Robert Lynch, aged 32, was sentenced by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to a total of three and a half years' imprisonment for two robberies. He pleaded guilty to the robbery of taxi driver Alan Thompson on Malahide Road on 4 September 2016 and to the robbery of a Spar shop on 15 October 2017. Lynch, who has a history of drug addiction, was described by Garda Alan Roach as having changed significantly since the offences. Judge Pauline Codd imposed consecutive terms of three years and three and a half years, suspending the final three years on the condition that Lynch participate in drug rehabilitation programmes and keep the peace. The court noted Lynch's 54 prior convictions, including robbery, knife possession and threats to kill, and that he had been identified on CCTV before the taxi robbery. No weapons were used in either robbery. The sentence reflects the judge's assessment of Lynch's efforts at rehabilitation and the seriousness of the offences.
Patrick Dempsey, 52, of Cluain Caislean, Ferns, Co Wexford, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of heroin for sale or supply on 9 January 2017. He was found with a small package of heroin, valued at €1,988, concealed in his anus after Garda Sergeant Cillian Duffy searched him at a garda station. Dempsey admitted he had obtained the heroin for his partner and to supply friends, and that he travelled weekly to Dublin to purchase the drugs. He has 25 previous convictions, including theft and aggravated burglary. Judge Patricia Ryan imposed a three‑year imprisonment sentence, fully suspended on the condition that Dempsey keep the peace, behave well for three years and comply with the Wexford Substance Misuse Team. The court noted his cooperation, guilty plea, admissions and efforts to rehabilitate, including training to become a chef and participation in the Cornmarket Project choir.
Mark Sorahan, 44, of Ferrycarrig Drive, Coolock, Dublin, pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of heroin for sale or supply and obstruction of a Garda during a search on Priorswood Road on 16 March 2018. He admitted buying heroin to raise money for his girlfriend's car repairs. During a Garda search, a lump was found in one of his socks and a second package was discovered "within his buttocks," totaling €1,497.50. Sorahan cooperated with Gardaí and expressed a desire for a normal life and a career in music. His defence lawyer, Luigi Rea, noted that Sorahan had recently completed a music production course and was seeking work as a DJ, claiming he was now living a very different life. Judge Karen O'Connor adjourned sentencing to 31 July to allow preparation of reports.
Micheal Geoghegan, 36, of Swords, pleaded guilty to three counts of robbery and production of a knife at Rathbeale Road, Swords, on August 18, 2018. He also admitted producing a large kitchen knife to intimidate and producing an iron drill bit and knife while resisting arrest. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that the offences carry a potential maximum penalty of life imprisonment. Prosecution evidence detailed that Geoghegan robbed three women at knifepoint and subsequently threatened Detective Sergeant Alan Flaherty, who eventually disarmed him using a baton. Geoghegan has a previous conviction for robbery with an imitation firearm from 2005 and prior drug offences. Defence counsel Annette Kealy BL stated that Geoghegan is attempting to address his heroin addiction and had remained drug-free since the incidents. She also noted his past achievement as a best dog handler at Crufts. Geoghegan brought €2,500 to court as a token of remorse. After hearing the evidence, Judge Patricia Ryan adjourned the case to July 23 next for sentence.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 25‑year‑old Scott Capper was sentenced to three and a half years' imprisonment for two separate pub assaults. The first offence, committed on 8 August 2016 at the Morgan Hotel, involved Capper punching Jaroslaw Gaska in the face after Gaska touched Capper's girlfriend's hair. Gaska suffered a broken jaw, required 10 stitches, incurred €1,100 in medical costs and lost €2,000 in earnings. The second offence, on 2 October 2016 at Sin Nightclub, saw Capper striking Nevil Picton, who sustained a cut to the lip and dental damage costing €2,680. Capper pleaded guilty to both assault‑causing‑harm charges. He has 46 prior convictions, including a suspended two‑year sentence for a 2015 assault, and has a history of drug possession, violent disorder and public‑order offences.
Noel Ryan, 42, of Charleville Mall, Dublin, was sentenced to four years in prison, with the final year suspended, after pleading guilty to handling a stolen Toyota Land Cruiser, deceiving a victim at Woodie's car park in Lucan on 27 June 2016, and unlawfully taking a Ford Fiesta from Northside Shopping Centre, Coolock on 24 March 2017. The judge noted that Ryan had committed similar offences before and that the victims suffered significant losses. Ryan admitted to selling the stolen Land Cruiser on DoneDeal for €11,600 after the buyer had paid cash, and later stealing a Ford Fiesta that had been advertised on the same site. He was also found in possession of the victim's driver's licence, which he had altered. Ryan has 16 prior convictions, including burglary and robbery, and has struggled with a crack cocaine addiction. He has been on bail during these offences.
