Niamh Fitzpatrick, 39, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing a Smith & Wesson revolver found in an air vent in her Ringsend home on February 23, 2017. The firearm, which contained one round of ammunition, was seized by gardaí during a search for drugs, where over €4,200 of heroin was also recovered. Fitzpatrick admitted to gardaí that she kept the gun for self-protection following a threat to her life, a claim supported by Garda Michelle Fitzpatrick, who confirmed colleagues had served GIM forms notifying Fitzpatrick of the threat, though it had since expired. Defence counsel Keith Spencer BL highlighted Fitzpatrick's history of trauma, including abduction and violent attack, which he stated caused profound Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. He noted her 21 previous convictions, mostly minor road traffic offences, and argued she was now drug-free apart from prescribed medication. Spencer requested a lengthy suspended sentence to reflect the offence's seriousness while acknowledging her regret and support from her father. Judge Melanie Greally did not pass sentence immediately. Instead, she remanded Fitzpatrick on continuing bail pending her sentencing hearing scheduled for July.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Eoin Berkeley, aged 24, was sentenced to two and a half years for possessing a realistic imitation AK‑47 rifle in a public place. Gardaí had received several reports of a man walking near Dublin Airport and Santry with what appeared to be a firearm. When approached on Northwood Avenue, Berkeley claimed the gun was fake, but the device was later identified as an airgun capable of firing 6mm ball bearings. He had pleaded guilty to the offence on 29 May 2016 and had 24 prior convictions from 2013 to 2017. Berkeley had been in custody for 18 months on this charge, and the judge, citing the seriousness of the offence and his extensive criminal record, imposed the sentence while crediting the time already served. The court noted that possession of an imitation firearm is not a trivial matter and must be treated seriously.
The Special Criminal Court heard evidence in the trial of Thomas Fox, Regina Keogh, and Jonathan Keogh, who have pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Gareth Hutch. Prosecution counsel Paul Burns SC presented testimony from Detective Sergeant Enda O'Sullivan, who stated gardaí became "immediately concerned" for the safety of witness Mary McDonnell after she provided a statement regarding the shooting. Ms McDonnell was subsequently arrested on suspicion of murder with a firearm, though she was later treated as a witness and granted immunity. The court also heard from Jodie and Jessica McDonnell, who described events on the morning of May 24, 2016, including hearing noises and observing Jonathan Keogh in their flat. Jessica McDonnell acknowledged discrepancies between her earlier statement and current testimony, attributing them to the passage of time. The prosecution contends the killing was premeditated, alleging Mr Keogh threatened the victim, while Fox and Regina Keogh planned the act. The trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, sitting with Judges Patricia Ryan and Michael Walsh.
A 28-year-old Dublin man has pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to unlawful possession of a firearm and silencer. Andrew O'Keeffe, with an address on Drumcliff Road in Cabra West, Dublin 7, admitted to possessing a 9mm Beretta handgun and silencer at Kylemore Way in Ballyfermot on 6 September 2017. The three-judge court, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt alongside Judge Patricia Ryan and Judge Michael Walsh, remanded O'Keeffe in custody pending sentencing. He will return before the court on 24 July for sentencing to be imposed.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Joseph Rafferty, aged 38, was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment for a cocaine‑fuelled rampage that lasted eight hours and covered 45 km. Rafferty seized multiple vehicles at gunpoint, pursued Gardaí in a high‑speed chase, and committed false imprisonment, aggravated burglary, threats with a sub‑machine gun and reckless endangerment. He pleaded guilty to burglary at Watergate Estate, assault of a homeowner, criminal damage, two carjacking counts, three counts of possessing a sub‑machine gun, unlawful possession of 9 mm Luger ammunition and reckless endangerment. He also admitted stealing a vehicle from Carroll and Roche Subaru. The judge noted his 34 prior convictions and reduced a potential 14‑year sentence to nine years, citing guilty pleas and remorse. No serious injuries were reported, though a man sustained a head laceration during a break‑in. The case highlighted the extensive police response, including 50 Gardaí, air support and the Garda Dog Unit.
In a Court of Appeal hearing on 8 June 2018, Private Dean Kane, aged 24 and a year into service with the 27th Infantry Battalion, was discharged from the Defence Forces for pointing a cocked and loaded Steyr automatic rifle at a fellow private while joking in his barracks. Kane had previously pleaded guilty in a summary Court Martial to three counts of negligent performance of duty and one count of conduct prejudiced to good order. He had loaded the rifle with a 30‑round magazine, cocked it, and pointed it near another soldier, then lied to a Corporal about the magazine. The military judge's sentence was upheld by a three‑judge Court of Appeal, which found no error in the judge's approach. Kane's conduct was deemed a serious breach of weapon safety protocols, and he was discharged by order of the military judge in March 2018. The appeal was dismissed, confirming the discharge and the seriousness of the offence.
