Michael Brady, 54, was found guilty of possessing cocaine and heroin at a property in Sallins, Co Kildare, on January 24, 2017. The court acquitted him of charges related to cocaine and cannabis found in the same location, as well as possession of an assault rifle and ammunition magazines, which were either withdrawn or dismissed by direction. Presiding Judge Paul Coffey stated that Brady's fingerprints on blocks of diamorphine provided compelling evidence of direct contact and knowledge of the drugs concealed under a bed. Brady had pleaded not guilty to all seven counts on the indictment. The judge noted that while Brady claimed he was looking after dogs at the address, the court rejected the defence argument that others had placed the drugs there during a four-day interval. Brady was remanded in custody until July 15, when he will be sentenced. Separately, his brother, Declan Brady, pleaded guilty in February to possessing 15 firearms and over 4,000 rounds of ammunition at Greenogue Business Park, Co Dublin, on the same date. Declan Brady is scheduled to be sentenced on June 24.
The Special Criminal Court will open a trial tomorrow for John O'Donoghue, 29, of Cliona Park, Moyross, and Paul Whelan, 25, of Dalgaish Park, Moyross, who were arraigned this morning. They face charges of possessing a loaded 9mm Colt semi‑automatic pistol at Park Road, Corbally, on 30 July 2018, and of intent to endanger life under the Criminal Justice Act 2006. Both pleaded not guilty. The three‑judge panel—Justice Tara Burns, Judge Patricia Ryan and Judge Flann Brennan—expects the trial to last a week and finish before 28 June.
Alan Wilson, aged 40, was charged at the Special Criminal Court with three counts of attempted murder for a shooting at The Players Lounge pub on 26 July 2010, targeting Brian Masterson, Wayne Barrett and Austin Purcell. He was also charged with possession of a .38 Special Smith & Wesson revolver and a .32 Auto Zastava pistol, and with possession of .38 and .32 ammunition, all with intent to endanger life. Wilson denied any involvement in these allegations. Earlier, he had pleaded guilty to a murder plot involving Gary Hanley between 15 September and 6 November 2017. The DPP directed that Wilson be tried for the attempted murder offences in the non‑jury court. Wilson was granted legal aid, appeared in court wearing a blue jacket and jeans, and was remanded in custody until 29 July when a book of evidence is to be served.
Gangland criminal Alan Wilson, aged 39, pleaded guilty before the Special Criminal Court to conspiring to murder Gary Hanley between 15 September and 6 November 2017. Wilson admitted that he and Joseph Kelly, Liam Brannigan, Luke Wilson and others had planned the murder at a State location. The court, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt with Judges Martin Nolan and Patricia Ryan, remanded Wilson in custody until 15 July, when he will be sentenced together with Kelly. Wilson's co‑accused, Joseph Kelly (35), also admitted conspiracy to murder Hanley and pleaded guilty to possession of a 9mm Beretta pistol with intent to endanger life on 6 November 2017. Luke Wilson (23) had previously been sentenced to 11 years for unlawful possession of a Beretta handgun with intent to endanger life on the same date. Liam Brannigan (37) remains charged with conspiracy to murder Hanley, with a trial set for 7 October.
In a non‑jury Special Criminal Court hearing, Joseph Kelly, aged 35, pleaded guilty to conspiring to murder Gary Hanley between 15 September and 6 November 2017, together with Alan Wilson, Liam Brannigan, Luke Wilson and others. He also admitted possession of a 9mm Beretta pistol with intent to endanger life on 6 November 2017 at Philipsburgh Avenue, Marino. The court, presided over by Justice Tony Hunt with Judges Patricia Ryan and Ann Ryan, read the indictment and Kelly answered "guilty" to both counts. A governor's report was ordered for Kelly. He was remanded in custody until 8 July, when sentencing will occur. Luke Wilson, aged 23, had earlier been sentenced to 11 years for unlawful possession of a Beretta and a six‑year concurrent term for the same conspiracy. Alan Wilson (39) and Liam Brannigan (37) face charges of conspiring to murder Hanley, with a trial set for 7 October.
Two Dublin men, Glen Thompson, 23, and Robert Browne, 35, pleaded guilty in the Special Criminal Court to unlawfully possessing four firearms with intent to endanger life. The weapons were found at Belmont Hall Apartments on March 10, 2018 and included a 9mm Rak sub‑machine gun, a .38 Special Rossi revolver, a 9mm Beretta 92 semi‑automatic pistol and a 9mm Makarov semi‑automatic pistol. The court remanded them in custody until July 15, when sentencing will occur.
Two men, Martin Lumsden (35) and John Finn (32), were remanded in custody after pleading guilty to trespass and theft at Gaelscoil Cholmcille, a primary school, on 18 April 2018. They stole €880.78 from Trócaire charity boxes, which were found ripped open and almost empty. Lumsden also pleaded guilty to robbery and possession of a firearm at Mace, All Saints Park, on 7 May 2018, where he stole about €500 from two tills and was armed with a gun. Lumsden has 110 previous convictions, including hijacking, false imprisonment, robbery and burglary; Finn has 17 previous convictions, including burglary, theft, criminal damage and drug misuse. Judge Melanie Greally remanded Lumsden in custody with a condition to attend Coolmine Therapeutic Community until the completion of a treatment programme. She proposed a two‑year sentence for Finn with the final 12 months suspended, pending confirmation of his drug‑free status.
