Susan Redmond, a 49‑year‑old mother from Kilbarrack, Dublin, who had worked at Larkhill and District Credit Union for 20 years, admitted to taking out false loans and cashing cheques from members' accounts between 3 July 2003 and 26 April 2013. She pleaded guilty to ten sample theft charges, representing 102 thefts, and the court heard that 40 account holders, all friends and family, were reimbursed by the credit union. The investigation revealed that Redmond's bank account showed money moving in and out, but no evidence of large purchases such as cars or holidays; she claimed the money was spent on day‑to‑day items. A psychologist described her as a vulnerable woman with compulsive buying disorder and severe depression. The judge adjourned the case for Probation Service assessment and remanded her on bail until April.
Patrick Lynch, 38, was found guilty of assaulting his partner and abducting her two‑year‑old son on 7 November 2016. He was originally sentenced to two years' imprisonment with six months suspended. The Director of Public Prosecutions applied for a review, arguing the sentence was unduly lenient. The Court of Appeal, in a three‑judge panel, increased the sentence to three years' imprisonment with nine months suspended. Lynch had spent much of the day drinking outside a dwelling while his partner and the infant were inside. He attacked the partner with a brush handle, punched her in the face, rammed a toilet door with his shoulder and assaulted her while she sat on the toilet. He later drove away with the infant, who was handed over to Gardaí at or near Naas Courthouse. Lynch has 148 previous convictions, including violent disorder, burglary and robbery, and more than 100 road‑traffic convictions. Patrick Lynch pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Stefan Boyle, aged 31, was sentenced to two and a half years in prison for an aggravated burglary at Ali Hussain House, Milltown Bridge, Dundrum, on 2 November 2016. Boyle, who has 110 prior convictions including 63 for burglary and a history of drug and alcohol addiction, broke into a mosque with a knife, stole two phones from caretaker Ali Yassine's bedroom, and later returned them after a chance encounter. Yassine, who did not realise the theft until after Boyle left, later met Boyle again, who handed back the phones and apologised. Boyle pleaded guilty, and Judge Karen O'Connor noted his chaotic background and failure to complete a residential drug treatment programme. The judge imposed a three and a half year sentence with the final 12 months suspended, citing the Probation Service's inability to supervise him.
A 50‑year‑old man was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment, with the final six months suspended, for 22 offences of sexual abuse, oral rape, child sexual exploitation and attempted rape committed between October 2009 and July 2011 in his Dublin family home. The victim, aged 13 to 15 at the time, was abused for three years while a young teenager. She testified that the abuse left her feeling "killed inside" and described ongoing psychological harm. The judge noted the man's manipulation, control and failure to fulfil his paternal duties, and ordered him to engage with the Probation Service for six months upon release. The man denied all allegations, claimed the victim fabricated the story, and has not expressed remorse. He has prior convictions for handling stolen property and fraud and has been in custody since 2017. The court suspended the final six months of the term, taking into account his good work history.
Warren Nolan, 22, was sentenced today by Mr Justice Paul McDermott to the mandatory term of life imprisonment for the murder of Alan O'Neill. Nolan was found guilty of this charge by a majority jury verdict in December. He was also found guilty by unanimous verdict of setting fire to the car used in the attack. For the arson, the judge imposed a six-year sentence, noting that while an appropriate range was seven to ten years, he considered Nolan's young age and mitigating factors. Both sentences were backdated to September 2017. The court heard from Doris O'Neill, the victim's mother, who described her son as a "gentle giant" and stated she would never understand his murder. Counsel for Nolan highlighted his difficult background and low intellectual ability, while the prosecution noted his 24 previous convictions, including a recent firearms offense. Evidence indicated the shooting was planned, with the stolen vehicle stalking the victim prior to the attack. Nolan was arrested near a burning car and denied involvement in the murder during interviews, claiming he only set the vehicle alight. The judge's sentencing concluded the procedural stage for these proven charges.
A 24‑year‑old man, Gamiya Muftau, will be sentenced later for his role in a €350,000 fraud that stole money from Maynooth University. In summer 2015, university staff paid a contractor, Rhatigans, into a fraudulent account after a phone call from someone claiming to be from the firm. The university transferred €362,810 to the fake account, which was then moved through 15 transactions to several accounts, one belonging to Muftau. He pleaded guilty to possessing €18,100 as proceeds of crime at AIB, Capel Street, on 25 August 2015. Muftau was arrested in December 2016, gave false addresses, and later admitted he was squatting. He claimed he was unaware the money was stolen and had no access to it. He has seven prior convictions, mainly traffic offences. Judge Melanie Greally ordered a probation report and adjourned sentencing to 14 March.
