Thomas Fitchett, 34, of Skibbereen, was sentenced by Ms Justice Eileen Creedon at the Central Criminal Court for impeding a murder investigation. He pleaded guilty to a Section 7(2) charge under the Criminal Law Act 1997, knowing that Jonathan Ustic, 51, had been murdered and intentionally hindering the apprehension of the perpetrator. Fitchett had driven a man away from Ustic's house on 24 September 2017, believing Ustic was still alive after a violent assault. He was later involved in a serious head‑on collision near Dunmanway, where he was injured and the passenger fled. Gardaí later confirmed Ustic was dead. Fitchett's sentence was a headline term of three years, with a two‑year suspended portion, and a condition of good behaviour. He had no prior convictions and expressed regret. The judge noted his intoxication and the collision as mitigating factors. The probation report indicated a moderate risk of reoffending within 12 months.
The Special Criminal Court sentenced Daniel O'Callaghan to 10 years imprisonment for his role in a cross-border gang that stole ATMs using diggers. O'Callaghan, a former All-Ireland club winner, was convicted after a trial of 16 offences, including the attempted theft of an ATM in Virginia, Co Cavan, and possessing over €700,000 in stolen cash. He had pleaded not guilty to charges under Sections 72 and 73 of the Criminal Justice Act. Ms Justice Tara Burns set a headline sentence of 11 years, suspending the final year subject to a three-year bond to keep the peace. Sentences for other offences, ranging from three and a half to eight years, run concurrently. The court noted O'Callaghan's central role as a planner and his forensic awareness, including burning vehicles and using burner phones. Three accomplices, Stephen Duffy, Gerard Duffy, and Ciaran Duffy, were jailed last week after pleading guilty. Stephen Duffy received four years for possessing stolen cash, while Gerard and Ciaran Duffy each received seven years and nine months for the attempted ATM theft and moving cash for a criminal organisation. Gardai recovered €429,930 from a premises in Tullypole, Co Meath, which is subject to Criminal Assets Bureau proceedings.
A young woman, whose identity is protected under the 1981 Rape Act, testified that five men sexually assaulted and raped her in a car in the midlands. She said she had accepted a lift after a night out, but once inside, two men in the rear began assaulting her. She pushed them away and later sat in the front passenger seat, where she claimed a man raped her while others in the back also touched her again. The woman stated she did not consent and that no one asked if it was acceptable. Four of the five men are before the court, pleading not guilty to 18 counts of sexual assault, rape and false imprisonment, with the fifth not yet in court. The trial is ongoing before Justice Tara Burns and a jury.
Lee O'Brien, 35, was sentenced to three years and nine months imprisonment after a jury convicted him of attempted robbery at Centra, Drimnagh Road, Crumlin, and robbery at Spar, Walkinstown Roundabout, Crumlin on 23 April 2018. During the first incident he threatened staff with a butter knife, which was removed by the staff, and he failed to steal the till. In the second incident he entered Spar with a small knife, threatened a staff member, jumped over the counter, stole the till containing €260–€300, and fled in a car that was later traced to his girlfriend's house. O'Brien had 175 previous convictions, including robbery, theft, drug possession, and criminal damage. He pleaded not guilty to the charges. Judge Martin Nolan noted no actual violence but the threat of violence in both offences, and gave credit for his cooperation in the trial process. The judge also considered his desire to rehabilitate and his drug treatment history.
The Special Criminal Court sentenced three Monaghan brothers to a combined 19.5 years for their roles in an ATM theft gang. Gerard Duffy (31) and Ciaran Duffy (29) each pleaded guilty to offences including attempted theft of an ATM and its contents for the benefit of a criminal organisation. Ciaran Duffy additionally pleaded guilty to moving cash and possessing cash to facilitate a criminal offence. Mr Justice Hunt identified an 11-year headline sentence for both, applied a 20% discount, and suspended the final year of each term, resulting in effective sentences of eight years and nine months. Stephen Duffy (35) pleaded guilty to possessing cash in association with a criminal organisation. Rejecting his claim of limited involvement, the judge sentenced him to four years and nine months, with the final nine months suspended. All sentences were back-dated to February 1, 2022. In a related November finalisation, Niall Finnegan (39) pleaded guilty to possessing proceeds of ATM thefts and was jailed for four-and-a-half years, with the final 18 months suspended. A fifth defendant, Daniel O'Callaghan, remains to be sentenced.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 17‑year‑old woman recounted being sexually assaulted and raped by five men after she entered their car on the night of 27 December 2016. She described feeling paralysed and in autopilot as the men forced her into sexual acts, including being taken to a remote area where each man raped her in turn. She attempted to stop them, but they continued, even demanding she engage with all of them simultaneously. The defendants, aged 17 to 19, pleaded not guilty to 18 counts of sexual assault, rape and false imprisonment. The case remains in trial before Justice Tara Burns and a jury, with both parties entitled to anonymity under the 1981 Rape Act.
