Laura Byrne, 40, of Ardglass, Baltinglass, was found guilty of eight counts of theft and two counts of deception by using false HSE receipts between 16 April 2015 and 21 October 2016. She admitted stealing €30,413 from the daily‑care wards at Clonskeagh Hospital, where patients paid €5 a day for meals and transport. The money was collected by Byrne, who was expected to lodge receipts to the HSE and keep an electronic record. Unofficial receipts and missing weeks raised concerns, and the hospital later reported the theft. Byrne gave a prepared statement admitting the theft, apologising, and explaining that her husband had been out of work for two years and then suffered a heart attack, leaving her to manage finances under extreme stress. She has no prior convictions. The court adjourned the case for 12 months to allow a probation report and for Byrne to continue restitution. She is due to be sentenced on 18 November next year.
A garda fingerprint expert has told Dublin Circuit Criminal Court that examination of a vehicle used in a €90,000 tiger kidnapping yielded no evidential value. Garda Frank Doyle said he found nothing of relevance during internal and external inspection of a Volkswagen Golf, nor did he recover relevant fingerprints from items within the car or from the home of postmistress Susan Lawlor, who was among three people abducted in the incident four years ago. Paschal Kelly, aged 52, from Cootehill, Co. Cavan, has pleaded not guilty to charges including false imprisonment of Ms Lawlor, her daughter, and an Italian student at a Dublin location on 25 September 2014. He has also denied robbery and threats to kill, as well as unlawful vehicle possession. Defence counsel questioned the expert regarding fingerprint contamination on surfaces and noted that third-party prints were found on CDs recovered from the car. The trial continues before Judge Karen O'Connor and a jury.
David Browne, 41, of Clondalkin, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to eight burglary counts in Celbridge in June 2017. Garda Conor Morris presented CCTV evidence of Browne entering sheds, taking power tools and a laptop from a business premises, and avoiding confrontation with homeowners. Browne has 171 prior convictions, including 36 theft offences, one robbery and 108 traffic offences. He had a four‑year sentence in 2013 for 11 thefts. Judge Pauline Codd imposed a four‑year prison term, suspending the last 15 months on condition he engage with the Probation Service after release.
A jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has heard evidence regarding garda procedures at a crime scene in a tiger kidnapping trial. Paschal Kelly, aged 52 and from Cootehill, County Cavan, has pleaded not guilty to charges of trespass and false imprisonment of a postmistress and two others at a property in Malahide on 25 September 2014. He has also pleaded not guilty to robbery at Bayside Post Office in Sutton and threats to kill the three individuals, as well as unlawful possession of a vehicle on the same date. On the twenty-second day of proceedings, three gardaí provided testimony concerning the preservation of the Bayside Post Office scene. Garda Daniel Rogers told the court that he maintained security of a Nissan Qashqai during technical examination and confirmed no unauthorised access occurred whilst he was on duty. The trial before Judge Karen O'Connor continues.
A detective gave evidence on day 21 of the trial of Paschal Kelly at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, describing the discovery of an additional licence plate during examination of a vehicle alleged to have been used in a tiger kidnapping. Mr Kelly, aged 52 and from Cootehill, County Cavan, has pleaded not guilty to charges including false imprisonment, robbery and threats relating to an incident at Malahide and Bayside Post Office on 25 September 2014. Detective Garda Seamus O'Donnell told the court he found a Meath licence plate in the boot of a grey Volkswagen Golf bearing Dublin plates. He collected DNA samples from items in the vehicle and noted damage to the passenger door and wing mirrors. The defence questioned whether DNA contamination may have occurred during handling, though the detective stated he changed gloves regularly. The trial continues before Judge Karen O'Connor and a jury.
A man convicted of murdering a Romanian national at a brothel in Cavan six years ago is awaiting the outcome of his appeal against conviction at the Court of Appeal. Przemyslaw Trebacz, a Polish national aged 39, of Bramble Rise, Killynebber, Cavan, received a mandatory life sentence in February 2014 after a Central Criminal Court jury returned a majority guilty verdict for the killing of Costel Catalin Cretu on 13 or 14 October 2012 at Connolly Court, Cavan. Trebacz maintained his innocence regarding the murder charge, though he admitted criminal damage. His defence argued he sought services as a customer, while the prosecution contended he and another man attended to commit robbery. The appeal challenged the trial's adequacy, questioning the judge's direction to the jury and the reliability of a key female witness. The Director of Public Prosecutions' counsel cited corroborating evidence from a taxi driver. The Court of Appeal reserved judgment. Przemyslaw Trebacz pleaded not guilty.
