At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, the prosecution concluded its case against four men accused of participating in a violent attack on security personnel at a repossessed farm in Falsk, Co Roscommon, in December 2018. Martin O'Toole, Paul Beirne, David Lawlor, and Patrick Sweeney, who are currently defending themselves or represented by counsel, have all pleaded not guilty to 17 charges each. The alleged offences include false imprisonment, assault causing harm to four guards, aggravated burglary, arson of four vehicles, criminal damage, violent disorder, robbery, and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. Senior Counsel Anne Rowland argued that the defendants were part of a common enterprise to ensure the guards would not return through violence and humiliation. She presented evidence including body-cam footage, mobile phone data, and witness testimony linking each accused to the scene or the organisation of the event. The trial is at the sentencing stage following the completion of the prosecution's closing speech, with defence submissions scheduled to begin immediately. The court has not yet delivered a verdict or sentence, and the matter remains under active judicial consideration.
Before the Special Criminal Court on May 17th, 2023, a barrister for Brendan Treanor argued there is insufficient evidence to sustain charges against his client in connection with a 2013 credit union robbery in Bellurgan, County Louth, during which Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was killed. Sean Guerin SC submitted that prosecution claims relied on speculation rather than direct evidence, and that no proof existed that Treanor left his home the evening of the robbery. Counsel highlighted inconsistencies in the State's case, including witness testimony that the getaway driver was female, and challenged the feasibility of the timings alleged. Both Treanor and James Flynn (32), from South Armagh, deny charges of robbery and conspiracy to burgle. Aaron Brady is serving a life sentence for the detective's murder and the robbery itself. Closing arguments continue, with the three-judge court to determine the case. Brendan Treanor pleaded not guilty.
In the Central Criminal Court, a jury heard that John Titiloye, aged 28, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Ademola Giwa, aged 25, who was fatally stabbed in the neck on 10 August 2021 in Tallaght. Witness Martina Wade testified that on 9 August she was parked at 'Mr Price' when she observed a group of six men, some armed with hammers, engaging in a fight that escalated into a hammer‑fight involving a claw hammer and a mallet. She saw a black Mondeo car involved and noted the men's height and the use of hammers. Wade also described the scene as "too close" and expressed distress. The prosecution alleged that Titiloye produced a knife during a dispute over a debt and a stolen scooter, stabbing Giwa in the neck. The trial, set to continue, involves CCTV footage of the altercation and statements from other witnesses about the scooter and the parties' relationships.
The Special Criminal Court heard closing submissions yesterday in the trial of two men accused of involvement in the fatal robbery at Lordship Credit Union in County Louth in January 2013. Prosecution counsel told the three-judge court that a tattoo allegedly obtained by one of the accused in 2018 constituted an "extraordinary act of hubris". The tattoo, which counsel submitted contains images strikingly coincidental to elements of the Lordship robbery, features a BMW car, armed figures, and a person wearing a balaclava. Brendan Treanor, aged 34, formerly of Dundalk, and James Flynn, aged 32, of South Armagh, have pleaded not guilty to charges relating to the robbery and to conspiracy to commit residential burglaries between September 2012 and January 2013. Prosecution counsel presented evidence linking phone records and movements of the accused to burglaries in Cavan, Monaghan, and Westmeath prior to the robbery. Defence closing speeches are scheduled to follow.
The Special Criminal Court excluded Aaron Brady's father, Tony Brady, from the trial of James Flynn and Brendan Treanor after he posted an online video accusing a Garda of perjury and contempt of court. The video was deemed "tendentious and offensive" and unrelated to the evidence presented. Judge Tony Hunt ruled that while people may hold opinions, they cannot use their presence in court to publish such allegations. Brady apologized for his remarks and was not found in contempt. The trial, which has been ongoing for over 50 days, involves Flynn (32) and Treanor (34) who are charged with a €7,000 robbery at Lordship Credit Union and conspiracy to break into homes to steal car keys. Both pleaded not guilty. Aaron Brady, 31, remains in custody on a life sentence with a 40‑year minimum for the murder of Garda Adrian Donohoe and the robbery. The case is expected to conclude this week.
A Special Criminal Court has heard that an organised criminal gang comprising at least five members with local knowledge deliberately targeted Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgan, County Louth, in the robbery during which Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was fatally shot. The State's closing address, delivered by barrister Lorcan Staines SC on 15 May 2023, relied on circumstantial evidence including CCTV footage and mobile phone data to link the accused men to the attack and a series of related burglaries. Brendan Treanor and James Flynn deny charges of conspiracy to commit creeper burglaries between September 2012 and January 2013, and of robbing €7,000 from the credit union on 25 January 2013. The prosecution contends the gang possessed detailed local knowledge of the area and prior intelligence about the credit union's operations. Counsel noted coordination indicators such as synchronised phone deactivations before the robbery and evidence of reconnaissance visits. Aaron Brady, already serving a life sentence with a 40-year minimum for Detective Donohoe's murder, was named as a co-conspirator. The trial continues at the Special Criminal Court. Aaron Brady pleaded not guilty and was found guilty.
