A 35‑year‑old man was sentenced to four years in prison for a series of violent and harassing acts against his partner. He admitted to attacking her, fracturing her eye socket, threatening to kill her, and making over 1,000 abusive phone calls between December 2020 and January 2021. He also threatened to set her on fire and sent threatening messages on Facebook. The judge described the videos of his conduct as "disturbing, terrifying and frightening to watch" and noted his long history of offending, drug and alcohol abuse, and poor engagement with probation. He pleaded guilty to harassment, threats to kill, and assault. The court imposed a four‑year sentence, suspended the final year of a five‑year term, and banned him from contacting the victim, while also binding him over to keep the peace for two years after release.
Martin Aylmer pleaded guilty in the Special Criminal Court to participating in or contributing to the murder of Noel "Duck Egg" Kirwan in 2016 and the attempted murder of James 'Mago' Gately. The court heard that Aylmer imported electronic tracking devices used by a criminal organisation to monitor the victims, who were targeted due to perceived links to the 2016 murder of David Byrne. Aylmer, described by the judge as occupying the lowest level of the gang's cellular structure, admitted to travelling to Leeds in the UK under his own name to purchase the devices. The judge noted that Aylmer made a "schoolboy error" by using his own identity and vehicle, which allowed Gardaí to trace the devices to him. Although Aylmer had previously been sentenced to six years for buying mobile phones for the gang involved in the 2016 murder of Michael Barr, this current appeal-stage hearing focused on his new convictions. The defence argued that Aylmer's involvement was limited to importing the devices and that he has potential for rehabilitation. The judge acknowledged Aylmer's lack of criminal sophistication but stated he would pass sentence on July 29. Consequently, the matter was adjourned and not concluded at this stage.
Gerard O'Riordan, 37, a former convicted killer who spent much of his 20s and 30s in prison, was not ordered to return to jail for threatening to kill gardai. In May 2021 he was brought before the Central Criminal Court after breaching a suspension bond by making such threats. Judge Michael White had adjourned the case for a year to monitor his behaviour. At the recent hearing, Detective Sergeant Ernest Henderson testified that O'Riordan had not attracted adverse attention from gardai in the last year and that he was still serving a portion of his suspended sentence. Judge Paul McDermott agreed, noting that the retired Judge White had intended not to order a return to custody if O'Riordan behaved. O'Riordan had become a father, attended 24 anger‑management sessions, and had been cleared of murder but found guilty of manslaughter in 2007, receiving a 14‑year sentence with an 18‑month suspended portion.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 27 May 2022, Joseph Byrne, aged 33, pleaded guilty to possessing a G9A Grand Power semi‑automatic handgun and Luger Barnaul ammunition with intent to endanger life, relating to an incident on 6 March 2021 in Bluebell, Dublin 12. The offence involved the attempted murder of Sinead Connolly, who was shot and left paralysed below the chest. Byrne admitted the gun was used in the attack that left Connolly permanently disabled. The court set a sentence hearing for 29 July, while the prosecution requested a hearing on 21 July to assess readiness, noting Connolly would be present from the National Rehabilitation Hospital. Byrne's case follows that of Dean McCarthy, who was jailed for 15 years for the same attempted murder and similar firearm offences.
Vesel Jahiri, 40, appeared before the Court of Appeal to discuss his appeal against a life sentence for the murder of Anna Finnegan and the assault on her brother, Karl Finnegan. Jahiri was found guilty by a Central Criminal Court jury of both charges, having pleaded not guilty. The court heard that Jahiri intends to conduct his own appeal because he has been unable to secure legal representation. He informed Mr Justice George Birmingham that he had unsuccessfully attempted to engage a solicitor. The judge responded that thousands of solicitors are available on the legal aid panel and advised that it would be unwise for the appellant to represent himself, noting the complexity of criminal law. The matter was adjourned until July 25 to allow Jahiri additional time to locate a lawyer. This procedural stage follows a trial in which Jahiri assaulted the prosecutor, Patrick Marrinan SC, after dismissing his legal team. The original conviction stemmed from an attack at Allendale Glen, Clonsilla, Dublin 15, on September 21, 2012, where Jahiri stabbed Ms Finnegan to death and injured her brother.
A 63‑year‑old former Garda detective was sentenced to four years' imprisonment for indecent assault and unlawful carnal knowledge of his 15‑year‑old sister in 1979. The offences, committed when the detective was 19‑20, involved repeated sexual molestation in the sister's bedroom and a shed, including forced intercourse and attempts to have her perform sexual acts. The abuse ceased when the detective began college. The sister disclosed the abuse to a doctor and her husband in 2005‑2006, and it later reached her siblings, causing family conflict. The detective admitted the abuse to the sister, her mother, and Gardaí in 2012, and was charged in 2020. He pleaded guilty, and the judge, noting mitigating factors such as his guilty plea, lack of prior convictions, and his role as a husband and father, imposed a headline sentence of six years, reduced to four years' imprisonment.
