Barry Fowler, 30, was jailed for seven and a half years after pleading guilty to possessing over €370,000 of drugs for sale or supply. Gardaí traced him to a basement where a transit van contained €250,727 of cannabis, €103,404 of cocaine, €8,827 of heroin, €5,672 of amphetamines, €1,522 of cannabis resin and €2,000 of cannabis under his BMW's bonnet. He also pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a sawn‑off shotgun and 9mm bullets. Fowler, a father of one, had prior convictions for road traffic matters, common assault and a three‑year sentence for dangerous driving causing death in 2005. He claimed he held the drugs, weapons and €118,000 cash to offset a €60,000 drug debt. He had been in custody since April for breaching bail conditions after being arrested at Shannon Airport.
Lee McDonnell, 23, of Ballyfermot, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of an imitation firearm with intent to commit robbery at Sarsfield Service Station on 21 January 2012, and to robbery of cigarettes, a sunglass case and a shop assistant. He was originally sentenced to six years imprisonment, three of which were suspended. The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed, arguing the sentence was too lenient. The Court of Appeal set a new effective sentence of six years imprisonment with the final year suspended, and a concurrent four‑year sentence for the robbery charge. The new sentences run concurrently with a five‑year sentence for a burglary committed in 2011, and McDonnell is already serving a nine‑year sentence with two years suspended for aggravated burglary. The appeal was heard by a three‑judge panel, and the court noted McDonnell's 111 prior convictions at the time of sentencing.
Mark Kavanagh, 39, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of €135,000 worth of cocaine, €18,000 worth of cannabis, and a firearm. The original sentence of three‑and‑a‑half years was deemed unduly lenient by the Director of Public Prosecutions, and the Court of Appeal increased it to five years. One year of each count was suspended, to run concurrently for three years after release. The appeal highlighted that Kavanagh had been "minding" the drugs for a few weeks in return for relief on a €700 debt, and that he had claimed a threat against his family, later denying it. The court noted mitigating factors such as no prior convictions, a guilty plea, and remorse, but insisted the firearm offence required a separate, stricter sentence. The final effective custodial term is five years with a one‑year suspension for each count.
Three men appeared before the Special Criminal Court at trial, facing alleged IRA-related charges arising from an ongoing investigation into dissident republican activities. Séamus McGrane, 60, of Co Louth, was charged with directing the activities of an unlawful organisation styling itself the IRA and membership of that organisation between December 2009 and May 2015. He made no reply to the charges and was remanded in custody until May 20. Donal O Coisdealbha, 23, of Dublin 15, was charged with IRA membership and possession of a time and power unit, a component of an improvised explosive device, found in a storage locker at NUI Maynooth. He also made no reply and was remanded in custody until May 20, with his solicitor indicating a bail application would be made. Dylan Cahill, 22, of Co Tipperary, was charged with IRA membership, possession of a .380 calibre Colt semi-automatic pistol, four rounds of ammunition, and two pipe bombs in Co Leitrim. He made no reply to the charges. A proposed bail application for the following Tuesday was opposed by the DPP due to Garda operational constraints. The court remanded Mr Cahill in custody until June 9, granting him liberty to apply for bail before that date. All three accused were identified in the dock by detective sergeants, and no pleas or findings were recorded at this procedural stage.
Mark Kavanagh, 39, of Balgaddy, Clondalkin, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of €135,000 worth of cocaine and €18,000 worth of cannabis, and admitted possession of a revolver. He was sentenced to three-and-a-half years' imprisonment on 15 October 2014. The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed, arguing the sentence was unduly lenient and that the judge had over‑valued mitigating factors and under‑valued aggravating ones, such as a notebook with coded drug‑movement entries that could indicate a higher‑level role. The appeal was successful; Judge Michael Peart, sitting with Justices Garrett Sheehan and Alan Mahon, found the original sentence did not reflect the seriousness of the offence and ordered a new sentence to be imposed next month. The case remains at the sentencing stage, with no further outcome reported.
Lee McDonnell, 23, of Ballyfermot, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of an imitation firearm with intent to commit robbery at Sarsfield Service Station on 21 January 2012, and to robbery of cigarettes, a sunglass case and the shop assistant on the same occasion. He was originally sentenced to six years' imprisonment, with three years suspended by Judge Martin Nolan on 19 November 2012. The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed the three‑year suspended term, arguing it was unduly lenient. The appeal was scheduled for the Court of Appeal in December but McDonnell was absent. Counsel Michael Bowman SC argued that the judge erred in suspending 50 % of the sentence, citing McDonnell's 88 prior convictions and a previous four‑year hijacking sentence. Judge Michael Peart, with Justices Alan Mahon and Garrett Sheehan, agreed the sentence was unduly lenient and that the firearm offence had been treated merely as part of the overall offence.
