Daniel Corry, aged 29, was one of several men who attacked two Brazilian men in a late‑night incident in Dublin City centre. The attack was described by the judge as "cowardly and vicious" and was unprovoked. CCTV footage showed Corry punching one victim and another individual head‑butting the other. Corry pleaded guilty to violent disorder at Mary's Abbey on 17 February 2017. He has a history of drug addiction and homelessness. The court noted that one victim left Ireland the same year, partly due to the attack. Corry was sentenced to four years' imprisonment, but the sentence was fully suspended on strict conditions for four years, requiring him to keep the peace and be of good behaviour.
Paulina Galantkiewicz, a 34‑year‑old learner driver from Belmont Park, Raheny, was convicted of dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm after she ran over cyclist Aline Taveres, 34, on Oak Road, Clondalkin, on 1 June 2018. Galantkiewicz told the court she panicked, pressed the accelerator instead of the brakes, and rolled over the cyclist. She had no prior convictions. The jury found her guilty on the sole count after an hour and a half of deliberation. Judge Martin Nolan, noting the lack of aggravating factors such as speed, alcohol or drugs, and Galantkiewicz's unblemished record, imposed a two‑year suspended sentence and a four‑year automatic disqualification from driving, with no requirement to retake the driving test. The sentence reflected the serious injuries sustained by Taveres, who now uses a wheelchair and has not worked since the accident. The court heard that the collision occurred in wet weather, with no independent witnesses but CCTV evidence. Paulina Galantkiewicz pleaded not guilty.
In September 2020 a 16‑year‑old boy, still a juvenile, robbed a young man of €250 in cash at the Q car park in St Stephen's Green. Ten days later he killed a 39‑year‑old man, Claudio Robu, by kicking him to death in a laneway off Madison Road. The boy, who is now 17, pleaded guilty to the robbery and is serving a life sentence for the murder with a review after eight years. He was sentenced to 18 months' detention for the robbery, to run concurrently with the life sentence. The court noted his chaotic childhood, abandonment, and drug use, and that he had no prior convictions before the robbery. The 18‑month term is to be served at Oberstown detention centre. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Well-known historian Donal Fallon has been discharged from the indictment following his guilty plea to violent disorder at Living Room, Findlater Street in the city on February 6, 2016. Fallon, who was part of an anti-racism march against PEGIDA, admitted to the charge and was fined €500. The sentencing judge, Martin Nolan, imposed conditions including that Fallon gather €2,000 within six months. A sentence of nine months was indicated if the conditions were not met, with deferred sentencing for six months. At the hearing, Pieter Le Vert BL, defending, stated that the money had been paid over and requested Fallon's release from the indictment, which the judge acceded to. Additional fundraising was done for charities. The judge noted Fallon's cooperation with gardai, guilty plea, and lack of previous convictions. He also noted that there was no evidence Fallon struck anyone and that his involvement was not highly injurious. The matter was adjourned, and no further action is required at this stage.
A married couple, a 39‑year‑old man and his 36‑year‑old wife, were found guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of neglect and cruelty after their daughter suffered catastrophic brain injuries. The parents pleaded not guilty to two assault‑causing‑serious‑harm charges and three child‑cruelty charges for incidents between 28 June and 2 July 2019. The jury, after a 12‑day trial and four hours of deliberation, returned unanimous guilty verdicts on all counts. Evidence showed the father claimed to perform a ritual to expel a "devil" from the child, and the mother used a belt, phone charger, and other objects to beat her. Medical experts testified that the daughter's head injuries were from blunt force trauma and violent shaking, causing permanent neurological damage. The parents were remanded in custody until their sentencing on 24 January 2022. The prosecution sought a victim‑impact statement from the child's carers.
Phillip Kavanagh, aged 35, was convicted of assaulting Garda Conor Mohan on 7 January 2017 after an incident at a Focus Ireland supported housing complex. He was acquitted of a separate assault on Garda Theresa Moore. Kavanagh had pleaded not guilty to both offences. At a sentencing hearing in July 2021, Judge Martin Nolan had intended to impose 240 hours of community service in lieu of four months imprisonment, but the court found Kavanagh unsuitable for community service. Kavanagh refused to accept the jury's verdict. Judge Nolan sentenced him to four months imprisonment. The case involved conflicting accounts from the two gardaí, with Garda Moore alleging Kavanagh lashing out and Kavanagh denying assault. The court did not consider any later evidence or outcomes beyond the sentencing.
