Silvio Rabbitte, 55, of Castleknock, Dublin, pleaded guilty to one count of impeding the apprehension of his co-accused, Wesley Williams, between September 2012 and July 2014. Williams, 46, of Ratoath, Co Meath, pleaded guilty to one count of fraud. Both men were involved in a €1.4 million money-laundering scheme where funds from German investors were transferred into a shared account. Rabbitte received €350,000, while Williams also received a sum. The defence argued Rabbitte was duped and acted with recklessness, noting he had no previous convictions. Simon Gold, 59, of Athlone, Co Westmeath, was previously found guilty by a jury of money laundering, theft, deception, and control of false instruments, and was jailed for seven years in 2019. Judge Martin Nolan adjourned the matter for finalisation on February 7 next year, stating he would sentence Rabbitte after hearing evidence in Williams' case. Rabbitte was remanded on continuing bail until that date. The court noted that the charge against Rabbitte was only recently offered to him, and that the Criminal Assets Bureau had seized €190,000 from his ill-gotten gains.
Alan Rooney, 54, of Stillorgan, was given a fully suspended 18‑month sentence for a series of offences committed on 18 September 2022 at Dundrum Town Centre. He pleaded guilty to theft, threats to kill, threatening abusive behaviour, breach of the peace, assault causing harm and entering a private kitchen and taking a kitchen knife. Rooney attacked a security guard, struck him five to six times and attempted to bring him to the ground before other security staff intervened. He also threatened a shopper, saying he would "cut the hearts out" of the shopper's wife and children. CCTV footage of the altercation was shown to the court. The judge, citing Rooney's 25 previous convictions, his 10‑year UK prison term for robbery and his moderate risk of reoffending, imposed the sentence on condition of probation, addiction services and victim‑focused work, suspending it in full for three years.
In a dramatic October morning, a Garda pursued David Paget, a 43‑year‑old serial burglar, who had broken into a family home in Dublin. Paget threw a shovel through the front window of the occupied house and attempted to flee. The Garda, Detective Shane Woods, followed him into the Tolka River and later apprehended him hiding behind shrubbery. Paget, who had 57 prior convictions, pleaded guilty to stealing a car and 11 burglaries between September 2020 and October 2023, most of which occurred in Mulhuddart, Dublin 15. Judge Orla Crowe noted that Paget had been on bail for the car theft and for several burglaries when he committed the latest offence. She accepted his cooperation, admissions, remorse, and efforts to address his addiction. The judge imposed consecutive sentences totalling seven and a half years, suspended the final year on strict conditions, and required Paget to engage with the Probation Service for 12 months upon release.
Ian Byrne, 41, was sentenced to 21 months in prison for robbing a post office on Dorset Street, Dublin 7, and for possessing an imitation firearm on 1 November 2022. He also faced a count of attempting to rob a post office in Cabra two days later, which was considered but not charged. Byrne claimed he was coerced by a drugs gang after accruing a cocaine debt following a knee injury. He had previously worked as a forklift driver for Ikea for eight years and had no prior convictions. Byrne admitted to the robbery at a Ballymun Garda station, stating he was under pressure and threatened by the gang. The judge, Martin Nolan, noted Byrne's depression medication and the gang's threats, and said the 21‑month term was the lowest he could impose under the circumstances. Ian Byrne pleaded guilty.
During a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, former Michael Lynn solicitor Fiona McAleenan denied any knowledge of Mr Lynn's bank borrowings and claimed she had never been a partner in the practice. Mr Lynn, aged 55, faces 21 theft counts for allegedly stealing about €27 million from seven banks between October 2006 and April 2007. McAleenan said she had only been appointed partner in October 2006 and that she had never been a partner before or after leaving the firm. She denied involvement in any bank transfers or money movements, stating she was unaware of the lending or the amounts. The prosecution's case alleges Mr Lynn secured multiple mortgages on the same properties while banks were unaware of other lenders. McAleenan's testimony concluded after the judge thanked her for her attendance, and the trial continues before Judge Nolan and a jury. Fiona McAleenan pleaded not guilty.
Laurence Maguire, 47, pleaded guilty to two robberies and an assault at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He had been on the run for seven years after a bench warrant was issued in 2016, during which time Gardaí could not locate him. In June 2023 he surrendered and has been in custody since. The first robbery occurred at Courtview, Rathbourne, where he forced a woman to drop her bags, stole a River Island handbag containing about €30, bank cards and a DKNY watch, and left her with a sore neck and a cut. The second robbery took place on Glasnevin Avenue, Ballymun, where he attempted to seize a woman's bag, injured her husband with cuts to his face and hand, and stole a Marks & Spencer handbag. Gardaí recovered the vehicle, bank cards, and evidence linking Maguire to the incidents. He admitted to possessing a knife and having a drug addiction, and has 17 prior convictions.
