Jason Finlay, 49, was sentenced to 10 months' imprisonment after pleading guilty to theft at Lifestyle Sports on 4 May 2020. He had stolen €13,020 worth of sports clothing, but when a Garda public‑order van approached he "ditched" the items on a street, where €770 worth were later recovered in saleable condition. The remaining goods were never found. Finlay, who has 54 prior convictions, was arrested at Peter McVerry Hostel after Gardaí received an anonymous tip and CCTV footage linked him to the robbery. He was intoxicated at the time of the offence and has expressed a desire to leave drug use. The judge noted his opportunistic offence and his ambition to reform, sentencing him to 10 months' custody as the best possible outcome.
Alice Connors, 27, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to two robberies and one attempted robbery committed in Dublin City centre on October 2 and 3, 2020. She also admitted to two counts of criminal damage at Kevin Street Garda Station on October 7, 2020. Prosecution evidence alleged that Connors and a co-accused used a knife and a broken bottle during the offences, which included dragging victims to the ground. Connors, who was residing at Times Hostel, College Street, Dublin 2, had previous convictions for theft and road traffic offences. Defence counsel highlighted her homelessness, drug abuse, and mental health difficulties, including auditory hallucinations. Judge Martin Nolan noted that Connors was equally culpable as her co-accused, who had previously received an effective five-year sentence with two-and-a-half years suspended. Judge Nolan sentenced Connors to five years imprisonment, suspending the final two-and-a-half years on strict conditions. The matter was finalised at the sentencing stage.
Anthony Wills, 63, was arrested after Gardaí found a 10‑minute video of him molesting a young boy. The footage, recorded on a camcorder seized during a search of his home in Tallaght, shows Wills naked, fondling the child and briefly performing oral sex before masturbating in front of the boy. The search also uncovered 34 images of children exposing themselves and 21 images of sexual activity, plus graphic text messages. Wills pleaded guilty to sexual assault of a male child, two counts of knowingly producing child pornography, and possession of child pornography from 2004 to 2019. He had no prior convictions. The court, acknowledging his cooperation, remorse and lack of previous offences, sentenced him to a four‑year term, suspended 18 months, with strict conditions including probation engagement for 18 months after release. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the video production and the depraved nature of the acts.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Jackson Sije, a 31‑year‑old business graduate, received a fully suspended two‑year imprisonment sentence for money‑laundering after allowing his bank account to be used to move €21,538.30 stolen in a phishing scam. Sije claimed he was helping a fellow student receive money for tuition and living expenses, but evidence showed the funds were the proceeds of a scam uncovered by an Irish company. Gardaí found a laptop and a Nigerian passport in his rented accommodation, and Sije admitted to withdrawing the money in Dublin and transferring it to an account in Germany. He pleaded guilty to possession of the proceeds of criminal conduct. The court noted he could not repay the defrauded business and that his actions were reckless. The suspended sentence requires him to keep the peace and exhibit good behaviour for two years.
In a Dublin school corridor, an 11‑year‑old boy was struck by his father after the child was called to the school. CCTV footage showed the father punching the boy and striking him with a school bag while teachers intervened. The father, 34, called the child a "scumbag" and a "waster" and threatened him, saying he would "get it" when he went home. The boy later told teachers he felt "dead." The father, who has prior convictions, later apologized to the Gardaí, claiming he was trying to prevent his son, who has behavioural issues, from going down the wrong path. He pleaded guilty to child cruelty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Martin Nolan, noting the father's frustration and the child's fear, imposed a one‑year suspended sentence on strict conditions and directed the Probation Service to work with TUSLA to develop a suitable programme for the father.
A 15‑year‑old boy was convicted by a jury of two counts of defiling a 14‑year‑old girl in Co Meath. The relationship began in summer 2018 and ended in January 2019, during which the boy and girl had sexual intercourse. The boy pleaded not guilty to the defilement charges and to a rape charge, the latter of which the jury could not decide. He had no prior convictions. The court heard that the victim did not wish to give a victim impact statement and that she felt pressured to remain in contact after the relationship ended. The judge, Justice Paul McDermott, found that the boy had significant issues accepting the end of the relationship and that protective factors existed. He ordered the boy to undergo two years of supervision by the Probation Service, but did not impose detention or imprisonment. The case was heard in the Central Criminal Court.
Anthony Paget, 46, was found guilty of murder after stabbing Aidan McMenamy seven times in the early hours of 19 July 2019. The killing followed a confrontation over Paget's estranged wife, Candice, who claimed McMenamy had become jealous and attacked Paget. During the dispute, McMenamy allegedly pulled a knife and stabbed Paget, who then fled outside where he stabbed McMenamy to death. The jury heard that McMenamy suffered seven stab wounds, including one to the neck and six to the back, and viewed CCTV footage of the fight. Paget had pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The jury, after two days of deliberation, returned a unanimous verdict of guilty of murder. Paget will be sentenced to life imprisonment.
