A 52‑year‑old man, Liam McGowan, who has no fixed abode, is to be extradited to the United Kingdom on charges of conspiring to import drugs worth up to eight million pounds. The alleged conspiracy involved the fraudulent evasion of probation for the importation of class A cannabis bush and class C ketamine between 1 February 2011 and 7 February 2014. McGowan is accused of working with a Manchester‑based man and a haulage company in southern Ireland to transport the drugs. In October 2014, UK authorities seized 117 50‑gram bags of cannabis, valued between 585,000 and 1.17 million pounds, and ketamine valued between 4.5 and 6.75 million pounds. McGowan's counsel, Michael O'Higgins, argues that his client had no knowledge of the contents of the consignments and that the evidence of his involvement is lacking.
Keith Farrelly, 40, of Kilbarrack, Dublin, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment after pleading guilty to transporting 5.7 kg of cannabis worth €115,945 on 9 September 2014. Garda James McGeough reported that Farrelly was under surveillance following a tip, and that he left an apartment in Baldoyle in a Nissan Almera with a shopping bag in the boot. A search of the vehicle uncovered 1.6 kg of cannabis worth €32,000, and a subsequent search of the apartment revealed an additional 4.1 kg worth €84,000 in a locked press. Farrelly's defence highlighted his early football career, his family responsibilities, and a gambling debt that he claimed motivated his involvement. Judge Martin Nolan accepted that Farrelly was a low‑level participant and imposed the three‑year term. The court noted that Farrelly had no prior relevant record and had admitted the offence. The case was heard in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Michael Coleman, 34, a convicted robber, was sentenced to 18 months in custody for an unprovoked assault on two Louth brothers, Christopher and Joseph Lennon, on 26 June 2014. The attack occurred on Camden Street, Dublin, while Coleman was on bail for a prior robbery. He called Christopher a "culchie," punched him, and then joined in attacking Joseph, punching and kicking him while he was on the ground, causing Joseph to lose consciousness. The brothers had been drinking at Flannery's pub and were heading home when the incident happened. Joseph Lennon suffered a broken jaw on both sides, requiring metal plates and still cannot fully open his mouth; he also experiences flashbacks. Coleman had 25 prior convictions, including robbery and firearms offences. He pleaded guilty, and the judge noted his cooperation and attempts to address drug issues. The 18‑month sentence will commence after his current five‑year term ends.
In a court hearing on 2 July 2015, Gardaí raided the home of Debbie O'Reilly, a 35‑year‑old former resident of Maple Avenue, Ballybrack, while her family staged an intervention for her drug‑related behaviour. O'Reilly, who had been addicted to PVP and had sold cannabis from her house, pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis for sale or supply on 4 August 2013. The search revealed a kilogram of cannabis worth €21,920, 8 g of PVP worth €312, €8,200 in cash, a digital weighing scale and an iPhone with drug‑dealing evidence. She had no prior convictions. The court noted her rehabilitation, including letters from drug‑treatment programmes and a certificate of completion of an addiction‑study course. Judge Mary Ellen Ring suspended a five‑year jail term, directing O'Reilly to cooperate with probation services for twelve months, citing her responsibility to her son and her efforts to address her addiction.
Paul Clarke, 31, was sentenced to one year in prison for handling stolen goods after a cash box containing €50,000 was found in a garden shed at Marigold Crescent, Darndale. Gardaí discovered the box on 28 April 2014, with a pickaxe protruding and green dye indicating a security device. Clarke, who had green dye on his clothing, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He was arrested alongside Michael Byrne, 25, who had previously received a three‑year sentence for robbery, and Dean Slattery, 25, who was sentenced to four years with two years suspended. Garda Padraig McInerney explained the cash‑in‑transit van was robbed during delivery to AIB Bank, Raheny. Clarke claimed he had no role in the robbery and was only involved in attempting to open the box after the theft. He was known to Gardaí as a heroin addict and had spent most of the last 15 years in prison.
Peter Moore, 25, of Lynnwood, Ballyboughal, pleaded guilty to criminal damage after using a crow bar and angle grinder to destroy a parking meter at Chapel Lane, Swords, on 20 January 2015. He had been in custody for a few weeks when the case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a two‑year suspended sentence and ordered Moore to pay €3,000 to Fingal County Council, with a further €3,000 to be raised within two years. The council estimated the damage at €11,000, covering replacement of the meter, disposal of the damaged unit and removal of the concrete base. Garda Amanda King, who arrested Moore, said he admitted the damage was caused by anger over a parking fine. Moore's defence highlighted his cocaine and alcohol addiction, his role as a carer for his mother with motor neuron disease, and his work with the Homeless World Cup charity.