Olga Leschen, aged 50, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to stealing over €10,000 in rental deposits from eight prospective lodgers between September and October 2015. She advertised her house on Daft.ie, collected deposits ranging from €200 to €2,600, and then prevented the lodgers from moving in, citing health issues. None of the deposits were returned. Leschen was arrested on 25 October 2015 and initially denied the allegations, claiming she always returns what she takes. She later expressed remorse, wrote apology letters, and cooperated with the investigation. Judge Terence O'Sullivan sentenced her to six months imprisonment, fully suspended for 12 months on the condition of good behaviour. She has repaid all but one deposit, with the remaining €1,100 held by her solicitor and earmarked for donation if the injured party does not come forward within three years. No prior convictions were recorded.
A man with previous convictions for manslaughter has been imprisoned after carrying out armed raids whilst serving a suspended sentence. Mark Bissett, aged 33, of Swords Road, Dublin 9, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to threatening to burn down the house of a charity worker in May 2016. The threat was made at Central Bank Plaza, Dame Street, during a soup run for homeless people in Dublin city centre. Judge Karen O'Connor had suspended a two-year sentence for this offence in June 2017, cautioning Bissett that he faced imprisonment if he reoffended. Within four months, Bissett carried out armed robberies on two shops in Ranelagh. On 15 October 2017 he wielded a knife during one raid, and on 26 October he used a fork during a pharmacy robbery. Judge O'Connor activated the suspended sentence, imposing the full two-year term. Bissett has sixty previous convictions including manslaughter, assault and public order offences.
Eoin Morrow, a 38‑year‑old bricklayer from Dundalk, was sentenced to eight years in prison for possessing €1.38 million worth of cannabis resin and prescription drugs. Gardaí, using confidential information, set up a surveillance operation on a Scania truck that met Morrow's Volkswagen Jetta. The truck driver, John Needham, 31, and Morrow removed boxes of cannabis and 29 boxes of Zopiclone tablets onto a trolley bound for a storage unit in Newcourt Business Park, Finglas. A subsequent search uncovered 96 kg of cannabis, valued at €580,200, and 400,000 Zopiclone pills, valued at €800,000. Morrow pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis resin and supplying a prescription‑only drug on 25 July 2015. He had 15 prior convictions, including assault, burglary and theft. He had taken a bench warrant, fled to Europe, but returned and surrendered.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 7 November 2018, Karl McDermott, aged 21, was sentenced to five and a half years' imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended, for a robbery at Dunnes Stores on 25 May 2018. McDermott used a homemade machete‑type weapon that his brother, a metal fabricator, had constructed for a Halloween costume. The weapon was described as a long silver knife with a padded handle covered in tin foil, and was found in the back of a drawer at the family home. McDermott pleaded guilty to robbery and the production of the homemade machete. He had 45 prior convictions, including robbery, possession of knives, criminal damage, violent disorder and drug offences. The court noted that McDermott had been taking tablets and alcohol, and that he had been struggling mentally. The judge accepted his early guilty plea but emphasised that the weapon was capable of serious injury.
Leroy Howard, a 28‑year‑old father of two, was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to six years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended on strict conditions. He was found in possession of €115,000 worth of drugs, including 5 kg of cannabis (valued at €99,868) and 250 g of cocaine (valued at €15,060). Howard had previously pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply on St Joseph's Avenue, Drumcondra, on 20 December 2017. He has 65 prior convictions, 49 of which are driving offences, plus convictions for public order, theft and drug offences. The judge noted his history of disregard for the law and his role as a devoted father, accepting that he was remorseful and had a drug addiction at the time of the offence.
In November 2018, a 23‑year‑old homeless woman, Donna Dineen, was sentenced to six years in prison for slashing the stomach of a man who had come to help her in the street. Dineen, who had previously given birth in custody, admitted to stabbing Saurjan Syergaz, a 27‑year‑old man, with a 25‑cm knife wound on 8 May 2017, and to robbing his wallet on the same occasion. She pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and robbery at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Melanie Greally imposed concurrent terms of six years for robbery and five years for assault, suspending the final two years on strict conditions. The sentence reflected Dineen's unstable background, history of abuse, drug and alcohol dependence, and her expressed remorse and desire to keep her newborn son with her for an extended period while in custody.
