Conor Stewart, 29, of Kilcross Court, Sandyford, Dublin 18, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm and possession of a samurai sword after a €50 drug debt dispute. On 18 June 2020 at Kilcross Grove, Stewart left a van, armed with a samurai sword, and attacked a man who had been carrying an adjustable wrench. The victim sustained a cut to the back of the head and a larger wound to the side of the head, requiring stitches, and later fully recovered. Stewart's prior convictions include criminal damage and burglary. The court accepted his guilty plea as valuable, noting reconciliation between Stewart and the victim's brother, and sentenced him to four years' imprisonment. The judge highlighted the seriousness of the weapon used and the potential for future offending if Stewart does not change. The sentence reflects the court's view that Stewart's guilty plea and the circumstances warranted a custodial term of four years.
Ifeanyichukwu Nwaneri, 37, of Donore Avenue, Dublin 8, was convicted by a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court jury of four counts of money laundering for the period February to October 2017. He pleaded not guilty but admitted in Garda interviews that he had handed his bank accounts to another man for use in a larger laundering scheme. The accounts were used to lodge €34,918, €17,109 and €10,000, with an additional €7,000 bounced back. Nwaneri allowed further lodgements into a second account after the first was frozen. Judge Elva Duffy noted his accounting studies should have given him some awareness of the activity. He was sentenced to three years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended on strict conditions. The case involved Innocent Aigbekaen, who recruited Nwaneri and was sentenced to four years, three of which were suspended. Nwaneri had no prior convictions and had been in Ireland since 2015.
A 45‑year‑old woman from Tymon North Gardens, Tallaght, Dublin 24, is due to be sentenced next month after pleading guilty to a series of theft and deception offences that spanned from December 2022 to October 2024. She stole cosmetics, clothing and toiletries worth between €60 and €270 at several locations, including Penneys on O'Connell Street, Arnotts, Citywest Shopping Centre and a Spar outlet in the Village Green. In one incident she was stopped after taking two suitcases worth €90 from Penneys, and in another she stole €150 worth of cosmetics. All items were recovered in saleable condition. The most recent offence occurred on 10 October 2024 when Gardaí were called to Spar; she became abusive and was arrested for theft and deception under Section 4(3) of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001. An active bench warrant was executed during her court appearance that day.
A man convicted of raping, assaulting and coercively controlling a woman over a six-week period has appealed his conviction at the Court of Appeal, arguing his trial was prejudiced by inadmissible evidence. Dean Ward, aged 38, was found guilty in June 2022 of twelve offences committed between June and July 2019 against a woman in Killybegs, County Donegal. He received a sentence of eighteen years, suspended by one year. Ward's counsel submitted that the complainant's references during evidence to previous threats to kill, and prosecution remarks concerning bank transfers, created unfairness that could not be remedied by judicial direction. Counsel also challenged the admission of impact evidence given by the complainant. The Director of Public Prosecutions' counsel countered that such evidence was admissible and essential to establish the complainant's state of mind and the coercive control element of the offences. Mr Justice John Edwards reserved judgment, with a decision to follow.
An 18‑year‑old Dubliner, who was a minor when he appeared before the courts, was convicted of violent disorder in the melee that led to the death of steakhouse assassin Tristan Sherry. He has now pleaded guilty to a drugs offence, admitting possession of diamorphine for sale or supply on 8 May 2024 at Tolka Valley Park, Dublin 15. He had previously pleaded guilty to possession of a side‑by‑side shotgun, cannabis and 630 g of phenacetin, offences that were linked to drug trafficking on 7 May 2024. Fiona Murphy SC, for the Director of Public Prosecutions, said one of the 15 charges would be dropped at a later hearing and asked the court to consider the remainder when sentencing. Justice Karen O'Connor ordered a probation report and adjourned the sentencing to 18 June. The teenager remains awaiting sentence for the violent disorder offence that occurred at Browne's Steakhouse in Blanchardstown on Christmas Eve 2023.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Judge Martin Nolan warned David O'Callaghan, 41, that any repeat offence would lead to prison. O'Callaghan, who suffered a paranoid delusion and was later diagnosed with schizophrenia, had driven a white Ford Transit van into the gates of Leinster House, The Custom House and Aras An Uachtaráin, causing over €60,000 in damage. He pleaded guilty to driving into the rear gates of Leinster House and two counts of criminal damage on 2 August 2024. The judge imposed a four‑year prison sentence, suspended on strict conditions, including 21 months of Probation Service supervision. O'Callaghan was told he must comply with the Probation Service and that any repeat offence would bring him back before the court. The court noted his 11 previous convictions, including drug offences, and his ongoing psychiatric treatment. The case was adjourned for finalisation of the suspended sentence conditions.
