A 21-year-old man from Westport, Co Mayo, who is currently serving a 10-month sentence, has been spared additional jail time for stealing an electric scooter valued at €773. Edward Collins pleaded guilty at Dún Laoghaire District Court to stealing the Kukirin G2 Max e-scooter from Beechwood Court in Stillorgan on January 10 last year. Judge Anne Watkin noted that Collins has 14 previous convictions, including seven for theft and fraud, and six for road traffic offences. He also had 15 charges dismissed under the Probation of Offenders Act in January 2025. The judge acknowledged that the Probation Service had worked with Collins for about a year. Collins is currently serving consecutive sentences of seven months and three months, totaling 10 months. The three-month sentence relates to driving without insurance or a licence. His defence highlighted that Collins developed a cocaine addiction at 17 after associating with the wrong crowd. Judge Watkin placed him under the supervision of the Probation Service for 12 months, requiring him to report in person, notify of any address changes, and avoid illegal drugs.
A Brazilian brothel-keeper, Ilamar Rodrigues Ribeiro, has had his appeal to reduce his prison sentence dismissed by the court. Ribeiro, who operated a brothel network across rural Ireland and laundered €800,000, was arrested at Dublin Airport in 2023 with child abuse material on his phone. He pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including brothel-keeping, money laundering, and possession of child pornography. The child abuse material, which included images and videos of pre-pubescent children, was described as the most serious category. Judge Patricia Ryan imposed a 10-and-a-half-year sentence in 2025, which included consecutive terms. Ribeiro's lawyers argued that the court should have suspended the sentence for the child abuse material due to his lack of prior convictions. However, Mr Justice Paul Burns ruled that the child pornography charge was of a different nature and required a separate sentence. He stated that the court could not ignore the severity of the offence. The investigation into Ribeiro began after two women came forward with trafficking allegations, leading to the identification of multiple properties used as brothels across Ireland.
A couple who fled Ukraine were caught by gardai with €380,000 in cash in the back of their car during a money laundering operation. Ihor Samotos, a Ukrainian national living in Leitrim, was seen receiving a box of cash from a third party in a Santry carpark. His partner, Sabina Kolukhonova, was a passenger in the car. Samotos had limited work opportunities and became involved in the money laundering operation for an organised criminal gang. Both pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering. Judge Martin Nolan noted that Samotos had made the choice to engage in the criminal activity despite his precarious situation. He sentenced Samotos to five and a half years and Kolukhonova to 20 months in prison, taking into account their guilty pleas and lack of previous convictions. The court heard that the couple had come to Ireland separately after the war broke out and had started a relationship. The other man involved in the operation remains before the courts.
The former CEO of Inland Fisheries Ireland, Francis O'Donnell, has denied allegations that he pestered and hounded the agency's former HR director, Róisín Bradley, for written assurances regarding his future employment. O'Donnell, who was dismissed from his position in June 2025, refuted claims that he asked Bradley to meet privately and sign a prepared letter in a hotel car park. He described the allegations as "appalling" and denied any such conduct, emphasizing that Bradley was a high-performing individual with whom he had a strong working relationship. O'Donnell's legal team argued that there was a precedent in IFI for previous CEOs returning to their old roles after stepping down, and he cited an email from Bradley in December 2025 to support his claim. The case is being heard under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977 and the Protected Disclosures Act 2014, with O'Donnell alleging that the allegations against him were part of an effort to pressure him into ending his investigation into alleged theft and fraud within the organization. The tribunal has adjourned for further proceedings.
Denise O'Brien (42) of Fels Point, Dan Spring Road, Tralee, Co Kerry, appeared before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after taking a bench warrant last week. She is accused of 98 counts of fraud, including deception, forgery, and using a false instrument, under the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001. Oisin Clarke BL, defending, explained that his client did not appear on June 15 because she believed the court date was set for June 18, citing a rail ticket she had purchased for that date. He also mentioned that she had been previously in hospital. Counsel requested that the court readmit her to bail. Judge Orla Crowe set an arraignment date of November 16, when O'Brien is due to enter a plea. The judge noted her history of non-attendance but agreed to re-admit her to bail on her own bond of €100. She must sign on daily at a local garda station, provide her phone number, surrender her passport, and refrain from applying for any other travel documents.
