Bernard Fogarty, aged 35, was sentenced by the Special Criminal Court to 15 years' imprisonment for the attempted murder of Mark Ivers during a shooting on Donaghmede's Streamville Road on 6 September 2019. Fogarty pleaded guilty, a plea that the judge, Mr Justice Tony Hunt, said earned a five‑year reduction from the headline 20‑year sentence. The court noted Fogarty's history of 54 convictions, including a life sentence for murder, and his involvement in the 2020 gun‑murder of Barry Wolverson and assault on Gerard Wildman. Evidence presented included eyewitness accounts of a balaclava‑clad gunman approaching Ivers' house, gunshot wounds to Ivers' femur, abdomen and liver, and CCTV footage of the suspect's vehicle. Fogarty was arrested on 22 October 2020 and entered custody on 12 July 2021. The sentence is to run from the date of the hearing.
A Donegal builder accused of participating in an armed attack on security guards at a repossessed farmhouse in County Roscommon has had his prosecution described as fundamentally flawed and contaminated by fair-procedure breaches. Patrick J Sweeney, 44, is one of four men on trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for their roles in the December 2018 incident at Falsk, near Strokestown. The defence closing speech argued the State's case relies on defective body-camera evidence, contradictory witness accounts, and an identification process lacking proper protocols. Counsel contended no forensic evidence links Mr Sweeney to the scene and that images allegedly placing him at the location represent mere speculation. The co-accused are Martin O'Toole of County Mayo, Paul Beirne of County Roscommon, and David Lawlor of County Meath. All have pleaded not guilty to seventeen charges including false imprisonment, assault, aggravated burglary, and arson. The trial continues.
A barrister for James Flynn has told the Special Criminal Court that the prosecution's case against his client lacks any substantive evidence. Bernard Condon SC argued that there is no proof Mr Flynn was present at Lordship Credit Union during the robbery on 25 January 2013, in which Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was fatally shot. The prosecution's case instead relies on linking Mr Flynn to the theft of a Volkswagen Passat in Clogherhead, County Louth, allegedly used in the robbery. Mr Condon contended that CCTV footage showing the vehicle's movements contained implausible timings and that a farmer's account of blue headlights at the burn site in Armagh did not match Mr Flynn's BMW. He described the evidence regarding the Passat as threadbare and accused the prosecution of relying on weak associations and speculation rather than concrete proof. Mr Flynn, aged 32, from South Armagh, has pleaded not guilty to robbing €7,000 from the credit union and to conspiracy charges. Aaron Brady, who was convicted of murdering Detective Donohoe, is serving a life sentence.
A 58‑year‑old former construction worker, John Reeves, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment for possession of cocaine and heroin for sale or supply at his Dublin Southside home. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 20 October 2022. During a search of his residence, Gardaí discovered a pink suitcase containing eight small blocks of heroin and seven blocks of cocaine, each block weighing about half a kilogram for heroin and one kilogram for cocaine. The heroin was valued at roughly €560,000 and the cocaine at about €490,000. Reeves admitted he had taken possession of the suitcase in a shopping centre car park, claiming he thought it contained cannabis and was unaware of the drugs inside. He stated he had addiction issues and financial difficulties, including a €3,000 drug debt, and that his family was not involved. He had no prior convictions and had not attracted negative Garda attention before this incident.
Anthony Hatton, 36, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to a smash‑and‑grab burglary at the Eir building, Heuston South Quarter, on 6 February 2018. A black Opel Corsa, driven by a co‑accused, was used to smash the building's windows; Hatton entered, removed a podium of laptops and phones, and placed it in the car. Gardaí arrived while he was still inside; he was arrested and taken to a garda station where he was initially deemed unfit for interview. The car was later found in Naas, Co. Kildare, and the driver was arrested the same day, found with two smartphones. The burglary caused €10,000 of damage, requiring replacement of two glass panes. Hatton, who has 150 prior convictions including five for burglary, was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment, back‑dated to 7 July 2022. The co‑accused received a three‑year sentence with 18 months suspended.
At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, the prosecution concluded its case against four men accused of participating in a violent attack on security personnel at a repossessed farm in Falsk, Co Roscommon, in December 2018. Martin O'Toole, Paul Beirne, David Lawlor, and Patrick Sweeney, who are currently defending themselves or represented by counsel, have all pleaded not guilty to 17 charges each. The alleged offences include false imprisonment, assault causing harm to four guards, aggravated burglary, arson of four vehicles, criminal damage, violent disorder, robbery, and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. Senior Counsel Anne Rowland argued that the defendants were part of a common enterprise to ensure the guards would not return through violence and humiliation. She presented evidence including body-cam footage, mobile phone data, and witness testimony linking each accused to the scene or the organisation of the event. The trial is at the sentencing stage following the completion of the prosecution's closing speech, with defence submissions scheduled to begin immediately. The court has not yet delivered a verdict or sentence, and the matter remains under active judicial consideration.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 35‑year‑old Jonas Alves received a six‑month prison sentence suspended on strict conditions after pleading guilty to careless driving causing the death of 76‑year‑old pensioner Mrs Treasa McKiernan on Ballinteer Avenue on 8 April 2019. The collision occurred at 7:57 pm when Mrs McKiernan was crossing the road at a non‑appointed place; Alves was travelling about 60 km/h on a 50 km/h limit. No intoxicants were found in Alves's system and the motorbike was in good working order. Alves, who had no prior convictions, apologized to the family and offered to surrender his licence. The McKiernan family, represented by son Desmond Barry McKiernan, had written to the Director of Public Prosecutions expressing "great concern" and "deep reluctance" to pursue prosecution, arguing that a trial would feel like revenge and cause further harm.
