A 26‑year‑old man, whose name is protected by the High Court, is awaiting trial for an alleged murder and requires treatment at the Central Mental Hospital (CMH). Because CMH has no available beds, he is being held in Cloverhill Prison. His lawyers argued that his detention was unlawful, citing a consultant psychiatrist, Dr Conor O'Neill, who said the only appropriate place for treatment is CMH. The Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice George Birmingham, upheld the High Court's decision to keep him in prison until a bed opens. Birmingham described the case as a "resources case" and said that release would only be justified by an egregious breach of his fundamental rights, which was not present. He noted that the man is currently receiving psychiatric care and medication at Cloverhill, and that the state is preparing a new facility at Portrane to increase bed capacity. The other judges agreed with the decision.
The Special Criminal Court has remanded Lee Canavan in custody until May 20, when judgment will be delivered on his case. Canavan, 31, pleaded not guilty to the murder of David Douglas, who was shot six times at Shoestown, Bridgefoot Street, Dublin 1, on July 1, 2016. He also denies a second charge of criminal damage to a Suzuki Swift vehicle at Strand Road, Sandymount, on July 4, 2016. Prosecution counsel Sean Gillane SC argued that Canavan was the gunman who "executed" Douglas and was "up to his neck" in the meticulously planned enterprise. The State alleged that Canavan's actions could not be divorced from those of Frederick 'Fat Freddie' Thompson, Gareth Brophy, and Nathan Foley, all of whom have been jailed in connection with the murder. Thompson was jailed for life in 2018 for the murder. In 2019, Nathan Foley pleaded guilty to assisting a criminal organisation by driving one of four cars and buying mobile phones used in the offence, receiving a six-year sentence. Gareth Brophy was jailed for ten years in February 2020 for his role as getaway driver. The defense, led by Michael Bowman SC, challenged the identification evidence, arguing that the prosecution relied heavily on the accused wearing a red top and that DNA on the pistol grip belonged to another man. The court, presided over by Mr Justice Michael MacGrath alongside Judges Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin and Dermot Dempsey, adjourned the matter for judgment.
The Special Criminal Court has ruled that key identification evidence is admissible in the ongoing trial of Lee Canavan, who is accused of murdering David Douglas. Mr. Canavan, 31, of Rathfarnham, Dublin 14, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Mr. Douglas (55), who was shot six times at Shoestown, Bridgefoot Street, Dublin 1, on July 1, 2016. He also denies a charge of criminal damage to a vehicle. The prosecution alleges Canavan was the triggerman in a planned assassination. Judge Michael MacGrath, presiding with Judges Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin and Dermot Dempsey, rejected the defence application to exclude CCTV footage and Garda identification evidence, finding no breach of constitutional privacy rights. The State contends Canavan was linked to Frederick 'Fat Freddie' Thompson, who was jailed for life for the murder in 2018. Gareth Brophy, jailed for ten years in 2020, and Nathan Foley, jailed for six years in 2019 after pleading guilty to assisting a criminal organisation, are also connected to the case. The trial continues with closing speeches expected.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 46‑year‑old man was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended, for sexually abusing his 12‑year‑old stepdaughter. He pleaded guilty to 25 counts of sexual assault, eight counts of oral rape and one count of rape using an object between May 2017 and December 2018. The abuse began while he was still in a relationship with the girl's mother and continued after that relationship ended, with the girl visiting him on weekends. He groomed her into believing they were in a relationship, presenting himself as a father figure and boyfriend. A paramilitary organisation discovered he possessed naked images of the girl and shot him in the legs. The judge noted the high degree of manipulation and control, ordered three years of post‑release supervision, and highlighted the traumatic impact on the victim, who now reports PTSD and anxiety.
In a Dublin house‑party case, a 27‑year‑old man pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a woman who was intoxicated and asleep on 28 October 2018. He admitted to carrying her to bed after she fell asleep and to having sex with her while she was unconscious. After the assault he texted the victim's sister, acknowledging the act. The court heard that the man had a mild intellectual disability and limited insight into consent. He was sentenced to four and a half years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended on conditions that he must not contact the victim or her family. The victim's impact statement described her vulnerability, loss of self‑esteem, and ongoing counselling. The judge noted the man's remorse but also his difficulty grasping the gravity of his offence. The case was heard at the Central Criminal Court.
In a Dublin city‑centre incident on 8 December 2019, 19‑year‑old Dylan O'Neill, then homeless, attacked a stranger outside McDonald's on O'Connell Street. After an exchange of words, O'Neill punched the victim, struck him with his watch, and threw a glass that hit the victim's face. The assault left the victim with a 12 cm laceration from forehead to mouth and paralysis on one side of the face. O'Neill pleaded guilty to causing serious harm at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Martin Nolan, noting O'Neill's guilty plea, remorse, and circumstances of homelessness and drug use, set a starting point of 12 years but imposed a six‑year imprisonment sentence. The court described the attack as a persistent, random assault that was not accidental. The victim was treated at hospital and underwent surgery to close the wound. The Director of Public Prosecutions considered the case to lie in the upper range of offending.
