Lisa Lee, 41, was remanded in custody pending sentencing after she attacked Garda Caoimhe Reilly on 9 January. The incident began when Gardaí responded to a domestic disturbance at Lee's Annalivia Apartments home at 3 a.m. Lee was found with a bleeding lip and blood on her nose. She entered the house with two Gardaí, where her partner and child were present. While the Garda tried to restrain the partner, Lee shouted, struck, and pulled clumps of the officer's hair. She then searched kitchen drawers, was suspected of having a knife, and returned unarmed but continued to punch and grab the Garda's hair. Garda Reilly was taken to St James Hospital, suffering soft‑tissue injuries to arms, legs, neck and back, and is still undergoing physiotherapy. Lee has three prior convictions for breach of bail and drug possession. She expressed remorse at 5 a.m. and said she was sorry to the Garda. Lisa Lee pleaded guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Laimonas Baltrusis, aged 31, was sentenced to five years and three months in prison for unlawfully possessing €280,000 worth of cocaine and a semi‑automatic pistol. Gardaí discovered the drugs and firearm in hidden compartments of two cars, accessed by a button under the steering wheel when the engine ran and lights were on. Baltrusis admitted possession of cocaine at two addresses on 19 and 20 September 2020 and possession of the pistol on 20 September 2020. He cooperated with investigators, pointing to a kitchen shelf where 22 g of cocaine and €3,250 in cash were found. The court noted his prior minor convictions, his completion of a rehabilitation programme, and his apology to the court. Judge Martin Nolan emphasised that Baltrusis had created the problems for himself by becoming involved in the drug trade. Laimonas Baltrusis pleaded guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Brazilian woman Santana Silvana, aged 26, was sentenced to two and a half years' imprisonment for attempting to smuggle more than 2.5 kg of cocaine into Ireland. The drugs, valued at €176,162, were concealed in a false‑bottom suitcase that customs officers discovered during an X‑ray inspection on 24 January 2022. Silvana pleaded guilty to one count of possession of drugs for sale or supply at the airport. She had no prior convictions in Brazil. Her defence counsel argued that she acted out of financial desperation, citing her status as a lone mother living in a deprived community in São Paulo, working as a cleaner, and facing imminent utility cuts. The court noted her remorse and limited English, and Judge Martin Nolan imposed the custodial sentence, back‑dated to her arrest in January.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Judge Pauline Codd sentenced 31‑year‑old Ian Doyle to five months' imprisonment for each of two assault charges against his ex‑partner, Lisa Byrne. Doyle, who had pleaded not guilty, was found guilty of the lesser offence of assault after Byrne failed to attend the trial. He had previously been on bail for other offences and was required to stay away from Byrne and her home. The judge highlighted the severity of the violence, noting Doyle's use of a game‑console controller to strike Byrne's head, followed by choking and attempts to silence her screams. Byrne described feeling terrified and threatened, fearing further harm. Doyle's prior convictions included drug dealing, dangerous driving and possession of weapons.
Alex Campbell, 29, was sentenced to two and a half years in prison after pleading guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing drugs for sale or supply at his former residence in Custom House Square, Dublin 1, on 14 May 2021. Gardaí discovered €835 in his hand and €150 in his pocket when they stopped him in a taxi after observing a suspected drug transaction. A paper bag he handed over contained 263 g of cannabis worth €5,274, and a small bag of 8.6 g worth €172 was found on him at Pearse Street Garda Station. Subsequent searches of his apartment revealed four bags of cannabis valued at €65,442, a bag worth €6,500, €7,055 in cash, weighing scales and bagging equipment. Campbell admitted he was holding the drugs to clear a debt.
Alex Weir, 28, of Gibbons Terrace, Balbriggan, was found guilty of possessing cannabis and cocaine in his shed, with the drugs valued at €85,500. He had no prior convictions and was described by his defence as intellectually disabled and on the autistic spectrum. Garda Aaron Shanahan explained that a search warrant was issued after a confidential tip, and that Weir admitted the presence of drugs in the shed, handing over six small bags of cocaine and later two bags containing cannabis and cocaine. The court, led by Judge Melanie Greally, considered Weir's particular difficulties and needs, deciding he was unsuitable for custodial imprisonment. Consequently, a four‑year prison sentence was imposed, fully suspended on strict conditions, including abstaining from non‑prescription drugs. The judge noted Weir's early guilty plea, cooperation with Gardaí, lack of previous convictions, and his dependence on family support. The case highlighted the court's focus on Weir's vulnerability and the mitigating factors presented by his defence.
