An Irish couple had €177,000 earmarked for a retirement home stolen in a phishing scam and transferred to a money mule. Mark Farley, 42, allowed his bank account to be used in the fraud and pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to handling the proceeds of criminal conduct between 8 and 18 December 2020. He received a fully suspended sentence of three years. Farley has 16 previous convictions, including traffic, public order and criminal damage. The judge said Farley had run up a debt and that third parties had taken advantage of his hold over him, but that his own activities put him under their sway. The authorities discovered the fraud in time and the €177,000 was returned to the couple within 16 days. Farley's account was frozen and he had not used it for some time, though it had been used for his electrician business.
Ciaran Foster, 30, a former Defence Forces member, was jailed for a year after pleading guilty to a robbery on Westmoreland Street, Dublin 2, on 23 July 2019. He punched an unarmed victim, knocking him unconscious for three and a half minutes, and stole a bag, a mobile phone and a watch. Garda Sean Tully reported that the victim had stopped to chat with someone he knew when Foster attacked him. CCTV footage showed the assault and Foster's escape. Foster was arrested on 9 November 2019. He had 13 prior convictions for traffic offences, criminal damage, public order and drug misuse. Judge Elma Duffy described the attack as "callous" and "unprovoked", noting Foster's difficult childhood and Defence Forces service as mitigating factors, but also the cowardly nature of the robbery as aggravating. Foster was sentenced to two and a half years' imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended on strict conditions.
Daniel Sheehan, aged 24, pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to possessing 263 rounds of ammunition in suspicious circumstances on 3 June 2022. He admitted to the ammunition and a replica Beretta pistol found in a laptop bag during a search of his home, which was part of a misuse‑of‑drugs investigation. The search also uncovered a small amount of cannabis, a laptop bag, and Republican literature. Sheehan had previously been charged with membership of the Irish Republican Army but that charge was dropped. He has three prior convictions for drug possession and public order. The DPP noted the offence falls in the lower range of offending, with a maximum penalty of 14 years and a presumptive mandatory minimum of five years if no exceptional evidence is presented. The case was adjourned to 8 April to allow a probation report to be prepared.
The Court of Appeal heard an appeal involving members of the Burke family, including Enoch Burke, who is currently in Mountjoy Prison. Enoch Burke, along with his parents, sister Ammi, and brother Isaac, protested outside the Criminal Courts of Justice building after being excluded from the hearing due to their failure to provide undertakings not to interrupt proceedings. Enoch Burke was only allowed to participate via video-link after failing to make an undertaking to accept court rulings and not to be argumentative. He denied that he or his family had ever disrupted proceedings, stating they are law-abiding and respect the law. Enoch Burke is a respondent in an application by the Garda Ombudsman Commission (Gsoc) for access to digital audio recordings of a previous court hearing involving him on March 7th last year. During that hearing, a 'melee' occurred when members of the Burke family began shouting and were forcibly removed by gardai. Simeon Burke (24), Enoch's brother, was arrested and later convicted under the Public Order Act for engaging in threatening, insulting, and abusive behavior. Both Simeon and Ammi Burke have made complaints to Gsoc regarding their treatment by gardai on that occasion. Eoin Lawlor BL, representing Gsoc, applied for the release of recordings made after the court had risen, arguing that the evidence may be probative of innocence or guilt. Enoch Burke, representing himself, objected to the application, stating that 'proceedings' refers to the period when the court is in session and that the ambient recording system is only a backup. Mr Justice Edwards, sitting with Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and Ms Justice Tara Burns, thanked all parties for their 'excellent submissions' and reserved judgment, saying the court had a 'lot to think about'.
Fionn Costello, 35, pleaded guilty to publishing a threatening voice note in 2021 that said he would 'throw two social workers over a balcony and cut them up.' The message was sent to a woman who works as a social worker on 13 July 2021, and it also referenced another social worker. Garda Jean McDonald explained that Costello had contacted the woman to bring the message to her attention, but he claimed he had no intention of sending it to either woman. Costello admitted the messages were intimidating but said they were not meant for the recipients. He was arrested on 5 May 2022, pleaded guilty on 4 October, and has prior convictions for drug possession, public order and road traffic offences. Judge Orla Crowe sentenced him to four and a half months' imprisonment, suspended in its entirety, after noting the unusual nature of the case and the lack of intent to send the threats.
Two members of the Burke family were removed from the Court of Appeal by gardaí on 10 November after loudly protesting when the presiding judge muted Enoch Burke's microphone during proceedings. The court was hearing a civil application by the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission for access to ambient audio recordings made in the Four Courts. Mr Justice John Edwards told Sean and Isaac Burke they were in contempt of court before their removal. Enoch Burke, appearing by videolink from Mountjoy Prison, opposed the GSOC application, arguing the court had jurisdiction to decide the matter. The judge expressed concern about whether the Court of Appeal possessed jurisdiction over recordings made when court was not sitting. Mr Justice Edwards adjourned the case to 8 December to address the jurisdictional question. Simeon Burke, with an address at Cloonsunna, Castlebar, County Mayo, was convicted of a public order offence following a disruption at the court in March 2023.