A 37‑year‑old Dublin man was convicted at the Central Criminal Court of 33 counts of rape and 15 counts of sexual assault against his younger sister between 1999 and 2005, when she was aged ten to sixteen. He was sentenced on 15 March 2016 to 11 years' imprisonment for rape and three and a half years for sexual assault, the sentences running concurrently. The man appealed to the Court of Appeal against both conviction and sentence. On 15 March 2021 Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy dismissed the conviction appeal, finding no grounds to overturn the verdict. The appeal centred on a prosecution question about "experimenting" that the defence argued breached evidence rules, but the judge held the question did not justify a jury discharge. The court noted the sister's testimony of abuse, including the use of a screwdriver, and her lasting psychological harm, but upheld the original conviction and sentence.
Lisa Geoghegan, aged 34, was convicted of assault causing harm to Aidan Kenna and assaulting Garda Anthony Sugrue in 2017. She pleaded guilty to criminal damage to a prison cell wall at Blanchardstown Garda Station. During her detention, she wrote the word "PIGS" in menstrual blood on the cell wall, an act that cost €150 to clean. The court heard she was extremely intoxicated and in a difficult relationship at the time. She was found not guilty of producing a knife, of assaulting two other gardaí, of damaging a garda ballistics vest, and of intimidating a witness. Judge Elma Sheahan sentenced her for the biting only, suspending a one‑year prison term on the condition of two years' good behaviour and engagement with probation services for anger management and alcohol abuse. The judge noted her lack of prior convictions and the difficult period she was experiencing.
The former Garda, aged 60, was convicted in 2018 of sexually assaulting an 11‑year‑old girl and of possessing child pornography. He received a four‑year‑six‑month sentence for the assault, with the final 18 months suspended on the condition of three years of post‑release supervision, and a nine‑month sentence for the pornography charge that ran concurrently. The appeal to reduce the supervision period was dismissed by the Court of Appeal, which found the order fair and justified. The appellant had argued that the assault and pornography charges should not have been tried together, but the court upheld the trial judge's decision that the offences were sufficiently linked. The case remains limited to the conditions and sentences imposed, with no further outcomes reported in the article.
Sean Ruth, 32, of Portlaoise, Co Laois, was remanded on continuing bail until May 17 for sentencing after pleading guilty to two money laundering offences at the Special Criminal Court. Prosecutors alleged that Ruth, described as a mid-tier Kinahan Cartel member, allowed his bank accounts to be used to launder over €50,000 in crime proceeds between 2016 and 2017 while claiming State benefits and paying no tax. He has paid the Criminal Assets Bureau over €20,000, with his mother assisting to discharge the remaining €9,000 liability. Defending counsel argued that Ruth has reformed since his 2019 release from a previous three-year firearms sentence and requested the court consider whether imprisonment was necessary. The court heard that Ruth was previously linked via DNA evidence to a revolver found at a Greenogue business park, an arsenal that also contained weapons seized from James Walsh and Jonathan Harding. Walsh, 36, and Harding, 48, were previously sentenced to 10 years and nine years imprisonment respectively, with the final year of each sentence suspended, after pleading guilty to possessing nine revolvers, four pistols, a sub-machinegun, an assault rifle, and ammunition at the same location. Ruth's current matter remains adjourned for final sentencing.
Ibrahim Gharib, 42, an Egyptian national, was convicted in November 2017 of rape, sexual assault and threatening to kill or seriously injure a 27‑year‑old visiting student on 7 and 8 July 2016. The assault began on a bus when Gharib groped the student, who resisted and later texted for help. He followed her home, forced entry, masturbated in front of her, threatened her, and raped her on a carpeted stairway. Witness testimony, the victim's injuries, her text messages, and semen evidence supported the conviction. Gharib's appeal argued the doctor's testimony about carpet debris was unreliable, but the Court of Appeal found the evidence overwhelming and dismissed the appeal. The case was heard at the Central Criminal Court, with the judge noting the victim's clear recollection and the presence of an eyewitness to the rape.
Sean Murphy, 26, is awaiting trial for the murder of Michael Olohan, 35, at Bradog Court hostel. His lawyers argue he should be released until he can receive treatment at the Central Mental Hospital (CMH) because he is mentally ill and refuses antipsychotic medication. Dr Conor O'Neill says the only suitable place for his treatment is CMH, but a shortage of beds has left him in Cloverhill Prison. The High Court previously rejected an application for release. Counsel for Murphy claims his detention breaches Article 40 of the Constitution, which protects personal liberty. The Court of Appeal will decide whether the state can keep him in custody without providing the required treatment. The case is scheduled for judgment on 1 April 2024.
Conor Quaid, 26, received an eight‑year prison sentence with 18 months suspended for raping a young woman while she slept in her own bedroom. The Central Criminal Court heard that Quaid, a trusted family friend from Monaree, Dingle, had entered the victim's home after a night out drinking in a nearby town. He raped her while she was asleep, and she later reported the assault to Gardaí. Quaid denied sexual intercourse but claimed consent to "a certain level of sexual activity." The prosecution, led by Tom Rice SC, argued that Quaid had no express permission to enter the home and had abused the trust placed in him. The court noted that Quaid had not shown remorse and imposed the sentence, suspending 18 months on the condition of good behaviour for three years and permanent distance from the victim. The victim's impact statement described lasting psychological harm, including panic attacks, guilt, shame, and difficulty returning to studies. The unnamed man pleaded not guilty and was found guilty.
