Owen Cummins, 41, of Cabra, Dublin 7, pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to possessing a Beretta 92s handgun and silencer in suspicious circumstances on September 6, 2017. The court heard that gardai, acting on intelligence regarding a potential hit in Ballyfermot, pursued a Citroen Berlingo van driven by Cummins. After a collision, Cummins fled in a Hyundai Tucson jeep, driving directly at Garda Stephen Gillespie, who was restraining passenger Andrew O'Keeffe. The garda discharged his firearm to dissuade the vehicle, which subsequently struck a parked Volkswagen Passat. Cummins then abandoned the jeep. O'Keeffe, 30, previously pleaded guilty to possessing the firearm and was sentenced in August 2018 to nine years' imprisonment, with one year suspended. Cummins, who has 68 previous convictions, was represented by Michael O'Higgins SC, who described him as a former heroin addict acting as a driver under instructions. The matter was adjourned, with Mr Justice Tony Hunt scheduled to sentence Cummins on March 3.
Leendert Stolk, 50, of Worthing, England, admitted to fraudulently claiming €18,000 in child benefit for his two children between 2011 and 2018. He used a school stamp from Meath and sent benefit letters to a Dublin 15 address that was later found to be empty, redirecting them to his actual address outside Ireland. Stolk had already been convicted of welfare fraud and was serving a four‑year prison sentence, of which he had completed 13 months. The child‑benefit fraud was discovered after his wife's arrest, and he made full admissions to gardaí. Judge Patricia Ryan ordered that the new charges be considered, but the prison sentence would remain unchanged. The case involved 22 counts of wrongfully claiming social welfare and four counts of using a false instrument, with a total false claim of over €244,000 during the seven‑year period. The court noted Stolk's diagnosis of obsessive‑compulsive disorder and past incidents in South Africa. Leendert Stolk pleaded guilty.
An 18‑year‑old Dublin man pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to intentionally causing serious harm to a relative by stabbing him in the chest on 27 August 2018 at a house in Tallaght. The defendant, who was 17 at the time of the offence, was described by counsel as coming from a very dysfunctional background. The plea was accepted by the Director of Public Prosecutions on a full facts basis. Mr Justice Alex Owens remanded the teenager in custody until 30 March for a sentence hearing.
In a High Court hearing scheduled for February 10, 2020, lawyers for Ian Bailey will argue that the proposed extradition to France for the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier violates his fundamental rights. Bailey, 62, was convicted in absentia by a Paris court and sentenced to 25 years' imprisonment. He denies any involvement in the death of the French filmmaker, whose body was found beaten outside her holiday home in Schull in 1996. Bailey's counsel, Ronan Munro SC, will reference the two prior extradition attempts, which were dismissed by Irish courts, including a 2017 ruling that the case was an abuse of process. The Supreme Court's 2012 refusal to extradite Bailey was based on the offence occurring outside French territory and Irish law's prohibition of double prosecution for the same offence abroad. The court has remanded Bailey on continuing bail and adjourned the case for three weeks.
Yasmin Stephens, aged 24, was sentenced to one year in prison for a knifepoint robbery that took place on 12 October 2017 on Lower Drumcondra Road. She was convicted by a jury after a trial in November 2017. The robbery involved a woman who was walking to a friend's house when Stephens grabbed her arm, demanded her phone and threatened to stab her. The victim refused to hand over the phone and offered money instead. Stephens then took the victim's arm, went to a Bank of Ireland branch and a Centra store, and forced the victim to withdraw €100, which she handed to Stephens. CCTV footage identified Stephens and led to her arrest. During the Garda interview, Stephens claimed the money had been handed to her and that the victim had hugged her, but CCTV did not show any hugging. The victim suffered no physical injuries but reported feeling unsafe walking alone and found the court process stressful.
A woman has described how she was raped by two men after losing consciousness at a house party in County Leitrim in 2017. Following an eleven-day trial at the Central Criminal Court last November, a jury convicted the first man of rape and the second of oral rape. Both men, now in their early twenties and known to the complainant from school, deny the offences and do not accept the verdicts. In a victim impact statement, the woman said the attacks have caused her severe psychological harm, describing her life as "a struggle" and stating the trauma will affect her permanently. The first man's defence counsel highlighted his previously unblemished character and submitted references from community members. The second man's counsel indicated an intention to appeal, noting his client maintains his innocence. The Director of Public Prosecutions entered a nolle prosequi on the rape charge against the second accused. Ms Justice Eileen Creedon adjourned sentencing to 17 February for consideration of the evidence. The unnamed woman pleaded not guilty.
