Elaine White, 41, of Griffith Road, Finglas, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to six theft counts and one unlawful computer use count for stealing €13,416 from her former employer between March 2019 and January 2020. The court heard that €3,813 was recovered by Revenue, leaving €9,603 still owed. White transferred some of the money to her personal account and created an "uninformed invoice" while adjusting her tax credit. She voluntarily admitted the theft, revealed a gambling addiction, and cooperated fully with Gardaí, leading to her dismissal. Judge Martin Nolan noted her early guilty plea, cooperation, and lack of prior convictions, and sentenced her to 21 months suspended in full, ordering repayment of the remaining debt within three months. White is currently employed and intends to repay the balance by the end of March.
Michael McDonagh, 58, of Ballyfermot, pleaded guilty to stealing a handbag containing €2 from a 78‑year‑old woman outside an Applegreen service station in Dublin 8 on 9 November 2020. The victim, who had been on her way home after a doctor's appointment, was shocked and unable to give a statement. CCTV and a description of two men led to McDonagh's arrest minutes later. He was intoxicated at the time of arrest and had been a chronic alcoholic, but his lawyer said he had since undergone treatment and was now a "changed man". McDonagh had 83 prior convictions and had been homeless for 10–15 years. Judge Martin Nolan noted his remorse and the absence of violence, yet sentenced him to 15 months in prison, citing his long history of offending and homelessness. The court did not accept the claim that he had been provided housing or support workers at the time of the offence.
Shane Susa, 19, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after striking a man with a pickaxe about ten times during an attack on July 6, 2023. The victim was taken to St James Hospital and remained there for several days. Susa, who had no prior convictions and was 17 at the time of the offence, was found to have mental health difficulties. Judge Martin Nolan, after hearing the facts, sentenced Susa to a suspended term of three and a half years, with the entire sentence suspended. He ordered Susa to pay €4,000 to the victim over three months. The court noted Susa's cooperation, remorse, and the absence of any further garda attention since the incident. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Two teenage boys, aged 14 at the time of the attack, were sentenced to 32 and 26 months in detention for assault causing serious harm and violent disorder after viciously kicking and punching US tourist Stephen Termini on 19 July 2023 in Dublin city centre. Termini suffered serious brain injuries, skull, orbital and cheek fractures, and required emergency surgery to save his sight, followed by two weeks of specialist intensive care. He has ongoing cognitive issues, PTSD, constant pain, trouble sleeping, and mobility problems. Termini's victim impact statement highlighted over €103,000 in medical expenses and his desire for restitution. The court noted the attackers' actions were "vicious and unprovoked", with no weapons used, and that the injuries were foreseeable. The sentences reflect the severity of the assault and the lasting impact on Termini's life. The third boy, now 17, pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of assault causing harm and will be sentenced on 26 February.
An arsonist, David Fannin, 29, was jailed for 16 months after setting fire to a house in Ballymun on 24 September 2020 while a woman and her two young children were inside. Fannin admitted he had been instructed by another man, to whom he owed money, to carry out the arson. He smashed the back door and a back window, which a child was wounded by broken glass while escaping. The court heard that the woman's ex‑partner was the co‑accused who has fled the country. Judge Martin Nolan noted the seriousness of arson and that Fannin was "inveigled" by the other man, but that he knew his actions were wrong. He was given a four‑year sentence, with the final 32 months suspended on strict conditions. The case highlighted the danger of arson and the need for punishment. David Fannin pleaded guilty.
Danny Povey, a 43‑year‑old British scaffolder living in London, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to possession of cannabis for sale or supply. He was caught at Dublin Airport on 4 September 2024 with 29 kg of cannabis valued at €596,000, after customs detected anomalies in his luggage. Povey claimed he believed he was transporting gold or watches, saying he had been paid by a third party and that the suitcases were locked with combination locks. He had travelled to Thailand with his girlfriend, who was also stopped with a similar amount of cannabis. Povey had no prior convictions, cooperated with investigators, and entered an early guilty plea. The judge, citing his work history, single child, and the circumstances of the offence, imposed the custodial sentence, backdated to his September 2024 arrest.
Gemma Greene, 27, of Bunratty Road, Coolock, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to endangerment for recklessly driving toward a Garda on the M50 on March 1 2021, forcing the officer to take evasive action. The incident, which was live‑streamed on social media, involved a car chase at junction 9 northbound. Prosecutor Maddie Grant said the State accepted the plea on the basis of recklessness. Defence counsel Gregory Murphy noted the client had not attracted Garda attention since and was experiencing personal difficulties at the time. Judge Martin Nolan set a sentencing date of March 19.
