A 21‑year‑old Dublin man was sentenced to two and a half years' imprisonment for having sex with a 14‑year‑old neighbour. The offence occurred between 1 and 24 July 2014. The man pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He has 47 prior convictions for assault, drug offences, false imprisonment, criminal damage and road traffic matters. Judge Martina Baxter sentenced him to two and a half years, suspending the final six months on strict conditions. He must engage with the Probation Service for two years after release, keep the service informed of his address, and participate in any sex‑offender treatment programmes and addiction counselling recommended. The victim, aged 14, reported the incident to her school chaplain, who notified her family and Gardaí. She suffered depression, attempted suicide, and had to give up school, but her condition has improved with treatment.
Michael Jones, a 24‑year‑old roofer from Whitestown Drive, was found guilty of dangerous driving causing the death of Hong Qing Qu, a father of two, at Blanchardstown Road South on 17 November 2015. Jones drove an Audi A3 that broke a red light at a speed estimated between 115 km/h and 137 km/h, well above the 60 km/h limit, and collided with Qu's Mitsubishi Colt. The collision occurred around 1 am near the top of a slip road close to Blanchardstown shopping centre. Witnesses described the Audi's occupants being dragged from the vehicle and placed in a Volkswagen Passat after the crash. Qu was found in the passenger seat of his own car, choking on his blood, and later died. The jury returned a guilty verdict after just over two and a half hours of deliberation. Judge Patricia Ryan remanded Jones to custody and set a sentencing date for 14 January of the following year. Michael Jones pleaded not guilty.
A jury convicted Garda Warren Farrell, 35, of careless driving causing the death of 75‑year‑old Elizabeth Core in August 2014. Farrell, a patrol officer in Clondalkin, was driving a marked car responding to a panic button call at a Topaz garage when it struck Core on Fonthill Road South. He pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving causing death. Judge Cormac Quinn explained that careless driving is below the standard of care expected of a competent driver, creating a risk of harm. After four hours of deliberation, the jury of six men and six women returned a majority verdict of guilty on careless driving. Farrell was remanded on continuing bail until February 22 for sentencing. The Core family attended the trial and accepted the court's schedule. The prosecution sought time to prepare victim impact statements, which the judge granted.
In a tragic incident on 28 July 2017, a six‑year‑old boy, Cian Marren, was struck and killed by a van driven by James O'Brien, who was later jailed for four years after pleading guilty to dangerous driving causing death. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, where Cian's father, Liam Marren, read a victim impact statement expressing profound grief yet offering forgiveness to O'Brien. He described the moment Cian stepped onto the road, the van's red‑light violation, and the fatal head injuries sustained. O'Brien, who had 32 prior convictions, was found to have been driving 10 km/h over the limit and had not seen the red light. The judge noted the severity of the offence, the child's innocence, and the family's extraordinary generosity of spirit, and sentenced O'Brien to four years in prison. The article focuses on the sentencing hearing and the family's response, without mentioning any subsequent legal developments.
A jury has begun deliberations in the trial of Garda Warren Farrell, 35, charged with dangerous driving causing the death of 75‑year‑old Elizabeth Core. Farrell, a patrol officer in Clondalkin, was driving a marked Garda car responding to a panic button call at a Topaz garage when it struck Core on Fonthill Road South on 28 August 2014. He pleaded not guilty. Judge Cormac Quinn told the jury they could convict on either dangerous driving causing death or careless driving causing death and that a unanimous verdict was required. On day six, the jury deliberated for an hour before leaving for the night. Prosecutor James Dwyer argued that Farrell had seen Core from 200 m away, failed to brake until 10–13 m before impact, and continued at 56–58 km/h on a 50 km/h road, constituting dangerous driving.
Michael Jones, 25, was accused of causing a fatal collision on 17 November 2015 near Blanchardstown. He was driving an Audi A3 that allegedly ran a red light and struck a Mitsubishi Colt driven by Hong Qing Qu. Jones pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving causing death. After the crash, he was admitted to James Connolly Hospital where he gave a false name, Michael McDonagh, and claimed he had injured his leg in a fall. A nurse attempted to lift him but his ankle was limp. Jones told investigators he had not left the scene, had collapsed, and was carried to the hospital by friends. He also said he had worn an orange jacket that was removed by his friends. The trial is ongoing before Judge Patricia Ryan and a jury.
In a dangerous driving case, Garda Warren Farrell, 35, was charged with causing the death of pedestrian Elizabeth Core. The incident occurred on August 28, 2014, when Farrell was driving a marked patrol car responding to a panic button call at a Topaz garage. Garda Declan Bambrick, a passenger, testified that they were scanning for a suspect vehicle and that Core was stepping into the bus lane. Bambrick said he saw Core cross the road at a solid white line and that Farrell applied hard brakes, moving the car left into the bus lane. The car struck the kerb and hit Core, who was found on the ground with blood gushing from her mouth. Both Farrell and Bambrick were described as being in shock after the collision. The trial is proceeding before Judge Cormac Quinn with a jury of twelve. Warren Farrell pleaded not guilty.
