Gareth White, 33, was jailed for three years after a series of fraud offences. He advertised on Gumtree for a €5,500 loan, claiming he would repay €8,000 in four months, and posed as a Tusla social worker. He provided forged documents and a phone bill to a victim who had saved for his daughter's college fund. White also set up a fake taxi company account, claiming to be a homeless charity contact, and sent invoices for rides that were never paid, costing the company €11,221. In February 2020 he created a bogus mobile phone company account, ordering 115 phones and broadband devices worth €36,729, which were delivered but never paid for. White pleaded guilty to theft and deception offences between March 2017 and April 2020, had 13 prior convictions, and was sentenced by Judge Martin Nolan to a four‑year consecutive term with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions.
Jason Collins, aged 19, was sentenced to 16 months in prison for attempting to rob a taxi driver when he was 16. The offence, committed on Bluebell Avenue, Dublin, on 15 May 2018, involved Collins and two teenage girls who flagged down a taxi on Cork Street at about 4 a.m. Collins brandished a flick knife, threatened the driver, and then punched and kicked him after the driver fled. The driver suffered facial cuts and a broken tooth and was taken to hospital. Collins, who had blood on his clothes, was also hospitalized for a hand injury. He had previously been convicted of a similar attack with his brother. The court, noting his juvenile status and personal hardships, imposed a two‑year, four‑month sentence with the final 12 months suspended under conditions. The unnamed man pleaded guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, professional mixed‑martial‑arts fighter Dylan Tuke, aged 24, pleaded guilty to one count of assault causing harm after he repeatedly punched a taxi driver on 16 December 2018. Tuke had entered the cab without asking if it was available, called the driver a "sap" and a "fool", and after the driver demanded payment upfront, Tuke struck him in the head and face, breaking the driver's front teeth. The assault was captured on dash‑cam footage, which was circulated to Gardaí and led to Tuke's identification. The driver, who now feels defenseless and suffers from headaches and a facial scar, gave a victim impact statement. Tuke, who has no prior convictions, expressed remorse, citing his upbringing and the potential career impact of a conviction. Judge Pauline Codd adjourned the sentencing to 11 October to allow Tuke to raise further compensation.
Stephen Boylan, a 51‑year‑old taxi driver from Newtown, Kill, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison after pleading guilty to possession of cocaine for sale or supply. He had stored €245,388 worth of cocaine and a small amount of cannabis in a wooden cabin at the rear of a house where he lived for five years. Gardaí, acting on confidential information, conducted a surveillance operation and seized the drugs, bagging materials and a mobile phone with the Wickr app. Boylan claimed financial pressure and that he had been pressured by others to store the drugs, but he did not pack them. He had no prior convictions and was described by the judge as a good family man unlikely to reoffend. The court reduced the presumptive minimum of ten years to the imposed term of four and a half years.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Jordan Murray, aged 23, was sentenced to four-and-a-half years imprisonment for possession of a firearm and ammunition. The case stemmed from a police search of a taxi that stopped at Neilstown Road, Clondalkin, on 31 July 2020. Gardaí discovered a Glock 9mm handgun, 12 rounds of 9mm ammunition, and a small amount of cannabis in the vehicle. The handgun's serial number had been filed off, and Murray offered no explanation for its presence. He had previously pleaded guilty to the firearm offences and had nine prior convictions for public order offences and theft. The judge noted that the detective's suggestion that Murray had obtained the gun for revenge after a prior assault could not be relied upon, and he emphasized that the gun could have been used to threaten, injure, or kill. Murray's record was considered, but the judge highlighted his apparent willingness to reform while in custody.
In a case heard in Dublin, Gerard Gunnery Senior, aged 60, was sentenced to four and a half years' imprisonment, with the final six months suspended, for sexually assaulting a passenger who had fallen asleep in his taxi. The victim, who was drunk and later described the assault as a "devastating" breach of trust, reported that Gunnery had placed his hand on her knee, masturbated, and then violently threw her out of the vehicle, leaving her on the side of the road. She suffered bruising to her elbows, kneecaps and jaw. Gunnery pleaded guilty to the charge of sexual assault, which had been brought in December 2017. The judge noted his age, health and previous good character, but also that he was now a registered sex offender and that incarceration was unavoidable. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the offence and the impact on the victim.
