Andrew Hoare, 27, of Monakeeba, Thurles, was convicted of robbery at a shop in Thurles on 2 September 2012. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to seven years imprisonment by Judge Thomas Teehan at Clonmel Circuit Criminal Court on 11 April 2013. In the robbery, Hoare entered the shop armed with a knife and demanded money from the shop‑owner's son, Mr Scanlon. Scanlon resisted and tried to wrestle the knife, resulting in a struggle that left Scanlon with an injured hand and a sum of money taken. Scanlon chased Hoare down the street, and Gardaí launched a "general manhunt." Hoare fled toward the railway station; Gardaí stopped the train and found him in the toilet, where money was recovered and he was arrested. On 5 December 2014, the Court of Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice Seán Ryan, reduced Hoare's sentence from seven to five years imprisonment, stating that while the offence was serious, the reduction was permissible.
Two men have been convicted and sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for their involvement in a series of violent offences. Dylan Smith, aged 22, and Daniel Malone, aged 20, pleaded guilty to charges arising from incidents in August and September 2013. In August, they unlawfully seized a taxi on Tubber Lane, Lucan, and subjected the driver to false imprisonment, robbery, and serious assault. The victim sustained a skull fracture and multiple facial injuries. In September, Smith stabbed a bus passenger in the thigh during a robbery at Kylemore Road, Bluebell, and subsequently forced the victim to withdraw €200 from an ATM. Smith was sentenced to six years imprisonment with the final eighteen months suspended, to run consecutively with a sentence from Roscommon. Malone received four and a half years with the final eighteen months suspended. Smith has fifty-seven previous convictions; Malone had one prior conviction. Both defendants expressed remorse, with Smith having engaged in rehabilitation since entering custody.
Michael Jones, aged 30, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment with the final two years suspended for assaulting security guard James Bowe at Powerscourt Shopping Centre in Dublin on 26 June 2010. Jones, who was intoxicated, fractured Bowe's C7 vertebra, bit his finger and palm, and caused serious injuries that Bowe had a pre‑existing spinal condition. The judge, Desmond Hogan, noted the assault was on the lower end of the medium range of seriousness and that Jones had not intended the severe injuries. Jones had previously pleaded not guilty to assault in Dublin and was convicted by a jury in July. He had earlier convictions in Northern Ireland, including a suspended sentence for indecent assault in 2007, and a two‑year prison term for robbery in 2010. The court ordered Jones to attend alcohol treatment and remain under probation supervision for 12 months after release. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the injuries and Jones' prior record.
Alan Miller, 68, a former property developer, was remanded in custody pending sentencing for failing to pay over €1.56 million in taxes. He pleaded guilty to six counts of failing to file VAT, income tax and capital gains tax returns, and to filing incorrect returns, covering the period 2003‑2009. Miller had sold parts of a renovated property on Capel Street, netting €6.2 million, but now has no income or assets and has been denied a state pension. The bank is foreclosing on his family home. Judge Mary Ellen Ring adjourned the case for an updated probation report. Miller's solicitor was later convicted of theft. Miller has suffered multiple illnesses, including prostate, lung and skin cancer, suspected brain cancer, gout and depression, and has attempted suicide twice. He has been described by community leaders as a quiet, industrious, good‑hearted family man who helped disadvantaged members of the Jewish community.
Andrew Shannon, 49, of Willians Way, Ongar, was convicted of damaging Claude Monet's 1874 painting "Argenteuil Basin with a Single Sail Boat" at the National Gallery of Ireland. He pleaded not guilty but a jury found him guilty after 1½ hours of deliberation. The jury also found him not guilty of damaging two other paintings at the Shelbourne Hotel. Shannon has 48 prior convictions, including burglary and theft of antiques. He was sentenced to six years' imprisonment, with the final 15 months suspended under strict conditions, including a ban on entering any public gallery or building displaying paintings. The maximum penalty for the offence is ten years. The Monet painting has been restored and returned to display. Shannon's heart condition and prior custody time were considered in sentencing. The case was heard by Judge Martin Nolan.
At Balbriggan District Court, Tom Maughan pleaded guilty to being intoxicated and using threatening and abusive behaviour. Judge Dermot Dempsey sentenced him to 150 hours of community service work in lieu of a month in prison, following a Probation Service assessment. Stephen Nyantaki, who had previously pleaded guilty to being intoxicated and non-payment of a taxi fare, failed to appear for sentencing, resulting in a bench warrant for his arrest. Niall Skelly, charged with the theft of groceries, was remanded to February 19th and granted bail with a condition to refrain from entering the relevant Tesco supermarket. Thomas Gaffney, alleged to have unauthorisedly taken a car, bicycle, and truckster, and stolen chicken fillet rolls, was remanded on continuing bail to reappear on January 8th for a plea or hearing date. Derek Gildea, charged with unlawful possession of a combat knife, had his case adjourned to December 18th as he was not present in court. Additionally, Brendan Donovan, alleged to be in possession of a stolen Ford Transit van, was granted a hearing date of January 5th at Swords District Court.
