The Commercial Court has re-entered a civil action against former Anglo Irish Bank executive Thomas Browne, fixing a six-week hearing for April 2020. The case, originally scheduled for October 2012, was previously adjourned to avoid conflict with criminal proceedings involving former Anglo Chairman Sean Fitzpatrick and senior executive Pat Whelan. Fitzpatrick was cleared of all charges, while Whelan was sentenced to 240 hours of community service in July 2014 for involvement in illegal loans. In the current civil proceedings, the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation (IBRC) disputes claims regarding approximately €50m in loans advanced to Browne prior to the bank's collapse. Browne, of Brighton Road Foxrock, denies liability, arguing that the bank was allegedly aware that Sean Quinn's interest in the bank undermined its stability and rendered shareholdings valueless. Browne contends that had he known of these matters, he would not have exercised his share options in late November 2007 or retained shares that subsequently became worthless. During the brief mention before Mr Justice Robert Haughton, counsel for IBRC, Paul Gardiner SC, noted that the sum sought would be revised downwards following the sale of certain assets. The judge agreed to re-enter the case and set the trial date, noting the matter was adjourned from its previous listing rather than concluded.
Anthony Moynihan, 54, of Croccane, Rostellan, Midleton, was sentenced in his absence to seven years in prison for raping and sexually assaulting an 11‑year‑old boy, Dylan Higgins, over a period from September 2006 to June 2008. Moynihan pleaded guilty to two counts of anal rape and two counts of sexual assault. Higgins, who was 11 and 12 at the time of the assaults, had previously waived his anonymity and delivered a victim impact statement in court, urging other abuse victims to come forward. The court noted Higgins had attempted suicide twice and had lost his mother in 2016. Moynihan had earlier convictions for assaulting two young girls in 2008 and 2009, for which he received suspended sentences. He was brought into court after a warrant was executed and was remanded to prison by Mr Justice Michael White, who also mentioned Moynihan's throat cancer as a mitigating factor.
A Kildare man known as "Mr Nobody" pleaded guilty to possessing 15 lethal firearms and 1,355 rounds of ammunition at a Dublin business park. The Special Criminal Court heard that the weapons were supplied by senior criminals abroad. Gardaí recovered four loaded revolvers ready for imminent use, a sub‑machine gun, an assault rifle, four semi‑automatic pistols, two silencers and ten spare magazines. The defendant, Declan Brady, 53, was arrested on 24 January 2017 after a surveillance operation. He had seven prior convictions for road traffic offences and had received instructions from overseas figures. Brady's co‑accused, Jonathan Harding and James Walsh, had previously been sentenced to ten and nine years' imprisonment with one year suspended. The court noted the seriousness of the firearms and the lack of any innocent use. Brady was remanded in custody until 15 July, when he will be sentenced.
Patrick Nevin, 37, was sentenced to 14 years' imprisonment for raping two women in Meath after meeting them on Tinder. He pleaded guilty to the July 12, 2014 rape in Bellewstown and to a second sexual assault four days later. Nevin had previously been convicted of a sexual assault on a Brazilian woman at UCD in 2014 and had a 5½‑year sentence for that offence. The judge, Ms Justice Creedon, found the attacks pre‑meditated and callous, noting Nevin's predatory conduct and hostility toward women. He received a 14‑year term with the final two years suspended, and a five‑year post‑release supervision order that includes restrictions on physical performance, internet use and contact with others. The sentence was back‑dated to June 2015. Nevin has been in custody since September 2014.
Peter Sheridan, 52, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to damaging property and theft after smashing the windows of ten cars with a hammer in the Dublin 8 area on 8 June 2017. Gardaí received a call about a broken‑in car from which a Sat Nav was stolen in Dean Swift Square, and CCTV footage showed a man in a dark hoodie using a shatter hammer. The investigation revealed ten cars damaged, with total damage of €3,000. Sheridan admitted he had broken into the cars while heavily intoxicated, claiming he could not remember the act. He had 88 prior convictions, including arson, theft, criminal damage and escape from lawful custody. Judge Pauline Codd, noting the aggravating factor of the number of cars and Sheridan's criminal history, sentenced him to two and a half years imprisonment, fully suspended for three years on the condition that he obey all directions of the Probation Service and remain alcohol‑free.
David Dunne, 35, was sentenced to nine years for 13 robberies in Dublin between July and September 2017. He admitted the robberies were driven by a need to fund his crack cocaine and heroin addiction, saying he was "off my head on crack" and that he had sold his car for €300 to buy drugs. Dunne pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The judge noted his 92 prior convictions and the seriousness of the 13 victims involved, but also his expressed wish to rehabilitate. Consecutive sentences totalling nine years were imposed, with the final year suspended on strict conditions, including victim‑focused work and residential drug treatment if directed. The robberies involved threats with knives, theft of over €2,640 in cash and cigarettes, and the use of CCTV footage to identify and prosecute him. The case highlighted the impact of drug addiction on criminal behaviour.