Susan Royal, 49, of Croftwood Park, Ballyfermot, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing cannabis at her home for sale or supply on 30 April 2021. She had agreed with an unknown person to hold over €14,000 worth of cannabis in exchange for receiving some for her own use to manage severe pain from fibromyalgia. Gardaí seized 730 g of the drug, along with scales and bags, after a search warrant was executed on the day of the offence. Royal, a mother of two with no prior convictions, cooperated with investigators and had previously attended a Garda station voluntarily. Judge Orla Crowe sentenced her to 18 months, suspended in full, after noting her extensive medical history and the fact that she had not ceased cannabis use entirely. The court described the case as "unusual.".
Before the Special Criminal Court on May 17th, 2023, a barrister for Brendan Treanor argued there is insufficient evidence to sustain charges against his client in connection with a 2013 credit union robbery in Bellurgan, County Louth, during which Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was killed. Sean Guerin SC submitted that prosecution claims relied on speculation rather than direct evidence, and that no proof existed that Treanor left his home the evening of the robbery. Counsel highlighted inconsistencies in the State's case, including witness testimony that the getaway driver was female, and challenged the feasibility of the timings alleged. Both Treanor and James Flynn (32), from South Armagh, deny charges of robbery and conspiracy to burgle. Aaron Brady is serving a life sentence for the detective's murder and the robbery itself. Closing arguments continue, with the three-judge court to determine the case. Brendan Treanor pleaded not guilty.
Debbie Paget, 56, of Knowth Court, Ballymun, Dublin, was found guilty by a jury of dishonestly inducing by deception James Byrne to give her €10,000, after she claimed her deceased father had instructed him to do so. The jury returned a not guilty verdict on a second charge of inducing Maria Byrne to give her €200. Paget pleaded not guilty to both offences. The trial, held at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, lasted a little over four hours. Judge Pauline Codd remanded Paget on continuing bail until July 10 for a sentence hearing. Paget thanked the jury and described the case as highly unusual, noting her long‑standing reputation as a psychic medium. She denied ever charging for readings or receiving money from the complainants. The case highlighted the use of alleged supernatural claims to obtain funds.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Darren Caffrey, 39, was sentenced to an additional three years in prison for drug offences. Gardaí had obtained a search warrant for his home on 1 May 2020, breached the house, and found crack cocaine, cocaine, heroin, prescription drug mixtures, and €16,560 in cash. Caffrey, who has 230 prior convictions, was already serving a five‑year sentence for possession of drugs for sale or supply valued over €77,000, with release scheduled for March 2025. He pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply and having proceeds of criminal conduct in cash. The judge, noting his addiction history and good behaviour in custody, imposed two concurrent three‑year sentences, starting from the day of sentencing.
The Special Criminal Court excluded Aaron Brady's father, Tony Brady, from the trial of James Flynn and Brendan Treanor after he posted an online video accusing a Garda of perjury and contempt of court. The video was deemed "tendentious and offensive" and unrelated to the evidence presented. Judge Tony Hunt ruled that while people may hold opinions, they cannot use their presence in court to publish such allegations. Brady apologized for his remarks and was not found in contempt. The trial, which has been ongoing for over 50 days, involves Flynn (32) and Treanor (34) who are charged with a €7,000 robbery at Lordship Credit Union and conspiracy to break into homes to steal car keys. Both pleaded not guilty. Aaron Brady, 31, remains in custody on a life sentence with a 40‑year minimum for the murder of Garda Adrian Donohoe and the robbery. The case is expected to conclude this week.
Karl Humphries, 40, of Bishopstown, was convicted in July 2021 of three counts of possession of cannabis worth about €58,000 for sale or supply. He claimed he was out hunting rabbits in Watergrasshill on 25 July 2012 when a Garda sting operation found a 9.74‑kg bag of cannabis under a hedge. Humphries denied any involvement in the drug trade, stating he never touched the bag and that he was simply searching for it. He pleaded not guilty and was found guilty by a 10‑2 jury. Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin sentenced him to 10 years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended. Humphries appealed on grounds that the judge failed to properly explain inferences, the standard of proof and the elements of sale or supply. The three‑judge court dismissed all three grounds and upheld the conviction and sentence.
