A 59-year-old man was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court after pleading guilty to one count of attempted rape and four counts of indecent assault against his niece. The offences, which occurred between 1977 and 1984 when the victim was aged six to 13 and the defendant was aged 13 to 19, were described by the judge as a "catalogue of abuse" that inflicted "unspeakable trauma." Mr Justice Paul McDermott noted that while he would have imposed a 12-year sentence on an adult for the attempted rape, he reduced the term due to the defendant's age at the time. The judge acknowledged the man's guilty plea, genuine remorse, lack of previous convictions, and his otherwise positive life over the subsequent 40 years as mitigating factors. He handed down a global sentence of four years, with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions. The sentence was backdated to March 11, when the man entered custody, and he was directed to place himself under the supervision of the Probation Services for two years post-release. The victim, in her impact statement, described the defendant as a "monster" and "predator," stating that his actions destroyed her childhood and that his apology was worthless. The court accepted that the defendant bears full responsibility for the consequences of his actions, which undermined familial trust and bonds.
Jamie Geoghegan, aged 28, was sentenced to six and a half years in prison for assault causing harm and false imprisonment. He had 75 prior convictions. The case involved Geoghegan attacking a man, dragging him from a home, forcing him into a Jeep, and taking him to a caravan in Clondalkin. There he was tied, beaten, and stabbed with a knife, claw hammer and a machete. Garda John Griffin said the false imprisonment lasted 30 to 45 minutes. The victim, who had been hooded and believed he would die, was found with lacerations, fractured leg and hand, and a bloody phone cable tied to his hands. Geoghegan pleaded guilty; the judge set a headline sentence of 10 years, reduced to six and a half years, and backdated it to September when he entered custody.
Mark Doyle, a former Garda and soldier, was sentenced to six years' imprisonment for a series of assaults on his wife, Meav McLoughlin‑Doyle, and their two stepsons over a 12‑year period. The court heard that Doyle repeatedly punched, choked, and kicked his wife, threw a chair at her while she was pregnant, and used an airsoft gun against a stepson. He also verbally abused the children, calling them names such as "fat cunt" and "retard." Doyle admitted five counts of assault causing harm to his wife and two counts of assault causing harm to the children. He had been suspended and later resigned from the Gardaí before pleading guilty. The judge noted the pattern of violence and the impact on the victims, describing the home as oppressive and a place of fear. Doyle's sentence was back‑dated to the day he entered custody.
A 55‑year‑old man, Aidan Kestell, was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison for raping a woman at Hartstown Park, Dublin, on 6 September 2019. The victim, who was a friend of the accused's wife, was walking home from a party when Kestell allegedly forced himself on her after she performed non‑consensual oral sex on him. Kestell denied the offence, claimed a consensual encounter, and later admitted to telling lies to Gardaí. He was convicted after a four‑day trial at the Central Criminal Court. Judge Tony Hunt imposed a headline sentence of nine years, reduced to eight years with the final six months suspended, and ordered Kestell to remain in good behaviour for three years post‑release and to have no contact with the victim or her family. The victim's impact statement described severe anxiety, paranoia, and lasting trauma, and she thanked the court for giving her a chance to move forward.
Stephen Leech, 42, pleaded guilty to stealing €4,000 from his employer and setting fire to a company van on 29 September 2022. He claimed the cash had been burnt, citing a gambling addiction. The court found his betrayal of trust and the significant loss as aggravating factors. Leech received a three‑year suspended sentence, with strict conditions. He was ordered to pay €7,500 to his employer over 18 months, or to a local charity if the employer declined. The judge noted Leech's good prior conduct and lack of previous offences, suggesting he was unlikely to reoffend. The court also highlighted the damage to the van, valued at over €16,000, and Leech's remorse and efforts to address his gambling problem. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the theft and arson while considering his personal circumstances.
A 47‑year‑old man was sentenced to a fully suspended 16‑month prison term after pleading guilty to one count of harassment for sending a 12‑year‑old niece a video in which he wore only white underpants that revealed the outline of his penis. The video was discovered by the girl's foster mother, who had been checking the child's phone. In the video the man also asked the girl if they were still "besties" and claimed he was showing her "my new jocks". He handed over his phone to Gardaí, admitted the wrongdoing, expressed regret and said he would never harm a child. The foster mother's victim impact statement described the girl's feelings of betrayal and anxiety. The judge noted the defendant's mental health issues and lack of prior convictions, and imposed the suspended sentence on strict conditions.
