A 70‑year‑old cancer patient, Ronald Gordon, is in prison isolation because of Covid‑19 concerns and has been denied High Court bail. Gordon, a UK national, is charged with possession of cannabis and cocaine for sale or supply at Sarsfieldstown, Gormanston, Co. Meath, on 8 May 2019. The drugs are estimated to be worth about €2.5 million. He has applied for bail three times; the latest application was accompanied by a consultant's letter from Beaumont Hospital detailing his health difficulties, which was not presented at earlier hearings. Counsel for Gordon, Michael Hourican BL, argued that his prognosis was "not good at all" and that prison authorities were anxious to release vulnerable inmates. The Director of Public Prosecutions, Nicola Cox BL, maintained that the objection to bail was not made lightly, citing the seriousness of the allegations and the lack of any change in circumstances that would justify release.
The High Court heard that a 16‑year‑old boy was being used by older peers to fight other youngsters in an illegal fight club. The Child and Family Agency (CFA) sought orders to place the boy in a secure special care unit for his welfare and safety. The court, presided over by Mr Justice Mark Sanfey, extended the boy's placement for an additional three months. Counsel for the CFA, David Leahy BL, explained that the boy had previously been detained under a temporary order due to his "very disturbing behaviour." Investigations revealed that he had been found in the boot of a car, placed there by older peers, and had been involved in violent fights. The boy has also reported drug and alcohol use, and is accused of sexual assault, hijacking a car, assault, criminal damage, and arson. He has had several voluntary placements, including foster care, but these ended in homelessness.
Amy Cully, 26, a recovering drug addict, was arrested after punching Kathleen O'Neill on Usher's Quay on 26 July 2019 while under the influence of crack cocaine, heroin and alcohol. The punch left O'Neill with bruising to her nose, eye and cheek. Cully then grabbed O'Neill's bag and fled, but was caught by a garda a short time later. O'Neill's sister joined the struggle and Cully also attempted to take her bag. Local residents helped the women before Cully was arrested. Cully pleaded guilty to robbery and assault of O'Neill and to attempted robbery of Megan O'Neill. She has 80 previous convictions, including assault and thefts, and had a one‑year sentence for a 2019 theft. The court, after a psychological assessment, imposed a four‑year sentence, suspending the final two years on the condition that Cully comply with probation, drug treatment, mental health services and victim awareness programmes. The sentence reflects her remorse and progress in confronting her issues.
Micheal Bayly, 26, was denied bail by Judge Melanie Greally after he pleaded guilty to a street robbery on 29 March 2018. Bayly, a recovering drug addict, had failed to appear for his sentencing hearing in November, prompting a bench warrant. Gardaí arrested him on the warrant and a new sentencing date of 21 April was set. Bayly's defence, Keith Spencer BL, argued that his pregnant partner, who is self‑isolating with Covid‑19 symptoms, and their children were now cared for by extended family, and that Bayly was clean from drugs. Spencer requested bail on compassionate grounds, but Detective Garda Paul Geraghty opposed it, citing Bayly's history of missing court dates. Judge Greally noted Bayly's prior assurances to other judges and declined to grant bail. Bayly has 24 bench warrants, four related to the 2018 robbery.
April Reid, aged 34, was found guilty of robbery at an Ulster Bank ATM in Dublin on 23 March 2019. She targeted a woman who was withdrawing money, physically confronting her and causing a minor injury to the victim's left hand. The robbery resulted in €200 being stolen. Reid, who has a long history of drug addiction and was intoxicated with crack cocaine at the time, offered an apology after being identified on CCTV. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced her to four years' imprisonment, suspending the final two years on strict conditions, including compliance with the Probation Service for 12 months after release. She was also ordered to pay €250 in compensation to the victim. The case highlighted Reid's past theft‑related offences and her ongoing struggle with substance abuse.
Two men, Nathan Benson (22) and Harry Walsh (19), were sentenced to four years each in prison for a violent robbery that took place on Wellington Quay on 22 October 2017. The robbery involved the victim's Rolex watch, valued at €7,500, which the men seized after spotting the watch in a Dublin nightclub. During the assault, the victim was kicked, punched and left with physical injuries and lasting psychological impact. Judge Melanie Greally described the robbery as "extremely violent and vicious" and noted the defendants' histories of violent offending and drug addiction. Benson's case was influenced by his upbringing and mental health struggles, while Walsh's record included numerous prior convictions for extreme violence. Both men pleaded guilty and were given sentences with the final 12 months suspended. The court also considered their behaviour in custody and potential for rehabilitation. The sentencing highlighted the seriousness of the offence and the defendants' personal circumstances.