The Workplace Relations Commission ordered An Garda Siochána to pay €65,000 to Sergeant David Haughney, who claimed disability discrimination after a new superintendent, Adrian Gamble, confined him to station duties and barred him from driving, wearing a uniform, and training. Haughney, who had lost 70% of sight in his left eye in 2015, had been a roads policing sergeant, public order trainer and tactical advisor under three superintendents until 2019. After medical leave for a detached retina, Gamble blocked his return to training and driving, citing a medical report. Haughney was transferred to a traffic office where he was denied training and advisory work, leading him to describe the situation as "sit and rot." The tribunal upheld his claim, noting that Gamble had withdrawn reasonable accommodations previously granted, and awarded the compensation. The tribunal found no well‑founded harassment claim from the 2020 meeting.
A Court of Appeal judge has refused the Garda Ombudsman Commission access to ambient audio recordings made during a court incident at the Four Courts in Dublin. The recordings relate to an investigation into garda conduct during a disruption at the Court of Appeal in March when Simeon Burke, aged 24 and resident in Castlebar, County Mayo, was arrested. Burke was subsequently convicted of a public order offence arising from threatening, insulting and abusive words and behaviour. Mr Justice John Edwards declined GSOC's application, citing concerns that the ambient recording system operated without the awareness of those present, potentially amounting to covert audio recording. The judge identified further issues including data protection rights and questions of jurisdiction over the recordings. He noted that the Courts Service, rather than the court itself, may be the appropriate data controller. While not closing the door to a renewed application, Mr Justice Edwards indicated GSOC would need to produce evidence that the ambient system was actually functioning at the time.
Gareth Duffy, 44, of Stella Gardens, Irishtown, Dublin 4, was found guilty of assault causing harm after he stomped on a friend's head and repeatedly kicked him while the victim lay unconscious on a packed Luas tram on 6 July 2019. CCTV footage showed Duffy leaving the tram, returning twice, and continuing to strike the victim's head. He had 144 prior convictions, including assault, public order and violence in a Garda station. Duffy pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The victim did not cooperate with the Garda investigation or give a victim impact statement, and no medical report was presented. Judge Pauline Codd described the violence as appalling, noted Duffy's rehabilitation efforts, and imposed a four‑year sentence, suspending the final three years on strict conditions. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
In a Central Criminal Court case, a 33‑year‑old man was sentenced to ten years for raping a 15‑year‑old girl in Westmeath on 20 January 2019. The jury found him guilty of a single count of rape. The defendant, who was 29 at the time, denied the conviction. Mr Justice Paul Burns noted that the victim was left alone with the accused, that the defendant verbally abused her and inflicted physical injuries. He also considered a forensic psychological report detailing the defendant's anxiety, depression, drug and alcohol misuse, and low intellectual functioning. The judge imposed a ten‑year sentence, suspending the final year for three years under probation supervision. The victim did not give a victim impact statement. The defendant had prior convictions for assault, violent disorder, public order and road traffic offences but no prior sexual convictions.
Damien Clarke, 40, of North Strand, Drogheda, was sentenced to two and a half years in prison for threatening to kill or seriously harm prison officers at Cloverhill Prison on 3 January 2022. He pleaded guilty to two counts of making such threats. Judge Orla Crowe noted that prison officers perform an important function and that threatening one during work is a serious offence. The judge accepted Clarke's early guilty plea and his mental health and poly‑substance abuse issues at the time. Clarke received a three‑year sentence with the final six months suspended, subject to strict conditions including engagement with the Probation Service for two years after release. He had 44 prior convictions, including theft, public order offences and assault, and was on remand at the time of the incident.
