Alan McNamara, 51, of Mountfune, Murroe, was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Andrew O'Donoghue. Found guilty last July, McNamara was convicted of killing the Road Tramps member at the club gates on June 20, 2015, during a territorial dispute. Justice Paul McDermott imposed the mandatory life sentence, backdating it to December 1, 2015. McNamara's stepson, Robert Cusack, 28, of Abington, Murroe, pleaded guilty to impeding his stepfather's apprehension. Cusack was sentenced to six years in prison, with 18 months suspended for two years on condition he commits no further crime. The judge noted Cusack's late guilty plea and cooperation with gardai reduced the sentence from seven years. The sentence was backdated to August 14 to account for time in custody. The court heard from the victim's family, who described O'Donoghue as a hero who will never be forgotten. McNamara expressed remorse in a letter to the court. The judge considered McNamara's 11 previous convictions, including assault and drug offenses, and Cusack's three prior road traffic convictions.
Nassour Saleh, a 25‑year‑old Palestinian national, was given a suspended two‑year sentence for endangering Gardaí after a high‑speed chase on Navan Road in 2008. He had been 16 at the time and was not licensed to drive. In 2010 he pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving without insurance and driving under the influence of cannabis, receiving a six‑month suspended detention and a four‑year driving disqualification. The case was adjourned for a probation report, but Saleh fled to Norway, where he lived and worked as a mechanic for six years. He returned to Ireland last year, was arrested during a random Garda check, and was sentenced by Judge Terence O'Sullivan, who noted the unusual circumstances and the fact that no one was injured. The sentence was suspended on conditions including two years of probation supervision. The court emphasised the protection of front‑line services and the seriousness of the offence.
A 25‑year‑old Dublin man, Dean Comerford, was sentenced to one year in jail for providing false information in a passport application. The application, which contained his personal details, was submitted with a photograph that had been spliced to include a different person's image. Comerford had attended Tallaght Garda station in January 2015 to obtain a certification for the application, and the photo was stamped normally. The passport office's fraud department later discovered the splicing. Judge Karen O'Connor found the premeditated nature of the offence aggravating and imposed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence, suspending the final 18 months on strict conditions, including 12 months of probation supervision. The case also involved co‑accused Derek Corr, who received a five‑year sentence with four years suspended, and a GP who was prosecuted for endorsing the identity form without meeting Comerford. The court noted Comerford's history of 14 convictions, including public order and road traffic offences. Dean Comerford pleaded guilty.
Stephen Bailey, aged 30, was sentenced to three years in prison after a high‑speed chase in torrential rain on the M50 led to a garda car aquaplaning and crashing. Bailey had pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine and heroin, intentionally or recklessly ramming a garda, endangerment of Garda Gary Dunne and two dangerous driving charges. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a four‑and‑a‑half‑year term, suspending the final 18 months, and banned Bailey from driving for ten years. The chase began when gardaí, following a surveillance operation on Old Glenamuck Road, spotted a red Audi A3 driven by Bailey. The gardaí pursued him, but the patrol car aquaplaned, causing injuries to Sgt Divian Rock and Garda Tara Byrne. Both officers suffered significant injuries and ongoing medical costs. Bailey's guilty pleas and steps toward drug treatment were noted by the judge.
William Baker, 34, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of a stolen motorcycle on the basis of recklessness. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a fully suspended two‑year sentence, conditioned on good behaviour and payment of €2,200 to the owner within 15 months. The motorcycle was stolen on 1 April 2016 from a National College of Ireland car park and was later scrapped; its ignition had been damaged and the chassis number altered. Garda Adrien Buckley stopped Baker and a second man on 9 May 2016, noting the missing key and false registration plate. Baker was a passenger; the driver was found with a screwdriver and has a bench warrant. Baker has 77 prior convictions, including 56 road traffic offences, four public order offences, three thefts and two firearms offences. He has not been charged since 2009 except for a 2016 shop‑lifting conviction.
