In a Cork family home, John Murphy (45) abused his younger brother for a decade, from 1988 to 1997, when the victim was aged between ten and 20. The victim, now in his 40s, waived anonymity to identify his abuser. Murphy pleaded guilty in April to twelve counts, including three of oral rape. Mr Justice Micheal White set a headline sentence of 13 years, reduced to ten after Murphy's admissions and guilty pleas. The last two years were suspended on the condition that Murphy engage with psychological services, victim‑focused work, and a sex offender treatment programme while under Probation Service supervision. The victim's impact statement described the abuse as a devastating breach of trust, calling the brotherly relationship "cruelly violated" and expressing that he had become a survivor, free from the abuse. The judge noted that Murphy's sexual orientation was no excuse for his behaviour.
Christopher Gannon, 36, of Ballyfermot, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm at Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin, on 6 October 2018. He attacked his former partner, who was there with their son, twice, punching her numerous times and causing a fractured nose and temporary double vision. The assault occurred while the child was in the hospital. Gannon had a prior conviction for assault and public intoxication. Justice Patricia Ryan noted the seriousness of the injuries, the hospital setting, the repeated attacks and the victim's repeated blows, but also cited Gannon's guilty plea, admissions to Gardaí, apology, good work record and lack of prior Garda attention as mitigating factors. She sentenced him to three years' imprisonment, suspending the final 18 months on strict conditions. The case was heard in the criminal court on 18 October 2019.
An Armagh man, Adrian Grant, 48, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to three counts of dishonestly by deception. He used false documentation bearing the name "Gerard Grant" to submit two mortgage applications in 2011 and 2014 and a hire‑purchase application to Volkswagen Bank in 2013. The mortgage applications for a property in Kells failed, but he obtained €18,000 in car finance, which he has since repaid. Grant had a prior conviction in Northern Ireland for selling counterfeit washing powder. He explained that he had lost two properties after being let go from construction work and was under severe financial pressure, caring for a seriously ill wife. The court noted his cooperation with Gardaí and the absence of victims. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a three‑year sentence, suspended in full.
A 20‑year‑old man was sentenced to four years' imprisonment for sexually exploiting a 12‑year‑old girl when he was 16. He forced her to perform oral sex, threatened to release photos of her in sexual acts if she did not give a blowjob to a younger boy, and recorded the acts on mobile phones. He pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual exploitation of a child. The judge noted the cruelty of the offences, the victim's age and the impact on her, and considered an eight‑year sentence absent mitigating factors such as the early guilty plea, lack of prior convictions and his minor status at the time. He was also ordered to undergo two years of post‑release supervision under the Probation Service. The case involved a group of youths who witnessed and photographed the incidents, and the victim has suffered ongoing psychological harm, including suicidal thoughts and self‑harm.
John Connors, aged 22, was sentenced to two years in prison for burglary at Hamlet Lane, Balbriggan, on 4 January. He entered the house of Peter Sanya, who was watching television, claiming he had been directed to the house to find a man named Jason. Connors admitted to being intoxicated and claimed he had stolen items, but was not found with a hammer or knife at arrest. Gardaí recovered five watches, silver cufflinks, a gold chain and an iPhone from him. He had seven prior convictions, including burglary. Connors pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The judge imposed a three‑year sentence, suspending the final year on strict conditions, including compliance with the Probation Service for one year after release. The case was prosecuted by Philip Rahn BL and defended by Derek Cooney BL. The incident was reported by Detective Garda Gerard Mulroney.
Michael Doherty, a 39‑year‑old former wine and school lunch delivery businessman, was sentenced to a suspended three‑and‑a‑half‑year prison term for robbery after a judge noted his efforts to rehabilitate. On 31 March 2017, Doherty entered a Maxol station on Newcastle Road in Lucan, threatened staff with a claw hammer, and when the till would not open he struck it and stole about €400. He fled in a black car that Gardaí linked to him, leading to his arrest. Doherty pleaded guilty to the robbery of Kim Heffernan. He had 24 prior convictions, mainly for road traffic offences, and the prosecution and defence agreed the robbery was out of character. Counsel argued that the breakdown of his marriage had devastated him, leading to drug abuse and business failure, and that he committed the robbery to fund his addiction.
Sarah Clarke, a 25‑year‑old mother of one, was sentenced to six years' imprisonment for possessing heroin and cocaine for sale or supply. The drugs, worth €553,000 in heroin and €34,600 in cocaine, were found in her apartment in Tallaght after a Garda search. Clarke admitted she was aware that drugs were stored there to pay a €5,000 debt, but claimed she did not know the contents or value. She pleaded guilty on 17 October last year and had no prior convictions. Judge Martin Nolan accepted her early guilty plea, cooperation with Gardaí, personal circumstances and lack of previous convictions as mitigating factors. He suspended the final three years of the sentence on the condition that she keep the peace and be of good behaviour during incarceration and for three years after release.
