Thomas Joyce, aged 37, faces sentencing later this year for two additional robberies of taxi drivers in Finglas on 7 and 8 November 2016. He has 32 prior convictions, including five robberies and three attempted robberies against taxi drivers. At the time of the offences, Joyce flagged down the drivers and directed them to a lane on Rathoath Road, threatening the first driver with a cut and the second with blades that would slash his face. He fled after taking phones and cash from each driver. CCTV identified him in the first case and fingerprints in the second. He was arrested on 9 November 2016 at a halting site on Dunsink Lane. The court has adjourned the case to October to allow a probation report to be prepared. The proceedings are ongoing and no final sentence has yet been imposed. Thomas Joyce pleaded guilty.
Tracey Deegan, 42, pleaded guilty to unlawfully possessing a 12‑gauge Winchester pump‑action shotgun and a 12‑gauge Reno double‑barrel shotgun. She admitted that she had allowed a former partner to store three shotguns and ammunition in her Cherrywood Park home after being threatened at gunpoint. Gardaí discovered the firearms in a wardrobe and found a shotgun shell in the kitchen, which Deegan claimed was her brother's. She also admitted to using cocaine every two weeks. Deegan said the partner threatened her and her brother, who allegedly owed €12,000 in drugs, and that he would collect the guns after dark. She had no prior convictions and cooperated fully when arrested. The case was adjourned to 7 July for the Director of Public Prosecution to decide the seriousness of the offence.
A 19‑year‑old homeless teen, Kelly McAuley, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two counts of assault causing harm after an unprovoked attack on sisters Kathleen (66) and Eileen (59) on South Anne's Street on 13 May 2016. McAuley struck Kathleen in the face and head, causing her to fall, and punched Eileen in the nose, drawing blood. The sisters were treated for facial fractures. McAuley was arrested later that day, was intoxicated and initially unfit for interview, but later accepted full responsibility and expressed remorse. She had 42 prior convictions, including theft, assault, criminal damage and drug misuse, and had been homeless since age 10. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced her to three years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended, describing her as a danger to society. The sentence was imposed on 29 June 2017.
Nine weeks after the Jobstown protest trial opened, a jury returned a unanimous not‑guilty verdict after just over three hours. The prosecution had alleged that six men had "plainly involved in the restriction of liberty" of Joan Burton and Karen O'Connell, who were trapped in Garda cars for three hours after a graduation ceremony. The men were said to have surrounded the cars, preventing the women from leaving the church yard, and to have moved the cars "inch by inch" along Fortunestown Road. Defence counsel argued that the women were kept in the vehicle because of a fear of violence, not because of the men's actions, and criticised Garda testimony as unreliable. Video footage was repeatedly shown, and the judge instructed the jury to treat it as the primary evidence.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing that lasted 40 days, a jury of seven men and four women found six men – Solidarity TD Paul Murphy, South Dublin County Councillors Michael Murphy and Kieran Mahon, and co‑accused Scott Masterson, Frank Donaghy and Michael Banks – not guilty of all charges of falsely imprisoning Joan Burton and her adviser Karen O'Connell. The defendants had been accused of restricting the women's liberty without consent at Fortunestown Road, Jobstown, Tallaght, during an anti‑water charges protest on 15 November 2014. The jury deliberated for three hours and ten minutes before returning unanimous verdicts. Judge Melanie Greally, after the verdicts, thanked the jury for their service and exempted them from future duty. The trial had focused on whether the defendants' actions amounted to total restraint, a point the jury found was not proven. The case was described by the defence as a politically motivated attempt to criminalise peaceful protest.
In the trial of six men accused of falsely imprisoning former Tánaiste Joan Burton, the jury requested to view garda air support footage from the Jobstown protest. The jury, consisting of seven men and four women, had deliberated for 1 hour 53 minutes the previous day. Judge Melanie Greally had defined false imprisonment as requiring "total restraint" and asked the jury to consider whether Burton and her adviser Karen O'Connell had any means of escape. Two escape possibilities were raised: leaving the car and walking off Fortunestown Road, or the jeep reversing as advised by the Garda Air Support Unit. A third possibility was whether the women could have "egressed down Fortunestown Road" amid commotion. The jury will watch the footage in court while continuing deliberations. The accused, including Solidarity TD Paul Murphy, have pleaded not guilty to the charge of falsely imprisoning Burton and O'Connell on 15 November 2014.
In a daylight incident on 22 August 2016, Darren Gallagher, 46, was seen by Garda Dominic Dowling cutting the cheek of an acquaintance with a Stanley blade outside a supermarket on Neilstown Road, Clondalkin. Gallagher was stopped minutes later, a knife found in his tracksuit, and he later claimed the victim had threatened him and his family. The victim, known to Gardaí, had no statement and was unwilling to engage with the investigation. Gallagher pleaded guilty to assault causing harm at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He has three prior convictions for minor offences. Judge Karen O'Connor adjourned sentencing to 17 October, remanded him on continuing bail, and ordered a probation report. Gallagher has not prepared a victim impact statement and has not sought medical assistance, though the cut has healed with a scar. The case remains pending sentencing.
