Joyce Sulambi, aged 24, pleaded guilty on 15 April 2019 to handling €49,724 of stolen cash after an invoice of almost €50,000 was diverted into his own AIB account. The fraud involved a fake email from ENTS Transport Ltd, leading Reynolds Logistics to pay the invoice into Sulambi's account. Gardaí traced the money to transfers to accounts in Germany and the UK, and a warrant was obtained to search his house in June 2020, finding no electronic devices typically used in money‑laundering. Sulambi admitted the role, describing it as a "bank job, invoice fraud," and claimed he was paid about €3,000. He was sentenced by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to a two‑year suspended term. He must pay an additional €2,500 to Reynolds Logistics within a few months.
Raymond Boyle, aged 51, pleaded guilty to three shop‑robberies in Finglas between August 2021 and March 2022. He used a hammer, a knife and a screwdriver to threaten workers and demand cash. The incidents included a robbery at Top Oil where he threatened to stab a staff member, an attempt at Food Junction where he warned of a gun, a theft at Proper 11 takeaway where he fled with €104, and a robbery at Daybreak shop where he demanded €260 from a safe. Boyle has 14 prior convictions, including two for robbery dating back to 2012. Judge Codd sentenced him to six years, with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions, including probation supervision. The judge highlighted the severity of the threats and Boyle's addiction issues as aggravating factors, while noting his willingness to seek treatment.
Mark Rooney, aged 49, was jailed for seven years after a series of armed robberies. He first entered a chipper in Finglas on 18 November 2019 with a meat cleaver, demanding money from staff. On 19 January 2021 he entered a Burger King in Clearwater, Finglas armed with a small knife, held the knife to a young worker's neck, forced the till open, and fled. He left his mobile phone at the scene, which allowed Gardaí to identify him from a photograph on the phone's screen. Rooney had recently reported a burglary at his home and was on bail pending prosecution. He later attempted to rob a pharmacy in Dublin city centre on 13 July 2021, holding a knife to a security guard's throat; the guard seized the knife handle and forced Rooney out. Rooney was questioned by Gardaí, admitted to taking 20 Xanax tablets, and had a history of ten robbery convictions and thirteen drug offences. Mark Rooney pleaded guilty.
John Maughan, 35, of Cloghran, was jailed for six months after pleading guilty to possessing items for the theft of catalytic converters and driving without insurance on 10 February 2021. He admitted to driving a car with no registration plate, no licence, and no insurance, and was found with a trolley jack, a reciprocating saw, gloves and saw blades. Maughan, who has 119 previous convictions including 81 for road traffic offences, said he wanted to turn his life around and promised the judge he would never drive again. He was also found to have Covid‑19 at the time of the offence but did not inform Gardaí until his arrest. The judge noted his progress in custody, including education and addiction counselling, and imposed a 12‑month sentence with the final six months suspended.
Con Cowman, a 31‑year‑old Vodafone retail advisor, was found to have stolen €22,500 by issuing refunds to his own bank card after the till had been balanced each day. The thefts, all directed to the same card, were discovered because Cowman was the only staff member scheduled on the days the transactions occurred. He admitted the wrongdoing when questioned by HR and was immediately suspended. Cowman later cooperated with Gardaí, secured a bank loan to reimburse Vodafone, and pleaded guilty to ten counts of theft covering 50 incidents from 1 January 2020 to 12 March 2021. At the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Melanie Greally accepted his guilty pleas, lack of prior convictions, cooperation, and loan, and imposed a headline sentence of 42 months. She reduced this to 28 months, which she suspended in full on the condition that he repay the stolen amount.
Sean McDermott, 37, of Raheen Drive, Ballyfermot, pleaded guilty on 17 December 2019 to assault causing harm and making threats to kill after a violent encounter at his home. He had 153 prior convictions, including three for assault. The victim, who was walking home, was drugged, assaulted, and threatened with a sword. McDermott's mother and another man were present, demanding money and threatening to take the victim to the post office. The victim escaped, and Gardaí found blood on her jeans and a red mark on her neck; photographs of her injuries were submitted to court. McDermott's use of the sword and aggression were aggravating factors. Judge Pauline Codd imposed a five‑year sentence, with the final 12 months suspended for the threat to kill, and four years for assault, both running concurrently and back‑dated to his entry into custody.