A 54‑year‑old Corkman, Anthony Moynihan, was sentenced in his absence to seven years' imprisonment for raping and sexually assaulting an 11‑year‑old boy, Dylan Higgins, over a two‑year period. Moynihan pleaded guilty to two counts of anal rape and two counts of sexual assault between September 2006 and June 2008. He failed to attend the sentencing hearing at the Central Criminal Court, prompting a bench warrant for his arrest. The court noted Moynihan's prior convictions for sexual assault of two young girls in 2008 and 2009, for which he received suspended sentences. Moynihan's counsel highlighted his throat cancer and the fact that he had made full admissions early on. The judge praised Higgins for his victim impact statement and urged other abuse victims to come forward. The sentencing hearing took place on 21 June 2019.
A 22‑year‑old Cork man was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended, for repeatedly raping and sexually assaulting his cousin from the ages of five to nine. The offences, committed between 1 November 2011 and 26 June 2016, included rape, oral rape, anal rape and sexual assault. The judge described the abuse as "particularly severe and horrendous" and noted its devastating impact on the girl and her family. The man pleaded guilty to six charges and received credit for his plea, though the judge set a headline sentence of fourteen years before reducing it. He has no prior convictions. The court ordered him to participate in the Better Lives sex offenders' programme while in prison and to comply with Probation Service directions for two years after release. The case was heard at the Central Criminal Court.
Simon Whelan, 32, of Ashtown, Dublin, was sentenced to a global term of three and a half years for a series of burglaries, including four student apartments in Gateway Student Village on 4 October 2018, and several shop and restaurant break‑ins between 2017 and 2018. The judge suspended the final 12 months, so the effective custodial term is two and a half years. Whelan admitted all offences and pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He had a long history of offending, 105 prior convictions, and a longstanding drug addiction. The judge noted no violence was used and that some burglaries were committed while he was on bail for earlier offences. He was offered residential treatment and was committed to rehabilitation services. The sentence was back‑dated to 4 October 2018.
Patrick Russell, aged 56, pleaded guilty to stealing €235,000 from businessman Paul O'Connell by posing as an arbitrator and financial consultant. Russell promised to facilitate the purchase of a commercial warehouse for €235,000, but the property was never bought. He obtained €15,000 and €5,000 from O'Connell's bank account, transferred them to a UK account and to an account in his wife's name, claiming they were for stamp duty and fees. O'Connell then paid an additional €215,000 to solicitors who later reported Russell to Gardaí. Russell presented forged documents from the Property Registration Authority to mislead O'Connell and his family. He has nine prior minor traffic convictions, denied theft initially, and pleaded guilty in March. The court adjourned sentencing to November 4, ordered a probation report, and noted Russell's health issues and potential UK employment to repay the remaining €20,000.
John Maher, 48, of Drimnagh, was found asleep by Garda Caroline Kelly in possession of stolen jewellery and later pleaded guilty to two burglaries. The first was at Keeper Road, Drimnagh, on 19 October 2017, where a back window was smashed and electronic items worth €1,200 were stolen; blood on the wall matched Maher's DNA. The second was at Crumlin Road, Crumlin, on 18 October 2018. In both cases Maher claimed he had no memory of the offences. He has 42 prior convictions, including aggravated burglary, burglary and criminal damage, and a serious heroin addiction, though he has been on methadone since 2002. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to three and a half years' imprisonment, suspending the final 12 months on strict conditions. The suspended portion is separate from the effective custodial term. All stolen items were returned. The court noted his guilty plea, good prison behaviour and the link between his addiction and offending as mitigating factors.