Jordan Lee, 25, was sentenced to two years in prison in April 2023 for a violent robbery that left two teenagers, aged 18 and 19, unconscious after they refused to buy drugs in Dublin city centre. Lee, who was on bail at the time, struck one teen on the head and repeatedly stamped on his head, while a co‑accused struck the other teen. Both men then stole the teens' pockets and fled. The State appealed the sentence, arguing it was unduly lenient. The Court of Appeal, after viewing disturbing CCTV footage, found the original two‑year term too low and increased the pre‑mitigation headline sentence to seven years. The judge set a post‑mitigation headline sentence of five years, suspended six months, and back‑dated the custodial term to start after the expiry of a separate 11‑month sentence on 6 June. Jordan Lee pleaded guilty.
Darren Martin, aged 48, of Bride Road, Dublin 8, has been sentenced to four and a half years imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following his guilty pleas to two robberies of elderly women in March 2022. The offences occurred in Dublin 8, where Martin targeted women in their 80s on consecutive days, snatching handbags and a walking stick. Judge Elma Sheahan noted that Martin had robbed the victims not only of property but of their peace of mind. Martin's previous convictions for robbery and other offences were cited as aggravating factors. The court heard evidence of the distress caused to both women. The defence noted Martin's struggles with drug addiction and mental health difficulties. Martin received credit for time already spent in custody.
Patrick McNamee, 42, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison for stealing €200 from a 69‑year‑old wheelchair user in Cork. McNamee, who has 190 prior convictions, pretended to be a home carer, entered the victim's home uninvited, forced him into a wheelchair, and took him to a local Spar shop to collect his pension. He later returned to the house, found the pension withdrawn, and took the cash from the victim's armchair. The victim did not file a victim impact statement. McNamee admitted the theft, apologized, and claimed drug addiction had influenced his actions. The judge, after considering his personal circumstances and prison conduct, reduced a headline sentence of six years to the current term, backdated to June 26.
Paul Dudgeon, a 14‑year‑old An Post postman, was dismissed after a criminal case involving a theft and assault charge. He was convicted of theft and assault in December 2020, appealed, and the Circuit Court quashed the theft conviction and reduced the assault conviction to a probation order under the Probation Act, requiring six months abstinence from alcohol and no contact with his ex‑partner. Dudgeon claimed he had paid the €6,000 fine, had no prior convictions, and believed he had a clean record. An Post dismissed him in September 2021, citing "serious shortcomings in your behaviour" and alleging he had brought the service "into disrepute." The Workplace Relations Commission found the dismissal unrelated to the criminal conduct, awarded Dudgeon €5,000 compensation, and upheld his complaint under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977. The decision emphasized that the dismissal was not justified by the court outcome or the alleged conduct.
Vicky Hehir (30), also known as Victoria O'Halloran, of Bruach na Sionna, Castleconnell, Co Limerick and her husband Warren Hehir (33) of the same address appeared before the three-judge court for their sentence hearing today. Both pleaded guilty to one charge of money laundering in relation to the €59,000 for the works carried out at Kilmurry Court. The court heard that Warren Hehir didn't engage with gardai during his detention other than to answer one question in relation to renovations at Kilmurry Court, in which he said "I got the work done." Mr Justice Michael MacGrath, sitting with Judge Sarah Berkeley and Judge James Faughnan, remanded Warren Hehir in custody and Vicky Hehir on continuing bail until January 22 2024, when they will be sentenced. "The court takes a serious view of the offending of both defendants," added Mr Justice MacGrath. Sandra Hehir (54), with an address at Assumpta Park, Island road, Limerick City, pleaded guilty last month before the Special Criminal Court to laundering over one hundred thousand euro in crime cash at her home. The court heard that the property at Kilmurry Court was being purchased on behalf of Warren and Vicky Hehir. An order to freeze the couple's financial accounts in various institutions was sought on foot of the search and other items were found. The court heard that Warren Hehir has 54 previous convictions which include money laundering in the context of drug dealing, robbery, criminal damage and the possession of a firearm and ammunition. The matter was adjourned until January 22 2024.
In a trial held on 24 November 2023, Michael Lynn, aged 55, faced 21 counts of theft for allegedly stealing about €27 million from seven banks between October 2006 and April 2007. The prosecution argued that Lynn secured multiple mortgages on the same properties without banks knowing other institutions were financing them, and that he stole €2.7 million from Bank of Ireland in December 2006. Witness Arthur King, a Bank of Ireland employee, was cross‑examined about internal emails from March 2004 in which a head‑office official suggested Lynn should be referred to the Law Society. Lynn denied knowledge of the emails. The trial also examined testimony from former solicitor Fiona McAleenan, who resigned in 2007 and later sought advice from the Law Society after receiving letters from banks about shared property charges. The case continues before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury. Michael Lynn pleaded not guilty.