Anthony Macken, a 21‑year‑old from Oakpark Avenue, Santry, appeared before Judge Michael Connellan at Tallaght District Court after admitting he had handled a stolen motorbike and was later convicted of dangerous driving. The incident occurred on 28 October 2023 on the M50 northbound at Ballymount, Dublin 24, when Garda Aaron Wogan found a damaged motorbike that had been stolen. Macken pleaded guilty to handling stolen property under Section 18 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001 and was convicted of dangerous driving under Section 53(1) of the Road Traffic Act 1961, as amended by the Road Traffic (No. 2) Act 2011. He was fined €200 for handling the stolen motorbike and €50 for dangerous driving, each with a six‑month payment period, and was disqualified from driving for two years. The court heard that a probation report assessed Macken as posing a moderate risk of re‑offending.
In a Dublin Circuit Court hearing, Judge Ronan Munro sentenced 24‑year‑old Dylan Gilligan to six and a half years in prison for carrying a firearm with intent to assault Scott Purdue on 17 December 2019. The final 18 months of the sentence were suspended on strict conditions. Gilligan, who denies any involvement, maintains he was not the shooter and claims the incident was a stand‑alone case. The judge highlighted the lack of direct evidence linking Gilligan to the shooting, noting no bullets, shell casings or recovered firearm, and that Purdue declined to give evidence. Munro emphasised Gilligan's youth and absence of a significant offending background, urging him to choose a crime‑free life upon release. The court also heard that Gilligan had been struck by a car in October, for which he is receiving rehabilitative treatment. Dylan Gilligan was convicted.
In a Wicklow case, a 77‑year‑old pensioner was sentenced to nine years in prison after the State successfully challenged the original four‑year term for repeated sexual assault of his granddaughter. The judge described the offences as grave and close to attempted rape, noting the victim was aged eight to nine at the time of the most serious incidents. The defendant had pleaded not guilty to five counts of sexual assault between 2007 and 2014, when the girl was six to thirteen. A jury had convicted him and the trial judge had imposed a five‑year sentence with the final year suspended. The Director of Public Prosecution applied for a review, arguing the sentence was too lenient. The appellate judge agreed, citing the severity of the abuse and the lack of remorse, and set a headline sentence of eleven years, reduced by two years for mitigating factors such as the defendant's age and medical issues.
Luke Murphy, 38, was sentenced to five years for threatening to kill his ex‑partner. He is now to be sentenced again for making harassing phone calls from prison in September and October 2019, in which he threatened to burn her house, smash her head, rip her teeth out, torture her, and butcher her when he gets out. The calls were recorded and presented to the court. Murphy pleaded guilty to harassment on 30 September, 1 and 2 October 2019. He has five previous convictions. The court heard he had two boys with the complainant and that he had previously received a five‑year sentence with two years suspended for the same woman. The prosecution was based on circumstantial evidence and the complainant did not give a statement. Judge Elva Duffy adjourned sentencing until July for a probation report.
Derek Callaghan, 65, a former army officer with a "stellar" career, pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis for sale or supply on 19 January 2022. Gardaí searched his home in Ashfield Grove, Huntstown, Dublin 15, and seized 608 g of cannabis valued at €13,608, €3,110 in cash, drug paraphernalia, a ticklist and a burner phone. Callaghan accepted responsibility for the drugs but denied selling them, insisting the cash was his savings. He also denied that he had sold drugs from his address. He has one prior road‑traffic conviction. His defence counsel, Carol Doherty, highlighted his unblemished record, his army service, his family, and the pressure he faced, and requested that the court consider a non‑custodial sentence. Judge Orla Crowe adjourned the case for finalisation later this month.
Jordan Ryan, 28, sold a financed car for €13,700 to a buyer who was unaware of the outstanding debt. Ryan had missed two repayments and had tried unsuccessfully to arrange a payment plan. After the buyer discovered the debt, Ryan paid €2,500 and later an additional €10,000 to the buyer. He pleaded guilty to deception on 9 February 2023. The court noted his addiction, gambling, mental health issues and a personal tragedy but said these did not excuse his conduct. Judge Elva Duffy imposed an 18‑month sentence, suspended in full on strict conditions, and ordered Ryan to pay €2,000 to the buyer within six months. The buyer remains €1,200 short of the original purchase price. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Gary Murphy, 40, of Rosemount Park, Dundrum, was sentenced to three months in prison after pleading guilty at Dún Laoghaire District Court to driving while banned, uninsured and unlicensed on 17 April 2025. He was caught driving his partner's car, which had been parked at his home, on the Green Route in Dundrum. Murphy, who is serving a 10‑year driving ban, chose to drive instead of taking a taxi while his partner was experiencing a medical emergency elsewhere. The court noted his 101 previous convictions, including public order offences, criminal damage, assault, breaches of the Weapons Act, dangerous driving, drink‑driving and driving without insurance, making this his 102nd conviction and third for driving without insurance. He was under probation supervision at the time of the offence, works full‑time as a digger operator, pays rent to his father and supports two children aged one and 20.
