A 67-year-old Co Monaghan farmer has been sentenced to eight years imprisonment, with the final two years suspended, following his conviction for sexual assaults on his grandchildren. Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard the abuse came to light in late 2014 when one child disclosed to her mother that her grandfather had exposed her to explicit material before committing a sexual assault. Two further grandchildren subsequently reported similar offences during sleepovers at his home. The man initially denied the allegations and attempted to shift blame to another family member. Judge Patricia Ryan described the victim impact statements as harrowing, noting the offences represented a profound breach of trust within a family setting where the children should have been safe. She acknowledged his previously good character but imposed the custodial sentence reflecting the severity of the crimes and their lasting impact on the victims.
Eric Shorthall, 23, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to impeding the apprehension or prosecution of Warren Nolan, knowing or believing Nolan to be guilty of the murder of Alan O'Neill. The offence is alleged to have occurred on May 27, 2015, at Belfry Manor, Tallaght. Shorthall, of Muskerry Road, Ballyfermot, was originally charged with the murder of O'Neill, who was shot dead in front of his partner outside his home on Kiltalown Road, Tallaght, on that date. Shorthall's counsel, Keith Spencer BL, noted that Shorthall was 18 at the time of the offence and requested a probation report. Mr Justice Paul McDermott ordered the probation report and remanded Shorthall in custody until November 16. The court also noted that Warren Nolan, then 22, was found guilty by a jury in December 2018 of the murder of O'Neill and setting fire to the car used in the shooting. Nolan, who was 18 at the time of the murder, was sentenced by Mr Justice McDermott to the mandatory term of life imprisonment for murder and six years for setting the car on fire. Both sentences were backdated to September 2017.
In a case heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Luka Tomljanovic, aged 33, pleaded guilty to two counts of assault causing harm after punching sisters Aoife and Shauna O'Connor at Sam's Bar, Dawson Street, on 19 January 2019. The incident began when a bottle smashed Aoife's glass, leading to a confrontation between Tomljanovic's fiancée and the sisters. Tomljanovic entered the altercation, delivering nine punches, two to Aoife's face and one to Shauna's face, before being restrained by security. He claimed he was defending his fiancée, who had been pulled by hair. The court accepted his apology and a €2,500 compensation offer. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to 12 months imprisonment, fully suspended, with the condition that he hand over the compensation to the victims or a domestic‑violence charity if they decline it. The judge noted the incident was a one‑off, out‑of‑character event and that Tomljanovic had no prior convictions.
Sonia Collins, 38, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to one count of possessing cannabis for sale or supply at her home in Kilcronan Avenue, Clondalkin, Dublin, on March 4 last year. The court heard that Collins told gardaí she was under financial pressure ahead of her child's confirmation and had incurred a €200 drug debt after purchasing cocaine for social use. She claimed she agreed to hold the drugs for a short period but they were never collected. Garda Vincent Jaffray testified that officers searched the residence following a tip-off, and Collins immediately showed them the cannabis stored under the stairs. A small child was present during the search, and Collins was not arrested on the spot; she presented at Tallaght Garda Station days later to be charged. Collins declined to identify the person who supplied the drugs, citing safety fears. Defence counsel James Dwyer SC highlighted mitigating factors, including her status as a single mother of three, her early guilty plea, cooperation with gardaí, and lack of significant criminal history, arguing against the mandatory minimum sentence. Judge Melanie Greally suspended a prison sentence of two-and-a-half years on the condition that Collins remain drug-free.
A 20‑year‑old named Nathan Flynn was jailed for three‑and‑a‑half years after being repeatedly caught by Gardaí selling cannabis, cocaine and heroin from a vacant cabin in Rossfield Park, Tallaght. Flynn, who lived in the cabin, was arrested six times between June and August 2019, each time with drugs and cash seized. He pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply at the cabin and at his former address in Killinarden Heights. The court noted that Flynn was homeless and had been kicked out by his mother because of his drug use. The judge described his behaviour as "pretty stupid" and said he was probably working for someone else. Flynn's sentence was imposed for his repeated misbehaviour.
Robert Cullen, aged 28, was sentenced to seven-and-a-half years in prison for attempting to rob Paddocks Pub in Clonee on 11 June 2018. He entered the pub with a sawn‑off shotgun, threatened two workers with the gun, and fired four shots while they were hiding in an office. Cullen also threw a heater through a window to "draw attention to their plight." He fled in a car that was later found burnt out. Cullen pleaded guilty to attempted robbery, possession of a double‑barrelled sawn‑off shotgun and discharging a firearm. He has 44 prior convictions, including robbery and obstruction, and was already serving sentences for other offences with a release date of 30 November 2023. The judge described the weapon as "vile" and the act of threatening the workers as "very heinous.".
