Rihards Lavickis, 25, of Longford, is on trial at the Central Criminal Court for the murder of Akadiusz 'Arek' Czajkowski, 31. Lavickis pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter; the plea was not accepted. The trial is currently at the finding stage before Justice Una Ni Raifeartaigh. State Pathologist Professor Marie Cassidy testified that the deceased died from a stab wound to the heart, with toxicology revealing valium, amphetamines, and alcohol in his system. She noted evidence of chronic alcohol use. Forensic Science Ireland confirmed blood on the accused's jacket matched the deceased. Detective Sergeant Eric Godfrey presented CCTV showing Lavickis chasing the deceased with a raised arm. The prosecution alleges Lavickis stabbed Czajkowski moments later. Both men had prior convictions: Lavickis has 20, including drug possession, while Czajkowski had 15, including driving with excess alcohol and burglary. The trial continues.
Herton Diansambu, 21, was jailed for two and a half years after a series of violent robberies. He first stole a €700 phone from a mother with her baby and teenage son on 7 July 2016, then on 21 August 2016 robbed a Gourmet Pizza delivery man at The Boulevard, Mount Garrett, taking €130 worth of food, €50 cash and a phone. Diansambu admitted the crimes and claimed the robberies were motivated by hunger. He was found guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and had no prior convictions. The court noted his cooperation, full admissions and a drug problem, and imposed a four‑year sentence with the final 18 months suspended due to his young age and good record. The sentence was to be served consecutively, with the suspended portion not to be enforced. The case was prosecuted by Lisa Dempsey BL and defended by Kenneth Kerins BL.
Rainis Koovit, aged 21, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment, with one year suspended, for robbing a café in Dublin. On 27 February 2017 he brandished a syringe at a barista in Kaph Café, threatening to "stick it into her" if she tried to stop him. He attempted to take a tip jar, which was chained, and then stole about €20 worth of foreign currency before fleeing. Koovit pleaded guilty to robbery and to producing a syringe with intent to cause injury or intimidate. He had been on bail and was ordered to stay out of the Dublin 2 area, which the judge cited as an aggravating factor. The syringe was not believed to be infected with HIV. The court noted his history of drug use and prior convictions, and directed him to engage with probation services and address his addiction upon release.
In June 2016, 22‑year‑old Lee Murray robbed a business tourist on Hanover Street East, Dublin, threatening him with a bread knife and stealing his iPhone 7. The victim reported that the robber had a bandage on his hand. Gardaí located Murray a few hours later at Misery Hill, where he admitted the crime, led them to the hidden phone and apologized. Murray pleaded guilty to one count of robbery. On 13 February 2018, the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court sentenced him to 20 months' imprisonment. Judge Martin Nolan cited mitigating circumstances, including Murray's history of heroin addiction, his recent stab‑wound injury, and his status on the waiting list for residential treatment. The judge noted that Murray's behaviour on the day left him with "no choice" and that a custodial sentence was necessary. Murray has 24 prior convictions, including theft and knife offences, and is a father of a two‑year‑old child.
Andrew Dunne, 33, was sentenced to four years in prison at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to possessing almost €110,000 worth of heroin, cocaine, and cannabis at his Drimnagh home on July 7, 2016. He also admitted to two counts of endangering gardaí on August 7, 2016, during a high-speed chase that involved ramming a patrol vehicle and dragging a sergeant. Judge Martin Nolan described Dunne as a good family man and father who was unlikely to re-offend, noting he was a "mature man who had got himself into difficulties." The judge stated it was not necessary to include a suspended period in the sentence. Dunne was also disqualified from driving for six years. Prosecution evidence indicated Dunne was intoxicated and under threat from a drug debt, while defense counsel argued he was in a state of intense fear and paranoia. The court heard Dunne had rehabilitated himself and is now drug-free.
Gary Culhane, a 40‑year‑old Limerick man, was sentenced to four years in prison for breaking into the parochial house of The Good Shepherd Church in Churchtown, Dublin, on 15 October 2016. He pleaded guilty to burglary and was found to have 102 previous convictions, including assault, robbery and theft, and had spent 20 years in prison. Judge Melanie Greally suspended the final year of the sentence, ordering Culhane to complete a residential drug rehabilitation course at Tiglin treatment centre and to follow all after‑care plans. The priest, who had been away saying mass, was "very shaken" when he returned to find €650 stolen from his house, including money, collections and the poor box. Garda Áine Bolton identified Culhane after the priest downloaded CCTV footage.
Two Dublin men, Martin Cully (35) and Eugene Traynor (40), were sentenced to seven‑year prison terms, partially suspended, for unlawfully seizing a vehicle and forcibly removing a woman from her car. The incident occurred on Old Connacht Avenue, Bray, on 15 June 2017. Cully, who had previously been disqualified from driving for 30 years, also pleaded guilty to two dangerous driving charges. Judge Patrick Quinn imposed a lifetime driving ban on Cully, suspended the final two years of his sentence and the final two and a half years of Traynor's sentence, and required both men to remain drug‑free and engage in treatment programmes. The court noted a high‑speed chase that ended with the car crashing into a pole. Cully had 67 prior convictions, including seven burglaries; Traynor had 20 prior convictions, including robbery and theft. The victim, who suffered nightmares and flashbacks, gave a victim impact statement describing her fear and helplessness during the attack.