During a murder trial, evidence was presented that a pair of jeans recovered from a skip on the day of John Wilson's shooting contained firearm residue. The accused, Keith O'Neill, 39, pleaded not guilty to the 2012 murder. Detective Ronan Doolan confirmed O'Neill placed two JD Sports bags into a skip on September 28, and Sergeant Paul Curtis found blue jeans in one bag. Witness Paula Molloy testified she saw a customer, later identified as O'Neill, at Dunnes Stores on September 27, buying various items and appearing sweaty. Forensic scientist Dr. Barbara Buchanan noted a nylon bag with socks contained partly evaporated petrol. Dr. Thomas Hannigan examined items on October 1, 2012, and reported firearm residue on the jeans, explaining how such residue can disperse over time. The trial is set to continue before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and a jury.
Robert Murphy, 32, a drug addict, was convicted at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for possessing a knife, discharging a firearm, and arson. He received an effective sentence of four years imprisonment with five years suspended on 10 October 2014. The Court of Appeal, agreeing with the Director of Public Prosecutions, found the sentence "unduly lenient" and ordered a new sentence to be imposed later. The appeal highlighted that Murphy was found with a flick knife in May 2012, discharged a sawn‑off shotgun at a house door, and set fire to a house occupied by a mother and child. The court noted Murphy's history of 60 convictions, including six for knife possession, and that the suspended periods for the shotgun and arson offences were also deemed unduly lenient. The new sentence will be determined at a future hearing. Robert Murphy pleaded guilty.
Richard Comerford, aged 55 and without a fixed address, had pleaded guilty in 2009 to robbery and possession of an imitation firearm at Boylesports bookmakers on Capel Street, Dublin. He was originally sentenced in February 2014 to five years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended, by Judge Mary Ellen Ring. The Director of Public Prosecutions had previously argued that the sentence was unduly lenient, citing that Comerford was arrested shortly after the robbery while sitting in a pub on Capel Street with his co‑accused, drinking pints. On appeal, the three‑judge Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan, found the sentence too lenient in light of his 66 prior convictions. The court therefore increased his sentence by two years, setting aside the original term and imposing a new five‑year imprisonment from the original start date, with the same suspended portion.
Eugene Cullen, 30, from Sundale Villas, Tallaght, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of a firearm and arson on 4 August 2008. He and Adam Griffiths, 27, were seen leaving a hedge in Palmerstown Green after driving a stolen Honda Civic from Cherry Orchard. Cullen leaned into the car and flames soon erupted. Gardaí stopped a vehicle driven by a third man shortly thereafter. An inspection of the charred car revealed a 9‑mm pistol in the passenger side glove box, confirming the vehicle had been reported stolen. Neither man was charged with the theft. Griffiths pleaded guilty to driving without the owner's consent. He received a two‑year suspended sentence. Cullen, already serving a life sentence for murder, was given a six‑year custodial term, with no credit for time already served on the firearm charge. The court noted that Cullen had no knowledge that the gun was in the car.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Liam McGran, 49, was given a suspended sentence for attempting to rob and threatening to rape an escort at gunpoint. McGran had booked an appointment with the woman, who works as an escort, and entered her apartment on 7 October 2013. He produced what appeared to be a black handgun, demanded money, and threatened rape. The victim, who held a firearms licence, recognised the pistol as a fake and fought him off, sustaining scratches, bruises and having some hair pulled. McGran fled, was later arrested in Lucan, and pleaded guilty to attempted robbery and possession of an imitation firearm. Judge Mary Ellen Ring noted it was his first offence, deviated from the five‑year mandatory minimum for firearms, and imposed a three‑year sentence suspended in full for three years. The court acknowledged the serious impact on the victim but also McGran's cooperation and early guilty plea.
Loyal Sequeria, 28, of Cypress Garth, Templeogue, Dublin, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to unlawful possession of a blank‑firing EKOL Firat Magnum 9mm gun and 93 rounds of ammunition, which he had bought over the Internet for protection after a burglary. He also pleaded guilty to stealing an unfinished Irish passport from his workplace, intending to give it to someone for falsification. Garda Enda Dowling found the passport in a camera bag in Sequeria's child's bedroom and the gun and ammunition in the child's wardrobe. Sequeria had one prior road‑traffic conviction. He claimed he was unaware a licence was required for the blank‑firing gun. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to two and a half years, suspended for two years, and noted it was unlikely he would appear again in court.
