Stefan Boyle, 28, was arrested after a knife‑wounding burglary at Ali Hussain House in Milltown Bridge, Dundrum, on 2 November 2016. He was caught when a caretaker, Ali Yassine, saw him hiding under a mosque table and later confronted him. Boyle admitted the burglary and pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He has 110 prior convictions, 63 of which are burglary. Judge Karen O'Connor, after assessing Boyle as suitable for residential drug treatment, adjourned sentencing to January to allow him to enter a program at Coolmine Therapeutic Centre. The court noted Boyle's willingness to apologise, his homelessness, and his desire to recover stolen phones, and gave him a final chance to present himself favourably before sentencing. The case remains pending until the sentencing hearing.
During an interview about a robbery he had committed, Dubliner Jason Kennedy (45) stole two USB keys from Shankill Garda station. He was captured on footage putting the keys in his pocket when a Garda stepped out of the interview room. Kennedy pleaded guilty to robbery at Park Pharmacy, Cabinteely, and the theft of the USB keys on 18 August 2016. He has 43 prior convictions and had been drug‑free for years before a "slip" led to these offences. Judge Karen O'Connor granted him bail, ordering him to attend a residential treatment programme at Coolmine and a step‑down and after‑care programme, with a staff member accompanying him. The court will finalise sentencing in January after a progress report. Kennedy was also charged with threatening pharmacy staff, stealing €500 and prescription drugs, and was arrested after a car search recovered medication and the hammer used in the robbery.
Daniel Weldon, a 31‑year‑old heroin addict, was jailed for four years after pleading guilty to two attempted robberies in Swords on 1 July 2016 and a successful robbery on the same day in a second pharmacy on Main Street, where he stole €230. He also pleaded guilty to a robbery at a Spar shop on Upper O'Connell Street on 7 April 2015, during which he threatened staff with a blood‑filled syringe, stole €80, and left the syringe and blood‑stained notes behind. The judge imposed consecutive sentences totalling five and a half years, suspending the final 18 months on strict conditions, backdating the sentence to July 2016 and ordering 18 months of post‑release supervision. Weldon had 52 prior convictions and had written apology letters to the victims. He had been drug‑free for a year and had completed several courses while in custody, hoping to work in health and fitness after release.
Jonathan Duggan, 27, pleaded guilty to one count of theft at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He entered Tom Stanley's Newsagents in Blanchardstown Shopping Centre to buy a drink, saw €6,500 in notes on the counter, grabbed them and fled. The shop assistant chased him, alerted security, and he was apprehended and returned to the centre. Duggan later handed the money back. He claimed he had seen the cash and "took a chance", and said he had not threatened anyone. He was living in Cork, visiting his partner and their young daughter in Dublin. Duggan has a long history of heroin addiction, having started at 15, and 91 prior convictions, many linked to his drug use. His partner, a former heroin user, has been clean for four years. The court noted his remorse and the support he has. Judge Gerard Griffin sentenced him to three years' imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended, backdated to 9 February 2017.
Marcus Gantley, 23, was sentenced to a three‑year term with the final 18 months suspended after pleading guilty to obstructing a peace officer, assaulting a Garda, and two separate possession of controlled drug offences. The Court of Appeal upheld the sentence, describing it as "very lenient" but not "unduly lenient." Gantley was found in possession of €700 worth of heroin after a violent struggle in a Spar shop and €17,000 worth of cocaine at Dublin Airport, where customs officers confronted him over a black bag. He was on bail for the earlier charges at the time of the cocaine offence. The judge noted Gantley's history of drug addiction, chaotic lifestyle, and high risk of reoffending, and highlighted that the offences were committed over a short period, showing a disregard for bail conditions. The Court of Appeal dismissed the Director of Public Prosecutions' application for a review, leaving the original sentence intact.
Jonathan Dunne, a 27‑year‑old father of four, was convicted of stealing two bicycles and three wheels from a locked bike shed at Gasworks Apartments in Ringsend. CCTV footage showed him carrying bolt cutters and cutting a large hole in the wire cage that secured the shed. The stolen bikes were worth €3,450 and the damage to the shed €1,608. Dunne pleaded guilty to two charges of theft and criminal damage on 28 July 2016. He had 76 prior convictions, including burglary and handling stolen property. Judge Karen O'Connor, noting his pre‑meditated plan and drug addiction, sentenced him to two years' imprisonment, taking into account his cooperation and guilty plea. The case was prosecuted by Elva Duffy BL and defended by Karl Monahan BL. The incident occurred on the night of 28 July 2016.
