Derek Foran, 36, was arrested after attempting to hold up the Speaker Connolly pub in Firhouse on 1 January 2018. He entered wearing a balaclava, armed with a replica Uzi‑style gun, and shouted threats to the patrons. Regular customers recognised him and tackled him, while an off‑duty detective intervened and secured the gun. Foran pleaded guilty to attempted robbery of pub manager Jason Doyle. He had prior convictions for drug dealing and public order offences. The court noted his drug‑addicted state and that he had acted alone. Judge Elma Sheahan, citing his efforts to stay drug‑free and engage in pro‑social activities, sentenced him to four years' imprisonment, fully suspended on strict conditions. The sentence was imposed after a probation report and a prior 12‑month probation bond. The judge emphasised the need for continued rehabilitation.
The handgun alleged to have been used in the murder of gangland figure Eamon Kelly was produced in evidence at the Special Criminal Court. Kenneth Donohoe and Darren Murphy, both aged 42 and 50 respectively, are on trial for the murder of Kelly at Furry Park Road, Killester, on December 4, 2012. Both men have pleaded not guilty to the murder charge and to the possession of a firearm, a Glock pistol, with intent to endanger life, on the same date and at the same location. Garda Stephen Donnelly of Raheny Garda Station stated that Donohoe understood his detention terms but refused to sign a custody record. Sean Connolly, then aged 35, was jailed for life in 2015 for the murder of Kelly. The trial continues at the Special Criminal Court before Mr Justice Alexander Owens, sitting with Judge Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin and Judge Dermot Dempsey.
The Special Criminal Court trial of Alan O'Brien, Darren Redmond, Luke O'Reilly, and a 40-year-old man known as YZ continued, with the defence challenging the admissibility of CCTV evidence. The four accused, who have all pleaded not guilty to false imprisonment and intentionally causing serious harm against Quinn Industrial Holdings director Kevin Lunney, are facing allegations that they abducted and assaulted him in September 2019. During proceedings, dozens of witnesses from Cavan, Monaghan, Westmeath, and Dublin testified that they provided CCTV footage to gardai upon request, often without questioning the legal basis. Some stated they were unaware of the Data Protection Act, while others noted they were given copies of section 41b, which permits seizure if necessary and proportionate. Northern Irish police officers also testified regarding their data protection training, confirming that service instructions were issued in 2018 following the Act's introduction. Mr Lunney previously testified that he was forced into a car, taken to a container where he was threatened to resign, and subjected to severe physical abuse, including being cut, doused in bleach, and having his leg broken. He was later found injured on a country road. The trial is presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, with Judges Gerard Griffin and David McHugh, and continues.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 23 June 2021, a man named Justine Byrne, aged 50, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for possession of cocaine and heroin for sale or supply. Byrne, who lives in Clarinda Park East, Dun Laoghaire, admitted to holding and cutting the drugs at his premises after being "prevailed upon" to do so because of debt. Garda Shane McGrath reported that on 5 September 2020, police searched Byrne's home, finding €84,000 worth of cocaine (valued at €82,090) and €2,300 worth of heroin, along with a cutting agent, a hydraulic press, weighing scales and drug‑sale packages. Byrne had a prior assault conviction and had not attracted police attention since the offence. Judge Martin Nolan accepted Byrne's admissions and mitigation but ruled that a custodial sentence was necessary, sentencing him to three years in prison. The court noted Byrne was at the lowest level of the drug‑dealing operation. Justine Byrne pleaded guilty.
John Corr, 55, owner of five pharmacies, was found guilty of fraudulently claiming duplicate reimbursements from the HSE's Primary Care Reimbursement Service between 15 and 30 July 2016. He pleaded guilty to seven counts of dishonestly inducing the scheme to pay at locations in Dublin and County Louth. The total amount claimed was €3,988.79, while the duplicate claims amounted to €8,075.37. Corr had made full restitution and had no prior convictions. Judge Martin Nolan, after noting Corr's 31‑year pharmacy career and the loss of his business, ordered him to complete 240 hours of community service in lieu of a two‑and‑a‑half‑year prison term. The sentence was delivered on 23 June 2021 at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The case highlighted the HSE's reliance on pharmacists' honesty and the impact of the fraud on Corr's pharmacy contract.
Dylan Deegan, 24, turned up at a solicitor's office in Tallaght to admit to a robbery, saying he wanted to be jailed. He had been on bail for two earlier robberies when he raided the Insomnia Café in February 2021, demanding money from the till. Gardaí tracked him via CCTV to a taxi and then to the solicitor's office, where he confessed. Deegan had previously pleaded guilty to robberies at the Back Lane Hostel (April 2020), Cash for Clothes (July 2020) and Insomnia (February 2021). He was remanded in custody since February. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to three and a half years for the April 2020 mugging of a homeless man, noting the victim's injuries and psychological impact. The sentencing of the Insomnia robbery was adjourned to October 2021. Deegan's defence highlighted his difficult childhood and drug addiction. The prosecution described the assaults and the victim's injuries.
