A 62‑year‑old man was sentenced to two‑and‑a‑half years in prison for two counts of sexual assault committed against his girlfriend in Waterford in 2001. The assaults, which involved vaginal and anal penetration without consent, occurred over a five‑week period during a relationship that had lasted 20 years. The victim, who has intellectual and memory difficulties, described the experience as the worst of her life and expressed a loss of self‑belief. The court noted that the defendant had pleaded guilty, expressed regret, and had lived a productive life since the offences, with no further convictions. The sentence was back‑dated to February of the previous year when the defendant entered custody after his guilty plea. The judge highlighted the serious breach of trust and the violent, targeted nature of the acts. The case was delayed largely because of the victim's learning difficulties.
Patrick Murphy, 36, of Kilcogan, Co Galway, was found guilty in the Central Criminal Court of six sexual assaults on two girls and eight counts of sexual assault on their seven‑year‑old cousin, plus eight counts of oral and anal rape of a boy. The offences occurred between 1999 and 2004 when Murphy was aged 12 to 17, with some taking place before he reached the age of criminal responsibility. The victims, who are sisters and a cousin, reported the abuse in 2017 and the case was brought to court. Murphy pleaded not guilty and maintains no memory of the acts, though he has expressed remorse. Justice Paul McDermott sentenced him to six years for the rape offences, with two and a half years for the sexual assaults, to run consecutively, and suspended the final year of an eight‑and‑a‑half‑year term on condition of participation in sexual offending programmes.
Matthew Telford, aged 32, was found guilty of assault causing harm after he attacked his partner in a hotel room in Tyrellstown on 13 August 2019. The assault took place in front of their children, with Telford squeezing the woman's face and jaw, throwing her onto the bed, grabbing her by the hair, and slapping and kicking her legs. She fell, breaking her wrist, which required surgery. Telford pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and had no prior convictions. Judge Martin Nolan described the attack as "unprovoked, shameful and cowardly" and, considering his remorse and lack of previous offences, imposed a two‑year suspended sentence. The sentence includes a €4,000 compensation payment to the victim, with an additional €5,000 payable in two years, and the suspension will be lifted if the victim declines the money. The court noted the long‑term impact of the wrist injury but did not impose immediate custodial time.
A man has been sentenced to three years in custody at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following a road incident in Lucan that endangered innocent bystanders. Martin Mongan, aged 47, was convicted by jury of endangerment and dangerous driving arising from an incident on Newcastle Road on 6 May 2018. The court heard that Mongan, embroiled in a family feud originating from a violent incident at a Roscommon funeral in 2017, deliberately drove his truck at a van containing family members he was in dispute with. The collision caused the van to strike an uninvolved car with three occupants who had no connection to the parties involved. Judge Patricia Ryan noted the incident occurred in broad daylight and considered aggravating factors including the repeated nature of the driving at the van. The judge stated a custodial sentence was necessary to mark the seriousness of the offence and its effects on the injured parties.
James Maher, 32, of Kilcronin Crescent, Clondalkin, was jailed for 32 months after pleading guilty to possessing cocaine and cannabis for sale or supply on 23 August 2020. While on bail, he was seen by Sergeant Peter Smith on patrol around the Grand Canal in Clondalkin, acting suspiciously and placing items from a ditch into a shopping bag on his bike. Maher ran off, threw a large bin bag into the canal, jumped in, retrieved the bag, and later threw it into a nearby field. The bag on his bike was recovered, containing cannabis worth €2,500, and he was found wet with cocaine worth €980 on him. The field search failed to recover the bin bag. Maher has 27 prior convictions, mainly for drug dealing, and was previously sentenced by Judge Elma Sheahan. He is due for release on 20 May 2025.
Anne Butterly, a 66‑year‑old former manager of Rush Credit Union, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for stealing €875,405 from the organisation over a seven‑year period. The theft was carried out through four methods: obtaining authorised signatures on blank cheques, diverting funds from members' share accounts, making unauthorised transactions on deposit accounts, and purchasing a vehicle for her husband using credit union money. Butterly had previously pleaded guilty to stealing €34,496 and, on 24 January 2023, pleaded guilty to three further counts totalling €59,786, which were treated as representative of the broader period from 2009 to 2016. The judge noted her long service, the breach of trust, and her health problems, but concluded that custodial punishment was necessary for deterrence and to address the seriousness of stealing from an employer and community. The credit union's insurance company compensated the victims, and Butterly has since fully repaid the amounts.
