In a drunken altercation in Dublin's Temple Bar on 11 August 2021, a 16‑year‑old girl, later identified only as a minor, used a broken vodka bottle to slash a woman's face, leaving a two‑inch cut. The incident began when the girl and a friend approached a group of young adults for a cigarette, which was refused. A member of the group pushed the girl, causing her to fall and break the bottle. In the ensuing melee, she struck the woman with the broken bottle. Gardaí found the girl intoxicated and she was taken to a garda station for a responsible adult to collect her. She pleaded guilty to one count of assault causing harm to a woman. Judge Martin Nolan ordered a peace bond until July, stating that if the Probation Service deems her suitable, she will be sentenced to community service.
A 76‑year‑old pensioner from the southwest, whose identity is protected, has lodged an appeal against a six‑year conviction for sexually abusing three of his granddaughters, aged eight to eleven. He was found guilty on all 13 assault charges by a unanimous jury at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court in June 2021, with a two‑year suspended sentence. The appeal argues that no evidence justified the long gaps between the abuse and the girls' complaints. The first granddaughter reported inappropriate touching to her teacher in January 2014 and to Gardaí in 2016; the second and third girls made complaints in 2016 after confiding in a school friend. The appellant's counsel contended that the court had no basis to assess the reasonableness of the delays, citing a "doctrine of recent complaint." The judge noted that reasonableness, not speed, should guide the assessment, and the court would reserve judgment. The unnamed man pleaded not guilty.
Four men are standing trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 53 charges arising from an alleged attack on security personnel during a property repossession at Strokestown, County Roscommon, in December 2018. Patrick Sweeney of Ramelton, County Donegal, Martin O'Toole of Claremorris, County Mayo, Paul Beirne of Boyle, County Roscommon, and David Lawlor of County Meath have each pleaded not guilty to charges including aggravated burglary, false imprisonment, assault causing harm, arson, criminal damage, violent disorder, robbery and animal cruelty. A security guard testified that approximately 30 masked individuals arrived at the property armed with weapons, assaulted four security staff, set vehicles alight and fatally injured a guard dog. The witness further told the court of previous hostile encounters with one of the defendants at other eviction sites. The trial is ongoing.
Anthony Byrne, 28, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to a 16‑year‑old boy on 4 January 2022 at Camden Lock, Ringsend, Dublin 4. He struck the boy with a baseball bat, hitting him on the left side of his face, head, legs and left middle finger, causing a swollen lip, fractured finger and bruising. The boy was treated at St Vincent's Hospital and required finger surgery. Byrne was identified by CCTV, arrested and admitted the assault. He claimed he feared a trespasser and wanted to protect his family, but the footage showed no intruder. Byrne has three prior convictions, including two minor drug offences. The court, led by Judge Orla Crowe, deemed the act "very serious" and adjourned the case to 6 June for a probation report and risk assessment. The boy expressed fear and worry about a repeat incident. Byrne offered an apology and requested a suspended sentence. The court will consider these factors before sentencing.
Alan Sallinger, 53, was sentenced to three years in prison at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to possessing €396,910 in criminal proceeds. The offence occurred on June 14, 2016, at an Applegreen service station in north county Dublin. Sallinger admitted to the charge on the basis that he was reckless, with defence counsel Garret Baker SC arguing that Sallinger did not know the specific contents of the bag he transferred from his car to another man's vehicle. Gardaí, conducting surveillance, observed the transfer and subsequently arrested the men, finding vacuum-packed cash in the bag. Sallinger, of Brookview Walk, Tallaght, was arrested in 2017 and entered his guilty plea on his trial date. Judge Martin Nolan stated it was clear Sallinger was transporting the money for a third party in exchange for payment, noting he must have known the bag contained illicit items. The judge acknowledged Sallinger's remorse and cooperation with gardaí, as well as mitigating factors including a history of drug abuse and alcohol problems at the time of the offence. Although Sallinger has 18 previous convictions, mostly from the 1980s and 1990s, the judge reduced the headline sentence of six years to three years, taking these mitigating circumstances into account.
Carl Buckley, 38, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for transporting over €1 million in cash for a criminal gang. The conviction followed the discovery of a ledger in his home detailing numerous cash‑transportation transactions and encrypted messages on his phone referencing a gang boss known as 'Mr Brownstone'. Buckley had previously been caught carrying €53,000 in cash in a transaction between two criminal entities. He pleaded guilty to possessing the proceeds of crime. His defence argued that he was coerced into the gang after a loan to buy a PlayStation for his child, and that he was the sole carer of his son. The judge noted Buckley's long‑running involvement and, despite mitigation, imposed a custodial sentence with no suspended portion. Buckley reacted with a silent "No" when the sentence was announced.
