A 21‑year‑old man was sentenced to two and a half years' imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court in Waterford for pleading guilty to six counts of sexual assault against his younger sisters. The offences began in 2010 when the victims were eight to ten years old and continued until the older sister was ten. The court heard that the man controlled and sexually abused the sisters while they visited their father's home, forcing them to comply and threatening them not to tell anyone. The older sister, now 17, described the abuse as having torn her family apart and left her with nightmares and ongoing therapy. The younger sister, now 14, said she feared further harm and had lost focus at school. The judge, Justice Karen O'Connor, imposed a five‑year sentence with two and a half years suspended, back‑dated to June 17, and placed the defendant on the sex offenders register for five years.
In a Central Criminal Court trial in May, Anthony Byrne, 55, was found guilty of two counts of raping his stepdaughter Kim Jordan, now 36, in 2002. Jordan, who had been raped on her 15th birthday while on a family holiday in Spain, waived her anonymity to name Byrne. She described how Byrne, who claimed he was "having an affair" with her, had abused her during a strip‑poker game and later in their home. Jordan said Byrne blamed her for his actions and portrayed her as a "teenage sexual temptress." She recounted the assault in detail, noting her emotional state and fear of pregnancy. Byrne's defence acknowledged sexual contact but denied rape. Justice Mary Ellen Ring noted Byrne's claim of an affair and that sentencing would be delayed until July 31 due to late documents, while also referencing recent changes to the Sexual Offences and Human Trafficking Bill that affect sentencing procedures.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Sandra Sandaraite, 39, pleaded guilty to manslaughter for stabbing her partner, Zbigniew Czech, 47, to death on 10 December 2022 at their Academy Street apartment. She claimed that if she had not taken a knife, she would have been "battered" and that she felt free after the killing. The court heard that the couple's relationship, lasting about three years, was marked by excessive alcohol consumption and 24 complaints of violent behaviour from both sides. Sandaraite said Czech had become aggressive after drinking vodka, grabbed her arms, and she armed herself with a knife, cutting him before he fled. A pathology report identified a stab wound to the upper left chest causing a major pulmonary injury, leading to his death. The prosecution accepted her plea of manslaughter, and the case was adjourned for sentencing.
Terence 'Terry' Connors, aged 49, was convicted of manslaughter for stabbing Peter Conroy to death during a brawl at Palmerstown Lodge B&B on 9 June 2015. In 2017, a jury found him guilty of manslaughter and he received a seven‑year sentence with the final two years suspended. He was released in July 2019, but in May 2023 he was re‑sentenced to three years after being found in possession of stolen goods. The possession offence triggered the suspended portion of his 2017 sentence, and the court activated the full two‑year suspension, which will run after his current term for the possession conviction. The case was heard by Mr Justice Paul McDermott at the Central Criminal Court, with counsel for the Director of Public Prosecutions and for Connors present. Evidence at the 2017 hearing described a chaotic scene at the B&B, with Connors claiming he feared for his children's safety and subsequently stabbed Conroy.
A 17‑year‑old boy, diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder at 18 months, used a sledgehammer and a lump hammer to bludgeon 51‑year‑old laboratory technician Lorna Woodnutt to death on 29 September 2023 at a rural property outside Tullamore, Co Offaly. He recorded the attack and posted a 17‑second video on Snapchat, sharing it with a "three‑figure number" of contacts before removing it when Gardaí arrived. The video showed the victim's body with severe facial injuries, a large skull hole and brain matter on the floor. The boy also sent a selfie with the body in the background. He pleaded guilty earlier in the month. The court heard that he had called 999 twice after the killing and that his phone contained searches about hammer attacks and psychopath behaviour. The case was adjourned to 3 October, with the defendant to be detained at Oberstown Children Detention Centre pending sentencing.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, Hamed Azeez, 53, was convicted of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault against a girl aged six to eight, and two counts of sexual assault against her sister aged eight to ten. The offences occurred between 2013 and 2015 in County Dublin, while Azeez was in loco parentis of the girls. The court heard that the rape took place on a counter at Azeez's home, and that other children were playing nearby. Azeez also touched the girl inappropriately, and later assaulted her sister by touching her breasts and buttocks. The victims gave impact statements describing lasting pain, fear, anxiety and a sense of loss of safety. Azeez denied wrongdoing. Justice Eileen Creedon sentenced him to 11 years' imprisonment, with a headline term of 12 years for rape and eight years for the assault offences, reduced by one year each and imposed concurrently.