Shane Ferguson, a 47‑year‑old carpenter from Limerick, was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment in 2014 for transporting over €1 million worth of cannabis from Northern Ireland to a cottage in rural Limerick. He pleaded guilty to possession for sale or supply. The drugs, 52.2 kg with a street value of €1,045,148, were moved by a navy transit van hired by Ferguson, who drove it from Newry to Limerick, paying tolls and being tracked on the motorway. An accomplice swapped vehicles and moved the boxes into the cottage. Gardaí seized the boxes, which bore a UPS sticker, and traced the shipment's route from Eindhoven to Newtownabbey to Poyntzpass. On appeal, the Court of Appeal reduced Ferguson's sentence by one year, from seven to six years, while his co‑accused remained at five years. The new six‑year term takes effect from the original sentencing date.
Lawyers for the State have requested an additional two weeks to file a response to Brian Meehan's appeal, which seeks to have his 1999 conviction for the murder of journalist Veronica Guerin declared a miscarriage of justice. Meehan, aged 47 and serving a life sentence in Portlaoise prison, is arguing that new evidence from the 2001 Special Criminal Court trial of John Gilligan undermines his conviction. The evidence relates to material that emerged during Gilligan's trial, in which Gilligan was acquitted of Guerin's murder but convicted of cannabis importation. During case‑management proceedings in the Court of Appeal, the Director of Public Prosecutions' counsel, Paul Anthony McDermott, explained that the State needed time to prepare a full set of submissions, citing the volume of material and the need to clarify the meaning of new evidence.
Carmel O'Reilly, a 28-year-old from Belturbet, County Cavan, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing almost two kilograms of herbal cannabis for sale or supply on the Naas Road on December 13, 2013. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced her to a five-year suspended sentence, noting she played "a very small part, at the lowest level" in the operation. The judge described O'Reilly as vulnerable and stated she had "perfect mitigation," citing her guilty plea, cooperation with gardaí, lack of prior record, and strong references. He took the "unusual step" of avoiding imprisonment, viewing the incident as a one-off offence. O'Reilly was the front-seat passenger in a vehicle driven by co-accused Dominick Brady, her former partner and the father of her daughter. Brady, who allegedly held the senior role, disappeared three days before his scheduled court appearance in December, and his whereabouts remain unknown. Prosecution evidence indicated Brady brought O'Reilly along for convenience and cover. Defense counsel highlighted O'Reilly's vulnerability, depression, and history of manipulation by Brady. The court accepted that O'Reilly was led by Brady and acted under his influence, resulting in the suspended disposal rather than immediate custody.
Eoin Daly, aged 29, was sentenced to five and a half years in prison for a series of burglaries committed between July and September 2013 across Dublin suburbs and Leixlip. He pleaded guilty to five counts of burglary, one of trespass and attempted theft. The judge noted that Daly had been granted bail repeatedly after each arrest, questioning why he was not remanded earlier. Daly's lawyer described him as a "one‑man crime wave" linked to chronic heroin addiction. The judge suspended the final 18 months of the sentence on the condition that Daly cooperate with the Probation Service upon release. Daly had 30 prior convictions, including burglary, robbery, firearm possession and threats of killing. The sentence reflects the judge's concern that, if he does not change, he will spend his thirties in court and prison.
Patrick Scanlon, a 55-year-old restaurateur from West Limerick with an address on the Channel Island of Jersey, has appealed his conviction in the Court of Appeal. Scanlon had pleaded not guilty at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court to the possession and importation of cannabis worth €79,000 from Spain to a house in Pallaskenry, Co Limerick, on August 8, 2013. He was found guilty by a jury following a three-week trial and sentenced to 15 years imprisonment by Mr Justice Carroll Moran on May 21, 2014. His counsel, Michael O'Higgins SC, argued that the second search conducted at a garda station lacked new reasonable cause, claiming the initial roadside search was negative. The prosecution, represented by Anne-Marie Lawlor BL, contended that the search was continuous and lawful, noting that a mobile phone without a SIM card was later found. The Court of Appeal, comprising Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan, Mr Justice John Edwards, and Mr Justice Alan Mahon, heard the arguments and reserved judgment. The matter was adjourned pending the court's decision.
A 45-year-old man from Castleblayney, County Monaghan, has been sentenced to two and a half years' imprisonment following his conviction for drug trafficking. At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Mark Donnelly pleaded guilty to possession of 37 kilograms of cannabis resin on the M1 in north Dublin on 13 February 2014. The drugs carried an estimated street value of €221,400. Donnelly told gardaí he had agreed to transport the narcotics to settle a debt owed to a man who had threatened him. His legal team presented character references from former employers and community members, noting his background as a self-employed joinery worker and involvement with his local hurling club. Judge Martin Nolan described him as a hard-working family man and first-time offender who had made a grave error of judgement under pressure. Detective Garda Eoin Roche confirmed that gardaí, acting on confidential information, intercepted the van as it travelled south from County Louth.
Robert Murphy, 32, was convicted of possessing a knife, discharging a firearm, and arson. He had previously pleaded guilty to these offences in 2012 and 2013. Judge Desmond Hogan originally sentenced him to nine years with five suspended, effective eight years. The Court of Appeal, after reviewing the case, found the sentence unduly lenient and imposed a new sentence of 11 years with three suspended, effective eight years. The appeal highlighted that Murphy, a known heroin addict and "career criminal" with 60 prior convictions, had set fire to a house occupied by a mother and child, forcing them to escape through a bedroom window. The court noted that the arson was the most serious offence and that the new sentence was intended to reflect the severity of the crime. The final effective term remains eight years imprisonment.