Aaron Gilsenan, 42, with 93 prior convictions, was jailed for four years after a series of offences in Clondalkin. He first attempted to rob a shop while intoxicated, fled without taking anything, and then stole a car that had been left by its owner with the keys in the ignition and two children, aged four and six, sitting in the back. The owner had left the car for a few minutes to buy groceries; when Gilsenan realised the car was missing, he returned to the shop, where the sales assistant called the Gardaí. The car was stopped 2 km away, and the children were unharmed and reunited with their father after about ten minutes. Gilsenan then tried to rob a nail salon, pulling the cash register and causing damage, but left the children in the car and used the vehicle to escape. Aaron Gilsenan pleaded guilty.
Dawood Aziz, 37, of Cabinteely, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of €300,360 worth of ketamine and possession of a mobile phone used in a drug‑trafficking offence. Gardaí, following confidential information, set up surveillance and observed Aziz moving items from a premises to his van. A search of the van revealed just over €300,000 worth of ketamine. Aziz claimed the drugs were handed to him and that he had taken them to clear debt from a failed business venture. He admitted he was in debt and had become involved to pay it off. Judge Melanie Greally noted his prior cannabis conviction, his guilty plea, good employment history and pro‑social family. She imposed a five‑year sentence, suspended the final 18 months on conditions including engagement with addiction services and 12 months under Probation Service supervision.
John Kelly, 36, of Cherrywood Villas, Clondalkin, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to cultivating cannabis at a derelict farmyard in Johnstown Kennedy, Rathcoole, on 26 November 2018. He was found supervising a grow house that contained three tents with 140 cannabis plants and saplings, valued at €60,000 for sentencing purposes. Kelly has 89 prior convictions, mainly for traffic offences, and previously served a seven‑year sentence for drug possession and a term for endangerment. Garda Donal Donoghue reported that Kelly's suspicious electricity bill led to a search warrant and the discovery of the grow operation. The court, noting mitigating factors such as his guilty plea and his legitimate stud‑farm business, sentenced him to two and a half years' imprisonment, suspending the final six months of a three‑year term on condition of continued engagement with the Probation Service to address his addiction. The sentence was back‑dated to 17 May of the previous year.
In a case heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, 33‑year‑old Daragh Houlihan pleaded guilty to robbery after assaulting his pregnant girlfriend at her home. The incident began while she was cooking; Houlihan entered the kitchen, demanded a knife she was holding, and a one‑minute struggle ensued. He then seized her phone, demanding the unlock code, and pushed her onto the ground. He left the apartment, later pursued her to retrieve the phone, during which he struck her with his leg and threw her phone over a wall before fleeing. The victim, distressed, reported the assault to Gardaí and was later taken to Mater Hospital. Houlihan admitted stealing the phone but denied violent conduct, citing a belief the victim might stab him. He is scheduled for sentencing later this year, with a probation report and urine analysis ordered for the next court date on 19 June.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 71‑year‑old man was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended, for raping and sexually abusing his younger sister from childhood until a final assault when she was heavily pregnant. The court heard that the man began raping his sister when she was 14, fearing pregnancy, and continued indecent assault until she met her future husband. He stopped raping her at that point but assaulted her again in 1983, when she was pregnant. The jury convicted him of 69 counts of indecent assault and rape between 1964 and 1973. The judge noted the victim's repeated attempts to report abuse were dismissed and she was beaten. The defendant, who has no prior convictions, accepted the verdicts but denied rape, and the court found little remorse or insight into his offending. The sentence was imposed with a suspended final year under strict conditions.
In a February 2023 hearing, Mr. Gavin Guerrine, aged 31, was warned by Mr. Justice Paul McDermott that any further breaches of his probation could lead to the activation of a five‑year suspended sentence. Guerrine had previously been sentenced in 2011 to ten years, with the last five years suspended, for deliberately running over Christopher O'Rourke in 2009. O'Rourke, who was 17 at the time, suffered severe brain injury, fractures and a serious knee injury, and later died in 2010 from a drug overdose. Guerrine's failure to attend probation appointments, attributed to illness, was cited as a breach. The court emphasized the need for Guerrine to engage with probation services, provide required urinalysis, and participate in training and employment programs, or risk re‑activation of the suspended sentence.
Colin Kevitt, 29, of Moneymore, Drogheda, was sentenced in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for possession of a 9mm Glock semi‑automatic pistol found at a home in Drogheda on 8 February 2020. The gun, wrapped in black plastic beneath a flower pot, was discovered by a homeowner who called the gardaí. Forensic testing showed the pistol was in fair condition and contained five loaded bullets and additional ammunition. Kevitt's DNA matched samples taken from the gun, though he denied any admission. His defence argued that a friend had taken the gun to a party and that Kevitt had handled it there, but the court found this explanation unconvincing. The judge noted Kevitt's prior minor convictions and described the offence as a marked escalation. He pleaded guilty, and the judge imposed a headline sentence of six years, reduced to four years and eight months, with a one‑year suspension on conditions including engagement with addiction services.