Tracy Kelliher, 49, of Tralee, pleaded guilty to three counts of theft for withdrawing €56,217 from her deceased mother's Department of Education pension between 2014 and 2016. Her mother, a retired teacher, died in January 2014, but Kelliher failed to inform the Department, allowing the pension to continue until June 2016. The judge noted that Kelliher had previously withdrawn money with her mother's consent for funeral costs and that she had no lavish lifestyle or other income. Kelliher had no prior convictions and was described as a pro‑social person who expressed remorse. The court directed her to complete 120 hours of community service within one year, imposed concurrent 18‑month sentences suspended for three years on strict conditions, and required her to be supervised by Probation Services for six months. The order was intended to allow her to repay some value to the community and to address her financial difficulties.
David Nally, 43, of Balbriggan, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to six charges for scamming two men out of over €900,000 through a fictitious cattle and machinery scheme between 2014 and 2016. He promised to buy livestock from a bank after farm repossessions and sell them at a profit. The victims invested more than €700,000 and €218,000 respectively. Nally returned some money, but the first victim remains owed about €390,000 and the second has lost €175,000. Gardaí found he never purchased cattle from a bank; the maximum he bought was 230 animals, not the claimed 3,000. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a six‑year custodial sentence, suspended the final 18 months, and ordered Nally to hand over €300,000 to be distributed to the victims within three months. The case is now before the High Court.
Paul Craven, 55, a former manager of Daughters of Charity family centres, was sentenced to a global term of four years in prison for sexually abusing his nephew, Alan Jenkins, between 1989 and 1999. Judge Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court convicted Craven of 11 counts, including sexual assault and indecent assault. The judge noted that Craven breached the trust of a vulnerable boy aged six or seven, using his position as a youth worker to groom and isolate the victim. Aggravating factors included the abuse occurring in the victim's home and the significant age disparity. Although Craven received glowing references and had no previous convictions, the judge highlighted that he did not accept guilt or express remorse. Mr Jenkins, who waived his anonymity, described the abuse as taking away his childhood and criticized a previous Tusla investigation that found his allegations unfounded. He stated that Craven continued working with vulnerable children until 2022. Defence counsel Kathleen Leader SC argued that the offences were not at the top of the scale and highlighted Craven's long history in youth work. Craven was remanded on bail following a previous hearing to sign contracts for a house purchase, which defence counsel confirmed had been completed. The matter was adjourned for the purpose of this bail arrangement prior to the final sentencing.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 11 February 2025, Jamie Reid, aged 33, pleaded guilty to endangerment, dangerous driving, driving without insurance and without a licence after he jumped into an idling council litter van on Parliament Street and drove it at high speed through the capital. Reid, who later admitted he was a "cokehead", drove erratically, broke red lights, and pursued by gardaí. The pursuit ended when the van crashed through a level‑crossing barrier at Sutton, striking a woman who was running and causing her leg injuries. Reid himself also suffered leg injuries. He has 39 prior convictions and was sentenced to three years and nine months' imprisonment, with a five‑year driving disqualification, and the sentence was back‑dated to July 2024. No serious injuries were reported among the gardaí involved.
In February 2025 a Tunisian man, Sami Skhiri, aged 35, was found guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of assault causing harm and possession of a broken glass shard after he attacked a woman outside her home during a psychotic episode. He held a shard of glass to her throat, slashed her face with a 9‑cm shallow cut that did not require stitches, and continued a stabbing motion before being stopped by bystanders. Skhiri resisted arrest but was handcuffed and searched, where a scissors, a large stone and a broken shard of glass were seized. He was remanded in custody and later sentenced to three years, with the final year suspended on the condition that he leave Ireland upon release and live with his brother in Germany. The court noted his mental illness and medication lapse as mitigating factors, but stressed he must continue his treatment to protect himself and society.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 29‑year‑old man pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after attacking his former partner and her 15‑year‑old brother. The assault took place at the woman's home in November 2020, when the man, who had a barring order, forced entry, choked the pregnant woman, punched her, and threatened to kick her unborn child out. The victim's brother was also struck. The woman escaped through a window and reported the incident. The court noted that neither she nor her brother gave a victim impact statement and that the child has since been safely delivered. The man has ten prior convictions. He is now the sole carer of the children, who would enter State care if he were imprisoned. The judge, after considering the children's welfare, imposed a two‑year prison sentence suspended in full on strict conditions, citing the seriousness of the assault but the need to protect the children.
