A 22‑year‑old man was sentenced to four years' imprisonment for repeatedly raping a young cousin and sexually assaulting another when he was a teenager. He pleaded guilty to three counts of rape of a boy aged six to nine and one count of sexual assault of a boy aged ten to twelve. The offences occurred between 2014 and 2019 while the defendant was aged 12 to 16. The court heard that the man, who had no prior convictions, had been a babysitter and had repeatedly forced the victims to remove clothing and to be in positions that allowed anal penetration, claiming it would help the victims' asthma. He was found to have abused the trust of the children and to have used deceit. The judge imposed a six‑year sentence with two years suspended, citing his remorse, early guilty pleas and young age at the time of the offences.
Lorcan Fahey, 42, of Saint John Street, Blackpits, Dublin 8, was sentenced to 15 months' imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to possession of child pornography. The offence involved three images and eight movie files of abuse material found at his home on 30 May 2020. Fahey had a prior conviction for the same offence a decade earlier. During the Garda search, 11 items were seized, including two smartphones. The material depicted boys and girls aged two to 17, some naked and some in sexual activity. Fahey admitted he could not see his child again but did not elaborate further. He has a nine‑year‑old son and was registered as a sex offender, required to meet reporting obligations for ten years. The judge noted his cooperation and willingness to undergo therapy, but imposed custodial time for the repeat offence.
A 41‑year‑old convicted sex offender was sentenced to 13½ years' imprisonment, with the last two years suspended, for raping his former partner twice in August 2016 at his apartment in Co. Laois. The court found a significant breach of trust, noting the victim was pregnant and had recently given birth. The offender had previously been on the sex offenders register for a 2007 sexual assault of a 17‑year‑old girl and a 2016 assault of his partner. He was also convicted of a 2016 assault of his partner by head‑butting her face. The sentence was based on the rape and anal rape counts, with a headline of 10 years for rape and 13½ years for anal rape. The offender had no guilty plea, no remorse, but did cooperate with Gardaí. The court suspended the final two years of the custodial term, back‑dating the suspension to 28 March 2022. The unnamed 41-year-old pleaded not guilty and was acquitted.
Daniel Fitzpatrick, aged 32, was sentenced to three and a half years in prison for stabbing three men outside a Dublin pub on 9 September 2015. The attacks occurred on Oscar Traynor Road, where Fitzpatrick, who had previously been convicted of manslaughter in Birmingham, had engaged in an argument with other men. The three victims approached the group to intervene; one suffered tendon damage and a large scar on the back of his head, while the other two were treated for stab wounds and have since recovered. No victim impact reports were presented. Garda Alan Roche noted that a metal bar with a pointed end was found near the scene, presumed to be the weapon. Judge Martin Nolan imposed the three and a half year term for the most serious assault and two concurrent two‑year sentences for the other two attacks, back‑dating the sentences to July 2020 when Fitzpatrick first entered custody. Daniel Fitzpatrick pleaded guilty.
Faye Buckley, aged 43, was jailed for 18 months after stealing €204,834 from her employer, music booking agency Audio Networks, over a six‑year period. She diverted client booking deposits into her personal account, exploiting her close friendship with employer Mark Downing, who had been her best man at her wedding. Buckley pleaded guilty to seven of 71 theft counts between May 2014 and May 2020. She admitted compulsive gambling as the motive and expressed remorse, offering €45,000 to Downing and moving in with her mother‑in‑law to save money for repayment. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced her to two and a half years, suspending the final year on strict conditions, including handing over the €45,000 within 11 months of release. Downing's victim impact statement highlighted the emotional betrayal and financial harm caused by the theft. Buckley has prior convictions, including a 2004 dangerous driving offence. The case was heard in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Imre Arakas, a 64-year-old Estonian national, appeared before the High Court to challenge his extradition to Lithuania, where he is alleged to have acted as a mercenary in the 2015 murder of Deimantas Bugavicius. Lithuanian authorities allege Arakas supplied two nine-millimetre handguns, clothing, and chemical cleaning substances to a three-man gang in Kaunas, while also engaging in surveillance and route planning. Arakas's legal team, led by Remy Farrell SC, opposed the surrender, arguing that Lithuanian authorities had "changed the narrative" regarding his specific role and that no formal charge had been properly established. They noted an eyewitness claimed Arakas was not present at the scene and that he provided an alibi placing him in Spain during the incident. The State, represented by Siobhán Ní Chúlacháinn BL, maintained that the legal basis for the European Arrest Warrant remained unchanged, asserting Arakas was part of an organised group acting for mercenary reasons. Mr Justice Paul Burns heard the arguments and indicated he hoped to deliver a judgement by November 7. Separately, Arakas was previously sentenced by the Special Criminal Court in December 2018. He pleaded guilty to conspiring with others to murder James 'Mago' Gately in Northern Ireland between April 3 and 4, 2017. Mr Justice Tony Hunt jailed him for six years, noting Arakas had agreed to pull the trigger for financial gain under contract from the Kinahan crime gang. Arakas has been in custody in Ireland since April 2017.
