Two men from Dublin have been sentenced following their involvement in a significant drugs seizure and money laundering operation. Patrick Kavanagh, aged 59, of Ballygall Crescent, Finglas, and Patrick Hannon, of Rathvilly Park, Finglas, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of amphetamine and cannabis for sale or supply on 21 August 2017. Gardaí intercepted the pair moving drugs from a storage unit in north Dublin, recovering approximately nine kilogrammes of MDMA and eleven kilogrammes of cannabis herb and resin, with an estimated street value of €645,720. Hannon additionally pleaded guilty to three counts of possessing proceeds of crime, having allowed cheques from companies using false identities to be lodged into his bank account. Judge Melanie Greally imposed concurrent sentences of three years for the money laundering offences. She sentenced Kavanagh to four and a half years with the final eighteen months suspended, and Hannon to six and a half years with the final eighteen months suspended. The judge noted both men occupied lower positions within the criminal hierarchy and had expressed remorse.
In the Special Criminal Court, Michael Brady, 54, of Blackrock, Co Dublin, was directed to be found not guilty of possessing an assault rifle by Mr Justice Paul Coffey. The judge ruled there was no evidence beyond reasonable doubt linking Brady to the rifle, which was found concealed in a bed base at Sallins Bridge, Co Kildare, on January 24, 2017. Although DNA from skin cells matching Brady was found on socks containing ammunition, an expert noted this did not exclude the possibility that another person placed the rounds in socks Brady had worn. The judge further stated there was no evidence establishing when Brady accessed the bed or when the rifle was placed there. The State also withdrew a separate charge regarding the possession of three ammunition magazines. Brady had pleaded not guilty to all nine counts on his indictment, which included allegations of possessing €1.5 million worth of cocaine and €1.26 million worth of heroin. Separately, his brother, Declan Brady, 52, pleaded guilty last month to possessing 15 firearms and more than 4,000 rounds of ammunition at Greenogue Business Park, Rathcoole, Co Dublin, on the same date. Declan Brady is currently awaiting sentence. The trial for Michael Brady continues on Monday.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Sandra Warren, aged 43, pleaded guilty to robbing a foreign student on May 23, 2016. The student, who had been in Ireland for four days, was led down a lane by Warren after asking for directions. Warren, who was using drugs at the time, grabbed the student's bag, taking her wallet, bank cards and phone. Garda Daniel Hanlon described the victim as traumatised, left confused and with "whiplash injuries," and noted she had difficulty trusting people after the incident. Warren admitted she was under pressure from a man to obtain money and has since ended that relationship. The court adjourned sentencing to July 1, 2019, to allow a psychiatric assessment and to consider a proposal for restitution. Warren has eight prior convictions for robbery, burglary and theft.
The Court of Appeal heard an appeal by Englishman Martin Wanden regarding his 30-year sentence for his role in a €440 million cocaine haul that went awry at Dunlough Bay, West Cork, on July 2, 2007. Wanden, who pleaded not guilty, was found guilty by a jury at Cork Circuit Criminal Court and sentenced by Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin on July 23, 2008. His counsel argued he was a "bungling stevedore" rather than a "lieutenant," requesting a reduced sentence to facilitate rehabilitation. The DPP countered that Wanden was a fully committed member of the gang, noting he traveled from South Africa with the RIB and held multiple passports. The court also heard that co-accused Perry Wharrie's sentence remained at 17-and-a-half years after the Supreme Court overturned a previous reduction, while Joe Daly received 25 years. A fourth man, Gerard Hagan, pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine for sale or supply and was sentenced to 10 years. The panel, comprising Mr Justice John Edwards, Ms Justice Marie Baker, and Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, reserved its judgment on Wanden's appeal.
In March 2019, an 18‑year‑old named Dylan Lynch was sentenced to six years in prison for a series of violent offences. In July 2018, he assaulted a teenage girl in his home, repeatedly slamming a door into her head, setting fire to her hair, cutting clumps of singed hair and throwing them out the window. He also filmed the incident and shared it on Snapchat. The assault was described by Judge Melanie Greally as "sadistic" and "degrading." Lynch had previously been convicted of robbery and assault with a vodka bottle three months earlier, for which he received a four‑and‑a‑half‑year term. The two sentences run consecutively, with the last 18 months suspended on the condition that he engage with the Probation Service. The judge noted his youth, childhood trauma, remorse and drug addiction issues in determining the suspended period. The unnamed teenager pleaded guilty.
In March 2019, Gerard Cully, a 32‑year‑old crack cocaine addict, was sentenced to seven and a half years' imprisonment for a series of violent robberies. He robbed a taxi driver on Railway Street, demanding €30 and the driver's car keys while threatening him with a pointed weapon and an accomplice strangling the victim with a rope. Cully also attempted to rob a convenience store and successfully robbed two other shops in Dublin's city centre, taking a total of €415. He was armed with a knife and a hammer during these offences. Judge Melanie Greally described the crimes as a "spree of severe offences committed at a very high level" to obtain money for his addiction. Cully pleaded guilty, expressed remorse, and had previously sought help for his addiction. The judge imposed concurrent sentences, suspended the final 18 months on strict conditions, and considered his psychological report and prior attempts at treatment.
