In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, David Keena, aged 21, was sentenced to six and a half years' imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended, for his role in a 2015 arson attack on Ciarán Murphy, a low‑level drug dealer in Offaly. Keena, who was 17 at the time, pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm and criminal damage by arson. He was found to have stabbed Murphy 16 times and poured petrol over him, resulting in 96 % burns and multiple stab wounds, including to the heart. Murphy survived but suffered life‑threatening injuries and permanent physical and mental trauma. Keena's sentence runs consecutively with a previously imposed six‑year term for a drug‑dealing offence. The court noted Keena's youth, lack of prior convictions and drug use as mitigating factors. The case involved a false rumour that Murphy was a Garda informant, spread by his former girlfriend, which the court found to be untrue.
The Central Criminal Court heard a jury deliberating the murder trial of Sean Nolan, 36, accused of strangling his partner Amanda Carroll, 33, in her Dublin apartment after a binge‑drinking session. The jury, composed of six men and six women, had spent six hours and 22 minutes over three days considering their verdict. Defence counsel Michael O'Higgins argued that Nolan was too intoxicated to form the intent to kill, seeking a manslaughter verdict on the basis of lack of intent. The prosecution, led by Shane Costelloe, maintained that Nolan's 20‑second strangulation constituted intent to kill or cause serious injury. The case involved evidence of alcohol, sedatives, and other drugs in Carroll's system, and testimony that Nolan had put his hand on her neck and over her mouth. The jury was instructed to return a unanimous verdict of either guilty of murder or not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter.
Darren King, a 34-year-old father of five from Ballyfermot, Dublin, appeared at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court where he confirmed signed pleas of guilty to possessing drugs for sale or supply. The charges relate to incidents on April 23, 2019, at locations including Ballyfermot Road, Cole Park Road, and his home. Prosecution evidence alleged that gardaí intercepted King during a handover involving a bag containing five kilogrammes of cannabis valued at €102,000. Subsequent searches allegedly revealed a further 29kg of cannabis worth €590,000 and 209g of cocaine valued at €15,000 in a vehicle at his residence, along with cash. King made admissions to possessing the drugs for sale or supply. Detective Garda Val Russell noted that King previously received a suspended sentence for robbery but acknowledged his cooperation with the investigation and his claim that he began using drugs after a back injury. Judge Pauline Codd remanded King on continuing bail and adjourned sentencing to January 29. She ordered an updated probation report and urine analysis for that date. The matter was adjourned and is not yet concluded.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, a 20‑year‑old Dublin man, Philip Dunbar, accused of stabbing a homeless man 183 times, was examined by consultant forensic psychiatrist Dr Brenda Wright. She stated that Dunbar was intoxicated at the time of the alleged offence and that, if not intoxicated, he would not have behaved as he did. Dr Wright found no mental disorder qualifying for a special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity or diminished responsibility. She described Dunbar's experiences of hearing voices and seeing outlines of faceless bodies as pseudo‑hallucinations caused by substance use, noting his voluntary use of alcohol, cannabis, prescription pills, and other drugs. She concluded that intoxication is excluded as a mental disorder under the Criminal Law Insanity Act and that Dunbar's blackout was partial. The defence closed its case after her testimony, and the jury will hear closing speeches on Tuesday.
Jordan Duffy, 23, of Glin Road, Coolock, pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine for sale or supply at his home on 2 May 2019. Gardaí searched the house with a warrant, finding a small quantity of cocaine, weighing scales and a safe. When asked to open the safe, Duffy revealed more cocaine and €350 in cash. He claimed he was holding the drugs for someone else to repay a debt, but the court found this explanation uncredible, noting the presence of scales and cash indicated dealing. Duffy had no prior convictions, worked as a gym instructor, and had recently begun a four‑year electrician apprenticeship. Judge Pauline Codd sentenced him to 18 months, suspended in full, and ordered 18 months of probation supervision. The sentence was imposed on 22 October 2020.
Ross Kenny, 28, of St Anthony's Road, Rialto, Dublin, pleaded guilty to possession of a handgun on Reuben Walk on 12 March 2019. Gardaí saw him on CCTV carrying what appeared to be a handgun; on arrival they found he was intoxicated and holding a plastic airsoft pistol. Kenny claimed he had taken the weapon from youths who had thrown snowballs at him and was "messing" with it. Garda Colm Reynolds described his behaviour as reckless and "acting the cowboy". Kenny had 25 prior convictions, mainly for public order and drug offences, and one for possession of a stun‑gun. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to one year imprisonment, fully suspended on strict conditions, after noting that the people of Reuben Walk would have been greatly alarmed had they seen him with the weapon.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Sean Nolan, 36, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter in the death of his partner Amanda Carroll, 33, who died on 21 October 2018. Defence counsel Michael O'Higgins argued that Nolan was too intoxicated to form intent, describing the death as accidental and citing witnesses who saw Nolan caring for Carroll. The prosecution, led by Shane Costelloe, maintained that Nolan intentionally strangled Carroll for 20 seconds, arguing that intoxication does not negate intent. Evidence included Carroll's blood containing alcohol, sedatives, and cocaine, and a pathologist's testimony that asphyxiation caused her death. The jury was instructed to decide whether Nolan intended to kill or cause serious injury, with the case centred on the question of intent under severe intoxication. The trial was set to continue the following day.
