George Bento, a 36‑year‑old Brazilian, was interviewed by Gardaí at Store Street Garda Station after the death of 16‑year‑old Josh Dunne on East Wall Road. Bento claimed he had only tried to recover a stolen electric bike belonging to delivery rider Tiago da Silva and that he had used a knife only to defend himself when a moped rider and a group of youths threatened him and his colleague Guilherme Quieroz. He said he had never intended to hurt anyone and that he had acted to protect himself and Quieroz. The prosecution argued that Bento exaggerated the danger, that CCTV showed him moving toward the moped rider, and that he had used lethal force when the youths were backing away. The trial concluded with a unanimous verdict of not guilty on all counts after a six‑week trial and 500 days of custody.
The jury for the trial of Brazilian food‑delivery cyclist George Gonzaga Bento, charged with murdering 16‑year‑old Josh Dunne, will return to the Central Criminal Court to continue deliberations. Bento, 36, is accused of stabbing Dunne after a confrontation with a gang while attempting to recover a stolen bicycle. He is also charged with producing a utility knife in a manner likely to intimidate, and with assault causing harm to two other young men. Bento pleaded not guilty to all four counts. The jury has spent almost six hours considering verdicts. A juror asked whether the knife‑production charge refers to the moment Bento removed the knife from his pocket or when he opened it; Judge Paul Burns explained the offence can relate to either.
During the trial of food‑delivery cyclist Mr Bento, who is accused of murdering 16‑year‑old Josh Dunne, the jury questioned why the man on a moped, described by the prosecution as the "instigator" of the fatal row, was not called as a witness. The jury had been sent out to deliberate and returned with a list of questions, noting that they had heard from "everyone" except the moped rider and a cyclist who had his bike stolen. Mr Bento, 36, was charged with murder, possession of a knife in a threatening manner, and assault causing harm to two other young men. He pleaded not guilty to all four counts. Mr Justice Paul Burns instructed the jury to base their verdict solely on the evidence presented, to avoid speculation, and to consider each charge separately. He explained the legal definitions of self‑defence, reasonable force, and the possible verdicts for the murder charge. The unnamed accused was acquitted.
George Gonzaga Bento, a 36-year-old Brazilian national from East Wall, Dublin 3, was acquitted by the Central Criminal Court of murdering 16-year-old Josh Dunne. The defendant, a delivery cyclist, had pleaded not guilty to four counts, including murder, producing a knife to intimidate, and assault causing harm to two other young men. The incident occurred on January 26, 2021, at East Wall Road, following a confrontation over a stolen bicycle. Defence counsel argued that Bento used reasonable force to defend himself and his friend from a violent group assault, while the prosecution alleged he exaggerated the threat and used lethal force against Dunne, who was merely reacting to protect his friend. The jury accepted the defence's position, resulting in a full acquittal on all charges. This finding concludes the criminal proceedings against Bento, who was found not guilty of the serious allegations brought by the state.
Brendan Treanor, 33, who is charged with participating in the January 25, 2013, robbery of the Lordship Credit Union in Co Louth, will apply for bail for a third time after the Special Criminal Court adjourned his trial. Prosecution counsel Lorcan Staines SC stated the State intends to try Treanor alongside James Flynn, 31, who is currently awaiting an appeal against his extradition from the UK. Staines indicated the extradition process is expected to conclude by the end of July, after which legal preparation for a trial estimated to last six months would be required. Defense counsel Sean Guerin SC argued that Treanor, who is currently in custody, has a right to a speedy trial and requested his case proceed separately without delay. Mr Justice Hunt acknowledged Treanor's rights but noted the undesirable nature of running two lengthy trials separately and the associated costs. Consequently, the court set a new trial date for January 11. Guerin confirmed Treanor will seek a new bail hearing in light of this decision, which is scheduled for June 16 before the Special Criminal Court. The robbery resulted in the death of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe, who was shot dead during a cash escort ambush by a five-man gang that fled with €7,000.
Dylan Murphy, 26, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for offences committed while on bail. He pleaded guilty to the attempted robbery of a taxi driver at Dolphins Barn, Dublin city, on September 20, 2019, as well as robbery and attempted robbery at St Stephen's Green on August 2, 2021. During the latter incident, Murphy allegedly posed as a garda to rob two teenagers, resulting in injuries to the male victim. Judge Pauline Codd described both attacks as vicious assaults. Acknowledging Murphy's tragic background and entrenched drug addiction, the judge imposed a total operative sentence of eight years. However, she suspended the final year to incentivise rehabilitation, conditional on Murphy engaging with the Probation Service and drug addiction treatment. The sentence was backdated to last March, when Murphy pleaded guilty to the offences. This decision follows his admission of guilt to the charges, which included his 65 previous convictions for robbery, burglary, and assaults.