Ank Vu, a 20‑year‑old chef from Vietnam, was sentenced to four‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment for possession of cannabis for sale or supply at his Kilmainham address on 24 September 2020. He pleaded guilty and was described by the judge as having acted only as an "errand boy" or courier, unaware of the contents of the bags he carried. The cannabis, valued at €399,480, was seized from a van after a surveillance operation. Vu had been paid to load bags into a suitcase and hand them over to another person; he claimed he thought the bags contained clothing. The judge noted his lack of financial interest in the drugs and his family's residence in Vietnam, and suspended the final 18 months of the sentence on strict conditions, back‑dating the term to 15 October 2020 when he first entered custody.
A 17‑year‑old juvenile pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after a group attack on a man in Sallynoggin on 16 August 2020. He admitted kicking the victim several times while the victim lay on the ground, though he claimed he had tried to pull the main aggressor away twice. The court noted his remorse, school standing and positive character evidence. Judge Melanie Greally deferred a 12‑month detention sentence for a year, ordering the youth to engage with the Probation Service and to comply with its directions. She will decide in October whether to impose the detention or a community sanction, based on a Probation Service report. The case is adjourned to 2 December for further mitigation and report preparation. The other two youths involved are also pending further court action.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Ye Lin Aung, a 48‑year‑old father of one, received an 18‑month suspended sentence for possession of and knowingly distributing child pornography between 1 January and 30 August 2020. Gardaí seized two phones and a USB key from his shared bedroom; one phone contained four images and four videos depicting children aged three to ten in sexually explicit activities, including a 12‑year‑old girl undressing. Aung admitted he had joined Facebook and WhatsApp groups to view adult pornography but had also shared child‑pornographic material, claiming he did not seek it out or derive sexual gratification. He had no prior convictions and cooperated fully, providing PIN codes and login details. Judge Melanie Greally noted the case's recklessness and the very young ages involved, but considered his cooperation, employment record and lack of previous offences before suspending the sentence on strict conditions. Ye Lin Aung pleaded guilty.
In a dispute over a mobile phone that was later found in the accused's flat, Scott Byrne, aged 31, stabbed his neighbour Jamie Shortt, aged 28, on 11 July 2020. Byrne and two friends had been at a party celebrating a six‑year‑old's birthday, then joined another party in Shortt's flat where alcohol and cocaine were consumed. After the party, Byrne's friend could not locate his phone and suspected it was in Shortt's flat. Byrne and two others forced entry, and Shortt locked himself in a bathroom. Shortt later armed himself with a hammer and entered Byrne's flat, where Byrne, holding a knife, stabbed Shortt six to eight times around the shoulder and neck. Shortt sustained superficial injuries and fully recovered. Byrne was arrested, tried, pleaded guilty to violent disorder and assault causing harm, and was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment. The court noted Byrne's 16 prior convictions, including burglary, theft and violent disorder.
John Daly, aged 41, was sentenced to seven years in prison for a series of armed robberies carried out over five years. He used a large kitchen knife, a claw hammer, a screwdriver and a bottle of beer to threaten staff in Dublin pharmacies, convenience stores and a bookmakers, taking €2,562 and various drugs. Daly pleaded guilty to eight robberies between August and October 2016 and four more between June and September 2020. He had 76 prior convictions, 23 of which were robbery. The court noted his long‑term drug use, family difficulties and limited insight into his offending. He was remanded in custody after his arrest on 2 October 2020. Judge Melanie Greally imposed consecutive terms of eight and a half years, suspending the final 18 months on strict conditions, including engagement with the Probation Service for 18 months.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Suzanne Maguire (37) and her brother Edward Maguire (46) pleaded guilty to attempting to defraud Axa Insurance by falsely claiming an elderly motorist had reversed into their car and caused damage. The alleged incident occurred in a car park on Glasnevin Avenue on 22 September 2017. Suzanne claimed she had spilled hot coffee on herself and that Edward was in the vehicle, while Edward later tried to lodge a claim with Axa. CCTV footage proved no impact and that Edward was not in the car, leading to the claim's rejection and the pair's arrest. Judge Pauline Codd sentenced Edward to a two‑year term, fully suspended, and imposed strict conditions including Probation Service engagement. Suzanne received a three‑year term, also fully suspended, with similar strict conditions. Both were noted to have extensive prior convictions and ongoing efforts to address drug addiction.