Devin Walker, 35, was given a suspended three‑year sentence after pleading guilty to cultivating cannabis at a derelict farmyard in Johnstown Kennedy, Rathcoole. He was discovered when the landowner noticed a rise in electricity usage and flash lights, prompting Garda Donal Donoghue to obtain a search warrant. At the site, Walker was seen leaving a shed with a bucket of water and was later found inside with three grow tents holding 140 cannabis plants and saplings. Garda estimates suggested a potential street value of €112,000 if all plants were mature females. Walker, originally from the Caribbean and recently arrived from Birmingham, had no prior convictions and was considered a low‑level operative. Judge Martin Nolan accepted his guilty plea, noted he had not profited, and imposed a suspended sentence. The court highlighted that Walker's involvement was limited to irrigation and feeding the plants. The sentence was suspended in full.
Sean Nolan, 36, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter of 33‑year‑old Ms Carroll in Dublin. He told detectives he had put one hand on her neck and the other over her mouth after she called him by her ex‑boyfriend's name and said she never loved him. Nolan said he had no intention to kill and that the death was accidental. He claimed he had been angry, wanted her to sleep, and panicked when he realised she was dead. He described the incident as a brief struggle lasting about 20 seconds. The court heard that Carroll's body was found in her apartment, her death caused by compression of neck and mouth, with drugs in her system. The trial continues with the jury hearing closing arguments.
Sean Nolan, a 36‑year‑old electrician, was arrested after Garda detectives found him on Navan Road following the discovery of Amanda Carroll's body in her Dublin apartment. Nolan denied murdering Carroll but admitted to choking her, saying he had "freaked" and spent the day walking around. He claimed he had put a hand over her mouth and another around her neck while they were lying in bed, and that he tried to wake her the next morning. The body, found by her 16‑year‑old son, showed bruising on the neck, blood on the nose and scrapes on the forehead. Nolan pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The trial, held at Homestead Court, focused on the circumstances of the alleged choking and the presence of sedative drugs in Carroll's system. The case is still pending before Mr Justice Michael MacGrath and a jury.
In the Central Criminal Court, 20‑year‑old Philip Dunbar, accused of stabbing a homeless man 183 times, testified that he felt guilty for not staying with his mother on the night she died. His grandmother, Mary Dunbar, gave evidence that Philip had been caring for his ill mother and had planned to stay with her that night, but instead stayed with her grandmother. She described Philip's upbringing, his mother's drug problems, and his own mental health struggles, including suicidal thoughts and hearing voices. Mary Dunbar also recounted Philip's movements on the night of the alleged murder, noting that he had been with a youth who had been with him all night. She said Philip had taken responsibility at Tallaght Garda station but could not remember the incident. The trial continues before Justice Paul McDermott and a jury of eleven. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 36‑year‑old man pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting his sister between 2000 and 2001 and to possession of 642 images and 61 videos of child pornography found in his home in 2016. He also pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of child pornography. The judge, taking into account the man's age and the long‑term harm to his sister, imposed a custodial sentence of three years, suspending the final 15 months on condition of probation supervision. The sister, who was 15 when she reported the abuse, described feeling isolated, using drugs, and suffering depression, panic attacks, self‑harm and a suicide attempt. She said she hopes the case being open will allow her to move on. The man cooperated with Gardaí, admitted wrongdoing, and showed insight into his behaviour. The court noted the distribution of child pornography was not for profit.
Abdifatah Nur, 38, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment for possession for sale or supply and unlawful importation of khat, a drug he brought into Ireland worth €10,000. He pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Nur claimed he had purchased the khat in Somalia for €500, where it is legal, and was unaware of its illegality in Ireland. He said he intended to supply the drug at his brother's wedding for the elders' celebration, not for profit. He was stopped by customs at Dublin Airport on 30 November 2019 and found in possession of the drug. The judge, Patricia Ryan, suspended the balance of the sentence on the condition that he keep the peace and be of good behaviour for one year. No prior convictions were recorded. The case was prosecuted by Eoin Lawlor BL and defended by Ciaran O'Loughlin SC.
