David Murphy, 29, of Belfry Green, Tallaght, was sentenced to nine months in jail after pleading guilty to assault causing harm at Slade Road, Saggart, on 21 March 2015. The incident involved Murphy breaking a beer bottle over a taxi driver's head and threatening the driver with a knife. Murphy had previously been convicted 41 times, including assault, violent disorder and criminal damage. He failed to attend a victim awareness course and is considered a medium risk of re‑offending. The judge, Pauline Codd, imposed a three‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence, suspending the final two years and nine months, leaving Murphy with a nine‑month custodial term. The assault left the taxi driver cautious and caused him to lose about €800 in earnings. The court noted Murphy's plea of guilty and his personal circumstances, including a history of homelessness, sobriety, drug‑free status and employment.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 56‑year‑old man was sentenced to eight and a half years for 55 counts of sexual assault of his daughter between 1995 and 2001. The victim, who first disclosed the abuse at age nine, was beaten and isolated in a bedroom for days, and later forced to write a letter withdrawing her allegations. She testified that the abuse continued regularly until she was 15, describing physical abuse, threats, and isolation. The judge, bound by the then‑maximum penalty of five years per offence, imposed four and a half years for the first fifty counts and a consecutive four‑year sentence for the final five counts, citing aggravating factors such as breach of trust, the victim's young age, and the lasting impact. The man denied all charges and was later registered as a sex offender. The court noted his cooperation and prison work as mitigating factors. The unnamed 15-year-old was convicted.
The High Court has been informed that lawyers for the Minister for Justice need time to consider Ian Bailey's objections to extradition to France for the murder of filmmaker Sophie Toscan du Plantier. This is the third attempt by French authorities to secure Bailey's surrender. The 62‑year‑old Englishman, who lives in Schull, Cork, was convicted in absentia by a Paris court last summer and sentenced to 25 years in prison. Bailey, who denies any involvement, was arrested under a European Arrest Warrant in December and has described the French proceedings as a "farce". His counsel, Ronan Munro SC, has submitted an affidavit raising factual matters, particularly concerning Bailey's health, which the Justice Minister's lawyers must review. Bailey remains on bail until February 24, when a hearing date is expected to be set.
In a 2019 incident on Clogher Road, Dublin, 39‑year‑old Derek McCann attempted to rob a taxi driver by presenting an imitation firearm. The driver braked abruptly, wrestled the plastic gun from McCann, and the two struggled outside the vehicle. A second taxi driver intervened, kicking the gun away and alerting the Gardaí. McCann was arrested, pleaded guilty to attempted robbery, and was sentenced to five years in custody, backdated to June 2019. He had a suspended sentence for prior offences and may face reactivation of that portion. The judge noted McCann's drug addiction, family support, and progress in custody, and credited his guilty plea and cooperation. The case was adjourned for a later hearing. The incident left the driver unable to work nights due to its impact.
Contantin Dirlescu, 31, of Dawson House, Patrick Street, Dublin 8, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to six counts of using false passports to open bank accounts and four counts of operating accounts for money laundering between January and July 2019. Garda Shane Fitzsimons explained that the accounts, opened with false Danish passports, were linked to Dirlescu's address and were used by a Romanian criminal organisation involved in money laundering and cyber fraud. Dirlescu said he was paid €1,300 for opening four accounts and €400 for each subsequent account, plus 5 % of withdrawals, and that he had been instructed by Romanian associates to open accounts for them. He had prior convictions for larceny in Spain (2015) and receiving stolen goods in Italy (2009). Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to three‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment, back‑dated to his first custody date, August 2 2019.
In a 2018 incident, 25‑year‑old Shane Halpin of Lusk was found unconscious and vomiting on the side of the road. Garda Derek Dalton, who had driven Halpin home, was attacked when Halpin, intoxicated, bit him on the hand and later on the knee. Dalton suffered a fractured hand bone, two bites and a groin injury, and was unable to return to duty for six months. Halpin pleaded guilty to assaulting Dalton at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Melanie Greally described the event as a serious assault carried out by a young man unlikely to reoffend, imposed an indicative sentence of two years imprisonment, deferred it until April 1, and directed Halpin to pay €3,000 to Little Blue Heroes, a charity nominated by Dalton. The sentence was contingent on Halpin's compliance with a bond to keep the peace until that date.
