Jamie Walsh, 18, was sentenced to 20 months in prison for assault causing harm after he and a co‑accused attacked a man on Naas Road, Dublin, on 18 November 2021. The incident began when the victim and his partner were kissing on a Luas stop; a boy shouted "It's so gay" and the two teenagers then punched and kicked the victim, leaving him unconscious with bruises, a swollen lip and a broken eye. CCTV identified Walsh and he was arrested a month later. Walsh had 48 prior convictions, including theft, robbery and assault. The court noted his upbringing in state care and his parents' criminal history. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a three‑year sentence, suspended the final 16 months, and ordered good behaviour and probation supervision for one year upon release. The victim's impact report was filed but not read aloud. The co‑accused, aged 14, had already been dealt with by the courts. The unnamed teenager pleaded guilty.
A 30‑year‑old Dublin man was jailed for six and a half years after pleading guilty to one count of oral rape of his six‑year‑old daughter between February 2019 and February 2020. He also pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of child sex abuse material on his home on 7 December 2019. The Central Criminal Court, presided over by Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring, described the offence as a "fundamental breach of trust" and noted that the victim's bodily integrity and safety were violated. Gardaí seized phones during a May 2020 search of the family home, revealing videos of child sex abuse material and a scene of the man helping another person to engage in a sex act with an animal.
The Special Criminal Court heard that no further steps will be taken regarding a 'curious' document disclosed to the defence in the Regency Hotel murder trial. Prosecution counsel Sean Gillane SC stated the matter requires investigation, while defence counsel Brendan Grehan SC noted it must wait for another day. Gerard Hutch, 59, denies the murder of David Byrne on February 5, 2016. Co-accused Paul Murphy and Jason Bonney, both pleading not guilty to facilitating the murder by providing vehicles, face a ruling tomorrow on the admissibility of CCTV footage. Murphy's defence argued the footage breached privacy rights under the Data Protection Act, while the prosecution contended it was manifestly relevant and admissible. The court also heard evidence from Inspector Padraig Boyce regarding a coordinated operation that seized AK-47 rifles from Shane Rowan and searched the home of Jonathan Dowdall. Dowdall, who pleaded guilty to facilitating the murder by making a hotel room available, was sentenced to four years imprisonment. His father, Patrick Dowdall, also pleaded guilty to the same facilitation charge and was jailed for two years. Both men had previously been sentenced for the false imprisonment of Alexander Hurley, with sentences later reduced on appeal. The trial continues before Ms Justice Tara Burns.
Teacher Enoch Burke is challenging a disciplinary process at Wilson's Hospital School, seeking an injunction to halt proceedings that could lead to his dismissal. The school argues the application is premature and that Burke lacks "clean hands" due to his refusal to comply with a court order to stay away from the premises. Burke was previously incarcerated for 108 days for contempt of court after breaching this order. He was released from prison before Christmas without purging his contempt, but was warned by Mr Justice Brian O'Moore that he faced the prospect of being jailed again if he continued to act contrary to the order. Counsel for the school submitted that Burke cannot seek the protection of the courts while ignoring a court order that does not suit him. The school also denied allegations that board chairman John Rogers lied in a sworn statement regarding a board meeting. Mr Justice Conor Dignam reserved his decision on the injunction, with judgment expected early next week. A separate application brought by the school, arising out of Mr Burke's refusal to comply with a court order to stay away from the school while he is suspended, has been adjourned to next week. The school seeks a court order sequestering or removing Mr Burke's assets from him, due to his alleged ongoing contempt of a High Court order granted in September.
Heated exchanges occurred at the High Court on Wednesday evening during a hearing of Enoch Burke's application for an injunction to halt disciplinary proceedings against him. Mr Burke, a teacher from Wilson's Hospital School in County Westmeath, seeks to prevent the school from continuing a disciplinary process that could result in his dismissal. The proceedings were marked by animated exchanges between Mr Burke, his sister Ammi, his mother Martina and Mr Justice Conor Dignam when the judge indicated he would adjourn at approximately 4pm. Mr Burke expressed concern that critical submissions on disputed evidence would remain unheard. Mr Justice Dignam rejected criticisms from the Burke family, clarifying that only Mr Burke had a right of audience and that no findings would be made regarding allegations at this stage. The judge accepted the urgency of the matter and agreed to commence proceedings at 9:30am on Thursday to allow Mr Burke to conclude his submissions before hearing the school's response. A separate contempt application has been adjourned to the following Tuesday.
John McClean, a former rugby coach and teacher at Terenure College, admitted to indecently assaulting two boys during the 1980s. He pleaded guilty to four counts of indecent assault, each involving two separate incidents, committed between 1981 and 1983 and again between 1987 and 1988. The court remanded him in custody for sentencing on February 23. McClean also faces 49 additional counts of alleged sexual assault involving 20 former students, which will be addressed at a later hearing. The sentencing may last up to two days.
