Alan Kenny, 26, of Islandbridge, Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to being in possession of €106,950 believed to be the proceeds of criminal conduct on January 12, 2017. Judge Melanie Greally ordered Kenny to carry out 240 hours of community service within 12 months in lieu of a four-year prison sentence. The court heard that Kenny, who has no previous convictions, claimed he was coerced into holding the cash after being threatened that he would be murdered like his cousin, James Kenny McDonagh, whose body was found in the Dublin Mountains in 2012. Prosecution evidence indicated that Gardaí found the cash, a weighing scale, and a taser-type firearm in Kenny's bedroom during a search. Defence counsel Matthias Kelly SC argued that Kenny was holding the money for another person and that the firearm belonged to his late cousin. Judge Greally noted a probation report stating Kenny had tackled his risk factors, addressed drug addictions, and secured stable employment and relationships. She described his circumstances as an "extremely significant turnaround," resulting in the suspended prison term being replaced by the community service order.
An autistic man, Alyn Maginn, 41, pleaded guilty to possessing over €600,000 worth of heroin and cocaine at Dublin Airport on 7 July 2017. He was found in a car park, having arrived from Malaga, Spain, and was arrested after a customs officer searched his vehicle. The drugs, valued at €591,752 for heroin and €16,833 for cocaine, were seized. Maginn had not imported the drugs; they were already in the car. A co‑accused, Martin Gilroy, 34, owned the drugs and received a seven‑year sentence. Judge Martin Nolan, on 23 February 2018, imposed a wholly suspended five‑year sentence on Maginn, citing his autism, borderline cognitive ability and the claim that he was manipulated by Gilroy. The Director of Public Prosecutions is seeking a review, arguing the sentence was unduly lenient, while the Court of Appeal has reserved its judgement. The case remains at the appeal stage.
Matthew Ellis, 38, was sentenced to three and a half years in prison, with the final 12 months suspended, after pleading guilty to threatening to kill a shop security guard. The incident occurred on 26 October 2017 at Spa Road, Inchicore, when Ellis, holding five bullets between his teeth, told the guard he would return after finishing his pizza to kill him. He also called the guard a "garda informer" and claimed ownership of Inchicore. Gardaí intervened, confiscated the bullets, and Ellis was taken into custody. He had 71 prior convictions, including assault, burglary, knife possession, drug dealing and robbery. Ellis's defence cited his intoxication, a perceived slight over shop entry, and his history of drug addiction. The judge noted his guilty plea, remorse, poor physical and fragile mental health, and previous drug‑treatment efforts, and accepted a €5,000 compensation from his family.
Claire McGrath, aged 30, gave evidence in the Central Criminal Court trial of Keith Connorton, who is charged with the murder of Graham McKeever, 32, on 18 February 2017. McGrath said she had been in a relationship with Connorton for three years and that she had invited McKeever to stay at their home that night. She told the court that she had exchanged texts and Facebook messages with McKeever in the days before his death, in which she expressed love, insecurity and a desire for his affection. McGrath admitted that her drug use might have affected her memory and that she was not a reliable witness. She denied that she had lied to Gardaí or that Connorton had pressured her to do so, and she said she had told the truth about the events. She will continue her cross‑examination before Justice Tony Hunt and a jury. Keith Connorton pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Corrie Grimes, 22, was found to have threatened a female Garda with violence at Ferrymans Crossing on 28 February 2017. Grimes, who initially denied the threat, later pleaded guilty and apologized. The incident involved Grimes approaching a patrol car with a clenched fist, shouting that he would "slit her throat" and "smash her face." The Garda, who had been on duty with a colleague, was present with her grandmother, Anne Grimes. Grimes had previously been convicted 11 times, nine for drug offences, and was in recovery from addiction. The court noted his lack of contact with the Garda since the incident and ordered a probation report to assess his rehabilitation efforts. He is scheduled for sentencing on 12 March 2025.
Sean O'Kelly, aged 24, admitted to endangering three generations of a family when he set two cars on fire in their driveway, forcing an 80‑year‑old woman, her granddaughter and a ten‑week‑old great‑grandson to seek refuge in the back garden. The heat from the blazing cars melted the front door shut, and the family feared they would have to choose between saving the infant or the grandmother if the house caught fire. O'Kelly also vandalised six other cars and stole items from them on the same night. He pleaded guilty to one count of endangerment, one count of robbery, two counts of burglary and six counts of criminal damage. Separately, he admitted arson of two cars in an underground carpark, causing an estimated €90,000 of damage, for which an insurance settlement of over €76,000 was later made. The court noted O'Kelly's 24 previous convictions, his rehabilitation from drug addiction, and his apology letters.
