Richard Joyce, 24, of Swans Nest, Kilbarrack, pleaded guilty to possession of stolen articles on 15 December 2016 in Portmarnock. He stole a TopCon surveying machine, worth €48,000, from a building site and was caught by gardaí while driving. The machine was recovered intact. Judge Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin sentenced Joyce to 18 months, fully suspended for the same period. The judge noted the offence was opportunistic, not pre‑meditated, and that Joyce had no idea of the machine's value. He had previously been convicted of possession of stolen items and failure to appear in court. The judge cited his turbulent childhood, PTSD, depression, anxiety and psychosis, and his history of addiction, as factors in the decision to suspend the sentence and encourage rehabilitation.
Selem Abbas, aged 22, was one of three men who threatened a teenager with scissors and a hurling stick, forced the victim into a car, and demanded he withdraw €100 from an ATM. The incident, which involved false imprisonment, was reported to the Gardaí. Abbas pleaded guilty to attempted robbery, robbery, production of scissors and a hurling stick, and false imprisonment. He had 22 prior convictions. At the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Abbas to six years' imprisonment, suspending the final 18 months on strict conditions. The sentence reflected the seriousness of the robbery, the use of weapons, and the false imprisonment of the teenager. Abbas was described as a frequent drug user at the time of the offence, but the court noted he was clean of drugs and had good family support. The teenager did not submit a victim impact statement. The case was prosecuted by Derek Cooney BL and defended by Brian Storan BL.
Daniel Mordukhov, a 33‑year‑old Russian national, entered Ireland using a false Lithuanian passport to escape police pressure in Russia that he claimed was aimed at entrapment of drug dealers. He obtained a PPS number and an Irish driving licence under the bogus identity, which enabled him to work and claim nearly €24,000 in state benefits from December 2005 to July 2011. He pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to forging a PPS number, forging a driving licence and stealing welfare payments. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a three‑year suspended jail term, requiring Mordukhov to surrender €15,000 he had in court and pay an additional €5,000 to the State within three years. He has no prior convictions in Ireland or Russia and is married with two children. The case was prosecuted by Eoin Lawlor BL, with Garda Michael McGreal reporting that Mordukhov voluntarily disclosed his false identity to immigration authorities.
Adam Marlowe, a convicted person, appeared before the Court of Appeal regarding his conviction for aggravated burglary, robbery of €50, and assaulting Malachy Turley at a home in rural north Co Dublin on July 29, 2016. Marlowe had pleaded not guilty but was found guilty by a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and sentenced to 12 years imprisonment. His legal team argued that the DNA evidence linking him to the crime was insufficient, claiming the jury speculated on the origin of a 93% DNA match found on a blue latex glove fingertip. Prosecutors countered that the evidence was overwhelming and the trial judge properly directed the jury. The court, comprising Mr Justice John Edwards, Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, and Ms Justice Aileen Donnelly, reserved its judgment. Consequently, the matter was adjourned, and Marlowe must wait to hear the outcome of his appeal. At the time of the offence, Marlowe was on bail for two district court offences and serving the suspended portion of a sentence for violent disorder. The victim, an 81-year-old farmer, suffered bruising and a deep cut requiring stitches, describing the incident as traumatic.
Oliver Ennis, a 35‑year‑old Dublin barman, pleaded guilty to multiple thefts from the Schoolhouse Hotel between December 2012 and October 2014, stealing €10,500 to pay for his youngest daughter's medical treatment. The Circuit Criminal Court, presided over by Judge Martina Baxter, had adjourned the case to allow Ennis to repay the stolen money, which he had now fully paid. Ennis had been a bar supervisor since early 2012 and was caught taking cash from the tills and pocketing it each night, a scheme uncovered after suspicious stock deficits prompted covert cameras. He is a father of four; his daughter suffers from pulmonary hypertension and has required treatment at Great Ormond Street Hospital. Ennis had a prior suspended sentence for a breach of trust, which the judge cited as an aggravating factor.
Stephen Keane, a 30‑year‑old former British Army land sergeant who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for a series of offences committed on 25 August 2018. He pleaded guilty to impersonating a Garda at BoyleSports, unlawfully seizing a vehicle at Firhouse Shopping Centre, and robbery at Dwan's Off‑Licence. Keane admitted that he had been suffering from PTSD and had developed a heroin and crack cocaine addiction after his service, which he said motivated his desperate actions. He was given a six‑year prison term with the final three years suspended, conditional on engaging in probation, offence‑ and victim‑focused work and drug treatment. The judge noted his remorse and the frightening impact of his conduct on victims, while acknowledging his addiction and drug debt as driving factors. Keane has 68 prior convictions in Ireland and the UK.