Raymond Shorten, a 50‑year‑old Dublin taxi driver, was sentenced to 13 years' imprisonment for raping a seven‑year‑old girl in 2022, a crime committed days after the child's mother's funeral. The judge, Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo, highlighted the victim's extreme vulnerability and the lack of compassion shown by Shorten, noting that he "couldn't have cared less" about the long‑term pain inflicted. The sentence was reduced by one year from an initial 14‑year headline to 13 years, back‑dated to the date Shorten entered custody on 22 August 2022. Shorten also faces additional rape and sexual assault convictions from other incidents involving young women that occurred in the same year, but those sentences are pending. He remains in custody and has been working in the prison laundry under an enhanced regime.
Michael McGuirk, aged 23, was sentenced to six years' imprisonment for dangerous driving causing death after he struck 67‑year‑old Carol Seery while speeding at 96.4 km/h in a 50 km/h zone. McGuirk, who had been banned from driving for four years at the time, had 66 prior convictions, including dangerous driving, unlawful vehicle taking, and no insurance. He fled the scene and refused to answer Garda questions. The court noted he failed to activate brake lights, did not alter his course, and continued at speed before abandoning the car. Seery, a caregiver and beloved family member, was killed instantly. McGuirk pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death, endangerment, dangerous driving and driving without insurance. Judge Elva Duffy imposed a headline sentence of eight and a half years but, considering mitigating factors, set a final sentence of six years and a 15‑year driving disqualification. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
A 49‑year‑old Meath man was jailed for 10 years after a Central Criminal Court jury found him guilty of one count of sexual assault and one count of rape against his niece, who was aged eight to ten at the time of the offences. The niece, now in her twenties, described how the trial forced her to "relive the trauma over and over again," noting the terror of standing on the witness stand and hearing her uncle's breathing. She had suffered flashbacks since her teenage years and had struggled with denial and fear before finally disclosing the abuse to her family. The judge, Mr Justice Paul Burns, imposed an 11‑year sentence with the final year suspended for three years, citing the life‑changing impact of the abuse. The man maintains his innocence and is also serving a separate sentence for money‑laundering offences.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, a 52‑year‑old man was convicted of 25 counts of sexual assault against his vulnerable adult stepdaughter, who was 21 when the abuse began in 2011 and continued until 2017. The assaults, which included inappropriate touching, attempts at intercourse, and digital penetration, occurred at a house in Co Offaly over six years. The victim, who has long‑standing mental health difficulties and has spent time in psychiatric wards, reported the abuse to work colleagues in May 2017 after the man returned to the home. He was arrested, denied wrongdoing, and later fled, prompting a European arrest warrant. He was extradited in 2021, released on bail, and later gave evidence for himself. The judge, citing the prolonged nature of the abuse, the breach of trust, and the victim's vulnerability, imposed an eight‑year sentence, back‑dated to October, with no probation supervision.
Anthony Kelly, 64, was sentenced to two years in prison for assault causing harm to a woman on 14 April 2019 and a separate conviction for threatening to kill a pregnant bookies employee on 9 October 2020. The assault took place in Blackhall Place, Dublin, where Kelly struck a woman in the face, kicked her, and was verbally aggressive towards an eyewitness who intervened. The victim suffered a 5‑cm contusion but did not require stitches. In the bookies incident, Kelly shouted threats, claimed he had a knife, and the pregnant employee pressed the panic alarm. No knife was found. Kelly's sentence for the assault was two years and six months, with the final six months suspended to encourage rehabilitation. The threat‑to‑kill sentence was two years, suspended in full on strict conditions. He was directed to probation supervision. The judge noted his age, medical difficulties, and personal circumstances as mitigating factors. Anthony Kelly pleaded guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, a jury was informed that the alleged sexual assault of a woman by Garda William Ryan at Aughrim Garda Station was described by the defence as "consensual activity between two adults." Defence counsel argued that the woman had cupped her own bottom, pressed herself against Ryan, and showed him her breast before they went upstairs together for consensual sexual activity. The woman repeatedly denied these claims, stating "definitely did not happen." Ryan, aged 38, pleaded not guilty to three counts of sexual assault and one count of false imprisonment. The State alleged that Ryan prevented the woman from leaving the station and sexually assaulted her three times. The trial, presided over by Judge Elma Sheahan, continues with the jury hearing evidence from both sides.