Matthew Johnstone, 31, a former bar manager, was found in possession of 22 images and 13 videos of children aged one to twelve being sexually and physically abused. The material, described by the judge as "stomach churning," included a video of an 18‑month‑old child subjected to "elements of torture." Johnstone pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography on 19 November 2018. At sentencing, Judge Pauline Codd noted the case was aggravated by the particularly "deviant and depraved" nature of the material and the youth of the victims. She sentenced him to three years' imprisonment, suspending the final two years on strict conditions, including compliance with the Probation Service for two years after release. The judge emphasised the court's duty to protect children and the lack of evidence that Johnstone exchanged or profited from the material. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
A 19‑year‑old named Josh Henney was jailed for six months after he killed a 10‑month‑old mixed‑breed dog named Sam by kicking it twice in the underbelly while the owner was speaking with his mother on North William Street, Dublin. Henney pleaded guilty to killing a protected animal on 23 March 2020. He already had 36 convictions and was serving a two‑year sentence for violent disorder, with the final six months suspended. The court heard that Henney shouted threats, including "fucking kill your dog", before running up to the dog and delivering the fatal kicks. The dog was taken to a veterinary practice, anaesthetised, and died during treatment. Dr Alan Wolfe's autopsy found multiple fractures and liver fissures consistent with blood loss from acute trauma.
A 43-year-old man from Ballyshannon, Co Donegal, appeared before the High Court on 26 October 2021 to contest his extradition to Northern Ireland on six alleged terrorism offences. The defendant, represented by counsel John Berry, challenges two of the charges, contending they have no equivalent under Irish law. These charges relate to attending a place used for terrorist training and receiving training in explosives manufacture. The State's counsel Karen Nolan argued both offences fall within the scope of the Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Act 2005. The alleged conduct dates from August to November 2014 and centres on discussions about pipe bombs, potential targets, and recruitment strategy, based on covert police recordings. Justice Caroline Biggs indicated she would rule on the legal correspondence issue on 10 November before addressing remaining matters. The defendant was remanded on continuing bail pending that date.
Gavin Murphy, 36, was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment with the final 12 months suspended after pleading guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply at his Ballyfermot address on 13 January 2020. Gardaí seized over €170,000 worth of heroin, cocaine, cannabis, MDMA and PVP, plus seven mobile phones, during a search warrant executed at the premises. Murphy admitted he had the drugs to deal or sell and that he had lost his factory job and had no money. He claimed arthritis in every bone and said he had been living with his parents as a condition of bail. The court noted his "wake‑up call", his employment with a delivery company, his focus on his family and his health issues, and gave him credit for these improvements, resulting in a headline sentence of nine years reduced to seven years. The sentence was set in the upper mid‑range of the statutory scale.
Karl Dalton, aged 24, was convicted of violent robbery of a businessman who had purchased over €10,000 worth of mobile phones for his shop. The robbery took place near the victim's home on 16 February 2019, when Dalton and two other gang members attacked the victim, one attempting to stab him and another striking him with a wheel brace. Dalton's fingerprints were found on a car at the scene, linking him to the crime. He pleaded guilty to robbery and was sentenced by Judge Melanie Greally to six years' imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended on strict conditions, including 12 months of probation. The victim's phones, valued between €11,000 and €12,000, were taken and the robbery caused a personal loss as the shop's insurance did not cover them. Dalton has prior convictions for drug possession and traffic offences. He has since claimed to have stopped drug use and is employed.
A 19‑year‑old man was sentenced to two years' imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended, for defiling a 13‑year‑old girl at a house party when he was 16. The court heard the offence occurred after the girl attended a party organised by older teenagers while her mother believed she was staying at a friend's house. The defendant pleaded guilty to defilement of a child aged 15‑17, claiming he believed the girl was 15. Judge Melanie Greally considered the victim's age, vulnerability and the mental and physical consequences of the offence, as well as the defendant's youth, immaturity and lack of knowledge of the age of consent. She credited the defendant for his plea, admissions and difficult personal circumstances, noting he was in a stable relationship and in education. The sentence requires the defendant to engage in offence‑ and victim‑focused work and complete a sex offenders treatment programme.
A 32‑year‑old man, previously convicted of strangling his ex‑girlfriend, was sentenced to 15 years in prison for repeatedly beating and twice raping his 12‑year‑old step‑daughter between September 2019 and May 2020. He pleaded not guilty to charges of child cruelty, assault causing harm, sexual assault and rape. A jury convicted him on one assault‑causing‑harm charge, six child‑cruelty charges, three sexual‑assault charges and two rape charges. He has been in custody since June 2020. The court noted the victim's fear of the man, her life in a foster family, and the man's history of violent offending and failure to comply with early‑release conditions in his native country. Justice Deirdre Murphy imposed the 15‑year term, considered suspending the final two years if he undertakes anger‑management treatment and refrains from contacting the victim, and discussed post‑release supervision. The man maintains his innocence.
