A 22‑year‑old man, Niky Sosso, was found with 387 g of cocaine worth €27,115 in his bedroom in Mulhuddart, Dublin, on 28 January 2016. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing cocaine for sale or supply. The offence carries a presumptive mandatory minimum of ten years, but the judge, Karen O'Connor, departed from that minimum because Sosso cooperated with the Gardaí, had no prior convictions, and had a good character record. The court imposed a suspended prison sentence of three years, with the sentence suspended for the full term. Sosso admitted he was holding the drugs for others, had no significant assets, and was a student at the time. He pledged to pay drug rehabilitation facilities with his earnings. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Anthony Connors, aged 42, was sentenced to four years in prison for a burglary that turned violent when he attacked Michael Tonra in Tonra's home on 20 June 2016. Connors had convinced Tonra he was looking for a long‑lost friend and, after Tonra offered to write down his contact details, Connors entered the house, pushed Tonra, and tried to force his way past him. Tonra resisted, and a struggle ensued in which Tonra pinned Connors to the ground, struck him, and forced him out of the house. Connors shouted threats of return and demanded his jacket, which he had taken during the fight. The court noted Connors' 60 prior convictions, including burglary and robbery, and his history of drug abuse. Judge Karen O'Connor, after hearing the case, imposed a five‑year sentence, suspended the last year on the condition that Connors participate in Probation Service programmes to address violent offending and substance abuse. Anthony Connors pleaded guilty.
A man serving a life sentence for the 2011 murder of his mother in Castlebar, County Mayo, has lodged an appeal against his conviction at the Court of Appeal. Celyn Eadon was convicted in February 2014 of murdering his 46-year-old mother, whom he fatally stabbed on 9 March 2011. He had pleaded not guilty to murder but admitted manslaughter. During his eight-day trial at the Central Criminal Court in early 2014, the court heard evidence of Eadon's long-standing substance abuse and his mental state at the time of the killing. His legal team argued that the trial judge failed to adequately address the question of intoxication in relation to specific intent. Counsel contended that instructions given to the jury regarding voluntary intoxication may have prevented proper consideration of whether the charge should be reduced to manslaughter. The three-judge panel reserved judgement on the appeal.
Mapulana Monnakgolta, 38, received a suspended sentence after pleading guilty to importing 5.8 kg of cannabis resin worth €116,700 between 9 and 20 February 2015. She had no prior convictions, cooperated fully, and had not been previously caught by Gardaí. Monnakgolta claimed she expected the packages to contain clothes and shoes and was to be paid €500 per parcel by unknown persons. Garda Killian Duffy noted her statements were "somewhat confused." Judge Melanie Greally sentenced her to three and a half years, fully suspended, and ordered her to attend psychiatric appointments and take medication as directed. She now lives in a hostel on North Brunswick Street, Dublin. The case involved parcels intercepted by customs upon arrival in Ireland. The suspended sentence means she will not serve time unless she breaches the conditions set by the court.
In 2015, Darren Snee, aged 28, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing 1,705 ecstasy tablets worth €17,050, along with €400 of cocaine and €800 of cannabis. He received a two‑and‑a‑half‑year suspended sentence for the drugs and a separate suspended sentence for the cocaine and cannabis. The High Court had earlier ruled that ecstasy was not properly defined in law, effectively legalising it, but the Supreme Court overturned that ruling, reinstating the offence. The Director of Public Prosecutions had dropped the possession charge on the day of Snee's 2015 sentence. In December 2017, after the matter returned to court, Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Snee to two years' imprisonment, crediting him for 17 days already spent in custody. The sentence reflects the Supreme Court's decision that the drugs are illegal and the court's view that Snee's prior convictions and re‑offending warranted a custodial term.
The Central Criminal Court heard the case of Graham McEvoy, aged 19, who was found guilty of murdering 23‑year‑old Paul Curran at Seagull House, Dublin, on 16 July 2016. McEvoy pleaded guilty to manslaughter, but the plea was rejected and he faced a week‑long trial. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy sentenced him to life imprisonment. Curran's mother, Elizabeth Curran, was not present but her statement was read by prosecution counsel. She described her son as a soft‑natured, kind boy who loved Christmas and giving presents, and said she suffered mental health issues after his death. She also said McEvoy was a bully and that Curran had tried to slash him with a knife. Defence counsel Barry White SC noted McEvoy's chaotic lifestyle, drug problems and lack of prior violent convictions, and indicated an intention to appeal the verdict.
Brian Rattigan, 38, was convicted in a Special Criminal Court of directing a €1 million heroin supply from prison. He pleaded not guilty to possession of heroin and two counts of possession for sale or supply on Hughes Road South, Walkinstown, on 21 May 2008. The court found him the director of a drugs gang and sentenced him to 17 years, back‑dated to June 2008, to run concurrently with a life sentence for the murder of 21‑year‑old Declan Gavin. The murder conviction was later quashed by the Supreme Court. Rattigan's appeal against the drug conviction is scheduled for 5 June 2025. The appeal is solely against conviction; counsel expects it to finish in under a day. Rattigan was not present at the hearing. The trial relied on evidence of a €1 million heroin haul, mobile phone texts detailing drug distribution, and a diary found in his prison cell.