The High Court has quashed a condition imposed on Fiona O'Leary, a campaigner against pseudoscience, following the resolution of her judicial review proceedings against the Director of Public Prosecutions. In January, at Bandon District Court, Judge James McNulty sentenced Mrs O'Leary to 60 days imprisonment, suspended for two years, after she pleaded guilty to an offence contrary to Section 13 of the 1994 Criminal Justice Act (Public Order) Act. She was charged with trespassing on a property at the Priory, Maulatanvally, Reenscreena Rosscarbery, Cork, in a manner likely to cause fear. The prosecution case relied on a statement from Fr Giacomo Ballini and alleged that Mrs O'Leary uploaded video footage of the premises to social media. As part of the sentence, the judge imposed conditions requiring her to keep the peace and refrain from engaging in abusive or offensive behaviour in any public place or forum, including social media, for the two-year suspension period. Mrs O'Leary, represented by Bernard Condon SC and Conor McKenna BL, challenged this condition in the High Court, arguing it breached her right to freedom of expression. On Tuesday, Mr Justice Charles Meenan was informed that the action had resolved and the DPP consented to an order quashing the specific condition. Mrs O'Leary stated that she requires social media access for her activism against misinformation, while maintaining she does not intend to be abusive.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Julie Ann Stokes, 43, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and weapon production after slashing a homeless woman up to 40 times with a broken bottle at a Spar on Dame Street on 20 September 2022. Stokes, who has 212 prior convictions including theft, assault, threats to kill, knife possession, drug misuse and public order offences, was sentenced to two years and nine months in prison, with the final six months suspended under strict conditions. The judge noted the attack occurred in a public place at night, was captured on CCTV, and that Stokes had a drug problem, primarily crack cocaine. She must remain under Probation Service supervision and comply with all directed actions. The sentence was backdated to September 2022 when she entered custody. The victim, also homeless, refused a hospital visit and did not cooperate with Gardaí. The court considered Stokes' progress in prison and her efforts to address addiction.
Gardai and Simeon Burke will receive audio recordings of court proceedings as part of an appeal against his conviction for a public order offence. Burke, aged 24 and with an address in Castlebar, Co Mayo, was arrested following a disruption at the Court of Appeal on 7 March during a hearing concerning his brother Enoch Burke's suspension from Wilson's Hospital School. He was subsequently convicted under the Public Order Act for threatening, insulting and abusive words and behaviour at the Four Courts. Mr Justice John Edwards at the Court of Appeal ruled that only recordings made while the court was sitting should be released, rejecting arguments that ambient recordings constituted covert State surveillance. The judge determined the key issue for the appeal at Circuit Court is whether the judge ordered the courtroom cleared before gardai removed Burke. He permitted parties to seek further recordings if necessary.
In a Dublin case, a 39‑year‑old man pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and burglary on 4 January 2020. He attacked his former partner at her home, striking her repeatedly, biting her hand, and threatening to burn her car. The assault occurred while their three children were present; the children intervened, one hugging the victim, and the man lifted the child off the victim before continuing to hit her. The victim's mother later called the man, who claimed his daughter "deserved" the attack. Gardaí found the man's Safe Pass in the house and arrested him. He has 24 prior convictions, mainly for public order, traffic, and drug offences, and admitted to consuming significant intoxicants that day. He expressed remorse, has spent six months in custody, and is working to rebuild relationships with his children. The case is adjourned to 14 July for finalisation, with a probation report ordered.
A High Court jury awarded €505,000 in damages to Michael Sheehan, a 62-year-old former League of Ireland and GAA player, after finding he was assaulted by An Garda Síochána. The civil action, heard before Mr Justice Alexander Owens, alleged that Sheehan was pepper-sprayed and manhandled during an arrest in Athlone on June 3, 2012. The defendants, including the Garda Commissioner and the State, denied the claims of assault and false imprisonment, arguing the response was proportionate to a public order incident. The jury found that gardai used excessive and unreasonable force, assaulting Sheehan in a police vehicle and at Athlone Garda barracks. Sheehan was subsequently acquitted of Public Order Act offences in a separate criminal proceeding. The court awarded Sheehan his legal costs against the State. Mr Justice Owens placed a stay on the damages order pending a potential appeal to the Court of Appeal, conditional on the defendants immediately paying €75,000 to the applicant. The judge also exempted the jury from further duty for ten years.
In the Special Criminal Court, Gerard Cruise and Paul Crosby pleaded guilty to facilitating the murder of Keane Mulready-Woods in Drogheda, Co Louth, between January 11 and 13, 2020. The court heard that Cruise admitted to dropping the victim and Crosby at the murder scene, while Crosby had prior convictions including an acquittal for attempted murder. The presiding judge, Mr Justice Tony Hunt, noted that the defendants' apologies may appear empty to the victim's family given the horrific nature of the crime. The matter was adjourned to February 13 for sentencing. The report notes that Gerard McKenna was jailed last year for four years for assisting in the clean-up of the crime scene. Cruise's previous convictions include public order matters and a burglary in 1990. The court acknowledged Crosby's early guilty plea, which entitles him to a 25 percent discount on any headline sentence, and Cruise's early guilty plea. The investigation into other individuals involved in the murder remains ongoing.
A 44‑year‑old Dublin man was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment for choking and assaulting his 31‑year‑old partner over three separate incidents in 2017 and 2018. The court found him guilty of three counts of assault causing harm, each occurring in their Waterford home. He had previously been acquitted of rape and had earlier convictions for assault and public order offences. The judge noted a pattern of controlling behaviour, including restricting the victim's social life and demanding her work schedule. The final 12 months of the 27‑month sentence were suspended for two years on strict conditions, and the man must be supervised by Probation Services for 12 months after release. The sentence was imposed concurrently for all three counts and backdated to the date he entered custody.