A witness has testified at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in the ongoing trial of a man charged in connection with a €90,000 tiger kidnapping that occurred in September 2014. The witness described how his vehicle was struck by another car near McAllister's Garage in Malahide, following which two men fled the scene on foot. Paschal Kelly, aged 52 and from Cootehill, County Cavan, has pleaded not guilty to charges including falsely imprisoning three women at a property in Malahide, robbery at Bayside Post Office in Sutton, and making threats to kill. He also denies unlawful possession of a vehicle. The witness told the court that one man ran towards nearby woodlands whilst the driver departed in the direction of Swords Road. He noted the driver appeared frightened. Gardaí arrived within seconds of the men leaving the vehicle. The trial, now on its seventeenth day, continues before Judge Karen O'Connor and a jury.
In November 2015, 24‑year‑old Edward Andrews, already serving a four‑year robbery sentence, harassed pub owner Stephen Rooney in Dublin. Andrews warned Rooney that the area was "his patch" during a 30th birthday celebration at The Farmhouse Inn, Monkstown. The next day he drove close to Rooney's workplace, revved his engine and shouted threats, then fled. A few days later, Andrews blocked Rooney into a cul‑de‑sac in his car, threatened to shoot him, and made a trigger‑pulling gesture. Rooney, who was in his own vehicle, reported the incident to Gardaí. Andrews pleaded guilty to harassing Rooney at several Dublin locations between 21 and 26 November 2015. He was sentenced by Judge Melanie Greally to a three‑year jail term, with the final 12 months suspended, after acknowledging his guilty plea, youth, and efforts to become drug‑free.
A man from Cootehill, County Cavan, has died by suicide since his arrest on the morning of a tiger kidnapping, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has heard. Paschal Kelly, aged 52, has pleaded not guilty to charges including false imprisonment of a postmistress and her daughter at a property in Malahide on 25 September 2014, as well as robbery from Bayside Post Office in Sutton and threats to kill. He also denies unlawful possession of a vehicle. During the sixteenth day of the trial, gardaí gave evidence that Kelly was arrested while fleeing a suspect vehicle at traffic lights in north Dublin that morning. A garda subsequently attended his death at a city-centre premises in June 2016, an inquest finding nothing of suspect nature. The trial heard how the postmistress and her daughter were discovered bound with ties at the post office, visibly distressed. The case continues before Judge Karen O'Connor and a jury.
Jonathan Chubb, a 38‑year‑old former property investor from Dublin, pleaded guilty to 34 counts of theft and one count of money laundering for stealing deposits from 11 would‑be tenants between March 2013 and July 2015. He also admitted to providing a false reference, deception and possession of a forged driving licence. The victims had believed Chubb was the landlord of an apartment at Oblate View, Tyrconnell Road, and were left homeless, including a woman who had no family support and her eight‑year‑old daughter. Chubb's fraudulent activities netted almost €50,000. He was sentenced on 1 June 2018 to seven‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended. Ten weeks after the sentencing, he lodged an appeal for a reduction in the severity of the sentence.
At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, a garda detective testified on the fifteenth day of trial that he discharged two shots at a suspect during an armed chase because he feared for his life. The officer said he believed he saw a firearm in the suspect's hand as the man turned towards him in a field near Malahide on September 25, 2014. Paschal Kelly, aged 52 and from Cootehill, County Cavan, has pleaded not guilty to charges including falsely imprisoning a postmistress and her daughter, along with an Italian student, at a property in Dublin. He also denies robbery at Bayside Post Office and threats to kill, as well as unlawful possession of a vehicle. The detective told the court he identified the suspect after pursuing him on foot for approximately 500 metres. During cross-examination, the defence suggested the officer's description relied on information from other agencies and CCTV footage, a claim he rejected. The trial before Judge Karen O'Connor and a jury remains ongoing.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 1 November 2018, the court ruled that members of the National Surveillance Unit (NSU) must give evidence in secret and be identified only by initials to protect their safety. The case involved Conor Metcalfe, 28, charged with membership of the Irish Republican Army (IRA). Metcalfe was arraigned but remained silent, and the court entered a not guilty plea on his behalf. The prosecution presented evidence from NSU detectives who had observed Metcalfe rummaging under a stolen white Renault Kangoo van on 3 June 2014, retrieving a key, and driving away. The hearing also covered related surveillance of a blue BMW driven by Kenneth Donohue, a convicted IRA member, and the involvement of other individuals in the van's theft and modification. The trial was scheduled to continue on Monday before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and two other judges.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Carlos Lawrence, aged 27, and his partner Catherine Dempsey, aged 26, were sentenced to a combined 12 years for a burglary and theft that took place on 13 December 2017 at Wainsfort Manor Grove, Terenure. Lawrence pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary and theft of over €16,000, using a wedge hammer, and had 51 prior convictions. Dempsey pleaded guilty to stealing €15,000 in cash and burglary at the same time and place, with seven prior convictions. Lawrence received seven years, with 12 months suspended, while Dempsey received five years, with three years suspended. The judge noted Lawrence's remorse, drug addiction, and potential for productivity, and Dempsey's remorse, pressure, and low risk of re‑offending. The case involved a violent intrusion into the home of Alan Greene, who suffered significant distress and financial loss. The court recorded that both defendants had expressed remorse to the victim and to each other.