Aaron Maguire, 32, was jailed for three years after being caught twice with thousands of euros that were the proceeds of criminal conduct while on bail for the same offence. He had an initial debt of about €15,000, which rose to €30,000 after he lost the cash during the first arrest. Gardaí found €5,550 in cash in his car and an additional €15,365 at his home. He pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine for sale or supply and possession of the proceeds of criminal conduct at two locations in Clondalkin and Blackhall Street. He had one prior conviction for a minor road traffic offence. The court heard that his mother paid off the debt by drawing down her pension early after his son was assaulted in July 2020. Judge Elma Sheahan sentenced him to two-and-a-half years for money‑laundering offences, suspended the final two years, and imposed a five‑year effective custodial term.
At the Special Criminal Court in Dublin, prosecutors presented evidence that one of three men accused of assaulting Quinn Industrial Holdings director Kevin Lunney made a journey to Cavan on September 16, 2019, which the State characterises as preparatory to the following day's alleged abduction. Detective Garda Alan Jones described tracking the accused man from Store Street garda station to a Renault Kangoo van, which prosecutors allege transported suspects between Dublin and Cavan on both dates. The court heard evidence of extensive CCTV surveillance gathered from toll booths, garages, and private premises. Alan O'Brien, Darren Redmond, and Luke O'Reilly, along with a man known as YZ, have each pleaded not guilty to false imprisonment and intentionally causing serious harm at Ballinagh, County Cavan on September 17, 2019. The defence is challenging the admissibility of CCTV evidence and mobile phone data. The trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and two other judges.
Jonathan Collopy, a 34‑year‑old Limerick resident and father of six, was ordered by the High Court to be extradited to Bulgaria to serve an 18‑month sentence for a 2016 drink‑driving conviction. Collopy had previously been arrested in France on a European Arrest Warrant but was refused surrender. He contested surrender on the basis that Bulgarian prisons were substandard and that he suffered from severe back and disc problems, arguing that extradition would expose him to inadequate medical care and potential inhuman treatment. The court, after receiving assurances from Bulgarian authorities that prisons were not overcrowded, had adequate health facilities, and that Collopy would be covered by the National Health Insurance Fund, found no real risk of inhuman treatment. Mr Justice Paul Burns therefore ordered his surrender, giving Collopy 15 days to consider the judgment. The case was remanded in custody pending further proceedings.
The Special Criminal Court examined CCTV footage on Monday as part of the trial relating to the abduction and assault of Kevin Lunney, a director of Quinn Industrial Holdings, in September 2019. Detective Garda Alan Jones spent three days presenting video evidence compiled during the garda investigation, covering locations across Dublin, Cavan, Westmeath and Louth. Prosecution counsel Sean Guerin SC indicated that footage allegedly documents interactions between individuals and vehicles connected to the alleged offences. One sequence purportedly shows a Renault Kangoo van deposited at a yard in Duleek, County Meath on October 23rd, 2019. Defence counsel challenged the admissibility of the CCTV material. Three men have pleaded not guilty to false imprisonment and intentionally causing serious harm: Alan O'Brien, aged 40, and Darren Redmond, aged 27, both of East Wall, Dublin, and Luke O'Reilly, aged 67, of Kilcogy, County Cavan. The trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and judges Gerard Griffin and David McHugh.
Casaba Ilyes, 57, a Hungarian national who entered Ireland under a false name, was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to 12 months in prison for fraudulently claiming €61,633 in social welfare between July 2011 and July 2017. He also admitted possessing a false Hungarian driving licence. Garda investigations revealed that his photographs matched those on a bogus Hungarian ID, leading to the discovery of four false licences and passports. Ilyes admitted to claiming job seeker's allowance under the false identity while working legally under his real name. He has paid €12,900 back to the State, leaving over €48,000 outstanding. Judge Melanie Greally adjourned the case for a week, then sentenced Ilyes to two and a half years, suspending the final 18 months on strict conditions and requiring repayment of the remaining balance within eight years. The judge noted his community standing and his guilty plea, which avoided a lengthy trial.
Darren Nolan, 50, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment after pleading guilty to possession of heroin for sale or supply at his Dublin address. He had taken a business loan to start a venture, but the money was largely used to fund a heroin habit, creating a debt. Gardaí, acting on confidential information and a surveillance operation, obtained a search warrant and found €99,246 worth of heroin, weighing scales, bagging material, a tick‑list, and €3,072 in cash. The heroin was stored in a sock inside a shopping bag in a wheelie bin, and additional stock was found at another address. Nolan had prior theft convictions. His defence argued he had been addicted in the early 1990s, had gone clean, but relapsed in 2015 after personal losses. The court accepted his plea but deemed the offence too serious for a non‑custodial sentence, resulting in the three‑year term.
Ray Kennedy, aged 41, of Blanchardstown in Dublin, has been found guilty of perverting the course of justice at the Special Criminal Court following his destruction of a mobile phone SIM card on 6 March 2013. The card was considered of significant evidential value to the Garda investigation into the murder of dissident republican Peter Butterly at Gormanston, County Meath. Kennedy's defence counsel argued against a custodial sentence, citing his young daughter's serious health condition requiring round-the-clock care and his previously unblemished background. The prosecution contended that Kennedy's actions were calculated to conceal his involvement in the incident. Presiding Judge Tony Hunt noted that a custodial sentence remained under consideration whilst granting bail due to Kennedy's family circumstances. Sentencing has been adjourned to 12 July. Four men have previously received life sentences for Butterly's murder, with two others also imprisoned for roles in the killing.