In a 2017 Circuit Court trial, 43‑year‑old accountant Sidney Sutton of Ashbourne was convicted of four counts of assault, one count of assault causing harm and one count of producing a knife capable of inflicting serious injury. The offences occurred on the early hours of 6 February 2016 when Sutton, after a wedding in Slane, returned home with his partner Edele Aherne. He allegedly pushed her into a taxi, then punched and kicked her in their home, dragged her to the floor, stamped on her legs and finally stabbed her in the leg and shoulder with a knife. Sutton pleaded not guilty, claiming Aherne had assaulted him and self‑harmed. The Court of Appeal heard that he had fallen out with several solicitors and granted an adjournment to 26 April, warning that failure to proceed would result in the appeal being disposed of as abandoned.
Trevor Byrne, aged 40, was sentenced by the Special Criminal Court to nine years' imprisonment for possessing a loaded 9mm Luger‑caliber Radom 35 handgun in a cabin at his Woodford Grove house on 15 November 2019. He also pleaded guilty to possession of ammunition and €3,050 in cash, which he claimed were proceeds of crime. Byrne had 40 prior convictions, including a 2005 robbery where he pointed a gun at Gardaí and held a taxi driver's head to a gun. He had previously been convicted of possession of a loaded double‑barrel shotgun, unlawful vehicle seizure and robbery, receiving sentences ranging from two to eight years, and was released in November 2009. The court noted that this was his second offence involving a firearm, with a maximum sentence of 14 years. The judge applied a 10 per cent reduction for the guilty plea, back‑dating the sentence to November 2019.
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court adjourned the sentencing of Gerard Gunnery Snr, a 60-year-old taxi driver, to January 29 due to medical reasons. Gunnery Snr, of Whitehall, Dublin, pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a woman in Dublin city on December 23, 2017. The defendant, who was remanded in custody pending sentencing, was not produced to the court by the prison service for his scheduled hearing last Friday. Defence counsel stated they believed he may have had a hospital appointment. Judge Karen O'Connor adjourned the matter for finalisation, citing previously outlined medical issues. The court heard that since the offence was published, Gunnery Snr's son has faced threats and car vandalism; the Judge requested media distinguish between the father and son. The victim, who suffered bruising to her elbows, kneecaps, and jaw, told the court she woke to find the driver assaulting her before he threw her from the vehicle. She described enduring guilt and flashbacks. Defence counsel Dominic McGinn SC argued the actions were out of character for a hard-working man, while the Judge affirmed to the victim that the incident was not her fault.
A 60‑year‑old taxi driver, Gerard Gunnery, pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a late‑night passenger in Dublin on 23 December 2017. The victim, who was asleep in the front seat, woke to find Gunnery's hand inside her and masturbating. He then became aggressive, demanded payment, and threw her out of the car, leaving her on the side of the road. She suffered bruising to her elbows, kneecaps and jaw. Gunnery's lawyers argued the incident was out of character, presenting testimonials of him as a hard‑working, good man. The court heard the victim's impact statement, describing fear, guilt and flashbacks. Judge Karen O'Connor remanded Gunnery into custody for sentencing on 11 December. The case is pending sentencing.
Christopher Prentice, 25, of Tallaght, Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for two armed carjackings committed on February 6, 2020. Prentice pleaded guilty to two counts of seizing control of a vehicle by force in south Dublin. He also admitted to dangerous driving in Clondalkin and assaulting two gardaí during a high-speed chase that ended when he rammed their patrol car. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Prentice to six and a half years in prison and disqualified him from driving for ten years. The judge noted that Prentice was serving the suspended portion of a January 2019 sentence for dangerous driving of a stolen car when these offences occurred. Prentice had previously been convicted of a carjacking in December 2014. In mitigation, his defense counsel, James Dwyer SC, highlighted Prentice's remorse and his claim that he was grieving the recent death of a cousin while under the influence of alcohol and cannabis. Victims described severe trauma, with one female driver stating she could no longer work in sales due to anxiety, and a taxi driver wishing to leave the profession. The court acknowledged the vulnerability of the victims and the traumatic nature of the attacks.
Sean Nolan, 36, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter of his partner Amanda Carroll, 33, who was found dead in her apartment on 21 October 2018. The trial heard that Nolan and Carroll had been involved in a road‑traffic collision earlier that day, fled the scene, and were later intercepted by Gardaí. Nolan was under the influence of an intoxicant; his blood was taken for drink‑driving or drug‑driving concerns. Carroll was arrested under the Public Order Act, struck out at Gardaí, and was handcuffed with her hands behind her back. A taxi driver, Andrew Farrell, testified that Nolan told him he loved Carroll and that she was a "great girl" hours before the killing. The prosecution argued that Nolan's act of putting his hands on Carroll's throat and mouth intended to kill, making him guilty of murder rather than manslaughter. The case is set to continue before Mr Justice Michael MacGrath and a jury.
