Dwayne McConville, 39, of Davitt Park, Ballybrack, was sentenced to one month in Mountjoy Prison after pleading guilty at Dún Laoghaire District Court to being intoxicated in a public place and to threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour. The offence occurred on Georges Street Lower, Dún Laoghaire, on 15 October 2024 when McConville, while drinking from a bottle of beer, shouted to Garda Dylan Walsh that he would shoot him. McConville was stumbling and unsteady on his feet when stopped on the footpath. The court noted he had 61 prior convictions for public order offences and 76 in total. He had previously received a two‑year peace bond under the Probation Act in December 2023. The judge, citing that this was his 62nd and 63rd public order offence, imposed the one‑month sentence. Recognisance was fixed at €500 own bond and €500 independent surety, half of each to be lodged in cash.
James Meehan, a convicted murderer, appeared in the High Court where Ms Justice Caroline Biggs set October 23 for an extradition hearing. Meehan, 55, was arrested by gardai earlier this month under extradition warrants issued under the Trade and Co-operation Agreement after allegedly failing to return to Magilligan prison in Derry during day release in December 2024. He was sentenced in 2009 to life imprisonment, with a minimum of 14 years to be served, for the murder of Jim McFadden in May 2007. Meehan, who previously had addresses in Derry City and Headfort Grove, Kells, Co Meath, is alleged to have gone on the run for the second time in three years. In December 2023, the High Court found clear evidence that the terms of his release had been breached and ordered his surrender to Northern Ireland. Counsel for the State indicated that two matters regarding Meehan could be dealt with in approximately one hour each, potentially allowing the case to be heard in one day. Ms Justice Biggs ordered that all submissions be provided by the respondent one week prior to the hearing date. She further ruled that Meehan will be remanded on continued bail until October 23. The matter was adjourned to that date for the extradition proceedings.
Daryl Boyd, 28, pleaded guilty in the District Court to multiple offences under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977 between 2020 and 2022. He received three consecutive six‑month prison sentences for supplying controlled drugs into prisons, with one of those sentences suspended. Additional charges included possession of controlled drugs and failure to appear in court. Boyd appealed the severity of his sentence. Sergeant Shay Leonard recounted that on 16 May 2020, 28 November 2020 and 26 September 2022, Boyd threw copper pipes and other items containing controlled drugs over the walls of Wheatfield Prison, the last incident involving 700 euros worth of cannabis. Boyd has 40 prior convictions, including theft and public order offences. Defence counsel noted his drug debt and severe pressure after a threat to a family member. Judge Jonathan Dunphy suspended Boyd's entire sentence for two years, requiring him to enter probation supervision, complete residential treatment and engage in education and training as directed.
In February 2024, Jason Cerfas, aged 23, was removed from Swords Courthouse after verbally abusing another man, leading to charges of threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour and failing to comply with a garda's direction under the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994. He was convicted on both counts and sentenced to two months and five months in custody, to be served concurrently. Cerfas appealed, arguing the sentence was too severe. The District Court Appeals Court, hearing the appeal, noted that Cerfas had been directed to leave the courthouse multiple times and that his conduct had "no difficulty tearing down the court system." Judge Jonathan Dunphy, after considering the appeal, suspended the five‑month custodial sentence for two years, provided Cerfas keeps the peace and avoids further garda attention. The appeal did not alter the conviction or the concurrent nature of the sentences. The case remains at the appeal stage, with the suspended sentence in effect. Jason Cerfas pleaded not guilty.
In a Carlow Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Declan Carr, 29, pleaded guilty to threatening to kill his partner and to two assault charges. He sent messages on 5 March threatening to kill her, saying she would be "dead and buried" and no one would find her. The victim, who had been in an on‑and‑off relationship with Carr for 12 years, reported being assaulted, including an elbow strike to her face and a blow to the back of her head, though Carr denied the latter. Gardaí found €170 worth of cannabis in his car and he admitted the threats were not intended to be carried out. Carr apologized via video‑link, expressed remorse, and offered to attend domestic‑violence or addiction courses. Judge Sinéad McMullan remanded him on bail pending a sentencing date in November, noting the need for further consideration.
Michael Murphy, 50, of Woodlawn Park, Borris, pleaded guilty at Carlow Circuit Criminal Court to careless driving causing serious harm to Denis Murphy, a hurler and maths teacher, after a hit‑and‑run on 5 December 2022. Murphy was just over twice the legal alcohol limit. Denis Murphy suffered a dislocated elbow, three missing teeth and a traumatic brain injury, requiring nine days in intensive care and a long recovery. The victim impact statement, read into the record, highlighted Denis's gratitude for surviving and his ongoing struggles with memory and brain fatigue. Murphy left the scene but remained within a few miles, was later arrested for driving while intoxicated, and has since undertaken a driver safety course. The court has remanded him on bail until a sentencing hearing in November, where a sentence will be fixed.