Stephen Ennis, a 30‑year‑old heroin addict, was sentenced to one year in prison after he stabbed a treating doctor three times in the back at St James' Hospital on 7 March 2020. Ennis had been found collapsed outside a Garda station with a seizure and was brought to the hospital by ambulance. While in the hospital he refused to stay on his trolley, bothered nurses, and eventually withdrew a needle he had taken from his own arm. He held the needle over his head and charged at the doctor, who fled down the corridor. The doctor was not aware of the stabs until a colleague informed him. Ennis pleaded guilty to assaulting a person providing medical care. He has 72 prior convictions, including violent disorder, drug possession, knife possession, burglary and begging. The judge noted that Ennis probably did not intend the assault and that the doctor has made a full recovery.
Joseph O'Brien, a 50-year-old businessman from Ballyfermot, Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for possession of drugs for sale or supply. He pleaded guilty to the charge after gardaí discovered 7.5kg of cannabis resin, with an estimated street value of €45,810, in his camper van during a surveillance operation on February 7, 2019. The court heard that O'Brien had gone to meet drug dealers to intervene regarding a young man's significant drug debt. Judge Melanie Greally noted that the dealers allegedly "foisted" the package on him and threatened him not to dispose of the drugs. While acknowledging the case was unusual and involved an otherwise respectable family man, the judge described his actions as foolhardy but did not believe he intended to hold the drugs. Taking mitigating factors into consideration, including his status as a pro-social community member and the impact of the pandemic on his catering business, Judge Greally set a sentence of two and a half years imprisonment. This sentence was suspended on the condition that O'Brien keep the peace and be of good behaviour.
Sean Nolan, 36, is on trial at the Central Criminal Court, charged with murdering his partner, Amanda Carroll, 33, in her Dublin apartment on October 21, 2018. Nolan has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Michael MacGrath, heard evidence from Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster. She testified that Ms Carroll's cause of death was complex, resulting from compression of her neck and mouth, complicated by the ingestion of sedative-type drugs. Dr Bolster noted that while the death could not have occurred without asphyxia, the drugs had an added effect. She identified injuries consistent with manual strangulation and blunt force trauma to the mouth, alongside bruising on the neck and jaw. Although abrasions on the face were consistent with a prior road traffic accident, the pathologist stated that a significant amount of force was not required to cause strangulation. Under cross-examination, she acknowledged it was possible that the force used would have resulted in non-fatal injuries had drugs and alcohol not been present. Prosecution counsel Shane Costelloe SC argued that Nolan intended to kill or cause serious injury. The jury also heard from Ms Carroll's son, Denis, who discovered her body. The trial continues on Friday.
In a murder trial held on 13 October 2020, a 17‑year‑old accused of stabbing a homeless man 183 times offered to show the police where the murder weapon was. The teenager, Philip Dunbar, 20, pleaded not guilty to the murder of 23‑year‑old Adam 'Floater' Muldoon, who was found dead in Butler Park, Tallaght, on 23 June 2018. Garda Shane Whelan testified that he was called to Tallaght Garda Station early on 24 June, where he met Dunbar and his grandmother. Dunbar claimed he knew he had killed Muldoon and could not remember the stabbing. He offered to show the police the location of the knife, which was later found in a small lake at Seán Wash Park after the lake was drained. Dr James Maloney examined Dunbar and found him fit for interview, recommending a psychiatric assessment. Dunbar denied being under the influence of drugs, describing himself as alert and coherent.
During a demolition at a Dublin building site, a workman discovered a black bag containing 65 rounds of ammunition and four firearms, including a 7.62 calibre assault rifle, two revolvers and a semi‑automatic pistol. Robert Smullen, 35, of Halliday Road, Dublin 7, was arrested two months later. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of ammunition and the assault rifle at waste‑ground in O'Devaney Gardens on 14 August 2018. Smullen, who has 17 prior convictions and is already serving an eight‑year sentence with the final 18 months suspended, was sentenced to two years in prison, to be served consecutively to his existing term. The court noted his cooperation, forensic evidence linking him to the weapons, and his ongoing rehabilitation efforts in custody. The sentence was imposed despite his defence's argument that the discovery was fortuitous and that he was vulnerable due to drug debt and addiction.
Alan Flynn, 29, of Swords, was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment for possession of €1.2 million worth of cocaine, with the final three years suspended on strict conditions. The offence was committed on 29 September 2019 when a silver VW Golf was stopped on O'Casey Road, Parkwest, by an unmarked Garda patrol. Flynn was driving the vehicle with his two‑year‑old daughter in the front passenger seat. Gardaí found 18 packages of cocaine in the car's footwell and an open cardboard box, totalling €1,263,920. Flynn admitted he had a debt for cannabis and had been instructed by a contact to pick up the drugs and deliver them to a gym in Parkwest. A search of his home revealed a stun gun and pepper‑spray, which he claimed were for his own protection. He has seven prior convictions for road traffic offences. Alan Flynn pleaded guilty.
