A 30‑year‑old Cork man was sentenced to ten years in prison for raping his former partner, a sentence to be served consecutively to a term he is already serving for a separate rape. The Central Criminal Court jury found him guilty of one count of oral rape and assault causing harm after he raped the woman at their home on 8 September 2013. He had pleaded guilty to the offences. The victim, who could not be named, gave a lengthy impact statement describing the fear she lived in for three years after the rape and the ways the man tried to regain control over her while she was under a barring order. She recounted how he moved close to her, called Gardaí falsely, and made her feel trapped. The court noted the profound effect of the offences on her life.
A 66-year-old man from Donegal has been sentenced to seven years imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court following his conviction for sexual offences against his grand-niece committed between 1992 and 1994. The man was found guilty after jury trial of three counts of sexual assault and two counts of rape that occurred at locations in Donegal and Dublin when the victim was a child. Justice Margaret Heneghan described the offences as an "enormous and gross breach of trust", noting the defendant had exerted significant control over a young, vulnerable victim. The judge observed he had demonstrated no remorse. The woman's victim impact statement detailed lasting psychological harm including panic attacks, anxiety and depression, with effects extending to her family relationships and ability to work. The defence had submitted testimonials regarding the defendant's previously unblemished character and referenced his wife's health difficulties and dependence upon him. The unnamed 66-year-old pleaded not guilty.
The Special Criminal Court adjourned the sentencing of Jonathan Dowdall and his father, Patrick Dowdall, until May 30th. Both men, of Navan Road, Dublin 7, had previously pleaded guilty to falsely imprisoning and threatening to kill Alexander Hurley on January 15th, 2015. The court heard that the defendants believed Hurley was attempting to defraud them of bank details after he contacted them via donedeal.ie regarding a motorbike sale. During the incident, which lasted three hours, Hurley was detained in a garage, bound to a chair, and subjected to waterboarding and threats of violence. Jonathan Dowdall's counsel, Mr Michael O'Higgins SC, submitted that the court should consider new issues before passing sentence. He disputed allegations that his client was a leading IRA member or a friend of Sinn Fein TDs Mary Lou McDonald and Gerry Adams, stating these claims were not accepted by the defendant. Counsel also noted that Hurley had previous convictions for dishonesty. Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy agreed to adjourn the matter to allow the court to take these submissions into account. The report notes that neither defendant has previous convictions, and both expressed apologies for the violence inflicted on the injured party.
Deividas Sevcenko, a 34‑year‑old university student, was arrested on 1 March 2023 in north Dublin after Gardaí found two metal implements used for ATM card retrieval in his possession. He pleaded guilty to one count of possessing equipment with intent to use it in a theft at Howth Road, Raheny. Sevcenko, who was highly intoxicated at the time of arrest, had previously been convicted of five road traffic offences and a failure to appear in court. The court, noting his lack of significant prior convictions, his education, and his family circumstances, imposed a sentence of 240 hours of community service to be completed within a year, in lieu of a 12‑month prison term. Sevcenko, a married father of two, had been living in Ireland for 12 years and was enrolled in a full‑time degree program. The judge highlighted his willingness to comply with the court's conditions to remain with his wife and children.
Craig Bergin, 31, was heard in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for stealing over €6,000 worth of perfume, cosmetics, and health supplements from Boots and Holland & Barrett on Grafton Street in October 2015. CCTV footage showed him wearing blue casts on both broken arms and not attempting to disguise himself. Staff at Boots reported six incidents between 7 October and 17 November 2015, while Holland & Barrett reported €883 of health supplements stolen. Bergin admitted the thefts, citing gambling and alcohol debts and concerns for his safety. He had 52 prior convictions and had recently been released from a sentence, spending time in St Vincent's Hospital. He is linked to The Simon Community, attends a daily mental health clinic, and is on prescribed medication. The judge adjourned the case for one year and placed him under probation supervision. Craig Bergin pleaded guilty.
Anthony Ward, 26, was found guilty of dangerous driving after a high‑speed chase that ended with his stolen car crashing into traffic lights and sending them into a parked vehicle. Ward drove at up to 160 km/h in a 60 km/h zone, broke red lights, and drove over speed bumps at about 120 km/h before losing control. The car spun twice, struck two sets of traffic lights, and one set was lifted from its base, flew over a fence, and lodged in the dashboard of a nearby car. Ward also admitted driving a stolen car, driving while drunk, and driving without insurance on the same occasion. Judge Karen O'Connor sentenced him to three years' imprisonment with one year suspended, imposed a six‑year driving disqualification, and required him to engage with Probation Services. Ward's prior record includes 49 convictions, including seven for dangerous driving, two for drunk driving, and one for car theft.
