In a Central Criminal Court case, a jury will continue deliberating on the trial of four Puska family members charged with obstructing the arrest of Jozef Puska, who murdered school teacher Ashling Murphy. Jozef, convicted of murder and serving a life sentence, was stabbed and slashed by Jozef on January 12, 2022. His brothers, Lubomir Puska Jnr (38) and Marek Puska (36), face charges of withholding information, while their wives, Viera Gaziova (40) and Jozefina Grundzova (32), are charged with impeding the apprehension or prosecution by burning Jozef's clothes. All accused pleaded not guilty. The indictment was amended to specify that the brothers knew Jozef had committed the murder or another arrestable offence. Prosecutor Anne Marie Lawlor SC argued that the brothers failed to disclose vital information, while defence counsel Karl Finnegan SC highlighted the right to remain silent to avoid self‑incrimination. The jury, composed of seven men and five women, will resume deliberations tomorrow.
A man in his 50s, unnamed for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to a Section 3 offence under the Non‑Fatal Offences Against the Person Act after assaulting his wife at a hotel. He struck her arm repeatedly, held her down on the bed and briefly placed a pillow over her face, but caused no serious injuries. The court noted aggravating factors such as the intimate relationship, the victim's vulnerability, the use of a pillow as a weapon, and alleged threats of serious harm. Mitigating factors included the defendant's impulsive reaction to a suspected affair, lack of prior convictions, early guilty plea, completion of the MOVE programme, and no subsequent Garda attention. Judge William Aylmer sentenced him to seven months' custody, fully suspended for 12 months, with probation supervision and a bond, while recognising the couple's ongoing efforts to resolve their difficulties. The wife does not currently hold a protection order.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Judge Caroline Biggs instructed a jury to assess whether the brothers of Jozef Puska, charged with withholding information about the murder of schoolteacher Ashling Murphy, had a reasonable excuse rooted in fear of self‑incrimination. The judge clarified that protecting a family member is not a valid excuse, but the jury must consider if the brothers, Lubomir Jnr (38) and Marek (36), genuinely feared that providing information would implicate them. Puska, who stabbed Murphy to death on 12 January 2022, is serving a life sentence. The brothers and their wives, Viera Gaziova (40) and Jozefina Grundzova (32), are charged with withholding information and burning Puska's clothes to impede his apprehension. All accused pleaded not guilty. The judge emphasized that the prosecution must prove the brothers had no reasonable excuse for failing to disclose the information, and the jury must decide if the fear of self‑incrimination was present.
William Morrison, 60, of Tallaght, was sentenced by Judge John O'Leary to three months in prison for failing to appear in court on four separate occasions, a breach of Section 13(1) of the Criminal Justice Act 1984. Morrison, who pleaded guilty on one count, has 305 prior convictions, including theft, criminal damage, public order offences and previous failures to attend court. The judge described the case as "depressing" and said Morrison was "on a path to self‑destruction." Defence solicitor Kevin Tunney noted Morrison's long‑standing alcohol addiction and his place on a waiting list for treatment. Morrison was remanded in custody to appear at Cloverhill District Court on 13 June for further matters, with no bail application made and legal aid assigned.
Aaron Finn, 28, of Tallaght, was charged in Tallaght District Court with 12 offences after breaking into a commercial van in an underground carpark of a Dublin apartment complex on the night of 8 June. CCTV footage showed him smashing a window of a Scania van and stealing three mobile phones, a black sledgehammer, an air pump, a valve and several bags of tools. He was arrested shortly after the incident. Finn faces ten counts of possession of stolen property under Section 18 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act, one count of criminal damage and one count of handling stolen property. The court refused bail, citing the seriousness of the alleged offences, the strength of the evidence and the use of a wrench to gain entry. Finn was remanded in custody to appear via video link at Cloverhill District Court on 13 June for DPP directions, and legal aid was granted.
A 24‑year‑old man named Brandon Deegan of Redwood Court, Tallaght, was sentenced by Tallaght District Court to 15 months in jail for a series of offences committed between April and September 2023. The offences included possession of cocaine on two occasions, possession of a silver extendable baton, and obstructing Garda Neil Lynch during a drug search. Deegan pleaded guilty to all charges. The court noted that he had prior convictions, including a six‑month sentence for drug possession in 2020 and a three‑month term in May 2023 for a similar offence. Defence counsel described Deegan's background as a "deeply traumatic upbringing", with 18 years in State care, the loss of his mother's body at age 18, the death of his father in 2014, and the loss of a close friend in a road traffic incident.
