Alan Long, aged 27, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment for terrorising a 16‑year‑old boy and his mother over a drug debt. He pleaded guilty to trespass and theft, assault and demanding money with menaces at the victim's Kilbarrack home on 18 and 19 October. Long repeatedly visited the house, demanding €8,000, then €4,000, and took items including a flat‑screen TV, a suitcase of clothes and a Nintendo system. He assaulted the boy in the kitchen and threatened the mother with a headstone if she did not pay. The mother, who had been too afraid to contact Gardaí, made a formal statement after the incidents. Long had 10 prior convictions and had been in custody since his November arrest. The victim impact statement described ongoing fear, stress, anxiety and depression. The court noted Long's remorse and traumatic background. The sentence was imposed by Judge Martin Nolan.
A 54‑year‑old Nigerian man, whose identity is withheld to protect his children, pleaded guilty to five counts of child cruelty for beating his children, aged about eight and nine, between October 2011 and April 2014. He struck them 50 to 100 times with household items such as a belt, ladle and spoon, and verbally abused them. The abuse was reported when one child told a teacher, leading to social services involvement and the children being placed in foster care until 2016 and 2017. The man received a two‑year suspended sentence, with the judge citing his lack of prior convictions, remorse, and the similar sentence given to his wife, who also beat the children. He was ordered to comply with all social services orders concerning his children's welfare. The children, now teenagers, declined to give victim impact statements. The case highlighted cultural arguments presented by the defence, which were rejected by the court.
A 20‑year‑old Dublin man, Conor Emmet, was sentenced to two‑and‑a‑half years in jail, with the final 15 months suspended, after pleading guilty to possessing 5,919 images and 328 videos of child pornography that included sadomasochistic rape and torture of an 18‑month‑old girl. The material was seized from two laptops during a raid on his family home in May 2016, following an intelligence operation involving the FBI and Europol. Emmet admitted first accessing such material at age 16 and expressed relief at being caught. The judge noted the seriousness of the content, the vulnerability of the children depicted, and Emmet's lack of prior convictions, good academic record, charity work, and progress in rehabilitation. He will also undergo 15 months of post‑release supervision. The maximum sentence for the offence is five years.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 42‑year‑old postman David Byrne was convicted of dangerous driving causing the death of 70‑year‑old Patricia Dunne. Byrne, who suffers from Type 2 Usher Syndrome, had previously pleaded not guilty to the charge and to related offences of dishonestly inducing the National Driving Licence Service to issue a licence and making a false statement on an insurance application. The jury found him guilty on all three counts. Judge Patricia Ryan sentenced him to five years' imprisonment, reducing the headline figure of eight years to five on the basis of mitigating factors such as his cooperation, good record and remorse. Byrne was ordered to attend his son's First Holy Communion before reporting to Mountjoy Prison. The sentence includes treatment for his medical condition while incarcerated.
Stephen Collins, 27, a disqualified driver with 85 prior convictions, was jailed for five years after an intoxicated, high‑speed crash on Davitt Road, Dublin. While under the influence of alcohol and drugs, Collins struck a cyclist who was turning right at a green light, sending her airborne and causing a cut to her forehead. He then lost control, hit the wall of The Marble Arch Pub, collided with a curb, and head‑on struck another vehicle, injuring its driver. Collins fled the scene, leaving the injured parties behind. He pleaded guilty to reckless endangerment and failure to assist. Judge Martin Nolan, noting Collins' long history of offences and lack of respect for traffic law, imposed the sentence and a ten‑year driving disqualification. The incident remains a significant incident of road‑traffic violence in Dublin.
Philip Devereux, 51, a former worker at a juvenile residential unit, pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of child pornography. Gardaí recovered a laptop with 24 illegal images, a floppy disk with six child sex stories, and 13 DVDs containing images of pre‑pubescent boys. The material was analysed by the Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau in 2017. Devereux had no prior convictions and had cooperated with the investigation, handing over devices and passwords. A psychologist's report and his strong work history were considered. Judge Martin Nolan, following higher court guidance, imposed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence suspended in full, concluding that a custodial sentence was not justified. The case had been delayed by a backlog of material awaiting analysis. The judge noted Devereux's efforts to rehabilitate and the impact of the conviction on his future.
David Lawrence, aged 22, was sentenced to two and a half years in prison for a drunken rampage that took place on 23 April 2017 at a house in Lusk. He admitted assaulting a teenage boy and a 15‑year‑old girl, smashing windows with a bale of briquettes and a lump of timber, and threatening to kill the boy. The court heard that Lawrence knocked on the door, used the bathroom, returned to demand a phone, knocked the girl to the ground, struck the boy, smashed the front‑door window, and threatened to slit the boy's throat with a knife. He also smashed another window with a wooden stick and tried to open the bathroom door. The family, who had known Lawrence before, were frightened and suffered long‑term emotional damage. Judge Martin Nolan noted that alcohol was not an excuse for his behaviour. Lawrence's sentence was back‑dated to 7 September 2017 when he entered custody. David Lawrence pleaded guilty.