An eye witness testified that a garda patrol car driven by Warren Farrell (35) struck and killed pedestrian Elizabeth Core on Fonthill Road South on 28 August 2014. Farrell, who has pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving causing death, was driving a marked patrol car responding to a panic button call at a Topaz garage when the collision occurred. Witness Alma Ozakauskiene described the road as curved and the car moving at high speed, noting she did not hear a siren or see lights. Geraldine Brown, who was on her mobile phone, observed Core crossing at a normal pace and saw the patrol car hit her, with no siren audible. The trial is ongoing before Judge Cormac Quinn and a jury.
An eye‑witness, Jean Fitzgerald, testified at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court that she believes the deceased, Michael Jones, was at fault for the fatal collision that killed Hong Qing Qu. Fitzgerald said she does not think Jones was guilty of dangerous driving and that Qu caused the accident. She had given two statements to Gardaí: the first, made three days after the crash, blamed Jones, but the second, given on Monday, blamed Qu. She claimed the Garda had altered her words, possibly to favour the defendant. Fitzgerald also recounted that she had climbed into Qu's car, held his head, and that he was unconscious. She explained that she signed the original statement under distress, citing PTSD and the traumatic experience of seeing Qu die in her arms. The trial continues with Judge Patricia Ryan and a jury.
During a trial for dangerous driving, witnesses described a fatal collision that occurred at 1 a.m. on 17 November 2015 near Blanchardstown. Michael Jones, driving an Audi A3, allegedly ran a red light and struck the side of a Mitsubishi Colt driven by Hong Qing Qu. The crash left Qu's body squashed between seats and choking on his own blood. Witnesses reported that after the impact, three men dragged Qu from the Audi and placed him in the back of a Volkswagen Passat, which was then driven away toward Corduff. Several observers, including Louise Murphy, Jean Fitzgerald, Claire Bruton and John Gannon, recounted seeing Qu in a severely injured state, with blood from his ears, nose and mouth, and described the chaotic removal of his body from the scene. The case remains before Judge Patricia Ryan and a jury.
Michael Sheehan, 29, of Cliona Park, Moyross, Limerick, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving that caused serious bodily harm to three elderly men on September 25, 2014, after a burglary spree. The victims were 79‑year‑old former hurler Eric Ryan, who lost a leg; William Barry, a retired Garda in his 70s, who suffered brain bleeding; and Dermot O'Brien, also in his 70s, who escaped injury but later died. Sheehan also pleaded guilty to two burglary counts on the same date and had more than 50 prior convictions. He admitted drinking eight bottles of cider and a naggin of vodka before the incident. Judge Tom O'Donnell sentenced him to five years' imprisonment, with a concurrent 12‑month term for the burglaries, and added a three‑year sentence for a May 2014 burglary. Sheehan had planned to appeal the sentence, but after the Court of Appeal's warning that sentences could be increased, his lawyer withdrew the appeal.
A 35‑year‑old Garda, Warren Farrell, is on trial for dangerous driving that caused the death of Elizabeth Core in 2014. Farrell was driving a marked patrol car responding to a panic button call at a Topaz garage when the vehicle struck Core, who was crossing the road. The patrol car's emergency lights were on but the siren was off to allow communication with command. Farrell allegedly applied the brakes and entered the bus lane, causing the car to mount the footpath and the front left tyre to burst. The right side of the car hit Core, who was pushed onto the vehicle. She was taken to hospital, received medical attention, but was pronounced dead shortly after. A state pathologist concluded her death was caused by head and chest trauma from the vehicular impact. Farrell pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The trial continues before Judge Cormac Quinn and a jury of twelve.
Dubliner Michael Jones is standing trial at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, accused of dangerous driving causing the death of Hong Qing Qu. The incident allegedly occurred on November 17, 2015, at Blanchardstown Road, south. Prosecutors allege that Mr Jones, a 25-year-old professional roofer, was driving an Audi A3 at excessive speed and ran a red light before colliding with the side of a Mitsubishi Colt driven by Mr Qu. The impact caused the Colt to change direction and travel a significant distance, resulting in extensive damage. Mr Qu sustained multiple injuries and died shortly after being taken to a nearby hospital. The prosecution contends that after the crash, occupants of the Audi, including an allegedly injured driver, exited the vehicle and entered a third car, a Volkswagen, which was later seen at the hospital. Mr Jones was subsequently admitted to the same facility with leg injuries. Mr Jones has pleaded not guilty to the charge. In his opening address, counsel Dominic McGinn SC stated that the State must prove beyond reasonable doubt that Mr Jones was the driver, that his driving was dangerous, and that it caused Mr Qu's death. The trial is presided over by Judge Patricia Ryan and a jury of eight men and four women. The matter is currently ongoing and is expected to run for eight days, with proceedings continuing on Monday next.