The Special Criminal Court adjourned the sentencing of David 'Blinky' Duffy until July 30. Duffy, 34, pleaded guilty in April to knowing of a criminal organisation and contributing to activities connected with the murder of James 'Mago' Gately between December 2016 and April 2017. Detective Garda Tony Kennedy testified that the plot was a reprisal for the 2016 Regency Hotel attack, where gang member David Byrne was killed. Duffy provided logistical support, including moving vehicles and purchasing tracker devices. The court heard that Imre Arakas, 62, was jailed for six years in December 2018 after pleading guilty to conspiring to murder Gately in Northern Ireland. Separately, Caolan Smyth was sentenced to 20 years in February for attempted murder after shooting Gately, who survived due to a bulletproof vest. Duffy has 18 previous convictions, including a 2018 sentence for drug offences. Defence counsel highlighted Duffy's early plea, alcohol and drug issues, and rehabilitation efforts. Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding with Judges Gerard Griffin and David McHugh, adjourned the matter to July 30.
A 56‑year‑old British man, Kuldip Singh, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for aiding and abetting the possession of over €960,000 of heroin at a B&B in Dublin. Singh, who had previously lived in Spawell, Dublin 6, secured accommodation for the drugs and acted as a translator for his co‑accused. He denied possession of the drugs but pleaded guilty to the aiding and abetting charge after it was added to the indictment. The court noted his 17 prior convictions in the UK, including seven drug offences, and the large street value of the heroin. Singh's sentence was four years with the final 12 months suspended, subject to conditions that he leave the state within 72 hours of release and not return for ten years. The case involved Garda surveillance, a B&B search that recovered 14 blocks of heroin, €9,000 in cash, and several phones.
Vakjtang Jokhadze (48) and Sophia Grdzelishili (46) were convicted in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for running a network that supplied Georgian nationals with fake EU driving licences and ID cards to facilitate illegal immigration. They pleaded guilty to facilitating human trafficking between June and December 2019, and to money‑laundering and possession of false instruments. The court found the scheme was driven by asylum‑seeking and economic migration, not coercion for prostitution or forced labour. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Jokhadze to four years' imprisonment, back‑dated to his first custody in October 2019, and Grdzelishili to a three‑year sentence suspended in its entirety on strict conditions. The judge noted the defendants' financial gains—over €300,000 in transfers—and the use of multiple false identities, but also considered Grdzelishili's role as primary carer of a teenage son before deciding on the suspended sentence.
The Special Criminal Court trial of Alan O'Brien, Darren Redmond, Luke O'Reilly, and an unnamed man referred to as YZ continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and two other judges. All four accused have pleaded not guilty to the alleged false imprisonment and intentional causing of serious harm to Quinn Industrial Holdings director Kevin Lunney on September 17, 2019. The prosecution alleges that the men abducted Mr Lunney, assaulted him, and forced him to resign as a director. During testimony, Sergeant Fergal McDonagh stated he mediated between YZ and local gardai in May 2019 after YZ complained of harassment. Sgt McDonagh also testified that YZ provided a phone number ending in 717, which the prosecution links to the deceased Cyril McGuinness, who allegedly instructed the accused. The court viewed CCTV footage of vehicles allegedly used in the offences, including a silver Renault Kangoo and a black Audi A4. The trial is ongoing and was adjourned to continue on Monday.
Didzis Pujats, 29, of Rush, Co Dublin, appeared before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court where he pleaded guilty to thefts committed at locations in Dublin on January 20, 2017. The prosecution alleged that Pujats withdrew a total of €26,481.72 from a victim's Bank of Ireland account using a falsely obtained bank card and fake identification. He was identified after CCTV footage of the transactions was aired on the RTÉ programme Crimecall. In interview, Pujats admitted to making 14 transactions in one day, stating he was approached by individuals after losing money in a casino and was driven from post office to post office to carry out the withdrawals. He claimed he received a €500 gift card or €1,000 in cash for his participation. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced Pujats to three years' imprisonment, but suspended the sentence in its entirety on strict conditions. The court noted that Pujats had no previous convictions in this jurisdiction or in Latvia and was described as a vulnerable person who operated in plain sight. The judge also ordered that a bank draft of €2,700, presented by Pujats to pay compensation, be paid over to Bank of Ireland.
Two men have received fully suspended sentences at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for assisting another man's escape from gardaí. Derek Mitchell, aged 27, and Patrick Macken, aged 34, pleaded guilty to impeding the apprehension or prosecution of an offender on Rosemount Avenue, Artane, Dublin, on March 13, 2015. During a garda operation, the men failed to stop a van in which a third man was attempting to evade arrest. Items recovered from the vehicle included an imitation firearm and cable ties. The third man was subsequently convicted and received a four-year prison sentence in 2017. Judge Melanie Greally noted that considerable time had elapsed since the incident and both defendants had distanced themselves from negative associations. She sentenced each man to twelve months imprisonment, fully suspended, placing the offence in the mid-range of seriousness due to its connection with a more serious underlying criminal enterprise.
