A 17-year-old defendant, who cannot be identified due to his minor status, was sentenced to seven-and-a-half years' detention for the manslaughter of 18-year-old Azzam Raguragui. Mr Justice Paul McDermott delivered the sentence after a jury found the defendant not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter in September. The victim died in May 2019 after being stabbed five times during a fight in Finsbury Park, Dundrum, Dublin 14, which allegedly stemmed from a dispute over a stolen bicycle. The judge noted that while the prosecution failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the fatal wound was inflicted after the victim fell, the defendant brought a knife to the altercation, an aggravating factor. Further aggravating circumstances included the defendant's failure to seek assistance, his pursuit of the victim while he lay on the ground, and his attempt to dispose of the weapon. CCTV footage showed the defendant celebrating with friends shortly after the attack. Mitigating factors included the defendant's early guilty plea offer, cooperation with gardai, and his young age. Emotional statements were read from the victim's parents, Abdul and Hajiba Raguragui, and cousin Younes Talibi. Abdul Raguragui described being haunted by images of the killer 'high-fiving' friends after the stabbing, while his wife expressed grief over the loss of their 'kind' son. The matter was concluded with the imposition of the custodial sentence.
In a High Court sentencing hearing, Mr Justice Tony Hunt imposed a mandatory life sentence on Sebastian Barczuk, 32, for the murder of his former flatmate, Michal Kurek, 33, who was found dead in a country lane in Ballyboughal on 4 August 2017. Kurek's body bore 62 stab wounds, including 25 to his back, and a Nokia 105 phone was recovered from his pocket. Barczuk was convicted by an 11‑1 jury after a trial that presented evidence of DNA on the phone, cell‑site data linking the accused's phone to the area at the time of the discovery, and CCTV footage of a Fiat Punto associated with Barczuk. The judge noted an "air of mystery" surrounding the motive and described the case as tragic, while acknowledging the evidence pointed toward Barczuk's guilt. The sentence was back‑dated to 6 April 2018, when Barczuk entered custody. Sebastian Barczuk pleaded not guilty.
In March 2019, Phuong Nguyen, aged 42, carried out an "orgy of criminal damage" against his relatives in Dublin. Armed with a meat cleaver and a shatter hammer, he set fire to his aunt's apartment in Newtown Court, Coolock, and later to his sister's house and cars at Templeview Green, Clarehall. The arson caused €165,000 of damage. Nguyen also threatened to kill two family members and was found to be experiencing a psychotic episode due to illicit drug use, including crack cocaine, at the time. He pleaded guilty to five counts of arson, four of criminal damage, three of possessing a meat cleaver in a dispute, and two of threatening to kill. On sentencing, Judge Elma Sheahan imposed a nine‑year prison term, suspending the final three and a half years on conditions, after noting Nguyen's remorse and drug‑free status. No serious injuries occurred, though a two‑year‑old child was present during the incidents.
A 60‑year‑old taxi driver, Gerard Gunnery, pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a late‑night passenger in Dublin on 23 December 2017. The victim, who was asleep in the front seat, woke to find Gunnery's hand inside her and masturbating. He then became aggressive, demanded payment, and threw her out of the car, leaving her on the side of the road. She suffered bruising to her elbows, kneecaps and jaw. Gunnery's lawyers argued the incident was out of character, presenting testimonials of him as a hard‑working, good man. The court heard the victim's impact statement, describing fear, guilt and flashbacks. Judge Karen O'Connor remanded Gunnery into custody for sentencing on 11 December. The case is pending sentencing.
A witness at the Special Criminal Court has testified that property magnate Jim Mansfield Jnr could not have written a note allegedly used during an alleged kidnapping in Dublin. Martin Byrne, a former employee, told the three-judge court that a piece of paper handed to a vehicle driver bore someone else's handwriting. Mr Byrne claims Mr Mansfield Jnr orchestrated his false imprisonment by arranging meetings with paramilitary groups. He described being taken by seven men, including former paramilitaries Dessie O'Hare and Declan Duffy, after a warehouse meeting in 2015. Mr Byrne, now in the Witness Protection Programme, said he was assaulted and later threatened at his home address, known as the Towers in Saggart, County Dublin. Under cross-examination, he rejected suggestions he was fabricating evidence or concealing information when he initially declined to speak with gardaí at the scene. Mr Mansfield Jnr, aged fifty-three, denies conspiracy to falsely imprison Mr Byrne and attempting to pervert the course of justice. The trial continues before Mr Justice Alexander Owens and two other judges. Jim Mansfield Jnr pleaded not guilty.
A 33‑year‑old woman from Vico Rock, Dalkey, was fined €1,000 and disqualified from driving for six months after she hit a 91‑year‑old man, Patrick Connell, with her car at a complex junction on Castle Street, Dalkey, on 24 January 2017. The junction had five feeder roads and no controls, and a bin lorry parked on double yellow lines obstructed the driver's view. Connell fell, fractured his hip, underwent successful surgery, but later died on 30 January 2017 from unrelated health issues. Connell's daughter, who witnessed the incident, told the court that she did not believe the driver had been careless. The court, noting the serious injury and the driver's good character, imposed the fine and a six‑month disqualification rather than the usual two‑year period. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, where the driver pleaded guilty to driving without due care or attention.