Sean Nolan, 36, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter of his partner Amanda Carroll, 33, who was found dead in her apartment on 21 October 2018. The trial heard that Nolan and Carroll had been involved in a road‑traffic collision earlier that day, fled the scene, and were later intercepted by Gardaí. Nolan was under the influence of an intoxicant; his blood was taken for drink‑driving or drug‑driving concerns. Carroll was arrested under the Public Order Act, struck out at Gardaí, and was handcuffed with her hands behind her back. A taxi driver, Andrew Farrell, testified that Nolan told him he loved Carroll and that she was a "great girl" hours before the killing. The prosecution argued that Nolan's act of putting his hands on Carroll's throat and mouth intended to kill, making him guilty of murder rather than manslaughter. The case is set to continue before Mr Justice Michael MacGrath and a jury.
In a drunken brawl on 24 April 2018, Mark Connolly (25), Stephen McNamee (25) and Natalie Mulligan (33) chased Paul O'Kelly from a chipper in Rathmines, punched and kicked him as he lay on the ground, and then attacked him again in the car park of the Rathmines Garda Station. CCTV footage showed the trio striking O'Kelly, who later suffered nerve damage to his thumb and required surgery. All three pleaded guilty to assault causing harm. Judge Karen O'Connor, after viewing the footage, placed them on bond to keep the peace until 15 January and indicated she intended to order 100 hours of community service in lieu of a one‑year prison term. Each defendant brought €1,500 to the court as a practical expression of remorse. The court heard that the defendants were intoxicated and expressed remorse, and that O'Kelly had also consumed cocaine and cannabis that night.
In October 2020 the State appealed a five‑year jail term imposed on 46‑year‑old Mark O'Dwyer, who had pleaded guilty in July 2017 to possession of drugs for sale or supply at a Ballyfermot Drive address. The drugs, worth €4,170,932, were found in a garage in a Dublin housing estate, described by Gardaí as a large‑scale drug distribution hub. O'Dwyer had 41 prior convictions and also pleaded guilty to three charges of possessing stun guns. He was recruited on the day with a promised €1,500 that never materialised. The appeal cited the case of Stephen Sarsfield, who received a seven‑year sentence for the same offence, as a comparator. The DPP argued that O'Dwyer's five‑year sentence was unduly lenient and a substantial departure from sentencing norms, and that the judge erred in granting an excessive reduction from the mandatory minimum of ten years.
Gerard Cunningham, 48, a former homeless father, was evicted from his rented home and stayed with his sister‑in‑law before Christmas 2018. He took a €1,000 loan from someone he believed was a friend to buy a car for work, and under pressure to repay, agreed to store heroin and cocaine for the lender. On 22 December 2018 Gardaí searched his Tallaght address and found a black bag containing heroin and cocaine valued at €465,024. Cunningham pleaded guilty to possession of heroin and cocaine for sale or supply at his residence. He had seven prior minor traffic convictions. The judge, Melanie Greally, suspended the final 12 months of a four‑year prison term on the condition that he engage with Probation Services for a year after release. The case highlights the impact of the housing crisis on vulnerable families.
Ben O'Leary, 20, of Balinteer Gardens, Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for harassment and making an unwarranted demand for cash. The defendant pleaded guilty to harassment occurring between December 2018 and January 2019 and admitted to making an unwarranted demand for cash on December 11, 2018. The court heard that O'Leary allegedly demanded €6,000 from a family in Templeogue, Dublin, claiming their son owed him money related to a purported drug debt. He allegedly threatened the family, including warnings about property damage and advising them not to contact gardaí. On one occasion, a second man in a vehicle with O'Leary allegedly threatened the mother, stating her son would be killed. Judge Melanie Greally noted that while O'Leary was not the individual who issued the specific threat to the mother, he was part of the enterprise. The judge acknowledged O'Leary's efforts to address his cocaine addiction since his arrest in March 2019. Judge Greally sentenced O'Leary to three years in prison, with the final 18 months suspended. Additionally, the court ordered that O'Leary have no contact with the injured parties or their family for seven years.