Kathleen Stokes, 43, of St Anthony's Park, Knocknaheeny, Cork, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for possessing a stolen safe near Faggot Hill, Clogheen, in April 2017. She was arrested with two children, one of whom was her son, an aggravating factor. At sentencing, her husband was also serving a prison term. Stokes had 32 prior convictions, including burglary and theft. Her appeal was dismissed by the Court of Appeal, which upheld the three‑year sentence. The court noted that the trial judge's remarks on a Healthy Minds report were "quite disparaging" and that the judge's handling of submissions was "not engaging as he should have done." The Court of Appeal found the sentence proportionate to the seriousness of the offence and Stokes' poor record. The decision was made by a three‑judge panel, including Mr Justice Brian McGovern. Kathleen Stokes pleaded not guilty.
The trial of a man charged in connection with a tiger kidnapping in 2014 has continued with legal argument held in the jury's absence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Paschal Kelly, aged 52 and from Cootehill, Co. Cavan, has pleaded not guilty to charges including false imprisonment of a postmistress and two other individuals at a property in Malahide on 25 September 2014. He also denies robbery of cash from a post office in Sutton and making threats to kill the three parties at an unknown location within the State. Mr Kelly has further denied unlawful possession of a vehicle in relation to the same date. The prosecution alleges three men were involved in the incident, which lasted approximately seven hours and resulted in the taking of approximately €90,000. Proceedings before Judge Karen O'Connor continue in legal argument, with the jury expected to return on the following Tuesday.
A man has entered guilty pleas to a series of shop robberies at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, having been driven to multiple crime scenes by a taxi driver unaware of his passenger's intentions. Dean Gray, aged 30 and of Buttercup Drive, Darndale, Dublin, pleaded guilty to robbery and knife production at XL Flintstones in Baldoyle on 21 May 2017, where he took €350. He also admitted robbing €425 from Petmania at Gulliver's Retail Park using a screwdriver on 17 March 2018, and two robberies from Tan Me salon on New Cabra Road totalling €500 on 12 March and 10 April 2018. Gray further pleaded guilty to robbing €200 from Centz on North Circular Road on 14 March 2018 and an attempted robbery with threats at Spar, Harts Corner, on 10 April 2018. Evidence indicated he made no effort to conceal his identity during any incident. The court heard Gray has 69 previous convictions including 21 robberies, and that his offences were motivated by drug addiction. The case was adjourned to late November for sentencing.
In a 2011 burglary at Botanic Avenue, a 22‑year‑old ringleader forced a student to be taken to an ATM, threatening the student's girlfriend with rape if the student did not comply. The offender, who pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary, robbery and false imprisonment, was sentenced to six years' detention in 2012. In 2015 the Court of Appeal suspended the final 12 months of that sentence, but in 2018 the Court reactivated 10½ months of the suspended portion, extending the offender's custodial period. The decision was based on the offender's lack of cooperation with probation and the need for rehabilitation, as the Court noted the offender's youth and prior convictions. The reactivation was a response to the Probation Service's application and the Court's assessment of the offender's continued risk. The case remains a matter of ongoing custodial sentencing.
A Dublin business owner has been ordered to complete 240 hours of community service for using fraudulent documents to secure a €71,000 mortgage. Kevin Molloy, aged 49, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to three offences under the Theft and Fraud Offences Act committed between December 2014 and August 2016. The Donegal native, now resident in Celbridge, Co Kildare, had submitted false salary certificates, altered tax documents, and fabricated wage slips to Ulster Bank during his mortgage application in 2016. Judge Melanie Greally imposed the community service order, to be completed within twelve months, in lieu of an eighteen-month prison sentence. The judge noted the bank sustained no financial loss, that Molloy had cooperated with gardaí, and that he maintained mortgage repayments. The offences were discovered following a Bank of Ireland report to gardaí in July 2016.
In a Dublin trial, 35‑year‑old Laura Kenna was charged with attempted murder and assault for slitting the throat of civil servant Fionnuala Bourke on Lower Drumcondra Road on 3 January 2017. Kenna pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. The jury heard conflicting psychiatric reports: one psychiatrist said Kenna was in a psychotic state and could not control her actions, while the other argued she knew what she was doing and was motivated by robbery. The jury deliberated for about four hours and forty minutes but could not reach a verdict. Judge Robert Eagar discharged the jury after a disagreement was recorded, and the case was remitted for a possible retrial in November. Kenna made no reaction to the announcement of the jury's failure to decide.