A 46‑year‑old father of three was given a three‑year suspended sentence for spray‑painting the words "rapist out" on a camper van in north Dublin on 19 April 2023. He pleaded guilty to criminal damage at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and admitted making a threat to kill a child while speaking with a social worker on 12 April 2018, saying he would "douse (the child) in petrol and set him alight." He had previously reported that his son had been raped by a 13‑year‑old in the van. The court ordered him to pay €6,000 to the van owner within 18 months, with the possibility of the court disposing of the money if the owner declined. The judge warned that no one should take the law into their own hands and noted the defendant's mental‑health issues and previous drug convictions.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Joyce Conlon, 35, was sentenced to two and a half years' imprisonment for an unprovoked assault on an eight‑week‑pregnant woman. Conlon, who suffers from paranoia and psychosis, kicked the victim in the stomach with her shoe, causing bleeding that led to a Caesarean delivery at 30 weeks. The judge described the attack as "reprehensible" and inferred a racial motive, noting the victim's Somali background and Conlon's remark about "black" something. Conlon pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and to an attempted robbery at Boyle's Sports, for which she received a separate sentence of three and a half years with the final 12 months suspended, to run concurrently with the assault sentence. The court acknowledged Conlon's mental condition and drug use but accepted her remorse and potential for rehabilitation.
Two Limerick men, John O'Donoghue (29) and Paul Whelan (25), were convicted by the Special Criminal Court of possessing a 9mm Colt semi‑automatic pistol with intent to endanger life after a Garda stop on 30 July 2018. The car, an Alfa Romeo, contained the loaded handgun, eight rounds in the magazine, a round in the breach, a petrol canister, latex gloves, clothes and cocaine. The judge, Ms Justice Tara Burns, noted that the firearm was primed and ready to fire, and that no fingerprints were found on it. Both men pleaded not guilty to the intent charge but guilty to possession of a firearm and ammunition in suspicious circumstances. They were remanded until sentencing on 29 July. The court emphasised that the only inference was that the firearm was intended to be used to endanger life.
Paul Barry, 37, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for assaulting his former partner, Kim Fox, causing her harm at her home in Loughlinstown on December 9, 2018. Barry pleaded guilty to the charge. Judge Martin Nolan described the incident as a serious, unprovoked assault, noting that Barry had been under the voluntary influence of alcohol and cocaine. Ms Fox sustained significant injuries, including a fractured eye socket, three fractured ribs, and two missing teeth, and reported ongoing mental trauma. The court heard that Barry initially told gardai the injuries resulted from a fall, a claim the prosecution rejected as untrue. Judge Nolan cited Barry's 17 previous convictions, including a robbery, and his callous attitude toward the victim as aggravating factors. Mitigation included his early guilty plea, good work record, and expression of remorse. The judge imposed a 32-month prison sentence, backdated to when Barry first went into custody. The maximum penalty for the offence is five years. Barry's counsel apologized on his behalf, stating he was regretful and had not contacted Ms Fox since the incident.
Anthony Moore, a 53‑year‑old retired soldier who served 25 years in the Defence Forces, withdrew a High Court claim against the State. He had alleged that the anti‑malaria drug Larium (mefloquine hydrochloride) prescribed to him during deployments in Liberia (2005‑2006) and Chad (2008) caused severe mental and physical health problems, including pain, stomach cramps, hallucinations, sleep deprivation and family difficulties. Moore's action, which began in late June, was directed at the Minister for Defence, Ireland, and the Attorney General, who denied negligence. After discussions with Mr John Gordon SC, Moore informed Justice David Keane that the case would be struck out, the action withdrawn, and no costs order made. The State had argued the claim should be struck out due to Moore's delay in bringing the action.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Miguel Pintos, 38, was sentenced to 15 months' imprisonment for endangering two pedestrians after losing control of his motorbike on Shangan Road, Ballymun, on 6 May 2018. He was found guilty of endangering a pedestrian and of endangering a second woman, who suffered a fractured ankle. The court imposed a two‑year sentence, suspending the final nine months on strict conditions. The first victim, who sustained broken legs and required 20 stitches to her head and further surgery for plates in her legs, was described as having suffered lasting pain and a fear of motorcycles. The second victim suffered a fractured ankle and became nervous around motorcycles. Pintos had 29 prior convictions, including drug offences, drunk driving and other road traffic offences, but no alcohol or drugs were involved in this incident. He pleaded guilty, expressed remorse, and had taken steps to improve his literacy and engage in voluntary work.
Sean Banks, a 19‑year‑old from Tallaght, was found in possession of a 12‑gauge double‑barrel shotgun, cannabis, cocaine and a stolen BMW motorbike at his home. Gardaí raided the house after a tip that drugs were stored there. Banks initially denied the presence of drugs but later admitted responsibility for €725 worth of cannabis and cocaine. The shotgun, stolen in a burglary in Kildare, was discovered under a bed with one cartridge. The motorbike, stolen two months earlier in Stepaside, had no ignition or registration plate. Banks pleaded guilty to possession of the gun, drugs and the stolen motorbike. Judge Martin Nolan, noting Banks' youth, prior minor convictions and cooperation, imposed a three‑year sentence, suspended in full on strict conditions. The case was heard in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, with the judge emphasising the seriousness of the firearm possession but also recognising the defendant's potential for reform.
