In a High Court hearing, the barrister for Roy Norman Kenyon argued that the 64‑year‑old, who served 31 years in prison for a 1971 murder committed as a child, no longer poses a risk to society and should not be extradited to the UK. Kenyon, who escaped to Ireland in 2003 and lived under the alias Alan McPherson for 15 years, is now facing potential return to the UK to continue his life sentence. The court heard that Kenyon had been drinking at a public house on the night of the crime, then attacked Margaret Potts with a poker. He was arrested in Eyeries, Co Cork, in May 2018. The barrister contended that Kenyon's behaviour in custody shows no unacceptable risk, and that the UK has not committed to reviewing his case before 2021. Justice Aileen Donnelly will decide on May 21, after remanding Kenyon in custody.
In 2019 a Dublin man, Graham Stafford, 36, was sentenced to four‑and‑a‑half years in prison for breaking into the home of a terminally ill woman and repeatedly beating her 32‑year‑old son over four hours. Stafford entered the house early in the morning, claiming a family member owed him €3,000. He kicked and struck the son in front of his mother, who was suffering from cancer and has since died. The son reported that Stafford appeared "off his head on drugs" and that Stafford used a large kitchen knife and a Yankee Candle as weapons. Stafford, who had 11 prior convictions for minor drug and public‑order offences, pleaded guilty to false imprisonment in 2015. Judge Pauline Codd described the offence as "heinous", imposed a six‑year sentence with 18 months suspended, ordered addiction counselling and training, and back‑dated the sentence to July 2015.
Evan Dunne, 20, of Ballyfermot, Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to possession of cocaine for sale or supply. The offence occurred on February 15, 2018, at a car park in Dowdstown, Maynooth, Co Kildare. Gardaí seized seven packages of cocaine from a van Dunne had purchased the previous day, with an estimated street value of just over €492,400. Judge Pauline Codd identified the high value of the drugs and the planning involved in purchasing the vehicle as serious aggravating factors. However, she noted mitigating circumstances, including Dunne's guilty plea, his insight into the crime, his low risk of re-offending, and his employment history. The court heard that Dunne claimed he committed the offence to raise funds for a garage business and had developed a cocaine addiction from age 17. Judge Codd imposed a seven-year sentence, with the final four years suspended for that period. She ordered four years of Probation Service supervision, requiring Dunne to follow all directions, including victim empathy work and therapeutic supports. The sentence was backdated to November last year, when Dunne first went into custody, resulting in an effective custody period of three years.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, John Roche (55) and John Brock (46) were found guilty of possessing 167 kg of explosives in the boot of a car on Naas Road, Dublin 12, on 13 April 2016. The court noted the explosives included 57 kg of ANFO and thirty‑eight 2.5 kg rolls of Kemegel industrial explosives, amounting to roughly three‑quarters of the 227 kg of ANFO used in the Omagh bombing of 15 August 2008, which killed 29 people. Detective Sergeant Tom Power compared the Naas Road bomb to other large bombs, such as a 30 kg ANFO keg found in Finnstown House hotel and a 50 kg ANFO keg in Kilcurry Church, both in May 2014. The court also heard that 18 detonators were found under the front passenger seat. Mr Brock had a prior firearms conviction from 2008, while Mr Roche had no prior convictions. The sentencing was adjourned to Friday morning. John Brock pleaded not guilty.
A 23‑year‑old drug addict, Robbie Walsh, was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment with one year suspended for manslaughter after stabbing Karl "Gobbo" Haugh in the back during a row at Marion Estate, Kilkee, in August 2017. The court found that Walsh had not brought a knife to the scene; the knife used was taken from a kitchen block belonging to Haugh's friend. Walsh pleaded guilty to manslaughter and had previously been convicted of drug‑related offences. The judge noted his cooperation with Gardaí and his remorse, and reduced the headline sentence from ten to eight years. The suspended year was to run for three years, back‑dated to the date of his arrest. The sentence was imposed at the Central Criminal Court, with the judge urging Walsh to attend addiction and counselling services while in custody. Robbie Walsh pleaded not guilty and was acquitted.
Paul Connolly, 37, with 14 dangerous‑driving convictions and 3 hit‑and‑run convictions, drove under the influence of cocaine and benzodiazepine on Coolmine Road on 1 May 2018. While driving his child to school, he mounted a footpath, first striking Michael Igoe, 54, and then student Francis Dhala, 19. Igoe suffered a fractured ankle, bruising, torn shoulder muscles and a concussion; Dhala sustained a severe head injury, requiring multiple surgeries and a prolonged hospital stay. Connolly left the scene calmly, later claiming he thought he had hit a bush. He was intercepted by a driving instructor and Gardaí, admitted to drug use, and pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm, driving under the influence, possession of cannabis, failing to remain at the scene, failing to offer assistance, failing to alert Gardaí, and driving without insurance or a licence.