Stephen Penrose, 39, a former garda's son, is serving a life sentence for the murder of Philip Finnegan in 2016. While in Mountjoy Prison, he pleaded guilty to possession of diamorphine for sale and supply. In a supervised visit, Penrose attempted to conceal a package containing a mobile phone, 49.2 g of diamorphine, and 113 zopiclone tablets. Prison officers intervened, and the package was seized. Penrose initially denied receiving the drugs but later admitted he was unaware of the package until the visit and that his partner had instructed him to hand it to another inmate. He has 34 prior convictions, including murder, manslaughter and drug possession. Judge Pauline Codd imposed a concurrent sentence of two and a half years to deter drug smuggling in prison.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, two 42‑year‑old neighbours, Julie Pigott and Catriona O'Keefe, were sentenced for a physical altercation that began over a suspected infidelity. The incident occurred at 8 a.m. in May 2021 when Pigott's husband visited O'Keefe's home. Pigott demanded his presence, O'Keefe responded with hostility, and a fight ensued. Pigott left briefly, returned with a broken glass shard, and slashed O'Keefe's wrist and arm. Both women were taken to Tallaght Hospital. Pigott pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and producing a shard of glass; O'Keefe pleaded guilty to assault. Judge Pauline Codd described their conduct as "highly immature" and "misdirected." Pigott received a three‑year sentence suspended in full under conditions, while O'Keefe received a four‑month suspended sentence. Both women now reportedly have restored peace and wish each other well.
John Balidoy, a 22‑year‑old art student, pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering in the State, with other counts considered. The offence took place between March and May 2021. Balidoy had no prior convictions. He was persuaded by a colleague to transfer money to the colleague's accounts after the colleague threatened him and his family. The money was used to defraud two women, stealing €18,000 and €14,000, and to obtain fraudulent Covid‑PUP payments in fake names. About €27,000 remains unaccounted for. Balidoy's accounts were controlled by others, and he was threatened. He received an 18‑month suspended sentence, with conditions, after the court accepted that he had no financial benefit, was psychologically vulnerable and had been threatened. The court noted that he had no custodial sentence because of his promising future and supportive family. The victims were fully reimbursed.
The Special Criminal Court is hearing Gerard Hutch's murder trial, where the defence has challenged the admissibility of audio surveillance evidence. Senior counsel Brendan Grehan argued that Irish surveillance law does not apply extraterritorially, contending that the Oireachtas would have legislated with "irresistible clearness" if such scope were intended. The prosecution, represented by Sean Gillane SC, countered that the device was lawfully deployed and retrieved within the State, dismissing jurisdictional concerns as a "cloud." The court will rule on Friday regarding the admissibility of recordings captured when the vehicle crossed into Northern Ireland. In related proceedings, Jonathan Dowdall pleaded guilty to facilitating the Hutch gang by providing access to motor vehicles and a hotel room ahead of the murder of Kinahan Cartel member David Byrne. Dowdall was sentenced to four years' imprisonment and is currently being assessed for the Witness Protection Program to testify against Hutch. Co-accused Paul Murphy and Jason Bonney have pleaded not guilty to charges of participating in or contributing to the murder by providing access to motor vehicles. The trial continues before Ms Justice Tara Burns, Judge Sarah Berkeley, and Judge Grainne Malone.
Roy Sugaton, aged 19 and a former resident of Ferndale, Navan, was sentenced to three years in prison for raping a 15‑year‑old girl outside her home on 28 November 2019. He pleaded guilty to one count of oral rape. Sugaton was 16 at the time of the offence and had no prior convictions. The court, hearing at the Central Criminal Court, noted the predatory nature of the attack, the threat of recording a video, and the humiliation of ejaculating into the victim's mouth. Ms Justice Karen O'Connor set a headline sentence of four and a half years, suspended the final 18 months for two years on strict conditions, and imposed a five‑year post‑release supervision period. The sentence reflected his minor status, his guilty plea, and mitigating factors such as his lack of convictions and difficulties at school. The victim, now 18, expressed ongoing fear and anxiety following the assault.
The Special Criminal Court is considering the admissibility of evidence from a garda bugging device used to capture conversations between Jonathan Dowdall and Gerard 'The Monk' Hutch, which were recorded on March 7, 2016. Prosecution counsel Sean Gillane SC argued that once a surveillance device is placed and retrieved lawfully within the jurisdiction, the evidence is admissible regardless of where the vehicle travelled. He stated that the issue of extraterritoriality does not arise, as the device was deployed, initiated, and retrieved within the State. Defence counsel Brendan Grehan SC objected to the admissibility of the evidence, claiming that the device was used outside the jurisdiction and that the evidence was obtained unlawfully. The court has viewed CCTV footage showing Gerard Hutch making two journeys to Northern Ireland with Dowdall in the weeks following the murder of David Byrne. Jonathan Dowdall has pleaded guilty to facilitating the Hutch gang in the murder of David Byrne and has been jailed for four years. Gerard Hutch has been convicted of Mr Byrne's murder and is awaiting sentencing. Paul Murphy and Jason Bonney have pleaded not guilty and the matter is ongoing.
In a 2021 incident, Daniel Goulding, a 39‑year‑old diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, fired a semi‑automatic pistol and a sub‑machine gun at two Gardaí outside his home, forcing them to take cover behind their patrol car for nearly 30 minutes. The gunfire lasted three and a half minutes, during which both officers were shot in the legs and one in the hand. The shooting ceased after Garda Brendan O'Hora intervened, persuading Goulding to surrender his firearms. Goulding pleaded guilty to attempting to murder the two officers. He has 33 prior convictions, including a 2009 ten‑year sentence for misuse of drugs. The Central Criminal Court will sentence him next Friday, with the DPP noting his psychotic episode at the time of the offence but not a premeditated intent to kill. The case remains at the sentencing stage. Daniel Goulding was found not guilty by reason of insanity.