Ryan Fitzpatrick, aged 20, pleaded guilty to reckless endangerment and dangerous driving in Dublin. He was charged with leading a high‑speed chase that forced parents and schoolchildren to take evasive action near a Donaghmede school, and with driving a Toyota Prius at up to 120 km/h, overtaking on the wrong side of the road, causing a two‑car collision, side‑swiping a Garda car and bypassing a road block. The court noted his previous road traffic and drug convictions. Judge Patrick Quinn sentenced him to three years' imprisonment but suspended the sentence in full, citing his early plea, employment, completion of a barber training course and the potential for a "make or break point" in his life. The judge also disqualified Fitzpatrick from driving for five years. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 17 February 2016. The sentencing decision was made on 18 December 2017.
John Theaddus, a 30‑year‑old former refugee from Nigeria, was found guilty by a jury of conspiring to import cocaine and of possessing cocaine. He was sentenced to five years' imprisonment, back‑dated to the day of his conviction, November 15. The case involved a total of €23,644 worth of cocaine seized by Gardaí. Theaddus had been arrested after a package containing cocaine was delivered to a hostel where he was staying, and further drugs were found at his South Circular Road address. He had previously been convicted of public order offences. James Onwuka, who was co‑accused and pleaded guilty to the same counts, received a separate sentence of two and a half years' imprisonment. The trial was held at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Theaddus had been granted a residential permit in 2014, allowing him to work and study, and had no prior criminal record beyond the public order convictions.
Leroy Roche AKA Dumbrell, 31, of Dun Laoghaire, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to a further 14 months in prison for violent disorder. Judge Martin Nolan noted that Dumbrell pleaded guilty to the offence, which occurred on August 29, 2015, during a disturbance at Cloverhill Prison. The court heard that Dumbrell allegedly acted as a ringleader, striking riot squad officers' shields with an iron bar and threatening to take a hostage. Judge Nolan described the behaviour as disgraceful, particularly given that the offence was committed while Dumbrell was already in custody. The judge acknowledged mitigating factors, including Dumbrell's efforts to reform, evidenced by completed education courses and a drug-free status. Dumbrell's 14-month sentence will run consecutively to the six-year jail term he is currently serving for making threats to kill and violent disorder. His current sentence is due for release on July 30, 2019, and the new sentence will take effect from that date. Defence counsel Damien Colgan SC highlighted that the guilty plea spared the court a trial and presented evidence of Dumbrell's rehabilitation, including completion of an Alternative to Violence course.
A 19‑year‑old, Graham McEvoy, was found guilty of murder by a Central Criminal Court jury after admitting he stabbed his 23‑year‑old best friend, Paul "Paulie" Curran, to death on 16 July 2016 at Seagull House, Crumlin Road, Dublin. McEvoy had pleaded guilty to manslaughter, but the plea was rejected and he faced a week‑long trial. The jury reached an 11‑to‑one verdict after more than eight hours of deliberation. McEvoy will receive a mandatory life sentence. The trial heard that Curran was stabbed at least six times, with a fatal wound entering under the left armpit and penetrating the upper lobe of the left lung, causing respiratory collapse and death. McEvoy claimed he acted in self‑defence after Curran tried to slash him during a drug‑deal dispute, but the prosecution argued the force used was excessive.
Nathan Coakley (24) has been sentenced to five years imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for his role in an armed robbery. Coakley, of Buckingham Street Upper, Dublin, pleaded guilty to possessing a kitchen knife during a hold-up at a Spar shop on Long Brook Quay on December 10, 2015. His accomplice carried an imitation firearm and assaulted a staff member when unable to access a time-locked safe. The raiders escaped with €6,114, which was never recovered. Judge Cormac Quinn imposed the five-year sentence with the final 18 months suspended, conditional on compliance with the Probation Services. The court noted that a victim, who has since relocated to Donegal, found the robbery traumatic. Coakley's previous convictions number 82, predominantly for road traffic offences, though Judge Quinn acknowledged his recent achievement in becoming drug-free and noted the absence of prior violent crime convictions.
A jury in the Central Criminal Court will return to deliberate on the case of 19‑year‑old Graham McEvoy, who stabbed his best friend Paul "Paulie" Curran to death. McEvoy pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. He claimed he met Curran to sell cocaine, and when Curran demanded money, Curran pulled a knife and tried to slash him. McEvoy's lawyer argued self‑defence, while the prosecution contended that McEvoy stabbed Curran six times while he was trying to escape. Justice Patrick McCarthy has asked the jury to reconvene on Monday.
