Darren Ward, 35, of Tallaght, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of 525 g of heroin worth €73,626, 881 g of cocaine worth €61,000, and 244 g of cannabis worth €5,000 in a car at Deerpark Square on 10 July 2015. Additional cocaine worth €10,600 was found in his Honda Accord and €8,000 was found on a male who had been observed in a transaction with Ward. Garda surveillance followed Ward from Deerpark Square to Walkinstown Green, where a male was stopped with €8,000 of cocaine. Ward's vehicle contained €1,100 cash, a weighing scale, and concealed compartments holding the drugs. Ward has 24 prior convictions, including drug‑related offences, and claimed a large drug debt and a threat on his life. Judge Martin Nolan, noting Ward's mid‑level role in the network, imposed a five‑year custodial sentence, describing it as reasonably severe given his serious involvement.
In a 2017 Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Julius Jakelaitis, a 26‑year‑old Lithuanian national, was sentenced to three and a half years' imprisonment for assault causing serious harm. The offence occurred on 1 January 2010 at a New Year's party on Bancroft Avenue, Tallaght, when Jakelaitis, then 19, kicked a 19‑year‑old man to the chest and head after a scuffle. The victim suffered multiple facial fractures, a coma, memory problems, seizures and was unable to resume boxing. Jakelaitis pleaded guilty, expressed remorse and had a good work history in insurance and military service. The judge, Martin Nolan, noted the victim's injuries and the provocation but found Jakelaitis had crossed into criminality. The sentence was back‑dated to June when Jakelaitis entered custody. The victim is believed to have returned to Romania. The case was prosecuted by Lisa Dempsey BL.
Darren Gallagher, 46, was caught by Garda Dominic Downing after slashing the cheek of an acquaintance with a Stanley blade outside a supermarket at 4 pm on 22 August 2016. The victim, known to Gardaí, was left with a cut that had since healed but left a scar. Gallagher was stopped minutes later, a knife found in his tracksuit, and he later claimed the victim had threatened him and his family. He pleaded guilty to assault causing harm. He has three prior convictions for minor offences and had not been in Garda attention since 1990. At the original hearing Judge Karen O'Connor had adjourned the case for a probation report. She noted a positive report and a letter from the Matt Talbot Community Trust. Considering his age, personal circumstances, rehabilitation efforts and the fact his prior convictions were non‑violent, she imposed a three‑year suspended sentence in very unusual circumstances. The sentence was suspended, with no custodial term imposed.
In a case heard at the Central Criminal Court, a 42‑year‑old man pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a 13‑year‑old boy who had recently come out as gay and had been a victim of prior sexual abuse. The assault took place at the child's Dublin home on 6 November 2015. The defendant, who was aware of the boy's sexual orientation and past abuse, entered the boy's bedroom, climbed into the top bunk of the bed and attempted to force his penis into the boy's bottom. The boy's mother and stepfather witnessed the defendant leaving the bedroom, and a DNA profile from semen in the boy's underwear matched the defendant. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy sentenced the man to five years' imprisonment, placed him on the sex offender list and ordered three years of post‑release supervision.
Nathan Coakley, 24, of Buckingham Street Upper, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for unlawful use of a stolen motor vehicle and unlawful possession of a knife as a weapon. On 24 December 2015, Coakley and another male drove a stolen Hyundai i30 through the Ballsbridge area, breaking several red lights and narrowly avoiding a collision. The chase ended when the car flipped over and landed upright on four wheels. Coakley and the other man fled on foot, entered a house where a group of young males were gathered, and were not pursued by Gardaí. A knife, two petrol containers and a strip of paper were found in the vehicle; DNA on the knife matched Coakley. He was arrested, returned from the UK, pleaded guilty, and was sentenced by Judge Martin Nolan, who also ordered a ten‑year driving disqualification.
Sean Jackson, aged 27, was convicted of biting off part of another man's ear in the smoking area of Ardlea Inn, Dublin 5, on 23 August 2014. The victim was using the outside smoking area when Jackson, who was highly intoxicated, bent down and bit a large part of the ear off. A witness saw the ear on the ground and alerted the Gardaí. Jackson had 24 previous convictions and was found guilty by a jury. Judge Martin Nolan described the assault as serious and reprehensible, noting the victim's impact statement that the top half of one ear was now missing. The judge imposed a five‑year prison sentence, citing moderate mitigation. Jackson's defence counsel argued the offence was out of character and due to extreme intoxication. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Verka Georgieva, 49, was convicted in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of stealing €10,000 from a businessman in 2008 and attempting to steal a similar amount from a medical student in 2017. She had previously been charged with the 2008 offence and taken a bench warrant, but returned to Ireland after a 2014 car accident that caused memory loss. Garda Alan O'Dowd described how Georgieva stole the businessman's cash from his pocket as he left Allied Irish Bank, and how she followed the student to Brown Thomas after watching her deposit the money into her bag. CCTV footage showed Georgieva in the bank's security hatch with the businessman, and she was arrested shortly after the student alerted security. Georgieva pleaded guilty to both thefts and was sentenced to 21 months' imprisonment, with the court noting the crimes were committed in "cold blood.".
