Brian Reilly, aged 23, was denied bail by the High Court on 24 March 2020 after being charged with three counts of criminal damage, three counts of dangerous driving, endangerment, driving without a licence and failure to remain at the scene. The charges stem from a collision on 29 January that allegedly caused a woman's finger to be amputated and left her with a broken collar bone and a suspected broken pelvis. Reilly was observed driving a Honda in suspicious fashion, breaking a red light, driving through traffic, mounting a roundabout, travelling in the wrong direction and colliding with a van and a Peugeot. The Peugeot's occupants suffered injuries, with the female passenger requiring amputation. Reilly fled on foot towards Ashbourne, was later arrested in a field, and the court found no bail conditions that would satisfy the prosecution. He may apply for bail again in four months if the prosecution's case cannot be progressed.
John Bayly, 31, of Foxdene Gardens, Lucan, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of drugs for sale or supply at Foxdene Avenue on 2 June 2017 and at Clonburris, Clondalkin, on 27 September 2018. In June 2017, Bayly was observed by plain‑clothes Gardaí in the middle of a drug transaction; when approached he fled on his bike, leaving a plastic container that contained crack cocaine and heroin worth €2,283.12. In September 2018, Gardaí on plain‑clothes duty observed a group of drug addicts in Clonburris; Bayly arrived, asked several people what they wanted, including two Garda members, took orders, walked away and returned with a plastic bag containing heroin, crack cocaine and Alprazolam tablets worth €7,832. Bayly has 69 previous convictions, including drug possession and road traffic offences. He was sentenced to three‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment, with the final nine months suspended on strict conditions.
In March 2020 the Criminal Courts of Justice building was quieter than usual, with only four Dublin Circuit Criminal Court judges present. Judge Melanie Greally heard a short list of arraignment cases and adjourned all sentences involving defendants on bail to 15 June, as those defendants were not required to attend due to Covid‑19 restrictions. She finalised two cases involving defendants in custody and dealt with several other matters listed for mention. Five cases, including one alleging dangerous driving causing serious harm, were scheduled for trial and Judge Karen O'Connor adjourned them to 19 June. President Patricia Ryan directed that all non‑custody matters for the rest of the term, except ongoing trials, be adjourned to dates in June and July. Two judges remained at trial, and the Courts Service implemented special accommodations for juries, seating them spread out across the courtroom to maintain social distancing.
Kevin O'Keefe, 35, was released on bail pending sentencing for a series of thefts and burglaries committed on 15 August 2017 in Dublin. He pleaded guilty to three burglaries, two thefts, criminal damage, unlawful use of a car and dangerous driving. O'Keefe told the judge that he was tired of his life, had learned to read and write in prison, and wanted to become a proper father and give back to people. Judge Melanie Greally adjourned the finalisation of his case to 14 October, released him on bail and imposed conditions including living with his sister, providing a mobile number, and observing a curfew from 10 pm to 7 am. She warned that any breach would bring the case back before the court. The judge expressed scepticism but offered him a chance to change. No victim impact statements were presented. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Robert Maxwell, 26, was found guilty of endangering Simon Ryan by driving a van into a group of people in Nenagh on 6–7 August 2017. Maxwell struck Ryan, knocked him to the ground, drove over him and then drove at him again. He pleaded guilty to the endangerment and to three public order offences. The Tipperary Circuit Criminal Court had imposed a wholly suspended four‑year sentence on 28 June 2019, but the Court of Appeal deemed it unduly lenient. The appeal court quashed the original sentence and re‑sentenced Maxwell to four years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended. He must enter a good‑behaviour bond for the suspended period. Maxwell had 28 prior convictions, many for road traffic offences, and had been disqualified from driving on several occasions.
Ryan Johnston, a 36‑year‑old truck driver from Cedar Grove, Magherafelt, was found carrying €166,720 in cash in a blue canvas bag in the cab of his tractor unit. He was arrested after a Garda surveillance operation and pleaded guilty to possession of the cash and the proceeds of criminal conduct on 3 June 2016. Johnston had six prior convictions in Northern Ireland, mainly for road traffic offences, and made no admissions during his interview. His defence lawyer, Justin McQuade, argued that Johnston was a valued member of his business, was embarrassed and ashamed, and that the offence was a one‑off transgression committed recklessly. Judge Melanie Greally, noting Johnston's respectable family background, good work record and character references, imposed a three and a half year sentence, suspending the final 18 months, and jailed him for two years. The sentence reflected the seriousness of money laundering and the need for deterrence in the haulage trade.