At the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Karl Fields (22), of Ayleward Green, Church St, Finglas Dublin, pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine for sale or supply at a house in The Griffith, Finglas, on October 6, 2016, and to unlawfully impeding or obstructing a garda on the same date. The charges were admitted, and Fields was found guilty. Judge Karen O'Connor imposed a two-year sentence, which was suspended in full, consecutive to the term he is currently serving. The court heard that Fields was known to gardaí as a supplier of heroin in the Finglas area. During a search of the house, Fields threw two packages of cocaine out of a window, nearly into the hands of gardaí. The packages had a combined street value of €3,176. Fields has 168 previous convictions, including 11 for drug sale or supply and over 100 for road traffic offences. He has a chaotic family background and began using drugs at the age of 13. Defence counsel stated that Fields wishes to enter a residential treatment program on his release. The matter was adjourned.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Gregory Kearns, aged 44, pleaded guilty to 14 counts of illegally possessing false instruments and items that could be used to make false instruments. Gardaí found at his home a fake €50 note, fake bank statements, a fake driver's licence, a fake motor tax disc, scanners, laminators, a vehicle registration plate maker, gold and silver foil, a harp stamp, laminate strips and a circular cardboard template for making motor tax discs. Kearns, who lives with his wife, two children and a grandchild, told officers he would replace all the equipment within a week and that he had wiped the computers. He has seven previous convictions, including one for handling stolen property and several road traffic offences. The court heard he is a charity volunteer who has dressed as Santa Claus for sick children. Judge Karen O'Connor will sentence him next Friday, October 6.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 49‑year‑old Dublin man was convicted of raping his 14‑year‑old niece twice between 1 January 2012 and 1 April 2013 while she lived with him. The victim, now 19, testified that the assaults occurred in her bedroom after she had fallen asleep, describing the uncle's force and the fear he instilled. She reported feeling "dirt, shame and disgust" and later suffered severe depression, self‑harm and suicidal thoughts. The defendant denied the allegations, claiming the niece had lost her virginity to a boyfriend and that he was not drunk when the incidents occurred. He has 37 prior convictions for road traffic offences. Mr Justice Paul McDermott sentenced him to nine years, with the final year suspended, for two "nasty, violent rapes" that breached the trust of a vulnerable child. The defendant's wife and children supported him, and he has applied for legal aid to appeal.
Keith Jackson Fleming, 26, of Glenshane, Kilteel, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment for dangerous driving that caused the death of his friend Dara Cottuli on 28 November 2015. The final year of the sentence was suspended. Fleming also pleaded guilty to driving without a licence or insurance and to failing to provide a blood sample. He was found to have been under the influence of alcohol and drugs, including D10s and Xanax, at the time of the crash. The vehicle veered, struck a ditch, a timber fence and a stone pillar before crossing the road again. The Court of Appeal upheld the sentence, noting that the judge had considered the seriousness of the offence and the circumstances, and found no error in the decision to suspend the final year.
Carl Freeman, aged 22, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment, back‑dated to January, for an aggravated burglary at a 77‑year‑old Dublin woman's home in Tallaght on 12 March 2013. The court noted the victim was left severely traumatised, fearing for her life and subsequently never returned to the house, now living with her daughter. Freeman pleaded guilty to the burglary and had 62 prior convictions, including dangerous driving, burglary and assault. The judge described him as a "menace to society" and imposed a five‑year term, with the court's decision reflecting the serious impact on the victim. The burglary involved the theft of jewellery, a TV, cash and other items, and the perpetrators used a stolen Audi A4 to escape. Freeman's defence highlighted his family's support and his history of drug abuse and ADHD. The court accepted his guilty plea as a genuine benefit to the victim.
In July 2017 the Court of Appeal upheld a 15‑year driving ban imposed on 52‑year‑old truck driver Tim Walsh of Moneen, Cork, after he pleaded guilty to dangerous driving that caused serious bodily harm to cyclist Vincent O'Driscoll in August 2013. Walsh had been jailed for three years and disqualified from driving for 15 years by Judge Seán O'Donnabháin. The appeal court found that on the day of the incident Walsh was operating a 42‑tonne lorry loaded with timber that was "manifestly unroadworthy", with 70 defects including a cracked rear side mirror that prevented him from seeing the cyclist. He attempted to overtake on a rising bend, pulled back before clearing the cyclist, and the cyclist was struck by the rear wheels of the trailer. O'Driscoll suffered life‑threatening injuries, including a severed spinal cord that shortens his life expectancy by 15‑30 years, and is now confined to a wheelchair.
Andrei Panzariu, 32, of Mountjoy Square Apartments, Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to four charges of theft committed on March 25, 2014. The defendant admitted to withdrawing €4,042 through four separate transactions following a scam that defrauded a woman of €5,000. Prosecution evidence indicated the victim was targeted via a phishing email impersonating Permanent TSB, leading to unauthorized transfers. Panzariu was identified on CCTV making two ATM withdrawals and two sterling exchanges at post offices. He claimed he was approached by two men at a casino and offered €300 to perform the withdrawals. Judge Melanie Greally noted that Panzariu had 25 previous convictions, primarily for road traffic offences, but acknowledged he had repaid the full stolen amount to the victim, the bank, and the phone company. Defence counsel highlighted the defendant's personal tragedies and financial desperation at the time, noting he is now employed and has apologized to the victim. The judge suspended a sentence of 18 months imprisonment, citing the full restitution and the defendant's current circumstances.
