Jason O'Connor, 41, was sentenced to three years in prison for assaulting a man at The Paddocks pub in Clonee on 3 November 2018, and for making threats to kill or seriously harm Detective Sergeant Shane McCartan and Detective Inspector Joseph McLoughlin during a search of his home on 5 November 2018. The threats were recorded by a documentary film crew and played in court. O'Connor pleaded guilty to both the assault and the threats. He has 64 previous convictions, mainly traffic offences, but also knives, burglary and a mobile phone in prison. The judge, Martin Nolan, imposed a concurrent one‑year sentence for the threats, back‑dated to reflect time already spent in custody. The court noted that O'Connor had been in his boxer shorts when the Emergency Response Unit breached his door, and that he had a history of mental health issues and substance misuse.
A father‑of‑three, Alan Lyons, aged 12 to 17 during the offences, was jailed for five years for the sexual abuse of a 12‑year‑old boy by Dirk Jager, a 57‑year‑old former prisoner serving a life sentence for murder. Jager pleaded guilty to six charges – three of sexual assault and three of gross indecency – committed between December 1992 and December 1997. The abuse began when Jager, then 31, convinced the child that a relationship was desired, escalating to full penetrative sex. Jager admitted the abuse in January 2017 and expressed remorse in a letter to the victim. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a headline sentence of five years, reduced to three and a half years, and a total of six years with the final year suspended for five years on condition that Jager engage with the Probation Service. Alan Lyons was convicted.
Kessy Ferraz, 31, pleaded guilty to sexual assault at Rochestown Lodge on 14 May 2018. The court sentenced him to 18 months imprisonment, fully suspended on the condition he keep the peace and be of good behaviour for 18 months. He was also ordered to raise €2,000 in compensation, which may be handed to the victim if she agrees. The incident occurred when Ferraz sought toilet rolls and followed a woman into a ladies' bathroom cubicle, where he kissed her neck, grabbed her hand and attempted to pull it down to his genitals. The victim resisted and escaped. Ferraz had no prior convictions, had been an unaccompanied minor from Angola, and had recently taken steps to find his family. The judge noted his guilty plea, cooperation, remorse, lack of record and difficult life path as mitigating factors. The sentence was deemed unlikely to result in re‑offending.
A 39-year-old man has been sentenced to nine years imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court for the manslaughter of his housemate in Ballyjamesduff, County Cavan on New Year's Day 2018. Tomasz Paszkiewicz was convicted by jury of fatally stabbing Marek Swider, aged 40, with a boning knife following a dispute over money lost in a poker game. The defendant was cleared of murder but found guilty of manslaughter. Justice Tara Burns noted Paszkiewicz's expertise with the blade from his employment at a meat factory and identified the killing as falling within the serious category of such offences. She imposed a headline sentence of thirteen years, reducing it to nine years in consideration of his guilty plea, remorse, cooperation with gardaí, and personal circumstances. Paszkiewicz expressed sincere apology to the deceased's family and his own. The victim died from two stab wounds to the chest and abdomen. The unnamed 39-year-old pleaded not guilty.
A 30-year-old man from Ballymun has received a two-year suspended sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for stealing twenty bottles of spirits valued at €900 from Copper Face Jack's nightclub on Harcourt Street in May 2017. Jason Whelan pleaded guilty to the burglary charge after being identified on CCTV footage removing the alcohol from the venue's Premier Bar. The court heard that Whelan has 91 previous convictions, 43 of which relate to burglary offences, and that his criminal activity was motivated by a long-standing drug addiction. Judge Melanie Greally noted that since the theft, Whelan had undertaken treatment at Coolmine and received a favourable probation report. The judge cited his guilty plea, demonstrated remorse, and rehabilitation efforts as mitigating factors. The suspended sentence is conditional on Whelan maintaining the peace and accepting twelve-month supervision from the Probation Service.
Aaron Wilson, aged 30, was jailed for eight and a half years after he attacked Aaron Kiely, aged 32, and his girlfriend when Wilson saw the couple interfering with a window on Wilson's partner's car. Wilson pursued the couple and struck Kiely on three separate occasions, punching, kicking, stamping and using a chair to beat him. Kiely suffered deafness in his left ear, lost hearing in his right ear, fractures to both sides of his skull and a blood clot on his brain, leaving him unable to live independently and requiring 24‑hour care. Wilson pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm in January 2014. He had 14 prior minor traffic convictions and had failed to appear for a 2016 trial, resulting in a bench warrant. The judge, Martin Nolan, described the attacks as "particularly violent" and noted that Wilson's remorse and the severity of Kiely's injuries justified the sentence. The court did not read the victim impact reports.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Brian Bridgeman, 36, was sentenced to 28 months' imprisonment for burglary and criminal damage at St Michan's Church. Bridgeman admitted stealing the mummified head of an 800‑year‑old Crusader from the crypt, leaving two skulls in a bag on the church grounds with a note. He also pleaded guilty to five counts of criminal damage, including two for damaging a dead body. The court heard that the crypt's outer wrought‑iron doors were opened and an inner metal door was pulled down, a lock on the Hamilton family vault was damaged, and a coffin was broken. The 300‑year‑old mummy of "the nun" was disturbed, with bones broken and the head set at an almost 180‑degree angle. Reverend David Pierpoint delivered a victim impact statement, describing the burglary as devastating to clergy and parishioners and citing a loss of €35,000 in revenue and €15,000 in repairs.