Steven McDonnell, 52, was sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty to possessing over €13,000 worth of cocaine for sale or supply at his Blessington Street address. The court also considered counts of possession of cannabis, cannabis resin and ketamine. A search warrant, executed after days of surveillance, uncovered a large slab of cocaine, cannabis, cannabis resin and a chocolate Kinder Egg containing ketamine, with the total drug value at €94,166. McDonnell admitted he had accrued about €5,000 in gambling debts and was coerced into holding the drugs, receiving €500 each time he delivered them to a dealer. He also admitted smoking about €50 of cannabis every few days. McDonnell had no prior convictions. The judge noted he had been coerced but ultimately chose to accept the drugs, describing him as a "pitiful" and isolated man who had suffered severe depression and attempted suicide. The sentence was imposed by Judge Martin Nolan.
David Marsh, 31, was sentenced to an additional 14 months in jail after he deceived a woman he met on a dating website by claiming he was anaemic and needed money for medication and a flight to the US to see a specialist. He also extracted €300 from a new girlfriend for a holiday that never occurred, and €800 from the same woman under various pretences. Marsh's criminal history includes six counts of deception, one theft from an Eir store, and possession of heroin while in prison. He had previously been jailed for two years in 2016 for fraud, including defrauding a Limerick couple of €76,000, stealing €740 from his employer, and scamming colleagues and rugby teammates out of nearly €8,000. He has 23 prior convictions, mainly for fraud. The court noted his "active fantasy life" and impulsive behaviour, but did not attribute any motive beyond his charm and confidence tactics. David Marsh pleaded guilty.
Daniel Doyle, aged 31, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment by Judge Terence O'Sullivan after pleading guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply at his home on 12 November 2014. Gardaí had obtained a warrant to search the house following reliable information about cocaine dealing at the address. Doyle answered the door and handed over €985 from his pocket, a bag of 446 MDMA tablets (ecstasy) and a money bag of about €600 from his underpants. In his bedroom a safe contained syringes, weighing scales, €340 in cash and €2,800 elsewhere. Doyle claimed the cash came from a recent car sale, but the Garda said this was not accepted. He has 35 previous convictions, including three for drug dealing, unlawful possession of firearms and two for threatening to kill or cause serious harm.
Ross Thompson, a 19‑year‑old father from Ballymun, was sentenced to five years in jail for possessing heroin worth €128,000 and €2,000 in cash. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, presided over by Judge Martin Nolan, suspended the final two and a half years of the sentence, citing Thompson's youth and the court's hope for reform. Thompson admitted to holding the drugs because of a €12,500 debt and had a history of 43 prior convictions, all dealt with by the Children's Court. Gardaí seized over 900 g of heroin and the cash during a search of Thompson's home a year earlier. Thompson claimed he did not know the contents of the bags or the owner of the cash. He is required to maintain good behaviour, undergo psychological counselling, and be supervised by Probation Services for 18 months after release. Ross Thompson pleaded guilty.
Bianca Francisco, a 21-year-old Brazilian national and rickshaw driver, appeared before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court where she pleaded guilty to unlawful possession for sale or supply of a controlled substance at her home in May 2017. Gardaí seized MDMA, primarily ecstasy tablets with an estimated street value of €4,570, along with lesser amounts of cocaine and other controlled drugs, weighing scales, and €1,060 in cash during a search of her flat. Francisco admitted to holding the drugs for another person without payment. Judge Patrick Quinn suspended a 12-month prison sentence on the condition that Francisco leave Ireland within three months. The judge noted that while her involvement likely stemmed from economic necessity, it was not an excuse, and he determined it was in her best interests to return to her family in Brazil. The court ordered the destruction of the seized drugs and the confiscation of the cash. This sentencing followed a previous finalisation in April 2017, where Francisco pleaded guilty to possession for sale or supply of cannabis, cocaine, and MDMA. For that earlier offence, involving drugs with an estimated street value of €1,555, a Dublin District Court judge had ordered 180 hours of community service in lieu of a six-month prison sentence.
A 33‑year‑old Waterford courier, Conor Freeman, was jailed for four years after transporting €119,000 worth of ketamine through Dublin Airport to settle a drug debt. Freeman, who had a €5,750 cocaine debt from a period living in the UK, had moved to Waterford for a "clean break." Customs officers stopped him on his return from Eindhoven, discovering £12,000 in cash and three containers of white rock‑like crystals labelled "bath salts." The drugs were later identified as ketamine. Freeman pleaded guilty to possession of 2 kg of ketamine at the airport on 9 April 2017. He had no prior convictions. The court accepted that he was motivated by fear rather than profit, noted his unlikely re‑offending, and ordered the confiscation of the seized money. The sentence was imposed by Judge Martin Nolan.
