In a High Court hearing on 1 August 2019, a 17‑year‑old boy from Dublin pleaded guilty to engaging in a sexual act with a 12‑year‑old girl on 25 August 2015 at a location in County Dublin. He and a co‑accused, now 20, also admitted a second act on 21 August 2015 at a different site. The court heard that the older boy, then 16, forced the girl to give oral sex, took photographs, and later threatened her with the release of those images unless she performed oral sex on the younger boy. The victim described feeling compelled to comply, shaking and unable to stop, and said she was forced to "suck his dick like an ice‑pop" for about ten seconds before running away. The younger boy, who was 14 at the time, claimed he feared the older boy and believed the victim was also 14. He expressed remorse and offered an unreserved apology.
Alex Bravo, a 60‑year‑old arthritis sufferer, was found by Gardai with over five kilograms of cannabis resin in his Dublin flat, after a confidential tip that the drugs were being stored for a criminal gang. The cannabis, in a suitcase, was valued at €31,460. Bravo claimed he used the drug to manage his arthritis pain, micro‑dosing two‑tenths of a gram of cannabis oil, and that the suppliers had asked him to store the drugs on Sherrard Street. He pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Karen O'Connor accepted his fear of the suppliers, noted no evidence of him profiting from distribution, and suspended a two‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence, citing his good character and long residence in the area. She also ordered him to engage in offence and victim‑focused work.
Mark Sorahan, 44, of Ferrycarrig Drive, Coolock, Dublin, pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of heroin for sale or supply and obstruction of a Garda in the course of a search on Priorswood Road on 16 March 2018. He was found with two packages of heroin, one concealed within his buttocks, with a total estimated street value of €1,497. Sorahan admitted responsibility and cooperated with Gardaí, explaining that he had bought the drugs to fund repairs for his girlfriend's car. He also claimed a desire for a normal life and an interest in music. Judge Karen O'Connor imposed a suspended jail term of two and a half years for the possession charge and a separate suspended sentence of five months for the obstruction charge, stating that he had engaged in unacceptable behaviour and that he would either mend his ways or spend considerable time in prison.
A man from Aughavas, County Leitrim, has been sentenced to seven and a half years imprisonment following his conviction on money laundering charges at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Simon Gold, aged 54, pleaded not guilty to charges including money laundering, theft, deception and control of false instruments relating to offences between January 2010 and October 2012. A jury returned guilty verdicts on 20 counts after over 12 hours of deliberation, following more than two weeks of evidence. The court heard Gold operated fraudulent companies under multiple identities and targeted vulnerable individuals experiencing severe financial difficulty. Judge Martin Nolan described the crimes as devious and dishonest, noting Gold exploited men in desperate circumstances. The sentence was backdated to May 2018, when Gold first entered custody. Gold has 17 previous convictions, including 12 recorded in the United Kingdom for burglary, theft and larceny.
In August 2019 the Central Criminal Court sentenced a 49‑year‑old man to eight years' imprisonment for raping and repeatedly sexually assaulting his daughter. He pleaded guilty to oral rape and nine counts of sexual assault that occurred at his mother's home between 1 September 2014 and 2 March 2015. He also admitted exploiting the child by showing her pornographic DVDs. The offences took place in a county in Munster, a detail the court restricted from publication. The mother testified that the father had unsupervised access to the child at his mother's home, where he showed her pornographic film before orally raping her, grabbed her hair, forced her to masturbate with moisturiser and used digital penetration on several occasions. She described the impact on her family, noting that her 12‑year‑old daughter sometimes appeared angry or crying. The defendant, who had addiction problems, entered a guilty plea in April 2019.
In August 2019, the High Court heard that two couples, William and Elizabeth McCarthy and John and Winnie McCarthy, had failed to vacate an unofficial halting site at Cabragh Bridge in Co. Tipperary, despite orders from Tipperary County Council. The court had previously issued injunctions requiring the removal of mobile homes, vehicles and caravans and the cessation of residence at the site. The McCarthys were given until 5 pm on Thursday, 8 August to comply, or face imprisonment for contempt. The judge offered them a final chance to comply or seek legal advice, noting that the defendants had been served with the orders but were not fully satisfied that the consequences of non‑compliance were explained. The council had offered alternative accommodation, which the defendants rejected, and the court noted that the council's offer remained open. The case was adjourned to give the defendants a final opportunity to comply with the court's orders.
