A Longford man has pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing serious harm following an incident in Blanchardstown, Dublin on 2 August 2013. Dylan Meade, aged 21, admitted to dangerous driving, failing to stop after an accident, driving without a licence and driving without insurance. The charges relate to a collision involving a cyclist who sustained severe brain trauma. The court heard that Meade had assumed driving duties from his brother-in-law, whom he described as incapacitated. Witnesses reported the van struck the cyclist at approximately 57 kilometres per hour, propelling him several feet into the air. The injured party, a Romanian man in his early thirties, provided a victim impact statement to Dublin Circuit Criminal Court describing the lasting physical and psychological consequences of his injuries, which included a four-month period of amnesia. His family detailed significant emotional and behavioural changes resulting from the accident. Judge Catherine Murphy will impose sentence on 22 July.
David Richards, 26, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to unauthorised taking of a car, drink driving, dangerous driving and driving without insurance and a licence on 1 January 2010. He also admitted to threatening a heavily pregnant woman and her husband with a steering wheel lock and to driving the car after it collided with a pole, accelerating to escape Gardaí on icy roads. Judge Patrick McCartan described the offences as an "appalling set of crimes" and imposed an 18‑month suspended sentence, a ten‑year driving ban and an order that €5,000 collected by Richards be paid to the victims. Richards, who had three prior convictions, had hidden from Gardaí for four years after the incident. The court heard that the victim, Susan O'Leary, suffered depression and anxiety as a result of the ordeal.
Martin Cash, aged 20, was sentenced by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to three and a half years in prison for theft and dangerous driving. He stole jewellery worth €1,830 from a house on Howth Road, Raheny, and was caught after a police chase. Cash also admitted to endangering traffic by cutting across a six-lane junction, driving in bus lanes, and mounting footpaths, forcing cars and buses to swerve. He drove dangerously at a green area where children were playing and at junctions on Collins Avenue. He pleaded guilty to trespassing at a house on Furry Park Road, Killester. Judge Mary‑Ellen Ring suspended the final 12 months of his sentence on the condition of good behaviour for a year, ordered probation supervision, and disqualified him from driving for five years. Cash has 37 prior convictions, including assault, criminal damage, drug misuse and possession of stolen goods. He was drug‑free at the time of sentencing.
In a 2015 Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Carl Feighery, 32, was sentenced to 240 hours of community service within 12 months in lieu of a two‑year jail term for dangerous driving that caused the death of 77‑year‑old Rose Douglas. Feighery, an electrician, had already been disqualified from driving for five years. The judge, Martin Nolan, found no aggravating factors such as drink driving or excessive speed, describing the offence as a loss of focus. Feighery pleaded guilty and expressed remorse, having made a voluntary statement at the scene and taken a jumper over Douglas's legs. The Douglas family, who lost a wife, mother, grandmother and great‑grandmother, received the sentence as a form of closure, with the judge noting the tragedy's impact on them. The case concluded with the community service order and no custodial sentence.
In a Dublin nightclub incident on 15 May 2012, mechanic Bryan Dunne, aged 34, struck former rugby player Andrew Culhane in the jaw with a single punch, fracturing it in two places. Culhane, who had been socialising with his former rugby team after a tournament win, later described the attack in court, noting the need for two metal plates, the disruption to his final master's exams, loss of confidence, and inability to play contact sports. Dunne claimed he felt threatened after being mocked in the club's toilets and pleaded guilty to assault causing harm. He had 12 prior convictions for minor road traffic offences. At the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Martin Nolan described the assault as "cowardly" and imposed a three‑year sentence, two years suspended, effectively a one‑year custodial term. The judge acknowledged the offence as a one‑off but stressed the need for punishment.
Robert Lawlor, a 31‑year‑old Dublin father of three, was sentenced to 16 months in jail for possessing a stolen Ford C‑Max. He had previously been disqualified from driving and was caught driving the vehicle by a Garda at Airside Retail Shopping Centre, Swords. The Garda followed him to Bewleys Hotel on Clonshaugh Road, where CCTV captured him driving the car into the carpark while wearing blue latex gloves. DNA evidence linked Lawlor to the same gloves found when the stolen car was recovered two weeks later at another location. Lawlor pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing the stolen vehicle, which had been taken from a premises on Griffith Avenue in March 2012 and had registration plates from a vehicle stored in a County Clare garage. His 124 prior convictions include dangerous driving, public order offences and a five‑year sentence for drug possession.
Jimmy Cash, 25, appeared in the Court of Appeal on 9 July after being refused bail pending his appeal against a six‑year sentence for driving the wrong way up the M50 motorway. He had pleaded guilty in February 2013 to endangerment, dangerous driving, driving while disqualified and having no insurance. The offence caused a five‑car collision with serious injuries, and Cash himself was seriously injured, not wearing a seatbelt. He had 85 previous convictions, including 16 for dangerous driving and 31 for burglary. Cash was assaulted on Monday of the week, requiring 20 stitches to his left cheek, and his barrister argued this as a special circumstance. The three‑judge panel, led by Mr Justice George Birmingham, found Cash fell "way short" of the bail threshold and refused bail, noting the early appeal hearing date and lack of request for a different date.