Luke Yates, aged 21, was sentenced to two and a half years in prison for attempting to impede the arrest of Robert O'Connor, aged 34, during an incident in north Dublin on 12 October 2021. Yates pleaded guilty to the offence. O'Connor, who was later convicted of unlawful possession of firearms and jailed for six and a half years, was fatally attacked 48 hours after his sentencing and died five days later. Yates had been in 23‑hour lockup since the fatal attack. The court noted Yates' prior convictions, including drug offences, hit‑and‑run, possession of a mobile phone in custody and dangerous driving, some of which were committed as a minor. The judge considered Yates' guilty plea and age as mitigating factors and imposed the sentence from the date of the offence, 12 October 2021.
Michael Delaney, 36, was sentenced by Waterford Circuit Criminal Court in June 2022 to three years' imprisonment for assault causing harm and unlawful vehicle seizure after he violently attacked a 'Good Samaritan' who offered him a lift during a car‑jacking incident on 21 June 2021 in Kilmeaden. Delaney, who was on bail and serving a 12‑13 year driving ban at the time, dragged the injured party from his Saab, punched him repeatedly, threw him into a ditch and drove the hijacked car into parked vehicles. The assault left the victim with broken teeth, vision problems and tinnitus. Delaney's 99 prior convictions, including for dangerous driving and assault, were cited as aggravating. The judge imposed a fully‑suspended 18‑month sentence for violent disorder, while the State appealed the three sentences as unduly lenient. The case remains pending. Michael Delaney pleaded guilty.
Sean Norris, 22, was sentenced to four years in prison, with the final 12 months suspended, after pleading guilty to assault causing harm for striking a student on the back of the head with a bottle on 23 July 2019. The victim suffered a brain bleed and was unable to play sports for nine months. Norris, who has 23 prior convictions including four for assault, was part of a group of "absolute thugs" that attacked the victim from behind. Garda evidence included CCTV, blood on Norris's clothing and the bottle, and DNA matching the victim's blood. The judge, Pauline Codd, emphasised the need for deterrence against group violence and noted Norris's vulnerabilities, including substance addiction and mental health issues, which may have contributed to his conduct.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, 22‑year‑old Bajo Ziflai was found guilty of four counts of rape and one count of sexual assault against a 23‑year‑old woman he met on a dating website. He had given her a false name and arranged to meet at a house where he forced her to submit to repeated sexual violence despite her clear refusal. The victim suffered PTSD and depression, and her impact statement described ongoing flashbacks and self‑harm. Ziflai, who had no prior convictions, has been in custody since the attack. Justice Eileen Creedon sentenced him to ten years' imprisonment, suspending the final year, and ordered his placement on the Sex Offenders Register. He maintains the allegations are fabricated and refuses to apologise or accept the verdict.
Jocelino De Silva, 44, a manager of the corporate lounge at Dublin Airport, was sentenced to six years' imprisonment after he helped move smuggled cocaine out of the airport. He had taken three kilograms of the drug, worth €210,000, from a toilet cubicle after Lucas Farias, 27, had brought just under 15 kg from Brazil in a suitcase. De Silva pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, while Farias admitted the importation of the 15 kg. Both men had no prior convictions and were remanded in custody since their arrests. Judge Martin Nolan noted the perceived problem of getting the drugs out of the airport and the role of De Silva's staff card in accessing secure areas. The case also involved a third man who was caught with the remaining 12 kg but has not yet been dealt with by the courts.
David Wright, 36, of Tallaght, South Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to stealing cash and €700 worth of cigarettes from the Fitzwilliam Card Club in Dublin 2 on August 13, 2018. Judge Pauline Codd described Wright, a poker dealer, as an "inside man" who betrayed his employer by providing information to individuals who carried out the robbery. Although Wright was not charged with robbery, the Judge noted he allowed his employer to be "fed to the wolves." The court heard that Wright's vehicle was used to transport the raider to the scene, and he made cash lodgements following the incident. Judge Codd acknowledged Wright's guilty plea, remorse, and rehabilitation efforts, including becoming a father and having only minor previous convictions. She imposed a four-year prison sentence, suspended on strict conditions requiring him to keep the peace and be of good behaviour. The Judge also ordered Wright to pay €1,200 immediately and a further €1,800 within six months. Wright walked out of court following the sentencing.
In the Special Criminal Court, Gerard Cruise and Paul Crosby pleaded guilty to facilitating the murder of Keane Mulready-Woods in Drogheda, Co Louth, between January 11 and 13, 2020. The court heard that Cruise admitted to dropping the victim and Crosby at the murder scene, while Crosby had prior convictions including an acquittal for attempted murder. The presiding judge, Mr Justice Tony Hunt, noted that the defendants' apologies may appear empty to the victim's family given the horrific nature of the crime. The matter was adjourned to February 13 for sentencing. The report notes that Gerard McKenna was jailed last year for four years for assisting in the clean-up of the crime scene. Cruise's previous convictions include public order matters and a burglary in 1990. The court acknowledged Crosby's early guilty plea, which entitles him to a 25 percent discount on any headline sentence, and Cruise's early guilty plea. The investigation into other individuals involved in the murder remains ongoing.