Brian Grendon is to face a non-jury trial in the Special Criminal Court alongside two co-accused for directing a criminal organization and drug-related offenses. Grendon is charged with 12 offenses, including directing the activities of a criminal organization in the importation and distribution of controlled drugs and money laundering. He is also charged with importing cocaine and possessing the drug for sale or supply. His co-accused, Noel Smyth and Paul Kelly, face charges of contributing to the activities of a criminal organization and drug offenses. The State applied for the trial to be held in the Special Criminal Court, and the court granted the application. The trial is set to proceed with the three-judge court, and the matter was adjourned to June 29.
An Afghan man, Rahimullah Hotak, who laundered €45,000 by making payments to accounts in six different countries while receiving social welfare in Ireland, has been given a fully suspended sentence. Hotak, who pleaded guilty to money laundering, made 45 separate payments totaling €45,208.53 between January 2020 and April 2021. The court heard that the amount was 'totally out of proportion' to the funds he would have had access to at the time as a 19-year-old. Hotak's defence counsel noted that he recognises Ireland's support and hopes to return to Afghanistan with his family. The court also heard that Hotak was arrested but made no admissions. Judge Orla Crowe noted the troubling features of the case, including the source of the money, and adjourned the case to assess Hotak's risk of re-offending. Hotak has no previous convictions and the Probation Service has deemed him to be at low risk of re-offending. Judge Crowe handed down a sentence of 18 months, which she suspended for a period of three years on a number of conditions.
Myles Connors, 37, was jailed for a year for defrauding an elderly woman of over €50,000 for poor-quality garden work. Connors charged the 82-year-old woman €48,000 for slabbing, weed removal, and cementing her garden, and an additional €5,000 for power washing and painting her tarmac. The work was assessed as being worth no more than €20,000, with materials costing less than €3,000. The woman, who lives alone and has mobility issues, was left with uneven and unsecured slabs and felt unsafe in her home. Connors pleaded guilty to two counts of deception. Judge Orla Crowe described the offense as a "sustained, controlled, and pre-meditated campaign" against the woman, a "gross breach of trust." She ordered the release of frozen funds, fully restituting the woman. Connors received a two-year sentence, suspended for 12 months, and was ordered not to contact the victim. Gardai had previously recommended Connors to the woman based on his work for a neighbor.
Arthur Bradford, a Ghanian man, was jailed for six and a half years for raping an intoxicated woman he approached at a nightclub in Dublin. He was convicted by a Central Criminal Court jury last month. The victim, who wished to remain anonymous, described waking up in a house she had never been to, with her underwear inside out and feeling as if she had had non-consensual sex. CCTV footage showed Bradford approaching her while she was unsteady on her feet. Bradford claimed the encounter was consensual. The victim's impact statement highlighted the trauma and lasting effects of the rape, including on her relationships and education. Bradford, who has 21 previous convictions, including for theft and money laundering, was subject to a deportation order. The judge noted the traumatic impact on the victim and imposed a six-and-a-half-year sentence, encouraging Bradford to engage in offence-focused work while in custody.
A former haulage company owner has been given a suspended sentence for writing two cheques for green diesel that failed to clear. Kenneth Browne pleaded guilty to two counts of deception in 2019. He had agreed to pay for 2,500 litres of green diesel with a cheque, but the cheque bounced. He later ordered an additional 5,000 litres, which he also paid for with a cheque that also bounced. Browne had made some repayments to the supplier but stopped when he was told he would only receive a receipt upon full repayment. He attended a voluntary interview and admitted to making poor business decisions that led to his company's bankruptcy. His defence highlighted that he had no repeat offences in the past seven years and was now employed full-time. Judge Jonathan Dunphy noted that Browne had made a dishonest decision to write the cheques and had relevant previous convictions. He set a headline sentence of two and a half years, which he reduced to 20 months in prison on each count to run concurrently.
A 22-year-old man, Wojtek Kulik, has been sentenced to two years in prison for money laundering and one year for possession of cannabis for sale or supply. Kulik received over €18,000 into his Revolut account through hundreds of transactions between January 2024 and January 2025. He was also caught with €7,272 worth of cannabis in October 2023. Kulik admitted to being an addict and said he was given €100 to deliver the cannabis to someone else. The court heard that he had a history of substance misuse since the age of 16 and that he had made full admissions. A probation report indicated that Kulik is at high risk of reoffending but is motivated to engage with services. Judge Orla Crowe noted the aggravating factor of the money laundering over a considerable period of time but took into account his guilty pleas, youth, and willingness to engage with services. She suspended the final six months of the two-year sentence on strict conditions and directed him to undergo supervision by the Probation Service for one year post-release.