Three men – Michael Maughan (23), Martin Maughan (30) and John Reilly (30) – pleaded guilty to discharging a shotgun at Edenmore Crescent, Raheny, on 12 June 2016. The offence stemmed from a dispute over a €30,000 insurance payout following a traffic accident involving Michael Maughan. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced Michael and Martin to four and a half years' imprisonment, suspending the final two years on strict conditions and requiring 12 months' supervision by the Probation Service. John Reilly received a three and a half year sentence, suspended in full, reflecting his lesser role and fewer serious prior convictions. The judge noted the men's remorse, positive changes since the offence, and the absence of further hostilities, but emphasised that a custodial sentence was unavoidable given their previous offending histories. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Glen Kavanagh, 43, was sentenced to ten years imprisonment for the 2016 raid on Woodbine Park Post Office, Blackrock, where he fired eight shots from a semi‑automatic Makarov pistol. He held a customer's head to the gun, leapt over the counter, and was tackled by an ESB repairman who forced the gun out of his hand, injuring a colleague. Kavanagh pleaded guilty to robbery and unlawful possession of a firearm. The judge, citing his guilty plea, cooperation with investigators, drug‑related background, and rehabilitation efforts, imposed a ten‑year term back‑dated to January 2018. He was also found guilty of robbery, for which sentencing was adjourned to July 31 pending a probation report. The raid resulted in €455 stolen, the gun recovered, and Kavanagh's DNA found on a bag and a bloodstain outside the post office. The case highlighted his long‑standing drug problems and 46 prior convictions.
In a 2019 Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, Paul Evans, 36, was sentenced to six years' imprisonment, with the final three years suspended, for an attempted robbery of taxi driver Frank Rowan on Marigold Avenue, Darndale, on 13 November 2016. Evans pointed a 6 mm BB gun at Rowan's head, demanding money and threatening to shoot. Rowan resisted, overpowered Evans, and seized the firearm, striking Evans on the head with the gun. A passer‑by called Gardaí, who later arrested Evans after he claimed the incident was a joke. Evans admitted to unlawful possession of a realistic imitation firearm and pleaded guilty. The judge noted Evans had no prior violent convictions, was heavily intoxicated, and described the offence as out of character, yet deemed the behaviour too serious for a suspended sentence, citing the broader issue of menacing behaviour faced by taxi drivers.
Keith O'Reilly, aged 28, was convicted in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for possession of four handguns, a submachine gun and ammunition, endangerment, and four counts of dangerous driving. The trial followed a high‑speed Garda pursuit that ended when his car hit a curb and spun near a bus stop. O'Reilly escaped, retrieved a bag containing the weapons and ammunition, and was later arrested. The firearms were found to be in working order, with the machine gun loaded and ready, and three handguns, including a Glock, also loaded. Judge Karen O'Connor sentenced him to eight and a half years for possession, suspending the final 12 months on strict conditions, and to four years for endangerment and three months for each dangerous driving count, all concurrent. The sentence reflected the multiple loaded firearms, the significant ammunition, and the risk posed to the public during the incident.
Damien Reilly, 36, of Camden Street, Dublin, pleaded guilty to two robberies in Stoneybatter on 24 February and 7 April 2017. In the April incident, he threatened a nurse with a syringe needle, grabbed her PIN, and forced her into a headlock before fleeing. He also assaulted another woman after a yoga class, stealing €575 and injuring her. Reilly's victims reported significant emotional distress and loss of personal items. The court noted Reilly's 17 prior convictions, including robbery, burglary, firearm possession, and syringe threats, and his history of drug abuse. Judge Pauline Codd sentenced him to five years' imprisonment, suspending the final two years, and imposed a two‑year supervised release with probation, drug treatment, and employment directives. The sentence was back‑dated to 7 May 2018.
Dylan Mooney, 23, from Blanchardstown, was sentenced to a 12‑month probation bond after pleading guilty to possession of a semi‑automatic pistol, cannabis resin and herb, and two charges of handling stolen property. Mooney admitted that he had become addicted to gambling while hospitalized for cystic fibrosis, accruing a €15,000 debt. To settle the debt he offered the gun, ammunition, €20,600 worth of cannabis and two motorbikes. Judge Melanie Greally, after considering his medical condition and the risk of infection in prison, imposed the probation bond and required him to engage with the Probation Service and gambling‑addiction services. The case was adjourned to May 7, 2020, with Mooney remanded on continuing bail. The police recovered the gun, ammunition, a shotgun cartridge, 619 g of cannabis herb and 1.3 kg of cannabis resin from a safe in his grandfather's attic, and the two motorbikes, each valued at about €1,750.
In April 2019, John Brock, aged 46, was sentenced to eight and a half years for possessing 167 kg of explosives in a black Skoda Fabia. The explosives, weighing 23–24 stone, could have caused significant death, injury and damage. Brock had previously been convicted in 2008 for firearms and ammunition. During sentencing, he agreed to an undertaking to dissociate from unlawful organisations and to refrain from further offences, and he posted a €100 bond. The judge, Mr Justice Tony Hunt, suspended the last 18 months of the sentence for three years, back‑dated to the time Brock entered custody. The court found Brock and John Roche, aged 55, were in joint control of the explosives, though the judge could not be satisfied that their involvement extended beyond transportation. Brock's sentence was reduced by the agreed undertaking.