At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Edward Maguire and Suzanne Maguire pleaded guilty to attempting to induce Axa Insurance to pay out on a false claim dated September 22, 2017. The defendants alleged an elderly motorist reversed into their vehicle, causing damage and spilling hot coffee, but CCTV footage proved no impact occurred and Edward Maguire was not in the car. Judge Pauline Codd sentenced Edward Maguire to two years in prison, suspended in full on strict conditions requiring him to engage with the Probation Service for two years. She described the conduct as a nasty offence against an elderly man, noting he followed through on the claim despite the plan's flaws. Suzanne Maguire's case was adjourned to October 11 to allow her time to complete a drug rehabilitation course, with the court accepting she is making progress with her addiction. She was remanded on continuing bail until that date. The judge stated she was giving Suzanne an opportunity to address her addiction but made no guarantees. Both defendants have extensive prior convictions, including theft and public order offences, though neither had previous Circuit Court convictions. Defence counsel highlighted their difficult upbringings and recent efforts to address addiction and maintain stability.
Barry McGee, aged 38, was convicted of raping and threatening to kill two Australian women in 2002. He was sentenced in 2003 to 17 years' imprisonment, with the last two years suspended, and ordered to be supervised by the Probation Service for 10 years after release. In 2017, a Probation Officer applied for three additional conditions: participation in risk assessment, notification of overseas travel two weeks in advance, and compliance with all lawful directions. The court, hearing the application in 2023, found the conditions necessary and imposed them, warning that non‑compliance could lead to a summary conviction and up to 12 months' imprisonment or a fine. The supervision period is set to expire in October 2023. The case details the 2002 assault, the subsequent arrest, and the court's sentencing hearing. Barry McGee pleaded guilty.
In the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, construction owner Colin Wendel (38) and his company, Colin Wendel Development Ltd, were fined €5,000 and €40,000 respectively for failing to ensure a scaffold was safe. The scaffold, used in renovation works on a Rathgar property, was found to be defective, not compliant with regulations, and "unsafe." On 24 October 2016, worker Andezej Buraczewski fell from the fourth level of the scaffold and died instantly. Wendel pleaded guilty to one count of failing to protect employees, and the company pleaded guilty to a related count. The court heard that the scaffold's guard rails were too low and the platform was higher than standard. The judge described the incident as a "pure accident," accepted Wendel's remorse, and ordered the fines and a €20,000 payment to Buraczewski's widow. The case highlights the importance of scaffold safety compliance.
Robert Wynne, 37, a legitimate nutrition supplements supplier, was jailed for 21 months after pleading guilty to possession of prescription‑only steroids—Metogen, TrenaGen, Clenbuterol and Enegen—without a prescription. He had bought the substances in Northern Ireland and supplied them to friends and acquaintances from his home and two business premises. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court noted his prior convictions for assault and endangerment, for which he had received suspended sentences, and emphasised that the drugs were dangerous and required proper supervision. Judge Martin Nolan highlighted Wynne's lack of qualifications to advise on the substances and his deep involvement in the illicit enterprise. The court ordered the forfeiture of €20,000 found in a locked cash box, and Gardaí seized small amounts of cocaine, zopiclone, and a mix of steroids valued at about €10,000, along with €15,710 of muscle‑bulking and fat‑burning drugs across all locations.
Declan Brady, Deirdre Brady, and Erika Lukacs appeared before the Special Criminal Court, where Brady pleaded guilty to concealing €268,940 in cash in the attic of a Naas property on January 24, 2017. Prosecutors indicated that additional pleas from all three accused are required. Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding with Judges Sarah Berkeley and David McHugh, remanded Brady in custody for a sentence hearing scheduled for June 14. The matter was adjourned to that date. Previously, in July 2019, Brady was sentenced to 11.5 years for possessing an arsenal of firearms and ammunition at a Dublin business park. Deirdre Brady and Erika Lukacs, who were originally charged with 52 money laundering offences, each pleaded guilty to one count on April 13. Deirdre Brady admitted to concealing the source of funds in a Permanent TSB account between 2014, while Erika Lukacs admitted to similar offences regarding an Allied Irish Bank account in 2012. Both women were remanded in custody for the June 14 sentence hearing. The court proceedings remain at the sentencing stage, with final disposals pending the upcoming hearing.
During a sentencing hearing in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Martin Nolan warned that young people who allow criminal proceeds to be laundered through their bank accounts could face jail. He spoke about Arina Jersova, who was 18 when €11,000 of illicit money was transferred into her account. Jersova was allegedly recruited by criminals via social media, taken to three locations to withdraw the money, and her bank card was later found by Gardaí. She pleaded guilty to laundering €11,098 at Bank of Ireland Main Street, Blanchardstown, on 9 April 2018. Jersova, now 21, had no prior convictions, cooperated fully, and had saved €8,000 to repay the defrauded company. Judge Nolan said he would consider custodial sentences for such offences and imposed a two‑year suspended sentence on Jersova, warning that future cases could lead to prison.