Shane Finn, 24, of Killinarden Estate, Tallaght, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for possessing €74,000 worth of cannabis at his home on 17 July 2021. Finn pleaded guilty to the offence of possession for sale or supply. He claimed he was coerced by masked men who threatened to kill him and to have his brother "cut up in prison" if he did not hold the drugs. The court heard that Finn was on bail for a previous drug offence when the cannabis was seized during a separate robbery investigation involving his brother, Jamie Finn. Finn admitted responsibility for the drugs, stating he had no knowledge of their quantity and had been forced to keep them. The judge noted the coercion but held Finn liable for breaking the law, and rejected a second suspended sentence, imposing a custodial term of two years.
The Special Criminal Court heard a "curious development" in the ongoing trial of Gerard Hutch, who denies murdering David Byrne at the Regency Hotel in February 2016. Prosecution counsel Sean Gillane SC apologized for a delay caused by a newly disclosed document and the unavailability of a garda witness, estimating the trial would conclude in two weeks. Co-accused Paul Murphy and Jason Bonney, who pleaded not guilty to facilitating the murder by providing vehicles, remain on trial. Jonathan Dowdall, a former State's witness who pleaded guilty to facilitating the offence by booking the hotel room, was previously jailed for four years. His father, Patrick Dowdall, was jailed for two years for the same facilitation charge. The court heard evidence regarding CCTV footage harvesting, with the trial set to continue before Ms Justice Tara Burns and colleagues. The prosecution alleges Kevin Murray, who died in 2017, was the shooter, while Dowdall testified that Hutch admitted to the killing. Defence counsel Brendan Grehan SC challenged Dowdall's credibility, citing phone data inconsistencies regarding alleged meetings.
During the sentencing hearing at the Central Criminal Court, the husband of the murdered Mongolian national Urantsetseg Tserendorj, aged 49, delivered a victim impact statement expressing the profound loss and mental anguish he and his children suffered after the murder. The court heard that the 16‑year‑old accused, who was 14 at the time of the offence, had 31 previous convictions, including robbery, violence and drug offences. He denied the murder but pleaded guilty to manslaughter on 29 January 2021, a plea the State did not accept. The jury returned a guilty verdict after nearly nine hours of deliberation. The victim was stabbed in the neck on a walkway between George's Dock and Custom House Quay in the IFSC, Dublin, on 20 January 2021, and died the following evening due to lack of oxygen caused by the stab wound.
Two men were sentenced for laundering over €160,000 in a worldwide invoice‑redirection fraud investigation. Emanuele Cocco, 29, received a ten‑month sentence for possessing €17,923 as proceeds of crime in AIB, Bank of Ireland, Revolut accounts and cash. Daniel O'Carroll, 28, was given a fully‑suspended 16‑month sentence for holding just over €26,000 in various bank accounts. Cocco is already serving a two‑year drugs sentence and will be released in December 2023; O'Carroll has no prior convictions. The judge noted Cocco's lack of direct control over the Bank of Ireland account and that the phone number linked to it was changed to O'Carroll's. Garda investigations revealed fraudulent international payments from Germany, Belgium and Denmark, and the court heard that the money had been withdrawn before it could be recalled. Both men pleaded guilty to possessing proceeds of crime in specific accounts during 2019 and 2020.
The High Court ruled that Enoch Burke, a history and German teacher, should be released from Mountjoy Prison despite his refusal to purge contempt of court. Judge Brian O'Moore said that keeping Burke in prison would only serve his perceived advantage and that the public should not pay for his wages and incarceration indefinitely. The judge noted that Burke had spent three and a half months in prison over his opposition to transgenderism and that his continued jailing would facilitate whatever he feels he is achieving by being in prison. O'Moore directed that Burke's release be open‑ended and not limited to the Christmas period, and that he remain at liberty until a further court order. The decision was made after brief submissions from Burke and from lawyers for Wilson's Hospital School, who had sought his imprisonment as a coercive measure. The case will return to court in the New Year.
Martin O'Brien, 40, of Brookwood Heights, Artane, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment and a five‑year driving disqualification for driving without insurance. He had 68 prior convictions, 40 of which were traffic offences. O'Brien admitted to one count of endangerment on Cheeverstown Road, six counts of dangerous driving in Tallaght, and one count of driving without insurance. He claimed he had panicked when an unmarked Garda car appeared and drove at speeds between 80 and 120 km/h, using bus lanes, mounting footpaths, breaking red lights and overtaking dangerously. The car, falsely registered, eventually crashed into a parked BMW. The judge noted no injuries but significant danger to other road users. The sentence was back‑dated to 4 June, when O'Brien was taken into custody for the offence. Martin O'Brien pleaded guilty.