Garda Nicholas Keogh admitted to being absent without leave (AWOL) from duty during a four‑day drinking binge from 11 to 14 July 2015, a period he had claimed as sick leave. He reported himself fit for duty on 10 July but then continued drinking and failed to report for work. Keogh's diary entries for 11 and 12 July noted "awol drink." Superintendent Patrick Murray, after reviewing Keogh's statements, recommended the matter be treated as a less serious breach of discipline. Keogh was fined €300 for neglect of duty, a fine upheld by Chief Superintendent Lorraine Wheatley. He denied a discreditable conduct charge and argued that his absence was a mistake. The tribunal also heard of other administrative matters, including a car‑tax notice and travel‑substance payments, but these were not central to the disciplinary decision. Keogh will continue to give evidence in the proceeding.
An accused man was observed meeting two individuals convicted in connection with the fatal shooting of dissident republican Peter Butterly one day after the killing, the Special Criminal Court heard today. Surveillance officers told the non-jury court that on March 7, 2013, Laurence Murphy was seen at a fast-food outlet in Charlestown Shopping Centre in Dublin alongside Kevin Braney and Frank Murphy. Butterly, aged 35, was shot dead on March 6, 2013, outside a public house in Gormanston, County Meath. Braney was sentenced to life imprisonment earlier this year following conviction for the premeditated murder. The prosecution contends the group gathered for a debrief regarding the previous day's events. Murphy, of Bettystown, County Meath, and Ray Kennedy, of Blanchardstown, Dublin, have pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the IRA on that date. Kennedy faces an additional charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice. The trial continues.
David Weafer, 33, was jailed for 16 months after breaking into his former family home, threatening his ex‑partner Jennifer Staunton with a knife, kneeing her in the face and head‑butting her. He pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and threatening her on 10 February 2018. The court, hearing that the couple's five children, aged 1 to 14, hid in another room and called 999, described the attack as "serious" and noted that the older child tried to intervene. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a three‑year sentence, suspended the final 20 months, and imposed conditions including staying away from Staunton and the family home. Weafer admitted he was intoxicated that night and expressed remorse, hoping to regain his ex‑partner's trust.
Olivia O Mahony, 22, of Boyerstown, Navan, received an 18‑month suspended sentence after pleading guilty to possessing property known to be the proceeds of criminal conduct. She had allowed her then‑partner to transfer €15,000 into her Bank of Ireland account, from which she withdrew about €13,000 in cash within two hours before the account was frozen. The money was part of a €1 million fraud that involved a fraudulent email sent to a Danish company, which transferred the VAT refund to an Irish Rabo Direct account. O Mahony claimed she had no knowledge that the transfer was illegal and said she handed the cash to her boyfriend. The court noted she had been manipulated and had not profited from the crime, leading to the suspended sentence.
Anthony Goodman, aged 74, was convicted of indecent exposure at a Malahide restaurant on 13 August 2018 and on a bus on 20 August 2018, and of sexual assault on 20 August 2018. He pleaded guilty to all three offences. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to nine months imprisonment for each indecent exposure, to run consecutively, and to two and a half years imprisonment for the sexual assault, also to run consecutively, giving a total of four years. The final 18 months of the sentence were suspended for five years on conditions of good behaviour, engagement with Probation Services, and restriction to public transport only with Garda permission. The sentence was back‑dated to 23 August 2018, the day he first entered custody. Goodman has 201 previous convictions, including sexual assault, indecency, arson, threats to kill and firearms possession, and had breached a sex‑offender order that prohibited him from riding a bus without Garda notification.
Geraldine Doyle, aged 63, was sentenced to a suspended three‑and‑a‑half‑year term after pleading guilty to four counts of theft from the Department of Social Protection. She had claimed her deceased partner's €200 weekly pension for four years, from 2012 to 2016, after his death was not registered. The total amount stolen was €44,652. Doyle also received other social welfare payments, including rent allowance. She has no prior convictions. Doyle repaid €10,000 and agreed to pay €150 a week to clear the remaining debt. The judge noted her remorse, health issues and efforts to repay the state, and therefore imposed a suspended sentence rather than imprisonment.
Steven McGivern, 42, of Belfast, was sentenced to 30 months in prison for possessing 9,595 images and 178 videos of child pornography. The material, found in his apartment after a search warrant issued following Canadian police information, showed preteen boys and girls with exposed genitals, engaging in sexual activity with each other and with adult males. McGivern admitted downloading the content for sexual gratification and acknowledged the illegality of his actions. He also provided a credit card used to pay for some of the videos. Judge Sinéad Ní Chúalacháin noted his three prior convictions for indecent assault and attempts to take indecent photos of children, and cited the volume of material, the duration of the offence, and the ages of the children involved as aggravating factors. The judge highlighted that the offence was not a victimless crime, as real children were exploited, and that financial gain was involved. Steven McGivern pleaded guilty.