Clayton McMahon, 24, of Crumlin, Dublin, was convicted in May 2017 of reckless endangerment, dangerous driving, assault of a Garda, driving without insurance or a licence, and failing to produce evidence of insurance or a licence. He had pleaded not guilty. The jury found him guilty on all counts. Judge Pauline Codd sentenced him to three and a half years, suspended the final year on condition he attends a victim awareness programme and anger‑management counselling, and disqualified him from driving for five years. McMahon, described as an avid boxer, admitted having anger issues. During the incident on 17 November 2016, he shouted threats, punched a window, refused to be handcuffed, spat on a Garda, and was subdued after pepper spray was used. He was later allowed to be handcuffed. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Larry McCarthy, 37, was found guilty of assaulting David Foran, 33, by stabbing him in the leg during a dispute over compensation for a road accident. The incident occurred on 25 November 2014 at Cornmarket Villas, Limerick, after a motorcyclist offered Foran €5,500 and directed him to meet McCarthy. McCarthy, present in the car park, challenged Foran and stabbed him with a knife. Foran suffered a puncture wound to his left thigh, treated at University Hospital Limerick. McCarthy had previously been arrested on 4 March 2015 for violent disorder and had eight prior convictions, including dangerous driving and firearm offences in the UK. He was remanded in custody until 31 July, when he will be sentenced by the Special Criminal Court. The court noted that Foran made a full recovery and declined a victim impact statement. The sentencing hearing was presided over by Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, with Judges Gerard Griffin and Gerard Haughton. Larry McCarthy pleaded not guilty. David Foran pleaded not guilty.
Ciara McGlynn, 43, of Elmwood, Clonsilla, pleaded guilty to robbing €10,700 from a health shop in Blanchardstown Shopping Centre on 29 February 2015. She disguised herself as a young man, wearing a hoodie and hat, and cycled up to the store manager, who was leaving the centre with the takings in a bag. McGlynn seized the bag and was caught by Gardaí on the scene. She has significant psychiatric issues, including post‑natal depression and post‑traumatic stress disorder, and was suffering financial hardship at the time. Judge Karen O'Connor, describing the crime as "bizarre" and "acting out of character", imposed an 18‑month suspended sentence, noting McGlynn's remorse and unlikely future court appearances. The manager, now in the UK, declined to give a victim impact statement. McGlynn has two prior convictions for road traffic offences.
Ryan O'Driscoll, aged 20, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving after he stole a motorbike and drove it through Dublin city streets on 6 March 2015. The bike, with incorrect plates, was pursued by Garda patrol cars that eventually boxed it in. O'Driscoll was arrested and later sentenced by Judge Patricia Ryan to three and a half years' imprisonment, backdated to 20 February, with the balance suspended and a four‑year driving disqualification. He had previously been convicted 84 times, 64 for road traffic offences, and was serving a six‑month sentence for minor traffic offences at the time of sentencing. The court noted his history of drug use and prior sentences at Oberstown, and his stated intention to become a mechanic after release.
Daniel Sweeney, 28, of Croftwood Gardens, Cherry Orchard, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to threatening to kill a Garda, intoxication in a public place and producing a meat cleaver after fleeing from Gardaí on 5 June 2016. Judge Karen O'Connor sentenced him to two‑and‑a‑half years for producing the meat cleaver and 18 months for threatening to kill the Garda, but suspended the entirety of both sentences, which were to run concurrently. The incident began when Garda Peter Smith received a call about a disturbance; Sweeney attempted to flee on a bike, fell, and was seized by Gardaí. He swung the cleaver at Smith, missed, and then shouted threats at Garda Cronin while being transported back to the station. Sweeney, who has two children and a history of alcohol abuse, has 26 previous convictions, including criminal damage, public order offences and 17 road traffic offences.
Dean Joyce, aged 24, was convicted in February after a second trial of 11 charges, including endangering Gardaí by driving his car into a Garda van, four counts of dangerous driving, possession of stolen property, driving without a licence, driving without insurance, possession of a boxcutter used in a burglary, criminal damage of a Garda van and failing to stop for Gardaí. The jury in his first trial was discharged after a juror fell asleep 15 minutes into the trial. Judge Karen O'Connor found him not guilty of the offence of endangerment but convicted him of all other counts. She imposed a total of three years imprisonment, suspended the final six months on strict conditions, and disqualified him from driving for ten years. Joyce was arrested after a high‑speed pursuit in which he drove through red lights, on the wrong side of the road and collided with a Garda van, causing €1,500 worth of damage.
