Judge Mary Ellen Ring said that the Director of Public Prosecutions failed to inform the court that Mark Moran, 37, had committed a new crime while his previous suspended sentence was still active. Moran, who had been convicted in 2010 of possession of cannabis worth over €250,000 and sentenced to seven years with four years suspended, was released in October 2011. In December 2012 he pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine and cannabis for sale or supply in Clontarf, with an estimated drug value of €5,000. The DPP did not mention the active suspended sentence at the time of the new offence. Ring noted that under Section 99 of the 2006 Criminal Justice Act any new sentence must run consecutively to the suspended sentence, but she would not address the prosecutorial failure. Moran is currently in drug rehabilitation, remains free on bail, and will appear again in July for sentencing.
In a Kildare incident, Tadgh Delaney, aged 41, assaulted and robbed his ex‑girlfriend, a 36‑year‑old woman, on 29 January 2014. He pleaded guilty to assault and to robbing her mobile phone and €130 cash. The victim, whose identity is protected, appealed to Judge James O'Donohoe to avoid jail, arguing that Delaney had turned his life around. The judge had previously indicated a possible 240‑hour community service sentence in lieu of a six‑month jail term. Judge Martin Nolan confirmed this order after a Probation Service report deemed Delaney suitable for community service, requiring the work to be completed within one year. The case highlighted Delaney's history of road‑traffic offences, theft, and a former heroin addiction, and the victim's claim that he had begun to change after their relationship ended.
Gary Byrne, aged 42, was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment for possession of €2.52 million worth of cannabis resin and herb, found in two Dublin lock‑ups. The prosecution had earlier dropped a charge of possession of €2.5 million worth of ecstasy after the Court of Appeal's Bederev judgement declared such bans unconstitutional. Byrne pleaded guilty in June 2013 at Rosemount Business Park and the North West Business Centre. Judge Patricia Ryan imposed a 12‑year sentence with the final three years suspended, citing that Byrne was not the owner of the drugs and was an addict. He had a prior conviction for stealing Rohypnol from a pharmaceutical firm. Garda evidence showed Byrne was under surveillance, had rented the lock‑ups, and admitted holding the drugs to repay debts and fund his addiction. The defence highlighted his family and work record, urging a lighter sentence. The final custodial term is nine years.
Two cousins, Patrick O'Brien (35) and Thomas Stewart (31), have appealed their convictions for the double murder of Desmond Kelly and Breda Waters at O'Malley Park, Limerick City on January 9 2011. Both men pleaded not guilty to the charges and were found guilty by a jury at the Central Criminal Court, each receiving a mandatory life sentence on October 26 2012. Annie Waters Ryan, Breda Waters' sister, is also involved in the appeal. Counsel for O'Brien, Seán Gillane SC, argued that the identification of his client's voice should not have been admissible due to the witness's recent heroin use and the limited words used for identification. He also challenged the admissibility of a statement by Thomas Stewart Jnr, who initially claimed to have seen a shotgun in a car with O'Brien. Counsel for Stewart, Hugh Hartnett SC, contended that a garda incorrectly testified that two people were visible on CCTV footage when only one was visible. The prosecution's case relied on the garda's testimony to establish that two individuals were involved in the crime. The appeal is ongoing, with the court reserving judgment to a date 'as soon as possible'.
The State dropped a charge of possession of €2.5 million worth of ecstasy after the Court of Appeal ruled that ecstasy and other drugs were unconstitutionally banned. The accused, who also had a similar amount of cannabis, had already pleaded guilty to possessing over 250,000 ecstasy tablets for sale or supply in 2013. Counsel for the Director of Public Prosecutions asked the court to withdraw the ecstasy charge and proceed solely on the cannabis counts. The case involves Gary Byrne (42) of Belcamp Gardens, Coolock, Dublin, who pleaded guilty to possession of €2.52 million worth of cannabis resin and herb. He will be sentenced by Judge Patricia Ryan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Byrne has a prior conviction for stealing Rohypnol from a pharmaceutical firm. At the sentencing hearing, Mr McGillicuddy presented evidence from the Garda National Drugs Unit that Byrne was the subject of a surveillance operation on 4 June 2013.
Stephen Dolan, aged 20, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assaulting taxi driver Mohammed Maeem and robbing €90 from The Snuffbox newsagents. On 5 September 2014, Dolan directed Maeem to remote roads outside Finglas, punched him twice in the face, and later robbed the newsagents the day before. Maeem suffered a deep forehead gash, swollen lip, bruising and required stitches; he has since lost a month's earnings. Dolan admitted taking prescription drugs and was described by a newsagent as "an absolute idiot." The court sentenced him to four years, with the final year suspended, citing his 45 previous convictions and attempts to reform. The judge described the assault as sinister and noted Dolan's ADHD and dysfunctional background. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the assault and robbery.
