Michael Fagan, 48, was jailed for two years after a bench warrant was issued for a 2010 burglary of McCormack Jewellers, Grafton Street, where jewellery worth €64,000 was taken. Fagan had lived in the same area and signed on weekly at his local post office, giving gardai his brother's name when stopped. He had 62 convictions before 2012 and had been off the radar since a bench warrant was executed in December 2012. Garda Aidan Larkin presented CCTV footage from Crimecall and evidence that Fagan had sold the jewellery for €3,000 to a third party. Fagan pleaded guilty, claimed he had overcome drug addiction, and was described by his lawyer as a "desperate man" who had been clean for eight years. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a four‑year sentence with the final two years suspended, noting the damage to the shop and the rapid dissipation of the stolen goods.
Darren Thompson, 25, was convicted of rape in 2017 and sentenced to six years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended. In January 2020 the Director of Public Prosecutions announced an investigation into alleged "new evidence" that could affect the outcome of the case. Thompson, who maintains his innocence, was released on bail pending the hearing of the application to present this evidence. The bail was granted by Mr Justice John Edwards, with a condition that Thompson appear again on 24 March. The case involved a woman in her 20s who claimed she had consensual sex with a man she met in a nightclub, but later alleged that Thompson and another man attempted to have sex with her while she was under the influence of drugs. No further details were disclosed in court. The Central Criminal Court noted that Thompson's family and girlfriend remain supportive. The application to present new evidence is scheduled for the Court of Appeal.
Maja Kajuka, a 58‑year‑old Latvian woman with mental health difficulties, was found at Dublin Airport carrying €183,000 worth of cocaine concealed in laminated photographs. She had travelled to Brazil on a work assignment for a design company, delivered the photographs to a contact, and was told to meet another Brazilian man at the airport to hand over the photographs and receive her return ticket. After losing her phone, she wandered the airport landside, unaware of the drugs. She pleaded guilty to possession of 2.6 kg of cocaine on 13 July 2019. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced her to four and a half years in prison, suspending the balance on the condition that she leave Ireland and return to Latvia within two weeks, with release contingent on firm arrangements to return. The judge noted her low moral culpability and that she had been used by others.
Eoin McKinley, aged 22, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm after smashing a glass into Andris Slalina's face at Weatherspoon's, Westend Retail Park, on 30 May 2016. The incident followed Slalina's criticism of a group's loudness, which McKinley overheard. McKinley threw a glass that struck a fence and later struck Slalina's face, leaving a broken nose and a scar on his left eyebrow. Slalina suffered €1,000 in medical and lost‑wage costs. McKinley, who had no prior convictions and was 19 at the time, had paid €2,700 in compensation. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to 240 hours of community service within 12 months, replacing a two‑and‑a‑half‑year prison term. The court noted McKinley's intoxication and the alleged involvement of cocaine, though no drug charges were brought. The case was prosecuted by Diarmuid Collins BL and defended by Mark Lynam BL.
A tribunal has heard that Chief Superintendent Lorraine Wheatley expressed being 'astounded, disappointed and incredulous' upon learning of a bullying complaint made against her by Garda whistleblower Nicholas Keogh. The Disclosures Tribunal is currently in its eighth week of hearing evidence regarding the treatment of Gda Keogh, who made a protected disclosure in 2014. Gda Keogh alleges that a senior member of the Athlone drugs unit, identified as Garda A, was in an improper relationship with an alleged heroin dealer, identified as Ms B. The tribunal, chaired by Judge Sean Ryan, is investigating whether Gda Keogh was targeted, harassed, undermined, or bullied after making his protected disclosure on 8 May 2014. Chief Supt Wheatley, who was over Westmeath Garda Division in September 2015, was involved in a disciplinary hearing where Gda Keogh admitted a 'minor breach' of neglect of duty. Gda Keogh was fined €300 for going AWOL after a four-day drinking period in July 2015. He appealed the fine, which was upheld by Chief Supt Wheatley. Gda Keogh later raised concerns about the fairness of the review process, which were disputed by Supt Alan Murray and Chief Supt Wheatley. In November 2017, Chief Supt Wheatley was made aware of a bullying and harassment complaint made by Gda Keogh. The complaint was later investigated by An Garda Síochána and Chief Supt Wheatley was cleared. Earlier, the tribunal heard that Gda Keogh received a lesser fine for going AWOL due to work-related stress and heavy drinking. Supt Murray, who disciplined Gda Keogh, reduced the fine due to mitigating circumstances and stated that Gda Keogh was respectful and decent to deal with, but emphasized the importance of gardaí showing up for work. Gda Keogh later sought a review of the decision from Chief Supt Wheatley, who affirmed the penalty.