An 18‑year‑old who received a suspended five‑year prison sentence for orally raping a minor in 2018 is now under investigation for sexual assault of a teenage girl in a West of Ireland town. The court heard that since moving there three months ago he has had 12 interactions with gardai, including incidents involving vulnerable teenage girls. He was found with two girls who had been reported missing – a 16‑year‑old in September and a 13‑year‑old in October – and was again found with a 16‑year‑old who later alleged physical assault. He has also been arrested for public order offences, theft of alcohol and breach of the Sex Offenders Act for failing to notify gardai of a change of address. The judge adjourned the case to 31 January, stating he would require evidence of genuine engagement with probation and therapeutic services before considering the suspended sentence again. The unnamed 18-year-old pleaded guilty.
Joe Stokes (32) of Longford pleaded guilty to two public order offences and cocaine possession. Gardaí responded to reports of suspicious behaviour in Springlawn; when directed to leave the area, Stokes returned and became aggressive and abusive. A search at Longford Garda Station revealed a small bag of cocaine which Stokes admitted was for his own use.
Criminals Jason Paget (35) and Charles Darcy (34) were arrested by Gardaí after breaking into Conor McGregor's Marble Arch pub in Drimnagh on 12 August 2021. Both pleaded guilty to one count of burglary and to using a car without the owner's consent. Darcy, who has 43 convictions including an attempted murder sentence, was initially arrested for trespass after hiding in a bush near the pub. He later claimed he was visiting a married woman on the street. Paget, with 15 prior convictions, was found intoxicated, unsteady, and with a head cut; he was also charged with a public order offence. Gardaí found DNA linking Paget to a black hat left at the scene. Judge Orla Crowe adjourned the case to 3 November, ordering probation reports and urine analyses for both men.
In July 2022, Daniel Haines, aged 33, was sentenced to two years and six months in prison, with the final six months suspended, for assault causing harm to his ex‑partner Shauna Hunt. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Haines had contacted Hunt on 3 February 2021, staying at her apartment for several days. On 7 February, after drinking vodka, he told Hunt he had another girlfriend and demanded she choose. When Hunt refused to sleep with him, Haines became aggressive, calling her a "whore", "tramp" and "unwanted child". He repeatedly kicked her, pulled her by the hair, and tripped her down the stairs, causing her to fall. CCTV showed him throwing her to the ground and smashing her mobile phone. Hunt suffered bruises, cuts and two broken ribs, and was later admitted to Mater Hospital. Haines had 49 prior convictions, including public order offences, criminal damage, possession of a weapon, robbery and bench warrants. Daniel Haines pleaded guilty.
Stephen Wilson, 46, of Brehon Grove, Kingston, Dublin 16, pleaded guilty to three counts of burglary committed on the early hours of 24 April 2020 at Leeson Street Lower. The offences involved a building with two top‑floor apartments and offices on the first and ground floors, occupied by The Agency and Sea Spray. Garda Kevin Cassidy received a call from a resident who heard loud banging and later found Wilson attempting to force entry into an apartment. Gardaí entered the building, found Wilson on the top floor, restrained him and arrested him. Wilson has 89 prior convictions, including burglary, trespassing with a weapon, criminal damage and public order offences. He represented himself via video link and claimed he was let into the building by three others.
In a 2022 court hearing, a 13‑year‑old girl recounted that her half‑brother, then about 18 or 19, sexually assaulted her at her family home in 2001. She described being awakened by his weight on top of her, forced to silence her cries, and later hearing him snore as she pushed her bed against the door to prevent his return. The accused, 40, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court. He had prior convictions for public order offences. The victim's impact statement highlighted ongoing emotional damage and her desire for justice. The defense noted the accused's remorse, prior apology, and willingness to attend a sex‑offender program. The judge adjourned finalisation to 25 July, pending further consideration.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Nigel McEvoy, 46, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to former GAA star Paddy Keogh, 74, after Keogh asked him to leave his daughter alone. McEvoy, who has 14 prior convictions including nine public order offences, attacked Keogh at Mercantile Bar on 24 November 2018. The assault involved McEvoy grabbing Keogh from behind, punching him, and then placing his foot on Keogh's neck, causing severe injury. Keogh, who has early onset dementia and lives in a nursing home, suffered cuts, swelling, and a knocked‑out tooth. McEvoy, diagnosed with schizophrenia, was remanded on bail pending sentencing on 5 October. The judge described the attack as "shocking" and noted its extremely severe impact on Keogh.
