Gary Simpson, aged 32, pleaded guilty to robbery at Dublin's Jury's Inn on 25 March 2020. The hotel was closed due to the Covid‑19 epidemic and contained no money in its tills. Simpson entered the hotel, walked behind the reception counter holding a broken glass bottle, demanded the tills be opened and took a phone from a desk, returning it when asked. He left the premises voluntarily. Gardaí identified him quickly, aided by a description from hotel staff and the low footfall in the city at the time. Simpson had 155 prior convictions, including robbery, burglary and theft. The court described the offence as a "particularly pointless attempt at robbery" and noted the lack of violence and material gain. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to 21 months' imprisonment.
Aaron Brady, aged 29, pleaded not guilty to the capital murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe and to a robbery charge. During his trial he claimed he was a victim of media and Garda scrutiny, saying he was "ganged up" on after lying to Gardaí about his movements. Brady denied any role in the robbery that led to Donohoe's death, insisting his lies were only to conceal involvement in illegal diesel laundering. He admitted the first time the Director of Public Prosecutions learned of his alibi was in December of the previous year. Brady also disputed testimony from witnesses Molly Staunton and Daniel Cahill, calling Cahill a "psychopathic, pathological liar," and accused Sergeant John Moroney of lying. He maintained he was not involved in the shooting and that his statements were truthful under oath. The cross‑examination continued before Mr Justice Michael White and a jury of six men and seven women.
A 45-year-old man was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for sexual assault committed at a boy's home in May 2013. The defendant, who met the victim's mother through a dating website, initially denied the charge but pleaded guilty the day before his trial. Judge Melanie Greally, who had previously adjourned the case in February 2019 while placing the man on a 12-month probation bond, imposed a 12-month prison sentence today. This sentence was suspended in full on the condition that he keep the peace and be of good behaviour for 12 months. Additionally, the judge imposed a 10-year condition prohibiting unsupervised contact with children and barring him from the immediate vicinity of creches, schools, playgrounds, or other areas where children congregate. The judge warned that breaching either condition would result in the man being jailed for a year. The court heard that the man had two previous convictions for theft and had attended 44 psychotherapy sessions. While acknowledging the offence was in the lower range of sexual offending, the judge noted the serious impact on the victim, who is now 16, and his mother. The defence highlighted the defendant's remorse, history of depression and anxiety, and low risk of re-offending.
Aaron Brady, 29, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe and to a robbery of about €7,000 on 25 January 2013 at Lordship Credit Union, Co. Louth. In his first court appearance he denied killing the Garda, denied participation in the robbery, and denied ever admitting to killing the Garda. Brady said he was at a diesel‑laundering yard on Concession Road, Co. Armagh, at the time of the shooting and that he had lied to Gardaí about his movements to avoid implicating himself in diesel laundering. He described a prosecution witness, Daniel Cahill, as a "lying psychopath" and claimed Cahill had assaulted him on St. Patrick's Day 2015. Brady also said he had no involvement in stealing a Volkswagen Passat used in the robbery and that he was not at Lordship Credit Union that night. He admitted to lying to Gardaí after the shooting and again ten days later.
A man has been sentenced to three and a half years in prison following a series of attempted car thefts in a Dublin housing estate while under the influence of crack cocaine. Thomas Cahill Donohue, aged 35, pleaded guilty to twelve charges including burglary, attempted robbery, criminal damage, unlawful use of a vehicle, threatening behaviour and assault on gardaí at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. On 25 October 2019, Donohue approached multiple residents in the Whitethorn Walk estate in Lusk, making threats and attempting to take their vehicles while holding his pet chihuahua. Residents reported that he made violent threats towards them. Judge Martin Nolan imposed the sentence on Thursday, noting that whilst Donohue expressed a desire to reform and seek drug treatment, the seriousness of his conduct and the trauma caused to civilians and gardaí necessitated custodial punishment. The judge stated that substance abuse was no defence. The sentence was backdated to 1 January last.
Jamie O'Rourke, aged 26, was sentenced to four years in prison for two offences: an attempted robbery of a Centra store in Swords and a robbery of a tanning salon in the same town on 26 August 2019. The Centra incident involved O'Rourke, armed with a knife, attempting to rob the shop while the owner chased him out with a step ladder. Gardaí were called to the salon after O'Rourke fled the Centra store and demanded money from the salon assistant, taking €156 in cash. He was apprehended shortly after by the Armed Response Unit, who tasered him and followed the taser wire to a bush where he was hiding. O'Rourke pleaded guilty to both counts and has 36 prior convictions, including robbery and attempted robbery.