A Circuit Court Judge has refused to remand a woman on bail for her role in facilitating a criminal organisation, despite noting that there are currently 53 mattresses on the prison floor. Judge Brian O'Callaghan stated that the defendant, Tamara Olaye, has had poor compliance with bail conditions in the past. Olaye, from Galway, pleaded guilty to money laundering offences between 2022 and 2024. Gardai obtained warrants to access her bank accounts and found over €20,000 transferred to a third party. Olaye claimed the money came from her work in beauty and fast food, but gardai linked it to organised crime. The court heard that Olaye had failed to sign on 41 times and was not residing at her address on eight occasions. Her defence counsel requested a Probation Report, which the judge agreed to. Olaye was remanded into custody until July 23, with the judge emphasizing the need to protect the public despite the prison conditions.
A former accountant pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to theft and deception offences committed over six weeks in early 2025. Michelle Dillon, aged 59 and homeless, stole a bank card and medical card from an elderly patient at a Dublin hospital on 20 February. She subsequently travelled to Cork, Clare, Meath, Westmeath and Wicklow, presenting herself as the legitimate account holder at various banks to withdraw approximately €8,000 in cash. She also made contactless payments totalling €133. Withdrawals occurred in Cork city, Bray, Dublin city centre, Navan, Athlone and Ennis. When presenting at an AIB branch in Navan on 4 March, a warning mark was active on the account, yet she convinced staff she was the genuine holder. She was arrested in October 2025 at Cavan General Hospital after presenting under a false name. The victim's bank refunded all monies. Judge Elma Sheahan described the initial theft as despicable and the subsequent deceptions as planned, premeditated and brazen.
A data analyst and gambling addict who submitted fake claims to VHI, resulting in the insurance company paying him €40,770 over nine months, has received a fully suspended two-year sentence. Daragh Kennedy (33) falsified receipts and claimed he had attended medical consultations that did not occur. When VHI investigated, the medical professionals involved confirmed that Kennedy had not attended as claimed. He immediately admitted to the fraud and explained that he had a gambling addiction, having gambled away the money. His insurance policy was cancelled, and he began a repayment plan. Kennedy cooperated with gardaí and admitted to the fraud, stating he has struggled with gambling since the age of 21. He has a third-level degree and has worked as a data analyst. He has repaid €17,400 to date and is making monthly payments. He has the support of his partner, parents, and has received help from gambling addiction services. Testimonials were submitted to court, and he has not gambled for over a year. Daragh Kennedy pleaded guilty.
A former accountant has been sentenced to three years and nine months at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for laundering nearly €290,000 through his bank account. Cyril Keegan (54), with an address in County Cork, pleaded guilty to three counts of money laundering between 2017 and 2018. The court heard he acted as a conduit for convicted launderer Simon Gold, facilitating transfers including over €180,000 from a Canadian medical cannabis company. Funds were rapidly dispersed after arriving in Keegan's account. His partner, Ruth Kennedy (55), received a suspended two-year sentence after pleading guilty to failing to disclose information to gardaí. Judge Martin Nolan noted the substantial distress caused to defrauded parties. Gold, formerly of Athlone, County Westmeath, was previously jailed for seven-and-a-half years for laundering €1.6 million.
At the Special Criminal Court in Dublin on May 11th, 2026, a 33-year-old man from West Dublin pleaded guilty to drug possession, money laundering and making threats to kill. Mark Salmon has admitted possessing cocaine valued at €35,280 near Carrick-on-Shannon in March 2024 and acquiring criminal proceeds totalling approximately €84,000 across 2022 and 2023. The court heard evidence that Salmon intimidated two families over alleged drug debts, threatening one mother that he would have her son raped by "junkies" and shot. He also threatened to drive over the young man and put a bullet in his head. A second victim suffered financial loss and psychological harm after her son fled to England fearing for his safety. The three-judge panel, led by Mr Justice Patrick McGrath, adjourned sentencing to June 15th. Defence counsel argued for leniency based on guilty pleas and expressions of remorse.
A couple was sentenced for drug dealing and money laundering after being found with cannabis, MDMA, tobacco, and €157,380 in cash in their home. Lukasz Cichocki and Julia Mossakowska pleaded guilty to having the proceeds of crime and possessing drugs for sale or supply. Cichocki was jailed for four and a half years, while Mossakowska received a three-year suspended sentence. The court heard that the couple had a significant amount of drugs and cash, with the cigarettes seized being well beyond what anyone might reasonably consume. Cichocki claimed the cash was made from his life savings and a gift from his family in Poland, while Mossakowska expressed shame and remorse for her behavior. The judge noted the seriousness of the case and the harm caused by drugs. Cichocki was cooperative and accepted responsibility, while Mossakowska has no previous convictions and is pregnant with her second child. The court considered the mitigating factors and the impact of a foreign sentence on Mossakowska.
