In a 2016 incident on Marigold Avenue, Darndale, Dublin, 36‑year‑old Paul Evans attempted to rob taxi driver Frank Rowan. Evans brandished a 6mm air pistol, claiming it was a "practical joke," and threatened Rowan with the gun. Rowan, fearing a real shot, managed to overpower Evans, who repeatedly ran at him and demanded the gun back. Rowan struck Evans on the head with the gun, causing a small forehead injury. A passerby called the Gardaí, who later arrested Evans, who was wearing a black ski mask. Evans pleaded guilty to attempted robbery and unlawful possession of a realistic imitation firearm. He claimed the pistol belonged to his son and was used for shooting cans. The court noted Evans had no prior violent convictions and adjourned sentencing to 16 May, remanding him in custody until then.
Gary Murphy, 38, of Church Road, Dublin 1, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assaulting a taxi driver, Mohammed Naseem, on 28 May 2016. Murphy entered Naseem's taxi early in the morning, distracted him with the horn, verbally abused him and threatened to shoot him, reaching into his trousers as if he had a weapon. Naseem sprayed Murphy with body spray; Murphy then struck him six or seven times, causing cuts and swelling. Murphy was heavily intoxicated at the time and had many prior convictions, none involving assault or violence. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to three and a half years' imprisonment, suspending the final 12 months on the condition that he keep the peace, behave well and comply with the Probation Service for 12 months after release.
A 26‑year‑old Dublin man, Keith Gilroy, was sentenced to five years in prison for transporting a loaded Smith & Wesson .357 Magnum revolver and 11 rounds of ammunition, after being on bail for drug offences. He had previously pleaded guilty to possessing €2,590 of cocaine and over €40,000 of cannabis and crack cocaine, and to laundering €4,415. Gilroy admitted to holding drugs for others to offset a debt of €30,000 and to supplying "grass" to creditors. Gardaí found him lying in bed at the Sean O'Casey Avenue address, where they seized €15,347 of cannabis, crack cocaine worth €25,309 and €4,415 in cash. He was also intercepted in a taxi with a shoebox containing the loaded revolver and ammunition in July 2018. Judge Melanie Greally, noting his candid admissions and early guilty pleas, imposed an eight‑year sentence with the final three years suspended, and ordered 12 months of post‑release supervision.
Michael Smullen, a 31‑year‑old Dublin taxi driver and father of two, was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment for possessing drugs in a €3.5 million operation. Gardaí observed him taking two bags from a lock‑up facility, driving a short distance and handing them to another man. The bags contained cannabis and cocaine worth over €114,900. Investigators later found 18.5 kg of cocaine, heroin, ketamine, cannabis herb and resin, and €51,000 of MDMA in the lock‑up, behind boxes of dried flowers, with a total drug value of €3,592,374. Smullen pleaded guilty to two possession charges at St Joseph's Avenue and St Columba's Road Lower, Drumcondra, on 20 December 2017. He had no prior convictions except minor traffic offences. His counsel argued that Smullen had taken on his cousin's debt to dealers under pressure and that he had a tendency to assume other people's problems.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 31‑year‑old Michael Smullen pleaded guilty to two charges of possessing cannabis and cocaine. Gardaí had seen him take two bags from a lock‑up facility, drive a short distance and hand them to another man. The bags contained drugs worth over €114,900, and investigators later found 18.5 kg of cocaine, heroin, ketamine, cannabis herb and resin, and €51,000 of MDMA in the lock‑up, bringing the total value of all drugs to €3,592,374. Smullen, a father of two living on Oak Park Avenue, Royal Oak, Santry, claimed he had taken over his cousin's debt to dealers and was under pressure. His lawyer argued a psychologist report showed a tendency to take on others' problems and presented character references. The court remanded him in custody pending sentencing. The other man involved received a six‑year sentence with two years suspended for possession of the bags.
Aaron Doran, a 32‑year‑old taxi driver, was sentenced to one year in prison for sexually assaulting a friend of his fiancée at the engagement party on 21 June 2015. The assault took place at Kilcarraig Close, Tallaght, after a night of heavy drinking. Doran entered the victim's bedroom, touched her vagina and demanded she show him her clit before leaving. The victim, who had waived anonymity, described the incident as traumatic and a betrayal of trust. Doran pleaded not guilty, claiming he was drunk and had mistaken the victim for his girlfriend. The judge noted his lack of acknowledgement of wrongdoing and the breach of trust, but suspended the final 18 months of a 2½‑year sentence, citing his good character and employment history. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Aaron Doran was convicted.