Lee Conlon, 44, with 89 prior convictions, was jailed for seven and a half years after pleading guilty to burglary and criminal damage at a Hugo Boss shop on Grafton Street on 18 January 2023 and to robbery, criminal damage, possession of false registration plates and using a car without the owner's consent in a post‑office robbery in Ballyfermot on 11 November 2023. In the shop incident, a car reversed into the front, causing €51,000 of damage, and Conlon stole clothing worth over €7,100. CCTV identified him and Gardaí found stolen items and evidence of attempts to sell them. In the post‑office robbery, he used a blue scaffolding pole to smash the security glass, stole over €21,800, and was the getaway driver. He was on bail for both offences at the time of each crime.
The Central Criminal Court sentenced a 51‑year‑old Irish citizen to six years' imprisonment for eight counts of child cruelty committed between September 2009 and December 2015. The victim, aged four to eleven at the time, endured sustained, systematic abuse that included physical assault, neglect of heating, food and accommodation, bullying, and forcing her siblings to assault her. The defendant repeatedly described the girl as a "vindictive, spiteful bitch", "mentally retarded" and "sexualised", and claimed she had tried to burn the house down and poison the family. He also alleged that he had killed people and would have killed a hundred more if he had a gun. The court noted the child's mother's devotion to the defendant and the family's neglect of basic hygiene and clothing. The judge imposed a six‑year sentence, refusing to suspend any portion, and highlighted the defendant's lack of remorse and the extreme cruelty of the offences. The unnamed 51-year-old pleaded guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, former Garda and soldier Mark Doyle, aged 38, admitted five counts of assault causing harm to his ex‑wife Meav Doyle and two counts of assault causing harm to her sons, covering incidents from September 2007 to August 2019. The court heard that Doyle repeatedly punched, choked, and kicked his wife, threw a chair at her while she was pregnant, and pulled her by the hair. He also shot a stepson with an airsoft gun and verbally abused both stepsons. Doyle had been suspended and later resigned from the Gardaí before pleading guilty in October. He was remanded in custody overnight pending a finalisation of his sentence hearing on Friday. The hearing focused on the 12‑year period of violence and the impact on the family.
A 52‑year‑old man, Jason Ward, was sentenced to five years in prison, with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions, after he set fire to an upstairs office in a Drumcondra building. He claimed he was under the mistaken belief that his former partner was having an affair there. The fire caused over €110,000 in damage, including smoke damage to a downstairs apartment, and forced tenants to relocate for three months. Ward pleaded guilty to arson and endangerment on 1 June 2022 and had 14 prior convictions. He was found to have purchased petrol, used a balaclava, and employed an accelerant. The court noted his guilty plea, remorse, and efforts to address addiction as mitigating factors. The incident was described as deliberate, cold‑planned, and executed without regard for people or property.
A 21‑year‑old man, whose name is withheld, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison after pleading guilty to false imprisonment, assault causing harm, production of an article and using an imitation firearm. The offences occurred in April and June 2023 when he broke into his ex‑partner's home, locked her inside, demanded phones, and stabbed her parents. He was arrested after a confrontation with Gardaí and later released on bail. Judge Martin Nolan described the conduct as disgraceful and noted the man's mental health difficulties, but found a custodial sentence unavoidable. The judge suspended the final two years of a six‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence, citing mitigation and personal circumstances. The man was ordered to be supervised by the Probation Service for one year after release. No victim impact statement was submitted. The man had no prior convictions.
A judge in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court found that David Moorehouse, 44, of Bray, had acted in a "moment of madness" when he drove his Toyota HiAce van toward a Garda on Old Connaught Avenue. The incident occurred after the officer had signalled the driver to stop. Moorehouse, who had 10 prior minor traffic convictions, was observed speeding, swerving, and nearly colliding with the Garda before stopping near the patrol car. He pleaded guilty to dangerous driving for the July 2020 offence. The judge, Martin Nolan, accepted that Moorehouse may have been "acting the blaggard" and imposed a four‑month suspended prison sentence, directed him to offer €3,000 as a token of remorse to the Garda within three months, and disqualified him from driving for four years. The Garda was given the option to accept the money or have it donated to a charity of his choice. The case was heard on 12 March 2024.
Two men, Zhenmin Lin, 38, and Ervins Sermulis, 45, were convicted in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for possessing and transporting €620,000 worth of cannabis. They pleaded guilty to having the drugs for sale or supply and to having cash they believed to be or being reckless about whether it was proceeds of crime. The drugs were found in a taxi and a vehicle transporter in Balrothery, Balbriggan, after a Garda surveillance operation. Lin admitted involvement due to gambling debt, while Sermulis said he had been paid to transport the drugs from the UK and had a prior cocaine problem. Both men were sentenced to five and a half years' imprisonment. The judge noted their good mitigation, work history, and unlikely re‑offending, but said they had committed misjudgements because of personal needs. The sentence reflects their equal roles in the transport chain.
