Conor Carty, 23, was jailed for three and a half years after pleading guilty to three counts of sexual assault on a friend in her bedroom in July 2020. The victim, who wished to remain anonymous, said Carty had been highly intoxicated and had sexually assaulted her three times over 20 minutes while she pretended to be asleep. She later reported the assault to her sister and to a sexual assault treatment unit, where swabs showed male DNA but no full profile. Carty voluntarily contacted Gardaí the next day and was interviewed, claiming he could not remember the assault. He had no prior convictions. The court noted the breach of trust and the victim's ongoing trauma, and imposed a sentence of four years and six months, suspending the final year on strict conditions, including probation supervision and no contact with the victim. The probation officer expressed concern about Carty's lack of memory of the night.
Michael Crotty (42) was sentenced to two years' imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court for facilitating a serious offence by a criminal organisation. Crotty, a gym owner from Cashel, Co Tipperary, initially pleaded not guilty to facilitating the murder of Noel Kirwan but entered a guilty plea in February to participating in activity reckless as to whether it would facilitate a serious offence. The court found that Crotty bought €20 in phone credit for Sean McGovern, a leading Kinahan cartel member, which was used to coordinate the 2016 murder of Mr Kirwan. Presiding Judge Caroline Biggs set a headline sentence of six years, reduced to two years due to Crotty's guilty plea, lack of prior convictions, and 21 exceptional character references. The judge noted that while Crotty did not intend the credit to be used for murder, its use in the killing was an aggravating factor. This is the fourth conviction related to the case. Previously, Jason Keating (32) was jailed for 10 years for his significant role in the murder. Declan 'Mr Nobody' Brady (57) and Martin Aylmer (37) also pleaded guilty to facilitating or contributing to the murder of Mr Kirwan, though their specific sentences are not detailed in this report. The matter was finalised with Crotty's sentencing.
A 40‑year‑old Dublin man was jailed for nine months after he attacked his ex‑partner on 14 May 2020. He claimed he had gone to her home to give her money for baby food, but found the 10‑month‑old child severely malnourished and in a very bad state. The woman said they had both been drinking and that the assault stemmed from a dispute over her mobile phone. Neighbours heard her screaming and called the Gardaí, who found the couple still present. The woman suffered a fractured nose, a deviated septum, a black eye and a swollen nose; she and the baby were taken to hospital. The baby was later placed in care. The court heard the couple had been in a relationship from 2012 to 2019 and shared an older child, who has lived with the man's father since 2019.
A 72‑year‑old former Christian Brother, who taught at a primary school in County Kilkenny, was sentenced to six and a half years' imprisonment for indecent assault on six boys between 1976 and 1981. He had been convicted in March on 25 charges, after earlier trials that produced 55 convictions. The new sentence, back‑dated to the March conviction, means he will be released in September 2030. The judge noted that the victims were isolated by the Brother, who targeted those he deemed disadvantaged. The Brother denied wrongdoing and remains in court for other pending matters. The court heard that the victims endured lasting mental‑health harm and that the Brother had cooperated with the Garda investigation. The sentence is consecutive to his earlier terms. The Brother's earliest release date is now September 2030. The unnamed 72-year-old pleaded not guilty.
In a Court of Appeal hearing on 14 May 2024, a 58‑year‑old man, whose name is withheld to protect his nine‑year‑old daughter, argued that the failure to disclose a family WhatsApp conversation during his 2022 Central Criminal Court trial made his 14‑year jail sentence for 11 offences—including rape, sexual assault and threatening to kill—unsafe. His counsel, Garnet Orange SC, claimed the trial judge erred by refusing to stop the trial after the prosecution's case and by not ordering immediate disclosure of WhatsApp or Viber messages that later emerged during cross‑examination of a family member. He also argued the judge should have allowed cross‑examination of the victim's medical examination and issued a corroboration warning. The State, represented by Lorcan Staines SC, rejected these grounds, stating the WhatsApp evidence was "news to everyone" and that no disclosure order was needed. The unnamed 58-year-old was convicted.
Leanne Kelly, 32, was jailed for two and a half years after assaulting a 63‑year‑old hospital worker on her way home from the Mater Hospital on 28 April 2022. Kelly pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to a woman outside the hospital. The victim, who had finished her shift and was collecting her bicycle, was struck on the side of her head by Kelly, who shouted abusive remarks before punching her. The blow caused the victim to fall onto the road, lose her sunglasses, and suffer bruising to her jaw and back of her head. She was taken to Mountjoy Garda Station and then to the Mater Hospital for treatment and overnight observation. Kelly had 64 prior convictions, including assault, robbery, theft and public order offences. She had previously been sentenced to two years' imprisonment with the final six months suspended in 2017. The court noted Kelly's extensive addiction history and trauma background.