In a High Court hearing, a stay was granted on the conviction of a Dublin man, Jason Malone, who was sentenced to nine months' imprisonment for possession of cocaine and heroin in July 2022. Malone, aged 42, challenged the admissibility of forensic evidence presented by a Forensic Science Ireland employee, arguing that the certifying officer had no direct involvement in the analysis of the substances. His lawyers contended that the absence of "essential proofs" and the lack of the officer's first‑hand knowledge rendered the certificate inadmissible under the hearsay rule, thereby undermining the court's basis for conviction. The High Court, presided over by Ms Justice Mary Rose Gearty, described the case as "very interesting" and adjourned it for mention on March 11, following the grant of a stay on the conviction order. The case remains pending review of the legal issues raised by Malone's counsel.
Judge Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin rejected a probation report that described Liam McGrane, 59, as "open and honest" and at low risk of re‑offending. The judge noted that the full record of McGrane's previous convictions was not supplied to Probation Services and that the court was not satisfied with the report's assessment. McGrane pleaded guilty to two counts of robbery at Dublin hotels in December 2018 and August 2019, where he took €1,500 and €1,800 respectively from escort clients. He had earlier admitted to similar offences and had no current employment, with financial pressure cited as a factor in his past crimes. The judge sentenced him to four years' imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended on strict conditions, and warned that any change in his circumstances could increase the risk of re‑offending.
A 24‑year‑old man was sentenced to 15 months' imprisonment for defiling his 16‑year‑old cousin and infecting her with chlamydia after offering her cocaine. He pleaded guilty to the first offence on 9 May 2021 at a flat he shared with his mother and a second offence in July 2021 at the same location. The court heard that he was 21 when the offences were committed. The victim, who was visiting her aunt, was offered drugs and a bottle of vodka at the early hours, then taken to the defendant's flat where they had sex. She later reported the incident to Gardaí, was examined at the Rotunda, and confirmed she had chlamydia. The defendant had no prior convictions and was found to be at moderate risk of reoffending. Judge Martin Nolan noted the aggravating factor of the second offence and the victim's age, and imposed the 15‑month sentence.
A 77‑year‑old De La Salle Brother, originally from Northern Ireland, was convicted at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in November 2024 of five counts of sexual assault against a boy who was about 12 at the time, occurring between April and July 1991 and April and December 1992. The brother, who had been a teacher and a local GAA club member, abused the boy by touching him inappropriately while visiting the family home, sometimes bringing him to football matches and gifting him football gear. The boy tried to resist and later denied the abuse to his father. The court heard the brother's long‑term relationship with the family, his role as a trusted figure, and the boy's emotional and educational impact. Judge Dara Hayes imposed a sentence of two years and three months, with nine months suspended, and directed the brother to probation for 12 months after release. The brother accepted the verdict and will not appeal.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Sean Howard, 38, pleaded guilty to a robbery on Dame Street on 13 April 2024. Howard, who has 151 prior convictions for theft, burglary, criminal damage, drug and traffic offences, was sentenced by Judge Orla Crowe to a headline term of six years, reduced to four and a half years with the final six months suspended. The sentence was back‑dated to 13 April 2024 to credit time spent in custody. Howard's attack on a foreign doctor was described by the judge as a "vicious, unprovoked" assault, during which he stamped the doctor's head 151 times and kicked him. The doctor suffered a swollen eye, back pain and knee pain, and was unable to use public transport for two weeks. Howard admitted the offence and expressed remorse, while the prosecution noted the victim's impact statement of fear walking around the city centre for months.
Gareth McGrath, 35, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison for a series of violent offences against his then‑girlfriend. The court heard that the couple met while attending residential addiction treatment and that their relationship quickly turned violent. McGrath pleaded guilty to assault causing harm on 29 July and 8 August 2023, to threatening to kill her on 8 August 2023, and to intimidating a person assisting Gardaí in the investigation of an offence in August 2023. He had 15 previous convictions. The victim's impact statement described repeated unprovoked assaults, a forced attempt to withdraw her Garda complaint while she was in hospital, and lasting psychological effects. Judge Pauline Codd noted McGrath's history of violence and intimidation, commended the victim's resilience, and imposed a concurrent sentence of five and a half years with the final year suspended, subject to conditions including no contact with the victim and engagement with services.
Too Tian Yng, 32, of Kuala Lumpur, was sentenced to three and a half years in prison after pleading guilty to importing €340,000 worth of cannabis into Ireland from Thailand. He admitted to smuggling the drugs at Dublin Airport on 4 June 2024, following an X‑ray of his suitcase that led to a search by customs and excise officers, who found 17 kg of cannabis. Yng claimed he had taken the suitcase from an airport in Bangkok and that he had been coerced, but he did not elaborate on the source of the coercion. He said he was scared of something or someone, but did not identify any names or sources. Yng had no prior convictions and was not known to Malaysian authorities. The court accepted that he acted as a courier, not as a criminal mastermind, and sentenced him accordingly.
