Peter Sheeran, aged 33, was convicted of robbery after he used a bread‑knife to steal €1,000 from Murphy's Gala store in Kilanerin on 17 June 2023. He left his two‑year‑old and seven‑year‑old children in a car while he carried out the robbery and was apprehended shortly after by passers‑by. Sheeran pleaded guilty at Wexford Circuit Court in December 2023, where Judge Cormac Quinn imposed a five‑year sentence with the final year suspended. In November 2024 he appealed, arguing that the sentence was too harsh because he had no prior convictions, was acting under duress and the offence was not pre‑meditated. The Court of Appeal, hearing the case on 16 December 2024, found that the original judge had erred by setting an eight‑year headline sentence. The appeal was granted, and the Court of Appeal quashed the original sentence.
A 43‑year‑old homeless man, Liam Whelan, was convicted in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of assault causing serious harm and robbery after he attacked a cardiologist with a champagne bottle in the victim's home on 25 August 2023. The attack left the doctor with a skull fracture, a large life‑threatening blood clot, permanent hearing loss in one ear, and a six‑month work‑inability due to seizure risk. Whelan pleaded not guilty but was found guilty by a unanimous jury in November. He claimed self‑defence, alleging the victim had assaulted him, but the court rejected this defence. The case was adjourned for sentencing, with the prosecution seeking 10‑15 years, the maximum being life imprisonment. The court considered medical reports, CCTV footage, and Whelan's 63 prior convictions in its deliberations.
In a High Court hearing, Shannon Judd of Cox's Demesne, Dundalk, challenged the prosecution of an alleged €43 theft of potted plants from Costcutter Supermarket, Clanbrassil Street, Dundalk, on 23 December 2022. Judd, who could not recall being in the shop that day, sought disclosure of CCTV footage and witness statements. While a shop worker and Garda Declan Ward claimed to have identified her from CCTV, the footage was never provided. The Garda's claim that the footage existed was denied, and the prosecution proceeded based on the worker's and Garda's testimony. Judd's solicitor, Peter Lavery, argued that the absence of the CCTV evidence and the time elapsed prejudiced her case, and that the judge's suggestion of a lenient outcome if she pleaded guilty was improper. The High Court granted permission for a judicial review on 21 January, with Lily Buckley BL representing Judd.
A parish priest's personal bank account was almost €50,000 emptied in a phone‑scam that involved a bogus broadband connection fee. The priest, after receiving a call from a supposed broadband company, attempted to pay a one‑off fee of €5 online. He tried to make the payment over 40 times in four days, resulting in the loss of nearly €50,000. Money mule Kelvin Kleinovas (24) later transferred €10,000 of the stolen cash into his own account. Kleinovas pleaded guilty in August 2019 to having the proceeds of crime in his account and was arrested in September 2021. He has seven prior convictions, including money laundering, for which he received a two‑year suspended sentence. None of the stolen money was recovered. The priest's victim impact statement expressed deep disappointment with the bank's failure to protect his funds and described the loss as devastating.
Two members of a Romanian organised crime gang were sentenced to a combined ten years in prison for a series of vehicle‑ram raids on commercial premises in July 2023. The men, Ricardo Stancu (19), Daniel Murgea (31) and Ionut Leonard Petriu (38), were arrested during Garda Operation 'Docht' and pleaded guilty to burglary, criminal damage and organised crime offences. Stancu received five years with the final 12 months suspended; Murgea was sentenced to six years after a headline of eight years was considered, taking into account his prior convictions in France and Italy. Petriu, who pleaded guilty to assisting the group, was placed on bail and his case was adjourned to March 20 for a probation report. The court described the offences as highly organised, with extensive damage to three unoccupied commercial premises and no items stolen.
Three Romanian men—Ricardo Stancu (38), Daniel Murgea (31) and Ionut Leonard Petriu (19)—were sentenced for a series of ram‑raid burglaries in eastern Ireland in July 2023. The gang used a stolen "dummy" silver Mercedes to smash into the front windows of a Dublin phone shop and a Vodafone shop in Newbridge, and later rammed a car into the gates of a motor dealer on Naas Road. They stole a 5‑series BMW from a dealership in Clondalkin, which was later used as a getaway vehicle. The men pleaded guilty to burglary, criminal damage and organised‑crime offences. Stancu and Murgea remain in custody; Petriu is on bail. The court heard the incidents caused extensive property damage—over €49,000 at the 3 Store, €16,000 at Whitewater, €4,000 at the dealership and €1,753 at the motor dealer—yet no mobile phones were stolen as they were kept in a safe.