Jake Kearney, 25, of Coolock Drive, Dublin 17, pleaded guilty on 5 May 2020 to unlawful possession of a Luger‑calibre Grand Power semi‑automatic pistol at Oscar Traynor Road, Santry, Dublin 9, on 30 October 2019. He was arrested after Gardaí observed him with a loaded handgun in a taxi and at a pub, where a black handgun and eight 9 mm bullets were seized. The firearm was intended for use in an imminent attack on a rival north Dublin gang, though it is not known whether Kearney himself would have fired it. The judge, Mr Justice Tony Hunt, noted Kearney's early guilty plea and limited prior convictions, and imposed a headline jail term of eight years, reduced by 25 % for the plea, and suspended the final year. Kearney was sentenced to six years' imprisonment with the last year suspended, back‑dated to 2 November 2019.
In a case heard at the Court of Appeal, a 31‑year‑old Dublin man, David Murphy, had his original prison term increased after the State appealed a suspended sentence. Murphy had pleaded guilty to assault causing harm for striking a taxi driver with a beer bottle on Slade Road, Saggart, on 21 March 2015. The original sentence, handed down by Judge Pauline Codd, was three and a half years, with the final two years and nine months suspended. The Director of Public Prosecutions argued that the suspended portion was excessive, noting that Murphy would serve only six months and three weeks if remission applied. The Court of Appeal agreed, quashing the original sentence and re‑sentencing Murphy to three and a half years, suspending only the final two years. The case remains at the criminal sentencing stage, with no further outcome reported.
James Doran, aged 29, was sentenced to 28 months in prison for an aggravated burglary that took place on 12 January 2013. He broke into the home of a taxi driver in Dublin 16, armed with a knife, and demanded €400. The victim's wife and five‑year‑old son were locked in a bedroom while Gardaí arrived. Doran threatened the victim with the knife, who sustained a cut on his thumb while defending himself. Doran was arrested at his own home after a warrant was issued in February 2014 when he failed to attend a sentence hearing. He had fled to the UK, was extradited back to Ireland in August 2023, and has been in custody since. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a five‑year sentence, suspending all but 28 months on strict conditions. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. James Doran pleaded guilty.
A 25‑year‑old man, Jake Kearney, was arrested on 30 October 2019 for unlawful possession of a loaded Grandpower semi‑automatic pistol. He was a trusted member of an organised crime gang planning an imminent attack on a rival north Dublin faction. Gardaí seized a silver Skoda Octavia taxi, a Volkswagen Passat, Kearney's black handgun, eight 9mm bullets, his latex gloves and mobile phone. Kearney pleaded guilty on 5 May to the offence. He had previous convictions for drug dealing. His mother's home was burnt out after his arrest, an act described by the judge as a "desperate situation" and a punishment for the crime of her son. The Special Criminal Court adjourned sentencing to 30 July. The case remains at the hearing stage, with no further outcome reported.
Patrick Byrnes, aged 80, was convicted in 2018 by a Central Criminal Court jury of 58 indecent assault charges and two rapes committed between 1975 and 1985. The offences began when his daughters were about seven years old and continued twice weekly for ten years, largely in the family home. Byrnes, a retired taxi driver, denied all charges and claimed the prosecution had failed to properly address alleged fabrication and collusion by the complainants. He appealed on the basis that the trial judge had not adequately directed the jury on how to treat evidence from the two daughters. The Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal, noting that while a perfect trial is ideal, a fair trial is required. Byrnes was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment, with two years suspended, by Justice Paul McDermott in October 2018.
The Director of Public Prosecutions is appealing a sentence imposed on a Louth woman convicted of dangerous driving causing death. Eimear White pleaded guilty at Dundalk Circuit Court to causing the death of a pedestrian on the Old Newry Road in October 2017. Judge James McCourt sentenced White to three years imprisonment with the final two years suspended. The DPP has challenged the sentence as unduly lenient. The Court of Appeal has scheduled a hearing for 26th June, at which counsel indicated that relatives of the deceased wish to attend and that CCTV footage will be presented. The case concerns an incident in which a man was struck after exiting a taxi at Dowdallshill.
David Allen, 35, was on bail for a robbery when he knocked 89‑year‑old Nina MacAuley to the ground outside a Dublin hairdresser, bashed her, and stole her handbag. MacAuley suffered head and arm injuries and later discovered her handbag missing. Allen, who has no fixed abode and a history of 25 convictions including robbery, burglary and theft, pleaded guilty to the robbery at Aungier Street on 1 July 2019 and to the armed robbery of a 73‑year‑old taxi driver on 5 February 2019. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to three years for the earlier robbery and five years for the MacAuley robbery, making a total of eight years imprisonment with the final two years suspended on strict conditions. The sentence was imposed with the two terms running consecutively. Allen's victim impact statement was read in court, and he admitted to being "strung out" on heroin during the incidents.