Shaun Kelly, 33, received a suspended three‑year prison term for selling drugs, a separate offence from the careless driving that caused the death of French tourist Alicia Guilleux. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, presided over by Judge Martin Nolan, found Kelly had been engaged in drug dealing at the time but deemed the activity not extensive. The judge imposed a three‑year sentence, suspended in full on strict conditions, warning that any re‑offence would lead to jail. The court also dealt with the careless driving charge, where Kelly's vehicle dragged Guilleux beneath a Ford Ranger as she crossed South Great George Street. The judge noted Kelly's guilty plea, lack of prior convictions and the absence of aggravating factors, and suspended the one‑year custodial term for that offence, disqualifying him from driving for one year. The decision was made after reviewing evidence, CCTV footage and witness statements, with no intoxication or excessive speed involved.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 12 March 2024, Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Daniel Doyle, 32, to a fully suspended two‑year prison term for possession of child pornography. Doyle was found in possession of 1,760 images and 282 videos of child abuse material on a laptop and phone seized during a 2019 search of his Ballybrack home. He pleaded guilty and cooperated with Gardaí, and his good work history and therapy were noted as mitigating factors. The judge highlighted that Doyle is on the sex offenders register and that the conviction is a serious matter, urging him to be "appropriately ashamed." No custodial sentence was imposed due to the absence of aggravating factors such as prior convictions. The case was heard by Judge Nolan, with counsel James B. Dwyer defending Doyle. The court received evidence from Gardaí, Doyle's employer, family, and a therapist's letter confirming insight and remorse.
In a Dublin city street incident on 11 December 2021, a French tourist, Alicia Guilleux, 31, and her partner were crossing South Great George Street hand‑in‑hand when Shaun Kelly, 33, driving a Ford Ranger, turned right from Fade Street and collided with them. Mr Avril was pushed clear, but Ms Guilleux was dragged beneath the vehicle, sustaining catastrophic injuries that led to her death two days later. Kelly, who had no prior convictions, pleaded guilty to careless driving causing death and to possession of ecstasy, cocaine, ketamine and TCP for sale. Judge Martin Nolan, after hearing evidence and CCTV, found Kelly's failure to notice the pedestrians was a human error. He imposed a one‑year custodial sentence, suspended in full, and disqualified Kelly from driving for one year. The judge would decide on the drug offence the following day. The case highlighted the tragic outcome of a momentary lapse in attention on the road.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Michael, Thomas and Patrick Wall were charged with possession of stolen property after they were caught digging up almost €80,000 in coffee jars buried in a suburban field. Garda helicopter footage showed the brothers, identified as members of the "Wall Organised Crime Group", using shovels and a mini digger to excavate the cash. The court noted the brothers had approached local businesses to inquire about groundworks on the land and had claimed they were building horse fences. Michael Wall, aged 30, had no prior convictions and received a fully suspended sentence. Thomas Wall, aged 39, had served 12 months in custody and was given an 18‑month sentence, while Patrick Wall, aged 20, was adjourned to May for a probation report. The brothers were also charged with money laundering, but guilty pleas to possession of stolen property were accepted by the Director of Public Prosecutions.
A 51‑year‑old Offaly man was sentenced to 10 years and nine months in prison for a series of sexual offences against his partner's son, aged 10 to 14, between 2015 and 2019. The court found 27 counts, including oral and anal rape and sexual assault, committed at 11 locations such as the victim's home, a boat and other vehicles. The judge highlighted aggravating factors such as the victim's youth, the sustained nature of the abuse, the breach of trust, the use of alcohol and the manipulation of a game console. The sentence included a nine‑month suspended period on the anal rape counts, a six‑month suspension on the assault counts, and five years of post‑release supervision. The judge noted the man's health issues, lack of prior convictions, willingness to engage with services and apology, but also that his guilty plea was "too late" for the victim.
Kamal Kumar Nepali, a 24‑year‑old Nepalese national from Beech Park, Ballincollig, was sentenced by Mr Justice Michael MacGrath in the Central Criminal Court to ten years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended on strict conditions. The sentence was back‑dated to his entry into custody on 17 June 2022. The judge described the offence as a "predatory" rape that occurred in the victim's bedroom in the dead of night, noting the victim's vulnerability and the physical violence involved. He highlighted aggravating factors such as the burglary context and the violation of the victim's home security, while noting mitigating factors including Nepali's lack of prior convictions and character references. The judge also ordered no contact between Nepali and the victim for an indefinite period. Nepali's counsel intends to appeal the decision. The case involved a rape, burglary, assault causing harm, sexual assault and four counts of trespass, all of which resulted in conviction on 7 December 2023.
