The murder charge against 23‑year‑old Yasmin Stephens, who was accused of killing her 33‑year‑old boyfriend in Dublin three and a half years earlier, was dismissed by Mr Justice Michael White under Section 4E of the Criminal Justice Act. The case had been scheduled for trial at the Central Criminal Court, but her legal team successfully obtained the dismissal before the jury could hear the evidence. Stephens was then arraigned on a second count for robbing a homeless man, Hugh Gildea, on Mabbot Lane. She pleaded guilty to stealing a mobile phone, a wrist watch and €520 in cash. The judge reviewed CCTV footage of the 20‑minute assault, heard Gildea's statement and that of two witnesses, and noted that Sean Ducque delivered the violence while Stephens searched the victim's pockets. She was remanded on continuing bail pending a probation report, with sentencing expected on 29 June. The unnamed 23-year-old pleaded not guilty.
Former solicitor Michael Lynn, aged 49, has lodged an appeal against the High Court's refusal to grant him bail. Lynn, who lives in St Alban's Park, Sandymount, Dublin, faces 21 charges at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for alleged theft of nearly €30 million from seven financial institutions. Sample charges include €4.1 million stolen from Irish Nationwide on 4 April 2007 and €3.6 million from Ulster Bank on 20 October 2006. He was extradited from Brazil in March and is currently held in Cloverhill Prison. The High Court bail application was denied by Justice Una Ni Raifeartaigh on 6 April. Lynn's appeal is scheduled for hearing on 14 June in the Court of Appeal. During case‑management proceedings, the Director of Public Prosecutions' counsel described the bail application as a "lengthy matter" that occupied most of a day, while Lynn's counsel requested an order for his client to appear on the hearing date.
Don Duggan, aged 30, had 28 prior burglary convictions and pleaded guilty to burglary in Tipperary and a threat to kill on 23 December 2015. He received a ten‑year sentence with four years suspended, imposed by Judge Thomas Teehan at Clonmel Circuit Criminal Court on 11 May 2016. He also pleaded guilty to several burglaries between 18 and 24 August 2015 and was given a six‑year sentence with three years suspended, imposed by the same judge at Nenagh Circuit Criminal Court on 17 June 2016. The sentences were consecutive. Duggan appealed both sentences, but the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal, holding the sentences were appropriate. The Court noted the victim's fear for her 10‑year‑old son, the threat of shooting, and Duggan's history of 115 convictions, including 28 for burglary, 13 for theft, and four for robbery with violence. The Court found no error of principle and affirmed the consecutive sentences.
Leon Byrne, a 21-year-old with 64 previous convictions, had his sentence doubled following a successful appeal by the Director of Public Prosecution, who argued the original term was unduly lenient. Byrne had previously pleaded guilty to robbery, aggravated burglary, assault causing harm, and unlawful taking of a vehicle in Dublin between April 2014 and April 2015. In July 2017, Judge Karen O'Connor sentenced him to a net three-and-a-half-year term. Today, a three-judge court presided over by Mr Justice John Edwards re-sentenced Byrne to seven years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended. The court noted Byrne's troubled history, including addiction and homelessness, but emphasized the need for rehabilitation. As a condition of the suspended portion, Byrne was required to enter into a good behaviour bond, which he undertook to do. The effective custody period is five years, reflecting the totality principle applied by the court.
Derek Hickey, aged 30, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for stealing iPads and a laptop from the Law Society of Ireland on Blackhall Place, Dublin, on 17 July 2017. He entered through an ajar side door, stole the items, caused damage, and fled. The theft occurred after 6 pm when most staff had left. Maura Butler, who was working in her office, witnessed the intruder and later reported that he had fled after seeing her. CCTV identified Hickey, who was arrested the next day and admitted to the theft, stating he had sold the stolen items to a Chinese shop. He had previously spent four months in custody for this offence. The judge noted his long history of offending but also his guilty plea, remorse, and cooperation. He had been offered a 20‑week residential rehabilitation programme and had attended treatment for heroin addiction. The sentence took into account the time already served.
During the trial of the men accused of a €2.28 million Securicor robbery, a witness, Graham Coleman, testified that he bought a Peugeot from the accused, Niall Byrne, for €6 000 in cash in September 2004. Coleman said he had obtained a loan and paid Byrne, who is 36, in cash. He also mentioned that he could not recall Byrne purchasing a motorcycle for €7 000 or a BMW about six months later, but acknowledged that a BMW had been taken from Byrne in connection with the case. Byrne, along with Mark Farrelly, Christopher Corcoran and David Byrne, all pleaded not guilty to the false imprisonment and robbery of Securicor driver Paul Richardson and his family on 13–14 March 2005. The trial is proceeding before Judge Melanie Greally with an enlarged jury.
