In a January 2016 incident at Broadford Walk, Ballinteer, Dublin, 22‑year‑old Sam Mooney and 20‑year‑old Craig Mooney, both described as highly intoxicated, attacked a patrol car. They threatened the gardaí, undressed entirely, spat on the windscreen, and kicked and punched the vehicle for several minutes. The brothers shouted abusive language and threatened to "kick their heads in." They were arrested after the gardaí called for assistance. Sam Mooney pleaded guilty to criminal damage to a garda patrol car; Craig Mooney, already serving a two‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence for arson, was also charged. At the hearing, Judge Karen O'Connor imposed a 14‑month prison sentence on Sam Mooney, suspended in full for 15 months, citing his "horrendous intoxication." Craig Mooney received a one‑year suspended sentence, suspended for 18 months, with probation supervision.
Karl Harrison, 27, received a two‑year suspended sentence after he poured boiling water over his partner's back in front of their four children, aged seven months to eight years, while they were living in a cramped hostel room. The incident occurred on 1 April 2017 at the Townhouse B&B, Lower Gardiner St, Dublin 1, after the couple had been drinking vodka and arguing. Garda Elise Moran was called to the B&B that evening and met Harrison in the lobby before interviewing his partner in their room. Harrison claimed he had thrown a kettle into the air and the water landed on his partner, but he later admitted the act looked "disgraceful" and that there was no excuse. He denied pouring the water on her back. He had no prior convictions. Marie Torrens BL defended him, noting the difficult living conditions and that both parents had been drinking. Karl Harrison pleaded guilty.
Two men, aged 35 and 44, are on trial in the Central Criminal Court for rape, false imprisonment and related offences against a 19‑year‑old woman. The alleged incidents took place in a vehicle at an unknown location in Cork city on 27 June 2014, after a "VIP party" following a Jason Derulo concert. The 35‑year‑old pleaded not guilty to rape, oral rape, sexual assault and false imprisonment; the 44‑year‑old pleaded not guilty to anal rape and false imprisonment. The prosecution, led by Timothy O'Leary SC, outlined that the complainant was present at the nightclub, was invited to a second location, and was allegedly taken in a vehicle by a man wearing a cap (the 35‑year‑old) who allegedly raped and assaulted her, and by a larger man (the 44‑year‑old) who allegedly anally raped her.
In a High Court action brought by convicted murderer Graham Dwyer, the court decided not to convene a three‑judge divisional court. Dwyer, who was convicted of the murder of Elaine O'Hara in 2015, alleges that provisions of the Communications (Retention of Data) Act 2011 breach his constitutional rights and the European Convention on Human Rights. He claims that the European Court of Justice's 2015 ruling invalidated the Irish legislation implementing the directive, rendering mobile‑phone data collected by Gardaí during the investigation of O'Hara's murder unlawful. The case, which is opposed by the State, will be heard by Mr Justice Tony O'Connor on 20 February and is expected to last six to eight days. Dwyer seeks damages and, if necessary, a reference to the European Court of Justice. The State's motion aims to ensure the case proceeds efficiently. The decision was made after discussions with the President of the High Court and concerns over judge availability.
Patrick Kennedy, aged 69, will be sentenced by the Special Criminal Court later this month. He pleaded guilty in October to unlawful possession of a .455 Colt "New Service" revolver and a .455 Webley Mark 6 revolver (serial 324736) found on James Street, Dublin 8, on 14 September 2013. Kennedy acted as a courier for two guns during a planned transfer of firearms between IRA members. Garda surveillance captured Kennedy handing a beige canvas bag with an LV logo to co‑accused Gary Yeung, who had previously been jailed for five years with three suspended for possession of firearms. Kennedy later entered a pub, placed the bag at his feet, and Gardaí searched it, discovering the two firearms. A ballistics report noted one gun was rusted but functional, the other non‑working. Kennedy has three prior convictions, the latest being an assault in 1978. He remains on bail until 22 January, when sentencing will occur.
Michael Williams, 45, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to falsely representing land for sale in Rathnew, County Wicklow, to Ms Eibhlin Butler. He convinced her to re‑mortgage her property and give him €22,500, claiming the land existed and would be purchased. The land was fictional; Williams gambled the money. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to two and a half years' imprisonment with 21 months suspended, citing the generosity of Williams' sister who offered €10,000 compensation to Butler. Butler suffered financial loss, mental distress, and ongoing disability pension payments. The court heard that Williams had no prior convictions and was now working as a delivery man in the UK. The case highlighted a breach of trust and financial deception.