Anthony Smith, 25, of Deanstown Green, Finglas, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to robbing two taxi drivers at knifepoint. On 1 April 2018 he robbed Mark Kavanagh, taking his wallet, €200 cash, and a phone system worth up to €600, while a co‑accused held a blade to Kavanagh's neck. Ten days later, on 11 April, Smith robbed James Boylan, pulling an eight‑inch knife and stabbing at Boylan's stomach; Boylan later reported feeling the knife's pressure but was not stabbed, suffering a hip injury instead. Smith had 13 prior convictions, including theft and criminal damage, and claimed the robberies were to obtain money for drugs. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to five years' imprisonment, with 12 months suspended for each robbery, and backdated the terms to the date of his arrest. The court noted Smith's cooperation and early guilty plea. The sentence was imposed concurrently for both offences.
A 31‑year‑old, Anthony Walsh, was found guilty of murdering 54‑year‑old Dermot Byrne in Swords on 16 July 2017 after a drunken altercation over a cigarette. The jury, after deliberating 2 hours 41 minutes, returned a unanimous verdict. Shawna Byrne, the victim's daughter, gave an emotional statement describing the loss of her father's life and dignity, noting that the family's world stopped that day. Walsh was sentenced to mandatory life imprisonment for the murder and an additional seven years for theft of the victim's bank card, Zippo lighter and keys. The court also noted Walsh's prior convictions for public order, burglary, criminal damage and drug misuse. The trial concluded with the judge expressing sympathy for the Byrne family and confirming the life sentence.
In the trial of Anthony Walsh, who admitted beating Dermot Byrne to death during a drunken altercation, the jury asked the judge to clarify the legal definitions of murder and provocation. Walsh, 31, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, theft of a bank card, keys and a Zippo lighter from Byrne on 16 July 2017. The jury spent about 90 minutes deliberating before requesting Justice Eileen Creedon to explain that murder requires intent to kill or cause serious injury and that provocation could negate that intent, potentially leading to a manslaughter verdict.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, William Deans, 57, was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison, with 18 months suspended, for a violent break‑in at the home of a 73‑year‑old retired fire officer, Michael Hempenstall, on 8 January 2016. Deans, who has 111 prior convictions, entered the house, threatened to infect Hempenstall with AIDS, and assaulted him and a neighbour, causing physical injury and a six‑week hospital stay for Hempenstall. Deans pleaded guilty to trespass, theft, assault, and damaging a door. The court noted the severity of the assault, the victim's vulnerability, and Deans' attempts at rehabilitation while in custody. The sentence was back‑dated to May of the same year to credit the five months he had already served. The case highlighted the impact of the offence on Hempenstall, who had to relocate from his 21‑year home to be closer to his daughter.
Craig Bergin, aged 32, pleaded guilty to theft offences at Boots and Holland & Barrett on Grafton Street in 2015, stealing about €6,883 worth of perfume, cosmetics, health supplements and aftershave. He was captured on CCTV, did not disguise himself, and apologized to staff while committing the thefts. Garda Bernard Maguire reported that the stolen items were taken on six occasions between 7 October and 17 November 2015. Bergin admitted having alcohol and gambling debts and mental health issues, including anxiety, and was described as respectful to Gardaí. He has 52 prior convictions but had not been in Garda attention recently. Judge Elma Sheahan sentenced him to two and a half years imprisonment, suspended for the same period on conditions of good behaviour, engagement with probation and psychiatric services, and keeping the peace. The sentence was imposed after confirming he had secured stable accommodation following a period of homelessness.
The trial of Paschal Kelly (52), from Cootehill, County Cavan, has continued at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court with legal argument conducted in the jury's absence. Mr Kelly has pleaded not guilty to charges of trespass, false imprisonment, robbery and threatening behaviour arising from an incident at Malahide and Sutton in Dublin on 25 September 2014. He is accused of involvement in a tiger kidnapping in which approximately €90,000 was allegedly taken during an incident lasting seven hours. The prosecution has alleged that three men were involved in the offence. The trial is proceeding before Judge Karen O'Connor and is expected to last six weeks. The jury is anticipated to return to court within the coming days as legal argument continues.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, 31‑year‑old Anthony Walsh pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter and theft of a bank card, keys and a Zippo lighter from Dermot Byrne on 16 July 2017. The prosecution, led by Vincent Heneghan SC, described Byrne's death as "savagery," urging a murder conviction. Defence counsel Remy Farrell SC argued that Walsh was provoked by Byrne, who had earlier attacked him and attempted to take a cigarette. Farrell presented CCTV from the Harp Bar showing a confrontation and highlighted Byrne's aggressive behaviour, including a prior incident at an Applegreen garage. He urged the jury to consider Walsh's lack of aggression and the injuries inflicted on Byrne, suggesting a manslaughter verdict. The jury was set to deliberate tomorrow.
