Leonard Dumbrell, 28, of Clonattin Village, Gorey, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment and a five‑year driving disqualification for car theft and two counts of dangerous driving in Dublin City Centre. The sentence was imposed by Judge Mary Ellen Ring on 30 July 2015. Dumbrell's appeal was dismissed by Mr Justice Alan Mahon on 28 July 2016. Mahon noted that Dumbrell had entered a car with the engine running, left the owner, and then drove away. A Garda chased him, and Dumbrell broke a red light, made illegal turns, weaved through traffic, mounted a pedestrian median on O'Connell Bridge, and crashed in Temple Bar. He had 108 previous convictions and was arrested a short distance away. Mahon found the three‑year term not "lenient" given his record and that the sentencing judge had considered rehabilitation. The appeal was therefore dismissed. Leonard Dumbrell pleaded guilty.
Joe O'Donnell, 23, pleaded guilty to violent disorder and damaging a Garda Ford Transit van at St Philomena's Park, Blanchardstown, on 9 February 2013. He was sentenced by Judge Martin Nolan to a two‑year suspended sentence on strict conditions. O'Donnell had seven prior convictions and had never been imprisoned before. The judge remarked that O'Donnell had "made life miserable for the gardai" and warned that he should observe his surroundings or face future imprisonment. The incident involved O'Donnell, his brother Anthony (who died), and John Mongan. Mongan received a two‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence in November 2015. O'Donnell was physically restrained, handcuffed and later became passive after being put to the ground. The Garda van's front windscreen was smashed and a front light was hanging off. No gun was produced during the disturbance. The court noted that O'Donnell had no history of violence at the time of the offence, although he had subsequently accrued road traffic convictions.
Jonathan Turley, 35, of Clandeboye Drive in Belfast, was arrested by gardai in May under a European Arrest Warrant. He appeared briefly at the High Court in Dublin for an extradition hearing on charges of kidnapping a woman, assault and dangerous driving. Ms Justice Aileen Donnelly remanded him in custody until 19 October, when the extradition case is expected to be heard.
Warren Nolan, 20, of Rowlagh Park, Clondalkin, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended, after pleading guilty to possessing a firearm in suspicious circumstances and three drug‑possession‑for‑sale charges on 8 June 2015. He also pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, reckless endangerment and driving without a licence on 4 June 2015. The court heard that Nolan drove at high speed through Clondalkin, forcing two pedestrians to jump over a gate and a wall to escape his car, and that he later drove on footpaths, on the wrong side of the road and through red lights during a garda pursuit. In a separate incident, a taxi containing several men was pursued; when the car stopped, Nolan was found looking at a garda with a sawn‑off shotgun pointed at the officer's face. The gun was unloaded and no ammunition was found. Nolan was also found to have cannabis, cocaine and heroin.
Sean Rausch, 18, was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to a total of five and a half years' imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions. He received a consecutive three‑year term for an endangerment charge arising from a high‑speed chase in which he drove a stolen Hyundai Santa Fe on three wheels, breaking 24 traffic lights, crossing two green areas, and driving on the wrong side of a national road for 2 km. He also received a five‑year term for assault causing serious harm to a 17‑year‑old schoolboy, who sustained life‑threatening injuries including a brain bleed, fractured jaw, broken eye socket, multiple broken teeth and missing chin skin. The court noted the victim's injuries and the severity of the assault, while Rausch had previously pleaded guilty to two attempted robberies, two robberies, possession of a stolen vehicle, handling stolen keys, endangerment and dangerous driving.
Samuel Hutch, 40, of Finglas, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to trespass and possession of a stolen bicycle in Sandymount on 25 October 2015, to damaging a car door in Ringsend on the same date, and to a burglary in Cabra on 6 February 2016. He has 89 prior convictions, including 39 burglaries, possession of a phone in prison, robbery, theft, criminal damage, road traffic and drug offences. Judge Melanie Greally noted that Hutch would face special security arrangements in custody that isolate him from visitors, other prisoners and prison facilities, creating an environment of fear and tension. She accepted his guilty pleas and the fact that the burglaries were committed to fund his drug addiction, and sentenced him to a consecutive four‑year term, suspending the final 18 months on strict conditions. The court acknowledged his ongoing drug treatment in prison and his intention to start a new life after release.