A 34‑year‑old man, David Allen, was on bail for robbery when he knocked an 89‑year‑old woman, Nina MacAuley, to the ground outside a Dublin hairdresser and stole her handbag. MacAuley suffered head and arm injuries and later described the incident in a victim impact statement, noting her difficulty sleeping and feeling vulnerable at her age. Allen, who has 25 prior convictions, had pleaded guilty to two earlier robberies in July and February 2019. He admitted to being "strung out" on heroin during the February robbery and claimed he used a pen to make a taxi driver think it was a knife. The court, hearing his apology and shame, ordered a probation report and remanded him in custody until May 5, with a lengthy custodial sentence expected.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 32‑year‑old man was found guilty of falsely imprisoning, threatening to kill and burn the house of his ex‑partner and of assaulting her, including fracturing her jaw in May 2016. He pleaded guilty to assault, damaging her phone and producing a car‑jack handle, and to harassing her between 14 May and 30 June 2016. A separate jury verdict in December last year found him guilty of rape, a conviction he continues to deny. The court heard that on the day of the assault he had been drinking, locked all doors, threatened to burn the house, used a bread knife and a car‑jack handle to assault her, and then raped her while a three‑year‑old child slept nearby. He was sentenced on 24 February. The victim, who has not returned to work and suffers nightmares, said she no longer leaves her home unless necessary and fears his release.
Slaven Tokic, 41, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after an incident at Dublin's Portobello Bar on 26 May 2018. He claimed the victim, Andy Lynch, had laughed at his penis while Tokic was urinating, and that the victim had pointed at him. Tokic punched Lynch as they left the bathroom, knocking out Lynch's two front teeth and splitting his lip. CCTV showed Tokic swinging twice, with one punch connecting. Lynch suffered pain, headaches, and required stitches and dental treatment. Tokic had no prior convictions. At sentencing, Judge Melanie Greally imposed a two‑year prison term, fully suspended on strict conditions, including payment of €4,000 compensation to Lynch within 48 hours. The court noted Tokic's cooperation and the victim's acceptance of the settlement. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 19‑year‑old named Alexander Whelan pleaded guilty to manslaughter after stabbing Bruno Rolandi, 56, to death during a domestic dispute. Whelan claimed he acted to protect his mother, Mary, who had a volatile relationship with Rolandi, a violent heroin user. Witnesses described a confrontation over a WiFi password that escalated into physical aggression, with Rolandi assaulting Whelan's brother and attempting to grab Mary. Whelan then stabbed Rolandi three times, one wound reaching 23 cm and causing fatal bleeding. He was found in shock, attempting to stop the bleeding, and cooperated fully with Gardaí. The court noted Whelan's lack of prior convictions, his young age, and his good character, and the judge was instructed to consider a custodial sentence as a last resort. The case was scheduled for sentencing on March 2.
John Farrell, 47, of Ballymun, Dublin, pleaded guilty to criminal damage after smashing 28 television screens at Boyle Sports in September 2016. He claimed he was owed winnings from a bet he believed had been processed incorrectly and placed on the wrong race. The staff member explained that the first horse on his ticket had not won, making the bet a loss. Farrell returned later with a hammer and smashed the screens, causing €10,450 in damage. He had 25 prior convictions, the most recent in 2001 for handling stolen property. In court, he admitted the act, expressed remorse, and was receiving treatment for an aggressive form of cancer. Judge Melanie Greally, noting the incident was out of character and influenced by his circumstances, imposed a four‑year suspended sentence.
Breda Holmes, 67, a former self‑employed courier who believed she was an employee of GT Transport, failed to file about €70,000 worth of tax returns. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court found her liability to Revenue, including interest and penalties, at €228,000, of which she has repaid €13,328. She pleaded guilty to eleven VAT offences totalling €67,829 between 2006 and 2014 and three income‑tax offences totalling €21,365 between 2005 and 2013. Judge Martina Baxter, recognising Holmes' naivety and lack of wealth, suspended an 18‑month prison sentence on the condition she continues to cooperate with bankruptcy proceedings. Holmes, now living on a pension and working to service her debts, has no prior convictions and is fully compliant with tax obligations. The court noted her "hand‑to‑mouth" existence and her willingness to cooperate with the Revenue Commissioners.
In a case heard at the Central Criminal Court, a 28‑year‑old man pleaded guilty to raping a woman who had been a family friend and "like a sister" to him. The offence occurred on 30 October 2016 at the man's home in County Kerry while the woman was visiting with her family. She woke in a bedroom she shared with her children to find the man having sex with her from behind. The victim's impact statement described a loss of trust, nightmares, and a life changed by the assault, noting that her children were present during the rape. The court, hearing that the man had spent part of his childhood living with the victim's family, imposed a five‑year sentence, suspending the final year on conditions. The judge described the offence as heinous and highlighted the damage to both families.