John Bayly, 31, of Foxdene Gardens, Lucan, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of drugs for sale or supply at Foxdene Avenue on 2 June 2017 and at Clonburris, Clondalkin, on 27 September 2018. In June 2017, Bayly was observed by plain‑clothes Gardaí in the middle of a drug transaction; when approached he fled on his bike, leaving a plastic container that contained crack cocaine and heroin worth €2,283.12. In September 2018, Gardaí on plain‑clothes duty observed a group of drug addicts in Clonburris; Bayly arrived, asked several people what they wanted, including two Garda members, took orders, walked away and returned with a plastic bag containing heroin, crack cocaine and Alprazolam tablets worth €7,832. Bayly has 69 previous convictions, including drug possession and road traffic offences. He was sentenced to three‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment, with the final nine months suspended on strict conditions.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, three early‑20s men pleaded not guilty to raping an 18‑year‑old woman on Bull Island, Dollymount, Dublin, on 5 January 2016. The defence counsel described the alleged victim as a "fantasist" and a person who "does not value the truth," while the prosecution highlighted her history of care, drug addiction and homelessness, suggesting she was a target. The prosecution argued that the woman did not know Dollymount and spent time on the phone to the Dublin Fire Brigade asking for directions. The defence countered that the woman was under the influence of drugs, could not reliably identify her location, and that the accused were angry and wrongly accused. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Alexander Owens, continues with a jury hearing the evidence and arguments.
In October 2017, John Murdiff, aged 33, and an accomplice stole items from Andrew Stammers, a former heroin addict, in Adare Lane, Dublin. Stammers had overdosed that night, but it could not be determined whether he was dead when the theft occurred. Murdiff later returned to the lane, discovered Stammers was not breathing, and sought help. He was charged with theft and pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Murdiff had 50 prior convictions, including theft, public order, and assault causing harm. He was sentenced to two years' imprisonment, consecutive to a three‑year term for assault, after a judge noted his remorse and the tragic circumstances surrounding Stammers' death. The case highlighted the difficulties in determining the exact time of Stammers' death and the impact on his family.
Noel McKeon, a former hospital security guard, was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court for the rape and violent assault of two sex workers. McKeon pleaded guilty to sexual assault, assault, robbery, and rape of the two women, as well as false imprisonment of the first victim. The attacks occurred in 2016 and 2018 after McKeon contacted the women via an escorts website. In the 2016 incident, he allegedly assaulted the victim, forced her into sexual acts, and attempted to stab her as she escaped from a window. In the 2018 incident, he allegedly punched the victim, pulled her hair, and raped her vaginally and anally. Mr Justice Tony Hunt described the conduct as degrading and humiliating. He imposed consecutive headline sentences of ten years for each victim. Taking into account McKeon's guilty pleas, the judge applied a four-year discount, resulting in a total term of 16 years. The court suspended the final two years of this sentence on the condition that McKeon engages in sex offender treatment, addiction treatment, and anger management specifically addressing violence towards women. McKeon's defense counsel highlighted his history of drug abuse and suicide attempts, noting he wished to express remorse. The victims provided impact statements describing their fear and humiliation.
Ms Paula Farrell, 47, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter for the unlawful killing of Wayne 'Quilly' McQuillan, 30, on New Year's Day 2014. She told the Central Criminal Court jury that she began drinking heavily in her teens to "block out" problems, later describing a history of sexual abuse by a named man from age seven to fourteen. She said the abuse began at thirteen and continued daily, and that she confronted the abuser at age 28 or 29, after which she stopped counselling. Farrell also admitted using alcohol, cocaine, speed and a white powder called "wildcat." She met McQuillan on the night of her 40th birthday in 2013; he was ten years younger.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, Mark Byrne, a 35‑year‑old homeless man, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and production of a knife after stabbing a stranger in a random street disagreement on Winetavern Street on 16 July 2016. Byrne's defence counsel argued the incident was a one‑off event between two street‑dwelling strangers with no prior animosity, and that Byrne had carried a knife for self‑defence after a threat earlier that summer. The judge noted the victim suffered a bowel perforation and was hospitalised for weeks, and that Byrne had regained equilibrium and remained drug‑free recently. The judge imposed a five‑year sentence, suspending the final year on conditions including drug treatment and mental health services. Byrne expressed remorse, describing his actions as "disgraceful and appalling.".
The Court of Appeal has dismissed an appeal by the Director of Public Prosecutions seeking to increase the sentence of Eoin Vickers, a 36-year-old man from Co Mayo. Vickers pleaded guilty to two counts of defilement of a girl under 15, three sample counts of defilement of a child under 17, and one count of defilement of a child under 17 regarding a friend, alongside an assault charge. These offences, alleged to have occurred between June 2011 and August 2013, involved an abusive relationship with two teenage girls, including the introduction of heroin and the removal of a contraceptive implant. On May 22, 2019, Mr Justice Michael White sentenced Vickers to 11 years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended. The DPP argued this sentence was unduly lenient. President Mr Justice George Birmingham, sitting with Justices McGovern and Collins, acknowledged the case was exceptionally serious and that the Court of Appeal would have imposed a higher sentence, rejecting the discount given for the guilty plea. However, the court held that the original sentence, while very lenient, did not warrant intervention due to the singular nature of the facts and the wide margin of discretion afforded to the sentencing judge. Consequently, Vickers' original sentence remains unchanged.