The High Court, on Mr Justice Alexander Owens' direction, declared that assets linked to convicted killer and "career criminal" John 'Keith' O'Donovan – a Cork property and €8,590 in cash – were proceeds of crime. The Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) had argued that the assets were financed by O'Donovan's criminal activity, citing over 50 convictions for offences such as manslaughter, armed robbery, burglary, assault, illegal firearm possession and drug offences, and his role as a major heroin supplier in Cork. CAB's sworn statement noted that the recorded convictions did not fully reflect his criminal involvement and that he accessed substantial funds from unknown sources. The property, bought in 1997 for IR£20,000, was registered in his mother Doreen O'Donovan's name to conceal ownership. CAB claimed O'Donovan had no legitimate means to acquire the property, now valued at over €200,000.
During the multi‑million euro theft trial of Michael Lynn, a solicitor who had worked in his practice testified that Ms Fiona McAleenan was never a partner in the firm. McAleenan denied that another legal executive had been authorised to sign her name and claimed she had not consented to such action. She said she had been involved in negotiations about becoming a partner but was ultimately advised not to proceed. McAleenan also stated that she had not signed the solicitor's letters of undertaking that were presented as her work, and that any signatures on those documents were made by former executive Liz Doyle. She maintained that she had not sent an email to a bank manager claiming partnership status and suggested that someone else may have used her account. The prosecution alleges that Lynn obtained multiple mortgages on the same properties, with several banks unaware of the other institutions' financing. Fiona McAleenan pleaded not guilty.
Charlie Darcy (35), of John's Lane West, Dublin 8, appeared before Judge Orla Crowe in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court at the sentencing stage. He pleaded guilty to counts of taking a vehicle without consent and possession of stolen property on separate occasions between December 14 and 16, 2021. The court heard that Darcy was on bail for the burglary of the Marble Arch pub in Drimnagh, for which he previously pleaded guilty, as well as for possession of a firearm at Longs Place, Dublin 8, on December 18, 2021. Darcy and his accomplice in the pub break-in, Jason Paget (35), were both jailed for four and a half years for those earlier offences. For the current charges, Judge Crowe imposed a consecutive two-year sentence. The court noted that Darcy is currently in custody serving the sentence for the Marble Arch burglary and will begin the new two-year term upon its conclusion early next year. Defense counsel Keith Spencer BL stated that Darcy was under pressure to repay a debt and struggling with addiction, but noted he has tried to better himself in custody. The judge acknowledged Darcy's good conduct and academic achievements while imposing the sentence.
David Mantle, 45, a drug addict with 111 prior convictions, was sentenced by Judge Elma Sheahan in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to six years and three months' imprisonment, with the last six months suspended for 12 months. He pleaded guilty to assault causing harm on 21 October 2021, when he attacked a man on St Agnes Road, Crumlin with a dog chain, and to robbery on 26 November 2022, when he and another man robbed a pharmacy in Ranelagh with a screwdriver, stealing €470 in cash, medication, headsets and a mobile phone. Garda evidence showed the assault victim had blood on his face and cuts to his forehead and back of his head, requiring stitches at St James's Hospital. The court noted Mantle's long‑standing drug problems and his attempts to detox, but also his 111 previous convictions, including assault, robbery and drug possession.
During the multi‑million euro trial of Michael Lynn, former INBS senior manager Brian Fitzgibbon testified that he had never met or spoken to Lynn in any capacity, contradicting Lynn's earlier claim of repeated meetings. Fitzgibbon, who had the discretion to approve loan facilities when chief executive Michael Fingleton was unavailable, denied approving Lynn's €4.1 million mortgage for the Glenlion property in Howth. He said the loan was ultimately presented to Fingleton, who signed minimal documentation. Lynn, aged 55, faces 21 counts of theft for €27 million stolen from seven financial institutions between October 2006 and April 2007. The trial, presided over by Judge Martin Nolan, continues with the jury hearing evidence from INBS, Danske Bank, Ulster Bank, Rabobank and others regarding Lynn's alleged fraudulent loans. Michael Lynn pleaded not guilty.
Michael Lynn, a former solicitor aged fifty-five from County Wicklow, continues his trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on charges of theft amounting to approximately twenty-seven million euro from seven financial institutions between October 2006 and April 2007. He has pleaded not guilty to twenty-one counts of theft. The prosecution alleges that Mr Lynn obtained multiple mortgages on identical properties without the knowledge of the lending banks. A former Bank of Ireland official testified that loans sanctioned by him for Mr Lynn, including a Carrick-on-Shannon apartment development around 2003, could only be used for purposes specified in loan agreements. The witness stated his employment would have been at risk had he permitted unauthorised use of funds. Another Bank of Ireland witness denied allegations that he had agreed Mr Lynn could use borrowed money as he wished, and stated he had no recollection of meeting Mr Lynn. The trial before Judge Martin Nolan continues with jury present.