Damien Donnan, serving a life sentence for the manslaughter of his mother Jennifer in 2000, is seeking to quash a decision that refused him parole. Donnan, who was 18 at the time of the offence, was convicted after a trial in February 2002. He had originally been charged with murder but was found guilty of manslaughter. The offence involved a dispute over a cigarette, during which Donnan broke his mother's neck and strangled her. In 2006 he received a suspended life sentence, but the suspension was removed in 2007 after he failed to comply with medication and drug‑abuse conditions. The High Court is hearing his application to overturn the parole board's refusal, which was made in September 2024. Donnan's lawyers argue that the board conflated Sections 13 and 30 of the Parole Act, creating an error in law. The court has adjourned the application for leave to seek judicial review to the following month.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, William Ryan, a 41‑year‑old Garda, was sentenced to six years' imprisonment for three counts of sexual assault and one count of false imprisonment. The offences occurred on 29 September 2020 at Aughrim Garda Station, where Ryan prevented a woman from leaving the station, sexually assaulted her on multiple occasions, and held her captive. The victim, whose identity is protected, described feeling "broken" and "degraded" during the trial and testified that Ryan's version of events was false and "badly‑written erotica." Ryan admitted guilt, resigned from the force, and had no prior convictions. Judge Elma Sheahan set a headline sentence of eight years, reduced to six years after mitigation, and backdated it to the time Ryan entered custody. The sentence reflects the breach of trust inherent in the offence. The court heard the victim's impact statement, detailing long‑term psychological harm and the effect on her family.
A 17‑year‑old pleaded guilty to attempting to murder Defence Forces chaplain Fr Paul Murphy, who was stabbed on 15 August 2024 at Dún Uí Mhaoilíosa, Renmore Barracks, Galway. The teenager was 16 when the attack occurred and is not identified because of his age. Mr Justice Paul McDermott ordered a probation report from Oberstown Detention Centre and adjourned the case to 7 March for a sentencing hearing. Fr Murphy, aged in his 50s, will be invited to give a victim impact statement. He received treatment for multiple stab wounds at University Hospital Galway.
Andrew Sankey, aged 57, pleaded guilty to two counts of sexually assaulting a child between September 1996 and October 2000, when the victim was about eight or nine. The abuse occurred while the child's parents were on holiday; Sankey took the child and her brother to a B&B, then forced the child to touch his penis and later digitally penetrated her under the pretext of bathing her. Sankey had previously been convicted of indecent assault in the UK in 1989 and of possession of child abuse material in Ireland, for which he served six months. The complainant, now in her 30s, testified that the abuse had a deep, lifelong impact, causing anxiety, distrust and anger. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Sankey to two and a half years' imprisonment, a reduction from the headline sentence of three and a half years. The sentence reflects the maximum five‑year term for the offence.
A hospital worker from Tallaght has received a fully suspended three-and-a-half-year sentence after pleading guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Daniel O'Neill, aged 40, admitted the offence relating to an incident on 12 November 2023 at Pinewood Park, Tallaght. The court heard that while hungover, O'Neill had given his cousin a lift to Cabra, where four suitcases containing €360,000 worth of cannabis and cocaine were placed in his vehicle. Upon detecting the smell of cannabis during the return journey to Tallaght, O'Neill realised what had occurred. Two suitcases were transferred to another car under garda surveillance, resulting in O'Neill's arrest within metres. The remaining cases were found to contain €138,568 of cocaine. His cousin and a third man, James Glynn of Claremorris, County Mayo, were also arrested. Judge Martin Nolan determined O'Neill did not merit imprisonment, considering he had been placed in an unfortunate position and had received no payment.
Alan McCabe, 26, pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply at a house in Ballymun. He was found with €9,886 of cannabis and drug paraphernalia, though he did not live there and was not responsible for other drugs seized. McCabe had no prior convictions and had quit drug use five years earlier, remaining drug‑free. He has spoken publicly about his negative drug experiences and has shown remorse, submitting an apology letter and a probation report indicating low reoffending risk. The court noted his rehabilitation efforts and the absence of a prior criminal record. Judge Pauline Codd imposed a headline sentence of four years but ultimately sentenced McCabe to two and a half years in prison, suspended in full for three years. The decision reflected the significant drug value and the mitigating factors of his rehabilitation.