A homeless couple, Keelin Doyle (29) and Liam Dowds (38), stole €7,595 worth of clothing from River Island on Dublin's Grafton Street over four weeks in 2019. They carried out eight separate shop‑lifting incidents, walking into the store, lifting merchandise and leaving without paying, without disguising themselves or threatening staff. Doyle faced seven charges and Dowds faced eight, all from August and September 2019. Both pleaded guilty. Doyle was sentenced by Judge Melanie Greally to 18 months' imprisonment with the final six months suspended; Dowds received 15 months' imprisonment with the final six months suspended. The court noted the couple's drug addiction as a motivating factor and highlighted the significant loss to the retailer. Both were remanded in custody since their arrest and have shown improvement while in custody.
Martin Aylmer, aged 33, bought six prepaid mobile phones in the run‑up to the murder of Michael Barr, 35, at the Sunset House pub on 25 April 2016. One phone was found beside a burned‑out getaway car used in the killing. Aylmer was captured on CCTV buying the phone in Dublin's Ilac Shopping Centre two days before the shooting. He claimed the phones were for drug trafficking. He pleaded guilty to assisting a criminal organisation in a serious offence. The Special Criminal Court sentenced him to three years and nine months, with the final year suspended, but the Court of Appeal re‑sentenced him to six years with the final 15 months suspended, citing his assistance to a gang that committed murder as an aggravating factor. Aylmer was required to enter a good‑behaviour bond for the suspended period. The case remains under appeal for the murder conviction of Eamonn Cumberton.
John Heaphy, a 64‑year‑old from Kerryhall Road, Fairhill, Cork, died in February after a prolonged illness while serving a 10‑year prison sentence for the sale or supply of heroin worth €37,000. The sentence, imposed in October 2015 by Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin, was described by the judge as "tragic" that a man of Heaphy's age and health had to be dealt with in this way, yet the judge noted that Heaphy had "given his life to drug sale and supply and this is the harvest he will do." Heaphy had previously been convicted of drug offences with a street value exceeding €13,000, for which he served six years and was released less than a year before the second conviction. The unnamed 64-year-old pleaded guilty.
Samantha Irwin, 36, was convicted of robbing a shop in Dublin on 20 September 2018, stealing €55 from a shop assistant while armed with a syringe. A bloodstained note found in her pocket, containing numbers for out‑of‑hours homeless accommodation, was identified by CCTV and matched to her DNA. She pleaded guilty to robbery and to possession of two shotgun cartridges found in her accommodation in April 2019. The court, hearing that she had no history of violence and was in a severe addiction episode, imposed a headline sentence of seven and a half years but reduced it to five and a half years with the final 18 months suspended. Conditions include residential drug treatment. She also received a nine‑month term for the cartridge offence, to run concurrently with the robbery sentence. The judge noted her remorse, drug‑free status, and steps taken in rehabilitation.
Peter Maguire, 41, a father of four from Tallaght, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to cultivating cannabis at his home on 2 October 2017. He had set up a grow house in the attic to produce cannabis oil for pain relief from Barrett's disease, a chronic heartburn condition that can increase cancer risk. Maguire, a former heroin addict who had become reliant on painkillers, said he chose cannabis oil to avoid relapse. He admitted to learning how to grow and extract the oil online and provided Garda Robert Whitty with detailed information about the process. Judge Melanie Greally noted his full admissions, his past efforts to reduce re‑offending risk, and the positive steps he had taken. She suspended a two‑year jail term on strict conditions, deciding it was not in the community's interest to return him to custody.
In March 2020 a Disclosures Tribunal heard that Garda whistleblower Nicholas Keogh, who made a protected disclosure in 2014, alleged that a senior member of the Athlone drugs unit had an improper relationship with an alleged heroin dealer. Keogh claimed he was bullied by Garda management after his disclosure. In 2017, Chief Superintendent John Scanlan of the Laois-Offaly District gave an interview praising Commissioner Noirín O'Sullivan. Keogh allegedly called 999 and threatened to "break Scanlan's jaw" after the interview. Scanlan said he was concerned but not angry, and that he had handled Keogh professionally. He also stated that he had received Keogh's complaint file in March 2017, had completed it by April, and had no role in its subsequent investigation, which began in November. The tribunal examined whether Keogh was targeted, harassed, undermined or bullied after his disclosure. The hearing was chaired by Judge Sean Ryan. The tribunal has not yet reached a conclusion.