Liam Brannigan, 37, was convicted by the Special Criminal Court of conspiring to murder Gary Hanley between September 15 and November 6, 2017. Although Brannigan pleaded not guilty, the court found the evidence overwhelming, including covert audio recordings and phone data. His sentencing is scheduled for March 23. In related proceedings, four co-accused pleaded guilty to the same conspiracy charge. Luke Wilson, who also admitted unlawful possession of a Beretta, was jailed for 11 years. Alan Wilson received a six-year sentence. Joseph Kelly, who also admitted a weapons charge, was jailed for 12 years. Dean Howe, who also pleaded guilty to conspiring to murder Mr Hanley, is scheduled to be sentenced on March 3. The court noted Brannigan has 28 previous convictions, primarily for road traffic matters, and has been in custody since November 2017. Defense counsel argued for a non-custodial outcome, citing his lack of prior custodial sentences and his active role as a father. The judge emphasized the cogency of the evidence linking Brannigan to the operation, which involved armed gardai intercepting a van near Hanley's home where two men were found with a loaded pistol.
The trial of Aaron Brady, accused of the capital murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe and robbing approximately €7,000 at Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgan, Co Louth, on January 25, 2013, continued before Mr Justice Michael White. Mr Brady, from Crossmaglen, Co Armagh, has pleaded not guilty to both charges. Detective Inspector Mark Phillips of the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation testified regarding the investigation, noting that Mr Brady was deported from the US in 2017 after pleading guilty to criminal damage, unlawful taking of a car, and dangerous driving. The jury heard that police did not search a yard in Armagh where Mr Brady claimed to have been laundering diesel on the night of the shooting, a decision attributed to the Senior Investigating Officer. Mr Phillips stated that Mr Brady was initially a witness and that his alibi placing him at Lough Road was corroborated by three individuals. The prosecution highlighted the scale of the investigation, citing one million pages of materials, 40,000 hours of CCTV, and over 3,000 statements. Defence counsel Michael O'Higgins questioned the timing of additional evidence notices. The trial is ongoing, with the matter adjourned.
A damages action brought by Diarmuid Rossa Phelan, a barrister and law lecturer at Trinity College Dublin, against Catherine O'Meara, otherwise Sheehan O'Meara, has been resolved. The case, heard before Mr Justice David Keane, concerned serious injuries Mr Phelan sustained as a passenger in a road traffic accident on August 3, 2008, near Clashnevin, Nenagh, Co Tipperary. It was alleged that the defendant, driving a vehicle she owned, struck the nearly stationary vehicle from behind due to negligence, including failing to keep a proper lookout, excessive speed, and driving an unfit vehicle. Liability was not contested; the trial stage focused solely on the assessment of damages. Mr Phelan claimed significant personal and professional disruption, citing ongoing pain to his spine, neck, knee, and pelvis, along with soft tissue damage and bruising. He reported that his recovery has been poor and that he continues to undergo treatment. During the proceedings, counsel Des O'Neill SC, appearing with Alistair Rutherdale BL for the plaintiff, informed the court that discussions between the parties had been successful. Consequently, the case was struck out with an order for costs in favour of the plaintiff. Fergus O'Hagen SC, representing the defendant, consented to this disposal. The judge praised both sides for their efforts in reaching a settlement and wished Mr Phelan well in his continued recovery.
Darren Kershaw, 45, of Cherry Orchard Park, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing serious harm, failing to remain at the scene, and driving over the legal alcohol limit after striking Ranyfrancia DaSilva, a Brazilian national, on Landen Road, Ballyfermot, on 19 June 2018. The incident occurred when Kershaw attempted a U‑turn before a Garda checkpoint on Sarsfield Road, collided with a set of traffic lights, and then struck DaSilva, who was walking home from a restaurant. DaSilva suffered multiple skull fractures, back injuries, and has endured ongoing dizziness, headaches, and disturbed sleep, losing her job and incurring €27,000 in medical expenses. Kershaw was sentenced to four‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions, including remaining drug and alcohol free. The court noted his guilty plea, cooperation, remorse, and efforts to rehabilitate, including abstaining from alcohol and drugs.
Alan Craughwell (35) of Athlone, Co Westmeath, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm following a collision with a nurse on December 24, 2017 at Taghmaconnell, Co Roscommon. He had been travelling with more than twice the legal alcohol limit and narrowly missed six oncoming vehicles before striking the victim's car. The Circuit Court imposed a fully suspended two-and-a-half year sentence in May 2019. The Court of Appeal found this sentence unduly lenient and re-sentenced Craughwell to two-and-a-half years imprisonment with the final 15 months suspended. Mr Justice George Birmingham described the driving as "sustained, rank bad driving" rather than isolated poor judgement. The victim, a nurse, sustained serious injuries including fractured ankles and experienced significant disruption to her working life and family activities. Craughwell's ten-year driving ban remained in effect, and he was required to enter a good behaviour bond for the suspended portion of his sentence. Alan Craughwell had the case dismissed.