James Barry, aged 33, robbed a McDonald's on Lower Rathmines Road on 2 February, demanding €330 from the till while threatening a woman with a 10‑cm knife. The victim, who was working at the time, initially resisted but eventually complied. Barry fled the scene, first into a taxi, then into the Dodder River after the taxi driver was contacted by Gardaí. He claimed he believed the water would mask his body temperature from a pursuing helicopter, though no aerial pursuit was underway. Barry also pleaded guilty to a 2015 robbery of €460 from a chemist. He has five prior convictions, including attempted robbery and possession of articles, and has a history of drug addiction and a troubled childhood. The court adjourned sentencing to 5 July, noting the victim was left traumatised but no impact statement was given.
Munir Ghariani, a convicted sex offender, appeared before Judge Melanie Greally at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court regarding his failure to meet with Probation Officers. The Probation Service, represented by Michelle Richardson, reported that Ghariani had not presented himself since his sentencing and was considered high-risk. The court also noted he was charged with breaches of the Sex Offenders Act for alleged failures to notify authorities of his address. Although the validated procedural stage is sentence, the matter was adjourned for two weeks. Judge Greally warned that if Ghariani did not attend two weekly meetings within that period, he would be jailed. This follows his guilty plea to the robbery of a Chinese national on Granville Road, Cabinteely, on March 21, 2016. The judge had previously imposed a four-year sentence, backdated to May 19, 2016, and suspended the balance of the term. She emphasized the disturbing nature of the offense and the high risk Ghariani poses to the community. Ghariani's defense, Michael Bowman SC, stated his client had been taking anti-psychotic medication. The Probation Service indicated they would continue monitoring him for two years, noting his recent homelessness and prior non-compliance with medication.
The jury in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial of six men accused of falsely imprisoning former Tánaiste Joan Burton and her adviser Karen O'Connell has been adjourned to continue deliberations. Judge Melanie Greally sent the jurors home after they failed to reach a verdict following one hour and 53 minutes of deliberation. The accused—Paul Murphy, Kieran Mahon, Michael Murphy, Michael Banks, Scott Masterson, and Frank Donaghy—have all pleaded not guilty to the charges, which allege they restricted the women's liberty without consent on November 15, 2014. The prosecution claims the men engaged in a joint enterprise to restrain the victims, while the defence argues the men were exercising their right to peaceful assembly and that any obstruction was merely a nuisance. In her charge, Judge Greally instructed the jury to treat video footage as the primary evidence and to consider the actions of gardaí, including potential mishandling of the protest. She also highlighted specific defence arguments, such as Paul Murphy taking steps to end the restraint and Scott Masterson's actions being inconsistent with intent to imprison. The judge noted that the absence of statements from attendees might be relevant to suggestions of a Garda agenda. The matter was adjourned, with the jury instructed to resume deliberations tomorrow.
Seán Ducque, who had no fixed abode, was found guilty of murdering 33‑year‑old Kieran Farrelly on 26 October 2014. The court heard that Farrelly was shot twice with a shotgun – first in the chest, then in the head – after a confrontation in Killarney Court, Dublin. Witnesses reported two bangs and shouting at about 11.30 p.m.; a female voice warned "Seán, don't do it." Emergency services discovered Farrelly's body with two gunshot wounds. A sawn‑off, double‑barrelled shotgun and discharged cartridges were recovered from a nearby lane. Ducque denied intent to kill, claiming he was trying to sell a stolen phone, but the jury found him guilty of murder. He will be sentenced to life imprisonment next month. The trial also noted Ducque's prior robberies and his heroin addiction at the time of the offence. The judge remanded him in custody for sentencing. Seán Ducque pleaded not guilty.
Stephen Bollard, aged 35, was jailed for a series of thefts committed in 2016, described by the court as a "one man crime wave." He pleaded guilty to two burglaries, one attempted burglary, three thefts and one act of criminal damage across Dublin. The offences, all non‑violent, caused financial loss to businesses and increased security costs. Bollard had 118 prior convictions, including 27 for theft, 33 for burglary and nine for attempted burglary. The judge noted his lack of violent history and his reduced methadone intake while in custody. A consecutive sentence of four years and four months was imposed, with the final 18 months suspended. The case highlighted the impact of repeated non‑violent thefts on victims and the broader community.
Alan Daly, 39, was sentenced to three years for attempted robbery at Dunnes Stores, Ongar Village, on 13 March 2016. He pleaded guilty to possession of an imitation firearm with intent to commit robbery, unlawful taking of a car and driving without insurance on the same date. The court backdated the sentence to the day he entered custody and suspended the remaining portion. Daly, who had 13 prior convictions, was armed with a "BB gun" while his co‑accused carried a knife. They entered the store, kept the door open, and attempted to force staff to open the tills, but fled empty‑handed after staff alerted security. Gardaí pursued them, intercepted the getaway car, and recovered the imitation firearm, a knife and balaclava. Daly had been in custody since the offence and had used his time productively, according to the judge. The suspended sentence allows him to continue rehabilitation and move on from addiction.