David Carroll, 48, of Dublin 2, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to five offences committed between December 2023 and April 2024: three thefts at St Francis Xavier Church on Gardiner Street, one theft at Erin College on North Great George Street, and one burglary of an apartment in Dublin City Centre. CCTV footage identified him at each incident. The court heard that Carroll's motivation was to fund a drug habit, and that he had previously received a diploma in addiction studies from Dublin Business School. He had 30 prior convictions and had become homeless after his hostel was raided. Judge Orla Crowe sentenced him to three years' imprisonment, back‑dated to his arrest on 29 April 2024, and suspended the final six months for 12 months, placing him under Probation Services for 12 months. The sentence was imposed after Carroll's guilty pleas, admissions, cooperation with Gardaí, and a letter of apology were considered mitigating factors.
Suzanne Shannon, 40, of Avondale House, Dublin, was jailed for two and a half years after pleading guilty to eight thefts of beauty products from two Boots stores in Rathmines and Donnybrook between January and April 2024. The thefts, valued between €500 and €1,000, were committed while she was serving the suspended portion of a two‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence for a drug‑dealing offence involving €69,608 worth of heroin. Garda Stephen Walsh arrested her after a panic alarm at Boots, Rathmines, and she admitted the stolen goods and her intent to sell them to fund her drug addiction. Judge Orla Crowe imposed a consecutive term of two years and three months for the thefts, suspended the final three months of the drug sentence on strict conditions, and ordered her to engage with the Probation Service for one year upon release.
John O'Brien, 44, with 119 prior convictions, pleaded guilty to stealing an electric scooter from a shop on Dame Street on 31 January 2022. The theft occurred after an argument between shop security, O'Brien and two other men. O'Brien seized the scooter and fled toward Trinity College, threatening the victim with death. The victim pursued him, pleaded for the scooter, and was assaulted by another man who also threatened him. Gardaí later apprehended O'Brien while he was riding the scooter. O'Brien was on bail for other offences at the time and is already serving a sentence. Judge Orla Crowe described the offence as a "mean‑spirited theft", noted his chronic addiction and previous convictions, and imposed a two‑year sentence back‑dated to his guilty plea. The sentence will run concurrently with his current term, with release projected for December 2027 and support structures in place for his eventual release.
Joseph Collins, 27, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to a single robbery at Boyles Sports in Finglas on 27 November 2023. He entered the shop around 7 pm, approached the counter, muttered "Money", and produced a Stanley blade that he placed under the glass, a foot from the cashier's face. Collins handed over €280 before leaving. Garda Dwayne O'Brien obtained CCTV footage that identified Collins, leading to his arrest. Collins has ten prior convictions and a history of alcohol and drug abuse, though he has completed residential rehabilitation at Coolmine Treatment Centre. He expressed deep shame, denied violence, and requested an apology to the cashier and co‑worker. Judge Orla Crowe noted his rehabilitation work and lack of violent history, ordered a probation report, and remanded him in custody until 3 March 2025 when the case will be finalised.
In an appeal hearing, Keith McCormick (23) of La Touche Drive, Bluebell, Dublin 12 and Riverview, Church Road, Mulhuddart, Dublin 15, who pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply on May 12, 2020, and other charges including burglary, unlawful use of a vehicle, possession of stolen property, and driving without a licence or insurance between September 2020 and May 2021, had his sentence reviewed. McCormick, who has 44 previous convictions, was previously sentenced in February to a three-year and two-month prison term with the final 12 months suspended for his role in a series of offences on January 23, 2022, during which a man died. Judge Orla Crowe imposed a global sentence of six years and six months, suspending the final 15 months on strict conditions, including keeping the peace and being of good behaviour for two years and engaging with the Probation Service for 12 months upon release. Adam Murphy (23) of Cherry Orchard Crescent, Ballyfermot, Dublin 10, pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was handed a 12-year sentence with the final two-and-a-half years suspended on strict conditions. The matter was adjourned for further consideration.
A 21‑year‑old man, Shane Murray, was jailed for three years and six months for driving a stolen car and striking a cyclist, leaving the victim with a broken leg and ankle. The collision was recorded on Snapchat and shown in court, where the video showed Murray driving on after the impact and shouting "Go, Go, Go" from the front seat. The judge criticised the callousness of uploading the footage and of Murray's failure to stop or check on the cyclist. Murray also pleaded guilty to a robbery the previous month, for which he received an 18‑month sentence; both sentences run concurrently. He was disqualified from driving for four years and had a six‑month suspended portion of the driving sentence. The cyclist, a Croatian courier, required surgery for his fractures. Murray expressed remorse in a letter to the court. The case highlighted the seriousness of reckless driving and the use of stolen vehicles.
Cahir O'Higgins, a Dublin criminal‑defence solicitor aged 49, was convicted in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of one count of theft and four counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice. He denied stealing €400 from a client on 30 July 2016 and denied providing incorrect notes to Gardaí in December 2017. The judge described the conduct as "deranged", "thuggish", "base" and "despicable". O'Higgins had earlier pleaded guilty to assault and harassment of a former employee, for which he received a 16‑month sentence in July. The new sentence, imposed by Judge Martin Nolan, was 27 months, back‑dated to 21 October, with the court noting the seriousness of the perverting‑justice charges and the impact on his reputation. O'Higgins expressed remorse and requested an apology to those affected. The court considered mitigating factors but extended his custodial term accordingly. The case remains at the sentencing stage, with no further verdicts announced.