Tony Ward, 40, of Castlecurragh Park, Mulhuddart, Dublin, was convicted at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for endangerment, dangerous driving, assault causing harm and unlawful seizure of a vehicle. The offence occurred on 29 August 2017 between Dublin city centre and Finglas when Ward hijacked a taxi, threatened the driver with a knife, and forced the vehicle into a high‑speed chase that ended with the taxi colliding with two Garda cars. Garda Ciaran Garry was injured, suffering a large wound to his left arm that required 30 stitches. Ward pleaded guilty, was sentenced to three and a half years' imprisonment, with the final 21 months suspended on the condition of good behaviour and compliance with probation for 12 months. He was also disqualified from driving for two years and credited for time already spent in custody.
Trevor Walsh, a 53‑year‑old taxi driver, was sentenced to two years in prison for stealing €75,000 from the bank account of 83‑year‑old Pamela O'Brien, who suffers from dementia and now resides in a nursing home. Walsh used O'Brien's bank card and forged her signature on documents to open a new account and transfer funds from her old EBS account. He also withdrew cash up to €500 and paid utility bills using her card. The thefts, uncovered after friends reviewed her statements, spanned 21 months and included five admitted counts out of 21 charges. Walsh admitted the thefts, cited a drinking problem, and offered €4,000 to the victim. Judge Pauline Codd noted the breach of trust and the vulnerability of the victim, suspended the last year of a three‑year term on the condition that Walsh attend alcohol‑addiction programmes under the Probation Service.
Brandon Crosbie, aged 20, was sentenced to three-and-a-half years' imprisonment for a series of reckless driving offences committed on 24 April 2017 in Ballymun and Finglas. He pleaded guilty to three counts of reckless endangerment, one count of driving without insurance and more than a dozen related counts. Garda Carl McSweeney described how Crosbie drove a Hyundai at high speed toward a patrol car on Longdale Terrace, forced the officer to take evasive action, then crashed head‑on into a car, causing €400 of damage and frightening the other driver. Crosbie subsequently wove through traffic, hit a car stopped at a red light, and rear‑ended a taxi on St Margaret's Road, propelling it forward. He was arrested at the scene and expressed remorse. The Court of Appeal upheld the original sentence, noting Crosbie's 47‑count criminal record and the possibility of a higher sentence, but dismissed the appeal for an increase.
Joseph Hillen was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court today for the manslaughter of 53-year-old Martin Mulligan, who was killed at Carnmore, Balriggan, Dundalk, Co Louth, on September 28, 2015. A jury previously found Hillen not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter. Ms Justice Eileen Creedon stated the killing fell in the upper-mid range of such offences, setting a headline sentence of ten years. Considering mitigating factors, including Hillen's offer to plead guilty, his stable employment, lack of previous violent convictions, and expressed remorse, she reduced the sentence to seven years. The final year was suspended on conditions of good behaviour, keeping the peace, and engaging with probation services. Hillen, of Glendasha Road, Forkhill, Co Armagh, was assessed as a moderate risk of re-offending. The court noted the jury accepted his claim of self-defence but found he used excessive force. Outside court, Martin Mulligan's daughter Shauna Mulligan stated the justice system had failed the family, calling the outcome unfair. His wife Grainne described the family as devastated, while his other daughter Sharon noted the family's grief. The family expressed that they felt the legal process did not adequately reflect the severity of the loss.
Geoffrey Cotter, 48, received a suspended two‑year prison sentence after he punched taxi driver David Carey unconscious during a parking dispute in Dublin. Cotter, who was on a lunch break delivering oil, parked in a taxi rank and, when Carey asked him to move, told him to "fuck off" and threatened to punch any taxi driver who clamped him. He then entered Carey's car, removed his top, and began punching the driver, causing bruising and unconsciousness. CCTV footage showed the assault. Cotter admitted assault causing harm and was ordered to pay €3,000 to his solicitor as a token of remorse, to be given to charity if Carey declined. The court noted Carey's recovery and ongoing anxiety, and Cotter's prior convictions for dangerous driving and assault. Judge Martin Nolan described the attack as unprovoked and suspended the sentence on the condition of good behaviour.
Two Dubliners, Stephen Tynan (41) and Raymond Fitzgerald (37), were found guilty of murdering Andrew Guerrine, a cousin of Tynan, who was discovered with 20 stab wounds on Steelstown Lane in Rathcoole on 23 May 2015. The trial, held in the Central Criminal Court, relied on circumstantial evidence including phone records, CCTV footage of a black Peugeot 307, and testimony from a neighbour and a taxi driver. No murder weapon or DNA evidence linked the accused directly to the killing, but the prosecution argued the evidence proved pre‑planned intent. Both men pleaded not guilty, and their lawyers sought acquittal, arguing they were merely accessories after the fact. The jury, after 10½ hours of deliberation, returned a verdict of guilty by a 10‑to‑two majority. Sentencing was adjourned to 19 December to allow a victim impact statement.
