Paul Morris, aged 55, was sentenced to eight years in prison after a jury found him guilty of two counts of sexual assault and one count of attempted anal rape against a teenage boy aged 13–14. The offences occurred between 1 May 2010 and 1 April 2011 at Morris's trailer in Chianti Park, Tallaght. Morris, who had previously worked as a youth worker but not since 2002, had persuaded the boy's mother to allow the boy to stay overnight by claiming he was a youth worker. He then sexually assaulted the boy, groping his genitals and masturbating in front of him, and on a second occasion attempted an anal rape, which the boy resisted. Morris maintains his innocence and has no prior convictions. He was sentenced by Mr Justice Michael MacGrath to a headline term of ten years, reduced to eight years, with mitigating factors including his lack of prior convictions and medical history.
The Special Criminal Court has sentenced Jonathan Dowdall to four years' imprisonment for facilitating the murder of David Byrne. Dowdall, a former Sinn Fein councillor, pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of providing access to motor vehicles and a hotel room to the accused group on February 5, 2016. He is currently being assessed for the Witness Protection Program after agreeing to testify against co-accused Gerard Hutch. Hutch, who pleaded not guilty to the murder of Byrne, remains on trial alongside Paul Murphy and Jason Bonney, both of whom also pleaded not guilty to charges of participating in or contributing to the murder by providing access to vehicles. The trial, presided over by Ms Justice Tara Burns and two other judges, was adjourned until 2pm this afternoon. Prosecutors informed the court that the Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau had recovered destroyed tracker records from a desktop computer, which had been listed for destruction. Defense counsel for Hutch requested time to consider how to proceed following this development. The court heard that these records, related to a tracker device on Dowdall's vehicle, were previously believed to be permanently lost. The trial continues with the examination of evidence regarding the movements of the accused in the days surrounding the shooting at the Regency Hotel.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Fionn Daly, who had been sexually abused by his mother, Suzanna Hassett, waived anonymity to name her. Hassett, aged 66, pleaded guilty to 13 counts of indecent assault between 1984 and 1987, when Daly was up to three years old, and to four counts of sexual assault between 1992 and 1995, when he was between seven and 11. She had no prior convictions. Daly described the abuse as occurring while he was in nappies, with his mother masturbating him and using his arm to masturbate herself, and said it happened two or three times a week over 18 months. He had complained to Gardaí in 2017, after which Hassett entered counselling and admitted the offences. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a total sentence of eight years, with the final 18 months suspended on strict conditions, including 12 months of probation supervision.
Boguslaw Sajor, 34, of Timahoe, Co Kildare, was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to seven and a half years in prison for transporting more than €1.5 million worth of cannabis from Malaga, Spain, to Ireland. The goods were intercepted at a Duleek Business Park address that did not correspond to any company, and the pallets were seized. Gardaí followed Sajor's Mercedes Sprinter van, stopped it on the N7, and obtained three search warrants for his residential and business addresses. A small amount of cannabis, weighing scales, a tracking device, and an encrypted mobile app were found at his home; the app contained messages about "35 greens" and instructions for dividing the drugs. In the van, three mobile phones were recovered, one with the encrypted app. Gardaí searched the pallets and found €692,000 of cannabis herb and €900,000 of cannabis resin, totalling €1,592,000. The unnamed man pleaded guilty.
Ramadan Kulla, 62, of Blanchardstown, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after striking a man with a claw hammer at Westend Retail Park on 25 March 2016. Kulla, who had no prior convictions, claimed an unknown grievance prompted the attack. He took a hammer from his jacket, hit the victim on the head, and a struggle ensued in which the victim seized the hammer and struck Kulla. Both men were hospitalized; the victim required three stitches. Garda Michael McClean presented CCTV of Kulla buying the hammer and a victim impact statement. Kulla's defence argued the victim's self‑defence and that the injury was self‑inflicted. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a three‑year custodial sentence, suspending the final 20 months, citing the seriousness of the offence and Kulla's lack of prior record. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, 31‑year‑old Ian Doyle was accused of assaulting his ex‑partner, Lisa Byrne, on 3 November 2011. Doyle pleaded not guilty to two counts of assault causing harm to Byrne's head and neck. The trial began on a Wednesday, with a neighbour testifying that she heard shouting, called 999, and saw Doyle's partner leave Byrne's flat, noting a cut on Byrne's head and blood on her dressing gown. The neighbour also described Doyle banging on her windows with a metal object. On the second day, a juror claimed to recognise someone in the courtroom, but the judge allowed her to continue. During the trial, the prosecution noted that Gardaí could not locate Byrne and that a bench warrant existed for her arrest. Byrne had previously gone missing after reporting intimidation, and CCTV footage allegedly showed interference by Doyle's associates.