Cornel Onofrei, 38, a security guard, was jailed for nine months after sexually assaulting a woman in Phoenix Park. The victim, who believed him to be a taxi driver, was heavily intoxicated and was taken to a remote dark location in the park where Onofrei kissed her. She pushed him off and got out of the car, later asking him to drive her home, which he did. Onofrei pleaded guilty to the assault on 17 December 2018. He has 28 prior convictions, including 14 road traffic offences. Judge Melanie Greally described his conduct as "sinister and predatory" and noted his lack of appreciation for the seriousness of his actions. He was sentenced to 13 months, with the final four months suspended, and must comply with strict probation conditions for 12 months.
Two men arrested in County Mayo have lodged objections to their extradition at the High Court in Dublin in connection with a fatal stabbing in Carlisle, UK. Kane Hull, aged 28, and Liam Porter, aged 32, both from Carlisle addresses, are sought in relation to the death of Ryan Kirkpatrick on 18 September. They were arrested by gardaí in late September following international arrest warrants. Liam Porter faces an additional charge of assisting an offender. The High Court adjourned proceedings today to allow consideration of the legal grounds of objection filed by each man's legal team. The case was adjourned for mention on 1 November. Both men previously appeared before the High Court on 29 September. In the UK jurisdiction, murder and manslaughter carry maximum sentences of life imprisonment, whilst assisting an offender carries a maximum of ten years.
Renato Gehlen, 39, has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of his wife, Anne Colomines, 37. Mr Justice Michael MacGrath imposed the mandatory life term after a unanimous jury convicted Gehlen of killing Ms Colomines at their home in Dublin 1 on October 25, 2017. The judge described the crime as "terrifying and horrific," noting the added distress caused by Gehlen's claim that his wife stabbed herself. The court heard victim impact statements from Ms Colomines' mother, Danielle Gallard, father, Jean-Louis Colomines, and sister, Alexandra, who described her as a "beautiful, intelligent woman" who loved life. During the trial, State Pathologist Dr Linda Mulligan testified that it was "highly unlikely" Ms Colomines inflicted the fatal injuries on herself, pointing to defensive wounds on her hands. Prosecution counsel argued Gehlen acted out of "toxic masculinity" to control the end of their marriage. In mitigation, defence counsel presented reports describing Gehlen as a model prisoner who completed courses including "Alternatives to Violence." The judge extended condolences to the Colomines family, acknowledging their dignity in the face of the tragedy.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Sean O'Boyle (32) was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment for stabbing Darren Brewster and his brother on Christmas Day 2013. The incident followed a series of threatening text messages from Brewster, who had warned O'Boyle's sister that he would be "up to the gaff" and that "Christmas will be major for your family this year." On the day, O'Boyle armed himself with a kitchen knife and confronted the men at the O'Boyle family home in Tallaght. The men suffered life‑threatening lung injuries and were hospitalised. O'Boyle pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, a lesser charge than the original serious‑harm indictment, and the court noted his remorse and the provocation from the texts. He had previously emigrated to Australia, lived there for five years, and was extradited to face prosecution.
The Special Criminal Court has postponed delivery of its verdicts in the case of four men charged with abducting and torturing Kevin Lunney, a director of Quinn Industrial Holdings. The three-judge non-jury court had initially scheduled verdicts for October 22, but has now adjourned to November 8. A 40-year-old man who cannot be named, Alan O'Brien (40) of East Wall, Dublin, Darren Redmond (27) also of East Wall, Dublin, and Luke O'Reilly (68) of Mullahoran Lower, Kilcogy, County Cavan, have all pleaded not guilty to false imprisonment and intentionally causing serious harm. The alleged incident occurred at Drumbrade, Ballinagh, County Cavan, on September 17, 2019. The trial, which opened in June, heard evidence spanning forty days and concluded that the complainant was removed from near his home and subjected to violence including beatings and knife wounds.
In a 2021 Dublin Circuit Criminal Court decision, a judge imposed two consecutive three‑and‑a‑half‑year sentences on an unnamed man convicted of 20 counts of sexual assault against a schoolboy. The offences, which occurred between September 1993 and September 1996 in the victim's family home, began when the boy was 11. The victim has suffered mental illness and is prescribed medication for anxiety and depression. An appeal against conviction was dismissed, and the Court of Appeal rejected the appellant's request for a suspended portion of his seven‑year term. The judge noted the lack of remorse and the seriousness of the abuse, concluding that consecutive sentences were warranted. The appellant's legal team argued for part‑suspension and cited the defendant's chaotic background and numerous prior convictions, but these arguments were not accepted. The DPP described the sentence as proportionate and just.