A Dublin taxi driver, Mark Byrne, 47, was sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty to possessing about €100,000 worth of cannabis for sale or supply at Watermill Drive, Raheny, on 22 February 2021. He also admitted to possessing €3,500 in cash as proceeds of crime and a Nokia mobile phone used to facilitate a drug trafficking offence at Springdale Road, Raheny, on the same date. Byrne, who had no prior criminal record and had worked as a taxi driver for 20 years, was described by Judge Martin Nolan as having made a "huge misjudgement" and being "highly unlikely" to appear again in court. The judge noted Byrne's financial difficulties and the psychological report indicating he was easily manipulated and suffered from severe anxiety and depression. Byrne's taxi licence was revoked, and he was paid €3,500 as compensation or reward for transporting the drugs.
A 17‑year‑old Louth boy pleaded guilty to four counts of anal rape, one count of rape, two counts of sexual exploitation and one count of sexual assault against his young niece and cousin, aged nine to ten, between November 2019 and March 2020. The offences occurred in the boy's home, a place considered a "safe space" by the children and their parents. At the Central Criminal Court, Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring described the acts as a "breach of trust" and noted the lack of a risk assessment regarding the boy's future offending. She imposed a three‑year detention sentence, ordered 18 months of post‑release supervision by Probation Services, and prohibited any contact with the victims. The court also considered the boy's guilty plea, prior good character, expressions of remorse and engagement with services as mitigating factors. The boy will remain in Oberstown until he completes his exams before being moved to an adult prison.
Michael Small, 55, of Renville, Oranmore, Co Galway, admitted to deception at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He pleaded guilty to dishonestly inducing a woman to issue loan funds at Permanent TSB on 2 September 2008, with the intention of making a gain for himself or another. The plea was entered on a non‑prejudice basis. Judge Martina Baxter set a sentence date for 27 March 2023, when all evidence will be heard, and remanded Small on continuing bail until that date.
Kim Kelly, aged 54, was beaten by her partner Ian McCluskey in his home after she refused to lend him money. Six weeks later, McCluskey and his friend David Corr attacked her again, with Corr calling her a "rat". Kelly described being knocked to the ground, struck in the face, and repeatedly kicked and punched. She feared the men would kill her and that they might throw her out of a window. Kelly has suffered black eyes, facial cuts, bruises, and Post‑Traumatic Stress Disorder, and now sleeps with an axe beside her bed. McCluskey pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, threatening to kill, witness intimidation and a second assault. Corr pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, threatening to kill and witness intimidation. Judge Dara Hayes sentenced McCluskey to five years with the final 12 months suspended, and Corr to three years with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions.
Gerard Hutch, 59, of Clontarf, Dublin 3, pleaded not guilty to the murder of David Byrne, who was shot dead at the Regency Hotel on February 5, 2016. He also faces charges of facilitating the murder by making a hotel room available on February 4, 2016, and providing access to motor vehicles on February 5, 2016. Jonathan Dowdall, 44, of Cabra, Dublin 7, pleaded guilty to facilitating the murder by making the room available. He was sentenced to four years' imprisonment for this offence, and a nolle prosequi was entered on the murder charge. Patrick Dowdall, 65, also pleaded guilty to the same facilitation charge and was jailed for two years before the trial began. Paul Murphy, 61, of Swords, Co Dublin, and Jason Bonney, 50, of Portmarnock, Dublin 13, pleaded not guilty to participating in or contributing to the murder by providing access to motor vehicles on February 5, 2016. The trial is ongoing, with cross-examination of the State's witness, Jonathan Dowdall, continuing before the Special Criminal Court.
A high‑ranking member of a West African organised crime gang, Junior Boboye, aged 28, was sentenced to six years in prison, with the final year suspended, for his role in an €800,000 money‑laundering and fraud operation. The operation involved the theft of €792,000 from eight businesses through invoice‑redirect fraud, of which €319,000 was recovered. Boboye pleaded guilty to multiple offences for the benefit of a criminal organisation between August 2017 and May 2018, and to 13 counts of money laundering and using false instruments. He was described by the judge as an active lieutenant and recruiting sergeant within the gang. The case also involved other defendants: Emmanuel Olanyian, who received a four‑year sentence with the final year suspended; Taiwo Ajike, who received a suspended one‑year sentence; and Onyebuchi Aduba, who was dealt with under the Probation Act and will not receive a conviction.
