Paul Connolly, 37, of Cregg Court, Kilmeague, was sentenced to eight and a half years in prison for dangerous driving that caused serious bodily harm to Michael Igoe (54) and Francis Dhala (19) on Coolmine Road, Coolmine, on 1 May 2018. Connolly, who was under the influence of cocaine and tablets the night before, drove his young child to school, mounted the footpath, hit Igoe and then Dhala, and left the scene calmly with a smashed windscreen. He pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving under the influence of drugs, possession of cannabis, failing to remain at the scene, failing to offer assistance, failing to alert Gardaí, and driving without insurance or a licence. Judge Melanie Greally suspended the final 18 months of the sentence, citing Connolly's guilty plea, remorse, limited cooperation and long‑standing addiction issues. The sentence was back‑dated to 1 May 2018.
Two 19‑year‑old men pleaded guilty to defilement of a 14‑year‑old autistic girl in a bush on 25 January 2016. Mr Justice Paul McDermott sentenced each to 18 months imprisonment, suspending the entire term for two years under strict conditions, including no contact with the victim. The men, aged 16 and 15 at the time, were part of a group of six boys who went to a field where the victim and a younger boy entered a bush and engaged in sexual activity. The men were encouraged by other boys to join. Neither wore a condom, and the victim was in school uniform. The court heard no evidence of force or that the men knew of the victim's autism or age. The victim's impact statement described feeling dirty, unsafe and worthless, but also noted progress in coping with trauma.
Scott Grant, 31, of Balbriggan, north Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to two counts of attempted robbery. The offences occurred on December 11, 2016, at a Costcutters shop on Hampton Street, and on April 17, 2018, on Clonard Street. In the first incident, Grant allegedly threatened staff while holding a piece of timber; in the second, he used a tree branch. He was identified in the first case by pink gloves and in the second by cashing scratch cards. The court also heard that while on bail for these charges, Grant allegedly robbed a woman of her handbag on September 26, 2018. Judge Patricia Ryan imposed a six-year prison term, suspending the final two years on conditions that Grant keep the peace and engage with the Probation Service for two years post-release. Defence counsel Pieter Le Vert BL noted Grant's efforts to address his addiction and his history as a labourer, stating he had previously served a two-year sentence for attempted robbery and became clean of heroin during that custody before relapsing. The matter was finalised with this sentence.
A 70-year-old man, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the victim, has been sentenced to ten years in prison for the sexual abuse of his step-daughter, which began before her First Holy Communion. The man was convicted by a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of 72 counts of indecent assault, which occurred between October 31, 1973, and August 24, 1979. Judge Elma Sheahan noted the severe psychological impact on the victim, who stated in a victim impact statement that the abuse had taken away her childhood and left her scarred forever. The judge imposed consecutive sentences of 14 years on a number of counts before setting a final sentence of ten years. She acknowledged the man's good work history and family life in recent years as mitigating factors. The abuse, which included multiple forms of sexual contact, ended when the victim was around 13 years old. The accused was in a long-term relationship with the victim's mother and was effectively her step-father. His only other previous convictions are for drunk driving.
A High Court judge ordered the extradition of Roy Norman Kenyon, who fled to Ireland after serving 31 years for a 1971 murder committed when he was 16. Kenyon, now 64, had lived in Ireland under the alias Alan McPherson for 15 years before being arrested in Eyeries, Co. Cork, on 2 May 2018. Justice Aileen Donnelly rejected Kenyon's objections and ordered his surrender to UK authorities within 25 days. The court noted that Kenyon had been released on parole in the 1980s and would now serve an indeterminate sentence if returned. Counsel for Kenyon argued he posed no risk to society, citing his long period of liberty and lack of evidence of danger. The judge emphasized that his continued detention in the UK was due to parole hearings assessing public risk, and that extradition complied with his rights under the European Convention on Human Rights.
A 22‑year‑old man, Dean Donovan, brandished a machete at a Garda while fleeing a shop robbery with his uncle, Jonathan Donovan (33). The robbery took place at a Spar shop on Martin's Road, Chapelizod, on 8 April 2018, where they stole €305 in cash. Dean produced the machete as Garda James Keogh approached, forcing the officer to step back. Both men were pursued, arrested, and later pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Dean admitted robbery and possession of a machete; Jonathan pleaded guilty to driving without insurance. Dean also pleaded guilty to six burglary counts from 2015 and 2018, while Jonathan had 83 prior convictions, including a suspended six‑year sentence for assault. The court adjourned finalisation to consider various reports. The article details the escape, arrest, and the men's prior criminal histories.
