Gerry Harte, 71, was sentenced to eight years in prison at the Central Criminal Court after pleading guilty on a trial date to 15 counts of indecent assault. The court heard that Harte sexually abused his two younger sisters and younger brother during the 1970s and 1980s at their family home in Castleblayney, Co Monaghan. The victims, who waived anonymity, described growing up in a "house of horrors" and detailed the long-term psychological impact, including PTSD and anxiety. Mr Justice Patrick McGrath noted the offending was of a "gross kind" and marked the serious, persistent nature of the abuse by setting a global headline sentence of 11 years. However, the judge reduced the overall sentence to eight years to account for mitigation, specifically Harte's guilty plea and his lack of previous convictions. Defense counsel Michael O'Higgins SC highlighted Harte's remorse and rehabilitation, while the judge commended the victims for their dignity and courage in coming forward after decades. The matter was concluded with the imposition of this custodial sentence.
The Central Criminal Court sentenced a 54‑year‑old man to ten and a half years' imprisonment for a series of violent offences committed at his family home in County Tipperary. He raped his stepdaughter and forced her to watch while he raped his wife, using an axe during the assault. Earlier that year he was convicted of sexual assault, sexual exploitation of a child, oral rape, assault causing harm and threats to kill against his stepdaughter, and of rape, oral rape, assault causing harm, assault causing serious harm and a threat against his wife. The court noted that both victims were afraid to speak and that the man had threatened to kill the stepdaughter if she disclosed the abuse. He denied the allegations and claimed a conspiracy.
Geovane Ferrnandes, a 31‑year‑old Brazilian, was jailed for three and a half years after being caught at Dublin Airport with 6.7 kg of cocaine, worth €489,790. He pleaded guilty to possessing the drug for sale or supply at Terminal One on 18 March. Ferrnandes claimed he was motivated by the need to fund expensive medical treatment for his daughter, who suffers severe asthma and requires frequent hospital stays. He said he had no knowledge of the contents of the parcel he carried and had not received any payment for the smuggling. The court noted he was caught "red‑handed" and had no prior convictions in Ireland. Judge Orla Crowe set a headline sentence of six years but imposed a term of three and a half years, back‑dated to his March arrest. Ferrnandes has expressed remorse and intends not to return to Ireland after serving his sentence.
In a case heard at the Central Criminal Court, a 27‑year‑old man, who was on probation, attacked his former partner in her home shortly after she ended their two‑year relationship. The victim, who was present at home alone after meeting friends, was assaulted inside the house, sustaining bruises on her face, neck, arm, abdomen and back, as well as marks on her leg caused by a knife handle. Her iPhone and a flowerpot were also damaged. The man, who has nine prior convictions, was convicted last July of assault causing harm and criminal damage. He was found not guilty of false imprisonment and production of an article capable of causing serious harm, and the jury could not reach verdicts on rape and threats to kill or cause serious harm. The Director of Public Prosecutions entered nolle prosequi on those two charges, dropping them.
Graham McGuinness, aged 32, was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison, with the final 12 months suspended for two years, after pleading guilty to causing serious harm for a violent attack on Martin Reilly on 11 June 2020. McGuinness, who has 53 prior convictions, repeatedly slashed Reilly's neck, arms, torso and face with a homemade blade wrapped in tissue, shouting "I'm going to kill you" during the assault. The attack began near Busáras and continued toward Store Street Garda Station, where Reilly attempted to seek help. The court noted the severity of the injuries, including a gash exposing Reilly's jawbone, and the public nature of the violence. Mitigating factors included McGuinness's guilty plea, remorse and difficult upbringing, while aggravating factors were the viciousness, duration and weapon used. The suspended portion requires McGuinness to pay a €100 bond, remain at a listed address, provide a phone number, address drug addiction and attend all probation appointments.
Garry Gibson, 39, of Tallaght, pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis for sale or supply after setting up a sophisticated two‑level grow‑house in his home. The court heard that Gibson had no prior convictions and that he had been under financial pressure from rising mortgage payments. He admitted to modifying the property to create the grow‑house, bypassing electricity, and that he had already completed two or three cultivation cycles. During the search, 50 mature plants and 1.4 kg of cannabis were seized, valued at over €68,000. Gibson accepted responsibility, stating he was working but had been injured and could not work for a time. Judge Elva Duffy imposed a headline sentence of seven and a half years, reduced to five years, with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions. The court noted Gibson had not been a "gillie" but had engaged in the offence for profit.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, former Ireland rugby international Brendan Mullin, aged 60, denied 15 charges of theft and fraud involving over €570,000 from Bank of Ireland Private Bank. Mullin testified that he had always borne personal responsibility for his legal fees and that he had not indicated the bank would pay any portion. He argued that statements suggesting the bank would cover part of his costs were inaccurate and unfair. Mullin's solicitor, Roddy Bourke, confirmed that the bank had indeed provided assistance with legal fees, but Mullin maintained he had not authorized such arrangements. The court heard evidence of Mullin's meetings with Bourke in April 2013, his claims of not seeing the bank's memorandum, and the bank's subsequent inquiries into invoicing. The trial, presided over by Judge Martin Nolan, continues with a jury hearing the case.