Keith Donovan, a 30‑year‑old from Cabra, Dublin, was sentenced to six years in prison for possessing 14.2 kilos of cannabis and a handgun with three rounds of ammunition. He was arrested after a Garda National Drugs Unit surveillance operation and admitted to holding and transporting the drugs at a rented premises in Arbour Hill. Donovan pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and cooperated with investigators. The judge, Martin Nolan, noted Donovan's early guilty plea, lack of prior convictions, and his role as a low‑level "gilly" or pawn in the drug trade. He was also a father and had no previous serious offences. These mitigating factors led the judge to depart from the mandatory 10‑year sentence for the drug offence and impose a six‑year term. Donovan's sentence reflects the court's consideration of his cooperation and personal circumstances.
Christian Coffey, aged 38, was sentenced to four and a half years in jail for storing cannabis worth €64,658, two Russian semi‑automatic pistols, and 16 rounds of ammunition at a rented container in Lusk, north County Dublin. He pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 17 October 2013. Coffey had gambling debts exceeding €50,000, including amounts owed to banks and money lenders, and had been described by a judge as a "fully reformed gambler" and a "remarkably decent man". The judge, Martin Nolan, noted Coffey's lack of prior convictions, early guilty plea, strong work record over 20 years, and community contributions through his GAA club. Despite the Director of Public Prosecutions recommending seven to eight years, the judge imposed the four‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence, citing Coffey's mitigation and remorse.
Sean Connolly, aged 35, pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to the murder of veteran criminal Eamon Kelly, who was killed on 4 December 2012 at Furry Park Road, Killester, Dublin. Connolly had originally faced three charges – murder, IRA membership and possession of a firearm – but the court was informed that the latter two would not proceed after his guilty plea. The Director of Public Prosecutions' counsel noted that a nolle prosequi would be entered for the remaining counts. A Victim Impact Report was being prepared, and the court was scheduled to reconvene on 1 May. The case was to be heard by Judges Paul Butler, Alison Lindsay and Flann Brennan, with a significant Garda presence in attendance. The trial, expected to last three weeks, was halted following Connolly's admission of guilt.
Gordon Ryan, 22, of Greenfields, Rosbrien, was convicted twice for possessing an improvised firearm in Limerick. He pleaded guilty to the first offence on 7 November 2012 and to the same offence on 23 June 2013. The first conviction carried a three‑year term with the last 12 months suspended. The second conviction was originally a three‑year term, but the Court of Appeal increased it by two years, citing undue leniency. The judge noted that Ryan was on bail for the first offence when the second offence occurred, involving the discharge of a shotgun that injured a companion. Ryan had 41 prior convictions. The Court of Appeal substituted a five‑year term for the second offence, resulting in an aggregate sentence of eight years with the final 12 months suspended. Ryan was required to bond €100 for the suspended portion.
Dylan Smith, 23, of Crumlin, pleaded guilty to producing an imitation firearm, unlawful seizure of a vehicle, and arson. On 26 March 2014, he threatened a taxi driver, John Lang, with a fake gun, forced him out of the vehicle, and drove off. Smith then set fire to Bernard Curtis Apartments in Bluebell. Garda Gary Keelan and others apprehended him near Jamestown Industrial Estate. Smith, with 69 prior convictions, was already serving sentences for robbery, false imprisonment and unlawful seizure of a vehicle. At sentencing, Judge Gerard Hogan imposed a four‑year jail term, with the final two years suspended, meaning Smith will serve an effective one‑year term. He is scheduled for release in 2020. The court noted his violent background, substance issues, and that he had become a father on the day of the incident. The case was prosecuted by Gareth Baker BL and defended by Pieter Le Vert BL.
Stephen Hendrick, 47, of Ballymun, pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to possessing a 7.62 mm Kalashnikov assault rifle and its components, as well as parts for Glock pistols, at his home on 15 November 2014. He also admitted unlawful possession of a flexible PETN explosive tube at the same address. Additionally, he pleaded guilty to holding 59 rounds of ammunition of various calibres and brands at Furry Park, Turnapin Great, Old Airport Road, Cloghran on 3 July 2013. The court remanded him in custody for sentencing on 15 May of the following year.