Lukasz Bykowski, 42, of no fixed abode in Dublin, pleaded guilty to one count of harassing a woman on dates in March 2018 while she was working in Trinity College Dublin. The court heard that Bykowski first met the victim in 2014 when she worked in a pharmacy in Navan, where he allegedly became obsessed with her. In 2018, he allegedly sent her unmarked chocolates and flowers on Valentine's Day and later visited her office multiple times, claiming to be her boyfriend and demanding her schedule. Colleagues called security due to his reluctance to leave, and the victim identified him via CCTV. Bykowski was arrested days later. Prosecution counsel stated that Bykowski told gardaí the victim had flirted with him, though she never replied to his social media messages. A victim impact statement noted the harassment had a chilling effect on her confidence and family. Judge Pauline Codd noted the harassment followed previous workplace intrusions and was deeply upsetting. Taking mitigating factors into account, the judge handed down a two-year sentence, which was suspended on conditions, including that Bykowski follow all medical instructions regarding his mental health. Additionally, the court issued an injunction ordering Bykowski to have no contact with the victim for a period of 25 years.
A 30‑year‑old man was sentenced to four and a half years in prison for raping and sexually abusing his younger sister between 2004 and 2007. He pleaded guilty to rape, oral rape and sexual assault. The victim, a 30‑year‑old Offaly woman, gave an impact statement describing how the abuse began when she was nine and continued until she was twelve, with the brother forcing her to watch pornography and threatening to kill her. She said she felt unprotected by the law after making the complaint as an adult because she did not qualify for a safety or protection order. The judge praised her courage, noted the family dysfunction, and highlighted the brother's remorse. The sentence was reduced from a headline of six and a half years to five and a half years, with a 12‑month suspended portion requiring therapy and a five‑year no‑contact order with his sister.
Stuart Simpson, 43, was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment after admitting possession of a controlled drug for sale or supply. He claimed he had found over €250,000 worth of drugs "under a bush", but the court found this false, noting that the drugs were supplied by someone else. A search of Simpson's home on 7 October 2022 uncovered more than 1 kg of diamorphine, 300 g of cocaine and 20 g of cannabis, with a combined value of €259,172, along with drug‑dealing paraphernalia. Simpson pleaded guilty and had 46 prior convictions, including two drug offences. The judge highlighted that Simpson had no signs of wealth and that the profits from the drugs were likely diverted elsewhere. He was described as a "wild young man" in his early 20s, with a history of early convictions, and the court considered the impact of his absence on his family when imposing the sentence.
A 53‑year‑old man, Eoghan Peavoy, pleaded guilty to two counts of harassment against a barrister between February 2019 and August 2022. He sent a series of increasingly threatening, vulgar and sexually suggestive text messages, emails, voicemails and WhatsApp messages, including threats of violence and claims of fantasies about killing the victim and her children. He also contacted the victim's father, colleagues and other family members. The victim described living in fear, having to print photos of the man for her childminder and removing her work website to protect herself. Peavoy, diagnosed with schizophrenia, had been involuntarily detained under the Mental Health Act multiple times. At sentencing, a judge imposed a five‑year prison term suspended on strict conditions, directing him to take prescribed medication, remain in inpatient care if discharged, and have no contact with the victim or her family for five years and thereafter.
A 13‑year‑old boy was found guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of three counts of indecent assault on his eight‑year‑old cousin in 1988. The defendant, who cannot be named, was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment, with the final six months suspended under conditions. The judge noted the profound impact on the victim and the fact that the offender was a child at the time. The court heard that the assaults took place in the victim's home over a six‑week period, involving the defendant unbuttoning his trousers, exposing his genitals, and forcing the victim to touch and mouth them. The victim's impact statement described the lasting trauma, addiction, and loss of childhood. The defendant denied the offences and had no prior convictions. The case was prosecuted by Gareth Baker SC and defended by John Byrne SC. The judge praised the victim's courage and dignity.
A 23‑year‑old Romanian‑born burglar, Constantin Leonard Magadau, was sentenced to three and a half years' imprisonment for a June 2023 break‑in at Murray Mobile in Dundrum, where he used a crowbar to enter through a broken window, smashed display cases and stole €33,000 of stock. He also caused €15,000 of criminal damage. The getaway car was abandoned a short distance away, and a mobile phone and loyalty tag linked to Magadau were found there. The shop owner's impact statement described sleepless nights, staff worry and the need to refurbish the store, noting the business nearly closed. Judge Elva Duffy cited the systematic destruction, planning, significant loss and the driver's dangerous conduct as aggravating factors, while noting his early guilty plea and admission of wrongdoing as mitigating. She also disqualified him from driving for five years. The sentence was back‑dated to his custody date.