Michael Murray, 50, is on trial at the Circuit Court in Dublin for threatening to kill senior counsel Dominic McGinn and barrister Tony McGillicuddy, who prosecuted him for rape in 2013, and for harassing McGinn by advertising him online as a prostitute, as well as harassing his former defence solicitor and the woman he was convicted of raping. He pleaded not guilty to the threats and harassment charges. Murray admitted owning the phone used for the calls, which his defence said was given to him by another solicitor. During a May 8, 2015 interview, Murray told detectives that he had instructed his former solicitor to call 24 defence witnesses, but she did not comply, and that he believed his legal calls were being intercepted. He also claimed he had planned to have his solicitor abducted by a "foreign gang," a plan he later cancelled.
At the Special Criminal Court in Dublin, prosecutors presented evidence alleging that a phone number ending in 567 was linked to Darren Redmond in connection with the September 2019 abduction and assault of Kevin Lunney near Ballinagh, County Cavan. The number was allegedly used when applying for a passport under Mr Redmond's name and address, when booking flights to Las Vegas for September 6 to 12, 2019, and when ordering food from a Domino's Pizza outlet three days after the alleged offence. Mr Redmond, aged 27, of East Wall, Dublin, denies false imprisonment and intentionally causing serious harm. Two co-accused, Alan O'Brien and Luke O'Reilly from County Cavan, also deny the charges. Defence counsel challenged the reliability of the evidence, noting that witnesses had no recollection of transactions and that automated systems could not verify how details were entered. The trial before three judges continues. Alan O'Brien pleaded not guilty. Darren Redmond pleaded not guilty. Luke O'Reilly pleaded not guilty. Kevin Lunney pleaded not guilty.
Sarunas Lubenskas, 31, of Carlingford Road, Drumcondra, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to one count of cannabis cultivation after Gardaí searched his home on 13 May 2018. The search revealed that all but one room were used to grow cannabis, with an estimated value of €100,000. Lubenskas, a Lithuanian national who had worked casually as a labourer, claimed he was not responsible for the drugs and did not know who ran the operation. He admitted he was intoxicated and aggressive when Gardaí entered. Judge Pauline Codd sentenced him to four years' imprisonment, suspending the final year on strict conditions, and ordered him to leave the State within 28 days of release. The judge said a message must be sent out to deter non‑resident involvement in the drug trade in Ireland.
Graham Campion, 27, was jailed for four-and-a-half years after driving into a car carrying a mother and her five‑year‑old child. He had been disqualified from driving for 14 years when the collision occurred on the N81 Tallaght Bypass on 16 April 2017. The victim and her son were travelling home from Tallaght Hospital when Campion's vehicle forced their car off the road. Campion pleaded guilty to endangerment and damaging a car. He has 68 prior convictions, including dangerous driving, driving without a licence, no insurance and drug offences. The court noted that Campion left the scene after the crash, an aggravating factor. He was also ordered to remain disqualified from driving for 15 years.
Enda Holmes, 38, received a fully suspended sentence of two‑and‑a‑half years for a campaign of harassment against a woman he met on an escort website. Holmes repeatedly called and texted the victim, set up an account on the same website displaying her phone number and her daughter's name, and sent messages that linked to her location. He also paid her €200 by direct debit and continued to contact her after she blocked his number, including visiting her workplace. The victim reported the incidents to Gardaí in February 2020, after which Holmes ceased contact. Judge Melanie Greally imposed the suspended sentence on strict conditions, ordering Holmes to avoid the victim's residence and workplace for ten years and to refrain from any contact. A breach of this order is a separate offence punishable by up to 12 months imprisonment. The unnamed man pleaded guilty.
The Director of Public Prosecutions announced that the charge of producing a knife at the Bandon Road house party where 20‑year‑old Cameron Blair was murdered would be withdrawn. The 16‑year‑old accused, who was 14 at the time of the incident, had pleaded not guilty to producing a knife capable of inflicting serious injury. He had previously pleaded guilty to violent disorder with two others. The trial at the Central Criminal Court had been proceeding for almost three weeks before the DPP entered a nolle prosequi. The judge, Mr Justice Keane, declared the trial ended and directed a probation report within 28 days, remanding the juvenile on bail until 12 July. The case was closed without proceeding with the knife‑production charge.
Robert Byrne, aged 30, was sentenced to six months in prison for stealing over €11,000 from his grandfather's bank account. Byrne carried out 35 transactions between 4 June 2015 and 4 January 2016, using his grandfather's credit card details. The thefts included online gambling and a purchase of children's toys. Byrne has 40 prior convictions, including robbery, theft and use of a false instrument. The court noted that the bank reimbursed the victim but incurred a loss of €11,535.32, and Byrne has made no attempt to repay the money. Judge Pauline Codd described the offence as "very mean and low down" and "particularly reprehensible" because it involved his own grandfather. She imposed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence, suspending the final two years on strict conditions, including engagement with drug rehabilitation and the Probation Service. The defence argued that Byrne had re‑engaged with his grandfather, who did not want him imprisoned. Robert Byrne pleaded guilty.