Adam James Wood, 32, of Liverpool, is in Irish custody awaiting a High Court decision on his extradition to the UK. He faces 12 offences, including possession of firearms, ammunition and class A drugs, and conspiracy to possess firearms with intent to cause fear or unlawful violence. The European Arrest Warrant, issued in 2017, was based on evidence found at his Woodlands Road address and at North Sudely Road in August and September 2014, where police seized firearms, ammunition, heroin and cocaine, and phones containing images of firearms and ammunition. The warrant also cites a dispute with another Liverpool male involving brandishing firearms and criminal damage. UK authorities describe Wood as having a scar on his left hand and a tattoo reading 'Ciara' on his neck. His lawyers have challenged the extradition on several grounds, including a Brexit‑related argument.
John Paul Byrne, 32, of Belcamp Crescent, Priorswood, Dublin, pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis for sale or supply on 5 May 2016. Gardaí seized €42,000 worth of cannabis from a hold‑all bag in the back of a car in which Byrne was a back‑seat passenger at a north Dublin road checkpoint set up in response to local feud issues. Byrne claimed he owed €15,000 for a drug debt and said he had little choice in moving the drugs, describing himself as a "gillie" or "lackey" on the lowest rung of the trade. His last offence was in 2010; prior convictions were mainly for traffic and public‑order offences. The court accepted his claim of a one‑off venture and noted his efforts to reduce risk factors. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a three‑and‑a‑half‑year suspended sentence, suspended in full on strict conditions, including engagement with the Probation Service and compliance with all directions.
Shane Craig, 21, was caught in 2015 carrying over €140,000 worth of cocaine in a rucksack while homeless. Gardaí searched his residence and found drug paraphernalia. He pleaded guilty to possession of €142,761 worth of drugs at Foxhill Park, Donaghmede. In 2019 Judge Melanie Greally suspended a five‑year prison term in full, imposing strict conditions: engagement with the Probation Service for five years and random drug testing. The judge noted six Probation Service reports and a prior one‑year probation bond. Craig's probation officer confirmed he no longer used drugs and had made "extremely positive changes." Both Craig and his mother were homeless at the time, and the judge highlighted his vulnerability, addiction, drug debt and mental health problems. The suspended sentence reflects the judge's view that Craig's circumstances placed the case in the narrow category of a fully suspended sentence.
Paul Carew, a 42‑year‑old Dublin resident, was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment for laundering €660,000 linked to the Kinahan crime gang. He pleaded guilty to three counts of money laundering for activities between 2014 and 2016. In August 2016, Gardaí seized €191,160 from a concealed compartment in a van he drove at Liffey Valley Shopping Centre; in June 2016, they found €350,000 in a box he placed in a van at Dublin Auto Prestige Car Wash. Carew had previously received a suspended sentence in 2014 for possessing nearly €68,000 of criminal proceeds. Judge Martin Nolan described the offence as "very serious" and noted that most of the money came from drug dealing. Carew's appeal against the sentence was dismissed by the Court of Appeal, which upheld the eight‑year term as appropriate for the offences committed.
Stephen Finn, aged 32, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended, for a series of burglaries at Trinity College and other locations in 2017. He had 115 prior convictions, including 21 burglaries, and was known for stealing to fund a drug habit. The court heard that Finn stole laptops from outside lecture halls, causing a student to fail an exam due to the loss. CCTV identified Finn, who evaded detection during the thefts. He pleaded guilty to burglary at two Trinity departments, the Central Hotel, and a business on Pearse Street. The judge noted the severe consequences for victims, Finn's remorse, efforts to address drug addiction, and his role as a father. Finn's sentence reflects the seriousness of the offences and his established pattern of theft.
A man has been convicted of murder following a fatal stabbing in Longford town centre. Rihards Lavickis, aged 26, with an address at Annaly Court in Longford, was found guilty by unanimous verdict at the Central Criminal Court on a charge of murdering Akadiusz Czajkowski outside Longford Shopping Centre on 1st November 2016. The jury deliberated for just over three hours. Lavickis had initially pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. This was his second trial for the offence, as a previous jury had failed to reach a verdict. Evidence presented showed that Lavickis pursued the deceased with a knife and stabbed him three times. A post-mortem examination determined that a single stab wound to the heart proved fatal. The court heard that tensions between the men stemmed from a drug debt and a series of incidents involving threats and property damage. Mr Justice Michael White imposed the mandatory life sentence. The victim's mother provided an impact statement describing the psychological devastation caused by her son's death.