William Dollard, aged 32, was convicted of sexual assault and attempted anal rape of a 61‑year‑old homeless man on 30 May 2017 in Co Cork. A jury found him guilty and he was sentenced in June 2020 to five years and six months, with 18 months suspended, by Mr Justice Paul McDermott. Dollard appealed both the conviction and the sentence. The appeal against the conviction was dismissed, but the Court of Appeal reduced his custodial term by one year, leaving him with a three‑year custodial sentence. The Court of Appeal also increased the suspended portion to two years and six months. The judge noted that Dollard had become homeless and was on the margins of society, and that the arrest under Section 24 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994 was lawful. Dollard is set to be released from custody imminently after serving just over three years.
The Court of Appeal heard arguments today regarding the lawfulness of the arrest of William Dollard, who is appealing his conviction for the sexual assault and attempted anal rape of a 61-year-old victim in Co Cork on May 30, 2017. Dollard, who pleaded not guilty, was found guilty by a jury at the Central Criminal Court. His legal team argued that his arrest under Section 24 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994 was unlawful, contending it was a "colourful device" to secure his availability for potential complaints rather than addressing an immediate danger. They further claimed the subsequent seizure of his clothing rendered the evidence inadmissible. The Director of Public Prosecutions countered that the arrest was lawful, citing CCTV footage showing Dollard making thrusting motions against the victim, which informed the garda's decision. The prosecution noted the victim was intoxicated and unclear, making the CCTV crucial evidence. Judgment has been reserved. At the original sentencing, Mr Justice McDermott acknowledged the victim's vulnerability and Dollard's alcohol abuse and social isolation. He set a headline sentence of six years for the attempted anal rape but imposed a final sentence of five years and six months, with the last 18 months suspended for two years.
A Latvian man, Ainars Grants, aged 43, was jailed for three years after he strangled and beat his partner, Danguole Abukeviciute, with a saucepan and a bottle. The assault occurred on 13 August 2020 in their Dublin apartment. Abukeviciute, who could speak little English, reported the incident at Bridewell Garda Station, describing bruises and a badly bruised face. She claimed Grants had threatened to kill her if she returned home. Grants pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, was denied bail, and has been in custody since the attack. He has 40 prior convictions, including 24 for public order offences. Judge Patricia Ryan suspended the final six months of a three‑and‑half‑year sentence on the condition that Grants not contact Abukeviciute. The court noted his anger‑management programme and his intent to remain alcohol‑free after release.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, John Tobin of Corran Ard, Athy, was found guilty of assault causing harm after he kicked in the door of a man's home and carried out a prolonged attack. Tobin claimed he had been misinformed that the victim had harmed a woman, the victim's partner, and that his actions were a misguided attempt to help. He admitted his wrongdoing. The victim, who wished to remain unnamed, suffered cuts, a punctured lung and other injuries but no serious consequences. Tobin, who has prior convictions for assault and public order offences and a history of alcohol and cocaine abuse, was given €1,000 as an expression of remorse, which the victim accepted. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a 30‑month prison sentence, suspended the final 15 months, and required Tobin to keep the peace and engage with Probation Services for 15 months after release.
Two brothers, Gavin Quinn (27) and Lee Quinn (26), were re‑arraigned on lesser charges after a trial for the attempted murder of Garda Alan Murphy. Gavin pleaded not guilty to the attempted murder and to assaulting a peace officer, but later pleaded guilty to assaulting a peace officer in the execution of duty under Section 19(1) of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994. Lee pleaded not guilty to the attempted murder but guilty to assault causing harm and to attempting to cause serious harm to the Garda, and also pleaded not guilty to a Section 185 assault and to possession of an offensive weapon. Both men were remanded in custody by Justice Eileen Creedon until May 23 for sentencing, pending background reports. The case was heard at the Central Criminal Court.
Phillip McBride, aged 44, was arrested with a loaded semi‑automatic handgun, ammunition, gloves, a balaclava and a burner phone. He and his co‑accused Derek Byrne were both wearing two sets of clothing at the time of arrest. McBride pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition on 3 December 2019. He has six prior convictions for road traffic offences and no prior violent convictions. Byrne, aged 38, had 78 prior convictions, including drug possession and public order offences, and had previously been sentenced to seven‑and‑a‑half years with 18 months suspended. At sentencing, Judge Melanie Greally imposed a six‑year term on McBride, suspending the final three years on strict conditions, including 12 months of probation. The judge noted McBride's cocaine addiction and his efforts at rehabilitation, describing him as a pro‑social person who had fallen into debt and drug‑related pressure. Byrne's earlier sentence was not altered in this hearing.
Darren Casey, aged 44, was found in possession of 400 child sexual abuse images and five videos on his mobile phone. Gardaí searched his home in November 2020 after being alerted to child abuse material from an IP address linked to his address. The images included 70 child‑explicit pictures, 100 involving child exposure, and the rest in lesser categories. Casey pleaded guilty to one count of possessing the material between 1 August and 1 September 2020. He has 13 prior convictions, including public order and traffic offences. At the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to three years, suspending the final two years on conditions. The judge noted Casey's guilty plea, cooperation, and low risk of reoffending, and emphasised that possession of child pornography is not a victimless crime.