Michael Brady, 54, was found guilty of possessing cocaine and heroin at a property in Sallins, Co Kildare, on January 24, 2017. The court acquitted him of charges related to cocaine and cannabis found in the same location, as well as possession of an assault rifle and ammunition magazines, which were either withdrawn or dismissed by direction. Presiding Judge Paul Coffey stated that Brady's fingerprints on blocks of diamorphine provided compelling evidence of direct contact and knowledge of the drugs concealed under a bed. Brady had pleaded not guilty to all seven counts on the indictment. The judge noted that while Brady claimed he was looking after dogs at the address, the court rejected the defence argument that others had placed the drugs there during a four-day interval. Brady was remanded in custody until July 15, when he will be sentenced. Separately, his brother, Declan Brady, pleaded guilty in February to possessing 15 firearms and over 4,000 rounds of ammunition at Greenogue Business Park, Co Dublin, on the same date. Declan Brady is scheduled to be sentenced on June 24.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 19 June 2019, Mr Justice Michael White warned that publishing the identities of the two boys convicted of Ana Kriegel's murder is an offence. The judge issued a contempt of court order against any person who attempts to identify the 14‑year‑old boys, stating they will be treated in the most serious fashion. He also ordered Facebook and Twitter to appear in court the following day and to remove any material that identifies the boys. Brendan Grehan SC, representing the Director of Public Prosecutions, requested the removal of photographs and other identifying content from the platforms. The boys, referred to only as Boy A and Boy B, were convicted of murder and, in Boy A's case, aggravated sexual assault, after an eight‑week trial with unanimous jury verdicts. The court emphasised that the Children Act prohibits the identification of minors accused or convicted of a criminal offence. The unnamed 14-year-old pleaded not guilty.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court found two 14‑year‑old boys guilty of murdering Ana Kriegel, a schoolgirl who was discovered naked in an abandoned farmhouse three days after she went missing. Boy A was also convicted of an aggravated sexual assault involving serious violence. The trial, lasting seven weeks, included evidence that Ana's blood was found on a "ghoulish mask" Boy A allegedly wore at the scene, and forensic analysis showed she died from blunt‑force trauma to the head or neck, with extensive bruises, abrasions and scratches on her body. The jury deliberated for 14 hours 25 minutes before delivering unanimous guilty verdicts. The boys were remanded to Oberstown Detention Centre pending further proceedings. The case was presented by prosecution counsel Brendan Grehan SC, with defence counsel Patrick Gageby SC for Boy A and Damien Colgan SC for Boy B. The trial concluded with the judge adjourned the case to allow additional reports to be submitted.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Glen Campbell, 42, was found guilty of sexually assaulting a 16‑year‑old girl in her home on 18 April 2015. He had previously denied two counts of assault, one in 2013 and the other in 2015, and was acquitted of the 2013 offence. The court noted that Campbell had been known to the victim and had frequent access to her home, and that he had abused her without warning by grabbing her waist and fondling her genitals. Judge Cormac Quinn imposed a headline sentence of three years' imprisonment but fully suspended a two‑year term, citing Campbell's cognitive difficulties, the death of his mother, remorse, and lack of prior convictions. Campbell will remain under Probation Service supervision for two years and must comply with all directions, including offence‑focused work to reduce re‑offending.
In 2019 a 41‑year‑old man, Andrius Lipinskas, was sentenced to 15 years in prison for violently raping a woman in her home nine years earlier. The court heard that the attack lasted about 20 minutes, during which Lipinskas repeatedly punched the victim, threatened to kill her, and orally raped her three times. The assault ended when the victim bit his penis and pushed him back. Lipinskas had previously been convicted of murder in 1998 and was given a suspended period of two and a half years on the condition that he leave the state upon release. The victim, aged in her 30s, gave a victim impact statement describing the lasting trauma and the change in her sense of safety. The trial lasted 12 days and the jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict after three hours of deliberation. Andrius Lipinskas pleaded not guilty.
In a 2019 Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Mark Harte, aged 26, was sentenced to six and a half years in prison for arson that caused nearly €2 million in damage to a Flyefit gym in Coolock. Harte admitted that he carried out the arson in July 2016 for a criminal gang to whom he owed a drug debt because of his cocaine use. CCTV footage showed a car driven through the gym's front glass doors, stopped at the security turnstiles, and then set alight. Harte had left the car and was holding a container; he had also ensured no one was nearby before signalling the driver. DNA on white latex gloves linked him to the scene, and a neighbour's photograph helped identify the suspicious vehicle. Harte pleaded guilty to the arson charge.
In a failed robbery at Medipharm on 23 March 2018, Brendan Duffy (45) of Ballyfermot, Dublin, entered the pharmacy and demanded the male employee open the till. The employee refused, and a struggle ensued. Duffy punched the employee, who was knocked onto a display case. Duffy then produced a screwdriver, threatened the employee with "I'll kill you," and stabbed him in the arm before fleeing the shop. Duffy claimed the offence was driven by a drug debt and fear of debtors, and that he had no intention to harm anyone. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, admitting the offence and cooperating with Gardaí. Judge Martin Nolan, noting Duffy's guilty plea, remorse, prior convictions, drug problems beginning at age 16, and personal tragedy, sentenced him to 14 months imprisonment, crediting time already served.
The High Court has ruled that developer Garrett Kelleher is not entitled to certain categories of discovery in his damages action against National Asset Loan Management Ltd (NALM). Mr Kelleher alleges a breach of confidence and malicious disclosure of his confidential financial information, claims which NALM denies. While NALM accepts that former employee Enda Farrell unlawfully disclosed information, it asserts it is not liable for his actions. In a pre-trial motion, Mr Kelleher sought documents regarding the dissemination of his banking and business affairs by Mr Farrell. Ms Justice Teresa Pilkington declined to compel NALM to provide the material, describing some requests as lacking specificity or constituting a "fishing expedition." The court noted that NALM was already providing certain relevant materials. The ruling references the 2016 sentencing of Enda Farrell, who pleaded guilty to eight counts of unlawfully disclosing information in breach of the 2009 Nama Act between May and July 2012. He received a two-year suspended prison sentence for leaking sensitive data to two investment companies. The court emphasized that none of the charges against Farrell related to Mr Kelleher's affairs. Mr Kelleher's claims are linked to suspicions arising in 2011, including a bid by the Trump organisation for the Chicago Spire project loan, which he alleges was based on leaked confidential material.