Former rugby international Brendan Mullin, aged 61, was convicted in a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial of stealing just over €567,000 from Bank of Ireland Private Bank between 2011 and 2013. The jury found him guilty on 12 of 14 charges, including the theft of €500,000 that was transferred to Spice Holdings, a company registered in the British Virgin Islands. Mullin had arranged payments to McCann Fitzgerald solicitors, Beechwood accountants and Grant Thornton for work he performed personally or for his firm Quantum Investment Strategies, and had redirected invoices from his personal address to the private bank. He was acquitted of two charges relating to Beechwood Partners and a deception count. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to three years' imprisonment, noting his position of trust and the fact that the bank was fully repaid before the investigation began. Mullin accepted the verdict and expressed remorse. The sentence was handed down on the day of the hearing.
James Hawkins, 24, of Ellis Quay Hostel, pleaded guilty to a single robbery on 21 February 2023 at College Green, Dublin. He violently took a woman's purse after she withdrew €200 from an ATM at about 6.30 pm. The victim, an American student in her early 30s studying at Trinity College, was left with cuts to her knees and torn tights. CCTV from Grafton Street showed Hawkins running away; he was identified, arrested, and admitted the offence. Hawkins has 76 prior convictions, all District Court matters, and was homeless with heroin and crack addiction at the time. He cooperated, pleaded early, and apologized. Judge Orla Crowe imposed a three‑year custodial sentence, suspended the final six months for two years, and ordered 12 months of probation. Hawkins will be released on bond before being led away.
Noel Ward, 59, of Ballymun, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for fraudulently claiming over €109,000 in social welfare benefits between May 2008 and August 2019. Ward pleaded guilty to two charges of using a false instrument, including a driving licence, and six counts of theft from the State. The court heard that Ward used the identity of his late friend, Patrick Rooney, to claim benefits such as Jobseekers' Allowance and Disability Benefit, while also working under Rooney's name to claim additional allowances in his own name. Judge Orla Crowe described the conduct as a deliberate and sophisticated fraud. Considering mitigating factors, including Ward's status as a sole carer and his repayment of all but €15,000 of the stolen funds, the judge set a headline sentence of five years. She imposed a term of three years, suspending the final 18 months. Ward is required to repay the remaining €15,000 to the State within four years. The matter was finalised with this custodial sentence and suspended portion.
In an appeal hearing, the case of Keith McCormick (23) of La Touche Drive, Bluebell, Dublin 12 and Riverview, Church Road, Mulhuddart, Dublin 15, who pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply on May 12, 2020, and other charges including burglary, unlawful use of a vehicle, possession of stolen property and driving without a licence or insurance between September 2020 and May 2021, was adjourned for finalisation on November 27. McCormick, also known as McCormick-Smith, has 44 previous convictions. In February, he was handed a three-year and two-month prison sentence with the final 12 months suspended for his role in a series of offences on January 23, 2022, during which a man died. Co-accused Adam Murphy (23) of Cherry Orchard Crescent, Ballyfermot, Dublin 10, pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was handed a 12-year sentence with the final two-and-a-half years suspended on strict conditions. The matter was adjourned for finalisation on November 27. The court heard that McCormick's earliest current release date is June 2027. Probation and psychological reports were handed to the court, and the defence asked the court to consider the principles of proportionality and totality when imposing sentence.
Luke McGann, 20, of St Catherine's Green, Rush, Co Dublin, was sentenced at the District Court after pleading guilty to 24 charges of theft. The court heard that McGann allegedly stole €14,886 from his grandmother's partner, who had won €87,000 in the lottery in April 2023. Prosecution evidence stated that after assisting the victim in setting up a bank account, McGann added the card details to his Apple Pay account and made 24 unauthorised transactions between June and July 2023. He admitted to being under financial pressure due to a drug debt and using the funds to pay off debts and purchase a motorcycle. The bank fully reimbursed the victim, who forgave McGann. Judge Orla Crowe described the acts as a significant breach of trust but noted McGann's immediate admissions, cooperation with the Gardaí, and lack of previous convictions. She reduced the headline sentence from 18 months to 12 months, which was suspended in full on strict conditions. The Judge commented that McGann, described by defence counsel as a young man with a bright future, deserves a chance to contribute to society. The matter was finalised with this suspended sentence.