James Gannon, 32, of St Mark's Drive, Clondalkin, was sentenced to seven‑and‑a‑half years in prison for possession of cocaine, cannabis and ketamine for sale or supply. He pleaded guilty to offences at Citywest Storage, Tallaght, and at locations in Lucan on 22 March 2018. The court found €1.1 million worth of drugs in brown boxes labelled "Sport Socks" at a storage unit in Gannon's name. Gardaí had observed Gannon entering the unit, driving a van to Ballyowen Castle Shopping Centre, and passing drugs to another man who later drove away in a car carrying €34 972 worth of cocaine. Gannon admitted renting the unit and that he had never stored drugs before, citing a €20 000 drug debt. He has two prior convictions for road traffic offences. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a nine‑year sentence, suspending the final 18 months on conditions.
Ryszard Gieron, 42, was given a suspended two‑year sentence for dangerous driving that caused the death of taxi passenger Mark Gerety, 39, on 23 June 2017. Gieron drove through a red light at the junction of North Circular Road and Summerhill Parade, colliding with a taxi that had a green light. The taxi flipped over, and Mark sustained fatal injuries. Gardaí found no evidence of speeding, intoxication or fatigue. Gieron had no prior convictions, had been driving on a provisional licence for seven years, and behaved appropriately after the collision. The judge noted the absence of aggravating factors and accepted Gieron's explanation that he believed the light was green, deciding that imprisonment would be unjust. The sentence was fully suspended, with no custodial time imposed. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Ryszard Gieron pleaded guilty.
David Byrne, a 43‑year‑old former postman from Kilcullen, was convicted of dangerous driving causing the death of 70‑year‑old Patricia Dunne in Dublin on 16 October 2015. He also pleaded not guilty to dishonestly inducing the National Driving Licence Service to issue a licence and to making a false statement on an insurance application. A jury found him guilty on all three counts and Judge Patricia Ryan sentenced him to five years' imprisonment on 11 May 2018. The Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice George Birmingham, reduced the sentence to four years, suspending the final 12 months, citing mitigating factors such as Byrne's exemplary character, good work record and long period of incident‑free driving. The court upheld a lifetime driving disqualification. Byrne suffers from Type 2 Usher Syndrome, a degenerative eye disorder that causes peripheral vision loss. The appeal was rejected, with the court affirming that the trial was fair and the verdict safe.
Liam Butterly, 26, of Whiteacre Place, Ballymun, Dublin, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to endangerment and dangerous driving for driving a stolen motorbike at high speed, in the wrong direction around a roundabout, and through red lights on 20 January 2017. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to three years' imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended, and disqualified him from driving for six years. Butterly, who has 53 prior convictions, became agitated after sentencing, telling the judge that people who kill people get three years in jail and that he has two small children and that the incident occurred a week before Christmas. He apologized and said he only wanted the judge to know about his children.
Rosemarie Gallagher, 61, was jailed for two years after her convertible lost control, struck a tree, a stone wall and railings, then collided with Benjamin Renard, 24, and three other men on Adelaide Road, Dublin. The crash threw all four men into the air; Renard died 15 days later after life support was withdrawn. Gallagher pleaded guilty to one charge of dangerous driving causing death and three charges of dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm. She had no prior convictions and had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis 26 years earlier, though she was considered medically fit to drive. The court noted her condition may have contributed to loss of control and imposed a custodial sentence, disqualifying her from driving for three years. The three injured men suffered fractures and other injuries. The judge described the case as tragic and lamentable.
Gabor Garics, a 39‑year‑old Hungarian national, was found guilty of endangerment and drink driving after his car, while heavily intoxicated, mounted a curb and struck Anna O'Shea, a 64‑year‑old woman, on North King Street in Dublin on 3 January 2019. O'Shea suffered cuts and a fractured leg, requiring stitches and an 11‑week recovery period. Garics, who had a prior drink‑driving conviction, pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Pauline Codd sentenced him to four years' imprisonment, suspending the final 18 months on strict conditions, and disqualified him from driving for six years. The court noted Garics was three times over the legal alcohol limit, had an iron bar and two open bottles of spirits in the vehicle, and had left the scene before being apprehended by Gardaí. The judge highlighted the physical, emotional, psychological and financial impact on O'Shea and considered Garics' early guilty plea and cooperation as mitigating factors.
David Byrne, a 43‑year‑old former postman from Kilcullen, appealed the severity of his five‑year prison sentence for dangerous driving that caused the death of 70‑year‑old Patricia Dunne on Collins Avenue East, Killester, in October 2015. Byrne, who has Type 2 Usher Syndrome, a degenerative eye disorder that causes peripheral vision loss, pleaded not guilty to the charges of dangerous driving, dishonestly inducing the National Driving Licence Service to issue a licence, and making a false statement while taking out insurance. The jury found him guilty on all three counts. His appeal, presented to the Court of Appeal, argues that the eight‑year headline sentence was too high and that his medical condition should be considered. The Court of Appeal reserved judgment, with a decision expected on 20 December 2023.