A 15‑year‑old boy stabbed his friend twice during a pre‑arranged fight called a "straightener" to settle a dispute between their girlfriends. The boy, who cannot be named, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and production of an article in a dispute. He had no prior convictions. The fight lasted about two minutes; the boy had a knife and stabbed the victim, who fled to his home. The boy had earlier lit toilet paper on fire and placed it on the victim's car to lure him outside, but the fire was extinguished by wind. He claimed he was smoking weed and was "stoned" at the time. The court remanded him on bail with strict conditions, including curfew, school attendance and counselling, and ordered a 28‑day stay in Oberstown detention to engage with the Probation Service. The judge urged him to keep the experience in mind.
Kevin Brosnan, aged 40, was sentenced to four‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment for a knife‑point robbery at Centra, Old Bawn Shopping Centre, Tallaght, on 2 April 2020. During the robbery he removed his mask, shouted "Coronavirus" at a security guard, threatened to kill the guard and used a racial slur. He demanded the till be opened, claiming to be HIV positive, and threatened the guard again as he fled. Brosnan was found with €630, which was returned to the shop. He pleaded guilty to the robbery and had 82 prior convictions, including burglary, theft, possession of knives and affray. The judge, citing his difficult background, chronic addiction and homelessness, suspended the final 18 months of the sentence on strict conditions, including participation in a programme on racist behaviour. Brosnan had previously pleaded guilty to a robbery at Mace, Killinarden Way, Tallaght, in October 2019, where he and an accomplice threatened a shop assistant with a knife.
Patrick McCarthy, 56, a taxi driver from Dublin, pleaded guilty to two charges of possessing drugs for sale at his home and taxi. Gardaí seized €23,000 worth of cocaine, including €8,000 in the taxi, €4,550 in the vehicle, and €15,000 in a safe in his bedroom. McCarthy admitted transporting drugs in his taxi to pay off debts from his own addiction, and that he had used the proceeds to buy more cocaine. He had no prior convictions and had led a blameless life before the arrest. Judge Martin Nolan, citing McCarthy's cooperation and the absence of a custodial sentence, imposed a three‑year suspended sentence. The court noted McCarthy's past industrial school detention and his recent engagement in drug treatment, concluding he would not re‑appear in court.
Paul Murphy, 59, appeared before the Special Criminal Court where he is accused of supplying logistical support to a six-man team suspected of carrying out the murder of David Byrne on February 15, 2016. He is charged with participating in activity intending to facilitate a serious offence by a criminal organisation by providing access to motor vehicles on February 5, 2016. The State objected to bail, citing the seriousness of the alleged crime and witness intimidation risks. Justice Tony Hunt noted that a sentence north of eight years could apply in a worst-case scenario, identifying flight risk as a concern. The judge ruled that the €1,000 offered was insufficient and that bail would be granted in principle only if an independent surety could be attached. Murphy stated he had no such acquaintances. The matter was adjourned to Monday, when Murphy, along with co-accused Jason Bonney and Patrick Dowdall, will appear before the three-judge court to bring their bail applications. Bonney is accused of providing vehicle access, while Dowdall is accused of making a room available at the Regency Hotel for the alleged criminal organisation on February 4, 2016. All charges are contrary to Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2006.
In April 2021 the High Court granted Charlotte Mulhall leave to challenge her 2018 transfer from Mountjoy Women's Prison to Limerick Prison. Justice Anthony Barr accepted that the move had disrupted visits from her Dublin‑based family and that this constituted a disproportionate interference with her family rights. He ordered that, if Mulhall is transferred back to Mountjoy, she must be given the same visiting arrangements she had before mid‑2019, when visits were ended without formal notice. The judge also required sworn statements on the impact of Covid‑19 on prison visits and on Mulhall's current activities at Limerick. He dismissed the claim that her challenge was untimely, noting she had known of the transfer and had not acted for eight months. The case was adjourned to May for further proceedings. Mulhall, aged 21 at the time of the 2005 murder, is represented by Conor Power SC and Cian Kelly BL.
In a high‑speed pursuit on the M11, 21‑year‑old Jordan Carroll, of Lindisfarne Vale, Clondalkin, threw a leaf blower, hedge clippers and drills out of the front passenger window of a stolen Toyota Land Cruiser. The vehicle, driven by Carroll and co‑accused Joseph Bonass (18) of Lindisfarne Park, Clondalkin, was later driven into two Garda patrol cars after attempting to exit the N7. Both patrol cars sustained damage, as did a third Garda car that ran over a leaf blower, and the stolen car was written off. Carroll pleaded guilty to endangering traffic, criminal damage and allowing himself to be carried in a stolen vehicle on 16 and 17 June 2020, and was sentenced to four and a half years' imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions.