During a Central Criminal Court murder trial, a senior Garda officer testified that communities in Dublin's north inner city felt unsafe after a series of violent incidents from 2019 to 2021. The officer noted a dramatic rise in vehicle hijackings in 2020, including bicycles and e‑bikes, involving threats of violence. George Gonzaga Bento, a 36‑year‑old Brazilian, is charged with murdering 16‑year‑old Josh Dunne on 26 January 2021, and with producing a utility knife to intimidate others, as well as assaulting two other youths. Bento pleaded not guilty to all four counts. The trial also covered other local incidents, such as a fatal stabbing in the IFSC, a near‑fatal stabbing at Seville Place, and a hit‑and‑run that killed a Deliveroo cyclist in North Wall. The Garda officer highlighted community concerns, the lack of CCTV at some sites, and the police response to restore confidence in the area.
Lacey O'Connor appeared at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for sentencing on a charge of perverting the course of justice. In February, she pleaded guilty to giving a false account of a suspect's movements during the November 2019 murder investigation of Wayne Whelan. O'Connor, 30, of Rowlagh Park, Clondalkin, told gardai that her then-partner, Anthony Casserly, was with her at the time of the shooting. However, CCTV footage showed Casserly leaving their home at 7:16pm and returning at 8:04pm, while Whelan was shot at 7:45pm. Mobile phone records also revealed three calls to a burner phone during that period. Casserly, 25, was previously sentenced to seven years in prison for participating in or contributing to Whelan's murder. Christopher Moran, 52, pleaded guilty to being the getaway driver. Judge Orla Crowe noted the seriousness of interfering with a murder inquiry, highlighting that O'Connor provided false information in a two-page document and attended seven garda interviews. Considering mitigating factors, including O'Connor's role as the sole carer for her young daughter and her mother's recovery from addiction, the Judge reserved her decision. The matter was adjourned, with O'Connor remanded on continuing bail for sentencing on June 16.
In a Disclosures Tribunal hearing in Dublin Castle, retired Garda Sergeant Paul Barry accused the Garda Síochána of mishandling a 2012 complaint he made about the investigation of a child sexual assault allegation. Barry claimed that Superintendent Michael Comyns had bullied and harassed him, and that the investigation was prevented. He said the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) later decided not to prosecute the child assault case. Barry alleged that Chief Superintendent Catherine Kehoe, appointed to investigate his bullying and harassment complaints, had delayed the investigation, "perverting the course of justice" by not treating his complaint promptly. Kehoe's reports, submitted in 2013, 2015 and 2016, found no evidence of misconduct by Comyns and no breach of Garda regulations. Barry maintained that the investigation was a sham, biased and lacked morality, sentiment and conscience, and that the sequence of investigations was improper.
During the murder trial of George Gonzaga Bento, his fiancée, Cohelo Macedo, testified that she booked flights to Brazil for herself and Bento after the January 26, 2021 incident in which Bento allegedly stabbed 16‑year‑old Josh Dunne. Macedo said she feared for their safety, believing teenagers could attack them, and that she had booked the flights immediately after learning of the death. She also described the night's events, stating Bento had a knife and that he claimed he used it to intimidate teenagers who had attacked him and his friend. Macedo noted that Bento had no prior convictions and that she had been in a relationship with him for a year before they moved to Ireland from Brazil in February 2019. The trial was set to continue the following day before Mr Justice Paul Burns and a jury.
Stephen Ennis, 32, of Crumlin, was sentenced to a four‑year prison term for stabbing a foreign‑national doctor at St James' Hospital on 7 March 2020. The original one‑year sentence was quashed and the Court of Appeal, applying a 40 per cent premium for attacks on medical staff, increased the term to four years. The judge reduced the term by one year to account for Ennis' attempts to address his drug addiction after a recent return to custody, and suspended the final six months of the three‑year custodial period. Ennis, who has 72 prior convictions and a history of drug use, was warned that the outcome would depend on probation reports. He had been detained on drugs and shoplifting charges and had suffered a relapse during the intervening period. The doctor, who had moved to Ireland to become an emergency medicine consultant, was left "shattered" by the assault. Stephen Ennis pleaded guilty.