Brendan Leahy, a former Trinity College facilities manager, withdrew his bid to be reinstated after the college sought to question him about a sexual assault case. Leahy had pleaded guilty in 2018 to assaulting a woman at Kehoe's Pub and received a suspended three‑month sentence, a fine, and a compensation payment. He appealed to the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and was granted the benefit of the Probation Act in July 2021. In August 2021 he wrote to the college's HR department that the Circuit Court order meant his conviction was "disposed of". He filed an unfair dismissal claim under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977 after being sacked in 2021. The Workplace Relations Commission hearing, held on 20 January 2023, considered evidence from the college, Leahy's barrister, and witnesses, and concluded with the adjudicator reviewing the case after a third and final hearing.
Kevin O'Keefe, 37, was sentenced to two and a half years in prison by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to three burglaries, two thefts, criminal damage, unlawful use of a car and dangerous driving on 15 August 2017. The offences were committed in Howth, Co Dublin, where he stole €164 worth of goods from a pharmacy, an iPad from a restaurant, car keys and a phone from a pub office, a staff member's mobile phone from behind a bar, and caused €100 worth of damage to a car at a hire company. O'Keefe, who has 98 prior convictions, told the court he wants to turn his life around and apologized to those affected. Judge Martin Nolan, noting his cooperation and admissions, imposed the custodial sentence and disqualified him from driving for two years. No victim impact statements were presented.
John Fanning, 48, a bank employee from Skerries, was fined €2,000 and disqualified from driving for three years after he drove his black Jaguar into a C&T Supermarket front while intoxicated. CCTV showed him attempting to park when his foot slipped onto the accelerator, propelling the car through the shop front and into the fruit and vegetable stand. Gardaí noted he had a blood alcohol concentration of 72mg per 100ml, over three times the legal limit. No injuries were reported. The court considered Fanning's strong work history and lack of prior convictions, and deferred the disqualification until February 1 to allow him to arrange care for his elderly mother, provided he abstains from alcohol during that period. The shop owner closed the store for the day and incurred about €30,000 in repair costs, fully covered by insurance. Fanning pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and drink driving.
Samy Taib, aged 21, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, coercive control, endangerment, driving without licence and insurance, and dangerous driving. He had previously been convicted of 22 road traffic offences. The court found the victim endured significant trauma and physical injury, including permanent foot damage. Taib's mental health, diagnosed as paranoid schizophrenia, was cited as a mitigating factor. Judge Elma Sheahan imposed a five‑year prison sentence, crediting time served in Scotland and any time already spent in custody. The final 12 months were suspended for two years, with strict conditions: probation supervision, no contact with the victim, and avoidance of her home and workplace. Taib was also disqualified from driving for six years. The case highlighted the severity of his offences and the impact on the victim's life.
The Regency Hotel trial continued in the Special Criminal Court with Senior intelligence analyst Sarah Skedd testifying regarding phone records. Skedd stated there is no clear evidence supporting Jonathan Dowdall's claim that he met Gerard Hutch in a Whitehall park to hear a confession about the murder of David Byrne. While a cell site potentially covering the park was used on February 7, 2016, at 3.16pm, Dowdall's phone connected to a mast in Finglas just 4.5 minutes later, suggesting insufficient time for the meeting. Skedd confirmed no records support a meeting on February 8. Dowdall, who pleaded guilty to facilitating the murder by booking a room at the Regency Hotel, was previously sentenced to four years' imprisonment. His father, Patrick Dowdall, also admitted to the facilitation offence and was jailed for two years. Gerard Hutch, 59, of Clontarf, Dublin 3, and co-accused Paul Murphy, 61, of Swords, and Jason Bonney, 52, of Portmarnock, have all pleaded not guilty to participating in or contributing to the murder of Byrne by providing access to motor vehicles on February 5, 2016. The defence, led by Brendan Grehan SC, challenged Dowdall's credibility, arguing his account was inconsistent with the digital evidence presented by the State.
A former senior manager at Trinity College Dublin, Brendan Leahy, claims he was unfairly dismissed from his €120,000-a-year post after the university learned that he had pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting an American tourist in 2018. The Workplace Relations Commission is hearing his complaint under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977. Leahy was given a suspended three‑month sentence by Dublin District Court, required to complete a sex offenders course and pay a fine and compensation. He appealed to Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and received the benefit of the Probation Act in August 2021. Trinity placed him on paid leave and launched an investigation in August 2021, following a second allegation of sexual harassment from a former employee, Ms X, who accused him of miming oral sex at a karaoke party. Leahy argues the investigations were procedurally flawed and pre‑determined, citing the Probation Act order as a basis for dismissal of his conviction.