Stephen McMullen, aged 25, was one of three men who attacked a car clamper in Werburgh Street car park, Dublin, on 21 February 2019. The men approached the clamper, threatened him with a knife, threw chips at him and then drove their van at him, forcing him to jump a fence to avoid being run over. McMullen pleaded guilty to one count of coercion, a charge covering the threats and intimidation that prevented the clamper from clamping cars. He was sentenced to one year in prison, with the final 18 months suspended on conditions. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, and McMullen's plea and history of drug abuse were noted by the court. The other two men received longer sentences. The clamper suffered soft‑tissue injuries and expressed fear and sleeplessness following the incident. The men were identified and arrested after CCTV footage linked them to a chip shop they had visited earlier that day.
Christy Keogh, aged 70, was sentenced to three years in prison for social welfare fraud, with the final 12 months suspended. He pleaded guilty to 23 counts of stealing €185,622.48 in job seeker's and disability allowances between December 1996 and July 2018. Keogh claimed he was providing for his family and considered the crime victimless, a view noted by the Probation Service report. He had no prior convictions and had paid back only about €600 from his State pension, after which deductions stopped and were not reinstated. The judge highlighted the pre‑meditated, repetitive nature of the offences and the lack of insight into the impact on the exchequer. Keogh was arrested in July 2020 following a Garda investigation that uncovered the fraudulent claims while he was employed full‑time by a bus company. The case was prosecuted by Michael Hourigan BL, with defence counsel Luigi Rea BL acknowledging the client's circumstances and health issues.
Trevor Keyes, a 49‑year‑old taxi driver from Drogheda, was sentenced by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to a suspended three‑year prison term for possession of almost €100,000 of cannabis. The drugs were found in the boot of a red Toyota Avensis taxi he was driving on Harold's Cross Road. Keyes had previously helped apprehend a man who stabbed a 60‑year‑old woman in 2010 and had a brain aneurysm that left him unable to work, with surgery scheduled for February of the previous year. Judge Elma Sheahan, who had adjourned the case to allow the operation, noted Keyes' low risk of re‑offending, his remorse, and his positive character before offending. She accepted that he had not profited from the drugs and that he was not a serious drug trafficker. Trevor Keyes pleaded guilty.
Joel Davantes, 56, of Drumcondra, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of child pornography on 25 October 2019. Gardaí intercepted a delivery of a "child sex doll" that was delivered by controlled delivery; Davantes said he did not think it was a sex doll. The doll's presence prompted a search of his home, during which phones, a laptop and a tablet were seized. 35 images were later found and were determined to be child abuse material, taken from the internet. Davantes had no prior convictions. Judge Elma Sheahan sentenced him to 12 months in prison, suspended in full on strict conditions, including 12 months of engagement with the Probation Service. The judge noted the offence was not victimless, the number of images was limited, and a probation report placed him at low risk of re‑offending.
A 22‑year‑old man, assessed as having the intellectual capacity of a 14‑year‑old, was jailed for two years after pleading guilty to raping a 16‑year‑old girl in January 2017. The victim, who was also 16 at the time, described the assault as having permanently altered her life, leaving her with PTSD, insomnia, night terrors and panic attacks. She said the accused had taken her innocence and treated her like a rag doll, dehumanising her and causing her shame. The court considered the victim's testimony, the defendant's cognitive difficulties, his guilty plea and lack of prior convictions. Mr Justice Paul McDermott imposed a sentence of three and a half years, suspending the final 18 months on strict conditions, including probation supervision, no contact with the victim and engagement with appropriate services. The sentence reflected the mitigating factors of the defendant's age, maturity and intellectual capacity.
The Special Criminal Court has sentenced Jonathan Dowdall to four years' imprisonment for facilitating the Hutch gang in the murder of Kinahan Cartel member David Byrne. Dowdall, a former Sinn Fein councillor, pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of making a hotel room available ahead of the February 2016 attack. He is currently being assessed for the Witness Protection Program to testify against his former co-accused, Gerard Hutch. Hutch, along with Paul Murphy and Jason Bonney, stands trial for the murder. Murphy and Bonney have pleaded not guilty to charges of participating in or contributing to the murder by providing access to motor vehicles. The trial is currently at the procedural stage of addressing the admissibility of evidence. Defence counsel argued that a Garda bugging device recording conversations between Hutch and Dowdall was deployed under a "culture of secrecy" and in violation of the Criminal Justice Surveillance Act 2009, as the vehicle was allegedly in Northern Ireland for eight of the ten recorded hours. The prosecution maintains the recording is central to their case. The court will rule on the admissibility of this evidence after the prosecution responds to the defence submissions. The trial continues before a three-judge panel.