Daniel Duffy, aged 21, and Stephen Dargle, aged 19, from Annamoe Terrace, Cabra, Dublin, pleaded guilty to an attempted robbery of a pizza delivery man at Drumalee Grove on 10 October 2017. Dargle approached the delivery man and threatened him with a knife, saying he would stab him if he did not hand over the delivery. The victim fled, but Dargle chased him, pulling the knife out. The victim, a foreign national, screamed and knocked on a nearby flat's door. Dargle tried again to seize the delivery, but Duffy blocked him. The victim threw a bottle of a mineral drink at Dargle and screamed again. Neighbours shouted at Dargle to leave. Gardaí identified the men after speaking to a woman whose mobile phone they had used to order the pizza. Both men admitted they were high on ecstasy tablets at the time; Duffy also said he had snorted cocaine.
Pawel Buc, 24, was caught with €19,000 worth of cannabis and handed a four‑year suspended sentence. Gardaí found just under a kilogram of cannabis in his apartment, along with weighing scales, mobile phones, a tick list and €645 in cash. Buc had previously pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis for sale or supply in 2017 and had one speeding conviction. He claimed financial hardship and that he was merely transporting the drugs for €200. The court, after considering his cooperation and lack of prior serious offences, deemed his culpability low and imposed a suspended four‑year term, with no custodial time to be served. The sentence was fully suspended, meaning no immediate imprisonment was required. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Aaron Colton, 24, of Mount Olive Grove, Kilbarrack, Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to demanding money with menace for an alleged drug debt at a teenager's home on November 23, 2017. Judge Martin Nolan jailed Colton for five years. The court heard that Colton threatened the 16-year-old victim, stating he would break him and kill him if he did not pay. Colton, who has 40 previous convictions, had been on remand since January this year after a warrant was issued for his failure to appear at a prior hearing. This sentence follows the May 2018 sentencing of co-accused Alan Long, 28, of Briarfield, Kilbarrack, who was also jailed for five years after pleading guilty to trespass, theft, assault, and demanding money with menaces at the victim's home in October 2017. Long had allegedly inflated a small drug debt to €8,000, stolen household items, and assaulted the teenager. The judge noted a pattern of abuse against the family, including threats to the victim's mother, and accepted that Colton's threats were convincing and believed to be carried out. Defense counsel John Moher BL argued Colton's behavior was a radical departure from his previous minor offenses, which the judge acknowledged.
Derek Murphy, 49, of Coolock, pleaded guilty to threatening a doctor with a gun gesture after she reduced his methadone dosage. The threat was made on 30 October 2013 while he was at a drug treatment centre. Murphy had been on bail for a 12‑year robbery and firearms conviction from 2015 and had 42 prior convictions, including manslaughter, robbery and a tiger kidnapping. In 2018 he was convicted of robbery again and received a nine‑year sentence, with a release date of 13 June 2025. The court found it "unjust" to extend his custody and sentenced him to one year imprisonment to run concurrently with his existing nine‑year term. No additional time was imposed. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
John Gallagher, aged 19, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two knifepoint robberies in Tallaght, one on 22 May 2018 at Springfield Medicare Pharmacy and another on 19 October 2018 in a taxi at Greenhills. In the taxi incident, he produced a knife to the driver's throat, demanded €130, and fled after receiving the cash. Gallagher claimed he was intoxicated, on drugs, owed money, and had been threatened that he would be shot in front of his children if he did not repay. He has two children and prior road‑traffic convictions. The court, after hearing the prosecution and defence, rejected a request for an adjournment and a probation report. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a three‑year custodial sentence for each robbery, to run concurrently, noting the seriousness of the knife offence and the potential for reform.
David Robinson, 22, was jailed for four years after pleading guilty to possession of cannabis, cocaine, heroin and prescribed medication found on waste ground behind his house in July 2017. Gardaí had forced entry into his home in December 2017, following confidential information, and found street‑deal drugs in his bedroom. Robinson admitted the sale or supply of drugs at his home on 22 December 2017 and earlier at Barry Avenue on 18 July 2017. He had 15 previous convictions for road traffic and public order offences. During the hearing, Robinson claimed he was under threat and that he was holding the drugs on the behest of someone else. The judge noted the seriousness of the drugs and Robinson's youth and level of involvement before sentencing him to four years in custody.