Derek Whelan, aged 22, was jailed for three years after taking part in a violent assault on David Gaynor at the Neilstown shopping centre in Clondalkin, Dublin. Gaynor was knocked to the ground, beaten, kicked and struck with a golf club, causing a broken cheekbone, a broken eye socket and cuts to his mouth that required stitches. Whelan pleaded guilty to assault causing harm on 30 November 2015. At the time of the offence he was serving a suspended sentence for a theft offence imposed in May 2015 and had no prior convictions for violent crime. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to four and a half years, suspended the last 18 months on the condition of anger‑management and victim‑awareness programmes, and noted his cocaine abuse, stable relationship and upcoming child. Whelan offered compensation, which the court declined. He expressed remorse and has taken steps to address his addiction.
During a Central Criminal Court hearing, Anthony Walsh, 31, admitted killing but denied murdering 54‑year‑old Dermot Byrne. He told a friend via Facebook Messenger that he had killed someone and that Byrne "kept coming at me" after three warnings. Walsh also sent messages to a woman who had recently added him on Facebook, describing her as "fit" and claiming he was "too much of a bad boy for you." He sent photos of Byrne's bank card and a newspaper article about Byrne's death. Walsh pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, and also pleaded guilty to stealing a bank card, keys and a Zippo lighter from Byrne on the same day and location. The trial is before Justice Eileen Creedon with a jury of twelve.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Matthew Ellis, aged 38, admitted to threatening a shop security guard, Patrick Collins, that he would return to kill him after finishing a pizza. Ellis claimed he knew the guard's shift end time and would come back once he had eaten. He had previously threatened the guard earlier that day and returned around 9 pm holding five bullets between his teeth, which he displayed to the guard. He called the guard a "garda informer" and shouted, "You finish at ten o'clock. I own Inchicore. I'm gonna kill you." Gardaí were called, stopped Ellis, and the bullets fell from him. Ellis pleaded guilty to making a threat to kill or cause serious harm. He has been in custody since the incident and has 71 prior convictions, including assault, burglary, possession of knives, drug dealing and robbery.
Dean Creedy, a 28-year-old first-time offender from Ballymun, Dublin, was sentenced at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for the attempted robbery of a post office on Ballymun Road on November 11, 2017. Creedy pleaded guilty to the charge. Prosecution evidence indicated that he held a knife to the throat of an 83-year-old postmaster, demanding money, before fleeing when the victim stated he could not open the safe. The victim, who suffered no injuries, did not file a victim impact report. Creedy surrendered to gardaí nine days after the incident after seeing CCTV footage on RTE's Crimecall. He told officers he committed the crime to repay a €600 drug debt and had previously attempted suicide due to the pressure. Judge Melanie Greally described the act as aberrational behavior driven by desperate circumstances, noting Creedy's remorse, lack of prior convictions, and current drug-free status. She suspended a five-year prison sentence for a period of five years. The judge acknowledged the incident was outrageous given the victim's age but highlighted the victim's fortitude and the absence of lasting consequences. Defense counsel John Moher BL submitted testimonials and a letter of remorse, arguing Creedy was unlikely to reoffend.
Anthony Walsh, 31, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Dermot Byrne, 54, but guilty to manslaughter and theft of Byrne's bank card, keys and a Zippo lighter on 16 July 2017. Garda Jason McDonnell arrested Walsh after listening to phone calls with his mother, Marie Walsh, during which Walsh claimed he was attacked and warned Byrne to "get away from me or I would murder you." In the garden of the Walsh home, Walsh told his mother he didn't mean to kill Byrne, describing a fight where Byrne "came at me swinging punches and kicks" and that Walsh "kicked Byrne in the head" causing Byrne to fall unconscious. Walsh later said he had no intention to kill Byrne and was sorry. He was released after arrest and charged two days later. The trial continues before Justice Eileen Creedon with a jury of twelve.