Andrew O'Toole, 22, was remanded in custody after a high‑speed chase in which he drove a stolen motorbike the wrong way down a dual carriageway, around roundabouts, and through red lights, ultimately crashing into a parked car. He pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and reckless endangerment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. O'Toole had 12 prior convictions and became a father two days after the offence. During the pursuit, motorists were forced to take evasive action, including a bus that swerved into road works. Garda Stephen Walsh chased O'Toole, who eventually crashed on Woodhazel Terrace in Ballymun. O'Toole was arrested after a struggle that injured the Garda's hand. He later said he "blanked" when questioned. Judge Martin Nolan revoked his bail, remanded him until 21 May for sentencing, and urged him to reflect on the danger he posed to himself, the public and the Gardaí.
Keith Sullivan, a Meath resident, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment after he deliberately knocked over a post mistress, Ms Vivienne Griffin, and reversed his vehicle over her. The incident occurred on the night of a First Communion when Sullivan, who had a history of violent and threatening behaviour, drove his car at the Griffin family home in a threatening manner. Ms Griffin sustained multiple bruises and a cut to her lip, was unable to return home that night and later stayed with her mother. Sullivan pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and failing to provide a blood or urine specimen. The judge noted that Sullivan had reflected on his actions and appeared remorseful, but the seriousness of the crime warranted the custodial sentence. The case was heard at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
In March 2015, a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that 20‑year‑old Jason Flaherty, who was on bail for an earlier robbery and firearm charge, committed six additional armed robberies in a single month. The robberies, all in west Dublin between 21 August and 19 September 2013, involved threatening shop staff with a knife or an imitation gun. Flaherty pleaded guilty to three counts of robbery of cash from shops. Judge Mary Ellen Ring had previously sentenced him to four years with 18 months suspended for the earlier offence. At the hearing she imposed a new four‑year sentence, suspending the final two years on the condition that he engage in drug treatment and education programmes. The suspended portion is separate from the effective custodial term, which will run consecutively to his current sentence. The court considered other robbery charges and his seven prior convictions, including five for road traffic offences.
Glen Hogan, aged 25, was sentenced to three years in prison for driving a stolen Mitsubishi Pajero through red lights and onto footpaths during a high‑speed chase in Dublin. He pleaded guilty to one count of driving a stolen car, two counts of dangerous driving and one count of driving under the influence. Judge Patrick McCartan suspended the final year of a four‑year term on the condition that Hogan remains drug‑free and keeps the peace, and banned him from driving for ten years. The judge also back‑dated the sentence to start in August 2014. Hogan has eight prior convictions for car theft, 71 total convictions including drug offences, and a previous six‑year sentence for assault. The court noted his drug addiction and offered him a residential treatment programme through the Peter McVerry Trust.
Anthony Handley, 63, of Whitethorn Grove, Artane, is charged with dangerous driving causing the death of 31‑year‑old primary school teacher Olivia Dunne and serious bodily harm to her five‑month‑old baby Aoibhe. The incident occurred on Dublin Road, Balbriggan, on 17 January. Dunne died after pushing her buggy away from an oncoming vehicle, saving her baby's life. Handley appeared at Balbriggan District Court, was sent forward to Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, and remains on bail with a €300 bond. Judge Dermot Dempsey gave him an alibi caution and allowed two senior counsel for defence.
A former army officer, Gerard Daly, has been sentenced to three and a half years in prison for possessing nearly 20 kilograms of herbal cannabis valued at €399,260. Daly, who had 12 years of service in the Defence Forces before being discharged due to a prior drug offence, pleaded guilty to the charges. He admitted to holding the drugs in return for €1,000 as he was financially desperate. Judge Martin Nolan noted that Daly had made a serious error of judgment and was aware of the risks involved. The court heard that Daly had been tipped off about a delivery of cannabis, leading to a surveillance operation outside his home in Lucan. Gardaí found the drugs in a shed after obtaining a search warrant. Daly had 17 previous convictions, all for road traffic offences, which his defence attributed to a long-standing alcohol problem.
Carl Feighery, 32, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to dangerous driving causing death after killing 77-year-old Rose Douglas in Finglas, Dublin 11, in January 2013. Judge Martin Nolan adjourned the sentencing until May 5 to allow for a Probation Service report to determine Feighery's suitability for community service. The judge indicated that the driving did not justify a custodial sentence, describing the loss of focus as a human frailty rather than an aggravating circumstance like drink driving or excessive speed. Feighery was remanded on bail and disqualified from driving for five years. The court heard that Feighery had zero alcohol in his blood and was not speeding. The Douglas family, represented by Dermot Douglas, described the devastating impact of their mother's death, noting she was a community volunteer and church minister. Feighery, an electrician from Ashbourne, County Meath, expressed remorse and accepted full responsibility. He has one minor previous conviction and a 2007 drink-driving offense. The matter remains adjourned pending the probation report.