Derek Claffey, aged 30, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment for unlawful seizure of cars in Lucan and Ardevin on 25 September 2017. The judge suspended the final year of the sentence on strict conditions and backdated the term to 20 September 2018, the date of his first custody in the matter. Claffey had discharged himself from hospital after a road‑traffic accident and had taken heroin earlier that day. He attempted to car‑jack two female drivers at knifepoint, using an eight‑inch serrated steak knife. In one incident he offered a woman €50 for her car keys; in another he cut a seat belt and threatened a woman's son. He has 64 previous convictions, including possession of knives, robbery and dangerous driving. The judge cited his guilty plea and personal circumstances as mitigating factors, while noting his history of substance abuse and the knife as aggravating factors. The prosecution requested a destruction order for the knife.
An alleged IRA member, Seamus Marley, aged 45, was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment for raping two teenage boys in County Louth during the early 1990s. The Central Criminal Court found him guilty on six counts of sexual assault and two counts of rape after a six‑day trial. Mr Justice Paul McDermott imposed a seven‑year term for the rape of the younger victim and a six‑year term for the older victim, with both sentences running concurrently, giving an effective custodial period of seven years. The judge also ordered Marley to refrain from any contact with the victims or their families and to comply with post‑release supervision. No part of the sentence was suspended, and the judge noted that Marley had no prior convictions and had not shown any attempt at rehabilitation. The case highlighted the alleged use of his republican connections to silence the victims. Seamus Marley pleaded not guilty.
A 22‑year‑old Dublin man avoided jail after pleading guilty to sexual defilement of a 15‑year‑old girl he knew from a residential care home. The girl, still in care at the time, left her care workers without permission, travelled on a Luas tram into town and met the man, who was 18 when they first met. They went to a city park, chatted and "ended up having sexual intercourse with each other", according to the court. Gardaí visited the man's house and he admitted he knew the girl was below the age of sexual consent. He had 64 prior convictions, including assault, burglary and firearms offences. Judge Karen O'Connor suspended a two‑year prison sentence, requiring the man to keep the peace, engage in victim‑awareness and offence‑focused work with the Probation Service, and imposed the custodial sentence if any conditions were breached.
A 32-year-old man has been sentenced to three years imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following guilty pleas to nine burglaries and one count of criminal damage committed across Dublin locations between April and September 2018. Dean Moore, with an address in Crumlin, was captured on CCTV during the offences, in some instances cycling to and from premises while wearing a high-visibility jacket. The burglaries targeted various locations including retail premises, residential buildings, a school, and company offices, with stolen items including cash, laptops, and other goods totalling significant losses. Moore's previous convictions number 114, including 19 burglaries. Evidence indicated the offences were committed to fund drug and gambling habits. Judge Melanie Greally imposed an additional two-year sentence for a burglary at Transport Club, suspended in full on strict conditions. The court acknowledged Moore's early guilty plea and admissions to gardaí as mitigating factors, alongside his difficult childhood and addiction history, balanced against the aggravating nature of his extensive prior convictions for burglary.
Gerard O'Neill, 66, was placed on a two‑year probation bond after pleading guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing and distributing 225 child‑pornography videos found on his seized laptop, hard drive and CDs. The videos, dated between 15 April and 13 May 2015, included 214 scenes of pre‑teen boys with other children or adults and 11 scenes of boys with exposed genitalia. O'Neill, who had no prior convictions, was arrested in March 2018. The judge ordered him to attend a sex‑offender treatment programme, obey all directions of his probation officer, avoid contact with anyone under 18 unless supervised, and reside at an address agreed with his officer. He was also required to apologise and was warned that any breach could lead to further action. The court will review his progress on 12 May 2021.
Jeanette Murray, a 44‑year‑old mother of two from Knockdarragh, Newry, was found guilty of stealing more than €200,000 from Brooks Hotel in Dublin while she worked as a senior accountant. Over a five‑year period she took €137,200 in cash and €67,600 in cheques and bank drafts, spending the cash on personal items and failing to lodge the cheques, which were later returned. She pleaded guilty to 12 theft charges covering September 2003 to November 2008. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a fully suspended sentence of three and a half years, requiring Murray to keep the peace, be of good behaviour, transfer €70,000 to the hotel owners, and complete 240 hours of community service within 12 months in lieu of two years imprisonment. The court noted her guilty plea, cooperation, remorse, and the impact on her young children as mitigating factors, while the large value and prolonged nature of the theft were aggravating factors.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 16‑year‑old from Bray, Co. Wicklow pleaded guilty to burglary of a house in Dalkey on 29 February 2016. The burglary involved the theft of a camera and laptop that held the last photos and videos of the widow and her late husband. The homeowner's husband had died about four months earlier, and the victim reported that an urn containing his ashes had been disturbed and "gone through". The teenager, who cannot be identified, admitted he did not understand the impact of his actions at the time but now feels remorse and apologised. He has prior convictions for robbery, criminal damage, public order offences and breaches of the road traffic act. He has been in Oberstown children detention centre since last year, and the court noted his progress in completed courses. Judge Melanie Greally adjourned the case to 17 October.