Kym Dunleavy, 50, of St Josephs Place, Dublin 7, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to using a false medical prescription between November 2018 and April 2019. She had taken a prescription pad from Beaumont Hospital and forged prescriptions for sleeping tablets. Gardaí discovered the pad after a pharmacy raised concerns about a false prescription. CCTV footage identified Dunleavy, and a warrant led to the pad being found under a mattress at her home. The pharmacist confirmed the pad was legitimate but the prescriptions were forgeries. Dunleavy claimed she used the forged prescriptions to obtain more tablets to manage anxiety and nightmares. She has 71 prior convictions, mainly theft and fraud. The court remanded her on bail pending sentencing, with a Probation Service report due on 31 March. The judge noted her high risk of re‑offending and lack of engagement with psychiatric services.
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court sentenced three members of the Wall family for a burglary in Killiney, south Dublin, on February 19, 2021, where they stole €19,800 in gold jewellery from an elderly couple. Edward Wall (52), Martin Wall (45), and Patrick Wall (21) pleaded guilty to the offence. The court heard the men used a modified vehicle to aid the crime, with Edward and Martin acting as lookouts while Patrick and an accomplice entered the home. All property was returned. Judge Elva Duffy jailed Edward and Martin for four years each, finding them active participants in a joint enterprise. Patrick was sentenced to three-and-a-half years, with the final 12 months suspended. The judge declined to apply compensation, stating it would not restore the victims' peace of mind. Patrick Wall had previously pleaded guilty to possession of stolen property after gardaí captured him digging up almost €80,000 buried in coffee jars in a suburban Dublin field. The defendants have extensive criminal records, including prior convictions for burglary and possession of stolen property. Counsel for the defendants cited personal hardships and the benefit of guilty pleas, but the judge imposed custodial sentences reflecting the pre-planned nature of the offence and the defendants' histories.
Lee Conlon, 46, of Meath Place, Dublin, was convicted of aggravated burglary with a large kitchen knife at an apartment on Montague Street on 22 November 2022. He was also found guilty of armed robbery of Capital Credit on St Luke's Avenue on 16 January 2023, during which he threatened to kill or seriously harm two customers, one aged 83. In the burglary, he entered a sleeping couple's home, was tackled by the infant's father, and fled with items worth almost €600, leaving a large kitchen knife behind. In the credit‑union robbery, he entered with a handgun, threatened customers, demanded cash, and stole €1,200 before escaping. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court sentenced him to five and a half years for the burglary and four and a half years for the robbery, to be served concurrently with his existing seven‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence, with the final four‑and‑a‑half‑year term suspended under conditions.
Paul Bissett, 38, pleaded guilty to robbery and criminal damage on 22 December 2023. He held up a cash‑in‑transit guard armed with a hammer, demanded a cash box, and fled with it. He attempted to open the €17,200 box by dropping it from the first and second floors of a stairwell, but failed. The attempt triggered an alarm and released dye that stained the area and his clothes. Garda Zoe Johnston reported that Bissett was later found hiding on a roof, where he cooperated with the Garda Armed Support Unit and left with them. The court noted his 68 prior convictions, including assault and robbery, and his history of drug addiction. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a four‑year sentence, crediting any time already served, and highlighted the need for Bissett to rehabilitate on his own. The decision was based on the threats made but no violence was committed.
Cahir O'Higgins, a former criminal‑defence solicitor, was found guilty of theft and perverting the course of justice. The court allowed the previously imposed reporting ban on his earlier harassment and assault case to be lifted. O'Higgins had been convicted of assaulting fellow solicitor Stephen O'Mahony, including a 2021 incident in which he broke O'Mahony's nose. He was sentenced to 16 months' imprisonment, with the sentence deferred until September to allow him to close his practice. The judge described his conduct as "deranged", "thuggish", "base" and "despicable", noting the harassment stemmed from a professional rivalry. O'Higgins was granted leave to travel to Spain and to compete in the World Cycling Championships before his custodial term began. The case highlights the court's decision to lift the reporting restriction once the theft and perverting the course of justice trial concluded.
Cahir O'Higgins, a prominent criminal defence solicitor, was found guilty by a jury of stealing €400 and attempting to pervert the course of justice on four counts. O'Higgins, 49, had pleaded not guilty to the charges, which related to events in 2016 and 2017. The trial heard that O'Higgins withdrew €600 from the bank account of Spanish national Raul Sanz Quilis, who had admitted to criminal damage in a Dublin District Court case. O'Higgins claimed he had permission to use Quilis's bank card and that he returned €400 to the defendant. However, Quilis testified that he was not aware of the withdrawal and that O'Higgins did not return the money. The jury found O'Higgins guilty on all five counts after deliberating for nearly five hours. Judge Martin Nolan remanded O'Higgins in custody and adjourned the case for sentencing on November 25. Cahir O'Higgins had the case struck out.
The jury in the trial of Cahir O'Higgins, a criminal defence solicitor accused of stealing €400 and attempting to pervert the course of justice, has begun deliberating at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. O'Higgins, 49, has pleaded not guilty to one count of theft in July 2016 and four counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice in December 2017. He denies the allegations. The court heard that O'Higgins is a criminal defence solicitor with over 20 years of experience. The jury retired shortly after 11am this morning after being charged by Judge Martin Nolan, who instructed them to be neutral and impartial and not to consider O'Higgins's profession in their deliberations. After deliberating for about 90 minutes, the jury asked if theft can be said to have occurred when an owner is temporarily deprived of their property.
