Andrew Shannon, 54, was convicted on 31 January 2014 for handling a stolen Frederick Goodall oil painting, valued at about €5,000, found in his Dublin home. The painting, a 1892 desert scene, had been stolen from Bantry House, Cork, in March 2006. A two‑day trial in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court led to a two‑year sentence imposed by Judge Patricia Ryan in November 2014. Shannon appealed today, arguing that evidence obtained during his 2006 arrest for suspected theft of John Speed maps from Tinakilly House was improperly used to convict him of handling the Goodall painting. His barrister, Marc Thompson BL, contended that Gardaí should have formally questioned him about Bantry House as a suspect, not while interrogating him on unrelated matters, and that the 2006 information was "fishing" for evidence. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Justice George Birmingham, will reserve judgment.
Kathleen Kiely, 31, of London, pleaded guilty to handling stolen property at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after attempting to sell €90,000 of stolen gold jewellery to a cash‑for‑gold shop in Tallaght. Garda surveillance had been placed on the shop following tips that two men would call. Kiely entered the shop the day before the offence, asking the owner how much he would pay for 18‑carat gold, claiming her husband had some to sell. She was stopped by Gardaí who found a second bag containing badly damaged gold jewellery, originally valued at €90,000 but reduced to €37,000 due to damage. The jewellery was traced to a burglary in Lucan. Kiely had no prior convictions and was influenced by her former partner, Michael Maughan, 25, who also pleaded guilty to handling stolen jewellery. Maughan was sentenced to four years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended, and a probation report was ordered.
Jonathan Chubb, a former property investor, withdrew his appeal against the severity of his sentence at the Court of Appeal. Chubb, 38, of Drimnagh, Dublin, had previously pleaded guilty to 34 counts of theft and one count of money laundering committed between March 2013 and July 2015. He also admitted to providing a false reference, deception, and possession of a forged driving licence. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that Chubb allegedly stole deposits from 11 would-be tenants who believed he was the landlord of an apartment on Tyrconnell Road. Gardaí reported that victims arrived at the address to find numerous others in similar situations. One victim, a woman with an eight-year-old daughter, was left homeless as a result of the alleged fraud. Chubb was sentenced to seven-and-a-half years' imprisonment on June 1, 2018, with the final 18 months suspended. Judge Karen O'Connor noted the offending was premeditated and involved vulnerable victims. Before the appeal hearing began, President of the Court of Appeal Mr Justice George Birmingham advised Chubb's lawyers that the court could increase as well as reduce sentences. Following this warning, Chubb's barrister, James Dwyer SC, stated that Chubb wished to withdraw the appeal. Chubb confirmed this decision to the court. The matter was adjourned, and the appeal was not concluded.
A former school principal from Ballybofey, County Donegal, has been sent to prison following a Court of Appeal ruling that his original suspended sentence was unduly lenient. Finbarr Boyle, aged 39, pleaded guilty to five counts of theft and two counts of forgery relating to his time as principal at Kilnaleck National School in County Cavan between 2007 and 2012. He had originally received a wholly suspended two-year sentence in March 2018 on condition he repay €25,000. The Court of Appeal, on application by the Director of Public Prosecutions, found this sentence insufficient given the seriousness of the offending. Boyle misappropriated approximately €204,000 through various means, including unauthorised use of the school's visa card for personal expenses, improper cheque drawings, and fraudulent claims submitted to the Department of Social Protection. The Court of Appeal resentenced him to 15 months imprisonment, with immediate custody ordered.
Noel Ryan, 42, of Charleville Mall, Dublin, pleaded guilty to handling a stolen Toyota Land Cruiser and deception on 27 June 2016 and to unauthorized taking of a Ford Fiesta on 24 March 2017. He sold the stolen Land Cruiser on DoneDeal, arranging a meeting at Woodie's car park in Lucan where the buyer paid €11,600 after noticing marks on the car. The victim later learned the log book was false and that the vehicle had been stolen from Drogheda. Ryan also advertised the Fiesta on DoneDeal, met the buyer at Northside Shopping Centre, and stole the car after a test drive, taking the driver's licence and superimposing his own photo on it. He had 16 prior convictions, including aggravated burglary and robbery, and was on bail at the time of the offences. The case is pending sentencing at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, with a probation report to be prepared before the hearing on 21 June.
Michelle McCullough, 40, of Regina Coeli Hostel, was found guilty of assaulting a prison officer at Dóchas Centre on 25 July 2015. On that day she had received medication, then refused to return to her cell, claiming she had "heard her dead child in the walls." While walking through the prison yard, she became agitated; officers attempted to restrain her, and she pulled the hair of a female officer and kicked her in the stomach. The officer suffered breathing difficulties and was out of work for about eight weeks, later recovering fully. McCullough has 177 prior convictions, mainly for theft, and five for assault. She had spent 18 months in a psychiatric unit after her child's death and had a history of drug addiction, though she was reportedly heroin‑free. The court, noting the aggravated nature of the assault on a staff member and the victim's impact, sentenced her to four and a half months' imprisonment.