In March 2019, Laurence Grocott, aged 36, fired a machine gun through the front window of a Dublin family home while two children were inside. He pointed the gun at the mother's face and, after she shouted that children were present, he fired two shots that struck the mantelpiece. CCTV footage showed the children cowering and the mother's panic as she moved them to safety. Grocott pleaded guilty to creating a substantial risk of death or serious harm and to unlawful possession of the submachine gun. He also received a separate two‑year sentence for drug possession. Judge Karen O'Connor, noting the premeditated and indiscriminate nature of the attack, imposed an eight‑year prison term, suspending the final year on condition of peacekeeping for one year, for a final operative sentence of ten years with one year suspended. The case highlighted Grocott's history of drug abuse and prior convictions.
David Saunders, 29, was jailed for three years after a 70‑minute incident on the roof of his Fassaugh Avenue home in Cabra, Dublin, where he was naked and threw slates at armed Gardaí. The event followed an earlier pub altercation involving Saunders. He pleaded guilty to creating a substantial risk of death or serious harm to others and to damaging two cars on 23 September 2018. Judge Patricia Ryan sentenced him to six years, suspending the final three years on strict conditions. Saunders admitted drinking seven bottles of wine and taking a few grams of cocaine, and claimed he could not recall the night. He had prior convictions for hijacking a car and intimidation of a witness, and was serving a six‑month suspended sentence for property damage at the time of the roof incident.
Gerard Dempsey, 25, a homeless man with no fixed abode, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for robbery at Barrow Street, Ringsend, on 18 May 2020. He attacked a woman at night, stealing her phone to sell it for drugs after Covid‑19 stopped him from receiving charity money. The court noted his substance abuse as the main reason for the offence, and that he had four children with whom he had no contact. The offence was aggravated by its violent nature and the victim's isolation. Judge Patricia Ryan imposed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year term, suspending the final six months on strict conditions. The case involved a detailed account of the assault, the victim's attempts to escape, and Dempsey's admission of the crime. He had 57 prior convictions, including assault, burglary, theft, criminal damage and threats of serious harm. Gerard Dempsey pleaded guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Rodrigo Amaro, aged 33, was sentenced to one year in prison for assaulting his friend Eduardo Pereira. Amaro, who was intoxicated with liquid ecstasy and cannabis, struck Pereira with a glass at Ukiyo Bar on 22 December 2016, causing a permanent facial scar. Pereira, who now feels labelled a "troublemaker," declined Amaro's apology. Amaro pleaded guilty to one count of assault causing harm and had four prior traffic convictions. Judge Elma Sheahan imposed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence, suspending the final 18 months under conditions, and backdated it to July of the same year when Amaro entered custody. Amaro's lawyer, Pieter Le Vert, described the defendant as horrified by the injuries inflicted and noted Amaro had ceased drug use and provided a €5,750 token of remorse to Pereira. The case ended with Amaro's first custodial term.
In the Special Criminal Court, former employee Martin Byrne, aged 53, testified that Jim Mansfield Jnr wanted him to attend the funeral of murdered Real IRA leader Alan Ryan in September 2012 on Mansfield's behalf. Byrne denied being solely employed by convicted fraudster James O'Gorman and claimed he worked mainly for Mansfield, though he also worked for O'Gorman. He said Mansfield had arranged meetings with the New IRA and INLA to help recover family property assets, and that Mansfield had set him up for false imprisonment. Byrne also recounted being taken prisoner by a gang including former INLA man Dessie O'Hare and Declan "Whacker" Duffy, and that he was later robbed of money and documents. The court heard Byrne's evidence about Mansfield's alleged conspiracy to falsely imprison him and attempts to pervert the course of justice. Mansfield pleaded not guilty to both charges.
A 44‑year‑old recovering addict, Albert Redmond, was sentenced to 12½ years in prison for a spree of 20 burglaries, two criminal damage offences, three counts of possession of stolen credit cards, a handbag theft and four deception counts involving stolen cards. The crimes, committed between October 2019 and March 2020 in south Dublin, were linked to a relationship that began after his release from prison. Redmond claimed he had devised strategies to avoid relapse, but the relationship introduced him to a partner with a crack cocaine problem, leading to drug use and further offences. Judge Elma Sheahan, after a probation report, imposed the sentence and suspended the final four and a half years on the condition that Redmond engage with the Probation Service and drug counselling programmes upon release. The judge noted his past drug‑free period in 1996 and his desire to remain drug‑free while in custody.