Charles Dunne, 48, of Ace Fencing Ltd, was found guilty at Carlow Circuit Criminal Court of possessing stolen power tools and of providing five false invoices to Gardaí to prove ownership. He also pleaded not guilty to attempting to pervert the course of justice. The jury, after almost six hours of deliberation, returned guilty verdicts on the possession charge, five counts of using a false instrument and the charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice, while acquitting him on all other charges. Judge Sinéad McMullan remanded Dunne on continuing bail until a sentencing hearing in November. He was directed to surrender his passport upon return from a family holiday and to sign in once a week at Carlow Garda Station. The case involved a large quantity of tools seized from Dunne's yard in Tullow in January 2019, with Gardaí presenting evidence of the tools' stolen status and the fraudulent invoices supplied by Dunne.
Celine Carroll, 46, of Cherry Orchard Avenue, Ballyfermot, was captured on live footage setting fire to a power box on a pole housing a Garda camera and then attempting to ignite a second box. The incident, which caused €25,000 worth of damage, occurred at Cherry Orchard Parade on 18 January 2018. Carroll, who has 39 previous convictions, pleaded guilty to arson. During the arrest she resisted, kicking, spitting and shouting obscenities, and fled the scene before being apprehended after a short foot pursuit. In the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Elva Duffy sentenced her to two and a half years, suspending the final 12 months on strict conditions. The judge noted Carroll's apology, personal circumstances and efforts to address her addiction, and highlighted her deliberate decision to set the fires. The case was delayed after Carroll went to ground and a bench warrant was issued.
Darius Langas, 37, of Ballinasloe, was convicted after a week‑long trial at the Central Criminal Court for raping a woman in a bathroom. He denied the charge on 13 August 2022 but was found guilty. Mr Justice Tony Hunt sentenced him to ten years, with the final twelve months suspended on strict conditions for five years. The victim, who was drinking with Langas and another man before the assault, was pushed into a bathtub and raped from behind. She reported extensive injuries and later provided a victim impact statement detailing anxiety, depression, nightmares, panic attacks, and the loss of her children. Langas admitted the act but claimed it was consensual. The judge noted the seriousness of the offence and imposed the suspended sentence, placing Langas under probation supervision for three years post‑release. The court expressed hope for the victim's recovery.
In a Dublin court, a 17‑year‑old man was sentenced to five and a half years' imprisonment for raping a 16‑year‑old girl and for engaging in a sexual act with a 12‑year‑old. The judge, Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo, noted the defendant's youth and immaturity, and imposed consecutive sentences for the two victims. The total sentence was six and a half years, with the final year suspended for two years on strict conditions aimed at rehabilitation and victim awareness. The court heard that the defendant had communicated with the 12‑year‑old via Snapchat, sent her pictures, and met her at an abandoned house where the sexual act occurred. The 16‑year‑old was raped after the defendant entered her home, and the defendant's brother allegedly threw a condom during the incident. The judge highlighted the defendant's lack of awareness of consent and the significant age disparity with the 12‑year‑old. The unnamed 12-year-old pleaded guilty and was convicted.
The 46‑year‑old man pleaded guilty to producing child pornography after taking 11 photographs of his 16‑year‑old step‑daughter in the shower on 12 April 2018 at a Dublin hostel. Gardaí were called to the hostel on 9 April 2018 after staff reported inappropriate contact. The man left the hostel, moved to another, then returned to the original where staff again contacted police. Gardaí seized his phone and found the images. The judge, citing a breach of trust and self‑serving gratification, set a headline sentence of three years but, after considering his guilty plea, rehabilitation efforts and the fact the images were not distributed, sentenced him to one year in prison, back‑dated to February, for time already spent in custody. The teenage girl, originally from another country, was interviewed and confirmed the photographs were taken while she showered.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Joseph Cahill, 46, pleaded guilty to the unlawful killing of 43‑year‑old Gerard Curtin. Cahill admitted striking Curtin four times with a shovel after the victim had repeatedly smashed a window of Cahill's house, threatened to burn it, and demanded money. Cahill claimed he believed he was protecting himself, his property and his children, but the force used was excessive. He called emergency services after the blows, then waited over eight minutes before requesting an ambulance, stating he thought Curtin was dead. The court noted Cahill's history of mental illness, substance abuse and gambling, and that he had no prior convictions. The sentencing hearing was adjourned to 24 November. The article does not disclose the final sentence.
American Kevin Yungman, 32, was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court for raping a 19-year-old woman in June 2018 in an Airbnb on Usher's Quay, Dublin city centre. Yungman pleaded guilty to the single charge of rape, which involved causing the victim to pass out by squeezing her neck. Mr Justice Hunt imposed a six-year prison sentence, with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions. The sentence was backdated to August 2024, when Yungman entered custody in the United States following his arrest and extradition to Ireland. The judge noted that the headline sentence was eight years, reduced due to mitigation including the guilty plea and the difficulty of serving time in a foreign jurisdiction. Aggravating factors included the asphyxiation of the victim. Conditions of the suspended portion include a perpetual ban on direct or indirect contact with the victim. Additionally, Yungman is ordered to leave the jurisdiction upon release and is prohibited from returning for 10 years. The court acknowledged the victim's recovery and the support provided by Yungman's family, who expressed remorse and accountability during the proceedings.
