David Masterson, aged 56, was sentenced to 17 years in prison for a series of sexual offences against his daughter, Charlene Masterson, who was 32 at the time of the statement. Masterson used anonymous text messages to blackmail her into sexual acts with men, claiming his job was at risk. He also sexually abused her over a seven‑and‑a‑half‑year period, including oral rape and sexual assault, and had sexual encounters with three other girls. Masterson was already serving a seven‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence for defilement offences and had 17 prior convictions, including child pornography. The court imposed 18 years for each of the four counts of oral rape, suspending the final year and ordering one year of post‑release supervision, and five years for two sexual assault offences, running concurrently for an effective operative sentence of 18 years with the final year suspended. The sentences were back‑dated to 26 June 2019. David Masterson pleaded guilty.
Kellie Walton, 39, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to stealing cash worth €70,614 and property worth €34,961 from Virgin Media Television at Westgate Business Park, Ballymount, Dublin, between 1 January and 31 December 2019. She has no prior convictions and has a young family. Her lawyer, Fiona Murphy SC, requested a probation report. Judge Melanie Greally ordered a probation report, remanded Walton on continuing bail, and adjourned her sentencing to 1 December. The case of co‑accused John Murray, 40, was adjourned to an arraignment on 10 November.
Robert Lawless, 42, shared a home with his mother and brother when Gardaí searched it under a warrant. The search uncovered 65 separate cocaine deals and cash of €605 and €105. Lawless admitted responsibility for the drugs. During the raid, 18 callers attempted to buy cocaine. A month later, a second raid found more drugs. Lawless pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine worth €1,440 on 15 January 2020 and €1,960 on 16 February 2020, and had prior convictions for drug possession. Judge Melanie Greally, after hearing evidence, sentenced him to 18 months imprisonment for the January offence, suspending the entire term on strict conditions, and adjourned sentencing for the February offence to 21 July 2022. She ordered an updated probation report and noted that if a "resounding report" of engagement is produced, she might adopt a similar approach.
Giuseppe Diviccaro, 46, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended, for acting as a front man in an international criminal organisation that used invoice‑redirect fraud to launder money. He admitted opening seven bank accounts in Ireland, most with legitimate Italian IDs but all using the same fraudulent utility bill and address. Over €200,000 was transferred into these accounts, about 70% of which was moved out quickly. Diviccaro pleaded guilty to contributing to the organisation's activities between 21 June 2018 and 17 July 2020, and to money‑laundering offences between 22 June 2018 and 6 April 2019. Gardaí seized €9,750 in cash and a mobile phone with photos of other ID cards at his home. The judge noted he was not the mastermind but his actions facilitated the criminal scheme, and he must leave the jurisdiction within 14 days of release and not return for 15 years.
The Special Criminal Court trial of Luke O'Reilly, Alan O'Brien, Darren Redmond, and Cyril McGuinness continued before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, with Judges Gerard Griffin and David McHugh. All four accused have pleaded not guilty to the alleged false imprisonment and intentional causing of serious harm to businessman Kevin Lunney at Drumbrade, Ballinagh, Co Cavan, on September 17, 2019. The court heard evidence from Detective Garda Sean O'Brien regarding interviews with Mr O'Reilly, who was arrested in November 2019. Mr O'Reilly stated he did not recognise a Renault Kangoo van allegedly used by the other accused and claimed he had no knowledge that Mr Lunney was held in a trailer on his land. He described Mr McGuinness, whom he knew as "Dublin Jimmy," as "not a good yoke" and "like a big crazy bastard," adding that he was "actually shocked" to learn of the incident. Mr O'Reilly testified that his only contact with Mr McGuinness around the time of the alleged abduction was to discuss a vehicle import. The prosecution alleges Mr Lunney was threatened, assaulted, and forced to resign from Quinn Industrial Holdings. The trial is ongoing, with the matter not yet finalised.
Craig O'Donoghue, 20, was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court for contempt of court after failing to attend the trial of a teenager charged with violent disorder at the Cameron Blair murder scene. O'Donoghue, a witness who had been served with a witness order, booked a holiday to Ayia Napa, Cyprus, and refused to return despite police contact. He was arrested at Dublin airport upon his return. Justice David Keane described the conduct as "premeditated, flagrant and persistent," noting O'Donoghue's high culpability and disdain for the law. The judge imposed a headline sentence of three months in prison, reduced by one month to an effective two-month term, citing mitigation including O'Donoghue's remorse and previous good character. He was also fined €1,000, payable within nine months. O'Donoghue has been in custody since his arrest. His co-accused, Darragh O'Connor, 20, was sentenced for a similar contempt last week. The underlying trial involved a teenager who pleaded guilty to Mr Blair's murder and received a life sentence, while another teenager's trial ended after the defence accepted possession of a butter knife, leading the DPP to discontinue the knife possession charge.