Darren Kershaw, 45, of Cherry Orchard Park, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing serious harm, failing to remain at the scene, and driving over the legal alcohol limit after striking Ranyfrancia DaSilva, a Brazilian national, on Landen Road, Ballyfermot, on 19 June 2018. The incident occurred when Kershaw attempted a U‑turn before a Garda checkpoint on Sarsfield Road, collided with a set of traffic lights, and then struck DaSilva, who was walking home from a restaurant. DaSilva suffered multiple skull fractures, back injuries, and has endured ongoing dizziness, headaches, and disturbed sleep, losing her job and incurring €27,000 in medical expenses. Kershaw was sentenced to four‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions, including remaining drug and alcohol free. The court noted his guilty plea, cooperation, remorse, and efforts to rehabilitate, including abstaining from alcohol and drugs.
A 56‑year‑old Tipperary man was sentenced by a Central Criminal Court jury to 12 years' imprisonment for raping and sexually assaulting his special‑needs daughter. The court heard that he raped her twice in her bedroom when she was 22, after asking her whether she loved him or her mother more, and also sexually assaulted her on that same occasion. He had previously sexually assaulted her when she was 13 or 14, forcing her to perform oral sex while she slept in the same bed as a friend. He was convicted on five charges, including rape, oral rape and sexual assault, covering incidents between January 2003 and December 2004 and a separate incident in January 2011. He denied the charges. The judge registered him as a sex offender, suspended the final year of the sentence on strict conditions, and noted that he had not accepted the jury's verdict.
A 20‑year‑old man was sentenced to eight years in prison for violently raping a 15‑year‑old girl at his Co Meath home on 27 March 2018. The judge described the offence as a "violent rape" and noted the victim was "completely innocent" and not consenting. The sentence was reduced to six years with the final two years suspended, conditional on the offender completing the Better Lives programme while in custody. The court heard that the victim had been lured to the house with a friend, was isolated on the couch, and was forcibly raped, choked, and threatened with violence. The offender had 14 prior convictions, including sexual assault, assault causing harm, theft, and other offences. The victim's impact statement highlighted her fear, shame, and desire to move on, while her father expressed guilt and a sense of failure for not protecting her. The judge praised the victim's resilience and urged her to hold her head high. The unnamed 15-year-old pleaded guilty.
A 22‑year‑old Dublin man was sentenced to one year, with the nine months he had already spent in custody counted toward the term, so he will not serve additional time. He pleaded guilty to a single count of sexually assaulting a 16‑year‑old female friend at a Dublin address on 1 August 2014, when she was asleep after a drinks party. The assault occurred while she was in bed, fully clothed, and the man penetrated her vagina with his finger. The victim, who was in fifth year at the time, later reported depression, anxiety and panic attacks, and said the incident led to unhealthy relationships and loss of confidence. The defendant, who was also 16 at the time, claimed he had asked for consent and that the victim's mum‑like friend had been present the night before.
The Special Criminal Court has convicted Liam Brannigan (37) of conspiring to murder Gary Hanley between September 15 and November 6, 2017. Brannigan, who pleaded not guilty, was found to be the user of the PB3 phone, which the judge described as central to managing the Kinahan Cartel-linked plot. The court relied on covert audio, phone data, and CCTV showing Brannigan discarding the PB3 phone shortly before his arrest. Four co-accused previously pleaded guilty to the same offence. Luke Wilson (24) and Joseph Kelly (35), who were arrested with a loaded 9mm Beretta, silencer, and ammunition, were jailed for 11 and 12 years respectively; both also admitted weapons charges. Alan Wilson (39) was sentenced to six years. Dean Howe (34) remains to be sentenced on March 3. Brannigan's sentencing is scheduled for February 24. The judge noted the overwhelming evidence connecting Brannigan to the conspiracy, including recorded conversations identifying him as "Branner" and his role in coordinating the operation. The matter is now at the sentencing stage for Brannigan, while Howe's case is adjourned for future sentencing.
A High Court judge has warned a father and son from Muff, County Donegal, that they face imprisonment and seizure of machinery if they continue to obstruct access to a windfarm development at Glackmore. Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds expressed her impatience with Joseph McGonigle and his son Seosamh following allegations that they placed a tractor and mobile home on an alternative access route required for health and safety purposes. The plaintiffs, Storm Renewables Ltd, Michael Doherty, Enros Wind Farm Ltd, and Three Trees Wind Project Ltd, sought further court orders to remove the vehicles blocking the route to the construction site. The defendants claim ownership of the disputed lands and deny wrongdoing. Ms Justice Reynolds granted the requested orders, giving the McGonigles until Sunday afternoon to remove the obstruction, warning of potential incarceration for further breaches and contemplating orders for machinery seizure. She noted mounting legal costs in the ongoing dispute. The matter was adjourned for one week.
