David Marsh, a 30‑year‑old former IT worker, was sentenced to four‑and‑a‑half months in jail for stealing €1,200 from a colleague in Stepaside, Dublin, by promising her All‑Ireland football final tickets. The offence, committed on 17 September 2015, was added to a two‑year sentence he is already serving for earlier scams. Marsh had previously defrauded a Limerick couple out of €76,000 by promising a cheap house, and had scammed colleagues and tag‑rugby teammates out of nearly €8,000 by claiming he could secure tickets to a Conor McGregor UFC fight. He pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, where the judge noted the similarity of this offence to his earlier conduct. Marsh admitted the fraud, apologized, and a psychological report indicated depression and suicidal ideation. The judge imposed the new sentence to run consecutively with the existing two‑year term.
The trial of Anthony Roddy, 64, and Raymond Fee, 34, for stealing €250,000 from Kevin Brady collapsed after the defence counsel fell ill. Roddy and Fee had pleaded not guilty to theft and to dishonestly inducing Brady to provide a €100,000 bank draft for a supposed investment. The jury was discharged when the counsel was admitted to hospital, and Judge Karen O'Connor adjourned the case. The defendants will be tried again on 9 April 2018.
Zachary Coughlan Ryan, 38, of Brennan's Row, Catherine Place, was convicted in Limerick Circuit Criminal Court for the kidnapping of Stephen Cusack, 19, and Niall Reddan, 21, on 19 August 2012. The pair were held at Caisleann na hAbhainn, Castletroy, gagged, hand‑bound with cable ties and transported in a pick‑up truck to a location. Ryan was found guilty by a jury and sentenced to eight years and three months' imprisonment on 28 January 2014. He has now lodged an appeal, arguing that a comment he made before the jury about having been jailed twice was "unfortunate" and that the trial judge's directions on visual identification were inadequate. Counsel Michael O'Higgins SC highlighted that the kidnapping was intended as a lever for a robbery, citing the victim's mother's post office employment. Judge Alan Mahon, joined by Judges John Edwards and John Hedigan, has reserved judgment on the appeal. Zachary Coughlan Ryan pleaded not guilty.
In 2016, Michael Finlay, 37, of Maplewood Road, Tallaght, and Dean Byrne, 25, of Drumcairn Park, Tallaght, were convicted by the Special Criminal Court of unlawful possession of a loaded 9mm semi‑automatic pistol and magazine, and of 9mm ammunition, after a surveillance operation on a Renault Kango van. The van, previously stolen, was being followed when a Garda approached with a firearm drawn. Finlay was seen holding the pistol and complied with the Garda's request to drop it. Both men wore false beards and sunglasses; Finlay wore an An Post jacket. They pleaded not guilty, no contest, and the court entered not‑guilty pleas on their behalf. They were sentenced to five years' imprisonment. The Court of Appeal upheld the sentence, noting that the men's cooperation, lack of use of the firearm, and good character justified a reduction from the original eight‑year headline. The appeal by the Director of Public Prosecutions was dismissed.
Raymond O'Hara, 50, received an 18‑month prison sentence for stealing seven bottles of spirits from the Clifton Court Hotel in August 2015. He has 231 prior convictions, including 144 theft and fraud offences and 46 road traffic offences, and was released from custody four weeks before the offence. The judge, Pauline Codd, noted the burglary had caused nervousness among staff and imposed the sentence with the final eight months suspended, conditional on one year of probation, remaining drug‑ and alcohol‑free, and attending residential drug treatment if directed. O'Hara intends to use his time in prison as a "health farm," attending the gym, Narcotics Anonymous, and studying computers, claiming he will address his drug and alcohol issues and improve his health. The court accepted his plea of guilty and the conditions of the suspended portion.
Damien Murphy, 40, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison for a series of pharmacy robberies that took place between December 2015 and February 2016. He admitted to four robberies, one attempted robbery and the production of a knife, and was armed with a knife or scissors during each incident. The robberies were carried out in Dublin city centre, including at Byrnes Pharmacy, Mangans Pharmacy, Blackhall Pharmacy and Janet Dillon Pharmacy. In one robbery a four‑year‑old child was present. Murphy had previously kept his drug addiction under control but relapsed after a financial crisis. He pleaded guilty and made full admissions. The judge imposed concurrent sentences totalling six years, suspended the final 18 months, and imposed 12 months of probation supervision.