Paul Barry, a retired Garda sergeant from Mitchelstown, claims he was bullied and harassed by senior Gardaí, including Superintendent Michael Comyns and Chief Superintendent Gerard Dillane. He says a 2012 complaint about a child sexual assault investigation was suppressed, and the DPP later decided no prosecution would occur. Barry alleges he was forced to return to work in 2013 without a medical certificate, despite GP advice that he should not. He reports that he was unfit for duty for 239 days due to work‑related stress and bullying. Barry says he was pressured to apply for a transfer, which he refused because it would have financial consequences. He also claims he was forced to attend a golf duty in 2014 that made him physically sick, leading him to submit a retirement application immediately afterwards. The tribunal is hearing his evidence in Dublin Castle.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Nigel McEvoy, 46, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to former GAA star Paddy Keogh, 74, after Keogh asked him to leave his daughter alone. McEvoy, who has 14 prior convictions including nine public order offences, attacked Keogh at Mercantile Bar on 24 November 2018. The assault involved McEvoy grabbing Keogh from behind, punching him, and then placing his foot on Keogh's neck, causing severe injury. Keogh, who has early onset dementia and lives in a nursing home, suffered cuts, swelling, and a knocked‑out tooth. McEvoy, diagnosed with schizophrenia, was remanded on bail pending sentencing on 5 October. The judge described the attack as "shocking" and noted its extremely severe impact on Keogh.
The Court of Appeal quashed a wholly suspended sentence that had been handed to a 21‑year‑old man who admitted raping his eight‑year‑old niece when he was 14. The original non‑custodial term was deemed unduly lenient. The appeal judge imposed a new headline term of seven‑and‑a‑half years, reduced by one‑third for mitigating factors such as the offender's autism diagnosis and his age at the time of the offence. Two‑and‑a‑half years of that term were suspended, leaving a custodial period of five years. The man had pleaded guilty to multiple counts of rape, sexual assault and using technology to facilitate the sexual exploitation of a child between May 2016 and April 2019. He was taken into custody after the judgment was delivered.
In a 2022 case, senior barrister Diarmuid Rossa Phelan, 53, was charged with the murder of Keith Conlon, 36, at Hazelgrove Farm, Tallaght, on 22 February. Conlon was shot, severely injured, and died two days later. Phelan was remanded after appearing at Tallaght District Court on 25 February, and a bail application was initially refused by the High Court. The Court of Appeal overturned that decision, granting bail after two €50,000 bonds were lodged. At a Court of Appeal hearing, Phelan's lawyers requested to interview four eyewitnesses—foreign students who were present during the shooting—using remote technology. The State objected, citing the Book of Evidence not yet served, but the Court of Appeal allowed the request, excluding a fifth witness not a student. The ruling clarified that the State could not interfere with the accused's right to defend once the Book of Evidence is served.
Stephen Phelan, 37, was jailed for two and a half years after threatening to kill his female neighbour with a knife and attempting to break her door down in August 2021. He pleaded guilty to making a threat to kill, producing a knife and trespassing likely to cause fear. Phelan had previously been convicted 67 times, including aggravated sexual assault with a knife, multiple assaults and violent disorder. He had been in custody since the incident. The victim, who now lives with her mother, said she had to leave her home and lives in constant fear. Phelan had been watching her for three years and claimed she had "set him up." He was sentenced by Judge Martin Nolan to four years, with the last 18 months suspended and conditions preventing contact with the victim for ten years and restricting his residence within a mile of her address.
The trial of George Gonzaga Bento, a 36‑year‑old Brazilian food‑delivery cyclist, continues in the Central Criminal Court. He is charged with murdering 16‑year‑old Josh Dunne, who was stabbed to death on 26 January 2021 in East Wall. Prosecutors also allege that Bento produced a utility knife in a confrontation with a man on a moped, and that he assaulted two other young men on the same occasion. The defendant has pleaded not guilty to all four counts. A search of Bento's home on 27 and 28 January uncovered a blue‑handled utility knife behind the fireplace grate, his bicycle in the shed, and other items. Witnesses, including a former delivery cyclist, testified about Bento's fear of retaliation and his decision to stop working as a delivery cyclist due to safety concerns. The hearing continues tomorrow before Mr Justice Paul Burns and a jury of five men and seven women.
In a case heard in the Central Criminal Court, a 15‑year‑old boy sexually assaulted a 14‑year‑old girl in a field in County Tipperary in July 2019 after both had consumed alcohol. The boy pleaded guilty to the assault and, at the time of sentencing, was 18 with no other convictions. The victim, whose identity is protected, described the assault as a betrayal of trust and expressed fear of the perpetrator. The court considered the boy's cooperation, early plea, remorse, and participation in a youth diversion programme as mitigating factors, while noting the seriousness of the offence and breach of trust. Justice Paul McDermott imposed a sentence of two years' detention suspended for 12 months, with strict conditions including probation appointments, engagement with a sexual consent course, and a prohibition from approaching the victim. The boy must comply with all conditions to avoid future custodial detention.