Clive Kavanagh, 37, was found guilty of possessing €829,265 in cash at Tougher's Garage, Naas, on 1 September 2017, believing it to be proceeds of crime. He was sentenced by Naas Circuit Criminal Court to three years' imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended, on 4 July 2019. The Court of Appeal upheld this sentence, rejecting the Director of Public Prosecutions' appeal that it was unduly lenient. The judge noted that Kavanagh was not the owner of the money and that the case involved theft. He had a history of self‑employment in construction and eight prior minor traffic convictions, plus a suspended sentence for drug possession. The suspended portion was justified to aid his family, who depend on him, and to encourage rehabilitation. The appeal was dismissed.
A 37‑year‑old mother was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for repeatedly assaulting, ill‑treating and neglecting her three children between 14 March 2015 and 18 April 2016. The trial, held in October 2019, found her guilty on all charges. She denied responsibility and showed no remorse. The judge described the abuse as physical and verbal, with the children locked up for long periods, exposed to drug use, poor hygiene and deprivation of food. The mother was undergoing a marital breakdown, personal crisis and regular drug abuse, and had an antisocial peer group. She had 32 prior convictions, all traffic offences. She is now barred from contact with the children unless authorised by the Child and Family Agency or the father. The sentence imposed was three years with the final 12 months suspended. The unnamed woman pleaded not guilty.
Radu Agapie, 28, a Romanian national, was convicted in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for five counts of controlling fake Polish and Hungarian ID cards, four counts of using fake documents to open bank accounts, and three counts of money laundering between July 2018 and July 2019. He had ten prior convictions in Finland for falsification and laundering. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a concurrent sentence of six years, suspending the final 18 months on the condition that Agapie leave Ireland and not return for ten years. The case stemmed from a Europe‑wide police investigation into money laundering by criminal organisations, during which Gardaí seized a toolkit for forging documents, five fake identity cards bearing Agapie's photo, and evidence of €79,564 in three bank accounts, of which €65,660 was withdrawn. Agapie was described as having a cocaine addiction and was said to have used his time in custody productively. Radu Agapie pleaded guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 19‑year‑old woman named Tia Byrne pleaded guilty to two counts of unlawful possession of firearms. Gardaí discovered a handgun wrapped in socks and five live .38 Smith and Western rounds in a drawer while executing a drug search warrant. Byrne admitted that a man had left the gun after delivering cannabis and claimed she was under pressure and felt threatened. She handed two handwritten notes to officers stating she was scared for her family. The court noted Byrne's age, lack of maturity, and a dysfunctional family background. Judge Martin Nolan suspended a three‑year prison sentence, requiring good behaviour and engagement with Probation Services. The case highlighted concerns about vulnerable individuals being exploited by serious criminals in Dublin's inner city.
In a hearing before the Disclosures Tribunal, Judge Sean Ryan examined whether Garda Nicholas Keogh was targeted after making a protected disclosure in 2014. Keogh alleged that a senior member of the Athlone drugs unit, identified as Garda A, had an improper relationship with an alleged heroin dealer, Ms B. In March 2015, Sergeant Yvonne Martin was appointed to a welfare support role for Keogh, but he never accepted the offer. Keogh claimed the appointment was a form of micro‑management aimed at undermining him because of his whistleblowing. Martin testified that she had not contacted Keogh and that the appointment was intended as extra support during a stressful period. The tribunal found no evidence that Keogh's criticism of Martin was linked to the Maurice McCabe tribunal, and no basis existed to hold that view. Keogh maintained that the appointment was part of a broader effort to undermine him as a whistleblower.
In a north Dublin retail park, a Starbucks coffee shop was forced to close after a series of break‑ins. The court heard that the shop could not renew its insurance because of multiple robbery and burglary incidents. The business shut down in July. Earlier, Jason Brady, 34, used a claw hammer to break into the shop, causing over €1,300 of damage. Brady pleaded guilty to burglary of the Starbucks and of the adjoining "Star Buys" discount shop on the night of 22 June 2019, and admitted criminal damage and possession of a claw hammer. He was not a suspect in other raids. Brady's lawyers said he had smoked crack cocaine before the burglaries and that he was committing crimes to feed an "out of control" drug habit. CCTV footage showed him using a crowbar to try to open a staff toilet and later pulling the disabled toilet alarm off the wall.
During the Beatyard music festival in Dun Laoghaire on 4 August 2018, 30‑year‑old Jason Hodgkins was caught by Garda Desmond Molloy carrying a drug tablet. Hodgkins complied with a search but became agitated and argued with the officer. A scuffle broke out, and Hodgkins climbed onto the Garda, punching him six times in the head and attempting to bite him. The officer was pepper‑sprayed in the process. Hodgkins was later subdued and pleaded guilty to one count of assault causing harm and three counts of possession of small amounts of drugs, including cannabis and a 2CB tablet. He paid €1,500 as a token of remorse, and the Garda suggested the payment go to Down Syndrome Ireland. Judge Melanie Greally ruled that Hodgkins should be assessed for community service, with the matter to be finalized on 24 March.