John Wilson, 56, of Oliver Bond Street, Dublin, was sentenced to eight years in prison at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for his involvement in a €528,000 cannabis operation. Judge Martin Nolan imposed the sentence, backdated to February of this year, stating Wilson deserved the same term as his co-accused. Wilson pleaded guilty to possessing 88kg of cannabis at Forrest Little Road, Swords, on August 8, 2008. He had previously taken a bench warrant in 2011 and was rearrested in England earlier this year after serving a five-year UK sentence for conspiring to supply cannabis. His co-accused, Joseph Douglas, 38, and James Griffin, 48, were both jailed for eight years for the same offence in 2011. Robert Wilson, 51, received a ten-year sentence in 2011, with the final two years suspended. Detective Sergeant Emmet Casserly testified that surveillance linked Wilson's phone and pickup truck to the loading of 370 slabs of cannabis into a van driven by Griffin. Defence counsel Sean Gillane SC argued for leniency, noting Wilson had "buried his head in the sand" by fleeing. The court accepted that a person above Wilson guided the operation. This sentencing concludes the proceedings for Wilson, while the matters for Douglas, Griffin, and Robert Wilson were finalised in 2011.
Michael Coughlan, a 29‑year‑old British national, was sentenced to four years in prison for possessing 9.8 kg of cannabis worth €196,554 at Dublin Airport on 22 January 2015. He admitted responsibility and pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Garda Mark McDaid reported that customs officials discovered the drugs when they x‑rayed his luggage shortly after his arrival from Barcelona. Coughlan had no prior convictions. The prosecution highlighted that he had accrued a €10,000 cocaine debt while working as a chauffeur for a concierge company catering to high‑end tourists in Ibiza, and that he had become dependent on cocaine. The defence argued that he was fully cooperative and had entered an early guilty plea. Judge Martin Nolan accepted that Coughlan was unlikely to re‑offend, described the case as a "one‑off fall from grace," and imposed the four‑year sentence, back‑dated to the date of his arrest.
James Farmer, a former soccer player aged 36, had his seven‑year prison sentence for possession of over €400,000 worth of cannabis reduced on appeal. The original conviction stemmed from a January 2011 incident at Newland's Cross and Phibblestown House where Gardaí seized €122,000 in cannabis and later found an additional €312,000 at Farmer's home. Farmer pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and was sentenced by Judge Martin Nolan on 27 February 2012. On appeal, Judge Alan Mahon noted Farmer's serious medical conditions, including kidney failure requiring dialysis and a severe bowel disorder, and that these would pose significant difficulties in prison. Consequently, the Court of Appeal suspended the final 18 months of the sentence, requiring Farmer to post a €100 bond and maintain good behaviour for 18 months and two years after release. The appeal was granted by Judges Mahon, Garrett Sheehan and John Edwards.
In a 2013 robbery of a Tallaght post office, former chef and drug counsellor Keith McCarthy (38) participated after relapsing into drug use. He and an accomplice stole €10,351, escaping on a bicycle with one rider on the crossbar. The accomplice, armed with a lump hammer, was never charged and died shortly after. McCarthy, who had been drug‑free for ten years, pleaded guilty to robbery at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Mary Ellen Ring suspended a four‑year jail term, noting he had not offended since and was engaged in drug treatment and victim awareness work. The stolen money was never recovered. McCarthy's fingerprints on the getaway bike led to his arrest two weeks after the raid. The case highlighted his prior 15 convictions and his recent relapse after family difficulties. The court emphasized his commitment to remain drug‑free and comply with the suspended sentence conditions.
Anthony Daly, 32, of Santry, Dublin, was jailed for three years after pleading guilty to possession of cannabis resin for sale or supply on 6 December 2011. The offence occurred while he was bound to the peace under a suspended sentence for a 2004 drug offence that had originally carried a ten‑year term with six years suspended. Gardaí stopped Daly on Malahide Road in Swords, searched his home on Shantalla Road and seized just over 500 g of cannabis resin worth €3,000. He had 31 prior convictions, all traffic offences, apart from the 2004 drug offence. The State sought to reactivate the six‑year suspended term, but Judge Martin Nolan imposed only the three‑year jail term and did not order re‑activation of the suspended period. The court noted Daly's good family background and his efforts to control gambling addiction, but ruled that the breach of the bond could not be ignored.
