at the time of the offences.
Michael Dunne, aged 50 and a long‑time drug addict, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 12 July 2020 to criminal damage after he threw blue paint on a Luke Kelly statue. He had 51 prior convictions, including five for criminal damage, dating back to 1986. Garda David Kelly discovered the damage and used nearby CCTV footage to identify Dunne, who was arrested but no further action followed the initial garda interviews. The defence, led by Katherine McGillicuddy, argued that Dunne was vulnerable, had no intention to damage the statue, and received drugs as a reward for the act. The court heard that the paint caused €240 in damage. Judge Orla Crowe adjourned the case to 12 October for sentencing, allowing time for the preparation of various reports.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Jordan Cawley, aged 25, was sentenced to 18 months in jail for assaulting a vulnerable young woman twice with a closed fist over a €20 drug debt. The incident began when the woman claimed the drugs had a bad effect on her, leading to a confrontation that escalated into physical violence. Cawley, who has 37 prior convictions, was described by Judge Martina Baxter as "very imposing" and lacking regard for safety. He struck the petite, defenseless woman twice, knocking her to the ground, and later repeated the assault inside a local tyre business. The judge noted Cawley's history of drug use and trauma, and imposed a suspended six‑month period with strict conditions, including post‑release supervision to address his rehabilitation needs. The woman and her brother were considered vulnerable and less strong than Cawley, and she did not file a complaint or victim impact statement. Jordan Cawley pleaded guilty.
Paul Gibbons, 48, pleaded guilty to burglary and two counts of criminal damage after breaking into St Paul's Church, Avrfield, Dublin 13, on 20 March 2020. He had 59 prior convictions and was on bail when the offence occurred. Garda evidence included CCTV footage, a spade found in the parish centre, damage to two doors costing €320.20, and a blood‑like substance that matched DNA taken from Gibbons at Coolock Garda Station. The judge noted that Gibbons had lived a law‑abiding life until his marriage ended in 2017, after which his drug use increased. He expressed remorse, offered to pay for the door damage, and the court ordered probation, urine analysis and a governor's report, with the case adjourned until 28 July.
Patrick O'Reilly, 36, of Newcastle, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing €269,280 in cash found in his home and a breakfast cereal box in his work van on 14 June 2022. He also admitted a small quantity of cocaine and the use of the Signal app to facilitate money‑laundering. Gardaí said he claimed to owe a debt, but the judge noted he had €20,000 in savings, making the debt claim "hard to square." O'Reilly was one of six arrested in a West Dublin organised‑crime investigation involving drug importation and distribution. The court set a headline sentence of four years, reduced by one year for early plea, cooperation and first‑time offence, and ordered confiscation of the cash. The case was heard by Judge Orla Crowe, with the prosecution led by Edward Doocey BL and defence by John Berry BL.
Gerald O'Donnell, 45, was sentenced to five years in prison at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after being found with €260,000 worth of cannabis in his Lusk home. He pleaded guilty to possession of the drug in herb and resin form. O'Donnell, who had no addiction issues, began dealing drugs after falling ill with ankylosing spondylitis in 2009, which forced him to leave his job as a manufacturing technician. He claimed dealing was a way to avoid dependence on others. Gardaí seized 12.5 kg of cannabis herb, 1.4 kg of resin, and €5,195 in cash, the proceeds of crime. The judge, after considering mitigating factors such as early plea, cooperation, and medical condition, reduced the headline sentence from seven to five years, back‑dating it to 3 May. O'Donnell has one prior driving offence and had never been on the Garda radar before this offence.
Darren Gilligan, 47, son of convicted drug dealer John Gilligan, has agreed to surrender to Spanish authorities after a High Court hearing. He faces up to four years' imprisonment in Spain for alleged trafficking of cannabis, sleeping pills and participation in a criminal organisation. The European Arrest Warrant, issued by Murcia police, accuses him of shipping hashish, cannabis and unlicensed sleeping tablets (Datolan, Zoplicone, Limovan) to Ireland via parcel services, and of sending packages of cannabis and sleeping pills from various Spanish post offices in late 2020. Spanish investigators also seized marijuana buds and a vacuum‑packaging machine at a Spanish address linked to Gilligan. At the High Court, Gilligan confirmed his decision to surrender after legal advice, and the judge set an extradition date within 20 days, with Gilligan remaining on bail until departure. The High Court had previously granted him bail despite Garda objections. The case remains at the extradition stage.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 20 June 2023, Judge Martin Nolan sentenced 44‑year‑old taxi driver Richard Askin to a three‑year suspended prison term for possession of cocaine for sale or supply. Askin had pleaded guilty to the offence, which stemmed from a May 2021 Garda search of his home that uncovered 97.3 g of cocaine, a Nokia phone and weighing scales. Garda surveillance had recorded Askin handing a package to a cyclist on 29 April 2021 and to a known cocaine user two days later. Askin, who has seven prior traffic convictions, denied any trouble with Gardaí and claimed he was a low‑level dealer for another individual to service a drug debt. Defence counsel highlighted his addiction and lack of prior similar convictions. Judge Nolan warned that a repeat offence would result in custodial imprisonment and urged Askin to take the "considerable chance" he had been given.