Jorge Garcia, a 41‑year‑old Spanish care assistant, was sentenced to a two‑year suspended term for stealing €960 from the accounts of six intellectually disabled residents at Cheeverstown in Dublin. The theft, which occurred between 18 April and 8 August 2013, involved altering withdrawal forms and using a photocopied signature to divert money intended for the residents' expenses. Garcia pleaded guilty to six counts out of 32 charges and has since repaid the full amount. The court noted his cooperation with Garda investigations and his genuine remorse, and considered that the victims' disabilities made the offence particularly serious. Judge Desmond Hogan suspended the sentence, adjourned the case to February for a community service suitability assessment, and highlighted that Garcia had no prior convictions and had not been previously known to the Gardaí. The case remains at the suspended‑sentence stage.
A 17‑year‑old Romanian youth was sentenced to four years' detention for four robberies committed over a two‑week period in April 2014, when he was 16. The court found that the teenager had targeted vulnerable people in a cowardly manner, using violence but no weapon. He was sentenced to concurrent terms of four years' detention, with the last 18 months suspended on strict conditions, including two years of probation supervision. The offences involved the youth and an accomplice who lured pedestrians into a city‑centre alleyway before attacking and robbing them. One victim, a 52‑year‑old stroke survivor, was struck on the head and suffered severe injuries; his briefcase was stolen. Other victims included a 65‑year‑old homeless man, a 46‑year‑old man who sustained head injuries and was robbed of cash and jewellery, and a 20‑year‑old man who was robbed of a watch, phones and €300. The unnamed 17-year-old pleaded guilty.
Jason Whelan, 24, of Ballymun, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to five counts of burglary, theft and criminal damage committed between 18 August and 1 October 2012. He targeted staff locker rooms at the Swan Leisure Centre in Rathmines, the Crown Plaza Hotel, Blanchardstown Shopping Centre and Maximillian's Bistro. In the Swan Centre he broke into six male staff lockers, stealing items worth €5,867, including a laptop, a Trek bike, iPods, iPads, a Kindle Touch, smartphones, kit bags, cycling shorts, a wash bag and cash. Earlier that year he also burgled a guest room at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, stealing a purse, handbag, hair straighteners and a camera, and damaged 13 hotel staff lockers. Whelan had 71 prior convictions, including 29 burglaries and 30 thefts, and was on High Court bail for four other offences. He was sentenced to three years' imprisonment.
Stephen Cummins, aged 23, was sentenced to three years in prison after being caught with €70,000 of stolen cash from two separate cash‑in‑transit robberies. He was found in a park with blue dye on his trousers and runners, and earlier a man was seen running along garden walls with money falling from his pockets. In the first incident, an empty cash box was discovered at the back of Crumlin Children's Hospital; a follow‑up search of a nearby home revealed the stolen cash stained with blue/purple dye. Cummins later admitted responsibility for the cash. He pleaded guilty to possession of €40,000 at Curlew Road in Drimnagh on 16 July 2012 and €30,000 at Landen Road in Ballyfermot on 16 August 2012. He has 28 prior convictions for road traffic offences and one for unlawful possession of drugs.
Swords District Court heard four matters. Jandean Hyland pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after allegedly headbutting a victim at a nightclub. Judge Dempsey ordered Hyland to pay €1,250 in compensation by February 23rd to avoid a conviction. Keith Hammond pleaded guilty to using violent and threatening behaviour at a Garda station. The case was remanded until January 15th to assess suitability for an Adult Caution. Arthur Creedy pleaded guilty to theft for using a receipt to refund stolen runners. Judge Dempsey sentenced him to one month in prison, stating he would not increase his current sentence. Patrick Clarke was found guilty of driving without a licence and no tax after the judge proceeded in his absence. He was fined €200 for no tax and €100 for driving without a licence. A charge of no insurance was dismissed. All proceedings were handled by Judge Dermot Dempsey.
Trevor Byrne, 36, was released in March after serving part of an eight‑year sentence for an attempted robbery. His final two years were suspended on conditions including a curfew and abstaining from alcohol. In April he was remanded after being found with six cans of cider, and in October he was released again. In court he admitted breaching the bond on 6 November by drinking a bottle of beer and on 18 November by breaking his curfew while watching a football match in a pub. He denied bringing 12 cans of Dutch Gold lager on 31 October. The prosecution sought to re‑activate the suspended portion of his sentence, but the judge, citing his willingness to engage with Probation Services, decided not to do so as long as he complies with the conditions. Byrne has nine prior convictions, including a 15‑year sentence for rape and a five‑year sentence for assault.
In a High Court hearing on 27 November 2014, lawyers for Ali Charaf Damache, a 49‑year‑old Algerian‑born Irish citizen, argued that they require the Director of Public Prosecutions' reasons for refusing to prosecute him in Ireland in order to contest his extradition to the United States. Damache is wanted in the U.S. on terrorism charges, specifically an alleged conspiracy to provide support to terrorists and attempted identity theft to facilitate international terrorism. He had previously won a Supreme Court appeal for judicial review of the DPP's March 2011 refusal to prosecute, which also questioned whether the DPP was obliged to give reasons. The court noted that the Extradition Act now blocks extradition only if the DPP decides to bring charges, placing the decision in a third party's hands. Damache has been in custody since the U.S. sought his extradition in 2012, and the case was set to continue the following day.