Ryan O'Driscoll, aged 18 at the time of the incident, was found guilty of dangerous driving after he operated a stolen motorbike on Dublin city streets. The motorbike, which had been stolen the previous month and bore incorrect plates, was pursued by Garda patrol cars after it was spotted on Malahide Road. O'Driscoll drove at high speed, overtaking stationary cars, weaving through traffic on Fairview Strand, and even using a footpath. He managed to escape onto Clontarf Road, collided with a second patrol car, and was eventually boxed in by the Garda. He was arrested and later pleaded guilty to the charge. O'Driscoll has 84 prior convictions, 64 of which are for road traffic offences, and is currently serving a six‑month sentence for minor road traffic offences. The court heard that he is now 20, wishes to train as a mechanic, and has expressed a desire to avoid future criminal activity.
In a 2017 Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 69‑year‑old John Farrell was found not guilty by reason of insanity on all 14 counts of criminal damage, endangerment, dangerous driving and failing to stop after a collision. The case stemmed from an April 2014 incident in which Farrell's Mercedes smashed through Trinity College's 18th‑century wooden gates, causing over €33,000 in damage. He drove through the gates, struck security guards, a college van and a student, and then drove aggressively through Grafton Street, Nassau Street and Dawson Street, forcing Gardaí to restrain him. Dr Paul O'Connor testified that Farrell suffered from hyper‑mania and bipolar disorder, lacking moral awareness and the capacity to understand the consequences of his actions. The jury, after 42 minutes, returned a unanimous verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity. The judge noted Farrell's history of aggression and hospitalisations, and the court committed him to a psychiatric unit.
A 69‑year‑old man, John Farrell, was charged with criminal damage and road traffic offences after driving a Mercedes through Trinity College's front gates on 2 April 2014, causing damage worth over €33,000. He pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. The court heard that Farrell had a history of bipolar disorder and hyper‑mania, and a psychiatrist at the Central Mental Hospital confirmed that his behaviour on the day met the legal definition of insanity. Farrell denied the five counts of criminal damage, four counts of endangerment, three counts of dangerous driving and two counts of failing to stop after a collision. He was arrested shortly after the incident, was taken to Pearse Street Garda Station, and later committed to a psychiatric unit. The trial was scheduled to continue with a jury hearing.
Melvin Rattigan, 18 at the time of the incident, caused a collision with cyclist Ms Laura Briggs on Lower Dominick Street, Dublin, on 13 May 2015. Rattigan, who lacked a full driving licence and vehicle insurance, left the scene after the crash, claiming he had panicked. Briggs, cycling home from work, sustained serious injuries, including a hairline skull fracture, and reported ongoing physical and mental effects. Rattigan pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm. The court adjourned sentencing to allow him to raise €3,000 for compensation, with a finalisation date set for 1 November. Judge Karen O'Connor noted the offence's serious impact on Briggs and considered Rattigan's youth and lack of prior convictions in deciding to keep him in the community. The case remains at the sentencing stage.
David Ryan, a 59‑year‑old taxi driver, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving that caused serious bodily harm to Eoin Daly on 7 April 2011. In July 2014 Judge Patricia Ryan sentenced him to three years' imprisonment, suspended, and imposed a four‑year driving ban. Ryan's lawyers argued that the ban prevented him from working as a rural publican in Cappaghwhite, Co. Tipperary, where public transport is limited. The judge lifted the ban after noting Ryan had not attracted further Garda attention since the conviction and that he needed the vehicle for his occupation. The court also considered that Ryan had been under severe financial and family stress, had paid €5,000 as a token of remorse, and had expressed remorse and apology. The decision was made without altering the original sentence or the suspended portion. The case remains at the criminal court stage.
The Court of Appeal has dismissed an appeal by Mervin White, upholding a High Court decision that validated his sentencing in absentia for driving offences. White, described as a recovering drug addict and a 'veteran of the criminal justice system' with 35 previous convictions, pleaded guilty in the District Court on October 1, 2014, to drunk driving, dangerous driving, driving without insurance, and driving without a licence. Sentencing was adjourned twice due to family emergencies, including his partner's childbirth and his sister's illness. When White failed to appear for the final hearing on December 10, 2014, District Judge Ann Watkin sentenced him to two months in prison. White challenged this via judicial review, arguing that his absence allowed him to present evidence of his recovery progress, which might have resulted in community service. The High Court dismissed this claim, noting that 'neither do the courts' wait for individuals. The three-judge Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice John Hedigan, found that the District Judge made every effort to ensure his attendance and was entitled to conclude he consciously absented himself. The appeal was dismissed. A warrant committing White to prison for two months was stayed until July 31 to allow time for a potential Supreme Court appeal. The court also noted White's fear of imprisonment in Mountjoy Prison, drawing the Prison Service's attention to this concern.