In a court hearing on 19 July 2024, Graham McGuinness, aged 32 and with 53 prior convictions, pleaded guilty to causing serious harm after he repeatedly slashed and stabbed Martin Reilly with a homemade shank. The attack took place on 11 June 2020 near Busáras, Dublin, where McGuinness shouted "I'm going to kill you" while striking Reilly's neck and face. Reilly suffered multiple lacerations, including a deep cut that exposed his jawbone, and has been left with lifelong scars. McGuinness had originally been charged with attempted murder but the State accepted his plea for serious harm. The court noted Reilly's belief that he would die that night and that the shank was wrapped in tissue to create a handle. McGuinness offered a brief apology and stated he has turned his life around. The case was adjourned to 9 October for finalisation.
Raymond Shorten, a 50‑year‑old Dublin taxi driver, was convicted in May 2024 of two counts of rape and one of sexual assault against a seven‑year‑old girl in 2012. The victim, now 20, requested anonymity. Shorten was also convicted in June of two counts of rape and one of anal rape against two other young women who had ridden in his taxi after a night out in Dublin in 2022. He is due to be sentenced next Monday by Mr Justice Paul McDermott, after Mr Justice Naidoo's unavailability.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a tourist from France was attacked on Talbot Street by a group of men, one of whom struck him repeatedly with a machete. The victim, who had been traveling extensively across Europe, was left with two deep wounds on his right leg and required surgery. He survived but suffered significant trauma and expressed uncertainty about future travel. John Hogan, 33, with 29 prior convictions including knife possession, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and producing a machete. He was sentenced to five and a half years' imprisonment, with a headline sentence of eight years, and the court noted the attack was "particularly savage." The sentence was backdated to 30 December 2023 when Hogan entered custody. The case highlighted the potential for a murder charge had the victim died.
Three men have appealed their convictions for involvement in a vigilante attack on security personnel at a repossessed farmhouse near Strokestown, County Roscommon, in December 2018. Martin O'Toole, PJ Sweeney, and Paul Beirne were convicted in June 2023 of fifteen charges including aggravated burglary, violent disorder, and animal cruelty. During the incident, a group of armed men forced entry to the property at Falsk, attacking security guards with weapons including a baseball bat, meat cleaver, and chainsaw. The guards were beaten, restrained with cable ties, and a dog was beaten unconscious and subsequently euthanised. At the Court of Appeal, the appellants' counsel challenged the admissibility of video evidence and questioned whether guilt could be established given the number of people present. They also contested identification procedures and the lawfulness of certain detentions. The State's counsel argued that video footage clearly identified the appellants and demonstrated a common design among those involved. Mr Justice Peter Charleton reserved judgement.
A former ESB electrician, Colm Sheehy, aged 43, pleaded guilty to possessing €133,752 worth of heroin and cocaine at his Tallaght home in October 2022. He was on bail for a prior drug conviction when the offence occurred. Judge Martin Nolan, hearing the case in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, normally would have imposed a six‑year sentence for the serious offence but reduced it to three years because Sheehy suffered a serious brain injury in 2017 after falling from a ladder at work. Medical reports showed a 30‑point IQ drop and ongoing cognitive difficulties, headaches, anxiety and depression. Sheehy has 33 prior convictions, including a previous three‑year prison term in 2002, and has struggled with long‑term drug addiction since age 18. The court noted his good work history and the impact of his injuries on his culpability. The case was adjourned to address his earlier conviction.
Magno Da Silva, 33, pleaded guilty to possessing €99,975 as proceeds of crime in his AIB account. He had previously received a suspended sentence for laundering €10,000 in a 2023 investment fraud. The court heard that the €100,000 came from a fake treasury bond scam in which the victim transferred the money to Da Silva's account after receiving a digital copy of a purported bond. Da Silva claimed the money was "clean" and intended to pay tax. Two weeks later he bought a second‑hand Mercedes for €22,900 and a Toyota for €22,400, and gave the remainder to his wife. The court sentenced him to three years' imprisonment with the final nine months suspended, ordered the sale of the two cars, and directed the proceeds to the victim. The victim's loss was €79,604. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
