A man was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for assaulting his infant child and his ex‑partner in two separate incidents. In September 2019 he struck the woman repeatedly around the head while she held their three‑month‑old baby, pushed her against a wall, and knocked the child's head against the wall. He later took the child away, but the woman recovered the baby. In June 2020, while arguing over milk for the baby in his home in Rush, the man hit the woman with closed fists, dragged her back when she tried to leave, and threatened a nearby technician with a metal bar. He held the child up to a window and later to the back of a door when Gardaí attempted to intervene. He pleaded guilty to child cruelty and assault causing harm to both the woman and the child.
In March 2021, a 20‑year‑old Dublin man, Calvin Brophy, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for his role in a violent escape from the Oberstown youth detention centre in May 2017. At that time he was 17 and, together with two other youths, used metal bars and other implements to damage the centre, smash a CCTV camera, and break into a tool shed. They stole an angle grinder and a sledgehammer, which they used to cut through a perimeter fence and escape. Brophy admitted his involvement after walking into a Garda station two months later, but he failed to appear for trial, leading to a warrant and arrest in November. He pleaded guilty to criminal damage and was found guilty of the offences.
Lee Canavan (31) pleaded not guilty to the murder of David Douglas (55) and criminal damage to a Suzuki Swift at the Special Criminal Court. The prosecution alleges Mr. Canavan shot Mr. Douglas six times at Shoestown, Bridgefoot Street, Dublin 1, on July 1, 2016, describing the incident as a meticulously planned assassination. Witness John Shaw, a worker at the adjacent 'Busy Bees' service, testified to hearing gunshots and finding Mr. Douglas on the floor with blood everywhere. Other witnesses described a man in black clothing fleeing into a dark grey Mercedes. Mr. Canavan denies the charges, while the state links him to two vehicles via fingerprint and DNA evidence. This is the fourth person charged in connection with the killing. Previously, Frederick 'Fat Freddie' Thompson (41) was jailed for life for the murder. Nathan Foley (22) pleaded guilty to assisting a criminal organisation by driving one of four cars and buying mobile phones, receiving a six-year sentence. Gareth Brophy (26) was jailed for ten years in February 2020 for his role as getaway driver. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Michael MacGrath, Ms Justice Sinead Ní Chúlacháin, and Mr Justice Dermot Dempsey, is expected to last four weeks and continues tomorrow.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Nathan Harold, 26, was sentenced to three-and-a-half years' imprisonment for robbery and assault. The offence occurred on 22 November 2019 at Camden Place, Dublin city centre, when Harold, then on bail, approached an intoxicated man, Cathal Doyle, who had been refused entry to a nightclub. Harold punched Doyle repeatedly, knocked him to the ground, and stamped on him as he was leaving. Doyle's phone and wallet were taken. Harold had no fixed address, previously lived on Ratoath Avenue, Finglas, and had 55 prior convictions, including theft, drug possession and public order offences. He pleaded guilty, expressed remorse, and was described by the judge as having seized an opportunity to prey on Doyle. The court imposed the sentence accordingly.
In 2021 a 17‑year‑old pleaded guilty to the murder of Glen "Ossie" Osborne, 20, at Ballybough House, Dublin, on 15 April 2020. The youth was sentenced to life imprisonment by Mr Justice Paul McDermott, with a review after ten years. The judge cited the defendant's early guilty plea, remorse, and rehabilitation efforts as mitigating factors, but also noted the aggravating factor of the defendant bringing a knife to the scene. Mr Justice McDermott highlighted the defendant's chaotic upbringing, behavioural issues, and lack of judgment. The Court of Appeal, hearing the appeal, was told that the sentencing judge had not fully considered mitigating factors such as the defendant's lack of prior convictions. The appeal seeks a reduction in the severity of the life sentence, arguing that the defendant's remorse and early plea should be given greater weight. The case remains pending review after the ten‑year period. The unnamed 17-year-old was found guilty.
A 64-year-old man from County Mayo has been sentenced to two years imprisonment, with the final nine months suspended, following his conviction for aggravated sexual assault at the Central Criminal Court. The man pleaded guilty to attacking his then partner at their home on 14 December 2018 after returning drunk from a nearby hotel. The assault involved physical violence and sexual contact without consent. The victim sustained abrasions, bruises, and hair loss during the incident. In a victim impact statement read to the court, the woman stated the assault resulted from alcohol abuse and expressed forgiveness towards the accused. Justice Michael White acknowledged the victim as exceptionally compassionate and described the accused as a "kind, clever and good man" who had been "destroyed" by alcohol. The judge cited the guilty plea, full admissions to gardaí, and expressions of remorse as mitigating factors in determining the sentence. The accused has two previous convictions for drink driving.