Amir Essalhi (34), of Millbrook Avenue, Dublin 13, was sentenced in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to two car thefts committed in 2017. During the sentencing, Essalhi told Judge Melanie Greally that he turned to heroin to cope with the 2011 murder of his brother, Adil Essalhi, who was stabbed and burnt in west Dublin. Wayne Kinsella (46), formerly of the Plaza, Tyrellstown, was previously convicted of murdering Adil Essalhi and jailed for life. Essalhi stated that his addiction led to job loss and criminal activity, including a 2017 partially suspended sentence for six counts of robbery in Clondalkin, which was conditional on seeking drug treatment. His defence counsel, Gerardine Small BL, noted that Essalhi sought treatment but relapsed while awaiting placement. The court acknowledged the disturbing impact of his brother's murder and Essalhi's remorse. Judge Greally imposed concurrent sentences of 12 months and 21 months, to run from December when he went into custody.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 20 March 2019, the landlord of a house at Sallins Bridge, Sallins, Co Kildare, testified that his nephew discovered an assault rifle, more than 180 rounds of ammunition, and large amounts of cocaine and heroin in the base of a bed while "clearing out" the property. The landlord, who entered a tenancy agreement with Declan Brady in February 2015, said he had no key to the house and had gained access through a neighbour. He described how the nephew found a cardboard box containing the rifle, magazines, and drug packets wrapped in brown tape. The landlord also reported that Gardaí had searched the premises on 28 January 2017. Michael Brady, 54, is charged with nine counts of possession of firearms, ammunition and drugs, and has pleaded not guilty. The court heard evidence to determine the lawfulness of the Gardaí search. The judge will rule tomorrow.
Bernardus Jozef Scherrenberg, aged 47 and a cancer survivor, was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for possession of cocaine for sale or supply. He was found transporting 49 kg of cocaine concealed in sand-filled tubs at the B&Q car park in Clondalkin on 6 December. Gardaí had followed a Peugeot to the site, intercepted the tubs, and discovered additional ones in Scherrenberg's Jeep. He attempted to flee, discarding his mobile phone, but was apprehended. The seized drugs were valued at €3,435,859. Scherrenberg had pleaded guilty, citing a €2,000 payment and his medical condition—stage 4 non‑Hodgkin's lymphoma remission after a stem‑cell transplant—as mitigating factors. Judge Patricia Ryan, noting his lack of prior convictions and foreign status, imposed the seven‑year term, backdated to his initial custody date. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the offence and the mitigating circumstances presented.
Patrick Fedigan, a former soldier, has resolved his damages action against the State regarding health issues he attributed to the anti-malaria drug Larium. The case, heard before Mr Justice Bernard Barton at trial, involved claims that Fedigan suffered from loss of balance, anxiety, insomnia, vertigo, and memory problems after being prescribed Mefloquine Hydrochloride during UN peacekeeping deployments to Eritrea, Liberia, and Chad between 2001 and 2010. Fedigan alleged that the Minister for Defence and the Attorney General were negligent, arguing that his prior medical history was not assessed, he was unsuitable for the drug, and he lacked adequate support when reporting symptoms. The State defendants, represented by Eoin McCullough SC and others, denied negligence and liability, further arguing that the claim was statute barred due to delay. Following out-of-court discussions, counsel for Fedigan, John Gordan SC, informed the court that the action had been resolved and requested the case be struck out. The settlement terms are confidential. Mr Justice Barton welcomed the resolution. This matter is one of several similar actions brought by Defence Forces members alleging illnesses resulting from Larium prescriptions. Had the trial proceeded, it was expected to last up to ten weeks.
The Special Criminal Court heard evidence in the ongoing trial of Michael Brady, 54, who has pleaded not guilty to all nine counts on the indictment. He is charged with possessing €1.5 million worth of cocaine, €1.26 million worth of heroin, an assault rifle, and more than 180 rounds of ammunition at a property in Sallins, Co Kildare, on January 24, 2017. Prosecution counsel stated that forensic evidence links the accused to the items and the address. During interviews, Brady told gardai that he and his brother, Declan Brady, lived separate lives and were like "chalk and cheese." Brady denied possessing the ammunition found in the house and stated he did not know about firearms found at a separate location. His brother, Declan Brady, 52, previously pleaded guilty to possessing 15 firearms and more than 4,000 rounds of ammunition at the same address on the day in question. Declan Brady is currently awaiting sentence. The court heard that gardai conducted a search of the property, finding drugs and a firearm under a bed. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul Coffey, sitting with Judge Gerard Griffin and Judge David McHugh.
The Special Criminal Court heard evidence regarding a search at Sallins Bridge, Sallins, Co Kildare, on January 24, 2017. Michael Brady, 54, of Blackrock, Co Dublin, pleaded not guilty to nine counts, including alleged possession of €1.5 million worth of cocaine, €1.26 million worth of heroin, an assault rifle, and ammunition. Prosecution counsel Fiona Murphy SC alleged that gardaí failed to find these items during the initial search, which she described as a "very fast-moving operation." She stated that the property owner later discovered drugs and a firearm under a bed. The State's case is that forensic evidence links Mr Brady to the items. Earlier, the court ruled that Mr Brady's arrest and detention were lawful. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul Coffey, sitting with Judges Gerard Griffin and David McHugh. Separately, Declan Brady, 52, of Celbridge, Co Kildare, pleaded guilty to possessing 15 firearms and over 4,000 rounds of ammunition at Greenogue Business Park on the same day. He is awaiting sentence. Jonathan Harding and James Walsh were previously sentenced to ten and nine years' imprisonment, respectively, for possessing a "lethal arsenal" of weapons at the same location.