In October 2020, a bench warrant was issued for Maura Thornton, 38, of Inverin, Connemara, following her failure to comply with the conditions of her suspended sentence. Thornton had been convicted of manslaughter in 2013 for the July 2011 killing of her former partner Kevin Joyce, 59, outside her Salthill apartment. She received a ten‑year sentence with the final three years suspended. The Central Criminal Court had scheduled her appearance to address her breach of the suspended sentence, specifically her violation of a no‑alcohol clause. Thornton did not attend, prompting Judge Paul McDermott to issue the warrant. Her defence lawyer, Blaise O'Carroll SC, reported no contact and could not locate her. The State's counsel, Paul Carroll SC, noted that Thornton had fallen into drug and alcohol abuse, and the judge urged her to reengage with probation and addiction services to stabilize her chaotic life.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 6 October 2020, Thomas Locke, aged 28, was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment for aggravated burglary and assault causing harm, with the final two years suspended. Locke, who claimed no recollection of the events, was found guilty of stabbing a 24‑year‑old victim nine times, including a wound that pierced the victim's kidney. The victim described the ordeal as lasting an hour, with significant injuries and lasting psychological impact. Locke was identified through forensic evidence, including gloves, a beer can, and knives found at the scene, and was noted to have a history of drug addiction. The judge took into account Locke's plea of guilty and his addiction difficulties when determining the sentence.
John O'Meara, 42, a superintendent pharmacist who owned three pharmacies in Wicklow, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of prescription tablets for sale or supply at his home on 24 August 2018. Gardaí seized 1,700 Xanax tablets and 330 Ritalin tablets, worth an estimated €4,000. An investigation by the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland led to a High Court order in September 2018 suspending O'Meara from acting as a pharmacist. He complied with the order, remains the owner of the pharmacies but cannot be involved in their running, and has appointed a replacement superintendent pharmacist. Judge Pauline Codd imposed an 18‑month suspended sentence, taking into account O'Meara's cooperation, mental health issues, and the fact that he had not been involved in the "party lifestyle" since the arrest. The sentence was suspended on the condition that he keep the peace and be of good behaviour for those 18 months.
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard the case of Dubliner Stuart McManus, 44, who pleaded guilty to making a threat to kill or cause serious harm to a woman at her home on Ferguson Road, Drumcondra. The incident occurred on Hallowe'en night after McManus was taunted by children throwing fireworks at his residence. He allegedly confronted the victim, holding a travel cup he claimed contained boiling water and sugar, and threatened to throw it at her or her son. McManus admitted frightening the victim but stated he was provoked by the anti-social behaviour. In a victim impact statement, the woman expressed no animosity towards McManus, praising his situation and stating she did not wish for him to be punished. Judge Karen O'Connor acknowledged the victim's "kind and generous spirit." Defence counsel Karl Monaghan BL highlighted McManus's background, including childhood exposure to domestic violence, his status as a recovering drug addict, and his living situation with his mother. The court accepted that McManus was a target for local anti-social behaviour. Judge O'Connor placed McManus on a 12-month probation order, requiring him to keep the peace and be of good behaviour for that period. The matter was finalised with this sentencing decision.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 17‑year‑old pleaded guilty to the murder of 20‑year‑old Glen 'Ossie' Osborne, who was stabbed to death after a drug‑related dispute. The court heard that Osborne's girlfriend, Lauren Cray, had given birth to their son two months after his death, and that Osborne's mother, Rose, described him as a hardworking, premature baby who grew into a charming young man. The defendant had called Osborne a "rat" during the altercation and had previously threatened Osborne's mother. Witnesses and CCTV showed the defendant, carrying a white bag with a knife, stabbing Osborne once in the chest, causing a fatal heart wound. The defendant, who is a minor, was remanded for a further hearing on 7 December, with the judge noting his early guilty plea and cognitive deficits. The case remains pending.
Mark Crawford (43) was sentenced to a mandatory life term for the murder of Patrick 'Pa' O'Connor (24) at Fitzgerald's Bar in Limerick City on July 7 or 8, 2018. Ms Justice Tara Burns described the killing as an act of "madness fuelled by drink and drugs," noting that Crawford stabbed the victim six times, with wounds to the heart and neck causing death. The court heard that the men had met less than 48 hours prior and were taking cocaine together when tensions rose over the drugs. Crawford's claim of self-defence was rejected by the jury, which convicted him unanimously last month. In mitigation, Crawford's barrister read a letter in which Crawford expressed regret and stated he "never meant to kill" the victim. The prosecution highlighted Crawford's previous convictions, including assault causing harm and a pending sentence for a Section 15A drugs offence involving €24,500 worth of heroin. The victim's sister, Deborah O'Connor, told the court that the sentence provides some comfort, describing her brother as a kind, fun-loving regular who was killed by a man he barely knew. The judge emphasized the societal issue of knife violence combined with alcohol and cocaine, stating that such a mixture results in far too many deaths.