The trial of four men accused of the 2005 tiger kidnap and robbery of Securicor driver Paul Richardson and his family in Raheny, Dublin, is ongoing at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Niall Byrne, Christopher Corcoran, Mark Farrelly, and David Byrne have all pleaded not guilty to the false imprisonment of Mr. Richardson and his family on March 13 and 14, 2005, and the robbery of €2.28 million on March 14, 2005. This is the fifth time the matter has come to trial. In his closing address, defence counsel Feargal Kavanagh SC argued that Niall Byrne is an innocent family man with no previous convictions, rather than a hardened criminal. He contended that phone evidence linking Byrne to previously convicted accomplice Jason Kavanagh does not prove involvement, suggesting the calls were unrelated or that Byrne was unaware of the crime. The defence asserted that Byrne had no need to be an "inside man" given Securicor's large workforce and established security procedures. Judge Melanie Greally is scheduled to charge the jury in the law tomorrow. The matter remains at the trial stage, with no verdict or sentence yet delivered.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 9 May 2018, a 30‑year‑old man was sentenced to a three‑year suspended term for breaking into his ex‑partner's Tallaght home on 7 April, assaulting her and falsely imprisoning their one‑year‑old daughter. Gardaí found him intoxicated at about 5 am, ten minutes from the house, and persuaded him to return the child. The judge, Martin Nolan, imposed the suspended sentence on the condition that the man keep the peace for the duration of the term, comply with Probation Services supervision for 18 months, and refrain from approaching or contacting his ex‑partner or the child for three years unless authorised by the mother or a Family Court order. The court warned that breaching this condition could result in imprisonment. The man had previously been convicted of threatening and abusive behaviour. The unnamed 30-year-old pleaded guilty.
A 24‑year‑old Dublin man was found guilty by a unanimous jury of 14 counts of sexual assault against a child aged five to eight, involving touching the girl's chest, genitals and placing his head and mouth in her genital area. The trial, held over four days, heard evidence of the offences at two Dublin locations between June 2008 and October 2011. The defendant failed to appear at the Central Criminal Court for the verdict. Judge Patrick McCarthy issued a bench warrant and ordered sentencing in his absence on 25 June 2018. The unnamed man pleaded not guilty.
Patrick O'Brien, aged 78, pleaded guilty to 15 counts of sexual assault, including oral and anal rape of a 13‑year‑old boy, and three counts of gross indecency. The offences occurred at his home in Knocklyon Road, Templeogue, Dublin, and other city locations between April 2002 and December 2003. O'Brien, a former Church of Ireland lay worker, is serving a 13‑year jail term imposed in 2016 for raping and molesting 14 boys over 40 years. In 1989 he received a suspended sentence for assaulting a ten‑year‑old boy in 1982. The victim first complained in 2002, but the complaint was withdrawn in 2010 after a Garda advised him not to pursue charges. The Garda later advised the victim again in 2016, leading to a second file to the DPP and subsequent prosecution. The court heard that the victim had accepted gifts from O'Brien during the abuse and felt he might be held responsible.
In the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Anthony Sammon SC defended 45‑year‑old David Byrne, arguing that the prosecution's case hinged on a single, unreliable witness, Alan Drumgoole. Sammon highlighted Drumgoole's admissions of lying to Gardaí and his contradictory statements about phone contacts, including a "Mousey" number that he claimed belonged to Byrne. He urged the jury to disregard Drumgoole's testimony, asserting that without trust in the witness, the prosecution's case collapsed. Byrne, along with Christopher Corcoran (70), Mark Farrelly (47), and Niall Byrne (36), had pleaded not guilty to false imprisonment and robbery of Securicor driver Paul Richardson and his family on 13–14 March 2005, a case that had reached trial for the fifth time. The defence also challenged circumstantial evidence linking Corcoran to the operation, noting discrepancies in phone data and travel routes. The trial proceeded with closing arguments before Judge Melanie Greally and a 14‑member jury.
Mark O'Dwyer, 44, of Dublin, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply and three charges of possessing stun guns. The drugs, valued at €4,170,932, were found at an address on Ballyfermot Drive on July 17, 2017. Detective Garda Brian Foran testified that the location operated as a large-scale drug distribution hub, containing 188 kgs of cannabis and 2.9 kgs of heroin. O'Dwyer admitted to being recruited as an unskilled labourer to pack the drugs, a role for which he was promised €1,500. Judge Martin Nolan noted O'Dwyer had no proprietary interest in the drugs and had maintained a methadone programme for 20 years. In a related matter, Stephen Sarsfield, 39, of Dublin 8, was jailed for seven years last month after pleading guilty to the same offence. Both men were observed transferring boxes of cannabis from a lorry into a garage before gardaí executed a search warrant. The court accepted that O'Dwyer did not resist arrest and co-operated with police. The sentence reflects the serious nature of the operation, despite O'Dwyer's limited involvement and lack of prior convictions since his methadone enrolment.