The Special Criminal Court heard that Mark McCourt, 34, of Edenrieve, Newry, could receive a sentence of up to 14 years for running a gun‑running ring that smuggled weapons from America to criminal organisations. McCourt had previously pleaded guilty to firearms offences and to aiding a criminal organisation in importing restricted weapons. The Director of Public Prosecutions placed him at the higher end of the sentencing scale, which carries ten to fourteen years. He is remanded in custody and the sentencing is scheduled for 3 November. A senior Garda testified that McCourt controlled a criminal organisation that imported firearms components from the USA, reassembled them into assault rifles and pistols, and distributed them to other groups. Evidence included a raid in County Louth where 82 gun parts were assembled into six rifles and a dozen pistols, and phone data showing McCourt's communications with prospective customers and his trips to Las Vegas.
Christopher O'Grady, 34, formerly of Dundalk, was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court for raping a 19-year-old Spanish tourist on January 1, 2019. Following a trial last March, the jury found him guilty of one count of rape. Ms Justice Caroline Biggs imposed a seven-year sentence, with the final six months suspended. The court noted aggravating factors, including the victim's intoxication and the predatory nature of the offence, which left her with PTSD and depression. Although the hearing was initially adjourned to explore restorative justice, the Probation Service advised the court that such measures were not feasible due to O'Grady's conduct during an interview. O'Grady, who has 65 previous convictions and was homeless at the time of the offence, accepted the verdict and expressed remorse. He had been in custody since August 2024 after breaching bail conditions. The judge acknowledged his chaotic upbringing but emphasized the severe impact on the victim, who described feeling 'like a doll' during the incident. The suspended portion of the sentence is intended to encourage rehabilitation, with O'Grady agreeing to work with the Probation Service.
Ryan Kearney, 39, was sentenced to ten years in prison with one year suspended for three years, following a nine‑year custodial term that was reduced by mitigation. The sentence was imposed after a jury found him guilty of manslaughter, not murder, for stabbing Jeffrey Jackson, 50, 16 times in a "frenzied knife" attack on 8 February 2024. Kearney claimed he acted in self‑defence, citing a dispute over alcohol and Jackson's intoxication. The judge described the violence as extreme and sustained, noting Kearney's 152 prior convictions, including a 10‑year drug‑supply sentence with three years suspended. Victim impact statements highlighted the brutality of the attack and the lasting pain felt by Jackson's family. The court emphasised that the defendant's alcohol‑related history and lack of remorse were factors in the sentencing decision. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty and was acquitted.
On 1 April 2021, Maria Mohan, 36, of Belfry Green, Citywest, Dublin 24, entered Springfield Pharmacy in Tallaght and became agitated when informed her prescription had expired. She struck a protective Covid screen that was part of the till area, causing the entire structure to shatter and damaging cosmetics and surrounding property. The damage was estimated at €1,000, but no compensation was paid. Mohan pleaded guilty to criminal damage, possession of cannabis (from an arrest on 18 April 2019) and threatening behaviour at Tallaght Garda Station on 10 October 2023. At Tallaght District Court, Judge Patricia McNamara imposed a five‑month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, for the criminal damage, and fined her €300. She was also fined €250 for the public‑order offence, both payable within five months, and entered into a peace bond. The court noted her mental‑health conditions and her engagement with a restorative justice programme.
Christopher Ryan, 33, pleaded guilty to rape, sexual assault, assault causing harm and criminal damage at the Central Criminal Court. He was sentenced to 11½ years for rape, five years for sexual assault, four years for assault causing harm and two years for criminal damage, all concurrent. A 12‑month portion of the total term was suspended on the condition that he engage with the Probation Service. He was ordered to have no contact with Kerrie Keane for the duration of his imprisonment and the suspended period. Keane, who was raped and assaulted by Ryan in her Galway home on 11 November 2023, moved into emergency accommodation with her daughter after the attack. She gave a victim impact statement describing ongoing fear, anxiety, nightmares and depression, and expressed gratitude for police support. Ryan's previous conviction was for theft. The case was prosecuted by Marc Thompson BL and heard by Justice Mary Ellen Ring.
Matthew O'Connell, aged 75, was sentenced to 12 years in prison for 42 counts of rape committed between July 1979 and June 1987. The victim, who was 13 when the first assault occurred, described how O'Connell groomed her from age ten and raped her repeatedly, often twice a week, in various locations including his home, a mobile home and a vehicle. She kept the abuse secret for decades, only disclosing it to family in the 1990s and to Gardaí in 2021. O'Connell denied the charges and was remanded after conviction. The judge noted the serious impact on the victim, the breach of trust, and the age disparity, setting a headline sentence of 15 years but ultimately imposing a 12‑year term. The case highlighted the prolonged nature of the abuse and the victim's struggle to come forward.