A man from County Mayo pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two robberies committed in the greater Dublin area in 2015. Craig Dempsey, now residing in Achill, admitted robbing Apache Pizza in Tallaght Shopping Centre on 6 September 2015 in company with an accomplice who carried an electric chainsaw. The court heard that approximately €2,535 was taken. Dempsey also pleaded guilty to robbing a Spar store in Ballycullen on 20 July 2015, during which he produced a broken bottle. The court was informed Dempsey committed the offences to settle a drug debt and that he had since relocated to Mayo away from negative influences. Following a positive probation report, Judge Melanie Greally imposed a probation bond for one year with strict conditions and adjourned finalisation until July 2018.
Tracey Deegan, 42, pleaded guilty to unlawfully possessing a 12‑gauge Winchester pump‑action shotgun and a 12‑gauge Reno double‑barrel shotgun. She admitted that she had allowed a former partner to store three shotguns and ammunition in her Cherrywood Park home after being threatened at gunpoint. Gardaí discovered the firearms in a wardrobe and found a shotgun shell in the kitchen, which Deegan claimed was her brother's. She also admitted to using cocaine every two weeks. Deegan said the partner threatened her and her brother, who allegedly owed €12,000 in drugs, and that he would collect the guns after dark. She had no prior convictions and cooperated fully when arrested. The case was adjourned to 7 July for the Director of Public Prosecution to decide the seriousness of the offence.
A 19‑year‑old homeless teen, Kelly McAuley, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two counts of assault causing harm after an unprovoked attack on sisters Kathleen (66) and Eileen (59) on South Anne's Street on 13 May 2016. McAuley struck Kathleen in the face and head, causing her to fall, and punched Eileen in the nose, drawing blood. The sisters were treated for facial fractures. McAuley was arrested later that day, was intoxicated and initially unfit for interview, but later accepted full responsibility and expressed remorse. She had 42 prior convictions, including theft, assault, criminal damage and drug misuse, and had been homeless since age 10. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced her to three years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended, describing her as a danger to society. The sentence was imposed on 29 June 2017.
James Barry, aged 33, robbed a McDonald's on Lower Rathmines Road on 2 February, demanding €330 from the till while threatening a woman with a 10‑cm knife. The victim, who was working at the time, initially resisted but eventually complied. Barry fled the scene, first into a taxi, then into the Dodder River after the taxi driver was contacted by Gardaí. He claimed he believed the water would mask his body temperature from a pursuing helicopter, though no aerial pursuit was underway. Barry also pleaded guilty to a 2015 robbery of €460 from a chemist. He has five prior convictions, including attempted robbery and possession of articles, and has a history of drug addiction and a troubled childhood. The court adjourned sentencing to 5 July, noting the victim was left traumatised but no impact statement was given.
Seán Ducque, who had no fixed abode, was found guilty of murdering 33‑year‑old Kieran Farrelly on 26 October 2014. The court heard that Farrelly was shot twice with a shotgun – first in the chest, then in the head – after a confrontation in Killarney Court, Dublin. Witnesses reported two bangs and shouting at about 11.30 p.m.; a female voice warned "Seán, don't do it." Emergency services discovered Farrelly's body with two gunshot wounds. A sawn‑off, double‑barrelled shotgun and discharged cartridges were recovered from a nearby lane. Ducque denied intent to kill, claiming he was trying to sell a stolen phone, but the jury found him guilty of murder. He will be sentenced to life imprisonment next month. The trial also noted Ducque's prior robberies and his heroin addiction at the time of the offence. The judge remanded him in custody for sentencing. Seán Ducque pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin murder trial, the jury requested to see the shotgun used by Seán Ducque, who shot Kieran Farrelly, 33, in the head and chest on 26 October 2014 at Killarney Court. Ducque, a homeless drug addict, pleaded not guilty. Prosecutor Dominic McGinn SC argued that firing a shotgun at close range indicates intent to kill and that the alleged provocation—Farrelly's threat to "beat the head off" Ducque—was insufficient to cause a complete loss of control. He described Ducque's actions as deliberate: luring Farrelly to the court, retrieving the gun, shooting twice, and reloading within a metre of the victim's head. McGinn concluded that this case represented a clear instance of murder. Defence counsel Hugh O'Keeffe SC acknowledged the killing but highlighted the unusual nature of provocation and the client's intoxication.
In a Dublin murder trial, 33‑year‑old Seán Ducque, who has no fixed abode, admitted firing a loaded shotgun twice at Kieran Farrelly on 26 October 2014, killing him. Ducque said he was severely intoxicated with heroin, vodka and zimovane and had lost control after Farrelly threatened to punch him. He claimed drug dealers had given him the shotgun and four cartridges to rob a taxi driver and repay a €3,000 debt. Ducque testified that he hid the gun and the taxi driver's phone and cash in bushes at Killarney Court, then returned with Farrelly and his partners to retrieve the items. He denied any pre‑planned intent to kill, stating he was under threat and that the second shot was fired after the first when Farrelly was on the ground. The trial is proceeding before Mr Justice Paul Butler and a jury of twelve. The unnamed 33-year-old pleaded not guilty.