In November 2018 the Court of Appeal heard an appeal by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) against the acquittal of a motorist charged with dangerous driving causing the death of another driver in Munster in 2014. The case centred on the accused's car crossing 1.7 metres into the oncoming lane before colliding with the deceased's vehicle. The accused had not been drinking, speeding or using his mobile phone in the 42 minutes before the incident, and no medical, vehicle or environmental factors were found to have contributed. The trial judge had directed the jury to acquit on the basis of insufficient evidence for the charge of dangerous driving causing death, and no alternative charge such as careless driving was considered.
Shane Murphy, 31, of Cork, pleaded guilty to two thefts and dangerous driving that caused serious harm to a six‑month‑old baby on Blackrock Road in March 2017. The baby's skull was fractured after the mother was knocked to the ground and the buggy was swept against a wall. Murphy, the driver, fled the scene after retrieving stolen items and had previously stolen from two retail stores. He was sentenced to six years' imprisonment with the final year suspended, a sentence upheld by the Court of Appeal. The judge noted Murphy's 104 prior convictions, including two hit‑and‑run offences, his intoxication, disqualification, and the aggravating circumstances. The appeal was dismissed, confirming the original sentence. The baby continued treatment at the time of sentencing.
Dan Donovan, 49, and his daughter Charlene Donovan, 23, were sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for offences committed on December 12, 2017, at Parslickstown Gardens, Mulhuddart, Dublin 15. Both pleaded guilty to possessing a shotgun with intent to endanger life and recklessly discharging a firearm. Dan Donovan additionally pleaded guilty to threatening to kill or cause serious harm to Michael Collins. The court heard that Charlene Donovan fired a shotgun across the road, injuring a 17-year-old man, his mother, and a six-month-old baby in the legs. Dan Donovan then took the weapon, threatened to "bury" Mr Collins, and accidentally discharged it into the ground. Judge Martin Nolan jailed both defendants for five years. He noted the ongoing dispute between the families and accepted that the Donovans were in fear, but emphasized the child's blamelessness. Charlene Donovan, who has no prior record and significant intellectual difficulties, broke down in tears upon hearing the sentence. Dan Donovan, who has previous minor road traffic convictions, was held by his daughter. The judge acknowledged the intimidating nature of the rival family but stated he was satisfied Charlene Donovan understood the consequences of her actions.
Ciaran Neally, a 24-year-old man from Cork, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing 512 grammes of cannabis worth €10,300 for sale or supply. The offence occurred on December 18, 2014, at Station Road, Clondalkin, Dublin. Detective Sergeant Kerrie O'Connor testified that Neally was stopped at a routine garda checkpoint, where officers detected a strong smell of cannabis and found the drugs in a shopping bag. Neally's speech was slurred, and his eyes were glassy. He admitted to collecting the drugs for friends who had driven him to Dublin. Judge Melanie Greally noted that Neally was the only occupant of the vehicle to accept full responsibility for the drugs. The court considered his early guilty plea, good employment history, and lack of re-offending in the four years since the incident. The judge also acknowledged that Neally's DNA was not found on the drugs or their wrapping. Taking into account that the crime was at the lower end of the mid-range for such offences, Judge Greally suspended the sentence for two years. Neally has minor previous convictions for road traffic matters.
Lee O'Brien, 31, of Cooley Road, Drimnagh, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to three counts of endangerment, one count of dangerous driving and one count of driving without insurance on 9 January 2018. At 1.30 a.m. a garda patrol unit noticed a red Nissan Micra that hesitated when the driver spotted the gardaí. The car sped off, pursued, and drove down the wrong direction of several one‑way streets, through red lights, and on North King Street where it stalled. O'Brien reversed toward the halted patrol car, colliding with it while two gardaí were still inside. A second patrol car pursued until O'Brien collided with a taxi on Queen's Street, causing the taxi to spin and hit a pole. The driver, his passenger and the taxi driver were removed and treated for minor injuries. O'Brien admitted he was banned from driving at the time and was intoxicated.
Patrick Dignam, 45, was tracked by Gardaí from the robbery scene to his home using CCTV footage. He threatened a staff member at a Centra convenience store on Harold's Cross Road with a rusty knife and stole €170. The footage showed him wearing distinctive tracksuit bottoms, which were later found at his home in Eagle Lodge, Leinster Road West, Dublin. Dignam pleaded guilty to the robbery at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He has 47 prior convictions, mainly for public order and road traffic offences, and was previously jailed for robbery in 1992. Garda Stephen Pendred reviewed shop footage, then canvassed local shops for additional footage, enabling the tracking of Dignam's movements to his residence. A warrant was obtained, and clothing matching the suspect was found. Dignam was arrested, but no cash was recovered. A victim impact statement noted the staff member was not injured but feels more nervous.