Luke Curry, 25, was found asleep on a couch with a pile of €275 of stolen cash after a pharmacy robbery in Tallaght on 12 February 2013. He had opened the security door while his masked accomplice, armed with a kitchen knife, entered the shop and demanded money and tablets. The pharmacy staff, recognising Curry as a customer, opened the door and were threatened by the armed man. Staff handed over €400, of which €275 was later recovered. Curry pleaded guilty to robbery at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Desmond Hogan imposed a three‑year sentence, suspended in full on the condition that Curry completes 240 hours of community service. He was also charged with drug dealing and has 12 prior convictions. The case was prosecuted by Elva Duffy BL and defended by Sarah Jane O'Callaghan BL.
Two men were jailed for their roles in a sophisticated cannabis import scheme that involved nearly €5 million worth of drugs. Sean Mahony, 39, and Peng Cheng, 24, pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply at locations in North Dublin. Gardaí observed the pair arriving at an IKEA store in vans, then transporting the drugs to a warehouse at North City Business Park. The drugs were concealed in pallets of legitimate goods, including Basmati rice, and were marked with a coded barcode system. Gardaí seized 72.7 kg of cannabis in Mahony's van and an additional 137 kg of herbal cannabis and 88 kg of cannabis resin in the warehouse, bringing the total value to almost €5 million. Peng was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment, while Mahony received six years. Both men had no prior convictions. The case highlighted the use of legitimate import routes and coded packaging to conceal large quantities of drugs.
In March 2015 the Director of Public Prosecutions withdrew a charge against Darren Snee, 25, who had been caught with over €17,000 worth of ecstasy. The withdrawal followed a Court of Appeal decision that had ruled drugs such as ecstasy were legal because they had been unconstitutionally banned. The drugs were made illegal again after emergency legislation. Snee still faces sentencing for possession for sale or supply of cannabis worth €819 and cocaine worth €399, both unaffected by the ruling. He pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine, cannabis and MDMA for sale or supply at his home on 18 November 2013. Judge Martin Nolan remanded him in custody pending sentence, and the prosecution asked the judge to vacate the guilty plea to the ecstasy charge, which was granted. Snee will be sentenced on 27 March.
Phillip Farrell, 35, of Cushlawn Park, Tallaght, Dublin, was charged with possession of heroin worth €23,000 and cannabis resin worth €732, for which he pleaded guilty in December 2013 and February 2014. He also faced charges of unlawful possession of ecstasy, estimated at just over €200, but the State withdrew those charges following a Court of Appeal ruling that temporarily legalised possession of the drug. Farrell had not entered pleas to the ecstasy counts, which were considered at sentencing. He claimed he was holding the drugs to clear a €30,000 debt and expressed fear for his life, a claim the court accepted as evidence of duress. The case was adjourned to May for sentencing, with 31 prior convictions noted. The article does not state the final sentence.
A 33‑year‑old Dublin father of two, Keith Byrne, was sentenced to five years in prison after authorities discovered approximately €860,000 worth of heroin in the back of a rental Toyota Corolla. Byrne pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing the drug for sale or supply at Castlebaggot in Newcastle, Co. Dublin, on 7 May 2014. Gardaí had received confidential information and monitored Byrne's home in Lucan, where they observed him placing a black hold‑all bag in the vehicle and driving toward Newcastle. The car was stopped near Baldonnell, and the drugs were seized. Byrne admitted responsibility, claiming he did not know the substance was heroin or its value. He stated he had to transport the drugs "from A to B." Prosecutor Noel Devitt BL noted that Byrne's cooperation and full admissions helped the investigation.
A former army officer, Gerard Daly, has been sentenced to three and a half years in prison for possessing nearly 20 kilograms of herbal cannabis valued at €399,260. Daly, who had 12 years of service in the Defence Forces before being discharged due to a prior drug offence, pleaded guilty to the charges. He admitted to holding the drugs in return for €1,000 as he was financially desperate. Judge Martin Nolan noted that Daly had made a serious error of judgment and was aware of the risks involved. The court heard that Daly had been tipped off about a delivery of cannabis, leading to a surveillance operation outside his home in Lucan. Gardaí found the drugs in a shed after obtaining a search warrant. Daly had 17 previous convictions, all for road traffic offences, which his defence attributed to a long-standing alcohol problem.
Jody Vij, 35, was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to five years' imprisonment after pleading guilty to possessing cannabis for sale or supply. The offence occurred on 17 May 2008 when gardaí stopped a vehicle in Dalkey, Co. Dublin, and found a bag containing 20 packages of cannabis worth €117,912. Vij admitted buying 10 kg of the drug for €60,000 and planning to sell it at a profit of €2,000 per kilo. He described himself as a "heavy gambler" spending €500–€600 daily on betting. Garda Val Russell reported that confidential information about a drug delivery led to the stop. Additional cannabis was seized at a house on Park Avenue, Glenageary, and at Castleforbes Business Park, where Vij rented rehearsal space. Betting slips and a Star newspaper with lists of names and amounts were also found.