Paul Hendrick, aged 75, pleaded guilty to two counts of indecent assault against a male at the Christian Brothers' School in Westland Row between May 1980 and July 1981. He appeared before the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, where Judge Patricia Ryan set a sentence hearing for 24 May and remanded him on bail until that date.
Stephen Rabbitte, 36, was sentenced to 16 years in prison with the final year suspended for the attempted murder of his partner, Audrey Reddin, on 10 April 2021. The court heard that Rabbitte strangled Reddin in bed, then stabbed her in the neck with a knife, leaving the tip embedded in her spine. He also used a slash hook to strike her, causing a broken arm and other injuries. Reddin suffered a broken nose, broken teeth, a stab wound to her left hand, and ongoing pain and PTSD. Rabbitte had pleaded guilty and had a letter of apology. He had 51 prior convictions, including assault and knife possession, and was on a suspended drug sentence at the time of the attack. The sentence was back‑dated to 12 April 2021 and he will appear in Galway Circuit Court on 7 March for reactivation of his suspended sentence.
David Stone, 65, owner of Ashton Dog Pound in Dublin, was fined €30,000 after a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court found he unlawfully stored and incorrectly administered the euthanasia drug Pentobarbital to two dogs on 24 July 2020. Garda Áine McQuillan reported that the drug was found in an unlocked tin box at the pound's reception, with over 350 ml in total, and that the dogs had been given the drug orally rather than intravenously by a registered veterinary practitioner as required. Stone pleaded guilty to using a premises for the supply of an animal remedy contrary to European regulations, possession of a veterinary‑only drug, and permitting its improper administration. The court noted the drug's lethal potential for both animals and humans, Stone's breach of a €277,000 contract with Dublin City Council, and his lack of prior convictions, and imposed the fine without custodial sentence.
Killian Kinsella, a former footballer, was sentenced to nine months in jail for stealing mobile phones from a post office where he worked, three months after receiving a suspended two‑year prison sentence for possessing €10,000 worth of cannabis. In July 2021, Judge Melanie Greally had imposed the suspended sentence following a guilty plea. Kinsella, who had no prior convictions, was found by Gardaí in a taxi with a cardboard box containing cannabis. He later pleaded guilty to eight counts of interfering with the post and one count of possession of stolen property. The court noted his loss of employment at An Post and his potential for reform, but concluded that his criminal conduct within the suspension period warranted imprisonment. The nine‑month term is part of the suspended two‑year sentence.
Franklin Olukoya, 18 at the time of the incident, was jailed for eight months after driving without a licence and insurance, causing serious harm to his 17‑year‑old passenger. On 24 June 2019, while driving along Portmarnock, he lost control of the car, which hit a low wall, spun and landed on its side. The passenger suffered a broken back in two places, a fractured thumb and a head contusion, and has undergone surgery and ongoing physiotherapy. Olukoya pleaded guilty to careless driving causing serious harm and driving without insurance. The judge noted the aggravating factors of no licence or insurance, reduced the charge from dangerous driving, and imposed an eight‑month custodial term back‑dated to November, along with a four‑year driving disqualification. He had four prior convictions and admitted he had epilepsy and a history of seizures. The court accepted his guilty plea and remorse.
Bruno Farias, 31, was sentenced to six years' imprisonment for possessing 12 kg of cocaine, worth €840 000, at Dublin Airport on 11 July 2022. He had taken the drugs from a toilet cubicle to bypass customs, after Lucas Farias, 27, had brought a suitcase containing just under 15 kg of cocaine from Brazil. Lucas was jailed for seven years, and Jocelino De Silva, 44, received six years for holding the remaining 3 kg. All three were employees of a contractor at the airport, which allowed them to use staff entrances and an employee bus. The judge, Martin Nolan, noted that Farias acted as a courier with no proprietary interest and imposed the sentence back‑dated to the date he entered custody. The case was investigated by Gardaí following alerts about the suitcase's route from São Paulo to Dublin via Frankfurt. Bruno Farias pleaded guilty.
Vincent Brady, 34, was sentenced to five years in prison for two unprovoked assaults on homeless men in Rathmines, Dublin, on 19 May 2021. Brady, who admitted to smoking crystal meth that day, used a Stanley blade to slash a Romanian homeless man across the face in church grounds, leaving a six‑centimetre wound that required five stitches. Within about 45 minutes he attacked a second victim near the canal, pushing him into the water and later slicing him across the back of the neck and head, causing blood to drip down his neck. Brady was arrested shortly after the second attack, identified by CCTV and the victim, and had 21 prior convictions. Judge Martin Nolan, noting Brady's violent history and intoxicated state, imposed the five‑year sentence, back‑dated to his earlier custody, and highlighted the lasting impact of the victims' scars. Vincent Brady pleaded guilty.