Keelan Hand, 28, of Cyprus Grove, Birr, was placed on a 12‑month probation bond after pleading guilty to assault causing harm on 26 August 2016. The assault occurred when Hand punched a victim in the face over an alleged drug debt of €8,200. The victim withdrew his complaint, but the DPP proceeded. Judge Melanie Greally noted Hand's strong links to the criminal community and his history of addiction, mental health issues and a difficult family background. She ordered Hand to undergo probation supervision, comply with his officer's recommendations, have no contact with criminal associates, and submit to urine analysis and updated probation and psychiatric reports. Hand's 26 previous convictions include assault, drug and firearms offences, criminal damage and public order. The court adjourned the case to April next year, warning that compliance must be absolute to avoid custodial sentencing.
Rasvan Stefanescu, 33, of Richmond Avenue, Fairview, Dublin, was jailed for two years after assaulting a man with a hammer, breaking the victim's arm. The incident occurred after a party at his then partner's house. The next day Stefanescu met the victim by chance, threatened him, and followed him to a car park where he struck the victim's back and attempted a head blow. The victim defended himself, but the hammer hit his arm, fracturing a forearm bone. The victim was out of work for two months and suffered a substantial loss of income, though he fully recovered from his injuries. Stefanescu pleaded guilty to assault causing harm on 14 July 2014. Judge Melanie Greally suspended the final 18 months of a three‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence, ordered a €3,100 compensation payment, and noted that Stefanescu had no prior violent convictions, was in stable employment, and had adopted a responsible fatherhood attitude.
A 31‑year‑old man was sentenced to five years in prison after admitting he sexually abused his six‑year‑old niece for three years, from June 2013 to July 2016. He told the Central Criminal Court that he was aroused by her innocence and that he had coerced her into sexual acts while she stayed at her grandparents' house, where he also lived. He would walk her, coax her into sexual acts, enter her bedroom, shine a light in her eyes, offer to insert his penis into her mouth, and show her pornographic videos. He promised sweets and money and told her not to disclose his actions. The abuse was reported when the niece told her cousin, who then told her mother. The court noted the defendant had no prior convictions, had limited intellectual ability, and had been sexually abused as a child.
Maurice Lafferty, 50, of Corcullen, Castlefin, Donegal, was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court after pleading guilty to raping his daughter, Annie Lafferty, at their home between November 1, 2010, and June 30, 2011. The court heard that Lafferty, a father of six, committed the offences while his wife was away from the home four nights a week. Prosecution evidence detailed that Lafferty coerced his then-seventeen-year-old daughter, pinning her down and threatening her with the removal of her younger siblings if she reported the abuse. He allegedly raped her weekly during this period. Mr Justice Alex Owens described Lafferty as a violent and controlling man, noting that his attacks were coercive and depraved. The judge rejected Lafferty's apology as insincere and noted a probation report indicating he blamed intoxication and his daughter for the crimes. Lafferty was assessed as a moderate risk of re-offending. He was sentenced to eleven years' imprisonment. Additionally, the court ordered that he stay away from any activity involving children upon his release. In mitigation, defence counsel Anne Rowland SC cited Lafferty's heavy drinking, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and financial difficulties regarding his home. The victim, now 25, waived her anonymity and stated that her father's actions left permanent scars.
In April 2019, John Brock, aged 46, was sentenced to eight and a half years for possessing 167 kg of explosives in a black Skoda Fabia. The explosives, weighing 23–24 stone, could have caused significant death, injury and damage. Brock had previously been convicted in 2008 for firearms and ammunition. During sentencing, he agreed to an undertaking to dissociate from unlawful organisations and to refrain from further offences, and he posted a €100 bond. The judge, Mr Justice Tony Hunt, suspended the last 18 months of the sentence for three years, back‑dated to the time Brock entered custody. The court found Brock and John Roche, aged 55, were in joint control of the explosives, though the judge could not be satisfied that their involvement extended beyond transportation. Brock's sentence was reduced by the agreed undertaking.
A 56-year-old mechanic from Castleblayney, County Monaghan, convicted of membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, will be sentenced at the Special Criminal Court next month. James Joseph Cassidy of Tullycollive was found guilty in March following a trial before three judges. During the proceedings, gardaí gave evidence of discovering a metal pipe with drilled holes in a shed on his property in September 2016, which was identified as a booster tube similar to items seized in a separate investigation nearby. The court accepted the belief evidence of a chief superintendent regarding Cassidy's membership of the organisation and determined the presence of the device on his remote, family-owned premises to be significant. The defence counsel urged leniency, highlighting Cassidy's minimal previous convictions and age. Cassidy was remanded in custody pending sentencing on 27 May.