The Special Criminal Court sentenced Patrick Curtis and Mohammed Smew for their roles in a Kinahan Cartel plot to murder Patrick "Patsy" Hutch. Curtis, 38, pleaded guilty to directing the activities of a criminal organisation between February and March 2018. Smew, 27, pleaded guilty to participating in the organisation's activities, including providing vehicles and planning an attempted shooting. The court heard that Curtis suffers from claustrophobia and obsessive-compulsive disorder, while Smew was remanded in custody after a separate arrest, which ended his involvement. This sentencing concludes the case against the last two men involved in the plot. Previously, Michael Burns was jailed for nine years, while Stephen Curtis and Ciaran O'Driscoll received five-year sentences. Mark Capper, who withdrew from the plan, was sentenced to seven-and-a-half years. In a related 2019 case, Gary Thompson, Glen Thompson, and Robert Browne were sentenced to 12.5 years and 11.5 years respectively for planning the murder. The court noted the gang's hierarchical structure, with leadership operating from the Middle East coordinating sub-cells. The planned attack involved a staging post, a ruse to lure the victim, and a getaway route, though the operation was intercepted by the Emergency Response Unit before execution.
Jake Kearney, 25, of Coolock Drive, Dublin 17, pleaded guilty on 5 May 2020 to unlawful possession of a Luger‑calibre Grand Power semi‑automatic pistol at Oscar Traynor Road, Santry, Dublin 9, on 30 October 2019. He was arrested after Gardaí observed him with a loaded handgun in a taxi and at a pub, where a black handgun and eight 9 mm bullets were seized. The firearm was intended for use in an imminent attack on a rival north Dublin gang, though it is not known whether Kearney himself would have fired it. The judge, Mr Justice Tony Hunt, noted Kearney's early guilty plea and limited prior convictions, and imposed a headline jail term of eight years, reduced by 25 % for the plea, and suspended the final year. Kearney was sentenced to six years' imprisonment with the last year suspended, back‑dated to 2 November 2019.
In a nursing home in County Dublin, a 52‑year‑old health‑care assistant raped a pensioner in her room at 3 am on 3 April 2020 during the Covid‑19 lockdown. The victim was found in distress the next morning, taken to a sexual‑assault treatment unit where semen was recovered and matched to the accused. The man was arrested on 14 April, denied the allegation, and pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court. Mr Justice Paul McDermott sentenced him to 12 years' imprisonment, suspending the final year on strict conditions. The court heard the victim's daughter's impact statement, describing the mother's ongoing fear, depression, nightmares and post‑traumatic stress, and the family's inability to comfort her due to lockdown restrictions. The case highlighted the breach of trust by a qualified healthcare worker and the severe psychological harm inflicted on the elderly victim.
Martin Kenny, 48, was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment for three robberies committed over 15 months. The first robbery took place at a local bookmaker's on 11 January 2019, where Kenny grabbed a woman in her 60s, held a knife to her throat, demanded cash and fled with €190 after punching another customer. The second robbery occurred on 30 March 2019 at the South Circular Road, where he stole €300. The third robbery was on 18 April 2020 at a Maxol petrol station, where he pointed a knife at a staff member, demanded €50 notes and left with €400. Kenny was arrested at a Luas stop after the third incident. He pleaded guilty to robbery and assault causing harm. Judge Sarah Berkeley imposed a consecutive sentence of eight years, suspending the final two years on the condition that he engage with the Probation Service for two years upon release.
Patrick Kelly, 52, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment by Judge Melanie Greally at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for sexually assaulting two teenage girls while he was their Taekwon-Do instructor. The victims, now aged 20 and 23, waived anonymity and provided victim impact statements. Kelly had previously been convicted in December 2017 of sexual assault and exploitation of two children, receiving a nine‑year sentence, and in the Central Criminal Court a consecutive four‑year term for rape, sexual assault and exploitation of a girl he met at a bus stop. The new sentence follows Kelly's guilty pleas to three offences: forcefully kissing and grabbing the first victim's bottom in mid‑2014, and grabbing, kissing and touching the second victim's bottom between July 2011 and July 2012. Judge Greally noted the abuse's devastating impact, Kelly's lewd text‑message conduct, and the victims' lasting fear and loss of trust.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Charlie Magaharan, aged 25, received an 18‑month suspended prison sentence for assaulting three men during a violent attack that began when he was seen kicking a city‑rental bike. The incident, captured on CCTV, involved Magaharan and three accomplices who assaulted Lorcan Travers, Peter Hardy, and Marcus Thomas. Travers suffered a concussion, fractured cheekbone and sprained ankle; Hardy sustained cuts, a dislocated shoulder and a black eye; Thomas had a fractured eye socket, lip cuts and a sprained shoulder. Magaharan pleaded guilty to three counts of assault causing harm, admitted the fight, expressed remorse and apologized to the victims, offering €1,000 each. The judge considered his guilty plea, remorse, young age and employment history, and imposed the suspended sentence while ordering probation and engagement with Probation Services.