Christopher Donoghue, 40, of Dublin 2, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to possession of cocaine with intent to supply at his address on May 19, 2017. Sergeant Barry Moran stated that gardaí conducted a surveillance operation following a tip-off, securing a warrant for a raid. Donoghue cooperated with officers, volunteering that he possessed two bags of cocaine, weighing 25.199 grams with an estimated street value of €1,763. He admitted some was for sale and some was intended for his daughter's first communion. The court noted he had 12 previous convictions for drug dealing, theft, criminal damage, and public order violations, though he had not come to the attention of gardaí since 2017. Defending counsel Mark Lynam BL highlighted that Donoghue is terminally ill with pancreatic cancer, currently receiving palliative care after a tumour removal in 2020 and chemotherapy. Judge Orla Crowe acknowledged the highly unusual situation, noting that but for Donoghue's health, she would have imposed a two-year and six-month custodial sentence. Considering his guilty plea and cooperation with the gardaí, Judge Crowe imposed a sentence of two years imprisonment, which was suspended entirely due to his medical condition. Donoghue thanked the judge and left the court.
David O'Brien, 44, was arrested in June 2017 after Gardaí searched his hostel and discovered a packet of heroin hidden in his back passage. While officers were searching the premises, O'Brien was asked to enter the building; during the search, a string was found coming from his back passage, which he attempted to conceal further up his body. Garda Emmett Brannigan reported that the heroin had a street value of €2,000. O'Brien, who has 35 prior convictions for robbery, drug and public order offences, pleaded guilty to possession of the drugs for sale or supply at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 21 June 2017. He was described as a lifelong drug user and had no fixed abode. Judge Melanie Greally, after considering his admissions and background, imposed a 16‑month sentence, noting that the drugs' presence in a hostel was damaging to other residents. The sentence reflects his cooperation and progress in a methadone maintenance programme.
The Special Criminal Court has sentenced Darren Murphy to life in prison for the murder of Eamon Kelly. Mr Justice Owens, sitting with Judges Ní Chúlacháin and Dempsey, imposed the mandatory life sentence, backdating it to November 1, 2021, for time already served. Murphy, who pleaded not guilty, was convicted of acting as a "spotter" in the December 4, 2012, shooting of the 65-year-old victim on Furry Park Road, Killester. The court found he participated in the common design of the murder gang, meeting the gunman and getaway driver and facilitating their escape. He was acquitted of possessing a Glock pistol due to insufficient evidence. Co-accused Kenneth Donohoe, who also pleaded not guilty, was found not to have been the getaway driver or possessed a handgun, with the court citing insufficient evidence of his direct role. In 2015, Sean Connolly was jailed for life for the same murder. The judge stated the evidence admitted no other credible explanation for Murphy's activities, noting he was as guilty as the shooter. Murphy has six previous convictions for public order and road traffic matters. The court accepted victim impact statements from Kelly's daughter, Alison, who described the killing as a "cowardly and senseless act."
In January 2022, a 32‑year‑old man was sentenced to 30 months in prison for defiling his 16‑year‑old cousin on a church grounds in Galway in May 2018. He pleaded guilty to a sexual act with a child under 17, an offence that carries a maximum penalty of five years. At the time of the offence he was 29. The victim, who was intoxicated and unable to keep her eyes open, described how the man kissed and groped her after she refused to go to the bushes. He denied any wrongdoing during questioning. The court noted his 140 prior convictions, including assault, robbery, burglary, knife possession, theft, public order offences and four Covid‑related convictions. The judge, citing the victim's vulnerability and the lack of grooming or violence, set a headline sentence of three and a half years, reduced by one year for mitigating factors, and imposed a two‑year post‑release supervision period.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Gheorghe Morar, aged 36, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment, back‑dated to 15 May 2020, for sexual assault of an 18‑year‑old woman he met in a nightclub. Morar admitted that he and the woman were touching each other's genitals and kissing, and that he believed she was consenting, though he acknowledged it was a possibility she was not. He claimed he was not more sober than her and that she was heavily intoxicated. The court noted that the woman could not give full consent due to her drunken state. Morar had previously denied the offence but pleaded guilty on the basis of recklessness. He had no prior convictions in Ireland except a minor public order matter in Spain. The judge reduced the headline sentence to two years, citing sincere remorse and lack of prior offending.