A 17‑year‑old, who cannot be named under the Children Act, was sentenced to two years' detention for firing a stolen Winchester Super Grade 12‑gauge double‑barrel shotgun into bushes along the Grand Canal in Dublin. The youth, who had pleaded guilty to possessing the stolen firearm and 39 cartridges on 31 August, admitted he fired the gun because he was "bored and 17 years of age." Gardaí had observed him raising the gun in front of CCTV cameras, pursued him, and seized the weapon and ammunition. The gun had been stolen from its owner's unlocked car a month earlier. The defendant has 40 prior convictions, including assault, robbery, drug misuse, theft and criminal damage. The judge, noting his young age, immaturity and difficult upbringing, set a headline sentence of six years but, under the Children Act, imposed a two‑year detention followed by two years of probation with conditions on addiction, training and employment.
Greg Walsh, 70, of Castleknock, pleaded guilty to 119 thefts totalling €998,476 from Carline Learning Centre and other parties between 2008 and 2016, and to four thefts totalling €150,000 from Bank of Ireland in 2015. He misappropriated charity funds to pay tax bills and used money from friends and relatives as a tax agent, failing to forward revenue payments. The court heard victims suffered losses of €10,000 and €14,138, and civil proceedings were initiated by two brothers over a €150,000 debt. Judge Pauline Codd sentenced him to four years' imprisonment, suspending the final two and a half years on the condition of good behaviour for two and a half years after release. The sentence reflected the multiplicity of offences, breach of trust, duration of conduct, and the amount stolen, while noting his guilty pleas, cooperation, and health issues as mitigating factors.
Alan McDonagh, 33, was caught driving a stolen Europcar that had a tracking device. He pleaded guilty to burglary and unauthorised taking of a car on Camden Street Upper on 8 September 2017 and to robbing a young woman of her purse at Stephen's Green East on 3 November 2017. The court noted he became addicted to heroin at 16, has spent over half his life in custody, and has 173 previous convictions, 13 for Circuit Court offences. He is on bail for other offences. The court adjourned sentencing to 7 February to allow him to finish methadone treatment. He has requested to serve his sentence at Midlands prison to stay near family and avoid influences at Mountjoy. He has written apology letters to both victims. The sentencing will occur on 7 February.
Michael Cummins, aged 32, of Applewood Avenue, Swords, pleaded guilty to stealing an iPhone, making a threat to kill, burglary, false imprisonment and assault in Swords on 9 August 2017. He threatened to pour acid into a boy's eye and to blow up their house, actions that occurred during a drug‑induced paranoid episode. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court sentenced him to two years' imprisonment on 27 February 2018. The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed, arguing the sentence was unduly lenient. The Court of Appeal added a two‑year suspended sentence, to be applied upon his release. Cummins' final net sentence is four years' imprisonment, with the last two years suspended. The case involved two teenage boys, aged 13 and 15, who were falsely imprisoned and threatened with violence. The Court noted Cummins' 230 prior convictions and the serious nature of the offence, including a racial element. The suspended sentence will be activated if he reoffends.
Alan Ellis, 26, of Rathmines, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to threatening to kill or seriously harm a prison officer and to producing a blade during a dispute at Mountjoy Prison on 28 June 2016. He attempted to slice the officer's wrist with a blade moulded into a toothbrush handle while the officer was handing him toilet paper. Ellis claimed he had decided to "get" the officer because he was disrespectful and intended to slice his wrist, but later expressed guilt. He has 35 prior convictions, including assault on a peace officer, false imprisonment, burglary, theft, trespass and possession of knives. Judge Patricia Ryan sentenced him to four years' imprisonment, suspending the final year on the condition that he keep the peace and be of good behaviour for three years after release. The sentence was back‑dated to 21 July 2017, the date he entered custody for this matter.
A 44‑year‑old former Croatian café worker, Mario Hanzic Broz, was found homeless after his work hours were cut, leading to a court hearing in Dublin. Broz attempted to rob two post offices in May 2018, carrying a 6mm air pistol. In the first incident at Botanic Road Post Office, he entered the building, shouted for money, but left without taking any cash. The elderly postmaster, aware of firearms from past robberies, could not see him on CCTV and later discovered he was gone. Two days later, at Berkeley Road Post Office, Broz approached a cashier, produced the pistol from a plastic bag, demanded money, then turned around and fled. Gardaí arrived after the panic button was pressed, and Broz was arrested at Blessington Street Basin. He pleaded guilty to attempted robbery and possession of an air pistol at both locations, with no prior convictions in Ireland.
The Court of Appeal has adjourned the matter, reserving its judgment on an appeal by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) against the sentence imposed on Michael Cummins. Cummins, a 32-year-old man from Swords with 230 previous convictions, pleaded guilty to stealing an iPhone, making a threat to kill, burglary, false imprisonment, and assault in Swords on August 9, 2017. He was sentenced to two years' imprisonment by Judge Martin Nolan on February 27, 2018. The DPP is seeking a review of this sentence on the grounds that it was "unduly lenient." During the appeal hearing, counsel for the DPP, Maurice Coffey BL, highlighted the "bizarreness" of the incident and questioned how aggravating and mitigating factors were balanced, noting that the sentencing judge had not indicated a headline sentence. The three-judge panel, presided over by Mr Justice George Birmingham with Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, heard the arguments and reserved its judgment. Consequently, the matter was adjourned, and Cummins must wait to hear whether his two-year jail term will be increased.