Peter Kane, 49, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment after a Gardaí search of his Dublin bedsit revealed over €200,000 worth of drugs. The drugs, including cocaine, cannabis resin and heroin, were found under his bed with weighing scales. Kane had previously been clean from heroin and on methadone, and had not had any Gardaí trouble for seven years. He claimed he was offered free cocaine in a local pub and was then pressured to store drugs for others, owing money for them. He pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine, cannabis resin and heroin at his Decies Road home on 13 May 2019. The court noted his 16 prior convictions, including robbery, forgery, road traffic and begging, and his explanation that he was holding the drugs for others. Judge Martin Nolan acknowledged his difficult life and children in England before imposing the five‑year term. The Gardaí had obtained confidential information that led to the search.
Carl McGuinness, 24, was jailed for six years after a high‑speed pursuit in a stolen taxi that ended with a collision with a lamp post. While driving the van at dangerous speeds, he knocked a cyclist, James Byrne, onto the bonnet and threw him into the air, breaking Byrne's leg in two places. The incident also injured a woman, Carol Lacey, who was struck by the van. McGuinness pleaded guilty to reckless endangerment, four counts of property damage, car theft, and driving without insurance or a licence. He admitted an addiction to heroin and crack cocaine and a difficult upbringing. The court disqualified him from driving for six years and imposed the prison term back‑dated to last July. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
A man has been sentenced to twenty months' imprisonment following a fatal collision on the Naas Road in Dublin on 31 January 2016. Anthony Corcoran, aged 39, of Lyons Street, Newcastle, County Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to failure to remain at the scene with intent to escape civil or criminal liability. A charge of dangerous driving causing death was withdrawn by the State. The court heard that Corcoran struck a pedestrian while returning to County Cavan after an evening out. He subsequently informed gardaí of his involvement the following morning. Judge Martin Nolan noted evidence suggesting the defendant was over the drink-driving limit and concluded he panicked at the scene. The judge acknowledged significant mitigation including an early guilty plea, immediate contact with gardaí, lack of previous convictions, and good work history. Corcoran was disqualified from driving for three years.
Derek Keane, 40, was sentenced to five‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment for dangerous driving that caused the death of 27‑year‑old Callum Grimes on 27 December 2016. Keane, who had drunk between 12 and 15 pints of Guinness and possibly a gin and tonic before driving, collided with Grimes on a rural road near Loughshinny, Skerries, where no footpath existed. Grimes suffered catastrophic brain injuries and died seven months later at Beaumont Hospital. Keane also pleaded guilty to failing to provide assistance at the scene. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, presided over by Judge Martin Nolan, disqualified Keane from driving for six years. Keane had no memory of the night in question and had reported his van's damage the next day after learning of the hit‑and‑run. The court noted that Grimes was described by his family as a shy boy who loved life. The disqualification was imposed following the sentencing.
Anthony Corcoran, aged 39, of Newcastle, County Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to failure to remain at the scene with intent to escape civil or criminal liability following a collision on the Naas Road, Dublin on 31 January 2016. The court heard that Corcoran struck Peter Maunde, who was walking on the motorway in dark clothing during poor weather conditions. A charge of dangerous driving causing death was withdrawn by the State. Corcoran informed gardaí of his involvement the following morning after his father contacted local police in County Cavan. During interview, Corcoran admitted consuming alcohol that evening. Garda evidence indicated multiple witnesses observed a man crossing the motorway barrier near Red Cow Roundabout, while other motorists initially mistook the casualty for an animal. Judge Martin Nolan remanded Corcoran on continuing bail for sentencing, indicating he would consider the case overnight. A victim impact statement from the deceased's family was submitted to the court.
Derek Keane, a 40‑year‑old part‑time firefighter, was sentenced to five‑and‑a‑half years in prison for dangerous driving causing the death of 27‑year‑old Callum Grimes on 27 December 2016. Keane, who had consumed up to 15 pints of Guinness that day, had no memory of driving home or the collision. Grimes was walking home from St Stephen's Day celebrations when he was struck on a rural road between Skerries and Rush. He suffered catastrophic brain injuries, underwent multiple surgeries, and died on 14 July 2017 after life support was withdrawn. Keane also pleaded guilty to failing to provide assistance at the scene. The court noted his previous speeding conviction and his role as a qualified electrician and volunteer first‑aid provider. The sentencing judge described the case as "lamentable and tragic" and highlighted the severe impact on Grimes' family.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Dean Fitzsimons, aged 19, was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment for multiple firearm offences, including possession of a semi‑automatic pistol, a silencer and seven rounds of ammunition on Waterford Road, Blanchardstown, on 28 May, and for being a passenger in a stolen car on 23 June. His father, Kenneth Fitzsimons, aged 39, received a five‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence for two counts of firearm possession, dangerous driving, driving a stolen car and resisting arrest, all committed on 23 June. The court noted that Kenneth had been stabbed earlier that year by individuals threatening Dean, and that he had driven a stolen vehicle at high speed, narrowly missing a Garda, before being stopped and arrested. Both men were arrested and have remained in custody since. Dean has a one‑year‑old child and five prior convictions; Kenneth has two other children, including a newborn, and one prior larceny conviction. Dean Fitzsimons pleaded guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Brendan Treacy, 36, was sentenced to a suspended two‑and‑a‑half‑year term for making a false emergency call about a gangland shooting at Peadar Kearney House, Railway Street. Treacy claimed a gangland member had been shot and a black Toyota Avensis had fled the scene, prompting eleven Garda units, a fire brigade truck and an ambulance to respond for 24 minutes before the operation was called off. He later admitted the call was a "moment of madness" while he was "completely wasted" on tablets and vodka. Treacy, who has been clean of heroin for two years and now helps others recover from addiction, pleaded guilty to the false report. The judge noted the diversion of Garda resources and commended his rehabilitation efforts, suspending the sentence on a number of conditions. Treacy has 40 prior convictions, including theft, road traffic and drug offences.