Wayne Wilson, 45, was fined €100 for drunken threatening and abusive behaviour in public after making a xenophobic remark to Gardaí on November 13, 2024, on Belgard Road, Tallaght. He was found intoxicated, approached a patrol car, and said, "What the f** are you going to do about all the foreigners?" before sarcastically offering to help. Wilson claimed his views came from "Sky News." He pleaded guilty under Sections 4 and 6 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act. The court noted his 18 prior convictions, including a suspended six‑month knife‑possession sentence that is now activated because of this offence. Wilson returned voluntarily the next day with an apology letter. He was remanded on bail with a recognisance of €300 and must appear again on June 23. The judge also acknowledged Wilson's recent steps toward sobriety and mental‑health treatment.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, defence counsel Karl Finnegan SC argued that Marek Puska (36), Jozef Puska's brother, had a reasonable excuse for withholding information from gardai after the murder of Ashling Murphy. Finnegan said Marek was protecting himself, fearing that his statements could implicate him in assisting his brother. He noted that Marek had not believed Jozef had stabbed Murphy when he spoke to investigators two days after the crime. Prosecutor Anne Marie Lawlor SC countered that Marek knew Jozef's confession shortly after 9.30 pm on the night of the murder and, along with brother Lubomir Jnr (38), failed to disclose vital information. Lawlor also accused Jozefina Grundzova (32) and Viera Gaziova (40) of burning Jozef's clothes to impede his arrest, a charge they admit. All accused pleaded not guilty. Jozef Puska was convicted of murdering 23‑year‑old Ashling Murphy and is serving a life sentence.
Samantha Ward, a 30‑year‑old healthcare worker, was found with €182,450 of drug gang proceeds hidden in the bottom of a wardrobe at her home in Wheatfield Grove, Clondalkin. Gardaí received a confidential tip, obtained a search warrant, and raided the house where Ward lived with her husband, mother and brother. The cash was concealed behind a modified kickboard. Ward pleaded guilty to one count of possession of the proceeds of crime on 3 December 2023. She had no prior convictions. In court, her defence counsel said she cooperated with authorities and had a drug problem, using the money to pay a €5,000 debt. Judge Martin Nolan, noting her vulnerability and mitigation, imposed a headline sentence of six years but reduced it to three years effective from the sentencing date. No other charges were brought against her husband.
A 52‑year‑old man pleaded guilty to two counts of defilement of a 15‑year‑old girl in Galway. The offence occurred in an apartment in Salthill between 12 and 13 June 2021. The defendant met the girl through a 16‑year‑old mutual friend, misrepresented his age and occupation, and sent her a note with his phone number and a key to his apartment. After the girl returned home, the defendant texted her, she blocked him, and later she told her mother what had happened. The girl did not initially give a statement but later did so at nineteen. The defendant claimed he performed oral sex but not intercourse, and that he did not know her age. He had a prior conviction for defilement, served two years with the final year suspended, and was on the sex offenders register until 2031. The court heard the victim is struggling and did not give a victim impact statement.
Bernard Brennan, aged 67 and formerly of Rathfarnham, was sentenced by the Central Criminal Court to four and a half years' imprisonment for 11 counts of indecent assault against his younger sisters, Yvonne Crist and Paula Fay, committed between 1972 and 1975. The sisters, aged 13 and seven at the time, waived anonymity and gave moving statements describing horrific abuse, including forced removal of clothing, inappropriate touching, oral rape, and forced viewing of pornography. Brennan pleaded guilty to four counts against Crist and seven against Fay. The judge, Mr Justice Paul McDermott, imposed a headline sentence of 21 months per count, reduced to 15 months, resulting in four consecutive 15‑month terms (five years) before being reduced to four and a half years and backdated to his earlier custody. Brennan had no prior convictions and pleaded guilty before trial. The court noted his age at the time of the offences and the mitigating factors in the final sentence.
Conor O'Donoghue, 27, of Ardrahan, pleaded guilty to one count of assault after punching his housemate in the back garden of a Ballindooley house on 22 October 2020. The victim suffered a blow‑out fracture of the orbital floor and a nasal fracture, requiring surgery at Galway University Hospital. Garda Laura Devaney reported that the incident occurred during the Covid lockdown, that O'Donoghue was not intoxicated, and that both parties had struck each other and rolled on the ground. O'Donoghue admitted to being present, claimed the victim had shouted and head‑butted him, and said he punched in self‑defence. The court, noting no prior convictions and a positive probation report, applied section 1.2 of the Probation Act, ordered O'Donoghue to pay €1,000 to the Galway Simon Community within three months, and discharged him without a recorded conviction. The sentence was delivered by Mr Justice Brian O'Callaghan.