Kathleen Kiely, 32, of London, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to handling stolen property and handling assorted stolen jewellery on January 21, 2018. She was caught attempting to sell €90,000 worth of damaged gold jewellery, traced to a burglary in Lucan, to a cash-for-gold shop in Tallaght. Judge Karen O'Connor sentenced Kiely to two years' imprisonment but suspended the entirety of the sentence on strict conditions. The court noted aggravating factors including premeditation and impact on the victim, balanced by mitigating factors such as her guilty plea, good character, and status as a mother. Her former partner, Michael Maughan, 25, of Tallaght, also pleaded guilty to handling assorted stolen jewellery on the same date. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced Maughan to four years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended. The prosecution highlighted that gardaí had placed the shop under surveillance after receiving information about the planned sale. Defence counsel argued Kiely was influenced by Maughan and was not the primary target of the investigation. No previous convictions were recorded for Kiely. The matter was finalised with these sentences imposed.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court jury trial, Daniel Dos Santos, 24, was found guilty of robbing a Spanish restaurant worker of a mobile phone and a bottle of wine. The jury returned an 11‑1 verdict. Dos Santos also pleaded guilty to burglary, criminal damage to a house in Churchtown, and unlawful carriage in a vehicle, for which he received suspended sentences. The robbery occurred on 10 May 2016 when Dos Santos, accompanied by a second man, grabbed a Spanish waitress on Bridge Street and struck her in an unprovoked, violent attack. The judge noted he was not the prime mover. The victim's impact statement described lasting fear and financial loss. Dos Santos was sentenced to four years' imprisonment for the robbery, with consecutive terms of two and a half years for burglary and one year for unlawful carriage, all suspended for three years upon release.
Dubliner Christopher Dunne (34) has been sentenced to five and a half years in prison for his role in a series of robberies and attempted robberies across Dublin between October 24, 2017, and December 11, 2017. Dunne, who has no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to the charges at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Karen O'Connor imposed consecutive sentences of three years and four and a half years. A portion of the sentence was suspended for 24 months on the condition that Dunne keep the peace. The court heard that Dunne used weapons such as a knife, screwdriver, and claw hammer during the crimes. Garda Aoife O'Brien stated that Dunne robbed cash from Applegreen, Howth Road, Clontarf, on four occasions and committed further robberies in Killester, Artane, and Clontarf. Dunne was also involved in a robbery at a shop in Waterville, Blanchardstown, and acted as the getaway driver in another robbery on Oxmantown Road, Stoneybatter. Dunne has 89 previous convictions, including for robbery, burglary, theft, and drug possession. His defence acknowledged that he was a drug user who committed the crimes to fund his addiction. Judge O'Connor noted that the crimes caused fear and distress to victims and that Dunne is a chronic drug addict who pleaded guilty to the charges.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 29 July 2019, a 14‑year‑old juvenile and his 18‑year‑old accomplice, David O'Neill, pleaded guilty to four counts of robbery and a theft charge. The court heard the pair carried out three robberies in the early hours of one morning, punching victims and knocking them unconscious. CCTV footage showed the juvenile and O'Neill punching a medical student from Saudi Arabia, a second man leaving a nightclub, and a third man at Temple Bar. The juvenile also robbed a young man of his bank card and forced him to withdraw money from ATMs. The judge, citing the juvenile's age, remorse and cooperation, imposed a two‑year detention sentence. O'Neill received a four‑and‑a‑half‑year prison term with the final 18 months suspended. The court noted the victims suffered facial injuries and were taken to hospital.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, Tumenbayer Dashnamjil, aged 48, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after attacking his then partner on 17 March 2018. The incident began after Dashnamjil had consumed a bottle of Jack Daniels around midnight, during which he threw objects and later punched his partner on the right cheek. He then followed her to the bathroom, choked her, and threatened that he would "kill everyone." The victim reported feeling in fear for her life and that Dashnamjil had repeatedly said he was not afraid of the Gardaí and would kill her if she called them. Dashnamjil, who has 13 prior convictions including assault, theft and public order offences, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions. The judge noted a disturbing background of alcohol‑related behaviour and previous convictions. The sentence was imposed in the presence of the victim's testimony and Dashnamjil's admission of guilt.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 36‑year‑old Cork man was convicted of raping his neighbour on 17 April 2017 after she asked him to leave her home. The jury found him guilty of the single rape charge. Judge Tony Hunt noted that the victim's hospitality was abused and that the man claimed a relationship that the victim denied. He highlighted that the offence was aggravated by the location and the use of force beyond what would be required for non‑consensual activity. The sentence was eight and a half years' imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions, including compliance with Probation Service directions for 12 months after release. The man had 43 prior convictions, including assault, theft and traffic offences. The victim's impact statement described lasting fear and distress following the assault. The court did not consider any subsequent actions or appeals.
Christopher Black, 27, pleaded guilty to two robberies and heroin possession in Dublin in late 2016 and early 2017. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to consecutive terms totalling four‑and‑a‑half years on 6 December 2017. Black's appeal against the severity of that sentence was dismissed by the Court of Appeal. Justice Aileen Donnelly, sitting with Justices George Birmingham and Patrick McCarthy, held that the sentence was not excessive. Donnelly recounted Black's offences: a 2016 robbery of a 65‑year‑old shopkeeper on Glasnaon Road, a drug‑related incident on Amiens Street where he was found with 27 g of heroin, and a 2016 ATM robbery of an 18‑year‑old woman on Camden Street while holding a syringe. She noted Black's 55 prior convictions and long‑standing substance abuse, but said rehabilitation was not a sufficient reason for a suspended portion. The appeal was therefore dismissed.