Eoin Giles, a 21‑year‑old former PC World employee, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to stealing a quantity of Apple MacBook laptops, Apple watches and iPads from the Blanchardstown store on 15 April 2016. The judge, Karen O'Connor, described the offence as a great breach of trust and noted an element of greed. A probation report assessed him as low risk of re‑offending and suitable for community service. Giles was ordered to carry out 240 hours of community service instead of a two‑year prison term and paid €1,000 to the court as a token of remorse. He had sold the stolen goods to a man later identified as Muhammed Amjad, who received a suspended 18‑month sentence for handling stolen goods. Giles had no prior convictions and expressed deep regret for his actions.
A 51‑year‑old Limerick man, who called Gardaí to report that he had tried to kill his 66‑year‑old neighbour, will be sentenced next week for attacking and sexually assaulting her. He entered the woman's Cork home just after nine that evening, asking her to share wine. He then became violent, putting a cushion over her face, pulling down her pyjamas and sexually assaulting her. The woman was taken to hospital where bruises were found on her jaw, neck, knee, thigh, upper inner thigh near her genital area and a cut to her vagina. She gave evidence to the jury but the man pleaded guilty to sexual assault and not guilty to rape. He has four prior convictions for assault and theft. He was remanded in custody pending sentencing. The woman's life has been profoundly affected, and she now relies on medication and precautions to feel safe.
In June 2017, Clare Daly TD submitted an affidavit on behalf of Sean Paul Farrell, a 32‑year‑old Dublin resident, in relation to human rights concerns at Northern Ireland's Maghaberry Prison. The affidavit was filed in the High Court following an extradition application by Northern Irish authorities for Farrell and Kieran Maguire, a 29‑year‑old Dublin resident, who are alleged to have attempted to murder a PSNI officer with an improvised explosive device under a car in County Derry on 18 June 2015. Both men face life imprisonment on the charges of attempted murder and possession of explosives. Daly, a member of the Dáil Justice Committee, had previously spoken publicly about conditions at Maghaberry Prison and was scheduled to visit the facility again on 10 July. The High Court, presided over by Justice Aileen Donnelly, set the hearing of the extradition request for 25–26 July and required an additional affidavit by 17 July following Daly's visit.
Dylan Cahill, aged 24, of Lower Irishtown, Clonmel, County Tipperary, received a six-year sentence at the Special Criminal Court following guilty pleas to weapons and explosives charges. On 13 May 2015, gardaí conducting traffic enforcement stopped a vehicle near Glefarne, County Leitrim after reports of fuel theft. A search of the maroon Volkswagen Passat uncovered a plastic shopping bag containing a .380 calibre semi-automatic pistol, four rounds of matching ammunition, and two improvised explosive devices. Cahill, the driver, pleaded guilty to possession of the firearm and ammunition, and to possession of the pipe-bombs at the same location. During interview, he stated he was unaware of the weapon's intended purpose. Gardaí assessed the items were being transported in connection with IRA activities. Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, presiding with two colleagues, imposed concurrent sentences of six years, with the final year suspended, on each count.
A 44-year-old man from County Monaghan has been sentenced to three years' imprisonment by the Special Criminal Court following his conviction for membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army. Jim Smyth, with an address at Aghalissabeagh, Scotstown, was convicted last month of the offence alleged to have occurred on 25 November 2015. During trial, the three-judge court heard evidence that Smyth had been using his own land and property belonging to his mother-in-law at Knockatallon for dissident republican activity. Gardaí from the Special Detective Unit and Crime and Security conducted a search of lands surrounding derelict houses in the area. Interviews with Smyth were conducted under Section 2 of the Offences Against the State Act, which permits inference to be drawn from a suspect's refusal to answer questions regarding alleged IRA membership. While Smyth denied membership in response to certain questions, he declined to answer regarding specific items recovered following his arrest. Justice Isobel Kennedy imposed the custodial sentence.
Stephen Penrose, 35, of No Fixed Abode, was charged with attempted robbery and possession of a screwdriver after an incident in a supermarket car park in Kilcock, Co Kildare on 14 May. He had been remanded in custody following a 17 May appearance at Naas District Court and sought bail in the High Court on 26 June. Counsel for the Director of Public Prosecutions, Barry Ward BL, argued that the State objected to bail on several grounds, citing the O'Callaghan principles and Section 2A of the Bail Act. Ward cited concerns that Penrose was a flight risk, might commit further offences, and could interfere with witnesses. He referenced statements from Chief Superintendent Gerard Roche and Detective Sergeant Aidan Hannon of Leixlip Garda Station. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy considered the evidence and, under Section 2 of the Bail Act, refused the bail application, stating the refusal was necessary to prevent the commission of a further serious offence.