Two men have been jailed for six years at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following their admission of involvement in transporting cocaine valued at €350,000. Arvydas Steponkus, aged 45, of Clondalkin, Dublin and Thomas O'Boyle, aged 33, of Sligo pleaded guilty to possession of the drugs for sale or supply on Cruiserath Road, Blanchardstown on 24 February 2018. Steponkus handed over €280,000 worth of cocaine to O'Boyle, with a further €70,000 discovered in a hidden compartment of the Ford Mondeo Steponkus was operating. Gardaí intervened following surveillance after a tip-off revealed the exchange. Judge Martin Nolan noted both men transported the drugs for payment and were aware of their involvement, acknowledging their co-operation and useful admissions to investigating gardaí. O'Boyle has 29 previous convictions including a 2008 drug offence, whilst Steponkus has no prior convictions.
Emil Wyrebiak, aged 26 and resident in Ballinagh, Co Cavan, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of cannabis discovered in a vehicle at Ballyogan Avenue, Carrickmines on April 23, 2018. Gardaí stopped a blue BMW after noticing an expired tax disk and, on detecting a cannabis odour, recovered four plastic bags of the drug from the boot along with two bags of yellow pills, valued at approximately €36,000. A subsequent search of his former residence yielded tablets worth a further €7,500. The court heard that Wyrebiak had agreed to transport drugs following an altercation with a "connected man" at a Dublin nightclub, presenting him with limited options to resolve the matter. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a four-year sentence, suspended in full, having regard to mitigating factors including Wyrebiak's full cooperation with gardaí, admissions, and absence of previous convictions.
In a Dublin Circuit Court hearing, Charlotte Skovhaus, who had attempted to help a homeless woman named Cher Quinn, was held up at knifepoint during a drive back to her home. Quinn, who had claimed she had been robbed, pointed a knife at Skovhaus's chest, demanded money, and became verbally abusive while searching her handbag. CCTV identified Quinn, who was arrested and later pleaded guilty to attempted robbery and production of a knife on 29 August 2016. Skovhaus suffers from post‑traumatic stress disorder, experiencing flashbacks, nightmares, insomnia and headaches, and reports that the incident has altered her perception of homeless people. Quinn, who has mental health problems and was drug‑free at the time of the attack, expressed remorse. Judge Melanie Greally suspended the final two years of a five‑and‑a‑half‑year prison term, requiring Quinn to engage with the Probation Service on her mental health and substance abuse issues.
In a trial at the Central Criminal Court, Acting State Pathologist Dr Linda Mulligan testified that 25‑year‑old Vincent Ryan died from a gunshot wound that entered his head on the right side of the forehead, measuring 2.5 cm in diameter, and exited on the left side. A second bullet entered his right hand, and a third entered the back of his right shoulder, with an exit wound at the base of his neck. Toxicology showed no alcohol or drugs in his system. Dr Mulligan described complex skull fractures, brain swelling, and bleeding as the cause of death, with blood loss from the hand and shoulder wounds contributing. The trial also heard that Paul O'Beirne (36) and Jeffrey Morrow (37) pleaded not guilty to Ryan's murder. Detective Garda Ursula Cummins reported twelve 9mm cartridge cases and bullets at the scene, all from the same gun, though the specific firearm type could not be identified.
In December 2018, Bernard Kelly, aged 38, led Gardaí on a high‑speed chase that ended with his vehicle colliding with cars waiting to collect children from a school. Kelly, who was driving with his partner and their three‑month‑old child, claimed he continued driving to protect the infant and feared Gardaí would ram his car. He broke red lights, drove on the wrong side of the road, and entered a one‑way road. The chase was halted once he approached the school, but he was later arrested. Kelly pleaded guilty to endangerment and criminal damage to seven vehicles, including a car that was written off and a driver who suffered minor whiplash. He received a five‑and‑a‑half‑year jail sentence, with a four‑and‑a‑half‑year term for endangerment and a one‑year term for possession of stolen property, to be served consecutively. The court noted his 141 prior convictions and struggles with heroin addiction.
A man convicted of manslaughter in connection with a 2013 killing has been found guilty of criminal damage and production of a weapon at the Central Criminal Court. Quentin Monaghan, aged 25 and from Tullamoy, Stradbally, County Laois, received an eight-year sentence in 2015 with two years suspended for his role in the death of Jamie Lindsay, who was fatally shot during an altercation over drugs in Athy, County Kildare. The court heard uncertainty regarding the duration of the suspension period. Prosecutors sought clarification by requesting trial transcripts from the original sentencing. Monaghan faces a potential two-year custodial term if the offences occurred within the suspended sentence period. He is scheduled for sentencing at Limerick Circuit Court later in the year. The trial judge previously accepted Monaghan did not intend death or serious injury but characterised his conduct as reckless.