Larry Behan, 41, pleaded guilty to knowingly rendering assistance to the IRA in the possession of explosives at his father's quarry on 13 April 2016. He opened the gates to two men, John Roche and John Brock, who removed 57 kg of homemade explosives and 38 kg of Kemegel industrial explosives. Behan had no prior convictions, cooperated with Gardaí, and admitted his role immediately after arrest. The judge, Mr Justice Tony Hunt, described the case as "unusual" with "exceptional circumstances" and imposed a headline sentence of two years' imprisonment, suspended for two years on a €100 bond. Behan must keep the peace and be of good behaviour during the suspension. The court noted his lack of political association and his genuine fear for himself and his family. The case remains an ongoing criminal proceeding, with no further verdicts announced.
A judge ordered a consultant psychiatrist and a clinical psychologist to prepare reports on a 16‑year‑old boy who tried to murder a 25‑year‑old woman he met on the Whisper app. The boy, who cannot be named, pleaded guilty to attempting to murder Ms Ng on 23 December 2017 at Sea Front, Queen's Road, Dun Laoghaire. He met her in person, suggested a selfie by the water's edge, then grabbed her from behind, choked her to unconsciousness and slashed her neck with a knife. Gardai found a book of drawings in his bedroom, including a sketch of a person being cut and the words "serial killer." Ms Ng gave an emotional victim impact statement at the sentencing hearing. The court directed the reports to be prepared by experts nominated by Prof Kennedy and submitted by 9 May, and remanded the teenager in custody until that date.
A 42‑year‑old Dublin man was sentenced to five years' imprisonment for child pornography offences and for sexually abusing a young boy. He pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault, sexual exploitation and producing child pornography between 2011 and 2013, and to possession of child pornography for distribution in 2006 and possession of child porn images, videos, texts and documents in 2013. Gardaí seized over 55,000 images, more than 6,000 videos and almost 4,500 text files from the man's computer, external hard drive and mobile phone. The court heard that some 13,000 images depicted children, mostly pre‑teenagers, in sexual activity with adults, and that 19 videos showed extreme child abuse, including victims as young as five months. The man had previously been convicted in 2006 of sexual assault of a child and received a suspended sentence.
Jason Farrell, 26, of Finglas, Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to assaulting James McDonagh with intent to cause serious bodily harm and producing a 12-inch kitchen knife on February 2, 2018. The court heard that Farrell entered The Auld Triangle pub armed with two knives, including a 14-inch blade, before being ejected by a group of men. Garda Sergeant Ken Houlahan testified that he witnessed the melee and arrested Farrell after he refused to drop the weapons. Judge Pauline Codd noted that while Farrell intended to assault Mr. McDonagh, the intervention of others prevented him from using the knives. The judge acknowledged Farrell's 30 previous convictions, including assaults and robbery, but accepted his early guilty plea and his recent efforts to remain drug-free and complete job training. She imposed a three-year sentence, with the final two-and-a-half years suspended. The suspension is conditional on Farrell attending all Probation Service appointments and engaging in victim and offence-focused work. The matter was finalised with this sentencing order.
John Langfield, 35, was jailed after deliberately reversing his car into a Garda patrol car on the M7 motorway at 200 km/h on a wet March night. The high‑speed chase began in a housing estate in Kill, Co. Kildare, and ended when Langfield performed a handbrake turn on Nangor Road, Clondalkin, struck the patrol car a second time and mounted a traffic island. He was arrested at the scene and later pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two counts of dangerous driving, criminal damage to a patrol car and having no insurance. Judge Karen O'Connor accepted his remorse, suspended the final 18 months of a three‑year sentence and imposed a custodial term of 18 months. The patrol car suffered €1,400 in damage and was out of service for five days. Langfield had 23 prior convictions, including a suspended sentence for drug possession in 2009.
In a violent incident on 2 July 2016, 21‑year‑old Nathan Benson attacked Cormac Doyle outside the "District 8" nightclub on Francis Street, Dublin, punching and head‑butting him and stealing his iPhone. Doyle pursued Benson, who fled down Bridgefoot Street into a crime scene being preserved by Garda Derek Tubridy. Benson ran under the tape, was stopped, and after a brief apology and a blood‑stained appearance, he was searched and found with three mobile phones, including Doyle's. He became aggressive, attempted to assault the garda, and was forcibly arrested. In court, Benson pleaded guilty to robbery on Thomas Street, Dublin 8. Judge Elma Sheahan sentenced him to three years' imprisonment, suspending the final 12 months on the condition of good behaviour and compliance with the Probation Service for 12 months. The judge noted the lasting impact of Benson's "thuggish behaviour" on the victim, who had temporarily left the country out of fear.