Michael Lawrence, 55, filmed his daughter Jessica Maughan, 28, viciously beating his mother‑in‑law Mary Maughan, 65, as she left a doctor's appointment, and also recorded his other daughter Marie Stokes, 31, attacking Mary's daughter Rosie while Rosie waited in her car. The video was shared on social media and viewed 3,500 times. The court heard that the victims, though physically recovered, suffered psychological harm from the humiliation. Lawrence and the two daughters pleaded guilty to assault causing harm. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced each to a two‑year suspended sentence, ordered them to pay €1,000 to the Garda, and remanded Stokes and Lawrence in custody pending sentence while allowing Jessica Maughan to remain on bail. The judge described the assaults as disgraceful and vicious, noting the humiliation was aggravated by the footage's online presence. The court did not impose any custodial term on the father or the daughters.
Thomas Sheehan, aged 37, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment for orally raping and sexually assaulting his half‑sister, Edel Sheehan, between 2000 and 2002 when they were teenagers. Sheehan, who had no fixed abode in Tipperary, pleaded guilty to one count of oral rape and five counts of sexual assault. He had previously written letters to Gardaí confessing the abuse, which led to the case. The court noted the siblings grew up in extreme neglect, poverty and violence, and that Sheehan's confession and apology were mitigating factors. The judge reduced the headline six‑year sentence to four years, adding concurrent two‑year sentences for the remaining offences and a one‑year post‑release supervision order. The case highlighted the long‑lasting impact on Edel, who waived anonymity to name her abuser. The sentencing reflected the seriousness of the repeated sexual offences and the vulnerability of the victim.
Barry Keane faces multiple charges including trespassing and handling stolen property (a keg of beer) at Park Road, theft of chocolate bars from a market, and cannabis possession. A Garda search of a vacant property at Park Road found a stolen keg and identification belonging to the defendant. The matter was adjourned to October 25, 2022.
Mary Sutcliffe, 41, was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment, with 12 months suspended, for perverting the course of justice by wiping blood from a door handle after an alleged assault in Ranelagh, Dublin. On 11 August 2018, five people entered an apartment where two men were present. One man was punched after a confrontation. CCTV later identified Sutcliffe and two women walking to the apartment; one woman held the door open while two men entered. Sutcliffe was seen wiping the door handle, apparently removing blood. Two men were arrested shortly after. Sutcliffe admitted the act in court, claiming she did not know the men and acted under duress. She has no prior convictions, was under the influence of narcotics, and has a history of drug difficulties and domestic abuse. The judge noted her high risk of reoffending but also her efforts to improve her situation. Mary Sutcliffe pleaded guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 7 October 2022, a 20‑year‑old man was given a one‑year suspended sentence for the defilement of a 13‑year‑old girl when he was 16. The court heard that in June 2018 the girl's mother reported that her daughter had been sexually assaulted at a house party. The girl and her older sister were staying at a house and invited friends for a party. The accused arrived with a group of males. The girl was in a bedroom when the group entered, asked her age, and the accused, after learning she was 13, performed oral sex on her for about two minutes. He then commanded her to "get on her knees" and she again performed oral sex. A second male, also 16, entered and the girl performed oral sex on him and had sexual intercourse. The unnamed 20-year-old pleaded guilty.