A veteran criminal defence solicitor, Cahir O'Higgins, is accused of fabricating notes and lying to gardai in connection with the theft of €400 from a client in 2016. Prosecuting counsel told the jury that the defendant's notes presented to gardai in 2017 were fabricated and that his claims during a 2020 recording with a garda that people were 'out to get him' were 'nonsense'. O'Higgins, who has pleaded not guilty to theft and four counts of perverting the course of public justice, is represented by senior counsel who argued that his client's actions were not intended to pervert justice but to address potential regulatory concerns. Defence counsel suggested that the client may have returned the €400 to his client, who may not have realized he had received it. The trial continues with the jury considering the evidence presented.
A Dubliner, Noel Ward, 59, used the PPS number of a friend who had moved to Thailand to fraudulently claim €109,235 in social welfare benefits over a decade. Ward, who was homeless when the scheme began, claimed benefits such as Jobseekers' Benefit, Disability Benefit, Jobseekers' Allowance, Basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance and Rent Allowance, and transferred about €64,000 into his friend Patrick Rooney's AIB account. He pleaded guilty to two counts of using a false instrument, including a false driving licence, and six counts of theft from the State between May 2008 and August 2019. Ward has been repaying the State since 2017, including a €20,000 lump sum, and is expected to clear the remaining €15,000 debt within four years. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, with the hearing adjourned for finalisation on November 20.
Mark Davis, 35, with 207 prior convictions and a 20‑year driving ban, pleaded guilty to stealing a DPD delivery van in Jobstown on 4 December 2023 and to stealing 66 packages worth €901 and driving without a licence on the same day. During a court hearing, the judge heard that Davis, while driving past the victim, told him, "I'll leave the van 'round in that estate," and that the van was later found parked with its engine running and most of the packages missing. Davis also admitted to driving without a licence, hit‑and‑runs, dangerous driving and other offences. He was remanded on continuing bail, with the judge expressing concern that imprisonment would disrupt the progress he has made and that he would be exposed to drugs in custody. The case is set to resume on 10 March.
A 35‑year‑old Dublin man was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for choking his then‑fiancée in front of their three small children in February 2019, an act that left her unconscious and with bruises, scratches and lasting psychological harm. He also pleaded guilty to criminal damage to the back‑door handles of her home in July 2020 when he tried to gain entry. The court noted the woman was pregnant, had to move house to avoid him, and that he had 42 prior convictions, including knife possession, theft, criminal damage and traffic offences. In mitigation, the judge considered his guilty pleas, current drug and alcohol abstinence, employment and volunteer work, and a probation assessment placing him at moderate risk of re‑offending. Consecutive sentences of three and two years were imposed, with the final two years suspended on conditions such as attending a violent offender course while in custody.
A veteran criminal defence solicitor, Cahir O'Higgins (49), has pleaded not guilty to one count of stealing €400 in July 2016 and four counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice in December 2017. During a voluntary interview with gardai, O'Higgins stated he returned the €400 to his client, Raul Sanz Quilis, and described providing notes to gardai as a 'grave error of judgement' and 'bullshit notes'. The prosecution alleges that O'Higgins withdrew €600 from Sanz Quilis' bank account, kept €400, and paid €200 to the court to have the case against Sanz struck out. O'Higgins claims he had implied permission from Sanz Quilis to use the card and that he returned the €400. He also said he provided notes to gardai in December 2017, which he later admitted were inaccurate and not contemporaneous. O'Higgins acknowledged he represented Sanz Quilis without explicit instructions and admitted to providing misleading information to gardai.
Patrick Byrne, 27, of Cloverhill Road, Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two years and nine months in jail for assault causing harm. He pleaded guilty to one count of assaulting a 33-year-old man at Westmoreland Street, Dublin 2, on October 15 last year. Judge Orla Crowe described the unprovoked attack, in which Byrne allegedly struck the victim with a bike saddle, as senseless and brutal. The sentence was backdated to the date Byrne first entered custody. Byrne has a history of 36 previous offences, including a suspended six-and-a-half-year sentence for attempted robbery in 2020. Prosecution counsel sought leave to re-mention the case to address whether the offence was committed while Byrne was on that suspended sentence. The matter was adjourned to deal with this procedural issue. Defence counsel acknowledged the assault was vicious but argued it was a case of mistaken identity and noted Byrne's history of drug abuse. The victim stated he now avoids the city centre due to the trauma and visible scarring.