Christopher Moran, aged 51, pleaded guilty to being the getaway driver in the fatal shooting of gangster Wayne Whelan. The Director of Public Prosecutions accepted his plea. Moran's co‑accused, Anthony Casserly, 25, also pleaded guilty to participating in or contributing to Whelan's murder, and his plea was likewise accepted. Whelan was shot dead on 18 November 2019 at Mount Andrew Rise in Lucan, Co. Dublin, and the car he was in was set on fire with his remains inside. Moran was charged under Section 7(2) of the Criminal Law Act 1997 for impeding the apprehension of an offender, while Casserly was charged under Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006 for involvement in a criminal organisation. The case was heard by Mr Justice David Keane, who discharged the jury after the DPP indicated that pleas to lesser charges would be accepted.
Paul Cashel, 49, a former shop manager at Aran Sweater Market Ltd on Grafton Street, pleaded guilty to thefts between 2 March and 11 April 2019, during which he stole €72,629.53 from the shop's daily takings to fund a gambling addiction. He began by taking small amounts, then replenished them with further cash until he could no longer do so. Cashel had five prior convictions for road traffic offences. At sentencing, Judge Martin Nolan imposed 240 hours of community service in lieu of a two‑year prison term. Cashel admitted the thefts, expressed remorse, and stated the offence was caused by his gambling problem. The court noted his previous employment, family, and the breach of trust involved. No custodial sentence was imposed.
James Ryan, a 33‑year‑old Dublin resident, was sentenced to four years in prison after admitting he had moved almost €400,000 worth of cannabis to pay a €5,000 drug debt. Gardaí discovered four 5‑kg packages of cannabis in the boot of his car on 11 August 2020, and Ryan claimed the drugs were being transported to settle the debt. He noted that his nose had been damaged by cocaine use, implying a history of drug use. The prosecution, led by Tony McGillicuddy BL, relied on confidential information that led to an operation targeting the vehicle in the Rathfarnham area. The drugs were wrapped in four large packs and later valued at €395,600. Judge Martin Nolan accepted Ryan's claim of debt, acknowledged possible coercion, and imposed the four‑year sentence. The case was heard at Scholarstown Road, Dublin 16.
Judge Martin Nolan imposed a 12‑year prison sentence on Michael "Mikey" Greene (20) for a series of extremely violent robberies and burglaries. Greene beat a couple with a wrench in their home, struck an office worker with a hammer, and held a broken bottle to a man in his seventies. He also used a hammer to assault a sales clerk, attacked workers with scissors, and broke into a private house, hitting the occupants with a wrench. Greene pleaded guilty to aggravated robbery, burglary and assault, and had 51 prior convictions. The judge noted Greene's youth, guilty pleas, chronic drug addiction and some remorse as reasons for suspending three years of the sentence. The court heard that Greene's violent acts caused physical and psychological harm to the victims, but no victim impact statements were read into the record.
Derek O'Callaghan, aged 41, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment for possessing drugs for sale or supply, with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions. He was found to be storing over €44,000 worth of cocaine and ecstasy in a bedroom in his uncle's house and over €29,000 worth of cocaine and cannabis in another home, his caravan and two cars during Garda searches in 2017 and 2018. The total street value of the drugs was €73,450. O'Callaghan pleaded guilty to two counts of possession for sale or supply, one at his Tallaght address in February 2017 and one at a Saggart address in June 2018. He has 12 previous convictions, including a drug‑supply offence in 2003, for which he received a suspended two‑year sentence. The judge noted his cooperation, vulnerability and efforts to rehabilitate, but said his level of involvement did not warrant a suspended sentence for the offence.
Felix Moorehouse, 19, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to three burglaries and an attempted burglary at a gated retirement complex in Dun Laoghaire on 14 January 2021. The victims were all over 90 and Moorehouse stole cash, bank cards, expensive jewellery and a phone. He had 25 prior convictions. Judge Martin Nolan noted that Moorehouse did not admit he knew the complex housed elderly residents, and that the incidents were particularly upsetting because the victims were cocooning during lockdown. The judge suspended the final 15 months of a five‑year sentence on the condition that Moorehouse engage with the Probation Service for 15 months after release. Garda Deirdre Finn described how Moorehouse entered the homes, stole items, and was identified by CCTV. His mother testified that he was influenced by his father, a chronic heroin addict with a criminal record, and that he had been well‑behaved at school but spent most weekends with his father.