In February 2018, a Dublin father, Robert Reynolds, aged 35, was sentenced to three years in jail for preparing over €286,000 worth of heroin for street sale as a favour to a friend, Edward Maher, aged 31, whom he met at football. Garda Shona Moran noted that Reynolds could be described as "easily led" and that he had pleaded guilty to possessing just over 2 kg of heroin at his home on 19 December 2016. The investigation, triggered by surveillance of Maher, led to Reynolds' address where the two men were found mixing heroin in a garden shed. Gardaí discovered large quantities of brown powder, mixing agents, a weighing scale, a blender and gloves. Reynolds denied being a heroin addict, admitted smoking cannabis, and claimed he was asked to help as a favour. The court accepted his early guilty plea and noted his lack of insight and prior minor traffic convictions.
Alan Mahon of Tolka Estate, Glasnevin, Dublin, pleaded guilty to possession for sale or supply of cocaine worth over €60,000 found in his home on 21 March 2017, and to possession of a 9mm semi‑automatic pistol. He admitted he was storing the drugs and gun for others but could not name them, claiming fear for his life. Garda Siobhan Toland and defence counsel Michael O'Higgins argued he was a vulnerable drug addict from a respectable family. Judge Martin Nolan accepted these arguments, noted the pistol's condition, and imposed a five‑year prison sentence.
In 2010, Glen Holland, aged 34, was arrested in Dublin after authorities discovered €68,000 worth of cocaine, a mixing agent and two loaded 9mm handguns in the boot of his Toyota Avensis. The weapons, manufactured in Brazil, were ready for use. Holland pleaded guilty to possession of the firearms, ammunition and cocaine for sale or supply. After his arrest, he fled Ireland while on bail in 2011 and was not re‑arrested until 2017, when Spanish authorities extradited him under a European Arrest Warrant. In 2018, Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Holland to six and a half years' imprisonment, a departure from the mandatory ten‑year minimum for the drug charge. The judge credited Holland's admissions, cooperation with Gardaí, his difficult childhood and the fact that he was caring for his eight‑year‑old autistic son. Holland was instructed to engage with the Probation Service upon release.
Jace Pelivani, aged 49, was sentenced to six years' imprisonment in Dublin for his role in a €680,000 drug operation. He was arrested on 18 May 2017 in Clondalkin after driving a van that carried pallets of cannabis. Gardaí had received confidential information about a suspicious drug arrival at Dublin Port the previous day, discovered the drugs on a pallet, and re‑wrapped them for a controlled delivery. Surveillance followed the truck to Ashbourne, Co. Meath, where the contents were unloaded before Pelivani transported them to Clondalkin. Officers seized 34 kilos of cannabis, each wrapped separately. Pelivani pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply. The court noted that in November 2000 an Albanian court had convicted him in absentia of murder and possession of a firearm related to a pub fight in 1997. He denied prior knowledge of the drugs, claiming he had never been to Ireland, a statement the court found false.
Stephen Fitzgerald, a 42‑year‑old Dublin father of five, was sentenced to four years in prison at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for possessing €84,000 that was the proceeds of crime and heroin worth €41,250, a cutting agent worth €1,000, and other drugs. He admitted holding the cash and drugs at his Tallaght home on 6 November 2016, claiming he had no ownership but was acting as a third‑party holder for others. The judge noted Fitzgerald's family had suffered two suicides, leading to stress and drug use, yet described him as a "very good family man" who had supported relatives and volunteered in community projects. The prosecution, represented by Giollaíosa O Lidheadha SC, argued that Fitzgerald had a serious drug debt and a real threat to his life. Stephen Fitzgerald pleaded guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 23‑year‑old Gavin Mulgrew was sentenced to three‑and‑a‑half years in jail, with the final two‑and‑a‑half years suspended. The judge described his two random assaults on July 9, 2015, as "horrific, gratuitous, violent and unprovoked." Mulgrew admitted to punching David Rooney on Suffolk Street, causing a fractured cheekbone and requiring surgery, and to assaulting French national Yannick Said on Chancery Place, resulting in a dislocated shoulder, facial injuries and a broken nose. He pleaded guilty, claiming he was high on tablets and had a hazy memory of the events. The judge noted his progress in custody, his drug‑free status, and his rehabilitation work in the prison kitchen. The suspended portion of the sentence was conditional on victim‑focused work, addiction counselling and probation appointments. The sentence was back‑dated to October 10, 2017.