A man in his 30s, diagnosed with schizophrenia, has obtained High Court permission to challenge the HSE's alleged refusal to provide community-based mental health services. The applicant, who has a history of homelessness, addiction, and convictions for assault and criminal damage, claims his condition deteriorated after release from prison, where he received effective psychiatric support. He alleges the HSE rejected referrals from medical experts, citing him as a "forensic risk," and has not offered appointments or waiting-list acknowledgement. Represented by Michael O'Higgins SC and Brendan Hennessy BL, instructed by solicitor Eileen McCabe, the man and his partner seek judicial review to quash the refusal or compel the HSE to consider his application. They also seek declarations that the HSE erred in law, breached his Constitutional and European Convention on Human Rights, and that he possesses a Constitutional right to the specific community care required given his lifelong mental health issues. Counsel argued that without these services, the man risks becoming a danger to himself and others. The application for permission came before Mr Justice Charles Meenan, who granted it on an ex-parte basis. Noting the urgency of the action, the judge made the matter returnable to a date in June. The parties cannot be named for legal reasons.
Aaron Brady, a former Garda convicted of murdering Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe in 2013, and Dean Byrne are to stand trial at the Special Criminal Court on charges of conspiring to pervert the course of justice during Brady's 2020 trial. Brady, aged 31, and Byrne, aged 29, are accused of attempting to persuade prosecution witness Daniel Cahill not to testify between 8 April and 22 June 2020, and of recording a video interview with Ronan Flynn that allegedly could influence the trial. The cases were moved to the Special Criminal Court after a successful application by State solicitor Susan Hudson, citing the need for a non‑jury court to secure effective administration of justice. The court, comprising Justice Tony Hunt, Judge Marie Keane and Judge Sarah Berkeley, adjourned the matter for a hearing on 2 June 2024. The trial will address the alleged conspiracy to pervert justice during Brady's murder trial.
The Supreme Court has agreed to hear appeals by Gerard 'The Monk' Hutch and Jonathan Dowdall aimed at preventing their trials before the Special Criminal Court from proceeding. Both men are charged with the murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel in Dublin in 2016. In a related development, defence counsel for Mr Hutch asked the Special Criminal Court for permission to make an application under Section 4E of the Criminal Procedure Act 1967 to dismiss the charge due to alleged insufficient evidence. Ms Justice Tara Burns agreed to hear a preliminary application on June 15 to determine if the court has jurisdiction to hear this request. Mr Hutch, who is in custody, was not present for the brief hearing. A trial date has been fixed for October 3, 2022, when Mr Hutch is expected to go on trial alongside four other co-accused. Mr Dowdall, the third man charged in connection with the killing, is also scheduled to stand trial with three other co-accused on the same date. The shooting occurred during a boxing weigh-in when armed men, some disguised as gardaí, stormed the venue. Mr Hutch was extradited from Spain after his final appeal against extradition was rejected. Any evidence heard during the preliminary application cannot be published or broadcast.
The sentencing of Gavin Quinn, 27, and his younger brother Lee Quinn, 26, who assaulted Garda Alan Murphy on 30 March 2020, has been postponed to 17 June. Both pleaded guilty to assault and attempted serious harm, respectively, after being re‑arraigned on 1 March. The court was informed that a new victim impact statement had been served to the defence, and the accused requested more time to consider it before sentencing.
In May 2022 the Court of Appeal moved the hearing of a motion to introduce fresh evidence in the appeal of Boy B, the 13‑year‑old convicted of murdering 14‑year‑old Ana Kriegel in 2018. The original date of 17 June was postponed to 22 June because a judge was unavailable. Boy B, who was sentenced to 15 years' detention with review after eight years, was not present at the hearing. The motion seeks to amend the grounds of appeal and add new evidence, including a clinical psychologist's report that Boy B suffered post‑traumatic stress disorder after witnessing the assault and that his statements to Gardaí did not prove guilt. The Court noted that the appeal will focus solely on the conviction, not the sentence. Boy B and his co‑accused Boy A remain detained at Oberstown Children Detention Campus. The case was originally tried in the Central Criminal Court using Children's Court procedures.
In a 3‑2 Supreme Court ruling, the court upheld a 14‑year‑old's conviction for sexual assault after he repeatedly smacked a six‑year‑old boy's bare buttocks in a field. The court held that the offence is wholly objective and no proof of sexual motive is required when an assault occurs in indecent circumstances. The majority, led by Justice Charleton, affirmed that the prosecution need only show non‑consensual touching that creates indecent circumstances. The dissent, led by Justice Hogan, argued that a sexual motive should have been proven and that the conviction should have been replaced with a common assault charge. The case had previously been upheld by the Court of Appeal and the teen had been under probation supervision until 2023. The Supreme Court's decision confirms that the crime of sexual assault is defined by the objective nature of the act rather than the accused's intent.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, the sentencing of 38‑year‑old RTE journalist Mícheál Ó Leidhin was adjourned to 27 July 2022 while the court considered the weight of his remorse. Ó Leidhin, convicted in April 2022 of sexual assault at his former home in south Dublin, had denied the offence but now accepts the jury verdict. The judge noted that evidence had been challenged and a narrative presented to the jury. The complainant, who remains anonymous, reported that after a night of drinking and kissing, she fell asleep and later found Ó Leidhin on top of her, groping her breasts. She told him to stop; he apologized. She later expressed annoyance and the pair agreed to "differ" on the events. The court heard that Ó Leidhin had no prior convictions and had cooperated fully with investigators. The judge will decide how much weight to give to his remorse before sentencing.