Eoin Hickey, aged 23, was sentenced to 16 months in jail for the prolonged, persistent and serious harassment of a teenage girl, who was 15 to 18 at the time of the abuse. Hickey sent hundreds of sexually explicit messages and videos, including a male masturbating video and messages such as "suck my dick" and "give us a wank." He created fake online accounts to bypass safety measures and stalked the victim, who feared a school acquaintance and avoided school and social outings. The victim, now 20, described constant terror and lasting trust issues. Hickey, diagnosed with developmental disorders including autism spectrum disorder at 14, was warned by Gardaí but continued the harassment. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a three‑year sentence, suspended the final 20 months, and imposed conditions that Hickey must have no further contact with the victim. He has since joined a restaurant job and a rugby club for people with special needs. Eoin Hickey pleaded guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 7 October 2022, PJ Bennett, father of 29‑year‑old Sharon Bennett, delivered a victim‑impact statement after Patrick Ballard was sentenced to a mandatory life term for murdering his girlfriend. Bennett described the murder as a "nightmare" that has devastated his family, noting that Sharon was a loving daughter and mother of two girls. He expressed remorse for not protecting her and stated he does not blame the Ballard family, only Patrick. Bennett recounted the difficulties caused by Covid‑19 restrictions, which prevented him from seeing Sharon in intensive care for five days and from holding a proper funeral. The judge, Mr Justice Paul Burns, highlighted the brutality of the attack, the victim's blamelessness, and the impact on her children. Ballard, 35, had pleaded guilty to murder and had a history of 140 convictions, including assault and theft. The sentencing was back‑dated to 28 January 2021, when Ballard entered custody. Sharon Bennett pleaded not guilty.
Albert Redmond, 46, a crack addict with 401 prior convictions, was sentenced to two years in prison for a series of thefts in Dublin City Centre. He pleaded guilty to two separate counts of theft: one at Frame Experts in Ranelagh on 8 October 2019, and another at the Royal Hospital in Donnybrook on 6 February 2020. The court noted that Redmond has 401 previous convictions, including 144 for burglary and 120 for theft, and is already serving a nine‑year custodial sentence for another offence. Garda Detective Gerard Hickey presented evidence that Redmond stole a woman's wallet at Frame Experts, used her bank card for €28.40 supermarket purchases, and later stole a bank card at the Marco Pierre White restaurant, spending €29.40 on cigarettes.
Derek Boyd, aged 27, pleaded guilty via videolink in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to unlawfully killing his sister Sandra Boyd, who was shot at his home in Collins Place, Finglas, on 19 March. He also admitted unlawful possession of a semi‑automatic pistol and ammunition on the same date. The court, hearing Boyd in custody, ordered victim impact statements and a psychological report. Judge Martin Nolan adjourned sentencing to 28 November, when Boyd will appear in person.
Derek Murray, 39, of Dublin 13, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment after pleading guilty to possessing €379,400 of proceeds of crime. The money was found in a boot bag and a Lidl shopping bag in his work van on 24 May 2021, when Garda surveillance of a property linked to money laundering and drug supply was underway. Murray claimed he had been approached by a third party who offered him €1,500 to transport the cash, and that he was in severe financial distress, owing €6,000 to the Revenue. He admitted the bag contained a large amount of money and cooperated with Gardaí, handing over his phone and password. He had no prior convictions and had worked as a technician for 21 years. Judge Nolan, acknowledging his remorse and good character, imposed the custodial sentence as a deterrent, noting that a non‑custodial option was unlikely given the seriousness of the offence.
A 26-year-old man has been sentenced to four and a half years imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for a series of offences including dangerous driving, burglary, and criminal damage. Paul Darcy, with addresses in Dublin and Co Sligo, pleaded guilty to reversing a vehicle into an occupied garda patrol car on September 7, 2018, at Stockhole Lane, Santry, trapping two officers inside and injuring them. He also admitted three burglary charges relating to break-ins at properties in the Glasnevin area on September 2, 2018, unauthorised taking of a taxi from Palmerstown on October 11, 2018, and making off without payment for fuel at a service station two days later. Judge Nolan imposed consecutive sentences on the primary counts while suspending the final 18 months subject to strict conditions. He disqualified Darcy from driving for six years, noting the seriousness of deliberately reversing into an occupied vehicle. The court heard Darcy, who had been on bail at the time of the incident, has since engaged in mental health treatment and is drug-free.