Four young men from Old Castle Park Green, Bawnogue, Clondalkin, Dublin, broke into a building site at Phoenix Park Racecourse Apartments, Navan Road, Dublin 7, on 7 October 2016 and stole €6,000 worth of power tools and equipment from Flynn and O'Flaherty Developers Ltd. The men – Martin Stokes (27), Joseph Stokes (19), Eddie Stokes (23) and Tom McDonagh (21) – were caught by Gardaí after an eye‑witness, a woman on a balcony, reported the crime as it unfolded. She saw a Hyundai people carrier arrive, the men exit, cut the gate bolt, break into steel containers, remove items and drive away. Gardaí later apprehended them on Navan Road and recovered all stolen goods, including drills, a lawnmower, a workbench and various accessories. All four pleaded guilty. Martin Stokes was sentenced to 21 months' imprisonment; the other three received 21‑month sentences suspended in full.
Joseph Walsh and Michael Gilmartin, who pleaded guilty to firearms offences linked to a garda investigation into the "New IRA," had their sentencing adjourned until February 5. The co-accused admitted to possessing a 9mm parabellum pistol, a magazine, a double-barrel sawn-off shotgun, and ammunition at Chestnut Drive, Cobh, on September 14 last year. They also admitted to an assault at Cork Circuit Court. At the sentence hearing, the court heard that Walsh initially took a "no comment attitude" but later stated he had a "fair idea" the bag contained something illegal. Walsh has previous convictions, including assault causing harm in 2013 and a suspended sentence in 2010. Gilmartin, who also initially remained silent, later told gardai he feared for his life. He has only previous Road Traffic Act convictions. Defence counsel for Walsh highlighted his guilty plea and a reference from a former employer. Counsel for Gilmartin argued he was of outstanding good character, suffered from health issues, and was not a "prime mover" in the offences. Justice Tony Hunt, sitting with Judges Patricia Ryan and Ann Ryan, stated they had a "fair bit to think about" and adjourned the matter. The case was not concluded or finalised at this stage.
In October 2016, 24‑year‑old Charles Cleary murdered Leo Carolan, a 25‑year‑old student of creative music at IADT, after a robbery attempt at the South Circular Road flat. Cleary, who had no fixed abode but was from Rathfarnham, was motivated by the €14,000 that Swiss student Ludovic Thomas had withdrawn from a bank. Thomas had approached Carolan for an envelope for the money; when Carolan left the room, Cleary stabbed Thomas with a butterfly knife, allowing Thomas to escape. Cleary then returned and stabbed Carolan to death, inflicting 12 wounds that severed his jugular vein and pierced his heart and lungs. Thomas survived with multiple knife wounds, including a liver laceration. Cleary pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court and was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder and a concurrent 15‑year term for the attempted murder, with the robbery taken into account.
In a Special Criminal Court sentence hearing, Jonathan Harding, 45, of McNeill Court, Sallins, and James Walsh, 33, of Neilstown Drive, Clondalkin, were found guilty of possessing an arsenal of firearms and ammunition. The weapons, recovered on 24 January 2017 at a unit in Greenogue Business Park, included nine revolvers, four pistols, a sub‑machine gun, an assault rifle, an AK‑47, and over a thousand rounds of ammunition. The men were arrested after a surveillance operation that followed their travel in a Ford Transit van to the park. Harding had two prior convictions, including a six‑year sentence for drug possession, while Walsh had previous public order offences. The court remanded both men in custody until 30 January, when sentencing will occur.
Eoin Hannigan, a 19‑year‑old from Oldcourt Farm, Firhouse, was found guilty of possessing seven stolen mountain bikes worth €11,000. He admitted possession on 23 February but claimed he did not know the bikes were stolen. The bikes were taken from a small rental company in Ticknock Forest on 22 February. A psychological report described Hannigan as having ADHD, being on the autism spectrum, and unable to control himself, leading the judge to view the case as "complicated." Judge Martin Nolan imposed a fully suspended two‑year sentence, ordering Hannigan to keep the peace, behave well, and be supervised by the Probation Service for 18 months. The sentence was granted after counsel argued that Hannigan urgently needed psychoactive medication and that his psychological conditions mitigated his responsibility. The court noted the theft of 12 bikes caused major losses for the owners, though only seven were recovered.
Aaron Byrne, aged 24, was sentenced to an additional twelve months in prison for his role in a four‑way altercation that took place on Crumlin Road, Dublin 12, on 3 February 2014. He pleaded guilty to affray at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Byrne, who was already serving an eight‑year sentence for assault causing serious harm, was charged with violent disorder but the charge was later reduced to affray. According to Garda Paul Keville, Byrne and two other men chased an injured party off a Dublin Bus number 122 and pursued him into the forecourt of a Maxol petrol station. The injured party produced a knife to defend himself. Byrne threw a bag of fire logs at the injured party. In cross‑examination, Byrne admitted he had a minimal role and was not actively engaged in the four‑way altercation.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, a 62‑year‑old Dublin man was convicted of raping his 41‑year‑old niece on Christmas night 2014. The victim reported the offence to Gardaí three months later after discovering a letter from the accused that included a lie‑detector test claiming the sex was consensual. The accused pleaded not guilty, but a jury found him guilty. At sentencing, Mr Justice Tony Hunt noted the lack of any background relationship suggesting consent and the profound impact on the victim and her family. He imposed a custodial sentence of five and a half years, citing the offender's advanced age, medical issues, and good character as mitigating factors. The victim's impact statement highlighted lasting trauma, loss of safety in her home, and a shattered family life. The case remains a single‑incidence rape conviction with no prior convictions for the accused.