In a case heard at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Fred Davis, 42, received a suspended six‑month prison sentence for driving without due care and attention, causing serious harm to a one‑year‑old infant. On 21 June 2017, while operating his work van on the Malahide Road in Coolock, Davis failed to observe a red pedestrian light at a crossing. A mother, with a green light for pedestrians, was pushing her buggy across the road when the van struck the buggy, fracturing the child's skull and ribs. The infant spent 13 days in hospital and has since recovered. Davis, a painter and decorator with no prior convictions, pleaded guilty. The judge, citing the child's severe injuries and Davis's remorse, imposed a four‑year driving disqualification and a suspended six‑month custodial term, noting that the maximum penalty for the offence is two years. The victim remains unnamed in accordance with the Children Act.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, a friend of a 17‑year‑old girl alleged to have been raped by four men testified that she did not think the girl was in a bad state when they separated. The friend said she and the girl, along with two other women, had gone to a bar at about 10 pm on Stephen's Day 2016, then to a nightclub around 12 am, and that the girl left the club around 2 am when her father arrived. She reported that the girl's phone fell into a toilet but she could not recall any problem with it afterwards. The friend also described a later phone call from the girl, which she could not answer, and a text from another number saying the girl had taken a shared taxi. The friend concluded that if the girl had been drunk she would not have left alone.
Phillip McBride, aged 44, was arrested with a loaded semi‑automatic handgun, ammunition, gloves, a balaclava and a burner phone. He and his co‑accused Derek Byrne were both wearing two sets of clothing at the time of arrest. McBride pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition on 3 December 2019. He has six prior convictions for road traffic offences and no prior violent convictions. Byrne, aged 38, had 78 prior convictions, including drug possession and public order offences, and had previously been sentenced to seven‑and‑a‑half years with 18 months suspended. At sentencing, Judge Melanie Greally imposed a six‑year term on McBride, suspending the final three years on strict conditions, including 12 months of probation. The judge noted McBride's cocaine addiction and his efforts at rehabilitation, describing him as a pro‑social person who had fallen into debt and drug‑related pressure. Byrne's earlier sentence was not altered in this hearing.
Darren Casey, aged 44, was found in possession of 400 child sexual abuse images and five videos on his mobile phone. Gardaí searched his home in November 2020 after being alerted to child abuse material from an IP address linked to his address. The images included 70 child‑explicit pictures, 100 involving child exposure, and the rest in lesser categories. Casey pleaded guilty to one count of possessing the material between 1 August and 1 September 2020. He has 13 prior convictions, including public order and traffic offences. At the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to three years, suspending the final two years on conditions. The judge noted Casey's guilty plea, cooperation, and low risk of reoffending, and emphasised that possession of child pornography is not a victimless crime.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Gardaí raided the home of Jurijs Savcuks (40) and Vladimirs Savcuks (43) after discovering €19,000 worth of cannabis hidden beneath "strong smelling homemade sausages" in a car stopped in Cork. The brothers, both from Chapelton, Hollystown, pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis for sale or supply on 31 January 2020. Gardaí found cannabis plants, stored in tubs of pickled gherkins and ice‑cream, and a bundle of cash worth about €8,000, bringing the total value of seized cannabis to €85,330. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced Jurijs to eight years' imprisonment, suspending the final two years on strict conditions, and Vladimirs to eight years, suspending the final 12 months on strict conditions. Both were described as non‑addicts and the operation as financially driven. The court noted the brothers' prior convictions and the amount of cash found as evidence of a commercial enterprise.
A second Munster sexual abuse trial involving an unnamed 12-year-old girl will not proceed after the Director of Public Prosecutions dropped all charges against her eight relatives in the Central Criminal Court. Prosecuting counsel Bernard Condon SC stated, "This is the end of it," confirming the dismissal of cases against the girl's mother, stepfather, step-grandmother, step-grandfather, two aunts, and two uncles. The defendants had previously denied the allegations of sexual abuse and neglect, which were alleged to have occurred between June 2014 and August 2017. This decision follows the January sentencing of five other family members for the abuse of the girl's step-cousins. In that prior proceeding, Mr Justice Paul McDermott jailed the father and mother for 15 and nine years respectively, describing the conduct as the "most awful" sexual abuse and exploitation. Two uncles, aged 49 and 27, received 15-year sentences, while a maternal aunt (35) was jailed for three years for sexually assaulting two children. The DPP has lodged an appeal against the "undue leniency" of the sentences imposed on the father, mother, and the 49-year-old uncle. The current dismissal concludes the legal proceedings for the second group of accused relatives.
A 26-year-old man who pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death has consented to his surrender to Northern Ireland authorities at the High Court. Conor Jeremiah Briody was sentenced to six years imprisonment, with three years suspended, by Newry Crown Court in October 2016 following a high-speed chase in Enniskillen in August 2014. The court heard he was significantly over the drink-drive limit when driving at speeds up to 100mph. A passenger, Vaidas Urbonas, died six days after the crash. After serving three years, Briody was released on licence but breached conditions by relocating to the Republic without probation service approval. A warrant for his arrest was issued in September 2021, and he was apprehended in December. Ms Justice Caroline Biggs granted bail with residence at an Edgeworthstown address, requiring daily reporting to Longford garda station. Briody was remanded pending his surrender within twenty days.
