A 23‑year‑old substitute teacher pleaded guilty to two counts of defilement for having sex with a 16‑year‑old pupil. The offences occurred in early 2018 at Gormanston Beach and the Carlton Hotel, after the teacher had bought the boy gifts on his birthday. She waited until his 16th birthday, believing that was the legal age of consent, and then engaged in sexual activity in her car and at the hotel. Judge Martin Nolan accepted her belief but found her reckless and that, as a teacher, she should have known the law. He sentenced her to three years' imprisonment, suspending the final two years on the condition of good behaviour for two years after release. The judge noted her early guilty plea, cooperation and lack of prior convictions as mitigating factors. The teacher's contract was terminated and she is no longer employed in education. The boy suffered anxiety and depression as a result of the abuse.
The Special Criminal Court heard evidence in the trial of Liam Brannigan (37), of Bride Street, Dublin 8, who is charged with conspiring to murder Gary Hanley between September 15th and November 6th, 2017. Mr Brannigan has pleaded not guilty. Defence counsel suggested to Sergeant David J Campbell of the Armed Support Unit that unnecessary force was used during Mr Brannigan's arrest at Hanover Court, Dublin 8, on November 6th, 2017. The sergeant acknowledged CCTV footage showed officers on top of the accused after he had raised his hands and dropped to all fours, though he stated they were effecting an arrest. Detective Garda Val Russell testified that he arrested Mr Brannigan after hearing a thud and shouting commands, noting the accused fully cooperated. The court previously heard that Luke Wilson (24) and Joseph Kelly (35) were arrested nearby in possession of a 9mm Beretta pistol, silencer, and ammunition. Mr Wilson and Mr Kelly have pleaded guilty to conspiring to murder Mr Hanley. Luke Wilson, who also pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a Beretta handgun with intent to endanger life, was jailed for 11 years. Alan Wilson (39), who pleaded guilty to conspiring to murder Mr Hanley, was jailed for six years. Joseph Kelly, who also admitted a weapons charge, was jailed for a total of 12 years.
Oliver Callely, 27, of St Lawrences Road, Clontarf, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to setting off fireworks at Copper Face Jacks nightclub on 6 July 2015. Prosecutor Maurice Coffey BL requested a victim impact statement for sentencing. Judge Martin Nolan set a sentencing hearing for 2 December and remanded Callely on continuing bail until that date.
A 68‑year‑old Polish man was sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment for raping a non‑national cleaner who lived with him in Galway. The Central Criminal Court jury found him guilty of two counts of rape and four counts of oral rape committed between 2012 and 2016. The victim, who was pregnant after the first rape, described how the accused treated her as a slave, a sex object and a tool for his sexual gratification, forcing her to kneel, obey and be quiet. She said he destroyed her life and that of her partner and family. The judge, Ms Justice Tara Burns, noted the absence of mitigating factors and imposed a 15‑year term, taking into account the man's age and health. The accused denied the charges and claimed a consensual relationship. The victim's impact report was read into the record, and she was not present for the sentencing hearing. The unnamed 68-year-old was convicted.
A man who shoved and pushed a 67-year-old woman around her home while demanding money has been sentenced to six years in total for this incident, an earlier robbery, and for breaking into 13 cars. Lee Byrne (21) of Termon Court, Poppintree, Ballymun Dublin pleaded guilty to burglary and theft, assault causing harm and false imprisonment of the woman at her home in Drumcondra on October 9, 2018. He also pleaded guilty to criminal damage of various vehicles on St Margaret's Road in Finglas on April 1, 2018, and to attempted robbery at Spar on Upper O'Connell Street on September 9, 2018. Byrne had 51 previous convictions, 24 of which were committed as a child. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced Byrne to an 18-month term in June this year for the criminal damage charges, which was backdated to when he was first remanded in custody, resulting in a release date in December this year. Today, Judge Greally sentenced Byrne to an additional four and a half years, which is to run consecutive to the 18-month term. She suspended the final 12 months of this sentence, taking into account Byrne's youth, extreme addiction, and genuine remorse. The burglary of the woman's home was deemed the more serious offence due to the violation of her home and the violence inflicted upon her. The matter was adjourned for the purpose of this summary.