A 66‑year‑old man named Alan Clarke, who worked as a security guard, was found to possess child sex abuse images and videos on his laptop when it was brought to a repair centre in 2009. The material, depicting boys and girls aged five to fifteen, was downloaded between March and May 2009. The laptop was not analysed until 2015 because of a lack of Garda resources. Clarke pleaded guilty in June 2009 and admitted a curiosity about child pornography, claiming he had lost interest the previous month. He denied paying for the material or profiting from it, and there was no evidence he shared it. He had a prior assault conviction from 1987. Judge Melanie Greally, noting the offence's seriousness and a significant time lapse, imposed an 18‑month suspended sentence with conditions including continued therapy under the Probation Service. Clarke is retired, lives in sheltered accommodation, and has not been in contact with Gardaí since the incident.
James Gannon, 32, of St Mark's Drive, Clondalkin, was sentenced to seven‑and‑a‑half years in prison for possession of cocaine, cannabis and ketamine for sale or supply. He pleaded guilty to offences at Citywest Storage, Tallaght, and at locations in Lucan on 22 March 2018. The court found €1.1 million worth of drugs in brown boxes labelled "Sport Socks" at a storage unit in Gannon's name. Gardaí had observed Gannon entering the unit, driving a van to Ballyowen Castle Shopping Centre, and passing drugs to another man who later drove away in a car carrying €34 972 worth of cocaine. Gannon admitted renting the unit and that he had never stored drugs before, citing a €20 000 drug debt. He has two prior convictions for road traffic offences. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a nine‑year sentence, suspending the final 18 months on conditions.
Anthony Rossitter, a 32‑year‑old drug addict from Co. Wexford, pleaded guilty to three attempted robbery charges at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. On 15 May 2019, he entered a Gala shop on Abbey Street at about 9 a.m., placed a plastic bag on the counter, and threatened a cashier with a large stainless‑steel pair of scissors, demanding cash. When a staff member said no cash was available, Rossitter left. He then went to a Spar shop in Temple Bar and demanded money, but again departed empty‑handed. Finally, he entered a Gala shop on Dorset Street, showed the scissors, and asked for €20 after staff explained their boss had taken all the cash. He left without any money and was arrested shortly thereafter. Rossitter has prior convictions for assault, drug dealing and two robberies, and 46 traffic offences. He is homeless and has a young child.
A 71‑year‑old retired Dublin council worker was sentenced to six years' imprisonment for repeatedly sexually abusing his granddaughter. The abuse began when she was about nine and continued for four years, with the perpetrator bringing her to his bedroom to play cards before molesting her. When she tried to escape, he threatened her, forced her to strip, pinned her down, and in one incident threw her across the bed, causing her to hit her head on the headboard. He then assaulted her again. The attacks occurred roughly once a week, with Judge Martin Nolan estimating more than 150 incidents. The abuse ceased after the victim's aunt discovered him with her. The man pleaded guilty to four counts of sexual assault covering June 2010 to May 2014, part of a total of 48 charges. Judge Nolan refused to suspend any portion of the sentence, citing a severe breach of trust and the victim's trauma.
A retired salesman, Gordon Black, aged 70, received a suspended two‑year prison sentence for indecent assault of a boy while both were members of the Boys Brigade in the 1960s. Black was between 16 and 20 when he molested a victim aged 12 to 16. He pleaded guilty to three counts of indecent assault between 1965 and 1969. The judge noted Black's remorse, lack of prior convictions and the absence of a prison sentence, but suspended the term on the condition that he keep the peace. The court heard that one assault occurred after a youth group trip, when Black drove the boy home, forced him into the back seat, and attempted to have him kiss his penis. The victim, now 66, still feels anger and distress when recalling the abuse. Black admitted that he had been abused as a child by three different people.
A 60‑year‑old father of seven, John McElroy, was stopped in Cabra, Dublin, on 25 January 2019 after a tip‑off. Gardaí found a 1.1 kg block of cocaine under the driver seat of his car, a package he claimed he had accepted an hour earlier and was holding to pay €200 toward his son's €50,000 drug debt. McElroy pleaded guilty to one count of possessing cocaine for sale or supply at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and will be sentenced on 2 April. Garda Marguerite Reilly explained that the drugs, worth €70,840, were discovered in an Aldi bag and that McElroy had no prior involvement in the drug scene. The court noted he had a single minor conviction for holding a mobile phone while driving. Judge Melanie Greally questioned the practicality of paying a €50,000 debt with €200 and warned that a non‑custodial sentence could not be imposed given the drug value.