Swiatoslaw Jaroszynski, 34, was jailed for 20 months after a violent attack in Clondalkin, Dublin, on 26 May 2018. He assaulted a woman jogging on the outer ring road, tried to bite her, and then attacked a passerby, Robert Keogh, during the struggle. Jaroszynski forced a woman driving with her 11‑ and 9‑year‑old children to stop, jumped onto her car's bonnet, headbutted the windscreen, smashed the rear passenger window, and tried to bite the woman's throat. He also grabbed the children and struck them. He had previously been involved in a head‑on collision and fled the scene. Jaroszynski pleaded guilty to three assault‑causing‑harm charges and unlawful interference with a car. He had a history of a suspended drug sentence and a robbery conviction. The judge noted his PTSD and drug use, but imposed a 20‑month sentence, citing the case's violent and unusual nature.
Marie Penny, a 56‑year‑old woman from Landsdowne Gate, Drimnagh, Dublin, was sentenced to two years in prison after pleading guilty to possession of heroin, cocaine, cannabis and cannabis resin at her home on 18 January 2019. She had been holding drugs valued at over €130,000 for others to pay her rent and debts after falling on hard times. Garda Michael Ormonde reported that officers entered Penny's kitchen with a search warrant, found the drugs, and Penny told them she had agreed to hold the drugs for money to pay bills. She was paid €200 per week and was a holder rather than a dealer. Judge Cormac Quinn, considering the value and type of the drugs as aggravating factors and her age, personal circumstances and cooperation as mitigating factors, imposed a four‑year sentence and suspended the final two years on strict conditions. The mandatory minimum of ten years did not apply.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 19‑year‑old woman confronted her 41‑year‑old foster father, who had raped her on 16 July 2016 after giving her alcohol. She told the court she had seen him as a father figure and that his abuse had taken her family, her sense of self and her future. The court heard that the victim was alone with him that night, was forced to give oral sex, then raped. She had attempted suicide, suffered anxiety and PTSD, and could not sit her Leaving Cert. The jury had found him guilty of rape, oral rape and sexual assault, but not of anal rape. He will be sentenced on 13 November. The woman said facing him made her feel empowered and urged him to make a positive impact on others. The unnamed 41-year-old was acquitted.
Liam Brannigan, 37, of Dublin 8, is on trial at the Special Criminal Court, having pleaded not guilty to conspiring to murder Gary Hanley between September 15th and November 6th, 2017. The court heard evidence from Detective Superintendent William Johnson regarding the deployment of listening devices on five vehicles, including a Seat and a Volkswagen caddy, allegedly used by Brannigan and associates. Johnson stated the surveillance was part of an investigation into the Kinahan Organised Crime Gang. The prosecution alleges the Nissan Primastar and Renault Laguna were used for surveillance and transport in the plot. The court also heard that Luke Wilson, 24, and Joseph Kelly, 35, were arrested after their vehicle was stopped on November 6th, 2017, during which a 9mm Beretta pistol and silencer were seized. Wilson and Kelly have previously pleaded guilty to conspiring to murder Hanley and unlawful possession of the handgun. Wilson was sentenced to 11 years, Kelly to 12 years, and Alan Wilson, 39, who also pleaded guilty to the conspiracy and weapons charges, was sentenced to six years. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul Coffey.
Keegan Davidson, 25, was sentenced to three years in prison, with the final two years suspended, for laundering €104,107 obtained through an "invoice redirection" fraud. He supplied his bank account details to a criminal gang that used them to receive payments from a bogus email sent to an engineering company. Davidson withdrew about €43,759 from various bureaux de change and post offices in Dublin, converting portions to British pounds and US dollars. He pleaded guilty to four offences under the 2010 Money Laundering Act for transferring or converting money knowing it was the proceeds of crime. The court noted he had no evidence of involvement in the fraud beyond laundering, and that the bank recovered roughly €46,000 from his account. Davidson's prior convictions include possession of knives, public order, theft, trespass, and a suspended sentence for possession of a sawn‑off shotgun. The judge acknowledged his efforts at rehabilitation and imposed the suspended sentence on conditions.
Edward Stokes, aged 25, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for endangerment and dangerous driving after a high‑speed chase in Clondalkin and Ballyfermot. On 3 October 2016, Stokes drove through a red light, over a Luas line, and attempted to ram a Garda patrol car, forcing the officers to take evasive action. He then drove into a traveller's site, crashed into a bollard, and fled into an attic where he was arrested. Stokes had 23 prior convictions, including violent disorder and driving offences, and was disqualified from driving at the time of the offence. The court noted his medical condition (necrotising pancreatitis) and his expressed remorse. Judge Cormac Quinn imposed a three‑year sentence, suspending the final 18 months on strict conditions. Edward Stokes pleaded guilty.