A Special Criminal Court has heard that an organised criminal gang comprising at least five members with local knowledge deliberately targeted Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgan, County Louth, in the robbery during which Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was fatally shot. The State's closing address, delivered by barrister Lorcan Staines SC on 15 May 2023, relied on circumstantial evidence including CCTV footage and mobile phone data to link the accused men to the attack and a series of related burglaries. Brendan Treanor and James Flynn deny charges of conspiracy to commit creeper burglaries between September 2012 and January 2013, and of robbing €7,000 from the credit union on 25 January 2013. The prosecution contends the gang possessed detailed local knowledge of the area and prior intelligence about the credit union's operations. Counsel noted coordination indicators such as synchronised phone deactivations before the robbery and evidence of reconnaissance visits. Aaron Brady, already serving a life sentence with a 40-year minimum for Detective Donohoe's murder, was named as a co-conspirator. The trial continues at the Special Criminal Court. Aaron Brady pleaded not guilty and was found guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on June 26, 2022, Liam Joyce, aged 25, pleaded guilty to two counts of assault causing harm after unprovoked attacks on a hostel resident at the Four Courts Hostel and Merchants Quay. The victim was approached outside the hostel around 10.30pm, where Joyce punched him twice, struck his face with a glass bottle, and later, inside the hostel, punched him again, pulled him to the ground and stamped on his head up to 16 times. The porter tried to intervene, but Joyce removed a six‑inch knife from his pocket, which fell to the ground. CCTV footage and medical reports of cuts, bruising and swelling were presented. Joyce, who had prior assault and traffic convictions, was remanded from September 5, 2022, until bail on March 29. Judge Nolan imposed a 28‑month sentence, backdated to September 4, 2022. The court noted Joyce's homelessness, substance issues and mental health concerns.
A father of two, who was a teenager when he repeatedly sexually assaulted a young boy, was sentenced to 18 months in prison. The defendant, who cannot be named, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to six counts of sexual assault that occurred between September 2007 and July 2010 at various locations in County Wicklow. He was 17 when he first assaulted the 14‑year‑old victim, masturbating the child and forcing the child to masturbate him. The abuse escalated when the victim was 15, with the offender forcing the child to perform oral sex. The victim reported that the abuse lasted just under three years and involved about 200 incidents. In his victim impact statement, the survivor said the abuse left him feeling worthless and full of self‑doubt, and he urged the court to prevent the offender from harming others. The defendant expressed shame and remorse, acknowledging the harm he caused.
Richard O'Brien, aged 61, was convicted by a jury of 63 counts of rape, sexual assault and indecent assault against five victims, including his sisters, niece and two daughters, with offences spanning 1975 to 2011. The Central Criminal Court heard that the abuse began in his family home on O'Moore Road, Ballyfermot, and continued until the three women fled as teenagers. He also strangled a puppy and a kitten during their childhood. O'Brien denied all allegations. The court imposed a life sentence for the rape of his daughters and concurrent sentences totalling 11 years for the other offences, with the sentences commencing from his March 2024 custody. The judge noted O'Brien's lack of remorse and the severe impact on the victims, who had waived anonymity to name him.
Lisa Lee, 41, was sentenced to four years in prison for discarding a knife that was used in the fatal stabbing of Isaac Horgan. The judge suspended two years of the sentence on the condition of good behaviour for three years after her release and required her to work with probation services. Lee, who has 17 prior convictions and has struggled with medical conditions and drug addiction, was warned to "put her life and house in order." She had no fixed abode and had previously lived at Depaul Homeless Hostel. The knife was discarded on 29 March 2021 at Spring Garden Lane, Dublin, after Noel Lennon had stabbed Horgan. Lennon, 48, pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was also sentenced earlier that year. The court noted that Lee's attempt to hide the weapon was ineffective, as the knife was found in an area covered by CCTV.
At the Special Criminal Court, Paul Murphy (61) and Jason Bonney (52) were sentenced for participating in the 2016 murder of David Byrne by providing getaway vehicles. The three-judge panel found both men guilty of contributing to the killing by facilitating the removal of two gunmen from the scene. Ms Justice Tara Burns, sitting with Judges Sarah Berkeley and Grainne Malone, described their assistance as intentional and organised, noting they acted in concert with four other vehicles in a planned operation. The court rejected defence arguments that their role was minor, finding they knew a serious criminal event was planned. Murphy, who has 67 previous convictions, received a nine-year sentence backdated to March 17. Bonney, who has no prior record, was sentenced to eight and a half years, backdated to April 14. The judge set a headline sentence of ten years for both, reducing it based on personal circumstances. Separately, Gerard "The Monk" Hutch was acquitted of the murder charge in the same case. The court found it could not rely on the unsupported evidence of a witness to convict him. These sentences conclude the sentencing phase for the convicted defendants, while Hutch remains free following his acquittal.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 58‑year‑old John Reeves pleaded guilty to possessing cocaine and heroin for sale or supply at his south Dublin home. Gardaí searched the property on 20 October 2022 and found a pink suitcase in the attic containing eight half‑kilogram blocks of heroin and seven one‑kilogram blocks of cocaine, valued at approximately €560,000 and €490,000 respectively. Reeves admitted he had taken possession of the suitcase in a shopping centre car park, claiming he thought it contained cannabis and only later learned it held hard drugs. He stated he had addiction issues, financial difficulties, and a drug debt of €3,000, and that he had no control over the quantity or type of drugs. Reeves had no prior convictions, had completed drug treatment, and had no family involvement. The court heard he was ashamed of his actions and had taken responsibility.