Alexander Whelan, aged 19, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for the manslaughter of Bruno Rolandi, 56, who was a former partner of Whelan's mother and a heroin user. The killing occurred during a domestic dispute at the Whelan family home on Green Road, Edenderry, on 19 November 2017. Whelan introduced a knife into the argument and used substantial force, inflicting three wounds, one of which penetrated 23 centimetres, damaged the heart and caused fatal bleeding. He pleaded guilty to manslaughter at the Central Criminal Court. The judge, Mr Justice Michael White, noted that the introduction of a deadly weapon and the violence of the blows were aggravating factors, but also considered Whelan's previously excellent character, lack of prior convictions, and the circumstances of defending his mother and brother. The sentence was reduced from an initial six‑year recommendation to two years, with no part suspended, as Whelan was not a drug user and had no history of violence.
Shane Fay, who was 18 when he was caught with 15 rounds of 9mm ammunition in his bedroom, was sentenced to two years in prison. He admitted to storing the bullets after being asked to do so and claimed a cocaine dependency. Fay pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 3 October 2018. While awaiting sentencing, he was attacked and stabbed ten times, suffering severe wounds and lung damage. His attackers also cut his fingers, severing tendons. Fay was a carer for his wheelchair‑bound parents; his father had lost his legs to alcohol abuse and his mother had an extreme reaction to a mosquito bite during a state‑funded respite holiday. Judge Melanie Greally suspended the final year of a three‑year term, citing his early guilty plea, his youth and his difficult background.
Martin Lumsden, 35, with 110 prior convictions, was arrested after climbing over the railings of Gaelscoil Cholmcille in Coolock and stealing €880.78 from Trócaire boxes. Garda Finbarr Fleming found a heavy bag with coins and evidence of a smashed side window and rummaged principal's office. Lumsden pleaded guilty to burglary of the school on 18 April 2018 and to robbery and possession of a firearm at Mace shop on 7 May 2018, where he stole about €500 from two tills and used a gun. The firearm and money were not recovered. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to a two‑year term for burglary and a consecutive five‑and‑a‑half‑year prison term for armed robbery, suspending all sentences for seven years on the condition of remaining drug‑free, keeping the peace and engaging with the Peter McVerry Trust. John Finn, 32, was also convicted of the burglary; he received a separate sentence at a prior hearing.
The trial at the Central Criminal Court heard that an 18‑year‑old woman was allegedly raped by three Dublin teenagers on 5 January 2016 at Dollymount Strand. The men, now in their early 20s, pleaded not guilty. The woman denied that she had said she would have no problem "doing three of them" and insisted she had said she did not want to have sex. She admitted taking cannabis and cocaine in the month before the incident but denied taking any other drugs on the day. She also denied saying she wanted to stay with the men after the alleged assault, stating she had planned to stay in a hostel or on the street. The case remains before Mr Justice Alexander Owens and a jury.
A 19‑year‑old Clare man was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment, with the final two‑and‑a‑half years suspended on strict conditions, for repeatedly raping his half‑brother and attempting to rape his half‑sister between November 2014 and May 2015. The offences occurred while the younger siblings were visiting their mother and older brother at weekends. The man, who was 14 at the time of the abuse, pleaded guilty to six counts of orally raping his half‑brother, one count of anally raping the boy, and one count of attempting to anally rape the girl. He was found to have an unstable childhood, frequent moves, early drug use and eight prior convictions, including possession of a knife and traffic offences. The court noted the abuse was aggravated by its nature and the sustained period over which it occurred, and that the victim's age at the time was a major factor in sentencing.
David Fox, 51, of Croftwood Crescent, Ballyfermot, Dublin, was sentenced to four years in prison, with the final 18 months suspended, for storing over €320,000 worth of illegal drugs in his bedroom in exchange for €50. He pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of cannabis and cocaine for sale or supply at his address on 5 November 2016. Gardaí, acting on a warrant, found a large cardboard box beside Fox's bed containing 6.92 kg of cannabis and 2.59 kg of cocaine. Fox initially claimed one of his daughters was responsible but later accepted sole responsibility. He said he was short on money and agreed to hold the drugs for one night for €50, claiming no drug debt. He had no prior convictions and had recently split from his partner, fighting custody of his two youngest daughters.
The Disclosures Tribunal, chaired by Judge Sean Ryan, is investigating whether whistleblower Garda Nicholas Keogh was targeted after making a protected disclosure in 2014. The hearing, now in its tenth week, examined allegations that Garda A, a senior member of the Athlone drugs unit, colluded with an alleged heroin dealer, identified as Ms B. Evidence presented included over 1,500 phone and text contacts between the two from May to August 2010. Garda A claimed he was cultivating Ms B as a tout. Chief Superintendent Margaret Nugent of Internal Affairs, who acted as protected disclosures manager, testified that she received a disciplinary report in February 2019 regarding these claims. She noted that while there was cause for concern over the excessive contact, there was insufficient corroborative evidence to definitively prove Garda A tipped off Ms B to dispose of her phone in June 2009. Consequently, Chief Supt Nugent recommended to Assistant Commissioner David Sheahan that a Board of Inquiry was not warranted due to a lack of substantiation for the majority of allegations, including claims of planting drugs. She recommended two warnings for minor matters. Garda A, who had been suspended since October 2015, was restored to duty on April 30, 2019, though he remains suspended in relation to other matters. The tribunal is adjourned to Monday, 2 March, 2020.