The Court of Appeal has refused the Director of Public Prosecutions' application to review the sentence of Tomas Banaitas, also known as Sarunas Juozaponis. The appellant, a 24-year-old resident of Blanchardstown, Dublin 15, had previously pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of a 9mm firearm and two magazines containing 14 bullets each. These items were allegedly found at Grange Road, Clonsilla, on September 13, 2013. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Banaitas to three years and three months imprisonment on November 11, 2014, departing from the presumptive five-year minimum for illegal firearm possession. The DPP argued this sentence was unduly lenient, citing the obliterated serial number and taped magazines as sinister aspects. However, the Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice Alan Mahon, upheld the original sentence. The judges accepted that the sentencing judge appropriately considered Banaitas' lack of previous convictions, his guilty plea, and his likelihood of rehabilitation. Additionally, the court noted that the sentence was reduced from four years to three-and-a-quarter to account for Banaitas' status as a non-national who had received no prison visits. The panel, including Mr Justice Birmingham and Mr Justice Sheehan, concluded that the sentence was not unduly lenient and dismissed the appeal.
Gavin Hennessy, aged 30, was sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty to possessing a loaded Magnum Smith and Wesson revolver and 20 rounds of .44 ammunition. He admitted that he had been contacted by a phone call to transport the gun and ammunition from Limerick to Dublin to pay off a €17,000 gambling debt. Hennessy claimed he did not know the caller and was told he would receive €500 for the job. Garda Stephen Foran stopped Hennessy's Opel Astra on the N7, found the revolver wrapped in black cling film in the rear passenger footwell and the ammunition in the glove box. Hennessy had a prior speeding conviction but no other serious offences. Judge Martin Nolan accepted his desperation due to gambling problems and described the incident as a "once‑off fall from grace," yet imposed the custodial sentence with regret, noting that certain crimes inevitably lead to jail terms.
Oliver Kierans, aged 57, from Drumbannon in Bailieborough, County Cavan, has been sentenced to twelve years imprisonment following proceedings at the Central Criminal Court. A jury returned a majority verdict finding him guilty of manslaughter, but not guilty of murder, in the death of his wife Patricia Kierans on 5 September 2013 at their family home. He was also convicted of unlawful possession of a sawn-off shotgun and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life. Ms Justice Aileen Donnelly imposed concurrent sentences of nine years for manslaughter, eight years for unlawful possession, and twelve years for possession with intent to endanger life. The court heard that the couple had been married thirty-three years when marital difficulties arose in 2013. The judge noted that Mr Kierans, who has no previous convictions, subsequently attended a public house in Bailieborough where a protracted incident involving gardaí ensued, which was resolved peacefully. Oliver Kierans was acquitted.
Trevor Purdy, 41, was found guilty of aggravated burglary, possession of a firearm and ammunition, false imprisonment, making threats to kill and assault causing harm at Kilbarrack Avenue, Dublin, in September 2006. A jury at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court convicted him on all counts and Judge Patrick McCartan sentenced him to ten years in prison on 19 May 2010. Purdy appealed, arguing that his sentence had not been properly backdated and that the sentencing judge had effectively "thrown away the key". The Court of Appeal, hearing the appeal, confirmed that Purdy had spent nine months in custody for which he had not received credit. Consequently, the Court backdated his sentence by nine months, leaving the ten‑year term, the suspended portion and effective custody unchanged. The appeal did not alter the conviction or the nature of the offences. The case remains at the appellate stage. Trevor Purdy pleaded not guilty.
Stephen Hendrick, 47, of Ballymun, pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to possession of 59 rounds of ammunition in suspicious circumstances. He was arrested in July 2013 at a yard in Cloghran by the Special Detective Unit and the Crime and Security Section during investigations into dissident republican activity. Hendrick was also charged with membership of an unlawful organisation, the Irish Republican Army (Oglaigh na hEireann). The court scheduled sentencing for Wednesday, 22 April, and the State anticipated a nolle prosequi on the membership charge.
Gerard Creighton, 49, was sentenced to three years in prison for failing to inform the Gardaí of his change of address between November 2013 and February 2014, for an attempted robbery at a bookmaker's on 28 February 2014, and for possessing an imitation firearm. He entered the shop in Dublin city centre armed with a 6mm air pistol loaded with ball bearings, handed a bag to a female staff member, and demanded money be placed in it. The woman fled, and Creighton left without any money. Gardaí recovered the pistol from a bin and later found his DNA on it. He also admitted possession of a stolen travel pass in the name of Michael Connors. The court noted his six prior convictions under the 2001 Sex Offenders Act and his registration as a sex offender in 1999. Judge Martin Nolan back‑dated the sentence to February 2014. Gerard Creighton pleaded guilty.