A Court of Appeal judgment delivered on 10 March 2015 addressed the constitutionality of section 2(2) of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977, which empowers the Government to declare substances as controlled drugs by order. The appellant, Stanislav Bederev, had been charged with drug offences relating to methylethcathinone at Blanchardstown District Court in April 2012. The substance was subsequently classified as a controlled drug via Government order in 2011, though it had previously been legally available for purchase. The High Court had rejected Bederev's challenge to the constitutionality of section 2(2) on grounds that it allegedly violated Article 15.2.1 of the Constitution concerning the exclusive legislative power of the Oireachtas. The case was transferred from the Supreme Court to the Court of Appeal following its establishment. District Court proceedings remained adjourned pending the appeal outcome.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 25‑year‑old Darren Snee pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine, cannabis and MDMA for sale or supply. Judge Martin Nolan remanded him in custody pending sentencing on 27 March. During the hearing, defence counsel Pieter Le Vert raised the Court of Appeal's recent ruling that the illegality of certain drugs is now unconstitutional, arguing that possession of MDMA, headshop drugs and crystal meth is no longer an offence. Judge Nolan noted that Snee also possessed cocaine and cannabis, which remain illegal, and upheld the remand. The Court of Appeal had declared Section 2(2) of the 1977 Misuse of Drugs Act unconstitutional, but the ruling does not affect substances such as cannabis, heroin or cocaine. Snee's case involved evidence of drug sales, hidden drugs in his home, and a prior burglary conviction. The court will determine his sentence on 27 March.
Alan Boggans, 39, of Newcastle, was convicted of possessing over €1.9 million worth of cannabis resin for sale or supply at Celtic Truck Wash and Park, Rathcoole, on 1 September 2009. A jury at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court found him guilty and Judge Patrick McCartan sentenced him to 13 years' imprisonment on 24 June 2013. Boggans appealed the conviction, but the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal. Judge Garrett Sheehan confirmed that Boggans had received a fair trial. The case centred on a Garda surveillance operation that led to a search warrant issued under section 26 of the Misuse of Drugs Act. Evidence included drugs found in a white Mercedes van, fingerprints matching Boggans, and mobile phones linked to him. Boggans' counsel argued the warrant was issued too hastily and that the Superintendent was not independent, but the court rejected these arguments and upheld the conviction. The appeal was dismissed on all grounds. Alan Boggans pleaded not guilty.
Michael Carolan, aged 39, was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to three years' imprisonment for possessing a double‑barrel sawn‑off shotgun, 28 rounds of ammunition and 586 g of powder that contained only 0.6 % to 1.4 % cocaine, the remainder being a legal anaesthetic used to cut cocaine. The offence occurred at his former home on Kimmage Road West, Dublin, on 19 October 2005. Carolan pleaded guilty, admitting he was holding the drugs for a third party, but denied knowledge of the gun and ammunition, some of which was found in a container of child's colouring pencils. He had fled to the UK but was returned to Ireland to face the charges. The court, after considering a psychological report and a defence claim of coercion, imposed a three‑year term for the gun possession, concurrent with a two‑year term for the drug offence, back‑dated to his entry into custody on 23 August 2014.
James Walsh, 57, of Wyanstown, Oldtown, Co Dublin, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to cultivating cannabis plants at his home on 20 June 2013. The court, presided over by Judge Martin Nolan, suspended a two‑year prison sentence on the condition that Walsh keeps the peace for that period. During a planned search, Gardaí discovered 23 plants in a "grow tent" in a small bedroom, equipped with specialised lighting, heating and an air vent. The plants were at harvesting stage and were estimated to be worth €20,800 on the street. An additional 16 early‑stage plants were found in a greenhouse, valued at €12,800, and two more plants were located in the living room. Walsh said he would use cuttings from these plants to avoid buying seeds, and that he intended to smoke the plants and produce cannabis oil for medicinal use.
James Cahill, a former apprentice butcher, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to the theft of €49,204 from McArdle Meats on December 24, 2013. Judge Desmond Hogan suspended a four-year prison sentence for three years, imposing conditions that Cahill keep the peace for that period and complete 240 hours of unpaid community work. The court heard that Cahill, who had no previous convictions, admitted knowing the shop's safe codes, which allowed him to steal two days of takings during a period of chronic cocaine addiction and drug-induced paranoia. Prosecution evidence indicated that Cahill later handed €17,000 of the stolen money to gardaí and led officers to a further €5,000 stashed in a shoe. It was noted that a third party had threatened Cahill with a lump hammer for some of the cash, though his father managed to retrieve a portion of it. The butchers remained out of pocket by €17,000 after receiving €10,000 in insurance compensation. Judge Hogan described the offence as being at the higher end of the middle range of seriousness but accepted Cahill's genuine remorse, early guilty plea, and significant strides towards rehabilitation.