A High Court trial concerning a damages action by former soldier Patrick Fedigan against the State was adjourned shortly after it opened before Mr Justice Bernard Barton. Mr Fedigan, a 51-year-old from Navan, Co Meath, claims he suffered health issues, including loss of balance, anxiety, and memory problems, resulting from being prescribed the anti-malaria drug Larium (Mefloquine Hydrochloride) during Defence Forces deployments to Eritrea, Liberia, and Chad between 2001 and 2010. He alleges negligence and breach of duty by the Minister for Defence and the Attorney General, asserting he was unsuitable for the drug, his medical history was not checked, and he lacked adequate support for his symptoms. The State defendants deny these claims. The case, expected to last up to ten weeks, was paused to allow Mr Fedigan's legal team, led by John Gordan SC, to review documents recently discovered by the defendants. Mr Justice Barton noted that due to judicial commitments, including circuit duties, the hearing would proceed in blocks with gaps in evidence. Both parties acknowledged the judge's availability issues but agreed to proceed. The matter was adjourned and is scheduled to resume on Tuesday.
A man accused of murder told gardaí during interview that he stabbed another man three times outside Longford Shopping Centre in November 2016 because initial strikes with the knife proved ineffective, the Central Criminal Court heard. Rihards Lavickis, aged 26, originally from Latvia, with an address at Annaly Court in Longford, is charged with murdering Akadiusz Czajkowski, a 31-year-old Polish father-of-two. He has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. During his interviews with detective gardaí, the accused admitted carrying a knife that morning intending to confront the deceased over previous window damage to his apartment and alleged threats made against his family. The accused described the incident occurring in broad daylight near the shopping centre, stating the deceased ran backwards as he pursued him. The jury at the Central Criminal Court heard interview notes in which the accused acknowledged using greater force after his initial attempts proved unsuccessful. The State concluded its case, and the jury has been instructed to return Wednesday for further proceedings before Justice Michael White.
The murder trial of Rihards Lavickis, 26, continued at the Central Criminal Court before Mr Justice Michael White. Lavickis, originally from Latvia, is charged with the murder of Akadiusz 'Arik' Czajkowski on 1st November 2016 at Rue Noyal Chatillon, Townspark, Longford. He has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. On the fourth day of the trial, the jury viewed CCTV footage showing the accused chasing the deceased while grasping a knife. Detective Sergeant Eric Godfrey testified that the footage depicted Lavickis running across the street with his right arm raised, holding an implement believed to be a knife. The jury also heard evidence regarding the previous convictions of both men; Lavickis had prior convictions for knife possession, dangerous driving, and drug supply, and had previously been sentenced to periods of imprisonment. Retired State Pathologist Professor Marie Cassidy testified that Czajkowski died from a single stab wound to the chest that penetrated his rib cage into his heart, causing fatal blood loss. She noted that both drugs and alcohol were present in the deceased's system. The trial continues.
Breda Cahill, owner of three convenience stores, gave a victim impact statement describing a "reign of terror" after her shops were robbed six times. She said she had to spend every minute in the shops to support staff and keep them safe. The statement was prepared for the sentencing of Brendan Payne, 36, who robbed one of her shops and was prevented from raiding another by Gardaí. Payne pleaded guilty to possession of a knife with intent to intimidate and to robbery. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a nine‑year prison sentence, suspending the last three years on the condition that Payne keep the peace, engage with Probation Services for 18 months, attend prison drug services and take up residential drug treatment. The sentence includes both offences and runs consecutively. Payne admitted he was tired of offending and had used drugs since age 12, citing his mother's alcoholism as a trigger.
Sam Maughan, 24, of Mount Brown, Dublin, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing a Stanley blade with intent to incapacitate a person at the Criminal Courts of Justice on 15 August 2018. He was arrested after security staff at the entrance detected a suspicious item in his bag, which he later discarded into a bin. A garda alerted to the knife's presence approached Maughan in the foyer and asked him to leave, suspecting a breach of peace. Maughan admitted he had brought the knife to attack a man seeking bail, who had been arrested for assaulting his sister's friend. He has 77 prior convictions, including knife possession, assault, drug and public order offences. Judge Melanie Greally accepted his guilty plea, noted the effectiveness of the screening machines, and acknowledged his difficult upbringing and ongoing efforts to address addiction and risk factors. He was sentenced to two years' imprisonment.
Kevin Coughlan, aged 23, was sentenced to five years in prison for burglarising 17 occupied homes and stealing 13 cars, engagement rings, passports and other items between May 2016 and September 2017. He admitted stealing baby clothes, a baby's birth certificate and a marriage certificate during one burglary. Victims reported severe emotional distress, including sleeplessness and financial hardship, with a total economic loss exceeding €130,000. Judge Melanie Greally suspended the final two and a half years of the sentence on strict conditions, requiring Coughlan to engage with the Probation Service for 18 months and attend addiction counselling. He pleaded guilty, citing hunger, rent and a drug debt as motives, and expressed remorse in a letter to the court. The case was largely based on his admissions, with no violence reported during the burglaries. The judge noted his homelessness and drug addiction at the time of the offences.