A 20‑year‑old Wicklow man, Aiden Hargreaves, was sentenced by Judge Martin Nolan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to consecutive terms of three years and two years for two separate knifepoint robbery offences. The first offence was an attempted robbery at Harbour Court, Dublin on 31 October 2018, and the second was a robbery at Carlingford Parade, Dublin on 29 January 2019. Hargreaves pleaded guilty to both. The final 15 months of the sentence were suspended on strict conditions. The court heard that in October 2018 Hargreaves approached a man who was rolling a cigarette, produced a knife, and the man fled after smashing a bottle. In January 2019, while on bail for the earlier offence, Hargreaves approached a Spanish national, produced a knife, and demanded the man's wallet and phone, which the man handed over. Hargreaves has 33 previous convictions, including burglary, theft, drug possession and failure to comply with a Garda direction.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, prosecutors argued that two Limerick men, John O'Donoghue (29) and Paul Whelan (25), were in possession of a 9mm Colt semi‑automatic pistol that was cocked, loaded and ready to fire, indicating intent to endanger life. The case was built on evidence from an Alfa Romeo seized by Gardaí, which contained the loaded handgun, eight rounds in the magazine, a round in the breach, two petrol canisters (one containing petrol), a pair of latex gloves, clothing and cocaine. The prosecution claimed the men had taken "serious precautions" to avoid leaving forensic traces and suggested a plan to destroy evidence by burning the car. Defence counsel countered that the presence of ammunition in the breach was not proof of a cocked gun and that the items could have been used for other criminal purposes, such as robbery. John O'Donoghue pleaded not guilty. Paul Whelan pleaded not guilty.
A 22-year-old man from Dublin's North Strand has received a suspended sentence after pleading guilty to drug offences at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Daryl Conroy was stopped by gardaí in Drumcondra on 9 December 2015, when officers discovered a quantity of cannabis and cocaine with an estimated street value of €10,628, along with drug paraphernalia and multiple mobile phones. A subsequent search of his home yielded €10,580 in cash. The court heard that Conroy was 19 at the time of the offence and had no previous convictions. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a four-year prison sentence but suspended it in full, conditional on Conroy keeping the peace for that period. The judge noted Conroy's employment history and role as a father, and considered a positive reference from Crumlin Youth Project submitted to the court.
The High Court has adjourned a will dispute involving Fr Michael O'Leary and his siblings, Nora Harpur, Barry O'Leary, Tadgh O'Leary, Marie O'Leary, and John O'Leary. The plaintiffs seek to set aside the 2009 will of their late mother, alleging she was not of sound mind and was subject to undue influence. Fr O'Leary, who is on bail in New York facing alleged criminal possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell and two counts of criminal use of drug paraphernalia, has not entered a plea. His American lawyer advised that the criminal charges are adjourned until early July and unlikely to be disposed of until October. While his bail does not currently prevent travel to Ireland, he could face a custodial sentence if convicted, which would bar him from travelling until served. Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds adjourned the matter to inquire if a judge could be available in July before the summer vacation. The court noted that Fr O'Leary completed a rehabilitation programme and contacted his Irish lawyers. The plaintiffs expressed concern regarding his availability to give evidence, asking if video link testimony was possible. The claims against the defendants are denied.
A retired 53‑year‑old soldier, Anthony Moore, appeared before the High Court to claim that he should never have been prescribed the anti‑malaria drug Larium (mefloquine hydrochloride) while serving overseas. Moore, who served 25 years in the Defence Forces, says he was deployed to Liberia in 2005‑2006 and Chad in 2008, and that after his deployment to Liberia he began to suffer physical pain, stomach cramps, hallucinations and sleep deprivation, which he attributes to the drug. He also alleges that his family life was affected. Moore has brought a personal injuries damages claim against the Minister for Defence and the Attorney General, alleging negligence and a failure to take reasonable precautions. The defendants deny the claims and argue the action should be struck out, citing Moore's delay.
David Dunne, 35, was sentenced to nine years for 13 robberies in Dublin between July and September 2017. He admitted the robberies were driven by a need to fund his crack cocaine and heroin addiction, saying he was "off my head on crack" and that he had sold his car for €300 to buy drugs. Dunne pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The judge noted his 92 prior convictions and the seriousness of the 13 victims involved, but also his expressed wish to rehabilitate. Consecutive sentences totalling nine years were imposed, with the final year suspended on strict conditions, including victim‑focused work and residential drug treatment if directed. The robberies involved threats with knives, theft of over €2,640 in cash and cigarettes, and the use of CCTV footage to identify and prosecute him. The case highlighted the impact of drug addiction on criminal behaviour.
Wales-born Wesley Purse, 40, was convicted in Clonmel Circuit Criminal Court for possessing and cultivating €42,000 worth of cannabis in Rossadrehid, County Tipperary. He received a five‑year prison sentence on 29 June 2018, a term he now seeks to appeal in the Court of Appeal. Purse, who had 92 prior convictions, was also "at large" from a 12‑year sentence imposed in Stafford Crown Court, England, when he was arrested in Tipperary. His barrister, Philip Sheahan SC, argued that the headline sentences of eight years for possession and six years for cultivation were excessive, noting that the plants were at various stages of production and that the €42,000 valuation was not comparable to higher‑valued cases. The Court of Appeal heard the arguments and reserved judgment. The case remains at the appeal stage, with no further outcome announced. Wesley Purse pleaded guilty.