The Special Criminal Court trial of Gerard Hutch, Paul Murphy, and Jason Bonney, all accused of participating in the murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel in February 2016, continues before Ms Justice Tara Burns. All three defendants have pleaded not guilty to charges including providing access to motor vehicles and facilitating the offence. Today, defence counsel for Mr Bonney stated it is their case that his father, not Mr Bonney, drove the BMW X5 alleged to have been used in the attack. Prosecution evidence from Garda Michele Purcell and Senior Intelligence Analyst Sarah Skedd detailed vehicle movements, including a Toyota Avensis taxi driven by Mr Murphy and the BMW X5, which allegedly transported a man in a flat cap from the scene. The court also heard evidence regarding Jonathan Dowdall, a former co-accused who turned State's witness. Mr Dowdall, a former Sinn Fein councillor, previously pleaded guilty to facilitating the murder by making a hotel room available and was sentenced to four years' imprisonment. His father, Patrick Dowdall, also pleaded guilty to the same facilitation charge and was jailed for two years. The trial will continue tomorrow with further evidence from Ms Skedd.
Kenneth Williams, a repeat offender with 113 prior convictions, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to dangerous driving, endangerment, driving without insurance and property damage after a high‑speed chase in November 2019. He was sentenced to four years' imprisonment and a four‑year driving disqualification. The judge noted Williams' dangerous conduct, the threat he posed to the public and Gardaí, his drug problems and the fact he was already serving a lengthy sentence. The court heard that Gardaí pursued Williams in an unmarked car after he fled a petrol station incident, driving through red lights, a T‑junction and a roundabout, and attempting to ram a Garda vehicle. He was eventually apprehended after a chase involving air support and a stinger. Williams, who represented himself, claimed he was under the influence of drugs at the time.
Christopher Kearney, 36, of Isaacs Hostel, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm to Anthony O'Toole at Aston Quay on 21 January 2022. The assault, captured on CCTV from a Dublin Bus, was described by Judge Martin Nolan as "particularly violent" and followed a dispute between the men. Garda Eric Downey reported that the pair had earlier attracted police attention during a disagreement, claiming they were friends, before walking toward Ha'penny Bridge. Later, Gardaí found O'Toole unconscious, bleeding from nose, mouth and head, with facial injuries; he was taken to hospital but discharged himself and did not cooperate with the investigation. Kearney received a 16‑month prison sentence, with no victim impact statement submitted. He has 77 prior convictions, including theft and violent behaviour, and is homeless, on a social housing waiting list, and engaged with drug‑difficulties services.
Derek Reid, 35, of Clonliffe Road, Dublin 3, was jailed for five and a half years after repeatedly attacking, degrading and sexually assaulting his then partner over a six‑day period in March 2018. He slapped her, choked her, head‑butted her, dragged her by the hair, sat on her chest and forced her to give him oral sex while threatening her family. He also held her in her flat against her will, threatened to make her son go missing and defecated on her bed. Reid pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault and to false imprisonment. The court imposed concurrent sentences of six and a half years for the sexual assaults, suspending the final year, and five and a half years for the false imprisonment, with conditions to keep the peace, attend drug and alcohol treatment and remain drug‑free. The victim described the ordeal as a "nightmare on repeat.".
The High Court ordered the extradition of 54‑year‑old Algerian Youcef Madani, also known as Abderrahmane Yahiaoui, to France. Madani, who lives in Ireland with partial blindness and a prosthetic eye, is a convicted forger and weapons trafficker linked to Islamic terrorism. He was convicted in absentia in 2001 and sentenced to six years for forging passports for Algerian immigrants and trafficking weapons from the Netherlands. Irish authorities arrested him in 2021 after he appeared on the Schengen Information System under his false name. The court rejected arguments that he would face inhuman treatment, lack of judicial authority for the French prosecutor, or denial of fair retrial and medical care. The judge confirmed that the offence was committed in France and the Netherlands, and that the French authorities had the power to issue an arrest warrant. The extradition order was issued with a condition that Madani surrender to Gardaí when contacted.
Mary Magowan, 88, was given a one‑year suspended sentence after she reversed her car in Stillorgan Shopping Centre's overflow carpark and drove over Suzanne Brennan, who was walking behind her vehicle. Magowan knocked Brennan to the ground and continued reversing at speed, striking her again while she lay on the ground. The car then crashed into a parked vehicle and railings before stopping. Brennan suffered a broken pelvis, dislocated shoulder, multiple fractures to her right arm, nerve damage to both arms, broken ribs, and a torn bladder, requiring seven weeks of hospital treatment and ongoing care. Magowan pleaded guilty to careless driving causing serious injury on 18 October 2021. She surrendered her licence after the incident. The judge, citing her remorse, lack of prior convictions and immediate licence surrender, imposed a suspended one‑year term, disqualified her from driving for three years, and did not order custodial imprisonment.