Gerard Cleary, 33, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to possessing nearly two kilos of cocaine for sale or supply outside his residence at Shon Valley Apartments, Lucan, Co Dublin, on August 8, 2017. Judge Karen O'Connor handed down a three-year sentence but suspended the final 18 months, resulting in an effective custody period of 18 months. The court accepted that Cleary admitted to holding the drugs under pressure from a third party to repay a €9,000 debt accrued through his own cocaine use. Analysis confirmed the packages contained 1,976 grammes of cocaine with a street value of €138,837. During sentencing, the judge considered testimonials, including a letter from Cleary's mother detailing his troubled childhood and his role as a drug purchaser for her at age ten. Defense counsel Caroline Biggs SC argued that Cleary was a functioning addict who had been coerced into this transaction and had no prior history of drug dealing. The court noted Cleary's 14 previous convictions, nine of which were road traffic offences, and his current engagement with addiction services. The matter was concluded with this suspended sentence.
A retired surgeon, Michael Shine, aged 85, was convicted by a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of indecent assault on two 15‑year‑old patients in the mid‑1970s. The court found that Shine had abused the trust of patients and the hospital by groping the boys during medical examinations. He was sentenced to 20 months' imprisonment, with consecutive 10‑month terms for each victim. Shine pleaded not guilty to eight charges of indecent assault at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital and his private clinic in Drogheda, covering incidents from 1964 to 1991, but was acquitted on the remaining charges. The judge noted Shine's advanced age, severe angina, and risk of dementia, yet rejected a request for a suspended sentence. The case highlighted the breach of trust by a senior medical professional and the lasting impact on the teenage victims.
Brian O'Neill, 47, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment, with the final 20 months suspended, for stealing €32,460 from an 89‑year‑old woman over an 18‑month period beginning in October 2013. He posed as a handyman, calling the victim, Teresa Byrne, to her home to perform odd jobs and was paid in cash and cheques. He then stole her chequebook and wrote cheques in his own name. Byrne discovered the fraud when her bank manager noticed her account was severely depleted and numerous cheques were drawn in O'Neill's name. Garda Colleen Doherty witnessed O'Neill demanding €400 in cash from Byrne and became aggressive when she refused. O'Neill was arrested on 14 May 2015 after a search warrant was obtained. He pleaded guilty to 99 counts of theft. The court noted his early guilty plea, good employment record and remorse, but also a moderate risk of re‑offending according to a probation report.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, Kastriot Boza, a 44‑year‑old Albanian national with no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to burglary at the home of Teresa (83) and Edward Keenan (86) on 28 June. The couple had withdrawn €9,600 for an inter‑generational holiday, but Boza knocked them to the ground, stole €3,000 from Teresa's wallet, €5,000 from her bag and €300 from her purse, and fled. Gardaí recovered the money and arrested Boza in Swords the next day. He was sentenced to five years' imprisonment, back‑dated to the date he entered custody. The court noted the victims' panic attacks, sleeplessness, anxiety and stress, and the impact on their confidence and family life. Boza had 33 prior convictions, including robbery, and the judge considered his apology and remorse in imposing the sentence.
In the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Derek Walsh, aged 29, was sentenced to 200 hours of community service over the next year in lieu of an 18‑month prison term. The sentence followed his guilty plea to one count of producing a hatchet during a dispute on St Anthony's Road on 10 June 2016. Gardaí were called after neighbours reported men fighting with knives; Walsh, highly intoxicated, ran toward a man brandishing a large hatchet. He fled, was pursued, and threw the hatchet over a house roof before being apprehended. No injuries occurred. Walsh has 71 prior convictions, including theft and public order offences. He has expressed remorse, regrets his actions, and wishes to apologise. He is currently substance‑free, working as a scaffolder, and hopes to resume his pharmaceutical studies. Judge Karen O'Connor noted the seriousness of using a hatchet and accepted Walsh's remorse and qualifications.