Paul Bradley, aged 54, denies murdering Neil Reilly, 36, who was found dead at Esker Glebe after a shotgun attack on 18 January 2017. Bradley claims a masked man fired a shot that "whizzed" past his head while he slept. He says he tried to pursue the shooter but failed to locate him. Bradley and his sons Jason (20), Dean (24) and Ryan (18) have pleaded not guilty. Garda testimony notes Bradley's jeep was damaged and had blood on the driver's side panel and front wheel; Bradley attributes the damage to an earlier, unreported accident. Sgt Maeve Ward reports a broken sitting‑room window and glass on the floor at Bradley's home. Jason Bradley was found with a deep cut on his hand and dried blood on his feet; he was taken to Tallaght Hospital. The trial is before Justice Paul Coffey with a jury of twelve.
The trial of Patrick James (PJ) Mansfield, a 41‑year‑old former billionaire's son, collapsed at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 5 June 2018. Judge Cormac Quinn directed the jury to return a not guilty verdict after the prosecution failed to prove how many rounds of ammunition Mansfield was entitled to possess. The case alleged that Mansfield unlawfully possessed 1,252 rounds of .22 calibre ammunition at his former home in Coldwater Lakes, Saggart, on 29 January 2015. Mansfield denied the allegation and claimed he was unaware of the quantity of ammunition in the house. The judge noted that Mansfield had a firearms certificate authorising him to hold a Walther .22 pistol and a certain number of .22 rounds, which Gardaí believed to be 300 bullets, but the certificate's other side, showing the exact number, was not produced. The judge also pointed out that the person who authorised the certificate had not been called as a witness.
The trial of Patrick James Mansfield, son of the late billionaire Jim Mansfield, is hearing that he is an authorised member of a gun club. Mansfield, 41, denies possessing 1,252 rounds of .22 calibre ammunition without a licence at his former home in Coldwater Lakes, Saggart, Co Dublin, on 29 January 2015. The jury has already heard that a legally-held Walther .22 pistol with a bullet in the chamber was found behind a picture frame in the master bedroom, and a 12‑gauge shotgun, also licensed, was recovered from a locked gun‑safe in a dressing‑room wardrobe, along with a large quantity of ammunition in various locations. On day two, evidence was presented about Mansfield's licence applications, one of which stated he was a person of good character, had a genuine reason for the application, and was a member of an authorised pistol club.
Cian Walsh, 30, from Cork, pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing a firearm and three counts of threatening to kill in September 2016. He was originally sentenced to six years in prison, with two years suspended, by Judge Gerard O'Brien. The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed, arguing the sentence was unduly lenient. The Court of Appeal, in a three‑judge panel headed by Mr Justice George Birmingham, re‑sentenced Walsh to five years in prison, adding an extra 12 months. The appeal was based on the fact that Walsh had a loaded sawn‑off shotgun with the safety off, was intoxicated, and threatened a woman. During the incident, one round discharged when he "tripped over the family dog". After the incident he fled in a vehicle, left the gun at St Joseph's Cemetery, and was apprehended shortly thereafter.
During a murder trial, a mother of five, Sabrina Church, testified that she was shocked when Gardaí investigating the alleged murder of Neil Reilly showed her a gun left in her garden. Church, who was at home with her husband and children on the night of the incident, described the gun as appearing to be a toy and expressed that whoever had left it there had no concern for her family. The trial concerns Paul Bradley (54) and his sons Jason (20), Dean (24) and Ryan (18), who have all pleaded not guilty to Reilly's murder. The prosecution alleges that Reilly fired a shotgun at the Bradley residence, leading to a car chase and his death. The jury has reviewed CCTV footage and forensic evidence linking the gun to the crime. The trial continues before Justice Paul Coffey and a 12‑person jury.
Patrick James Mansfield, 41, son of the late billionaire Jim Mansfield, faced trial in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for unlawful possession of over 1,200 .22 calibre bullets. He denied holding 1,252 rounds without a licence at his former home in Coldwater Lakes, Saggart, on 29 January 2015. Gardaí searched the house, finding a legally-held Walther .22 pistol with a bullet in the chamber behind a picture frame in the master bedroom, and a licensed 12‑gauge shotgun in a locked gunsafe in a dressing‑room wardrobe, along with ammunition in various locations. In total, 1,557 rounds of .22 ammunition were seized, exceeding the 300‑round licence limit by 1,257 bullets, which were confiscated. An additional 98 rounds for the shotgun were licence‑permitted. The trial opened with Judge Cormac Quinn instructing jurors to rely solely on court evidence. The proceedings continue.