Joseph Hillen, aged 25, was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended, after the Court of Appeal found his original six‑year term too lenient. Hillen admitted stabbing taxi driver Martin Mulligan, aged 53, in a rural area near Dundalk on 28 September 2015, but denied murder. He was found guilty of manslaughter by a jury and originally sentenced to seven years, with one year suspended. The appeal, brought by the Director of Public Prosecutions, led to a new sentence of nine years, again with the final year suspended. Hillen's case involved two serious stab wounds, a 22.5‑cm abdominal wound and a through‑and‑through thigh wound. He had previously been convicted of dangerous driving while on bail for the killing and had 15 prior convictions, none for violence. The court noted his role as a father of two children and the impact on the Mulligan family.
Shane McKeever, aged 28, stole Thomas Stephens' car while Stephens was disposing of recycling. McKeever drove the vehicle, pinned Stephens against a wall, and crushed his ankle against a curb. After reversing, McKeever knocked Stephens to the ground. Garda Mark Walsh assisted and later found McKeever involved in a collision with a recycling truck on the M50, where the stolen car was propelled across traffic and overturned. McKeever was arrested after refusing a drug test and pleaded guilty to endangerment, car theft, failure to provide a sample and driving without insurance. He had 86 prior convictions and had been disqualified from driving two weeks earlier. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to six years' disqualification and four and a half years' imprisonment, citing remorse and steps taken to address his addiction. The court considered CCTV footage and victim impact reports, noting Stephens' ongoing injury and reduced income. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Patrick Morgan, 33, of Kilbarron Avenue, Kilmore, Dublin, was found in Mountjoy Prison on 6 April 2016 with Kinder Surprise Eggs that contained cannabis and heroin. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of cannabis and heroin for sale or supply. Garda Daniel Keaney reported that Morgan was under the influence of an intoxicant when he was searched, and that the search revealed a number of Kinder Surprise Eggs, one of which burst open to reveal cannabis, and others that had been stored internally but were removed. The eggs contained €468 of heroin and €656 of cannabis. Morgan is already serving a five‑year sentence for dangerous driving that caused the death of jogger Karl Robertson in 2017, with a scheduled release in February 2022.
In a 2019 case, Mark Halligan, aged 45, pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to threatening to kill or seriously harm a parish priest, Father Peter Byrne, at a church in Balally, Dundrum, on 11 September 2016. Halligan, who suffers from a religious persecution disorder—a form of schizophrenia—followed the priest into the sacristy with a large knife and warned that he would cut the priest's fingers off. A parishioner witnessed the threat and called the Gardaí, who arrested Halligan on the scene. He has 17 prior convictions, including theft, drug misuse, criminal damage, public order offences and road traffic offences. The judge accepted that Halligan was delusional at the time and, after confirming he had received suitable treatment and had not repeated such behaviour, imposed a three‑year prison sentence, fully suspended on the condition that he keep the peace, behave well for three years and be supervised by the Probation Service for 18 months.
In Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Kaine Ugwu, a 25‑year‑old Nigerian learner driver, received a suspended 12‑month sentence for the fatal collision that killed 34‑year‑old Brazilian food‑delivery motorcyclist Fernando Coimbra de Almeida Morato on North Circular Road on 8 December 2017. Ugwu pleaded guilty to careless driving, had no prior convictions, and was not intoxicated or speeding. He was ordered to pay €10,000 to Morato's fiancée and mother, and an additional €20,000 to the family within six months. Judge Elma Sheahan suspended the sentence on conditions including payment of the sums, a six‑year driving ban, and a stay in the country until the payment is confirmed. Ugwu's visa has since expired, and the judge noted this could affect his future. The court also heard the tragic impact on Morato's fiancée, who expressed profound loss and emptiness.