A former Irish footballer, Eric Donnelly, aged 21, was sentenced to 20 months in prison for a prolonged knife assault on Ronan Collins. The incident occurred on 15 August 2018 after Donnelly, who had been drinking for up to five days following a breakup, met Collins at the latter's apartment in Stillorgan. Donnelly became aggressive, seized a dinner knife, and held it to Collins' throat while repeatedly punching him, breaking his nose. Collins fled, tripping and dislocating his knee, and was pursued by Donnelly who continued to punch him in front of a witness. Both suffered severe hand lacerations. Gardaí identified Donnelly via CCTV and his Instagram. Judge Martin Nolan, noting the prolonged nature of the assault, imposed the custodial sentence. Collins suffered lasting injuries requiring surgery and physiotherapy. Donnelly, who had no prior convictions, expressed remorse and acknowledged the truth of Collins' account. Eric Donnelly pleaded guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 48‑year‑old carpenter Mervyn Heffernan was dragged under the getaway car of 24‑year‑old Daniel Maughan for about 30 yards after Heffernan had confronted Maughan at the side of his van. Heffernan suffered third‑degree burns, 11 missing teeth and a head injury. Witnesses reported Heffernan standing in front of the vehicle with his arms raised, and that workers shouted for the car to be stopped before Maughan fled. DNA from a phone left in the car matched Maughan, and stolen items were found in the van's boot. Maughan pleaded guilty to endangerment, had 56 prior convictions, and was sentenced to four years' imprisonment and a five‑year driving disqualification. Heffernan was discharged from hospital after a week, having incurred €20,000 in dental costs. The court noted Maughan's remorse and his efforts to address drug problems while in custody.
Gerard Ryan, a 44‑year‑old butcher, was sentenced to eight years in prison after being found with more than €2.5 million worth of drugs hidden in packets of men's boxer shorts. Ryan admitted to possessing ketamine, MDMA and cannabis for sale or supply at his Kilbarrack home on 17 July last year. He claimed he was pressured to collect the drugs from a warehouse in Ashbourne to satisfy a €1,500 debt and deliver them to unknown parties, fearing harm to his family if he identified the dealers. Gardaí seized €1.73 million of MDMA, €840,000 of ketamine and €16,000 of cannabis during a search of his van and garden shed.
In a High Court judicial review, Garda Noel Gibbons successfully had disciplinary findings quashed that had alleged he made a racist remark to a 14‑year‑old teenager detained in June 2017. The internal Garda investigation had found him in breach of discipline and fined him €200, with the Garda Ombudsman Commission (Gsoc) set to enforce the decision. Gibbons, who denies ever using racist language, argued the investigation was fundamentally flawed, that he was denied legal representation and the right to cross‑examine witnesses, and that the findings were made without reasons. The court agreed that the findings could be quashed, the fine cancelled, and no further disciplinary action would be taken. The case was resolved with Gsoc updating its records accordingly. The teenager, of eastern Asian descent, was not named due to his age. The incident involved a verbal altercation at a Dublin Garda Station following a public order situation in Temple Bar.
Alex Kane, aged 22, was convicted of a series of arson and trespass offences that caused over €700,000 in damage to two apartment blocks in Dublin. In 2014 he set fires in the underground carparks of Fairhaven and Abbey Glen Apartments, destroying eight cars and forcing the evacuation of both buildings. He also admitted to trespassing and criminal damage at Auburn Lodge Apartments. In 2018 he pleaded guilty to handling stolen property after being found in possession of a stolen cheque and cash. Kane was sentenced to five years in prison for the arson and a consecutive one‑year term for the stolen property charge. The court noted he had no prior convictions and that the damage cost the owners €751,409, largely covered by insurance. The judge described Kane as "well capable of reforming" and sentenced him to a total of six years in custody.
John McDonagh, aged 29, was sentenced to three years in prison for his role in a street assault that left a man, Saurjan Syergaz, with a severe stomach slash wound. McDonagh, who lives in Ballymun, admitted to kicking and punching Syergaz during a confrontation with Syergaz's partner, Donna Dineen, who later inflicted the slash and stole the victim's wallet. Dineen had already been jailed for four years in November for her part in the attack. McDonagh's sentence, imposed by Judge Melanie Greally, reflected his extensive criminal history of 86 prior convictions and the aggravating circumstances of the incident. The judge acknowledged that McDonagh did not participate in the stabbing but noted the "extremely nasty" nature of his assault. The final 12 months of the four‑year term were suspended on conditions. The victim, who has since returned to Mongolia, was not given a victim impact statement. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. John McDonagh pleaded guilty. Donna Dineen pleaded guilty.