The Special Criminal Court has heard that Michael Brady, 54, is the brother of Declan Brady, who was previously caught with 15 firearms and over 4,000 rounds of ammunition. Michael Brady, of Blackrock, Co Dublin, is currently on trial for allegedly possessing €1.5 million worth of cocaine, €1.26 million worth of heroin, an assault rifle, and more than 180 rounds of ammunition at a property in Sallins, Co Kildare, on January 24, 2017. He has pleaded not guilty to all nine counts on the indictment, including charges under Section 15A of the Misuse of Drugs Act and unlawful possession of a 7.62 x 39mm VZ 58 assault rifle and various ammunition. Prosecutors stated the Sallins property was under surveillance as part of a wider operation targeting Greenogue Business Park, where Declan Brady, Jonathan Harding, and James Walsh were arrested earlier that morning. Declan Brady pleaded guilty to possessing the firearms and ammunition at Greenogue and is awaiting sentence. Harding and Walsh were sentenced in January to ten and nine years' imprisonment, respectively, for possessing a "lethal arsenal." The trial has entered legal argument regarding the lawfulness of Michael Brady's arrest in Naas, where he allegedly provided a false name. The court is expected to rule on these issues on Friday before resuming the case.
Gregory Kelleher, 44, of Clondalkin, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of €1,675,000 worth of cannabis with intent to sell or supply. The drugs were found in a white van at the car park of Bottom of the Hill public house, Finglas, on 23 June 2015. Customs officials, acting on confidential information, had discovered a pallet of 83.7 kg of cannabis at a Finglas shipping company on 22 June 2015, which had been misdeclared as second‑hand clothes. Kelleher drove the van to the shipping company, loaded the drugs, and later abandoned the vehicle in Poppintree where Gardaí seized it. His fingerprints were found on a plastic bag containing duck tape, a knife, gloves and bin bags. He had eleven prior convictions, including criminal damage and intoxication in public. Judge Patricia Ryan sentenced him to six years' imprisonment, back‑dating the term to 26 February 2015, the day he first entered custody.
A man charged with murder at the Central Criminal Court has pleaded not guilty to the charge but guilty to manslaughter, a plea the State has rejected. Rihards Lavickis, aged 26 and with an address at Annaly Court in Longford, is accused of the murder of Akadiusz Czajkowski on 1st November 2016 at Townspark in Longford town. During the trial's second day, the accused's partner testified that the deceased had attacked him with a knuckle duster months prior and had damaged their apartment windows multiple times following a disputed drug debt of €300. She identified a knife recovered from their bedroom as the weapon believed used in the alleged stabbing outside a shopping centre. The witness stated the accused had told her he fought the deceased with a knife and stabbed him twice. Under cross-examination, she described the accused as someone who cared for their child, despite his involvement in drug dealing. The trial continues before Mr Justice Michael White and a jury.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing in Dublin, Michael Brady, aged 54, was charged with nine counts including possession of an assault rifle, ammunition and nearly €3 million worth of drugs. The indictment alleges that on 24 January 2017 Brady was found at Sallins Bridge, Co Kildare, with €1.5 million of cocaine, €1.26 million of heroin, a 7.62 × 39 mm VZ 58 assault rifle and over 180 rounds of ammunition. Brady was arrested after a traffic stop in Naas where he gave a false name, and was later rearrested under the Offences Against the State Act. He pleaded not guilty to all charges, including possession of the rifle, ammunition and the drugs for sale or supply. The case is being heard by Judges Paul Coffey, Gerard Griffin and David McHugh.
Aaron Gilsenan, 38, a crack cocaine addict, was jailed for four years after a spree of robberies and attempted robberies in Dublin between December 2017 and March 2018. He used a knife to threaten staff at five convenience stores and filling stations, robbed a taxi driver of €40, and stole a total of €760. Gilsenan was identified on CCTV and used his own car to escape each time. He pleaded guilty to four robberies and two attempted robberies, admitting the crimes were driven by his addiction and the death of his daughter. He had 87 prior convictions, including 51 for road traffic offences. The court noted he was drug‑free at sentencing and had expressed genuine regret. The sentence was imposed by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, with a suspended portion of 18 months, and he was also due for sentencing in Trim and Naas Circuit Courts for other pending cases.
Brian Walton, a 31‑year‑old Dublin musician, was found in possession of €21,423 worth of cannabis and cannabis resin at his home on 24 April 2017. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to the offence of possessing cannabis. Garda Peter Lyons obtained a warrant to search Walton's address based on confidential information and seized three phones containing text messages advertising drug sales. Walton admitted selling cannabis to clear debts. He had no prior convictions. Judge Melanie Greally, after considering his early guilty plea, cooperation, personal circumstances and lack of previous convictions, imposed a four‑year suspended sentence. The suspension is in full, with strict conditions including a nine‑month period of probation supervision. No custodial term was imposed. The case was adjourned to allow a probation report to be prepared. The court noted Walton's insight into the wider implications of his activities and his efforts to overcome a cannabis addiction.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Liam Black, aged 46, received a three‑year suspended sentence for trespass and theft after a 2015 incident where he shouted obscenities, smashed windows and brandished a golf club at his ex‑partner's home. The judge noted a significant change in his behaviour since his 2015 release from prison, where he had served five years for aiding cash van raiders and for possessing €70,000 of cocaine. Black had pleaded guilty to the 2015 trespass and theft, and had not attracted Garda attention since then. He had previously been sentenced to seven years for cocaine possession, with the final two years suspended, and had addressed his drug addiction and cared for his son and niece. The court deemed it not in the community's interest to return him to prison.