In December 2017, a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court convicted 85‑year‑old retired surgeon Michael Shine of indecently assaulting two 15‑year‑old patients in the mid‑1970s. Shine had pleaded not guilty to eight charges of indecent assault at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital and his private clinic in Drogheda, covering incidents from 1964 to 1991. The court heard victim impact statements and medical records. One victim described being tied to a bed, restrained, and having his testicles massaged by Shine, leading to lasting anxiety, insomnia and depression. The second victim recounted being massaged at a follow‑up examination for undescended testes, feeling forced to ejaculate to end the assault. Shine denied wrongdoing during the trial but was found guilty of the two assaults; he was acquitted of four other charges. Lawyers argued that imprisonment would be fatal due to Shine's severe angina, heart stents and risk of dementia, and requested a suspended sentence.
Costel Tudor, 43, from Bucharest, was jailed for his role in an ATM scam that involved the theft of bank cards with "military precision." The scam took place at a Bank of Ireland ATM in Ranelagh, Dublin, on 17 October 2015. Tudor, together with two women, distracted a customer by placing a €20 note on the ground and tapping him on the shoulder. While the victim was momentarily distracted, Tudor switched the victim's card with another. Garda Joseph O'Callaghan presented CCTV footage to the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, showing the group's actions and Tudor's subsequent attempt to withdraw cash, which failed. Tudor pleaded guilty to dishonestly taking the card and attempting to withdraw cash. He also admitted taking cash from a bank account on three occasions in May 2017, including a case where a woman's card was stolen from her purse on Harcourt Street, resulting in €845 fraudulently withdrawn.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, judges will decide next week whether the arrest of Eamonn Cumberton, 30, of Mountjoy Street, Dublin 7, was lawful. Cumberton has pleaded not guilty to the murder of 35‑year‑old Michael Barr, who was shot in the Sunset House pub on 25 April 2016. The prosecution argues that Cumberton is "inextricably linked" to items recovered from a partially burnt car near the scene and that those items were "inextricably linked" to the shooting. The defence challenges the legality of the arrest, citing that Inspector Brian Delaney's evidence was "unsatisfactory" and that the grounds for arrest were based on "inadequate information." Delaney had arrested Cumberton on 27 May 2015 on suspicion of murder, citing confidential information, forensic links to the getaway car, and his movements after the shooting. Cumberton travelled to Thailand two days after the incident.
Karl Hennessy, a 23‑year‑old with no prior convictions, was found with a €250,000 drug stash in his Dublin flat. Gardaí were called after confidential tips and discovered Hennessy and another young man asleep in separate beds. When questioned, Hennessy directed officers to a wardrobe where they seized €141,106 worth of heroin, €100,506 of cocaine, €8,780 of cannabis resin and €6,570 of MDMA, totaling €256,962. Hennessy pleaded guilty to possession for sale or supply. Judge Karen O'Connor described him as vulnerable, noting debt and predation, and imposed a three‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence with the final 18 months suspended. She urged continued engagement with Coolmine Therapeutic Centre, victim‑focus work, anger management and compliance with probation services. The case highlights the court's focus on Hennessy's background and the large drug value.
Callum Rodgers, a 24‑year‑old electrician from Dublin, pleaded guilty to cultivating cannabis at a rented premises on Navan Road. He admitted learning cultivation from the internet and described his operation as "ham fisted" and unsophisticated. Gardaí recovered eight plants and cannabis herb worth €13,000, along with evidence of a drying tent, mason jars, and cannabis in a microwave. Rodgers claimed financial hardship and that he expected to earn about €9,000, though he also admitted to smoking some. He cooperated fully with investigators, provided details of seed acquisition, and expressed remorse, citing gambling addiction, anxiety, and depression. The court, noting mitigating circumstances, imposed a three‑year sentence suspended in full, and Rodgers was ordered to compensate the landlord for property damage. He stated he had stopped using cannabis and would not re‑offend.
In a Mountjoy prison cell, a 25‑year‑old convicted drug dealer, Dean Reynolds, was discovered hiding heroin, cannabis and a mobile phone behind a panel above the toilet bowl. The discovery followed a search by prison officers, who found a sock containing the phone, a spare battery, €40 worth of cannabis and €360 worth of heroin. Reynolds had pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of a mobile phone and heroin and cannabis for sale or supply. Judge Karen O'Connor sentenced him to two and a half years' imprisonment for the drug offences, with the final fifteen months suspended on the condition of good behaviour and engagement with probation services. He also received a one‑year sentence for possession of the mobile phone, with both sentences running concurrently. The case highlighted Reynolds' prior convictions for drug dealing, assault, criminal damage and firearms possession, and his history of domestic abuse and early drug use.