Ian Belton, 47, received an 18‑month suspended sentence for possessing child pornography. He was found with 75 images of pre‑teen and teenage girls and a 46‑minute video of younger girls in sexual acts. The images were classified as category two, and the video moved the case to the lower end of the mid‑range. Belton pleaded guilty on 26 May 2018 and had no prior convictions. The judge noted his cooperation with Gardaí, his psychiatric history, and his role as a caring father and brother. He had undergone psychotherapy, showing remorse and a low risk of re‑offending. The judge believed that the stigma, loss of reputation, and registration requirements would deter future offences, so she imposed the suspended sentence. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
A 34‑year‑old Limerick man, Jonathan Collopy, is wanted in Bulgaria to serve an 18‑month sentence for a drink‑driving offence that was convicted in his absence. He was previously jailed in the early 2000s for serious drugs offences. Collopy is a father of five, expecting a sixth child, and has started a car sales business in Limerick. The High Court granted him bail pending an extradition hearing. The judge accepted that Collopy poses a flight risk but imposed conditions: he must live at St Mary's Park, deposit €2,000 in cash, provide an independent surety of €2,000, sign daily at Henry Street Garda Station, obey a curfew from 10 pm to 7 am, and keep his mobile phone charged for Garda contact. Detective Sergeant Jim Kirwan objected to bail, citing Collopy's 17 prior convictions, mainly for road traffic matters, and his substantial sentence in Bulgaria.
Martin Byrne, a witness in the trial of Jim Mansfield Jnr, has denied claims by the defence that he cannot keep his story consistent and that he puts people in and out of meetings 'willy nilly'. Byrne, who is now in the Witness Protection Programme, testified that he was falsely imprisoned by a gang of seven men, including former INLA member Dessie O'Hare and former Republican paramilitary Declan 'Whacker' Duffy. The trial, which is in the sentence stage, continues before a three-judge court. Mansfield Jnr has pleaded not guilty to all charges, including conspiring to falsely imprison Byrne and attempting to pervert the course of justice. In April 2019, Dessie O'Hare was jailed for three years for assaulting John Roche and ten years with three suspended for the rest of his life for falsely imprisoning Martin Byrne. In 2018, Declan 'Whacker' Duffy was sentenced to six years imprisonment for assaulting John Roche and falsely imprisoning Martin Byrne. The trial continues tomorrow.
A 45‑year‑old Latvian beef farmer, Dmitrijs Venskovics, was sentenced to eight years in prison after pleading guilty to transporting 36 kg of cocaine worth €2.52 million. He admitted that a Russian man had offered him €150‑€200 to move a consignment of boxes in his lorry, which he later handed over to a Ford Transit van. Gardaí found the cocaine in the van's concealed compartment. Venskovics claimed he never handled the drugs and that his role was purely that of a transporter. He had no prior convictions and was in custody since his arrest. The judge noted his cooperation with the investigation, his low level of involvement, and his status as a family man, but emphasised the seriousness of the offence due to the amount of drugs involved. The sentence reflects the offence's gravity while acknowledging his limited role in the wider operation.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Donal Gannon, 58, a former bomb maker convicted in London in 1997 for conspiracy to cause explosions and sentenced to 35 years, was found to have attempted to renew an Irish passport in the name of David O'Brien, a man who died in 1986. Gannon, released under the Good Friday Agreement in 2000, pleaded guilty to providing false information and documents for the passport renewal between 7 May and 30 May 2017, and to using a false instrument at Kevin's Street Garda Station on 7 May 2017. Gardaí obtained CCTV footage that identified Gannon as the person presenting the passport, and seized a mobile phone with the same number used in the application. Gannon denied making the application, claiming the photographs were planted. The court noted his nine previous convictions, including assault and attempted burglary, and adjourned the case for finalisation on 25 November, with Gannon remaining on bail.
Tony Hunt, 47, was sentenced to two years in prison after the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court found he had no choice but to hold 198 rounds of 9mm Parabellum ammunition. The bullets were moved from a wheelie bin into the spare wheel well of his car when the bins were due for collection. Gardaí discovered the package during a random stop after seeing the car leave a known drug dealer's home in Kildare. Hunt initially claimed the ammunition belonged to a deer‑hunting colleague, later admitting he had been told a package would be left in his bin for 24 hours but did not know its contents. He pleaded guilty to possession of the rounds, which were mainly used in semi‑automatic handguns. Judge Pauline Codd suspended the final three years of a five‑year sentence, requiring Hunt to keep the peace for the entire period. Hunt's only prior conviction was for possession of stolen property in 2004.
At the Special Criminal Court, Martin Byrne (53), a former in-house security director of the Citywest Hotel and currently in the Witness Protection Programme, denied allegations that he likes to make himself look important or enjoys 'a bit of grandiosity' during cross-examination by defence counsel Bernard Condon SC. Byrne testified that Jim Mansfield Jnr (53) arranged meetings with the New IRA and INLA to assist in reclaiming parts of his family's former property portfolio. He also stated that €2,500 in protection money was being paid weekly to the Real IRA to protect Mansfield Jnr from Traveller gangs. Byrne claimed that Mansfield Jnr was aware of the dangers involved but was determined to recover his property. Mansfield Jnr is accused of conspiring to falsely imprison Byrne between January 1, 2015, and June 30, 2015, and of attempting to pervert the course of justice by directing Patrick Byrne to destroy CCTV footage. The trial continues. In April 2019, Former INLA man Dessie O'Hare was jailed for three years for assaulting John Roche and ten years with three suspended for the rest of his life for falsely imprisoning Martin Byrne. Former Republican paramilitary Declan 'Whacker' Duffy was sentenced to six years in 2018 after pleading guilty to assaulting John Roche and falsely imprisoning Martin Byrne at Rathcoole and Saggart on June 9, 2015.