Wayne Donnelly, 28, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, false imprisonment of a taxi driver and unlawful seizure of a car. He was sentenced to a six‑year prison term with four years suspended, conditional on keeping the peace and attending a drug treatment programme. The case involved an attack on a taxi driver who was tied up, robbed of his phone and €250, and had his car taken. Donnelly also assaulted a man in Palmerstown, claiming the man owed money to drug dealers, and threatened to use grenades. He had 26 prior convictions. The judge described Donnelly and a co‑accused as "bullyboys." The sentencing was delivered by Judge Desmond Hogan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The article reports no further legal proceedings beyond the suspended sentence and conditions.
Stephen Lawlor, a 26‑year‑old father of two from Ard Mor Court, Tallaght, was sentenced to four years in prison after pleading guilty to possessing 630 g of heroin and €94,500 worth of drugs and ammunition, which he claimed were held to pay a €10,000 cocaine debt. Gardaí, acting on confidential information, searched his home and found the drugs, ammunition, and additional cocaine and shotgun cartridges. Lawlor had 16 prior minor traffic convictions. The judge acknowledged his history of depression and that he had been a victim of criminals, but imposed the custodial sentence.
James Butler, aged 33, was sentenced by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to five years' imprisonment, with two and a half years suspended, for possessing 1.3 kg of cannabis herb. The drug, valued at €27,424, was found in his Tallaght home on 3 April 2013 after Gardaí forced entry. It was hidden in two sport bags, one in a wardrobe and one in the attic, with weighing scales and individual drug bags in a sweet tin. Butler admitted to holding the cannabis to pay off a heroin‑related debt, stating he had stopped using heroin just before Christmas that year but still owed money. He claimed he did not know the drugs' value and that he had not attracted Garda attention since his arrest. The judge imposed the sentence with strict conditions on the suspended portion. James Butler pleaded guilty.
Keith O'Brien, 37, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment by Judge Martin Nolan after pleading guilty to possessing 3.5 kg of heroin worth €532,339. O'Brien had previously agreed to hold €8,000 worth of drugs for "serious criminals" after losing his job, but the drugs were destroyed by damp. Garda Patrick McAvinue testified that O'Brien was seen placing a shopping bag behind the driver's seat of a Volkswagen, and a search of his home uncovered €498,000 worth of heroin. O'Brien claimed he was coerced by higher‑level offenders and had no financial gain from the operation. He was described as a family man who had been assaulted and pressured into the role. The court accepted his full admissions and cooperation with the investigation. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the offence and the circumstances surrounding his involvement.
Remigijus Tuma, a 32‑year‑old Lithuanian national living in Dublin, was convicted in 2011 of possessing €180,000 worth of cannabis for sale or supply. He was found guilty by a jury at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and sentenced to seven years' imprisonment by Judge Yvonne Murphy. In 2015 the Court of Appeal quashed his conviction after hearing that the trial judge had imposed an inappropriate burden of proof, requiring Tuma to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he did not know the contents of the suitcase were cannabis. The appellate judges, including Mr Justice John Edwards, agreed that this was a fundamental injustice and ruled that the appeal must be allowed. A formal judgment will be issued on March 23, 2015. Remigijus Tuma pleaded not guilty.
Martin Whelan, 31, was jailed for five and a half years after pleading guilty to possession of cannabis for sale or supply at Old Church Avenue, Clondalkin, Dublin. Gardaí raided a house in The Square, Larchill, Coolock, where Whelan and Paul Carroll, 38, were found in the kitchen weighing and bagging about ten kilograms of cannabis herb. The seized drugs were valued at €200,860, with a portion worth €50,000. Whelan admitted collecting cannabis for distribution and claimed a drug debt owed since the previous Christmas. He had a prior UK conviction for importing 16 kg of cocaine, for which he served five of ten years. Judge Martin Nolan also sentenced Carroll to three and a half years, backdated to February 2014. No evidence of assets or a high‑life lifestyle was found. The case was prosecuted by Maurice Coffey BL.
In Swords District Court on 2 March 2015, several cases were heard. Dean Whelan, 27, pleaded guilty to stealing €85 from a Polish shop's cash register to pay a drug debt. He was sentenced to two months' imprisonment, a term that will run concurrently with a three‑year sentence he is already serving. Brendan Donovan, 61, admitted possession of a stolen van that had been listed on Done Deal. He was adjourned until 27 April to arrange €500 compensation for the van owner's tools. Kevin Carroll, 27, failed to appear after pleading guilty to damaging a restaurant window, leading to a bench warrant. Patrick Joyce, 22, was convicted of stealing soft drinks worth €5, fined €100, and warned that a further offence could result in custodial time. Each case was addressed with the specific charges, pleas, and court orders as stated in the article.