In a 2019 Central Criminal Court hearing, Richard O'Mara, aged 31, was convicted of two counts of rape against a 17‑year‑old schoolgirl who attended his sister's eighteenth birthday party. The first rape occurred in a field where O'Mara forced the victim onto the ground, removed her clothing and raped her. The second rape took place in his family house, where he again forced her to lie on a couch, removed her jeans and underwear and raped her. O'Mara pleaded not guilty but was found guilty by a jury after a two‑and‑a‑half‑week trial. Justice Tara Burns sentenced him to 14 years' imprisonment, suspending the final two years on strict conditions. The sentence reflected the seriousness of the offences, the victim's young age, the two separate rapes and the lack of remorse shown by the accused. No prior convictions were recorded for O'Mara.
A man from Dublin, whose name is withheld to protect the child's anonymity, was sentenced to 11 years in prison for raping his daughter, who was nine when the first assault occurred. He pleaded guilty to nine counts of rape spanning from October 2011 to April 2017. The daughter, who was 14 at the time of the last assault, testified that the rapes happened twice a week and that she was too frightened to report them. She described her father as controlling and said she did not understand the wrongness of the acts until she grew older. The defendant claimed the daughter had initiated the sexual activity and denied providing pregnancy test kits. The judge reduced the headline sentence from 15 to 13 years, suspended two years on the condition of sex‑offender treatment, and imposed an 11‑year custodial term.
Michal Wojciak, 36, of Ridgewood Grove, Swords, Dublin, pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography at the District Court and was sentenced by Judge Cormac Quinn in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to a fully suspended two‑year prison term. The offence involved over 4,000 images and videos, seized from his former home in Sandyford on 19 September 2012, and later analysed in August 2016, revealing 681 videos and 3,873 images of pre‑teen and teenage girls in sexual activities. Wojciak admitted the possession, denied actively seeking the material, and cooperated fully with Gardaí, providing all requested items and information. He has no prior convictions, and a probation report and psychologist's assessment deemed him low risk of re‑offending. The judge ordered him to maintain good behaviour, remain under probation supervision, participate in a sex‑offender treatment programme, and avoid contact with any child under 18 except in the presence of a parent or guardian.
Philip Douglas, 31, of Monlea Grove, Firhouse, Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to possession for sale or supply of cocaine at his address and a property in Saggart on October 10, 2017. Prosecution evidence indicated that gardaí discovered a significant quantity of cocaine, bulking agent, weighing scales, a hydraulic press, and large blocks of white powder at the Saggart location. Additionally, three bags of MDMA were found at Douglas's residence. The total value of the seized drugs was assessed at €122,340. Douglas admitted to pressing and wrapping the cocaine on instructions to settle a personal debt. Judge Cormac Quinn described the operation as a sophisticated "coke processing plant" but noted that Douglas was not the mastermind and was acting under fear or threat. The judge acknowledged that Douglas is now drug-free and had returned from Australia to care for his cancer-stricken mother. Douglas, who has five previous convictions, received a four-and-a-half-year prison sentence. The judge suspended the final 18 months of this term on the condition that Douglas engages with addiction treatment services. The matter was concluded with this sentencing order.
A 46‑year‑old man was jailed for nine months after abducting his children and keeping them abroad for four years. He pleaded guilty to four charges of taking his children out of the country without consent at Dublin Airport on 8 November 2014. Judge Cormac Quinn sentenced him to two years' imprisonment, suspending the final 15 months on the condition that he keep the peace, behave well and engage with the Probation Service for three months after release. The court noted the seriousness of the offence, the young ages of the children (now 8 to 15), the length of time they were out of jurisdiction, the deception and pre‑planning involved, and the impact on the children and their mother. The man had no prior convictions and was a foreign national. The children were returned to their mother after his return to Ireland in October 2018, and neither the mother nor the children made victim impact statements.
Bogdan Timorte, 37, was jailed for eight years after a late‑night street attack on a woman on Parnell Street. A resident recorded the assault on his phone and called Gardaí, who later used CCTV footage to identify Timorte. The victim, intoxicated, described being in fear for her life during an "extremely violent" attack, sustaining injuries to her head, neck, shoulders, knees and bottom. Timorte pleaded guilty to oral rape and sexual assault on 9 October 2017. Mr Justice Michael White set a headline sentence of 12 years, reduced to nine years, and suspended the final year on the condition of sex‑offender treatment. The sentence was back‑dated to the date of the attack, as Timorte had been in custody since then. The court heard the victim's impact statement, detailing her fear, depression and post‑traumatic stress disorder. The case highlighted the victim's loss of safety and the offender's remorse.