Jake O'Neill, aged 22, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for assault causing harm and robbery. In August 2016 he attacked an Austrian doctor and his son outside a café in Temple Bar after they refused to give him money. O'Neill punched the doctor's son and then the doctor, who suffered a broken eye socket, fractures to his cheek and jaw, and lost teeth. In October 2017 he participated in a robbery on James' Street, where he and another person assaulted a man who had given him a cigarette, taking the man's phone, wallet and keys. O'Neill pleaded guilty to both offences, admitted the robbery was an "act of bravado" after drinking and drug use, and was found to have a history of drug addiction. The judge suspended the final six months of the sentence on strict conditions. The case was heard in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Wanye Kelly (33) has been given a three-year suspended sentence for endangerment at Ninth Lock Road, Clondalkin on May 24, 2017, following a guilty plea. The incident occurred after a verbal exchange with Peter Adams (38), who was in court for sentencing. Kelly initially denied attempting to knock Adams down but changed his perception after viewing CCTV footage. He has nine previous convictions, including public order, trespass with a knife, criminal damage, and assault causing harm. At the sentence hearing, Garda David Gilmore noted that Kelly presented himself at the station on the day of the incident before gardaí had nominated him as a suspect. His defence, Paul Comiskey O'Keeffe BL, stated that Kelly had stopped taking painkillers for an ankle injury around that time, which may have contributed to his quick temper. Judge Melanie Greally acknowledged Kelly's remorse and mitigating factors, including his sobriety for three years, engagement in restorative justice, and running a successful business. She described his driving as 'an absolute outrage' but decided not to impose an immediate custodial sentence. Kelly had €3,000 in court as a token of remorse for Adams. The matter was adjourned for the sentence hearing, and the suspended sentence was handed down with conditions.
Rita Ryan, aged 69, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two charges of indecent assault against an 11‑year‑old girl she abused while working as a care assistant at an orphanage in the early 1970s. The abuse, which began with a question about "French kissing" and escalated to mutual masturbation and oral sex, continued for over a hundred occasions until the victim left Ireland. Ryan accepted the court's suggestion that her conduct was a "romantic" or "intimate" relationship and acknowledged it was sexual abuse. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a two‑year custodial term, fully suspended, and ordered Ryan to pay €15,000 to the victim as a token of remorse, with a further €15,000 within a year. The judge noted Ryan's admissions, lack of prior convictions, and community contributions as mitigating factors, while emphasising the prolonged nature of the abuse and the age disparity between the parties.
David Saunders, 29, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to creating a substantial risk of death or serious harm to others on September 23, 2018. He also admitted damaging two cars on the same date. The court heard that Saunders, who was allegedly under the influence of alcohol and cocaine, stripped naked on his roof in Cabra and threw slates at gardaí, one of which narrowly missed a garda's head. A negotiator eventually persuaded him to come down. Garda Adrian Kildea told the court that Saunders was serving a six-month suspended sentence for property damage when he committed these current offences. He also has previous convictions for hijacking a car and intimidation of a witness. Defence counsel highlighted Saunders' struggle with drug addiction and his successful rehabilitation efforts. Judge Patricia Ryan adjourned sentencing to Friday next. The matter was adjourned and not concluded.
Justice Michael White issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Janice Brady, who is in automatic breach of her suspended sentence. Brady, 29, was previously sentenced to four years in prison for staging the suicide of Martin "Matt" Kivlehan to impede the prosecution of her brother, Keith Brady. Keith Brady was found guilty of Mr Kivlehan's murder at New Apartments, Holborn St, Sligo, on August 2 or August 3, 2015. Brady had pleaded guilty to the impeding charge and had already served 28 months in custody by the time of her sentencing. Her remaining sentence was suspended on the condition that she resided with her father in Ballyshannon, Co Donegal. However, she moved to a B&B in Dublin without notifying her probation officer, leading to a warning from the court. Sgt Mark McHale informed the court that Brady had been charged with 32 offences since March, mainly for shoplifting in Dublin, and is currently sleeping rough. With 10 months left in her sentence, Justice White ordered her arrest and directed that she be brought before the Central Criminal Court.
Jason Murtagh, a 41‑year‑old former film actor known for roles in The Commitments, The Snapper, The Boxer and In The Name Of The Father, was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to three years in prison for robbing a Costcutters convenience store on 13 March 2017. Murtagh, who has 126 prior convictions and is a homeless crack cocaine addict, pleaded guilty to the offence. He and an accomplice entered the shop at about 6 a.m., armed with knives, forced a female shop assistant to open the tills, and stole €200 in cash. The store manager, who spotted them on CCTV, pursued them and saw them flee to a nearby flat complex. Murtagh requested custody to aid his rehabilitation, and Judge Pauline Codd imposed a four‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence, suspending the final 18 months to facilitate his rehabilitation. The judge praised the shop assistant and manager for their courage during the incident.