The trial of Niall Byrne, Mark Farrelly, Christopher Corcoran, and David Byrne continues before Judge Melanie Greally at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. All four defendants have pleaded not guilty to the alleged false imprisonment of four members of the Richardson family at their home in Raheny, Dublin, on March 13 and 14, 2005, and to robbing Paul Richardson and Securicor of €2.28 million on March 14, 2005. During proceedings, forensic video analyst Feargal O Lideadha testified that he could not rule out that a Securicor CCTV recording was paused for three minutes between 5.26am and 5.29am on the day of the alleged robbery. The expert stated he had no explanation for the gap and noted that best practice guidelines for preserving digital evidence were not followed, as there was no audit trail or written explanation for the interruption. He declined to confirm whether the gap resulted from a system malfunction or manual intervention. The trial, which began in January, is currently ongoing before an enlarged jury of seven women and seven men. One juror was discharged earlier in the day due to pre-booked holiday plans. The matter remains at the trial stage, with no final verdict or sentence recorded.
Darren De Lacey, 37, of Cremona Road, Ballyfermot, was found in May 2017 driving a car with a bag of heroin while he was on bail for earlier cocaine offences. Gardaí, acting on confidential information, stopped the vehicle and discovered 744 g of heroin, worth an estimated €104,202, between his feet. De Lacey pleaded guilty to possession of heroin at a location on the M7 motorway on 22 May 2017. He had previously been convicted of possession for sale or supply of large quantities of cocaine, for which he received a seven‑year prison sentence with three years suspended in October 2017. The court imposed an additional four‑year prison term, to run consecutively with the sentence he is already serving, bringing his total custodial period to eight years. The judge noted De Lacey's 65 prior convictions, including 50 for road‑traffic offences and one for theft. The case highlights the continued enforcement of drug‑related offences in Dublin.
In a case heard at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, 38‑year‑old Justin Murray was found guilty of stealing €500 from mass donations at the Church of Our Lady of Victories in Ballymun on 6 November 2016. He had cycled to the church, entered the premises, and taken money from the collection envelopes before being seen by a parishioner and fleeing on foot. Garda Ross Brierley identified him from CCTV footage and arrested him the following day at a shopping centre. Murray's bicycle, which had a sticker reading "Justin Murray," was later found on the church grounds. He has 77 prior convictions, including ten thefts and 20 burglaries. Judge Elma Sheahan adjourned his sentencing for one year, noting his drug‑free status and desire to rehabilitate, and ordered updated urine analysis and reports. The final sentence will be consecutive to his current term, with release not until July 2019.
Two Romanian burglars, Constantin Gheorghe (44) and Lacramioara Anei (22), were arrested by Garda Kevin Bamrick after he recognised them as suspects in a previous burglary attempt. He observed them approaching several premises, and later saw Gheorghe and another man break into an apartment block while Anei acted as a lookout. The trio were arrested with a backpack containing stolen items. Both pleaded guilty to attempted burglary on Aughrim Street, Dublin 7, on 17 August 2017, and burglary on North Circular Road, Dublin 1. The court noted Gheorghe had five prior convictions in Ireland, Denmark and Romania, and Anei had four prior convictions in Romania. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a two‑year sentence on Gheorghe and a one‑year sentence on Anei, both back‑dated to August 2017. The sentences were imposed while the defendants cooperated with Gardaí but did not make admissions.
The prosecution case in the trial of four men accused of a €2.28 million cash‑in‑transit robbery that took place on 13 and 14 March 2005 will close next Monday, the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard. The defendants – Niall Byrne (36), Mark Farrelly (46), Christopher Corcoran (70) and David Byrne (45) – have all pleaded not guilty to the false imprisonment of four members of the Richardson family at their home in Ashcroft, Raheny, and to the robbery of Paul Richardson and Securicor of €2.28 million. Judge Melanie Greally told the jury that the prosecution case would close and the trial, which began in January, would move on to its next phase. Earlier, Detective Superintendent Paul Scott revealed that 102 "persons of interest" were investigated, some arrested and some not, and that all Securicor staff were eliminated from the investigation apart from ex‑employee Niall Byrne.
In Dublin, two 80‑year‑old women were robbed by Brian Dunne, who received a four‑and‑a‑half‑year prison sentence. The first incident occurred on 10 November at a bus stop off Strand Road, where Dunne grabbed a bag from Glynnis Cassin's shoulder, causing her to fall, dislocate and break her shoulder in two places. She was hospitalised for six days and missed a performance of *My Fair Lady* at the National Concert Hall. The second robbery took place on 14 November after Anne O'Rourke left a cinema; Dunne stole her bag while she was walking home. Both women described the events as distressing, with Cassin citing an €800 loss and O'Rourke expressing sympathy for the offender. Judge Martin Nolan praised the women's resilience, noting the seriousness of the crimes and the impact on their lives. Brian Dunne pleaded guilty.