John English, 47, of Dublin 2, was sentenced to 18 months in prison, with the final three months suspended for six months, after pleading guilty to brandishing a small knife at a shop worker on South Circular Road. The incident followed English's theft of a Pot Noodle earlier that day, when he was denied service. CCTV footage showed him shouting abuse at the male shop worker while holding the knife, and a female security guard was also engaged. English has about 130 convictions, including a rape conviction from 2004, and most of his offences since 2014 are public order crimes. He is homeless, an alcoholic, and has struggled with drug use. The judge noted his guilty plea, personal circumstances and addiction issues as mitigating factors, but imposed a headline sentence of two years to deter similar conduct. The suspended portion is subject to strict conditions, including supervision by Probation Services.
The EU Courts have been asked to decide whether the human rights of Seán Walsh, a 57‑year‑old alleged IRA member wanted in the UK for directing terrorism, would be violated by changes to sentencing law introduced in Northern Ireland three years ago. Walsh faces four charges – membership of the IRA, directing terrorist activities, conspiracy to direct terrorist activities and preparing to commit acts of terrorism – each carrying a maximum life sentence. He denies the allegations. The offences are alleged to have been committed in July 2020 in Omagh, Co. Tyrone. The High Court in Ireland ordered his surrender to UK authorities in October 2022, and he was granted leave to appeal. Walsh's lawyers argued that the new UK law would impose a heavier penalty than that applicable at the time of the alleged offence.
Francis Declan Radmall, a former employee of Randridge International Ltd, has lodged a claim with the Workplace Relations Commission alleging unpaid wages and redundancy entitlements amounting to €25,995.60. He says the company avoided payments by citing financial hardship following a bankruptcy and issued a letter dated 10 July, though his notice of redundancy was on 5 July. Radmall claims a pay rise from €52,000 to €56,000 was not paid from June 2023 to the end of his employment, and that he was short €2,833 in June and €5,495.65 in July, with no payslips received. The CEO, Darren Daly, contends Radmall did not sign the contract and that 40 % of his June salary was paid. The adjudicating officer, Breiffni O'Neill, adjourned the case, requiring a detailed breakdown of Radmall's pay and the company to provide June and July payslips.
A 48-year-old Portuguese man has been sentenced to eight years imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court following his conviction on charges of rape and coercive control. Sergio Correia of Front Street, Ardara, County Donegal, was found guilty by jury of two counts of anal rape and one count of coercive control. The offences occurred during 2019 against his wife, who waived anonymity to allow his identification. Justice Melanie Greally imposed nine-and-a-half years on each rape count with the final eighteen months suspended, and two-and-a-half years concurrent on the coercive control charge, backdated for time in custody. The judge ordered Correia to engage with probation services, attend domestic abuse and sexual abuse programmes, and participate in addiction counselling and Alcoholics Anonymous. A contact prohibition regarding the victim was also imposed. The court noted mitigating factors including the absence of prior convictions and some evidence of remorse, balanced against the serious nature of the offences and findings regarding his limited insight and moderate reoffending risk in relationships.
A 73‑year‑old man, John Dempsey Senior, was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment, with one year suspended, for repeatedly raping his partner's niece, Lillian Byrne, over an eleven‑year period between 1980 and 1991. Dempsey, who was 33 when the abuse began, groomed Byrne from the age of 12 and abused her throughout her teenage years, claiming to be her boyfriend and telling her they would run away together. Byrne, who was 12 at the time of the first rape, described the abuse as excruciating and said she did not realise it was sexual abuse until later. She made a victim impact statement in 2021, detailing the lasting effects on her life and family. The judge, Mr Justice Paul Burns, noted Dempsey's breach of trust and the repeated nature of the abuse, and set a headline sentence of 14 years, reduced to 10 years, with the final year suspended on strict conditions including probation supervision for three years. The unnamed 73-year-old pleaded guilty.
Two cousins, aged 23 and 20, received suspended sentences after being convicted of sexually assaulting a 15‑year‑old girl in a car in the Midlands on 11 July 2020. The younger cousin, 16 at the time of the offence, was acquitted of an attempted rape charge. Both were 16 and 19 when the assault occurred, after the girl and the younger cousin arranged to meet secretly. The court ordered them to inform their wives, parents and siblings of the crime. The judge, Ms Justice Caroline Biggs, noted the defendants' remorse, their marital status, low cognitive ability of the younger man and the influence of their environment. The younger man was sentenced to 18 months and the older to three years, both suspended in full on conditions including participation in victim‑focused and sexual‑offending courses. The court also praised the victim's resilience and acknowledged her ongoing mental health difficulties. The case was heard in the Central Criminal Court.