Dylan Deegan, 24, pleaded guilty to three robberies – €684 from Cash for Clothes (July 2020), €684 from Insomnia Café (February 2021) and a prior robbery of a man at Back Lane Hostel (April 2020). He also admitted producing a knife on 2 July 2020. He had 15 prior convictions. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to three years for the July 2020 robbery and 18 months for the February 2021 robbery, both to run consecutively with his earlier three‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence for a violent mugging in April 2020. The judge suspended both new sentences on strict conditions, including three years of probation. Deegan had approached a solicitor's office, claiming he wanted to hand himself in after the February 2021 robbery, stating he was suicidal, drug‑addicted and wanted to go to prison. The court noted he had no knife at the time of the February robbery and that the cash was never recovered.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Dylan Cronin, aged 20, was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, after pleading guilty to three counts of demanding money with menace. Cronin and a second man had entered a family home at night, falsely claiming a child was involved in a €50,000 drug debt and demanding €25,000. The claim was proven false. The men returned twice more, damaging property and leaving threatening notes. Cronin admitted he was coerced and would receive €2,000–€3,000 for his involvement. The judge noted the offences were planned, occurred at night, and caused significant stress and fear for the family. The sentence included strict probation conditions for 18 months post‑release. The case remains under investigation.
Gareth White, 33, was jailed for two-and-a-half years after defrauding a woman and the Society of St Vincent de Paul of over €20,000 by claiming the money was needed for urgent medical expenses. White had previously failed to repay a €10,000 cheque to the woman, which bounced and was recovered by the bank. He pleaded guilty to deception charges against both victims in October and November 2020. The court found that the money was actually used to pay gambling debts, and that White's gambling addiction had spiraled beyond his control. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to three-and-a-half years, suspending the final 12 months on strict conditions, including a five‑year ban on gambling. White admitted the charity's funds were misused and that he had no legitimate medical need for the money. The case highlighted the extent of White's financial fraud and his ongoing gambling problem.
At the Special Criminal Court, William Twomey, 58, was sentenced for his role in the 2017 attack on businessman Edward McAndrew in Omeath, Co Louth. Twomey, who pleaded not guilty, was found guilty of assault causing harm, demanding £50,000 with menaces, and robbing McAndrew of various items including a passport and mobile phones. He was found not guilty of false imprisonment. The judge described Twomey as the initiator of a joint enterprise, noting that the violent outcome exceeded his contemplation. He received a headline sentence of two years for the assault and four years for the robbery and demanding money with menaces. The last year of the robbery and demanding money sentences was suspended for two years, resulting in two years' imprisonment on each charge to be served concurrently. The sentence was backdated to August 29, 2023. Twomey signed a €100 bond upon release. Co-accused Thomas McGuinness, who also pleaded not guilty, was acquitted of all charges on September 30. Separately, Anthony Finglas, 49, pleaded guilty to demanding money with menaces and was jailed for four years and nine months.
A 54‑year‑old Laois man was sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment for four counts of rape and one count of sexual assault against his 15‑year‑old niece, who babysat his children. The offences occurred between 1 June 2004 and 31 March 2005. The victim became pregnant and gave birth to a child. The man, who has no prior convictions, denied the allegations and claimed a consensual relationship. Justice Eileen Creedon noted the breach of trust and the profound impact on the victim, who reported the abuse in September 2015 after a long period of fear. The judge imposed 11 years' imprisonment, suspended the final year on strict conditions, and highlighted the lack of remorse and the man's continued denial. The case was heard at the Central Criminal Court.
Jonas Mercado, 30, of Castlecurragh Vale, Mulhuddart, was sentenced to 12 months in prison with the final six months suspended on strict conditions after pleading guilty to a single charge of sexual assault. The offence occurred on Middle Abbey Street, Dublin, on 15 July 2017, when Mercado approached a woman speaking on her mobile phone, placed a hand on her leg, and attempted to tear her underwear. Passers‑by restrained him and he fled. The victim, who felt extremely vulnerable, reported the assault to Gardaí and later to the court. Judge Melanie Greally noted Mercado's intoxication, high risk of reoffending, and his remorse, including a €4,500 compensation payment. The sentence aims to be punitive and deterrent while encouraging treatment and responsibility under probation supervision. Jonas Mercado was convicted.