Liam Sheridan, aged 40, was sentenced to three years in prison for endangerment after he struck an elderly woman with a stolen car on Mountjoy Street, Dublin, on 31 August 2016. The incident occurred when Sheridan, who had lost his car key, was approached by four young men who had found the key and urged him to steal the vehicle. While the woman and her male companion, both in their 70s, were searching for the key, Sheridan drove the car in reverse, causing the woman to fall and sustain two leg fractures. She was hospitalized and continues to receive care. Sheridan pleaded guilty, expressed remorse, and claimed he was under the influence of drugs and alcohol at the time. Judge Elma Sheahan suspended the final nine months of a 3‑year, 9‑month sentence, requiring him to keep the peace and engage with the Probation Service upon release. Sheridan's prior convictions include theft and drug‑dealing offences.
A 23‑year‑old mother from Co. Wicklow pleaded guilty to two counts of allowing her two‑year‑old son to be ill‑treated, causing unnecessary suffering. The abuse occurred in an unknown location between 10 and 13 February 2017 and on 14 February 2017. Medical staff at Tallaght Hospital discovered extensive bruising on the child's face, ears, back, buttocks, thighs and genital area when the mother brought him in February 2017. The mother repeatedly lied about the cause of the injuries, claiming a fabricated visit from the boy's biological father and that he had fallen on a table or a slide. The child was removed from her care and is now raised by his maternal grandparents. The mother, a drug addict, is hoping to enter rehabilitation; her sentence was adjourned to 16 October to allow this. The man she was living with has been charged and is expected to stand trial later.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Christopher Sherry, aged 22, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to a 17‑year‑old boy outside the Wright Venue in Swords on 17 March 2017. Sherry, together with another teenager and a third man, attacked the victim after he was denied re‑entry to the nightclub. The victim was kicked to the shoulder and chest by Sherry and repeatedly kicked in the head by the other teenager. The attackers then took the confused victim to a nearby McDonald's, claiming to help him. The boy suffered multiple jaw fractures, required surgery with two metal plates, and incurred about €8,000 in dental damage. The court heard CCTV footage of the pursuit and the assault. The teen attacker was dealt with through the Garda Juvenile Diversion Programme. Sherry has no prior convictions and will be sentenced on 20 March.
Michael Fagan, 48, was jailed for two years after a bench warrant was issued for a 2010 burglary of McCormack Jewellers, Grafton Street, where jewellery worth €64,000 was taken. Fagan had lived in the same area and signed on weekly at his local post office, giving gardai his brother's name when stopped. He had 62 convictions before 2012 and had been off the radar since a bench warrant was executed in December 2012. Garda Aidan Larkin presented CCTV footage from Crimecall and evidence that Fagan had sold the jewellery for €3,000 to a third party. Fagan pleaded guilty, claimed he had overcome drug addiction, and was described by his lawyer as a "desperate man" who had been clean for eight years. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a four‑year sentence with the final two years suspended, noting the damage to the shop and the rapid dissipation of the stolen goods.
Kevin Maguire, 29, of The Hedgerow, Foxrock, Dublin, was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment for possessing over 4,300 images of child pornography and for distributing a video of a child being sexually abused. He sent an email with a seven‑minute video of an approximately 10‑year‑old girl being orally raped by an adult to two separate addresses. Maguire pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography at Castlefarm, Shankill, on 7 May 2015 and to distribution of child pornography at the same address between 2 August 2011 and 22 October 2011. Judge Melanie Greally noted the volume of material was "very substantial" and that it had been accumulated over a four‑year period. She imposed a two‑year custodial sentence, suspending the final six months on strict conditions.
The High Court has scheduled judgment for 12 February on extradition proceedings against two Dublin men sought by Northern Irish authorities for alleged attempted murder of a police officer and explosives offences. Ciaran Maguire, aged 29, and Sean Paul Farrell, aged 32, face potential life sentences if convicted in Northern Ireland. Legal arguments arose concerning Brexit's implications for the European Arrest Warrant framework. Mr Justice Donald Binchy indicated the UK remained an EU member for extradition purposes pending formal withdrawal procedures. Defence counsel raised concerns about interviews conducted at Milford and Letterkenny garda stations, arguing Northern Ireland's adverse-inference rules presented constitutional difficulties. Northern Irish prosecutors confirmed they would not seek adverse inferences from the men's silence during questioning. The judge indicated this response appeared to address the defence submissions substantially, though reserved final determination pending the scheduled judgment delivery.
In a case heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Keith Bride, aged 34, was sentenced to one year in prison with the final six months suspended, after pleading guilty to assaulting Garda Ruth Molloy on 1 June 2016. The incident occurred when Bride attempted to destroy a car that the Garda was seizing, jumping onto the bonnet and smashing the windscreen. He had earlier tried to pull the car doors off and damaged the glove compartment. During the confrontation, Bride broke free and fled to a shopping centre, later being found in Mount Olive Park. Garda Molloy sustained two small cuts, bruising and pain in her thumb, and reported being unable to ride a mountain bike for some time. Bride has 80 prior convictions, including one for obstruction of gardai, and the judge noted his bad temper and intemperance. He expressed remorse and apologised, and the judge considered his family background and potential community contribution.