The High Court has ruled that 14 luxury watches valued at €152,000, €22,000 in cash, and a mobile home are proceeds of crime. Mr Justice Alexander Owens made the order under the 1996 Proceeds of Crime Act regarding assets seized by the Criminal Assets Bureau from Jason Reed, Thomas Rooney, and Catherine Dawson. The applications were unopposed. The assets were seized following a Garda investigation into an international gang involved in illegal drugs and firearms trafficking. The three individuals were previously convicted of laundering over €400,000 for a criminal organisation after being observed exchanging large sums of cash in Drogheda in May 2020. Last year, Jason Reed, from Dunshaughlin, Co Meath, was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment by the Special Criminal Court for money laundering offences. Thomas Rooney, of Bettystown, Co Meath, received a six-year sentence for the same offences. Catherine Dawson, a former partner of Rooney's, received a fully suspended sentence of three years and nine months after pleading guilty to money laundering offences. The court appointed a receiver to sell the non-cash assets, noting that the respondents' financial profiles did not account for the legitimate acquisition of the property.
A 26‑year‑old man from Cork, Michael Mullen, pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing child pornography and had a further three counts considered. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to a suspended two‑and‑a‑half‑year term with strict conditions and ordered him to be supervised by the Probation Service for 18 months. The judge noted that the material found by Gardaí was serious and in the explicit range, and that it was not accidental. Mullen was arrested in April 2019 during Operation Ketch after a Dropbox account linked to his former address was investigated. Garda Tara Power described the material as including images and videos of children aged six to twelve, some depicting sexual acts. Mullen cooperated, handing over a phone and providing a PIN. He had held the images for weeks and had wanted to inform Gardaí.
The Special Criminal Court has ruled to hear ten hours of audio recordings between murder accused Gerard Hutch and Jonathan Dowdall, despite defence arguments that the vehicle was outside State jurisdiction for eight hours. Prosecuting counsel Sean Gillane SC described the recordings as central to the State's case regarding the murder of David Byrne. Defence counsel Brendan Grehan SC argued the evidence should be excluded as 'illicit fruit' because gardai knew the vehicle was in Northern Ireland, violating the Criminal Justice Surveillance Act 2009. The court will rule on admissibility after listening to the full recording. Jonathan Dowdall, who pleaded guilty to facilitating the Hutch gang by providing a hotel room, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment. He is currently being assessed for the Witness Protection Program to testify against Hutch. Paul Murphy and Jason Bonney, who pleaded not guilty, remain defendants in the case. The court is currently at the sentencing stage for Dowdall, while the trial for Hutch continues with procedural rulings on evidence admissibility.
In a High Court ruling, Mr Justice Alexander Owens declared that assets linked to convicted drug dealer and DJ Adam Keatinge—including his Co Kildare home, cash, and several gold bars—were proceeds of crime. Owens described Keatinge as heavily involved in criminal operations, noting his 2012 prison term for drug possession with intent to supply. The Criminal Assets Bureau seized the assets in 2018 after a 2016 PSNI stop of a van containing Keatinge and others, uncovering €60,000 in cash and items such as phones that revealed discussions of cocaine trade and weapon possession. CAB sought orders under the 1996 Proceeds of Crime Act for the home, gold bars, and cash held with Western Union. Keatinge and co‑respondents denied the claims, asserting legitimate income sources, but the judge rejected these explanations as implausible and granted the orders against Keatinge and the other respondents. The decision affirmed that the assets were acquired through criminal activity.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 20‑year‑old Andrew Hillick and his co‑accused Michael Matthews were found guilty of assault causing harm and robbery after they broke a glass partition in a taxi, punched the driver in the head, kicked him in the ribs, and stole €60 and a mobile phone. The driver suffered a broken nose and other injuries. Both men had no prior convictions. Judge Orla Crowe imposed a two‑year suspended sentence on Hillick, ordering him to engage with the Probation Service for two years, attend all appointments, and undergo a full mental health review. Matthews had previously received a similar suspended sentence. The court noted the teenagers' intoxication and the driver's role as a "blameless member of society" who was simply doing his job. The sentencing reflected concerns about the youths' drug use and the need for rehabilitation rather than custodial punishment.
Robert Terry, 42, of Bentley House, Dun Laoghaire, was caught trespassing on a building site where he attempted to steal copper. Gardaí stopped him in the hallway, found a knife in his pocket that he claimed was a fishing knife, and searched him. He had previously pleaded guilty to attempted burglary at Mellifont Avenue on 19 October 2019. Terry has 54 prior convictions, many for theft, and has been homeless since 2010. He has worked as a plasterer, butcher, barman and fisherman, but stopped after an injury in 2019. He has struggled with addiction since 2008, is on methadone, and is awaiting a residential treatment centre. Judge Martin Nolan, hearing the case at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, noted Terry's remorse and sentenced him to 12 months in prison.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 26‑year‑old Kildare woman was sentenced to five years for the violent sexual assault of her estranged husband, who pleaded guilty to aggravated sexual assault. The court heard a 999 call made by the victim during the attack, in which she repeatedly screamed for help. The defendant, who suffered an acquired brain injury in 2017, was given a suspended 15‑month period on the condition of rehabilitation and was ordered to keep the peace for three years after release. The judge noted the victim's fear and the impact of the assault, including her ongoing nightmares and the need for CCTV and locks at her home. The defendant's parents were present at the hearing, and the victim chose to remain anonymous. The sentence was reduced from a headline of seven and a half years to five years due to mitigating factors.