James Maher, 32, of Clondalkin, Dublin, was sentenced at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for three counts of possession of drugs for sale or supply. He pleaded guilty to all charges. The court heard that on April 2, 2020, Maher was observed discarding a backpack and a package containing cocaine and cannabis while fleeing from gardaí. Subsequent searches of his home in July and August 2020 revealed further cannabis, cash, and drug paraphernalia. During interviews, Maher alleged he was acting as a "gilly" to settle a drug debt. Judge Elma Sheahan noted Maher's 17 previous convictions and that he was on bail during the final seizure. Mitigating factors included his early guilty plea, full cooperation with gardaí, and his relationship with his family. Judge Sheahan sentenced Maher to four years in prison. The final six months of the sentence were suspended for 12 months under strict conditions.
A mother was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment for assault causing serious harm to her 20‑month‑old son, false imprisonment of a social care worker and possession of a large kitchen knife. The court heard that the infant suffered 18 % total body surface area scald burns to his face, neck and upper body, leaving permanent disfiguring scarring. The mother, who had a depressive disorder and a mild intellectual disability, pleaded guilty to the assault and false imprisonment. The judge noted the aggravating factors of the breach of trust, the severity of the injuries and the mother's failure to take prescribed medication. The sentence for the assault was reduced from a headline 14‑year term to nine years, with the final two years suspended for two years. The false‑imprisonment and knife charges carried a two‑year term, also suspended for two years, and all sentences run concurrently, back‑dated to 9 October 2019.
Patrick Ballard, aged 35, pleaded guilty to murdering his former partner, Ms Bennett, aged 29, in a public toilet in County Clare on 28 January 2021. Ballard had initially pleaded not guilty but, two days into his trial at the Central Criminal Court, admitted that his kicking and stamping caused Bennett's death. Witnesses, including Hussein 'Jamesie' Abdullah, testified that Ballard attacked Bennett in the toilet, pushing her onto a metal floor and repeatedly stamping and kicking her head. Bennett was taken to hospital in Limerick, where she died on 10 February 2021. Ballard was re‑arrested on 24 March 2021 and charged with murder. The trial, expected to last two weeks, was adjourned to hear a victim impact statement, with the mandatory sentence for murder being life imprisonment.
In October 2022, Joseph Byrne, aged 33, was sentenced to nine‑and‑a‑half years in prison by the Central Criminal Court for providing a handgun to his friend Dean McCarthy, who used it to shoot Sinead Connolly on 6 March 2021. Connolly, a mother of one, survived the attack but was left paralysed and in need of ongoing treatment. Byrne's actions were described by Judge Paul McDermott as reckless, irresponsible and dangerous, noting the ease with which he obtained the firearm and ammunition. The judge set a headline sentence of 14 years for possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, reduced to eleven years with an 18‑month suspended portion, and imposed a five‑year concurrent sentence for possession of ammunition. The case highlighted the lack of support for Connolly and her daughter following the violent incident. Joseph Byrne pleaded guilty. Dean McCarthy pleaded guilty.
Teresa Dinnegan (35), sister of Cindy Duignan, sought to reduce her sign-on reporting days from three to one per week. Her solicitor argued the reduced reporting requirement was necessary. Judge Owens granted the variation.
Nigel McEvoy, 46, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Paddy Keogh, 74, at a Dublin bar on 24 November 2018. The attack left Keogh with panic attacks, early‑onset dementia and a nursing home stay. McEvoy, who has 14 prior convictions including nine public‑order offences, was sentenced by Judge Melanie Greally to 36 months' custody, with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions. The judge noted the assault was "violent in the extreme" and that Keogh's life‑changing injuries were fully described in a victim impact statement. McEvoy, who has schizophrenia and a history of mental‑health difficulties, expressed remorse, offered €200 as a gesture of apology (to be donated to the Alzheimer's Society of Ireland), and has taken steps to improve his circumstances since 2019. The sentence reflects mitigating factors such as his guilty plea, limited violent history and his efforts to address his mental health.
Brian Mullen, aged 77, was convicted by a jury at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in February 2022 of assaulting John Wayne with a pitchfork during a dispute over the demolition of a boundary wall. The assault took place on 13 April 2019 at Wayne's address and caused facial injury and a fractured leg. Mullen was also found guilty of production of an article and endangerment at the same address on the same date. He pleaded not guilty to all charges and had no prior convictions. Judge Elma Sheahan imposed a fully suspended custodial sentence of 20 months, conditioned on Mullen having no contact with the victim. The judge cited his age, remorse, good record and the €10,000 he brought to court as a demonstration of remorse. The court noted that Mullen had contacted Gardaí twice before the incident and again on the day of the assault, and that he accepted the jury verdict and expressed remorse.