Owen Cummins, 41, of Cabra, Dublin 7, pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to possessing a Beretta 92s handgun and silencer in suspicious circumstances on September 6, 2017. The court heard that gardai, acting on intelligence regarding a potential hit in Ballyfermot, pursued a Citroen Berlingo van driven by Cummins. After a collision, Cummins fled in a Hyundai Tucson jeep, driving directly at Garda Stephen Gillespie, who was restraining passenger Andrew O'Keeffe. The garda discharged his firearm to dissuade the vehicle, which subsequently struck a parked Volkswagen Passat. Cummins then abandoned the jeep. O'Keeffe, 30, previously pleaded guilty to possessing the firearm and was sentenced in August 2018 to nine years' imprisonment, with one year suspended. Cummins, who has 68 previous convictions, was represented by Michael O'Higgins SC, who described him as a former heroin addict acting as a driver under instructions. The matter was adjourned, with Mr Justice Tony Hunt scheduled to sentence Cummins on March 3.
James Gannon, 32, of St Mark's Drive, Clondalkin, was sentenced to seven‑and‑a‑half years in prison for possession of cocaine, cannabis and ketamine for sale or supply. He pleaded guilty to offences at Citywest Storage, Tallaght, and at locations in Lucan on 22 March 2018. The court found €1.1 million worth of drugs in brown boxes labelled "Sport Socks" at a storage unit in Gannon's name. Gardaí had observed Gannon entering the unit, driving a van to Ballyowen Castle Shopping Centre, and passing drugs to another man who later drove away in a car carrying €34 972 worth of cocaine. Gannon admitted renting the unit and that he had never stored drugs before, citing a €20 000 drug debt. He has two prior convictions for road traffic offences. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a nine‑year sentence, suspending the final 18 months on conditions.
Anthony Rossitter, a 32‑year‑old drug addict from Co. Wexford, pleaded guilty to three attempted robbery charges at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. On 15 May 2019, he entered a Gala shop on Abbey Street at about 9 a.m., placed a plastic bag on the counter, and threatened a cashier with a large stainless‑steel pair of scissors, demanding cash. When a staff member said no cash was available, Rossitter left. He then went to a Spar shop in Temple Bar and demanded money, but again departed empty‑handed. Finally, he entered a Gala shop on Dorset Street, showed the scissors, and asked for €20 after staff explained their boss had taken all the cash. He left without any money and was arrested shortly thereafter. Rossitter has prior convictions for assault, drug dealing and two robberies, and 46 traffic offences. He is homeless and has a young child.
Two Polish nationals, Tomasz Witkowski (41) and Mariusz Sowa (39), were arrested in March 2018 in Co Carlow for possessing €1.3 million worth of cannabis. They pleaded guilty and were each jailed for two‑and‑a‑half years by Judge James McCourt in April 2019. Prosecutors appealed, arguing the sentences were unduly lenient. The Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice George Birmingham, reviewed the case and re‑sentenced both men to six years imprisonment. The court noted that Gardaí had seized 65 kg of cannabis in 77 packets, along with €21,000 in cash, and that the drugs had been prepared for distribution across Ireland. The appeal highlighted that the men were not mere couriers but played an integral part in the distribution network, and that the original sentences failed to meet deterrence requirements.
A 60‑year‑old father of seven, John McElroy, was stopped in Cabra, Dublin, on 25 January 2019 after a tip‑off. Gardaí found a 1.1 kg block of cocaine under the driver seat of his car, a package he claimed he had accepted an hour earlier and was holding to pay €200 toward his son's €50,000 drug debt. McElroy pleaded guilty to one count of possessing cocaine for sale or supply at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and will be sentenced on 2 April. Garda Marguerite Reilly explained that the drugs, worth €70,840, were discovered in an Aldi bag and that McElroy had no prior involvement in the drug scene. The court noted he had a single minor conviction for holding a mobile phone while driving. Judge Melanie Greally questioned the practicality of paying a €50,000 debt with €200 and warned that a non‑custodial sentence could not be imposed given the drug value.
Sonia Collins, 38, a mother of three, was found with €20,000 worth of cannabis hidden under the stairs of her home in Kilcronan Avenue, Clondalkin, Dublin. She pleaded guilty to one count of possessing cannabis for sale or supply at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on March 4, 2023. Collins told the Gardaí that she had incurred a €200 drug debt after buying cocaine for social use and could not repay it because her child's confirmation was approaching. She claimed she did not know the value of the cannabis and felt "stupid" for agreeing to hold it. Collins said she had agreed to hold the drugs for "half an hour" but they were never collected, and she was fearful of the person who had given her the drugs. The Gardaí searched her home after a tip‑off and, after opening the door, Collins immediately showed them the drugs.
