Joseph Curran, aged 22, was sentenced to eight-and-a-half years' imprisonment for a series of robberies targeting elderly women in Crumlin, Walkinstown and Beechwood in 2021. He stole bags from four women, including a 76‑year‑old, a 67‑year‑old, an eight‑year‑old and a 72‑year‑old, causing injuries to the 76‑year‑old who was pushed to the ground. The robberies were aggravated by the victims' age and vulnerability. Curran pleaded guilty to robbery and theft at three locations and had a prior burglary conviction in 2019. He has 65 previous convictions. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a suspended two‑and‑a‑half‑year portion of the sentence, subject to strict conditions, after noting his negative drug test and a probation report indicating motivation to cease offending. The case was prosecuted by Aideen Collard BL and defended by Marc Thompson BL. The court considered the impact on the victims and Curran's addiction history.
Former solicitor Michael Lynn, aged 53, stands trial for 21 counts of theft involving approximately €27 million taken from seven financial institutions between 23 October 2006 and 20 April 2007. The prosecution alleges that Lynn secured multiple mortgages on the same properties while banks were unaware that other institutions were also financing those properties. Inspector Patrick Linehan, the lead investigator, reported that Lynn was arrested on the day of 21 warrants and charged at a Garda station, where he made no reply to any of the charges. Lynn has pleaded not guilty. He was remanded and later granted bail. The case is scheduled to resume before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury on Monday. The trial is ongoing and no verdict has been reached.
In 2019, Marian Lingurar Jnr, then 16, was sentenced to nine years for the manslaughter of publican John Kenny, 56, during a robbery in Oughterard, Co Galway. The attack, on 25 September 2011, left Kenny severely beaten, tied, and left to die in a ladies' toilet. Lingurar Jnr, who had worked as a doorman for a week, was part of a gang that robbed the pub after closing. In April 2022, he appealed the sentence, arguing the judge failed to consider his youth and the lack of evidence that he personally restrained or assaulted Kenny. The Court of Appeal noted the crime was a "common design" and that Lingurar Jnr bore responsibility, but the appeal was based on the judge's handling of his age. The appeal was still pending at the time of the hearing. The case highlighted the complexities of sentencing juveniles for violent robbery and manslaughter.
Joseph O'Brien, aged 35, was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended, for a series of robberies and violent assaults committed while serving a suspended sentence. On 21 January 2019, he struck a robbery victim on the back of the head with a glass bottle, then repeatedly kicked the man 20–30 times before stealing his phone. The victim suffered a laceration, facial bruising, black eyes and a broken tooth. O'Brien had previously robbed the same pharmacy on 19 January and again on 23 April 2019, using a knife and a screwdriver to threaten staff and steal cash. His 56 prior convictions include robbery, burglary, theft, assault of a peace officer and drug‑related offences. The judge noted the offences were aggravated by his suspended sentence and his drug difficulties, and he must comply with strict probation conditions for 12 months after release. Joseph O'Brien pleaded guilty.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court could not reach a verdict in the case of a 14‑year‑old boy accused of murdering Urantsetseg Tserendorj during the 2021 winter lockdown. The teenager admitted stabbing Ms Tserendorj in the neck but his lawyers argued he was attempting a robbery and did not intend to kill or seriously harm her, seeking a manslaughter conviction. The jury spent over eight hours deliberating and, after multiple reviews of evidence, was unable to agree on a verdict. The judge, Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring, noted that ten votes were required for a verdict. The case will return to the Central Criminal Court list. The accused had pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter on 29 January 2021, a plea the State rejected. He also pleaded guilty to producing a knife and attempting to rob Ms Tserendorj on 20 January 2021.
In the trial of a minor accused of murdering Urantsetseg Tserendorj, Judge Mary Ellen Ring announced that the jury could deliver a majority verdict if at least ten of the twelve jurors agreed. The jury had been deliberating for nearly five hours and had paused for lunch before resuming at 2 pm. The accused pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, knife‑production and attempted robbery. The judge instructed that a guilty verdict for murder requires proof of intent to kill or cause serious injury, otherwise manslaughter applies.
During the sixth day of Michael Lynn's multi‑million euro theft trial, former solicitor Fiona McAleenan testified that she was "horrified and disgusted" by defence counsel Paul Comiskey O'Keeffe's suggestion that she had knowingly facilitated multiple mortgages on the same properties between 2006 and 2007. McAleenan denied any partnership or conveyancing role at Michael Lynn & Co Solicitors, stating she had never been involved in the signing of undertakings. The prosecution argued that Lynn obtained the mortgages while banks were unaware of other institutions' involvement. Court documents revealed text messages from Lynn's legal executive, Elizabeth Doyle, to McAleenan, which the defence used to imply conveyancing activity. McAleenan said she was not involved and questioned why Doyle sent the messages. Judge Martin Nolan clarified the defence's line of questioning, and the prosecution noted that the Law Society's 2008 investigation found no complaint against McAleenan, only against Lynn, who was struck off as a solicitor in May 2008.