Otis Reynolds, 21, of Crumlin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assaulting Andrew Cummins causing him harm at Raphoe Road, Crumlin, on March 9, 2017. The court heard that Cummins had punched Reynolds during a fight 15 months prior. On the day of the incident, Cummins approached Reynolds' Ford Focus to apologise. Garda John Griffin testified that Cummins was struck by the vehicle, thrown into the air, and landed heavily on his right side, resulting in numbness in his left leg and soreness in his back. Reynolds, who has 16 previous convictions for theft, drugs, and traffic offences, was on bail for another charge at the time. He claimed he panicked and did not intend to hit Cummins, though he later retracted a claim that Cummins was about to strike him. Judge Martina Baxter suspended a two-year prison term on the condition that Reynolds keep the peace for two years. She also ordered him to complete 200 hours of community service over that period. Reynolds had raised €1,000 from his wages for Cummins as an expression of remorse. Defence counsel highlighted Reynolds' young age, his admissions, and his current plumbing apprenticeship.
Claire McGrath, 30, gave evidence in the murder trial of Keith Connorton, 40, at the Central Criminal Court. She admitted that parts of her original statements to the Gardaí after the February 18, 2017 stabbing of Graham McKeever, 32, were not true. McGrath said she had not remembered giving a second statement that the Gardaí recorded as taken that afternoon. She clarified that she had not described Connorton as cutting cannabis, nor had she said he was rolling a cigarette to avoid police suspicion. McGrath denied that she had said he grabbed her and pushed her onto the couch, that he threatened her with "I'll kill you", or that she had called him a "dirty tramp". She also denied that she had seen him stab McKeever three times or that he used the knife defensively. McGrath stated that she loves Connorton, that their relationship was on and off, and that she was trying to be fair in her testimony. Keith Connorton pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin murder trial, Deputy State Pathologist Dr Linda Mulligan testified that the deceased, Graham McKeever, 32, died from a single fatal stab wound to the heart, inflicted during a fight with his lover's boyfriend, Keith Connorton, 40. Dr Mulligan described the fatal wound as entering the left chest between the second and third ribs, penetrating both chambers of the right heart, causing severe bleeding into the lungs. She noted a second chest wound of four centimetres depth that did not pierce the ribs, a wound near the armpit, and a fourth to the back, none of which were fatal but could have contributed to blood loss. The pathologist also found about 40 scratches and bruises, and drug tests revealed benzodiazepines, methadone, alcohol and cocaine in the deceased's system. Connorton remains on trial at the Central Criminal Court, having pleaded not guilty. The case is set to continue before Justice Tony Hunt and a jury.
In a case heard at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Serena O'Leary, aged 43, pleaded guilty to assaulting Caroline Madden on 20 August 2016. O'Leary arrived at Madden's home the following morning, soaked and smelling of alcohol, and produced a nine‑inch knife after claiming Madden had said something to her partner. Madden managed to restrain O'Leary's arm, preventing a stab to her stomach, while O'Leary threatened her with death, punched her in the face and continued to threaten her until Madden's brother intervened and removed her from the premises. O'Leary, who has nine prior convictions for minor public‑order and traffic offences, was described by the detective as having suffered a low point in her life, including drug abuse and homelessness. The judge noted that no injuries were inflicted and adjourned sentencing to 28 March next year, ordering an updated Probation Service report. The case was presented by prosecutor Dean Kelly BL and defence counsel Bernard Condon SC.
Kenneth Carpenter and Elaine Byrne agreed to vacate their Rowlagh Park home by July after the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) claimed the property was bought with proceeds of crime. CAB alleged Mr Carpenter's involvement in drug sales, prior drug convictions, and ties to known criminals. CAB also claimed he misrepresented his employment to secure a mortgage, stating he earned €75,000 as a motor‑car salesman when he did not work for that firm. The house, bought for €317,000 in 2007, was valued at €220,000 with €284,500 still owed. CAB said mortgage payments came from criminal proceeds. The court noted extensive renovations, CCTV installation, and seized items including €20,000 cash, a bullet‑proof vest, luxury watches, a Chanel handbag, and two cars. CAB sought Section 3 orders on the house and other seized items, which the couple accepted. The judge issued orders under the 1996 Proceeds of Crime Act.
The Irish Supreme Court is set to determine a landmark extradition appeal concerning Artur Celmer, a 31-year-old man wanted in Poland on drugs trafficking charges. Celmer was arrested in Ireland under a European Arrest Warrant, and his proposed surrender was ordered by Ms Justice Aileen Donnelly in the High Court. However, she noted that the High Court's interpretation of a Court of Justice of the EU ruling regarding Poland's justice reforms was not clear-cut, encouraging a leapfrog appeal to the Supreme Court in the public interest. President of the Court of Appeal, Mr Justice George Birmingham, permitted this application, with the State supporting it. The core legal question is whether systemic deficiencies in judicial independence in an EU member state are sufficient, on their own, to establish substantial grounds for believing a specific accused's fair trial rights would be breached. Earlier proceedings involved Ms Justice Donnelly seeking assurances after Poland's Deputy Justice Minister, acting as applicant, referred to Celmer as a dangerous criminal. While Judge Joanna Bitner assured the High Court that such statements were irrelevant to judicial independence, Judge Piotr Gaciarek testified that recent legislative changes posed serious threats to the Polish justice system, citing disciplinary actions against judges who criticized government amendments. The matter remains at the appeal stage, with the Supreme Court yet to deliver its final determination.