Gheorghe Goidan, 46, was convicted of raping two Czech women who were working as prostitutes in Ireland. He had contacted them through the website "escortsireland.ie" and met each separately in hotel rooms. In each encounter he pulled a knife, threatened the women, and then sexually assaulted and raped them. Goidan had previously pleaded not guilty to rape and sexual assault at a hotel in Portlaoise on 7 September 2017, and had denied rape, oral rape and anal rape of a second woman at the Maldron Hotel in Galway on the same day. A jury at the Central Criminal Court found him guilty on all counts, including robbery. The trial revealed that the women had not known one another and had booked themselves into the hotel rooms via the website. Goidan's actions were traced through CCTV footage and the vehicle he used was linked to him.
Angela Walsh, 44, a home carer who had worked for Thomas Armstrong for years, stole about €9,000 from him between October 2016 and March 2017. She admitted the theft, explaining she needed the money to pay a drug debt owed by one of her daughters. Walsh pleaded guilty to three counts of stealing cash from Armstrong's Bank of Ireland account in Coolock Village. She had taken his bank card and the PIN written on a paper beside it. None of the cash was reimbursed by the bank. After the offence was discovered, Walsh lost her job with the home care service and now works as a cleaner for Air B&B lettings. At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court Judge Martin Nolan imposed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence, suspended in full, and ordered Walsh to repay the remaining €4,000 within six months, noting she had already brought €5,000 to court for restitution.
A 20‑year‑old Irishman, Conor Freeman, was arrested in Dun Laoghaire on 9 May 2019 after a US warrant was served. US authorities allege that Freeman, part of an online group called "The Community," conspired to hack targets using SIM hijacking to steal more than $2 million in Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies between February and May 2018. The indictment, issued by a Grand Jury in the Eastern District of Michigan, charges Freeman with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, four counts of aiding and abetting wire fraud and four counts of aiding and abetting aggravated identity theft. If convicted in the US, Freeman faces up to 108 years in prison. He was remanded in custody by the High Court to appear on 22 May for a bail application. The case remains at the extradition stage, with no further proceedings reported.
Michelle Ruth, 40, was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment for assaulting a shop worker at Londis, O'Connell Street, Dublin on 8 November 2015. She pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The offence involved Ruth throwing boiling water and a jar of powdered chocolate at the female staff member, causing her severe facial injury and shock. Ruth has 158 prior convictions, mainly shoplifting and public order offences, and several for assault, robbery, criminal damage and knife possession. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a three‑year sentence but suspended the final 18 months, conditional on Ruth keeping the peace, behaving well and following Probation Service directions for 18 months after release. The judge described the act as an "extremely serious offence of wanton violence" and noted Ruth's remorse and engagement with drug services. The victim's impact statement was not read in court. The case was prosecuted by Elva Duffy BL and defended by Luigi Rea BL.
Patrick Dignam, 45, threatened a staff member with a rusty knife and stole €170 from a Centra shop on Harold's Cross Road on 15 April 2018. Gardaí tracked him from the robbery scene to his home using CCTV footage from the shop and surrounding street cameras, locating his distinctive tracksuit bottoms at his residence. He pleaded guilty to robbery at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to four and a half years' imprisonment, suspending the entire term for four and a half years on the condition that he keep the peace, behave well and engage with the Probation Service for 18 months. Dignam has 47 prior convictions, mainly for public order and road traffic offences, and was previously jailed for robbery in 1992. No cash was recovered and the staff member suffered no injuries. The judge noted the offence was "isolated" and "out of character" for Dignam.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Susan Redmond, aged 50, was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment for stealing up to €395,000 from Larkhill and District Credit Union over a decade. Redmond, who had worked at the credit union for 20 years, began forging loan applications in 2003, signing them and issuing cheques that she cashed. She pleaded guilty to ten sample theft charges covering July 2003 to April 2013, representing 102 thefts. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a three‑year sentence on each count but suspended the final 18 months of each, ordering all sentences to run concurrently. The court noted that the 40 affected account holders were friends and family, all reimbursed by the credit union, and that Redmond had no significant purchases recorded. The judge highlighted mitigating factors including her guilty pleas, cooperation, mental health history, and a €20,000 contribution toward the loss. The case was also subject to civil proceedings by Liberty Insurance.
Darragh O'Hare, 27, was sentenced to 28 months in prison for stealing a €150 bicycle and a burglary that occurred in Balbriggan in May 2017. He had 91 prior convictions, 73 of which were committed while on bail for other offences. The Director of Public Prosecutions sought a review of the sentence as "unduly lenient", but the Court of Appeal upheld the judge's decision, noting the sentence was within the discretionary range, though at its outer limits. O'Hare had previously been on bail for dangerous driving and unauthorised vehicle use when the theft and burglary took place. He pleaded guilty on his first appearance in the Circuit Court, and the judge considered his past drug difficulties and a letter from Fr Peter McVerry stating he was now drug‑free. The appeal was dismissed, leaving the 28‑month sentence in place.