Michael Ward, 30, was jailed for two years after a drunken burglary of Mary's Bar on Wicklow Street. He entered the unoccupied bar early on November 5, broke three cash registers but found no money, and stole bottles of vodka, whiskey, gin, rum and three boxes of salt sachets. CCTV footage identified him; he did not conceal his face or wear gloves. Ward pleaded guilty and had 145 prior convictions, including theft, burglary and criminal damage. The court noted his homelessness, drug and alcohol addiction, and a difficult childhood, as well as his remorse. Judge Melanie Greally described the offence as opportunistic and carried out under the influence of alcohol, and said the damage disrupted business operations. She imposed a three‑year sentence, suspending the final 12 months on conditions, and the effective custodial term is two years.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, the mother of 14‑year‑old Ana Kriegel described her daughter as an "ephemeral angel" and said her family was devastated by her murder. The court heard that the defendant known as Boy A admitted he caused Ana's death but denied sexually assaulting her, while Boy B rejected the unanimous jury verdict that found him guilty of murder. Boy A was also convicted of aggravated sexual assault involving serious violence. The court noted that Boy A's semen was found on Ana's top and that forensic evidence showed she had been sexually assaulted, her clothes torn, and her blood on the walls of the derelict building where she was found. Both boys were 13 at the time of the crime and are now 15, having been convicted by unanimous jury verdicts earlier this year. The judge will sentence them on November 5.
A 13‑year‑old boy, Lee Henry, was fatally injured when a black VW Golf driven by Dean Shelley struck him while the vehicle was speeding on the R139 in Coolock. Shelley, 29, pleaded guilty to careless driving causing death and failure to stop. The boy was running across the road with friends when the collision occurred around 9 pm on 22 October 2016. Shelley fled the scene, abandoning his car at Clare Hall, and was later found with his wallet and licence. Emergency services attended the scene and Lee was pronounced dead at Temple Street Hospital. Shelley's prior convictions include drug possession and other traffic offences. The court heard a victim impact statement from Lee's mother, describing his aspirations and the tragedy of his loss. Judge Karen O'Connor ordered a probation report before sentencing, which is set for 12 December.
Eileen Ryan, 26, pregnant and six months along, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to driving with unrestrained children, dangerous driving, and driving without insurance on 25 March 2018. Two children, aged two and five, sat in the back without seat belts. Garda Michael Brisbane described a high‑speed chase in Tallaght where the car broke red lights, drove over the white line, and swerved, with glass bottles thrown at the patrol car. Ryan was abusive, smelled of alcohol, and had slurred speech. She refused blood samples and had four prior District Court convictions. The judge imposed a four‑year suspended sentence, conditional on Ryan keeping the peace for three years, and a mandatory four‑year driving ban. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, with no further verdicts reported in the article.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, Sandra Moore, aged 54 and a resident of Bru Hostel on Thomas Street, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm on 27 June 2017. The assault involved Moore grabbing the victim's throat, shaking her, and pushing her to the ground while taking a radio. The victim received medical assistance and was later hospitalized; she subsequently died of liver failure, a death the court found unrelated to the assault. Moore was sentenced to a suspended two‑year prison term by Ms Justice Patricia Ryan, who imposed the suspension on the condition that Moore keep the peace and engage with Probation Services. Moore thanked the judge, stated she had stopped drinking, and was supported by her sister in court. The victim's mother forgave Moore and expressed prayers for her. Moore's defence cited a bipolar disorder diagnosis and conveyed regrets to the victim's family.
Laurence Bryan (36) pleaded guilty to four robberies and two attempted robberies at shops in the Tallaght area between March 31, 2016 and April 8, 2016. Bryan, who has 132 previous convictions, including a five and a half year sentence with the final 18 months suspended imposed in 2014 for previous robberies, admitted to committing the crimes while in the throes of a crack cocaine and heroin addiction. Judge Melanie Greally noted that Bryan had undergone a residential drug treatment program and had since made a 'complete turnaround' in his life, including undertaking a horticultural course and beginning to move into the employment market. The judge stated that the robberies were extremely serious and committed during an extremely destructive addiction. She imposed a five-year prison sentence, which was suspended in full on strict conditions. The matter was adjourned in 2017 to allow the residential drug treatment program to be completed. Bryan was identified on CCTV in the earlier cases and taken from Cloverhill Prison to be interviewed. He made admissions and told gardai that he did not want to hurt anybody but needed the money for drugs.
Jack Murphy, 21, was jailed for 15 months after breaking into St Joseph's CBS Secondary School in Fairview on February 5, 2019, causing €1,077 in damage. He pleaded guilty to trespass and criminal damage. Judge Elma Sheahan imposed a two‑year sentence, suspending the final nine months on conditions. Garda Sandra Lavin described how the alarm triggered a search that found Murphy inside the secretary's office, where a fire extinguisher had been used to break the lock. Murphy has 43 prior District Court convictions, including theft, robbery, public order offences and failing to appear. He has a chronic history of cocaine and cannabis abuse, began using drugs at 14, and has suffered serious brain injuries from a 2016 car accident. The court noted he had been clean of drugs while in custody.