The jury in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial of six men accused of falsely imprisoning former Tanaiste Joan Burton and her adviser Karen O'Connell has retired to consider its verdicts. On day 37, Judge Melanie Greally urged the jury to be "fearless" and set aside political sympathies or views regarding the water charges context. The defendants—Paul Murphy, Kieran Mahon, Michael Murphy, Michael Banks, Scott Masterson, and Frank Donaghy—all pleaded not guilty to restricting the women's liberty without consent on November 15, 2014. The prosecution alleged the men intentionally and totally restrained the women by obstructing their vehicles during a protest. The defence argued the men were exercising their constitutional right to peaceful assembly and that the obstruction was merely an inconvenience, not total restraint. Judge Greally instructed the jury that false imprisonment requires total restraint with no reasonable means of escape. She highlighted that if a safe egress existed, such as leaving on foot or reversing the vehicle, the charge could not stand. The judge also directed the jury to determine whether the protest was peaceful, noting that this finding would influence how they viewed the actions of both the accused and the gardaí. Although the maximum penalty for false imprisonment is life imprisonment, the judge stated that sentencing is a matter for the court alone and urged the jury to focus solely on guilt or innocence. The jury was sent home for the day, with deliberations to resume the following afternoon.
Tom Humphries, a 54‑year‑old former Irish Times journalist from Corr Castle, Sutton, Dublin, is set to be sentenced next month for sexual exploitation and defilement of a child. In March he pleaded guilty to six sexual offences against a girl under 17, including two counts of defilement between December 2010 and February 2011 and four counts of inviting a child to participate in a sexually explicit, obscene or indecent act between January 2010 and March 2011. The Director of Public Prosecutions has dropped three further charges involving a separate girl, a nolle prosequi. Humphries was present at the short hearing in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Prosecuting counsel Shane Costelloe SC informed Judge Karen O'Connor that the State was not proceeding with those charges. Defending counsel Hugh Harnett SC requested more time to prepare for the sentencing hearing, which Judge O'Connor scheduled for July 26th, though she could not guarantee that date.
The jury in the trial of six men accused of falsely imprisoning former Tánaiste Joan Burton and her adviser Karen O'Connell is due to begin deliberations on Monday. On day 36 at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Melanie Greally confirmed she will deliver her charge on Monday morning before the jury retires. The defendants, Michael Banks, Paul Murphy, Kieran Mahon, Michael Murphy, Frank Donaghy, and Scott Masterson, have all pleaded not guilty to the charge of falsely imprisoning the women by restricting their personal liberty without consent on November 15, 2014, at Fortunestown Road, Jobstown, Tallaght. The prosecution alleged the accused surrounded the victims' cars, with Sean Gillane SC citing video footage of Banks making gestures and yelling at the women. Defence counsel Ciaran O'Loughlin SC argued in closing submissions that the State failed to prove the specific offence of false imprisonment, suggesting the incident was caused by the large crowd size rather than deliberate intent. He urged the jury to disregard evidence of Banks' vulgar language towards a garda, stating such conduct is not a crime. The matter is now at the sentencing stage, with the jury set to determine the verdict following the judge's instructions.
The Central Criminal Court heard that 33‑year‑old Seán Ducque, charged with murdering Kieran Farrelly, tried to urinate on his hands before forensic samples were taken for firearms residue. Garda Aaron Hoey testified that after the accused was detained the next day, bags were placed on his hands to preserve residue that could be removed by friction or washing. Hoey said Ducque removed the bags and attempted to wash the residue away, and that he was uncooperative, requiring restraint by four officers. Despite this, samples were obtained. Forensic scientist John O'Shaughnessy examined Ducque's jacket and found residue matching that from the shotgun cartridge recovered at the scene, supporting the view that Ducque discharged the shotgun. CCTV footage showed the accused, the victim and two women walking together at 11:30 pm, with the victim no longer present ten minutes later.
The trial of six men accused of falsely imprisoning former Tánaiste Joan Burton and her adviser Karen O'Connell at Fortunestown Road, Jobstown, Tallaght, on November 15, 2014, has heard closing arguments. Solidarity TD Paul Murphy, Kieran Mahon, Michael Murphy, Frank Donaghy, Michael Banks, and Scott Masterson all pleaded not guilty to the charges. Defence counsel for Frank Donaghy argued that his client was a peaceful protestor who merely held a banner, contending that the charge of false imprisonment, which carries a potential life sentence, was unfair and disproportionate. Counsel for Scott Masterson similarly argued that his client's presence and leading of non-abusive chants did not constitute false imprisonment, highlighting that the women were able to exit the vehicle. The defence characterised the incident as a spontaneous political protest rather than a criminal conspiracy. The matter is currently at the sentencing stage, with the trial continuing before the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Mark Bissett, 31, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to making a threat to damage Michael Maher's house. The incident occurred on May 27, 2016, at Central Bank Plaza, Dame Street, where Bissett allegedly threatened to burn down Maher's home. Bissett, who previously served a six-year sentence for manslaughter, was reportedly angry that Maher's charity, "You're not alone," was assisting a relative with whom he had fallen out. Judge Karen O'Connor imposed a two-year sentence, which she suspended on strict conditions. The judge described the behavior as disgraceful and warned Bissett that he faced two years in prison if he reoffended. She ordered him to stay away from the charity, Mr. Maher, and his home. Bissett has 60 previous convictions, including assault and public order offences. Defense counsel submitted that Bissett had significantly turned his life around and addressed risk factors related to substance misuse. The court noted Bissett remains at high risk of re-offending and ordered him to be brought back before the judge if further trouble arises.