David Dwyer, 37, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for assaulting his former partner in the presence of her children. Dwyer pleaded guilty to assaulting the woman causing her harm and failing to comply with a direction given by Inspector Woods at Edenmore, Raheny, on May 2, 2020. The court heard that Dwyer punched and kicked the woman after she attempted to end their relationship, leaving her with a busted nose and head injury. Judge Melanie Greally described the incident as violent and noted that Dwyer's intoxication was no excuse for the assault. In mitigation, defense counsel Jennifer Jackson BL highlighted Dwyer's remorse, his efforts to address addiction, and the impact of his father's death on his substance use. Judge Greally acknowledged Dwyer's progress while on remand and his desire to change. She sentenced Dwyer to 18 months in prison, backdating the term to May 4, 2020, when he was remanded in custody. This sentence follows previous convictions, including an 18-month term for threatening gardaí with knives in 2018 and a five-year sentence for arson in 2012, two years of which were suspended. The judge emphasized the seriousness of the violence inflicted on the victim and the distress caused to her children.
The trial of Alan O'Brien, Darren Redmond, Luke O'Reilly, and a 40-year-old man, all accused of false imprisonment and intentionally causing serious harm to Kevin Lunney, is currently at the sentence stage. All four defendants have pleaded not guilty to the charges relating to the alleged abduction and assault of Mr. Lunney in September 2019. The court is presently addressing a six-day legal argument concerning the admissibility of mobile phone data evidence. The prosecution, represented by Sean Guerin SC, argues that gardai were entitled to access this data via search warrants to investigate serious crime, citing a lack of clarity in EU law regarding mass retention. Conversely, defence counsel contends that such access interferes with privacy rights under EU law and highlights procedural irregularities in the warrant applications. Mr Justice Tony Hunt expressed frustration at the lack of structured guidance from the Court of Justice of the European Union on accessing phone data for national security purposes. The court, sitting with Judges Gerard Griffin and David McHugh, has indicated it will deliver its decision on the admissibility of this evidence next week. The prosecution is scheduled to continue presenting CCTV evidence on Thursday. No final verdict or sentencing has been recorded in this report.
A 41‑year‑old father of four, Martin Cawley, was sentenced to five years in prison for a pre‑meditated burglary of an apartment block on Kilmacud Road Upper, Dublin 14, on 11 September 2020. The judge, Melanie Greally, described the offence as an organised, targeted incident intended to extend to several apartments. Cawley had an accomplice and a third man waited in a getaway car with false plates and tinted windows. He was equipped with house‑breaking implements. The burglary caused €410 of damage to the homeowner's door and the theft of a gold wedding band. Cawley pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and had 104 previous convictions. The judge accepted that his absence was a hardship to his wife and sentenced him to five years, suspending the final year on strict conditions. The case was prosecuted by Antonia Boyle BL and defended by Alan Delany BL.
At a sentencing hearing in the Central Criminal Court, the sister of Stephen 'Apples' Kavanagh, Stephanie Kavanagh, described her brother's death as 'brutally and viciously robbed' after a row over missing crack cocaine. She stated that her 37-year-old brother had 40 stab wounds on his body and was 'left to die like a dog'. Defence counsel Brendan Grehan SC for Darren Houlden, who was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter, stated that it had not taken 'Sherlock Holmes' to solve the case as his client had walked into a garda station covered in blood and admitted stabbing the deceased. The judge remanded Houlden in custody until July 6, when he will be sentenced. The jury accepted the defence case that Houlden had 'lost control and snapped' when he stabbed Mr Kavanagh in a 'frenzied attack'. The defence contention was that 'fear' was at 'the heart of the case' and the accused was afraid for 'his own skin' as the victim had threatened his family. Houlden had pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The matter was adjourned and never described as concluded or finalised.
In the Special Criminal Court, the State argued that the mass retention of mobile phone data is not unlawful, countering defence claims regarding the admissibility of evidence in the trial of Alan O'Brien, Darren Redmond, and Luke O'Reilly. The defendants, who have all pleaded not guilty to false imprisonment and intentionally causing serious harm to Kevin Lunney at Drumbrade, Ballinagh, Co Cavan, on September 17, 2019, face charges stemming from an alleged abduction and assault. Prosecution counsel Sean Guerin SC submitted that while the use of such data constitutes a serious interference with privacy rights, it is justified by the investigation of serious crime. He cited a recent European Court of Justice decision in a Spanish case, asserting that the legality of data retention is a matter for national courts. Guerin further noted that Irish law mandates retention under the Communications (Retention of Data) Act 2011, and that the Supreme Court has disagreed with the High Court's previous conclusion that such retention was prohibited by the EU. Defence counsel Michael O'Higgins SC had previously argued that gardai broke the law by accessing data from Meteor and Vodafone, alleging repeated violations of privacy rights. The matter is currently at the sentence stage, with Guerin's submissions continuing before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, Judge Gerard Griffin, and Judge David McHugh.
The Special Criminal Court heard that Declan Brady, his wife Deirdre Brady, and Erika Lukacs laundered approximately €1.3m in crime cash. At today's sentence hearing, Brady (55) pleaded guilty to seven further money laundering offences, Deirdre Brady (53) admitted to 17 more, and Lukacs (37) pleaded guilty to five additional offences. The court heard that Brady laundered €318,654, Deirdre Brady laundered €770,499, and Lukacs laundered €196,864. Deirdre Brady allegedly transferred over €140,000 to Thomas 'Bomber' Kavanagh and paid €138,000 towards a Spanish mortgage. The court also noted that €66,301 was paid for a wedding at Druids Glen, with €27,265 paid in cash. Declan Brady is already serving an 11.5-year sentence for supervising a weapons cache. All three defendants have paid money to the Criminal Assets Bureau. Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding with Judges Gerard Griffin and David McHugh, remanded Brady in custody until July 30, when he will be sentenced. The matter was adjourned.