In the Central Criminal Court, Paul Bradley (54) and his sons Jason (20), Dean (24) and Ryan (18) are on trial for the murder of Neil Reilly (36) at Esker Glebe, Lucan, on 18 January 2017. The defendants plead not guilty. The prosecution alleges that Reilly fired a shotgun at the Bradley home shortly before 4 a.m., leading to a car chase that ended with Reilly being beaten to death by the Bradleys. On the day after the alleged attack, Garda Sergeant Maeve Ward found a shotgun in the garden of a house on Rowlagh Crescent, close to an unlocked white van containing a balaclava. The weapon was identified in court and shown to the jury. The jury also watched CCTV footage of a white van arriving at Liscarne Gardens at 3.51 a.m., leaving, and a second car following. An emergency call at 3.56 a.m.
In a trial opened on 30 May 2018, Paul Bradley (54) and his sons Jason (20), Dean (24) and Ryan (18) of Liscarne Gardens, Dublin 22, denied murdering Neil Reilly (36) at Esker Glebe, Lucan, on 18 January 2017. Prosecutor Paul Murray SC presented evidence that Reilly fired a shotgun at the Bradley home around 4 a.m. The accused were present and allegedly chased Reilly in a jeep and a BMW. Gardai were alerted and later found the vehicles returning to the house. Reilly was pursued to Esker Glebe, where a Mazda crashed and he was left for dead. A pathologist's report recorded seven blows with a chopping implement, two to the head and five to the body, plus severe crush injuries to the pelvis. The prosecution argued the accused were willing, knowing participants in a joint enterprise to murder Reilly. The jury was instructed to decide solely on the evidence presented in court. Paul Bradley pleaded not guilty.
Pawel Wisniewski, aged 43, was sentenced to an additional 33 months in jail for possessing cannabis and a stolen Ford Mondeo after being caught at a Dublin grow‑house. He had previously received a four‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence for diesel theft and possession of cannabis and a firearm. The new sentence runs consecutively to a two‑and‑a‑half‑year term for earlier cannabis and firearm offences, and to a two‑year term for diesel theft. Wisniewski, who has 34 prior convictions, pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 12 October 2017. Judge Martin Nolan noted his mechanical and electrical skills and his cooperation, but highlighted that he was on bail for other offences at the time of the arrest. The court emphasised that he must avoid further criminal conduct. The case involved the seizure of 35 cannabis plants worth up to €28,000 and a stolen car found at Collinstown Cross Industrial Estate.
The prosecution has closed its case in the Special Criminal Court murder trial of 37‑year‑old Frederick "Freddie" Thompson, who pleaded not guilty to the July 2016 killing of 55‑year‑old David Douglas on Bridgefoot Street. The 10‑day trial heard that Douglas was shot six times shortly after 4 pm while taking a break at his partner's shop, Shoestown. A semi‑automatic pistol with its serial number removed was found beside Douglas's head. The prosecution did not argue that Thompson fired the shots, but the judges heard that his DNA was found in two alleged "spotter" cars used in the shooting and that CCTV footage identified him as the driver of one of those cars. Witness testimony described a silver Mercedes and a silver Suzuki involved in the escape, and CCTV footage showed Thompson leaving a Ford Fiesta on Meath Street and handing a key to a woman at a stall.
Stephen Bollard, 27, was sentenced to six years' imprisonment for six robberies in north Dublin and possession of €270 worth of cocaine. The court heard that Bollard used an imitation firearm, knives and a wheel‑brace to "terrify" victims. He was identified by CCTV in most of the incidents and had previously been on bail for the first offence. After being arrested, a plastic bag containing cocaine was found in his possession. Bollard had left Ireland for Scotland in late 2014, served a robbery sentence in Edinburgh, and was returned to Ireland on a European Arrest Warrant in February 2018. The judge, Martin Nolan, took into account Bollard's guilty plea, cooperation, psychological report and attempts at rehabilitation, and imposed consecutive sentences back‑dated to January. The court noted that Bollard's drug addiction was a factor in the offences. The sentence was imposed in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Stephen Keenan, aged 31, was sentenced to six‑and‑a‑half years in prison for four counts of unlawful possession of two handguns and bullets, and for stealing a car on 24 October last year. The firearms were found in a rucksack on Casement Drive, Finglas, and were in working order, capable of firing lethal ammunition. Keenan admitted he had agreed to hold the guns for "dangerous people" to whom he owed a €50,000 drug debt, and that he still owed €5,000. He claimed the debt pressured him into the crimes, though he had previously served a suspended sentence for a similar offence in 2015. The judge noted Keenan's drug addiction and his attempts at rehabilitation, but imposed the statutory mandatory minimum of five years, back‑dating the sentence to October 2017. The case was heard at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Stephen Keenan pleaded guilty.