The Court of Appeal has increased the sentence of Cathal Murtagh, a Louth man, from five years to eight years for possession of drugs for sale or supply. Murtagh, who pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, was originally sentenced in March 2012 for possessing €3.5 million worth of ecstasy and cannabis at a Malahide Road warehouse in April 2011. The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed the original sentence as unduly lenient, arguing the judge failed to adequately consider the offence's presumptive minimum of ten years and the drugs' value. President of the Court of Appeal Mr Justice Seán Ryan imposed the new eight-year term from the date of the original sentence. However, the balance of the sentence was suspended. Mr Justice Ryan described Murtagh as "very lucky" and urged him to "take the chance" given. Murtagh was required to enter a personal bond of €100 to keep the peace and be of good behaviour for five years. Counsel for the DPP, Mr Ronan Kennedy BL, argued the original sentence attached excessive weight to mitigating factors, including Murtagh's status as a "lowest cog" and his lack of prior convictions. Defence counsel, Ms Mary Rose Gearty SC, noted Murtagh had been at liberty since September 30. The court's decision reflects a review of the sentence rather than a new trial, with the suspended portion contingent on the specified conditions.
Philip McCarthy, 48, of Cabra Court, Thurles, was charged with possession of €43,000 worth of drugs after a vehicle stop at the Horse and Jockey Hotel in November 2011. He received a 10‑year sentence, with the final three years suspended, at Clonmel Circuit Criminal Court on 18 October 2013. In the Court of Appeal on 2 March 2015, Mr Justice George Birmingham informed counsel that the Court of Appeal can increase sentences and that no exceptional circumstances were found. McCarthy's counsel requested an adjournment, and the case was rescheduled for a later hearing.
Rafal Chylinski, 32, of Ennis, Co Clare, received a three-year suspended sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to possession of cannabis and having the drug for sale or supply. The offence occurred on August 22, 2013, at Kylemore Road, Ballyfermot. Prosecution evidence indicated Chylinski was part of a larger operation involving co-accused David Gill, 38, of Leopardstown Road, who was jailed for seven years last year after pleading guilty to possessing €600,000 worth of drugs at three Dublin locations on the same date. Chylinski admitted he was paid €200 to collect and hold the drugs for a few days. Gardaí intercepted him in a Bluebell industrial estate car park after he received a black plastic bag from Gill. The bag contained €19,996 worth of cannabis, and a further €10,000 worth was found at his father's house in Castle Curragh Vale, which Chylinski admitted owning. He exonerated his father and another man present in the vehicle. Defence counsel highlighted Chylinski's financial pressure due to an injury and lack of wealth. Judge Mary Ellen Ring noted Chylinski's immaturity and that he was not profiting from the drugs, resulting in the suspended sentence.
Wesley Brennan, 28, was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment for stealing a Honda Accord belonging to Leoney Dunphy during their first date. The theft occurred after Brennan, who met Dunphy on the Plenty of Fish dating site, began shouting at her over her driving and demanded she exit the car so he could drive away. He subsequently sold the vehicle to scrap dealers in Ashbourne. Brennan pleaded guilty to theft of a vehicle worth €5,500. The court noted no violence was used and that Dunphy was not put in fear, though she was flustered. Brennan, who had grown up in Tallaght and was experiencing homelessness and drug debt, apologized to the victim. Judge Martin Nolan imposed the sentence, backdating it to September when Brennan entered custody after bail was revoked.
In Balbriggan District Court on 26 February 2015, two women, Eileen McDonagh (36) and Carolyn Ward (29), were dealt with for stealing €1,782.35 worth of children's clothing from Tesco Extra. McDonagh donated €300 to the Laura Lynn Hospice, leading Judge Dermot Dempsey to apply Section 1.1 of the Probation Act and grant her probation. Ward, who did not attend court and made no donation, was convicted and fined €300. Both had no prior convictions and were described by their solicitor as acting out of desperation with no sophisticated planning. Separately, Ryan Myles (21) was adjourned for a Probation & Welfare Report after pleading guilty to theft of cosmetics and possession of cannabis resin, with 10 prior convictions. A motorist, David Boylan (48), was fined €300 for careless driving after a collision at a crossroads but was not disqualified. Finally, Mathew Lencewicz (21) was convicted of drink driving, fined €200, and received a six‑month driving ban.