In a tragic incident on 9 January 2013, 77‑year‑old Rose Douglas was struck by a silver Peugeot while crossing the North Road in Finglas, Dublin. The driver, 32‑year‑old electrician Carl Feighery, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death. He was found sober, not speeding, and had a prior drink‑driving conviction. The court heard a victim impact statement from Douglas's son Dermot, detailing her roles as wife, mother, grandmother, great‑grandmother, church minister, and hospice volunteer. Feighery remained at the scene, offered a voluntary statement, and expressed remorse. The sentencing hearing was postponed to allow the judge to consider the case overnight. The family expressed relief that Douglas was not at fault and hoped Feighery might engage in charity work in her memory. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
James O'Donovan, 29, of Athy, County Kildare, was convicted of dangerous driving that caused the deaths of his girlfriend Rosanna Potts, 22, and Teresa Kiely, 49, at Youngstown, Athy on 27 December 2012. The crash occurred when O'Donovan's Pajero SUV appeared to drive into a ditch on its own side of the road before swerving into the middle of the road at high speed and striking Teresa Kiely's Toyota Prius. Teresa died at the scene; Rosanna was taken to Naas Hospital and later to The Mater Hospital, where she died three weeks later. O'Donovan pleaded not guilty, claiming that Potts was pulling on his hoodie and arguing with him, causing him to lose control. A Garda forensic investigator found no evidence of braking and said the crash was caused by O'Donovan attempting to manoeuvre at too high a speed. He had been previously convicted for dangerous driving that caused spinal injuries to another driver two months earlier.
In Balbriggan District Court on 26 February 2015, two women, Eileen McDonagh (36) and Carolyn Ward (29), were dealt with for stealing €1,782.35 worth of children's clothing from Tesco Extra. McDonagh donated €300 to the Laura Lynn Hospice, leading Judge Dermot Dempsey to apply Section 1.1 of the Probation Act and grant her probation. Ward, who did not attend court and made no donation, was convicted and fined €300. Both had no prior convictions and were described by their solicitor as acting out of desperation with no sophisticated planning. Separately, Ryan Myles (21) was adjourned for a Probation & Welfare Report after pleading guilty to theft of cosmetics and possession of cannabis resin, with 10 prior convictions. A motorist, David Boylan (48), was fined €300 for careless driving after a collision at a crossroads but was not disqualified. Finally, Mathew Lencewicz (21) was convicted of drink driving, fined €200, and received a six‑month driving ban.
Daniel Keenan, aged 20, was arrested after a Garda officer rang a stolen phone number, pretending to be the owner, and arranged a meeting to buy the phone back. Keenan claimed he had no involvement in the original robbery and said he had obtained the phone from a "junkie" he had just met on the street. He appeared at the agreed meeting point on a bicycle, shouted to the victim that he had the phone, then fell off his bike while turning into a laneway. Gardaí who had been monitoring the meeting found the phone in Keenan's sock. Keenan pleaded guilty to handling a stolen phone on 16 February 2013. He had nine prior convictions for theft, handling, road traffic, public order and criminal damage offences. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to two and a half years in prison, suspended in full on the condition that he cooperate with the Probation Service for one year.
Swords District Court heard several matters presided over by Judge Denis McLoughlin. Jandean Hyland, who pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, had his case struck out after paying €750 compensation. Anthony Lambe, convicted of causing criminal damage, was fined €200 and remanded on continuing bail until May 18th to pay the fine. Patrick McDonagh was convicted and fined €250 for theft, while his brother Eddie McDonagh, also convicted of theft, was given the benefit of the Probation & Offenders Act. Karl McQuillian, who pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of cannabis, had his case adjourned until May 18th for a Probation & Welfare report to assess suitability for 200 hours of community service in lieu of a five-month prison sentence. Algars Putnins, who pleaded guilty to intoxication, obstruction, and threatening behaviour, was remanded on continuing bail to reappear in May to make a €200 charitable contribution, with the Probation Act to be applied if the donation is made. Martin Maughan, who pleaded guilty to careless driving and failing to give a specimen, was disqualified from driving for four years and fined €300.
James McMahon, 23, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to possession of a loaded shotgun on September 11, 2013, and multiple driving offences in Lucan, Dublin, on April 5, 2013. The driving charges included endangerment, dangerous driving, failing to stop for gardaí, driving while disqualified, and driving while uninsured. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced McMahon to seven years in prison, with three years suspended, stating that the dangerous driving offences were taken into account. Prosecution evidence indicated McMahon left the Beretta shotgun in his girlfriend's home after babysitting their son; he ignored her requests to remove it and warned her not to touch it because it was loaded. His home had previously been shot at, and his family was later evacuated when his house was set on fire. Defence counsel argued McMahon armed himself in a misguided attempt to protect his family from perceived threats. The court noted McMahon had 63 previous convictions, mostly for road traffic offences. The matter was finalised with the imposition of the custodial sentence.