Mark Twomey, aged 21, was sentenced to eight years in prison, with the final three years suspended, after pleading guilty to intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to Melody Mbadugha. The offence occurred on 14 August 2018 when Twomey used a Stanley blade to slash Mbadugha's cheek. The judge described the injuries as "as horrible an injury as I have ever witnessed" and noted that Mbadugha would be left with a significant scar that could affect her self‑esteem. Twomey was found to have mental health difficulties and cognitive problems, but the judge said he understood the difference between right and wrong. The prosecution considered the crime to lie at the high end of the spectrum for such an offence. Twomey's cooperation with the Garda investigation and acceptance of his substance‑abuse problems were factors in the suspended portion of the sentence. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Paula Underwood, 56, of Balbriggan, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment with 18 months suspended for unlawfully using a computer to steal €23,213 from 91 pensioners between July 2008 and October 2013 at Donabate Post Office. She withheld weekly payments, manipulating the system to take money that was not hers. An Post refunded all affected customers and blamed the IT system in letters. The postmaster, Mr Neill Smith, was held liable and set up a repayment plan, paying €5,000 initially and still owing about €6,000. Mr Smith, who had been proud of his post office, expressed betrayal and health impact. Underwood was dismissed, made a voluntary statement to Gardaí, and admitted wrongdoing. She had no prior convictions and was planning to start a state‑funded fashion design course after sentencing. The judge described the crimes as despicable breaches of trust against elderly persons. Paula Underwood pleaded guilty.
Dubliner Annie Trieu (29) pleaded guilty to one count of laundering money at Tallaght district credit union between September 13 and September 31, 2017. The court heard that Trieu withdrew €34,587 from her account, as instructed by her former partner, and deposited part of the money into her credit union account in four separate lodgements. Her lawyer stated that Trieu was subjected to domestic violence by her former partner, including incidents where she presented to hospital battered and bruised. A detective described Trieu as a 'puppet' in the scam, noting she was not involved in the initial email scheme. The court heard that the email scam involved General Hardware Supplies Ltd in Co. Cavan and Ballytherm Ltd in Co. Limerick, with suspicions arising when Ballytherm confirmed they had not received payment. Gardaí traced the money to Trieu's account. Judge Pauline Codd noted Trieu was 'blinded by love' for her former partner. She was sentenced to eighteen months imprisonment, but the sentence was suspended in full, taking into account her guilty plea and the violent nature of her relationship with her former partner.
A 16‑year‑old boy pleaded guilty to attempting to murder 25‑year‑old Stephanie Ng on 23 December 2017 at Sea Front, Queen's Road, Dun Laoghaire. He met Ng on the Whisper app, where he pretended to be 19, and tried to kill her during their first face‑to‑face meeting. He grabbed her from behind, choked her to unconsciousness and then slashed her neck with a knife bought at Lidl. Gardai found a book of drawings in his bedroom, including a sketch of a person being cut up and the words 'serial killer'. The boy had unsupervised access to extreme pornography from age 11 or 12, had used Tor browsers, and had been on antidepressants since October 2015. A forensic psychiatrist reported that the boy had violent thoughts since 2015, had been bullied, and had a history of violent drawings and a scuffle with another boy.
Jeffrey Morrow and Paul O'Beirne were sentenced at the Central Criminal Court for facilitating a serious offence in connection with the murder of Vincent Ryan. Both men initially pleaded not guilty to murder, but following legal argument, the murder charge was dropped, and they pleaded guilty to facilitating a serious offence contrary to Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2006. The court found that they provided and destroyed a stolen Volkswagen Golf used by gunmen in the drive-by shooting that killed Mr Ryan outside his partner's home in 2016. Mr Justice Michael White noted that while not sentencing for murder, the proximity to the callous crime was a serious aggravating factor. He highlighted Morrow's extensive criminal history, including conspiracy to rob a cash-in-transit van, and O'Beirne's prior convictions. Considering their guilty pleas as a mitigating factor, the judge reduced headline sentences of 14 years for Morrow and 11 years for O'Beirne to final sentences of 11 years and nine years, respectively. Both sentences were backdated to reflect time already spent in custody. The judge formally struck out the murder charges. Outside court, Mr Ryan's partner, Kelly Smyth, expressed relief that the matter was concluded, stating she wished to move forward with her life.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Inga Ozolina, aged 48, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment with one year suspended, back‑dated to 29 May 2019, for the manslaughter of her boyfriend, Audrius Pukas, 40. Ozolina had previously obtained two safety orders against Pukas, which had lapsed before his death. She claimed that during a violent altercation she was assaulted, pulled her hair, pushed her to the floor and was bitten, and that she used a kitchen knife to defend herself. The judge noted that the killing was in self‑defence but that the defence was excessive, and that Ozolina had not accepted responsibility for Pukas's death. The sentence reflected mitigating factors such as her good character and the history of domestic violence, while the judge emphasised that the killing was not purely defensive. The case remained at the manslaughter level, with no murder conviction. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty and was acquitted.
