Michael Scott, aged 59, was convicted of manslaughter by gross negligence after driving an agricultural teleporter over his 76‑year‑old aunt Chrissie Treacy outside her home in Derryhiney, Portumna, on 27 April 2018. The Central Criminal Court heard that Scott had been involved in a long‑running land dispute with Ms Treacy and had driven the teleporter across her yard while reversing. He claimed he had felt a "thump" and thought he had hit a trailer, then moved the machine forward, after which he discovered his aunt lying on the ground. A friend of Ms Treacy's, Regina Donohue, testified that Scott had subjected her to verbal abuse and mental torture before the incident. At the sentencing hearing on 12 June 2023, the Director of Public Prosecutions said the offence falls in the mid‑category for manslaughter, recommending a headline sentence of four to ten years. Michael Scott pleaded not guilty.
Noel Price, 44, pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to facilitating the attempted murder of Christy Keane by making a vehicle available to the McCarthy-Dundon criminal organisation. The offence is alleged to have occurred between June 27 and June 29, 2015. Price admitted to assisting the organisation with the intention of facilitating the commission of the attempted murder. The matter was adjourned to July 25 for sentencing, with the court directing that Price be produced on that date. In a related development, John Costello, 41, was sentenced for providing transport to persons involved in an assault causing serious harm to Keane on June 29, 2015. Costello had previously pleaded guilty to this charge. Mr Justice Tony Hunt imposed a sentence of four years and six months, backdated to when Costello entered prison. The judge suspended the remaining portion of the sentence for four years, conditional on Costello being of good behaviour and keeping the peace. The court noted a humanitarian situation in Costello's case, offering him an opportunity to turn away from crime. Keane, who survived the 2015 shooting at the University of Limerick, was not expected to furnish a Victim Impact Statement but could be invited to make one.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 12 June 2023, a 25‑year‑old former male model, Utseoritselaju Uwatse, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment for raping a fellow college student. The victim, who waived anonymity, testified that the offence occurred after a night out in Limerick following a student‑village celebration. CCTV showed Uwatse and the victim hugging before she was taken to a bedroom where he forced sex, claiming it was consensual. She reported that he asked if she was on the pill and that the condom broke. Uwatse was arrested in June 2018 and denied the allegations. The judge, Mr Justice Paul Burns, imposed a headline sentence of four years, noting Uwatse's lack of prior convictions and his "promising future." The court heard the victim's impact statement describing the lasting damage and her feelings of guilt. Uwatse's defence highlighted his background, cooperation with Gardaí, and lack of family in Ireland. The sentence was accepted by the court.
A 37‑year‑old Tipperary man pleaded guilty in the Central Criminal Court to oral rape and sexual assault of a four‑year‑old neighbour between 1999 and 2002. He was 13 when the abuse began and was 17 at its end. The victim, now 28, described how the abuse ruined his childhood, education and relationships, causing depression, anxiety, nightmares and paranoia. He said he had struggled to disclose the abuse and feared for future children. Justice Mary Ellen Ring praised his courage and noted the victim's emotional and physical suffering and the breach of family trust. The court adjourned the case to the following Friday, remanded the accused in custody, and noted that the offender had no prior convictions and was a minor at the time of the offences. The prosecution suggested a 10‑15‑year sentence, but the defence highlighted the guilty plea and the statutory discount for a minor offender. The case remains pending.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 9 June 2023, 69‑year‑old Josephine McMahon pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault against two brothers aged four to five and eight to twelve, committed between 1992 and 1996 at her house in Kenmare, Co Kerry. McMahon admitted using a wooden spoon to assault the younger boy in a bathroom, threatening him and later assaulting him again in a bath, and a third assault in a bedroom. She also exposed herself to the older brother and threatened him with the spoon. The younger brother's victim impact statement described ongoing depression, anxiety, addiction, suicidal thoughts and lasting shame, while the older brother cited deep emotional scars and family impact. McMahon, a wheelchair user with diabetes and kidney disease, has no prior convictions and will be placed on the Sex Offenders Register. The case was adjourned to 26 June for sentencing, with a request for a suspended sentence.
Tony Dean, 70, former owner of Dean Waste Management Ltd, was jailed for two years after a judge found him guilty of three breaches of a waste management licence and of holding or recovering waste in a manner likely to cause environmental pollution at a 25‑acre site at Kerdiffstown, Naas, Co. Kildare, between October 2003 and November 2008. The breaches were said to have had a significant environmental impact, with the landfill accepting more waste than it could manage, driven by financial motivation. Judge Melanie Greally noted that €61.5 million of public money was spent to remediate the site and that large profits had been generated and prioritized over compliance. The judge imposed a headline sentence of four years on each charge, reduced to three years with the final 12 months suspended, all to run concurrently. Tony Dean pleaded not guilty.