A 71‑year‑old man, who was the step‑father of a girl, was convicted in 2019 of 72 counts of indecent assault for sexually abusing her from age seven to twelve between 1973 and 1979. The abuse included oral penetration, genital rubbing, oral sex and forcing the girl to rub his penis while naked at a Dublin address. He appealed in September 2020, arguing that the trial judge's charge to the jury was unbalanced and that a 42‑year delay in prosecution and new evidence presented during the trial were unfair. The Court of Appeal found the judge's charge fair, that no defence objection was made to the new evidence, and dismissed all grounds of appeal. The judge noted the severe fear and anxiety inflicted on the victim, who fled Dublin at 16 and described the abuse as permanently scarred her life.
Paul Rooney, 30, who suffered an acquired brain injury in 2003 after a hit‑and‑run, pleaded guilty to assaulting Garda Patrick Barker on 19 January 2019. The incident occurred when Rooney was caught dragging a bike still attached to a rack down a busy Dublin city centre street. Rooney had 37 prior convictions, including criminal damage, theft and handling stolen property. Judge Martin Nolan, who had previously adjourned the case and ordered immediate return to court if Rooney committed further offences, sentenced him to two‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment but suspended the entire term on strict conditions, citing Rooney's medical history. The judge noted Rooney's behaviour had improved since the previous hearing and that he had been extremely apologetic after the assault, when his medication had taken effect. Rooney's mother and brothers were present at the scene and attempted to calm him.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Dale Lawlor, aged 25, was sentenced to a suspended 18‑month prison term for assault causing harm after he used a shop worker as a human shield during an altercation at a Centra convenience shop in Tallaght. Lawlor and another man entered the shop and were chased by five men. Craig Courtney, also 25, swung a hurley at both men. Courtney cornered Lawlor, who then hid behind the female shop worker, Roberta Rodriguez Brasil, and used her as a shield. The woman fell, sustaining a sprained wrist and a concussion when Courtney struck her head with the hurley. Lawlor pleaded guilty to the assault, admitted he had been heavily using cocaine, and offered an apology. He brought €2,000 to court as a gesture of remorse, which the judge required him to pay to the victim.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 24 March 2021, a 17‑year‑old boy admitted murdering 39‑year‑old Claudiu Robu in a Kilmainham laneway on 14 September 2020. The boy, who could not be named because he is a minor, pleaded guilty while wearing a black jacket, white shirt and trousers. Defence counsel Brendan Grehan SC noted the boy is subject to an interim care order, his father is deceased and his mother lives outside the jurisdiction, and that a Tusla solicitor and a social worker were present. The Director of Public Prosecutions, Dean Kelly SC, requested a 28‑day remand and a probation service report, and the trial was set for 19 April. Judge Michael White directed the boy to be detained at Oberstown Children Detention Centre until the sentence hearing, and instructed cooperation with probation services. The mandatory life sentence for murder does not apply to a minor.
A 44-year-old man charged with the murder of Detective Garda Colm Horkan has been scheduled for trial at the Central Criminal Court in June 2022. Stephen Silver of Aughaward, Foxford, County Mayo is accused of murdering the garda while he was acting in the course of his duty on Main Street, Castlerea, County Roscommon on 17 June 2020. Detective Garda Horkan, aged 49 and based at Castlerea Garda Station, died following a shooting incident in the town. The trial is expected to last five weeks. Mr Silver is currently in custody at the Central Mental Hospital in Dundrum. The court was informed of significant psychiatric treatment background in the case. Justice Michael White approved legal representation comprising two senior counsel and one research documentary junior for the defence. Mr Silver was sent forward for trial following presentation of the book of evidence in February.
The Court of Appeal has quashed the murder conviction of David O'Loughlin for the second time, substituting it with a manslaughter verdict. O'Loughlin, 33, was originally convicted of murdering Liam Manley on May 12, 2013, following a retrial at the Central Criminal Court in January 2019. The three-judge panel, led by Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, found that the prosecution failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that O'Loughlin intended to kill or cause serious injury to Mr Manley. The court determined there was no evidence to support the intent required for a murder conviction, describing the case as finely balanced. Consequently, the appeal was allowed, and the murder verdict was replaced with manslaughter. O'Loughlin had previously been sentenced to the mandatory term of life imprisonment for murder. Following this decision, he will appear before the Central Criminal Court on Friday to set a date for a new sentencing hearing, where a judge will impose an appropriate sentence for the substituted manslaughter conviction. O'Loughlin's counsel, Mr Michael O'Higgins SC, stated that his client wishes to sincerely apologise for the death of Mr Manley and thanked the court for its careful consideration.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 36‑year‑old mother and her 38‑year‑old partner faced charges of wilful neglect and assault after a baby sustained extensive bruising while staying overnight at a semi‑derelict house. The mother claimed the child had fallen from a mattress, but doctors found the injuries inconsistent with such a fall. The baby was observed in hospital but required no treatment. The judge directed not‑guilty verdicts for the partner on assault charges and for the mother on allowing harm, but the jury found the mother guilty of wilful neglect. Sentencing was adjourned to June to allow updated reports, and the child remains in foster care. The couple are still in a relationship and in secure accommodation.