A man from Longford has failed in his bid to overturn a drug-driving conviction at the Court of Appeal. Patrick Clyne was convicted by Longford District Court on 5 March 2019 of drug driving, receiving a twelve-month driving ban and a €250 fine. He was arrested at a Garda checkpoint on Market Street, Granard on 29 January 2018 after testing positive for cocaine. A blood sample subsequently revealed a concentration of 515.2 milligrammes per millilitre of cocaine. Clyne appealed on the basis that the arresting Garda had not properly applied section 13B(1) of the Road Traffic Act 2010, arguing that the omission of the word "or" in the legislation required multiple tests before a blood sample could be lawfully taken. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Ms Justice Úna Ní Raifeartaigh, rejected this interpretation, finding no ambiguity in the relevant statute and confirming that fulfilling any one of the prescribed conditions was sufficient.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 20‑year‑old accused, Philip Dunbar, was said to have boasted about stabbing Adam 'Floater' Muldoon, a homeless man with cerebral palsy, to death. The accused allegedly told a drug‑dealer witness that he had "put him out of his misery" and that he "knew what it's like to be a killer." The witness, who could not be named, described seeing Dunbar with a blood‑stained Swiss army knife and hearing him claim he had cut Muldoon's throat while the victim begged for his life. Dunbar's barrister admitted the accused must have carried out the stabbing but said he had no memory of the act. The accused has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Muldoon, which occurred in Jobstown Park, Tallaght, on 22 or 23 June 2018. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Paul McDermott, continues tomorrow before a jury of six men and six women.
In a murder case, 32‑year‑old Sebastian Barczuk pleaded not guilty to the stabbing death of 33‑year‑old Polish national Michal Kurek. Kurek was found in a country lane in Ballyboughal with 62 stab wounds and blunt‑force trauma to the head and chest. Barczuk, who had lived with Kurek in the past, told Gardaí that he did not know who killed Kurek and suggested it was "probably some psychopath". He described their friendship, Kurek's drug use and the last time he saw him in August 2017. Gardaí collected call data and cell‑site analysis of the two men's phones on the night of the murder. The trial, heard by a jury, remains ongoing with no verdict yet.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 25‑year‑old Gerard Dempsey pleaded guilty to robbery after stealing a woman's phone to fund his drug habit. Dempsey, who has no fixed abode and sleeps rough in Dublin 1, said he had not been receiving money from charity due to Covid‑19, which had disrupted his usual source of revenue. On 18 May 2020, while the victim was walking home from a pub, Dempsey followed her, grabbed her shoulder, pulled her to the ground, and attempted to take her phone. He also made an unintentional contact with her privates, which the victim did not consider a sexual offence. Dempsey admitted the offence, claimed withdrawal symptoms, and had 57 prior convictions. Judge Patricia Ryan ordered a probation report, recommended psychiatric assessment, and adjourned the case to 13 November for finalisation.
Paul Connolly, 38, of Cregg Court, Kilmeague, Robertstown, Co Kildare, dropped his appeal against an eight‑and‑a‑half‑year prison sentence imposed by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in May 2019. Connolly had pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm to Michael Igoe, 54, and Francis Dhala, 19, after driving onto a busy footpath while under the influence of drugs on Coolmine Road on 1 May 2018. The incident left Dhala, a law student, with a catastrophic brain injury. Connolly was driving his young child to school at the time and had a 25‑year driving ban and had been released from prison a month earlier. He also pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of drugs, possession of cannabis, failing to remain at the scene, failing to offer assistance, failing to alert Gardaí, and driving without insurance or a licence. The judge, Melanie Greally, imposed the sentence but suspended the final 18 months.
The Court of Appeal rejected the appeal of Samina Sajjad, a 52‑year‑old retired postmistress, against a seven‑year jail term for smuggling 13.69 kg of heroin worth about €1.9 million through Dublin Airport. Sajjad, who had no prior convictions and pleaded guilty, was stopped by gardaí after a flight from Doha. The court found no evidence that the sentencing judge had ignored mitigating factors, noting the headline 10‑year sentence had been reduced to seven years after consideration.
In a Central Criminal Court murder trial, a homeless man, Michal Kurek, aged 33, died in August 2017 after suffering 62 stab injuries, including 25 to his back, and blunt‑force trauma to his head and chest. Dr Michael Curtis, the Deputy State Pathologist, testified that the overwhelming cause of death was the stab wounds and blunt‑force injuries. Kurek's body was found on a grass verge in Ballyboughal, wearing a black hooded top and jeans pulled down to the upper thigh, clutching blades of grass. The wounds were consistent with a single‑blade knife, with 25 on the back and multiple on the chest, arms and legs. Toxicology showed cannabis and amphetamine metabolites, neither contributory to death. Sebastian Barczuk, 32, a Polish national and former housemate, pleaded not guilty to Kurek's murder. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, is a technical case relying on forensic evidence and is expected to last up to four weeks.