During the multi‑million euro theft trial of former solicitor Michael Lynn, the court heard that two members of the legal department of Permanent TSB (now PTSB) attended the proceedings to provide "moral support" to witnesses. Ciaran Farrell, a former branch manager and current business development manager at the bank, told the court that the two attendees were present at the evidence of his colleague John O'Brien. Farrell said he did not know the purpose of the accompaniment, adding that he presumed it was simply support. He also stated that he had not discussed the evidence with his colleagues, noting that their conversations had been about fantasy football. The trial, presided over by Judge Martin Nolan and heard by a jury, continues with Mr Lynn accused of stealing around €27 million from seven financial institutions between October 2006 and April 2007. Michael Lynn pleaded not guilty.
During the trial of former solicitor Michael Lynn, an ex‑Anglo Irish Bank manager, David Casey, testified that he did not believe the bank's chairperson, Sean Fitzpatrick, had "intimate knowledge" of any one customer. Casey, who had taken over management of Lynn's loans after the initial period, said it was common practice to refuse a loan where there was lending with other banks. He also noted that the bank had lent €11 million to Lynn in one year, a significant but not unusual amount. Lynn, aged 55, faces 21 counts of theft of about €27 million from seven financial institutions between October 2006 and April 2007. The trial, presided over by Judge Martin Nolan, continues with a jury hearing the evidence presented by both defence and prosecution. Sean Fitzpatrick pleaded not guilty.
Former solicitor Michael Lynn, aged 55, stands trial in Dublin for alleged theft of about €27 million from seven banks between October 2006 and April 2007. He has pleaded not guilty to 21 theft counts. During the hearing, Lynn admitted in a prior trial that the borrowings were his responsibility and that he benefited from the money. The prosecution argues he secured multiple mortgages on the same properties without banks knowing other institutions were financing them. The banks named are Bank of Ireland, National Irish Bank (now Danske Bank), Irish Life and Permanent, Ulster Bank, ACC Bank, Bank of Scotland Ireland and Irish Nationwide Building Society. Lynn will give further evidence in this trial, and the jury will hear his full account. The case is before Judge Martin Nolan.
In a Special Criminal Court sentencing hearing on 13 November 2023, Judge Tony Hunt declined to exclude Aaron Brady's father, Tony Brady, from the public gallery. The decision followed an application by the Director of Public Prosecutions, who argued that an exclusion order would not prevent Brady from "propagating nonsense." Brady had previously been excluded during the trial of James Flynn, who was convicted of conspiracy to steal a car used in the Lordship Credit Union robbery that resulted in the murder of Garda Adrian Donohoe by Aaron Brady. Brady had published an online video accusing a Garda of perjury and contempt of court. The judge noted that such remarks do not affect the court's proceedings and allowed Brady to remain present. The hearing also covered the sentencing of James Flynn, who was acquitted of participation in the robbery but convicted of conspiracy to steal a Volkswagen Passat.
Michael Lynn, 55, of Co. Wicklow, is on trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court accused of 21 counts of theft in Dublin between October 23, 2006, and April 20, 2007. He has pleaded not guilty to these charges, which allege the theft of approximately €27 million from seven financial institutions. The prosecution contends that Mr. Lynn obtained multiple mortgages on the same properties while banks were unaware of other financing. Testifying, former INBS senior underwriter Olivia Greene stated that her career "nosedived" after the €4.1 million loan to Mr. Lynn for Glenlion House came under scrutiny. She told the court that INBS chief executive Michael Fingleton refused to take responsibility for the approval, leading to her constructive dismissal. Under cross-examination by Paul Comiskey O'Keefe BL, Ms. Greene agreed that INBS was a beneficiary of the bank insolvency scheme, was fined €5 million which it could not pay, and ultimately cost the state €5.4 billion. The trial is currently at the sentencing stage, though the matter remains ongoing as the trial resumes before Judge Martin Nolan.
Shane Ginty, 30, of St Stephen's Green, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for offences committed on O'Connell Street on January 31, 2023. He pleaded guilty to two counts of assault and one count of theft. Judge Orla Crowe noted that Ginty had 65 previous convictions and was serving a suspended sentence at the time of the offence. The court heard that Ginty assaulted a victim and Garda Alan Sexton, who was chasing him. Judge Crowe set a headline sentence of four years but reduced it to three years in prison, backdated to his custody date. She suspended the final six months for two years and ordered 12 months of Probation Service supervision post-release. The judge acknowledged mitigating factors including his early guilty plea, remorse, and good behavior in custody. The victim, a non-national, stated in an impact statement that he did not expect such violence in Ireland. Defense counsel highlighted Ginty's history of homelessness, drug addiction, and ADHD. The matter was finalized with the imposition of the custodial sentence and conditions.