Christopher Walsh, 32, was sentenced to two years in jail, with the final 14 months suspended, for deceiving Close Brothers Motor Finance. He obtained a €20,000 car loan to clear drug debt, claiming a friend had collected the car after he allegedly failed to repay. Walsh had signed a contract for a Skoda Superb, paid a deposit, and then cancelled his direct debit the next day. He admitted to drug addiction and had no intention of repaying the loan. The court noted his remorse and that he had taken control of his drug addiction. Judge Martin Nolan credited his efforts but also highlighted his prior convictions, including 13 previous offences, 12 of them for road traffic. Walsh agreed to repay the finance company at €100 per month. He is a father to a six‑month‑old son and has a forklift job available. The unnamed man pleaded guilty.
Gerard Neeson, 46, of Ballymun, Dublin, was sentenced to six months in prison for providing false or misleading information in a passport application. Between 23 and 30 April 2015, Neeson submitted an application and four photographs signed by Gardaí at Ballymun Garda Station. He later handed the application and photographs to a third party who altered the photo, replacing Neeson's image with that of a criminal, and mailed the altered application to the passport office. Neeson was to receive €500 if the passport was issued. The court noted Neeson's 29 prior convictions and his admission of involvement. Judge Martin Nolan emphasized that Neeson's lack of sophistication did not absolve him of responsibility, and imposed the six‑month sentence. The case highlighted the use of a passport for illicit purposes. Gerard Neeson pleaded guilty.
A Polish national has successfully appealed his sentence for cannabis cultivation at Cavan Circuit Criminal Court. Stanislaw Gronski, aged 44, of Hill Lodge, Drumnawall, Arva, Co Cavan, had pleaded guilty to cultivating cannabis without a licence in Arvagh on 2 November 2015. He received a four-year sentence on 27 May 2016. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice Alan Mahon with Mr Justice George Birmingham and Ms Justice Máire Whelan, found the original headline sentence of seven years was inappropriate. The court determined the proper sentence should have been between five and five-and-a-half years. Gardaí had discovered a converted attic containing over 100 cannabis plants valued at approximately €268,000, equipped with sophisticated lighting and ventilation systems. Gronski's role was characterised as that of a "gardener". The appeal court noted mitigating factors including his early guilty plea, cooperation with gardaí, absence of prior convictions, and difficulties faced by foreign nationals in custody. The court re-sentenced Gronski to three-and-a-half years imprisonment from the original sentence date, suspending the balance remaining to be served.
In a High Court hearing on 2 February 2018, barrister Sean Guerin SC represented Artur Celmer, a Polish national sought for alleged drug‑trafficking offences in Poland. Guerin argued that Poland's "attack on the rule of law" renders extradition unsafe, as the absence of judicial independence would undermine Celmer's rights under the European Convention on Human Rights and the Irish Constitution. He cited evidence of systemic issues, including interference in judge appointments and reforms that the European Commission has deemed to threaten impartiality. The Commission had invoked Article 7 of the Treaty on European Union in December, demanding Poland rectify these problems before further EU action. Ciaran Mulholland of Fahy Bambury Solicitors, acting for Celmer, described the case as a leading EU test case on extraditions to Poland, claiming the reforms erode mutual trust and question the European Arrest Warrant system. Justice Aileen Donnelly, after considering the arguments, remanded Celmer in custody until 12 March, postponing the decision on extradition.
A Lithuanian man charged with importing cannabis worth €58,820 through Dublin Airport has received a fully suspended three-year sentence. Egidijus Sniauksta, aged 45, of Wylies Hill, Ballybay, County Monaghan, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of the drug seized on 3 February 2016. He had travelled from Alicante in Spain when stopped at customs, where nine vacuum-sealed packages of herbal cannabis were discovered in his luggage. Sniauksta was to receive €1,000 for delivering the drugs to a third party. Judge Terence O'Sullivan noted that while drug mules form part of the drugs trade, Sniauksta was not connected to a criminal organisation and described him as naive. The court considered his significant health difficulties, including frequent falls and loss of consciousness, his previous good work history, early guilty plea, and expressions of remorse. The sentence was suspended in full subject to strict conditions.
Two homeless men, Stephen Talbot (42) and Trevor Murphy (38), were found guilty of a series of office burglaries in Dublin 2's business district. Over a month, they posed as maintenance workers, gaining entry with a simple "glide" device and stealing €1,167 in cash, mobile phones, and corporate tickets. Murphy pleaded guilty to 11 counts of trespass and theft between March 21 and April 19, and was sentenced to three years' imprisonment with the final year and a half suspended. Talbot admitted to five theft offences and received a three‑year sentence, back‑dated to April 21. Both men were identified through CCTV and apprehended on April 19 after being seen in Fitzwilliam Square South. The court noted their homelessness and drug difficulties, and highlighted Talbot's extensive criminal record of 67 prior convictions. The judge described the offences as "mannerly burglaries" but acknowledged the disruption caused to the businesses involved.