A court heard that Declan King, 39, of Courtney Place, Ballybough, pleaded guilty to trespassing at several homes in Clontarf and Marino in August and September 2022. On the night of 7 September 2022, a resident of Marino left a small sitting‑room window slightly ajar and locked all other doors and windows. The next day she discovered her car missing from the driveway, the keys gone, and five bottles of spirits—including a bottle of Jameson whiskey—absent from the larder. Other items taken were a laptop, weighing scales, an apron, yellow rubber gloves, brown sunglasses, a black bra, a Lidl shopping bag, and medication bearing the victim's name. Garda Sharon English reported that the car was later recovered in nearby Ballybough. Gardaí identified King and found the medication and other items at his home. King's 283 previous convictions include 175 under the Theft and Fraud Act.
In a Tallaght murder trial, the prosecution presented evidence that 25‑year‑old Ademola Giwa was fatally stabbed in the neck on 10 August 2021 during a dispute over a debt and a stolen scooter. John Titiloye, 26, pleaded not guilty. The State alleged that Titiloye had bought a knife the same day and, after an initial walk away, returned to protect his father, Anthony, who was also injured. The trial heard that Titiloye, Giwa, and Samson Fayemi had a verbal row that escalated into a physical altercation on Mac Uilliam Road. CCTV and mobile footage were cited, and Giwa was pronounced dead at Tallaght Hospital after resuscitation attempts. Titiloye was arrested on 11 August and the case is set to continue before a jury.
In the Special Criminal Court, the trial of Brendan Treanor and James Flynn, charged with conspiracy to commit burglaries and a robbery that killed Garda Adrian Donohoe, is set to conclude next week. After the prosecution's case, the defence argued that the common‑law offence of conspiracy no longer exists, citing the Criminal Justice Act 2006, and claimed the charges were vague and unsubstantiated. The court rejected these arguments, holding that the indictment provided sufficient "reasonable information" and that the common‑law offence still stands. The trial, which has lasted 39 days, involves the January 2013 robbery of €7,000 at Lordship Credit Union and a separate conspiracy with Aaron Brady to steal car keys from residential premises. Treanor (34) and Flynn (32) have pleaded not guilty to all charges. Brady, already serving a life sentence for Donohoe's murder and the robbery, denies any role in the latter and is appealing his conviction.
Graham Campion, aged 29, pleaded guilty to a single count of trespassing on 9 December 2013 at a property in Sutton Cross, Sutton. CCTV footage identified him as the person looking into the windows of the house at lunchtime that day. The following day the house was burgled and a safe containing €40,000 and a child's piggy bank containing €500 were stolen; the money was never recovered. Campion denied any involvement in the burglary. He has 84 prior convictions, mainly post‑2013 road‑traffic offences, and is currently serving a four‑year‑six‑month sentence for an earlier endangerment offence. The court, noting the case's antiquity and Campion's rehabilitation progress, sentenced him to four months' imprisonment, back‑dated to 4 May, and did not extend his custodial period. The sentence was imposed by Judge Orla Crowe. The case was delayed in part due to the Covid‑19 pandemic.
A man accused of participating in a vigilante attack on security personnel at a repossessed farm in Co Roscommon told gardaí that he organised people to 'take back the house peacefully'. Paul Beirne (56) of Croghan, Boyle, Co Roscommon, stated in December 2018 that he drove a group of around 30 men to the property and broke the front door down with a sledgehammer. He claimed he did not know how the situation escalated. Co-accused Patrick Sweeney (44) of High Cairn, Ramelton, Co Donegal; Martin O'Toole (58) of Stripe, Irishtown, Claremorris, Co Mayo; and David Lawlor (43) of Bailis Downs, Navan, have each pleaded not guilty to 17 charges at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The charges include false imprisonment, assault causing harm, aggravated burglary, arson, criminal damage, violent disorder, robbery, and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. The prosecution evidence concluded on Monday afternoon, and the trial continues before Judge Martina Baxter in the absence of the jury until Thursday morning, when the panel is due to return.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Christopher Fox, a 33‑year‑old with no prior convictions, pleaded guilty to robbery and criminal damage for a 2018 incident in which he and an accomplice attacked a taxi driver in Ballybrack. Fox forced a door at an angle and punched a window, causing considerable damage, while the other man took €150 from the vehicle. The court adjourned sentencing for six months, ordered Fox to pay €3,000 to the victim, and required ongoing urine analysis. Fox, who had been heavily using cocaine at the time, has since turned his life around, moved in with his aunt, and is now working and engaged. The case is set for a hearing on 6 November 2023. The prosecution described the robbery as "thuggish" and "cowardly" violence. Fox maintains he did not grab the driver from behind. The defence highlighted his drug‑free period and low risk of reoffending.