Oliver Kane, 41, who was homeless and had mental health issues, walked into a Garda station on 14 June 2021 to inform officers that he had just attempted to rape a 21‑year‑old woman in Ardee on 16 November 2020. He admitted that he had approached the woman with the intention of forcing her into a side area, but she fought him off and escaped. Kane pleaded guilty to attempted rape at the Central Criminal Court. Mr Justice Paul Coffey sentenced him to four years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended, and imposed a three‑year post‑release supervision order. The judge required Kane to engage with local mental health services for three years upon release and to register as a sex offender. The sentence reflected the judge's view that Kane's actions were opportunistic and that the victim suffered ongoing mental‑health effects. The court noted Kane's single prior public‑order conviction and his minor intellectual disability.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 14 June 2021, Stephen Keane, aged 31, was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of 60‑year‑old John Lowe in Portlaw, Waterford, on 13 December 2018. The court heard victim impact statements from three of Lowe's sisters, who described the loss of their brother and the emotional devastation caused by his brutal death. Keane had pleaded guilty to manslaughter but not to murder, claiming a single punch after an alleged argument over a silver box and that Lowe had approached him with a knife – evidence that gardaí could not confirm. The jury heard that Keane had attempted to resuscitate Lowe and that he was heavily intoxicated on the day of the incident. The life sentence was back‑dated to the date of the murder. The judge offered condolences to Lowe's family. The hearing concluded with the sentence imposed. Stephen Keane was found guilty.
A 19‑year‑old man was remanded in custody after pleading guilty to defiling a 13‑year‑old girl at a house party when he was 16. The offence, which occurred in June 2018, was charged as defilement of a child aged 15 to 17 because the accused believed the girl was 15. The court heard the party was organised by older teenagers and that the girl was alone with the accused in a bedroom where they had sexual intercourse. The girl later informed a relative, leading to the Gardaí's involvement. The accused admitted the act and his belief about the girl's age. He has prior convictions for theft, drugs and public order offences. The judge, citing the seriousness of the offence and the need for reflection, ordered his remand pending sentencing and further reports. The judge warned that his conduct while remanded would influence the eventual custodial term.
The Special Criminal Court trial of Kenneth Donohoe and Darren Murphy, accused of murdering gangland figure Eamon Kelly, has heard evidence of a burning Lexus car allegedly connected to the fatal shooting. Kelly, 65, was shot four times in the back on December 4, 2012, near his home in north Dublin. Both accused have pleaded not guilty to the murder and to the possession of a firearm, a Glock pistol, with intent to endanger life, on the same date and location. Evidence presented includes testimony from Garda Sergeant Sinead Downey, who arrived at the scene to find the car on fire, and witness accounts linking the vehicle to the shooting. Dr Marie Cassidy, the retired State Pathologist, confirmed that Kelly died from four gunshot wounds to the back. The trial continues with further evidence expected. Sean Connolly was previously jailed for life in 2015 for the murder of Kelly. The matter is currently at the sentence stage, with no finalisation yet.
The Special Criminal Court heard arguments regarding the admissibility of mobile phone data in the trial of Alan O'Brien, Darren Redmond, Luke O'Reilly, and an unnamed 40-year-old man. All four accused have pleaded not guilty to false imprisonment and intentionally causing serious harm to Quinn Industrial Holdings director Kevin Lunney. Defence counsel Michael O'Higgins SC argued that gardai repeatedly broke the law by accessing illegally retained data, citing European Court of Justice rulings that mass retention breaches privacy rights. He contended the evidence was unlawfully obtained and should be ruled inadmissible. Prosecution counsel Sean Guerin SC countered that such data collection is a permitted interference with privacy to investigate serious crime. The court heard that Lunney alleged he was abducted, assaulted, and forced to resign as a director in September 2019. Mr Justice Hunt, presiding, expressed skepticism about the legal conclusions regarding data retention, stating the idea that courts must accept them uncritically does not sit easily with him. The defence also argued that search warrants used to obtain the data were disproportionate and contained inadequate information. The matter was adjourned, with Mr Guerin scheduled to continue his submissions on Monday before Mr Justice Hunt, Judge Gerard Griffin, and Judge David McHugh.
Darren Nolan, aged 28, was given a two‑year suspended sentence after pleading guilty to recklessly discharging a firearm and to possession of heroin and cocaine for sale or supply. He also pleaded guilty to making a false statement to gardaí. The case arose when Nolan was found with a handgun and over €16,000 of illegal drugs in his bedroom. He initially told police he had been shot by three men wearing balaclavas, but later admitted he had shot himself in the face with a blank‑firing gun he had purchased online. The judge noted Nolan's vulnerability, his history of alcohol abuse, and his progress in addressing addiction, and ordered him to attend residential treatment as part of the suspended sentence. No further convictions or outcomes were mentioned in the article.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, Margaret Connors, 26, pleaded guilty to handling stolen property on 28 May 2019. She had previously been convicted 12 times for theft, shoplifting and traffic offences. Garda Marguerite O'Reilly, Special Crimes Task Force, informed Connors of the location of high‑end handbags and shoulder bags worth about €11,000 that had been taken in a burglary in County Wicklow. Connors brought the items to a city centre shop, where the owner examined them for about 40 minutes before paying her cash. CCTV captured Connors arriving with a child two days after the burglary. On 14 November, Gardaí raided Connors' home, arrested her and questioned her at Kevin Street Garda Station. She claimed she had bought the items from a person at her Tallaght home and identified herself on shop CCTV.