A mother of six, Aisha Ahmed (49), AKA Gloria Anwulika Aro (47), has been granted bail by the High Court following her arrest at Sundale Parade, Tallaght, Dublin 24, last October on a European Arrest Warrant issued by Italian authorities. She is wanted in Italy to serve a 20-year prison sentence imposed in her absence for alleged involvement in importing, selling, distributing, and trading large quantities of cocaine between September 1999 and June 2000. Her separated husband, Yemi Moshood Olatunde (47), AKA Roy Yemmy Andrew Aro, was also arrested in October and may be released on bail tomorrow. Olatunde AKA Aro, a taxi driver until his arrest, was sentenced to 20 years in Italy for allegedly associating with others to commit offences related to the purchase, transfer, distribution, trade, and unlawful possession of large quantities of cocaine. Both have denied being the persons sought on the European Arrest Warrants. Ms Justice Aileen Donnelly adjourned proceedings against the pair today, as the High Court had sought further information from Italian judicial authorities three months ago concerning the issue of trial in absentia, which the Italians did not appear to have answered. The matter was adjourned on condition that the pair be granted bail and the Italian authorities' response must be provided to the State prior to June 30, when the case would come before the court again. Ms Ahmed was remanded in custody on her own bond of €1,000 with consent to bail to June 30 next on condition she keep the peace, be of good behaviour, undertake to not apply for a passport and sign on daily at Clondalkin Garda Station. Ms Justice Donnelly said she would adjourn granting bail to Olatunde until tomorrow so that a number of matters could be sorted out.
Peter Moore, 25, of Lynnwood, Ballyboughal, was remanded in custody after pleading guilty to criminal damage at Chapel Lane, Swords, on 20 January 2015. He used a crowbar and angle grinder to destroy a parking meter because he was angry about a parking fine. Garda Amanda King arrested him after finding the tools in a boot of a nearby car. Fingal County Council estimated the damage at €11,000, covering replacement, disposal and removal of the old meter's concrete base. Moore's defence offered €3,000 in compensation and highlighted his cocaine and alcohol addiction, his role as a carer for his mother with motor neuron disease, and his work with the Homeless World Cup charity. Judge Martin Nolan described him as a vandal, noted his 47 prior convictions, and adjourned sentencing to 23 June, stating the cost of reinstating the meter was not fully understood.
A 27‑year‑old Polish national, Gregor Mazerkiewicz, pleaded guilty to cultivating 27 cannabis plants at his Dublin flat for personal use. Garda Sean Byrnes presented evidence that the plants were found in a tent in a back bedroom, each valued at €800, and that 7.8 g of amphetamine was also discovered. Mazerkiewicz had no prior convictions and was described as candid and cooperative. The judge, after considering the defendant's addiction and economic circumstances, imposed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year suspended sentence.
Barry Fowler, 30, was jailed for seven and a half years after pleading guilty to possessing over €370,000 of drugs for sale or supply. Gardaí traced him to a basement where a transit van contained €250,727 of cannabis, €103,404 of cocaine, €8,827 of heroin, €5,672 of amphetamines, €1,522 of cannabis resin and €2,000 of cannabis under his BMW's bonnet. He also pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a sawn‑off shotgun and 9mm bullets. Fowler, a father of one, had prior convictions for road traffic matters, common assault and a three‑year sentence for dangerous driving causing death in 2005. He claimed he held the drugs, weapons and €118,000 cash to offset a €60,000 drug debt. He had been in custody since April for breaching bail conditions after being arrested at Shannon Airport.
A 19‑year‑old man from Blackhall Parade, Dublin 7, was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment for attempting to rob a woman on the Luas on 7 April 2014. The incident occurred at the St James's Hospital stop when the tram doors closed on the victim's arm. The offender, Jeffrey Crowley, tried to seize the woman's umbrella as the doors shut, causing her arm to fracture. CCTV footage identified him and he was arrested and pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Terence O'Sullivan imposed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence with the final 12 months suspended, citing the frightening nature of the attack. Crowley, who admitted drug use at the time, has 37 prior convictions and is now completing his Leaving Certificate while undergoing drug‑addiction treatment. The judge ordered him to abstain from narcotics upon release. The victim, Ciara Dunne, remains in pain and feels more wary on public transport.
Mark Kavanagh, 39, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of €135,000 worth of cocaine, €18,000 worth of cannabis, and a firearm. The original sentence of three‑and‑a‑half years was deemed unduly lenient by the Director of Public Prosecutions, and the Court of Appeal increased it to five years. One year of each count was suspended, to run concurrently for three years after release. The appeal highlighted that Kavanagh had been "minding" the drugs for a few weeks in return for relief on a €700 debt, and that he had claimed a threat against his family, later denying it. The court noted mitigating factors such as no prior convictions, a guilty plea, and remorse, but insisted the firearm offence required a separate, stricter sentence. The final effective custodial term is five years with a one‑year suspension for each count.
Ian Gibbons, 39, of Emmet Road, Inchicore, Dublin, turned himself in after robbing Shoezone on Ballyfermot Road on 14 August 2014. He pleaded guilty to one count of robbery. Susan O'Brian, who was working in the shop, said Gibbons threatened to stab her if she did not open the register. He opened it and took €114 in cash and coins. Gibbons initially refused to be interviewed but returned sober the next day and confessed, expressing remorse and describing the stress he had caused the woman. He denied threatening to stab her and claimed he was not carrying a weapon. He explained that he had been coerced by violent people who had forced him to return a stolen bicycle or pay €1,500. Gibbons has 20 previous convictions, mainly for drug and road traffic offences. Judge Terence O'Sullivan imposed a two‑year suspended sentence, noting Gibbons' remorse and the unusual nature of his voluntary admission.