Michael Barry, aged 35, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for two violent assaults on shop assistants that caused them to leave their jobs. In the first incident at a Spar shop on Liffey Street, Barry hurled shopping baskets and beer cans at a staff member, fracturing the man's arm. CCTV footage showed Barry assaulting the victim while he lay on the ground. Two months later, Barry and an accomplice attempted to steal five coats from the Patagonia outlet on Exchequer Street. Their co‑accused pushed a shop assistant, who injured her wrist, and Barry threatened a colleague with a blade as they fled with five jackets. Barry pleaded guilty to assault and theft, had 37 prior convictions, and was given consecutive sentences totalling four years, with the final year suspended on strict conditions. The court noted the relentless nature of the violence and Barry's efforts to address his drug addiction.
During a robbery at Real Brazil on 20 September 2018, 36‑year‑old Samantha Irwin, armed with a syringe, stole €55 from a shop assistant. A bloodstained post‑it note fell from her pocket while she was being recorded on CCTV; the note listed out‑of‑hours homeless accommodation services. Detective Garda Michelle Fitzpatrick identified the note and matched DNA from the blood on it to Irwin. The shop assistant, who managed to pull her arm free, later stated she now works only day shifts and feels anxious about being alone in the shop. Irwin pleaded guilty to robbery and to possession of two shotgun cartridges found in her accommodation in April 2019. She has 19 prior convictions, mainly for traffic offences, and has sought help for drug addiction. The court adjourned sentencing to 5 March 2020 for a full plea in mitigation.
Shaeed Adeola Ishola, a 44‑year‑old convicted drug dealer, lost a High Court challenge to a deportation order. He was jailed in 2012 for seven years after pleading guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply, following the discovery of €1.4 million worth of cocaine in a fake diplomatic bag at Dublin Airport. Released in 2016 after enhanced remission, he had lived in Ireland without incident. In August 2019 the Minister for Justice ordered his deportation, citing the seriousness of the offence and a fraud conviction in the UK. Ishola and his family argued the decision was delayed, disproportionate, irrational and breached their constitutional and privacy rights under the European Convention of Human Rights. The Minister's lawyers said all relevant information had been considered. Mr Justice Max Barrett upheld the Minister's decision, rejecting the application and finding no breach of rights, and declined to set aside the deportation order.
The Disclosures Tribunal, chaired by Judge Sean Ryan, heard evidence regarding the treatment of whistleblower Garda Nicholas Keogh, who made a protected disclosure in 2014. Assistant Commissioner Finbarr O'Brien testified that an eight-month delay in launching an investigation into Keogh's bullying claim was "unfair" to all parties. Keogh alleged that a senior Athlone drugs unit member was in an improper relationship with an alleged heroin dealer. His subsequent complaint, filed in March 2017 against Supt Pat Murray, Chief Supt Lorraine Wheatley, and Chief Supt Mark Curran, was not investigated until November 2017. The investigation concluded in December 2018, upholding no complaint of bullying. O'Brien stated he reviewed the file in early 2019 and upheld the findings, noting the delay was caused by legal complexities and witness issues. While Keogh's counsel argued the review was a "rubber-stamp," O'Brien rejected this, asserting the investigation was thorough and impartial. O'Brien acknowledged the delay was outside policy timeframes but maintained it did not disadvantage the evidence. Chief Supt Wheatley had previously expressed concern over the delay contravening policy ethos. Keogh's appeal of the review was rejected by Deputy Commissioner John Twomey in July 2019. The tribunal continues to investigate whether Keogh was targeted or bullied following his disclosure.
James Brady, 25, was found by Gardaí at his parents' home in Donaghmede, Dublin, with several bags of cannabis hidden in a punching bag and a tracksuit top. He pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis for sale or supply on 29 September 2017. Garda James Mulhern reported that Brady admitted to holding the drugs and selling some to friends, receiving payment in cannabis rather than money. The seized cannabis was valued at €4,492, while a small amount of cocaine worth €40 was deemed for personal use. Brady has five prior drug possession convictions and a 2019 sentence that was fully suspended on condition of engaging with Probation Services. Judge Melanie Greally noted Brady's sister's death in 2012 as a factor in his drug use and indicated she would consider a non‑custodial sentence if he complies with the probation regime, with the matter adjourned to 30 April.
