Anthony Paget, 39, of Carnlough Road, Cabra, was jailed for two years after pleading guilty to robbing Mark O'Brien in Dublin city centre on 9 June 2013. Paget had 39 prior convictions, including a serious assault. He was arrested following police work and admitted the offence. Garda Patrick Gallagher described the robbery: O'Brien was walking along Millennium Bridge when a girl with a Dublin accent approached him, told him to "clear off," and a man behind him lifted him into a choke hold while another man patted him down. O'Brien could not describe the men but reported that they took his wallet, which contained a winning Boyle Sport betting slip, a bank card and a Luas card. The next day CCTV from a nearby Boyle Sports shop showed Paget and two accomplices cashing in the betting slip. Paget later claimed he spent the money on snow blow and alcohol.
Stephen Walsh, 39, of Portland Close, Portland Row, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for assault causing serious harm to his girlfriend Maria Sunner. The offence occurred on 24 November 2013 at their home on Poplar Row, Ballybough, when Walsh beat Sunner so severely that she required surgery to insert plates and bolts into her leg. Walsh had 32 prior convictions, including robbery and handling stolen goods. Judge Nolan described the attack as involving punching, pulling, dragging, kicking and stamping, and noted Sunner was left with a disfiguring scar. The sentence was back‑dated to when Walsh first entered custody in June 2013. Walsh pleaded guilty, claimed an element of self‑defence, and later apologized, stating his relationship ended over his "cowardly actions.".
Michael Fogarty, a 50‑year‑old Dublin drug addict and award‑winning poet, was spared a new prison term for robbing Hickey's Pharmacy in Tallaght on 2 March 2014. He pleaded guilty to stealing prescription tablets and about €100 cash. Fogarty had previously served 12 years for attempted murder in London. At the pharmacy he left a handwritten threat note, used a knife, and was stopped by a security guard before being taken to Tallaght Hospital where he was treated after swallowing a large quantity of the stolen tablets. His lawyers argued he was suicidal and had mental health difficulties that day. Judge Martin Nolan, noting Fogarty's prior 12‑year sentence, imposed a two‑year sentence and suspended it in total for two years. All recovered cash was returned. The case was heard in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Paul Norton, 26, was sentenced to seven years in prison for his role as a getaway driver in a failed cash van robbery at the Northside Shopping Centre on 6 June 2012. The court noted that Norton had been disqualified from driving eleven times before the incident and had 71 prior convictions for road traffic offences, including two for robbery and attempted robbery. He also had convictions for false number plates. Judge Patrick McCartan imposed a seven‑year sentence with the final two years suspended and disqualified Norton from driving for life. The case involved a G4S cash van driver who was robbed of €30,000 when a motorbike rider seized the cash box. Norton was apprehended after fleeing in a motorbike, was later found injured, and pleaded guilty on a third trial date. The judge described his record as a "very serious picture.".
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 28 January 2015, Jason Kirwan, aged 28, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for his role in a burglary at Buttercup Park, Darndale, on 3 October 2011. Garda Kevin Hinde presented evidence that Kirwan was linked to the break‑in through blood drops found on the stairs, after four men had smashed a door to gain entry. The men had previously threatened a doorman who had asked people to leave a pub, claiming they knew where he lived. The burglary involved the theft of military uniforms belonging to Corporal Michael O'Shea. Kirwan's 80 prior convictions included 72 road‑traffic offences, one robbery and a drug‑dealing conviction. The judge noted the burglars appeared to be seeking vengeance against the doorman, who was believed to be living at the former residence. The court imposed a three‑year sentence, reflecting the seriousness of the offence and Kirwan's extensive criminal record. Jason Kirwan pleaded guilty.
John Paul Gantley, a 31‑year‑old drug addict from Crumlin, was sentenced to two years in prison for two smash‑and‑grab robberies at newsagents in Dublin. In the first incident, on 2 February 2014 at Loughlinstown, he pretended to buy a Cadbury's Creme Egg, persuaded the shop staff to open the till, and then stole €105. In the second, on 18 February 2014 at Cardiffsbridge Road, Finglas, he entered a Spar, paid for a Creme Egg with a single euro, and while the sales assistant was giving him change, he grabbed cash from the till. He was caught shortly after with the stolen €105. Gantley pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a three‑year sentence, suspended the final year on the condition that Gantley engage with Probation Services for one year after release.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Damien Fleming, 28, was found guilty of attempting to rob a woman in Herbert Park, Ballsbridge, on 4 November 2013. He ambushed the woman from behind, slapped her over the mouth, and fled when she escaped. Three passers‑by apprehended him and handed him over to Gardaí. A carpet knife was later discovered in his pocket, though it was not presented during the incident. Fleming claimed he was in a drinking binge and had intended to take money from the victim, but changed his mind. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to a suspended three‑year term and ordered him to pay the victim over €8,000, with the court deciding the payment's destination if the victim rejects it. Fleming, who has three prior assault and public‑order convictions, is now living in Cork and has reportedly completed a residential alcohol‑treatment course.