A man found guilty of shooting his wife dead in an act of gross negligence has lost an appeal against his conviction and sentence. Oliver Kierans (60) of Drumbannon, Bailieborough in Cavan, had pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court to murdering Patricia Kierans (54), his wife of 33 years, at his home address on September 5th, 2013. He was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter by a majority jury verdict following fifteen hours of deliberations. Kierans was also found guilty of possessing a double barrel sawn-off shotgun and possessing the weapon with intent to endanger life. Patricia Kierans died from a shotgun wound to the chest after being shot at a range of about 1.2 metres or 4 feet, in the close confines of a bedroom in Kierans' home. Kierans contended that he had picked up the firearm with the intention of taking his own life but the shotgun discharged in the direction of his wife. After the shooting, Kierans went to The Square bar in Bailieborough where a 'siege' took place. Garda Thomas Fay, who had known Kierans for almost 30 years, went into the bar to talk to him. However, CCTV footage from inside the pub showed Kierans pointing the shotgun at the garda. Kierans pulled the trigger, but the gun did not go off. CCTV showed him looking at the gun quizzically afterwards. The situation came to an end when Kierans eventually left the pub with Garda Fay. Kierans was sentenced to nine years imprisonment for his wife's manslaughter, eight years for possession of the shotgun and 12 years for pointing the gun at Garda Fay by Ms Justice Aileen Donnelly on April 20, 2015. All sentences were to run concurrently. Upholding his conviction and sentence today, Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy said Kierans had picked up the shotgun to show his wife he would kill himself. However, the gun discharged due to 'unexpected movement'. Mr Justice McCarthy said the trial judge correctly instructed the jury with regards to intent and the particular circumstances of the case. He said the court rejected Kierans' appeal against conviction. In relation to sentence, Kierans' barrister, Paul Greene SC, submitted that the Central Criminal Court judge ought to have afforded more credit for Kierans' personal circumstances. However, Mr Justice McCarthy said the judge expressly took account of Kierans' family situation and his previous good character. He said the aggravating factors were significant. Kierans reloaded the shotgun after the homicide and went to a public place. Mr Justice McCarthy said Ireland had the 'privilege of having an unarmed police force' and Kierans put Garda Fay 'in fear of his life'. Mr Justice McCarthy, who sat with President of the Court of Appeal Mr Justice George Birmingham and Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, said the sentences were within range and the appeal was accordingly dismissed.
In 2016, Stefan Saunders (41), Francis Murphy (39) and Damien Noonan (32) conspired to rob a cash‑in‑transit van in Co. Meath, planning the heist over more than two months. They pleaded guilty to conspiracy, possession of a semi‑automatic pistol and possession of a stolen BMW used as a getaway vehicle. Each received a 10‑year sentence, with 2½ years suspended, imposed by Judge Michael O'Shea in 2018. The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed, arguing the sentences were unduly lenient, citing the robbery's scale, the firearm's readiness and the gang's professional conduct. The Court of Appeal, led by Justice George Birmingham, rejected the appeal, holding the sentences were at the outer limits of the judge's discretion and therefore appropriate. No further action was taken.
Keegan Davidson, 25, appeared before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court where he pleaded guilty to four offences under the 2010 Money Laundering Act. The charges relate to engaging in the transfer or conversion of monies knowing they were proceeds of crime, or being reckless as to whether they were, on September 30, 2017. Prosecution evidence indicated that Davidson provided his bank account details to a criminal gang involved in an "invoice redirect" fraud scam. A bogus email directed an engineering company to pay €104,107 into Davidson's account. He subsequently withdrew approximately €43,759 across various bureaux de change and post offices in Dublin, using his Irish passport for identification. Detective Garda Thomas Burke stated there was no evidence Davidson was involved in the initial fraud, only the laundering of proceeds. Around €46,000 was later retrieved by the bank. Davidson's previous convictions include possession of knives, public order, theft, and trespass; in 2011, he received a suspended sentence for possession of a sawn-off shotgun. Defence counsel Luigi Rea BL noted Davidson's history of psychosis exacerbated by drug abuse. Judge Pauline Codd adjourned the case to July 1 for sentencing and remanded Davidson on continuing bail. The matter was adjourned and not concluded at this stage.
A 32‑year‑old Liverpool man, Adam James Wood, is to be extradited to the UK where he faces life imprisonment for possession of firearms, ammunition and class A drugs. He was arrested in 2017 under a European Arrest Warrant and brought before the High Court in Dublin. UK authorities describe him as having a scar on his left hand and a tattoo reading 'Ciara' on his neck. Police seized firearms, ammunition, phones with images of weapons, heroin and cocaine at his Woodlands Road address in August and September 2014. He is also charged with conspiracy to possess firearms with intent to cause fear or unlawful violence, and with a dispute involving brandishing firearms and criminal damage. His lawyers challenged the extradition on several grounds, including a Brexit argument, but High Court Judge Aileen Donnelly rejected all objections and ordered his surrender under the European Arrest Warrant Act of 2003.