Barry McDonagh, a 60‑year‑old from Midleton, Cork, was convicted by a jury of 17 counts of rape and one count of sexual assault against his teenage sister‑in‑law between 1999 and 2000. The victim, aged 15‑16 at the time, waived anonymity and testified that the abuse began when McDonagh kissed her and then digitally penetrated her while she was lying on a couch. Subsequent rapes occurred during a birthday trip and at a B&B. McDonagh maintains his innocence and remains married to the victim's sister, who supported him in court. The judge sentenced him to ten years, suspended a quarter, and back‑dated the term to time already spent in custody, giving a final custodial term of seven‑and‑a‑half years. The victim described the lasting psychological impact and her struggle to pursue her planned career. The case was heard in the Central Criminal Court.
The court heard that CCTV footage captured a man, Sean O'Neill, 22, lying injured on the ground in Dublin City Centre after an assault. The footage showed several people standing over him and stealing his belongings, including a watch valued at €9,000. O'Neill had previously pleaded guilty to violent disorder on 4 October 2023 and robbery on 19 September 2023. He was arrested the following day after a warrant was issued. During interrogation he claimed he could not remember the incident and said he was "strung out," but he identified himself on the footage. The court noted his 39 prior convictions, including drug offences, and his history of homelessness. The judge, Martin Nolan, accepted his guilty plea and admissions, and imposed a four‑year prison sentence, back‑dated to the time he entered custody, with the final year suspended for one year. The victim and the injured man declined to give victim impact statements.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Arslan Cheema, 29, pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assault committed on April 4, 2021, outside a student accommodation in Dublin city centre. The victim, aged 19, described how Cheema placed his hand on her genitals and attempted to kiss her, causing her to feel "frozen and shook" for about ten seconds. She later suffered a breakdown, required hospital treatment, and was prescribed anti‑depressants and anti‑psychotics. Cheema, who had previously worked for a food delivery service, is now employed as a Bus Eireann Expressway driver and has a young child. The court adjourned the case to November 4 to consider mitigation and to impose a sentence. No prior convictions were noted. The hearing focused on the victim's impact statement and Cheema's admission of guilt.
Paul Murphy, a father-of-two who survived a fatal crane incident at Thomond Bridge in Limerick in 2015, reached an undisclosed settlement with multiple parties, including Palfinger Ireland Ltd and Limerick City and County Council, the High Court heard. Counsel for Murphy stated that liability was conceded by the named defendants, allowing the case to proceed solely for the assessment of damages before the settlement was finalized. The incident claimed the lives of Murphy's co-workers, Bryan Whelan and TJ O'Herlihy, who drowned after the crane fell into the River Shannon. Murphy, who suffered PTSD and physical injuries, was rescued by lifeboat. In related proceedings, Palfinger Ireland Ltd was fined €25,000 at Limerick Circuit Court on October 7, 2022, after pleading guilty to breaches of the Health and Safety at Work Act. Additionally, Nationwide Crane Hire Ltd pleaded guilty to similar breaches and was fined €200,000. The prosecutions, brought by the Health and Safety Authority, cited a failed safety mechanism and a missing chapter in the crane manual supplied by Palfinger. The High Court judge acknowledged the trauma Murphy endured, noting he had to relive parts of the tragedy during the proceedings.
Jordan Boyle, 27, was sentenced to four years in prison, with the final 12 months suspended for two years, backdated to January 9, after pleading guilty to five counts of assault causing harm. The offences occurred in Dublin 15, including a supermarket and a bus, where Boyle bit his former girlfriend twice, head‑butted two security guards, dragged her onto a bus, and threatened to kill her. The victim was attacked on multiple occasions, requiring two hospital visits. Boyle's history includes 29 prior convictions and substance abuse. He has expressed remorse and is completing a Fás carpentry course, aspiring to become an electrician. Judge Orla Crowe described his conduct as "utterly flagrant and reprehensible" and noted the victim's severe trauma. The sentence reflects the sustained, public nature of the assault and the use of biting.
Stephen Kavanagh, 50, a former businessman now in debt, pleaded guilty to stealing alcohol worth €21,000 from a drinks company on 20 September 2023 while on bail for a similar offence. He placed the order under the alias "Mark O'Reilly," prompting the company's suspicion and a Garda surveillance operation that intercepted the delivery. Kavanagh was arrested, the alcohol was returned, and no victim impact statement was filed. He has 29 prior convictions, including a 2022 theft of the same nature. In court, his defence highlighted financial necessity, health issues, and threats from creditors, arguing for community service. Judge Orla Crowe accepted the plea, set a headline sentence of two years, reduced it to 18 months, and adjourned the case to February 2025 to decide on a 240‑hour community service order in lieu of prison.