In the Central Criminal Court, Jason Warrington, 47, pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm after stabbing Tadhg O'Shea, 27, 11 times in the back and chest during a gathering at Warrington's home in Mallow. The attack occurred on 23 December 2018, when O'Shea was visiting after a Christmas event. Garda Anthony Daly testified that O'Shea had reported no prior threats and that the assault began with Warrington's knife. O'Shea was rescued by a guest, taken to hospital, and later gave a victim impact statement expressing ongoing depression and loss of family life. Warrington apologized in court, stating he was disgusted that O'Shea survived and had intended to kill him. He was remanded in custody pending sentencing. The case remains at the sentencing stage.
On 7 March 2020, Bernard Fogarty, 32, of Hole in the Wall Road, Donaghmede, Dublin 13, pleaded guilty to possessing a RAK PM‑63 submachine gun at his residence. The offence contravenes Section 27A(1) of the Firearms Act. The registrar read the single charge and Fogarty answered "Guilty." Mr Justice Tony Hunt adjourned the case to 14 December to allow a prison governor's report and a urinalysis report to be completed. The case was subsequently brought before the Special Criminal Court under Section 49 of the Offences Against the State Act. The sentencing will take place next month.
A 24‑year‑old mother was given a suspended three‑year sentence after pleading guilty to two counts of allowing her two‑year‑old son to be ill‑treated. The offences occurred in February 2017, when the child suffered extensive bruising that was discovered by hospital staff at Tallaght Hospital. The mother repeatedly lied about the injuries, claiming the boy was a "clumsy child" and later fabricated a visit from a biological father. She failed to seek medical attention and allowed the child to remain in a dangerous environment. The judge noted the seriousness of the assault and the mother's lack of prior convictions. The sentence is suspended on conditions that include continued engagement with relevant services. The child has been removed from her care and is now raised by his maternal grandparents.
Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds of the High Court has ordered the arrest of any person found in occupation of a farm at Falsk, Strokestown in County Roscommon. The order was made against three named individuals: Michael Anthony McGann, the property owner; former Garda Kevin Taylor of Dublin Road, Longford; and Colm Granahan from Ballina, County Mayo. KBC Bank, which previously obtained an injunction for vacant possession of the property, presented evidence to the court that the three remain on the farm in breach of High Court orders. The judge found that the individuals were engaged in a concerted effort to undermine court orders. She directed that the three, along with any other occupants discovered on the property, be brought before the court by An Garda Síochána to answer allegations of contempt. The judge stated that Gardaí may use all reasonable force necessary to enforce the order. The matter will return to court at a later date.
Jim Mansfield Jnr is on trial at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin, charged with conspiracy to commit false imprisonment and attempting to pervert the course of justice five years ago. The accused is alleged to have conspired with one or more persons to falsely imprison Martin Byrne on a date unknown between January 1, 2015 and June 30, 2015, both dates inclusive. He is also charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice by directing Patrick Byrne to destroy recorded CCTV footage, with the alleged intention of perverting the course of public justice in relation to the false imprisonment of Martin Byrne at Finnstown House Hotel, Newcastle Road, Lucan, Co Dublin between June 9, 2015 and June 12, 2015. Mr Mansfield has pleaded not guilty to both counts on the indictment. Martin Byrne, who is now in the Witness Protection Programme, testified that he arranged meetings with the New IRA and the INLA to assist Mr Mansfield in getting back parts of his family's former property portfolio. He also stated that he believed Mr Mansfield had set him up and tried to confront him but was grabbed from behind and pushed into a waiting car. The trial continues on Monday before Mr Justice Alexander Owens presiding, sitting with Judge Sinead Ni Chulachain and Judge James Faughnan. Former INLA man Dessie O'Hare was jailed by the Special Criminal Court for three years for assaulting John Roche and ten years with three suspended for the rest of his life for falsely imprisoning Martin Byrne. Former Republican paramilitary Declan "Whacker" Duffy was sentenced by the Special Criminal Court to six years imprisonment in 2018 after pleading guilty to assaulting John Roche, causing him harm, at The Towers, Garter Lane, Saggart, County Dublin on June 9, 2015.
Philip Dunbar, aged 20, was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Adam 'Floater' Muldoon, a 23‑year‑old man with cerebral palsy, who was stabbed 183 times in an unprovoked attack at Butler Park, Jobstown Park, Tallaght on 22 or 23 June 2018. The Central Criminal Court found Dunbar guilty by unanimous jury verdict. The sentencing judge, Mr Justice Paul McDermott, backdated the life sentence to the date of the murder, 24 June 2018, and noted that the victim's family had suffered immense grief. Dunbar's defence argued intoxication and lack of intent, but the jury rejected these claims. The judge also acknowledged that Dunbar had previous convictions under the Theft Act, for possession of drugs and for Road Traffic Act violations. The case remains subject to appeal by Dunbar's counsel. Philip Dunbar pleaded not guilty and was found guilty.