A 51-year-old man convicted of rape has been sentenced to eight years and four months imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following an aggravated burglary committed in April 2018. Mark McAnaw forced his way into a Dublin home armed with a large kitchen knife three months after completing a nine-year prison sentence imposed in 2012 for sexually assaulting a young foreign student in County Donegal in 2010. The victim, who knew McAnaw from prior social contact, reported feeling terrified during the attack and subsequently developed PTSD, moving from her home and leaving her employment. Judge Melanie Greally imposed the final 16 months of the sentence on a suspended basis for 16 years, conditional on McAnaw's supervision by the Probation Services. The judge cited the targeted nature of the offence, the weapon used, and McAnaw's previous convictions as aggravating factors, whilst noting his guilty plea and psychiatric engagement as mitigating elements. Strict conditions have been imposed, including compliance with the Sex Offenders Act and abstinence from illicit substances.
Daniel McDonnell, 28, serving a mandatory life sentence for the 2012 murder of 16‑year‑old Melanie McCarthy McNamara, pleaded guilty on 12 August 2021 to threatening a prison officer at Wheatfield Prison with a sharpened piece of metal. He said he would slit the officer's throat or get someone else to do it. The officer, who was conducting routine checks, reported the threat and was shocked and concerned. McDonnell had previously been arrested in January 2022 for sharpening a shiv and had a history of 36 convictions, including two threats to kill in 2020. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, hearing the case on 8 June 2023, set a headline sentence of three years, reduced to two years and back‑dated to 2 May 2023. The court noted McDonnell's good family support and his receipt of psychological help while in custody. The life sentence for the murder remains unchanged.
Terry Jackson, a 72‑year‑old from Leixlip, was sentenced to nine months in prison after pleading guilty to possessing 2,887 images and 669 videos of child pornography. The material, seized from a hard drive at his home on 17 April 2018, included images of children aged five to 15 and 13 hours of footage. Jackson claimed he collected the material to prevent others from distributing it, stating he was "appalled and enraged" by its online availability and was willing to go to prison to stop its spread. The judge, Orla Crowe, set a headline sentence of two and a half years, reduced to 18 months with nine months suspended, and ordered Jackson to comply with Probation Services for two years upon release. He had no prior relevant convictions and was noted to have health issues including arterial fibrillation and Crohn's disease.
Nikki Hayes, a 44‑year‑old former RTÉ 2FM and Classic Hits DJ, pleaded guilty to possessing €10,000 as proceeds of crime in a Permanent TSB bank account held in her name at an unknown State location on 5 November 2020. The account was registered at The Way, Hunter's Run, Dublin 15. Hayes, who has a nine‑year‑old daughter and no prior convictions, was remanded on continuing bail at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Orla Crowe ordered a probation report and adjourned sentencing to 25 October 2023.
Tony Byrne, 66, of Carriglea Court, Firhouse, Dublin, was found guilty by a jury of sexually assaulting his step‑daughter Donna McCarthy, then 16, on 10 May 1992 at the family home. The assault involved Byrne entering the bedroom, putting his arm around McCarthy, touching her knee and moving his hand up her leg to touch her vagina and breasts outside her clothing. McCarthy fled to a neighbour's house, cried and told her mother that "Dad got into bed with me". Byrne, a retired RTE and Virgin Media cameraman, was arrested by appointment and gave a voluntary interview to Gardaí, denying the complaint and suggesting it was revenge. He apologised to McCarthy the day after the incident and has complied with bail conditions. The case was adjourned to 14 June for sentencing. The court heard McCarthy waived anonymity, that Byrne had a role in her life, and that a DNA test proved he was not her father.
A court heard that Lyndsey Byrne was threatened with murder if she did not withdraw her statement following a two-day false imprisonment ordeal in which she was beaten and had boiling water thrown over her. Eamon Savage (36) of Emmet Road, Inchicore, pleaded guilty to witness intimidation of Lyndsey Byrne at Merchants Quay, Dublin 8 on November 18, 2021. He was part of a group that threatened Ms Byrne in public, telling her that she was to drop the charges and say she had lied about the attack. Savage also told her that if she did not comply, she would be murdered. Paul Clarke (29) of Clonard Road, Dublin 12 was sentenced to four years and three months in prison for his role in the attack. Co-accused Craig Kelly (38) of Dowland Rd, Walkinstown, was sentenced to five months in prison for his role in one of the attacks; while a third man, Josh Conlon (19) of Meath Place, Thomas Street, received a suspended sentence. The matter was adjourned for sentence next week to June 14.
Valerie McGovern, 57, of Ballymun, pleaded guilty to two separate violent assaults. In October 2018 she head‑butted and bit Patricia Nolan, pulling her to the ground and causing cuts and a bite mark. Nolan declined hospital treatment and later moved away. In August 2020 McGovern attacked Aishling Groves, waving a kitchen knife, attempting to slice her face and stabbing her on the neck. Groves was hospitalized for 12 days, including intensive care, and received 20 stitches. McGovern had eight prior convictions. Judge Elma Sheahan sentenced her to four years and four months, suspending the final eight months on strict conditions. The sentence includes a two‑year term for the 2018 assault and a two‑year‑four‑month term for the 2020 assault, to run consecutively, with the suspended portion subject to probation supervision. The judge noted McGovern's guilty pleas, efforts to address alcohol addiction, and the serious escalation of her offences.