A 27‑year‑old British woman, Yejeida Johnson, was jailed for smuggling 26 kg of cannabis worth €520,340 into Ireland. She was stopped at Dublin Airport on 2 September 2023 after customs flagged her luggage, which was found to contain the drug. Johnson had arrived from New York and was about to fly to Manchester. She admitted owning the luggage and said a friend had asked her to transport it, claiming she thought it held luxury goods. She had no fixed address in Ireland and had no prior convictions there, though she had a minor UK conviction in 2018. The court accepted her guilty pleas and mitigating circumstances, noting she was "imposed upon" to transport the drugs. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced her to four and a half years' imprisonment, back‑dated to 4 September 2023. The sentence reflects the large quantity of drugs she moved into the jurisdiction.
A man from Charlestown, County Mayo, has been found not guilty of murdering his wife by reason of insanity at the Central Criminal Court. The jury unanimously determined that Diego Costa Silva was suffering from cannabis-induced psychosis when he killed his wife, Fabiola De Campos Silva, at their home in Finglas, Dublin, on 4 November 2021. Two forensic psychiatrists gave evidence that Mr Silva's mental disorder caused him to believe his wife was possessed by a serpent and would kill him. Medical professionals had noted signs of psychosis after he was detained two days before the killing and recommended he remain as a voluntary patient, but he left hospital. Mr Silva was remanded to the Central Mental Hospital for assessment, with the case to return to court on 22 March for a psychiatric report on his current condition. The jury deliberated for two hours and 24 minutes before reaching their verdict.
Derek Delaney, a 60‑year‑old former Irish Defence Forces soldier who served 43 years and five tours in Lebanon, was sentenced by Judge Martin Nolan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to 20 months in prison for indecent assault of his sister between 1982 and 1988 and to a concurrent 15‑month sentence for assault causing harm to his former partner on 2 July 2023. Delaney admitted the indecent assault occurred when he was in his early twenties and his sister, aged nine to eleven, was sexually abused at a family home on Bunratty Road, Coolock. He also admitted head‑butting and knocking his partner unconscious after an argument, citing jealousy. The judge reduced the headline sentence of two to four years on mitigating factors, including Delaney's long military service. Derek Delaney pleaded guilty.
A 24‑year‑old man, Mark O'Neill of Knockmore Drive, Tallaght, was found guilty of two counts of possession of drugs for sale or supply, with a combined value of €22,620, after being caught with drugs and dealing paraphernalia at his home twice in May 2022. He pleaded guilty, cooperated with investigators, and had seven prior minor traffic convictions. Judge Martin Nolan, hearing the case at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, noted O'Neill's early plea, good work history and support structure, but also his misbehaviour on both occasions. The judge imposed a global sentence of three years' imprisonment, refusing to suspend any part of it. Gardaí had obtained search warrants on 3 and 26 May 2022, finding cannabis, cocaine, heroin, weighing scales, mobile phones, and cash. O'Neill was released on bail after the first search and was arrested after the second. He had completed a drug awareness course and had a clean urine analysis from Tallaght Addiction Service.
The Supreme Court has adjourned the matter following the conclusion of submissions in an appeal by Niamh Mulreany and Kirstie McGrath. The two women, who were charged with breaching Section 38 of the Health (Amendment) Act 2021 for allegedly refusing mandatory quarantine upon their return from the UAE in April 2021, challenged the constitutionality of the Minister for Health's power to designate states for mandatory hotel quarantine. Their legal team argued that this delegation of powers breached the separation of powers and that the measures should have been introduced via legislation rather than Ministerial order. They also alleged a lack of a legally permissible appeals process. The respondents, including the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Health, opposed the appeal, arguing the High Court's previous dismissal of their application should stand. The High Court had previously rejected their claims, noting the Oireachtas had applied scrutiny to the power of designation and included a sunset clause. The Supreme Court, presided over by Chief Justice Donal O'Donell, was asked to determine questions regarding Article 40.4 of the Constitution and the permissibility of delegated powers. The court stated it would deliver its judgement at a later date, meaning the case remains pending and has not been finalised.
In a Circuit Court hearing on 7 March 2024, Judge Pauline Codd sentenced 31‑year‑old Dean O'Neill to 20 months' imprisonment, with the last six months suspended, for biting two Gardaí during a routine search at Kevin Street Garda Station on 13 April 2023. O'Neill, who has 109 prior convictions, told officers he had HIV and threatened them, but the court heard he does not have the virus. He bit one officer wearing latex gloves, damaging the glove but not breaking the skin, and another officer felt a burning sensation and a tooth indentation. O'Neill pleaded guilty to two counts of assaulting a peace officer and a threat of serious harm. The judge highlighted his addiction problems, history of drug use, and urged him to seek support after release. No victim impact statements were filed, and both officers later resigned for unrelated reasons. The case was the defendant's first Circuit Court appearance.