John Cullen, aged 61, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to making a gain for himself by deception by lodging €155,724.68 into his own Bank of Ireland account on 1 December 2014. The money had been stolen from University College Cork and was described by the court as "undoubtedly fraudulently obtained." Cullen's role was to provide a bank account for the funds to be channeled, and he was said to have been "used by others" for a very small reward. Judge Melanie Greally characterised the offence as a "very serious lapse in judgement" and noted that the full restitution to UCC and the lack of actual loss were mitigating factors. She sentenced Cullen to three years' imprisonment, suspended in full on the condition that he keep the peace and be of good behaviour for three years.
A 41‑year‑old Dublin man was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment for repeatedly raping and sexually assaulting his daughter between 2009 and 2015. The victim, who was ten when the abuse began and married in 2015, testified that she was telling the truth and denied that she had fabricated the allegations to explain why she was not a virgin to her husband. The court heard that the abuse ended after the victim's marriage. The judge, Mr Justice Tony Hunt, described the offence as a serious breach of trust, suspended the final year of the sentence on the condition of obeying probation, and ordered the defendant to have no contact with the victim. The victim's impact statement described her childhood as stolen and her father as the one who hurt her. The defendant denied the allegations and claimed a blameless life. The unnamed 41-year-old was convicted.
In the Central Criminal Court, Aaron Brady, aged 28, pleaded not guilty to the capital murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe and to the robbery of approximately €7,000 at Lordship Credit Union on 25 January 2013. Brady had earlier submitted an alibi notice claiming he was working at a diesel‑laundering yard on Concession Road, south Armagh, during the robbery. The court heard that Brady had called a known fuel launderer at 19:55 on the night of the robbery, a call that passed through a mast in Northern Ireland, and that Garda investigations found no CCTV evidence of the BMW he claimed to have used. Brady's alibi was not questioned because he is also a suspect in the robbery. The trial continues before Mr Justice Michael White with a jury of thirteen.
Peter Brazil, 41, was caught on CCTV stealing six kegs of beer from The Great Wood Wetherspoons Pub in Blanchardstown on 7 September 2016. He pleaded guilty to theft of €800 worth of Fosters and Beamish kegs. Brazil, who has 268 previous convictions, was identified by Gardaí and is the driver of a white transit van that transported the stolen kegs. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, and sentencing is adjourned to 2 November, with a court order for him to engage with the Probation Service on methadone.
A retired detective inspector giving evidence at the Central Criminal Court rejected claims that the garda investigation into the murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was compromised by inadequate follow-up on key leads. The officer, who oversaw part of the inquiry, disputed suggestions of tunnel vision in the investigation. Aaron Brady, aged 28, from New Road, Crossmaglen, County Armagh, has pleaded not guilty to the capital murder of Detective Garda Donohoe on 25 January 2013 at Lordship Credit Union, Bellurgan, County Louth, and to robbery of approximately €7,000 in cash and cheques on the same date and location. During cross-examination, the defence counsel questioned why gardai had not pursued certain lines of inquiry relating to alleged fuel laundering activities and phone records showing contact between Mr Brady and known diesel launderers on the day of the shooting. The retired inspector maintained that the murder investigation took precedence and that gardai had properly investigated the capital crime for which Mr Brady stands charged. The trial continues.
John Lawrence, 29, was spared a prison sentence after pleading guilty to possession of a stolen caravan and driving dangerously in a high‑speed pursuit. The court heard that he had completed an addiction studies programme and was volunteering as a mentor in a prison after‑care programme, a role described as "inspiring" by professionals. Lawrence, from Drogheda, drove a Jeep towing a €12,000 caravan stolen from Hertfordshire, England, at speeds over 140 km/h in a 100 km/h zone, forcing gardaí and the public to avoid collisions. He had prior convictions for theft, deception and traffic offences. Judge Karen O'Connor, after hearing mitigation, suspended a two‑year prison term on the condition that Lawrence continue his studies and voluntary work with prisoners.