Graham Campion, aged 29, pleaded guilty to a single count of trespassing on 9 December 2013 at a property in Sutton Cross, Sutton. CCTV footage identified him as the person looking into the windows of the house at lunchtime that day. The following day the house was burgled and a safe containing €40,000 and a child's piggy bank containing €500 were stolen; the money was never recovered. Campion denied any involvement in the burglary. He has 84 prior convictions, mainly post‑2013 road‑traffic offences, and is currently serving a four‑year‑six‑month sentence for an earlier endangerment offence. The court, noting the case's antiquity and Campion's rehabilitation progress, sentenced him to four months' imprisonment, back‑dated to 4 May, and did not extend his custodial period. The sentence was imposed by Judge Orla Crowe. The case was delayed in part due to the Covid‑19 pandemic.
Four men are to be sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for their roles in a multi-million euro investment fraud involving Custom House Capital Ltd (CHC) between October 2008 and July 2011. Former CEO Harry Cassidy, former Head of Private Clients John Whyte, and former Head of Finance Paul Lavery pleaded guilty to conspiring to defraud investors and clients by intentionally misleading them regarding asset placement. John Mulholland pleaded guilty to one count of neglecting his duty as a non-executive director of CHC. Judge Orla Crowe is scheduled to read 197 victim impact statements before passing sentence. The four defendants, who were remanded on continuing bail, face charges related to dishonest acts inducing clients to entrust funds. Separately, Ciara Kelleher, the firm's former senior portfolio relationship manager, pleaded not guilty to a charge of conspiring to defraud investors. Her case was not concluded; a jury failed to reach a verdict earlier this year, and she will face a re-trial in 2025. The court previously noted the need to review extensive material before finalising the proceedings for the four guilty parties.
Scheduling difficulties have delayed a bid by Gerard Hutch to recover his legal costs following his acquittal last month on a murder charge at the Special Criminal Court. Hutch was cleared of involvement in the fatal shooting of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel in February 2016. The costs application, which the State opposes, was originally due for hearing this week but prosecutors indicated complications had emerged. Justice Tara Burns rescheduled the matter for June 7. Meanwhile, two men convicted of acting as getaway drivers during the attack—Paul Murphy and Jason Bonney—will be sentenced on Friday. Both were found guilty of participating in or contributing to Byrne's murder after a 52-day trial concluded last month.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 20‑year‑old Jake Emmet pleaded guilty to making unwarranted demands with menace at a family home in Malahide on 16 May 2022. Emmet threatened to burn down the house, claiming the homeowner owed him a €500 drug debt. The incident was captured on a doorbell camera, showing Emmet telling the homeowner's mother that her son owed money for "green and a little bit of cocaine" and that he would "torch the house." Emmet's father, a career criminal serving a prison sentence, had left the family when Emmet was a child. Emmet admitted to having no understanding of the trauma he caused, and his counsel noted his cocaine use and homelessness. The judge adjourned sentencing to 25 July, ordering Emmet to cease his association with the people he was "playing the hard man" with.
A 38-year-old Sligo man has pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to directing a 20-member criminal organisation that operated across the northwest between October 2019 and January 2022. Barry Young coordinated drug dealing, intimidation and money laundering across Sligo, Donegal, Leitrim and Galway through a hierarchical command structure. Garda investigations uncovered drug seizures totalling over €628,000 linked to the gang, alongside €40,000 in cash recovered from Young despite his stated income being social welfare payments. Evidence presented during the sentencing hearing showed Young dispatched debt collectors to private homes to commit criminal damage and extort money. The court heard Young had 81 previous convictions and had been twice sentenced for drug dealing, most recently in 2006. His defence counsel noted Young had expressed suicidal ideation over his significant drug debts and described his arrest at Dublin Airport in January as a relief. The non-jury court adjourned sentencing to 31 July. The offence carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
A man accused of participating in a vigilante attack on security personnel at a repossessed farm in Co Roscommon told gardaí that he organised people to 'take back the house peacefully'. Paul Beirne (56) of Croghan, Boyle, Co Roscommon, stated in December 2018 that he drove a group of around 30 men to the property and broke the front door down with a sledgehammer. He claimed he did not know how the situation escalated. Co-accused Patrick Sweeney (44) of High Cairn, Ramelton, Co Donegal; Martin O'Toole (58) of Stripe, Irishtown, Claremorris, Co Mayo; and David Lawlor (43) of Bailis Downs, Navan, have each pleaded not guilty to 17 charges at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The charges include false imprisonment, assault causing harm, aggravated burglary, arson, criminal damage, violent disorder, robbery, and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. The prosecution evidence concluded on Monday afternoon, and the trial continues before Judge Martina Baxter in the absence of the jury until Thursday morning, when the panel is due to return.