Rachel Breen, a 49‑year‑old occupational therapist from Skerries, had her driving licence restored after a 2014 disqualification for dangerous driving that caused serious bodily harm to a two‑year‑old boy on Naul Road, Balbriggan, in October 2012. Breen pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, admitting she was travelling below the 80 kph limit and had not seen the junction, which was poorly marked and badly surfaced. The court had previously found her a "decent woman" who made a "serious error of judgement" and imposed a four‑year disqualification and a €5,000 damages order. At a brief hearing, the court, with no objection from the prosecution, granted her licence restoration under the Road Traffic Act, noting she had been off the road since December 2014 and needed a licence for her responsible job.
John McDonagh, 20, of Clondalkin, Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to endangerment and dangerous driving charges arising from incidents on 9 August 2016. The defendant admitted to leading gardaí on a high-speed chase in a Nissan Almera, which he had purchased for €100. Prosecution evidence detailed that McDonagh accelerated past a checkpoint, forcing a garda to jump into the road to avoid being hit. He subsequently drove over 120kph in a 60kph zone, drove on the wrong side of the road, and forced his way through traffic at the Kylemore junction. Garda Vincent Daly testified that McDonagh intentionally drove head-on toward the garda vehicle, causing it to swerve to avoid a collision. Although McDonagh surrendered to officers at Ballyfermot Garda Station, he failed to produce driving documents. In mitigation, his counsel highlighted his lack of previous convictions and his role as a carer for a sister with special needs. Judge Martin Nolan described the incidents as "very, very serious," noting that the garda could have been killed. The judge imposed a five-year prison sentence, with the final three and a half years suspended. McDonagh's mother was present in court during the sentencing.
Deividas Sevcenko, a 34‑year‑old university student, was arrested on 1 March 2023 in north Dublin after Gardaí found two metal implements used for ATM card retrieval in his possession. He pleaded guilty to one count of possessing equipment with intent to use it in a theft at Howth Road, Raheny. Sevcenko, who was highly intoxicated at the time of arrest, had previously been convicted of five road traffic offences and a failure to appear in court. The court, noting his lack of significant prior convictions, his education, and his family circumstances, imposed a sentence of 240 hours of community service to be completed within a year, in lieu of a 12‑month prison term. Sevcenko, a married father of two, had been living in Ireland for 12 years and was enrolled in a full‑time degree program. The judge highlighted his willingness to comply with the court's conditions to remain with his wife and children.
Anthony Ward, 26, was found guilty of dangerous driving after a high‑speed chase that ended with his stolen car crashing into traffic lights and sending them into a parked vehicle. Ward drove at up to 160 km/h in a 60 km/h zone, broke red lights, and drove over speed bumps at about 120 km/h before losing control. The car spun twice, struck two sets of traffic lights, and one set was lifted from its base, flew over a fence, and lodged in the dashboard of a nearby car. Ward also admitted driving a stolen car, driving while drunk, and driving without insurance on the same occasion. Judge Karen O'Connor sentenced him to three years' imprisonment with one year suspended, imposed a six‑year driving disqualification, and required him to engage with Probation Services. Ward's prior record includes 49 convictions, including seven for dangerous driving, two for drunk driving, and one for car theft.
Noel Dempsey, 61, was sentenced to 14 months in prison after pleading guilty to stealing four boxes of women's clothing, valued at €1,988, from the back of a delivery truck on Wicklow Street, Dublin, on 13 August 2013. Garda Joseph Heaphy reported that the lorry's tail lift had been tampered with and that CCTV footage identified Dempsey as one of two men who removed the boxes and drove away in a van linked to him. The van was found at Dempsey's home, where the stolen items were recovered. Dempsey's 99 prior convictions included 27 theft offences and 67 road traffic offences. Judge Karen O'Connor cited his health conditions, guilty plea, and bereavement as mitigating factors, noting that without them she might have imposed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence. He has been in custody since January 2017 and was scheduled for release in February.
Charles Hutchinson, aged 34, was convicted of unlawfully killing Lawrence 'Michael' McGeown, aged 60, after striking him with a single punch to the side of the head on 28 February 2014. The death occurred three days later. Hutchinson was found guilty by a jury at Dundalk Circuit Criminal Court and originally sentenced to seven years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended. On appeal, the Court of Appeal held that the inclusion of Hutchinson's 2010 section 3 assault conviction had improperly increased the headline sentence. The appeal judge re‑sentenced him to five years' imprisonment, again with the final year suspended. Hutchinson's prior convictions included assault, public order offences, criminal damage, dangerous driving, unauthorised taking and interference, and he had a history of alcohol addiction and poor employment. The appeal judge noted that the single punch was not of particular force and that the deceased had health issues, but that there was no provocation or justification for the assault. Charles Hutchinson pleaded not guilty.