Matthew Ellis, 38, was sentenced to three and a half years in prison, with the final 12 months suspended, after pleading guilty to threatening to kill a shop security guard. The incident occurred on 26 October 2017 at Spa Road, Inchicore, when Ellis, holding five bullets between his teeth, told the guard he would return after finishing his pizza to kill him. He also called the guard a "garda informer" and claimed ownership of Inchicore. Gardaí intervened, confiscated the bullets, and Ellis was taken into custody. He had 71 prior convictions, including assault, burglary, knife possession, drug dealing and robbery. Ellis's defence cited his intoxication, a perceived slight over shop entry, and his history of drug addiction. The judge noted his guilty plea, remorse, poor physical and fragile mental health, and previous drug‑treatment efforts, and accepted a €5,000 compensation from his family.
Sean O'Kelly, aged 24, admitted to endangering three generations of a family when he set two cars on fire in their driveway, forcing an 80‑year‑old woman, her granddaughter and a ten‑week‑old great‑grandson to seek refuge in the back garden. The heat from the blazing cars melted the front door shut, and the family feared they would have to choose between saving the infant or the grandmother if the house caught fire. O'Kelly also vandalised six other cars and stole items from them on the same night. He pleaded guilty to one count of endangerment, one count of robbery, two counts of burglary and six counts of criminal damage. Separately, he admitted arson of two cars in an underground carpark, causing an estimated €90,000 of damage, for which an insurance settlement of over €76,000 was later made. The court noted O'Kelly's 24 previous convictions, his rehabilitation from drug addiction, and his apology letters.
Otis Reynolds, 21, of Crumlin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assaulting Andrew Cummins causing him harm at Raphoe Road, Crumlin, on March 9, 2017. The court heard that Cummins had punched Reynolds during a fight 15 months prior. On the day of the incident, Cummins approached Reynolds' Ford Focus to apologise. Garda John Griffin testified that Cummins was struck by the vehicle, thrown into the air, and landed heavily on his right side, resulting in numbness in his left leg and soreness in his back. Reynolds, who has 16 previous convictions for theft, drugs, and traffic offences, was on bail for another charge at the time. He claimed he panicked and did not intend to hit Cummins, though he later retracted a claim that Cummins was about to strike him. Judge Martina Baxter suspended a two-year prison term on the condition that Reynolds keep the peace for two years. She also ordered him to complete 200 hours of community service over that period. Reynolds had raised €1,000 from his wages for Cummins as an expression of remorse. Defence counsel highlighted Reynolds' young age, his admissions, and his current plumbing apprenticeship.
In a hearing at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Alan Ellis, 26, pleaded guilty to threatening to kill a prison officer and producing a blade during a dispute at Mountjoy Prison on 28 June 2016. Ellis used a blade moulded into a toothbrush handle to strike the officer's wrist while the officer was delivering toilet paper. Ellis admitted he intended to slice the officer's wrist, saying "Fuck you, I'll chop you up," and later expressed guilt. The officer's victim impact statement described the assault as unnerving and left him shaken. Ellis has 35 prior convictions, including assault on a peace officer, false imprisonment, burglary, theft, trespass and possession of knives. He had been in solitary confinement for most of the last four years and was serving a sentence for false imprisonment at the time of the attack.
Luke Foran, aged 21, pleaded guilty to burglary, criminal damage, vehicle theft and theft offences between March and May 2017. He entered a family‑owned garage in Fairview on 12 March 2017, ransacked the premises, set off a fire extinguisher, stole a BMW, damaged other cars and the garage's electronic shutters, crashed the BMW into a pole, stole a Hyundai and set it on fire at Dublin Port. The garage suffered €20,300 in damage. In May 2017 he ransacked an 81‑year‑old woman's home, stole her purse and €150, withdrew €1,480 from her account, and caused damage to her window and door. Foran had 33 prior convictions. The Court of Appeal increased his sentence to five years' imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended, citing the severity of the offences and his extensive criminal record. The sentence was reduced by a year for his early guilty plea, youth and engagement with rehabilitation services.
A Dublin man, Robert Ward, aged 24, was sentenced to three years in prison for fraud after he altered a €11,321 cheque taken from a flooring company and attempted to lodge it at AIB on Swords Road, Santry, on 13 June 2014. He also admitted using a €5,221 cheque as a false instrument at an AIB branch on St Brigid's Road, Artane, on 12 May 2014. Gardaí arrested eight people in connection with the fraud offences. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced Ward to four years, suspended the final 12 months, and credited him for seven months already spent in custody. Ward had previously pleaded guilty to stealing a safe containing €500 from Teo's Takeaway in Coolock on 27 March 2017. He has 106 prior convictions, including 18 for theft and three for Circuit Court offences.