In a court hearing on 5 April 2022, a 22‑year‑old man pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting the sexual assault of a child and to producing child pornography. He was 18 at the time of the offences, which involved a 15‑year‑old boy who was rendered unconscious by a pain‑relief drug (Penthrox) that the accused had stolen. The drug was administered through a modified "green whistle" and an oxygen mask, after which the accused sexually assaulted the boy. The accused also filmed the assault and the drug administration. A 31‑year‑old co‑accused pleaded guilty to oral rape of a boy, sexual exploitation, and the production of child pornography. He admitted stealing a vial of Penthrox and a carbon dioxide chamber from Naas Racecourse.
During the fifth day of Michael Lynn's multi‑million euro theft trial, solicitor Fiona McAleenan, who worked for Lynn's firm, denied that Lynn had paid her €50,000 toward the purchase of her family home. She said she did not recall any such contribution and was "completely taken aback" by the allegation. McAleenan confirmed she had received a bonus from Lynn but could not recall the €50,000 figure. She also denied being a partner in the firm, although documents were presented showing an email from Lynn announcing her appointment as partner and a memo she sent requesting the use of the title. The defence cross‑examined her on weekly reports, mortgage applications, and the alleged profit‑share agreement. Lynn, aged 53, remains on trial for 21 counts of theft involving approximately €27 million from seven financial institutions, with the case proceeding before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury.
Luke Barrett, aged 22, was sentenced to eight years in prison for two armed robberies in County Limerick, with 18 months of the sentence suspended. The first robbery, committed at 6:20 am on 6 July 2017, involved a knife threat and the theft of €340 from a family‑owned shop in Newcastle West. The second robbery, at 7 am on 15 August 2018, saw Barrett threaten staff at a service station in Locke Quay, Limerick, and later hold up a sandwich shop, taking €80. Judge Tom O'Donnell imposed two consecutive four‑year terms for the robberies and a concurrent two‑year term for an attempted robbery. Barrett appealed, arguing the first offence was his first and that the four‑year term was excessive. The Court of Appeal, hearing counsel Yvonne Quinn BL, found an error in principle and reduced the first term to three years, while increasing the suspended portion from 18 months to two years.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Garda David O'Callaghan recounted how he visited the home of a teenage accused of murdering Urantsetseg Tserendorj. While on a search warrant for a stolen e‑bike, he called the boy's grandmother, who said the boy had "done something terrible" and would turn himself in. O'Callaghan found the boy in his bedroom, who admitted stabbing the woman and robbing her. The boy, a minor, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, and the State has not accepted his plea. He also pleaded guilty to producing a knife and attempting to rob Ms Tserendorj. The victim died nine days later from a single stab wound that severed a major brain artery. Garda Maria Harmon and Garda Karl Bolger provided further statements and evidence, including a knife found in the boy's home and CCTV footage of the incident. The jury will hear the prosecution's evidence before the next trial phase.
During a multi‑million‑euro theft trial, Fiona McAleenan, a former solicitor at Michael Lynn & Co, testified that she was unaware of the details of Mr Lynn's borrowings. She explained that she had made several statements to Gardaí after receiving legal advice not to make further statements until certain proceedings were resolved, and that she had made up to eight additional statements once those proceedings were concluded. McAleenan said she had been involved in conveyancing in March 2007 and that she had been aware of Mr Lynn's general property portfolio but not the specifics of his borrowings. She denied signing any undertakings that would have made her aware of the details and claimed she had not been contacted by the Law Society about such matters. The trial, presided over by Judge Martin Nolan, continues with Mr Lynn pleading not guilty to 21 theft counts involving seven financial institutions.
During his trial for the alleged theft of about €27 million from seven banks, Michael Lynn's former solicitor, Fiona McAleenan, testified that she first became aware of the scheme in August 2007 when she received two separate faxes from different law firms representing two banks, both referring to the same properties. She said the second fax alarmed her and she immediately sought advice from a friend who recommended a solicitor. Following that advice, she contacted the Law Society, which asked her questions suggesting a possible mistake or misunderstanding. The Society advised her to leave the practice, and she resigned on 10 September 2007. McAleenan also admitted signing undertakings for properties without having carried out the conveyancing work, relying on colleagues and trusting Michael Lynn and Liz Doyle. She claimed she had not questioned the documents because she trusted them. The trial, before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury, continues with 21 counts of theft.
A man convicted of robbing a university student on the Dublin City University campus in February 2021 has received a fully suspended sentence from Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Alex Cullen, aged 27, and Alan Giles, aged 30, both of Finglas, pleaded guilty to robbery following a vicious attack on the first-year student as he returned to his accommodation. The victim was punched and kicked during the incident and had his phone and cards stolen. Two other students intervened and the men left the scene. Judge Melanie Greally noted the assault was "highly vicious and violent" and appeared drug-fuelled. She sentenced Cullen to five years imprisonment, suspended entirely on condition he comply with Probation Service directions for one year. Giles was remanded on continuing bail pending finalisation of his case on 1 July. Both men were ordered to pay €1,000 compensation to the victim. The victim, from Donegal, has since returned to his studies.