In a case heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge James O'Donohoe sentenced 30‑year‑old Fintan Phelan to six months' imprisonment for an attempted robbery that took place on February 23, 2012, when he entered the passenger seat of a car stopped at a traffic light on the North Circular Road. Phelan, who was already serving a suspended sentence for robbery, was caught after a passing detective heard the victim, nurse Lorraine Maloney, scream for help. The victim had thrown her phone at Phelan, who then panicked and rolled down the window. Phelan also pleaded guilty to assaulting a police officer on August 19, 2012, and received a three‑month sentence for that offence. Both sentences are to run consecutively with the sentence he is already serving.
Nerigus Flederis, 34, a Lithuanian mechanic living in a filthy caravan in Balbriggan, was sentenced to three years for stripping high‑end stolen cars for shipment to Eastern Europe. He pleaded guilty to possession of four stolen vehicles – an Audi A5, an Audi Q3, a Nissan Qashqai and a BMW 3‑series – and two petrol tanks on 20 September 2013. The judge accepted his plea on the basis of recklessness, noting he had no prior convictions and had not profited from the operation. Judge Mary Ellen Ring suspended the last 18 months of the sentence, citing his lack of profit and the successful Garda investigation. Flederis was remanded in custody after arrest, as he could not afford bail, and he has a six‑year‑old son in Lithuania. The cars were seized after a surveillance operation that traced a BMW from Celbridge to Balbriggan.
The High Court heard arguments regarding the extradition of Ali Charaf Damache, an Algerian-born Irish citizen wanted in the US on alleged charges of conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists and attempted identity theft to facilitate an act of international terrorism. Counsel for the defendant, Mícheál P O'Higgins SC, argued that surrendering Damache would breach his human rights, specifically concerning his ability to practice Islam. Affidavits highlighted significant barriers to religious observance in solitary confinement at the ADX Supermax Prison in Colorado, where Muslim inmates face difficulties performing ablutions and congregational prayers. O'Higgins also contended that US sentencing practices differ fundamentally from Irish law, noting that hearsay material could be used and that Damache faces a potential sentence of up to 45 years, which is significantly higher than Irish penalties. The Attorney General's counsel, Ms Cathleen Noctor BL, presented a diplomatic letter seeking Damache's surrender to stand trial in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. It was alleged that Damache contacted Colleen La Rose, who was convicted last January and sentenced to 10 years in prison for planning to murder Swedish cartoonist Lars Vilks. Damache is alleged to have arranged for La Rose to travel to the Netherlands and Ireland to avoid US scrutiny. The case is before Ms Justice Aileen Donnelly following a Supreme Court direction for a new judge to hear the matter after a previous refusal of leave for judicial review.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Karl Boyne, aged 31, was sentenced to four and a half years in jail for stabbing Polish architect Mr. Jerzy Stacharski with a butcher's knife after a tennis match at Cambridge Park, Ringsend. The knife punctured Stacharski's shoulder, causing two wounds and a long‑term impact that forced him to quit his job as an architect. Stacharski, now 65, remains fearful of open areas and requires social care. Boyne also pleaded guilty to possession of a knife on Thorncastle Street and burglary of a petrol station on Beech Road, receiving six months' imprisonment for the latter. The sentences are to run consecutively. Boyne's history includes 41 prior convictions, including a five‑year robbery sentence, and he is advised to undergo drug rehabilitation while in custody. The court noted Boyne's admission of drug and alcohol use at the time of the attack.
The High Court in Dublin has begun hearing the extradition case of Ali Charaf Damache, an Algerian-born Irish citizen wanted by the US on international terrorism charges. This is the second hearing following a Supreme Court appeal where Damache successfully challenged the DPP's decision not to prosecute him in Ireland. The Supreme Court directed that the case proceed before a different judge, Ms Justice Aileen Donnelly, who commenced the proceedings. The US alleges Damache conspired to provide material support to terrorists and attempted identity theft to facilitate international terrorism. Prosecutors stated he contacted Colleen LaRose, known online as "Jihad Jane," claiming to be a "devoted jihadist." It is alleged he arranged for LaRose to travel to the Netherlands and Ireland to avoid US scrutiny and planned to form a terrorist cell, including seeking military training in Pakistan. LaRose was separately sentenced to 10 years in prison last January after being convicted of planning to murder Swedish cartoonist Lars Vilks. Damache's defense argued that US sentencing guidelines are fundamentally flawed compared to Irish standards. If convicted in the US, Damache faces up to 45 years in jail. He has been in custody since 2012 pending the extradition outcome. The court remanded Damache in continuing custody, and the matter was adjourned to continue tomorrow.