In December 2017, a former Dublin homeless man, Dwayne Barry, aged 29, was found guilty of arson at two Ballsbridge locations. Barry had set wheelie bins on fire to warm his sleeping bag, and when the fires spread he attempted to extinguish them. He pleaded guilty to arson at Ardoyne House, Pembrook Park, Ballsbridge on 25 January 2016, causing €45,000 damage to a Porsche and BMW in a double garage, and to arson at Burlington House, Waterloo Lane, Ballsbridge on 28 February 2016, causing structural damage of over €18,000. Barry has 86 prior convictions. Garda Martin Folan, after reviewing CCTV footage and interviewing Barry, noted Barry's cooperation and efforts to improve his life, including addressing alcohol use and planning to take his Leaving Cert. Judge Karen O'Connor postponed sentencing to March and ordered a probation report. The case remains pending sentencing.
The High Court has quashed the Minister for Justice's refusal to revoke a deportation order against an unnamed Algerian man, remitting the matter for fresh consideration. Mr Justice Richard Humphreys ruled that the refusal was procedurally flawed because the Minister failed to inform the man's legal team that specific information regarding Algeria, contained in a blog, was relied upon. This decision follows a July Supreme Court ruling that had previously quashed an earlier refusal and sent the case back to the Minister, who subsequently refused revocation again last September. Counsel for the man, represented by Michael Lynn SC, argued that the court should quash the deportation order entirely and release the man, who has been in custody for a year, noting he fears torture if returned to Algeria. Conversely, the Minister's counsel, Remy Farrell SC, argued for remission, citing public interest concerns regarding the man's alleged links to Islamic terrorism. The court heard that the man was convicted of terrorism offences in Algeria and France, having previously used multiple identities and been jailed in Ireland for attempting to travel on a false passport. He was jailed for eight years following his arrest in France in 2002 after being found guilty of charges including membership of a criminal organisation preparing an Act of Terrorism. The judge accepted that while there could not be endless applications, the matter must be remitted for further consideration. The proceedings were adjourned to a date in February.
Declan Cosgrave, a 53-year-old painter, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to possession of cannabis resin, cannabis, and cocaine worth €1.9m at his home in Donaghmede Park, Dublin 13. Judge Cormac Quinn imposed a seven-year prison term, suspending the final two years for a period of two years. The judge directed that Cosgrave undergo Probation Service supervision for two years upon release. During sentencing, the court acknowledged mitigating factors, including Cosgrave's plea, cooperation with gardai, medical conditions, and an alleged element of coercion. Cosgrave's defense counsel, Blaise O'Carroll SC, argued that the defendant was vulnerable and coerced into storing the drugs to settle a debt, citing his history of cocaine use and chronic sleep apnoea. The judge noted the significant value of the drugs as an aggravating factor but considered Cosgrave's lack of prior serious convictions and his vulnerable state when he took possession of the substances. The matter was finalized with this sentence, which includes the specified suspension and supervision conditions.
In a 2015 incident at a house party in Clarehall, Dublin, 17‑year‑old Leon Kavanagh, then intoxicated, assaulted Garda Paula Carter. While Carter was attempting to locate a missing boy, Kavanagh pushed her to the ground, striking her head and rendering her unconscious. He then kicked her several times while she lay on the footpath. Kavanagh fled but was later arrested and pleaded guilty to assault of a peace officer and violent disorder. In 2017, the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court imposed a suspended sentence of three years, suspended in full on strict conditions, including attendance at alcohol, offending behaviour and anger‑management courses. The judge noted Kavanagh's early guilty plea, remorse, and his enrollment in courses and full‑time employment. The court also heard that Carter suffered anxiety and physical injuries from the assault. The case highlighted the seriousness of assaulting a peace officer and the court's willingness to impose suspended sentences under certain conditions.
Two men, Joseph Connors (22) and John Connors (20), were sentenced to three years' imprisonment for violent disorder after an unprovoked attack on three Afghan nationals, including a thirteen‑year‑old boy, in Marlay Park on 5 May 2016. Judge Cormac Quinn suspended the last 18 months of each sentence on the condition that the men keep the peace and engage with Probation Services. The attack involved shouting, physical assault and the use of kicks and punches, with CCTV footage showing the Connors men striking the Afghanis. One victim sustained a broken nose and the teenager subsequently left Ireland. Both men had prior convictions; Joseph had 56, including burglary and public order offences, while John had two minor traffic convictions. The court denied a request for Joseph to remain on bail until after Christmas, citing his wife's due birth. The Connors were present with €1,000 in compensation for the victims. Joseph Connors pleaded guilty. John Connors pleaded guilty.