In December 2015, Damien Klasinski, a 29‑year‑old Polish driver, struck and killed Kildare councillor Willie Crowley, 56, while walking home from a pub. Klasinski fled the scene, later confessing to Gardaí and pleading guilty to dangerous driving causing death. He was arrested after passengers reported him. The court found him had no licence or insurance, had previously been convicted for driving offences, and had driven at speeds up to 80 km/h on a wet, poorly lit street. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to five and a half years, suspended the last 18 months, and imposed a ten‑year driving disqualification. The sentence reflected the seriousness of his failure to remain at the scene and the lack of insurance, while acknowledging his guilty plea and remorse. The ruling was delivered at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Josh Redmond, aged 20, was charged with endangerment, dangerous driving and driving without insurance after a high‑speed chase in Dun Laoghaire on 7 June 2016. He had no licence or insurance and had just bought the car, but his mother had told him to return it. While driving to return the vehicle, he encountered Gardaí and "panicked", accelerating beyond the 50 km/h limit to over 100 km/h, overtaking other cars, breaking traffic lights and swerving, forcing a patrol car to take evasive action. He was arrested after a foot chase and admitted the lack of licence and insurance. In court, Judge Karen O'Connor noted the early‑afternoon timing and the risk to the public and Gardaí, but also his supportive family and a positive probation report. She imposed an 18‑month sentence, suspended in full, and disqualified him from driving for two years. Josh Redmond pleaded guilty.
In 2015, 18‑year‑old Melvin Rattigan, who had no full licence or insurance, drove a green Peugeot onto Lower Dominick Street and collided with cyclist Ms Laura Briggs, who was cycling home from work. Rattigan, who later admitted panic and fled the scene, was found to have turned right from Dorset Street onto Dominick Street without observing Briggs, who had the right of way. Briggs suffered serious injuries, including a hairline skull fracture, and reported ongoing physical and mental effects. Rattigan pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm. The court noted his lack of prior convictions and his status as an inexperienced driver, and adjourned sentencing, remanding him on bail until 22 June. No sentence was imposed in the article.
On 4 February 2015, Robert Faherty, 63, was driving without headlights when Grainne Duncan's bicycle struck his car, leaving her in a coma for two months. Faherty, who had no prior convictions and a clean driving record, pleaded guilty to careless driving causing serious harm. Judge Pauline Codd, noting the absence of speed, alcohol, or road fault, described the incident as a momentary lapse rather than reckless behaviour. She imposed a nine‑month suspended sentence, citing Faherty's remorse, psychiatric report, and daily reliance on his vehicle. No driving ban was imposed. Duncan, 45, remains in a vegetative state, requiring full assistance, and her husband has pursued civil action for medical costs estimated at €540,000. The court acknowledged the profound impact on Duncan's life and her family's suffering.
In December 2015, 29‑year‑old Damien Klasinski, a Polish native, was driving on Eyre Street, Newbridge, when he struck and killed 56‑year‑old Kildare councillor Willie Crowley. Klasinski was speeding, did not brake or sound his horn, and fled the scene. He was later arrested after hiding in a friend's house. Crowley died from head injuries at Naas Hospital a few days later. Klasinski pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death and faces a custodial sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The court heard that Klasinski had 13 prior traffic convictions, had been disqualified from driving in 2016, and had a history of drunk driving. Witnesses described the impact as sending Crowley airborne, and the road was wet with poor lighting. The judge noted Klasinski's speed was far above the 50 km/h limit, possibly up to 80 km/h, and adjourned sentencing to 12 May.
Angelique Arundel, 31, of Shannon Lawn, Mayfield, Co Cork, and John O'Donnell were convicted of aggravated burglary at a home in Churchtown, Mallow, on 28 and 29 August 2015. Arundel pleaded guilty and was sentenced to five years' imprisonment by Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin at Cork Circuit Criminal Court on 2 February 2016. She appealed the sentence, but the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal today, holding that a five‑year term was appropriate for an aggravated burglary involving an armed intrusion into a family bedroom. The Court noted that the victim, a man in his 70s, his partner and a two‑year‑old son, awoke to glass breaking; a man with a sledgehammer and Arundel with an iron bar entered the bedroom. The co‑accused demanded €3,000 the next day and threatened the victim with violence and a gun. Arundel had 63 prior convictions, mainly for public order and road traffic offences.