A 40-year-old man from Leitrim Street, Cork City, has had his prison sentence increased by two years following an appeal by the Director of Public Prosecutions. David Long pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, burglary, and producing a hatchet during an attack on Middle Glanmire Road on January 18th, 2022. The Court of Appeal found the original six-year sentence, with the final year suspended, to be unduly lenient. Long's victim sustained a fractured skull, broken teeth, and facial fractures during the assault. The appellate court, presided over by Mr Justice George Birmingham, noted Long's significant criminal history, including previous convictions for aggravated burglary and robbery. The court determined that excessive mitigation had been granted at first instance. Long has been re-sentenced to eight years' imprisonment with the final twelve months suspended. His then-girlfriend received a three-year sentence with the final six months suspended for her involvement in the targeted attack.
In a Court of Appeal decision on 14 May 2024, a 36‑year‑old man convicted of assault, false imprisonment, and threatening to kill his former partner had his original two‑year sentence increased to three years and six months, with the final six months suspended for 18 months. The appeal was brought by the Director of Public Prosecutions, who argued the original sentence was too lenient, particularly regarding the false imprisonment and domestic setting. The appellate judges agreed, substituting a longer term and suspending the final six months. The case stemmed from a 2019 incident in which the defendant, while not in a relationship with the victim at the time, punched her, threatened her with a bottle, and held her in his home. He was also found not guilty of four rape counts and the jury could not agree on the remaining charges.
In May 2024, a 46‑year‑old woman from Cork lost her appeal against a conviction for wilful neglect, sexual assault and sexual exploitation of her toddler son. The conviction, obtained by a jury in June 2022, covered neglect from September 2010 to June 2015 and sexual offences between September 2013 and June 2015. The woman, described as having very limited cognitive functioning, argued that the neglect charge was vague and that the delay in trial had erased the child's memory of the abuse. She also claimed the trial was unfair because her lawyers could not fully cross‑examine the child. The Court of Appeal rejected both grounds, noting that the evidence from video‑recorded interviews and the child's foster‑care testimony supported the charges. The Director of Public Prosecutions now intends to appeal the suspended sentence, arguing it was unduly lenient. The case remains at the appellate stage, with no further outcome reported.
A 21‑year‑old man from Co Cork was jailed for 18 months after pleading guilty to sexually assaulting two girls when he was 12 and 14. The first assault occurred in 2015 when he was 12 and the victim was nine; the second in 2017 when he was 14 and the victim was 13 or 14. The offences were discovered in 2020 after the first victim disclosed the assault in school, leading to investigations by Tusla and the Gardaí. The accused admitted the acts were not consensual and expressed remorse. In court, the judge noted the serious impact on the victims' mental health and, after considering the defendant's age and remorse, imposed concurrent sentences of two years, suspending six months on strict conditions, and ordered registration as a sex offender for two years.
Paul Dundon, 39, received a fully suspended sentence of three years and three months for biting part of Dean Kelly's ear off during a vicious fight outside a Waterford nightclub on 27 June 2018. The Court of Appeal upheld the judge's decision to suspend the entire sentence, noting Dundon's nine prior convictions and a later fully suspended sentence for a separate incident. The appeal argued the sentence was unduly lenient, citing the permanent disfigurement of Kelly's ear and Dundon's late guilty plea. The court found the judge had correctly weighed mitigation factors such as Dundon's remorse, apology letter, fatherhood, good work history, low reoffending risk and counselling attendance. The appeal was dismissed, with the court affirming the suspended sentence was not unduly lenient despite the brutal nature of the assault.
John O'Donoghue, a 54‑year‑old Rathkeale resident, was convicted in November 2021 of assault causing serious harm to a 74‑year‑old pensioner and of violent disorder. He received a 10‑year sentence for the assault and a concurrent eight‑year term for the disorder. O'Donoghue appealed, arguing that Gardaí failed to obtain vital CCTV footage and that a Garda notebook was withheld until the trial. In February 2024, Justice Tara Burns upheld his complaint, stating that the investigation's shortcomings deprived him of a reasonable prospect of defence. At the Court of Appeal, counsel for O'Donoghue argued he should recover costs from both the trial and the appeal, claiming the prosecution's flaws made the appeal necessary. Counsel for the State countered that the appeal was justified and that costs were discretionary. The Court of Appeal reserved judgment on the costs issue. John O'Donoghue pleaded not guilty.
Gearoid Coughlan, diagnosed with schizophrenia, beat and repeatedly stabbed his mother Mary Coughlan, leaving her with catastrophic, life‑long injuries. He pleaded guilty to attempted murder on 4 June 2021 and was sentenced by the Central Criminal Court to ten years' imprisonment, followed by six years of supervision by probation and psychiatric services. The judge noted Gearoid's high risk of reoffending, lack of insight into his illness, and history of aggression. Mary Coughlan, aged 32, criticised Ireland's community mental‑health services as inadequate for complex mental illness, arguing that better care might have prevented the assault. She expressed hope that families in similar situations receive timely help before it becomes too late. The case highlighted the challenges of managing severe schizophrenia in the community. The unnamed woman was found not guilty by reason of insanity.