Noel Shannon, a 40‑year‑old electrician from Finglas, pleaded guilty to disclosing personal data from a Garda intelligence board that contained information on 108 people. He photographed the board while working on emergency lighting at Kilmainham Garda Station in March 2019, later sending the images to two other electricians. The pictures were subsequently circulated on social media. The case was the first criminal breach of the Data Protection Act 2018 prosecuted on indictment. Judge Melanie Greally found no premeditation or malice, noting the offence was committed while intoxicated. She imposed a headline sentence of three years but, considering mitigating factors such as his early guilty plea, remorse, stable family and work life, she suspended a two‑year custodial term in full for two years. The court recorded that Shannon had four prior convictions, including theft and a public order offence. The prosecution and defence agreed that Shannon had not foreseen the consequences of his actions.
Jacob Breaw, aged 24, was sentenced by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to five‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment for robbery and possession of over €29,000 of cannabis. Breaw's lawyers explained that in an 18‑month period he fell from a law‑abiding life into drug addiction and crime. In May 2019 he was found with a school bag of cannabis in his mother's bedroom during a Garda search; he pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis for sale or supply. In November 2019 he robbed a victim at Cherbury Park, armed with a knife; he pleaded guilty to robbery. Breaw has four prior convictions, including knife possession and public order offences. Judge Melanie Greally noted his remorse, his commitment to drug treatment, and the support of his family. She suspended the final two years of the sentence on the condition that he remain law‑abiding and engage with the Probation Service.
David Rodgers, a 47-year-old English teacher, appeared before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court where he pleaded guilty to one count of possession of cannabis for sale or supply at his then home. The court heard that gardaí discovered just under €25,000 worth of cannabis, including a makeshift grow-house, during a search of his Dublin residence following an incident on Henry Street in October 2018. Rodgers admitted to selling cannabis but maintained during his interview that the substance was a natural herb. He has 12 previous convictions, primarily for theft and public order offences dating back to the 1980s. Defence counsel highlighted Rodgers' unusual profile, noting his academic achievements, multilingual abilities, and a severe brain injury sustained in an assault by his brother, which left him with short-term memory difficulties. Judge Karen O'Connor noted that Rodgers has had no further garda attention since the offence and is still recovering from his injury. Determining that incarceration would offer no benefit to society, the Judge fully suspended a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence. The suspension is conditional upon Rodgers keeping the peace and engaging with drug addiction treatment.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Andrew Byrne, 35, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for assault causing harm and theft after he punched a homeless man in the back of the head at Temple Bar on 11 September last year. Byrne struck the victim, who was unconscious, causing facial fractures, a broken jaw, broken teeth and a split tongue. The victim, a homeless man living in a hostel, suffered ongoing memory loss, fear and anxiety, and has stopped going out alone. Byrne, who has 93 prior convictions including assault and public order offences, was arrested after CCTV footage captured the incident. He pleaded guilty, admitted the assault, and expressed deep regret. The judge noted Byrne's high culpability and backdated the sentence to his custody in January. The woman who accompanied Byrne remains before the courts.
Derek Byrne, aged 38, was arrested in December 2019 with a loaded semi‑automatic pistol, ammunition, gloves, a balaclava and a burner phone, items he claimed were for intimidation. The firearm and ammunition were incompatible, so they could not inflict injury on that occasion. Byrne and co‑accused Phillip McBride, aged 43, were both wearing two sets of clothing when apprehended. Byrne pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition and has 78 prior convictions, including drug possession, public order and traffic offences. He was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison, with 18 months suspended, after the judge considered mitigating factors such as progress in custody for drug addiction. McBride will be sentenced on 14 January next year. The case involved a surveillance operation that led to Byrne leaving his home with a bag, driving a BMW with McBride, and a subsequent chase that ended on a grass verge where the gun was found.
Joseph Connor, 34, from Drogheda, claims he was wrongfully imprisoned for ten days after Gardaí mistakenly merged his PULSE profile with that of another person named Joseph O'Connor. Connor was arrested on 19 July 2021 for an alleged public order offence and told by Gardaí that a live bench warrant existed for him. He denied any such warrant. The District Court, misinformed, remanded him in custody with a €250 surety requirement he could not meet, leading to his detention at Cloverhill Prison until 29 July 2021 when he secured the surety. Connor's High Court counsel, Micheál O'Higgins SC, argued the warrant belonged to the other Joseph O'Connor, and that Gardaí admitted the error when his case returned in September. Connor has filed judicial review proceedings against the Garda Commissioner and the Governor of Cloverhill, seeking damages, declarations of rights breaches, an apology, and the quashing of the remand order.
Mark O'Shea, aged 41, was sentenced to six years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended, for burglary and harassment. The burglary occurred on 19 December 2018 at a Dublin City centre location, when O'Shea, accompanied by two other knife‑wielding men, entered the ex‑partner's home after using a woman as a decoy. All three men wore black balaclavas and gloves and were armed with knives. O'Shea had previously pleaded guilty to burglary and to harassment between 19 October 2018 and 31 December 2018. The court described the offence as pre‑meditated, conducted with assistance, involving physicality and intimidation. O'Shea had 44 prior convictions, including burglary, trespass, criminal damage, handling stolen property, possession of drugs, public order and road traffic offences. The judge noted that O'Shea had been in a residential treatment programme for a short period before the hearing. The sentence requires O'Shea to comply with all Probation Service directions for 12 months after release.