Patrick Fitzgerald, aged 40, of Glenties Park, Finglas, Dublin, has avoided a custodial sentence following an incident on River Road, Castleknock, County Dublin. On 18 August 2014, following a serious motor collision in which a vehicle overturned, Fitzgerald entered a parked car without consent and directed the driver to transport him to Ashtown. The driver repeatedly asked him to leave but continued driving approximately 500 metres before refusing to proceed further, at which point Fitzgerald exited the vehicle. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to interfering with the control of a car by threat of force or intimidation. Judge Melanie Greally suspended a two-year prison sentence conditional on Fitzgerald keeping the peace for that period. The court heard evidence of his previous convictions, including 49 road traffic offences, and noted his efforts to address historical alcohol difficulties.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Joseph Union was sentenced to twelve months' imprisonment, with the final six months suspended, for assaulting a Garda during a high‑speed drunken chase. Union, a father of two from Pinewoods, Clondalkin, was found guilty by a jury of assaulting the Garda after he had asked the officer to pick up his glasses. Union then kicked the Garda in the face, fracturing his nose. He was also found not guilty of resisting arrest but pleaded guilty to one count of drink‑driving, three counts of dangerous driving and one count of failing to stop, all committed in Ballyfermot on 11 April 2012. The court noted Union's prior convictions and the Garda's victim impact statement, and Judge Cormac Quinn imposed the custodial sentence after viewing CCTV footage of the incident.
Anthony Fitzgerald, a 32‑year‑old former professional boxer from Gloucester Place, Dublin, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm to bus driver Toufik Slali on North Circular Road on 18 November 2014. The incident began when a Mini pulled out in front of Slali's bus without signalling, forcing the driver to brake hard and honk. Fitzgerald jumped out of the car, shouted that his children were in the vehicle, and then entered the bus. He allegedly head‑butted Slali's nose, causing a fracture that required surgery, and punched him. Fitzgerald denied head‑butting and claimed he struck with an open hand. Judge Melanie Greally, noting his boxing background, imposed a suspended three‑year prison sentence on the condition he keep the peace. He has 31 prior convictions, including assault, criminal damage and firearms offences, and has been disqualified from driving for ten years.
Michael Breen, 41, was sentenced to three and a half years' imprisonment after pleading guilty to transporting almost €80,000 worth of cannabis. Gardaí stopped his car following a tip, and a search revealed nearly four kilograms of cannabis hidden under the carpet in the wheel well. Breen admitted to having the drugs for sale on 16 May 2016 at Bluebell Mews, Old Naas Road, Dublin 12. He has 40 prior convictions for theft and road traffic offences and three drug offences involving the sale of small amounts to undercover officers. During the interview, Breen claimed he was told he would receive €200 for his role, which was to drop off the drugs, and he accepted that he was operating at a low level. Judge Melanie Greally, noting his guilty plea and full cooperation, imposed the sentence and ordered him to engage with Probation Services upon release. Mr.
Patrick Connors, 46, was sentenced to two and a half years in jail at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for dangerous driving after a high‑speed chase. He drove over 160 km/h on the wrong side of a busy road, performed a U‑turn at speed, exceeded 100 km/h on a 50 km/h road, ran a red light and collided with a taxi at a junction. Connors pleaded guilty to endangerment creating a substantial risk of death or serious harm to another on Swords Road on 19 September. He also admitted possession of stolen laptops, jewellery, a screwdriver and a "jemmy" bar, which were found in his car when the chase ended. Judge Patricia Ryan imposed a three‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence with the final year suspended, citing the seriousness of the charges and Connors' 89 prior convictions, including dangerous driving, burglary, theft, assault and 56 summary road traffic offences.
Kevin McCarthy, aged 23, was sentenced by Judge Pauline Codd to four years' imprisonment, with two and a half years suspended, for dangerous driving that caused the death of 21‑year‑old Thomas Carroll on the N81 near Brittas on 29 May 2014. McCarthy, who had 73 prior convictions including careless driving and driving without insurance, pleaded guilty. He was driving at an estimated speed of 100‑120 km/h, well above the 60 km/h limit signposted 300 metres before the crash. The vehicle spun into trees, flipped twice and travelled 115 metres, ejecting Carroll who died shortly after. McCarthy expressed remorse, apologising to Carroll's family, and the judge noted his lack of respect for road law and the severe impact on the victim's relatives. The sentence was described as a deterrent and a reflection of McCarthy's criminal recklessness.
Larry Connors, 23, of Rathcurragh, Newbridge, Co Kildare, pleaded guilty to endangerment and dangerous driving during a "mad cap chase" on 1 May 2014. He was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to six years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended, and a 20‑year driving ban. The Court of Appeal dismissed his appeal, ruling the sentence was within the judge's discretion. The case involved Connors travelling westbound on the N81, weaving through traffic and overtaking vehicles, while Gardaí pursued him. He was observed deliberately ramming his car, which was insured and registered to him. At the time of the offence he was disqualified from driving. Connors had 51 prior convictions, 44 of which were for road traffic offences, and was described as a "committed persistent offender." The appeal was dismissed by Mr Justice John Hedigan, who noted that deterrence must play a part in sentencing and that wild driving is unacceptable.