The Court of Appeal has increased the effective custody period for Roger Ryan, a defendant with over 90 previous convictions, including a prior rape conviction. Ryan was originally sentenced in Clonmel Circuit Criminal Court to seven years' imprisonment for three offences, with the final two years suspended. Additionally, Limerick Circuit Criminal Court imposed a wholly suspended three-year sentence for a robbery at Fine Wines, which was ordered to be consecutive as the crime occurred while he was on bail. The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed the Limerick sentence as unduly lenient, while Ryan's legal team challenged the severity of the Clonmel sentence. President Mr Justice Birmingham, sitting with Ms Justice Donnelly and Mr Justice McCarthy, found the Clonmel sentence overly severe given Ryan's history and the reality of the suspended portion. Conversely, the court determined the Limerick judge erred by suspending that sentence entirely. The court re-sentenced Ryan to six years' imprisonment for the Clonmel offences, with the final two years suspended. For the Limerick robbery, he received a consecutive three-year sentence with the final 18 months suspended. This intervention resulted in an additional six months of effective custody. Ryan was required to enter a good behaviour bond for the suspended periods. The court noted his adverse background and institutionalisation but acknowledged his positive conduct in custody.
Piotr Waleza, 46, of Balbriggan, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two counts of handling stolen vehicles in 2014. He sold a Hyundai Santa Fe and a Ford Focus, each stolen three days earlier, for €6,000 and €5,850 respectively, to self‑employed buyers who suffered financial loss and emotional distress. The court heard that Waleza had a terminal illness with a poor prognosis and had been living in Ireland for 14 years, with prior convictions in Ireland and Poland for drink‑driving, fraud and driving without a licence. Judge Karen O'Connor imposed a suspended three‑year jail term, citing the seriousness of the offences and Waleza's ill health. She ordered €1,000 to be divided between the two injured parties and noted that Waleza had admitted to Gardaí that he knew the vehicles were stolen and sought to profit from them. The sentence reflects the judge's view that the crimes were pre‑meditated and dishonest.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 25‑year‑old Liam O'Neill pleaded guilty to robbing 58‑year‑old Paul Mullarkey on Grattan Parade, Drumcondra, on 29 November. O'Neill had consumed heroin, cocaine and alcohol that day. CCTV showed him jostling Mullarkey, thrusting a sharp piece of a small tree branch into his stomach and throat, threatening to stab him, kicking and punching him, then biting parts of his ear and nose. The attack lasted about six minutes, during which O'Neill stamped on Mullarkey's head and torso and stole €50. Mullarkey suffered cuts, scratches and bite injuries, requiring treatment at the Mater. O'Neill was arrested that evening after erratic behaviour outside Mater Hospital; DNA on his clothing matched Mullarkey's. O'Neill had 82 prior convictions, including violent offences, and had served a four‑year term for a previous robbery. Judge Martin Nolan described the robbery as "serious" and the assault as "visceral and barbaric".
At the Central Criminal Court, two men have pleaded guilty to facilitating the murder of Vinnie Ryan, whose shooting in Dublin on 19 February 2016 left his five-week-old daughter without a father. Paul O'Beirne of Ballyfermot and Jeffrey Morrow of Coolock admitted providing and destroying a stolen silver Volkswagen Golf used in the fatal attack, which involved at least thirteen shots fired at Mr Ryan's vehicle. Gardaí established the connection through CCTV footage, mobile phone evidence, and forensic analysis linking the men to the vehicle's movements before and after the killing. O'Beirne, with twenty-five previous convictions for road traffic offences, and Morrow, carrying one hundred and twenty prior convictions including conspiracy to rob cash-in-transit vans, both sought leniency from Mr Justice Michael White. The judge commended the gardaí investigation and expressed sympathy for the victim's family and partner. Sentencing is scheduled for 31 July 2019, with a maximum penalty of fifteen years for the offence under the Criminal Justice Act 2006.
Catherine Gaffney, 53, of Donaghmede, pleaded guilty to two counts of theft and two of money‑laundering after running a fake property company, Hamilton Aherne Partners, that lured buyers into paying deposits for non‑existent or already‑sold houses. The company claimed to offer lower prices by dealing directly with banks, but the buyers were told to ignore official prices and pay a deposit. Gaffney opened a bank account for the company, withdrew the deposits, and was caught on CCTV. She was sentenced to four and a half years' imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended on strict conditions. The case highlighted pre‑planning, loss of money to victims, and Gaffney's guilty plea and personal circumstances as mitigating factors.