Two Louth businessmen, Anthony Roddy (64) and Raymond Fee (34), are on trial for allegedly stealing €250,000 from Kevin Brady between September 2006 and August 2007. They claimed Brady would invest in a €35 million land deal, promising a deposit of €1 million to buy land north of Drogheda. Brady provided a €250,000 bank draft, and later a €100,000 draft for a supposed share portfolio. He sought refunds, receiving €15,000 twice and €47,000, but was told the deal would finish by Christmas 2008 or take two years. Brady visited solicitors, then received a call about selling a farm for €250,000. In May 2009 he reported the matter to the gardai, prompting the investigation and charges. The trial, before Judge Karen O'Connor and a jury, continues next week. Anthony Roddy pleaded not guilty. Raymond Fee pleaded not guilty.
A man convicted of robbing a 90-year-old pensioner in Castlerea, Co Roscommon has had his prison sentence upheld by the Court of Appeal. Mark Sweeney, aged 33, of Cloonkeen, Castlerea, pleaded guilty at Roscommon Circuit Criminal Court to robbery at The Demesne on 24 August 2015. He received eight years imprisonment with the final two-and-a-half years suspended by Judge Keenan Johnson in June 2016. The Court of Appeal dismissed Sweeney's appeal against sentence today, with the three-judge court finding the sentence appropriate and proportionate. Mr Justice John Edwards outlined that the victim, then aged 90, was approached in the town park where Sweeney demanded money, then assaulted him with an umbrella after seizing it, stealing €450. The victim sustained a fractured lumbar vertebra and ongoing pain. The incident prompted an angry public demonstration in Castlerea. Sweeney admitted the offence immediately. The court noted he has mental health difficulties and a prior manslaughter conviction.
Thomas Stokes, 23, of Clondalkin, Dublin, was sentenced to six years in prison at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to six sample charges, including robbery and possession of an imitation firearm, committed between July 15 and July 25, 2016. Judge Melanie Greally suspended the final 18 months of the sentence on strict conditions. Prosecution evidence detailed a ten-day crime spree during which Stokes allegedly robbed a total of €1,157 and a mobile phone, threatening victims with a toy gun and a steel bollard. He admitted to gardaí that he committed the offences to pay a €2,200 drug debt after his family's trailer was threatened. The final victim, a 66-year-old shop owner, closed his family-run business days later due to fear of further attacks. Stokes was identified via CCTV footage showing a distinct tattoo. Judge Greally noted the escalating seriousness of the crimes and the lingering menace felt by the victim, while accepting that the offences were motivated by Stokes's drug addiction and family pressures. She acknowledged his genuine remorse and that the actions were out of character for a man from a law-abiding family. Stokes has also been sentenced in the District Court for an earlier theft that preceded the robberies. No injuries were reported during the incidents.
In 2015, Jason Freyne, 25, was convicted in Limerick Circuit Criminal Court of possessing a firearm and ammunition. He received an eight‑year sentence, with two‑and‑a‑half years suspended, on 6 May 2016. The Court of Appeal, following a prosecutor's appeal that the sentence was too lenient, increased his term to ten years, keeping the same suspended portion. The appeal judge, Mr Justice Alan Mahon, described Freyne's conduct: he had loaded a sawn‑off shotgun, carried it in a backpack, wore a bullet‑proof vest, and rode a bicycle around Hyde Road. He then approached a group, fired the shotgun, injuring Mr Joseph McCarthy. Freyne had earlier convictions for vehicle theft, knife possession, stolen property, criminal damage and traffic offences. The court noted his progress in prison and his claim that the feud behind the offence was over. Jason Freyne pleaded guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 24‑year‑old woman described the lasting impact of sexual abuse by her stepfather, who had assaulted and raped her for over seven years. She said she would never live a normal life because the man, who was meant to protect her, had stolen her childhood. The court heard that the 44‑year‑old Kildare man began sexually assaulting her when she was 12, started raping her regularly at 15, and continued until 2011. He was found guilty of 17 counts of sexual assault and 16 counts of rape. During the trial he denied the allegations, claiming they were fabricated. The victim's statement detailed severe depression, anxiety, panic attacks, and self‑harm, and she said she could not pursue a career or form lasting relationships. The case was scheduled for sentencing on March 6. The man had prior convictions for assault and larceny and had worked as a builder.
Shane Murphy, 25, of Swords, was sentenced to one year in prison for assault causing harm to Aidan Mullen on 10 July 2011. The offence occurred after a dispute over a stolen green bin. Mullen, who had a heart attack in March, was attacked by Murphy who shouted, "I don't give a fuck about you or your heart attack." Murphy struck Mullen on the face, causing fractures to his skull and cheekbone, and inflicted pain that led to medical bills of €1,500 and lost income of €4,200. Murphy pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and had 19 prior convictions, including assault and intoxication offences. He had previously been sentenced to three years with the final two years suspended, but the judge imposed a one‑year term for this offence. The court noted his history of drug addiction and that he had since completed residential treatment.