An abuse survivor, aged 14 at the time, testified that Fergus Delaney, 61, groomed and sexually assaulted her between 2000 and 2001. She described how Delaney, seen as a community pillar, used text messages and gifts to gain her trust, leading her to skip school and develop an eating disorder. The survivor said Delaney's actions had a devastating impact on her life, causing her to leave school and feel controlled. She noted that Delaney had suggested she seduced him in an interview with Gardaí. Delaney pleaded guilty to four charges of sexual assault and was sentenced to five and a half years' imprisonment, with the final six months suspended on strict conditions. The court acknowledged the long‑lasting effects of the grooming and assault on the victim's well‑being.
A 44‑year‑old Dublin man was sentenced to 16 months' imprisonment for striking his wife in the face with a suitcase during a family holiday, an act the court described as a "vicious attack" witnessed by their three young children. The defendant pleaded guilty to assault causing harm in August 2020, claiming the incident was a 100 % accident when he attempted to flip the suitcase to empty it. Judge Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin imposed a 16‑month term, suspending the final 12 months on strict conditions, and directed the man to be supervised by Probation Services and to undertake anger‑management and domestic‑violence work. The wife, who sustained a facial scar and has been receiving counselling and antidepressants, was praised for her victim‑impact statement, which the judge found "very moving" and helpful in shaping the sentence. The court noted the presence of the children as an aggravating factor and the couple's strained relationship prior to the incident.
Shane Brown, a 35‑year‑old former postman, was sentenced to a suspended two‑year term after pleading guilty to 36 counts of stealing stamped addressed envelopes and one count of stealing €90 from An Post on 1 November 2023. He was caught with 39 stolen greeting‑card envelopes, including three 'test' cards each containing €30, during a sting operation triggered by suspicious mail found on a Dublin street on 27 October 2023. Brown had worked as a postman for four years but lost his job following the arrest. He has no prior convictions, had an online gambling debt that he has since paid, and is in a long‑term relationship with three children. The judge, Orla Crowe, noted his community involvement and new employment as a delivery driver, and ordered that €500 be handed over to An Post as a token of remorse. The sentence was suspended in full on a number of conditions.
A 51‑year‑old father was sentenced to 12 years in prison for repeatedly raping and sexually assaulting his daughter between 2010 and 2015. The court heard that the victim, aged 10 to 14 at the time of the abuse, had suffered lasting physical and mental health problems, including complex PTSD, chronic fatigue, anxiety, IBS, headaches, migraines and chest pains. She described the abuse as having "utterly changed" her life and said it would continue to affect her for the rest of her life. The victim's impact statement also criticised the use of her counselling notes in the trial, calling it "surreal" and expressing fear that the notes would be used to portray her as a liar. The judge imposed a headline sentence of 13 years for the rapes and nine years for the sexual assaults, with the sentences running concurrently for a total of 12 years. The unnamed 51-year-old was convicted.
Kacper Koszarski, aged 23, was sentenced to four and a half years' imprisonment for a series of burglaries and dangerous driving incidents in Leinster. He pleaded guilty to 17 charges, including four counts of dangerous driving, four of trespass, one of endangerment, four of criminal damage, two of burglary, one of knife production and one of unauthorised vehicle taking, committed between 2020 and 2022. Judge Elva Duffy imposed consecutive sentences totalling five and a half years, suspending the final year on strict conditions. Koszarski was ordered to engage with the Probation Service for two years after release and was disqualified from driving for ten years. The court noted his history of 39 prior convictions, including seven for theft, and his statements of remorse and desire for rehabilitation. The sentence reflects the seriousness of his offences and the potential benefit of rehabilitation to society.
A woman has been sentenced to eight years imprisonment for the manslaughter of a man during a stabbing incident in Ballyconnell, County Wicklow in February 2022. Nicola Brennan (33) pleaded guilty to manslaughter following a jury deadlock on a murder charge at the Central Criminal Court. Mr Justice Paul McDermott noted that Brennan and the deceased had previously been involved and that evidence suggested positive relations between them. The court heard the incident occurred during an evening of heavy alcohol consumption. Brennan introduced a knife into a situation where she faced no threat or provocation, striking the victim in the chest with a downward motion. The judge imposed a headline sentence of twelve years, reduced to nine years following consideration of her guilty plea, remorse and rehabilitation efforts. The final twelve months were suspended for two years conditional on good behaviour and engagement with probation services. The sentence was backdated to July 2022.
Blake Sweeney, 26, of Cahersiveen, was released from prison after serving an eight‑year, six‑month sentence for the manslaughter of Robert Elston, 33, in 2018. Three weeks after his release, Sweeney assaulted a woman and pleaded guilty. The State applied to activate the suspended portion of his sentence. A bench warrant had been issued earlier in the year after he failed to appear in court. He was arrested and remanded in custody. Judge Tony Hunt, hearing the case, decided to activate 12 months of the 18‑month suspended term, back‑dated to the date he entered custody. The judge noted Sweeney's prior good conduct but emphasized that the offence was serious and that the suspended portion would be re‑activated if he re‑offended. The decision was made in a special sitting of the Central Criminal Court. The article does not report any further developments. Blake Sweeney was acquitted.