A woman who says she was locked into Aughrim Garda Station and sexually assaulted by Garda William Ryan (38) has told a jury that Ryan told her to "wear something tight" before the alleged attack. She claims Ryan prevented her from leaving the station and sexually assaulted her three times. The woman, who had gone to the station for advice about her son's impounded car, says Ryan insisted she come to the station, invited her inside, and after a brief conversation he allegedly slapped her buttocks, grabbed her breasts, and sexually assaulted her in a shower room. She says the incident lasted about seven or eight minutes. Ryan denies the allegations. The case is before Judge Elma Sheahan and a jury. The trial continues. William Ryan pleaded not guilty.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court has convicted Derry O'Rourke, a former Irish Olympic swimming coach, of raping and sexually abusing a teenage girl over three decades ago. O'Rourke, aged 78 and resident in Cavan, had pleaded not guilty to one count of rape and 15 counts of indecent assault alleged to have occurred at a school between October 1989 and June 1990, when the complainant was aged 13 to 14 years. The trial judge directed the jury to acquit O'Rourke of four charges, leaving 12 offences for consideration. The jury unanimously convicted him on all remaining counts following five hours and 27 minutes of deliberations. Justice Melanie Greally remanded O'Rourke in custody pending sentencing on 30 July. O'Rourke has previous convictions for sexual offences dating back to 1998, including rape and indecent assault involving multiple victims. A victim impact statement has been ordered for the sentencing hearing.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a serving Garda, William Ryan, aged 38, pleaded not guilty to three counts of sexual assault and one count of false imprisonment. The case concerns an incident at Aughrim Garda Station on 29 September 2020, where a woman sought assistance with her son's case. According to the prosecution, Ryan invited her into the station, made lewd comments, and after a brief conversation, allegedly forced her to stand, slapped her buttocks, and locked the side door to prevent her escape. The woman is said to have tried to leave but was prevented by the lock. She reportedly showed Ryan a bikini photo, after which he allegedly grabbed her breast, propositioned her, and forced her into a shower room. In that room, he is alleged to have placed his hand on her, forced her to pull away, and then digitally penetrated her vagina.
In a Central Criminal Court sentencing hearing, a 31‑year‑old man was jailed for six years for keeping his partner prisoner and repeatedly beating her over a three‑day period from 18 to 21 February 2021. He pleaded guilty to two counts of assault causing harm and one count of false imprisonment. The court heard that he entered the victim's home, took her keys and phone, and after she tried to calm him, he locked the door, beat her with a baton and a glass bottle, and left a rope around her neck. He beat her on the head on 19 February and continued until she woke on Sunday. He has 37 prior convictions, including 18 for public order offences.
Amy Reynolds, 38, was sentenced to three and a half years in prison for dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm after she broke a red light and collided with another car at Walkinstown Avenue and the Long Mile Road on the night of 2–3 January 2022. The impact left the other driver with a brain bleed, fractured skull and other injuries, requiring five weeks in hospital. Reynolds also admitted to leaving the scene to evade liability and driving without insurance or a licence. She was already disqualified from driving for five years at the time of the offence and had 26 previous convictions, many for traffic offences. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a headline sentence of five years, citing an "element of coercion" as a mitigating factor, but noted that a custodial term was unavoidable. He also extended her disqualification from driving for an additional five years. Amy Reynolds pleaded guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Judge Martin Nolan faced uncertainty over how to sentence two 16‑ and 17‑year‑old boys charged with demanding money with menace during a drug‑debt dispute. The judge noted that suspended sentences are not available for juveniles, so he considered an 18‑month good‑behaviour bond that would require the boys to remain under Probation Service supervision for one year. He questioned counsel about consequences if the boys misbehave or fail to attend, and was told it would be difficult to enforce. After reviewing CCTV footage showing the boys, a third person, and a ringleader who has fled, the judge ruled that neither boy deserved detention and imposed the bond. Both pleaded guilty to the single count, with additional affray and trespass charges considered. The boys had no prior convictions, had recently finished their Leaving Certificate, and expressed remorse.
A 36‑year‑old Dublin man was jailed for three years after he beat his partner unconscious on 17 December, an act that left her seven‑year‑old son wandering the streets in pyjamas looking for help. The court heard the boy was found by a passer‑by who took him to safety and called the Gardaí. The victim, who was found bleeding and bruised, was taken to hospital and later told police that the man had been drinking and had punched her twice, causing her to lose consciousness. The defendant pleaded guilty to one count of assault causing harm. He had 14 prior convictions, mainly for public‑order and traffic offences. The judge, after noting his guilty plea, cooperation and apology letter, set a headline sentence of four years, reduced to three, citing mitigating factors.
Aaron Brady, aged 33, admits that his attempt to pervert the course of justice during his trial was wrong but maintains that witnesses gave untrue evidence against him. He was convicted in 2013 of murdering Garda Adrian Donohoe during a robbery and is serving a life sentence with a minimum of 40 years. In 2020 he pleaded guilty to recording a witness interview and sending photographs to a prison colleague in an effort to influence testimony. Brady's counsel, Michael O'Higgins SC, argued that the witnesses were under pressure during the COVID lockdowns and that Brady's actions were a serious error of judgment, not a justification. The court was asked to consider leniency and to allow the maximum benefit for Brady's guilty plea. Brady's perverting‑justice sentence cannot run consecutively to his life sentence, but the DPP seeks it to run consecutively to his 14‑year robbery sentence.