In 2018, Martin Maughan, aged 21, was sentenced to 18 months in jail for an unprovoked assault on Simon Cornish on Dublin's Henry Street in 2016. Maughan struck Cornish, a probation officer, causing a fractured facial bone and a detached retina, leading to surgery and permanent implants. Maughan pleaded guilty to one count of assault causing harm. He had 15 prior convictions, including robbery and criminal damage. The judge, Martin Nolan, imposed a three‑year sentence with the final 18 months suspended, citing the long‑term consequences for Cornish and the lack of provocation. Mitigating factors included Maughan's cessation of alcohol and drugs, his involvement with Focus Ireland, and his impending fatherhood. Maughan paid €2,000 to Cornish and presented a letter of apology. The court noted the emotional impact on both parties, with family members crying during sentencing. The case remains at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court stage.
A 28‑year‑old man named Michael Corbett, who lives in Raheny, pleaded guilty to attempting to murder a teenager at the Hellfire Club on Dublin's Montpelier Hill on 27 June 2016. He was arraigned on 8 May 2018 and admitted the charge. His barrister, Michael Bowman SC, requested a sentence hearing for 2 July, and Justice Patrick McCarthy remanded Corbett in custody until that date.
A 34‑year‑old homeless Latvian man, Aigars Grinfelds, was sentenced to five months for sexually assaulting a woman who was sleeping on a Dublin street in December 2017. Grinfelds placed his hand inside the woman's underwear while she lay on the pavement, an act witnessed by a passer‑by who intervened and arrested him. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and had been in custody since 19 January 2018. Grinfelds admitted he was drunk at the time. The victim, who was asleep before and after the incident, expressed distress and felt unsafe in a public place. Judge Martin Nolan, noting the case was at the lower end of the scale, imposed a 12‑month sentence with the final seven months suspended, back‑dating it to the date of his arrest.
Jason Heaphy, 33, of Dunmanus Park, Knocknaheeny, Co Cork, lost a challenge to the terms of a good‑behaviour bond he had entered into after breaching a suspended sentence. Heaphy had been caught with €5,000 worth of heroin and cocaine on Kerryhall Road, Fairhill, during the May bank holiday weekend of 2015. Judge David Riordan activated his suspended sentence and added a consecutive three‑year jail term in November 2015. Heaphy had previously received a 10‑year sentence in March 2007, with the final three years suspended for possession of a large quantity of cocaine. He argued that no valid written record of the 2008 sentencing order existed and that the good‑behaviour bond should run from his imprisonment, not his release.
An unnamed teenager, who was 15 at the time of the offence, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing serious harm to a victim on August 13, 2016. The court heard that the defendant allegedly pushed the victim, who has autism, into a headlock and punched him in the right eye, resulting in permanent blindness in that eye. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a period of detention of three and a half years, which he deferred for one year. This deferred child detention order requires the boy to be supervised by the Probation Service and to obey all their instructions and directions. Judge Nolan stated that there is no such thing in law as a suspended sentence for a child, noting that the Children Act 2001 allows for this deferral mechanism. The judge emphasized the severity of the case, telling the defendant he should be "terribly ashamed" and warning that non-compliance with probation directions would result in detention. The matter was adjourned for finalisation on May 3, 2019, at which point the judge may impose the detention, suspend part or all of it, or impose a community sanction.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Judge Patrick Quinn sentenced Kevin Fay, 42, for fraud committed in 2014, after a four‑year delay that the judge described as "terribly unfair." Fay, a former agent for Provident Personal Credit, had submitted false loan applications and stole €4,300. He pleaded guilty to three counts of theft. Initially, Quinn imposed a three‑month jail term to deter trust‑based employees from stealing. After defence lawyer Luigi Rea requested a brief reprieve, Fay presented €1,100 in compensation. The judge suspended the entire one‑year prison sentence, requiring Fay to repay the remaining €3,200 within two years. Fay, now a roofer earning €580 a week, had no prior convictions. The judge noted the delay and the lack of earlier restitution efforts as factors in the sentencing decision.