Barry O'Donoghue, 38, of Drimnagh, was convicted by a jury at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for assault causing harm and for threatening to kill his former partner on 20 and 21 October 2016. Judge Elma Sheahan sentenced him to five and a half years for the threat to kill and three years for the assault, with both sentences running concurrently. The final six months of the sentence were suspended for a 12‑month period post‑release, conditional on good behaviour, compliance with the Probation Service, and participation in anger‑management. The judge also ordered O'Donoghue to have no contact with the victim except through solicitors. The court heard that O'Donoghue had kicked the woman in the face, threatened her with a bread knife, and told her "tonight was her execution." The victim suffered eye surgery and facial nerve damage and expressed fear of revenge. O'Donoghue had no prior convictions.
Two men, John Brock (46) and John Roche (55), were found in joint control of 167 kg of explosives in a black Skoda Fabia on Naas Road. The explosives, weighing 23–24 stone, included ammonium nitrate fuel mix and 38 rolls of Kemegel industrial explosives, and were deemed capable of causing death, injury and damage. Both pleaded not guilty to possession of 57 kg of homemade explosives. The non‑jury Special Criminal Court convicted them and sentenced Roche to seven years' imprisonment and Brock to eight and a half years. Brock was offered an 18‑month reduction if he dissociated from dissident organisations. The court noted the men's involvement was limited to transportation and that Roche had no prior convictions, while Brock had a previous firearms conviction. No further charges were pursued.
Two men, Colin Casey (32) and Daniel Hegarty (24), were jailed for assisting the murder of Aidan "The Beast" O'Driscoll, who was shot on Cork's Old Commons Road in December 2016. Casey was sentenced to four years and six months, Hegarty to four years, both sentences running concurrently. They pleaded guilty to four counts each of impeding the apprehension or prosecution of O'Driscoll's killers. Casey supplied the alleged gunmen with vehicles and acted as a support driver; Hegarty transported and concealed a bag linked to the killers and set fire to a motorbike and a red Opel Astra. A third man, Eoin Morrissey (19), pleaded guilty to two counts of impeding the apprehension or prosecution of the killers and was given a suspended sentence of two years, with a probation report to be finalised in October. The Special Criminal Court, presided over by Justice Tony Hunt, found the defendants' assistance to be substantial and proximate to the murder.
A 54‑year‑old South African grandmother was sentenced to two and a half years in prison, with the final 15 months suspended, for illegally trafficking a nine‑year‑old child into Ireland. She flew into the country with the child, claiming to be the child's mother at immigration control, and presented a forged affidavit and birth certificate. WhatsApp messages between her and the child's father, who had abducted the child from the mother's custody, directed her on what to say at the border. The father had been living in the UK and had arranged the fake documents and €1,310 found on her. The grandmother pleaded guilty, admitted she had no knowledge that the child had been kidnapped, and expressed a desire for a romantic relationship with the father. The judge noted her lack of prior convictions and her difficult background, and imposed the suspended sentence on the condition she leave the jurisdiction and never return.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 22‑year‑old Emmet Prizeman received a suspended 18‑month prison sentence for assaulting Stephen Merchant, a professional referee from England, after a row with his girlfriend escalated outside a Harcourt Street nightclub. CCTV showed Prizeman punching Merchant once and then kicking him twice while he was on the ground, striking him on the head. Merchant was briefly unconscious, taken to hospital, and fully recovered. Prizeman pleaded guilty to assault causing harm on 24 May 2017. The judge, citing his lack of prior convictions, good work record, and a character reference from a catering teacher, reduced a headline three‑year sentence to 18 months, suspended on the condition of keeping the peace for two years and engaging in victim‑ and offence‑focused work with the Probation Service.
Marius Purcil, 39, of Woodbrook Hall, was sentenced to six years in prison for sexual assault and assault causing harm at a holistic treatment centre in Dublin on 21 January 2017. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Martin Nolan imposed five years for sexual assault and three years for assault causing harm, to run consecutively, and suspended the final two years on strict conditions. Purcil entered the premises, requested a massage from a receptionist who was absent, offered money for sex, and when she refused, he became aggressive, struck her, held a knife to her throat, and forced her to undress. He cut her leggings and underwear and inflicted lacerations to her genitals, as well as injuries to her face, head and neck. The victim, who was unconscious, later described the assault in a victim impact statement, expressing fear and a desire not to hate the attacker.
A 40‑year‑old Dublin man, Justin Murray, was given a suspended 12‑month prison sentence for stealing €500 in mass donations from the sacristy of the Church of Our Lady of Victories in Ballymun. The theft occurred on 6 November 2016 when a parishioner witnessed him taking money and he fled. Gardaí identified him via CCTV and found his bicycle, marked with his name, abandoned on the church grounds. Murray had previously pleaded guilty to the offence and had 77 convictions, including ten thefts and 20 burglaries. He is already serving a separate prison term for another offence, due for release in July 2019, and the new suspended sentence will run consecutively. Judge Elma Sheahan, noting his efforts to recover from drug addiction and his current drug‑free status, imposed the suspension on the condition that he continue treatment and keep the peace.