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court sentenced Dubliner Jason Kennedy, 45, to three years in prison for robbery and theft. Kennedy pleaded guilty to robbing Park Pharmacy in Cabinteely and stealing two USB keys from Shankill Garda station on August 18, 2016. Prosecution evidence indicated that Kennedy, armed with a hammer, threatened pharmacy staff before taking €500 and prescription drugs. He was later arrested after his vehicle was spotted in Rathfarnham. While being interviewed at the station, surveillance footage showed Kennedy pocketing two USB keys when the interviewing garda left the room; he later claimed it was a joke. Judge Karen O'Connor noted Kennedy's 43 previous convictions and his failure to complete a court-ordered residential drug treatment course, despite his history of addiction. The judge expressed sadness at his non-completion but acknowledged his desire for rehabilitation. Judge O'Connor imposed a three-year sentence, suspending the final 12 months on strict conditions. This means Kennedy will serve two years in custody before being released on probation for the suspended period.
Noel O'Connor, 36, was jailed for three years after smuggling almost €70,000 worth of cocaine from Brazil into Dublin Airport. Customs officers discovered 1.1 kilos of cocaine in two shampoo bottles during a random swab test. O'Connor fled the customs hall, ran into the arrivals area, and escaped in a taxi. He later returned to Ireland to face the court, pleading guilty to importation of controlled drugs. Judge Martin Nolan described him as "the ambassador of his own misfortune" but praised his clean record in custody and charity work with the Irish Red Cross. O'Connor had ten prior convictions, including theft and robbery, and had been a personal trainer. He had fled to Brazil after a breakup, accrued a drug debt, and was persuaded to smuggle drugs to repay it. The sentence was back‑dated to 23 June.
Priscilla Farrelly, a 33‑year‑old Dublin woman, was found in possession of drugs worth almost €24,000, including cannabis, Alprazolam tablets and PVP, after Gardaí observed her conducting street deals in Fairview. She pleaded guilty to the offences and admitted selling drugs to pay a €1,500 debt. Farrelly, who has a prior assault conviction from 2009, cooperated fully with police, showing them where the drugs were stored. Her defence lawyer argued that her upbringing and psychiatric problems made her vulnerable to pressure from third parties. The judge, recognising her vulnerability and lack of financial gain, imposed a three‑and‑a‑half‑year suspended sentence, with the entire term suspended for that period.
Michael Royal, aged 41, was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to six and a half years in prison, with the final 18 months suspended. He pleaded guilty to assaulting Prison Officer Paul Hayes at Mountjoy Prison on 27 October 2012, to trespassing and theft of a BMW, an iPhone 5s and a TV on 2 December 2013, and to a burglary that led to a car theft. Royal had previously left Ireland after a trial date for the burglary but was returned to the country. The judge, citing Royal's history of 40 convictions for robbery, burglary, assault and drug offences, described him as a "menace to society." Royal was also ordered to undergo 18 months of post‑release probation supervision. The court noted that Officer Hayes suffered fractured bones and a jaw injury requiring surgery after the assault. The case highlighted Royal's long‑term drug addiction and the impact of his criminal behaviour on the community.
Two Dublin men, Jonathan Harding (45) and James Walsh (33), were sentenced to ten years and nine years in prison respectively for possessing a lethal arsenal of weapons, including nine revolvers, four pistols, a sub‑machine gun, an assault rifle, and various ammunition magazines. The weapons were discovered on 24 January 2017 at a unit in Greenogue Business Park, Rathcoole, which was presented as a logistics company. The men had pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court, and the judge noted that without the guilty pleas they would have received twelve‑year sentences. Harding had a prior six‑year drug‑related sentence in 2004; he received a ten‑year term with one year suspended. Walsh, with previous public‑order convictions, received a nine‑year term with one year suspended. The judge described the arsenal as "enormous potential for death and destruction" and a "lethal arsenal stored for the purpose of organised and very serious crime.".
In 2013 a Dublin man, Ross Archibold, 40, was found with more than €400,000 worth of ecstasy pills in the boot of a car near his home in Snowdrop Walk, Darndale. Gardaí spotted him acting suspiciously beside the vehicle and, after he jumped a garden fence, searched the boot and discovered four bags containing over 40,000 MDMA tablets. The drugs had a street value of €403,000. Archibold was also found to have receipts from Lifestyle Sports in Swords and an Applegreen service station on the M1, and CCTV footage showed him buying a sports bag at Lifestyle Sports and being a passenger in the car that carried the drugs. He pleaded guilty to one count of possessing MDMA for sale or supply at Buttercup Park on 12 April 2013, entered an early guilty plea, was re‑charged and re‑entered a guilty plea in 2016. He has 18 previous convictions, mainly for minor offences.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Declan Garnett, a 46‑year‑old father of three, pleaded guilty to possessing 198 grammes of cocaine worth €13,923 found near his apartment complex bins. He claimed he discovered the drugs in a shopping bag, brought them home, and hid them in his wife's jacket, holding them for up to three days before deciding what to do. Garda Cathal Connolly reported that the police raided Garnett's home on a warrant, finding no wealth, paraphernalia, or cash. Garnett had no prior convictions. His defence highlighted his lack of secondary education, strong work ethic, and family support, submitting employment testimonials and letters from his wife and children. Judge Karen O'Connor, shocked by the children's letters, set a headline sentence of five years' imprisonment but adjourned sentencing to March 14 to assess suitability for community service, noting Garnett's apologetic nature and potential to give back to the community. The case remains pending.