Diego Costa Silva, 35, pleaded not guilty to the murder of his wife, Fabiola Camara De Campos Silva, 33, at their home in Charlestown Place, Finglas, Dublin 11, on November 4, 2021. The Central Criminal Court heard evidence from two consultant psychiatrists who agreed that Mr Costa Silva suffered from a cannabis-induced psychotic disorder, a mental disorder under the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act 2006. They testified that he believed his wife was possessed by a serpent and that he had to decapitate her to ensure the serpent was dead. Both experts stated that due to this disorder, Mr Costa Silva did not understand the nature and quality of his actions or that they were wrong. Prosecution and defence counsel both submitted that the evidence supports a finding of not guilty by reason of insanity. Mr Justice Michael MacGrath has begun charging the jury, who will consider their verdict tomorrow. The matter is at the sentencing stage following the validated procedural stage, though the final verdict is pending.
Red' Larry McCarthy was sentenced to six-and-a-half years' imprisonment by the Special Criminal Court for his role in the attempted murder of Christy Keane. McCarthy, 45, pleaded guilty to making a vehicle available to the McCarthy-Dundon criminal organisation, which was used as a getaway car during the shooting of Keane in June 2015. The offence, contrary to Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006, carries a maximum penalty of 15 years. Ms Justice Caroline Biggs set a headline sentence of 10 years, reduced by 20% to eight years in mitigation for his guilty plea and positive rehabilitation efforts in Donegal. The court suspended the final 18 months of the sentence, conditional on good behaviour and probation supervision. McCarthy had already served two years, seven months, and 20 days in custody, which was credited toward the effective term. The judge noted his 14 previous convictions, including a prior UK sentence for possession of a firearm. In a related case, Noel Price was previously jailed for six-and-a-half years for assisting the same organisation with a vehicle intended to facilitate the attempted murder. The court highlighted the ongoing feud between the McCarthy-Dundon and Keane-Collopy gangs, which has resulted in numerous violent offences.
A Dublin man, Keith Redmond, aged 45, was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment for attempting to send sexually explicit material to a fictitious 14‑year‑old girl over a three‑month period in late 2022. The case involved 83 pages of text between Redmond and a decoy named 'Amber', created by a UK‑based group called 'Volunteers for Predator Exposure'. Redmond sent four photographs of his penis and engaged in grooming‑like discussions, offering to buy a phone and plan a meeting in Leeds. He pleaded guilty to the offence, claiming he had not sought contact with a child and that the operation bordered on entrapment. The judge, citing aggravating factors such as moving the conversation to a private platform, imposed a two‑year custodial sentence with the final six months suspended for one year, and ordered probation and no unsupervised access to children.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 6 March 2024, Niall Brooks, aged 26, was sentenced to three years and three months' imprisonment for his role in an unprovoked mob attack on a nightclub bouncer at Buzz nightclub, Red Cow Moran Hotel, on 9 November 2019. Brooks pleaded guilty to an amended charge of assault with intent to commit violent disorder after initially denying assault causing harm. He received a two‑year sentence for the nightclub assault and a consecutive 15‑month sentence for possessing 150 g of crack cocaine for sale or supply, found in an air vent in his kitchen. The court noted that the security guard suffered a punctured lung, three stab wounds to his back, two fractured ribs and a fractured elbow, and that the attack involved a group of six to ten men, including Brandon Brooks, who had previously been sentenced for assault in the same incident.
A 61‑year‑old man named David Clarke was sentenced to 16 months' imprisonment after the court found he had evaded excise duty on 74,148 cigarettes and 141 kg of tobacco, which he claimed he was selling to traders. The products were seized from his home and a shed at a second house he rented on St Attracta Road, Cabra, Dublin 7. Clarke admitted sourcing the goods but did not identify the supplier. He pleaded guilty to evading excise duty and to a fine cut for the rolling of cigarettes with intent to defraud the State on 5 September 2022. The State suffered a loss of €121,565, and €65,000 was found during the search, though no application had been made for that cash. Clarke has prior minor road‑traffic convictions. He is a retired newsagent, a carer for his 87‑year‑old mother, and volunteers with Vision Ireland and a local soccer club.
Philip Cox, 39, was tried for attempted murder after he stabbed his former partner, Cristal O'Brien, twice in the leg on 1 December 2022 at a York Street flat. He claimed he had no intention to hurt her and that the incident was a blur. O'Brien said Cox had threatened to stab her "to pieces", broke two knives, then retrieved a third, describing the attack as terrifying. A neighbour, Alice McGrath, testified that Cox said he would kill O'Brien and that he did not care if he went to prison. Cox pleaded not guilty to the attempted murder charge. He also faced separate charges of assault causing harm, aggravated burglary and producing a knife during a dispute, for which he had pleaded guilty. The trial was heard in the Central Criminal Court, with the jury hearing the evidence and the defendant's statements. The case is ongoing.