A 15‑year‑old boy was given a deferred sentence after pleading guilty to repeated oral and anal rape of his eight‑year‑old nephew between June and September 2017. The abuse was discovered when the nephew's mother, after learning of the acts, took the boy to Gardaí. The boy initially denied the allegations but later admitted to repeated abuse over three months. He was found to have been exposed to heterosexual pornography on his smartphone, contributing to social isolation and difficulty forming age‑appropriate relationships. His mother has confiscated the phone, and he is now allowed only supervised use. A psychiatric report recommends supervision of his internet access. Probation Services assessed his risk of re‑offending as low. The court deferred a three‑year detention, ordered probation supervision, and set a review for July 14 next year. The judge praised the mother's courage in reporting the abuse.
Dominik Kaczmarek, 27, of Maplewood Green, Springfield, Tallaght, Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of 3,944 MDMA tablets found in his home on 8 October 2018. He had agreed to hold €39,000 worth of ecstasy tablets for €500 because of a gambling debt. Judge Martin Nolan noted Kaczmarek's gambling problem, his willingness to hand the drugs to third parties, and his good work record and cooperation with Gardaí. He had four prior convictions for minor road traffic offences but no relevant previous convictions. Garda Vincent Jaffray reported the tablets were found in a bedroom drawer and a jacket pocket, along with a weighing scale. Kaczmarek was jailed for two years, with the judge refusing a fully suspended sentence. The case highlighted his gambling addiction and his desire to turn his life around.
In March 2017, 20‑year‑old Lee Fetherson punched and kicked a 15‑year‑old pupil in a St Vincent's CBS corridor, briefly knocking him unconscious. The victim suffered a broken nose, concussion and ongoing breathing difficulties. Fetherson, who had no prior convictions, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm. Judge Elma Sheahan sentenced him to 18 months imprisonment, suspended in full for 24 months on strict conditions. He paid €2,500 to court, which the judge ordered to be handed to the Gardaí for the victim's medical costs. The incident was captured on CCTV and presented to the judge. Fetherson had initially intended to break up a dispute but reacted violently after being shoved. He expressed remorse, offered compensation, and had no drug or alcohol issues. The victim's mother accepted the funds to aid his recovery. The case highlighted the seriousness of the offence and the mitigating factors of Fetherson's youth, good character and cooperation.
Maximilian Lang-Orsini, 24, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to sexual assault at Hanover Lane, Dublin, on November 16, 2013. The prosecution alleged that Lang-Orsini exposed himself and masturbated in front of an injured 64-year-old woman, standing over her while she lay on the ground. Judge Martin Nolan accepted the submission that the charge was based on the victim's apprehension of imminent sexual assault, noting a reasonable basis for the charge while acknowledging Lang-Orsini did not intend to physically injure or sexually assault her. The judge described the behavior as shameful and stated that the only reason Lang-Orsini avoided immediate custody was his lack of prior convictions. He sentenced Lang-Orsini to two years in prison, which was suspended in full for two years. Additionally, the court ordered Lang-Orsini to raise €10,000 to be handed over to Garda O'Brien within 18 months, a sum the judge described as a punishment intended to deter future offenses. If the victim does not accept the money, the court will dispose of it. Judge Nolan emphasized that he would have imposed a custodial sentence if he believed Lang-Orsini deserved one. The defense noted Lang-Orsini had no previous convictions, was intoxicated on MDMA at the time, and had apologized unreservedly.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a Spanish woman who had come to Dublin to learn English suffered permanent facial scarring after being glassed by Rosangela Wyzykowski (34) in a city‑centre pub. Wyzykowski, a trained physiotherapist from Brazil living at Talbot Street, threw a large glass at the victim's face after a confrontation that began when the Spanish woman asked her to stop bumping into her while dancing at Dicey's bar. The glass struck the victim's face, causing a deep wound that required eight hours in A&E at St Jame's Hospital and subsequent surgery at a private clinic in Lucan to remove the glass. The victim incurred €2,600 in medical costs and lost about €400 in wages. Wyzykowski was sentenced to two years' imprisonment, fully suspended on the condition of 12 months' probation, and she brought €10,000 and a letter of apology to the court.