Bo Yu, 38, was jailed for eight months after being caught masturbating in three different stores in Dundrum on several occasions in 2019. He pleaded guilty to public masturbation at House of Fraser on 27 and 30 November, and at Penneys and Marks & Spencer on 3 December. At the time of his arrest he was found with a sex toy, an unused condom and lubricants. The court noted that he was clearly aroused during the incidents and that shoppers were largely unaware of his conduct. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to 12 months' imprisonment, suspended the final four months for two years, and ordered him to engage with the Probation Service and undergo treatment for sex offenders. No prior convictions were recorded.
Maurice Walsh, 31, was sentenced to eight years in prison, with the final three years suspended, after pleading guilty to possessing €22,820 worth of heroin for sale or supply at Watkins Square, Dublin 8, on 20 August 2018. The drugs were found during a Garda surveillance operation that led to a search of his mother's home on the North Circular Road, Dublin 7. Garda Mark Eccles described how officers observed two men entering and leaving the property, then intercepted Walsh and discovered the heroin in various locations, including €10,000 in cash in his mother's bedroom. Walsh had five prior convictions and had previously served five years of a seven‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence for a similar offence. The judge noted his chronic drug addiction, the impact on his mother, and the fact that this was a repeat offence, and imposed the suspended sentence on the condition that he attend a residential drug rehabilitation programme upon release.
In a Health and Safety Authority prosecution, Telstar Investments LTD was fined €7,500 for exposing two staff members to asbestos fibres during the removal of unstable ceiling tiles in a courtyard area above its licensed premises. The director, Noel Murray, removed the tiles after a warning sticker was found and the tiles were later confirmed to contain brown asbestos. The company had a guilty plea and cooperated with the HSA, paying costs within four months. The court noted that the director acted without specialised equipment and that the removal was undertaken to prevent potential falls. The fine reflects the company's failure to ensure the safety, health and welfare of its employees in the removal and cleanup of asbestos‑laden debris. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
The Special Criminal Court heard evidence in the trial of Alan O'Brien, Darren Redmond, Luke O'Reilly, and an unnamed defendant, YZ, who have all pleaded not guilty to false imprisonment and intentionally causing serious harm to businessman Kevin Lunney at Drumbrade, Ballinagh, Co Cavan, on September 17, 2019. Mr Lunney alleged he was abducted, assaulted, and forced to resign from Quinn Industrial Holdings. During proceedings, Detective Garda Lisa Young testified that she found a book titled 'The Forensic Casebook' in the Dublin 3 apartment of the accused man named as YZ. The court also examined the validity of Darren Redmond's arrest, with defence counsel challenging whether Garda Sharon Walsh properly informed his mother of the intent to arrest him; the court will rule on this matter later this week. Additionally, witness Daniel Ivers identified clothing worn by individuals in CCTV footage. The trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, with Judges Gerard Griffin and David McHugh.
Thomas Rooney, 41, pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to possessing property that is the proceeds of criminal conduct. He admitted to having a blue Nike bag containing €289,770 and £65,025 (€70,207) in cash at Spar, Donore Road, Drogheda, on May 11, 2020. Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding with Judges Gerard Griffin and David McHugh, remanded Rooney on continuing bail, listing a sentence hearing for October 4. Defence counsel cited a potential lung transplant for Rooney. Rooney was also charged with possessing €254,840 in a black bag and €7,650 in cash on the same date. His former partner, Catherine Dawson, 44, previously pleaded guilty to two counts related to moving over €600,000 in crime cash. She was sentenced to three years and nine months in prison, fully suspended for five years, with the court noting her primary care responsibilities for her son. Co-accused Jason Reed, 40, pleaded guilty to money laundering and possessing proceeds of crime, including the cash in the blue Nike bag and €32,330 and £390 (€441) found at his home. The court found Reed to be a trusted, high-level member of a transnational criminal organisation and sentenced him to seven years in prison. All three were arrested in May last year following a Garda National Drugs & Organised Crime Bureau operation in Drogheda.
A 66‑year‑old man was jailed for three years after a jury found him guilty of sexually assaulting a 6‑year‑old girl and her 7‑year‑old sister between 2004 and 2009, and of exposing himself in August 2018. The man, whose identity is withheld to protect the victims, had pleaded not guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He claimed a mistaken phone call when the girls' parents confronted him after the elder sister saw him masturbating on a video call via Facebook Messenger in 2018. The court noted the children's ages, the man's lack of prior convictions, and his cooperation, but imposed a custodial sentence for the sexual assaults. The prosecution highlighted the victims' reports of profound impact, while the defence argued the offences were not at the highest level and that the man had no intention of repeating the behaviour. The judge placed the assaults at the middle to lower end of the sentencing range.