A 40‑year‑old Lithuanian man, Vytautas Tarasevicius, was found in possession of "card trapping" equipment and images of ATM machines on his iPhone, which Gardaí believed were intended for use in ATM thefts. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of the equipment with the intention of using it in a theft that occurred in Howth on 1 March 2016. Tarasevicius has seven prior convictions. The judge, Karen O'Connor, noted his voluntary community work and a medical report of health difficulties, and decided to impose 240 hours of community service in lieu of an 18‑month prison sentence, to be completed within one year. The case was adjourned to October to assess his suitability for community service before the order is affirmed. The court also heard that a co‑accused, Deividas Sevcenko, had received a similar sentence for his role in the same incident.
The trial of six men accused of falsely imprisoning former Tánaiste Joan Burton and her adviser Karen O'Connell at Fortunestown Road, Jobstown, Tallaght, on November 15, 2014, has heard closing arguments. Solidarity TD Paul Murphy, Councillor Michael Murphy, Councillor Kieran Mahon, Frank Donaghy, Michael Banks, and Scott Masterson have all pleaded not guilty to the charges. Defence counsel for Councillor Michael Murphy argued that gardaí decisions were "unwise and inappropriate," claiming police failed to negotiate early and that video footage disproved prosecution evidence. He stated his client attempted to de-escalate the situation. Counsel for Councillor Kieran Mahon described his client as a political activist who did not use force or threaten violence, arguing that fear caused by violent disorder from others, not his actions, prevented the women from leaving. He criticized the arrest of his client as an abuse of power. The prosecution countered that Councillor Murphy interfered with gardaí and acknowledged the women were not free, while Councillor Mahon returned to the scene and participated in the sit-down protest. The trial continues before Judge Melanie Greally.
A 68‑year‑old Dublin man pleaded guilty to sexually molesting his young niece and was convicted by a jury of two counts of raping that victim and of sexually assaulting her older sister. He was acquitted of two other rape counts. The court heard he began molesting the younger girl when she visited him in her First Communion dress and later raped her in a bedroom at her family home. He allegedly used alcohol and money to influence the parents, giving him opportunities to assault the children, and threatened them that they would be taken away if they reported the abuse. The older sister testified that the abuse changed her from "playing with dolls to planning her death," describing a cold, dark room and a sense of helplessness. The younger sister said the abuse stole her childhood. The defendant denied the rape charges but admitted molestation, describing it as harmless.
David Ryan, a 59‑year‑old taxi driver, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving that caused serious bodily harm to Eoin Daly on 7 April 2011. In July 2014 Judge Patricia Ryan sentenced him to three years' imprisonment, suspended, and imposed a four‑year driving ban. Ryan's lawyers argued that the ban prevented him from working as a rural publican in Cappaghwhite, Co. Tipperary, where public transport is limited. The judge lifted the ban after noting Ryan had not attracted further Garda attention since the conviction and that he needed the vehicle for his occupation. The court also considered that Ryan had been under severe financial and family stress, had paid €5,000 as a token of remorse, and had expressed remorse and apology. The decision was made without altering the original sentence or the suspended portion. The case remains at the criminal court stage.
Gillian Philip, 36, of Mac Uilliam Green, Tallaght, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to damaging a neighbour's property with fire on 21 October 2015. The incident involved Philip pushing a flaming laminated piece of paper through the neighbour's letterbox, an act witnessed by two children who later helped extinguish the fire. The children, who were staying with a friend of their mother, heard a voice shouting "fire, fire" and recognised it as Philip's. They were able to quench the blaze, though the carpet in the hall was scorched. Philip initially denied involvement but admitted to the act. The case was motivated by a dispute over bins, with Philip's defence citing limited cognitive function and paranoia. She has a history of alcohol and drug abuse and five children. Judge Karen O'Connor remanded her in custody and adjourned sentencing to 31 July.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, a jury heard arguments over the case of Solidarity TD Paul Murphy, aged 34, and five other men accused of falsely imprisoning former Tanaiste Joan Burton and her adviser Karen O'Connell on 15 November 2014. The defendants claimed not guilty. The prosecution, led by Sean Gillane SC, argued that the defendants' actions amounted to a total restraint of liberty, describing the event as a coordinated effort to detain the two women in vehicles for three hours during a protest at An Cosán adult education centre. Defence counsel Sean Guerin SC countered that the defendants were not involved in violent or abusive conduct, that the protest was political, and that the alleged restraint was a response to a fear of violence. The trial, presided over by Judge Melanie Greally, continues with the jury expected to decide on the charges of false imprisonment.