James Daly, a former tax inspector aged 62, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment by Judge Melanie Greally at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He pleaded guilty to submitting an incorrect income‑tax return in 2005 and to failing to file returns for 2006, 2007 and 2008. Daly had worked for the Office of Revenue Commissions for about eight years before starting his own tax‑consultancy business. The judge rejected the defence of ignorance or incompetence, citing Daly's professional experience and the absence of any explanation for his conduct. She described the offences as a grave breach of trust, noting dishonesty and strategic, financially motivated behaviour. The sentence was imposed after Daly's guilty plea, which avoided a trial, and took into account his lack of prior convictions, professional credentials and the lack of remorse or cooperation with Revenue.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 15‑year‑old boy pleaded guilty to possession of a loaded semi‑automatic pistol found in a schoolbag under his bunk beds on 3 December 2018. The gun, loaded with 11 rounds, had been given to him by an older man who had asked him to hold it for a few days. The boy later attempted to dispose of the weapon after the man failed to retrieve it. Gardaí were alerted by a tip, searched the home, and disarmed the firearm. The boy, who has no prior convictions, was placed on a 12‑month probation bond. The court noted his low risk of re‑offending and advised him that compliance with probation conditions would likely prevent imprisonment. The case was adjourned to 22 January 2021.
Mareks Treinovskis, 34, was found guilty of stealing electric toothbrushes from Boots on Grafton Street on 29 June and 22 July 2019. He had previously been convicted of the same offence at the same store, with nine earlier convictions for the same thefts. The Garda identified him via CCTV footage and he was released on bail. In June 2018 he received a nine‑month sentence for nine thefts of electric toothbrushes from the same shop. Judge Melanie Greally, hearing the case, noted that the offences were not particularly serious in isolation but were "very concerning" given the repeat nature. She sentenced him to six months for the earlier theft and 12 months for the later theft, to run consecutively, and then suspended the entire 12‑month sentence on strict conditions, including a prohibition on entering any Boots store in Dublin for 12 months.
Maja Kajuka, a 58‑year‑old Latvian woman with mental health difficulties, was found at Dublin Airport carrying €183,000 worth of cocaine concealed in laminated photographs. She had travelled to Brazil on a work assignment for a design company, delivered the photographs to a contact, and was told to meet another Brazilian man at the airport to hand over the photographs and receive her return ticket. After losing her phone, she wandered the airport landside, unaware of the drugs. She pleaded guilty to possession of 2.6 kg of cocaine on 13 July 2019. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced her to four and a half years in prison, suspending the balance on the condition that she leave Ireland and return to Latvia within two weeks, with release contingent on firm arrangements to return. The judge noted her low moral culpability and that she had been used by others.
Eoin McKinley, aged 22, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm after smashing a glass into Andris Slalina's face at Weatherspoon's, Westend Retail Park, on 30 May 2016. The incident followed Slalina's criticism of a group's loudness, which McKinley overheard. McKinley threw a glass that struck a fence and later struck Slalina's face, leaving a broken nose and a scar on his left eyebrow. Slalina suffered €1,000 in medical and lost‑wage costs. McKinley, who had no prior convictions and was 19 at the time, had paid €2,700 in compensation. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to 240 hours of community service within 12 months, replacing a two‑and‑a‑half‑year prison term. The court noted McKinley's intoxication and the alleged involvement of cocaine, though no drug charges were brought. The case was prosecuted by Diarmuid Collins BL and defended by Mark Lynam BL.
In 2011 Gerard Kane, aged 43, broke into a woman's home and raped her twice. He had been on bail for a separate burglary of a Fianna Fáil minister's office. In November 2012 he pleaded guilty to the rape and was sentenced to twelve years with three years suspended. Released in August 2018, he committed two burglaries in January 2019, for which he received a three‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence with the final year suspended. The court activated one year of the suspended portion of the 2012 sentence, crediting time already served, and ordered it to run consecutively with the 2019 sentence. Kane's defence cited mental health issues, homelessness, lack of support and self‑medication as factors contributing to his reoffending. The court noted the victim's severe trauma and the defendant's chaotic background. The case remains at the sentencing stage.