Peter Conlon, the former boss of the collapsed charities fundraising service Pembroke Dynamic, appeared before the High Court to contest proceedings brought by the firm's liquidator, Myles Kirby. Conlon, who represented himself, sought an injunction freezing his assets below €3.8m to be lifted. The liquidator alleges that approximately €3.8m in donations to dozens of charities was misappropriated by the Dublin firm and seeks orders making Conlon personally liable for the company's debts. Conlon admitted to embezzlement in Switzerland, where he pleaded guilty to using almost €4m intended for charities to fund his technology company. He was sentenced to four years in prison, with three years suspended, and was released in December after serving one year. Conlon claimed he confessed under severe mental pressure and expressed dissatisfaction with the service of documents and his inability to access company emails. Counsel for the liquidator rejected these criticisms, stating that all but one of 89 relevant documents had been provided. Ms Justice Reynolds adjourned the case to late July to allow for the exchange of a statement of claim and a defence. The freezing orders remain in place, and the judge advised Conlon that lifting them requires a formal application, which the liquidator intends to contest.
A 12‑year‑old girl told the court she wants her cousin, a 22‑year‑old man, to be named in the case because she believes he is in the wrong. Prosecutor Alice Fawsitt informed the judge that the DPP advised that naming him would not be in the child's best interest, citing potential complications and the small community context. The man pleaded guilty to six charges, including rape, oral rape, anal rape and sexual assault, committed between 2011 and 2016. He was remanded in custody and a substantial custodial element was anticipated. The judge acknowledged the girl's anger and courage but declined to name the accused, citing a duty to protect the injured party's identity. The mother delivered a victim impact statement describing the abuse, its effects on the family, and her daughter's ongoing trauma. The defendant's defence highlighted remorse and a willingness to engage in treatment. The case remains pending sentencing.
Susan McNeill, 33, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing drugs for sale or supply after a raid uncovered over €1.3 million worth of cannabis and cocaine in her flat. The drugs were estimated at €1,352,798, with almost 60,000 g of cannabis and 2,100 g of cocaine seized. McNeill admitted she had been pressured by a neighbour, who had a key to her flat, to store the drugs and that she had been under peer pressure. She cooperated with Gardaí, revealing cash and an encrypted phone. Judge Pauline Codd found McNeill vulnerable due to past physical and emotional violence in a relationship and her role as sole carer for a son with vulnerabilities. She was given a suspended nine‑year prison sentence, conditional on keeping the peace and following Probation Services for five years.
In a Dublin laneway on 9 October 2017, Bogdan Timorte (37) attacked an intoxicated woman, putting his arm around her and later choking her. The victim, who had been drinking, screamed for help; a nearby resident recorded the assault and alerted Gardaí. Gardaí arrived about 15 minutes after the call, found Timorte on top of the woman, and physically removed him. Timorte was arrested but too intoxicated for immediate interview. He pleaded guilty to oral rape and sexual assault. The court heard the victim's impact statement, detailing injuries, fear, and post‑traumatic stress. Timorte, a Romanian father of three, has been in custody since the offence. The judge adjourned finalisation to the following week, noting the victim's courage and the long‑term effects of the assault.
During Storm Emma, Mohammed Smew (26) entered the Centra supermarket in Tallaght, Dublin, with a sledgehammer and participated in a looting that caused significant damage to the shop and the local community. He pleaded guilty to burglary and possession of a sledgehammer at Kiltalawn on 2 March 2018. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to a headline term of four and a half years, reduced to three years with the final 18 months suspended, citing his guilty plea, lack of serious prior convictions, educational background, remorse, and commitment to reform. The judge noted his family's respectable professional background and that the incident was an aberration. Smew had already spent seven months in custody and was credited for this time. The court also heard letters and testimonials from family, friends, and Griffith College supporting his case. The incident involved a large group, a con saw cutting a hole in the shop's steel shutter, and a Garda's attempt to apprehend the suspect.