The Central Criminal Court heard that the Peter McVerry Trust has offered addiction counselling to Jonathan Reid, 28, who stabbed his mother's partner, Greg Shiels, in the neck during a drug‑induced psychosis on 6 March 2020. Reid was originally charged with attempted murder but the Director of Public Prosecutions dropped that charge after he pleaded guilty to intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to Shiels and to possession of cocaine and cannabis. The court noted Reid's history of mental health problems and that the psychosis was triggered by drug use rather than a clinical disorder. Seamus Clarke SC suggested the court could require Reid to attend counselling upon release. Mr Justice Paul McDermott said he would consider a 17‑page psychiatric report before passing sentence on 30 May. The hearing highlighted that Shiels fully supports Reid's recovery and that Reid has performed well in prison with no current symptoms. The case remains at the sentencing stage.
Jamie Lynch, 30, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to bar manager David Crowe at the Living Room Bar in Dublin on 6 August 2018. He hurled a glass while extremely drunk, knocking out three of Crowe's teeth and causing serious injuries that required stitches, surgery and a month‑long dental treatment. The assault also had a lasting psychological impact, leading Crowe to leave a job he had enjoyed. Judge Melanie Greally, hearing the case at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, described the attack as very serious and noted that it was out of character for Lynch, who had no prior convictions. Lynch brought €5,000 to court as a gesture of remorse, which was accepted by Crowe. In lieu of a two‑year prison sentence, Lynch was ordered to complete 240 hours of community service. Crowe reported that the incident had affected his sporting lifestyle and that he still had to be careful about what he ate.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 36‑year‑old Brazilian food‑delivery rider, George Gonzaga Bento, is accused of murdering 16‑year‑old Josh Dunne on 26 January 2021 at East Wall Road. Testimony from fellow delivery cyclist Alex Lima, who knows Bento from Sao Paulo, states that Bento carried a utility knife used to cut fruit, not for protection. Lima also claims Bento had been attacked and had his bicycle stolen. Prosecutors allege Bento produced the knife during a confrontation with a man on a moped who had stolen another cyclist's bike, and that Dunne suffered two stab wounds, one penetrating a major artery. Bento is charged with murder, producing a knife likely to intimidate, and assault causing harm to two other young men. The trial continues with a jury hearing the evidence.
Jozef Puska, 31, of Lynally Grove, Mucklagh, Co Offaly, has been charged with the murder of 23‑year‑old primary school teacher Ashling Murphy, who was fatally assaulted while jogging along the Grand Canal in Tullamore on 12 January 2022. Puska is scheduled to stand trial at the Central Criminal Court in June 2023. At a brief hearing today, defence solicitors Padraig Langsch & Co were allowed to come on record after the Director of Public Prosecutions did not object. Puska was not present at the hearing. The trial is expected to last three to four weeks.
Retired Garda Sergeant Paul Barry testified at the Disclosures Tribunal in Dublin Castle regarding allegations of bullying and harassment by Superintendent Michael Comyns and targeting by Chief Superintendent Gerard Dillane. The tribunal is currently hearing evidence at the trial stage. Sgt Barry, formerly of Mitchelstown Garda Station, claimed he was forced to return to work in 2013 without a medical certificate due to financial pressure, as his absence was recorded as an 'ordinary injury' rather than a work-related illness, resulting in reduced wages. He stated he 'hated' returning to work and felt deliberately targeted to be punished financially. Sgt Barry alleged that Supt Comyns prevented the proper investigation of a child sexual assault allegation, which the DPP later directed not to prosecute in November 2015 due to lack of evidence. He further claimed that one alleged suspect was connected to senior gardaí, including Superintendent John Quilter and Chief Superintendent Anthony Quilter. Sgt Barry reported being unfit for duty from August 2012 to March 2013 due to work-related stress. His GP advised against his return without conditions, specifically avoiding contact with Supt Comyns. The tribunal, chaired by Mr Justice Sean Ryan, is examining these nine allegations, including claims of perverting the course of justice and compromised investigations.
During the murder trial of George Gonzaga Bento, a 29‑year‑old witness with a history of drug possession and criminal damage denied that he carried out a "vicious attack" on a food‑delivery cyclist on the night Josh Dunne was killed. He said he had only stopped after being stabbed in the back by another person. The witness also denied that he had told the gardai he wanted to calm the situation and that he had "ended up getting stabbed in the back for my troubles." He claimed he had not seen who stabbed him and that he had been on his own when he joined the commotion. The defence counsel highlighted his previous convictions and the witness's contradictory statements, while the prosecution maintained that Bento produced a knife during a confrontation over a stolen bicycle. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul Burns and a jury of five men and seven women.