In a case heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, William Butler, aged 52, was sentenced to three years' custody for stealing €19,380 from the pension fund of a widow, Kathleen Carroll, who had let him stay at her home. Butler admitted taking the money over three months between November 2013 and January 2014, using her banking details to withdraw the funds from the Bank of Ireland. He had no prior convictions. Judge Karen O'Connor described Carroll's husband as having died months earlier and noted that Carroll was a vulnerable person who was preyed upon by Butler's regular withdrawals. Butler was given a full admission of guilt, pleaded guilty, and was ordered to undergo treatment programmes for gambling and alcohol if required. The judge suspended the final 12 months of the sentence and commended Carroll for her dignified conduct in court. The sentence was imposed with consideration of Butler's personal difficulties and the impact on his family and reputation.
Mazin Albaqir, 51, was sentenced to four years in prison with the final two years suspended after pleading guilty to seven counts of stealing €178,000 in social welfare payments between February 2002 and December 2009. He failed to disclose a property in the UAE valued at about €110,000 and savings of €47,500. Albaqir, an Irish citizen originally from Iraq, had lived in Ireland since 1999 and is a married father of three. He used part of the stolen money to fund a master's degree and has repaid €56,000, leaving a debt of just under €123,000. The court noted his cooperation, guilty plea, and lack of prior convictions, and accepted that he is not a risk of re‑offending. Judge Pauline Codd highlighted that welfare fraud undermines fairness and social solidarity. The suspended portion reflects his remorse and cooperation. The case also mentioned his recent hospital admission for suicidal ideation and separation from his wife.
Alan Jackson, 32, a homeless man with no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to criminal damage by arson at Patricia Martin's flat in Rathmines on 21 August 2017. The fire caused over €29,000 in damage and forced Martin and her daughter to leave their 17‑year home. Jackson was sentenced by Judge Martina Baxter to six years' imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended for 18 months on condition he engage with Probation Services after release. He had 50 prior convictions, including burglary, threats to kill, and robbery, and had recently received a four‑year suspended sentence for robbery. The court noted Jackson's early guilty plea, troubled family background, drug addiction history and remorse as mitigating factors. The sentence was back‑dated to 23 August 2017, the day he entered custody.
A 29-year-old man from Ballymun pleaded guilty to burglary at Copper Face Jacks nightclub in Dublin on 27 May 2017. Jason Whelan admitted stealing approximately 20 bottles of spirits valued between €700 and €900 from the premises. Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that Whelan entered the nightclub on three occasions and took bottles from behind the counter. CCTV footage captured him committing the thefts, and he was subsequently identified and arrested. Whelan has 91 previous convictions, including 43 for burglary offences. In a letter to the sentencing judge, he expressed remorse and stated his intention to become an honest member of society and positive father figure. His counsel noted Whelan is currently drug-free and receiving methadone treatment. Judge Melanie Greally acknowledged the sincerity of his expressed commitment to rehabilitation and adjourned sentencing to 13 March pending probation and prison reports.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 7 December 2018, Judge Melanie Greally praised an 84‑year‑old woman for her "great resilience" after a burglary at her home in Temple Cottages, Broadstone, Dublin 7, two years earlier. The woman, who had lived in the house since 1958 and lived alone since her husband's death, was shocked when burglar Wayne Murphy, a 43‑year‑old from North Frederick Street, entered through an open kitchen window. She screamed, tried to grab him, but he fled with her wallet and €125. Neighbours helped, and Murphy was arrested. The judge noted the victim's stoic attitude, her increased security measures, and her refusal to let the event affect her life. Murphy pleaded guilty to trespass and theft, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment with the final 12 months suspended, and is due for release next year.
Paschal Kelly, aged 53, with an address in Cootehill, County Cavan, has been convicted of tiger kidnapping, false imprisonment and robbery at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The offences occurred on 25 September 2014, when a postmistress, her daughter and an Italian student were abducted from their home in Malahide, Dublin. The three were taken from the residence by masked intruders and driven to multiple locations before being brought to Bayside Post Office in Sutton, where cash was stolen. The jury returned unanimous guilty verdicts on all charges following one hour and forty minutes of deliberation. Kelly pleaded not guilty to all charges throughout the trial, which extended to nine weeks. A jury of seven men and five women heard evidence that included witness testimony and DNA analysis. Kelly has been remanded in custody pending sentencing in January 2019. Judge Karen O'Connor directed that victim impact statements be prepared for the three persons injured by the offences.
A jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has begun deliberations in the trial of Paschal Kelly, aged 53, from Cootehill, Co. Cavan, who has pleaded not guilty to charges arising from an incident on September 25, 2014. The charges include trespass, false imprisonment of three women at a property in Malahide, robbery of cash from a post office in Sutton, threats to kill, and unlawful possession of a vehicle. Before directing the jury to consider verdicts, Judge Karen O'Connor issued a cautionary direction regarding identification evidence, noting that responsible witnesses have previously made identifications later proven erroneous. The judge advised the jury to exercise particular care when assessing identification evidence and to consider all surrounding circumstances, including the time of day and conditions prevailing during observations. She also instructed them that photofits are limited in evidential value and that DNA presence alone at a crime scene does not establish guilt beyond reasonable doubt. The jury of five women and seven men is expected to resume deliberations the following day.
At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, the defence barrister in a tiger kidnapping trial has submitted that the State's case against Paschal Kelly, aged 52 and with an address in Cootehill, County Cavan, is fundamentally flawed. Martin O'Rourke SC argued that gardaí investigating the matter had adopted a fixed view of his client and ignored a potentially fruitful line of inquiry into another man who could have participated in the offence. Mr Kelly has pleaded not guilty to charges including false imprisonment of a postmistress, her daughter and an Italian lodger at a property in Malahide on 25 September 2014, and to robbery from Bayside Post Office in Sutton the same day. The defence contended that no identification parade was conducted and that up to twelve civilian witnesses with relevant descriptions were not called to give evidence. Mr O'Rourke submitted that the DNA evidence was equivocal and invited the jury to return not guilty verdicts on all counts.
Nathan Foley, 20, of Rosary Road, Maryland, Dublin 8, was sentenced at the Special Criminal Court for participating in or contributing to activity intending to facilitate the murder of David Douglas. The court heard that Foley acted as a 'foot soldier' and 'runner' for a criminal organisation, driving one of four vehicles used in the killing. Mr Douglas, 55, was shot six times at his partner's shop in Bridgefoot Street on July 1, 2016. Foley admitted to the charge under Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006, which carries a maximum penalty of 15 years. The court noted his early guilty plea and mitigating factors, including a mild intellectual disability and vulnerability, though the judge described his role as significant. Frederick 'Freddie' Thompson, 37, was previously found guilty of Mr Douglas's murder and sentenced to life imprisonment. The source text indicates Foley was remanded in custody until January 25 for sentencing, but the validated procedural stage is sentence. The report details the coordinated use of stolen vehicles, including a Mercedes and a Mitsubishi Mirage driven by Foley, and the subsequent recovery of evidence linking him to the scene. The court acknowledged his 32 previous convictions, including a concurrent sentence for cocaine possession.
At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, prosecution counsel has outlined what it characterises as compelling evidence linking Paschal Kelly, aged 52, from Cootehill, Co. Cavan, to a tiger kidnapping at Malahide in September 2014. Mr Kelly has pleaded not guilty to charges including false imprisonment of a postmistress and two other persons, robbery from Bayside Post Office, threats to kill, trespass, and unauthorised use of a vehicle. The prosecution submitted that physical descriptions provided by the victim matched the accused, that mobile phone tracking placed a getaway driver at the crime scene, and that DNA evidence recovered from discarded clothing and items found in gardens corresponded with Mr Kelly's profile. Counsel argued the combination of eyewitness descriptions, CCTV footage, forensic evidence, and witness testimony created a case leaving no reasonable doubt as to guilt. The trial before Judge Karen O'Connor is continuing, with defence submissions to follow.
Michael Collins, who had a recent bail address at Mellows Park in Finglas, pleaded guilty to handling stolen property in Enniscorthy on 1 February 2015. He was found guilty of three counts involving stolen power tools worth almost €7,000 and two high‑quality bicycles worth just under €2,000. The owner had reported a burglary a few days earlier and Collins recognised the tools by their distinctive yellow cables. He was sentenced to 10 months' imprisonment, with the final four months suspended for five years, by Judge Barry Hickson. Collins' lawyers sought a judicial review, arguing the five‑year suspension was disproportionate, but the High Court rejected the appeal and the Court of Appeal upheld that decision. Justice Isobel Kennedy confirmed there is no statutory limit on the length of a suspended sentence and that the judge's decision was proportionate and evidence‑based.