Sonia Collins, 38, a mother of three, was found with €20,000 worth of cannabis hidden under the stairs of her home in Kilcronan Avenue, Clondalkin, Dublin. She pleaded guilty to one count of possessing cannabis for sale or supply at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on March 4, 2023. Collins told the Gardaí that she had incurred a €200 drug debt after buying cocaine for social use and could not repay it because her child's confirmation was approaching. She claimed she did not know the value of the cannabis and felt "stupid" for agreeing to hold it. Collins said she had agreed to hold the drugs for "half an hour" but they were never collected, and she was fearful of the person who had given her the drugs. The Gardaí searched her home after a tip‑off and, after opening the door, Collins immediately showed them the drugs.
Gareth Brophy, aged 25, of Reuben Walk, Dublin 8, pleaded guilty to facilitating the murder of David Douglas at the Special Criminal Court. Mr Douglas, 55, was shot six times in Shoestown on Bridgefoot Street, Dublin 8, on 1 July 2016. Evidence showed Brophy drove the getaway Mercedes, which he subsequently attempted to set alight near Tandy Court Apartments. While burning the vehicle, his trousers caught fire before he extinguished the flames and fled to a waiting Suzuki Swift. CCTV analysis of 1,500 hours of footage, DNA evidence from the Suzuki's passenger area, and a palm print from the vehicle door linked Brophy to the crime. The court heard his involvement was assessed as more serious than that of Nathan Foley, who received a six-year sentence for the same offence. Brophy was arrested in November 2018. Sentencing was scheduled for 17 February.
Damien Mitchell, 32, was arrested after striking John Walsh with a pint glass during a domestic dispute. Mitchell admitted the fight but claimed limited memory due to alcohol. He pleaded guilty to assault causing harm in Dublin. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a three‑year sentence, fully suspended on conditions of sobriety and other requirements. Mitchell's apology letter, €3,000 payment to Walsh, and counselling attendance were noted as evidence of remorse. Walsh, who suffered eye and facial scarring, expressed a desire for Mitchell not to serve custodial time, describing him as "extremely magnanimous." The judge highlighted alcohol's role and the seriousness of the injuries, noting that a slightly more severe outcome would have led to imprisonment. Mitchell has no prior convictions.
In a Dublin court case, a 29‑year‑old Italian man was sentenced to two and a half years in jail for sexually assaulting his flatmate while she slept on a couch. The victim, whose identity is protected, had become friends with the defendant after moving in together and had a brief intimate relationship with him. After the relationship ended, she began dating another man. One night she returned home, fell asleep beside the defendant, and woke to find him sexually penetrating her without consent. He ejaculated on the couch and later apologized. The victim later texted him expressing shock, and he replied with remorse. He claimed the act was consensual in a police statement but later admitted it was not. The court accepted his expressions of shame and remorse, noted his lack of prior convictions, but imposed a custodial sentence due to the severity of the assault and the victim's traumatic impact. The unnamed 29-year-old pleaded guilty.
Ryszard Gieron, 42, was given a suspended two‑year sentence for dangerous driving that caused the death of taxi passenger Mark Gerety, 39, on 23 June 2017. Gieron drove through a red light at the junction of North Circular Road and Summerhill Parade, colliding with a taxi that had a green light. The taxi flipped over, and Mark sustained fatal injuries. Gardaí found no evidence of speeding, intoxication or fatigue. Gieron had no prior convictions, had been driving on a provisional licence for seven years, and behaved appropriately after the collision. The judge noted the absence of aggravating factors and accepted Gieron's explanation that he believed the light was green, deciding that imprisonment would be unjust. The sentence was fully suspended, with no custodial time imposed. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Ryszard Gieron pleaded guilty.
Niall Edwards, 37, of Kinnegad, pleaded guilty to exposing his genitals in two Dublin shopping centres in 2017 and 2018 and to possessing 1,665 images of child pornography. The images included 1,417 of children in sexual activity and 248 of children with exposed privates. Gardaí seized his phone and found no evidence of payment or sharing. Edwards lost his job as a chef when the offences were discovered. He expressed shame and remorse in a psychological report. Judge Martin Nolan, citing the absence of aggravating factors such as prior convictions or distribution, imposed a non‑custodial sentence. He sentenced Edwards to two and a half years, suspended in full for that period, subject to strict conditions including 18 months of probation supervision. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
The High Court has struck out a damages claim brought by Gerard Martin Fulham, who was incarcerated in Mountjoy prison between December 21st and 28th, 2007, for failing to pay debts. Mr Justice Bernard Barton dismissed the action as vexatious, frivolous, and bound to fail. Mr Fulham, a former building contractor, alleged that his imprisonment following instalment orders from creditors Chadwicks and Independent Communications Ltd breached his constitutional rights. He sought damages and a civil jury trial, claiming his health suffered. The defendants, including the State and the Attorney General, denied the claims and moved to strike out the proceedings, arguing Mr Fulham could not benefit from the 2009 McCann judgement, which found section 6 of the Enforcement of Court Orders Act 1940 unconstitutional. That ruling had previously allowed Caroline McCann to avoid a prison sentence for unpaid debts. The judge noted that Mr Fulham had not challenged his 2007 incarceration at the time nor sought judicial review within legal time limits. Consequently, he was not entitled to the benefit of the McCann decision. Although the claim was struck out, the matter will return before the courts in the New Year to deal with all outstanding issues.