In a 2017 sentencing hearing, the Central Criminal Court adjourned the case of 34‑year‑old Robert Maguire, who had pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and false imprisonment of his ex‑girlfriend on 14 January 2012. The judge, Mr Justice Paul Butler, received an anonymous letter urging that Maguire be "sent away for life" and was placed in a difficult position. He ordered a probation report after the defence requested a community service assessment, and the case was remanded for a further bail mention on 3 July. The victim, a 30‑year‑old woman, described severe trauma and the assault's lasting impact. Maguire's previous convictions included a 240‑hour community service sentence for theft. The court noted the defence's request for community service and the judge's need for a probation assessment before proceeding. The hearing ended with the case postponed for further consideration.
In a Dublin gaming convention, 28‑year‑old Keith Hearne tied up, raped and falsely imprisoned 25‑year‑old Dominique Meehan in a hotel meeting room. He bound her hands with a tie, used a prop knife to threaten her, and sexually assaulted her. Hearne pleaded guilty to two counts of rape, one count of oral rape and one count of false imprisonment. He was sentenced by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy to 12 years' imprisonment, with a five‑year post‑release supervision order. The judge noted Hearne's only mitigating factor was his guilty plea and that he was caught during the act, which reduced the mitigating factor. Hearne gave no reaction to the sentence. Meehan, who waived anonymity, said the sentence was a relief but still felt it was too light and that her life has changed dramatically since the assault.
A 24-year-old man from County Tipperary pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to possessing two pipe-bombs, a pistol, and ammunition discovered during a traffic stop in County Leitrim in May 2015. Dylan Cahill of Clonmel admitted charges relating to a .380 calibre semi-automatic pistol, four rounds of ammunition, and two improvised explosive devices found at Sradrine, Glefarne. Gardaí conducting traffic duties stopped the vehicle after reports it had left a filling station without paying for fuel. A search of the car revealed the weapons and explosives in a shopping bag on the front passenger seat. Detective Garda Derek Bonar told the court that gardaí believed the items were being transported in connection with IRA activities. Cahill's co-accused, John Burke, previously pleaded guilty in the Circuit Criminal Court and received a three-and-a-half-year sentence with six months suspended. Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, sitting with two other judges, remanded Cahill in custody pending sentencing on 26 June.
A 44-year-old man from Aghalissabeagh, Scotstown, County Monaghan, was convicted last month by the Special Criminal Court of membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army. Jim Smyth was found guilty of the offence on 25 November 2015. During the three-judge, non-jury trial, evidence was heard from Chief Superintendent Christopher Mangan regarding his belief that Smyth was an IRA member on the date in question. Gardaí from the Special Detective Unit and Crime and Security conducted a search of land at Knockatallon, County Monaghan, which the court heard was being used for IRA activities. Detective Sergeant Gerard O'Doherty told the court that Smyth was considered instrumental in that activity. During interviews under Section 2 of the Offences Against the State Act, Smyth denied IRA membership in response to certain questions but declined to answer others regarding specific items found following his arrest. Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, presiding, adjourned sentencing to 26 June 2017.
A 23‑year‑old Dublin man was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for defilement after a trial at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He had pleaded not guilty to defilement of a child under 17, two counts of sexual assault and one of sexual exploitation of a child. The jury found him guilty of defilement, acquitted him of the sexual assault charges and could not reach a verdict on the exploitation charge. Judge Patricia Ryan noted a "great disparity in age" and that the accused knew the victim was 15, and that she was under the influence of alcohol at the time. She back‑dated the sentence to December 2016, ordered the man onto the sex offenders register for ten years, and recorded that he admitted to the act but claimed it was consensual. The man had three prior convictions for minor offences.
Joseph French, aged 25, was sentenced to three years in prison for a supermarket robbery in which he smashed a lotto machine and tills with a baseball bat. The sentence is to run consecutively with a portion of his existing seven‑and‑a‑half‑year term for earlier robberies in 2014 and an endangerment offence in 2015. French, of Neilstown Park, pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to the 2015 robbery at Centra in Kingswood Shopping Centre. He had 139 prior convictions, including theft, robbery, possession of stolen property and traffic offences. Garda Ruth Brett described how French, armed with a bat, forced staff to open the tills, struck the machine and fled with €1,900. French was captured on CCTV about 20 minutes before the robbery, wearing the same clothes, a mask and a hi‑vis jacket. He pleaded guilty, expressed remorse, and asked the court for a chance to change his life for his daughter.
Jamie Kavanagh, a professional boxer, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assaulting a doorman and engaging in threatening or abusive behaviour on Harcourt Street on September 23, 2014. Prosecutors alleged Kavanagh was part of a group that attacked staff at Copper Face Jacks nightclub, though his defence argued he played a minimal role and made no physical contact. Kavanagh's lawyers requested the court strike out the indictment to avoid a conviction that could jeopardise a significant three-year US contract. Judge Elma Sheahan adjourned the case to July 21 to allow the DPP to provide instructions on whether the Circuit Court has jurisdiction to strike out the charges, a power typically associated with the District Court. The judge also suggested Kavanagh provide 20 hours of coaching to a local amateur boxing club. Background persons Paul Rice and Mark Carlyle, identified as the instigators of the violence, were previously jailed after pleading guilty to violent disorder. Rice received a three-year sentence with the final year suspended, while Carlyle received five years with the final 18 months suspended. The matter remains adjourned pending further legal instructions.