Michael Geoghegan, 36, a former Crufts best dog handler, was placed on a probation bond after pleading guilty to three knife‑point robberies in Swords, north Dublin. The judge, Patricia Ryan, adjourned his sentence to January, citing his efforts to address drug and alcohol addiction and a probation report supporting his rehabilitation. Geoghegan handed €2,500 as a gesture of remorse to be divided among the victims. He had previously admitted to producing a large kitchen knife and an iron drill bit to intimidate victims and resisting arrest. The court noted his past convictions for robbery with an imitation firearm (2005) and drug offences. He threatened a Garda with a knife during the arrests, but the officer used a baton to disarm him. The case remains pending, with the sentence to be decided next year.
Alan Keogh, a 42‑year‑old self‑employed truck driver from Tallaght, was sentenced to 16 months' imprisonment after pleading guilty to 11 counts of failing to file VAT and income tax returns between 2010 and 2016. He had initially complied with tax obligations, registering for VAT in 2004 and filing returns until 2008, but cancelled his registration in 2009 claiming his business was no longer viable. Despite this, he continued to receive payments from GLS, a parcel delivery company, and subcontracted work to other drivers, with payments made to an AIB account in his name. Revenue officials found him liable for €375,732, and investigations revealed he had not maintained proper bookkeeping or declared subcontractor payments. Keogh had no prior convictions and was described by his employer as a hard worker. The judge accepted that he had complied fully with the tax code and would have been entitled to tax relief, but deemed a 16‑month sentence appropriate.
Jason Kane, aged 24 of St Attracta Road, Cabra, Dublin, has been sentenced to three years imprisonment following his guilty plea to assault causing harm and production of a knife at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The offences occurred on September 3, 2018, outside his residence. The court heard that Kane slashed a woman's face with a Stanley knife during an altercation, causing a six-centimetre wound to a cosmetically visible area that will leave a permanent scar. Kane claimed he initially believed the knife in his pocket was a lighter and intended only to stun the victim with its handle. The judge noted that application of a knife to the head or face constitutes serious offending. In mitigation, the court considered Kane's guilty plea, expression of genuine remorse, and work history as a chef. The sentence was backdated to September 5, 2018, when Kane first entered custody. Kane has previous convictions for assault and public order offences.
Patrick O'Driscoll, aged 21, was convicted by a Central Criminal Court jury in Cork of raping a sleeping woman on 10 May 2016 while her boyfriend slept beside her. The victim, who remains anonymous, stated that the assault occurred from behind and that she tried to wake her boyfriend, leading to a confrontation. O'Driscoll denied the charge, claiming he had been invited to sleep in the bed, a claim refuted by the boyfriend. He was arrested for a public order offence before the full extent of the incident was known. O'Driscoll, who has 37 prior district‑court convictions, was sentenced to ten years, reduced to seven years by the judge to account for mitigating factors such as his young age and personal circumstances. He remains in custody. The court noted no restriction on publishing his identity but advised caution in reporting the location. The victim's impact statement described lasting emotional harm, nightmares, and feelings of shame and anger.
Two men, Paul O'Beirne (36) and Jeffrey Morrow (37), pleaded guilty to helping a criminal organisation murder 25‑year‑old Vinnie Ryan. They were charged with facilitating a serious offence under Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006. O'Beirne was also charged with providing and destroying a motor vehicle used in the murder, while Morrow's indictment did not mention the vehicle. The court accepted the pleas and remanded both men in custody until a sentence hearing on 26 July. Mr Justice Michael White said he would not pass sentence that day and would set a date for sentencing. The trial included evidence that Ryan was shot three times, one bullet passing through his head, and CCTV footage linking O'Beirne to the disposal of a seat cover from a car used in the murder. The prosecution also presented DNA evidence linking a dog's hair to the cover recovered from O'Beirne's garden.
Warren Farrell, a 33‑year‑old Garda from Ballyfermot, was driving a marked patrol car when he struck 75‑year‑old Elizabeth Core on Fonthill Road South, Dublin, on 28 August 2014. He pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving causing death but was convicted by a jury on an alternative charge of careless driving causing death. Judge Cormac Quinn, at a sentence hearing in March, ordered Farrell to pay €5,000 to the Irish Road Victims' Association and a €2,000 fine within four months, with a proposed nine‑month prison term deferred under Section 100 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006. The judge confirmed Farrell had complied with the conditions and therefore did not impose the prison sentence. The court noted Farrell's speed was 50‑56 km/h, above the 50 km/h limit, and that he had failed to slow down after seeing Core cross the road.