Michael Alexis, 53, appeared at Store Street Garda Station in a distressed state and admitted involvement in a burglary that occurred on 25 September 2015 at The Gasworks Apartments, Dublin 4. He was a lookout and claimed he had not known about the burglary in advance, that the individual he was with had a key, and that he had spent the €200 he received. Gardaí recovered stolen electrical equipment, including four laptops, a tablet and an iPad mini, and returned it to the owners. Alexis pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Karen O'Connor noted his mental health issues, alcohol difficulty and nine prior convictions. She imposed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year suspended sentence, ordered addiction treatment and offence‑focused work under probation supervision, and urged him to address his problems. The burglary took place between 9.30 am and 11 am while residents were away.
Two men from Cork, Joseph Walsh, 36, and Michael Gilmartin, 46, admitted to possessing firearms and ammunition. They pleaded guilty to holding a 9mm parabellum pistol, a suitable magazine, and a double‑barrel sawn‑off shotgun, along with 14 rounds of 9mm ammunition and eight shotgun cartridges. The items were found at Chestnut Drive, Cluain Ard, Newtown, Cobh, on 14 September last year. Judge Tony Hunt, with Judges Patricia Ryan and James Faughnan, remanded them in custody until 11 January, when sentencing will occur.
A 42‑year‑old man, previously convicted of kidnapping a child in London, was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment for raping a 13‑year‑old boy in Dublin between June and September 1994. He pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court and was ordered to serve five years of post‑release supervision. The court noted his 28 prior convictions, including a kidnapping conviction at the Old Bailey. The victim, who was 13 at the time, was abused while the man lived in the same house as the boy and befriended the boy's mother. The man admitted to molesting the boy, giving him money, threatening to expose the boy's mother, and raping him twice, with the third assault involving physical violence. He denied any violence, but the court found evidence of it. The judge considered the man's genuine remorse and his history of being abused as a child, but stated that these did not excuse his actions.
Declan Henry, a 37‑year‑old father of six from Brookview Close, Tallaght, was given a suspended jail sentence after pleading guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply. In June 2016, Gardaí seized cannabis with an estimated street value of €39,900 during a search of his home. Henry claimed he had borrowed €1,200 for Christmas and was holding the drugs to repay the debt, admitting he could not pay back the money. He expressed remorse for the impact on his wife and children. The court heard that Henry had no prior convictions and was not on any Garda radar for criminal activity. Judge Karen O'Connor noted no evidence of an affluent lifestyle or profit from the drugs. The sentence of three and a half years was suspended on the condition that Henry keep the peace and engage with Probation Services to address his cannabis use.
A Dublin man has been sentenced to 32 months' imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following his guilty plea to assaulting a champion power lifter at College Green on 17 January 2017. Dermot Dowd, aged 25, of Allenton Gardens, Tallaght, stabbed the injured party with scissors after being asked to leave a nightclub entrance. The victim, Thomas Gleeson, sustained a 10-centimetre wound to his back and lacerations to his shoulder, requiring hospital treatment. The assault prevented Mr Gleeson from competing in European weightlifting championships and caused him to withdraw from representing Ireland in his sport. He was absent from work for 38 weeks and reported suffering anxiety and chest pains since the incident. Judge Martin Nolan noted the offence fell at the higher end of the assault scale given the severity of injuries and the weapon used. Dowd, who has 42 previous convictions, is also facing sentencing in the New Year for dangerous driving causing death in Donegal. The sentence was backdated to 17 January 2017.
James McGinley, aged 40, was arrested after plain‑clothes gardai spotted him walking with a fire extinguisher in the early hours. He pleaded guilty to burglary and criminal damage at Fitzwilliam Square West, Dublin, on the night of 29–30 July 2017. McGinley and a co‑accused broke into a Georgian building housing several businesses, using a fire extinguisher to force open office doors. Six laptops and a mobile phone were taken; a solicitor's office was ransacked but no items were removed. The total damage was €2,500. McGinley admitted he needed money for a relative's birthday and said he should have bought a card instead. He was sentenced by Judge Cormac Quinn to three years' imprisonment, with the final six months suspended, and is currently in custody. The co‑accused awaits sentencing in the District Court.
In a Dublin court hearing, Jason Kearney, 37, was found drinking orange juice in the kitchen of his home while a fire raged. Garda Neill McGrath, responding to the fire, had to shout at Kearney several times to leave the premises as he kept walking back into the kitchen. After the fire was extinguished, the garda discovered prescription tablets on a countertop and later obtained a warrant to search the house. The raid uncovered €104,604 of phenazepam tablets, €41,180 of zopiclone pills, and €7,400 of the illegal drug TFMPP in zip‑lock bags in the tumble dryer. Kearney, a father of three from Lucan, pleaded guilty to possessing TFMPP for sale or supply at his home on 27 May 2015. He has 15 prior convictions and is already in custody until 2023 for another serious drug offence. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a three‑year sentence to run concurrently with the jail term he is currently serving.