Glen McEnroe, 39, of Cathedral View Walk, Dublin 8, was sentenced to four years in prison with the final 12 months suspended, backdated to 21 December 2020, for his role in a robbery that involved setting fire to a stolen cash‑in‑transit box. The incident occurred on 15 December 2020 when a Brinks security van driver, Brian Byrne, had taken a cash box from the van, entered a building on Thomas Street, and left with €19,300. Byrne was attacked by a man who threw the box at him; the box was later found on fire at St Kevin's Avenue. CCTV identified McEnroe buying a gas canister, entering the area, and attempting to ignite the box. He pleaded guilty, claiming he was threatened to do so. The court noted his limited role but considered the robbery pre‑meditated and the cash never recovered.
The jury in the multi‑million euro theft trial of former solicitor Michael Lynn was discharged after failing to reach a majority verdict following more than 12 hours of deliberations in a three‑and‑a‑half‑month trial. Judge Martin Nolan asked whether the jury could reach a verdict if given more time; the jurors replied they could not, so the judge had no option but to discharge them. Lynn, aged 53 and from Millbrook Court, Red Cross, Co Wicklow, had pleaded not guilty to 21 counts of theft relating to Dublin property transactions between 23 October 2006 and 20 April 2007. He had claimed that banks were aware of his multiple mortgages on the same properties and that this was "custom and practice" in Celtic Tiger Ireland. He also alleged secret deals with bankers and a profit‑share agreement with former Irish Nationwide chief executive Michael Fingleton concerning a property development in Portugal.
The jury in the multi‑million euro theft trial of former solicitor Michael Lynn was informed that it could return a majority verdict if it could not reach unanimity. After deliberating for just under ten hours, Judge Martin Nolan announced that a majority verdict would be accepted provided at least ten jurors agreed. The jury continued for another twenty minutes before being dismissed for the night, with a return to court scheduled for 2 p.m. tomorrow. Mr Lynn, aged 53 and residing at Millbrook Court, Red Cross, Co Wicklow, faces 21 counts of theft relating to the alleged theft of approximately €27 million from seven financial institutions between 23 October 2006 and 20 April 2007. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
In the Central Criminal Court, 36‑year‑old George Gonzaga Bento, a Brazilian food‑delivery cyclist, denies acting as a "hard‑man" during the January 26, 2021 incident at East Wall Road that led to the death of 16‑year‑old Josh Dunne. He claims he used a knife to defend himself and his friend from a man on a moped who had stolen a bike and from a group of youths who attacked them. Bento says he intended only to intimidate the attackers and that his life was at risk, not that he sought to harm anyone. He acknowledges causing injuries that led to Dunne's death, as well as stabbing two other young men, but maintains he was acting in self‑defence. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Paul Burns, continues tomorrow with 12 jurors.
A 34‑year‑old Dublin man was sentenced to six and a half years' imprisonment for a high‑speed chase on the M50 that endangered his partner and two small children. He had 226 prior convictions and was already serving a sentence for a petrol‑bomb attack. The court heard he pleaded guilty to endangerment, dangerous driving, criminal damage, driving without a licence and insurance, possession of a foil bag for theft, and refusal to provide a blood or urine sample. He also admitted to a Tesco Metro robbery in 2020. CCTV showed him driving over a shopping centre median, evading barriers, and then speeding onto the motorway, where he swerved between lanes and used the hard shoulder. The judge noted his long history of offending, his drug addiction, and the lack of a licence or insurance, and disqualified him from driving for ten years.
Joseph Behan, 46, was convicted by a jury at the Circuit Criminal Court for robbery, attempted robbery, assault causing serious harm, assault causing harm, possession of a firearm and reckless discharging of the firearm after a raid on Mizzoni's Pizza in Raheny on 1 January 2019. He was jailed for 15 years. Behan appealed to the Court of Appeal and then to the Supreme Court, arguing that a search warrant issued for his home was unlawful because the Divisional Detective Superintendent who granted it was not independent of the investigation, as required by Section 29(5) of the 1939 Offences Against the State Act. The Supreme Court dismissed the appeal, ruling that the warrant was lawful and that any error made had no practical effect on the conviction. The court split 3‑2 on the statutory interpretation, but all judges agreed that the conviction should stand. The case was decided on 30 May 2022.