Anna Byrne and Coleman Byrne, neighbours in Dublin 6, accused Arjita Chawla (54) of repeated harassment and abuse from 2011 to 2021. Chawla, who lived next door, repeatedly called the Byrnes derogatory names, blocked their cars, sent over 600 complaint emails, recorded them on video, and left dog faeces at their doorstep. She also called Gardaí on them more than 100 times, including on Christmas Eve. Chawla pleaded guilty to two counts of threatening or abusive words or behaviour. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced her to one month in prison on each count, to run concurrently, and imposed a 15‑year restriction preventing her from approaching the Byrnes' address within 100 metres. The court noted her guilty plea and remorse as mitigating factors. The case was described as an unusual escalation from neighbourly dispute to sustained harassment.
Ciaran Dolan, 32, of Lucan, was convicted of dangerous driving causing the death of barrister Edward O'Hara on Peamount Road, Newcastle, on 29 January 2022. He was driving a silver Volkswagen Golf at high speed, filmed on his phone at 160 km/h, and collided with O'Hara from behind. O'Hara, walking in the direction of Newcastle, was struck, carried 118 m, and later died at Tallaght Hospital. Dolan fled the scene, later turning the car around and pulling into a lay‑by before being apprehended. He was found to be under the influence of cannabis, had admitted smoking two joints that day, and had signed pleas. The court noted his previous five convictions for road offences, his remorse, and his signed pleas, but also his grossly reprehensible conduct and failure to assist the victim. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to five and a half years' imprisonment, deeming a custodial sentence inevitable.
Inita Romanovska, a 36‑year‑old single mother from Latvia living in Ennis, was charged with attempting to murder Stephen O'Flaherty after an incident at an apartment complex on Henry Street, Limerick, on 11 March 2020. The original indictment included a charge of attempted murder, but at the court's mention she pleaded guilty to the lesser offence of intentionally trying to cause serious harm. The case had been delayed for over two years due to a pandemic‑related backlog. Her defence barrister, Mr Michael Bowman SC, informed Judge Paul McDermott that Romanovska could be arraigned on the second count of the indictment. The judge accepted a request for a pre‑sentence report and directed a victim impact report. Romanovska remains on bail, with her trial date vacated and a sentencing hearing scheduled for 23 May. The incident involved a man she had met on Tinder, and they had gone on several dates but were not in a relationship.
John McClean, a former Terenure College rugby coach, was sentenced by Judge Martin Nolan to four years' imprisonment, to run consecutively to an existing eight‑year term for abusing 23 pupils. The new sentence covers 23 additional counts of indecent assault and sexual assault against 20 boys between 1971 and 1992, bringing the total to 22 complainants. McClean, aged 78, has 96 prior convictions for indecent assault of boys under 18. The judge noted that no one intervened to stop the abuse, which occurred over a 20‑year period in the school's office, physiotherapy room and a private "smoking room." McClean's guilty pleas and expression of remorse were considered mitigating factors, but the judge emphasised the prolonged nature of the abuse and the trust he abused. The sentence will begin in February 2027, after his current term is served, and he will be 84 upon release.
A security guard has given evidence to Dublin Circuit Criminal Court regarding an alleged assault at a rural property in Roscommon on 16 December 2018. The witness, who owns a security company, described the moment a dog in his care was struck with a baseball bat during the incident. He told the court that a group of approximately 30 to 40 men arrived at the farmhouse in the early morning, some wearing balaclavas and high-visibility clothing, and that he feared for his life as the assault unfolded. Four men have pleaded not guilty to 53 charges in relation to the incident, including aggravated burglary, false imprisonment, assault causing harm, arson, violent disorder, robbery and animal cruelty. The defendants are Patrick Sweeney from Ramelton, County Donegal; Martin O'Toole from Claremorris, County Mayo; Paul Beirne from Boyle, County Roscommon; and David Lawlor from County Meath. The trial before Judge Martin Baxter continues.
At a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 60‑year‑old former Terenure College pupil described the school as "a very safe place for paedophiles" and recounted the daily bullying, humiliation and sexual abuse he endured at the hands of former rugby coach and teacher John McClean. McClean, aged 78, admitted to sexually assaulting 20 boys between 1971 and 1992 and is currently serving an 11‑year sentence, with the final three years suspended, for abusing 23 pupils. Victims testified that McClean used his positions as form master, rugby coach, French and English teacher, and his private office or physiotherapy room to prey on children, often under the pretext of treating sports injuries. Several survivors spoke of lasting mental health problems, substance misuse, relationship breakdowns and job loss caused by the abuse. McClean's guilty pleas included 23 counts of indecent assault and two counts of sexual assault. The court adjourned the case for sentencing to the following day.