A Ballina man has received a three and a half year suspended sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following his guilty plea to assaulting his brother in May 2016. Gordon Rodgers attacked David Rodgers at Dunard Road, Blackhorse Avenue, Cabra, Dublin 7, causing a fractured skull, broken ribs and elbow, and internal bleeding. The victim spent time in a coma and took considerable time to recover. Garda evidence indicated Rodgers had been self-medicating with alcohol and cannabis at the time and was subsequently hospitalised for severe mental health difficulties. Judge Martin Nolan described the assault as vicious and prolonged, but noted Rodgers was mentally unstable when the incident occurred. The judge acknowledged Rodgers' engagement with psychiatric services, his medication compliance, and that his brother had forgiven him. No evidence suggested he would repeat such behaviour.
Three men – John Darcy (50), Patrick Riordan (63) and Thomas McAllister (63) – were sentenced in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for transporting €1.1 million worth of MDMA and heroin in 2016. Judge Martin Nolan described them as "kind and responsible" family men who made a "grave misjudgement" under pressure to settle drug debts. Darcy and Riordan received four‑year prison terms; McAllister received a three‑year term, a lesser sentence because he was not involved to pay his own debt but to help a relative. The court heard the drugs were seized from a van, a truck and a house, with street values of €420,000, €260,000 and €460,000 respectively. All three pleaded guilty to possessing drugs for sale or supply at locations in Dublin and Kildare on 30 November 2016. The judge noted each man's personal circumstances, including debts, duress, and health issues, but imposed the sentences as stated.
Two men, Dubliners Derek Naylor (46) and Paul Goddard (57), were sentenced at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following their guilty pleas to possession of cannabis resin at Clearwater Shopping Centre car park, Finglas on August 24, 2016. Both defendants admitted their charges and were found guilty. Judge Karen O'Connor sentenced both men to four years but suspended each of their sentences. Goddard also admitted possession of amphetamine and cannabis at his home on the same date. Naylor, a taxi driver with no previous convictions, and Goddard, who has four previous convictions for minor road traffic offences, were described by the judge as being at the lowest end of the ladder in the drugs industry. The judge noted that Goddard's involvement was an act of desperation due to threats to a family member, while Naylor became involved due to a drug debt. The court ordered that Naylor continue his mentorship role at the Coolmine therapeutic community programme, and that Goddard engage with the Probations Service on offence-focused work. The matter was adjourned following the sentence.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, William Harton (41) was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for falsely imprisoning his then‑wife, Amy Harton, at their Sandyford home on 16 February 2017. Harton also pleaded guilty to possession of an imitation firearm and possession of cocaine on the same date. The court heard that Harton had forced Amy back into the house after she tried to escape, threatened her with a knuckle‑duster, and produced a handgun he claimed was functional, though it was later found to be a fake. During a two‑hour stand‑off with the Garda emergency response unit, Harton swallowed pills and took cocaine. He eventually released Amy after she unlocked her phone for him and then surrendered to Gardaí. Harton has nine prior convictions, mainly for traffic offences, and has been relocated to County Wexford under bail conditions.
At a hearing_or_decision in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Jonathan Goulding (28) and Goulding AKA Farrell pleaded guilty to burglary at Mr Price, Coolock Retail Park, on March 27, 2017. Both defendants admitted the charges and entered pleas of guilty. The matter was adjourned, and no sentence was imposed. Judge Melanie Greally adjourned sentencing until October 8, 2018 and requested a report from Tiglin for that date. The court heard that Goulding, who was a chronic drug user at the time of the offence, is now drug free and progressing well in a residential treatment programme at Tiglin. The incident involved Goulding picking up a screwdriver in the shop and asking a staff member if he thought he would stab him. No one was physically injured during the incident. The court was informed that this was the first time Goulding had made an effort to address his issues, and his defence asked the court to allow him to complete the treatment programme prior to sentencing. The court heard that the burglary was committed to feed his drug habit at the time. Garda Kevin Hynes confirmed the details of the incident, and the defence agreed that the incident, while frightening, did not result in any physical harm. The matter was adjourned and not finalised.
Shane Percival, 24, of Rathangan, Co Kildare, was sentenced to two years in prison for possessing drugs for sale or supply. He pleaded guilty to one count of possessing drugs for sale or supply at the Aldi supermarket, Newlands Cross, Co Dublin, on December 9, 2015. Judge Martin Nolan in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court described the act as a "reprehensible error of judgement" but noted Percival's good character and lack of previous convictions. The judge acknowledged that a custodial sentence would cause hardship to Percival's family, as he helps care for his intellectually disabled sister, yet stated he had to mark the seriousness of the crime involving €560,000 worth of heroin. The sentence was imposed for deterrence and punishment. Percival had been paid €50 to drive his co-accused, Gareth Prior, to the location. Gardaí seized four kilos of heroin from the vehicle. Prior, 36, of Celbridge, Co Kildare, was previously jailed for 12 years with the final three years suspended. Michael White, 42, of Clondalkin, Dublin, was jailed for six years with the final three years suspended. The court heard that Percival believed he was driving his friend to pick up cannabis and was not a target of the surveillance operation.