A man accused of falsely imprisoning and assaulting Quinn Industrial Holdings director Kevin Lunney has failed in his application to have the charges dismissed at the Special Criminal Court. Alan O'Brien, aged 39, from East Wall, Dublin, faced charges relating to an alleged incident at Ballinagh, County Cavan, on 17 September 2019. The three-judge court determined there was sufficient evidence to proceed to trial, rejecting his Section 4E application for dismissal. The court was satisfied a prima facie case had been established by the prosecution. O'Brien was remanded in custody pending trial, scheduled for January 2021, where he will face trial alongside three co-accused. Two of his co-accused were previously granted High Court bail in April, with the presiding judge acknowledging the serious nature of the allegations whilst upholding the presumption of innocence.
Micheal Corbett, aged 30, had the six‑year suspended portion of his nine‑year sentence for attempted murder of a 17‑year‑old at the Hellfire Club on Montpelier Hill activated by Mr Justice Michael White on 29 July 2020. The activation follows a psychiatric report indicating Corbett is at risk of future violence and a series of violent incidents while in custody, including assaulting other prisoners and attacking a nurse with a sock. Corbett had previously pleaded guilty to the attempted murder committed on 27 June 2016, which left the victim with a four‑inch stab wound to the chest and a head injury from a piece of timber. The court's decision means Corbett will serve the full nine years from the date of his initial arrest for the attempted murder. The judge noted that the risks identified in the psychiatric report made it impossible to rely on the suspended sentence to manage Corbett's psychosis.
In July 2020 a 26‑year‑old man, previously convicted of sexual assault, was brought before the Central Criminal Court after he had been on the run for 18 months. He had been found guilty in his absence in December 2018 of 14 counts of sexually assaulting his cousin between 2008 and 2011, and a seven‑year sentence had been imposed. In November 2019 he was arrested for robbing a 62‑year‑old woman on Fitzgibbon Street, where he punched her and stole her handbag. He pleaded guilty to the robbery. Judge Sarah Berkeley imposed a consecutive four‑year term, with the final year suspended, after hearing the victim's impact statement and noting the defendant's drug and alcohol influence. The man is due for release from Midlands Prison on 8 February 2025. The victim suffered minor head injuries and psychological distress, and now feels nervous walking to work. The unnamed 26-year-old pleaded not guilty.
Jordan Fay, 25, was jailed for three years after setting fire to a wheelie bin in the underground carpark of an apartment complex, causing €40,450 worth of damage. Fay entered the carpark by forcing his way into a security hut, claiming to be a security guard, and was arrested when Gardaí arrived. He pleaded guilty to arson at Parkgate Place, Parkgate Street, Dublin 8, on 3 November 2018, and a charge of stealing a phone and high‑visibility jacket was also taken into account. Fay had 53 previous convictions, all dealt with in the District Court. The court noted his drug addiction and intoxication at the time of arrest, and he was found to have no obvious or malicious motive. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a four‑year custodial sentence, suspended the final year on condition that Fay engage with the Probation Service for a year upon release.
Stephen Kearney, 35, a convicted killer with 113 prior convictions, was jailed for one year after robbing a Centra shop in Santry on 12 February 2019. He had previously pleaded guilty to a robbery of a wallet and bag in Dublin on 2 July 2018. On the day of the 2019 robbery, Kearney bought a can of coke and a bag of jellies, left the shop, returned minutes later in new clothes and a snood, addressed the shopkeeper by name, produced a firearm and demanded the till be opened, taking €250. He was known to the shopkeeper and had recently visited his mother. The judge imposed a concurrent one‑year term for both offences, to be served consecutively to his existing sentence. Kearney admitted to using the robbery proceeds to buy crack cocaine and heroin. The victim's impact statement noted no ill effect on her, and Kearney was described as remorseful and struggling with addiction.
A 21‑year‑old man, Shane Chubb, pleaded guilty to one count of sexual intercourse with a 16‑year‑old boy he met on Tinder, knowing the boy was underage, and to one count of assault on the boy at Chubb's home. The boy, whose name is withheld, had joined Tinder in 2016, was removed for being under 18, then re‑joined with a false birth date. He told Chubb he was 16 but "mature". They met at Chubb's house, where they had sex and the boy later described it as his first sexual experience. Chubb also bit the boy, causing pain, and later apologized. The boy did not attend the sentencing hearing and declined to give a victim impact statement. The case was adjourned for sentencing on 28 October.