During the Central Criminal Court hearing on 18 May 2022, witness Jose Pedroso, a Brazilian delivery cyclist, testified that George Gonzaga Bento, a 36‑year‑old Brazilian national, was "terrified, sad and scared" after the fatal stabbing of 16‑year‑old Josh Dunne on 26 January 2021. Pedroso described Bento as a "calm, peaceful person" and a "good guy in general" who worked hard. He said Bento did not eat that evening and wanted to see a lawyer, but the lawyer could not meet until the next morning. Pedroso also noted that Bento feared retaliation or attacks in Dublin 3. Bento is charged with murdering Dunne, producing a utility knife in a manner likely to intimidate, and assault causing harm to two other young men. He has pleaded not guilty to all four counts. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul Burns and a jury of five men and seven women.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 17 May 2022, Thomas Greene, aged 29, was sentenced to 80 months in prison, with the final 12 months suspended, for a violent hijacking of a pizza delivery man's car on 8 August 2020. Greene punched, kicked and dragged the driver from his vehicle, knocked him unconscious, stole the car and stole cash. He was assisted by a group of men, one of whom acted as a lookout on a horse. The delivery driver suffered two broken wrist bones and required surgery. Greene, who has 69 prior convictions and is already serving a 2½‑year sentence for affray, pleaded guilty and expressed remorse. The judge noted drug use as a major factor and considered his engagement with drug counselling and rehabilitation services when imposing the sentence.
The murder trial of George Gonzaga Bento, 36, is ongoing at the Central Criminal Court. The accused, a Brazilian national and delivery cyclist, has pleaded not guilty to four counts: murdering Josh Dunne, 16, on East Wall Road on January 26, 2021; producing a utility knife in a manner likely to intimidate; and assaulting two other young men. Assistant State Pathologist Dr Heidi Okkers testified that Dunne sustained two chest stab wounds, with the fatal injury penetrating the ascending aorta. She stated that while one sweeping movement could theoretically cause both wounds, it would be very difficult, noting the wounds' differing directions suggested two separate movements. Dunne was found to be Covid-positive at the time of death. Defence counsel cross-examined witnesses, including two unnamed 17-year-old boys, arguing their statements contradicted CCTV footage and that the man on the moped was the initial aggressor in a dispute over a stolen bicycle. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul Burns and a jury.
During the murder trial of George Gonzaga Bento, a 17‑year‑old witness recounted her attempt to find a pulse on the stabbed schoolboy Josh Dunne. She described seeing Josh on the ground, taking a deep breath, and her eyes rolling back before the ambulance arrived. She could not locate a pulse despite repeated attempts. The witness also recalled calling 999 at 9.22 pm, the dispatcher asking what the emergency was, and her subsequent crossing to the other side of East Wall Road. She noted Josh's jacket had a rip under the rib but no visible blood. The testimony was given in court, with the prosecution and defence discussing the circumstances of the fatal stabbing and the alleged involvement of a delivery cyclist wearing blue. The trial was set to continue before Mr Justice Paul Burns and a jury of five men and seven women.
Mícheál Ó Leidhin, 38, a journalist with RTÉ, was convicted of sexual assault for an incident that occurred on the night of 13 May 2018. The alleged assault took place at his former home in south Dublin after the victim, who was drinking with a friend, met Ó Leidhin at a pub. They travelled to his flat, where they kissed and engaged in consensual foreplay. The victim later fell asleep; Ó Leidhin allegedly attempted to continue sexual activity while she was unconscious, groping her breasts and positioning himself on top of her. She reported the assault to Gardaí in April 2019. Ó Leidhin denied the offence initially but has now accepted the jury verdict. He has no prior convictions and was suspended from RTÉ. The victim's impact statement described lasting trauma, depression, and suicidal thoughts. The court adjourned sentencing to the following Monday and remanded Ó Leidhin on continuing bail.
A High Court judicial review action brought by Dominic 'Og' McGlinchey against the Coroner for Co Louth, Ronan McGuire, was adjourned to a date in July. The applicant, son of the late INLA leader Dominic McGlinchey, sought documents preserved by the coroner regarding the 1996 inquest into his father's 1994 murder in Drogheda. Mr. McGlinchey alleged that the coroner failed to furnish these records, including depositions from the late State Pathologist Dr. John Harbison and the applicant himself, despite requests made under the 1962 Coroner's Act. Counsel for the applicant, Ronan Munroe SC, stated that the coroner had indicated in correspondence that he would provide all material in his possession, which may resolve the matter. However, it remained unclear how much of the sought material the coroner actually held. Mr. Justice Charles Meenan stated he was not prepared to grant permission for the judicial review challenge given the coroner's position. Instead, the judge said he was prepared to put the coroner on notice of the application. The proceedings were adjourned to a date in July. The applicant had sought declarations that the coroner failed to comply with statutory obligations to furnish documents and provide reasons for any non-compliance, as well as orders directing the coroner to comply or explain the failure. The underlying murder of Dominic McGlinchey Snr remains unsolved.