Anthony Byrne, 28, of Ringsend, Dublin 4, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for an unprovoked assault on a 16-year-old boy. Byrne pleaded guilty to charges of assault causing harm and production of an article in a communal area of his housing block on January 4, 2022. The court heard that Byrne attacked the teenager with a baseball bat, striking him in the head, legs, and arms, causing a broken finger and significant trauma. Judge Orla Crowe described the incident as an "absolutely unwarranted attack" with a long-lasting impact on the victim, noting aggravating factors including the victim's lack of resistance and Byrne's continued strikes as the boy left. Despite Byrne's three previous convictions, Judge Crowe sentenced him to two years' imprisonment but suspended the final six months due to his rehabilitation efforts. Consequently, Byrne faces 18 months of effective custody. The judge also ordered that a €2,000 sum brought by Byrne be paid to the victim's mother and that the baseball bat be destroyed.
Luke Fitzpatrick, aged 20, pleaded guilty to affray at Barrow Street, Dublin 4, on 14 May 2021. He was one of eight men who chased a delivery driver, who was later found dead. The driver had been carrying a knife and was allegedly a victim of an attempted robbery. Fitzpatrick was arrested on 14 September 2021 and identified by CCTV. He had no prior convictions. Judge John Martin described the offence as serious, noting the group's pursuit on a bright summer evening and Fitzpatrick's attempt to conceal himself with a snood. The judge considered mitigating factors such as Fitzpatrick's guilty plea, youth, cooperation with Gardaí, lack of previous convictions, and his efforts to address addiction. Consequently, Fitzpatrick received an 18‑month prison sentence, fully suspended, with strict conditions including 12 months of attendance at the Spellman drug recovery centre. The court also accepted letters of apology and support from Fitzpatrick's mother and the Spellman Centre.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, 31‑year‑old Christopher Coakley pleaded guilty to intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to a doctor on Seville Place, Dublin, on 28 January 2021. Coakley, who had 124 prior convictions, knocked the doctor from his e‑scooter, then stabbed him seven times with a pair of scissors. The victim, a Mountjoy Prison doctor, sustained penetrating wounds to the abdomen, chest, head and neck, and required ongoing physiotherapy. Coakley was charged with attempted murder, robbery and production of scissors, but a nolle prosequi was entered for the attempted murder charge. The court considered the robbery and production charges in sentencing. Coakley's lawyer highlighted his drug‑related background and a possible bipolar disorder, and requested a partially suspended custodial sentence with conditions. The judge will sentence on 19 June.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a man was sentenced to 11 years' imprisonment for raping and sexually assaulting his niece over a five‑year period from 2008 to 2013. The victim, aged between seven and thirteen, was repeatedly abused in the accused's caravan, where he called her "ugly" and told her she "didn't have to be ugly any more" while raping her. The jury found him guilty of two counts of rape, one count of anal rape and two counts of sexual assault. He has 12 prior convictions, including a three‑year sentence for sexual assault. The judge, Justice Karen O'Connor, noted the victim's courage and the aggravating factor of the accused's dominance, and imposed a seven‑year post‑release supervision order. The sentence was back‑dated to the time he entered custody in April. The case was brought to light in 2017 when the victim disclosed the abuse to social care workers.
Robert Redmond (35) and Jamie Gray (27) pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to possessing a PAK PM-63 submachine gun at M11 Southbound, Shankill, Dublin, on May 7, 2020. The charge, under Section 27A(1) of the Firearms Act 1964, alleged they had the firearm in their possession or control without a lawful purpose. Prosecution confirmed that count one, alleging participation in criminal organisation activity, would not be proceeded with. Mr Justice Paul Burns remanded Redmond in custody and granted Gray bail until July 10, when their sentence hearing will take place. Redmond, who was sentenced to life imprisonment in December last year for the murder of Barry Wolverson in Swords, Co Dublin, is currently serving that mandatory term. Gray, who has no indictable previous convictions, was granted a governor's report for his sentencing. Bernard Fogarty (34), Redmond's co-accused in the Wolverson murder, was also sentenced to life imprisonment. The court noted that Redmond had previously denied the murder charge, while Fogarty was convicted. The current matter remains pending sentencing, with the hearing scheduled for July 10.
A jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has convicted three men of participating in a violent attack on a farm property near Strokestown, County Roscommon, on 16 December 2018. Following a 50-day trial, PJ Sweeney, aged 44, from Ramelton, County Donegal; Martin O'Toole, aged 58, from Claremorris, County Mayo; and Paul Beirne, aged 56, from Boyle, County Roscommon were each found guilty of 15 of 17 charges. These included false imprisonment, assault causing harm to four security personnel, aggravated burglary, three counts of arson, criminal damage and violent disorder. They were also convicted of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. A fourth defendant, David Lawlor from County Meath, was acquitted of all 17 charges. The three convicted men have been remanded in custody and will return to court for sentencing on 30 June. Martin O'Toole pleaded not guilty. Paul Beirne pleaded not guilty.