In the trial of 33‑year‑old Seán Ducque, charged with the 2014 murder of Kieran Farrelly, former partner Laura Dempsey testified that she was in a relationship with Ducque at the time and that they had a child. She said she had been selling heroin with Farrelly's partner that evening and that they later met Ducque and Farrelly, walking toward Summerhill. Dempsey claimed she heard a shot immediately after Farrelly crossed railings and that Ducque fired twice, once in the chest or head. She said she shouted "stop" after the first shot and that Ducque handed her a bag containing a gun after the second. Dempsey described being crying, the gun being disposed of in a bin on Mabbot Lane, and the Gardaí arriving to arrest them. She also admitted to being a heroin addict and taking methadone, valium and alcohol that night, but insisted she was not heavily intoxicated. Seán Ducque pleaded guilty.
Dubliner Jason Kennedy (45) pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to robbery at Park Pharmacy, Cabinteely, and stealing two USB keys at Shankill Garda station on August 18, 2016. Kennedy, of Butlers Place, Benson Street, has 43 previous convictions. The court heard that Kennedy had been clean of drugs for a number of years but had suffered a 'slip' at the time of these offences. Garda Desmond Molloy stated that Kennedy, armed with a hammer, threatened staff at the pharmacy before making off with €500 in cash and a large quantity of prescription drugs. He was arrested after being spotted in an Audi with a large dent in the door, and Garda recovered a large amount of medication in the car, as well as the clothes worn in the robbery and the hammer. Kennedy was taken to Shankill Garda Station for questioning, where footage revealed that he stole the USB keys while the garda was out of the room. Kennedy returned the USB keys and told gardaí 'it was only a joke.' Olan Callanan BL, defending, said that Kennedy had been assessed as suitable for a place in Coolmine residential treatment centre and asked the court to allow him the opportunity to attend. Judge Karen O'Connor adjourned sentencing until next week to hear further detail in relation to the drug rehabilitation course.
Gillian Philip, 36, of Mac Uilliam Green, Tallaght, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to damaging a neighbour's property with fire on 21 October 2015. The incident involved Philip pushing a flaming laminated piece of paper through the neighbour's letterbox, an act witnessed by two children who later helped extinguish the fire. The children, who were staying with a friend of their mother, heard a voice shouting "fire, fire" and recognised it as Philip's. They were able to quench the blaze, though the carpet in the hall was scorched. Philip initially denied involvement but admitted to the act. The case was motivated by a dispute over bins, with Philip's defence citing limited cognitive function and paranoia. She has a history of alcohol and drug abuse and five children. Judge Karen O'Connor remanded her in custody and adjourned sentencing to 31 July.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 19 June 2017, 39‑year‑old Alan Daly pleaded guilty to attempted robbery at Dunnes Stores, Ongar Village, on 13 March 2016. Daly, who had 13 prior convictions, was armed with an imitation firearm described as a "BB gun" and a co‑accused carried a knife. The pair entered the store with balaclavas, but Daly remained at the door while the co‑accused approached the tills. Staff alerted security, who pursued the men. Both fled empty‑handed and were arrested in a car that had been taken from its owners' house earlier that day. Garda Peter Foley recovered the imitation firearm, a large kitchen knife and balaclava. Daly's defence argued he had been compelled by criminals to repay a drug‑related debt and had acted in desperation after being assaulted. The judge adjourned sentencing to allow further consideration of the case and reports.
The Court of Appeal has dismissed an appeal by Mervin White, upholding a High Court decision that validated his sentencing in absentia for driving offences. White, described as a recovering drug addict and a 'veteran of the criminal justice system' with 35 previous convictions, pleaded guilty in the District Court on October 1, 2014, to drunk driving, dangerous driving, driving without insurance, and driving without a licence. Sentencing was adjourned twice due to family emergencies, including his partner's childbirth and his sister's illness. When White failed to appear for the final hearing on December 10, 2014, District Judge Ann Watkin sentenced him to two months in prison. White challenged this via judicial review, arguing that his absence allowed him to present evidence of his recovery progress, which might have resulted in community service. The High Court dismissed this claim, noting that 'neither do the courts' wait for individuals. The three-judge Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice John Hedigan, found that the District Judge made every effort to ensure his attendance and was entitled to conclude he consciously absented himself. The appeal was dismissed. A warrant committing White to prison for two months was stayed until July 31 to allow time for a potential Supreme Court appeal. The court also noted White's fear of imprisonment in Mountjoy Prison, drawing the Prison Service's attention to this concern.