A trainee equestrian instructor, Shane Kehoe, was dismissed by the Fettercairn Youth Horse Project (FYHP) after sending a text that mentioned bringing his relatives to the workplace. The text, quoted as "We will see who has big balls when my family and [my partner's family] come to meet her on Friday," was interpreted by FYHP as a threat of violence. The project's board, after an emergency meeting, decided to close the yard to the public that day, citing safety concerns for staff, children, and other visitors. Kehoe claimed the dismissal was unfair and an attempt to avoid paying redundancy. The Workplace Relations Commission found no alternative to dismissal had been considered, and the decision was upheld as not procedurally unfair. The case concluded with the dismissal deemed justified by the commission.
The trial of George Gonzaga Bento, 36, accused of murdering 16-year-old Josh Dunne at East Wall Road, East Wall, on January 26, 2021, continued before Mr Justice Paul Burns. Mr Bento, a Brazilian national, has pleaded not guilty to all four counts, which include murder, producing a utility knife in a manner likely to intimidate, and assault causing harm to two other young men. A 17-year-old witness testified that he initially believed he had been punched during a confrontation involving two delivery riders and a man on a moped, only realizing later that he had sustained three stab wounds to his chest, back, and abdomen. Under cross-examination by Padraig Dwyer SC, the witness agreed that the Brazilian riders were outnumbered and that the situation was not a fair fight. He acknowledged throwing five to six punches and admitted his memory of the sequence of events was inaccurate. The prosecution alleges Mr Bento produced a knife during a stand-off. The matter was adjourned and the trial continues on Monday.
During his trial for a €27 million theft case, 53‑year‑old former solicitor Michael Lynn described his experience in a Brazilian prison where he was held awaiting extradition. He said the jail was next to a large dump, that inmates ran the facility, and that there were 1,800 prisoners and only 10 guards. Lynn recounted being moved to a section for educated inmates, where some were given guns and large swords. He claimed to have witnessed violence, including the beheading of a young man who was gay, and described the environment as "like something from Game of Thrones." Lynn also explained that he had been arrested in Recife in August 2013, had resisted extradition to allow his wife to give birth, and that conjugal visits were permitted in the prison. The trial continues. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
During the night of 26 January 2021, two Brazilian food‑delivery cyclists, including George Gonzaga Bento, were present at East Wall Road when a confrontation erupted involving a moped rider and a group of teenagers. Witness Tiago da Silva, a Deliveroo cyclist, testified that the two Brazilians were protecting themselves, standing against a wall with their hands up in defence, and that they were surrounded by about ten youths. He described seeing a Deliveroo rider lying on the floor being kicked by several people. The incident escalated with punches thrown and a man on a moped shouting at the cyclists. The trial heard that Bento was charged with murdering 16‑year‑old Josh Dunne, producing a knife during the confrontation, and assaulting two other young men. Bento pleaded not guilty to all four counts. The case is being heard before Mr Justice Paul Burns and a jury.
In a Dublin family home, a 32‑year‑old man was remanded in custody after assaulting his pregnant partner and son on 29 November 2020. Gardaí were called when the children reported the father attacking their mother. Officers found the mother unconscious, bleeding heavily, and a five‑month‑pregnant infant crying in her cot with a Babygro covered in blood. The father had thrown the son against a metal bed frame and struck the mother, who feared he would kill her and the baby. The mother was treated in hospital and the children were placed in state care before being returned to her. The man pleaded guilty to assaulting his partner and son; the court adjourned the case to 14 October 2022, ordering a probation report and noting the ongoing relationship and lack of a victim impact statement. The mother expressed hope her partner would be released from prison and that her children were excited to see him.
A 40‑year‑old father was convicted of sexually assaulting his nine‑year‑old daughter between 1 January and 30 April 2017, after a trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He was sentenced to three years and four months' imprisonment. The conviction was based on the daughter's allegation that he had placed his hands on her front and back, touching her vagina and anus, while she slept. The father denied the allegation, claiming he did not remember any incident. He appealed, arguing that the court had not established intent and that the judge should have directed a not‑guilty verdict. The Court of Appeal, led by Justice George Birmingham, quashed the conviction, citing uncertainty about whether the father was awake or asleep and the lack of corroboration. The case was adjourned for a week to allow the State to consider its position, and the father was remanded on bail with a restriction on contacting the complainant. The unnamed man pleaded not guilty.