Sarah Lawlor, aged 26, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to causing serious harm to Iuliun Molcalaut on July 19, 2015, after an altercation on the South Circular Road. Lawlor claimed she did not stab anyone but admitted she had obtained knives from a flat after being asked to do so. The prosecution argued that Molcalaut's injuries, including a punctured liver and significant blood loss, could have been fatal without immediate medical care, and that the severity of the wounds forced him to cancel his wedding. Lawlor was arrested about an hour after the incident and was the only one among the three involved who accepted responsibility. She has no prior convictions, has three children in their fathers' custody, and was remanded on bail with sentencing adjourned to July 3.
John McDermott, 24, of Swords, Co Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for assault causing harm. He pleaded guilty to the offence, which occurred on July 10, 2014, at Talbot Street, on the understanding that he did not slash the victim's face. The court heard that Russ Hogan, described by Judge Cormac Quinn as a "good Samaritan," was attacked by McDermott and a 16-year-old friend. Prosecutors alleged that while the teenager slashed Mr Hogan's face, McDermott approached the victim with an improvised weapon made from a jagged beer can and assisted in punching and kicking him. Mr Hogan sustained two moderately deep wounds to his right cheek and other cuts. McDermott, who has 103 previous convictions, was under the influence of alcohol and tablets at the time. He is currently serving a sentence for two robberies committed last year. Defence counsel noted that McDermott had apologised to Mr Hogan, who accepted the apology, and highlighted his chronic addiction issues. Judge Quinn sentenced McDermott to 18 months in prison, with the final six months suspended.
John Gavin, 29, had his prison term extended by one year after he was found in possession of €1,454 in coins taken from a cash‑in‑transit robbery and after threatening Gardaí while on bail awaiting a rape trial. He was convicted of possession of stolen property and of making threats to Garda Karen Caswell and Sergeant Noel Smith, and of assaulting Smith, who was injured when Gavin punched him. Gavin, who has 103 previous convictions and was already serving a six‑year sentence for a 2012 rape, was sentenced by Judge Martin Nolan to a consecutive one‑year term for the new offences. The judge noted Gavin's mental difficulties and that he had been surprised by the Gardaí, but confirmed he understood his actions were wrong. The sentence was imposed as consecutive to his existing term. John Gavin pleaded guilty.
Joseph Walshe, a father of four, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after being convicted of ten counts of theft. A jury found him guilty on May 10 following a 12-day trial. Walshe, who served as general manager at Nevinar Cosmetics Ltd, was found to have dishonestly organised the movement of Clarins products between November 2009 and December 2011. He retained proceeds from goods sold to a UK wholesaler, who believed Walshe was acting on behalf of the company. The retail value of the stolen cosmetics exceeded €700,000, while the company's loss was calculated at €181,582. Judge Pauline Codd handed down a sentence of two and a half years in prison, with the final year suspended. The court also ordered Walshe to pay €181,582 to the company's founder, Jerry Hickey. However, as Mr. Hickey indicated he did not wish to receive the funds, the judge directed that the money be donated to a nominated charity or, failing that, to St Vincent de Paul. Walshe's defence counsel accepted the verdict and stated there would be no appeal. The defendant expressed guilt and offered to repay the full amount. The matter was finalised with the imposition of the custodial sentence and financial order.
Gerard Lawlor, 67, of Balrothery, Tallaght, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to 11 counts of fraudulently claiming €167,873 in social welfare payments from 2005 to 2015. The fraud was uncovered during a Revenue audit of his former wife's dieting company, revealing that he had claimed pre‑retirement payments for himself and adult dependent allowances for his estranged wife. Lawlor had also failed to declare self‑employment and property transactions. He has no prior convictions and is now receiving a state pension of €183 a week, reduced by €28 to repay the debt. A probation report highlighted that his sister, Patricia, could not care for their severely disabled sister without his help. Judge Karen O'Connor, after hearing the report, imposed a three‑year suspended sentence on strict conditions, citing the detrimental effect imprisonment would have on his sisters' care. The sentence was suspended in full, with no custodial term imposed.
In a High Court action filed in 2015, convicted murderer Graham Dwyer seeks to challenge the use of his mobile phone records in his 2015 murder trial. Dwyer, charged in October 2013 with the killing of Elaine O'Hara and convicted in March 2015, argues that the Communications (Retention of Data) Act 2011 violated his constitutional privacy rights, 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 underpinning the Act, claiming that Irish legislation implementing the directive was illegal and that data collected on his phone was therefore invalid. The State's request for disclosure of phone records was granted by service providers and the data was admitted as evidence, despite Dwyer's lawyers' objections.