Michael Joyce, 25, of Prussia Street, Dublin 7, pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary and false imprisonment on 9 January 2021. He attacked a 71‑year‑old neighbour, who lived alone, by pushing him into his apartment, demanding €10,000 and later €5,000, striking him with a hammer on knees, toes and ankles, and swinging a shovel that hit the victim's head. Joyce tied the victim's wrists and ankles with cable ties, locked the door, and demanded €100 a week from the pension. The victim escaped, raised the alarm and was hospitalised for six days. Joyce, who had 40 prior convictions, was sentenced by Judge Martin Nolan to four years in prison, to run consecutively to an existing sentence, after a guilty plea and mitigating factors were considered. The sentence was imposed at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The victim declined to give a victim impact statement.
Stephen Ryan, aged 43, was given a fully suspended three‑year sentence after pleading guilty to sexually assaulting his younger brother Thomas over a three‑year period in the 1990s. The offences, which involved touching Thomas's genitals on dates between 1992 and 1995, were committed when Stephen was between 12 and 15 and Thomas between eight and 11. The court noted that Stephen was a child himself, a strong mitigating factor. He has 15 prior convictions, including for sexual assault. The judge, Martin Nolan, considered Stephen's guilty plea, cooperation with the investigation and remorse, and ordered him to keep the peace and be of good behaviour for three years. Thomas waived his right to anonymity so his brother could be named. The sentence was suspended in full.
Kevin Brazil, 53, was sentenced to 15 months' imprisonment for sexually assaulting a 13‑year‑old boy in Wicklow between January and July 2020. The boy was befriended by Brazil, who gave him money, alcohol and cigarettes, and took him to Blessington Lakes where Brazil offered drinks and cigarettes. The assault involved Brazil touching the boy's leg. Brazil has a long criminal record, including eight years already served for earlier sexual assaults, a 2004 sentence of three years with the final year suspended, and a 2021 sentence of two‑and‑a‑half years for a 12‑year‑old victim. He also pleaded guilty in 2024 to sexual assault and communication offences in the State. The court noted the boy's mother observed a "massive change" in her son after the offence. Brazil's 15‑month term is back‑dated to January and he will not be released from his other sentences until January 2027.
The Special Criminal Court heard cross-examination of State's witness Jonathan Dowdall in the trial of Gerard Hutch, who pleaded not guilty to the murder of David Byrne. Dowdall, a former Dublin city councillor, denied using bomb timers as a bargaining tool to mediate the Hutch-Kinahan feud. He described references to bombing a house in Finglas or killing individuals as "nonsense" and "hypothetical stuff," insisting none of it happened. Defence counsel Brendan Grehan SC accused Dowdall of telling an "opportunistic lie" regarding his interpretation of audio recordings. The State alleges Hutch asked Dowdall to arrange a meeting with republican contacts to resolve the feud. While Dowdall testified that Hutch admitted to shooting Byrne with "Mago" Gately, the defence contends this was a lie. The court viewed CCTV of alleged trips to Northern Ireland. In a separate procedural development, a nolle prosequi was entered on the murder charge against Dowdall following his sentence on October 3. Paul Murphy and Jason Bonney, who pleaded not guilty to participating in the murder by providing access to motor vehicles, remain defendants in the case.
A Dublin school board was ordered to pay €35,000 to art teacher Sarah Adam after she was replaced by her maternity leave substitute. The Workplace Relations Commission found significant discrepancies in the interview process conducted by the Dublin and Dún Laoghaire Education and Training Board in July 2020, and that the board could not adequately explain how competing candidates were scored. Adam, who had been on a fixed‑term contract since September 2019 and had taken six months' maternity leave after giving birth to twins in February 2020, claimed she would have received a contract of indefinite duration if she had been reappointed for the new academic year. The tribunal found that Adam was discriminated against on the grounds of gender and family status, noting that the interview questions were negative and that her experience and qualifications were not given the weight they deserved. The board denied her claims and did not offer her another position.
A Longford accountant pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to filing false tax returns for five clients between July 2016 and August 2019. Robert Browne, aged 53, of Treanlawn, Killoe, admitted using his former employer's Audit Registration Number without permission to conceal late filings. The court heard that Browne had taken on excessive work after establishing his own practice and, rather than disclose delays, unlawfully used the ARN to mask non-compliance. The deception caused financial harm to the affected companies, including credit downgrades and strikeouts, and necessitated re-auditing. Judge Pauline Codd noted the serious breach of trust involved, though acknowledged no personal financial gain and Browne's genuine remorse. She imposed a two-year suspended sentence conditional on recompense to two remaining clients within six months. Browne has already reimbursed three clients and faces professional strike-off.
The 71‑year‑old man, whose name is withheld to protect victims, was sentenced to 13 years' imprisonment for a series of child sexual offences spanning 28 years. He first abused his daughter between 1979 and 1985, then a babysitter between 1996 and 1998, and finally his stepdaughter between 2003 and 2007. The court heard he had attended counselling after his daughter disclosed the abuse, but he continued to offend. He pleaded guilty to 37 counts of indecent assault and was convicted of oral, anal and vaginal rape of his stepdaughter. The judge noted the persistent nature of the abuse and the breach of trust involved. Consecutive sentences totalling 15 years were imposed, with the final two years suspended under strict conditions, including post‑release supervision. The court wished the victims well for the future.