Paul Dempsey, 51, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment with the final year suspended after he was caught by Gardaí hiding a heroin‑filled football in a front garden. He had been caring for his son's maternal grandmother when Garda Stephen Byrne noticed him acting suspiciously and attempting to conceal a round object. A warrant was issued and within an hour the drugs were discovered. Dempsey pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of the drugs for sale or supply in Rathmines on 6 May 2015. He had previous convictions for road traffic offences and possession of drugs. Garda Eoin Hickey noted that a palm print on the package matched Dempsey's, but the court accepted that he was not the owner of the drugs. The judge acknowledged his past heroin addiction, recent gambling problems and positive steps taken to address his addictions, and imposed a four‑year sentence with the final year suspended on strict conditions.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, Sergejs Sluncevs, 37, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm after he crashed into a taxi on Dublin Road, Celbridge, on 21 December 2012. The incident occurred when Sluncevs, who had been heavily drinking after a Christmas party, drove his Audi A4 across the road and collided head‑on with the taxi. The taxi driver was pulled from the vehicle within thirty seconds before the car caught fire. The court noted the victim's severe injuries and psychological effects, and, considering Sluncevs' guilty plea, cooperation, remorse and previous good record, imposed the custodial term and a five‑year driving disqualification. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the offence and the circumstances surrounding the crash.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 13 July 2016, a 27‑year‑old man named Mark Davis, who has 207 prior convictions, was found guilty of two counts of dangerous driving. The offence involved a ten‑minute high‑speed pursuit through Tallaght on 27 March 2015, during which Davis drove between 80 and 100 km/h in a 50 km/h zone, repeatedly crossed to the wrong side of the road, broke several red lights and nearly collided with a Luas tram. Garda David Jennings recounted that the pursuit was halted after ten minutes because it was too dangerous, citing heavy traffic and children playing on the roads. Davis was arrested after presenting himself at a garda station. The judge, Melanie Greally, described the incident as "terrifying" for the many road users exposed to danger and adjourned sentencing to 10 November 2016.
A 15‑year‑old was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after he threw black paint at a 16‑year‑old on a crowded Luas tram. CCTV captured the assault, and the victim had previously reported a violent attack by the boy and a group of local youths a month earlier. The teenager, who had one prior conviction and 33 subsequent offences including violent disorder, robbery, dangerous driving and car theft, was not complying with bail conditions such as a curfew. He is currently serving a sentence in a detention centre and is due for release next October. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a three‑year detention sentence, deferring its imposition until 25 November, and allowed the boy to be released on bail pending review of his behaviour. The judge set strict bail conditions, including a curfew and restrictions on contact with certain youths in Tallaght. The unnamed 15-year-old pleaded guilty.
Brian McDonagh, aged 25, was convicted of dangerous driving causing the death of his 19‑year‑old friend Thomas McDonagh in a single‑vehicle crash near Kylemore, Connemara, on 2 February 2014. He also pleaded guilty to driving without insurance. The original sentence was 10 years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended, and a 20‑year driving disqualification. On appeal, the Court of Appeal found the maximum sentence excessive and noted that a psychiatric report showing McDonagh's remorse had not been considered. The sentence was reduced to eight years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended, and he was required to enter a good‑behaviour bond for the suspended period. The driving disqualification remains in force. The appeal did not alter the fact that the incident involved an uninsured, unroadworthy, overloaded car and that McDonagh was two‑and‑a‑half times over the alcohol limit.
In July 2016 a teenager, Ciara Maguire, 18, was forced to jump from a moving car onto a busy Dublin road when her father's car was stolen from a petrol station. Sean Dowdall, 22, had taken the vehicle after the driver, Susan Maguire, entered the shop to pay for fuel. He saw Ciara in the back seat and drove off, refusing to exit the car. The incident caused Ciara to suffer cuts, bruises and ongoing nightmares. Dowdall, who was on a "binge" and disqualified from driving, pleaded guilty to false imprisonment and car theft. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court sentenced him to two and a half years for the theft and false imprisonment, warning that further offences would lead to longer sentences. He had 55 previous convictions and admitted the car was taken to sell for debt repayment. The case highlighted the danger of vehicle theft and the impact on the victim.