James Kelly, a 25‑year‑old chronic heroin addict, was convicted at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court for false imprisonment, unlawful vehicle taking and robbery at Colbert Station on 4 May 2011. He pleaded guilty and was originally sentenced to six years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended. Prosecutors appealed, arguing the sentence was unduly lenient, and the Court of Appeal increased the term to eight years' imprisonment, again suspending the final two years. The appeal judge, Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan, recounted the incident: a woman had disembarked from a train at Colbert Station, entered her car, and was confronted by Kelly. He threatened her with a knife, demanded money, and forced her to drive him to Moyross. After obtaining the money, he left the vehicle and the woman drove to a Garda station.
Eoghan McGarry, aged 30, appeared in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court escorted by five security officers in riot gear. He had pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine and possession of cannabis, both at Sundrive Road Garda Station on 2 September 2014. McGarry denied the two additional charges of possessing and handling stolen jewellery at his home. The Director of Public Prosecutions had required pleas to the additional charges and set a trial date in April 2016, pending the court's sentencing decision.
In a Dublin flat raid, 28‑year‑old David Doherty was found with 6 g of heroin and was charged with possession for sale. He pleaded guilty and received a suspended sentence of two and a half years, conditional on keeping the peace and attending the Tuam Community Training Centre. Doherty, who had 49 prior convictions mainly for traffic offences, was described by the judge as having made significant progress in dealing with his heroin addiction. His co‑accused, 36‑year‑old Stephen Lunders, pleaded guilty to the same charge and was given a three‑year jail term, with the last 18 months suspended. Lunders had 28 prior convictions, including drug offences, and was found with 2 oz of heroin and €1,010 in cash. The raid was triggered by a tip‑off, and the flat contained evidence of drug preparation and street‑dealing.
Alison Wilkins, 48, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to nine sample charges of theft committed between July 2013 and March 2014. The accused, a carer for Rita Keogh, a vulnerable widow suffering from dementia, allegedly stole over €30,000 from Keogh's bank account. Gardaí evidence indicated Wilkins carried out 57 unauthorised transactions, including ATM withdrawals and debit card payments, after gaining access to Keogh's card and PIN. Keogh's balance dropped from €33,000 to €13,900 during the period. Wilkins, who has no previous convictions, admitted the offences. Defence counsel Kerida Naidoo BL highlighted Wilkins' prior decent life, her drug habit, and her remorse, submitting that her admissions were useful to the State. Judge Desmond Hogan adjourned the case to October for sentencing. He ordered a probation report to assess Wilkins' suitability for community service, noting he was not ruling out that disposal but emphasizing Keogh's vulnerability. The judge also advised defence counsel to explore the possibility of gathering funds to compensate Keogh. Wilkins was remanded on continuing bail. The matter was adjourned and not concluded.
Veeran Padiachy, a 36‑year‑old former Mauritian police officer living in Cork, was arrested after a rear‑end collision when Gardaí discovered his forged Irish driving licence and a bag of cannabis in his car. Garda Shane Moriarty noted that Padiachy had called the police after the crash and waited an hour before they arrived. The Gardaí found a plastic bag containing €1,500 worth of cannabis, about 1,000 small plastic bags, and a weighing scale. Padiachy pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis for sale or supply and to possession of a false instrument under the Fraud Act, both offences committed on 11 October 2014. Judge Martin Nolan, considering the circumstances, suspended a two‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence, deciding that imprisonment would be unjust. The case was heard at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, with the car seized and the drugs confiscated.
Hussein Shahrohki, a 67-year-old carpet maker from Ballyogan Green, Carrickmines, Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for having drugs. The court heard that Shahrohki was involved in a car crash on Leinster Road in Rathmines on April 19, 2012. Garda Michael Cunningham attended the scene and observed the defendant was unsteady on his feet. During the subsequent investigation at Rathmines Garda station, it was discovered that Shahrohki had discarded a bag containing brown powder, which was identified as heroin. The drugs were valued at €3,300. Shahrohki pleaded guilty to the charge of having the drugs. Defence counsel James Dwyer BL submitted that Shahrohki was a family man who smoked two €20 bags of heroin weekly and stated he would not sell the substance due to his religious beliefs. Dwyer also highlighted the defendant's positive community standing and noted that opiate use is more permissive in Persian culture. Judge Patricia Ryan acknowledged the serious nature of the crime and the quantity of drugs involved, while also considering the accused's guilty plea. Consequently, Shahrohki was given a one-year suspended sentence. The matter was finalised with this sentence.