Marcellus Ebhodaghe, 33, was sentenced by Judge Elma Sheahan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two years' imprisonment for possession of the proceeds of criminal conduct. The sentence was back‑dated to the date of the offence, 19 December 2018, and the final 12 months were suspended on strict conditions. Ebhodaghe was found in possession of €3,000 in €50 notes and three payment cards that did not bear his name. Garda Joseph Robinson described how he observed Ebhodaghe withdrawing large sums from an ATM, then moving to another machine, and how he was stopped by Garda colleagues. The money had been transferred into two bank accounts from Fáilte Ireland and a Luxembourg company on the direction of fraudulent emails purporting to be from the CEOs of both organisations. Ebhodaghe had no prior convictions and was living in the United Kingdom for nine years before the offence. Marcellus Ebhodaghe pleaded guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 65‑year‑old man was sentenced to four and a half years' imprisonment for sexually abusing his partner's granddaughter between 2009 and 2013. He pleaded guilty to six counts of sexual assault. The judge noted aggravating factors including the victim's age, the man's abuse of a position of trust, his coercion of the girl to promise not to speak, and the impact on the victim. Mitigating factors cited were the man's age, lack of prior convictions, his guilty plea, admissions, and a psychological report indicating extremely low cognitive function. The final 18 months of the sentence were suspended on the condition that he keep the peace, behave well, and comply with Probation Service directions for 18 months after release.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Serena O'Leary, 44, was granted a 12‑month probation bond and will be sentenced in June 2020. She pleaded guilty to assaulting Caroline Madden on 20 August 2016, after a confrontation at a mutual friend's house. O'Leary, who had previously been in a relationship that involved drug use and homelessness, produced a nine‑inch blade and threatened Madden, who managed to stop the stabbing attempt. O'Leary punched Madden in the face and continued to threaten her until Madden's brother intervened. The court noted O'Leary's nine prior convictions and her recent efforts to stabilise herself in Cork. Judge Melanie Greally ordered O'Leary to comply with probation directions, including drug counselling, accommodation and employment services, and adjourned sentencing to 10 June 2020. The knife did not inflict injuries, and the victim reported regaining confidence and normalcy.
Luke Foran, aged 21, will be sentenced for possession of a stolen mobile phone. The phone had been snatched from a woman who was injured when a man tried to retrieve it from a car. Foran was found in possession of the phone when Gardaí responded to a report of a car driving dangerously on East Wall Road. He was 17 at the time of the incident and was not charged in relation to the initial theft. Foran pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of the phone on 2 November 2015. He has 105 prior convictions, including 19 thefts, 17 burglaries, five for handling stolen property and one for possession of stolen property, and is currently serving a five‑year sentence for criminal damage. Judge Elma Sheahan ordered a probation report before finalising sentencing on 21 October 2021. The woman confirmed the phone was hers.
In a High Court hearing, lawyers for a convicted child rapist argued that rape victims could be prosecuted if they reveal their own identity. The case concerns a 41‑year‑old Wicklow man convicted in March of repeated sexual attacks on a child who was about nine at the time. He pleaded not guilty to four counts of rape and two counts of indecent assault between 1987 and 1989, and was sentenced to seven years by Mr Justice Micheal White, who also imposed an order preventing publication of either party's identity. The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) now seeks to lift the victim's anonymity so the abuser can be named. Defence counsel argues there is no legal basis for removing anonymity, citing the 1981 (Rape) Act's provisions that protect complainants from identification. The court will issue a written judgment on June 28 after receiving submissions from both sides.
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court sentenced Dubliner Jason Spooner to four and a half years in prison for the attempted robbery of cigarettes valued at €300 and possessing a crowbar to intimidate staff at a Centra store in Finglas on February 25, 2017. Spooner, of Ballymun, pleaded guilty to the charges. Judge Karen O'Connor imposed the sentence with the final 18 months suspended, reducing a headline six-year term due to mitigating factors, including the death of Spooner's father. The judge noted that Spooner's guilty plea, entered a week before trial, was diluted by its late timing. The court heard that Spooner, wearing a balaclava, entered the shop, locked the doors, and threatened a five-months-pregnant employee with the crowbar, demanding she open the safe. Although the victim fled to a back office, Spooner attempted to force entry and began loading cigarettes into a bag. He was arrested by Sergeant Conor Scully after threatening the garda with the weapon. Spooner told gardaí he had taken pills and intended to steal cigarettes. The judge acknowledged the ongoing fear experienced by the victim and noted Spooner's history of addiction and 16 previous convictions. Spooner's solicitor conveyed his client's apologies to the victim.
Gangland criminal Alan Wilson, aged 39, pleaded guilty before the Special Criminal Court to conspiring to murder Gary Hanley between 15 September and 6 November 2017. Wilson admitted that he and Joseph Kelly, Liam Brannigan, Luke Wilson and others had planned the murder at a State location. The court, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt with Judges Martin Nolan and Patricia Ryan, remanded Wilson in custody until 15 July, when he will be sentenced together with Kelly. Wilson's co‑accused, Joseph Kelly (35), also admitted conspiracy to murder Hanley and pleaded guilty to possession of a 9mm Beretta pistol with intent to endanger life on 6 November 2017. Luke Wilson (23) had previously been sentenced to 11 years for unlawful possession of a Beretta handgun with intent to endanger life on the same date. Liam Brannigan (37) remains charged with conspiracy to murder Hanley, with a trial set for 7 October.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a Moldovan national, Constantin Cobzac, aged 25, received a two‑and‑a‑half‑year suspended sentence for sexually assaulting a woman at a Dublin house on 2 July 2018. The woman, who was in the kitchen when Cobzac attempted to kiss her, repeatedly told him "no" and pushed him away. After her friends left, he followed her to a bedroom, closed the door, lifted her onto the bed, and removed her trousers belt while lying on top of her. The incident lasted up to ten seconds. Cobzac pleaded guilty, admitted he was drunk, and claimed the woman had asked for a hug. He expressed remorse and cooperated with the investigation. Judge Melanie Greally, noting his lack of prior convictions and his cooperation, suspended the sentence on strict conditions, including 12 months of probation supervision and completion of one‑to‑one work to address his offending behaviour.