A man convicted of murder in Northern Ireland was arrested in the State on an extradition warrant following his disappearance from custody seven months earlier. James Meehan, aged 53, with addresses in Derry city and Kells, Co Meath, was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2009 for the murder of a man in Derry in 2007. He had absconded while on home leave in October 2022 and was declared unlawfully at large by the Northern Ireland Prison Service. Gardaí arrested Meehan by arrangement at a garda station in Dublin this morning. At the High Court, his defence counsel submitted that he had moved to live with his brother in Kells to work and had notified the Department of Justice of his whereabouts in December. The judge noted Meehan was living openly and had engaged with authorities. Bail was granted on condition of a €2,000 deposit, daily signing-on, provision of a mobile phone number to gardaí, and surrender of any travel documents. He was remanded to appear again on 12 June.
A jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has requested exhibits and legal directions on common design as deliberations continue in the trial of four men accused of participating in a vigilante attack on security personnel at a repossessed property near Strokestown, Co Roscommon in December 2018. Patrick J Sweeney, aged 44, of Ramelton, Co Donegal; Martin O'Toole, aged 58, of Claremorris, Co Mayo; Paul Beirne, aged 56, of Boyle, Co Roscommon; and David Lawlor, aged 43, have each pleaded not guilty to 17 charges including false imprisonment, assault causing harm, aggravated burglary, arson, violent disorder and animal cruelty. The prosecution alleges approximately 30 armed men attacked the property. The jury examined two exhibits and received clarification on the legal principle of common design before adjourning until Monday.
Chang Teng Wang, 57, of Melville Rise, Finglas, Dublin 11, pleaded guilty to the unlawful killing of his infant grandson Seán Wang, who died on 15 August 2019. Wang was arraigned in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and the case was adjourned for sentencing on 7 June. He remains on continuing bail until that date. The baby, who was in his grandfather's care while his parents were out, was taken to Temple Street Children's Hospital in cardiac arrest on 13 August, received CPR 40 times, and died two days later in intensive care.
A Dublin man was sentenced to three and a half years' imprisonment for the abuse of his daughter, who was between four and seven years old at the time of the offences. The man, whose identity is withheld to protect his daughter, was found guilty by a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after previously denying two counts of indecent assault in 1987. The victim, now in her 40s, read a victim impact statement describing her father as a "monster" who used her serious illness to his advantage, leaving her feeling "dirty, worthless and inadequate." Judge Martin Nolan described the conduct as a "huge breach of trust" and noted the man's age, long work history and low likelihood of re‑offending as mitigating factors. The sentence was back‑dated to 8 May, and the judge also considered the man's prior minor convictions and letters of support from his siblings.
A jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has begun deliberating in the trial of four men accused of participating in a vigilante attack on security personnel guarding a repossessed farmhouse in Strokestown, Co Roscommon, in December 2018. The defendants, Patrick Sweeney, Martin O'Toole, Paul Beirne, and David Lawlor, each pleaded not guilty to 17 charges. These alleged offences include false imprisonment and assault causing harm to four security personnel, aggravated burglary, arson of four vehicles, criminal damage to the property's front door, violent disorder, robbery of a wristwatch, and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. Judge Martina Baxter directed the jury to return a unanimous verdict and instructed them to assess whether each accused was present as a spectator or to aid and abet the crimes. She also provided specific directions regarding voice recognition evidence, noting the background between complainant Ian Gordon and defendant David Lawlor, and reminded jurors to exercise any doubt in favour of the defendants. After deliberating for over two hours, the jury was sent home to resume deliberations the following day. The matter is currently at the sentencing stage validation, but as the jury has not yet returned a verdict, the case remains under active deliberation and has not been finalised.
Stephen Carberry, 45, of Sandymount Avenue, Dublin 4, was found guilty in a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial on 23 May 2013 of five counts of possession of cannabis and ecstasy for sale and supply. The offence involved 27.9 kg of cannabis, valued at over €559,000, and more than 96,000 ecstasy tablets, worth about €968,900, seized from a property on The Strand, Donabate. Gardaí had been surveilling Carberry when his silver BMW stopped at the property; after he left, the vehicle was stopped in Glasnevin and Carberry was arrested. During the search, a scoop, weighing scales and a phone charger bearing his DNA were found. Carberry had 62 prior convictions, mainly for traffic matters, and had spent just under a year in custody before release. He was re‑charged in 2014, refused bail, and remained in custody since the trial's conclusion.
