In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 25 November 2019, defence counsel Giollaiosa Ó Lideadha argued that surveillance evidence presented by Gardaí in the conspiracy‑to‑murder case against 37‑year‑old Liam Brannigan of Bride Street, Dublin 8, was unreliable and should be excluded. Brannigan, charged with conspiring to murder Gary Hanley between 15 September and 6 November 2017, pleaded not guilty. The defence highlighted that the prosecution had not shown any phone linked to Brannigan was actually used by him, and that surveillance officers had failed to take notes, undermining the integrity of the evidence. The court had previously heard that six vehicles were bugged and that conversations recorded in those vehicles were attributed to Brannigan, Joseph Kelly, Luke Wilson and Alan Wilson based on phone data.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Wayne Keogh, aged 28, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for stabbing his mother, Carol Keogh, on 28 January. The attack, which began as a verbal dispute over a pair of tracksuit bottoms, escalated when Keogh repeatedly stabbed his mother in the back and neck. Carol suffered four stab wounds, a punctured lung and a laceration to her liver, and a knife blade became embedded in her back, requiring surgical removal at Mater Hospital. She remained in hospital for four days and has fully recovered. Keogh, who had been in custody since the incident and has 102 prior convictions, was apprehended after leaving the house. He pleaded guilty to one count of assault causing harm, and the judge noted the seriousness of the assault and considered a psychological report in sentencing.
Sean Kearns, 33, was given a three‑year suspended sentence and ordered to pay €10,000 to Marcelo Valencia after he deliberately drove through Valencia on Drimnagh Road, Crumlin, on 27 August 2014. CCTV showed Kearns driving straight at the cyclist, who was cycling along the road when a car passed close to him. Kearns, who had previously admitted to driving the car, denied that he knocked Valencia down. Valencia suffered minor injuries and has since fully recovered. Kearns pleaded guilty to endangerment. The judge, Martin Nolan, described Kearns as "intemperate and reckless" and noted mitigating factors such as his good work history and efforts to improve. The sentence was suspended on conditions including payment of the €10,000 within two years. The case was heard in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 25 November 2019, Noel Lenihan, a 67‑year‑old martial arts instructor from Galway, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment for the manslaughter of Christopher McGrath, aged 38. The court found that Lenihan and McGrath had a long‑standing, "intimate" and "dysfunctional" relationship, complicated by alcohol and drug use. McGrath had been staying at Lenihan's home and, on the night of 12 March 2017, entered the house after scaling a wall and threatening Lenihan. A struggle ensued; Lenihan stabbed McGrath with a steak knife, claiming self‑defence. Pathology revealed five knife wounds, including a fatal heart wound. Lenihan pleaded guilty to manslaughter, and the judge noted his remorse, guilty plea, and lack of prior convictions as mitigating factors, reducing the headline sentence from seven to four years, back‑dated to 1 November 2019.
Terence Gavin, 27, was given a two‑year suspended sentence after pleading guilty to stealing €320 from taxi driver Imram Shahzad on 4 August 2016. Gavin was driven home by Shahzad that night and was asked to pay his fare before a group of teenage boys attacked the driver. While the assault was underway, Gavin took the driver's wallet and fled. CCTV footage identified him at the pub where Shahzad had been picked up. The teenagers were never identified. Gavin, a flooring contractor, paid €5,620 to Shahzad as a token of remorse and to cover the stolen money and windscreen damage. He has 12 prior convictions, including theft, traffic offences and threatening to cause serious harm. The judge, Martin Nolan, sentenced Gavin on the theft charge, not the assault, and suspended the sentence on conditions including restitution to Shahzad.
Richard Bourke, aged 36, was sentenced to eight years in prison for arson after setting fire to the front door of Detective Garda John Griffin's house in Finglas. The incident occurred on 26 February 2019, when Bourke first lit a small flame and then threw petrol, creating a fireball that forced the Griffins to call 999. The attack caused smoke damage to the hall and required the front door to be replaced. Bourke pleaded guilty to two counts of arson at two Finglas locations and to stealing petrol from a Circle K station. He also admitted setting fire to a derelict building near the airport. The court noted premeditation, the occupied nature of the house, and Bourke's history of bipolar disorder and drug abuse. The sentence was 11 years with the final three years suspended, resulting in an eight‑year custodial term. The Griffins suffered an "indelible scar" and increased security measures following the attack.
In November 2019, Brian Johnston, a 32‑year‑old with 205 prior convictions, was jailed for 15 months after making a hoax 999 call claiming a shooting at a pub on Cappagh Road, Finglas. The call diverted Gardaí, an armed support unit, two fire brigade vehicles and an ambulance from an attempt to remove him from his ex‑partner's home. Johnston had been released from prison shortly before the incident and was homeless, living in a car that was seized. He pleaded guilty to the false report, to stealing a car battery, to producing a hammer while appearing to commit an offence, and to driving without a licence or insurance. Judge Martin Nolan described the act as a "reprehensible crime of desperation" and imposed concurrent sentences totalling 15 months. The case involved the Gardaí's attempt to breach the property, the diversion caused by the hoax call, and the subsequent arrest of Johnston at 4 a.m.