The Court of Appeal has overturned a Circuit Court ruling that a man was unfit to stand trial for dangerous driving causing death. Robert Harrison, aged 25, of Shantonagh in Monaghan, faces charges relating to a collision at Drung, Cootehill, County Cavan in November 2009, in which a passenger died and another was seriously injured. Judge Pauline Codd had determined in July 2014 that Mr Harrison was unfit to be tried. The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed that determination. Mr Justice John Edwards, delivering judgment, found the original ruling was erroneous in principle. He stated that the trial judge had conflated the question of fitness to plead with whether a fair trial could be afforded, and that the public interest in prosecution had not been properly weighed against the defendant's trial rights. The court indicated the case should proceed to trial, with the trial judge to review its viability. Mr Harrison was remanded on bail pending the next sitting of Cavan Circuit Criminal Court in November.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 30 April 2014, Michael Hanrahan, aged 35, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after slashing Martin Wall with a Stanley blade on Henry Street. The attack left Wall with a permanent disfiguring scar requiring 43 stitches to his head, nose, lip and face. Hanrahan, who lives on Mac Uilliam Parade, Tallaght, had 68 prior convictions for road traffic offences, assault, burglary, criminal damage and assaulting a Garda. Judge Martin Nolan described the injuries as a "very apparent disfiguring scar" that would have a long‑term effect and said the attack was one that Wall "certainly didn't deserve." Hanrahan was sentenced to three years and nine months' imprisonment. The case was prosecuted by Elva Duffy BL, with Garda Nicola Connolly reporting that she responded to the incident at 4 pm and that CCTV footage identified Hanrahan, who was arrested the following November.
Brian McDonagh, aged 25, was convicted in Galway Circuit Criminal Court of dangerous driving causing the death of Thomas McDonagh, aged 19, in a single‑vehicle crash near Kylemore on 2 February 2014. He pleaded guilty and was also found guilty of driving without insurance. Judge Rory McCabe sentenced him to 10 years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended, and imposed a 20‑year driving disqualification. McDonagh's counsel, Vincent Heneghan, appealed, arguing the judge erred by imposing the maximum sentence and had not considered a psychiatrist's report indicating genuine remorse or McDonagh's background and alcohol abuse. The Director of Public Prosecutions, Sinead Gleeson, highlighted aggravating factors: McDonagh was on a pub crawl, two‑and‑a‑half times over the limit, disqualified, uninsured, driving an unroadworthy, overloaded vehicle, and was uncooperative at the scene. The appeal will be heard next Friday.
In a case heard by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Sergejs Sluncevs, aged 37, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm after his Audi A4 collided head‑on with a taxi on Dublin Road, Celbridge, on 21 December 2012. Sluncevs had been heavily intoxicated after a Christmas party and, after leaving his keys in his car, decided to drive home. Witnesses described the taxi driver seeing the car approach with full beams, the vehicle swerving onto the taxi's side and crashing. The taxi driver's leg was trapped inside the car; he was rescued by bystanders and later treated for injuries to his leg, arms, ribs and chest. Within thirty seconds of the taxi being pulled from the vehicle, the car caught fire. Sluncevs' defence argued the incident was a "life‑changing mistake" and that he was remorseful, requesting the court consider alternatives to custodial sentencing.
Darren McKevitt, 26, of Walkinstown, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to arson of a car, dangerous driving, driving under the influence, driving without insurance, three counts of assault, possession of a stolen Toyota Avensis, a PSV certificate, an Irish driving licence and insurance certificate, and unlawful possession of a stun gun. The offences occurred between October and November 2014, including a bonfire incident on Halloween where he drove a car into a bonfire, jumped out, and assaulted three gardaí on Durrow Road, Crumlin. Blood tests showed he was five times over the alcohol limit. Judge Patricia Ryan imposed a five‑year sentence, back‑dated to November 2014, with the balance suspended, and ordered continued work with probation officers, drug rehabilitation and employment training. The court noted McKevitt had nine previous convictions, including drug possession for sale or supply. The case was prosecuted by Monika Leech BL and defended by Libby Charlton BL.
In a case heard at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Tautvydas Tamulis, aged 30, pleaded guilty to assaulting Garda Patrick O'Rourke in Finglas on 30 June 2015. Tamulis had consumed a bottle and a half of spirits before the incident and his recollection of the events was described as "sketchy at best." He had previously been convicted 25 times in district courts, including for dangerous driving that caused serious harm. The court adjourned sentencing to 20 October to allow a probation report to be prepared, noting a significant background of alcohol abuse. Tamulis had pretended to be a Garda, flashing an ID card to a shop assistant who then called the police. He was arrested, but during the arrest he jumped out of the patrol car, pursued by Garda O'Rourke, and a struggle ensued. O'Rourke was punched several times and had a finger of Tamulis inserted into his eye, though he suffered no long‑term damage.
James O'Donovan, aged 30, of Athy, Co Kildare, was found guilty of dangerous driving causing the deaths of his girlfriend Rosanna Potts (22) and Teresa Kiely (49) on 27 December 2012. He had pleaded not guilty and was originally sentenced to seven years' imprisonment by Judge Leonie Reynolds on 2 March 2015. On appeal the Court of Appeal deemed the sentence "unduly severe" and ruled that O'Donovan's defence, which sought to attribute blame to Ms Potts, was not an aggravating factor. The Court therefore resentenced him to five years' imprisonment with the final year suspended, reduced his 30‑year driving disqualification to 12 years, and required a good‑behaviour bond. The case involved expert testimony that the Mitsubishi Pajero he was driving entered the wrong side of the road and collided with a Toyota Prius, killing Ms Kiely and injuring her daughter.