A 30-year-old man from Ballymun has received a two-year suspended sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for stealing twenty bottles of spirits valued at €900 from Copper Face Jack's nightclub on Harcourt Street in May 2017. Jason Whelan pleaded guilty to the burglary charge after being identified on CCTV footage removing the alcohol from the venue's Premier Bar. The court heard that Whelan has 91 previous convictions, 43 of which relate to burglary offences, and that his criminal activity was motivated by a long-standing drug addiction. Judge Melanie Greally noted that since the theft, Whelan had undertaken treatment at Coolmine and received a favourable probation report. The judge cited his guilty plea, demonstrated remorse, and rehabilitation efforts as mitigating factors. The suspended sentence is conditional on Whelan maintaining the peace and accepting twelve-month supervision from the Probation Service.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Brian Bridgeman, 36, was sentenced to 28 months' imprisonment for burglary and criminal damage at St Michan's Church. Bridgeman admitted stealing the mummified head of an 800‑year‑old Crusader from the crypt, leaving two skulls in a bag on the church grounds with a note. He also pleaded guilty to five counts of criminal damage, including two for damaging a dead body. The court heard that the crypt's outer wrought‑iron doors were opened and an inner metal door was pulled down, a lock on the Hamilton family vault was damaged, and a coffin was broken. The 300‑year‑old mummy of "the nun" was disturbed, with bones broken and the head set at an almost 180‑degree angle. Reverend David Pierpoint delivered a victim impact statement, describing the burglary as devastating to clergy and parishioners and citing a loss of €35,000 in revenue and €15,000 in repairs.
Michael Geoghegan, 36, a former Crufts best dog handler, was placed on a probation bond after pleading guilty to three knife‑point robberies in Swords, north Dublin. The judge, Patricia Ryan, adjourned his sentence to January, citing his efforts to address drug and alcohol addiction and a probation report supporting his rehabilitation. Geoghegan handed €2,500 as a gesture of remorse to be divided among the victims. He had previously admitted to producing a large kitchen knife and an iron drill bit to intimidate victims and resisting arrest. The court noted his past convictions for robbery with an imitation firearm (2005) and drug offences. He threatened a Garda with a knife during the arrests, but the officer used a baton to disarm him. The case remains pending, with the sentence to be decided next year.
Gary Kinlan, 42, with 129 prior convictions, was sentenced to three years after robbing a cash‑in‑transit driver of €25,000 on 3 December 2018. The robbery occurred after Kinlan left Dublin District Court, where he had just received an eight‑month suspended sentence for another offence. While the driver was returning a cash box to his van, Kinlan, carrying nail clippers, threatened him with a metal object he claimed was a knife. The driver, fearing for his safety, dropped the box; Kinlan seized it and fled. Witnesses photographed him carrying the cash, and Gardaí were alerted by members of the public. Kinlan was arrested after attempting to evade officers, and a set of keys and nail clippers were seized. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, and the judge, noting his drug and alcohol issues and the opportunistic nature of the crime, imposed a three‑year sentence back‑dated to December 2018.
Christina Joyce, 31, was found guilty of endangering Garda Thomas Gallagher and assaulting him on 9 April 2018 at Macken Villas, Grand Canal Dock. She also pleaded guilty to two counts of trespass, damaging a wall and a car. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced her to four‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment on 19 July 2018, a sentence upheld by the Court of Appeal. The appeal was dismissed by a three‑judge panel headed by Ms Justice Aileen Donnelly. The court noted that Joyce, while high on crack cocaine, drove her Volvo at speed, failed to stop when signalled, and fled after a confrontation with the garda. She had a history of 67 convictions, including 14 public‑order offences and 13 theft or fraud offences. The appeal was rejected, leaving the original sentence in place.
Lee Murray, 24, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison after pleading guilty to two separate assaults. In November 2016, he attacked Sam Hess on a Luas tram, using a screwdriver and attempting to rob him, causing Hess to suffer injuries and seek medical attention. In July 2017, he assaulted shopkeeper Brian O'Carroll on Drumcondra Road after a dispute over stolen alcohol, knocking O'Carroll unconscious. The court imposed a four‑year term for the Luas assault and a consecutive two‑year term for the shop assault, suspending the final 18 months on the condition that Murray keep the peace. Murray's history of 34 prior convictions, drug addiction, and homelessness were considered in sentencing, and he expressed remorse and has entered a rehabilitation programme. The judge noted the seriousness of the assaults and the use of a screwdriver as aggravating factors.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 19‑year‑old John Gallagher was sentenced to an additional 21 months in prison for a knife‑point robbery that left a taxi driver unable to work nights. The judge cited the victim's impact statement, noting the driver's mental scars and loss of earnings. Gallagher had previously received a three‑year term for two similar robberies, and the new sentence is consecutive, with the final 15 months suspended on strict conditions. Gallagher pleaded guilty to robbery of €200 and a mobile phone from Nitesh Bhagat on 20 October 2018, and to a separate robbery at a Tallaght pharmacy on 22 May 2018. He had earlier convictions for road traffic offences. The court heard that the victim suffered bruises and a nick on his hand and neck, and that he was now too afraid to work at night.