Denis Maguire, 65, former head of finance and company secretary at Our Lady's Hospice (OLH), pleaded guilty to deception for selling a Spanish property, Aloha Lake Village, Marbella West, at €37,500 in March 2015, far below its €240,000 market value. Maguire, who had no prior convictions, managed OLH's inherited properties and secured a resolution allowing him to dispose of the Spanish asset. He accepted a third‑party offer within 24 hours, without due diligence, and arranged the sale to Sun Orange Property LLC, a New York‑registered shell company. OLH suffered a loss of over €28,000 after liabilities were deducted. The scheme was uncovered following an HSE audit in September 2015. In November 2022, Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Maguire to 27 months' imprisonment, back‑dated to 17 October, citing the devious nature of the crime and the breach of trust he had owed to OLH.
A 40‑year‑old man, Christopher O'Sullivan, pleaded guilty to the unlawful killing of 53‑year‑old Timothy Hourihane, who died from injuries after an assault at a tented village in Cork City on 13 October 2019. O'Sullivan was arraigned before the Central Criminal Court on Friday, where he answered "guilty" to the charge of unlawful killing. The court accepted the plea to manslaughter and ordered that the matter be sent for sentencing on 30 January in Cork, with a governor's report to be prepared.
Barry O'Driscoll, a 40‑year‑old maths book proofreader from Dublin, was caught with over €60,000 worth of cannabis and €20,000 in proceeds of crime. Gardaí seized nearly €40,000 of cannabis in a carpark and later found an additional €19,352 of cannabis, LSD tablets and €19,000 in cash at his home. He pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing drugs for sale or supply and one count of handling the proceeds of crime. O'Driscoll has no prior convictions. He is diagnosed with bipolar disorder, autism spectrum and ADHD, conditions that contributed to his social difficulties and substance use. Judge Orla Crowe, noting his full cooperation, clean urine tests, charity work and low re‑offending risk, imposed a fully suspended sentence of two and a half years for the drug possession counts and two years for the proceeds of crime count. The sentence is wholly suspended, reflecting his vulnerability and rehabilitation.
At the Central Criminal Court, Justice Paul McDermott ordered the release of trial transcripts from the murder case of Aaron Brady to the legal team of Brendan Treanor. Treanor, 34, is charged with participating in the January 25, 2013, robbery at Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgan, County Louth, where Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was killed. The transcripts are intended for use in Treanor's upcoming Special Criminal Court trial. The Director of Public Prosecutions did not oppose the application but emphasized that the documents must not be shared with anyone outside Treanor and his solicitors, citing witness intimidation concerns. James Flynn, 31, of Newry, Northern Ireland, is also accused of the same robbery and conspiracy to steal vehicle keys. Flynn was extradited from the UK last July to face charges in Ireland. He has not applied for the transcripts. In the related Brady case, the defendant pleaded not guilty to the capital murder of Garda Donohoe but was convicted by an 11-to-1 majority verdict in August 2020. He received a mandatory life sentence with a minimum term of 40 years, plus a concurrent 14-year sentence for the robbery.
Marlies Walsh, 50, of Pedlers Cross, Clonakilty, pleaded guilty to one count of harassment at Temple Street Hospital, Dublin, after contacting a doctor and hospital staff by phone and email from December 2017 to August 2020. She sought a patient‑advocacy role for her 20‑year‑old son, a kidney‑transplant patient, but the hospital declined. Walsh repeatedly called, emailed, and visited the hospital, sending parcels that alarmed the doctor. A formal complaint was made to Gardaí in February 2019. She was charged in April 2020 and faced bail conditions to stay away from the hospital, which she initially breached. In August 2020 she complied. Judge Elma Sheahan imposed a two‑year sentence, suspended on strict conditions, and banned Walsh from contacting the doctor or the hospital for 20 years. The court noted her guilty plea, good character, and the stress of her son's illness.
Michael Greene, 46, of Seabury Lawns, Mornington, Meath, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to laundering €104,720 in cash. The money was seized from his vehicle on the Swords exit of the M1 after a surveillance operation that had originally targeted Michael Jameson of Aidton Court, Newtown Mearns, Glasgow. Greene claimed he had been asked to collect the cash for €500 and had no knowledge of its contents. During questioning he admitted to a chronic cocaine addiction and a debt that he said was partly to be written off in exchange for his cooperation. He also stated that he used cocaine to "calm him down" because of sleep apnea. The judge, Pauline Codd, found Greene to be a foot‑soldier, highly psychologically vulnerable and in fear for his life over drug debts. She sentenced him to three years, suspended the final year on the condition of good behaviour, and imposed a two‑year custodial term.
Lisa Lee, 41, was remanded in custody pending sentencing after she attacked Garda Caoimhe Reilly on 9 January. The incident began when Gardaí responded to a domestic disturbance at Lee's Annalivia Apartments home at 3 a.m. Lee was found with a bleeding lip and blood on her nose. She entered the house with two Gardaí, where her partner and child were present. While the Garda tried to restrain the partner, Lee shouted, struck, and pulled clumps of the officer's hair. She then searched kitchen drawers, was suspected of having a knife, and returned unarmed but continued to punch and grab the Garda's hair. Garda Reilly was taken to St James Hospital, suffering soft‑tissue injuries to arms, legs, neck and back, and is still undergoing physiotherapy. Lee has three prior convictions for breach of bail and drug possession. She expressed remorse at 5 a.m. and said she was sorry to the Garda. Lisa Lee pleaded guilty.