Karl Zambra, 31, of St Teresa's Gardens, Donore Avenue, was sentenced to two and a half years in prison, with the final six months suspended for 12 months, after pleading guilty to possessing drugs for sale or supply. The offence involved selling €40 of cocaine to undercover Gardaí who had posed in plain clothes to test whether he would offer drugs. Zambra and another man approached the officers, spoke briefly, and then Zambra signalled to the other man and said, "Them boys are okay, sort them out?" After the officers purchased the cocaine, Zambra gave them his brother's mobile number and suggested they call it to sort themselves out in the future. He was not arrested until almost a year later to avoid blowing the undercover operation. Zambra has 77 previous convictions, including drug misuse, burglary, dangerous driving, drunk driving and a violent disorder offence in a Garda station.
Karl Zambra, 31, of St Teresa's Gardens, Dublin, pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of drugs for sale or supply after an undercover operation on 18 August 2014. Two plain‑clothes Gardaí entered St Teresa's Gardens to see if they would be offered drugs. Zambra and another man were on the steps when the Gardaí approached; they spoke briefly before Zambra signalled to the other man and said, "Them boys are okay, sort them out?" The Gardaí then purchased €40 of cocaine. Zambra gave them his brother's mobile number and told them to call it to "sort themselves out" in the future. The Gardaí believed Zambra was "directing" the drug operations. He was not arrested until almost a year later to preserve the undercover operation's cover. Zambra has 77 previous convictions, including drug misuse, burglary, dangerous driving, drunk driving and a violent disorder offence in a Garda station.
Michael Fulton, 59, of Belmont Park, Raheny, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession for sale or supply of €195,347 worth of cannabis and cocaine. He admitted storing cannabis in wheelie bins and cocaine in his kitchen, claiming he had taken cannabis for back pain and stored the drugs to pay off a debt to an unnamed person he feared. The court noted he had transported the drugs and stored more than €11,000 for the same person. Judge Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin sentenced him to five years imprisonment, suspending the final two years on the condition of good behaviour, drug‑free status and engagement with the Probation Service. He also received a 12‑month driving ban for driving under the influence. The prosecution sought forfeiture and destruction of the money and drugs found at his home. No prior convictions were recorded.
Ronald Lawlor, 36, who had been disqualified from driving for 15 years, was sentenced to three and a half years in prison, with the final 12 months suspended, for leading Gardaí on a high‑speed chase. He had 164 prior convictions, mainly for road traffic offences, and was found guilty of endangerment, dangerous driving, damage to a Garda patrol car and refusing a breath test. During the chase, he drove at speeds up to 140 km/h, drove the wrong way around a roundabout, collided with a Garda car causing about €3,000 in damage, and threw a beer can out the window. He was arrested after refusing an alcohol test. The judge imposed a ten‑year driving ban and ordered him to work with the Probation Service on alcohol misuse and, if suitable, a road safety programme. Lawlor claimed he had stopped drinking four months earlier and suffers from depression.
A man from Kiltimagh, County Mayo, has failed in his appeal against a five-year prison sentence imposed for dangerous driving. Martin Maughan (32) was convicted by jury at Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court in June 2017 of two counts of endangerment following incidents in the Kiltimagh area on 11 February 2016. During the offences, Maughan reversed a vehicle at speed, nearly striking two pedestrians on an evening walk, subsequently drove with excessive speed whilst crossing continuous white lines and navigated a sharp bend on the incorrect side of the road, forcing oncoming vehicles onto the verge. He was subject to multiple driving bans at the time and held 85 previous convictions, including 54 road traffic matters. The Court of Appeal, sitting at Castlebar, dismissed the appeal today, finding the sentence severe but not so severe as to warrant intervention, given the gravity of offending and his extensive driving-related criminal history. Martin Maughan pleaded not guilty.
Tony Ward, 40, of Castlecurragh Park, Mulhuddart, Dublin, pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to endangerment, dangerous driving, assault causing harm and unlawful seizure of a vehicle. On 29 August 2017, he and another man hijacked a taxi at 2:45 am, demanding a ride to Ballymun. Ward, wearing blue rubber gloves, forced the driver to stop, then re‑entered the taxi, unbuckled the seatbelt, and threatened the driver with a four‑inch knife. He ordered the driver out, threatened to stab him, and after the driver escaped, Ward slashed the driver's finger. The taxi then drove off at high speed, pursued by Garda Keith Spackman. At Mellowes Crescent, the taxi rammed two Garda cars and struck a Garda, who was knocked down, sustaining a large laceration to his left arm that required 30 stitches. Ward, who had been drinking and had taken cocaine that evening, is aware the incident could have ended differently.
In a court hearing on 15 October 2018, James Manning, aged 49 and resident of Belclare Avenue, Ballymun, pleaded guilty to possession of 177 kg of cannabis, valued at €3.5 million, found in his van after Gardaí stopped him for driving while using a mobile phone. Garda Thomas Barrett explained that a Garda in Offaly had suspected the van, followed it to Dublin, and upon stopping Manning for mobile‑phone use, searched the vehicle and discovered 15 cardboard boxes of cannabis. Manning, who has 29 prior convictions including false imprisonment, possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, and a dangerous driving conviction, was arrested and has remained in custody. Judge Francis Comerford sentenced him to nine years' imprisonment, with the final three years suspended for a period of three years, citing Manning's early guilty plea and mitigating circumstances. A forfeiture hearing for the van is scheduled for later in the month.