Daniel Polanksi, 33, of Charlestown Place, Finglas, Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He pleaded guilty to one count of possessing three signal blockers used for breaking into cars on March 7 this year. He also pleaded guilty to one count of possessing crowbars, torches, binoculars, and pen-knives for use in a theft on the same date. Judge Karen O'Connor imposed a sentence of three years and three months. The court heard that gardaí recovered the items from a vehicle at St Margaret's Road, Finglas, along with a USB stick and an iPod allegedly stolen from other cars. Polanksi has 72 previous convictions, including 40 for theft. Two further counts relating to the theft of the USB stick and iPod were taken into account. Defence counsel Luigi Rea BL noted Polanksi is currently in custody for a previous offence, is an enhanced prisoner, and is attending addiction counselling. The matter was finalised with the imposition of the custodial sentence.
Edward Maher, a 31-year-old father-of-two from Ballyfermot, Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for possessing €286,020 worth of heroin. The defendant pleaded guilty to possessing the 2.04kg cache at Orchard Lawns, Ballyfermot, on December 19, 2016. Prosecution evidence indicated Maher agreed to bag the drugs for €100 and a "bit of smoke," though he claimed he did not know the full extent of the operation. Gardaí discovered him in a back shed with the drugs, scales, and a blender during a raid. While Maher has 12 previous minor road traffic convictions, his defense counsel, Luigi Rea BL, argued for a fully suspended sentence, citing his lack of serious offending history, minor role in the enterprise, and resolved cannabis addiction. Judge Martin Nolan rejected the request for a wholly suspended sentence, deeming the crime too serious. The judge noted that although Maher was near the bottom of the criminal chain, he committed a "grave error of judgement" by taking the chance. Consequently, Maher was jailed for three and a half years. The court record confirms the procedural stage as sentencing, with the guilty plea and the resulting custodial sentence as the finalised disposal.
A former army officer, Timothy O'Sullivan, aged 66, was sentenced to eleven years' imprisonment for sexually assaulting and raping two teenage boys between 1991 and 1996. The victims, aged 13 to 16 at the time, were repeatedly subjected to oral and anal rape, threatened with death or burial in the mountains, and given alcohol that sometimes made them ill. O'Sullivan, who was in his forties during the offences, used his position and the boys' vulnerabilities to groom and abuse them at various locations, including his home, a bathhouse, car parks, pubs and hotel rooms. The judge noted the aggravating factors of grooming, the victims' youth, and the abuse of trust, while also recognising mitigating factors such as the offenders' guilty pleas. The sentence was imposed by Mr Justice Tony Hunt at the Central Criminal Court, following the victims' courageous impact statements and the investigation that began after complaints in 2011 and 2013.
The Special Criminal Court heard that Inspector Brian Delaney was "fairly satisfied" that 30‑year‑old Eamonn Cumberton had a "significant role" in the murder of 35‑year‑old Michael Barr, the manager of the Sunset House pub, on 25 April 2016. Delaney said items recovered from a partially burnt Audi near the scene – masks, hats, firearms and ammunition – linked the car to the shooting and that Cumberton was listed as a suspect early in the investigation. On 26 May, the inspector received information that Cumberton had a baseball cap and a rubber mask from the getaway car, which further convinced him of Cumberton's involvement. Cumberton had tried to leave for Bangkok after the shooting, but his passport had expired; he later obtained an emergency passport and flew to Bangkok, returning to Dublin on 25 May. Eamonn Cumberton pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 44‑year‑old Colm Fogarty pleaded guilty to one count of criminal damage after drunkenly slashing two tyres of a car at Keeper Road, Drimnagh on 12 July 2014. Fogarty, who had been heavily intoxicated and had a fight with his girlfriend, later visited a friend's house where a woman named 'Bunty' and her family, members of the Travelling community, confronted him. He claimed they were driving at him and cut the tyres with a knife, saying he did so to prevent them from running over him. Fogarty expressed remorse and apologized to the Gardaí. Judge Martin Nolan, noting Fogarty's drug‑free status, volunteer work organising Christmas dinners for 40 families, and completion of a residential drug treatment course, imposed a suspended one‑year sentence, stating a custodial term was not warranted given his reformation.
Stephen Pender, aged 53, and Paul O'Hara, aged 41, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing cocaine worth over €13,000 for sale or supply. Pender was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment, the mandatory term for a second offence of this nature, and his sentence will be reviewed after five years. O'Hara received a three‑year sentence, reflecting his lack of serious prior convictions and apparent reform. The pair were caught after a garda surveillance operation that followed them from a meeting outside the Ashling Hotel on Arran Quay to a car in which a 1 kg package of cocaine, valued at €70,000, was found. Pender tried to discard a mobile phone sim card; O'Hara fled the scene but later admitted to transporting the drugs to pay a €800 debt. Both men had no proprietary interest in the cocaine.