A garda sergeant testified in the appeal trial of four men accused of attacking security personnel at a repossessed farm in Co Roscommon. The trial is ongoing before Judge Martina Baxter and a jury. Patrick Sweeney (44), Martin O'Toole (58), Paul Beirne (56), and David Lawlor (43) have each pleaded not guilty to 17 charges, including false imprisonment, assault, aggravated burglary, arson, criminal damage, violent disorder, robbery, and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. Garda Sergeant Enda Daly stated that Roscommon District Court had previously convicted a person, not one of the accused, of an assault on Ian Gordon of GS Agencies on December 11, 2018, and fined them €200. The appeal is scheduled to be heard later this year in Roscommon Circuit Court. Sgt Daly confirmed that gardai were present at the property on December 11, 2018, to ensure no breach of the peace and that they used 'reasonable force' to remove individuals from the premises. The trial continues.
The Special Criminal Court admitted a back tattoo as evidence in the case of Brendan Treanor, 34, and James Flynn, 32, charged with the robbery of €7,000 at Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgan, Co Louth, on 25 January 2013, which resulted in the shooting death of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe. The tattoo, featuring guns, bullets, gangsters, money, knuckle dusters and a BMW X5, was described by the prosecution as "almost a glorification" and a "pictorial admission" of Treanor's involvement. Treanor's lawyers argued it was irrelevant, but Mr Justice Tony Hunt ruled that the court would consider it as part of the overall evidence, stating that excluding it would be a failure of logic, reason and common sense. Treanor and Flynn have pleaded not guilty to each charge. The trial continues tomorrow.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 2 May 2023, 29‑year‑old Michael O'Reilly pleaded guilty to raping a 13‑year‑old girl in Dublin on 11 April 2021. He claimed in a letter to the victim that he "honestly did not know" her age and expressed shame and disgust. The court heard that the victim had been sexually assaulted after a teenage boy had finished consensual sex with her. O'Reilly allegedly forced the girl to the ground, removed her clothing and raped her. CCTV footage of the victim's upset reaction was shown to O'Reilly, who denied any involvement. He was remanded in custody until 10 July for finalisation of the case. The teenage boy was charged with engaging in a sexual act with a child but the charge was later withdrawn. No prior sexual convictions were recorded for O'Reilly, though he had convictions for assault, theft and burglary.
Trevor Brown, 40, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for offences committed on May 7, 2022. Brown pleaded guilty to creating a serious risk of harm by driving dangerously at Meakstown Cottages, Finglas, two charges of assaulting a police officer, and one charge of stealing a car at Fassaugh Avenue, Cabra West. The court heard that Brown reversed a stolen vehicle at speed, pinning Garda David Lewis's leg between the vehicles, before resisting arrest and assaulting Garda Lewis and Garda Louise Moran. Both officers sustained injuries and were certified unfit for duty. Judge Patricia Ryan noted Brown's 165 previous convictions, including 58 for theft and 41 under the Road Traffic Act. While acknowledging mitigating factors such as his guilty plea, time in custody, and engagement in drug treatment, the judge rejected Brown's claim that he was reversing slowly. Judge Ryan sentenced Brown to two and a half years for the unlawful taking of a car and five years for the assault on a police officer. The final year of the assault sentence was suspended under strict conditions. Both sentences run concurrently and are backdated from the date he went into custody.
A security guard gave evidence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of a violent attack at a repossessed property in Strokestown, County Roscommon, on 16 December 2018. The witness described being struck with a nail-studded bat and cut with a blade during an incident involving approximately thirty armed men. Four defendants—Patrick Sweeney of Ramelton, County Donegal; Martin O'Toole of Claremorris, County Mayo; Paul Beirne of Boyle, County Roscommon; and David Lawlor of Navan, County Meath—have pleaded not guilty to seventeen charges each. These include false imprisonment, assault causing harm, aggravated burglary, arson, criminal damage, violent disorder, robbery, and animal cruelty. The trial before Judge Martina Baxter and a jury continues at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
In April 2023, a veterinary surgery receptionist who had reported suspected theft by a colleague was dismissed and later awarded €15,600 in compensation by the Workplace Relations Commission. The receptionist first noticed cash missing from the clinic's till in September 2021 and reported it to her employer, who dismissed her concerns as unnecessary. She later observed the vet selling medication and pocketing cash, which she reported again. The vet allegedly became hostile, and the employer threatened her with job loss. The tribunal found she had made a protected disclosure and that dismissal was likely due to that disclosure. The decision awarded her 1.5 years' wages for a part‑time role, plus additional amounts for breaches of working time and contract provisions, totaling €16,980. The case highlights alleged retaliation for whistleblowing.
Michael Noonan, 61, pleaded guilty to stealing €22,400 from Hyde Court Property Management Company Ltd in August 2016 and to creating false invoices and accounting entries in 2015 and 2018. He admitted writing cheques to himself for money he claimed was owed due to unpaid fees by property owners, and that he used his own money to cover day‑to‑day bills while the company's bank account was "cleaned out". The court noted his long work history and previous good reputation, but found the thefts pre‑meditated and planned. Judge Martina Baxter imposed a four‑year prison sentence, fully suspended for five years on the condition that Noonan keep the peace. Civil proceedings have concluded and the money has been returned. Noonan has no intention of sitting on a management company again and is legally disqualified for five years.