John Lindsay, 47, was sentenced to two and a half years in jail for his role in a €1.2 million drug seizure. He pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale on 15 March 2023, after having spent up to €1,000 a week on cocaine and trying to reduce a €20,000 drug debt. The court noted that Lindsay had not owned the drugs but acted in a warehousing and delivery capacity, assisting in their onward transmission. He had one prior assault conviction. The judge, citing Lindsay's charitable work, early guilty plea, drug‑free status, strong work history and rehabilitation, imposed a four‑and‑a‑half‑year term with the final two years suspended. The sentence was a departure from the mandatory minimum, reflecting the circumstances of the case and Lindsay's reformed character. The seizure involved heroin worth €831,000 recovered from a hold‑all bag and €420,000 found at Lindsay's home.
Oliver Doran, aged 24, was sentenced to life imprisonment for the axe‑murder of 76‑year‑old Kwok Ping Cheng in Robinson's Court, Dublin. The court heard that Doran entered Cheng's sheltered accommodation at 9.59 pm on 28 April 2021, left at 11.12 pm, returned at 1.03 am on 29 April, and stayed for 11 minutes before Cheng's body was found the next morning. CCTV showed Doran's movements, and a pathologist confirmed multiple blunt and sharp‑force injuries, including a fractured mandible, caused by an axe found beside the body. DNA on the axe matched Doran, who had previously fled Ireland with his family the day after the murder and was arrested on 5 May 2021. He pleaded guilty, had 98 prior convictions, and the judge described the crime as senseless with no motive, imposing a life sentence back‑dated to 17 January 2023. The sentencing hearing included a victim impact statement from Cheng's son, Jason.
Anthony Glynn, a 52‑year‑old Dublin man, pleaded guilty to two serious offences for the benefit of the Kinahan Organised Crime Group. He admitted possessing €1.4 million in drugs—cocaine and cannabis—and 335 rounds of ammunition between 25 January 2017 and 12 April 2017. Glynn acted as a conduit, relaying messages from his brother Douglas Glynn to Emmet Fogarty, who managed the business premises at Mount Dillon Business Park where the drugs were seized. The court noted Glynn's cooperation and lack of prior convictions, but also his role in the industrial‑scale operation. He will be sentenced at the Special Criminal Court on 19 May, with the maximum penalty for each offence being 15 years' imprisonment. The article reports only the charges and the forthcoming sentencing date, without any outcome or further legal developments.
Gerard Hutch, who was acquitted last month by the Special Criminal Court of murdering Kinahan Cartel member David Byrne at the Regency Hotel, has applied to recover his legal costs from the State. The State has indicated it will oppose the application, which is scheduled to be heard on Friday. The hearing will occur alongside the sentencing of Paul Murphy and Jason Bonney, both convicted of acting as getaway drivers during the February 2016 hotel attack. Murphy, a taxi driver from Swords, and Bonney, a builder from Portmarnock, were each found guilty of participating in or contributing to Byrne's murder by providing access to motor vehicles. During sentencing submissions at the Special Criminal Court, defence counsel emphasised Murphy's long involvement in the taxi business and advanced age, and highlighted Bonney's previously unblemished record, community contributions, and voluntary work with boxing clubs. Ms Justice Tara Burns, presiding with two other judges, adjourned sentencing to Friday at ten o'clock.
A 36‑year‑old man, whose name is withheld to protect the children's identities, pleaded guilty to threatening to kill a TUSLA social worker on 20 January 2022. He had previously been convicted of child cruelty in April 2021, receiving a one‑year suspended sentence, and had nine other convictions. Judge Martin Nolan, hearing the case in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, found that while the threats were believed by the victim, he did not think the man intended to carry them out. He described the invective as frustration and imposed a three‑year suspended sentence, warning that any minor infraction would lead to prison. The judge also adjourned a hearing on the activation of the earlier suspended sentence for two weeks. The social worker, who had been at the accused's former partner's home to discuss a case conference, was threatened by the man after a confrontation with the children's mother.