Oliver Kierans, 57, of Drumbannon, Bailieborough, Cavan, was found guilty of the manslaughter of his wife, Patricia Kierans, 54, and the possession of a 12-gauge double barrel shotgun with intent to endanger life. Kierans had pleaded not guilty to the charge of murdering Patricia on September 5th, 2013, at their shared address. A jury reached a majority verdict after more than fifteen hours of deliberations, acquitting him of murder but convicting him of manslaughter and the firearm offences. The court heard that the couple had been married for 33 years and had four children. Prosecution evidence indicated that Patricia had left the family home in spring 2013, ending the relationship, before returning to the house in her car on the day of the incident. Kierans claimed he intended to commit suicide and the modified shotgun discharged accidentally, killing Patricia. He subsequently pointed the weapon at a Garda in Bailieborough before his arrest. Victim impact statements from the four children and Patricia's siblings described the profound loss to the family. Justice Aileen Donnelly adjourned the matter, ordering that sentencing take place on April 20th.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 12 December 2013, Ronald Emmett, aged 36, pleaded guilty to robbery and possession of a realistic imitation firearm after a raid on an EBS in Killiney. Garda Martin Egan chased and tackled Emmett, who was carrying a gun wrapped in a newspaper; the gun was later found to be an imitation. Emmett had previously been convicted of 39 offences including hi‑jacking and possession of forged prescriptions, and was on bail for earlier robbery offences. He claimed he was "practically set up" and that he needed money for his addiction, stating he was now on methadone. Judge Mary Ellen Ring praised Garda Egan and manager Barry O'Brien for their actions, imposed a four‑year sentence to run consecutively with a five‑year term already served, and suspended the final two years, noting Emmett's intention to become drug‑free.
In March 2015, a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that 20‑year‑old Jason Flaherty, who was on bail for an earlier robbery and firearm charge, committed six additional armed robberies in a single month. The robberies, all in west Dublin between 21 August and 19 September 2013, involved threatening shop staff with a knife or an imitation gun. Flaherty pleaded guilty to three counts of robbery of cash from shops. Judge Mary Ellen Ring had previously sentenced him to four years with 18 months suspended for the earlier offence. At the hearing she imposed a new four‑year sentence, suspending the final two years on the condition that he engage in drug treatment and education programmes. The suspended portion is separate from the effective custodial term, which will run consecutively to his current sentence. The court considered other robbery charges and his seven prior convictions, including five for road traffic offences.
Two Dublin men, David Crowley (38) and Alan Wilson (36), are awaiting the outcome of appeals against convictions for trespassing and assault causing harm at Dromheath Drive, Blanchardstown, on 3 June 2009. Crowley was also charged with unlawful possession of a firearm. Both were found guilty by a jury at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and sentenced by Judge Desmond Hogan on 12 April 2013 to eight years and seven years imprisonment respectively. In the Court of Appeal, Wilson's counsel, Padraig Dwyer SC, argued that no evidence existed of trespassing or assault and highlighted that Wilson was wearing a bulletproof vest at the time of arrest. The prosecution, represented by Paul Burns SC, maintained that the vest indicated joint enterprise with Crowley, who carried a firearm. The court has reserved judgment and will decide as soon as possible. David Crowley pleaded not guilty. Alan Wilson pleaded not guilty.
In March 2015, Ivan Tihon, a 32‑year‑old Moldovan national with no fixed abode, was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for facilitating the storage and distribution of drugs, firearms and ammunition worth €1.6 million. Tihon had previously pleaded guilty to possession of ecstasy valued at €1.8 million, a plea later vacated by the State following the Court of Appeal's "Bederev Judgement." He pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine and cannabis for sale or supply at Finglas Business Park and other Dublin locations on 17 April 2014, and to possession and control of various 9 mm and .22 calibre pistols, a 9 mm Steyr submachine gun, 96 rounds of 9 mm ammunition and 50 rounds of .22 ammunition. Eight men were arrested in a Garda operation that seized 82.76 kg of cannabis (valued at €1,674,518) and cocaine (valued at €6,300), along with the firearms and ammunition.