William Twomey, with an address in Warrenpoint, County Down, has failed in his appeal against conviction at the Court of Appeal in relation to an attack on a Mayo businessman in County Louth in December 2017. Twomey was found guilty at the Special Criminal Court in September 2021 of robbery, assault causing harm, and demanding money with menaces. He received concurrent sentences totalling three years, with the final year suspended, dating from August 2021. The trial heard that Twomey orchestrated a plan to lure the businessman to Omeath under false pretences, resulting in a violent robbery. On appeal, Twomey's counsel argued he had withdrawn from the joint enterprise by notifying gardaí and the PSNI. However, the Court of Appeal found the trial court had properly assessed the evidence and determined his steps were insufficient to constitute effective withdrawal. Mr Justice Edwards stated the Special Criminal Court's findings were thorough, rigorous, and open to them on the evidence presented. The appeal was dismissed.
Chelsea Dooley, a 23-year-old childcare worker from Blanchardstown, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to two counts of possessing the proceeds of crime. The court heard that Dooley allowed her bank account to be used to receive €23,899 of funds stolen from a victim's AIB account following a 'smishing' fraud. Gardai were contacted in January 2021 regarding the theft, which involved nine transactions totaling €24,900 between December 2020 and January 2021. Prosecutors stated that Dooley's account, opened when she was a child, received the majority of the illicit funds, while a separate account received one euro. During her interview, Dooley claimed she had lost her bank card but could not explain CCTV footage showing an unknown male using it to withdraw cash. Defense counsel argued that Dooley did not profit from the scheme and had no previous convictions. Judge Martina Baxter noted Dooley's remorse, lack of financial gain, good employment history, and further education. The judge handed down a 12-month sentence but suspended it in lieu of Dooley carrying out 200 hours of community service.
A 58-year-old man from County Mayo has told gardaí he was not present at a December 2018 incident at a repossessed farm near Strokestown, County Roscommon, and denied seeing a firearm at the scene. Martin O'Toole of Claremorris faces charges of false imprisonment and assault causing harm to four security personnel, along with aggravated burglary, arson, violent disorder, robbery and animal cruelty. The trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard evidence today of three garda interviews conducted over two days in January 2019. In the recorded interviews, which O'Toole has pleaded not guilty to all charges relating, he stated he never witnessed a gun at the property, though he later acknowledged travelling to Elfin before the incident. Security personnel had previously testified that armed men, numbering approximately 30, attacked the farmhouse five days after its repossession. Three co-accused men face identical charges. The trial continues.
Jordan Lee, 25, of Darndale, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two counts of robbery at Wellington Quay on 29 September 2022. Lee and a co‑accused approached two teenagers, aged 18 and 19, who declined to buy drugs. The men caught up with the teens, struck them on the side of the head and stamped on their heads repeatedly while they lay unconscious. Lee took an iPhone, an ATM card and €10 from the victims' pockets. After the robbery, the men were seen acting suspiciously in a drug‑dealing area and were stopped and searched by Gardaí. The victims suffered concussion, bruising, lacerations and headaches. Judge Orla Crowe sentenced Lee to two years' imprisonment, noting his early guilty plea, remorse and homelessness at the time of the offence. Lee is currently serving a sentence and will be released in June 2023.
Martin O'Toole, aged 58, of Stripe, Irishtown, Claremorris, County Mayo, stands trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on charges including false imprisonment, assault causing harm, aggravated burglary, arson, violent disorder and robbery relating to an incident at Falsk, County Roscommon on December 16, 2018. The trial heard that on that date, approximately 30 armed men, some masked, attacked security personnel at a repossessed farm near Strokestown. During garda interviews, Mr O'Toole initially denied attending the property, later conceding he was present after being shown body-camera footage. He stated he attended to observe and believed the gathering would be peaceful, claiming events escalated unexpectedly. He expressed views that court proceedings constituted unlawful authority. Three co-accused, Patrick Sweeney of Ramelton, County Donegal, Paul Beirne of Boyle, County Roscommon and David Lawlor of Navan, County Meath, face identical charges. All four defendants have pleaded not guilty. The trial continues.
John Herd, a Tesco deputy manager, lost his unfair dismissal claim after the supermarket sacked him for failing to pay for three Red Bull cans worth €9.45 in October 2021. The loss‑prevention system flagged the incidents, and the store manager, Emma Doyle, raised the matter on 29 October. Herd argued he was under severe personal stress, "on the verge of being made homeless," and claimed the company had shown favoritism toward other staff. He said he had previously complained about a colleague who had given out free spirits and Clubcard points. The tribunal found the three unpaid drinks constituted gross misconduct, upheld the dismissal as effective immediately, and rejected Herd's appeal that the sanction was excessive. The decision was supported by the Workplace Relations Commission. The case highlights the company's stance on trust and the seriousness of repeated theft allegations.