A 23-year-old man from Carrick-on-Shannon, County Leitrim, has been sentenced to 40 months imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm. John Dowling pleaded guilty to the offence, which occurred on 19 August 2017 on Drynam Road, Swords. The incident took place after Dowling left a public house where he had been celebrating his 21st birthday. While driving, he was marginally over the drink-driving limit, exceeded the speed limit whilst overtaking another vehicle, and lost control of his car after striking the kerb. The vehicle collided with a tree and wall. His passenger, Mark Kelly, sustained catastrophic injuries and remains in a vegetative state. Judge Martin Nolan noted the case was tragic and that Mr Kelly's family had been devastated. The judge imposed the sentence having considered aggravating factors including alcohol consumption, excessive speed, and lack of vehicle insurance, alongside mitigating factors including Dowling's guilty plea and demonstrated remorse.
Lorcan Ross, 25, of Ballyfermot, was sentenced to four and a half years' imprisonment and a six‑year driving disqualification after pleading guilty to endangerment, dangerous driving and driving without a licence and insurance. The offence involved a 30‑minute high‑speed pursuit through Ballyfermot, during which Ross drove in the middle of the road, ran red lights, performed hand‑brake turns and turned corners without regard for other vehicles. Vehicles had to mount footpaths and pedestrians had to move to avoid being struck. No injuries were reported and no victims were identified. Ross had 78 prior convictions, including 30 for road traffic offences. He voluntarily stopped the vehicle, did not resist arrest and was not aware of any injuries caused. The judge noted Ross's extensive offending history and the seriousness of his endangerment, leading to the custodial sentence.
Derek Tuohy, 37, of Lucan, was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment after pleading guilty to assault causing harm at his home on 1 November 2017. The offence involved him head‑butting his then partner, Samantha Murphy, picking her up by the neck and throwing her out of the house. The incident followed a Halloween party where Tuohy had been intoxicated. He punched Murphy three times on her right thigh, head‑butted her to her right temple, kicked her in the stomach, and then lifted her and threw her out of the house. Murphy suffered a fall down the stairs and was left barefoot on the street. She later obtained a protection order. Tuohy had nine prior convictions for road traffic and public order offences and had made no contact with Murphy or their child since the incident.
John Conroy, 24, was convicted of 13 counts of dangerous driving and public endangerment after hijacking a car and leading a high‑speed chase through Galway city on 31 May 2016. He was found guilty by a jury at the Galway Circuit Criminal Court and sentenced to six‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended. Conroy appealed his conviction, arguing that the car‑owner's out‑of‑court statement was inadmissible because the witness, Thomas Ackroyd, was under the influence of morphine when he made the statement and could only recall about 2 % of its contents. The Court of Appeal has reserved judgment on the appeal, which centres on whether the safeguards for admitting such statements were met. The appeal will be heard after the Court of Appeal's decision is announced. The case remains at the appeal stage.
Derek Lennon, 34, was jailed for four and a half years at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to two counts of threatening a witness, criminal damage to CCTV cameras, assault causing harm, production of a length of wood, and threatening to kill or cause serious harm on October 2 and November 13, 2018. The offences stemmed from a 2017 District Court road traffic prosecution where Lennon, found guilty of dangerous driving, was sentenced to 90 hours of community service and banned from driving for six years. Following an appeal regarding the severity of that sentence, Lennon allegedly intimidated State witness Niall Fitzgerald, who was too afraid to attend court. In November 2018, Lennon allegedly attacked Fitzgerald with a plank of wood and punched him, causing facial injuries and dental damage. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a substantial custodial sentence, noting Lennon's 72 previous convictions and his inability to reform. The sentence was backdated to when Lennon was first remanded in custody last November. Defense counsel highlighted Lennon's remorse and fixation on his driving ban, while the victim reported lasting trauma and diminished faith in the justice process.
Olusola Omobamidele, 51, pleaded guilty to careless driving simpliciter for a collision on 19 October 2014 that killed 38‑year‑old motorcyclist Keith McGann. The court found his driving did not cause McGann's death and imposed a €500 fine, the maximum for this offence, with no prison sentence. Omobamidele had been driving a Dublin Bus and had no prior convictions. He had been working for Dublin Bus for 12 years before the incident and had left the company shortly after. McGann's widow, Cynthia, read a victim impact statement describing the loss of her husband, father of three, and the toll of a five‑year legal process. The judge noted Omobamidele's self‑imposed driving ban and expressed condolences to the family. The sentence was delivered at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court by Judge Martin Nolan.