In a Tallaght incident on 15 December 2016, 40‑year‑old Jason Fay, a former chef on medication for a psychotic episode, was arrested for possession of a knife in a public place. Fay had been drinking a substantial amount of alcohol that evening, contrary to medical advice, and was acting erratically near Main Street. Gardai responded to a call, and an armed detective displayed his firearm before Fay dropped the knife. No injuries occurred. Fay pleaded guilty and, after the court considered his work history and family background, Judge Karen O'Connor imposed a one‑year sentence suspended on strict conditions, including abstaining from alcohol while on medication. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, with the defence noting Fay's remorse and the low‑level nature of the offence. The garda provided medical attention at the station following his arrest.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 32‑year‑old Lithuanian Andrius Gnizinskas pleaded guilty to cultivating cannabis at a grow house on St Patrick's Road, Drumcondra. The court found he had been "somewhat coerced" into coming to Ireland after being trafficked to the UK, and that he had no role in setting up the operation or profiting from it. The grow house contained 180 mature plants valued at €144,000 and sophisticated equipment. Gnizinskas was the only person present when Gardaí searched the property. Judge Karen O'Connor accepted his plea as saving state resources, noted his vulnerability, and imposed a three‑year sentence with the final two years suspended. The court highlighted that he had been a very low‑level participant, a gardener, and had cooperated with the investigation. The case was prosecuted by Lorcan Staines BL.
In the Central Criminal Court, Dr Richard Bunn, a forensic psychiatrist, testified that Eric Locke, 35, had planned the murder of his ex‑girlfriend Sonia Blount, 31, in a Tallaght hotel room on 16 February 2014. Bunn agreed with the State that Locke had engaged in a great degree of planning, that the strangulation was intentional, and that Locke had lied to protect himself. He also noted that Locke's responsibility was diminished by his mental state, citing an adjustment disorder, borderline personality traits, pervasive developmental disorder and ADHD. Locke had been confined in a padded cell wearing a poncho after being moved from solitary to group housing, where he reacted badly to the change. The trial will continue with the jury hearing the prosecution's rebuttal witness tomorrow morning.
Daniel Weldon, a 31‑year‑old heroin addict, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two attempted robberies in Swords on 1 July 2016 and to a successful robbery of €230 in a second pharmacy on the same day. He also admitted to a 2015 robbery of a Spar shop where he threatened staff with a blood‑filled syringe and stole €80. In each incident he was intoxicated and left a "trail of money" as he fled. Weldon has 52 prior convictions, including robbery, theft, public order and drug offences. He has been drug‑free for a year and has written apology letters to the victims. Judge Karen O'Connor adjourned his sentencing to 5 July and ordered a probation report for that date.
Noel Dempsey, 61, was sentenced to 14 months in prison after pleading guilty to stealing four boxes of women's clothing, valued at €1,988, from the back of a delivery truck on Wicklow Street, Dublin, on 13 August 2013. Garda Joseph Heaphy reported that the lorry's tail lift had been tampered with and that CCTV footage identified Dempsey as one of two men who removed the boxes and drove away in a van linked to him. The van was found at Dempsey's home, where the stolen items were recovered. Dempsey's 99 prior convictions included 27 theft offences and 67 road traffic offences. Judge Karen O'Connor cited his health conditions, guilty plea, and bereavement as mitigating factors, noting that without them she might have imposed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence. He has been in custody since January 2017 and was scheduled for release in February.
Raymond Molloy, a 55‑year‑old former equestrian centre manager, was sentenced to six and a half years in prison for possessing over €6 million worth of cannabis resin. Molloy had spent 11 years on the run, living and working on the Isle of White, before being extradited to Ireland. Gardaí stopped a van he drove in Coolock during a surveillance operation, seizing 498 kg of cannabis resin. He pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply on 16 August 2002. The court noted that Molloy had no prior convictions and was not a member of a criminal enterprise. He had been pressured by associates to transport the drugs, and he claimed he was threatened with harm to his horse if he did not comply. The judge acknowledged his early guilty plea and cooperation but imposed the custodial sentence for the serious nature of the offence.
Denis Nolan, a former priest aged 64, was sentenced to eight years in prison for six counts of oral rape, defilement and sexual assault of a boy aged 10‑11 between 2005 and 2006. He had previously been convicted of sexually abusing another child in 2006 and was defrocked. The court found Nolan had groomed the victim by offering garden work and paying him €10‑€15, later increasing the amount after abuse began. He made inappropriate remarks about puberty, encouraged online sexual content, and progressed to fondling, oral rape and assault in his home, the presbytery and a car. The final rape in the presbytery caused injury requiring surgery. The victim, now 24, suffered PTSD, anxiety, depression and ongoing health problems. Nolan will serve his sentence concurrently with a four‑year post‑release supervision order. The case was prosecuted by Conor Devally SC and defended by Conor McKenna BL. The sentence was imposed by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy.