Edel Doherty, of Rory O'Connor House, Hardwick Street, Dublin 1, has brought a High Court judicial review challenging a District Court decision regarding her prosecution. Ms Doherty is one of ten individuals accused under the 2001 Children's Act of publishing images identifying two teenagers convicted of murder. The alleged breach involves a hybrid offence, prosecutable in either the District Court or Circuit Court. In October, a Dublin District Court judge accepted jurisdiction and directed the DPP to disclose evidence, adjourning the matter to January. Ms Doherty claims that when the case returned, a different judge reheard the facts, determined the offences were not minor and unfit for summary trial, and adjourned the matter for the service of the book of evidence. She argues this decision was procedurally flawed, made without proper reasons, and in breach of fair procedures. Represented by Kathleen Leader SC, instructed by David Thompson, Ms Doherty seeks orders quashing the decision that her offences were not minor and declarations that the District Court acted in excess of jurisdiction. The matter was heard by Mr Justice Charles Meenan, who granted ex-parte permission to bring the challenge. Noting that several similar actions are pending or imminent, the judge indicated it would be preferable for all cases to be heard together. The actions are scheduled to be mentioned before the court later this month.
In March 2021, Noel McCabe, aged 25, was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for obstructing justice after he threatened his ex‑partner, claiming her family, including her young daughter, would be shot if she did not drop assault charges. McCabe, already serving a six‑and‑a‑half‑year term for assault and violent disorder, pleaded guilty to intimidation in June 2018. The court noted the victim's 18‑month relationship with McCabe and her "nightmare" description of it. Judge Melanie Greally suspended the final year of a five‑year sentence on the condition of two years' peace and Probation Service engagement, and ordered no contact with the victim or her family. McCabe also admitted unlawful possession of five shotgun cartridges, receiving a similar concurrent sentence. The sentences run concurrently with his current term, ending after its completion. The judge cited mitigating factors such as remorse and personal hardship.
In a Dublin burglary, Ibrahim Elghynaoui (28) broke into a sleeping woman's bedroom through a window and sexually assaulted her while she fought back. The victim described being strangled, forced into sexual contact, and physically attacked before escaping. Elghynaoui denied the assault but admitted burglary. He was convicted of aggravated sexual assault and burglary. The judge imposed a ten‑year sentence for the sexual assault and seven and a half years for the burglary, with all sentences running concurrently. The victim, who suffered lasting physical and psychological harm, testified that the crime left her in a state of hyper‑vigilance and ongoing trauma. The case highlighted the severe impact of the assault on her life and relationships. The judge noted the defendant's high culpability and the lack of remorse. The sentencing reflected the seriousness of the offenses and the victim's suffering. Ibrahim Elghynaoui pleaded not guilty.
Shauna Kavanagh, aged 33, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to one count of assault causing harm and two counts of assault on James Street, Dublin, on 9 December 2017. The assaults involved punching Thomas Coogan, a family friend, to the face when he tried to break up a fight outside the Malt House Bar, causing Coogan a fractured skull and brain bleeding. Coogan later died of cancer. Kavanagh also punched bar man Ian Byrne and threw a bottle at event manager Denis Heatly during a karaoke session. She was found to have a history of two minor convictions for public order and failing to produce a specimen. Judge Elma Sheahan sentenced Kavanagh to two years' imprisonment, suspending the final 12 months, and directed that she serve the term in a women's prison, noting her psychological vulnerability and the fact that she had been living as a woman in London prior to the incident.
A teenager has brought a High Court challenge against the Director of Public Prosecutions, seeking to quash a District Court decision to send his case forward for trial. The accused is charged with sexually assaulting another male in a school bathroom in April 2018, when both parties were 12 years old. He also faces a charge under the 1990 Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act for allegedly producing an implement capable of inflicting serious injury during the incident. Following a Garda investigation, the accused appeared in the Children's Court, where a District Judge refused jurisdiction in October 2019 and sent the matter forward for trial before the Circuit Criminal Court. The teen, suing through his mother, claims he was denied a mandatory hearing under Section 75 of the 2001 Children's Act. This provision requires a district court judge to consider the minor's age and maturity before deciding whether to send a child forward for trial or deal with the matter summarily. The accused argues that the absence of this hearing deprived him of legislative protections. In judicial review proceedings, he seeks an order quashing the October 2019 decision. The matter came before Mr Justice Charles Meenan, who granted the accused permission to bring the challenge on an ex-parte basis. The case was adjourned and will return before the High Court in May.
Ray Kennedy, aged 40, has pleaded not guilty at the Special Criminal Court to a charge of perverting the course of justice. The prosecution alleges that Kennedy deliberately destroyed a mobile phone SIM card on 6 March 2013, the day dissident republican Peter Butterly was shot dead in the carpark of the Huntsman Inn at Gormanston, County Meath. Kennedy had arranged to meet Butterly that afternoon and arrived at the scene shortly after the shooting. The State contends that Kennedy's phone had been in contact with a burner phone connected to the killing, and that destroying the SIM card was intended to hamper the garda investigation. Kennedy, attending his trial remotely, is accused of deliberately destroying evidence of significant value. Four men have already received life sentences for Butterly's murder, and two others have been imprisoned for their roles in the killing. The trial, before three judges, is expected to last four to five weeks.