A man has pleaded guilty to rape and oral rape following a violent assault on a woman at her Dublin home in January 2018. Peter Loughran, aged 36, of Glasnevin Downs, Ballygall, Dublin, met the victim through the dating application Tinder before arriving at her apartment. During the attack, Loughran assaulted the woman, filmed her without consent, and subjected her to sustained sexual violence. The victim, who feared the incident would continue indefinitely, eventually escaped by feigning illness and summoning gardaí. Medical examination confirmed injuries to multiple areas of her body. Loughran initially denied the allegations to gardaí, claiming the contact was consensual. The Central Criminal Court has adjourned sentencing to April 30th, when victim impact evidence and mitigation will be heard. Loughran has four previous convictions including drugs possession, drink-driving, and public order offences.
The trial of Lee Canavan (31), who has pleaded not guilty to the murder of David Douglas (55) and criminal damage, continues before the Special Criminal Court. Mr Douglas was shot six times at Shoestown, Bridgefoot Street, Dublin 1, on July 1, 2016. The State alleges Canavan was the triggerman in a meticulously planned assassination involving four vehicles. Prosecution counsel Sean Gillane SC stated that evidence would link Canavan to two cars via fingerprints and DNA. Forensic scientist Sarah Fleming testified that a DNA profile from a cigarette butt in a Ford Fiesta matched Canavan. Amanda Lennon provided evidence supporting a collision between a Mitsubishi Mirage and a Suzuki Swift. Detective Garda Raymond Kane testified that two fingermarks from Canavan's left thumb were found on the rearview mirror of the Ford Fiesta. Canavan also denies damaging a Suzuki Swift at Strand Road, Sandymount, on July 4, 2016. Previously, Frederick 'Fat Freddie' Thompson (41) was jailed for life for the murder. Nathan Foley (22) pleaded guilty to assisting a criminal organisation and was jailed for six years. Gareth Brophy (26) was jailed for ten years for acting as a getaway driver. The case is adjourned to Monday afternoon before Mr Justice Michael MacGrath, Ms Justice Sinead Ní Chúlacháin, and Mr Justice Dermot Dempsey.
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court sentenced Dubliner Gareth McCarton to two years' imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to assault causing harm. The offence occurred at his address in Tallaght on April 13, 2020. Prosecution evidence alleged that McCarton dragged his partner, Shannon Mahon, from bed, threatened to kill her, and subjected her to a sustained episode of violence involving punching, choking, and biting. Gardaí intervened after receiving reports of screaming; Ms Mahon was later diagnosed with a fractured nasal bone and extensive bruising. McCarton, a father of three, admitted the charge. His defence counsel noted that McCarton claimed he had taken crack cocaine for the first time prior to the incident and expressed remorse, stating the act was out of character. The judge acknowledged his previous convictions, including possession of a realistic firearm, and noted that his bail had been revoked for failing to stay away from his partner. Judge Melanie Greally described the incident as a vicious and extreme breach of trust. She emphasised the need for McCarton to address his drug difficulties while recognising his desire to maintain family responsibilities. The court imposed a custodial sentence of two years imprisonment.
In December 2019, a 13‑year‑old boy attacked a couple on the Luas in Dublin. He spat a sweet at the woman, made racist remarks, stole the man's rucksack and repeatedly struck him with an 18‑cm iron bar, causing severe bruising and a hospital visit. The boy, now 15, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and to producing an article at St James's Luas stop; a theft charge was considered. He has seven prior convictions. Judge Karen O'Connor, noting the couple had fled Iraq for safety, imposed a deferred 18‑month detention, to be suspended for six months pending review. She set strict conditions, including a nightly curfew, and highlighted the boy's family support. The case will return to court on 8 October. The incident was captured on CCTV and the boy was arrested the following month. The court emphasized the racial element of the attack.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Kai Zhu, 39, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to his wife, Meihan Meng, after an incident on May 13 at their Sandymount Avenue home. Meng, who had just finished a long night shift, asked Zhu to bring their three‑year‑old daughter out to play so she could sleep. When he refused, a quarrel escalated. Meng reported that Zhu slapped and punched her face five to six times, then used one hand to choke her against the kitchen floor while continuing to strike her with the other. She described losing consciousness, hearing loss, and a sense of impending death. Zhu denied choking, claiming he only slapped, and blamed stress and lack of sleep. He was remanded on bail pending sentencing. Meng was on sick leave for 46 days following the assault.
Ahmad Majeed, 26, was jailed for his role in a violent mob that attempted to force entry into Lost Lane nightclub on 7 July 2019. He pleaded guilty to violent disorder and possession of weapons intended to cause injury. The mob, about 20 men, carried hatchets, a hammer, a wheel brace, a towing eye, and two petrol bombs made from a beer bottle and a brandy bottle. A doorman was punched and kicked, and the incident caused the victim to leave security work due to flashbacks and panic attacks. Majeed was arrested at his home and denied knowledge of the bombs. The court, after considering his low risk assessment, imposed a three‑year, four‑month prison term, suspending the final year on the condition of good behaviour and peacekeeping.