James McDonagh, aged 33, was sentenced to two-and-a-half years' imprisonment after pleading guilty to two counts of attempted robbery and one count of assault causing harm. On 15 March 2020, while intoxicated, he approached two women returning from IKEA, claiming his girlfriend had coronavirus, and attempted to steal handbags, kicking and punching when they resisted. A third woman intervened, leading McDonagh to target her handbag; both women fell and the incident was recorded. Later that day he assaulted Patrick Sylvester, punching him and throwing a traffic cone. McDonagh admitted drinking that day and cited prior alcohol problems. He has 55 previous convictions, including assault and public order offences, and has two children. Judge Martin Nolan emphasised that McDonagh should stop drinking if he wishes to reform. The court imposed the two-and-a-half year custodial sentence.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 2 July 2020, retired Detective Inspector Pat Marry testified that Aaron Brady's account of his whereabouts on the night of 25 January 2013 was false. Marry said he did not believe Brady was at a diesel‑laundering yard on Concession Road, Co. Armagh, but that he was at Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgan, Co. Louth, where Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was shot. Brady, aged 28, had pleaded not guilty to the capital murder of Donohoe and to a robbery of about €7,000 at the same location. Marry described the extensive CCTV analysis, phone‑traffic checks and witness statements that led him to conclude Brady's story was "bunkum and lies." The cross‑examination was set to continue before Mr Justice Michael White and a jury.
William Kinlan, 36, with 206 prior convictions, was jailed for 16 months after stealing a phone from a young woman on a bus stop in Dublin. He cycled past the victim, took her phone, and left it on a windowsill. Garda Michael O'Donnell, who heard the woman scream, recognised Kinlan and pursued him, arresting him on the spot. Kinlan claimed he was a drug addict needing money to repay a drug debt. He pleaded guilty to theft at O'Connell Street on 29 February 2020, the same offence for which he had just been released from a previous sentence. The phone was returned to the victim. Judge Martin Nolan, noting Kinlan's extensive criminal history and drug addiction, imposed a 16‑month sentence consecutive to the term he was already serving, expressing doubt about his likelihood of reform. The case was prosecuted by Maurice Coffey BL and defended by Derek Cooney BL.
In December 2018, Tomi Jinad, a 24‑year‑old KBC bank customer‑services worker, deactivated a security feature that required customers to receive a text‑message authorisation code for online transactions. This action enabled approximately 100 fraudulent transactions totalling €21,460, with individual amounts ranging from €100 to about €500. Jinad passed account details to unidentified parties. He pleaded guilty to multiple counts of unlawfully operating a computer to gain or cause loss to others. The offences occurred between 22 and 30 December 2018. Jinad had a prior drug‑dealing conviction and claimed he was persuaded by others to act. He did not receive any money. The court noted his apology, youth, and that he ceased the activity before the investigation. Judge Patricia Ryan suspended a two‑and‑a‑half‑year prison sentence for four years, conditioned on peace‑keeping, and ordered annual payments of €5,200 until the stolen sum was repaid.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 2 July 2020, 27‑year‑old Emilio Flynn pleaded guilty to robbery, false imprisonment and extortion after he attacked Dr Patrick Duffy on Buckingham Street on 26 June 2015. Flynn approached the doctor after his shift at James' Hospital, demanded his wallet and phone, and after the doctor withdrew cash at an ATM, Flynn took the money and later returned the SIM card. He then wrote a note demanding further payment, threatening that the doctor would be "done" if he did not comply. Flynn, who was homeless at the time and claimed his judgment was affected by medication, admitted to 29 prior convictions. Judge Elma Sheahan, noting Flynn's role as a father of four, imposed a 12‑month probation bond, requiring him to remain drug‑ and alcohol‑free and to attend anger‑management and grief‑counselling sessions. No custodial sentence was imposed.
Mark Egan, 41, of Cabra Road, Dublin 7, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to two burglaries and one attempted burglary at Bishop Street, Dublin 8, on May 28, 2019. Prosecution evidence presented by Garda Greg Moroney alleged that Egan entered a building housing multiple organisations, stealing laptops valued at €4,700 and cash from two companies, while ransacking the offices of a third without taking items. Egan admitted responsibility during interview after viewing CCTV footage, noting he was on medication that prevented him from recalling the events. Judge Melanie Greally acknowledged Egan's 41 previous convictions and his history of relapse following a probation bond, but commended his recent successful supervision and efforts to address addiction. During the hearing, Egan requested to remain in custody to complete a two-month drugs course at Mountjoy Prison. The judge agreed to finalise sentencing, imposing a three-year prison term. However, she suspended the final two years of the sentence on strict conditions. The sentence was backdated to January 17, the date Egan first went into custody, resulting in an effective custody period of one year.
Thomas Green (20), of Bluebell, Dublin 8, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to arson at Oberstown Children Detention Campus on August 29, 2016. He also admitted two charges of unlawful use of a vehicle and one count of robbery involving two mobiles and cash. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a total of five years imprisonment, suspending the final year. The court noted Green had 93 previous convictions and a drug problem. Prosecution evidence described Green as playing an active role in the incident, which caused €3 million in damage to the unit. In related matters, co-accused Shane Farrelly (20) was previously jailed for two years after pleading guilty to public disorder and damaging property at the centre. Three other youths who pleaded guilty to arson were jailed for five years, with the final two years suspended. Green was not charged with stealing the vehicles he drove, nor with damage to a convenience store or a jewellery shop, though he admitted shattering a window in the latter. The judge acknowledged Green's apology and potential for rehabilitation.