A man deliberately damaged clothing in Penneys stores and obtained cash refunds by exploiting the retailer's returns policy, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard on 17 February 2017. Patrick Quinn, aged 36, of Drumlish, Co Longford, pleaded guilty to inducing refunds totalling €392 across eleven transactions at Penneys branches in Blanchardstown during April and May 2015. Garda Stephen Walsh told the court that security staff provided CCTV footage showing Quinn damaging a jacket before presenting it for a refund without a receipt. Quinn admitted to deliberately tearing items including suit jackets after discovering the stores did not require receipts for damaged goods. His defence counsel outlined Quinn's struggles with gambling addiction, which intensified following his father's death in 2000, and noted his previous convictions related to theft. The court heard Quinn had undertaken residential treatment in 2013 without sustained improvement. Judge Melanie Greally adjourned sentencing until May to permit preparation of a probation report.
James Cash, 59, was given a three‑year suspended sentence after he knocked on Pamela Creighton's granny flat in Blanchardstown, Dublin, while under the influence of alcohol and tablets. He attempted to attack her with a samurai sword and a kitchen knife. Bernard Creighton, the husband, wrested the weapons from Cash's hands and chased him into the garden, after which Gardaí were called. Cash pleaded guilty to two counts of producing a weapon at Corduff Avenue on 30 November 2015. He has 17 previous convictions, including theft, burglary, drink‑driving and criminal damage. Defence counsel Mark Lynam BL highlighted Cash's severe heart disease and lack of circulation in his legs, noting that further surgery might require amputation. Judge Melanie Greally, noting the offence occurred amid inter‑familial tension and Cash's intoxication, imposed a three‑year sentence suspended in full on the condition that Cash engage with the Probation Service and abstain from alcohol.
Linda Wall, 37, pleaded guilty to attempted robbery at a Luas stop in June 2015 after a drug dealer urged her to steal a mobile phone to pay part of a debt. The court heard she was hopelessly addicted to "snow blow" and had 16 prior convictions. Judge Melanie Greally noted a positive probation report but said Wall had not fully dealt with her addiction, adjourned the case to October to monitor progress, and urged her to continue improving. Garda Denise Bowes reported the victim, a Chinese woman, was speaking on her phone when Wall tried to take it, resulting in a physical assault that caused swelling but no hospital treatment. Wall denied intending to injure the victim and claimed the dealer's instructions. Marie Torrens, defending, highlighted Wall's nursing aspirations, her daughter's death, and her recent positive changes, hoping she will resume her nursing career.
James Molloy, 34, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to handling a stolen Volkswagen Jetta and possessing a forged tax disk. He had taken a €2,000 loan from a money lender and left Ireland without repaying it. Upon his return, he claimed he was pressured by "loan sharks" to sell the stolen vehicle to settle the debt. Garda investigation found the car parked outside his home with false plates and a fake tax disk. Molloy admitted knowing the car was stolen and that the plates had been changed. Judge Melanie Greally noted his alcohol addiction and expressed that he had addressed it, imposing a three‑year sentence suspended in full for three years. Molloy had no prior convictions and had been sober since April of the previous year. The case highlighted the alleged coercion he faced from the lenders.
James Preston, 36, was caught attempting to rob the Seabank House pub in East Wall, Dublin, after a Garda surveillance operation. He approached the manager armed with a wheel brace and a Stanley knife while the manager was carrying the pub's takings. Garda officers intervened, ordering him to drop his weapons, and he was arrested. Preston had previously pleaded guilty to attempted robbery in 2014 and to dangerous driving and unlawful use of a car in 2015. He was sentenced by Judge John Aylmer to three years, with the final 18 months suspended, citing his efforts to reform while in prison. The judge noted that the robbery could have been completed without Garda intervention and that Preston's 2015 driving endangered adults and children. The case highlighted the role of Garda surveillance in preventing the robbery.
Charles Farrell, aged 44, was convicted at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for theft of two historic gates from Convent Cottage, Firhouse Road, on 4 April 2015, and for unlawful use of a car and dangerous driving on 25 June 2015. He received an 18‑month jail term, followed by a consecutive three‑year sentence for driving a stolen car dangerously through Tallaght. Judge Melanie Greally suspended the final two years of the four‑and‑a‑half‑year term on strict conditions and disqualified Farrell from driving for six years. Two co‑accused, James Spellman Junior (40) and Trevor Matthews (41), each received two‑year suspended sentences for their roles in the gate theft. The judge noted Farrell's long‑standing drug addiction and his efforts to address it, while the Gardaí described the theft and subsequent dangerous driving incidents in detail. Charles Farrell pleaded guilty.