Christina Anderson, aged 41, was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment by the Central Criminal Court for the murder of Gareth Kelly, aged 38, who was stabbed five times on 25 February 2020 while attempting to start his car outside her home. Anderson was diagnosed with schizo‑affective disorder and had been in the Central Mental Hospital since shortly after the stabbing. She pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, but the Director of Public Prosecutions accepted a plea of guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility due to a mental disorder. The judge, Justice Karen O'Connor, noted that Anderson's responsibility was diminished by her mental condition and that her actions were "highly dominated by her mental condition." The sentence was reduced from a headline of 13 years to 11 years, with the final three years suspended for four years on the condition that Anderson remain under probation supervision, comply with psychiatric treatment, and refrain from drug and alcohol use.
Christopher Coakley, 31, with 124 prior convictions, was sentenced to eight years in prison for a pre‑meditated, brutal attack on a doctor in Dublin's north inner city. Coakley approached the doctor, who was travelling on a motorised scooter, and stabbed him repeatedly with scissors, targeting the head, neck, chest and stomach. The victim, a doctor who had never met Coakley, sustained penetrating wounds and required hospital treatment and physiotherapy. CCTV and DNA linked Coakley to the scene, and he was arrested in June 2021. The judge, Mr Justice Paul Burns, noted Coakley's history of drug addiction and early criminal record, reduced the headline sentence of 11 years to nine years with a 12‑month suspended portion, and imposed conditions of medical compliance and probation supervision. The case was originally charged as attempted murder but the charge was dropped after Coakley pleaded guilty to causing serious harm.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Julie Ann Stokes, 43, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and weapon production after slashing a homeless woman up to 40 times with a broken bottle at a Spar on Dame Street on 20 September 2022. Stokes, who has 212 prior convictions including theft, assault, threats to kill, knife possession, drug misuse and public order offences, was sentenced to two years and nine months in prison, with the final six months suspended under strict conditions. The judge noted the attack occurred in a public place at night, was captured on CCTV, and that Stokes had a drug problem, primarily crack cocaine. She must remain under Probation Service supervision and comply with all directed actions. The sentence was backdated to September 2022 when she entered custody. The victim, also homeless, refused a hospital visit and did not cooperate with Gardaí. The court considered Stokes' progress in prison and her efforts to address addiction.
John Ginnelly, 52, was jailed after a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 15 June 2023 for openly using his home in Ringsend to traffic drugs while children were present. Gardaí entered the house on a search warrant and found over €60,000 worth of cannabis, cocaine and benzodiazepine tablets, as well as €14,230 in cash proceeds. Ginnelly pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis resin, cannabis herb, cocaine and benzodiazepine tablets, and to possession of cash. He admitted to preparing drugs for distribution in his kitchen and had been involved in the trade at a "trusted level." The judge set a headline sentence of five years, reduced to three years and nine months because of his early plea and cooperation, and added a concurrent two‑year sentence for money‑laundering. The sentence was back‑dated to 8 June, the day he entered custody.
Gerry Connors, aged 26, had his original four‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence for false imprisonment and robbery reduced by one year on appeal. In April 2020 he and a companion unlawfully entered a home on Ballyogan Road, repeatedly punched the victim, threatened him with scissors, forced him to strip, and robbed him of his car keys. The incident lasted 20‑30 minutes. In November 2018 he also robbed Aaron Campbell on Kilcross Estate, taking headphones, €150 and cigarettes after threatening him. Connors pleaded guilty to both offences and showed remorse. The Court of Appeal, citing his drug‑free status and rehabilitation efforts, quashed the original sentence and re‑sentenced him to six years' imprisonment, with two‑and‑a‑half years suspended, allowing him to continue his rehabilitation work. The appeal focused on balancing punishment with rehabilitation, not on any new facts beyond those presented in the trial.