Marcos Da Silva Generino, aged 21, was sentenced to two and a half years in prison for possessing and importing 966.5 grammes of cocaine into Dublin. He admitted to swallowing 85 pellets of the drug in exchange for €3,000, claiming the money was needed because his mother was very ill and the family had no health insurance. Da Silva Generino had no prior convictions. He was stopped at Dublin Airport after flying from Brazil; customs officials x‑rayed his baggage and, with an interpreter, questioned him about his visit. Initially he said he was on a two‑week holiday, but later admitted to ingesting the pellets and showed six capsules from his underwear. He was taken to Beaumont Hospital, monitored, and then passed the 85 pellets. Judge Martin Nolan accepted his admissions, cooperation, lack of previous convictions, and the difficulty of serving time abroad, and found him acting out of desperation. Da Silva Generino pleaded guilty.
An Irish woman, Elaine Sadlier, 55, is being sought in the UK on suspicion of assisting Michael Foran in the murder of his ex‑partner, Katie 'June' Jones, whose body was found in a bathtub in West Bromwich in 2018. Sadlier appeared at the extradition court in Birmingham, objecting to surrender under the post‑Brexit Trade and Co‑operation Agreement. A warrant issued on 14 June 2021 accuses her of aiding Foran, who pleaded guilty to the murder and received a life sentence with a minimum of 17 years. Another man, Keith O'Dwyer, was also convicted of assisting Foran and sentenced to 16 months. The court noted CCTV evidence of Sadlier and others transporting luggage in a Range Rover to Liverpool, then to a ferry to Ireland. The matter is adjourned to 27 October, with a submission deadline of 17 October.
John Murphy, a 62-year-old retired Garda Superintendent, was sentenced to six and a half years imprisonment after pleading guilty to possession of cannabis resin worth €259,120 found at his home in Clontarf on September 29, 2021. Murphy had accumulated €855,000 in financial debts following poor business decisions and was consuming alcohol heavily on a daily basis. Judge Martin Nolan stated that Murphy, despite his 40 years of public service, should have known better and was holding the drugs for financial reward to alleviate his debts.
Karol Zawadski (36) pleaded not guilty to drug driving after being stopped for speeding at Gortinty, Carrick-on-Shannon on May 10, 2021. A roadside oral fluid sample tested positive for cannabis, leading to arrest and a subsequent blood test confirming cannabis in his system. The defence challenged the garda's opinion formation, but Judge Sandra Murphy found no prejudice and convicted the defendant, imposing a €350 fine and a one-year driving ban.
A Dublin construction worker, Aaron Broderick, aged 29, was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment for assaulting his ex‑girlfriend after their break‑up. On 27 July 2019, he approached the woman as she walked home from work near Crumlin, put his arm around her, threatened to stab her, and forced his fingers into her mouth to silence her. She struggled, fell, and he grabbed her by the neck, pushing her over a neighbour's wall. She screamed, attracting her mother's attention, and Broderick fled. Later that night he entered her home, stole her mobile phone and clothing, and left a handwritten note. He had previously broken into her home two days earlier, taken her phone, and returned it after she demanded it back. He pleaded guilty to assault, burglary, theft and trespass, and the court noted his remorse and participation in drug detox and violence‑reduction programmes. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the assault and the subsequent offences.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, retired Garda Superintendent John Murphy, aged 62, was sentenced to six and a half years' imprisonment for possessing cannabis resin worth nearly €260,000. Murphy had accrued €855,000 in debt over a decade after leaving the force, and the court found he held the drugs to secure financial gain to alleviate those debts. He pleaded guilty to possession for sale or supply of cannabis at his Clontarf home on 29 September 2021. Garda Inspector Brian Hanley reported that a warrant, based on confidential information, led to a search that uncovered eight bags of cannabis in a walk‑in wardrobe, seven vacuum‑packed bags in a coal bunker, and five bags in Murphy's car, totalling just under 13 kg. CCTV footage from an industrial estate in Co. Meath showed Murphy collecting the bags and loading them into his car.
Patrick Dowdall (65) pleaded guilty to facilitating the murder of David Byrne by booking room 2104 at the Regency Hotel using his credit card on February 4, 2016, and subsequently passing key cards to a known member of the Hutch criminal organisation. He and his family are in protective garda custody.