A 68‑year‑old Polish man, previously convicted of rape in Poland and serving a three‑year sentence for a threat to kill in Ireland, was found guilty by a jury on two counts of rape and four counts of oral rape committed between 2012 and 2016. The victim, a non‑national cleaner who lived with the accused in Galway, was raped while she worked for him and became pregnant. She described the abuse as controlling and violent, noting that the accused demanded sex and forced her to perform oral sex on four occasions. The accused has medical problems and does not speak English; his defence argued that a full tariff would mean life imprisonment. The court adjourned sentencing to 30 October, and the victim's impact statement was read into the record. The accused does not accept the verdict.
Ross Hutch, aged 29, appeared before the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and pleaded guilty to a single count of robbing €200 from Boles Pharmacy in Drumcondra on 12 April. He was seen in court wearing a white Adidas t‑shirt and tracksuit bottoms and is currently in custody. The judge adjourned sentencing to 20 November, with the hearing expected to last about 20 minutes.
The Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement (ODCE) has ended its investigation into the collapsed charities fundraising service Pembroke Dynamic Internet Services Ltd and its related companies Ammado Technology Limited and the Ammado Foundation. The ODCE had been looking for suspected offences under the 2014 Companies Act. During the inquiry it was revealed that former Pembroke Dynamic boss Peter Conlon had been jailed by a Swiss court after pleading guilty to embezzling charity donations. The ODCE confirmed Conlon's claim of a Zurich conviction and, having found no further action required, was released from High Court proceedings that it had been a notice party to. Those proceedings were brought by liquidator Mr Myles Kirby, who had secured an injunction freezing Conlon's assets and sought to hold him personally liable for the company's debts.
Murad Khandokar, 47, was sentenced to three years in prison for sexually assaulting a 26‑year‑old woman on a Dublin bus on 30 April 2016. During the 15‑20 minute journey he attempted to pry the woman's legs apart and tried to penetrate her with his fingers, while also touching her thighs and attempting to use a baseball cap to conceal his hand. The victim, who was wearing leggings, resisted and froze, describing the experience as being "hemmed in" and terrified. Khandokar had previously been convicted of sexual assault, harassment and breach of a barring order. He pleaded guilty, and Judge Martin Nolan imposed a four‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence, suspending the final 18 months on conditions including probation supervision after release. The case was brought by Garda Louise Carroll, who noted the victim's complaint and CCTV evidence that identified Khandokar. The victim's impact statement highlighted her frustration, anger, shame and desire for consequences.
Michael Malone, aged 50, was convicted of indecent assault and sexual assault of two boys in Wexford between 1989 and 1992. He pleaded guilty to sample counts of sexual assault of each child. The court noted the systematic nature of the abuse, the grooming of the boys, and the breach of trust. Malone's guilty plea, remorse, and the fact that he was a young man at the time were considered mitigating factors. He was sentenced to two years imprisonment on each of the two sample counts, with one year suspended from each sentence. The suspended years are conditional on Malone remaining under Probation Service supervision for two years after release. All sentences run consecutively, giving an operating sentence of eight years imprisonment, with the final four years suspended. The court praised the courage of the two complainants and highlighted the serious impact on the victims. The case also referenced Malone's earlier convictions for indecent assault in the 1980s.
Susan Foley, 67, of Ronanstown, Dublin, was sentenced to 16 months in prison after pleading guilty to fraudulently obtaining €150,000 in social welfare payments. She deceived the state to receive €75,695.90 of carer's allowance between 2004 and 2010, and €75,185.90 of job seekers allowance between 2010 and 2017, while continuing to claim an invalidity pension. The fraud was uncovered when a higher executive officer noticed identical photographs on two claims. Foley admitted the deception, cooperated with investigators, and entered a repayment arrangement, returning a lump sum of €30,000 from her sister's estate. Judge Martin Nolan noted her long‑term hardship but also her repeated deception, and imposed the 16‑month sentence. She has no prior convictions. The case was prosecuted by Garrett McCormack BL, with defence counsel Anne‑Marie Lawlor SC.
David O'Brien, a former scout leader, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to eight counts of indecent assault relating to four boys between January 1, 1972, and December 31, 1981. The court heard that O'Brien admitted to gardaí in 1997 that he was "molesting" young boys in the scouts, yet a direction was made not to prosecute. He was previously jailed for four-and-a-half years in October 2015 for sexually abusing six young boys on camping trips in the late 1970s and 80s. Prosecution evidence detailed allegations of fondling and non-penetrative abuse during scouting trips in Wicklow and Meath. Victim impact statements described lasting psychological and physical effects, including trust issues and stress-related health problems. Defense counsel noted that O'Brien accepted he committed grave wrongs and apologized for his behavior. Judge Karen O'Connor remanded O'Brien in custody and adjourned the matter for sentencing on November 7.