A jury at Croke Park convicted a 64‑year‑old man of oral rape and sexual assault of his daughter between 2000 and 2004, when she was aged four to eleven. The man pleaded not guilty to the rape and assault charges and denied two child‑neglect charges involving alcohol and pornography. He was alleged to have forced the child to drink cider, watch pornography while he masturbated, and perform oral sex on him. The victim, now in her 20s, testified that she spent most of her childhood in foster care but had access visits with her father, who was often drunk. The trial lasted just under three hours, and the judge remanded the man into custody for sentencing on 17 May. The case was the first criminal trial held at the GAA headquarters in Dublin. The jury heard the victim's civil claims against the HSE and her former foster parents.
Samuel Pop, aged 27, from Charnwood Court, Clonsilla, Dublin, has been sentenced to four years imprisonment following a conviction for false imprisonment and robbery at the Clayton Hotel, Dublin 4, on 6 November 2019. Pop pleaded guilty to his involvement in an attack on an escort in her hotel room, during which he and a co-accused, who has since died in custody, restrained and robbed the victim of cash, a phone and passport. Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that Pop's co-accused was the primary aggressor in the incident. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a sentence of five-and-a-half years with the final 18 months suspended, subject to strict conditions including payment of €5,000 compensation to the victim. Pop has previous convictions relating to a similar incident in Roscommon in October 2019.
John Corr, 55, owner of five pharmacies, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to seven counts of dishonestly inducing the HSE's Primary Care Reimbursement Service to make duplicate reimbursements at his pharmacies in County Dublin and County Louth between 15 and 30 July 2016. Duplicate claims were identified at five locations, including Clonskeagh, Clarehall, Clogherhead, Blackbull and Mell. Ninety‑four patients were affected, and the total duplicate reimbursement was €8,075.37, with Corr charged with obtaining €3,988.79 by deception. Detective Garda Darren Hughes noted that the investigation began after above‑average payments were observed at Mell. Full restitution was made, and Corr lost his community pharmacy contract with the HSE, effectively ending his business. Judge Martin Nolan, noting Corr's 31‑year pharmacy career, ordered that Corr complete 240 hours of community service in lieu of a two‑and‑a‑half‑year prison term, with the matter adjourned to 23 June for Probation Service assessment.
Robert Redmond, 32, of Kilbarrack, was sentenced to four-and-a-half years imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to making an unwarranted demand with menace. Judge Martin Nolan handed down the sentence following Redmond's admission to threatening a business owner at Newton Industrial Estate, Coolock, on September 26, 2019. Prosecution evidence alleged that Redmond, acting on instructions from a man identified as his godfather in the Catholic sense, demanded €58,000 from the owner of Spring Valley Meats. Redmond allegedly threatened to burn down the victim's house if the money was not paid. The court heard that the victim maintained no such debt was owed. Redmond, who has 90 previous convictions, was identified via CCTV and voluntarily attended for interview, where he admitted being at the scene regarding a debt but denied making threats. Defence counsel highlighted Redmond's remorse, his drug issues, and his status as a father of two, arguing he was not the mastermind behind the alleged extortion. Judge Nolan acknowledged the seriousness of the offence but noted the guilty plea and admissions. The matter was finalised with the imposition of the custodial sentence.
Edward McCann, a 66‑year‑old cleaner, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for defrauding the State of €224,731 over a 24‑year period. He worked for a cleaning company under two aliases, claiming social welfare and unemployment assistance from 1991 to 2015. McCann also pleaded guilty to possessing a false Irish driving licence. The fraud was uncovered when his employer noticed a contact number in his phone that matched an employee's number, leading to an investigation that revealed the false identities, PPS numbers and a €32,000 credit‑union account. McCann had no prior convictions. Judge Martin Nolan, citing McCann's cooperation, full admissions and the prolonged nature of the fraud, imposed a custodial sentence without suspension, deeming re‑offending unlikely. The court considered McCann's age, lack of wealth and the impact of COVID‑19 restrictions on his family. The case was prosecuted by Diana Stuart BL and defended by Seoirse O Dunlaing BL.
Simon Gold, a 54-year-old man from Aughavas, County Leitrim, received an additional one-year sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court today following guilty pleas to possession of false instruments. Gold admitted having three fraudulent UK driving licences at an address in Delvin, County Westmeath, in October 2012, and four sheets containing 360 counterfeit AIB holograms at the same location in February 2014. He is currently serving a seven-and-a-half-year sentence imposed in 2019 after conviction on money laundering, theft, deception and control of false instruments charges. Judge Martin Nolan determined the offences were connected to the earlier convictions and declined to extend Gold's imprisonment, instead imposing the sentence to run concurrently from today. Gold, who has 46 previous convictions, is due for release in 2024.
Philip Murphy, aged 40, was sentenced to six years' imprisonment for sexually assaulting two women in Dublin city centre on 25 February 2016. The assaults occurred in the early hours, with Murphy grabbing the women from behind, threatening to kill them and demanding sex. He had been released from a 10‑year sentence for false imprisonment just two days earlier. The judge noted his history of alcohol and substance abuse and his 10 previous convictions. Murphy pleaded guilty to the two counts. He is required to undergo four years of post‑release supervision by the Probation Service, with non‑compliance constituting a separate offence punishable by up to 12 months' imprisonment. The sentencing took place in June 2020 after his extradition from the UK. The victims described severe physical and psychological harm, including loss of hair, depression, anxiety and a lasting fear of walking alone at night. The court recorded their impact statements but did not alter the sentence.