Mirons Nekrasovs, 21, of Swords, Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to one count of money laundering and one count of possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). The court heard that Nekrasovs, who had no previous convictions, was allegedly coerced by an international organised crime group into allowing his bank account to be used to extort €24,000 from 15 victims, aged 18 to 24, between November 2023 and July 2024. Prosecutors stated that CSAM was found on his devices during a search, though defence counsel argued the material was not distributed and that Nekrasovs was himself a victim of sextortion. Judge Jonathan Dunphy rejected a request for Section 100 treatment, citing the seriousness of the offences, particularly the exploitation of a child. He imposed a global sentence of two and a half years, suspended in full on strict conditions for three years. Nekrasovs was directed to place himself under probation supervision for three years. The judge also declined the defence application to anonymise the defendant, allowing his identity to be reported.
A man known as a 'predatory thief' has been jailed for three years after stealing a tourist's bank card and withdrawing €220 from an ATM in Dublin. Viorel Rostas, who has 79 previous convictions, was convicted of theft and cash fraud. The court heard that the tourist was drinking and got into a taxi with Rostas, who watched him enter his PIN at an ATM and then stole the card. Rostas used the card to withdraw money and was later identified by gardai. Despite his criminal history and high risk of reoffending, the judge noted that Rostas had a work history and had apologized for his actions. The judge described Rostas's behavior as predatory and deliberate, emphasizing that he targeted the victim with intent. Rostas was sentenced to three years in prison, with the judge acknowledging his personal circumstances but emphasizing the seriousness of the crime.
A man who is serving a sentence for drug dealing has had his jail term extended by 15 months for further offences of drug dealing and money laundering. Colin Radburn (37) was jailed for four and a half years in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court last November after he was pulled over at a garda checkpoint and found to have €350,000 worth of cocaine and £15,520 in cash in his van. He appeared before the court today on signed guilty pleas to one count of possessing cannabis, one count of possessing the drugs for sale or supply, and one count of money laundering. These charges relate to €19,218 of cannabis and €23,500 in cash which gardai found when they searched his van. Radburn made admissions in custody and told gardai he had a drug debt and was under pressure to transport the drugs and the cash. He now has 32 previous convictions, including the offences he carried out in February 2025.
Two men, Vladislavs Temnis and Ik Joo Kang, were jailed for a combined 11 years after being caught with over €1 million in illicit cash days after arriving in Ireland. Both pleaded guilty to possession of the proceeds of criminal conduct. The Dublin Crime Response Team discovered the cash in a rented Skoda vehicle and later in a hotel room. The men were found to be involved in a money laundering operation. Judge Orla Crowe considered mitigating factors, including their lack of previous convictions and their early guilty pleas. Temnis received a four-year sentence, while Kang was sentenced to seven years. Both were given credit for time served and had their sentences backdated. The court heard that Kang had no knowledge of the criminal nature of the job and felt it was suspicious upon seeing the cash.
Declan Connolly, 42, of Dublin 9, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to attempting to make a gain by deception. The court heard that in May 2021, Connolly applied for a €20,000 loan from Ballygall Credit Union using false documents, including a Virgin Media bill, AIB bank statements, and pharmacy payslips. The loan was not granted, and no financial loss occurred. Judge Orla Crowe described the attempt as "ham-fisted" but deliberate, noting it required planning. Aggravating factors included Connolly's 12 previous convictions and the fact that he was serving a partly-suspended sentence for robbery at the time. Mitigating factors included his cooperation with the investigation, lack of further negative attention, and his role as a carer for his mother and part-time worker. Judge Crowe stated the court was "going to give this man a chance" and imposed an 18-month prison sentence, suspended for three years on strict conditions.
A student who failed to repay €5,000 from a money laundering scheme has been given a year to make amends before a judge decides on his sentence. Michael Adeleke, 23, pleaded guilty to receiving €4,982 in an online bank transfer knowing it was the proceeds of crime. He was contacted on Snapchat and agreed to set up a bank account to make money. Judge Anne Watkin said Adeleke had not made any effort to repay the victim in three years and was not truly remorseful. She gave him one final chance to show genuine remorse and adjourned the case for 12 months. The judge warned that if he came to garda attention, a custodial sentence would be imposed. A probation report and a community service suitability report were ordered, and the case was adjourned to April 26, 2027 for sentencing.