The Special Criminal Court has sentenced Jonathan Dowdall to four years in prison for facilitating the murder of Kinahan Cartel member David Byrne. Dowdall pleaded guilty to charges related to the February 5, 2016, Regency Hotel shooting. The court heard evidence that Dowdall facilitated the Hutch gang in this notorious killing. While Dowdall's case has been finalized with a custodial sentence, the trial of co-accused Gerard Hutch remains ongoing. Hutch, who pleaded not guilty to participating in or contributing to the murder by providing access to motor vehicles, faces a non-jury trial. The court recently heard ten hours of audio recordings allegedly captured by a garda bugging device during a trip to Northern Ireland. The State's case relies on these conversations, where Hutch allegedly discussed the Kinahan cartel's ambition to become the biggest gang in Europe. However, the defense, led by Brendan Grehan SC, argues that the State acted illegally by using the device outside the jurisdiction, seeking to exclude the evidence as illicit fruit. The court is currently hearing legal arguments on the admissibility of this evidence in a voir dire proceeding. Other defendants, Paul Murphy and Jason Bonney, also pleaded not guilty to similar charges of contributing to the murder by providing vehicle access. The matter regarding Hutch's admissibility challenge is not yet concluded, with the judges set to rule on the extraterritoriality issue.
At the Special Criminal Court, former Sinn Fein Councillor Jonathan Dowdall was jailed for four years for facilitating the Hutch gang in the murder of Kinahan Cartel member David Byrne. Dowdall pleaded guilty to the charge of Mr Byrne's murder. Gerard Hutch, co-accused in the case, also pleaded guilty to Mr Byrne's murder and received the same sentence as Dowdall. Paul Murphy and Jason Bonney, both defendants, were charged with participating in or contributing to the murder of David Byrne by providing access to motor vehicles on February 5, 2016, and pleaded not guilty to these charges. The trial has heard various conversations captured by a garda bugging device, including discussions between Dowdall and Hutch about a range of topics, including the death of Supreme Court judge Adrian Hardiman, journalist Paul Williams, and the use of AK-47 assault rifles in the murder of David Byrne. The matter is at the sentence stage, with no adjournments or suspended portions mentioned. No conditions or effective custody details were provided for the accused or defendants.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Laimonas Baltrusis, aged 31, was sentenced to five years and three months in prison for unlawfully possessing €280,000 worth of cocaine and a semi‑automatic pistol. Gardaí discovered the drugs and firearm in hidden compartments of two cars, accessed by a button under the steering wheel when the engine ran and lights were on. Baltrusis admitted possession of cocaine at two addresses on 19 and 20 September 2020 and possession of the pistol on 20 September 2020. He cooperated with investigators, pointing to a kitchen shelf where 22 g of cocaine and €3,250 in cash were found. The court noted his prior minor convictions, his completion of a rehabilitation programme, and his apology to the court. Judge Martin Nolan emphasised that Baltrusis had created the problems for himself by becoming involved in the drug trade. Laimonas Baltrusis pleaded guilty.
Lateef Tiamiyu, 38, of Dublin, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to multiple charges related to fraud and false instruments. The defendant admitted to possession of a machine designed for making a false instrument, inducing another to open a bank account in a false name, possession of 17 magnetic strips intended for making false instruments, and two counts of possessing false instruments at his home on May 28, 2021. Prosecution evidence indicated that gardaí searched the residence after Tiamiyu was identified as attempting to open a bank account using a false passport and utility bill. During the search, officers discovered the card-cloning machine, magnetic strips, and six false passports, each bearing a different photograph. While defense counsel argued that there was no evidence the items were used for fraudulent activity, Judge Martin Nolan inferred that the possession of such equipment was solely for the purpose of engaging in profitable criminality. The judge acknowledged Tiamiyu's co-operation, admissions, lack of previous convictions, and family responsibilities, including supporting children in Ireland and Nigeria. However, he stated that Tiamiyu must suffer a term of imprisonment despite his very good mitigation. The sentence was handed down as the final disposition of the case.
Ross Gaffney, aged 20, was sentenced next month after breaking into Balbriggan Garda Station armed with a curtain pole and damaging a patrol car. He pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary and criminal damage on 15 October 2020. Gaffney has no prior convictions and has been under psychiatric care since his teens, including admission to a psychiatric unit in 2020. He was arrested after gardaí subdued him while he shouted for a sergeant and held the curtain pole. CCTV showed him entering the staff car park, striking a garda car three times, then entering the station through a back entrance. No victim impact statements were filed, and the gardaí involved did not take time off. The court ordered further reports, a probation assessment, and a urine analysis, and adjourned the case to 16 December for finalisation. The judge described the case as "highly unusual.".