Plasterer Patrick O'Reilly, 56, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to assault causing harm and unlawful production of a baseball bat. The incident occurred on August 8, 2016, at the Kiltipper Inn in Tallaght, where O'Reilly allegedly attacked Frank Shannon following a dispute over Olympic sailing. Garda Cian Steers testified that O'Reilly struck Mr. Shannon multiple times before being disarmed by others. Mr. Shannon suffered a full-depth hole in his upper lip, resulting in a permanent scar, though no bones or teeth were broken. O'Reilly handed himself in to gardai the following day. In mitigation, defense counsel Gaby Dean BL highlighted O'Reilly's remorse, his clean criminal record, and his background in sports, including two caps for Ireland in hockey. Judge Patrick Quinn acknowledged that O'Reilly made a "stupid decision" but noted his immediate admission of guilt and apologetic demeanor. The court suspended a 12-month prison sentence on the condition that O'Reilly pays €1,000 to the victim. The judge cited O'Reilly's good character and remorse as key factors in the disposal.
In a Dublin court, 42‑year‑old David Byrne, who has Type 2 Usher Syndrome, was found guilty of dangerous driving causing the death of 70‑year‑old Patricia Dunne on 16 October 2015. Byrne pleaded not guilty to the charge and to related offences of dishonestly inducing the National Driving Licence Service to issue a licence and making a false statement on insurance. The jury convicted him on all three charges. The court heard that Mrs Dunne was walking home with a shopping trolley when Byrne's car struck her, flinging her into the air before stopping. Byrne has no prior convictions. Judge Patricia Ryan remanded him on bail pending sentencing. The Dunne family, led by son John, expressed that they will never forgive Byrne for killing their mother, citing the lack of remorse and apology. Byrne's counsel requested leniency, noting his rehabilitation and the single accident in 20 years of driving with the disease.
Jonathan Chubb, a former property investor, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to 34 counts of theft, two counts of providing a false reference, four counts of deception, six counts of possession of a forged driving licence, and one count of money laundering between March 2013 and July 2015. Prosecutors alleged he stole apartment deposits from 11 victims, including a woman and her child who were left homeless, and defrauded businesses of over €23,000. Chubb also admitted to 11 charges of stealing rent money totalling €8,660 in 2012, for which he previously received 200 hours of community service in lieu of two and a half years imprisonment. Defending counsel noted Chubb had brought €9,000 to court for injured parties and promised further compensation. Judge Karen O'Connor described the crimes as disturbing, noting the impact on vulnerable families. The matter was adjourned until May 30, 2018, for sentencing.
Josephine Hoey, 38, of Banbridge, was given a four‑year suspended sentence after pleading guilty to possessing heroin worth over €37,000. The court found she had transported the drugs from Dublin to the North to pay off a debt of about £1,800 for her own addiction. Judge Martin Nolan described her as "unlucky" and noted the pressure she faced, including threats against her 15‑year‑old son. Defence counsel Pieter Le Vert highlighted Hoey's long‑standing vulnerability and mental‑health struggles, arguing she was not fully culpable. Gardaí had stopped two cars on the night in question, found tinfoil and a package of 260 g of heroin in Hoey's handbag, and seized a further quantity on her person. Hoey thanked the judge and pledged to work on her mental health and avoid drugs again.
The trial of Mark Farrelly, Christopher Corcoran, Niall Byrne, and David Byrne is ongoing at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The four defendants, who have all pleaded not guilty, are accused of the false imprisonment of Securicor driver Paul Richardson and his family at their Raheny home on March 13 and 14, 2005, and the subsequent robbery of €2.28 million from Mr Richardson and Securicor on March 14, 2005. Prosecutors allege the gang operated with an organised command structure, with Mr Farrelly identified as the alleged mastermind. During closing speeches, defence counsel Ciaran O'Loughlin SC challenged the prosecution's theory that a fluorescent jacket found in Mr Farrelly's wardrobe was a souvenir from the crime, describing the suggestion as "daft" and an insult to the jury's intelligence. He further criticised the investigation's reliance on phone network analysis, specifically regarding a number referred to as 'the grey phone', arguing that the evidence was shoehorned into a pre-determined prejudice. The defence contended that the investigation was not thorough and that there is no evidence linking Mr Farrelly to all members of the alleged gang. The trial, which began last January, will resume on Tuesday with continuing speeches.
In a Dublin court hearing, a 20‑year‑old autistic man was left blind in his right eye after a violent assault by a 17‑year‑old former friend. The attack, which took place in St Stephen's Green in 2016, was witnessed by 30‑40 friends and filmed on phones. The perpetrator, who was 15 at the time, pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm on 13 August 2016. He is scheduled for sentencing at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Martin Nolan described the assault as vicious and tragic, noting the victim's innocence and the severe impact of losing an eye. The judge highlighted the victim's autism and the potential long‑term effects on his confidence and employment prospects. The court heard the victim's impact statement, which was not read aloud but submitted to the judge. The defendant, who has no prior convictions, had been working in a Youthreach mentoring programme and expressed remorse.
