Thomas Griffin, 26, of Croftwood Park, Ballyfermot, Dublin, was sentenced to two and a half years in prison for his role in a high‑speed Garda chase that exposed multiple cars and a pedestrian to "very considerable danger." He pleaded guilty to two charges of endangerment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 17 June 2018. The judge, Melanie Greally, described the driving as "very extreme in nature" and noted that Griffin was intoxicated with drugs and alcohol during the incident. Griffin had 46 prior convictions, including assault, road traffic and public order offences. The judge suspended the final 12 months of a three‑and‑a‑half‑year term, citing his demonstrated potential and confrontation of his demons while on remand. The chase involved speeding over 140 km/h in a 100 km/h zone, running red lights, driving on the hard shoulder, and forcing other traffic to take evasive action.
Chad Redmond, 27, of Belclare Park, Ballymun, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault and criminal damage for an incident on 24 February 2019 at an apartment in Finglas, north Dublin. He entered the apartment of his ex‑girlfriend, shouted, kicked the door down and grabbed her by the throat. Redmond dragged her to the bedroom, threatened to kill her and burn the place down, and attempted to take their three‑year‑old daughter from her mother. He twisted the victim's right hand and fled, later trying to re‑enter. Redmond was on bail at the time and was arrested the following day. He had been under the influence of cocaine. The court noted his prior convictions for burglary, criminal damage, public order and road traffic offences. Judge Elma Sheahan described the case as "disturbing" and sentenced Redmond to three and a half years, suspending the final nine months.
In a case heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Pauline Codd praised Garda Fergus Holly's bravery after he was dragged and run over by a car driven by Clive Sweeney, 37, who was attempting to flee from Dundrum Town Centre. Sweeney, who had 85 prior convictions and was on bail, pleaded guilty to endangerment and failing to stop. Holly sustained bruising and a permanent finger injury. The judge noted Sweeney's reckless driving, his guilty plea, remorse, and personal circumstances, including drug addiction. She imposed a four‑year sentence, suspending the final year on the condition of one year of probation supervision, and a ten‑year driving ban. The incident involved a blue Fiat Bravo that had been used in a theft at Snow and Rock earlier that month. The judge commended Holly for his courage and acknowledged the aggravating factor that Sweeney knew Holly was a garda.
Elmir Habibovic, 31, of Woodvale Avenue, Hartstown, Dublin 15, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing €25,500 worth of cocaine for sale or supply on 19 April 2018. He admitted holding the drugs for about five days to clear a €15,000 gambling debt, claiming he was "messing with money" and trying to make money from gambling. The cocaine was found in a drawer on a dining table, along with almost €6,000 in three envelopes in his bedroom. Habibovic and a second man were arrested, but he took full responsibility for the drugs. He has 11 prior convictions for public order and road traffic offences, all dealt with in the District Court, and has not offended since July 2009. Judge Elma Sheahan remanded him on continuing bail pending sentence, adjourned the case to January, and noted he is a self‑employed personal trainer who will need time to get his affairs in order.
James Maughan, 35, was arrested after a 30‑minute high‑speed pursuit in Dublin during which he drove while disqualified, intoxicated, and dangerously. He was found to have 13 stolen power tools worth €6,500 in his vehicle and tested positive for cannabis and cocaine. Maughan claimed he was heading to his child's birthday party. He pleaded guilty to possessing stolen goods, driving while intoxicated, driving without insurance, and two counts of dangerous driving. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court sentenced him to 18 months' imprisonment and a 15‑year driving disqualification. The judge cited his 160‑previous convictions, including dangerous driving, as an aggravating factor. Maughan's defence noted his severe psychotic disorder and ongoing treatment with the HSE. The stolen tools were largely returned to their owners.
The Court of Appeal has upheld a finding that the sentence imposed on Muiris Flynn, a 31-year-old appellant, was unduly lenient for dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm, drink driving, and driving without insurance at Doon near Boyle on September 24, 2017. Flynn pleaded guilty to all charges. While the three-judge panel nominated a headline sentence of six years, they decided not to increase the custodial element because Flynn had already been released from prison and secured new employment. Instead, the court imposed a €20,000 fine, describing it as a substantial part of his punishment. The unserved balance of the three-year custodial sentence was suspended. The court re-imposed the original driving disqualifications, acknowledging their adverse impact on his social and working life but deeming them an appropriate response to the devastating harm caused to the victims. Flynn was given until December 31, 2020, to pay the fine in a single instalment, with permission to pay through the Roscommon Town court office. The matter was not adjourned; the re-sentencing and fine payment deadline were finalized.