Swords District Court heard four matters. Rica Cantaragiu (28) pleaded guilty to driving without reasonable consideration on the R132 at Balrothery in May 2014. She was convicted and fined €150. Wojtek Jedrej (19) pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of drugs and unlawful possession of drugs. He was convicted, fined €400 for the driving offence, and disqualified from driving for four years, with the disqualification postponed until August 1st. He was also convicted and fined €300 for possession. Robert Kinsella (28) pleaded guilty to being intoxicated and using threatening and abusive behaviour in Swords in December 2014. The court ordered a probation report to assess his suitability for 240 hours of community service work in lieu of a two-month prison sentence. Anthony Byrne (21) pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of Ecstasy tablets in Coolock in July 2014. The matter was adjourned for a Probation & Welfare Report to be filed by April 13th.
Swords District Court heard four matters. Gary Daly, 25, pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of PVP. He was deemed suitable for 240 hours of community service in lieu of a prison sentence and is currently engaging with the Probation Service. Ann Gavin, 45, pleaded guilty to theft of clothes and theft of perfume and hair dye. Judge Dermot Dempsey convicted her and sentenced her to four months in prison. Babatunde Eyinola, 41, pleaded guilty to driving without insurance and driving without a driving licence. Judge Dempsey convicted him, fined him €400, and disqualified him from driving for one year for the insurance offence, taking the licence charge into consideration. Ailish Hammond, 38, pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis herb. Judge Dempsey ordered a probation report to assess her suitability for 240 hours of community service in lieu of a three-month prison sentence. The matter was adjourned until April 20th.
Adam O'Mara, aged 20 and resident in County Louth, received a suspended sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following a high-speed pursuit on the N1 Motorway near Drogheda on 8 February 2012. O'Mara pleaded guilty to unlawful use of a stolen white Toyota Dyna, dangerous driving, and driving without insurance. During the 40-minute chase, the then 17-year-old attempted to ram a garda vehicle on four occasions whilst weaving through traffic and overtaking dangerously. He also threw objects from the vehicle before it came to a stop due to mechanical failure. Judge Mary Ellen Ring imposed a two-and-a-half-year custodial sentence, wholly suspended, and disqualified him from driving for four years. In mitigation, the court noted O'Mara's completion of a welding course and his engagement with drug treatment services since the offence. He was ordered to comply with probation supervision and maintain good behaviour for the period of the suspended sentence.
Vicky Dempsey, 34, of Stannaway Road, Crumlin, pleaded guilty to violent disorder at Purrrfect Pets on 5 February 2011. She was sentenced by Judge Mary Ellen Ring to two years in prison, suspended in full, and ordered to comply with Probation Services for 12 months and to follow any education and training directions. Dempsey, who has 12 prior convictions mainly for road traffic offences, was involved in the incident after her brother Karl Dempsey, also of Stannaway Road, had a dispute in the car park. Dempsey dragged a woman backwards by her hair while the woman's partner was attacked. The judge accepted that Dempsey acted on impulse and expressed extreme remorse. Karl Dempsey is due for sentencing later this year when full facts will be heard. The incident also involved Mark Eagers, who sustained injuries, and Lasra Long, who was pulled backwards by her hair.
Jonathan Crilly, 29, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of Martin Rooney, 42, in a van crash on 24 April 2013. Crilly was over twice the legal alcohol limit and was driving between 120 and 140 km/h. He was sentenced by Judge Patrick McCartan to three years' imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended on the condition of good behaviour for two years after release. He was also disqualified from driving for ten years. The incident involved Crilly, Rooney and a third passenger, all from Northern Ireland, who were on a construction job in Dublin. Rooney died at Beaumont Hospital after the van collided with a wall following a red‑light violation. Crilly's prior dangerous driving conviction in Northern Ireland was noted by the court.
In the Swords District Court, several cases were heard. Keith McNamara, 22, pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of €1,100 worth of cannabis and to its sale. Judge Dermot Dempsey offered him a chance to avoid conviction if he donates €500 to charity, provides drug‑free urine tests, and submits an updated probation report, with the case adjourned to 8 September. Michael Gibbons, 32, was fined €400 and given a three‑year driving ban after being caught driving erratically while heavily intoxicated; he had a blood alcohol level of 210 mg/100 ml. Christopher Kane, 30, pleaded guilty to intoxication and was fined €250. Michael Reilly, 21, stole a remote‑controlled car worth €34.99; he may avoid conviction if he donates €250 to charity, with the case adjourned to 9 March. Fergal Reilly, 33, was convicted and fined €100 for intoxication that made him a danger to himself and others. All decisions were made by Judge Dermot Dempsey.