Diego Costa Silva, 35, pleaded not guilty to the murder of his wife, De Campos Silva, 33, at their home in Charlestown Place, Finglas, on November 4, 2021. The Central Criminal Court jury is being asked to return a special verdict under the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act 2006. Detective Garda Carl Smith testified that Mr Costa Silva told gardai he heard voices and believed his wife was possessed, stating, "sometimes you have to behead somebody." He alleged he felt unsafe after confessing to infidelity and feared his wife would kill him. He described striking her with a cup, choking her, stabbing her, and cutting off her head with a knife. Det Sgt Louise McHugh stated that following interviews, Mr Costa Silva was released from detention before she arrested and charged him with murder. Garda Colin Miley testified that two days prior, he found Mr Costa Silva distressed and disorientated while running barefoot in Dublin city centre. Mr Costa Silva was detained under the Mental Health Act and taken to the Mater Hospital, where he expressed suicidal thoughts. A urine analysis was positive for cannabis. The accused has only previous convictions for minor road traffic matters. The trial continues before Mr Justice Michael MacGrath.
Niall Sheehy, a 59‑year‑old car‑sales owner from Ballinteskin, Stradbally, pleaded guilty to four counts of breaching the Data Protection Act for disclosing personal information obtained from the Garda Pulse system between June 2019 and February 2020. He had no money exchanged for the data and did not request it, but the information was sent to him by a serving Garda who had a "cosy relationship" with him. The Garda's phone was seized in March 2020, revealing ten screenshots of Pulse data sent to Sheehy. Sheehy's home was searched and he fully cooperated. Judge Martin Nolan, noting his long‑standing community standing and lack of criminal intent, sentenced him to one year in prison, suspended in full on strict conditions, and found no malice in his receipt of the data. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 16‑year‑old named Calistus Omoikhudu received a fully suspended three‑year prison sentence for assault causing harm and possession of a knife after stabbing a rival group member in the thigh with a kitchen knife on Nutgrove Avenue, Churchtown, on 10 May 2019. The victim suffered a 15‑cm laceration and required surgery. Omoikhudu, who had no prior convictions, admitted the offence, expressed regret and presented an apology letter. The court noted his age, lack of parental oversight at the time, and his subsequent maturation and good behaviour after returning to Ireland from Nigeria in 2022. Judge Martin Nolan imposed the suspended sentence on strict conditions and directed Omoikhudu to be supervised by Probation Services for 15 months. The sentence was based on the Children's Act and the court's assessment that he was unlikely to re‑offend. Calistus Omoikhudu pleaded guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court case, a 62‑year‑old man was convicted of assault causing harm, assault and producing a knife during disputes with his wife in a short‑lived, dysfunctional marriage in Kerry. The offences occurred in May 2020 and the summer of 2019, when the couple's relationship had soured and both abused alcohol. In one incident the man brandished a large kitchen knife toward his wife, but his teenage stepson removed it. In a second incident he berated the 15‑year‑old stepson for noise, grabbed him, and when the wife intervened he punched her. The man was acquitted of rape and coercive control. Sentencing, Mr Justice Paul Burns imposed a one‑year term suspended on conditions including no contact with the ex‑wife and son and completion of a domestic violence course. The woman and children had moved to a refuge for days, and the couple are now divorced.
A 58‑year‑old man from Cork was sentenced to 11 years in prison for a campaign of sexual abuse that began when his nephew was eight and ended when the boy was ten, between 1996 and 1999. The defendant was found guilty of three counts of oral rape and three counts of anal rape. He threatened to stab the nephew's parents if the boy disclosed the abuse. The nephew, who was not named to protect his identity, read a victim impact statement in court, describing the physical pain, bleeding, and lasting psychological trauma he endured. He said the abuse changed him, leading to ongoing mental health struggles, difficulty maintaining relationships, and attempts at suicide. He now has a child and hopes to inspire other survivors to come forward. The judge noted the deliberate, calculated nature of the abuse and imposed a sentence of 12 years, suspending the final year on conditions.
Shane Romel Bullock, a 29‑year‑old Canadian from Toronto, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to importing 29.8 kg of cannabis, valued at €597,048, into Ireland. He was arrested after a customs sniffer dog flagged two suspicious pieces of luggage bearing his name and flight number. Bullock initially denied ownership but later admitted the bags were his, claiming he did not know their contents but had agreed to transport them from Canada to London via Dublin, for a promised €2,000. He has been in custody since his arrest. The court accepted his admission of high risk and reckless conduct, noting his remorse. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to five years' imprisonment, back‑dated to his initial remand in July 2023.