Jordan Joyce, aged 19, was arrested for stealing a €399 Dyson vacuum cleaner from Harvey Norman in Blanchardstown on 7 January 2018. He signed Garda custody records and a court bail bond under the false name "Wayne Byrne", giving a false date of birth and address. Garda Gary Farrell discovered the forgery when Joyce was later arrested on a bench warrant, leading to the real Mr Byrne's arrest. Joyce admitted the theft and the forgery, describing himself as "acting the maggot". He pleaded guilty to the vacuum‑cleaner theft and to forging his signature on a Garda custody record on 21 March 2018 and on bail records on 22 March 2018. He had 21 prior minor convictions. The court heard that Joyce's family and partner raised €400 to compensate Harvey Norman. Judge Melanie Greally, taking into account his early guilty pleas, full restitution, youth and immaturity, imposed an 18‑month sentence, with the final nine months suspended for two years.
In 2015, Waquil Alatise, a 52‑year‑old Master's student, collapsed in front of a woman's car in Clondalkin and later claimed she had hit him while she was on her phone. He admitted making a false statement to Gardaí and pleaded guilty in February 2019. The court found his premeditated behaviour caused the victim significant distress and called the offence "most serious." Alatise was sentenced to 16 months in prison, with the final four months suspended on the condition of keeping the peace for four months after release. He had previously filed a civil claim with the Personal Injuries Assessment Board, which he withdrew. The victim, a careful driver with 20 years of licence, said the ordeal had shaken her confidence and left her nervous on the roads. Alatise has no prior convictions in Ireland or the UK.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, John Roche (55) and John Brock (46) were found guilty of possessing 167 kg of explosives in a black Skoda Fabia. Gardaí discovered four plastic bags of homemade explosives and 18 detonators under the front passenger seat on Naas Road. Roche claimed he had no knowledge of the explosives and denied being at Behans Quarry, but the judge deemed his denials "totally incredible" and concluded he had full control of the vehicle's contents. Brock, a front‑seat passenger, also denied knowledge but was found to have been aware of the bulky load. Both men were remanded pending sentencing, with the court noting they acted in concert to transport the explosives, contravening the Explosive Substances Act 1883. John Roche pleaded not guilty. John Brock pleaded not guilty.
Mario Hanzic Broz, aged 44, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison for two attempted robberies at Dublin post offices on 8 and 10 May 2018. He entered the offices armed with a 6mm air pistol, but left without money. Broz pleaded guilty to attempted robbery and possession of an air pistol at both locations. He had no prior convictions in Ireland. The judge noted his history of service in the Balkans, where he witnessed atrocities and suffered post‑traumatic stress disorder, and his use of drugs to cope. He was given credit for his guilty pleas, cooperation, remorse and personal difficulties. The final two years of a six‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence were suspended on the condition of keeping the peace and obeying probation services. No victim impact statements were filed for the second offence.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 4 April 2019, Keith Curran, 40, pleaded guilty to a one‑punch assault that fractured the skull of a 32‑year‑old male outside The Clock pub on 18 June 2017. The victim, who suffered permanent hearing loss, loss of smell and taste, and ongoing headaches, had been refused entry to the pub due to intoxication. Curran, who had no prior convictions, was sentenced to 240 hours of community service instead of a three‑year jail term. Judge Melanie Greally noted the assault occurred after a verbal disagreement fueled by alcohol, and that the victim had known Curran's family. She credited Curran's guilty plea, cooperation and remorse, and ordered the community service to be completed within 12 months.
Paul Mooney, 31, had been sentenced to ten years in prison in 2014 for possessing €27,900 of cannabis and synthetic cannabis, a crime that fell under Section 15A of the Misuse of Drugs Act. He had already served six years and had seven prior convictions, including a 2009 serious drugs offence. In 2019 Judge Melanie Greally reviewed his sentence and suspended the remaining four years, citing his current drug‑free status and the Probation Service's assessment that he posed a low risk of re‑offending. The suspension requires Mooney to undergo 12 months of post‑release supervision, attend drug counselling, provide urinalysis, and comply with all Probation Service directions to address his emotional and psychological needs. The review was prompted by a routine Garda patrol that led to his arrest and the discovery of the drug cache at his home. The case was prosecuted by Dean Kelly BL and defended by Fiona Murphy SC. Paul Mooney pleaded guilty.
Paul Fields, 29, a former soldier, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to stealing €3,840 from a Ladbrokes shop in Priorswood on 9 March 2018. He claimed the theft was a "moment of madness" driven by a drug debt and threats of death. Fields had previously served in Chad and had a history of nine convictions, mainly traffic offences. Garda Fergal Duffy reported that the manager, who believed Fields would return the money, was left with a cash bag that Fields snatched while holding the door. Fields was arrested, found with €300, and the rest of the money was unrecovered. Judge Martin Nolan, noting Fields' cooperation and personal circumstances, imposed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence suspended in full on strict conditions.