Peter Mellors, 22, of Skerries, Dublin, pleaded guilty to holding over €100,000 worth of drugs at his home on 5 May 2021. He had been diagnosed with a neurological condition similar to multiple sclerosis at 17, which can cause blindness and leg paralysis. Mellors began using cannabis to self‑medicate and also used cocaine. Gardaí searched his house after a tip and found five kilograms of cannabis (worth €100,074) and 108 grams of cocaine (worth €7,500). He admitted to holding the drugs and said he was threatened that if he did not be present for "the drop" something would happen to his mother and house. The prosecution accepted his claim of a genuine threat. Judge Martin Nolan, noting Mellors' health condition, low culpability and cooperation, imposed a four‑year suspended sentence, suspending the entire custodial term.
Three men—Francis Murphy (61), Declan Murphy (54) and Francis Boland (56)—were convicted of indecent assault on a child aged 11‑15 during the early 1980s. Each pleaded not guilty and had no prior convictions. The victim waived anonymity and described the abuse, which included forced masturbation and attempts to insert the men's penises into his mouth. The court noted that Murphy was an adult at the time, while Murphy and Boland were juveniles. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced Murphy to 36 months' imprisonment, Declan Murphy to 30 months, and Boland to 22 months, deferred one month. All three will be placed on the sex offenders register. The victim's impact statement highlighted lasting psychological harm and ongoing difficulties with alcohol and drugs. The defendants' counsel highlighted their long work histories and lack of prior Garda attention. The judge emphasized the men's law‑abiding conduct since the offences and offered legal aid for any appeal.
Boguslaw Sajor, 34, of Timahoe, Co Kildare, was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to seven and a half years in prison for transporting more than €1.5 million worth of cannabis from Malaga, Spain, to Ireland. The goods were intercepted at a Duleek Business Park address that did not correspond to any company, and the pallets were seized. Gardaí followed Sajor's Mercedes Sprinter van, stopped it on the N7, and obtained three search warrants for his residential and business addresses. A small amount of cannabis, weighing scales, a tracking device, and an encrypted mobile app were found at his home; the app contained messages about "35 greens" and instructions for dividing the drugs. In the van, three mobile phones were recovered, one with the encrypted app. Gardaí searched the pallets and found €692,000 of cannabis herb and €900,000 of cannabis resin, totalling €1,592,000. The unnamed man pleaded guilty.
The High Court has ruled that 14 luxury watches valued at €152,000, €22,000 in cash, and a mobile home are proceeds of crime. Mr Justice Alexander Owens made the order under the 1996 Proceeds of Crime Act regarding assets seized by the Criminal Assets Bureau from Jason Reed, Thomas Rooney, and Catherine Dawson. The applications were unopposed. The assets were seized following a Garda investigation into an international gang involved in illegal drugs and firearms trafficking. The three individuals were previously convicted of laundering over €400,000 for a criminal organisation after being observed exchanging large sums of cash in Drogheda in May 2020. Last year, Jason Reed, from Dunshaughlin, Co Meath, was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment by the Special Criminal Court for money laundering offences. Thomas Rooney, of Bettystown, Co Meath, received a six-year sentence for the same offences. Catherine Dawson, a former partner of Rooney's, received a fully suspended sentence of three years and nine months after pleading guilty to money laundering offences. The court appointed a receiver to sell the non-cash assets, noting that the respondents' financial profiles did not account for the legitimate acquisition of the property.
In a High Court ruling, Mr Justice Alexander Owens declared that assets linked to convicted drug dealer and DJ Adam Keatinge—including his Co Kildare home, cash, and several gold bars—were proceeds of crime. Owens described Keatinge as heavily involved in criminal operations, noting his 2012 prison term for drug possession with intent to supply. The Criminal Assets Bureau seized the assets in 2018 after a 2016 PSNI stop of a van containing Keatinge and others, uncovering €60,000 in cash and items such as phones that revealed discussions of cocaine trade and weapon possession. CAB sought orders under the 1996 Proceeds of Crime Act for the home, gold bars, and cash held with Western Union. Keatinge and co‑respondents denied the claims, asserting legitimate income sources, but the judge rejected these explanations as implausible and granted the orders against Keatinge and the other respondents. The decision affirmed that the assets were acquired through criminal activity.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 20‑year‑old Andrew Hillick and his co‑accused Michael Matthews were found guilty of assault causing harm and robbery after they broke a glass partition in a taxi, punched the driver in the head, kicked him in the ribs, and stole €60 and a mobile phone. The driver suffered a broken nose and other injuries. Both men had no prior convictions. Judge Orla Crowe imposed a two‑year suspended sentence on Hillick, ordering him to engage with the Probation Service for two years, attend all appointments, and undergo a full mental health review. Matthews had previously received a similar suspended sentence. The court noted the teenagers' intoxication and the driver's role as a "blameless member of society" who was simply doing his job. The sentencing reflected concerns about the youths' drug use and the need for rehabilitation rather than custodial punishment.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Judge Martin Nolan imposed a consecutive four‑year sentence on 25‑year‑old Gerard Hughes of Tallaght for a robbery and endangerment that took place on Crumlin Road on 28 July 2019. Hughes left the passenger seat of a white car, seized a woman's handbag, and, after she resisted, dragged her alongside the vehicle for 30 metres. CCTV footage showed the incident, and a medical report recorded grazing scratches and a chipped tooth on the victim. Hughes pleaded guilty, was already serving a two‑and‑a‑half‑year term for earlier offences, and had a history of drug use. The court noted the seriousness of the robbery and the victim's bravery, and, after considering mitigating factors, ordered the four‑year term to run consecutively to his existing sentence.