Christopher Coleman, 27, was jailed for two and a half years for dangerous driving that caused the death of Eugene Maher, 62, on 30 June 2015. Coleman, who had been banned from driving and had no licence, drove a car at speed through a red light on Clontarf Road, Dublin, striking Maher and leaving the scene. He also admitted driving without insurance. The judge, Melanie Greally, placed the sentence in the lower half of the medium band, imposing a 30‑month term and a 15‑year disqualification from driving. Witnesses described the car's sudden appearance in the bus lane, its speed, and the driver's attempt to stop with a handbrake. Coleman pleaded guilty, expressed remorse, and acknowledged responsibility for the fatal crash. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
James O'Donovan, 30, of Athy, Co. Kildare, is appealing a conviction and seven‑year prison sentence for dangerous driving that caused the deaths of his girlfriend Rosanna Potts, 22, and Teresa Kiely, 49, on 27 December 2012. The case was heard at Naas Circuit Criminal Court, where a jury found O'Donovan guilty of causing the fatal crash on a straight, dry stretch of road in daylight. The car veered into a ditch, travelled along it, then zig‑zagged back onto the road, spinning three times before colliding with a second vehicle carrying Kiely and her daughter. O'Donovan claimed his girlfriend was arguing with him and that she had pulled at his hoodie, but the court described his attempt to blame her as "utterly reprehensible." In the appeal, his counsel argued that conflicting forensic collision expert opinions left the exact cause of the accident uncertain and that the jury should have chosen the version most favourable to the accused. James O'Donovan pleaded not guilty.
Jim Duffy, a 45‑year‑old father of three from Dundalk, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing a stolen John Deere tractor between June and September 2013. The tractor, valued at €50,000, had been taken from a farm in Portlaoise during a burglary on 29 May 2013 and later found on Duffy's farm in Hollywood Little, Ballyboughal, with several identifying features altered or removed and a false UK registration plate. Duffy claimed the tractor was left on his farm by a man who owed him money and insisted he had never taken anything. He had three prior minor convictions for road traffic offences. The judge, citing his lack of serious convictions, suspended a four‑year custodial sentence and ordered 240 hours of community service, avoiding immediate imprisonment.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, the back‑seat passenger of a stolen Nissan Micra recorded a high‑speed Garda chase on Snapchat. The driver, Brandon Grant, 19, was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment, with the final nine months suspended, and disqualified from driving for five years. Grant, who was on bail for 14 offences, had driven dangerously around Swords, forcing pedestrians to jump out of the way and motorists to brake hard. The pursuit ended when he lost control on icy roads and crashed into a pole, after which the car was written off and he was arrested. He pleaded guilty to driving a stolen car and two dangerous driving charges, and the judge noted his 25 prior convictions, including five for stolen‑car offences. The suspended portion was conditional on 12 months of probation engagement. The case highlighted the driver's substance abuse and family difficulties as primary causes of his behaviour.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Christopher Coleman, 27, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of Eugene Maher, 62, who was struck by Coleman's car at a red light on Clontarf Road on 30 June 2015. Coleman, who had been banned from driving at the time, admitted leaving the crash scene and driving without insurance. Witnesses described the vehicle entering the junction at speed, the driver's attempt to stop with a handbrake, and the subsequent escape at high speed. The court noted Coleman's 15 prior convictions, including four for driving without insurance, and his 2012 disqualification. The hearing focused on Coleman's admissions, remorse, and the impact on the Maher family, without addressing sentencing or future legal outcomes.
David Mahon, aged 45, was sentenced to seven years' custody for the manslaughter of Dean Fitzpatrick, the older brother of missing teenager Amy Fitzpatrick. The conviction followed a trial in which Mahon pleaded not guilty to the murder of Dean's father, a charge he was cleared of. The sentencing judge, Justice Heneghan, considered aggravating factors such as the use of a knife and the fact that Mahon described himself as Dean's stepfather, as well as mitigating factors including his early plea of guilty to manslaughter, cooperation with Gardaí, expressions of remorse and his lack of a violent history. The judge noted Mahon's previous conviction for dangerous driving, which had been suspended, and the fact that the murder occurred during the suspension. The seven‑year term was back‑dated to the date of Mahon's conviction, with credit given for time spent in custody before bail. Mahon was taken into custody immediately after the sentencing.