The Special Criminal Court has heard evidence in the trial of John O'Donoghue and Paul Whelan, who are accused of possessing a 9mm Colt semi-automatic pistol with intent to endanger life at Park Road, Limerick, on July 30, 2018. Both men, from Moyross, Limerick, have pleaded not guilty. Prosecution counsel Dominic McGinn SC stated the central issue is intention rather than possession, highlighting that Garda Robert Sheehy found a loaded handgun, cocaine, petrol canisters, and gloves in an Alfa Romeo stopped by the Emergency Response Unit. The court examined a "double set of clothing" worn by Mr. Whelan, who was wearing a grey Adidas hoodie under another hoodie and black tracksuit pants over grey Adidas pants. Mr. O'Donoghue was arrested under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act. A statement from a Lithuanian national described a nervous man with metal teeth who attempted to purchase a car on July 27. Defence counsel Colman Cody SC noted that Mr. Whelan reported taking cocaine, Xanax, and cannabis prior to arrest and was referred to Limerick Regional Hospital. The prosecution contends that the combination of the firearm, petrol, and clothing supports an inference of intent to endanger life. The trial, presided over by Ms Justice Tara Burns with Judges Patricia Ryan and Flann Brennan, is expected to last one week and continues on Monday.
Nicolae Vlad, a 28-year-old Romanian national, appeared at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on appeal regarding his conviction for possession of cannabis for sale or supply. The offence occurred on September 13, 2018, at Beacon South Quarter, Sandyford, following a controlled delivery operation where gardaí intercepted a package from Spain containing €80,000 in cannabis. Vlad was observed acting suspiciously near the delivery address and was arrested after signing for the parcel. He admitted to being paid €2,000 to collect the package, though he claimed ignorance of its contents. Vlad pleaded guilty to the charge. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a five-year custodial sentence. The final year of the sentence was suspended on the condition that Vlad leave the jurisdiction within seven days of his release and not return for ten years. Defence counsel James Dwyer SC highlighted Vlad's custody since September and his lack of income at the time of the offence. The court noted Vlad's history of eleven previous convictions, primarily for road traffic offences. This report reflects the sentencing outcome following the guilty plea, with the specific conditions of the suspended portion clearly defined by the judge.
Simon Whelan, 32, of Ashtown, Dublin, was sentenced to a global term of three and a half years for a series of burglaries, including four student apartments in Gateway Student Village on 4 October 2018, and several shop and restaurant break‑ins between 2017 and 2018. The judge suspended the final 12 months, so the effective custodial term is two and a half years. Whelan admitted all offences and pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He had a long history of offending, 105 prior convictions, and a longstanding drug addiction. The judge noted no violence was used and that some burglaries were committed while he was on bail for earlier offences. He was offered residential treatment and was committed to rehabilitation services. The sentence was back‑dated to 4 October 2018.
Two Limerick men, Paul Whelan (25) and John O'Donoghue (29), were stopped by Gardaí on 30 July 2018 in an Alfa Romeo on Park Road, Corbally. The vehicle contained a loaded 9mm Colt semi‑automatic pistol with eight rounds, two cans of petrol, a glove, a mobile phone and a change of clothing, including a double set of clothing worn by Whelan. Gardaí described the stop as involving multiple Garda vehicles; the Alfa Romeo rammed a Garda car and then reversed, attempting to escape. Whelan was extracted from the front passenger seat and O'Donoghue from the driver's seat after Garda officers broke windows. Both men were arrested at the scene. The Special Criminal Court heard evidence that the presence of the firearm, petrol, glove and clothing indicated an intention to endanger life. The trial, presided by Ms Justice Tara Burns, is expected to last one week. Paul Whelan pleaded not guilty. John O'Donoghue pleaded not guilty.
John Maher, 48, of Drimnagh, was found asleep by Garda Caroline Kelly in possession of stolen jewellery and later pleaded guilty to two burglaries. The first was at Keeper Road, Drimnagh, on 19 October 2017, where a back window was smashed and electronic items worth €1,200 were stolen; blood on the wall matched Maher's DNA. The second was at Crumlin Road, Crumlin, on 18 October 2018. In both cases Maher claimed he had no memory of the offences. He has 42 prior convictions, including aggravated burglary, burglary and criminal damage, and a serious heroin addiction, though he has been on methadone since 2002. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to three and a half years' imprisonment, suspending the final 12 months on strict conditions. The suspended portion is separate from the effective custodial term. All stolen items were returned. The court noted his guilty plea, good prison behaviour and the link between his addiction and offending as mitigating factors.