Ricardo De Freitas Correia, a 34-year-old Portuguese national with an address in Dublin 15, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to deception and theft offences. The charges related to incidents in May 2019 at retail locations in Blanchardstown, Clondalkin, Swords and Tallaght. Gardaí established that Correia had exploited a debit card processing vulnerability, removing cards when machines prompted him to do so, then swiping them again to complete purchases without entering PINs. He acquired approximately €400 worth of goods including a watch, video games, perfume and an electric toothbrush through this method. All property was recovered. The court heard Correia was acting under direction from another person. Judge Elma Sheahan described the offending as organised and noted Correia's considerable knowledge of circumventing security measures. She imposed a two-and-a-half-year sentence, fully suspended on condition of Probation Service supervision following completion of a sentence he was already serving.
Edwards Wall, 46, was sentenced to 16 months in prison for two burglaries at The Well pub in Dublin. He had 177 prior convictions, including 68 for burglary. On January 8, 2020, CCTV captured him entering a restricted area of the pub and stealing six bottles of Jameson whiskey worth €360. Two days later he returned and stole another six bottles. No items were recovered. Wall pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He was arrested on January 11, 2020, and has been in custody since. The judge noted his extensive criminal record, drug addiction, and that the thefts were discovered by "happenstance." He described Wall as "not a very accomplished burglar" and highlighted the seriousness of burglary, imposing the sentence backdated to account for time already spent in custody. The sentence was imposed during the Covid‑19 pandemic, limiting family visits. The court did not mention any future appeals or additional charges.
The trial of Aaron Brady, 28, from Crossmaglen, Co Armagh, continues before Mr Justice Michael White and a jury. Brady has pleaded not guilty to the alleged capital murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe, who was on active duty, and the alleged robbery of approximately €7,000 in cash and cheques. Both incidents are alleged to have occurred on January 25, 2013, at Lordship Credit Union, Bellurgan, Co Louth. Witness Daniel Cahill, 28, testified from New York, stating he provided evidence to seek justice for Donohoe's family. Cahill denied fears of US detention and alleged that Homeland Security agents searched his home previously while looking for Dean Evans, who was later jailed for life for the murder of Peter Butterly in Co Meath. During cross-examination, Cahill denied assaulting Brady or stealing his telephone in 2015. The prosecution and defence continue to examine the witness's credibility and recollections. The matter remains at the trial stage, with no final verdict or sentence recorded in this report.
Ibrahim Azeez, 28, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to handling two stolen laptops, a phone and a camera that had been bought through a fake PayPal account. The items, worth €2,875, were sent by registered post to a man in Lucan who never paid. A post office worker, suspicious of fake ID, reported the incident; CCTV and a utility bill linked the man's car registration to Azeez, leading to his arrest. Azeez denied wrongdoing and claimed he would raise money to reimburse the owners. The court described the offence as a devious crime but, finding it unfair to imprison him, Judge Martin Nolan imposed a suspended sentence of two and a half years. Azeez must pay €3,000 within a month and an additional €2,000 within 12 months to the victims, with the full sentence suspended on that condition.
Graeme Burke, aged 34, was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment after he was found storing over €1.3 million worth of cocaine in a rented storage unit. He had leased the unit in his own name and used his personal documents to secure the lease. Two encrypted mobile phones were discovered in his possession; Garda Redmond O'Leary explained that such devices are costly to run and are typically used by organised crime gangs, making the information on them inaccessible to law enforcement. Burke pleaded guilty to possession of 19 kg of cocaine, valued at €1.336 million, at a storage facility on the N2 in Ashbourne. He had three prior convictions, including a four‑year suspended sentence for robbery in 2005. The judge noted that Burke's role involved storing, transporting and distributing the drugs and that he had been equipped with the encrypted phones. He was jailed for eight years.