Ken Oman, a 41‑year‑old former League of Ireland centre‑back and Ireland U21 international, voluntarily surrendered to Northern Ireland authorities to face charges of causing a broken jaw to Cliftonville player Caoimhín Bonner during a 2016 Premiership match at Solitude. The incident, captured on TV, led to Bonner losing two front teeth and sustaining a broken upper jaw. Oman received a six‑match ban from the Irish Football Association. The warrant, issued in the Republic and endorsed by the PSNI, refers to the offence as grievous bodily harm, punishable by up to seven years' imprisonment in the UK. At the High Court, Oman confirmed he had been fully advised of his legal options and signed consent papers. The judge ordered his extradition to Northern Ireland within 20 days, noting Oman had complied with bail conditions and had engaged a solicitor in the North.
Michael Murray, 52, formerly of Killiney, Dublin, is on trial before Judge Patricia Ryan and a jury for one count of knowingly making a false report giving rise to an apprehension for the safety of someone else. He pleaded not guilty to the charge, which alleges he phoned in a bomb threat to the home of Minister for Justice Helen McEntee while imprisoned in Midlands Prison, Portlaoise, on March 7, 2021. The jury heard that an anonymous caller claiming to be from the INLA reported explosives at the Minister's home; no explosives were found, but the call was traced to a unique identification number registered to Mr. Murray. Video footage of a garda interview played to the jury showed Mr. Murray admitting to having "well-known" links to the INLA. He denied making the threat, stating he regularly called the Samaritans. The court also heard details of his criminal history, including convictions for armed robberies and a 2010 conviction for kidnapping and rape, for which he was initially sentenced to 15 years imprisonment, later increased to 19 years on appeal. The trial continues.
Keith Redmond, 45, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to attempting to send sexually explicit material to a child between 30 August and 3 December 2022. He had not initiated contact with a fake profile of a 14‑year‑old girl named 'Amber' created by the UK group Volunteers for Predator Exposure, nor had he sought an underage girl. Redmond's profile on the social media platform Kick listed him as a 44‑year‑old male from Ireland. After 'Amber' contacted him, they exchanged 83 typed pages of messages, which began as ordinary conversation but became sexually explicit. Redmond sent four photographs of his penis and discussed meeting 'Amber' for sexual activity, offering to buy her a phone and to live together. The UK group used open‑source technology to locate Redmond and contacted an Irish group, Child Online Protection Enforcers, who located him in Dublin.
A 45‑year‑old chronic alcoholic was jailed for 16 months after he ignored his 11‑year‑old daughter's pleas for help when her mother collapsed and later died in their apartment during Covid‑19 restrictions. The mother, in end‑stage alcoholism, died of acute alcohol intoxication, and the daughter cared for her for about four days, bringing blankets and food, before seeking help from neighbours. The father, now sober, told Gardaí he did not remember the events and described himself as a monster. He pleaded guilty to two charges of child cruelty in 2020, with no prior convictions. Judge Martin Nolan noted the father's severe alcohol problem and the child's neglect, but imposed a three‑year sentence with the final 20 months suspended, citing the father's guilty pleas, cooperation, lack of criminal record and work history. The case was reported under restrictions to protect the child's identity.
David Douglas, 65, from Belfast, was jailed for a year after pleading guilty to two charges of masturbating in a public place at Dundrum Town Centre in March 2022. He admitted playing an "eye contact game" for about 20 years, focusing on young girls. An off‑duty Garda and her 11‑year‑old daughter reported that Douglas sat close to them in the food court, looking at them, and later ran when security alerted the Gardaí. CCTV showed Douglas masturbating outside his clothing near where girls were seated, and he claimed he used alcohol to reduce inhibitions. He has 33 prior convictions, including road traffic offences and sexual offences, but none involving physical contact. Judge Orla Crowe sentenced him to 15 months' imprisonment, suspended the final three months, and imposed 12 months of probation on release.
Daunte Millar Wruck, a 21‑year‑old Canadian, pleaded guilty on 1 August 2023 to importing a controlled drug for sale or supply after customs found 29.8 kg of herbal cannabis in two suitcases at Dublin Airport, valued at €596 000. He claimed the items were artworks he intended to take to Birmingham. Wruck admitted possession but said he expected a $10 000 reward. Garda Peter Elliott and counsel Paul Murray described him as a "complete and utter patsy" who entered an early guilty plea, answered all questions, and cooperated. The investigation revealed messages from a third party arranging flights from Toronto via Ottawa to London, then to Birmingham via Dublin, and providing money for the flights. The court noted Wruck's lack of prior convictions, young age, and lack of Irish ties.
A 76‑year‑old Dublin man was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment for raping a 15‑year‑old girl in the late 1980s. The victim, who was babysitting for a woman with whom the defendant was having an affair, was lured to the Wicklow mountains under the pretext of a job interview and raped there. In a separate incident he took her to the babysitter's home, where he raped her while she was cleaning the house. The victim also reported that the defendant forced her to perform oral sex on him and that he held her by her hair. He pleaded not guilty to the charges of rape and indecent assault. A jury convicted him on two rape charges and three indecent assault charges.