In a Tallaght District Court hearing on 30 April 2025, Christopher Armstrong, 39, was convicted of failing to remain at the scene after striking a pedestrian on Old Bawn Road on 20 December 2024. CCTV showed Armstrong stopping his van, checking on the injured man, and then leaving the scene without providing details. The victim suffered serious injuries, including four broken ribs, a broken nose, 12 stitches, and a broken wrist that required surgery. Armstrong pleaded guilty, admitted the incident, and cooperated fully with the investigation. He was fined €1,000 and disqualified from driving for three months. The judge noted mitigating factors such as Armstrong's remorse, lack of prior convictions, and his full-time employment, but upheld the conviction due to the seriousness of the injuries and his failure to remain at the scene.
During sentencing of Keith Daly, 31, at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Garda Sergeant Wes Kenny read a victim impact statement. Kenny, injured when Daly resisted arrest on Killakee Road, described his finger as forcibly bent and injured, noting a heightened fear and psychological toll. The incident began when Garda Natasha McAleese and Kenny stopped a car at 11.10pm; Daly, a passenger, became agitated, opened the door aggressively, and shouted. A struggle ensued, Kenny was thrown to the ground, and Daly fled. Kenny seized a bag of 9.6g cannabis, valued at €192, and two smaller bags with €3,445 cash. Kenny was treated for his finger injury. Defence counsel apologized, noting 33 of Daly's 55 convictions were juvenile. Judge Orla Crowe called the case unusual, directed a probation report, and acknowledged Daly's efforts to turn his life around. The unnamed man pleaded guilty.
A 73‑year‑old former school teacher and convicted rapist was sentenced to an additional five years in prison for indecently assaulting eight boys between 1977 and 1984. He had already been convicted of 118 counts of indecent assault and was serving a 14‑year‑five‑month sentence with an earliest release date in August 2025. The abuse involved inappropriate touching, and in one case included masturbation and oral sex. The victims were aged six to 14 and were taken to various locations, including the school, the teacher's home, and his car. The teacher, who also had a conviction for raping a teenage girl, maintains his innocence. Judge Orla Crowe described his conduct as manipulative, exploitative, persistent and highly predatory, and imposed the extra sentence to reflect the severity of the offences. The judge noted the victims' courage and the profound impact on their lives. The sentence will take effect after the current term expires in August 2025.
A 17‑year‑old boy was sentenced to eight years' detention for attempting to murder Defence Forces chaplain Father Paul Murphy. The boy, who had no prior convictions, was radicalised online, mainly through ISIS content, and developed a warped view of Islam that led him to target a member of the Defence Forces. On 15 August 2024, he attacked Father Murphy with a large knife while the priest was in his car, stabbing him for about 90 seconds. The attack was stopped only after a soldier fired warning shots and intervened. Father Murphy suffered permanent scars and required surgery. The judge, citing the boy's age, immaturity, early guilty plea and remorse, set a headline sentence of 20 years, reduced to ten years with the final two years suspended for three years. The boy entered a bond to keep the peace and engage in a de‑radicalisation programme.
In a Central Criminal Court sentence hearing, an 18‑year‑old woman who was raped at age 16 by two boys at Limerick Racecourse described how the attackers stripped her of her innocence. She said she must live with the trauma for the rest of her life but can live with having told the truth. The boys, aged 13 and 15 at the time of the assault, were found guilty of sexual assault and rape; a third boy, aged 15, was found guilty of aiding and abetting the rapes and was acquitted of one count of false imprisonment. The victim's statement highlighted her fear, anxiety and the impact on her family, noting that she had never had sexual intercourse before the attack. The case was adjourned for mention while probation reports are prepared.
Paul Kelleher, 61, of Esker Gate, Mountmellick, was convicted at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of three counts of sexual assault against three customers of his tattoo and piercing shop, Newfaze Ink, in Portlaoise. The assaults occurred between August and December 2015 and in January 2018. Two victims were receiving piercings when assaulted; the third, a 14‑year‑old girl, was having a piercing cleaned. Kelleher was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions. He maintains his innocence, has denied the allegations, and said he would change his legal team. The victims expressed profound harm, loss of trust in male professionals, and described the trial as degrading. Kelleher has two prior convictions, including a four‑year sentence for a similar offence. The judge noted his age disparity with the victims and his abuse of a position of trust. The sentence was imposed with a suspended portion and a requirement to attend counselling.
Visak Rajesh Leela, a 26‑year‑old Indian national, pleaded guilty to attempting to abduct a five‑year‑old boy outside an apartment block in Dublin on 14 September 2024. He claimed he was intoxicated after a party and could not remember why he ran after the child, suggesting he might have thought he knew the children. Garda Laura McDermott testified that Leela had returned to the block after a party, was steady on his feet, and had no alcohol smell, though a doctor later found him intoxicated. CCTV footage showed Leela pulling the boy toward the door and pushing him out. The court, after a probation report assessing Leela as low risk of re‑offending and not a danger to children, imposed a fully suspended three‑year sentence on strict conditions. Leela was ordered to leave Ireland within two weeks and not to return for ten years.