A woman who stole over €28,000 from the State by falsely claiming job seekers allowance while employed was sentenced today in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Bridget Dwane (55), of Emmet Square, Blackrock, Dublin, pleaded guilty to making false or misleading statements to facilitate the payment of jobseekers allowance between March 2009 and July 2011. She admitted to receiving an overpayment of €28,484 during this period and has since made repayments of €200 per month, though she still owes €24,200 to the State. Judge Karen O'Connor noted the 'loss to the exchequer was significant' but acknowledged Dwane's cooperation, early guilty pleas, and genuine remorse. She sentenced Dwane to 12 months in prison, suspended in full, on the condition that she engage with the Probation Service for 12 months. Emmet Sqaure, another defendant, was not sentenced as no details of his charges, plea, or sentence were provided. The court heard that Dwane was under pressure to pay her daughter's drug debts and had taken out a €6,000 credit union loan to do so. The matter was not adjourned and is now at the validated procedural stage of sentence.
Michael Smallhorn, 57, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to aiding a drug offence involving €837,000 worth of heroin. He admitted acting as a courier for a €200 payment that never materialised, claiming he wanted the money for golf fees. Gardaí had stopped him in his car at Greentrees Park, where 13 street deals of heroin were found, and later seized 5.9 kilos of heroin from a Citroën parked near Limekiln Lane. Smallhorn said he was instructed by an unidentified man to leave the car keys and that he feared the man due to his reputation. Judge Pauline Codd noted his minor role but the large quantity of drugs, and suspended a five‑year sentence on the condition he keep the peace and participate in a victim awareness programme. He has 12 prior convictions, including drunk driving and forgery, and has expressed remorse.
Jamie Byrne, aged 20, had his jail term extended by one year after taking part in an attempted robbery of a newsagents and a robbery of a Texaco garage while awaiting sentence for an earlier attempted robbery of a bookmaker. He was already serving a two‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence for the bookmaker offence, which was due for release next month. Byrne pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to the two offences committed on 26 and 27 January 2016. Judge Karen O'Connor noted the impact on the businesses, including increased insurance premiums and staff loss, and emphasised that these were not victimless crimes. She imposed a consecutive two‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence, suspended the final 18 months on strict conditions, and ordered the return of €200 found on Byrne. Byrne has seven previous convictions and had been described as having a drug‑addiction history and a supportive family background.
Brian Collins, aged 43, was sentenced by Judge Martin Nolan to two and a half years in prison, with the final two years suspended, for robbing Tallaght West Credit Union on 8 July 2016. During the robbery, Collins threatened staff with a hatchet and a knife, demanding money. A staff member handed him €2,000 in fifty‑euro notes, and when he began smashing the glass security screen she gave him an additional €2,000. Collins fled with €3,800, dropping some of the stolen cash on the way out. He pleaded guilty to the robbery. The court heard that Collins had prior convictions for drug possession, handling stolen property and drink driving. He claimed he was under the influence of alcohol and drugs and that the robbery was driven by a drug debt of €3,000 to €4,000.
Stefan Boyle, 28, was arrested after a burglary at Ali Yassine's house in Milltown Bridge, Dundrum, on 2 November 2016. Boyle entered the house through an open window, stole two phones, and later confronted Yassine in a mosque where he had been hiding. Boyle lunged at Yassine with a knife, nicking him before Yassine escaped. Yassine, a caretaker, defended himself, then made Boyle scrambled eggs and sat with him. Boyle confessed to the burglary, pleaded guilty, and admitted he had stolen the phones during a 30‑minute conversation with Yassine. He claimed he wanted money for drugs and had forgotten the phones. Boyle has 110 prior convictions, 63 for burglary. The case was adjourned to 26 June for sentencing, with a probation report to be prepared.
Mark McCarthy, aged 32, was sentenced to nine years in prison for his role in the 2011 tiger kidnapping of An Post employee Warren Nawn, his wife Jean Marie, and their ten‑week‑old baby. McCarthy admitted that he was acting under duress and that he had no financial gain from the crime, claiming he was motivated by a drug debt. The court heard that the family was held hostage in their home and then taken to a rural location where they were kept overnight, threatened repeatedly, and subjected to intimidation, including threats of rape and murder. The kidnappers forced Mr Nawn to deliver €661,125 from the Drogheda Post Office, which he complied with and later handed over to the gang. McCarthy's sentence was back‑dated to November 2013, when he was first taken into custody. Mark McCarthy pleaded guilty.