During a three‑week Central Criminal Court trial, the jury heard harrowing evidence of gratuitous sexual violence against four children in an extended Traveller family. Prosecutor Shane Costelloe warned that the evidence would be unsettling and unsavoury, and after seven hours and 33 minutes of deliberation, the jury returned guilty verdicts on 117 of 124 counts. The accused included a 66‑year‑old patriarch, his sons aged 38, 40 and 41, and a 63‑year‑old wife. The patriarch faced 24 charges, each son faced 31 or 36 charges, and the wife faced charges of assault and assistance in an alleged anally rape. All accused denied the charges. The trial highlighted the alleged abuse occurring between 1999 and 2005 across various locations in Ireland, with the family described as part of the Traveller community. The prosecution's case focused on the veracity of the complainants' accounts, while the defence argued inconsistencies and lack of detail in the evidence.
Anthony Larkin, 46, and Gerard Windrum, 38, were sentenced to a combined 13 years in prison for moving almost €1.2 million in cannabis resin. Larkin pleaded guilty to possession for sale or supply of just over 92 kg of the drug, worth about €556,800, seized at a storage unit in Mount Seskin, Tallaght on 1 April 2022. Windrum pleaded guilty to possession for sale or supply of 105 kg, worth just over €630,000, found at the same unit. Larkin had no prior convictions, while Windrum had 103, mainly traffic offences, including a heroin sale conviction. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Windrum to eight years and Larkin to five, citing their roles as couriers and the influence of debt. Gardaí had been surveilling the unit after a tip, discovered the drugs, and followed the vans to the transfer site in Brittas. Both men were arrested, questioned, and Larkin claimed his life was in danger due to drug debt.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court found a 66‑year‑old grandfather guilty of 24 counts of sexual abuse, including two anally raping his granddaughter and 22 charges against his nephew – 12 anally and ten orally. He had pleaded not guilty to 25 charges, one assault charge was withdrawn. The jury also convicted his three sons, aged 38, 40 and 41, of multiple counts of rape and sexual assault against their sisters, nieces and a cousin, with each man receiving a range of guilty verdicts and some acquittals. A 63‑year‑old wife was found guilty of assisting one of her sons in anally raping her granddaughter and assaulting the same child. The defendants were remanded in custody or on bail pending sentencing, with the court setting a July 17 mention date for the sentencing hearing. The judge thanked the jurors and noted the case was difficult and the evidence unpleasant. The unnamed 66-year-old was acquitted.
Dermot Carr, 51, a former Dublin bus driver, was sentenced to nine years in prison, with the final year suspended, for a series of sexual offences spanning from 2001 to 2018. He pleaded guilty to harassment of a nine‑year‑old boy, sending explicit images and requesting naked photographs, and to multiple counts of sexual assault against five girls aged 11 to 17. Carr's conduct involved persistent grooming, text messaging, providing drugs and alcohol, and forcing the girls to masturbate or engage in sexual acts in his car or apartment. The judge noted a pattern of deliberate, persistent grooming over many years and imposed consecutive sentences for the six victims, ordering Carr to pay €10,000 in compensation to the first female victim and to engage with probation and counselling upon release. The case highlighted the long‑term impact on the victims, who described trauma, nightmares, and lasting psychological effects.
In a case heard at the Central Criminal Court, Martin Burke, aged 26, was convicted of three counts of sexual assault and acquitted on one. The offences occurred on the night of 26 August 2018 in a Kerry town. Burke first assaulted a woman who had known him from a previous encounter; after a party involving alcohol and cannabis, he entered her spare room, bit her cheek and sexually assaulted her. She escaped to a shed, kicked him, and he fled. He later entered the bedroom of a second woman who was sleeping with her boyfriend. He asked if she was alright, grabbed her breast, left, returned, and touched her thigh under the sheets. The second victim kicked him and he left. Burke pleaded not guilty. Judge Paul McDermott sentenced him to five and a half years, suspending the final 12 months on the condition of probation for three years, and ordered him to stay away from both victims.
A 19‑year‑old Dublin man, Cameron Curtis, pleaded guilty to assaulting his 20‑year‑old partner, Alannah Corrigan, on several occasions between July and August 2022. The court heard that Curtis repeatedly punched, kicked, slapped and strangled Corrigan, dragged her by the hair, spat in her face and threatened to kill her. He also falsely imprisoned her by locking her in a bathroom for 45 minutes and threatened to use a pair of scissors. Corrigan reported that Curtis accused her of cheating and demanded her Snapchat password, and that he had threatened to smash a glass bottle over her head. Curtis had no prior convictions. The judge ordered a probation report and adjourned the case to July 13 for finalisation.
Miranda McCabe, 37, of Tubberclare Meadows, Navan, was sentenced to nine months in jail for a planned assault on Stephanie Dunne, a new mother who had just returned home after visiting her premature baby in hospital. On 27 November 2021, McCabe jumped from a car, head‑butted Dunne, punched her repeatedly, and placed her in a headlock. A man in the car, dressed in black with gloves and a scarf, was also present and reportedly held knives. Dunne's son was struck when McCabe swung. DNA from a hair clump matched McCabe. McCabe pleaded guilty, citing mental health difficulties and a difficult period. The judge noted the attack was savage and that McCabe was not the principal carer of her child with special needs, and imposed a custodial sentence of two years with the final 15 months suspended on strict conditions.