Paul Norton, 26, was sentenced to seven years in prison for his role as a getaway driver in a failed cash van robbery at the Northside Shopping Centre on 6 June 2012. The court noted that Norton had been disqualified from driving eleven times before the incident and had 71 prior convictions for road traffic offences, including two for robbery and attempted robbery. He also had convictions for false number plates. Judge Patrick McCartan imposed a seven‑year sentence with the final two years suspended and disqualified Norton from driving for life. The case involved a G4S cash van driver who was robbed of €30,000 when a motorbike rider seized the cash box. Norton was apprehended after fleeing in a motorbike, was later found injured, and pleaded guilty on a third trial date. The judge described his record as a "very serious picture.".
A 22‑year‑old Meath man, Graham McGuinness, was sentenced to four years in prison for driving a stolen car into a crowded viewing area at Dublin Airport. He pleaded guilty to unlawful use of a car and a second charge of dangerous driving. McGuinness, who had been disqualified from driving for ten years, drove recklessly up an embankment, jumped out of the moving car, and caused a large crowd of plane‑spotters to scatter. The judge, Martin Nolan, noted that McGuinness had "put the fear of God" into bystanders and suspended the final year of the sentence, citing his youth and potential for rehabilitation. McGuinness had 41 prior convictions, including criminal damage, theft, burglary, drug offences and threats to kill, and had struggled with alcohol and drugs. The court heard he had been in care from age 12 to 17 and had a very difficult, unsettled life with little stability.
Swords District Court heard several matters involving defendants Emmet Fitzsimons, Antons Marchinkevics, and Gillian O'Donnell. Fitzsimons, 21, pleaded guilty to being intoxicated and using threatening and abusive behaviour in Swords. Judge Dermot Dempsey struck out the case after Fitzsimons paid €250 to the Garda Benevolent Fund, noting the defendant had apologised and completed a security course. In a separate matter, Antons Marchinkevics, 33, pleaded guilty to drink driving and driving without insurance following a crash in Rush. He was disqualified for three years for drink driving and two years for lack of insurance, and fined €400 for each offence. Marchinkevics provided a breath sample of 72mg/100ml. Regarding Gillian O'Donnell, 38, the court issued a bench warrant for her arrest after she failed to appear. She is alleged to have stolen footwear from Tesco Express in Balbriggan and to be in unlawful possession of cannabis. The matter remains at the pre-trial stage with no plea entered or finalisation recorded. Additionally, Caroline Joyce was granted a hearing date of March 23rd for alleged criminal damage and breach of a protection order, though she is not a validated subject in this summary.
In a Dublin court, Joseph Robinson, aged 25, was sentenced to four and a half years' imprisonment for the death of his best friend, Alex Doyle, also aged 25, after Robinson, driving a taxi while intoxicated and without a licence, crashed into a pole on 8 June 2014. Witnesses saw Robinson leave the wreck, leaving Doyle, who suffered fatal head injuries and a severed arm, on the ground. Robinson pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death, dangerous driving, criminal damage, drink driving and driving without a licence or insurance. The judge noted Robinson's long criminal history of 58 convictions, including drug and drink‑driving offences, and his disqualification from driving at the time. Robinson was also disqualified from driving for seven years and the sentence was back‑dated to the date of the offence. The court emphasised the tragedy for both families and the need for rehabilitation.
Gareth Byrne, 32, was arrested after pouring petrol on himself outside Clontarf Garda Station and threatening to set himself and the station on fire. He had been stopped during a routine traffic check, his car seized for lack of proof of insurance, though it was later found to be insured. After the seizure, Byrne became irate, returned to the station, and declared he would burn it down. He bought petrol, returned, poured it on himself, and held a lighter above his head for about a minute before the gardaí persuaded him to drop it. He pleaded guilty to reckless endangerment. Judge Desmond Hogan imposed a two‑year suspended sentence, ordered 240 hours of community service, and required 12 months of supervision by the Probation Service. Byrne has 41 prior convictions, including road traffic offences, drug possession and knife possession.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, Joseph Robinson, aged 25, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of his best friend, Alex Doyle, also aged 25, after a taxi crashed into a pole on June 8, 2014. Witnesses reported Robinson leaving the wreck and walking away, while Doyle suffered fatal head injuries and a severed arm. Robinson also pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, criminal damage, drink driving and driving without a licence or insurance on the same date. He has 58 prior convictions, including drug offences and drink driving. Robinson was disqualified from driving and was over twice the alcohol limit. The court remanded him in continuing custody pending sentencing next week. The victim's uncle expressed shock and a desire for compassion rather than vengeance. The case highlights the severity of drink‑driving offences and the court's focus on the defendant's past record.
Daniel Prenderville, 27, of Crumlin, was convicted in 2013 of possession of a loaded firearm, possession of ammunition, unlawful use of a vehicle and dangerous driving after he rammed a Garda patrol car with a stolen Audi A3 in Ballycullen on 6 September 2012. The original sentence was six years' imprisonment with the final 18 months suspended. The Court of Appeal, citing an application by the Director of Public Prosecutions, increased the sentence to seven years' imprisonment, finding that the trial judge had erred in suspending part of the term because no exceptional circumstances were identified. The appeal court held that the offence should be viewed at the top of the scale, and the new seven‑year term replaced the original sentence. The case involved a loaded Baikal pistol with a silencer, three bullets in the magazine and one in the chamber, and the firearm's serial number had been removed. Daniel Prenderville pleaded guilty.