An unlicensed 21‑year‑old driver, Mark Fagan of Galtimore Park, Drimnagh, was given a four‑year suspended sentence after pleading guilty to a series of offences including endangerment, dangerous driving, driving without insurance and possession of cannabis. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court noted that Fagan had turned his life around since the 2020 incidents, with no prior convictions. Judge Orla Crowe imposed a consecutive term totalling four years, suspended in full on strict conditions: engagement with the Probation Service for two years, maintaining peace and good behaviour for four years, and providing urine analysis as requested. Fagan was disqualified from driving for four years. The court heard that during the July 2020 pursuit he reached speeds up to 160 km/h, ran multiple red lights, and drove dangerously on wet roads, nearly colliding with a cyclist and a patrol car. Cannabis was found in his possession, and a blood sample later revealed a controlled drug.
The Special Criminal Court heard that all records from a tracking device placed on former Sinn Fein councillor Jonathan Dowdall's vehicle by gardai were destroyed before the Regency Hotel murder trial began. The court was informed that the tracking device was deployed on Dowdall's Toyota Land Cruiser in February 2016 as part of the investigation into the murder of Kinahan Cartel member David Byrne. The authorisation for the deployment of the tracker was granted by retired Detective Superintendent William Johnston on February 17, 2016, for a period of two months. However, the records of the tracker and logger devices were reportedly destroyed, raising concerns about the destruction of evidence. Jonathan Dowdall has been jailed by the Special Criminal Court for four years for facilitating the Hutch gang in the murder of David Byrne. Gerard Hutch, who is accused of the murder, has pleaded guilty and received the same sentence. Paul Murphy and Jason Bonney have pleaded not guilty and the matter remains ongoing.
Three men – Glen Keegan (41), Karl Keegan (31) and Thomas McAllister (48) – pleaded guilty to two counts of assault causing harm to two men in an attack on a car at Killinarden Heights, Tallaght, on 25 April 2017. The incident occurred while children were present on a busy Dublin road. The men were not directly involved in the underlying dispute between two families but agreed to participate. Gardaí investigated the scene, finding a maroon car that had crashed into an orange car, with the assailants wearing balaclavas and carrying implements. The victims sustained superficial cuts; an ambulance was called and the children were taken home. The case was adjourned to 6 March 2023 for probation reports. The men's prior convictions and the circumstances of their involvement were presented in court, but no sentencing outcome was given in the article.
Elena Oleinik, 48, an art teacher from Lucan, was jailed for two years after forging hundreds of driver licences and no‑claims bonus documents for a car insurance "ghost broker" known only as 'Mr A'. Arrested during a Garda crackdown on ghost broker policies, Oleinik admitted she had been forging documents since 2014, changing names on licences for foreign nationals and adding years to no‑claims bonuses. She earned about €30 per false document and is estimated to have produced around 700 documents for Mr A, though the court could confirm about 250 based on her bank records. Mr A had paid her €7,600 between March 2017 and September 2018. Oleinik pleaded guilty to six counts of making a false instrument and had no prior convictions. The judge noted her cooperation, early guilty plea and lack of previous convictions, but sentenced her to two years' imprisonment for her extensive involvement in the criminal enterprise.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, the defrocked priest Denis Nolan, aged 70, pleaded guilty to multiple sexual offences against a schoolboy between 2001 and 2005. Nolan, who served as curate in Rathnew from 1998 to 2012, had been on the school's management board. He lured the 12‑year‑old boy to do gardening work, offering €15‑€100, then began asking about sex and molesting him. Nolan raped the boy on several occasions, including face‑down on a bed, in a car, and at the presbytery, sometimes after giving him beer. He also performed oral sex on the boy more than 15 times between 2005 and 2006. The victim's impact report described the abuse as "horrendous" and said it had caused lasting mental health problems. Nolan had previously been jailed for seven years in 2014 for a similar abuse in Wicklow and for six years in 2017 for another case.
Ian Coughlan, 46, a former Irish Defence Forces member, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to four money‑laundering charges involving €159,250 in Allied Irish Bank and Bank of Ireland accounts between June and October 2016. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to a three‑year prison term, fully suspended on strict conditions, citing the case's exceptional features. Coughlan had been approached by third parties at his gym offering financial incentives for his bank details, which he never received. He admitted to being contacted by Nigerian men and a French plastics company, who sought to use his accounts for fraudulent transfers. Gardaí had secured a warrant and arrested him on 17 May 2017 after discovering fraudulent payments. Coughlan had no prior convictions and had brought €12,000 to court as an expression of remorse. The judge ordered the money to be split between the two companies and paid within 30 days.