Anthony Walsh, 31, was arrested at his parents' home in Glencullen after the death of 54‑year‑old Dermot Byrne. Walsh pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, and also admitted stealing a bank card, keys and a Zippo lighter from Byrne on 16 July 2017 at North St, Swords. During the arrest, Walsh told Garda Jason McDonnell that he had not intended to kill Byrne, saying "I didn't mean to kill him. He kept coming at me. It was just a couple of straighteners." The trial is proceeding before Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury of twelve.
In the Central Criminal Court, Marie and Hugh Walsh testified that they met their son Anthony the morning after he beat 54‑year‑old Dermot Byrne to death outside a school in Swords on 16 July 2017. Anthony, 31, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter and to theft of Byrne's bank card, keys and lighter. He told his mother, in tears, that he had not meant to kill Byrne. The court heard that Anthony had been in a fight, had called his father's phone, and had been arrested after a taxi ride to his mother's house. Witnesses described his physical state and the circumstances of the incident, and the trial continues before Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury.
During a murder trial, retired Garda Niall Jones recounted his horror upon discovering a naked, bloody body on North Street, Swords, at about 2.50 am. While searching for a taxi, he mistook a lifelike inflatable dummy for a person and, upon closer inspection, found the body of a man who had been beaten to death. Jones called 999 and attempted resuscitation, but paramedic William Howard found no pulse and declared the victim dead. The case is being heard at the Central Criminal Court, with the accused Anthony Walsh pleading not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter and theft.
During a night in Swords on 16 July 2017, 54‑year‑old Dermot Byrne was involved in a scuffle with 31‑year‑old Anthony Walsh, who later pleaded not guilty to Byrne's murder but guilty to manslaughter and theft of a bank card, keys and a Zippo lighter. Door staff at the Harp Bar intervened when Byrne and Walsh argued around 2.11 am. Byrne, who had been drinking, asked the staff, "Why did you do that? I can look after myself," before walking away. Witnesses, including Vincent McCarthy, Krystzof Laszowski, Darren Kelly and Rory Robinson, described the confrontation, the presence of alcohol, and the attempts to calm the situation. The case is being heard at the Central Criminal Court before Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury of twelve.
At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, a detective gave evidence in the trial of a man accused of tiger kidnapping. Detective Garda Eamon Keane described observing a Volkswagen car driven by a man wearing a ski mask near the home of postmistress Susan Lawlor in the early hours following her alleged abduction on September 25, 2014. The vehicle braked sharply before turning onto her street in Malahide, Dublin, and departed within thirty seconds. Det Gda Keane noted the house displayed activated alarm lights and open upstairs curtains with lights on. Paschal Kelly, aged 52, from Cootehill, County Cavan, has pleaded not guilty to charges of false imprisonment, robbery at Bayside Post Office in Sutton, threats to kill, and unlawful vehicle possession. During cross-examination, the defence highlighted that the detective did not record his observations for approximately five days and that a colleague had recorded an incorrect registration number. Evidence was also heard from a Chubb Ireland monitoring centre employee and an An Post crime prevention manager regarding emergency calls received on the tiger kidnapping helpline.
During a murder trial, a 24‑hour shop worker, Tayyeb Hasan, testified that the deceased, 54‑year‑old Dermot Byrne, told him, "I'm going to kill you," after refusing to sell him cigarettes. Hasan, who works at an Applegreen shop in Swords, said Byrne was drunk and had tried to use his bank card but could not remember his PIN. Hasan called the Gardaí after the threat but later said he did not take it personally and did not believe Byrne would act on it. Byrne was also accused of stealing a bank card, keys and a Zippo lighter from the same shop on 16 July 2017. The trial, held at the Central Criminal Court, continues with 31‑year‑old Anthony Walsh on trial for the murder and manslaughter of Byrne. The case is before Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury of twelve. Anthony Walsh pleaded not guilty.
An Italian language student giving evidence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has described the moment armed raiders entered the bedroom where she was sleeping during an alleged kidnapping in 2014. The witness, who was staying in the north Dublin area while studying English, told the court she felt terrified when a man dressed in black appeared at her bedside and restrained her with cable ties. She stated that during a subsequent car journey in the early hours, she believed the raiders intended to cause her serious harm. The witness further described being taken to a post office in the company of two other captives, where she said raiders removed approximately ninety thousand euros from a safe. Paschal Kelly, aged 52 and from Cootehill, County Cavan, has pleaded not guilty to charges of false imprisonment, robbery, threatening behaviour, and unlawful vehicle possession relating to the incident on 25 September 2014. The trial before Judge Karen O'Connor continues.