Michael Lynn, a 55-year-old from County Wicklow, is on trial in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court accused of stealing approximately €27 million from seven financial institutions between October 2006 and April 2007. He has pleaded not guilty to 21 counts of theft. During cross-examination, the defence team challenged a former Bank of Ireland senior business manager's testimony regarding loan applications. The witness rejected suggestions that loans could be used for purposes other than property purchases, describing such a proposition as a "fairytale." The defence contended that Mr Lynn intended to use borrowed funds for overseas development projects, including ventures in Carrick-on-Shannon and Portugal. A former Ulster Bank official also denied allegations that Mr Lynn provided him with cash or paid for his travel. The prosecution's case centres on Mr Lynn obtaining multiple mortgages on identical properties from different institutions without their knowledge. The seven lenders involved include Bank of Ireland, Ulster Bank, Irish Life and Permanent, and Irish Nationwide Building Society. The trial continues before Judge Martin Nolan and jury.
Senior officials from the Bank of Ireland and Ulster Bank denied that they were negligent in their lending to Michael Lynn, who is on trial for 21 counts of theft involving about €27 million taken from seven financial institutions between October 2006 and April 2007. Mr Lynn, aged 55, is accused of obtaining multiple mortgages on the same properties without the banks knowing that other institutions were also financing those properties. Jim Madden, a former Bank of Ireland senior business manager, testified that he acted as a mortgage broker for Bank of Ireland Mortgages and that the 2006 mortgage application was approved and drawn down on 13 December 2006. He said the loan would not have proceeded if the bank had known about Ulster Bank's financing of the same properties. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
Linda Finnegan, aged 51, of Stamullen, was found guilty of fraud under the Companies Act for withdrawing €35,601 from her family's Waldorf Barbers, a business she owned 25 % of. The fraud occurred in March 2019, shortly after her father Liam Finnegan's death from cancer. The court heard that Liam had owned 75 % of the company and had bequeathed that share to two employees, while Linda had a 25 % share. She had initially denied theft charges but pleaded guilty to a fourth count of fraud. The court set a headline sentence of two and a half years, reduced to one year and nine months, fully suspended. The judgment noted her remorse, cooperation with Gardaí, and that the company was liquidated as a result of the fraud. No prior convictions were recorded.
During a multi‑million euro theft trial, former Ulster Bank manager Stephen McCarthy testified that there was no covert or side arrangement between the bank and former solicitor Michael Lynn. McCarthy, who was involved in a €3.65 million loan application for Lynn's purchase of 11 residential investment properties, described a meeting in September 2006 where Lynn requested an undertaking from the bank's solicitor firm. McCarthy said the bank complied only after a different partner would provide the undertaking. He denied any knowledge of hidden information or regulatory inquiries and stated he was unaware of any "flexible lending" or dual approach. McCarthy also clarified that the bank's interest was not in Lynn's €55 million European development plan, which was unrelated to the loan for the apartments. The trial, presided over by Judge Martin Nolan, continues with a jury. Michael Lynn pleaded not guilty.
During the €27m theft trial of solicitor Michael Lynn, a witness, former Dun Laoghaire INBS branch manager Mark Mulcahy, testified that he was unaware of any relationship between Lynn and former INBS boss Michael Fingleton, and that he had never seen them together. Mulcahy said he had not been instructed by Fingleton to handle Lynn's loans differently and that all loans were processed normally. He recalled being introduced to Lynn in the early 2000s as a potential business partner and handling several mortgage applications for Lynn, but denied any knowledge of a private banker arrangement. The prosecution alleges Lynn secured multiple mortgages on the same properties from several banks without the institutions knowing each other. The case is before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
A 26‑year‑old man from Finglas, Conor McNally, was jailed for four years after pleading guilty to possession of a sawn‑off shotgun and ammunition found in a backpack he discarded on Glasnevin Avenue on 8 November 2022. Garda Craig Shields and a colleague intercepted McNally on a bicycle, seized the firearm and eight cartridges, and arrested him at Finglas Garda Station. McNally had no admissions during interviews, but a subsequent examination indicated recent handling of a firearm. His defence counsel argued that McNally possessed the weapon to clear a drug debt and to protect himself, citing a handwritten letter that described a traumatic childhood involving his mother's suicide and his father's death. The court noted McNally's 44 prior convictions, including weapons, theft, and drug offences. Judge Pauline Codd, after considering aggravating and mitigating factors, sentenced him to five years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended on the condition of good behaviour and engagement with counselling.
During a multi‑million theft trial, Michael Lynn's defence team argued that the €4.1 million mortgage for Glenlion House in Howth was never a home loan but a development loan, citing a survey that identified potential development sites. Lynn, 55, pleaded not guilty to 21 theft counts involving €27 million stolen from seven financial institutions. Witnesses, including former INBS manager Mark Mulcahy and former National Irish Bank assistant Orla Deignan, testified about Lynn's mortgage applications between 2000 and 2002 and the 2007 application for Glenlion House, which was initially declined but later approved and subsequently written off as unrecoverable debt. Defence counsel highlighted that Lynn had been making repayments until accounts were frozen in October 2007. The trial, presided over by Judge Martin Nolan, continues before a jury.