Lee O'Brien, 31, of Cooley Road, Drimnagh, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to three counts of endangerment, one count of dangerous driving and one count of driving without insurance on 9 January 2018. At 1.30 a.m. a garda patrol unit noticed a red Nissan Micra that hesitated when the driver spotted the gardaí. The car sped off, pursued, and drove down the wrong direction of several one‑way streets, through red lights, and on North King Street where it stalled. O'Brien reversed toward the halted patrol car, colliding with it while two gardaí were still inside. A second patrol car pursued until O'Brien collided with a taxi on Queen's Street, causing the taxi to spin and hit a pole. The driver, his passenger and the taxi driver were removed and treated for minor injuries. O'Brien admitted he was banned from driving at the time and was intoxicated.
A man convicted of murdering a Romanian national at a brothel in Cavan six years ago is awaiting the outcome of his appeal against conviction at the Court of Appeal. Przemyslaw Trebacz, a Polish national aged 39, of Bramble Rise, Killynebber, Cavan, received a mandatory life sentence in February 2014 after a Central Criminal Court jury returned a majority guilty verdict for the killing of Costel Catalin Cretu on 13 or 14 October 2012 at Connolly Court, Cavan. Trebacz maintained his innocence regarding the murder charge, though he admitted criminal damage. His defence argued he sought services as a customer, while the prosecution contended he and another man attended to commit robbery. The appeal challenged the trial's adequacy, questioning the judge's direction to the jury and the reliability of a key female witness. The Director of Public Prosecutions' counsel cited corroborating evidence from a taxi driver. The Court of Appeal reserved judgment. Przemyslaw Trebacz pleaded not guilty.
A man has entered guilty pleas to a series of shop robberies at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, having been driven to multiple crime scenes by a taxi driver unaware of his passenger's intentions. Dean Gray, aged 30 and of Buttercup Drive, Darndale, Dublin, pleaded guilty to robbery and knife production at XL Flintstones in Baldoyle on 21 May 2017, where he took €350. He also admitted robbing €425 from Petmania at Gulliver's Retail Park using a screwdriver on 17 March 2018, and two robberies from Tan Me salon on New Cabra Road totalling €500 on 12 March and 10 April 2018. Gray further pleaded guilty to robbing €200 from Centz on North Circular Road on 14 March 2018 and an attempted robbery with threats at Spar, Harts Corner, on 10 April 2018. Evidence indicated he made no effort to conceal his identity during any incident. The court heard Gray has 69 previous convictions including 21 robberies, and that his offences were motivated by drug addiction. The case was adjourned to late November for sentencing.
Patrick Byrnes, 78, of Castletroy, Limerick, was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court after being convicted by a jury last July of 58 charges of indecent assault and two counts of rape. The offences, which occurred between 1975 and 1985, involved the sexual abuse of his two daughters when they were approximately seven years old. Byrnes denied all charges and maintains his innocence. Mr Justice Paul McDermott noted the victims lived in abject fear and were left broken by the decade-long abuse, which included instances where Byrnes encouraged a family dog to participate in sexual acts. The judge acknowledged Byrnes' health conditions, including heart disease and osteoarthritis, but stated these could be managed in prison. Citing a lack of remorse and refusal to admit responsibility, the judge identified Byrnes' age as the only mitigating factor. He set a headline sentence of nine years for rape and six years for sexual assault, reducing both by one year due to age. All sentences run concurrently. The judge suspended the final two years of the sentence on the condition that Byrnes is not in the company of any woman under the age of 18 unless accompanied by another adult. The complainants waived anonymity to ensure Byrnes was named, stating they will never forgive him.
In a Dublin city‑centre pub, taxi driver Lawrence Doyle (51) bit off part of Christopher Darcy's ear during a violent altercation that began after the two men met at a bar. Garda Fergus Grant reported that Doyle struck Darcy with a blow to the side of the head, then bit the ear, causing a 3 cm loss of tissue that could not be stitched. Darcy was also struck dozens of times in the chest and attempted to defend himself, but was ultimately taken to Mater Hospital where he received a tetanus shot and antibiotics. Doyle pleaded guilty to assaulting Darcy at Mulletts Bar on Amiens Street on 15 May 2017. He has no prior convictions. The case was adjourned to 21 February 2024, with Judge Melanie Greally ordering a probation report and noting Doyle's €500 restitution offer. The judge described the assault as vicious, violent and out of character for Doyle. The court will hear the case next month.
Anthony Smith, 25, of Deanstown Green, Finglas, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to robbing two taxi drivers at knifepoint. On 1 April 2018 he robbed Mark Kavanagh, taking his wallet, €200 cash, and a phone system worth up to €600, while a co‑accused held a blade to Kavanagh's neck. Ten days later, on 11 April, Smith robbed James Boylan, pulling an eight‑inch knife and stabbing at Boylan's stomach; Boylan later reported feeling the knife's pressure but was not stabbed, suffering a hip injury instead. Smith had 13 prior convictions, including theft and criminal damage, and claimed the robberies were to obtain money for drugs. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to five years' imprisonment, with 12 months suspended for each robbery, and backdated the terms to the date of his arrest. The court noted Smith's cooperation and early guilty plea. The sentence was imposed concurrently for both offences.