Bernard Fogarty, 35, of Coolock, Dublin 5, pleaded guilty to the attempted murder of Mark Ivers at a Special Criminal Court hearing. The incident occurred on September 6, 2019, at Streamville Road, Donaghmede, where Mr Ivers sustained gunshot wounds to his leg and abdomen. Mr Justice Tony Hunt adjourned the sentencing hearing to March 30 to allow time for a victim-impact statement to be prepared. Fogarty had previously been convicted of the murder of Barry Wolverson and assault causing harm to Gerard Wildman. In December 2021, the Special Criminal Court found both Fogarty and Robert Redmond, 35, of Kilbarrack, Dublin 5, guilty of the murder of Mr Wolverson, who died in February 2021 after a 13-month coma following a shooting in Swords, Co Dublin. Both men had pleaded not guilty to the murder charge, which was upgraded from attempted murder after Mr Wolverson's death. They were also found guilty of assault causing harm to Mr Wildman, who was shot in the lower back during the same incident. Both convicted men received mandatory life sentences for the murder. The court heard a victim impact statement from Lindsay Wolverson, who stated the family's lives had changed forever and that Mr Wolverson's children now live without their father.
Earl McKevitt, a 51-year-old man from Avondale Park in Blanchardstown, Dublin 15, pleaded guilty to the single charge of murdering Conor O'Brien, 19, at An Seanchrann on Trim Road in Enfield, Co Meath. The alleged incident occurred on a date between August 26 and August 27, 2021, both dates inclusive. Mr John Fitzgerald SC, representing the Director of Public Prosecutions, informed Mr Justice Paul McDermott at the Central Criminal Court that McKevitt could be arraigned on count one of the indictment, noting that further counts may be required in due course. Upon arraignment on Thursday morning, McKevitt admitted to the charge. The judge remanded McKevitt in custody until March 3, when he will be sentenced. This procedural stage constitutes a remand for sentencing rather than a final conclusion of the case.
Linda Mitchell, 54, worked at Ballyfermot Pharmacy from 2011 until her thefts were discovered in early 2020. Between August 2019 and February 2020 she stole about €14,000 by manipulating tills and voiding sales while taking 24 Nurofen Plus tablets a day, indicating a codeine addiction. The pharmacy owner, Mr. Tadgh Dillane, suspected irregularities, installed CCTV, and hired Tonic Consultancy to investigate. Mitchell pleaded guilty and repaid €7,500, with an additional €6,500 to be paid within a week. The court, noting her remorse and lack of prior convictions, imposed a two‑year suspended sentence, ordering her to remain of good behaviour and to hand over the remaining restitution. She has no previous convictions, is now employed again, and has two adult children. The case highlighted the breach of trust and significant financial loss.
Daniel Lynch, aged 25, was sentenced to three and a half years' imprisonment for coercive control of his pregnant partner between 19 September 2020 and 15 January 2022. He had full access to her phone and social media, took her money every Monday, and verbally abused her, telling her no one loved her and hoping she would miscarry. He threatened to kill her in a WhatsApp voice message on 15 January 2022, breaching a protection order. He also left a voicemail saying he would murder her the first chance he got. The judge noted his lack of remorse and imposed a concurrent sentence of three and a half years, suspending the final six months, with strict conditions including victim‑focused work and substance‑abuse treatment. The offence of coercive control carries a maximum penalty of five years. The court heard the victim's impact statement describing physical abuse, isolation, and drug use. The sentence reflects the seriousness of Lynch's conduct.
Four men have gone on trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court accused of involvement in a sustained and brutal attack on security personnel at a repossessed property near Strokestown, County Roscommon in December 2018. Patrick Sweeney, Martin O'Toole, Paul Beirne and David Lawlor each face 17 charges including false imprisonment, assault causing harm, aggravated burglary and arson. The prosecution alleges that approximately 20 to 30 people arrived at the rural house around 5am on 16 December 2018, armed with various weapons, and attacked four security guards who were guarding the property. The court heard that the guards were seriously assaulted, had their hands tied with cable ties and their shoes removed. A German Shepherd dog at the property was beaten and subsequently had to be put down. All four defendants have pleaded not guilty. The prosecution intends to rely on the legal principle of joint enterprise to establish liability. The trial, before Judge Martin Baxter, is scheduled to run for five weeks.