Sean Keenan, aged 26, attacked Anthony Kelly, 79, after Kelly had just exited his car to go home. Keenan struck Kelly from behind, demanding the car keys, and then drove the Mercedes Benz over Kelly, nearly reversing the vehicle onto the garden wall. While Kelly was on a stick after a recent stroke, Keenan also assaulted Joseph Cooke, aged in his 70s, who had come to help. Cooke was struck several times in the head and body with what was believed to be the butt of a sawn‑off shotgun; he later received treatment for a head wound. Keenan fled, driving the wrong way down Malahide Road before abandoning the car in Ballymun after a crash. He was sentenced to five‑and‑a‑half years, with the final two years suspended, for robbery of car keys, hijacking, assault, and other offences. The hijacked vehicle, valued at about €25,000, was later written off by insurance. Sean Keenan pleaded guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, the jury was discharged after a juror appeared to fall asleep 15 minutes into the opening address. Prosecutor Garrett Baker BL was explaining "beyond reasonable doubt" when a juror was found seemingly asleep, prompting a jury minder to intervene. Defence barrister Pieter Le Vert BL reported that another male juror also seemed about to nod off. Judge Elma Sheahan ruled that the trial could not replace the two jurors, so she discharged the entire jury. The case involves Dean Joyce (24) of Rowlagh Park, Clondalkin, who pleaded not guilty to 11 charges, including endangering gardaí by driving his car into a garda van, four counts of dangerous driving, possession of stolen property, driving without a licence, driving without insurance, possession of a boxcutter used in a burglary, criminal damage of a garda van, and failing to stop for gardaí. A new jury will be sworn in today.
Amanda Daly, 36, was sentenced to three years in jail, with the final six months suspended, for robbing a taxi driver of €700 on 15 April 2015. She was caught after dropping her purse, which contained a social welfare receipt, near the robbery site. Daly, who has no fixed abode and 42 prior convictions mainly for public order offences, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. She and accomplice Jason Hynes (43) had planned the robbery; Hynes had previously received a four‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence. The judge noted Daly's severe drug addiction and tragic life, and that she had an active role, attempting to tie the driver's hands to the steering wheel. She had been released on bail for drug treatment but failed to complete the programme and was returned to custody. The robbery involved a syringe and an attempt to extort money from the driver, who was frightened by the assault.
Martin Keane, 59, was sentenced in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to a theft committed on November 24, 2015. The court heard that Keane stole €20,000 worth of photography equipment from a hotel room in Dublin city centre. The victim, Brian Samuelson, later identified Keane from CCTV footage while he was drinking in a bar at the Gresham Hotel. Keane was arrested and subsequently pleaded guilty to carrying out the theft. Defence counsel Dominic McGinn SC argued that Keane was not a hardened criminal and highlighted recent serious health problems. However, Judge Karen O'Connor noted that Keane was a prolific thief with 16 previous convictions for theft and shoplifting in the UK. The judge described the offence as opportunistic but stated that Keane was caught red-handed. All but €2,000 of the stolen equipment was recovered. Judge O'Connor suspended a sentence of six months imprisonment on the condition that Keane pays €2,000 to the Capuchin Day Centre for homeless people.
Donna O'Brien, aged 25, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison for the manslaughter of her cousin Bernadette Cash, 20, who died alone and unaided after a violent assault at O'Brien's home in Blanchardstown on 30 October 2013. O'Brien pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Witnesses described a series of punches and kicks to Cash's face and head, with O'Brien admitting to punching but denying kicking. The victim was found dead the next morning in a hallway, with a post‑mortem revealing brain swelling and head injuries as the cause of death. Toxicology showed morphine and codeine in Cash's system. O'Brien also received a consecutive 18‑month suspended term for unrelated theft offences committed in September 2013. The judge noted O'Brien's history of drug abuse, childhood exposure to violence, and her remorse, taking these into account when imposing the sentence. The case highlighted the severe violence that Cash had endured prior to the fatal assault.
In a court hearing on 8 February 2017, it was reported that Garda Cathal McGeoghan had to deploy pepper spray three times against two youths during a robbery at a Spar shop. Craig Moloney, aged 21, was armed with an iron bar, while his accomplice carried a meat cleaver. The incident occurred when the pair had just stolen €358 from the cashier. McGeoghan, fearing for his safety, used pepper spray to subdue Moloney, who then attempted to assault the Garda with a bar. The accomplice, wielding the cleaver, was also pepper‑sprayed and fled before being arrested with the aid of a Garda helicopter. Moloney, previously convicted of theft and assault, will be sentenced in May 2017. The court noted his earlier convictions and the Garda's actions during the arrest. Craig Moloney pleaded guilty.