Dean Reddington, 33, of Drimnagh, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to three robberies between February 2016 and September 2017 at bookmakers around Dublin, plus an attempted robbery and weapon production at Ladbrokes on 4 September 2017. He admitted using a black bag to conceal a stick or tree branch, presenting it as a gun, which caused terror for staff and customers. Victim Tracey O'Reilly of Boyle Sports reported €728 stolen and lasting anxiety, sleeplessness and PTSD. Reddington also robbed €714 at Paddy Powers and €240 at Boyle Sports in Balally. He has 35 prior convictions, 22 in Circuit Court, including 14 robberies. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to four and a half years, citing early guilty plea, cooperation, remorse, drug‑free status and rehabilitation prospects, while noting the robberies' long‑term impact on victims. The judge set a headline sentence of six to seven years, but the final imposed term was four and a half years.
Colin Brady, aged 44, was sentenced to one year in prison for harassing his former girlfriend in Dublin between 21 September and 2 November last year. He breached his bail conditions 46 times, contacting her after being charged and sending 275 messages over three days. Brady broke her apartment door on 25 September, prompting Garda Emma Brady to call the police. The victim, who feared for her life, suffered extreme anxiety and lost work. Brady had previously been ordered to stay away from her and remain outside Dublin. He has seven prior convictions in Ireland and a robbery conviction in the UK. The judge, Martin Nolan, noted Brady had "terrified" the victim and imposed a three‑year sentence, suspending the final two years on conditions including no contact with the victim. He was also ordered to pay the cost of the broken door. Colin Brady pleaded guilty.
Patrick McAuliffe, 53, was found guilty of robbing an 83‑year‑old man in Cork on 12 November 2015, stealing €300 and later €2,300. He was sentenced to five years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended, by Judge David Riordan on 1 November 2016. McAuliffe, a chronic alcoholic and homeless at the time, had 261 prior convictions dating back to 1981, including theft, assault, drug offences and one robbery. The Court of Appeal dismissed his appeal on 16 April 2018, ruling that the net custodial term of four years was "almost lenient" given the victim's catastrophic loss of independence and McAuliffe's extensive criminal record. The appeal was rejected by the three‑judge panel, confirming the sentence as imposed.
Jake Breen, aged 20, pleaded guilty to ten offences in Kilkenny Circuit Criminal Court for events in Carlow and Kilkenny on 7 November 2016. He used a stolen Toyota Land Cruiser, fitted with false plates, to pick up a hitchhiker who was at the start of a world tour. The vehicle stopped, the hitchhiker got out, and the car drove off with the hitchhiker's property still inside. The hitchhiker was thrown to the ground but suffered only minor injuries. Gardaí pursued the Land Cruiser, which drove aggressively, collided with a Garda car, and then reversed. One co‑occupant was apprehended; Breen fled. Breen was sentenced to five years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended, and banned from driving for ten years. The Court of Appeal dismissed his appeal, confirming the sentence as appropriate for the seriousness of the incident.
Martin O'Brien, 36, was sentenced to 16 months in prison for burglary after DNA matched blood spatters left when he cut his hand to smash a glass front door at a Foxrock home on 11 November 2015. He stole jewellery, electronic equipment, cash and checks worth over €15,000, causing €300 damage to the door, and left the house after a young woman saw him. O'Brien, who has 64 prior convictions and is already serving a four‑year robbery sentence, will serve the new term consecutively. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, admitted he was on heroin and tablets at the time, and expressed remorse. Judge Martin Nolan noted his cooperation, early guilty plea and difficult background, and imposed the 16‑month sentence to run after his current term.
Eoin Jarvis, 26, of Corduff Grove, Blanchardstown, was sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty to dangerous driving, driving without insurance, reckless endangerment and unlawful use of a vehicle. On 11 April 2017, he drove a stolen car at 180 kph along the N1/M1 motorway, causing it to become airborne over a roundabout before crashing on the far side. Jarvis had taken 28 sleeping tablets before driving and was heavily intoxicated at the time of arrest. Garda John Delaney reported that the crash was witnessed by two plain‑clothes officers. Jarvis exited the vehicle, ran across four lanes of traffic and was taken to a petrol station where he was arrested. The court noted his 57 previous convictions and that he was not involved in the burglary that stole the car. Judge Martin Nolan acknowledged Jarvis' guilty plea and cooperation, and imposed the three‑year sentence.
Patrick Dunne, 30, of Santry Lodge, Ballymun, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to robbing Briarswood Stores in Blanchardstown on 29 September 2017. He entered the shop with a scarf over his face and two five‑inch screwdrivers, demanding the cashier open the till. He took €195 in coins from the till. Garda Brendan O'Hora identified him from CCTV and fingerprints. Dunne has 95 previous convictions, including theft, burglary and criminal damage, and was already serving a four‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence for brandishing an imitation firearm in Ballymun. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a two‑year prison sentence, noting Dunne's drug addiction and the possibility of a positive change. The judge said he would not extend Dunne's custody beyond the sentence, hoping he will "turn the corner.".