The Special Criminal Court has heard evidence regarding a Renault Kangoo van allegedly used in the abduction of businessman Kevin Lunney. Prosecution counsel Sean Guerin SC stated that the vehicle, with a registration ending in PXU, was imported by the now-deceased Cyril McGuinness, who is alleged to have organised the offence. Witness Laura Curran, a shipping manager, testified that a booking was made for the van to travel from Holyhead to Dublin on August 27, 2019, using a credit card associated with the name "C McGuinness". The trial is presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, with Judges Gerard Griffin and David McHugh. Defendants Alan O'Brien, Darren Redmond, and Luke O'Reilly have all pleaded not guilty to charges of false imprisonment and intentionally causing serious harm to Mr Lunney at Drumbrade, Ballinagh, Co Cavan, on September 17, 2019. Mr Lunney testified that he was forced into a car boot, taken to a container where he was threatened to resign from Quinn Industrial Holdings, and subjected to severe physical abuse, including being cut, doused in bleach, and having his leg broken. He was later left injured on a country road at Drumcoghill. The court is currently examining the provenance of the vehicle used in the alleged crime.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Lisa O'Hara (32) and her former partner James Walsh (37) pleaded guilty to multiple counts of handling or possessing cash that was believed to be the proceeds of crime. O'Hara admitted she did not know the money's origin but was reckless in not asking questions. The pair used €60,000 for a house deposit and paid a builder €62,000 in cash for work on their home. Walsh pleaded guilty to 12 counts involving €136,861, while O'Hara pleaded guilty to nine counts involving €119,126, all between 2015 and 2017. Walsh was also serving an eight‑year firearms sentence from a 2017 raid. The court noted O'Hara's remorse, good work record, and role as sole carer, and adjourned sentencing to 30 July.
Malik Boubir, 46, a father of seven from Liverpool, was sentenced to six years' imprisonment with the final three years suspended on strict conditions. He pleaded guilty to importing €79,648 worth of cannabis into Ireland via a van that had a hidden compartment behind the driver's seat. The van was seized at Dublin Port on 20 October 2020 after customs officers, who had confidential information about the vehicle, stopped and searched it. Boubir had 51 prior convictions in England, including drug possession with intent to supply. He claimed he was paid €2,600 to transport the drugs, that the van did not belong to him, and that he was following instructions from people in Ireland. Gardaí found two mobile phones in his possession showing he had been receiving communications from "certain individuals" in Ireland.
A 54‑year‑old man was convicted by a jury at the Central Criminal Court for sexually assaulting a woman he claimed to have married in a Muslim ceremony. The jury found him guilty on one count of rape but was deadlocked on the remaining four counts. Judge Alex Owens described the defendant as a "schemer" who believed the ceremony gave him permission to act. He noted the woman was seeking asylum and was vulnerable to manipulation. The judge imposed a six‑year sentence, suspending the final six months on the condition of good behaviour, and ordered a four‑year post‑release supervision. The woman, aged 36, testified that she was not married, that the alleged ceremony was a precursor to marriage, and that she suffered depression and PTSD after the assault. The case was heard in July 2021. The unnamed 54-year-old pleaded not guilty.
Trevor Byrne, 41, faces sentencing for an armed robbery of BoyleSports in Swords on 19 March 2010, during which he also hijacked a woman's car and threatened to kill her. He has 44 prior convictions and is already serving a nine‑year sentence for a firearms offence. Byrne pleaded not guilty to robbery, possession of a firearm, false imprisonment, threat to kill and unlawful vehicle seizure. The Special Criminal Court found him guilty after CCTV and a mobile phone left at the scene were linked to him. Victim impact statements from the bookmaker's owner and the hijacked woman were not read aloud, as they requested. The court noted the firearms charge carries a presumptive minimum of five years, robbery and false imprisonment carry maximum life sentences, a threat to kill a maximum of ten years, and hijacking a maximum of fifteen years. Sentencing is scheduled for the following Thursday.
Keith McDonnell, 32, of Tallaght, Dublin, appeared before the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for sentencing. He pleaded guilty in April this year to burglary at St James's Road, Walkinstown, on October 14, 2013, and violent disorder at a Maxol garage on the Crumlin Road on February 3, 2014. Judge Elma Sheahan noted that McDonnell was on bail during the violent disorder incident and had 58 previous convictions. While acknowledging his guilty pleas, remorse, and addiction issues, the judge highlighted the seriousness of breaking into a family home with a hammer. Considering the 18 months already served and other charges on the indictments, Judge Sheahan sentenced McDonnell to 12 months imprisonment for the violent disorder and two and a half years imprisonment for the burglary. Both sentences were suspended in full for their respective durations. The conditions of the suspension include probation supervision and the completion of a residential drugs treatment programme. The court also noted that his co-accused received a three-year suspended sentence after pleading guilty.