Philip Connolly, 39, pleaded guilty to the violent robbery of 67‑year‑old farmer David Feeney on Railway Street, Dublin, on 14 May 2013. Judge Mary Ellen Ring, after reviewing evidence including a photograph of Feeney's injuries, imposed a suspended sentence of two and a half years, with 18 months suspended on condition Connolly keeps the peace. Connolly is currently in a rehabilitation programme working on a farm, while Feeney, who can no longer work his land, has physically recovered but suffers ongoing consequences. Connolly's co‑accused, Leigh O'Connell, 28, had 100 previous convictions and was sentenced to four years, with the final two and a half years suspended on condition he continues addressing his drug problems. The robbery involved a head‑lock, assault, and theft of money, a phone and a driver's licence, and was captured on CCTV. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Darren Trimble, a 35-year-old former chef from Nicholas Street, Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for possession of heroin for sale or supply. The defendant pleaded guilty to the charge relating to an incident at Heuston Station on April 4, 2013. Allegations state that Trimble approached Garda David Naughton, who was on plain clothes duty, and offered to sell him €2,000 worth of heroin. Trimble subsequently met the garda at the station, where he produced the drugs from his tracksuit bottoms. Although the drugs were initially valued at over €3,000, the valuation was revised downwards to €2,083, after which Trimble entered his guilty plea. Defence counsel Luigi Rea, BL, submitted that Trimble had lost his career due to heroin use in his mid-twenties but is now clean of opiates, with a drug test confirming this status. Judge Desmond Hogan sentenced Trimble to 240 hours of community service in lieu of a two-year prison sentence. The judge noted that while the revised valuation remained significant, he regarded Trimble as being on the 'lowest rung of the ladder' regarding such offences.
Gareth Colley, aged 23, was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to three years' imprisonment, with the final 15 months suspended, for setting fire to the seat covers of a Ford Fiesta and a Nissan Micra after failing to secure a taxi ride. Colley, a father of one, admitted he was drunk and had no idea where he was when he attempted to break into the vehicles. He pleaded guilty to two charges of arson and an attempt to unlawfully take a car, both committed on 23 March 2014. The judge noted Colley's history of 52 prior convictions, including criminal damage, and described the offences as "the wanton destruction of two people's cars by someone who is out of his head on drink and possibly drugs." The court highlighted his propensity to damage property and his ongoing struggle with addiction, noting he has been attending a treatment centre since the beginning of the month.
Mark Kavanagh, 39, of Balgaddy, Clondalkin, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of €135,000 worth of cocaine and €18,000 worth of cannabis, and admitted possession of a revolver. He was sentenced to three-and-a-half years' imprisonment on 15 October 2014. The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed, arguing the sentence was unduly lenient and that the judge had over‑valued mitigating factors and under‑valued aggravating ones, such as a notebook with coded drug‑movement entries that could indicate a higher‑level role. The appeal was successful; Judge Michael Peart, sitting with Justices Garrett Sheehan and Alan Mahon, found the original sentence did not reflect the seriousness of the offence and ordered a new sentence to be imposed next month. The case remains at the sentencing stage, with no further outcome reported.
William O'Neill, aged 27, was sentenced to four years in prison for robbing Goldsmiths' Jewellers in Balbriggan on 10 May 2013. He admitted to smashing display cases with a sledgehammer, stealing jewellery worth €15,357 and causing €2,800 in damage. O'Neill also pleaded guilty to an attempted robbery at Rush Newsagents in Drimnagh on 10 November 2013 and to possession of a Taser gun in Crumlin on 30 March 2014. He claimed the weapons were for smashing glass, not for harming anyone, and that the gang intended to split the loot. O'Neill had previously served a sentence at Mountjoy, where he witnessed the killing of inmate Gary Douch, and had a criminal record of 68 convictions. The court noted his history of drug offences, assaults, public order and criminal damage charges. The judge imposed the four‑year term, with no mention of a suspended portion or effective custody details.
Patrick Maughan, aged 29, was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment for setting fire to an apartment complex in Clondalkin, Dublin, as part of a family feud. The blaze, which started outside an occupied flat on 7 July 2013, caused nearly €400,000 in damage and forced 31 residents, including children, to evacuate. No serious injuries were reported, though smoke inhalation occurred. The fire damaged 20 apartments, requiring repairs and leaving residents in alternative accommodation for eight months. Maughan pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, where Judge Patricia Ryan imposed a ten‑year term with the final three years suspended, and ordered three years of probation supervision. Garda Aisling McGowan presented CCTV evidence of Maughan purchasing petrol and entering the complex before the fire. Maughan later admitted he started the fire as part of a family feud, claiming he was "out of it" and had been drinking and taking prescription drugs.
Derek O'Brien, aged 33, was jailed for four years after a robbery at a shop on Fortfield Park, Terenure, on 26 May 2014. He threatened the shop owner with a knife, jumped over the counter and stole €600. O'Brien pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He had previous convictions for assault, theft, burglary and drug offences and had been released from prison a few months earlier. He had a five‑year sentence for three robberies in July 2012, with the final two and a half years suspended. Judge Martin Nolan re‑activated two years of that suspended sentence and added a consecutive two‑year term for the Terenure robbery, giving a total of four years. Garda Keith Morrissey and other officers identified O'Brien through CCTV and a distinctive shoe print left on the counter. O'Brien was later arrested on Aston Quay with €460 in his bag, but no further charges were brought.