Two 13‑ and 15‑year‑old boys were sentenced to six years' detention for raping a 16‑year‑old girl in a car at Limerick Racecourse. A third defendant, now 18, who aided the rapes by moving the car, received three and a half years' jail. The judge noted the boys' lack of remorse and their juvenile status under the Children Act, and suspended the final 18 months of each sentence on conditions including participation in sexual offending programmes and no contact with the victim. The victim, who was intoxicated and had never had sexual intercourse before, was described as having been repeatedly told "no" and suffering extensive bleeding and bruising. The boys denied the rapes, claiming consensual encounters, but the jury found them guilty. The case was heard at the Central Criminal Court in Cork. The sentences reflect the seriousness of the offences and the boys' ages at the time of the crime. The unnamed 16-year-old was acquitted.
Philip Marley (53) of Rathbourne Court, Ashtown, Dublin, was convicted of two counts of using a false instrument, two counts of failing to keep records, two counts of the fraudulent procurement of an entry into the Property Registration Authority's registry and two counts of failing to apply the required measures as a designated person. All charges relate to events between 2016 and 2018 involving two properties in Dublin. Marley pleaded guilty during a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial last November. Judge Sinead Ni Chulachain described Marley as the 'author' of a €266k scam, which involved the insertion of false deeds onto property titles. Padraig Dwyer SC, defending Marley, requested a four-week adjournment to allow his client to make arrangements for the care of an adult son with severe neurological symptoms. Judge Ni Chulachain agreed to adjourn the finalisation of Marley's three-year sentence to June 19. Herbert Kilcline (64), a serial fraudster and former solicitor, was also convicted of similar charges. John McGowan SC, defending Kilcline, applied for an adjournment to take further instructions in light of a handwriting report and to make a plea of mitigation. Judge Ni Chulachain also agreed to adjourn the finalisation of Kilcline's sentence to June 19. A probation report noted that Kilcline does not accept the jury's verdicts and intends to appeal.
A man with previous convictions for rape and kidnapping has been sentenced to eleven years imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for harassing three female journalists. Mark McAnaw, formerly of Letterkenny, County Donegal, pleaded guilty to charges relating to harassment that occurred in August 2023. He sent explicit and threatening emails to the women, including threats to kill, and attended their workplace. Judge Pauline Codd imposed the full sentence after McAnaw declined to accept conditions that would have suspended the final twelve months. She imposed a lifelong contact ban and ordered McAnaw remain ten miles from the women's homes and workplaces. The judge noted McAnaw's history of violent offending and his failure to engage with mental health treatment while detained at the Central Mental Hospital. McAnaw is assessed as presenting high risk of violent and sexual reoffending.
Thomas Greene, 33, of Sarsfield Street, Sallynoggin, Co Dublin, was sentenced to three months' imprisonment by Judge Conor Fottrell at Dún Laoghaire District Court after pleading guilty to 14 charges covering theft, public intoxication, abusive behaviour in a public place and repeated failures to appear in court. The offences, committed between March 2021 and March 2023, included stealing €10 worth of petrol from Applegreen, shoplifting four Kindle products and a €25 scarf, stealing €140 worth of Bulmers cider, and pushing a buggy while heavily intoxicated. Greene, who has 107 prior convictions including robbery, assault, drug and firearms offences, was already in custody since June 2 on multiple bench warrants. The court noted his history of drug use, a drug‑induced coma, seizures and fractures, and his current treatment at St Michael's Unit, Beaumont Hospital. Judge Fottrell back‑dated the custodial sentence to June 2 and rejected a cash recognisance in favour of an independent surety.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Judge Pauline Codd imposed a 17‑month suspended prison sentence and a two‑year driving disqualification on 29‑year‑old Frienna Rockett of Ballybrack, Kilmacthomas, Co. Waterford. Rockett pleaded guilty to one count of careless driving causing serious bodily harm after she broke a red light at a pedestrian crossing on St Peter's Road, Crumlin, and knocked down an 81‑year‑old woman. CCTV and dash‑cam footage showed the red‑light violation; Rockett claimed she was looking for her sister's house and had misread the traffic light. The victim suffered a brain bleed, multiple fractures and a dislocated shoulder, requiring intensive care and rehabilitation. She now lives with chronic pain, relies on a walking aid and a mobility scooter, and has a son as her full‑time carer.
In Tallaght District Court, Judge Catherine Ghent sentenced a 26‑year‑old man to 11 months' imprisonment for breaching a protection order, criminal damage and obstructing Gardaí. The judge highlighted that the offender, who has been in custody since age 12 and has a "very serious history of violence," has not received the services he needed. She noted that the victims, particularly the man's former partner, are now bearing the consequences of his actions. The partner's victim impact statement described how the man "ruined her mental wellbeing" and left her living in fear. Judge Ghent praised the partner's courage in seeking protection and warned that domestic violence directly affects children, who must be protected. The sentence included five months for breaching a protection order, four months for criminal damage, and two months for obstructing Gardaí, all to run consecutively. A separate five‑month sentence for breaching a safety order was also imposed. The unnamed 26-year-old pleaded guilty.