Patrick McDonnell, 28, of New Line Close, Mountrath, was sentenced to five years in prison after a series of drug‑related offences and dangerous driving. He pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of cocaine for sale or supply, dangerous driving and reckless endangerment at Castlecomer on 27 January 2017, and to possession of cannabis and cocaine at Ballyroan on 16 January 2016. During a drug bust near the Kilkenny/Laois border, gardaí found 300 g of cocaine in a tupperware container. McDonnell fled, driving his car at speeds up to 100 km/h, crashing into a garda vehicle and injuring two officers. He also crashed into a car exiting a driveway. The court noted his history of drug offences and his statement to a garda that he had "not done anything". Judge Martin Nolan imposed the five‑year sentence, citing the reckless conduct and the injuries caused to the officers.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Yasmin Redmond, aged 20, received a four‑year suspended sentence for possessing €24,251 worth of cocaine. Redmond had agreed to hold the drugs in a shed at her home as a favour to a third party, with no payment. She pleaded guilty on 17 April 2017. Garda Nicola Gormon, with confidential information, obtained a search warrant and entered the empty premises. During the raid, officers found a school bag containing the cocaine block behind an artificial Christmas tree. Redmond admitted she had been minding the drugs for a week for someone else. She had no prior convictions and had cooperated with Gardaí. The judge, Martin Nolan, noted her young age, cooperation, and lack of involvement in higher‑level drug dealing, and therefore imposed a suspended sentence rather than the mandatory minimum of ten years.
Martin O'Brien, 31, from Coolevin, Balybrack, was convicted of burglary at the home of Mrs Marian Shanley, widow of the late High Court judge Peter Shanley, on 31 August 2016. He had been serving a four‑year suspended sentence for a 2013 burglary of an 85‑year‑old man's home. On 20 February 2017, Judge Pauline Codd sentenced him to three years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended, for the Shanley burglary. The Court of Appeal dismissed the Director of Public Prosecutions' appeal that the sentence was "unduly lenient", holding that it was not so far outside the norm. O'Brien had 103 prior convictions, including six for burglary, and had previously been employed as a groundsperson at Leopardstown Racecourse. He had struggled with heroin addiction and mental health issues, but had detoxified and entered a residential drug treatment programme before the trial. Martin O'Brien pleaded guilty.
Trevor Brunton, 35, of Broombridge Road, Cabra, pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing cocaine over €13,000 for sale or supply at Blanchardstown shopping centre and at his home on 28 July 2016. He was found with over €380,000 worth of cocaine, including eight blocks weighing just over three kilos and an estimated street value of €245,000, and a further quantity seized from his home, bringing the total to just over €382,000. Brunton had a drug debt of €15,000 and was transporting drugs to pay it off. He has seven previous convictions, including four firearm convictions, and was previously jailed for eight years in 2008. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and ordered a review of the case in six years. His co‑accused, Jason Kearney, 37, also pleaded guilty to one count of possession over €13,000 and was jailed for 10 years.
A truck driver from Cavan has been sentenced to four years' imprisonment following his conviction for drug smuggling at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Maurice McCreesh, aged 38 and resident in Lisreagh, pleaded guilty to possessing cocaine for sale or supply. Gardaí discovered nearly 15 kilos of cocaine, valued at over €1 million, concealed in his truck at Dublin Port on 12 September 2015. The defendant initially claimed to be a customs informant but subsequently admitted transporting the drugs from Liverpool to Dublin on behalf of criminals to whom he owed money. The court heard McCreesh had been coerced into the arrangement following financial pressure and had spent time in hiding from the gang involved. Judge Martin Nolan imposed the sentence having regard to the seriousness of the offence, while acknowledging the defendant's co-operation with gardaí and absence of previous convictions.
In a Special Criminal Court sentence hearing, Jonathan Harding, 45, of McNeill Court, Sallins, and James Walsh, 33, of Neilstown Drive, Clondalkin, were found guilty of possessing an arsenal of firearms and ammunition. The weapons, recovered on 24 January 2017 at a unit in Greenogue Business Park, included nine revolvers, four pistols, a sub‑machine gun, an assault rifle, an AK‑47, and over a thousand rounds of ammunition. The men were arrested after a surveillance operation that followed their travel in a Ford Transit van to the park. Harding had two prior convictions, including a six‑year sentence for drug possession, while Walsh had previous public order offences. The court remanded both men in custody until 30 January, when sentencing will occur.