A 22‑year‑old mother, Shauna O'Brien, remains gravely ill in intensive care after the De Paul Hostel on Little Green Street, Dublin 7, was set on fire on 26 March. She is permanently blind, unable to speak and suffers chronic nerve damage after falling unconscious while escaping the blaze. Her lungs are severely scarred from inhaling toxic smoke, requiring a ventilator, and she has undergone multiple surgeries to remove scar tissue, though the tissue keeps growing back. She is in an induced coma and her prognosis is uncertain, with discussions about a possible end‑of‑life pathway. Keith Riggs, 38, pleaded guilty to two counts of arson and one count of endangerment. He was seen on CCTV entering the hostel, setting fire to a toilet, moving through rooms, and eventually leaving after calling 999. He has a history of drug addiction, schizophrenia and previous convictions. Riggs will be sentenced on 16 January, with a psychiatric report pending.
Aaron Connolly, aged 23, was sentenced to a mandatory life term for the murder of 18‑year‑old Cameron Reilly on 26 May 2018 in Dunleer. The court heard that Connolly and Reilly had been part of a group that gathered for an outdoor party, later leaving to get food. At about 12:40 am, Connolly and Reilly were last seen together; Reilly's body was found the next morning, with a post‑mortem indicating death by asphyxia or external pressure from a chokehold or rough surface. DNA from a swab taken from Reilly matched a sample provided by Connolly. Connolly denied any sexual activity with Reilly, but evidence from witnesses and his own admissions suggested otherwise. The judge, Mr Justice Hunt, imposed the life sentence, noting Connolly's youth but that Reilly would never recover from the night's events. The family, represented by uncle Darren Flanagan, expressed profound grief and highlighted the impact of the loss. Aaron Connolly pleaded not guilty.
Bernard Fagan, a 57‑year‑old taxi driver from Dublin 17, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing €83,750 of suspected crime proceeds on the M1 motorway in Swords on 9 December 2021. He had a few minor convictions dating back to 1990 but no recent Garda attention or remorse. Judge Dara Hayes imposed a headline sentence of two and a half years but, citing Fagan's lack of relevant convictions and the crime's lower‑range nature, reduced the custodial term to 18 months and suspended it in full. The judge warned that Fagan had come close to imprisonment and urged him to use the opportunity. Fagan was arrested after Gardaí discovered the cash in a blue plastic bag in his vehicle's front passenger footwell. He had been promised €200 to transport the money, a proposition he accepted while struggling financially after the pandemic.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Alexandru Petica, 39, pleaded guilty to possessing €408,820, the proceeds of crime, after being involved in moving the money for an organised crime group. Petica, who drove a Toyota carrying the cash, was given a headline sentence of four years, but the judge suspended the sentence in full for three years on strict conditions. The case also involved Ion Nostas, 42, who arranged Petica's participation and was jailed for four years. Petica's defence highlighted his early plea, remorse, good character and employment record, while the judge noted his role was limited and that an immediate custodial sentence was unnecessary. The court's decision reflected mitigating factors and the absence of a broader criminal role for Petica.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Tesfahannes Weldibanos, aged 50, pleaded guilty to assaulting a woman who had fled her home after a domestic attack in October 2021. The woman, who later moved to Mall House, Cork, described how Weldibanos, in a rage of jealousy, slapped, bit, and threatened her, causing head injuries and a scar to her eye. She escaped the property and called for help, eventually reaching the home of criminal barrister Lorcan Staines, who and his wife called an ambulance. Weldibanos, originally from Eritrea and a 20‑year Irish resident with no prior convictions, was sentenced by Judge Martin Nolan to a suspended three‑year term. The sentence includes conditions such as paying an additional €3,000 to his former partner within a year and no direct contact for three years. The court noted the assault was a one‑off incident rather than a pattern of abuse.