James Byrne, 45, of Ballymun, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of drugs for sale or supply and to recklessly discharging a firearm at his neighbour's address on 9 December 2017. Gardaí were called after Byrne reported a gunshot wound to his leg. He admitted he had shot himself accidentally while attempting to hide a gun he had bought that day, intending to kill himself. The gun discharged when he was holding the trigger, injuring his leg. A search of his home uncovered a semi‑automatic Makarov pistol in a garden shed and cannabis resin worth €18,000, which Byrne claimed he held to pay a drug debt. He had prior convictions for drug possession, burglary and traffic offences. The judge, citing Byrne's guilty plea, cooperation and family responsibilities, imposed an 18‑month custodial sentence for the drug charge, noting that a suspended sentence would have been appropriate if only the firearms offence had been considered.
David Masterson, aged 54 and from Tallaght, was sentenced to seven and a half years' imprisonment for defiling three under‑age girls between February and December 2016, and for possession and distribution of child pornography in November 2015. He met the girls through a teenage boy who had recruited them online for paid sexual experiences. One victim, 16, had a sexual relationship with Masterson from February 2016 until December of that year, with multiple encounters confirmed by the detective. The other two girls were 15 and 16 at the time of the encounters. Masterson pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The judge, Martin Nolan, described his behaviour as gross, refused to suspend any portion of the sentence, and backdated it to the time Masterson entered custody in September 2017.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, a 37‑year‑old man and a 27‑year‑old woman were convicted of carrying out female genital mutilation (FGM) on their one‑year‑old daughter on 16 September 2016. Both pleaded not guilty to one count of FGM and one count of child cruelty. The jury found them guilty on all counts after nearly three hours of deliberation. Evidence included a forensic analysis that found no blood on a toy claimed to have caused the injury, and a medical expert who stated the child's clitoris had been completely removed, inconsistent with an accidental fall. The couple, originally from an African nation, had arrived in Ireland in 2008; the woman is a naturalised citizen, while the man faces a pending deportation order. Both were remanded in custody following the conviction. The case was noted as the first conviction under the FGM statute in Ireland.
Dean Howe, 34, of Oakfield, Dublin 8, pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to conspiring with others to murder Gary Hanley between September 15 and November 6, 2017. The charge, contrary to Section 71 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006, was admitted during arraignment. Mr Justice Paul Coffey noted that Howe's trial was originally scheduled for January 13, 2020, but he directed that the case be put up for mention on that date to fix a sentencing date. Three other men had previously pleaded guilty to conspiring to murder Mr Hanley. Luke Wilson, 24, of Ballyfermot, who also admitted unlawful possession of a Beretta, was jailed for 11 years. Alan Wilson, 39, of Dublin 8, received a six-year sentence. Joseph Kelly, 35, of Drimnagh, who also admitted a weapons charge, was jailed for 12 years. The court proceedings for Howe are at the sentencing stage, with the specific disposal to be determined at the upcoming mention.
In a High Court hearing on 20 December 2019, a fresh translation of the French court judgment that found Ian Bailey guilty of Sophie Toscan du Plantier's murder in absentia was returned to the State after the judge noted it was still difficult to understand. Mr Bailey, who was not present, had been previously convicted in Paris and sentenced to 25 years' imprisonment. The court endorsed a European Arrest Warrant for him, marking the third French request for his surrender. Mr Ronan Munro SC argued that the extradition should be challenged on the basis of a better translation of the judgment, citing "difficult to follow" passages. Mr Justice Donald Binchy agreed that a clearer translation was needed, and the court scheduled Mr Bailey's next appearance for 20 January 2020. The hearing was a notional one, with Mr Bailey not required to attend. The State's counsel, Leo Mulrooney BL, indicated that a new translation would be prepared.