A 43-year-old man from Donegal has been convicted of sexually abusing his sister during their childhood. The Central Criminal Court jury returned unanimous guilty verdicts on all charges following a trial in March, finding him guilty of four counts of anal rape, one of oral rape, and one of sexual assault at the family home between May 1991 and June 1993. Evidence presented included a secret audio recording in which the woman confronted her brother about the abuse during a family meeting. The man, who cannot be identified to protect the complainant's privacy, had pleaded not guilty to all charges. He has no previous convictions. During sentencing submissions, defence counsel noted his client's long employment history and community involvement, requesting leniency. Justice Tara Burns remanded him on continuing bail until May for sentencing, allowing him time to arrange his affairs.
A 36‑year‑old woman, Laura Kenna, was sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment, with the last five years suspended, for attempting to murder civil servant Fionnuala Burke on Lower Drumcondra Road on 3 January 2017. Kenna, who had no fixed abode, pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, a plea rejected by a Central Criminal Court jury on 5 March. The jury heard that Kenna attacked Burke, who was walking home from work, by pushing her onto a grassy area and stabbing her. Burke suffered a deep slash across her neck that penetrated muscle and the thyroid gland, requiring surgery and intensive care. Kenna later admitted to the Gardaí that she had "sliced her like you would a goat." Justice Tara Burns, after considering Kenna's mental health history and admissions, imposed a 15‑year term, suspending the final five years on the condition that Kenna comply with psychiatric treatment and remain drug‑ and alcohol‑free during the suspended period. Laura Kenna was found guilty.
In 2019, a journalist recalled the 1988 trial of Dessie O'Hare, who had been sentenced to 40 years for the kidnapping and torture of dentist John O'Grady. The article describes a 2019 sentencing hearing where O'Hare, still in court, was given a ten‑year term with three years suspended for false imprisonment and a concurrent three‑year assault sentence. The judge noted that O'Hare's threat to society had not fully abated and cited his past violent offences as aggravating factors. O'Hare had pleaded guilty to a violent assault. The piece also recounts his 1988 speech from the dock after his 40‑year sentence, where he denounced Irish authorities, called for violence, and threatened war against British and Irish forces. The article ends with his being escorted to prison after the speech.
Former INLA member Dessie O'Hare, known as "The Border Fox", was sentenced by the Special Criminal Court to seven years' imprisonment. The court accepted his guilty pleas to assaulting John Roche and falsely imprisoning Martin Byrne at Rathcoole and Saggart on June 9, 2015. O'Hare was jailed for three years for the assault and ten years for the false imprisonment, with three years suspended for life. The sentences run concurrently and were backdated to April 3, 2019. Mr Justice Tony Hunt described the assault on Roche as "disturbingly violent" and noted O'Hare's "appalling record" as an aggravating factor. The judge rejected a non-custodial sentence, stating the offending was too serious and premeditated. O'Hare entered a bond to be of good behaviour for life. The court also noted that former Republican paramilitary Declan "Whacker" Duffy was previously sentenced to six years for his role in the same incident. The Byrne family, who were evicted from their home, are now in the Witness Protection Programme.
Keegan Davidson, 25, appeared before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court where he pleaded guilty to four offences under the 2010 Money Laundering Act. The charges relate to engaging in the transfer or conversion of monies knowing they were proceeds of crime, or being reckless as to whether they were, on September 30, 2017. Prosecution evidence indicated that Davidson provided his bank account details to a criminal gang involved in an "invoice redirect" fraud scam. A bogus email directed an engineering company to pay €104,107 into Davidson's account. He subsequently withdrew approximately €43,759 across various bureaux de change and post offices in Dublin, using his Irish passport for identification. Detective Garda Thomas Burke stated there was no evidence Davidson was involved in the initial fraud, only the laundering of proceeds. Around €46,000 was later retrieved by the bank. Davidson's previous convictions include possession of knives, public order, theft, and trespass; in 2011, he received a suspended sentence for possession of a sawn-off shotgun. Defence counsel Luigi Rea BL noted Davidson's history of psychosis exacerbated by drug abuse. Judge Pauline Codd adjourned the case to July 1 for sentencing and remanded Davidson on continuing bail. The matter was adjourned and not concluded at this stage.
Dwayne Barry, a 30‑year‑old former homeless man, was sentenced to three years in prison for arson at two Dublin locations. He set wheelie bins on fire to heat his sleeping bag, then tried to extinguish the flames when they spread. Barry pleaded guilty to arson at Ardoyne House, Pembrooke Park, Ballsbridge, where a blaze on 25 January 2016 caused €45,000 damage to two cars, and to arson at Burlington House, Waterloo Lane, Ballsbridge, where a fire on 28 February 2016 caused structural damage of over €18,000. He has 86 prior convictions, including theft, robbery and criminal damage. Judge Karen O'Connor, after multiple adjournments, imposed a three‑year sentence with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions, acknowledging Barry's genuine remorse and willingness to engage with addiction services. The judge noted the seriousness of arson and the difficulty of controlling fire, and accepted Barry's apology and attempts to put the fires out.