Patrick Byrne, 23, pleaded guilty to attempted robbery and assault with a knife in Clondalkin on 9 October 2018. Byrne approached David Cleary, 41, who was visiting his mother, and demanded money. When Cleary refused, Byrne attacked him with a knife, kicking him to the ground and inflicting cuts to his back, index finger and eye. Cleary sustained significant visual impairment from the eye injury. Byrne, who has 21 prior convictions including robbery and assault, was sentenced to six‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended on strict conditions. The sentence will run concurrently with the five‑year term he is currently serving for other offences, including possession of drugs. The judge noted Byrne's history of addiction and the victim's status as a vulnerable person. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Aaron Brady, aged 28, pleaded not guilty to the capital murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe and to a robbery charge. Daniel Cahill, a bartender from New York, testified via video link that Brady repeatedly claimed he had shot a Garda during a bar fight in 2013. Cahill described three occasions where Brady, while heavily intoxicated, spoke of having killed a Garda, referencing a robbery gone wrong. Brady's statements included threats to kill others and claims of being known for having used a gun. The testimony highlighted Brady's alleged admission of shooting a Garda, but no verdict or sentencing was reported in the article. The case remains at the trial stage with a 13‑person jury hearing the evidence.
Joseph O'Shaughnessy, 32, of Ballyfermot, travelled to Galway and carried out a spree of burglary, criminal damage and theft offences on 6 June 2019. He pleaded guilty to three burglary, three criminal damage and two theft offences in various Galway business premises, causing almost €90,000 of damage and stealing about €5,000 of goods. He was found under a table in a Woodies DIY store. Judge Rory McCabe sentenced him to six years in prison, describing the offences as an "orgy of burglary, theft and criminal damage" and noting that O'Shaughnessy had no legitimate reason to be in the city. O'Shaughnessy appealed, arguing that the judge had failed to impose proportionate sentences for each offence. The Court of Appeal, with Justice George Birmingham, Justice Patrick McCarthy and Justice Aileen Donnelly, quashed the original sentence and replaced it with a five‑year term. The new sentence was deemed proportionate by the DPP's counsel, Elva Duffy BL.
Jonathan Fagan, 24, was jailed after a burglary at a JD Sports shop on Henry Street, Dublin. He and an accomplice broke the shop's window, entered, and stole over €1,300 worth of clothing. CCTV footage showed them entering and exiting the shop. Garda Aisling Gralton found Fagan on Wolfe Tone Street, lying on the stolen clothes, bleeding and intoxicated. He pleaded guilty to burglary on 31 October 2019. With 167 prior convictions, Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to 20 months' imprisonment, back‑dated to the arrest date, and noted his drug‑addiction background.
Daniel Murphy, aged 21, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for two offences. He pleaded guilty to assault causing harm on 6 September 2018 and to aggravated burglary on 4 January 2020. The assault involved a Latvian man whose stolen bike was unlocked by another man; Murphy and a third man punched and kicked the victim, who required stitches and suffered a black eye. While on bail for the assault, Murphy and another man broke into a flat on James' Street. The resident confronted them, and Murphy jabbed a screwdriver at her. They attempted to steal her TV and phone, smashing a window in the process. The court noted 53 prior convictions, many from juvenile years. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a one‑year term for the assault and a three‑and‑a‑half‑year term for the burglary, running consecutively, with the final 18 months suspended for an effective custodial term of three years.
David Rodgers, a 47‑year‑old language teacher, was arrested on 30 October 2018 for selling cannabis on Henry Street, Dublin. Gardaí found nearly €25,000 worth of cannabis in his home, including glass jars and a makeshift grow‑house. He initially claimed the plants were natural herbs but later admitted to selling cannabis. Rodgers pleaded guilty to one count of possession of cannabis for sale or supply. He has 12 prior convictions, mainly for theft and public order offences. His defence lawyer described him as having an unusual profile: he left school at 15, later returned to complete his Junior and Leaving Cert exams, and became an English teacher for foreign students. He has lived abroad and speaks Spanish, German and Arabic. Rodgers suffered a brain injury after being assaulted by his brother, leading to memory and learning difficulties. He had been studying for a languages degree at DCU but had to abandon it.
During the second day of evidence in the trial of Aaron Brady, a 28‑year‑old accused of murdering Garda Adrian Donohoe in 2013, witness Molly Staunton, 24, was interrupted while giving testimony by a male voice over her video link from New York. The voice told her to stop and not testify. The feed was cut off, but the jury was asked to leave and then return. Staunton later confirmed that Brady had said he wanted to be a good father and that he had told her he killed a cop, a statement she had made to Gardaí in 2017. Brady has pleaded not guilty to the capital murder and a robbery charge. Justice Michael White instructed the jury to return on Tuesday afternoon.