A 22‑year‑old Meath man, Graham McGuinness, was sentenced to four years in prison for driving a stolen car into a crowded viewing area at Dublin Airport. He pleaded guilty to unlawful use of a car and a second charge of dangerous driving. McGuinness, who had been disqualified from driving for ten years, drove recklessly up an embankment, jumped out of the moving car, and caused a large crowd of plane‑spotters to scatter. The judge, Martin Nolan, noted that McGuinness had "put the fear of God" into bystanders and suspended the final year of the sentence, citing his youth and potential for rehabilitation. McGuinness had 41 prior convictions, including criminal damage, theft, burglary, drug offences and threats to kill, and had struggled with alcohol and drugs. The court heard he had been in care from age 12 to 17 and had a very difficult, unsettled life with little stability.
Michael Buckley, aged 66, was convicted of stealing €215 worth of women's dresses from Dunnes Stores in The Pavilion Shopping Centre, Swords, on 26 September 2014. He pleaded guilty before Swords District Court, where he was ordered to stay away from the shopping centre for two years. The court gave him a six‑month suspended sentence, suspended for two years, and remanded him on a €200 bond with a condition to remain away from the centre. Buckley has 69 prior convictions, mainly for theft and traffic offences, with a ten‑year gap since 2004. He has kidney and stomach problems and is 66 years old. The judge noted that a custodial sentence would not serve society, but a fine was not sufficient given his record. The solicitor argued that Buckley's gambling addiction had contributed to his offending, and he claims he is finished with such behaviour. The suspended sentence was imposed by Judge Dermot Dempsey.
Swords District Court heard several matters involving defendants Emmet Fitzsimons, Antons Marchinkevics, and Gillian O'Donnell. Fitzsimons, 21, pleaded guilty to being intoxicated and using threatening and abusive behaviour in Swords. Judge Dermot Dempsey struck out the case after Fitzsimons paid €250 to the Garda Benevolent Fund, noting the defendant had apologised and completed a security course. In a separate matter, Antons Marchinkevics, 33, pleaded guilty to drink driving and driving without insurance following a crash in Rush. He was disqualified for three years for drink driving and two years for lack of insurance, and fined €400 for each offence. Marchinkevics provided a breath sample of 72mg/100ml. Regarding Gillian O'Donnell, 38, the court issued a bench warrant for her arrest after she failed to appear. She is alleged to have stolen footwear from Tesco Express in Balbriggan and to be in unlawful possession of cannabis. The matter remains at the pre-trial stage with no plea entered or finalisation recorded. Additionally, Caroline Joyce was granted a hearing date of March 23rd for alleged criminal damage and breach of a protection order, though she is not a validated subject in this summary.
Lee McDonnell, 23, of Ballyfermot, pleaded guilty to possession of an imitation firearm with intent to rob Sarsfield Service Station, robbery of cigarettes and a sunglass case, and robbery of a shop assistant on 21 January 2012. He received a six‑year sentence, with three years suspended, on 19 November 2012. The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed that the three‑year jail term was too lenient. The appeal was scheduled for December but McDonnell did not appear; the court agreed to hear the application on 15 May. No reason was given for his absence.
In a 2015 court hearing, an off‑duty Garda and his father intervened during an attempted robbery at a Paddy Power bookmakers in Saggart. The offender, David Towell, 36, had just left the bookmaker's premises without taking any cash and was attempting to escape on a moped with an accomplice. The Garda and his father knocked both men to the ground as the vehicle took off. Towell pleaded guilty to attempted robbery and possession of an air pistol on 6 July 2013. He has 20 prior convictions. The Garda explained that Towell had struck the cash desk's window while the cashier was searching for a panic button, and that the accomplice fled the scene. Towell was remanded in custody pending sentencing, with a report from the probation and welfare service due in March. The case was prosecuted by Mark Fitzgerald BL and defended by John Kelly BL. The judge, Catherine Murphy, noted this was Towell's first violent offence.
Daniel Prenderville, 27, of Crumlin, was convicted in 2013 of possession of a loaded firearm, possession of ammunition, unlawful use of a vehicle and dangerous driving after he rammed a Garda patrol car with a stolen Audi A3 in Ballycullen on 6 September 2012. The original sentence was six years' imprisonment with the final 18 months suspended. The Court of Appeal, citing an application by the Director of Public Prosecutions, increased the sentence to seven years' imprisonment, finding that the trial judge had erred in suspending part of the term because no exceptional circumstances were identified. The appeal court held that the offence should be viewed at the top of the scale, and the new seven‑year term replaced the original sentence. The case involved a loaded Baikal pistol with a silencer, three bullets in the magazine and one in the chamber, and the firearm's serial number had been removed. Daniel Prenderville pleaded guilty.