A 57‑year‑old Dublin grandfather, Joseph Tyrell, will be sentenced for two burglaries and an attempted bookies robbery. He cut himself while smashing windows at the burglarised properties and left blood at the scenes. DNA from the blood linked him to the crimes, and CCTV footage identified him during the attempted robbery, where he threatened to shoot two cashiers. Tyrell pleaded guilty to burglary at Sundrive Road, Crumlin, on 23 March 2016, and at Blarney Park, Kimmage, between 17 and 19 August 2016, and to attempted robbery at BoyleSports, Greenhills Road, on 7 April 2016. He has 85 previous convictions over 40 years, including robbery, aggravated burglary and drug offences, and is currently serving a five‑year sentence for another burglary. The court heard that the burglaries were opportunistic, lacked sophistication, and were carried out by a drug‑addicted offender who had struggled with addiction since his teens. The victims suffered financial loss, property damage, and emotional distress.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 4 April 2019, John Gavin, 31, pleaded guilty to threatening Garda Sergeant Amanda Flood at the Four Courts on 29 May 2015. Gavin, who was already serving a six‑year sentence for rape, followed the sergeant around the courtroom, shouting that the law was corrupt and that she would "get run over by a bus." He also threatened to "smash this court up" and said "I hope you die roaring," until additional Gardaí arrived. The court heard that Gavin had 108 prior convictions, including assault and violent disorder, and that he had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and was taking anti‑psychotic medication. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to 20 months imprisonment, to run consecutively to his existing sentence. The victim impact statement noted that the incident was the most distressing of Sergeant Flood's 15‑year career, prompting her to return home for a few weeks.
Nathan Foley, aged 20, was jailed for a year after a prison officer found a mobile phone in his cell, the eighth time in two years. He was due to appear before the Special Criminal Court on charges of facilitating the murder of David Douglas in July 2016. Foley declined an interview with Gardaí but said through his legal team that he had the phone to call his family before sentencing. He had previously pleaded guilty to having a mobile while a prisoner, with 34 convictions including drug offences and seven phone‑related offences. In January 2019 he was jailed for six years for participating in or contributing to the murder of Mr Douglas. Judge Melanie Greally ordered the 12‑month term to run consecutively with the six‑year sentence, citing his history of drug addiction and repeated phone offences. The judge noted that prior sentences had not deterred him.
Mark McNally, 27, of Seacourt, Clontarf, Dublin, was found by Gardaí to be downloading child pornography when they raided his home on 25 February 2014. Garda Donal Bolger obtained a warrant and, during the search, discovered McNally's laptop on a bed with 35 images and 32 videos, mainly of pre‑teen boys and girls in sexual activity. McNally admitted he had been downloading such material since age 13 and had done so between 2010 and 2014, when he was aged 19 to 23. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of child pornography. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a three‑year imprisonment sentence, fully suspended on the condition that McNally keep the peace, be of good behaviour for three years and follow Probation Service directions for two years. He has no prior convictions and had not attracted Garda attention before this incident.
Luke Murphy, 32, of Abbey View, Monkstown, Dublin, was sentenced to five years in prison for threatening to kill his former partner and her children. He pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to making threats to kill or cause serious harm on 12 and 13 February 2018. The judge, Melanie Greally, suspended the final two years of the sentence on strict conditions, including engagement with the Probation Service and attendance at a domestic‑violence perpetrator programme if deemed suitable. Murphy had two prior drug convictions. The judge described the offences as a breach of trust, extremely menacing, accompanied by pictures and concrete suggestions of execution, and noted the substantial trauma inflicted on the victim and children. The case had previously involved a protection order issued on 2 January 2018, and Garda Aaron Bradshaw had recorded multiple threatening communications and altercations between Murphy and the victim.
Aaron Nolan, 21, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison for assaulting his then‑girlfriend, 19, on 5 November 2017. The court heard that Nolan punched, kicked and dragged her over a green area and down a laneway, pulling clumps of hair and causing her to vomit all night. He also burst her eardrum and inflicted severe facial injuries, including a swollen face, blood‑matted hair, a burst nose and lip. Nolan pleaded guilty to two assault charges and had no prior convictions. Judge Melanie Greally suspended the final 18 months of the sentence on strict conditions: two years of Probation Service supervision, no contact with the victim, and attendance at a domestic‑violence programme if suitable. The victim suffered post‑traumatic stress disorder, depression, neck pain and hearing loss, and she now speaks less and feels trapped by the memory of the attack.