Ronald Flynn (54), of Mount Nugent, Ballyjamesduff, Co Cavan, has been sentenced to two years in jail following his guilty plea at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing just under 10kg of cannabis at Citywest Avenue, Citywest Business Park, Dublin on November 19, 2015. Flynn admitted to the charge and was found guilty. The court heard that Jason Flynn, currently serving a five-year sentence for drugs offences, had accrued a drug debt, which was then transferred to his father. Jason Flynn wrote a letter from prison appealing for leniency for his father, stating it was 'all his fault'. Judge Martin Nolan acknowledged that Ronald Flynn felt 'coerced' to take part in the operation as he was told his son would be 'killed by Christmas'. However, the judge noted that Flynn, a 'mature man', made a decision to involve himself in serious crime. Detective Garda William Armstrong testified that he posed as a UPS delivery man to intercept the parcel of drugs, valued at €198,900. Flynn was arrested after collecting the package and made full admissions. Flynn has 19 previous convictions, mainly for road traffic offences. Michael Bowman SC, defending, stated that Flynn was threatened with the death of his son unless he collected the drugs. The judge agreed to stay the start of the sentence until February 26 next. The matter was adjourned for the purposes of appeal.
Declan Cosgrave, a 53-year-old painter, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to possession of cannabis resin, cannabis, and cocaine worth €1.9m at his home in Donaghmede Park, Dublin 13. Judge Cormac Quinn imposed a seven-year prison term, suspending the final two years for a period of two years. The judge directed that Cosgrave undergo Probation Service supervision for two years upon release. During sentencing, the court acknowledged mitigating factors, including Cosgrave's plea, cooperation with gardai, medical conditions, and an alleged element of coercion. Cosgrave's defense counsel, Blaise O'Carroll SC, argued that the defendant was vulnerable and coerced into storing the drugs to settle a debt, citing his history of cocaine use and chronic sleep apnoea. The judge noted the significant value of the drugs as an aggravating factor but considered Cosgrave's lack of prior serious convictions and his vulnerable state when he took possession of the substances. The matter was finalized with this sentence, which includes the specified suspension and supervision conditions.
Declan Henry, a 37‑year‑old father of six from Brookview Close, Tallaght, was given a suspended jail sentence after pleading guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply. In June 2016, Gardaí seized cannabis with an estimated street value of €39,900 during a search of his home. Henry claimed he had borrowed €1,200 for Christmas and was holding the drugs to repay the debt, admitting he could not pay back the money. He expressed remorse for the impact on his wife and children. The court heard that Henry had no prior convictions and was not on any Garda radar for criminal activity. Judge Karen O'Connor noted no evidence of an affluent lifestyle or profit from the drugs. The sentence of three and a half years was suspended on the condition that Henry keep the peace and engage with Probation Services to address his cannabis use.
In a Dublin court hearing, Jason Kearney, 37, was found drinking orange juice in the kitchen of his home while a fire raged. Garda Neill McGrath, responding to the fire, had to shout at Kearney several times to leave the premises as he kept walking back into the kitchen. After the fire was extinguished, the garda discovered prescription tablets on a countertop and later obtained a warrant to search the house. The raid uncovered €104,604 of phenazepam tablets, €41,180 of zopiclone pills, and €7,400 of the illegal drug TFMPP in zip‑lock bags in the tumble dryer. Kearney, a father of three from Lucan, pleaded guilty to possessing TFMPP for sale or supply at his home on 27 May 2015. He has 15 prior convictions and is already in custody until 2023 for another serious drug offence. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a three‑year sentence to run concurrently with the jail term he is currently serving.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 56‑year‑old Joseph Tyrell, who has 85 prior convictions, was found to have spent more time in prison than in the community. Since age 16, he has been in and out of custody, with the longest period outside prison in the last 40 years lasting only 15 months. His convictions include 27 for burglary, three for aggravated burglary and four for robbery. Tyrell pleaded guilty to a burglary at Lower Kimmage Road on 31 August 2016, where he entered through an open window, stole a wallet containing €600, and was identified by CCTV. The prosecution and defence agreed the offence was opportunistic. The judge adjourned sentencing to 2 March 2018 and ordered an updated probation report. The defendant, a father of three, expressed a desire to complete courses and provide drug‑free urine analysis before transfer to another prison. The court noted his improved health and commitment to bettering himself.
Ciaran Ryan, 24, from Summerhill, Dublin 1, pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a CZ model 70 semi‑automatic pistol and two rounds of 7.65 Browning calibre ammunition. The items were recovered by Gardaí at Connolly Station on 19 July. During the sentencing hearing, Detective Garda Gary Dunne described how a surveillance operation had been set up around Connolly station. At 3:05 pm Ryan entered the station, bought a ticket and went to the waiting area for the Belfast train due to depart at 3:30 pm. He met a woman who handed him a white bag; she was pushing a buggy with a child. After she left, Ryan boarded the train. Gardaí followed him onboard and arrested him.