A 17‑year‑old Dublin teenager was sentenced to three years' detention, with the final two years suspended, after a judge described the custodial sentence as a last resort to protect society. The judge said the boy "has little or no regard for other people's lives" and that he must learn the hard way if he does not change. He pleaded guilty to burglary on 10 November 2013 and to robbery of Frank Locke and Gerard Watkins on 2 February 2014, including the seizure of a Skoda Octavia and a Nissan Primera by force. The court noted that the teenager was on bail when the robberies occurred and that a probation report raised doubts about his ability to stop committing crime. Gardaí found cash, a yellow torch, a silver watch and a knuckle duster on him at his arrest. The boy's parents, who have no criminal record, were described as embarrassed and ashamed by his actions.
At the appeal stage, Mark Farrelly (43) and Christopher Corcoran (67), previously convicted in 2009 for their roles in a 2005 tiger raid involving the robbery of €2.28 million from Mr Richardson and Securicor Security Services Ireland Ltd, were found not guilty by direction. The ruling followed a decision by Judge Mary Ellen Ring that mobile phone records could not be used as evidence in the case. Both men had pleaded not guilty to the charges of falsely imprisoning the Richardsons at Ashcroft, Raheny on the night of March 13 and 14, 2005, and the robbery of €2.28 million in cash. They had been sentenced to 25 years and 12 years respectively in 2009, but their convictions were overturned in 2012 due to a Supreme Court ruling on the unconstitutionality of search warrants. A retrial in 2013 ended in a hung jury. The current appeal concluded with the matter being adjourned, as the jury was directed to find the men not guilty, and no retrial will take place. The legal argument centred on the admissibility of mobile phone records, with the defence relying on the 1992 Cochrane ruling. The case has had a lasting impact on the Richardson family, who have not retrieved the stolen cash and continue to be affected by the events ten years later.
Sean Donnelly, aged 20, was sentenced to ten years for his role in an armed raid on a Portmarnock credit union. During the raid, a gun was pointed at Garda Michael Bolton and a car was hijacked. Donnelly attempted to calm the other raider, who threatened staff and a customer with a hand pistol. Bolton pursued the raiders on his bicycle, was threatened with a gun, and later chased the hijacked car until it crashed near Belmayne Road. Donnelly had previously pleaded guilty to robbery of €2,900 from the credit union, possession of a firearm, and hijacking in 2012, and to robbery of a cash‑in‑transit worker in 2014. He had 43 prior convictions. Judge Martin Nolan imposed consecutive sentences totaling ten years, suspending the final three years on strict conditions. The case highlighted Donnelly's involvement in multiple criminal acts and his relationship with his father, who is serving a life sentence for murder.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Paulius Taracvius, a 34‑year‑old Lithuanian mechanic from Finglas, pleaded guilty to possession of stolen property. He admitted that he had delivered a stolen Audi Q3 to a yard on Flemington Road, Balbriggan, where a Garda raid recovered four high‑end vehicles worth €100,000, including an Audi A5, the Q3, a Nissan Qashqai and a BMW 3‑series. The cars had been stolen from homes in Rathmines, Rathgar and Celbridge in September 2013, with keys often taken from letterboxes. Judge Martin Nolan, after hearing the case, suspended a two‑year prison sentence, noting that Taracvius's role was limited to delivering the Audi. The court also noted that other individuals involved in dismantling and shipping stolen vehicles had received weekly payments and faced separate sentences. The case highlighted the broader investigation into the dismantling and export of stolen high‑end cars from Ireland to Eastern Europe.
In January 2014, Thomas Greene McDonagh, a 22‑year‑old drug addict from Mullingar with no fixed address, robbed Darragh Losty, a 22‑year‑old man with Freidreichs Ataxia who has a mental age of about 12. McDonagh approached Losty on O'Connell Street while he was heading to the Central Remedial Clinic, offered drugs, and lured him into a secluded area. He then threatened Losty, seized his coat, hat, mobile phone and bus pass, and forced him to stay put. Losty later managed to escape and called his mother for help. Garda John Saunderson presented evidence that the robbery occurred on the first day Losty was attempting independent travel to the clinic. McDonagh pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and was sentenced to four years' imprisonment, back‑dated to the date of his arrest. The sentence was imposed by Judge Martin Nolan, who noted that Losty's special needs were obvious to anyone.
In an appeal-stage proceeding, Ms Justice Aileen Donnelly sought clarification regarding the case of Ali Charaf Damache, an Algerian-born Irish citizen wanted in the US for conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists and attempted identity theft. The judge requested up-to-date US statistics on how many individuals convicted of similar Islamist terrorism offences are transferred to the ADX Supermax Prison in Florence, Colorado, and their progression through the system. This inquiry follows concerns raised about the prison's conditions, including solitary confinement and barriers to religious observance. The matter was adjourned and placed on the extradition case list for mention on February 3, with Damache remanded in custody until then. The court noted that if convicted in the US, Damache could face up to 45 years in jail. The US alleges he conspired with Colleen LaRose, who pleaded guilty to a plot to murder cartoonist Lars Vilks and was sentenced to ten years, and Jamie Paulin Ramirez, who pleaded guilty to providing material support to terrorists and was sentenced to eight years. Separately, Damache had previously pleaded guilty in Ireland to sending a menacing phone call to US activist Majed Moughni in January 2010, for which he was sentenced to three years.