Gary Gleeson (34) and Stephen Dunne (39) pleaded guilty before the Special Criminal Court to possessing a 9mm Luger semi‑automatic pistol and 10 rounds of 9mm Sellier and Bellot ammunition with intent to endanger life. The offence occurred at Naas Road, Crumlin on 7 August. Dunne, who lives on Meile an Ri Drive, Lucan, and Gleeson, of Muskerry Road, Ballyfermot, had earlier faced conspiracy to murder charges involving Michael Frazer. Judge Tony Hunt, with Judges Gerard Griffin and Flann Brennan, remanded them in custody for a sentence hearing on 22 June, allowing time for report preparation.
During the second day of the 37‑year‑old Frederick "Freddie" Thompson's murder trial, a fingerprint expert presented evidence that Thompson's prints were found on two cars the prosecution says were linked to the killing of Dublin shoe shop manager David Douglas. Thompson, who lives on Loreto Road, Maryland, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Douglas on 1 July 2016. Douglas was shot six times in the head, neck and throat while eating a curry in his partner's shop, Shoestown, on Bridgefoot Street. A semi‑automatic pistol with its serial number removed was found next to Douglas's head. The court heard that four vehicles and their occupants, including Thompson, were operating in concert that day. Detective Garda Raymond Kane testified that fingerprints from a blue Mitsubishi Mirage and a silver Ford Fiesta matched Thompson, and that a finger mark on the Mirage's rear‑view mirror was his.
Pawel Wisniewski, 43, was sentenced to four-and-a-half years in prison for stealing thousands of litres of diesel from an Applegreen service station in Balbriggan over three days in August 2019. He also received a two-and-a-half year sentence for possession of cannabis for sale or supply and a firearm at a grow‑house in Tallaght, and a two‑year sentence for the diesel offence, all to run consecutively. Wisniewski, a qualified electrician and former Polish army serviceman, used a cloned Applegreen card to pump diesel into his van, stealing €5,220 worth of fuel. He was also convicted of driving without insurance. His girlfriend received a suspended one‑year sentence. Wisniewski was disqualified from driving for three years and his sentence was back‑dated to October 2019. The court noted this was the first case involving large‑scale diesel theft of this nature. Pawel Wisniewski pleaded guilty.
John Walsh, 45, was arrested after CCTV footage from a Spar shop in Dublin was shown on the RTE programme Crimecall. The footage showed him holding a realistic imitation firearm, later identified as a pellet gun resembling a semi‑automatic pistol. Walsh had been waiting for Gardaí at his home when they arrived and had previously cut his hair to change his appearance. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of a realistic imitation firearm. Judge Martin Nolan remanded him in custody and later handed down a suspended three‑year sentence, warning that a further offence could lead to imprisonment. Walsh admitted the gun was for his own protection, was intoxicated at the time, and expressed remorse. He has since ceased drug use and intends to attend a residential treatment programme. The shop received a letter of apology from Walsh.
In the Central Criminal Court, a 41‑year‑old woman accused her 47‑year‑old brother of repeated rape and sexual assault from age four to about twelve. She pleaded that the abuse began in their family home and continued in fields, woodlands, school grounds, a community centre and a clubhouse. She said her brother threatened to slit her wrists and throat, and to shoot their mother with a shotgun if she reported the abuse. She claimed she was raped countless times, including at least four incidents on the grounds of an old building, one at night. She told the jury that she would not endure her "dirtiest secrets" being exposed if the abuse had never occurred, urging her brother to "stand up and admit what you've done." The trial is before Ms Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury of eleven. The unnamed 47-year-old pleaded not guilty.
Four men—Alan Wilson (39), Liam Brannigan (37), Joseph Kelly (35) and Luke Wilson (23)—are charged with conspiracy to murder Gary Hanley at a State location between 15 September and 6 November last year. Wilson and Kelly also face conspiracy to murder an unknown person at Talbot Street between 11 and 15 September. Kelly and Luke are charged with possession of a Beretta handgun and fifteen rounds of ammunition with intent to endanger life on 6 November. The court ordered the case to be tried before the Special Criminal Court.
John Walsh, 45, was arrested after CCTV footage from a Spar shop in Dublin was aired on Crimecall. The footage showed him demanding €20 back, becoming aggressive, and claiming to have a gun. He produced a pellet gun that resembled a semi‑automatic pistol, pointed it at staff, and was later apprehended by Gardaí. Walsh had previously pleaded guilty to possession of a realistic imitation firearm on 1 September 2016. He was remanded pending sentencing. Garda Paul Geraghty noted Walsh's intoxication and that he had been waiting for the Gardaí when they arrived. Walsh admitted the gun was for his own protection and expressed remorse. The shop received an apology letter from him. He has a history of alcohol and drug dependence and has sought treatment. The case is set for sentencing on Friday.