Two men imprisoned for contempt of court in connection with interference at a disputed farm in County Roscommon have been released from custody. Michael Anthony McGann, who owned the property at Falsk, Strokestown, and Kevin Taylor, a retired garda from Longford, were held in Mountjoy Prison for nearly five months following their arrest for obstructing KBC Bank's agents during enforcement of a repossession order. On Friday, Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds directed their release after both men provided undertakings to the court to remain away from the property. The judge warned that any breach would result in their immediate return to prison. A cost order against McGann, described as the "puppet master" in the matter, was estimated at well into six figures. A third man, Colm Granahan from Ballina, Mayo, was previously released after purging his contempt. The underlying dispute concerns a farm that was the subject of a controversial 2018 eviction following KBC's €431,000 loan recovery action. The full hearing of the case is scheduled for June.
Two men imprisoned for interfering with a bank's lawful repossession of a farm in Strokestown, County Roscommon, have sought their release from custody. Michael Anthony McGann and Kevin Taylor, a retired garda from Longford, were detained in Mountjoy Prison after being found in contempt of court for obstruction during the 2018 eviction. A third man, Colm Granahan of Ballina, purged his contempt and was released before Christmas. At Thursday's High Court hearing before Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds, counsel for the men argued they had satisfied both coercive and punitive elements of their contempt findings. KBC Bank's legal representatives opposed the application, stating the men could secure release by purging contempt and complying with existing court orders. The men offered undertakings to avoid the property if the bank reciprocated, which counsel for KBC rejected as improper. Ms Justice Reynolds adjourned proceedings to allow further consultation between the applicants and their legal team, with the hearing resuming Friday.
In April 2020, two Spar staff members, Dean Bheemal (33) and Victor Carvalho (23), punched a man who they believed was attempting to steal after CCTV showed him spitting in the shop. The men pleaded guilty to assaulting the victim, who was hit many times and later received stitches. Judge Martin Nolan found the assault grossly disproportionate, noting it involved only punches and no weapons. He imposed a two‑year suspended sentence on each, ordered the men to pay €3,000 to the victim and to each provide an additional €1,000 within 18 months, and expressed that imprisonment would be unjust at this point. The case was heard in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, with the men cooperating and returning the stolen phone to the victim. The judge highlighted the men's guilty pleas and cooperation as mitigating factors. The incident occurred during the first Covid lockdown, a context mentioned by the defence. The men were not sentenced to prison.
In a case heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Colin Doyle, aged 26, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after a heated argument with his long‑time friend Tiarnan Ollry. Doyle admitted punching Ollry, claiming he thought he had kicked him, and expressed remorse. The assault left Ollry with multiple facial fractures, a nose that required resetting, short‑term memory loss, mood swings, and a lasting spot in his left eye. Doyle was arrested, cooperated with investigators, and was described by Garda Emma Gleeson as having no prior convictions and good character. Judge Melanie Greally, after hearing evidence, sentenced Doyle to three years imprisonment, fully suspended on strict conditions, including no prolonged contact with Ollry. Doyle was ordered to pay €10,000 to Ollry as a token of remorse. The case highlighted the severe impact on Ollry's health and social life, while Doyle's remorse and cooperation were noted by counsel.
Keith Quinn, aged 32 and a former Sheffield United footballer, was convicted of possession of heroin for sale or supply after a package containing €2,769,130 worth of heroin was delivered to his workplace in Dublin. Quinn, who had a significant gambling problem and debts, pleaded guilty on 5 August 2020. He was sentenced by Judge Pauline Codd to seven‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment, with the final three‑and‑a‑half years suspended on strict conditions, including possible residential treatment for gambling addiction. The court noted Quinn's lack of prior serious convictions, his remorse, and his good work history as mitigating factors. The case involved a UK police operation that intercepted the package, which was then delivered to Quinn's address by a detective in a UPS uniform. Quinn's older brother, Alan Quinn, testified that his brother was not a drug dealer and deserved a second chance.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, William Twomey (56) and Thomas McGuinness (33) were charged with four non‑scheduled offences against Edward McAndrew. The prosecution alleged that on 2 December 2017, Twomey and McGuinness lured McAndrew to a remote site at One Ferry Hill, Cornamucklagh, Louth, where they beat him with iron bars, threatened him, and placed him in a car boot. They demanded €50,000 and robbed him of keys, money, a travel bag, a wallet, a briefcase, two mobile phones and an Irish passport. McAndrew was also alleged to have been falsely imprisoned. The court heard evidence that Twomey sent fraudulent emails to McAndrew, that McGuinness drove him to the attack, and that items taken from McAndrew were found in Twomey's possession. McAndrew was to give evidence of the assault, injuries and medical treatment he received. The trial was set to resume with three judges presiding. William Twomey pleaded not guilty. Thomas McGuinness pleaded not guilty.