Gerry Connors, 28, was jailed for four years after a burglary in Killiney, Dublin, where he stole a safe containing €190,000 worth of jewellery and €10,000 in various currencies. He had entered the house by jumping a garden wall, smashed a window, and discovered the safe. Connors claimed he thought the jewellery was scrap and exchanged it for €500 worth of heroin. Gardaí found CCTV footage linking him to the getaway van and blood stains at the scene. He had previously committed a burglary in Shankill, stealing car keys and items worth €2,000, and had 115 prior convictions, including 90 for traffic offences and 12 for burglary. He pleaded guilty to the Killiney and Shankill burglaries in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The judge noted the extensive damage and the lack of appreciation for the value of the stolen items. The case highlighted Connors' ongoing drug habit and the role of his associates in the burglary.
Stephen Mulvaney, 39, and his father Paul Mulvaney, 62, were sentenced in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for running a cannabis growhouse in an industrial unit. Stephen admitted responsibility for 94 cannabis plants and was jailed for four years. Paul, who had been in prison two or three times before, received a three‑year suspended sentence after admitting he may have unknowingly assisted his son. The court noted that stolen vehicles—a Hyundai Santa Fe jeep and a Volkswagen Jetta—were found in the unit, along with parts from other dismantled cars. Stephen claimed he knew the jeep was stolen and hid it to avoid detection, and he admitted debt of €22,000 from loans and gambling, which he said motivated the operation. He pleaded guilty to possession of the stolen jeep and possession of cannabis for sale or supply. Paul pleaded guilty to cultivation of cannabis.
Darren Byrne, 34, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for biting off a large portion of Niall Kearns' ear during an unprovoked pub attack at The Village Inn, Clondalkin, on 23 June 2012. Byrne pleaded guilty to assault causing harm. He claimed he was on heavy medication and believed six men were attacking him, which he used as a defence. The judge, Martin Nolan, described the assault as "a savage attack" and noted it was at the highest level of the offence. Byrne had 15 prior convictions for minor matters. The victim, Kearns, reported that Byrne had been growling in his ear and that the ear could not be re‑attached by surgeons. The sentence was imposed despite Byrne's health issues and claims of being a former heroin addict. The case was prosecuted by Fiona McGowan BL and defended by Garnet Orange SC.
Sean Brady, 34, of Clonliffe Road, Drumcondra, was sentenced at Swords District Court for the burglary of Kinsealy Pet Store in North Dublin on October 24, 2013. Brady pleaded guilty to the offence, which resulted in over €600 worth of birds dying due to shock and cold. Garda Killian Layden testified that the store owner, Aidan O'Connor, discovered an intruder in the aviary area around 10:30 pm and saw a male fleeing toward a red BMW. O'Connor struck the vehicle with a hatchet, causing him to jump out of the way. Brady was arrested after his blood was found at the scene. Defence counsel Patrick Jackson noted that Brady has ten previous convictions and a drug habit, and that he had recently had a one-year portion of a three-year suspended sentence re-activated at Trim Circuit Court for unlawful possession of drugs for sale or supply. Judge Denis McLoughlin stated that committing an offence under a suspended sentence carries consequences. Consequently, Brady was sentenced to three months in prison, to run consecutively to the sentence he is currently serving. The judge also fixed recognisance in the event of an appeal.
Mark Cooke, 26, of Derry Park, Crumlin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for drug offences. He pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply, admitting to being caught with heroin and cocaine in March and May 2013, as well as possession of Diazepam and heroin for sale or supply on March 6, 2013. Judge Martin Nolan suspended a three-year prison sentence on the condition that Cooke keeps the peace for that period. The judge noted it would be unjust to jail Cooke, who is in rehabilitation for long-term consequences of an assault, citing that he is practically housebound. Cooke suffers from weakness on his left side, long-term memory impairment, and depression resulting from an unprovoked attack on July 9, 2013, at St James Walk, Rialto, which left him in a 26-day coma. His childhood friend, Daniel Clarke, 20, of Dolphin House, Dolphin's Barn, pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm to Cooke during that incident. Clarke was previously sentenced to eight and a half years, with the last 18 months suspended. The court heard Clarke straddled the victim and drove a broken glass bottle into his face. Cooke has nine previous convictions, including one for possession of drugs for sale or supply and one for attempted robbery.
Swords District Court heard several matters presided over by Judge Denis McLoughlin. Jandean Hyland, who pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, had his case struck out after paying €750 compensation. Anthony Lambe, convicted of causing criminal damage, was fined €200 and remanded on continuing bail until May 18th to pay the fine. Patrick McDonagh was convicted and fined €250 for theft, while his brother Eddie McDonagh, also convicted of theft, was given the benefit of the Probation & Offenders Act. Karl McQuillian, who pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of cannabis, had his case adjourned until May 18th for a Probation & Welfare report to assess suitability for 200 hours of community service in lieu of a five-month prison sentence. Algars Putnins, who pleaded guilty to intoxication, obstruction, and threatening behaviour, was remanded on continuing bail to reappear in May to make a €200 charitable contribution, with the Probation Act to be applied if the donation is made. Martin Maughan, who pleaded guilty to careless driving and failing to give a specimen, was disqualified from driving for four years and fined €300.