Patrick Dunne, 30, of Santry Lodge, Ballymun, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to robbing Briarswood Stores in Blanchardstown on 29 September 2017. He entered the shop with a scarf over his face and two five‑inch screwdrivers, demanding the cashier open the till. He took €195 in coins from the till. Garda Brendan O'Hora identified him from CCTV and fingerprints. Dunne has 95 previous convictions, including theft, burglary and criminal damage, and was already serving a four‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence for brandishing an imitation firearm in Ballymun. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a two‑year prison sentence, noting Dunne's drug addiction and the possibility of a positive change. The judge said he would not extend Dunne's custody beyond the sentence, hoping he will "turn the corner.".
Sean Mooney, aged 26, was jailed for three and a half years after a prisoner pressured him into planning to fire a sawn‑off shotgun at a family home in Dublin. Two adults and four children, including a baby, were present when Mooney pointed the gun at the front door. CCTV footage showed him wearing black with his face covered; the weapon jammed and he walked away, later returning with the gun. A phone was thrown at the door, causing a bang, and Mooney fled. No shots were fired and no injuries occurred. Mooney claimed he was "casing" the area to find houses to burgle to pay a €5,000 gambling debt, but Garda Stephen Tierney said the footage contradicted this. Mooney had communicated with a prisoner in Mountjoy who instructed him to intimidate the occupants because of a grudge against a former resident. Sean Mooney pleaded guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 16 March 2018, Eoghan O'Connell, a 29‑year‑old former cancer survivor from Dargle Heights, Bray, was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment for attempting to murder a man in his driveway on 8 April 2016. O'Connell fired a shotgun twice at the victim, a father of three in his late 30s, as the man left his home to go to work. Both shots misfired because the cartridges were damp, and the victim survived. The court noted that O'Connell had 65 prior convictions, including rape and assault, and that the victim had known him since childhood. The judge described the evidence as extremely strong, citing DNA and spent cartridges, and acknowledged the victim's family had moved away and suffered trauma. O'Connell's guilty plea led the judge to impose a 12‑year term, back‑dated to 2 May 2016.
Sean Walsh, 51, of St John's Well, Fair Hill, Co Cork, was found guilty by the Special Criminal Court of membership in the Irish Republican Army (IRA) and sentenced to three and a half years in prison, backdated to his arrest on 14 December 2016. The court heard that in November and December 2016 Walsh met with three other men at a house on Old Commons Road, Blackrock, where a fourth man was shot dead on 7 December. Gardaí searched the house's attic and found a bag containing two firearms, 14 rounds of ammunition, latex gloves and a black woolly hat that matched Walsh's DNA. Later that evening, Walsh was found in a house in Cobh with two other men, carrying a sawn‑off shotgun, a Walther pistol and loose ammunition.
Anthony Callaghan, aged 45, and Paul Zambra, aged 39, were apprehended on 29 May 2015 in Coolock after a three‑day surveillance operation by specialist Gardaí. Both men were found with a Ruger Revolver and a semi‑automatic pistol, the latter wrapped in newspapers and equipped with a silencer, and a full 5‑litre petrol container. They were charged with possession of firearms with intent to endanger life. Callaghan was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment and Zambra to 10 years' by Judge Melanie Greally on 16 March 2016. On appeal, Callaghan's sentence was reduced to 11 years, while Zambra's remained unchanged. The Court of Appeal, citing a "slight distinction" in their prior convictions, quashed the original 12‑year term and substituted it with 11 years. The case remains at the appellate stage. Anthony Callaghan pleaded guilty. Paul Zambra pleaded guilty.
In the Central Criminal Court, Ciara Tynan, the girlfriend of the 33‑year‑old Wesley Mooney, testified that the accused, 20‑year‑old Martin Keenan, was a professional bare‑knuckle fighter and questioned why he did not use his fists when he stabbed Mooney on the decking outside Keenan's home. Tynan denied the defence's suggestion that Keenan was defending himself after discovering the couple burglarising his house. Prosecutor Garnet Orange SC re‑examined Tynan, asking her about the claim that Keenan moved toward the victim before being stabbed. The defence, represented by Séamus Clarke SC, questioned Detective Sergeant Alan Brady about the bare‑knuckle fighter allegation, to which Brady replied that he had not seen any videos of Keenan on YouTube. Brady also confirmed that the deceased had 59 prior convictions, including burglary, threatening to kill, and possession of an imitation firearm with criminal intent, but no assault convictions. Martin Keenan pleaded not guilty.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Sean Walsh, aged 51, was found guilty of membership in the Irish Republican Army (IRA). Walsh had denied being a member on 14 December 2016, but the court accepted evidence from Chief Superintendent Barry McPolin, who testified that he was certain of Walsh's membership based on confidential information. Detective Sergeant Patrick Murphy supplied further evidence, including surveillance reports and a search of a house on Old Commons Road where a bag containing firearms, ammunition, latex gloves and a black woolly hat was found; the hat's DNA matched Walsh's. The court also heard that Walsh had met with co‑accused Joseph Walsh, Michael Gilmartin and a fourth man at Old Commons Road on 29 November and 6 December, and that the group had been involved in a shooting on 7 December. The case was adjourned for sentencing on 16 March.