Farhan Abdirizak, a 40-year-old Swedish citizen of Somali origin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to facilitating the entry into the State of a person he knew or had reasonable cause to believe was an illegal immigrant or intended to seek asylum. He also admitted to possessing a false instrument, specifically a Ryanair boarding pass in a false name. The court heard that gardaí identified a young man at Dublin Airport in November 2020 travelling under false documentation. Abdirizak alleged he was assisting his "nephew" to travel from Somalia via Greece to Ireland, denying any financial motive or trafficking intent. Prosecution evidence indicated no suspicious money transfers or links to terrorism or sexual exploitation. Defence counsel noted Abdirizak had sought asylum in Sweden in 2007 and worked as a teacher helping refugees. Judge Elma Sheahan imposed a prison term of two and a half years. She suspended the final year of the sentence and backdated the effective custody period to November, when Abdirizak was taken into custody.
Craig Shevlin, 31, pleaded guilty to assaulting Garda Caroline Thornton on 3 May 2019 after a seizure in Dublin city centre. He was found to have 14 prior convictions. Thornton's victim impact statement described being slapped and bitten while trying to help him wait for an ambulance, noting the shock and horror of the bite. Judge Pauline Codd adjourned the case to allow reports, then imposed a two‑year sentence suspended in full on strict conditions, including engagement with the Probation Service. A psychologist reported that Shevlin's epilepsy, causing seizures with agitation, confusion and memory loss, explains his lack of recollection of the assault. The judge described the incident as "unfortunate" and "nasty", noting the aggravating factor that the assault occurred while Thornton was acting in the course of her duty. The court heard apologies from Shevlin's mother and girlfriend. The case remains at the sentencing stage.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 13 April 2021, Deirdre Brady (53) and Erika Lukacs (37) pleaded guilty to one count each of money‑laundering offences under Section 7 of the Criminal Justice Act 2010. Brady, wife of Declan Brady, admitted to concealing or disguising the true nature of money credited to a Permanent TSB account between 1 January and 31 December 2014, knowing or believing the funds were proceeds of crime. Lukacs admitted similar conduct with an Allied Irish Bank account between 1 January and 31 December 2012. Both were remanded on continuing bail until 14 June for a sentence hearing. Declan Brady, appearing by videolink, was granted legal aid and remanded in custody until 23 April. The court received evidence from the National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau and served books of evidence and USB keys to the defendants.
In 2021 the Central Criminal Court heard that a 55‑year‑old father raped and sexually abused his daughter over a period of seven and a half years. He blackmailed her by threatening to expose her online chatroom activity to his employer, demanding that she have sex with men while he threatened her job security. The abuse began after she turned 18, when she received anonymous text messages that later proved to be from her father. He forced her to give him oral sex and to engage in sexual acts with other men while she was blindfolded and wearing earphones. The daughter discovered a DVD of the first incident in 2010, confronted her father, who denied responsibility and claimed he was being blackmailed. The abuse ended in June 2014 when she informed her mother and authorities. The unnamed man pleaded guilty.
A 40-year-old man from Keshcarrigan in County Leitrim has received a fully suspended three-year sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for mortgage fraud. Aidan McGovern pleaded guilty to submitting false documents to a bank in Swords in 2018 whilst applying for a €120,000 mortgage. The documents included fabricated wage slips from a non-existent company, a false P60 form, and a credit union statement belonging to another person. Bank staff became suspicious after noticing discrepancies including an incorrect account balance. McGovern admitted to editing the documents himself and emailing them knowingly to the financial institution. He attributed his actions to marital breakdown and a desire to secure housing. Judge Pauline Codd acknowledged his full co-operation with gardaí and low re-offending risk but emphasised the need to protect the integrity of loan applications. The sentence was suspended in full on condition he keeps the peace.
Charlie Maughan, 42, of 77 Lower Gardiner Street, Dublin 1, was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to four years in prison for dangerous driving. He pleaded guilty to the offence committed on 28 April 2019 at Snugborough Road, Dublin 15, when he was driving a car that he was living in. The court heard that his wife and two of their youngest children were passengers at the time. Maughan had increased speed while being followed by Garda officers who had activated their lights and siren, went the wrong way around a roundabout, swerved to the other side of the road and overtook three cars. Judge Pauline Codd described his conduct as reckless driving and noted that a car is essentially a dangerous weapon. She suspended the final 18 months of the sentence on the condition that Maughan follow the conditions of probation, citing mitigating factors such as his living situation and potential for therapy.
A 24‑year‑old man, who was mentally ill and experiencing psychotic symptoms, was jailed for three and a half years after attempting to rape a seven‑year‑old girl who was in his mother's care. He took the child by the hand, brought her to a bedroom, and exposed himself. The child's mother, who was watching her children, ran in, saw the man with his penis out, and called the Gardaí. The man later admitted to the Gardaí that he intended to rape the child and that he was not in his right mind. He pleaded guilty before the Central Criminal Court. The judge, noting the child's age, the man's previous convictions and his psychiatric condition, imposed the sentence and ordered post‑release supervision. The victim's parents described the lasting trauma and expressed guilt for leaving the child alone that day.