A 16‑year‑old boy with 62 prior convictions was convicted of robbery on a bus in Dublin on 23 March 2021. He dragged a victim off the bus, punched him, threatened him with a knife and stole his phone and ear‑phone. The victim suffered facial swelling and cuts and was a promising footballer. The boy pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Melanie Greally noted the victim's psychological effects and the boy's history of violence, drug use and association with anti‑social peers. She said the boy was making good progress in education and skill development while in detention. The judge sentenced him to two‑and‑a‑half years' detention. The boy had been on bail for assault and theft offences at the time of the robbery. The defence counsel highlighted the client's family difficulties and foster placements, and that no knife was actually produced during the incident. The boy is receiving counselling for addiction while detained.
Paul Mohan, aged 42, of Grangegeeth, Collon, Co Meath, pleaded guilty to ten counts of raping his youngest sister between 1996 and 2001 and to a sexual assault in 2004. He had previously worked as a photographer and had no prior convictions. The victim, who gave her name, said she had believed the abuse was normal as a child but later recognised it as wrong, describing lasting mental health damage and feelings of being damaged, dirty and worthless. She struggled to disclose the abuse to her husband and family, but now feels able to speak openly. Mr Justice Paul McDermott noted the victim's moving impact statement and that Mohan had been her wedding photographer, making the day "totally ruined." The judge imposed a seven‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence for the rape offences, with five years for the sexual assault offences to run concurrently, and suspended the final 18 months on strict conditions, including probation and no contact with the.
Gerard McKenna, aged 52, of Rathmullen Park in Drogheda, County Louth, was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court following his guilty plea in November to obstructing the investigation into the murder of 17-year-old Kean Mulready Woods. The court heard that McKenna cleaned and painted his house and removed evidence after the teenager was killed there between 12 and 14 January 2020. Blood-stained items recovered from the scene and a nearby burn site included a ballistic vest, an axe, rubber gloves and part of a sofa, all bearing the victim's DNA. The Defence submitted that McKenna had surrendered his house under duress from an organised criminal group and had no prior knowledge of the murder. The prosecution outlined that despite extensive cleaning efforts, forensic evidence remained throughout the property. McKenna was not present during the killing and has seven children with his wife and one from a subsequent relationship.
Four men are currently on trial at the Central Criminal Court, where they have all pleaded not guilty to charges including rape, sexual assault, and false imprisonment. The prosecution alleges that on December 27, 2016, the defendants, aged between 17 and 19, assaulted a 17-year-old complainant at various locations in the midlands. Counsel Lorcan Staines SC told the jury that the men allegedly picked up the complainant, who had a damaged phone, and drove her to a secluded area. The State's case is that the accused raped her "one after another," while others took photos and videos that were posted to Snapchat. It is further alleged that the complainant was falsely imprisoned when she was prevented from leaving the vehicle upon returning to town, where she allegedly suffered further sexual assault. The first accused (22) faces two counts of sexual assault and one count of false imprisonment. The second accused (24) faces two counts of sexual assault, one count of oral rape, and one count of false imprisonment. The third defendant (24) faces an additional count of rape, two counts of sexual assault, and one count of false imprisonment. The fourth accused (23) faces three counts of sexual assault. The first and second accused admit to sexual touching but claim it was consensual. The trial is before Justice Tara Burns and a jury, with proceedings expected to last six weeks.
Sean William O'Rourke, 21, an apprentice electrician, pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering after he answered a Snapchat advertisement offering a "couple of thousand euro" for handing over his bank card. He admitted giving his card to a money launderer, who used his account to transfer €52,186 into a wrong account. The fraudulent sum was traced to O'Rourke's account, which was frozen, and the €50,000 was returned to the company. O'Rourke had no prior convictions. At a sentencing hearing in November, Judge Martin Nolan noted the prevalence of similar cases involving young people with no criminal record. The judge decided not to jail O'Rourke and instead ordered 100 hours of community service, subject to suitability by the Probation Service. The Probation Service confirmed his suitability, and the sentence was confirmed today. The case highlights the involvement of criminal gangs in Tallaght, Blanchardstown and Coolock in money‑laundering operations.
A 26-year-old postal worker from Dublin has been sentenced to two and a half years in prison following his conviction on drug trafficking charges. Darren Cumberton was arrested in April 2021 after gardaí observed him transferring cannabis from a van to a car at a Dublin location. The total quantity recovered amounted to approximately €79,000 worth of cannabis herb. He pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of drugs for sale or supply. The court heard that Cumberton had incurred substantial gambling debts and borrowed money from an unlicensed lender, leading him to become involved in drug trafficking. At the time of his arrest, his partner had recently given birth. His defence counsel highlighted his previously unblemished record, stable employment history, cooperation with gardaí, and engagement with treatment services. However, Judge Martin Nolan determined that whilst departing from the mandatory minimum ten-year sentence, the case did not warrant a non-custodial outcome.