Alan Jackson, 32, a homeless man with no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to criminal damage by arson at Patricia Martin's flat in Rathmines on 21 August 2017. The fire caused over €29,000 in damage and forced Martin and her daughter to leave their 17‑year home. Jackson was sentenced by Judge Martina Baxter to six years' imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended for 18 months on condition he engage with Probation Services after release. He had 50 prior convictions, including burglary, threats to kill, and robbery, and had recently received a four‑year suspended sentence for robbery. The court noted Jackson's early guilty plea, troubled family background, drug addiction history and remorse as mitigating factors. The sentence was back‑dated to 23 August 2017, the day he entered custody.
A 29-year-old man from Ballymun pleaded guilty to burglary at Copper Face Jacks nightclub in Dublin on 27 May 2017. Jason Whelan admitted stealing approximately 20 bottles of spirits valued between €700 and €900 from the premises. Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that Whelan entered the nightclub on three occasions and took bottles from behind the counter. CCTV footage captured him committing the thefts, and he was subsequently identified and arrested. Whelan has 91 previous convictions, including 43 for burglary offences. In a letter to the sentencing judge, he expressed remorse and stated his intention to become an honest member of society and positive father figure. His counsel noted Whelan is currently drug-free and receiving methadone treatment. Judge Melanie Greally acknowledged the sincerity of his expressed commitment to rehabilitation and adjourned sentencing to 13 March pending probation and prison reports.
Barry Keating (33) of Ferrycarrig Drive, Coolock, Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of heroin for sale or supply on Harmonstown Road, Dublin 5, and possession of cocaine for sale or supply at Shonvalley Apartments, The Grange, Lucan on August 8, 2016. He has 53 previous convictions, including some for drug offences. Gerard Gerard Cleary (34), who lived at Shonvalley Apartments, was also arrested at the scene and pleaded guilty to possessing the cocaine for sale or supply. Cleary was sentenced to three years with the final 18 months suspended by Judge Karen O'Connor on December 1, 2017. Keating's case was adjourned to February 27 next, and Judge Melanie Greally ordered a report from the Probation Service to assist in structuring a sentence that will help Keating deal with his drug habit. The matter was adjourned and never described as concluded or finalised.
Nathan Foley, 20, of Rosary Road, Maryland, Dublin 8, was sentenced at the Special Criminal Court for participating in or contributing to activity intending to facilitate the murder of David Douglas. The court heard that Foley acted as a 'foot soldier' and 'runner' for a criminal organisation, driving one of four vehicles used in the killing. Mr Douglas, 55, was shot six times at his partner's shop in Bridgefoot Street on July 1, 2016. Foley admitted to the charge under Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006, which carries a maximum penalty of 15 years. The court noted his early guilty plea and mitigating factors, including a mild intellectual disability and vulnerability, though the judge described his role as significant. Frederick 'Freddie' Thompson, 37, was previously found guilty of Mr Douglas's murder and sentenced to life imprisonment. The source text indicates Foley was remanded in custody until January 25 for sentencing, but the validated procedural stage is sentence. The report details the coordinated use of stolen vehicles, including a Mercedes and a Mitsubishi Mirage driven by Foley, and the subsequent recovery of evidence linking him to the scene. The court acknowledged his 32 previous convictions, including a concurrent sentence for cocaine possession.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court is deliberating in the trial of a Sligo man charged with the murder of a musician. Keith Brady, aged 31 and from Cartron Estate in Sligo, is accused of fatally stabbing Martin Kivlehan on a date between 2nd and 3rd August 2015 at the victim's home on Holborn Street. Mr Brady has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The defence argued he lacked the necessary intent for murder due to drug intoxication and claimed provocation, alleging he believed the deceased was behaving inappropriately towards his sister. The prosecution contended the defendant inflicted the wounds with deliberate precision against a vulnerable man. Justice Carmel Stewart charged the jury of eight men and four women, who deliberated for under two hours before adjourning overnight. Deliberations are to resume the following morning.
Dominic Downes, aged 23, pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary of a house in Hazel Park, Newcastle, on 24 September 2016. He was sentenced by Judge Rory McCabe at Galway Circuit Criminal Court to six years imprisonment on 18 July 2017. Downes appealed against the severity of his sentence, but the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal, holding that the six‑year term was within the range available to the Circuit Court judge. The Court of Appeal, presided over by President Mr Justice George Birmingham, noted that Downes entered the house armed with a hunting knife and a hatchet, both of which had been stolen the day before, indicating premeditation. A bag containing €1,760 worth of stolen property was dropped during the escape, and the burglary caused significant injury to the occupants, including PTSD and a move out of the house. Downes had a history of criminal activity and drug problems, and had committed further offences while on bail.