Ruairc Bell, 44, pleaded guilty to possession of a syringe with intent to threaten or cause injury after a syringe fell from his underwear during a confrontation with Garda Damien Byrne at Store Street Garda Station on 29 March 2017. Bell was arrested, searched, and a needle containing heroin was found. He held the needle toward the garda, prompting a struggle that ended with Bell restrained. Judge Cormac Quinn sentenced Bell to 18 months imprisonment, suspended in full on the condition of keeping the peace and good behaviour for that period. Bell has 12 prior convictions, including robbery, theft and public order offences. His defence lawyer, Karen Dowling, noted he was homeless at the time, drug‑free for two years, and had apologised to the garda. The judge cited the seriousness of the offence and the impact on the garda as aggravating factors, while Bell's guilty plea, remorse, age and treatment history were mitigating factors.
John Doyle, 38, of Tallaght, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for trespassing at a Centra store in Kiltalown on March 2, 2018, with the intention of committing theft. Doyle pleaded guilty to the charge. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a two-year prison sentence, suspending the final 12 months. The judge stated that acting as Doyle did during the national emergency of Storm Emma justified a custodial sentence, describing the incident as serious anti-social behaviour that brought shame on his community. She considered Doyle's remorse, rehabilitation efforts, and positive references. Doyle, who has 111 previous convictions, was found with cigarettes after throwing trolleys to obstruct gardai. Co-accused David Berney, 37, previously received an 18-month suspended sentence for his role in the incident. The court noted that while Doyle was not present when the shop shutters were cut, he entered after being beckoned by others. The matter was previously adjourned in March to allow for a Probation Service report, during which time Doyle was remanded on continuing bail.
Douglas Byrne, 47, of Clondalkin, pleaded guilty to handling stolen property and possession of scissors at Rolestown Garda Station on 18 August 2018. He was found by gardaí in a highly intoxicated state, fled, was arrested, and searched. A large amount of money, €1,731.50, was discovered in his underwear and identified as belonging to Far East Chinese Restaurant on Ballyfermot Road. Byrne had 120 previous convictions, including burglary, theft and drug offences. He was charged with burglary of the restaurant but pleaded not guilty and the charge was dropped. Judge Melaine Greally sentenced him to three years' imprisonment, suspending the final 12 months on strict conditions. The sentence was backdated to 28 August, when he first entered custody for the matter. The court noted Byrne's long history of drug addiction and prior convictions as mitigating factors.
Jamie McBride, a 19‑year‑old father of two from Melrose Lawn, Clonadkin, Dublin, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to robbery and three attempted robberies committed between 26 February and 1 April 2018. He was sentenced to six years' imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions. The court heard that on 26 February he confronted a woman leaving a train station, brandishing a weapon and demanding her handbag, then withdrew €596 from her account using a bank card; the money was later reimbursed. On 30 March he tried to snatch a bag from another woman, striking her up to 15 times with a stick‑like object and causing hand injuries. The next day he threatened a KFC cashier with a knife and tried to steal money from the register, but failed. He also entered a Ladbrokes bookmaker holding a firearm‑like object and presented a bag to the cashier, who fled.
A Dublin man has been convicted of armed robbery at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following a trial spanning ten days. Keith Murtagh, aged 34, was found guilty on all three charges relating to a post office raid on Farmhill Road, Goatstown on January 5, 2016. The jury returned unanimous verdicts after deliberating for just under four hours. Murtagh had pleaded not guilty to the robbery of €3,174.54, possession of a shotgun, and possession of a shotgun cartridge. Evidence presented included DNA found on a shotgun cartridge recovered from an abandoned vehicle 400 metres from the post office. Forensic analysis also identified glass fragments matching material from the post office counter on clothing discovered in a separate vehicle. The court heard the raid involved two armed men who discharged a shot during the incident. Sentencing has been scheduled for October 18, with Murtagh remanded in custody pending that date.
Robert Lynch, aged 32, was sentenced by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to a total of three and a half years' imprisonment for two robberies. He pleaded guilty to the robbery of taxi driver Alan Thompson on Malahide Road on 4 September 2016 and to the robbery of a Spar shop on 15 October 2017. Lynch, who has a history of drug addiction, was described by Garda Alan Roach as having changed significantly since the offences. Judge Pauline Codd imposed consecutive terms of three years and three and a half years, suspending the final three years on the condition that Lynch participate in drug rehabilitation programmes and keep the peace. The court noted Lynch's 54 prior convictions, including robbery, knife possession and threats to kill, and that he had been identified on CCTV before the taxi robbery. No weapons were used in either robbery. The sentence reflects the judge's assessment of Lynch's efforts at rehabilitation and the seriousness of the offences.