Susan McNeill, 33, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing €1,352,798 worth of cannabis and cocaine in her apartment. She admitted allowing the drugs to be stored there and cooperating with Gardaí, who found almost 60,000 g of cannabis and over 2,100 g of cocaine. McNeill claimed she was pressured by a neighbour, who had a key to her flat, and that the drugs were kept in a place inaccessible to her 14‑year‑old son. She said she had received €3,000 and €2,000 in cash for the operation and expected a one‑off payment of €500‑1,000. McNeill also provided the code for an encrypted phone. The court adjourned sentencing to June 4 pending a probation report, with Judge Pauline Codd remanding her on continuing bail. The case highlights the alleged involvement of an unnamed man in the drug movement.
Damien O'Reilly, 38, pleaded guilty to burglary at Locks Restaurant and I Monelli in October 2017. While seeking work, he entered Locks, looked through staff lockers, and stole a phone and €20. A staff member caught him and he later surrendered the phone. At I Monelli he tried to book a family dinner but went behind the counter, was photographed by staff and arrested the next day. O'Reilly, a long‑time drug addict who had relapsed after a relationship ended, expressed remorse and regret. Judge Melanie Greally noted the similarity of the offences, his addiction history and lack of lasting victim harm, but also the confrontation with staff. She sentenced him to two‑and‑a‑half years, suspending the final 15 months for 18 months on strict conditions, including drug‑addiction treatment before release.
In March 2019, Kayleigh Byrne, a 26‑year‑old mother of two from Clondalkin, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment for transporting nearly €200,000 worth of cannabis herb. She was arrested after a tip that a vehicle would be used to move drugs; 22 wrapped packages were found in the boot of the car on the M50. Byrne pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing the drugs for sale or supply on 3 September 2018. She had two prior convictions for minor road traffic offences. The judge, Melanie Greally, noted Byrne's fear of threats linked to a drug debt owed by her former partner, her role as a good mother, and her early guilty plea. The court suspended the final two and a half years of the sentence, backdating it to the time of her initial custody following the September arrest.
In March 2018, William McCarthy, 28, was stopped by Gardaí in a Ford Mondeo parked at Monastery Gate Avenue, Clondalkin, where two fully loaded .38 special calibre Smith and Wesson revolvers were found in the glove box. McCarthy, who had 72 prior convictions including drug and traffic offences, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of the firearms. The weapons were in good working condition, each loaded with five bullets. McCarthy claimed he was pressured by a drug debt to acquire the guns, and he expressed remorse, citing his father's illness and his own drug relapse after his daughter's birth. He was sentenced to six and a half years, with the final 18 months suspended on conditions such as engaging with the Probation Service for 12 months upon release. He remains remanded in custody.
Farid Fawzi, 31, pleaded guilty to possessing almost €100,000 worth of cocaine and cannabis for sale or supply at his Cooneybeg address on 15 September 2016. The Cork Circuit Criminal Court found he was not present at the address when it was raided, but a mobile phone linked to him was discovered, leading Gardaí to him. Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin described Fawzi as the "main man" in the movement and distribution of a significant amount of drugs, giving directions to at least two others. He was not addicted to drugs but entered dealing for profit, attracted by a lucrative lifestyle and easy money. The initial sentence was 10 years with the final two years suspended. The Court of Appeal reduced this to seven years with the final six months suspended, requiring a good‑behaviour bond for the suspended period and compliance with probation service directions.
An arrest warrant has been issued for Janice Brady, a 29-year-old woman from Sligo, following a finding that she breached her bail conditions. Brady was arraigned before the Central Criminal Court in November 2017 and pleaded guilty to impeding the apprehension or prosecution of a man between August 2 and August 3, 2015, at an address in Sligo, knowing or believing he was guilty of a killing. Although the State objected to her release, Mr Justice Michael White granted her bail on February 1, imposing strict conditions including residing in sheltered accommodation provided by the Peter McVerry Trust, remaining drug and alcohol free, signing on with gardai three times a week, and observing a curfew. The Director of Prosecutions, Paul Murray SC, told Mr Justice Paul McDermott that the State alleged Brady had breached these terms by testing positive for drugs and failing to sign on with gardai since February 15. Inspector Tom Colsch stated that gardai have "no idea where she is" and that she has not been seen in Sligo. Mr Justice McDermott was satisfied that a breach of bail conditions had occurred and consequently issued an arrest warrant for Brady to revoke her bail. The matter remains at the pretrial stage, with the court action focused on enforcing the warrant rather than finalizing a sentence for the admitted charge.