Michael Lynn, 55, is on trial in Dublin accused of stealing approximately €27 million from seven financial institutions. He has pleaded not guilty to 21 counts of theft alleged to have occurred between October 23, 2006, and April 20, 2007. The prosecution contends that Lynn obtained multiple mortgages on the same properties while banks were unaware of other institutions' finance. Defence counsel Mark Lynam SC suggested that former Irish Nationwide Building Society chairman Michael Fingleton acted as Lynn's "personal banker," facilitating loans through Bank of Scotland Ireland. Witness Tom Brennan, a Bank of Scotland Ireland worker, testified that an offer letter for €3.5 million was issued to Proper T Capital Ltd, a company directed by Lynn and his wife, Brid Murphy. Brennan stated he was unaware of other finance and that the bank obtained first legal charges on nine of ten properties. Retired National Irish Bank worker Nicholas Robert Hamilton denied meeting Lynn or knowing about offshore property use, contradicting defence suggestions. Arthur King, of ICS Building Society, testified that Bank of Ireland issued a €2.74 million cheque to Michael Lynn and Co Solicitors in December 2006. King noted that the bank discovered the first legal charge had not been registered and that letters of undertaking to other institutions could not be fulfilled. The defence suggested banks relied on solicitors' professional indemnity insurance rather than property security. The trial is ongoing.
The Court of Appeal upheld the conviction of a 14‑year‑old who murdered Urantsetseg Tserendorj, keeping his life sentence in force. The teenager, now 17, had denied the murder but pleaded guilty to manslaughter. He was found guilty by a majority jury after two trials, the first ending in a jury disagreement. The appeal argued that the trial judge erred by allowing evidence of a prior attempted robbery and a comment by prosecuting counsel that the teenager "went for the jugular." The Court rejected these claims, stating the evidence was relevant and the comment was not prejudicial. The appeal also challenged the admission of a dying declaration by Tserendorj's husband, which the Court found met the legal test. Finally, the Court dismissed an allegation that the judge's attitude was negative toward the juvenile. The conviction and life sentence remain unchanged.
In the €27 million theft trial of Michael Lynn, solicitor Fiona McAleenan testified that she did not sign the letter of undertaking containing her signature. McAleenan, who joined Lynn's firm in 2004 as a litigation solicitor, explained that she had been asked to sign documents from conveyancing files but had no involvement beyond signing the letter of undertaking. She recalled that the document was prepared by staff, with Liz Doyle completing the pages before she signed, and that she could not remember signing the Bank of Ireland Mortgages letter. McAleenan confirmed she was never a partner in the practice and that any other lines on the documents were added by someone else. The jury was informed that McAleenan would be recalled for further evidence later in the trial. The case remains before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury. Michael Lynn pleaded not guilty.
Patrick Challoner, a former AIB bank manager aged 54, was found by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to have carried out a €2.7 million fraud over 16 years by creating bogus loan and investment schemes. He did not personally profit from the scheme, which involved taking money from customers who believed they were authorising investment accounts that were never established, and then using those funds to create fake loans for other customers. The scheme included 44 fictitious loans, 22 customers whose funds were misappropriated, and €900,000 given to 33 customers without paperwork. The bank suffered a total loss of €3.2 million, including reimbursements and audit costs. Challoner pleaded guilty to five theft charges and one deception charge, and was remanded on continuing bail pending sentencing on 27 November. He has since left the bank and is now working as a pizza delivery person.
During a multi‑million‑euro theft trial, defence counsel for Michael Lynn presented internal National Irish Bank documents that suggested senior management kept information "off the official record." Lynn, aged 55, is accused of stealing about €27 million from seven banks between October 2006 and April 2007, and has pleaded not guilty to 21 theft counts. The prosecution argues Lynn obtained multiple mortgages on the same properties without banks knowing other institutions were financing them. Defence highlighted a phrase "solicitors undertaking / 4 properties" in a bank document, claiming it supported Lynn's claim that the mortgages were undertaking‑only. A retired bank manager denied knowledge of such mortgages and said he had provided all relevant information. The trial continues before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury.
Paschal Kelly, aged 57, has failed in his appeal against conviction for a €92,000 post office robbery committed in September 2014. The Court of Appeal dismissed his challenge on all grounds, upholding his 18-year sentence imposed by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in 2018. Kelly, with last addresses in Cootehill, County Cavan, and Castlepollard, County Westmeath, was convicted of offences including false imprisonment, robbery, burglary and threatening to kill three women during the crime. The gang entered the home of postmistress Susan Lawlor in Malahide, bound her, her daughter and a student guest with cable ties, and transported them to Bayside Post Office in Sutton where the robbery occurred. Mr Justice John Edwards upheld the trial judge's admission of CCTV evidence and garda identification testimony, finding the evidence reliable and the conviction safe. Kelly's legal team indicated a sentence appeal remains pending. He has 60 previous convictions including robbery and assault.