Andrew Rowe, 47, pointed a legally‑held shotgun at a young man who answered the door of his neighbour's house during a 21st birthday party, demanding the music be lowered. The incident occurred at 11.45pm, and the victim closed the door and called the Gardaí. Rowe, who lives in Clonsilla, pleaded guilty to a possession of a firearm charge on 7 August 2020. The shotgun, licensed to him and kept in his family for 30 years, was found locked and unloaded in its safe later that night. His licence was rescinded. In Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Rowe to a three‑year suspended term, noting the gun was not loaded and that Rowe was unlikely to receive a licence again. The sentence was suspended on conditions, with a warning that further offences would lead to imprisonment.
GAA star David Fitzgerald raised questions before the Deputy Master of the High Court regarding the alleged sale of his ACC Bank loan to a 'vulture fund'. The proceedings were brought by Pepper Finance and receiver James Anderson against Fitzgerald, the Waterford Senior Hurling Manager, seeking possession of a house in Co Clare. Fitzgerald opposes the application, arguing that Pepper may not own the loan and that he has received insufficient information about the purported transfer to entities named Newgrange Acquisition DAC and Otterham. His counsel, Ronnie Hudson, also challenged the proportionality of the receivers' fees, noting that a Deloitte chartered accountant was appointed for a single property. Fitzgerald claims he wishes to redeem the mortgage of over €200,000 but is blocked by a disputed €25,000 interest surcharge. The Deputy Master, Mr John Glennon, stated that these issues are for a High Court judge to determine. He indicated an intention to list the case before a judge but granted an adjournment to allow Fitzgerald to swear an affidavit in reply to the applicant's claim. The matter was adjourned and will return before the Deputy Master later this month. Fitzgerald also linked these proceedings to separate claims against former ACC Bank official Jarlath Mitchell and ACC Bank, alleging fraud involving false mortgage documentation in Portugal.
The President of the High Court, Mr Justice David Barniville, granted an application by Jim Elliott, acting for the family of Corporal James Elliott, to access the Special Criminal Court file from a 1972 trial. The order, issued at the sentence stage of the underlying 1972 proceedings, directs that the Elliott family's lawyers receive the original file and a copy within seven days. The 1972 trial involved Brendan Finnegan and Patrick Lynch, who were convicted of conspiring to commit an explosion and possessing explosives. Finnegan was sentenced to nine months' imprisonment, while Lynch received a 15-month sentence. The family alleges these convictions are linked to the 1972 kidnapping and murder of their father, a part-time Ulster Defence Regiment corporal, by the Provisional IRA. Although other charges, including conspiracy to commit murder, were reportedly dropped, the family has never been informed of the trial until 2005. The court found that providing access to the file supports the legacy process and commitments under the Good Friday Agreement. The application was opposed by no party; the Courts Service, the DPP, the Garda Commissioner, and the Minister for Justice did not object. The judge described the murder as horrendous and ruled that making the file available was in the interests of justice. The matter was not adjourned; the order was finalised with specific directions for file delivery.
The High Court ordered a Criminal Assets Bureau receiver to take control of a west Dublin property near Tallaght that was deemed to be the proceeds of drug‑trafficking by cartel boss Daniel Kinahan. The receiver, Mr Kevin McMeel, was appointed under Section 7 of the Criminal Assets Bureau Act to sell the house on the open market and manage the €3,850 found there. The property, a five‑bedroom house at Coldwater Lakes in Saggart, was valued at €750‑800k in 2013 and was found uninhabited when CAB visited on 25 October 2022. No respondent claimed ownership. The receiver will hold the sale proceeds in a nominated bank account and, after seven years, the funds will be forfeited to the State. The court noted that CAB had served papers on Kinahan and Thomas Kavanagh, who were aware of the proceedings but had not contested the order.
In a case heard in the Central Criminal Court, a 17‑year‑old boy was found guilty by a jury of oral rape and four counts of sexual assault against his 7‑year‑old cousin. The offences occurred in the victim's home in 2018 when the boy was 13. The victim reported that the boy inserted a finger into her vagina on four occasions and also orally raped her, threatening her not to tell anyone. She told her mother in July 2019, who then contacted the gardai. The boy's mother and sister were also involved in the investigation. The boy's defence team did not allow cross‑examination of the victim and did not give a closing speech. The boy accepted the jury verdict but did not appeal. The case was adjourned to 6 December for finalisation.
A 45‑year‑old Cork security guard, Andrew Healy, was sentenced to six and a half years in prison for sexually assaulting his younger sister over a 17‑year period. He pleaded guilty to 16 counts of sexual assault between 1992 and 2009, including an attempted rape. The abuse began when the sister was about four or five and Healy was 15, occurring mainly in their family home in Ballingcollig, with some incidents at a second Cork location and at Healy's flat in Wilton. The victim, who chose to waive anonymity, reported the abuse to Gardaí in 2017 after years of daily molestation. Healy's guilty plea and the victim's testimony led to a sentence of seven and a half years, with the final year suspended and conditions such as probation supervision, no unsupervised contact with minors, and no contact with the victim without permission. The court noted Healy's remorse and the mitigating effect of his early plea.