A 59-year-old Mayo man has been sentenced to three years imprisonment, with the final year suspended, following his guilty plea to sexually assaulting a woman with intellectual disabilities at the Central Criminal Court. The offence occurred at his home on 13 March 2015. The victim, who attended special needs school with the man's son, was found by medical assessment to lack capacity to consent due to her cognitive functioning. In her victim impact statement, the woman described significant distress and ongoing anxiety. Mr Justice Michael White identified the assault's serious nature and the victim's vulnerability as aggravating factors. The judge noted exceptional mitigating circumstances, including the man's lack of previous convictions, genuine remorse, and his role as a caring parent to his own son with special needs. The suspended portion of the sentence is conditional on the man's participation in the Better Lives programme.
Ben O'Reilly, a 21‑year‑old former youth rugby player, was convicted of assaulting Fernanda de Freitas, a transgender escort, at her home on 20 May 2017. The trial, held in December 2019 at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, found him guilty of assault but acquitted him of robbery. Judge Elma Sheahan sentenced him to two years' imprisonment, fully suspended on the condition he pays €10,000 in compensation to Ms de Freitas within 12 months. The judge noted the seriousness of the offence, the loss of support from family and friends, his suspension from the rugby club, and his good character and youth as mitigating factors. O'Reilly had no prior convictions and had been enlisted in the UK army, where a custodial sentence would have led to discharge. The case involved a dispute over payment for escort services, an initial payment of €150, and a subsequent assault after the victim demanded the remainder of the agreed €500. Ben O'Reilly pleaded not guilty.
A married couple has been sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in the first FGM conviction in Irish history. The 37-year-old man and 27-year-old woman, who pleaded not guilty, were convicted by a jury of carrying out an act of FGM on their one-year-old daughter and child cruelty on September 16, 2016. Judge Elma Sheahan described the premeditated act as a severe breach of trust, noting the lack of remorse. The male accused was sentenced to five and a half years imprisonment for FGM, with a concurrent three-year sentence for child cruelty. The female accused received four years and nine months for FGM, with a concurrent two-year, nine-month sentence for child cruelty. All sentences were backdated to the date of their initial custody. Both accused have been remanded in custody since their conviction. The court noted the victim is in the care of a relative, and the man faces a deportation order under review. Detective Chief Superintendent Declan Daly stated the sentence sends a strong message that FGM is a criminal offence not tolerated in Ireland.
The Central Criminal Court trial of Kieran Greene, Louise O'Connor, Stephanie O'Connor, and Keith Johnston continued with the jury hearing evidence regarding interviews conducted with Louise O'Connor. All four defendants have pleaded not guilty to their respective charges, which include the alleged murder of Patricia O'Connor on May 29, 2017, and impeding the investigation. In interviews played to the jury, Louise O'Connor stated she did not harm her mother and claimed Greene admitted to killing her. She also alleged her mother told her and her daughter they should have been aborted. Evidence presented included CCTV footage from a neighbor's camera showing movements at the Mountainview Park residence on the day of the alleged murder. Louise O'Connor identified herself in clips leaving for a park and returning from Tesco, and acknowledged a figure resembling her mother leaving the house. She disputed the significance of a person closing a rear door at 10:06 pm, stating she could not identify them. The court also heard that Greene initially confessed to dismembering the body but later claimed he was set up. The matter is currently at the sentencing stage, though no final verdict or sentence has been recorded in the provided facts.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 56‑year‑old man was convicted of 55 counts of sexual assault against his daughter, who first disclosed the abuse at age nine. She was beaten and isolated in a bedroom for several days, denied access to the bathroom, and later forced by her father to withdraw her allegations. The abuse, which continued until she was 15, involved repeated touching of her breasts and genital area and forced sexual contact. She reported that her father called her a liar and punished her by isolation. The court heard her victim impact statement, describing the lasting psychological harm and her decision to speak out. Judge Karen O'Connor praised her courage and adjourned sentencing to February 10. The case highlighted the father's denial of charges and his subsequent registration as a sex offender.
A 37‑year‑old mother was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for repeatedly assaulting, ill‑treating and neglecting her three children between 14 March 2015 and 18 April 2016. The trial, held in October 2019, found her guilty on all charges. She denied responsibility and showed no remorse. The judge described the abuse as physical and verbal, with the children locked up for long periods, exposed to drug use, poor hygiene and deprivation of food. The mother was undergoing a marital breakdown, personal crisis and regular drug abuse, and had an antisocial peer group. She had 32 prior convictions, all traffic offences. She is now barred from contact with the children unless authorised by the Child and Family Agency or the father. The sentence imposed was three years with the final 12 months suspended. The unnamed woman pleaded not guilty.