Jonathan Rafferty, 38, was jailed for seven and a half years after a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing. He pleaded guilty to a series of offences: robbery of a security cash box containing €19,000 in October 2013, possession of an imitation firearm, possession of cannabis resin and herb, and stolen artwork in October 2013; robbery of a second cash box containing €230 in March 2014 with an imitation firearm; burglary at Sunrise Dry Cleaner in February 2015, along with dangerous driving and criminal damage to a car. The court noted he had been using cocaine daily and was under a €6,000 drug debt at the time of the offences. Judge Patricia Ryan imposed consecutive sentences totalling eleven years, suspending three and a half years, for a net effective custodial term of seven and a half years. Rafferty had 12 prior convictions and had written a letter of apology to the court.
Damien Halpin, 29, fled to Australia in 2011 after being labelled a "rat" following a drugs conviction and a subsequent attack on his home. He was convicted in Australia in 2015 for arson, assault and being armed with intent, claiming it was a prank gone wrong. He served one year in New South Wales before being deported to Ireland. In January 2016 he was arrested by Gardaí at Dublin Airport. Halpin has 21 prior convictions in Ireland, mainly for road traffic and public order offences. He pleaded guilty to possession of €17,318 of cocaine in 2009 and to assault causing harm in 2010. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court adjourned his sentencing to July 27, 2016, to allow an updated probation report. Bench warrants were issued in March 2012 when he failed to appear in court for both cases.
Daniel Martin, 26, of Blanchardstown, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and recklessly causing a risk of serious harm after a high‑speed chase that ended with a collision with a car carrying an elderly woman on Stonemasons Way, Ballinteer, on 2 June 2014. Gardaí pursued him at about 150 km/h, and he accelerated to over 200 km/h before veering and colliding head‑on. The woman was taken to hospital but suffered no serious injuries. Martin, with eight prior traffic convictions, received an 18‑month suspended prison sentence, 200 hours of community service and a two‑year driving disqualification.
Petrica Lucaci, 26, was jailed for four years after a series of violent incidents on the M50 and at Dublin Airport. He abandoned his car at a toll booth, walked to the airport, hijacked a BMW and pursued a taxi driver, breaking red lights and driving against traffic. During the chase he struck three Gardaí, one of whom was cut behind the ear, and later assaulted two security officers at Beaumont Hospital. Lucaci pleaded guilty to unlawful seizure of a vehicle, attempted unlawful seizure, assault on Kevin O'Brien, assault on Garda Adrian McHugh, assault on two security officers, endangerment and dangerous driving. He had no prior convictions. Judge Terrence O'Sullivan sentenced him to five years with the final year suspended, banned him from driving for six years, and ordered anger‑management treatment under probation supervision. The judge noted Lucaci's hyper‑aggression and the physical and psychological impact on victims, including a five‑year‑old girl.
In a case heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Danilo Rodriguez, 44, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Garda Niall Mulvaney. The incident occurred on June 10, 2015, when Rodriguez, after being directed to leave a bus lane, drove his van for 51 metres while a Garda's arm was trapped in the driver's window. The Garda was forced to run backwards as the vehicle moved at about 30 km/h. Sgt Anthony Collins reported that the Garda suffered nerve damage and tendinitis, remaining in pain and out of work for nine months. The court imposed a suspended two‑year prison sentence on Rodriguez, with the judge noting the Garda's fair treatment and Rodriguez's early guilty plea and remorse. The Director of Public Prosecutions withdrew a dangerous driving charge that would have carried a mandatory driving ban. The case highlighted the Garda's injuries and the court's decision to suspend the custodial term.
In a 2016 Court of Appeal decision, the appeal of Michael Harty, aged 31, was dismissed. Harty had been convicted of dangerous driving that caused the deaths of Maurice Hartnett (61) and Margaret Hartnett (59) in 2009 and received a five‑year sentence and a 30‑year driving ban. The appeal concerned whether Harty's consent was required for the Gardaí to obtain a toxicology report from Limerick University Hospital. The court held that the public interest in prosecuting a suspected serious crime outweighed Harty's right to privacy. It found that the Gardaí's request for the blood‑alcohol report was proportionate and that Harty's consent was not necessary. The appeal was therefore dismissed by Justice Garrett Sheehan, sitting with Justices George Birmingham and John Edwards. The decision reaffirmed that the need for evidence in serious criminal cases can override an individual's privacy rights. Michael Harty pleaded not guilty.