Tony Ward, 40, of Castlecurragh Park, Mulhuddart, Dublin, pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to endangerment, dangerous driving, assault causing harm and unlawful seizure of a vehicle. On 29 August 2017, he and another man hijacked a taxi at 2:45 am, demanding a ride to Ballymun. Ward, wearing blue rubber gloves, forced the driver to stop, then re‑entered the taxi, unbuckled the seatbelt, and threatened the driver with a four‑inch knife. He ordered the driver out, threatened to stab him, and after the driver escaped, Ward slashed the driver's finger. The taxi then drove off at high speed, pursued by Garda Keith Spackman. At Mellowes Crescent, the taxi rammed two Garda cars and struck a Garda, who was knocked down, sustaining a large laceration to his left arm that required 30 stitches. Ward, who had been drinking and had taken cocaine that evening, is aware the incident could have ended differently.
In the Central Criminal Court, Marie and Hugh Walsh testified that they met their son Anthony the morning after he beat 54‑year‑old Dermot Byrne to death outside a school in Swords on 16 July 2017. Anthony, 31, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter and to theft of Byrne's bank card, keys and lighter. He told his mother, in tears, that he had not meant to kill Byrne. The court heard that Anthony had been in a fight, had called his father's phone, and had been arrested after a taxi ride to his mother's house. Witnesses described his physical state and the circumstances of the incident, and the trial continues before Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury.
During a murder trial, retired Garda Niall Jones recounted his horror upon discovering a naked, bloody body on North Street, Swords, at about 2.50 am. While searching for a taxi, he mistook a lifelike inflatable dummy for a person and, upon closer inspection, found the body of a man who had been beaten to death. Jones called 999 and attempted resuscitation, but paramedic William Howard found no pulse and declared the victim dead. The case is being heard at the Central Criminal Court, with the accused Anthony Walsh pleading not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter and theft.
In the trial of Joseph Hillen, a 24‑year‑old from Forkhill, the jury found him not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter for the death of taxi driver Martin Mulligan, 53, at Carnmore, Dundalk, on 28 September 2015. Hillen admitted to stabbing Mulligan but claimed the driver had pulled a knife on him and that he acted in self‑defence after a confrontation over alleged illegal dumping. Forensic evidence, including blood on the road and DNA on a glove, placed Hillen at the scene. The jury, after five hours and 29 minutes of deliberation, reached a majority verdict of ten to two. Justice Eileen Creedon thanked the jury and scheduled a sentencing hearing for 3 December. The case highlighted conflicting statements about the knife in Mulligan's car and the nature of the wounds, with the pathologist noting the unusual lower‑body stabs that caused rapid death.
A jury will return to the Central Criminal Court tomorrow to decide the verdict in the trial of 24‑year‑old Joseph Hillen, who admits stabbing but denies murdering taxi‑driver Martin Mulligan (53). Hillen pleaded not guilty to murder after a dispute over alleged illegal dumping. Justice Eileen Creedon explained the three possible verdicts: guilty of murder, not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter, or not guilty. The jury had spent 3 hours 21 minutes deliberating and had not yet reached a verdict. They were asked to return Thursday.
In the trial of 24‑year‑old Joseph Hillen, the jury has begun deliberating a verdict for the murder of 53‑year‑old Martin Mulligan, a taxi driver killed on 28 September 2015. Hillen admits stabbing Mulligan but denies murder, claiming he acted in self‑defence after a dispute over alleged illegal dumping. Justice Eileen Creedon explained that the jury may find him guilty of murder, guilty of manslaughter, or not guilty. The prosecution, led by Patrick Treacy SC, argues Hillen intended to kill or seriously injure Mulligan and that his self‑defence claim is uncredible, citing Hillen's earlier false statements to gardai. Defence counsel Brendan Grehan SC contends Hillen's account is the only one supported by evidence, noting the pathologist's observation that the wounds were low on the body and would have caused death quickly. The jury will return to the Central Criminal Court tomorrow to continue deliberations.
In the trial of Joseph Hillen, a 24‑year‑old from Forkhill, the jury is asked to decide whether he acted in self‑defence or is guilty of murder after stabbing taxi driver Martin Mulligan, aged 53, to death in Dundalk on 28 September 2015. Hillen denies murder, claiming he stabbed Mulligan to protect himself during a dispute over illegal dumping. Prosecutor Patrick Treacy SC argues Hillen lied to Gardaí and that his self‑defence claim is not credible, citing the depth and nature of the wounds and Hillen's failure to call for help. Defence barrister Brendan Grehan SC maintains Hillen's account is supported by evidence, noting the pathologist's remarks on the injuries and the possibility of a sewer rod causing head lacerations. The jury must weigh whether Hillen intended to kill or merely used excessive force, or if he acted in genuine self‑defence. The case is before Justice Eileen Creedon. The unnamed 24-year-old pleaded not guilty. Joseph Hillen pleaded not guilty.