In a 20‑second raid, 51‑year‑old Jason Finlay, who had been homeless for about 14 years and had just received keys to a flat from the Fr McVerry Trust, robbed Dawson Jewellers in Dublin's city centre. He and a second man entered after a diamond seller had been "buzzed in" through the security doors, snatched two trays of Cartier watches worth over €120,000, and fled. Two trays containing 22 watches were recovered under a bush in St Stephen's Green and another watch was found in a box on Finlay; a final watch valued at €4,900 was not recovered. Finlay pleaded guilty to the robbery of 24 Cartier watches, had 83 previous convictions, and admitted a drug debt. Judge Elva Duffy sentenced him to three years, suspended the final 12 months, and noted his cooperation, apologies, and steps toward addressing addiction.
Luke Fitzpatrick, aged 20, pleaded guilty to affray at Barrow Street, Dublin 4, on 14 May 2021. He was one of eight men who chased a delivery driver, who was later found dead. The driver had been carrying a knife and was allegedly a victim of an attempted robbery. Fitzpatrick was arrested on 14 September 2021 and identified by CCTV. He had no prior convictions. Judge John Martin described the offence as serious, noting the group's pursuit on a bright summer evening and Fitzpatrick's attempt to conceal himself with a snood. The judge considered mitigating factors such as Fitzpatrick's guilty plea, youth, cooperation with Gardaí, lack of previous convictions, and his efforts to address addiction. Consequently, Fitzpatrick received an 18‑month prison sentence, fully suspended, with strict conditions including 12 months of attendance at the Spellman drug recovery centre. The court also accepted letters of apology and support from Fitzpatrick's mother and the Spellman Centre.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, 31‑year‑old Christopher Coakley pleaded guilty to intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to a doctor on Seville Place, Dublin, on 28 January 2021. Coakley, who had 124 prior convictions, knocked the doctor from his e‑scooter, then stabbed him seven times with a pair of scissors. The victim, a Mountjoy Prison doctor, sustained penetrating wounds to the abdomen, chest, head and neck, and required ongoing physiotherapy. Coakley was charged with attempted murder, robbery and production of scissors, but a nolle prosequi was entered for the attempted murder charge. The court considered the robbery and production charges in sentencing. Coakley's lawyer highlighted his drug‑related background and a possible bipolar disorder, and requested a partially suspended custodial sentence with conditions. The judge will sentence on 19 June.
Ms. Edel Ambrose, former services director at Dublin drug‑treatment centre Sankalpa, received €83,000 in compensation after the Workplace Relations Commission found that the centre's former chairman behaved aggressively and intimidatorily to humiliate her for reporting governance concerns to HSE officials and a TD in 2020. The tribunal upheld her complaints under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977 and the Protected Disclosures Act 2014, awarding €23,000 for unfair dismissal and €60,000 for penalisation. A third complaint of discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation was dismissed. The decision noted that Ambrose was suspended in May 2020 following unfounded claims by a supervisor, and that she was later threatened with disciplinary action when she sought to address concerns about a colleague's return to work.
A clinical nurse manager, whose identity is withheld pending investigations, was dismissed in summer 2021 after admitting to taking prescription tablets from her workplace and forging a doctor's signature on blank prescription forms, using patient data. She claimed her dismissal was unfair, citing her admission, ongoing addiction counselling, and willingness to work in roles without access to medication. She appealed to the Workplace Relations Commission under the Unfair Dismissal Act. The commission found her conduct amounted to gross misconduct and that dismissal was a reasonable response. The hospital cited breaches of internal policy, the Misuse of Drugs Act, and professional conduct codes. The manager had been employed full‑time, earning €1,105 per week, and had begun a two‑year alcohol treatment programme, but the commission upheld the dismissal, stating the breach of trust was irreparable and the dismissal fell within the band of reasonable responses.
A former Roche drug safety manager, Dr Bruno Seigle‑Murandi, testified that Roche Products Ireland Ltd tried to protect itself before patients and that he was "the snitch to be managed out." He alleged that Roche issued marketing brochures that mimicked regulated risk documents but omitted adverse reaction details, and that he was threatened by the general manager, Pierre‑Alain Delley, during an alignment meeting. Seigle‑Murandi claimed colleagues altered documents and spreadsheets without his knowledge, and that he was penalised with bonus reductions and a performance improvement plan after making protected disclosures. Roche's barrister, Mark Connaughton, dismissed the allegations as "ridiculous," asserting the company was fully transparent with the HPRA and that the recall decision was ultimately a regulatory matter. The Workplace Relations Commission closed the hearing after six days of evidence, with a decision to be issued later.