During a drug search at Ross Whelan's Ballymun home, Gardaí found a pipe bomb under floorboards and over €2,000 worth of heroin in a bedside locker. Whelan, 23, pleaded guilty to possession of heroin for sale or supply and possession of an explosive substance on 16 July 2014. He had 14 prior convictions, including theft, handling stolen property, drug possession, public order offences and an 18‑month assault sentence. Judge Martin Nolan accepted Whelan's claim that he kept the bomb for personal protection, describing it as an unusual protective measure, and noted the significant heroin amount. The court sentenced Whelan to four years' imprisonment. Garda Liam Mangan explained the bomb was a pipe packed with explosive powder, lacking a detonator but confirmed explosive by forensic testing. Whelan admitted owning 13.3 grams of heroin, claimed the bomb had been buried and dug up two weeks before the search, and apologized to Gardaí, neighbours and family for the disruption.
Charles Twesigye, a 38-year-old Rwandan national from Clonsilla, Dublin 15, has lost his appeal against his conviction for drug possession. At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Twesigye pleaded not guilty to a section 15 offence of possessing drugs for sale or supply and a section 15a offence of possessing drugs worth more than €13,000 for sale or supply, allegedly committed on August 28, 2012. A jury found him guilty of the section 15 offence but acquitted him of the section 15a offence. He was subsequently sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment, with the final three years suspended, by Judge Patricia Ryan on January 31, 2014. The Court of Appeal heard that Twesigye received a FedEx package addressed to another name in a controlled delivery, which contained cocaine valued at over €142,000. His counsel, Conor Devally SC, argued the verdicts were illogical and inconsistent, and further contended that his detention was unlawful, necessitating the exclusion of certain interviews. The Court of Appeal, comprising Mr Justice John Edwards, Mr Justice George Birmingham, and Mr Justice Alan Mahon, rejected these arguments. Mr Justice Edwards affirmed that requesting a householder to remain seated during a search did not necessarily constitute detention and noted that if any verdict was perverse, it was the acquittal, which benefited the appellant. Consequently, the appeal was dismissed, and the conviction was affirmed.
In July 2013, Natasha Gleeson, a 38‑year‑old mother of two from Blanchardstown, stabbed 37‑year‑old John Redmond in the stomach with a kitchen knife during a verbal altercation on Aston Quay. The 5‑cm wound caused his small bowel to protrude and tore his colon. Gleeson pleaded guilty to assault causing harm at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced her to three years' imprisonment, citing her guilty plea and remorse as mitigating factors, though he noted the potential for death and the severity of the attack. Gleeson had no prior violent history but had earlier convictions for theft, property damage and abusive behaviour. The incident followed a dispute involving Redmond's girlfriend and her sister, with Gleeson intervening and then attacking Redmond. She later admitted to throwing the knife into the Liffey. The case highlighted her previous drug‑addiction struggles and her role as a mother.
Daryl Bolger, aged 23, was sentenced to three and a half years' imprisonment for endangerment, five counts of dangerous driving and driving without insurance after a high‑speed pursuit in January 2015. He had taken 20 tranquiliser tablets and, while a passenger, moved to the driver's seat and fled the Garda's questioning. The chase, lasting 20 minutes around Tallaght, saw the toddler in the back seat unrestrained, causing school children to flee the road and motorists to swerve. Bolger's vehicle broke red lights, lifted off the road and, at one point, performed a handbrake turn that nearly collided with a patrol car. He was arrested at his home after hiding under a bed, with the child still in the car. The court noted his 91 prior convictions, including hijacking, theft and burglary, and his unlawful release from Mountjoy Prison for drug treatment. Daryl Bolger pleaded guilty.
Robert Murphy, 32, a drug addict, was convicted at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for possessing a knife, discharging a firearm, and arson. He received an effective sentence of four years imprisonment with five years suspended on 10 October 2014. The Court of Appeal, agreeing with the Director of Public Prosecutions, found the sentence "unduly lenient" and ordered a new sentence to be imposed later. The appeal highlighted that Murphy was found with a flick knife in May 2012, discharged a sawn‑off shotgun at a house door, and set fire to a house occupied by a mother and child. The court noted Murphy's history of 60 convictions, including six for knife possession, and that the suspended periods for the shotgun and arson offences were also deemed unduly lenient. The new sentence will be determined at a future hearing. Robert Murphy pleaded guilty.
Stephen Seery, aged 34, was sentenced to six months in prison for violent disorder after striking fellow inmate Noel Murray with a sweeping brush at Wheatfield Prison on 21 January 2013. Seery, a resident of Ballyogan Vale, Carrickmines in Dublin 18, had previously pleaded guilty to the offence. The incident occurred when Murray had run out of his cell following an alleged assault by other inmates; Seery waited on the landing and repeatedly struck Murray with the brush as he emerged, an act captured on CCTV. Seery has 46 prior convictions and had been released from prison the previous December, during which he reportedly addressed his drug problems. He has a young child and has expressed a desire to improve his life. Judge Martin Nolan noted that such behaviour is unacceptable and cannot be tolerated in prison.