Gheorghe Goidan, a 46‑year‑old Romanian, was sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment for raping two Czech women who were working as prostitutes in Ireland. The judge described the offences as "vicious and shocking" and noted that Goidan had targeted the women because he believed they would not be believed. He met each woman separately in hotel rooms, threatened them with a knife, and repeatedly assaulted and raped them. Goidan had pleaded not guilty to rape and sexual assault at a hotel in Portlaoise on 7 September 2017 and had also denied rape, oral rape and anal rape of a second woman at the Maldron Hotel in Galway on the same day. A jury found him guilty on all counts. The judge imposed ten‑year terms for each sexual offence and seven‑year terms for each robbery, with the sexual terms to run consecutively, resulting in a 20‑year jail term.
Adrian Savage, 57, of Bolton Court, Dublin, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to three counts of possession of child pornography at various Dublin locations in March 2016 and to a further count in December 2017. He admitted viewing images of underage girls while using an internet café on Cavendish Road and downloading material onto USB sticks. Gardaí found 15 USB sticks and a black binder with over 90 images of child pornography at his home. Savage claimed he had never harmed a child and that his attraction was to teenage girls, not children. He has eight prior convictions for possession of child pornography. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to five years imprisonment for the 2016 offences and to a two‑year term for the 2017 offence, which was suspended in its entirety on strict conditions, to run consecutively with the first term.
Karl McDonnell, 27, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm at the Generator Hostel in Smithfield on 15 April 2018. The incident involved a tourist from Switzerland who claimed McDonnell followed him into a toilet cubicle with his penis exposed, punched him, and then was punched back. McDonnell denied this, saying he was provoked when the tourist commented on his manhood and tried to grab his penis. Gardaí had conflicting accounts from both parties. McDonnell had 19 prior convictions for minor offences. The court heard the tourist declined to give a victim impact statement. Judge Martin Nolan, finding McDonnell's version reasonably believable, sentenced him to two and a half years' imprisonment, suspended in full, on condition he hand over €1,000 in compensation and raise an additional €1,500 over 18 months.
Four young men – John (22) and Christopher (23) Connors, Paddy (22) Connors and James (19) Wall – were sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for attacking a family home with stones and rocks on 23 December 2016. The assault, which took place at 2.45 am, left the occupants, including a newborn and a girl with special needs, homeless and forced them to spend Christmas in a hotel. The men pleaded guilty to criminal damage. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a 12‑month probation bond on John Connors, adjourned to 31 July 2020, and a two‑year suspended sentence on James Wall. Paddy Connors received a four‑year sentence with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions, while Christopher Connors was sentenced to four years with the final 18 months suspended. All sentences reflected the men's intoxication and the impact on the victim family.
In July 2019, a Dublin couple, Clare Ellis (34) and Gareth Boyle (32), pleaded guilty to attempting to obtain services by deception from KBC Bank after forging documents to secure a €239,000 mortgage. They had believed they would never qualify for a housing loan and had paid a "creative accountant" €2,500 for the false paperwork. The bank, suspicious of the documents, notified Gardaí, who found the couple cooperative and contrite. Judge Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin, noting the case was "not a highly sophisticated" deception, sentenced Ellis to 120 hours and Boyle to 100 hours of community service, replacing six‑ and five‑month prison terms. The judge highlighted that the bank suffered no loss but was misled, and that the couple's actions were driven by a desire to keep a roof over their heads and those of their children. The sentencing reflected the judge's view that the offence was "highly unusual and exceptional.".
Richard Joyce, 24, of Swans Nest, Kilbarrack, pleaded guilty to possession of stolen articles on 15 December 2016 in Portmarnock. He stole a TopCon surveying machine, worth €48,000, from a building site and was caught by gardaí while driving. The machine was recovered intact. Judge Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin sentenced Joyce to 18 months, fully suspended for the same period. The judge noted the offence was opportunistic, not pre‑meditated, and that Joyce had no idea of the machine's value. He had previously been convicted of possession of stolen items and failure to appear in court. The judge cited his turbulent childhood, PTSD, depression, anxiety and psychosis, and his history of addiction, as factors in the decision to suspend the sentence and encourage rehabilitation.
Selem Abbas, aged 22, was one of three men who threatened a teenager with scissors and a hurling stick, forced the victim into a car, and demanded he withdraw €100 from an ATM. The incident, which involved false imprisonment, was reported to the Gardaí. Abbas pleaded guilty to attempted robbery, robbery, production of scissors and a hurling stick, and false imprisonment. He had 22 prior convictions. At the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Abbas to six years' imprisonment, suspending the final 18 months on strict conditions. The sentence reflected the seriousness of the robbery, the use of weapons, and the false imprisonment of the teenager. Abbas was described as a frequent drug user at the time of the offence, but the court noted he was clean of drugs and had good family support. The teenager did not submit a victim impact statement. The case was prosecuted by Derek Cooney BL and defended by Brian Storan BL.