Eileen Ryan, 26, pregnant and six months along, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to driving with unrestrained children, dangerous driving, and driving without insurance on 25 March 2018. Two children, aged two and five, sat in the back without seat belts. Garda Michael Brisbane described a high‑speed chase in Tallaght where the car broke red lights, drove over the white line, and swerved, with glass bottles thrown at the patrol car. Ryan was abusive, smelled of alcohol, and had slurred speech. She refused blood samples and had four prior District Court convictions. The judge imposed a four‑year suspended sentence, conditional on Ryan keeping the peace for three years, and a mandatory four‑year driving ban. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, with no further verdicts reported in the article.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, truck driver Oleksandr Hrudovyy, aged 47, was found not guilty of dangerous driving causing the death of 80‑year‑old William Carrick on 22 May 2015. The jury, after about an hour and a half of deliberation, returned a unanimous verdict. Hrudovyy, a professional driver from Clonee, claimed he was not driving dangerously; he had no alcohol or drugs, was not tired, and had not been speeding. He argued that Carrick, who had left a pub and was attempting to cross a pedestrian crossing partially blocked by the truck's rear, may have been in a blind spot. Dashcam footage showed Carrick crossing in front of the truck before Hrudovyy moved forward, but the footage did not capture the driver's view. Hrudovyy stopped the truck immediately, was shocked, and cooperated with Gardaí. The prosecution alleged Hrudovyy was inattentive and did not check mirrors.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Oleksandr Hrudovyy, a 47‑year‑old professional truck driver, pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of William Carrick, an 80‑year‑old pedestrian. The incident occurred on 22 May 2015 when Hrudovyy stopped his 16.9‑metre truck in heavy traffic at a green light on Swords Road, Cloghran, and then moved forward, crushing Carrick who had just left a pub and was crossing the road. Carrick died from multiple fractures and blood loss. The prosecution alleged Hrudovyy was inattentive, failed to check mirrors, and did not perform required checks before moving the vehicle. Dashcam footage showed Carrick crossing in front of the truck, while Hrudovyy claimed he did not see him. Defence argued the evidence did not meet the Supreme Court's definition of dangerous driving and that the stop was merely inconsiderate. The jury was instructed to remain impartial and consider the facts presented.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Alan Barrett, 42, was sentenced to nine months in custody for diverting trust money held for event organisers into his personal account to keep the ticketing company Event Elephant LTD afloat. Barrett, who had previously served a two‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence for tax offences in 2017, pleaded guilty to theft between December 2010 and August 2013. The judge described the offence as an "unusual theft" arising from Barrett's stewardship of company funds, noting that a substantial portion was spent on company expenses. Barrett had already served part of his earlier sentence and was disqualified from being a company director. The court imposed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence, suspending all but nine months, reflecting Barrett's cooperation, remorse, and the impact of his actions on the company's financial difficulties.
Michael Doherty, a 39‑year‑old former wine and school lunch delivery businessman, was sentenced to a suspended three‑and‑a‑half‑year prison term for robbery after a judge noted his efforts to rehabilitate. On 31 March 2017, Doherty entered a Maxol station on Newcastle Road in Lucan, threatened staff with a claw hammer, and when the till would not open he struck it and stole about €400. He fled in a black car that Gardaí linked to him, leading to his arrest. Doherty pleaded guilty to the robbery of Kim Heffernan. He had 24 prior convictions, mainly for road traffic offences, and the prosecution and defence agreed the robbery was out of character. Counsel argued that the breakdown of his marriage had devastated him, leading to drug abuse and business failure, and that he committed the robbery to fund his addiction.
A visually impaired postman who was convicted of dangerous driving causing the death of an elderly pedestrian has had his conviction upheld by the Court of Appeal. Postman David Byrne (43) of Sunnyhill, Castlemartin Lodge, Kilcullen, Co Kildare, had pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of Patricia Dunne (70) at Collins Avenue East, Killester in Dublin on October 16, 2015. He also pleaded not guilty to dishonestly inducing the National Driving Licence Service (NDLS) to issue him with a driving licence and making a false or misleading statement while taking out insurance. He was found guilty by a jury on all three counts and sentenced to five years imprisonment by Judge Patricia Ryan on May 11, 2018. During the trial, the court heard that Ms Dunne had been walking home pulling a shopping trolley when she was struck by Byrne's car. Byrne has Type 2 Usher Syndrome, a degenerative eye disorder resulting in peripheral vision loss. The Court of Appeal rejected all grounds of appeal, including the claim that Byrne should have been charged with a lesser offence. The court upheld that Byrne ticked a box on his licence application stating that he did not have any condition affecting his peripheral vision, thereby making a gain by deception. The matter was adjourned, with Mr Justice Birmingham presiding, along with Ms Justice Maire Whelan and Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, to hear an appeal relating to the length of Byrne's sentence in November.
Edward Stokes, aged 25, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for endangerment and dangerous driving after a high‑speed chase in Clondalkin and Ballyfermot. On 3 October 2016, Stokes drove through a red light, over a Luas line, and attempted to ram a Garda patrol car, forcing the officers to take evasive action. He then drove into a traveller's site, crashed into a bollard, and fled into an attic where he was arrested. Stokes had 23 prior convictions, including violent disorder and driving offences, and was disqualified from driving at the time of the offence. The court noted his medical condition (necrotising pancreatitis) and his expressed remorse. Judge Cormac Quinn imposed a three‑year sentence, suspending the final 18 months on strict conditions. Edward Stokes pleaded guilty.