In a Central Criminal Court case, a 43‑year‑old man was found guilty of murder after stabbing a friend six times in a Limerick bar during a dispute over cocaine payment. The jury rejected the defendant's claim of self‑defence, concluding he intended serious injury and that the force used was excessive. The prosecution argued that the knife wounds to the heart, jugular vein, neck and arm inevitably caused death. The judge announced a mandatory life sentence and remanded the defendant in custody. The trial included testimony from witnesses who observed the altercation, a barman who saw the stabbing, and the defendant's wife who described his fear and subsequent actions. The case highlighted the severity of the assault and the court's determination of intent and culpability. The unnamed 43-year-old pleaded not guilty.
In a Limerick murder trial, a jury of 11 men and one woman spent over two hours deliberating the case of Mark Crawford, 43, accused of stabbing his friend Patrick 'Pa' O'Connor, 24, to death in Fitzgerald's Bar. The jury was instructed by Ms Justice Tara Burns to consider Crawford's claim of self‑defence, the alleged threat he perceived, and whether the force used was reasonable and proportionate. The judge explained the possible verdicts: guilty of murder; not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter; or not guilty. Crawford had admitted to stabbing O'Connor but denied intent to kill, stating he acted in self‑defence after a dispute over €100 for cocaine. The prosecution argued there was no threat and that the force was excessive, while the defence highlighted Crawford's distress and remorse. The jury was to return a unanimous verdict before returning to the courtroom.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Mark Crawford, aged 43, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Patrick 'Pa' O'Connor, aged 24, who died after being stabbed in Fitzgerald's Bar, Limerick, on 7–8 July 2018. Crawford told Gardaí that the fatal incident followed a dispute over €100 owed for cocaine. He claimed a flick‑knife was handed to him by a young man in the bar, which he took for protection, and that he stabbed O'Connor in a moment of fear, believing he might be attacked. Crawford said he had no intention to kill and that the act was a split‑second reaction. The trial, presided over by Ms Justice Tara Burns, continues with a jury of 11 men and one woman. The prosecution maintains that Crawford admitted the stabbing to Gardaí and that the motive was a dispute over cocaine payments. The case remains in the early stages of the trial.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster testified that Patrick 'Pa' O'Connor, a 24‑year‑old, died from six stab wounds, two of which were fatal to his heart's right ventricle and left jugular vein. The wounds were found on his thorax, neck, left upper arm, left forearm, and left upper arm again, with depths ranging from 2.1 cm to 10 cm. Dr Bolster noted cocaine in O'Connor's system. Mark Crawford, 43, charged with O'Connor's murder, pleaded not guilty. The prosecution alleged a dispute over €100 for cocaine led to the fatal attack at Fitzgerald's Bar, Limerick, between 7 and 8 July 2018. The trial, presided over by Ms Justice Tara Burns, continues with a jury of 11 men and one woman. The case remains at the trial stage, with no verdict yet.
In the Central Criminal Court, Mark Crawford (43) faces a murder charge for stabbing Patrick 'Pa' O'Connor (24) to death at Fitzgerald's Bar, Limerick, on 7 July 2018. His wife, Karen Crawford, testified that the night after the incident he called her from the pub, asking her to pick him up. She described him as staggered, blood‑dripping, crying, and saying he needed to "get his head straight." She drove him to her sister's house, then to the Abbey Court Hotel, and finally to the garda station where he handed himself in. Karen also recounted that the next day he told her, "what am I after doing to that boy as he was my friend?" The prosecution alleged a dispute over €100 for cocaine, while the defence claimed self‑defence. The trial, presided over by Ms Justice Tara Burns, is expected to last two weeks. Mark Crawford pleaded not guilty.
During the Central Criminal Court trial of Mark Crawford, a barman named Cyril O'Connor testified that he witnessed Crawford striking Patrick 'Pa' O'Connor in the neck after a dispute over money and cocaine. O'Connor, who began his shift at 6 pm on 7 July, observed the men arguing quietly and heard €50 mentioned. He later saw Crawford hit O'Connor four or five times, describing the blows as rapid. O'Connor was left lying on his side with blood flowing from his neck, and he had two marks on his neck and was unconscious. The barman noted Crawford's mood changed during the night, showing rage, but he could not explain how the fight started. The trial, set before Ms Justice Tara Burns, is expected to last two weeks. Mark Crawford pleaded not guilty. Cyril O'Connor pleaded not guilty.
Sonia Collins, 38, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to one count of possessing cannabis for sale or supply at her home in Kilcronan Avenue, Clondalkin, Dublin, on March 4 last year. The court heard that Collins told gardaí she was under financial pressure ahead of her child's confirmation and had incurred a €200 drug debt after purchasing cocaine for social use. She claimed she agreed to hold the drugs for a short period but they were never collected. Garda Vincent Jaffray testified that officers searched the residence following a tip-off, and Collins immediately showed them the cannabis stored under the stairs. A small child was present during the search, and Collins was not arrested on the spot; she presented at Tallaght Garda Station days later to be charged. Collins declined to identify the person who supplied the drugs, citing safety fears. Defence counsel James Dwyer SC highlighted mitigating factors, including her status as a single mother of three, her early guilty plea, cooperation with gardaí, and lack of significant criminal history, arguing against the mandatory minimum sentence. Judge Melanie Greally suspended a prison sentence of two-and-a-half years on the condition that Collins remain drug-free.