In November 2021, a 24‑year‑old man named Leon Travers was sentenced to 150 hours of community service, subject to suitability, for threatening to kill a Garda and assaulting Garda officers in October 2018. Travers was arrested for an alleged public order offence and, while being taken to hospital for a broken nose, he behaved aggressively, kicking a trolley, attempting to free his handcuffs, and threatening a female Garda with a bullet. He also bit a Garda's hand when they tried to calm him. He pleaded guilty to one count of threatening to kill a Garda at James Connolly Memorial Hospital and one count of assaulting a Garda at Blanchardstown Garda Station. He had no prior convictions. The judge, considering his remorse and lack of previous offences, imposed the community service sentence in lieu of a six‑month prison term, with the case to return to court in February 2022 for suitability confirmation.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Noel Shannon, a 40‑year‑old electrician from Finglas, admitted to taking photographs of a Garda intelligence board that listed personal details of 108 individuals involved in ongoing investigations. The board, located at Kilmainham Garda Station, was accessed by Shannon on 13 March 2019 while he was contracted to check emergency lighting. He later sent the images to two other electricians, and the pictures were subsequently shared on social media under the caption "never let an electrician into a garda station." The case is noted as the first criminal breach of the Data Protection Act 2018 to be prosecuted on indictment. Shannon, who has four prior convictions including theft and a public order offence, pleaded guilty to disclosing personal data without authorisation. He was remanded on bail, with the matter scheduled for finalisation on 17 December.
Robert Hedderman, 37, was jailed for 18 months after a burglary on Christmas Day 2016 in which he damaged furniture, electronic devices and urinated throughout the house. He was already on bail for that offence and was serving a three‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence for a 2016 burglary. Hedderman pleaded guilty to a 2019 burglary at an industrial building in Cookstown Court, Tallaght, where six laptops worth €9,000 were stolen. Blood on a broken window matched his DNA. He has 51 prior convictions, including 10 for burglary, robbery, criminal damage, knife possession and public order offences. The judge suspended the final 18 months of the new sentence, to run consecutively with the existing term, and imposed strict conditions. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Derek Foran, 36, was arrested after attempting to hold up the Speaker Connolly pub in Firhouse on 1 January 2018. He entered wearing a balaclava, armed with a replica Uzi‑style gun, and shouted threats to the patrons. Regular customers recognised him and tackled him, while an off‑duty detective intervened and secured the gun. Foran pleaded guilty to attempted robbery of pub manager Jason Doyle. He had prior convictions for drug dealing and public order offences. The court noted his drug‑addicted state and that he had acted alone. Judge Elma Sheahan, citing his efforts to stay drug‑free and engage in pro‑social activities, sentenced him to four years' imprisonment, fully suspended on strict conditions. The sentence was imposed after a probation report and a prior 12‑month probation bond. The judge emphasised the need for continued rehabilitation.
A 19‑year‑old man was remanded in custody after pleading guilty to defiling a 13‑year‑old girl at a house party when he was 16. The offence, which occurred in June 2018, was charged as defilement of a child aged 15 to 17 because the accused believed the girl was 15. The court heard the party was organised by older teenagers and that the girl was alone with the accused in a bedroom where they had sexual intercourse. The girl later informed a relative, leading to the Gardaí's involvement. The accused admitted the act and his belief about the girl's age. He has prior convictions for theft, drugs and public order offences. The judge, citing the seriousness of the offence and the need for reflection, ordered his remand pending sentencing and further reports. The judge warned that his conduct while remanded would influence the eventual custodial term.
Gerard O'Riordan, a 37-year-old father from Killarney, appeared before the Central Criminal Court in an appeal regarding the potential revocation of the suspended portion of his 2009 manslaughter sentence. O'Riordan was previously convicted of the manslaughter of James Brazier in 2007, receiving a 14-year term with the final 18 months suspended. After his release in June 2019, he entered a good behaviour bond. However, he was subsequently convicted of threatening to kill gardai, an allegation where he allegedly threatened to stab officers who entered his home. He also faced a separate fine for trespass and public order offences after threatening staff at an off-licence. Defence counsel Dean Kelly SC highlighted O'Riordan's rehabilitation, noting he has attended 24 anger management sessions and become a father. Mr Justice Michael White acknowledged these efforts but expressed concern over O'Riordan's history as a 'violent and dangerous' individual. The court did not revoke the suspended sentence immediately. Instead, the matter was adjourned for one year to monitor O'Riordan's behaviour. He agreed to return to court in May of next year, with the judge noting that the delay allows him to continue confronting the issues that have blighted his life.