Keith Duffy, aged 31, was sentenced to five and a half years' imprisonment for endangerment, dangerous driving and criminal damage after a high‑speed chase that ended with him repeatedly ramming a Garda patrol car. The incident, which took place on 30 March 2018 in the Dublin 7 area, involved a 26‑minute pursuit that saw Duffy's van stop on a humpback bridge, wait for the patrol car, and then attempt to ram it, forcing the vehicle onto the footpath. Two other patrol cars joined the chase, which concluded when Duffy's van turned into a cul‑de‑sac at Newgrange Road, reversed, and twice rammed another patrol car before being blocked by a third. Garda Sean Kelly described the event as the worst dangerous driving he had encountered in ten years. Duffy, who has 66 prior convictions, pleaded guilty and was also found guilty of robbery at Kiely's Chemist on 29 March 2018, stealing drugs worth €225.
Jason Spooner, 45, was arrested after attempting to rob cigarettes from a Centra store in Finglas on 25 February 2017. He waited outside the shop, entered when a pregnant staff member opened the doors at 7.30 am, locked the doors behind him, and used a metal bar to try to open the safe. The staff member fled to a back office and locked herself in; Spooner followed and attempted to force the office door open. He was stopped by Garda Sergeant Conor Scully, who tackled him and removed the bar. Spooner admitted he had been awake all night after taking a load of pills and wanted to "go grab a smoke and leg it." He pleaded guilty to attempted robbery of cigarettes worth €300 and possession of a crowbar. He has 16 prior convictions, including traffic, theft and public‑order offences. The pregnant victim, five months along, expressed concern for her baby and difficulty sleeping after the incident.
A 32‑year‑old Liverpool man, Adam James Wood, is to be extradited to the UK where he faces life imprisonment for possession of firearms, ammunition and class A drugs. He was arrested in 2017 under a European Arrest Warrant and brought before the High Court in Dublin. UK authorities describe him as having a scar on his left hand and a tattoo reading 'Ciara' on his neck. Police seized firearms, ammunition, phones with images of weapons, heroin and cocaine at his Woodlands Road address in August and September 2014. He is also charged with conspiracy to possess firearms with intent to cause fear or unlawful violence, and with a dispute involving brandishing firearms and criminal damage. His lawyers challenged the extradition on several grounds, including a Brexit argument, but High Court Judge Aileen Donnelly rejected all objections and ordered his surrender under the European Arrest Warrant Act of 2003.
Frank Kamara, 29, pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 17 January 2018. He had sent a video of a boy aged one or two being raped to his supervisor, who watched it for two seconds before deleting it. Kamara claimed he sent the video to warn his supervisor about child sexual exploitation. The video, 4 minutes 59 seconds long, was the only child‑pornographic material found on his phone. Kamara had no prior convictions, was a cleaner at the time of the offence, and had a history of charitable work. Judge Elma Sheahan accepted the case as a one‑off offence, noted mitigating factors such as his guilty plea and remorse, and imposed a 12‑month imprisonment sentence suspended on the condition of good behaviour for 12 months.
In a non‑jury Special Criminal Court hearing, Declan McDermott pleaded guilty to possessing four kilograms of TNT and the explosive head of an RGD33 hand grenade. The court was informed that McDermott had ten 400‑gram blocks of TNT and the grenade head at Spring Garden Street, Dublin 3, on 2 June 2017. Giollaiosa O Lideadha SC advised the three‑judge panel that McDermott would not need a trial date, which had been set for later that month, and could instead be arraigned on the charge. The registrar read the indictment to McDermott, who answered "Guilty". Mr Justice Tony Hunt, with Judges Patricia Ryan and Ann Ryan, remanded McDermott on continuing bail until 29 April, when he will be sentenced. John O'Brien, aged 56, and Martin Manning, whose personal details are not disclosed, also admitted to possessing the same explosive materials on 2 June 2017 and will likewise be sentenced on 29 April.
In April 2016, Larry Behan, 41, owner's son of a quarry in Rathcoole, opened the quarry gates to IRA members John Roche and John Brock, allowing them to take 57 kg of homemade explosives and 38 kg of Kemegel industrial explosives. Behan had previously found the explosives while cleaning an old shed and believed they would be disposed of. He was arrested on 14 April for possession of an explosive substance but later pleaded guilty in March 2019 to knowingly rendering assistance to the IRA in the possession of explosives. The Special Criminal Court heard that Behan was naive, had no prior convictions, and was taken advantage of, fearing for his life. He was remanded on continuing bail until 29 April 2019. The case was heard by a three‑judge panel, including Mr Justice Tony Hunt.