Craig Mooney, 19, pleaded guilty to arson at Hillview Estate, Ballinteer, on 13 November 2016. He set fire to a Fiat Punto left at the rear of a mechanic's house while he was intoxicated with alcohol and cocaine. The car was in a garden where a child lived; Mooney claimed he did not know a child was present and would not have acted otherwise. CCTV showed him climbing a wall and igniting the back seat. He had 11 prior convictions for drug possession, traffic and public order offences. Judge Karen O'Connor sentenced him to three‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment, suspending the final year on strict conditions, citing his early guilty plea, remorse and young age. The sentence reflects the serious risk to property and human life created by the arson.
Joseph Moore, a 30‑year‑old supermarket security guard, faces jail after a planned search of his father's house uncovered nearly €10,000 worth of drugs. Gardaí found €7,735 of cocaine and €2,142 of cannabis herb, along with a digital weighing scale and street‑deal baggies. Moore told officers the drugs were for his own use, but he later pleaded guilty to possession for sale or supply. His defence lawyer, Dean Kelly BL, noted that Moore described himself as a "moron" and that his father, a retired civil servant now taxi driver, was disgusted yet supportive. Moore also had a €70,000 debt in unpaid motorway tolls, settled by his father for €6,700. The case is set for sentencing on 18 July.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 32‑year‑old Lithuanian Andrius Gnizinskas pleaded guilty to cultivating cannabis at a grow house on St Patrick's Road, Drumcondra. The court found he had been "somewhat coerced" into coming to Ireland after being trafficked to the UK, and that he had no role in setting up the operation or profiting from it. The grow house contained 180 mature plants valued at €144,000 and sophisticated equipment. Gnizinskas was the only person present when Gardaí searched the property. Judge Karen O'Connor accepted his plea as saving state resources, noted his vulnerability, and imposed a three‑year sentence with the final two years suspended. The court highlighted that he had been a very low‑level participant, a gardener, and had cooperated with the investigation. The case was prosecuted by Lorcan Staines BL.
Daniel Weldon, a 31‑year‑old heroin addict, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two attempted robberies in Swords on 1 July 2016 and to a successful robbery of €230 in a second pharmacy on the same day. He also admitted to a 2015 robbery of a Spar shop where he threatened staff with a blood‑filled syringe and stole €80. In each incident he was intoxicated and left a "trail of money" as he fled. Weldon has 52 prior convictions, including robbery, theft, public order and drug offences. He has been drug‑free for a year and has written apology letters to the victims. Judge Karen O'Connor adjourned his sentencing to 5 July and ordered a probation report for that date.
Raymond Molloy, a 55‑year‑old former equestrian centre manager, was sentenced to six and a half years in prison for possessing over €6 million worth of cannabis resin. Molloy had spent 11 years on the run, living and working on the Isle of White, before being extradited to Ireland. Gardaí stopped a van he drove in Coolock during a surveillance operation, seizing 498 kg of cannabis resin. He pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply on 16 August 2002. The court noted that Molloy had no prior convictions and was not a member of a criminal enterprise. He had been pressured by associates to transport the drugs, and he claimed he was threatened with harm to his horse if he did not comply. The judge acknowledged his early guilty plea and cooperation but imposed the custodial sentence for the serious nature of the offence.
In a Central Criminal Court case, Keith Aherne, aged 23, was found guilty of raping a woman in a Cork city park on 28 June 2013. The victim, who had been drinking with friends, fell asleep and was later held down by Aherne while another man raped her. Aherne denied the charge. The court heard that the other man, aged 22, had pleaded guilty but had died before sentencing. Aherne, who has 41 prior convictions including robbery, assault and drug possession, was remanded in custody and the case was adjourned to 29 May. The victim's impact statement, read by Garda Sergeant Katrine Tansley, described her post‑rape depression, hair‑pulling condition, loss of confidence and the distress caused by Aherne's actions. The court noted that Aherne attempted to comfort the victim after the assault, but the victim remained in tears. The case is set for sentencing later this month.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 11 May 2017, Jeffrey Crowley, aged 21, pleaded guilty to assaulting prison officer Lorraine McCarthy at Wheatfield prison on 23 February 2014. Crowley threw a battery at the narrow observation window of his cell, smashing the glass and sending shards into McCarthy's eye. The court accepted that he did not intend to harm her, describing the act as reckless. McCarthy suffered no permanent eye injury but reported post‑traumatic stress. Crowley's prior convictions include theft, robbery, criminal damage and drug dealing. Judge Pauline Codd sentenced him to two and a half years, back‑dating the term to 26 August 2017, the date of his scheduled release after a ten‑month sentence. Twenty‑two months of the term were suspended on the condition that he fully cooperate with prison staff and attend a residential drug programme upon release.