An unlicensed 21‑year‑old driver, Mark Fagan of Galtimore Park, Drimnagh, was given a four‑year suspended sentence after pleading guilty to a series of offences including endangerment, dangerous driving, driving without insurance and possession of cannabis. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court noted that Fagan had turned his life around since the 2020 incidents, with no prior convictions. Judge Orla Crowe imposed a consecutive term totalling four years, suspended in full on strict conditions: engagement with the Probation Service for two years, maintaining peace and good behaviour for four years, and providing urine analysis as requested. Fagan was disqualified from driving for four years. The court heard that during the July 2020 pursuit he reached speeds up to 160 km/h, ran multiple red lights, and drove dangerously on wet roads, nearly colliding with a cyclist and a patrol car. Cannabis was found in his possession, and a blood sample later revealed a controlled drug.
The High Court ordered a Criminal Assets Bureau receiver to take control of a west Dublin property near Tallaght that was deemed to be the proceeds of drug‑trafficking by cartel boss Daniel Kinahan. The receiver, Mr Kevin McMeel, was appointed under Section 7 of the Criminal Assets Bureau Act to sell the house on the open market and manage the €3,850 found there. The property, a five‑bedroom house at Coldwater Lakes in Saggart, was valued at €750‑800k in 2013 and was found uninhabited when CAB visited on 25 October 2022. No respondent claimed ownership. The receiver will hold the sale proceeds in a nominated bank account and, after seven years, the funds will be forfeited to the State. The court noted that CAB had served papers on Kinahan and Thomas Kavanagh, who were aware of the proceedings but had not contested the order.
Gary Cosgrave, 28, of Crumlin, Dublin, was sentenced to five years in prison after pleading guilty to possession of ketamine for sale or supply. He had accrued a €300 cannabis debt he could not pay and agreed to receive a delivery of ketamine disguised as Lego parts from the Netherlands. The package, valued at €594,000 and weighing just under ten kilograms, was seized during a joint customs‑excise and Garda operation. Cosgrave had no prior convictions and initially denied knowledge of the drugs, but Garda Donal Donoghue reported that he was contacted and arrived home as officers searched the premises. His defence counsel highlighted his supportive family background and argued that he was a "good man who did a bad thing," seeking a reduced sentence. Judge Martin Nolan noted the seriousness of the offence and the high value of the drugs, concluding that a lower sentence was not possible, and imposed the five‑year term.
Bernard Nugent, 56, of Castletymon Court, Tallaght, pleaded guilty on 19 April 2008 to possession of drugs for sale or supply after transporting €200,000 worth of heroin 14 years earlier. The case was delayed due to fitness to plead issues. Garda surveillance tracked a car from Munster to Dublin, which stopped at the Red Cow Hotel car park. Nugent's van arrived, and a brown bag containing 1 kg of diamorphine was transferred between vehicles. Nugent was arrested, interviewed five times, and claimed he was instructed to move the bag to reduce a drug debt. He has 23 prior convictions, mainly traffic offences, and a drug possession conviction from 2001. One co‑accused died before the trial; the other two received suspended seven‑year sentences in 2009. The court heard that Nugent acted under instruction and feared for his life. He was a heroin addict at the time but is now drug‑free.
In the night of 9 pm on 11 November 2022, Urantsetseg Tserendorj was stabbed in the neck by a 14‑year‑old boy who had come to rob her. She was taken to the Mater Hospital where doctors attempted to save her, but she died on 29 January 2023 after a severe hypoxic brain injury caused by the wound. The boy, who had been using drugs, was arrested and later pleaded guilty to manslaughter, but the State rejected the plea and he was tried twice for murder. In the second trial, the jury found him guilty of murder by a 10‑1 majority after a three‑day deliberation. The case highlighted the boy's intent to rob and the accidental nature of the stabbing, but the court concluded that the knife was deliberately swung at her neck. The verdict was delivered by Judge Tony Hunt. The unnamed 14-year-old pleaded not guilty.
Rebecca Yeats, 21, pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis for sale or supply on 13 November 2020. A 999 call, believed to have been made by Yeats, led Gardaí to search her Tallaght apartment, where they found 952 g of cannabis worth €19,040. Yeats admitted possession and claimed addiction issues and a drug debt. She was arrested, interviewed, and admitted responsibility. Judge Elma Sheahan, hearing the case at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, ordered Yeats to be placed under Probation Services supervision for 12 months, with strict conditions including random drug testing. The judge noted Yeats's continued cannabis use and moderate risk of re‑offending, and set a headline sentence of three years, but left the final custodial decision pending further mitigation. The case was adjourned to 10 November 2023.