Jonathan Dowdall, 44, had his murder charge dismissed after indicating his willingness to become a state witness in the trial of Gerry Hutch and others related to the 2016 death of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel.
A jury has been sworn in at the Central Criminal Court for the trial of Stephen Silver, a 46-year-old mechanic from Aughavard, Foxford, County Mayo. Mr Silver pleaded not guilty to the murder of Detective Garda Colm Horkan, who died in the course of his duties in Castlerea, County Roscommon, on 17 June 2020. However, he entered a guilty plea to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility. The jury, comprising seven men and five women, was cautioned by Mr Justice Paul McDermott that members with immediate family in An Garda Síochána should not serve. The trial is expected to last up to seven weeks. If convicted of murder, Mr Silver faces a mandatory 40-year sentence. The matter was adjourned to 7 October.
Dean Kelly, 46, was sentenced to eight months in jail for falsifying passport information. He acted as a "donor", allowing a passport application to be made in his name for a senior member of a British organised crime group. The application was submitted on 9 March 2020 after Kelly had visited Tallaght Garda Station on 2 March to obtain a certificate of identity. The photo on the application and the Public Service Card were of another person, identified as a Liverpool crime group member. Garda Detective Padraig Hanley testified that the Passport Service had been contacted in July 2020 about the application, and that calls about its status were likely made by a facilitator. Kelly had 45 prior convictions, including 12 thefts, and was already serving a separate sentence. The judge noted that the passport was never issued or used, but that the scheme was intended for nefarious purposes. The eight‑month term will run consecutively with his existing sentence. Dean Kelly pleaded guilty.
Richard McAleer, aged 22, was sentenced to 20 months in prison for stealing a bicycle from a woman who was waiting outside a shop with her sleeping children. The theft occurred on Lower Liffey Street, Dublin, on 10 November 2019. McAleer pleaded guilty to the theft. The victim, who was waiting with her children, saw McAleer mount her bike and claimed it was hers, but he insisted it was his. When she tried to take the handlebars, he pulled back his arm, made a closed fist, and fled after dropping the bike. He was arrested shortly thereafter while highly intoxicated. McAleer expressed remorse and apologized to the victim. He has prior convictions for theft and criminal damage and is currently serving a separate three‑month sentence. The judge noted his long history of offending, his difficult family background, mental health and addiction issues, and imposed a 20‑month sentence, with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions.
Sean Mooney, 39, of Barry Park, Finglas, was sentenced to eight months in jail after pleading guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply. On 19 January 2017, Gardaí executed a search warrant at his home and found 13 street deals of heroin and nine of crack cocaine, each wrapped in Kinder Surprise eggs. They also seized an electronic weighing scale and cash of €740 and £890. The drugs' estimated street value was €420. Mooney had 39 prior convictions, including assault and drug dealing, and his defence highlighted his family circumstances and drug addiction.
A 17‑year‑old boy was sentenced to 12 months' probation after he pushed his bike into a girl's path at Howth Junction Dart station, causing her to fall off the platform and become trapped under a train. The boy pleaded guilty to assault causing harm. Judge Martin Nolan described the boy's conduct as "prankish" and "irresponsible", noting it was "highly unlikely" he anticipated the outcome. He found the boy's behaviour "reckless" but not intentional, and therefore did not impose a custodial sentence. The probation order includes strict conditions and requires the boy to comply with the Probation Service. The girl, who suffered a concussion and was hospitalised, gave a victim impact statement in court. The incident was captured on CCTV and later leaked online, attracting 100 million views worldwide.
James Flynn, aged 31 and from Raven's Glen, Newry, Northern Ireland, was extradited from the UK to face a robbery charge at the Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgan, Co Louth, where Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was murdered. The robbery, which took place on 25 January 2013, involved the theft of €7,000 from Pat Bellew's property. Flynn is also accused of conspiring with Aaron Brady, Brendan Treanor and others to enter a residential premises with the intent to steal a motor vehicle's keys between 11 September 2012 and 23 January 2013. The Director of Public Prosecutions applied to transfer the case to the non‑jury Special Criminal Court, and the three‑judge court accepted the application, adjourned the matter to 6 October 2022, and allowed the transfer. Flynn's extradition appeal was unsuccessful, and the case will now be heard at the Special Criminal Court alongside Brendan Treanor's trial.