A former detective garda told the Special Criminal Court how he feared for his life during an armed robbery at Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgan, County Louth, on 25 January 2013, when a man pointed a shotgun at his face and threatened to shoot. The officer recounted discovering his colleague Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe fatally wounded by a gunshot to the head following the incident. A credit union volunteer also gave evidence, describing how a robber smashed her car window and demanded money while she heard gunshots outside. Brendan Treanor, aged 34, formerly of Dundalk, and James Flynn, aged 32, from South Armagh, have pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to burgle residential premises and to robbing seven thousand euro from the credit union. Aaron Brady, previously convicted of Detective Garda Donohoe's murder, is serving a life sentence with a forty-year minimum term and is appealing his conviction. The trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and two other judges.
Kamil Naumczyk, 40, was sentenced to 240 hours of community service in lieu of an 18‑month jail term for punching an eight‑year‑old boy in the face after a dispute involving his daughters. The incident occurred in a back garden near a cabin when Naumczyk followed the boys and struck the child, causing a broken nose and a deviated septum that required surgery. Naumczyk pleaded guilty to assaulting a child on 8 May 2021 and had no prior convictions. Judge Martin Nolan noted Naumczyk's immediate admission, remorse, cooperation with Gardaí, long work history, family responsibilities and lack of previous offences. The judge considered monetary compensation but deemed it inappropriate for a minor. Naumczyk's suitability for community service will be assessed before the final sentence is imposed on 3 May. The case highlights the seriousness of assaulting a minor and the court's emphasis on rehabilitation.
Brian Ferns, aged 38, was sentenced to 21 months in prison for setting fire to his mother's house in Clondalkin, Dublin, causing damage of €91,240. In April 2020, Ferns repeatedly called his mother, demanding she travel to Dublin to give him money for drugs or he would burn the family home. On 3 April, he intentionally set a mattress on fire in his bedroom; the fire brigade found the blaze started upstairs. Ferns hindered the firefighters and later claimed the fire was accidental. He pleaded guilty to one count of arson, an offence with a maximum life sentence. He has seven prior convictions, including criminal damage and drug possession. The judge, Martin Nolan, noted Ferns' deliberate intent and imposed a three‑year sentence, suspending the final 15 months under conditions. The court highlighted Ferns' mental health issues and his participation in a rehabilitation programme. The sentence reflects the seriousness of arson and the potential danger it poses.
In February 2021, 20‑year‑old Gavin Dooner stole a delivery cyclist's electric bike outside Lidl in East Wall, Dublin. He drove off on his moped with the bike over his shoulder, having previously been seen driving dangerously and smashing windows. Dooner confronted delivery drivers Guillherme Quieroz and George Gonzaga Bento over the theft. Teenager Josh Dunne (16) and friends were nearby, hoping to buy pizza. A confrontation erupted; Dunne was stabbed by Bento, who was later acquitted of murder and other offences. Dooner pleaded guilty to stealing the bike, assault causing harm to Quieroz, dangerous moped driving, driving without licence or insurance, and criminal damage. He was sentenced to two years' imprisonment and a four‑year driving disqualification. Tiernan Ryan, who joined the assault later, received nine months' imprisonment. The court noted Dooner's youth, guilty pleas and prior convictions in determining the sentence.
Ray Burke, 47, was sentenced to one year in jail for committing criminal damage that cost about €12,000. He sprayed graffiti slogans on several Dublin sites, including Clontarf Dart station, a store on Talbot Street, and the GPO on O'Connell Street, in protest over his brother's death. Burke's brother died a number of years ago, and an open verdict was recorded in the death, which may have been suicide or a jump into a canal while being pursued by gardaí. Burke pleaded guilty to three counts of criminal damage, was caught on CCTV, and has 24 prior convictions. He has a history of poly‑substance abuse and psychiatric issues, and his defence argued the acts were not typical criminal damage. Judge Martin Nolan noted Burke's motives were driven by a sense of injustice over his brother's death and imposed the sentence accordingly.
On 7 March 2022, Francis Leonard, a 60‑year‑old aircraft maintenance engineer, drove a double‑decker bus carrying 17 passengers, including 15 schoolchildren and two teachers, to a sports game when the vehicle struck a rail bridge on Moyne Road, Baldoyle. The bridge had a clearance of 12 ft 8 in (3.85 m) while the bus was 14 ft 3 in (4.35 m) high, and three height‑limit signs had been posted. Leonard had been asked to step in at short notice to drive the bus, a vehicle he was not accustomed to, and had to change routes due to roadworks. The bus hit the bridge at low speed, shearing off its top; no passengers were injured and the bridge sustained only minor chipping. Leonard pleaded guilty to one count of driving a vehicle under a structure where the height exceeded the bridge's clearance.
The High Court heard that a 21‑month delay in charging two 15‑year‑old teenagers with false imprisonment and sexual assault has denied them the chance to be tried as minors, creating a prejudice that should halt their prosecutions. The alleged incident took place in a public park in June 2019, where a teenage girl claimed she was prevented from leaving by about eight boys, one of whom allegedly forced her to perform a sexual act and another who allegedly pulled down his trousers. The girl said she was touched, forced to kiss a boy, and could not escape until friends arrived. A complaint was made to Gardaí in early 2020, and the boys were arrested and interviewed in August 2020.