A Mayo man and former member of the Anti-Corruption Taskforce has been imprisoned for a hit-and-run incident involving a garda sergeant. Joseph Doocey (51) of Knoxbarret, Ballina, was convicted at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following a nine-day trial in October on charges of endangerment, dangerous driving, and assault causing harm to Sergeant Declan Casey. The offences arose from an incident on 8 June 2015 near Font Cross, Ballina, when Doocey failed to stop at a garda checkpoint. He drove his vehicle at Sgt Casey, struck him multiple times, reversed over his foot, and collided with a van before driving at speed towards the sergeant while he remained on the roadway. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a three-and-a-half-year sentence with the final year suspended, conditional on Doocey signing a bond restricting online posts about gardaí and court personnel. When Doocey refused to sign, the judge imposed the full custodial term. He was also disqualified from driving for five years. Joseph Doocey pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 56‑year‑old Joseph Tyrell, who has 85 prior convictions, was found to have spent more time in prison than in the community. Since age 16, he has been in and out of custody, with the longest period outside prison in the last 40 years lasting only 15 months. His convictions include 27 for burglary, three for aggravated burglary and four for robbery. Tyrell pleaded guilty to a burglary at Lower Kimmage Road on 31 August 2016, where he entered through an open window, stole a wallet containing €600, and was identified by CCTV. The prosecution and defence agreed the offence was opportunistic. The judge adjourned sentencing to 2 March 2018 and ordered an updated probation report. The defendant, a father of three, expressed a desire to complete courses and provide drug‑free urine analysis before transfer to another prison. The court noted his improved health and commitment to bettering himself.
Ciaran Ryan, 24, from Summerhill, Dublin 1, pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a CZ model 70 semi‑automatic pistol and two rounds of 7.65 Browning calibre ammunition. The items were recovered by Gardaí at Connolly Station on 19 July. During the sentencing hearing, Detective Garda Gary Dunne described how a surveillance operation had been set up around Connolly station. At 3:05 pm Ryan entered the station, bought a ticket and went to the waiting area for the Belfast train due to depart at 3:30 pm. He met a woman who handed him a white bag; she was pushing a buggy with a child. After she left, Ryan boarded the train. Gardaí followed him onboard and arrested him.
In a High Court action launched in 2015, convicted murderer Graham Dwyer seeks to challenge the use of his mobile phone records by the Garda Commissioner and State. Dwyer, who was convicted of the 2012 murder of Elaine O'Hara, argues that provisions of the Communications (Retention of Data) Act 2011 violate his constitutional right to privacy, the European Convention on Human Rights and the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. He cites the 2015 European Court of Justice ruling that struck down the directive underlying the Act, claiming that the Irish legislation implementing it is therefore illegal and that the data collected on his phone is invalid. The State, represented by Sean Guerin SC, contends that the case raises significant legal questions and may be heard by a three‑judge divisional court. Ms Justice Caroline Costello has adjourned the matter to early January to allow pre‑trial issues to be addressed, with the hearing expected to last several weeks.
An Algerian man in his 50s challenged a second refusal by the Minister for Justice to revoke his deportation order before the High Court. The defendant, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is alleged to have links to Islamic terrorism. He claims he faces a risk of torture and inhuman treatment if returned to Algeria due to his political views. The State asserts that gardaí reported his activities as a serious security concern. In the 1990s, the man was convicted of several offences in Algeria, receiving three life sentences and two death sentences, which are no longer carried out. These charges included forming an armed terrorist group, possession of prohibited war weapons, and assassination. Additionally, he was jailed for eight years following his arrest in France in 2002 after being found guilty of membership of a criminal organisation preparing an Act of Terrorism. The current High Court hearing concerns the Minister's September decision to again refuse revocation, following a Supreme Court ruling last July that quashed the initial refusal and remitted the case for reconsideration. Counsel for the defendant argued the Minister's decision was irrational, while the State maintained the man should be deported. The matter is at the sentence stage regarding the validity of the deportation order.
Frederick Cham, 62, of Railway Cottages, Hazelhatch, Celbridge, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two charges of organising or facilitating the entry of illegal immigrants into Ireland. The alleged offences involved helping persons bypass passport control at Dublin Airport on 29 December 2016 and 9 January 2017. Cham, originally from Hong Kong, was arrested by the Garda National Immigration Bureau. He was granted legal aid after a prior refusal. Judge Martin Nolan ordered a governor's report from Cloverhill Prison and adjourned the case to 6 February 2018.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 19 December 2017, Noel Parsons, aged 54, and his son Craig Parsons, aged 22, were sentenced to suspended prison terms for a "vicious and unprovoked" assault that took place outside Brady's Pub in Shankill on 13 May 2012. The court described the attack as having caused serious injuries to bartender William Kelly, who suffered a bleeding bite to his left arm, and to customer Ronan Mulcahy, who required six stitches to his forehead after being punched and kicked. Noel Parsons received a two‑year prison sentence suspended for two years and was ordered to pay €800 in compensation, while Craig Parsons received an 18‑month sentence suspended for 18 months and was ordered to pay €2,000. Both defendants pleaded guilty, and the judge noted their recent bereavements, medical conditions, and character references in determining the suspended sentences.