A 41‑year‑old serial burglar, Steffan Pavlov, was sentenced to 14 months in jail for a February 20 theft of two Acer tablets from the kitchen of Dublin's Shelbourne hotel. The tablets, worth €500, were taken by Pavlov, who had previously entered the hotel around 8 pm and removed them from a wall in the kitchen store room before anyone noticed. CCTV footage captured the incident, leading to Pavlov's arrest at his home after he had initially tried to block his front door with a wardrobe. Pavlov pleaded guilty to one count of trespass and theft and has 86 prior convictions, mainly for burglary, theft and handling stolen property. Judge Martin Nolan, who questioned whether Pavlov was a member of the "burglar party," noted the high number of his previous convictions and described the burglary as "pretty inoffensive." The sentence was back‑dated to March, when Pavlov first entered custody.
Keith Murtagh, 35, of Mariner's Port, Sheriff Street, Dublin, was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment for armed robbery of the Roebuck post office on 5 January 2016. He had pleaded not guilty to robbery, possession of a shotgun and possession of a shotgun cartridge. A 10‑day trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court ended with unanimous guilty verdicts on all charges. Judge Melanie Greally noted the pre‑meditated nature of the offence, the discharge of a firearm, and Murtagh's prior conviction for a similar offence. She credited him for voluntarily meeting Gardaí, providing a DNA sample, his difficult childhood, his charitable activities and his efforts to improve himself in prison. The sentence was back‑dated to his first custody date in November 2017. The robbery involved two men, one armed with a handgun and one with a shotgun, who stole €2,754 from the post office and €420 from a fine‑food shop on the premises.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 22 November 2019, evidence was presented that a phone attributed to Liam Brannigan, a 37‑year‑old accused of conspiring to murder Gary Hanley, was used to contact Kinahan cartel gunmen eight times on the day of Brannigan's arrest. The court heard that Brannigan's phone also communicated with Alan Wilson seven times that same night. Brannigan, who pleaded not guilty, was arrested on 6 November 2017 near Hanley's home, where police seized a Beretta. The prosecution claimed Brannigan had thrown the phone into church grounds before his arrest, a claim contested by his defence. The case also involved three other men—Joseph Kelly, Luke Wilson and Alan Wilson—who had previously pleaded guilty to the same conspiracy and received sentences ranging from six to twelve years for murder conspiracy and weapons offences. The trial remains ongoing.
Paul Wells Junior (33) was found guilty at the Central Criminal Court of impeding the prosecution of his father, Paul Wells Senior (51), by disposing of a blood-stained chainsaw. The court heard the weapon had a piece of "brown meat" embedded in its motor. Wells Junior had pleaded not guilty to disposing of the chainsaw motor between January 19 and 20, 2016, in Co Kildare, and not guilty to disposing of the blade and chain on January 20, 2016. A jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict on both counts after three hours and 55 minutes of deliberation. The judge directed a probation report and remanded Wells Junior on continuing bail until February 10, when his sentence hearing will take place. This follows the life sentence handed to Wells Senior last year for the murder of Kenneth O'Brien at his home in Finglas on January 15 or 16, 2016. Ms Justice Carmel Stewart extended sympathies to the O'Brien family, noting they had to listen to harrowing details again during this second trial. The matter was adjourned for sentencing.
In November 2019 the Central Criminal Court struck out contempt of court proceedings against Facebook Ireland Limited and Twitter International Company that had been brought over the sharing of the identities of the two 15‑year‑old boys who murdered schoolgirl Ana Kriegel. The injunction, originally imposed by Mr Justice Michael White on 19 June 2019 and extended by Mr Justice Paul McDermott on 26 July 2019, required the platforms to remove any photographs or material identifying the boys. The court noted that the injunction had been discharged and the proceedings struck out after the boys' sentencing on 5 November 2019, with the platforms having cooperated in removing offending material and halting its proliferation online. The court also confirmed that any breach of the injunction would constitute contempt of court and a criminal offence under the Children Act 2001.
The Special Criminal Court heard audio evidence regarding the alleged conspiracy to murder Gary Hanley between September 15th and November 6th, 2017. Liam Brannigan, 37, of Bride Street, Dublin 8, is charged with this offence and has pleaded not guilty. The court examined a recording from a bugged Volkswagen caddy on November 6th, 2017, where unidentified men discussed a Beretta handgun with a silencer and the target. One man loaded the clip, stating, "we're laughing with this," before armed gardai intercepted the vehicle. Surveillance evidence linked the vehicle to Alan Wilson and Joseph Kelly, who were arrested that night along with Luke Wilson. Brannigan was also arrested. The prosecution presented a phone attributed to Brannigan, allegedly discarded before his arrest, containing contacts for Wilson and Kelly. While Luke Wilson, Joseph Kelly, and Alan Wilson have previously pleaded guilty to the plot and been jailed, Brannigan's trial continues. The matter is currently at the sentence stage for the co-accused, but Brannigan's case remains ongoing with no finalisation recorded for him.