A man accused of perverting the course of justice in connection with a dissident republican murder has been remanded on bail pending judgment. The Special Criminal Court hearing concerns Ray Kennedy, who is charged with deliberately destroying a mobile telephone SIM card on the day Peter Butterly was shot dead at Gormanston, County Meath in March 2013. The prosecution contends the SIM card would have been of significant evidential value to the murder investigation. Mr Kennedy's defence counsel argued his client had plausible reason to panic after arranging to meet Mr Butterly that afternoon about an illicit matter, and that the State has failed to prove the charge beyond reasonable doubt. The three-judge court, presiding Justice Tony Hunt with Judges Gerard Griffin and Flann Brennan, will deliver judgment on May 17th. Four men have already received life sentences for Mr Butterly's murder, with two others jailed for roles in the killing. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
A 32‑year‑old transgender woman was convicted by a Circuit Criminal Court jury of ten counts of sexual assault under the Criminal Law (Rape) Act 1990 and one count of child cruelty. The offences took place between September 2011 and September 2013 when the child was five and six years old. A Circuit Court judge sentenced her to six years and six months in prison, suspending the final six months for one year. In a Court of Appeal hearing, the appellant argued that the judge had not given sufficient regard to the difficulties she would face as a transgender woman in prison and that a larger portion of the sentence should have been suspended to encourage rehabilitation. Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy dismissed the appeal, noting the seriousness of the repeated sexual assault, the abuse of a position of trust, and the severe impact on the child.
In November 2019, Sarah Dunne, a 29‑year‑old homeless woman, attacked a man outside a shop on North Portland Street, Dublin. She demanded a cigarette, threw her bike, and when the man declined, she punched him twice in the rear end. She then stabbed him with a suspected syringe, leaving a puncture mark. The victim, who was with his girlfriend, was taken to Mountjoy Garda Station and hospital, where doctors confirmed the syringe injury and prescribed treatments for hepatitis and HIV prevention. Dunne pleaded guilty to assault causing harm. She was sentenced to two and a half years' imprisonment, backdated to May 2020, after the court noted the victim's fear and the use of a sharp object. The case also involved her earlier convictions for trespass and theft. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the assault and the potential health risks to the victim.
In 2021, a 77‑year‑old man was sentenced to 11 years in prison for sexually abusing three of his granddaughters in County Tipperary between 2010 and 2014. The victims, aged between four and eight, were abused at the grandfather's home, their own homes and on holiday. One girl, who was abused after school, described how the grandfather bribed her with sweets and forced her to do inappropriate acts. She feared that revealing the abuse would break up her family. The man pleaded guilty to 16 counts of oral rape and 19 counts of sexual assault involving a third granddaughter, and to 13 counts of sexual assault involving the eldest. He also admitted to showing pornographic videos to a four‑year‑old. The court noted the seriousness of the breach of trust, the ages of the victims, the frequency and duration of the abuse, and the man's remorse and medical issues.
Robert Devine, 44, and his son Lee Kelly, 21, appealed their sentences for a 2017 burglary and assault at the home of PJ and Brian O'Reilly. Devine had previously served a ten‑year sentence for manslaughter. The appeal was heard by a three‑judge Court of Appeal. Vincent Heneghan SC for the Director of Public Prosecutions argued that Judge Patrick Meghan should not have imposed consecutive sentences, but the director accepted the effective sentences of 12 and seven years. Ronan Munro SC for Devine presented evidence of rehabilitation, including prison education and positive reports from the prison governor, and requested a release with a programme of probation and addiction counselling. Kathleen Leader SC for Kelly highlighted his youth, remorse, and cooperation with Gardaí, and suggested a suspended portion of his sentence. The Court of Appeal reserved judgement. Robert Devine pleaded guilty. Lee Kelly pleaded guilty.
In a 2021 Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Myles Connors, aged 24, was sentenced for a 2020 false imprisonment and assault of Edward Babos, and a 2018 robbery. Connors and another man entered Babos's friend's home, partially stripped him, and used scissors to cut his hair while threatening him. They forced Babos into a car, drove at dangerous speeds, and attempted to extract money from an ATM. The assault lasted about an hour and involved threats to jam scissors in Babos's eyes. Connors also pleaded guilty to robbing a phone and €150 cash from a victim in 2018, where he pointed a knife at the victim's stomach. Judge Pauline Codd imposed a four‑year sentence for the false imprisonment and assault, a three‑year sentence for the robbery, to run consecutively, with the final two years suspended on conditions. The sentence was back‑dated to May 2020 when Connors first entered custody.
Jason Collins, aged 19, was sentenced to 16 months in prison for attempting to rob a taxi driver when he was 16. The offence, committed on Bluebell Avenue, Dublin, on 15 May 2018, involved Collins and two teenage girls who flagged down a taxi on Cork Street at about 4 a.m. Collins brandished a flick knife, threatened the driver, and then punched and kicked him after the driver fled. The driver suffered facial cuts and a broken tooth and was taken to hospital. Collins, who had blood on his clothes, was also hospitalized for a hand injury. He had previously been convicted of a similar attack with his brother. The court, noting his juvenile status and personal hardships, imposed a two‑year, four‑month sentence with the final 12 months suspended under conditions. The unnamed man pleaded guilty.