Jim Connors, 30, a banned driver with 36 prior convictions, was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to a fully suspended term of four and a half years. The sentence, imposed by Judge Martina Baxter, is suspended on the condition that Connors keep the peace and exhibit good behaviour for five years, and he must engage with the Probation Service for two years and undergo any treatment deemed necessary, including drug rehabilitation. Connors pleaded guilty to five charges, including dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm, driving without a licence, and failing to assist a passenger after a collision. The collision occurred on 19 February 2022 when Connors ran a red light and struck a taxi, causing the passenger to sustain multiple fractures and the taxi driver to suffer soft‑tissue injuries. Connors was arrested in June 2022 and made no admissions to gardai. The court received CCTV footage, witness statements, and evidence of Connors' prior alcohol‑addiction treatment.
In a Waterford Central Criminal Court trial, a 34‑year‑old man was convicted of 17 counts of sexual assault against his young cousin over a four‑year period from April 2010. The abuse occurred in the family home and a nearby wooden area, with the victim, who was about ten when first abused, living under the care of the defendant's mother. Incidents happened several times a month, usually in the parents' room, and ceased after an alleged apology by the defendant before the victim entered secondary school in 2014, a claim denied by both parties. The victim, now 23, testified that the abuse left her with loneliness, pain and depression. Mr Justice Patrick McGrath, noting the gross breach of trust and the victim's vulnerability, imposed a headline sentence of 12 years, reduced to 11 years with the final year suspended on strict conditions. The judge highlighted the defendant's lack of prior convictions and work record as mitigating factors.
Two brothers were sentenced at the Central Criminal Court for the rape and indecent assault of three young children at their family farm in Co Offaly between 1987 and 1989. Neville Moody, 52, of Kildare Town, was convicted following trial of two counts of raping his niece, Charlotte Moody, and one count of indecently assaulting her brother, Kenneth Moody. Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo sentenced Neville Moody to a consecutive term of nine years, suspending the final year for two years. His brother, Norman Moody, 53, pleaded guilty to three counts of indecently assaulting Charlotte and one count of indecently assaulting a second niece, Annette Moody. The judge sentenced Norman Moody to a consecutive term of four and a half years, suspending the final six months for six months on strict conditions. The complainants, who waived anonymity, described severe long-term trauma. The judge noted that while both men were minors at the time, the abuse was not innocent experimentation. He acknowledged Neville's lack of insight and Norman's genuine remorse. The sentences reflect the serious nature of the offences against children aged between four and a half and eight years old.
Dessie Dundon, serving life imprisonment for the murder of a Limerick gangland rival, has been granted leave to challenge a refusal to grant him parole based on a "secret dossier" compiled by An Garda Síochána. At a High Court ex-parte hearing, Ms Justice Mary Rose Gearty granted leave for his case to be reviewed. Dundon claims the Parole Board breached his constitutional rights to fair procedure by withholding "considerable" Garda material until after its decision to refuse parole in March. His application alleges the board acted illegally and with procedural impropriety by finding "exceptional circumstances" that warranted keeping the report secret, thereby depriving him of natural justice. Dundon, who has served 21 years for the 2003 murder of Kieran Keane and the attempted murder of Owen Treacy, was convicted in December 2003 of attempted murder and twice of false imprisonment. He also had convictions for assault causing harm and larceny at sentencing, and has since received two further convictions for possession of a mobile phone in prison and wilfully obstructing a prison officer. An Garda Síochána were listed as a notice party. The matter was adjourned to November 5 for mention.
Two men from County Cavan have received suspended sentences at the Special Criminal Court for assisting the Continuity IRA in connection with a purported attack on Enniskillen police station in March 2021. Desmond Smith, aged 65, of Kilnavara Crescent, and Stephen Hamill, aged 52, of Gortnakesh, both pleaded guilty to knowingly rendering assistance to an organisation styling itself the IRA in furtherance of an unlawful object. The attack went unnoticed until media calls prompted a search near the station, which recovered an improvised "slam gun" device. Justice Tony Hunt noted the defendants were "surprising candidates" for such involvement, both lacking relevant previous convictions. He imposed a four-year sentence on Hamill, suspended for four years on condition of a €100 bond, and sentenced Smith to two years nine months, suspended for three years. Both men undertook to disassociate themselves from criminal and paramilitary organisations.