In a robbery at the Allied Irish Bank on Westmoreland Street, Dublin, 34‑year‑old Gareth Flynn demanded €14,000, threatened to shoot if the panic alarm was pressed, and fled after the alarm was triggered. He later left Ireland but returned to the Garda station in November, where he admitted the crime and was found attempting to hide Zopiclone tablets in his trousers. Flynn's bag, found near the scene, contained his clothes and a work pass with his photo. He pleaded guilty to robbery, threat to kill or cause serious injury, and possession of drugs. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to 40 months' imprisonment, noting Flynn's remorse and the lack of pre‑planning. The case highlighted Flynn's troubled background and the ease of his detection due to his own mistakes.
Rebecca Coates, aged 45, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to arson at Avondale Park, Mulhuddart, on 10 March 2019. She set fire to her sister's camper van after a verbal disagreement at a hen party in the city centre. Coates used an empty bottle of Prosecco and nail polish remover as an accelerant, intending to frighten her sister. The fire was discovered by her nephew, who extinguished it, and the damage amounted to €800. Judge Pauline Codd noted Coates' mental health decline following her daughter's suicide in 2017 and her history of domestic violence. She sentenced Coates to four years' imprisonment, suspended in full, with strict conditions including compliance with the Probation Service for two years and payment of €800 to the prosecuting Garda within six months. The injured party may nominate a charity to receive the money.
A 50-year-old Dublin man has been sentenced to six years and nine months imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for sexually abusing his step-daughter and secretly recording her in the bathroom. The man pleaded guilty to sexual assault, producing child pornography, and distributing child pornography between 2014 and 2016. A search of his home uncovered 96 videos and 82 images of child abuse material across two devices. The recordings were sent to another man in Donegal. Judge Elma Sheahan noted the deliberate nature of the concealed camera, hidden inside a clock, and described it as a continuation of the abuse itself. The victim, who was aged 12 or 13 at the time of the assault, delivered an impact statement describing lasting psychological harm. The final nine months of the sentence have been suspended on condition of two years' probation supervision following release.
In the Special Criminal Court, defence counsel Michael O'Higgins SC argued that Daniel Cahill, the key witness in Aaron Brady's murder trial, may have had motives to fabricate his testimony. O'Higgins highlighted Cahill's claims of hearing Brady admit to killing Garda Adrian Donohoe, Cahill's alleged encounters with Homeland Security, and the lack of any subsequent police action against Cahill despite drug findings. He questioned the credibility of Cahill's statements, noting inconsistencies and the absence of corroborating evidence from Garda investigations. O'Higgins also criticized the Garda investigation for allegedly overlooking evidence of diesel laundering linked to Brady, citing text messages and phone contacts. The counsel urged the jury to scrutinise Cahill's testimony and the prosecution's evidence before drawing conclusions. The trial remains ongoing. Aaron Brady pleaded not guilty.
Karim Haddouche, aged 49, was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment for stealing nearly €45,000 from Ulster Bank by lodging cheques that he knew would not clear. He had previously received a three‑year suspended sentence in July 2019 for stealing €15,000 from the same bank in January 2017. The €45,000 theft occurred between November 2016 and January 2017, and Haddouche was arrested on the new charges in October 2018. Judge Martin Nolan, who had imposed the suspended sentence earlier, said he would not have given a suspended sentence had he known about the additional theft. Haddouche pleaded guilty to three counts of stealing cash and three counts of deception. He has 16 prior convictions, all related to Ulster Bank thefts. The court noted that Haddouche had been a gambler who travelled to Ukraine for casinos and that he was a chef from Algeria whose father had recently died.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, an 18‑year‑old teenager pleaded guilty to sexual exploitation of two cousins and the anal rape of one in 2015‑2016. The judge, citing the case's difficulty and the boy's disgraceful conduct, initially considered a five‑year custodial term but ultimately imposed a three‑year suspended sentence, contingent on completion of a therapy programme. The court noted the boy's progress in therapy and probation, and ordered monitoring of his smartphone to prevent further exposure to pornography. The boy's apology, expressed in a letter, acknowledged regret and a promise to change. No victim impact statements were filed, and the court emphasised the seriousness of the offences and the need for continued supervision.
Ben Murphy, 18 at the time of arrest, was caught by gardaí holding cocaine and MDMA with an estimated street value of nearly €150,000. He claimed he was returning from a party to celebrate his Leaving Cert results. Garda John Griffin reported Murphy appeared nervous, prompting a drugs search that revealed a bag of cocaine in his fist and additional packages hidden in his trousers. A subsequent search of his home uncovered MDMA powder in a glass reptile tank, a plastic container, a spoon, and bagging. Murphy pleaded guilty to possession for sale or supply on 16 August 2018. He had no prior convictions and said he was pressured to hold the drugs, fearing repercussions if he named the owners. The court noted his remorse, family devastation, and his previous promise as a footballer. Judge Pauline Codd sentenced him to six years, suspending the final four and a half years, citing his age and the drug value.