David Berney, 37, of Suncroft Park, Tallaght, pleaded guilty to burglary of a Centra store in Jobstown on 2 March 2018 during Storm Emma. He was already on bail for a 2014 burglary of a private home in Stepaside, for which he had also pleaded guilty. Berney admitted that his offences were driven by a drug habit, citing cocaine use at the time of the shop looting. He has prior convictions for robbery, assault, burglary and threats to kill. Judge Cormac Quinn sentenced him to two years for the 2014 burglary and an additional 18 months for the 2018 looting, suspending the latter on the condition of keeping the peace and engaging in addiction and social reintegration services. The court noted Berney was found hiding in the shop's cash room, and a sledgehammer was used by accomplices to break into the back offices. The case remains under the jurisdiction of the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
A 31-year-old man from Cartron Estate in Sligo is on trial at the Central Criminal Court charged with murdering Martin Kivlehan, a 59-year-old musician, between 2nd and 3rd August 2015. The accused has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. During closing arguments, the prosecution submitted that the defendant inflicted two stab wounds to the neck with deliberate intent and deadly precision. The defence argued for a manslaughter verdict on grounds of either provocation or lack of capacity to form murderous intent due to drug intoxication at the time. Defence counsel submitted that the accused had reacted in a drug and alcohol-induced state after perceiving a threat to his sister. Justice Carmel Stewart was due to charge the jury on Monday.
In a Dublin bus incident, Thomas McMahon, 35, admitted to touching a fellow passenger's shoulder with his penis while attempting to urinate after the vehicle jerked forward. McMahon claimed alcohol and drug addiction impaired his judgment and that he had no sexual intent. He expressed remorse and stated he had taken steps toward rehabilitation. Garda Conor O'Neill and counsel David Staunton noted McMahon's mental health issues and lack of recollection. The victim, who was traveling to town, reported the contact, screamed, and alerted the driver, who called the Gardaí. The incident was captured on CCTV, leading to McMahon's arrest and cooperation with the investigation. He faces a maximum two‑year sentence at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, with the case adjourned to March 13 for sentencing and a psychiatric report. McMahon has ten prior convictions for public order and assault offences. Thomas McMahon pleaded guilty.
The High Court has permitted an appeal in the extradition case of Artur Celmer, a 31-year-old man wanted by Poland to face trial on drugs trafficking charges. Ms Justice Aileen Donnelly, who previously ordered Celmer's surrender, granted the appeal on the basis that her interpretation of a Court of Justice of the EU ruling was not "clear cut" and that another view might prevail. She proposed that the matter be formalised for a higher Irish court, suggesting a "leapfrog" appeal directly to the Supreme Court due to the case's impact on other extradition proceedings. The core legal question is whether generalised systemic deficiencies in an EU member state's judicial independence are sufficient to establish a specific risk to an accused's fair trial rights. A stay on the surrender order was imposed for 11 days. The proceedings also addressed allegations regarding Poland's justice reforms. While Poland's Deputy Justice Minister was quoted as calling Celmer a "dangerous criminal" connected to a "drugs mafia," Judge Joanna Bitner of the Warsaw Regional Court assured the High Court that such statements were irrelevant to judicial independence. Conversely, Judge Piotr Gaciarek testified that recent laws and their practical operation posed "very serious threats" to the Polish justice system, citing disciplinary actions against judges who criticised government amendments aimed at placing courts under political control.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, Paul O'Brien (36) and Niall Sheil (40) were found guilty of robbing Dympna's Clairvoyant in Crumlin on 6 January 2015. O'Brien entered first, claiming he wanted an appointment, while Sheil arrived armed with a steel bar. Both men stole cash, purses and phones from the clairvoyant and customers. O'Brien had previously pleaded guilty to two robbery counts and had been granted a suspended sentence in 2015, but the judge noted he had relapsed and failed to commit to rehabilitation. Judge Melanie Greally, after considering O'Brien's drug‑addiction history, sentenced him to four years' imprisonment with the final 12 months suspended, stating the court had exhausted all other options. Sheil received a four‑year suspended sentence in 2015. The robbery involved two staff members and two customers; €400 was taken from the reception, and all other items were recovered.
A man charged with murder in connection with the death of a Sligo musician has told gardaí that the killing was "a moment of madness" following drug use. Keith Brady, aged 31, of Cartron Estate in Sligo town, denies murdering Martin Kivlehan, aged 59, at The New Apartments on Holborn Street between 2nd and 3rd August 2015. He has pleaded guilty to manslaughter. At the Central Criminal Court, a jury viewed video recordings of garda interviews in which Brady expressed remorse, stating he would give his life for the deceased if he could. He told gardaí he was not a violent person and apologised to the victim's family. Brady has indicated he believed the deceased had acted inappropriately towards his sister. The trial, now in its sixth day, continues. Cartron Estate pleaded not guilty.
John Fitzgerald SC defended Emmet Fogarty, 47, a former pub owner who had been drawn into an almost €1.4 million drugs operation to offset gambling debts. Fogarty had been unaware of cheques written against his pub, leading to tax trouble and an alcohol and gambling addiction. After spending time abroad, he returned to Ireland and joined the drug enterprise. He pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of cocaine, cannabis herb and resin worth €1,398,714, as well as various ammunition. Garda Ivor Scully found 15 blocks of cocaine, cannabis herb, resin, ten firearm magazines, ammunition and tracking devices at a lock‑up unit leased by Fogarty. Fogarty's home address was linked to the premises via receipt, DNA and fingerprints. Judge Melanie Greally, considering Fogarty's circumstances, imposed a seven‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence, suspending the final two‑and‑a‑half years. The sentence reflected the seriousness of the drug offence and the firearms offence.