Stephen Carberry, 45, of Sandymount Avenue, Dublin 4, was found guilty in a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial on 23 May 2013 of five counts of possession of cannabis and ecstasy for sale and supply. The offence involved 27.9 kg of cannabis, valued at over €559,000, and more than 96,000 ecstasy tablets, worth about €968,900, seized from a property on The Strand, Donabate. Gardaí had been surveilling Carberry when his silver BMW stopped at the property; after he left, the vehicle was stopped in Glasnevin and Carberry was arrested. During the search, a scoop, weighing scales and a phone charger bearing his DNA were found. Carberry had 62 prior convictions, mainly for traffic matters, and had spent just under a year in custody before release. He was re‑charged in 2014, refused bail, and remained in custody since the trial's conclusion.
Anthony Larkin, 46, and Gerard Windrum, 38, were sentenced to a combined 13 years in prison for moving almost €1.2 million in cannabis resin. Larkin pleaded guilty to possession for sale or supply of just over 92 kg of the drug, worth about €556,800, seized at a storage unit in Mount Seskin, Tallaght on 1 April 2022. Windrum pleaded guilty to possession for sale or supply of 105 kg, worth just over €630,000, found at the same unit. Larkin had no prior convictions, while Windrum had 103, mainly traffic offences, including a heroin sale conviction. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Windrum to eight years and Larkin to five, citing their roles as couriers and the influence of debt. Gardaí had been surveilling the unit after a tip, discovered the drugs, and followed the vans to the transfer site in Brittas. Both men were arrested, questioned, and Larkin claimed his life was in danger due to drug debt.
Dermot Carr, 51, a former Dublin bus driver, was sentenced to nine years in prison, with the final year suspended, for a series of sexual offences spanning from 2001 to 2018. He pleaded guilty to harassment of a nine‑year‑old boy, sending explicit images and requesting naked photographs, and to multiple counts of sexual assault against five girls aged 11 to 17. Carr's conduct involved persistent grooming, text messaging, providing drugs and alcohol, and forcing the girls to masturbate or engage in sexual acts in his car or apartment. The judge noted a pattern of deliberate, persistent grooming over many years and imposed consecutive sentences for the six victims, ordering Carr to pay €10,000 in compensation to the first female victim and to engage with probation and counselling upon release. The case highlighted the long‑term impact on the victims, who described trauma, nightmares, and lasting psychological effects.
In a case heard at the Central Criminal Court, Martin Burke, aged 26, was convicted of three counts of sexual assault and acquitted on one. The offences occurred on the night of 26 August 2018 in a Kerry town. Burke first assaulted a woman who had known him from a previous encounter; after a party involving alcohol and cannabis, he entered her spare room, bit her cheek and sexually assaulted her. She escaped to a shed, kicked him, and he fled. He later entered the bedroom of a second woman who was sleeping with her boyfriend. He asked if she was alright, grabbed her breast, left, returned, and touched her thigh under the sheets. The second victim kicked him and he left. Burke pleaded not guilty. Judge Paul McDermott sentenced him to five and a half years, suspending the final 12 months on the condition of probation for three years, and ordered him to stay away from both victims.
Niall Kennedy, a former soldier, was convicted in December 2021 on twelve counts of rape and additional charges of harassment and threats. He was sentenced to twelve years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended for five years on strict conditions. Kennedy, aged 32, denied the charges. His appeal argues that the trial judge failed to issue a corroboration warning to the jury about the uncorroborated evidence of the complainant, who admitted to lying about her relationship with Kennedy and about a male friend's drug use. The appeal also contends that the judge should have warned the jury about Kennedy's state of mind and the alleged consensual nature of the intercourse. The Court of Appeal will consider whether the absence of such a warning affected the jury's deliberations. The case remains at the appeal stage.
A former Roche Ireland drug safety manager, Dr Bruno Seigle‑Murandi, who said he was pressured to lie to the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA), has withdrawn his legal team during the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) hearing because their fees were unaffordable. He claimed the company's former general manager forced him to take responsibility for a letter that suggested a recall of non‑compliant marketing material was unnecessary. Seigle‑Murandi alleges he never agreed to that recommendation and was dismissed under the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 and the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977. The WRC heard that Roche staff, including Seigle‑Murandi, had until 24 May 2019 to report back to the HPRA after formally notifying it of the issue. He said colleagues altered a notification email after he left, and that the wording was changed to imply the material did not need to be recalled.