Stephen Feery, 31, escaped Garda custody by crawling through a hospital bathroom vent while awaiting treatment for a broken arm. He had been taken to St James Hospital after a burglary at Dame House, where he stole electrical equipment. During the escape, he struck a Garda and was later rearrested. Feery pleaded guilty to burglary and the escape charge. He has 159 prior convictions, including theft, fraud, and traffic offences. The court heard that he was heavily addicted to crack cocaine and that his escape was driven by a desire for more drugs. Counsel highlighted his complex needs and the importance of psychiatric and psychological reports. Judge Melanie Greally adjourned sentencing to November 25 to allow these reports to be prepared and to consider residential rehabilitation and support for his mental wellbeing.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Conor Clarke, aged 29, pleaded guilty to unlawful seizure of a vehicle, attempted seizure of a vehicle, assault and making threats to kill or cause serious harm after an incident on Hazelhatch Road, Newcastle, Co Dublin, on 15 February 2019. The case began when a car overturned on the street and three men, including Clarke, emerged. Clarke punched a resident, John Daly, and later jumped into another man's car, leading to a struggle that was ended by Daly's intervention. A nurse who had stopped to help also witnessed the altercation and left the scene after fearing Clarke might pull her out of her car. Gardaí arrested Clarke, who was remanded in custody pending a final hearing scheduled for 1 November. The court considered psychological reports indicating severe depression and high anxiety, and a probation report was ordered. The hearing concluded with the judge adjourned the matter for finalisation.
The Special Criminal Court has heard that prosecution evidence in the trial of four men accused of abducting and assaulting Quinn Industrial Holdings director Kevin Lunney is expected to conclude next week. The trial, under way since mid-May before three judges, concerns an alleged incident at Drumbrade, Ballinagh, County Cavan on 17 September 2019. A 40-year-old man identified as YZ, Alan O'Brien, Darren Redmond and Luke O'Reilly, with an address in County Cavan, have all pleaded not guilty to false imprisonment and intentionally causing serious harm. Prosecution counsel Sean Guerin SC indicated the evidence phase would likely finish within days. The court has examined mobile phone records, CCTV footage of vehicles travelling between Dublin and Cavan, and DNA samples recovered from a Renault Kangoo van. Mr Justice Tony Hunt presides with Judges Gerard Griffin and David McHugh.
Zoltan Almasi, 49, has had his plea to manslaughter accepted by the Director of Public Prosecutions for the 2014 killing of Joseph Dunne. Almasi, who has been in custody for seven years, had previously faced three trials for the same murder, with the first conviction quashed by the Supreme Court and the second and third trials ending in hung juries. At his last trial he pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. He was remanded in custody until September 3 for a sentence hearing, with reports ordered from his prison governor, chaplain and psychologist.
In a 2016 incident on Belgard Road, Tallaght, Stephen Duffy, aged 28, struck a stranger who fell and suffered a brain injury requiring life‑saving surgery. Duffy left the scene, then returned to place the victim in the recovery position. CCTV footage captured the attack and his subsequent actions. The victim, who sustained a brain bleed and was in a coma for two weeks, later received €5,000 from Duffy. Duffy pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm on the basis of recklessness, with no prior convictions. The court noted his remorse and the victim's recovery, including loss of smell and taste but regained mobility. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced Duffy to four years' imprisonment, fully suspended, with strict conditions and an additional €10,000 payment to the victim within two years.
During the trial of four men accused of abducting businessman Kevin Lunney at Ballinagh, County Cavan in September 2019, defence counsel Michael O'Higgins SC raised concerns about the conduct of proceedings at the Special Criminal Court. Mr O'Higgins complained that the presiding judge, Mr Justice Tony Hunt, was dismissive of an important part of the defence case relating to blood marks found in a Renault Kangoo van. The complaint arose when the judge interjected to question the location of blood evidence while a fingerprint expert was being cross-examined. Mr O'Higgins objected to what he characterised as the judge's dismissive and contemptuous tone, and stated that the trial should proceed on the basis of evidence presented in court. The four accused—a 40-year-old man identified as YZ, Alan O'Brien, Darren Redmond, and Luke O'Reilly of Kilcogy—have all pleaded not guilty to false imprisonment and intentionally causing serious harm. Medical evidence detailed the extensive injuries sustained by Mr Lunney, including lacerations requiring stitches, a fractured tibia, and burns from bleach.
In a case heard by the Central Criminal Court, a 17‑year‑old boy pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a 14‑year‑old girl in a field in County Tipperary on 29 July 2019. The assault occurred after both parties had consumed alcohol, which the boy and the girl had purchased together. The boy admitted to touching the victim's genital area. The victim, who trusted the boy as a school friend, expressed fear and a desire for justice. The court, considering the boy's cooperation, early plea, remorse, and good character, imposed a sentence of two years' detention, deferred for one year. The boy must attend all probation appointments, engage with the Garda Youth Diversion Programme, and complete a sexual consent awareness course. He is also ordered to stay away from the victim. The case was adjourned to 23 May 2022.