In a Special Criminal Court case, Dublin men Conor Hughes (41) and Darren Fox (28) pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a Winchester 12‑gauge, sawn‑off, double‑barrel shotgun and two 12‑gauge cartridges. The weapons were seized on 31 October 2015 in a stolen car in Limerick, where a loaded shotgun, a jerry can of petrol and matches were found. The men were wearing gloves and hoodies, and the shotgun's serial number had been removed. Both had clean criminal records. The court sentenced them to seven years' imprisonment on 2 October 2017, a sentence upheld by the Court of Appeal on 4 December 2018. The appeal was dismissed, with the Court of Appeal noting the seriousness of a sawn‑off shotgun, its readiness to fire, and the connection to IRA activity as factors justifying the sentence.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 5 June 2018, William Connors, aged 29, pleaded guilty to possession of two stolen rings found in a sock at Dom Marmion car park, Dundrum. The rings—a 13‑carat gold ring worth €2,000 and a second ring worth €200—had been stolen earlier that day from a house. Connors was caught after attempting to flee, having removed a sock from his pocket and discarded it. He has 62 prior convictions, including burglary, possession of stolen property, criminal damage and traffic offences. Judge Cormac Quinn sentenced him to two years' imprisonment, backdating the term to the day of his initial arrest. The sentence was mitigated by Connors' early guilty plea, personal circumstances, tragic family background and age, while the aggravating factor was the impact on the victim, who was deeply shaken and distressed upon discovering her bedroom had been upended.
Dominic Downes, aged 23, pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary of a house in Hazel Park, Newcastle, on 24 September 2016. He was sentenced by Judge Rory McCabe at Galway Circuit Criminal Court to six years imprisonment on 18 July 2017. Downes appealed against the severity of his sentence, but the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal, holding that the six‑year term was within the range available to the Circuit Court judge. The Court of Appeal, presided over by President Mr Justice George Birmingham, noted that Downes entered the house armed with a hunting knife and a hatchet, both of which had been stolen the day before, indicating premeditation. A bag containing €1,760 worth of stolen property was dropped during the escape, and the burglary caused significant injury to the occupants, including PTSD and a move out of the house. Downes had a history of criminal activity and drug problems, and had committed further offences while on bail.
Anthony Graham, 28, of Finglas, was sentenced to three years in prison, with 18 months suspended for 24 months, after pleading guilty to robbing 81‑year‑old Rita Murphy of her handbag on St Margaret's Road on 6 January 2018. The handbag contained pension money, reading glasses, keys and groceries. Graham had previously been convicted of robbery offences involving a 19‑year‑old woman's purse and a 48‑year‑old woman's handbag. Judge Martina Baxter described the robbery as a "cowardly, exploitative and opportunistic offence" and noted that Graham, a father of one, left Murphy "helpless on the ground". Garda Michael Costello recounted how he heard screams, saw the victim on the ground, and later pursued Graham, who admitted the robbery and discarded items from the bag. The judge took into account Graham's early guilty plea, cooperation with the investigation, and personal circumstances, and imposed the suspended sentence.
David Berney, 37, of Suncroft Park, Tallaght, pleaded guilty to burglary of a Centra store in Jobstown on 2 March 2018 during Storm Emma. He was already on bail for a 2014 burglary of a private home in Stepaside, for which he had also pleaded guilty. Berney admitted that his offences were driven by a drug habit, citing cocaine use at the time of the shop looting. He has prior convictions for robbery, assault, burglary and threats to kill. Judge Cormac Quinn sentenced him to two years for the 2014 burglary and an additional 18 months for the 2018 looting, suspending the latter on the condition of keeping the peace and engaging in addiction and social reintegration services. The court noted Berney was found hiding in the shop's cash room, and a sledgehammer was used by accomplices to break into the back offices. The case remains under the jurisdiction of the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
In a 2018 hearing, Gardaí used thermal imaging from a helicopter to locate Folarin Odunlami (22) and Arnaud Farel (20) after they robbed a young man on Station Road, Lusk, on 9 March 2016. The pair had stolen a phone, wallet and €110, and the victim fled to a nursing home and called the police. Gardaí chased them, who fell 15 ft from a footbridge into a carpark and hid under brambles. Thermal imaging detected them, and Gardaí recovered the victim's items and the men's driving licence. Farel received a three‑year sentence with 18 months suspended, to run consecutively with a six‑year sentence for a prior assault. Odunlami's sentencing was adjourned pending a suitability assessment for community service. The court heard Odunlami had two prior minor convictions and was studying computer systems in Dundalk. The case was heard by Judge Melanie Greally. Folarin Odunlami pleaded guilty. Arnaud Farel pleaded guilty.