In a sentencing hearing, the mother of Dylan McCarthy, who died after a fatal assault outside a Kildare pub in August 2022, delivered an emotional victim impact statement. She described her son's life as abruptly ended, noting that money saved for his wedding was redirected to his funeral. Dylan's girlfriend, Aoife Talty, also spoke, recalling his kindness and their future plans. The court heard that Calvin Dunne (25) was convicted of manslaughter and violent disorder, while Sean Kavanagh (27) pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Eamonn McCarthy and was found not guilty of murder. The trial detailed the chaotic melee, with witnesses describing a kick to Dylan's head and a "loud thud." The judge adjourned the case to June 30 for finalisation.
A mature student in his late twenties pleaded guilty to raping a college student on a university campus in February 2022. The victim, who was intoxicated after a night out, could not recall the assault but later discovered semen on her leg and bruises. DNA matched the defendant. He had no prior convictions. The court heard the victim's impact statement, describing the trauma and her refusal to forgive. The Director of Public Prosecution placed the offence in the seven‑to‑ten‑year category. The defendant's counsel highlighted his lack of remorse, his apology, and his character. Judge Paul McDermott sentenced him to six years' imprisonment, with post‑release supervision for three years, and directed him to have no contact with the victim or her family. The sentence reflected the seriousness of the offence and the defendant's guilty plea.
At the Central Criminal Court on 3 June 2025, Nigel Canavan, aged 39, with an address at Erris Gardens, Crossmolina, County Mayo, was sentenced to mandatory life imprisonment for the murder of his mother Angela Canavan at her home in St John's Terrace, County Sligo on 1 May 2023. The sentence was backdated to 30 April 2025. On 16 May 2025, a jury had convicted Canavan of murder, rejecting his pleas of provocation and self-defence. The court heard that Ms Canavan, a respected psychotherapist, died from mechanical asphyxia caused by manual strangulation and external obstruction of the airway. She had suffered additional injuries including a head laceration, facial and body bruising, and three broken ribs. During sentencing, Ms Canavan's son Keith delivered a victim impact statement, describing his mother as accomplished and well-loved. Presiding judge Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo stated that it must be beyond any mother's darkest imaginings to die at the hands of the child she bore. Nigel Canavan pleaded not guilty.
Linda Byrne, 45, of Tymon North Gardens, Tallaght, was sentenced to three months in prison at Tallaght District Court for a two‑year shop‑lifting spree that took place between December 2022 and April 2024. The final month of the sentence was suspended for 24 months, and the whole term was back‑dated to 3 April 2024, the day she was first taken into custody. Byrne pleaded guilty and the judge noted a "significant shift" in her behaviour while remanded at the Dóchas Centre, where she is now receiving addiction treatment and education. The thefts involved goods worth €60 to €270 from stores such as Dunnes, Penneys and Spar; all items were recovered in saleable condition. A serious incident on 10 October 2024 at Spar in Tallaght led to Byrne's arrest under Sections 4 and 3 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001.
A 28‑year‑old man, Martin Gooney, pleaded guilty to coercive control and sexual assault. He was sentenced to three years and two months in prison, with a 12‑month post‑release supervision order. The victim, who wishes to remain anonymous, described how Gooney hid in her shed to spy on her, used her phone to send false messages, and repeatedly threatened her with violence, including a plan to hang her dog. He also sexually assaulted her in March 2021 and had other incidents of sexual assault. Gooney has nine prior convictions, including assault and threats of serious harm. He denied wrongdoing during the Garda interview but read a letter of apology at sentencing, claiming he was "young and stupid" and had no regard for the victim's feelings. The judge noted the victim's ongoing fear and the profound, long‑lasting impact of Gooney's actions.
A 69‑year‑old man was sentenced to nine years in prison for two counts of engaging in a sexual act with his intellectually disabled adult daughter, who is now in residential care. He pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court on 7 February 2023. The judge, Mr Justice Paul McDermott, described the offence as very serious, noting that the maximum penalty could be life imprisonment. The sentence was eight years, with the final year suspended for two years, and the defendant was placed under Probation Services supervision for five years and ordered to undertake any courses they deem appropriate. He is prohibited from contacting his daughter without her consent and only under strict supervision. The sentence was backdated to the date he entered custody. The daughter, in her mid‑30s with a moderate intellectual disability, had never shared a bed with a man before this abuse. The case was resolved by a guilty plea, avoiding a jury trial.
Cassandra Lingurar, 19, a Romanian national living in Tallaght, pleaded guilty to theft at New Look and Carraig Donn in The Square Shopping Centre. She removed €310 of clothing and €188 of jewellery without paying. With six prior convictions, including three thefts, she was sentenced by Judge Michael Connellan to a three‑month suspended sentence under Section 99 of the Criminal Justice Act. The judge noted her age and personal circumstances but described her conduct as totally unacceptable.