A 25‑year‑old Cork woman testified in the Central Criminal Court that she woke to a friend raping her in her family home. She described the assault as occurring after a local celebration where both parties drank heavily. The accused, a 25‑year‑old man with no prior convictions, was convicted by jury of rape and sexual assault on 27 January 2020. Judge Eileen Creedon set headline sentences of eight years for rape and five years for assault, then imposed concurrent seven‑year sentences with the final year suspended. The woman's victim impact statement detailed lasting mental, emotional and physical harm, loss of self‑worth, self‑harm attempts, and her subsequent recovery through therapy and returning to sport. She thanked police, counsellors and family for support, and expressed that she no longer lives in the shadows of the incident.
Petru Budai, 43, of Finnslawn, Lucan, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after biting part of a restaurateur's ear on 28 October 2021 at Whitehall Terrace, Swords. The victim was preparing to open his restaurant when Budai, intoxicated and accompanied by two others, demanded food and drink. When told the premises were not yet open, Budai wrapped his hands around the restaurateur, bit his ear and uttered a phrase that sounded like "I eat you." The victim was taken to hospital; the bitten ear fragment was recovered but could not be re‑attached. Judge Martina Baxter described the attack as devastating and noted the victim was sober and attempting to explain the restaurant's status. Budai, with no prior convictions, expressed remorse, wrote an apology letter, and paid €5,000. The judge ordered 240 hours of community service in lieu of a three‑year prison term. Budai thanked the court after sentencing.
In a case heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Abdul Rahman Mohammed, a 35‑year‑old security guard at Penneys in Dundrum, was found guilty of sexual assault, false imprisonment and demanding money with menace. The victim, a 15‑year‑old girl, was lured back into the store after shoplifting a makeup brush and a peel‑off mask. Mohammed forced her to strip, sexually assaulted her, and then demanded €250 from her, claiming it was the price for the items. He also interfered with the CCTV camera a week before the incident to blur any footage. The jury convicted him on all counts on 12 February 2024, and Judge Orla Crowe sentenced him to five years' imprisonment, back‑dated to February, after he was already in custody. The victim's impact statement described lasting fear and depression following the assault. The case highlights the severity of the offences and the court's decision to impose a substantial custodial term.
Gerard Lawless, a 61‑year‑old retired Irish Defence Forces member, pleaded guilty to four counts of oral rape and seven counts of sexual assault against his adopted daughter, Danielle Lawless, between 1991 and 1998. The abuse began when Danielle was about five, with the most intense period occurring between October 1995 and April 1997 when she was around ten. The final two assaults took place between November 1997 and August 1998, when she was about twelve. Danielle, who waived anonymity, described how her father exploited her trust, manipulated her sense of love, and inflicted lasting shame and guilt. Lawless had no prior convictions and was in custody since his plea. Mr Justice Paul McDermott sentenced him to a global prison term of ten years, imposed three years of post‑release supervision, and ordered no contact with the victim. The court noted the abuse's escalation, the breach of paternal trust, and Lawless's ill health and lack of remorse.
Christopher Shane Frane, an on‑the‑run convict, will challenge his extradition to Northern Ireland on the basis that he was subjected to an "unlawful" sentencing regime. He was sentenced in 2013 to a minimum of six years for the manslaughter of Constable Philippa Reynolds, a 27‑year‑old police officer killed when a stolen Toyota Landcruiser driven by Frane struck a patrol car in Derry. In addition to the minimum term, he received an indefinite custodial sentence, a Northern Irish equivalent of an "imprisonment for public protection" (IPP) sentence. IPPs were declared unlawful by the European Court of Human Rights in 2012 and abolished in most of the UK, but judges in Northern Ireland can still impose them. Frane has served his six‑year term but remains subject to the indeterminate portion until he can prove he is no longer a danger to the public.