Winnifred Lawrence, 69, of Moorefield Grove, Clondalkin, admitted to forging a personal injury claim to RSA insurance, pretending to be Ellen Stokes, to cover funeral costs for herself and her husband. She had no prior convictions. Lawrence had previously filed a bogus claim in February 2018, which was struck out. The insurance company suffered a loss of €14,143.37, including legal costs. Lawrence's motivation was her and her husband's ill health and lack of funds; she had two children who died as infants and her husband had a brain haemorrhage. She was sentenced by Judge Pauline Codd to three years' imprisonment, suspended in full, after pleading guilty in the District Court. The judge noted Lawrence's cooperation, remorse, and personal circumstances, and highlighted the offence's impact on insurance costs.
Slawomir Gierlowski, a 34‑year‑old Polish roofer, was found guilty of sexual assault, attempted rape and assault causing harm for an attack that took place on 18 December 2010. The victim was walking home from a night out when Gierlowski followed her into a courtyard, pushed her to the ground, punched her, choked her, touched her genitals, attempted to rape her but was not erect, and ejaculated on her skirt. DNA from the victim's skirt matched a profile taken from Gierlowski in 2016, linking him to the 2010 incident and to earlier assaults in Clondalkin. A jury of three women and nine men returned unanimous guilty verdicts after just under three hours of deliberation. Gierlowski was remanded in custody pending a sentence hearing on 23 July. The trial also addressed a request to remove his name from the internet, which the judge denied. The case was heard in the Central Criminal Court. Slawomir Gierlowski pleaded not guilty.
A 22‑year‑old man, Dean Donovan, and his uncle Jonathan Donovan (33) robbed a Spar shop on Martin's Road, Chapelizod, on 8 April 2018, taking €305 in cash. While fleeing, Dean brandished a machete at Garda Peter Smyth and Garda James Keogh, who were approaching the shop. The pair escaped in an Opel Corsa, but were pursued and arrested. Dean was sentenced to six years' imprisonment with the final two years suspended; Jonathan received six and a half years' imprisonment with the final 18 months suspended and was disqualified from driving for five years. Both pleaded guilty to robbery; Dean also pleaded guilty to six burglary counts in Dublin and to possession of a machete, while Jonathan pleaded guilty to driving without insurance. The judge noted each defendant's prior convictions, addiction history and efforts at rehabilitation. The sentences reflect the seriousness of the robbery and the use of a weapon.
Nicholas Keane, 41, of Balbriggan, was jailed for three years after pleading guilty to ten counts of handling stolen vehicles and two counts of inducing others to purchase stolen cars between July and October 2016. He sold ten stolen cars on the "Donedeal" website for €88,795, earning about €500 per sale. Keane admitted he was motivated by financial hardship and wanted to provide for his eight children. He denied involvement in the thefts, claiming he was only the front‑man who met buyers, handed over registration details and accepted cash. The judge, Melanie Greally, suspended the last year of a four‑year sentence on the condition that he obeys Probation Service directions regarding substance abuse. Keane expressed remorse and said he would repay victims if he won the lottery. The article reports the victims' financial losses and the impact on their lives.
Annette Sheehan, 38, of Harolds Cross, Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to 27 charges of theft and money laundering involving €148,289 between November 2017 and February 2018. Prosecution evidence alleged Sheehan, an office manager, transferred funds from her employer to her partner, Graham McAuley, 39, under implied threats. Detective Garda Rory O'Connor stated Sheehan was manipulated and considered a victim, noting that while all stolen employer funds were recovered, €25,000 of her personal savings given to McAuley was not. Judge Cormac Quinn acknowledged Sheehan's vulnerability, remorse, and lack of prior convictions. He described the case as exceptional, justifying a suspended sentence due to her cooperation and the garda's support. Sheehan was sentenced to 18 months in prison, suspended in full on strict conditions. Separately, McAuley, of Broc House, Nutley Lane, Dublin 4, was sentenced last February after pleading guilty to handling the stolen cash. He was ordered to carry out 240 hours of community service in lieu of an 18-month prison sentence.
Dubliner Sean Carroll (35) pleaded guilty to two charges of attempted robbery at St Stephen's Green West on June 23, 2017, and a separate offence of assault causing harm outside a pub in Kilmacud, south Dublin on February 19, 2017. The charges were admitted, and Carroll was sentenced at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Greally imposed concurrent four-year sentences for each robbery, which were suspended on the condition that Carroll engage in offence and victim awareness work with the Probation Service. For the assault charge, a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence was imposed and suspended on the condition that he keep the peace for that period. The court heard that Carroll had a history of drug abuse involving cocaine and heroin at the time of the offences but has since made significant improvements in his life, including completing residential drug treatment and living in accommodation under the Peter McVerry Trust. The matter was adjourned following the sentence.