In a 2022 Dublin court, Dean Reynolds, aged 30, received a three‑year prison sentence, with the final 12 months suspended, for a violent, unprovoked assault on Seamus Doyle at Texas Fried Chicken in Finglas on 21 November 2017. CCTV footage showed Reynolds, from Prior Hall, Kilmainham, approaching Doyle, striking him on the head, then kicking him in the body and head while Doyle fell. The attack lasted only a few seconds, during which Reynolds collected a spoon from the counter. Doyle refused medical treatment and did not wish to make a victim impact statement. Reynolds pleaded guilty, had 34 prior convictions, and was in a drug and alcohol rehabilitation program. The judge, Melanie Greally, noted the high level of violence, the presence of a child witness, and Reynolds' remorse and rehabilitation efforts, and imposed the suspended sentence and a requirement to keep the peace for twelve months. The court accepted credit for time already served.
Paul Keenan, 43, of Lucan, was sentenced to eleven years in prison after Gardaí seized €220,000, drugs, weapons, luxury goods and about ten mobile phones, including encrypted BQ Aquaris models, during searches of his home and a van. He pleaded guilty to possessing the money on 13 March 2019 and 31 March 2021 and to possessing drugs on those dates. The court heard that the van, stopped at a speed check, contained cocaine, cash, and a white bag of €155,000, while Keenan's house held heart‑shaped tablets, pepper spray, a stun gun, ammunition, and designer items. Keenan admitted he was holding money for third parties and denied ever touching a gun. Judge Martin Nolan described him as intelligent and skilled but imposed consecutive five‑ and six‑year sentences for his high level of involvement in money‑laundering and drug offences. The seized money will be frozen for seven years before forfeiture.
A 58‑year‑old married father of seven, Denis Aylmer, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to sexually assaulting a 21‑year‑old university student outside a nightclub on 28 April 2018. Witnesses saw Aylmer pull the victim's penis up and down while his head was close to the student's penis, and the victim was later found unconscious and unresponsive. Aylmer, who had been drinking and had taken a line of cocaine that night, claimed the victim had consented to oral sex before the assault. He had no prior convictions. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to three years' imprisonment, with 16 months suspended, and imposed strict conditions including probation supervision, sex‑offender interventions, and engagement with addiction services. The sentence reflected Aylmer's guilty plea, lack of previous convictions, remorse, and the impact on the victim, who was not present at sentencing.
A senior garda has given evidence to the Special Criminal Court describing the structure and operations of the "Hutch Criminal Organisation" in proceedings arising from the 2016 killing of Kinahan Cartel member David Byrne at the Regency Hotel in Dublin. Detective Superintendent David Gallagher, from the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, testified that the organisation stems from intergenerational family bonds centred in Dublin city centre and operates on a patriarchal system prioritising monetary gain. He characterised it as less hierarchical than some criminal groups, describing it as fluid, with affiliates working together, independently, or alongside other organisations. The evidence was admitted despite objections from Gerard Hutch's legal team, who argued its admission would damage their client's presumption of innocence, though the court ruled it inadmissible against Hutch himself. Hutch, along with co-accused Paul Murphy and Jason Bonney, denies involvement in the murder. The trial continues before a three-judge panel at the Special Criminal Court. Gerard Hutch pleaded not guilty. Paul Murphy pleaded not guilty. Jason Bonney pleaded not guilty.
In a High Court judgment on 9 November 2022, Mr Justice Alex Owens dismissed a test action brought by businessman Andrius Bogusas challenging Ireland's ban on the sale of any products containing THC. The court found that the evidence showed THC's dangers and that the current regulatory regime was justified. Mr Bogusas, who sought to import and sell hemp‑oil products with less than 0.2 % THC, was not entitled to rely on EU law or the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU to override Ireland's 1977 Misuse of Drugs Act. The judge noted that Ireland and other member states are bound by the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances, which precludes permitting such products. The action was also found to have been filed outside the three‑month statutory time limit, and the court was not satisfied that an extension was justified. The case was dismissed with no orders granted.
Daniel Walsh, a 30-year-old college student from Rush, Co Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for drug offences. He pleaded guilty to possession for sale or supply of cannabis herb and ketamine on the Skerries Road on January 9, 2021. He also admitted to having MDMA and cannabis for sale or supply at his home on the same date, as well as the unlawful possession of proceeds of crime. Gardaí stopped Walsh's van after observing it cross a white line, discovering nearly 2kg of cannabis, ketamine, and €6,900 in cash. A subsequent search of his home recovered additional drugs, including MDMA, with a total estimated street value of €42,924. Walsh told officers he was instructed to test the cannabis quality before handing over cash and stated he was selling drugs to support his own use. Defence counsel highlighted that Walsh is a third-year student who has removed himself from criminal associates following a psychotic episode linked to heavy drug use. Judge Martin Nolan acknowledged it was unlikely Walsh would reoffend but noted the serious quantity of drugs warranted a prison term. The court imposed a four-year sentence, suspending the final two years on the condition that Walsh keep the peace for the four-year period.