Paul Kelly, a 42‑year‑old mechanic from Santry, was fined €3,000 and disqualified from driving for four years after he ran over Daniel Ryan, a 60‑year‑old man, as Ryan was pulling out of a driveway near Dublin Airport on 26 October 2016. Ryan suffered multiple fractures to his abdomen and limbs, a pulmonary embolism, and was in an induced coma for two days. He has since lost the ability to play golf, cycle long distances, or walk in the hills, and reports ongoing panic attacks, nightmares and sleep difficulties. Kelly pleaded guilty to driving without due care and attention, causing serious bodily harm. The court noted the lack of street lighting on Collinstown Lane and accepted that Kelly's momentary lapse of judgment led to the accident, but also acknowledged his cooperation and remorse after the incident. The judge gave him 12 months to pay the fine and imposed the driving disqualification.
A court heard that Jonathan Goulding (28), also known as Goulding Aka Farrell, pleaded guilty to burglary at Mr Price, Coolock Retail Park, on March 27, 2017, and dangerous driving around the Malahide area, Dublin, on October 2, 2014. The charges were admitted, and the case was at the charge_or_pretrial stage. Goulding has 48 previous convictions, including burglary, theft, and a seven-year sentence for a past drugs offence. The court heard that during the burglary, Goulding held a screwdriver in a menacing way towards the shop staff. In the dangerous driving incident, he was involved in a high-speed chase, drove the wrong way on a dual carriageway, and caused multiple vehicles to take evasive action. Judge Melanie Greally noted that Goulding had been in the throes of drug addiction at the time of the offences. She commended his successful rehabilitation, including completing a drug treatment programme and taking up full-time employment in construction. The judge imposed a fully suspended three and a half year prison term and a two-year driving ban. Conditions included remaining sober and substance free and continuing to attend AA meetings. The matter was adjourned.
Jarlath Higgins, 48, of Caraban, Ravensdale, Dundalk, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and criminal damage after accelerating through a Garda checkpoint near the Táin Bridge on 18 November 2015. He had alcohol on board but was not charged with drink driving. Higgins' Renault Megane violently fishtailed, injuring a Garda and causing €7,500 worth of damage to two patrol cars. Judge Michael O'Shea imposed wholly suspended sentences of two years and five months and a three‑year driving disqualification on 4 May 2017. The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed, but the Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice John Edwards, dismissed the appeal, citing Higgins' mitigating factors, low re‑offending risk, and lack of prior convictions. The suspended sentence remained, with no custodial time imposed.
Michael McDonald Agu, 56, of Avondale Park, Mulhuddart, was jailed for four years after pleading guilty to possession of cannabis for sale or supply at his home on 31 January 2018. He had received a "Hello Kitty" stuffed toy from Thailand that contained nearly €200,000 worth of cannabis. Agu also admitted possession of cocaine for sale or supply at the same location and dangerous driving. Garda Alan Barry testified that after receiving the package Agu made a phone call, then drove off with it, breaking stop signs and driving on the wrong side of the road in a residential area. During his arrest, gardaí found €5,000 worth of cocaine on Agu when it fell from a beanie hat he was wearing, along with a drugs tick list, bagging and weighing scales. Customs officers had intercepted the soft toy at customs, where a sniffer dog had detected cannabis.
Jarlath Higgins, 48, of Caraban, Ravensdale, Dundalk, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and criminal damage after speeding through a Garda checkpoint near Táin Bridge on 18 November 2015. He accelerated when signalled to stop, causing a collision that severely injured a Garda and damaged two patrol cars worth €7,500. Higgins had alcohol on board but was not charged with drink driving. Judge Michael O'Shea imposed a wholly suspended sentence of two years and five months, plus a three‑year driving disqualification, on 4 May 2017. The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed, arguing the sentence was unduly lenient due to the speeding, alcohol, and opportunity to stop earlier. A three‑judge Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal, concluding the sentence was not unduly lenient, and the court will issue reasons on the following Wednesday.
Adrian Nestor, 44, from Keamsella, Kilcolgan, was found guilty of dangerous driving causing the death of 66‑year‑old Liam McDonnell and serious harm to Garda Sharon Casserly and Garda Peter Murtagh. He collided with a garda car near Ardrahan on 1 February 2016 while five times over the alcohol limit, with a blood alcohol level of 272 mg. Sentenced by the Galway Circuit Criminal Court to 240 hours of community service, a €1,000 fine and a four‑year driving ban, the Court of Appeal later ruled the sentence was too lenient. The DPP appealed, arguing the suspended four‑year sentence failed to reflect the seriousness of the offence. The Court of Appeal, after hearing counsel, imposed a four‑year prison term with the final two years suspended, sending Nestor to jail for the first time in this case.