Jason 'Jay' O'Connor, 46, of Whitestown Grove, Dublin, was sentenced by the Special Criminal Court to 11 years' imprisonment for conspiracy to murder Charlie Cooper, a victim of a revenge attack linked to the death of O'Connor's friend Keith Walker. O'Connor pleaded guilty to the reduced charge of conspiracy to murder and to a facilitation offence involving the Kinahan crime group. The judge, Mr Justice Tony Hunt, set a headline sentence of 15 years for the facilitation charge, suspended the final four years, and imposed a concurrent seven‑year sentence for the conspiracy charge, resulting in an overall 11‑year term. O'Connor had 70 prior convictions, including assault, burglary and road‑traffic offences, and had pleaded guilty to the facilitation charge. The court noted his guilty plea and earlier steps toward rehabilitation in determining the sentence.
Nathan McDonnell, a 44-year-old businessman from Ballyroe, Tralee, pleaded guilty before the Special Criminal Court to two charges related to the largest crystal methamphetamine seizure in Irish history. He admitted to importing methylamphetamine at Cork Port on October 16, 2023, and facilitating a criminal organisation between October 2023 and February 2024. The State alleges the 564kg haul, valued at €32.8 million, was imported from Mexico and destined for Australia. Roisin Lacey SC, for the DPP, requested a sentencing hearing for the week of December 16, a date accepted by defence counsel Caroline O'Connell BL. Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding with Judges Elma Sheahan and Marie Keane, remanded McDonnell in custody until December 17 for sentencing. Co-accused James Leen, 41, of Listowel, also appeared. Facing five charges, including directing a criminal organisation and possession of drugs, Leen's defence, led by Brendan Grehan SC, requested a trial date. Mr Justice Hunt allocated a trial date of October 6, 2025, and adjourned the matter to November 11 for mention.
A 31‑year‑old man was sentenced to two years and three months' imprisonment, with the final six months suspended for 12 months under Probation Supervision, for assault causing harm to his former partner on Christmas Eve 2020. The offence involved an hour‑long assault and threats while the victim, who was pregnant, was at home with her one‑ and five‑year‑old children upstairs. The man barged into the house, slapped the victim's face, head and mouth, verbally abused her, threatened to burn down her and her mother's home, and brandished a knife while saying he wanted to kill her. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The judge noted his intoxication, drink and drug issues, 30 prior convictions and the seriousness of the intimate partner violence, and imposed the custodial sentence after taking into account his guilty plea, apology and attempts to address his problems. No contact with the victim's children was allowed.
Naveed Rana, 42, of Newcastle, Co Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to three counts of sexually assaulting an 18-year-old woman in his taxi in October last year. The court heard the victim feared for her life during the incident, which involved erratic driving and forced sexual acts. Judge Elma Sheahan described the offending as serious, noting Rana breached his position of trust and caused significant harm to a vulnerable victim. The judge highlighted that Rana was on bail for a serious drug offence at the time of the attack, for which he later received community service. While acknowledging mitigating factors such as his early guilty plea, remorse, and family circumstances, Judge Sheahan declined to suspend any portion of the sentence due to his status on bail. Rana was handed a five-and-a-half-year custodial sentence. The matter was finalised with this sentence, with no adjournment recorded.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a High Court judge condemned a father for allowing his four‑year‑old son to suffer repeated physical abuse and for misreporting the boy's fatal injuries as a fall from a bunk bed. The judge described the father's conduct as a "shameful betrayal" and noted the child's isolation and the father's deliberate disregard for his welfare. The defendant, 35, pleaded guilty to endangerment, neglect, and aiding an offender, and was sentenced to seven years for each of the endangerment and assisting an offender charges, plus five years for each of two child cruelty convictions, all running concurrently and back‑dated to March 2024. The judge highlighted the clear pattern of abuse, the father's role in hiding injuries, and the boy's tragic death from traumatic head and abdominal injuries. The mother's victim impact statement described the boy as a happy, cheery child whose life was "robbed" by the abuse.
A pregnant woman, Hijacker Gillian Byrne (38), is to be sentenced later this month for her role in hijacking a taxi and assaulting the driver in the Phoenix Park on July 26, 2023. Byrne pleaded guilty to the unlawful seizure of a vehicle and assault causing harm. A co-accused woman is to be sentenced next week for the same offences and the additional charge of falsely imprisoning the taxi-driver. Byrne has 12 previous convictions, including a four-year-suspended sentence for a prior vehicle seizure. Counsel said Byrne had requested to be sentenced separately to her co-accused in this case and that she had allegedly been assaulted by associates of the other woman close to the court. The court heard that Byrne rang 999 immediately after the incident to inform gardaí about the offence and her role in it. A prosecuting garda agreed with Mark Lynam SC, defending, that Byrne had a 'passive role' in the hijacking and the assault and had not known they were about to happen. The matter was adjourned for finalisation on October 24.