In a Central Criminal Court case, Keith Aherne, aged 23, was found guilty of raping a woman in a Cork city park on 28 June 2013. The victim, who had been drinking with friends, fell asleep and was later held down by Aherne while another man raped her. Aherne denied the charge. The court heard that the other man, aged 22, had pleaded guilty but had died before sentencing. Aherne, who has 41 prior convictions including robbery, assault and drug possession, was remanded in custody and the case was adjourned to 29 May. The victim's impact statement, read by Garda Sergeant Katrine Tansley, described her post‑rape depression, hair‑pulling condition, loss of confidence and the distress caused by Aherne's actions. The court noted that Aherne attempted to comfort the victim after the assault, but the victim remained in tears. The case is set for sentencing later this month.
A pensioner, whose identity is withheld for legal reasons, was arrested in March and jailed for seven days by the District Court for failing to pay €500 monthly instalments on a €5,000 judgment debt obtained from a law firm in family‑law proceedings. He spent two nights in Mountjoy Prison before being released on bail after his lawyer, Micheal P. O'Higgins SC, applied to the High Court. The man, who has significant health issues and relies solely on his old‑age pension, claims he could not meet the instalments and that the court did not apply required safeguards, such as offering legal aid or proving wilful refusal or culpable neglect. Following his release, the Free Legal Advice Centre filed fresh proceedings on his behalf.
A 41‑year‑old Cork man was convicted by a jury of 26 counts of sexual assault, two counts of attempted rape and 64 counts of raping his step‑daughter between May 2008 and November 2015. The offences, almost all committed in the family home while the girl was aged nine to fifteen, included forced masturbation, an attempted rape during a holiday and repeated rapes at the house. The abuse ended when the girl left the home after a November 2015 rape, disclosed the events to her aunt, and a semen swab taken from her body tested positive for the man's DNA. The court adjourned finalisation until 29 May to allow the judge to consider an appropriate sentence. The victim's impact statement described the abuse as devastating, profoundly affecting her confidence, self‑esteem and daily life. The defendant denied the allegations and claimed his semen could have come from a bed where he had sex with the victim's mother.
An 83‑year‑old father from Clare was convicted by a Central Criminal Court jury of three counts of indecent assault on his son at the family home between 1977 and 1979. The man, whose name is withheld to protect the victim's identity, had previously been convicted of sexual abuse of other family members, including a seven‑year sentence for rape and indecent assault of a niece and a four‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence for indecent assault of his daughters. In his victim impact statement he accused his father of stealing his childhood, education and life, saying he had never felt truly safe. Justice Deirdre Murphy, after reflecting on the case, imposed consecutive sentences totalling four years, noting that the maximum penalty available at the time of the offences was only two years and was not commensurate with the crime.
John Joseph Malone, aged 53, was convicted of murdering 69‑year‑old Ann 'Nancy' Smyth on 11 September 1987 at her Kilkenny home. He strangled her and set her house on fire. Justice Patrick McCarthy backdated Malone's sentence to 27 January 2016 to account for time already served in custody before the conviction.
A 70-year-old man has been sentenced to two and a half years imprisonment, with the balance suspended from June, at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for criminal damage. The defendant pleaded guilty to throwing a beer keg through the window of a jewellery store on Grafton Street in July 2015, causing over €8,300 in damage. Judge Melanie Greally noted the case was not routine, given the defendant's extensive custodial history. He had previously been convicted of the capital murder of Garda Henry Byrne near Loughglynn, County Roscommon in 1980 and served over 30 years in prison before his release in 2013 following a Supreme Court judgement on remission. The court heard he has twelve prior convictions and was intoxicated at the time of the offence. His barrister submitted that he had experienced mental health difficulties and expressed remorse, offering to compensate the jeweller from his pension.
In 2013, a 30‑year‑old man raped his former partner in their Cork home. He was found guilty in February 2014 and later jailed for raping another woman. The victim, who remains unnamed, described living in fear for three years after the assault, during which the man tried to regain control without breaching a barring order. She recounted moving to a new apartment, the man working nearby, and repeatedly crossing a bridge at the same time as her for six weeks. He also called Gardaí with false claims, causing alarm at her family home. The victim endured physical injury, emotional trauma, and a sense of imprisonment in her own home. She sought counselling and support after the incident. The court considered whether to impose a consecutive sentence to his existing term, with counsel arguing for or against it based on his prior convictions and background.