A jury returned to the Central Criminal Court after a little less than four hours of deliberation to decide the verdict in the trial of 19‑year‑old Graham McEvoy, accused of murdering his best friend. McEvoy, of Captain's Road in Crumlin, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter of Paul "Paulie" Curran (23) at Seagull House on Crumlin Road in Dublin on 16 July 2016. He claimed he met Curran to sell half an ounce of cocaine, but when Curran demanded money, Curran pulled a knife and tried to slash McEvoy. McEvoy said he defended himself and that Curran suffered fatal injuries in the struggle. Justice Patrick McCarthy explained that the prosecution must prove beyond reasonable doubt that McEvoy knew the force he used was excessive. If they fail, the jury should find him not guilty of murder and guilty of manslaughter; if they succeed, they should find him guilty of murder.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 14 December 2017, Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy presided over the trial of 19‑year‑old Graham McEvoy, who was charged with murder but pleaded not guilty to that charge and guilty to manslaughter. McEvoy's plea to manslaughter indicates acceptance of responsibility for the killing of 23‑year‑old Paul "Paulie" Curran, but denies intent to kill or cause serious injury. McEvoy claimed that he met Curran to sell cocaine, and that Curran drew a knife and attempted to slash him. McEvoy then stabbed Curran six times, resulting in fatal injuries. Justice McCarthy explained that a defendant may be found guilty of manslaughter if the force used was excessive, even if the defendant was not intent on killing. He instructed the jury that they must decide whether the prosecution proved beyond reasonable doubt that McEvoy knew the force was excessive. The jury was then sent to deliberate.
In the Central Criminal Court, 19‑year‑old Graham McEvoy pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to the manslaughter of 23‑year‑old Paul Curran. The prosecution, led by Conor Devally SC, argued that McEvoy's self‑defence claim lacked credibility. Devally cited CCTV footage showing McEvoy's movements after the stabbing, the condition of a light‑coloured hoodie, and the absence of blood on the hoodie, arguing that the hoodie could not have been slashed. He also questioned McEvoy's statements about driving a red Honda Civic, noting that CCTV showed him in a silver Hyundai. Devally further highlighted that McEvoy bought a mobile phone after the incident, suggesting he was covering his tracks. The defence, represented by Barry White SC, maintained that the incident was a drug deal gone wrong and that McEvoy acted in self‑defence, seeking a manslaughter conviction rather than murder. The trial remains ongoing.
Christopher Keeley, aged 53, was sentenced to five and a half years in prison by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for his role in a car chop‑shop operation and drug offences. He pleaded guilty to possession of stolen cars and to possession for sale or supply of cannabis. Gardaí seized six stolen vehicles, €70,000 worth of cannabis, and additional drugs including cocaine, as well as fake bank drafts, from a series of searches at an industrial unit in Summerhill, Meath, Keeley's home in Rossfield Court, Tallaght, and a lock‑up in Blessington, Co. Wicklow. The court noted that the stolen cars had been taken during burglaries across the country. Judge Martin Nolan, taking into account Keeley's serious medical problems, accepted his remorse and imposed the sentence, stating Keeley would not appear again for similar offences. The sentence reflects the profit motive behind the drug dealing. The case remains at the sentencing stage.
The prosecution has finished presenting its evidence in the murder trial of 19‑year‑old Graham McEvoy, who was accused of stabbing his best friend, 23‑year‑old Paul "Paulie" Curran, during a drug deal on 16 July 2016. McEvoy pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The State did not accept the plea and the case is proceeding at the Central Criminal Court. Garda Julianne McNamara supplied mobile phone records showing McEvoy called Curran three times in the 42 minutes before the stabbing. McEvoy had told police he intended to meet Curran at Seagull House to buy half an ounce of cocaine. After Curran allegedly pulled a knife, McEvoy claimed he stabbed him in self‑defence. McNamara also found that McEvoy had made three calls that day to a 15‑year‑old girl who had previously testified that he was looking for Curran.
Lisa Smith, 36, of Harelawn Park, Clondalkin, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of cocaine, heroin, MDMA and ketamine for sale or supply at her home on 1 April 2016. Gardaí found €210,000 worth of drugs and a cocaine press under a kick board in her kitchen after a search warrant. Men reportedly came to her kitchen to bag the drugs, paying her €50 each time. Smith admitted responsibility for the items, though she claimed they were not hers. Judge Greally described the case as borderline for custodial sentencing, noting Smith's vulnerability, early plea, cooperation with gardaí, troubled background and lack of prior convictions. She received a five‑year sentence suspended on conditions including keeping the peace, good behaviour, and 12 months of probation. The judge warned that any lapse would activate the full sentence.