Two brothers from Claremorris in County Mayo have been sentenced to five and a half years' imprisonment by the Special Criminal Court, with the final two and a half years suspended. Colin Mannion, aged 37, and Brian Mannion, aged 34, of Burriscarra, Clogher, pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of explosive substances including RDX, PETN, detonators and electrical components discovered at their home on 9 June 2012. Charges of membership of an unlawful organisation were not proceeded with. The court heard that gardaí found materials and equipment consistent with bomb manufacturing in a metal container in a shed on the property. Mr Justice Tony Hunt noted the men had relevant professional qualifications and skills. Mitigation factors included their guilty pleas, limited involvement of two to three months, good character prior to the offences, and sworn undertakings to refrain from subversive activities. The sentence was backdated to 7 June 2017.
Two brothers from Belturbet, County Cavan, were each ordered to complete 180 hours of community service after admitting theft from a charity bar at a Dublin music festival. John McGinley, 25, and his younger brother Conal McGinley, 22, had pleaded guilty to stealing a combined €8,645 while working behind the bar for Workers Beer Company at Marlay Park on 8 July 2016. Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that Workers Beer Company raises funds at music festivals. Gardaí observed the brothers putting cash into their pockets rather than into the charity collection during the first day of the three-day event. When they were arrested that evening, John McGinley had €4,145 on him and a further €1,130 in his car. Conal McGinley had €1,860 on him, with additional cash found in the vehicle. The court heard that John McGinley had held a finance-sector job in London but had accumulated gambling debts in the UK. His counsel said he had since left that role, returned to Ireland and addressed the debt with help from his family. Conal McGinley was completing a business degree and his counsel said he had taken the money to help his older brother. Both made immediate admissions when interviewed by gardaí and had no previous convictions. Judge Cormac Quinn said the brothers were educated young men from a good family who had already experienced stigma and lost employment opportunities because of the case. He ordered each to carry out 180 hours of community service within a year in place of an eleven-month prison sentence. The judge initially proposed twelve months, but reduced it after submissions about the effect of that term on future travel and immigration opportunities. The community-service orders brought the prosecution to a conclusion after the brothers' earlier guilty pleas. The report is based on Courts News Ireland coverage of the sentencing hearing.
Two brothers from Claremorris, County Mayo, have pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to unlawful possession of explosive substances discovered during a garda raid on their home in June 2012. Colin Mannion, aged 37, and Brian Mannion, aged 34, of Burriscarra, Clogher, admitted possessing RDX, PETN, detonators, and electronic components found in a shed on their property. The men face additional charges of membership of an unlawful organisation. Armed gardaí executed a search warrant and found the brothers in the shed, where audio-visual surveillance had previously been conducted. Evidence presented at sentence hearing included fingerprints, recorded footage, and expert analysis confirming the explosive nature of recovered materials. Both men have given undertakings to the court against future involvement in such activities. Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding with two other judges, remanded both men in custody pending sentencing. Their legal representatives sought leniency, citing guilty pleas and limited duration of involvement.
The jury in the trial of Darren Murphy, who admitted killing his girlfriend Olivia Dunlea, could not reach a verdict on whether he was guilty of murder or manslaughter. After 7 hours and 13 minutes of deliberation, the five women and seven men were unable to overcome their disagreement. Murphy, 40, of Dan Desmond Villas in Passage West, pleaded not guilty to murder and guilty to manslaughter, but the plea was rejected. He has been on trial at the Central Criminal Court for the past two‑and‑a‑half weeks. Justice Patrick McCarthy thanked the jury and remanded Murphy until 26 June, when a new trial date may be set. The trial heard that Murphy and Dunlea had been in a relationship for about four months. In interviews with gardai, Murphy admitted stabbing her during an argument, saying he "lost it" and "snapped" after she told him to leave because another man was calling over. Darren Murphy was convicted. Olivia Dunlea was convicted.
In a case heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Mark Nolan, aged 46, pleaded guilty to assaulting Luke Kelly on 12 December 2015. Nolan, who had recently lost his eight‑year‑old son to cancer and was intoxicated and on anti‑depressants, stabbed Kelly twice in the neck with a blade. The first blow left a cut requiring three stitches; the second was a graze. Kelly had come to the house to help his former partner, who had ended her relationship with Nolan four years earlier. Judge Martin Nolan, noting Nolan's state of grief and intoxication, sentenced him to 18 months in prison, suspended in full, and ordered a €5,000 payment to Kelly within a year. The court described the incident as a tragic moment in Nolan's life and emphasized that the punishment was meant to remind him of the wrongfulness of his actions.
John Morley, aged 31, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assaulting a Romanian refuse collector at Virginia Park, Finglas, on 5 August 2015. The incident followed a dispute over a bin that had been "black‑listed" for non‑payment. Morley, one of three men involved, was drunk and had 20 prior convictions. He was arrested after a Garda was attacked and the victim was injured. Co‑accused John McCann (32) and Craig Redmond (21) received three‑year sentences in February for their roles, with McCann's final 18 months suspended and Redmond's final year suspended. Morley's sentencing is scheduled for 28 July, pending a probation report. The case highlights the assault on the bin man and the subsequent Garda involvement.