The Special Court has sentenced Glen Ward to six years and three months in prison for possessing a .223 calibre Remington AR-15 semi-automatic rifle. Ward, 32, pleaded guilty to a charge that on January 1, 2022, at a Finglas address, he was in possession of or had control of the firearm in circumstances giving rise to a reasonable inference that he did not have it for a lawful purpose. Ms Justice Melanie Greally suspended the final nine months of the sentence, imposing a condition that Ward must keep the peace and be of good behaviour for 12 months after release, or he could serve the suspended portion. The judge noted a "certain unreality" to the suggestion that Ward had only fleeting involvement with the firearm, referencing video evidence showing him firing the gun and encouraging his brother, Eric O'Driscoll, to do the same. O'Driscoll, 23, also pleaded guilty to possession of the same gun. The court previously jailed O'Driscoll for five years. Gardai discovered the rifle alongside a military sub-machine gun during a search in February 2022. In mitigation, the court considered Ward's mental health impact from 23-hour lockup and his agreement not to associate with six named individuals.
In a case heard at Tallaght District Court, a 43‑year‑old man named Darren Kane was found asleep in the driver's seat of a Volkswagen camper van at the Spawell Service Station on 9 May 2021. Gardaí discovered two suspected deals of cocaine, each worth €70, in the passenger seat. Kane pleaded guilty to possession under section 3 of the Misuse of Drugs Act. The court noted that he had 27 prior convictions, including five under the same act, and had previously received a 10‑month suspended sentence in May 2022 for a Section 15 drugs offence. His defence counsel reported that Kane had made "remarkable" progress since then, completing a 20‑month residential programme at Cuan Mhuire, obtaining a Level 6 qualification in psychology, and volunteering to support others in addiction recovery. He had also spoken at a graduation event in March 2024 about his journey and the importance of second chances.
A 44‑year‑old man, James O'Callaghan, pleaded guilty to a Section 4 theft offence for his role in the theft of a handbag from an unlocked Mercedes parked outside Bridge Jewellers on Shelbourne Road, Ballsbridge, on 21 October 2020. He was identified by CCTV and later arrested, but did not physically remove the bag. O'Callaghan cooperated with Gardaí, helped recover the stolen items and was described by his solicitor as remorseful and fully aware of the wrongdoing. The court noted his previous convictions, mainly traffic‑related, and his current unemployment and social welfare status. Judge Catherine Ghent emphasised that the act was a choice, not a mistake, and that no apology had been offered to the victim. Taking into account his cooperation, the judge imposed a €400 fine, to be paid within eight months, and warned him that he was "far too old for that.".
A Ukrainian truck driver, Ruslan Rybak, who was serving in the Ukrainian military during the hearing, gave evidence remotely from an active battlefield to the Workplace Relations Commission. He claimed unfair dismissal by Dublin haulier Noel Hughes on 1 July 2020 after a verbal dispute with a customer. Rybak said he had been under constant work pressure, sleeping in the truck for over a year, and had no proper breaks, sometimes working 100 hours non‑stop. Hughes argued Rybak left work abruptly to return to Ukraine and had been rehired each time. The adjudicator found the employment relationship irregular, awarding Rybak €2,000 under the Unfair Dismissals Act, €1,000 for breaches of working‑time legislation, and €500 in lieu of holiday pay, totaling €3,500. The case was noted as the first instance of witness evidence received from an active battlefield in WRC history.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 38‑year‑old man pleaded guilty to assault, controlling behaviour and other offences against his former partner and mother of their children. The judge found that over a period from 2019 to 2020 he subjected the woman to coercive control and intimate partner violence, culminating on 21 April 2020 in a "brutal, vicious attack" where he tried to choke her and placed a bag over her head while their two children were present. He also physically assaulted her, used a shopping bag in a tug‑of‑war, and later threatened her with a pitchfork. The court noted the victim's isolation, the man's alcohol use, and the presence of other incidents over the years. The judge sentenced him to three years, suspended the final 18 months, and ordered no direct contact with the woman for five years.
Garreth Bannon, 50, of Gurteeneona, Monasterevin, was sentenced to seven years in prison with the final 12 months suspended at the Central Criminal Court for raping his biological daughter, whom he first met when she was a teenager. The offence occurred between January and September 2015. The victim, who is now living abroad, was 18 at the time and had been given alcohol, which the judge said inhibited her capacity to deal with the situation. Bannon pleaded guilty and expressed remorse, which the judge noted as mitigating. The judge described the case as an egregious breach of trust and a repugnant feature of the crime. The sentence includes strict conditions, including no contact with the victim for life and supervision by Probation Services for two years after release. The victim's impact statement highlighted profound and lasting trauma, including guilt, shame, chronic anxiety and PTSD.