During a raid on 16 October 2020, Gardaí seized 102 g of cocaine, 2 g of heroin and evidence of cannabis cultivation from the Dublin flat of Aivar Kuura (40) and the kitchen of Michal Pozniakow (43). Kuura, who had 17 prior convictions including a 2010 drug‑dealing offence, pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine and heroin. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to three and a half years' imprisonment. Pozniakow, with three earlier drug convictions, pleaded guilty to cultivation of cannabis and possession of cocaine. He was jailed for 21 months. The court noted that Pozniakow had overseen the cooking of crack cocaine and that the flat also contained a sophisticated cannabis growing operation. Both men were arrested and the seized drugs were valued at €7,504 for cocaine and €46,400 for heroin. The case was prosecuted by Caroline Cummings BL.
Leon Wilson, aged 19, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for assault causing harm after he threw a plastic bottle at a supermarket security guard, resulting in severe injuries. The victim suffered a fractured orbital bone, nose, bruised cheekbone and eye, with potential loss of sight. Wilson, who was 16 at the time of the incident, pleaded guilty and had no prior convictions. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a two‑year prison sentence suspended on strict conditions, including 12 months under Probation Service supervision. Wilson was identified via CCTV, and a search warrant was executed at his home. The case was delayed, causing Wilson to lose the benefit of the Children's Act. Wilson expressed remorse and submitted a letter of apology; a psychological report was also presented. The judge noted mitigating factors such as the guilty plea and lack of previous convictions.
The trial of Gerard 'The Monk' Hutch, who denies the murder of David Byrne, heard evidence regarding a YouTube video showing the victim dead after the Regency Hotel attack. Co-accused Paul Murphy and Jason Bonney, both pleading not guilty to facilitating the murder by providing vehicles, face charges of participating in criminal activity. The court heard from Detective Garda Paul Darley about the clip, which captured voices discussing the scene and a van exiting the premises. The prosecution also presented evidence from taxi driver Paul Brady, who rented a plate to Murphy, and Detective Alan Crummey, who took statements from Murphy regarding a potential vehicle clone. The trial continues before Ms Justice Tara Burns. Separately, former co-accused Patrick Dowdall (65) was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for facilitating the murder by booking a hotel room. His son, Jonathan Dowdall, pleaded guilty to the same facilitation charge and was jailed for four years by the Special Criminal Court. A nolle prosequi was entered on Jonathan Dowdall's murder charge following his guilty plea. The validated procedural stage for the current defendants is sentence, though the trial is ongoing.
Keith O'Reilly, 31, of County Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for offences committed in May 2022. He pleaded guilty to one count of assault, criminal damage, and production of a realistic firearm at Harold's Cross, Dublin. The court heard that O'Reilly broke into the home of his wheelchair-bound ex-girlfriend, assaulted her, and threw her dog onto the road. Gardaí discovered an imitation firearm in his rucksack upon his arrest. Judge Martin Nolan suspended a three-year term of imprisonment on full strict conditions. The judge noted that O'Reilly had no previous convictions and was remorseful, though somewhat intoxicated at the time. Crucially, the judge cited a letter from the victim, who requested he not be imprisoned due to his past good behaviour and her belief in second chances. Judge Nolan stated that it was only because of the woman's Christian views that O'Reilly avoided immediate custody. The matter was finalised with this suspended sentence.
A High Court judge has determined that teacher Enoch Burke holds a strong case against disciplinary proceedings initiated by Wilson's Hospital School in County Westmeath, but has declined to halt those proceedings unless Burke complies with an existing court order to remain away from the school premises. Mr Justice Conor Dignam acknowledged that grounds existed to prevent the school from proceeding with a disciplinary meeting scheduled for Mullingar, yet ruled that Burke's ongoing refusal to observe the earlier order tipped the balance against granting an injunction. The judge indicated willingness to grant the injunction if Burke agrees to respect the suspension order issued in September, requiring him to stay away from school while receiving pay. Burke contests disciplinary action arising from allegations of gross misconduct related to his conduct at a school function and his objections to the school's policy regarding a transitioning student. He maintains the disciplinary process breaches fair procedure and his constitutional rights. The school opposes his application. The matter was listed for further hearing.