An Irish truck driver, Eamonn Donnellan, has successfully challenged a €1.5m tax penalty demand from Greece in the High Court. Mr Justice Tony O'Connor declared that the Irish Revenue Commissioners are not entitled to enforce the Greek authorities' request to recover the demand from Mr Donnellan. The case was referred to the European Court of Justice (ECJ) in 2015, which ruled that member states are not precluded from refusing such requests if the person concerned was not properly notified. Mr Donnellan was notified of the demand in November 2014, following a request by Greek tax authorities in April 2009. He had been jailed in 2002 after a Greek court found him guilty of smuggling, but was later acquitted. He maintained his innocence and served over four months in jail before his release. His legal team, led by Paul McGarry SC, argued the demand was procedurally flawed and an abuse of process. Revenue, which opposed the application, consented to the declaration in Mr Donnellan's favour after the ECJ's ruling. The judge also awarded Mr Donnellan his legal costs against Revenue.
Robert Cronnolly, 29, of Tallaght, pleaded guilty to assaulting Cornelia Brouder on 26 March 2017. He punched her several times, grabbed her throat and attempted to strangle her, causing her jaw to fracture in three places and requiring facial surgery. Brouder suffered ongoing pain, anxiety and nightmares. The court heard that Cronnolly had been arguing with his girlfriend when Brouder intervened to stop a potential attack on her flatmate. He was sentenced to three years in prison, with a headline sentence of four to four and a half years, reduced by his guilty plea, remorse and mitigating personal qualities. Cronnolly has 12 prior convictions, including assault, and a history of alcohol and drug addiction. The judge described the assault as vicious, reprehensible and unforgivable. The sentence was passed by Judge Martin Nolan.
John Luong, 42, was sentenced to two years in prison after pleading guilty to eight counts of theft from Icon Plc between November 2013 and November 2014. He stole a total of €156,497 by altering invoices and substituting his own IBAN details, diverting payments meant for the company into his personal account. The amounts ranged from €3,000 to €35,000 per incident. Luong, an accounts administrator, admitted a gambling addiction that drove the theft, estimating he had taken about €70,000. He had been suspended and later dismissed after an audit revealed the diversions. The judge described the theft as a "huge error of judgement" and a breach of trust, noting that none of the stolen money has been recovered. Luong has seven prior convictions for road traffic offences. The court acknowledged his personal suffering but emphasized the seriousness of the financial loss.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 37‑year‑old woman and a 42‑year‑old man were sentenced to 21 and 18 months respectively for the systematic neglect and physical abuse of the woman's 16‑year‑old daughter. The court heard that the child suffered 46 injuries, including puncture marks, bruises, scratches and cuts, over a year. The mother pleaded guilty to nine counts of wilfully assaulting, ill‑treating or neglecting a child between September 2007 and August 2008, while the father pleaded guilty to two similar charges. The court noted the mother's addiction to heroin, the father's work commitments, and the child's reports of being tied to a bed, denied sleep, and beaten for minor infractions. The child was removed from the home in August 2008, placed in foster care, and has remained there for nine years. The judge described the abuse as "grotesquely wrong" and highlighted the father's failure to protect his daughter.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a jury heard all evidence in the trial of four men—Niall Byrne (36), Mark Farrelly (47), Christopher Corcoran (70) and David Byrne (45)—who are accused of a €2.28 million cash‑in‑transit robbery and the false imprisonment of Securicor driver Paul Richardson and his family at their Ashcroft, Raheny, home on 13 and 14 March 2005. All four pleaded not guilty to both the robbery and the false imprisonment. Judge Melanie Greally instructed the enlarged jury of fourteen members to consider the evidence before delivering their speeches and cautioned them against drawing conclusions prematurely. The case, now in its fifth trial, had previously involved a telecommunications expert who confirmed that calls from a third number to the Byrne couple's phones in the week before the robbery did not match their usual pattern.
A convicted sex offender has been sentenced to two years imprisonment, with the final six months suspended, at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for multiple breaches of a child protection order. Anthony Luckwill, a UK citizen aged 45, has convictions for possession of child pornography in Ireland and Wales, along with other sexual offences. In July 2012, a court imposed 16 protective orders against him under the Sex Offenders Act 2001. The court heard that in November 2016, Luckwill approached a woman at the Longford Arms hotel, presenting himself as involved in modelling and encouraging her to send her young sons for auditions. He had rented premises in Longford town under false pretences. Gardaí located him and discovered electronic devices containing 104 images of young boys in their underwear. Luckwill admitted breaching the 2012 order by possessing these images, changing his name by deed poll in February 2017, and accessing social networking sites. Judge Pauline Codd stated the most serious breach involved his attempt to gain access to children by misrepresenting himself.