In the Central Criminal Court, the family of the stabbed victim left before a jury saw the taxi driver's heavily blood‑stained jumper and t‑shirt. Prosecutor Patrick Treacy SC warned that the clothing could be distressing. Joseph Hillen, 24, of Forkhill, Co. Armagh, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Martin Mulligan, 53, at Carnmore, Dundalk, on 28 September 2015. Hillen admitted he inflicted the fatal knife wounds but claimed he did so to protect himself. Forensic scientist Sandra McGrath showed the jury the heavy blood staining on the jumper and t‑shirt, a 19.5 cm cut and tear at the V of the jumper's neck, and a glove with Hillen's DNA on its inside and back. She also identified 18 blood drops at the scene, two matching Hillen's DNA and the rest matching Mulligan's. Garda James Doherty reported Hillen was interviewed on 23 May 2016 after his car was seen driving erratically that night.
In the murder trial of Joseph Hillen, the wife of the stabbed taxi driver, Grainne Mulligan, denied that her husband kept a kitchen knife in his car. She stated that Hillen, a 24‑year‑old coal delivery man turned taxi driver, kept a bar on the floor of the taxi for protection and a small Swiss Army knife. She also admitted that she had previously claimed he kept a kitchen knife in the taxi, but later corrected that the knife was in his coal lorry. Mulligan described Hillen as a formidable man who would not back down in a confrontation. She said he kept the bar as a weapon if needed. The trial continues before a jury and Justice Eileen Creedon. Joseph Hillen pleaded not guilty. Grainne Mulligan pleaded not guilty.
The trial of Jason Keating, 27, of Rush, Co Dublin, continued before a three-judge court presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt. Keating has pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Noel 'Duck Egg' Kirwan, who was shot six times outside his Clondalkin home in December 2016. Prosecution evidence focused on a 'Gotek 7' electronic tracking device found under Mr Kirwan's car the day after the shooting. Sergeant Damien Gannon testified that the device was attached to the undercarriage with strong magnets. James Kennedy, a Garda telecommunications analyst, explained that the device uses GPS to upload location data to a web server and can send movement alerts to saved mobile numbers. Although the device contained a SIM card from Holland, Kennedy stated he could not decode the internal information and did not retrieve location data from the device's memory. He noted that such trackers are also used for legitimate purposes, such as taxi fleets. In his opening address, prosecution counsel Paul Greene SC alleged the murder arose from a feud between criminal factions, though Mr Kirwan had no connection to either side. The matter is ongoing, with the trial continuing before the court.
During a murder trial, Gardaí recounted a car‑chase involving the accused, 24‑year‑old Joseph Hillen, hours before he stabbed taxi driver Martin Mulligan to death. Hillen, who pleaded not guilty, admitted stabbing Mulligan but claimed he did so to protect himself. The chase began shortly after midnight in Dundalk town centre, when Sergeant Michael Kermath and Garda Damien Fanning spotted a Toyota Avensis spinning its tyres outside Ridley's nightclub. They pursued the vehicle with blue lights, but the Avensis accelerated erratically, broke two traffic lights, and fled toward Marsh's Shopping Centre. The patrol car followed until the pursuit became too dangerous, and the officers believed they would not catch the driver before the border with Northern Ireland. CCTV footage of the chase was shown to the jury, and the trial continues before Justice Eileen Creedon.
A 32‑year‑old Dublin man was sentenced to 11 months' imprisonment for sexual assault after he put a hand under a woman's skirt and groped her while she slept at a house party in Blanchardstown on 21 June 2015. The man, whose name is withheld to protect the victim, pleaded not guilty but was unanimously convicted by a jury in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He had no prior convictions. The victim, aged 29, had fallen asleep after failing to secure a taxi and later recalled waking to a hand rubbing her vagina on the outside of her skirt. She reported stress and work absence in her victim impact statement. The judge noted the offender's family status but found the offence to be of a mid‑range severity, and the defendant could not accept responsibility for the act. The sentence was imposed with no mention of a suspended portion or effective custody beyond the 11‑month term.
In a murder trial, 24‑year‑old Joseph Hillen of Forkhill, Co. Armagh, pleaded not guilty to the stabbing death of 53‑year‑old Martin Mulligan in Dundalk on 28 September 2015. Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis testified that Mulligan suffered three blunt‑force lacerations to the top of the head, 30 other minor injuries to head, arms, chest and legs, and two fatal knife wounds. One wound cut the abdominal aorta, the other severed the femoral artery in the thigh, both causing rapid blood loss. Dr Curtis explained that a sewer rod could account for the head injuries and that the knife wounds were consistent with Hillen's account of a "backhanded" motion while kneeling. Hillen admitted stabbing Mulligan but claimed he acted to protect himself. The trial continued before Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury.