Daniel Mordukhov, a 33‑year‑old Russian national, entered Ireland using a false Lithuanian passport to escape police pressure in Russia that he claimed was aimed at entrapment of drug dealers. He obtained a PPS number and an Irish driving licence under the bogus identity, which enabled him to work and claim nearly €24,000 in state benefits from December 2005 to July 2011. He pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to forging a PPS number, forging a driving licence and stealing welfare payments. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a three‑year suspended jail term, requiring Mordukhov to surrender €15,000 he had in court and pay an additional €5,000 to the State within three years. He has no prior convictions in Ireland or Russia and is married with two children. The case was prosecuted by Eoin Lawlor BL, with Garda Michael McGreal reporting that Mordukhov voluntarily disclosed his false identity to immigration authorities.
Eddie Smith, 45, of Clondalkin, was sentenced by Judge Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin to 16 months imprisonment, fully suspended for 18 months, after pleading guilty to sexual exploitation for sending explicit Facebook messages to a 15‑year‑old boy on 19 June 2015. The messages, sent at 3 a.m., invited the child to have sex, including oral sex, and contained graphic remarks. Smith had no prior convictions. The judge noted the offence appeared unpremeditated, likely a spur of the moment after alcohol consumption, and considered mitigating factors such as Smith's guilty plea, his difficult personal circumstances, and his medium risk assessment by probation services. Smith was ordered to engage in victim support work, mental health services, and the Matt Talbot Community Trust, and to be added to the sex offenders register for five years. The sentencing reflected the seriousness of the impact on the victim, who now plans to move to Australia.
A 17‑year‑old boy pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to sexual exploitation of two cousins and the anal rape of one in 2015‑2016. The judge, Mr Justice Michael White, deferred a five‑year custodial sentence for one year, keeping the boy under Probation Services supervision. He noted the boy's behaviour was "disgraceful" and "shocked" him, and that the boy had blackmailed his cousin with pornographic material to continue sexual contact. The boy had been exposed to pornography from a very young age and had engaged in non‑penetrative sexual contact with his cousin from about age nine until 2016. He also admitted to anal rape of a male cousin, who was four months younger, claiming it was consensual. The court adjourned the next hearing to July 27 next year. The boy's smartphone will be monitored but not banned. The case was described as a serious concern involving young offenders exposed to porn on smart phones.
Paul Fanning, 59, was jailed for six months after a vigilante group called Emerald Hunters Ireland set up fake dating‑site profiles to catch him. The group, operating a sting on Badoo, created decoy accounts for girls under 16. Fanning contacted the accounts, asking for explicit images and proposing a meeting. He arranged to meet a 13‑year‑old named Ali at Merrion Square, where vigilantes confronted him and livestreamed the encounter on Facebook. Gardaí were called and evidence of his texts was presented. Fanning denied intent to have sex but admitted he believed the girls were underage. He pleaded guilty to attempting to communicate with a child for sexual exploitation between 30 January and 11 February 2018. Judge Pauline Codd sentenced him to two and a half years, suspending two years on condition of therapy. The case highlighted the use of vigilante stings and the legal complexities surrounding such investigations.
In 2016 a 15‑year‑old attacked a young man with autism in St Stephen's Green, Dublin, leaving the victim blind in one eye. The assault was filmed by friends and used by Gardaí. The teenager pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm. Under the Children Act 2001 the case was adjourned for a year of probation supervision. Judge Martin Nolan, noting the boy's age, lack of convictions and family support, imposed a three‑and‑a‑half‑year detention order, deferred for one year. At the hearing the judge suspended the entire detention, giving the teenager a chance to comply with probation. The victim suffered permanent loss of vision and was treated at the Eye and Ear Hospital. The defendant had no prior convictions and expressed remorse.
Oliver Ennis, a 35‑year‑old Dublin barman, pleaded guilty to multiple thefts from the Schoolhouse Hotel between December 2012 and October 2014, stealing €10,500 to pay for his youngest daughter's medical treatment. The Circuit Criminal Court, presided over by Judge Martina Baxter, had adjourned the case to allow Ennis to repay the stolen money, which he had now fully paid. Ennis had been a bar supervisor since early 2012 and was caught taking cash from the tills and pocketing it each night, a scheme uncovered after suspicious stock deficits prompted covert cameras. He is a father of four; his daughter suffers from pulmonary hypertension and has required treatment at Great Ormond Street Hospital. Ennis had a prior suspended sentence for a breach of trust, which the judge cited as an aggravating factor.
Stephen Keane, a 30‑year‑old former British Army land sergeant who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for a series of offences committed on 25 August 2018. He pleaded guilty to impersonating a Garda at BoyleSports, unlawfully seizing a vehicle at Firhouse Shopping Centre, and robbery at Dwan's Off‑Licence. Keane admitted that he had been suffering from PTSD and had developed a heroin and crack cocaine addiction after his service, which he said motivated his desperate actions. He was given a six‑year prison term with the final three years suspended, conditional on engaging in probation, offence‑ and victim‑focused work and drug treatment. The judge noted his remorse and the frightening impact of his conduct on victims, while acknowledging his addiction and drug debt as driving factors. Keane has 68 prior convictions in Ireland and the UK.