A 22‑year‑old man, Niky Sosso, was found with 387 g of cocaine worth €27,115 in his bedroom in Mulhuddart, Dublin, on 28 January 2016. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing cocaine for sale or supply. The offence carries a presumptive mandatory minimum of ten years, but the judge, Karen O'Connor, departed from that minimum because Sosso cooperated with the Gardaí, had no prior convictions, and had a good character record. The court imposed a suspended prison sentence of three years, with the sentence suspended for the full term. Sosso admitted he was holding the drugs for others, had no significant assets, and was a student at the time. He pledged to pay drug rehabilitation facilities with his earnings. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Anthony Connors, aged 42, was sentenced to four years in prison for a burglary that turned violent when he attacked Michael Tonra in Tonra's home on 20 June 2016. Connors had convinced Tonra he was looking for a long‑lost friend and, after Tonra offered to write down his contact details, Connors entered the house, pushed Tonra, and tried to force his way past him. Tonra resisted, and a struggle ensued in which Tonra pinned Connors to the ground, struck him, and forced him out of the house. Connors shouted threats of return and demanded his jacket, which he had taken during the fight. The court noted Connors' 60 prior convictions, including burglary and robbery, and his history of drug abuse. Judge Karen O'Connor, after hearing the case, imposed a five‑year sentence, suspended the last year on the condition that Connors participate in Probation Service programmes to address violent offending and substance abuse. Anthony Connors pleaded guilty.
At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Eric Harcourt pleaded guilty to violent disorder at Cloverhill Prison, Clondalkin, Dublin, on July 29, 2015. Judge Martin Nolan found Harcourt to be an active participant in the disorder and imposed a six-month sentence consecutive to his current jail term, which is due to expire in April 2019. Harcourt was on remand at the time for an offence of endangerment, for which he received a four-and-a-half-year jail term. Dean Byrne, of Belcamp Crescent Priorswood, received a six-month consecutive sentence for aiding and abetting violent disorder on the same date. The court heard that Harcourt climbed onto the prison roof using clothing tossed up by other inmates and remained there for hours with Byrne. Both refused attempts by a prison negotiator and their grandmothers to persuade them to descend. Harcourt was seen throwing debris onto prison officers below and smashing an aerial. He eventually descended at 1:30 am after the riot began around 11 am the previous day. The judge noted that Harcourt had 74 previous convictions and very low cognitive ability, and that he was a father of one. The matter was finalised with the imposition of the consecutive sentences.
A bookkeeper from Virginia, County Cavan, has avoided imprisonment after admitting theft from a Dublin creche. Elizabeth Ingram (61) pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to stealing €14,000 from Ballyfermot Resource Centre during 2011 and 2012. Judge Melanie Greally imposed 240 hours of community service in lieu of a one-year prison sentence. The court heard Ingram had worked in bookkeeping at the resource centre for eight years before the thefts were uncovered during a mandatory Government funding audit. She admitted taking approximately €100 from every €1,000 in creche payments over several weeks, plus €800 from the centre's restaurant. Ingram repaid the full amount by bank draft following her admission. Judge Greally acknowledged the serious breach of trust but noted Ingram was under financial pressure at the time and described the offence as uncharacteristic of an otherwise law-abiding woman who raised four children as a single parent.
Mapulana Monnakgolta, 38, received a suspended sentence after pleading guilty to importing 5.8 kg of cannabis resin worth €116,700 between 9 and 20 February 2015. She had no prior convictions, cooperated fully, and had not been previously caught by Gardaí. Monnakgolta claimed she expected the packages to contain clothes and shoes and was to be paid €500 per parcel by unknown persons. Garda Killian Duffy noted her statements were "somewhat confused." Judge Melanie Greally sentenced her to three and a half years, fully suspended, and ordered her to attend psychiatric appointments and take medication as directed. She now lives in a hostel on North Brunswick Street, Dublin. The case involved parcels intercepted by customs upon arrival in Ireland. The suspended sentence means she will not serve time unless she breaches the conditions set by the court.
Cornelius Kaiser, a 40‑year‑old father of three from Collegefort, Castleknock, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Court to one count of deception for using falsified bank statements to obtain a €38,720 truck loan in March 2008. He was arrested in December 2008, fled the country, and was returned to Ireland in May 2024 on a European Arrest Warrant issued by the PSNI. Judge Martin Nolan described the offence as a "devious crime" and noted Kaiser's use of intellect and deviousness to secure the loan. The false statements were discovered during a Garda search of his sister's house in Blanchardstown, where a Hungarian passport in the name Emmanuel Martin was also found. Kaiser has seven prior convictions, including four concealment offences in Romania, for which he received a three‑year sentence. He was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment, back‑dated to 28 May 2024, when he entered custody.