In a Dublin district family court hearing, a convicted cannabis grower with an outstanding European arrest warrant was denied guardianship of his toddler. The father's relationship with the child's mother ended before his March 2015 imprisonment. The mother had taken the son to visit the father in prison on several occasions, but this stopped recently. The father, represented by Sophie Cargin, stated he was serving a five‑year sentence in Ireland for growing cannabis and would be released next year. He claimed it was his first time in Irish prison, having previously served five years in an Eastern European country for theft. The court noted the pending European arrest warrant. The mother testified that the father had no connection with the child, rarely asked about his interests, and had made abusive remarks. Judge Timothy Lucey emphasized the child's welfare, concluding that the father's imprisonment and extradition risk made him unsuitable as a guardian, and refused the application.
Four Dublin men, linked to the drugs trade, were stopped at Dublin Airport in February 2016 and had €17,600 in cash seized. The men were preparing to travel to Malaga, Spain on one‑way tickets. Customs and Excise officials, while screening outbound passengers, confiscated the cash after hearing contradictory explanations about its use. Kieran Kelly BL, for the State, argued that the cash represented proceeds of crime or was intended for criminal conduct. Judge Karen O'Connor granted forfeiture under section 39 of the Criminal Justice Act 1994. The court heard that Gerard Claxton Jnr claimed the money was for buying an apartment in Malaga, while his father claimed it was for furnishing a Spanish apartment. Claxton Jnr had prior convictions for firearms possession and attempted robbery; his father had a burglary conviction. Lee Boylan and Michael Jones had no prior convictions.
A 58‑year‑old man from Co. Carlow was convicted by a jury of two counts of indecent assault on his nine‑year‑old nephew between October 1985 and March 1986. The nephew, now 40, told the court that the abuse began with inappropriate touching and unwanted kissing when they were alone, and escalated after the uncle appeared to comfort him during his grandmother's illness. The nephew later lived with another relative and did not report the abuse for years. The accused denied the allegations when interviewed by Gardaí. He was acquitted of eight further counts of indecent assault. The court adjourned sentencing to 22 May. The nephew described the abuse as a source of pain that led him to drink, use drugs, and attempt suicide, but he has since sought counselling and is working to heal. The accused, now a grandfather, was described as in relatively poor health and having left school early.
Carol Clarke, a 57‑year‑old mother of five, admitted to stealing €104,431 in social welfare fraud over a 17‑year period by posing as her sister Bernadette Darcy. The theft occurred at the Phibsborough post office between February 1994 and July 2011. Gardaí discovered the fraud in 2012 when they found welfare claims made in Darcy's name; Darcy claimed she was unaware of the claims. Clarke was arrested shortly after the discovery. She initially denied the allegations but later admitted guilt following handwriting and fingerprint tests, and after staff at the post office identified her. Clarke has a prior conviction for handling stolen property in 1999. She pleaded guilty to two counts of stealing from the Department of Social Welfare. The court heard that she used the stolen money to support her family and to pay off one son's drug debts.
John Barnes, a 48‑year‑old father of two, was sentenced to four years in prison for possessing cannabis and cocaine worth €522,400. He had agreed to hold the drugs for €500 after falling into financial hardship, including a €42,000 judgment from Revenue and health problems such as a stroke and heart attack. Gardaí, acting on confidential information, searched Barnes' home and two vehicles, recovering the drugs. Barnes pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and admitted responsibility, claiming he had not been paid. Judge Karen O'Connor noted his vulnerability and lack of relevant convictions, but also his extensive work history and community contributions. She imposed a seven‑year sentence, suspending the final three years on the condition of good behaviour and one year of probation supervision upon release.
Gary Gregg, a 28‑year‑old heroin addict, was sentenced to five years in prison after robbing Core Credit Union in Ballybrack, Dublin. On 16 January 2016, he threatened a supervisor by holding a lighter and pouring a liquid he claimed was fuel over her head, then forced two other staff members to hand over cash and stole €12,241 in 41 seconds. Gregg pleaded guilty to robbery and making a threat to kill. He had 87 prior convictions, including 13 for robbery. The judge suspended the last two years of a seven‑year sentence on the condition that he engage in victim‑focused work and addiction treatment. Gregg's defence lawyer noted his troubled upbringing and drug use, but the court focused on the robbery and threat during the hearing.
In a Dublin District Family Court hearing, a father with a long‑term heroin addiction was ordered to provide clean urine samples twice a week at a drug treatment centre before he could resume visits with his son. The court noted that the father had previously admitted to furnishing fake urine test printouts and had allegedly hidden a bottle of clean urine in a field for use during drug tests. The mother argued that a single sample was insufficient to prove sobriety, citing the rapid elimination of heroin from the body. She also expressed concerns after receiving a suspicious text message from a man who only gave his first name, warning that the father's "card was marked." Judge Conal Gibbons emphasized that such matters should be reported to An Garda Síochána and ruled that the father must continue providing clean samples at the centre, with visits allowed only if the results remain clean.