Jonathan Conway, 36, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for stealing a BMW that had been left with its keys inside by the owner. He drove the vehicle in a highly dangerous manner, losing control at a roundabout, briefly becoming airborne and crashing into a lamppost and the wall of a pub. Two female passengers suffered minor injuries. Conway had 120 prior convictions, mainly for traffic and public order offences, theft and court‑appearance failures. He pleaded guilty to taking possession of a car without consent, dangerous driving, driving without insurance and refusing a sample. The judge imposed a five‑year driving ban and noted Conway's limited cooperation with Gardaí, his guilty plea and rehabilitation efforts. He was also in custody on other district court matters. The court heard he had lost a local‑authority accommodation in Blanchardstown. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court by Judge Melanie Greally.
In August 2017, Norman Duff, a 45‑year‑old serial thief, stole a baby's custom hearing aid, $5,700 in US dollars, £2,700 in sterling, a diamond ring, earrings, gold and silver chains, passports, a mobile phone and the child's cochlear implant from Gino Gelato's Ice‑Cream Parlour in Dublin 2. The theft was captured on CCTV and a suspect description was broadcast over Garda radio. Garda Derek Brereton located Duff at a nearby hostel where staff confirmed his presence. The stolen items were recovered and returned to the family. Duff pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and was sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment. The judge noted the Garda's efficiency in securing a quick arrest and the return of the belongings, describing the offence as opportunistic. The hearing aid was valued at $10,000 and was custom‑designed for the child. The case highlighted the swift investigative response and the recovery of high‑value personal property.
Joseph Walshe, a 49‑year‑old former general manager of Nevinar Cosmetics Ltd, was found guilty of ten counts of theft between January 2010 and December 2011. He stole Clarins cosmetics worth over €700,000 in retail value, selling them to a UK wholesaler who believed he acted on behalf of Nevinar. Walshe received €204,122.38 for the goods, while the company lost €181,582.00. A jury trial lasted 12 days, and on 15 June 2017 he was sentenced to two‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended. The judge ordered him to pay the company €181,582.00. The Director of Public Prosecutions has appealed, arguing the sentence is unduly lenient, citing pre‑meditated fraud, abuse of trust and greed as aggravating factors. The Court of Appeal has reserved its judgment. The article reports only the sentencing stage and the appeal request, without any subsequent outcome. Joseph Walshe pleaded not guilty.
Stephen Morgan, 46, of Ferrycarrig Green, Coolock, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to stealing €3,050.18 from St Monica's Nursing Home, Belvedere Place, Dublin 1, by submitting fraudulent receipts between December 2014 and March 2015. He had been hired to carry out general maintenance, receiving cash to buy materials and then submitting receipts. Staff noticed delays in receipt submission, prompting a review that revealed inflated VAT and quotes masquerading as invoices. The nursing home recovered the full amount, which Morgan repaid. Judge Melanie Greally noted a "considerable level of dishonesty and breach of trust" but, citing his prior good record, imposed a two‑year suspended sentence. Morgan, a father of three with minor previous traffic convictions, has not attracted further attention since. He also suffers from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Gerard McDonnell, aged 27, and Christian Goonery, aged 30, were sentenced for hijacking a skip‑hire truck. McDonnell, who was already serving a seven‑year driving ban, pleaded guilty to stealing a mechanically propelled vehicle, unlawfully seizing the truck, endangerment and two counts of dangerous driving. Goonery pleaded guilty to unlawfully taking the vehicle and being a passenger. Judge Cormac Quinn imposed a five‑year prison term on McDonnell with two years suspended and a ten‑year driving ban. Goonery received four years' imprisonment with the final two years suspended. The court noted the incident was opportunistic, involved a hammer threat, and resulted in the driver sustaining bruises and a knee injury. The defendants' prior convictions and mitigating factors were considered in sentencing.
Former solicitor Michael Lynn, aged 49, will be arraigned on 21 charges of alleged theft totalling almost €30 million from seven financial institutions. He appeared via video‑link from Cloverhill Prison, saying only greetings to the judge. His barrister requested an arraignment for 8 May, which Judge Martin Nolan accepted. Sample counts include €4.1 million stolen from Irish Nationwide on 4 April 2007 and €3.6 million from Ulster Bank on 20 October 2006. Lynn was extradited from Brazil earlier this month.