A 21‑year‑old Dublin man, who cannot be named to protect the victim's identity, will be sentenced for having sex with a 14‑year‑old neighbour. Garda Campbell Brennan said the man had been in a relationship with the girl and had been affectionate when alone. The girl told the school chaplain, who notified her family and Gardaí, and the offence came to light after she reported it. The man pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to sexual intercourse with a child under 17 on a date between 1 and 24 July 2014. He has 47 previous convictions for assault, drugs offences, false imprisonment, criminal damage and road traffic matters. The victim's impact statement described depression, suicide attempts, drug and alcohol addiction, school withdrawal and family distress. The man admitted he did not know the girl's age and later admitted having sex with her once in his bedroom.
John Wheeler, 49, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to attempting to rob a post office on Botanic Road on 13 October 2017. He entered the shop with a plastic bag that concealed a sweeping brush, which he claimed was a gun. The post office owner, 72, heard a banging noise, checked a safe, and later saw Wheeler banging on the counter and demanding money. The owner pressed a panic button and called Garda Barry Brennan, who reviewed CCTV and identified Wheeler. Wheeler later admitted to the Garda that he had tried to rob the post office "as a joke" and had no intention to actually commit robbery. He denied having the brush during the attempt. Wheeler had 55 prior convictions, including assault, robbery, theft, larceny, forgery, dangerous driving and drunk driving. He was sentenced to four years, with 18 months suspended, for a final effective custodial term of two and a half years.
A Dublin man has been sentenced to three and a half years imprisonment after pleading guilty to dangerous driving causing serious harm to a teenage pedestrian from Donegal. At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, the court heard that John Maguire, aged 38, struck a young man with his van on Memorial Road, Dublin on 18 March 2017, despite medical advice to refrain from driving for twelve months following an epileptic seizure two months prior. The victim, who had travelled from Letterkenny to attend an event in the city, was crossing at a green pedestrian light when struck. He sustained serious injuries including skull fractures and brain damage, leaving him dependent on family care for the remainder of his life. Maguire pleaded guilty to driving whilst suffering from a condition rendering him a danger to the public. Judge Martin Nolan imposed the sentence whilst acknowledging Maguire's early guilty plea and remorse, but found he bore serious moral culpability for ignoring a known risk. A six-year driving disqualification was also imposed.
Adrian Nestor, 44, from Keamsella, Kilcolgan, was five times over the legal limit when he collided with a garda car near Ardrahan on 1 February 2016. The crash killed 66‑year‑old Liam McDonnell, who had been reported missing from a nursing home, and seriously injured Garda Sharon Casserly and Garda Peter Murtagh, the latter breaking a leg. Nestor pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death and serious harm. The Galway Circuit Criminal Court sentenced him to 240 hours of community service instead of a four‑year prison term, fined €1,000, and banned him from driving for four years. The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed, arguing the sentence was unduly lenient and that a suspended four‑year term would better reflect the seriousness and deterrence required. The Court of Appeal will decide whether to uphold or alter the sentence.
During a 2018 incident, Garda Thomas Gallagher (39) attempted to seize a vehicle driven by Christina Joyce (30), who was under the influence of crack cocaine. Gallagher held onto the Volvo's driver's door to avoid being dragged under the car. He fell, skidded into a parked vehicle, and sustained severe injuries, including a dislocated knee and shoulder damage that required an eight‑week brace and a two‑year sports hiatus. Joyce, a mother of three with no fixed abode, admitted assaulting Gallagher and causing him harm on 9 April 2018, along with charges of trespass, damaging a wall, and damaging a car. She also admitted to driving at speed, crashing into a Dublin City Council van, and breaking into two homes while evading Gardaí. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced her to four and a half years, consecutive to a term she was already serving, and disqualified her from driving for six years.
Ross Thompson, 19, was jailed for 16 months after deliberately driving a Toyota Yaris at a Garda patrol car three times during a high‑speed chase. Thompson, who had no valid licence or insurance, repeatedly drove over the median strip, broke red lights, entered residential green areas and drove on the wrong side of the road. He performed numerous hand‑brake turns and, in three instances, positioned the vehicle to face the patrol car head‑on before driving straight at the officers. He pleaded guilty to two charges of endangerment and one of dangerous driving. Garda Robert English noted that Thompson's driving frightened other road users and that no one was injured or damaged. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Thompson to 16 months in prison, consecutive to his current term, and disqualified him from driving for six years. Thompson is due for release in December 2019.