James Kennedy, 34, of Upper Gardiner Street, Dublin, was sentenced to four and a half years' imprisonment for arson on Westland Row on 12 September 2015. He pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Kennedy's 40 prior convictions include criminal damage, theft, public order and violent behaviour in a Garda station. The incident involved setting a motorbike on fire, which caused a passing woman and her child to flee for safety. The judge, Melanie Greally, described the act as "senseless but highly dangerous" and noted that Kennedy had alcohol problems and did not recall the event. The final two years of the sentence were suspended on strict conditions, including treatment and liaison with the Probation Service for 18 months after release. The court accepted a probation report indicating that the Probation Service could assist Kennedy in the future. The motorbike, valued at €3,000, was completely destroyed by the blaze.
In a Tesco Express robbery in Finglas, Aaron McDermott, 24, and an accomplice threatened staff with firearms and demanded €3,000 and a vodka bottle. A shop assistant recognised McDermott as a former schoolmate, nicknamed Choppy, after his hooded jacket collar slipped. CCTV footage identified him, leading to his arrest at home. McDermott pleaded guilty to robbery at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Pauline Codd suspended the final three years of a four‑year sentence, conditional on drug treatment and participation in a victim awareness programme. She noted his struggle following his brother's 2015 suicide and his recent release from a psychiatric ward. McDermott's letter of apology was read in court, and the judge considered his personal circumstances and guilty plea in sentencing.
In a 2016 robbery at Core Credit Union in Ballybrack, Dublin, 28‑year‑old Gary Gregg, a heroin addict, seized the supervisor by the neck and threatened to set her on fire, claiming he had a lighter and fuel. He poured liquid from a canister over her head, shouted demands for money, and forced two staff members to hand over cash. The robbery lasted 41 seconds, during which Gregg also threw fluid over the counter and stole €12,241. The supervisor escaped through the front door, raising the alarm, while a woman with children fled the building. Neither the cash nor the fluid canister was recovered, and forensic evidence on the victim's cardigan evaporated. Gregg pleaded guilty to robbery and making a threat to kill, was sentenced in May 2017, and was ordered to undergo drug treatment. The incident left staff traumatized, with ongoing fear and nightmares.
Anthony Kearney, 65, a former bric a brac shop owner and memorabilia collector, pleaded guilty to possession of a stolen Baikal double‑barrel shotgun. He bought the weapon for €440 at a Sunday market in Balbriggan, believing it to be a harmless piece for his collection. Gardaí stopped him in his van, found the broken firearm, and later searched his home, which contained no other criminal items. The court, noting Kearney's lack of prior convictions and the circumstances, deemed the offence a "serious error of judgement." Judge Patricia Ryan imposed a two‑year sentence, suspended in full, and ordered restitution of the firearm. The mandatory five‑year minimum was set aside due to the exceptional circumstances surrounding the case.
Jonathan Conway, 35, a disqualified driver with 112 convictions, stole a BMW after its owner mistakenly left the keys inside. While driving under the influence of heroin, alcohol and tablets, Conway lost control at a roundabout, briefly became airborne, and crashed into a lamp‑post and the wall of The Graduate pub. Two female passengers sustained minor injuries. Conway, who had no valid licence or insurance, pleaded guilty to taking possession of the car, dangerous driving, driving without insurance and refusing a sample. The court adjourned sentencing to May, ordered a urine analysis, and will hear a plea in mitigation. Conway was taken to St Vincent's Hospital where he refused to provide a blood or urine sample. The case highlights the ongoing legal proceedings and the court's consideration of mitigation arguments.
A 23‑year‑old man from Clondalkin, Michael Bayley, was sentenced to three and a half years' imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended, for two burglaries in Sallynoggin and dangerous driving on 12 May 2016. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Bayley had 22 prior convictions, including aggravated burglary, public order and road traffic offences. The judge also disqualified him from driving for four years. The burglaries involved the theft of a Samsung Galaxy tablet and an iPad from a sick child's home, as well as cash found in a birthday card. Bayley claimed he was recruited by people he owed "15 grand" to repay a debt, and that he had drug addictions. He was arrested after a high‑speed chase in which his stolen car crashed in Blackrock, having driven at 160 kph in a 50 kph zone and failed to stop at red lights.
Amir Essalhi, 32, pleaded guilty to six counts of robbery in a drug‑fuelled spree in Clondalkin during April and May last year, after a series of attacks on women in west Dublin. He targeted three women in their cars, a pharmacy, and a tanning salon, using a knife, a spoon he pretended was a knife, and a kitchen knife. Essalhi also admitted to robbing a woman's handbag in May 2015. The court heard that he carried out the offences to feed his heroin addiction, and that his brother had been murdered in 2011. He was remanded in custody until sentencing, with a probation report ordered and the matter adjourned to April 6 for full defence submissions. Victim impact statements were presented, and most stolen property was not recovered. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Patricia Sweeney, 60, a primary school cleaner, forged declaration of unemployment forms and used the school stamp to claim €31,700.70 in job seekers allowance she was not entitled to. She worked 12 hours a week on a casual basis, but the school's board had required her to work five days a week, making her ineligible for the allowance. Sweeney claimed she worked the hours over three days and provided forged forms to the Department of Social Protection. She pleaded guilty to 21 counts of theft and forgery covering February 2011 to February 2015. She has no prior convictions, has paid €1,649 back, and is currently on job seekers allowance with weekly deductions of €27.90 until the debt is cleared. The case was adjourned to 22 March, with a probation report to assess suitability for community service.