A veteran criminal defence solicitor, Cahir O'Higgins, has told a trial that he believed someone in the gardai or the Director of Public Prosecutions' office wanted to 'stitch him up' because he had 'annoyed people'. O'Higgins, 49, is on trial for one count of theft of €400 in July 2016 and four counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice in December 2017. He denies the allegations. The court heard that O'Higgins was representing a Spanish national, Raul Sanz Quilis, who was charged with criminal damage. During the case, O'Higgins allegedly used Sanz Quilis's bank card to withdraw €600 from an ATM, with €400 allegedly taken into his possession. The case against Sanz was struck out after €200 was paid to the court. O'Higgins also provided gardai with notes he claimed to have made during the incident, but the prosecution alleges they contained false information. Cahir O'Higgins pleaded not guilty. Sanz Quilis pleaded not guilty.
The court heard that a 15‑year‑old driver of a stolen car caused a garda's hand to break while she tried to remove him from the vehicle during a pursuit. The teenager, now 16, pleaded guilty to reckless endangerment, assault, unlawful use of a car, dangerous driving and damaging an official garda vehicle at locations along the M50 on 24 August 2023. Detective Garda Kate Gilligan described how the boy drove on the wrong side of the motorway, rammed a patrol car and repeatedly changed lanes, creating danger for himself and other road users. She said she would take a broken hand any day over the potential consequences. Judge Orla Crowe noted the boy's significant improvement and adjourned the case for six months to allow continued work, requesting an updated probation report. The boy apologized, cooperated with investigators, and has not reoffended since his release.
The trial of criminal defence solicitor Cahir O'Higgins, who has pleaded not guilty to one count of theft and four counts of perverting the course of justice, continues before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury. The prosecution alleges that on July 30, 2016, O'Higgins withdrew €600 from an ATM at a Londis shop on Parkgate Street using the bank card of applicant Raul Sanz Quilis, keeping €400 for himself after paying a €200 court fee. Sanz Quilis, who was charged with criminal damage, consented to the withdrawal solely to pay the fine. Evidence from Courts Service clerk Derek Bunyan confirmed the case was struck out after the payment. Additionally, the State alleges O'Higgins provided gardaí in December 2017 with notes he claimed were made on July 30, 2016, which the prosecution says contained untrue information. Natwest Group Fraud Control Manager Michael Wilson testified that records show three €200 withdrawals were made from the Spanish-issued card between 4pm and 5pm on that date. O'Higgins denies all allegations, maintaining he acted in good faith. The matter is currently at the trial stage and has not been finalised.
In a criminal trial, solicitor Cahir O'Higgins, aged 49, faces charges of theft and attempting to pervert the course of justice. He is accused of withdrawing €200 from a Spanish national's bank card to pay a court fine, then making additional withdrawals totalling €600 from an ATM and pocketing €400. The prosecution alleges he provided Garda Tao Yu with false notes and a prepared statement admitting the €600 withdrawal. O'Higgins recorded a conversation with Garda Yu in May 2020, unaware of the recording, in which he expressed concern that other Gardaí might influence the evidence. He denies all allegations. The case is before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury, with O'Higgins pleading not guilty to all counts. The trial continues.
Two men, a former Soviet fighter pilot and a former construction company owner, were sentenced to a combined 18 years in prison for smuggling 60 kg of heroin into Dublin. The pilot, Zoltan Nemeth, flew a Cessna 210 that landed at Weston Airport with 120 packages of heroin, each about half a kilo, valued at €8.4 million. Nemeth claimed he was unaware of the cargo, believing it to be prohibited metal for microchips, while the co‑accused, Aradi Ignac, admitted transporting the drugs and said he had fallen into debt to dangerous individuals. Ignac had ten prior convictions, including theft and fraud, and had been involved in planning the operation. The court imposed headline sentences of 13 years for Ignac (actual term ten years) and 10 years for Nemeth, with both sentences backdated to the day they were arrested. Both men have been in custody since December and are on 23‑hour lock‑up for their own protection. Aradi Ignac pleaded guilty. Zoltan Nemeth pleaded guilty.
Charles Darcy, aged 35, was sentenced to two years in prison for possession of .38 special calibre Sellier and Bellot ammunition and for criminal damage after throwing a fire extinguisher through the window of an Applegreen Service Station. The court heard that Darcy had 59 prior convictions, including attempted murder, robbery, assault, possession of a realistic firearm, violent disorder, public order, assault on a police officer, breach of bail and violent behaviour in a Garda station. He pleaded guilty to the ammunition offence on 26 May 2018 and to the fire extinguisher incident on 13 October 2018. The judge noted his long history of offending, his membership of the Travelling community, his mental health and drug‑addiction struggles, and that he is currently drug‑free and willing to undertake an intensive probation programme. The sentence was suspended for six months and back‑dated for time already served.