John Lewis, 52, of Lucan, Dublin, was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment for sexually abusing and "prostituting" a 16‑year‑old girl between February and October 2018. Lewis admitted to having sexual intercourse with the victim on 10 to 20 occasions, claiming he had become her "master" while she was his "sub". He also admitted to defilement of a child, sexual exploitation of a child, and possession of child pornography. Evidence included a handwritten "contract" binding the victim to obey Lewis, a list of 128 sexual acts, a black leather dog‑collar, and 77 images and five videos of child pornography. Lewis had previously been convicted of road traffic offences. The court noted that the victim had never engaged in such behaviour before meeting Lewis and that Lewis had cooperated with the investigation. Judge Martin Nolan imposed the sentence without any suspended portion, citing Lewis's immediate cooperation and the seriousness of the offences. John Lewis pleaded guilty.
A 33‑year‑old woman from Vico Rock, Dalkey, was fined €1,000 and disqualified from driving for six months after she hit a 91‑year‑old man, Patrick Connell, with her car at a complex junction on Castle Street, Dalkey, on 24 January 2017. The junction had five feeder roads and no controls, and a bin lorry parked on double yellow lines obstructed the driver's view. Connell fell, fractured his hip, underwent successful surgery, but later died on 30 January 2017 from unrelated health issues. Connell's daughter, who witnessed the incident, told the court that she did not believe the driver had been careless. The court, noting the serious injury and the driver's good character, imposed the fine and a six‑month disqualification rather than the usual two‑year period. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, where the driver pleaded guilty to driving without due care or attention.
A 34‑year‑old Limerick man, Jonathan Collopy, is wanted in Bulgaria to serve an 18‑month sentence for a drink‑driving offence that was convicted in his absence. He was previously jailed in the early 2000s for serious drugs offences. Collopy is a father of five, expecting a sixth child, and has started a car sales business in Limerick. The High Court granted him bail pending an extradition hearing. The judge accepted that Collopy poses a flight risk but imposed conditions: he must live at St Mary's Park, deposit €2,000 in cash, provide an independent surety of €2,000, sign daily at Henry Street Garda Station, obey a curfew from 10 pm to 7 am, and keep his mobile phone charged for Garda contact. Detective Sergeant Jim Kirwan objected to bail, citing Collopy's 17 prior convictions, mainly for road traffic matters, and his substantial sentence in Bulgaria.
Philip Dunbar, aged 20, was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Adam 'Floater' Muldoon, a 23‑year‑old man with cerebral palsy, who was stabbed 183 times in an unprovoked attack at Butler Park, Jobstown Park, Tallaght on 22 or 23 June 2018. The Central Criminal Court found Dunbar guilty by unanimous jury verdict. The sentencing judge, Mr Justice Paul McDermott, backdated the life sentence to the date of the murder, 24 June 2018, and noted that the victim's family had suffered immense grief. Dunbar's defence argued intoxication and lack of intent, but the jury rejected these claims. The judge also acknowledged that Dunbar had previous convictions under the Theft Act, for possession of drugs and for Road Traffic Act violations. The case remains subject to appeal by Dunbar's counsel. Philip Dunbar pleaded not guilty and was found guilty.
Christopher Prentice, 25, of Tallaght, Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for two armed carjackings committed on February 6, 2020. Prentice pleaded guilty to two counts of seizing control of a vehicle by force in south Dublin. He also admitted to dangerous driving in Clondalkin and assaulting two gardaí during a high-speed chase that ended when he rammed their patrol car. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Prentice to six and a half years in prison and disqualified him from driving for ten years. The judge noted that Prentice was serving the suspended portion of a January 2019 sentence for dangerous driving of a stolen car when these offences occurred. Prentice had previously been convicted of a carjacking in December 2014. In mitigation, his defense counsel, James Dwyer SC, highlighted Prentice's remorse and his claim that he was grieving the recent death of a cousin while under the influence of alcohol and cannabis. Victims described severe trauma, with one female driver stating she could no longer work in sales due to anxiety, and a taxi driver wishing to leave the profession. The court acknowledged the vulnerability of the victims and the traumatic nature of the attacks.
A banned repeat driving offender, Brian Reilly, 24, with 126 prior convictions, drove on the wrong side of the M50 to evade Gardaí before crashing into the car of an elderly couple, John and Ellen Armstrong, who were stopped at a red light at Kilshane Cross, Finglas, in January. The collision caused significant injuries to Ellen, including multiple rib fractures and the amputation of the tip of her right thumb, leaving her dependent on others for basic care. John suffered a head wound and a seizure. Reilly, who was disqualified from driving, fled the scene but was later found by Gardaí. He has pleaded guilty to endangerment, dangerous driving causing serious harm, refusing a blood or urine sample, and driving without insurance. He remains in custody and will be sentenced in December, with a Probation Services report ordered and the matter adjourned for finalisation on December 21.