A man accused of participating in an attack on security personnel at a repossessed farm in County Roscommon has told gardaí he was asleep at his home on the night in question. Paul Beirne, aged 56, of Croghan, Boyle, faces charges including false imprisonment, assault causing harm to four security workers, aggravated burglary, and arson concerning multiple vehicles at Falsk, near Strokestown, on 16 December 2018. During interviews with gardaí, extracts of which were presented to the jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Mr Beirne stated he was present at the property during an earlier eviction on 11 December 2018, claiming he was there to purchase cattle. He declined to provide a detailed account of events. Regarding the early-morning incident five days later, when approximately 30 armed men allegedly arrived at the farm, Mr Beirne maintained he was at home and asleep. He stated he had no knowledge of his cattle lorry's movements that night, despite tachograph records. Three co-accused have also pleaded not guilty to identical charges. The trial continues before Judge Martina Baxter.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Kamil Naumczyk, 40, pleaded guilty to assaulting an eight‑year‑old boy, breaking the child's nose, after a dispute involving his daughters. Naumczyk followed the boys into a back garden and punched the child, causing him to fall and suffer a deviated septum that required surgery. The boy was taken to Tallaght Hospital and later to a specialist. Naumczyk admitted the act and said he was defending his daughters. Judge Martin Nolan, after reviewing a report confirming Naumczyk's suitability for community service, imposed 240 hours of community service in lieu of an 18‑month prison sentence. The judge noted Naumczyk's remorse, cooperation with Gardaí, long work history, family responsibilities and lack of prior convictions, and expressed hope that he would not repeat the offence. The victim's impact statement was not read out. The court considered but rejected monetary compensation, citing the victim's minor status.
Stephen Spenneberg, 55, an American actor and podcast host, was sentenced to two years in prison with 12 months suspended for harassing an Irish woman he met 20 years ago. The harassment spanned from May 2020 to January 2023 and included repeated phone calls, emails, social‑media messages, voicemails, and attempts to contact her through various platforms. Despite being told by Gardaí, Kentucky police and other authorities to stop, he persisted. He also travelled to Ireland in December 2022, visited a commercial premises linked to the woman's family, and was arrested on 7 January 2023. The court imposed a permanent no‑contact order, forbidding any direct or indirect contact with the woman, her family, friends, co‑workers or professional cohort, and prohibited publishing any identifying details about her. The sentence was back‑dated to 7 January 2023. The 12‑month suspended portion is subject to a three‑year period of supervision. Stephen Spenneberg pleaded guilty.
The Special Criminal Court admitted a back tattoo as evidence in the case of Brendan Treanor, 34, and James Flynn, 32, charged with the robbery of €7,000 at Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgan, Co Louth, on 25 January 2013, which resulted in the shooting death of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe. The tattoo, featuring guns, bullets, gangsters, money, knuckle dusters and a BMW X5, was described by the prosecution as "almost a glorification" and a "pictorial admission" of Treanor's involvement. Treanor's lawyers argued it was irrelevant, but Mr Justice Tony Hunt ruled that the court would consider it as part of the overall evidence, stating that excluding it would be a failure of logic, reason and common sense. Treanor and Flynn have pleaded not guilty to each charge. The trial continues tomorrow.
Ronan Keogan, a 51‑year‑old former GP, received a fully‑suspended one‑year prison sentence for distributing child pornography. He pleaded guilty to knowingly distributing child pornography at an unknown location in March 2017 and to possessing three child pornography images in May 2017. Gardaí found 10,000 images on his phone, including three child‑pornographic images, one of which he sent to an adult woman he was meeting for sex. Keogan claimed the girl in the image was 15, later stating 17. He was described as engaging in "thrill‑seeking behaviour", meeting many women online, and had a history of anxiety and depression. The judge noted the impact on his career and family, imposed the suspended sentence, and noted he would become a registered sex offender. No other convictions or charges were mentioned.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 2 May 2023, 29‑year‑old Michael O'Reilly pleaded guilty to raping a 13‑year‑old girl in Dublin on 11 April 2021. He claimed in a letter to the victim that he "honestly did not know" her age and expressed shame and disgust. The court heard that the victim had been sexually assaulted after a teenage boy had finished consensual sex with her. O'Reilly allegedly forced the girl to the ground, removed her clothing and raped her. CCTV footage of the victim's upset reaction was shown to O'Reilly, who denied any involvement. He was remanded in custody until 10 July for finalisation of the case. The teenage boy was charged with engaging in a sexual act with a child but the charge was later withdrawn. No prior sexual convictions were recorded for O'Reilly, though he had convictions for assault, theft and burglary.
A garda detective has given evidence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in the trial of four men charged in connection with an alleged attack on security personnel at a repossessed farm near Strokestown, Co Roscommon. The court heard that a two-second body-camera clip was not disclosed to the defence as the officer believed it was not relevant. Detective McDonnell acknowledged he had inadvertently recorded the footage while the camera was in garda custody and accepted that withholding it did not constitute best practice. The trial heard evidence regarding an incident on December 16, 2018, when approximately 30 armed men reportedly arrived at the property and attacked four security guards. Patrick Sweeney, Martin O'Toole, Paul Beirne, and David Lawlor, all pleaded not guilty to 17 charges each, including assault causing harm, false imprisonment, aggravated burglary, arson, and violent disorder. The trial continues before Judge Martina Baxter and a jury.