Elliot Toale, 18, was jailed for two years after hijacking a mobility scooter and pushing an older man off it for 'fun', fracturing the man's hand and snapping his dentures. The incident occurred outside a Centra shop in Dublin city centre on Capel Street. Toale, who had 23 prior convictions, also stole a kitchen knife from the shop and brandished it at a Scottish tourist. He pleaded guilty to assault and theft. Judge Martin Nolan suspended the final 16 months of the sentence because of Toale's age. The victim, in his sixties, suffered serious injuries, including a broken left hand and damaged fingers. Toale admitted he had taken cocaine and alcohol that night and expressed remorse, noting he would be upset if a family member had been harmed. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Criminal Alan Hutch, 41, was sentenced to 21 months in prison for attempting to rob €100 from a woman in Dublin city centre while on bail. The offence occurred outside Tesco on Talbot Street on 3 March last year when Hutch approached a woman who had just withdrawn €100 from an ATM and tried, unsuccessfully, to take the money from her. CCTV footage captured the incident and identified Hutch, who has 80 previous convictions, including 34 Circuit Court offences. Hutch pleaded guilty to attempted robbery. He has a history of mental health difficulties, including schizophrenia, psychosis and auditory hallucinations, and has been on methadone and antipsychotic medication. The court noted his family's traumatic circumstances, including the murder of his father Eddie Hutch in 2016, and his own multiple hospitalisations. Judge Martin Nolan accepted that Hutch had not intended to harm the woman and sentenced him to 21 months in prison. The sentence was imposed on 9 May 2024.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 9 May 2024, Judge Pauline Codd sentenced Lee McDonnell, 32, to two‑and‑a‑half years for affray after he left a bus and joined a mob that attacked two gardaí on Kylemore Road on 20 February 2023. The officers were surrounded, threatened and had objects thrown at them by a large group that had left a funeral. McDonnell, who had 133 prior convictions, was not present when the trouble began but became part of the assault, lunging at the officers and attempting to punch them. He pleaded guilty, apologised and offered no explanation for his involvement. The judge noted the officers' frightening situation, urged McDonnell to take responsibility, and gave credit for time already served in custody.
Gavin Ryan, convicted of shooting Clifford Power twice in the chest in Gracedieu, Waterford, in December 2019, has appealed his conviction at the Court of Appeal. Ryan, who pleaded not guilty to possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life, assault causing serious harm, possession of ammunition, and possession of amphetamines with intent to sell or supply, was found guilty on all four counts by a jury. On November 25, 2021, Judge Eugene O'Kelly sentenced him to 13.5 years in prison, with the final two years suspended. Ryan's legal team argues that a garda entered his residence without a warrant, breaching his constitutional rights, and that evidence obtained from this entry was inadmissible. They contend the garda had no bona fide belief that anyone was at risk. The State's counsel countered that the entry was lawful and proportionate, as gardaí were conducting door-to-door inquiries for a fleeing armed shooter and found the apartment open. The search later conducted under a warrant revealed a bullet matching the scene, documents, and amphetamines. Justice Patrick McCarthy reserved his judgment, meaning the matter was adjourned and not concluded.
In a Court of Appeal hearing on 9 May 2024, Justice Úna Ni Raifeartaigh quashed the original four‑year sentence given to Dean Dullaghan (25) for a 2020 machete attack on a 16‑year‑old in his home. The appellate judge set a headline sentence of ten years, then imposed a custodial term of eight and a half years with the final two and a half years suspended, meaning Dullaghan will serve six years in prison. The case involved a violent burglary at Castleross, Dundalk, where Dullaghan caused permanent damage to the victim's right hand. The State had objected that the initial eight‑year headline was too lenient, citing Dullaghan's age and the severity of the offence. The appeal concluded with Dullaghan entering a bond to keep the peace and engage with probation services. Dean Dullaghan was convicted.
Paul Burgess, aged 43, was sentenced to 15 months' imprisonment for assisting a 16‑year‑old boy in an assault that left Kean Doherty, 19, with a catastrophic brain injury. The assault took place on 28 December 2018 at Ballyvaughan Lane, Lucan, when the boy struck Doherty after Burgess had driven him to the area, pushed him against railings and forced him to the ground. Doherty had recently been released from the National Rehabilitation Hospital after a road‑traffic accident and was highly vulnerable. The court heard medical reports showing the assault exacerbated Doherty's injuries. Burgess claimed he had no knowledge of Doherty's vulnerability and had not intended the violence, but the judge found his assistance created a dangerous situation and imposed the custodial term. The teenager received a formal caution and was dealt with under the youth diversion scheme. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Paul Burgess pleaded guilty.
During his 2020 trial for the murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe, Aaron Brady, aged 33, is alleged to have orchestrated a witness‑intimidation campaign. Prosecuting counsel Lorcan Staines SC presented evidence that Brady, while imprisoned in Mountjoy, conspired with Dean Byrne, aged 30, to persuade prosecution witness Daniel Cahill not to give evidence. Byrne is accused of sharing Cahill's statement with relatives and other associates, an act the court deemed unlawful. Byrne's defence, represented by Padraig Dwyer SC, argued that no evidence shows Byrne met Brady or was aware of the campaign, and that the alleged sharing of the statement was not intended to coerce Cahill. The case remains pending, with the court adjourned to 29 May for a verdict on Brady's alleged perverting of the course of justice.