An unnamed 20-year-old man was sentenced today at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for possessing improvised petrol bombs with intent to cause injury. The defendant, who was 16 at the time of the offence, pleaded guilty to one count of the charge. The court heard that on August 25, 2021, he participated in a dispute between rival groups of young people from the northside and southside of Dublin at a block of flats on Pearse Street, Dublin 2. During the incident, which involved between 80 and 100 individuals, the defendant allegedly threw two improvised petrol bombs from a balcony, narrowly missing people below. Judge Orla Crowe described it as a "miracle" that no one was injured. In sentencing, the judge acknowledged the defendant's troubled childhood, including being taken into care at age four, and his status in homeless accommodation at the time of the offence. However, she noted his "exceptional" progress since the incident, citing his current stability and ambition. Taking these mitigating factors into account, Judge Crowe set a sentence of two years, which she suspended in its entirety. The suspension is subject to conditions, including that the defendant remain under the supervision of the Probation Service for one year.
A 40‑year‑old man, Philip Cox, was sentenced to five‑and‑a‑half years in prison for twice stabbing his partner of 18 years, Cristal O'Brien, with three knives. The judge noted that the first knife broke on a stairwell wall, yet Cox returned with another knife and threatened to finish her off. He also committed aggravated burglary by smashing Ms O'Brien's neighbour's front door, breaking a window and entering the dwelling. Cox had previously pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, aggravated burglary and the production of a knife. The judge imposed a consecutive sentence of three years and six months for the knife production and three years and three months for the assault and burglary, suspending the last 15 months. The custodial term is back‑dated to 2 June 2023, and Cox must not contact the two women or approach within 100 metres of their homes.
At the Central Criminal Court, Michael Andrecut (23) of Sheephill Avenue, Blanchardstown, was sentenced to a mandatory life term for the murder of Tristan Sherry. David Amah (19) of Hazel Grove, Donabate, and a third man from Blanchardstown, who was 17 when charged, were also convicted of murder but are not subject to the mandatory sentence; their sentences are due to be finalised at a later stage. Separately, the Workplace Relations Commission ruled that San Siro Ltd, the operating company of Browne's Steakhouse, breached employment laws by failing to pay statutory redundancy to six former employees when the restaurant closed on Christmas Eve 2023. Adjudicator Catherine Byrne upheld complaints from general manager Vjola Ajredini, waitress Adisa Ajredini, and assistant manager Amanda Ajredini, awarding them sums between €1,032 and €6,154 for unpaid notice and compensation for working time breaches. The WRC also confirmed redundancy entitlements for kitchen porter Gedeminas Urbasius and head chef Ruslan Pazuschin. In total, the orders secure over €100,000 in payouts for employment rights breaches, including redundancy lump sums exceeding €86,000.
Diarmuid Molloy, a 45‑year‑old Dubliner, was sentenced to 12 years in prison for a series of robberies in Dublin city shops. He pleaded guilty to three robberies and the possession of a knife to intimidate customers. The incidents included an attempted robbery at Tesco on 21 June 2022, a robbery and false imprisonment at Brady's Pharmacy on 22 June 2022, and a robbery at Thomas Street Pharmacy on 23 June 2022. During the Brady's Pharmacy robbery, Molloy put a 78‑year‑old sales assistant in a chokehold and repeatedly threatened to "slit" her throat. At Thomas Street Pharmacy he held a customer in a chokehold, produced a six‑inch knife and threatened to stab her. He was also in possession of a knife at the pharmacy on 24 June 2022. The court noted that CCTV footage was central to the investigation of the Thomas Street Pharmacy robbery.
A 42‑year‑old man was sentenced to nine‑and‑a‑half years in prison for ten counts of rape and four counts of sexual assault against an unknown victim between May 2018 and December 2021, and for two counts of sexual assault against a second complainant in the same period. The judge, Mary Ellen Ring, imposed a headline sentence of 13 years, but the final sentence was 11 years for the rape counts and seven years for the assault of the first victim, with two years for each assault of the second victim. All sentences run concurrently. The judge suspended the last 18 months of the sentence for 18 months and ordered the defendant to be supervised by Probation Services for 12 months after release. He was also prohibited from any contact with the first victim for five years after release. The unnamed 42 year-old was convicted.
David O'Callaghan, 41, pleaded guilty to driving a white Ford Transit van into gates at Leinster House, Aras An Uachtaráin and the Custom House on 2 August, causing €60 000 of damage. He was found to have been suffering from a paranoid delusion and later diagnosed with schizophrenia, for which he is receiving treatment. Garda Niamh McCarthy described how O'Callaghan performed a sweeping u‑turn in front of the Aras gates, reversed into them, then drove to the Custom House and repeated the manoeuvre, breaching the gates and causing about €2 000 of damage. At Leinster House he struck three sets of gates in quick succession, breaching the Ministers' Entrance gate and damaging a perimeter gate, resulting in over €52 000 of damage. He admitted consuming alcohol and cocaine that evening and claimed he believed his food had been spiked.