Patrick Byrnes, aged 80, was convicted in 2018 by a Central Criminal Court jury of 58 indecent assault charges and two rapes committed between 1975 and 1985. The abuse began when his daughters were about seven, the year of their First Communion, and continued for ten years, occurring mainly in the family home, a coal shed, and his car. Byrnes encouraged the family dog to participate in sexual acts with one daughter on three occasions. He was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment with two years suspended. Byrnes, a retired taxi driver, pleaded not guilty and maintains his innocence. He has now lodged an appeal, arguing that the trial judge failed to properly address alleged fabrication and collusion by the complainants and that the jury was not given adequate directions on how to use their evidence. The Court of Appeal has reserved judgment.
David Murphy, 29, of Belfry Green, Tallaght, was sentenced to nine months in jail after pleading guilty to assault causing harm at Slade Road, Saggart, on 21 March 2015. The incident involved Murphy breaking a beer bottle over a taxi driver's head and threatening the driver with a knife. Murphy had previously been convicted 41 times, including assault, violent disorder and criminal damage. He failed to attend a victim awareness course and is considered a medium risk of re‑offending. The judge, Pauline Codd, imposed a three‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence, suspending the final two years and nine months, leaving Murphy with a nine‑month custodial term. The assault left the taxi driver cautious and caused him to lose about €800 in earnings. The court noted Murphy's plea of guilty and his personal circumstances, including a history of homelessness, sobriety, drug‑free status and employment.
In a 2019 incident on Clogher Road, Dublin, 39‑year‑old Derek McCann attempted to rob a taxi driver by presenting an imitation firearm. The driver braked abruptly, wrestled the plastic gun from McCann, and the two struggled outside the vehicle. A second taxi driver intervened, kicking the gun away and alerting the Gardaí. McCann was arrested, pleaded guilty to attempted robbery, and was sentenced to five years in custody, backdated to June 2019. He had a suspended sentence for prior offences and may face reactivation of that portion. The judge noted McCann's drug addiction, family support, and progress in custody, and credited his guilty plea and cooperation. The case was adjourned for a later hearing. The incident left the driver unable to work nights due to its impact.
A 34‑year‑old man, David Allen, was on bail for robbery when he knocked an 89‑year‑old woman, Nina MacAuley, to the ground outside a Dublin hairdresser and stole her handbag. MacAuley suffered head and arm injuries and later described the incident in a victim impact statement, noting her difficulty sleeping and feeling vulnerable at her age. Allen, who has 25 prior convictions, had pleaded guilty to two earlier robberies in July and February 2019. He admitted to being "strung out" on heroin during the February robbery and claimed he used a pen to make a taxi driver think it was a knife. The court, hearing his apology and shame, ordered a probation report and remanded him in custody until May 5, with a lengthy custodial sentence expected.
Ryszard Gieron, 42, was given a suspended two‑year sentence for dangerous driving that caused the death of taxi passenger Mark Gerety, 39, on 23 June 2017. Gieron drove through a red light at the junction of North Circular Road and Summerhill Parade, colliding with a taxi that had a green light. The taxi flipped over, and Mark sustained fatal injuries. Gardaí found no evidence of speeding, intoxication or fatigue. Gieron had no prior convictions, had been driving on a provisional licence for seven years, and behaved appropriately after the collision. The judge noted the absence of aggravating factors and accepted Gieron's explanation that he believed the light was green, deciding that imprisonment would be unjust. The sentence was fully suspended, with no custodial time imposed. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Ryszard Gieron pleaded guilty.
Carl McGuinness, 24, was jailed for six years after a high‑speed pursuit in a stolen taxi that ended with a collision with a lamp post. While driving the van at dangerous speeds, he knocked a cyclist, James Byrne, onto the bonnet and threw him into the air, breaking Byrne's leg in two places. The incident also injured a woman, Carol Lacey, who was struck by the van. McGuinness pleaded guilty to reckless endangerment, four counts of property damage, car theft, and driving without insurance or a licence. He admitted an addiction to heroin and crack cocaine and a difficult upbringing. The court disqualified him from driving for six years and imposed the prison term back‑dated to last July. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
An 84‑year‑old taxi driver, John Walker, was sentenced to three and a half years' imprisonment for sexually abusing his adopted daughter, Jennifer Kelly, over a ten‑year period from 1990 to 2000. The jury found him guilty on 40 counts of indecent assault and sexual assault, with the abuse occurring at his home in The Cova, Whitehall Road, Perrystown, Dublin, and at a former address in Kilmasogue Grove, Greenpark. Walker denied the allegations and claimed no prior convictions. Judge Patricia Ryan noted the pre‑meditated, planned nature of the abuse, the victim's age and vulnerability, and Walker's lack of remorse. The court considered his age, health conditions and past community contributions before imposing the sentence. The abuse involved repeated kissing and fondling, verbal threats, and control tactics, culminating when Kelly disclosed the abuse to Gardaí in 2018. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The unnamed 84-year-old pleaded not guilty.