A former solicitor from Claremorris, County Mayo, has been sentenced to 18 months imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for stealing over €200,000 from four client families. David Doyle, aged 68, pleaded guilty to nine charges of theft totalling €218,579 committed between December 2008 and November 2016. Judge Martin Nolan heard that Doyle had misappropriated funds through a method known as "teeming and lading," transferring money between accounts to conceal the offences whilst addressing his personal debts. The court noted that Doyle eventually self-reported the fraud to his senior partner in October 2017 after 38 years of practice. He was subsequently struck off the register by the Law Society. Judge Nolan acknowledged that Doyle had sold his family home to repay clients in full and expressed remorse for breaching the trust of his clients and profession. Doyle cooperated with gardaí following his arrest in December 2020 and has no previous convictions.
Gary Cosgrave, 28, of Crumlin, Dublin, was sentenced to five years in prison after pleading guilty to possession of ketamine for sale or supply. He had accrued a €300 cannabis debt he could not pay and agreed to receive a delivery of ketamine disguised as Lego parts from the Netherlands. The package, valued at €594,000 and weighing just under ten kilograms, was seized during a joint customs‑excise and Garda operation. Cosgrave had no prior convictions and initially denied knowledge of the drugs, but Garda Donal Donoghue reported that he was contacted and arrived home as officers searched the premises. His defence counsel highlighted his supportive family background and argued that he was a "good man who did a bad thing," seeking a reduced sentence. Judge Martin Nolan noted the seriousness of the offence and the high value of the drugs, concluding that a lower sentence was not possible, and imposed the five‑year term.
Bernard Nugent, 56, of Castletymon Court, Tallaght, pleaded guilty on 19 April 2008 to possession of drugs for sale or supply after transporting €200,000 worth of heroin 14 years earlier. The case was delayed due to fitness to plead issues. Garda surveillance tracked a car from Munster to Dublin, which stopped at the Red Cow Hotel car park. Nugent's van arrived, and a brown bag containing 1 kg of diamorphine was transferred between vehicles. Nugent was arrested, interviewed five times, and claimed he was instructed to move the bag to reduce a drug debt. He has 23 prior convictions, mainly traffic offences, and a drug possession conviction from 2001. One co‑accused died before the trial; the other two received suspended seven‑year sentences in 2009. The court heard that Nugent acted under instruction and feared for his life. He was a heroin addict at the time but is now drug‑free.
Michael Connors, 27, of Lambda Apartments, Monkstown Farm, Dublin, was found guilty of assaulting his wife, criminal damage, and animal cruelty. On 9 April 2020, after drinking, he brought home a 12‑week‑old puppy, forced it into a cold bath, and then threw it on the floor in front of his three small children and wife, causing the dog's death by head trauma. He later punched his wife, demanded money, and locked her and the children in the house before going to a shop. He also assaulted his wife at a relative's home, smashing her phone and throwing a scooter. Connors pleaded guilty to two counts of assault, one of criminal damage and one of animal cruelty. The judge sentenced him to 18 months for each assault and animal cruelty, 18 months for criminal damage, with the latter suspended for four years under strict conditions, and required probation supervision for two years.
Two 17‑year‑old boys were found guilty of attempted oral rape, four counts of sexual assault and assault causing harm. The first, 15 at the time, had taken a 14‑year‑old girl's phone, threatened to smash it unless she performed oral sex, and used violence when she refused. The second, 14 then, also demanded oral sex and pushed her. Both boys admitted the acts, expressed remorse and were found to have no prior convictions. The court, noting the seriousness of the offences and the boys' youth, set a headline sentence of six years' detention, with a final sentence of three years' detention, 16 months to be served in custody and the remainder suspended. The case was adjourned to 9 December for finalisation, and the Probation Service was instructed to outline a possible engagement structure for the boys.
Glasgow-based Irish dancing teacher and judge Adrian Stewart is challenging a disciplinary decision by An Coimisiun Le Rinci Gaelacha (CLRG) in the High Court. The CLRG's Appeals Committee suspended Mr Stewart's registration for three years and fined him €1,000, overturning a prior written warning issued by the Disciplinary Committee. Mr Stewart alleges the suspension arose from comments posted on his Facebook page by his then-girlfriend, who admitted to making the posts without his consent. He claims the Appeals Committee's process was flawed, that it acted outside its powers by appealing the initial warning, and that its members had prior conflicts of interest. In these proceedings, Mr Stewart seeks an injunction to quash the suspension and fine, along with declarations that the CLRG breached its own procedures and that his actions did not violate its Code of Conduct. The matter was heard on an ex-parte basis before Ms Justice Siobhan Stack, who granted permission to serve short notice of the injunction proceedings. The case was adjourned and will return before the court later this month.
Rebecca Yeats, 21, pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis for sale or supply on 13 November 2020. A 999 call, believed to have been made by Yeats, led Gardaí to search her Tallaght apartment, where they found 952 g of cannabis worth €19,040. Yeats admitted possession and claimed addiction issues and a drug debt. She was arrested, interviewed, and admitted responsibility. Judge Elma Sheahan, hearing the case at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, ordered Yeats to be placed under Probation Services supervision for 12 months, with strict conditions including random drug testing. The judge noted Yeats's continued cannabis use and moderate risk of re‑offending, and set a headline sentence of three years, but left the final custodial decision pending further mitigation. The case was adjourned to 10 November 2023.