Aidan Keane, aged 22, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for robbing a student, Kieran Flynn, at a McDonald's in Grafton Street on 3 April 2019. Flynn, a 20‑year‑old student, had entered a basement cubicle when a man began banging on the door and shouting "Gardaí open up." Keane seized Flynn's mobile phone while the victim was in a chokehold and fled. He was later found with the phone by Garda Ruth Finnegan, who told him he had taken it from the ground after it fell out of Flynn's pocket during the robbery. Keane has 27 prior convictions, including a 7‑year sentence in 2015 with 3½ years suspended, which was partially reactivated after later offences. The judge noted Keane's efforts to stay drug‑free and his 14‑month‑old son, and imposed the 18‑month suspended term on strict conditions. Aidan Keane pleaded guilty.
The Disclosures Tribunal, chaired by Judge Sean Ryan, heard evidence in February 2020 concerning whistleblower Garda Nicholas Keogh, who made a protected disclosure in May 2014 about a senior member of the Athlone drugs unit, Garda A, allegedly in an improper relationship with a heroin dealer, Ms B. Keogh claimed he was targeted, harassed, undermined or bullied after his disclosure. The tribunal examined the mis-recording of Keogh's sickness absences as 'flu/viral' and the resulting pay cut to a 'temporarily reduced remuneration' level in late 2015, despite his GP certifying work‑related stress. Human Resources Chief Superintendent Tony McLoughlin, who managed protected disclosures, testified that Keogh had admitted to alcohol dependence due to work‑related stress and that his pay was restored and back‑dated in October 2016 after the absences were correctly recorded. McLoughlin also noted Keogh's concerns about management's handling of the investigation and his belief that the Garda Commissioner failed to protect him.
The Disclosures Tribunal, chaired by Judge Sean Ryan, is in its tenth week of hearing evidence regarding whistleblower Garda Nicholas Keogh, who made a protected disclosure in 2014 alleging he was targeted. The proceedings examine claims that a senior Athlone drugs unit member, identified as Garda A, colluded with a heroin dealer, identified as Ms B. Assistant Commissioner Anne Marie McMahon, who conducted a disciplinary investigation assigned in 2017, testified that Garda A denied maintaining an improper relationship or tipping off Ms B. However, an analysis of 15,213 call records revealed 1,672 contacts between Garda A and Ms B between May and August 2010. Garda A stated he was trying to cultivate Ms B as a tout and denied advising her to discard phones. Asst Comm McMahon described the contact volume as inordinate and excessive, noting the calls were made to a phone owned by Ms B's 11-year-old daughter. Although Ms B initially confirmed Keogh's claims of collusion in November 2017, she later withdrew her statement. Asst Comm McMahon recommended a board of enquiry, asserting the investigation was thorough rather than a delay tactic used to target Keogh. She also recommended a peer review of her own investigation for openness, following a complaint by her husband regarding threatening calls. The matter remains at the pretrial stage with no final determination reached.
Damien Gray, 36, was found asleep beside a playground in Hermitage Park, Lucan, where officers discovered a Kleenex packet containing €5,700 worth of heroin in individual street deals and later a quantity of crack cocaine. He pleaded guilty to possession of heroin and cocaine for sale or supply at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 31 May 2017. With 12 prior convictions, including three drug offences, Judge Cormac Quinn sentenced him to two years imprisonment but suspended the sentence in full on strict conditions, requiring compliance with Probation Service directions for 12 months. Gray admitted acquiring the drugs three or four days earlier to fund his living and claimed he owed €500 to a friend. He stated he had been smoking heroin for two weeks and feared trouble after the drugs were seized. Garda Ronan Culligan noted that Gray's home was broken into and he was attacked with a machete, leaving scars.
James Gallagher, aged 33, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm and recklessly discharging a firearm at Cullen's Yard, Greenhill Road, Walkinstown on 4 August 2018. He fired a single‑barrel shotgun at a man, John O'Connor, who was buying car parts at the scrapyard. O'Connor was not the intended target; he was struck by multiple pellet wounds, knocked to the ground, and later taken to Tallaght Hospital. Another man received minor injuries but did not require hospital treatment. The shotgun was never recovered. CCTV identified Gallagher, and a discarded tracksuit bottom linked to him was found. Gallagher has 42 prior convictions, including theft, criminal damage, drug possession for sale, and traffic offences. He has two children. The judge imposed a five‑year concurrent sentence, effective from 4 December 2018, after noting his efforts to overcome drug addiction.
In 2014, 29‑year‑old Darren Byrne, then struggling with a chronic drug addiction, pointed a knife at two 17‑year‑old girls on Trinity Street, demanding their belongings. He pressed the knife to one girl's throat, took a handbag with cash and an iPod, and fled. The girls were later apprehended by Gardaí. Byrne admitted the robbery, claiming he was under the influence of tablets. He was charged with robbery and pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The court noted his prior convictions for robbery and theft, his escape to the UK, and his subsequent return to Dublin where he secured employment. Judge Pauline Codd, acknowledging his rehabilitation and remorse, imposed a suspended sentence of three and a half years, conditional on maintaining peace. The co‑accused received a suspended two‑year sentence. The case highlights Byrne's significant turnaround from drug use to stable employment and community involvement.