Michael McDonald Agu, 57, a father of five, was jailed for 18 months after two child‑pornography videos were found on his phone during a 2018 Garda search for drugs. The first two‑minute clip showed a juvenile male raping an infant male; a second six‑minute clip depicted a woman interacting with three juvenile males. Agu had been charged with possession of child pornography and, after withdrawing his challenge to the evidence, pleaded guilty to both charges on 31 October 2018. He was already serving a four‑year sentence for drug possession, with release scheduled for September 2021. Judge Martin Nolan confirmed the videos were undoubtedly child pornography, noted that Agu had accepted responsibility, and set the 18‑month term to begin immediately rather than run consecutively with the drug sentence. Agu is married, has five daughters and a ten‑year‑old granddaughter, and suffers from several medical conditions.
Patrick Ward, 41, was sentenced to three years in prison after stabbing Edel Delahunty, his neighbour, three times with scissors. The attack occurred after a quarrel at Delahunty's home while they were watching the World Cup. Ward punched Delahunty before stabbing her, and she discovered the wounds when she heard blood on the floor. She was treated in hospital for three stab wounds and required surgery after a lung puncture, staying six nights. Ward pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and possession of a weapon at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 16 June 2018. He had prior convictions for affray, assault, breach of a barring order, production of an article, criminal damage, theft and drugs. The judge noted Ward was very drunk but not excused, and accepted his remorse. Gardaí arrested Ward after he threatened to kill anyone entering his home. He later expressed regret and apologized to the victim.
A man was sentenced to eight years in prison for repeatedly raping his niece between 1 November 2018 and 15 January 2019. He pleaded guilty to counts of rape, oral rape, sexual assault and sexual exploitation of a child. The judge, Mr Justice Michael White, described the case as a "huge tragedy" and noted the aggravating factors of grooming, exploitation and breach of trust. He imposed a ten‑year term for each count of rape and oral rape, to run concurrently, and considered the sexual assault and exploitation counts. Two years of the sentence were suspended on the condition that the defendant engage with the Probation Service and therapeutic services. The victim, an eight‑year‑old, was the niece of the accused and the abuse largely occurred in the accused's home while he and his wife cared for her and her siblings. The defendant had no prior convictions and expressed remorse, apologising unreservedly in court.
Mr Justice Tony Hunt adjourned the sentencing of Blake Sweeney until November 11 at the Central Criminal Court. Sweeney, 21, was convicted in July of the manslaughter of Robert Elston, 33, who was stabbed to death in May 2018. The judge noted that Sweeney should have listened to his mother's advice to stay home after Elston set fire to a car in the Sweeney driveway. Evidence indicated Sweeney pursued Elston with a knife, while the jury found it reasonably possible Elston was armed with an axe, a factor that distinguished the charge from murder. Sweeney's counsel highlighted his early offer to plead guilty to manslaughter and his genuine remorse, noting his 22 previous District Court convictions were not aggravating. The judge stated he would consider the David Mahon case, where Mahon received a seven-year sentence for the 2013 manslaughter of Dean Fitzpatrick, as a comparable precedent. The matter was adjourned and not concluded.
Businessman James Mansfield Jnr, 52, of Saggart, Co Dublin, appeared before the Special Criminal Court to address charges of conspiring to falsely imprison a man and attempting to pervert the course of justice. The accused is alleged to have conspired with one or more persons to falsely imprison Martin Byrne between January 1 and June 30, 2015, in contravention of Section 15 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997. He is further accused of attempting to pervert the course of justice by directing Patrick Byrne to destroy recorded CCTV footage at Finnstown House Hotel in Lucan, Co Dublin, between June 9 and June 12, 2015. During the hearing, the court noted that Mr Mansfield intends to apply for legal aid. Mr Justice Paul Coffey, presiding alongside Judge Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin and Judge James Faughnan, remanded Mr Mansfield on continuing bail. The matter was adjourned, with the case set for mention again on November 4 at 11am. This appearance followed his arrest by arrangement and the service of a book of evidence. The court had previously endorsed a warrant for his arrest after the State dropped earlier charges entered against him.
Dean Heapes, 34, of Swords, Co Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to 10 burglaries of premises on South William Street, Dublin 2, committed on December 13, 2016. He also admitted to three further burglaries in the city between January 2017 and April 2018, as well as using a false instrument when attempting to cash a stolen cheque on Grafton Street in November 2016. The court heard that Heapes, who has ten previous burglary convictions, was captured on CCTV stealing 13 laptops during the initial incident, five of which were later recovered. Judge Karen O'Connor noted that while the offences were serious, Heapes had no history of violent offending. The judge considered his chronic drug addiction, difficult upbringing, and periods of homelessness, alongside his cooperation with gardai and expressed remorse. Judge O'Connor imposed consecutive sentences totalling five and a half years but suspended the final 18 months. She stated that Heapes has much to be hopeful for, including a supportive partner and young child, but warned that if he does not take this opportunity, he will spend the remainder of the sentence in prison.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a homeless couple, Stacey O'Dwyer (34) and Ciaran O'Toole (35), avoided jail after pleading guilty to possessing €8,000 worth of heroin for sale or supply. The drugs were found in O'Dwyer's tracksuit after a checkpoint search on 27 April. O'Dwyer resisted arrest, kicking, screaming, lying on the ground and later biting a Garda, while O'Toole remained calm. Both pleaded guilty, O'Dwyer also to obstructing an officer. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a suspended three‑year sentence, noting O'Dwyer's mental health history, remorse and rehabilitation progress, and O'Toole's acceptance of responsibility. The pair, living in homeless accommodation, plan to marry in a civil ceremony in early November. The court considered their prior convictions and personal circumstances before deciding the suspended sentence.