John O'Donoghue, a 38‑year‑old former cashier at the Motor Tax Office in Dublin, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment with the final 18 months suspended for stealing €14,293 from his employer between March and August 2017. He pleaded guilty to representative counts of theft and false accounting. The thefts were uncovered when a customer's payment for motor tax arrears was found missing, prompting a review of CCTV and paperwork that revealed O'Donoghue had pocketed the money and falsified cashier summaries. He admitted to heavy drinking, spending €50–€100 daily on alcohol, and had used the stolen funds for that purpose. O'Donoghue had previously admitted to child‑pornography offences but had not yet been charged at the time of the thefts, and he had lost his job in September 2017. The judge noted his stress, cooperation, and lack of enrichment in determining the sentence.
A 50‑year‑old man from Tipperary was sentenced to three years in prison for sexually assaulting a female friend in her home on 7 September 2015. The judge, Mr Justice Tony Hunt, rejected a plea for a non‑custodial sentence, stating that such a decision would send the wrong message to victims and potential offenders. The court found the man had breached the trust and confidence of the victim, who had invited him into her house and told him to sleep on the couch. He had attempted to have sex with her in bed, but did not penetrate her. The victim's impact statement described loss of confidence, isolation, depression, withdrawal from work and loss of friendships. The judge imposed a four‑year sentence with the final year suspended, and ordered the man to have no contact with the victim for five years. The unnamed 50-year-old pleaded guilty.
Dessie O'Hare, 61, of Newtownhamilton, County Armagh, appeared at the Special Criminal Court where his trial was scheduled for April 29 next year. He is accused of assaulting John Roche, causing him harm, and committing violent disorder by threatening to use unlawful violence at The Towers, Garter Lane, Saggart, County Dublin. O'Hare also faces three charges of false imprisonment involving Martin Byrne, Lisa Byrne, and Brandon Byrne, as well as a charge of threatening to kill Martin Byrne or cause him serious harm. All alleged offences date from June 9, 2015. Justice Robert Eagar, sitting with Judges Patricia Ryan and James Faughnan, set the trial date. O'Hare is currently on bail. His co-accused, Donal O'Hara, 26, of Coolock, Dublin, pleaded guilty to assaulting John Roche, causing him harm, at the same address on the same date. O'Hara will be sentenced on May 30 next at the Special Criminal Court. The matter regarding O'Hare was adjourned for trial, while O'Hara's case was adjourned for sentencing.
Antonia McGrath, aged 25, a former talented soccer player who had to abandon a scholarship at Manchester after becoming pregnant at 18, was jailed for three and a half years for possession of cannabis for sale or supply. She admitted holding over €450,000 worth of cannabis in her Clondalkin apartment. McGrath was caught after a Garda tip led to surveillance of her flat; a man, Keith Tiswell, was seen driving into the underground carpark, later found carrying cannabis and cocaine. CCTV showed McGrath handing the drugs to Tiswell. A warrant was executed, uncovering 16.39 kg of cannabis herb (valued at €328,000) and 1.43 kg of cannabis (valued at €8,580) in her hot press. She pleaded guilty on 25 May 2017, had no prior convictions, and claimed fear for her life and that of her son.
During the trial of a €2.28 million Securicor robbery, Dr Kevin John O'Flynn testified that the accused, Niall Byrne (36), appeared stressed when he visited the doctor's practice on the day of the incident, complaining of back pain. The doctor noted Byrne's stress and referred him for a chest x‑ray due to concerns about a collapsed lung. Byrne was prescribed anti‑inflammatory medication and later returned with persistent back pain, attributing it to lifting heavy boxes at work. Byrne, along with Mark Farrelly (47), Christopher Corcoran (70) and David Byrne (45), pleaded not guilty to false imprisonment and robbery of Securicor cash‑in‑transit driver Paul Richardson and his family at their home in Ashcroft, Raheny, on 13–14 March 2005. The trial is proceeding before Judge Melanie Greally with an enlarged jury of fourteen.
A man from Castleblayney has been sentenced to five years in prison following his conviction for rape and assault at the Central Criminal Court. Aurelijus Kizelavicius pleaded guilty to attacking a woman in County Monaghan on 29 March 2015. The court heard that after offering the woman a lift home, Kizelavicius punched her repeatedly in the face before sexually assaulting her. The victim stated in her impact statement that the incident had caused her significant psychological harm, resulting in depression, anxiety, and a loss of confidence. Mr Justice Paul Butler described the offence as falling within the middle category of rape cases. In mitigation, the judge considered the accused's youth and his guilty plea, which the court noted the victim welcomed. A sentence of seven years was imposed, with the final two years suspended on condition of attendance at sex offender programmes designated by the Probation Service upon release.