James Byrne, 45, of Ballymun, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of drugs for sale or supply and to recklessly discharging a firearm at his neighbour's address on 9 December 2017. Gardaí were called after Byrne reported a gunshot wound to his leg. He admitted he had shot himself accidentally while attempting to hide a gun he had bought that day, intending to kill himself. The gun discharged when he was holding the trigger, injuring his leg. A search of his home uncovered a semi‑automatic Makarov pistol in a garden shed and cannabis resin worth €18,000, which Byrne claimed he held to pay a drug debt. He had prior convictions for drug possession, burglary and traffic offences. The judge, citing Byrne's guilty plea, cooperation and family responsibilities, imposed an 18‑month custodial sentence for the drug charge, noting that a suspended sentence would have been appropriate if only the firearms offence had been considered.
A 40‑year‑old woman, Ennis Dunne, pleaded guilty to five robbery offences against pharmacies and a hair salon in Dublin between April 2018 and June 2019. She stole €1,760 in cash and recovered tablets worth €300, which were seized by Gardaí. Dunne threatened staff with a scissors, a broken bottle and a syringe during the robberies. She has 58 prior convictions and a long history of drug addiction. Her barrister described her upbringing in a family that introduced heroin to Ireland, noting that she was taken into State care at six after her parents were imprisoned and later reunited with her mother at ten. Dunne has a child, is currently in university, and has been diagnosed with PTSD. The sentence is scheduled for April 21, with a possible additional charge pending. The court adjourned the sentencing to obtain psychological and probation reports. The case was prosecuted by Caroline Cummings BL.
Sean Howard, aged 32, was sentenced to two and a half years' imprisonment for arson after a fire he claimed was started to keep warm spiralled out of control. The blaze began when he lit a piece of cardboard in a bin behind the Temple Bar Hotel in Dublin on 28 April 2019 while intoxicated and under the influence of drugs. The fire melted the bins, damaged the hotel's back wall, boiler and double metal doors, and forced the evacuation of 236 guests. Howard pleaded guilty to arson at the hotel and to a prior arson on 3 April 2019, which caused €3,000 of damage and required the evacuation of two rooms. He has 132 previous convictions, including three for arson, and the judge cited his substance use as a major problem. The sentence was three and a half years, with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions.
Peter Kane, 49, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment after a Gardaí search of his Dublin bedsit revealed over €200,000 worth of drugs. The drugs, including cocaine, cannabis resin and heroin, were found under his bed with weighing scales. Kane had previously been clean from heroin and on methadone, and had not had any Gardaí trouble for seven years. He claimed he was offered free cocaine in a local pub and was then pressured to store drugs for others, owing money for them. He pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine, cannabis resin and heroin at his Decies Road home on 13 May 2019. The court noted his 16 prior convictions, including robbery, forgery, road traffic and begging, and his explanation that he was holding the drugs for others. Judge Martin Nolan acknowledged his difficult life and children in England before imposing the five‑year term. The Gardaí had obtained confidential information that led to the search.
A 26‑year‑old Brazilian named Dogulas Fernades Ferreira was jailed for three years after swallowing more than 60 pellets of cocaine to smuggle the drug into Ireland. Customs officers at Dublin Airport had flagged his travel route – from São Paulo to Dubai to Dublin – as the same used in 36 previous importation cases. Ferreira was flown on the same itinerary and was on the authorities' radar before arrival. He initially claimed to be studying gastronomy and visiting restaurants, later saying he had come to work as a male prostitute. When traces of cocaine were found on his clothing, he admitted swallowing 50 pellets. He was taken to hospital, monitored for two days, and passed around 60 pellets. The drugs weighed about 500 g, worth an estimated €41,000. He pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply on 2 July.
A 26‑year‑old Brazilian mother, Hyonaru Moreno, was sentenced to two and a half years in prison after she was found to have smuggled more than 1.5 kilos of cocaine into Ireland by concealing it inside her body. The drugs were discovered when customs officers at Dublin Airport, who were profiling passengers from Brazil, noticed Moreno's suspicious behaviour. She read a prepared statement about her planned stay in Ireland, which raised further suspicion and led to Gardaí being called. Moreno was taken to Beaumont Hospital, where X‑ray imaging revealed foreign objects in her body, including packages containing €37,000 worth of cocaine. She pleaded guilty to one count of possessing cocaine for sale or supply and one count of importing cocaine at Dublin Airport on 8 June. The court noted she had no prior convictions and described the offence as a "desperate escapade" for financial reward.