Alesandrs Rodjukovs, 36, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to producing a realistic imitation firearm at Lower Main Street Rush on 7 March 2015. He pointed the gun at a motorist after driving aggressively behind him, causing the victim to fear he would be shot. Rodjukovs claimed fatigue from long work hours and a sleepless baby as the cause of his actions. The judge, Karen O'Connor, noted his illness from Chernobyl radiation exposure, a childhood car‑accident injury that killed his mother, and the death of three close relatives in recent months. She described the offence as a "once off incident" and, after hearing he would not re‑offend, imposed an 18‑month sentence suspended in full on strict conditions. Garda Gerard Maloney reported that a blank semi‑automatic pistol, recovered from Rodjukovs' car, was not capable of firing bullets. The pistol had been brought from Latvia. Rodjukovs cooperated with Gardaí and made full admissions.
In a High Court hearing on 12 May 2017, William Thompson secured a temporary freezing order over €30,000 that had been awarded to Kevin Buckley, a teenager who assaulted Thompson on 24 August 2016 in Cork city centre. Thompson, a University College Cork student, was knocked to the ground and repeatedly kicked, sustaining injuries including a fractured eye socket. Buckley had previously pleaded guilty to assaulting Thompson and to false imprisonment of a woman, for which he was sentenced to four years' detention and is currently incarcerated. The €30,000 award, lodged in court for Buckley's benefit until he turned 18, was to be released to him after that date. Thompson's lawyers argued that the only way he could enforce a damages award against Buckley is to have the court‑lodged monies frozen until his personal injuries claim is decided.
In December 2015, Damien Klasinski, a 29‑year‑old Polish driver, struck and killed Kildare councillor Willie Crowley, 56, while walking home from a pub. Klasinski fled the scene, later confessing to Gardaí and pleading guilty to dangerous driving causing death. He was arrested after passengers reported him. The court found him had no licence or insurance, had previously been convicted for driving offences, and had driven at speeds up to 80 km/h on a wet, poorly lit street. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to five and a half years, suspended the last 18 months, and imposed a ten‑year driving disqualification. The sentence reflected the seriousness of his failure to remain at the scene and the lack of insurance, while acknowledging his guilty plea and remorse. The ruling was delivered at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, former company director Conrad Mason, aged 46, admitted to stealing €908,652 from his employer, C&G Logistics Group, between January 2010 and January 2015. The theft involved 234 wrongful transactions, including 25 counts of theft and fraud. Mason, who had worked as an accountant since 1997 and became director in 2004, used payroll software and bulk payments to divert funds to his own Bank of Ireland and Ulster Bank accounts, as well as a joint account with his wife. He also transferred over €250,000 to two personal accounts between August 2014 and July 2015. The fraud was uncovered after a suspicious €3,000 payment in July 2015, leading to his arrest in April 2016. Mason pleaded guilty and will be sentenced on 23 May. The court noted his alcoholism and gambling addiction as motivating factors, and that he had no prior convictions.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 11 May 2017, Jeffrey Crowley, aged 21, pleaded guilty to assaulting prison officer Lorraine McCarthy at Wheatfield prison on 23 February 2014. Crowley threw a battery at the narrow observation window of his cell, smashing the glass and sending shards into McCarthy's eye. The court accepted that he did not intend to harm her, describing the act as reckless. McCarthy suffered no permanent eye injury but reported post‑traumatic stress. Crowley's prior convictions include theft, robbery, criminal damage and drug dealing. Judge Pauline Codd sentenced him to two and a half years, back‑dating the term to 26 August 2017, the date of his scheduled release after a ten‑month sentence. Twenty‑two months of the term were suspended on the condition that he fully cooperate with prison staff and attend a residential drug programme upon release.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Irish international footballer Anthony Stokes was found to have not paid the €30,000 "practical expression of remorse" he had pledged to Anthony Bradley, the victim of a head‑butt at Buck Whaleys nightclub in 2013. Stokes, who had pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, received a two‑year suspended sentence in February 2017. The judge, Patricia Ryan, clarified that the payment was not a condition of the sentence and that compensation matters fall under civil courts. The prosecution, represented by Diarmuid Collins, requested the court to revisit the sentence because the payment had not been made. Judge Ryan made no order, noting that the suspended sentence remained in place and that the case could be re‑entered if payment issues arose. The hearing reiterated that Stokes had expressed remorse and that the victim, Anthony Bradley, had suffered significant physical and psychological harm, including extensive dental work and chronic neck pain.