Stephen Byrne, 46, of Tallaght, was jailed for 18 months after pleading guilty to burglary at Pandora Jewellers on 3 March 2019. Garda James O'Donnell reported that a staff member saw Byrne stooped over a safe in the back office, claiming he was looking for tissues. Byrne denied this and said he had taken tablets and blacked out. No items were taken. Byrne has 108 prior convictions, including 53 burglaries, 16 thefts and two robberies. He has a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia and a long history of drug addiction. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence, suspending the final year on strict conditions, including compliance with his probation officer and mental health team. The sentence aimed to break his cycle of offending.
Ciaran Wolverson, 53, of Edenmore Crescent, Raheny, was charged with permitting his home to be used for the sale or supply of controlled drugs after local drug dealers threatened to smash his house following his mother's death. He admitted that youths would come to his house, enter a back room while he stayed elsewhere, and mix and bag drugs, leaving him a small piece of heroin. Gardaí, acting on confidential information, searched his home on 5 October 2017 and seized eight bags of cocaine (worth about €17,000) and heroin (about €740). Wolverson pleaded guilty. Judge Melanie Greally, after hearing evidence, placed him on one year's probation, noting his cooperation, family support and efforts to address his long‑standing heroin habit. She imposed a four‑year sentence suspended for four years and ordered an additional 12 months of probation supervision. No prison time was imposed.
In February 2020, Gerard Dunne, aged 32, was jailed for four years after he hurled an ignited petrol bomb toward Garda Karl Kelly, who was waiting for a vehicle to be towed on the Link Road, Darndale, Dublin. Dunne, who had been cycling on a pink and white bike, threw the device across the road; it struck a curb, exploded, and produced a flame. Garda Kelly narrowly avoided injury by moving out of the way. Dunne was arrested, shown CCTV footage of the incident, and later pleaded guilty to endangerment and possession of a petrol bomb. He denied intent to target the Garda but admitted the possibility after being named a suspect. The court noted his 97 prior convictions and his heroin addiction, and sentenced him to four and a half years, suspending the final six months for 12 months on strict conditions.
During a 2020 hearing, the Disclosures Tribunal examined evidence that a senior Garda from the Athlone drugs unit, referred to as Garda A, had made 1,600 phone contacts with an alleged heroin dealer, Ms B, during a 2009 operation. The tribunal, chaired by Judge Sean Ryan, is investigating whether Garda Nicholas Keogh, who disclosed misconduct in 2014, was targeted or harassed after his protected disclosure on 8 May 2014. Detective Inspector Michael Coppinger testified that the 1,600 contacts were recovered from Garda A's phone, which had been seized in April 2015, and that the data had been downloaded by telecoms before any alleged wiping. In October 2015, investigators searched Ms B's Athlone address and recovered up to 20 devices, including SIM cards, laptops and phones, but the evidence did not meet the threshold for criminal prosecution.
In 2014, Garda Nicholas Keogh made a protected disclosure alleging that a senior member of the Athlone drugs unit, Garda A, had an improper relationship with a heroin dealer, Ms B, and that Garda A had tipped her off on drug searches. Keogh also claimed that in 2009 Gardaí had planted half a kilo of heroin worth €75,000 on two suspects and that a file had been prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). He further alleged evidence destruction, theft of an investigation file, non‑compliance with a court order, exclusion of a known heroin dealer from an investigation, incorrect evidence storage and improper motives for a drug operation. The DPP, after reviewing the investigation, concluded that the evidence against Garda A was circumstantial and did not reach the threshold for criminal prosecution. The Disclosures Tribunal is hearing evidence on whether Keogh was targeted or harassed after his disclosure. The tribunal is chaired by Judge Sean Ryan.
David Murphy, 29, of Belfry Green, Tallaght, was sentenced to nine months in jail after pleading guilty to assault causing harm at Slade Road, Saggart, on 21 March 2015. The incident involved Murphy breaking a beer bottle over a taxi driver's head and threatening the driver with a knife. Murphy had previously been convicted 41 times, including assault, violent disorder and criminal damage. He failed to attend a victim awareness course and is considered a medium risk of re‑offending. The judge, Pauline Codd, imposed a three‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence, suspending the final two years and nine months, leaving Murphy with a nine‑month custodial term. The assault left the taxi driver cautious and caused him to lose about €800 in earnings. The court noted Murphy's plea of guilty and his personal circumstances, including a history of homelessness, sobriety, drug‑free status and employment.
In a 2019 incident on Clogher Road, Dublin, 39‑year‑old Derek McCann attempted to rob a taxi driver by presenting an imitation firearm. The driver braked abruptly, wrestled the plastic gun from McCann, and the two struggled outside the vehicle. A second taxi driver intervened, kicking the gun away and alerting the Gardaí. McCann was arrested, pleaded guilty to attempted robbery, and was sentenced to five years in custody, backdated to June 2019. He had a suspended sentence for prior offences and may face reactivation of that portion. The judge noted McCann's drug addiction, family support, and progress in custody, and credited his guilty plea and cooperation. The case was adjourned for a later hearing. The incident left the driver unable to work nights due to its impact.