A woman who gave her Revolut account details to two men at a rave has avoided a jail term for money laundering. Rebecca Williamson, 25, pleaded guilty to the offence between September 6th and 8th, 2023. She admitted she was intoxicated and did not think about the consequences of giving her details. Judge Martina Baxter noted that Williamson's actions facilitated criminal activity, but she played a lower-level role. A headline sentence of two and a half years was considered, but it was suspended for 12 months. The judge acknowledged her cooperation, remorse, and early guilty plea. Gardai found €13,900 deposited into her account via card top-ups, which was immediately transferred to others. Williamson said she received threatening calls and feared for her safety. Her counsel argued that the incident was an isolated event and that she had been employed since 16 and was reliable. The court ordered a €1,000 donation to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
A man who acted as a 'money herder' in a cash laundering scheme has been jailed for 18 months. Duke Amaechi (28) pleaded guilty to nine counts of possessing the proceeds of crime by withdrawing €18,000 from various accounts between June 2020 and May 2021. He was sentenced to three years, with the final 18 months suspended on strict conditions. Detective Garda Michael Harney described Amaechi as slightly above money mules in the chain and noted that he was not part of an organised crime group. The investigation into money laundering and smishing fraud revealed that Amaechi withdrew money from multiple accounts and moved it between banks. His home was searched in 2022, and items such as phones and a BMW were seized, but no money was found. Amaechi has previous convictions, including one for robbery. His defence highlighted his early guilty plea, lack of wealth, and good family background. The judge noted his role as a courier and the seriousness of his actions, but acknowledged mitigating factors, leading to the suspended sentence.
Dubliner Conor Wallace (34) has been sentenced to three years in prison, with the final year suspended for two years, following his guilty plea to coercive control between May 2021 and December 2022. The court heard that Wallace subjected his then-partner to a prolonged period of controlling, abusive and violent behaviour, including during the Covid-19 lockdown. After the relationship ended in December 2022, Wallace continued to harass the victim through numerous emails, texts and calls, and even threw a bottle through her window in December 2023. Separate charges of criminal damage and harassment were taken into consideration in sentencing. The court heard that Wallace lied about his personal circumstances, including claiming to have no family and fabricating stories about his health, in order to manipulate the victim into giving him money. The victim, who was present in court with supporters, described Wallace as a 'complete fraud' and stated that his actions left her psychologically damaged and in a 'state of fear'. Judge Orla Crowe noted that Wallace showed an utter lack of empathy and that the victim demonstrated an extraordinary level of kindness. The sentence was reduced from four years to three years to account for mitigating factors, including Wallace's guilty plea and his attempts to address his alcoholism. The suspended portion of the sentence is conditional on Wallace keeping the peace, engaging with the Probation Service, and disclosing any future intimate partner relationships to the Probation Service. He is also prohibited from having any contact with the injured party.
Two men have been jailed for a combined nine years following the discovery of cannabis grow houses in Co Galway. Aloyzas Bukantus, 45, of Church Street, Edgeworthstown, Co Longford, pleaded guilty at Galway Circuit Criminal Court to possession of drugs for sale or supply and money laundering. Tomas Dumbliavskas, 31, from Lithuania, pleaded guilty to cultivation of cannabis. The offences occurred on 13 March 2024 at properties in Skehana South near Ballinasloe and Tallavnamraher, Creggs. Gardaí executed simultaneous search warrants, recovering cannabis plants and herb with a combined estimated value of €415,000. Dumbliavskas was discovered hiding in a partition wall; Bukantus was present at the other premises. Judge Eoin Garavan sentenced Dumbliavskas to four years, suspending the final twelve months on condition he leave the jurisdiction within two weeks of release. Bukantus received seven years, with the final year suspended for two years, and was placed under probation supervision for one year post-release.
A fraudster, Myles Connors, conned an elderly woman out of over €50,000 for substandard garden work, including €5,000 for power washing, according to the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Connors charged the 82-year-old woman €48,000 for slabbing, weed removal, and cementing part of her back garden, with materials costing less than €3,000. Gardai assessed the work and found it should have cost no more than €20,000. The woman, who lives alone and has mobility issues, was left with uneven and unsecured slabs. Connors, who pleaded guilty to two counts of deception, had previously purchased the slabs for €1,200 and used them in the woman's garden. He also purchased a vehicle with a €1,000 deposit and later asked the woman to write a €35,000 cheque. The woman later complained about the work and was left feeling unsafe and vulnerable in her home. Connors was arrested and has one previous conviction for criminal damage.