Kuong Lo Leong, 53, a taxi driver from Dublin, was jailed for six years after pleading guilty to possession of €500,842 worth of cannabis. The drugs were delivered in four separate packages to four different vehicles. Garda Stephen Gillespie said Lo Leong was caught after a surveillance operation set up following a tip‑off. The first haul was €117,762, the second €134,874, the third €231,634 and the final package was just over a kilogram worth €16,572. Lo Leong admitted he had been instructed by "Chinese people" to deliver the drugs and that he was motivated by debt, including a loan‑shark debt, and a promise of €200 per delivery. He had no prior convictions. Judge Martin Nolan accepted the guilty plea, the defendant's cooperation and lack of criminal record, and imposed the six‑year sentence.
Three men – David Ostrowski (21), Daniel Stepien (26) and Dawid Michalik (37) – were found guilty of blackmailing a secondary‑school girl who had set up an OnlyFans account. Stepien threatened to release explicit photographs to her family and friends unless she paid €10,000. He sent her screenshots of her father's Facebook page and images of her home. Gardaí set up a sting operation; the victim was advised to leave the cash in a car in Clonsilla. Michalik later retrieved the envelope, while Ostrowski supplied the information that enabled the scheme. All three pleaded guilty. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Stepien to 3½ years' imprisonment, Michalik to 2 years, and adjourned Ostrowski to a future hearing to decide on community service or a 21‑month term. The case involved possession of cannabis and other minor offences. The victim was a final‑year secondary‑school student who had blocked the account after receiving threats.
A man accused of murdering Detective Garda Colm Horkan gave inconsistent accounts of the shooting in the immediate aftermath and during garda interviews, a prosecution barrister told the Central Criminal Court on the twenty-first day of trial. James Dwyer SC said the accused's statements at the scene contrasted sharply with evidence he later presented in court, suggesting his account may have been constructed to support his defence rather than reflect accurate recollection. The prosecutor outlined how the accused initially denied the victim was a garda, subsequently claimed the victim identified himself but wore civilian clothing, and later suggested the victim may have been a drug dealer. The accused also provided varying explanations for how the victim sustained injuries. Stephen Silver, aged 46, a motorbike mechanic from Aughaward, Foxford, County Mayo, denies murdering Detective Garda Horkan at Castlerea, County Roscommon on 17 June 2020. He has pleaded guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility. Expert psychiatric evidence differed on whether the accused's mental capacity was diminished at the time. Stephen Silver pleaded not guilty.
Mark Byrne, 50, a former drug dealer, had been jailed for seven years in 2014 after stabbing his ex‑partner's new boyfriend with a kitchen knife, causing a life‑threatening kidney injury. After his release, he sent 12 threatening voice messages to the woman on the evening of 12 February 2021, claiming he would return to prison for the "right reasons" and that he was "stupid enough to make a point". The messages were recorded and used as evidence. Byrne pleaded guilty to harassment and to possession of cannabis for sale. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a three‑and‑a‑half‑year prison term for each offence, to run concurrently, and ordered Byrne no future contact with the victim. The sentences were back‑dated to the date Byrne entered custody in February 2021. No further details of the case are provided in the article.
Sandra Kavanagh, 47, was driving on the M50 near Finglas on 19 November 2019 when she moved part‑way into the hard shoulder and collided with Nebojsa Sarcevic, 29, who was riding his motorbike in the same direction. The impact threw Sarcevic from his bike and into the motorway barrier, where he died from his injuries. Kavanagh pleaded guilty to careless driving causing death. She had four prior traffic convictions, including speeding and failing to wear a seat belt. Judge Martin Nolan found no aggravating factors such as alcohol, drugs or excessive speed. He imposed a suspended sentence of eight months and disqualified her from driving for four years, citing her inattentive driving as the cause of the fatal accident. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Court on 7 November 2022.
Darragh Dodrill, 27, a former British Army officer, was sentenced to five and a half years in prison for possession of drugs for sale or supply. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 25 February 2021 after Gardaí found nearly €250,000 worth of cocaine in a van at Kilwarden Court. Dodrill admitted to selling small quantities of cocaine and transporting larger amounts to other dealers, and that he had been using the drug himself. He had been in debt, first €8,000 and later €50,000, and said he began dealing to pay it off. He also has a gambling addiction that increased his debt. The judge noted his addiction history, family support and fear of reprisals, and suspended the final two years of a seven‑and‑a‑half year term on the condition that he engage with addiction services.