The High Court has ordered the extradition of Kane Hull to the UK to face trial for the alleged murder or manslaughter of Ryan Kirkpatrick in Carlisle in 2021. Ms Justice Caroline Biggs rejected arguments that the extradition warrant lacked clarity, noting that murder and manslaughter are presented as direct alternatives for a UK jury. She confirmed that both offences carry a maximum life sentence in the UK. The warrant alleges Hull stabbed Kirkpatrick up to four times, an act captured on CCTV, and that he and co-accused Liam Porter returned to the scene wearing masks. Police allege the pair fled in a vehicle later found burned out, using a stolen car to travel to Northern Ireland before being arrested in County Mayo. Ms Justice Biggs remanded Hull in custody for a period of not less than 15 days, with a further period not to exceed 10 days, to allow time for the extradition to be arranged. Separately, on February 18, the High Court ordered the surrender of co-accused Liam Porter. It is alleged Porter assisted Hull by alerting him to Kirkpatrick's presence and was present when the vehicle was burned out. In the UK, assisting an offender carries a maximum of 10 years' imprisonment.
Richard Power, a 35‑year‑old letting agent, was found guilty of stealing €69,530 in tenant deposits from his employer, Wyse Property Management Ltd, between June 2018 and June 2020. He logged into the company system, altered tenant bank details to his own account to receive refunds, then reverted the changes before detection. Power admitted the theft and claimed a gambling addiction as context. He has repaid all but about €7,500 of the stolen money through personal savings and parental support. Judge Elma Sheahan sentenced him to three years' imprisonment, fully suspended on strict conditions, including repayment of the remaining amount within six months. Power, who had no prior convictions, is now unemployed, lives with his parents, and has lost his property‑management licence and a €5,000 fine.
Joseph Bonass, 19, was sentenced to three and a half years imprisonment for unauthorised taking of a motor vehicle, criminal damage, dangerous driving, driving without insurance, and driving without a licence in Co Wicklow and Co Dublin on June 16 and 17, 2020. Judge Elma Sheahan suspended the final 18 months of his sentence on strict conditions, requiring him to attend all Probation Service appointments for two years post-release. Bonass pleaded guilty and has no previous convictions. The judge noted with surprise that Bonass failed to engage with the Probation Service during a previous adjournment intended for that purpose. Co-accused Jordan Carroll, 21, pleaded guilty to endangering traffic, criminal damage, and allowing himself to be carried in a stolen vehicle on the same dates. Carroll, who has 34 previous convictions, was previously sentenced in April 2021 to four and a half years imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions. The incidents involved a stolen Toyota Land Cruiser driven dangerously on the N11 and M11, during which Carroll threw gardening equipment from the vehicle. The pursuit ended when the jeep crashed into two garda patrol cars. Judge Sheahan stated that no injuries were sustained by luck and emphasized the risk posed to first responders. Both defendants were intoxicated at the time of arrest.
Lisa Smith, a former Defence Forces member from Dundalk, Co Louth, pleaded not guilty to three charges at the Special Criminal Court. She is accused of membership of an unlawful terrorist group, Islamic State, between October 28th, 2015, and December 1st, 2019; financing terrorism by sending €800 via Western Union to a named man on May 6th, 2015; and taking part in preparations for an incursion into the Philippines to promote hostile activities. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, heard testimony from Pat Reilly, a former Irish Air Corps member, who stated that Smith made anti-western remarks and promoted Islam during a 2011 guard duty. Reilly also noted that Smith was described by a superior officer as "industrious, hard-working and reliable." The court further heard from Australian Federal Police agents regarding a counter-terrorism investigation into Robert Edward Cerantonio. Cerantonio, who is not the defendant in this Irish case, pleaded guilty to taking part in preparations for an incursion into the Philippines to promote hostile activities. He was sentenced in May 2019 at the Supreme Court of Victoria to seven years imprisonment with a minimum time to be served of five years and three months. Legal argument regarding the admissibility of the Australian officers' evidence is scheduled for the following day. The trial continues.
A man from Finglas has been jailed for purchasing two vehicles that were used in an arson attack on a property seized by the Criminal Assets Bureau. Joseph Richards, aged 30, of Lanesborough Square, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two counts of money laundering between August 6 and August 12, 2020. Gardaí identified Richards as a suspect through analysis of mobile phone records and CCTV footage. During interview, he stated he was unaware the cars would be used for arson and had simply purchased them for payment without enquiring about their intended use. Richards has 83 previous convictions, including robbery and drug-related offences. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a sentence of three years, suspending the final 18 months on strict conditions. The judge noted Richards played an important but subordinate role in what she described as an enterprise orchestrated by more significant criminal elements. She observed that whilst in custody and abstinent from drugs, he demonstrates capacity for prosocial living and remains motivated to overcome his addiction.