David Drumm, former chief executive of Anglo Irish Bank, has received a fully suspended sentence of fifteen months at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for his involvement in an unlawful loan scheme. The 51-year-old from Skerries, County Dublin pleaded guilty to ten counts of authorising unlawful financial assistance to the Maple Ten group of developers and businessmen between July 2008. The loans were designed to unwind a substantial undisclosed shareholding in Anglo Irish Bank accumulated by Cavan businessman Sean Quinn through financial instruments. Judge Karen O'Connor imposed the suspended sentence to run concurrently with a six-year custodial sentence imposed following Drumm's conviction on conspiracy and false accounting charges. The judge noted Drumm's role as chief executive meant he held responsibility for ensuring legal compliance and transparency. Drumm was also disqualified from acting as a company director for five years as an automatic consequence of the conviction under the Companies Act.
Ronald Lawlor, 36, who had been disqualified from driving for 15 years, led Gardaí on a high‑speed chase in Dublin's Belmayne area. Garda Neil Plunkett reported that Lawlor, with 164 prior convictions mainly for road traffic offences, ignored warnings and drove at speeds up to 140 km/h, even driving the wrong way around a roundabout and colliding with a Garda patrol car, causing nearly €3,000 in damage. During the pursuit, Lawlor threw a beer can out of the window and refused to provide a breath sample after his arrest. He pleaded guilty to endangerment, dangerous driving, damage to a Garda vehicle and refusal to give a breath sample. Judge Melanie Greally remanded him in custody until 3 October, ordered a probation report, and noted his intention to abstain from alcohol, while emphasising the seriousness of his offences and the need for future management of his drinking.
Mark Carlyle, a former All Ireland junior boxing champion aged 28, was sentenced to three years in custody for unlawfully possessing a sawn‑off shotgun in Pearse Park, Crumlin, on 21 June 2015. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The court noted his 108 prior convictions, including assault and obstruction of a garda, threatening behaviour, intoxication in public, dangerous driving and allowing a horse to pose a danger. Judge Martin Nolan highlighted Carlyle's early boxing success and subsequent poor choices, citing his alcohol misuse as a factor in his career decline. Carlyle was found with a 12‑gauge semi‑automatic shotgun wrapped in plastic, which was discovered in undergrowth after a witness heard a bang and called the police. The gun was seized, and forensic tests revealed firearms residue on Carlyle's clothing. The judge back‑dated the custodial sentence to last May.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Independent TD Michael Lowry and his company Garuda Ltd were convicted of two charges each of filing incorrect corporation tax returns and of failing to keep proper accounts. Judge Martin Nolan, after the jury's verdict, ruled that a custodial sentence would be inappropriate and imposed a total fine of €25,000 – €15,000 on Lowry personally and €10,000 on Garuda – and disqualified Lowry from acting as a director for three years. The judge noted Lowry's lack of prior convictions, his role as a good employer and public representative, and his earlier payment of a €1.4 million tax bill in 2007. The case involved alleged concealment of a €372,000 commission paid in 2002, which was later re‑mortgaged by Lowry to settle the tax bill. The unnamed man pleaded not guilty.
David Mulvey, 36, of Berryfield Drive, Finglas, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two and a half years in prison and disqualified from driving for four years. He pleaded guilty to violent disorder, dangerous driving, and endangerment arising from an incident on October 19, 2017. The court heard that Mulvey was part of a group that assaulted Chris Duggan at the Cardiff Inn. After leaving the pub, Mulvey allegedly drove his Toyota Avensis onto the footpath on Cardiffsbridge Road, attempting to strike Duggan and another man before narrowly missing them. Judge Nolan described the driving as "pretty intentional" and "vicious," noting Mulvey's participation in a "ferocious attack." Mulvey, who has 27 previous convictions, has been on remand since November last year. In a related matter, Duggan, 28, of Cardiffsbridge Road, was previously sentenced by Judge Cormac Quinn last April to two years for violent disorder, with the final 15 months suspended. Duggan had also pleaded guilty to violent disorder stemming from the same confrontation. The prosecution noted that while Mulvey attempted to kick and stamp on Duggan, CCTV did not show contact, and he left the scene while the assault continued. Defense counsel acknowledged the response was disproportionate.
The Court of Appeal heard several sentencing appeals, with two appellants withdrawing their cases after President Mr Justice George Birmingham reminded counsel of the court's power to increase sentences. Philip McKevitt, 62, of Dundalk, withdrew his appeal against an eight-and-a-half-year sentence imposed in 2017 by the Special Criminal Court. He had been convicted of making a bomb in his shed on May 22, 2010, which detectives alleged would have weighed 500lb fully loaded. His co-accused, Conan Murphy, 32, had previously pleaded guilty to the same incident and received a six-year sentence. In a separate matter, Charles McDonagh, 27, of Co Cavan, withdrew his appeal against a nine-year sentence for dangerous driving causing serious harm, a decision Mr Justice Birmingham described as sensible. Conversely, the court upheld the sentences of two other appellants. Keith Hughes, 27, of Dundalk, had his appeal dismissed regarding a six-year sentence (with the final year suspended) for robbing €235 and possessing a knife at a bookmaker in 2015. The court noted his 59 previous convictions and found no error in principle. Additionally, the appeal of a 28-year-old South African national against a 10-year sentence for raping his former partner was dismissed, with the court holding the sentence was within the available range.