Warren Brennan, 25, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment for robbing a 71‑year‑old pensioner at Alderwood Park, Tallaght, on 27 October 2015. Brennan, wearing a motorcycle helmet and armed with a claw hammer, demanded €5,000 from the victim after the man had withdrawn the cash from a bank. When the pensioner refused and called him a "scumbag", Brennan struck him repeatedly with the hammer, punched him, bit his thumb, and then fled with the money. The victim was knocked to the ground, suffered a broken thumb and later reported flashbacks whenever he saw a hammer or helmet. Brennan pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He has 54 prior convictions, including firearms possession, theft, burglary and assault, and was previously jailed for three years in 2011 for an attempted robbery involving a gun. The court noted that Brennan had been given many chances to reform but had not changed his criminal behaviour.
Giovanni Lanelli, 39, sold a Ford Focus he had bought on hire purchase for €17,000 to a buyer who paid €13,800 at a Dublin hotel. Lanelli did not disclose that the car was still financed and that monthly payments were due. He later claimed he intended to continue paying but could not keep up. A year later the finance company warned the buyer that the car would be repossessed if the balance was not paid. Lanelli promised to obtain a loan to clear the balance but failed to raise the funds. The buyer settled with the finance company, paying over €12,800 to keep the car. Lanelli pleaded guilty to theft and fraud at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 22 August 2014. He has no prior convictions.
Bill O'Driscoll and Damien Fitzgerald, both of Cork, have appealed their convictions for assault causing serious harm and robbery against Karol O'Keefe, allegedly committed on November 25, 2013, at the Quarry Steps, Windsor Cottages, St Luke's. The men, who pleaded not guilty, were found guilty by a jury and sentenced to eight years' imprisonment by Judge David Riordan on June 15, 2015. In their appeal before a three-judge court, their lawyers argued that the trial judge erred by failing to direct an acquittal due to insufficient evidence. Counsel Elizabeth O'Connell SC submitted that while blood evidence linked the men to the scene, there was no proof they struck the victim, noting another man had pleaded guilty to the counts. Vincent Heneghan SC added that there was no evidence O'Driscoll made contact with the victim or the stolen phone. Prosecuting counsel Dermot Sheehan BL countered that the blood evidence and CCTV footage of Fitzgerald possessing the phone were sufficient to go to the jury. The court, comprising Mr Justice George Birmingham, Mr Justice Alan Mahon, and Mr Justice John Edwards, reserved its judgment, indicating it hopes to deliver its decision as soon as possible. The matter remains pending and has not been finalised.
Gary Fitzgerald, aged 19, received a three‑year sentence for arson at Green Hills Court Apartments, Tallaght, on 26 March 2015. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and had seven prior convictions, including road traffic and assault. The fire, which caused €45,000 in damage, occurred in an unoccupied bedroom; Gardaí could not determine the cause. Gary lived next door to the burning apartment with his cousin Graham Fitzgerald, who also pleaded guilty to arson on the same occasion and to attempted robbery in February 2016. Judge Melanie Greally adjourned Graham's case for two weeks and imposed a suspended six‑month portion on Gary's sentence, ordering one year of post‑release supervision. The court noted Gary's extreme youth and drug use but accepted his early plea. No residents were in immediate danger, and the complex was evacuated. The case was heard with evidence from CCTV and police reports.