In a north‑south Dublin feud, Jonathon Smith, 41, was jailed for one year after a violent clash between a mob from Sheriff Street and men from the Pearse House complex in November 2020. Smith, part of a gang of about 11 armed men, crossed the Liffey and engaged in fighting that left three people hospitalised. He was stabbed in the back twice, sustaining a punctured lung, a fractured shoulder blade and a broken rib. Smith pleaded guilty to one count of violent disorder at Creighton Street. The judge noted his prior convictions for firearms and drugs and that he knowingly joined a violent mob. Smith was sentenced to one year in prison, with no mention of a suspended portion or effective custody beyond the imposed term. The case remains part of a broader court proceeding involving other participants.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, former soldier Graham Hayes, aged 33, was given a fully suspended 32‑month prison sentence for possession of heroin and cocaine for sale or supply. Hayes was caught when Gardaí stopped him beside a silver car whose boot he had just opened, revealing €10,683 worth of drugs and a stun gun. He fled but was chased and apprehended. The judge noted that Hayes' role was limited to holding the drugs and that this was his first offence of this type. He had previously been discharged from the army after a positive random drug test and had built a drug debt of €20,000. The sentence was suspended on the condition that he keep the peace for the period and engage with drug intervention services. The court heard he had four prior convictions for road traffic offences. The case was prosecuted by Sinead McMullan BL and defended by Sarah‑Jane O'Callaghan BL. Graham Hayes pleaded guilty.
Ana Gomes De Limeira, a 30‑year‑old Brazilian woman with no fixed abode, was sentenced to three years in prison after customs officials found over €139,000 worth of cocaine in her suitcase at Dublin Airport. The court heard that a jacket and a small pillow contained blue packages of white powder, which were identified as cocaine and weighed just over 2 kg. De Limeira admitted that the drugs were given to her by a friend in São Paulo, who also paid for her flights and accommodation. She had known the friend for only a few months and had no links to Ireland. The judge, noting her limited English and the fact that she was at the lowest level of the criminal enterprise, imposed a three‑year sentence backdated to the date of her plea on March 28, 2022. The sentence was given under an enhanced prisoner regime at the Dochas centre. Ana Gomes De Limeira pleaded guilty.
A Dublin man, Ashley Medina, 33, was given a suspended two‑year sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for stealing over €10,000 from his stepfather to fund a cocaine habit. Medina pleaded guilty to 54 theft charges covering the period from December 2020 to February 2021. He withdrew about €250 at a time from various ATMs using his stepfather's bank card while in the throes of addiction. The stepfather has since died, but Medina had made amends before his death and expressed remorse. The judge, Martin Nolan, described the offence as a "huge betrayal of trust" and noted the stepfather's character. Medina's sentence was suspended on the condition of good behaviour for two years and payment of €5,000 to his step‑sister as compensation. The case was brought to light when the step‑sister attempted to pay a hospital bill and discovered the account was empty. CCTV footage and bank statements confirmed the withdrawals.
Alan Brody, 52, of Clondalkin, was arrested in June 2020 after Garda Brendan Murphy spotted him cycling with a bag of cocaine. The police found 249 g of cocaine in his jacket, worth €17,430, and later discovered an additional €1,907 of cocaine in his home, along with scales and a press. Brody pleaded guilty to possession and claimed he was paid to deliver the drugs, citing a debt of about €20,000. He has four prior convictions, the latest in 1995 for robbery. The court noted his addiction, a 2013 assault that left him with facial scars and anxiety, and his clean record for the last six months. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to three years' imprisonment, suspended in full, on the condition of good behaviour for three years.
Karl Brown, 45, of Belgard Heights, Tallaght, pleaded guilty to stealing more than €6,000 worth of DJ equipment from a van parked outside DjBox in Coolock Industrial Estate on 22 February 2018. CCTV showed him opening the van's rear doors before 6 a.m., using a trolley to unload cases, and carrying the items out of sight. The stolen items included 24 sets of lights (€3,600), 15 laptop stands, and two amplifiers, with a total value of €6,675. Brown was arrested months later and admitted the theft. All equipment was recovered except the two amps worth €1,700. He has 22 prior convictions. In court, his counsel noted his long heroin addiction and recent progress in recovery, as well as his caregiving responsibilities for his mother and father. Brown brought €500 in compensation. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to two years, suspended in full.
James Walsh, 38, of Burnell Park Green, was found "out of it" on drugs and alcohol when he attacked taxi driver Ian Sweeney on September 29, 2018. Walsh used a silver bicycle chain, part of his Macbeth costume, to repeatedly strike Sweeney's car and then attempted to strike the driver. Sweeney, who was in his taxi, tried to move the vehicle and flagged gardaí. Walsh, who had been drinking heavily and taken Xanax, began to hallucinate and tried to strangle himself when arrested. He was taken to hospital where a CT scan showed brain abnormalities. At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Walsh pleaded guilty to criminal damage. Judge Martin Nolan suspended a 20‑month prison term, ordering Walsh to pay €4,000 to the victim within six months, or to a local charity if the victim declined. The case was heard by Sinéad McMullan BL and defended by Karl Moran BL.