Paul Kelly, aged 34, was sentenced to three and a half years' imprisonment for false imprisonment and two counts of threatening to kill or cause serious harm. The court heard that Kelly held his dating partner against her will, threatened to kill her when she tried to leave, and sent her a video of a woman's head being cut off. He also threatened to stab her after she left the house and later texted a second woman that he would kill the victim and himself. Kelly was arrested outside the victim's home after the second woman alerted Gardaí. He had 16 prior convictions, including a previous seven‑year sentence with a suspended portion for a threat to kill and knife possession. The judge noted the seriousness of the offences and imposed the sentence, back‑dated to the time Kelly entered custody. The victim, who has since returned to Uganda, expressed fear and trauma but no hard feelings toward Kelly. The unnamed accused pleaded guilty.
In July 2018, 19‑year‑old Jordan Kennedy swerved to avoid a motorist on Barry Road, Finglas, but collided with the car, throwing both him and his best friend Stephen Moore, also 19, off a motorbike. Moore suffered a serious head injury, requiring emergency surgery for a brain blood clot, an induced coma, and multiple operations before being discharged after two months. He was later readmitted for another operation and spent time at the National Rehabilitation Hospital. Kennedy pleaded guilty to careless driving causing serious injury, with additional charges of no licence or insurance considered. He has no prior convictions. At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Elma Sheahan imposed a 12‑month probation bond, requiring Kennedy to remain under Probation Service supervision, avoid certain peers, continue his apprenticeship, and keep a clean record. Kennedy was remanded on continuing bail until 27 July 2021 for sentencing.
Eddie Kiely, aged 29, attacked a resident who had let him into a flat complex, punching and kicking the victim before locking himself in the victim's apartment. Gardaí forced entry and found him highly intoxicated on the couch. Kiely pleaded guilty to burglary and assault at Coultry Terrace, Ballymun, on 7 June 2019. He was already serving a two‑year sentence for robbery and a consecutive three‑year sentence for criminal damage. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a six‑year sentence, with the final 18 months suspended, making it consecutive to the two‑year sentence and concurrent to the three‑year sentence, effectively extending his time in prison by 18 months. The victim, who was asleep at 4 am, was assaulted, suffered bruising and a laceration, and underwent a CT scan. Kiely's defence highlighted his intoxication, past drug misuse, and efforts at rehabilitation, but the judge noted the severity of the assault and his long‑standing alcohol issues.
Michael Talbot, aged 33, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment with the final year suspended after pleading guilty to assaulting two Gardaí on New Year's Eve 2018. He bit Garda Greg Barron's thigh and later smeared blood on his jail cell walls. The court noted his history of violent conduct towards Gardaí, including prior convictions for violence in a Garda station, abusive behaviour and obstruction of Gardaí. Talbot's attack was described as "particularly nasty" and "appalling treatment of members of An Garda Siochana." He was found to have serious anger issues and hostility to authority figures. Talbot apologized, claiming he would not have acted if he had not been drinking and taking drugs that night. The judge accepted his statement that he hoped to rehabilitate after his sentence. The sentence was handed down by Judge Karen O'Connor at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Ciaran O'Brien, 37, was sentenced to three‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment for armed robbery and a threat to kill Garda PJ Cummins. He robbed the Applegreen Service Station at Celbridge on 27 November 2019, armed with a hammer and a small machete, and took €360 in cash before fleeing. O'Brien then drove a car straight at Cummins, who was off‑duty and had to jump out of the way to avoid being run over. The judge, Karen O'Connor, noted that O'Brien was homeless at the time and had 27 previous convictions but was not known to be violent. The final 18 months of the sentence were suspended on strict conditions, including 12 months of probation. The case was heard at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Ciaran O'Brien pleaded guilty.
Derek Devoy, 37, was sentenced by the Special Criminal Court to 17 years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended, for a series of violent offences committed on 11 March 2019. He admitted possession of a 9mm Makarov PM63 RAK submachine gun with intent to endanger life and of a Yugoslavian M75 hand grenade with intent to endanger life or cause serious injury. Devoy discharged the gun twice in public and again while being restrained by Gardaí in a bathroom, narrowly missing a garda's head. A hand grenade was found on the floor without its safety mechanism; it was later detonated in a controlled explosion, rendering the house uninhabitable. The court noted Devoy's 27 previous convictions, including two firearm offences, and his personal history of family tragedy. He pleaded guilty to all charges, which led to a 15 % discount on the headline sentence of 20 years, resulting in the 17‑year term.