In a sentencing hearing on 22 May 2023, the Special Criminal Court heard that Michael Carroll, aged 43, had "indiscriminately" fired a revolver at John Hutch, a 63‑year‑old former Dublin resident, outside Hutch's home on Drumalee Avenue on 2 September 2016. CCTV showed Carroll approaching the rear of the house in a stolen Opel Astra, carrying two firearms – one with seven rounds and the other with six – and firing all rounds into the garden where Hutch's wife, Vera Hutch, was present. Vera Hutch gave a victim impact statement describing the lasting trauma of the incident. Carroll had previously been charged with attempted murder of Hutch and had pleaded guilty to a firearms offence. He was also charged with two attempted murders of Edward Staunton in March 2017; he pleaded guilty to one of those charges. The court noted Carroll's extensive criminal record and the alleged motive of repaying a drug debt to the Kinahan/Byrne faction.
Tony McInerney, 27, a former drug dealer from Glenina, Gort Road, Ennis, admitted to attempting to murder Daniel Harty Jnr on 18 January 2020 at Pound Street, Sixmilebridge, Co Clare. He pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court. McInerney had previously been convicted of running a cocaine factory and was sentenced to 12 years in prison in May 2021, a term later reduced by two years on appeal. He also pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine for sale or supply and to possessing crime cash on 23 September 2020. The judge described him as "at the top of the pyramid" of the Clare drug scene and noted his status as a target of the divisional drugs unit. The case is set for mention on 10 July, with McInerney remanded in custody. Ms Justice Eileen Creedon ordered a victim impact statement to be prepared by that date.
During a Central Criminal Court hearing on 22 May 2023, Christina Anderson's counsel argued that her moral culpability for stabbing Gareth Kelly was zero because she was in a psychotic episode caused by bipolar‑affective disorder. The State accepted that cannabis intoxication did not feature in the case. Anderson, 41, pleaded guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility. She was initially charged with murder but the DPP accepted the plea after the trial began. Anderson was taken to the Central Mental Hospital in February 2020 and remains a patient. The court heard that she had been experiencing delusions of a conspiracy involving neighbours, Gardaí and politicians, and that she had been under psychiatric care since 2017. The judge will set a sentence on 20 June, with the defence seeking maximum leniency. The case remains at the manslaughter stage.
In a Dublin case, a 39‑year‑old man pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and burglary on 4 January 2020. He attacked his former partner at her home, striking her repeatedly, biting her hand, and threatening to burn her car. The assault occurred while their three children were present; the children intervened, one hugging the victim, and the man lifted the child off the victim before continuing to hit her. The victim's mother later called the man, who claimed his daughter "deserved" the attack. Gardaí found the man's Safe Pass in the house and arrested him. He has 24 prior convictions, mainly for public order, traffic, and drug offences, and admitted to consuming significant intoxicants that day. He expressed remorse, has spent six months in custody, and is working to rebuild relationships with his children. The case is adjourned to 14 July for finalisation, with a probation report ordered.
Alex Bailey, 30, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for assaulting an 86-year-old woman in Dublin 6 on September 1, 2022. Bailey pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, robbery, and false imprisonment. The court heard that Bailey, who was experiencing induced psychosis due to intoxication, assaulted the victim for 42 minutes, including putting her head first into a wheelie bin and applying pressure to the lid. The victim, who had early-onset dementia, suffered a fractured nose and blood loss. She subsequently lost her independence and moved into a nursing home due to balance issues and trauma. Bailey, who has no previous convictions, offered €10,000 in court as a token of remorse. Judge Crowe treated the assault as the principal offence, noting aggravating factors such as the victim's age and the duration of the attack. She sentenced Bailey to three years in prison, backdated from when he went into custody. The final six months of the sentence were suspended on conditions that he keep the peace, be of good behaviour for two years post-release, abstain from alcohol and drugs, attend the Rutland Centre for one year, and agree to random urine testing. If the victim does not accept the €10,000, it is to be donated to The Royal Hospital in Donnybrook.