A Dublin drug addict, Glen Egan, aged 34, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison for his role in a Christmas Eve drive‑by robbery and several other offences. CCTV footage showed Egan and a co‑accused driving up in a Ford Fiesta while a male victim withdrew cash from an ATM. The co‑accused removed a car jack from the boot and placed it behind the victim's back as Egan threatened him. Garda Cormac O'Donnell reported that the pair searched the victim's pockets when he fell, taking coins and a set of car keys, then drove away. They returned moments later demanding €20 for the keys, which the victim refused to pay. Egan pleaded guilty to robbing Mercedes Benz car keys and coins at Old Stillorgan Road, €220 cash from Vape Island, and €10 from Spar, James's Street. He has 75 prior convictions.
Dwayne Cullen, 28, was caught on CCTV smashing windows of six cars in a church car park and taking items from three of them. He was later arrested at a hostel where stolen goods were found. Cullen pleaded guilty to criminal damage, theft and possession of stolen items, including a laptop, guitar, pedals and amplifier worth €7,000. He has 23 prior convictions, mainly for minor public order offences. Garda Niall McLoughlin reported that two bags taken from two cars were recovered and the stolen items at the hostel were returned to owners. Cullen wrote a remorse letter and offered to meet victims under the Restorative Justice Programme. Judge Karen O'Connor sentenced him to a suspended term of two and a half years, suspended for 18 months, and directed probation supervision. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 25 January 2017.
A 24‑year‑old Dublin man, Raymond Walsh, was sentenced to life imprisonment for the unexplained murder of 41‑year‑old Kevin Molloy, who lived alone in Cabra. Walsh pleaded guilty to the murder, which occurred between 23 January and 1 February 2015 at Molloy's home on Glendhu Road, Navan Road. The Central Criminal Court heard that Molloy's body was found after his father investigated a lack of contact. Detectives linked Walsh to the house through fingerprints and DNA, and he denied any explanation for being there. The Molloy family delivered a victim impact statement, describing their son as loving and innocent. Walsh, who had no prior convictions, expressed remorse and pleaded guilty, leading Judge Patrick McCarthy to impose a life sentence, backdated to 7 October 2015. The sentence was delivered in the presence of the court and the family, who left quietly.
Ciaran Ryan, 23, of Summerhill, Dublin 1, pleaded guilty at the non-jury Special Criminal Court to possessing a semi-automatic pistol at Connolly Station in Dublin on July 19th. Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding with Judge Patricia Ryan and Judge James Faughnan, accepted the plea. The court remanded Ryan in custody until December 20th, when he will be sentenced. The matter was adjourned for sentencing and is not yet concluded.
In Waterford, a Brazilian man, Juraci Da Silva, aged 36, was sentenced by Justice Michael White to eight years in prison for the manslaughter of James 'Jay' Banville, who died from a single stab wound to the heart on 8 October 2016. Da Silva was found not guilty of murder and not guilty of assault causing harm to Conor Hogan, but guilty of producing a knife during an altercation. He received an additional five‑year sentence for producing a knife, with both sentences running concurrently and back‑dated to the date of the offence. The judge described the killing as a "tragedy of epic proportions" and noted that Da Silva had been twice assaulted by Banville and Hogan, including racial and sexual remarks, before he armed himself with a knife and killed Banville. The sentence was deemed proportionate, taking into account Da Silva's lack of prior convictions and his limited English. The legal teams have 28 days to appeal.
Dylan Collins, 22, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to criminal damage of a rear window on a marked Hyundai Garda car at Fortunestown Rord, Jobstown, Tallaght, on 15 November 2014. The incident occurred when protesters surrounded the car of former Tánaiste Joan Burton and her advisor Karen O'Connell after a graduation ceremony at An Cosan Education Centre, delaying them for three hours. Collins was remanded on continuing bail until 18 January for a sentence hearing expected to last about half an hour. The unnamed accused was acquitted.
Stephen Feery, 28, of The Water Rill, Malahide, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing a stolen vehicle and criminal damage to electric gates at an apartment block in Balgriffin. He stole a Euro Car rental on 24 February, was pursued by Gardaí, sprayed with pepper spray, collided with gates, fled, and was later found hanging from a window of his brother's apartment. The damage to the gates cost €3,500. Feery has 128 prior convictions, including burglary, dangerous driving and driving without insurance, and a 2008 suspended sentence for endangerment. He left school at 12, has three children, and had completed a residential drug programme. Judge Patrick Quinn sentenced him to two years, suspending ten months, with strict conditions. The case was investigated by Garda Jason Flynn.