Paul Beatty, 32, was arrested in Dublin's north inner city with a loaded .38 special calibre Smith & Wesson revolver wrapped in a plastic bag. He had previously admitted unlawful possession of a firearm in 2018 and had a seven‑year sentence from 2010 for the same offence. Beatty was under surveillance after Garda confidential information indicated firearm activity. On 2 June 2018, while cycling along the Royal Canal, he was observed by Garda Damien Broughan, who pursued him. Beatty fled, threw the bag onto a footpath, and was tackled by the detective. The bag contained the revolver and five rounds of ammunition. Ballistics confirmed the gun was in good condition but its serial number was obliterated. Beatty denied the offence during interviews. He has 71 prior convictions, including endangerment, drug possession and dangerous driving. The court noted he was an "important and trusted member" of an organised crime gang. Paul Beatty pleaded guilty.
Oliver Kierans, aged 60, of Drumbannon, Bailieborough in Cavan, has lodged an appeal against his conviction and sentence at the Court of Appeal. Kierans was found guilty of manslaughter by gross negligence following the death of his wife, Patricia Kierans, at their home on 5 September 2013. He was also convicted of possessing a sawn-off shotgun and of pointing the weapon at a member of An Garda Síochána in a public house in Bailieborough. He had pleaded not guilty to murder. Justice Aileen Donnelly sentenced him to nine years imprisonment for manslaughter, with additional concurrent sentences imposed for the firearms offences in April 2015. During proceedings at the Court of Appeal, counsel for the Director of Public Prosecutions submitted that Kierans's moral culpability was significant, particularly regarding the incident involving the garda. The court, presided over by President Mr Justice George Birmingham, reserved judgement. Oliver Kierans was acquitted.
Mario Hanzic Broz, aged 44, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison for two attempted robberies at Dublin post offices on 8 and 10 May 2018. He entered the offices armed with a 6mm air pistol, but left without money. Broz pleaded guilty to attempted robbery and possession of an air pistol at both locations. He had no prior convictions in Ireland. The judge noted his history of service in the Balkans, where he witnessed atrocities and suffered post‑traumatic stress disorder, and his use of drugs to cope. He was given credit for his guilty pleas, cooperation, remorse and personal difficulties. The final two years of a six‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence were suspended on the condition of keeping the peace and obeying probation services. No victim impact statements were filed for the second offence.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, defence counsel Dominic McGinn SC argued that it was "inconceivable" that Gardaí would have missed an assault rifle and ammunition during a search of a Kildare house on 24 January 2017. He cited the fact that a landlord's nephew later found a rifle, ammunition and drugs in the base of a bed, four days after the Gardaí search. Michael Brady (54) is charged with possession of €1.5 million worth of cocaine, €1.26 million worth of heroin and over 180 rounds of ammunition at a property in Sallins, Co Kildare. He pleaded not guilty to all seven counts. The court found him not guilty of possessing an assault rifle and the State withdrew a charge of three ammunition magazines. Brady's brother, Declan Brady (52), pleaded guilty to possession of 15 firearms and over 4,000 rounds of ammunition at Greenogue Business Park, Rathcoole, Co Dublin. Michael Brady was acquitted.
The High Court adjourned a hearing on the proposed extradition of Liam Campbell, a 54‑year‑old Irishman wanted in Lithuania for alleged terrorism offences and weapons trafficking. Campbell was arrested in Dundalk on a European Arrest Warrant issued by Lithuanian authorities. The warrant alleges he organised the preparation for smuggling weapons to support the Real IRA between late 2006 and early 2007, arranging illegal possession of firearms, ammunition, explosives and substances. The court paused the case because a Lithuanian prosecutor's independence issue has arisen, and the matter will resume on 23 May.
In the Special Criminal Court, Michael Brady, 54, of Blackrock, Co Dublin, was directed to be found not guilty of possessing an assault rifle by Mr Justice Paul Coffey. The judge ruled there was no evidence beyond reasonable doubt linking Brady to the rifle, which was found concealed in a bed base at Sallins Bridge, Co Kildare, on January 24, 2017. Although DNA from skin cells matching Brady was found on socks containing ammunition, an expert noted this did not exclude the possibility that another person placed the rounds in socks Brady had worn. The judge further stated there was no evidence establishing when Brady accessed the bed or when the rifle was placed there. The State also withdrew a separate charge regarding the possession of three ammunition magazines. Brady had pleaded not guilty to all nine counts on his indictment, which included allegations of possessing €1.5 million worth of cocaine and €1.26 million worth of heroin. Separately, his brother, Declan Brady, 52, pleaded guilty last month to possessing 15 firearms and more than 4,000 rounds of ammunition at Greenogue Business Park, Rathcoole, Co Dublin, on the same date. Declan Brady is currently awaiting sentence. The trial for Michael Brady continues on Monday.
In 2016, a trio of men—Stefan Saunders (40), Francis Murphy (39) and Damien Noonan (32)—conspired to rob a cash‑in‑transit van carrying over €2 million in County Meath. They were caught after Gardaí arrived, but the men had already prepared the scene: they broke into a disused bank, disabled the alarm, sprayed bleach, and waited with a stolen BMW X5. Saunders carried a semi‑automatic pistol with eight blank rounds, Murphy had a crowbar, and Noonan possessed the stolen vehicle. All three pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery, possession of a firearm, and possession of a stolen vehicle. On 12 June 2018 they were each sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment, with a two‑and‑a‑half‑year suspended portion. The Director of Public Prosecutions has applied for a review, arguing the sentences were unduly lenient, while the Court of Appeal has reserved its judgment. The case remains at the appeal stage.