Sean Rausch, aged 22, pleaded guilty to two robberies and false imprisonment at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He had earlier held a 19‑year‑old Latvian student at knifepoint on Wellington Quay, forcing the victim to hand over his wallet and flee. Later that day he robbed another 19‑year‑old man on Aston Quay, who described Rausch approaching him with a knife, then putting the blade away and telling him about his difficult life. The second victim, feeling threatened, offered Rausch a chicken roll and soft drink, which Rausch accepted before leaving the shop. Rausch, who had been homeless in an underground car park for several weeks and had a drug problem, wrote a letter of apology to the court, explaining he had robbed for food and drugs and regretted the fear he caused. Judge Karen O'Connor adjourned sentencing to October 6, 2020 to allow a probation report to be prepared.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 33‑year‑old Chunling Chen of Walkinstown pleaded guilty to providing false or misleading documentation in a passport application and to possessing a false Irish nationalisation certificate. She had paid €22,000 to obtain the documents, believing the operation was legitimate. Chen had been in Ireland since about 2008, was illegal in 2015 when she applied for a passport, and had never registered with immigration. Gardaí discovered the false certificate at her address in 2018. The court noted an element of victimisation, citing her desire to see her son in China and her recent childbirth of twins, one of whom died. Judge Pauline Codd described the operation as "somewhat exploitative" but accepted that Chen did not know it was illegal. She was sentenced to two years imprisonment, fully suspended.
Thomas Cassin, aged 49, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for assault causing harm at Killbarrack Shopping Centre on 3 July 2016. The judge suspended the final 12 months of the sentence on strict conditions, including compliance with the Probation Service for 12 months after release. Cassin had attempted to rob an off‑licence in Killbarrack, demanding money while wearing a ski mask and threatening staff. He was pursued by security guards, who restrained him until Gardaí arrived. A ten‑minute struggle ensued; Cassin punched a guard, fracturing the guard's nose, and sustained a cut above his eye. Cassin left on a bicycle. CCTV footage and a DNA sample from the guard's shirt identified him. He had 27 prior convictions and was described as a serious alcoholic and heroin user. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The sentence was passed by Judge Melanie Greally.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Vasile Plesca, aged 41, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for assault causing harm after he beat his wife with a rolling pin in what he described as a jealous rage. The incident, which lasted seven hours, involved Plesca and another man preventing the woman from leaving their flat. He struck her over the head, forced her to remove blood‑stained clothing and shower, and inflicted bruising on her arm, elbow and neck. Video evidence, recorded by the victim on a mobile phone, showed her screaming and pleading for help. Plesca denied strangling her and claimed he avoided hospital care to prevent the authorities from taking his children. The judge, citing the severity of the offence, imposed a four‑year sentence with the final year suspended, and required Plesca to pay €5,000 to his wife as a token of remorse. Vasile Plesca pleaded guilty.
Atilla Tasgin, 41, of Leixlip, Co Kildare, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for money laundering offences. The defendant pleaded guilty to four counts of removing proceeds of criminal conduct from the State at various north Dublin addresses between June 17, 2013, and April 5, 2018. He also admitted to two counts of transferring such proceeds at unknown locations in the State on December 3, 2018, and January 21, 2019. Prosecution evidence indicated Tasgin transferred just under €10,000 to Turkey on behalf of an individual referred to as "the provider." While Tasgin acknowledged knowing the funds were proceeds of criminal conduct, the court accepted he was not involved in the underlying fraud and received no cash, only favours such as rent-free accommodation. Judge Elma Sheahan sentenced Tasgin to two years and three months in prison. However, she suspended the final nine months of the sentence, resulting in an effective custody period of 18 months. The judge cited his cooperation with the garda investigation and lack of previous convictions as mitigating factors. The matter was finalised with this sentence.
Mark Skelly, a 19‑year‑old father from Dublin, pleaded guilty to possessing a Mac‑10 machine gun, ammunition and a silencer at his father's home in Ballyfermot on 21 May 2019. The weapon, capable of firing 1,140 rounds per minute, was found in a wheelie bin and was described as rare and no longer manufactured. Skelly had no prior convictions. He admitted to having knowledge of firearms from playing the computer game "Call of Duty" and claimed he had not discharged the gun. He was sentenced to five and a half years, with the final two years suspended on the condition of a bond to keep the peace, good behaviour for two years, 12 months of probation supervision and engagement with any recommended treatment. The judge noted his youth, drug‑free status, family support and previous good character.
A 15‑year‑old boy was given a two‑year suspended sentence after pleading guilty to repeated oral and anal rape of his eight‑year‑old nephew between June and September 2017. The nephew's mother reported the abuse to Gardaí, and the boy initially denied the allegations before admitting them. The court noted the boy's exposure to adult pornography on his smartphone and his social isolation, and his lawyer argued that he was socially and emotionally immature. Mr Justice Michael White deferred a three‑year detention, instead ordering the boy to be supervised by a probation and welfare officer and to comply with conditions set by the Probation Service. The suspended sentence is conditional on good behaviour, peace, and supervision of the boy and his nephew during family gatherings, with notification to Gardaí if the boy travels abroad. The boy and his mother have since left Ireland. The nephew's father acknowledged the impact of the abuse on the family.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Stephen Little, 47, and Edward McDonnell, 56, were charged with unlawful possession of a Grand Power G9 semi‑automatic pistol and intent to endanger life. The case stemmed from a gun seizure on a Dublin estate on 14 September 2019. Gardaí recovered a loaded handgun under the passenger seat of an Audi, along with a red petrol can, a long‑handled lighter, two balaclavas, two baseball caps, and two pairs of gloves. Little's son, Sean, 22, had been shot dead in May 2019, an event that prompted Little to make a statement to police that "had you given me another hour I would have killed the bastard that killed him." McDonnell denied knowledge of the firearm. Both men were remanded in custody pending sentencing on 31 August. The court noted that Little had one prior traffic offence and McDonnell had 47 prior convictions, including robbery, sexual assault and assault causing harm. Stephen Little pleaded guilty. Edward McDonnell pleaded guilty.