Clive Mason, 43, was convicted at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for assault causing harm after a violent, racially abusive attack on taxi driver Samuel Banjoko Johnson on Malahide Road, Donnycarney, on 21 April. Mason, who claimed to be a Garda and shouted racial slurs, punched Johnson and attempted to force him out of the vehicle. Video of the assault circulated online, prompting Mason to surrender to Gardaí the following weekend. He pleaded guilty, apologized, and cited intoxication as a factor. The court noted Mason's three prior convictions and his willingness to cooperate. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a 20‑month prison sentence, fully suspended on the condition that Mason remain law‑abiding for 20 months and comply with Probation Service directions for six months. The court also ordered a €5,000 payment to be transferred to the Garda, to be given to Johnson or a charity if he declined it.
In a 2019 incident at Rutland Grove, Crumlin, two brothers, Peter Collins (26) and Jason Collins (18), attacked a 60‑year‑old taxi driver, Mark Henshaw, and attempted to hijack his vehicle. Peter strangled Henshaw with a phone charger cable, while Jason punched the driver and searched his pockets. The pair failed to start the car and stole a €50 note and an iPhone. Henshaw suffered a small brain bleed, a nasal bone fracture and a swollen right eye. Both pleaded guilty to robbery, assault causing harm and unlawful seizure of a car. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Peter to four and a half years' imprisonment and Jason to three and a half years, suspending the final 12 months of Jason's term on strict conditions. The court noted the attempt was "a pretty incompetent effort" and the attack "reprehensible.".
In the Central Criminal Court trial, 35‑year‑old Robert Lawlor denies attempting to murder Fiona Mitchell on 26 May 2018 and denies threatening her son Derek. Mitchell, who confirmed her son's childhood friend Kane McCormack was shot dead 18 months earlier, says she does not know if McCormack was involved in the Hutch‑Kinahan feud. She also denies claims that her home is a "half‑way house" of partying and drug use. Witnesses include a taxi driver who met Lawlor on the night of the alleged shooting and a Garda who observed Lawlor's agitation at his home. Lawlor has pleaded not guilty to attempted murder, possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, a threat to Rachel Kirwan, and shooting a dog. The trial proceeds before Justice Paul McDermott and a jury of twelve.
Joseph Hillen, aged 25, was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended, after the Court of Appeal found his original six‑year term too lenient. Hillen admitted stabbing taxi driver Martin Mulligan, aged 53, in a rural area near Dundalk on 28 September 2015, but denied murder. He was found guilty of manslaughter by a jury and originally sentenced to seven years, with one year suspended. The appeal, brought by the Director of Public Prosecutions, led to a new sentence of nine years, again with the final year suspended. Hillen's case involved two serious stab wounds, a 22.5‑cm abdominal wound and a through‑and‑through thigh wound. He had previously been convicted of dangerous driving while on bail for the killing and had 15 prior convictions, none for violence. The court noted his role as a father of two children and the impact on the Mulligan family.
Terence Gavin, 27, was given a two‑year suspended sentence after pleading guilty to stealing €320 from taxi driver Imram Shahzad on 4 August 2016. Gavin was driven home by Shahzad that night and was asked to pay his fare before a group of teenage boys attacked the driver. While the assault was underway, Gavin took the driver's wallet and fled. CCTV footage identified him at the pub where Shahzad had been picked up. The teenagers were never identified. Gavin, a flooring contractor, paid €5,620 to Shahzad as a token of remorse and to cover the stolen money and windscreen damage. He has 12 prior convictions, including theft, traffic offences and threatening to cause serious harm. The judge, Martin Nolan, sentenced Gavin on the theft charge, not the assault, and suspended the sentence on conditions including restitution to Shahzad.
Joseph Hillen, aged 25, was found guilty of manslaughter for stabbing taxi driver Martin Mulligan, aged 53, near Dundalk on 28 September 2015. Hillen admitted stabbing Mulligan after an altercation but denied murder. He was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended, by Ms Justice Eileen Creedon on 28 January 2019. The sentencing judge noted the jury's view that Hillen believed he was acting in self‑defence. The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has appealed, arguing the sentence was unduly lenient, citing the brutality of the attack, Hillen's prior convictions, and his lack of honesty. The Court of Appeal will consider the appeal, with no decision yet announced. The case remains at the appeal stage. Joseph Hillen pleaded not guilty.