Gerard Jordan, 54, was sentenced to 12 months in jail for setting a fire outside the front door of an acquaintance's third‑floor apartment in Rosemount Court, Dundrum, on 2 July 2022. The blaze caused €14,000 of damage to the common area. Jordan pleaded guilty to arson and was a resident of a second apartment block at the same address. The court noted that no physical harm was caused and that Jordan had previously been assaulted by the victim. He had 12 prior convictions, mainly for public order, criminal damage and theft. The judge, Elma Sheahan, considered Jordan's guilty plea, cooperation with Gardaí, personal circumstances and mental health difficulties, and imposed a three‑year sentence with the final two years suspended on strict conditions. No injuries were reported, and the fire was extinguished by the Dublin Fire Brigade. The victim declined to give a victim impact statement. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
In a case heard at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Luke Daly, aged 23, was ordered to keep the peace and be of good behaviour pending a sentence in April. Daly pleaded guilty to simple assault for an incident on 7 December 2019 at Rock Road, Blackrock, where he admitted grabbing a teenager's jacket and pulling him to the ground. Gardaí could not confirm his involvement in kicking or hitting. The victim suffered three fractured fingers after being kicked by a group of 10–20 youths who mistakenly believed he was from a rival school. Daly was directed to pay €3,000 to the victim as a token of remorse. Judge Orla Crowe noted the offence could warrant a two‑month sentence but intended to dispose of the case under Section 100 of the Criminal Justice Act, pending the victim's full compliance with conditions. The victim did not wish to attend court or give a victim impact statement.
In a sentencing hearing at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Annette Keane, mother of 34‑year‑old motorcyclist John Keane, delivered a victim impact statement after her son was killed in a collision with a car driven by Karl Ennis on 14 April 2021. Ennis pleaded guilty to careless driving. The court disqualified him from driving for three months and fined him €2,000. Judge Pauline Codd noted Ennis's lack of attention and the serious consequences of a momentary lapse, while also acknowledging the family's forgiving attitude. Ennis, who had no prior convictions, was cooperative with Gardaí and had retired after the incident. The hearing included testimony about the collision, Ennis's apology, and the family's profound loss. The judge extended legal aid for any appeal and directed the fine to be paid within 12 months.
Elizabeth Lock, 56, was jailed for two and a half years after customs officials at Dublin Airport discovered 30 vacuum‑packed bags of cannabis worth €270,460 in her luggage. A drugs dog had indicated the presence of contraband, and a search revealed the cannabis. Lock claimed she had been given the bags in Canada by a third party and believed she was transporting precious metals for tax‑avoidance purposes. She said she had answered an online job posting, was in financial difficulty, and was promised $10,000. She pleaded guilty to possession and importation of a controlled drug for sale and supply. Judge Orla Crowe cited the large quantity and financial motive as aggravating factors, but noted Lock's medical issues, lack of prior convictions, and guilty plea. The judge imposed a three‑year sentence, suspended the final six months, and backdated the term to her March arrest.
Paul Beggs, 49, of Brookfield Park, Rush, was found guilty of four counts of theft after diverting €26,785.53 from Eventhouse's bank account to his own. He admitted the fraud, citing a gambling addiction, and accepted responsibility. Beggs has paid €1,000 in 2020 and raised an additional €10,000, but the total restitution remains incomplete. He has no further theft convictions and has not been involved with Gardaí since the incident. Beggs has expressed remorse, is drug‑free, attends Alcoholics Anonymous and Gamblers Anonymous, and has re‑entered employment after a period of unemployment. The court, acknowledging his early plea and low re‑offending risk, imposed a suspended sentence of two years and three months, with the full term suspended. He must repay the remaining amount within the next week. The case was heard by Judge Dara Hayes in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
In a High Court hearing on 7 October 2024, Mr Justice Paul McDermott sentenced a 17‑year‑old juvenile who had sexually assaulted and defiled a 13‑year‑old girl in a Dublin park. The boy pleaded guilty to one count of defilement of a child under 15 and one of sexual assault. The judge noted the boy's lack of consent, the use of violence, and the coercive element of the assault. He highlighted the boy's mental health diagnosis and lack of prior convictions, and remarked that the boy's prepared statements to Gardaí contained self‑serving lies. The judge advised lawyers to consider Gardaí guidelines for interviewing juveniles. The boy received a 12‑month detention sentence, while the victim, aged 15, delivered a victim impact statement describing the lasting psychological harm and her determination to prevent future victims. The judge praised her courage and noted the impact on her mental health and family.
In a High Court sentencing hearing, a teenage boy under 18 was sentenced to life in detention with a review after 15 years for the murder of 51‑year‑old Lorna Woodnutt. The boy, who cannot be named under the Children's Act, used a sledgehammer to kill Woodnutt on 29 September 2023 outside Tullamore, Co Offaly. After the killing, he posted a 17‑second video of the victim's body on Snapchat, which was later removed when Gardaí arrived. The judge described the boy's actions as "sickening" and noted his "unhealthy interest" in extreme male role models that shaped a negative attitude toward women. The boy, diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and an adjustment disorder, showed aggressive behaviour at home and school. The sentence will be reviewed in 2038, with release dependent on progress and risk assessment. The court ordered bi‑annual probation reports and psychiatric assessments. The unnamed 17-year-old pleaded guilty.