John Fortune, 43, was sentenced to six‑and‑a‑half years in prison for his role in a €1.5 million cannabis trafficking scheme. He agreed to drive a van loaded with nearly 80 kg of cannabis from Carlow to Rathcoole. Fortune had no prior convictions and had built a €50,000 tax debt, defaulted on his mortgage, and was facing repossession of his home. He claimed financial desperation and a foot injury had prevented him from working. Garda surveillance stopped the van, revealing vacuum‑packed cannabis labelled "trip haze", "diesel haze" and "green poison". The drugs were valued at just under €1.5 million. The court noted his limited involvement, financial distress, and mental health issues, and imposed a headline sentence of 13 years, halved to 6.5 years. Fortune received no payment for his role, and he had no prior Garda record. John Fortune pleaded guilty.
Carl McGuinness, 24, was jailed for six years after a high‑speed pursuit in a stolen taxi that ended with a collision with a lamp post. While driving the van at dangerous speeds, he knocked a cyclist, James Byrne, onto the bonnet and threw him into the air, breaking Byrne's leg in two places. The incident also injured a woman, Carol Lacey, who was struck by the van. McGuinness pleaded guilty to reckless endangerment, four counts of property damage, car theft, and driving without insurance or a licence. He admitted an addiction to heroin and crack cocaine and a difficult upbringing. The court disqualified him from driving for six years and imposed the prison term back‑dated to last July. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
In a tribunal hearing on 6 December 2019, Chief Superintendent Patrick Murray denied allegations that he had undermined a whistleblower's claim. The whistleblower, Garda Nicholas Keogh, had reported in May 2014 that a senior member of the Athlone drugs unit, identified as Garda A, was in an improper relationship with a heroin dealer, Ms B. Keogh's claim was that Ms B had been seen driving around his home in County Offaly on 28 October 2015. Murray described the observation as potentially lacking credibility, noting that Keogh had not reported the incident to local Garda Station and had only entered it into the Pulse system. Ms B denied being in the area that day, stating her car was in a garage in Athlone. The tribunal, chaired by Judge Seán Ryan, will reconvene on 20 January 2020 to continue its investigation into whether Keogh was targeted or harassed after his disclosure. The hearing concluded with Murray's evidence presented to the tribunal.
Three Portuguese men – Miguel Lopez Lima (28), Perdor Barbosa (34) and Hugo De Silva (23) – were sentenced to two‑and‑a‑half years in prison after pleading guilty to cultivating cannabis at a sophisticated grow house on Frederick Lane North, Dublin 1, on 2 March. Gardaí obtained a search warrant and found 1,439 cannabis plants, the largest 63 inches tall. Barbosa had nine prior convictions in Portugal, three for drugs offences; Lopez Lima and De Silva each had three prior convictions, including one drug offence each. Defence counsel argued that De Silva was not a profit taker and that all three had been coerced into the operation, with De Silva claiming he was driven to the grow house daily from a farm near Wellington Bridge. Judge Martin Nolan accepted the coercion argument and imposed the sentence on all three defendants.
Stephen Whelan, 36, was jailed after admitting to robbing a man in Rathmines while cycling through a red light. Garda Joseph Heaphy had stopped Whelan for reckless cycling and observed him throw a phone under a car. When questioned, Whelan confessed that he had robbed the victim, who handed over his phone and wallet, to satisfy a drug debt. He had 68 prior convictions and pleaded guilty to robbery and knife possession. Judge Martin Nolan noted Whelan's open admission and remorse, but also his need for quick money. He imposed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year custodial sentence, suspending the final 14 months. The court considered Whelan's desire to reform and the fact that the crime was discovered because of the Garda's intervention. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 5 December 2019.
In a Disclosures Tribunal hearing, Chief Superintendent Patrick Murray denied that assigning Garda Nicholas Keogh to the public desk was intended to humiliate or target him after Keogh's protected disclosure in 2014. The tribunal, chaired by Judge Sean Ryan, examined whether Keogh was harassed or undermined following his disclosure of an alleged improper relationship between a senior Athlone drugs unit officer (Garda A) and a suspected heroin dealer (Ms B). Keogh alleged that his work was micro‑managed and that the public desk was the most stressful role, especially given his work‑related stress. He left on sick leave in December 2015. Murray argued the desk was not difficult and that Keogh had no protest. Evidence from Sergeant Andrew Haran described the public desk as the busiest, "booby prize" role, but Murray maintained the assignment was not intended to target Keogh.