An elderly man, Christopher O'Neill, was attacked by 26‑year‑old Nicole Byrne while using a cash machine in Dublin city centre. Byrne threatened him with a syringe and said, "I'm going to hurt you now." O'Neill, fearing for his life, struck Byrne in the face, grabbed her arms, and forced her to the ground until Gardaí arrived. Byrne, who had previously pleaded guilty to robbery offences, was found to be heavily drug‑using and was sentenced to five years' imprisonment with the final two years suspended on condition of drug treatment and victim‑focused work. O'Neill, who had recently returned to Ireland with his family, said the incident shattered his dream of living safely in the country and prompted them to seek a safer place to live. The case was described by the sentencing judge as a regrettable indictment of the risks people face in the city.
John Power, 28, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for stealing a college student's wallet and phone and for assaulting Jamie O'Connor, a "Good Samaritan", on Westmoreland Street on 11 November last year. Power, who has 88 prior convictions, pleaded guilty to one count of theft and one count of assault causing harm. The incident occurred when Power, accompanied by a woman, took the victim's belongings from a counter at Offbeat Donuts. O'Connor, who was walking his baby, confronted them and was threatened with a Stanley blade. Power struck O'Connor's face, slashing his hand; O'Connor received nine stitches. Power was found guilty, expressed remorse, and was described by the judge as a "menace to society". The court imposed a four‑year sentence, suspending the final year on conditions, and noted Power's attempts at reform and drug‑free status. The woman's case remains pending.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, John Lennon, aged 40, pleaded guilty to robbery at Thomas Court pharmacy on 2 October 2019. Lennon, who had previously served a two‑year sentence for robbery and was due for release in January 2022, was also facing a consecutive one‑year term for burglary. During the robbery he brandished a screwdriver, demanded two packets of valium from the pharmacy staff while claiming he was hallucinating due to drug use, and left after the staff threw the packets at him. The judge, Martin Nolan, noted Lennon's history of offending but also his recent rehabilitation efforts and a guilty plea. He imposed a 16‑month sentence, consecutive to the existing two‑year term but concurrent with the pending burglary term, citing good hope for reform. The case highlighted Lennon's drug‑related motives and the lack of physical confrontation with staff.
A 29‑year‑old man, Dylan Murphy, was arrested after a teenager was attacked during a burglary at a flat on Thomas Street, Dublin. The victim, an Iranian teenager aged 19, was taken to hospital after Murphy smashed a large bottle across the side of his head. Murphy was seen walking around the emergency department and was found to be carrying stolen Iraqi currency and rolling tobacco. He claimed he could not explain how he had the cash and denied having broken into the flat. He also admitted to taking tablets and drinking beer and whiskey. Judge Pauline Codd sentenced Murphy to six years in prison, suspending the final four years, and ordered that the sentence run consecutively with two years already imposed for other robberies in 2018. The suspension was conditional on Murphy attending drug treatment, alcohol awareness and anger management programmes and maintaining good behaviour.
In a case involving a 17‑year‑old who robbed, falsely imprisoned and assaulted three 15‑year‑old boys in St Aidan's Park, Marino, the Court of Appeal reduced his four‑year sentence. The teenager, who was part of a group that forced the boys to hand over phones and money or face stabbing, later kicked and punched one boy. He pleaded guilty to three counts of robbery, two counts of assault causing harm and three counts of false imprisonment. The original sentence, imposed by Judge Martin Nolan on 12 April 2019, was four years' detention. On appeal, the Court of Appeal found that the sentencing judge had erred by not deferring the sentence until after the offender turned 18, which would have allowed part of the term to be suspended.
In a trial that began in January, Mr Justice Michael White apologized to a jury of six men and seven women for delays caused by the COVID‑19 pandemic and other legal matters. He explained that the jury need not attend until 8 June, while the court addressed issues in their absence, and that the trial is expected to continue until the end of June, though he noted it is hard to predict. Mr White also informed the jury that witnesses from America would testify, with court sittings scheduled at 2 pm to accommodate the time difference. The case concerns Aaron Brady, 28, who has pleaded not guilty to the capital murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe and to a robbery charge involving approximately €7,000. The jury heard testimony from a female witness who observed Brady on the day of the shooting and from Sgt John Barnes, who described a search of Brady's home. The trial continues.
Carlos Michael Mason, a 31‑year‑old UK national, was sentenced to one year in prison for fraudulently using a stolen American Express card to stay at Dublin's Shelbourne and Westbury hotels. Between 29 December 2019 and 19 January 2020, he accrued €3,735 at the Shelbourne and €4,700 at the Westbury, enjoying fine wine and dining. Gardaí identified him from CCTV and noted his distinctive multi‑coloured jacket. He pleaded guilty to two counts of dishonestly inducing the hotels to accept the fraudulent card. The court back‑dated the sentence to February, when he entered custody. Mason has 71 prior convictions, many for theft and fraud, and faces a European Arrest Warrant for other alleged offences in the UK.