In a Balbriggan District Court hearing on 15 January 2015, Olivia Weldon, aged 40, pleaded guilty to theft after taking €55.56 worth of items from a Tesco Extra on 11 December 2014. She claimed she was under pressure due to her daughter's birthday and the upcoming Christmas. The judge fined her €150. A separate case involved Thomas Gaffney, 19, charged with multiple thefts including a car, bicycle, truckster, and chicken fillet rolls. His hearing was scheduled for 2 February at Swords District Court. Anthony Handley, 63, faced a dangerous driving charge; the book of evidence would be served in March, and he remained on bail until 5 March. Kevin Harmon, 26, was charged with assault causing harm to Darren O'Donovan; he was remanded on continuing bail and given an alibi caution, with a next appearance set for 30 January at the Criminal Courts of Justice. Olivia Weldon was convicted.
Swords District Court sentenced four defendants. Jamie Cunningham (18) of Balbriggan, who pleaded guilty to failing to comply with a garda directive, was sentenced to one month in prison after failing to complete a previous 100-hour community service order; a second charge of obstructing the Gardai was struck out. Genadijs Ogurcous (45) of Lusk pleaded guilty to theft after cutting security tags from items in a Swords department store and received a six-month suspended sentence. Ishtiag Ahmad (33) of Coolock, who pleaded not guilty to permitting a child under three to travel without appropriate restraint, was convicted after Judge Dermot Dempsey accepted garda evidence over his defence; he was fined €150. Kevin Harris (24) of Clarehall, who pleaded not guilty to driving under the influence of cannabis, was found guilty following a collision at Hearse Road; the court imposed a four-year driving ban and a €1,000 fine. All matters were finalised at the sentencing stage.
In 2010, Gerard Brett, aged 68, was found guilty of dangerous driving that caused the death of Benedict Brady, 87, on Portrane Road, Dublin. He was sentenced in 2012 to two years' imprisonment. On appeal in 2014, the Court of Appeal suspended the remaining 18 months of his sentence, citing his serious kidney condition requiring dialysis three times a week and his previously unblemished character as a psychiatric nurse. The court noted that Brett had driven while intoxicated, weaving across the road, and that his impaired capacity contributed to the fatality. The suspended portion was conditional on Brett keeping the peace, maintaining good behaviour, and entering a €100 bond. He was also directed not to apply for a driving licence. The decision was made by Mr Justice Sean Ryan, with counsel for the applicant Mícheál P O Higgins SC and counsel for the State Vincent Heneghan BL presenting their arguments.
Liudas Vaisvilas, 51, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to sexual assault at Terminal 2 in Dublin Airport on April 10, 2014. The defendant, of Glenveagh Court, Letterkenny, Co Donegal, was remanded in custody for sentencing in February next, pending a full psychiatric assessment and an updated probation report. Judge Patrick McCartan expressed concern that Vaisvilas's mental state could lead to repeat offences. Vaisvilas was previously sentenced to six months' suspended imprisonment for a second sexual assault at Eddie Rocket's Diner on O'Connell Street, which occurred hours after the airport incident. He also has one other conviction for road traffic offences. Defence counsel Dominic McGinn SC stated that Vaisvilas had not slept for several days, had consumed vodka, and was experiencing flashbacks related to his past service in the Russian Special Forces in Siberia. The court heard that Vaisvilas has been in custody since the offence because he was unable to pay the €1,500 required under his High Court bail. Judge McCartan noted that Vaisvilas will receive full credit for the time spent in custody. The matter was adjourned to February for final sentencing.
Rachel Breen, a 46‑year‑old Dublin‑based occupational therapist, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm after she drove through a poorly marked junction on Naul Road, Balbriggan, on 6 October 2012. The incident left a two‑year‑old boy with permanent facial scars. Breen was found at the scene administering first aid and was later disqualified from driving for four years. Judge Desmond Hogan described her as a "decent woman" who made a "serious error of judgement" and imposed a €5,000 fine, noting that no aggravating factors such as speed or intoxication were present. The court did not impose a custodial sentence, and all injured parties were compensated through Breen's insurance. The judge highlighted that the fine would impact Breen's working life due to her driving ban.