During a sentence hearing in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, a woman in her 20s gave a victim impact statement about being sexually assaulted by taxi driver Samir Lakhlef, 53, who had a prior sexual assault conviction. She said she had chosen a taxi for safety, trusting the driver, but was touched on her leg and thigh while in the vehicle. She later walked to a nearby house, pretended it was her home, and was left alone in the taxi. She called her mother and was helped by a passer‑by. Gardaí obtained CCTV showing a silver Toyota Prius, Lakhlef's registered car, and DNA evidence linking him to the victim's clothing. Lakhlef pleaded guilty to sexual assault on 13 February 2022. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a three‑year sentence, refusing to suspend any portion, citing the driver's position of trust and his previous convictions. The woman expressed ongoing fear of using taxis alone and the impact on her life.
Michael Keane, a former professional footballer aged 42, was sentenced to two and a half years in prison by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for sexually assaulting a 20‑year‑old college student while driving her in his taxi to Bull Island. The victim was forced to pay a €77.77 fare after the assault. Keane had previously been convicted in the UK for theft and assault causing actual bodily harm. He pleaded guilty in November 2023, after initially denying the allegation. The court noted the victim's fear, shock and ongoing trauma, and that Keane had lost his taxi licence and was now on social welfare. Keane's lawyers presented testimonials from former club associates and family, arguing the offence was out of character and a one‑off incident. The judge imposed the custodial term without a suspended portion, citing the aggravating circumstances of the victim's vulnerability and Keane's role as a taxi driver.
Three Romanian nationals – Marius Crisan (29), Codrin Manoli (26) and Calin Scintei (32) – pleaded guilty to a range of offences involving cash‑trapping devices used to steal money from AIB ATMs. Crisan was convicted of two counts of criminal damage, two counts of stealing cash, four counts of possessing cash‑trapping devices with intent to use them, and one count of participation in a criminal organisation. Manoli faced similar charges, with four counts of damage, four of stealing cash, two of possessing devices and one of organisational participation. Scintei was convicted of one count of damage, one of stealing cash and three of possessing devices. Judge Orla Crowe sentenced Scintei to three years' imprisonment back‑dated to July 2024, Manoli to three years with the final six months suspended for two years, and Crisan to a fully suspended three‑year sentence.
The Special Criminal Court adjourned sentencing for three men convicted of the murder of Tristan Sherry, who was fatally beaten after shooting Jason Hennessy Senior at Browne's Steakhouse on Christmas Eve 2023. Michael Andrecut (23) was sentenced to mandatory life imprisonment. David Amah (19) and an unnamed 18-year-old, both 17 at the time of the offence, were also convicted of murder but are not subject to the mandatory life sentence; their sentencing was adjourned to May. Brandon Hennessy (21) and Jonas Kabangu (19) were convicted of violent disorder arising from the incident, with their sentencing also adjourned. Separately, Jaures Kumbu (19) pleaded guilty to a firearms offence for removing the sub-machine gun used in the shooting. He was sentenced to three years in prison, with the final year suspended for two years. The court noted Kumbu had no prior convictions and acted under exceptional circumstances, though the weapon was never retrieved. The hearing included victim impact statements from Sherry's mother and sister, who described their ongoing fear and trauma. Counsel for the defendants highlighted their youth, lack of weapons, and brief involvement in the disorder. The matter was adjourned and not concluded.
A 44‑year‑old man was found guilty of sexually abusing his stepdaughter from age 13 to 16, including oral rape, attempted rape and sexual assault. The victim, who was 13–16 at the time, said her mother emotionally blackmailed her not to report the abuse to the Gardaí, urging her to think of the family and her younger siblings. The mother claimed the stepfather had attended church and sought forgiveness. The man pleaded guilty to eight charges and was sentenced by the Circuit Criminal Court to nine years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended. The victim's impact statement described her as vulnerable and innocent, detailing how she was forced to stay silent for five years. The court noted the mother's pressure and the victim's courage in ultimately reporting the abuse. The sentence included strict conditions, a five‑year post‑release supervision order, and a prohibition on contact with the victim.
A man from Achill has been sentenced to eight years in prison following his conviction for manslaughter at the Central Criminal Court. Dean Caffrey (38) of Beaucort, Achill Road, Drumcondra, Dublin 9, was found guilty by majority jury verdict of the manslaughter of Sean McCarthy on 2 August 2022 in Drumcondra. Mr Justice Paul McDermott imposed a nine-year sentence with the final year suspended. Caffrey claimed he acted in self-defence when the fatal shooting occurred during a confrontation over drug debts. The court heard evidence that after the killing, Caffrey placed McCarthy's body in a suitcase, disposed of the firearm in the River Tolka, and took steps to conceal the death, including using McCarthy's mobile phone to suggest he remained alive. The judge found Caffrey's conduct after the killing demonstrated no genuine remorse and rejected arguments for leniency based on his drug addiction since 2013 and cocaine dependency since 2016. Gardaí recovered McCarthy's remains from a wardrobe in the apartment after Caffrey directed them to the location. Dean Caffrey pleaded not guilty.