Anthony Handley, 64, was jailed for two years after his off‑road jeep, while he was in a brief micro‑sleep, veered off the road and struck a young mother, Olivia Dunne, and her 15‑week‑old daughter, Éabha Dunne, near Balbriggan on 17 January 2014. Olivia Dunne, 31, died instantly; Éabha suffered severe injuries, including multiple broken bones, and remains in a coma with ongoing medical needs. Handley had no alcohol or drugs in his system and had only four hours of sleep the night before. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Patrick McCartan refused a suspended sentence, citing Handley's fatigue as an aggravating factor, and imposed a two‑year custodial term and a ten‑year driving ban. The judge emphasised the need for drivers to remain alert and expressed sympathy for the victims' families. The case highlights the dangers of driving while tired.
Trevor Gleeson, 36, of Monasterevin, Kildare, was convicted of possessing €5,791 worth of controlled drugs and was found guilty of possession at Naas Circuit Criminal Court. The jury did not reach a verdict on the charges of possession for sale or supply and dangerous driving, which were later dropped during a retrial. Gleeson was given a wholly suspended 18‑month sentence by Judge Leonie Reynolds on 31 January 2014. His barrister, Damian Colgan SC, has now opened an appeal, arguing that the State suppressed evidence that would have supported Gleeson's claim of acting under duress from associates of a well‑known criminal gang. Colgan cites a CCTV footage that was not provided to the defence in the first trial and claims the State's failure to disclose it led to the dropping of the remaining charges. Trevor Gleeson pleaded not guilty.
In a 2016 case, 19‑year‑old Eric Ryan received a suspended three‑year sentence for dangerous driving that caused serious bodily harm to 32‑year‑old Evelyn Nealon. Nealon was struck by Ryan's car while crossing a green pedestrian light at the junction of Clanbrassil Street and South Circular Road. The impact threw her under a parked bus, leading to four operations on her pelvis and leg. She suffered long‑term injuries, including early‑onset arthritis, a limp, a dropped foot and a lifelong leg brace. Ryan, who was driving a blue car that collided with a white car before spinning and hitting Nealon, fled the scene. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, was found guilty of dangerous driving, and was also disqualified from driving for four years. The court noted his young age, early plea and remorse when imposing the suspended sentence.
In May 2016, a 22‑year‑old man named Shane Murphy hijacked a taxi in Dublin after threatening the driver, Joseph Aladegbola, that he would blow his head off. Murphy demanded the driver exit the vehicle, which Aladegbola complied with and fled to a nearby house for help. Aladegbola later told Gardaí that Murphy had placed his hand in his jacket pocket, leading Aladegbola to believe a gun was present. Murphy was charged with unlawfully seizing a vehicle by force or threat and dangerous driving. He pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The case was adjourned to October 12, 2016, with a judge ordering Murphy to continue rehabilitation work. No gun was recovered, and the incident was described by Aladegbola as a nightmare that left him in fear for his safety and that of his family.
The High Court dismissed a convicted rapist's constitutional challenge to a law that bars prisoners over 65 from receiving the State pension while serving custodial sentences. The man, serving a 12‑year sentence for raping and sexually assaulting his daughter, was disqualified from the €230‑per‑week pension after his 75‑year‑old conviction. He argued that the disqualification amounted to an extra‑judicial punishment and breached the Irish Constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights. Mr Justice Donald Binchy rejected these claims, stating that the right to pension is a statutory entitlement subject to eligibility conditions set by the Oireachtas. He held that Section 249.1 merely suspends payment when a person is imprisoned, a rational measure to prevent the individual from accumulating a lump sum while the State maintains them. The case was adjourned for further consideration.
The High Court has adjourned several prisoner applications pending clarification of orders following Mr Justice Michael Moriarty's judgment declaring provisions of Section 99 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006 unconstitutional. Mr Justice Seamus Noonan adjourned an Article 40 challenge by an unnamed man who pleaded guilty to road traffic offences, receiving a five-month sentence and a 30-year driving ban. This man, originally sentenced in 2010 to eight years for robbery and firearms charges with seven suspended, had his suspension activated in November 2014. The State argued he is validly detained as he did not appeal the road traffic convictions. In a separate case, Mr Justice Noonan adjourned a judicial review challenge by another unnamed man who pleaded guilty to offences under the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act. His 11-month suspended sentence, part of a two-year term for drug offences, was revoked by the District Court on April 14th last, resulting in his jailing. He remains in custody pending his appeal due to inability to provide bail lodgement. A third prisoner's Article 40 application was also adjourned. These delays await final orders from Mr Justice Moriarty, originally due May 5th, which will now be addressed next Wednesday to clarify the scope of the unconstitutionality ruling.