Five men were sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for the false imprisonment and assault causing harm of Natalie Ennis at Henrietta House, Dublin 7, on September 26, 2024. All defendants pleaded guilty to the charges, with additional counts taken into consideration. Judge Pauline Codd described the incident as sadistic and cruel, noting the victim was beaten, burned, cut, and threatened. Braxton Rice, identified as the main ringleader, received a 15-year sentence, with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions. Sean Conroy, described as a main mover, was sentenced to 13 years, with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions. Mark McMahon, who facilitated the offence by providing his flat, received a 12-year sentence. His son, Mark Keogh, was jailed for nine years. Kian Walshe, who transported the victim and shared a recording of the attack, received an 11-year sentence, with the final two-and-a-half years suspended on strict conditions. The judge backdated all sentences to the date each man entered custody. She highlighted the aggravating factors, including the premediated nature of the attack and the defendants' bail status, while acknowledging their guilty pleas and personal circumstances.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 16‑year‑old was convicted of assault causing harm after striking a victim with a claw hammer in a public park on 19 May 2020. Witnesses saw the teenager hit the victim's head about five times while the victim was seated on another youth. The victim suffered two depressed skull fractures and five open wounds requiring up to 30 stitches, and was advised to stop contact sports. The defendant, now 21, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to a term of three years and four months, with the final 12 months suspended, giving a custodial period of two years. The judge noted the defendant's prior convictions, his family support, and his engagement with community programmes, while emphasising the impact on the victim's future sporting and personal life. The sentence was imposed before the suspended portion was activated.
The 24‑year‑old man was convicted of attempted oral rape, sexual assault and engaging in a sexual act with a child under 15 after a Central Criminal Court trial. He met the 14‑year‑old victim on social media, arranged a meeting in Dublin, and the next day engaged in sex at his apartment, where he also attempted to rape her orally. The judge sentenced him to six‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment, with the final six months suspended on strict conditions. The man had no prior convictions. He pleaded no‑guilty, was not allowed to claim the most significant mitigating factor, and was found guilty. The judge noted the age disparity and the victim's intellectual difficulties as aggravating factors. The sentence was imposed at the trial, with no further outcome reported.
Two men, Robert Burns (59) and Lorenzo Cantaragiu (22), were sentenced by Mr Justice Tony Hunt at the Central Criminal Court for aiding the murder of Mahamud Ilyas (22). Burns provided a house for drug dealing and allowed the killers to use it; he also cleaned blood from the premises. Cantaragiu drove the killers from the scene to Belgree Lane in Co Meath, where Ilyas was left to die, and later cleaned the car. Both were given four‑year prison terms with the entirety suspended, meaning they walk free today but must remain of good behaviour for four years or risk serving the term. They also face a one‑year probation bond and must attend programmes recommended by the probation service. The judge warned them to avoid further criminal activity and to address Burns' cannabis use, which he said had drawn the killers into his life. Lorenzo Cantaragiu was convicted.
A 72‑year‑old man from Ardrahan, Pat Howley, was sentenced by the Galway Circuit Criminal Court to four and a half years in prison, with the final 18 months suspended for three years. He pleaded guilty to four counts of sexual assault committed against a teenage girl aged 13‑14 between February and December 2006. The court noted a 40‑year age gap, the breach of trust, the nature of the conduct and the trauma inflicted. Howley's guilty plea, long working life, voluntary Civil Defence work and health issues were considered mitigating factors. He has no prior convictions and is deemed low risk of re‑offending. He will be supervised by the Probation Service for 12 months after release and must comply with all directions given by them. The sentence was imposed by Judge Brian O'Callaghan.
Robert Clinch, aged 43, received a seven‑year sentence for two robberies of a Coolock pharmacy in February and July 2023, with the final three years suspended. The court noted his 189 prior convictions and his status as a long‑time drug addict who had been released during Covid without support. Clinch pleaded guilty, claiming a desire to rehabilitate and become drug‑free. Judge Elma Duffy highlighted that he targeted the same shop and victims twice, and that he had been described as a "pathetic figure" driven by a need to feed his habit. The judge imposed consecutive sentences, suspended the last three years on strict conditions, and required assessment by the probation service before release. The court heard that Clinch had entered the pharmacy armed with a knife, demanded €150 and 300 tablets, and had been identified by CCTV.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 29 July 2025, 48‑year‑old Richard Manson pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm after a one‑punch attack on Patrik Hudacek outside Pilsner Bar on 3 December 2023. Manson, who had previously been involved in a brawl that lasted about 90 seconds, struck Hudacek in the face, knocking him to the ground and rendering him unconscious. Hudacek suffered a serious head injury that required five hours of brain surgery and five weeks in a medically induced coma. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a four‑year sentence, suspending the final 18 months on strict conditions, and ordered Manson to pay €20,000 to Hudacek's family within one month. The court noted Manson's prior convictions and his expressed remorse, but emphasised the seriousness of the injury sustained by Hudacek.