Damien Reilly, 36, of Camden Street, Dublin, pleaded guilty to two robberies in Stoneybatter on 24 February and 7 April 2017. In the April incident, he threatened a nurse with a syringe needle, grabbed her PIN, and forced her into a headlock before fleeing. He also assaulted another woman after a yoga class, stealing €575 and injuring her. Reilly's victims reported significant emotional distress and loss of personal items. The court noted Reilly's 17 prior convictions, including robbery, burglary, firearm possession, and syringe threats, and his history of drug abuse. Judge Pauline Codd sentenced him to five years' imprisonment, suspending the final two years, and imposed a two‑year supervised release with probation, drug treatment, and employment directives. The sentence was back‑dated to 7 May 2018.
Dylan Mooney, 23, from Blanchardstown, was sentenced to a 12‑month probation bond after pleading guilty to possession of a semi‑automatic pistol, cannabis resin and herb, and two charges of handling stolen property. Mooney admitted that he had become addicted to gambling while hospitalized for cystic fibrosis, accruing a €15,000 debt. To settle the debt he offered the gun, ammunition, €20,600 worth of cannabis and two motorbikes. Judge Melanie Greally, after considering his medical condition and the risk of infection in prison, imposed the probation bond and required him to engage with the Probation Service and gambling‑addiction services. The case was adjourned to May 7, 2020, with Mooney remanded on continuing bail. The police recovered the gun, ammunition, a shotgun cartridge, 619 g of cannabis herb and 1.3 kg of cannabis resin from a safe in his grandfather's attic, and the two motorbikes, each valued at about €1,750.
Scott Grant, 31, of Balbriggan, north Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to two counts of attempted robbery. The offences occurred on December 11, 2016, at a Costcutters shop on Hampton Street, and on April 17, 2018, on Clonard Street. In the first incident, Grant allegedly threatened staff while holding a piece of timber; in the second, he used a tree branch. He was identified in the first case by pink gloves and in the second by cashing scratch cards. The court also heard that while on bail for these charges, Grant allegedly robbed a woman of her handbag on September 26, 2018. Judge Patricia Ryan imposed a six-year prison term, suspending the final two years on conditions that Grant keep the peace and engage with the Probation Service for two years post-release. Defence counsel Pieter Le Vert BL noted Grant's efforts to address his addiction and his history as a labourer, stating he had previously served a two-year sentence for attempted robbery and became clean of heroin during that custody before relapsing. The matter was finalised with this sentence.
A 22‑year‑old man, Dean Donovan, brandished a machete at a Garda while fleeing a shop robbery with his uncle, Jonathan Donovan (33). The robbery took place at a Spar shop on Martin's Road, Chapelizod, on 8 April 2018, where they stole €305 in cash. Dean produced the machete as Garda James Keogh approached, forcing the officer to step back. Both men were pursued, arrested, and later pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Dean admitted robbery and possession of a machete; Jonathan pleaded guilty to driving without insurance. Dean also pleaded guilty to six burglary counts from 2015 and 2018, while Jonathan had 83 prior convictions, including a suspended six‑year sentence for assault. The court adjourned finalisation to consider various reports. The article details the escape, arrest, and the men's prior criminal histories.
Derek Claffey, aged 30, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment for unlawful seizure of cars in Lucan and Ardevin on 25 September 2017. The judge suspended the final year of the sentence on strict conditions and backdated the term to 20 September 2018, the date of his first custody in the matter. Claffey had discharged himself from hospital after a road‑traffic accident and had taken heroin earlier that day. He attempted to car‑jack two female drivers at knifepoint, using an eight‑inch serrated steak knife. In one incident he offered a woman €50 for her car keys; in another he cut a seat belt and threatened a woman's son. He has 64 previous convictions, including possession of knives, robbery and dangerous driving. The judge cited his guilty plea and personal circumstances as mitigating factors, while noting his history of substance abuse and the knife as aggravating factors. The prosecution requested a destruction order for the knife.
A 32-year-old man has been sentenced to three years imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following guilty pleas to nine burglaries and one count of criminal damage committed across Dublin locations between April and September 2018. Dean Moore, with an address in Crumlin, was captured on CCTV during the offences, in some instances cycling to and from premises while wearing a high-visibility jacket. The burglaries targeted various locations including retail premises, residential buildings, a school, and company offices, with stolen items including cash, laptops, and other goods totalling significant losses. Moore's previous convictions number 114, including 19 burglaries. Evidence indicated the offences were committed to fund drug and gambling habits. Judge Melanie Greally imposed an additional two-year sentence for a burglary at Transport Club, suspended in full on strict conditions. The court acknowledged Moore's early guilty plea and admissions to gardaí as mitigating factors, alongside his difficult childhood and addiction history, balanced against the aggravating nature of his extensive prior convictions for burglary.