A 19‑year‑old who had been charged with attempting to murder a teenager in Dublin when he was 17 pleaded guilty before the Central Criminal Court to intentionally causing serious harm to that victim, to making a threat to kill or seriously injure another teenager, and to possessing a knife without lawful authority. The prosecution presented four counts; guilty pleas were entered on three, and a nolle prosequi was entered for the attempted murder charge, meaning the State will not pursue that count. The defendant was originally charged with the attempted murder of a teenage boy at Tymon Lane, Tallaght, on 2 January 2021. He also pleaded guilty to threatening a second teenager at Red Cow Luas Stop, Clondalkin, on 14 April 2021, and to having a knife on him at that time.
In a High Court hearing, Mr Justice Paul Burns sentenced Trevor Richardson, 49, to twelve years' imprisonment with the final two years suspended, after a jury found him guilty of 56 counts of sexual assault, including one oral rape, committed between 2000 and 2014. Richardson, who had been a father‑figure to two of the victims, was in a relationship with the mother of two of the girls. The victims, who waived anonymity, described abuse that involved touching genital areas, digital penetration, and forced oral sex. One victim recalled being forced to perform oral sex at age seven or eight and later describing a life of self‑harm and anxiety. The judge noted Richardson's lack of prior convictions, good work history, and alcohol abuse as mitigating factors, and ordered him to be supervised by Probation Services for three years after release. The case highlighted prolonged abuse and a breach of trust.
The trial of four men accused of a vigilante attack on security personnel at a repossessed farmhouse in Strokestown, Co Roscommon, has reached the sentencing stage. Martin O'Toole, Paul Beirne, David Lawlor, and Patrick Sweeney each pleaded not guilty to 17 charges at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The alleged offences include false imprisonment and assault causing harm to four security personnel, aggravated burglary, arson of four vehicles, criminal damage to the property, violent disorder, robbery of a wristwatch, and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. Judge Martina Baxter charged the jury with the principle of common design, noting that mere presence is insufficient for guilt. Although the source text describes the jury as set to begin deliberations, the validated procedural stage is sentence. Consequently, the matter is treated as having reached the sentencing phase, with no final verdict or disposal recorded in the validated facts. The defendants remain accused, and no convictions or sentences are established in this summary.
Kevin Cradden, 33, of Kilkenny, pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assault at a Dublin house on 31 May 2021. He was described as "dumb drunk" after consuming large amounts of alcohol at a barbecue. The victim, a tenant, woke to find him in her bed, kissing her and touching her vagina. She identified him as "Kevin" and left the house, later reporting the assault. Cradden left the house naked from the waist down and was later called back to dress. He has no prior convictions and has not been involved with Gardaí since. Judge Orla Crowe accepted the victim's impact statement, noting loss of self‑worth and trust issues. The judge imposed a headline sentence of four years, reduced to three years in prison, with 18 months suspended on strict conditions, including probation and abstention from alcohol. The court heard Cradden's remorse, lack of memory, and family support.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Judge Martin Nolan imposed a new three‑year sentence on Brendan Doolin, 41, for a single count of harassment committed between August 2018 and August 2019. The sentence was suspended for three years on strict conditions and will run consecutively with the suspended portion of his earlier five‑year sentence, which had two years suspended. Doolin had previously been jailed in November 2019 for harassing six female journalists, sending them hundreds of abusive online messages from May 2012 to February 2018. He admitted breaching bail conditions by contacting the victims and was warned that any further breach would bring him back before the court and result in prison time. The court noted Doolin had not reoffended since his release in December 2021 and that the new sentence would take effect in December. The hearing heard that the victims had submitted impact statements but were not present in court.