Mansoor Uddin, 41, a taxi driver from Castleway, Adamstown, pleaded guilty to three sexual assault offences committed between January and February 2016. He sexually assaulted an 18‑year‑old German national, a 20‑year‑old woman, and an 18‑year‑old schoolgirl within two weeks. The first victim was forced to stay in the car, was touched and verbally abused, and later reported Uddin. The second victim was also touched and coerced, then left the vehicle. The third victim was touched and an attempt was made to touch her underwear; she resisted and tried to photograph Uddin. Gardaí used CCTV, a database of registered public service vehicles, a computer‑generated likeness, and GPS data from the HALO app to identify Uddin. The case was adjourned to May 8 for sentencing, and Uddin remains on continuing bail. Victim impact statements describe fear, isolation, and loss of trust in taxi services.
Eddie Smith, 45, sent explicit Facebook messages to a 15‑year‑old boy inviting sexual activity, claiming the boy was "hot" and offering to meet at the Gay Pride Festival. The messages, sent at 3 am, also asked about the boy's penis size and feet. The boy did not reply and showed the messages to his older sister, who contacted Smith. Smith later claimed the messages were sent by mistake to a man with the same name. Garda Paul Dempsey obtained a warrant after Smith failed to attend a trial date; he was taken to hospital and later pleaded guilty to sexual exploitation for inviting a child to sexual activity on 19 June 2015. He has no prior convictions. Judge Sinéad Ní Chulacháin remanded him on bail until 1 July, ordering a probation report to assess his risk of re‑offending and to address his mental‑health issues. The case was prosecuted by Maurice Coffey BL.
Stephen Keane, 30, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Court to impersonating a Garda, unlawfully seizing a vehicle and robbery. On 25 August 2018, he entered BoyleSports in Firhouse, presented a badge and claimed to be an undercover Garda, demanding CCTV footage and access to the back of the bookmakers. After the manager refused, he left. Later that day he approached a car outside Firhouse Shopping Centre, told the driver to exit, claimed to have a gun, and then drove off with the vehicle. He then entered Dwan's Off‑Licence, pointed a gun at an employee, demanded money and stole €395 and three packs of cigarettes. Keane said the gun was a broken airsoft gun and that he had a drug debt. He has 68 prior convictions in Ireland and the UK. The judge remanded him in custody and adjourned sentencing for 8 July.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, John O'Brien, 56, of North Great Clarence Street, Dublin 1, pleaded guilty to a new charge of assisting an unlawful organisation with an explosive. The charge, under section 21A of the Offences Against the State Act 1939 and section 49 of the Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Act 2005, alleges that on 2 June 2017 he knowingly rendered assistance to an unlawful organisation in furtherance of an unlawful object, namely possession of an explosive substance that was not held for a lawful purpose. O'Brien had previously been charged in December 2017 with possession of ten 400‑gram blocks of TNT and the explosive head of an RGD33 hand grenade. The court, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt with Judges Patricia Ryan and Ann Ryan, recorded his guilty plea and remanded him on continuing bail until 29 April, when sentencing will occur.
Paul Beatty, 32, was arrested in Dublin's north inner city with a loaded .38 special calibre Smith & Wesson revolver wrapped in a plastic bag. He had previously admitted unlawful possession of a firearm in 2018 and had a seven‑year sentence from 2010 for the same offence. Beatty was under surveillance after Garda confidential information indicated firearm activity. On 2 June 2018, while cycling along the Royal Canal, he was observed by Garda Damien Broughan, who pursued him. Beatty fled, threw the bag onto a footpath, and was tackled by the detective. The bag contained the revolver and five rounds of ammunition. Ballistics confirmed the gun was in good condition but its serial number was obliterated. Beatty denied the offence during interviews. He has 71 prior convictions, including endangerment, drug possession and dangerous driving. The court noted he was an "important and trusted member" of an organised crime gang. Paul Beatty pleaded guilty.
A 42‑year‑old foreign national was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment by the Central Criminal Court for repeatedly raping and sexually abusing his step‑daughter while her mother was working. He had pleaded guilty to three counts of defilement of a child under 17 between March and June 2017, and had also pleaded not guilty to one count of oral rape, 12 counts of rape and three counts of defilement between 2011 and 2017, and denied a further count of sexual exploitation in July 2017. The jury convicted him of all these charges. The victim, aged 11 to almost 16 at the time of the offences, gave a victim impact statement describing financial hardship, loss of sleep, school difficulties and emotional distress. The judge noted the abuse was a serious breach of trust, continued over several years, and imposed concurrent sentences totalling 12 years. The defendant does not accept the jury verdicts on the other counts.