In a tragic incident on 3 October 2021, 20‑year‑old Craig Hunter was killed when the car he was riding in, driven by 33‑year‑old Stephen Kennedy, collided with a street lamp on Sarsfield Road. Kennedy, who was unlicensed, had no insurance and was drinking seven times the legal limit. He pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death, driving under the influence and driving without a licence or insurance. The court sentenced him to four years' imprisonment, disqualified him from driving for five years for the no‑insurance offence and imposed a mandatory two‑year disqualification for drink driving. Kennedy's plea and cooperation were noted as mitigating factors, while the speed, high alcohol level and unsafe vehicle were aggravating factors. The case was heard in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, with the victim impact statement of Hunter's mother read by the judge. The court also considered credible threats against Kennedy that were being investigated by the Gardaí.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 19 December 2022, 66‑year‑old Francis Burke of Cabra Park pleaded guilty to possession of and evasion of excise duty on cigarettes and tobacco seized from his home on 19 February 2021. Customs and excise officers had found 142,560 cigarettes and 24.6 kg of tobacco, worth €116,075, without tax stamps, amounting to €91,484 in unpaid excise duty. Burke, who described himself as having a drinking problem and living in modest circumstances, had no prior convictions. Judge Pauline Codd noted the significant revenue loss but also considered his financial hardship, heavy drinking, and engagement with the Peter McVerry Trust. She imposed a three‑year sentence, suspended in full on strict conditions, and did not order custodial imprisonment. The case highlighted the court's balancing of fiscal loss against the defendant's personal circumstances.
Gheorghe Gherge, 35, of Drumcondra, pleaded guilty to two counts of using a false instrument and two counts of money laundering for activities between June 2016 and April 2019. He opened 17 bank accounts under eight false names, receiving about €570,000 from criminal activity and laundering a total of €670,000. The accounts were linked to a fraud scheme selling farm equipment, where victims paid €11,700 for a tractor that was never delivered. Gherge had two prior UK convictions for similar offences and was extradited in 2021. Dublin Circuit Criminal Court sentenced him to six and a half years' imprisonment, with the final three years suspended on the condition of good behaviour for seven years and a prohibition on returning to Ireland for seven years. He was also ordered to leave Ireland upon release. The judge noted his role was limited to opening accounts and making withdrawals, but his actions facilitated the frauds.
Sean Connell, 32, of Poppintree, Dublin, is serving a six‑year sentence for the seizure of €1.5 million of cocaine at Rosslare Harbour. He pleaded guilty to possession of diamorphine for sale or supply on 10 March 2020. Gardaí later found nearly €70,000 of heroin in his car, and he was on bail when he and another man led gardaí on a high‑speed chase after shots were fired at a house in Finglas. The pursuit ended when the car overturned and Connell was taken to hospital. He pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and possession of a firearm on 29 September 2020. Judge Orla Crowe sentenced him to seven and a half years for the drug offences, with six months suspended, and to 18 months for the firearm and dangerous driving offences, with six months suspended. The sentences are consecutive to the Wexford drugs matter, and he is disqualified from driving for two years.
Bradley Spencer, 28, of Corian, Pueblos Los Olieos, Malaga, was found with €4.5 million worth of cocaine in the boot of a Toyota Yaris that had been specially altered. The drugs, 67 kg in six black refuse bags, were seized on Leopardstown Road, Dublin, on 3 June 2022. An investigation led to the discovery of Spencer's passport and a vacuum packing machine in an apartment whose key was found on him. Spencer pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, admitting possession but denying DNA on the packaging. He had no prior convictions. Judge Dara Hayes set a headline sentence of 12 years, then imposed nine years with 18 months suspended on strict conditions. Spencer has been remanded since arrest and is described as a previously good character who has shown remorse and cooperation with the Garda investigation.
Leon Mitchell, 43, of Shangan Green, Ballymun, pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm and seven 9mm rounds on 14 April 2022. He was found with a modified, loaded 9mm pistol that could fire automatically. During an altercation with unarmed Gardaí, Mitchell attempted to produce the weapon, lashing out and striking officers. Gardaí restrained him and removed the firearm, which was later confirmed to be loaded. Judge Dara Hayes noted Mitchell's 13 prior convictions, including a firearm offence, and the impact on the Gardaí. He imposed a headline sentence of eight years, reduced to five and a half years after considering a significant period of non‑offending. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the offence and the potential harm caused by the weapon in a public place.
A former Christian Brother was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for indecently assaulting five boys in the late 1970s. The defendant, who pleaded not guilty to all charges, was found unanimously guilty on 38 counts after a jury deliberated for four hours and 26 minutes. The court heard that the accused, who was teaching the victims aged nine and ten, used his position of authority to commit the assaults. Judge Elma Sheahan noted the seriousness and repetitive nature of the offending, as well as the significant breach of trust. While acknowledging mitigating factors such as the defendant's medical issues, his status as a model prisoner, and character references, the judge emphasized the lifelong impact on the victims. Ronan Kennedy SC, representing the applicant, highlighted the defendant's voluntary return to Ireland for interview and his health conditions. Judge Sheahan sentenced the man to five years and eleven months in prison but suspended the final eleven months. The matter was finalized with this sentence, reflecting the court's balance between the severity of the crimes and the presented mitigations.