The murder trial of Tadhg Butler, 34, of Seafield, Tramore, Co Waterford, continues at the court. Butler, also known as Thomas O'Grady, has pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Michael O'Dwyer at that address on 10 January 2014. State Pathologist Professor Marie Cassidy testified that O'Dwyer died from a single stab wound to the left side of the chest, which entered his heart and left lung. She noted the injury was consistent with a blade having a single side cutting edge and that there was no evidence of self-defensive injuries. Toxicology reports indicated alcohol and a tranquilliser-type drug in the deceased's system. Under cross-examination, Dr Cassidy acknowledged that either of two similar knives recovered from the scene could have caused the injury. Garda Paul O'Flynn stated that only those two black-handled knives were found during the search. Forensic scientist Sarah Fleming reported finding no blood on the knives or on swabs taken from Butler's hands. The matter was adjourned, and the trial continues.
A British man, Christopher Wiggins (48), who was found on a boat holding more than €400 million worth of cocaine off the Irish coast, has appealed his conviction. Wiggins pleaded guilty at Cork Circuit Criminal Court to possession of cocaine for sale or supply on November 5, 2008, when the boat 'Dances With Waves' was boarded 250km off the Irish coast. He was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment by Mr Justice Carroll Moran on May 8, 2009. Representing himself, Wiggins argued that a section 15A sale or supply drugs offence could not have been levied against him as the offence was committed outside the State and no importation was involved. He also claimed the boarding of the boat by Irish authorities was unlawful. The Navy Boarding Party, which was also an appellant, admitted to possession of cocaine for sale or supply on November 5, 2008, when the boat was boarded. Philip Doo (58), one of Wiggins' co-accused, withdrew his appeal before proceedings commenced. The court heard that the boat 'Dances With Waves' was flying the British Red Ensign but was not registered. Counsel for the Director of Public Prosecutions, Thomas Creed SC, stated that the boarding was lawful and that there was no basis for Wiggins' argument regarding section 15A of the Misuse of Drugs Act. The court has reserved judgment and will deliver its decision as soon as possible.
Two Polish brothers, Slawomir (37) and Marcin (29) Syzmala, were jailed for ten years after a Garda operation uncovered almost €3.5 million worth of cannabis and cannabis resin in Meath. The brothers had rented a farmhouse, Knock House, as a storage hub and were found to have packed a large amount of drugs for distribution. They pleaded guilty to three charges of having drugs for sale or supply at two different locations on 17 April 2014. The operation involved surveillance that led officers to the farmhouse, a people carrier, and an apartment complex in Blanchardstown. DNA on gloves linked both men to the house, and a key to a Mercedes van was found there. The brothers had no admissions in interviews, and the case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court by Judge Martin Nolan, who noted their Polish nationality would pose extra difficulties in serving time.
Patrick Anderson, a 47‑year‑old former drug addict, received a suspended five‑year jail sentence for a series of robberies committed in 2009. He was first on bail for an armed robbery at a Spar shop when he threatened hairdresser staff, then robbed €1,817 from a hairdressers in Coolock on the last Saturday before Christmas. CCTV identified him and Gardaí questioned him three days later. The next day he hijacked a car, threatening the owner with a screwdriver, drove dangerously and crashed into a tree, leading to his arrest. In 2011 Anderson pleaded guilty to robbery of €300 cash and €399.60 in cigarettes from a Spar shop in Raheny, robbery of the hairdressers, and taking a Nissan car by force from Joe Ennis in Portmarnock. He had prior convictions for robbery and drink driving.
Jaroslaw Lasota, a 43‑year‑old Polish man, was arrested after Gardaí searched his Clonee home and found 700 cannabis plants, dried cannabis, growing equipment and printed instructions. He claimed the plants were for oil and seed production, which he believed were legal because they could be bought online. Lasota pleaded guilty to cultivation and possession for sale or supply on 31 May 2012. He had no prior convictions and had lived in Ireland since 2010. The court estimated the plants' value at nearly €13,000 and seized €4,050 from a safe. Judge Catherine Murphy refused a fully suspended sentence, imposed an 18‑month prison term, suspended the final 18 months, and ordered the destruction of the plants. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Patrick Kelly, 32, of Croftwood Park, Ballyfermot, was arrested after Gardaí discovered a large cocaine stash in his home. When officers entered, they found a cloud of white dust, a bag of cocaine in the toilet, and evidence of drug mixing, including a blender, gloves, weighing scales, and mixing agents. The search also uncovered 489 g of heroin in a palm tree and additional cocaine under a garden bin, totaling 2.9 kg of cocaine, 489 g of heroin, and almost 7 kg of mixing agents. Kelly pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply on 8 April 2014. He admitted he mixed and blended the cocaine and held the heroin, claiming he was involved to pay a €10,000 debt. The second man present was not charged. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Kelly to five years' imprisonment, noting the offence was a one‑off event unlikely to recur.