A 19‑year‑old man was sentenced to four years' imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended, for defiling a 14‑year‑old girl he had collected from a teenage disco in Donnybrook. He had agreed to drive her home from the Wesley disco, but during the drive he forced her to perform oral sex and later made her masturbate him. The girl, who was intoxicated and unwell, was entirely dependent on him for transport. The court noted the man's intellectual difficulties and described the offence as opportunistic, but not mitigating. He pleaded guilty, showed remorse, and had no prior convictions. He is now a registered sex offender and will face the associated restrictions. The judge praised the girl's courage in coming forward and highlighted the severe impact on her. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the offence and the victim's suffering.
Michael Darcy, a 37‑year‑old Dubliner, was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for making a false insurance claim to AXA. He alleged that jewellery worth over €40,000 had been stolen during a fictitious break‑in on 1 September 2013. Darcy had previously listed an 18‑carat gold engagement ring (€25,000), a lady's bracelet (€11,000) and a man's bracelet (€5,400) on his AXA policy, though he never owned them. He also forged an AIB bank statement to show €48,783.42 in his account, when the real balance was €34.42. The court noted his prior convictions for burglary, theft and traffic offences, but also his capacity for work and reform. The sentence was back‑dated to 27 October, when he entered custody. The judge described the fraud as a "thought‑out" white‑collar crime. The case highlighted the cost to AXA, which spent €6,200 on the investigation. Michael Darcy pleaded guilty.
Martin Gilroy, a 34‑year‑old former engineer from Dungannon, was arrested at Dublin Airport after a car was found containing more than €600,000 worth of heroin and cocaine. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing the drugs for sale or supply. The court, hearing that Gilroy was a recovering drug addict who had worked as an engineer, described him as a "valuable player but not a major player" in the offence. Judge Martin Nolan noted that Gilroy had been "less than candid" about his involvement and that he was unlikely to be the ultimate owner of the drugs, whose profit was intended for other parties. Gilroy was sentenced to seven years in prison, a sentence back‑dated to 21 July. The drugs were seized from a car that had been parked outside Terminal Two, and a co‑accused man was also arrested after leaving the terminal.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Mark O'Shea, 32, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment for possessing a pipe bomb that he had placed under a prison officer's car. The officer's eight‑year‑old son discovered the device, which could not explode because it lacked a fuse. CCTV at the officer's home identified O'Shea placing the bomb the night before. O'Shea had been approached by two men offering €20 and tablets to do the job. He pleaded guilty, claiming he was "preyed upon" and unaware the house belonged to a prison officer. The judge noted O'Shea's remorse and lack of knowledge about the bomb's fuse, but stressed the seriousness of the offence. The sentence was back‑dated to 14 June, when O'Shea entered custody. The bomb was safely disposed of by the disposal team after the house was cordoned off. The case highlighted the vulnerability of individuals with drug addictions who may be exploited for illicit activities.
During a trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, a 36‑year‑old Dublin man pleaded not guilty to sexual assault of a 35‑year‑old foreign student on UCD campus on 23 July 2014. The student explained that she had used Tinder to meet Irish people and practice English. She had communicated with the accused for weeks, receiving explicit messages. She agreed to meet him, was taken to a secluded green area, and was sexually assaulted. She described the accused as becoming aggressive and "changing completely." She admitted she did not end the online conversation after receiving explicit texts, citing her own stupidity. She could not sleep the following night, fearing judgment for using Tinder and entering a stranger's car. The case is proceeding before Judge Cormac Quinn and a jury of twelve.
The High Court set aside two asset transfers from retired teacher Michael Byrne to his estranged wife Maureen Byrne, ruling them fraudulent and deliberately intended to frustrate Mr Cormac Walsh's recovery of a €200,000 damages award. The transfers involved Byrne's interest in the former family home and lands at Rosewell, Templerainey, Arklow, Co Wicklow, which were moved into Maureen Byrne's sole name in May 2012 and October 2015. Mr Walsh, who had been awarded the damages in 2015, had received no payment from Byrne. Byrne, aged in his 80s and living in Spain, had been convicted in 2014 of indecent assault and sentenced to eight years with four suspended. He denied the transfers were fraudulent, claiming they were made in good faith and for housekeeping reasons. The court found Byrne was aware of the civil action and the subsequent award, and therefore the transfers were set aside. The Byrnes were not present at the hearing.