In a murder trial held in Dundalk, 24‑year‑old Joseph Hillen pleaded not guilty to the killing of taxi driver Martin Mulligan, 53, who was found dead near his taxi on 28 September 2015. Hillen admitted stabbing Mulligan twice, claiming he acted in self‑defence after an altercation that began when Mulligan allegedly punched him and a wrestling match ensued. Hillen also described a struggle over a stainless steel kitchen knife, during which he cut his own hand and stabbed Mulligan. An autopsy revealed two stab wounds and numerous blunt‑force injuries, with the abdominal wound severing an artery and killing Mulligan within 30 seconds. Hillen's statements to Gardaí in July 2018 acknowledged driving a Toyota Avensis that night, and he admitted to chasing Mulligan before the fatal encounter. The jury, hearing the prosecution's case, will decide whether Hillen's actions were self‑defence or murder. The trial continues before Justice Eileen Creedon.
Darren Weldon, a 47‑year‑old taxi driver from Kilbarrack, Dublin, had his 2014 conviction for membership of the Irish Republican Army quashed on appeal. The Special Criminal Court had found him guilty on 14 October 2014, sentencing him to five years' imprisonment with the final year suspended. The Court of Appeal held that the trial court's finding was "factually incorrect" because it relied on a photo from Weldon's iPhone that did not actually show him, and that the evidence left a "substantial gap" in the court's reasoning. The appeal judge, Mr Justice John Hedigan, noted that the conviction was based on a combination of opinion evidence, DNA linking Weldon to a car bomb's number plate, and the disputed photo. With the conviction deemed unsafe, it was quashed, a retrial ordered, and Weldon was released on bail to appear again before the Special Criminal Court on 29 June 2018. Darren Weldon pleaded not guilty.
Christopher Timmons, a 29-year-old jockey from Castleknock, Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to assault causing harm. The incident occurred on July 24, 2016, at Morehampton Rd, Donnybrook, where Timmons allegedly assaulted a taxi driver following a dispute over a fare. Prosecution evidence stated that Timmons punched the driver in the face and attempted to gouge his eyes. Judge Karen O'Connor reduced the previously proposed 200 hours of community service to 80 hours, citing a probation service report indicating Timmons lacked the time to complete the original amount due to his extensive work and study commitments. Defending counsel Brian Storan BL argued that Timmons was willing and able to serve the reduced hours. The judge noted Timmons had brought €3,950 to court to compensate the victim, who suffered financial loss and changed careers to become a bus driver. Judge O'Connor emphasized that Timmons must prioritize his community service, acknowledging his aggressive behavior while also noting his remorse, completed third-level degree, and efforts to address alcohol issues. She concluded that Timmons was more useful to society completing community service than serving a custodial sentence, referencing his talented jockey career and impressive employment record.
A 26‑year‑old man from North Strand Road, Dublin, was sentenced to one year in prison for his part in a taxi hijacking that took place on 28 August 2017 in Cabra. Daniel Barry pleaded guilty to unlawful seizure of a vehicle at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He was not considered the "prime mover" of the offence, having been cooperative after arrest and making admissions. Barry was involved in the hijacking after a co‑accused threatened the taxi driver with a knife and forced the driver to drive away. Barry entered the hijacked taxi as the accomplice drove off and tried to evade Gardaí. He was arrested after being chased to Aylward Green. The judge imposed a three‑year sentence, suspending the final two years, and noted Barry's good behaviour and steps toward reform while in custody. The taxi driver did not give a victim impact statement.
A 19‑year‑old from Louth, Lee Smyth, was sentenced to four years in prison for violently hijacking a taxi and assaulting its driver, Eric Byrne, on O'Connell Street in Dublin. Smyth, who admitted he was heavily intoxicated on tablets and could not fully recall the incident, said he only wanted to get home to Drogheda. He and a co‑accused seized the vehicle, attempted to take the keys, and then attacked Byrne, who fled and called the police. The car was later found burnt out in Drogheda. Smyth pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and unlawful seizure of a vehicle. He had 29 prior convictions. Judge Martin Nolan suspended the final 18 months of the sentence on strict conditions, noting Smyth's cooperation and willingness to reform. The case was prosecuted by Elva Duffy BL and defended by Grainne O'Neill BL. The court acknowledged Smyth's efforts in prison to change his behaviour.
A trial date has been set for Joseph Hillen, a 23‑year‑old from Forkhill, County Armagh, who is charged with the murder of 53‑year‑old Martin Mulligan, a taxi driver from Dundalk. The killing took place at Carnmore, off the Armagh Road outside Dundalk, on 28 September 2015. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy of the Central Criminal Court fixed the trial for 2 October, with the case expected to last two weeks.