Paul Keating, aged 25, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for unlawful possession of firearms, with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions. He pleaded guilty on 27 October 2017 to possessing broken shotgun parts that could not be assembled or fired. Gardaí found the parts during a drug search for cocaine at his home in Brookhaven Grove, Blanchardstown, Dublin. Keating had agreed to hold the parts in exchange for a €1,000 reduction of a €2,000 drug debt, which he later paid off with family help. He claimed he had not used the parts or attempted to fire them between February and October 2017. The court noted he had not reported the offence to the Probation Service and had subsequent convictions for road traffic and theft offences. The judge emphasised the seriousness of the offence and urged Keating to be ashamed of his actions.
Jamie Nulty, aged 22, pleaded guilty to burglary at Sarah Kearney's home in Clonee on 15 July 2017, when he was 19. He broke in through a downstairs window, armed with a screwdriver, demanded money, and held Kearney at gunpoint, throwing her onto the bed and threatening her. The court heard he also pleaded guilty to dangerous driving in February 2017. Judge Karen O'Connor sentenced him to five years and nine months, back‑dating four years and seven months to credit time already spent in custody, and suspended the final 14 months on conditions. The sentence reflected mitigating factors such as his youth, homelessness and drug addiction. Kearney suffered post‑traumatic stress, loss of €1,000 in earnings and therapy costs, and remains fearful of being alone in the house. Nulty has 23 prior convictions and has not been in contact with Gardaí since the offence.
A teenager has appealed to the Court of Appeal against his four-year effective sentence for dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm. The accused, who was 17 at the time of the incident in March 2019, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving a dangerously defective vehicle, failing to stop, failing to keep his vehicle at the scene, failing to report the incident to gardai, and driving without insurance or a licence. He was sentenced last year to six years' detention, with the final two years suspended, and received a 20-year driving disqualification. The court heard that the toddler victim suffered a life-long brain injury and multiple fractures. The appellant's counsel argued that the sentencing judge failed to adequately consider mitigating factors, his youth, and the potential for rehabilitation, while the State maintained the sentence was appropriate. The matter was adjourned as the Court of Appeal reserved its judgment.
The Court of Appeal has added a €20,000 fine to the sentence of Muiris Flynn, a 31-year-old appellant, following a successful DPP appeal against the undue leniency of his original sentence. Flynn pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm, drink driving, and driving without insurance at Doon near Boyle on September 24th, 2017. The original sentence, imposed by Judge Francis Comerford, was four years in prison for dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm, with the final two and a half years suspended, alongside concurrent disqualifications for the other charges. The three-judge appellate court, presided over by Justice John Edwards, found the original sentence unduly lenient and nominated a headline sentence of six years. However, considering Flynn's release from prison, his finding of new employment, and the interests of justice in promoting reform, the court decided not to increase the custodial element. Instead, they suspended the unserved balance of the newly imposed three-year term and imposed the substantial €20,000 fine. The court re-imposed the same driving disqualifications as the circuit court, acknowledging the adverse impact on Flynn's social and working life but deeming it an appropriate response to the devastating harm caused to the victims.
Starrs Holdings Ltd has initiated High Court proceedings against An Bord Pleanala to challenge planning permission granted last August to Lulani Dalguise Ltd for a 300-unit housing development in Monkstown, south County Dublin. The proposed project includes eight apartment blocks ranging from five to nine storeys, 22 houses, the conversion of Dalguise House into two dwellings, and a creche on a three-hectare site near Monkstown Village. The applicant, represented by Neil Steen SC and Niall Handy BL, alleges the permission is flawed due to breaches of fair procedures, specifically regarding post-grant agreements on road traffic issues. It is claimed that the board failed to adequately address objections, ignored errors in traffic documentation, and irrationally assumed access across third-party lands without legal agreements. Additionally, the applicant argues that pre-construction works would breach the EU Habitats Directive by disturbing protected bat and heron populations. Ms Justice Niamh Hyland granted permission to bring the challenge and admitted the action to the Strategic Infrastructure Developments list. She imposed a stay on pre-construction works but granted the developer liberty to seek to lift this stay on notice to the applicant. The developer is a notice party to the proceedings.
A 31-year-old man from Geevagh, County Sligo has had his sentence referred for review by the Court of Appeal after being convicted of dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm, drink driving and driving without insurance. The offences arose from a collision on a country road near Boyle, County Roscommon, on 24 September 2017, when his vehicle struck two cyclists. One victim sustained spinal fractures and hip dislocation, requiring prolonged recovery and leaving her unable to return to her former employment as a teacher. The other cyclist suffered significant pelvic fractures and required intensive care treatment. At sentencing in Roscommon Circuit Court, the defendant received four years imprisonment with the final two and a half years suspended, along with an eight-year driving disqualification. The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed the sentence as unduly lenient. The Court of Appeal found the original sentence was indeed unduly lenient and determined that re-sentencing was necessary. The court indicated it would consider all available options, including the possibility of imposing a substantial fine. Judgement is expected by month's end.