Claire Burke, aged 31, was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to a total of six years' imprisonment, with the final two years of the latter sentence suspended. The sentence is consecutive to a two‑year term for an assault in November 2018. In that assault, Burke stabbed a man in the wrist with scissors after he refused to return money she had taken from him. In June 2020, while on bail for that offence, she entered a garage in Clondalkin, produced a knife, and threatened an employee to hand over all the money in the till. She was found guilty of attempted robbery and the production of an article in the course of a dispute. The judge noted her history of drug addiction, homelessness and previous convictions, and stated that she had not shown the transformation her defence claimed. The court did not accept the argument that she had turned over a new leaf.
The Special Criminal Court heard evidence regarding the alleged false imprisonment and intentional serious harm of Kevin Lunney at Drumbrade, Ballinagh, Co Cavan, on September 17, 2019. Defendants Alan O'Brien, Darren Redmond, and Luke O'Reilly have all pleaded not guilty to these charges. Dr Muhammad Ashraf Butt, of Cavan General Hospital, testified that Mr Lunney remained in pain and fearful of public places more than a month after the incident. The doctor noted extensive scarring, including a 7cm scar from the right ear to the cheek and a 10cm scar to the jaw-bone, resulting from slash wounds inflicted with a Stanley knife. Mr Lunney also sustained a fractured tibia, requiring surgical insertion of a nail, and suffered from hypothermia after being left on a roadside in his boxer shorts. He reported pain levels of ten out of ten, requiring morphine and fluids. The court noted that Mr Lunney used a beard to conceal facial scarring, which remained partially visible. The trial is currently ongoing before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, with Judges Gerard Griffin and David McHugh, and has not yet reached a final verdict or sentencing stage.
The Special Criminal Court is hearing the trial of Kenneth Donohoe and Darren Murphy, who are charged with the murder of Eamon Kelly and the possession of a Glock pistol with intent to endanger life. Both defendants have pleaded not guilty to all charges. The court heard from forensic expert Dr Tom Hannigan, who testified that there is "very strong support" for the suggestion that firearm residue particles found on a jacket seized from a Tallaght house matched those recovered from shell casings at the murder scene. Dr Hannigan stated that seven different particles were identified in both the jacket pockets and the shells, noting the range of elements was the same. However, he clarified that it was not possible to date the metallic particles or conclusively determine how they came to be in the pockets. The trial concerns the December 2012 shooting of Kelly, a veteran criminal figure, in north Dublin. It is noted that in 2015, Sean Connolly was jailed for life by the Special Criminal Court for the murder of Kelly. The trial continues before a three-judge panel.
The Special Criminal Court heard evidence regarding a Renault Kangoo van allegedly used in the abduction of businessman Kevin Lunney. Witness James Maguire testified that he purchased the vehicle for €400 from a man known as "David" on October 23, 2019, before it was seized by gardai. Prosecution counsel Sean Guerin SC stated that forensic examiners found blood with DNA matching Mr. Lunney on a van door and DNA matching one accused on the driver's seat. The court also heard from police analysts who compared CCTV footage of the van's movements on September 17, 2019, with mobile phone data attributed to two of the accused. Mr. Lunney testified that he was bundled into a car boot, taken to a container where he was threatened to resign from Quinn Industrial Holdings, and subjected to severe physical abuse, including having his leg broken and letters cut into his chest. He was later left on a country road in Co Cavan. Alan O'Brien, Darren Redmond, and Luke O'Reilly, along with a 40-year-old man identified as YZ, have all pleaded not guilty to false imprisonment and intentionally causing serious harm to Mr. Lunney at Drumbrade, Ballinagh, Co Cavan on September 17, 2019. The trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, Judge Gerard Griffin, and Judge David McHugh.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 34‑year‑old unemployed father of six pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to his nine‑year‑old daughter between 8 and 11 July 2016. He admitted slapping her but denied using a broom handle or other sticks, claiming the broom was part of a Halloween costume. The court noted the girl's injuries—a five‑by‑ten‑centimetre bruise on her left arm and a dry scratch on her right arm—were inflicted by the father. The judge, after considering the case, deemed the injuries "lower end" of the scale for assault causing harm but stressed the aggravating factor of beating a child. He ordered a report to assess the father's suitability for community service, with a maximum of 240 hours in lieu of an 18‑month prison term, and adjourned finalisation to 8 November. The father expressed regret and hopes for reconciliation with his children.
Palesa Ntsulumbana, 24, a South African medical student, was jailed for two years after importing about three kilograms of methamphetamine worth €183,060 into Ireland. She travelled from South Africa via Dubai, was stopped at Dublin Airport on 13 December 2020, and was given a suitcase she believed contained clothing. Garda John Perillo reported that she had been offered roughly €2,000 to bring the suitcase and that she had no prior convictions. Ntsulumbana pleaded guilty to importing illegal drugs. Judge Melanie Greally described the case as an unusual set of circumstances, noting that Ntsulumbana was likely manipulated and perhaps unwittingly acted as a mule. She was sentenced to four years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended on strict conditions, including leaving the country within 14 days of release and not returning for 20 years.