Radu Agapie, 28, a Romanian national, was convicted in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for five counts of controlling fake Polish and Hungarian ID cards, four counts of using fake documents to open bank accounts, and three counts of money laundering between July 2018 and July 2019. He had ten prior convictions in Finland for falsification and laundering. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a concurrent sentence of six years, suspending the final 18 months on the condition that Agapie leave Ireland and not return for ten years. The case stemmed from a Europe‑wide police investigation into money laundering by criminal organisations, during which Gardaí seized a toolkit for forging documents, five fake identity cards bearing Agapie's photo, and evidence of €79,564 in three bank accounts, of which €65,660 was withdrawn. Agapie was described as having a cocaine addiction and was said to have used his time in custody productively. Radu Agapie pleaded guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 19‑year‑old woman named Tia Byrne pleaded guilty to two counts of unlawful possession of firearms. Gardaí discovered a handgun wrapped in socks and five live .38 Smith and Western rounds in a drawer while executing a drug search warrant. Byrne admitted that a man had left the gun after delivering cannabis and claimed she was under pressure and felt threatened. She handed two handwritten notes to officers stating she was scared for her family. The court noted Byrne's age, lack of maturity, and a dysfunctional family background. Judge Martin Nolan suspended a three‑year prison sentence, requiring good behaviour and engagement with Probation Services. The case highlighted concerns about vulnerable individuals being exploited by serious criminals in Dublin's inner city.
In a north Dublin retail park, a Starbucks coffee shop was forced to close after a series of break‑ins. The court heard that the shop could not renew its insurance because of multiple robbery and burglary incidents. The business shut down in July. Earlier, Jason Brady, 34, used a claw hammer to break into the shop, causing over €1,300 of damage. Brady pleaded guilty to burglary of the Starbucks and of the adjoining "Star Buys" discount shop on the night of 22 June 2019, and admitted criminal damage and possession of a claw hammer. He was not a suspect in other raids. Brady's lawyers said he had smoked crack cocaine before the burglaries and that he was committing crimes to feed an "out of control" drug habit. CCTV footage showed him using a crowbar to try to open a staff toilet and later pulling the disabled toilet alarm off the wall.
Wayne Kelly, 32, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to endangerment at Ninth Lock Road, Clondalkin, on May 24, 2017. The prosecution alleged that Kelly drove his truck directly at pedestrian Peter Adams following a verbal exchange, exposing him to danger on a path and later chasing him into traffic. Kelly admitted the charge but maintained he intended to return to speak with Adams, denying any attempt to strike him. Judge Melanie Greally described the driving as "an absolute outrage," noting that Adams was fortunate not to be struck by Kelly or another vehicle. While acknowledging defense counsel's suggestion that medication withdrawal may have contributed to Kelly's anger, the judge cited his nine previous convictions, including assault and criminal damage, as mitigating factors against that explanation. Kelly presented a €500 apology, which the judge deemed "somewhat derisory," suggesting he should multiply that figure by ten. The matter was adjourned to April 28 for sentencing. Judge Greally ordered a probation report to assess Kelly's suitability for the restorative justice programme and remanded him on continuing bail pending that date.
During the Beatyard music festival in Dun Laoghaire on 4 August 2018, 30‑year‑old Jason Hodgkins was caught by Garda Desmond Molloy carrying a drug tablet. Hodgkins complied with a search but became agitated and argued with the officer. A scuffle broke out, and Hodgkins climbed onto the Garda, punching him six times in the head and attempting to bite him. The officer was pepper‑sprayed in the process. Hodgkins was later subdued and pleaded guilty to one count of assault causing harm and three counts of possession of small amounts of drugs, including cannabis and a 2CB tablet. He paid €1,500 as a token of remorse, and the Garda suggested the payment go to Down Syndrome Ireland. Judge Melanie Greally ruled that Hodgkins should be assessed for community service, with the matter to be finalized on 24 March.
Florin Ciurariu (31), of Forest Fields Road, Swords Dublin, has been sentenced to three years in custody for one count of assault causing harm to Ms Anete Senere and one count of breaching a safety order. The assault occurred on June 2 last year at Ms Senere's apartment in Clontarf, Dublin, where she was found unconscious in a pool of blood with severe facial injuries, including two black eyes, broken teeth, and bruising. Ciurariu pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The safety order had been issued following a previous assault by Ciurariu on Ms Senere. Judge Melanie Greally noted the violence of the attack and Ciurariu's history of multiple convictions, including breaches of domestic barring orders and assault. A four-year sentence was imposed, with the final 12 months suspended on conditions. The sentence was backdated to June last year when Ciurariu entered custody. The judge ordered Ciurariu to have no contact with Ms Senere for five years. Garda Clodagh Sharkey detailed the incident, including Ciurariu's uninvited visit, the assault during a football match, and his subsequent flight from the scene. Ciurariu was later found by gardaí with dried blood on his hands. Ms Senere was hospitalized and remains shaken from the attack. She did not attend court or make a victim impact statement. Ciurariu's defense apologized on his behalf, noting the relationship had ended. The Department of Justice is seeking his deportation due to his criminal history, which could have significant consequences for him.