Patrick Lyons, a 45‑year‑old taxi driver from Cabra West, was found guilty of theft after he kept a customer's bank card and withdrew €550 from her account. The incident occurred after the woman and her friend hailed his taxi to return home from a night out. Lyons claimed he had returned the card before withdrawing the money. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 12 December 2018. The judge noted his prior District Court convictions for similar thefts between December 2017 and August 2018, and that he had already paid €3,800 in restitution. Lyons had €500 to compensate the victim and was drug‑free, making good progress. Judge Karen O'Connor described the offence as "devious and unpleasant" and imposed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year suspended sentence on strict conditions, stating that re‑offending would result in imprisonment.
In a Disclosures Tribunal hearing, Garda Nicholas Keogh claims he was denied commendations by Garda management after making a protected disclosure on 8 May 2014. He alleges that a senior officer, identified as Garda A, had an improper relationship with a heroin dealer, Ms B, who earned about €2,500 a week. Keogh says he was the investigating officer in the 2015 stabbing of a 77‑year‑old taxi‑driver and the rescue of a woman from the River Shannon, yet was removed from the Pulse unit and excluded from commendations. He disputes the claim that he had no material role in the investigation, citing his involvement in evidence collection. Keogh also notes he received an award from Irish Water Safety in 2016 but no Garda commendation, and he has pursued a personal injury claim for bullying. The tribunal is examining whether Keogh was targeted after his disclosure. Ms B pleaded guilty.
In a 2018 case, Judge Karen O'Connor sentenced Paul Goddard, 58, and Derek Naylor, 47, to four‑year suspended sentences for their roles as drug mules in a €147,498 cannabis operation. The DPP argued the sentences were too lenient, noting that both men were more than mere carriers; they transported drugs to other locations. Naylor, a taxi driver with no prior convictions, admitted a drug debt of €800 and was paid €300, while Goddard, who had four minor traffic convictions, admitted possession of amphetamine and cannabis and was paid €1,000. The DPP highlighted that Goddard faced a threat to his daughter's family and had a moderate risk of reoffending, whereas Naylor's risk was low. The Court of Appeal was asked to review the probation reports and related evidence.
In 2017, Egyptian national Mohamed Okda, aged 33, was convicted of two counts of rape and one count of sexual assault after a 2014 incident in Dublin. He received an 11‑year sentence with the final year suspended. The Court of Appeal quashed the conviction on 18 July 2019, ordering a retrial because the trial judge failed to instruct the jury on the presumption of innocence. Justice John Edwards noted that the omission was a fatal flaw rendering the trial unsatisfactory. Okda was remanded in custody pending the retrial. The victim, a married mother visiting Dublin with friends, was found drunk and lost, and after Okda offered help she was taken to his flat where the assault occurred. She fled the flat, was rescued by a taxi driver, and reported the incident to Gardaí. The case remains pending retrial. Mohamed Okda pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 19‑year‑old John Gallagher was sentenced to an additional 21 months in prison for a knife‑point robbery that left a taxi driver unable to work nights. The judge cited the victim's impact statement, noting the driver's mental scars and loss of earnings. Gallagher had previously received a three‑year term for two similar robberies, and the new sentence is consecutive, with the final 15 months suspended on strict conditions. Gallagher pleaded guilty to robbery of €200 and a mobile phone from Nitesh Bhagat on 20 October 2018, and to a separate robbery at a Tallaght pharmacy on 22 May 2018. He had earlier convictions for road traffic offences. The court heard that the victim suffered bruises and a nick on his hand and neck, and that he was now too afraid to work at night.
Robert Lynch, aged 32, was sentenced by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to a total of three and a half years' imprisonment for two robberies. He pleaded guilty to the robbery of taxi driver Alan Thompson on Malahide Road on 4 September 2016 and to the robbery of a Spar shop on 15 October 2017. Lynch, who has a history of drug addiction, was described by Garda Alan Roach as having changed significantly since the offences. Judge Pauline Codd imposed consecutive terms of three years and three and a half years, suspending the final three years on the condition that Lynch participate in drug rehabilitation programmes and keep the peace. The court noted Lynch's 54 prior convictions, including robbery, knife possession and threats to kill, and that he had been identified on CCTV before the taxi robbery. No weapons were used in either robbery. The sentence reflects the judge's assessment of Lynch's efforts at rehabilitation and the seriousness of the offences.