In a 2016 robbery at Woodbine Park Post Office, Glen Kavanagh (44) held a loaded Makarov pistol to a customer's head, fired eight shots, and attempted to escape. An ESB repairman tackled him, kicking the raider's ankle and causing the gun to fly, striking an ESB colleague on the head. The incident, described as an "aggressive struggle," resulted in €455 stolen and the recovery of the pistol and cartridges. Kavanagh pleaded guilty to robbery and unlawful possession of a firearm. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to 12 years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended, and ordered concurrent service with a ten‑year firearms sentence, both backdated to 1 January 2018. The sentence includes strict conditions and 18 months of probation post‑release. Kavanagh's drug‑related history and lack of memory of the raid were noted by the court. The case was heard in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 11 October 2019. Glen Kavanagh was convicted.
The trial of Liam Brannigan, accused of conspiring to murder Gary Hanley between September 15 and November 6, 2017, continued before a non-jury court. Brannigan, who has pleaded not guilty, faces charges of conspiracy and unlawful possession of a firearm. The court reviewed CCTV footage allegedly showing a white Nissan Primastar van and a black Renault Laguna surveilling Hanley's home in late October 2017. Prosecution counsel Seán Gillane SC stated these vehicles were used as "spotter cars" for surveillance and to ferry co-conspirators. Footage from November 6, 2017, depicted Brannigan's arrest at Hanover Court, where he allegedly discarded a phone and an illuminated item before being apprehended. The court also heard evidence regarding the arrest of Luke Wilson and Joseph Kelly on the same night, during which a 9mm Beretta pistol, silencer, and ammunition were seized. Wilson and Kelly have previously pleaded guilty to conspiring to murder Hanley. Luke Wilson, who also admitted to unlawful possession of the handgun with intent to endanger life, was jailed for 11 years. Alan Wilson, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy, received a six-year sentence. Joseph Kelly, who also admitted a weapons charge, was jailed for a total of 12 years. The trial continues.
The Special Criminal Court heard evidence regarding the harvesting of 3,500 hours of CCTV footage during the trial of Liam Brannigan, who is charged with conspiring to murder Gary Hanley between September 15th and November 6th, 2017. Mr Brannigan has pleaded not guilty. Detective Sergeant Declan O'Connell, who directed the collection of footage from various Dublin premises, admitted to the court that he did not consider the Data Protection Act or the privacy of the public during the operation. The defence, represented by John Berry BL, is taking issue with the admissibility of a proposed 48-minute montage of this footage. The court also heard that Mr Hanley initially declined permission for gardai to access his home CCTV, leading to a warrant being obtained for its seizure. Although the drive was later wiped, material was eventually retrieved. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul Coffey. Separately, three men previously convicted of conspiring to murder Mr Hanley have been sentenced. Luke Wilson, who pleaded guilty to the conspiracy and unlawful possession of a Beretta handgun with intent to endanger life, was jailed for 11 years. Alan Wilson, who pleaded guilty to the conspiracy, received a six-year sentence. Joseph Kelly, who admitted the conspiracy and a weapons charge, was jailed for a total of 12 years.
Kerrie Fitzpatrick, a 40‑year‑old mother of three from Loughnamona Park, Leixlip, was found guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of attempting to smuggle 63 grams of heroin into Mountjoy Prison on 14 January 2017. Garda Derek Gibney reported that a prison officer randomly selected Fitzpatrick for a check, during which she claimed to have concealed drugs inside her body. The package she handed over was discovered to contain heroin worth €9,575. Fitzpatrick said she had received a phone call instructing her to deliver a package to her former partner in prison, and that she had been given the package by an unknown man who she believed contained pills. She has 11 prior convictions, including a similar offence involving Portlaoise Prison, for which she had benefited from the Probation Act.
Dermot Richardson, a 53‑year‑old south Dublin county councillor, was sentenced to a suspended two‑and‑a‑half‑year term for assaulting Tony Greene, Greene's new partner, on the night of 11–12 March 2017 at Richardson's former family home in Tallaght. Richardson head‑butted and punched Greene, knocking out two front teeth and causing serious injuries that required dental surgery costing €3,740. In court, Richardson pleaded guilty, apologised and admitted his actions were "totally out of order." Judge Martin Nolan, noting the victim's severe injuries and Richardson's community standing, imposed a suspended sentence on the condition that Richardson pay €7,500 to Greene – €2,000 immediately and €5,500 within 18 months – and that the money be disposed of by the court if Greene declined it. The judge emphasised that the sentence was a punishment rather than a custodial sentence, and that Richardson was unlikely to repeat such behaviour.