The Roscommon eviction assault trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has been adjourned until Monday, April 17, following the Easter break. Defendants Patrick Sweeney, Martin O'Toole, Paul Beirne, and David Lawlor have each pleaded not guilty to 17 charges. These include false imprisonment, assault causing harm to four security personnel, aggravated burglary, arson, criminal damage, violent disorder, robbery, and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. The alleged incident occurred on December 16, 2018, at Falsk, where a group of armed men attacked security guards at a repossessed property. On Day 19 of the trial, evidence was presented regarding a search warrant executed at Mr. Beirne's home in Co Roscommon on December 19, 2018. Gardaí seized electronic devices and keys to a Volvo lorry, which was later impounded. Mr. Beirne was arrested under section 30 of the Offences against the State Act and detained at Castlerea Garda Station. Testimony detailed his refusal of food and medical attention, leading to a doctor's visit for indigestion. The matter remains ongoing and was adjourned, not concluded.
Ross Hutch, 31, was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment for two separate assaults in August 2021. On 22 August he slashed the face of a man outside a pub on Sheriff Street, leaving serious disfiguring scars. The next day he violently attacked his ex‑girlfriend at Holyhead Hostel on Gardiner Street, punching, kicking, and stomping her down two flights of stairs. Video evidence showed the brutal attacks. Judge Martin Nolan imposed seven and a half years for the slashing and two and a half years for the assault on the woman, sentences to run consecutively. Hutch pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm in both cases. He has 75 prior convictions, including assault, firearms, and robbery. The sentence was back‑dated to 25 August 2021 when he entered custody. The court noted his history of drug and alcohol use but found no recognised psychological problem. The judge said Hutch could change his life if he wanted to.
Patrick Sweeney, Martin O'Toole, Paul Beirne, and David Lawlor have pleaded not guilty to 17 charges each at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The defendants are alleged to have participated in an attack on four security guards at a repossessed property in Falsk, Strokestown, on December 16, 2018. The charges include false imprisonment, assault causing harm, aggravated burglary, arson, criminal damage, violent disorder, robbery, and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. On day 17 of the trial, Detective Garda Enda Jennings testified that he identified Sweeney in body-camera footage based on prior acquaintance in Ramelton. Defense counsel challenged the reliability of this identification, noting that protocols governing such recognitions were not implemented in 2019. The court heard that the identification process lacked a second witness and contemporaneous notes, which are now required under 2023 guidelines. The trial continues.
The Special Criminal Court has adjourned the trial of Brendan Treanor, 34, and James Flynn, 32, until after Easter. The men are accused of robbing €7,000 from Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgan, Co Louth, on 25 January 2013, an incident that resulted in the death of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe. They are also charged with conspiring, between 11 September 2012 and 23 January 2013, with convicted Garda‑killer Aaron Brady and others to break into houses to steal car keys. Treanor and Flynn plead not guilty to all charges. Brady, 31, serving a life sentence with a 40‑year minimum for Donohoe's murder and the credit union robbery, denies involvement and awaits appeal. After evidence on CCTV‑identified cars, the court noted about 15 days of prosecution material remained. The trial will resume on 18 April before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, Judge Sarah Berkeley and Judge Alan Mitchell.
A witness at the Special Criminal Court was treated as hostile after giving conflicting evidence in the trial of two men charged with a credit union robbery in which Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was murdered. Colin Hoey told the court he did not see Aaron Brady or accused James Flynn on the night of the Lordship Credit Union raid in Bellurgan, County Louth on 25 January 2013. However, his 2017 statement to gardaí at Carrickmacross stated that both men were present in his house between 9.15pm and 10.45pm that evening. Mr Hoey claimed he had been pressured to change his account and alleged a garda had threatened him with imprisonment. Brendan Treanor and James Flynn are charged with robbing €7,000 from the credit union and conspiracy to burgle homes for car keys. Both deny the charges. Brady is serving a life sentence with a 40-year minimum for the garda's murder and the robbery. The trial continues. James Flynn pleaded not guilty.
Bjorn Erlend Tveter, a 41‑year‑old Norwegian telecoms engineer, was sentenced to three months' imprisonment in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for using a fraudulent rental agreement to lease an Irish car. The car, driven across Europe for 9,000 miles, was caught speeding in Holland and later flagged as stolen by Norwegian police. Tveter had declined to return the vehicle after the rental company requested it, and he had previously paid €1,500 and an additional €3,500 from his credit card, leaving the company a loss of €1,200. He pleaded guilty to use of a false instrument between 10 and 25 November 2020. The court imposed a 12‑month sentence, suspended the final nine months, and ordered the outstanding €1,200 to be paid. The sentence was back‑dated to 13 January 2023.