The trial of Keith Brady, 31, of Cartron Estate in Sligo, continued at the Central Criminal Court on its fifth day. Brady is charged with murdering Martin Kivlehan, 59, on a date unknown between August 2nd and 3rd, 2015, at The New Apartments on Holborn Street. He has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. During cross-examination, Sergeant Martin McHale read memos from a fourth garda interview conducted on August 5th, 2015. In these statements, Brady alleged that he and his sister, Janice Brady, were "off their heads" on drugs. He claimed he stabbed the deceased because he believed Mr Kivlehan had "touched her up," while stating that Janice put a knife to the victim's throat. Brady expressed regret, noting he did not want the man dead. The court previously heard that the deceased sustained two stab wounds to his neck and was found by friends on the morning of the August bank holiday. The jury began viewing a video of this interview and will continue watching the remainder when the trial resumes on Tuesday morning. The matter is currently ongoing and has not been finalised.
Lawyers for 31‑year‑old Artur Celmer, a suspected drugs trafficker, are seeking leave to appeal the High Court's order for his extradition to Poland. Celmer was arrested in Ireland under a European Arrest Warrant and faces drug‑trafficking charges in his native country. The High Court, presided over by Justice Aileen Donnelly, had found "generalised and systemic" violations of the independence of the Polish judiciary, creating a real risk that fair‑trial rights could be breached. The court's concern was whether these issues specifically related to Celmer, following a ruling from the Court of Justice of the European Union. Celmer's counsel, Seán Guerin SC, argues that the case involves a point of law of exceptional public importance and that interference with fair‑trial rights could arise from disciplinary actions against Polish judges. The High Court will issue its ruling on Wednesday, after Celmer's lawyers request a certificate to appeal the decision.
A 17‑year‑old boy, who cannot be named as a juvenile, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to robbing €144 from a shop in Dublin on 5 February 2018 and to an attempted robbery of another shop less than two hours later. He had 43 prior convictions, including robbery, theft and violent disorder. His mother called the Gardaí after he returned home intoxicated with cash and receipts, noting that the clothes he had changed into matched those worn by a suspect in CCTV footage of the first robbery. The boy claimed he had been on his way home after a few days when he met a drug addict and decided to rob the shop with him, taking 16 Xanax tablets. The shop owner reported that the boy used a piece of wood that looked like a chair leg and a six‑inch knife to threaten him, and that the other robber used a screwdriver and a syringe.
Keith Brady, of Cartron Estate in Sligo, is charged with the murder of Martin Kivlehan, a musician, at his home on Holborn Street between 2nd and 3rd August 2015. He has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, a plea the State rejected. At the Central Criminal Court, Detective Sergeant Patrick Harney testified that Brady was arrested on 3rd August 2015 and denied involvement, stating he "never murdered anyone." Brady became agitated during questioning, pacing and punching a desk whilst requesting a Bible. Sergeant Martin McHale told the court that during interview the following day, Brady refused to provide a DNA swab, citing legal advice. He denied responsibility for Kivlehan's death but declined to answer questions about his whereabouts that night or provide an alibi, instructing gardai "no comment." Brady had been initially arrested under the Misuse of Drugs Act earlier that evening but no drugs were found. The trial before Justice Carmel Stewart continues.
Eddie McEvoy, 34, a chronic drug addict, pleaded guilty to eight thefts and one trespass with intent between October 2017 and January 2018. He stole goods worth over €10,000, including €6,000 of scratch cards, 20 bottles of Armani Code perfume (€2,000), 200 packets of cigarettes, 25 vodka bottles, a rum bottle, and other cosmetics and alcohol. McEvoy's offences were opportunistic, targeting soft targets and often entering shops through open doors. He was captured on CCTV in several incidents, such as the Cath Kidston shop, Hickey's Pharmacy, Boots on Grafton Street, and Boots on Baggot Street. He admitted to stealing items from a staff room at Londis, taking €6,000 of scratch cards and other stock. McEvoy has 135 prior convictions, including 59 thefts, 17 drug offences and two robberies. He is currently clean of all drugs except methadone.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Donna Kirwan, daughter of Noel 'Duck Egg' Kirwan, said her father was only guilty of "showing respect" at a childhood friend's funeral. She described him as a hard‑working "grafter" who chose legitimate work over drug sales. The court heard that both her son and daughter contemplated suicide after their father's murder. The victim impact statement was read by a woman from victim support on behalf of Donna. The court also heard that Jason Keating, 27, was present at the scene and facilitated the shooting. Keating had a tracking device on Kirwan's car and was linked to the assailant. Keating pleaded guilty to facilitating a criminal organisation in the murder, and the State withdrew the murder charge, leaving only the facilitation charge pending. The hearing took place before the sentencing of Keating, who was remanded in custody until December 12.