Jeanette Murray, a 44‑year‑old mother of two from Knockdarragh, Newry, was found guilty of stealing more than €200,000 from Brooks Hotel in Dublin while she worked as a senior accountant. Over a five‑year period she took €137,200 in cash and €67,600 in cheques and bank drafts, spending the cash on personal items and failing to lodge the cheques, which were later returned. She pleaded guilty to 12 theft charges covering September 2003 to November 2008. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a fully suspended sentence of three and a half years, requiring Murray to keep the peace, be of good behaviour, transfer €70,000 to the hotel owners, and complete 240 hours of community service within 12 months in lieu of two years imprisonment. The court noted her guilty plea, cooperation, remorse, and the impact on her young children as mitigating factors, while the large value and prolonged nature of the theft were aggravating factors.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 16‑year‑old from Bray, Co. Wicklow pleaded guilty to burglary of a house in Dalkey on 29 February 2016. The burglary involved the theft of a camera and laptop that held the last photos and videos of the widow and her late husband. The homeowner's husband had died about four months earlier, and the victim reported that an urn containing his ashes had been disturbed and "gone through". The teenager, who cannot be identified, admitted he did not understand the impact of his actions at the time but now feels remorse and apologised. He has prior convictions for robbery, criminal damage, public order offences and breaches of the road traffic act. He has been in Oberstown children detention centre since last year, and the court noted his progress in completed courses. Judge Melanie Greally adjourned the case to 17 October.
In a Court of Appeal hearing, letters sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) on behalf of struck‑off solicitor Michael Lynn (50) alleged that the State was trying to "nail" him, calling him an "innocent man" and accusing the DPP of "robust bloodlust." Lynn, who has been extradited from Brazil after spending four‑and‑a‑half years in a Brazilian prison, faces 21 counts of theft totalling almost €30 million from seven financial institutions, including €4.1 million from Irish Nationwide and €3.6 million from Ulster Bank. His lawyers challenged assurances that time served in Brazil would be deducted from any Irish sentence, arguing the DPP's statements could impinge on the separation of powers. The Court of Appeal reserved judgment, noting the letters were "intemperate" and that the case was "moot" or "un‑stateable" according to the DPP's counsel. The appeal may affect Lynn's upcoming trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Jason Farrell, 26, of Finglas, Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to assaulting James McDonagh with intent to cause serious bodily harm and producing a 12-inch kitchen knife on February 2, 2018. The court heard that Farrell entered The Auld Triangle pub armed with two knives, including a 14-inch blade, before being ejected by a group of men. Garda Sergeant Ken Houlahan testified that he witnessed the melee and arrested Farrell after he refused to drop the weapons. Judge Pauline Codd noted that while Farrell intended to assault Mr. McDonagh, the intervention of others prevented him from using the knives. The judge acknowledged Farrell's 30 previous convictions, including assaults and robbery, but accepted his early guilty plea and his recent efforts to remain drug-free and complete job training. She imposed a three-year sentence, with the final two-and-a-half years suspended. The suspension is conditional on Farrell attending all Probation Service appointments and engaging in victim and offence-focused work. The matter was finalised with this sentencing order.
In a violent incident on 2 July 2016, 21‑year‑old Nathan Benson attacked Cormac Doyle outside the "District 8" nightclub on Francis Street, Dublin, punching and head‑butting him and stealing his iPhone. Doyle pursued Benson, who fled down Bridgefoot Street into a crime scene being preserved by Garda Derek Tubridy. Benson ran under the tape, was stopped, and after a brief apology and a blood‑stained appearance, he was searched and found with three mobile phones, including Doyle's. He became aggressive, attempted to assault the garda, and was forcibly arrested. In court, Benson pleaded guilty to robbery on Thomas Street, Dublin 8. Judge Elma Sheahan sentenced him to three years' imprisonment, suspending the final 12 months on the condition of good behaviour and compliance with the Probation Service for 12 months. The judge noted the lasting impact of Benson's "thuggish behaviour" on the victim, who had temporarily left the country out of fear.
In 2016, Stefan Saunders (41), Francis Murphy (39) and Damien Noonan (32) conspired to rob a cash‑in‑transit van in Co. Meath, planning the heist over more than two months. They pleaded guilty to conspiracy, possession of a semi‑automatic pistol and possession of a stolen BMW used as a getaway vehicle. Each received a 10‑year sentence, with 2½ years suspended, imposed by Judge Michael O'Shea in 2018. The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed, arguing the sentences were unduly lenient, citing the robbery's scale, the firearm's readiness and the gang's professional conduct. The Court of Appeal, led by Justice George Birmingham, rejected the appeal, holding the sentences were at the outer limits of the judge's discretion and therefore appropriate. No further action was taken.