Two Cork men, Jamie O'Brien, aged 20, and Eddie Murphy, aged 26, pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm and robbery on Mark Lahive in April 2015. Judge David Riordan sentenced Murphy to eight‑and‑a‑half years, with 18 months suspended, and O'Brien to six years, with one year suspended, on 20 November 2015. The Director of Public Prosecutions has appealed, arguing the sentences were unduly lenient. The Court of Appeal, a three‑judge panel, has reserved judgment. During the hearing, counsel highlighted the severity of the assault, the victims' lifelong injuries, and the defendants' admissions and remorse. The court will decide whether to increase the sentences after the appeal is considered.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Mohammed Shafi, a former employee of Washington Mobile on Parnell Street, pleaded guilty to handling stolen property. He admitted knowing that the phones were stolen and that he had been accepting or buying stolen items for a year, including a stolen iPhone 6 he paid about €200 for. The court considered 21 seized items, comprising 18 Apple iPhones, two iPads and one iPod, with a rough total value estimated between €7,500 and €10,000. Shafi said he intended to use the stolen devices for spare parts. Judge Pauline Codd, taking into account his early guilty plea, cooperation with Gardaí, and his role as a primary family supporter, suspended a two‑year sentence and ordered him to pay €200 to one victim. The judge noted that Shafi had not profited significantly from the offences and highlighted his previous minor convictions for holding fake documents.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, 23‑year‑old Margaret McDonnell pleaded guilty to 13 counts of theft of cash from Bank of Ireland after a bank error deposited €51,808 into her account on 6 March 2013. She withdrew €5,000 the next day and spent €24,946 over nine days at various shops and restaurants, including Dunnes Stores, Tesco, and New Look. The bank recovered €26,862 of the original deposit and requested repayment, which McDonnell ignored. She admitted responsibility, claiming she believed the money was hers because it appeared in her account. The judge adjourned the case to April, ordered a Probation Services report to assess her suitability for community service, and noted her lack of prior convictions. The case highlights the financial impact of the accidental deposit and her subsequent spending spree.
Brian Clarke, 31, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for robbery of American tourist Ryan Dillon at Swords Town Park on 2 May 2015. Clarke, who posed for photographs with the tourists, acted as a "distraction" while other accomplices stole the camera bag, wallet, cash, camera and mobile phone. Dillon was attacked by a group of youths who punched and kicked him; his partner was punched in the gut and Dillon suffered a broken scapula. Clarke had 55 prior convictions and had not cooperated with the Probation Service. Judge Melanie Greally suspended the final year of a four‑year sentence, citing a favourable probation report that was not positive and Clarke's lack of cooperation. The case was heard in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, with Garda Mairead Murray and prosecutor Caroline Cummings BL presenting evidence of the robbery and the assault on the tourists. Brian Clarke pleaded guilty.
James Smithers, 38, of St Patrick's Park, Tullow, Co. Carlow, was found guilty by the Special Criminal Court of IRA membership. He had denied membership of the Irish Republican Army on 31 October 2015. Smithers was arrested early that morning in Rathkeale, County Limerick, at an isolated rural location. Two other men were also arrested in a Volkswagen Golf, where Gardaí discovered a sawn‑off shotgun, a can of petrol and matches. The court heard that the three men were engaged in an IRA operation and that Smithers' role was to provide the stolen Volkswagen Golf. Justice Isobel Kennedy, after hearing evidence from Detective Chief Superintendent Peter Kirwan and the application of Sections 2, 18 and 19 of the Offences Against the State Act and the Criminal Justice Act, concluded that the evidence cumulatively indicated Smithers was involved in a criminal endeavour on the date in question. He was remanded in custody until 8 February, when he will be sentenced.
Herbert Buckley, 52, appeared before the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after admitting he robbed a Spar newsagent on 11 December 2015 to obtain "a few bob for Christmas." He threatened the shopwoman with scissors, who called the gardai; he was then apprehended in a taxi. Buckley, who has a long history of drug addiction and 45 prior convictions, including an eight‑year sentence for drug dealing, admitted the robbery and said he was "guilty as sin." He has been seeking treatment for heroin addiction since his 20s and is trying to become drug‑free. Judge Melanie Greally adjourned the case to 27 April to allow Buckley to demonstrate his commitment to a drug‑free life, remanding him on continuing bail until that date. The court noted his previous convictions and the circumstances of the robbery.
A former solicitor from Castlebar, County Mayo, has had her prison sentence reduced from twelve to six months following a successful appeal. Jacqueline Durcan, aged 47, had pleaded guilty to stealing €260,000 from clients between February 2008 and January 2011 while operating Durcan Solicitors as a sole practitioner. She was sentenced to twelve months imprisonment in December 2016. The Court of Appeal found the original sentence could have been appropriately reduced for a person of previously good character. The court noted substantial mitigating factors including Durcan's full cooperation, early guilty plea, complete reimbursement through the Solicitors Compensation Fund, and her status as mother of five young children aged between seven and thirteen. The judges acknowledged the particular hardship of her serving her sentence away from her family, who had relocated to Brussels. Durcan has been struck off the solicitors' register.
A mother‑of‑one, Aisling Burke, originally charged with murdering Dale Creighton, began a one‑year jail term for violent disorder during the fatal attack on a Tallaght footbridge. The 14‑minute assault on the 20‑year‑old Creighton started after Burke's mobile phone was stolen as she walked home from a night club. Burke had been sentenced to five years with four suspended last week, but was given a week to arrange care for her child. She returned to the Central Criminal Court today. The court found that Burke did not inflict any physical violence on Creighton and sentenced her to five years in prison, suspending the final four years for two years on condition of good behaviour, keeping the peace and probation supervision. She was not required to enter a bond in court but will do so before the governor or a deputy of the governor in prison.