Gary Kinlan, 42, with 129 prior convictions, was sentenced to three years after robbing a cash‑in‑transit driver of €25,000 on 3 December 2018. The robbery occurred after Kinlan left Dublin District Court, where he had just received an eight‑month suspended sentence for another offence. While the driver was returning a cash box to his van, Kinlan, carrying nail clippers, threatened him with a metal object he claimed was a knife. The driver, fearing for his safety, dropped the box; Kinlan seized it and fled. Witnesses photographed him carrying the cash, and Gardaí were alerted by members of the public. Kinlan was arrested after attempting to evade officers, and a set of keys and nail clippers were seized. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, and the judge, noting his drug and alcohol issues and the opportunistic nature of the crime, imposed a three‑year sentence back‑dated to December 2018.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 63‑year‑old man pleaded guilty to raping a woman who could not recall the incident the following morning. The offence occurred on 11 August 2015 in County Meath. The court sentenced him to five years' imprisonment and imposed a three‑year post‑release supervision period with strict conditions, including abstaining from alcohol. The judge noted that both the accused and the victim were alcoholics and had been drinking together that night, each consuming two bottles of wine. After the victim slept, the accused entered her room and had sex with her without consent, leaving a condom wrapper in the ensuite. The accused admitted keeping condoms in his wallet and flushing them after use. He had prior convictions for sexual assault in 2010 and 1994. The judge highlighted his limited intellectual ability, cognitive difficulties, impulsivity, and the victim's vulnerability.
In a 2019 Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 74‑year‑old man pleaded guilty to indecent assault of his nephew, a boy aged about 13 or 14, committed between 1980 and 1983. The judge, citing the offence's maximum sentence of two years, imposed 16 months imprisonment, noting the defendant's age, remorse, guilty plea and mitigation. The court heard that the victim had been watching an Elvis Presley film when the uncle entered, forced the boy onto the couch, removed his clothes, and performed an anal rape. The uncle threatened the boy with death and family breakup if he disclosed the abuse. The defendant had 30 prior convictions, including firearms, drug possession and indecent assault. Gardaí had received an admission in 1989 that the defendant had done something "wrong" to the victim but did not investigate or inform the victim.
In a manslaughter sentencing hearing on 22 July 2019, the lawyer for Inga Ozolina argued that her client, a 48‑year‑old mother of two, killed her boyfriend, Audrius Pukas, in self‑defence after a history of domestic violence. The barrister claimed that Pukas had attacked Ozolina with a knife and that she had used her hands and fists in response. Ozolina had previously been found guilty of manslaughter, not murder, by a jury in May. The lawyer highlighted evidence of prior injuries to Ozolina and two safety orders that had lapsed. She requested that the judge place the offence in the lower culpability range, citing the alleged deadly attack. The judge adjourned sentencing to 31 July and remanded Ozolina in custody until then. The hearing did not address any further legal outcomes. Inga Ozolina pleaded not guilty.
A 37‑year‑old man from County Clare was sentenced to more than nine years in prison for raping a 13‑year‑old girl in 2011 after chasing her on church grounds. He denied the rape but was convicted of defilement after DNA proved he was the father of the girl's child, born when she was 16. The court described him as a "dangerous sexual predator" with a long history of sexual offences, noting he will be released while still young. He will undergo seven years of post‑release supervision, must not contact anyone under 18 and must avoid loitering near places where children gather. The victim, now 20, said the assault ruined her life, causing ongoing anxiety and affecting her relationships. The man had previously been convicted of 17 sexual offences, including the defilement charge, and had 37 convictions in total. The unnamed 13-year-old pleaded guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Mr Justice Paul McDermott granted the legal teams of two 14‑year‑old boys convicted of murdering 14‑year‑old Ana Kriegel access to parts of each other's probation reports that relate to the murder and sexual assault. The request was made by Gerardine Small BL for the Director of Public Prosecutions, and both defendants' counsel, Patrick Gageby SC and Damien Colgan SC, objected neither to the disclosure nor to a garda inspector's access. The judge emphasised that the documents must be handled with the strictest confidence and warned that any breach would be contempt of court. He also limited media presence to no more than five reporters at the boys' sentencing in October, citing the need for an appropriate environment. The boys, referred to as Boy A and Boy B, were convicted by unanimous jury verdicts last month for Ana's murder and aggravated sexual assault.
Lee Murray, 24, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison after pleading guilty to two separate assaults. In November 2016, he attacked Sam Hess on a Luas tram, using a screwdriver and attempting to rob him, causing Hess to suffer injuries and seek medical attention. In July 2017, he assaulted shopkeeper Brian O'Carroll on Drumcondra Road after a dispute over stolen alcohol, knocking O'Carroll unconscious. The court imposed a four‑year term for the Luas assault and a consecutive two‑year term for the shop assault, suspending the final 18 months on the condition that Murray keep the peace. Murray's history of 34 prior convictions, drug addiction, and homelessness were considered in sentencing, and he expressed remorse and has entered a rehabilitation programme. The judge noted the seriousness of the assaults and the use of a screwdriver as aggravating factors.