David Murphy, 39, of Carlow, was jailed for four years after he held up a Centra shop in Dublin to pay his 21‑year‑old son's drug debt. He had been released from a seven‑year sentence in 2012, with five years suspended on a good‑behaviour condition. Judge Melanie Greally reactivated three of those suspended years and imposed a new five‑year sentence, suspending the final four years, for the attempted robbery on 28 December 2017. Murphy pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The robbery involved him threatening a shop employee, Marco Moniz, with a pair of scissors. Moniz tackled Murphy, and police arrived shortly after. Murphy admitted the offence was stupid, expressed remorse, and said he had no intention to injure anyone. The sentence is consecutive to the reactivated years. The case was prosecuted by Gerardine Small BL and defended by Keith Spencer BL. The article reports no further legal developments.
Ciaran Neally, a 24-year-old man from Cork, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing 512 grammes of cannabis worth €10,300 for sale or supply. The offence occurred on December 18, 2014, at Station Road, Clondalkin, Dublin. Detective Sergeant Kerrie O'Connor testified that Neally was stopped at a routine garda checkpoint, where officers detected a strong smell of cannabis and found the drugs in a shopping bag. Neally's speech was slurred, and his eyes were glassy. He admitted to collecting the drugs for friends who had driven him to Dublin. Judge Melanie Greally noted that Neally was the only occupant of the vehicle to accept full responsibility for the drugs. The court considered his early guilty plea, good employment history, and lack of re-offending in the four years since the incident. The judge also acknowledged that Neally's DNA was not found on the drugs or their wrapping. Taking into account that the crime was at the lower end of the mid-range for such offences, Judge Greally suspended the sentence for two years. Neally has minor previous convictions for road traffic matters.
A scenes of crime expert has told the Central Criminal Court that a musician found dead in his Sligo home was likely in a seated or recumbent position when one of two fatal neck wounds was inflicted. Keith Brady of Cartron Estate is charged with murdering Martin Kivlehan, aged fifty-nine, at his residence on Holborn Street between 2nd and 3rd August 2015. Mr Brady has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, a plea rejected by the State. Detective Sergeant Shane Curran of the Garda Technical Bureau described discovering the body on the living room floor surrounded by alcohol and paraphernalia suggesting drug use. Blood spatter analysis on a nearby radiator indicated arterial bleeding consistent with a stab wound at that height. A forensic scientist confirmed blood matching the deceased was found on two knives recovered from the scene. The trial continues before Justice Carmel Stewart and jury.
A murder trial at the Central Criminal Court has heard evidence that the death scene of a 59-year-old Sligo man appeared staged to resemble a suicide. Keith Brady, aged 31 and of Cartron Estate in Sligo, faces a charge of murdering Martin Kivlehan at The New Apartments on Holborn Street between 2nd and 3rd August 2015. He has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. Witnesses, including two lifelong friends and the deceased's brother, described finding Mr Kivlehan with a knife in his hand. A garda present at the scene testified that the circumstances did not appear consistent with suicide, noting that cabinet doors had been opened and drug paraphernalia was visible. The prosecution outlined that the deceased had sustained two stab wounds to the neck at a 45-degree angle and had very high levels of alcohol in his system. The trial before Ms Justice Carmel Stewart is expected to continue for more than two weeks, with the jury required to consider the accused's intoxication at the time of the alleged killing.
Two men from County Sligo have had their vehicle stop and search challenged as unlawful at the Special Criminal Court. Julian Flohr, aged 37, of Rusheen Ard, Caltragh, and Damhan McFadden, aged 29, of Kilmacowen, Ballysadare, face charges of membership of an unlawful organisation on 14 August 2016. A mortar round was recovered from their vehicle near Dromahair in County Leitrim. During a voir dire hearing, defence counsel argued that gardaí provided inconsistent accounts of why the car was stopped and that the lawfulness of the search remained unproven. They submitted that the prosecution had failed to establish credible grounds for the stop. The prosecution contended the gardaí's evidence was consistent and that reasonable suspicion of drugs offences only formed after the vehicle was stopped. The three-judge court, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, reserved judgment on the admissibility of the search. Damhan McFadden pleaded not guilty.
Karl Zambra, 31, of St Teresa's Gardens, Donore Avenue, was sentenced to two and a half years in prison, with the final six months suspended for 12 months, after pleading guilty to possessing drugs for sale or supply. The offence involved selling €40 of cocaine to undercover Gardaí who had posed in plain clothes to test whether he would offer drugs. Zambra and another man approached the officers, spoke briefly, and then Zambra signalled to the other man and said, "Them boys are okay, sort them out?" After the officers purchased the cocaine, Zambra gave them his brother's mobile number and suggested they call it to sort themselves out in the future. He was not arrested until almost a year later to avoid blowing the undercover operation. Zambra has 77 previous convictions, including drug misuse, burglary, dangerous driving, drunk driving and a violent disorder offence in a Garda station.