A Detective Chief Superintendent has given evidence at the Special Criminal Court regarding two men charged in connection with the fatal shooting of Peter Butterly in March 2013. The victim, aged 35, was killed in a car park at Gormanston, Co Meath. Laurence Murphy, aged 62, of Bettystown, Co Meath, and Ray Kennedy, aged 40, of Blanchardstown, Dublin, have pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army. Mr Kennedy faces an additional charge of perverting the course of justice. Detective Chief Superintendent Anthony Howard, head of the Special Detective Unit, told the three-judge court of his belief that both men were members of the IRA. He declined to disclose the material upon which his belief rested, citing security concerns and the protection of life and property. Evidence was also heard of items recovered from the scene. Four men have previously received life sentences for Mr Butterly's murder, with two others also imprisoned for roles in the killing.
Timothy Milner, a 31-year-old Malawian refugee residing in Waterford, has been sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for his involvement in an invoice redirection fraud. The defendant pleaded guilty to the charge of possession of €20,448, knowing or being reckless as to whether it was the proceeds of criminal conduct, on August 21, 2017. Prosecution evidence indicated that a Limerick company was defrauded when it transferred funds to Milner's bank account following a fraudulent email. While there was no suggestion Milner sent the redirecting email, he admitted to withdrawing the cash to hand over to third parties in exchange for a promised €500. Judge Martin Nolan noted that the victim company suffered a financial loss, making the matter serious. However, in mitigation, the court considered Milner's guilty plea, his cooperation, his lack of previous convictions, and his status as a refugee who arrived in Ireland in 2013. The judge found that Milner was approached by others who had a scheme and required a bank account. Consequently, the court imposed a two-year suspended sentence, allowing the defendant to avoid immediate custody.
In a 2019 Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Declan Connolly, 36, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment for robbery, with the final two and a half years suspended. Connolly, the getaway driver, pleaded guilty to robbing a 73‑year‑old woman outside her Templeogue home on 7 October 2016 after she had won €23,000 at the Fitzwilliam Casino. Brian English, 27, who monitored the woman in the casino and passed information to Connolly, received a three‑year suspended sentence for theft. English had no prior convictions. The court noted that CCTV footage showed English watching the victim and that communication between the two men's phones linked them to the crime. Both men pleaded guilty; Connolly expressed remorse, while English's plea was accepted as a theft charge. The court ordered English to hand over €6,500 to the victim. The actual mugger had not yet been brought before the courts.
Patrick Rogers, aged 33, was sentenced to ten months' imprisonment for two counts of possession of child pornography, one in November 2015 and another in June 2016, after gardaí discovered 41 images and a video on his family home. He also pleaded guilty to making threats to kill or seriously harm his former girlfriend, Heather Bartlett, between January and March 2016. A three‑year suspended sentence was imposed for the threats, conditional on Rogers not contacting Bartlett or her family again. The court noted Rogers' guilty pleas, cooperation and remorse, and his history of drinking problems and family support. Rogers is now registered as a sex offender. The sentencing took place at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, where Judge Martin Nolan delivered the judgment.
Ross Hutch, 27, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to robbing €200 from Boles Pharmacy in Drumcondra on 12 April 2019. He entered the shop after noon, wearing an orange jacket and a bicycle saddle, and threatened staff member Catherine Raymond, 70, to hand over cash. Raymond fled, a customer protected her, and Hutch took money from the till. Staff left through a side entrance, activated the alarm, and a customer disarmed Hutch. Hutch was later stopped by Gardaí on his bike, arrested that night, and DNA matched his jacket. He had 73 prior convictions, including firearms possession, endangerment and theft. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to two‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment, backdated to the robbery date, citing his early plea, remorse, and difficult family history.
The Special Criminal Court heard evidence in the ongoing trial of Liam Brannigan, who is charged with conspiring to murder Gary Hanley between September 15th and November 6th, 2017. Brannigan has pleaded not guilty. The court examined audio from a secret listening device placed on a Volkswagen caddy on November 3rd, 2017, during an investigation into the Kinahan cartel. Surveillance officers previously identified Joseph Kelly driving the vehicle and later walking with Alan Wilson. Both Kelly and Wilson, along with Luke Wilson, have already pleaded guilty to conspiring to murder Mr. Hanley and have been jailed. The recording captured two men discussing plans to purchase vodka, Red Bull, cocaine, and Viagra. One man complained that cocaine was negating the effect of the Viagra and making him paranoid. The court also heard testimony regarding a previous incident where a man was hospitalized after a binge involving whiskey and cocaine. Luke Wilson and Joseph Kelly were arrested on November 6th, 2017, when the vehicle was stopped in Dublin 3, leading to the seizure of a 9mm Beretta pistol. The trial continues.