Mark McCarthy, aged 32, had his nine‑year prison sentence for the tiger kidnapping of the Nawn family increased to 15 years after the Director of Public Prosecutions appealed. The kidnapping, which took place on 1–2 August 2011, involved the abduction of Warren and Jean Marie Nawn and their 10‑week‑old baby in County Louth and County Dublin. McCarthy was found guilty of false imprisonment and the theft of €661,125 from the Post Office in Drogheda, an amount that has never been recovered. The Court of Appeal described the original sentence as "unduly lenient" and, after considering mitigating factors such as alleged duress and a drug debt, imposed a 15‑year term. The decision was made by a three‑judge panel headed by Mr Justice George Birmingham. The case remains a rare example of a tiger kidnapping in Ireland.
Albert Redmond, 43, was sentenced to three years in prison for a series of thefts, including trespassing and stealing bank cards and cash. He admitted to entering a Dublin city centre office twice, taking a cheque worth almost €9,500, and depositing it into his own account before traveling to Blackpool. While on holiday, he claimed the money was stolen from him, which he said gave him some empathy for victims. Redmond also pleaded guilty to stealing €28 in cash at a Spar, €28 at a bank, and €9,479 at Permanent TSB, among other offences. He had 294 prior convictions, mainly for trespass, theft, and burglary. The judge, noting Redmond's lack of violence and his personal struggles, imposed a three‑year sentence, back‑dated to his June 2023 custody entry.
Noel Coleman, 36, a chronic heroin addict, was arrested after a CCTV‑recorded incident in which he waved two knives at Gardaí and threatened to stab them. He was approached by officers after a live bench warrant was issued for his arrest. When questioned, he became agitated, produced the knives, and shouted, "I'll fucking kill you." Garda Brian O'Reilly and a colleague sprayed pepper spray, but Coleman fled. Gardaí pursued him, and when he was told an armed unit was on the way, he replied, "They will have to fucking shoot me." He was eventually subdued by Tasers, threw the knives to the ground, and was taken into custody. Coleman had previously pleaded guilty to robbery on 17 May 2017 and to threatening to kill or cause serious harm to Garda O'Reilly on 20 May 2017. He was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for these offences.
Joseph Kiernan, aged 34, was deported from the Netherlands after serving a partially suspended three‑year robbery sentence. He was then jailed in Ireland for six years for a series of driving and drug offences. In November 2014 he pleaded guilty to unlawful use of a stolen Ford Mondeo and possession of €648 of cannabis near Dublin Airport. In January 2015 he pleaded guilty to unlawful use of a stolen BMW and dangerous driving around Gormanston, Meath. In May 2015 he pleaded guilty to possession of €3,566 of cannabis at a premises he shared with his partner on Gardiner Street, Dublin. The court imposed a four‑year sentence for the earlier drugs charge, consecutive to another four years for the later drugs offence, with the final two years suspended. Kiernan was banned from driving for 20 years. He had 55 prior convictions, including robbery, vehicle theft, burglaries and possession of stolen property.
James Farrell, 35, of Ballyfermot, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to robbing a Spar shop in Chapelizod on 24 March 2017, to unlawful possession of a knife during that robbery, and to the unauthorised taking of a car. He had 67 prior convictions, including robbery and burglary. Farrell brandished a silver steak knife, held it to a shop assistant's throat, demanded the till be opened, and received €175 before leaving. Gardaí identified him from CCTV, and the car he used was later found abandoned and previously stolen. He was arrested that same day. Judge Patrick Quinn sentenced Farrell to three years' imprisonment, suspending the final two years on condition of attending probation appointments, completing a drug programme, and refraining from illicit drugs. The sentence was back‑dated to 27 March of the previous year.
Nicholas Smyth, aged 37, worked as a payroll clerk for Fairline Fashion until his resignation in October 2015. During his tenure, he diverted over €27,000 by depositing the wages of former staff members into his personal bank account. An annual audit later revealed that the company continued to pay two women after they had left, and their wages, along with Smyth's, were all lodged into the same account. Garda William Kavanagh confirmed the theft was easily detected and Smyth was arrested. He pleaded guilty to nine charges of theft covering October 2014 to September 2015. In Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Martin Nolan imposed a three‑year suspended sentence, noting Smyth's prior convictions and the unsophisticated nature of the offence. Smyth admitted the money was used to support his family, who were in financial hardship, and expressed genuine remorse. The company was compensated through insurance. Smyth has since lost his job and is seeking new employment.
Michael Kelly, 55, a regular customer of Rush Post Office, attempted to rob the shop on 24 September 2016. After asking for a bag and offering to pay, he returned minutes later with a note threatening the cashier and demanding money in the bag or death. He also told the staff not to alert the Gardaí. The cashier refused, threatened to press the panic alarm, and Kelly left without taking anything. The incident was captured on CCTV and Kelly was arrested about five months later. He pleaded guilty to attempted robbery at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He has seven prior minor convictions and had not been in Garda attention since 2004. He claimed the act was a "moment of madness" and was drunk, though he had been sober for ten years before relapsing. The judge, recognising his long history of alcohol abuse but also his rehabilitation efforts, imposed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year suspended sentence.