A man in his 30s was refused bail after a judge described the alleged incident as "very violent and serious behaviour". He is accused of holding a carving knife to a makeup‑artist escort's throat and robbing her of two iPhones, a black handbag and €1,340 in cash. The assault took place at his apartment in South Dublin on the early hours of Sunday, 27 July. The woman, who had travelled from England to earn extra money, was left with a deep laceration between thumb and forefinger and significant blood loss. CCTV footage shows the man dragging her while holding the knife. He is charged with robbery, production of an article and offences under the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act. He was remanded in custody and will appear via video link at Cloverhill District Court on 31 July.
A 42‑year‑old man named Matthias Kelly, who has an acquired brain injury, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to attempting to murder Fiona Timmermans on 7 September 2024 at Newbury Lawns, Clonshaugh. He also admitted trespassing on the same day, committing an arrestable offence, and producing a serrated kitchen knife in a manner likely to intimidate. Kelly further confessed to threatening Ms Timmermans on 1 September 2024 at an unknown location, intending the threat to be carried out. He pleaded guilty to damaging property, specifically the sitting‑room and front‑bedroom windows of Jennifer Barror on 6 September 2024. Defence counsel informed the judge that Kelly's brain injury was operative at the time of the offences and requested legal aid for a medical report. The court adjourned the case to 10 November for a sentence hearing, with victim impact evidence to be presented then.
Jack Cummins, 22, was sentenced to six years in prison for procuring the commission of assault causing serious harm to Alanna Quinn Idris on Ballyfermot Road on December 30, 2021. Judge Pauline Codd stated that Cummins instigated the pre-meditated violence by phoning his cousin, Josh Cummins, leading to an attack by four youths. Cummins pleaded guilty to procuring the assault, violent disorder, and assault causing harm to Louis O'Sullivan. The judge set a headline sentence of 11 years, reduced to seven years for mitigation, with the final year suspended. All sentences run concurrently. Josh Cummins, 20, previously pleaded guilty to intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to Ms Quinn Idris, violent disorder, production of a hurl, and assault causing harm to Mr O'Sullivan. He received a five-year sentence in November 2023, with the final two years suspended. Darragh Lyons, 21, pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm to Ms Quinn Idris, assault causing harm to Mr O'Sullivan, and violent disorder. He was sentenced to four and a half years in March 2023. Ms Quinn Idris suffered permanent blindness in her right eye and facial disfigurement. The court noted Cummins had no previous convictions and expressed remorse. The matter was adjourned to July 29 for finalisation, and Jack Cummins was remanded on continuing bail.
Shane Flanagan, 39, a former Garda, was found guilty of impersonating a woman on FetLife.com and Facebook, sharing her personal details and encouraging two men to rape her between November and December 2020. He also pleaded guilty to six counts of endangering the woman and her daughters from 2018 to 2020, and to one count of possessing four images of child sexual abuse material. The court imposed a headline sentence of ten years for the incitement of rape, with a concurrent six‑year term for the endangerment charges and a three‑year term for the child pornography charge. Twelve months of the headline sentence were suspended, and the remaining nine years were to be served under strict conditions, including probation and psychiatric care. The judge noted the offences were calculated, cold, and motivated by Flanagan's sexual interests, and that no actual violence occurred.
Mohamed Abdallatif Hussein, a Somali diplomat accredited to Saudi Arabia and attached to the Somali embassy in Riyadh, was arrested at Dublin Airport on 26 November 2024. Gardaí charged him with eight alleged people‑smuggling offences under the Criminal Justice (Smuggling of Persons) Act 2001 and 2021, all purportedly occurring at Terminal 1 or Terminal 2 of the airport. He has not entered a plea. On 8 January 2025, at Cloverhill District Court, he was further charged with four additional counts. On 28 July 2025, his lawyer, Faisal Sadiq Khan, filed an ex‑parte High Court application seeking his release from Cloverhill Prison on the basis of diplomatic immunity. Mr Ward SC argued that Hussein was travelling under a diplomatic passport and was unlawfully detained. The application challenges the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Governor of Cloverhill Prison, and the case is set to return to the High Court the following day.