The Irish High Court ordered the surrender of 31‑year‑old Polish national Artur Celmer to Poland to face drug‑trafficking charges. Celmer was arrested in Ireland under a European Arrest Warrant. His lawyers argued that Poland's recent judicial reforms, described as "generalised and systemic" violations of judicial independence, could jeopardise his right to a fair trial. Justice Aileen Donnelly, after consulting the Court of Justice of the EU, concluded that while Poland's judiciary has systemic deficiencies, these alone did not create a real risk of a denial of fair‑trial rights for Celmer. She therefore found no specific risk to Celmer and ordered his surrender within 25 days. Celmer's counsel may appeal, and the case will be heard again next Monday. The decision was made under EU law, not Polish law, and focused solely on the risk to Celmer's fair‑trial rights.
In the Central Criminal Court, the defence counsel for Stephen Tynan, 41, and Raymond Fitzgerald, 37, argued that the suspicious circumstances the State attributes to their alleged murder of Andrew Guerrine could be explained by them acting as accessories after the fact. Tynan's lawyer highlighted that he had no prior serious criminal record and was "hardly the typical candidate" for a gruesome attack, suggesting he may have been a middleman in a drug deal and later got involved in the aftermath. Fitzgerald's counsel focused on the lack of evidence that he was part of a joint enterprise to murder, noting that the prosecution's footage of him wiping a car door did not prove guilt. Both lawyers urged the jury to consider the possibility that each accused was not the murderer but merely assisted after the fact, and to find them not guilty if that was a reasonable possibility.
Brian Boyle, a 30‑year‑old former drug addict, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after he punched and kicked an innocent bystander at Longmeadows Apartments on 31 May 2016. Boyle admitted he was very drunk and had little memory of the incident, apologising to the victim who was hospitalised with head and body injuries. Judge Melanie Greally, noting Boyle's history of drug addiction and homelessness, accepted that he was now on the road to recovery and had taken important steps to address his addiction. She imposed a headline sentence of three and a half years, suspended on the condition that he keep the peace for that period, citing his guilty plea, cooperation with the investigation and expressions of remorse. The victim did not complete a victim impact statement. Boyle's 59 previous convictions include theft, robbery and car theft. The court emphasised that imprisoning him now would pose a risk to his rehabilitation process.
Aidan Conroy, a 40‑year‑old truck driver from Ashbrook, Clonaslee, was jailed for eight and a half years after a court found him a facilitator in the importation of nearly €300,000 worth of cocaine. The drugs were seized at Dublin Port on 20 August 2015 when officers stopped his freight truck after it disembarked from a ferry. They discovered 4.2 kilos of cocaine hidden in a fire extinguisher in the truck cab and an additional 6.9 kilos in a bag on pallets in the trailer. A jury acquitted Conroy of charges relating to the trailer drugs but convicted him of possession of the cab drugs. He pleaded not guilty to possession for sale or supply of cocaine with a market value over €13,000 and denied importation.
Alan Lynch, 58, a homeless man with no fixed abode, was sentenced to ten years in jail for cultivating cannabis at Keelogues House, Heronford Lane, Shankill, Dublin. Lynch had previously been released from prison after a four‑year sentence for drug possession and had 19 prior traffic convictions. He pleaded guilty to a Section 15A offence for growing cannabis worth an estimated €763,560. Judge Melanie Greally imposed the mandatory minimum of ten years, citing Lynch's history of drug and alcohol dependence and his inability to rehabilitate. Lynch had been in custody since his arrest in January of that year. The court noted that the balance of the sentence could be reviewed after six years, with the possibility of serving or suspending the remaining term. The case stemmed from a police investigation triggered by a blue Mercedes van crash near the grow house, which led to the discovery of 917 cannabis plants and a 1.5 kg haul.
A 21-year-old sports science student from Kiltimagh, County Mayo, has avoided a custodial sentence after admitting drug dealing at Dublin City University. Cian Charlton pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of cocaine, ketamine and MDMA for sale or supply at Hampstead House, Glasnevin, on 15 November 2017. Following a garda raid on his campus residence, officers recovered the drugs with weighing scales and documentation, with an estimated street value of €3,079. Charlton initially provided false accounts to gardaí before acknowledging he could not identify his suppliers due to fear. Judge Pauline Codd suspended a one-year prison sentence on condition Charlton maintain the peace and complete a drug awareness course with the Probation Service. The university subsequently suspended him from his course for the academic year. The court noted Charlton's lack of previous convictions, engagement with counselling, and supportive family background in mitigation.
During a Central Criminal Court hearing on 13 November 2018, Stephen Tynan (41) of Deerpark Lodge, Kiltipper, Tallaght, and Raymond Fitzgerald (37) of Knockmore Grove, Killinarden, Tallaght, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Andrew Guerrine, Tynan's cousin, who was found dead on Steelstown Lane, Rathcoole, on 23 May 2015. Guerrine's body had 20 stab wounds, two penetrating his skull and spine. Tynan testified that he last saw Guerrine the week before the murder, when Guerrine stayed overnight at Tynan's apartment and later left to collect €80. Tynan described a confrontation in which Guerrine allegedly injected drugs; Tynan claimed he struck Guerrine in response. Tynan characterised Guerrine as a "real soft lad" who was not violent but "always wheeling and dealing." The trial continued later that day.