Kathleen Kiely, 32, of London, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to handling stolen property and handling assorted stolen jewellery on January 21, 2018. She was caught attempting to sell €90,000 worth of damaged gold jewellery, traced to a burglary in Lucan, to a cash-for-gold shop in Tallaght. Judge Karen O'Connor sentenced Kiely to two years' imprisonment but suspended the entirety of the sentence on strict conditions. The court noted aggravating factors including premeditation and impact on the victim, balanced by mitigating factors such as her guilty plea, good character, and status as a mother. Her former partner, Michael Maughan, 25, of Tallaght, also pleaded guilty to handling assorted stolen jewellery on the same date. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced Maughan to four years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended. The prosecution highlighted that gardaí had placed the shop under surveillance after receiving information about the planned sale. Defence counsel argued Kiely was influenced by Maughan and was not the primary target of the investigation. No previous convictions were recorded for Kiely. The matter was finalised with these sentences imposed.
In a 2019 hearing at the Central Criminal Court, Mr Justice Michael White granted Michael Corbett, 29, permission to leave his mother's home after a 2016 incident at the Hellfire Club where he attempted to murder a 17‑year‑old and later assaulted a psychiatric nurse. Corbett had been released from a nine‑year sentence after serving less than three years, with the final six years suspended due to his paranoid schizophrenia. He had pleaded guilty to attempted murder and to assaulting nurse Declan Curtin, for which Judge Melanie Greally imposed a five‑year sentence with the final two‑and‑a‑half years suspended for 15 years under strict conditions, including supervision by the Probation Service and residence at an approved address. Mr Justice White removed the requirement that Corbett live with his mother, provided he continues his medication and resides at a probation‑approved accommodation.
Slawomir Gierlowski, 34, was tried in the Central Criminal Court for a 2010 sexual assault on a fourth victim. The court heard that the victim was walking home at about 3 a.m. when Gierlowski attacked her in the courtyard of her apartment block, attempted to rape her, and ejaculated on her skirt. DNA from the semen matched a profile taken from Gierlowski in 2016, which had previously linked him to other attacks in 2015 and 2011. The jury returned unanimous guilty verdicts on charges of sexual assault, attempted rape and assault causing harm after just under three hours of deliberation. Gierlowski maintains his innocence on all offences, and his earlier convictions and sentences are currently under appeal. The victim declined to give a victim impact statement. The case was adjourned for sentencing.
Two men were jailed at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 29 July 2019 following their convictions for defrauding over 140 foreign investors of approximately €5.5 million through Arden Forestry Management between January 2014 and mid-2016. Garret Hevey, described by the court as the scheme's architect, pleaded guilty to dishonestly inducing investment and making deceptive payment requests. David Peile, who joined the company in 2015, entered similar guilty pleas. The fraud involved misrepresenting forestry investment opportunities, with investors led to believe their funds would purchase land generating returns through government grants and forest harvesting. In reality, the company owned only 30 acres when investigated, insufficient to service the claimed 858 acres of investor holdings. Judge Melanie Greally characterised the offence as calculated fraud, noting significant harm to victims, many of whom had invested for their children. Hevey received five years imprisonment with the final year suspended, while Peile was sentenced to four years with one year suspended. The court heard that €1.98 million remained in company accounts when frozen by gardaí.
A 54-year-old woman from Dublin has received a fully suspended five-year sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for storing over €192,000 worth of drugs at her home. Catherine Byrne pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply on May 29, 2018. Her co-accused, Robert Yeates, aged 32, also pleaded guilty to possession of a shotgun at a location in Finglas North on the same date. The court heard that Byrne became involved in the offence to settle her daughter's drug debt after threats were made against her family. Judge Martin Nolan found her culpability low, noting she acted under duress to protect her daughter from serious individuals. Yeates received a three-and-a-half-year suspended sentence conditional on keeping the peace and maintaining good behaviour for that period. Byrne has 21 previous convictions for road traffic offences, while Yeates has two similar prior convictions.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court jury trial, Daniel Dos Santos, 24, was found guilty of robbing a Spanish restaurant worker of a mobile phone and a bottle of wine. The jury returned an 11‑1 verdict. Dos Santos also pleaded guilty to burglary, criminal damage to a house in Churchtown, and unlawful carriage in a vehicle, for which he received suspended sentences. The robbery occurred on 10 May 2016 when Dos Santos, accompanied by a second man, grabbed a Spanish waitress on Bridge Street and struck her in an unprovoked, violent attack. The judge noted he was not the prime mover. The victim's impact statement described lasting fear and financial loss. Dos Santos was sentenced to four years' imprisonment for the robbery, with consecutive terms of two and a half years for burglary and one year for unlawful carriage, all suspended for three years upon release.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 29 July 2019, Keith McDonnell, aged 29, pleaded guilty to criminal damage to his Mountjoy Prison cell on 21 May 2013. The offence followed the suicide of his former partner, after which McDonnell reportedly "lost his head" and caused over €1,700 worth of damage, including a smashed washbasin, damaged waste pipes, a 22‑metre glass viewing panel, a modesty screen door, a laminated mirror and a spyhole. McDonnell, who had 68 previous convictions, had been serving a separate sentence for criminal damage at the time. Judge Melanie Greally, noting his guilty plea and efforts at rehabilitation, imposed an 18‑month sentence and suspended it in full for 18 months. The court heard that McDonnell had fled to the UK in 2014, returned to Ireland last year to address outstanding warrants, and that the death of his former partner had had devastating effects on him.