Tom O'Connor, 47, former director of O'Connor Plant Hire & Ground Works, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to handling a stolen Volvo A25D dumper truck in Brittas, Co. Dublin, between December 2009 and April 2010. He admitted possession of the vehicle, which had its chassis, VIN and engine numbers altered, but denied involvement in its theft or cloning. O'Connor had five prior convictions, including a 2011 offence for possessing a stolen John Deere tractor. He resigned as director in 2013 and was declared bankrupt in 2012. Judge Desmond Hogan imposed a four‑year sentence, suspended in full for five years, and ordered O'Connor to complete 240 hours of community service and to keep the peace for five years. The judge noted O'Connor's moderate risk of re‑offending but accepted that he had not participated in stealing the truck. The case was prosecuted by Gerardine Small BL and defended by Tony McGillicuddy BL.
Ruth Barry, 36, of Moy Elta Road, Dublin 3, was convicted in 2012 of cutting journalist Jennifer Bray's face, using a blade, robbery, and assaulting two of Bray's companions on O'Connell Street on 25 June 2010. Barry was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment, with 18 months suspended. She and boyfriend Jonathon O'Brien followed Bray, her companion Sarah Furlong, and Neil Callanan to a taxi; Barry punched Bray, head‑butted Furlong, and bit Callanan. Bray testified she felt a cold object and heard a click before slumping. Barry's counsel argued that a witness, Jakub Gajda, who allegedly saw O'Brien take something from behind his back, was unavailable and that the trial judge had accepted his statement as evidence. The Court of Appeal has been asked to grant a retrial, with the appeal pending a decision date.
In a Balbriggan District Court hearing on 15 January 2015, Olivia Weldon, aged 40, pleaded guilty to theft after taking €55.56 worth of items from a Tesco Extra on 11 December 2014. She claimed she was under pressure due to her daughter's birthday and the upcoming Christmas. The judge fined her €150. A separate case involved Thomas Gaffney, 19, charged with multiple thefts including a car, bicycle, truckster, and chicken fillet rolls. His hearing was scheduled for 2 February at Swords District Court. Anthony Handley, 63, faced a dangerous driving charge; the book of evidence would be served in March, and he remained on bail until 5 March. Kevin Harmon, 26, was charged with assault causing harm to Darren O'Donovan; he was remanded on continuing bail and given an alibi caution, with a next appearance set for 30 January at the Criminal Courts of Justice. Olivia Weldon was convicted.
Stephen Kelly, 20, of Crumlin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to consecutive terms totalling seven years. He pleaded guilty to violent disorder at St Patrick's Institution on March 18, 2013, possession of a rifle on March 25, 2014, and burglary on March 12, 2014. The court heard that Kelly and three other inmates caused €33,000 in damage during an incident described as a "mini riot," during which prison officers were attacked. In the burglary, a house was ransacked, and items including a laptop, wedding ring, watches, a necklace, a silver pen, and a camera were stolen; these were later recovered from a BMW in which Kelly was a passenger. Regarding the rifle, Garda Enda Daly testified that Kelly held the weapon in a threatening manner, though examination later found it was not capable of firing. Judge Martin Nolan noted the gardaí had reason to believe their lives were in danger. The judge accepted there was "some hope" for Kelly's rehabilitation, noting his recent employment in prison laundry and course completion. The other three inmates involved in the violent disorder were previously sentenced by Judge Patricia Ryan; two brothers received four-year sentences with the final two years suspended, while the fourth man received a four-year sentence with two and a half years suspended.
Paul Gibbons, 29, pleaded guilty to robbery at a Spar on Malahide Road, Artane, on 23 December 2013. He and two others entered the shop armed with knives, demanding money. Gardaí were alerted after a staff member tackled the raiders; the robbers fled, but Gibbons was arrested shortly after. The robbery yielded €347. Gibbons, who was on social welfare and had lost access to his ten‑year‑old son due to unpaid maintenance, said the act was the "most stupid thing" he had ever done. He cooperated with the investigation and made admissions. Judge Martin Nolan, considering his cooperation and the circumstances, sentenced him to three years' imprisonment, suspended in full. No other charges were brought against the two co‑raiders, and Gibbons has not been involved in further criminal activity since his arrest.
Robert Canning, 31, was jailed for 33 consecutive months after pleading guilty to robbery and handling stolen vehicles. Gardaí first noticed him near a petrol station in the rain and later saw him running with a plastic bag. Officers chased him to an estate where he was hiding; they found a large kitchen knife, money, and notes in his pockets. The knife was used to threaten a heavily pregnant staff member at a Maxol Service Station, who later reported that Canning had taken €450 from the till. Canning had previously pleaded guilty to handling a stolen Nissan Qashqai, BMW, and Nissan Primastar van, each worth €7,000 to €11,000, and to the robbery of the service station. He had 62 prior convictions, including 50 traffic offences and drug‑related offences. The judge cited his drug problem and debt as factors in sentencing.