Patrick Sweeney, Martin O'Toole, Paul Beirne, and David Lawlor have pleaded not guilty to 17 charges each at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The defendants are accused of false imprisonment, assault, aggravated burglary, arson, criminal damage, violent disorder, robbery, and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal at a property in Falsk, Roscommon, on December 16, 2018. The trial heard that a video circulated on social media two days prior to the alleged attack, depicting security personnel at the repossessed residence and describing them as "mercenaries." Sergeant Bernard Kilroy testified that after viewing the footage, a garda presence was maintained at the property, though staffing levels prevented coverage past 3am. The court also heard evidence from court messenger Padraig Gilligan regarding the repossession order. The trial continues before Judge Martina Baxter and a jury.
At the ongoing Roscommon eviction trial, a veterinarian testified that an injured Belgian Shepard dog was euthanised due to severe open wounds and distress following an attack at a property in Falsk, outside Strokestown. The incident occurred on December 16, 2018, five days after the property was repossessed. Patrick Sweeney (44), Martin O'Toole (58), Paul Beirne (56), and David Lawlor (43) have each pleaded not guilty to 17 charges at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The charges include false imprisonment, assault causing harm, aggravated burglary, arson, criminal damage, violent disorder, robbery, and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. The prosecution alleges that a group of approximately 30 armed men attacked four security guards present at the property. Security company owner Ian Gordon stated that one of the attackers struck the dog with a baseball bat, causing severe injuries. The trial continues before Judge Martina Baxter and a jury.
Luke Strong, 25, of Saul Road, Crumlin, was sentenced to three years in prison for assault causing harm after he threw a shard from a broken ceramic bowl into the eye of a 59‑year‑old neighbour during a dispute on 6 September 2021. The incident stemmed from a quarrel between the victim's sister and her neighbours over a blocked driveway. Strong, who had not started the fight, was found to have acted recklessly, and the judge noted his remorse and guilty plea. The victim lost sight in his left eye and suffered serious injury. Strong had 53 prior convictions, including threats to kill and robbery, and had a chaotic background involving drug abuse from age 13. The sentence was back‑dated to 4 March 2023.
A man with a Roscommon address has been sentenced following a burglary in Dublin over a decade ago. Tomasz Bebenek, aged 34, of Harbour Road, Tarmonbarry, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to trespass and theft at a residence in Rathgar on 15 March 2010. He took two laptops, a camera, a camcorder and a music device valued at €1,080, none of which were recovered. Blood evidence left at the scene remained unmatched until 2019, when changes to European DNA sharing procedures enabled An Garda Síochána to identify Bebenek through a UK database match. Judge Martin Nolan imposed an 18-month sentence, backdated to September 2022. The court heard Bebenek has 44 previous convictions and is currently in custody pending a European Arrest Warrant relating to matters in Poland.
A security guard gave evidence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court regarding an attack on a repossessed farm at Falsk, near Strokestown, County Roscommon, on 16 December 2018. The witness told the court he was struck repeatedly, cut on the legs with a meat cleaver, doused in petrol, and bound with cable ties during an assault by a large group of armed men. The incident occurred five days after the property's repossession. Four men—Patrick Sweeney of County Donegal, Martin O'Toole of County Mayo, Paul Beirne of County Roscommon, and David Lawlor of County Meath—have each pleaded not guilty to 17 charges including false imprisonment, assault causing harm, aggravated burglary, arson, violent disorder, and robbery. The trial is ongoing at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Under cross-examination, counsel challenged inconsistencies between the witness's account to gardaí and his testimony regarding events in the kitchen during the attack.
Patrick Sweeney, Martin O'Toole, Paul Beirne, and David Lawlor have pleaded not guilty to 17 charges each at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The defendants are alleged to have committed false imprisonment, assault causing harm, aggravated burglary, arson, criminal damage, violent disorder, robbery, and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal at Falsk, Strokestown, on December 16, 2018. The trial is currently ongoing before Judge Martina Baxter and a jury. Evidence presented includes testimony from KBC Bank officer Danny Noone, who stated the bank repossessed the property in December 2018 after legal proceedings began in 2009. Noone indicated that public records showed the mortgage holder owned approximately 170 acres and other residential properties. Defense counsel Blaise O'Carroll SC argued that the execution order used for the eviction was invalid due to a missing affidavit of non-compliance. A security guard witness described an attack by approximately 30 armed men who forced entry into the farmhouse, using weapons including batons, crowbars, and a chainsaw. The witness reported being struck and overpowered while attempting to defend himself and colleagues. The trial continues with further evidence scheduled for presentation.
Karina Cully, 36, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment after stealing €629,000 from a small office supplies company over seven years. She transferred the money to her personal account and spent it on holidays and eating out. Cully pleaded guilty to theft, forgery, deception in a mortgage application and money laundering between 2014 and 2021. She admitted the theft was a compulsive habit she could not stop. The court noted her early guilty plea, full admissions and cooperation, and her strong work record. She had no prior convictions. The judge highlighted the persistent nature of the theft from a small enterprise where she was known daily. The prosecution had evidence of unauthorised transfers and forged mortgage documents. Cully's apology and remorse were considered, but the sentence reflected the seriousness of the repeated theft.