The Special Criminal Court has remanded Lee Canavan in custody until May 20, when judgment will be delivered on his case. Canavan, 31, pleaded not guilty to the murder of David Douglas, who was shot six times at Shoestown, Bridgefoot Street, Dublin 1, on July 1, 2016. He also denies a second charge of criminal damage to a Suzuki Swift vehicle at Strand Road, Sandymount, on July 4, 2016. Prosecution counsel Sean Gillane SC argued that Canavan was the gunman who "executed" Douglas and was "up to his neck" in the meticulously planned enterprise. The State alleged that Canavan's actions could not be divorced from those of Frederick 'Fat Freddie' Thompson, Gareth Brophy, and Nathan Foley, all of whom have been jailed in connection with the murder. Thompson was jailed for life in 2018 for the murder. In 2019, Nathan Foley pleaded guilty to assisting a criminal organisation by driving one of four cars and buying mobile phones used in the offence, receiving a six-year sentence. Gareth Brophy was jailed for ten years in February 2020 for his role as getaway driver. The defense, led by Michael Bowman SC, challenged the identification evidence, arguing that the prosecution relied heavily on the accused wearing a red top and that DNA on the pistol grip belonged to another man. The court, presided over by Mr Justice Michael MacGrath alongside Judges Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin and Dermot Dempsey, adjourned the matter for judgment.
The Special Criminal Court has ruled that key identification evidence is admissible in the ongoing trial of Lee Canavan, who is accused of murdering David Douglas. Mr. Canavan, 31, of Rathfarnham, Dublin 14, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Mr. Douglas (55), who was shot six times at Shoestown, Bridgefoot Street, Dublin 1, on July 1, 2016. He also denies a charge of criminal damage to a vehicle. The prosecution alleges Canavan was the triggerman in a planned assassination. Judge Michael MacGrath, presiding with Judges Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin and Dermot Dempsey, rejected the defence application to exclude CCTV footage and Garda identification evidence, finding no breach of constitutional privacy rights. The State contends Canavan was linked to Frederick 'Fat Freddie' Thompson, who was jailed for life for the murder in 2018. Gareth Brophy, jailed for ten years in 2020, and Nathan Foley, jailed for six years in 2019 after pleading guilty to assisting a criminal organisation, are also connected to the case. The trial continues with closing speeches expected.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 46‑year‑old man was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended, for sexually abusing his 12‑year‑old stepdaughter. He pleaded guilty to 25 counts of sexual assault, eight counts of oral rape and one count of rape using an object between May 2017 and December 2018. The abuse began while he was still in a relationship with the girl's mother and continued after that relationship ended, with the girl visiting him on weekends. He groomed her into believing they were in a relationship, presenting himself as a father figure and boyfriend. A paramilitary organisation discovered he possessed naked images of the girl and shot him in the legs. The judge noted the high degree of manipulation and control, ordered three years of post‑release supervision, and highlighted the traumatic impact on the victim, who now reports PTSD and anxiety.
In a Dublin house‑party case, a 27‑year‑old man pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a woman who was intoxicated and asleep on 28 October 2018. He admitted to carrying her to bed after she fell asleep and to having sex with her while she was unconscious. After the assault he texted the victim's sister, acknowledging the act. The court heard that the man had a mild intellectual disability and limited insight into consent. He was sentenced to four and a half years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended on conditions that he must not contact the victim or her family. The victim's impact statement described her vulnerability, loss of self‑esteem, and ongoing counselling. The judge noted the man's remorse but also his difficulty grasping the gravity of his offence. The case was heard at the Central Criminal Court.
The High Court has ordered the release of a Co Monaghan businessman from Mountjoy Prison after he completed 115 days in custody for contempt of court. Mr Justice Senan Allen ruled that the continued imprisonment of Fergal Deery was no longer necessary to vindicate the court's authority, though he characterised the defendant as "very stubborn" for refusing to purge his contempt during incarceration. Mr Deery had been jailed in December 2020 for breaching orders made in 2015 restraining him from trespassing on two properties in Monaghan Town, a bar and nightclub formerly controlled by his family. Wardglade Limited, which acquired the premises from a receiver, brought the fresh proceedings alleging multiple breaches and a campaign of intimidation against company associates. The judge found evidence that Mr Deery had entered the properties in December 2019 with others. Mr Justice Allen stated that if Mr Deery maintained distance from the premises and ceased interference with Wardglade's directors, his imprisonment was unnecessary. The court awarded Wardglade its legal costs against the defendant.