The High Court has ruled that three properties in the west of Ireland owned by John McCormack were purchased with the proceeds of crime. Mr Justice Alexander Owens registered a judgement against the 48-year-old defendant, who denied the accusations. The properties, located at Purcell Park and Cloontara West in Co Clare, and Claughan Fort in Co Limerick, were acquired between 1995 and 2011. The Central Bank of Ireland (CAB) brought the case under the Proceeds of Crime Act 1996, alleging McCormack has led organised criminal activities since the 1990s, including drug importation, stolen goods dealing, and cash-in-transit robberies. The judge noted McCormack was previously convicted and sentenced to three years imprisonment on February 14, 1994. Rejecting McCormack's claim that his income derived from legitimate businesses such as joinery and plant hire, the judge found these were sidelines financed by criminal activity. The court concluded that the only credible explanation for the funding gap was proceeds from serious crime. Consequently, the judge made interlocutory orders under Section 3(1) of the Act regarding the three properties. While the CAB did not claim four further properties in Fuerteventura, the judge noted issues regarding their financing. The matter was finalised with the registration of the judgement and the issuance of these specific orders.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 27‑year‑old Gerry Wall pleaded guilty to burglary at a Walkinstown house on 1 February 2016. The victim, an elderly woman, had a son who returned to find the home in a chaotic state, with clothes piled and belongings knocked over. CCTV footage showed Wall leaving the house with a suitcase and two bags. Items taken included jewellery, saris, coins and flags, totalling €32,450, many of which were irreplaceable family heirlooms. None of the items have been recovered. Wall, who has 26 prior convictions, had been granted bail on stringent conditions but failed to appear on his sentence date. A warrant was issued and he was arrested by arrangement. The court adjourned sentencing to 15 October 2020. The prosecution and defence noted the burglary was unplanned, with no confrontation, and Wall expressed remorse and requested an apology. The case remains pending sentencing.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 41‑year‑old foreign national was sentenced to 12 years for raping and sexually abusing his vulnerable 16‑year‑old stepdaughter between 2015 and 2018. He pleaded guilty to 12 counts of rape, 12 of oral rape, 11 of exploitation and six of producing pornography, representing 288 charges. The abuse included daily rape, forced video recordings with a sex toy, and threats of publishing the material. The victim, who had been in State care since 2019, now has supervised access with her mother. Mr Justice Paul McDermott suspended the final year of the sentence, imposed a five‑year post‑release supervision order, and required the offender to engage with the Probation Service and sexual offender treatment for a year in custody and a year after release. The court described the conduct as appalling, degrading and humiliating, noting the victim's fear and the lack of protection from her mother.
In July 2020, Mr Justice Michael White ordered that Michael Corbett, 30, be brought before the Central Criminal Court to decide whether he should remain in prison to serve the portion of his nine‑year sentence for attempted murder that was initially suspended. Corbett had been released in July 2018 after serving less than three years, on the condition that he live with his mother, with the final six years suspended because he was suffering from paranoid schizophrenia at the time of the 2016 attack. He had previously attacked other prisoners in Mountjoy Prison and had pleaded guilty to assaulting a nurse in 2016, for which he received a five‑year sentence with the final two‑and‑a‑half years suspended. The court has received a psychiatric report that raises serious concerns about his impending release, and Mr Justice White has asked the State to decide whether the remainder of his sentence should be imposed.
Darragh Corbally, aged 20, received a two‑year suspended sentence after pleading guilty to possessing cannabis for sale or supply worth €48,236. The 17‑year‑old schoolboy had been excluded from school and had accrued a drug debt before a Garda raid found 2,411 g of cannabis in his bedroom. Corbally admitted the offence, expressed remorse, and has since engaged intensively with the Probation Service and a drug counsellor. He has worked part‑time, returned to education, and been offered a place in third‑level social care. Judge Karen O'Connor, noting his youth, early guilty plea, and progress, departed from the mandatory 10‑year minimum and imposed a suspended term, confident he would not reoffend. Corbally has no prior convictions and has ceased drug use.