Cezary Halicki, 22, of Balbriggan, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession and distribution of child pornography. In April and December 2022, he was found with 12 videos depicting children aged 10 to 14 engaged in sexual activities, and he had forwarded these videos to others on four occasions. Garda Stephen Murphy explained that the case began when the US National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children alerted authorities to a suspicious video, leading to an IP trace to Halicki's home and a warrant for a December search. The search seized a laptop and three mobile phones, revealing 16 videos and messages in which Halicki expressed a desire for younger victims. A psychological report concluded he is not attracted to children. Judge Martin Nolan, noting Halicki's lack of prior convictions, education, and remorse, sentenced him to two years' imprisonment suspended for two years, imposed one year of probation supervision, and ordered his placement on the sex offenders register.
Ryan Jennings, a 30‑year‑old British man from Durrow, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of a controlled drug after a customs officer noticed him acting suspiciously at Terminal One, Dublin Airport, on 24 August 2024. He was found with a large black suitcase containing 32 vacuum‑sealed bags of cannabis valued at €320,100. Jennings admitted that the death of his son in 2022 had led him to heavy drinking and a £15,000 debt, and that he had burned out his work van to try to clear that debt. He claimed the job of transporting cannabis was a "foolish venture" to escape his financial troubles. The court heard his cooperation, early guilty plea, lack of prior convictions and the family tragedy as mitigating factors.
Stephen Geoghegan, 35, of Neilstown Park, Clondalkin, was jailed for money laundering after a search of his home revealed €85,520 in cash, a jet ski, a van, a luxury watch, sterling, and a bag of €63,000 wrapped in cling film. He pleaded guilty to possession of the cash on November 1, 2023, claiming ignorance of its source. Geoghegan, who receives social welfare and has no prior convictions, cooperated with Gardaí and admitted the money was his, though he would not disclose its origin. The Gardaí had confidential information that led to the search. Judge Martin Nolan accepted Geoghegan's lack of previous convictions and his cooperation, but noted he held the money on behalf of a criminal organisation. He imposed a headline sentence of five years, reduced to a custodial term of two and a half years, and forfeited the seized items to the State. The case remains at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Irene Cahill, aged 69, was sentenced to 15 months in prison after pleading guilty to three counts of possession of large quantities of cannabis. The drugs, valued at about €68,800, were found under her bed in her Clondalkin home during a Garda raid on 16 June 2023. Cahill admitted she had taken small portions and handed them out, claiming she was holding the cannabis for a family member who owed a drug debt of €7,000. She said she had been in possession for about four weeks and that this was her first offence. Cahill has no prior convictions but has a long history of drug addiction, having been on methadone since 1990. The judge noted her age and lack of previous convictions, and considered her cooperation with the investigation, before imposing the 15‑month sentence.
Osama Sarhan, 27, of Belvedere Place, Dublin, pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary and assault on two women on 11 February 2024, and to two further burglaries on 14 February 2024. He broke into a woman's apartment while she and her roommate slept, entered the bedroom armed with a knife, and struck one woman, who was taken to hospital with severe hand injuries. The knife was later found discarded under a car. Sarhan was arrested three days later after smashing a window with a tree branch at another burglary scene. He also broke into the Cassidy Hotel, smashing a window and stealing a till worth €300. In court, the judge accepted his guilty plea and mitigating circumstances, including drug use and a difficult period, and imposed a five‑year prison sentence with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions for rehabilitation.
Raymond McGuire, 40, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, criminal damage and harassment after breaking into his former partner's home in July 2018. He entered the house, attacked the woman in her bedroom, threatened her, and later returned to smash a front‑door pane and punch her. He also sent 54 abusive WhatsApp messages. The court heard that McGuire had been drinking and was in a heightened emotional state. A victim impact report was submitted but not read. Judge Martin Nolan found the incidents a severe lapse in judgment, imposed a two‑year custodial sentence, but suspended it in full and ordered McGuire to pay €4,000 to the victim. The judge stated that the payment would serve as punishment, concluding McGuire did not deserve imprisonment. The case remains at the sentencing stage.
Kyle Lawrence, aged 19, was jailed for three and a half years after taking part in the Dublin riots on the day he turned 18. He pleaded guilty to two counts of violent disorder and one count of trespass and theft at Arnotts. CCTV footage showed him throwing items at Garda units, damaging an abandoned Garda car and a Dublin Bus, and looting several shops, including Asics, Footlocker, Arnotts, Penneys, Lifestyle Sports and JD Sports. He admitted to following the crowds and having no reason for the violence, describing it as an adrenaline rush. The judge accepted that he was not an instigator and reduced the headline sentence of seven and a half years to four and a half years, suspending one year on conditions including probation supervision. The sentence reflects his youth, immaturity and cooperation.