Mark McCourt, 34, pleaded guilty to firearms offences and participation in a criminal organisation that imported and re‑assembled restricted weapons from the USA. In a Special Criminal Court hearing, a senior Garda testified that McCourt controlled a ring that smuggled gun parts by air, assembling them into assault rifles and pistols. Evidence included seized phone data revealing text messages to prospective buyers, offering a €75,000 cash deal for firearms and a free gift of 10 pipe bombs. McCourt had previously flown to Las Vegas in 2023, where he purchased an AR‑15 rifle and discussed further weapon sales. A raid on a shed in Ardee on 19 July 2024 uncovered 82 gun parts and nearly 900 rounds of ammunition. McCourt has 42 prior convictions and was jailed for three years, 18 months suspended, for a criminal damage incident involving a Garda's vehicle. The court will decide his sentence at a later hearing.
John Merrick, 78, a former Christian Brother and headmaster, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to one count of indecent assault on a 10‑year‑old boy at St Vincent's Primary School between September 1979 and June 1980. The victim came forward after reading a 2024 newspaper report about Merrick's earlier 12‑month sentence for two other indecent assault convictions between 1977 and 1978. Judge Pauline Codd sentenced Merrick to nine months' imprisonment, with the final five months suspended. Merrick joined the Christian Brothers at 14, left in 1982, taught until 1986, and later worked as a tour guide. He has 21 prior convictions for similar offences. The court noted the breach of trust and age disparity as aggravating factors, while acknowledging his guilty plea and prior counselling as mitigating. The victim's impact statement highlighted lasting flashbacks and emotional distress. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the conduct and the court's consideration of both aggravating and mitigating circumstances.
Kym Dunleavy, 50, was sentenced to 18 months in prison at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to multiple charges of using a false instrument. The charges related to medical prescriptions she knew to be false, used on various dates between November 2018 and April 2019. Judge Orla Crowe noted that Dunleavy has a considerable history of offending, including 71 previous convictions, and a probation report places her at high risk of re-offending. Although the judge acknowledged mitigation factors, including that Dunleavy has no convictions since 2021 and no longer abuses prescribed medication, she highlighted that Dunleavy failed to engage with psychiatric services or the Probation Service. Judge Crowe had previously adjourned the case to allow Dunleavy the opportunity to "put her best foot forward." In determining the sentence, the judge considered the maximum penalty of 10 years and deemed a headline sentence of two and a half years appropriate given the time elapsed. Taking all mitigation into account, Judge Crowe imposed the final sentence of 18 months in prison. Dunleavy described the term as "disgraceful" and "ridiculous" as she was escorted from the court.
A 45‑year‑old man was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for assaulting his former partner with a hoover pole in February 2022. The Central Criminal Court heard that the woman suffered extensive bruising, cuts to her face, neck, arm, hands, shoulder and legs, and carpet burns from being dragged across the floor. The defendant pleaded guilty to assault and the use of a hoover pole, and the judge noted his early guilty plea and expressions of remorse. He had previously served a four‑month sentence for an earlier assault. A separate rape charge was dropped by the Director of Public Prosecutions. The court back‑dated the sentence to account for time already spent in custody. The woman did not give a victim impact statement. The judge emphasised the seriousness of the violence involved. The sentence was set at two years' imprisonment, reflecting the offence and the defendant's prior conviction. The case was heard by Mr Justice Patrick McGrath. The unnamed 45-year-old pleaded not guilty.
Gary Herbert, 42, a serial offender with 157 prior convictions, was sentenced by Tallaght District Court to an additional nine‑month custodial term for theft and possession of stolen property. He pleaded guilty to one charge of possession of a grey Aovo Pro e‑scooter, which he admitted was not his, and was convicted on all counts after a hearing before Judge Patricia McNamara. Herbert denied the other three charges – theft of cash from two parked cars and possession of stolen AirPods and an iPod – but was found guilty on those as well. The court relied on CCTV footage and witness testimony to confirm his identity in both theft incidents. He is currently serving an eight‑month sentence imposed on 16 June 2025, with a release date in April 2026. Judge McNamara suspended six months of the new nine‑month term for two years, meaning Herbert will serve an additional three months unless he reoffends.
In a Dublin case, a man who entered an arranged marriage with a woman was found guilty of assault and coercive control. He pleaded guilty to one count of assault causing harm on 27 January 2020 and one count of coercive control. The court noted that the maximum sentence for each count was five years. The judge, Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo, imposed a headline sentence of nine months for the assault and a concurrent 18‑month sentence for coercive control, but suspended the 12‑month term in full on strict conditions for two years. The man was required to engage with the Probation Service during that period. The case involved the man restricting the woman's food and heating, isolating her, and monitoring her through a security system. The woman, aged 27, described the assault and the emotional impact in a victim impact statement.