Former INLA member Dessie O'Hare, known as "The Border Fox", was remanded in custody until April 11 for sentencing by the Special Criminal Court. O'Hare (62), of Newtownhamilton, County Armagh, pleaded guilty to assaulting John Roche, causing him harm, and falsely imprisoning Martin Byrne at Rathcoole and Saggart on June 9, 2015. The court was asked to take two further counts of false imprisonment concerning Byrne's wife and son into consideration. Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding with Judges Patricia Ryan and Ann Ryan, stated that despite a "thought-provoking" plea in mitigation, a non-custodial sentence was an "unlikely outcome". O'Hare told gardai he was employed by Jim Mansfield Junior to evict Byrne and his family. He has four previous convictions, including a 40-year sentence in 1988 for false imprisonment and assault causing grievous bodily harm, from which he was released in 2008. In a related matter, former Republican paramilitary Declan "Whacker" Duffy was sentenced to six years imprisonment last year after pleading guilty to the same assault on Roche and false imprisonment of Byrne. Three other men have also been jailed for the attack.
Hassan Bilal, 38, of Tullamore, Co Offaly, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to burglary and theft of catering equipment valued at €10,16 on May 18, 2015. The items included a commercial freezer, fryers, mixing bowls, trays, a chip holder, a burger fryer, a microwave, a blender, and chopping boards. Judge Elma Sheahan adjourned the matter to May 27 to allow Detective Garda Sweeney to ascertain the specific financial losses incurred by victim Gerry Hughes. Bilal was remanded on continuing bail. The court heard that Bilal, along with co-defendants Yasir Ali and Sabih Hassan, had sub-let the premises in Castlebar, Mayo, without permission. Ali, of East Wall, Dublin, previously received a two-year suspended sentence in December 2017 for the same offence. Sabih Hassan received a three-year suspended term in February 2018. A victim impact statement stated Hughes suffered severe physical, mental, and financial stress, noting he remained out of pocket four years later. Defence counsel Niamh Barry BL submitted Bilal was of limited means and had made efforts to change his circumstances. The prosecution noted no evidence supported Bilal's claim of having paid a deposit or rent.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 2 April 2019, Simon Whelan, aged 32, pleaded guilty to trespassing and theft in four student apartments at Gateway Student Village, Ballymun, on 4 October 2018. He also admitted to burglaries at Salamanca Restaurant (23 July 2017), Lush (16 August 2018), 777 Restaurant (20 August 2018) and Nisbits Catering Equipment (7 September 2018). Garda Sergeant Colm McGallagher recounted that Whelan broke into the apartments while occupants slept, stole laptops, speakers, watches, wallets and cash, and was caught after a garda saw him struggling with a heavy bag. Whelan claimed "I don't care about getting caught, it's about the hit." He has 105 prior convictions, including 57 burglaries, and has been in custody since 2007, developing an addiction to crack cocaine and heroin. The judge ordered a probation report, urine analysis, and remanded him in custody, with sentencing set for 30 May.
A 29‑year‑old man from Kiltalown Park, Tallaght, was sentenced to two and a half years in prison after a high‑speed chase in which he drove a Volkswagen Passat at up to 120 km/h in a 50 km/h zone, forcing other motorists to take evasive action. The judge noted that he had been under a 40‑year driving ban and had eleven prior convictions for dangerous driving. He was convicted of three counts of endangerment and three counts of dangerous driving. The judge suspended the last year of a three‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence on the condition that he engage with addiction services, drug treatment and victim‑focused work, and imposed a ten‑year driving disqualification. He denies the offences and claims he is turning a corner toward a better life. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, defence counsel Dominic McGinn SC argued that it was "inconceivable" that Gardaí would have missed an assault rifle and ammunition during a search of a Kildare house on 24 January 2017. He cited the fact that a landlord's nephew later found a rifle, ammunition and drugs in the base of a bed, four days after the Gardaí search. Michael Brady (54) is charged with possession of €1.5 million worth of cocaine, €1.26 million worth of heroin and over 180 rounds of ammunition at a property in Sallins, Co Kildare. He pleaded not guilty to all seven counts. The court found him not guilty of possessing an assault rifle and the State withdrew a charge of three ammunition magazines. Brady's brother, Declan Brady (52), pleaded guilty to possession of 15 firearms and over 4,000 rounds of ammunition at Greenogue Business Park, Rathcoole, Co Dublin. Michael Brady was acquitted.
Three Dublin youths – Harry Walsh (18), Gordon Robinson (20) and Darragh Smith (20) – filmed themselves laughing after a violent hour‑long rampage that involved seven separate incidents of violent disorder and assaults on eight members of the public between 3am and 4am on 3 November 2017. The court heard CCTV showing the trio attacking victims on Camden Street, Harcourt Street and Montague Street, with injuries including a shattered eye socket, fractured cheekbone, broken jaw, knocked‑out teeth, unconsciousness and cracked ribs. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a five‑year sentence on Robinson and a four‑year sentence on Smith, each with the final 12 months suspended, and adjourned Walsh's sentence until July. The judge directed that the €11,000 raised by the offenders be used to offset medical expenses, with any remaining balance divided equally among the injured parties. The court noted the extreme nature of the offences and the unit operation of the three assailants. Harry Walsh pleaded guilty. Gordon Robinson pleaded guilty. Darragh Smith pleaded guilty.