John Tierney, aged 53, of Rockhouse, Gowna, County Cavan, received a fully suspended sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following his guilty plea to dangerous driving causing death. The collision occurred on the N4 motorway near Junction 3 in Lucan, County Dublin, on 10 December 2018, when Tierney's vehicle suddenly moved into a bus lane, striking the motorcycle of Stephen Fee, who was fatally injured. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a one-year custodial sentence, suspended in full, and disqualified Tierney from driving for eight years. The court heard that Tierney's vehicle had begun losing power due to a diesel particle filter issue, leading him to change lanes without ensuring the path was clear. Tierney had no previous convictions. The judge characterised the driving as a misjudgement rather than reckless behaviour, citing strong mitigating factors including Tierney's guilty plea, cooperation with gardaí, and significant health difficulties. Impact statements from the victim's family were read to the court.
Sean Nolan, 36, is on trial at the Central Criminal Court, charged with murdering his partner, Amanda Carroll, 33, in her Dublin apartment on October 21, 2018. Nolan has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Michael MacGrath, heard evidence from Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster. She testified that Ms Carroll's cause of death was complex, resulting from compression of her neck and mouth, complicated by the ingestion of sedative-type drugs. Dr Bolster noted that while the death could not have occurred without asphyxia, the drugs had an added effect. She identified injuries consistent with manual strangulation and blunt force trauma to the mouth, alongside bruising on the neck and jaw. Although abrasions on the face were consistent with a prior road traffic accident, the pathologist stated that a significant amount of force was not required to cause strangulation. Under cross-examination, she acknowledged it was possible that the force used would have resulted in non-fatal injuries had drugs and alcohol not been present. Prosecution counsel Shane Costelloe SC argued that Nolan intended to kill or cause serious injury. The jury also heard from Ms Carroll's son, Denis, who discovered her body. The trial continues on Friday.
Alan Flynn, 29, of Swords, was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment for possession of €1.2 million worth of cocaine, with the final three years suspended on strict conditions. The offence was committed on 29 September 2019 when a silver VW Golf was stopped on O'Casey Road, Parkwest, by an unmarked Garda patrol. Flynn was driving the vehicle with his two‑year‑old daughter in the front passenger seat. Gardaí found 18 packages of cocaine in the car's footwell and an open cardboard box, totalling €1,263,920. Flynn admitted he had a debt for cannabis and had been instructed by a contact to pick up the drugs and deliver them to a gym in Parkwest. A search of his home revealed a stun gun and pepper‑spray, which he claimed were for his own protection. He has seven prior convictions for road traffic offences. Alan Flynn pleaded guilty.
Denis Ward, 39, was given a two‑year suspended sentence after he head‑butted Daragh Comerford at D Two Nightclub on Halloween 2017. Ward, who had been dressed as Superman, took a fake bible from Comerford and then lunged at him, leaving Comerford with a broken nose and a deviated septum that required surgery. Gardaí were alerted to the assault and security staff identified Ward as the Superman costume wearer. CCTV footage showed Ward removing the pretend bible before the attack. Ward pleaded guilty to assault causing harm. He had four prior convictions, including three road traffic offences. Judge Melanie Greally, after hearing a victim impact statement that Comerford lost €1,100 in medical bills and time off work, suspended the two‑year sentence in full. The judge noted that alcohol was a significant factor and that Ward's behaviour was out of character.
Michael Cawley, aged 22, was sentenced to an additional two and a half years' imprisonment for two counts of endangerment, dangerous driving and driving without a licence. The sentence, imposed by Judge Karen O'Connor at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, was suspended for 18 months on strict conditions and will run consecutively to the three and a half year term he is currently serving for burglary and unauthorised taking of a car. The offence involved Cawley driving a Volvo at speeds up to 140 kilometres per hour, reversing and then driving straight at a Garda on a junction in Tallaght, narrowly missing the officer and forcing other motorists and pedestrians to take evasive action. The Garda lost sight of the vehicle while it was still on the road. Cawley's 35 previous convictions were noted, and the judge highlighted his young age, the aggravating circumstances of the incident, and his progress in custody. Michael Cawley pleaded guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Noel McCabe, aged 25, was found to have threatened his ex‑partner after being charged with assaulting her in March and April 2018. McCabe, who is already serving a six‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence for multiple offences, allegedly called the victim and warned that if she did not leave the country within a week her entire family, including her daughter, would be shot. He also demanded she drop the assault charges, which she refused. The court noted that the victim had been in a relationship with McCabe for 18 months and described it as a "nightmare" in her impact statement. McCabe pleaded guilty to obstructing the course of justice by intimidating a witness in June 2018 and will be sentenced early next year, with the judge adjourned the sentence to February 1. The case highlights McCabe's history of 34 prior convictions, including assault, possession of ammunition and road traffic offences.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, marketing manager Paul Nugent, aged 58, was acquitted of a dangerous driving charge after striking 80‑year‑old Thomas Clinton on Harbour Road, Howth, on 8 January 2018. Nugent was driving back into town after a business meeting when his car hit Clinton, who fell, lost consciousness, and sustained life‑threatening injuries including head trauma and a broken leg. Nugent pleaded not guilty. The jury, after just under two hours of deliberation, returned a unanimous not‑guilty verdict. The State argued Clinton was visible 2.88 seconds before impact and that Nugent's reaction time was insufficient, while the defence contended the available time was overestimated and Nugent's reaction was within acceptable limits. Nugent has no prior convictions and was not speeding at the time of the incident. The judge thanked the jury for their civic duty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, Paul Nugent, 58, pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm after his car struck 80‑year‑old Thomas Clinton on Harbour Road, Howth, on 8 January 2018. Clinton suffered life‑threatening injuries and was in intensive care for weeks. Nugent's defence, led by Martin Dully BL, argued that the prosecution's evidence was fundamentally flawed, citing a 2.88‑second observation window that the state claimed was sufficient for a reaction. Dully contended the actual visible time was only 2.3 seconds, giving a reaction time of 2.08 seconds, which he said was within acceptable norms. He also highlighted that Nugent was not speeding, had no prior convictions, and had checked his phone before the collision. The prosecution, represented by Derek Cooney BL, maintained that Nugent failed to react in time, noting the presence of a telegraph pole and the defendant's conflicting statements to Gardaí.