Dubliner Ross Crea (18) has been sentenced to two years imprisonment, with the final 14 months suspended on strict conditions, for assault causing harm at Cope Street, Dublin 2 on April 18, 2019. Crea, who was aged 16 at the time of the incident, pleaded guilty to the charge at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The incident occurred in the early hours of the morning when the accused, along with another person, approached the victim and asked for a cigarette. When the victim refused, Crea stabbed him in the shoulder with a screwdriver before fleeing the scene. The victim sustained a puncture wound to his shoulder, which did not require inpatient hospital treatment. Crea was extremely intoxicated upon his arrest and was unable to get to his feet in a garda station. His previous convictions include robbery, attempted robbery, and criminal damage. The court heard that Crea had been living with his grandmother prior to moving back to the city centre to live with his mother and step-father after a period of homelessness. Counsel for Crea stated that her client has little recollection of the offence but accepts full responsibility and is remorseful. Judge Martin Nolan noted that the injury was not serious and that the custodial sentence was lessened on the basis of Crea's youth and the hope for rehabilitation.
The getaway driver, Alan Graham, 49, was sentenced to 11 years' imprisonment with the final year suspended, after pleading guilty to facilitating an attempted murder of 26‑year‑old Lee Boylan. Boylan was shot three times at close range in a highly populated area of west Dublin on 6 March 2019, sustaining life‑changing injuries. The judge described the attack as well‑planned, involving sophisticated surveillance and a stakeout of a car wash. Graham's role was to drive the BMW that carried the gunman, who fired the shots. He had 20 prior convictions, mainly for drug offences, and was believed to have been under pressure to repay a drug debt. The sentence was set at 14 years, reduced to 11 with one year suspended, backdated to 17 June 2019. The prosecution sought to drop the attempted murder charge. Boylan survived due to a rare arteriovenous fistula that prevented fatal bleeding.
A 35‑year‑old Polish‑born man, Tomasz Krzysztof Piotrowski, was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Central Criminal Court after pleading guilty to the murder of his 57‑year‑old mother, Elzbieta Piotrowska, on 8 January 2019 in Ardee, Louth. The court heard that Piotrowski had decapitated his mother, leaving her body in the hallway of her home, and that an axe and several Stanley knives were found near the scene. He had previously been deemed unfit to stand trial but was considered fit after psychiatric assessment. The judge noted the case was the second in a short period where drug‑induced psychosis had led to a "horrific tragedy". Piotrowski had also lied to psychiatrists to obtain a diagnosis of schizophrenia and a lesser sentence. The sentencing was described as the "most tragic of cases" and the judge ordered monitoring of his psychiatric condition in prison. The judge also expressed sympathy for the victim's husband, daughter and grandmother.
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court sentenced Dubliner Derek Ennis to four and a half years imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to attempted robbery at Paddy Power, Seafort Avenue, Sandymount, south Dublin, on February 26, 2020. Judge Martin Nolan noted that the firearm used was likely an imitation due to the "sheer incompetence" of the crime, stating it seemed unlikely a man behaving in such a manner could acquire a real firearm. Prosecution evidence indicated Ennis entered the bookmakers with his hood up but removed it when asked by an employee, making him easily identifiable on CCTV. He pointed a gun at the employee, who fled and activated a panic button; Ennis left without stealing any money. Ennis, of Strandmill Road, Portmarnock, has six previous convictions for robbery, along with other offenses including theft, assault, and drug possession. Defense counsel Emmet Nolan BL described the incident as a "completely incompetent act" and highlighted Ennis's lifelong drug addiction, which he claimed drove the crime. The judge accepted that the enterprise was poorly executed but imposed the custodial sentence. The matter was finalized with this sentence.
In March 2021 the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal of a 34‑year‑old married man convicted of sexual assault. The appellant's lawyers argued that the conviction was "perverse" and that the complainant's evidence was inconsistent, but the three‑judge panel found no basis for overturning the verdict. The complainant, who had known the accused and his partner for years and had lived with them, was at a Dublin house party on 21 June 2015. She later slept in a spare room at the couple's home and claimed the accused lifted the duvet, lay beside her, and inserted his hand and finger under her skirt. He denied wrongdoing, saying he had mistakenly entered the wrong bed. A jury found him guilty in November 2018, and he was sentenced to two‑and‑a‑half years, with the final eighteen months suspended. The appeal on sentence severity remains pending.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Graham Shields, aged 34, received a fully suspended 18‑month sentence for assault causing harm after punching his then partner in the face at Mulvey Park, Dundrum, on 1 July 2018. The court noted the attack followed a verbal exchange after a wedding celebration involving alcohol. Shields, diagnosed with an anti‑social personality disorder and experiencing high anxiety, pleaded guilty. The victim suffered significant injury, including swelling and bruising that took about three weeks to heal, blurred vision, and required two years of weekly counselling. Shields has no prior convictions, is on cordial terms with the victim, contributes financially to their son, and is under Probation Service supervision for 18 months. The judge suspended the entire sentence on strict conditions, citing Shields' mental health history, lack of previous convictions, and remorse.