Gareth White, 29, of Harcourt Street, Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to five counts of using a false instrument to secure loans from various credit unions in 2016, and to using a false instrument to purchase seven phones on behalf of a non‑existent business from Three Ireland on 13 August 2015. Garda Noel Whelan explained that the fraud was discovered when a credit union manager noticed that the address on the AIB bank statement White supplied did not exist. White also used forged bank statements to apply for loans at Phibsborough Credit Union, Larkfield Credit Union in Santry, Whitehall Credit Union and Core Credit Union in Dalkey. He claimed the loans were to buy a wheelchair for his disabled daughter and a headstone for his mother's grave, but the court heard they were actually needed to pay gambling debts. €908 was still owed to Rathfarnham and Dalkey Credit Unions.
Michael Power, aged 22, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for a minor role in a group fight that took place on Jervis Street Upper, Dublin 1, on 24 April 2015. Power, who had 38 previous convictions, was present at the scene with his cousin and engaged in an aggressive stance, raising his fists and fighting several men. His cousin was punched by another party and suffered a serious brain injury after falling and hitting his head. Power was not directly involved in the punch that injured his cousin. He pleaded guilty to violent disorder at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The judge noted Power's role was not the worst but acknowledged his participation in the fight, and imposed the 18‑month sentence to run concurrently with his existing ten‑year sentence for a serious assault imposed earlier that year.
Terence Gavin, 25, was found guilty of fraudulently claiming job seekers allowance for two years under a false name and also claiming other state benefits in his own name. He admitted to stealing €8,100 from the Department of Social and Family Affairs at An Post, Donaghmede Shopping Centre between October 2010 and July 2012. Gavin has ten prior convictions, including burglary and theft. Garda Gareth Ryan explained that social welfare officials had flagged a suspicious claim made under the name "Alan McDonagh," which Gavin had used. CCTV footage from the post office identified him when the claim was paid. The judge, Melanie Greally, noted Gavin's difficult upbringing and limited work history but emphasized the seriousness of his dishonesty. She ordered him to complete 240 hours of community service within 12 months, with one year to be served in default, and imposed a one‑year suspended sentence on strict conditions.
Carl Cullen, aged 30, pleaded guilty to robbery at Tolka Valley Road on 27 February 2017. He and a co‑accused entered a taxi at about 6 am, behaved drunkenly and violently, and forced the driver to stop. Cullen seized the driver's mobile phone, chased him, and attempted to punch him. CCTV showed the robbers rummaging through the taxi and taking a phone, MP3 player and coins. Garda Barry Hehir informed the court that the victim used a "find phone" app to locate Cullen and his co‑accused on St Helena's Road, Finglas. The court noted Cullen's 40 prior convictions, his guilty plea, remorse and athletic background, but also his propensity for violence. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to three and a half years' imprisonment. The sentence was imposed in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The case involved a violent robbery of a taxi driver.
Daniel Farrell, aged 22, was jailed for eight months after a burglary at Castlewood, Clonsilla on 5 May 2016. He fled the scene while his two accomplices were restrained by the house's residents. Garda Mark Quill identified Farrell through a fingerprint left on the window frame, matching the one found inside. Farrell pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He had three prior convictions. The court noted his difficult childhood, drug avoidance until age 19, and association with a negative peer group. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a two‑year sentence, suspending all but eight months on strict conditions.
Christopher O'Reilly, a 60‑year‑old former army private, was sentenced to five years in prison for two separate offences. On 10 June 2010 he attacked a young woman on O'Connell Street with a broken glass bottle, striking her cheek and leaving her bleeding profusely; the victim suffered panic attacks, a loss of confidence, nightmares and a scar that has since faded but remains noticeable. O'Reilly pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm. He also pleaded guilty to an attempted robbery on 5 September 2013 at Wolf Tone Quay, where he approached a woman on a Dublin Bus, brandishing a hammer over her head before calmly retreating. The judge, citing the "reasonless attack" and the victim's psychological impact, gave him four years for the assault and two years for the robbery, with the final 12 months suspended. The sentences run consecutively, resulting in a total of five years' imprisonment.
Bashkim Osaj, 39, pleaded guilty to robbery and false imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended, on the condition of good behaviour and keeping the peace. Osaj had fled to Belgium after informing Gardaí he would not attend his trial, but was later arrested and returned to Ireland. The robbery involved the owner of a takeaway, Nunzio Del Duca, who was bound, gagged, and stabbed with a screwdriver. Osaj was one of two men who entered the premises, and a third man had lured Del Duca to the house. Osaj had 26 prior convictions, including burglary and robbery. The judge noted the violence was "of a particular nasty nature" and considered mitigating factors such as his guilty plea, difficult background, and family responsibilities. The case was heard in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Martin Maughan, aged 28, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for assaulting Michael Reilly in a Nando's restaurant on 7 May 2017. Maughan used a claw hammer to strike Reilly multiple times, chased him into the car park, struck him again and sprayed pepper spray. He pleaded guilty to assault and possession of a weapon. Maughan claimed he acted because Reilly had verbally insulted his daughter, who has spina bifida, calling her legs crooked and spine twisted. The court noted Maughan's 15 prior convictions and his alcohol addiction. Judge Melanie Greally accepted his guilty plea and remorse, ordered anger‑management, offending‑behaviour and addiction programmes, and imposed a 10‑year restriction on contact with the Reilly family. The sentence was three years with 18 months suspended, leaving an effective custodial term of 18 months.