During a murder trial, a witness claimed he pulled Dylan Hayes (22) and Ger Hogan (33) away from Shane Murphy (26) at a house in Pallasgreen, Co. Limerick, on 30 April 2015. The witness, who was heavily intoxicated and had taken tablets, said he had seen Hayes with a toy gun and told him to throw it out the window. He described arriving at the house, where the accused, the victim, the victim's girlfriend Sharon Kelly, Jodie Byrnes, and another girl were present. He heard screaming, entered the sitting room, and saw a fight between the victim and the two accused. He said he broke up the fight, pulled the men apart, and struck them. After the men left, he opened the victim's top, saw he was bleeding, and attempted to resuscitate him while a woman was on a 999 call. He admitted he could not remember details due to intoxication and drugs. Dylan Hayes pleaded not guilty. Ger Hogan pleaded not guilty.
In a 2017 Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Gardai reported that they had "struck it lucky" in a €660,000 tiger‑kidnapping case involving Mark McCarthy, a 32‑year‑old heroin addict. McCarthy had left fingerprints on a pizza box and DNA on cigarette butts in a partially burnt car that also contained a Tesco Club Card receipt belonging to one of the victims. He pleaded guilty to false imprisonment of Warren and Jean Marie Nawn and their ten‑week‑old baby between 1 and 2 August 2011. The court heard that the Nawn family were held hostage in their home, then driven to a rural location where they were kept captive overnight, threatened repeatedly, and forced to hand over €661,125 from the Drogheda Post Office. McCarthy was said to have acted under duress, with his life threatened by a drug debt, and received no benefit from the offence.
Gerard Walsh, 38, pleaded guilty to burglary at a valet service he had previously worked for in Liffey Valley, Dublin, on 20 March 2015. He admitted stealing six sets of car keys and three vehicles—a Volkswagen Touran, a Volkswagen Passat and an Audi A6 Avant—to pay a drug debt. Two of the cars were recovered; the third was found a year later, resulting in an estimated loss of €3,500 to the owner. The court also noted that Walsh had previously been convicted of public order and theft offences, dealt with 15 years earlier. Judge Melanie Greally, acknowledging Walsh's difficult personal circumstances and his efforts to rehabilitate, imposed a suspended three‑year sentence and required him to pay €3,500 in compensation to his former employer. The sentence was suspended, with no immediate custodial term imposed. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Michael Flanagan, 31, was sentenced to a two‑year suspended term for possessing child pornography, including a video of an unconscious five‑year‑old girl. He had previously been convicted in 2012 and 2013 for similar offences. The judge noted the video's particular concern and that Flanagan had not shared the images. He was found to have lived in self‑imposed isolation and had a history of drug use. The sentence requires him to engage with the Probation Service for 12 months, complete sex‑offender, victim‑awareness and drug‑and‑alcohol programmes, keep the peace for two years, and allow Gardaí access to his computer. The court also ordered that he keep the peace for two years and make his computer available to Gardaí at any time. The judge accepted that there was no evidence that Flanagan had shared the images. The judge also took into account a "detailed and helpful" probation report which she said was positive. Michael Flanagan pleaded guilty.
Ciaran Nally, 32, of Ninch, Laytown, was convicted at Dundalk Circuit Criminal Court in April 2015 for possession of cocaine for sale or supply at the Monasterboice Inn car park. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to six years' imprisonment, with the final three years suspended, by Judge Michael O'Shea on 29 January 2016. Nally was one of four co‑accused in a drug handover that involved moving two packs of cocaine from one car to another. Surveillance had targeted the residences of two co‑accused, and a vehicle was later stopped on the motorway where €139,000 worth of cocaine was seized. Nally's home was searched with no evidence found. He admitted the packs likely contained cannabis and that he received no financial benefit. The Court of Appeal dismissed his appeal, ruling the sentence fair and reasonable. The judge noted Nally's role as a conduit in the drug supply chain and his prior cannabis addiction.
Martin O'Hara, a 31-year-old defendant with a previous conviction for rape, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for assaulting his former girlfriend in Tallaght on July 28, 2016. O'Hara pleaded guilty to the charge of assaulting the woman causing her harm. Judge Karen O'Connor described the incident as violent and aggressive behaviour that occurred in the presence of the couple's six-month-old baby. The judge noted that while the physical effects were at the lower end of the scale, the victim suffered psychological trauma. O'Connor acknowledged O'Hara's remorse and recent efforts at rehabilitation and counselling. The court imposed a 12-month prison term. Prosecution evidence detailed that O'Hara punched the woman after an argument, subsequently left with the baby without her consent, and assaulted her sister and partner while they attempted to retrieve the child. The baby was returned uninjured. Defence counsel highlighted O'Hara's history of anger issues and drug abuse, noting he had taken steps towards rehabilitation for the first time. The judge considered his guilty plea and remorse when determining the sentence.