A 40‑year‑old Dublin man, Justin Murray, was given a suspended 12‑month prison sentence for stealing €500 in mass donations from the sacristy of the Church of Our Lady of Victories in Ballymun. The theft occurred on 6 November 2016 when a parishioner witnessed him taking money and he fled. Gardaí identified him via CCTV and found his bicycle, marked with his name, abandoned on the church grounds. Murray had previously pleaded guilty to the offence and had 77 convictions, including ten thefts and 20 burglaries. He is already serving a separate prison term for another offence, due for release in July 2019, and the new suspended sentence will run consecutively. Judge Elma Sheahan, noting his efforts to recover from drug addiction and his current drug‑free status, imposed the suspension on the condition that he continue treatment and keep the peace.
Keegan Davidson, 25, appeared before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court where he pleaded guilty to four offences under the 2010 Money Laundering Act. The charges relate to engaging in the transfer or conversion of monies knowing they were proceeds of crime, or being reckless as to whether they were, on September 30, 2017. Prosecution evidence indicated that Davidson provided his bank account details to a criminal gang involved in an "invoice redirect" fraud scam. A bogus email directed an engineering company to pay €104,107 into Davidson's account. He subsequently withdrew approximately €43,759 across various bureaux de change and post offices in Dublin, using his Irish passport for identification. Detective Garda Thomas Burke stated there was no evidence Davidson was involved in the initial fraud, only the laundering of proceeds. Around €46,000 was later retrieved by the bank. Davidson's previous convictions include possession of knives, public order, theft, and trespass; in 2011, he received a suspended sentence for possession of a sawn-off shotgun. Defence counsel Luigi Rea BL noted Davidson's history of psychosis exacerbated by drug abuse. Judge Pauline Codd adjourned the case to July 1 for sentencing and remanded Davidson on continuing bail. The matter was adjourned and not concluded at this stage.
Dwayne Barry, a 30‑year‑old former homeless man, was sentenced to three years in prison for arson at two Dublin locations. He set wheelie bins on fire to heat his sleeping bag, then tried to extinguish the flames when they spread. Barry pleaded guilty to arson at Ardoyne House, Pembrooke Park, Ballsbridge, where a blaze on 25 January 2016 caused €45,000 damage to two cars, and to arson at Burlington House, Waterloo Lane, Ballsbridge, where a fire on 28 February 2016 caused structural damage of over €18,000. He has 86 prior convictions, including theft, robbery and criminal damage. Judge Karen O'Connor, after multiple adjournments, imposed a three‑year sentence with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions, acknowledging Barry's genuine remorse and willingness to engage with addiction services. The judge noted the seriousness of arson and the difficulty of controlling fire, and accepted Barry's apology and attempts to put the fires out.
Keith Duffy, aged 31, was sentenced to five and a half years' imprisonment for endangerment, dangerous driving and criminal damage after a high‑speed chase that ended with him repeatedly ramming a Garda patrol car. The incident, which took place on 30 March 2018 in the Dublin 7 area, involved a 26‑minute pursuit that saw Duffy's van stop on a humpback bridge, wait for the patrol car, and then attempt to ram it, forcing the vehicle onto the footpath. Two other patrol cars joined the chase, which concluded when Duffy's van turned into a cul‑de‑sac at Newgrange Road, reversed, and twice rammed another patrol car before being blocked by a third. Garda Sean Kelly described the event as the worst dangerous driving he had encountered in ten years. Duffy, who has 66 prior convictions, pleaded guilty and was also found guilty of robbery at Kiely's Chemist on 29 March 2018, stealing drugs worth €225.
Jason Spooner, 45, was arrested after attempting to rob cigarettes from a Centra store in Finglas on 25 February 2017. He waited outside the shop, entered when a pregnant staff member opened the doors at 7.30 am, locked the doors behind him, and used a metal bar to try to open the safe. The staff member fled to a back office and locked herself in; Spooner followed and attempted to force the office door open. He was stopped by Garda Sergeant Conor Scully, who tackled him and removed the bar. Spooner admitted he had been awake all night after taking a load of pills and wanted to "go grab a smoke and leg it." He pleaded guilty to attempted robbery of cigarettes worth €300 and possession of a crowbar. He has 16 prior convictions, including traffic, theft and public‑order offences. The pregnant victim, five months along, expressed concern for her baby and difficulty sleeping after the incident.
Stephen Keane, 30, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Court to impersonating a Garda, unlawfully seizing a vehicle and robbery. On 25 August 2018, he entered BoyleSports in Firhouse, presented a badge and claimed to be an undercover Garda, demanding CCTV footage and access to the back of the bookmakers. After the manager refused, he left. Later that day he approached a car outside Firhouse Shopping Centre, told the driver to exit, claimed to have a gun, and then drove off with the vehicle. He then entered Dwan's Off‑Licence, pointed a gun at an employee, demanded money and stole €395 and three packs of cigarettes. Keane said the gun was a broken airsoft gun and that he had a drug debt. He has 68 prior convictions in Ireland and the UK. The judge remanded him in custody and adjourned sentencing for 8 July.