At Balbriggan District Court, Judge Dermot Dempsey struck out cases against Thomas and Alan Larkin after they paid €500 to St Vincent de Paul. Thomas Larkin (36) pleaded guilty to assaulting a youth causing harm, while Alan Larkin (33) pleaded guilty to producing a wheel brace. The court heard the brothers reacted to youths throwing rocks at their car, which contained a baby. Judge Dempsey warned them they cannot take the law into their own hands. Keith Daly (21) pleaded guilty to handling stolen property, specifically a red Carrera mountain bike. He was placed on a 12-month Probation Bond, ordered to comply with Probation Services recommendations, engage in Offence Focus work, and be assessed for training and employment. Julian Donnelly (28) pleaded guilty to possession of €20 of cannabis resin. He was convicted and fined €300. Judge Dempsey noted he had no evidence Donnelly had stopped using drugs since March and warned he was sailing close to a prison sentence. Damien Costello (35) pleaded guilty to stealing €20 of petrol from two service stations. He paid €100 in compensation and was placed on a 12-month Probation Bond. Meanwhile, cases for John Scott (36), charged with dangerous driving and having excessively worn tyres, and Grainne Kealy (56), charged with driving without due caution and attention, were adjourned until January 8th for a plea or to fix a hearing date, as solicitors awaited outstanding statements and photographs.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 28‑year‑old James Gallagher was sentenced to two and a half years for stealing a €26,200 Rolex from Weir's Jewellers in Dundrum and for dangerous driving on the M50. Gallagher snatched the watch from a customer, fled in a Volkswagen Golf, and was pursued by Gardaí. During the high‑speed chase he allegedly threw the watch out of a car window near Wesley College, Ballinteer, but a subsequent search failed to recover it. The judge noted Gallagher's actions endangered the public by forcing Gardaí to chase him at speeds over 120 kph on a 50 kph road, breaking red lights and driving the wrong way. Gallagher admitted the theft was to support his crack cocaine habit and is now addressing his drug addiction. The sentence was back‑dated to the date of his arrest. James Gallagher pleaded guilty.
Glen Douche, 27, of Termon Abbey, Drogheda, lost an appeal against his assault sentence. He had pleaded guilty to two counts of assault causing harm and one count of endangerment in Darndale, Dublin, on 11 July 2009. Judge Martin Nolan had sentenced him to three years imprisonment in December 2012, to run consecutively after a prior nine‑and‑a‑half‑year term for possession of explosives imposed in 2010, with the final two‑and‑a‑half years suspended. Mr Justice John Edwards dismissed the appeal, noting that the sentencing judge had considered Douche's cooperation, literacy and addiction problems, difficult family history and the loss of two brothers, one killed in Mountjoy Prison. Douche had 109 previous convictions, mainly for road traffic offences, and the court was not inclined to allow the appeal. The case involved a party at a stab victim's home, a confrontation with Mr Anthony Byrne, and Douche's driving of his car at a group of people.
Swords District Court heard three matters. Mark O'Toole, 26, pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of cannabis for sale or supply. He was sentenced to six months in prison. The judge refused to suspend any portion of the sentence, noting O'Toole had been afforded every opportunity. O'Toole immediately appealed the sentence after recognisance was fixed. Alexandra Mursean, 28, pleaded guilty to drink driving and driving without insurance. He was disqualified from driving for two years, fined €500 for drink driving, and fined a further €300 for driving without insurance. Keith McNamara, 22, pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of €1,100 worth of cannabis herb. The case was adjourned until February 2nd for an updated Probation Report and urine analysis. The judge noted McNamara had complied with the Restorative Justice Programme but required further reports before finalising the sentence.
A Dublin Bus driver, Valentin Ticu, has been awarded €49,000 in damages after a High Court judge found he was assaulted and wrongfully arrested by Garda David Maguire. The incident occurred on October 4th, 2011, at the junction of Kimmage Road and Sundrive Road in Dublin. Mr Ticu claimed he was forcibly removed from the bus he was driving, arrested, placed in handcuffs, and pushed against a patrol car. He sued the Garda Commissioner and Garda Maguire for assault, false imprisonment, and wrongful arrest. The claims were denied by the defendants. In his judgment, Mr Justice Michael White found that Mr Ticu was wrongfully arrested and assaulted. The judge noted that Garda Maguire lost his temper after Mr Ticu did not comply with his direction to move the bus away from the scene of a road traffic accident. The judge dismissed Mr Ticu's claim of malicious prosecution. The judgment was against the Garda Commissioner only. Mr Ticu was charged with public order and road traffic offences, which he denied. The District Court had previously dismissed all charges against him. The judge viewed CCTV footage of the incident and accepted the evidence of Mr Ticu and two independent witnesses. The judge concluded that Garda Maguire's actions were unnecessary and that Mr Ticu was entitled to damages of just over €49,400 plus his legal costs.
A Mayo man has failed in his appeal against a six-year prison sentence imposed for dangerous driving that caused serious injury to his front seat passenger, though the Court of Appeal has reduced his driving disqualification from twenty years to twelve years. Martin Kearney, aged 33, from Ballina, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing serious harm arising from an incident on 30 September 2010 near Sligo Town. Kearney had driven a BMW M3 at speeds exceeding 150 kilometres per hour over a distance of 2.6 kilometres before losing control. The vehicle mounted barriers, somersaulted, and came to rest 80 to 100 metres beyond the road surface. His front seat passenger sustained devastating injuries requiring twenty-four-hour care. Kearney himself sustained considerable injuries. Sentencing him in June 2012 at Sligo Circuit Criminal Court, Mr Justice Tony Hunt imposed four years' imprisonment with the final two years suspended and imposed a twenty-year driving ban.