Joe McCabe, aged 21, pleaded guilty in the Central Criminal Court to one count of sexual assault against a 16‑year‑old friend at his home in Maynooth between 2 and 31 March 2018. He was 17 at the time of the offence. The victim, now 21, gave consent for his name to be disclosed. At the hearing, Justice Karen O'Connor remanded McCabe in custody before sentencing. She imposed an 18‑month sentence, suspended in full on a number of conditions, noting that he must be sentenced as a minor and that detention should be a last resort. The judge highlighted the victim's catastrophic life impact, her disrupted education, ongoing depression, anxiety and flashbacks, and the significant and ongoing effect on her daily life. McCabe's guilty plea and the fact that the victim avoided trial were taken into account as mitigating factors.
Anne Butterly, 65, of Channel Road, Rush, admitted to stealing €34,496 from Rush Credit Union. She pleaded guilty and her defence counsel issued an unreserved apology to all concerned. Judge Martin Nolan adjourned the case to 23 January for sentencing and ordered victim impact statements for that date.
A 41‑year‑old woman, Lisa Lee of Conyngham Road, Dublin, was found guilty by a Central Criminal Court jury of discarding a knife that was used in the stabbing of Isaac Horgan, which later caused Horgan's death. Lee denied that she threw the knife away knowing or believing that Noel Lennon had caused serious harm to Horgan. The charge was altered during the trial when it was established that Horgan died after Lee had disposed of the knife. Lennon, 48, was initially charged with Horgan's murder but pleaded not guilty to murder and guilty to manslaughter, with sentencing scheduled for January. The State's case was that Lee, in the company of Lennon, went to Horgan's flat and that Lennon stabbed Horgan in the leg, causing a fatal arterial bleed.
In a High Court sentencing hearing on 19 December 2022, Mr Justice Tony Hunt sentenced 35‑year‑old Garret Smith to 14 years 6 months' imprisonment, with 12 months suspended, for the manslaughter of 46‑year‑old Edward "Liam" O'Sullivan. Smith was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter because he was too intoxicated to intend the killing. The judge described the jury as "charitable and merciful" and urged Smith to accept the verdict as "like a drowning man clinging to a life raft." Smith had been drinking for about 18 hours and was likely abusing prescription medication. He had been seen on CCTV at a Circle K garage and later in O'Sullivan's Kilkenny apartment, where a violent altercation escalated. Smith stamped and punched O'Sullivan, inflicting fatal injuries. The judge noted Smith's previous convictions and the impact on O'Sullivan's family, but emphasised that the sentence reflected the circumstances and Smith's intoxication.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, the family of Barry Wolverson, a 40‑year‑old businessman who was shot at Madigan's Yard in Swords on 17 January 2020, presented a victim impact statement. Wolverson, who had a partner expecting a child and five children, died on 21 February 2021 after 13 months in a coma. His sister, Lindsay Wolverson, said the family would grieve forever and that the children now have to live without a father. The court heard that Robert Redmond (34) and Bernard Fogarty (34) were found guilty of the murder, possession of a lethal firearm and ammunition, and assault causing harm to Gerard Wildman. Both were sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder, 12 years for the gun offences, and five years for the assault, all running concurrently. The judge noted no mitigating circumstances and that the evidence, including forensic gun‑shot residue on Redmond's jacket, proved their guilt.
Ryan Dowling, aged 20, was sentenced to ten months' imprisonment for his role in a violent disorder incident on South William Street, Dublin, on 17 June 2021. While on bail, Dowling was part of a group of four men who harassed a heavily pregnant woman dining with her partner, threw furniture and beer cans at restaurant staff, and threw a wine bottle at a worker. Garda Eoin McLoughlin reported that staff intervened and the brawl was captured on mobile phones. The court heard that Dowling was not the chief aggressor, that he had consumed a large amount of alcohol, and that he had a history of 16 prior convictions. He pleaded guilty, apologized, and the judge noted his young age and lack of maturity as mitigating factors. The judge imposed a two‑year sentence, with fourteen months suspended, and strict conditions for release. The final custodial term is ten months.
A 44‑year‑old Dublin man was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment for choking and assaulting his 31‑year‑old partner over three separate incidents in 2017 and 2018. The court found him guilty of three counts of assault causing harm, each occurring in their Waterford home. He had previously been acquitted of rape and had earlier convictions for assault and public order offences. The judge noted a pattern of controlling behaviour, including restricting the victim's social life and demanding her work schedule. The final 12 months of the 27‑month sentence were suspended for two years on strict conditions, and the man must be supervised by Probation Services for 12 months after release. The sentence was imposed concurrently for all three counts and backdated to the date he entered custody.