Graham McEvoy, aged 19, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter of his best friend Paul "Paulie" Curran, aged 23, after a drug deal at Seagull House on 16 July 2016. McEvoy told Garda Dermot English that he met Curran for a 14‑gram cocaine transaction. Curran allegedly pulled a knife and attacked McEvoy, who claimed Curran nearly stabbed him and struck him with a portable speaker. In the ensuing struggle McEvoy says he used Curran's jacket to wrest the knife from him and stabbed Curran a few times, with the knife entering below the armpit. McEvoy left the scene in his car, later bought a car, and planned to turn himself in the next day. He described the incident as self‑defence and expressed genuine distress over the death of his friend. The trial is ongoing at the Central Criminal Court.
Patrick Joseph Mangan, 51, of Valeview Drive, Finglas, was wanted abroad for a single drugs charge alleged to have occurred in Spain on 29 November 2010. A European Arrest Warrant sought his surrender on the basis that he participated in an organisation dealing with drug trafficking. The warrant described a British organisation that purchased large amounts of drugs from Melilla, paid by a Spanish group, and that 148 kg of hashish was recovered on that date. The High Court ordered his extradition in March, and Mangan lost an appeal against that order on 11 December 2017. The Court of Appeal dismissed his objection that telephone tapping of a call made from an Irish‑registered phone breached his constitutional right to privacy. A stay of surrender was granted pending a Supreme Court appeal, and he remains on continuing bail. The case remains at the extradition stage.
Mark O'Brien, 21, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for violent disorder committed on November 21, 2015. O'Brien pleaded guilty to the charge, which involved kicking a stranger in the rear at Central Bank Plaza in Dublin city centre. The incident occurred while the victim was walking with his girlfriend, their three-week-old baby, and his brother. O'Brien remained at the scene and was arrested after the victim identified him to gardai. Prosecution evidence indicated O'Brien was highly intoxicated and homeless at the time, with CCTV showing him swaying before striking the victim. Defence counsel highlighted an "amazing transformation" in O'Brien, who is now attending a residential treatment programme called Team Challenge in Scotland. Detective Garda Shane Moriarty noted that O'Brien appeared as a "completely different person" compared to his appearance during the arrest. Judge Karen O'Connor acknowledged that such "gratuitous aggressive behaviour" would normally result in a custodial sentence. However, considering O'Brien's turbulent early life, history of substance abuse, and current motivation to rehabilitate, she imposed an 18-month sentence. This sentence was suspended in full. The conditions of the suspension require O'Brien to remain at his course at Team Challenge, abstain from drugs and alcohol, and undergo 18 months of Probation Supervision.
Thomas McCann, 43, of Morristown Estate, Newbridge, Co Kildare, was sentenced by Judge Patricia Ryan in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to a total of six years' imprisonment, with two years suspended. He has spent 22 years in custody and has 150 prior convictions, mainly for burglary and theft. McCann pleaded guilty to smashing a glass panel on a house on Strand Road, Sandymount, and was found guilty of burglary at a house on Maretimo Place, Blackrock, on 30 September 2011. He was acquitted of a second burglary attempt at comedian Mario Rosenstock's home. Judge Ryan sentenced him to four years for the Maretimo burglary, with one year suspended, and to two years for the 2016 criminal damage, with one year suspended, to be served after the first sentence. McCann, who has been drug‑free for 27 years, expressed remorse, thanked the court, and pledged to dedicate the rest of his life to his wife and child.
Aaron Murdiff, 20, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to three counts of robbery, three counts of attempted robbery, and one count relating to the production of a knife. The offences occurred at various locations in Shankill, Dublin, on October 21, 2015. Prosecution counsel Antonia Boyle BL detailed a three-hour crime spree during which victims were robbed of wallets, phones, and headphones, while others were threatened with knives or physical violence. Defence counsel Justin McQuaid BL highlighted that Murdiff, of Dargle Heights, Bray, Co Wicklow, had no previous convictions, was under the influence of drugs, and wished to enter the Aisling Centre for addiction treatment. Judge Patricia Ryan noted the serious nature of the charges but considered Murdiff's youth, his early guilty plea, his cooperation with gardaí, and his engagement with probation services, which assessed him as a low risk of re-offending. The judge also credited his desire to address substance abuse issues. Judge Ryan sentenced Murdiff to 18 months in prison, suspended for three years. She warned that if he came to garda attention during that period, she would not hesitate to jail him.
Two Vietnamese men, Ngog Toan Vu (54) and Thang Nguen Van (46), were smuggled into Ireland and pleaded guilty to cultivating cannabis without a licence at a warehouse in Ballymount Drive, Dublin 12, on 10 May. The court heard that the warehouse contained six grow rooms with 1,469 cannabis plants, a 31‑kg vat of harvested cannabis, and a small living area. Gardaí seized €1.795 million worth of drugs. Vu travelled in a shipping container, paid a Chinese man for the trip, and was told he would work on a farm; he spent $40,000 of his savings and lived in the warehouse for seven weeks. Van, who had lived illegally in the UK and had convictions there, thought he would work as a chef and was coughing in the grow house. Both men were remanded and their sentences adjourned to 9 April 2025 to allow investigations into whether they were victims of human trafficking.