The Central Criminal Court heard the trial of Stephen Tynan, 41, and Raymond Fitzgerald, 37, both from Tallaght, who have pleaded not guilty to the murder of Andrew Guerrine, Mr Tynan's first cousin. Guerrine's body was discovered on Steelstown Lane, Rathcoole, early on 23 May 2015, with 20 stab wounds, two penetrating his skull and spine. Garda Eamon O'Neill testified that he escorted the body to the mortuary and that the deceased's sister identified him. Items taken from Guerrine included earphones, a gold chain, a letter, €350 in cash, and a box of tablets. The cash was found in his sock and the tablets in his hoodie. Forensic scientist John Power identified the tablets as 96 Zopiclone, a tranquiliser similar to Diazepam, though not then a controlled drug. A witness had told the Gardaí that Guerrine was on his way to sell 3000 Diazepam tablets on the night he disappeared. The trial continues.
Krzysztof Wojtalski, a 37-year-old resident of Newtown, Co Carlow, has lost his appeal against sentence for cultivating cannabis. Wojtalski, who pleaded not guilty, was found guilty by a jury of cultivation and possession of cannabis for supply following a search of his property on April 16, 2015. Gardaí discovered an elaborate bunker under a pig shed containing 30 mature and 115 immature plants, valued at €32,000. Although Wojtalski claimed the plants were hemp for personal use, the Court of Appeal noted he was described as having an attachment to cannabis. The sentencing judge had imposed a four-year prison term, reducing a five-year headline sentence to account for a skin condition. The judge highlighted that Wojtalski had previously received suspended sentences for similar offences in Ireland and had also offended in Poland, indicating that prior penalties did not dissuade him from further offending. President of the Court of Appeal, Mr Justice George Birmingham, sitting with Mr Justice John Edwards and Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, dismissed the appeal. The court held that the four-year sentence fell within the available range and that the one-year reduction sufficiently reflected mitigating factors. The appeal was therefore dismissed, leaving the original sentence intact.
Karl Zambra, 31, of St Teresa's Gardens, Dublin, pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of drugs for sale or supply after an undercover operation on 18 August 2014. Two plain‑clothes Gardaí entered St Teresa's Gardens to see if they would be offered drugs. Zambra and another man were on the steps when the Gardaí approached; they spoke briefly before Zambra signalled to the other man and said, "Them boys are okay, sort them out?" The Gardaí then purchased €40 of cocaine. Zambra gave them his brother's mobile number and told them to call it to "sort themselves out" in the future. The Gardaí believed Zambra was "directing" the drug operations. He was not arrested until almost a year later to preserve the undercover operation's cover. Zambra has 77 previous convictions, including drug misuse, burglary, dangerous driving, drunk driving and a violent disorder offence in a Garda station.
Luke Wilson, aged 23, was sentenced by the Special Criminal Court to 11 years' imprisonment for conspiring to murder Gary Hanley between 15 September and 6 November last year. Wilson admitted in July that he had planned the murder and had also pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a Beretta handgun with intent to endanger life on 6 November. The firearm offence carried a headline sentence of 16 years, but Wilson received 12 years with the final year suspended for three years. He also received a six‑year concurrent sentence for the conspiracy charge. The judge noted Wilson's history of drug use, a traumatic childhood, and his early guilty plea as mitigating factors. Wilson's sentence was back‑dated to his arrest on 6 November 2017. The case involved other defendants charged with the same conspiracy and firearm offences. The court highlighted the Garda investigation and the interception of a vehicle used in the plot.
Kenneth Locke, 29, of Ballyfermot, was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment, with the final two and a half years suspended, for burglary with a plank at Cloverhill Road on 1 April. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Locke was extremely intoxicated, having taken thirty‑forty Xanax tablets that day, and had 127 prior convictions. The burglary occurred a little over a month after his release from an eight‑year sentence for aggravated burglary, of which two years were suspended. The court heard that a pregnant woman, her partner and two young children were awakened by an intruder screaming and banging on their bed with a plank, an event described as "profoundly frightening." Judge Melanie Greally noted the lasting loss of security for the family and the presence of a pregnant woman and children, and gave the headline sentence of ten years, while acknowledging Locke's early guilty plea, his young age and attempts to address his drug addiction.
Paul Keating, 23, pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of firearms at his Dublin home on 27 October 2017. A garda detective, conducting a drugs search for cocaine, discovered broken firearm parts. She noted that young people often store gun parts to settle drug debts and believed Keating was under pressure. Judge Elma Sheehan warned him of the seriousness of the offence and that he should feel ashamed. Defence counsel Keith Spencer BL argued the parts were in poor condition, incapable of firing, and not intended as film props. He emphasised that the components were tools of a dangerous industry. The judge adjourned sentencing to allow the defence to submit further reports. No further details of the case were provided.