In 2017, Jack Hall Ellis, a 21‑year‑old apprentice carpenter, punched 20‑year‑old Luke O'Reilly once after a night of heavy drinking. The assault occurred on Old Blessington Road, Tallaght, when O'Reilly was walking away from a pub. The single blow to the right side of O'Reilly's head caused a fall that left him with brain injuries. He was taken to hospital in a coma and died 13 days later. Ellis, who had consumed seven to ten double Captain Morgan rums that night, pleaded guilty to unlawful killing at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The court adjourned sentencing to allow reports to be prepared and will hear a plea in mitigation next month. O'Reilly's mother, Janet O'Brien, delivered a victim impact statement describing her son as a gentle giant and expressing the family's profound loss. The case highlights the fatal consequences of a single punch delivered in a drunken state.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 19‑year‑old Clayton Brennan was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment for an unprovoked assault on Mexican national Jose Mondragon on Bachelors Walk on 27 April 2016. Brennan, who claimed he wanted to appear tough before friends, punched and kicked Mondragon, who was sitting on the Liffey boardwalk. The attack left Mondragon with half of his front teeth lost, costing €4,205 to repair. Brennan, who was 16 at the time of the offence, had eight prior convictions, including a serious assault in May 2016 and a violent disorder, arson and criminal damage case that had a five‑year sentence with the last two years suspended. Judge Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin imposed a two‑year term, suspended the final six months on condition of no mind‑altering substances and compliance with the Probation Service. Brennan is to be released on 30 January 2020 and remain under probation supervision for 18 months. Clayton Brennan pleaded guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Miguel Pintos, 38, was found guilty of endangering pedestrians after losing control of his motorbike on a speed bump. The incident occurred on Shangan Road, Ballymun, on 6 May 2018, when Pintos's bike skidded into a pedestrian, breaking both her legs, and later collided with another woman, fracturing her ankle. Pintos, who has 30 prior convictions, pleaded guilty. The first victim, who received 20 stitches to her head and requires further surgery for leg plates, reported limited memory of the event and ongoing pain. The second victim now feels nervous around motorcycles. Pintos apologized repeatedly, describing the event as a moment of stupidity, and the court noted no alcohol or drugs were involved. Judge Karen O'Connor ordered a Probation Service report and adjourned sentencing to July.
A 16‑year‑old boy was sentenced by Mr Justice Michael White at the Central Criminal Court to a five‑year detention that was fully suspended for five years, provided he follows Probation Service directions, keeps the peace and behaves well. The court also ordered that he live away from his parents for a period recommended by NIAP, an inter‑agency project dealing with adolescents who sexually abuse, and that this condition remain in force when he turns 18. He must also participate in a treatment programme to educate him on the consequences of his offending behaviour. The boy pleaded guilty to five counts of oral rape and 44 counts of sexual assault against his eight‑year‑old half‑sister, committed between September 2016 and January 2017. The abuse was discovered when the boy's mother found him inappropriately touching his sister's genitals in January 2017.
A judge denied the State's request to bar the media from naming John Gibson, a former Christian Brother teacher, after he was convicted of indecent assault on two children in the 1980s. Gibson, aged 72, was jailed for two years for sexual assaults on a 12‑year‑old girl in 1983 and a 12‑year‑old boy in 1985. The Director of Public Prosecutions sought an order to prevent reporting on the case, citing potential prejudice in future trials. Publishers of the Irish Times, Irish Independent and Irish Daily Mirror applied to lift the restrictions, and the court found no compelling reason to impose them. Judge Elma Sheahan ruled that no reporting restrictions were necessary and that a future warning would suffice. Gibson was subsequently named in press coverage of his trial and sentencing.
Two men have been convicted and sentenced by the Special Criminal Court in connection with the 2013 murder of dissident republican Peter Butterly. Michael McDermott of Ballinagh, County Cavan, received four years imprisonment with the final six months suspended after pleading guilty to assisting an unlawful organisation in the killing. Frank Murphy of County Meath was sentenced to three years with the final year suspended after pleading guilty to impeding the apprehension of a prosecution witness. Mr Butterly, aged thirty-five, was fatally shot outside The Huntsman Inn in Gormanston on 6 March 2013. Four other men have previously received life sentences for his murder. The three-judge panel took into account both men's guilty pleas, clean records, and family circumstances when determining sentences. Both sentences were backdated to reflect time already spent in custody.