In 2015, Darren Snee, aged 28, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing 1,705 ecstasy tablets worth €17,050, along with €400 of cocaine and €800 of cannabis. He received a two‑and‑a‑half‑year suspended sentence for the drugs and a separate suspended sentence for the cocaine and cannabis. The High Court had earlier ruled that ecstasy was not properly defined in law, effectively legalising it, but the Supreme Court overturned that ruling, reinstating the offence. The Director of Public Prosecutions had dropped the possession charge on the day of Snee's 2015 sentence. In December 2017, after the matter returned to court, Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Snee to two years' imprisonment, crediting him for 17 days already spent in custody. The sentence reflects the Supreme Court's decision that the drugs are illegal and the court's view that Snee's prior convictions and re‑offending warranted a custodial term.
The Central Criminal Court heard the case of Graham McEvoy, aged 19, who was found guilty of murdering 23‑year‑old Paul Curran at Seagull House, Dublin, on 16 July 2016. McEvoy pleaded guilty to manslaughter, but the plea was rejected and he faced a week‑long trial. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy sentenced him to life imprisonment. Curran's mother, Elizabeth Curran, was not present but her statement was read by prosecution counsel. She described her son as a soft‑natured, kind boy who loved Christmas and giving presents, and said she suffered mental health issues after his death. She also said McEvoy was a bully and that Curran had tried to slash him with a knife. Defence counsel Barry White SC noted McEvoy's chaotic lifestyle, drug problems and lack of prior violent convictions, and indicated an intention to appeal the verdict.
Trevor McDonagh, aged 19, was convicted in the Central Criminal Court of anally raping a 16‑year‑old girl, biting her breast, and engaging in a sex act with a child under 17 on 4 March 2014 in County Wicklow. He pleaded not guilty to these offences but pleaded guilty to stealing the victim's phone on the same date. The court heard that McDonagh, who was 15 at the time of the offence, lured the girl into a lane, forced her against a wall, bit her breast while she struggled, and then fled when he thought Gardaí were nearby. The victim suffered hair loss, seizures, and attempted suicide; she described the assault as "disgusting, dirty, unwanted." McDonagh was sentenced to eight years, with the final 18 months suspended, on the condition he makes no contact with the victim, stays away from her area, and behaves well.
A 46-year-old Mayo man has been sentenced to 14 years imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court following his guilty pleas to 31 counts of rape involving two victims. He pleaded guilty to 20 counts of oral and anal rape of a boy between August 1997 and April 2008, and 11 counts of raping his own daughter from mid-2007 over two years. Mr Justice Tony Hunt imposed a headline sentence of 19 years, reduced to 14 years in recognition of the guilty pleas, which spared the victims from giving evidence at trial. The judge described the offences as of shocking depravity. The man was ordered to undergo post-release supervision for three years. Both victims provided impact statements detailing long-term psychological harm. The court heard the accused groomed the first victim over years of systematic abuse, while exerting total control over his daughter through threats and intimidation. The man cannot be named to protect the victims' identities.
Father‑of‑two Timothy Magee (42) of Finglas was given a three‑year fully‑suspended sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for assaulting Gavin Mitchell with a baseball bat outside McGrath's Pub on 10 January 2015. Magee pleaded guilty to causing a serious fracture to Mitchell's forehead and additional blows to his body. The court ordered Magee to pay €8,000 in compensation, with €2,000 payable immediately and €6,000 thereafter. Judge Martin Nolan noted that Magee did not initiate the altercation but that his response was "grossly disproportionate." Magee admitted he was very intoxicated and had little memory of the night. Mitchell suffered a fractured bone, required surgery to remove an aneurism, and now lives with an arteriovenous fistula. Magee had three prior minor traffic convictions and was described by employers and a GAA club chairman as a reliable, hardworking, loyal family man. The case was presented as an instance of excessive force in a self‑defence claim.
A man has received a two-year suspended sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following his guilty plea to burglary at a takeaway in Castlebar, County Mayo. Yasir Ali, aged 29, of Lighthouse Apartments, East Wall, Dublin, stole equipment valued at €11,484.50 from Thomas Street Takeaway on 18 May 2015. The stolen items included commercial freezers, deep fat fryers, a burger fryer, microwave, food blender, and stainless steel fixtures. Ali was arrested shortly after the offence and subsequently apprehended at Dublin Airport attempting to leave the country with false documentation. Following his arrest, he cooperated with gardaí and led them to a farmhouse at Hollymount, County Mayo, where the concealed equipment was recovered in July 2015. Judge Karen O'Connor imposed the sentence in full suspension. Ali received an additional three-month suspended sentence for the false documentation offence. The court heard he has no previous convictions and had adhered to bail conditions.