A 43‑year‑old man, Jineesh John, was found not guilty by reason of insanity for an attempted murder of a former colleague. He was ordered by a judge to continue treatment at the Central Mental Hospital (CMH). Dr Dearbhla Duffy, a consultant psychiatrist at CMH, described John as having a treatment‑resistant delusional disorder, believing he had HIV despite repeated negative tests. She noted he lacks insight into his illness and cannot make informed decisions about his treatment. The judge, in accordance with the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act 2006, directed that John return to CMH where his treatment will be reviewed regularly by the mental health review board. John's address is The Crescent Building, Park West, Dublin 12. The case involved multiple charges of attempted murder, false imprisonment and threat of violence, all of which were dismissed on the basis of insanity.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, 37‑year‑old Pedro Cifali, a Brazilian, was charged with attempting to murder his former partner, Lucia Nezbalova, 43. After their breakup in April 2024, Cifali placed an electronic tag on Nezbalova's car, enabling him to track her movements. On the day of the attack, CCTV captured him arriving at a Blanchardstown garage, disguising himself with a baseball cap, blonde wig, and lighter beard, and then following Nezbalova to a McDonald's. He approached her at her home in Garnish Square, claiming to "just want to talk," before pulling a knife and stabbing her in the neck, back of the head, abdomen, and arms. The abdominal wound exposed organs; doctors at the scene and in hospital saved her life. Nezbalova suffered life‑threatening injuries, ongoing treatment, and permanent scars. Cifali surrendered the next day and admitted the assault. Pedro Cifali pleaded guilty.
Devon Hennessy, aged 29, pleaded guilty before the Special Criminal Court to false imprisonment and assault causing serious harm against Barry Moore at a Dublin 15 house on 12 February 2025. He admitted that the assault was part of a joint enterprise to enhance a criminal organisation's ability to commit serious offences. Hennessy was remanded in custody until 7 October for sentencing. Four co‑accused—Jason Hennessy Jr (28), Brandon Hennessy (22), Kenneth Fitzsimons (45) and Dean Fitzsimons—remain awaiting trial. They face charges of false imprisonment, serious harm, and participation in a criminal organisation, with additional allegations of intimidation, threat of property damage, and use of a steel breaker bar and branding stamp. The court will consider these charges in the upcoming term.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, the brother of cancer‑survivor Jeffrey Jackson said the defendant, 39‑year‑old Ryan Kearney, showed no respect or remorse for the family when the verdict was read. Kearney, who had 152 prior convictions, was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter after a jury rejected the prosecution's claim that he had intentionally stabbed Jackson from head to toe. Kearney claimed he acted in self‑defence during a "frenzied knife" attack that left Jackson with 16 stab wounds, two fatal chest wounds, and a death caused by alcohol‑related impairment. The court heard that Kearney had previously been convicted of drug possession, theft, and other offences, and that he had been on bail for several matters at the time of the incident. The sentencing hearing was scheduled for Thursday, with Kearney remanded in custody. The victim impact statements highlighted the family's grief and the brutality of the attack.
During an arrest on July 30 2022 in Tallaght, 46‑year‑old Jason Osbourne spat in the face of Garda Joe Glennon and obstructed Garda Peter Collins. Osbourne was placed in the back of a patrol car, removed his seatbelt, and spat on Glennon's forehead. He was later restrained, handcuffed, and moved to a second vehicle where he attempted to spit again. Glennon described the act as "degrading, upsetting and deeply disrespectful." Osbourne pleaded guilty to assault under Section 2 of the Non‑Fatal Offences Against the Person Act and obstruction under Section 19 of the Public Order Act. The court, considering Glennon's victim impact statement, Osbourne's early guilty plea, apology, and engagement with probation services, sentenced him to 120 hours of community service in lieu of a five‑month custodial term, subject to a suitability report. He will return on September 26 for final sentencing, where a fine will also be imposed.
A 49‑year‑old man was sentenced to seven and a half years' imprisonment for raping a 12‑year‑old boy, who had been lured to the man's home by a third party who had also sexually abused him. The defendant pleaded guilty to one count of anal rape and two counts of sexual assault committed between 1994 and 1995 at an address in County Dublin. He had five prior convictions, including for child pornography offences. The victim, whose name is withheld, described the emotional and psychological damage, noting he was terrified to speak, lost contact with family and friends, and later sought therapy and addiction treatment. The judge, Justice David Keane, noted the defendant's early guilty plea, cooperation and mitigating circumstances, and imposed a global sentence of seven and a half years, suspending the final 12 months for two years and ordering two years of post‑release supervision.
Marius Lacatus, 32, was sentenced to five and a half years in prison for sexually assaulting a woman on her way to work early on 19 August 2024. He followed her, attacked her from behind, dragged her to a park, threatened her with death, and sexually assaulted her. Gardaí found him hiding under a bridge; he was intoxicated and initially could not be interviewed. He pleaded guilty to sexual assault and making threats to kill or cause serious harm. The court noted the sudden, violent nature of the attack and the victim's right to fear. The judge considered mitigating factors such as his guilty plea, remorse, and background, and imposed a sentence of five and a half years, citing intoxication as no excuse. The incident lasted about two minutes, and the victim received medical treatment. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
A 63-year-old former Defence Forces member has been sentenced to ten years imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court for five counts of sexual assault committed against a child in Cavan between September 2007 and June 2010. Mr Justice David Keane remarked that the defendant was "extremely fortunate" the Director of Public Prosecutions accepted guilty pleas to sexual assault, as the offences could have been prosecuted as rape, which carries a maximum life sentence. The judge noted significant aggravating factors including the substantial age disparity and severe impact on the victim. Evidence detailed a pattern of calculated abuse involving grooming and isolation. The victim, aged eleven to fourteen at the time, experienced lasting psychological harm, including damaged relationships and suicidal ideation. The defendant denied responsibility during interview and demonstrated no empathy during probation assessment. A two-year post-release supervision order was imposed. The sentence was backdated to October of the previous year.