In a dangerous driving trial, Garda John Culleton accepted that the accused, Paul Nugent, faced no criticism of his driving beyond a "failure to react speedily" when Thomas Clinton, 80, walked onto Harbour Road in Howth on 8 January 2018. Nugent, 58, was driving a BMW at just over 50 km/h. CCTV showed Clinton stepping out between parked cars and the BMW's brake lights activating 0.24 s before impact. The garda report estimated Clinton visible for 2.88 s; the defence report estimated 2.28–2.32 s. Culleton concluded Nugent's reaction time fell within acceptable limits, noting that a 1.5‑second reaction would have stopped the car 3.65 m before the collision, while a 2‑second reaction would have stopped it 3.5 m after. The trial proceeds before Judge Karen O'Connor and a jury. Paul Nugent pleaded not guilty.
In a 2020 Court of Appeal decision, a Cork farmer, Mr George Ross, was cleared from a second prosecution over the death of 14‑year‑old Micheál Murphy, who fell from a tractor in 2013. The appeal overturned a prior ruling that the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) could pursue a new charge under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act. Mr Ross had already been convicted in 2014 for a Road Traffic Act offence related to the same incident and fined €700. The judge, Ms Justice Aileen Donnelly, criticised the seven‑year delay between the death and the appeal, noting it reflected poorly on the State. She found no special circumstances to justify sequential prosecutions and rejected the HSA's claim that additional evidence had only emerged after the tractor was seized. Consequently, Mr Ross will not face the HSA charge, which carries a maximum fine of €3 million and a two‑year prison term.
A man from Longford has failed in his bid to overturn a drug-driving conviction at the Court of Appeal. Patrick Clyne was convicted by Longford District Court on 5 March 2019 of drug driving, receiving a twelve-month driving ban and a €250 fine. He was arrested at a Garda checkpoint on Market Street, Granard on 29 January 2018 after testing positive for cocaine. A blood sample subsequently revealed a concentration of 515.2 milligrammes per millilitre of cocaine. Clyne appealed on the basis that the arresting Garda had not properly applied section 13B(1) of the Road Traffic Act 2010, arguing that the omission of the word "or" in the legislation required multiple tests before a blood sample could be lawfully taken. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Ms Justice Úna Ní Raifeartaigh, rejected this interpretation, finding no ambiguity in the relevant statute and confirming that fulfilling any one of the prescribed conditions was sufficient.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Paul Nugent, a marketing manager aged 58, pleaded not guilty to a charge of dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm after his BMW struck Thomas Clinton, an 80‑year‑old pedestrian, on Harbour Road, Howth, on 8 January 2018. Nugent claimed he had no time to react when Clinton stepped onto the road from behind a parked car. Clinton suffered life‑threatening injuries, including head trauma, a broken leg, a dislocated shoulder and significant chest fractures, and was hospitalized in intensive care for several weeks. Prosecutor Derek Cooney described Clinton's habit of walking from Raheny to Howth and noted the high mortality risk for his age group with such injuries. Nugent's defence maintained that he was driving safely and that the collision was unavoidable. The case remains before Judge Karen O'Connor and a jury.
Paul Connolly, 38, of Cregg Court, Kilmeague, Robertstown, Co Kildare, dropped his appeal against an eight‑and‑a‑half‑year prison sentence imposed by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in May 2019. Connolly had pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm to Michael Igoe, 54, and Francis Dhala, 19, after driving onto a busy footpath while under the influence of drugs on Coolmine Road on 1 May 2018. The incident left Dhala, a law student, with a catastrophic brain injury. Connolly was driving his young child to school at the time and had a 25‑year driving ban and had been released from prison a month earlier. He also pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of drugs, possession of cannabis, failing to remain at the scene, failing to offer assistance, failing to alert Gardaí, and driving without insurance or a licence. The judge, Melanie Greally, imposed the sentence but suspended the final 18 months.