Michael Rooney Dignam, a 37‑year‑old Dublin resident, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison for robbing three shops over four days in May 2017. He pleaded guilty to stealing €1,200 from Spar, €662 from a Londis shop, and €1,135 from Centra, each time entering with a blood‑filled syringe, threatening staff and demanding money from the tills. Gardaí identified him from CCTV footage. Rooney Dignam had 15 prior robbery convictions and a conviction for his brother's manslaughter in 1999. He has a long history of drug addiction, reportedly since age ten, and has spent much time in jail, described as "largely institutionalised." The court noted his early guilty pleas and the fact that he was on bail when committing the last two robberies, requiring consecutive sentences. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a six‑year sentence with the final 18 months suspended, acknowledging his troubled upbringing and repeated re‑offending.
Eamon Colley, a 51‑year‑old Dublin businessman, was found guilty of making false statements after he abandoned his Porsche Boxster in Phoenix Park following a hit‑and‑run incident on 14 February 2017. Colley had crashed into a motorist who was stopping to let a deer cross the road, causing €9,413 in damage to the victim's Volkswagen Golf. CCTV footage showed Colley driving away with smoke from his Porsche's front and later yelling at a car‑park ticket machine. He reported the vehicle stolen at Blanchardstown Garda Station on 15 February and again at his business address the same day. The court accepted his admissions of being intoxicated and of leaving the scene to avoid drink‑driving prosecution. He was sentenced to a 21‑month suspended term and an 18‑month driving ban, with no prior convictions recorded.
The trial of Niall Byrne, Mark Farrelly, Christopher Corcoran, and David Byrne continues before Judge Melanie Greally at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. All four defendants have pleaded not guilty to the alleged false imprisonment of four Richardson family members at Ashcroft, Raheny, on March 13 and 14, 2005, and the alleged robbery of Paul Richardson and Securicor of €2.28 million on March 14, 2005. Retired Garda Chief Superintendent Nicholas Kenneally testified that he issued 66 search warrants during what was then the largest Garda investigation in history. He confirmed issuing warrants for specific Dublin addresses where investigators believed evidence, including weapons and phones, might be found. Kenneally denied that the extensive warranting constituted a "fishing expedition," stating he was satisfied evidence related to the robbery existed at each location. He acknowledged that one resident of a searched home was never prosecuted. Defense counsel noted that legal provisions in the warrants are now deemed unconstitutional. Kenneally denied issuing a specific warrant for the Richardson home but agreed investigators would have processed the premises as a crime scene. The matter is currently at the sentencing stage, though the trial continues with an enlarged jury.
Noel Darby, 42, was sentenced to a suspended three‑and‑a‑half‑year term for robbing a mobile phone from a man at a bus stop on Malahide Road, Coolock, on 9 February 2015. The robbery was the first serious offence in 13 years. Darby, who had previously been convicted of firearm possession, drug offences and robbery, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He had been identified by the victim as a former subject of the documentary "Darndale: The Edge of Town," where Darby had spoken about his desire to overcome drug addiction. Garda Liam Wright described how Darby approached the victim, seized the phone, and fled, later being pursued. The victim, who recognised Darby from the programme, confirmed the identity after watching an episode on YouTube.
Michael Cummins, 32, was jailed for two years after a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court found him guilty of falsely imprisoning and threatening two teenage boys during a drug‑induced paranoid episode in Swords in August 2017. Cummins, who had 230 prior convictions, approached a 13‑year‑old and a 15‑year‑old from across the street, demanding they look him in the eyes and threatening to pour what he claimed was acid into their eyes and to blow up their house. He struck the younger boy twice, forced the older boy to delete pictures from his phone, and entered the boys' home, where he also stole a wallet and an iPhone. Gardaí recovered the stolen items and the boys later reported increased fear and distress. Cummins pleaded guilty to theft, burglary, false imprisonment, assault and a threat to kill, and the court accepted his remorse, noting his drug‑induced paranoia but holding him fully liable for his actions.
Anthony Heffernan, 32, of Blanchardstown, Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for robbery. He pleaded guilty to robbing a Centra shop in Huntstown on April 8, 2017. Prosecution evidence stated that Heffernan entered the store armed with a knife, shouted at a staff member, and took approximately €250. He subsequently surrendered himself to gardaí at Blanchardstown Garda Station, identifying himself on CCTV footage. The court heard that Heffernan was a gambling addict who had run out of cash to bet, and he was transferred to a psychiatric unit after his arrest. He has 13 previous convictions, mainly for road traffic offences. Defence counsel Sarah Connolly BL highlighted his cooperation, remorse, and efforts to overcome addiction through Gamblers Anonymous and programs at Coolmine. Judge Martin Nolan noted letters demonstrating Heffernan's positive character and past difficulties. The judge stated that a custodial sentence was not justified and imposed a two-year suspended term.