Belinda Daly, 60, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after a long‑standing dispute with a neighbour. CCTV showed her standing in her garden, then reaching over the wall, grabbing the victim's hair and holding her against the wall until the victim escaped. The victim suffered alopecia, headaches, migraines, PTSD, anxiety and nose bleeds, and provided a medical letter to court. Daly had no prior convictions and expressed remorse. Judge Orla Crowe noted the history of conflict and the severity of the assault, setting a headline sentence of two years and six months, then imposing a two‑year sentence suspended in full for three years, with conditions prohibiting any contact with the victim. The conviction is expected to affect Daly's employment in the voluntary and domestic‑violence sectors.
During a Central Criminal Court sentencing hearing, a 36‑year‑old woman who had endured years of grooming and sexual abuse by her older cousin publicly forgave him, a gesture that moved Judge Caroline Biggs. The man, 40, pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault and two counts of rape of his younger cousin, with the abuse occurring between 1999 and 2005 when the victim was nine or ten and the perpetrator about fourteen. He had 12 prior minor traffic offences and was named in eight counts on the indictment. The judge, noting the victim's extraordinary capacity for forgiveness and her prior compassion toward the defendant, imposed a headline sentence of seven years, reduced by 10 % for the guilty plea and 30 % for mitigating factors. The final sentence was four years and two months, with the remaining 14 months suspended under conditions to support his reintegration. The judge thanked the victim for her court attendance.
Philip Moore, 41, was convicted of assault causing harm and false imprisonment of Alan Rossiter, 44, at his family home in Rathellen on 14‑15 August 2022. He pleaded not guilty to producing a knife and threatening serious harm, but was acquitted on those charges. His co‑accused, Shane Coady, 25, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm. The court heard that Moore claimed Rossiter had attacked him the night before, but an investigation found no evidence and no prosecution was brought against Rossiter. Rossiter described being held in a boot, threatened with a kettle and forced to leave the house, and he reported fear for his life and dental injury. The judge adjourned Coady's case for six months and remanded him on continuing bail; Moore's case was adjourned to July with him remanded in custody. The court noted Moore's bipolar medication and his lack of prior assault convictions.
Richard Satchwell, a 58‑year‑old British national, was found guilty of murdering his wife, Tina Satchwell, by a unanimous Central Criminal Court jury. The jury, after nine hours and 28 minutes over four days, rejected his defence that he acted in self‑defence or lacked intent to kill. They held that his narrative of a chisel attack and subsequent struggle was "far‑cical" and that he had concealed her body in a secret grave beneath their home for six years. The jury also noted that he had kept her remains in a chest freezer before burial. The judge will impose a mandatory life sentence on 4 June and remand Satchwell in custody until then. The trial highlighted the jury's belief that Satchwell's lies were designed to hide the murder. The verdict was met with tears from Tina's family and some jurors. The case remains at the murder charge stage.
Edyta Scibior, 36, owner of 'Home of Shellac' in Carlow, pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply on 22 February 2023 at Carlow Circuit Criminal Court. She was found with cannabis and amphetamines in her home's utility room and a nail salon store room, though she claimed ignorance and that she never entered the utility room. Her husband, Kamil Scibior, 42, also pleaded guilty to having drugs for sale or supply, with a higher offence carrying a mandatory 10‑year term. Judge Eugene O'Kelly jailed Kamil for six years and imposed a four‑and‑a‑half‑year suspended sentence on Edyta. The suspended term is conditional on her engaging with the Probation Service for 18 months. The court noted her role as an employer and mother of two 14‑year‑olds, and considered her guilty plea as acceptance of responsibility. The total drugs seized were valued at €229,204.
Bruna Alves De Campos, a 35‑year‑old mother of four from Brazil, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to importing 109 cocaine pellets worth €63,653 on 2 November 2024 at Dublin Airport. She admitted ingesting the pellets to finance the care of her ill parents, who had since passed away, and claimed she was a drug mule. Garda Anthony Boyle described her arrival at customs as suspicious, noting photographs of the pellets on her phone and her admission of ingestion. De Campos was taken to hospital, arrested, and later cooperated with investigators by providing phone numbers and email addresses, though she did not name the recipient, citing fear. She had no prior convictions. Judge Orla Crowe sentenced her to three years' imprisonment, to be served in full, citing the role of drug mules in drug importation and the hardship of her situation.
Mark O'Neill, 62, of Carlow Town, was sentenced at Carlow Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to intentionally or recklessly administering a substance capable of interfering substantially with another person's bodily functions in August 2024. The defendant admitted to placing two Valium tablets in a sandwich prepared for his then-partner, claiming he intended to help her relax due to stress. Judge Eugene O'Kelly described the act as "shockingly reckless," noting that O'Neill, who had no previous convictions, knew the medication could interfere with bodily functions. A probation report indicated O'Neill was at a low risk of re-offending. The judge set a headline sentence of two years and six months but reduced it to 18 months, which was suspended in full on strict conditions for two years. The court accepted the plea on the basis of recklessness rather than intent to harm. O'Neill acknowledged his actions were extremely reckless and has since lost contact with his ex-partner and son. The matter was concluded with this suspended sentence.