Karl McDermott, aged 26, was jailed for seven and a half years after a drug‑influenced spree in Finglas on 4 May 2022. He hijacked a push bike from a 14‑year‑old schoolboy, then attempted to rob a 15‑year‑old girl, a woman at a bank, and a man in a launderette, all within a 45‑minute window. McDermott used a knife described as a butcher's knife and was described by witnesses as drunk or on tablets. He pleaded guilty to two robberies, three attempted robberies and one bicycle hijacking. The court imposed a five‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence for the May 2022 offences, to run consecutively with a three‑year term for a 2021 knife‑point robbery. The final year of the eight‑and‑a‑half‑year term was suspended on the condition he keep the peace and engage with the Probation Service for one year.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 17 January 2023, a 72‑year‑old pensioner pleaded guilty to sending sexually explicit messages to a minor. The victim, a teenage girl who was the daughter of his son's partner, received the messages on Facebook Messenger in 2018. The texts were described by the judge as "depraved" and included references to licking, riding and the girl's "tight pussy." The offender, who is effectively the girl's step‑grandfather, was not previously convicted and had not attracted Garda attention. Judge Martin Nolan, after noting the incident was a one‑off and that the victim reported no physical contact, imposed a fully suspended prison sentence. The court considered the lack of prior convictions and the absence of threat or intimidation, and the sentence was set as suspended with no custodial time.
Vasile Muntean, 28, worked for the grocery‑shopping app Buymie and used his company debit card to shop at 23 supermarkets in Dublin and Kildare. Between 1 and 25 February 2021 he carried out 204 thefts, buying goods worth about €29,000, including €15,000 of One4All gift vouchers that he sold for cash to fund a drug habit. Buymie discovered the discrepancy when the card's spending did not match customer orders, and the company suffered a loss of €14,000. Muntean pleaded guilty to 32 counts of theft at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He was sentenced to a two‑year suspended term, with conditions that he hand over €6,000 to Buymie and save an additional €8,000 within two years. He has no prior convictions and has since undergone drug counselling and is working as a food‑delivery driver.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 17 January 2023, Kevin Shipley, a 37‑year‑old UK national residing in Spain, was sentenced to 33 months' imprisonment for possession of cannabis for sale or supply and handling €14,000 in cash, the proceeds of criminal conduct. The case centred on the seizure of approximately 3,000 cannabis jellies from a car and premises on Bluebell Road, Dublin, on 8 August 2021. Gardaí estimated the street value of the jellies at €10 each, totalling €33,000, while defence counsel presented an independent valuation of about €1 each. Judge Martin Nolan ruled that the true value was likely between the two figures and decided the court need not determine it for sentencing. Shipley's sentence was back‑dated to the time of his arrest, and the €14,000 in cash was confiscated. The court noted Shipley had been in custody for about 18 months prior to sentencing. Kevin Shipley pleaded guilty.
The High Court will decide next week on an application by Wilson's Hospital School to sequester or remove the assets of teacher Enoch Burke, who has refused to comply with a court order to stay away from the school. Burke, who was jailed for contempt for 108 days last year, claims the order breaches his constitutional rights and has no wrongdoing. The school, represented by Rosemary Mallon BL, seeks to sequester Burke's assets or fine him, citing his return to the school campus on 5 January after the Christmas break despite the order. Burke, representing himself, argues he was not disobeying a valid order and criticises the school's disciplinary proceedings, alleging they target his religious beliefs and opposition to transgendarism. The court will rule on the matter next week.
During a sentencing hearing at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 16 January 2023, Judge Pauline Codd addressed the case of Dean Pouch (31) and Jacek Luczyn (31), who pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and violent disorder for an incident on Jervis Street on 26 May 2021. The judge noted that the accused had opportunities to walk away but chose not to, and that Gardaí had been called at 10:45 pm after reports of an assault. CCTV footage showed Pouch kicking and punching the victim, who sustained a fractured cheek, and Luczyn also kicking and punching. Both men were intoxicated and expressed remorse. Judge Codd imposed a five‑year sentence for the violent disorder charge, suspending the final two and a half years on strict conditions, and a two and a half year sentence for assault causing harm, to run concurrently.
On 1 April 2021, Nathan Kiernan (21) drove an uninsured Ford Focus at high speed, causing a chase that ended in a crash that seriously injured his passenger, Jason O'Rourke, who suffered a ruptured bladder, fractured pelvis and pubic bone fractures. Kiernan was arrested after a patrol car spotted the vehicle with no headlights. He pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm, endangerment for driving at high speed, and driving without insurance or a licence. Judge Martin Nolan, after hearing evidence, ordered Kiernan to undergo a Probation Service assessment and imposed 200 hours of community service in lieu of a two‑year prison term, noting he had no prior convictions and was suitable for community service. Kiernan was remanded on continuing bail until the hearing. O'Rourke fully recovered and the two remain friends. The incident involved multiple patrol cars, a high‑speed chase, and a crash into a traffic island and tree.