Shane McKeever, aged 28, stole Thomas Stephens' car while Stephens was disposing of recycling. McKeever drove the vehicle, pinned Stephens against a wall, and crushed his ankle against a curb. After reversing, McKeever knocked Stephens to the ground. Garda Mark Walsh assisted and later found McKeever involved in a collision with a recycling truck on the M50, where the stolen car was propelled across traffic and overturned. McKeever was arrested after refusing a drug test and pleaded guilty to endangerment, car theft, failure to provide a sample and driving without insurance. He had 86 prior convictions and had been disqualified from driving two weeks earlier. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to six years' disqualification and four and a half years' imprisonment, citing remorse and steps taken to address his addiction. The court considered CCTV footage and victim impact reports, noting Stephens' ongoing injury and reduced income. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
The Special Criminal Court heard evidence in the ongoing trial of Laurence Murphy and Ray Kennedy, who have pleaded not guilty to IRA membership charges dated March 6, 2013, and April 2010. Mr. Kennedy also faces a charge of perverting the course of justice by destroying a SIM card. Prosecution witnesses described a meeting at Bewleys Hotel, Dublin Airport, on May 22, 2010, where Mr. Murphy was observed with Marian Price, Alan Ryan, and Anthony Ryan. The group entered a private function room, though the Ryans did not. Other testimony detailed Mr. Kennedy's presence at a 2011 meeting in Mulhuddert and at a 2012 bail hearing. The court also heard about a 2012 funeral for Alan Ryan, where three shots were fired over the coffin. While four men have already received life sentences for the murder of Peter Butterly, and Michael McDermott and Frank Murphy have been jailed for their roles in the killing, the current proceedings against Murphy and Kennedy remain at the trial stage. The matter was adjourned and continues before Justice Tara Burns, Judge Sarah Berkeley, and Judge Michael Walsh.
A man charged in connection with the 2013 murder of dissident republican Peter Butterly was observed on multiple occasions with slain Real IRA leader Alan Ryan, the Special Criminal Court heard. Laurence Murphy, aged 62, of Bettystown, Co Meath and Ray Kennedy, aged 40, of Blanchardstown, Dublin have pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the IRA on 6 March 2013. Mr Kennedy faces an additional charge of perverting the course of justice. Detective gardaí gave evidence they saw Mr Ryan and Mr Kennedy together in Donaghmede, Dublin on separate occasions in 2011 and 2012. The court heard garda interviews wherein Mr Kennedy stated he and Mr Butterly had arranged to meet at the Huntsman Inn, Gormanston, Co Meath at 2.30pm on the day of the shooting. Mr Murphy was interviewed and denied IRA membership. Four men have already received life sentences following convictions for Mr Butterly's murder, with two others imprisoned for roles in the killing. The trial before Ms Justice Tara Burns continues.
The High Court heard a damages claim by Daniel Lannon against the Minister for Social Protection, alleging a breach of privacy and data protection rights in 2014. Lannon claims a department official provided his Drogheda address to a private investigator hired by solicitors acting for AIB, enabling the bank to serve legal proceedings at that location. He seeks damages, aggravated damages, and declarations that the department breached its duty of care. The department opposes the claim, arguing it is not liable for the negligent actions of its former staff member, Ms Caitriona Bracken, who was dismissed in 2017. The department also contends the proceedings constitute an abuse of process, noting Lannon previously discontinued a similar action. Ms Bracken, added as a third party, claimed releasing data was common practice, but the department stated it was no longer seeking relief against her, allowing her to be let out of the case. Lannon admitted he failed to inform AIB of his address change as required by his mortgage terms. The court noted that in October 2016, the private investigator Michael Ryan and his company Glen Collection Investments Limited pleaded guilty to certain data breaches and were fined €7,500 by the district court. The hearing continues.
Carmen Egan, a 55-year-old street trader from Mulhuddart, Dublin, was sentenced to 15 months imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Egan pleaded guilty to the possession of unstamped cigarettes and tobacco at her address on December 1, 2018. Prosecution evidence indicated that Garda Colm Ryan discovered unstamped cigarette packs near the ILAC Shopping Centre, leading to a search of Egan's home where approximately 58,000 cigarettes and 51 pouches of tobacco were found. The state's loss in excise duty and VAT was calculated at €30,192.33, and cash totaling €15,085, $818, and 870 Turkish Lira was also seized. Egan has 44 previous convictions, including 21 for possession of unstamped tobacco products. Defense counsel Cathal McGreal BL highlighted Egan's lifelong work as a Moore Street trader, her recurring life-threatening illness, and her role in caring for a newborn grandchild. Judge Martin Nolan noted the case was aggravated by Egan's status as a recidivist for these specific offences. Following the guilty plea, the judge imposed a custodial sentence of 15 months imprisonment.