Cian White, 21, of Corduff Park, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to stealing a car in Northwood, Dublin 9, on June 26, 2020. He also admitted to dangerous driving and endangerment by ramming train barriers at Ashtown Level Crossing on the Navan Road while a train was imminent. Additionally, White pleaded guilty to allowing himself to be carried in a stolen car and possessing vice grips on August 8, 2021. Judge Melanie Greally imposed consecutive sentences totalling five years. She suspended the final 18 months of the term on strict conditions, requiring White to engage with alcohol and drug treatment for 18 months upon his release from prison. Consequently, he faces three and a half years of effective custody. The judge also disqualified White from driving for six years. The court noted White had 74 previous convictions and was already disqualified at the time of the offences. Judge Greally acknowledged his young age, expressed remorse, and difficult early life in foster care, while describing the driving as prolonged and intensely dangerous. The matter was finalised with this sentencing.
During a multi‑million euro theft trial, solicitor Fiona McAleenan testified that she never represented Michael Lynn in the purchase of a €5.5 million Howth property known as Glenlion. She denied signing an application for a €3.85 million loan for the property and claimed her signature on a March 2007 letter to Bank of Scotland Ireland was forged. McAleenan said she had never seen the letter until it was shown to her in court and that she had never sent an email to National Irish Bank in February 2007 that purportedly stated she was acting independently of Lynn. She also denied any conversation with former National Irish Bank lawyer Michael O'Malley and denied that she had authorized any signatures on documents. The trial, presided over by Judge Martin Nolan, continues with Lynn pleading not guilty to 21 theft counts involving several financial institutions.
In the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, a solicitor from Michael Lynn's firm, Ms Fiona McAleenan, testified that her signature was forged on several loan documents without her permission. She confirmed that a loan document purporting to be from a firm called 'Fiona McAleenan Solicitors' was an entire forgery, noting that no such firm ever existed. Ms McAleenan, who joined the firm in 2004 and left in 2007, said she had little knowledge of conveyancing and was not involved in the property purchases that formed the basis of the alleged theft. She also denied giving permission for her name to be used on documents, including family home protection papers and solicitor undertakings for mortgage applications. The trial, presided over by Judge Martin Nolan, continues with 21 counts of theft against Mr Lynn, who has pleaded not guilty. The case involves seven financial institutions, including Bank of Ireland, Danske Bank, and Irish Nationwide.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, former solicitor Michael Lynn, aged 53, faced 21 counts of theft alleging he stole about €27 million from seven banks between October 2006 and April 2007. Lynn, who denies the allegations, was accused of securing multiple mortgages on the same properties while banks were unaware of other lenders. Elizabeth Doyle, a former legal executive at Lynn's firm, testified that she often signed documents on his behalf, sometimes under his instruction, and that she had signed signatures that appeared to be Lynn's, Fiona McAleenan's, and his wife Bríd Murphy's. Doyle admitted she had signed some documents in his name and that she had not recalled the exact method of instruction. She also revealed that she and her husband had taken a €240,000 mortgage through Lynn's firm and that compensation from the Law Society was used to repay that loan. Lynn pleaded not guilty.
During the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 24 March 2022, former solicitor Michael Lynn, aged 53, faced 21 counts of theft involving approximately €27 million taken from seven financial institutions. The court heard evidence that Lynn's firm, Michael Lynn & Co, consistently paid only a five‑per‑cent deposit when purchasing properties, whereas the standard required was ten per cent. The firm also delayed returning signed contracts, missed sale closing dates, and failed to pay interest on outstanding balances. Several solicitors testified that Lynn repeatedly failed to meet agreed closing dates, prompting 28‑day notices and claims for interest. The State alleged that Lynn obtained multiple mortgages on the same properties without banks' knowledge of other lenders. Lynn pleaded not guilty to all counts. The hearing also noted that a former personal assistant, Liz Doyle, was scheduled to give evidence the following day.
A man from Ballymahon in County Longford has received a suspended sentence after pleading guilty to possessing stolen power tools at a market in Dublin. Brian Nevin, aged 30, admitted to 13 counts of possession of stolen goods found at Balbriggan Sunday market on 21 January 2018. The tools, valued at approximately €3,000, included drills, a screw gun, laser level, and other equipment. A tradesman from Tullamore recognised one of his stolen drills at the market and alerted gardaí. Following investigation, gardaí recovered the items and arrested Nevin, also seizing cash and the van used. At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, the judge imposed a 12-month custodial sentence suspended for 12 months on strict conditions, noting that Nevin had no further convictions since 2015 and remained engaged in his community. Nevin has 29 previous convictions.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, mother Attracta Kearney accused the media of demonising her son, Ian Moore, after his death following an altercation with Jason Kearney. Moore, 30, pleaded guilty to unlawful killing of Kearney on 12 September 2020. He claimed he had entered Kearney's home after a perceived intrusion, pushed the homeowner out, and later followed him in a car to retrieve a bag he believed was stolen. During a confrontation at Seville Place, Moore punched Kearney once, causing a fatal head injury. Moore stated he had no intention to use a knife he carried and that he called emergency services after the incident. The court adjourned sentencing to 30 March 2022. Kearney's family expressed profound grief and questioned Moore's actions, while Moore expressed remorse and acknowledged responsibility.