A 67‑year‑old man from Carlow was sentenced to life imprisonment by Ms Justice Melanie Greally for a prolonged pattern of sexual and physical abuse against his wife, spanning from 1991 to 2015. He pleaded guilty to 12 counts, including nine rapes, two sexual assaults and one assault causing harm, all committed in the family home. The judge highlighted the regularity of the offences, the use of gratuitous violence, and the presence of children during the assaults. The victim's impact statement described "25 years of hell" and the severe damage inflicted. Concurrently, the court imposed a four‑year sentence for the sexual assault and assault causing harm charges and ordered a two‑year post‑release supervision if he is ever released. The life sentence reflects the extreme and prolonged nature of the offending.
An asylum seeker, Adel Kerai, 26, was jailed for two years and three months after sexually assaulting a 22‑year‑old woman in Dublin's city centre. Kerai had arrived in Ireland five days earlier and, after following the woman for up to half an hour, forced his way into her personal space on Henry Street on 10 December 2023. He attempted to kiss her, touch her genital area under her clothes and press his erect penis against her. The victim tried to escape, but Kerai was too strong. The incident lasted 30 minutes, parts of which were captured on CCTV. Kerai, who has four prior convictions in the UK and is seeking asylum from Algeria, pleaded guilty. Judge Martin Nolan set a headline sentence of four years, reduced to 27 months, and back‑dated it to the time of Kerai's arrest. The court noted the assault was uninvited and particularly frightening for the victim.
A jury has been empanelled for the trial of William Ryan, a 38‑year‑old Garda of Aughrim Station, who is charged with three counts of sexual assault and one count of false imprisonment of a woman at the station on 29 September 2020. Ryan appeared before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, pleaded not guilty to all charges, and was informed that he is a serving member of An Garda Síochána. The trial, expected to last eight to nine days, will hear witnesses including Gardaí and senior detectives, and is scheduled to open tomorrow before Judge Elma Sheahan.
A 19-year-old, John Mulrooney Sugrue of Manorfield Green, Clonee Dublin, has initiated a High Court challenge against the mandatory life sentence law, which would prevent a judge from imposing any sentence other than life in prison if he is found guilty of the murder of Aaron Keating on Main Street, Ongar, Dublin 15 on June 13, 2023. Represented by Seamus Clarke SC, Sugrue argues that the law prevents the sentencing judge from considering that the alleged offence occurred when he was a minor. He claims this breaches his constitutional rights and rights under the European Convention of Human Rights. Sugrue seeks various orders, including an order to prevent further prosecution until sentencing provisions account for his age at the time of the alleged offence, and a declaration that the State has breached his rights by failing to have a sentencing regime that allows for such considerations. The matter was heard by Ms Justice Niamh Hyland, who granted permission for the challenge. The case, along with related matters, will be mentioned before the court later this month. Two other similar challenges have been brought by Noah Musueni and David Amah, who are also charged with murder and are awaiting trial in the Special Criminal Court.
In a tragic incident that occurred on 12 January 2018, Alexander Kondrashyn died after jumping from the cargo vessel The Elptrader at Dublin Port. The ship's gangway, which should have been secured to the quayside, had been removed before midnight, contrary to maritime regulations that require a safe means of access and egress for people boarding or disembarking. Kondrashyn, who was socialising with the ship's master Sergej Stolbov and the master of another vessel, jumped from the ship with another man at about 4.30 am. While the other man landed on the quay, Kondrashyn fell into the water, was recovered unresponsive and later died in hospital. The court heard CCTV footage showing the gangway in place at 11.19 pm and its removal before midnight. Stolbov pleaded guilty to failing to ensure the gangway remained in position, a summary offence punishable by a fine of €500.
During a Central Criminal Court hearing, Gerard Ward, aged 48, was sentenced to five and a half years' imprisonment for an aggravated sexual assault committed on August 25, 2020, at Raheen Business Park, Limerick. The assault involved a threat of rape, forced kissing, and the victim biting down on Ward's tongue, removing a significant portion. Ward also pulled the victim's hair, leaving a bald patch, and inflicted bite marks and scratches. He had previously been convicted of robbery, road traffic, and drug offences, receiving sentences of six and seven years in 2016 and 2001 respectively. The judge, Mr Justice Michael MacGrath, set a headline sentence of seven years, reduced by 18 months, and suspended the final six months, citing Ward's remorse and acceptance of the jury verdict. The court noted Ward's injuries required relearning how to speak. The victim, who had called emergency services, was praised for her bravery.