In Lusk, Co Dublin, Declan Turner, aged 23, was sentenced to six years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended, for a string of hold‑ups that took place over a ten‑minute period within 500 metres of each other. The offences, committed on 15 November 2019, included an attempted robbery at Supervalu, a robbery at Gino's takeaway, and an attempted robbery at Orlynn Park. Turner was identified by CCTV, arrested the following day and has been in custody since. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, admitted a drug problem and expressed remorse. The judge, on condition of keeping the peace for the suspended period, required Turner to cooperate with the Probation Service for 18 months and to engage in residential drug treatment if directed. Turner has 33 previous convictions and a history of mental health issues. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the repeated armed robberies.
Anthony Dwyer, aged 28, pleaded guilty to robbery at Manor Pharmacy in Dublin 7 on 28 May 2020. He entered the pharmacy an hour before the robbery, asking about job vacancies and about foot cream. He returned later with a hood on, pulled a screwdriver, demanded a female employee open the till, but she refused and fled. Dwyer opened the till himself and stole €275. He was identified from CCTV footage and arrested. In police interviews he admitted the robbery, claimed he used a pen instead of a screwdriver, and said he had taken crack cocaine that morning. He stated he stole the money to "bribe" his girlfriend to allow him to see his children. He was on bail at the time of the offence. Judge Elma Sheahan sentenced him to three‑and‑a‑half years imprisonment. The court noted his 110 previous convictions, including robbery, attempted robbery and burglary.
Christopher Prentice, 25, of Tallaght, Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for two armed carjackings committed on February 6, 2020. Prentice pleaded guilty to two counts of seizing control of a vehicle by force in south Dublin. He also admitted to dangerous driving in Clondalkin and assaulting two gardaí during a high-speed chase that ended when he rammed their patrol car. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Prentice to six and a half years in prison and disqualified him from driving for ten years. The judge noted that Prentice was serving the suspended portion of a January 2019 sentence for dangerous driving of a stolen car when these offences occurred. Prentice had previously been convicted of a carjacking in December 2014. In mitigation, his defense counsel, James Dwyer SC, highlighted Prentice's remorse and his claim that he was grieving the recent death of a cousin while under the influence of alcohol and cannabis. Victims described severe trauma, with one female driver stating she could no longer work in sales due to anxiety, and a taxi driver wishing to leave the profession. The court acknowledged the vulnerability of the victims and the traumatic nature of the attacks.
Sean Nolan, aged 36, was sentenced to life imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court for the murder of his partner Amanda Carroll, aged 33, who was strangled in her own apartment on 21 October 2018. The judge, Mr Justice Michael MacGrath, imposed the mandatory life term, back‑dated to the date of the offence, and directed that Nolan serve the full custodial period. During sentencing, Carroll's sisters Sandra and Antoinette delivered victim impact statements, expressing grief and demanding that Nolan be punished. Nolan, who had pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, interjected from the dock, saying "I am sorry". The court noted that the jury had rejected the defence's claim that Nolan was too intoxicated to form intent, concluding that the death was a deliberate act. No further legal outcome was mentioned in the article. Sean Nolan was convicted.
Patrick Russell, a former barrister aged 57, was sentenced to four years in prison, with the final 12 months suspended, for stealing €235,000 from businessman Paul O'Connell. Russell pretended to arrange the purchase of a warehouse in Co Kildare for O'Connell, using forged deeds and false documents to convince the victim to transfer €15,000 and €5,000 to a UK account and an account in his wife's name, and to pay an additional €215,000 to solicitors who believed the documents were genuine. The solicitors and O'Connell's family later reported the fraud to Gardaí. Russell pleaded guilty to the theft in March 2019 and had previously been struck off the bar in 2012 for professional misconduct. The judge noted Russell's limited criminal history, his cardiac condition, and his willingness to restore the stolen sum, but imposed a custodial sentence because he had not made tangible efforts to return the money. The €215,000 remains frozen in AIB.
A 77-year-old man was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to one count of sexually abusing his granddaughter on a date unknown between February 1, 2002, and December 31, 2003. The victim, who was aged between five and seven at the time, alleged the abuse occurred in the kitchen of the defendant's home. Two further charges were taken into consideration during sentencing. Judge Martin Nolan jailed the defendant for one year, noting that had the man been ten years younger and in better health, the sentence would have been longer. The judge acknowledged the defendant's age, health issues, and remorse, but emphasized that a prison sentence was necessary despite these factors. The court heard that the defendant's wife had told the child he was her uncle, while the mother believed he was not present. The defendant, a convicted child rapist with prior convictions for indecent assault and rape, is currently living in sheltered accommodation. His defense counsel highlighted his isolation and previous suicide attempts, while the prosecution noted his failure to comply with sex offender registration. The matter was finalized with the imposition of the one-year custodial sentence.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 44‑year‑old truck driver Noel Purcell was remanded in custody pending sentencing after being found with €1,287,700 in cash in his cab. Purcell admitted he had agreed to transport the money to Holland after meeting a man on a boat, who offered him €4,000 to do so. He claimed he was struggling with mortgage and credit card debt and was "vulnerable" and "easily‑led". Gardaí had pulled him over on Naas Road following a surveillance operation and discovered two large bags of cash wrapped in duct tape. Purcell pleaded guilty to one count of possessing cash that was the proceeds of a crime. He has no prior convictions and was described by his defence as anxious and financially stressed. Judge Melanie Greally noted the high amount and the need for a custodial sentence, remanding him to await a Probation Services report before sentencing on 19 January 2025.