Patrick Dempsey, 52, of Cluain Caislean, Ferns, Co Wexford, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of heroin for sale or supply on 9 January 2017. He was found with a small package of heroin, valued at €1,988, concealed in his anus after Garda Sergeant Cillian Duffy searched him at a garda station. Dempsey admitted he had obtained the heroin for his partner and to supply friends, and that he travelled weekly to Dublin to purchase the drugs. He has 25 previous convictions, including theft and aggravated burglary. Judge Patricia Ryan imposed a three‑year imprisonment sentence, fully suspended on the condition that Dempsey keep the peace, behave well for three years and comply with the Wexford Substance Misuse Team. The court noted his cooperation, guilty plea, admissions and efforts to rehabilitate, including training to become a chef and participation in the Cornmarket Project choir.
Shane McDonnell, 29, was sentenced by Judge Karen O'Connor at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two years and eight months in custody for unlawful use of a car, three counts of dangerous driving, driving without a licence or insurance, and possession of a stolen laptop and PlayStation. He was under a 10‑year driving ban and had 25 prior convictions. The judge warned he must choose between a life of crime or becoming a better father. McDonnell pleaded guilty to the offences, which occurred in Clanbrassil Street and Kennelworth Park on 17 April 2017 and in Templeogue on 16 September 2018. A second sentence of two years was suspended on condition of keeping the peace and complying with Probation Services. The court noted his transformation in custody and his sister's lack of recognition of him. The sentence was back‑dated to 17 September 2018.
Ionel Uveges, 31, pleaded guilty to 22 counts of stealing €97,900 from LJM Retail between December 2016 and August 2018. The court heard that the employer rehired him in a non‑cash role after he had been promoted to assistant manager in 2016 and had responsibility for cash management. Uveges repaid €7,000 and agreed to pay an additional €10,000 by his next court appearance. He has no prior convictions and has been in Ireland for ten years. The court noted that Uveges had spent the stolen money on city breaks, rent, bills and sending cash home to his mother in Armenia. The sentencing hearing was adjourned to 26 July.
A man accused of armed robbery at a Dublin post office in January 2016 has pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Keith Murtagh, aged 34, is charged with robbing €3,174.54 from Roebuck post office on Farmhill Road, Goatstown, along with possession of a shotgun and shotgun cartridge. The prosecution alleges that two armed men arrived in a blue Subaru Impreza and demanded money and safe access, with one discharging a shotgun at the counter. The State's case relies partly on forensic evidence: tracksuit trousers found in a Renault Scenic vehicle, in which Mr Murtagh was a passenger days later, contained glass fragments matching those from the post office counter. A shotgun cartridge recovered from the abandoned getaway vehicle bore the defendant's DNA. The defence argues the evidence is circumstantial and suggests confirmation bias in the investigation. The trial before Judge Melanie Greally continues.
An out‑of‑work butcher, Jason Mahony, 35, of Avonbeg, Tallaght, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to handling stolen property and money laundering. The offences relate to a break‑in at McLoughlin's butchers in Ballyfermot on 13 May 2016, when €15,861 was stolen. Mahony admitted that between 13 and 16 May he handled €9,705 in cash found in a rental car at Tymonville Lawn, where his former partner lived, and that he deposited €3,460 in his bank account, including a large amount of one‑ and two‑euro coins. Garda Detective Ronan Coffey presented evidence that the account was frozen and that €2,566 remained, leaving €904 unaccounted for. Mahony, who has prior theft convictions, was homeless at the time of the offence. He has since begun working at another butcher's shop, handed €500 to the court, and said he will pay the remaining €404 by September.
Micheal Geoghegan, 36, of Swords, pleaded guilty to three counts of robbery and production of a knife at Rathbeale Road, Swords, on August 18, 2018. He also admitted producing a large kitchen knife to intimidate and producing an iron drill bit and knife while resisting arrest. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that the offences carry a potential maximum penalty of life imprisonment. Prosecution evidence detailed that Geoghegan robbed three women at knifepoint and subsequently threatened Detective Sergeant Alan Flaherty, who eventually disarmed him using a baton. Geoghegan has a previous conviction for robbery with an imitation firearm from 2005 and prior drug offences. Defence counsel Annette Kealy BL stated that Geoghegan is attempting to address his heroin addiction and had remained drug-free since the incidents. She also noted his past achievement as a best dog handler at Crufts. Geoghegan brought €2,500 to court as a token of remorse. After hearing the evidence, Judge Patricia Ryan adjourned the case to July 23 next for sentence.
In a case heard by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Joseph Heffernan, aged 43, admitted to staging a burglary at Body & Soul Salon in Rathmines on 25 July 2019 to conceal theft from two employees. Heffernan claimed the salon's owner, his former partner, was absent and that he was helping run the business. He told Gardaí that a front‑door incident had occurred, but omitted that €6,670 and £40 had been stolen from employee lockers. CCTV showed him entering the salon and leaving with a bag shortly after. He later confessed to taking money over months and stealing from employees to repay the salon. Heffernan also claimed he had dropped a laptop and recording box in a skip, only to find them missing later. He has a prior speeding conviction. The court ordered a probation report and assessment of his fitness for community service, with sentencing set for 25 October. Joseph Heffernan pleaded guilty.