Brendan McSherry, a 27-year-old electrician from Artane, Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for an assault causing harm. He pleaded guilty to the charge of assaulting Caoimhin McCarthy on Coast Road, Portmarnock, on October 8, 2017. Prosecution evidence stated that the 18-year-old victim was outside getting air when McSherry punched him to the side of the head, causing him to fall onto the road. The victim suffered bleeding to the ear, facial numbness, and ongoing psychological effects, including nightmares. Judge Martin Nolan described the incident as a cowardly and unprovoked attack on a blameless young man. Although the judge noted his instinct was to imprison McSherry, he considered the defendant's lack of previous convictions and low risk of re-offending. Judge Nolan concluded that McSherry did not deserve a custodial sentence. He suspended a three-year prison term on the condition that McSherry pays €12,500 to the victim. The judge characterized this financial penalty as a form of punishment. Defense counsel stated that McSherry was ashamed and regretful of his actions. The matter was finalized with this suspended sentence and payment condition.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, Thomas Locke, 26, pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary and false imprisonment after breaking into a woman's apartment on 31 October 2018. Locke, who was on bail for a prior offence, entered the bedroom with a foot‑long knife, told the woman to leave the bed, and claimed he would not harm her. He smoked in her kitchen, asked about money, and together they went to a petrol station where the woman withdrew €300 for him. Locke threatened to "cut her" if she told anyone. He was identified through CCTV and fingerprints on the fridge. Locke had 68 prior convictions and was already in custody since 26 November. The judge, citing his guilty plea, remorse, addiction, and past record, sentenced him to five years imprisonment, crediting time already served. The sentence is to commence after the completion of his earlier 12‑month term.
Stephen Gregan, 38, pleaded guilty to sexual assault of an 11‑year‑old in a Penneys shop in Dundrum Town Centre on 10 June 2017. Garda Jennifer Quinn reported that the child was with friends when Gregan pushed up against her and squeezed her behind, an act the child described as deliberate. Gregan initially claimed it was accidental but later admitted intent. He has no prior convictions. His defence counsel, Ger Small, highlighted his remorse, depression, and ongoing counselling, and noted his placement on the sex offenders register. Judge Martin Nolan, recognising Gregan's mental health issues and the offence's lower end of the sexual assault scale, suspended a nine‑month prison term and ordered a €5,000 payment to the victim, stating that further offences would result in imprisonment. The court did not impose custodial custody.
During a two‑day trial at the Central Criminal Court, a mother was found not guilty of murder by reason of insanity after she smothered her three‑year‑old daughter with a pillow while the child was napping. The mother testified that she held the pillow over the child's face as the child struggled and screamed, and that she had been obsessed with the child's autism diagnosis, believing it to be a severe form called Pathological Demand Avoidance. She had searched online for "suicide" and "mothers killing autistic children" in the days before the killing. Two forensic psychiatrists testified that she suffered from severe depression with psychotic features and did not understand the nature of her act. The jury deliberated 54 minutes and returned a unanimous verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity. The judge ordered her to be committed to the Central Mental Hospital, with a further hearing scheduled for November 5.
Martin Stapleton, 30, of Ballyboden, Dublin, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to distributing and possessing child pornography. Judge Martin Nolan handed down the sentence following Stapleton's admission to charges relating to offences committed on July 17, 2014, and July 1, 2015. Prosecution evidence indicated that gardaí received information from Merseyside police that indecent images had been sent via Skype from Stapleton's address. A subsequent search seized electronic devices containing 119 images and 18 videos of child pornography. Detective Garda Donagh Mannix testified that Stapleton sent a specific video depicting a female child being orally raped to three different locations on separate occasions. While Stapleton admitted to possessing and distributing the material, he denied ever touching a child inappropriately. Defence counsel Patrick McGrath SC highlighted a four-year delay in prosecution, which the judge attributed to a lack of resources for device examination. Judge Nolan noted that had the matter been dealt with expeditiously, the sentence would have been approximately three years. Stapleton has no previous convictions.
A woman was found not guilty by reason of insanity in the High Court of murdering her three-year-old daughter at their family home in County Mayo. The media remain barred from identifying either the mother or the deceased child following a judgment by Ms Justice Carmel Stewart. The judge upheld reporting restrictions initially imposed under Section 252 of the Children Act 2001, which protects the anonymity of child victims. Media representatives had sought to overturn the ban, arguing the provision applied only to living children and that reporting restrictions were unnecessary given the child was deceased. The court rejected this submission, finding that the legislation contained no such distinction and that murder charges involving children warranted continued anonymity protections. The judge ruled that the restriction constituted appropriate application of child protection law rather than an excessive limitation on press freedom. The unnamed accused was found guilty.