Three men have been sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following a violent home invasion in Monkstown, Co Dublin on August 21st, 2023. Michael Royal, Thomas Dwyer and Patrick Fitzgerald pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary and false imprisonment. The court heard that four men, one of whom remains unidentified, forced their way into the family home in the early morning, restraining a man in his 70s with cable ties and removing his wife, daughter and six-year-old grandchild from their beds. During the attack, the homeowner was struck on the head with a metal bar, requiring 13 staples, and his daughter was dragged by her hair when attempting to escape. The intruders demanded information related to a bank where the victim had worked two decades earlier. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a headline sentence of ten and a half years, sentencing Royal and Fitzgerald to seven and a half years each and Dwyer to five and a half years, taking account of his comparative youth and lesser criminal history.
Stephen Kavanagh, 50, was sentenced by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to 240 hours of community service instead of prison for stealing alcohol worth €21,000 while on bail for a similar offence. He pleaded guilty to the theft on 20 September 2023, having 29 prior convictions including a 2022 theft. The judge accepted his guilty plea and noted he had not attracted Garda attention since. A headline sentence of two years was reduced to 18 months, but the court imposed community service within two years. Kavanagh, who had been a successful businessman whose firm had liquidated, claimed financial necessity and debt to "serious individuals" as motive. He had no addiction issues, and his defence highlighted his health difficulties and loss of his mother. The case was adjourned earlier to prepare a Probation Service report to assess suitability for community service.
A 50-year-old woman, November Phelan, was remanded in custody until March 3, when she will be sentenced, following a sentence hearing at the Central Criminal Court. Phelan pleaded guilty to manslaughter when she was arraigned before the Central Criminal Court, admitting to the charge of manslaughter when she fatally stabbed her partner, David Ennis (36), in a Dublin apartment. The court heard that Phelan used excessive force in self-defence, claiming she was in 'total fear' and did not intend to kill him. The incident occurred in the early hours of November 8, 2022, at Claddagh Court in Ballyfermot. The court was informed that Phelan and Ennis had been in a relationship for two to three years, during which drugs were a significant factor. The deceased had a history of drug use and had suffered a fall from a balcony a few days before the incident. CCTV footage showed Ennis arriving at Claddagh Court at 11.30pm on November 7, and Phelan arriving around 1.20am on the morning of November 8. The court heard that Phelan had a history of 26 previous convictions, mostly for public order offences and non-appearance before court. The matter was adjourned and will be finalised on March 3, when the sentence will be determined.
Edmund O'Sullivan, 32, was sentenced to 15 years in prison with an eight‑year post‑release supervision order after the Central Criminal Court heard that he had stabbed and raped a woman in her bedroom just ten days after his release from a three‑year sentence for a knife attack. The court noted O'Sullivan's 108 previous convictions, including four for assaults on women, and that his prior partly suspended sentences had failed to change his behaviour. The judge emphasised the need for close monitoring and protection of society, particularly women, and highlighted the victim's traumatic impact statement. O'Sullivan pleaded guilty to rape, anal rape and threats to kill, and the court set a headline sentence of 23 years before imposing 16 years, suspending the final year on strict conditions. The case was placed in the 15‑years‑to‑life category.
The High Court, exercising its limited power, granted an injunction that pauses the enforcement of new regulations set to take effect on 1 February 2025. The regulations would have allowed state agents to seize or euthanise XL Bully dogs held by animal welfare organisations. Mr Justice John Jordan noted that the regulations lack a review mechanism for a dog warden's assessment of the breed before euthanasia. He refused a second injunction that would have barred shelters from re‑homing the dogs. The stay remains until 27 February, when a substantive hearing on the broader Control of Dogs 2024 regulations will be held. The case was brought by barristers Sunniva McDonagh SC and Mariana Verdes BL on behalf of several charities, including My Lovely Horse Rescue and Clare Animal Welfare. The injunction reflects concerns about public safety amid recent dog attacks. The judge emphasised that the stay allows dogs to remain alive while the legal dispute is resolved.
Patrick Flynn, 60, of Islandbridge, Dublin 8, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to having child pornography at his home in June 2020. The court heard that gardaí, acting on information from the US National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children regarding suspicious online activity, searched Flynn's residence. Officers discovered multiple images and videos of child abuse material, including a screen recording of a child rape upload. Flynn, who has a mild to moderate learning disability, admitted the material was on his phone but claimed he had deleted it, a statement Detective Sergeant Elaine Murtagh described as "patently untrue." Prosecutors noted Flynn's previous 2018 conviction for sexual assault. Defense counsel highlighted Flynn's intellectual difficulties and his willingness to work with Probation Services. Judge Martin Nolan considered whether a custodial sentence was just, noting Flynn's "serious deficiencies" and reclusive lifestyle. The judge stated it would be "unfair and unjust" to imprison Flynn given his personal circumstances. He imposed a two-year prison sentence, suspended in full on strict conditions. These conditions require Flynn to place himself under the supervision of the Probation Services for one year.