Brian Kelly, aged 60 and a survivor of the Stardust fire, was sentenced to 30 months in prison after pleading guilty to transporting €159,922 worth of cannabis in his van on 12 March 2020. He claimed he was acting to help his nephew, who owed €30,000 in drug debt, and believed the nephew was in personal danger. Gardaí had surveillance of Kelly's van at Vernon Loughran's house, where they seized a large brown box containing eight vacuum‑packed packages and two mobile phones, one a burner phone. Loughran, aged 59, pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis and cocaine worth €840,000 after a search of his home. He was sentenced to six years in prison, with the final twelve months suspended. Both defendants had no prior convictions and showed remorse, factors considered by Judge Melanie Greally in determining their sentences. The court noted Kelly's family circumstances, his role in animal welfare, and his recovery from drug addiction.
A man who allowed his vehicle to be used to transport nearly €60,000 worth of cannabis has been sentenced to 20 months imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. David Murray, aged 33, of Ballyshannon Road, Kilmore, Dublin 5, pleaded guilty to knowingly permitting the sale or supply of cannabis in his van at the Malahide Road Roundabout in Swords on 29 October 2020. During a surveillance operation, Murray parked his vehicle at a carpark on the Swords Road. While he was in a nearby shop, another individual placed almost three kilograms of cannabis into the back of his van. Murray was stopped shortly after leaving the carpark and the drugs were recovered. The court heard that gardaí were satisfied the drugs did not belong to Murray and that his role was limited to transporting them. Judge Martin Nolan acknowledged Murray's guilty plea was of significant value to the prosecution while noting he was unlikely to reoffend. Murray has 26 previous convictions, including drug and firearms offences.
Daniel Kerins, 26, pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine for sale or supply in St Ronan's Crescent, Clondalkin, on 25 November 2019. He had previously been convicted three times for drug possession. Gardaí, acting on confidential information, set up a surveillance operation in Donomore, Tallaght, on the day of the offence. Kerins was seen entering a taxi, travelling to St Ronan's Crescent, exiting with a package, and then entering another vehicle with a co‑accused. Both were arrested and the package contained €69,993 of cocaine. Kerins' role was to transport the drugs to pay a €7,500 drug debt; the co‑accused was to break down and sell them. The court heard Kerins was in the throes of drug addiction, had attended residential treatment, and had not reoffended since the offence. Judge Melanie Greally, satisfied that Kerins had been pressured to act as a courier, imposed a suspended three‑year sentence.
Stephen Butler, aged 30, was jailed for burglary and criminal damage after breaking into a Canada Goose shop on Grafton Street while it was closed for Covid‑19. CCTV showed him smashing the front door and stealing ten jackets and jumpers worth €7,100, causing €5,600 in damage. Butler had a history of 54 convictions and was serving a suspended sentence of two and a half years at the time of the theft. He suffered a brain injury from a 2016 car accident, which left him with a learning disability, and had a drug addiction. Judge Martin Nolan, noting Butler's vulnerability and drug issues, imposed a sentence of two years and nine months, recognising his lesser culpability compared to his co‑accused and not reactivating the previous suspended sentence. Butler pleaded guilty, admitted his role, and expressed remorse. The court considered his medical background and early admission of guilt.
Patrick Cawley, aged 30, was sentenced to three years in prison for stealing six bottles of gin and several Yankee Candles from Marks & Spencer and Dealz. On 16 January, he entered the Dealz shop through a fire exit, began filling his bag with candles, and when confronted by staff he became verbally aggressive, threatening to stab them and to burn their cars. He pulled a knife from his jacket and made further threats, causing staff to flee. Gardaí later arrested him and found the stolen gin in his bag. Cawley admitted the thefts and has 97 prior convictions, including robbery, burglary and drug offences. The judge, Martin Nolan, noted Cawley's cooperation in custody and his reduced methadone intake, and suspended the final 15 months of the sentence, backdating it to 16 January. Patrick Cawley pleaded guilty.