Edward O'Keeffe, a 38‑year‑old supermarket manager, was sentenced to five years in prison for possessing a sawn‑off semi‑automatic shotgun and a stolen Suzuki motorcycle. Gardaí searched his Mulhuddart home on the basis of confidential information and found the gun in a bag under the floorboards, wrapped in black tape, and a spent cartridge. The shotgun had not been used in any offence. O'Keeffe claimed he was pressured by a criminal gang to hold the items. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Melanie Greally suspended the last two and a half years of the sentence, citing financial pressures and evidence of his responsible family role. The judge noted that the gang's operations relied on people "under the radar" and that O'Keeffe was not on any Garda radar. The case was defended by Kenneth Kerins BL, who highlighted O'Keeffe's managerial role and the distress of his children during the search.
Adam James Wood, 32, of Liverpool, is in Irish custody awaiting a High Court decision on his extradition to the UK. He faces 12 offences, including possession of firearms, ammunition and class A drugs, and conspiracy to possess firearms with intent to cause fear or unlawful violence. The European Arrest Warrant, issued in 2017, was based on evidence found at his Woodlands Road address and at North Sudely Road in August and September 2014, where police seized firearms, ammunition, heroin and cocaine, and phones containing images of firearms and ammunition. The warrant also cites a dispute with another Liverpool male involving brandishing firearms and criminal damage. UK authorities describe Wood as having a scar on his left hand and a tattoo reading 'Ciara' on his neck. His lawyers have challenged the extradition on several grounds, including a Brexit‑related argument.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 20 March 2019, the landlord of a house at Sallins Bridge, Sallins, Co Kildare, testified that his nephew discovered an assault rifle, more than 180 rounds of ammunition, and large amounts of cocaine and heroin in the base of a bed while "clearing out" the property. The landlord, who entered a tenancy agreement with Declan Brady in February 2015, said he had no key to the house and had gained access through a neighbour. He described how the nephew found a cardboard box containing the rifle, magazines, and drug packets wrapped in brown tape. The landlord also reported that Gardaí had searched the premises on 28 January 2017. Michael Brady, 54, is charged with nine counts of possession of firearms, ammunition and drugs, and has pleaded not guilty. The court heard evidence to determine the lawfulness of the Gardaí search. The judge will rule tomorrow.
The Special Criminal Court heard evidence in the ongoing trial of Michael Brady, 54, who has pleaded not guilty to all nine counts on the indictment. He is charged with possessing €1.5 million worth of cocaine, €1.26 million worth of heroin, an assault rifle, and more than 180 rounds of ammunition at a property in Sallins, Co Kildare, on January 24, 2017. Prosecution counsel stated that forensic evidence links the accused to the items and the address. During interviews, Brady told gardai that he and his brother, Declan Brady, lived separate lives and were like "chalk and cheese." Brady denied possessing the ammunition found in the house and stated he did not know about firearms found at a separate location. His brother, Declan Brady, 52, previously pleaded guilty to possessing 15 firearms and more than 4,000 rounds of ammunition at the same address on the day in question. Declan Brady is currently awaiting sentence. The court heard that gardai conducted a search of the property, finding drugs and a firearm under a bed. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul Coffey, sitting with Judge Gerard Griffin and Judge David McHugh.
The Special Criminal Court heard evidence regarding a search at Sallins Bridge, Sallins, Co Kildare, on January 24, 2017. Michael Brady, 54, of Blackrock, Co Dublin, pleaded not guilty to nine counts, including alleged possession of €1.5 million worth of cocaine, €1.26 million worth of heroin, an assault rifle, and ammunition. Prosecution counsel Fiona Murphy SC alleged that gardaí failed to find these items during the initial search, which she described as a "very fast-moving operation." She stated that the property owner later discovered drugs and a firearm under a bed. The State's case is that forensic evidence links Mr Brady to the items. Earlier, the court ruled that Mr Brady's arrest and detention were lawful. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul Coffey, sitting with Judges Gerard Griffin and David McHugh. Separately, Declan Brady, 52, of Celbridge, Co Kildare, pleaded guilty to possessing 15 firearms and over 4,000 rounds of ammunition at Greenogue Business Park on the same day. He is awaiting sentence. Jonathan Harding and James Walsh were previously sentenced to ten and nine years' imprisonment, respectively, for possessing a "lethal arsenal" of weapons at the same location.
The Special Criminal Court has heard that Michael Brady, 54, is the brother of Declan Brady, who was previously caught with 15 firearms and over 4,000 rounds of ammunition. Michael Brady, of Blackrock, Co Dublin, is currently on trial for allegedly possessing €1.5 million worth of cocaine, €1.26 million worth of heroin, an assault rifle, and more than 180 rounds of ammunition at a property in Sallins, Co Kildare, on January 24, 2017. He has pleaded not guilty to all nine counts on the indictment, including charges under Section 15A of the Misuse of Drugs Act and unlawful possession of a 7.62 x 39mm VZ 58 assault rifle and various ammunition. Prosecutors stated the Sallins property was under surveillance as part of a wider operation targeting Greenogue Business Park, where Declan Brady, Jonathan Harding, and James Walsh were arrested earlier that morning. Declan Brady pleaded guilty to possessing the firearms and ammunition at Greenogue and is awaiting sentence. Harding and Walsh were sentenced in January to ten and nine years' imprisonment, respectively, for possessing a "lethal arsenal." The trial has entered legal argument regarding the lawfulness of Michael Brady's arrest in Naas, where he allegedly provided a false name. The court is expected to rule on these issues on Friday before resuming the case.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing in Dublin, Michael Brady, aged 54, was charged with nine counts including possession of an assault rifle, ammunition and nearly €3 million worth of drugs. The indictment alleges that on 24 January 2017 Brady was found at Sallins Bridge, Co Kildare, with €1.5 million of cocaine, €1.26 million of heroin, a 7.62 × 39 mm VZ 58 assault rifle and over 180 rounds of ammunition. Brady was arrested after a traffic stop in Naas where he gave a false name, and was later rearrested under the Offences Against the State Act. He pleaded not guilty to all charges, including possession of the rifle, ammunition and the drugs for sale or supply. The case is being heard by Judges Paul Coffey, Gerard Griffin and David McHugh.