In January 2020, Glen Walker, a 39‑year‑old car dealer who ran Autosport Motors in Clondalkin, Dublin, pleaded guilty to using a false instrument in relation to a motor vehicle between 26 October and 7 November 2017. He had sent a fabricated invoice to the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) claiming that two imported BMWs had been purchased within the last 30 days, the period required for payment of Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT). CAB inspectors had called to his garage in October 2017 to conduct a VRT inspection. Walker's false invoice was rejected, and the vehicles were seized, resulting in a loss of €90,000. The court noted that the garage had since gone into liquidation but Walker remains in the industry. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a two‑year suspended sentence with conditions, citing the offence's impact on Walker's reputation and relationships in the motor trade.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Mr Justice Michael White praised the courage of Elizabeth Williams, who reported sexual abuse by her second cousin John Moran, a 66‑year‑old former resident of Cannakill, Croghan, Co Offaly. Williams, aged 5 to 11 when abused, said the incidents were frequent and normalised in her childhood, and that no action was taken by family or authorities until after her father's death. She had been denied medical care, faced family hostility, and considered suicide. Moran, who was 14 to 21 at the time of the offences, pleaded guilty to one count of rape and seven counts of indecent assault. The judge imposed an eight‑year sentence with the final two years suspended, citing mitigating factors such as his ill health and lack of prior convictions, and aggravating factors including the prolonged nature of the abuse and the victim's innocence.
Dean Howe, 34, of Dublin 8, pleaded guilty to conspiring with others to murder Gary Hanley between September 15 and November 6, 2017. At a sentence hearing in the Special Criminal Court, the prosecution detailed Howe's alleged role in surveillance, supervising vehicles, collecting fuel, and instructing co-accused. Evidence included secret recordings where Howe scolded Joseph Kelly for "fucking up" and instructions to cover his face while buying petrol. The court heard that tracking devices were moved to Phoenix Park on September 15, 2017, where Howe was observed with others. On November 6, 2017, Kelly and Luke Wilson were arrested near Hanley's home with a loaded pistol and silencer. Luke Wilson, 24, pleaded guilty to conspiracy and unlawful possession of a Beretta, receiving an 11-year sentence. Alan Wilson, 39, pleaded guilty to conspiracy and was jailed for six years. Joseph Kelly, 35, pleaded guilty to conspiracy and a weapons charge, receiving a 12-year sentence. Howe, who has 37 previous convictions, has been in custody since May 2019. Mr Justice Tony Hunt adjourned Howe's sentencing to March 3 at 10.30am.
A 22‑year‑old Dubliner who sexually assaulted a female friend when both were 16 will not receive an additional prison sentence. He had already spent nine months in custody after failing to appear before the Children's Court in 2018. The judge, Mr Justice Michael White, said no further custodial term would be imposed beyond the nine months already served. The case was adjourned to February 3 to structure a sentence that would include supervision orders. The assault occurred on 1 August 2014 at a Dublin address while the victim was asleep after a drinks party. She reported that her jeans had been pulled down and the boy had penetrated her with his finger. She later described depression, anxiety and panic attacks as a result of the incident. The defendant pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assault and expressed remorse.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 19‑year‑old Jabari Crichlow was given a four‑year suspended sentence for violently attacking and robbing a 66‑year‑old retired delivery man on Deerhaven Avenue, Clonee, in November 2017. The victim suffered a broken nose, concussion, chipped teeth, and ongoing headaches and fear of further attacks. Crichlow pleaded guilty to robbery and was previously placed on a 12‑month probation bond. After a favourable probation report showing no significant attention and re‑establishment of a good relationship with his mother, Judge Melanie Greally suspended the sentence on strict conditions: cessation of association with negative peers and 240 hours of community service within 12 months. The court noted the victim's loss of over €1,000 in income and the physical and psychological impact of the assault. The case was adjourned twice before the final suspended sentence was imposed.
Mohammed Nasser Mohiuddin, a 48‑year‑old Dublin shopkeeper, was jailed for allowing his bank account to be used in a €200,000 fraud. He claimed he was promised €10,000 to let the money be transferred into his account, but never received the payment. The fraud involved an "invoice redirect" scheme by Enercon GMBH, a wind turbine manufacturer, where five payments totalling just over €202,000 were sent to Mohiuddin's account between February and March 2017. He pleaded guilty to five charges of handling stolen cash. Judge Melanie Greally described the offence as a significant error of judgment, noting his family responsibilities and business difficulties. Mohiuddin was sentenced to three and a half years, with the final 18 months suspended on strict conditions. The case highlighted the financial pressure that led him to participate in the scheme.