Mark Adams, a 44‑year‑old former male model and airport police officer, was surrendered to Northern Ireland after a series of money‑laundering convictions. He had previously been jailed in the Republic for laundering about €1.2 million and for carrying €180,550 through Belfast International Airport in May 2018, an act he admitted was criminal property. In January 2022 at Laganside Crown Court he pleaded guilty to attempting to remove and arranging to remove criminal property, each offence carrying up to 14 years' imprisonment. He received a 10‑month sentence in May 2022, with an additional 10 months on licence, to run consecutively to a term he was already serving in the Republic. In August 2021 he was temporarily surrendered to attend court in the North and was returned to the Republic in June 2022 after 10 months' custody.
A 17‑year‑old woman was raped by Geoffrey Kumah, 27, whom she had befriended online. She told the Central Criminal Court that after the assault she felt she had to "act normal" for her own safety. Kumah had sent a friend request on Facebook, communicated via Snapchat, and arranged to meet her at his residence. He raped her after consensual kissing, despite her repeatedly telling him she did not want intercourse and attempting to stop him. The victim's impact statement described her ongoing trauma, her need to seek help from a friend and counsellor, and her fear of further exposure during the court process. The judge, Mr Justice Michael MacGrath, sentenced Kumah to seven years' imprisonment with the final six months suspended, after a headline sentence of eight and a half years. The sentence considered Kumah's lack of prior convictions, family situation, and cooperation with Gardaí. The victim's statement was praised for its eloquence and bravery.
Lee Murray, 29, was sentenced to 15 months' imprisonment after breaking into his childhood home in Blanchardstown on 2 October 2023. He smashed the front‑door window, entered the house, shouted for money to buy drugs and assaulted his grandfather and his aunt. Murray grabbed his grandfather by the top of his head and forced his aunt upstairs, where he struck her twice on the head with a metal pot. The aunt fell and was injured; she declined hospital treatment and no victim impact statement was made. Murray fled the scene but was re‑arrested 45 minutes later. He pleaded guilty to assaulting his grandfather and assault causing harm to his aunt, with 47 prior convictions including assault and production of an article. The court noted his long‑standing drug addiction and his attempts at rehabilitation. Judge Martin Nolan imposed the custodial term, describing the incident as a shocking experience for the aunt.
A psychiatrist has testified at the Central Criminal Court that a Westport man accused of murdering his wife was not suffering from a mental disorder at the time of her death. James Kilroy, aged 51, has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the charge of murdering Valerie French Kilroy at their home in Kilbree Lower between June 13 and 14, 2019. The court heard that the accused accepts responsibility for killing his wife, who died from strangulation, blunt force trauma, and a stab wound to the neck. Consultant psychiatrist Dr Camilla Curtis assessed Mr Kilroy shortly after his arrest and concluded he did not meet the criteria for detention under the Mental Health Act. The trial before Mr Justice Tony Hunt continues, with the prosecution indicating that conflicting psychiatric evidence will be presented. The defence accepts the defendant killed his wife.
Two men, one named Jason Kelly (53) with 160 prior convictions, broke into a Ray‑Ban shop on Grafton Street at 1:30 a.m. using a steel stanchion to smash the reinforced glass door. They stole 170 pairs of designer sunglasses and eyeglasses, worth €27,089, and packed them into a sleeping bag before leaving. The robbery was captured on CCTV. Kelly pleaded guilty to the burglary and was sentenced to three years' imprisonment by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The judge noted the shop was empty, Kelly was under the influence, and the pair caused over €4,000 of damage to the door. Kelly is already serving a separate sentence and has a long history of offending, mostly in the District Court. The court heard he has a heroin addiction, a brain injury, and several health problems, and that he intends to seek treatment and study while in custody. The case was heard at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Joseph Joyce, 31, with 110 prior convictions, was sentenced to four years in jail for stealing €16,000 from a woman after overhearing her conversation with a bank teller. The theft occurred on August 26, 2019, when Joyce and a co‑accused followed the woman to her home, smashed her car window, and stole her handbag containing cash, an iPhone, dollars, vouchers and jewellery. Joyce pleaded guilty to one count of theft, and the initial robbery charge was reduced. At the sentencing hearing, Judge Martin Nolan set a headline sentence of five to six years but reduced it to four years due to Joyce's rehabilitation efforts and family circumstances. Joyce is currently serving the sentence, which is due to expire in January 2026. The victim's losses remain substantial.