Denise O'Brien, 38, of Cedar House, Marlborough Street, Dublin, was sentenced to 16 months in jail for stealing €1,494 worth of No 7 and L'Oréal products from a Boots store in the Ilac Centre on 23 July 2017. She pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. CCTV footage captured O'Brien and an unknown male entering the store; she placed a large amount of cosmetics in a bag held by the male before they left without paying. O'Brien has 126 previous convictions, 87 of which are for theft. The prosecution, represented by Diane Stuart BL, described her as a "persistent shoplifter" whose life had been destroyed by long‑term drug abuse. Defence counsel, Luigi Rea BL, noted that O'Brien began using cannabis at 12, later used other drugs, completed a FÁS course after leaving school, and was working on film locations before her addiction made her unemployable.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Dayle Devoy, aged 22, was sentenced to 16 months in custody for possessing 84 rounds of firearm ammunition at his family home. Devoy claimed he had discovered the stash while walking in a park. Detective Garda David Charles reported that he and colleagues found the ammunition during a search of Devoy's home, uncovering 14 rounds of 9mm Luger, .38 Special Short and .22 long rifle ammunition. Devoy pleaded guilty on 18 February 2016 and has 12 prior convictions, all at district court level, for offences including drugs and arson. Judge Martin Nolan accepted that Devoy was holding the ammunition for third parties and that he was aware of its intended use in killing, injuring or threatening people. The judge imposed a three‑year sentence with the final 20 months suspended, ordering 20 months of post‑release supervision. The case was prosecuted by Antonia Boyle BL and defended by Bernard Condon SC.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Francis Leahy, aged 58, was sentenced to five and a half years in prison for robbing a Spar shop in Ringsend on 18 February 2017. He pleaded guilty to one count of robbery, stealing €360 in cash, and one count of possessing a firearm with 10 rounds of ammunition. Leahy entered the shop masked, pointed the gun at a shop worker, demanded money, and fled with the cash. Gardaí found him with the gun loaded with two rounds, eight additional rounds, and cash. He claimed he had gambling debts and had received threatening bullet cartridges in his letter box. Judge Karen O'Connor described the offence as very serious, imposed the sentence, and suspended the final 18 months on strict conditions, including drug treatment and a victim awareness programme. The victim's impact statement noted fear for his life during the robbery.
Alan Horan, 49, was jailed for one year after taking a SuperValu delivery van and driving it in a high‑speed five‑minute chase through Clondalkin. He had lifted the van keys from a counter while the delivery driver was on his rounds. Horan pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to dishonestly appropriating keys, endangerment, dangerous driving and driving without insurance. The chase took place around Moorefield Parade and Cappaghmore, where children were playing. Garda Vincent Daly described Horan's driving as reckless, noting he drove at 80 km/h in a 15 km/h zone and over 100 km/h at a roundabout. Horan was arrested after the chase and smelled strongly of alcohol. The judge, Martin Nolan, called the offence "very stupid, opportunistic" and imposed a one‑year sentence, disqualifying Horan from driving for five years. The court noted Horan's 84 previous convictions, including a hit‑and‑run, and his drug and alcohol dependency.
In a 2017 Court of Appeal hearing, Peter Kenny's barrister argued that Kenny, convicted of murdering John Carroll in 2009, could not receive a fair trial because of the "scandalous" handling of Garda informant Joseph O'Brien. Kenny, 35, had pleaded not guilty and was sentenced to life by Mr Justice Barry White in 2011. The appeal focused on O'Brien's evidence, a known drug dealer and informant, and the manner it was obtained. Counsel claimed that O'Brien was arrested at Dublin Port, then taken to Pearse Street Garda station where he met Det. Sgt. Adrian Whitelaw and the late Superintendent PJ Brown. No notes were taken during the two‑hour meeting, and the relationship between O'Brien, Whitelaw and Brown was never documented. The barrister said the lack of documentation and contradictory statements about immunity and witness protection made it impossible for Kenny's lawyers to effectively present their case.
Darren Ward, 35, of Tallaght, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of 525 g of heroin worth €73,626, 881 g of cocaine worth €61,000, and 244 g of cannabis worth €5,000 in a car at Deerpark Square on 10 July 2015. Additional cocaine worth €10,600 was found in his Honda Accord and €8,000 was found on a male who had been observed in a transaction with Ward. Garda surveillance followed Ward from Deerpark Square to Walkinstown Green, where a male was stopped with €8,000 of cocaine. Ward's vehicle contained €1,100 cash, a weighing scale, and concealed compartments holding the drugs. Ward has 24 prior convictions, including drug‑related offences, and claimed a large drug debt and a threat on his life. Judge Martin Nolan, noting Ward's mid‑level role in the network, imposed a five‑year custodial sentence, describing it as reasonably severe given his serious involvement.