The jury in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial of former solicitor Michael Lynn, aged 53, was sent home after six hours and 35 minutes of deliberation. Judge Martin Nolan directed the jury to return the following morning. Lynn stands accused of stealing approximately €27 million from seven financial institutions between 23 October 2006 and 20 April 2007, facing 21 counts of theft. He has pleaded not guilty. The prosecution alleges that Lynn secured multiple mortgages on the same properties, a practice the banks claimed was common in Celtic Tiger Ireland. Lynn contends that the banks were aware of his multiple loans and that he had "secret deals" with bankers who allowed him to use the loan money for overseas property developments. He also testified that he and former Irish Nationwide chief executive Michael Fingleton were involved in a purported secret profit‑share agreement concerning a property development in Portugal.
Mary Kennedy, a 46‑year‑old former accounts worker at St Columcille's Hospital, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for stealing more than €670,000 over a 16‑year period. Kennedy devised a fraudulent scheme that involved issuing cheques to doctors who were not actually employed by the hospital. After the hospital's computerisation in 2019, she arranged for the money to be paid into her brother‑in‑law Paul Leeson's account, who later returned the funds to her and made a €5,000 profit. Kennedy pleaded guilty to 16 counts of theft and two counts of fraud covering 2004‑2020, while Leeson pleaded guilty to one count of possessing the proceeds of crime between June 2019 and October 2020. Judge Martin Nolan, noting mitigating factors such as Kennedy's health problems, lack of prior convictions and role as a mother, imposed a two‑year sentence, which was fully suspended for Leeson.
Mark Taylor, aged 32, was sentenced to two years in prison at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for allowing himself to be carried in a stolen Nissan car on 3 December 2019. The car was stolen from a house in Orwell Park, Templeogue, crashed after theft, and was later recovered in Cabra. DNA from a glove, hat and Yop yoghurt bottle linked Taylor to the offence. The owner's victim impact report noted €20,000 purchase price and €14,000 damage. Taylor has 152 prior convictions, including traffic, drugs, assault, vehicle theft, burglary and endangerment. He has been in custody since October for a five‑year endangerment sentence. His defence argued a personal change after his twin brother's death, but the judge noted his behaviour was less culpable than earlier offences and did not extend his sentence beyond the two years imposed. The sentence is effective from the hearing date.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, former solicitor Michael Lynn, aged 53, faces 21 counts of theft involving about €27 million from seven banks. The prosecution alleges Lynn secured multiple mortgages on the same properties without the banks' knowledge, using the funds for overseas property developments. Lynn maintains that the banks were aware of his multiple loans and that such arrangements were customary among bankers during the Celtic Tiger era. He claims he had "secret deals" with several bankers, including a profit‑share agreement with former Irish Nationwide chief executive Michael Fingleton for a Portuguese development. Defence counsel argues that Lynn made monthly repayments and that the banks had no complaints until a solicitor, Fiona McAleenan, contacted the Law Society in 2007. Judge Martin Nolan directed the jury to acquit if they find Lynn had the banks' permission to use the loans, and to consider the State's case only if they cannot prove deception beyond a reasonable doubt.
The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial of former solicitor Michael Lynn, aged 53, is a multi‑million‑euro theft case. Lynn 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. Prosecutor Patrick McGrath argues that Lynn obtained multiple mortgages on the same properties while banks were unaware of other lenders, and that he fabricated evidence of "secret deals" with bankers. He claims Lynn deliberately introduced a third server to confuse the case and that no emails or payments supporting the alleged deals exist. Lynn's defence, led by Paul Comiskey‑O'Keeffe, maintains that the banks were aware of his loan usage, that the evidence is incomplete, and that Lynn acted within a custom of the Celtic Tiger banking system. The trial continues with the jury to decide on each count.
Iancu Nicola, 30, was remanded in custody pending sentence after mugging a 73‑year‑old woman who had just won €23,000 at a city‑centre casino. Nicola, who had previously pleaded guilty to robbery in 2016, was joined by accomplice Declan Connolly, 41, and spotter Brian English, 32. Connolly was sentenced to five years' imprisonment with the final two and a half years suspended; English received a three‑year suspended sentence. Nicola was remanded for a further sentence, with his counsel requesting a Probation Service report. Gardaí used extensive CCTV footage to link the trio to the crime, noting that the getaway vehicle had false plates and was registered to Connolly. The victim was dragged down an embankment, sustaining severe bruising and cuts. No admissions were made by the accused during Garda interviews. The case remains pending further sentencing.