A 20‑year‑old man named Benjamin Morrissey, who had 78 prior convictions, was sentenced to six years in prison for two violent street attacks. In February 2021 he used scissors to attack a woman on O'Connell Street, attempting to seize her electric scooter, and in a separate incident he stabbed a man, Daniel Shortt, in the neck, causing a four‑inch wound and nerve damage. Morrissey pleaded guilty to intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to Shortt and to attempted robbery of a woman on February 5, 2021. He had been on bail at the time of the robbery. The court considered his difficult childhood and cooperation, and imposed a six‑year sentence, with the last two years suspended and the sentence back‑dated for time already served. The proceedings were held in Dublin, with the judge noting the serious nature of the offences and the victims' physical and emotional suffering.
During a trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, former Permanent TSB commercial head Sean Alger denied that the bank had ignored a repayment condition on a €1.9 million loan to Michael Lynn. Alger said the bank had robust credit procedures and that any delay in repayment would normally raise a red flag, but he was not aware of any error. He rejected claims that the bank had turned a blind eye, stating there was no culture of ignoring conditions. Alger also noted that the borrower was primarily responsible for meeting loan conditions, with the bank's role being to ensure compliance. The trial, which continues next week, involves 21 counts of theft against Lynn, who has pleaded not guilty. The case is before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury.
David Keegan, 43, known locally as the "Del Boy of Cabra," was found in possession of over 229,000 untaxed cigarettes and €135,000 worth of counterfeit luxury goods during a joint Gardaí and Revenue raid on his rented lock‑ups. He also had 19 stolen televisions. Keegan pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to evasion of excise duty on cigarettes, offering for sale goods resembling trademarked items without authorisation, and handling stolen property, all at The Rise, Glasnevin, on 2 August 2017. He had seven prior convictions, including drink driving. In December 2019 Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to 18 months' imprisonment for the cigarette offence. At the 2022 hearing, Nolan, after hearing evidence on the counterfeit goods and stolen TVs, suspended the 18‑month sentence in its entirety on strict conditions, deciding not to impose further custodial time.
During the trial of Michael Lynn, a solicitor claimed that a signature on a €3.7 million loan undertaking was not hers. Lynn, aged 53, faces 21 counts of theft involving about €27 million from seven banks. Prosecutor Cathal MacCarthy, a former Permanent TSB legal officer, explained that Lynn applied for a €3,725,625 loan in May 2007 to buy 12 properties, offering a first legal charge as security. Lynn signed a letter of approval in June 2007, and a letter of undertaking was supposedly signed by solicitor Fiona McAleenan, granting Lynn's irrevocable authority. MacCarthy later discovered that the signature on the undertaking was not McAleenan's, an issue that raised alarm in October 2007. Lynn denies wrongdoing, arguing that McAleenan routinely allowed her signature to be used on various documents. The case proceeds before a jury. Michael Lynn pleaded not guilty.
During a trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, former solicitor Michael Lynn, aged 53, is accused of stealing about €27 million from seven financial institutions. The prosecution alleges that Lynn secured multiple mortgages on the same properties while banks were unaware of each other's financing. Evidence was presented that Lynn had a €1.9 million borrowing with a bank when he applied for a €4.9 million loan in 2007 to buy eight residential investment properties. A bank manager, Ciaran Farrell, emailed that the outstanding €1.9 million was cleared only a week later due to a "clerical" error, and that Lynn was "embarrassed and annoyed" by the delay. Documents relating to Lynn's overseas investment company, Kendar Global Properties, were shown, and a €3.7 million loan was drawn down, though a subsequent €5.5 million refinancing offer was not pursued. Michael Lynn pleaded not guilty.
Daniel Munteanu, a 32-year-old Romanian national from Navan, Co Meath, has failed in his appeal against a custodial sentence imposed at Trim Circuit Criminal Court. Munteanu pleaded guilty to 10 charges of stealing €121,800 from 52 Bank of Ireland accounts between September 9, 2018, and March 4, 2019. He also admitted possessing 51 cloned bank cards, card-making equipment, and false identity documents. Judge Martina Baxter originally sentenced him to seven years, with the final six months suspended, after applying a discount to an 11-year headline sentence. Munteanu appealed on the grounds that the judge placed insufficient weight on mitigation, arguing he was merely a 'foot-soldier' in an international skimming gang who received a 10-15% cut of the proceeds. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice George Birmingham, dismissed the appeal. The Court President noted that the original judge had applied a 'significant and generous' discount and that the final six-and-a-half-year term clearly fell within the available range. The court accepted the prosecution's submission that Munteanu was part of a complex criminal organisation operating across multiple jurisdictions, including Ireland, the UK, Belgium, Romania, and Italy, which justified the severity of the sentence.