Conor O'Brien, 29, of Kilpatrick, Ardee, Co Louth, was sentenced to 11 years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended, after pleading guilty to importing guns and ammunition. At the Special Criminal Court, Ms Justice O'Connor noted that O'Brien used his dual citizenship to purchase firearms in America for sale in Ireland. He also pleaded guilty to five counts of possessing firearms components in suspicious circumstances, including AR-15 barrels and pistol frames, contrary to the Firearms Act 1964. The court ordered the forfeiture and destruction of these items. Although O'Brien was originally charged with two counts of money laundering involving sums of €7,450 and €9,980, the Director of Public Prosecutions dropped these charges. The State indicated it would not pursue forfeiture of the cash, and the court ordered the funds be returned to O'Brien. O'Brien was part of a criminal organisation led by Mark McCourt, 34, of Edenreive, Newry, Co Down. McCourt was previously sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment by the Special Criminal Court after pleading guilty to facilitating the importation of restricted weapons and possessing firearms components between February 2023 and July 2024. Detective Inspector Shane McCartan stated that O'Brien was central to the organisation, which distributed weapons to gangs in Derry, Armagh, Dublin, and Limerick.
Ejike Francis Ogubefi and Steven Silvester were sentenced after convictions for directing a criminal organisation and laundering or attempting to launder money through multiple accounts. The court described a sophisticated international operation and imposed nine years on Ogubefi and seven and a half years on Silvester.
Khed Alkhedr has been jailed for money laundering after a customs dog alerted to his luggage at Dublin Airport. Officers found €142,690 and £60 concealed in clothing. Judge Orla Crowe imposed three years, backdated to his first day in custody, after finding he played an active role in the money laundering. The unnamed man pleaded guilty.
Conor O'Brien, 29, of Kilpatrick, Ardee, Co Louth, was sentenced to 11 years in prison by the Special Criminal Court for facilitating a criminal organisation's importation of restricted weapons and possessing firearms components. O'Brien pleaded guilty to six charges, including participating in the importation of firearms and ammunition between February 2023 and July 2024, and possessing various firearm parts in suspicious circumstances. Ms Justice Karen O'Connor set a headline sentence of 15 years, the maximum penalty, before reducing it to 11 years with the final 12 months suspended for one year, citing his guilty plea as a mitigating factor. The court ordered the forfeiture and destruction of seized firearms and ammunition. The matter regarding the forfeiture of seized cash was adjourned to hear further submissions next week, as money laundering charges against O'Brien are no longer being pursued. His co-accused, Mark McCourt, 34, of Edenreive, Newry, Co Down, was previously jailed for 12 years after pleading guilty to similar charges of facilitating the organisation's efforts to import restricted weapons and possessing firearms components. Detective Inspector Shane McCartan stated that O'Brien played a crucial role in the organisation, which distributed weapons to criminal gangs in Derry, Armagh, Dublin, and Limerish.
Deirdre Buttner admitted three deception counts after claiming Deserted Wife's Benefit and Carer's Allowance while living with a partner. The court heard the combined welfare loss was €112,000 and that a repayment plan had been proposed; Judge Orla Crowe adjourned sentencing for a year and remanded Buttner on continuing bail. Deirdre Buttner pleaded guilty.
Brandon Abrahams (33) of Belvedere Place, Dublin 1, has been sentenced to seven and a half years in prison for participating in a criminal organisation and committing nine related offences, including money laundering, possessing proceeds of crime, and possessing a false instrument. Abrahams admitted guilt to these charges, which occurred between 2022 and 2024. He was found to have benefited from an An Post smishing scam, in which €500,000 was stolen from about 30 accounts to benefit about 50 criminals. During a Garda raid in 2024, a laptop containing extensive personal debit card information was discovered. Abrahams was also involved in creating sophisticated fake documents, including UK driving licences and utility bills, which were used to set up accounts in financial institutions and sold to other fraudsters. A total of €147,230 passed through his accounts during the relevant period. Abrahams has 55 previous convictions, mainly for road traffic offences, theft, deception, drugs, and criminal damage. His co-accused, Kim Porter (31) of Casement Park, Finglas, Dublin 11, pleaded guilty to 10 related offences, including money laundering, deception, enhancing a criminal organisation, possession of cocaine, and making off from a hotel without paying for her stay. Evidence in her case was heard earlier this week and was adjourned to July for finalisation. Judge Martina Baxter noted concerns about Abrahams' assertions regarding his relationship with Porter and his claims of suffering from PTSD, gambling, and drug addiction, which she found lacking in evidence. She also highlighted his lack of honesty and high risk of re-offending. Abrahams' sentence was backdated to September 2024, with no portion suspended.