A 42-year-old man has been sentenced to 14 months imprisonment for dangerous driving causing death at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. James Dingle, of Drumcliffe Road, Cabra, Dublin pleaded guilty to causing the death of Maureen Creaner, aged 92, on Navan Road, Cabra on 4 September 2016. The collision occurred as Mrs Creaner crossed the road to purchase a newspaper. Garda collision experts established Dingle was travelling at 64 kilometres per hour in a 50 kilometre per hour zone. A breath test revealed he was marginally over the legal drink-driving limit, having consumed alcohol the previous evening. Analysis of his phone activity indicated significant sleep deprivation in the hours before the incident. Judge Martin Nolan noted Dingle had made conscious decisions regarding his condition and speed, for which he bore responsibility. Mitigating factors included his remaining at the scene and full co-operation with gardaí. Dingle was also disqualified from driving for four years.
Martin Hanley, aged 55, was sentenced by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for a violent robbery on 23 November 2017 in Gardiner Lane. He knocked victim Frank O'Neill to the ground, demanded money, and stamped on O'Neill's leg, breaking his tibia. O'Neill, aged in his 60s, was left unable to run and later unable to walk, with the injuries likely to cause arthritis. Hanley, who is undergoing cancer treatment and has had a lung removed, pleaded guilty. Judge Karen O'Connor described the attack as vicious and frightening, suspended the last two and a half years of a five‑year term, and imposed a longer custodial period. Hanley was placed on a two‑year bond for good behaviour and required to engage with Probation Services. No order was made regarding a €2,000 offer of remorse from Hanley's family. The Probation Service assessed him as a moderate risk of re‑offending.
Two men from Dublin have been sentenced following their involvement in a significant drugs seizure and money laundering operation. Patrick Kavanagh, aged 59, of Ballygall Crescent, Finglas, and Patrick Hannon, of Rathvilly Park, Finglas, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of amphetamine and cannabis for sale or supply on 21 August 2017. Gardaí intercepted the pair moving drugs from a storage unit in north Dublin, recovering approximately nine kilogrammes of MDMA and eleven kilogrammes of cannabis herb and resin, with an estimated street value of €645,720. Hannon additionally pleaded guilty to three counts of possessing proceeds of crime, having allowed cheques from companies using false identities to be lodged into his bank account. Judge Melanie Greally imposed concurrent sentences of three years for the money laundering offences. She sentenced Kavanagh to four and a half years with the final eighteen months suspended, and Hannon to six and a half years with the final eighteen months suspended. The judge noted both men occupied lower positions within the criminal hierarchy and had expressed remorse.
In the Special Criminal Court, Michael Brady, 54, of Blackrock, Co Dublin, was directed to be found not guilty of possessing an assault rifle by Mr Justice Paul Coffey. The judge ruled there was no evidence beyond reasonable doubt linking Brady to the rifle, which was found concealed in a bed base at Sallins Bridge, Co Kildare, on January 24, 2017. Although DNA from skin cells matching Brady was found on socks containing ammunition, an expert noted this did not exclude the possibility that another person placed the rounds in socks Brady had worn. The judge further stated there was no evidence establishing when Brady accessed the bed or when the rifle was placed there. The State also withdrew a separate charge regarding the possession of three ammunition magazines. Brady had pleaded not guilty to all nine counts on his indictment, which included allegations of possessing €1.5 million worth of cocaine and €1.26 million worth of heroin. Separately, his brother, Declan Brady, 52, pleaded guilty last month to possessing 15 firearms and more than 4,000 rounds of ammunition at Greenogue Business Park, Rathcoole, Co Dublin, on the same date. Declan Brady is currently awaiting sentence. The trial for Michael Brady continues on Monday.
Donna McGarry, 38, who worked as general manager at the Dublin pub Four Dame Lane, pleaded guilty to two counts of theft for taking €11,900 between 4 October and 6 November 2017. At the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Melanie Greally imposed a headline sentence of three years but suspended the entire two‑and‑a‑half‑year term, giving credit for her early guilty plea, good work history and a strong testimonial from her current employer. McGarry had no prior convictions, had fully repaid the stolen money, and was described as otherwise good character. The judge noted her severe financial pressure and a miscarriage at the time of the offences. McGarry was ordered to keep the peace and be of good behaviour for the duration of the suspended sentence.
Graham Doyle, aged 31, was convicted in Dublin of four counts of sexual assault and one count of oral rape against a 13‑year‑old girl he met on a social networking site while claiming to be a teenager. He had previously been convicted of defilement of a child under 15 in 2011. Doyle pleaded guilty to the offences committed between 1 August 2004 and 31 March 2005. Mr Justice Michael White sentenced him to five years' imprisonment, suspending the final three and a half years on the condition of good behaviour and probation. The judge noted Doyle's prior convictions, the seriousness of the offences, the victim's age and the psychological coercion used. Doyle was 16 at the time of the offences. The victim gave a victim impact statement describing the abuse and its lasting effects. The judge emphasised that the victim was innocent and should not feel responsibility for the abuse. The sentence was imposed in 2019.