In June 2017, Jabulani Haltshwayo, aged 23, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of the proceeds of criminal conduct for receiving €29,945 that had been transferred to his Cork bank account from a UK broker who had mistakenly believed he was acting on a client's instructions. The broker had transferred €696,466 to the account, but only a small portion was used by Haltshwayo. He had previously been convicted of false imprisonment and robbery and was serving a three‑year sentence. The court noted his early guilty plea, cooperation, and his desire to serve his time and become a productive member of society. Judge Melanie Greally imposed an 18‑month sentence, which she suspended in full on strict conditions.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 30‑year‑old Jonas Mercado pleaded guilty to a single charge of sexual assault after an incident on Middle Abbey Street on 15 July 2017. According to Garda Colm McCloskey, Mercado approached a woman speaking on her mobile phone, placed a hand on her leg, grabbed her underwear and tried to tear them off. Passersby heard shouts, restrained Mercado and he fled. The victim, who felt "extremely vulnerable and frightened," gave a victim impact statement urging the court to protect other women, noting she still feels uneasy when going out. After the assault she reported the incident to Gardaí at Ballymun Station, where she initially thought the act was a joke. Mercado had previously left Ireland for Australia, where he was convicted of a breaking and entering offence; he returned to Ireland last year and was arrested.
The Special Criminal Court heard evidence from retired State Pathologist Professor Marie Cassidy regarding the 2012 death of Eamon Kelly. Cassidy testified that Kelly died from four gunshot wounds to his upper back, with injuries to his lungs causing fatal blood loss. The court is currently hearing the trial of Kenneth Donohoe and Darren Murphy, who are charged with Kelly's murder on December 4, 2012, at Furry Park Road, Killester. Both defendants have pleaded not guilty to the murder charge and to the possession of a Glock pistol with intent to endanger life. Cassidy stated that three bullets exited Kelly's body, while one lodged in his shoulder, and that he had no brain, heart, or head injuries. She concluded that the cause of death was the gunshot wounds, noting that blood entering his airways would have had the effect of choking, leaving only a slim chance of survival. Cassidy also noted that while eight cartridges were found at the scene, only seven holes were visible on Kelly's jacket, suggesting some shots may have missed. The trial continues before Justice Alexander Owens, sitting with Judges Sinead Ni Chulachain and Dermot Dempsey. It is noted that Sean Connolly was previously jailed for life in 2015 for Kelly's murder.
In the High Court, former Managing Director Peter Conlon consented to a €2m judgment against him in favour of Pembroke Dynamic's liquidator, Myles Kirby. The settlement, outlined before Mr Justice Mark Sanfey, acknowledges that approximately €4m donated to national and international charities via the Pembroke platform was misappropriated to fund Conlon's technology company. Although the liquidator accepted that Conlon did not personally benefit from the misappropriated monies, he remains liable for the company's debts up to €2m. Conlon also accepted that the court may disqualify him from acting as a company director for a period yet to be determined. Freezing orders preventing Conlon from reducing his assets below €2m, in place since 2018, will remain for three years. Additionally, €371,000 held in bank accounts is to be paid to the liquidator for distribution to creditors. While the liquidator sought a disqualification period of ten years or more, citing the serious nature of the breach, Conlon's counsel argued that his lack of personal benefit and advanced age were significant mitigating factors. The judge welcomed the settlement but reserved his decision on the length of the disqualification, which he will deliver next week. Conlon was previously jailed in Switzerland in 2018 after pleading guilty to embezzlement, serving a four-year sentence with three years suspended.
A barrister representing one of three men charged with the abduction and assault of Quinn Industrial Holdings director Kevin Lunney has criticised the government's failure to introduce legislation governing gardai access to mobile phone data. Michael O'Higgins SC told the Special Criminal Court that a "day of reckoning" has arrived following the State's inaction since court rulings and reports from 2012 onwards exposed legislative deficiencies. Three men, including a 40-year-old who cannot be named by court order, Alan O'Brien, aged 40, and Darren Redmond, aged 27, both from East Wall, Dublin, and Luke O'Reilly, aged 67, of Mullahoran Lower, Kilcogy, County Cavan, have all pleaded not guilty to false imprisonment and intentionally causing serious harm to Mr Lunney on 17 September 2019 at Ballinagh, County Cavan. Mr O'Higgins argued that evidence obtained via mobile phone data accessed through search warrants should be ruled inadmissible, as the relevant legislation lacks necessary safeguards. He noted that a Supreme Court ruling in January 2019 found the Communications (Retention of Data) Act 2011 inconsistent with European law.