A 20‑year‑old named Nathan Flynn was jailed for three‑and‑a‑half years after being repeatedly caught by Gardaí selling cannabis, cocaine and heroin from a vacant cabin in Rossfield Park, Tallaght. Flynn, who lived in the cabin, was arrested six times between June and August 2019, each time with drugs and cash seized. He pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply at the cabin and at his former address in Killinarden Heights. The court noted that Flynn was homeless and had been kicked out by his mother because of his drug use. The judge described his behaviour as "pretty stupid" and said he was probably working for someone else. Flynn's sentence was imposed for his repeated misbehaviour.
In July 2020 a 26‑year‑old man, previously convicted of sexual assault, was brought before the Central Criminal Court after he had been on the run for 18 months. He had been found guilty in his absence in December 2018 of 14 counts of sexually assaulting his cousin between 2008 and 2011, and a seven‑year sentence had been imposed. In November 2019 he was arrested for robbing a 62‑year‑old woman on Fitzgibbon Street, where he punched her and stole her handbag. He pleaded guilty to the robbery. Judge Sarah Berkeley imposed a consecutive four‑year term, with the final year suspended, after hearing the victim's impact statement and noting the defendant's drug and alcohol influence. The man is due for release from Midlands Prison on 8 February 2025. The victim suffered minor head injuries and psychological distress, and now feels nervous walking to work. The unnamed 26-year-old pleaded not guilty.
Jordan Fay, 25, was jailed for three years after setting fire to a wheelie bin in the underground carpark of an apartment complex, causing €40,450 worth of damage. Fay entered the carpark by forcing his way into a security hut, claiming to be a security guard, and was arrested when Gardaí arrived. He pleaded guilty to arson at Parkgate Place, Parkgate Street, Dublin 8, on 3 November 2018, and a charge of stealing a phone and high‑visibility jacket was also taken into account. Fay had 53 previous convictions, all dealt with in the District Court. The court noted his drug addiction and intoxication at the time of arrest, and he was found to have no obvious or malicious motive. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a four‑year custodial sentence, suspended the final year on condition that Fay engage with the Probation Service for a year upon release.
Stephen Kearney, 35, a convicted killer with 113 prior convictions, was jailed for one year after robbing a Centra shop in Santry on 12 February 2019. He had previously pleaded guilty to a robbery of a wallet and bag in Dublin on 2 July 2018. On the day of the 2019 robbery, Kearney bought a can of coke and a bag of jellies, left the shop, returned minutes later in new clothes and a snood, addressed the shopkeeper by name, produced a firearm and demanded the till be opened, taking €250. He was known to the shopkeeper and had recently visited his mother. The judge imposed a concurrent one‑year term for both offences, to be served consecutively to his existing sentence. Kearney admitted to using the robbery proceeds to buy crack cocaine and heroin. The victim's impact statement noted no ill effect on her, and Kearney was described as remorseful and struggling with addiction.
In a robbery at the Allied Irish Bank on Westmoreland Street, Dublin, 34‑year‑old Gareth Flynn demanded €14,000, threatened to shoot if the panic alarm was pressed, and fled after the alarm was triggered. He later left Ireland but returned to the Garda station in November, where he admitted the crime and was found attempting to hide Zopiclone tablets in his trousers. Flynn's bag, found near the scene, contained his clothes and a work pass with his photo. He pleaded guilty to robbery, threat to kill or cause serious injury, and possession of drugs. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to 40 months' imprisonment, noting Flynn's remorse and the lack of pre‑planning. The case highlighted Flynn's troubled background and the ease of his detection due to his own mistakes.
In the Special Criminal Court, defence counsel Michael O'Higgins SC argued that Daniel Cahill, the key witness in Aaron Brady's murder trial, may have had motives to fabricate his testimony. O'Higgins highlighted Cahill's claims of hearing Brady admit to killing Garda Adrian Donohoe, Cahill's alleged encounters with Homeland Security, and the lack of any subsequent police action against Cahill despite drug findings. He questioned the credibility of Cahill's statements, noting inconsistencies and the absence of corroborating evidence from Garda investigations. O'Higgins also criticized the Garda investigation for allegedly overlooking evidence of diesel laundering linked to Brady, citing text messages and phone contacts. The counsel urged the jury to scrutinise Cahill's testimony and the prosecution's evidence before drawing conclusions. The trial remains ongoing. Aaron Brady pleaded not guilty.