The Workplace Relations Commission awarded €10,000 to Wexford County Council employee Patrick O'Connor, finding he continued to suffer penalisation and ostracisation for making a safety complaint. This follows a previous €20,000 award for similar treatment, which is currently under appeal to the Labour Court. In this second complaint under the Health, Safety and Welfare at Work Act 2005, O'Connor alleged ongoing ostracisation, denial of overtime, and an incident where a foreman allegedly shoved him from a pickup truck in October 2022. The council disputed the assault allegation but admitted its investigator fell ill, preventing the conclusion of the investigation. Adjudicator Roger McGrath ruled that the council's failure to conclude the investigation and produce the foreman as a witness amounted to penalisation, noting there was nothing to contradict O'Connor's testimony. The adjudicator described the council's inaction as "unacceptable" and found that O'Connor continued to suffer ostracisation, with colleagues dispersing when he entered the yard. While acknowledging the overtime issue was addressed to some degree, the tribunal noted the council failed to provide documentation proving O'Connor was not out of pocket. Consequently, the tribunal upheld the finding of penalisation and awarded the additional €10,000 compensation. The original decision remains subject to appeal, while this new award addresses the continuing nature of the alleged misconduct.
Karl Ronan, aged 55, was sentenced to five and a half years' imprisonment for raping and indecently assaulting his younger sister Lynn Ronan, aged 51, over a four‑year period from 1982 to 1986. The abuse, which began in their Dublin home and continued in Laois and Galway, involved forced sexual acts and physical bullying. Lynn reported the abuse as an adult in 2018, after it had been discovered by their mother in 1986 and the siblings had seen a child psychologist. Mr Justice Paul McDermott noted the prolonged silence and the pressure on the victim to keep the secret. He sentenced Ronan to six years for rape and a concurrent three‑year term for indecent assault, suspending the final six months on strict conditions, including probation and no contact with Lynn. The judge praised Lynn's courage and highlighted the devastating impact of the abuse on her life. Karl Ronan pleaded guilty.
Matthew Grogan, 26, of Applewood Village, Swords, was jailed for three years and nine months after pleading guilty to possession of stolen property, trespassing, criminal damage, driving without insurance and two counts of dangerous driving. The offences occurred between 22 and 23 September 2021 in County Louth and County Dublin. Grogan had stolen a taxi, reported it to the gardai, and then drove the vehicle at speeds up to 170 km/h, running red lights, weaving through lanes, passing a toll plaza and nearly colliding with an unmarked garda car. The pursuit involved armed gardai from the Armed Support Unit, Louth and Dublin. He was arrested in the Swords area, was intoxicated at the time of arrest, and later described the night as a "blur". Grogan has 64 prior convictions, including burglary and assault, and will be released in June 2026. The court noted his addiction issues and that he has two children.
Dwayne Stacey, 36, was sentenced to 32 months in prison for attempting to rob a cash‑in‑transit guard while riding an e‑scooter on Thomas Street, Dublin 8. On 18 November 2023, Stacey approached a Brinks van and threatened the guard, shouting, "Stop or I'll blow your fucking head off." The guard locked himself inside the van and triggered the panic alarm. Stacey struck the van with a hammer and was later found to have used a hammer that was seized from two addresses. CCTV confirmed his identity. The guard suffered no physical injuries and no victim impact statement was filed. Stacey has 17 prior convictions, including assault, robbery and burglary, and has been in custody since his arrest on 28 November. The judge noted his "terrible history" but also that no actual violence was used, and the sentence was back‑dated to the date he entered custody.
In May 2022, 64‑year‑old Victor Akinlade was convicted at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of violent disorder, assault causing harm and production of a baseball bat. He received five years for violent disorder, four years for assault and four years for the bat, all concurrent. Akinlade pleaded not guilty and claimed he never struck Garda Jonathan Ryan, alleging his injuries were self‑inflicted. He argued he acted in defence under Section 18 of the Non‑Fatal Offences Against the Person Act. In the Court of Appeal, his lawyer argued the sentence was excessive and that mitigating factors had been overlooked. The appeal was dismissed by Mr Justice George Birmingham, who said the judge had considered all circumstances and the sentence lay within the available range. No changes to the five‑year term were made.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 7 May 2024, two men, Gavin Mangan (47) of Bracken Close, Balbriggan, and Owen Kelly (37) of Seville Place, Dublin 1, were sentenced for a burglary that took place on 20 August 2022. The pair entered an elderly man's home armed with an imitation firearm and a meat cleaver, demanding money and taking €850 in cash. The victim was described as profoundly affected and fearing for his life during the incident. Mangan, who has 93 prior convictions, was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment with the final six months suspended. Kelly, with 87 prior convictions, received a sentence of eight years, with the final year suspended under a number of conditions. Both men have long‑standing drug addictions and were in custody before sentencing. The court noted their difficult childhoods and the presence of CCTV footage of the robbery. The combined jail term for the two offenders totals fourteen‑and‑a‑half years. Gavin Mangan pleaded guilty. Owen Kelly pleaded guilty.