Kevin Brazil, 50, of Terenure, Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to seven counts of sexually assaulting a child in the city on unknown dates between April 1, 2002, and June 30, 2002. Judge Elma Sheahan sentenced Brazil to three years' imprisonment but suspended the entirety of the sentence for a period of three years. The judge cited the State's "unconscionable delay" in prosecuting the case, noting that Brazil had admitted his guilt to gardaí in 2002, yet no file was sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions. She stated that without this delay, a custodial sentence would have been inevitable. Brazil has 16 previous convictions for sexually assaulting a child, for which he was sentenced in 2004 to three years' imprisonment with the final year suspended. Superintendent Barry Walsh, the applicant, testified that he was unaware of these specific offences at the time of the 2004 prosecution and could not explain why the 2002 file was not forwarded. The court heard that Brazil had not offended since his release from custody in 2006. The judge acknowledged the victim's anxiety due to the lack of closure but emphasized that the delay was not Brazil's fault. Mitigating factors included his early guilty plea, admissions, employment history, and remorse.
The High Court warned former owner Lisa O'Brien that she could be jailed if she does not vacate the South Dublin apartment at Hunter's Hall by Monday, July 20. Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds issued the warning after O'Brien failed to comply with a High Court injunction issued in April that ordered her to leave the property, which the Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency had acquired for €207,000 in late 2019. The agency, which intends to allocate the vacant unit to a person in need, said O'Brien had re‑entered the premises in February, posted a sign claiming it was her family home, and has since refused to vacate. O'Brien, represented by Gabriel Reynolds BL, argued she had no alternative accommodation and disputes the mortgage transfer. The court granted the agency's attachment and committal application, stating O'Brien had deliberately breached the order and had also failed to attend a scheduled court hearing.
Sandro Teixeira, aged 30, was sentenced to three‑and‑a‑half years in prison for a violent, unprovoked attack on Ismail Mustafa on Parkgate Street on 22 January 2018. Teixeira, who lives on North Circular Road, Phibsborough, used a knife to slash Mustafa's face, creating a 10‑centimetre wound that required plastic surgery, and partially severed his ear lobe. The assault occurred after the pair had chatted on the Luas and walked together to the Aisling Hotel. Teixeira had previously been charged with assault causing serious harm but pleaded guilty to assault causing harm on the first day of his trial. He has six prior convictions in the UK, including a 2009 four‑year sentence for grievous bodily harm. The court, hearing that Mustafa suffered lasting pain, sleeplessness and permanent disfigurement, imposed a four‑year sentence with the final six months suspended under conditions. The judge noted the maximum penalty for assault causing harm is five years.
Wayne Lynch, a 37‑year‑old bread delivery man from Drogheda, was sentenced to four‑and‑a‑half years in prison for transporting firearms and storing cannabis during an ongoing crime feud. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of a pistol and ammunition in suspicious circumstances at a Lidl car park in Tallaght and possession of cannabis herb at his home on 19 July 2019. Lynch had a prior conviction in 2004 for drug possession. Gardaí, acting on confidential information, followed Lynch's bread van on 19 July 2019, seized two black handguns and ammunition from the van and recovered cannabis herb worth €35,606 from his home. Judge Elma Sheahan accepted that Lynch was not a "significant player" and would not have used the guns, but noted he was moving the equipment during an ongoing feud that had claimed many lives. The judge suspended the final 18 months of the sentence.
Albert Redmond, 44, with 341 prior convictions, pleaded guilty to 20 burglaries, two counts of criminal damage, three counts of possession of stolen credit cards, theft of a handbag and four counts of deception by using stolen credit cards. He said he had planned to avoid relapse after his last release in June 2019 but did not anticipate falling in love. The relationship began soon after release, initially positive, but the partner's crack cocaine use became a feature of the relationship, leading Redmond to commit further offences. He was arrested in January 2020, released, then re‑arrested in March 2020 after a burglary at a café in Harolds Cross. He admitted all offences and stated he had not expected to return to court. Judge Elma Sheehan adjourned sentencing to 23 October 2020 to prepare a probation report. The burglaries mainly targeted cafés, restaurants, offices and shops, with some occurring in private houses.
In a High Court hearing, the State's counsel argued that Ireland has become a "safe haven" for Ian Bailey, who faces a 25‑year prison sentence in France for the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier. The counsel said the court had a prima facie obligation to surrender Bailey, citing a strong public interest and the risk of losing sight of the case. Bailey, 63, was convicted in absentia by a Paris court in May 2019 and denied any involvement. He was arrested in December 2019 under a European Arrest Warrant and remanded on bail. The judge, Mr Justice Paul Burns, reserved judgment, to be delivered on 12 October, and Bailey remains on continuing bail until that date. The hearing highlighted the procedural status of the extradition request and the State's obligation to comply with the warrant.