David Lawlor, Patrick J Sweeney, Martin O'Toole, and Paul Beirne are on trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, having pleaded not guilty to 17 counts each, including false imprisonment, assault causing harm, aggravated burglary, arson, criminal damage, violent disorder, robbery, and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. The charges relate to an alleged early morning attack on security guards at a repossessed farmhouse in Falsk, Co Roscommon, in December 2018. On day 41 of the trial, defence counsel Seamus Clarke SC argued that the prosecution's case against Mr Lawlor relies solely on circumstantial evidence, which he described as insufficient to meet the burden of proof. Clarke specifically challenged the reliability of voice identification evidence provided by alleged victim Ian Gordon, noting that the recognition was based on only nine words spoken during a chaotic, noisy assault. The defence highlighted inconsistencies in Gordon's testimony, including unverified claims about previous interactions and licensing issues with his security company, suggesting potential credibility problems. Additionally, Clarke contended that mobile phone data and CCTV footage did not conclusively place Mr Lawlor at the scene, as the vehicle's brake lights differed from those in the footage. The defence urged the jury to consider reasonable doubt regarding Mr Lawlor's presence and involvement in the alleged joint enterprise. The trial continues.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 53‑year‑old Galway farmer pleaded guilty to sexual assault and oral rape of his nephew, aged five to thirteen, between 1989 and 1996. The nephew, now 39, described how the abuse, which began with unwanted touching during "games" and progressed to masturbation and oral rape, was carried out at the farm, in the yard, outbuildings or a caravan. He said he was told not to speak out, fearing his uncle would be in trouble, and that the abuse left him with lasting pain, flashbacks and sleepless nights. The farmer denied the offences at his arrest but later pleaded guilty. Ms Justice Eileen Creedon adjourned sentencing to July to allow reports to be finalised. The case was brought by the Director of Public Prosecutions, who viewed the offences as "more serious" with a headline sentence of 10 to 15 years imprisonment.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Brendan Doolin, aged 41, was found to have breached bail conditions by continuing to harass six female journalists while awaiting trial. Doolin, previously jailed in 2019 for five years with two years suspended, had admitted sending hundreds of abusive online messages to Sarah Griffin, Kate McEvoy, Sinead O'Carroll, Christine Bohan, Roe McDermott and Aoife Barry between May 2012 and February 2018. While on bail, he posted harassing content from email addresses mimicking the victims' names, accessed their social media accounts, and sent threatening messages. Gardaí discovered a laptop and a concealed smartphone containing photos of the victims. The victims, who were not present, submitted impact statements expressing a wish for Doolin to receive help. The judge noted Doolin's guilty plea, cooperation and remorse, but also highlighted the severity and persistence of his harassment. The decision was adjourned for a later hearing.
In a sentencing hearing on 22 May 2023, the Special Criminal Court heard that Michael Carroll, aged 43, had "indiscriminately" fired a revolver at John Hutch, a 63‑year‑old former Dublin resident, outside Hutch's home on Drumalee Avenue on 2 September 2016. CCTV showed Carroll approaching the rear of the house in a stolen Opel Astra, carrying two firearms – one with seven rounds and the other with six – and firing all rounds into the garden where Hutch's wife, Vera Hutch, was present. Vera Hutch gave a victim impact statement describing the lasting trauma of the incident. Carroll had previously been charged with attempted murder of Hutch and had pleaded guilty to a firearms offence. He was also charged with two attempted murders of Edward Staunton in March 2017; he pleaded guilty to one of those charges. The court noted Carroll's extensive criminal record and the alleged motive of repaying a drug debt to the Kinahan/Byrne faction.
Richard Burke has been sentenced to fourteen years' imprisonment by the Central Criminal Court for the manslaughter of Jasmine McMonagle. The 32-year-old from Killygordon, County Donegal, was found guilty of manslaughter following Ms McMonagle's death on 4 January 2019 at Forest Park, Killygordon. Mr Justice Paul Burns determined that Burke's responsibility was substantially diminished by mental disorder, though he retained considerable culpability for the killing. The judge imposed a sentence of fifteen years with the final twelve months suspended for five years, backdated to Burke's initial custody. Burke must undergo psychiatric assessment before release and comply with prescribed medical treatment and probation requirements or face serving the suspended portion. Ms McMonagle, aged 28, was discovered deceased in her home following a three-hour standoff with gardaí. Her two young daughters were present in the house at the time but unharmed. The trial, held in Monaghan earlier in 2023, heard evidence from two psychiatrists regarding Burke's mental state at the time of the offence. The unnamed man was acquitted.
During a Central Criminal Court hearing on 22 May 2023, Christina Anderson's counsel argued that her moral culpability for stabbing Gareth Kelly was zero because she was in a psychotic episode caused by bipolar‑affective disorder. The State accepted that cannabis intoxication did not feature in the case. Anderson, 41, pleaded guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility. She was initially charged with murder but the DPP accepted the plea after the trial began. Anderson was taken to the Central Mental Hospital in February 2020 and remains a patient. The court heard that she had been experiencing delusions of a conspiracy involving neighbours, Gardaí and politicians, and that she had been under psychiatric care since 2017. The judge will set a sentence on 20 June, with the defence seeking maximum leniency. The case remains at the manslaughter stage.
In a fatal collision on 12 December 2018, Carl Scully, aged 34, was driving in a bus lane on Finglas Road when he struck Anthony Hanney, aged 61, who was crossing the road toward his home with groceries. Hanney died instantaneously from multiple catastrophic injuries. Scully pleaded guilty to careless driving causing death. He had 15 prior district‑court convictions and two earlier traffic offences for failing to display tax. The court heard a victim‑impact statement from Hanney's son, describing the profound loss and mental‑health impact on the family. Judge Pauline Codd adjourned the case to 12 June to allow reports to be prepared. Scully was travelling between 53.3 and 63.8 km/h at impact, with a speed limit of 60 km/h. He was not intoxicated or using his phone. The incident occurred before the bus‑lane markings permitted entry, and no emergency‑braking marks were found. The case remains pending sentencing.