Swords District Court heard several matters presided over by Judge Dermot Dempsey. Ivans Zinkevics, 49, pleaded guilty to trespassing, intoxication, and threatening behaviour. He was sentenced to 240 hours of community service in lieu of a two-month prison term, following a positive probation report. Mairead McRory, 34, admitted to drink driving after a collision. Judge Dempsey convicted her, fined her €750, and disqualified her from driving for three years, a disqualification postponed until March. Tom Costello, 22, pleaded guilty to theft. Despite 47 previous convictions, the judge granted him a final opportunity, convicting him and sentencing him to four months in prison, suspended for two years. Cathy Lawrence, 22, pleaded guilty to using a false driving licence to secure furniture finance. The matter was not concluded with a standard sentence; instead, she was ordered to pay €350 to The Gary Kelly Cancer Support Centre. In a separate procedural stage, Calin Scintei, 22, was charged with handling stolen brandy and possessing a foiled bag. His case was adjourned, with a hearing date set for January 26.
The State has requested an enlarged jury panel for the trial of former Anglo Irish Bank executive William McAteer, aged 63, and three co‑accused. The men are charged with conspiring to mislead investors about the bank's deposit books by transferring €7.2 billion to inflate the bank's value between March and September 2008. McAteer, John Bowe (50), Denis Casey (54) and Peter Fitzpatrick (61) also face separate charges of falsifying accounts under section 10 of the Theft and Fraud Act. The case was listed for mention before Judge Mary Ellen Ring on 24 November 2014 to monitor disclosure progress. Counsel for the prosecution, Diana Stuart BL, noted that the first stage of disclosure was almost complete and requested a new mention date to allow continued monitoring. The prosecution also applied for an enlarged jury panel, and the defence teams agreed with the submission.
Nathan Kinsella, 35, a father of six, was sentenced by Judge Patricia Ryan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to four months in prison for driving two men in a car on Brewery Road, Stillorgan, on 9 December 2010, while knowing they possessed stolen property. The sentence is to run concurrently with his existing three‑year term in Midlands Prison, which he received after pleading guilty in April 2014 to membership of an illegal organisation, the Irish Republican Army (IRA). The final year of that sentence was suspended. Kinsella had previously pleaded guilty to IRA membership on 13 September 2012. Garda Michael McArdle explained that the car was stopped after a break‑in at Beechwood Court, where a camera and related equipment were stolen. The stolen items were recovered and returned to the owner. The two co‑accused received 120 hours of community service in lieu of nine months' imprisonment. Kinsella has 14 prior convictions, mainly for traffic offences.
Michael Barr, 34, originally from Tyrone and now living in Dublin, was denied bail by the Special Criminal Court after applying to attend a family member's special birthday. Barr faces charges of membership in the Irish Republican Army (IRA) and handling stolen electronic equipment worth €77,900, both alleged on 18 July. He had previously been charged with IRA membership on 3 July 2013, was granted bail a month later, and remained on bail until his arrest in Lucan on 18 July. Barr's counsel, Siobhán Ní Chúlacháin, argued for bail on the grounds of a family celebration and a neurological issue that had caused his left eye to collapse, citing a 'Go Slow' protest that prevented access to his medical records. The State, represented by Vincent Heneghan, countered that Barr had breached bail for the first offence.
A former chef, Keith McCarthy, 38, will be sentenced next year for robbing a Tallaght post office. On 9 May 2013 he stood at the door while an armed accomplice threatened a cashier with a lump hammer and forced her to open cash drawers, taking €10,351. The post office was crowded with 40‑50 customers and staff; parents asked a staff member to hide children behind her desk. McCarthy, who had relapsed into drug use after a decade of sobriety, was remanded in custody until 23 January next year. He pleaded guilty to robbery at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and had 15 prior convictions. The robbery was investigated by Garda Kieran Kilcoyne, who identified McCarthy from fingerprints on the getaway bike. The money was never recovered. The court noted McCarthy's history as a chef, drug counsellor, and his recent relapse into street methadone. He is on a waiting list for Tiglin treatment centre.
In 2012, Thomas McDonagh, aged 21, hijacked a taxi on Tyrconnell Road, Inchicore, using force or threat of force. His cousin, Bernard McDonagh, 16, was also in the vehicle. After the hijacking, the taxi crashed into another car near Slane Castle, County Meath. Bernard died from his injuries hours later; Thomas suffered serious injuries, including a broken spine and brain bleeding, and now has epilepsy and other medical issues. The incident was reported to Gardaí, who described the hijackers and the taxi. Thomas was arrested six months later, admitted the hijacking, apologized, and expressed remorse. He has ten prior convictions, including robbery, and was remanded in custody for sentencing on December 9. The court adjourned sentencing to await guidelines on hijacking cases. The case is pending sentencing.
Gary Broderick, aged 42, pleaded guilty to an attempted robbery at Ulster Bank on College Green on 9 January 2012. The court found he was homeless, drug‑ and alcohol‑addicted, and living a chaotic life at the time of the offence. A woman in the bank saw him enter, screamed, and called 999; Garda Paul Burke later identified him and he was arrested. An imitation firearm was found abandoned at the bank door, and CCTV footage captured his approach. Broderick claimed he wanted to discuss a money issue with bank officials and had been to a drug clinic en route, making him unfit for interview. He has 79 prior convictions, including traffic offences and court appearances. Judge Mary Ellen Ring sentenced him to three years, suspended in full for 18 months, and directed him to continue housing, drug counselling, urine analysis and Probation Services for 18 months.