Paddy Harty, 45, of Ennis, was on the run when he sexually assaulted a 53‑year‑old woman he met in a pub in Kildare on 23 April 2015. He pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court and was sentenced to four years imprisonment, consecutive to a four‑year sentence for theft and fraud that he had received two months earlier. Harty's appeal against the severity of the sentence was dismissed by the Court of Appeal, which found the total sentence "appropriate". The Court noted that Harty had met the woman in a bar, they had drinks, kissed, and then he drove her to a secluded area known as 'Braveheart Hill'. There he removed her bottom clothing and forcibly held her by the arms. She fled, hid in a thorny bush and called the Gardaí. Harty was identified from CCTV footage and initially denied having met the woman.
Jordan Joyce, aged 19, was arrested for stealing a €399 Dyson vacuum cleaner from Harvey Norman in Blanchardstown on 7 January 2018. He signed Garda custody records and a court bail bond under the false name "Wayne Byrne", giving a false date of birth and address. Garda Gary Farrell discovered the forgery when Joyce was later arrested on a bench warrant, leading to the real Mr Byrne's arrest. Joyce admitted the theft and the forgery, describing himself as "acting the maggot". He pleaded guilty to the vacuum‑cleaner theft and to forging his signature on a Garda custody record on 21 March 2018 and on bail records on 22 March 2018. He had 21 prior minor convictions. The court heard that Joyce's family and partner raised €400 to compensate Harvey Norman. Judge Melanie Greally, taking into account his early guilty pleas, full restitution, youth and immaturity, imposed an 18‑month sentence, with the final nine months suspended for two years.
Mario Hanzic Broz, aged 44, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison for two attempted robberies at Dublin post offices on 8 and 10 May 2018. He entered the offices armed with a 6mm air pistol, but left without money. Broz pleaded guilty to attempted robbery and possession of an air pistol at both locations. He had no prior convictions in Ireland. The judge noted his history of service in the Balkans, where he witnessed atrocities and suffered post‑traumatic stress disorder, and his use of drugs to cope. He was given credit for his guilty pleas, cooperation, remorse and personal difficulties. The final two years of a six‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence were suspended on the condition of keeping the peace and obeying probation services. No victim impact statements were filed for the second offence.
Paul Fields, 29, a former soldier, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to stealing €3,840 from a Ladbrokes shop in Priorswood on 9 March 2018. He claimed the theft was a "moment of madness" driven by a drug debt and threats of death. Fields had previously served in Chad and had a history of nine convictions, mainly traffic offences. Garda Fergal Duffy reported that the manager, who believed Fields would return the money, was left with a cash bag that Fields snatched while holding the door. Fields was arrested, found with €300, and the rest of the money was unrecovered. Judge Martin Nolan, noting Fields' cooperation and personal circumstances, imposed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence suspended in full on strict conditions.
A 57‑year‑old Dublin grandfather, Joseph Tyrell, will be sentenced for two burglaries and an attempted bookies robbery. He cut himself while smashing windows at the burglarised properties and left blood at the scenes. DNA from the blood linked him to the crimes, and CCTV footage identified him during the attempted robbery, where he threatened to shoot two cashiers. Tyrell pleaded guilty to burglary at Sundrive Road, Crumlin, on 23 March 2016, and at Blarney Park, Kimmage, between 17 and 19 August 2016, and to attempted robbery at BoyleSports, Greenhills Road, on 7 April 2016. He has 85 previous convictions over 40 years, including robbery, aggravated burglary and drug offences, and is currently serving a five‑year sentence for another burglary. The court heard that the burglaries were opportunistic, lacked sophistication, and were carried out by a drug‑addicted offender who had struggled with addiction since his teens. The victims suffered financial loss, property damage, and emotional distress.
Hassan Bilal, 38, of Tullamore, Co Offaly, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to burglary and theft of catering equipment valued at €10,16 on May 18, 2015. The items included a commercial freezer, fryers, mixing bowls, trays, a chip holder, a burger fryer, a microwave, a blender, and chopping boards. Judge Elma Sheahan adjourned the matter to May 27 to allow Detective Garda Sweeney to ascertain the specific financial losses incurred by victim Gerry Hughes. Bilal was remanded on continuing bail. The court heard that Bilal, along with co-defendants Yasir Ali and Sabih Hassan, had sub-let the premises in Castlebar, Mayo, without permission. Ali, of East Wall, Dublin, previously received a two-year suspended sentence in December 2017 for the same offence. Sabih Hassan received a three-year suspended term in February 2018. A victim impact statement stated Hughes suffered severe physical, mental, and financial stress, noting he remained out of pocket four years later. Defence counsel Niamh Barry BL submitted Bilal was of limited means and had made efforts to change his circumstances. The prosecution noted no evidence supported Bilal's claim of having paid a deposit or rent.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 2 April 2019, Simon Whelan, aged 32, pleaded guilty to trespassing and theft in four student apartments at Gateway Student Village, Ballymun, on 4 October 2018. He also admitted to burglaries at Salamanca Restaurant (23 July 2017), Lush (16 August 2018), 777 Restaurant (20 August 2018) and Nisbits Catering Equipment (7 September 2018). Garda Sergeant Colm McGallagher recounted that Whelan broke into the apartments while occupants slept, stole laptops, speakers, watches, wallets and cash, and was caught after a garda saw him struggling with a heavy bag. Whelan claimed "I don't care about getting caught, it's about the hit." He has 105 prior convictions, including 57 burglaries, and has been in custody since 2007, developing an addiction to crack cocaine and heroin. The judge ordered a probation report, urine analysis, and remanded him in custody, with sentencing set for 30 May.