Two men, Vincent Kirwan, 38, and Mark Shortt, 42, were arrested after robbing a petrol station at the Topaz garage in Donaghmede Shopping Centre on 23 June 2013. They used an imitation gun found in a field and were heavily intoxicated; Shortt approached the counter while Kirwan covered his face with his hands as a disguise. Shortt demanded cash, pulled the air pistol, and the robbery yielded €100. Garda Ronan Murphy testified that the pair fled toward a nearby McDonald's, were later spotted on Kilfenore Drive, and arrested. Both pleaded guilty to robbery. Judge Martin Nolan, hearing the case in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, suspended four‑year sentences for each, citing their alcoholism and the one‑off nature of the offence. Kirwan had prior public order convictions; Shortt had none. The judge emphasised the seriousness of producing a replica firearm and the potential for serious consequences when confronted with guns.
Two Dublin men, David Crowley (38) and Alan Wilson (36), appealed their convictions for trespassing and assault at Dromheath Drive, Blanchardstown, on 3 June 2009. Crowley also faced a second charge of unlawful firearm possession. Both were found guilty by a jury at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and sentenced to eight and seven years' imprisonment respectively by Judge Desmond Hogan on 12 April 2013. In the appeal, Crowley's counsel, James O'Brien SC, argued that the jury should have been discharged after Crowley offered a juror a cigarette lighter outside court, an act described by the jury as a "jaw‑dropping moment." O'Brien also highlighted the victim's former partner, Lisa Murray, who later retracted her statement and claimed no memory of the events. Wilson's counsel, Padraig Dwyer SC, contended that there was no evidence of trespassing or assault, that the admission of Murray's statement was wrong, and that evidence of Wilson's bullet‑proof vest was prejudicial. David Crowley pleaded not guilty. Alan Wilson pleaded not guilty.
David Towell, 36, of Tallaght, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to attempted robbery and possession of an air pistol at Paddy Power bookmakers in Saggart on 6 July 2013. He had 20 prior convictions and had planned the robbery with an accomplice he met only the night before. Towell rode a moped driven by the accomplice, but an off‑duty Garda and his father intervened, knocking him off the scooter and preventing the robbery. He struck the cash desk, left with nothing, and was arrested on the spot. Judge Catherine Murphy sentenced him to four years, with the last year suspended, citing the seriousness of the offence and his drug‑addiction history. He was ordered to remain under Probation Services supervision, attend addiction services, and engage in victim‑awareness work.
During the trial of Craig O'Halloran, a 21‑year‑old from Portlaoise, a witness, Stephen Kenny, testified that he saw his brother Kevin Kenny, aged 32, stabbed four times by O'Halloran on 31 July 2011 at the Sarsfield Road in Ballyfermot. Kenny described a confrontation that began in the Old Dubliner pub, involving a man named Robert Ellis who allegedly threatened to use a shotgun. Kenny claimed that O'Halloran, armed with a knife about six to seven inches long, approached and stabbed Kevin in the upper left area of the body, an act that lasted five to ten seconds. Kenny said he attempted to help Kevin, who collapsed and was later taken to hospital. CCTV footage was shown to the jury, and the trial continues before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy. Craig O'Halloran pleaded not guilty.
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'.
Desmond O'Toole, 46, of Dun Laoghaire, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for offences committed at the Sallynoggin Inn in Sallynoggin on June 9, 2014. The defendant pleaded guilty to possession of a gun with intent to endanger life, assault causing harm, and possession of two rounds of .22 calibre ammunition. Judge Martin Nolan described the incident as incredibly serious, noting O'Toole's intent to harm and significant recklessness. Prosecution evidence indicated that after a dispute with a group of men, O'Toole returned to the pub, fired a shot into the crowd which missed, and subsequently fired again outside. The second bullet struck a security guard in the chest, causing severe injury requiring surgery and resulting in Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. O'Toole was arrested two days later and identified the location where he dumped the firearm, though it was never recovered. He made no admissions during ten interviews but later expressed remorse in a letter. Defence counsel highlighted that O'Toole is a carer for his blind mother. The court imposed a ten-year custodial sentence, reflecting the severity of the violence and the danger posed to the public.
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.
Three Lithuanian men—Darius Adamonis (46), his son Darvydas Adamonis (27) and Linas Butrinovicius (29)—were sentenced in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for false imprisonment of student Richard Nagle (25) on 16 October 2013. The men, acting on instructions from landlord Peter Downey, forcibly evicted Nagle from a bedsit in Cabra Park, Dublin. They blocked his exit, demanded his belongings, and led him to his room, where Butrinovicius brandished an air pistol. Nagle, who had paid a €500 deposit for the room, fled with his possessions and reported the incident. The court found the men unaware of the illegality of their actions. Butrinovicius received a two‑year sentence, Darius Adamonis an 18‑month term, and Darvydas Adamonis a two‑year suspended sentence. The case highlighted the unlawful nature of the forced eviction. Darius Adamonis pleaded guilty. Darvydas Adamonis pleaded guilty. Linas Butrinovicius pleaded guilty.