A 68-year-old former solicitor from Claremorris, County Mayo, has been remanded on bail pending sentencing in November following his admission to four counts of theft. David Doyle pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to stealing cash totalling over €53,000 from a number of individuals between April 2009 and November 2016. The prosecution indicated that further guilty pleas would be sought. Judge Melanie Greally adjourned sentencing to 10 November, when evidence and victim impact statements will be heard. Doyle remains on continuing bail in the interim.
In the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, former Irish Nationwide senior officer Brian Fitzgibbon testified that he never met or spoke to Michael Lynn, contradicting Lynn's claim of a friendly relationship with former Irish Nationwide chief executive Michael Fingleton. Fitzgibbon, who managed home loans, stated that he had no knowledge of Lynn's alleged secret deals or any special arrangements with Fingleton. He described Irish Nationwide as an asset‑backed lender that required a legal charge on properties and that Fingleton could amend loan terms but never lend without an asset. Fitzgibbon also said he was uncomfortable with a €5.5 million loan for Lynn's Howth property and sent it to Fingleton for approval. Two other bankers, Micheál McHugh and Gerry O'Gorman, also denied meeting Lynn. The trial, which involves 21 counts of theft, will resume on Thursday. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
A food‑delivery cyclist, George Gonzaga Bento, aged 36, was charged with murdering 16‑year‑old Josh Dunne after a confrontation over a stolen bike on 26 January 2021. Bento told Gardaí he was not a murderer and that he had only tried to defend himself. He claimed he had taken a knife from his pocket to intimidate a man on a moped who had stolen a bike, and that he stabbed two other youths who attacked him. He said he had stabbed Josh only after being punched and that he had no intention to kill. The prosecution alleges Bento produced a knife during a stand‑off, assaulted two other young men, and was also accused of producing a utility knife likely to intimidate. He pleaded not guilty to all four counts. The article reports the Gardaí's interviews, the pathologist's evidence of stab wounds, and forensic DNA findings linking the knife to the victims. No sentencing or verdict is mentioned.
Aaron Reilly, 27, of Harelawn Park, Clondalkin, was jailed for 12 months, with the last four months suspended, after pleading guilty to money laundering. He had received over €8,000 that was fraudulently misdirected from a Turkish company to his account, which he withdrew for personal use. The company tried to recall the money; Reilly's account was frozen with only €41 left. He had 20 prior convictions, including two for theft. Judge Melanie Greally noted his guilty plea, personal adversity, employment history, and desire to return to work. She highlighted that the offence involved no significant personal gain and that a custodial sentence was not necessarily appropriate, but she imposed the sentence with a suspended portion. The case was prosecuted by Rónán Prendergast BL, who cited the AIB bank referral and the fact that Reilly was not the intended recipient. The Gardaí believed he was recruited to facilitate the transfer but seized the opportunity to withdraw money for himself.
In the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, former solicitor Michael Lynn faces 21 counts of theft, accused of stealing about €27 million from seven banks between October 2006 and April 2007. Lynn maintains he had "custom and practice" among bankers to obtain multiple mortgages on the same properties and claims he had secret deals allowing loan money to be used for overseas property developments. Bankers, including Stephen McCarthy of Ulster Bank and Ciaran Farrell of Irish Life and Permanent, testified that the loans were strictly for the 11 residential investment properties and that no alternative use was permitted. Both McCarthy and Farrell denied any special arrangements or receipt of money from Lynn. The trial continues with Judge Martin Nolan and a jury hearing the prosecution's case and rebuttal evidence. Michael Lynn pleaded not guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 36‑year‑old Brazilian food‑delivery rider, George Gonzaga Bento, is accused of murdering 16‑year‑old Josh Dunne on 26 January 2021 at East Wall Road. Testimony from fellow delivery cyclist Alex Lima, who knows Bento from Sao Paulo, states that Bento carried a utility knife used to cut fruit, not for protection. Lima also claims Bento had been attacked and had his bicycle stolen. Prosecutors allege Bento produced the knife during a confrontation with a man on a moped who had stolen another cyclist's bike, and that Dunne suffered two stab wounds, one penetrating a major artery. Bento is charged with murder, producing a knife likely to intimidate, and assault causing harm to two other young men. The trial continues with a jury hearing the evidence.