Samy Taib, 21, pleaded guilty to two counts of assault causing harm, one count of coercive control, endangerment, driving without a licence and insurance, and dangerous driving. The offences occurred between May 2018 and October 2019, involving repeated physical abuse of his former partner, including choking, punching, and driving over her leg. He admitted to running her over with his car on 9 May 2019, causing permanent injury to her foot. Gardaí pursued him after a high‑speed chase on 13 October 2019, seized his black Volvo, and arrested him in July 2019. Taib has 22 prior convictions, mainly traffic offences, and was diagnosed with schizophrenia in early 2020. The case was adjourned to 20 January 2023 for finalisation. The court heard the victim's impact statement describing lasting physical and psychological harm. Taib had moved to Scotland in 2020 and returned to Ireland in April 2022.
Simon Gold, a 58‑year‑old former psychic who had previously served seven and a half years for laundering €1.6 million, was sentenced on 23 November 2022 to a three‑year suspended term for dishonestly opening two bank accounts. He pleaded guilty to opening accounts in Dublin and Offaly in July 2017 and March 2018 using forged documents discovered during a 2018 search of his home. The accounts handled about €80 000 and were used mainly for household expenses; €18 500 remains frozen and will be forfeited. Gold had already been released from prison after serving four years of his earlier sentence, which was back‑dated to 2018. Judge Martin Nolan, after hearing that Gold had undertaken rehabilitation courses and was released on restrictive conditions, imposed the suspended sentence, noting that a longer term would not have been warranted had the offences been considered together with his earlier money‑laundering conviction.
A 33-year-old man who abducted his two-year-old daughter from a health centre in County Mayo last October has had sentencing adjourned pending trial on separate charges. Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that both parents were heavily involved in substance abuse at the time of the abduction on October 12th. The man pleaded guilty to intentionally taking his daughter during a scheduled access visit. Following a nationwide Child Safety Alert, gardaí located the family at a Dublin hotel where the child was removed and the parents arrested. The court heard that weeks later the man attempted to abduct the child again from a house in County Mayo. He now faces trial in Castlebar Circuit Court next year on charges including assault, burglary and criminal damage. His co-parent, a UK national, pleaded guilty to abduction but failed to appear for sentencing and is now residing in London. Judge Martin Nolan adjourned sentencing until March 8th next.
The Special Criminal Court has sentenced Jonathan Dowdall to four years' imprisonment for facilitating the Hutch gang in the murder of Kinahan Cartel member David Byrne. Dowdall, a former Sinn Fein councillor, pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of making a hotel room available ahead of the attack, which occurred during a boxing weigh-in at the Regency Hotel on February 5, 2016. He is currently being assessed for the Witness Protection Program to testify against his co-accused. Meanwhile, the trial of Gerard Hutch, who pleaded not guilty to Mr Byrne's murder, continues before Ms Justice Tara Burns and two other judges. The court is hearing audio recordings of conversations between Hutch and Dowdall, which the prosecution alleges reference the use of AK-47 assault rifles. Hutch's defence argues that much of the evidence was gathered illicitly outside the State's jurisdiction. Co-accused Paul Murphy and Jason Bonney, both charged with providing access to motor vehicles, have also pleaded not guilty. The trial will proceed with a voir dire to determine the admissibility of the disputed recordings.
A Dublin man has been jailed for two and a half years following his conviction for supplying untaxed tobacco products. Eamonn Lynch, 44, of Lanesborough Avenue, St Margarets, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to delivering unstamped tobacco and evading excise duty totalling €175,151 on cigarettes and loose tobacco. Revenue officers discovered cigarettes and tobacco with a retail value of €217,000 at a storage yard in north Dublin during October 2020. The court heard that Lynch, who operated a flower-selling pitch at Sutton graveyard, had been observed transporting large quantities of contraband tobacco to private residences and retail premises. He admitted being paid €100 daily to make deliveries but declined to name his supplier. A subsequent search of his home recovered €28,000 in cash. Judge Martin Nolan acknowledged Lynch's charitable work and employment history but stated that depriving the State of such revenue constituted serious criminality warranting imprisonment.