Michelle Geoghegan, a mother of five from Rathgael, Deansrath, Clondalkin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to a five‑year suspended prison term for possession for sale or supply of heroin and cocaine. The judge, Melanie Greally, noted that Geoghegan was in a state of acute depression and had been under "considerable pressure" from others who wanted her to store, prepare and package drugs in her home. She pleaded guilty on 27 February last year. Gardaí had searched her home in February, finding over €145,000 worth of heroin in a locked safe and €3,548 of cocaine in a Centra bag, with a total street value of €149,484. The judge set a headline sentence of seven and a half years but, after credit for her early guilty plea, difficult childhood, long‑standing addiction and efforts to address her drug problem, imposed a suspended sentence.
James Broderick, 45, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after punching his supervisor at Cleveland Cable Company in Finglas on 10 October 2016. The supervisor suffered a fractured jaw and a black eye but did not file a victim impact report. Broderick, who lives in Markievicz House, claimed he had been treated unfairly by the supervisor before the incident. The court noted that hostilities had been brewing for days. Broderick had 37 prior convictions, mainly for public order offences, and had voluntarily met with Gardaí. He was sentenced by Judge Cormac Quinn to a headline term of two years, reduced to 12 months suspended for two years. He must pay €3,000 to the victim within four months, comply with Probation Services for 12 months, and keep the peace for two years.
William Burns, held at Loughan House Open Centre in Co Cavan, has challenged the Minister for Justice's refusal to grant him enhanced remission from his prison sentence. Burns was convicted by the Special Criminal Court in 2016 of unlawfully possessing explosive substances, including PETN, RDX, and ammonium nitrate, along with an adapted Guinness keg and detonation equipment discovered at Kilcurry Church, Co Louth in May 2014. He received a seven-year sentence with the final three years suspended. The Minister declined Burns's application for one-third remission in April, citing the gravity of the offence, despite acknowledging his constructive engagement in prison activities. Burns's legal representatives argue the refusal is flawed and breaches his constitutional and human rights protections. They contend the Minister failed to consider his reintegration prospects and provide adequate reasoning. Burns would be released immediately under enhanced remission; otherwise, his scheduled release is June. The High Court granted permission for the challenge to proceed, with the matter returning before the court later that week. William Burns pleaded guilty.
Shauna Culligan and Nicola Culligan were sentenced in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for assaults committed outside SuperValu, Balally shopping centre, on November 18, 2016. Shauna Culligan pleaded guilty to assault and assault causing harm, while Nicola Culligan pleaded guilty to assault causing harm on the same occasion. Judge Melanie Greally described the incident as an "extremely nasty incident of violence" arising from considerable hostility between the parties. The court heard that the injured party was assaulted in front of her baby son, an aggravating factor noted by the judge. Both defendants received 12-month probation bonds. Nicola Culligan was ordered to complete 240 hours of community service in lieu of two years' imprisonment. Shauna Culligan was ordered to complete 200 hours of community service in lieu of 18 months' imprisonment. Both sisters were directed to engage in offence-focused and victim-focused work as directed by Probation Services and to undergo anger management awareness and intervention training. The judge credited their early guilty pleas, their status as mothers of young children, and their difficult childhoods. Nicola Culligan has minor convictions for road offences, while Shauna Culligan has no previous convictions. The matter was finalised with these sentences.
In a 2019 case, a 41‑year‑old Wicklow man was convicted of repeated sexual attacks on a victim who was nine when the first assault occurred. The man pleaded not guilty to four counts of rape and two counts of indecent assault between 1987 and 1989, and was sentenced to seven years. During the trial, Mr Justice Michael White ordered that the identities of both parties remain unpublished, a request made by the Director of Public Prosecutions. The 1981 Rape Act prohibits publishing the identity of a man accused of rape until conviction and also protects the complainant's anonymity. After the conviction, the victim asked a reporter to name the offender, prompting the State to bring the matter back to court.
Two men, including the grandson of former Dublin Lord Mayor Christy Burke, were sentenced by the Special Criminal Court to a combined 14 years in prison after being caught with four kilograms of TNT and a hand grenade in a densely populated area of Dublin. Declan McDermott (30) and Mairtin Manning (24) each received seven years' imprisonment for possession of explosives and membership of an unlawful organisation. A third man, John O'Brien (56), was sentenced to one year and six months for assisting an unlawful organisation by storing a significant amount of explosive material. The court noted that the men had pleaded guilty, had no prior convictions, and that the intervention of Gardaí prevented any harm. The sentences were back‑dated to the dates the defendants entered custody. The judge highlighted the seriousness of the offence and the mitigating factors such as the defendants' employment and family circumstances.