An asylum seeker, Mohamed Morei, aged 21 and originally from Egypt, was found not guilty by reason of insanity for the murder of 24‑year‑old Yosuke Sasaki, whom he stabbed on 3 January 2018 in Dundalk. Morei also assaulted two men that morning, causing a head wound that required stitches, and was charged with criminal damage to a car and robbery by trespassing. A jury returned the same not‑guilty‑by‑reason‑of‑insanity verdict on those charges. During the trial, Morei claimed he was "fighting for Isis" and stabbed Sasaki "for God", but a detective inspector described his statements as incoherent and found no evidence of terrorist links. Two consultant psychiatrists diagnosed him with schizophrenia, stating he was unaware his actions were wrong and could not refrain from them. He was committed to the Central Mental Hospital, where his detention will be reviewed every six months under the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act.
Matthew Horan, aged 27, was already serving a seven‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence for child sexual exploitation and possession of child pornography. In January 2017 Gardaí seized digital devices from his home, revealing further child porn and conversations with a 12‑year‑old girl. Horan had posed as a young girl on Snapchat, encouraging the 12‑year‑old to send explicit images and videos. He also used those images to impersonate a teenage girl and obtain explicit material from another girl aged between 11 and 13. Horan pleaded guilty to these additional offences, including sexual exploitation, production and distribution of child pornography. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to an extra three‑and‑a‑half years, consecutive to his existing term, but suspended the final two years of that period. The sentence reflects the new offences committed between 2014 and 2016. The court noted Horan's cooperation and the impact of his actions on the victims.
Ross Kelly Nolan, a 23‑year‑old bank worker, was convicted at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for stealing €11,830 in damaged cash notes that were scheduled for destruction. The notes were identified as unfit by the bank's high‑speed counter and were to be sent to the Central Bank for destruction. Nolan, employed through an agency, admitted to the theft, citing a gambling addiction as the motive. He had been placing online bets daily and claimed he saw an opportunity to steal the cash. He has since paid back €8,110 to the bank and has reportedly turned his life around, avoiding gambling and office lottery tickets. Judge Pauline Codd, noting his lack of prior convictions and his rehabilitation, imposed a suspended prison sentence of one year, describing the offence as a significant breach of trust but a result of a pernicious addiction. Ross Kelly Nolan pleaded guilty.
Liam Butterly, 26, of Whiteacre Place, Ballymun, Dublin, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to endangerment and dangerous driving for driving a stolen motorbike at high speed, in the wrong direction around a roundabout, and through red lights on 20 January 2017. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to three years' imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended, and disqualified him from driving for six years. Butterly, who has 53 prior convictions, became agitated after sentencing, telling the judge that people who kill people get three years in jail and that he has two small children and that the incident occurred a week before Christmas. He apologized and said he only wanted the judge to know about his children.
Gerard Kane, 43, a convicted rapist and serial burglar, was sentenced to two and a half years' imprisonment in December 2019 for two break‑ins committed after his release in August 2018. Kane had previously received a 12‑year sentence in 2012 for raping a woman after breaking into her home, with the final three years suspended. He was released on bail for burglary at the constituency office of former Fianna Fáil Minister Barry Andrews. In the 2019 case, Kane pleaded guilty to burglary at Dun Laoghaire Further Education Institute, burglary at Silchester Crescent, Glenageary, and handling stolen property. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to three and a half years, suspending the final 12 months on strict conditions, including compliance with Probation Service directions for 12 months post‑release. The court noted Kane's psychological problems but also his awareness of right and wrong.
In a 2018 incident on Phibsborough Road, 28‑year‑old Gary Gibson attempted to steal a bicycle and, when confronted by retired RTÉ broadcaster Cathal Mac Coille, struck him on the head with a bolt cutter. Gibson fled, jumping into a canal to evade capture, and was later apprehended after a ten‑minute standoff. He pleaded guilty to assault and attempted theft, and to possession of a Stanley knife. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to two and a half years' imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended. Gibson's prior convictions include burglary, firearms offences and public order matters. The assault left Mac Coille with a lump and bruise on his forehead, forcing a three‑week break from a programme about the Pope's visit and a €125 expense for new bicycle wheels and a lock. The case highlighted the impact of the assault on Mac Coille's broadcasting work.
Rosemarie Gallagher, 61, was jailed for two years after her convertible lost control, struck a tree, a stone wall and railings, then collided with Benjamin Renard, 24, and three other men on Adelaide Road, Dublin. The crash threw all four men into the air; Renard died 15 days later after life support was withdrawn. Gallagher pleaded guilty to one charge of dangerous driving causing death and three charges of dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm. She had no prior convictions and had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis 26 years earlier, though she was considered medically fit to drive. The court noted her condition may have contributed to loss of control and imposed a custodial sentence, disqualifying her from driving for three years. The three injured men suffered fractures and other injuries. The judge described the case as tragic and lamentable.