Barry Grey, a 23‑year‑old rugby player from Corballis, Castledermot, Kildare, pleaded guilty to assaulting a couple at The Barracks pub, Tullow Street, Carlow, on 25 June 2023. The attack was unprovoked; Grey struck the boyfriend, knocking him down, and then punched the woman in the face, leaving her with severe injuries including a laceration over her eye, a burst lip, swollen tongue, and extensive bruising. The woman was treated at St Luke's Hospital, Kilkenny. Grey had no prior convictions. Judge Eugene O'Kelly, after reviewing CCTV evidence and a probation report, found the assault unjustified, noting Grey had misread the situation while intoxicated. He sentenced Grey to three years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended on strict conditions, and required a €6,500 restitution payment. The sentence reflected the seriousness of the violent attacks and the impact on the victims.
Sergiu Lupo, 39, pleaded guilty to 43 counts of theft, attempted theft and criminal damage for a three‑day spree of targeted ATM thefts in Dublin from 3 to 6 June 2019. He stole €7,260 and caused €7,147 in damage across 24 incidents at AIB ATMs in locations such as Artane, Stillorgan, Dundrum, Crumlin, Tallaght, Clondalkin, Rathfarnham, Finglas, Swords and Portmarnock. Lupo also assisted in a separate incident at Sutton Cross, where he watched two men withdraw cash and then drove them away. Judge Orla Crowe sentenced him to two years and six months' imprisonment, back‑dated to 15 November 2024, for the deliberate, organised nature of the offences and the significant financial loss and inconvenience caused to AIB and the public. The sentence reflects the aggravating factors of the scale of theft and damage, and the fact that Lupo fled and was extradited back to Ireland. He has no prior convictions in Ireland or elsewhere.
A man in his thirties was jailed for one month after breaching a protection order by confronting and bullying his former partner in public while on bail for an earlier breach. He pleaded guilty to a phone call and message made just days after the order was granted on 17 January 2024, and was convicted of a second breach on 1 September 2024 during a custody handover. The court heard he shouted abusive remarks, demanded the woman speak to him, and tried to control her in front of their children. He had 12 prior convictions, including theft and assault, and was on bail at the time of the September incident. Judge Anne Watkin imposed the prison term, a 12‑month peace bond with strict conditions, a €500 recognisance, and an independent surety of €500 for appeal. The woman had left the family home due to abuse and feared for her safety. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
Charlotte O'Regan, a former receptionist at Gaffney Solicitors, won a tribunal order for unpaid wages of €830.73 gross after her employer, David Gaffney, closed his office and terminated her on 3 May 2024. Gaffney sent a letter on 26 April 2024 offering statutory redundancy and annual leave entitlements, but no payment materialised. O'Regan claimed €873.73 in unpaid wages and, after six months of financial hardship, wrote to Gaffney again. The Workplace Relations Commission found no defence from Gaffney. Adjudicator Patsy Doyle ordered the payment of €870.73 gross, covering three days' work and a week's pay in lieu of notice, after statutory deductions. The decision noted deteriorating WhatsApp communication and that O'Regan had kept office keys to strengthen her claim. This case follows a similar successful claim by former secretary Leona Erangey for €4,687.
A 57‑year‑old man, already serving a 10‑year sentence for raping a 16‑year‑old in 2018, was ordered to serve an additional three years for harassing and threatening to kill his former partner, a woman 33 years his junior. He had begun a relationship with her in 2018, met online while selling puppies, and they had a child. After the relationship ended, he sent her three threat‑to‑kill messages on 11 January 2020 and harassed her between 18 December 2019 and 31 March 2020. He also sent a photo of an elderly patient to her employer, falsely alleging mistreatment, which led to her suspension and eventual dismissal. The judge, noting the age disparity and the lasting impact on her life, imposed a four‑year sentence with the final year suspended, to run consecutively with his rape sentence, and ordered no contact for five years after release. The man's prior 29 convictions were also noted. The unnamed 57-year-old pleaded guilty.
Daniel Buckley, 32, pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply after Gardaí raided his cabin on 21 April 2024. He was found throwing a gym bag over a wall; the bag contained €46,358 worth of cannabis and cocaine, plus €1,710 in cash. Buckley admitted he knew the bag held drugs but did not know their value, citing a €10,000 drug debt. He had held the drugs for two weeks, expecting others to take portions. He has prior convictions for theft and drug offences. The court sentenced him to three years, with the final six months suspended on strict conditions. He will be supervised by the Probation Service for 12 months after release to aid rehabilitation and vocational reintegration.