A 59‑year‑old Limerick man was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment for raping and repeatedly sexually abusing his partner's daughter, aged 12‑14, over a two‑year period between 1994 and 1997. The jury found him guilty on 31 counts, including sexual assault, oral rape, attempted rape and attempted anal rape, all committed in the family home. He had no acceptance of the offences and no remorse, but the judge noted his otherwise blameless life and financial support for his family. Mr Justice Paul McDermott imposed concurrent sentences totalling 12 years and ordered six years of post‑release supervision, during which the man must not contact the victim, must be supervised by the probation service and must not be alone with children under 18. The victim, who was not present at sentencing, described lasting trauma, anxiety, depression and complex post‑traumatic stress disorder caused by the abuse.
A Leaving Cert student, aged 12‑15, was found guilty by a jury of five counts of sexual assault against his step‑sister, aged 8‑11, committed between July 2016 and August 2018 in Dublin and a location outside Dublin. The victim, who cannot be named, wrote a note to her father in December 2019 stating that the accused sometimes touched her private parts when he visited. She described multiple incidents: being touched in front of her trousers in her home and a restaurant, having her pants pulled down in her bedroom, a failed attempt to hug and expose his penis, and an attempt to touch her mouth. She also recounted a moment when he forced her hand onto his penis. A victim impact statement, read by Garda Sergeant Gary Sexton, expressed how the abuse altered her life and caused anger toward her brother.
Carolyn Riguad, aged 63, was sentenced to one year in prison for stealing €87,000 from her employer over seven years, from 2009 to 2016. She pleaded guilty to sample counts of theft and producing a false instrument in a 270‑count indictment. Riguad, who ran the Irish arm of a UK business, diverted company funds into her own accounts, altering cheques and at one point attempting to cover her tracks by re‑diverting funds within the company. The fraud was uncovered when she went on sick leave in 2016, leading to the discovery of 258 cheques with discrepancies. Riguad denied involvement when interviewed by Gardaí, claiming a colleague was responsible. She has no prior convictions, suffers from medical difficulties and memory issues, and has an adult son with a medical condition. The court noted her competence and the breach of trust, and, considering her health, imposed a one‑year custodial sentence. The company has since revised its procedures.
Paul Clarke, 40, of Muff, Kingscourt, Cavan, was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court for the rape of a woman in 2007. Clarke had denied the charge, claiming the victim fabricated the allegation to access his inheritance, but was convicted by a jury following a second trial after the first resulted in a hung jury. Ms Justice Karen O'Connor imposed a headline sentence of seven and a half years, which she reduced to six years, taking into account mitigating factors including Clarke's personal circumstances and a psychologist's report detailing memory issues from a 2002 car accident. The judge backdated the sentence to Clarke's initial custody in December and applied 18 months of post-release supervision. During the hearing, the judge acknowledged the victim's dignity and noted her horror that a member of Clarke's legal team had followed her on social media. The judge described Clarke's claim that the victim sought money as "unpleasant, hurtful and ugly." The court heard that the victim, then 22, was asleep in a friend's house when she was raped. She reported the incident in 2017 after years of anxiety and depression. The judge emphasized that the victim should have felt safe in her friend's home but was instead violated. The matter was concluded with the imposition of the six-year custodial sentence and supervision conditions.
Tony Gummerson, aged 42, was sentenced to seven years in prison for sexually assaulting and raping his step‑niece when he was 17 and she was between seven and eight years old, between September 1997 and March 1998. A Central Criminal Court jury found him guilty of four counts of sexual assault, two counts of oral rape and one count of rape. Gummerson had previously been convicted of sexual assault and served a three‑year sentence in 2012. He was babysitting the child at the time and was ten years older, breaching a significant trust. The judge noted the abuse was pre‑meditated and occurred behind closed doors, often after waking the victim from sleep. Gummerson did not accept the verdict, showed no remorse or apology, and the judge imposed a nine‑year sentence with the final two years suspended on conditions. The sentence was back‑dated to his June 2022 custody entry.
The 17‑year‑old who murdered Urantsetseg Tserendorj at 14 has been sentenced to life with a review after 13 years. Judge Mr Justice Tony Hunt noted that current legislation offers no way to suspend part of a juvenile's sentence, leaving an "all or nothing" choice. He said the review will be conducted by a Central Criminal Court judge and that the defendant may apply for parole after 12 years. The review will occur when the boy is 28. He has received concurrent three‑ and two‑year sentences for five other offences committed on the same day, including robbery and theft of a bicycle, all back‑dated to his January 2021 arrest. The judge highlighted the boy's good behaviour in detention and the need for continued rehabilitation. The case was brought to court after the victim's husband and others expressed grief and urged support for the sentencing process. The unnamed 17-year-old pleaded guilty and was found guilty.