In a case heard at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Zak Dunne, aged 22, was found guilty of assault causing harm after stabbing a man in the stomach during a celebration of his Leaving Cert. The incident occurred on 18 July 2015 at McDonald's, Liffey Valley Shopping Centre, where Dunne, then 18, perceived the victim's brother as aggressive. A confrontation ensued, and Dunne stabbed the victim in the left lower abdomen. The victim was hospitalized, receiving 13 staples, and was immobile for a week, missing two weeks of work. Judge Karen O'Connor sentenced Dunne to two and a half years' imprisonment, fully suspending the term on strict conditions, including attendance at an anger management course. The court noted the seriousness of the attack, the unprovoked nature of the assault, and the use of a knife, while also citing mitigating factors such as Dunne's youth, good character, strong work ethic, desire for rehabilitation, and family support. Zak Dunne pleaded not guilty.
A 41‑year‑old man was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for three counts of sexual assault against a 14‑year‑old girl who was invited to his home for sleepovers in October 2016. The judge suspended the final six months on condition of probation supervision. The victim, now 16, described feeling "dirty, depressed and angry," having self‑harmled and experiencing suicidal thoughts, and said her parents had been deeply affected, with her father unable to work for three months. The man had denied the charges but was found guilty by a jury. He had no prior convictions, had represented Ireland in sport, and was described by his defence as an "aberration" in his life. He will be registered as a sex offender and subject to post‑release supervision. The sentence was back‑dated to the date he entered custody.
Michael Connors, 26, of Marlfield Crescent, Tallaght, pleaded guilty to burglary at Commons Road, Shankill, on 21 April 2018, and to unlawful use of a vehicle at Whitehall Road, Dublin 12, on 22 April 2018. He was sentenced by Judge Elma Sheahan to four and a half years' imprisonment, with the final six months suspended on strict conditions. The court noted that Connors, while unlawfully at large from custody, broke into a house, stole a car's keys, avoided contact with the house's son, and caused €500 of damage to a gate while attempting to exit. He has 40 prior convictions, including 13 for burglary, and had previously pleaded guilty to escaping custody on 10 November 2017 and 20 April 2018.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 19‑year‑old John Gallagher was sentenced to an additional 21 months in prison for a knife‑point robbery that left a taxi driver unable to work nights. The judge cited the victim's impact statement, noting the driver's mental scars and loss of earnings. Gallagher had previously received a three‑year term for two similar robberies, and the new sentence is consecutive, with the final 15 months suspended on strict conditions. Gallagher pleaded guilty to robbery of €200 and a mobile phone from Nitesh Bhagat on 20 October 2018, and to a separate robbery at a Tallaght pharmacy on 22 May 2018. He had earlier convictions for road traffic offences. The court heard that the victim suffered bruises and a nick on his hand and neck, and that he was now too afraid to work at night.
Ruairc Bell, 44, pleaded guilty to possession of a syringe with intent to threaten or cause injury after a syringe fell from his underwear during a confrontation with Garda Damien Byrne at Store Street Garda Station on 29 March 2017. Bell was arrested, searched, and a needle containing heroin was found. He held the needle toward the garda, prompting a struggle that ended with Bell restrained. Judge Cormac Quinn sentenced Bell to 18 months imprisonment, suspended in full on the condition of keeping the peace and good behaviour for that period. Bell has 12 prior convictions, including robbery, theft and public order offences. His defence lawyer, Karen Dowling, noted he was homeless at the time, drug‑free for two years, and had apologised to the garda. The judge cited the seriousness of the offence and the impact on the garda as aggravating factors, while Bell's guilty plea, remorse, age and treatment history were mitigating factors.
John Doyle, 38, of Tallaght, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for trespassing at a Centra store in Kiltalown on March 2, 2018, with the intention of committing theft. Doyle pleaded guilty to the charge. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a two-year prison sentence, suspending the final 12 months. The judge stated that acting as Doyle did during the national emergency of Storm Emma justified a custodial sentence, describing the incident as serious anti-social behaviour that brought shame on his community. She considered Doyle's remorse, rehabilitation efforts, and positive references. Doyle, who has 111 previous convictions, was found with cigarettes after throwing trolleys to obstruct gardai. Co-accused David Berney, 37, previously received an 18-month suspended sentence for his role in the incident. The court noted that while Doyle was not present when the shop shutters were cut, he entered after being beckoned by others. The matter was previously adjourned in March to allow for a Probation Service report, during which time Doyle was remanded on continuing bail.