Michael Brady, 54, was found guilty of possessing cocaine and heroin at a property in Sallins, Co Kildare, on January 24, 2017. The court acquitted him of charges related to cocaine and cannabis found in the same location, as well as possession of an assault rifle and ammunition magazines, which were either withdrawn or dismissed by direction. Presiding Judge Paul Coffey stated that Brady's fingerprints on blocks of diamorphine provided compelling evidence of direct contact and knowledge of the drugs concealed under a bed. Brady had pleaded not guilty to all seven counts on the indictment. The judge noted that while Brady claimed he was looking after dogs at the address, the court rejected the defence argument that others had placed the drugs there during a four-day interval. Brady was remanded in custody until July 15, when he will be sentenced. Separately, his brother, Declan Brady, pleaded guilty in February to possessing 15 firearms and over 4,000 rounds of ammunition at Greenogue Business Park, Co Dublin, on the same date. Declan Brady is scheduled to be sentenced on June 24.
In a 2019 Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Mark Harte, aged 26, was sentenced to six and a half years in prison for arson that caused nearly €2 million in damage to a Flyefit gym in Coolock. Harte admitted that he carried out the arson in July 2016 for a criminal gang to whom he owed a drug debt because of his cocaine use. CCTV footage showed a car driven through the gym's front glass doors, stopped at the security turnstiles, and then set alight. Harte had left the car and was holding a container; he had also ensured no one was nearby before signalling the driver. DNA on white latex gloves linked him to the scene, and a neighbour's photograph helped identify the suspicious vehicle. Harte pleaded guilty to the arson charge.
In a failed robbery at Medipharm on 23 March 2018, Brendan Duffy (45) of Ballyfermot, Dublin, entered the pharmacy and demanded the male employee open the till. The employee refused, and a struggle ensued. Duffy punched the employee, who was knocked onto a display case. Duffy then produced a screwdriver, threatened the employee with "I'll kill you," and stabbed him in the arm before fleeing the shop. Duffy claimed the offence was driven by a drug debt and fear of debtors, and that he had no intention to harm anyone. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, admitting the offence and cooperating with Gardaí. Judge Martin Nolan, noting Duffy's guilty plea, remorse, prior convictions, drug problems beginning at age 16, and personal tragedy, sentenced him to 14 months imprisonment, crediting time already served.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 6 June 2019, the family of Bryan Cassidy, who was stabbed to death by his 21‑year‑old stepson Adam Nolan, presented a victim impact statement. The statement criticised the Irish mental health system for failing two families, noting that Nolan had been sent home from Tallaght Hospital after an A&E visit where he claimed he had to kill Cassidy. Despite a family history of mental illness and a diagnosis of drug‑induced psychosis, Nolan was discharged and later stabbed Cassidy on 7 February 2018. Nolan pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity and was committed to the Central Mental Hospital pending a report. The court, with counsel Sean Gillane SC and defence Brendan Grehan SC, heard statements and medical testimony, and Justice Eileen Creedon ordered Nolan's commitment under the Criminal Law Insanity Act.
Philip Douglas, 31, of Monlea Grove, Firhouse, Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to possession for sale or supply of cocaine at his address and a property in Saggart on October 10, 2017. Prosecution evidence indicated that gardaí discovered a significant quantity of cocaine, bulking agent, weighing scales, a hydraulic press, and large blocks of white powder at the Saggart location. Additionally, three bags of MDMA were found at Douglas's residence. The total value of the seized drugs was assessed at €122,340. Douglas admitted to pressing and wrapping the cocaine on instructions to settle a personal debt. Judge Cormac Quinn described the operation as a sophisticated "coke processing plant" but noted that Douglas was not the mastermind and was acting under fear or threat. The judge acknowledged that Douglas is now drug-free and had returned from Australia to care for his cancer-stricken mother. Douglas, who has five previous convictions, received a four-and-a-half-year prison sentence. The judge suspended the final 18 months of this term on the condition that Douglas engages with addiction treatment services. The matter was concluded with this sentencing order.
Susan McNeill, 33, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing drugs for sale or supply after a raid uncovered over €1.3 million worth of cannabis and cocaine in her flat. The drugs were estimated at €1,352,798, with almost 60,000 g of cannabis and 2,100 g of cocaine seized. McNeill admitted she had been pressured by a neighbour, who had a key to her flat, to store the drugs and that she had been under peer pressure. She cooperated with Gardaí, revealing cash and an encrypted phone. Judge Pauline Codd found McNeill vulnerable due to past physical and emotional violence in a relationship and her role as sole carer for a son with vulnerabilities. She was given a suspended nine‑year prison sentence, conditional on keeping the peace and following Probation Services for five years.