David Byrne, 32, was jailed for producing and distributing child pornography after sending naked photos of himself to underage girls and requesting similar images. Garda Philip Munds presented evidence from Byrne's devices showing 11 incidents of direct contact with girls, including requests for images of children up to 14 years old, with a preference for six‑ or seven‑year‑olds. Byrne pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession and production of child pornography between 11 October 2016 and 11 January 2017. He had prior drink‑driving and public‑order convictions. Judge Martin Nolan imposed concurrent sentences totalling four years, suspending the final two years on strict conditions. The sentence reflected Byrne's guilty plea, cooperation, good work history and psychiatric reports, while noting the seriousness of the distribution offence. The case involved 159 child‑explicit pictures and 21 videos, plus additional suggestive material seized during a search of Byrne's home.
The Special Criminal Court heard evidence in the trial of Ray Kennedy (39) and Laurence Murphy (62), who have pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the IRA on March 6, 2013. Kennedy is also charged with perverting the course of justice by destroying a mobile SIM card. The prosecution presented the statement of Eithne Butterly, widow of dissident republican Peter Butterly, who was shot dead outside The Huntsman Inn in Gormanston, Co Meath, on that date. Mrs Butterly told gardai that Kennedy was a "good friend" to both of them and that her husband had received five death threats, including one from Alan Ryan. She stated her husband told her he was meeting Kennedy at 2pm on March 6, 2013, though Kennedy maintains the meeting was scheduled for 2.30pm. The court heard that four men—Kevin Braney, Edward McGrath, Sharif Kelly, and Dean Evans—have already received life sentences for the murder, while Michael McDermott and Frank Murphy have also been jailed for their roles in the killing. The trial, presided over by Ms Justice Tara Burns, Judge Sarah Berkeley, and Judge Michael Walsh, resumes tomorrow.
A 20-year-old defendant, who was 16 at the time of the offences, pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual exploitation of a child in Dublin on August 21 and August 25, 2015. The Central Criminal Court heard that the defendant forced a 12-year-old girl to perform oral sex on him in a public park while other youths recorded the act on mobile phones. Four days later, he allegedly coerced the victim into performing oral sex on a younger boy, threatening to distribute the recorded images if she refused. The defendant's legal team, led by Seamus Clarke SC, argued that the client believed the victim was 14 and did not realize his actions were illegal. The defendant submitted a letter apologizing to the victim, describing himself and the other boy as teenagers with little sense. Mr Justice Michael White adjourned the sentencing to October 17. Separately, the younger boy involved in the second incident was sentenced last August and ordered to complete 180 hours of community service. His defense counsel, Roisin Lacey SC, stated that the boy acted under fear of social media repercussions and had a limited understanding of consent. Neither defendant can be named to protect the victim's identity.
Ray Kennedy (39) and Laurence Murphy (62) are on trial at the Special Criminal Court, having pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation, styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh Na hÉireann, otherwise the IRA on March 6, 2013. Mr Kennedy is also charged with carrying out an act intending to pervert the course of justice by destroying a mobile telephone SIM card. The prosecution alleges the pair were involved in the "meticulously planned killing" of dissident republican Peter Butterly (35), who was shot dead outside The Huntsman Inn in Gormanston, Co Meath, on that date. Testimony from Detective Garda Alan Waters indicated that Mr Kennedy arrived at the scene shortly after the shooting, claiming he was meeting his "friend" Mr Butterly. The prosecution suggests Mr Kennedy destroyed the SIM card to destroy evidence. While the current trial is ongoing, four other men—Kevin Braney, Edward McGrath, Sharif Kelly, and Dean Evans—have already received life sentences for Mr Butterly's murder. Additionally, Michael McDermott (60) and Frank Murphy (59), who played roles in the murder, have also been jailed. The trial resumes before Justice Tara Burns, sitting with Judges Sarah Berkeley and Michael Walsh.
Christian Herbert, 40, of Blanchardstown, Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to possession of cocaine for sale or supply. The court heard that on November 16, 2018, the accused was caught transporting approximately €136,000 worth of cocaine at Blackcourt Road, Corduff, allegedly on behalf of another person in exchange for a €500 reduction in a drug debt. Judge Elma Sheahan noted the offence was aggravated by its seriousness but mitigated by Herbert's early guilty plea, cooperation with gardaí, genuine remorse, and his previous work as a drug counsellor. The judge also considered his moderate risk of re-offending due to addiction, his current methadone treatment, and his status as a cleaner in custody. Judge Sheahan sentenced Herbert to three-and-a-half years' imprisonment. However, she suspended the final 12 months of the sentence for 24 months on strict conditions. The sentence was backdated to November 16, the date Herbert first went into custody. The matter was finalised with this sentencing order.