Martin Clarke, 35, a former soldier, was sentenced to three years in prison for a random knife attack on Welsh tourist Antoni Vitti on the Liffey boardwalk on 13 June 2017. Clarke was intoxicated on unprescribed tablets when he lunged at Vitti with a knife. Vitti and his husband fled, but Clarke chased them through traffic and was eventually stopped at the Arlington Hotel, where staff removed him and raised the alarm. The court described the assault as "random, unprovoked and menacing." Vitti sustained a 3.5‑cm scar on his hand and reported that the incident has made him feel unsafe around strangers, affecting his work in the tourist industry. Clarke pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and possession of a knife, and had prior convictions for theft, knife possession and traffic offences. He has detoxed in custody and expressed remorse, hoping to return to his family in a sober state.
A 40‑year‑old woman, Ennis Dunne, pleaded guilty to five robbery offences against pharmacies and a hair salon in Dublin between April 2018 and June 2019. She stole €1,760 in cash and recovered tablets worth €300, which were seized by Gardaí. Dunne threatened staff with a scissors, a broken bottle and a syringe during the robberies. She has 58 prior convictions and a long history of drug addiction. Her barrister described her upbringing in a family that introduced heroin to Ireland, noting that she was taken into State care at six after her parents were imprisoned and later reunited with her mother at ten. Dunne has a child, is currently in university, and has been diagnosed with PTSD. The sentence is scheduled for April 21, with a possible additional charge pending. The court adjourned the sentencing to obtain psychological and probation reports. The case was prosecuted by Caroline Cummings BL.
Gabor Garics, a 39‑year‑old Hungarian national, was found guilty of endangerment and drink driving after his car, while heavily intoxicated, mounted a curb and struck Anna O'Shea, a 64‑year‑old woman, on North King Street in Dublin on 3 January 2019. O'Shea suffered cuts and a fractured leg, requiring stitches and an 11‑week recovery period. Garics, who had a prior drink‑driving conviction, pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Pauline Codd sentenced him to four years' imprisonment, suspending the final 18 months on strict conditions, and disqualified him from driving for six years. The court noted Garics was three times over the legal alcohol limit, had an iron bar and two open bottles of spirits in the vehicle, and had left the scene before being apprehended by Gardaí. The judge highlighted the physical, emotional, psychological and financial impact on O'Shea and considered Garics' early guilty plea and cooperation as mitigating factors.
Ricardo Correia, aged 34, used 48 legitimate prepaid Mastercards to create "compromised" cards and spent €6,988 at TX Maxx outlets between November 2018 and April 2019. He returned 52 items, obtaining €6,512 in refunds credited to his own bank cards, claiming he received 30 % of the €13,500 raised. He pleaded guilty to theft, use of false instruments, possession of false instruments and money laundering. With 20 prior convictions, Judge Karen O'Connor found the crime premeditated and sentenced him to two and a half years' imprisonment, with the final six months suspended on strict conditions. Correia was arrested in June 2019 after CCTV footage identified him; his home was searched and three false prepaid cards were seized. He admitted using the cards to purchase goods and return them for refunds, citing debt repayment. His defence highlighted his qualifications and expressed remorse.
Sean Howard, aged 32, was sentenced to two and a half years' imprisonment for arson after a fire he claimed was started to keep warm spiralled out of control. The blaze began when he lit a piece of cardboard in a bin behind the Temple Bar Hotel in Dublin on 28 April 2019 while intoxicated and under the influence of drugs. The fire melted the bins, damaged the hotel's back wall, boiler and double metal doors, and forced the evacuation of 236 guests. Howard pleaded guilty to arson at the hotel and to a prior arson on 3 April 2019, which caused €3,000 of damage and required the evacuation of two rooms. He has 132 previous convictions, including three for arson, and the judge cited his substance use as a major problem. The sentence was three and a half years, with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions.
John Smith, 59, was found guilty of inviting or coercing a child to engage in a sexual or indecent act after a 15‑year‑old schoolgirl recorded him masturbating in his van and posted the video on Snapchat. Smith had previously asked the girl for her phone number and later arranged a second meeting that evening. Gardaí were alerted when the girl's parents saw the Snapchat story. Smith pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to two years' imprisonment, fully suspended on strict conditions, including 12 months of probation. Smith, a married father of four, had a prior minor conviction for failing to pay a bus fare in 1992 and is registered as a sex offender. The court noted that Smith's behaviour was "totally out of character" and that he had expressed remorse. The case was heard with no physical contact or threat toward the girl.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Mr Justice Paul McDermott sentenced two 15‑year‑old boys to life with a review after 12 years and 15 years with a review after eight years, respectively, for the murder and sexual assault of 14‑year‑old Ana Kriegel. The boys will be detained in a young offenders centre until 18, then transferred to an adult prison. The judge noted the boys' ages as a mitigating factor, but emphasised their responsibility for Ana's death. He described the crime as calculated, violent and shocking, and highlighted the boys' lack of remorse and the severity of the assault. The sentences were back‑dated to the June convictions, and the judge ordered reports for the review periods. The hearing included statements from Ana's parents and Garda officials, who praised the investigation and expressed gratitude for the justice delivered.