The court heard that a 19‑year‑old woman, who was first found in possession of child abuse material at age 13 and again at 15, pleaded guilty to three counts of possession of child pornography on dates in 2017 and 2019. She had previously been subject to reporting‑restriction orders and had been placed in a secure special‑care unit after the second offence. A psychotherapist report and an after‑care plan were presented. Judge Martin Nolan described the case as very complicated, noted the woman's actions were extremely wrong, and imposed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year suspended sentence with the same period of probation supervision. He ordered that officers liaise with the services currently interacting with the defendant. No further criminal proceedings were reported at the time of the hearing.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, retired bus driver David Stamper, aged 68, was sentenced to a year in jail for a series of frauds and thefts that cost the Citybus Employees Credit Union over €100,000. Stamper, who joined the Credit Union in 1994 and became chair of its board in 2013, began misappropriating funds in 2009. He pleaded guilty to 10 counts of forgery, 41 counts of theft and 31 counts of money laundering between August 2009 and September 2015. The court found that he issued false cheques totalling €351,642, profiting €107,730. The judge noted the devastating impact on the Credit Union's members and the loss of trust, and imposed a custodial sentence of one year, suspended for 18 months on conditions. The Credit Union closed in 2019 following the fraud. The case highlighted the serious breach of trust and the financial damage caused to the members.
Sven Spollen Behrens, aged 54, a former lobbyist and director of the Small Firms' Association, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two counts of stealing €10,250 each from the Dun Laoghaire Business Improvement District and the Sandyford Business Improvement District in 2017. He used the stolen money to pay private school fees and also diverted an additional €48,500 from Sandyford to Dun Laoghaire to aid cash flow, intending to return it when possible. Behrens had no prior convictions, had cooperated with Gardaí, and repaid over €40,000. Judge Martin Nolan, noting his financial difficulties and the impact on future employment, imposed a two‑year suspended sentence, concluding that a custodial term was not warranted. The case highlighted the misuse of company funds for personal expenses and the legal consequences of such theft.
The Regency Hotel murder trial heard evidence from a senior garda regarding four shootings linked to the Hutch-Kinahan feud. Detective Superintendent David Gallagher testified about the still open investigation into the shooting of Patrick Hutch Junior and the murder of Eddie 'Neddie' Hutch in 2016. The prosecution case against Gerard Hutch and his co-accused is expected to conclude on Thursday. Gerard 'The Monk' Hutch (59) denies the murder of Mr Byrne (33) during a boxing weigh-in at the Regency Hotel on February 5, 2016. His co-accused, Paul Murphy (61) and Jason Bonney (52), have pleaded not guilty to participating in or contributing to the murder of Mr Byrne by providing access to motor vehicles on February 5, 2016. Patrick Dowdall (65) was jailed for two years before the Regency trial started after he admitted his part in booking the hotel room for the raiders. James Quinn (role: convicted_person) was convicted of facilitating Mr Byrne's murder and participating in activity intending to facilitate the commission of a serious offence by making a room available at the Regency Hotel on February 4, 2016. The court also ruled that CCTV footage concerning the movement of a silver Toyota Avensis taxi associated with Paul Murphy can be admitted as evidence against him. The procedural stage is sentence.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 16‑year‑old boy was sentenced to three years' detention for stabbing another 16‑year‑old seven times with a kitchen knife outside Vela nightclub's car park. The attack, lasting 10‑15 seconds, left the victim with life‑threatening injuries, including a collapsed lung and severe blood loss, requiring intensive care, surgery and a period in a wheelchair. The perpetrator, who had no prior convictions at the time, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, violent disorder and producing a knife. He was later convicted of knife possession a week after the incident. The court noted the boy's abandonment by family, homelessness and lack of support, and highlighted the need for rehabilitation in detention. The victim's mother gave a victim impact statement, while the victim declined to speak. The knife was never recovered. The sentence was back‑dated to the boy's custody in September.
Bryan Kennedy, aged 35, was sentenced by the Central Criminal Court to four‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment for attempting to hire a hitman to murder two women who were exchanging intimate online messages with his former wife. The judge, Ms Justice Caroline Biggs, adjourned the sentence until 17 April to allow the child‑care agency Tusla to arrange support for Kennedy's children, who are his primary carers. Kennedy had previously been convicted of possession of child pornography, but the judge noted the images were few and old. He paid €8,000 to the would‑be assassin, named only as AL, after learning of the couple's online contact with his ex‑wife. Kennedy pleaded guilty, admitted the plan, and expressed remorse, citing depression and a difficult personal life.