In a High Court decision dated 3 November 2020, Mr Oliver Bennett, aged 64, was awarded €231,000 in damages for life‑changing injuries sustained in an unprovoked assault at the Tir Na nOg Public House, Wellington Bridge, Wexford, on 15 April 2009. The assault was carried out by John Codd, who later pleaded guilty and received an 18‑month sentence. Mr Bennett sued both Codd and Wallace Taverns Limited, the pub's operator, for negligence. The court found no contest to liability, and the claim was assessed solely for damages. Mr Bennett, a former building‑trade entrepreneur who managed 300 workers, suffered severe head injuries, a coma, a stroke, memory loss, and limited physical and communicative abilities, now living in sheltered accommodation. The award also covered Mr Bennett's legal costs. The judge praised the legal representation of both parties and highlighted the lasting impact of the injuries on Mr Bennett's life.
The High Court in Dublin has heard that a farm at Falsk, Strokestown in County Roscommon remains occupied in breach of court orders granted to KBC Bank. The property has been at the centre of protracted legal proceedings involving three siblings—Anthony, David, and Geraldine McGann—and the financial institution, which secured a possession order several years ago following a €431,000 debt. Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds had issued a deadline of 6pm on Sunday, 1 November for all occupants to vacate, warning that those remaining could face imprisonment for contempt of court. When the matter was mentioned before the court on Tuesday, the judge was informed the farm remained occupied by several individuals, preventing KBC from taking possession. Ms Justice Reynolds indicated her willingness to hear the bank's application to commit those currently on the property for contempt. The matter will be considered by the court on Friday.
A banned repeat driving offender, Brian Reilly, 24, with 126 prior convictions, drove on the wrong side of the M50 to evade Gardaí before crashing into the car of an elderly couple, John and Ellen Armstrong, who were stopped at a red light at Kilshane Cross, Finglas, in January. The collision caused significant injuries to Ellen, including multiple rib fractures and the amputation of the tip of her right thumb, leaving her dependent on others for basic care. John suffered a head wound and a seizure. Reilly, who was disqualified from driving, fled the scene but was later found by Gardaí. He has pleaded guilty to endangerment, dangerous driving causing serious harm, refusing a blood or urine sample, and driving without insurance. He remains in custody and will be sentenced in December, with a Probation Services report ordered and the matter adjourned for finalisation on December 21.
Businessman Jim Mansfield Jnr is on trial at the Special Criminal Court, charged with conspiracy to commit false imprisonment and attempting to pervert the course of justice. He has pleaded not guilty to both counts. The prosecution alleges that on June 9, 2015, Mansfield effectively delivered his longtime employee, Martin Byrne, into the arms of a group of men who falsely imprisoned Byrne and his family. The State claims Mansfield directed Byrne to a meeting at Keatings Park where he was confronted by Dessie O'Hare and Declan Duffy, after which Byrne was restrained by seven men and taken to The Towers in Saggart. The second count alleges Mansfield instructed Patrick Byrne to destroy CCTV footage from Finnstown House Hotel to pervert justice. The trial continues before Mr Justice Alexander Owens, sitting with Judges Sinead Ni Chulachain and James Faughnan. In related matters, former INLA member Dessie O'Hare was sentenced in April 2019 to three years for assaulting John Roche and ten years, with three suspended for life, for falsely imprisoning Martin Byrne. Former Republican paramilitary Declan Duffy was sentenced in 2018 to six years imprisonment after pleading guilty to assaulting John Roche and falsely imprisoning Martin Byrne on the same date.
Olusegun Olusanya, aged 24, was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to an 18‑month suspended sentence for his role in a €10,000 transfer that was part of a larger $950,000 phishing fraud. He was 19 when he allowed his bank account to be used by others to receive €10,000, which he then withdrew in six transactions and handed to two individuals. Olusanya pleaded guilty to converting, transferring, handling, acquiring or possessing the €10,000, which was the proceeds of crime. He admitted he was not the organiser of the fraud and that he had been asked by someone staying with him to use his account. The judge noted he had no prior convictions and that he had been offered money, but he had not profited greatly. The court imposed an 18‑month suspended sentence as his first and last chance.