Swords District Court heard five cases presided over by Judge John Coughlan. Karl Dempsey pleaded guilty to being intoxicated and using threatening and abusive behaviour on a bus. He was convicted and fined €75. Winnie Joyce pleaded guilty to theft from TK MAX. She was convicted and fined €500. Stephen Wynne, who did not appear, was charged with unlawful possession of cannabis. The court proceeded in his absence, resulting in a conviction and a €300 fine. Drew Lynch pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of Ecstasy tablets. As his third drugs offence, he was convicted and fined €1,200, with recognisance fixed for appeal. Jill Devine pleaded guilty to theft from three shops. She was convicted and fined €200. All defendants were sentenced in this round-up.
An off‑duty Garda, Detective Paul Johnson, used a traffic cone to stop and apprehend two robbers, Kevin Penrose (49) and Larry Brazil (52), after a raid at a Centra store on Westland Row. Brazil, a father of five from Cappagh Avenue, Finglas, pleaded guilty to robbery of €2,288 and possession of a knife, receiving a four‑year suspended sentence. Penrose, a father of three from Casement Road, Finglas, pleaded guilty to robbery and was jailed for four years, currently serving a six‑year term for a May 2014 robbery. Brazil had 82 prior convictions, including theft and drug offences, and had not committed a violent crime since 2003. Penrose had 79 prior convictions. Judge Martin Nolan praised Johnson's actions, the public's assistance, and Brazil's rehabilitation, noting he was now methadone‑free and seeking reform. The case highlights the Garda's proactive intervention and the judicial consideration of personal circumstances.
Swords District Court sentenced four defendants. Jamie Cunningham (18) of Balbriggan, who pleaded guilty to failing to comply with a garda directive, was sentenced to one month in prison after failing to complete a previous 100-hour community service order; a second charge of obstructing the Gardai was struck out. Genadijs Ogurcous (45) of Lusk pleaded guilty to theft after cutting security tags from items in a Swords department store and received a six-month suspended sentence. Ishtiag Ahmad (33) of Coolock, who pleaded not guilty to permitting a child under three to travel without appropriate restraint, was convicted after Judge Dermot Dempsey accepted garda evidence over his defence; he was fined €150. Kevin Harris (24) of Clarehall, who pleaded not guilty to driving under the influence of cannabis, was found guilty following a collision at Hearse Road; the court imposed a four-year driving ban and a €1,000 fine. All matters were finalised at the sentencing stage.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Joseph Morgan, aged 31, received a suspended three‑year prison sentence for stealing from the parochial house of Fr Joseph McLoughlin in Blanchardstown on 7 July 2012. The judge, Mary Ellen Ring, suspended the sentence in full on the condition that Morgan be supervised by probation services for 18 months and comply with drug treatment, rehabilitation, training and employment directives. Morgan had previously failed to appear at a court date, leading to a bench warrant, but the court noted that probation services remained willing to work with him. He had been found in possession of stolen items, including a box of tablets and foreign‑currency notes, and had a history of 65 prior convictions, including two burglaries. The judge warned Morgan that he was "running a fine line" and urged strict adherence to the terms of his sentence. Joseph Morgan pleaded guilty.
Jonathan Chubb, a former employee of a Dublin letting agency, was found guilty of stealing €8,660 in rent payments from tenants across several properties between July and December 2012. He admitted to taking the money to address his own financial difficulties and claimed he intended to repay it. Chubb had previously been convicted of minor traffic offences. The theft involved redirecting rent payments to his personal bank account instead of the company's account, a scheme uncovered when the agency's receivership firm contacted tenants who had not received funds. Chubb was dismissed from his position and had not repaid any of the money. He pleaded guilty to eleven charges at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Martin Nolan, noting the offence as a form of white‑collar crime, remanded Chubb on continuing bail and adjourned the case to consider whether he might be eligible for community service.
In a case involving a 23‑year‑old man from Ballyfermot, Lee McDonnell pleaded guilty to possession of an imitation firearm with intent to rob a service station, robbery of cigarettes and a sunglass case, and robbery of a shop assistant. He received a six‑year sentence, with three years suspended, in November 2012. The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed the three‑year custodial portion as too lenient. The appeal was scheduled for the Court of Appeal, but McDonnell was absent, and the hearing was postponed to January 26.
Dean Slattery, aged 24, pleaded guilty to robbery at Raheny shopping centre on 8 April 2014, where he and two other men in balaclavas attempted to steal about €50,000 from a cash‑in‑transit van. Slattery remained in the rear of the Ford Focus during the robbery, which involved a failed attempt to open the cash box that was later recovered with a pick axe protruding. He was sentenced by Judge Melanie Greally to four years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended on strict conditions. The court noted the gravity of the offence and the fact that Slattery had admitted the robbery was to repay a heroin debt. He has 16 prior convictions, including theft, handling stolen property and possession of knives, and his defence argued he had made genuine efforts to address his drug addiction. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the robbery and the circumstances surrounding it.