Gerard Cleary, 33, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to possessing nearly two kilos of cocaine for sale or supply outside his residence at Shon Valley Apartments, Lucan, Co Dublin, on August 8, 2017. Judge Karen O'Connor handed down a three-year sentence but suspended the final 18 months, resulting in an effective custody period of 18 months. The court accepted that Cleary admitted to holding the drugs under pressure from a third party to repay a €9,000 debt accrued through his own cocaine use. Analysis confirmed the packages contained 1,976 grammes of cocaine with a street value of €138,837. During sentencing, the judge considered testimonials, including a letter from Cleary's mother detailing his troubled childhood and his role as a drug purchaser for her at age ten. Defense counsel Caroline Biggs SC argued that Cleary was a functioning addict who had been coerced into this transaction and had no prior history of drug dealing. The court noted Cleary's 14 previous convictions, nine of which were road traffic offences, and his current engagement with addiction services. The matter was concluded with this suspended sentence.
Patrick McCann, 24, of Ballyfermot, pleaded guilty to attempted murder of 19‑year‑old Luke Wilson and to possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life. The incident occurred on 13 January 2013 at Liffey Gaels, Memorial Park, Inchicore, when Wilson was shot in the arm, neck and face but escaped injury because the gun jammed twice and McCann fled. In sentencing, Mr Justice Paul Carney described the case as "might as well have appeared in the Love/Hate script" and imposed a 20‑year sentence, suspending the final three years. He cited McCann's long‑standing dependence on alcohol and drugs and a dysfunctional family background as mitigating factors. McCann was due to appeal the sentence, but after a hearing in the Court of Appeal, his barrister Keith Spencer announced that McCann wished to withdraw the appeal.
Peng Fei He, a 34‑year‑old Chinese national living on Little Mary Street, Dublin, pleaded guilty in November 2015 to possessing more than €140,000 worth of cannabis for sale or supply. He had ordered and accepted two DHL packages from Spain, each containing just over 7 kg of cannabis, and had placed one in the boot of his car before being stopped by Gardaí. He admitted ordering the parcels, knowing their contents, and cited gambling debts of €4,000–€5,000. He denied that money was being sent to China in his name, a claim unsupported by evidence. In October 2016, Judge Pauline Codd sentenced him to eight years' imprisonment, suspending the final two years. On appeal, the Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice John Hedigan, held that the headline sentence of 12 years was too severe and reduced it to nine years.
Karl Hennessy, a 23‑year‑old with no prior convictions, was found with a €250,000 drug stash in his Dublin flat. Gardaí were called after confidential tips and discovered Hennessy and another young man asleep in separate beds. When questioned, Hennessy directed officers to a wardrobe where they seized €141,106 worth of heroin, €100,506 of cocaine, €8,780 of cannabis resin and €6,570 of MDMA, totaling €256,962. Hennessy pleaded guilty to possession for sale or supply. Judge Karen O'Connor described him as vulnerable, noting debt and predation, and imposed a three‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence with the final 18 months suspended. She urged continued engagement with Coolmine Therapeutic Centre, victim‑focus work, anger management and compliance with probation services. The case highlights the court's focus on Hennessy's background and the large drug value.
Callum Rodgers, a 24‑year‑old electrician from Dublin, pleaded guilty to cultivating cannabis at a rented premises on Navan Road. He admitted learning cultivation from the internet and described his operation as "ham fisted" and unsophisticated. Gardaí recovered eight plants and cannabis herb worth €13,000, along with evidence of a drying tent, mason jars, and cannabis in a microwave. Rodgers claimed financial hardship and that he expected to earn about €9,000, though he also admitted to smoking some. He cooperated fully with investigators, provided details of seed acquisition, and expressed remorse, citing gambling addiction, anxiety, and depression. The court, noting mitigating circumstances, imposed a three‑year sentence suspended in full, and Rodgers was ordered to compensate the landlord for property damage. He stated he had stopped using cannabis and would not re‑offend.
In a Mountjoy prison cell, a 25‑year‑old convicted drug dealer, Dean Reynolds, was discovered hiding heroin, cannabis and a mobile phone behind a panel above the toilet bowl. The discovery followed a search by prison officers, who found a sock containing the phone, a spare battery, €40 worth of cannabis and €360 worth of heroin. Reynolds had pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of a mobile phone and heroin and cannabis for sale or supply. Judge Karen O'Connor sentenced him to two and a half years' imprisonment for the drug offences, with the final fifteen months suspended on the condition of good behaviour and engagement with probation services. He also received a one‑year sentence for possession of the mobile phone, with both sentences running concurrently. The case highlighted Reynolds' prior convictions for drug dealing, assault, criminal damage and firearms possession, and his history of domestic abuse and early drug use.