Patrick Quirke was found guilty of murdering part‑time DJ Bobby Ryan, known as "Mr Moonlight", by a ten‑to‑two majority jury at the Central Criminal Court. Quirke, who had pleaded not guilty, was sentenced to mandatory life imprisonment. The trial, the longest murder trial in Irish history, lasted 13 weeks and involved extensive legal argument. Ryan, 52, disappeared after leaving his girlfriend Mary Lowry's home on 3 June 2011. His body was recovered 22 months later in an underground run‑off tank on a farm leased by Quirke. The prosecution alleged Quirke killed Ryan to rekindle an affair with Lowry. The jury deliberated for 20 hours and 39 minutes before delivering the verdict. The case ended with Quirke being escorted out by prison guards, while Ryan's family, including his daughter Michelle, expressed deep grief and reflected on the loss.
In a December 2019 court hearing, Declan Turner, aged 23, was sentenced to 28 months' imprisonment for a November 2018 knife attack on Garda Aine McGroarty and Garda Killian Owens. Turner, who had a history of violent offences and mental health issues, had been drinking before the incident and was described by the judge as a "very violent individual." He attacked the gardaí with a large knife after a neighbour had called the police to a Balbriggan apartment. McGroarty struck Turner on the thigh with her baton, and the gardaí managed to escape the apartment with the tenant. Turner was arrested after the incident and pleaded guilty to assault, possession of knives, criminal damage, public order and breaching a barring order. The judge noted Turner's underlying mental health problems and his alcohol intake as contributing factors to his behaviour. The sentence was imposed with a suspended portion, leaving the effective custodial term at 28 months.
Brahim Maddi, 36, a homeless Algerian national, pleaded guilty to sexual assault and oral rape of a drunk, unconscious man in Dublin in 2019. CCTV showed the victim lying face‑down, motionless, while Maddi repeatedly approached, stole €5, rubbed the victim's buttocks, masturbated, and on a fourth visit orally raped the victim. Gardaí arrested Maddi near the scene; the victim was later hospitalized. Mr Justice Michael White sentenced Maddi to seven years' imprisonment, reduced to four years after considering his guilty plea, admissions, and remorse. Maddi's history of schizophrenia and his status as a vulnerable man were noted. The victim's impact statement, read by his father, described suicidal thoughts and guilt following the assault. The court ordered limited media reporting of the incident's location and date.
Peter Kane, 49, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment after a Gardaí search of his Dublin bedsit revealed over €200,000 worth of drugs. The drugs, including cocaine, cannabis resin and heroin, were found under his bed with weighing scales. Kane had previously been clean from heroin and on methadone, and had not had any Gardaí trouble for seven years. He claimed he was offered free cocaine in a local pub and was then pressured to store drugs for others, owing money for them. He pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine, cannabis resin and heroin at his Decies Road home on 13 May 2019. The court noted his 16 prior convictions, including robbery, forgery, road traffic and begging, and his explanation that he was holding the drugs for others. Judge Martin Nolan acknowledged his difficult life and children in England before imposing the five‑year term. The Gardaí had obtained confidential information that led to the search.
Ian Bailey, aged 62, was arrested in Dublin after a High Court judge endorsed a third European Arrest Warrant issued by France for the 1996 murder of filmmaker Sophie Toscan du Plantier. The warrant was endorsed by Mr Justice Donald Binchy following changes in Irish law and Bailey's conviction in absentia in France, where a Paris court sentenced him to 25 years. Bailey was taken outside the Criminal Courts of Justice, cautioned, and shown the warrant in English and French. He was remanded on bail, required to post a €15,000 bond, surrender his passport, and remain within the jurisdiction. A full hearing is scheduled for 20 January 2020; Bailey denied any involvement in the murder and described the French proceedings as a farce. The case follows earlier French extradition requests that were dismissed as abuse of process in 2017.
A 26‑year‑old Brazilian named Dogulas Fernades Ferreira was jailed for three years after swallowing more than 60 pellets of cocaine to smuggle the drug into Ireland. Customs officers at Dublin Airport had flagged his travel route – from São Paulo to Dubai to Dublin – as the same used in 36 previous importation cases. Ferreira was flown on the same itinerary and was on the authorities' radar before arrival. He initially claimed to be studying gastronomy and visiting restaurants, later saying he had come to work as a male prostitute. When traces of cocaine were found on his clothing, he admitted swallowing 50 pellets. He was taken to hospital, monitored for two days, and passed around 60 pellets. The drugs weighed about 500 g, worth an estimated €41,000. He pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply on 2 July.