During the trial of Aaron Brady, a car‑identification expert, Andy Wooller, testified that a BMW belonging to Brady matches a vehicle seen on CCTV footage of the robbery that led to the shooting of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe. Wooller, employed by An Garda Síochána to examine the footage, identified a BMW 5‑Series E60 from a recording taken outside Sharkey's Bar in Clogherhead on 23 January 2013, three nights before the robbery. He noted that the suspect's car had a roof wrap that reflected light differently from the rest of the body, a detail he used to confirm the match. Wooller also identified a dark‑toned Volkswagen Passat V6 at the robbery site, distinguishing it from other models by its rear‑light shape. The evidence was presented to the court without bias, and the trial continues before Mr Justice Michael White and a jury of thirteen. Aaron Brady pleaded not guilty. Adrian Donohoe pleaded not guilty.
Richard O'Doherty, 24, of Crumlin, pleaded guilty to a series of knife‑point robberies committed while on bail for earlier offences. He admitted to robberies at Maxol Station, Harold's Cross and Centra on 23 June 2019, a further robbery at Kimmage Road Lower on 8 August 2019, two robberies on 24 and 25 November 2019, and an attempted robbery at Spar on 20 December 2019. Garda reports detail how he entered each shop with a knife, demanded money, and in some cases took cash from tills or forced shopkeepers to hand over money. He had no prior convictions. The court sentenced him to three years for the earliest robbery, two additional years for the later offences, with the sentences to run consecutively. The final 18 months were suspended on strict conditions, giving an effective custodial term of three‑and‑a‑half years.
The trial of Aaron Brady, 28, from Crossmaglen, Co Armagh, continued at the Central Criminal Court before Mr Justice Michael White and a jury. Brady has pleaded not guilty to the alleged capital murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe, who was on active duty, and to a charge of robbing approximately €7,000 in cash and cheques. Both alleged offences are said to have occurred on January 25, 2013, at Lordship Credit Union, Bellurgan, Co Louth. Prosecution counsel Lorcan Staines SC called Matt Cass of Acuity Forensics, who testified via video link that his company specialises in impartial image analysis and vehicle identification. Cass explained that his colleague, Andy Wooller, conducted a "blind analysis" of CCTV footage from the night of the shooting and from two nights prior, without receiving background information from gardai to prevent bias. Wooller identified potential vehicles, including BMW 5-Series models, Volkswagen Passats, and a Peugeot 508. Detective Garda Garreth Kenna presented original CCTV footage alongside reconstructed versions using these identified vehicles to assist the jury in comparison. The prosecution alleges a Volkswagen Passat used in the robbery was stolen from Clogherhead, Co Louth, prior to the incident. The matter remains at the trial stage and continues.
A 29‑year‑old former voluntary paramedic was found guilty of orally raping a 15‑year‑old boy and sexually assaulting another child after drugging them with Penthrox, a powerful pain‑relief agent. In the first incident, the accused used an oxygen mask to force the boy to inhale the drug, then sexually assaulted him. In the second, the boy was unconscious while the accused orally raped him and another man recorded the act on a mobile phone. The defendant pleaded guilty to oral rape, sexual exploitation, aiding and abetting child pornography, sexual assault and theft of Penthrox and a carbon dioxide chamber. He was suspended from the paramedic organisation and a nursing course. The court heard that the whistle device had been altered to increase potency, and that the defendant had searched online for ways to incapacitate victims. The case was adjourned to Wednesday for sentencing.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 25 May 2020, 36‑year‑old Ciaran O'Brien pleaded guilty to robbing the Applegreen Service Station in Celbridge on 27 November 2019. He entered the station armed with a hammer and a small machete, forced the shop assistant to open the till, and took €360 in cash before fleeing. While off‑duty, Garda PJ Cummins witnessed the robbery and pursued O'Brien. O'Brien threatened Cummins with a knife, saying he would stab him, and then drove a car straight at the Garda, forcing Cummins to jump out of the way to avoid being run over. O'Brien was later arrested and has 27 previous convictions. The case was adjourned for a Probation Services report, with sentencing scheduled for 20 July.