Aman Essoin, 43, a father of two, was sentenced to three years in prison for computer fraud and stealing over €102,800 from Google. He transferred the money to bank accounts in France and South Africa between 24 October 2011 and 27 March 2012. Essoin claimed he acted under pressure from a man called "Serge", who allegedly had personal information on him and his family. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 24 October 2011 and 30 January 2012. Judge Mary Ellen Ring suspended the last 18 months of the sentence after back‑dating it to December of the previous year. Essoin had no prior convictions, had worked at Arvanto Finance Services for six years, and was on remand in custody since his arrest in December 2013. The judge noted his exemplary conduct in prison and a low risk of re‑offending, but also highlighted the significant breach of trust and financial loss to his employer.
At Balbriggan District Court, Judge Dermot Dempsey handled several matters. Martin Daly pleaded guilty to being intoxicated and using threatening and abusive behaviour. He was remanded on continuing bail until January 22nd for a Probation Report and urine analysis, with the Judge warning that failure to provide satisfactory results would result in custody. Derek Gildea, charged with unlawful possession of a combat knife, was remanded on continuing bail until December 4th to enter a plea or fix a hearing date. Shane Howard pleaded guilty to stealing a Nokia Lumia phone. He was remanded on continuing bail until February 5th to pay €300 compensation and undergo a Probation report to assess suitability for 200 hours of community service in lieu of a three-month prison sentence. Deborah Byrne pleaded guilty to stealing €53 worth of items; she was convicted and fined €100. Finally, James Marry and Jonathan Marry, both charged with threatening and abusive behaviour and intoxication, had their cases adjourned until January 8th as further charges may be brought.
In November 2014 the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal of John Cully, a 43‑year‑old Dublin resident, who had been sentenced to eight years in prison for endangerment after he rammed a Garda patrol car in a stolen jeep on Halloween 2011. Cully had pleaded guilty to endangerment on 31 October 2011 and to using a stolen car and driving on a footpath on 17 June 2012. The original sentencing judge imposed four years for each offence, with the last two years suspended, and an eight‑year driving disqualification. The appeal was rejected because the Court of Appeal found no error in the trial judge's decision, noting Cully's guilty plea, expressions of remorse, difficult personal circumstances, serious health problems, and a history of 41 convictions, including ten for unlawful vehicle taking and a ten‑year robbery sentence. The Court of Appeal therefore upheld the eight‑year sentence and the suspended portion.
Jason Beasley, aged 38, a former G4S employee, avoided jail after pleading guilty to theft and possession of an unlicensed firearm. He admitted to discovering a disassembled 12‑gauge SKB sawn‑off shotgun in his garden shed in 2002, later bringing it into his Swords home after a series of burglaries. Gardai searched his house in January 2012 following a CCTV‑recorded theft of €54 from a parking meter; they found the gun in a spare room. Beasley had been employed by G4S collecting meter money but was not on duty during the theft. He lost his job and had no prior convictions. Judge Patrick McCartan, noting the weapon's notoriety and Beasley's role in a security firm handling cash, imposed a three‑year sentence suspended in full. The court accepted his cooperation and admissions, and the judge expressed that the authorities had no concerns about future offending.
Keith Meehan, aged 36, was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment with the final three years suspended for five robberies, one attempted robbery and six counts of possessing imitation firearms between 2010 and 2011. The Court of Appeal rejected his appeal, finding the sentence imposed by Judge Martin Nolan appropriate. Meehan's convictions included robbery, attempted robbery and possession of imitation firearms, with 61 prior convictions, 16 of which were for robbery. He had entered a service station, an off‑licence, a shop, a bookmaker's and two pharmacies with imitation firearms, robbing a pharmacy of 700 tablets and €900, a service station of €900, and a shop of cigarettes and €600. He also attempted to rob a pharmacy in April 2011, but the owner triggered an emergency alarm. Meehan's early guilty plea was noted to have saved the State three trials with 53 witnesses. The court noted his serious drug addiction at the time of the offences.
Ali Charaf Damache, an Algerian-born Irish citizen, was further remanded in custody at the High Court until November 25. The US is seeking his extradition on alleged charges of conspiracy to provide support to terrorists and attempted identity theft. If convicted in the US, he could face up to 45 years in jail. Mr Justice Tony Hunt ordered the remand so Damache can appear before the High Court sitting in the Criminal Courts of Justice. Damache has been in custody since 2012, following the DPP's decision in March 2011 not to prosecute him in Ireland. Last week, the Supreme Court unanimously ruled that Damache was entitled to a judicial review of the DPP's refusal to prosecute and her failure to provide reasons. The Chief Justice directed that all related matters, including constitutional and human rights issues, proceed to hearing in the High Court as soon as possible. The court also granted leave for judicial review and legal aid, noting that if Damache loses the review, the extradition application will be heard immediately. The US alleges Damache conspired with Colleen LaRose, known online as Jihad Jane, to create a terror cell in Europe. LaRose was convicted of planning to murder Swedish cartoonist Lars Vilks and was sentenced in January to 10 years in prison.