Five men have been sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for their roles in an affray during which a man was attacked with weapons including a slash-hook and hatchet on Hartstown Road, Dublin on 7 February 2015. The victim sustained scalp and shoulder cuts and a fractured upper arm bone. A young child was present in the vehicle during the incident. Brendan Donavan, Eddie McDonagh, James McDonagh, Michael McDonagh and James Whelan all pleaded guilty to affray. Judge Elma Sheahan noted the seriousness of the offending and the presence of a child as aggravating factors. Michael McDonagh, Eddie McDonagh and Donavan each received three-year sentences with the final six months suspended. James McDonagh received an 18-month sentence with eight months suspended, plus a consecutive 12-month term with six months suspended for a separate matter. James Whelan received an 18-month sentence with ten months suspended. All defendants must keep the peace during their suspension periods. The court heard other persons remain to face charges relating to the attack.
Gardai followed a trail of blood to catch Kevin Maughan, 48, a serial offender with 240 convictions, carrying a stolen cash register from a high‑end bar closed during the first lockdown. Maughan broke a window that bore a "stay safe, stay home" sign, cutting his hands and leaving DNA‑containing blood throughout the bar. He stole a cash register and alcohol during the break‑in on 28 April 2020 at Bar 37, Dawson Street. The blood trail led to St Stephen's Green where Maughan was seen carrying the register. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Melanie Greally noted his intoxication, the damage caused, and his addiction‑related offending. She imposed a three‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence, suspending the final year on strict conditions, including drug and alcohol intervention and cooperation with community mental health treatment.
In a sentencing hearing on 24 February 2022, Judge Melanie Greally imposed a suspended three‑year prison term on 22‑year‑old Kieran Comerford of Blackhall Parade, Stoneybatter, for a violent, unprovoked attack that took place on 17 February 2017 in Dublin city centre. The assault involved Comerford, then 17, and four friends who attacked two Brazilian men walking along the Luas line at Mary's Abbey. The victims were punched and kicked; one was hit several times. Comerford later admitted drunkenness and pleaded guilty to violent disorder in June 2021. The judge described the assault as "very frightening and cowardly", noting that while there was no lasting physical harm, one victim now feels unsafe at night and left Ireland that same year. She highlighted that most of Comerford's prior convictions were as a juvenile and that he has had no significant offending since the 2017 incident. The suspended sentence is conditional on him keeping the peace and behaving well.
A Circuit Court judge lifted a gagging order that had prevented the naming of Garda William Ryan, 35, who is charged with false imprisonment and three counts of sexual assault at Aughrim Garda Station on 29 September 2020, and a further charge of false imprisonment on the same date and location. Ryan also faces a charge of offensive sexual conduct between 23 August 2019 and 25 February 2020 at another location in Leinster. The trial is scheduled for 4 June 2024. The order was originally imposed by District Court Judge Treasa Kelly after a defence solicitor's application, and was challenged by lawyers for several media organisations. Judge Melanie Greally, hearing the case, found no evidence that publishing Ryan's name would impair his right to a fair trial and therefore lifted the restrictions.
A 55-year-old man from Longford town is fighting extradition to France to serve the remainder of a custodial sentence for offences relating to the transportation of war materials, the High Court heard on Wednesday. Roger Bergin was arrested in January 2003 after customs officials discovered approximately 775 kilograms of cannabis resin, cocaine, two handguns, ammunition and cash concealed in a truck at the France-Spain border. He was subsequently convicted and sentenced to four years imprisonment. Following his release in 2005, French prosecutors successfully appealed his acquittal on firearms charges, prompting the issue of a European Arrest Warrant in 2006. Bergin contends the French authorities had knowledge of his Longford address for over fifteen years without pursuing his arrest, and that he was denied a fair opportunity to appeal his conviction. Justice Caroline Biggs noted the alleged denial of appeal rights as central to the case. The matter was adjourned to 23 March.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 22‑year‑old Letitia Barry was sentenced to eight months' imprisonment, fully suspended, for driving through a red light and fatally striking pedestrian John Byrne on Whitestown Road, Rush. Barry admitted driving without due care and attention, causing Byrne's death. The court noted Byrne had waited for the pedestrian green light and that a six‑second gap existed between the vehicular red light and the pedestrian green light. Witnesses said the traffic lights were red for drivers when Byrne was struck. Barry's defence argued she was inexperienced, having held her licence for only three months, and that she had not seen the red light. The judge cited Barry's guilty plea, cooperation, lack of prior convictions, and youth as mitigating factors, and imposed a six‑year driving disqualification. The sentence was suspended on strict conditions.
Paul Byrne, 36, was jailed for two years after he fired a sawn‑off double‑barrel shotgun outside a mother of three's home in Cushlawn Park, Tallaght, on 25 April 2019. The mother, alarmed by the shots, called 999 and gardaí found the gun, a Halloween mask, a trail of blood and a car key belonging to Byrne's former partner. Byrne later admitted to the garda that he had found the gun and was drunk, claiming he had intended to harm himself in a failed suicide attempt. He pleaded guilty to reckless discharge of a firearm. Judge Melanie Greally described his explanation as "bizarre and utterly implausible", noting his history of alcohol abuse and depression but stating his actions were not consistent with a suicide attempt. The judge accepted character references and suspended the final year of a three‑year sentence, leaving a two‑year term in custody.