John Gallagher, aged 19, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two knifepoint robberies in Tallaght, one on 22 May 2018 at Springfield Medicare Pharmacy and another on 19 October 2018 in a taxi at Greenhills. In the taxi incident, he produced a knife to the driver's throat, demanded €130, and fled after receiving the cash. Gallagher claimed he was intoxicated, on drugs, owed money, and had been threatened that he would be shot in front of his children if he did not repay. He has two children and prior road‑traffic convictions. The court, after hearing the prosecution and defence, rejected a request for an adjournment and a probation report. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a three‑year custodial sentence for each robbery, to run concurrently, noting the seriousness of the knife offence and the potential for reform.
In a case heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, 31‑year‑old Carl Cullen pleaded guilty to robbery at Tolka Valley Road, Finglas, on 27 February 2017. Cullen and a co‑accused entered a taxi at about 6 a.m., behaved oddly and appeared intoxicated. The driver, fearing a crash, stopped the vehicle and left it 40 metres away. Cullen and the accomplice then rummaged through the car, taking a phone, an MP3 player and a bag of coins. Garda Barry Hehir reported that the victim later located the phone via a "find phone" feature, leading police to the suspects on St Helena's Road. Cullen, who has 40 prior convictions, was sentenced to three‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment by Judge Martin Nolan on 22 November 2017. He had intended to appeal the sentence, but withdrew the appeal after the Court of Appeal warned that it could increase his jail time. The appeal was formally withdrawn with the court's permission.
Mansoor Uddin, a 41‑year‑old taxi driver from Castleway, Adamstown, Lucan, pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual assault committed in January and February 2016. He was sentenced by Judge Sinéad Ní Chulacháin to three years' imprisonment for each count, with the last two sentences running concurrently but consecutive to the first. The final year of the two later sentences was suspended for two years under strict conditions, giving an effective custodial term of six years with one year suspended. Uddin was credited for time already spent in custody. The court heard that he sexually assaulted three young women, all under 21, during two weeks, using his position as a taxi driver to exploit their vulnerability.
In a 2019 Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, Paul Evans, 36, was sentenced to six years' imprisonment, with the final three years suspended, for an attempted robbery of taxi driver Frank Rowan on Marigold Avenue, Darndale, on 13 November 2016. Evans pointed a 6 mm BB gun at Rowan's head, demanding money and threatening to shoot. Rowan resisted, overpowered Evans, and seized the firearm, striking Evans on the head with the gun. A passer‑by called Gardaí, who later arrested Evans after he claimed the incident was a joke. Evans admitted to unlawful possession of a realistic imitation firearm and pleaded guilty. The judge noted Evans had no prior violent convictions, was heavily intoxicated, and described the offence as out of character, yet deemed the behaviour too serious for a suspended sentence, citing the broader issue of menacing behaviour faced by taxi drivers.
Mansoor Uddin, a 41‑year‑old taxi driver from Castleway, Adamstown, Lucan, pleaded guilty in February 2019 to sexual assault on three young women who had ridden in his taxi between January and February 2016. The court heard that a psychological report required for his bail conditions had not been completed, leading to a second adjournment. Uddin's licence was revoked after his guilty plea, and he was not permitted to work as a taxi driver since November of the previous year. His bail conditions included a curfew and a rule that any single passenger must sit in the back of the vehicle. The judge remanded him on continuing bail until 20 May to allow for the psychological assessment. The case remains at the hearing stage, with no sentencing or further legal outcome reported in the article.
Mansoor Uddin, 41, a taxi driver from Castleway, Adamstown, pleaded guilty to three sexual assault offences committed between January and February 2016. He sexually assaulted an 18‑year‑old German national, a 20‑year‑old woman, and an 18‑year‑old schoolgirl within two weeks. The first victim was forced to stay in the car, was touched and verbally abused, and later reported Uddin. The second victim was also touched and coerced, then left the vehicle. The third victim was touched and an attempt was made to touch her underwear; she resisted and tried to photograph Uddin. Gardaí used CCTV, a database of registered public service vehicles, a computer‑generated likeness, and GPS data from the HALO app to identify Uddin. The case was adjourned to May 8 for sentencing, and Uddin remains on continuing bail. Victim impact statements describe fear, isolation, and loss of trust in taxi services.