A 34-year-old man has been sentenced to eight years imprisonment following his conviction for rape at the Central Criminal Court. Shaun O'Donnell, originally from Leeds in the United Kingdom, was found guilty of one count of rape and one count of sexual assault against a woman at a Donegal residence on 26 March 2021. The offence occurred while the victim slept beside her partner and newborn baby. O'Donnell, who had been staying with the couple, initially climbed into the bed undetected. Upon discovering his identity, the woman left the room. Mr Justice David Keane described the breach of trust as "fundamental" and noted the grave harm caused to the victim. The judge imposed the sentence without suspension, observing that O'Donnell had not accepted the verdicts or expressed remorse. A concurrent sentence of two years and eight months was imposed on the sexual assault charge. The sentences were backdated to February of the previous year when O'Donnell entered custody.
Colin 'Ollie' Murphy, aged 50 and a former 15‑year member of the band Ham Sandwich, was convicted at the Central Criminal Court for raping a woman in her Dublin home in September 2020. The victim, who wished to remain anonymous, described the assault as occurring in her bedroom after a party, with Murphy claiming the encounter was consensual. Murphy denied the allegations, later accepting the jury's verdict and apologising to the victim. Mr Justice David Keane sentenced him to seven years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended on strict conditions, including engagement with relevant services. The sentence was reduced from an initial eight‑year headline, taking into account Murphy's lack of prior convictions, low risk of re‑offending and his expressed remorse. The conviction was back‑dated to 7 March, when Murphy entered custody.
Wayne Higgins, 27, was convicted of raping a woman in Cork city on 28 August 2019. The victim, who was intoxicated, had asked Higgins to escort her to a bus stop after drinking with him. While stopped in a laneway, Higgins raped her in broad daylight. Neighbours shouted at him and threatened to call the Gardaí, but he replied, "It's just sex," and fled. The victim later testified that she could not identify him at the time and that DNA evidence linked him to the assault. Higgins, who had a history of drug, robbery, stalking, harassment and breach of a barring order convictions, was sentenced by Mr Justice Paul Burns to ten years' imprisonment. The final year was suspended for three years on the condition that he engages with the Probation Service and has no contact with the victim. The court noted his moderate risk of re‑offending and his significant alcohol addiction. Wayne Higgins pleaded guilty.
A 50‑year‑old man was sentenced to ten years in prison for raping his step‑daughter, who was 11 at the time of the assaults. He pleaded guilty to two counts of rape, production of child pornography and sending sexually explicit material to a child, all committed in November 2023. The court found evidence of a prolonged grooming campaign that began when the man sent inappropriate text messages to the nine‑year‑old step‑daughter and continued for almost two years, including explicit images and videos of the child. The judge noted the man's lack of insight and the risk of re‑offending, and imposed a suspended year of the sentence on strict conditions, including probation and no further contact with the child. The sentencing was delivered by Mr Justice Paul Burns at the Central Criminal Court. The case was brought by the prosecution team led by Patricia McLaughlin SC.
At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Martin Nolan sentenced two defendants for their roles in the unlawful administration of the euthanasia drug Dolethal to two dogs at Ashton Dog Pound in July 2020. Vet Sydney Nagle, 65, pleaded guilty to two counts of causing or permitting a non-vet to possess the medicine, as well as four counts regarding record-keeping failures. He was fined €12,500, payable over six months. Judge Nolan noted Nagle was a fine vet who had done considerable service but failed to know the law, adding that Nagle may face consequences from an ongoing Veterinary Council of Ireland fitness-to-practice inquiry. Raymond Connolly, 56, the pound supervisor, pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing the vet-only medicine and causing or permitting a lay person to administer it. He was fined €400, payable over six months. The judge described Connolly's culpability as low, stating he followed established instructions and could not be expected to know the legal intricacies. The court heard the dogs, an Akita and a Bichon Frise, suffered vomiting and diarrhoea after being dosed orally; one died, and the other was humanely euthanised days later. This follows previous fines for former pound manager Donal Moroney and owner David Stone for similar offences.
David Callaghan, aged 33, was sentenced to 13 and a half years in prison for assisting an organised crime group involved in international money laundering and drug trafficking between 29 April 2021 and 4 February 2022. The sentence was reduced to 8.5 years with the final five years suspended. The court heard that Gardaí discovered an electronic ledger showing over €924,000 moved between June 2021 and January 2022, and that Callaghan communicated with a driver via the Signal app about money laundering, drug trafficking and operational details. Evidence included photos, videos, and instructions for handling drugs and cash. Callaghan pleaded guilty, exercised his right to silence during the interview, and later expressed regret, promising to avoid future criminal activity and to protect his children. The judge cited mitigating factors, including the tragic deaths of three of Callaghan's siblings, when suspending part of the sentence.