James McDonagh, aged 26, was sentenced to four years in prison after he pointed a handgun at Dolores Doyle's head when she asked his children to stop pulling down bunting she had erected in her garden. The incident occurred after Doyle and her husband Patrick, both in their sixties, had repeatedly asked McDonagh's two children to leave their garden. McDonagh threatened violence, including burning the house and killing Doyle's son, and returned with a black six‑inch handgun. He pointed it at Doyle as she tried to return home, then at her husband's face, and later pleaded guilty to threatening to kill or seriously harm the Doyles. The court accepted evidence that the gun was likely not real and that McDonagh had a history of road traffic offences. He had taken steps toward rehabilitation and had moved away from the area. The judge imposed a custodial sentence, suspending the final two years of the four‑year term.
Brendan Smith, a former director of Aston Carpets and Flooring, was found guilty of price‑fixing with Carpet Centre (Contracts) Ltd between July 2012 and April 2013. The scheme involved both firms tendering higher bids than the other to secure contracts. Smith pleaded guilty and was fined €7,500, fined the company €10,000, given a three‑month prison sentence suspended for two years, and disqualified from acting as a director for five years. The Court of Appeal, after an appeal by the Director of Public Prosecutions, ruled the €7,500 fine "unduly lenient" and increased it to €45,000, to be paid within six months. Smith's suspended sentence and the company's fine remained unchanged. The appeal judge noted the profits from the scheme were modest and the customers affected were mainly large corporations. The case was concluded after a Garda raid on April 30, 2013, and the cooperation of Carpet Centre's David Radburn, who received immunity.
Niamh Fitzpatrick, 39, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing a Smith & Wesson revolver found in an air vent in her Ringsend home on February 23, 2017. The firearm, which contained one round of ammunition, was seized by gardaí during a search for drugs, where over €4,200 of heroin was also recovered. Fitzpatrick admitted to gardaí that she kept the gun for self-protection following a threat to her life, a claim supported by Garda Michelle Fitzpatrick, who confirmed colleagues had served GIM forms notifying Fitzpatrick of the threat, though it had since expired. Defence counsel Keith Spencer BL highlighted Fitzpatrick's history of trauma, including abduction and violent attack, which he stated caused profound Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. He noted her 21 previous convictions, mostly minor road traffic offences, and argued she was now drug-free apart from prescribed medication. Spencer requested a lengthy suspended sentence to reflect the offence's seriousness while acknowledging her regret and support from her father. Judge Melanie Greally did not pass sentence immediately. Instead, she remanded Fitzpatrick on continuing bail pending her sentencing hearing scheduled for July.
Michael Rae, 38, of Tallaght, pleaded guilty to arson at Knockmore Park on 26 May 2017, when he set fire to a car outside a family home using a makeshift petrol bomb in a plastic bottle. The incident, described by Judge Melanie Greally as an "extraordinarily dangerous" offence, was linked to a history of discord between Rae and the Brazil family. Rae was found intoxicated, with a slurred voice, and fled the scene after the car caught fire. CCTV from a petrol station and a nearby house showed Rae filling the bottle, setting it alight, and running to the Brazil house. He was sentenced to five years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended, and was ordered not to approach the Brazil house or family for five years. The car, valued at €750, was written off and the house suffered smoke damage. Rae has 29 prior convictions, including road traffic offences, assault and criminal damage.
Patrick Morgan, 28, was jailed for five years after he hit and killed jogger Karl Robertson, 28, in a hit‑and‑run on Hazelwood Drive, Artane, on 8 March 2017. Morgan, who had no fixed abode and had been disqualified from driving, failed to stop, offer assistance or remain at the scene. He later drove his van to a nearby housing estate and set it alight "out of panic." He pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death, failing to stop, failing to offer assistance and leaving the scene. The court noted Morgan's 47 prior convictions and three previous disqualifications. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a five‑year sentence, a ten‑year driving disqualification and highlighted the aggravating factors of speed, disqualification, escape and destruction of the vehicle. The Robertson family expressed deep anger and grief, describing their son as caring, diligent and loving.
In a case heard at the Galway Circuit Criminal Court, Adrian Nestor, aged 44, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of Liam McDonnell, aged 66, and to serious injury to Garda Sharon Casserly, as well as drink driving. The fatal collision occurred near Ardrahan, Galway, on the early hours of 1 February 2016, when Nestor's Audi struck a group of three people, including McDonnell, who had been reported missing from a nursing home. Nestor's blood alcohol level was 272 mg at the time of the incident. Judge Rory McCabe sentenced him to 240 hours of community service instead of a four‑year prison term, fined him €1,000, and imposed a four‑year driving ban. The Director of Public Prosecutions has applied to appeal the sentence, arguing it was "unduly lenient," and the Court of Appeal has set a hearing for 23 July.