In a late‑night incident in Dublin's Temple Bar, 23‑year‑old forklift driver Kamil Stawicki punched 38‑year‑old Fred Murray in the head, and the victim's leg was fractured in four places. Stawicki claimed he could not remember breaking the leg, but a taxi driver who witnessed the assault testified that Stawicki stomped on Murray's leg, wedging it between the kerb and cobbles, and that the leg was broken as if a stick were snapped for firewood. Murray suffered four fractures, metal plates and screws, and had to take four months off work. In a victim impact statement he expressed concern about future arthritis. Judge Patrick Quinn sentenced Stawicki to two years, suspended on the condition he keep the peace and pay €5,000 to Murray, which he paid in court. Stawicki had previously denied the assault charge, but a jury convicted him in September 2013.
Brandon Crosbie, 19, was sentenced to three and a half years in jail after a high‑speed chase that saw him crash into five vehicles during rush hour. He pleaded guilty to three counts of endangerment, one of dangerous driving and one of driving without insurance at locations in Ballymun and Finglas on 24 April 2017. Garda Carl McSweeney described how Crosbie drove a Hyundai at very high speed toward a patrol vehicle on Longdale Terrace, forcing the garda to take evasive action. Crosbie then drove through traffic, colliding head‑on with a car, then weaving between lanes and hitting a stopped vehicle at a red light, and finally rear‑ended a taxi on St Margaret's Road, pushing it forward. He has 47 prior convictions, all at District Court level, for offences including assault, criminal damage and dangerous driving.
Noel O'Connor, 36, was jailed for three years after smuggling almost €70,000 worth of cocaine from Brazil into Dublin Airport. Customs officers discovered 1.1 kilos of cocaine in two shampoo bottles during a random swab test. O'Connor fled the customs hall, ran into the arrivals area, and escaped in a taxi. He later returned to Ireland to face the court, pleading guilty to importation of controlled drugs. Judge Martin Nolan described him as "the ambassador of his own misfortune" but praised his clean record in custody and charity work with the Irish Red Cross. O'Connor had ten prior convictions, including theft and robbery, and had been a personal trainer. He had fled to Brazil after a breakup, accrued a drug debt, and was persuaded to smuggle drugs to repay it. The sentence was back‑dated to 23 June.
Two men, Dubliners Derek Naylor (46) and Paul Goddard (57), were sentenced at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following their guilty pleas to possession of cannabis resin at Clearwater Shopping Centre car park, Finglas on August 24, 2016. Both defendants admitted their charges and were found guilty. Judge Karen O'Connor sentenced both men to four years but suspended each of their sentences. Goddard also admitted possession of amphetamine and cannabis at his home on the same date. Naylor, a taxi driver with no previous convictions, and Goddard, who has four previous convictions for minor road traffic offences, were described by the judge as being at the lowest end of the ladder in the drugs industry. The judge noted that Goddard's involvement was an act of desperation due to threats to a family member, while Naylor became involved due to a drug debt. The court ordered that Naylor continue his mentorship role at the Coolmine therapeutic community programme, and that Goddard engage with the Probations Service on offence-focused work. The matter was adjourned following the sentence.
A 13‑year‑old boy was sentenced to ten months' detention after sexually assaulting a 16‑year‑old girl in a public park. The incident occurred while the boy was with his uncle and cousin, who were described by Garda Timothy McCaul as bad influences and who had bullied and intoxicated him. The victim, who was distressed, offered to help the boy get a taxi; he then pushed her to the ground, assaulted her and fled. CCTV identified the boy, who was arrested and later pleaded guilty to sexual assault. He had no prior convictions and was described by his defence counsel as a child with a chaotic background and low maturity. Judge Martin Nolan, considering the boy's need for "normality," imposed the detention and ordered ten months of probation supervision thereafter.
Mihail Coptu, a 46‑year‑old Moldovan, was jailed for one year after he attempted to choke a 70‑year‑old taxi driver with a seat belt while the taxi was moving onto a motorway slip road. Coptu, who had 23 prior convictions, was found drunk at the time of the offence. He pleaded guilty to endangerment and obstruction of a garda at the M1 motorway on 17 March 2016. The judge, citing the seriousness of the offence and Coptu's intoxication, imposed a custodial sentence, rejecting a non‑custodial alternative. Garda Gerard Mullarkey reported that the driver had freed himself by pulling the seat belt over his head, after which Coptu fled the moving vehicle. The court heard a victim impact statement noting the driver's three‑week loss of work and the cost of installing a screen in the taxi. Coptu later expressed remorse and claimed the incident was an aberration caused by alcohol.