Dubliner Christopher Dunne (34) has been sentenced to five and a half years in prison for his role in a series of robberies and attempted robberies across Dublin between October 24, 2017, and December 11, 2017. Dunne, who has no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to the charges at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Karen O'Connor imposed consecutive sentences of three years and four and a half years. A portion of the sentence was suspended for 24 months on the condition that Dunne keep the peace. The court heard that Dunne used weapons such as a knife, screwdriver, and claw hammer during the crimes. Garda Aoife O'Brien stated that Dunne robbed cash from Applegreen, Howth Road, Clontarf, on four occasions and committed further robberies in Killester, Artane, and Clontarf. Dunne was also involved in a robbery at a shop in Waterville, Blanchardstown, and acted as the getaway driver in another robbery on Oxmantown Road, Stoneybatter. Dunne has 89 previous convictions, including for robbery, burglary, theft, and drug possession. His defence acknowledged that he was a drug user who committed the crimes to fund his addiction. Judge O'Connor noted that the crimes caused fear and distress to victims and that Dunne is a chronic drug addict who pleaded guilty to the charges.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 29 July 2019, a 14‑year‑old juvenile and his 18‑year‑old accomplice, David O'Neill, pleaded guilty to four counts of robbery and a theft charge. The court heard the pair carried out three robberies in the early hours of one morning, punching victims and knocking them unconscious. CCTV footage showed the juvenile and O'Neill punching a medical student from Saudi Arabia, a second man leaving a nightclub, and a third man at Temple Bar. The juvenile also robbed a young man of his bank card and forced him to withdraw money from ATMs. The judge, citing the juvenile's age, remorse and cooperation, imposed a two‑year detention sentence. O'Neill received a four‑and‑a‑half‑year prison term with the final 18 months suspended. The court noted the victims suffered facial injuries and were taken to hospital.
In 2019, a 58‑year‑old man who had been released from prison in January after serving the non‑suspended part of a ten‑year sentence was jailed for 18 months for breaching the conditions of his suspended sentence. The man had originally been convicted of raping his ex‑partner on 9 August 2013, an offence that involved a hatchet, threats of death and cutting the victim's hair. He had been required to participate in the "Better Lives" sex‑offender treatment programme while in custody, but his assessors found he had not achieved the necessary level of participation or insight into his crime. The Central Criminal Court, presided over by Justice Paul McDermott, revoked part of the three‑year suspended sentence and imposed a substitute 18‑month term, with the final 18 months suspended on the offender's own bond to keep the peace. The judge noted the man's high degree of violence and the need for a proportionate response. The unnamed 58-year-old pleaded guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, Tumenbayer Dashnamjil, aged 48, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after attacking his then partner on 17 March 2018. The incident began after Dashnamjil had consumed a bottle of Jack Daniels around midnight, during which he threw objects and later punched his partner on the right cheek. He then followed her to the bathroom, choked her, and threatened that he would "kill everyone." The victim reported feeling in fear for her life and that Dashnamjil had repeatedly said he was not afraid of the Gardaí and would kill her if she called them. Dashnamjil, who has 13 prior convictions including assault, theft and public order offences, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions. The judge noted a disturbing background of alcohol‑related behaviour and previous convictions. The sentence was imposed in the presence of the victim's testimony and Dashnamjil's admission of guilt.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 36‑year‑old Cork man was convicted of raping his neighbour on 17 April 2017 after she asked him to leave her home. The jury found him guilty of the single rape charge. Judge Tony Hunt noted that the victim's hospitality was abused and that the man claimed a relationship that the victim denied. He highlighted that the offence was aggravated by the location and the use of force beyond what would be required for non‑consensual activity. The sentence was eight and a half years' imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions, including compliance with Probation Service directions for 12 months after release. The man had 43 prior convictions, including assault, theft and traffic offences. The victim's impact statement described lasting fear and distress following the assault. The court did not consider any subsequent actions or appeals.