Patrick Morgan, 33, of Kilbarron Avenue, Kilmore, Dublin, was found in Mountjoy Prison on 6 April 2016 with Kinder Surprise Eggs that contained cannabis and heroin. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of cannabis and heroin for sale or supply. Garda Daniel Keaney reported that Morgan was under the influence of an intoxicant when he was searched, and that the search revealed a number of Kinder Surprise Eggs, one of which burst open to reveal cannabis, and others that had been stored internally but were removed. The eggs contained €468 of heroin and €656 of cannabis. Morgan is already serving a five‑year sentence for dangerous driving that caused the death of jogger Karl Robertson in 2017, with a scheduled release in February 2022.
In a 2019 case, Mark Halligan, aged 45, pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to threatening to kill or seriously harm a parish priest, Father Peter Byrne, at a church in Balally, Dundrum, on 11 September 2016. Halligan, who suffers from a religious persecution disorder—a form of schizophrenia—followed the priest into the sacristy with a large knife and warned that he would cut the priest's fingers off. A parishioner witnessed the threat and called the Gardaí, who arrested Halligan on the scene. He has 17 prior convictions, including theft, drug misuse, criminal damage, public order offences and road traffic offences. The judge accepted that Halligan was delusional at the time and, after confirming he had received suitable treatment and had not repeated such behaviour, imposed a three‑year prison sentence, fully suspended on the condition that he keep the peace, behave well for three years and be supervised by the Probation Service for 18 months.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, audio from a covert listening device in a white Volkswagen caddy van revealed two men, Luke Wilson and Joseph Kelly, discussing a planned murder of Gary Hanley. The clip, recorded on 2 November 2017, shows the men frustrated by navigation issues and planning how to approach Hanley's home, including the possibility of shooting a woman and child if they obstructed them. One man repeatedly stated, "Baby or no baby, I don't give a fuck," and expressed willingness to shoot police if present. The court heard that the men had been arrested on 6 November 2017, with a 9mm Beretta pistol seized. The accused, Liam Brannigan, pleaded not guilty, while Wilson, Kelly and Alan Wilson had already pleaded guilty and been jailed for the conspiracy. The hearing focused on the audio evidence and the men's intent to carry out the attack.
In the Special Criminal Court, the prosecution presented evidence regarding the March 6, 2013, shooting death of Peter Butterly at the Huntsman Inn, Gormanston, Co Meath. Laurence Murphy and Ray Kennedy, both accused of IRA membership on that date, have pleaded not guilty. Mr Kennedy is additionally charged with perverting the course of justice by destroying a SIM card. Prosecutors read witness statements from Mr Kennedy, who alleged he met Mr Butterly to discuss false car logbooks and claimed he destroyed his phone's SIM card in panic when a garda requested the device. Mr Kennedy denied IRA membership, stating he attended marches with slain Real IRA leader Alan Ryan because he was "nosy." He also denied luring Mr Butterly to the scene. The court heard that Mr Kennedy knew David Dodrill, who was convicted of IRA membership in April 2010, and acknowledged knowing Dermot Gannon, jailed for IRA membership in 2001. The matter is at the sentence stage, with the accused maintaining their not guilty pleas to the alleged offences.
Keith Brady, 32, of Cartron Estate, Sligo, was found guilty of murdering musician Matt Kivlehan after three trials. The jury at the Central Criminal Court returned a guilty verdict in one hour and 25 minutes following a two-week trial. Brady had previously denied the murder, which occurred on August 2 or 3, 2015, at Kivlehan's home on Holborn Street. His plea of guilty to manslaughter was rejected by the Director of Public Prosecutions. The court heard that Kivlehan, who was 60 and suffering from ill-health and intoxication, was stabbed twice in the neck. Evidence indicated the scene was staged to resemble suicide, with a knife placed on the victim's chest, while Brady allegedly ordered heroin to be brought to the apartment. Mr Justice Alex Owens sentenced Brady to the mandatory term of life imprisonment, backdated to November 24, 2016, when he first entered custody. In a separate matter, Janice Brady, 29, pleaded guilty to impeding the apprehension or prosecution of her brother, knowing or believing he was guilty of a killing. The victim's brother, Christopher Kivlehan, stated that the family remains appalled by the death and that stress contributed to the death of another brother, Padraic. The judge thanked the jury and exempted them from further service for five years.
In a case heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Daniel Smyth, aged 28, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after an incident on a Dublin bus on 1 July 2018. While a Dublin Fire Brigade member, Paul Bateman, was attending to Smyth, who had passed out on the bus, Smyth attacked Bateman once he had helped him to his feet. Smyth struck Bateman in the face, knocking out his two front teeth. Smyth later returned to the scene and attempted a second attack. He claimed he had no memory of the assault, citing detox from benzodiazepines and a prohibition on alcohol. Smyth had 24 prior convictions and was homeless at the time. Judge Cormac Quinn sentenced him to 20 months' imprisonment, suspending the final 10 months on strict conditions.
In Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Kaine Ugwu, a 25‑year‑old Nigerian learner driver, received a suspended 12‑month sentence for the fatal collision that killed 34‑year‑old Brazilian food‑delivery motorcyclist Fernando Coimbra de Almeida Morato on North Circular Road on 8 December 2017. Ugwu pleaded guilty to careless driving, had no prior convictions, and was not intoxicated or speeding. He was ordered to pay €10,000 to Morato's fiancée and mother, and an additional €20,000 to the family within six months. Judge Elma Sheahan suspended the sentence on conditions including payment of the sums, a six‑year driving ban, and a stay in the country until the payment is confirmed. Ugwu's visa has since expired, and the judge noted this could affect his future. The court also heard the tragic impact on Morato's fiancée, who expressed profound loss and emptiness.
In the Special Criminal Court, Eoin Morrissey (20) was sentenced for two counts of impeding the apprehension or prosecution of the killers of Aidan O'Driscoll. Having pleaded guilty, Morrissey received two two-year suspended sentences on each count. Mr Justice Hunt, sitting with Judges Gerard Griffin and Ann Ryan, cited Morrissey's age, positive probation report, progress since 2016, and willingness to perform community service as mitigating factors. The court ordered him to enter a €100 bond. The judge warned that this was a unique opportunity and that further offending would likely result in custody. Earlier in April, co-accused Colin Casey (32) and Daniel Hegarty (24) were convicted on four counts of impeding the apprehension or prosecution of O'Driscoll's killers. Both pleaded guilty. Casey was sentenced to four years and six months in prison, while Hegarty was jailed for four years. The court noted that Casey and Hegarty provided substantial assistance, including burning vehicles and burying evidence, whereas Morrissey's involvement was less proximate, limited to providing a fire-lighter and transport after the events. The State acknowledged it could not prove the defendants knew a murder was planned. O'Driscoll, a Real IRA figure, was shot in Cork in December 2016.
A 19‑year‑old, Alexander Whelan, pleaded guilty to manslaughter for the death of 56‑year‑old Bruno Rolandi in a domestic incident at Green Road, Ballymoran, Edenderry, Offaly, on 19 November 2017. Whelan, who lived on Green Road, Lumville, Edenderry, was charged with murder but pleaded guilty to manslaughter at the Central Criminal Court. The prosecution accepted the plea. Defence counsel noted Whelan was 18 at the time of the incident. Judge Michael White ordered a probation report and remanded him on continuing bail until 3 February 2020 for sentencing.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, a 17‑year‑old boy was sentenced to 18 months in jail for defilement of a 14‑year‑old girl. The accused, now 19, had previously claimed he believed "consent was consent" and was unaware that a person under 17 could not consent. He pleaded guilty to the offence committed in May 2018 at a Dublin location while in state care. The judge, Martin Nolan, noted the boy's cooperation, lack of prior convictions, and difficult upbringing, but also that the girl's age made the offence aggravating. He imposed a three‑year sentence, suspending the final 18 months. The prosecution and defence both highlighted the boy's lack of knowledge of the age of consent and his remorse, but the court upheld the custodial sentence. The case remains at the sentencing stage.
A 28‑year‑old man from Donnybrook, Dublin, pleaded guilty to possession and distribution of child pornography in July and August 2014. Gardaí traced an email address linked to a child‑pornography website to his home, seized his computer, and found 48 images and 340 videos, 45 images and 251 videos falling into the most serious category. He had no prior convictions and had been cooperative, providing passwords and access codes. Over the five years since the offence he attended a psychologist and received counselling. The court, noting the case's exceptional circumstances and his low risk of re‑offending, imposed a three‑year sentence suspended in full, with no custodial term. The judge considered the distribution to be at the lower end of seriousness and allowed a non‑custodial outcome. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
A 23-year-old man from Carrick-on-Shannon, County Leitrim, has been sentenced to 40 months imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm. John Dowling pleaded guilty to the offence, which occurred on 19 August 2017 on Drynam Road, Swords. The incident took place after Dowling left a public house where he had been celebrating his 21st birthday. While driving, he was marginally over the drink-driving limit, exceeded the speed limit whilst overtaking another vehicle, and lost control of his car after striking the kerb. The vehicle collided with a tree and wall. His passenger, Mark Kelly, sustained catastrophic injuries and remains in a vegetative state. Judge Martin Nolan noted the case was tragic and that Mr Kelly's family had been devastated. The judge imposed the sentence having considered aggravating factors including alcohol consumption, excessive speed, and lack of vehicle insurance, alongside mitigating factors including Dowling's guilty plea and demonstrated remorse.
The Special Criminal Court heard evidence in the ongoing trial of Liam Brannigan, who is charged with conspiring to murder Gary Hanley between September 15th and November 6th, 2017. Brannigan has pleaded not guilty. The prosecution presented secret recordings from vehicles bugged during a Garda investigation into the Kinahan Organised Crime Gang. Audio clips alleged to involve Brannigan discussed planning a killing, including references to using a gun and waiting for a target. The court also heard testimony regarding surveillance of Brannigan in a Renault Laguna and a Volkswagen Caddy. Separately, Luke Wilson, Joseph Kelly, and Alan Wilson have already pleaded guilty to conspiring to murder Mr Hanley and have been jailed. The trial continues.