Elaine Emmett, 39, was a passive participant in a crime of passion that took place on 22 May 2021 at Finn Eber Court, Finglas. She accompanied a friend to the home of the friend's former partner's new girlfriend and stood by while the other woman smashed the door with a golf club, dragged the victim by the hair and smashed her oven. Emmett pleaded guilty to one count of entering a building as a trespasser with intent to cause criminal damage. She had four prior convictions. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, hearing the case on 22 November 2022, found her a passive participant and imposed an 18‑month sentence, which was suspended in full. The co‑accused is awaiting sentencing for her role in the incident.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Brazilian woman Santana Silvana, aged 26, was sentenced to two and a half years' imprisonment for attempting to smuggle more than 2.5 kg of cocaine into Ireland. The drugs, valued at €176,162, were concealed in a false‑bottom suitcase that customs officers discovered during an X‑ray inspection on 24 January 2022. Silvana pleaded guilty to one count of possession of drugs for sale or supply at the airport. She had no prior convictions in Brazil. Her defence counsel argued that she acted out of financial desperation, citing her status as a lone mother living in a deprived community in São Paulo, working as a cleaner, and facing imminent utility cuts. The court noted her remorse and limited English, and Judge Martin Nolan imposed the custodial sentence, back‑dated to her arrest in January.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Judge Pauline Codd sentenced 31‑year‑old Ian Doyle to five months' imprisonment for each of two assault charges against his ex‑partner, Lisa Byrne. Doyle, who had pleaded not guilty, was found guilty of the lesser offence of assault after Byrne failed to attend the trial. He had previously been on bail for other offences and was required to stay away from Byrne and her home. The judge highlighted the severity of the violence, noting Doyle's use of a game‑console controller to strike Byrne's head, followed by choking and attempts to silence her screams. Byrne described feeling terrified and threatened, fearing further harm. Doyle's prior convictions included drug dealing, dangerous driving and possession of weapons.
Sergio Arriaga, 44, of Lucan, was found guilty of possessing child pornography after a search of his home in April 2013 revealed over 2,700 images and 234 videos of child sexual abuse. The material, downloaded from a peer‑to‑peer network, included images of children as young as two years old. Arriaga pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Elma Sheahan imposed a 20‑month sentence, with the final eight months suspended on strict conditions and requiring Arriaga to be supervised by Probation Services for eight months. He has no prior convictions and is employed full‑time. The judge noted the grotesque nature of the material and the seriousness of the offence, but also considered his early guilty plea and expressions of remorse as mitigating factors. The case had been pending since 2013 due to delays in repairing the hard drives.
The Special Criminal Court has sentenced Jonathan Dowdall to four years' imprisonment for facilitating the Hutch gang in the murder of Kinahan Cartel member David Byrne. Dowdall, a former Sinn Fein councillor, pleaded guilty to the charge. The court also heard evidence in the ongoing trial of co-accused Gerard Hutch, who pleaded not guilty to the same murder. The trial featured audio recordings of conversations between Hutch and Dowdall, allegedly captured while travelling to the North. In these recordings, Hutch stated that Daniel Kinahan looked "in a fuckin heap" following the Regency Hotel attack and claimed police were "going around like headless chickens." The prosecution presented these tapes as core evidence, while the defence argued for their exclusion, claiming the vehicle was outside the State's jurisdiction for most of the recording. Other defendants Paul Murphy and Jason Bonney also pleaded not guilty. The court proceedings focused on the admissibility of the bugged conversations, with the defence contending the evidence was illicit. The sentencing of Dowdall marks a significant development in the case, while the trial for Hutch and others continues.
Alex Campbell, 29, was sentenced to two and a half years in prison after pleading guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing drugs for sale or supply at his former residence in Custom House Square, Dublin 1, on 14 May 2021. Gardaí discovered €835 in his hand and €150 in his pocket when they stopped him in a taxi after observing a suspected drug transaction. A paper bag he handed over contained 263 g of cannabis worth €5,274, and a small bag of 8.6 g worth €172 was found on him at Pearse Street Garda Station. Subsequent searches of his apartment revealed four bags of cannabis valued at €65,442, a bag worth €6,500, €7,055 in cash, weighing scales and bagging equipment. Campbell admitted he was holding the drugs to clear a debt.
The Special Criminal Court heard evidence regarding the recovery of tracker data from a vehicle driven by Jonathan Dowdall, who pleaded guilty to facilitating the murder of David Byrne and was sentenced to four years' imprisonment. Co-accused Gerard Hutch, who also pleaded guilty to the same charge, and defendants Paul Murphy and Jason Bonney, who pleaded not guilty, remain part of the ongoing proceedings. The court learned that Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau recovered a working copy of destroyed tracker records from a computer slated for disposal. Assistant Commissioner Orla McPartlin testified she would not have authorised the destruction had she known the data was required for the trial and has since initiated a review of retention policies. Retired Detective Inspector Ciaran Hoey, who authorised the destruction, stated he did not believe the records were pertinent to the prosecution. The defence, representing Hutch, argued that the destruction of evidence was a significant issue. Additionally, the court heard that tracker records confirm Dowdall's vehicle was in Northern Ireland for eight hours on March 7, 2016, during the period of audio recordings. The defence intends to argue for the exclusion of this evidence based on extraterritoriality. The matter was adjourned to allow the court to listen to the ten hours of recorded conversations and to continue cross-examination of witnesses.
Paul Timmons, 31, of Clondalkin, Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for a series of robberies committed during a five-day binge in January 2020. Timmons pleaded guilty to four robberies and one attempted robbery. Judge Pauline Codd sentenced him to six years in prison but suspended the final three years, citing his serious rehabilitation efforts and expressed remorse. The sentence was backdated by seven months to account for time already served. The judge ordered Timmons to continue engaging in treatment and relapse prevention as deemed appropriate by the Probation Service. His brother, Patrick Timmons, also pleaded guilty to the robberies and was sentenced to four and a half years in prison. The court heard that Timmons had 26 previous convictions, including five for robbery or attempted robbery. He successfully completed a residential rehabilitation course and is due to graduate from a construction training course. The judge praised Timmons' mother for her continued support. None of the stolen cash or dashcams were recovered.