Liam Evans, 31, of Clondalkin, received a two‑year suspended prison sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for laundering money by cashing five cheques totalling €23,500 written by an elderly woman in her 80s. The woman had been approached by men claiming to be from a construction company and was persuaded to write cheques to various payees, including Evans. She ultimately paid over €44,000, but most of the promised construction was never carried out. Evans pleaded guilty to three counts of laundering the proceeds of crime. The court ordered him to pay €5,000 to the victim within a year. The case was brought to light after the HSE alerted Gardaí to a suspected elder‑abuse scheme, leading to the investigation and Evans' arrest. The court noted Evans' cooperation, remorse and guilty plea in handing down the suspended sentence. The stolen money was never recovered, and the victim remains at a loss.
The trial of Patrick Sweeney, Martin O'Toole, Paul Beirne, and David Lawlor continues before Judge Martina Baxter and a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The four men, who have all pleaded not guilty, face the same 17 charges each. They are accused of false imprisonment and assault causing harm to four security guards, including Mark Rissen, at a repossessed farm in Falsk, Strokestown, on December 16, 2018. The State alleges the group also committed aggravated burglary, four counts of arson, criminal damage, violent disorder, robbery, and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. Mr. Rissen testified that he was pushed to the ground, struck, and had his hands tied with cable ties during the attack. He reported bleeding from a leg gash and smoke inhalation, requiring treatment at Mullingar Hospital. The court heard that the accused allegedly arrived armed with various weapons, smashed the property, and set vehicles on fire. The trial is currently at the evidence stage, with the prosecution presenting witness accounts of the alleged assault and property damage.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 14 March 2023, Charlene O'Callaghan, the former girlfriend of Brendan Treanor, testified that she and Treanor were at home in Tullydonnell, Co. Armagh, on the night of the January 25, 2013 robbery at Lordship Credit Union. She said she arrived home at about 9:15 pm after work, watched television, showered, and then left to order food at a Crossmaglen takeaway at 10:05 pm, returning around 10:17 pm. O'Callaghan confirmed that Treanor was present in the house before she left and that he had dropped his phone into the bath while washing their dogs. She also noted that Treanor's friends included Aaron Brady and James Flynn. The testimony was given while Treanor and Flynn remain charged with the robbery and related conspiracy, having pleaded not guilty. The case continues before the Special Criminal Court.
In the Special Criminal Court, the prosecution argued that Brendan Treanor's back tattoo was a "pictorial admission" of his role in the 2013 robbery of a Dundalk credit union where Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was killed. The tattoo, photographed by Garda Aidan Hanlon during Treanor's 2021 arrest, shows four men with hats, a woman in a balaclava holding a gun, a BMW car, a pistol, ammunition, and money. The prosecution linked the BMW's registration plate "BOSS BFT" to Treanor's initials, suggesting the tattoo's imagery reflected the robbery. Treanor (34) and James Flynn (32) are charged with the robbery and with conspiracy to break into houses to steal car keys. Both plead not guilty. The court ruled the photographs were taken lawfully, and the trial will continue tomorrow.
Paul Meehan, 47, of Dublin, pleaded guilty to burglary at Fit4Less gym in Finglas on 2 May 2020 during the first Covid‑19 lockdown. A woman passing the gym at 9.30 pm on 5 May 2020 saw Meehan removing an exercise bike from the closed premises and later gave a detailed description to the Gardaí. CCTV footage, recovered from a single hard drive, showed Meehan entering the gym as the front door was open and cutting the CCTV system. He was arrested on 6 May 2020 and, after two interviews, identified himself on the footage. The bike was not recovered. Meehan has 204 prior convictions, including over 20 for burglary. The court, after considering a medical report and his engagement with mental‑health services, imposed a 16‑month prison sentence fully suspended on strict conditions, including supervision by the Probation Service. The sentence was handed by Judge Martin Nolan.
The trial of Patrick Sweeney, Martin O'Toole, Paul Beirne, and David Lawlor continues at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court before Judge Martina Baxter. The four men, who have pleaded not guilty to a total of 53 charges, are accused of participating in an attack during the Strokestown repossession case. The State alleges that on December 16, 2018, a group armed with various weapons assaulted four security guards, caused criminal damage, committed aggravated burglary, false imprisonment, arson, robbery, and animal cruelty. Each defendant is separately charged with 17 of these offences. During cross-examination, witness Ian Gordon, who testified to being forced to eat dog faeces, identified himself in bodycam footage from an eviction five days prior to the alleged assaults. Gordon stated his unlicensed security company was hired to execute a court order at the McGann family property. He described lifting a resident out of a seat to escort him out, denying any use of reinforced knuckle gloves or physical abuse beyond necessary restraint. The jury viewed this footage, which showed the resident being moved while his sister protested. The trial is ongoing and will resume on Monday.