Owen Comerford, 27, of Dublin 1, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for multiple theft and robbery offences committed between April 2, 2012, and January 9, 2013. He pleaded guilty to charges including robbing Slovak Point on Arran Quay twice in April 2012 and stealing from Decobake on Bachelor's Walk. Judge Mary Ellen Ring noted that six offences occurred while he was on temporary release from Mountjoy Prison. Comerford also admitted to robbing €200 from The Butler's Pantry in Sandycove on May 8, 2012, alongside co-accused Shane Pollard, 41. Pollard, who has 29 previous convictions, received a three-year sentence with the final two years suspended, consecutive to a four-year term he is serving for another robbery. Comerford, who has 131 previous convictions, was also charged with escaping from lawful custody at Donnybrook Garda Station in July 2012 and was rearrested on August 9, 2012. His final offence involved robbing a pharmacy at Summerhill Parade on January 9, 2013, where he brandished a knife. Judge Ring imposed a seven-year sentence on Comerford, with one year suspended. Defence counsel Michael Bowman SC highlighted Comerford's severe drug addiction and requested an adjournment to secure a treatment bed at Tiglin Residential Treatment Centre, but the court proceeded to sentence him.
In December 2014, Glen Walsh, a 27‑year‑old AIB teller, was remanded on bail pending sentencing after a theft of €40,000 from the Crumlin Cross branch. The theft had been uncovered during an audit triggered by a tiger kidnapping raid in June 2010, during which Walsh was forced to withdraw €210,000 under threat. Walsh had earlier attempted to reimburse the bank with a €20,000 cheque, but the bank was closed. He later repaid the full €40,000. Walsh pleaded guilty to the theft, had no prior convictions, and had left for Australia before being extradited back to Ireland. David Vickery, also 27, pleaded guilty to possession of €10,000 in stolen money and had a minor traffic offence conviction. Both men were remanded on continuing bail, with sentencing scheduled for February 23. The court noted Walsh's gambling addiction and his expressed remorse, as well as Vickery's rehabilitation efforts.
A 36-year-old man from Ballinrobe, County Mayo, has been sentenced to four years imprisonment, with the final twelve months suspended, following a series of attempted robberies across Dublin and County Louth in early 2014. Arthur Boland pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two counts of attempted robbery at post offices in Dublin 2 and one count of making threats to kill or cause serious harm at Pearse Street Garda Station. He also admitted to robbery at the General Post Office on O'Connell Street, a robbery at a bookmaker on Marlborough Street, and a robbery at a post office in Clanbrassil Street, Dundalk on 25 February 2014. Boland handed written notes demanding money to staff at multiple premises, simulating a firearm by keeping his hand in his jacket pocket. He obtained €4,110 from the Dundalk post office and €35 from the Dublin bookmaker. The sentence was backdated to his arrest in March 2014. Judge Mary Ellen Ring noted Boland's efforts at rehabilitation while in custody, including his participation in educational and counselling programmes.
Derek Floyd, 36, of Tulla, Co Clare, was found guilty of 15 counts of filing incorrect VAT returns and 12 counts of claiming VAT remits to which he was not entitled between 2001 and 2003, and of handling stolen goods. He was originally sentenced to six years imprisonment with the final year suspended, and separately to three years imprisonment for handling stolen goods, with eight months suspended. On appeal, the Court of Appeal reduced his overall sentence to five years imprisonment with one year suspended, and a consecutive term of three years with eight months suspended. The Court found errors in the original sentencing, noting that the judge had misapplied the appropriate sentence and had incorrectly considered the suspended portion. The appeal was upheld by Mr Justice George Birmingham, who substituted the original sentences with the reduced terms. The case involved fraudulently claiming €683,000 in VAT returns and handling €45,000 worth of stolen silage wrap.
Edward McDonagh, a 35‑year‑old father of six from Lucan, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to 15 charges of theft of property from the Health Service Executive and Department of Social Welfare for fraudulently claiming over €44,000 between August 2009 and April 2011. He used the false names Matthew Patterson and John Paul Ward to claim €22,193.80 and €21,789.44 respectively, while also legitimately claiming a disability allowance. The court, after hearing evidence and considering his limited repayment efforts, sentenced him to two and a half years in prison but substituted 240 hours of community service. McDonagh admitted the fraud, stated he had been instructed by an unnamed person, and claimed he had been paying back the money through reductions in his welfare payments, though full reimbursement would take decades. He also disclosed past substance misuse and depression, noting he had ceased drinking and drug use.
Swords District Court sentenced five defendants in separate matters. Mark Delaney, 24, pleaded guilty to possessing €300 worth of cannabis for sale or supply and unlawful possession. Judge Dermot Dempsey sentenced him to nine months in prison for sale and supply, with a concurrent three-month term for possession, noting he had exhausted all avenues. Gary Daly, 25, pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of PVP. He was ordered to complete 240 hours of community service in lieu of a four-month prison sentence; the case was remanded until February for a review and updated Probation Report. William O'Brien, 58, pleaded guilty to being intoxicated. He received a six-month suspended sentence and a two-year Peace Bond with a condition of sober habits. Caroline Collins, 32, pleaded guilty to stealing €256.81 worth of children's clothes. She received a six-month suspended sentence and a two-year Peace Bond. Dean Whelan, 27, pleaded guilty to stealing €85 in cash. The matter was adjourned until March for an updated Probation Report to assess suitability for community service.