A 22‑year‑old man was sentenced to one year and ten months in prison for defilement after a Central Criminal Court jury found him guilty of having sex with a 15‑year‑old girl at a Dublin house party in June 2018. The victim, who is unnamed to protect her identity, gave a victim impact statement in which she said the offence had a massive toll on her life and mental well‑being, robbed her of her virginity, and caused a loss of motivation for her studies. She described herself as standoffish with men and said the man's actions had made her feel like a liar. The judge, Mr Justice Paul Coffey, noted the defendant's 107 previous convictions, mainly for theft and burglary, and his history of alcohol and drug abuse, but also that he had no prior sexual offences. The unnamed 22-year-old pleaded not guilty.
David Savage, 29, was found guilty of three robberies and two attempted robberies committed in Dublin between December 2019 and January 2020. He first tried to rob Paddy Powers on Manor Street with a toy gun and a Halloween skeleton mask, but fled after a panic alarm was triggered. He then attempted to rob an An Post office and a Lidl store, the latter resulting in a €1,765 theft before he fled. On 14 January 2020 he robbed a Burger King, threatening a cashier with a knife. Savage admitted to daily heroin use and a drug debt that pressured him into the offences. He presented himself at Garda stations, expressed remorse, and sought rehabilitation. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to five years, suspending the final year on strict conditions, including 12 months' probation supervision.
Two men arrested in County Mayo have appeared before the High Court in Dublin in connection with a fatal stabbing in Carlisle, United Kingdom. Kane Hull, aged 28, and Liam Porter, aged 32, both of Carlisle addresses, face charges relating to the death of a 24-year-old man on September 18th. The accused are wanted on suspicion of murder or manslaughter, with Porter also facing an additional allegation of assisting an offender. Gardaí arrested both men in the Carracastle area of County Mayo following their alleged departure from the UK on September 22nd. Evidence was provided by officers from Castlebar Garda Station confirming their identities. At today's hearing before Justice Paul McDermott, legal representation sought additional time to prepare objections to the extradition proceedings. The court adjourned the matter to October 22nd, 2021, for further hearing.
Elvis Chiriac, aged 35, was sentenced to two years in prison, with the final six months suspended, after pleading guilty to 15 counts of theft at AIB ATMs and banks in Dublin between 8 and 10 January 2020. He used a rented GoCar and a "Transaction Reversal Fraud" technique to withdraw €8,520 from 22 ATMs over three days, damaging several machines. Gardaí traced his movements using the GoCar's GPS and CCTV footage from a Centra shop, identifying him at the ATMs. Chiriac's prior convictions for fraud and money laundering in Romania were considered, as were his efforts to address a drug habit and his impact on his partner and young family. The €3,000 he brought to court was ordered to be paid to a charity nominated by the bank. The case was heard by Judge Melanie Greally at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Judge Pauline Codd, presiding over the sentencing of Marcin Konar, a 43‑year‑old former Lidl store manager, highlighted the duty of bookmakers to scrutinise accounts that receive large sums of stolen money. Konar had stolen €26,600 from Lidl between February and May 2018, using the cash to fund an online gambling addiction. He admitted the theft, confessed to the gardaí, and expressed remorse, claiming he intended to repay the money. Codd noted that the stolen funds had been transferred to an online gambling account, effectively "walking into the sunset" for the bookmaker. She imposed a suspended two‑year imprisonment, suspended in its entirety for four years, and required Konar to hand over €3,700, repay a minimum of €500 monthly to Lidl, and comply with strict conditions. The judge urged the gardaí to investigate the bookmaker's handling of the proceeds, as no prior inquiry had been made. Marcin Konar pleaded guilty.
Gary Hurley, 38, was found guilty of deception and use of a false instrument for obtaining a mortgage for his family home. He had submitted forged documents, including a non‑existent VAT number and mismatched signatures, to KBC Bank. The bank restructured the loan and allowed him to continue repayments, reducing arrears from over €9,000 to €1,180 by September 2021. The court heard that Hurley had no employment with the company he claimed to work for. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to three years imprisonment, fully suspended on strict conditions, including keeping the peace and good behaviour for three years. The bank agreed to a 35‑year mortgage and was willing to accept his repayments, while the Gardaí had investigated the fraud. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 20 October 2017.
David Tyrell, a 36‑year‑old gym manager from Firhouse, Dublin, was found guilty of stealing €22,264 from his employer by redirecting payments from the online voucher site Pigsback.com to his own bank account. He had been tasked with changing the password for accessing the payments and used that opportunity to alter the bank account details. Tyrell pleaded guilty to four counts of theft at Permanent TSB in Tallaght between April and August 2016 and had three prior convictions for road traffic offences. He resigned when the theft was discovered and later made full restitution. Judge Melanie Greally, noting the full repayment and lack of further offending, imposed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year prison sentence that was fully suspended on strict conditions, citing Tyrell as a low‑risk offender. The court recorded that the case had been adjourned previously to allow the restitution to be completed.