Two Dublin men, Eddie Valentine (44) and Mark Kavanagh (40), pleaded guilty to stealing a cash register from Leisureplex, Stillorgan, during a children's birthday party on 4 May 2017. The theft, captured on CCTV, involved €95 in cash and four vending‑machine keys. At a hearing in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Karen O'Connor imposed a headline sentence of three years for each, reduced to two years fully suspended, citing early guilty pleas and chronic drug addiction. Both men were ordered to be supervised by Probation Services for 12 months and to comply with education and drug‑addiction treatment directives. The court noted the incident's aggravating context—children present and a party in progress—and praised a staff member who detained the men. The cash register was never recovered, and the victim impact statement estimated the loss at just under €1,000, including a €500 replacement and €400 for additional security measures.
A man has been sentenced to nine years' imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for a series of robberies committed across Dublin between March and April 2018, with an additional offence in May 2017. Dean Gray, aged 31, of Buttercup Drive, Darndale, Dublin, pleaded guilty to seven robbery offences, attempted robbery, threats to kill, and production of weapons including a knife and screwdriver. The court heard Gray robbed €350 from a shop in Baldoyle after arriving by taxi, which he then tipped before departing. He committed further robberies at retail outlets and a tanning salon within days of each other. A three-year consecutive sentence was imposed for a street robbery committed while on bail. Judge Patricia Ryan suspended the final three years conditional on good behaviour and peace-keeping for three years following release. She ordered engagement with the Probation Service, drug addiction treatment, and employment support. Gray has 69 previous convictions, including 21 robberies. His defence counsel noted his difficult background and stated his aspiration to seek residential drug treatment.
Eddie McEvoy, 34, was sentenced to two years in prison for a series of thefts in Dublin's city centre that totalled over €10,000 in goods, including perfume, cosmetics, alcohol and scratch cards. He pleaded guilty to eight thefts and one trespass with intent between 13 October 2017 and 26 January 2018. McEvoy's counsel described the offences as opportunistic and driven by a chronic addiction to crack cocaine, heroin, tablets and benzos, noting he was now drug‑free except for methadone. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a three‑year sentence with the final 12 months suspended, citing the accumulation of 204 prior convictions, up from 145 a year earlier. The court heard that McEvoy had lost a lung in 2016 due to an overdose and that he had been captured on CCTV during several of the thefts, including a €6,000 haul of scratch cards from a Londis staff room.
Barry Keating, 33, of Coolock, Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for drug offences. He pleaded guilty to possession of heroin for sale or supply at Harmonstown Road, Dublin 5, on June 29, 2016, and possession of cocaine for sale or supply at Shonvalley Apartments, Lucan, on August 8, 2016. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a four-and-a-half-year sentence, with the final 18 months suspended. The court noted Keating's 53 previous convictions, drug addiction, and difficult youth circumstances. Prosecution and defence agreed he was effectively "passed from pillar to post" after being abandoned as an infant and acted as a courier under the influence of others. Separately, Gerard Gerard Cleary, 34, pleaded guilty to possessing cocaine for sale or supply. He was sentenced to three years, with the final 18 months suspended, by Judge Karen O'Connor on December 1, 2017. Cleary cooperated with gardaí and made full admissions during interview. The cocaine involved in the Lucan incident had a street value of €138,837, while the heroin in the Harmonstown incident was valued at €16,190. Both defendants were arrested at the scene of the respective incidents.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, Kelly Simpson, aged 27, pleaded guilty to possessing 177 g of crack cocaine and 329 g of cannabis, valued at €12,417 and €6,588 respectively, after Gardaí searched her apartment following complaints of suspicious activity. The search, conducted with a warrant, revealed a strong smell of cannabis and the presence of Simpson and her three children. Simpson, who had previously been fined for taking drugs into a prison, admitted that she stored the drugs to obtain money for her children, citing financial hardship and lack of support from their fathers. She also disclosed using benzodiazepines to manage panic attacks. Judge Melanie Greally, noting the seriousness of the offence, adjourned sentencing to May, remanded Simpson on continuing bail, and scheduled a defence plea in mitigation for the next hearing.
In a High Court action, sound technician Andrew Walsh, aged 35, alleges that on 19 May 2011 he was struck from behind by a Nissan Qashqai driven by Maria Byrne, sister of David Byrne who was murdered in 2016. Walsh claims the collision caused two fractures to the metatarsals of his right foot, ongoing pain, involuntary twitching and the need for future surgery. He also reports being intimidated by two men on the road after the crash, one of whom attempted to force cannabis into his mouth. Walsh states that Byrne's mother, Sadie Byrne, threw ash at him while he lay on the ground. Byrne denies all allegations. The case is before Ms Justice Bronagh O'Hanlon and remains pending.
Patrick Paget, 30, of Ballymun, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to two robberies and an attempted robbery of personal belongings at Abbey Street, Dublin, on January 18, 2017. Judge Patrick Quinn imposed a 20-month sentence, with the final 15 months suspended, and credited any time Paget spent in custody. The judge described the offences as "cowardly" but noted Paget's significant rehabilitation efforts, stating he had done "Trojan work" and remained out of trouble since his last offence. The sentence was suspended on the condition that Paget remains drug and alcohol free and attends NA meetings. Prosecution evidence highlighted Paget's 128 previous convictions, including 25 under the Larceny Act, and an 18-month prison term for burglary in 2015. Defence counsel submitted that Paget has been drug-free for 23 months and has stable accommodation with his partner and child. Co-accused Paul Coady, 27, of Cabra, also pleaded guilty to the same offences on the same date, as well as an attempted robbery at Tesco Express, Aungier Street, on January 20, 2018. Coady, who has nine previous convictions for minor offences, was not sentenced at this stage and will be sentenced in October.