Martin Guerin, 68, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to knowingly possessing 901 images and 146 video files of child pornography at his Portmarnock address on 17 September 2014. He was found to have held material depicting children, including girls under 15 and as young as two, in sexual activity, and images of children with exposed genitals. Gardaí traced the material to Guerin via an IP address and seized devices during a search. Guerin admitted responsibility and cooperated with investigators. Judge Martin Nolan, noting no aggravating factors and Guerin's guilty plea, good work history, and lack of prior convictions, imposed a fully suspended sentence of two and a half years, conditional on good behaviour for that period. The court considered a non‑custodial sentence appropriate given the circumstances. No mention of prior convictions or future sentencing was made. The case was presented as a single charge of possession of child pornography.
David Swords, 23, pleaded guilty to assaulting his girlfriend Jessica Walsh in Glasthule on 21 June 2017 after believing she had kissed his cousin. He admitted punching her more than five but less than ten times, holding her with his left hand and striking with his right. The assault was described by Judge Martin Nolan as unprovoked, sudden and vicious. Swords had no prior convictions and was cooperative, having begun weekly anger‑management and domestic‑abuse courses. The judge cited his guilty plea, lack of criminal history, education, employment and steps to control his temper as mitigating factors. He was sentenced to three years' imprisonment, fully suspended on strict conditions, including a €12,500 payment to be forfeited if the victim declined it. The court did not read the victim impact report, and Walsh was treated for swelling and bruising at hospital. The case was adjourned overnight for further consideration.
In a Central Criminal Court murder trial, a mother was found to have smothered her three‑year‑old daughter with a "Minnie Mouse" pillow while the child was napping on the couch. The mother, who had become obsessed and overwhelmed by her daughter's autism diagnosis, told Garda that she held the pillow over the child's face as she struggled and screamed. She claimed she intended for her daughter to die and later called 999, stating she had tried to suffocate her child. The mother pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, and a consultant forensic psychiatrist testified that she was suffering from recurrent depressive disorder with psychotic features at the time of the offence. The trial continues with the court hearing her mental state and the circumstances surrounding the killing.
Judge Martin Nolan, presiding over the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, sentenced Carley O'Connor, 31, and Gemma Reilly, 27, to three years imprisonment each for possession of cocaine for sale or supply. Both pleaded guilty to offences involving €34,489 worth of cocaine found in a black plastic bag in a Ford Mondeo's glove compartment. The judge noted that neither had prior convictions, had cooperated with Gardaí, and had no criminal record. He emphasized that most drug defendants are not large traffickers but individuals desperate for money or debt relief, and that Section 15a of the Misuse of Drugs Act is applied when drug values exceed €13,000. Both sentences were suspended in full on the condition that the women keep the peace and behave well for three years. The court highlighted that the defendants were not major drug pushers but "pawns for the slaughter.".
Esther Esabod Aboderin, a defendant from Leixlip, Co Kildare, appeared before the High Court to address allegations of defamatory and threatening social media posts directed at applicant Rosala Uvbi Mku-Atu. Before Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds, Ms Aboderin issued a sworn undertaking not to repeat any defamatory or threatening remarks regarding the applicant. Counsel for the applicant, Thomas Hogan SC, noted that while the defendant had removed her own posts, concerns remained regarding third-party content on other platforms. The defendant's counsel, Rory Kennedy BL, stated his client had complied with previous removal orders but could not control material posted by others. Consequently, the application to continue the injunction was adjourned generally, with permission granted to re-enter the matter if issues arise. The judge warned that any breach of the undertaking could result in imprisonment for contempt. The court also heard that Ms Aboderin was assaulted by unknown persons at the Four Courts on July 31, sustaining cuts and bruises, an incident requiring Garda intervention. The applicant's lawyers stated their client did not condone the assault, and a Garda investigation into that separate incident remains ongoing.
The Special Criminal Court has adjourned the trial of Laurence Murphy and Ray Kennedy, who both pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation. The court heard that Dave Cullen, a State's witness in the Peter Butterly murder case, was not prosecuted for alleged perjury due to fears he would not return to Ireland from a protection program abroad. Cullen had previously pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm in suspicious circumstances. The trial, presided over by Ms Justice Tara Burns, was paused after the defence requested documentation regarding the decision not to prosecute Cullen. The matter was adjourned until tomorrow. In related proceedings, Kevin Braney was found guilty of premeditated murder and sentenced to life imprisonment. Frank Murphy, brother of the accused Laurence Murphy, pleaded guilty to impeding the apprehension of Cullen and was jailed for three years, with the final year suspended. Michael McDermott, who played a role in the murder, has also been jailed. The court noted that Cullen's evidence was used in the convictions of four individuals for Butterly's murder.