In a 2022 Dublin court, Dean Reynolds, aged 30, received a three‑year prison sentence, with the final 12 months suspended, for a violent, unprovoked assault on Seamus Doyle at Texas Fried Chicken in Finglas on 21 November 2017. CCTV footage showed Reynolds, from Prior Hall, Kilmainham, approaching Doyle, striking him on the head, then kicking him in the body and head while Doyle fell. The attack lasted only a few seconds, during which Reynolds collected a spoon from the counter. Doyle refused medical treatment and did not wish to make a victim impact statement. Reynolds pleaded guilty, had 34 prior convictions, and was in a drug and alcohol rehabilitation program. The judge, Melanie Greally, noted the high level of violence, the presence of a child witness, and Reynolds' remorse and rehabilitation efforts, and imposed the suspended sentence and a requirement to keep the peace for twelve months. The court accepted credit for time already served.
Patrick O'Donnell, aged 20, was charged after he accidentally reversed into a woman's car in a Dundrum Town Centre car park. He offered to pay €1,000 for the damage, but the woman refused and tried to stop him from driving away. CCTV showed O'Donnell driving forward slowly, striking her several times before finally hitting her again, causing injuries. He pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and dangerous driving. Judge Melanie Greally, after viewing the footage, noted the woman's attempts to prevent the incident and her pre‑existing depression and anxiety. O'Donnell's early guilty plea, remorse, lack of prior convictions and his age were mitigating factors. He received a two‑year prison sentence suspended in full for assault and a four‑month sentence suspended in full for dangerous driving, plus a four‑year driving ban. The woman was treated for severe bruising and headaches and has initiated a civil claim.
Paul Keenan, 43, of Lucan, was sentenced to eleven years in prison after Gardaí seized €220,000, drugs, weapons, luxury goods and about ten mobile phones, including encrypted BQ Aquaris models, during searches of his home and a van. He pleaded guilty to possessing the money on 13 March 2019 and 31 March 2021 and to possessing drugs on those dates. The court heard that the van, stopped at a speed check, contained cocaine, cash, and a white bag of €155,000, while Keenan's house held heart‑shaped tablets, pepper spray, a stun gun, ammunition, and designer items. Keenan admitted he was holding money for third parties and denied ever touching a gun. Judge Martin Nolan described him as intelligent and skilled but imposed consecutive five‑ and six‑year sentences for his high level of involvement in money‑laundering and drug offences. The seized money will be frozen for seven years before forfeiture.
A 58‑year‑old married father of seven, Denis Aylmer, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to sexually assaulting a 21‑year‑old university student outside a nightclub on 28 April 2018. Witnesses saw Aylmer pull the victim's penis up and down while his head was close to the student's penis, and the victim was later found unconscious and unresponsive. Aylmer, who had been drinking and had taken a line of cocaine that night, claimed the victim had consented to oral sex before the assault. He had no prior convictions. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to three years' imprisonment, with 16 months suspended, and imposed strict conditions including probation supervision, sex‑offender interventions, and engagement with addiction services. The sentence reflected Aylmer's guilty plea, lack of previous convictions, remorse, and the impact on the victim, who was not present at sentencing.
Odinas Dziugas, 22, was sentenced to one year in jail at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for 11 counts of fuel theft from petrol stations on the M1 motorway between 6 and 21 August last year. He drove a grey Toyota Corolla, changing its registration number on several occasions, to fill up at Circle K in Dunshaughlin, Applegreen in Balbriggan and Applegreen in Castlebellingham, Co Louth, and also removed containers from his boot. The total value of the stolen diesel was €1,636. Dziugas pleaded guilty and had six prior minor theft convictions. Judge Martin Nolan, citing the defendant's desire for a "free journey", backdated the sentence to 9 May, when Dziugas entered custody. His defence lawyer noted an apology letter and family support, hoping the jail term will change his behaviour.
The State has rejected claims that mandatory hotel quarantine measures during the pandemic were unconstitutional, in a High Court case brought by Niamh Mulreany and Kirstie McGrath. The two applicants, who are lone parents, were arrested at Dublin Airport on April 2, 2021, after refusing to undergo mandatory quarantine at a hotel following their return from Dubai. They alleged they could not afford the €1,800 cost per person and that their childcare arrangements were only valid for the duration of their holiday. Acting for the State, Michael Cush SC argued that the Minister for Health was lawfully entitled to designate the UAE as a country requiring mandatory quarantine under the 1947 Health Act, noting the measure included a sunset clause requiring Oireachtas approval for extension. The State also dismissed arguments that the appeal process for quarantined individuals breached the constitution. The applicants, seeking to halt their prosecutions, alleged that the Ministerial order breached the separation of powers and should have been introduced via legislation. They also claimed the offence of resisting transfer to a designated facility was invalid and sought damages. Arising from their refusals, both applicants were charged with breaches of the 1947 Health Act, facing potential fines of up to €2,000 and imprisonment if convicted. The hearing before Ms Justice Marguerite Bolger continues, with the judge indicating an intention to reserve her decision following the conclusion of submissions.