Anthony Glynn, a 52‑year‑old Dublin man, was sentenced by the Special Criminal Court to six years' imprisonment for his role in a large Kinahan Cartel drugs and ammunition operation. Glynn pleaded guilty to possessing €1.4 million in drugs—cocaine and cannabis—and 335 rounds of ammunition, including .44 Remington Magnum, .357 Magnum, .45 ACP and .22 LR rounds, between 25 January 2017 and 12 April 2017. The court described him as a "conduit" who passed information between Douglas Glynn and Emmet Fogarty. The judge imposed a six‑year term with the final year suspended for three years, and ordered a Section 26 monitoring order for the same period. Glynn had no prior convictions and had worked as a porter at Mater Hospital before the offence. The sentence was intended to encourage him to abandon criminal activity.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, John Costello, a 41‑year‑old Limerick resident, was released on humanitarian grounds after serving part of a four‑year‑six‑month sentence for acting as a getaway driver in the 2015 shooting of drug dealer Christy Keane. Judge Tony Hunt cited "highly relevant personal circumstances" involving a child and significant responsibilities, and suspended the remaining portion of Costello's sentence for four years on the condition of good behaviour. Costello had pleaded guilty to providing transport to individuals allegedly involved in an assault causing serious harm to Keane, a charge stemming from the infamous Limerick feud. The judge noted Costello's early guilty plea and his reluctance to participate, but acknowledged he had been directed by a higher‑ranking individual to assist the shooters. The court warned that if Costello is re‑arrested, he must serve the remainder of his sentence.
In a murder trial in the Central Criminal Court, John Titiloye, aged 25, pleaded not guilty to the killing of Ademola "Dizzy" Giwa, aged 25, in Tallaght on 10 August 2021. State pathologist Dr Sally Anne Collis testified that Giwa died from a stab wound to the right side of his neck that cut the jugular vein and damaged the right lung, causing haemorrhage and loss of blood and air in the chest cavity. The wound also penetrated the chest cavity and the upper lobe of the right lung. A second, superficial stab wound was found on Giwa's right forearm. No alcohol was detected in Giwa's system, though he had consumed cannabis containing THC earlier. Witnesses, including Samson Fayemi, described seeing Titiloye raise a knife and strike Giwa's neck during a dispute over a stolen scooter. The trial is ongoing before Mr Justice Paul McDermott with a jury of twelve.
A 58‑year‑old former construction worker, John Reeves, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment for possession of cocaine and heroin for sale or supply at his Dublin Southside home. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 20 October 2022. During a search of his residence, Gardaí discovered a pink suitcase containing eight small blocks of heroin and seven blocks of cocaine, each block weighing about half a kilogram for heroin and one kilogram for cocaine. The heroin was valued at roughly €560,000 and the cocaine at about €490,000. Reeves admitted he had taken possession of the suitcase in a shopping centre car park, claiming he thought it contained cannabis and was unaware of the drugs inside. He stated he had addiction issues and financial difficulties, including a €3,000 drug debt, and that his family was not involved. He had no prior convictions and had not attracted negative Garda attention before this incident.
Susan Royal, 49, of Croftwood Park, Ballyfermot, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing cannabis at her home for sale or supply on 30 April 2021. She had agreed with an unknown person to hold over €14,000 worth of cannabis in exchange for receiving some for her own use to manage severe pain from fibromyalgia. Gardaí seized 730 g of the drug, along with scales and bags, after a search warrant was executed on the day of the offence. Royal, a mother of two with no prior convictions, cooperated with investigators and had previously attended a Garda station voluntarily. Judge Orla Crowe sentenced her to 18 months, suspended in full, after noting her extensive medical history and the fact that she had not ceased cannabis use entirely. The court described the case as "unusual.".
Tony McInerney, a 27‑year‑old drug dealer from Ennis, was sentenced to 12 years in prison in May 2021 for possession of cocaine for sale and for possessing €4,500 in proceeds of crime. The judge imposed an 11‑year term for the drug offence and a three‑year term for the cash offence, with the final two years of the cash sentence suspended. McInerney was caught "red‑handed" at a property in Kilfilum where he was mixing cocaine, wearing orange gloves and holding a bag of the drug. Gardaí seized mixing agents, a weighing scale, a knife, a blender, €2.5K in cash and an estimated €50K worth of cocaine. In September 2020, he pleaded guilty to both charges. On appeal, the Court of Appeal quashed the original sentence and re‑sentenced him to a total of 10 years' imprisonment, with no portion of either sentence suspended, back‑dated to the date of his first arrest.