Two individuals have been sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following their guilty pleas to conspiracy charges relating to a scheme to impersonate learner drivers during theory examinations. Alina Glont, aged 42, of Charlestown Place, Finglas, Dublin 11, and Daniel Stepien, aged 29, of Annfield Court, Clonsilla, Dublin 15, were convicted of conducting unauthorised theory tests on behalf of third parties between September 2018 and June 2021. Gardaí identified 124 incidents where members of a five-person group sat tests for others, with Stepien completing 68 examinations and Glont 20. Third parties reportedly paid between €1,000 and €2,000 each to the group. Judge Martin Nolan described the operation as a serious criminal enterprise generating approximately €100,000 in profits. Stepien received a 32-month sentence, backdated to December 2024, while Glont was sentenced to two and a half years, with the judge accepting elements of her duress claim involving an ex-partner.
In a Circuit Court hearing on 30 January 2025, Judge Elva Duffy sentenced Anthony Condron, 29, to three years' imprisonment, suspending the final six months, after he pleaded guilty to multiple counts of criminal damage and trespassing in an underground car park at Hampton Wood Drive, Finglas, on 29 September 2022. Condron, who has 76 prior convictions including 30 for criminal damage, admitted he had no idea how THC had entered his system, despite two of three urine samples testing positive. CCTV footage showed him entering the car park via the exit ramp, damaging windows, mirrors, stereos, windscreens, touch screens, wheel arches and five fire doors, causing €14,000 in damage and writing off one vehicle. He was cooperative and remorseful, and the judge noted his participation in educational courses while in custody. The court emphasised that the sentencing aimed to halt his pattern of behaviour.
Jason Paget, aged 38, was sentenced to three and a half years in prison at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on charges of possessing stolen property taken from a Dublin 8 apartment on 6 December 2021. The items included a motorised skateboard and headphones belonging to a young woman whose home was broken into. Paget pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of stolen property. Judge Patricia Ryan noted aggravating circumstances, including that Paget was on bail for 25 matters and serving a suspended sentence at the time of the offence. The judge imposed the sentence with a backdated commencement of 23 March 2023. Paget, currently imprisoned at the Midlands, has an extensive criminal history including convictions for aggravated sexual assault and aggravated burglary dating to 2003, when he was 16 years old.
Six animal welfare organisations—Clare Animal Welfare, Working Animal Guardians, Dogs Angels Ireland, Wicklow Animal Welfare, Haven Rescue, and My Lovely Horse Rescue—have sought a High Court injunction to halt the impending ban on owning XL Bully dogs. The applicants allege that Minister for Rural and Community Development Heather Humphreys failed to publish the reasons for deeming the breed a public danger. They argue the regulations are 'overly broad,' 'void for uncertainty,' and lack appropriate safeguards, such as the height-based exceptions and appeals process present in the UK ban. The ban, which makes it a criminal offence to own an XL Bully without an exemption certificate, is due to come into force on Saturday. Breaches can result in the seizure and euthanasia of the animal, as well as imprisonment or fines for the owner. In an affidavit, My Lovely Horse Rescue co-founder Martina Kenny stated the charity has seen a substantial increase in surrender requests, with up to 10 per day, and noted that the lack of an appeals process is 'most concerning' given the regulations are 'confusing and ambiguous.' The charities claim the definition of an XL Bully is 'artificial.' The matter is at the sentence stage, where the court action seeks injunctive relief against the State. The Judicial Review hearing is adjourned to go before Mr Justice John Jordan at the High Court tomorrow at 11am.
Jack Cummins (21), of Rossmore Road, Ballyfermot, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to procuring the commission of assault causing serious harm to Alanna Quinn Idris on Ballyfermot Road on December 30, 2021. The court heard that Ms Quinn Idris was blinded in one eye during the attack. Judge Patricia Ryan remanded Cummins on continuing bail and directed the preparation of a probation report and victim impact statement ahead of sentencing on May 12. The matter was adjourned. Darragh Lyons (21), of Chapelizod, also pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm to Ms Quinn Idris, assault causing harm to Louis O'Sullivan, and violent disorder. He was similarly remanded on continuing bail with sentencing set for May 12. Josh Cummins (20), of Ballyfermot, previously received a five-year sentence in November 2023, with the final two years suspended, after pleading 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. A fourth gang member was sentenced to four and a half years in March 2023.