Legal academic Brian Doolan, who was convicted in 2016 on 42 of 44 charges of sexual abuse, including 11 counts of rape, of a male, has launched a High Court challenge regarding a prison disciplinary sanction. Doolan, who taught law at the Dublin Institute of Technology, is currently serving a 12-year sentence with two years suspended at Arbour Hill Prison. He is challenging a finding by the Prison Governor that he breached prison rules by instructing his son to post comments on his website criticising the victim's support group, "One in Four," and the complainant. The Governor imposed a 30-day ban on phone calls and visitors. Doolan's counsel, Feichin McDonagh SC, argued that the conduct did not disrupt prison order, was not covered by prison rules, and that procedural fairness was breached because a transcript of the relevant phone calls was provided only after the hearing. Additionally, Doolan contends that the appeal procedure violates his constitutional and European Convention on Human Rights rights. He seeks to quash the finding of guilt and the imposed punishment, along with declarations regarding the breach of his rights. Mr Justice Seamus Noonan granted permission to bring the action on an ex-parte basis on Monday, with the matter set to return to court in February.
Ryan Fitzpatrick, aged 20, pleaded guilty to reckless endangerment and dangerous driving in Dublin. He was charged with leading a high‑speed chase that forced parents and schoolchildren to take evasive action near a Donaghmede school, and with driving a Toyota Prius at up to 120 km/h, overtaking on the wrong side of the road, causing a two‑car collision, side‑swiping a Garda car and bypassing a road block. The court noted his previous road traffic and drug convictions. Judge Patrick Quinn sentenced him to three years' imprisonment but suspended the sentence in full, citing his early plea, employment, completion of a barber training course and the potential for a "make or break point" in his life. The judge also disqualified Fitzpatrick from driving for five years. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 17 February 2016. The sentencing decision was made on 18 December 2017.
A 55‑year‑old man from Wicklow was sentenced to 13 years' imprisonment for raping his daughter and her young cousin. The Central Criminal Court heard that the man raped his daughter after she had spent two weeks in hospital recovering from serious leg burns. Over a five‑year period from 1988 to 1995, he sexually abused her on a weekly basis, beginning when she was seven. He also pleaded guilty to two rapes and one indecent assault of his niece between June 1986 and May 1988, when she was aged eight to ten. The court described the abuse as involving digital penetration, oral sex and physical violence, and noted the victims' confusion, fear and pain. The judge, Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, highlighted the aggravating factors of the victims' young ages, the physical harm inflicted and the breach of trust, and imposed a 13‑year sentence with a four‑year post‑release supervision period.
John Theaddus, a 30‑year‑old former refugee from Nigeria, was found guilty by a jury of conspiring to import cocaine and of possessing cocaine. He was sentenced to five years' imprisonment, back‑dated to the day of his conviction, November 15. The case involved a total of €23,644 worth of cocaine seized by Gardaí. Theaddus had been arrested after a package containing cocaine was delivered to a hostel where he was staying, and further drugs were found at his South Circular Road address. He had previously been convicted of public order offences. James Onwuka, who was co‑accused and pleaded guilty to the same counts, received a separate sentence of two and a half years' imprisonment. The trial was held at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Theaddus had been granted a residential permit in 2014, allowing him to work and study, and had no prior criminal record beyond the public order convictions.
Leroy Roche AKA Dumbrell, 31, of Dun Laoghaire, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to a further 14 months in prison for violent disorder. Judge Martin Nolan noted that Dumbrell pleaded guilty to the offence, which occurred on August 29, 2015, during a disturbance at Cloverhill Prison. The court heard that Dumbrell allegedly acted as a ringleader, striking riot squad officers' shields with an iron bar and threatening to take a hostage. Judge Nolan described the behaviour as disgraceful, particularly given that the offence was committed while Dumbrell was already in custody. The judge acknowledged mitigating factors, including Dumbrell's efforts to reform, evidenced by completed education courses and a drug-free status. Dumbrell's 14-month sentence will run consecutively to the six-year jail term he is currently serving for making threats to kill and violent disorder. His current sentence is due for release on July 30, 2019, and the new sentence will take effect from that date. Defence counsel Damien Colgan SC highlighted that the guilty plea spared the court a trial and presented evidence of Dumbrell's rehabilitation, including completion of an Alternative to Violence course.
Ian Kelly, a 26‑year‑old apprentice electrician, was given a suspended two‑year prison sentence for assaulting his ex‑girlfriend. He drove her to a secluded spot, repeatedly punched her in the face, head and stomach, bit her hand when she tried to retrieve her phone, and threatened to drive her into the Dublin mountains and kill her, saying she would never see her child again. Kelly has ten prior convictions, including a suspended sentence for a previous assault and a failure to report a hit‑and‑run involving a minor. He was convicted of assault causing harm on 7 May 2015. The judge noted the harm inflicted and Kelly's positive features, such as his apprenticeship and youth football coaching, and suspended the sentence. The victim reported lasting emotional trauma and fear for her safety.