Graham Armstrong, 33, was sentenced to 20 months' imprisonment for stabbing Thomas McDonnell, his partner's father, in the back of the neck with a screwdriver on 11 September 2015. The wound measured two to three millimetres and McDonnell recovered after a tetanus injection. Armstrong also pleaded guilty to an attempted robbery at Eddie Rockets on 16 December 2015, where he tried to force a worker to bring cash into the restaurant. He was arrested an hour later. The court noted Armstrong had 42 prior convictions, including possession of stolen property and burglary, and that he had been struggling after his mother's death in 2016. He was ordered to pay €1,500 to his victims as a token of remorse. Armstrong and his partner have since reconciled, and McDonnell declined to pursue the matter further. The judge, Martin Nolan, imposed the custodial sentence on the basis of Armstrong's serious criminal record.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Alison Walker (32) and Gillian Walker (39) to two‑and‑a‑half years each, with the sentences suspended under conditions. The sisters had fraudulently claimed over €50,000 in social welfare benefits after their father's death, with Alison claiming €22,078 in carer's allowance and respite care grants and Gillian claiming €32,398 in carer's allowance and state pension. Both pleaded guilty to four counts of stealing from the Department of Social Protection at Drimnagh Post Office between 2013 and 2016. The judge noted the sisters' knowledge of wrongdoing, their financial motives, and mitigating factors such as Alison's pregnancy and Gillian's single parenthood of four children. The court accepted their remorse and the mitigating circumstances presented by their defence lawyers. The sentences were suspended pending compliance with the court's conditions.
Lisa Lynch, 33, a former director of AGL Logistics, was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment for stealing €460,660 from Bibby Financial Services over three months in 2013. The Court of Appeal had suspended the final six months of her sentence in January, but on 23 February 2018 the court extended the suspended portion by one day to make her eligible for the Care After Prison (CAP) community support scheme, which is available only to prisoners serving sentences of 364 days or fewer. Lynch had pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after making immediate admissions and an early guilty plea. She had taken over AGL after her husband's diagnosis of a rare mouth cancer, and the judge noted her motive was to keep the company afloat for its 70 employees, citing her cooperation, early plea and lack of prior convictions as mitigating factors.
Alice Connors, 46, of Kiltalown Path, Tallaght, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for burglary after she tricked her way into the home of an 84‑year‑old dementia sufferer in Newcastle, Co. Dublin, on 14 March 2017. Connors pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. She had 98 prior convictions, including 20 for burglary. The victim was visited by her 75‑year‑old sister when the two women, accompanied by a child, knocked on the door. Connors and co‑accused Margaret Cawley, 27, entered the house, brushed past the homeowner into the sitting room, and stole handbags. The stolen items were recovered from a maroon car that fled the scene. Connors was found remorseful; the judge noted no violence and described the offence as a "crime of stealth." She was given credit for time already spent in custody on this charge alone.
A 30‑year‑old man from Kilcarrig Green, Fettercairn, Tallaght, Glen Fitzpatrick, who had suffered severe domestic violence in childhood and used alcohol and drugs to black out, was jailed for one year after pleading guilty to three robberies and an attempted robbery. He admitted stealing €420 from a Centra shop on Thomas Street in November 2016, and later robbing a Dwarf Jar shop on Wellington Quay and attempting to rob a Centra on Wicklow Street in June 2017. He had 36 prior convictions, mainly for traffic offences. After a binge he found unexplained money in his pockets and voluntarily turned himself in to a Garda station in a distressed state. The judge, Martin Nolan, imposed consecutive sentences totalling two years, suspended the final year on conditions, and noted Fitzpatrick's remorse and drug‑free status since August 2017. The case highlighted his ongoing rehabilitation efforts at Coolmine and his willingness to cooperate with authorities.
Patrick Dunne, aged 30, was jailed for robbing a Centra shop on Coultry Road, Ballymun, on 12 September 2017. He entered the shop in a black jacket with his hood up before 8 pm, waited in line with his hand in his jacket, and then pointed a realistic imitation firearm at a shop assistant. He demanded the cashier open the till, threatening to shoot if he did not comply. The cashier eventually opened the till and Dunne took €880, placing it in a blue plastic bag. While the robbery was underway, two Gardaí were in the back of the shop checking CCTV footage for another investigation. They drew their firearms, called out "Armed Gardaí," and chased Dunne out of the shop. He was arrested and later pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to four and a half years' imprisonment, back‑dating the term to 12 December 2017.