In a case heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Karim Haddouche, a 48‑year‑old chef from Rathgar, pleaded guilty to four counts of theft and deception involving Ulster Bank. He had drawn two cheques, one for €7,600 and another for €7,500, from his Permanent TSB account and deposited them into his Ulster Bank account, despite the TSB account lacking sufficient funds. Following the cheques, he withdrew and transferred a total of €15,105, which the bank later discovered was not covered by the original account. Haddouche admitted to a gambling problem and that he had expected a friend to cover the cheques. The judge, Martin Nolan, imposed a three‑year sentence, suspended in full, and ordered that the €11,000 he had in his solicitor's possession be handed over to Ulster Bank within two weeks. No prior convictions were recorded. The case was prosecuted by Grainne O'Neill BL and defended by David Staunton BL.
Noel Ryan, 42, of Charleville Mall, Dublin, was sentenced to four years in prison, with the final year suspended, after pleading guilty to handling a stolen Toyota Land Cruiser, deceiving a victim at Woodie's car park in Lucan on 27 June 2016, and unlawfully taking a Ford Fiesta from Northside Shopping Centre, Coolock on 24 March 2017. The judge noted that Ryan had committed similar offences before and that the victims suffered significant losses. Ryan admitted to selling the stolen Land Cruiser on DoneDeal for €11,600 after the buyer had paid cash, and later stealing a Ford Fiesta that had been advertised on the same site. He was also found in possession of the victim's driver's licence, which he had altered. Ryan has 16 prior convictions, including burglary and robbery, and has struggled with a crack cocaine addiction. He has been on bail during these offences.
Ciaran Casey, 25, of Adare Park, Coolock, pleaded guilty to stealing about €8,000 from a Centra shop on New Cabra Road in Dublin on 18 January last year. He admitted that while working the cash register he voided high‑value items such as cigarettes and alcohol, pocketing the money. CCTV footage showed him voiding transactions and customers walking away with the items. Gardaí arrested him after an investigation and he made full admissions, saying he was taking the money to pay day‑to‑day debts and that he intended to repay it later. Judge John O'Connor, at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, found it disappointing that Casey had only offered to repay €1,000. He imposed a two‑year sentence, fully suspended for five years, and ordered Casey to undertake offence‑focused and victim‑focused work as directed by Probation Services. The judge noted Casey's past lack of cooperation with Probation Services.
Former solicitor Michael Lynn, aged 50, appeared in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 5 July 2019 as part of pre‑trial preparations for his January 2020 trial. Lynn faces 21 charges alleging the theft of nearly €30 million from seven financial institutions, including €4.1 million from Irish Nationwide (4 April 2007) and €3.6 million from Ulster Bank (20 October 2006). He was extradited from Brazil in March 2018 after being detained there in August 2013, and was granted bail on a €100,000 surety in June 2019. The prosecution, represented by John Berry BL, informed the court that the Director of Public Prosecutions had completed 56 categories of disclosure requested by the defence. Defence counsel Padraig Dwyer SC noted that additional work was underway "behind the scenes" and requested a one‑hour hearing to address remaining matters. The pre‑trial hearing was scheduled for 28 November 2019.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Joyce Conlon, 35, was sentenced to two and a half years' imprisonment for an unprovoked assault on an eight‑week‑pregnant woman. Conlon, who suffers from paranoia and psychosis, kicked the victim in the stomach with her shoe, causing bleeding that led to a Caesarean delivery at 30 weeks. The judge described the attack as "reprehensible" and inferred a racial motive, noting the victim's Somali background and Conlon's remark about "black" something. Conlon pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and to an attempted robbery at Boyle's Sports, for which she received a separate sentence of three and a half years with the final 12 months suspended, to run concurrently with the assault sentence. The court acknowledged Conlon's mental condition and drug use but accepted her remorse and potential for rehabilitation.
Paul Barry, 37, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for assaulting his former partner, Kim Fox, causing her harm at her home in Loughlinstown on December 9, 2018. Barry pleaded guilty to the charge. Judge Martin Nolan described the incident as a serious, unprovoked assault, noting that Barry had been under the voluntary influence of alcohol and cocaine. Ms Fox sustained significant injuries, including a fractured eye socket, three fractured ribs, and two missing teeth, and reported ongoing mental trauma. The court heard that Barry initially told gardai the injuries resulted from a fall, a claim the prosecution rejected as untrue. Judge Nolan cited Barry's 17 previous convictions, including a robbery, and his callous attitude toward the victim as aggravating factors. Mitigation included his early guilty plea, good work record, and expression of remorse. The judge imposed a 32-month prison sentence, backdated to when Barry first went into custody. The maximum penalty for the offence is five years. Barry's counsel apologized on his behalf, stating he was regretful and had not contacted Ms Fox since the incident.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 52‑year‑old Christopher Lovett, a businessman from Kilnamanagh, pleaded guilty to theft of money at the Bank of Ireland after using a cheque‑kiting scheme to keep his cleaning company afloat. He had drawn three cheques totaling almost €19,000 on a closed account, which were credited to him before the bank's clearance process. The cheques were later returned unpaid, leaving the bank at a loss. Lovett withdrew the funds in card, debit and cash transactions before the cheques cleared. He had no prior convictions and was described by the defence as a family man who had lost a major contract and was trying to repay the money. Judge Martin Nolan, noting the mitigating circumstances, imposed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year suspended sentence and required Lovett to repay €2,500 to the bank, with the bank retaining its own recourse for the remaining amount.