James Murphy, 37, was stopped by Gardaí for erratic driving on 23 February 2014 and a strong smell of cannabis led to a search of his vehicle. The boot contained over €44,000 worth of cannabis, and a follow‑up search of his home uncovered an additional €404 worth. Murphy had previously admitted to transporting drugs "from a to b" for a small amount of weed and claimed he was spending €50 a week on cannabis after overcoming a heroin addiction. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of cannabis for sale or supply. His seven prior convictions include larceny, road traffic offences and a drug possession charge. The case was adjourned to 28 June, with a probation report ordered. The court heard that Murphy's erratic driving was the reason he was caught. The proceedings remain at the pleading stage.
Ciaran Lane, 25, of Cabra, was jailed for five years after he drove a green car at 80 kph, well over the 50 kph limit, in Phoenix Park on 6 April 2015. He had drunk a litre of vodka and taken two grams of cocaine before the collision. The vehicle struck a 23‑month‑old toddler, Vanessa Siatka, at the Ratra Triangle, causing fatal head injuries. Lane failed to stop after the impact, drove a few metres, and only later reported the incident to Cabra Garda Station. He pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death. The court noted his lack of insurance, prior convictions, and the tragic loss of a young life. He was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment, with the last two years suspended, and banned from driving for 20 years. The case was described as an avoidable tragedy by the judge.
Craig Cassells, 23, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to one count of possession of drugs and three counts of possessing drugs for sale or supply. The charges stemmed from incidents in 2014 and 2015 where gardaí allegedly found controlled substances at his home and on the street. Judge Patricia Ryan suspended sentences of three and a half years, citing Cassells' significant rehabilitation efforts over the previous year. The court noted his 57 previous convictions, including drug-related offences, robbery, and dangerous driving, but accepted evidence that he had changed his life. Defence counsel David Staunton BL highlighted that Cassells had moved away from former associates, was volunteering with a homeless charity, and had received positive testimonials from employers. Two gardaí testified to his positive change, and the court heard he tested negatively for drugs and was expecting his first child. Judge Ryan considered his early admissions of guilt, co-operation with gardaí, and good employment record when determining the suspended sentence.
Anthony Handley, 64, of Whitethorn Grove, Artane, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to dangerous driving that caused the death of Olivia Dunne and serious bodily harm to Éabha Dunne in Balbriggan on 17 January 2014. Judge Patricia Ryan adjourned the case for sentencing on 10 May, when all evidence will be heard.
A 31‑year‑old Dublin mother, Shineen Mulhall, received a 12‑month suspended sentence and was ordered to complete 150 hours of community service within two years. She pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to stealing €16,885 from Oaklee Housing Trust on 4 February 2013 and €5,564 from the Irish College of General Practitioners on 3 March 2013. Gardaí described her as a "pawn" in the operation, noting that two cheques totalling over €21,500 were lodged into her account and later withdrawn under instructions from a man. Mulhall had 19 prior convictions for road traffic offences. The judge, Catherine Murphy, noted that she had not attracted adverse Garda attention and had fully cooperated. The case involved CCTV evidence of her lodging the cheques and the Garda interview in October 2013 where she admitted to cashing them on behalf of the man.
James O'Connell, 23, of Clifden Drive, Ballyfermot, Dublin, pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to unlawful carriage in a stolen car, damaging a second car and causing about €21,553 of damage to gates at Rosebank Apartments, Nangor Road, Clondalkin, on 14 December 2013. The incident was captured on CCTV, showing the stolen car, hot‑wired and driven by co‑accused James Dunphy, with O'Connell as a passenger, ramming through two sets of gates onto the main road. O'Connell had no prior convictions at the time of the offence but had since accrued 13 convictions related to that incident, including dangerous driving and driving without a licence or insurance. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a two‑year sentence, suspended for three years, and ordered 12 months of probation supervision. The court noted O'Connell's personal difficulties and his willingness to change, as highlighted in a positive probation report submitted by his defence lawyer.
Ciaran Lane, 25, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to dangerous driving that caused the death of 23‑month‑old Vanessa Siatka on 6 April 2015 at Ratra Triangle, Phoenix Park. Judge Melanie Greally ordered a victim impact report from the parents and set a sentencing date for 19 April 2016, when full facts will be heard.
A man from Erris, County Mayo, will face a retrial following the Court of Appeal's decision to quash his careless driving conviction. Brendan Hegarty, aged 51, had been convicted at Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court of careless driving causing serious injury arising from a road traffic incident on the N59 near Ballina on 14 October 2013. He had been fined €5,000 and disqualified from driving for twelve months. Mr Hegarty appealed his conviction, challenging whether proper statutory procedures governing majority jury verdicts had been followed. The Director of Public Prosecutions subsequently advised the Court of Appeal that it would not be defending the conviction. Mr Justice George Birmingham, sitting with two colleagues, found sufficient doubt over the majority verdict to quash the conviction and ordered a retrial. The original incident involved a collision between a Volkswagen Transporter van driven by Mr Hegarty and a Ford Transit van driven by another motorist.