Philip Moore, 41, of Carlow, was convicted at Carlow Circuit Criminal Court of false imprisonment and assault of Alan Rossiter, who was bundled into the boot of Moore's mother's car between 14 and 15 August 2022. Moore denied the charges and was acquitted of two further charges of threats to kill and production of a knife. He claimed Rossiter had attacked him the previous night and that his friend Shane Coady was responsible, but the jury found no evidence to support this. Coady, 25, pleaded guilty to assaulting Rossiter and is due to be sentenced later this week. After the conviction, Judge Eugene O'Kelly granted Moore bail on strict conditions, including daily sign‑ins at Carlow Garda Station and a curfew, but issued a warrant for his arrest after Moore failed to attend the scheduled sentence hearing. The case was adjourned to Wednesday, with the sentence hearing for Coady set for Thursday.
Philip Moore, 41, was found guilty of assault causing harm and false imprisonment of Alan Rossiter after a night of heavy drinking and drug use. The jury did not convict him of producing a knife or threatening to kill. Moore claimed Rossiter had attacked him the night before, but investigators found no evidence and no prosecution was brought against Rossiter. He also blamed friend Shane Coady, who pleaded guilty to assaulting Rossiter. The trial heard that Rossiter was held against his will in a kitchen and then bundled into the boot of Moore's mother's car, where forensic evidence supported Rossiter's claim of being in the boot. Moore was remanded on bail pending sentencing later this month. The jury deliberated for almost three hours before reaching its verdict. Philip Moore pleaded not guilty.
Evan Moore, aged 20, was remanded in custody pending sentencing on 13 October after pleading guilty to rioting and fire damage to a Luas tram during the Dublin riots of November 2023. The court heard that Moore, who was 18 at the time, had been "swept up in anti‑immigrant sentiment" and that his mother was "disgusted and ashamed" of his actions. CCTV footage showed him moving burning material onto the tram and damaging its windows between 7.05 pm and 7.40 pm. The tram suffered nearly €5 million in damage, and the Luas service was suspended for 24 hours. Moore had no prior convictions, had admitted his involvement during a May 2024 protest, and had completed an online anti‑racism course. The judge revoked his bail and ordered a probation report before sentencing.
Amy Mongan, 25, of Kilbarrack, Dublin 5, pleaded guilty at Tallaght District Court to stealing €1,387 worth of cosmetics from Boots in Tallaght on September 21, 2023. The court heard that Mongan committed the offence while on bail and has 28 previous convictions, including 24 for theft. She is currently on a 12-month probation bond and had previously received a suspended sentence in December 2024. Defence counsel Lauren Flanagan BL, instructed by Padraig O'Donovan, stated that Mongan struggled with addictions and is no longer using drugs. Counsel noted that Mongan is caring for her unwell mother, her own child, and her sister's children. Judge Catherine Ghent described the offence as serious given Mongan's record but ordered a community service report to assess her suitability. The matter was adjourned to July 18, and Mongan was remanded on bail. The judge told Mongan, "Too many people are depending on you now for you not to be available to them."
A 33‑year‑old Dublin man was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment for rape, assault causing harm and threats to kill or cause serious harm to his then‑partner, who gave birth to their child in 2023. The jury convicted him on 24 October 2022 after he threatened to "kick the baby out" and told her "die b**ch, die." He had 11 prior convictions and had pleaded guilty to four counts of assault causing harm, coercive control and criminal damage at the start of his Central Criminal Court trial. The victim, who suffered flashbacks and lived in survival mode for nearly two years, described a pattern of violence including smashing a coffee table, kicking doors, grabbing her hair and threatening suicide. The judge noted a probation report placed him at high risk of reoffending in intimate partner violence. The sentence was back‑dated to February for time already spent in custody. The man does not accept the verdict.
Mary Higgins, 62, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to stealing €500,000 from Mount Sackville Secondary School between 2012 and 2017. She had been a bursar for 24 years and controlled the school's cash flow, using the money for gambling. Higgins sold her home and signed over her pension to repay the school, having already repaid €470,949.62. She has no prior convictions and has since engaged in addiction treatment, voluntary counselling, and studies in addiction and psychotherapy. The court noted her remorse and the lack of oversight that enabled the theft. She now lives with her 93‑year‑old mother and receives a weekly carer's allowance. Judge Orla Crowe will decide on June 19.