Trevor Robinson, aged 31, pleaded guilty to assisting an offender after an offence, criminal damage and two burglary charges following a high‑speed chase on 9 April 2018. The incident began when Christina Joyce, aged 33, accelerated a Volvo while Garda Thomas Gallagher attempted to seize the vehicle. Gallagher, fearing he would be dragged under the car, held onto the door and later fell, sustaining serious injuries. Joyce was convicted of endangering Gallagher and assault, receiving a four‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence. Robinson was sentenced by Judge Melanie Greally to a cumulative term of three years, with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions, including probation for 12 months after release. The court noted Robinson's burglaries were committed in a frantic attempt to evade pursuing Gardaí. No further outcomes are reported in the article.
Maura Keogh, 60, former accounts manager at CS Construction Spares Ltd, stole €23,366 from her employer by forging bank lodgement slips. She pleaded guilty to 18 theft charges and three false accounting counts for the period 31 December 2015 to 6 September 2016. Keogh, the sole breadwinner of her household, admitted the theft after a discrepancy was discovered in August 2016 and was dismissed in September 2016. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced her to two‑and‑a‑half years imprisonment, fully suspended on strict conditions, after noting her remorse, repayment of the stolen amount, lack of prior convictions and low risk of reoffending. The case caused a restructuring of the company's Dublin premises and job losses for several colleagues. The judge described the offence as a serious aberration from an otherwise law‑abiding life.
Brandon Brannock, aged 19, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended, after pleading guilty to endangering traffic and criminal damage to a car in Ballymun on 6 December 2019. He was 17 when the offence occurred. The court heard that during a high‑speed pursuit in the middle of the day, Brannock's vehicle left the ground on speed ramps, crossed to the wrong side of the road repeatedly, broke a red light and narrowly missed an elderly woman. He crashed into a parked car, causing significant damage, and fled with three male passengers to a nearby house where they were refused entry by a man at the door. Brannock was disqualified from driving for four years. He has 32 prior convictions, including drug and road traffic offences, and the judge noted his youth and the stress and fear caused to others. The incident was not pre‑meditated.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, Valerijs Leitons, a 25‑year‑old Latvian national with paranoid schizophrenia, was found guilty of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility for stabbing his lover, 34‑year‑old Ms Valdgeima, to death on 26 June 2019 at the Binary Hub aparthotel. The jury, after eight hours and 34 minutes of deliberation over two days, returned a verdict of guilty of manslaughter by a majority of ten to two. Leitons had pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, but the jury rejected that defence, concluding he did not meet the three criteria for that verdict. The case involved a complex psychiatric history, with expert witnesses presenting differing views on Leitons' mental state. The judge remanded him in custody until a sentencing hearing on 8 December, with a victim impact report to be prepared. The trial highlighted the interplay between mental disorder and criminal responsibility in Irish law.
Aaron Dardis, 25, was given a one‑year suspended sentence after pleading guilty to assisting an offender under section 72 of the Criminal Law Act. He admitted driving a group of young men to the scene of a meat cleaver attack at Balgaddy, Dublin, on 7 August 2017. Dardis said he had offered them a lift after they claimed they were going to a "fair fight" and that he did not hear the assault until days later. The victim, who was walking past the playground, was struck on the arm with a meat cleaver and beaten with other implements, leaving the victim with limited arm use. The court noted Dardis had no prior convictions and was considered low risk of re‑offending, and imposed the suspended sentence on a number of conditions.
Mark Taylor (31), of no fixed abode in the Tallaght area, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for offences committed on December 9, 2019. Taylor, who had 142 previous convictions including 24 for dangerous driving, pleaded guilty to three counts of dangerous driving, one count of endangerment, one count of criminal damage, and one count of driving with no insurance. He was already disqualified from driving for 25 years and on bail for another driving-related offence at the time. Judge Melanie Greally noted the extreme risk to road users during the high-speed pursuit, which involved Taylor allegedly attempting to run over a garda and ramming two patrol cars. The court heard that Taylor drove over 100km/h, crossed onto the wrong side of the road, and caused €12,000 in damage to garda vehicles. Judge Greally handed down an eight-year sentence, suspending the final three years on conditions. Taylor was banned from driving for life. As a condition of the suspended portion, he was ordered to enter a drug rehabilitation programme upon release and complete it. The sentence was backdated to when Taylor first went into custody on these offences.