Kaitlin O'Driscoll, a 21‑year‑old mother from Cork, was arrested in Dublin after Gardaí discovered 200 g of heroin, worth €28,000, wrapped in a nappy in her bag at a house on Bride Street. She had travelled from Cork with cash given by an unidentified man and had taken her child with her to the house, claiming she was doing a favour for someone she could not identify. Gardaí also arrested a man in the house, finding €4,450 in envelopes that he said belonged to another man. O'Driscoll pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply. The court noted her 15 prior theft convictions but no drug‑dealing convictions. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced her to a three‑and‑a‑half‑year prison term, back‑dated to her arrest, and suspended the final 18 months on the condition that she engage with the Probation Service addiction support programme.
In a case heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, 36‑year‑old Jason Goddard of Cloonlara Road, Finglas, was discharged from an indictment under the Probation Act after pleading guilty to violent disorder on 16 October 2018. The incident involved Goddard and 21‑year‑old Ryan Thompson following a man known to Gardaí who had made a lewd suggestion to teenage girls and produced a knife. The pair entered a nursing home where an altercation occurred; Thompson sustained slash marks and was taken to hospital. Goddard later admitted to Gardaí that he could not recall details due to drug influence. Judge Elma Sheahan noted Goddard had no Garda attention since 2014, had engaged well with the Probation Service, and had reduced his risk of re‑offending to low. She discharged him on the condition of good behaviour for 12 months, citing his minor previous convictions and lack of subsequent offences.
Christopher Donoghue, 40, of Dublin 2, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to possession of cocaine with intent to supply at his address on May 19, 2017. Sergeant Barry Moran stated that gardaí conducted a surveillance operation following a tip-off, securing a warrant for a raid. Donoghue cooperated with officers, volunteering that he possessed two bags of cocaine, weighing 25.199 grams with an estimated street value of €1,763. He admitted some was for sale and some was intended for his daughter's first communion. The court noted he had 12 previous convictions for drug dealing, theft, criminal damage, and public order violations, though he had not come to the attention of gardaí since 2017. Defending counsel Mark Lynam BL highlighted that Donoghue is terminally ill with pancreatic cancer, currently receiving palliative care after a tumour removal in 2020 and chemotherapy. Judge Orla Crowe acknowledged the highly unusual situation, noting that but for Donoghue's health, she would have imposed a two-year and six-month custodial sentence. Considering his guilty plea and cooperation with the gardaí, Judge Crowe imposed a sentence of two years imprisonment, which was suspended entirely due to his medical condition. Donoghue thanked the judge and left the court.
Paul Mohan, 42, of Grangegeeth, Collon, Co Meath, pleaded guilty to ten counts of raping his youngest sister between 1996 and 2001 and to a sexual assault in 2004. He had previously worked as a photographer and had no prior convictions. The sister, who gave her name, explained that she had initially believed the abuse was normal but later recognised it as wrong, describing severe mental health effects and loss of childhood. She estimated she was abused hundreds of times, beginning in 1990 when she was about six and continuing until she was 15, with a final assault when both were adults. Mohan admitted to the assaults, expressed remorse, and apologized in a letter. He was remanded in custody and sentencing was adjourned to March 1. The court considered his early onset of behaviour and his current maturity level. The sister's family has been supportive, and she is now able to speak openly about the abuse.
A man convicted at the Special Criminal Court of kidnapping and assaulting a Quinn Industrial Holdings director has launched a High Court challenge against his conviction and 30-year sentence. Alan Harte claims that Section 40 of the 1939 Offences Against the State Act breaches his constitutional rights by preventing disclosure of whether his conviction was unanimous or by majority decision. He argues this creates inequality compared to jury trials, where at least ten jurors must agree on a verdict. Harte's legal team contends the provision violates constitutional guarantees of equality and the public administration of justice. The High Court heard the application before Mr Justice Charles Meenan, who adjourned proceedings to allow further submissions on which specific constitutional rights were affected. The case concerns an incident at Drumbrade, Ballinagh, County Cavan in September 2019.
Dylan Culloty, 21, was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to 200 hours of community service in lieu of a two‑year prison term for his role in a €40,000 smishing scam. Culloty allowed his account to be used to launder the money and withdrew cash from post offices, purchasing foreign currency. He pleaded guilty to two counts of money laundering for transactions between 14 and 19 August 2019. The court noted that the scam involved text messages that appeared to be from a bank, directing victims to a website where they entered banking details, enabling the scammers to access accounts. A total of €43,800 was taken from two bank accounts and transferred to Culloty's account; he withdrew the money at An Post offices. The Bank of Ireland refunded the victims in full, but the money was never recovered. Culloty had no prior convictions.