A 19‑year‑old named Nathan Kelly was sentenced to five years in prison for a series of violent offences committed over a 20‑month period, including the theft of a nurse's wallet. The court heard that Kelly had a troubled background, was diagnosed with post‑traumatic stress disorder, and had a history of addiction. He pleaded guilty to three assaults, three robberies and trespassing likely to cause fear, with offences dated between 28 February 2019 and 28 October 2020. The judge noted his early exposure to domestic violence, his ADHD and PTSD diagnoses, and his high risk of reoffending. Kelly has expressed remorse, is engaging with his addictions, and is in a stable relationship. The judge imposed consecutive sentences totalling 78 months, suspended the final 18 months for 12 months on strict conditions, and ordered a five‑year custodial term.
A 32-year-old Romanian national is appealing a six-and-a-half-year prison sentence imposed for his role in an international bank card skimming operation. Daniel Munteanu pleaded guilty at Trim Circuit Criminal Court to ten counts of theft totalling €121,800 from 52 Bank of Ireland accounts between September 2018 and March 2019. Over 300 withdrawals were made from ATMs across multiple counties including Cavan and Monaghan. Gardaí recovered cloned bank cards, a card-cloning machine, and forged identity documents from his home. At the Court of Appeal, his legal team contended the original sentence was disproportionate, characterising Munteanu as a foot-soldier in the gang who received approximately ten per cent of proceeds. The Director of Public Prosecutions countered that Munteanu was an integral member of an established international criminal network operating across multiple jurisdictions with significant resources. The court reserved judgment.
The Special Criminal Court sentenced Daniel O'Callaghan to 10 years imprisonment for his role in a cross-border gang that stole ATMs using diggers. O'Callaghan, a former All-Ireland club winner, was convicted after a trial of 16 offences, including the attempted theft of an ATM in Virginia, Co Cavan, and possessing over €700,000 in stolen cash. He had pleaded not guilty to charges under Sections 72 and 73 of the Criminal Justice Act. Ms Justice Tara Burns set a headline sentence of 11 years, suspending the final year subject to a three-year bond to keep the peace. Sentences for other offences, ranging from three and a half to eight years, run concurrently. The court noted O'Callaghan's central role as a planner and his forensic awareness, including burning vehicles and using burner phones. Three accomplices, Stephen Duffy, Gerard Duffy, and Ciaran Duffy, were jailed last week after pleading guilty. Stephen Duffy received four years for possessing stolen cash, while Gerard and Ciaran Duffy each received seven years and nine months for the attempted ATM theft and moving cash for a criminal organisation. Gardai recovered €429,930 from a premises in Tullypole, Co Meath, which is subject to Criminal Assets Bureau proceedings.
Lee O'Brien, 35, was sentenced to three years and nine months imprisonment after a jury convicted him of attempted robbery at Centra, Drimnagh Road, Crumlin, and robbery at Spar, Walkinstown Roundabout, Crumlin on 23 April 2018. During the first incident he threatened staff with a butter knife, which was removed by the staff, and he failed to steal the till. In the second incident he entered Spar with a small knife, threatened a staff member, jumped over the counter, stole the till containing €260–€300, and fled in a car that was later traced to his girlfriend's house. O'Brien had 175 previous convictions, including robbery, theft, drug possession, and criminal damage. He pleaded not guilty to the charges. Judge Martin Nolan noted no actual violence but the threat of violence in both offences, and gave credit for his cooperation in the trial process. The judge also considered his desire to rehabilitate and his drug treatment history.
During a trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, former solicitor Michael Lynn (53) denied 21 theft counts, claiming he intended to stay in Ireland to address the allegations. Prosecutor John Berry presented evidence that Lynn had secured multiple mortgages on the same properties from seven banks without their knowledge of other lenders. Thomas Brennan, a senior manager at Bank of Scotland Ireland, testified that Lynn had approached the bank in 2006 with a proposal to purchase ten investment properties, seeking 70% financing. Over a three‑month period in 2007, Lynn obtained ten loans. In October 2007, newspaper reports about Lynn's business prompted a meeting where Lynn asserted his intention to remain available to bankers to resolve the issues. The bank subsequently reviewed Lynn's affairs, discovering that nine of the ten properties were already secured by other banks, including Bank of Ireland, Permanent TSB and Ulster Bank. Michael Lynn pleaded not guilty.