A 27‑year‑old Cork man was jailed for eight years after being convicted of raping his nine‑year‑old cousin twice, once in 2010 and again in 2016, in their grandmother's home. He pleaded not guilty to both counts and continues to deny the offences. The victim, now 23, gave a victim impact statement describing lifelong trauma, loss of friends, and ongoing psychiatric issues. Judge Paul McDermott set a headline sentence of five years for the first rape and 11 years for the second, but imposed a four‑year sentence for the first and a concurrent eight‑year sentence for the second, with no suspended portion and three years of post‑release supervision. The court noted the defendant's age, lack of prior convictions, and multiple neurological diagnoses, including autism spectrum disorder, which may affect his custodial experience. The judge described the damage as "considerable and enduring.".
In Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, 32‑year‑old Christopher Coakley pleaded guilty to an attempted knife robbery of a woman's €500 e‑scooter on O'Connell Street on 4 February 2021. Coakley held a knife to the victim's throat and demanded the scooter, but was shoved to the ground, lost the knife and fled. He was arrested and detained by gardai. Judge Patricia Ryan noted that Coakley committed the offence to obtain drugs and warned that without rehabilitation he would return to court repeatedly. She cited aggravating factors such as the robbery being part of a spree and the lasting psychological harm to the victim, and mitigating factors including his guilty plea. The judge imposed a five‑year sentence, back‑dated to his March 2023 custody, while he remains serving an eight‑year term for assault causing serious harm and a separate four‑year term for another robbery on the same day.
In a Dublin inner‑city flat complex, 18‑year‑old Brandon Kelly fired a handgun during a dispute between two groups. Gardaí described the rapid access to the firearm as a "big shock." Kelly, who had received an 18‑month suspended sentence for a robbery just 13 days earlier, pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm and ammunition for an unlawful purpose on 15 November 2022. His co‑accused, 26‑year‑old Jamie Byrne, pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting the reckless discharge of a firearm. CCTV showed Kelly and Byrne present at 4.36 pm, with Byrne later taking a motorbike to escort Kelly away after the shots were fired at 4.58 pm. The incident was initially treated as attempted murder. The court, noting the guilty pleas, ages and mitigating factors, imposed a seven‑year sentence on Kelly and a 27‑month sentence on Byrne, both back‑dated to 22 November 2023.
Michael Lynn, a 55‑year‑old former solicitor, is accused of using his professional knowledge to deceive several banks and building societies between 2006 and 2007. He allegedly obtained multiple mortgages on the same properties, securing loans from Ulster Bank, Irish Nationwide, ACC Bank, Bank of Scotland Ireland and others, while presenting false documents and solicitor's undertakings. The prosecution claims he stole over €27 million, including €11 million for a single property, Glenlion in Howth, and €1.2 million for a €390,000 property, and received more than €500,000 for a property he did not purchase. He has pleaded not guilty to 21 counts of stealing property. The trial, presided over by Judge Martin Nolan, is expected to last up to eight weeks.
The trial of former solicitor Michael Lynn, aged 55, is set to begin this week at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He faces 21 counts of stealing property from various financial institutions between 2006 and 2007 and has pleaded not guilty. An extended panel of 15 jurors, comprising seven men and eight women, has been selected. The trial, presided over by Judge Martin Nolan, is expected to last eight weeks.
William Duffy, 40, of Dundalk, pleaded guilty last July to discharging a firearm recklessly at Marian Park on 28 May 2019, an act originally charged as attempted murder. The incident involved a confrontation with Keith Shields, who fled after hearing two shots and later called 999. CCTV showed Duffy leaving a hospital four hours before the shooting, arriving at the park, and positioning himself near Shields. DNA from Duffy's home matched shell casings found at the scene, though Duffy denied shooting and claimed possible accidental contact with casings. He has 42 prior convictions, including theft, hit‑and‑run, affray, threatening behaviour and burglary. At the Central Criminal Court, Duffy expressed remorse, pledged never to appear before the courts again if given a chance, and was remanded in custody pending sentencing on 13 November. The judge adjourned the matter for sentencing.
Paul Clarke, 41, was sentenced to six years' imprisonment for robbing a Lidl supermarket on Malahide Road on 13 November 2019. CCTV showed him entering the store, firing a handgun into the ceiling, then demanding money from two open tills. He took about €1,000, placing the cash in a bag he had brought. When he struggled to leave, he forced the manager to open the doors by threatening him with the gun and demanded the other tills be opened, but the manager refused. Clarke then fled in a getaway vehicle driven by an accomplice. Garda patrol stopped the car, seized drug paraphernalia and cash, and found gunshot residue on Clarke's jacket and the vehicle. He has 115 prior convictions, including robbery, false imprisonment and threats of serious harm, and had previously been sentenced to five years for an attempted robbery in 2021.