Alan Leech, 38, was jailed for two years for extortion after he was hired by Bryan Kennedy to murder a couple with whom Kennedy's wife was having an online affair. Leech demanded money from Kennedy and Kennedy's wife on three occasions in January 2020, threatening violence and claiming he had third‑party killers. Kennedy, who had already been sentenced to four and a half years for soliciting Leech, paid €8,000 but failed to pay an outstanding €2,000, prompting Leech to send more threatening messages. Leech never contracted any third parties and had no gang connections; he was described as a "local junkie" with a history of drug addiction and 43 prior convictions. The court noted Leech's remorse and reduced the headline sentence of three years to two years, citing mitigating factors. The case highlighted the threats and intimidation faced by Kennedy's wife, who reported ongoing fear and PTSD after the incidents. Alan Leech pleaded guilty.
A 32‑year‑old drug addict was jailed after terrorising his mother, threatening to stab her dog, petrol‑bombing her home and writing "rats out" on her door. He broke her jaw, forced her to hospital and was convicted of assault, possession of a knife and burglary. The mother, who had obtained a protection order, described the abuse and her fear. The court noted the high risk of reoffending and the offender's remorse. Judge Elma Sheahan sentenced him to three years and two months, suspending the final eight months on conditions including offence and victim focus work with the Probation Service. The mother expressed a desire to reunite her family and accepted his apology, while the defence highlighted his addiction and prospects for rehabilitation. The unnamed 32-year-old pleaded guilty.
Trevor Brown, 40, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for offences committed on May 7, 2022. Brown pleaded guilty to creating a serious risk of harm by driving dangerously at Meakstown Cottages, Finglas, two charges of assaulting a police officer, and one charge of stealing a car at Fassaugh Avenue, Cabra West. The court heard that Brown reversed a stolen vehicle at speed, pinning Garda David Lewis's leg between the vehicles, before resisting arrest and assaulting Garda Lewis and Garda Louise Moran. Both officers sustained injuries and were certified unfit for duty. Judge Patricia Ryan noted Brown's 165 previous convictions, including 58 for theft and 41 under the Road Traffic Act. While acknowledging mitigating factors such as his guilty plea, time in custody, and engagement in drug treatment, the judge rejected Brown's claim that he was reversing slowly. Judge Ryan sentenced Brown to two and a half years for the unlawful taking of a car and five years for the assault on a police officer. The final year of the assault sentence was suspended under strict conditions. Both sentences run concurrently and are backdated from the date he went into custody.
Emanuel Adrian Marcu, 29, of Dublin 8, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after punching a co‑worker during a night out at Temple Bar on 29 January 2019. The victim, who was on a work night out, was punched twice in the face, sustaining a broken jaw that required surgery and several days in hospital. Marcu, who was intoxicated that night, later claimed he could not remember the incident and that someone had pushed him, but he admitted the attack was unprovoked. He voluntarily appeared at Garda station, offered an apology and brought €2,000 to court. Judge Martina Baxter, noting the seriousness of the injury and Marcu's lack of prior convictions, imposed 240 hours of community service in lieu of a two‑year prison sentence. The sentence was deemed suitable by the Probation Service.
A 51‑year‑old GP, Ronan Keogan of Terenure, pleaded guilty to knowingly distributing child pornography and to possessing three child pornography images. The offences were committed in March and May 2017. A woman he met on the affairs website Ashley Madison complained to Gardaí after he sent her images of a girl he claimed was 15, later stating she was 17. Gardaí obtained search warrants for Keogan's medical centre and home; the centre search yielded over 10,000 images, three of which were child pornography. Keogan was cooperative during the searches and denied intent to exploit underage girls. He has no prior convictions. The case was adjourned for sentencing on 3 May 2023. Keogan has been removed from the Medical Council, his practice closed, and he has lost all income as a result of the offences.