The Special Criminal Court rejected arguments that the charge against Dean Byrne should be dismissed. Byrne, 30, from Cabra Park, Phibsborough, Dublin, is accused of conspiring with Aaron Brady, the convicted garda killer, to persuade prosecution witness Daniel Cahill not to give evidence at Brady's murder trial. The court found that, at its highest, the prosecution case could prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Byrne conspired with Brady between April 8, 2020 and June 22, 2020 while both were in Mountjoy Prison's D‑wing. Byrne allegedly used a smartphone to disseminate Cahill's garda statement and recruited members of Cahill's family to discourage him from testifying. The court will hear closing arguments tomorrow before delivering a verdict. The case remains ongoing.
A 17‑year‑old charged with the murder of gunman Tristan Sherry, who shot and killed Jason Hennessy Senior on 24 December 2023, was granted bail after appealing a High Court refusal. The Court of Appeal upheld the refusal of bail for two other men, David Amah (18) and Michael Andrecut (22), who were also charged with Sherry's murder. The teenager's bail is subject to conditions such as staying away from named individuals, observing a curfew from 11 am to 7 pm, surrendering his passport, signing on twice a week and residing at a specified address. Amah and Andrecut remain in custody because the court found their flight risk significant and could not be mitigated by bail conditions. The court noted that the entire incident was captured on CCTV, giving the defendants full knowledge of the case against them.
Andy Cash, 26, was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court to three mandatory terms of life imprisonment for the murders of his siblings, 18-year-old Lisa Cash and eight-year-old twins Christy and Chelsea Cawley. Cash pleaded guilty to all three counts of murder, which occurred at their family home in Rossfield Avenue, Tallaght, Dublin 24, in the early hours of September 4, 2022. Mr Justice Paul McDermott imposed a life sentence for each count, with the sentences to run concurrently. The sentences were backdated to September 4, 2022, when Cash entered custody. During the hearing, Detective Garda Robert Whitty testified that the scene was one of "carnage," with post-mortem examinations revealing 71 injuries to Lisa Cash, 107 to Christy Cawley, and 65 to Chelsea Cawley. A victim impact statement from the family described the loss as devastating. Defense counsel Brendan Grehan SC conveyed Cash's apology for his actions. The judge noted the evidence was deeply traumatising and stated that his function was to impose the only applicable sentence for such appalling circumstances. The matter was concluded with the imposition of these concurrent life sentences.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Mohamed Mohamud Mohamed, 26, was sentenced for a 90‑second attempted rape and sexual assault that occurred on 12 November 2022 at a Dublin city‑centre bar. He followed a woman to the bar's isolated toilets, where he tried to rape her and asked her why she was screaming, saying "I am saying please." The victim's impact statement described how the attack left her unable to scream or use a high‑pitched voice for months, and how the fear of using a toilet has persisted. Mohamed pleaded guilty and had no prior convictions. Judge Paul McDermott imposed a headline sentence of seven years for attempted rape and four years for sexual assault, with the two sentences running concurrently for a total of five years and six months. He also ordered four years of post‑release supervision to protect the public.
In a High Court sentencing hearing, 19‑year‑old Joshua Doolan was convicted of aggravated sexual assault after he violently attacked a 43‑year‑old woman on a Dublin suburban street. The judge described the offence as "very disturbing" and noted the victim's testimony that the assault "irreversibly altered the course" of her life. Doolan, who pleaded guilty, was sentenced to seven years' custody with the final 18 months suspended on strict conditions. He was ordered to have no contact with the victim and to be supervised by Probation Services for three years after release. The judge highlighted mitigating factors such as Doolan's age, his diagnosis of Asperger's Syndrome, and his willingness to engage with counselling and probation services. The victim's impact statement detailed the lasting psychological trauma and the profound loss of safety and freedom she experienced following the attack.
The Special Criminal Court will decide next week whether to direct the acquittal of Dean Byrne, a 30‑year‑old from Cabra Park, Phibsborough, Dublin, who is accused of conspiring with Aaron Brady to persuade witness Daniel Cahill not to give evidence at Brady's murder trial. Byrne's lawyers argue that he genuinely believed Cahill would perjure himself and that his motive was to prevent an injustice, requesting the court to direct an acquittal. The Director of Public Prosecutions, represented by Lorcan Staines SC, counters that any attempt to persuade a witness not to give evidence is an attempt to pervert the course of justice, and that such concerns can be addressed by providing information to the Gardaí or the DPP. The case, which has been heard for two days, will be judged by the three‑judge panel on Tuesday.