Two men have been sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in relation to an attempted robbery at Greendale Pharmacy, Kilbarrack on January 26, 2018. Brendan Raynor (30) of Tulip Court, Darndale and Dean Slattery (28) of Briarfield Grove, Kilbarrack pleaded guilty to the charge. Both men armed themselves with knives and wore balaclavas before entering the shop and demanding Diazepam. The incident was observed by gardaí conducting surveillance in the area. Detective Sergeant Dave Ennis stated that Slattery attempted to flee and was struck with a baton, while Raynor was caught in a nearby field. Emma Smith, a shop worker who was six months pregnant at the time, provided a victim impact statement. Raynor has 103 previous convictions, including possession of knives, robbery, and burglary. He was previously sentenced to seven years with two suspended for an aggravated burglary in 2015. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a five-year sentence on Raynor, suspending the last two years and nine months. Slattery has 87 previous convictions, including robbery, drug offences, car theft, and assault. Dt Sgt Ennis was previously sentenced to four years with two suspended for a 2014 cash in transit van robbery. Judge Greally sentenced Slattery to four and a half years with the final 18 months suspended. Both men were remanded in custody.
In a murder trial, Anthony Walsh, 31, admitted killing Dermot Byrne, 54, on 16 July 2017 in Swords, Co Dublin. Walsh pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to theft of Byrne's bank card, keys and lighter. Byrne had spent the evening at St Colmcille's GAA club, Estuary Bar, a bookmaker, and Harp Bar, where he was refused entry. At 2.10 am, outside the Harp Bar, Byrne attempted to pull a cigarette from Walsh's mouth; a brief altercation followed. Byrne was later found at 2.50 am, stripped of clothes and surrounded by blood. A pathologist recorded over 100 injuries, including facial fractures, rib fractures and bruising, and declared death from traumatic brain injury, intoxication and blood inhalation. Walsh's defence acknowledged unlawful killing and removal of Byrne's property. The trial continues before Justice Eileen Creedon.
A man with an address in Cootehill, County Cavan, has pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to charges arising from an alleged "tiger kidnapping" at a post office in north Dublin four years ago. Paschal Kelly, aged 52, faces counts of trespass, false imprisonment, robbery and making threats to kill in connection with an incident on 25 September 2014. Prosecution counsel told the jury that two men allegedly broke into a home in Malahide, restrained three women, and drove them to Bayside Post Office in Sutton, where one victim provided access to a safe. Approximately €90,000 was taken during the incident, which lasted several hours. The prosecution indicated that gardaí responded quickly after an emergency call was made from the home, though the caller did not speak. One man was arrested near the post office shortly after; two others fled on foot and were later apprehended. The trial before Judge Karen O'Connor continues with a jury present.
Mark Bissett, a 33-year-old defendant with a former address at Loughlinstown Park, Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to attempted robbery at Ranelagh Triangle on October 15, 2017, and robbery at Dunville Avenue, Ranelagh, on October 26, 2017. The court heard that Bissett threatened staff with a knife during the first incident and used a fork during the second, from which he took €220. He has 65 previous convictions, including manslaughter, robbery, and assault. Bissett was previously jailed for six years in 2005 for the killing of his uncle, David Sutherland, in Sallynoggin, Dublin, on December 20, 2003. His defense counsel, Karl Monaghan BL, stated that Bissett hoped to begin an addiction rehabilitation programme and a Community Employment scheme. Judge Elma Sheahan adjourned sentencing to November 5 and ordered an updated report from The Probation Service to be prepared. The matter was adjourned and is not yet concluded.
In a burglary at Wainsfort Manor Grove, Terenure, Dublin, on 13 December 2017, Carlos Lawrence (27) and his partner Catherine Dempsey (26) entered the home of Alan Greene, who was asleep, using a wedge hammer and a black‑clad disguise. They forced Greene to open the front door, demanded money, and threatened him. Lawrence smashed the French doors, took Greene's phone, and made calls claiming a debt of €200,000. The couple stole €15,000 in cash from a bank the next day and withdrew an additional €1,200 from an ATM. They recovered €12,500 from Dempsey's possession, and Greene later received €12,455 of the €16,350 stolen. Both pleaded guilty to theft and aggravated burglary; Lawrence had 51 prior convictions, Dempsey seven. The case was remanded in custody until 31 October, with sentencing scheduled for later that month. The court noted the burglary's impact on Greene, who now blocks his doors and fears returning home.
Anthony Walsh, 31, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter of 54‑year‑old Dermot Byrne. Walsh, who has no fixed address, is charged with Byrne's murder on 16 July 2017 at North St, Swords, Co Dublin. He also pleaded guilty to stealing a bank card, keys and a lighter from Byrne on the same date and location. A jury of six men and six women will hear the murder trial tomorrow.