David O'Brien, aged 67, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to four counts of indecent assault on three boys under 15 between January 1972 and December 1978, including incidents in Larch Hill, Roundwood, Co Wicklow, and an unknown location. He also pleaded guilty to three counts of indecent assault on two of the same boys in Powerscourt, Co Wicklow, and two unknown locations between January 1976 and December 1978, involving fondling of the boys' penises. O'Brien, who is currently in custody and appeared frail, was previously jailed for four-and-a-half years in October 2015 for sexually abusing six boys on camping trips in the late 1970s and 1980s. Reporting restrictions were lifted today by Judge Karen O'Connor. The case remains pending sentencing, with the judge adjourned the matter for a hearing on Thursday. The prosecution noted the sentence could take up to a day.
Craig Courtney, 23, of Tallaght, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to three money‑laundering counts involving €10,000, €14,600 and the transfer of a car's ownership between February and March 2017. He had four prior convictions. During a Garda search of his home, officers found €1,115, an iPhone, Prada runners, a Rolex watch, an An Post deposit book with €10,000, and additional cash hidden in a painting and under cushions. The book was linked to a €14,895 Volkswagen Golf purchase and a €14,600 credit‑union cheque that was allegedly used to buy a car. Judge Martin Nolan, noting Courtney's cooperation and the seriousness of the offence, imposed a two‑year custodial sentence. Courtney's defence highlighted his youth, family support, drug‑free status and a plea for community service instead of imprisonment. The case remains at the sentencing stage.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Erick Mukoko, aged 32, was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment for a violent forceful rape that occurred in May 2017 at a flat in Limerick. The victim, a woman who had been socialising with a friend, refused a kiss from Mukoko and was subsequently raped. Mukoko pleaded guilty, citing alcohol consumption and a possible misreading of signals as mitigating factors. The judge, Michael White, described the offence as very serious and noted the victim's devastating impact, including anxiety, depression, panic attacks, and a suicide attempt. Mukoko's guilty plea was taken into account, and no portion of the sentence was suspended. He was ordered to undergo two years of post‑release supervision if he remains in Ireland. The victim's impact statement detailed her ongoing psychological distress and her determination to regain control of her life. The case was supported by DNA evidence linking Mukoko to the assault.
Aaron Kiely, 35, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assaulting American tourist Sean Beauchamp on 13 August 2017. Kiely, who has 185 prior convictions, was jailed for 18 months after the court heard Beauchamp suffered injuries to his head, ear, face and arm when a group intervened in a fight between Kiely and his girlfriend. Kiely claimed he could not have bitten Beauchamp because he has no teeth, a statement accepted by the court. The judge noted Kiely was intoxicated on the day of the incident. Beauchamp, who works for an airline, was treated in hospital and later paid €15,000 in medical costs, €11,000 of which was covered by insurance. Kiely was identified as a suspect through CCTV footage. The case was prosecuted by John Byrne BL and defended by Oisin Clarke BL.
Crystal Coady, 26, of Bluebell Road, Dublin, was jailed for four years after pleading guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply. Gardaí, acting on confidential information that controlled drugs were stored in the Bluebell area, set up an operation on 24 August 2018. They observed Coady leave her house with a pink holdall bag, which she handed over a railing to another woman. Gardaí later retrieved the bag from the woman's address, finding about 3 kg of heroin and almost ½ kg of crack cocaine, valued at roughly €470 000. Coady's solicitor admitted responsibility for the drugs, noting the recipient was unaware of their contents. Coady had 17 prior convictions, mainly traffic offences, and was a single mother of three. The court considered her vulnerable status, cocaine use, debt, and role as a caring mother.
Rafal Winter, a 37‑year‑old former shop assistant manager from Clonee, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to stealing more than €10,000 worth of lottery scratch cards from a Spar store in Mulhuddart between 2 July and 24 September 2017. He admitted taking up to 30 books of cards over several weeks, claiming jealousy after friends discussed pay rises. Winter voluntarily presented himself to the Gardaí, explained that he scratched the cards himself, and offered to resign and repay the €10,500 he had stolen. He has since worked as a security guard and has not attracted further Garda attention. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to 18 months' imprisonment, suspended entirely, subject to a number of conditions. The judge noted his efforts to repay the money and his lack of prior convictions in Ireland or Poland. The case was prosecuted by Diarmuid Collins BL and defended by Jennifer Jackson BL.
Neil McKay, a 75‑year‑old retired primary school teacher who had lived in Ireland for over twenty years, was jailed after admitting possession of 13,557 images, 1,685 videos, 91 animations and four documents of child pornography. He pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to distributing child pornographic material via Yahoo between 26 November and 2 December 2011. Garda Johanna Doyle described documents that included Google Earth printouts with Scottish locations, boys' names and ages, and a document titled "David's story" detailing sexual activity with an 11‑year‑old boy. McKay's distribution offence involved a conversation in which he offered a folder containing 99 videos of boys in sexual activity. He had previously been convicted in Scotland for indecent photography and for failing to disclose his address to the sex offenders registrar, receiving a 14‑month sentence. After a European Arrest Warrant, he was returned to Ireland and has been on remand since.