Andrew Shannon, 54, of Dublin, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for possessing a stolen oil painting by Frederick Goodall, valued at €5,000. The painting, a desert scene dated 1892, had been taken from Bantry House in Cork in March 2006. Gardaí discovered the artwork during a 2014 search of Shannon's home for an unrelated matter. He was charged in September 2016, released on bail, but violated bail by travelling to the UK, prompting a European Arrest Warrant. A jury convicted him on 28 November 2018 after a two‑day trial. The sentence was back‑dated to 20 February 2018, the day he first entered custody on these matters. Shannon has 51 prior convictions, including theft, burglary and handling stolen property, and had previously received a six‑year sentence for damaging a Monet painting worth €10 million. He has ongoing health problems, including a quadruple bypass heart surgery in 2013, and is a student at Mountjoy Education Centre.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a woman who was robbed and beaten on Nassau Street on 26 May 2016 described how the attacker, Marese Craig, 21, approached her after a night out, demanded money, pushed her to the ground, kicked her, and stole €57. The victim later reported seeing Craig again and called the Gardaí. She expressed that she is now "wary of helping homeless people" and feels it is a shame because she believes in aiding those in need. Craig, who has 47 prior convictions, pleaded guilty to the robbery, as well as to trespass and theft from a 90‑year‑old shop owner on 27 September 2017 and to robbery of a bank card from a man on 2 February 2018. The court noted Craig is in custody and is taking steps toward rehabilitation, with sentencing adjourned to 6 December. The victim's impact statement was read in court.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, Paul O'Brien (36) and Niall Sheil (40) were found guilty of robbing Dympna's Clairvoyant in Crumlin on 6 January 2015. O'Brien entered first, claiming he wanted an appointment, while Sheil arrived armed with a steel bar. Both men stole cash, purses and phones from the clairvoyant and customers. O'Brien had previously pleaded guilty to two robbery counts and had been granted a suspended sentence in 2015, but the judge noted he had relapsed and failed to commit to rehabilitation. Judge Melanie Greally, after considering O'Brien's drug‑addiction history, sentenced him to four years' imprisonment with the final 12 months suspended, stating the court had exhausted all other options. Sheil received a four‑year suspended sentence in 2015. The robbery involved two staff members and two customers; €400 was taken from the reception, and all other items were recovered.
Shane Murphy, 31, of Cork, pleaded guilty to two thefts and dangerous driving that caused serious harm to a six‑month‑old baby on Blackrock Road in March 2017. The baby's skull was fractured after the mother was knocked to the ground and the buggy was swept against a wall. Murphy, the driver, fled the scene after retrieving stolen items and had previously stolen from two retail stores. He was sentenced to six years' imprisonment with the final year suspended, a sentence upheld by the Court of Appeal. The judge noted Murphy's 104 prior convictions, including two hit‑and‑run offences, his intoxication, disqualification, and the aggravating circumstances. The appeal was dismissed, confirming the original sentence. The baby continued treatment at the time of sentencing.
A detective has testified at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court that he holds the view a man accused of involvement in a €90,000 tiger kidnapping in 2014 has connections to organised crime. Paschal Kelly, aged 52 and from Cootehill, County Cavan, has pleaded not guilty to multiple charges arising from an incident at Malahide, Dublin, on 25 September 2014. The charges include trespass, false imprisonment of a postmistress and two other individuals, robbery from a post office, making threats to kill, and unlawful possession of a vehicle. During cross-examination by the defence, Detective Garda Domhnall O'Connell confirmed his belief regarding Mr Kelly's alleged links to organised crime. He explained to the court that gardaí did not conduct an identity parade due to the accused's significantly altered appearance since the alleged offence. The trial before Judge Karen O'Connor and a jury continues.
Catherine Gaffney, aged 52, was found guilty by a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court jury in June of stealing three Chanel handbags from Brown Thomas on Grafton Street on 28 March 2015. The handbags, valued at €10,150, were discovered missing during a stock take and CCTV footage showed Gaffney hiding them in her own bag. She was arrested after Gardaí identified her as a suspect. Gaffney had 35 prior convictions for shop‑lifting offences and six for larceny, and was on bail for another offence at the time of the theft. She had previously been convicted of further crimes. Her defence lawyer noted her family responsibilities and her efforts to address an alcohol problem. Judge Cormac Quinn sentenced her to two years in prison, suspending the final year of that term.
A man from Cootehill, County Cavan, has pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to charges arising from an alleged tiger kidnapping in September 2014. Paschal Kelly, aged 52, faces charges of trespass, false imprisonment of a postmistress and two others at a property in Malahide, robbery from a post office in Sutton, threats to kill, and unlawful possession of a vehicle. During the trial before Judge Karen O'Connor, a Detective Chief Superintendent gave evidence that two gardaí identified Mr Kelly as the driver of a vehicle used in the incident after reviewing CCTV footage. Defence counsel raised concerns that the two detectives had participated in Mr Kelly's arrest three weeks prior to viewing the footage. The witness rejected suggestions that gardaí had sought to conceal this prior involvement. The court heard that an identity parade had been discussed but was not conducted. The trial continues with evidence before the jury.
A 17‑year‑old boy, who cannot be named as a juvenile, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to robbing €144 from a shop in Dublin on 5 February 2018 and to an attempted robbery of another shop less than two hours later. He had 43 prior convictions, including robbery, theft and violent disorder. His mother called the Gardaí after he returned home intoxicated with cash and receipts, noting that the clothes he had changed into matched those worn by a suspect in CCTV footage of the first robbery. The boy claimed he had been on his way home after a few days when he met a drug addict and decided to rob the shop with him, taking 16 Xanax tablets. The shop owner reported that the boy used a piece of wood that looked like a chair leg and a six‑inch knife to threaten him, and that the other robber used a screwdriver and a syringe.