Martin Hanley, aged 55, was sentenced by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for a violent robbery on 23 November 2017 in Gardiner Lane. He knocked victim Frank O'Neill to the ground, demanded money, and stamped on O'Neill's leg, breaking his tibia. O'Neill, aged in his 60s, was left unable to run and later unable to walk, with the injuries likely to cause arthritis. Hanley, who is undergoing cancer treatment and has had a lung removed, pleaded guilty. Judge Karen O'Connor described the attack as vicious and frightening, suspended the last two and a half years of a five‑year term, and imposed a longer custodial period. Hanley was placed on a two‑year bond for good behaviour and required to engage with Probation Services. No order was made regarding a €2,000 offer of remorse from Hanley's family. The Probation Service assessed him as a moderate risk of re‑offending.
Donna McGarry, 38, who worked as general manager at the Dublin pub Four Dame Lane, pleaded guilty to two counts of theft for taking €11,900 between 4 October and 6 November 2017. At the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Melanie Greally imposed a headline sentence of three years but suspended the entire two‑and‑a‑half‑year term, giving credit for her early guilty plea, good work history and a strong testimonial from her current employer. McGarry had no prior convictions, had fully repaid the stolen money, and was described as otherwise good character. The judge noted her severe financial pressure and a miscarriage at the time of the offences. McGarry was ordered to keep the peace and be of good behaviour for the duration of the suspended sentence.
In 2016, a trio of men—Stefan Saunders (40), Francis Murphy (39) and Damien Noonan (32)—conspired to rob a cash‑in‑transit van carrying over €2 million in County Meath. They were caught after Gardaí arrived, but the men had already prepared the scene: they broke into a disused bank, disabled the alarm, sprayed bleach, and waited with a stolen BMW X5. Saunders carried a semi‑automatic pistol with eight blank rounds, Murphy had a crowbar, and Noonan possessed the stolen vehicle. All three pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery, possession of a firearm, and possession of a stolen vehicle. On 12 June 2018 they were each sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment, with a two‑and‑a‑half‑year suspended portion. The Director of Public Prosecutions has applied for a review, arguing the sentences were unduly lenient, while the Court of Appeal has reserved its judgment. The case remains at the appeal stage.
Edward O'Keeffe, a 38‑year‑old supermarket manager, was sentenced to five years in prison for possessing a sawn‑off semi‑automatic shotgun and a stolen Suzuki motorcycle. Gardaí searched his Mulhuddart home on the basis of confidential information and found the gun in a bag under the floorboards, wrapped in black tape, and a spent cartridge. The shotgun had not been used in any offence. O'Keeffe claimed he was pressured by a criminal gang to hold the items. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Melanie Greally suspended the last two and a half years of the sentence, citing financial pressures and evidence of his responsible family role. The judge noted that the gang's operations relied on people "under the radar" and that O'Keeffe was not on any Garda radar. The case was defended by Kenneth Kerins BL, who highlighted O'Keeffe's managerial role and the distress of his children during the search.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Sandra Warren, aged 43, pleaded guilty to robbing a foreign student on May 23, 2016. The student, who had been in Ireland for four days, was led down a lane by Warren after asking for directions. Warren, who was using drugs at the time, grabbed the student's bag, taking her wallet, bank cards and phone. Garda Daniel Hanlon described the victim as traumatised, left confused and with "whiplash injuries," and noted she had difficulty trusting people after the incident. Warren admitted she was under pressure from a man to obtain money and has since ended that relationship. The court adjourned sentencing to July 1, 2019, to allow a psychiatric assessment and to consider a proposal for restitution. Warren has eight prior convictions for robbery, burglary and theft.
Deanna Brogan, 21, avoided jail after a judge placed her on a six‑month good behaviour bond for her role in a violent robbery on a Dublin city bus on St Patrick's Day 2015. Brogan, who had previously been involved in a street assault on a Brazilian man and a violent disorder offence in Temple Bar, admitted to slapping a minor victim twice in the face after the victim had returned his borrowed mobile phone. The attack was captured on CCTV and the victim has expressed ongoing fear of entering the city centre. Brogan's 12 prior convictions include two assault offences. The judge described the bus incident as "mean spirited" and "thuggish," and warned that any further offence would result in a prison sentence. She ordered Brogan to appear again on 10 October. The case also involved her partner Edward Doran, who pleaded guilty to impeding the apprehension of a robber.