An ex‑soldier, Niall Kennedy, aged 31, was convicted by a jury of 12 counts of rape on eleven occasions in August 2017 and of harassment and threats between February and August 2017. He denied the charges and did not accept the verdicts. Mr Justice Paul Burns sentenced him to 13 years, with 12 years of concurrent sentences and a final two years suspended for five years on strict conditions. Kennedy was ordered to never contact the victim or approach within 200 metres of her location. The court noted Kennedy's lack of remorse, his emotionally illiterate character and above‑average risk of reoffending. The victim, in her early 20s, described a controlling and violent relationship that culminated in repeated rapes and threats, and she expressed fear and trauma following the ordeal. The sentencing hearing highlighted the prolonged cross‑examination of the victim and the complexity of the case.
A British man has been ordered surrendered to the United Kingdom following a High Court hearing on charges relating to a fatal stabbing in Carlisle. The High Court judge, Ms Justice Caroline Biggs, ruled that Liam Porter, aged 32, should be extradited to face allegations of murder or manslaughter in connection with the death of Ryan Kirkpatrick on 18 September 2021. The judge rejected submissions from Mr Porter's legal representatives that insufficient clarity existed regarding the charges. The court heard that UK authorities allege Mr Porter assisted in the incident and was present when a vehicle was subsequently burned. A separate extradition hearing concerning Kane Hull, aged 29, was adjourned to the following Monday. Both men were arrested in County Mayo in September 2021 and first appeared before the High Court that same month following their arrest under extradition warrants.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, lawyers for the national media argued that there was no reason to keep the name of a 35‑year‑old public servant, accused of false imprisonment and sexual assault, from being published. The defendant, who lives in the midlands, was charged with three counts of sexual assault at his workplace in the east of the country on 29 September 2020, a charge of false imprisonment on the same woman at the same place and date, and a charge of offensive sexual conduct at another location in the same county between 23 August 2019 and 25 February last year. The media had previously applied to lift a reporting restriction imposed by Judge Treasa Kelly in October, but the order was upheld. Mr.
In a DART incident on 31 May 2020, 23‑year‑old Ivan Bruton, who was already serving a suspended sentence for assault, bit John Rock Sr. and punched his son Adam after Rock Sr. tried to stop Bruton's verbal dispute with a woman. Bruton, who had prior convictions for assault, stolen property and drugs, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and assault at Salthill & Monkstown DART Station. Judge Martin Nolan, noting Bruton's age and the "chivalrous" intervention of the Rocks, imposed a 16‑month prison term but suspended it entirely, subject to strict conditions including 12 months of probation. The judge also ordered Bruton to hand over €500 he had in court to the victims or a charity and to raise an additional €1,000 within a year. Bruton's lawyer highlighted his remorse, full‑time employment and young daughter, and the judge expressed hope for reform.
The Special Criminal Court has found Daniel O'Callaghan guilty of all 16 counts relating to ATM thefts in Cavan and Monaghan in 2019. O'Callaghan, who pleaded not guilty, was convicted of offences under Sections 72 and 73 of the Criminal Justice Act, including the attempted theft of an ATM in Virginia and the theft of an ATM in Castleblayney. He was also found guilty of possessing €125,930 and €298,000 in cash at Tullypole, Co Meath, intending to facilitate a criminal organisation. Ms Justice Tara Burns stated that circumstantial evidence led to the inevitable conclusion that O'Callaghan was intimately involved in the gang's joint enterprise. He has been remanded in custody for a sentencing hearing scheduled for March 4. In related proceedings, Gerard Duffy and Ciaran Duffy pleaded guilty to various offences, including participating in the movement of cash and attempting to steal an ATM. Stephen Duffy also admitted to possessing cash in association with a criminal organisation. The three brothers are scheduled to be sentenced on March 4. Additionally, Niall Finnegan, who pleaded guilty to possessing €103,000 in proceeds from the thefts, was previously jailed for four-and-a-half years, with the final 18 months suspended.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, Adam Murphy, aged 32, pleaded guilty to assaulting his then‑girlfriend, Roisin Macken, aged 31, on 3 July 2015. During an argument, Murphy pinned Macken to her bed and punched her face, fracturing her nose and causing two black eyes. The court described the offence as a very serious assault within a romantic relationship, noting the prolonged emotional and psychological impact on Macken. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced Murphy to four‑and‑a‑half months' imprisonment, suspending the final one‑and‑a‑half months on strict conditions, including probation and treatment for violent emotions. The €4,000 he had in court was ordered to be transferred to Women's Aid. The case was resolved by a plea to common assault, carrying a maximum sentence of six months. No prior convictions were recorded for Murphy. The victim's impact statement highlighted lasting physical, financial and mental effects, and her reliance on a new boyfriend for support.
Adrian Power, 50, recently released from prison, broke into Sheeran Insurance Brookers in Sandymount to escape the cold. He entered by kicking a PCV door, sat in an armchair, and told Gardaí he needed a place to stay. No damage or theft was reported. Power had previously pleaded guilty to trespass in May 2020 and had 87 prior convictions. He now claims he has turned his life around, is drug‑free, and lives with his partner in Athlone. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court sentenced him to a six‑month prison term, suspended for one year, on the condition that he keeps the peace and behaves well. The sentence was imposed after the court heard that Power had been awake on the Luas, walked around Sandymount, and sought shelter in the office. The court noted that Power had no fixed abode at the time of the offence.