Richard Mansfield, 21, of Tallaght, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two endangerment charges, taking a vehicle and dangerous driving after stealing a BMW. He admitted smoking cannabis before driving. Mansfield performed a handbrake turn into oncoming rush‑hour traffic on the Tallaght Bypass on 7 January 2015, accelerating at high speed across three lanes and narrowly missing a patrol car and pedestrians. Garda Alan Young arrested him after a chase. Mansfield had 60 prior convictions, including dangerous driving, burglary and drug possession. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to four and a half years, suspending the last 18 months, and disqualified him from driving for four years. The suspended portion is conditional on probation for two years after release. The sentence reflects the serious risk posed to many people, including Gardaí, during the incident.
The Director of Public Prosecutions has appealed a Circuit Criminal Court ruling that a man charged with dangerous driving causing death is unfit to stand trial. Robert Harrison, aged 25, from Shantonagh in Monaghan, faces charges relating to a collision at Drung, Cootehill, County Cavan in November 2009, in which a 19-year-old passenger died and another passenger was seriously injured. Judge Pauline Codd determined in July 2014 that Mr Harrison was not fit to be tried. The DPP's counsel argued before the Court of Appeal that psychiatric evidence supported Mr Harrison's fitness to proceed if special trial provisions were implemented, including regular recaps of evidence. Defence counsel contended the DPP sought to create an unprecedented trial arrangement and that Mr Harrison remains unfit due to brain damage sustained in an earlier accident. The Court of Appeal, comprising Justices George Birmingham, Garrett Sheehan, and John Edwards, reserved judgement.
At the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Sofiane Benchouat (44) of Sunbury Gardens, Dartry, Dublin, pleaded guilty to theft of €778 and €643 and one count of possession of a stolen ATM card at various locations between October 17th and November 23rd, 2014. He also admitted to theft of €40 and €456 and two counts of possession of a stolen ATM card during the same time period. Benchouat, who was homeless at the time of the offences, was sentenced by Judge Patricia Ryan to a two-year term, which was suspended in full. He was ordered to pay €900 in compensation to the financial institutions affected. Benchouat has four previous road traffic convictions and had previously married an Irish woman he met in Germany, but the marriage ended, leading to his homelessness. Co-accused Algerian Mohammed Fanit (41), formerly of Auburn Villas, Rathgar, Dublin, but now living in emergency accommodation, pleaded guilty to theft of €40 and €456 and two counts of possession of a stolen ATM card. His case was adjourned until March to allow him to gather compensation. Fanit has one previous conviction and previously worked as a taxi driver. Both men were identified on CCTV footage from Argos and Harvey Norman in the Nutgrove Retail Park, where they used the stolen cards to purchase goods. The financial institutions involved suffered a loss of just under €2,000. The cards were reportedly obtained by a third party, who gave the men a fee for making the purchases.
Patrick Healy, 31, of Buttercup Park, Darndale, was sentenced to 15 years in jail, with the final five years suspended, for a series of violent and dangerous driving offences committed between 2011 and 2013. He pleaded guilty to assaulting a man on the North Circular Road, where the victim's arm was almost severed by a meat cleaver, burglary and theft at Upper Kilmacud Road, unlawful vehicle taking and dangerous driving on the M50, and to dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm on Oscar Traynor Road, unlawful vehicle taking and driving under the influence. The judge, Pat McCartan, imposed consecutive terms of three years for the assault, four years for the burglary and theft, and eight years for the dangerous driving, suspending the last five years. Healy's appeal to reduce the sentence was dismissed by the Court of Appeal, where Justice Alan Mahon upheld the sentence as appropriate given the repeated and severe nature of the offences.
A 20‑year‑old man named Dale Byrne, who was part of a group that broke into an apartment on Herberton Street, Rialto, Dublin, on 17 March 2015, was charged with burglary. The group stole €25,000 worth of photography equipment and personal belongings, including a €900 guitar and an expensive bicycle. Byrne left the guitar in a flower bed to avoid being seen carrying it, but CCTV later captured him riding the bicycle in the area. He was arrested after Garda Kevin Lawless spotted him wearing the same clothes as during the burglary. Byrne pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He had no prior convictions. The judge imposed a two and a half year sentence, which was suspended in full on strict conditions, including 18 months of probation supervision. The stolen items have never been recovered and the homeowners had no insurance for them.