Alex Harris, aged 38, was sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty to two burglary charges and the theft of a laptop from an unlocked ambulance between 26 July and 4 November 2019. The ambulance, parked on Dorset Street Upper, was left with its doors closed but unlocked while a paramedic attended a patient. Harris, who was on bail for a prior burglary, was identified through CCTV footage and DNA evidence. He had 63 previous convictions and a long history of heroin addiction, which he claimed motivated the offences. The court noted his desire to seek residential drug treatment and become a better father. Judge Martin Nolan imposed an 18‑month term for the earliest burglary and a consecutive 18‑month term for the laptop theft, totaling three years of imprisonment.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 22 May 2020, 26‑year‑old Jamie O'Rourke pleaded guilty to two counts: attempting to rob the Centra store in Swords on 26 August 2019 and robbing a tanning salon in Swords on the same day. The court heard that O'Rourke fled the Centra store after a shop owner chased him out with a step ladder, then ran to the tanning salon, forced the assistant to open the till and stole €156 in cash. Gardaí from the Armed Response Unit pursued him, and after he refused to stop, they tasered him. A taser wire led officers to a bush where he was hiding. O'Rourke, who has 36 prior convictions including robbery, claimed he had no memory of the incident because he had taken heroin that day. The judge ordered a Probation Services report and adjourned sentencing to 10 July. The case remains pending.
In the trial of Aaron Brady, a 28‑year‑old from Crossmaglen, the jury was shown a frame‑by‑frame analysis of CCTV footage by Garda witness Garreth Kenna. Kenna testified that a car belonging to a friend of Brady, suspected in the credit‑union robbery that led to the death of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe, passed the scene with its passenger‑side front window open. Defence counsel Fiona Murphy challenged the claim, arguing the footage did not show an open window and that the appearance might be a trick of light. Under re‑examination, Kenna reiterated that the colour and tone of the front and back passenger windows differed as the car drove past Lordship Credit Union less than eight hours before Donohoe was shot. Brady pleaded not guilty to the capital murder of Donohoe and to the robbery of about €7,000.
A 51‑year‑old man named Jessie O'Dwyer, who has a long criminal record, was jailed for a robbery of a pharmacy in Dublin city centre. He pleaded guilty to the robbery, which took place on 11 February 2019 when he entered Blackhall pharmacy on Ellis Quay, threatened staff, and used a scarf to cover his face while shouting for the till to be opened. The pharmacist, fearing he might be armed, opened the till, and security staff tackled him. O'Dwyer was found to have been abusing crack cocaine at the time of the offence. In court, his lawyers argued that he wanted to change and address his addiction. Judge Martin Nolan acknowledged his desire for reform, noted his good behaviour in custody, and suspended the final two years of a three‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence on the condition that he remain peaceful and engage with the Probation Service.
In a trial for the murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe, Judge Michael White requested the High Court president extend daily sittings beyond the usual two‑hour limit due to Covid‑19 concerns. He informed the jury that a direction had been received preventing the trial from exceeding two hours per day, and he is awaiting approval for an extension. The jury, consisting of six men and seven women, heard cross‑examination of Detective Garda Gareth Kenna, who presented a CCTV montage of vehicles in County Louth around the time of the robbery and shooting. Kenna explained that the montage included footage of a Volkswagen Polo stolen from Clogherhead and a dark‑toned saloon resembling a 5‑Series BMW with fog lights. He clarified that fog lights are common and that a distinct roof texture is not unique. The trial continues under Judge White. Adrian Donohoe pleaded not guilty.
Amir Essalhi, 35, of Burg an Ri Walk, Balgaddy, Clondalkin, Dublin, pleaded guilty to four armed robberies and one attempted robbery committed over a nine‑day period in November 2018. The incidents included robberies at Ebano Hair & Beauty Salon, Ballinteer Shopping Centre, Centra on Drummartin Road, Centra on Ballinteer Road, and an attempted robbery at Spar on Rockville Road, Blackrock. Essalhi admitted possession of weapons ranging from a screwdriver to a knife at each event, with threats of violence but no actual violence. He has 65 prior convictions for robbery, arson, burglary and assault causing harm. Judge Martin Nolan, noting the seriousness of the offences and the mitigating effect of Essalhi's guilty pleas, sentenced him to four‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment. The defence highlighted Essalhi's background, his brother's murder in 2011, his drug‑free status at the time of the offences, his two children and parental support, and his remorse, requesting leniency.
The trial of Aaron Brady, charged with the capital murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe, may have to shorten its daily hearings because of new Covid‑19 health advice. Judge Michael White told the jury that hearings could be limited due to the pandemic and would update them the following day. The change follows advice from microbiologist Professor Martin Cormican, who warned that anyone present at a hearing lasting two hours or more could be considered a Covid contact if they develop the virus within two days, requiring 14 days of self‑isolation. The courts service has requested urgent further advice on the matter. Brady, 29, pleaded not guilty to the murder and to a robbery of about €7,000 at the Lordship Credit Union on 25 January 2013. The trial continues.