In a High Court hearing on 28 March 2019, the extradition of 64‑year‑old Roy Norman Kenyon was discussed. Kenyon, convicted of murdering Margaret Potts in 1971, had been serving a life sentence in the UK when he absconded to Ireland in 2003. He lived under the alias Alan McPherson in Tullamore for 15 years before being arrested in Eyeries, Co. Cork, on 2 May 2018. The court heard that Kenyon was in the process of having his sentence reviewed when he fled. His barrister, Sean Guerin SC, noted that Kenyon had been deemed suitable for release in 1985 after completing the punitive portion of his sentence, but he absconded again, losing five years of potential release each time. Kenyon has not committed any further offences since the murder. The hearing will continue next month.
Edward O'Keeffe, a 38‑year‑old supermarket manager, was sentenced to five years in prison for possessing a sawn‑off semi‑automatic shotgun and a stolen Suzuki motorcycle. Gardaí searched his Mulhuddart home on the basis of confidential information and found the gun in a bag under the floorboards, wrapped in black tape, and a spent cartridge. The shotgun had not been used in any offence. O'Keeffe claimed he was pressured by a criminal gang to hold the items. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Melanie Greally suspended the last two and a half years of the sentence, citing financial pressures and evidence of his responsible family role. The judge noted that the gang's operations relied on people "under the radar" and that O'Keeffe was not on any Garda radar. The case was defended by Kenneth Kerins BL, who highlighted O'Keeffe's managerial role and the distress of his children during the search.
Deanna Brogan, 21, avoided jail after a judge placed her on a six‑month good behaviour bond for her role in a violent robbery on a Dublin city bus on St Patrick's Day 2015. Brogan, who had previously been involved in a street assault on a Brazilian man and a violent disorder offence in Temple Bar, admitted to slapping a minor victim twice in the face after the victim had returned his borrowed mobile phone. The attack was captured on CCTV and the victim has expressed ongoing fear of entering the city centre. Brogan's 12 prior convictions include two assault offences. The judge described the bus incident as "mean spirited" and "thuggish," and warned that any further offence would result in a prison sentence. She ordered Brogan to appear again on 10 October. The case also involved her partner Edward Doran, who pleaded guilty to impeding the apprehension of a robber.
Sarah English, 59, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm after she swung a glass at Paul Clarke, 59, in Belcamp Green, Priorswood on 12 July 2016. The glass shattered, cutting Clarke's head and face and severing a vein in his neck, causing him to lose consciousness and requiring surgery. He now bears a five‑inch scar on the right side of his face. English claimed she believed Clarke had ridiculed her late husband and deceased son, and that her reaction was a spur of the moment. She has no prior convictions. Judge Martin Nolan accepted her remorse, noted her role as a mother and grandmother, and imposed a four‑year sentence suspended in full on strict conditions. She must pay €3,000 as a token of remorse, €1,400 immediately and €1,600 within a year, and is unlikely to re‑offend.
In March 2019, an 18‑year‑old named Dylan Lynch was sentenced to six years in prison for a series of violent offences. In July 2018, he assaulted a teenage girl in his home, repeatedly slamming a door into her head, setting fire to her hair, cutting clumps of singed hair and throwing them out the window. He also filmed the incident and shared it on Snapchat. The assault was described by Judge Melanie Greally as "sadistic" and "degrading." Lynch had previously been convicted of robbery and assault with a vodka bottle three months earlier, for which he received a four‑and‑a‑half‑year term. The two sentences run consecutively, with the last 18 months suspended on the condition that he engage with the Probation Service. The judge noted his youth, childhood trauma, remorse and drug addiction issues in determining the suspended period. The unnamed teenager pleaded guilty.
John Cash, 37, was sentenced to three and a half years in prison for driving at a Garda while attempting to escape arrest for burglary. He had previously been jailed for eight years in 2008 after pleading guilty to dangerous driving that caused the deaths of two French tourists, Martine Talon (54) and Martine Liotard (53), on the Kylemore Road in Dublin on 16 May 2007. Cash had been banned from driving for 20 years after that conviction. In December 2017 he pleaded guilty to burglary at Aldi, Old Lucan Road, Palmerstown Lower, and dangerous driving. During the burglary, he drove his car at Garda Barry O'Shea, smashing the patrol car's windscreen with a baton and then driving into the patrol car, forcing the Garda to jump out of the way. The court described the act as "callous" and noted Cash's prior guilty plea for dangerous driving that caused death.
A jury has found an alleged IRA member guilty of sexually assaulting and anally raping two teenage boys at a 'republican safe house' in Co. Louth in the early 1990s and in 2001. The defendant (45) had pleaded not guilty to the charges. The jury returned unanimous guilty verdicts on six counts of sexual assault and two counts of anal rape relating to the two complainants. However, the jury also returned not guilty verdicts on one count of sexual assault and one count of anal rape relating to one of the complainants, alleged to have occurred in 2001 when the complainant was in his 20s. The matter was adjourned for sentence to April 29, with the accused remanded in custody. The defendant denied the allegations, stating he had only stayed at the house a few times in the early 1990s while working a casual job and had no involvement in paramilitary organisations. The case is now adjourned for sentence.