A 32‑year‑old man was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for three counts of assault causing harm against his partner in a Dublin suburb between July and September 2023. The court heard that the defendant repeatedly attacked the woman, including on the day their baby died and after the funeral. He kicked her in the head and legs, threw bottles and plates, and hit her with a bottle of bleach. The victim fled but was tripped and fell, sustaining injuries that required hospital treatment. The defendant had 29 prior convictions, including assault and endangerment of the same woman. He pleaded guilty, denied the allegations during questioning, and has been in custody since his arrest on 16 September 2023. Judge Orla Crowe described the attacks as "nasty, heartless" and sentenced the defendant to three years on each count, to run concurrently and back‑dated to his custody date.
Kevin Murphy, 41, of Tallaght, admitted to possessing 15 kg of cannabis worth almost €300,000 after a delivery he expected to be a small package turned out to be large black bags. He pleaded guilty to possession for sale or supply at his Mountain Park address on 20 February 2023. Gardaí Brian Foran described how a delivery was made in a BMW jeep, with other men transferring the bags into Murphy's vehicle. Thirty vacuum‑packed packages were seized, valued at €298,760. Murphy, who has seven prior convictions including three for assault, was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to four years' imprisonment. The court noted his remorse, family tragedies, health issues, and recovery progress, and accepted that he was merely a transporter and holder, not the owner of the cannabis.
Dean Byrne, 30, of Cabra Park, Phibsborough, Dublin, is on trial in the Special Criminal Court for conspiring with Aaron Brady in Mountjoy Prison to persuade prosecution witness Daniel Cahill not to give evidence at Brady's murder trial. Byrne's defence, led by Padraig Dwyer SC, argues that Byrne genuinely believed Cahill would perjure himself and that any attempt to persuade Cahill was an attempt to secure justice, not to pervert it. Dwyer contends that the indictment is unclear and lacks evidence of wrongdoing, noting that Byrne and Brady were in prison while Cahill was in New York, making persuasion unlikely. Prosecution counsel Lorcan Staines SC counters that any interference by a private citizen, even with a benign motive, is an intentional act that interferes with public justice.
A 25‑year‑old man pleaded guilty to rape, attempted rape and recording a woman without consent between September and October 2021. Gardaí analysed his phone after the woman, who had contacted a sexual‑violence hotline in November 2021, reported that he had been sexually assaulting her while she slept and had taken videos of her in that state. The videos showed her snoring and the man attempting sex and assaulting her while she was unconscious. The court heard that the woman had previously reported a rape in October 2021, that she had been sleeping deeply due to insomnia medication, and that the man had taken magic mushrooms on the day of the rape. Mr Justice Paul McDermott imposed a six‑year sentence with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions, including keeping away from the victim, engaging in treatment recommended by the Probation Service and remaining in contact for three years.
Richard Satchwell, aged 57, faces trial for the murder of his wife, Tina Satchwell, aged 45, who was found buried beneath the stairwell of their shared home on Grattan Street, Youghal, Cork. The body was discovered in October 2023, more than six years after Tina was reported missing on 24 March 2017. Satchwell, a former British truck driver now resident in Cork for over 20 years, was charged with the murder on 20 March 2017. His defence, led by Brendan Grehan SC, plans to present extensive evidence, including witness interviews and media statements. The case, originating in Cork, is scheduled for a six‑week trial at the Central Criminal Court, with a trial date set for 28 April 2025. The case was listed for case management on 11 October 2023, and Satchwell was forwarded to the Central Criminal Court on 26 March 2024 after receiving the book of evidence.
On the morning of a child's communion, shots were fired at Joanne Finnegan's mother's Dublin home, sparking heightened emotions. A woman from the opposing faction was later seen at a nearby Applegreen petrol station, where three women—Michelle Finnegan (38), Joanne Finnegan (37) and Caitlyn Donoghoe (22)—attacked her. They pulled her hair, dragged her down, kicked, punched and struck her head against the ground. CCTV footage was shown in court. The victim did not give a statement and was not seriously injured. Michelle and Joanne pleaded guilty to assault with intent to commit violent disorder and violent disorder respectively; Donoghoe pleaded guilty to violent disorder. Judge Martin Nolan, after hearing mitigating circumstances, suspended the two‑year sentences for Michelle and Joanne in full and, under Section 100, decided Donoghoe would not receive a criminal record, adjourned her case to July 24 and ordered good behaviour until then.
In the trial of Dean Byrne, a 30‑year‑old from Cabra Park, Phibsborough, the prosecution is set to finish its evidence tomorrow. Byrne, who was in Mountjoy Prison when arrested on 8 October 2020, is accused of conspiring with Aaron Brady to persuade witness Daniel Cahill not to testify at Brady's 2020 murder trial. Byrne denied owning a mobile phone found in his cell and denied knowing Brady or Cahill. He claimed the phone belonged to a former inmate and that any video or audio messages on it were not made by him. Byrne also denied that a threat to harm Cahill was an attempt to pervert the course of justice. The prosecution alleges Byrne's actions were intended to influence Cahill's testimony. The case is before a three‑judge court, and the prosecution's evidence will conclude tomorrow. The trial remains ongoing. Dean Byrne pleaded guilty.