Anthony Sweeney, 37, pleaded guilty to multiple robberies, including two at a McDonald's in Clondalkin, while on High Court bail. He first robbed the McDonald's on 5 August 2019, wearing a wig and sunglasses, and was chased by Gardaí; the wig, glasses and €450 were recovered. A month later he returned to the same branch, threatening staff with an iron bar and was identified on CCTV and arrested. Earlier that year he had robbed a beauty salon and a pedestrian on a footbridge, and had a history of 25 convictions for firearms, robbery and possession of an article with intent to cause injury. Gardaí and the prosecution agreed he was in the throes of a drug addiction and highly intoxicated at the time of the offences. Judge Melanie Greally ordered a probation report and adjourned sentencing to 21 April, when a full plea in mitigation will be presented by his legal team.
A 34‑year‑old man, David Allen, was on bail for robbery when he knocked an 89‑year‑old woman, Nina MacAuley, to the ground outside a Dublin hairdresser and stole her handbag. MacAuley suffered head and arm injuries and later described the incident in a victim impact statement, noting her difficulty sleeping and feeling vulnerable at her age. Allen, who has 25 prior convictions, had pleaded guilty to two earlier robberies in July and February 2019. He admitted to being "strung out" on heroin during the February robbery and claimed he used a pen to make a taxi driver think it was a knife. The court, hearing his apology and shame, ordered a probation report and remanded him in custody until May 5, with a lengthy custodial sentence expected.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 19‑year‑old named Alexander Whelan pleaded guilty to manslaughter after stabbing Bruno Rolandi, 56, to death during a domestic dispute. Whelan claimed he acted to protect his mother, Mary, who had a volatile relationship with Rolandi, a violent heroin user. Witnesses described a confrontation over a WiFi password that escalated into physical aggression, with Rolandi assaulting Whelan's brother and attempting to grab Mary. Whelan then stabbed Rolandi three times, one wound reaching 23 cm and causing fatal bleeding. He was found in shock, attempting to stop the bleeding, and cooperated fully with Gardaí. The court noted Whelan's lack of prior convictions, his young age, and his good character, and the judge was instructed to consider a custodial sentence as a last resort. The case was scheduled for sentencing on March 2.
Darren Kershaw, 45, of Cherry Orchard Park, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing serious harm, failing to remain at the scene, and driving over the legal alcohol limit after striking Ranyfrancia DaSilva, a Brazilian national, on Landen Road, Ballyfermot, on 19 June 2018. The incident occurred when Kershaw attempted a U‑turn before a Garda checkpoint on Sarsfield Road, collided with a set of traffic lights, and then struck DaSilva, who was walking home from a restaurant. DaSilva suffered multiple skull fractures, back injuries, and has endured ongoing dizziness, headaches, and disturbed sleep, losing her job and incurring €27,000 in medical expenses. Kershaw was sentenced to four‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions, including remaining drug and alcohol free. The court noted his guilty plea, cooperation, remorse, and efforts to rehabilitate, including abstaining from alcohol and drugs.
Liam Sheridan, aged 40, was sentenced to three years in prison for endangerment after he struck an elderly woman with a stolen car on Mountjoy Street, Dublin, on 31 August 2016. The incident occurred when Sheridan, who had lost his car key, was approached by four young men who had found the key and urged him to steal the vehicle. While the woman and her male companion, both in their 70s, were searching for the key, Sheridan drove the car in reverse, causing the woman to fall and sustain two leg fractures. She was hospitalized and continues to receive care. Sheridan pleaded guilty, expressed remorse, and claimed he was under the influence of drugs and alcohol at the time. Judge Elma Sheahan suspended the final nine months of a 3‑year, 9‑month sentence, requiring him to keep the peace and engage with the Probation Service upon release. Sheridan's prior convictions include theft and drug‑dealing offences.
A 23‑year‑old mother from Co. Wicklow pleaded guilty to two counts of allowing her two‑year‑old son to be ill‑treated, causing unnecessary suffering. The abuse occurred in an unknown location between 10 and 13 February 2017 and on 14 February 2017. Medical staff at Tallaght Hospital discovered extensive bruising on the child's face, ears, back, buttocks, thighs and genital area when the mother brought him in February 2017. The mother repeatedly lied about the cause of the injuries, claiming a fabricated visit from the boy's biological father and that he had fallen on a table or a slide. The child was removed from her care and is now raised by his maternal grandparents. The mother, a drug addict, is hoping to enter rehabilitation; her sentence was adjourned to 16 October to allow this. The man she was living with has been charged and is expected to stand trial later.