Douglas Byrne, 47, of Clondalkin, pleaded guilty to handling stolen property and possession of scissors at Rolestown Garda Station on 18 August 2018. He was found by gardaí in a highly intoxicated state, fled, was arrested, and searched. A large amount of money, €1,731.50, was discovered in his underwear and identified as belonging to Far East Chinese Restaurant on Ballyfermot Road. Byrne had 120 previous convictions, including burglary, theft and drug offences. He was charged with burglary of the restaurant but pleaded not guilty and the charge was dropped. Judge Melaine Greally sentenced him to three years' imprisonment, suspending the final 12 months on strict conditions. The sentence was backdated to 28 August, when he first entered custody for the matter. The court noted Byrne's long history of drug addiction and prior convictions as mitigating factors.
Jamie McBride, a 19‑year‑old father of two from Melrose Lawn, Clonadkin, Dublin, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to robbery and three attempted robberies committed between 26 February and 1 April 2018. He was sentenced to six years' imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions. The court heard that on 26 February he confronted a woman leaving a train station, brandishing a weapon and demanding her handbag, then withdrew €596 from her account using a bank card; the money was later reimbursed. On 30 March he tried to snatch a bag from another woman, striking her up to 15 times with a stick‑like object and causing hand injuries. The next day he threatened a KFC cashier with a knife and tried to steal money from the register, but failed. He also entered a Ladbrokes bookmaker holding a firearm‑like object and presented a bag to the cashier, who fled.
Paul Beatty, 32, of Eugene Street, Dublin 8, was arrested on 2 June 2018 with a loaded .38 special calibre Smith & Wesson revolver wrapped in a plastic bag and five rounds of ammunition. He had previously served a seven‑year sentence in 2010 for possession of a firearm and ammunition in suspicious circumstances. The Special Criminal Court, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, found that Beatty's conduct was "clearly intended" to evade Gardaí and that he was an "important and trusted member" of an organised crime gang. The judge imposed a headline sentence of ten years, reduced by 25 % for his early guilty plea, and ultimately sentenced Beatty to seven and a half years' imprisonment, back‑dated to the date of his arrest. The sentence reflects the gravity of the offence and Beatty's extensive criminal history, including 71 prior convictions. The court noted that no further mitigation was appropriate for a repeat offender.
The Special Criminal Court heard sentencing submissions for Alan Wilson and Joseph Kelly, who are accused of conspiring to murder Gary Hanley and possessing a 9mm Beretta pistol with intent to endanger life. Both men pleaded guilty to the conspiracy charge, while Kelly also admitted to the firearm possession. The court heard evidence of secret recordings where Wilson instructed Kelly to kill Hanley, and surveillance of reconnaissance trips to plan the attack. Wilson, who has no prior convictions, expressed remorse in a letter to the court, while Kelly, who has 64 previous convictions, cited drug addiction and a difficult background as mitigating factors. Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding with Judges Martin Nolan and Ann Ryan, remanded both defendants in custody until July 29, when they will be sentenced. The matter was adjourned and is not yet concluded. Luke Wilson, Alan Wilson's nephew, was previously sentenced to 11 years for the same firearm charge and a concurrent six years for the conspiracy.
Two Limerick men, John O'Donoghue (29) and Paul Whelan (25), were sentenced by the Special Criminal Court to a combined 21 years after armed Gardaí stopped their car and found a loaded 9mm Colt pistol with eight rounds, a petrol canister, latex gloves, clothes and cocaine. The judge, Ms Justice Tara Burns, described the operation as carefully planned, noting the pistol was primed with a round in the breach and an accelerant was present, indicating intent to use the gun and possibly burn the vehicle to destroy evidence. Both men had pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm in suspicious circumstances, for which each received a five‑year sentence. The headline sentences were 12 years each, but after mitigating factors the court imposed 11 years for O'Donoghue and 10½ years for Whelan, backdated to 13 July 2018. The lesser sentences were also imposed for the firearms charges. The court highlighted the men's prior convictions and the seriousness of the offence.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 20‑year‑old Lawrence Mubango received a partially‑suspended 10‑year prison sentence for a knife attack that left his friend Ashley Ncube eviscerated. Mubango, who had been drinking and taking cocaine with two friends, claimed he feared they would rape his partner and acted to protect her, but the judge found no basis for self‑defence. Mubango first punched the men, then armed himself with a kitchen knife, stabbing Nhlanhla Nduli in the chest and Ncube in the stomach, even as Ncube begged him to stop. The court noted the victims' injuries and the drug‑induced state of all parties. Mubango's last 18 months of the sentence were suspended on the condition of drug and alcohol rehabilitation. The sentence was back‑dated to 24 May 2018. Lawrence Mubango pleaded guilty.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 15 July 2019, the court was informed that a three‑man hit‑for‑hire team, including an Afghan war veteran, had planned to murder Patrick "Patsy" Hutch at his Champion's Avenue home. The team—Gary Thompson (34), his brother Glen Thompson (24), and Robert Browne (35)—were intercepted by Gardaí just 250 metres from the target's residence. They possessed four firearms: a 9mm Rak sub‑machine gun, a .38 Special Rossi revolver, a 9mm Beretta 92 pistol and a 9mm Makarov pistol. Garda surveillance revealed a detailed plan involving a van parked at Belmont Hall Apartments, a getaway vehicle at Stoney Road, and a "looker" to signal the target's departure. On 10 March 2018, Gardaí conducted an armed intervention, arresting the men and seizing weapons, a fob, gloves, a wig, mobile phones, and other items. The defendants were remanded in custody pending sentencing on 29 July.