At the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Jonathan Coelho (29) was sentenced to 20 months in prison for four counts of dangerous driving, one count of endangering pedestrians, and one count of driving without insurance on July 31, 2019. Coelho had previously pleaded guilty to these charges and admitted to driving at speed through red lights and in the wrong direction in Dublin city centre before crashing into a lamp post. The court heard that Coelho was disqualified from driving in the UK at the time of the incident. Judge Melanie Greally backdated the sentence to account for the time Coelho had spent in custody since his arrest in July 2022. Coelho was acquitted of charges of endangering and assaulting Garda Conor Murray, following a jury's not guilty verdict. His co-accused, Federico Carvalho (31), pleaded not guilty to the same charges and was not sentenced. Coelho's legal representative highlighted his recent cancer diagnosis and requested the sentence be suspended to allow him to return to Italy for treatment. The judge noted that Coelho posed a risk to pedestrians and road users and paid tribute to the gardaí for their efforts in stopping the dangerous driving. The matter was concluded at the sentence stage.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, two men, Jonathan Coelho, 29, and Federico Carvalho, 31, were acquitted of assaulting and endangering Garda Conor Murray. The case centred on an incident on 31 July 2019 at St Lukes' Avenue, Dublin 8, where the accused were driving a vehicle that reversed at speed, causing Garda Murray to be thrown from the car. The jury, after 18 minutes of deliberation, found the men not guilty of the assault and endangerment charges. Coelho had pleaded guilty to dangerous driving offences, admitting he had driven at speed through red lights and in the wrong direction, and had crashed into a lamp post. He was remanded in custody pending sentencing for those dangerous driving charges. Carvalho was discharged from the indictment and released. The trial concluded with the jury's unanimous verdict and the judge adjourned the case for sentencing next Friday.
In the trial of Jonathan Coelho, 29, and Federico Carvalho, 31, the jury heard closing speeches after the defendants were charged with assault causing harm to Garda Conor Murray. The incident occurred on 31 July 2019 when the car, driven by Coelho, reversed at speed with Garda Murray hanging out of the passenger window. Coelho pleaded guilty to dangerous driving charges, admitting he drove at speed through red lights and in the wrong direction, but denied the endangerment charge. Carvalho denied striking the Garda. Garda Murray described being pulled half‑inside the vehicle, the driver kicking him repeatedly, and being thrown from the car after a final kick. The prosecution argued that CCTV and witness testimony proved the defendants' guilt, while the defence contended that the Garda's actions and the defendants' intentions were misrepresented. The jury will be instructed by Judge Melanie Greally on Monday.
During the third day of the trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Jonathan Coelho (29) and Federico Carvalho (31) were heard by a jury about an incident on 31 July 2019 in which Garda Conor Murray was dragged by a car that reversed at speed. Coelho told the court that he had driven off because he had no insurance, claiming he had never had trouble with police before and that his only mistake was not having insurance. He denied punching or kicking the Garda and said he would never attack police. He also said the accelerator was stuck after the crash, causing the car to reverse, and that he was not pressing it. Carvalho, a passenger, said he repeatedly urged the driver to stop and that he was terrified. He denied hitting the Garda and said he would never hurt anyone. Jonathan Coelho pleaded not guilty. Federico Carvalho pleaded not guilty.
On 31 July 2019, Jonathan Coelho, 29, drove a car at speed through red lights in Dublin, crashing into a lamp post. He pleaded guilty to dangerous driving charges. Coelho and Federico Carvalho, 31, are accused of assaulting Garda Conor Murray, who was dragged into the moving vehicle's passenger side window. Murray claims he was pulled in, struggled, and was kicked repeatedly, including a final kick to his face, before being thrown out. He also alleges the driver kicked him with his left foot while the car was moving, a claim his counsel deems mechanically impossible. Murray disputes this, stating the car was moving at speed and that he was struck multiple times. The trial is ongoing before Judge Melanie Greally and a jury.
Sandra Kavanagh, aged 40, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to four counts of making a gain by deception for receiving €27,079 in rent supplement payments between 24 September 2015 and 7 June 2018. She had vacated the address at Kildonan Road, Finglas West, in August 2015 but continued to collect payments for that property. Detective Garda Jason Weir reported that Kavanagh had received 130 payments during the period. She has 67 prior convictions, including robbery, theft, knife production, public order and road traffic offences. The defence noted that a 2008 accident left her with significant physical injuries and that she has lived with friends and in hostels since leaving the address. Judge Pauline Codd ordered a probation report and adjourned the case for finalisation on 12 October.