In March 2019, Gerard Cully, a 32‑year‑old crack cocaine addict, was sentenced to seven and a half years' imprisonment for a series of violent robberies. He robbed a taxi driver on Railway Street, demanding €30 and the driver's car keys while threatening him with a pointed weapon and an accomplice strangling the victim with a rope. Cully also attempted to rob a convenience store and successfully robbed two other shops in Dublin's city centre, taking a total of €415. He was armed with a knife and a hammer during these offences. Judge Melanie Greally described the crimes as a "spree of severe offences committed at a very high level" to obtain money for his addiction. Cully pleaded guilty, expressed remorse, and had previously sought help for his addiction. The judge imposed concurrent sentences, suspended the final 18 months on strict conditions, and considered his psychological report and prior attempts at treatment.
Adam James Wood, 32, of Liverpool, is in Irish custody awaiting a High Court decision on his extradition to the UK. He faces 12 offences, including possession of firearms, ammunition and class A drugs, and conspiracy to possess firearms with intent to cause fear or unlawful violence. The European Arrest Warrant, issued in 2017, was based on evidence found at his Woodlands Road address and at North Sudely Road in August and September 2014, where police seized firearms, ammunition, heroin and cocaine, and phones containing images of firearms and ammunition. The warrant also cites a dispute with another Liverpool male involving brandishing firearms and criminal damage. UK authorities describe Wood as having a scar on his left hand and a tattoo reading 'Ciara' on his neck. His lawyers have challenged the extradition on several grounds, including a Brexit‑related argument.
The trial of 50‑year‑old Garda civil servant Lynn Margiotta collapsed after Judge Patricia Ryan ruled that the seizure of her medical certificates breached her right to privacy. Margiotta was arrested in August 2014 after a complaint of bullying against her line manager, Sergeant Sharon Burke. She had claimed stress from her mother's death in January 2014 and had provided over a dozen sick certificates signed by her brother, Dr Tony Margiotta. The certificates were officially stamped in the names of Dr Teresa O'Brien and Dr Barry Brown. Margiotta faced 18 counts of using a false instrument, and her brother faced 18 related counts of making false instruments. Both denied the allegations. The judge found the seizure improper, the certificates inadmissible, and the content of the interviews inadmissible. Consequently, the Director of Public Prosecutions entered a nolle prosequi on all charges against both defendants.
John Paul Byrne, 32, of Belcamp Crescent, Priorswood, Dublin, pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis for sale or supply on 5 May 2016. Gardaí seized €42,000 worth of cannabis from a hold‑all bag in the back of a car in which Byrne was a back‑seat passenger at a north Dublin road checkpoint set up in response to local feud issues. Byrne claimed he owed €15,000 for a drug debt and said he had little choice in moving the drugs, describing himself as a "gillie" or "lackey" on the lowest rung of the trade. His last offence was in 2010; prior convictions were mainly for traffic and public‑order offences. The court accepted his claim of a one‑off venture and noted his efforts to reduce risk factors. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a three‑and‑a‑half‑year suspended sentence, suspended in full on strict conditions, including engagement with the Probation Service and compliance with all directions.
Ben Mooney, a 22‑year‑old Dublin man, was placed on a two‑year probation bond after pleading guilty to knowingly possessing child pornography. He had used the alias "Nicole Heffernon" to contact up to 15 teenage boys via Facebook, obtaining images and videos of them in underwear, naked and masturbating. At his home, a Samsung phone held 4,000 images and 300 videos of child porn. A seized computer later yielded 476 videos (42 hours total) and 39 images, depicting children in explicit sexual acts or showing genital or anal regions. Judge Melanie Greally, after hearing evidence and a probation report, ordered Mooney to engage with the Probation Service, attend a sex‑offender treatment programme and other courses to address his addiction and educational needs. The judge remanded him on continuing bail until March 2021, noting that a custodial sentence would depend on his cooperation with the Probation Service over the two years.
Laura Kenna, 35, was found guilty by a Central Criminal Court jury on March 5, 2019, of attempting to murder civil servant Fionnuala Burke and of assault causing serious harm on January 3, 2017. Kenna, who had no fixed abode, had pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to both counts, but the plea was rejected. The trial described how Kenna attacked Burke on Lower Drumcondra Road, stabbing her and slashing her neck with a deep cut that penetrated muscle and the thyroid gland, requiring intensive care surgery. Kenna had 59 prior convictions, including assault and knife possession, and had a history of mental health and substance abuse problems. She had previously been found not guilty by reason of insanity for an attempted eye gouge at a LUAS stop 16 days earlier. The hearing will resume before Ms Justice Tara Burns on April 11, 2019, when Kenna is expected to be sentenced.