In December 2019, a Garda chief superintendent denied allegations that he targeted and humiliated a whistleblower, Garda Nicholas Keogh, after Keogh made a protected disclosure in May 2014. The disclosure alleged that a senior member of the Athlone drugs unit, identified as Garda A, was in an improper relationship with an alleged heroin dealer, Ms B. Keogh has complained of targeting and harassment by Chief Superintendent Patrick Murray, claiming his work was micro‑managed by three sergeants under Murray's direction. Murray denies these claims, stating he had no issue with Keogh and that any concerns about Keogh's alcohol problem were based on medical facts and welfare support. Murray also denies suggesting a transfer for Keogh and says any assignment of a sergeant to review Keogh's records was to ensure case integrity, not humiliation. The Disclosures Tribunal, chaired by Judge Sean Ryan, is investigating the matter.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 35‑year‑old Robert Hedderman was sentenced to three and a half years' imprisonment for the 2016 burglary of a single mother's home in Kinsealy. Hedderman broke into the house on Christmas Day, ripped furniture, placed an Xbox and a DVD player in a sink full of water, urinated throughout the premises and scattered ash. He also left the house covered in urine and caused significant damage, amounting to many thousands of euros. The victim, who was renting the house with her children, was left homeless for a month and lost numerous personal items. Hedderman pleaded guilty to one count of burglary, possession of cannabis and possession of cannabis for sale or supply. He has 47 prior convictions, including burglaries, theft and knife possession. The judge described his actions as gratuitous and without any earthly reason. The case was prosecuted by Garda Elva Duffy BL and defended by Emer Ni Chuagain BL.
David Farrelly, aged 31, was jailed for seven years after admitting possession of €360,000 in proceeds of crime and €25,500 in cash, and for possession of more than €84,000 worth of cocaine and €26,000 cash in a portakabin at his garden. He was caught in 2017 when Gardaí found €364,000 in cash and a pistol in a box in his stepfather's home, and again in 2018 when a raid uncovered cocaine and cash at his residence. Farrelly denied involvement the day after the first discovery, claiming his stepfather had removed the plastic wrapping the cash. His fingerprints were later found on the plastic. He has 45 prior convictions, including drug offences and traffic offences. His stepfather, described as a father figure, had previously served four years for money laundering and firearm possession. Judge Martin Nolan imposed the sentence, noting the seriousness of money laundering.
Iain Macnab, 27, was sentenced by Judge Martina Baxter in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to a fully suspended two‑and‑a‑half‑year term for assault causing harm to his then‑girlfriend and a suspended 12‑month term for criminal damage at Poolbeg Quay. The judge described the assault as "menacing and terrifying" and noted it occurred over a prolonged period within the family home. Macnab pleaded guilty to both charges and admitted abusing cannabis at the time. He has no prior convictions, has ceased drug use, and is employed as an HR manager. The court imposed conditions including attendance at a domestic‑abuse perpetrators' programme. Macnab was described as remorseful, having engaged in counselling and shown a willingness to manage his emotions without violence. The probation report indicated he was unlikely to re‑offend.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Brendan Treacy, 36, was sentenced to a suspended two‑and‑a‑half‑year term for making a false emergency call about a gangland shooting at Peadar Kearney House, Railway Street. Treacy claimed a gangland member had been shot and a black Toyota Avensis had fled the scene, prompting eleven Garda units, a fire brigade truck and an ambulance to respond for 24 minutes before the operation was called off. He later admitted the call was a "moment of madness" while he was "completely wasted" on tablets and vodka. Treacy, who has been clean of heroin for two years and now helps others recover from addiction, pleaded guilty to the false report. The judge noted the diversion of Garda resources and commended his rehabilitation efforts, suspending the sentence on a number of conditions. Treacy has 40 prior convictions, including theft, road traffic and drug offences.
Adrzej Toszewski, a 36‑year‑old metal and glass installer from Clondalkin, pleaded guilty to possessing heroin for sale or supply after a police search of his car revealed a package containing €91,000 worth of heroin. He claimed he did not know what was in the package and denied being a dealer. The court heard he had been pulled over while using his phone, had a strong smell of cannabis in the vehicle, and was abusing cannabis at the time. He had no prior convictions and had not attracted Garda attention in the five years since the offence. Judge Pauline Codd, hearing the case in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, imposed a six‑year sentence, suspended in full on conditions including engagement with probation services and attendance of any directed courses. The judge cited Toszewski's lack of criminal record, his depression, his low position in the drug hierarchy, and his skilled employment as mitigating factors.
Yasmin Stephens, aged 24, was convicted by a jury of robbing a woman on Lower Drumcondra Road on 12 October 2017. The robbery involved a knife threat and the victim was forced to hand over €100. Stephens, who has 13 prior convictions including robbery, does not accept the verdict. The court ordered a probation report and adjourned sentencing to 17 January 2020. Garda evidence included CCTV footage identifying Stephens and testimony that the victim was not physically harmed. Stephens claimed the money was given to her and that the victim had hugged her, but CCTV did not show this. The victim reported psychological distress and changes in her routine following the incident. The case highlights the court's focus on the robbery and the defendant's background of drug addiction and trauma.