Frederick Hunt, 74, of Ballinteer Court, Dublin, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to knowingly distributing child pornography by email on 14 June 2011. Judge Martin Nolan set a sentencing date of 18 January 2021, when the full facts will be heard.
Paul Keating, aged 25, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for unlawful possession of firearms, with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions. He pleaded guilty on 27 October 2017 to possessing broken shotgun parts that could not be assembled or fired. Gardaí found the parts during a drug search for cocaine at his home in Brookhaven Grove, Blanchardstown, Dublin. Keating had agreed to hold the parts in exchange for a €1,000 reduction of a €2,000 drug debt, which he later paid off with family help. He claimed he had not used the parts or attempted to fire them between February and October 2017. The court noted he had not reported the offence to the Probation Service and had subsequent convictions for road traffic and theft offences. The judge emphasised the seriousness of the offence and urged Keating to be ashamed of his actions.
Peter Brazil, 41, was convicted of stealing six kegs of beer from The Great Wood Wetherspoons Pub in Blanchardstown on 7 September 2016. The stolen goods, valued at €800, were not recovered. Brazil, who has 268 prior convictions, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Pauline Codd, after hearing evidence in July, sentenced him to 18 months in prison, suspended in full for two years on the condition that he engage with the Probation Service. The judge noted Brazil's long‑term drug addiction and its impact on his health, stating that continued thieving must stop. Garda Terrance Nevin had identified Brazil from CCTV footage showing him driving a white transit van that carried the kegs. Keith Spencer BL defended Brazil, noting his client's efforts to address his drug addiction. The case was adjourned to allow Brazil time to work with the Probation Service.
Jamie Nulty, aged 22, pleaded guilty to burglary at Sarah Kearney's home in Clonee on 15 July 2017, when he was 19. He broke in through a downstairs window, armed with a screwdriver, demanded money, and held Kearney at gunpoint, throwing her onto the bed and threatening her. The court heard he also pleaded guilty to dangerous driving in February 2017. Judge Karen O'Connor sentenced him to five years and nine months, back‑dating four years and seven months to credit time already spent in custody, and suspended the final 14 months on conditions. The sentence reflected mitigating factors such as his youth, homelessness and drug addiction. Kearney suffered post‑traumatic stress, loss of €1,000 in earnings and therapy costs, and remains fearful of being alone in the house. Nulty has 23 prior convictions and has not been in contact with Gardaí since the offence.
Gerry Wall, 27, of The Laurels, Bluebell, Dublin, was sentenced to four years and three months in prison for burglary at a Walkinstown home on 1 February 2016. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and had 26 prior convictions. Garda Aidan Devaney reported that the elderly woman's son returned to find the house in a chaotic state, with clothes and belongings scattered. CCTV footage showed Wall leaving with a suitcase and two bags. Items missing included jewellery, saris, coins and flags, valued at €32,450, many of which were irreplaceable family heirlooms. Judge Karen O'Connor noted the violation of a family home and the financial and sentimental loss. She imposed a five‑year, three‑month sentence, suspended the final year, and backdated it to July when Wall entered custody.
The Special Criminal Court has heard that the trial of four men accused of false imprisonment and assault causing serious harm to Quinn Industrial Holdings director Kevin Lunney may be delayed due to High Court challenges. The defendants, Luke O'Reilly, Darren Redmond, Alan O'Brien, and a fourth unnamed accused, were charged with abducting and assaulting Mr. Lunney in September 2019. The fourth accused and Mr. O'Brien have instituted judicial review proceedings challenging the Special Criminal Court's jurisdiction, while Mr. O'Reilly and Mr. Redmond have adopted the same position. Counsel for the DPP stated that the fourth accused's case is listed for mention in the High Court, with an early hearing expected. Mr. Justice Tony Hunt, presiding with Judges Gerard Griffin and David McHugh, noted that even if the State prevails, appeals are likely. Consequently, the court considered backing up the 12-week trial originally fixed for January 11, 2021. Counsel for the fourth accused indicated an application for adjournment on other grounds would be brought. The matter was adjourned to a mention hearing on November 16 to ascertain the updated position regarding the High Court proceedings.
Philip Dunbar, 20, was found guilty of murder by a jury at the Central Criminal Court for the stabbing of 23-year-old Adam Muldoon in Butler Park, Tallaght, in June 2018. The jury returned a unanimous verdict after rejecting the defence argument that Dunbar was too intoxicated to form the necessary intent for murder. Evidence presented included testimony from a friend who stated Dunbar boasted about the killing, claiming he put Muldoon "out of his misery" and expressed satisfaction at knowing what it was like to be a killer. Pathological evidence identified 183 stab wounds, including fatal injuries to the neck, liver, and lungs, as well as defensive wounds to Muldoon's hands. Dunbar had previously told gardai he experienced a "blackout" during the attack. Mr Justice Paul McDermott thanked the jury and exempted them from further service. Dunbar was not sentenced immediately; the matter was adjourned to this Friday for sentencing, where he will receive the mandatory term of life imprisonment for murder. Members of Mr Muldoon's family are scheduled to make statements to the court at that time.