Edward Maher, a 31-year-old father-of-two from Ballyfermot, Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for possessing €286,020 worth of heroin. The defendant pleaded guilty to possessing the 2.04kg cache at Orchard Lawns, Ballyfermot, on December 19, 2016. Prosecution evidence indicated Maher agreed to bag the drugs for €100 and a "bit of smoke," though he claimed he did not know the full extent of the operation. Gardaí discovered him in a back shed with the drugs, scales, and a blender during a raid. While Maher has 12 previous minor road traffic convictions, his defense counsel, Luigi Rea BL, argued for a fully suspended sentence, citing his lack of serious offending history, minor role in the enterprise, and resolved cannabis addiction. Judge Martin Nolan rejected the request for a wholly suspended sentence, deeming the crime too serious. The judge noted that although Maher was near the bottom of the criminal chain, he committed a "grave error of judgement" by taking the chance. Consequently, Maher was jailed for three and a half years. The court record confirms the procedural stage as sentencing, with the guilty plea and the resulting custodial sentence as the finalised disposal.
Celina O'Driscoll, 47, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and resisting arrest after she threw an empty pint glass at Maria Delaney during a fight in the Greyhound Inn, Blanchardstown, on 31 July 2016. Delaney suffered a head injury that required three stitches. O'Driscoll, who had been intoxicated and claimed she was nervous about a night out with work colleagues, was described by the court as having behaved "disgracefully" towards Gardaí and was "extremely aggressive" when officers attempted to arrest her. She received a two‑year suspended sentence, was ordered to pay €500 to Gardaí and given one year to raise a similar amount for Delaney. O'Driscoll has seven prior convictions, including larceny and drug possession, and has two teenage children. She has worked as a cleaner and now as a gym receptionist, and has been drug‑free for seven years.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 44‑year‑old Colm Fogarty pleaded guilty to one count of criminal damage after drunkenly slashing two tyres of a car at Keeper Road, Drimnagh on 12 July 2014. Fogarty, who had been heavily intoxicated and had a fight with his girlfriend, later visited a friend's house where a woman named 'Bunty' and her family, members of the Travelling community, confronted him. He claimed they were driving at him and cut the tyres with a knife, saying he did so to prevent them from running over him. Fogarty expressed remorse and apologized to the Gardaí. Judge Martin Nolan, noting Fogarty's drug‑free status, volunteer work organising Christmas dinners for 40 families, and completion of a residential drug treatment course, imposed a suspended one‑year sentence, stating a custodial term was not warranted given his reformation.
Stephen Pender, aged 53, and Paul O'Hara, aged 41, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing cocaine worth over €13,000 for sale or supply. Pender was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment, the mandatory term for a second offence of this nature, and his sentence will be reviewed after five years. O'Hara received a three‑year sentence, reflecting his lack of serious prior convictions and apparent reform. The pair were caught after a garda surveillance operation that followed them from a meeting outside the Ashling Hotel on Arran Quay to a car in which a 1 kg package of cocaine, valued at €70,000, was found. Pender tried to discard a mobile phone sim card; O'Hara fled the scene but later admitted to transporting the drugs to pay a €800 debt. Both men had no proprietary interest in the cocaine.
A Dublin drug addict, Glen Egan, aged 34, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison for his role in a Christmas Eve drive‑by robbery and several other offences. CCTV footage showed Egan and a co‑accused driving up in a Ford Fiesta while a male victim withdrew cash from an ATM. The co‑accused removed a car jack from the boot and placed it behind the victim's back as Egan threatened him. Garda Cormac O'Donnell reported that the pair searched the victim's pockets when he fell, taking coins and a set of car keys, then drove away. They returned moments later demanding €20 for the keys, which the victim refused to pay. Egan pleaded guilty to robbing Mercedes Benz car keys and coins at Old Stillorgan Road, €220 cash from Vape Island, and €10 from Spar, James's Street. He has 75 prior convictions.
Stephen Feery, 28, of The Water Rill, Malahide, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing a stolen vehicle and criminal damage to electric gates at an apartment block in Balgriffin. He stole a Euro Car rental on 24 February, was pursued by Gardaí, sprayed with pepper spray, collided with gates, fled, and was later found hanging from a window of his brother's apartment. The damage to the gates cost €3,500. Feery has 128 prior convictions, including burglary, dangerous driving and driving without insurance, and a 2008 suspended sentence for endangerment. He left school at 12, has three children, and had completed a residential drug programme. Judge Patrick Quinn sentenced him to two years, suspending ten months, with strict conditions. The case was investigated by Garda Jason Flynn.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court is to resume deliberations on Monday in the trial of Keith Brady, aged 30 of Cartron Estate, Sligo. Mr Brady has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter following the death of 59-year-old musician Martin Kivlehan at New Apartments on Holborn Street, Sligo in August 2015. The deceased died from two stab wounds to the neck. The defence argued that Mr Brady was too intoxicated to form the necessary intent for murder, and invited the jury to consider whether he was provoked by the deceased's alleged inappropriate conduct towards his sister. Mr Justice Paul McDermott directed the jury to assess the credibility of Mr Brady's account and whether provocation may have caused him to lose control. The judge instructed jurors to consider the accused's circumstances as a drug user rather than applying the standard of a reasonable man. The jury of six women and five men must determine whether the charge should be murder or manslaughter.