In July 2018, a 33‑year‑old Dublin man pleaded guilty to six charges of sexual assault against four of his young female cousins, with offences occurring between 2000 and 2006. The victims, now in their twenties, were aged four to eight at the time of the assaults. They testified that the family, once close, was torn apart by the revelations. The man, who had no prior convictions, admitted the acts after police first met the women. Judge Sinead Ní Chúlacháin imposed a four‑year suspended sentence, with jail terms ranging from one to four years for each charge, but suspended all of them. She noted his moderate risk of re‑offending and his limited understanding of the impact on his victims. The sentence was accompanied by a psychological report highlighting his weaknesses in reasoning and empathy. The judge emphasised that no penalty could restore the victims' lost innocence, trust or sense of security.
Dean Howe, 34, of Oakfield Place, Dublin 8, was returned for trial to the Special Criminal Court on a charge of conspiring to murder Gary Hanley. The DPP applied for the transfer, arguing ordinary courts were inadequate, and the order was granted by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, sitting with Judges Martin Nolan and Ann Ryan. Howe is the fifth person charged in the alleged plot. At the same hearing, Alan Wilson, 40, of New Street Gardens, Dublin 8, was sentenced to six years after admitting to conspiring with Luke Wilson and others to murder Mr Hanley between September 15 and November 6, 2017. Joseph Kelly, 39, of Kilworth Road, Drimnagh, Dublin 12, was also jailed for six years for admitting to the same conspiracy. Kelly received a concurrent 12-year sentence for pleading guilty to possessing a 9mm Beretta semi-automatic pistol with intent to endanger life at Philipsburgh Avenue, Marino, Dublin 3, on November 6, 2017. Previously, Luke Wilson, 23, of Cremona Road, Ballyfermot, Dublin 10, was sentenced to 11 years for unlawful possession of a Beretta handgun with intent to endanger life at Philipsburgh Avenue, Fairview, Dublin 3, on the same date. Wilson also received a concurrent six-year sentence for admitting to conspiring to murder Mr Hanley. All sentences for Kelly and Wilson were ordered to run concurrently.
Michael Brady, aged 54, was sentenced by the Special Criminal Court to eight years and six months' imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended, for possession of €1.25 million worth of heroin found in the base of a bed at an apartment in Sallins Bridge, Naas, on 24 January 2017. The judge noted that Brady was trusted by a criminal gang to look after the heroin, but was not involved in buying, selling or planning criminal activity. Brady was found not guilty of possessing cocaine, cannabis, an assault rifle and ammunition, and the charge of possessing three ammunition magazines was withdrawn. Brady denied all charges and claimed he only looked after dogs belonging to his brother, Declan Brady, who was jailed for 10 ½ years for supervising a firearms arsenal. The sentence was back‑dated to 12 April 2017, the date of Brady's initial custody. Michael Brady was found guilty.
Three men – Gary Thompson (34), his brother Glen Thompson (24) and Afghan war veteran Robert Browne (35) – were sentenced by the Special Criminal Court to a combined 36.5 years for planning to murder Patrick "Patsy" Hutch. The court heard that the men were intercepted by Gardaí just 250 metres from Hutch's home in Dublin's north inner city, having been caught "red‑handed" during a Garda operation that involved audio surveillance and the seizure of several loaded firearms. Each brother received 12 years and six months, while Browne was sentenced to 11 years and six months. The sentences were back‑dated to 10 March 2018, the day the men were taken into custody. The judge noted the seriousness of the offence, the extensive preparation, and the men's guilty pleas, which led to a 25 % reduction in the headline 18‑year sentences. The operation was praised for its intelligence and effectiveness.
Alan Wilson, aged 40, was sentenced by the Special Criminal Court to six years' imprisonment, back‑dated to 6 November 2017, for conspiring to murder Gary Hanley. Wilson's role involved planning the attack, instructing co‑accused Joseph Kelly and Luke Wilson on routes, vehicle destruction and the method of killing. Wilson also received a six‑year concurrent sentence for conspiracy to murder and a 12‑year sentence for possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, the latter suspended for three years. Joseph Kelly, aged 39, received a six‑year concurrent sentence for conspiracy to murder and a 12‑year sentence for firearm possession, with 18 months suspended for a period of three years. The sentences were imposed concurrently and back‑dated to the date of Kelly's initial custody. The court noted Wilson's early guilty plea and lack of prior convictions as mitigating factors. The judge highlighted the Gardaí's intervention as preventing the planned murder.
In July 2018, Gary Kelly, a 41‑year‑old plumber for Dublin City Council, pleaded guilty to threatening to kill two colleagues, John Maher and Brian Fitzpatrick, by saying he would "get a bullet" on them. The threats were made in January 2018 while Kelly was experiencing severe mental health problems, including depression and psychosis, and he believed he was being followed by drones and ISIS. Gardaí arrested him at his home, where his wife had expressed concern about his mental health. After a probation report was presented, Judge Melanie Greally sentenced Kelly to a fully suspended three‑year term, citing the seriousness of the threats and the lasting impact on the victims. The sentence was suspended on the condition that Kelly remain in good behaviour, attend all mental‑health appointments, and have no contact with the victims or their families for three years.