A woman who was tortured and falsely imprisoned in a Dublin flat over a false accusation about missing drugs has told a court she will never forgive the 'sick human beings' for what they did to her. During a three-hour period in September 2024, the woman was subjected to unimaginable trauma, including being beaten with metal poles, burned with a makeshift blow torch, cut with a knife, and threatened with rape. The assault ended when gardaí entered the flat with a search warrant. Mark Keogh (33), Mark McMahon (55), Braxton Rice (21), Sean Conroy (21), and Kian Walshe (22) all pleaded guilty to false imprisonment and assault causing harm to the woman at Henrietta House on September 26, 2024. Each of the men has a number of previous convictions. The case was adjourned by Judge Codd to next Wednesday, when defence counsel will give their pleas of mitigation. The woman, who suffered multiple injuries including a broken eye socket, broken cheekbone, and burns, described the men as 'animals' and said she was 'completely helpless' and outnumbered by the eight men present. The court heard that the men had taken running jumps at her during the assault and threatened to make her drink ammonia and rape her teenage daughter. The woman's victim impact statement highlighted the lasting psychological effects of the incident, including flashbacks and constant headaches. The maximum sentences for false imprisonment and assault causing harm are life and 10 years respectively.
In a case heard by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Francis Joseph Woods, a 75‑year‑old accountant and property developer, was found guilty of defrauding a farmer by securing a €54,000 mortgage on the farmer's behalf in 2007. Woods, acting as director of a property development company, persuaded the farmer to pay a €14,000 deposit and sign a loan agreement after a meeting with a mortgage broker. The farmer later received his deposit back in 2008, but was informed by Ulster Bank in 2009 that he owed the full mortgage amount plus interest. Gardaí uncovered a forged mortgage drawdown letter during their 2015 investigation. Woods pleaded guilty to one count of defrauding the farmer, admitted financial difficulty, and had no prior convictions except minor traffic offences. Judge Orla Crowe sentenced him to an 18‑month prison term suspended on strict conditions, citing the breach of trust and the farmer's significant financial loss.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 24 July 2025, Judge Mary Ellen Ring sentenced tattoo artist Henrique Pereira, 34, to a headline term of three years and six months for sexual assault committed on 19 October 2016. The judge noted that Pereira had no prior convictions and was a small‑business owner with family responsibilities, and therefore imposed a suspended sentence of two and a half years, with full suspension for that period. He was also placed under Probation Services supervision for 18 months and ordered to comply with all probation officer directions. The victim, who suffered vivid flashbacks and described the assault as making her feel unsafe, was told the judge hoped the outcome would bring her closure. Pereira apologized, acknowledged the impact of his actions, and expressed willingness to undertake any required courses. The case was heard at the Central Criminal Court, with the judge emphasising that a woman is entitled to change her mind. Henrique Pereira was found guilty.
Ronaldo Otto, a 63‑year‑old who is transitioning to female and identifies as Samantha Otto, was sentenced by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to an additional six months in custody for breaching the terms of a three‑year suspended sentence. The suspended sentence originally applied to an assault in which Otto threw a cup of boiling water over a casino customer's face in 2019. Otto had previously been convicted of a sexual assault on an 18‑year‑old male student in October 2022, while the suspended portion of the casino assault sentence was still active. A jury found Otto guilty of the sexual assault in May. Judge Pauline Codd reactivated six months of the suspended sentence, suspended the remaining two and a half years, and directed that the new term run consecutively with the three‑year sentence for the sexual assault.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on July 24, 2025, the court considered whether restorative justice could be applied to Christopher O'Grady, 33, who was convicted of raping a 19‑year‑old Spanish tourist in 2019. The Probation Service's updated report, presented by prosecutor Tony McGillicuddy SC, concluded that restorative justice was "not feasible" because O'Grady does not accept full responsibility. The victim's impact statement, read by McGillicuddy, expressed a desire to confront O'Grady and to see him acknowledge his wrongdoing. O'Grady, who had been homeless at the time of the offence, had previously accepted the jury's verdict and expressed remorse, but the probation officer noted he may still be in early stages of contemplation. Justice Caroline Biggs noted that the door to restorative justice was closed, that the probation report would not be treated as an aggravating or mitigating factor, and that O'Grady's acceptance of the verdict was acknowledged.