A garda superintendent has firmly rejected suggestions that policing failures contributed to a violent incident at a repossessed house near Strokestown, County Roscommon, in December 2018. At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Superintendent Seamus Boyle disputed a defence assertion that gardaí failed to intervene timeously and properly before armed men attacked security personnel. Four men—Patrick Sweeney of Ramelton, County Donegal; Martin O'Toole of Claremorris, County Mayo; Paul Beirne of Boyle, County Roscommon; and David Lawlor of Navan, County Meath—have each pleaded not guilty to seventeen charges. These include false imprisonment, assault causing harm, aggravated burglary, arson, violent disorder, and animal cruelty, arising from the early-morning incident on 16 December 2018. The superintendent confirmed he prepared a policing plan and visited the property but maintained An Garda Síochána's role was limited to preventing breaches of the peace. The trial before Judge Martina Baxter and a jury continues. Patrick Sweeney was convicted. Martin O'Toole was convicted. Paul Beirne was convicted. David Lawlor was convicted.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Roy Reilly, 53, was sentenced to seven years in prison after authorities seized €560,166 worth of heroin, cannabis and cocaine from a modified Opal Insignia car and a Dublin 8 apartment described as a "small drugs factory." Gardaí found £42,960 in laundered money, 19 g of cocaine, 2 kg of heroin, 11 kg of cannabis, 560 g of cocaine, a hydraulic press, a blender, bagging material, scales, ten mobile phones, 1.3 kg of benzocaine, 2 kg of caffeine and paracetamol. Documents including Reilly's driving licence, passport and vehicle registration were recovered. Reilly pleaded guilty to possession of the money and drugs, admitting possession of heroin, cocaine and cannabis for sale or supply. The judge described him as a trusted participant in a large enterprise, noting his high level of culpability and that he had pleaded early. The sentence was back‑dated to the day he was taken into custody.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 39‑year‑old Ashley Cooper of Raheny admitted allowing her home to be used for the sale and supply of controlled drugs after a financial crisis. Cooper had borrowed €3,000 from an unnamed man to support her three children during Christmas. When she could not meet the weekly €100 interest, the lender demanded she accept two bags of drugs worth about €297,000. Cooper pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of permitting a premises to be used for drug supply. Gardaí seized 9.8 kg of cannabis (valued €196,780) and 1.4 kg of cocaine (worth €100,240) from her house, and the driver of the van that delivered the drugs was charged. Cooper, with no prior convictions, cooperated with investigators and expressed fear of the lender. She has a history of depression and financial hardship, and has performed voluntary work for a homeless charity.
Paul O'Brien, a 38‑year‑old computer technician from Tallaght, pleaded guilty to three counts of copyright infringement for selling Android boxes that enabled cheap access to thousands of TV channels. Between June 2016 and December 2017 he sold about 150 boxes, charging customers €12 a month for activation codes that unlocked roughly 4,000 channels. Gardaí traced the scheme after a Sky investigator purchased a box in October 2017, leading to warrants and a raid in December 2017 that seized computers, flyers, business cards and a black tower PC containing data on activation codes. O'Brien's bank account held €34,017, about 60 % of which came from the illegal sales. At the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to 240 hours of community service, ordered the forfeiture of €20,410 and the destruction of the seized equipment, and noted that a custodial sentence was considered but ultimately not imposed.
A 42‑year‑old taxi driver was given a suspended six‑month sentence after pleading guilty to assaulting his 11‑year‑old son 20 times with a metal umbrella. The incident occurred on 16 February 2020 when the son was locked out of the father's house after an access visit. The son, who had been told by his father that he would be "thrown in the hell fire by God" if he told his mother, was left outside for over an hour, cold and wet, before being brought back to the father's home. There, the father beat him in the sitting room, repeatedly asking "Will you run away again?" The son suffered bruises and a cut to his knee. The father denied ever physically punishing his children and has no prior convictions. He has since taken parenting and conflict‑resolution courses. The judge noted the seriousness of the breach of trust and the boy's continued fear and distress.
Two men have been sentenced to a combined total of sixteen-and-a-half years imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court for facilitating a criminal organisation in the fatal shooting of Thomas McCarthy. Charles McClean, aged thirty-four, of Clondalkin in Dublin, received ten years, to run consecutively after an eight-year sentence for conspiracy to murder. Mark Lee, aged thirty-two, from Lucan in Dublin, received nine years with the final twelve months suspended. Mr McCarthy, a fifty-five-year-old father of five from England, was shot dead at his mother's home in Ballyfermot on twenty-seventh July two thousand twenty after answering the door. He had no involvement in criminality and was shot nine times with no established motive for the killing. Mr Justice Paul McDermott found that McClean played a prominent role in the carefully planned murder, monitoring the victim's movements and signalling the shooter. Lee demonstrated loyalty to the criminal organisation involved whilst showing little empathy for the victim's family. Both men pleaded guilty to the charges.
A security guard gave evidence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of a violent attack at a repossessed property in Strokestown, County Roscommon, on 16 December 2018. The witness described being struck with a nail-studded bat and cut with a blade during an incident involving approximately thirty armed men. Four defendants—Patrick Sweeney of Ramelton, County Donegal; Martin O'Toole of Claremorris, County Mayo; Paul Beirne of Boyle, County Roscommon; and David Lawlor of Navan, County Meath—have pleaded not guilty to seventeen charges each. These include false imprisonment, assault causing harm, aggravated burglary, arson, criminal damage, violent disorder, robbery, and animal cruelty. The trial before Judge Martina Baxter and a jury continues at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.