On 23 July 2014, a 36‑year‑old Dublin man was charged with sexual assault of a foreign national at UCD campus. The trial, held at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, is in its fifth day. Witness Criona Cullen, a dog walker, testified that she was walking her dogs around 10 pm when she heard a woman call for help. The woman, speaking limited English, claimed she had met a man on Tinder who had taken her to the campus and attempted to have sex with her. Cullen offered assistance, arranging a taxi and offering to pay the fare. A flatmate of the complainant later testified that the woman was frightened and that the man had taken her to an abandoned area. The case is before Judge Cormac Quinn and a jury of twelve. The accused has pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 35‑year‑old English‑language student testified that she was sexually assaulted by a 36‑year‑old Dublin man she had met on the Tinder dating app. She said she had agreed to meet him after weeks of communication, and he had driven her in his car to a secluded green area. During the encounter, she claimed he became aggressive and assaulted her. After the incident she took a taxi home, told her flatmate about the attack, but they could not contact the Gardaí because of limited English. She called the manager of the agency running her English course that night, who advised her to rest and go to the police the next morning. She expressed fear that people would judge her for getting into a stranger's car or using Tinder. The trial is proceeding before Judge Cormac Quinn and a jury of twelve. The unnamed 36-year-old pleaded not guilty.
Carl Cullen, aged 30, pleaded guilty to robbery at Tolka Valley Road on 27 February 2017. He and a co‑accused entered a taxi at about 6 am, behaved drunkenly and violently, and forced the driver to stop. Cullen seized the driver's mobile phone, chased him, and attempted to punch him. CCTV showed the robbers rummaging through the taxi and taking a phone, MP3 player and coins. Garda Barry Hehir informed the court that the victim used a "find phone" app to locate Cullen and his co‑accused on St Helena's Road, Finglas. The court noted Cullen's 40 prior convictions, his guilty plea, remorse and athletic background, but also his propensity for violence. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to three and a half years' imprisonment. The sentence was imposed in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The case involved a violent robbery of a taxi driver.
Sean Dowdall, aged 23, was sentenced to 13 months in prison for stealing a taxi driver's car after a drug and alcohol binge. He claimed a woman, with whom he was not closely acquainted, had told him she was pregnant and that he was the father. Dowdall denied this later, stating he was not the father. He had stolen two cars over two days, the first being a taxi that crashed into a lamp post after he drove off while intoxicated. He had previously pleaded guilty to stealing a car from a petrol station on Tir Chonaill Road on 12 February 2016, and had 57 prior convictions, including assault, theft and car theft. The court noted he had 57 previous convictions and that the stolen car was written off due to damage. Judge Martin Nolan imposed the 13‑month sentence. The prosecution, represented by Pieter LeVert BL, described the circumstances of the theft and the subsequent crash.
Thomas Joyce, 37, was sentenced to five-and-a-half years in prison, with the final year suspended, for robbing two taxi drivers in Finglas on 7 and 8 November 2016. He had previously been convicted of five robberies and three attempted robberies against taxi drivers, bringing his total convictions to 32. Joyce told the first driver he would "cut him" and the second that he had "blades" and would "slash his face to bits." He fled after taking phones and cash. The court noted the crimes were linked to drug use, but that Joyce was now in rehabilitation, having attended a residential treatment course from March to August 2016. He pleaded guilty, showed remorse, and cooperated, factors that were considered in the sentencing. The judge highlighted the terror inflicted on the victims and the high risk of re‑offending identified in Joyce's probation report. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the offences while acknowledging his efforts at rehabilitation.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, Derek Naylor, 46, and Paul Goddard, 57, pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis resin and related drugs. Gardaí, acting on confidential information, tracked the men and discovered they had acted as mules for a drug operation, transporting almost €150,000 of cannabis resin. Naylor, a taxi driver with no prior convictions, admitted he was involved to repay a drug debt and was later found with three bags of resin worth €147,498. Goddard, who had four prior traffic convictions, admitted possession of amphetamine and cannabis at his home and claimed he was paid €1,000 for his role. Both men were described by the Garda as "just mules" who were "preyed upon" by others. Judge Karen O'Connor ordered probation reports and adjourned sentencing until December 8, 2017. The case highlighted the men's remorse, their lack of prior drug involvement, and the threat they faced from the drug network.
Joseph Moore, a 30‑year‑old supermarket security guard, was found with nearly €10,000 worth of cannabis and cocaine at his father's home. The drugs, valued at €7,735 for cocaine and €2,142 for cannabis, were discovered during a planned search. Moore told Gardaí the drugs were for his own use, but he later pleaded guilty to possession for sale or supply. The court heard that Moore came from a stable, hard‑working family; his father, a retired civil servant, was deeply disappointed. Judge Karen O'Connor, after considering his work history and family support, decided against imprisonment. She ordered Moore to perform 240 hours of community service in lieu of a three‑year jail term. The case was adjourned for a probation report. The court noted that Moore's father, now a taxi driver, was mortified by his son's behaviour.