Piotr Waleza, 46, of Balbriggan, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two counts of handling stolen vehicles in 2014. He sold a Hyundai Santa Fe and a Ford Focus, each stolen three days earlier, for €6,000 and €5,850 respectively, to self‑employed buyers who suffered financial loss and emotional distress. The court heard that Waleza had a terminal illness with a poor prognosis and had been living in Ireland for 14 years, with prior convictions in Ireland and Poland for drink‑driving, fraud and driving without a licence. Judge Karen O'Connor imposed a suspended three‑year jail term, citing the seriousness of the offences and Waleza's ill health. She ordered €1,000 to be divided between the two injured parties and noted that Waleza had admitted to Gardaí that he knew the vehicles were stolen and sought to profit from them. The sentence reflects the judge's view that the crimes were pre‑meditated and dishonest.
Joseph Hussey, 41, pleaded guilty to assaulting Garda Gemma Twohig on 13 October 2018 and threatening to kill a woman in his home on 19 January 2019. He has three prior convictions. The court described him as a "Jekyll and Hyde character" who is calm when sober but violent when drunk. Judge Martin Nolan remanded him overnight and later sentenced him to 18 months imprisonment, fully suspended on the condition of good behaviour for 18 months. The judge noted the abuse of Gardaí friendships and the animal cruelty offence. Hussey had previously threatened Gardaí, feigned unconsciousness, and was handcuffed after becoming abusive to ambulance and medical staff. The victim impact report detailed Garda Twohig's injuries and emotional distress. No further legal outcomes were mentioned.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 25‑year‑old Liam O'Neill pleaded guilty to robbing 58‑year‑old Paul Mullarkey on Grattan Parade, Drumcondra, on 29 November. O'Neill had consumed heroin, cocaine and alcohol that day. CCTV showed him jostling Mullarkey, thrusting a sharp piece of a small tree branch into his stomach and throat, threatening to stab him, kicking and punching him, then biting parts of his ear and nose. The attack lasted about six minutes, during which O'Neill stamped on Mullarkey's head and torso and stole €50. Mullarkey suffered cuts, scratches and bite injuries, requiring treatment at the Mater. O'Neill was arrested that evening after erratic behaviour outside Mater Hospital; DNA on his clothing matched Mullarkey's. O'Neill had 82 prior convictions, including violent offences, and had served a four‑year term for a previous robbery. Judge Martin Nolan described the robbery as "serious" and the assault as "visceral and barbaric".
At the Central Criminal Court, two men have pleaded guilty to facilitating the murder of Vinnie Ryan, whose shooting in Dublin on 19 February 2016 left his five-week-old daughter without a father. Paul O'Beirne of Ballyfermot and Jeffrey Morrow of Coolock admitted providing and destroying a stolen silver Volkswagen Golf used in the fatal attack, which involved at least thirteen shots fired at Mr Ryan's vehicle. Gardaí established the connection through CCTV footage, mobile phone evidence, and forensic analysis linking the men to the vehicle's movements before and after the killing. O'Beirne, with twenty-five previous convictions for road traffic offences, and Morrow, carrying one hundred and twenty prior convictions including conspiracy to rob cash-in-transit vans, both sought leniency from Mr Justice Michael White. The judge commended the gardaí investigation and expressed sympathy for the victim's family and partner. Sentencing is scheduled for 31 July 2019, with a maximum penalty of fifteen years for the offence under the Criminal Justice Act 2006.
Glen Carolan, 21, pleaded guilty to robbing a McDonald's in Santry on 1 May 2018, taking €513. He claimed he was forced to do it or be killed, citing debts from drug addiction and gambling. Carolan admitted he used a knife to threaten staff while wearing a balaclava and blue latex gloves, demanded money, and placed the cash in a plastic bag. He fled on a push bike, which was later found, and was subsequently located hiding in shrubbery. Judge Melanie Greally suspended a five‑year prison sentence for five years, ordering him to engage with the Probation Service for 12 months for addiction services and drug screening. The court noted his lack of prior convictions and the "do or die" situation he described. The sentence was imposed on the condition of compliance with the probation order.
Catherine Gaffney, 53, of Donaghmede, pleaded guilty to two counts of theft and two of money‑laundering after running a fake property company, Hamilton Aherne Partners, that lured buyers into paying deposits for non‑existent or already‑sold houses. The company claimed to offer lower prices by dealing directly with banks, but the buyers were told to ignore official prices and pay a deposit. Gaffney opened a bank account for the company, withdrew the deposits, and was caught on CCTV. She was sentenced to four and a half years' imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended on strict conditions. The case highlighted pre‑planning, loss of money to victims, and Gaffney's guilty plea and personal circumstances as mitigating factors.