Sean Banks, a 19‑year‑old from Tallaght, was found in possession of a 12‑gauge double‑barrel shotgun, cannabis, cocaine and a stolen BMW motorbike at his home. Gardaí raided the house after a tip that drugs were stored there. Banks initially denied the presence of drugs but later admitted responsibility for €725 worth of cannabis and cocaine. The shotgun, stolen in a burglary in Kildare, was discovered under a bed with one cartridge. The motorbike, stolen two months earlier in Stepaside, had no ignition or registration plate. Banks pleaded guilty to possession of the gun, drugs and the stolen motorbike. Judge Martin Nolan, noting Banks' youth, prior minor convictions and cooperation, imposed a three‑year sentence, suspended in full on strict conditions. The case was heard in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, with the judge emphasising the seriousness of the firearm possession but also recognising the defendant's potential for reform.
Daniel Duffy, aged 21, and Stephen Dargle, aged 19, from Annamoe Terrace, Cabra, Dublin, pleaded guilty to an attempted robbery of a pizza delivery man at Drumalee Grove on 10 October 2017. Dargle approached the delivery man and threatened him with a knife, saying he would stab him if he did not hand over the delivery. The victim fled, but Dargle chased him, pulling the knife out. The victim, a foreign national, screamed and knocked on a nearby flat's door. Dargle tried again to seize the delivery, but Duffy blocked him. The victim threw a bottle of a mineral drink at Dargle and screamed again. Neighbours shouted at Dargle to leave. Gardaí identified the men after speaking to a woman whose mobile phone they had used to order the pizza. Both men admitted they were high on ecstasy tablets at the time; Duffy also said he had snorted cocaine.
During the murder trial of Paul O'Beirne and Jeffrey Morrow, Dr Rebecca Weld presented DNA evidence linking a bulldog to a car seat cover found at the accused's home. Dr Weld, a PhD in animal identification and former director of Weatherbys DNA laboratories, had examined DNA from a black cocker‑spaniel named Lily and an English bulldog named Bailey in 2016. She matched a partial DNA profile from a white hair on the cover to Bailey, noting the probability of a match with another dog was one in a billion. The cover, recovered from a bin in O'Beirne's garden, was similar to a canvas sheet from Joseph Cogan's stolen Volkswagen Golf GTI, which he claimed was used to protect his car from dog hairs. Cogan had provided hair samples from his fawn bulldog and black cocker‑spaniel. The prosecution argues the fatal shots were fired from the Golf. Paul O'Beirne pleaded not guilty. Jeffrey Morrow pleaded not guilty.
Aaron Colton, 24, of Mount Olive Grove, Kilbarrack, Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to demanding money with menace for an alleged drug debt at a teenager's home on November 23, 2017. Judge Martin Nolan jailed Colton for five years. The court heard that Colton threatened the 16-year-old victim, stating he would break him and kill him if he did not pay. Colton, who has 40 previous convictions, had been on remand since January this year after a warrant was issued for his failure to appear at a prior hearing. This sentence follows the May 2018 sentencing of co-accused Alan Long, 28, of Briarfield, Kilbarrack, who was also jailed for five years after pleading guilty to trespass, theft, assault, and demanding money with menaces at the victim's home in October 2017. Long had allegedly inflated a small drug debt to €8,000, stolen household items, and assaulted the teenager. The judge noted a pattern of abuse against the family, including threats to the victim's mother, and accepted that Colton's threats were convincing and believed to be carried out. Defense counsel John Moher BL argued Colton's behavior was a radical departure from his previous minor offenses, which the judge acknowledged.
In July 2014, Bogdan Hainal (28), a Romanian national, participated in a violent robbery at the home of Paul and Patrick Kenny, both in their sixties, in Prosperous, Co Kildare. The raiders arrived in a black BMW, entered Patrick's bedsit, tied him with neckties, threatened him, and demanded money. They beat him, stabbed his hand and arm, and tied him to a sink with a rubber inner tube while covering his eyes with a woolly hat. The ordeal lasted one hour and six minutes. Hainal pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary on 8 July 2014. Judge Patricia Ryan set a headline sentence of 11 years, suspending the final two years on the condition that Hainal stay away from the victims for 30 years and engage with Probation Services. The victims described fear for their lives, and Paul Kenny was hospitalised for six weeks, while Patrick Kenny has suffered high blood pressure and will require lifelong medication.