In a Court of Appeal hearing on 12 October 2023, Aaron Brady's defence argued that two jurors in his 2020 murder trial may have visited Crossmaglen after the verdict, a claim that required clarification. Brady, aged 32, was convicted of murdering Garda Adrian Donohoe and sentenced to life imprisonment with a 40‑year minimum, plus a concurrent 14‑year robbery term. The defence sought leave to raise this as a new ground of appeal, citing a meeting between a juror and the jury minder on 3 March 2021 and a subsequent encounter on 16 June 2022. Brendan Grehan SC, representing the Director of Public Prosecutions, maintained that the law clearly prohibits questioning jurors about deliberations after a verdict, citing the long‑established rule that such inquiries undermine finality.
Aaron Brady, convicted of murdering Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe, is appealing his conviction in a six-day hearing before the Court of Appeal. On the fourth day, senior counsel Fiona Murphy argued that the trial's integrity was "well and truly breached" when key witness Molly Staunton, testifying via video link from New York, was interrupted by an unseen man who told her to "stop it right now" before the connection was cut. Murphy submitted that the trial court erred in refusing to discharge the jury, claiming the disruption rendered the trial "fundamentally flawed" and that the State failed to implement adequate safeguards for the witness. She contended that the jury might perceive the interference as prejudicial to Brady, despite no evidence linking the man to the appellant. In reply, Lorcan Staines SC for the DPP stated that declaring Staunton a hostile witness was a discretionary matter for the trial judge. Brady, who was found guilty by an 11-to-1 majority jury at the Central Criminal Court in August 2020, is serving a life sentence with a 40-year minimum term for the murder, which occurred during a robbery in 2013. He was also sentenced to 14 years for the robbery, running concurrently. The appeal continues before Mr Justice John Edwards, Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, and Ms Justice Tara Burns.
Vasile Lazar, 52, a Romanian national, was sentenced to two years in prison for eight counts of theft and one attempted robbery. Between November 2022 and January 2023, he stole €9,745 from victims in Donaghmeade, Swords, Artane, Bettystown and Mullingar. He targeted shoppers in Dunnes Stores and other retail outlets, taking purses, debit cards and withdrawing cash from ATMs. He also used stolen debit cards to withdraw €1,600 and to pay €650 to a Cyprus company via Google Pay. Lazar admitted the thefts, expressed remorse, and claimed desperation after a personal breakdown. He has no prior convictions in Ireland but has convictions in the UK, Austria and Italy. The judge noted aggravating factors such as the amount stolen and victim impact, but also considered his guilty plea and remorse. The sentence is back‑dated to his arrest.
During a six‑day appeal hearing, Aaron Brady's counsel, Michael O'Higgins SC, argued that a secret tape recording of a US Special Agent, Matt Katske, coercing a suspect to implicate Brady in the murder of Garda Adrian Donohoe should have been admitted as evidence. The recording, described as "liquid gold," shows Katske offering assistance and threatening a suspect's brother in exchange for information that would place Brady in the frame. O'Higgins claimed the trial judge erred by refusing to allow the tape before the jury and by denying cross‑examination of Katske. The appeal also contends that the deportation of Brady to Ireland was effectively an extradition, undermining his trial rights. Brady, 32, is serving a life sentence with a 40‑year minimum for the 2013 murder and a concurrent 14‑year robbery sentence. The appeal will continue before the Court of Appeal on Monday. Aaron Brady was found guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Tyreece O'Farrell, a 15‑year‑old at the time of the offences, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for stealing 24 bicycles from apartment blocks in the Ballsbridge area between December 2019 and June 2020. The bicycles, valued between €500 and €2,500, were locked in underground car parks or outdoor areas; only one was recovered. The sentence includes a 16‑month suspended portion, leaving an effective custodial term of 20 months. O'Farrell also pleaded guilty to violent disorder in East Wall, where a driver suffered a brain injury after nine days in hospital. He received an 18‑month sentence for that offence, to run concurrently with the bicycle‑theft term. The court ordered 16 months of good‑behaviour supervision under the Probation Service following release. The judge noted O'Farrell's 29 prior convictions, drug addiction, and homelessness, and urged him to consider rehabilitation.
Patrick Stokes, 31, with 97 prior convictions, pleaded guilty to robbery in St Audoen's Park, Dublin 8, on 11 October 2021. The robbery involved a homeless man who had given Stokes €40 from his sock; Stokes then took about €400 from the sock after the victim and another man had smoked crack together in a park near Christchurch. The victim later identified Stokes in a shop on Westmoreland Street, leading to his arrest. Stokes also pleaded guilty to assault causing harm on the Liffey Boardwalk, Bachelor's Walk, Dublin 1, on 21 September 2021, where he punched a man to the ground and stamped on him, causing bruising and soft‑tissue damage. He was on bail for a 2019 assault causing serious harm. The court heard that Stokes has a long history of drug addiction, has been living in a tent near the Dáil, and has been attending workshops in custody. Judge Orla Crowe adjourned sentencing to 8 December.