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.
Gary Partridge, 29, was jailed for one year after threatening to kill Gardaí and detonate a bomb. He claimed he was merely seeking attention because a report of a suspected device had been ignored. Gardaí, led by Detective Sergeant Eddie Carroll, responded to a call at 2.30 am. Partridge pointed a gun at officers, threatened to shoot them, and claimed he had a remote to detonate a bomb. The firearm was an air pistol. Gardaí managed to subdue him, and he later apologized. Partridge pleaded guilty to possession of an air pistol. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to five years, suspending four years on strict conditions, citing the seriousness of his actions and the potential danger posed to the public and officers.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 4 March 2015, Detective Chief Superintendent Peter Kirwan of Garda Security and Intelligence presented confidential information, claiming privilege, to support his belief that seven men arrested in a 2013 Garda swoop on a used‑car lot in west Dublin were members of the Irish Republican Army (IRA). Kirwan said the evidence came from human sources and telephone intercepts. The seven men—Kevin Braney (40), Des Christie (50), Hubert Duffy (47), William Jackson (55), Declan Phelan (33), John Brock (42) and Darren Murphy (44)—had been arrested on 29 March 2013 and had pleaded not guilty to IRA membership. Garda searches of the car lot and subsequent vehicle, office and kitchen searches yielded cable ties, balaclavas, a Glock pistol, a baseball bat, a lump hammer, pepper spray and gloves. The prosecution's case relies on surveillance sightings, seized items, the accused's responses to Garda questioning and Kirwan's opinion evidence. The trial remains ongoing.
A 57-year-old man from Bailieborough in Cavan has been found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter following a trial at the Central Criminal Court. Oliver Kierans was charged with the death of his wife, Patricia Kierans, at their family home on September 5th, 2013. The jury returned majority verdicts finding him guilty of manslaughter by ten to two, and guilty of unlawful possession of a shotgun and possession with intent to endanger life. Evidence presented during the two-and-a-half week trial indicated that Patricia Kierans had separated from the accused and begun a new relationship. The court heard that on the date in question, Patricia Kierans sustained a fatal shotgun wound to the chest at close range. State Pathologist Professor Marie Cassidy confirmed the cause of death was a shotgun injury. Kierans was remanded in custody for sentencing on March 26th. Oliver Kierans was found guilty.
Oliver Kierans, aged 57, from Drumbannon in Bailieborough, County Cavan, stands trial at the Central Criminal Court on a charge of murdering his wife Patricia Kierans on 5 September 2013 at their home address. He has pleaded not guilty to the murder charge and to possession of a shotgun with intent to endanger life. The jury found him guilty yesterday of unlawful possession of a 12-gauge double-barrel shotgun. Justice Aileen Donnelly directed the jury of five women and seven men to consider majority verdicts on the remaining charges of murder and possession of the firearm with intent to endanger life. Deliberations were adjourned this evening and will resume tomorrow.
Oliver Kierans, a 57-year-old man from Drumbannon, Bailieborough, Cavan, is currently on trial at the Central Criminal Court. He has pleaded not guilty to the murder of his wife, Patricia Kierans, aged 54, which allegedly occurred on September 5th, 2013, at their shared address. Kierans also pleaded not guilty to the unlawful possession of a 12-gauge double barrel shotgun and not guilty to possessing the same firearm with intent to endanger life. After deliberating for more than five hours, a jury of five women and seven men returned a unanimous verdict finding Kierans guilty of the charge of unlawful possession of the shotgun. The jury has not yet reached a verdict on the remaining charges, including the murder allegation. Ms Justice Aileen Donnelly thanked the jury for their service and instructed them to return the following day to continue their deliberations on the outstanding counts. The matter remains ongoing, with the trial proceeding to a further stage of jury consideration.
A jury has begun deliberations in the Central Criminal Court in the trial of Oliver Kierans, aged 57, from Drumbannon, Bailieborough, County Cavan. He has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Patricia Kierans, aged 54, at their home address on 5 September 2013. He also denies unlawful possession of a 12-gauge double-barrel shotgun and possession of the same firearm with intent to endanger life. The trial proceeded today despite the accused's absence due to illness, following his instructions that proceedings continue. Justice Aileen Donnelly outlined to the jury of five women and seven men that they must return unanimous verdicts on all charges, with three possible outcomes for the murder allegation. After deliberating for more than thirty minutes, the jury adjourned to resume consideration of the case tomorrow.