Brendan Fitzpatrick, aged 34, was sentenced to five years in prison with the final three years suspended after pleading guilty to possession of PVP and cannabis worth more than €13,000. He was arrested at Store Street Garda Station where a sports bag he carried was inspected, revealing three large brown blocks of suspected cannabis and several golf‑ball‑type packages of a cocaine‑like drug. Analysis identified the drug as PVP (Pyrrolidinovalerophenone) with a street value of €32,900, while the cannabis was valued at €14,431. Fitzpatrick, of Cushlawn Park, Tallaght, had 21 prior convictions, mainly for public order and road traffic offences. He admitted taking the bag while intoxicated and claimed gambling debts of €10,000. Judge Mary Ellen Ring noted his early guilty plea and the substantial quantity of drugs, suspending the last three years of the sentence on strict conditions.
Stephen Cummins, aged 23, was sentenced to three years in prison after being caught with €70,000 of stolen cash from two separate cash‑in‑transit robberies. He was found in a park with blue dye on his trousers and runners, and earlier a man was seen running along garden walls with money falling from his pockets. In the first incident, an empty cash box was discovered at the back of Crumlin Children's Hospital; a follow‑up search of a nearby home revealed the stolen cash stained with blue/purple dye. Cummins later admitted responsibility for the cash. He pleaded guilty to possession of €40,000 at Curlew Road in Drimnagh on 16 July 2012 and €30,000 at Landen Road in Ballyfermot on 16 August 2012. He has 28 prior convictions for road traffic offences and one for unlawful possession of drugs.
Swords District Court heard four matters. Jandean Hyland pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after allegedly headbutting a victim at a nightclub. Judge Dempsey ordered Hyland to pay €1,250 in compensation by February 23rd to avoid a conviction. Keith Hammond pleaded guilty to using violent and threatening behaviour at a Garda station. The case was remanded until January 15th to assess suitability for an Adult Caution. Arthur Creedy pleaded guilty to theft for using a receipt to refund stolen runners. Judge Dempsey sentenced him to one month in prison, stating he would not increase his current sentence. Patrick Clarke was found guilty of driving without a licence and no tax after the judge proceeded in his absence. He was fined €200 for no tax and €100 for driving without a licence. A charge of no insurance was dismissed. All proceedings were handled by Judge Dermot Dempsey.
Swords District Court heard several matters presided over by Judge Dermot Dempsey. Ivans Zinkevics, 49, pleaded guilty to trespassing, intoxication, and threatening behaviour. He was sentenced to 240 hours of community service in lieu of a two-month prison term, following a positive probation report. Mairead McRory, 34, admitted to drink driving after a collision. Judge Dempsey convicted her, fined her €750, and disqualified her from driving for three years, a disqualification postponed until March. Tom Costello, 22, pleaded guilty to theft. Despite 47 previous convictions, the judge granted him a final opportunity, convicting him and sentencing him to four months in prison, suspended for two years. Cathy Lawrence, 22, pleaded guilty to using a false driving licence to secure furniture finance. The matter was not concluded with a standard sentence; instead, she was ordered to pay €350 to The Gary Kelly Cancer Support Centre. In a separate procedural stage, Calin Scintei, 22, was charged with handling stolen brandy and possessing a foiled bag. His case was adjourned, with a hearing date set for January 26.
In a 2013 incident at the Abberley Hotel in Tallaght, Zoe Thompson, aged 21, struck two brothers, Aidan and Colm Brown, with the heel of her stiletto shoe. The assault began when Aidan Brown, a barman, was involved in a scuffle after a confrontation on the dance floor of the "Entourage" nightclub. Thompson intervened, hitting Aidan on the forehead, which required seven surgical staples, and later struck his brother from behind, resulting in five staples to the back of his head. Both victims suffered financial losses: Aidan lost €1,000 in wages and Colm lost €690. Thompson pleaded guilty to two counts of assault causing harm and has four prior convictions for road traffic offences, including drink driving. She is awaiting sentencing in January, with the court considering her suitability for a restorative justice programme. The case highlights the severity of the injuries and the financial impact on the victims.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, nurse Barbara O'Toole, aged 42, was charged with dangerous driving causing serious harm after an alleged collision with Paul Woodley's motorcycle on 21 October 2010. The trial judge, Desmond Hogan, directed a not‑guilty verdict on the third day, citing a flawed investigation that lacked key evidence such as a scene of crime, point‑of‑impact data, and a proper map. Judge Hogan noted the absence of a clear determination of whether the motorcycle's left indicator was on, and that the PSV inspector had inspected the bike "blindly." He argued that the prosecution had failed to provide the defence with relevant evidence, making a conviction unsafe. The judge emphasized that the case's outcome did not affect Woodley's civil rights. The jury, composed of six men and six women, was instructed to return a not‑guilty verdict. The decision was made without a formal jury verdict, based solely on the judge's direction. Barbara O'Toole pleaded not guilty.