During the murder trial of George Gonzaga Bento, a 29‑year‑old witness with a history of drug possession and criminal damage denied that he carried out a "vicious attack" on a food‑delivery cyclist on the night Josh Dunne was killed. He said he had only stopped after being stabbed in the back by another person. The witness also denied that he had told the gardai he wanted to calm the situation and that he had "ended up getting stabbed in the back for my troubles." He claimed he had not seen who stabbed him and that he had been on his own when he joined the commotion. The defence counsel highlighted his previous convictions and the witness's contradictory statements, while the prosecution maintained that Bento produced a knife during a confrontation over a stolen bicycle. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul Burns and a jury of five men and seven women.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 13 February 2021, William Gaynor, aged 56 and without a fixed abode, was convicted of armed robbery after he twice targeted Medipharm pharmacy on North Frederick Street. In the first incident, Gaynor entered the shop with a knife, demanded Xanax and €300, and left after the staff complied. He later claimed the robbery was an act of "euthanasia" because he was ill and could not eat or sleep. Four months later he returned armed with a corkscrew, demanded cash and Valium, and left with €300 and 150 Valium tablets. Gaynor admitted guilt at the earliest stages of both cases. The judge cited the repeated targeting of the same pharmacy and prior convictions as aggravating factors, but noted early guilty pleas and medical conditions as mitigating. He was sentenced to four years' imprisonment, back‑dated for time already served.
During his trial for 21 counts of theft, former solicitor Michael Lynn, aged 53, denied stealing any money from Irish banks. He claimed the alleged €27 million theft was incorrect and that he had not forged or misrepresented any undertakings. Lynn said he had a long history of lending with the banks and that they were aware of his intended use of the loans. He argued that the banks' different system of undertakings was not a factor in any alleged fraud. Lynn also stated he had served five years in prison in Brazil and was fighting the charges because he believed the banks knew what was happening. Judge Martin Nolan noted that Lynn was not legally obliged to remain in Ireland when he travelled abroad. The trial continues. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
The murder trial of George Gonzaga Bento, 36, is ongoing at the Central Criminal Court. The accused, a Brazilian national and delivery cyclist, has pleaded not guilty to four counts: murdering Josh Dunne, 16, on East Wall Road on January 26, 2021; producing a utility knife in a manner likely to intimidate; and assaulting two other young men. Assistant State Pathologist Dr Heidi Okkers testified that Dunne sustained two chest stab wounds, with the fatal injury penetrating the ascending aorta. She stated that while one sweeping movement could theoretically cause both wounds, it would be very difficult, noting the wounds' differing directions suggested two separate movements. Dunne was found to be Covid-positive at the time of death. Defence counsel cross-examined witnesses, including two unnamed 17-year-old boys, arguing their statements contradicted CCTV footage and that the man on the moped was the initial aggressor in a dispute over a stolen bicycle. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul Burns and a jury.
Marius Radu, 44, a repeat offender, was given a fully suspended two‑year sentence for two counts of criminal damage to ATMs and six counts of theft between January 27 and February 3, 2016. He had previously been jailed for two years in 2016 for stealing a visa card and spending over €17,000 in Argos shops. Radu pleaded guilty to the 2016 ATM card‑trapping offences, which involved inserting devices that swallowed cards, retrieving them, and withdrawing cash. Garda Derek Gibney described incidents at Mobhi Road, Glasnevin, and Phibsborough, where Radu's device caused withdrawals of €500, €100 and €40, and he later spent €110 and €110.50 in Tesco, Tallaght. The damage to the ATMs cost €220 and €1,708. Radu was arrested in July 2016, sentenced in October 2016, and now lives in Slough, UK, where he studies and works as a driver.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 16 May 2022, former solicitor Michael Lynn, aged 53, denied that he had lied to the jury about alleged secret deals with senior Irish bankers. He was on trial for 21 counts of theft, accused of stealing about €27 million from seven financial institutions between October 2006 and April 2007. Lynn claimed the banks knew he had taken multiple mortgages on the same properties and that this was "custom and practice" in Celtic Tiger Ireland. He said he had a "secret profit deal" with former Irish Nationwide chief executive Michael Fingleton, who allegedly would profit from a property development in Portugal. Lynn also alleged that bank officials from Irish Life and Permanent, Bank of Ireland, Bank of Scotland Ireland, Ulster Bank and National Irish Bank had met with him or his company to facilitate these arrangements. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
Michael Lynn, a 53‑year‑old former solicitor, is on trial for the alleged theft of about €27 million from seven banks between 2006 and 2007. He has pleaded not guilty to 21 counts of theft. In court he defended his decision not to disclose alleged secret deals with senior bankers, claiming he had been prevented from meeting Gardaí in Portugal in 2008 and that translation issues delayed his extradition from Brazil, where he lived from 2011 to 2018. Lynn said he had given senior bankers "spending money" or bonuses of €5,000–€10,000 while travelling abroad, and that he had paid for flights and hotels for bankers such as Michael Fingleton and Maurice Ahern. He maintains he repaid banks monthly from 1997 and that he and his wife now rely on welfare and family support. The trial will resume next week before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury.