Mark Carty, 55, of The Mill Race, Chapelizod Village, pleaded guilty to several counts of theft and fraud involving €13,662 taken from various post offices and a Bank of Ireland ATM in January 2017. He also admitted fraudulently obtaining a Visa debit card in the name of Edward Glennon in April 2019 and using it to check Glennon's bank balance. The court heard that Glennon had been reimbursed for the €52,000 stolen, but the bank remained at a loss. Carty, who has 25 prior convictions, was arrested in August 2019 and denied knowledge of the thefts, claiming he was a recovering drug addict with a gambling problem. He was given a suspended two‑year sentence, with the judge citing his role as a caretaker for his terminally ill partner and their eight‑year‑old child. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
The Special Criminal Court heard that Jonathan Dowdall, a former co-accused of Gerard 'The Monk' Hutch who has turned State's witness, asked a garda 'is there any way out' and 'if him and his family could get into the Witness Protection Programme' in the days following his arrest. The status of Dowdall's Witness Protection Programme (WPP) application remains unknown, with a decision expected in the middle of this month. Gerard Hutch (59), of The Paddocks, Clontarf, Dublin 3, denies the murder of David Byrne (33) during a boxing weigh-in at the Regency Hotel on February 5, 2016. His co-accused, Paul Murphy (61), of Cherry Avenue, Swords, Co Dublin, and Jason Bonney (52), of Drumnigh Wood, Portmarnock, Dublin 13, have pleaded not guilty to participating in or contributing to the murder of Mr Byrne by providing access to motor vehicles on February 5, 2016. The court also heard that Patrick Dowdall was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment in June 2017 and later re-sentenced to 7 years and 11 months after successful appeals, following his guilty plea to falsely imprisoning Mr Hurley and threatening to kill him at Jonathan's family home on January 15, 2015. The matter was adjourned and never described as concluded or finalised.
In a High Court decision, Mr Justice Cian Ferriter awarded €2,500 in damages to each of three men—Fintan O'Farrell, Declan Rafferty and Michael McDonald—who had been unlawfully detained in Portlaoise Prison. The men, all from County Louth, had been arrested in 2001 while attempting to procure arms for the Real IRA and were extradited to England, where they pleaded guilty to conspiracy to cause explosions and received 28‑year sentences. In 2014 the Irish High Court found that the warrants transferring them from an English prison to Ireland were defective, as they referred to the full 28‑year term rather than the 18 years and 8 months they should have served under Irish remission rules. The court held that the men's continued detention on the basis of an invalid Irish order constituted false imprisonment, but noted that their conduct in serious terrorist offences limited their interest in liberty.
Clare Parsons, wife of the 34‑year‑old Vincent Parsons, gave a victim‑impact statement at the Central Criminal Court after the mandatory life sentences were imposed on Philip Disney (27) and Sean Carlyle (30). She described her husband as a loving, gentle family man who had never been aggressive. She said she was in denial when she first heard the news of his death, that the body was returned to her after ten days, and that the loss had shattered her family's life. She recalled the fear she felt when she realised he had been murdered, the long wait to see him, and the emotional toll of losing him. She thanked the court, the jury, the police and the public for their support, and said she would never get Vincent back but that justice had been served. The statement was read in plain Irish‑English prose and did not speculate on future outcomes.
A 49-year-old Dublin man has pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to facilitating the murder of teenager Keane Mulready-Woods. Gerard Cruise, with an address at Lower Sherrard Street in Dublin 1, was originally charged with the murder at a house in Rathmullan Park, County Louth, on January 12 or 13, 2020. He pleaded guilty today to participating in activities with intent to facilitate the serious offence, with knowledge of a criminal organisation's existence, contrary to Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006. The 17-year-old was last seen alive in Drogheda on January 12, 2020. His remains were discovered in various locations over subsequent months. A co-accused, Paul Crosby, pleaded guilty to the same charge last month. Mr Justice Tony Hunt remanded Cruise in custody until January 23 for sentencing.
A 39‑year‑old Dublin security guard was sentenced to nine years in prison for grooming, molesting and raping his partner's daughter, aged eight to ten, between 2018 and 2019. He threatened the girl with violence if she disclosed the abuse and was found guilty of sexual assault and one count of rape at several Dublin locations, including his home. The judge noted the defendant's admission of wrongdoing, his attempts to blame the victim, and his ambiguous moral stance. The victim, now a mid‑teen, described her childhood as a period of terror and expressed fear and guilt. The judge praised her courage for coming forward. The sentence includes a suspended final year, conditions for psychiatric and drug‑abuse treatment, and a post‑release supervision order to protect the victim and other children.
Oleg Mihalas, 28, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after a verbal row over a football pitch at UCD. He tackled a 13‑year‑old boy to the ground and kicked him in the face, causing bleeding, a swollen lip, a graze to the arm and bruising to the leg. The boy fully recovered. Mihalas was sentenced by Judge Orla Crowe to an 18‑month prison term, fully suspended for three years on strict conditions. He was described as remorseful, had no prior violent history, and had cooperated with Gardaí. He brought €2,500 to court as a token of remorse, covered the boy's GP costs and clothing, and handed a letter of apology. The court noted the seriousness of the charge and the victim's trauma. The sentence was imposed with full suspension and strict conditions.