The Special Criminal Court has adjourned the sentencing of Frank Murphy and Michael McDermott to April 1, remanding both men in custody. Murphy, 58, pleaded guilty in November 2018 to committing an act to impede the apprehension or prosecution of David Cullen, whom he allegedly believed was guilty of possessing a firearm. McDermott, 60, pleaded guilty to helping an unlawful organisation, identified as the IRA, murder Peter Butterly. The court heard evidence that Butterly was shot dead in a Meath car park in March 2013. David Cullen, who was originally charged with murder, pleaded guilty to the unlawful possession of a semi-automatic pistol. His plea was accepted by the DPP, resulting in a nolle prosequi on the murder count. Cullen turned State's witness and was sentenced to seven years in prison, with three and a half years suspended, for the firearm possession. The court noted that four other men have already received life sentences for Butterly's murder. Neither Murphy nor McDermott has previous convictions. The judges, presiding over the non-jury court, indicated they will deliver their sentences on April 1.
Derek White, 41, of Lucan, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to unlawful possession of cannabis at his home on 11 July 2016. Garda David Sheehy reported that White was stopped while driving and a small amount of cannabis was found in his car; a search of his house uncovered 16 cannabis plants growing in a tent in an upstairs room, valued at €12,800. White cultivated the plants to extract medicinal oil for himself, who suffers from Crohn's disease, and for his autistic son. He claimed he was not selling the cannabis. Judge Cormac Quinn sentenced White to two years' imprisonment, but suspended the entire sentence on the condition that he keep the peace and be of good behaviour for two years. White has four prior convictions, including possession of drugs, cultivation of cannabis and unlawful possession of ammunition.
In a 2016 incident on Marigold Avenue, Darndale, Dublin, 36‑year‑old Paul Evans attempted to rob taxi driver Frank Rowan. Evans brandished a 6mm air pistol, claiming it was a "practical joke," and threatened Rowan with the gun. Rowan, fearing a real shot, managed to overpower Evans, who repeatedly ran at him and demanded the gun back. Rowan struck Evans on the head with the gun, causing a small forehead injury. A passerby called the Gardaí, who later arrested Evans, who was wearing a black ski mask. Evans pleaded guilty to attempted robbery and unlawful possession of a realistic imitation firearm. He claimed the pistol belonged to his son and was used for shooting cans. The court noted Evans had no prior violent convictions and adjourned sentencing to 16 May, remanding him in custody until then.
Gerard Curtis, 32, was jailed for 28 months after pointing an air gun at three gardaí on a second‑floor balcony in Dublin. While still wearing funeral clothes following his mother's cremation, he threatened the officers, saying he would slaughter them all, and then pointed a BB gun at them twice, causing the officers to retreat. Curtis later admitted he was "whacked out of it" after a cocaine‑fuelled party. He pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm on 14 June 2016. The judge noted the weapon was harmless but would not appear so to those confronted. Curtis had 116 prior convictions and had cooperated with the investigation, showing remorse. The incident was described as serious misbehaviour with potential serious repercussions for both Curtis and the gardaí.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Martin Lumsden, 35, pleaded guilty to robbery and possession of a firearm after stealing from a Mace shop in All Saints Park, Raheny, on 7 May 2018. He had previously pleaded guilty to trespass and theft at Gaelscoil Cholmcille, a primary school, on 18 April 2018, where he and co‑accused John Finn, 32, had thrown a bag of coins over the school's railings, later found to contain €880.78, all of which was recovered. Lumsden stole about €500 from two tills in the Mace shop, none of which was recovered, and the firearm was not recovered. He has 110 prior convictions, including hijacking, false imprisonment, robbery and burglary. Finn has 17 prior convictions. The judge ordered probation reports for both men and adjourned sentencing to 21 May.
A 26‑year‑old Dublin man, Keith Gilroy, was sentenced to five years in prison for transporting a loaded Smith & Wesson .357 Magnum revolver and 11 rounds of ammunition, after being on bail for drug offences. He had previously pleaded guilty to possessing €2,590 of cocaine and over €40,000 of cannabis and crack cocaine, and to laundering €4,415. Gilroy admitted to holding drugs for others to offset a debt of €30,000 and to supplying "grass" to creditors. Gardaí found him lying in bed at the Sean O'Casey Avenue address, where they seized €15,347 of cannabis, crack cocaine worth €25,309 and €4,415 in cash. He was also intercepted in a taxi with a shoebox containing the loaded revolver and ammunition in July 2018. Judge Melanie Greally, noting his candid admissions and early guilty pleas, imposed an eight‑year sentence with the final three years suspended, and ordered 12 months of post‑release supervision.