A 32‑year‑old mother, Suzanne O'Rourke, pleaded guilty to assaulting a neighbour outside the Timbermills apartment complex on 25 September 2018. She repeatedly punched the woman and then kicked her in the stomach. O'Rourke claimed the attack was triggered by a perceived slight to herself and her child, saying the other mother had spoken to a group of children, including her own, in a way that upset her. She told Gardai the victim deserved the assault and that she had not done half of what she wanted to do. The court noted she had no prior convictions and that she was the sole carer of a child. Judge Martin Nolan described the attack as "pretty vicious" and "without a reasonable reason." He imposed a 20‑month custodial sentence but suspended it on the condition that O'Rourke pay €3,500 as a token of remorse within 18 months, citing the impact imprisonment would have on her child.
Christopher Ward, aged 63, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of 102 images and 29 videos of child pornography that were stored on electronic devices in his family home on Cashel Road, Crumlin, Dublin. Gardaí seized two hard drives and five CDs during a search conducted under a warrant. The material depicted boys and girls aged between four and 14 years old being sexually abused by adult males, and showed girls with exposed genitals. Ward had no prior convictions and was living with his mother at the time of the offences, who is now deceased. The court considered mitigating factors such as Ward's guilty plea, cooperation, lack of previous convictions, ill health, low risk of re‑offending, and the antiquity of the offences. Judge Patricia Ryan imposed a three‑year imprisonment sentence, fully suspended for three years on strict conditions, including one year of supervision by the Probation Service.
Graham Corbally, aged 44, was convicted by a jury in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 22 October 2019 after a seven‑day trial for unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition. The offence occurred on 18 January 2017 at Johnstown Gardens, Finglas, when Gardaí discovered Corbally in possession of an unloaded 22‑gauge Winchester sawn‑off shotgun and a white rubber glove containing three 12‑gauge shotgun cartridges. Corbally fled from Gardaí, throwing the package over garden walls and climbing into multiple rear gardens before being apprehended. Forensic DNA matched the firearm and glove to Corbally; fingerprints yielded no evidence. He had 42 prior convictions, including robbery, false imprisonment, drug possession and knife possession. Corbally pleaded not guilty, was sentenced to five and a half years, with the final six months suspended and the sentence back‑dated to 22 October 2019. He was acquitted of an alleged threat‑to‑kill charge.
A 49-year-old man from Co Wicklow was sentenced to seven years in prison after being convicted by a jury at the Central Criminal Court of four counts of rape and two counts of indecent assault. The offences, which occurred between 1987 and 1989, involved the sexual abuse of a child who was approximately nine years old at the time. The defendant had pleaded not guilty to all charges. Mr Justice Michael White set a headline sentence of 11 years but reduced it to seven, citing the man's constructive life since the offending. The court noted the victim's exceptional courage, as she gave evidence six times across multiple trials, several of which collapsed due to witness unavailability or document issues before the final conviction in March. The judge ruled that an existing order preventing the publication of the victim's and the offender's names would remain in place. The victim, now a married mother, stated she came forward in 2013 to right a terrible wrong and finally achieved justice and closure. Defence counsel highlighted the defendant's good character and the impact a custodial sentence would have on his son with special needs.
Brendan Doolin, 37, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended, for harassing six female journalists and writers through hundreds of abusive online messages between 2012 and 2018. The court noted that Doolin had left his home only twice in the previous 17 years and described him as an "internet troll." He pleaded guilty and expressed remorse, factors that mitigated the sentence. The judge imposed strict conditions, including two years of probation, a lifetime prohibition on contacting the six victims, and a maximum seven‑year sentence for any breach. Doolin used multiple email addresses and a monitoring program to send the messages, which included insults, threats, and personal images. The victims reported feeling stalked and psychologically harmed, and the court highlighted the severity of the online harassment. The case underscored the court's view that such conduct constitutes serious criminal behaviour.
In a High Court decision on 14 November 2019, Mr Justice Michael White upheld an order that kept the names of a convicted child rapist and his victim anonymous, despite the victim's request to waive her anonymity. The judge explained that the order had been made at the request of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) during the trial and that the court had no mandate to alter it after the trial concluded. The DPP later applied on the victim's behalf to waive her anonymity, but the defence argued that no legal basis exists for a victim to do so. Mr Justice White noted that while a victim may disclose the offender's identity to third parties, publishing or broadcasting such information remains a criminal offence under the relevant Act.
Lorcan Ross, 25, of Ballyfermot, was sentenced to four and a half years' imprisonment and a six‑year driving disqualification after pleading guilty to endangerment, dangerous driving and driving without a licence and insurance. The offence involved a 30‑minute high‑speed pursuit through Ballyfermot, during which Ross drove in the middle of the road, ran red lights, performed hand‑brake turns and turned corners without regard for other vehicles. Vehicles had to mount footpaths and pedestrians had to move to avoid being struck. No injuries were reported and no victims were identified. Ross had 78 prior convictions, including 30 for road traffic offences. He voluntarily stopped the vehicle, did not resist arrest and was not aware of any injuries caused. The judge noted Ross's extensive offending history and the seriousness of his endangerment, leading to the custodial sentence.