Wojciech Kwasny, a 41-year-old mechanic from Swords, Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to cultivating cannabis at his home and an industrial unit at Mace Pool, Kilsallaghan, Co Dublin, on February 25, 2016. The defendant admitted to the charges, claiming he grew the drugs for medicinal purposes to ease his osteoarthritis. Garda Thomas Doherty testified that officers from the Swords Drug Unit executed a search warrant at the Kilsallaghan unit, where they discovered two rooms in a marquee equipped with foiled heating lamps, cultivation equipment, and dehumidifiers. Inside, they found cannabis plants at mature growth stages and a drying tent containing 1.49kg of the drug, valued at €29,860. Kwasny subsequently directed gardai to his home, where ten sapling plants worth €8,000 were found. Prosecuting counsel Gerardine Small BL presented the evidence, while defending counsel Maria McCormack BL highlighted Kwasny's cooperation, remorse, and twelve-year employment history. Judge Martin Nolan expressed suspicion regarding the large quantity involved but noted Kwasny had no previous convictions. The judge stated it would be unjust to imprison the defendant given his good record. Consequently, the court suspended the sentence for three years.
A teenager who fatally stabbed a 17-year-old in Claremorris on 19 December 2015 will be sentenced as an adult when he returns to the Central Criminal Court in January 2018. The accused, who turns 18 this month, was convicted of manslaughter by jury at the court sitting in Castlebar in July following a not guilty verdict on murder. The victim, Dovydas Jenkas of Mount Street, Claremorris, died from a single stab wound. A consultant neurologist has prepared a report for sentencing, though the expert requires further consultation with colleagues before forming definitive conclusions on the defendant's prognosis and future condition. The defence has highlighted that the accused suffers from an epileptic-type condition involving frequent seizures and episodes of altered awareness. Justice Eileen Creedon noted both prosecution and defence were satisfied to proceed and adjourned sentencing to 16 January, requesting an updated probation report and medical documentation.
Frank Dunne, 57, of Lealand House, Clondalkin, and Glen Murray, 28, of Pairc Mhuire, Saggart, were arrested during a drug handover after a Garda tip. Dunne was caught handing a package of cocaine to Murray; Gardaí found over €95,000 worth of cocaine at Dunne's home. Both pleaded guilty to possessing cocaine for sale or supply on 15 October 2016. In Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Karen O'Connor sentenced Dunne to three‑and‑a‑half years, suspending the final 18 months on conditions, and Murray to two years, suspending the term in lieu of 240 hours of community service. The court noted Murray's psychological background, low intellect, ADHD and Tourette's Syndrome, and described him as psychologically vulnerable. The case was heard on 20 November 2017, with no prior convictions for either man. The sentencing reflected the court's view that drug dealing causes "destruction and despair" in society.
In Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Jason Kearney, 37, was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment for possession for sale or supply of drugs over €13,000. Kearney, described as a "drugs courier", was involved in the handover of nearly €250,000 worth of cocaine. Garda surveillance of co‑accused Trevor Brunton, 35, led to the interception of both men's vehicles on 28 July 2016. Eight blocks of cocaine, weighing just over three kilos and wrapped in silver duct tape, were seized. The drugs had an estimated street value of €245,000. Kearney pleaded guilty to the offence; Brunton pleaded guilty on a later court date and will be sentenced in January. Kearney's sentence follows a 2008 conviction that carried seven years with four suspended, and the law mandates a ten‑year term for a second conviction of this nature. The judge agreed to review the sentence after six years.
Andras Szabo, 35, of North Circular Road, Dublin, was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment after pleading guilty to possession of heroin for sale or supply at his flat on 5 July 2016. Gardaí had suspected Szabo of drug dealing and, during a search, found a small "Kinder Surprise egg" box containing plastic bags of heroin, a weighing scale and €1,635 in cash. Szabo admitted keeping the drugs in the egg and that he had been dealing them for two weeks, claiming he was trying to earn money to send to his daughter in Hungary. He had two prior convictions for drug dealing in 2014, for which he received suspended jail sentences. The judge noted Szabo's previous employment record but also that he had been given earlier chances by the courts, which he did not take advantage of, and therefore a jail term was unavoidable.