Kim Porter pleaded guilty to 10 offences including money laundering, deception, enhancing a criminal organisation, possession of cocaine and making off without payment. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court adjourned sentencing until July after ordering a Probation Service report.
Dion Timmons pleaded guilty to money laundering after €12,374.64 was deposited into her account in 23 transactions, including payments linked to a social welfare fraud. Judge Mary Morrissey reduced a headline sentence to 16 months and adjourned the case for a Probation Service assessment on whether community service could be ordered in lieu of prison.
Francis Macken pleaded guilty after gardaí found cannabis resin and cash in an extractor fan at his Dublin home. The court imposed concurrent three-year sentences for the drug dealing and money laundering charges, suspending the final six months.
Edward Evbagharu pleaded guilty to money laundering after €31,000 from an online dating scam passed through three of his accounts. Judge Dara Hayes imposed a two-year sentence and suspended the final year, finding that Evbagharu had facilitated the use of the money.
Former Inland Fisheries Ireland CEO Francis O'Donnell told a Workplace Relations Commission hearing that a senator intervened over a promotion linked to an employee he described as a key witness in a Garda fraud investigation. An adjudicator directed him not to name people who had not been put on notice; the case is to continue in June.
James O'Connor admitted obtaining €2,000 from a woman in Ontario, Canada, after telling her he needed money for child support and then failing to repay it. Judge Orla Crowe described the conduct as a mean-spirited and manipulative romance fraud and suspended an 18-month prison term for four years. The unnamed woman pleaded guilty.
Tomasz Zdechlikiewicz was sentenced after being convicted of possessing 36 kilogrammes of cannabis for sale or supply and €13,000 in cash. Judge Martin Nolan found he acted as a supervisor in a sophisticated operation and imposed ten years for the drug offence, concurrent with four years for money laundering.
The High Court has quashed an extradition order for Kathleen Sharina McCarthy, a woman with links to Rathkeale, Co Limerick, who was convicted in absentia of a money laundering offence involving £220,000. Ms Justice Niamh Hyland overturned the December 2024 surrender order, ruling that McCarthy should not be extradited to the UK because she was unaware her trial could proceed in her absence. The appeal challenged the Minister for Justice's decision under the UK's Trade and Co-operation Agreement, stemming from a November 2017 conviction at Lewes Crown Court. Although McCarthy was charged in October 2016 and required to appear at Crawley Magistrates' Court, she failed to attend a January 2017 pre-trial hearing, leading to an 'in absentia' trial. The court found no direct evidence that McCarthy was expressly informed of the consequences of non-attendance or that she could be tried in absentia. Consequently, the High Court refused the surrender, concluding that the evidence was insufficient to infer she knew the trial would proceed without her. The matter was adjourned regarding further procedural steps, though the immediate surrender order was quashed.
Dion Timmons pleaded guilty to money laundering after €12,374.64 was deposited into her account in 23 transactions connected to a social welfare fraud and other payments. Judge Mary Morrissey adjourned sentence to next Thursday to consider documents submitted on Timmons's behalf; she was remanded on continuing bail.
The Court of Appeal has refused bail to four accused individuals linked to an alleged Lithuanian organised crime group, rejecting their appeals against a High Court decision. Jonas Pavillions, Alexandres Kuznecovas, and Stacey Walsh are charged under section 73 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2006, with committing serious offences for the benefit of a criminal organisation. Ausra Motriuk faces charges of money laundering under section 7 of the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Act, 2010, and participating in an organised crime group under section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2006. Pavillions is additionally charged with drug possession, supply, and two counts under section 9(1) of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act regarding two billhooks and a machete. Kuznecovas is also charged with drug possession and supply. Counsel argued that the appellants were not flight risks, noting Motriuk's passport is with the Gardaí and Pavillions offered a Carlow address. The State contended that the alleged offences carry penalties of up to 15 years and that the group's access to false documents posed a risk. Delivering the judgment, Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy stated the Court of Appeal found no error in the High Court's refusal of bail. Consequently, the appeal was rejected, and the four accused remain remanded in custody.