Callum Taylor, 29, a father-of-three from Ballinaglera, pleaded guilty to driving with no insurance, drink driving, and no driving licence on July 11, 2020 at Acres, Drumshanbo. This was his fourth conviction for driving with no insurance, with 12 previous convictions overall. Judge Murphy imposed a €250 fine, a 3-month suspended sentence for 1 year, and dual driving bans totalling 6 years, citing deterrence and the defendant's medium risk of re-offending despite completing a Pro Social driving course.
Sebastian Cobala, a 22-year-old Polish national working as an apprentice cabinet maker, was detected driving with no insurance at River Meadow, Dromod on March 12. He pleaded guilty and was fined €250, with no driving ban imposed due to special circumstances. The defendant had wrongly assumed he was insured on his friend's car and had been in the country for only a short time.
Matthew Nolan, 25, from Co. Fermanagh was remanded in custody after being charged with attempted murder and related offences. The incident allegedly occurred when police attended an address in the Tattenabuddagh Lane area near Fivemiletown in response to reports of a drunk driver, and Nolan allegedly rammed three police vehicles with a tractor while attempting to evade officers. He faces multiple charges including attempted murder, threats to kill, dangerous driving, driving while unfit, and criminal damage.
Christopher Thompson (35) pleaded guilty to driving without insurance, without a driver's licence, and with excess cannabis in his system after being stopped on Mostrim Road, Ballymahon on February 16, 2020. An oral fluid sample tested positive for both cannabis and cocaine, with blood tests confirming he was over the legal limit for cannabis; Thompson had consumed the drugs the night before. Judge Bernadette Owens expressed concerns about a pattern of driving while intoxicated in Thompson's 26 previous convictions and directed a probation report before sentencing.
Joe Stokes (32) of Longford pleaded guilty to two public order offences and cocaine possession. Gardaí responded to reports of suspicious behaviour in Springlawn; when directed to leave the area, Stokes returned and became aggressive and abusive. A search at Longford Garda Station revealed a small bag of cocaine which Stokes admitted was for his own use.
Lisa Joyce was charged with committing an affray by threatening to use violence on John Robertson on April 12, 2021 at Farnagh, Longford. She pleaded guilty and agreed to enter a peace bond. She was bound to keep the peace for 12 months and ordered to sign an undertaking to be of good behaviour, with a personal bond of €100.
Vincent Johnson (62) was caught driving without a licence or insurance on St Mel's Road, Longford on July 3rd. He was already disqualified from driving for 10 years and has 35 previous convictions, many for road traffic offences. Despite his extensive history, the judge granted him leniency due to his poor health and medical conditions, placing him on a €250 bond with a 15-year driving disqualification, with the warning that any future offence would result in custody.
David Nevin, a teenager, pleaded guilty to multiple charges including violent disorder at St Mel's College in April 2021 (part of a seven-person gang attack), possession of stolen shoes, and drug-related offences in June 2022. He had been held on remand for 120 days prior to sentencing. Judge Owens sentenced him to 9 months total imprisonment with the latter 4 months suspended for 12 months, citing a favourable probation report and noting that sentencing would grant him access to rehabilitation services.
Corina Short was fined a total of €500 for driving without insurance and a valid driving licence following a minor road traffic collision on September 7, 2021. She failed to produce the required documents within 10 days as promised and subsequently became difficult with gardaí, claiming she would not need to produce documents if the accident had occurred in Northern Ireland. She was disqualified from driving for two years.
Ismaeil Abdelkhalik (65), a Norwegian and Egyptian citizen living in Birmingham, was arrested at Dublin Airport on 33 European Arrest Warrants relating to counterfeit trademark breaches. The defendant had previously spent two months in custody in the Czech Republic and was unaware of the warrants until his arrest. Judge Gearty refused bail under the O'Callaghan rules, citing the strength of evidence and lack of ties to the State, remanding him in custody pending preparation of the Book of Evidence.
Ben Curry (22) was charged with breach of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act following an incident on May 1, 2022 at Five Star Pizza on Main Street, Longford, where he allegedly entered with a knife and threatened to use unlawful violence on Patryk Mikitow. The case was adjourned to allow for preparation of the book of evidence, with the defendant remaining on bail.
Michal Luczak (41) was arrested in the same Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau operation that seized €8.4M worth of cocaine at Abbeyshrule aerodrome. He appeared at a special sitting of Mullingar District Court on Sunday where he was denied bail and remanded in custody.