A 54-year-old woman from Dublin has received a fully suspended five-year sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for storing over €192,000 worth of drugs at her home. Catherine Byrne pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply on May 29, 2018. Her co-accused, Robert Yeates, aged 32, also pleaded guilty to possession of a shotgun at a location in Finglas North on the same date. The court heard that Byrne became involved in the offence to settle her daughter's drug debt after threats were made against her family. Judge Martin Nolan found her culpability low, noting she acted under duress to protect her daughter from serious individuals. Yeates received a three-and-a-half-year suspended sentence conditional on keeping the peace and maintaining good behaviour for that period. Byrne has 21 previous convictions for road traffic offences, while Yeates has two similar prior convictions.
At the Central Criminal Court, two men have pleaded guilty to facilitating the murder of Vinnie Ryan, whose shooting in Dublin on 19 February 2016 left his five-week-old daughter without a father. Paul O'Beirne of Ballyfermot and Jeffrey Morrow of Coolock admitted providing and destroying a stolen silver Volkswagen Golf used in the fatal attack, which involved at least thirteen shots fired at Mr Ryan's vehicle. Gardaí established the connection through CCTV footage, mobile phone evidence, and forensic analysis linking the men to the vehicle's movements before and after the killing. O'Beirne, with twenty-five previous convictions for road traffic offences, and Morrow, carrying one hundred and twenty prior convictions including conspiracy to rob cash-in-transit vans, both sought leniency from Mr Justice Michael White. The judge commended the gardaí investigation and expressed sympathy for the victim's family and partner. Sentencing is scheduled for 31 July 2019, with a maximum penalty of fifteen years for the offence under the Criminal Justice Act 2006.
Dominik Kaczmarek, 27, of Maplewood Green, Springfield, Tallaght, Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of 3,944 MDMA tablets found in his home on 8 October 2018. He had agreed to hold €39,000 worth of ecstasy tablets for €500 because of a gambling debt. Judge Martin Nolan noted Kaczmarek's gambling problem, his willingness to hand the drugs to third parties, and his good work record and cooperation with Gardaí. He had four prior convictions for minor road traffic offences but no relevant previous convictions. Garda Vincent Jaffray reported the tablets were found in a bedroom drawer and a jacket pocket, along with a weighing scale. Kaczmarek was jailed for two years, with the judge refusing a fully suspended sentence. The case highlighted his gambling addiction and his desire to turn his life around.
Warren Farrell, a 33‑year‑old Garda from Ballyfermot, was driving a marked patrol car when he struck 75‑year‑old Elizabeth Core on Fonthill Road South, Dublin, on 28 August 2014. He pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving causing death but was convicted by a jury on an alternative charge of careless driving causing death. Judge Cormac Quinn, at a sentence hearing in March, ordered Farrell to pay €5,000 to the Irish Road Victims' Association and a €2,000 fine within four months, with a proposed nine‑month prison term deferred under Section 100 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006. The judge confirmed Farrell had complied with the conditions and therefore did not impose the prison sentence. The court noted Farrell's speed was 50‑56 km/h, above the 50 km/h limit, and that he had failed to slow down after seeing Core cross the road.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 19‑year‑old John Gallagher was sentenced to an additional 21 months in prison for a knife‑point robbery that left a taxi driver unable to work nights. The judge cited the victim's impact statement, noting the driver's mental scars and loss of earnings. Gallagher had previously received a three‑year term for two similar robberies, and the new sentence is consecutive, with the final 15 months suspended on strict conditions. Gallagher pleaded guilty to robbery of €200 and a mobile phone from Nitesh Bhagat on 20 October 2018, and to a separate robbery at a Tallaght pharmacy on 22 May 2018. He had earlier convictions for road traffic offences. The court heard that the victim suffered bruises and a nick on his hand and neck, and that he was now too afraid to work at night.
Shane McDonnell, 29, was sentenced by Judge Karen O'Connor at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two years and eight months in custody for unlawful use of a car, three counts of dangerous driving, driving without a licence or insurance, and possession of a stolen laptop and PlayStation. He was under a 10‑year driving ban and had 25 prior convictions. The judge warned he must choose between a life of crime or becoming a better father. McDonnell pleaded guilty to the offences, which occurred in Clanbrassil Street and Kennelworth Park on 17 April 2017 and in Templeogue on 16 September 2018. A second sentence of two years was suspended on condition of keeping the peace and complying with Probation Services. The court noted his transformation in custody and his sister's lack of recognition of him. The sentence was back‑dated to 17 September 2018.