In a 2017 appeal court hearing, Judge Alan Mahon upheld a three‑year jail sentence for Oliver Kennaway, who had pleaded guilty to robbing a filling station in Dundalk on 27 July 2013 with a knife. Kennaway, aged 37, entered the station wearing a hoodie and a large knife, demanded money from the till, and fled with €500, pursued by an employee. The judge noted Kennaway's difficult personal background, 15 prior convictions, and a seven‑year period of being conviction‑free before this offence. He described the robbery as "frightening and intimidating" and linked it to Kennaway's chronic drug addiction. Judge Mahon concluded that, given the growing public concern over knife crime, the net custodial sentence of three years was not unduly harsh and could be described as lenient. The appeal was dismissed.
Declan Brady, 51, of Kildare, was arrested on 24 January for unlawful possession of five revolvers, 20 rounds of ammunition and a silencer, and for possession of 22 kg of cocaine, 11 kg of heroin and 53 g of cannabis, drugs worth an estimated €3.2 million. He faces three firearms charges under the Firearms Act and three drug‑possession charges under the Misuse of Drugs Act. The High Court refused his bail application, with the State and the Garda Drugs and Organised Crime Unit arguing that release could lead to further offences. Justice Isobel Kennedy rejected the application.
Gary Simpson, aged 29, was jailed for four and a half years after robbing several bookmakers in Dublin in November and December 2015. He used a note under the counter claiming he had a gun, leaving the note with his fingerprints. Simpson had previously been convicted 112 times and had a suspended five‑year sentence for earlier robberies. He was on bail for those offences when he committed the bookmaker robberies. The court noted he had completed a residential drug rehabilitation course and reactivated the suspended portion of his earlier sentence, imposing a concurrent total sentence of six years with the final 18 months suspended. He was captured on CCTV during all incidents and admitted the crimes during a Garda interview. Gary Simpson pleaded guilty.
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court sentenced two men for their involvement in a drugs operation involving heroin with an estimated street value of €560,000. Michael White (42) and Gareth Prior (35) pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine and heroin for sale or supply on December 9, 2015. Judge Patricia Ryan imposed a six-year sentence on White, with the final three years suspended. She noted White had no previous convictions and expressed deep regret. Prior received a 12-year sentence, with the final three years suspended. The judge acknowledged Prior's lack of recent garda attention and his efforts in self-education, despite his 17 previous convictions, including three for drug dealing. During the raid on White's house in Clondalkin, gardaí found cocaine worth €68,000 and paraphernalia. A search of a house linked to Prior in Newbridge revealed €175,000 worth of cocaine, €3,360 worth of ketamine, and €9,740 worth of herbal cannabis, for which Prior accepted responsibility. Judge Ryan cited the quantity and type of drugs as an aggravating factor but recognized both men's early guilty pleas and acceptance of responsibility.
Michael Breen, 41, was sentenced to three and a half years' imprisonment after pleading guilty to transporting almost €80,000 worth of cannabis. Gardaí stopped his car following a tip, and a search revealed nearly four kilograms of cannabis hidden under the carpet in the wheel well. Breen admitted to having the drugs for sale on 16 May 2016 at Bluebell Mews, Old Naas Road, Dublin 12. He has 40 prior convictions for theft and road traffic offences and three drug offences involving the sale of small amounts to undercover officers. During the interview, Breen claimed he was told he would receive €200 for his role, which was to drop off the drugs, and he accepted that he was operating at a low level. Judge Melanie Greally, noting his guilty plea and full cooperation, imposed the sentence and ordered him to engage with Probation Services upon release. Mr.
Patrick Connors, 46, was sentenced to two and a half years in jail at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for dangerous driving after a high‑speed chase. He drove over 160 km/h on the wrong side of a busy road, performed a U‑turn at speed, exceeded 100 km/h on a 50 km/h road, ran a red light and collided with a taxi at a junction. Connors pleaded guilty to endangerment creating a substantial risk of death or serious harm to another on Swords Road on 19 September. He also admitted possession of stolen laptops, jewellery, a screwdriver and a "jemmy" bar, which were found in his car when the chase ended. Judge Patricia Ryan imposed a three‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence with the final year suspended, citing the seriousness of the charges and Connors' 89 prior convictions, including dangerous driving, burglary, theft, assault and 56 summary road traffic offences.