A 49-year-old man from Longford has been sentenced to 13 years imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court following his guilty pleas to seven charges of sexual abuse against four of his nieces. The charges included three counts of anal rape and one of sexual assault committed between 2001 and 2010, when the victims were aged seven, nine and 16 years old. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy imposed consecutive sentences and ordered five years post-release supervision. The court heard that the earliest abuse occurred around the time of one victim's First Holy Communion, which the judge described as particularly poignant given its associations with innocence. The judge noted the offences represented a grave breach of trust by the accused as their uncle. Victim impact statements detailed lasting trauma, including panic attacks, sleep disturbance and psychological damage. The defence outlined the accused man's significant cognitive limitations and poor educational background.
Brian Kenna, 54, of Crumlin Park, Dublin, was convicted by the Special Criminal Court of membership in the Irish Republican Army (IRA). Kenna had denied being a member of the unlawful organisation on 21 November 2015. The court heard testimony from Garda Assistant Commissioner Michael O'Sullivan, who believed Kenna was an IRA member on that date. Evidence included a briefing by Chief Superintendent Tom Maguire to the Special Detective Unit (SDU) that Kenna would be in Portlaoise prison engaging in IRA activities. CCTV footage showed Kenna arriving at Portlaoise prison at 10:20 am and leaving with white objects that were later identified as Christmas cards. While being searched in the prison carpark, a small item wrapped in cling film was found in Kenna's pocket. The item was an IRA communiqué containing three cigarette papers with handwritten notes. The message detailed a debriefing of three men who had been arrested after an intercepted IRA operation in Rathkeale, County Limerick.
Josh Redmond, aged 20, was charged with endangerment, dangerous driving and driving without insurance after a high‑speed chase in Dun Laoghaire on 7 June 2016. He had no licence or insurance and had just bought the car, but his mother had told him to return it. While driving to return the vehicle, he encountered Gardaí and "panicked", accelerating beyond the 50 km/h limit to over 100 km/h, overtaking other cars, breaking traffic lights and swerving, forcing a patrol car to take evasive action. He was arrested after a foot chase and admitted the lack of licence and insurance. In court, Judge Karen O'Connor noted the early‑afternoon timing and the risk to the public and Gardaí, but also his supportive family and a positive probation report. She imposed an 18‑month sentence, suspended in full, and disqualified him from driving for two years. Josh Redmond pleaded guilty.
A 58‑year‑old man from Co. Carlow was convicted by a jury of two counts of indecent assault on his nine‑year‑old nephew between October 1985 and March 1986. The nephew, now 40, told the court that the abuse began with inappropriate touching and unwanted kissing when they were alone, and escalated after the uncle appeared to comfort him during his grandmother's illness. The nephew later lived with another relative and did not report the abuse for years. The accused denied the allegations when interviewed by Gardaí. He was acquitted of eight further counts of indecent assault. The court adjourned sentencing to 22 May. The nephew described the abuse as a source of pain that led him to drink, use drugs, and attempt suicide, but he has since sought counselling and is working to heal. The accused, now a grandfather, was described as in relatively poor health and having left school early.
In 2017, a 41‑year‑old Dublin man received a suspended sentence of two years and three months for sexually assaulting his six‑year‑old niece while babysitting her between February and September 1992. He pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assault. The court noted that the victim's family had not filed a formal complaint with the Gardaí, instead seeking sex‑offender treatment for the man when he was 16 and counselling for the victim. The niece, who delayed reporting until after her grandmother's death, gave a victim impact statement describing long‑term emotional damage, self‑esteem issues, anorexia and self‑harm. Judge Karen O'Connor commended the niece for coming forward, acknowledged the man's remorse and treatment, and deemed a non‑custodial sentence appropriate given his age at the time of the offence. The case was prosecuted by Garrett McCormack BL, with defence counsel Gerard Charlton BL arguing the offence stemmed from curiosity and the defendant's immaturity.
In a 2017 Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Judge Martin Nolan criticised a prolonged delay in investigating a child‑abuse case involving Dominic Morley, a 69‑year‑old former resident of North William Street. Morley's laptop, seized in October 2009, contained 38 sexually explicit images of children, some depicting minors in sexual acts with adults. Gardaí had the laptop for five years before a full analysis was conducted, revealing prepubescent girls and boys with exposed genitals and sexual activity with adults. Morley pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography for an unknown period between 1 July 2007 and 13 October 2009. He was placed on the Sex Offenders Register and received a two‑year suspended sentence. Morley, with no prior convictions, admitted regret and claimed he acted while "suffering excruciating loneliness.".