In a Dublin city‑centre incident on 8 December 2019, 19‑year‑old Dylan O'Neill, then homeless, attacked a stranger outside McDonald's on O'Connell Street. After an exchange of words, O'Neill punched the victim, struck him with his watch, and threw a glass that hit the victim's face. The assault left the victim with a 12 cm laceration from forehead to mouth and paralysis on one side of the face. O'Neill pleaded guilty to causing serious harm at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Martin Nolan, noting O'Neill's guilty plea, remorse, and circumstances of homelessness and drug use, set a starting point of 12 years but imposed a six‑year imprisonment sentence. The court described the attack as a persistent, random assault that was not accidental. The victim was treated at hospital and underwent surgery to close the wound. The Director of Public Prosecutions considered the case to lie in the upper range of offending.
Karl Fields, aged 26, was jailed for five‑and‑a‑half years after repeatedly harassing his former partner, calling her up to 100 times a day and threatening to kill her, to throw acid in her face, to "boot the baby out of her" and to cut her throat. He also threatened to burn her house and to kill her children. The court heard that his threats were motivated by jealousy over her new relationship. Fields pleaded guilty to harassment, threat to kill and contravention of a protection order in April 2020, and to an additional threat to kill and another contravention in November 2020. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a total of eight years' imprisonment, suspending the final two‑and‑a‑half years, and ordered the sentences to run consecutively. The victim's impact statement highlighted the fear and disruption caused by Fields' conduct. The defendant's defence cited a difficult upbringing and behavioural problems.
The High Court granted bail to Farah Damji, a 54-year-old woman convicted in the UK for breaching restraining orders and absconding from trial. Mr Justice Paul Burns applied the principle of proportionality, noting that Damji had already served eight months in Irish custody while contesting her extradition on medical grounds. The judge stated the sentence she faced in the UK was nine months' imprisonment. Damji, who fled to Ireland in February 2023, was arrested in Dublin in August 2023 under a European Arrest Warrant. She is alleged to have harassed two male victims by naming, stalking, and harassing them, including calling one victim ten times daily and tweeting a link to his victim impact statement. She also faces a breach of licence sentence for absconding. Damji, who has a criminal record dating back to 1995, is now represented by Ms Joanne Williams BL. Bail conditions require her to reside at an agreed address, sign daily at a Garda station, provide a mobile number, agree not to apply for travel documents, and keep the peace. She must lodge a €1,000 bond (part of a €1,200 total) by next Tuesday. A separate application from her legal team is scheduled for May.
Sean Ruth, 32, of Portlaoise, Co Laois, was remanded on continuing bail until May 17 for sentencing after pleading guilty to two money laundering offences at the Special Criminal Court. Prosecutors alleged that Ruth, described as a mid-tier Kinahan Cartel member, allowed his bank accounts to be used to launder over €50,000 in crime proceeds between 2016 and 2017 while claiming State benefits and paying no tax. He has paid the Criminal Assets Bureau over €20,000, with his mother assisting to discharge the remaining €9,000 liability. Defending counsel argued that Ruth has reformed since his 2019 release from a previous three-year firearms sentence and requested the court consider whether imprisonment was necessary. The court heard that Ruth was previously linked via DNA evidence to a revolver found at a Greenogue business park, an arsenal that also contained weapons seized from James Walsh and Jonathan Harding. Walsh, 36, and Harding, 48, were previously sentenced to 10 years and nine years imprisonment respectively, with the final year of each sentence suspended, after pleading guilty to possessing nine revolvers, four pistols, a sub-machinegun, an assault rifle, and ammunition at the same location. Ruth's current matter remains adjourned for final sentencing.
Conor Quaid, 26, received an eight‑year prison sentence with 18 months suspended for raping a young woman while she slept in her own bedroom. The Central Criminal Court heard that Quaid, a trusted family friend from Monaree, Dingle, had entered the victim's home after a night out drinking in a nearby town. He raped her while she was asleep, and she later reported the assault to Gardaí. Quaid denied sexual intercourse but claimed consent to "a certain level of sexual activity." The prosecution, led by Tom Rice SC, argued that Quaid had no express permission to enter the home and had abused the trust placed in him. The court noted that Quaid had not shown remorse and imposed the sentence, suspending 18 months on the condition of good behaviour for three years and permanent distance from the victim. The victim's impact statement described lasting psychological harm, including panic attacks, guilt, shame, and difficulty returning to studies. The unnamed man pleaded not guilty and was found guilty.
Bruno Binda De Souza, a 31‑year‑old transgender Brazilian woman known as Bruna Meirelles, was sentenced to three years in prison in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for possessing thousands of child pornography images. She pleaded guilty to four counts of possession on a MacBook and three iPhones, five counts of production of child pornography through text conversations, and one count of distribution between December 2017 and July 2020. The images, described as "depraved," were found on her devices during searches in 2018, 2019, and 2020, and included 41 category one images and up to 2,464 category one images on a phone. Garda investigations revealed 900,000 messages discussing child sexual activity. De Souza had no prior convictions, cooperated with authorities, and expressed remorse. She is married to an Irish man but will be deported after her sentence. The court noted her use of crystal meth and prostitution as influencing factors but affirmed her responsibility for the offences.