Laurence Christie, 31, of Tallaght, Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to possessing cocaine and cannabis for sale or supply at his home on December 22, 2017. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a two-year custodial sentence, stating he could not consider a non-custodial option because Christie intentionally involved himself in the affair due to his own addiction problem. The prosecution presented evidence that a search of Christie's residence, following a garda tip-off, revealed just under 200g of cocaine valued at €13,416, 2kg of cannabis valued at €39,914, and €795 in cash. While Christie initially denied using drugs or owing money in interview, Sergeant Darren Coller testified that Christie later admitted "off the record" to having a cocaine addiction, running up a debt, and holding the drugs under threat to pay it off. Defense counsel Damien Colgan SC highlighted that Christie is now drug-free, employed, and a responsible family man with two children. Judge Nolan acknowledged Christie's cooperation and positive references but maintained that the sentence reflected the seriousness of the offense and the defendant's personal culpability. The matter was finalized with the imposition of the custodial sentence.
During a trial for Liam Brannigan, a 37‑year‑old from Dublin, a detective explained how two tracking devices were found on a white Range Rover belonging to the partner of the intended murder victim, Gary Hanley. The devices were discovered under the vehicle's centre beam after the car was stopped on Beaumont Road. Brannigan is charged with conspiring to murder Hanley between 15 September and 6 November 2017 and has pleaded not guilty. The court also heard about the arrests of Luke Wilson, Alan Wilson and Joseph Kelly on 6 November, who were convicted of conspiring to murder Hanley and received sentences ranging from six to twelve years. The trial will continue the following day.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 44‑year‑old Muhamet Gashi pleaded guilty to assault causing harm for stabbing Anton Donca on 14 April 2016. Gashi claimed Donca had threatened his children with remarks such as "I fuck your wife, I fuck your kids". Gashi, who lives in North Clarence Street Flats, said he was warned not to touch his kids and that Donca had a knife. The victim was walking to meet a friend when Gashi approached, and Gashi stabbed him, perforating his colon and requiring 11 days in hospital. Gashi had no prior convictions and was described by his defence as a man of very good character. Judge Martin Nolan accepted Gashi's account, noted the seriousness of the knife assault, and sentenced him to 28 months imprisonment. The case involved a relationship that had since broken down between Donca and Gashi's former wife.
Businessman James Mansfield Jnr, aged 52, was charged in the Special Criminal Court with conspiring to falsely imprison Martin Byrne and attempting to pervert the course of justice by directing Patrick Byrne to destroy CCTV footage. The alleged false imprisonment of Byrne took place between 1 January and 30 June 2015, while the attempt to destroy footage occurred between 9 and 12 June 2015 at Finnstown House Hotel. Mansfield was arrested by Garda Sergeant Eamon O'Neill at Clondalkin Garda Station under a warrant endorsed by the court. He was cautioned, presented with a true copy of the charge sheet, and remanded on bail to appear again on the following Monday. The court heard no reply from Mansfield during the arrest or when the charge sheet was handed to him.
The Special Criminal Court heard the opening of the prosecution case against Ray Kennedy and Laurence Murphy, who have pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation, styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh Na hÉireann, otherwise the IRA. Kennedy, 39, is additionally charged with carrying out an act intending to pervert the course of justice by destroying a mobile telephone SIM card. The trial concerns the killing of dissident republican Peter Butterly in March 2013. Prosecution counsel alleged that Kennedy arrived at the scene shortly after the shooting, having arranged a meeting with the victim, and subsequently destroyed a SIM card. It was further alleged that Murphy's vehicle passed the location two days prior to the incident and that he attended a debriefing meeting afterwards. The court heard that four other men have already received life sentences for the murder, while Michael McDermott and Frank Murphy, the latter being Laurence Murphy's brother, have also been jailed for their roles in the killing. David Cullen, whose plea to a lesser charge was accepted in 2014, turned State's witness. The trial is ongoing before a three-judge panel and resumes tomorrow.
Petru Pinto, 50, pleaded guilty to reckless assault causing harm after a five‑a‑side football match in Santry, Dublin, on 16 November 2012. He was sentenced by Judge Pauline Codd to a two‑and‑a‑half‑year prison term, suspended in full on the condition that he pay €5,000 to Paul Ceusan within three years. Ceusan suffered a Grade 4 renal injury, a split kidney, requiring a stent and resulting in 25 % loss of kidney function, high blood pressure, €1,350 in medical costs and about 20 weeks of work absence. The court noted that Pinto had no prior convictions in the six years since the assault, had expressed remorse, and was a founding member of the local football club. The judge described Pinto's tackle as a dangerous, conscious disregard for the victim's safety, and highlighted that the injury was not anticipated in a normal game. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
James Leddy, 55, of Blanchardstown, was convicted in December 2019 of three counts of indecent assault on 13‑year‑old Colm Bracken, aged 51, at Leddy's former home in Artane between May and September 1981. Leddy pleaded not guilty but was found guilty by majority verdict. Judge Pauline Codd sentenced him to eight months' imprisonment, suspending the final five months on strict conditions, including engagement with the Probation Service. The sentence was the maximum of two years allowed for offences committed in 1981. Leddy admitted guilt, expressed remorse, and has since led a pro‑social life, never re‑offending. He is now on the Sex Offenders' Register. The case highlighted the long‑lasting impact on Bracken, who described the abuse as a living nightmare and reported suicidal thoughts and hospitalisation. The trial was conducted at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The judge noted Leddy's lack of recollection but acceptance of the verdict and his mental health history.