During his trial for a €27 million theft case, 53‑year‑old former solicitor Michael Lynn described his experience in a Brazilian prison where he was held awaiting extradition. He said the jail was next to a large dump, that inmates ran the facility, and that there were 1,800 prisoners and only 10 guards. Lynn recounted being moved to a section for educated inmates, where some were given guns and large swords. He claimed to have witnessed violence, including the beheading of a young man who was gay, and described the environment as "like something from Game of Thrones." Lynn also explained that he had been arrested in Recife in August 2013, had resisted extradition to allow his wife to give birth, and that conjugal visits were permitted in the prison. The trial continues. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
Michael Lynn, aged 53, is on trial in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for 21 counts of theft involving about €27 million from seven financial institutions between October 2006 and April 2007. He has pleaded not guilty. During the third day of evidence, Lynn described himself as greedy and driven but not a thief, claiming that banks were "confederates" and that they had lent him money for a property called Glenlion in Howth, which he says was actually used for a development in Portugal. He alleged that loans were rolled over verbally and that banks were aware of the practice. Lynn also recounted that in 2007 his accounts were frozen by the High Court and that he sought "breathing space" from senior bankers, including Michael Fingleton and Sean FitzPatrick, to repay the debts. The trial is proceeding before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury.
Dylan Mooney, 26, a cystic‑fibrosis sufferer, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of cannabis resin, cannabis herb, a semi‑automatic pistol and two charges of handling stolen property. He had accrued a €15,000 gambling debt and agreed to hold the gun, ammunition, €20,600 worth of cannabis and two motorbikes to settle it. Judge Melanie Greally, after considering his medical condition and lack of prior convictions, imposed a four‑year prison sentence, suspended in full, with conditions of good behaviour, peace‑keeping and 18 months' engagement with the Probation Service. Mooney had not attracted Garda attention since May 2019 and had cooperated with the investigation, including admitting responsibility for the firearm and drugs found in a safe in his grandfather's attic. The motorbikes, each valued at about €1,750, were also seized. The case was adjourned in 2019 to allow for a probation report and to assess the risk of infection in custody.
During the murder trial of George Gonzaga Bento, a 36‑year‑old Brazilian delivery rider, witness Mr Guilherme Quieroz testified that it is common for Deliveroo riders to have their bikes stolen. Quieroz, who had moved to Ireland in early 2020 and worked for Uber Eats, described how he and Bento were on their bikes near a McDonald's on East Wall Road on 26 January 2021 when they saw a man on a moped carrying a bicycle that appeared to be a stolen Deliveroo bike. Quieroz followed the moped rider with Bento, who confronted the rider and told him to leave the bike. The rider shouted and kicked the bike, but did not take it. Quieroz said the incident led to a confrontation that later involved the murder of 16‑year‑old Josh Dunne. Bento is charged with murder, assault, intimidation and assault causing harm, and has pleaded not guilty to all four counts.
Paul Mangan, 42, was arrested for stealing children's clothes from a Next shop in Dublin. During a search of his home, Gardaí discovered seven vacuum‑packed bags of cannabis valued at €135,762. Mangan pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis for sale or supply, theft, and possession of a tinfoil‑lined bag intended for use in a theft. He has 51 prior convictions, including drug possession and theft. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to five years' imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended, taking into account his mental health difficulties and efforts to overcome addiction. The case involved a search warrant issued on the day of the theft, and Garda Kelly McKiernan reported that Mangan was found near the shop after the theft. The prosecution noted he was not a drug dealer and had denied that his DNA was on the packages.
During a multi‑million euro theft trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, former solicitor Michael Lynn, aged 53, testified that he had obtained permission from banks to use mortgage loan money for property developments abroad. He claimed the banks understood the funds were to purchase specific sites and repay the loans, and that similar arrangements dated back to 2003 with the Bank of Ireland. Lynn said he had emailed bankers about these arrangements, but no copies of the emails remain. He was accused of stealing about €27 million from seven financial institutions and pleaded not guilty to 21 counts of theft between October 2006 and April 2007. The prosecution alleges he secured multiple mortgages on the same properties without the banks' knowledge of other lenders. Lynn maintained that he conducted all business via a Kendar email address and that the banks facilitated his transactions. The trial is ongoing before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury.