A 21‑year‑old man, Adam Nolan, was found not guilty by reason of insanity for the murder of his mother's partner, Bryan Cassidy, 52, on 7 February 2018. Nolan had been admitted to Tallaght Hospital after a visit to A&E where he said he had to kill the man. He was diagnosed with drug‑induced psychosis, sent home, and advised to seek treatment for drug misuse. Two weeks later he stabbed Cassidy to death. The Central Criminal Court heard that the original diagnosis was later replaced with schizophrenia, a condition for which Nolan had a genetic vulnerability. During the trial, forensic psychiatrists testified that Nolan was acutely psychotic at the time of the killing and that he had homicidal ideations. The jury, after 27 minutes of deliberation, returned a unanimous verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity, and Nolan was committed to the Central Mental Hospital for treatment.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Serena O'Leary, 44, was granted a 12‑month probation bond and will be sentenced in June 2020. She pleaded guilty to assaulting Caroline Madden on 20 August 2016, after a confrontation at a mutual friend's house. O'Leary, who had previously been in a relationship that involved drug use and homelessness, produced a nine‑inch blade and threatened Madden, who managed to stop the stabbing attempt. O'Leary punched Madden in the face and continued to threaten her until Madden's brother intervened. The court noted O'Leary's nine prior convictions and her recent efforts to stabilise herself in Cork. Judge Melanie Greally ordered O'Leary to comply with probation directions, including drug counselling, accommodation and employment services, and adjourned sentencing to 10 June 2020. The knife did not inflict injuries, and the victim reported regaining confidence and normalcy.
In a Dublin murder trial, Adam Nolan, aged 21, pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity for stabbing Bryan Cassidy, 52, to death on 7 February 2018. The prosecution argued that Nolan, who had previously been taken to A&E after claiming he had to kill his stepfather, was diagnosed with drug‑induced psychosis and later schizophrenia. Nolan had a history of illicit drug use, including cannabis from age 15, and had been treated for drug misuse. He was found at the scene, covered in blood, and behaved erratically, claiming voices told him to kill the deceased. A forensic psychiatrist testified that Nolan was genetically vulnerable to schizophrenia and that his delusions prevented him from understanding the wrongfulness of his act. The case is before Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury of twelve.
Dubliner Sean Carroll (35) pleaded guilty to two charges of attempted robbery at St Stephen's Green West on June 23, 2017, and a separate offence of assault causing harm outside a pub in Kilmacud, south Dublin on February 19, 2017. The charges were admitted, and Carroll was sentenced at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Greally imposed concurrent four-year sentences for each robbery, which were suspended on the condition that Carroll engage in offence and victim awareness work with the Probation Service. For the assault charge, a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence was imposed and suspended on the condition that he keep the peace for that period. The court heard that Carroll had a history of drug abuse involving cocaine and heroin at the time of the offences but has since made significant improvements in his life, including completing residential drug treatment and living in accommodation under the Peter McVerry Trust. The matter was adjourned following the sentence.
Michelle Geoghegan, a mother of five from Rathgael, Deansrath, Clondalkin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to a five‑year suspended prison term for possession for sale or supply of heroin and cocaine. The judge, Melanie Greally, noted that Geoghegan was in a state of acute depression and had been under "considerable pressure" from others who wanted her to store, prepare and package drugs in her home. She pleaded guilty on 27 February last year. Gardaí had searched her home in February, finding over €145,000 worth of heroin in a locked safe and €3,548 of cocaine in a Centra bag, with a total street value of €149,484. The judge set a headline sentence of seven and a half years but, after credit for her early guilty plea, difficult childhood, long‑standing addiction and efforts to address her drug problem, imposed a suspended sentence.
Wayne Duffy (46) and Darren Coughlan (46) were sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for possessing cocaine for sale or supply. Both men admitted to the offence, which involved transporting 49kg of cocaine with a street value of €3,435,000. Judge Patricia Ryan described the incident as a planned and premeditated operation. Duffy, of Clonee, Dublin 15, was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment, while Coughlan, of Dunboyne, Co Meath, received a six-year sentence. Both sentences were backdated to December 6, the date they first went into custody. A third man, Bernadus Jozef Scherrenberg (47), was sentenced earlier this year to seven years' imprisonment for the same offence after pleading guilty in the District Court. The court heard that the drugs were concealed in plastic tubs within a Peugeot with a hidden hydraulic compartment. During a search of Coughlan's home, €45,250 in cash was found in a shed. Judge Ryan noted Duffy's 11 previous convictions, including three for drug offences, while acknowledging his cooperation with gardaí. For Coughlan, the judge considered his lack of significant prior convictions and his role as the least involved participant in the enterprise. Both defendants had pleaded guilty early in the process.
Patrick Hand, 38, with 100 prior convictions, was captured on CCTV attempting to rob a man at an Abbey Street LUAS stop on 15 July 2017. Hand approached the victim, asked for the price of a vodka bottle, and after the victim refused, followed him to the stop, demanding money and then trying to take his bag. He struck the victim in the chest and face. Hand, heavily intoxicated with cocaine and alcohol, was restrained by LUAS security until Gardaí arrived. During a Garda interview, Hand admitted the incident, acknowledged wrongdoing, and claimed he might have been hallucinating and had a blackout. He believed the bag was his. He pleaded guilty to attempted robbery. The court adjourned sentencing to 31 July to allow a probation report and a full plea in mitigation.