Sean McCarthy, aged in his 60s, lost over €26,000 when a fraudulent email replaced a legitimate invoice from Lauragh Construction, leading him to transfer money to a scammer's account. The fraud involved two young men, Jack Ward (22) and Kelvin Kleinovis (21), who acted as money mules. Ward transferred €9,700 to his account and €9,600 to a third man, while Kleinovis received €26,400 and later transferred €9,700 to Ward. Gardaí traced the transactions, and the bank returned €16,580, leaving McCarthy still short €9,820. McCarthy expressed that the loss delayed his holiday‑home project and that he and his wife no longer trust electronic transfers. Ward was sentenced to an eight‑month prison term, suspended, and Kleinovis received a two‑year term, also suspended, after expressing remorse and attempting restitution. The court noted that neither man was suspected of setting up the bogus email. Jack Ward pleaded guilty. Kelvin Kleinovis pleaded guilty.
David O'Brien, 44, was arrested in June 2017 after Gardaí searched his hostel and discovered a packet of heroin hidden in his back passage. While officers were searching the premises, O'Brien was asked to enter the building; during the search, a string was found coming from his back passage, which he attempted to conceal further up his body. Garda Emmett Brannigan reported that the heroin had a street value of €2,000. O'Brien, who has 35 prior convictions for robbery, drug and public order offences, pleaded guilty to possession of the drugs for sale or supply at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 21 June 2017. He was described as a lifelong drug user and had no fixed abode. Judge Melanie Greally, after considering his admissions and background, imposed a 16‑month sentence, noting that the drugs' presence in a hostel was damaging to other residents. The sentence reflects his cooperation and progress in a methadone maintenance programme.
Leon Travers, 25, was on bail for a 2017 criminal‑damage offence when he bit a garda and threw a fan at another after threatening to kill her. He had earlier pleaded guilty to threatening a garda at a hospital and assaulting a garda at a station in October 2018, and to criminal damage at a service station in September 2017. At the sentencing hearing Judge Martin Nolan noted Travers had no prior convictions and was deemed unsuitable for community service. He was sentenced to nine months imprisonment for each offence, the sentences running consecutively for a total of 18 months, which was fully suspended. The judge highlighted Travers' aggressive conduct in hospital and court, his lack of remorse, and his status as a first‑time offender and father of three. No victim impact statements were made. The suspended sentence means no custodial time is imposed.
Drmitriu Sehleanu, a former delivery driver from Bray, Co Wicklow, appeared before the Workplace Relations Commission to present a complaint of constructive dismissal against Cordelia Foods Ltd. The hearing, presided over by Adjudicator Kevin Baneham, concluded with the matter adjourned for the adjudicator to consider a decision. Mr Sehleanu alleged that he was forced to work 12 to 13 hours daily, driving up to 900km per day, and was pressured to exceed speed limits to meet delivery deadlines. He claimed he had to relieve himself into a bottle due to a lack of bathroom access and suffered a back injury while lifting flour without proper training. The company denied all claims, stating there was no bottle in the van, no workplace accident occurred, and Mr Sehleanu did not work beyond contracted hours. The company's representative, Rafaella Capolupo, argued that if the alleged speeding texts were true, Mr Sehleanu should be fined. The adjudicator closed the hearing to deliberate on the findings.
Michael Corbett, 32, was convicted in 2018 of attempting to murder a 17‑year‑old at the Hellfire Club, Montpelier Hill, where he used a knife and a piece of timber to strike a teenager. He received a nine‑year sentence, of which six years were suspended; the suspended portion was re‑activated in 2020 after he assaulted other inmates. In 2019 he pleaded guilty to assaulting a psychiatric nurse and was sentenced to five years, with the final two and a half years suspended, and was placed under strict conditions for 15 years. In October 2020 he tried to attack a prison officer at Mountjoy with a homemade shiv made from a toothbrush and a blade. He pleaded guilty to assaulting the officer and producing a weapon. His defence counsel argued that he suffers from paranoid schizophrenia and was not taking his medication, making him a risk to the public.
Michael O'Leary, aged 41, was sentenced to two‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment for a series of violent incidents involving Gardaí. In March 2019 he attacked a patrol car with a hurl, smashed windows, and struck a detective in the hip. He pleaded guilty to criminal damage and obstructing a peace officer. In April 2020 he returned armed with a hatchet and kitchen knife, threatened to kill Gardaí, and threw a hatchet at a garda's head, smashing a car window. He pleaded guilty to threatening to kill a garda and endangerment. The court noted his recent widowhood and struggles with alcohol and prescription drugs. Judge Martin Nolan described his conduct as violent, aggressive and threatening, and warned that re‑offending would lead to further imprisonment. The sentence was back‑dated to his 2020 arrest. The judge emphasised that the incidents were a one‑off, but the court remained cautious.