A Cork farmer, George Ross, has appealed a High Court ruling that allowed a second prosecution for the death of a 14‑year‑old boy, Micheál 'Haulie' Murphy, who fell from Ross's defective tractor on 23 August 2013. The High Court had previously ruled that the Health and Safety Authority could pursue a prosecution under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act. Ross, 68, had already been convicted under the Road Traffic Act and fined €700 in 2014 for allowing the tractor to be driven when it posed a danger to the public. Ross argues that the second prosecution is essentially the same offence and seeks a prohibition order to prevent it. The Court of Appeal, with Justices John Edwards, Patrick McCarthy and Aileen Donnelly, has reserved judgment on the appeal. The Director of Public Prosecutions, represented by Gráinne O'Neill BL, maintains that the two charges are distinct in law and fact. The case remains pending.
Graham Lynch, a 41‑year‑old roofer from Castlecurragh Vale, Mulhuddart, was remanded on bail pending sentence after police found almost €40,000 worth of heroin in his home. Gardaí discovered a small amount in the sitting room and bedroom and, upon searching the attic, uncovered more heroin hidden behind insulation. Lynch admitted in a Garda interview that he was storing the drugs for others, describing himself as a "cog in the machine of supply." He had been abusing cocaine and had built up a drug debt, which he said had pressured him into storing the heroin for two or three weeks. Lynch pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 20 August 2019 to possession of heroin for sale or supply at his home. He has six prior convictions for minor road traffic offences. The judge adjourned the case to 6 November, ordering a probation report and urine analysis.
A woman from Riverstown, County Sligo, has had her prison sentence increased by the Court of Appeal following a challenge by the Director of Public Prosecutions. The 23-year-old was convicted of dangerous driving causing the death of a pedestrian in Dundalk in October 2017. She had thrown a sauce carton into another vehicle, prompting a high-speed chase through the town that resulted in both cars striking a 29-year-old man. The sentencing judge at Dundalk Circuit Court imposed three years imprisonment with two years suspended. The DPP appealed, citing undue leniency. Court President Justice George Birmingham ruled that the original sentencing judge erred in suspending an additional six months beyond what her co-accused received. The Court of Appeal re-sentenced her to three years with eighteen months suspended, requiring her to serve a greater proportion of her sentence than originally ordered. The unnamed 23-year-old pleaded guilty.
Jamie Nulty, aged 22, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to burglary at Castaheany, Clonee on 15 July 2017, when he was 19. He broke into the home of Sarah Kearney while she was in bed, armed with a screwdriver that he had entered through a downstairs window. Nulty demanded money, took her bank card and PIN, and searched the house while holding the screwdriver. He attempted to take a computer and later tried to stop Kearney from calling 999, grabbing her arm and throwing her onto the bed. The ordeal ended when he left, putting a tea towel on his head and riding a bike. Kearney suffered post‑traumatic stress disorder and claimed €1,000 in losses. Nulty also pleaded guilty to dangerous driving on 17 February 2017; he was remanded in custody and will be sentenced on 29 July. The court heard he had 23 previous convictions and was on bail for the earlier offence.
In a Dublin junction at Swords Road and Collins Avenue, truck driver Prince Aibangbe (51) was sentenced to three years' imprisonment, with a two‑year suspended portion, after he broke a red light and fatally struck 21‑year‑old Gerard Whyte. Aibangbe had stopped past the white stop lines and, believing he had a green filter light, pulled off to the left. Witnesses and CCTV confirmed he moved through a red light. He pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death. The judge noted his guilty plea, remorse, and cooperation, and disqualified him from driving for six years. Aibangbe had nine prior convictions, including four for traffic offences, and had previously been fined for driving without insurance and failing to display an NCT. The sentence was intended as a deterrent for large‑vehicle drivers at junctions.
The Director of Public Prosecutions is appealing a sentence imposed on a Louth woman convicted of dangerous driving causing death. Eimear White pleaded guilty at Dundalk Circuit Court to causing the death of a pedestrian on the Old Newry Road in October 2017. Judge James McCourt sentenced White to three years imprisonment with the final two years suspended. The DPP has challenged the sentence as unduly lenient. The Court of Appeal has scheduled a hearing for 26th June, at which counsel indicated that relatives of the deceased wish to attend and that CCTV footage will be presented. The case concerns an incident in which a man was struck after exiting a taxi at Dowdallshill.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, truck driver Prince Aibangbe (51) pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of 21‑year‑old Gerard Whyte on 31 May 2019. Aibangbe claimed he believed he had hit a kerb after mistakenly thinking a green filter light was on, but was later informed by his boss that dash‑cam footage showed he had driven through a red light at the Swords Road/Collins Avenue junction. Witnesses, including a bus driver and a truck driver, confirmed the truck broke the red light and that Whyte was crossing as the green man appeared. Aibangbe had nine prior convictions, including four for road traffic offences, and had recently been fined €400 for driving without insurance and failing to display an NCT. He expressed remorse, wrote a letter to the court, and asked the Whyte family for forgiveness.