In a 2014 appeal, the Court of Appeal reduced the 24‑year‑old Jason Morrissey's 14‑year sentence for unlawfully killing 25‑year‑old James Tynan to ten years, while keeping his other convictions intact. Morrissey had pleaded guilty to the unlawful killing after striking Tynan with a single punch on February 19, 2012, at Liberty Square in Thurles. The court noted that the fatal blow was not a premeditated assault and that Tynan died the next day after falling to the ground. Morrissey's case also included three separate assault sentences and a theft sentence, all running concurrently, for a total of 21 years with three years suspended. The appeal was limited to the unlawful‑killing conviction, and the Court of Appeal confirmed the ten‑year sentence as appropriate and proportionate. The other convictions and their start dates remained unchanged.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, 42‑year‑old Francis McGowan received a three‑year suspended sentence for robbing a Tesco Express store in Cabinteely on 25 June 2013. McGowan, a drug addict, had persuaded his old school acquaintance Alan Kane to give him a lift to the shop, asking only two euros for chewing gum. He entered the store wearing a high‑visibility jacket, sunglasses and a luminous bag, and pointed a plastic gun at the cashier to steal €300. McGowan tried to have Kane drive fast and break a red light, but Kane refused and McGowan left the car a short distance away. McGowan pleaded guilty, admitted the robbery was planned with a BB gun bought in Spain, and apologized. Judge Mary Ellen Ring noted his long‑term drug addiction and lack of recent Garda attention, suspended the sentence for three years, and ordered 12 months of Probation Service supervision.
Elisa Lennon, a 38‑year‑old former civil servant, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to attempted robbery at Home Focus and the Ikea car park, and to robbery at Tansun Tan and Tone, all in Ballymun and Finglas, on 30 January 2013. She also admitted taking €25 and a Barnardos charity box from a tanning shop after a third failed robbery attempt. Lennon had previously failed to rob a Home Focus shop manager and an elderly lady in an Ikea car park, using a large kitchen knife and later a smaller knife. A passing motorist intervened by honking and later provided the BMW registration details, confirming Lennon's vehicle. Judge Mary Ellen Ring imposed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year suspended sentence, ordered probation supervision and completion of a Restorative Justice Programme, and praised the motorist's intervention. Lennon apologized to all victims and had no further contact with Gardaí since the court appearance. The €25 was never recovered.
Patrick Ryan, a 50‑year‑old drug addict, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assaulting and threatening James and Sally Mountaine, stealing US$4,000 and jewellery, and threatening to burn and kill them. Ryan was part of a masked gang that raided the elderly couple's home on 3 February 2010. The gang tied the Mountaines, beat them, threatened to set Sally on fire, and forced James to reveal the location of money. The Mountaines were in their mid‑70s and were preparing to leave for the morning when the raid occurred. Ryan was sentenced to five years' imprisonment, with the judge suspending the last two years of a seven‑year sentence. The court noted the threat to set the woman on fire as an aggravating factor. The case involved 38 previous convictions for Ryan, including nine years for larceny and four for robbery. The stolen property, apart from US$2,000, was recovered.
In November 2014 a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that Dan Cirpaci, a 26‑year‑old Romanian man, had stolen nearly €13,000 from two women by swapping their bank cards at ATMs. The victims, Anne O'Reilly (aged 79) and Valerie Casey, were tricked into believing they had dropped a €10 note and were handed a different card. Cirpaci used the stolen cards to make unauthorized purchases at shops, post offices and off‑licenses, totaling €12,795. He pleaded guilty to four counts of theft, with 26 other counts to be considered. The court remanded him on continuing bail for sentencing on 18 November. Both women were reimbursed by their banks for the amounts taken from their accounts. Cirpaci had 43 prior convictions and had been in Ireland for ten years. The case was heard by Judge Desmond Hogan.
Christopher Tuohy, aged 22, was given a suspended two‑year sentence after a drink‑and‑drug‑fuelled rampage at Clondalkin Sports Centre on 14 November 2012. He pleaded guilty to trespass and criminal damage, and the court noted that he had 16 prior convictions for public order, trespass and theft offences. Gardaí caught him leaving the centre in his boxers, carrying a fire extinguisher, after CCTV recorded him and a friend "trashing" the reception, crèche, pool and café. The centre suffered €14,000 in damage, including broken glass, destroyed computers and emptied fire extinguishers. The judge suspended the sentence in full, citing Tuohy's progress in a training programme and his efforts to stay away from drugs. The court also highlighted that the people of Clondalkin were the main injured parties, as they were deprived of the use of the centre during the incident.
Luke Curry, aged 25, was arrested after a police raid on a house near the Jobstown Pharmacy where he and an unnamed accomplice were found asleep on a couch. The pair had participated in an armed robbery of the pharmacy on 12 February 2013, during which €400 was stolen. Curry had opened the security door while the accomplice, masked and armed with a kitchen knife, entered the shop. The robbery was reported by pharmacy staff who recognised Curry as a customer and were forced to hand over money. Garda James Ward, following a tip‑off, discovered the suspects sleeping in the house and seized €275 of the stolen cash from a pile beneath the accomplice. Curry pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court; sentencing was adjourned to January to allow victim impact reports to be prepared. The second man, whose identity is withheld pending trial, was also arrested.