Alex Weir, 28, of Gibbons Terrace, Balbriggan, was found guilty of possessing cannabis and cocaine in his shed, with the drugs valued at €85,500. He had no prior convictions and was described by his defence as intellectually disabled and on the autistic spectrum. Garda Aaron Shanahan explained that a search warrant was issued after a confidential tip, and that Weir admitted the presence of drugs in the shed, handing over six small bags of cocaine and later two bags containing cannabis and cocaine. The court, led by Judge Melanie Greally, considered Weir's particular difficulties and needs, deciding he was unsuitable for custodial imprisonment. Consequently, a four‑year prison sentence was imposed, fully suspended on strict conditions, including abstaining from non‑prescription drugs. The judge noted Weir's early guilty plea, cooperation with Gardaí, lack of previous convictions, and his dependence on family support. The case highlighted the court's focus on Weir's vulnerability and the mitigating factors presented by his defence.
Rafik Bin Salah, a 38‑year‑old Tunisian national, was sentenced to 21 months in prison for assault causing harm after refusing to pay a pregnant woman for a public sex act on Dublin's Eden Quay boardwalk on 24 August 2020. The victim, who was nearly seven months pregnant, had been begging for money and was offered €30 for a hand job. Salah paid €20, then tried to retrieve the money he had paid, knocking the woman to the ground. She suffered minor injuries and became hysterical, fearing for her baby's safety. Two witnesses saw the incident and called Gardaí. Salah, who has five prior convictions in Ireland, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court. Justice Karen O'Connor described the offence as hideous, noting no evidence he knew the victim was pregnant, and imposed the sentence after considering his good behaviour in custody, where he works as a prison barber. The maximum penalty for the offence is five years.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, Fathi Abib, 36, was convicted of raping an 11‑year‑old girl three times and sexually assaulting her twice, and of assaulting the girl's 10‑year‑old sister three times, between May and December 2016. The offences occurred at two south Dublin addresses while the victims' mother was abroad. Abib denied the charges and claimed the victims were "put up to it" by their parents. The jury found him guilty on all counts. Judge Mary Ellen Ring sentenced him to eight and a half years' imprisonment, back‑dated to 1 September 2023 to credit time already spent in custody. He must comply with Probation Service directions for 18 months after release, including any required training or sex‑offender programmes. The victims, now 17 and 16, described lasting trauma, loss of trust in men, and ongoing nightmares. No prior convictions were recorded. The case highlighted the seriousness of sexual offences against children.
Peter Mellors, 22, of Skerries, Dublin, pleaded guilty to holding over €100,000 worth of drugs at his home on 5 May 2021. He had been diagnosed with a neurological condition similar to multiple sclerosis at 17, which can cause blindness and leg paralysis. Mellors began using cannabis to self‑medicate and also used cocaine. Gardaí searched his house after a tip and found five kilograms of cannabis (worth €100,074) and 108 grams of cocaine (worth €7,500). He admitted to holding the drugs and said he was threatened that if he did not be present for "the drop" something would happen to his mother and house. The prosecution accepted his claim of a genuine threat. Judge Martin Nolan, noting Mellors' health condition, low culpability and cooperation, imposed a four‑year suspended sentence, suspending the entire custodial term.
Three men—Francis Murphy (61), Declan Murphy (54) and Francis Boland (56)—were convicted of indecent assault on a child aged 11‑15 during the early 1980s. Each pleaded not guilty and had no prior convictions. The victim waived anonymity and described the abuse, which included forced masturbation and attempts to insert the men's penises into his mouth. The court noted that Murphy was an adult at the time, while Murphy and Boland were juveniles. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced Murphy to 36 months' imprisonment, Declan Murphy to 30 months, and Boland to 22 months, deferred one month. All three will be placed on the sex offenders register. The victim's impact statement highlighted lasting psychological harm and ongoing difficulties with alcohol and drugs. The defendants' counsel highlighted their long work histories and lack of prior Garda attention. The judge emphasized the men's law‑abiding conduct since the offences and offered legal aid for any appeal.
Paul O'Dowd, 37, was found to possess 78 images and 10 videos of child abuse material on his Samsung phone. He admitted to having viewed and downloaded the material but denied ever sending it to others. Gardaí searched his home after a tip, seized the phone, and analysed the content, which included 52 images or videos showing children with exposed genital or anal areas and the remainder depicting children witnessing or engaging in sexual activity. O'Dowd pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 12 February 2021 and was sentenced to 21 months in prison, a term fully suspended on strict conditions. He must engage with Probation Services for 12 months and will be registered as a sex offender. He has five prior convictions for road traffic offences. The judge noted the case was not the largest in terms of image quantity and considered his lack of relevant convictions and admissions when deciding the suspended sentence.