A robbery of a handbag from a woman's convertible car on a summer day was identified by a cyclist who captured photographs of the suspect, Mark Dwyer, 42, using his camera's zoom. Dwyer, who had 112 prior convictions and had just been released from prison, pleaded guilty to the robbery at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Martin Nolan noted Dwyer had spotted an opportunity when the car's roof was down and that a "good Samaritan" had witnessed the crime. The judge imposed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year prison sentence, taking into account Dwyer's guilty plea but also his extensive criminal record. The woman was left shaken, and the cyclist's images helped identify Dwyer, who admitted he could not remember the incident and expressed remorse. The defence highlighted his long history of custody and efforts to address drug addiction. The court was asked to be lenient.
A 17‑year‑old, Darragh Corbally, was found asleep in his bedroom when Gardaí raided his home searching for drugs. The raid uncovered 2,411 g of cannabis, valued at €48,236, which Corbally admitted to possessing for sale or supply at his address on 22 December 2017. He pleaded guilty to one count, carrying a mandatory minimum jail term of 10 years. Corbally, who had been excluded from school two weeks earlier, explained that he had started using cannabis the previous summer, accrued a debt, and was ordered to hold the drugs. He told Gardaí he was "sorry to my ma." His defence lawyer described his responses as "childish" and highlighted his youth, immaturity, lack of prior convictions, and recent efforts to return to education and work. The court will sentence him on 18 December, with the judge urging him to continue his progress.
In the Central Criminal Court trial, 35‑year‑old Robert Lawlor denies attempting to murder Fiona Mitchell on 26 May 2018 and denies threatening her son Derek. Mitchell, who confirmed her son's childhood friend Kane McCormack was shot dead 18 months earlier, says she does not know if McCormack was involved in the Hutch‑Kinahan feud. She also denies claims that her home is a "half‑way house" of partying and drug use. Witnesses include a taxi driver who met Lawlor on the night of the alleged shooting and a Garda who observed Lawlor's agitation at his home. Lawlor has pleaded not guilty to attempted murder, possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, a threat to Rachel Kirwan, and shooting a dog. The trial proceeds before Justice Paul McDermott and a jury of twelve.
The Disclosures Tribunal heard that interviews into Garda Nicholas Keogh's protected disclosure were held at Athlone Garda Station, where Keogh and the accused senior Garda, identified as Garda A, were both working. Judge Sean Ryan chaired the hearing. Keogh had made a protected disclosure on 8 May 2014, alleging that Garda A was in an improper relationship with an alleged heroin dealer, Ms B. The tribunal investigated whether Keogh was targeted, harassed, undermined or bullied after the disclosure. Sergeant Andrew Haran, who led the investigations team, described the decision to conduct the interviews at the station as "an appalling idea" and said it caused discomfort and risk to Keogh's mental and physical health. Haran noted that Keogh's alcohol problems were known but that Keogh was not drunk at work. The tribunal considered the impact of the interview location on Keogh's well‑being and the overall conduct of the investigation.
Robert McCabe, aged 48, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to seven burglaries committed between 11 November and 21 December 2018, targeting six commercial premises, including a restaurant twice. He admitted stealing €2,170, a computer tablet, and other items, and was found with burglary tools and cash. McCabe's defence counsel, Emmet Nolan, described him as a "gentleman burglar" with a lifelong heroin addiction that motivated the offences. Judge Martin Nolan noted McCabe's extensive criminal record of 123 convictions, 54 for burglary, and his inability to stop. He accepted McCabe's guilty pleas, cooperation, and efforts to leave heroin, and sentenced him to four and a half years' imprisonment. The court highlighted that McCabe's primary motive was to obtain funds for heroin. The judge also acknowledged the defendant's ongoing methadone programme and employment since remand.
In a hearing before the Disclosures Tribunal, a civilian witness, Ms. O'Neill, testified that Gardaí approached her after she had made allegations of police collusion involving Garda Nicholas Keogh, a whistleblower who had disclosed alleged misconduct in 2014. Ms. O'Neill, who lived on the same Athlone estate as the alleged heroin dealer Ms. B, claimed that she was told by Garda Keogh to name names and that she had been advised to include Ms. B in her statement. Both Keogh and O'Neill denied that Keogh had instructed her to do so. O'Neill also recounted that two Gardaí, Tom Higgins and Detective Sergeant Eamon Curley, visited her estate two days after her station visit, asking about Keogh and whether she feared giving a statement. She said they were not interested in the dispute itself but only in Keogh.