Glenn Jordan, a 42‑year‑old sales executive, stole more than €33,000 worth of iPads from MJ Flood, claiming they were ordered by the IT department at Beaumont Hospital. He created two fake orders, intercepted the delivery, took the devices and sold them. Jordan later admitted a gambling addiction and that he was out of his depth. He has since repaid the company. In Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, he pleaded guilty to three counts of theft between March and May 2017. Judge Martin Nolan adjourned the case to February next year, ordering a probation report to assess Jordan's suitability for community service rather than an immediate custodial sentence. The court noted Jordan had no prior convictions and had been employed by MJ Flood since November 2016, with his employment terminated in May 2017 due to performance issues. The prosecution highlighted that Jordan had admitted his wrongdoing and reimbursed the company.
In the Special Criminal Court, the prosecution presented an audio clip from a listening device secretly placed in a Nissan Primastar van, showing Joseph Kelly and Alan Wilson discussing a planned murder of Gary Hanley. The men talked about routes to Fairview, traffic, and how to approach Hanley, who walks to the gym at 5 pm. They also considered how to escape the area and how to handle the van after the act. Liam Brannigan, 37, is charged with conspiring to murder Hanley and has pleaded not guilty. Three other men—Luke Wilson, Joseph Kelly and Alan Wilson—have already pleaded guilty to the conspiracy and have been jailed. The trial continues with the court hearing further evidence from surveillance officers who observed Brannigan driving the van in various locations in September and October 2017. The case remains an ongoing criminal proceeding.
A man has been sentenced to twelve years imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court following his conviction on charges of rape, oral rape, and sexual assault. Richard Moloney, aged 41, of Tullaskeagh Drive, Roscrea, County Tipperary, was found guilty of offences against his then 16-year-old foster daughter at their home on 16 July 2016. The jury's verdict followed trial in July this year. Mr Justice Alex Owens imposed the sentence this morning, noting Moloney's breach of trust as a foster parent and his denial of wrongdoing throughout proceedings. The judge described the crimes' impact on the victim as profoundly destructive. A four-year post-release supervision order was also imposed, with conditions including distance from the victim and engagement in alcohol treatment. Moloney carries ten previous convictions for assault and public order matters. The victim, who has waived anonymity, expressed satisfaction with the sentencing outside court.
Patricia Rea Suarez, a 40‑year‑old Bolivian mother, was jailed for one year after swallowing 41 pellets of cocaine, weighing more than 1.3 kg, before boarding a flight from São Paulo to Dublin via Lisbon. She was arrested at Dublin Airport on 22 May and spent five days in hospital, where doctors feared the pellets might burst inside her. Suarez pleaded guilty to possessing drugs for sale or supply and to importing illegal drugs. Judge Martin Nolan accepted that she ingested the drugs in exchange for €2,000 cash, citing her poverty and desperation. He noted her remorse, cooperation with Gardaí, lack of prior convictions, and that she would not return to Ireland after release. The one‑year sentence was back‑dated to the day she entered custody, with the judge suggesting she would be released shortly after Christmas.
Two Leitrim men were convicted by a jury at the Central Criminal Court following an 11-day trial. The first accused was found guilty of rape, while the second accused was found guilty of oral rape by majority verdict. The jury failed to reach an agreement on the count of rape against the second man. Both defendants had pleaded not guilty to the charges, which alleged they raped a woman in a flat in 2017 after she blacked out at a party. The prosecution alleged the complainant was vulnerable and unable to consent, while the defense maintained she was aware and consented. Ms Justice Eileen Creedon rejected defense submissions for bail, stating the men had been found guilty of very serious charges and their remand status must change. She remanded both men into custody for a sentence hearing scheduled for January 17. The men cannot be named to protect the complainant's anonymity. The jury's deliberations lasted just over six hours, with the foreman initially reporting a deadlock before the judge allowed a majority verdict.
In the Special Criminal Court, a surveillance garda told a barrister that it was "disgusting" to suggest their evidence was unreliable. The case concerns Liam Brannigan (37) of Bride Street, Dublin 8, charged with conspiracy to murder Gary Hanley between 15 September and 6 November 2017. Brannigan pleaded not guilty. The court heard that Brannigan was arrested minutes after a loaded semi‑automatic pistol was seized during the arrest of two men near Hanley's home on 6 November 2017. Twenty surveillance officers gave evidence about observations of Brannigan and three men who had pleaded guilty to the plot and were jailed – Luke Wilson (24), Joseph Kelly (35) and Alan Wilson (39). The garda testified that on 6 October 2017 he saw Brannigan in the front passenger seat of a black Renault Laguna, but the barrister questioned the reliability of the identification and the absence of notes.