A Garda investigation led to the break-up of a €3.5 million drugs and firearms operation, resulting in the sentencing of four individuals at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Jason Hughes (35) was jailed for six years after pleading guilty to possession of €757,280 worth of cannabis resin and €603,000 worth of MDMA on April 17, 2014. Ivan Tihon (35), a Moldovan national, was jailed for eight years for possession of €1.6 million worth of drugs, as well as guns and ammunition. Two Polish brothers, Slawomir Syzmala (40) and Marcin Syzmala (32), were each jailed for 10 years in March 2015 after admitting to possession of €3.5 million worth of cannabis and cannabis resin. The operation was uncovered following a surveillance operation by the Garda National Drugs Unit, during which €3.489 million worth of drugs were seized. Hughes, who had no previous convictions, claimed he was unaware of the drugs in the van he was transporting and stated he was acting on behalf of others. Judge Martin Nolan noted Hughes' role in the operation was to transport the drugs for some form of reward and stated he was part of a large drug dealing operation.
Noel Darby, 42, was sentenced to a suspended three‑and‑a‑half‑year term for robbing a mobile phone from a man at a bus stop on Malahide Road, Coolock, on 9 February 2015. The robbery was the first serious offence in 13 years. Darby, who had previously been convicted of firearm possession, drug offences and robbery, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He had been identified by the victim as a former subject of the documentary "Darndale: The Edge of Town," where Darby had spoken about his desire to overcome drug addiction. Garda Liam Wright described how Darby approached the victim, seized the phone, and fled, later being pursued. The victim, who recognised Darby from the programme, confirmed the identity after watching an episode on YouTube.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Declan Hendley, a 49‑year‑old former community worker, pleaded guilty to possession of an imitation firearm in a public place with the intention of intimidating a security guard at a Centra shop on Poppintree Parade, Ballymun, on 25 May 2015. The court found that Hendley had brought an air‑soft AK‑47 type imitation gun to the shop after a verbal altercation with the guard, who was attempting to move a group of young people outside. Hendley had threatened the guard with a pole during a brief physical confrontation, then returned ten minutes later with the imitation firearm, which was found to be non‑functional. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a two‑year sentence, suspending the final 14 months on strict conditions. The case highlighted Hendley's 29 prior convictions, mainly for road traffic offences, and his claim that the incident was a "moment of utter madness.".
Patrick Dunne, aged 30, was jailed for robbing a Centra shop on Coultry Road, Ballymun, on 12 September 2017. He entered the shop in a black jacket with his hood up before 8 pm, waited in line with his hand in his jacket, and then pointed a realistic imitation firearm at a shop assistant. He demanded the cashier open the till, threatening to shoot if he did not comply. The cashier eventually opened the till and Dunne took €880, placing it in a blue plastic bag. While the robbery was underway, two Gardaí were in the back of the shop checking CCTV footage for another investigation. They drew their firearms, called out "Armed Gardaí," and chased Dunne out of the shop. He was arrested and later pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to four and a half years' imprisonment, back‑dating the term to 12 December 2017.
A 29‑year‑old man, Eoghan O'Connell, was sentenced for attempting to murder a Wicklow man in front of his wife and children. On 8 April 2016, O'Connell tried to shoot the victim twice as he left the family home, but the shotgun misfired both times because the cartridges were damp. The victim and his family later sold their home and moved away. O'Connell, who had pleaded guilty to the attempted murder, was brought before the Central Criminal Court for sentencing. He had a history of 65 convictions, including rape and assault. The victim's wife gave a detailed impact statement describing the lasting fear, anxiety, and disruption to the family's life. Mr Justice McCarthy was set to deliver the sentence on 16 March, with O'Connell remanded in custody until then.
Mark Dwyer, 41, pleaded guilty to one count of robbing Christine Pollard at Dolphin's Barn on October 1 last year. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that Dwyer smashed the window of Ms Pollard's car, grabbed her handbag containing €920 in cash, and broke her ring finger during a struggle. A witness identified Dwyer, and his DNA matched blood found on the vehicle. The total value of stolen goods was €990, none of which were recovered. Ms Pollard, who required a splint for 16 weeks, stated she now feels vulnerable in her car. Dwyer, who has 106 previous convictions including a 2013 three-year jail term for firearm possession, has been in custody since the robbery. Defence counsel Michael Hourigan BL cited Dwyer's long-standing drug addiction and recent relapse following pneumonia as mitigating factors, noting he had been using his time in custody well. Judge Martina Baxter described the offence as serious and noted Dwyer's extensive criminal record. Although the validated procedural stage is listed as sentence, the court did not impose a penalty at this hearing. Instead, Judge Baxter ordered a number of reports and adjourned the matter for sentence on July 30.