Dubliner Kevin Murphy (30) was sentenced to four years imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for robbery at Aston Place, Temple Bar, Dublin city centre, on June 29, 2020. Murphy pleaded guilty to the charge. The incident involved Murphy attacking a man, punching and kicking him while he was on the ground. The victim was found bleeding, surrounded by people, and his phone was missing. A security guard from a nearby restaurant observed the incident and saw Murphy beating the victim. Murphy fled the scene and was apprehended by an off-duty garda who recovered the victim's stolen phone from his hand. Murphy had previous convictions for possession of drugs for sale or supply, possession of stolen property, and violent behaviour in a garda station. Defence counsel, Carol Doherty BL, stated that Murphy was heavily intoxicated at the time of apprehension and had a history of drug use, including crack and heroin, since the age of 28. She noted that Murphy is homeless and has two children, and asked the court to give him the opportunity to prove he can remain intoxicant free and be a family man. Judge Martin Nolan described the robbery as 'nasty enough' and noted that the property was recovered and that Murphy wants to reform. The matter was finalised at the sentence stage.
A 21-year-old man has pleaded guilty to manslaughter at the Central Criminal Court for the death of a 61-year-old Monaghan man whose house was deliberately set alight in Carrickmacross in March 2016. Aaron McDonagh, of no fixed abode, initially faced a murder charge but entered a guilty plea to manslaughter and arson without lawful excuse. The prosecution counsel confirmed the Director of Public Prosecutions accepted the plea on a full facts basis. The court heard the accused was 16 years old at the time of the incident. A psychiatric assessment led to arrangements for support during his court appearance. Mr Justice Michael White ordered preparation of a probation service report examining the accused's family background and directed a victim impact statement be prepared. McDonagh was remanded in custody pending a sentence hearing scheduled for June 14. The unnamed 21-year-old pleaded not guilty.
A 21‑year‑old man, Martin Gallagher, was sentenced to six years' imprisonment for assault causing harm and false imprisonment after he attacked a 70‑year‑old pensioner on a Dublin street. The victim, a former swimming teacher, was grabbed from behind, thrown into the open boot of Gallagher's parked car, and repeatedly forced into the boot. She resisted, was thrown against a wall, and sustained injuries. Gallagher later claimed the attack was a joke, mistaking the woman for a friend named Alex, and said he had been intoxicated. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The judge described the incident as a "terrifying experience" and found Gallagher's explanation implausible, sentencing him to six years. The victim's statement detailed her injuries, ongoing trauma, and the impact on her daily life.
The Court of Appeal has dismissed an appeal by an 81-year-old man against his convictions for raping his wife's sister and indecently assaulting another. The appellant, who cannot be named to protect victims' identities, argued that the passage of time prevented him from mounting a proper defence. He was convicted in 2015 of eight counts of indecent assault against his partner's youngest sister, aged 10 to 13, between 1971 and 1974. In a separate trial, he was convicted of ten counts of indecent assault and three counts of rape against another of his wife's sisters, aged 11 at the start, from 1969 to 1974. In December 2015, he was sentenced to two years for indecent assault and 13 years for rape, with the final three years of the rape sentence suspended. The sentences run concurrently. Defence counsel Michael Bowman SC argued the trial judge should have directed a not guilty verdict due to the inability to counter the complainant's assertions after such a delay. He also contended that amendments to the complainant's interview memo unfairly prevented the appellant from highlighting inconsistencies. The Director of Public Prosecutions, represented by Kerida Naidoo, countered that the delay did not prejudice the appellant and that the memo amendment corrected a garda error without causing unfairness. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, sitting with Mr Justice Seamus Woulfe and President Mr Justice George Birmingham, dismissed the appeal in an ex tempore judgment. The appellant had denied all accusations, which were proven by unanimous jury verdicts at the Central and Circuit Criminal Courts.
In January 2020 a 21‑year‑old man, Martin Gallagher, grabbed a 69‑year‑old woman from behind on a Dublin street, threw her into the boot of his parked car and attempted to close the boot on her shins. The woman fought, was thrown against a wall, and sustained bruising and a head injury. Gallagher later told police it was a "joke that went wrong", claiming he had mistaken the woman for a friend named Alex and was intoxicated. He pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and false imprisonment. The court remanded him in custody pending sentencing. The victim, a former swimming teacher and carer, gave a victim impact statement describing lasting physical and psychological harm, including scars, nightmares and flashbacks. The case is scheduled for sentencing the following morning.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, professional mixed‑martial‑arts fighter Dylan Tuke, aged 24, pleaded guilty to one count of assault causing harm after he repeatedly punched a taxi driver on 16 December 2018. Tuke had entered the cab without asking if it was available, called the driver a "sap" and a "fool", and after the driver demanded payment upfront, Tuke struck him in the head and face, breaking the driver's front teeth. The assault was captured on dash‑cam footage, which was circulated to Gardaí and led to Tuke's identification. The driver, who now feels defenseless and suffers from headaches and a facial scar, gave a victim impact statement. Tuke, who has no prior convictions, expressed remorse, citing his upbringing and the potential career impact of a conviction. Judge Pauline Codd adjourned the sentencing to 11 October to allow Tuke to raise further compensation.