Gary Foy, 21, pleaded guilty to careless driving causing serious bodily harm, driving without insurance and driving under the influence of cannabis after a scrambler collided with a stationary quad bike in a Dublin park on 17 September 2020. The collision left a two‑year‑old toddler with a traumatic brain injury. Foy, who had ridden scramblers for ten years, claimed he could not remember the incident. Judge Melanie Greally set a headline sentence of two years for the careless driving count and five months for each of the other two counts. She imposed a 16‑month prison sentence for the careless driving offence, suspended on strict conditions, and 180 hours of community service for the remaining counts. Foy was also disqualified from driving for five years and placed under probation supervision for 12 months. The court noted the child's serious injuries and Foy's remorse and steps to address his addiction.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 25 October 2022, two teenagers, Clayton Mulhall (23) and Daryl Donnery (21), were found guilty of violent disorder and assault after a 2018 attack on a patrol garda. The incident involved the youths blocking a patrol garda's path, punching him, and using pepper spray. Mulhall struck the garda's face, while Donnery was later found in possession of MDMA. Both pleaded guilty to violent disorder; Donnery was acquitted of assault. Mulhall also pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, and Donnery pleaded not guilty to that charge. The court imposed fully suspended prison sentences: Mulhall received a three‑and‑a‑half‑year term suspended on conditions including probation, drug‑free status, and payment of €800 to the passerby whose bike he stole; Donnery received a four‑year term suspended on two years of probation. The judge noted the seriousness of the attack, the garda's injuries, and the defendants' remorse and prior convictions.
A former League of Ireland footballer, Edward Fitzpatrick, 39, and two other men, Jonathon Barton, 42, and Gary O'Neill, 40, pleaded guilty to money‑laundering offences involving almost €200,000 in criminal cash. The case was adjourned to February 23, 2023 for finalisation. Garda surveillance showed Barton driving a van to Fitzpatrick's home, where the men entered and later left with a heavy blue shopping bag. Barton then took the bag to a Circle K service station, handing it to O'Neill, who was arrested and found with the bag containing €199,505 in three packages and an additional €2,250. Searches recovered a vacuum packing machine, a mobile phone, and a phone from Barton. The three men admitted their roles; Fitzpatrick admitted packaging the cash, Barton said he moved the money to repay a drug debt, and O'Neill acted as a courier.
Michael O'Donoghue, aged 43, received a ten‑year prison sentence with the final six months suspended for five years after the Court of Appeal quashed his original five‑year term. The appeal was prompted by the Director of Public Prosecutions, who argued the sentence was too lenient for the gravity of the offences. O'Donoghue pleaded guilty to 31 counts of sexual assault, one count of rape and one count of producing child pornography against his daughter, Aimee Foley, aged 12 to 17 during the period 2012‑2018. The Court of Appeal found his conduct egregious, noting he gave her alcohol and drugs, showed her pornography, filmed the abuse and threatened her. The judge set a headline sentence of twelve years for the rape, reduced to seven with two years suspended, and imposed concurrent sentences of three and four years for the other assault counts. The final sentence was back‑dated to 14 April 2021.
In a case heard in Dublin, three men aged 24—Dion Genockey, Troy Ryan and Daryl Rooney—were convicted of gang‑raping an 18‑year‑old woman at Dollymount Strand in 2016. The men were 17 and 18 at the time of the offence. Rooney had 225 prior convictions, including violent disorder and drug offences, while Genockey and Ryan had no convictions at the time of the rape. The court heard that after the initial assault, the victim was taken to a second car where two other men raped her before she was left on the beach. Defence counsel argued the men should be treated as minors, citing their ages, Rooney's ADHD and mild intellectual disability, and the men's claims of lack of intent. The judge was urged to consider the defendants' youth in sentencing, with the court scheduled to deliver a sentence on 4 November.
Mantas Sankalas, aged 33, was jailed for 16 months after stealing more than €10,000 worth of designer clothes from Deja Vu, a Dublin shop. He was arrested days after the burglary when Gardaí stopped him cycling the wrong way on a one-way street. Sankalas was found carrying two designer bags, one containing items stolen from the shop, with a total value of €10,807. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to the burglary that occurred between 8 and 13 September 2018. Judge Melanie Greally noted the crime was opportunistic and that Sankalas had originally intended to seek shelter for the night. She sentenced him to 24 months imprisonment, suspending the final eight months on the condition that he engage with drug treatment programmes and keep the peace for eight months after release. The burglary caused the owner to close the business. The case also involved a second person, as DNA evidence suggested.
A 41-year-old man, Maciej Masznic, has failed in his appeal to have his conviction and seven-and-a-half year sentence for drugs offences overturned. Masznic had pleaded not guilty to five charges contrary to the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977. A jury found him guilty of being in possession of cannabis and methylamphetamine for unlawful sale or supply at his home address on February 18, 2015, with the drugs valued at over €13,000. He was later jailed by Judge Thomas E O'Donnell in July 2019 following a five-day trial. Masznic appealed, arguing that the judge did not instruct the jury on the concept of possession. However, the three-judge court, comprising Mr Justice John Edwards, court President George Birmingham, and Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, dismissed the appeal. The court acknowledged the trial judge's failure to provide specific instructions on possession but noted that no complaint was made during the trial about the adequacy of the charge. The court stated that the trial was not unsafe or unsatisfactory and that the jury had received a clear explanation of possession from prosecuting counsel, which was endorsed by defence counsel in his closing speech. The appeal was dismissed, and the conviction remains in place.