During a seven‑week trial with a 15‑juror panel, Daniel Blanaru, 37, was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of his 26‑year‑old partner, Larisa Serban, on 12 August 2022. Serban was found early in the morning on the floor between her bedroom and hallway, having died from a 12‑cm stab wound to the chest that punctured her heart, lung and aorta. The prosecution alleged that Blanaru, described as "controlling and jealous", killed Serban in cold blood after a sustained brutal attack. Blanaru pleaded not guilty but admitted guilt during custody interviews. He has six prior Irish convictions for road traffic offences and four theft offences in France. The sentencing judge, Ms Justice Eileen Creedon, imposed a mandatory life sentence, noting the crime involved needless and horrific violence. The victim's family, including Serban's mother, eldest son and siblings, delivered impact statements expressing grief and condemning the killer's actions.
In a sentencing hearing on 10 April 2025, Defence Forces chaplain Father Paul Murphy, aged 52, delivered a victim‑impact statement after being repeatedly stabbed by a 17‑year‑old boy on 15 August 2024 at Renmore Barracks, Galway. Murphy, who has served as a chaplain for 11 years, said he forgave the attacker and urged him to learn from his mistake and return to society as a "wholesome, happy and loving person". The boy, who was 16 at the time of the attack and whose identity is withheld, pleaded guilty to attempted murder. He was arrested on suspicion of assault causing harm and was remanded to Oberstown Detention Centre pending sentencing on 29 April 2025. The court heard the boy had been radicalised online, possessed a hunting knife, and had expressed anger over the Defence Forces' work in Mali. The hearing ended with the chaplain and the boy embracing in the courtroom.
David Slattery, a 50-year-old married man from Celbridge, Co Kildare, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He pleaded guilty to one count of obtaining a child for sexual exploitation and one count of possessing child sexual abuse material, known in law as child pornography, on dates in 2023. The court heard that Slattery befriended a 16-year-old girl on Snapchat, providing her with money, alcohol, and drugs in exchange for sexual favours, including taking her to hotels on two occasions. Additionally, gardaí discovered two images and two videos of a 13-year-old child on his device during a search. Slattery claimed he believed both victims were 17. Judge Martin Nolan noted the defendant's remorse and mitigation, including his rehabilitation from a cocaine addiction, but stated that Slattery "must suffer a prison term for what he did." The judge imposed a sentence of three years. The victim, who attended the hearing, read a statement describing the lasting trauma and loss of trust she experienced. Slattery has three previous convictions for minor road traffic offences. The matter was finalised with the imposition of this custodial sentence.
Oisin Mullen, 25, of Rush, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after an unprovoked road‑rage incident on Upper Main Street, Rush, on 25 May 2023. While a passenger in a Volkswagen Golf, he repeatedly punched, kicked and stomped on a female driver who had made a U‑turn at a designated spot. The driver's two children witnessed the assault and shouted at Mullen to stop. Mullen claimed self‑defence, but the court heard he had no prior convictions and that the victim suffered head injuries and abrasions. Judge Martin Nolan described the attack as unprovoked, noted Mullen's anger‑management issues, and imposed a two‑year suspended sentence with strict conditions. Mullen was ordered to pay €3 000 to the Gardaí and an additional €500 within three months, with the total offered to the victim or to charity if declined. No jail time was imposed.
Amy McQuaid, 30, was arrested at Dublin Airport on 4 September 2024 after X‑ray revealed 29.8 kg of cannabis worth €597,000 in her luggage. She claimed she believed the bags contained gold and watches, a statement her barrister described as "patent nonsense". McQuaid accepted that the bags were in her control but insisted they were not hers. She had travelled to Thailand with her then‑partner, who was later jailed for four and a half years for a similar offence. McQuaid was interviewed three times and said she was paid £4,000 and given a holiday in Thailand. The court found her explanation to be "transparent and stupid" and, after considering mitigating factors, imposed a sentence of four years and three months, back‑dated to her arrest. The sentence is to be served in a foreign jurisdiction.
Jason Wosser, also known as Jason Bonney, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to a number of charges including robbery, attempted robbery, and threats to kill or cause serious harm. Judge Elma Sheahan imposed a 10-year sentence but suspended the final year on strict conditions. Prosecution counsel Fiona Pekaar BL alleged that Wosser robbed two taxi drivers on separate occasions, threatening one with a knife and punching another in the face. He was also accused of kicking a man in Smithfield Square and robbing a student of his phone in Merchant's Arch. Wosser has 96 previous convictions. Defence counsel Ian Woodland BL described the defendant as deeply apologetic, citing a drug addiction that began at age 12 following his brother's death in a house fire, as well as ADHD and dyslexia. Judge Sheahan noted that two prior robberies involved vulnerable young men and gratuitous violence. She identified aggravating factors, including the seriousness and repeated nature of the offending, the fact that Wosser was on bail, and the harm caused to the injured parties. The judge acknowledged the value of the early plea to the victims and noted the defendant's desire to seek employment upon release, though she had no discretion over his place of imprisonment.