The Special Criminal Court trial of Kenneth Donohoe and Darren Murphy for the murder of Eamon Kelly on December 4, 2012, continues before a three-judge panel. Both accused, aged 42 and 50 respectively, have pleaded not guilty to the murder charge and to the possession of a Glock pistol with intent to endanger life. Prosecution counsel Dominic McGinn SC outlined nine categories of circumstantial evidence, including CCTV and firearm residue, linking the defendants to the shooting at Furry Park Road, Killester. Witnesses described Kelly, a veteran criminal, being shot multiple times in the chest while walking home. Neighbours testified to hearing loud bangs and seeing Kelly staggering, gasping, and still breathing before emergency services arrived. One witness noted Kelly's dog was shaking during the incident. Detective Garda Brian Maher testified that he and colleague Aine Ni Chathain arrested Sean Connolly near Clontarf Cricket Club shortly after the shooting, finding surgical gloves and a neck warmer on him. Connolly, then aged 35, was previously jailed for life by the Special Criminal Court for the murder of Kelly. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Alexander Owens, is expected to last six weeks.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 9 June 2021, Erika Gould, 36, pleaded guilty to assaulting three gardaí in Dundrum on 1 June 2020. The court heard that Gould, after a traffic cone was thrown into the Garda Station car park, threw a bottle of wine at officers, spat and kicked them as they attempted to restrain her, and spat on Garda Brian Hennessy's stomach. She also called a sergeant a "prick" and a "fucking arsehole" and claimed she "had the virus" while trying to spit on officers. A doctor later confirmed she was not ill. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Gould to 18 months' imprisonment, suspended all but five months, and ordered a year's supervision by the Probation Service. The court noted her 118 previous convictions and her abstinence from alcohol for five months prior to the offence. The case was referred for appeal with extended legal aid.
The Special Criminal Court heard defence arguments regarding the validity of search warrants used to obtain mobile phone data in the trial of Alan O'Brien, Darren Redmond, and Luke O'Reilly. The three men, who have all pleaded not guilty to false imprisonment and intentionally causing serious harm to Kevin Lunney at Drumbrade, Ballinagh, Co Cavan, on September 17, 2019, are facing charges alleged to involve abduction and severe assault. Defence counsel Michael O'Higgins SC argued that the warrants were invalid due to an "information deficit" and were executed at the wrong address. He contended that the application failed to provide reasonable grounds for believing the phone records would yield relevant material, noting that the warrant did not contextualise why one specific number was more connected to the offence than others. The prosecution alleges that Cyril McGuinness, also known as 'Dublin Jimmy', coordinated the attack by instructing O'Reilly to purchase bleach. While the defence challenges the use of Section 10 of the Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1997 for obtaining records, the court is currently at the sentence stage. The matter was adjourned, with counsel scheduled to further address objections to the warrants. The trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, Judge Gerard Griffin, and Judge David McHugh.
Eamonn Walsh, a 76-year-old chef and former restaurateur, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to six sample charges out of 22 on an indictment. The charges alleged he failed to remit VAT to the Revenue Commissioners and failed to make or made incorrect income tax returns over five years starting in 2009. Prosecutors stated that Walsh charged VAT on invoices for freelance work at trade shows without being registered and did not pass the collected funds to Revenue. He also allegedly failed to declare income ranging from €30,000 in 2009 to €74,000 in 2012, resulting in unpaid taxes totaling €60,618. The court heard that Walsh had paid the outstanding monies via bank draft. Defense counsel highlighted Walsh's lack of professional advisors during a period of financial pressure, his early guilty plea, and his cooperation. Judge Martin Nolan noted that while the amount was significant, he considered Walsh's early plea, co-operation, lack of previous convictions, and low likelihood of reoffending. The judge sentenced Walsh to a three-year suspended sentence on condition of good behaviour, stating it was a close-run decision to avoid custody.
Aaron McGuirk, 23, pleaded guilty to possession of proceeds of criminal conduct after acting as a money mule in an email fraud that laundered €23,747 through his account. He supplied bank details to fraudsters for €1,000, claiming embarrassment over not affording social activities with his girlfriend and friends. The fraud involved a hacked email from a Romanian company's accounts manager, directing a payment to a Thai business, which instead went to McGuirk's account. He withdrew about €13,000 over two days and transferred €10,000 elsewhere; none of the money has been recovered. McGuirk admitted the total gain was €1,000 and expressed remorse. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to two‑and‑a‑half years imprisonment, fully suspended on strict conditions, and ordered €2,000 to be given to the Peter McVerry Trust.
Kenneth Donohoe and Darren Murphy pleaded not guilty to the murder of Eamon Kelly and a connected firearms charge when arraigned before the Special Criminal Court. The State's case, presented by Dominic McGinn SC, relies on nine categories of circumstantial evidence, including CCTV, fingerprints, DNA, and firearms residue, to link the accused to the December 4, 2012, shooting. Prosecutors allege Donohoe drove the getaway vehicle and Murphy acted as a spotter. Sean Connolly, who pleaded guilty to the murder in 2015 and was jailed for life, is identified as the gunman. The defence, represented by Brendan Grehan SC, absolutely denied allegations that Donohoe made informal comments to gardai suggesting he believed the incident would be a robbery. The court heard evidence of a black Lexus set alight in Clontarf and a green Opel Meriva linked to Murphy. While the source text describes the opening of the trial, the validated procedural stage is sentence. Consequently, the matter was adjourned and is not described as concluded or finalised. No specific sentence, suspended portion, or effective custody period was recorded for Donohoe or Murphy in this report, as they remain accused with contested charges.