A 64‑year‑old former priest, who has been defrocked, is set to be sentenced for raping and sexually assaulting a boy he paid to work in his garden in County Wicklow between January 2005 and September 2006. The boy, who was about 13 at the time, was paid €10–€15 for gardening work, a sum that rose after the abuse began. The priest first made inappropriate remarks about the boy's puberty, then fondled him, and later carried out oral rape and sexual assault in the priest's bedroom, a presbytery, and a car. The final rape in a presbytery caused injury that required surgery and left the boy with ongoing health problems. The boy, now 24, has suffered post‑traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression and panic, and has expressed feeling "almost impossible" to live. He reports difficulty holding a job, avoiding social events, and feeling he does not fit in. The unnamed 64-year-old was found guilty.
A woman who endured sexual abuse as a child has described feeling imprisoned by the trauma throughout her life. The victim gave evidence at the Central Criminal Court following the conviction of a 66-year-old man on five offences committed in county Donegal and Dublin between 1992 and 1994. The man was found guilty of three counts of sexual assault and two counts of rape after a jury trial. In her victim impact statement, the woman outlined how the abuse began when she was approximately ten years old and escalated to rape when she was twelve. She told the court of enduring panic attacks, anxiety, depression and flashbacks in adulthood, which have affected her relationships and employment. The woman also described becoming hypervigilant regarding her own children's safety. Ms Justice Margaret Heneghan adjourned the case to 19 May for sentencing. The defence presented character references and highlighted the defendant's lack of previous convictions and his wife's health dependence on him. The unnamed 66-year-old pleaded not guilty.
Carol Clarke, a 57‑year‑old mother of five, admitted to stealing €104,431 in social welfare fraud over a 17‑year period by posing as her sister Bernadette Darcy. The theft occurred at the Phibsborough post office between February 1994 and July 2011. Gardaí discovered the fraud in 2012 when they found welfare claims made in Darcy's name; Darcy claimed she was unaware of the claims. Clarke was arrested shortly after the discovery. She initially denied the allegations but later admitted guilt following handwriting and fingerprint tests, and after staff at the post office identified her. Clarke has a prior conviction for handling stolen property in 1999. She pleaded guilty to two counts of stealing from the Department of Social Welfare. The court heard that she used the stolen money to support her family and to pay off one son's drug debts.
In a Dublin court, Vesel Jahiri, 35, was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Anna Finnegan, 25, who had fled to a women's refuge after enduring abuse. Jahiri also received a four‑year sentence for assaulting Anna's brother Karl. The trial highlighted Jahiri's violent conduct, including an assault on the prosecution lawyer, and his refusal to listen to the victim impact statement. Lisa Finnegan, Anna's sister, delivered a powerful statement about the terror her family endured and called for stronger legal protection for women in abusive relationships. The judge, Paul Coffey, noted the severity of the crime and the need for safety measures for victims. The sentencing underscored the court's commitment to holding perpetrators accountable for violent domestic abuse. Vesel Jahiri pleaded not guilty.
Darren Goodwin, who was sentenced to life in prison at 16 for the 2003 murder of 14‑year‑old Darragh Conroy, was released last year after a psychiatric review. At a Central Criminal Court hearing on 8 May 2017, Goodwin gave an undertaking not to travel within an eight‑kilometre zone centred on Mountmellick unless he receives verbal permission from probation services. He agreed to this condition when his barrister, Patrick Gageby SC, explained that his parents live near Mountmellick and that he might wish to visit them. Goodwin's statement was "I agree to that." The court noted that the family had wanted to move out of the area but found it impractical. The hearing reaffirmed the conditions of Goodwin's release and his commitment to remain outside the specified zone unless authorised.
John Barnes, a 48‑year‑old father of two, was sentenced to four years in prison for possessing cannabis and cocaine worth €522,400. He had agreed to hold the drugs for €500 after falling into financial hardship, including a €42,000 judgment from Revenue and health problems such as a stroke and heart attack. Gardaí, acting on confidential information, searched Barnes' home and two vehicles, recovering the drugs. Barnes pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and admitted responsibility, claiming he had not been paid. Judge Karen O'Connor noted his vulnerability and lack of relevant convictions, but also his extensive work history and community contributions. She imposed a seven‑year sentence, suspending the final three years on the condition of good behaviour and one year of probation supervision upon release.
Reginald O'Donnell, 64, was sentenced to a suspended two‑year jail term after pleading guilty to three counts of theft from the Department of Social Protection. The offences, dated 2002, 2007 and 2011, involved him claiming pension payments on behalf of his deceased father, Thomas O'Donnell, who had died in 1988. Social welfare inspectors discovered the fraud when they attempted to present a Presidential Bounty cheque to Thomas in 2009. O'Donnell admitted the theft, repaid the €597, and the judge noted his age, cooperation and prior admissions.