In a Dublin 8 Basin Street flat complex assault on 11 July, Karl Harford (23) and Tony Dempsey (20) pleaded guilty to violent disorder. Both were on bail for other offences at the time. Harford received a five‑year sentence with the final 2.5 years suspended; Dempsey received a three‑year sentence with the final year suspended. Harford's sentence will commence after his existing eight‑year sentence, while Dempsey's will run concurrently with a separate two‑year sentence for possession of stolen property. The court noted Harford's 149 prior convictions, including 77 traffic offences, and Dempsey's 43 prior convictions. Judge Mary Ellen Ring highlighted Harford's temper issues and both men were ordered to keep the peace during the suspended portions of their sentences. The victim, Karl Gavin, was stabbed twice in the back and hospitalised but declined to give a victim impact statement.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 5 November 2014, Michael Barr, aged 34 and resident of Premier Square, Finglas, was charged with handling stolen electronic equipment valued at €77,900. The property, belonging to Pauline Turner of DSG Retail Ireland Ltd, was found at Finnstown House Hotel, Newcastle Road, Lucan, Co. Dublin on 18 July 2014. Barr had previously been charged on 18 July with membership of the Irish Republican Army (IRA), an unlawful organisation. The court, presided over by Justice Deirdre Murphy, received a new non‑scheduled offence charge from State Solicitor Ms Irene Daly. Barr appeared in court wearing blue jeans, a Dublin GAA jersey and a navy hoody, and was remanded in custody to appear again on 19 November for mention. The case was brought before the Special Criminal Court because the Director of Public Prosecutions had certified that ordinary courts were inadequate to secure effective administration of justice and preserve public peace and order.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Amanda Murphy, 28, pleaded guilty to two charges of aiding the escape of robbers who had committed an attempted robbery and a robbery on 8 October 2011. The case involved two men who entered a convenience store in Harolds Cross, fled with a getaway car, then robbed a Centra Store on Lower Kimmage Road, and later mugged a woman in Ballsbridge. Garda Paul O'Hanlon described how officers found a Ford Focus with an imitation firearm and a balaclava, and that Murphy was the driver. She had no prior convictions and was described as vulnerable due to drug addiction. After attending all probation appointments and entering a methadone maintenance programme, Judge Ring suspended a two‑and‑a‑half‑year jail term on strict conditions, including probation supervision, rather than imposing custodial time. The two men received a partly suspended three‑year term and an 18‑month suspended sentence respectively.
In a robbery that took place on 22 January 2012 on Ballymount Road, a back‑seat passenger, Brendan Boylan, 34, held a rope around the neck of a taxi driver while the front‑seat passenger brandished a knife. The driver, fearing for his life, handed over €600 before the men fled. Boylan, who has 16 prior convictions, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He claimed he was forced to participate to repay a drug debt and feared a "bullet or a blade" if he refused. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to two and a half years' imprisonment, deciding not to involve the Probation Service because of Boylan's age. The taxi driver did not submit a victim impact report. Boylan's father argued that his son had been affected by family deaths and had struggled with addiction for many years, offering €500 to the driver and asking the court to consider the debt context.
Michael Maughan, 40, was found guilty of murder and assault in Ennis, County Clare, after stabbing Piotr Nowakowski, 31, twice and striking him again in the head. The jury, after a two‑hour and 23‑minute trial, returned a unanimous verdict. Mr. Maughan had pleaded not guilty to both charges, but the prosecution rejected his manslaughter plea. Mr. Maughan, who had a history of alcohol‑related offences, claimed he was out of control and had no memory of the motive. Mr. Nowakowski was a Polish immigrant who had come to Ireland for a better life. Mr. Maughan was sentenced to mandatory life imprisonment for the murder, concurrent with a four‑year sentence for the assault, both back‑dated to 24 July 2013 for time already spent in custody. The court heard that Mr. Maughan had 68 prior convictions dating back to 1991, including public order, burglary and theft.
In October 2014, a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court sentenced Alan Hatch, 38, to six‑and‑a‑half years in prison for the one‑punch manslaughter of Liam Bennett, 46, who died a week later after a severe brain injury. The incident occurred on August 8, 2013, along the canal near the Golden Bridge Industrial Estate. CCTV showed Bennett swinging his elbow at Hatch as they passed, but the footage did not capture contact. Hatch pleaded guilty to the unlawful killing and to a separate handbag robbery. The judge accepted that Hatch did not intend to kill Bennett but found the assault gratuitous and without justification. A 12‑month portion of the sentence was suspended, and the term was back‑dated to August 3, 2013, the date of Hatch's custody for the offence. Bennett's family expressed deep grief and a hope that no one else would suffer similar violence.