A Dublin taxi driver, Derek Delaney (60), of Connolly Avenue, Inchicore Dublin 8, denied exaggerating his injuries after his vehicle was allegedly rear-ended by another taxi at Dublin Airport on June 27th, 2014. Mr Delaney claimed he suffered neck, shoulder, and soft tissue injuries, and sued Ibraham Enidunmo, with an address C/o Aviva Insurance, Knocknacarra, Galway, for negligence and breach of duty of care. He alleged the defendant failed to keep an adequate look out, caused the collision, and drove in a dangerous manner. The defendant denied the collision occurred as claimed. Mr Delaney stated he did not mention the pain to his GP initially but was later diagnosed with whiplash. He denied exaggerating his claim or that his account was close to fraudulent. He explained he contacted Aviva to resolve the matter without increasing his insurance premium. Counsel for the defendant questioned the lack of colour photos and the absence of damage to Mr Delaney's car in a picture taken by the defendant. Mr Delaney denied exaggerating his injuries and stated his condition was not normal prior to the incident. After cross-examination, the parties entered into talks and the matter was settled, with the case struck out with the consent of both parties.
In March 2019, Gerard Cully, a 32‑year‑old crack cocaine addict, was sentenced to seven and a half years' imprisonment for a series of violent robberies. He robbed a taxi driver on Railway Street, demanding €30 and the driver's car keys while threatening him with a pointed weapon and an accomplice strangling the victim with a rope. Cully also attempted to rob a convenience store and successfully robbed two other shops in Dublin's city centre, taking a total of €415. He was armed with a knife and a hammer during these offences. Judge Melanie Greally described the crimes as a "spree of severe offences committed at a very high level" to obtain money for his addiction. Cully pleaded guilty, expressed remorse, and had previously sought help for his addiction. The judge imposed concurrent sentences, suspended the final 18 months on strict conditions, and considered his psychological report and prior attempts at treatment.
Aaron Gilsenan, 38, a crack cocaine addict, was jailed for four years after a spree of robberies and attempted robberies in Dublin between December 2017 and March 2018. He used a knife to threaten staff at five convenience stores and filling stations, robbed a taxi driver of €40, and stole a total of €760. Gilsenan was identified on CCTV and used his own car to escape each time. He pleaded guilty to four robberies and two attempted robberies, admitting the crimes were driven by his addiction and the death of his daughter. He had 87 prior convictions, including 51 for road traffic offences. The court noted he was drug‑free at sentencing and had expressed genuine regret. The sentence was imposed by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, with a suspended portion of 18 months, and he was also due for sentencing in Trim and Naas Circuit Courts for other pending cases.
A man has been sentenced to nine years' imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for a series of robberies committed across Dublin between March and April 2018, with an additional offence in May 2017. Dean Gray, aged 31, of Buttercup Drive, Darndale, Dublin, pleaded guilty to seven robbery offences, attempted robbery, threats to kill, and production of weapons including a knife and screwdriver. The court heard Gray robbed €350 from a shop in Baldoyle after arriving by taxi, which he then tipped before departing. He committed further robberies at retail outlets and a tanning salon within days of each other. A three-year consecutive sentence was imposed for a street robbery committed while on bail. Judge Patricia Ryan suspended the final three years conditional on good behaviour and peace-keeping for three years following release. She ordered engagement with the Probation Service, drug addiction treatment, and employment support. Gray has 69 previous convictions, including 21 robberies. His defence counsel noted his difficult background and stated his aspiration to seek residential drug treatment.
Lee O'Brien, 32, of Cooley Road, Drimnagh, was sentenced to three‑and‑a‑half years in prison for a high‑speed chase that ended with him crashing into a garda car and a taxi. He pleaded guilty to three counts of endangerment, one count of dangerous driving and one count of driving without insurance. The pursuit began when a garda patrol noticed a red Nissan Micra that sped away, leading to a series of collisions. O'Brien's vehicle collided with a patrol car, then a taxi, causing the taxi to spin and hit a pole. All occupants suffered minor injuries. The judge, Melanie Greally, described the incident as an "extremely serious episode of highly dangerous driving", noted O'Brien's 122 prior convictions, and imposed a ten‑year driving ban upon release. The sentence was back‑dated to May of the previous year. O'Brien admitted the charges, expressed remorse, and was found intoxicated during the incident.
Lawrence Doyle, a 51‑year‑old taxi driver, was sentenced by Judge Melanie Greally to 180 hours of community service within 12 months instead of an 18‑month prison term for a drink‑fuelled assault on Christopher Darcy. The incident occurred on 15 May 2017 at Mullets Bar, Amiens Street, when Doyle bit off a 3‑cm portion of Darcy's ear after a quarrel. CCTV showed Doyle attacking Darcy, who was struck repeatedly in the chest and attempted to defend himself. Darcy was taken to Mater Hospital, treated for a permanent ear injury, and received a tetanus shot and antibiotics. Doyle pleaded guilty, had no prior convictions, cooperated with Gardaí, and paid €1,000 in compensation. The judge noted the assault was out of character for Doyle and described it as vicious and violent.