Anthony Keogh, 64, a former director of Keogh's Crisps and a farmer, admitted to growing 39 cannabis plants in his greenhouse without a licence, claiming it was a "gardening experiment" to explore medicinal benefits. The plants, valued at €7,800, were seized during a Garda search on 9 July 2020 after a suspected grow house was identified. Keogh, who had no prior convictions, pleaded guilty to unlawful possession and cultivation of cannabis. The court noted the plants were mostly seedlings and unlikely to enter drug circulation. Judge Melanie Greally described the case as unusual, proposed an eight‑month imprisonment sentence but deferred it to 4 October, requiring Keogh to post a bond, maintain good behaviour, and contribute €200 to the Father Peter McVerry Trust. If these conditions are met, she will discharge him under Section 100 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006.
Ian Coughlan, 45, of Newcastle, Co Dublin, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to four charges of possessing €159,250, believing or being reckless about whether it was proceeds of crime, from an Allied Irish Bank and a Bank of Ireland account between June and October 2016. Gardaí investigated a fraudulent payment of €39,251 from a Turkish aviation company that was redirected to a Ukrainian supplier; the company later discovered the fraud when the money was never received. A warrant was obtained to search Coughlan's home, and he was arrested on 17 May 2017. Further evidence linked a French plastics company that transferred €120,000 into his Bank of Ireland account after being instructed to change supplier bank details. Coughlan admitted that Nigerian men had asked him to use his account for business, offering him a 10% cut, but he never received it.
The Special Criminal Court heard evidence of mobile phone contacts the prosecution alleges were connected to the abduction and assault of businessman Kevin Lunney in September 2019. An Garda Síochána intelligence analyst Edel Hannigan presented charts detailing calls between phones attributed to the three accused men and one belonging to Cyril McGuinness, whom the State alleges organised the offence. McGuinness's phone contacted a number associated with Luke O'Reilly multiple times in the weeks preceding the incident, with significant activity recorded on the day of the abduction near Ballinagh, County Cavan. Alan O'Brien, Darren Redmond, and Luke O'Reilly have each pleaded not guilty to false imprisonment and intentionally causing serious harm. The trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and two other judges at the Special Criminal Court.
Kelle Elaine Do Rosario Oliveira, a 30‑year‑old Brazilian mother of three, was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for possession of cocaine for sale or supply. She had swallowed 112 capsules of cocaine before boarding a flight to Dublin on 11 October 2020. The drugs, valued at about €72,000, were seized at Dublin Airport after customs and excise officers noticed irregularities in her documentation. Oliveira admitted she had swallowed 90 capsules in Brazil the day before the flight and claimed she was instructed to go to a hotel to remove them, but never received further instructions. She cooperated with Gardaí during questioning and stated she had been promised just under €1,150 to transport the drugs. The judge, recognising her cooperation and foreign status, suspended the final 18 months of a three‑year sentence on the condition that she leave Ireland within seven days of release and not return for 20 years. Elaine Do Rosario Oliveira pleaded guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Diego Andrade, a 24‑year‑old Bolivian national, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment, with the final six months suspended, for sexually assaulting a four‑year‑old boy who was asleep in bed with his mother at a party. Andrade was on bail for a separate adult sexual assault conviction and had previously served nine months for that offence. He was identified by a photograph taken by the boy's mother and was found to have child sexual abuse material on his phone. The judge noted the boy's extreme anxiety and the family's suffering, and imposed conditions requiring Andrade to leave Ireland within 14 days of release, to be supervised by the Probation Service, and to avoid unsupervised contact with children for 20 years. The sentence is to run consecutively with his existing custodial term. Diego Andrade pleaded guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 34‑year‑old mother accused of abusing her children denied that her admissions were "dangerously unreliable." The mother, who pleaded not guilty to 25 charges including sexual assault and wilful neglect, was interviewed six times over two days in 2018, after her children had been taken into care. The detective who conducted the interviews said she was aware of the mother's mild intellectual disability and adapted the questioning accordingly, ensuring the mother understood that her statements could be used as evidence. The detective confirmed that a solicitor was present at each interview and that the mother had no complaints about her treatment. The trial continues with the mother and other family members still pleading not guilty to various charges.
In Cork city, teenager Scott O'Connor was jailed for two years after brandishing a knife outside a house party where 20‑year‑old student Cameron Blair was murdered. The judge said O'Connor deliberately armed himself and threatened people for five minutes on a public street, but did not use the weapon. He had pleaded guilty to violent disorder and to producing a knife capable of serious injury. The court noted that O'Connor's actions contributed to the hostile atmosphere that preceded Blair's fatal stabbing. O'Connor's sentences for violent disorder and for producing the knife run concurrently and were back‑dated to the time he entered custody. The judge highlighted O'Connor's early guilty pleas, cooperation with Gardaí and lack of prior convictions as mitigating factors. The sentence was imposed in the Central Criminal Court by Mr Justice David Keane.