At the Central Criminal Court in Dublin, a murder trial heard that Dean Caffrey (38) made enquiries about renting a storage unit shortly after the death of Sean McCarthy (28). Mr Caffrey, of Beaucort, Achill Road, Drumcondra, denies murdering Mr McCarthy, whose body was discovered in a wardrobe at the accused's apartment four days after he went missing in August 2022. Prosecution counsel Kathleen Noctor SC told the court that the accused had told gardaí the deceased arrived armed and threatened him over a suspected heroin theft, and that a struggle ensued during which he discharged a firearm fatally. Emma Flynn, an employee of a Dublin storage company, testified that on 3 August 2022, a man identifying himself as Dean Caffrey submitted an online request for a storage unit at the Charlestown depot. Ms Flynn confirmed she subsequently spoke with the customer by telephone. The trial, before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury, continues. Dean Caffrey pleaded not guilty.
The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial of former rugby star Brendan Mullin, aged 61, focused on a €500,000 transfer from Bank of Ireland Private Bank to Spice Holdings in 2011 that has never been recovered. Mullin faced 15 charges, including nine theft counts, five false accounting, and one deception count, but the jury was directed to find him not guilty of deception. The prosecution alleged Mullin, as managing director of the private bank, stole €573,281 between 2011 and 2013, comprising the €500,000 transfer and about €61,000 in personal legal fees paid by the bank, plus smaller payments to Grant Thornton and Beechwood Partners. Mullin claimed the €500,000 was a payment to his company Quantum to settle a future debt, while the bank argued it was a processing error.
Former rugby international Brendan Mullin, aged 61, was found guilty by a jury of 12 of 14 charges in a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial. He was accused of stealing more than €570,000 from Bank of Ireland Private Bank between 2011 and 2013, and of five false accounting offences. The jury returned not‑guilty verdicts on a deception charge involving a payment authorisation letter and on two charges relating to Beechwood Partners. Mullin denied all allegations. The trial, lasting three weeks, examined evidence of payments to McCann Fitzgerald, Beechwood, and Grant Thornton, and the transfer of €500,000 to Spice Holdings in the British Virgin Islands. The judge remanded Mullin on bail ahead of sentencing, ordered him to surrender his passport, and set a sentence date for 25 November. No further details of the sentence were provided in the article.
Peter Sheeran, 33, of Carraig Mor, Kilcoole, County Wicklow, was convicted of robbery after he armed himself with a bread‑knife and stole €1,000 from Murphy's Gala store in Kilanerin on 17 June 2023. He left a two‑year‑old and a seven‑year‑old in a car while he carried out the robbery and was subsequently caught by passers‑by. Sheeran pleaded guilty at Wexford Circuit Court in December 2023, where Judge Cormac Quinn imposed a five‑year sentence, with the final year suspended. On appeal, Sheeran's counsel argued that he had no prior convictions, was acting under duress, and the offence was not premeditated. The Director of Public Prosecutions countered that the planning was minimal and the knife was more akin to a machete. Judge Patrick McCarthy acknowledged the duress but noted premeditation in Sheeran's preparation and disguise.
The jury in the €570,000 theft trial of former rugby international Brendan Mullin will resume deliberations on Tuesday after having spent about five and a half hours on the case before being sent home. Mullin, 61, of Stillorgan Road, Donnybrook, Dublin 4, is accused of stealing more than €570,000 from Bank of Ireland Private Bank between 2011 and 2013 while serving as managing director. He denies all charges. The trial continues.
Herbert Kilcline, a 62‑year‑old former solicitor, was found guilty by a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of eight counts of property fraud involving two Dublin City properties on Phibsborough Road and St Marys Road. The charges included failing to apply required measures as a designated person, using a false instrument and fraudulent procurement of entry to the land registry between September 2016 and June 2018. Kilcline had previously been jailed in May 2021 for a €120,000 social welfare fraud. The jury deliberated for four hours and 15 minutes. Co‑accused Matthew Murphy, aged 52, was acquitted of four counts, including money laundering, theft and failing to keep records between April 2017 and April 2018, with two counts dismissed by the judge's direction. Philip Marley, 53, pleaded guilty to three counts of fraudulent procurement of a false deed, fraudulent entry into the land registry and deception. All counts relate to the two properties.
Former Ireland rugby international Brendan Mullin, 61, of Donnybrook, Dublin 4, is on trial in the Central Criminal Court, accused of stealing over €570,000 from Bank of Ireland Private Bank between 2011 and 2013. He has pleaded not guilty to one count of stealing €500,000 on December 16, 2011, eight other counts of stealing just over €73,000, one count of deception, and five counts of false accounting. The jury was instructed to find him not guilty of one specific count of deception relating to a payment authorisation letter. Defence counsel Brendan Grehan SC argued in closing submissions that Mullin never intended the bank to suffer a loss, noting that the bank was made whole by payments made in 2013 and 2015. Grehan described the decade-long delay in bringing the case to trial as a "Sword of Damocles" hanging over Mullin, asserting there was no good reason for the delay and that the bank prioritised recovering funds over investigation. The defence contended that the €500,000 transfer involving Spice Holdings resulted from a processing error and that Mullin arranged for his company, Quantum, to repay the sum under pressure to clear his name. Grehan further stated that legal fees paid by the bank were returned by Mullin in April 2013. The jury is due to begin deliberations.