James McMahon, 23, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to possession of a loaded shotgun on September 11, 2013, and multiple driving offences in Lucan, Dublin, on April 5, 2013. The driving charges included endangerment, dangerous driving, failing to stop for gardaí, driving while disqualified, and driving while uninsured. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced McMahon to seven years in prison, with three years suspended, stating that the dangerous driving offences were taken into account. Prosecution evidence indicated McMahon left the Beretta shotgun in his girlfriend's home after babysitting their son; he ignored her requests to remove it and warned her not to touch it because it was loaded. His home had previously been shot at, and his family was later evacuated when his house was set on fire. Defence counsel argued McMahon armed himself in a misguided attempt to protect his family from perceived threats. The court noted McMahon had 63 previous convictions, mostly for road traffic offences. The matter was finalised with the imposition of the custodial sentence.
In February 2015, a Dublin court heard the case of Rafal Wojciechowski, a 47‑year‑old Polish man, who pleaded guilty to possessing an imitation firearm. The incident began when a bus driver, believing the plastic orange and black gun to be real, restrained Wojciechowski and called emergency services. Garda Christopher Kelly testified that the driver had followed Wojciechowski on Cavendish Road and that the gun, which had an orange bit protruding from the barrel, was clearly a toy. Wojciechowski, who had no prior convictions, claimed he had bought the gun for his nephew and was intoxicated at the time. Judge Martin Nolan, noting Wojciechowski's "idiotic" behaviour, imposed a six‑month suspended sentence. The case had reached the Circuit Court after a District Court judge had declined jurisdiction. The defendant had lived in Ireland for about eight years and worked as a gardener, with limited English.
A man from Bailieborough in Cavan has pleaded not guilty to murdering his wife at their home in September 2013. Oliver Kierans, aged 57, faces charges of unlawful possession of a shotgun and possession of the same weapon with intent to endanger life. During the Central Criminal Court trial, the couple's son gave evidence, recounting a telephone conversation with his father days before the death of Patricia Kierans, aged 54. In closing speeches, the prosecution argued that the accused's actions following the shooting were inconsistent with accidental discharge, while the defence contended that an accidental discharge could relieve the accused of criminal liability. Justice Aileen Donnelly will charge the jury on Monday.
A man accused of murdering his wife in County Cavan in 2013 has told the Central Criminal Court that her death was accidental. Oliver Kierans, aged 57, from Drumbannon, Bailieboro, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Patricia Kierans on 5 September 2013, as well as charges relating to unlawful possession of a shotgun and intent to endanger life with it. Giving evidence, the accused stated he had shortened the shotgun barrels intending to take his own life after his remaining child emigrated to Australia. He told the jury that on the day in question, his wife discovered the gun and was shot when she attempted to stop him from using it. The prosecution contended the accused had deliberately created the circumstances of the incident and was an angry man at the time. The trial before Ms Justice Aileen Donnelly continues.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Jiri Vecernik, a 45‑year‑old Czech national residing in Tipperary, pleaded guilty to possession of a blank‑firing revolver found in his checked‑in luggage at Dublin Airport on 22 December 2013. The revolver, manufactured in Germany, could discharge cartridges containing a pepper‑spray‑type substance but was incapable of firing lethal ammunition. Vecernik had purchased the pistol online for €70, believing it would protect him after a physical altercation with a Slovak colleague over a dog. He claimed the incident had left him fearful that the colleague might return. Gardaí found no prior convictions for Vecernik, who had lived in Ireland since 2006 and worked as a handyman. The judge, citing the unusual circumstances and Vecernik's lack of criminal history, opted for a conviction under the Probation Act rather than a custodial sentence, noting that Vecernik had not breached any bail conditions and had fully cooperated with the investigation.
A murder trial at the Central Criminal Court heard on Wednesday that a Cavan mother of four died from a shotgun injury to the chest. Patricia Kierans, aged fifty-four, was found dead at her home in Bailieborough on September 6th, 2013. Oliver Kierans, fifty-seven, of Drumbannon in the same locality, has pleaded not guilty to her murder on September 5th, 2013, and to related firearms charges. State Pathologist Professor Marie Cassidy told the court she observed a single gunshot wound to Ms Kierans's upper right chest, with injuries of such severity that death would have been almost immediate. The wound was consistent with discharge from approximately 1.2 metres distance. Detective Garda evidence included text messages exchanged between the accused's phone and the deceased's phone in the days preceding her death. The trial before Ms Justice Aileen Donnelly continued.