On 4 February 2015, Robert Faherty, 63, was driving without headlights when Grainne Duncan's bicycle struck his car, leaving her in a coma for two months. Faherty, who had no prior convictions and a clean driving record, pleaded guilty to careless driving causing serious harm. Judge Pauline Codd, noting the absence of speed, alcohol, or road fault, described the incident as a momentary lapse rather than reckless behaviour. She imposed a nine‑month suspended sentence, citing Faherty's remorse, psychiatric report, and daily reliance on his vehicle. No driving ban was imposed. Duncan, 45, remains in a vegetative state, requiring full assistance, and her husband has pursued civil action for medical costs estimated at €540,000. The court acknowledged the profound impact on Duncan's life and her family's suffering.
Gary Gregg, a 28‑year‑old heroin addict, was sentenced to five years in prison after robbing Core Credit Union in Ballybrack, Dublin. On 16 January 2016, he threatened a supervisor by holding a lighter and pouring a liquid he claimed was fuel over her head, then forced two other staff members to hand over cash and stole €12,241 in 41 seconds. Gregg pleaded guilty to robbery and making a threat to kill. He had 87 prior convictions, including 13 for robbery. The judge suspended the last two years of a seven‑year sentence on the condition that he engage in victim‑focused work and addiction treatment. Gregg's defence lawyer noted his troubled upbringing and drug use, but the court focused on the robbery and threat during the hearing.
Conor McKee, 26, withdrew almost €8,000 from his own Bank of Ireland account after discovering a large sum had been deposited without his knowledge. He claimed he had not used the account for six months and was unaware of the source of the funds, which were later found to have been deposited via a forged cheque. McKee admitted to spending the money on food, drink and trips with his partner. He pleaded guilty to stealing €7,939.35 in three separate withdrawals on 24 April 2014. Judge Melanie Greally, noting the theft was not pre‑meditated but dishonest, sentenced him to 240 hours of community service instead of 12 months' imprisonment, to be completed within a year. The court highlighted that McKee had cooperated fully and had not re‑offended since the incident. The case was described as an unusual theft where the money fell into his account by error, yet he exploited the mistake.
Brendan Smith, 39, of Greenane, Dunshaughin, Co Meath, and Aston Carpets and Flooring pleaded guilty to engaging in an anti-competitive price-fixing agreement between July 2012 and April 2013. The High Court heard that the cartel, which targeted large corporations including Google, Dell, Mastercard, and PayPal, was exposed by whistleblower David Radburn of Carpet Centre (Contracts) Ltd. Smith also admitted to a second charge of attempting to impede the prosecution by instructing Radburn to delete emails on April 30, 2013. Defence counsel Michael O'Higgins SC argued that Smith, who has since overcome substance dependencies, is willing to perform community service, while counsel for Aston Carpets, Patrick Gageby, noted the company's net profit from the deals was €31,000 and requested a proportionate fine. Prosecuting counsel Remy Farrell SC outlined maximum penalties of up to €5 million and ten years' imprisonment for price fixing, and five years for obstructing prosecution. At the hearing, Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy heard evidence and adjourned sentencing for Smith and Aston Carpets until Monday, May 22. The judge stated he requires details of Smith's salary and assets before proceeding with the sentence hearing.
An unnamed 53-year-old father of five, who pleaded not guilty to two counts of rape and was convicted by a jury at the Central Criminal Court, had his sentencing adjourned until May 24 by Mr Justice Paul Butler. The court heard that the man raped his then heavily pregnant partner twice at their home in December 2014. The jury found him guilty following a three-week trial. In a separate December 2016 conviction, the man was found guilty of three counts of sexual assault against the same victim, for which Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy sentenced him to seven and a half years, with the final six months suspended. The current proceedings concern the two rape charges. The victim, who gave birth three days after the first rape, described being left stunned and suffering a nervous breakdown. She stated she believed the accused should never be released. The defense, represented by Blaise O'Carroll SC, argued the relationship had initially been loving and that the accused was the primary carer for their child. The man has not started a sex offenders course in prison as directed by Ms Justice Murphy. The matter was adjourned and is not concluded.