James Leddy, 55, was convicted of three counts of indecent assault on 13‑year‑old Colm Bracken between May and September 1981. The sentencing hearing was adjourned to October because the judge, Pauline Codd, could not determine whether Leddy accepted his guilt. Leddy had pleaded not guilty but accepted the jury verdict, while a prior probation report stated he "adamantly denies" his guilt. Leddy, a former scout leader and father of five, had no prior convictions. Bracken, 51, gave a victim impact statement describing the abuse, his subsequent mental health struggles, and the lasting trauma. The court noted Leddy's participation in counselling and his status on the Sex Offenders' Register. No sentence was imposed at the time of the article.
A Dublin man, Michael Brady (54), will be sentenced at the Special Criminal Court later this month for possessing €1.25 million worth of heroin. Brady was found guilty in June of possessing the drugs at an apartment in Sallins Bridge, Sallins, Naas, Co Kildare, on January 24, 2017. The trial heard that heroin, cocaine, and cannabis were found at the premises, along with a 7.62 x 39mm calibre VZ 58 assault rifle and various ammunition. Brady was found not guilty of possessing the cocaine and cannabis, and had earlier been found not guilty of possessing the assault rifle by direction of the court. Another charge accusing him of possessing three ammunition magazines was withdrawn by the State. Brady had denied all charges. At a sentence hearing, Brady's barrister, Dominic McGinn SC, said his client was not significantly involved in 'this criminal organisation' and his involvement in looking after the consignment of drugs was at the 'lowest end'. Brady was remanded in custody until the sentencing date of July 29. Declan Brady (53), Michael Brady's brother, was jailed for 10-and-a-half years today for minding an 'arsenal' of firearms and ammunition at Unit 52, Block 503, Grants Drive, Greenogue Business Park, Rathcoole, Co Dublin. The court found that Declan Brady was tasked by senior criminal figures abroad to supervise the arsenal, which was assembled to 'support and sustain organised crime of the most serious nature'.
A Dublin man has been convicted of armed robbery at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following a trial spanning ten days. Keith Murtagh, aged 34, was found guilty on all three charges relating to a post office raid on Farmhill Road, Goatstown on January 5, 2016. The jury returned unanimous verdicts after deliberating for just under four hours. Murtagh had pleaded not guilty to the robbery of €3,174.54, possession of a shotgun, and possession of a shotgun cartridge. Evidence presented included DNA found on a shotgun cartridge recovered from an abandoned vehicle 400 metres from the post office. Forensic analysis also identified glass fragments matching material from the post office counter on clothing discovered in a separate vehicle. The court heard the raid involved two armed men who discharged a shot during the incident. Sentencing has been scheduled for October 18, with Murtagh remanded in custody pending that date.
Declan Brady, 53, of Celbridge, Co Kildare, was sentenced to 11-and-a-half years imprisonment by the Special Criminal Court for possessing an arsenal of firearms and ammunition in suspicious circumstances. Brady, known as 'Mr Nobody', pleaded guilty to possessing nine revolvers, four semi-automatic pistols, a sub-machine gun, an assault rifle, and 1,355 rounds of ammunition at a fake business premises in Rathcoole, Co Dublin. The court found he was in overall charge of the cache, which was assembled to support organised crime. His headline sentence of 14 years was reduced due to his timely guilty plea, lack of relevant previous convictions, and good behaviour in custody. The final year of his sentence was suspended on condition he enters a good behaviour bond. The sentence was backdated to January 24, 2017. Two co-accused, Jonathan Harding, 45, of Sallins, Co Kildare, and James Walsh, 33, of Clondalkin, Dublin 22, were previously sentenced to 10 years and nine years imprisonment respectively, with the final year of each sentence suspended. The court noted that Brady received instructions from senior criminal figures abroad to maintain the weapons, which were found ready for imminent use during a surveillance operation.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 15 July 2019, Mr Justice Paul McDermott adjourned sentencing for two 14‑year‑old boys convicted of murdering 14‑year‑old schoolgirl Anastasia Kriegel and of assaulting her in a violent manner. The boys, referred to as Boy A and Boy B, were found guilty on 18 June of the murder and the aggravated sexual assault. The judge explained that he would not proceed with a sentence hearing until psychiatric reports are completed. Two teams of psychiatrists, one adult forensic and one child psychiatrist, will prepare reports for each boy, with a possible psychologist involved. The reports are expected to take time and are unlikely to be ready before the end of term. Sentencing has been postponed to 29 October, with all reports required to be available to the legal teams by 21 October.