Martin Gilroy, a 34‑year‑old former engineer from Dungannon, was arrested at Dublin Airport after a car was found containing more than €600,000 worth of heroin and cocaine. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing the drugs for sale or supply. The court, hearing that Gilroy was a recovering drug addict who had worked as an engineer, described him as a "valuable player but not a major player" in the offence. Judge Martin Nolan noted that Gilroy had been "less than candid" about his involvement and that he was unlikely to be the ultimate owner of the drugs, whose profit was intended for other parties. Gilroy was sentenced to seven years in prison, a sentence back‑dated to 21 July. The drugs were seized from a car that had been parked outside Terminal Two, and a co‑accused man was also arrested after leaving the terminal.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Mark O'Shea, 32, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment for possessing a pipe bomb that he had placed under a prison officer's car. The officer's eight‑year‑old son discovered the device, which could not explode because it lacked a fuse. CCTV at the officer's home identified O'Shea placing the bomb the night before. O'Shea had been approached by two men offering €20 and tablets to do the job. He pleaded guilty, claiming he was "preyed upon" and unaware the house belonged to a prison officer. The judge noted O'Shea's remorse and lack of knowledge about the bomb's fuse, but stressed the seriousness of the offence. The sentence was back‑dated to 14 June, when O'Shea entered custody. The bomb was safely disposed of by the disposal team after the house was cordoned off. The case highlighted the vulnerability of individuals with drug addictions who may be exploited for illicit activities.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court is to consider whether a 30-year-old man from Sligo was too intoxicated to form the intention to murder when he inflicted fatal stab wounds to the neck of a 59-year-old man in August 2015. Keith Brady of Cartron Estate has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter for his role in the death of Martin Kivlehan at New Apartments, Holborn Street, Sligo. The State rejected his manslaughter plea. In closing arguments, the prosecution contended that despite evidence of severe intoxication, Mr Brady retained sufficient capacity to engage in deliberate actions before and after the stabbing, suggesting he possessed murderous intent. The defence argued that his intoxication and troubled background prevented him from forming such intention and that a manslaughter verdict was appropriate. The judge instructed the jury that they must determine whether Mr Brady was so affected by drink and drugs that he could not have intended to kill or cause serious injury. Mr Justice Paul McDermott will continue his charge to the jury today.
Keith Brady, aged 30, of Cartron Estate in Sligo, stands trial at the Central Criminal Court on a charge of murdering Martin 'Matt' Kivlehan, aged 59, at New Apartments on Holborn Street, Sligo on August 2nd or 3rd, 2015. Mr Brady has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The State rejected the manslaughter plea, and the trial proceeded. The prosecution concluded its evidence this week. During testimony, gardai recounted a statement Mr Brady made at Castlerea Prison in December 2015, in which he described being under the influence of heroin and alcohol at the time of the incident. He recalled stabbing the deceased in the neck but stated he could not remember his motivation. Mr Kivlehan died from two stab wounds to the neck. The trial, presided over by Justice Paul McDermott and a jury, continues.
Daniel Farrell, aged 22, was jailed for eight months after a burglary at Castlewood, Clonsilla on 5 May 2016. He fled the scene while his two accomplices were restrained by the house's residents. Garda Mark Quill identified Farrell through a fingerprint left on the window frame, matching the one found inside. Farrell pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He had three prior convictions. The court noted his difficult childhood, drug avoidance until age 19, and association with a negative peer group. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a two‑year sentence, suspending all but eight months on strict conditions.
A 30-year-old man accused of murdering a Sligo musician told gardai he stabbed the victim in the neck but could not recall his motive, the Central Criminal Court heard today. Keith Brady of Cartron Estate, Sligo has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter in connection with the death of Martin Kivlehan, aged 59, at New Apartments on Holborn Street on August 2nd or 3rd, 2015. The State rejected his guilty plea. Mr Kivlehan died from two stab wounds to the neck. Inspector Tom Colsh told the court that Mr Brady invited gardai to his cell in Castlerea Prison in December 2015 and provided a detailed statement about the incident. Mr Brady said he had been addicted to heroin at the time and that events unfolded after visiting the victim's apartment with his sister. He described the stabbing as a "freak moment" and stated he never intended to kill anyone. Following the incident, he said he and his sister moved the body and placed a duvet over it before leaving.