In a south Dublin incident, 51‑year‑old Guillermo Salazar drove a Peugeot through a red light and struck a 12‑year‑old girl crossing the road. The child sustained a swollen temple, a cut eyebrow and required hospital treatment, but has since fully recovered. Salazar, who initially faced a dangerous driving charge, pleaded guilty to careless driving causing serious bodily harm. At the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, he received a nine‑month suspended sentence, with no driving disqualification imposed. The court noted Salazar's "momentary lapse in concentration," his cooperation with Gardaí, and the absence of alcohol or prior convictions. The judge highlighted the child's injuries as not severe and accepted mitigating factors, concluding that the suspended sentence was appropriate under strict conditions. The case remains at the sentencing stage, with no further legal actions reported.
Philip Ogbewe, a 59‑year‑old from Drogheda, was jailed for six and a half years for endangerment after he performed circumcisions on seven boys in their homes between 2018 and 2019. He charged parents €300‑€350, used anaesthetic spray in some cases but not all, and was on bail for a prior 2015 circumcision that caused hospitalisation. Ogbewe pleaded guilty to seven counts of endangerment and seven counts of assault causing harm. Judge Elma Sheahan noted the absence of anaesthesia in several incidents, the children's lack of long‑term harm, and Ogbewe's acceptance of wrongdoing. She imposed a global sentence of seven and a half years, with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions to encourage rehabilitation. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Piotr Grycuk, 45, was found in possession of 10,347 images and three videos of child sexual abuse, including 30 in the most serious category. He pleaded guilty on 23 July 2018. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, after noting that he had not reoffended since a raid six years earlier and had undergone extensive therapy, imposed a three‑year sentence fully suspended. He is required to be supervised by Probation Services for 18 months. The court highlighted his insight, remorse, and low risk of reoffending, and noted that he had no prior convictions. The raid uncovered seven devices containing the material; Grycuk had voluntarily handed over memory cards and provided passwords. The case was brought to the court following an American law‑enforcement lead that supplied an IP address. The judge emphasised that the offence carries public odium and shame, and that Grycuk will suffer considerably in this regard.
A 26‑year‑old woman, who was raped by Tadgh Lonergan at a house party in Tipperary, delivered a victim impact statement at his sentencing hearing. She said the assault left her feeling "like a prisoner" in her own life, describing severe physical injuries, emotional trauma, flashbacks, nightmares and a loss of confidence. She noted that the rape disrupted her teaching career, her plans to travel and her sense of security, and that her loved ones also suffered. She urged the judge to consider the lasting effect of the crime and to help her regain her former self. Judge Tony Hunt acknowledged her statement, noted the seriousness of the offence, and remanded Lonergan in custody until the sentencing date on 29 July. The judge also highlighted that Lonergan had no prior convictions and that the case had been a "perfectly normal night out" turned tragic. Tadgh Lonergan pleaded not guilty.
Chakib Baddaoui, a 40‑year‑old Dutch national, was sentenced to two years in prison for assault causing harm on his former partner in Dublin in 2015. He fled Ireland shortly after the offence, taking a new job in Amsterdam, and later married and had a child. He returned to Ireland in 2022, was granted bail, and travelled from Dubai for the sentencing hearing. He brought €10,000 in compensation to the court. The judge, Elva Duffy, noted that Baddaoui had no prior convictions and that the victim did not wish to give a victim impact statement. The sentence was read with Baddaoui and his wife becoming emotional. The judge suspended the final 12 months of the sentence for two years, back‑dating it to account for the six weeks he had spent in Spanish custody under a European Arrest Warrant. The effective custodial term is one year. The unnamed 40-year-old pleaded guilty.
A 17‑year‑old boy, whose name is withheld because he is a minor, pleaded guilty to the murder of Lorna Woodnutt, a woman in her 40s, at a rural property outside Tullamore, Co Offaly, on 29 September 2023. The case was heard at the Central Criminal Court on 8 July 2024. Mr Justice Paul McDermott explained that, as the defendant is under 18, the case is dealt with under The Children's Act and the mandatory life sentence for murder does not apply. The judge read the single charge to the boy, who confirmed he was ready to proceed. Defence counsel James Dwyer SC requested a probation report, a remand period and a sentence date at the end of July. The Director of Public Prosecutions, Michael Delaney SC, noted that a victim impact statement would be presented and that the sentence hearing would last about half a day.