Patrick Byrne, 28, formerly of Cloverhill Road, Dublin, appeared before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court where he pleaded guilty to one count of assault causing harm, one count of production of a broom handle in the course of a dispute, and one count of making a threat to kill at an address in Clondalkin. He also pleaded guilty to one count of threatening a witness in criminal proceedings on dates between April 11 and May 20, 2024. The court heard allegations that Byrne assaulted his then-partner over two days in February 2024, including whipping her with a broom handle and holding a blade to her throat. While in custody, he allegedly threatened the complainant via text messages, urging her to drop charges. Byrne has 44 previous convictions, including a recent two-year, nine-month sentence for assault. Defense counsel Mark Lynam SC described the relationship as toxic and requested a probation report to assist with rehabilitation upon release. Judge Pauline Codd noted Byrne's "horrendous anger issues." The matter was adjourned for sentence on October 20, with the court ordering urine analysis, a governor's report, and a probation report.
Keith Smithers and Peter White were sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following a trial concerning the death of Brian Hogan on January 13, 2023, at Collins Place in Finglas. Both men had pleaded not guilty to the unlawful killing and robbery. Smithers was convicted of manslaughter and robbery, while White was acquitted of the killing but convicted of robbery. Judge Martin Nolan handed Smithers a global sentence of nine years, comprising nine years for manslaughter and a concurrent four and a half years for robbery. White was jailed for four and a half years for robbery. The judge noted there was little formal mitigation, citing extensive previous convictions for both defendants, though he acknowledged Smithers' remorse as a small level of mitigation. The court accepted that the robbery context was serious and that there was a common design. A victim impact statement from Lyndsey Doyle, Hogan's partner, described witnessing the killing as brutal and cruel. The judge directed that both men receive credit for time served and granted a defence application to extend legal aid for a potential appeal.
Tammy O'Connor, 29, of Craigie Court, Finglas, Dublin 11, pleaded guilty to criminal damage, arson and theft after she set her neighbour's taxi on fire. The victim, a taxi driver, discovered his car's front passenger window smashed and rear tyres slashed at 1.30 am on 4 July 2023, with €100 in a coin tray and a dash‑cam taken. On 28 July, he found the car's interior on fire after a fire alarm sounded. Gardaí obtained CCTV showing O'Connor smashing the window and throwing a homemade pipe bomb, which she had Googled after receiving an eviction notice. She admitted the act, citing stress, addiction and mental‑health difficulties. Judge Elva Duffy sentenced her to two and a half years, suspending the final 18 months on strict conditions, including 18 months of probation engagement. The sentence reflects the recklessness of the offence and the impact on the victim.
Patrick Fitzgerald (48), with an address in Glenties, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to facilitating a criminal organisation between November 11 and 18, 2021. The court heard that Fitzgerald, known as 'Mr Fishy', purchased and provided getaway vehicles used in an attempted murder of Dublin man Gary Carey on November 17, 2021. Carey was shot ten times and sustained gunshot wounds to his torso but survived. He subsequently died from injuries sustained in a second attack in August 2022. Fitzgerald was arrested in December 2021 and exercised his right to silence during interviews. The court heard he has 72 previous convictions. While on bail for an aggravated burglary charge, Fitzgerald was jailed for seven and a half years in February this year following a home invasion that terrorised a family including a six-year-old child. Sentencing was adjourned to July 7. Victim impact statements detailed the family's trauma and loss of safety following the shooting.
The Special Criminal Court has sentenced three defendants convicted of murder and three others for violent disorder arising from the Christmas Eve 2023 killing of Tristan Sherry at Browne's Steakhouse in Blanchardstown. Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo sentenced David Amah (19) and an unnamed 18-year-old accomplice to 12 years' imprisonment, with the final three years suspended. Both were 17 at the time of the offence, meaning they were not subject to the mandatory life sentence, a position supported by recent Supreme Court rulings. Michael Andrecut (23), who was an adult at the time, was previously sentenced to the mandatory life term. For the violent disorder convictions, Brandon Hennessy (22) received four-and-a-half years, with the final six months suspended for one year. Jonas Kabangu (19) was sentenced to four years, with the final 12 months suspended for two years. An unnamed 18-year-old received two years and four months, with the final year suspended for two years. The judge noted the lack of premeditation and that the victims were disarmed when attacked, while emphasizing the need to deter unlawful violence.
Martin Tracey, 21, of Kilkenny, was jailed for two years after pleading guilty to coercive control, assault causing harm, false imprisonment and sexual assault against his teenage girlfriend, Donna Clifford, over a two‑year relationship from October 2020 to January 2022. Clifford, also 21, waived anonymity to name Tracey and testified that she suffered physical and emotional abuse, including being choked, punched, sexually assaulted and confined in his bedroom. She recorded threatening messages that encouraged self‑harm and threatened violence. The judge, Ms Justice Melanie Greally, praised Clifford for coming forward and noted the severity of the coercive control. Tracey's sentence was set at four years, with three years concurrent and the final year suspended, subject to probation, sex‑offender and domestic‑violence therapeutic programmes. No prior convictions were recorded for Tracey.