An 18‑year‑old, Jason Finnegan, was remanded on bail pending sentence after he recorded his 30‑year‑old accomplice, Mark Pidgeon, stabbing Kenneth Osbourne on Snapchat. The recording captured the initial conversation and the stabbing, during which Finnegan shouted encouragements such as "lash him, lash him out of it" and called Osbourne a "rat." The incident lasted about 90 seconds before the pair left the scene. Osbourne suffered multiple stab wounds, including an arm injury that required surgery. Finnegan pleaded guilty to assault causing harm at Basin Street Flats on 15 March 2020. Pidgeon was sentenced to three years in prison in January after pleading guilty to the same offence. Judge Karen O'Connor adjourned Finnegan's case to 4 June, ordering a probation report, and noted his progress with community agencies. The court heard that Osbourne did not wish to give a victim impact statement and that the Snapchat footage, along with CCTV, identified the attackers.
During a 999 call about an abduction in the Drogheda feud, armed gardai breached a house in the Moneymore Estate and found Aaron Rochford, 22, crouched in a bathtub, unclothed and covered in blood with a broken jaw and slash wounds to his torso and head. Rochford had been moved between two houses and was later found in shock. Dean Thornton, 23, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Rochford on 11 November 2018. He was described as not a ring leader. The court noted Thornton's guilty plea, remorse and cooperation, and imposed a three‑year sentence, crediting time already spent in custody. The case highlighted heightened tensions during the feud and the gardai's response to the emergency call. The victim's grandmother described him as a "lovable rogue" and expressed deep distress at his injuries. The court also considered Thornton's prior convictions and his future plans to remain drug‑free. The case was heard at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
The Special Criminal Court heard evidence in the ongoing trial of Lee Canavan (31), who has pleaded not guilty to the murder of David Douglas (55) at Shoestown, Bridgefoot Street, Dublin 1, on July 1, 2016. Former State Pathologist Professor Marie Cassidy testified via video-link that Mr Douglas died from six gunshot injuries sustained while standing in his shop doorway. She detailed that five bullets exited the body, while one remained in his trunk, causing extensive damage to his jaw and neck. The prosecution alleges this was a meticulously planned assassination, with Canavan identified as the shooter. They further claim a stolen Mercedes-Benz, linked to Canavan via fingerprints and DNA, was used as the getaway vehicle before being set alight. Canavan also denies a separate charge of criminal damage to a Suzuki Swift. This is the fourth prosecution related to the killing; previously, Frederick 'Fat Freddie' Thompson was jailed for life for the murder, Gareth Brophy received a ten-year sentence for acting as a getaway driver, and Nathan Foley pleaded guilty to assisting a criminal organisation, receiving a six-year sentence. The trial continues before Mr Justice Michael MacGrath and colleagues.
Paul Crosby, 25, of Rathmullen Park, Drogheda, faced a five‑year prison sentence with six months suspended for arson after he and two others jump‑started a stolen Volkswagen Polo, drove it to a field in the Yellowbatter area, and set it on fire. The car, stolen from Dublin and fitted with stolen plates, tax and insurance discs, was valued at €10,000 and was a write‑off. A judge at the Dundalk Circuit Criminal Court reduced the headline seven‑year sentence to five years after taking into account Crosby's early guilty plea. Crosby has 40 prior convictions, including 31 for road traffic offences, four for theft, three for drug‑related offences and two for criminal damage. He was acquitted of an attempted murder charge in February 2019. The Court of Appeal heard that the arson was described as "mysterious" and that the fire was set in a field away from houses and people.
The Special Criminal Court heard eyewitness testimony in the ongoing trial of Lee Canavan, who has pleaded not guilty to the murder of shoe shop manager David Douglas (55) in Dublin 1 on July 1, 2016. Mr. Douglas was shot six times, sustaining injuries to his chest, neck, back, torso, elbow, and jaw. Canavan also denies a second charge of criminal damage to a Suzuki Swift on July 4, 2016. Prosecution counsel described the incident as a meticulously planned assassination, alleging Canavan was the shooter. Witness Shane Egan testified that he saw a man enter the shop, heard shots, and observed the suspect walk away while smirking. Medical evidence confirmed Mr. Douglas died at 4:55 pm. A loaded semi-automatic pistol was recovered at the scene. Evidence also linked Canavan to a Mitsubishi involved in the alleged arson of the Suzuki Swift, where he was arrested with €1,065 in cash and petrol on his clothing. The court noted that Nathan Foley (22) was jailed for six years in 2019 after pleading guilty to assisting a criminal organisation by driving one of four cars and buying mobile phones. Additionally, Frederick 'Fat Freddie' Thompson (41) was jailed for life in 2018 for the murder, and Gareth Brophy (26) received a ten-year sentence in February 2020 for acting as a getaway driver. The trial continues before Mr Justice Michael MacGrath.