A 17‑year‑old Dublin teenager pleaded guilty to a series of violent offences, including assaulting street magician Mark Beltran, stabbing Waterford resident Gavin Keoghan, and robbing a 16‑year‑old's phone. He also admitted to assaulting a homeless man, Martin Goth, and participating in violent disorder at Smithfield Square. The court heard that the attacks followed the theft of a stolen amp from Beltran's street performance. The teenager was sentenced to three years' detention by Judge Martin Nolan, who noted his early guilty plea, young age and rehabilitation efforts. The sentence was imposed despite the absence of victim impact statements in the cases involving Goth and Keoghan. The judge highlighted the teenager's lack of further offences since the convictions. The case involved co‑accused Luke Byrne, who received nine and a half years' imprisonment for a separate attack and robberies. The court also considered the teenager's drug use and subsequent counselling.
Thomas O'Driscoll, 35, was arrested after a Garda saw him walking down a city centre street with a stolen mountain bike still locked to a railing. The bike was later identified as stolen property. O'Driscoll, who has 193 convictions, pleaded guilty to possessing the stolen bike, to stealing €1,300 worth of clothing from Urban Outfitters, to possessing a stolen ladies coat, and to trespassing and theft at a holiday apartment letting office in Temple Bar. He was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in jail, backdated to September of the previous year when he entered custody. The judge noted his prolific shoplifting record. Garda Carl Bolger reported CCTV footage of O'Driscoll taking clothes, and he was later found with a stolen coat from Marks and Spencer. O'Driscoll's defence highlighted his troubled background, drug addiction, and attempts at rehabilitation. The court also noted his father's murder when he was 11, his early school leaving, and his ongoing methadone programme in custody.
Kevin Malone, aged 32, was sentenced to nine months' imprisonment for his role in a violent disorder incident at Tallaght Hospital on 18 September 2016. The incident involved a dispute over a stolen phone, during which Malone and two other men attacked a victim who was found lying on the ground with blood seeping from his head. CCTV footage captured the attackers arriving in a BMW, removing a wooden pole from a track suit, and striking the victim. Malone was described by the judge as "the lesser of those involved" and was found to have punched the victim once and kicked him four times. The sentence was back‑dated to the date of his initial arrest in September 2016. The other two attackers were not present at sentencing; one was awaiting trial and the other was not named in the article. The victim did not provide a victim impact statement, and details of his injuries were not disclosed in court. Kevin Malone pleaded guilty.
Mark Dwyer, 41, pleaded guilty to one count of robbing Christine Pollard at Dolphin's Barn on October 1 last year. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that Dwyer smashed the window of Ms Pollard's car, grabbed her handbag containing €920 in cash, and broke her ring finger during a struggle. A witness identified Dwyer, and his DNA matched blood found on the vehicle. The total value of stolen goods was €990, none of which were recovered. Ms Pollard, who required a splint for 16 weeks, stated she now feels vulnerable in her car. Dwyer, who has 106 previous convictions including a 2013 three-year jail term for firearm possession, has been in custody since the robbery. Defence counsel Michael Hourigan BL cited Dwyer's long-standing drug addiction and recent relapse following pneumonia as mitigating factors, noting he had been using his time in custody well. Judge Martina Baxter described the offence as serious and noted Dwyer's extensive criminal record. Although the validated procedural stage is listed as sentence, the court did not impose a penalty at this hearing. Instead, Judge Baxter ordered a number of reports and adjourned the matter for sentence on July 30.
A Carlow publican has received a two-year suspended sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for stealing €8,589 from his former employer at The Porterhouse Central on Nassau Street, Dublin. Brian O'Kane, aged 45 and of Royal Oak, Bagenalstown, admitted to taking between €50 and €60 nightly over a seven-month period from January to July 2015 by voiding till transactions and pocketing customer cash. The court heard O'Kane had experienced three family bereavements and a marriage breakdown preceding his offending. He disclosed he stole to fund alcohol consumption during this difficult period. Garda evidence outlined how stock discrepancies led to an investigation identifying O'Kane as responsible. Judge Gerard Griffin imposed the suspended sentence on three years, crediting O'Kane's early guilty plea, demonstrated remorse, and absence of prior convictions. The defendant has since repaid the full amount and begun working in a public house in Carlow.
Anthony McDonnell (26) was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for two counts of robbery committed on May 1, 2017, in Mary's Lane and Cuckoo Lane. McDonnell pleaded guilty to the charges, which involved the violent attack of two victims who were kicked, punched, and robbed of their phones and wallets. Judge Martin Nolan handed down a four-and-a-half-year sentence, suspending the final 18 months on a number of conditions. The judge noted that McDonnell, who has 22 previous convictions, deserved a longer term than his co-accused due to his age and extensive criminal record. His co-accused, Thomas Jackson (21), a homeless man, was jailed for two years. Prosecution evidence detailed how the attackers blocked the victims' paths, used physical force to seize property, and left one victim with a broken wrist and another with broken teeth. Defence counsel Keith Spencer BL argued that McDonnell was remorseful and heavily intoxicated at the time, urging a sentence similar to Jackson's. The court accepted the guilty plea and imposed the custodial sentence with the specified suspended portion.