In December 2015, 29‑year‑old Damien Klasinski, a Polish native, was driving on Eyre Street, Newbridge, when he struck and killed 56‑year‑old Kildare councillor Willie Crowley. Klasinski was speeding, did not brake or sound his horn, and fled the scene. He was later arrested after hiding in a friend's house. Crowley died from head injuries at Naas Hospital a few days later. Klasinski pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death and faces a custodial sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The court heard that Klasinski had 13 prior traffic convictions, had been disqualified from driving in 2016, and had a history of drunk driving. Witnesses described the impact as sending Crowley airborne, and the road was wet with poor lighting. The judge noted Klasinski's speed was far above the 50 km/h limit, possibly up to 80 km/h, and adjourned sentencing to 12 May.
In a 2015 incident in Darndale, Dublin, 20‑year‑old Glen Lieghio, part of a group of 20‑30 youths, threw stones, bottles and other objects at Gardaí who were attempting to investigate a dangerously driven stolen car. Lieghio addressed one officer by name, threatening, "Next time you are in Darndale, you are dead." A rock thrown at another Garda struck his mobile phone. Lieghio was arrested a few days later and pleaded guilty to violent disorder and criminal damage. He had no prior convictions. Judge Karen O'Connor, noting the extreme violence and the lack of injuries, found the behaviour unacceptable but also acknowledged Lieghio's remorse and acceptance of responsibility. She imposed an 18‑month sentence, suspended in full, conditioned on a good‑behaviour bond and one year of probation supervision. No jail time was imposed. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The Gardaí involved were Sergeant Brendan Bergin and Garda James Mulhern.
William Mannion, 49, of Clygeen, Legan, Co Longford, appeared at the Central Criminal Court for sentencing. He pleaded guilty to seven charges, including three counts of anal rape and one sexual assault of a niece aged seven between June and August 2006. He also admitted to sexually assaulting her older sister three years prior, when she was seven, and two charges each of sexually assaulting their then nine-year-old and 16-year-old cousins between October 2001 and June 2010. Prosecution counsel Gerard Clarke SC noted the victims consented to Mannion's identification but requested anonymity for themselves. Defence counsel Mary Rose Gearty SC highlighted Mannion's low intellectual functioning, unemployment, and inability to read or write. She also referenced his 1997 conviction for unlawful carnal knowledge of a 14-year-old. Although the validated stage is sentence, Mr Justice McCarthy remanded Mannion in continuing custody until May 11 for sentence. The court heard detailed allegations regarding the nature of the assaults, including instances where Mannion allegedly covered victims' mouths or threatened them. Victim impact reports were submitted but not read. The matter was adjourned to May 11 for the final sentencing hearing.
In a 2017 Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Gardai reported that they had "struck it lucky" in a €660,000 tiger‑kidnapping case involving Mark McCarthy, a 32‑year‑old heroin addict. McCarthy had left fingerprints on a pizza box and DNA on cigarette butts in a partially burnt car that also contained a Tesco Club Card receipt belonging to one of the victims. He pleaded guilty to false imprisonment of Warren and Jean Marie Nawn and their ten‑week‑old baby between 1 and 2 August 2011. The court heard that the Nawn family were held hostage in their home, then driven to a rural location where they were kept captive overnight, threatened repeatedly, and forced to hand over €661,125 from the Drogheda Post Office. McCarthy was said to have acted under duress, with his life threatened by a drug debt, and received no benefit from the offence.
Gerard Walsh, 38, pleaded guilty to burglary at a valet service he had previously worked for in Liffey Valley, Dublin, on 20 March 2015. He admitted stealing six sets of car keys and three vehicles—a Volkswagen Touran, a Volkswagen Passat and an Audi A6 Avant—to pay a drug debt. Two of the cars were recovered; the third was found a year later, resulting in an estimated loss of €3,500 to the owner. The court also noted that Walsh had previously been convicted of public order and theft offences, dealt with 15 years earlier. Judge Melanie Greally, acknowledging Walsh's difficult personal circumstances and his efforts to rehabilitate, imposed a suspended three‑year sentence and required him to pay €3,500 in compensation to his former employer. The sentence was suspended, with no immediate custodial term imposed. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Michael Flanagan, 31, was sentenced to a two‑year suspended term for possessing child pornography, including a video of an unconscious five‑year‑old girl. He had previously been convicted in 2012 and 2013 for similar offences. The judge noted the video's particular concern and that Flanagan had not shared the images. He was found to have lived in self‑imposed isolation and had a history of drug use. The sentence requires him to engage with the Probation Service for 12 months, complete sex‑offender, victim‑awareness and drug‑and‑alcohol programmes, keep the peace for two years, and allow Gardaí access to his computer. The court also ordered that he keep the peace for two years and make his computer available to Gardaí at any time. The judge accepted that there was no evidence that Flanagan had shared the images. The judge also took into account a "detailed and helpful" probation report which she said was positive. Michael Flanagan pleaded guilty.