At the Central Criminal Court, defence counsel for Stephen Silver argued it would be unsafe to convict him of the murder of Detective Garda Colm Horkan, citing evidence of mental disorder at the time of the shooting. Mr Silver, aged 46, from Aughaward near Foxford in County Mayo, has pleaded not guilty to capital murder but guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility for the fatal shooting at Castlerea, County Roscommon on 17 June 2020. Defence barrister Roisin Lacey SC asked the jury to consider psychiatric evidence that Mr Silver was experiencing a relapse of bipolar affective disorder which substantially diminished his culpability. She referenced observations from gardaí interviews, recorded on the day following the incident, which documented deteriorating mental state including delusional beliefs and bizarre behaviour. Ms Lacey also highlighted inconsistencies in the prosecution's evidence regarding the deceased garda's formal status. The trial continues with the judge's charge to the jury expected the following day.
Daniel Walsh, a 30-year-old college student from Rush, Co Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for drug offences. He pleaded guilty to possession for sale or supply of cannabis herb and ketamine on the Skerries Road on January 9, 2021. He also admitted to having MDMA and cannabis for sale or supply at his home on the same date, as well as the unlawful possession of proceeds of crime. Gardaí stopped Walsh's van after observing it cross a white line, discovering nearly 2kg of cannabis, ketamine, and €6,900 in cash. A subsequent search of his home recovered additional drugs, including MDMA, with a total estimated street value of €42,924. Walsh told officers he was instructed to test the cannabis quality before handing over cash and stated he was selling drugs to support his own use. Defence counsel highlighted that Walsh is a third-year student who has removed himself from criminal associates following a psychotic episode linked to heavy drug use. Judge Martin Nolan acknowledged it was unlikely Walsh would reoffend but noted the serious quantity of drugs warranted a prison term. The court imposed a four-year sentence, suspending the final two years on the condition that Walsh keep the peace for the four-year period.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 9 November 2022, Karen Sutherland, aged 59, pleaded guilty to two counts of harassment for sending over 2,000 menacing phone messages to her former computer teacher and another victim between 1 December 2011 and 31 July 2012. The messages included threats, false accusations of rape, and hateful language, some allegedly from a former pupil. Sutherland also sent abusive messages to her own phone to appear as a victim. The court noted her lack of explanation to Gardaí and her ill health, including osteoporosis and use of a walking frame. Judge Martin Nolan described her actions as having a "malign purpose" and causing traumatic effects. She was sentenced to a three‑and‑a‑half‑year term fully suspended, with a permanent prohibition on any intentional contact with the victims. No prior convictions were recorded.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 9 November 2022, Peter Lynch, 51, pleaded guilty to four offences arising from a neighbourhood row on 28 October 2020. He was found guilty of assault, assault causing harm, producing a pen in the course of a dispute and using threatening and abusive behaviour. Lynch drove away from the scene with a neighbour clinging to his van's bonnet, an act captured on CCTV and phone footage. The judge, Elma Sheahan, imposed a 12‑month sentence for the pen offence and a 22‑month sentence for the assault causing harm, with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions. Both sentences run concurrently. Lynch was ordered to pay €1,500 to each victim or to the Simon Community if declined, and to be supervised by the Probation Service for 12 months. The case was adjourned for finalisation on 8 November 2023.
Kuong Lo Leong, 53, a taxi driver from Dublin, was jailed for six years after pleading guilty to possession of €500,842 worth of cannabis. The drugs were delivered in four separate packages to four different vehicles. Garda Stephen Gillespie said Lo Leong was caught after a surveillance operation set up following a tip‑off. The first haul was €117,762, the second €134,874, the third €231,634 and the final package was just over a kilogram worth €16,572. Lo Leong admitted he had been instructed by "Chinese people" to deliver the drugs and that he was motivated by debt, including a loan‑shark debt, and a promise of €200 per delivery. He had no prior convictions. Judge Martin Nolan accepted the guilty plea, the defendant's cooperation and lack of criminal record, and imposed the six‑year sentence.
Jason Paget, 35, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to four and a half years in prison for offences committed in 2021. Judge Orla Crowe imposed a three-year sentence for the burglary of the Marble Arch Pub in Drimnagh and using a car without consent on August 12, 2021. Paget pleaded guilty to these charges. Additionally, he pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, taking possession of a vehicle without consent, and dangerous driving on December 18, 2021, at Longs Place, Dublin 8. For these counts, the judge imposed two-year sentences on the assault and vehicle taking counts to run concurrently with each other and consecutively to the burglary sentence. The final six months of the two-year sentence were suspended on strict conditions. A mandatory two-year driving disqualification was also imposed. The court noted Paget was on bail for the pub incident when he committed the December offences, which included a high-speed chase and an assault on Garda Dara Higgins, resulting in a fractured hand. Separately, Charles Darcy, 34, pleaded guilty to the same burglary count and possession of a firearm at Longs Place. Darcy's sentencing is adjourned to next month. Conor McGregor is identified as the owner of the pub.