In February 2015, lawyers for the State were instructed to prepare a substantive 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, 47, is serving a life sentence in Portlaoise Prison after a 31‑day trial before the Special Criminal Court. He also faces convictions for drugs and firearms. Meehan's appeal is based on new evidence that emerged during the 2001 Special Criminal Court trial of John Gilligan. The Director of Public Prosecutions, Tom O'Connell, noted that the evidence was already known before the original appeal and that the DPP had previously moved to dismiss the application, a motion that was refused by the Court of Criminal Appeal. The Court of Appeal has ordered the State to submit a comprehensive response, with case management to be considered on 19 June.
Two Colombians, Pedro Ruiz (38) and David Sanchez (29), were sentenced to seven years' imprisonment each for possessing 32 kilograms of cocaine in Dublin. The men pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after the drugs were seized at a bed and breakfast on Stillorgan Road in Donnybrook on 26 June 2014. Their lawyers argued that the men were acting under duress from other Colombians to whom they owed money, and requested that Judge Martin Nolan avoid the mandatory ten‑year minimum. The judge accepted that the men had been under pressure and, believing there was hope for rehabilitation, imposed a seven‑year term backdated to the date of their arrest. The prosecution's counsel, Anne Marie Lawlor BL, said the men's claims of coercion were not corroborated and had not been mentioned in Garda interviews.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Istvan Bogdan, a 42‑year‑old Hungarian lorry driver from Mohacs, pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for supply after being caught unloading cardboard boxes containing €1.5 million worth of cannabis at Northwest Business Park, Co. Dublin on 5 May 2014. Bogdan admitted his role in the offence and that he was to receive €5,000. He claimed he was unaware of the drugs' value initially but was told he could not back out. The prosecution, led by Garrett McCormack BL, highlighted Bogdan's admission and the substantial drug quantity. The defence, represented by Dominic McGinn SC, argued for a human‑terms approach, citing Bogdan's family—wife, three children, and two ill parents—and requested a suspended sentence if he left Ireland. Judge Martin Nolan noted the difficulty of serving a sentence in an Irish prison for Bogdan, given his family's distance, but emphasised the seriousness of the drug amount.
In a Dublin city‑centre robbery, 38‑year‑old Deborah Lee lured drunken Mark O'Brien onto a dark back street, where two accomplices seized him in a choke hold and threatened him with a syringe. Lee pleaded guilty to the robbery of O'Brien on 9 June 2014 at Great Strand Street. Judge James O'Donoghue sentenced her to six months, noting the sentence was already served from a prior offence, and conditioned it on her participation in a residential drug‑treatment programme. The judge described Lee's role as a minor, non‑violent consort who set up the robbery but did not take part in the assault. CCTV footage of the trio cashing the victim's winning betting slip led to their arrest. Lee had no convictions at the time of the robbery, though she had been on bail for other offences, and the judge believed she could turn her life around with treatment.
Eddie Winston, a 60‑year‑old father of seven, and Lee Bracken Kennedy, a 21‑year‑old student, were sentenced for their roles in a large‑scale drug deal in Kildare. Winston met Kennedy at a Leixlip industrial estate to hand over nearly €20,000 worth of cannabis herb, but Gardaí intercepted them. A key found on Winston led to a lock‑up unit containing just under €180,000 of drugs, a gun and ammunition. Winston was sentenced to six years' imprisonment for possession of €176,325 worth of heroin, cocaine and cannabis resin, and for possession of a 12‑gauge double‑barrel shotgun with 238 rounds. Kennedy received a three‑year suspended sentence and was bound to the peace for three years for unlawful possession of cannabis herb. Both pleaded guilty; Winston initially denied involvement but later admitted it. The judge noted their gross errors of judgment.
In a Kildare case, a woman appealed to Judge James O'Donohoe not to imprison her ex‑partner, Tadgh Delaney, who assaulted and robbed her. She argued that Delaney had reformed and was not seeking vengeance, but wanted the €130 he stole. Delaney, 41, pleaded guilty to assaulting the 36‑year‑old woman on 29 January 2014 at Call a Cab, Celbridge, and to robbing her mobile phone and cash. He had seven prior convictions for traffic offences and theft. The judge offered 240 hours of community service instead of a six‑month jail term if Delaney was deemed suitable. The case was adjourned to March to determine eligibility for community service. The victim described Delaney as a former heroin addict who had been working with Catholic youth organisations and was turning his life around.