A former apprentice butcher pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to stealing €49,204 from McArdle Meats in Charlestown Shopping Centre, Finglas, on 24 December 2013. James Cahill (22), of Ferrycarrig Park, Coolock, took advantage of his knowledge of the shop's safe codes to remove two days of takings in the early hours of Christmas Eve. He had no previous convictions. Gardaí recovered €17,000 in a bag handed over by Cahill and a further €5,000 hidden in a laneway. The court heard Cahill was struggling with cocaine addiction at the time and had been absent from work due to his condition. The business ultimately suffered a loss of €17,000 after receiving €10,000 in insurance compensation. Judge Desmond Hogan described the offence as falling at the higher end of the middle range of seriousness but acknowledged Cahill's drug-induced state, early guilty plea, remorse and rehabilitation progress. Sentencing was adjourned until March 2015 to assess suitability for community service, though a custodial sentence has not been ruled out.
Ronald Hill, aged 44, received a three‑year prison sentence with the final two years suspended for assault causing harm to a 59‑year‑old woman and her 42‑year‑old son during a home invasion on 31 December 2010. Hill, who had 52 prior convictions including a seven‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence for firearm possession and robbery, was on bail for that offence when the attack occurred. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The court noted Hill's prostate cancer and his history as a carer for a brother who died of cancer. Defence counsel argued Hill's judgment was impaired and that he had no intent to harm. The judge imposed the sentence, citing Hill's impaired judgment and the lack of justification for the assault. No victim impact statements were filed by the injured parties. The case concluded with Hill's sentence to run consecutively to his current term.
Frank Ward, 60, known for armed robbery, had his miscarriage‑of‑justice application rejected by the Court of Appeal on 11 December 2014. Ward had pleaded guilty to five assault‑related charges and possession of a firearm during the 2003 Goat Grill robbery, for which he received two concurrent life sentences later reduced to 20 years on appeal in 2012. He argued that a garda PULSE identification number and a newspaper article had prejudiced the sentencing judge, but the Court found no new facts or evidence to support his claim. The Court, led by Justice Seán Ryan, held that the alleged prejudicial material was not accessed by the judge and that the newspaper could not have influenced the sentencing. Ward was returned to prison to serve the remainder of his 20‑year term.
In August 2013, Michael McDonald (44) broke into the parochial house of a priest on Cherry Orchard Avenue, Tallaght, stealing a Yankees baseball cap and a Lourdes‑branded purse containing €660. The intruder was caught by Gardaí hours after the burglary, still wearing the stolen cap and carrying the purse. McDonald pleaded guilty to burglary at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, where Judge Patricia Ryan adjourned sentencing to July of the following year and ordered him to keep the peace and participate in victim empathy programmes. McDonald, who has 27 prior convictions and was previously sentenced to three years for robbery and assault in 2002, admitted the theft and apologized to the priest. His defence counsel, Keith Spencer BL, highlighted McDonald's background in the Travelling community and his son's success as a professional footballer. The case remains at the sentencing stage.
At Balbriggan District Court, Judge Dermot Dempsey struck out cases against Thomas and Alan Larkin after they paid €500 to St Vincent de Paul. Thomas Larkin (36) pleaded guilty to assaulting a youth causing harm, while Alan Larkin (33) pleaded guilty to producing a wheel brace. The court heard the brothers reacted to youths throwing rocks at their car, which contained a baby. Judge Dempsey warned them they cannot take the law into their own hands. Keith Daly (21) pleaded guilty to handling stolen property, specifically a red Carrera mountain bike. He was placed on a 12-month Probation Bond, ordered to comply with Probation Services recommendations, engage in Offence Focus work, and be assessed for training and employment. Julian Donnelly (28) pleaded guilty to possession of €20 of cannabis resin. He was convicted and fined €300. Judge Dempsey noted he had no evidence Donnelly had stopped using drugs since March and warned he was sailing close to a prison sentence. Damien Costello (35) pleaded guilty to stealing €20 of petrol from two service stations. He paid €100 in compensation and was placed on a 12-month Probation Bond. Meanwhile, cases for John Scott (36), charged with dangerous driving and having excessively worn tyres, and Grainne Kealy (56), charged with driving without due caution and attention, were adjourned until January 8th for a plea or to fix a hearing date, as solicitors awaited outstanding statements and photographs.