Two individuals pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to conspiracy charges relating to a scheme in which they impersonated learner drivers and sat theory tests on behalf of third parties. Alina Glont, aged 42 of Charlestown Place, Finglas, Dublin, and Daniel Stepien, aged 29 of Annfield Court, Clonsilla, Dublin, carried out 88 tests between September 2018 and June 2021. Detective Garda Barry Cormack outlined that a total of 124 incidents were identified, with Stepien completing 68 tests and Glont 20. The Road Safety Authority initiated an investigation in January 2021 following confidential information, subsequently reporting 36 potential impersonations to gardaí. Evidence indicated third parties paid between €1,000 and €2,000 for the service. Upon searching Glont's home, gardaí recovered seven prepaid debit cards registered with false names and used to book over 100 tests. Both defendants presented mitigation, with defence counsel highlighting Stepien's status as lowest-ranking participant and Glont's claims of coercion by an ex-partner. Judge Martin Nolan adjourned sentencing to the following day.
A 36‑year‑old corporal in the Irish Defence Forces, Richard Kearney, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing €25,000 of suspected drug‑proceeds on 6 May 2022. Garda Vincent Jaffray presented evidence that a phone seized from Kearney's rented flat contained communications with known drug dealers, revealing that he had laundered €6.6 million and £250,000 between April 2021 and May 2022. The search uncovered €10,455 in cash hidden in a bed frame and €15,000 wrapped in clingfilm in a freezer. Kearney admitted he was the sole occupant of the flat and that the phone was his. Bank‑statement analysis showed no legitimate source for the money found at his home. The court noted Kearney's lack of prior convictions, his family responsibilities, and his role as a corporal. Judge Martin Nolan, after considering mitigating factors, imposed a headline sentence of six years, reduced to three years.
Brandon Hennessy, aged 21, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing cocaine for sale or supply in Blanchardstown on 21 January 2021, when he was 17. Garda surveillance at TUD Blanchardstown's grounds caught him and a co‑accused, who was about 25, attempting to bury a large package of drugs. Hennessy was apprehended at Mulhuddart Cemetery after the pair fled. A search uncovered 454 g of cocaine worth €31,808 and 10 g of heroin worth €1,482. Hennessy had two prior minor traffic convictions. The prosecution noted his father's murder on Christmas Eve 2023 and his mother's struggle, while the defence highlighted his positive traits and community involvement. Judge Martin Nolan, recognising his youth, guilty plea, cooperation and family circumstances, imposed a three‑year sentence suspended in full, conditional on 18 months' engagement with the Probation Service.
In a case heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, a 19‑year‑old named Nikita Dvoynin pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography after Gardaí discovered over 1,800 images on his devices. The material, uploaded via the Discord app, included 1,141 very explicit images of children as young as two years old. Garda Brendan Cafferkey explained that a warrant was obtained following the discovery of the material, leading to a search of Dvoynin's home where he voluntarily surrendered several digital devices. Dvoynin admitted the devices contained child pornography and later provided a statement detailing how he obtained the material. He had no prior convictions and was cooperative throughout the investigation. Judge Martin Nolan, noting Dvoynin's cooperation, remorse, and lack of previous convictions, imposed a two‑year sentence fully suspended on strict conditions, including 12 months of engagement with the Probation Service. The sentence was delivered with the understanding that Dvoynin would not be imprisoned.
Tony Ward, a 53‑year‑old Dublin City Council employee, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing drugs for sale or supply on 10 May 2023. He admitted that he had transported a package of cannabis, worth €6,000, in his work lorry after being approached by co‑accused Michael Little, who had already pleaded guilty to the same offence and received an 18‑month suspended sentence earlier that year. Garda Tara Higgins explained that officers had been monitoring the area following Little's suspicious behaviour; Ward was stopped and arrested when the package was discovered. Ward's defence argued that he acted as a drug mule because his son owed a drug debt. Judge Martin Nolan accepted that Ward was pressured by his son's drug habit, noted his long work history and unlikely re‑offending, and sentenced him to 18 months in prison, suspended in full on strict conditions.
Dylan Mangan, 26, of Dublin 1, pleaded guilty to making unwarranted demands with menace in March 2020. He threatened two innocent victims, saying he would kill them, slit their children's throats and burn down their homes. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Mangan to five years' imprisonment, describing the offence as "insidious" and noting the threats were menacing and frightening. The case involved co‑accused Des Smyth, 25, who pleaded guilty to the same offence and received a four‑year sentence with the final 18 months suspended for three years to aid his drug rehabilitation. The victims were unrelated to the drug trade; one owed a debt to a half‑brother who was a drug dealer, and the other was the victim's boss. The threats were made after the assailants arrived at the first victim's workplace on 20 March 2020, as shown by CCTV footage.