A 52‑year‑old man from Co Kildare, Declan Brady, pleaded guilty to possessing fifteen lethal firearms and over 3,000 rounds of ammunition at a Dublin business park in 2017. The firearms included nine revolvers, four semi‑automatic pistols, a sub‑machine gun and an assault rifle. Brady admitted to holding a .357 Magnum Zastava M83/02, two .38 Smith & Wesson Model 37s, a Rossi revolver, an Ingram M11 sub‑machine gun, a 9mm Smith & Wesson semi‑automatic pistol, a Ruger revolver, a Taurus revolver, a Remington Taurus, a Beretta Model 70, a VZ 58 assault rifle, an Amadeo Rossi revolver, a Glock Model 26, a Colt semi‑automatic pistol and a Kaleshnikov pattern magazine.
In Limerick, John O'Donoghue (29) and Paul Whelan (25) were charged with possession of a loaded 9mm Colt semi‑automatic pistol and eight rounds of ammunition, with intent to endanger life, after the weapon was found in a car park on 30 July 2018. The District Court referred them to the Special Criminal Court, where a three‑judge panel—Justice Tony Hunt, Judge Patricia Ryan and Judge Ann Ryan—ordered a non‑jury trial under section 49(e) of the Offences Against the State Act 1939. The men are scheduled to appear again on 21 February.
Sean Ruth, 29, of Rathangan, Co Kildare, was sentenced at the Special Criminal Court for possession of a .38 Special Rossi revolver and a 9mm round. He pleaded guilty to charges under the Firearms Act, 1925. Presiding Judge Paul Coffey, sitting with Judges Gerard Griffin and David McHugh, accepted that these items were unconnected to the larger arsenal recovered from Greenogue Business Park on January 24, 2017. The court noted the firearm and ammunition were incompatible and unused. Considering Ruth's 29 previous convictions as an aggravating factor, the headline sentence was set at four and a half years. This was reduced to three and a half years due to his guilty plea. The final six months of the sentence were suspended on the condition that Ruth enter a peace bond. The sentence was backdated to May 17, 2017, when he entered custody. The court also referenced the convictions of Jonathan Harding and James Walsh, who pleaded guilty to possessing nine revolvers, four pistols, a sub-machine gun, an assault rifle, and ammunition magazines at the same location. In January 2018, Harding was sentenced to ten years with one year suspended, while Walsh received nine years with one year suspended.
Sean Ruth, 29, of Rathangan, Co Kildare, pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to possessing a .38 Special Rossi revolver and a 9mm round of ammunition. The court heard that DNA evidence linked Ruth to the revolver found in a blood-stained bag at Greenogue Business Park, Rathcoole, Co Dublin, on January 24, 2017. Prosecution counsel Paul Burns SC stated the maximum sentence for each count is seven years. In mitigation, defense counsel Dominic McGinn SC highlighted Ruth's early guilty plea, which saved the court significant time, and noted that the weapon was not loaded. Mr McGinn also cited support from Ruth's family and courses completed in custody. Mr Justice Paul Coffey, presiding with Judges Gerard Griffin and David McHugh, remanded Ruth in custody until February 8, when he will be sentenced. The matter was adjourned. Jonathan Harding, 45, of Sallins, Co Kildare, and James Walsh, 33, of Clondalkin, Dublin 22, previously pleaded guilty to possessing nine revolvers, four pistols, a sub-machine gun, an assault rifle, and ammunition magazines at the same location. In January 2018, Harding was sentenced to ten years in prison with one year suspended, and Walsh was sentenced to nine years in prison with one year suspended.
Sean Ruth, a 29‑year‑old Kildare resident, pleaded guilty in the Special Criminal Court to possessing a .38 Special Calibre "Rossi" revolver and a 9mm round of ammunition between 1 January 2016 and 24 January 2017. The offences contravene Section 2 of the Firearms Act 1925 and Section 27 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006. Ruth had initially pleaded not guilty to unlawful possession of the firearm and ammunition. The court, presided over by Mr Justice Paul Coffey with Judges Gerard Griffin and David McHugh, received the charges under Section 49 of the Offences Against the State Act. After the court was informed of the charges by Detective Garda Brian Johnson and a book of evidence was served, Ruth answered "Guilty" to both counts. He was remanded in custody until Thursday, when sentencing will occur.
Francis Lanigan, 53, is to be extradited to Northern Ireland on murder and firearm charges following the Supreme Court's refusal to hear an appeal against his surrender. The High Court formally lifted the stay on his extradition, clearing the way for his return. Mr. Lanigan is wanted in connection with the alleged 1998 killing of John Knocker in Dungannon, Co Tyrone. He had contested extradition, arguing his life was at risk from paramilitaries. His legal battle spanned multiple High Court judges, the Court of Appeal, the Supreme Court, and the European Court of Justice. He also challenged the constitutionality of the European Arrest Warrant Act and filed two Habeas Corpus applications. In 2015, the High Court ordered his surrender, a decision upheld on appeal. Last year, the Court of Appeal dismissed his application to refer the case to the ECJ. Mr. Lanigan had been on bail pending the Supreme Court's decision. He was arrested in 2013 under a European Arrest Warrant while working as a barber in Dublin, where he had lived under the alias Ciaran McCrory for 15 years. In an affidavit, he stated he joined the INLA around age 19 and was jailed for membership in the 1980s. He claimed he fled south after an attack in 1998 that resulted in Mr. Knocker's death, disputing the authorities' account of the incident.