A forensic scientist told the Special Criminal Court that she discovered blood inside a horse box at a yard in Ballinagh, Co Cavan during an examination in September 2019. Dr Yvonne O'Dowd of Forensic Science Ireland used luminol detection to identify the presence of blood to the right of the door and subsequently confirmed through laboratory testing that the blood was human. The yard at Drumbrade belonged to Luke O'Reilly, one of four men accused in connection with the abduction and assault of businessman Kevin Lunney. O'Reilly, Alan O'Brien, Darren Redmond, and a man referred to as YZ have all pleaded not guilty to false imprisonment and intentionally causing serious harm on September 17, 2019. The trial, heard before Mr Justice Tony Hunt with Judges Gerard Griffin and David McHugh, continues. Lawyers for the accused are challenging the admissibility of evidence relating to the yard and associated items.
A 16‑year‑old boy, who was 14 at the time of the incident, was charged with violent disorder and the production of a knife outside a house party where 20‑year‑old Cameron Blair was murdered. The Central Criminal Court heard that the boy, who cannot be named, has become a "pariah" in his community and that his family have had to move homes to keep him out of trouble. He pleaded not guilty to producing a knife but pleaded guilty to violent disorder. The Director of Public Prosecutions decided not to pursue the knife charge, entering a nolle prosequi. The court heard that the boy was in possession of a butter knife and had punched a girl during the altercation. The case is still pending sentencing.
The Special Criminal Court trial of businessman Jim Mansfield Jnr, aged 53, is facing a potential delay of more than six months. The delay follows the court's decision to pause proceedings to allow Mansfield's lawyers to review 12 days of CCTV footage that had not been previously disclosed by the Gardaí. Mansfield's defence counsel, Bernard Condon, is currently engaged in another trial that will not conclude in time, prompting his senior counsel, Tony McGillicuddy BL, to request an adjournment. The Director of Public Prosecutions, Caroline Cummings BL, described the delay as a "disappointing turn of events" that could complicate matters for witnesses in the Witness Protection Programme. Judge Alexander Owens stated that the court would consider an adjournment application next Wednesday but emphasized the need to keep the case moving. Jim Mansfield Jnr pleaded not guilty.
A man has been sentenced to eight years and nine months imprisonment by the Central Criminal Court following his conviction for the rape of his then partner's teenage sister. Stephen Lynch, with an address in Offaly, was found guilty in May 2021 of rape committed at a property in Athlone, County Roscommon, in October 2015. He was also convicted of sexual assault and assault causing harm arising from an incident in December 2015 at the same address. The court heard that Lynch had drugged and raped the first victim, then subjected a second woman to sexual assault while also attacking her friend who attempted to intervene. Justice David Keane imposed concurrent sentences, noting the offences were aggravated by the victim's age and the use of drugs. Lynch pleaded not guilty throughout. The sentences were backdated to May 2021 when he first entered custody following conviction.
A man has been sentenced to eighteen months imprisonment at the Special Criminal Court for perverting the course of justice during the investigation into a 2013 murder. Ray Kennedy, aged 40, was found guilty of destroying a mobile phone SIM card on the day Peter Butterly was fatally shot in a car park at Gormanston, County Meath. Kennedy had arranged to meet Butterly the previous day and arrived at the scene shortly after the killing. Gardaí had requested he remain for interview, but while waiting, he removed and disposed of the SIM card, which prosecutors described as evidentially significant. Justice Tony Hunt imposed a four-year headline sentence but suspended two and a half years on humanitarian grounds, citing Kennedy's daughter's serious health condition. The judge rejected Kennedy's account that he had panicked, finding instead that his actions were calculated. Kennedy must enter a good behaviour bond of one hundred euros for two and a half years following release. Ray Kennedy pleaded not guilty.
A contempt of court hearing concerning two witnesses in the trial of an unnamed 16-year-old defendant was adjourned until Friday. Darragh O'Connor and Craig O'Donoghue, both 20, are alleged to have left the jurisdiction for Ayia Napa to avoid giving evidence at the juvenile's trial. The 16-year-old, who pleaded not guilty to producing a knife, had previously pleaded guilty to violent disorder at a house on Bandon Road in Cork city where college student Cameron Blair was murdered. The DPP discontinued the knife charge. During the out-of-hours High Court sitting, defence counsel reported that prison authorities could not facilitate consultations due to a harsh regime and one witness's reported Covid-19 symptoms. Mr Justice Keane ordered the two alleged contemptors to be produced before him on Friday at 10.30am. The 16-year-old defendant was remanded on continuing bail until Friday, when the case will be mentioned to finalise a date for sentence. The alleged offence of contempt of court is punishable by imprisonment, fine, or both.