In a 2020 home invasion, 25‑year‑old Gerry Connors and his 25‑year‑old brother Myles attacked Edward Babos, punching him, threatening with scissors, cutting his hair, and forcing him to strip. They searched Babos, took his car keys, and drove him in his own car, kicking and damaging it. Connors threatened Babos that police would kill him, yet Babos escaped to his home and called Gardaí. Connors later admitted the crime, travelled to the UK for three days, and returned to give a full confession. He pleaded guilty to a 2018 robbery and was sentenced to two years for robbery and four years for false imprisonment, with 18 months suspended, under probation supervision. Myles Connors received a five‑year sentence for assault, false imprisonment, and robbery. The court highlighted Connors' remorse and efforts at rehabilitation. The case underscores the severity of violent offences and the court's dual aim of punishment and deterrence.
Michael Lynn, a former solicitor aged 53 from Red Cross, County Wicklow, gave evidence in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in the thirteenth week of his trial on charges of theft. Mr Lynn pleaded not guilty to 21 counts of theft totalling approximately €27 million from seven financial institutions between October 2006 and April 2007. The prosecution alleges he obtained multiple mortgages on identical properties without the knowledge of lending institutions. Under questioning from his defence barrister, Mr Lynn outlined his career progression from a Mayo farming background through Trinity College education to establishing his own legal practice in 1997. He described expanding his Blanchardstown-based firm and concurrent involvement in property development and overseas ventures through his company Kendar Holdings Limited. Mr Lynn testified that between late 2005 and October 2007, he was not involved in day-to-day management of his legal practice, stating he was travelling constantly during this period. The trial, which resumed following Mr Lynn's Covid-related absence, continues before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury.
In the Central Criminal Court, the State informed a jury that the accused, George Gonzaga Bento, a 36‑year‑old Brazilian delivery cyclist, may have to consider self‑defence. The prosecution case alleges Bento stabbed schoolboy Josh Dunne, 16, to death after a confrontation over a stolen bicycle on East Wall Road, January 26, 2021. The jury was told that Bento also stabbed two other young men that night and that the events unfolded in a surprisingly short period. The State's case is that Bento used a knife during a stand‑off with a man on a moped, then stabbed Dunne twice in the chest and once in the left hand within five seconds of Dunne's contact. The prosecution claims the force was excessive and unlawful, and that Bento's fear invoked during Garda interviews must be weighed against the alleged intent to kill. The trial will continue before Justice Paul Burns and a jury of five men and seven women.
Elaine Kelly, 49, of Donaghmede, pleaded guilty to driving away from an armed robbery at an off‑licence in Kilbarrack on 22 October 2018. The court heard she was a vulnerable woman struggling with drug addiction and that she drove the getaway vehicle after the raider abandoned a bicycle. Dashcam footage showed the raider and Kelly exiting a blue car that was later seen pulling into a driveway. Kelly had 13 prior convictions but had not been in contact with the Gardaí since the 2018 offence. Judge Martin Nolan suspended a two‑year prison term on the condition that Kelly keeps the peace and behaves well for two years. The judge noted that Kelly was in fear of the robber, who is serving a separate 14‑year sentence. The sentence was imposed without a custodial term.
Dean Boland, 33, pleaded guilty to attempted robbery at a Centra shop in Santry on 7 November 2021. He entered the shop with another man, demanded cash from staff, but the staff refused and a supervisor told them to leave. Boland then removed his mask, took a bottle of Lucozade, and waited for Gardaí. When asked why he had committed the robbery, he replied, "So I could go into custody," and added that he feared for his life. He has a history of chronic drug use and 30 prior convictions. The judge described the incident as "somewhat bizarre" and noted that Boland had removed his mask in front of CCTV. He was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment, backdated to his November 2021 arrest. The judge urged that medical help could be sought through other means such as a doctor.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Suzanne Shannon, aged 37, pleaded guilty to possessing €69,608 worth of heroin at her Avondale House home on North Cumberland Street. She admitted warehousing the drug for Darren Nolan, 50, who was also found guilty of possession for sale or supply at his Lower Oriel Street address. Garda surveillance and an armed support unit raid on 23 June 2017 uncovered cash, heroin wrapped in socks, and other evidence at both locations. Shannon, with 46 prior convictions mainly for theft, claimed her involvement was at Nolan's behest and that she had been given small amounts of heroin for personal use. She has a daughter and two sons, one of whom wrote a letter to the court. The judge adjourned her sentencing to 25 July, with a request for remand to assess her drug use and a probation report.