A 36‑year‑old man, already on bail for assaulting his former partner, was jailed for an additional 18 months after breaking into her home and attacking her again. He pleaded guilty to criminal damage, endangerment, assault and trespass for the January 2021 incident. The court noted his 79 prior convictions and that he had previously received a three‑year sentence with six months suspended. Judge James O'Donohue described the new assault as "very bad" and "traumatising," citing the victim's fear and PTSD. He imposed a one‑year‑six‑month sentence for endangerment to run consecutively to the sentence he is already serving, crediting him for six months already served. The judge ordered counselling during custody and for six months after release. The case highlighted the victim's ongoing trauma and the defendant's expressed remorse and participation in educational programmes while in custody.
A 61‑year‑old former Scout leader from Limerick was jailed for seven and a half years after a Central Criminal Court jury convicted him of rape and indecent assault. The convictions cover three incidents: a rape of a young cousin aged six to eight between 1979 and 1981, and indecent assault of two teenage sisters between May and September 1991. The accused, aged 15½ to 18 at the first incident and in his mid‑twenties at the later ones, denied the offences. Victims reported the abuse to Gardaí in 2019. The judge imposed a headline sentence of 12 years for the rape, but the final sentence was eight years, with the sexual assaults against the sisters carried out consecutively, giving a total of nine and a half years, of which two years were suspended. The court noted the impact statements of the three sisters, describing shame, guilt, and lasting emotional effects.
A 24-year-old man from Co Sligo is to be extradited to Scotland following a reassessment of his case by the High Court. The respondent faces charges in Glasgow Sheriff Court relating to an alleged firearms offence and assault that occurred in September 2021. He is accused of threatening another man with a firearm and causing serious injury through stamping, punching, kicking and eye-gouging. In June last year, Mr Justice Paul McDermott refused extradition on humanitarian grounds, citing concerns that Scottish prison conditions and mental health provision would constitute inhuman or degrading treatment. The prison was operating at 132 per cent capacity with inadequate recognition of neuro-developmental disorders. However, following fresh written assurances from Scottish authorities regarding tailored mental healthcare for conditions including ADHD, autism and depression, Ms Justice Melanie Greally today ordered surrender within twenty-five days. She found the new commitments amounted to material change in circumstances. Bail was granted on strict conditions, including daily signing at a Garda station and a €20,000 surety.
During the Special Criminal Court hearing, a Mountjoy prison officer discovered a hidden mobile phone inside a sock in a wall cavity of Dean Byrne's cell. The phone, a black Sony, contained a Facebook account named Dean Byrne that had communicated with a relative of Daniel 'Dano' Cahill, a key witness in Aaron Brady's murder trial. Garda Orla Madden retrieved Facebook conversation records showing Byrne's attempts to prevent Cahill from giving evidence, including voice messages urging Cahill not to share his statements and claims that Cahill's testimony was false. Byrne, aged 30, is charged with conspiring with Aaron Brady to pervert the course of justice by persuading Cahill not to testify. The trial continues before Judges Paul Burns, Elma Sheahan and Marie Keane. The article reports only the discovery of the phone and the related communications, without detailing any trial outcome.
Robert Redmond (35), a convicted murderer currently serving a life sentence for the killing of Barry Wolverson, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to conspiring to murder Jordan Davis. The 22-year-old victim was shot dead in 2019 while pushing his infant son in a pram. Prosecution counsel Bernard Condon SC stated the plea was acceptable to the DPP, and a nolle prosequi will be entered on the original murder charge after sentencing. Mr Justice Paul McDermott remanded Redmond in custody until May 13 for a sentence hearing, where a victim impact report is expected. Redmond is the second person dealt with regarding this offence; in 2022, Wayne Cooney (33) was jailed for life for the murder after a jury found he fired eight shots at Davis. Separately, Redmond and co-accused Jamie Gray (27) previously pleaded guilty to possessing a RAK PM-63 submachine gun in 2020. Redmond was jailed for six years in 2023 for that offence. Bernard Fogarty (34) was also sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Wolverson in December 2022. The matter was adjourned for sentencing.
A former Circuit Court judge, Gerard O'Brien, aged 59, was told by the court that he is likely to receive a custodial sentence for attempted rape and sexual assault of six young men between 1991 and 1997. O'Brien, a former teacher and solicitor, was convicted in December 2023 of one count of attempted anal rape and eight counts of sexual assault. The victims, aged 17 to 24, were either his students or former students. The judge, Mr Justice Alexander Owens, said he would impose a custodial sentence when the case is finalised on 29 May 2024 and remanded O'Brien on continuing bail. O'Brien pleaded not guilty to all allegations. The court considered psychological reports, victim impact statements and O'Brien's personal circumstances, including his disability and history of depression, but did not yet decide the final sentence.