The Special Criminal Court sentenced three Monaghan brothers to a combined 19.5 years for their roles in an ATM theft gang. Gerard Duffy (31) and Ciaran Duffy (29) each pleaded guilty to offences including attempted theft of an ATM and its contents for the benefit of a criminal organisation. Ciaran Duffy additionally pleaded guilty to moving cash and possessing cash to facilitate a criminal offence. Mr Justice Hunt identified an 11-year headline sentence for both, applied a 20% discount, and suspended the final year of each term, resulting in effective sentences of eight years and nine months. Stephen Duffy (35) pleaded guilty to possessing cash in association with a criminal organisation. Rejecting his claim of limited involvement, the judge sentenced him to four years and nine months, with the final nine months suspended. All sentences were back-dated to February 1, 2022. In a related November finalisation, Niall Finnegan (39) pleaded guilty to possessing proceeds of ATM thefts and was jailed for four-and-a-half years, with the final 18 months suspended. A fifth defendant, Daniel O'Callaghan, remains to be sentenced.
During the 15th day of Michael Lynn's trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, a witness, former senior underwriter Olivia Greene, testified that former Irish Nationwide boss Michael Fingleton had denied signing off on a €4,125,000 loan for a Howth house. Greene said Fingleton had asked her who approved the loan, and she claimed he had agreed it in his office. Fingleton allegedly wanted someone else to "take the flak" for the loan, which was later written off at a loss of over €4 million. Greene noted that Fingleton had special powers from the board to alter loan terms and offer preferential rates. She could not confirm any secret profit deals. The trial, which continues before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury, involves 21 counts of theft against Lynn, who has pleaded not guilty. The case covers seven financial institutions, including Irish Nationwide Building Society. The proceedings remain ongoing.
A 16‑year‑old boy with 62 prior convictions was convicted of robbery on a bus in Dublin on 23 March 2021. He dragged a victim off the bus, punched him, threatened him with a knife and stole his phone and ear‑phone. The victim suffered facial swelling and cuts and was a promising footballer. The boy pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Melanie Greally noted the victim's psychological effects and the boy's history of violence, drug use and association with anti‑social peers. She said the boy was making good progress in education and skill development while in detention. The judge sentenced him to two‑and‑a‑half years' detention. The boy had been on bail for assault and theft offences at the time of the robbery. The defence counsel highlighted the client's family difficulties and foster placements, and that no knife was actually produced during the incident. The boy is receiving counselling for addiction while detained.
The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard evidence that Michael Lynn, a former solicitor aged 53, applied for mortgages on ten residential investment properties between September and December 2006. The applications involved four properties with a combined loan of €945,000, three with just over €1 million, and three with €1.4 million. The properties were one‑, two‑ and three‑bed apartments in East Wall, Parnell Square, Bolton Street and Gardiner Street. Lynn faces 21 theft charges for allegedly stealing about €27 million from seven financial institutions, but he denies all charges. Prosecutor Patrick McGrath presented cheques showing the loan amounts drawn and credited to Lynn's account, with the last repayment in October 2007. An internal memo from Irish Nationwide Building Society urged that Lynn's applications be prioritised because he was "under pressure to close". The case is before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury.
The High Court has ordered the extradition of Kane Hull to the UK to face trial for the alleged murder or manslaughter of Ryan Kirkpatrick in Carlisle in 2021. Ms Justice Caroline Biggs rejected arguments that the extradition warrant lacked clarity, noting that murder and manslaughter are presented as direct alternatives for a UK jury. She confirmed that both offences carry a maximum life sentence in the UK. The warrant alleges Hull stabbed Kirkpatrick up to four times, an act captured on CCTV, and that he and co-accused Liam Porter returned to the scene wearing masks. Police allege the pair fled in a vehicle later found burned out, using a stolen car to travel to Northern Ireland before being arrested in County Mayo. Ms Justice Biggs remanded Hull in custody for a period of not less than 15 days, with a further period not to exceed 10 days, to allow time for the extradition to be arranged. Separately, on February 18, the High Court ordered the surrender of co-accused Liam Porter. It is alleged Porter assisted Hull by alerting him to Kirkpatrick's presence and was present when the vehicle was burned out. In the UK, assisting an offender carries a maximum of 10 years' imprisonment.
Richard Power, a 35‑year‑old letting agent, was found guilty of stealing €69,530 in tenant deposits from his employer, Wyse Property Management Ltd, between June 2018 and June 2020. He logged into the company system, altered tenant bank details to his own account to receive refunds, then reverted the changes before detection. Power admitted the theft and claimed a gambling addiction as context. He has repaid all but about €7,500 of the stolen money through personal savings and parental support. Judge Elma Sheahan sentenced him to three years' imprisonment, fully suspended on strict conditions, including repayment of the remaining amount within six months. Power, who had no prior convictions, is now unemployed, lives with his parents, and has lost his property‑management licence and a €5,000 fine.