In a High Court hearing on 16 December 2022, jailed teacher Enoch Burke declined an offer of temporary release from Mountjoy Prison for the Christmas holidays. He described the proposal as a "Christmas gift" and an "insult to justice", arguing that it was an attempt by the court to offer mercy while he remained in contempt of a court order. Burke had been imprisoned for three and a half months for refusing to comply with a direction from Wilson's Hospital School to address a trans‑gender student as "they" rather than "he", citing religious grounds. He refused to purge his contempt or agree to the injunction's conditions, which would have freed him. The judge, Justice Conor Dignam, declined to release him and said the court would consider submissions on a possible release next week, a matter that had not been contemplated earlier. The school had no objection to the court's suggestion.
In a Dublin murder trial, Philip Disney (27) and Sean Carlyle (30) were found guilty by a unanimous jury of killing Vincent Parsons, a 34‑year‑old father of two, on 26 August 2019. Parsons had been drinking at a stag do in the Killinarden Inn when he became "messy" and irritated patrons. CCTV showed Disney and Carlyle confronting Parsons, with Disney raising an arm and pointing at him. After Parsons left the pub, the men entered a black van, returned to a green area on Killinarden Way, and beat him to death. They then drove to Carlyle's home, changed clothes, and later returned to the pub to create an alibi. The jury, after 4 h 48 min of deliberation, returned a life‑sentence verdict, and the case was adjourned to 13 January for a victim impact statement. The trial highlighted CCTV evidence, blood on Carlyle's shorts, and forensic testimony regarding Parsons' cause of death.
At the validated procedural stage of sentence, the court heard that Gerard Hutch, a defendant, admitted to participating in or contributing to the murder of David Byrne by providing access to motor vehicles on February 5, 2016, and pleaded guilty. Paul Murphy and Jason Bonney, both defendants, faced the same charge but pleaded not guilty, with their cases remaining alleged or contested. Jonathan Dowdall, an accused, admitted to facilitating Mr Byrne's murder and was subsequently jailed for that offence, which was not connected to the Regency. Following Dowdall's sentence on October 3, a nolle prosequi was entered on the murder charge against the former Dublin city councillor. The matter was adjourned and never described as concluded or finalised. No findings or sentences were issued for Paul Murphy and Jason Bonney, and no validated finalisation was reached for their cases. The court did not attribute any conviction to the allegations made against them.
Derek Boyd, aged 28, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for the accidental manslaughter of his 34‑year‑old sister, Sandra Boyd, who died after a gunshot in their Finglas home on 19 March. Boyd pleaded guilty to manslaughter and to unlawful possession of a semi‑automatic pistol and live ammunition. He had obtained the firearm because he feared threats from a "gangland" figure. During the incident he was holding the gun in his pocket, had cocked it, and when he pulled the slide to eject a round his finger slipped, causing the gun to fire. He immediately fled, later telling Gardaí he was ashamed. The court, noting Boyd's remorse and the family's suffering, imposed a five‑year sentence with the final three years suspended for the firearms offences and a four‑year sentence with the final two years suspended for the manslaughter, with both sentences running concurrently and back‑dated to his arrest in March.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 26‑year‑old Ailbhe Smith died on 1 October 2020 after taking two lines of cocaine and MDMA pills supplied by her boyfriend, 28‑year‑old IT technician Glen Burke. A post‑mortem found a cerebral bleed caused by MDMA toxicity and cocaine use. Burke pleaded guilty to possession for sale or supply of MDMA and cocaine valued at less than €100. He admitted that after the drugs were taken, Smith began sweating, was made to drink water, then became convulsing and limp; he called 999. He claimed he loved Smith, had met her online six weeks earlier, and blamed himself for the tragedy. Judge Pauline Codd imposed a fully‑suspended two‑year sentence, noting the case as a warning about drug use and expressing condolences to Smith's family. The hearing highlighted the immediate impact of the drugs supplied by Burke on Smith's death.
At the Special Criminal Court, Jonathan Dowdall, a former Sinn Fein councillor, admitted to lying 'out of necessity' when questioned by gardai about his involvement in the murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel. Dowdall, who pleaded guilty to facilitating the murder by booking a hotel room for one of the perpetrators, was sentenced to four years in prison for this charge. He stated that he lied to protect his family, claiming they would have been targeted if he had revealed the truth. During cross-examination, Dowdall's defence barrister, Brendan Grehan SC, suggested that Dowdall had been 'very indignant and convincing when telling lies' in his interviews with gardai. Dowdall also testified that he did not know the extent of Gerard Hutch's criminal activities and had no prior knowledge of the murder. Gerard Hutch, who is accused of participating in or contributing to the murder of David Byrne by providing access to motor vehicles, pleaded guilty to the charges. Patrick Dowdall, Jonathan's father, was previously jailed for two years for his role in booking the hotel room. Paul Murphy and Jason Bonney, who are accused of providing access to motor vehicles, pleaded not guilty to the charges. The case is currently in the sentence stage, with no adjournments or finalisations reported.