During a sentencing hearing on 7 October 2019, the mother of a 17‑year‑old boy who attempted to murder 25‑year‑old Stephanie Ng spoke to Mr Justice Michael White. She said her son is remorseful and takes full responsibility. The boy met Ng on the Whisper app, pretending to be 19, and tried to kill her on 23 December 2017 at Sea Front, Queen's Road, Dun Laoghaire. He grabbed her, choked her, and slashed her neck. The mother explained that the boy had been hearing voices since secondary school, had attempted suicide at 14, and had been denied a bed at Linn Dara and Pieta House. He later hanged himself at home but was saved by his father. He has since been prescribed anti‑psychotic medication and has completed his Junior Certificate and written over 30 short stories. The defence requested a period of detention followed by supervision after he turns 18, citing uncertain diagnosis. The unnamed teenager pleaded guilty.
A court has heard that secretly recorded conversations involving Liam Brannigan (37) from Bride Street, Dublin 8, will be presented as evidence in his trial for conspiring to murder Gary Hanley between September 15th and November 6th, 2017. Brannigan entered a 'not guilty' plea during his arraignment in the Special Criminal Court. Three men who previously pleaded guilty to conspiring to murder Mr Hanley have already been jailed: Luke Wilson (24), Alan Wilson (39), and Joseph Kelly (35). Luke Wilson was jailed for 11 years for unlawful possession of a Beretta handgun with intent to endanger life, Alan Wilson received six years, and Joseph Kelly was jailed for 12 years. The prosecution will rely on seized phones, vehicles, and audio recordings from a Garda surveillance operation to prove Brannigan's involvement in the plot. The trial will include evidence of detailed discussions about how Mr Hanley was to be shot, how they would react to resistance, and how they would escape. The court will also hear about the arrest of Joseph Kelly and Luke Wilson, during which a semi-automatic pistol, a sound suppressor, and petrol were found. The trial continues tomorrow.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, a Slovakian woman, aged 68, testified via video link that she was raped by a Polish man she had met while struggling financially in Galway. The man, introduced as a "good guy" who could help her, offered her accommodation and her two daughters, with the understanding she would work as a cleaner. He demanded sex, raped her after a New Year's Eve party, and later raped her again in an abandoned farmhouse. He also forced her to perform oral sex on him on four occasions while she worked for him. The woman's partner, who was also threatened by the man, reported the abuse to Gardaí. The man was convicted on two counts of rape and four counts of oral rape between 2012 and 2016, and was remanded in custody until 25 October.
The State has dropped criminal proceedings against businessman Jim Mansfield Jnr for conspiring to commit false imprisonment and attempting to pervert the course of justice. However, prosecuting lawyers told the Special Criminal Court today that the Director of Public Prosecutions intends to "recommence proceedings" at a later stage. Mr Mansfield (52), of Tasaggart House, Garters Lane, Saggart, Co Dublin had been charged with conspiring with one or more persons to falsely imprison Martin Byrne on a date unknown between January 1, 2015 and June 30, 2015, both dates inclusive. He had also been charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice by directing Patrick Byrne to destroy recorded CCTV footage in relation to the false imprisonment of Martin Byrne between June 9, 2015 and June 12, 2015 at Finnstown House Hotel, Newcastle Road, Lucan, Co Dublin.
A 14‑year‑old boy was ordered to complete 180 hours of community service after he participated in an oral sex act with a 12‑year‑old girl. The boy was coerced by an older teenager who threatened to distribute pictures of a prior sexual incident unless the girl performed oral sex on the younger boy. The court heard that the incident lasted about ten seconds before the girl fled. The boy, now 17, pleaded guilty to engaging in a sexual act with a child. The judge noted the boy's age, good character, and lack of understanding of consent as mitigating factors, but also acknowledged his reprehensible participation in the victim's humiliation. He was also placed under Probation Service supervision for one year and required to undertake victim‑awareness training. The older boy, aged 20, remains unidentified to protect the complainant's anonymity. The victim described lasting psychological harm, including fear, self‑harm, and withdrawal from social activities.
A 34‑year‑old man named Dean Howe, accused of conspiring to murder Dubliner Gary Hanley, expressed frustration at the Special Criminal Court for setting his trial date for October 7, 2019, after claiming his solicitor was not present. Howe told the three‑judge panel that he had no legal representation and questioned the feasibility of a trial that could carry up to ten years. He was charged in May 2018 at Dublin District Court with conspiring to murder Mr Hanley between September 15 and November 6, 2017, an offence under Section 71 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006. The court, presided over by Judge Paul Coffey with Judges Gerard Griffin and Michael Walsh, set the trial date and noted it could last up to six weeks.