Joseph Bonass, 19, was sentenced to three and a half years imprisonment for unauthorised taking of a motor vehicle, criminal damage, dangerous driving, driving without insurance, and driving without a licence in Co Wicklow and Co Dublin on June 16 and 17, 2020. Judge Elma Sheahan suspended the final 18 months of his sentence on strict conditions, requiring him to attend all Probation Service appointments for two years post-release. Bonass pleaded guilty and has no previous convictions. The judge noted with surprise that Bonass failed to engage with the Probation Service during a previous adjournment intended for that purpose. Co-accused Jordan Carroll, 21, pleaded guilty to endangering traffic, criminal damage, and allowing himself to be carried in a stolen vehicle on the same dates. Carroll, who has 34 previous convictions, was previously sentenced in April 2021 to four and a half years imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions. The incidents involved a stolen Toyota Land Cruiser driven dangerously on the N11 and M11, during which Carroll threw gardening equipment from the vehicle. The pursuit ended when the jeep crashed into two garda patrol cars. Judge Sheahan stated that no injuries were sustained by luck and emphasized the risk posed to first responders. Both defendants were intoxicated at the time of arrest.
A man from Finglas has been jailed for purchasing two vehicles that were used in an arson attack on a property seized by the Criminal Assets Bureau. Joseph Richards, aged 30, of Lanesborough Square, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two counts of money laundering between August 6 and August 12, 2020. Gardaí identified Richards as a suspect through analysis of mobile phone records and CCTV footage. During interview, he stated he was unaware the cars would be used for arson and had simply purchased them for payment without enquiring about their intended use. Richards has 83 previous convictions, including robbery and drug-related offences. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a sentence of three years, suspending the final 18 months on strict conditions. The judge noted Richards played an important but subordinate role in what she described as an enterprise orchestrated by more significant criminal elements. She observed that whilst in custody and abstinent from drugs, he demonstrates capacity for prosocial living and remains motivated to overcome his addiction.
Former solicitor Michael Lynn, aged 53, is on trial for 21 theft charges alleging he stole about €27 million from seven financial institutions. The case focuses on a €3.6 million loan he obtained from a bank in September 2006 for 11 Dublin investment properties, with 85 % financing requested. The prosecution claims Lynn breached the agreement in October 2007, leading the bank to demand full repayment. Evidence presented by Sam Beamish, a former Ulster Bank director, details the loan application, signed offer letter, and letters of undertaking supposedly authorising solicitor Fiona McAleenan. The prosecution alleges these letters were forged by an employee of Lynn's firm. Lynn denies all charges. The trial, before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury, continues next week. The involved banks are Bank of Ireland Mortgages, Danske Bank, Irish Life and Permanent, Ulster Bank, ACC Bank, Bank of Scotland Ireland, and Irish Nationwide Building Society.
Gardai followed a trail of blood to catch Kevin Maughan, 48, a serial offender with 240 convictions, carrying a stolen cash register from a high‑end bar closed during the first lockdown. Maughan broke a window that bore a "stay safe, stay home" sign, cutting his hands and leaving DNA‑containing blood throughout the bar. He stole a cash register and alcohol during the break‑in on 28 April 2020 at Bar 37, Dawson Street. The blood trail led to St Stephen's Green where Maughan was seen carrying the register. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Melanie Greally noted his intoxication, the damage caused, and his addiction‑related offending. She imposed a three‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence, suspending the final year on strict conditions, including drug and alcohol intervention and cooperation with community mental health treatment.
The trial heard that National Irish Bank lost the full €1.3 million loan it advanced to former solicitor Michael Lynn, who is 53 and faces 21 theft charges for alleged €27 million theft from seven banks. Lynn denies all charges. The prosecution alleges Lynn obtained multiple mortgages on the same properties while banks were unaware of other lenders. Noel McCole, a former business banking manager, testified that in December 2006 Lynn's assistant emailed the bank for information, and in February 2007 the bank offered to fund 80 % of four Dublin apartments. Lynn signed and returned the offer. A solicitor named Fiona McAleenan sent documents claiming irrevocable authority, but the prosecution says the undertakings were forged by an employee of Lynn. The €1,338,160 loan was drawn in March 2007, repaid monthly until October 2007, after which repayments stopped. The bank could not secure the properties and suffered a total loss.
In the trial of Michael Lynn, a 53‑year‑old former solicitor accused of stealing about €27 million from seven banks, a witness named Jim Madden denied claiming that "all of the banks felt collectively they had no choice but to move against him." Madden, a former senior business manager at Bank of Ireland, explained that his role involved meeting prospective clients but that loan approval rested with the bank's group credit section. He recalled meeting Lynn in 2005 and 2006 regarding mortgages for eight investment properties, noting that Lynn signed a loan offer and accepted its terms. Madden also stated he had met Lynn at least twice, once in a non‑working setting, and could not remember any conversation about banks' collective stance. The court heard that Lynn has pleaded not guilty to 21 theft charges covering October 2006 to April 2007, and the trial is ongoing.
Kaitlin O'Driscoll, a 21‑year‑old mother from Cork, was arrested in Dublin after Gardaí discovered 200 g of heroin, worth €28,000, wrapped in a nappy in her bag at a house on Bride Street. She had travelled from Cork with cash given by an unidentified man and had taken her child with her to the house, claiming she was doing a favour for someone she could not identify. Gardaí also arrested a man in the house, finding €4,450 in envelopes that he said belonged to another man. O'Driscoll pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply. The court noted her 15 prior theft convictions but no drug‑dealing convictions. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced her to a three‑and‑a‑half‑year prison term, back‑dated to her arrest, and suspended the final 18 months on the condition that she engage with the Probation Service addiction support programme.