A Nigerian woman has been sentenced to three years' imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to making false statements to gardaí. The 34-year-old woman arrived at Store Street Garda Station in October 2019 claiming she had been trafficked to Ireland and forced into prostitution. Over subsequent months, she provided five statements detailing her alleged captivity in Balbriggan. Gardaí conducted an extensive investigation spanning hundreds of hours, including searches of the area and CCTV analysis. Investigation ultimately revealed the account was fabricated. Handwriting experts linked documentation found in her hostel accommodation and a discovered diary to the woman. Evidence from bank records and CCTV footage contradicted her narrative. The woman, previously resident in Carrickmacross, Monaghan, pleaded guilty to three counts of knowingly making false statements between October 2019 and December 2020. Judge Ronan Munro described her actions as premeditated and calculated, noting they diverted resources from genuine victims and undermined legitimate trafficking complaints.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court convicted 23‑year‑old Brian Ibe of murdering 65‑year‑old Peter Kennedy and assaulting Garda Brendan O'Donnell. Ibe had pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to both charges. The jury found him guilty after deliberating for just under seven hours. The trial described how Kennedy had taken Ibe and his mother into his home after learning of their homelessness, and how Ibe had allegedly stabbed Kennedy with a knife while Kennedy was in his bedroom. Ibe's defence presented psychiatric evidence that he suffered from schizophrenia and was psychotic at the time of the assault, while the prosecution argued he had a dissocial personality disorder and that his actions were goal‑directed. The judge, Justice Melanie Greally, instructed the jury to apply healthy skepticism to expert testimony. Ibe remains remanded in custody awaiting sentencing, where he faces a mandatory life sentence.
Erika Gould, 39, of Kilmacud, was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to three years' imprisonment, with the final two and a half years suspended on strict conditions. The sentence follows her guilty plea for harassing a neighbouring couple from June 2020 to May 2023, during which she shouted threats from her back window, brandished a phone, threatened to petrol‑bomb the house, and made threats against the couple's children. She also threw empty bottles and sticks into their garden and called the fire brigade falsely. Gould has 209 prior convictions, including assault, threats to kill and criminal damage, most of which were alcohol‑related. She was previously jailed in June 2021 and released in October 2021, after which she continued to make threatening calls. The court noted her acute mental‑health diagnosis and ordered her to be supervised by the Probation Services upon release. The sentence reflects her history of harassment and the impact on the victims.
Egidijus Stasaitis, 41, of Mount Drynam Avenue, Kinsealy, Swords, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing serious harm after illegally turning across a junction at Pinnock Hill on 25 September 2023. He struck a motorcyclist who suffered a broken pelvis, wrist, ankle and finger, and was still in rehabilitation two and a half months later. Stasaitis was travelling from the opposite direction, made an illegal right turn across a double white line in a 60 km/h zone, and hit the rider who had entered the bus lane. CCTV showed Stasaitis's BMW was written off. Garda Mark Gandola, who witnessed the crash, testified that the rider was travelling at excessive speed and that Stasaitis had no intoxication. Judge Martin Nolan acknowledged the rider's serious injuries and Stasaitis's lack of prior convictions, noting his temporary lapse of judgement. He imposed a 20‑month sentence, suspended in full on strict conditions. The court did not hear the speeds of either party.
Levi McCarthy, 33, was sentenced to six and a half years in prison for a campaign of violence against his partner, Victoria Keogh, between July 2021 and July 2023. The court found him guilty of coercive control, assault causing harm, making threats to kill or cause serious harm, perverting the course of justice and robbery. McCarthy had previously been convicted of burglary of Keogh's parents' home and other offences, including a French conviction for threatening a former partner. During the period of coercive control, he repeatedly beat Keogh, threatened to knife her dead, and put a bullet in her head. He also sent intimidating letters to Keogh and her parents while on remand. The judge imposed a headline sentence of nine years, a four‑year term for coercive control, and a consecutive two‑and‑a‑half‑year term for assault, and ordered a 15‑year prohibition on contact with Keogh and her family.
Tom Colton, 49, of Celbridge, was given a suspended nine‑month sentence after pleading guilty to acting as director of Grá agus Solas ULC, a spiritual wedding and funeral business, between August 2016 and May 2018. He had been automatically disqualified from company directorship on 5 December 2014 following a 2014 theft conviction that carried a four‑year prison term with 18 months suspended for the theft of €322,000. Colton used his Irish name, Tomás Mac Cultan, to file company documents and was unaware of his disqualification until 2018, when he resigned. The court noted no system informs defendants of automatic disqualifications. He also had a prior Companies Act conviction for acting as a statutory auditor without approval. The judge imposed a 10‑year disqualification under the Companies Registration Act and suspended the nine‑month sentence in full.