A 26‑year‑old Brazilian mother, Hyonaru Moreno, was sentenced to two and a half years in prison after she was found to have smuggled more than 1.5 kilos of cocaine into Ireland by concealing it inside her body. The drugs were discovered when customs officers at Dublin Airport, who were profiling passengers from Brazil, noticed Moreno's suspicious behaviour. She read a prepared statement about her planned stay in Ireland, which raised further suspicion and led to Gardaí being called. Moreno was taken to Beaumont Hospital, where X‑ray imaging revealed foreign objects in her body, including packages containing €37,000 worth of cocaine. She pleaded guilty to one count of possessing cocaine for sale or supply and one count of importing cocaine at Dublin Airport on 8 June. The court noted she had no prior convictions and described the offence as a "desperate escapade" for financial reward.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Juan Sanchez, aged 38, was convicted of possessing child pornography after five videos were found on a hard drive seized from his home in 2013. Sanchez claimed the material was downloaded automatically while he set his computer to download "ordinary pornography" overnight. Gardaí traced the illicit material to his address and seized a MacBook, phone and hard drive, but analysis was delayed until June of the following year. The videos depicted adult men with boys under 17; it was unclear whether Sanchez viewed them. Sanchez denied any sexual interest in children and stated he had no prior convictions. He pleaded guilty to one count of possession. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a six‑month suspended sentence, citing mitigating factors such as his lack of criminal record, guilty plea and cooperation over six years. The conviction will have consequences for him.
A man has been sentenced to eleven years imprisonment following a hammer attack on a shopkeeper in Dublin in March 2017. John McKeon, aged 31 and with an address in Strokestown, County Longford, was convicted by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of robbery, attempted robbery and assault causing serious harm. He and his cousin targeted Tansey's Newsagent on Fitzmaurice Road, Finglas, where McKeon struck the shopkeeper three times to the head with a claw hammer, causing severe traumatic brain injury. The victim, who remains in recovery, was the sole carer for his blind wife and three children. Judge Patricia Ryan imposed a sentence of twelve-and-a-half years with the final eighteen months suspended. McKeon's cousin, Daryl McKeon, was previously jailed for seven years in connection with the same incident. Daryl McKeon pleaded guilty.
A 25‑year‑old man named Gareth Brophy pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to a lesser charge of helping to facilitate the murder of David Douglas. Douglas, aged 55, was shot six times on 1 July 2016 while taking a meal break at his partner's shop on Bridgefoot Street, Dublin 8. Brophy, who lives at Reuben Walk, Dublin 8, admitted that on that day he participated in activities with the intent to aid a criminal organisation in committing the serious offence of Douglas's murder, contrary to Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006. He pleaded guilty when arraigned and will be sentenced on 13 January 2020. The court heard that Detective Garda Niall Godfrey met Brophy in the Criminal Courts of Justice, explained the charge, and served him a copy of the charge sheet. Seán Gillane SC represented the State, while Michael Bowman SC represented Brophy.
John Fortune, 43, was sentenced to six‑and‑a‑half years in prison for his role in a €1.5 million cannabis trafficking scheme. He agreed to drive a van loaded with nearly 80 kg of cannabis from Carlow to Rathcoole. Fortune had no prior convictions and had built a €50,000 tax debt, defaulted on his mortgage, and was facing repossession of his home. He claimed financial desperation and a foot injury had prevented him from working. Garda surveillance stopped the van, revealing vacuum‑packed cannabis labelled "trip haze", "diesel haze" and "green poison". The drugs were valued at just under €1.5 million. The court noted his limited involvement, financial distress, and mental health issues, and imposed a headline sentence of 13 years, halved to 6.5 years. Fortune received no payment for his role, and he had no prior Garda record. John Fortune pleaded guilty.
Dean Shelley, 29, was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment for careless driving causing the death of 13‑year‑old Lee Henry and failure to stop on the R139, Coolock, on 22 October 2016. The court found Shelley was driving about 80 km/h in a 60 km/h zone and could not see the boy running across the road due to hedging and road layout. Shelley fled the scene, was pursued by Gardaí, abandoned his car and was later found with his wallet and licence. He pleaded guilty and admitted the offence. Judge Karen O'Connor suspended the final ten months of the sentence on strict conditions, including 12 months of probation. The case was aggravated by the speed, the distress to the family and Shelley's leaving the scene, but mitigated by his guilty plea, remorse and prior work record. The sentencing was carried out at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.