The trial of David Lawlor, Martin O'Toole, Paul Beirne, and Patrick Sweeney continues before Judge Martina Baxter and a jury. The four defendants, who have pleaded not guilty to 53 charges including aggravated burglary, false imprisonment, arson, robbery, and animal cruelty, face allegations of a violent attack on security guards at a property in Falsk, Co Roscommon, in December 2018. Witness Ian Gordon testified that he was forced at gunpoint to eat dog faeces and identified Lawlor's voice during the incident. Under cross-examination, Gordon acknowledged his former service with the Ulster Defence Regiment and admitted his security company, GS Agencies Ltd, operated without a company licence, for which he previously entered a guilty plea. Defense counsel suggested Gordon was mistaken in identifying Lawlor, but Gordon maintained he was 100% certain of the identification. The State alleges a group of approximately 30 armed men assaulted four guards, set fire to vehicles, and beat a guard dog unconscious. The defendants are charged with criminal damage, assault causing harm, and violent disorder. The matter is currently at the trial stage, with proceedings ongoing.
Four men are standing trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 53 charges arising from an alleged attack on security personnel during a property repossession at Strokestown, County Roscommon, in December 2018. Patrick Sweeney of Ramelton, County Donegal, Martin O'Toole of Claremorris, County Mayo, Paul Beirne of Boyle, County Roscommon, and David Lawlor of County Meath have each pleaded not guilty to charges including aggravated burglary, false imprisonment, assault causing harm, arson, criminal damage, violent disorder, robbery and animal cruelty. A security guard testified that approximately 30 masked individuals arrived at the property armed with weapons, assaulted four security staff, set vehicles alight and fatally injured a guard dog. The witness further told the court of previous hostile encounters with one of the defendants at other eviction sites. The trial is ongoing.
The Court of Appeal has dismissed the appeal of Daniel O'Callaghan, a former All-Ireland winner, who was convicted at the Special Criminal Court for his role in a cross-border gang involved in ATM thefts. O'Callaghan, who pleaded not guilty to 16 offences including attempted theft and possession of stolen cash, was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment in March. His legal team argued that the identification of O'Callaghan by an NSU garda was flawed due to distance and time constraints. However, Mr Justice Birmingham, presiding, rejected this, stating the officer was a reliable witness with a clear view and that DNA evidence supported the identification. The court affirmed the Special Criminal Court's conviction, noting the strength of the evidence. O'Callaghan's co-accused, who pleaded guilty, were also sentenced. Stephen Duffy received four years for possessing stolen cash. Gerard Duffy and Ciaran Duffy were each jailed for seven years and nine months for attempted ATM theft and criminal organisation offences. Niall Finnegan was sentenced to four-and-a-half years, with the final 18 months suspended, for possessing proceeds from the thefts. The appeal was dismissed, upholding the original convictions and sentences.
Aaron Gilsenan, 42, with 93 prior convictions, was jailed for four years after a series of offences in Clondalkin. He first attempted to rob a shop while intoxicated, fled without taking anything, and then stole a car that had been left by its owner with the keys in the ignition and two children, aged four and six, sitting in the back. The owner had left the car for a few minutes to buy groceries; when Gilsenan realised the car was missing, he returned to the shop, where the sales assistant called the Gardaí. The car was stopped 2 km away, and the children were unharmed and reunited with their father after about ten minutes. Gilsenan then tried to rob a nail salon, pulling the cash register and causing damage, but left the children in the car and used the vehicle to escape. Aaron Gilsenan pleaded guilty.
In a case heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, 33‑year‑old Daragh Houlihan pleaded guilty to robbery after assaulting his pregnant girlfriend at her home. The incident began while she was cooking; Houlihan entered the kitchen, demanded a knife she was holding, and a one‑minute struggle ensued. He then seized her phone, demanding the unlock code, and pushed her onto the ground. He left the apartment, later pursued her to retrieve the phone, during which he struck her with his leg and threw her phone over a wall before fleeing. The victim, distressed, reported the assault to Gardaí and was later taken to Mater Hospital. Houlihan admitted stealing the phone but denied violent conduct, citing a belief the victim might stab him. He is scheduled for sentencing later this year, with a probation report and urine analysis ordered for the next court date on 19 June.
Douglas Purcell, aged 40, pleaded guilty to a single count of making a threat to kill or cause serious harm after threatening to shoot a garda's wife and children. The incident occurred on 20 August 2017 at Ballyfermot Garda Station, where Purcell, who had been arrested on a separate charge, approached the injured party, threatened to follow him home and shoot his family, and performed push‑ups on the ground. He was arrested on 11 September 2017, interviewed once, and made no admissions. A victim impact statement was read, describing the victim's paranoia, installation of CCTV, and poor sleep. Purcell apologized for calling names but denied making threats, and his defence counsel highlighted his mental health issues, drug addiction, and previous convictions for theft and criminal damage. Judge Orla Crowe adjourned the case to April, ordered Purcell to engage with the Probation Service, and directed the prosecution to contact the victim regarding the expression of remorse.