The trial of Brendan Mullin, a former Ireland rugby international and former managing director of Bank of Ireland Private Bank, focuses on allegations that he stole over €570,000 from the bank between 2011 and 2013. Mullin denies all charges. Prosecutor Dominic McGinn argues the case boils down to dishonesty, emphasizing that repayment of money does not negate theft if the intent was to deprive the owner. McGinn outlines how Mullin allegedly arranged for bank funds to be paid to McCann Fitzgerald Solicitors and other firms, then had those payments refunded to the bank, suggesting an attempt to conceal the theft. He also highlights Mullin's role in transferring €500,000 to Spice Holdings and later repaying it in 2015, arguing this demonstrates his central involvement. Mullin has pleaded not guilty to one count of stealing €500,000 and eight counts of stealing smaller amounts, as well as counts of deception and false accounting. The trial continues.
Former rugby international Brendan Mullin, aged 60, denies 15 charges of theft and false accounting against him. He told Gardaí he arranged a €500,000 repayment to Bank of Ireland Private Bank in 2015 because he could not leave allegations of that nature hanging. Mullin, who was managing director of the bank from 2011 to 2013, claims the money came from his company Quantum Investment Strategies and was transferred to the bank's solicitors, Arthur Cox, after the bank's solicitors advised that a processing error had occurred. He says he had no role in the transfer of the €500,000 to Spice Holdings, a company registered in the British Virgin Islands, and that the transfer was made by the bank's own staff. Mullin has pleaded not guilty to one count of stealing €500,000 and eight counts of stealing about €73,000, as well as one count of deception and five counts of false accounting.
A 41‑year‑old man, Mihail Ciorici, was sentenced to 12 years in prison, with the final year suspended for two years, after pleading guilty to rape and oral rape of a college student in Fermoy, Co. Cork. The victim, who was intoxicated and attempting to hail a taxi, was taken from a car, raped, and left to survive in freezing conditions. She was found the next morning in an abandoned house, critically hypothermic and covered in cuts and bruises. Ciorici had previously been convicted of drunk driving, theft and a Moldovan conviction for assault and false imprisonment. The court noted the victim's lack of a victim impact statement and her desire not to engage further with the case. The sentencing considered his guilty plea and family support, and he was ordered to undergo five years of post‑release supervision. The case was prosecuted by Anne Rowland SC.
During a theft trial, Bank of Ireland Private Bank client services director Nicola Johnston testified that former rugby international Brendan Mullin, then managing director, approached her in July 2011 and asked her to sign a €500,000 payment authorisation to Northern Trust in France, referencing a company called Spice Holdings. Johnston said she had no supporting documents and was told by Mullin that she need not know details, so she signed. She later cancelled the authorisation the next morning and informed Mullin, who did not return. Johnston raised the issue with senior bank officials, but the only evidence of the transaction came from a December 2011 compliance sign‑off. Defence counsel argued Johnston's account was fictional, citing a note from finance officer Kim Lloyd that Mullin had counter‑signed the authorisation earlier that day. Mullin denies all 15 charges, including the €500,000 theft, and has pleaded not guilty to related counts of deception and false accounting. The trial continues.
Aaron Gumble, 28, was sentenced by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to eight years in prison, with the final 18 months suspended, for dangerous driving causing death, leaving the scene and theft of an e‑scooter. The offence involved the hit‑and‑run killing of 87‑year‑old Mary Bernie on Eccles Street, Dublin 7, on 20 June last year. Gumble, who had been on bail for theft offences, was also disqualified from driving for ten years. He pleaded guilty and was found to have 140 previous convictions, including theft, burglary and drug offences. The judge noted his guilty plea and substance‑abuse history as mitigating factors, but highlighted the aggravating factor of leaving the scene. Gumble's sentence will run consecutively to a three‑month term he is already serving for burglary offences, and he will remain under probation supervision for 18 months after release.
The trial of former Ireland rugby international Brendan Mullin, aged 60, continues. Mullin is accused of stealing €500,000 from Bank of Ireland Private Bank in December 2011 and an additional €73,000 in other amounts between July 2011 and March 2013. The prosecution alleges he authorised payments to solicitors McCann Fitzgerald, accountants Beechwood Partners and Grant Thornton for work for his company Quantum Investment Strategies or for himself. The €500,000 was allegedly transferred to Spice Holdings, a company incorporated in 1997 and registered in the British Virgin Islands, and later moved to a Royal Bank of Canada account in Jersey. Evidence included bank records, invoices, and correspondence from Northern Trust and Spice Holdings. Mullin pleaded not guilty to all counts, including one of deception and five of false accounting. The trial remains ongoing.