During sentencing, Ms Justice Úna Ní Raifeartaigh described the absence of sentencing guidelines for rape cases as "somewhat bizarre". She imposed a five‑year prison term on Christopher Redmond, aged 74, after a jury conviction for four rapes and five sexual assaults of his granddaughter between 2002 and 2004 at the Tolka Valley pitch and putt club. Redmond, who works at the club, denied the charges but was found guilty in February. The judge had originally set a headline sentence of 15 years, reduced to ten years due to no prior offences and his age, and further to five years because of his progressive cognitive impairment, which a forensic psychiatrist confirmed was genuine. The judge noted that the Supreme Court requires an immediate custodial sentence for rape, yet no specific sentencing figures exist, making the practice "highly unregulated". The victim, now 23, had waived anonymity and testified about the abuse, describing severe physical and psychological harm.
In a Dublin nightclub incident, 36‑year‑old British stag tourist Mark Wragg punched a 20‑year‑old Maynooth University student on the dance floor at D2 nightclub on Harcourt Street on the night of 18 November. Wragg, who was part of a 25‑strong stag party, claimed the victim was dancing too close and had pushed him, prompting Wragg to strike him in the face, fracturing the victim's jaw and damaging his teeth. Wragg pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, was arrested after being ejected, and later paid €2,000 to the victim as a token of remorse. Judge Martin Nolan, noting the victim's initial push as provocation but not justification, imposed an 18‑month suspended sentence, finding it unjust to imprison Wragg. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Pawel Wisniewski, 43, was sentenced to four-and-a-half years in prison for stealing thousands of litres of diesel from an Applegreen service station in Balbriggan over three days in August 2019. He also received a two-and-a-half year sentence for possession of cannabis for sale or supply and a firearm at a grow‑house in Tallaght, and a two‑year sentence for the diesel offence, all to run consecutively. Wisniewski, a qualified electrician and former Polish army serviceman, used a cloned Applegreen card to pump diesel into his van, stealing €5,220 worth of fuel. He was also convicted of driving without insurance. His girlfriend received a suspended one‑year sentence. Wisniewski was disqualified from driving for three years and his sentence was back‑dated to October 2019. The court noted this was the first case involving large‑scale diesel theft of this nature. Pawel Wisniewski pleaded guilty.
The murder charge against 23‑year‑old Yasmin Stephens, who was accused of killing her 33‑year‑old boyfriend in Dublin three and a half years earlier, was dismissed by Mr Justice Michael White under Section 4E of the Criminal Justice Act. The case had been scheduled for trial at the Central Criminal Court, but her legal team successfully obtained the dismissal before the jury could hear the evidence. Stephens was then arraigned on a second count for robbing a homeless man, Hugh Gildea, on Mabbot Lane. She pleaded guilty to stealing a mobile phone, a wrist watch and €520 in cash. The judge reviewed CCTV footage of the 20‑minute assault, heard Gildea's statement and that of two witnesses, and noted that Sean Ducque delivered the violence while Stephens searched the victim's pockets. She was remanded on continuing bail pending a probation report, with sentencing expected on 29 June. The unnamed 23-year-old pleaded not guilty.
John Walsh, 45, was arrested after CCTV footage from a Spar shop in Dublin was shown on the RTE programme Crimecall. The footage showed him holding a realistic imitation firearm, later identified as a pellet gun resembling a semi‑automatic pistol. Walsh had been waiting for Gardaí at his home when they arrived and had previously cut his hair to change his appearance. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of a realistic imitation firearm. Judge Martin Nolan remanded him in custody and later handed down a suspended three‑year sentence, warning that a further offence could lead to imprisonment. Walsh admitted the gun was for his own protection, was intoxicated at the time, and expressed remorse. He has since ceased drug use and intends to attend a residential treatment programme. The shop received a letter of apology from Walsh.
In a case heard by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Antal Fekete, aged 51, was found guilty of one count of false imprisonment after he forced his estranged wife into the back of his car on 21 March 2016. Fekete claimed he had taken her to show her their dog, but she shouted and screamed, prompting witnesses to call the Gardaí. She escaped, was later re‑locked, and Fekete drove away with her still inside. He was arrested at their home on Harold's Cross Road, where the Gardaí rescued his wife. Fekete pleaded guilty and received a six‑month sentence, which was suspended in its entirety. The judge noted the couple had reconciled shortly after the incident and were now "happily married." The court emphasized that false imprisonment remains a serious offence.
Daniel Kane, 29, was sentenced by the Special Criminal Court to five years' imprisonment, with one year suspended, for false imprisonment, and three years for assault, the sentences running concurrently. Kane admitted assaulting John Roche on 9 June 2015, striking him twice on the left side of the face, and falsely imprisoning Martin Byrne on the same day. The court described a "mob" that had been recruited to intimidate and evict Byrne and his family from their townhouse, The Towers, owned by Byrne's employer. Kane was said to have played a leading part in the pursuit and assault of Roche, forcibly removing him from the house and restraining him while he received multiple punches and kicks. The judge noted the event was permeated by serious intimidation and violence, and that Kane's guilty plea and lack of disguise were mitigating factors.