During a Garda search for another matter, 857 grams of cannabis worth €17,148 were found under the bed of Anthony McNamee, 33, in his bedroom at Mercer House, Mercer Street, Dublin. McNamee pleaded guilty to one count of possessing cannabis for sale or supply. He had a prior conviction for attempted robbery in 2005 but no history of drug dealing. The court, noting the old robbery conviction and lack of further offences, imposed a three‑year sentence but suspended it under conditions.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 25 November 2019, Noel Lenihan, a 67‑year‑old martial arts instructor from Galway, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment for the manslaughter of Christopher McGrath, aged 38. The court found that Lenihan and McGrath had a long‑standing, "intimate" and "dysfunctional" relationship, complicated by alcohol and drug use. McGrath had been staying at Lenihan's home and, on the night of 12 March 2017, entered the house after scaling a wall and threatening Lenihan. A struggle ensued; Lenihan stabbed McGrath with a steak knife, claiming self‑defence. Pathology revealed five knife wounds, including a fatal heart wound. Lenihan pleaded guilty to manslaughter, and the judge noted his remorse, guilty plea, and lack of prior convictions as mitigating factors, reducing the headline sentence from seven to four years, back‑dated to 1 November 2019.
Richard Bourke, aged 36, was sentenced to eight years in prison for arson after setting fire to the front door of Detective Garda John Griffin's house in Finglas. The incident occurred on 26 February 2019, when Bourke first lit a small flame and then threw petrol, creating a fireball that forced the Griffins to call 999. The attack caused smoke damage to the hall and required the front door to be replaced. Bourke pleaded guilty to two counts of arson at two Finglas locations and to stealing petrol from a Circle K station. He also admitted setting fire to a derelict building near the airport. The court noted premeditation, the occupied nature of the house, and Bourke's history of bipolar disorder and drug abuse. The sentence was 11 years with the final three years suspended, resulting in an eight‑year custodial term. The Griffins suffered an "indelible scar" and increased security measures following the attack.
Kerrie Fitzpatrick, 41, of Loughnamona Park, Leixlip, Co Kildare, was sentenced to 16 months in prison for attempting to smuggle 63 grams of heroin, worth €9,575, into Mountjoy Prison on 14 January 2017. She pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and had a prior conviction for a similar offence at Portlaoise Prison. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice George Birmingham, upheld the sentence after an appeal. Birmingham noted evidence that Fitzpatrick had been coerced and that her relationship with her former partner was violent and abusive, factors that may have influenced her decision to bring the drugs. He also remarked that the heroin was a "very significant quantity of hard drugs" likely intended for general supply within the prison, and that a custodial sentence was necessary given the seriousness of the offence. The appeal was dismissed by the panel of judges.
The Special Criminal Court heard evidence in the ongoing trial of Liam Brannigan, who is charged with conspiring to murder Gary Hanley between September 15th and November 6th, 2017. Brannigan has pleaded not guilty. The court examined audio from a secret listening device placed on a Volkswagen caddy on November 3rd, 2017, during an investigation into the Kinahan cartel. Surveillance officers previously identified Joseph Kelly driving the vehicle and later walking with Alan Wilson. Both Kelly and Wilson, along with Luke Wilson, have already pleaded guilty to conspiring to murder Mr. Hanley and have been jailed. The recording captured two men discussing plans to purchase vodka, Red Bull, cocaine, and Viagra. One man complained that cocaine was negating the effect of the Viagra and making him paranoid. The court also heard testimony regarding a previous incident where a man was hospitalized after a binge involving whiskey and cocaine. Luke Wilson and Joseph Kelly were arrested on November 6th, 2017, when the vehicle was stopped in Dublin 3, leading to the seizure of a 9mm Beretta pistol. The trial continues.
Shane McKeever, aged 28, stole Thomas Stephens' car while Stephens was disposing of recycling. McKeever drove the vehicle, pinned Stephens against a wall, and crushed his ankle against a curb. After reversing, McKeever knocked Stephens to the ground. Garda Mark Walsh assisted and later found McKeever involved in a collision with a recycling truck on the M50, where the stolen car was propelled across traffic and overturned. McKeever was arrested after refusing a drug test and pleaded guilty to endangerment, car theft, failure to provide a sample and driving without insurance. He had 86 prior convictions and had been disqualified from driving two weeks earlier. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to six years' disqualification and four and a half years' imprisonment, citing remorse and steps taken to address his addiction. The court considered CCTV footage and victim impact reports, noting Stephens' ongoing injury and reduced income. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Patrick Morgan, 33, of Kilbarron Avenue, Kilmore, Dublin, was found in Mountjoy Prison on 6 April 2016 with Kinder Surprise Eggs that contained cannabis and heroin. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of cannabis and heroin for sale or supply. Garda Daniel Keaney reported that Morgan was under the influence of an intoxicant when he was searched, and that the search revealed a number of Kinder Surprise Eggs, one of which burst open to reveal cannabis, and others that had been stored internally but were removed. The eggs contained €468 of heroin and €656 of cannabis. Morgan is already serving a five‑year sentence for dangerous driving that caused the death of jogger Karl Robertson in 2017, with a scheduled release in February 2022.