Samuel Power, 31, of Clondalkin, appealed a three‑year jail sentence imposed on 3 May 2016 for possession of a stolen continental caravan in which he lived with his wife and two children. Power had pleaded not guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 18 July 2012. In the appeal he argued that the warrant for the caravan's seizure was invalid because the offence did not carry a penalty of five years or more in the Netherlands, the jurisdiction where the caravan was stolen, and that the warrant did not consider the caravan as a place where people resided. His barrister, Kieran Kelly BL, contended that the judge had failed to recognise the caravan as a place and had not considered whether the principal offender would face a five‑year penalty. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Justices Birmingham, Sheehan and Mahon, reserved judgment on the appeal. Samuel Power was found guilty.
Jonathan Coyle, 33, was sentenced to three and a half years in prison for recklessly colliding with Philip Woodcock's car, an act that caused both vehicles to be damaged. The collision followed a violent altercation between the occupants of the two cars, during which Woodcock punched Coyle and an unidentified man stabbed a man who had been with Woodcock's group, killing former soldier Warren O'Connor, 24. Coyle pleaded guilty to endangerment and was already under a ten‑year driving disqualification. Judge Cormac Quinn imposed the sentence, suspended the final 18 months, ordered 18 months of probation supervision from release, and disqualified Coyle from driving for ten years. The court noted Coyle's prior convictions, including five‑year and ten‑year driving bans, robbery, assault and burglary. The hearing was held in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, with the O'Connor family present. The case did not involve any charges against Woodcock or others for the killing.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, James Smithers, 38, of St Patrick's Park, Tullow, Co. Carlow, pleaded not guilty to an indictment of membership in the Irish Republican Army (IRA). The prosecution, represented by Anne‑Marie Lawlor BL, argued that Smithers supplied a stolen car for an IRA operation in County Limerick on 31 October 2015. Central to the case was the belief evidence of Detective Chief Superintendent Peter Kirwan, who claimed to be "absolutely satisfied" that the information supporting his belief was reliable and accurate. Kirwan's testimony was supplemented by the fact that Smithers failed to answer material questions after Section 2 of the Offences Against the State Act was invoked, which the prosecution said provided sufficient supporting evidence of guilt. Smithers' defence, led by Mark Nicholas SC, challenged the depth of Kirwan's file and the inference that the suspicious activity on the night in question proved membership.
In a 2017 case, Andrei Panzariu, aged 32, was sentenced in July for a phishing scam that caused a woman to transfer €5,000 from her savings to her deposit account, which was then moved to another bank without her knowledge. Panzariu withdrew €4,042 through four separate transactions after the scam. He pleaded guilty to four theft charges in March 2014 and had 25 prior convictions, mainly traffic offences. The victim received an email that appeared to be from Permanent TSB, providing her account details and prompting a transfer. Scammers accessed her SIM card, moved the money to a separate account, and Panzariu withdrew the cash. He was caught on CCTV and claimed he was offered €300 by two men he met at a casino. A balance of €958 was returned to the victim, and the bank and O2 took responsibility for part of the loss.
Michael McDermott, 43, was arrested for burglary in Coolock, Dublin, after a house was broken into on 23 January 2016. He was found asleep on the homeowner's bed after piling up items he intended to steal, having fallen asleep in the box room. McDermott had been heavily intoxicated, having taken a large number of tablets, and was described by the homeowner's sons as "out of his mind." He had cut himself when smashing a front window to gain entry. Garda Richard Carroll reported that McDermott's condition warranted medical treatment and an ambulance was called. McDermott pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and was sentenced to three years' imprisonment by Judge Melanie Greally. He has 95 prior convictions, including assault, burglary, robbery and drug offences. The court noted his history of drug use and a 30‑year addiction that he claimed to have overcome in 2013.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, James Smithers, 38, of St Patrick's Park, Tullow, pleaded not guilty to an indictment of membership in the Irish Republican Army (IRA). The prosecution alleged that Smithers supplied a stolen Volkswagen Golf for an IRA operation in County Limerick. On 30 October 2015, Detective Garda Liam O'Neill, on duty, and two colleagues travelled to County Limerick. They encountered Smithers in the black Golf at Five Cross Roads outside Rathkeale at 1:35 am. O'Neill's colleague, Detective Garda Joe Higgins, later reported finding a sawn‑off shotgun in another stolen car. Smithers had previously been seen driving the Golf to County Limerick. During questioning under Section 2 of the Offences Against the State Act, Smithers gave no comment to inquiries about IRA activities. The court also heard that the detective invoked Sections 18, 19 and 19(a) of the Criminal Justice Act, allowing inferences from Smithers' silence regarding the stolen vehicle and firearm.