In March 2019, an 18‑year‑old named Dylan Lynch was sentenced to six years in prison for a series of violent offences. In July 2018, he assaulted a teenage girl in his home, repeatedly slamming a door into her head, setting fire to her hair, cutting clumps of singed hair and throwing them out the window. He also filmed the incident and shared it on Snapchat. The assault was described by Judge Melanie Greally as "sadistic" and "degrading." Lynch had previously been convicted of robbery and assault with a vodka bottle three months earlier, for which he received a four‑and‑a‑half‑year term. The two sentences run consecutively, with the last 18 months suspended on the condition that he engage with the Probation Service. The judge noted his youth, childhood trauma, remorse and drug addiction issues in determining the suspended period. The unnamed teenager pleaded guilty.
In March 2019, Gerard Cully, a 32‑year‑old crack cocaine addict, was sentenced to seven and a half years' imprisonment for a series of violent robberies. He robbed a taxi driver on Railway Street, demanding €30 and the driver's car keys while threatening him with a pointed weapon and an accomplice strangling the victim with a rope. Cully also attempted to rob a convenience store and successfully robbed two other shops in Dublin's city centre, taking a total of €415. He was armed with a knife and a hammer during these offences. Judge Melanie Greally described the crimes as a "spree of severe offences committed at a very high level" to obtain money for his addiction. Cully pleaded guilty, expressed remorse, and had previously sought help for his addiction. The judge imposed concurrent sentences, suspended the final 18 months on strict conditions, and considered his psychological report and prior attempts at treatment.
Patrick Stokes, aged 38, was convicted of robbing Claire Coulter's handbag on a footpath in Grangegorman Lower, Dublin, on 2 October 2018. The robbery involved three men; Stokes was one of them. Coulter was walking home when the men approached, one of whom grabbed her handbag, which contained €450, a mobile phone and house keys. The strap broke during the struggle, and Coulter screamed and chased the assailant toward Stoneybatter. Witnesses followed him and helped apprehend him. Stokes claimed he was not the one who took the bag, saying another man had taken it, but he later pleaded guilty to the robbery. He had 49 prior convictions and was serving a suspended sentence for burglary at the time. The court sentenced him to two years' imprisonment, to run consecutively with his current custodial sentence. The victim's impact statement expressed that she no longer feels safe walking home.
Stephen Finn, aged 32, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended, for a series of burglaries at Trinity College and other locations in 2017. He had 115 prior convictions, including 21 burglaries, and was known for stealing to fund a drug habit. The court heard that Finn stole laptops from outside lecture halls, causing a student to fail an exam due to the loss. CCTV identified Finn, who evaded detection during the thefts. He pleaded guilty to burglary at two Trinity departments, the Central Hotel, and a business on Pearse Street. The judge noted the severe consequences for victims, Finn's remorse, efforts to address drug addiction, and his role as a father. Finn's sentence reflects the seriousness of the offences and his established pattern of theft.
Andrew Shannon, 54, was convicted on 31 January 2014 of handling a stolen Frederick Goodall oil painting, a 1892 desert scene taken from Bantry House in Cork in March 2006. Gardaí discovered the painting, valued at about €5,000, during a 2014 search of his home on unrelated grounds. A jury found him guilty after a two‑day trial, and Judge Patricia Ryan sentenced him to two years' imprisonment in November 2014. He was due to appeal the conviction today but had dismissed his solicitor and intended to represent himself. Judge George Birmingham warned him that the Court of Appeal, a three‑judge panel, was unconvinced he could do justice alone and urged him to secure counsel. The case was scheduled for hearing on 16 May. Shannon has 51 prior convictions, including theft, burglary and handling stolen property, and was previously jailed for damaging a Monet painting at the National Gallery of Ireland in 2012.
A 19-year-old man from Strokestown, County Longford, has been sentenced to four years imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for violent offences committed during an escape from Oberstown Children's Detention Campus in Lusk, County Dublin, on 29 May 2017. Michael Ward pleaded guilty to criminal damage, assault causing harm, and assault while attempting to commit theft. During the incident, Ward struck the campus director with a metal bar, causing bleeding, and caused extensive damage to the facility estimated at €17,135. He and other detainees barricaded themselves in an office, armed themselves with metal fixtures, and used an angle grinder to breach the campus perimeter fence. Judge Patricia Ryan imposed concurrent sentences of four years for assault and five years for criminal damage, suspending the final 12 months of both terms. She considered Ward's early guilty plea, efforts at rehabilitation, youth, and apology. Ward is currently serving an earlier four-year sentence, with 12 months suspended, for separate criminal damage offences at Oberstown.