A 26-year-old man from Sligo has received an concurrent 18-month prison sentence following his guilty plea to threatening a prison officer at Mountjoy Prison. Paul Darcy of Calry Court, Stephen Street, Sligo, made the threat on August 17, 2019, after refusing to return to his cell during the evening lock-in. When instructed by the officer to comply, Darcy charged towards him aggressively, shouting threats of violence, and subsequently warned he would harm both the officer and his home upon release. Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that gardai were contacted due to the menacing nature of the threat. Judge Martin Nolan imposed the sentence concurrently with an existing sentence, Darcy being due for release in 2026. The court noted that Darcy has since apologised to the officer and caused no further difficulties in custody whilst studying for his Junior Certificate.
Lauren Larkin, 27, was jailed for two years after two separate Gardaí raids on her Finglas home. In August 2020, a search warrant seized over €14,000 worth of cannabis, which Larkin claimed she was holding for her "boss" to pay a €1,000 drug debt. A year later, while on bail for that offence, a second raid found cannabis and cocaine worth just under €5,000. Larkin pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis for sale or supply on 14 August 2020 and to possessing cocaine for sale or supply on 23 August 2021. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced her to one year for each offence, to run consecutively, citing the second offence while on bail as the decisive factor. She has eight prior road traffic convictions and is a carer for her sister with serious medical issues.
Brian Carroll, 38, was sentenced to four and a half years in jail for a series of pharmacy robberies that took place over three days in November 2022. He pleaded guilty to three counts of robbery, each involving a different pharmacy in the north Dublin area. Carroll entered the pharmacies armed with a knife, demanding medication to feed his drug addiction. In one incident he cornered three female workers with a knife, while in another he threatened a cashier and later engaged in a scuffle with a passer‑by. Victims described anxiety and trauma following the robberies. Carroll has a long criminal history, including prior convictions for robbery and attempted robbery, and has been in custody since his arrest. Judge Martin Nolan noted his addiction and the repeated nature of his offences, and imposed a five‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence with the final year suspended on conditions.
Gezim Idrizi, 37, of Lutterstown Heights, Castleknock, was found guilty by a jury of one count of assault causing harm after punching a salesman in the face during a prolonged "serious assault" on 1 February 2016 at GZ Security, Rosemount. He was acquitted of a false imprisonment charge. Idrizi had two prior road traffic convictions. Judge Patricia Ryan, citing the injuries sustained, the effect on the victim, and the prolonged nature of the assault, imposed a custodial sentence of three years and nine months, with the final six months suspended for two years. The judge considered his cooperation, lack of relevant prior convictions, and the hardship to his family as mitigating factors. The victim suffered facial fractures, a lip laceration, bruising, and incurred €200 in medical bills and €4,000 in lost wages. Idrizi denied wrongdoing and offered compensation. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Court.
Miranda McCabe, 37, of Navan, Co Meath, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Stephanie Dunne at Priorswood Avenue, Blanchardstown, Dublin, on November 27, 2021. The court heard that Ms Dunne, who had just returned from visiting her premature baby in hospital, was attacked by McCabe on her porch. Garda Mark Reilly stated that McCabe head-butted and punched the victim, while a male co-accused, who is still before the courts, held knives and later dragged McCabe away. DNA from a hair clump found at the scene matched McCabe. Judge Martin Nolan described the incident as a "savage" attack on a vulnerable woman, noting the motive remained unclear. Although the judge expressed an instinct to imprison McCabe, he cited concerns for her three children, one of whom has significant medical needs. Considering McCabe's five previous convictions and her status as a single mother, Judge Nolan did not finalise the sentence immediately. Instead, he ordered a Probation Services report to assess her suitability for community service. The matter was adjourned to May 12.
A man has been sentenced to three years' imprisonment following a burglary at a residential property in Dundrum, south Dublin on July 2nd, 2022. Gary Bailey, aged 45, of Gleann Na Ri, Druids Valley, Loughlinstown, pleaded guilty to the offence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. During the incident, the male occupant confronted the intruder and a struggle ensued in which Bailey grabbed the homeowner by the groin. As Bailey attempted to escape through a bedroom window, the resident struck him several times with a golf club, causing Bailey to become briefly suspended upside down from the window blinds before falling. Judge Martin Nolan noted that Bailey's primary objective upon being confronted was escape rather than violence. The court heard Bailey had acted impulsively, telling gardaí the burglary was not premeditated and that he had been under the influence of medication at the time. The judge accepted that Bailey had displayed remorse and wished to apologise to both victims.