The jury in the multi‑million euro theft trial of former solicitor Michael Lynn was sent home again after Judge Martin Nolan informed them that Lynn, who is 53 and lives in Millbrook Court, Red Cross, Co Wicklow, remains ill. The trial, now in its 13th week, had been paused last week when Lynn tested positive for Covid. The judge adjourned the proceedings to tomorrow, noting that the jury would be contacted later to determine the next steps. Lynn faces 21 counts of theft for €27 million stolen from seven financial institutions between October 2006 and April 2007. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
Kelli Kilpatrick, a 34‑year‑old freelance travel agent from St Aongus Estate, Tallaght, was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to a fully suspended three‑year prison term for stealing nearly €29,000 from 31 holiday makers between April 2017 and August 2018. Kilpatrick had offered discounted holidays after returning to Ireland from a "toxic relationship" in the UK, using her experience in corporate travel to secure cut‑price packages. She failed to keep track of payments, using customer deposits to fund other bookings, and in some cases falsified receipts. The court heard she had previously been convicted in 2016 of stealing £239,000 worth of mobile phones in Reading, England. Kilpatrick pleaded guilty to eight counts, expressed remorse, and agreed to hand over €25,000 and pay an additional €3,000 in compensation within a year, conditions under which the judge suspended the custodial sentence.
Jack Murphy, aged 23, was sentenced to five years in prison after a series of violent offences. On 11 April 2021, while at his partner's home, he became agitated during a playdate, shouted at a child, and assaulted the mother, who was pregnant. He threatened to "kick that baby out of you" and later called her twice, threatening her and her child. Murphy also assaulted the mother's partner with a metal pole. Two days after his release from prison, he robbed an Iceland supermarket in Coolock, shouting at the till and taking money, and then robbed a Tesco in Artane, taking vodka bottles and leaving without paying. He pleaded guilty to robbery, theft, assault and a threat to kill.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Emilio Flynn, aged 27, pleaded guilty to robbery, false imprisonment and extortion after robbing Dr Patrick Duffy on Buckingham Street in 2015. Flynn demanded money, took cash from an ATM, and threatened future extortion, giving his phone number and demanding payment later. He claimed his judgment was affected by medication and that he was homeless. Flynn had 29 prior convictions. The court noted that the victim moved and stopped walking home after the incident. Judge Elma Sheahan had previously placed Flynn on a 12‑month probation bond with conditions of drug and alcohol abstinence and counseling. Flynn failed to comply, travelled to the UK, and was later arrested in April 2022. The judge sentenced him to three years in prison for each robbery, to run concurrently, citing mid‑range offending. The sentence reflects the court's view that Flynn had been given a second chance.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Liam Dowds, aged 40, pleaded guilty to stealing razors, lamb and champagne from a Tesco supermarket, assaulting a customer, David Cunningham, and causing criminal damage at Finglas Garda Station. Dowds bit off Cunningham's ear while attempting to stop the theft, swallowed the ear, and claimed he had HIV. He also left a bottle of methadone in his bag and admitted to drug addiction. The court heard Dowds had a history of mental health issues and drug addiction, and that he had previously been arrested for similar offences. Cunningham reported feeling self-conscious and unsafe after the attack. Dowds expressed remorse and wished to apologise. The judge noted psychosis and vindictiveness in the case and adjourned sentencing to July 8.
In 2011, 16‑year‑old Marian Lingurar Jnr left his employer, publican John Kenny, to die on a toilet floor after a violent robbery. Lingurar Jnr was not involved in the restraint or assault of Kenny, who sustained severe injuries and was found dead the next evening. He was convicted of manslaughter by a jury at Galway Circuit Criminal Court in January 2019 and sentenced to nine years imprisonment. In April 2022, the Court of Appeal quashed the original sentence and reduced the jail term by one year, citing the appellant's age and the fact that he was not a party to the violence. The appeal was based on the argument that the trial judge had not given sufficient weight to the appellant's age at the time of the offence. The Court of Appeal confirmed the conviction but adjusted the sentence to eight years, noting that the crime had a very grave impact on the Kenny family.
Nalavan Samy, 42, a former manager at Quinn's Centra in Ballymun, stole €9,349.78 over a nine‑month period from September 2019 to June 2020. He did this by creating false refunds on the till, taking cash up to four times a week. The theft was discovered when an employee noticed a discrepancy in stock levels for a product that had zero sales but seven refunds recorded. Samy admitted the theft to the operations manager and later to Gardaí, citing financial hardship and a gambling problem. He had no prior convictions. The court, considering his role as sole provider for his wife and non‑verbal daughter, imposed a 20‑month prison sentence that was fully suspended on strict conditions. He was ordered to pay €1,000 to the Simon Community over eighteen months and to donate the €4,000 he had saved to the former business owners. The business has since been sold. Nalavan Samy pleaded guilty.