Robert Lynch, aged 32, was sentenced by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to a total of three and a half years' imprisonment for two robberies. He pleaded guilty to the robbery of taxi driver Alan Thompson on Malahide Road on 4 September 2016 and to the robbery of a Spar shop on 15 October 2017. Lynch, who has a history of drug addiction, was described by Garda Alan Roach as having changed significantly since the offences. Judge Pauline Codd imposed consecutive terms of three years and three and a half years, suspending the final three years on the condition that Lynch participate in drug rehabilitation programmes and keep the peace. The court noted Lynch's 54 prior convictions, including robbery, knife possession and threats to kill, and that he had been identified on CCTV before the taxi robbery. No weapons were used in either robbery. The sentence reflects the judge's assessment of Lynch's efforts at rehabilitation and the seriousness of the offences.
Patrick Dempsey, 52, of Cluain Caislean, Ferns, Co Wexford, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of heroin for sale or supply on 9 January 2017. He was found with a small package of heroin, valued at €1,988, concealed in his anus after Garda Sergeant Cillian Duffy searched him at a garda station. Dempsey admitted he had obtained the heroin for his partner and to supply friends, and that he travelled weekly to Dublin to purchase the drugs. He has 25 previous convictions, including theft and aggravated burglary. Judge Patricia Ryan imposed a three‑year imprisonment sentence, fully suspended on the condition that Dempsey keep the peace, behave well for three years and comply with the Wexford Substance Misuse Team. The court noted his cooperation, guilty plea, admissions and efforts to rehabilitate, including training to become a chef and participation in the Cornmarket Project choir.
Shane McDonnell, 29, was sentenced by Judge Karen O'Connor at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two years and eight months in custody for unlawful use of a car, three counts of dangerous driving, driving without a licence or insurance, and possession of a stolen laptop and PlayStation. He was under a 10‑year driving ban and had 25 prior convictions. The judge warned he must choose between a life of crime or becoming a better father. McDonnell pleaded guilty to the offences, which occurred in Clanbrassil Street and Kennelworth Park on 17 April 2017 and in Templeogue on 16 September 2018. A second sentence of two years was suspended on condition of keeping the peace and complying with Probation Services. The court noted his transformation in custody and his sister's lack of recognition of him. The sentence was back‑dated to 17 September 2018.
Ionel Uveges, 31, pleaded guilty to 22 counts of stealing €97,900 from LJM Retail between December 2016 and August 2018. The court heard that the employer rehired him in a non‑cash role after he had been promoted to assistant manager in 2016 and had responsibility for cash management. Uveges repaid €7,000 and agreed to pay an additional €10,000 by his next court appearance. He has no prior convictions and has been in Ireland for ten years. The court noted that Uveges had spent the stolen money on city breaks, rent, bills and sending cash home to his mother in Armenia. The sentencing hearing was adjourned to 26 July.
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 during a search on Priorswood Road on 16 March 2018. He admitted buying heroin to raise money for his girlfriend's car repairs. During a Garda search, a lump was found in one of his socks and a second package was discovered "within his buttocks," totaling €1,497.50. Sorahan cooperated with Gardaí and expressed a desire for a normal life and a career in music. His defence lawyer, Luigi Rea, noted that Sorahan had recently completed a music production course and was seeking work as a DJ, claiming he was now living a very different life. Judge Karen O'Connor adjourned sentencing to 31 July to allow preparation of reports.
Eileen Ryan, 26, was found guilty of driving with unrestrained children, dangerous driving, driving without insurance and refusing a blood test. On 25 March 2018 she drove a car with a pregnant woman and two children aged two and five, without seat belts, at speeds over 120 km/h, breaking red lights and driving on the wrong side of the road. Garda Michael Brisbane chased the vehicle, which threw glass bottles at the patrol car and swerved. Ryan was abusive, smelled of alcohol and had slurred speech. She had four prior District Court convictions. She is currently an outpatient at a psychiatric facility, on medication for depression, and the case is adjourned for sentencing in October pending a probation report. The court will hear the sentencing at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
A 37‑year‑old Pakistani national was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment for rape, with the final 18 months suspended on condition of complying with Probation Service directions for 18 months after release. He was found guilty of rape but not guilty of sexual assault. The victim, who met the defendant on an online dating site, was raped in the back of his car on a beach in Dublin on 29 October 2015. She described feeling worthless, dropping out of college, and refusing food after the assault. The defendant had three young children and a partner who was unaware of the offence until the trial. He had prior convictions for speeding and deception, the latter resulting in a suspended three‑year sentence. The judge noted the seriousness of the rape, the breach of trust, and the defendant's deceptive character as aggravating factors, while his father role and good work attendance were mitigating factors.