A 21‑year‑old woman, Nikita Murtagh, pleaded guilty to unlawfully possessing a loaded CZ model 70 semi‑automatic pistol at Dublin's Connolly train station on 19 July last year. She had handed a shoebox containing the gun to a man, Ciaran Ryan, who was about to board the Dublin‑to‑Belfast train. Ryan was later jailed for three years for possession of the firearm. Murtagh was arrested at a bus stop outside Dublin airport at 6 pm, carrying a handbag with a change of clothes and a passport. At the Special Criminal Court, she was sentenced to three years in jail, backdated to 17 July, with the balance of the sentence suspended. The judge noted her guilty plea, her role as a courier, her "misplaced sense of family loyalty", and her status as a mother of a three‑year‑old child as mitigating factors. She walked free after the suspension was granted.
The Special Criminal Court will deliver a verdict on March 2 in the case of Sean Walsh, 51, of Co Cork, who is accused of membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army on December 14, 2016. Walsh pleaded not guilty to the charge. The prosecution alleged that Walsh was present at a house on Old Commons Road where a bag containing firearms and ammunition was found, and that his DNA matched a woolly hat recovered from the scene. It further alleged that Walsh met co-accused Joseph Walsh and Michael Gilmartin at a petrol station before they entered a house at Chestnut Drive, Cobh, where a sawn-off shotgun, a 9mm pistol, and ammunition were seized. Joseph Walsh, 36, and Michael Gilmartin, 47, both pleaded guilty to possession of the firearms and ammunition at Chestnut Drive on December 14, 2016. Last week, Joseph Walsh was sentenced to five years and six months for possession of firearms and two years for possession of ammunition. Gilmartin was jailed for five years for possession of firearms and two years for possession of ammunition. Their sentences are to run concurrently and were backdated to December 14, 2016. The matter regarding Sean Walsh remains pending judgment.
A Dublin man has been sentenced to two years imprisonment for his role in an aggravated burglary at a home in Crumlin on 7 December 2013. Declan Maxwell, then aged 16, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to the offence. The court heard that Maxwell and another man, now deceased, forced entry to the property and tied up the occupants with rope before threatening them with an imitation firearm whilst demanding money and bank details. A third person used stolen cards to withdraw €440 from an ATM. Electronics and other items valued at approximately €1,000 were taken from the home. Maxwell, originally from Achill in County Mayo, was apprehended the following day and confessed to gardaí. Judge Martin Nolan described the crime as reprehensible. The court imposed a five-year sentence with three years suspended, and ordered 18 months post-release probation supervision.
Alan Mahon of Tolka Estate, Glasnevin, Dublin, pleaded guilty to possession for sale or supply of cocaine worth over €60,000 found in his home on 21 March 2017, and to possession of a 9mm semi‑automatic pistol. He admitted he was storing the drugs and gun for others but could not name them, claiming fear for his life. Garda Siobhan Toland and defence counsel Michael O'Higgins argued he was a vulnerable drug addict from a respectable family. Judge Martin Nolan accepted these arguments, noted the pistol's condition, and imposed a five‑year prison sentence.
In 2010, Glen Holland, aged 34, was arrested in Dublin after authorities discovered €68,000 worth of cocaine, a mixing agent and two loaded 9mm handguns in the boot of his Toyota Avensis. The weapons, manufactured in Brazil, were ready for use. Holland pleaded guilty to possession of the firearms, ammunition and cocaine for sale or supply. After his arrest, he fled Ireland while on bail in 2011 and was not re‑arrested until 2017, when Spanish authorities extradited him under a European Arrest Warrant. In 2018, Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Holland to six and a half years' imprisonment, a departure from the mandatory ten‑year minimum for the drug charge. The judge credited Holland's admissions, cooperation with Gardaí, his difficult childhood and the fact that he was caring for his eight‑year‑old autistic son. Holland was instructed to engage with the Probation Service upon release.
Jace Pelivani, aged 49, was sentenced to six years' imprisonment in Dublin for his role in a €680,000 drug operation. He was arrested on 18 May 2017 in Clondalkin after driving a van that carried pallets of cannabis. Gardaí had received confidential information about a suspicious drug arrival at Dublin Port the previous day, discovered the drugs on a pallet, and re‑wrapped them for a controlled delivery. Surveillance followed the truck to Ashbourne, Co. Meath, where the contents were unloaded before Pelivani transported them to Clondalkin. Officers seized 34 kilos of cannabis, each wrapped separately. Pelivani pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply. The court noted that in November 2000 an Albanian court had convicted him in absentia of murder and possession of a firearm related to a pub fight in 1997. He denied prior knowledge of the drugs, claiming he had never been to Ireland, a statement the court found false.