Robert Gaffney, 27, of Pinewood Green Road, Balbriggan, Dublin, pleaded guilty to two money-laundering charges involving a bank account and a Revolut account. The court heard that more than €44,000 moved through the accounts while he had no legitimate income. Judge Orla Crowe imposed a three-year sentence with the final six months suspended.
Owen Maughan, a 40-year-old appellant from Castlerea, Co Roscommon, has withdrawn his appeal against the severity of his sentence following a hearing in the District Court Appeals Court. Maughan was previously convicted in the District Court of 12 charges of theft, contrary to section 4 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act, 2001, for stealing over €1,498 worth of alcohol, groceries, and meat products. The offences occurred between July 8, 2024, and April 15, 2025, with seven incidents specifically at an Aldi store in Terenure, Dublin. He was sentenced to consecutive terms totalling 18 months, with the final three months suspended. During the appeal, a garda sergeant detailed Maughan's 54 previous convictions and his pattern of repeat offending at the same location. The defence argued that Maughan struggled with alcohol and drug addictions and had been clean in custody. Judge Martina Baxter initially described the offending as "prolific" and adjourned the matter to await a urine analysis report. However, the case was subsequently recalled, and Maughan's solicitor informed the court that the appeal was being withdrawn. Judge Baxter vacated her order for the urine analysis and affirmed the original District Court order.
A dentist who defrauded the HSE of €58,000 over 17 years has been jailed for one year and ordered to pay €100,000. Jerome Kiely (47) pleaded guilty to multiple counts of deception, including one sample count of dishonestly inducing the HSE to provide a payment for dentures. The court heard that Kiely had two bank accounts containing over €1.5 million, which were frozen. Judge Martin Nolan noted that Kiely had mental health issues and a history of depression, and his wife asked the court not to jail him. Despite this, the judge imposed a three-year sentence, with two years suspended, and ordered Kiely to pay €100,000 to the HSE. The judge acknowledged Kiely's remorse and his good work history but emphasized the seriousness of the case. Kiely's reputation as a dentist has been destroyed, and the court noted that he may not be able to practice again.
The Court of Appeal has reduced the prison sentence of Ebenezer Oduntan, a former pastor of the City of David Church in County Kildare, from seven years to six years, with the final six months suspended. Oduntan was convicted of 87 theft and fraud-related offences following a three-week trial at Naas Circuit Criminal Court in March 2024. He had initially denied 54 charges but pleaded guilty midway through the trial to 19 counts of theft, five counts of deception, and nine charges of providing false information to the Companies Registration Office. The offences, spanning 2010 to 2020, involved embezzling approximately €125,000 from the church and inflating donation levels to claim larger tax rebates. Mr Justice Alexander Owens quashed the original sentence, describing the trial judge's headline sentence as "somewhat too high" but noting the offending was "particularly serious" due to a gross breach of trust. The judge highlighted that Oduntan made no restitution to the congregation or Revenue. While acknowledging limited mitigation, the Court of Appeal substituted the sentence with six years' imprisonment, suspending the final six months to encourage rehabilitation. The appeal was heard after Oduntan's legal team argued the original sentence was excessive given the total amount involved and his lack of previous convictions.
Garry Nugent, a former events officer with Cycling Ireland, has been given an 18-month suspended sentence for submitting false quotations to secure sports grants. Nugent, 51, pleaded guilty to two charges of attempting to deceive the Department of Transport. He submitted fake quotations for grants intended to fund tandem bicycles for the Paralympics and timing equipment. Cycling Ireland did not receive the grants, and the charity suffered reputational damage and lost a sponsor. The court heard that Nugent was under pressure due to the pandemic and a tight deadline. Judge Orla Crowe acknowledged the exceptional circumstances but noted that Nugent played an active role in the deception. She imposed a suspended sentence with conditions, including good behavior for three years.
Sabouni Abdelhamid, an Algerian man, has been jailed for three years for passport fraud after falsely claiming to be the son of an Irish woman murdered in the 1980s. He used multiple aliases and forged documents to obtain an Irish passport, including a French identification document and a utility bill. Abdelhamid was stopped at Dublin Airport in 2025 after discrepancies were found in his documents. He pleaded guilty to possession of a false instrument and providing misleading documentation. The court heard that Abdelhamid had a previous conviction under a different alias for a similar offence. Judge Orla Crowe noted the sophistication required to carry out the fraud and stated that a headline sentence of six years was warranted, but reduced it to three years due to mitigating factors, including Abdelhamid's guilty plea and his behavior in custody.