Thomas Stokes, aged 30, was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment for a high‑speed pursuit that left Garda Thomas Bialkowski seriously injured. Stokes pleaded guilty to two counts of endangerment, one count of assaulting Garda Bialkowski, one count of dangerous driving, and a separate count of criminal damage. The judge imposed four‑and‑a‑half years for endangerment and two‑and‑a‑half years for criminal damage, to run consecutively, giving an effective term of seven years. The final two years were suspended on strict conditions. The pursuit began when Gardaí approached Stokes' car at Dublin Port; after a brief attempt to stop him, Stokes fled, driving at up to 180 km/h, swerving across lanes, and eventually crashing into a wall on Cookstown Way, Tallaght. The crash caused the Garda's firearm butt to strike him, injuring his teeth, eye, arm and shoulder.
In a Dublin court hearing, Thomas Stokes, aged 30 and with 171 prior convictions, was charged after a high‑speed chase that ended with a Garda car crashing into a wall. Stokes, who drove at speeds up to 180 km/h and swerved aggressively, was attempting to flee from Gardaí who had approached his vehicle at Dublin Port. The pursuit resumed on the M50, where Stokes braked hard and crashed, causing the Garda car to swerve into a wall. The impact forced the Garda's firearm butt into his face, resulting in severe eye and facial injuries, soft‑tissue damage to his arm and shoulder, and damage to his teeth. Stokes was arrested nearby and has remained in custody, except for a brief compassionate bail in March. He pleaded guilty to two counts of endangerment, one count of assaulting a Garda, one count of dangerous driving, and one count of criminal damage. He will be sentenced on Wednesday.
Karl Mullen, 49, was sentenced to three‑and‑a‑half years in prison for criminal damage, two counts of dangerous driving and driving without insurance after he drove a car into the front of a house in Clondalkin on 27 October 2018. He reversed his vehicle through the front gates, crashed into the front window and then drove off, leaving the back bumper in the front garden. Mullen gave no explanation for his actions, claiming he was "in a very bad way on drugs" at the time. He was arrested during a Garda pursuit that ended when his vehicle struck bollards and stopped. Mullen has 49 prior convictions, including 19 for road traffic offences and a four‑year robbery sentence he is currently serving. He was also disqualified from driving for four years. The judge noted his drug use and the fear caused to the homeowner. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Karl Mullen pleaded guilty.
John McDonagh, a 30‑year‑old father of four from Labre Park, Ballyfermot, was sentenced to 20 months in prison after pleading guilty to endangerment, drink driving and driving without insurance. The offences occurred on 27 July 2019 when Gardaí were conducting an alcohol checkpoint on Kilmore Road. McDonagh was signalled to pull over but instead accelerated, overtook other vehicles dangerously, drove the wrong way around a roundabout, and continued at high speed on the M50 and M1 motorways. He was eventually stopped, found over the legal alcohol limit and without insurance. The judge described the conduct as a "litany of episodes of reckless and dangerous driving", noting that McDonagh endangered and terrified other road users. He was sentenced to three years' imprisonment, with the final 16 months suspended and a four‑year driving ban imposed.
A construction worker from Sligo has been sentenced to three years' imprisonment for his involvement in a tax fraud scheme at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Martin Stokes, aged 35, pleaded guilty in April 2016 to charges under the Theft and Fraud Offences Act, including forgery and deception, relating to offences committed in 2006, 2008 and 2011. He was one of five people who registered as contractors while falsely undertaking to remit tax payments on behalf of sub-contractors. Revenue issued approximately €107,000 in tax refunds and credits to bank accounts controlled by another individual, which were subsequently withdrawn via ATMs. Stokes failed to appear for sentencing in June 2016 and was arrested abroad before being returned to Ireland. Judge Martin Nolan described the scheme as relatively sophisticated and noted it exploited weaknesses in the contractor tax system. Stokes, who has previous convictions for dangerous driving, deception and counterfeiting, was credited with character references and community contributions, resulting in a reduction from an indicative sentence of five years.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Judge Martin Nolan sentenced 44‑year‑old Keith McCarthy to four years' imprisonment for a series of robberies carried out after a relapse into drug addiction. McCarthy, a former drug counsellor who had previously overcome his addiction, pleaded guilty to two robberies at Eddie Rocket's in Finglas, a robbery at BoyleSports in Donabate, an attempted robbery at Ladbrokes in Mulhuddart, and two driving‑without‑insurance offences. He admitted stealing almost €2,000 from Eddie Rocket's and €5,000 from BoyleSports, using an imitation firearm and a scarf to conceal his face. The judge noted McCarthy's history of 38 convictions, including 30 traffic offences, and his prior suspended robbery sentence in 2015. He highlighted McCarthy's remorse, cooperation with Gardaí, and his role as a caring father and son, while emphasising the need for him to overcome his addictive habits. McCarthy was also disqualified from driving for four years.