The trial heard that Michael Lynn, aged 53, faces 21 theft charges for allegedly stealing about €27 million from seven banks. He denies all allegations. Prosecutor Arthur King presented evidence that Lynn applied for eight mortgages in September 2006, requesting 85 % of the properties' value (€2,742,000). He signed a loan offer, received a cheque for the full amount, and paid instalments in 2007 until payments stopped in September. Subsequent inquiries revealed Lynn had taken additional mortgages on the same properties from other institutions. Lynn was never registered as the owner, breaching two loan conditions: no legal charge on the properties and his lack of ownership. King argued that if the bank had known of false or misleading documents, the loan would not have been approved. John Kinsella, a partner at Kinsella Mitchell & Associates, testified that documents presented as statements of affairs were not produced by his firm and contained inconsistencies. Michael Lynn pleaded not guilty.
Christopher Donoghue, 40, of Dublin 2, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to possession of cocaine with intent to supply at his address on May 19, 2017. Sergeant Barry Moran stated that gardaí conducted a surveillance operation following a tip-off, securing a warrant for a raid. Donoghue cooperated with officers, volunteering that he possessed two bags of cocaine, weighing 25.199 grams with an estimated street value of €1,763. He admitted some was for sale and some was intended for his daughter's first communion. The court noted he had 12 previous convictions for drug dealing, theft, criminal damage, and public order violations, though he had not come to the attention of gardaí since 2017. Defending counsel Mark Lynam BL highlighted that Donoghue is terminally ill with pancreatic cancer, currently receiving palliative care after a tumour removal in 2020 and chemotherapy. Judge Orla Crowe acknowledged the highly unusual situation, noting that but for Donoghue's health, she would have imposed a two-year and six-month custodial sentence. Considering his guilty plea and cooperation with the gardaí, Judge Crowe imposed a sentence of two years imprisonment, which was suspended entirely due to his medical condition. Donoghue thanked the judge and left the court.
A trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has heard evidence that documents purporting to bear the signature and stamp of accountancy firm Kinsella Mitchell & Associates were not produced by that firm. Michael Lynn, aged 53, faces 21 charges relating to the alleged theft of approximately €27 million from seven financial institutions between October 2006 and April 2007. He denies all charges. The prosecution alleges that Lynn obtained multiple mortgages on the same properties without banks' knowledge of other financing arrangements, and submitted false financial documentation. A partner at Kinsella Mitchell & Associates testified that statements of affairs dated April 2007 and November 2006, both purporting to bear his firm's credentials, were not genuine documents prepared by his practice. A former fraud officer for ACC Bank gave evidence regarding a mortgage application for Glenlion House in Howth, County Dublin, approved for €3.78 million in 2007. The trial, before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury, continues.
In a DART incident on 31 May 2020, 23‑year‑old Ivan Bruton, who was already serving a suspended sentence for assault, bit John Rock Sr. and punched his son Adam after Rock Sr. tried to stop Bruton's verbal dispute with a woman. Bruton, who had prior convictions for assault, stolen property and drugs, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and assault at Salthill & Monkstown DART Station. Judge Martin Nolan, noting Bruton's age and the "chivalrous" intervention of the Rocks, imposed a 16‑month prison term but suspended it entirely, subject to strict conditions including 12 months of probation. The judge also ordered Bruton to hand over €500 he had in court to the victims or a charity and to raise an additional €1,000 within a year. Bruton's lawyer highlighted his remorse, full‑time employment and young daughter, and the judge expressed hope for reform.
The Special Criminal Court has found Daniel O'Callaghan guilty of all 16 counts relating to ATM thefts in Cavan and Monaghan in 2019. O'Callaghan, who pleaded not guilty, was convicted of offences under Sections 72 and 73 of the Criminal Justice Act, including the attempted theft of an ATM in Virginia and the theft of an ATM in Castleblayney. He was also found guilty of possessing €125,930 and €298,000 in cash at Tullypole, Co Meath, intending to facilitate a criminal organisation. Ms Justice Tara Burns stated that circumstantial evidence led to the inevitable conclusion that O'Callaghan was intimately involved in the gang's joint enterprise. He has been remanded in custody for a sentencing hearing scheduled for March 4. In related proceedings, Gerard Duffy and Ciaran Duffy pleaded guilty to various offences, including participating in the movement of cash and attempting to steal an ATM. Stephen Duffy also admitted to possessing cash in association with a criminal organisation. The three brothers are scheduled to be sentenced on March 4. Additionally, Niall Finnegan, who pleaded guilty to possessing €103,000 in proceeds from the thefts, was previously jailed for four-and-a-half years, with the final 18 months suspended.