A High Court judge has reserved judgement in the extradition case of Ali Charaf Damache, a 50‑year‑old Algerian‑born Irish citizen wanted in the United States on international terrorism charges. Damache faces allegations of conspiring to provide material support for terrorists and attempting identity theft to facilitate an act of international terrorism. The case is the second time his extradition has been heard. In November, Damache won a Supreme Court appeal that he was entitled to judicial review of the Director of Public Prosecutions' refusal to prosecute him in Ireland and of the refusal to give reasons for that decision. If convicted in the U.S., he could face up to 45 years in prison. Ali Charaf Damache pleaded guilty.
Zilvinas Antanovas, a 27‑year‑old Lithuanian, was given a suspended sentence after pleading guilty to possession of heroin, assaulting two gardai, and possession of M‑CAT in Dublin. He was arrested in Dublin's city centre after Garda officers found €305 worth of heroin and a bag of M‑CAT on him. During the arrest he bit two officers and resisted, prompting the use of pepper spray. Judge Mary Ellen Ring imposed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence, suspended the remainder on the condition that Antanovas be flown back to Lithuania from Mountjoy Prison on Sunday. He is barred from returning to Ireland for five years. Antanovas has prior convictions for handling stolen property and for dealing heroin, and his defence claimed he was coerced into drug dealing by a gang that took his passport in Lithuania.
Thomas McGuinness, 34, a chronic drug addict with 127 prior convictions, was sentenced to ten years in prison with 18 months suspended for a robbery and two attempted robberies committed earlier in 2014. He pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to robbery at Lloyds pharmacy on 21 January, attempted robbery at Hardwicke Place on 22 January, and attempted robbery at Supervalue on 10 February. The court noted no injuries occurred, though victims were distressed. Judge Mary Ellen Ring imposed consecutive sentences totaling ten years, suspending the final 18 months, citing McGuinness's history of partially suspended sentences. Defending counsel Dean Kelly highlighted McGuinness's early heroin use at age 14, subsequent crack cocaine use, and his engagement with addiction services, including a methadone program, while noting family support. The sentence reflects the court's view that rehabilitation steps were insufficient given his past record.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 28‑year‑old James Gallagher was sentenced to two and a half years for stealing a €26,200 Rolex from Weir's Jewellers in Dundrum and for dangerous driving on the M50. Gallagher snatched the watch from a customer, fled in a Volkswagen Golf, and was pursued by Gardaí. During the high‑speed chase he allegedly threw the watch out of a car window near Wesley College, Ballinteer, but a subsequent search failed to recover it. The judge noted Gallagher's actions endangered the public by forcing Gardaí to chase him at speeds over 120 kph on a 50 kph road, breaking red lights and driving the wrong way. Gallagher admitted the theft was to support his crack cocaine habit and is now addressing his drug addiction. The sentence was back‑dated to the date of his arrest. James Gallagher pleaded guilty.
Thomas McDonagh, aged 21, was jailed for three years after hijacking a taxi on 27 March 2012 in Dublin. He forced the driver to take him and his 16‑year‑old cousin Bernard McDonagh into the vehicle. The taxi later crashed near Slane Castle in County Meath, killing Bernard hours after the collision. McDonagh suffered serious injuries, including a broken spine and brain damage, and now has epilepsy and other medical problems. He was already on bail for a 2011 robbery and had a six‑year sentence for that offence. Judge Mary Ellen Ring suspended the last two years of a five‑year sentence on the condition that McDonagh engage with Probation Services after release. The sentence runs consecutively to the sentence he is currently serving. The court heard McDonagh apologized and expressed remorse, and noted his history of ten previous convictions, including robbery.
The trial of Dean Evans, Edward McGrath, and Sharif Kelly for the alleged murder of Peter Butterly and related firearm offences continued at the Special Criminal Court. All three defendants, who are accused of killing the 35-year-old father of two in Gormanston, Co Meath, have pleaded not guilty. Evans and McGrath also face firearm charges on the same occasion. On the fortieth day of the trial, David Cullen, a former accused who turned State's witness, testified that he would have "lied through his teeth" if he had stood trial for murder. Cullen admitted to a history of dishonesty, including lying to gardai and committing thefts, but denied being prepared to commit perjury. He stated he would lie to avoid life imprisonment. The prosecution alleges Cullen was part of the murder plan before his cooperation. The court heard evidence regarding Cullen's credibility and past criminal conduct, including a faked burglary and theft of rings and a phone. The trial is ongoing, with no findings, sentences, or finalisations recorded at this stage.
Aaron Black, aged 23, was part of a four‑man gang that robbed a Balbriggan jeweller's shop on 10 May 2013. The gang threatened staff with a claw hammer, smashed display cases and stole €15,370 worth of jewellery. Black was arrested shortly after the robbery when he was seen in a taxi on the M1, changing clothes. He identified himself on CCTV, apologised to the shop owners, the taxi driver and the Balbriggan community, and pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Mary Ellen Ring sentenced him to three years in prison, suspended in full on the condition that he keep the peace for three years. He is now employed, claims to be drug‑free, and has cooperated with probation services. The court noted his moderate risk of re‑offending but that he has not attracted further Garda attention since the robbery. The jeweller's estimated economic loss was €2,800, including loss of business.