A 25‑year‑old Dublin man, formerly known as Ben Mooney and now Ben McCarthy, was sentenced to a three‑year suspended term after pleading guilty to possessing child pornography. He admitted to using the alias "Nicole Heffernon" to contact up to 15 teenage boys via Facebook, sending them explicit images and videos of themselves in underwear or naked, and also videos of the boys masturbating. The court found he had 4,000 images and 300 videos on a Samsung phone at his home. He had no prior convictions. Judge Melanie Greally noted his behaviour was exploitative and that he had been under a two‑year probation bond since 2019, during which he completed the "Safer Lives" programme and other treatment courses. The suspended sentence will be enforced if he fails to comply with probation conditions.
The Special Criminal Court heard that gardaí employed an "extremely impressive" identification procedure when examining CCTV footage related to the abduction and assault of businessman Kevin Lunney in County Cavan on 17 September 2019. Inspector Stephen Mullen outlined the controlled process whereby officers with potential knowledge of persons in the footage were segregated, shown material without context, and recorded independently. Three men pleaded not guilty to false imprisonment and intentionally causing serious harm: a 40-year-old man identified as YZ, Alan O'Brien (40) of East Wall, Dublin, and Darren Redmond (27), also of East Wall. Luke O'Reilly (67) from Mullahoran Lower, Kilcogy, County Cavan, similarly entered not guilty pleas. Gardaí testified to identifying the accused at various locations including Dublin apartments and service stations. Physical evidence, including bleach bottles recovered from Mr O'Reilly's property and a recently positioned trailer at Drumbrade, was also presented. The trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt with Judges Gerard Griffin and David McHugh.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, the sentencing of former RTÉ producer Kieran Creaven, aged 58, for sexually assaulting and exploiting children was adjourned to 5 November 2021. Creaven, who remains in custody, appeared via video‑link. His defence solicitor, Lorcan Staines SC, requested the adjournment and an updated probation and welfare report, and the judge, Melanie Greally, granted the adjournment and remanded him on the same terms and conditions until the new date. Creaven had previously pleaded guilty to sexually exploiting three children in Ireland between 26 May and 10 July 2017, to sexually assaulting two children in the Philippines in October 2014, to exploiting a child via a Skype conversation in July 2017, and to several counts of possessing child pornography in Ireland, the Philippines, and England. The court heard evidence relating to videos and images from an SC card, a mobile phone, a disk, and a Skype conversation.
In a High Court judgment, Mr Peter Conlon, founder and former Managing Director of the collapsed fundraising service Pembroke Dynamic, was disqualified from acting as a company director or officer for 16 years, one of the longest periods imposed by Irish courts. Judge Mark Sanfey described Conlon's conduct as a "shabby and repugnant fraud" that diverted charitable donations from their intended recipients, causing significant depletion of resources for charities and harming vulnerable beneficiaries. The judge noted mitigating factors such as Conlon's age (67), prior imprisonment in Switzerland, and settlement of proceedings with the liquidator, which reduced a proposed 18‑year disqualification to 16 years. Conlon accepted responsibility for Pembroke's debts of up to €2 million and agreed to a €2 million judgment in favour of the liquidator. The settlement also imposed freezing orders on assets and required the transfer of €371,000 in bank accounts to the liquidator for distribution to creditors.
Robert Hedderman, 37, was jailed for 18 months after a burglary on Christmas Day 2016 in which he damaged furniture, electronic devices and urinated throughout the house. He was already on bail for that offence and was serving a three‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence for a 2016 burglary. Hedderman pleaded guilty to a 2019 burglary at an industrial building in Cookstown Court, Tallaght, where six laptops worth €9,000 were stolen. Blood on a broken window matched his DNA. He has 51 prior convictions, including 10 for burglary, robbery, criminal damage, knife possession and public order offences. The judge suspended the final 18 months of the new sentence, to run consecutively with the existing term, and imposed strict conditions. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
The Special Criminal Court has ruled on the admissibility of evidence in the trial of four men accused of abducting and assaulting businessman Kevin Lunney. Alan O'Brien, Darren Redmond, Luke O'Reilly, and a 40-year-old man identified as YZ have all pleaded not guilty to false imprisonment and intentionally causing serious harm. Presiding Judge Tony Hunt rejected defence arguments that gardai used mobile phone data and private CCTV in a manner constituting mass surveillance or a breach of privacy rights. The court determined that the evidence was lawfully gathered and proportionate, noting that the investigation targeted specific data rather than engaging in indiscriminate collection. While the judge admitted most mobile phone and CCTV footage, he excluded evidence relating to YZ's partner and restricted the timeframe for data attributed to Redmond. Additionally, footage from two specific locations was ruled inadmissible due to a lack of direct evidence regarding their operation. The court emphasized that privacy rights are balanced against the necessity to investigate serious organized crime. The trial, which also includes Judges Gerard Griffin and David McHugh, continues.