The Special Criminal Court sentenced two Cork men to prison for firearms offences following a garda investigation into the "New IRA". Joseph Walsh (36) and Michael Gilmartin (47) both pleaded guilty to possession of firearms, including a 9mm parabellum pistol, a magazine, and a double-barrel sawn-off shotgun, as well as ammunition, at Chestnut Drive, Cobh, on September 14, 2016. The court heard that gardai intercepted the pair in December 2016 while monitoring subversive activity, finding the weapons in a bag at Gilmartin's home. Mr Justice Tony Hunt noted mitigating factors, including their early guilty pleas, describing Walsh as a recent recruit and Gilmartin's involvement as limited to logistical support. Walsh was sentenced to five years and six months for possession of firearms and two years for possession of ammunition. Gilmartin received five years for possession of firearms and two years for possession of ammunition. The sentences are to run concurrently and were backdated to December 14, 2016.
Two Dublin men, Jonathan Harding (45) and James Walsh (33), were sentenced to ten years and nine years in prison respectively for possessing a lethal arsenal of weapons, including nine revolvers, four pistols, a sub‑machine gun, an assault rifle, and various ammunition magazines. The weapons were discovered on 24 January 2017 at a unit in Greenogue Business Park, Rathcoole, which was presented as a logistics company. The men had pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court, and the judge noted that without the guilty pleas they would have received twelve‑year sentences. Harding had a prior six‑year drug‑related sentence in 2004; he received a ten‑year term with one year suspended. Walsh, with previous public‑order convictions, received a nine‑year term with one year suspended. The judge described the arsenal as "enormous potential for death and destruction" and a "lethal arsenal stored for the purpose of organised and very serious crime.".
Ciaran Ryan, 24, of Summerhill, Dublin, was sentenced by the Special Criminal Court to three years in prison, with four months suspended, for unlawful possession of a CZ model 70 semi‑automatic pistol and two rounds of 7.65 Browning ammunition. The gun and ammunition were recovered by Gardaí at Connolly Station on 19 July last year. Ryan had pleaded guilty in December to the offence. He was acting as a "courier" for the weapon, and there was no evidence he intended to use it. On the day in question, a surveillance operation had been in place around Connolly station. Ryan entered the station at 3:05 pm, bought a ticket, met a woman who handed him a white bag, and boarded the Belfast train at 3:30 pm. Gardaí followed him onto the train, arrested him, and found the gun in a shoebox inside the bag.
A man from County Dublin has had his sentencing adjourned at the Special Criminal Court following a dispute over the facts of a firearms case. Eamon McNamee, aged 37, pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm with intent to commit an indictable offence, namely assault causing harm, at Fairgreen in Saggart on 19 January 2013. The prosecution alleges McNamee shot and wounded a man during an operation targeting unlawful IRA activity in Dublin. Evidence presented included gunshot residue analysis and testimony from a detective sergeant. However, the defence has suggested multiple individuals were present at the scene, questioning whether McNamee was the person who fired the shot. The court indicated a Newton hearing may be necessary to resolve the factual disagreement between the prosecution and defence. McNamee was remanded on continuing bail until 5 February to allow the defence to confirm whether such a hearing is required.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, William Harton (41) was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for falsely imprisoning his then‑wife, Amy Harton, at their Sandyford home on 16 February 2017. Harton also pleaded guilty to possession of an imitation firearm and possession of cocaine on the same date. The court heard that Harton had forced Amy back into the house after she tried to escape, threatened her with a knuckle‑duster, and produced a handgun he claimed was functional, though it was later found to be a fake. During a two‑hour stand‑off with the Garda emergency response unit, Harton swallowed pills and took cocaine. He eventually released Amy after she unlocked her phone for him and then surrendered to Gardaí. Harton has nine prior convictions, mainly for traffic offences, and has been relocated to County Wexford under bail conditions.
Trevor Brunton, 35, of Broombridge Road, Cabra, pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing cocaine over €13,000 for sale or supply at Blanchardstown shopping centre and at his home on 28 July 2016. He was found with over €380,000 worth of cocaine, including eight blocks weighing just over three kilos and an estimated street value of €245,000, and a further quantity seized from his home, bringing the total to just over €382,000. Brunton had a drug debt of €15,000 and was transporting drugs to pay it off. He has seven previous convictions, including four firearm convictions, and was previously jailed for eight years in 2008. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and ordered a review of the case in six years. His co‑accused, Jason Kearney, 37, also pleaded guilty to one count of possession over €13,000 and was jailed for 10 years.