Raymond Shorten, a 50‑year‑old Dublin taxi driver, was convicted in May of two counts of rape and one of sexual assault against a seven‑year‑old girl. The offences occurred after the child's mother's funeral, in a bathroom at her family home where Shorten covered her mouth, and later on a bed and in a car. The girl, now 20, had left a handwritten note in 2020 alleging abuse and was interviewed by specialist gardai in early 2021. Shorten denied all allegations during voluntary interviews in 2020 and 2021, calling them "110% lies" and a "wind‑up." He was found guilty by a jury at the Central Criminal Court and is due to be sentenced later this month. The case is part of a broader pattern of sexual offences by Shorten, who has eight prior convictions, including five for road traffic offences. Raymond Shorten pleaded not guilty.
Owen Maughan, 22, was sentenced to the mandatory term of life imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court for the murder of 65-year-old Christopher Hall. Maughan, of Dun Saithne Avenue, Balbriggan, pleaded guilty to the sole count of murder during a pre-trial hearing last month. The court heard that Maughan murdered Mr Hall at his home in Dun Saithne Green, Balbriggan, Co Dublin, between November 23 and 24, 2021. The sentence was backdated to July 4, 2022, when Maughan entered custody. Mr Justice Paul McDermott noted the focus rightly fell on the victim and his family. Prosecution evidence indicated Maughan had harassed and tormented the vulnerable victim, who had a brain injury, including directing him to ATMs to withdraw cash. A postmortem identified seven stab wounds to the neck and blunt force trauma to the head. Maughan has 39 previous convictions. Defence counsel stated Maughan was under the influence of alcohol and drugs at the time and expressed remorse. The victim's daughter, Rebecca Hall, described the actions as "nothing but evil" and "senseless."
Eoin Claxton, 37, a hotel worker who fell into debt during the pandemic, was jailed for 18 months after a Garda posing as a courier delivered a package containing 4.8 kg of cannabis herb worth €79,824 to his home in Rathgar. Claxton pleaded guilty to possessing drugs for sale or supply on 14 December 2020. He had been laid off, isolated, and started gambling recklessly, building a debt of €8,000‑€9,500. He accepted a deal to take the drugs to pay off the debt. At an earlier hearing Judge Elma Sheahan accepted his remorse and the gambling debt but imposed a custodial sentence, suspending the final 18 months. Claxton was arrested at the delivery, his home searched, and his phone seized. He has 36 prior convictions, mainly traffic offences, and had been promoted twice at the hotel. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Joseph French, 33, of Neilstown Park, Clondalkin, was sentenced to five years in prison, with the final two years suspended on strict conditions, after pleading guilty to attempted robbery on 18 July 2021 and a robbery on 21 July 2021. The attempted robbery took place at Centra, Kingswood Shopping Centre, where French, armed with a large knife, demanded money from a staff member and was stopped by a customer. CCTV captured him leaving a Tesco plastic bag, which later yielded his DNA. The robbery at Applegreen, Clondalkin, involved a black rubber mallet; French forced a staff member to open the till and took just over €350 before leaving a plastic bag that again provided DNA evidence. French had 139 prior convictions, including a four‑year sentence for a 2020 robbery and a consecutive four‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence for the 18 July 2021 robbery.
Sean Keenan, 28, of Rosse Court Heights, Balgaddy, was sentenced to 27 months in prison for stealing a Peugeot 206 and its keys from a home in Holywell View, Swords, on 17 September 2022. He used a fishhook to snatch the keys from the hallway. Keenan has 118 prior convictions covering theft, assault, and other offences. Garda Brian Murphy presented CCTV footage and evidence from a search of Keenan's house. Keenan pleaded guilty, admitting intoxication and drug influence at the time of the crime. The judge, Martin Nolan, noted his early guilty plea and cooperation as mitigating factors, suspended the final 12 months of the sentence for 12 months, and ordered probation supervision for one year after release. Keenan is currently serving a three‑year sentence and is due for release in May 2025.
A trial date of 23 February 2026 has been set at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for three Gardaí accused of burglary and perverting the course of justice. Robert Gorman, aged 43, is charged with burglary of a basement flat at Mountjoy Square North on 7 September 2021, and with two counts of perverting the course of justice: one for allegedly signing information for a search warrant for that flat between 30 September and 30 December 2021, and another for allegedly creating three incidents on the Garda Pulse computer system on 21 September 2021. Ciaran Whelan, aged 51, is charged with burglary of the same basement flat on 7 September 2021, burglary of a flat on Kenilworth Road on 19 June 2021, and three counts of perverting the course of justice between 25 August and 27 September 2021, including a false report to a superintendent and amended data on the Garda Pulse system.