Kevin McCarthy, aged 23, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of 21‑year‑old Thomas Carroll on the N81 near Brittas on 29 May 2014. The sentencing hearing was delayed because the court may not have received a complete record of McCarthy's 73 prior convictions, including 14 for failing to produce insurance proof and 18 for failing to produce a licence. Prosecutor Diarmuid Collins requested time to obtain a full record, citing possible incomplete or inaccurate information. McCarthy, who was 20 at the time of the crash, drove the vehicle at an estimated 100‑120 km/h, although the speed limit was 60 km/h. The crash involved the car flipping twice and spinning about ten times before stopping on the wrong side of the road. McCarthy expressed remorse, stating he had no intention to harm anyone and that Thomas was a best friend.
Helen Hourigan, aged 34, was sentenced to two and a half years in prison for stealing a Mercedes‑Benz and causing criminal damage to Ross Kelly's Volkswagen Beetle. On 9 January 2015, she stole the Mercedes when its owner left it unlocked and drove it at speed into Mr Kelly's vehicle, then reversed it into the smoking area of the Dropping Well Pub in Milltown, Dublin. She smashed a glass partition and pinned Mr Kelly against a wall before driving off. Mr Kelly was injured and taken to hospital. Hourigan pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Martin Nolan suspended the final year of her sentence, citing her dangerous driving and the injuries sustained by Mr Kelly and his wife, and noted that she had taken steps to address her addiction. She is due for release in August.
Robert O'Neill, 26, of Thorndale Avenue, Artane, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to handling stolen property and to having no insurance for a stolen VW Passat that was listed on the Done Deal website. The car, whose registration had been cloned, was sold by O'Neill at a price below market value. Garda Detective Mark O'Regan, who had been monitoring suspicious ads, arranged a meeting with O'Neill, arrested him and the vehicle was returned to its rightful owner. O'Neill had 25 prior convictions, mainly for traffic offences, and admitted a gambling and cocaine addiction that had led to a €10,000 debt. He offered €1,000 in compensation. Judge Gerard Griffin, praising the Garda's work, imposed a two‑year suspended sentence and a seven‑year driving disqualification.
Damien Klasinski, 29, of The Oaks, Newbridge, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to dangerous driving that caused the death of Kildare councillor Willie Crowley, 56, on 15 December 2015. Crowley died a few days later at Naas Hospital. Klasinski was remanded in continuing custody until 3 May, when a summary of the evidence will be heard. Judge Martin Nolan ordered a victim impact report to be prepared by Crowley's widow.
Warren Nolan, 21, of Rowlagh Park, Clondalkin, was sentenced to five years imprisonment for pointing an unloaded shotgun at a garda from two feet away on 8 June 2015. He also pleaded guilty to drug possession and dangerous driving offences on 4 June 2015. The original sentence, imposed on 25 July 2016, carried an 18‑month suspension. Prosecutors appealed, arguing the sentence was unduly lenient. The three‑judge court, led by Mr Justice John Edwards, reviewed the case and re‑sentenced Nolan to five years, citing the seriousness of pointing a firearm at two gardaí and the lack of mitigating factors. The new sentence remains the same length as the original, with no change to the suspended portion. The court noted Nolan's age and guilty plea but found no exceptional circumstances to reduce the minimum.
John Paul O'Driscoll, 29, of Fairhill, was sentenced to 12 years in prison for a series of offences committed in April 2013, including burglary, unlawful vehicle taking, reckless endangerment and criminal damage. He was driving a stolen van while intoxicated, pursued by Gardaí from one end of Cork to the other, and collided with Garda Michael Twomey, throwing him from his motorbike and causing serious injuries. O'Driscoll's blood alcohol level was 244mg per 100ml. At the time of sentencing he was unemployed and living in a Simon Community hostel. He had 168 prior convictions and was disqualified from driving. On appeal, the Court of Appeal reduced his sentence to seven years and nine months, suspending the final 12 months on condition, and upheld a 35‑year driving disqualification. The appeal was based on the court's determination that the offence was reckless rather than intentional endangerment, and on procedural errors in the original sentencing. John Paul O'Driscoll pleaded guilty.
Kevin McCarthy, aged 23, pleaded guilty to one count of dangerous driving causing the death of 21‑year‑old Thomas Carroll on the N81 near Brittas, Co Wicklow, on 29 May 2014. McCarthy, who had 73 prior convictions including 14 for failing to produce proof of insurance and 18 for failing to produce a licence, was driving at an estimated 100‑120 km/h, well above the 60 km/h speed limit signposted 300 metres before the crash. The vehicle, carrying McCarthy and Carroll, spun out, flipped twice and rolled about ten times before stopping on the wrong side of the road. Carroll, a father‑of‑one, suffered massive head injuries and died shortly after the crash. McCarthy has been sentenced on 28 March, wearing a necklace with a picture of Carroll to remind him of the loss.