Michael Wall, 18, was found guilty of robbing an unoccupied house in Willowfield, Dublin 4, where he stole cash and jewellery worth €11,310. DNA evidence linked him to the scene after he smashed a bedroom window and left blood on the property. He pleaded guilty to a single count of robbery. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to two and a half years in prison, but the sentence was fully suspended on the condition that he keep the peace and comply with Probation Services supervision for 18 months. Wall had no prior convictions. The victim, who did not submit a Victim Impact Statement, discovered the house was left open and the window smashed. Gardaí noted the thief had injured himself during the break‑in. The case was prosecuted by John Berry Bl and defended by Marc Thompson Bl, who cited Wall's recent bereavement and drug issues. Probation Services assessed Wall as a moderate risk of re‑offending.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 58‑year‑old Greg Gilligan of Avonbeg Gardens, Tallaght, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for possessing cannabis and a small quantity of crack cocaine. The drugs, valued at €71,695, were found in a black hold‑all bag that Gilligan had thrown into a neighbour's garden after a Garda raid on 24 August 2016. Gilligan admitted he had been storing the drugs for a friend who was a drug addict; when the drugs were lost, he incurred a €2,500 debt. He pleaded guilty, and his counsel argued for a fully suspended sentence, citing his caring nature, charitable work for homeless people, and lack of prior convictions. The judge accepted his remorse, noted his drug‑free status, and highlighted his low risk of re‑offending, but imposed the two‑year custodial term.
Perrigo Pharma International Designated Activity Company has filed a High Court challenge to overturn a €1.6 billion corporation tax demand issued by the Revenue Commissioners. The dispute stems from a Notice of Amended Assessment for 2013, which changed the tax treatment of the sale of intellectual property for the MS drug Tysabri. Originally taxed as trading income at 12.5 %, Revenue reclassified the transaction as a chargeable gain subject to a 33 % rate. Perrigo, which acquired Elan's interest in the IP eight months after the sale, argues that it had a legitimate expectation to be taxed at the 12.5 % rate, based on a 10 % rate under the 1997 Taxes Consolidation Act that was increased to 12.5 % in 2005. The company seeks to quash the amended assessment for the period 1 January 2013 to 31 December 2013 and to obtain declarations that the assessment is unfair, breaches Perrigo's legitimate expectation, and interferes with its constitutional property rights.
Brian Kavanagh, 33, was jailed after attempting to mug US military policeman Christian Escobar in Dublin using a roll of tin foil that he claimed was a silver bar. Kavanagh, under the influence of drugs, tried to seize Escobar's backpack, leading to a scuffle that caused both men to crash through a shop window, damaging about €2,000 worth of goods. Escobar suffered severe tendon damage to his wrist. Garda Theresa Brady observed Kavanagh behaving violently, head‑butting security guards and a glass partition, and deemed him unfit for interview for six hours. Kavanagh pleaded guilty to attempted robbery, assault causing harm and violent behaviour in a police station. Judge Karen O'Connor, noting 147 prior convictions and failed attempts to address his addictions, sentenced him to two years and nine months' imprisonment, rejecting his offer to engage with Probation Services.
Jorgen Sorensen, a 65-year-old Danish bus driver, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after entering signed guilty pleas to importing and possessing cocaine for sale or supply. The offence occurred on November 1, 2018, at Dublin Airport T2, where customs officers discovered two wrapped packages of cocaine valued at €66,871 in his luggage. Sorensen alleged he had been deceived into transporting what he believed were inheritance documents for a woman he met on Facebook, claiming he was to be paid €800 to deliver them from Brazil to London. He stated he had never inspected the bag and trusted the individuals who organised his travel. Judge Melanie Greally described Sorensen's actions as showing a "huge level of naivety" and "significant level of recklessness," noting the enterprise "reeked of scam." The court accepted that his trusting nature had been exploited, though he remained criminally liable. Judge Greally imposed a three-year sentence, with the final 18 months suspended, resulting in an effective custody period of 18 months. The sentence was backdated to the date Sorensen entered custody. Additionally, the court ordered that he leave the jurisdiction within seven days of his release.
Derek White, 41, of Lucan, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to unlawful possession of cannabis at his home on 11 July 2016. Garda David Sheehy reported that White was stopped while driving and a small amount of cannabis was found in his car; a search of his house uncovered 16 cannabis plants growing in a tent in an upstairs room, valued at €12,800. White cultivated the plants to extract medicinal oil for himself, who suffers from Crohn's disease, and for his autistic son. He claimed he was not selling the cannabis. Judge Cormac Quinn sentenced White to two years' imprisonment, but suspended the entire sentence on the condition that he keep the peace and be of good behaviour for two years. White has four prior convictions, including possession of drugs, cultivation of cannabis and unlawful possession of ammunition.