In a High Court hearing on 26 April 2018, Mr Justice Tony O'Connor adjourned proceedings brought by KBC Bank against Mrs Linda Hussey Smith and her husband Gordon Smith. The bank had obtained a 2016 Circuit Court order for possession of the Smiths' home at Hamlet Avenue, Chieftain's Way, Balbriggan, after the couple failed to repay their mortgage. KBC's security staff were forced to leave the property after an altercation, and the bank subsequently secured a High Court injunction requiring the Smiths and anti‑eviction campaigner Ben Gilroy to vacate the premises by late March. The Smiths, representing themselves, claim that information was withheld during the injunction proceedings and that perjury occurred in the Circuit Court. Mrs Smith alleged she was assaulted when possession was attempted, while Mr Smith was removed from the court by Gardai after refusing to answer the judge's questions. Mr Justice O'Connor warned Mr Smith not to threaten the judge, a claim Mr Smith denied.
David Hoban, aged 28, was sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty to two charges of defilement of a child by having intercourse and oral sex with a 14‑year‑old girl he met on a social media site. The girl, who was found missing and later reported by her mother, claimed she had been raped by Hoban on three occasions. Detective Garda Paul O'Hara confirmed that Hoban was aware the girl was underage, though he did not realise her exact age until the day of his arrest. Hoban, who had 10 previous convictions, pleaded guilty and expressed remorse. Judge Martin Nolan noted the substantial age difference and that Hoban should have ceased contact when he became aware of the girl's youth. The court accepted his plea and imposed the three‑year sentence.
Derek Hickey, aged 30, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for stealing iPads and a laptop from the Law Society of Ireland on Blackhall Place, Dublin, on 17 July 2017. He entered through an ajar side door, stole the items, caused damage, and fled. The theft occurred after 6 pm when most staff had left. Maura Butler, who was working in her office, witnessed the intruder and later reported that he had fled after seeing her. CCTV identified Hickey, who was arrested the next day and admitted to the theft, stating he had sold the stolen items to a Chinese shop. He had previously spent four months in custody for this offence. The judge noted his long history of offending but also his guilty plea, remorse, and cooperation. He had been offered a 20‑week residential rehabilitation programme and had attended treatment for heroin addiction. The sentence took into account the time already served.
During the trial of the men accused of a €2.28 million Securicor robbery, a witness, Graham Coleman, testified that he bought a Peugeot from the accused, Niall Byrne, for €6 000 in cash in September 2004. Coleman said he had obtained a loan and paid Byrne, who is 36, in cash. He also mentioned that he could not recall Byrne purchasing a motorcycle for €7 000 or a BMW about six months later, but acknowledged that a BMW had been taken from Byrne in connection with the case. Byrne, along with Mark Farrelly, Christopher Corcoran and David Byrne, all pleaded not guilty to the false imprisonment and robbery of Securicor driver Paul Richardson and his family on 13–14 March 2005. The trial is proceeding before Judge Melanie Greally with an enlarged jury.
Patrick Stokes, aged 26, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment after pleading guilty to arson, assault, false imprisonment and other offences. He set fire to his partner Louise Kavanagh's home in February 2017, causing €21,000 in damage, and later threatened to kill her, their six‑month‑old baby and himself if she left him. Stokes held Kavanagh's throat, threatened to rape her, and held a knife to the baby's chest while she tried to protect the child. He also punched her ribs and threatened to slit her and the baby's throat with a broken wine bottle. Kavanagh suffered a black eye and rib injuries and described the assault as terrifying. The judge noted Stokes' violent background, substance abuse and loss of control, and accepted his apology and desire to reform. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the offences and the harm caused.
The trial of Niall Byrne, Mark Farrelly, Christopher Corcoran, and David Byrne continues before Judge Melanie Greally at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. All four defendants have pleaded not guilty to the alleged false imprisonment of four members of the Richardson family at their home in Raheny, Dublin, on March 13 and 14, 2005, and to robbing Paul Richardson and Securicor of €2.28 million on March 14, 2005. During proceedings, forensic video analyst Feargal O Lideadha testified that he could not rule out that a Securicor CCTV recording was paused for three minutes between 5.26am and 5.29am on the day of the alleged robbery. The expert stated he had no explanation for the gap and noted that best practice guidelines for preserving digital evidence were not followed, as there was no audit trail or written explanation for the interruption. He declined to confirm whether the gap resulted from a system malfunction or manual intervention. The trial, which began in January, is currently ongoing before an enlarged jury of seven women and seven men. One juror was discharged earlier in the day due to pre-booked holiday plans. The matter remains at the trial stage, with no final verdict or sentence recorded.