Two men, Stephen Coyle (34) and Leroy Howard (30), appealed against the 10‑year headline sentences imposed for violent disorder and assault in a 2016 incident in Ashbourne. The Court of Appeal, led by Justice Séamus Woulfe, dismissed both appeals, finding no error in the judge's decision to set the maximum term because the violence was a highly aggravating factor. Coyle's 7½‑year sentence had the final two years suspended, while Howard's 7½‑year sentence had the final 12 months suspended and was to run concurrently with a 4‑year drug‑offence term. The court noted each man's personal circumstances, guilty pleas and remorse, and upheld the sentences as appropriate for the offences. The appeal hearing concluded that the judge had taken sufficient account of mitigating factors and that the sentences were not excessive. The case remains at the appellate level with no further intervention.
The Supreme Court has agreed to hear appeals by Gerry "The Monk" Hutch and former Sinn Féin councillor Jonathan Dowdall, who seek to stop their murder trials for the 2016 Regency Hotel attack from proceeding before the Special Criminal Court (SCC). Earlier this year, High Court Judge Anthony Barr refused their requests, ruling that the Director of Public Prosecutions may certify that the SCC can try them under the 1939 Offences Against the State Act. The appeals raise questions about the SCC's legal authority, its status as a permanent court, and the interpretation of emergency powers. A three‑judge panel, including Justices Peter Charleton, Seamus Woulfe and Gerard Hogan, found the appeals to involve matters of public importance and granted a "leap‑frog" appeal to the Supreme Court. No hearing date has yet been set. The men, aged 58 and 44, are charged with the murder of David Byne, 33, at the Whitehall hotel on 5 February 2016.
During a Central Criminal Court hearing on 11 May 2022, a witness named Guilherme Quieroz testified that the accused, George Gonzaga Bento, saved him from serious injury or death when a gang of youths attacked them on a Dublin street. Quieroz, a food‑delivery cyclist, described how Bento used a knife to defend him twice: once when Quieroz was backed against a wall and punched, and again when he was dragged to the road and struck. Quieroz confirmed, after viewing CCTV footage, that Bento's actions prevented further harm, noting his own injuries of broken teeth, a broken nose, cuts, bruises and knee damage. Bento, 36, is charged with murdering 16‑year‑old Josh Dunne and with producing a knife in a threatening manner, as well as assaulting two other young men. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Paul Burns, continues with a jury of five men and seven women. The witness pleaded not guilty to all four counts.
Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, a 41‑year‑old mother, councillor, and Fine Gael candidate, delivered a victim impact statement after receiving unsolicited sexually explicit videos. She described the incident as a profound violation of her privacy and sense of security, affecting her personal life, professional duties, and campaign activities. The videos forced her to question her safety and caused her to feel a real, tangible threat. She noted the emotional toll on her family, who became more vigilant and concerned. Carroll expressed that she did not wish to be in court or to use the proceedings for personal distress, but felt compelled to address the intrusion to protect herself and her loved ones. The statement highlighted the lasting impact of the assault on her personal and public life.
Alan Downey, aged 40, was sentenced to seven‑and‑a‑half years in prison for a violent burglary that took place in the home of a 73‑year‑old neighbour. The offence occurred while Downey was on bail for three earlier attempted robberies. He and a co‑perpetrator entered the victim's house after the victim recognised Downey, demanding €6,000. Downey was armed with a screwdriver, the other man with a knife. The victim was dragged, had his walking stick broken, and was left in a state of terror. Downey pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary and was given consecutive sentences totalling seven and a half years. The judge suspended the final 22 months, imposing strict conditions including 18 months of probation and two years of good behaviour. The sentence reflects Downey's prior convictions, drug difficulties, and the seriousness of the assault on the victim.
Michael Joyce, aged 24, was sentenced to seven and a half years' imprisonment for assault causing serious harm to his cousin Christopher McDonagh, aged 35, on 24 January 2021. The incident occurred after Joyce and another man, both settled Travellers, had been drinking while watching a Conor McGregor fight. Video evidence showed Joyce repeatedly punching, kicking and stomping on McDonagh, who lay on the ground, before striking him with a fire extinguisher. McDonagh suffered dental and facial injuries, a serious brain injury and ongoing cognitive issues. Joyce pleaded guilty to one count of assault causing serious harm and had 38 prior convictions, including assault. The judge noted Joyce had taken drugs that night and became furious, describing the attack as prolonged and intentional. The sentence was back‑dated to the date Joyce entered custody for the offence.
Abubaker Bello, 46, of Fr Peter McVerry Homeless Shelter, was found guilty of assault causing harm to Catherina White in Tallaght on 20 January 2021. The court heard that Bello approached White while she was walking with headphones, pulled her handbag, punched her face, pushed her to the ground and repeatedly punched her face. Witnesses stopped their cars and assisted White, who later received treatment at Tallaght Hospital for a fractured nose, swollen eyes and blurred vision. Bello was arrested at Tallaght Garda Station after refusing to cooperate. He denied the offence during an interview, was shown CCTV footage but did not identify himself, and has 21 prior convictions, including two for assault. He expressed remorse and presented a letter of apology. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to three and a half years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended, subject to good behaviour and one year of probation supervision.