Eddie McEvoy, 34, a chronic drug addict, pleaded guilty to eight thefts and one trespass with intent between October 2017 and January 2018. He stole goods worth over €10,000, including €6,000 of scratch cards, 20 bottles of Armani Code perfume (€2,000), 200 packets of cigarettes, 25 vodka bottles, a rum bottle, and other cosmetics and alcohol. McEvoy's offences were opportunistic, targeting soft targets and often entering shops through open doors. He was captured on CCTV in several incidents, such as the Cath Kidston shop, Hickey's Pharmacy, Boots on Grafton Street, and Boots on Baggot Street. He admitted to stealing items from a staff room at Londis, taking €6,000 of scratch cards and other stock. McEvoy has 135 prior convictions, including 59 thefts, 17 drug offences and two robberies. He is currently clean of all drugs except methadone.
An 81‑year‑old Dublin woman was robbed on her way home from Eurospar in Bayside on 10 September 2016. The robber, Vasile Marin, 24, followed her, seized her purse containing about €300, and fled. The woman, who had recently had a pacemaker implanted, was so shocked that she could not open her front door for six months and had to rely on help. She later decided not to let the robbery dominate her life and now avoids cash, using home help for shopping. Marin, who has two prior theft convictions, pleaded guilty to robbery at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He admitted the crime, expressed remorse, and claimed he was motivated by a gambling debt and was somewhat intoxicated. The court adjourned sentencing to 27 February, ordered a probation report, and warned of possible custody.
The trial of Paschal Kelly, aged 52 and from Cootehill, Co. Cavan, has entered its seventh week at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Mr Kelly has pleaded not guilty to charges including trespass, false imprisonment of three people at a premises in Malahide, Dublin on September 25, 2014, robbery from a post office in Sutton, and making threats to kill. He has also denied unlawful possession of a vehicle in connection with the same date. The trial commenced in mid-October and was originally estimated to conclude within six weeks. Proceedings are now anticipated to continue for at least a further week. A juror's absence on the date in question prevented evidence from being heard, and the court has previously adjourned for legal submissions outside the jury's presence. Judge Karen O'Connor addressed the jury regarding compensation for shortened sitting days before directing them to return the following day.
David Murphy, 39, of Carlow, was jailed for four years after he held up a Centra shop in Dublin to pay his 21‑year‑old son's drug debt. He had been released from a seven‑year sentence in 2012, with five years suspended on a good‑behaviour condition. Judge Melanie Greally reactivated three of those suspended years and imposed a new five‑year sentence, suspending the final four years, for the attempted robbery on 28 December 2017. Murphy pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The robbery involved him threatening a shop employee, Marco Moniz, with a pair of scissors. Moniz tackled Murphy, and police arrived shortly after. Murphy admitted the offence was stupid, expressed remorse, and said he had no intention to injure anyone. The sentence is consecutive to the reactivated years. The case was prosecuted by Gerardine Small BL and defended by Keith Spencer BL. The article reports no further legal developments.
Patrick Dignam, 45, was tracked by Gardaí from the robbery scene to his home using CCTV footage. He threatened a staff member at a Centra convenience store on Harold's Cross Road with a rusty knife and stole €170. The footage showed him wearing distinctive tracksuit bottoms, which were later found at his home in Eagle Lodge, Leinster Road West, Dublin. Dignam pleaded guilty to the robbery at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He has 47 prior convictions, mainly for public order and road traffic offences, and was previously jailed for robbery in 1992. Garda Stephen Pendred reviewed shop footage, then canvassed local shops for additional footage, enabling the tracking of Dignam's movements to his residence. A warrant was obtained, and clothing matching the suspect was found. Dignam was arrested, but no cash was recovered. A victim impact statement noted the staff member was not injured but feels more nervous.
Brian Boyle, a 30‑year‑old former drug addict, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after he punched and kicked an innocent bystander at Longmeadows Apartments on 31 May 2016. Boyle admitted he was very drunk and had little memory of the incident, apologising to the victim who was hospitalised with head and body injuries. Judge Melanie Greally, noting Boyle's history of drug addiction and homelessness, accepted that he was now on the road to recovery and had taken important steps to address his addiction. She imposed a headline sentence of three and a half years, suspended on the condition that he keep the peace for that period, citing his guilty plea, cooperation with the investigation and expressions of remorse. The victim did not complete a victim impact statement. Boyle's 59 previous convictions include theft, robbery and car theft. The court emphasised that imprisoning him now would pose a risk to his rehabilitation process.