Sean Ruth, 29, of Rathangan, Co Kildare, pleaded not guilty at the Special Criminal Court to charges of unlawful possession of a .38 Special Rossi revolver and a 9mm round of ammunition. Prosecutors allege these items were linked to a search at Greenogue Business Park on January 24, 2017, where Jonathan Harding and James Walsh were found. Harding and Walsh previously pleaded guilty to possessing nine revolvers, four pistols, a sub-machine gun, an assault rifle, and ammunition at the site. In January 2018, Harding was sentenced to ten years in prison with one year suspended, while Walsh received nine years with one year suspended. The prosecution contends that DNA evidence recovered from a blood-stained bag containing the revolver, a glove with a 9mm round, and a Ford Focus with a secret ammunition compartment matches Ruth. Counsel stated that Ruth's DNA also matched bloodstains on the car and a radio transmitter. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Paul Coffey, Judge Gerard Griffin, and Judge David McHugh, is ongoing and was adjourned to resume the following day.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Tony Carrick, aged 41, received a partially suspended sentence for robbing Aoife O'Reilly at a Finglas petrol station. Carrick demanded the time, seized her wallet, and fled in a car. O'Reilly chased him, ending half inside and half outside the vehicle. The driver shouted threats and punched her, while Carrick threatened to kill her if she left. The driver drove 200 yards with O'Reilly's legs dangling, then forced her out and left. Carrick, already serving a five‑and‑a‑half‑year term for burglaries and an attempted car‑jacking, pleaded guilty to robbery and endangerment on 13 December 2016. Judge Karen O'Connor added the new sentence to run consecutively, bringing his total to eight years, with the final two‑and‑a‑half years suspended. The driver involved in both incidents is now deceased. Carrick's 110 prior convictions include assault, burglary, robbery and unlawful possession of ammunition.
A man has been sentenced to eight years in prison at the Central Criminal Court for the attempted murder of his ex-girlfriend in County Roscommon. Gerard Mooney, aged thirty-nine and formerly of Castlerea, pleaded guilty to attempting to shoot the woman in the head on 12th February 2017 at Cartron. He also admitted possessing a sawn-off shotgun, making threats to kill, criminal damage, harassment, and burglary. Justice Michael White imposed a twelve-year sentence on the attempted murder charge, suspending the final four years. The judge noted that Mooney came "within a hair's breadth" of a murder conviction and that his victim survived only due to mechanical failure when the weapon jammed repeatedly. The court heard the accused had made over 250 calls to the victim between 7th and 12th February and had breached court bail conditions prohibiting contact. Justice White identified the case as exemplifying how intimate relationships can become dangerous, citing psychological difficulties and substance abuse as contributing factors. All sentences will run concurrently and were backdated to February 2017.
A 17‑year‑old, who cannot be named under the Children Act, was sentenced to two years' detention for firing a stolen Winchester Super Grade 12‑gauge double‑barrel shotgun into bushes along the Grand Canal in Dublin. The youth, who had pleaded guilty to possessing the stolen firearm and 39 cartridges on 31 August, admitted he fired the gun because he was "bored and 17 years of age." Gardaí had observed him raising the gun in front of CCTV cameras, pursued him, and seized the weapon and ammunition. The gun had been stolen from its owner's unlocked car a month earlier. The defendant has 40 prior convictions, including assault, robbery, drug misuse, theft and criminal damage. The judge, noting his young age, immaturity and difficult upbringing, set a headline sentence of six years but, under the Children Act, imposed a two‑year detention followed by two years of probation with conditions on addiction, training and employment.
Darren Mullarney, 41, of Fortlawn Park, Blanchardstown, was sentenced by Judge Melanie Greally at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to five years' imprisonment for unlawful possession of a sawn‑off shotgun. The gun, loaded with two cartridges, was found in his bedroom wardrobe during a Garda search on 25 May 2018. Mullarney pleaded guilty and claimed he kept the weapon because of a "real threat to his life" from a serious member of the criminal fraternity, citing a prior shooting on 8 May in which he was wounded. The judge accepted the prosecution's statement of threat, set a headline sentence of seven years, but suspended the final 18 months, citing mitigating factors such as Mullarney's cooperation, early plea and insight into the seriousness of his offence. The sentence was back‑dated to 25 May 2018, when he entered custody.
A 44‑year‑old former Croatian café worker, Mario Hanzic Broz, was found homeless after his work hours were cut, leading to a court hearing in Dublin. Broz attempted to rob two post offices in May 2018, carrying a 6mm air pistol. In the first incident at Botanic Road Post Office, he entered the building, shouted for money, but left without taking any cash. The elderly postmaster, aware of firearms from past robberies, could not see him on CCTV and later discovered he was gone. Two days later, at Berkeley Road Post Office, Broz approached a cashier, produced the pistol from a plastic bag, demanded money, then turned around and fled. Gardaí arrived after the panic button was pressed, and Broz was arrested at Blessington Street Basin. He pleaded guilty to attempted robbery and possession of an air pistol at both locations, with no prior convictions in Ireland.