Zachary McLoughlin, 22, pleaded guilty to one count of assault at the Cookstown Luas stop on June 26, 2021. Judge Elma Sheahan adjourned the sentencing hearing to May 10, 2023, when the case will be finalised. The court heard that McLoughlin assaulted a Luas ticket inspector, causing facial injuries requiring nine stitches and leaving scarring. The victim lost €1,800 in wages. Judge Sheahan noted the facts were troubling and suggested McLoughlin take out a loan to provide a more appropriate financial token of remorse. She ordered McLoughlin to pay €3,200 immediately and the remaining balance of €6,800 within six months, totaling €10,000. The judge also ordered McLoughlin to participate in a restorative justice programme and complete a probation report. Defence counsel highlighted McLoughlin's remorse, lack of prior convictions, and that he brought €3,200 to court. The judge acknowledged mitigating factors including his age and early guilty plea. The matter was adjourned and is not yet concluded.
Elaine Sadlier, 55, is to be extradited to the UK on suspicion of assisting Michael Foran, who pleaded guilty to the 2018 murder of Katie 'June' Jones in West Bromwich. Foran was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 17 years. Keith O'Dwyer also pleaded guilty to assisting Foran and was sentenced to 16 months in jail. Sadlier, of Co Limerick, faces charges under Section 4 of the Criminal Law Act 1967 for allegedly helping Foran leave the scene and arrange accommodation. At the High Court, Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo ordered her extradition, rejecting humanitarian objections based on her role as sole carer for a person with epilepsy and an intellectual disability. The judge noted that while the surrender would cause separation anxiety, the individual could be cared for by a qualified professional. Although the court ordered extradition, the matter was adjourned to January 16, 2023, to allow time for alternative care plans to be organized. An affidavit regarding the care plan update is due by November 30. The maximum penalty for the alleged offence in the UK is 10 years' imprisonment.
Dean Lawlor, 34, of Balbriggan, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assaulting a neighbour on 25 May 2020 after a drink together. He also admitted assault causing harm to another neighbour who tried to help. Lawlor had 22 prior convictions, including threatening and abusive behaviour. The victim woke up bruised, with no memory of the assault, and was taken to A&E. CCTV footage showed Lawlor beating the woman, hitting her face, attempting to smash her head off a counter, and pushing her against a wall. A neighbour and the victim's children witnessed the attack. Lawlor was arrested the next day, initially claiming self‑defence. Judge Martin Nolan accepted the guilty plea and sentenced Lawlor to 40 months' imprisonment, back‑dated to his initial custody.
The Special Criminal Court heard submissions in a voir dire regarding the admissibility of garda interviews in the trial of Gerard Hutch, Paul Murphy, and Jason Bonney. All three defendants, who pleaded not guilty to participating in or contributing to the murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel on February 5, 2016, face charges related to providing access to motor vehicles. Defence counsel for Mr. Bonney argued that his initial interview on February 21, 2016, was conducted without a caution, rendering it and the subsequent detention on May 27 inadmissible. Similarly, counsel for Mr. Murphy contended that his February 22 interview should be excluded due to the failure to caution. Prosecuting counsel Sean Gillane SC rebutted these claims, describing the exchanges as non-custodial and voluntary, and argued that the defence had legally overreached by suggesting the lack of caution contaminated all subsequent evidence. The prosecution maintained that ample independent material justified the detentions. The three-judge panel, presided over by Ms Justice Tara Burns, will rule on the admissibility of the interviews on Monday. The trial continues.
Anthony O'Hanlon, 27, of Walkinstown, pleaded guilty on 2 March 2020 to assault, making threats to kill and theft. He was sentenced by Judge Orla Crowe at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to 14 months' imprisonment, with the final six months suspended on strict conditions. The offence occurred in a car when an argument over alleged infidelity escalated. O'Hanlon punched, choked, threatened to kill, attempted to bite and stole the victim's phone and bank card, which were later returned. The victim suffered soft‑tissue injuries to her neck and cheekbone. O'Hanlon had seven prior convictions, including assault and criminal damage. The court noted his guilty plea, steps taken to address substance abuse and a moderate risk of re‑offending. No apology was made directly to the victim, though a letter to the court was sent. The sentence runs concurrently for all three counts.
Three men – David Ostrowski (21), Daniel Stepien (26) and Dawid Michalik (37) – were found guilty of blackmailing a secondary‑school girl who had set up an OnlyFans account. Stepien threatened to release explicit photographs to her family and friends unless she paid €10,000. He sent her screenshots of her father's Facebook page and images of her home. Gardaí set up a sting operation; the victim was advised to leave the cash in a car in Clonsilla. Michalik later retrieved the envelope, while Ostrowski supplied the information that enabled the scheme. All three pleaded guilty. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Stepien to 3½ years' imprisonment, Michalik to 2 years, and adjourned Ostrowski to a future hearing to decide on community service or a 21‑month term. The case involved possession of cannabis and other minor offences. The victim was a final‑year secondary‑school student who had blocked the account after receiving threats.