A man from County Mayo has been sentenced to twelve years imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court for the rape and sexual abuse of his stepdaughter over an eleven-year period. Thomas Mullarney, aged 61, of Cahir, Louisberg, pleaded guilty to sexual assaults at a Dublin residence between October 2003 and January 2005, and to rape at a Mayo address in November 2011 and September 2014. The abuse began when the victim was approximately six years old and continued into her teenage years. During sentencing, Mr Justice Michael White described the offences as falling at the upper end of serious sexual abuse, noting the victim's trust in Mullarney as a father figure and the systematic grooming involved. The judge acknowledged Mullarney's guilty plea as significant but stated that only the perpetrator bore responsibility for the harm caused. The court heard that Mullarney had experienced institutional abuse during his childhood, though the judge expressed difficulty understanding how such trauma could lead to victimising a child.
Kenneth McDonald, 54, of Wexford, was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment for raping and sexually assaulting his girlfriend's younger sister, a schoolgirl, between 1987 and 1994. The victim, who was aged seven at the first offence, described the abuse as having destroyed her childhood and haunted her adulthood, citing terror, shame and a loss of self‑worth. McDonald pleaded not guilty and continues to deny the charges. The court heard that he had a "paedophilic sexual interest" in the child, and that his actions were "depraved" and opportunistic. Despite character witnesses describing him as loving and kind, the judge set a headline sentence of eleven years, reduced to seven, and imposed no suspension, noting McDonald's refusal to engage in therapy. A three‑year post‑release supervision period was ordered, with a requirement to cooperate with Tusla recommendations regarding access to children. Kenneth McDonald was convicted.
A teenager convicted of the manslaughter of a 17-year-old boy in Claremorris, County Mayo in 2015 has had his sentencing further delayed to allow for additional brain surgery. The defendant, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was found guilty of killing Dovydas Jenkas on 19 December 2015 following a jury trial at the Central Criminal Court in Castlebar in 2017. He had previously undergone surgical procedures to address epileptic seizures, including a left temporal lesionectomy in July 2018. Defence counsel informed the Central Criminal Court that the defendant now requires a cranioplasty, a surgical repair of a skull defect, with no confirmed date yet available. Justice Eileen Creedon acknowledged the distress of the deceased's family, noting two years had passed since conviction without sentencing finalisation. The case was adjourned to 14 February 2020, with the defendant remanded on continuing bail pending further medical evidence or completion of surgery.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Keith Murtagh, 35, of Mariners' Port, Sheriff Street, was set to be sentenced for his alleged role in the armed robbery of the Roebuck post office on 5 January 2016. Murtagh had pleaded not guilty to robbery, possession of a shotgun and possession of a shotgun cartridge. A ten‑day trial in July concluded with a jury finding him guilty on all counts. Detective Garda Lisa McHugh recounted that two men entered the post office, one armed with a handgun and the other with a shotgun, who fired two blasts into a glass partition before Murtagh allegedly climbed over the desk into the back of the office. The robbery yielded €2,754 from the post office and €420 from a fine‑food shop on the premises. Murtagh's defence, Garnet Orange SC, highlighted his long prison history and charitable activities, yet acknowledged the evidence presented.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Alan Barrett, 42, was sentenced to nine months in custody for diverting trust money held for event organisers into his personal account to keep the ticketing company Event Elephant LTD afloat. Barrett, who had previously served a two‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence for tax offences in 2017, pleaded guilty to theft between December 2010 and August 2013. The judge described the offence as an "unusual theft" arising from Barrett's stewardship of company funds, noting that a substantial portion was spent on company expenses. Barrett had already served part of his earlier sentence and was disqualified from being a company director. The court imposed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence, suspending all but nine months, reflecting Barrett's cooperation, remorse, and the impact of his actions on the company's financial difficulties.
Eddie Farnan, 37, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, threatening to kill Lisa Power and criminal damage on 2 June 2017. He dragged her by the hair, swung her, threw her across a room, and placed his hands around her throat. The attack ended when he began hitting himself in the face and Power grabbed her baby and fled. A medical report found bruising on her neck and whiplash. Power still suffers daily headaches, nightmares and panic attacks. Judge Karen O'Connor imposed a suspended sentence of two years and nine months, suspended entirely on conditions. She noted Farnan had no prior violence history and had made significant rehabilitation efforts. The judge warned that any future violence would trigger the full custodial term. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.