Adam Nevin, 27, of Clondalkin, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to three charges of having MDMA for sale or supply at Sin Nightclub, Clondalkin Community Centre and Clondalkin Shopping Centre in September 2012. He had 23 prior convictions, including two for drug dealing in the District Court. Nevin sold ecstasy to an undercover Garda on three occasions, first offering four tablets for €20, then ten tablets for €60, and finally 100 tablets for €300. The Garda operation involved officers in unmarked cars and a mountain bike. Nevin was arrested after discarding a bag of tablets, which were recovered and analysed as MDMA. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Nevin to a two‑and‑a‑half‑year suspended sentence, revoking his bail and remanding him in custody for two weeks before sentencing. The judge noted Nevin's attitude to work and his previous chance from the District Court. Nevin has since moved to Norway for work.
Swords District Court heard four matters. Rica Cantaragiu (28) pleaded guilty to driving without reasonable consideration on the R132 at Balrothery in May 2014. She was convicted and fined €150. Wojtek Jedrej (19) pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of drugs and unlawful possession of drugs. He was convicted, fined €400 for the driving offence, and disqualified from driving for four years, with the disqualification postponed until August 1st. He was also convicted and fined €300 for possession. Robert Kinsella (28) pleaded guilty to being intoxicated and using threatening and abusive behaviour in Swords in December 2014. The court ordered a probation report to assess his suitability for 240 hours of community service work in lieu of a two-month prison sentence. Anthony Byrne (21) pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of Ecstasy tablets in Coolock in July 2014. The matter was adjourned for a Probation & Welfare Report to be filed by April 13th.
David Flynn, a 42‑year‑old father of three from York Street, Dublin, was convicted of arson at the Nirvana head shop on Capel Street on 12 February 2010. He set the shop on fire because he held a grudge over his brother's drug‑related death, which the court said may have involved the shop's sale of drugs. CCTV footage showed Flynn with another man and later with bolt cutters entering the shop's side gate. The blaze caused €1 million in damage, forced residents to evacuate, and closed a busy city‑centre street for days. Five Dublin Fire Brigade units were required to control the flames, which also destroyed a neighbouring head shop and an adult store. Flynn pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and was sentenced to six years' imprisonment by Judge Martin Nolan, who noted his 65 previous convictions and his low risk of re‑offending.
David Bersabe, a 38‑year‑old Spanish national, was sentenced to three years in prison after authorities discovered almost €8,000 of cannabis resin concealed in his body at Dublin Airport on 1 April 2014. Garda Kevin Nolan noted Bersabe had already passed 18 drug pellets before being arrested and spent the night in hospital passing the remainder. Bersabe pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and admitted he intended to sell half of the stash in Ireland and the rest in Austria. He had a prior 2011 conviction for importing 78 pellets of cannabis resin into Ireland.
Stephen Devoy, aged 33, was given a three‑year suspended sentence after pleading guilty to threatening to kill Garda Sam Taylor on 26 February 2012. The court heard that Devoy had been extremely drunk and had been binging on a cocktail of drink and drugs for days after selling his car for €700. He was arrested outside Ned's pub on Townsend Street in the early hours of the morning. Devoy had no recollection of making the threats, but later made full admissions. He has 14 previous convictions, all dealt with in the District Court, including theft, public order offences and violent behaviour in a garda station. Judge Desmond Hogan noted that Devoy has been drug‑free for over a year and is attending Crumlin College studying Graphic & Web Design. He was also placed on a peace bond for three years and directed to undergo a drugs and alcohol treatment programme.
In a 30‑minute incident in south Dublin, 41‑year‑old Francis Gavigan, a drug addict, forced a woman, Eleanor McCarthy, to drive his car while threatening to Taser her and take her children. He showed the children a memorial card of his late mother and claimed he was a "bad apple" desperate to avoid bank robbery. Gavigan pleaded guilty to robbery and false imprisonment. He was sentenced to five years in prison, with the sentence backdated to May 17, 2014. The court noted the victims felt severely threatened but that Gavigan had no intent to harm them. He had 34 prior convictions, including vehicle theft and violent theft, and was reported to be engaging with prison chaplaincy and drug‑addiction support at the time of sentencing.
Andrew Larkin, aged 31 of Phibsboro Road, Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to burglary committed on 23 April 2013. Garda evidence indicated that Larkin and another man forced entry to Charlestown Shopping Centre on Cardiffsbridge Road, Finglas, at 1am and broke into the Romeo and Juliet hair salon. They attempted to access cash registers, retrieving only €30, before taking approximately €1,000 worth of hair care products and equipment in black bin bags. The stolen goods were recovered during a subsequent garda search of Larkin's home at Dunsink Drive, Finglas. When presented with CCTV footage, Larkin admitted his involvement. He has two prior convictions for burglary. Judge James O'Donohoe imposed a one-year jail sentence, suspended for two years, conditional on Larkin engaging in drug counselling.