Two Travellers, Owen McDonagh Jnr (23) and Thomas McDonagh (22), were convicted of violent disorder for a May 12, 2013 attack on Gardaí at St Margarets Park, Ballymun. They were part of a group that hurled missiles—including a small motor and a rock—at the officers and threatened to kill them. The court found that Thomas had 92 prior convictions, including burglary and theft, and had recently been disqualified from driving for 20 years for driving without insurance. Owen had 27 prior convictions, including burglary, theft and road traffic offences. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced both men to two years' imprisonment, suspending one year of Owen's term. A third man, John McDonagh (18 at the time), received a suspended two‑year sentence. The incident involved Garda Ronan McMorrow and a second officer who pursued Thomas into the halting site, where the pair threatened and attacked them, forcing the officers to retreat for their safety.
In a Balbriggan District Court hearing, two women, Eileen McDonagh (36) and Carolyn Ward (29), pleaded guilty to stealing €1,782.35 worth of children's clothing from a Tesco Extra store on 25 October. The items were taken by filling a trolley and leaving without payment; security detained them and recovered the goods. Both had no prior convictions. Their solicitor described the theft as an unplanned, desperate act, noting the defendants were on social welfare and had children. Judge Grainne O'Neill expressed concern over the value but acknowledged the lack of sophisticated planning. She remanded them on continuing bail until February, requiring each to donate €300 to a charity. If the donations are made by that date, the judge will apply the Probation Act, potentially sparing them a conviction.
At Balbriggan District Court, Jevgenijs Zurila (32) of Navan pleaded guilty to trespassing and the theft of two containers of diesel worth €150 from Bently Bros Ltd in Lusk on August 14th. Judge Grainne O'Neill convicted him, noting his previous conviction for theft, and fined him €250 for trespass and a further €250 for the theft, warning that a future offence would result in a prison sentence. Joseph McGovern (39) of Donabate pleaded guilty to being intoxicated and using threatening and abusive behaviour towards gardai at Macari's Takeaway in Donabate on May 22nd. Despite mitigation regarding his mother's recent death, Judge O'Neill convicted him and imposed a €300 fine. Catherine Joyce (42) of Balbriggan, who is alleged to have been intoxicated and used threatening and abusive behaviour on October 2nd, had her case adjourned until January 8th as further charges, including an alleged assault on a garda, may be brought. Neil Phipps (29) of Balbriggan, alleged to have assaulted Brian Cranny causing harm on May 9th, had his case adjourned until November 27th pending DPP directions. John Fleming (30) of Skerries, alleged to have driven without reasonable consideration on January 22nd, had his case adjourned until December 4th to seek legal advice.
Tom O'Connor, 47, former director of O'Connor Plant Hire & Ground Works in Listowel, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to handling a stolen Volvo A25D dumper truck that had been stolen from a quarry in Scotland. He admitted buying the truck in Holland for €62,500 and selling it to a buyer, but denied involvement in the vehicle's cloning or theft. O'Connor had five prior convictions, including possession of a stolen John Deere tractor in 2009, and had resigned as director in 2013 to protect the company's reputation. He was declared bankrupt in 2012 and is now unemployed and on social welfare. Judge Desmond Hogan remanded him on continuing bail pending sentencing, ordered a probation report, and noted his health issues. The court heard that the truck's chassis number had been altered and that O'Connor had no part in the alteration. The insurance company paid £75,000 for the vehicle. The case remains pending sentencing.
Carol Hawkins, Adam Clayton's former personal assistant, was convicted of 181 counts of theft from two of his Bank of Ireland accounts between 2004 and 2008, totalling just over €2.8 million. She used the money to buy and maintain 22 thoroughbred racehorses, a €310,000 New York apartment, holidays, her children's education and shopping sprees, and spent €1.4 million on a credit card funded from Clayton's accounts. The Court of Criminal Appeal dismissed her appeal against the conviction, finding sufficient evidence to support the jury's decision and no error that would render the conviction unsafe. The appeal against the severity of the seven‑year prison sentence remains to be decided. Hawkins, aged 51 and originally from North London, is currently detained at Dochas Centre and has been described as a model prisoner, having undertaken courses in art, business studies and an Open University degree in Art History.
At Swords District Court, Jason McDonagh (19) pleaded guilty to being in unlawful possession of €20 worth of cannabis herb and was ordered to make a charitable contribution of €250 by December 17th to avoid a conviction. Nermia Ibrahimovic (40) pleaded guilty to the theft of groceries worth €34.91 and was fined €300 with a warning that her liberty is at risk if she reoffends. James English (22) pleaded guilty to the theft of €130.39 worth of cosmetics and was given the benefit of the Probation Act. Mark Cole (34) faced charges of being in unlawful possession of cannabis herb, cannabis resin and cocaine for sale or supply, and the case was adjourned until November 25th. Amy Bergin (20) was found guilty of driving without insurance, without L-plates displayed, without an NCT, and driving on a provisional licence without a qualified driver, and was fined €750 and disqualified from driving for two years. Ryan Montgomery (18) and Dale Monks (19) pleaded guilty to non-payment of a taxi fare of €43 and were ordered to make a charitable contribution of €250 each by November 25th to avoid a conviction. The case of St Margaret, accused of being in unlawful possession of cannabis herb, cannabis resin and cocaine for sale or supply at his home address on April 3rd, and non-payment of a taxi fare of €43, was adjourned.