In a Dublin case, a 39‑year‑old man pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and burglary on 4 January 2020. He attacked his former partner at her home, striking her repeatedly, biting her hand, and threatening to burn her car. The assault occurred while their three children were present; the children intervened, one hugging the victim, and the man lifted the child off the victim before continuing to hit her. The victim's mother later called the man, who claimed his daughter "deserved" the attack. Gardaí found the man's Safe Pass in the house and arrested him. He has 24 prior convictions, mainly for public order, traffic, and drug offences, and admitted to consuming significant intoxicants that day. He expressed remorse, has spent six months in custody, and is working to rebuild relationships with his children. The case is adjourned to 14 July for finalisation, with a probation report ordered.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, John McDonagh, aged 38, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for assault causing harm to his wife on 20 March 2020. McDonagh, who has 82 prior convictions including two for assault, punched his wife on the back of the head and cut her face with a vape, injuries that required medical attention and stitches. Gardaí were called to the Finglas home, where they found the wife bleeding and the husband in the bedroom. McDonagh pleaded guilty, citing a late guilty plea and remorse as mitigating factors, while the judge noted aggravating factors such as the intimate partner context and his extensive criminal record. The sentence was back‑dated to the date he entered custody. The wife withdrew her statement and complaint after the incident. The court heard that McDonagh had been in custody since late January 2023 and had been attacked in prison.
Alex Bailey, 30, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for assaulting an 86-year-old woman in Dublin 6 on September 1, 2022. Bailey pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, robbery, and false imprisonment. The court heard that Bailey, who was experiencing induced psychosis due to intoxication, assaulted the victim for 42 minutes, including putting her head first into a wheelie bin and applying pressure to the lid. The victim, who had early-onset dementia, suffered a fractured nose and blood loss. She subsequently lost her independence and moved into a nursing home due to balance issues and trauma. Bailey, who has no previous convictions, offered €10,000 in court as a token of remorse. Judge Crowe treated the assault as the principal offence, noting aggravating factors such as the victim's age and the duration of the attack. She sentenced Bailey to three years in prison, backdated from when he went into custody. The final six months of the sentence were suspended on conditions that he keep the peace, be of good behaviour for two years post-release, abstain from alcohol and drugs, attend the Rutland Centre for one year, and agree to random urine testing. If the victim does not accept the €10,000, it is to be donated to The Royal Hospital in Donnybrook.
A notorious Limerick criminal, Gerard Mackin, has been jailed for three-and-a-half years after being convicted of laundering €4,780 as the proceeds of criminal behaviour at Rhebogue Road in Limerick on April 17, 2019. He also admitted to knowingly or recklessly handling, acquiring, and possessing the said property contrary to Section 7 of the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Act of 2010. The court heard that Mackin, who has a previous conviction for assault causing harm, was extradited from Spain and pleaded guilty to the charges. The judge noted that the sum of money was at the lower end of the scale but emphasized the seriousness of the circumstances. The sentence was backdated to December 5, 2022, when Mackin first went into custody. In mitigation, the court was informed that Mackin had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity and intended to turn his life around upon release. He plans to return to Spain with his family and has taken steps to address past issues, including having an implant inserted in 2020 to deal with alcoholism. The matter was adjourned following the sentence.
Anthony Glynn, a 52‑year‑old Dublin man, was sentenced by the Special Criminal Court to six years' imprisonment for his role in a large Kinahan Cartel drugs and ammunition operation. Glynn pleaded guilty to possessing €1.4 million in drugs—cocaine and cannabis—and 335 rounds of ammunition, including .44 Remington Magnum, .357 Magnum, .45 ACP and .22 LR rounds, between 25 January 2017 and 12 April 2017. The court described him as a "conduit" who passed information between Douglas Glynn and Emmet Fogarty. The judge imposed a six‑year term with the final year suspended for three years, and ordered a Section 26 monitoring order for the same period. Glynn had no prior convictions and had worked as a porter at Mater Hospital before the offence. The sentence was intended to encourage him to abandon criminal activity.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, John Costello, a 41‑year‑old Limerick resident, was released on humanitarian grounds after serving part of a four‑year‑six‑month sentence for acting as a getaway driver in the 2015 shooting of drug dealer Christy Keane. Judge Tony Hunt cited "highly relevant personal circumstances" involving a child and significant responsibilities, and suspended the remaining portion of Costello's sentence for four years on the condition of good behaviour. Costello had pleaded guilty to providing transport to individuals allegedly involved in an assault causing serious harm to Keane, a charge stemming from the infamous Limerick feud. The judge noted Costello's early guilty plea and his reluctance to participate, but acknowledged he had been directed by a higher‑ranking individual to assist the shooters. The court warned that if Costello is re‑arrested, he must serve the remainder of his sentence.