The Court of Appeal upheld a 12‑year headline sentence for a 52‑year‑old man convicted of 22 counts of sexual abuse, oral rape, child sexual exploitation and attempted rape against his daughter aged 13‑15. The appeal court found no error in the sentencing judge's decision that attempted penetration of the vagina was more serious than oral rape, and rejected the defence's argument that the man had stopped the attempt when the victim screamed. The court also dismissed claims that the trial judge had not given enough credit for the man's alleged stopping of the attempt, and rejected a suggestion that a letter of apology for physical abuse should have been considered mitigating. The 12‑year sentence, with a six‑month suspended portion, was confirmed as within the range of penalties available for the circumstances of ongoing offending, familial violence and the man's taunts after the attempt. The appeal was lost, and the sentence remains in force.
The trial of Lee Canavan (31) has opened at the Special Criminal Court, where he pleaded not guilty to the murder of David Douglas (55), who was shot dead at Shoestown, Bridgefoot Street, Dublin 1, on July 1, 2016. Canavan also denies criminal damage to a vehicle on July 4, 2016. The State alleges Canavan "literally pulled the trigger" in a "meticulously planned assassination," presenting evidence of a semi-automatic pistol found near the victim and linking Canavan to two vehicles via fingerprints and DNA. Prosecutors detailed the movements of four cars used in the offence, including a Mercedes set alight near Carman's Hall and a Suzuki burned on Strand Road. Nathan Foley (22) was previously jailed for six years after pleading guilty to assisting a criminal organisation by driving one of the cars and buying mobile phones. Frederick 'Fat Freddie' Thompson was jailed for life by the Special Criminal Court for the murder; however, his defence counsel noted a live appeal is currently pending in Thompson's case. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Michael McGrath, Ms Justice Sinead Ní Chúlacháin, and Mr Justice Dermot Dempsey, is scheduled to last four weeks.
In a case heard by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Jamiee Griffin, aged 26, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after punching another man in the entrance to a District Court on 10 November 2017. The victim sustained a cut to his lip, an injury observed by a nearby Garda and captured on security footage. Griffin, who has 30 prior convictions including assault, affray, violent disorder, obstruction of a peace officer, public order and road traffic offences, was found to have no victim impact statement or complaint filed. Judge Melanie Greally, noting his history and recent efforts at rehabilitation, imposed a 12‑month sentence and suspended it in full for 12 months. The court recorded that Griffin had taken positive steps, was not abusing drugs, and had not attracted significant Garda attention since 2017. The case concluded with the judge's decision to suspend the sentence, reflecting his apparent maturity and change of behaviour.
David Dwyer, 37, was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment after a drunken domestic incident on 22 February 2018. While intoxicated, he held a knife to his then partner's neck and threatened to stab two Gardaí who had entered the house. He refused to drop the knife, drew a second blade and threw both knives at the officers. The Garda used pepper spray and a baton before handcuffing him. Dwyer pleaded guilty to the offence of producing an article in the course of a dispute. His prior convictions include arson, robbery, assault and possession of knives. The judge noted his bad temper and advised him to abstain from alcohol, expressing hope for his reform. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Jason Freeman, 26, was sentenced to seven years in prison after firing a handgun to "cause terror" in Ballymun. On 28 June 2020, Freeman pointed the gun at a man's head in a driveway, then moved it and discharged two shots that passed through the front door of a neighbouring house. One bullet grazed the head of the woman inside, who had children and a grandchild. She sustained a one‑inch wound requiring eight staples. Freeman pleaded guilty to possession of a 9mm handgun in suspicious circumstances and to recklessly discharging a firearm. He had 48 prior convictions, including robbery and assault. The court noted his intent was to instill fear, not to kill, and imposed the custodial sentence accordingly. The firearm was not recovered. The sentence was back‑dated to 30 June 2020.
During a sentence hearing in the Central Criminal Court, the court heard that Alan Graham (49) was the getaway driver in a gang‑planned attempted murder of Lee Boylan (26) on 6 March 2019. Boylan was shot three times in the shoulder and neck while seated in his van in a busy area of Mulhuddart, Dublin. He survived because the gunshot wounds created an arteriovenous fistula that stopped the bleeding. Boylan suffered life‑changing injuries, including a severe neurological injury, and remained in hospital and rehabilitation until 30 August 2019. The three bullets remain in his body. Graham pleaded guilty to knowledge of the criminal organisation and participation in the attempted murder, but the State will not prosecute the first count of attempted murder after sentencing.
An unnamed 32-year-old woman, who cannot be named to protect the victim's identity, has appealed the severity of her sentence following a conviction for sexual assault and child cruelty. The appellant was convicted by a Circuit Criminal Court jury of ten counts of sexual assault under section 2 of the Criminal Law (Rape) Act 1990 and one count of child cruelty. The offences, which occurred between September 2011 and September 2013, involved the abuse of her step-son, who was four years old at the time. The trial heard that the appellant, who was male at birth and later transitioned, acted as a step-father and subjected the boy to physical and sexual abuse, including threats to break his limbs. On December 9, 2019, the sentencing judge imposed a term of six years and six months imprisonment, with the final six months suspended. In the Court of Appeal, counsel Roderick O'Hanlon SC argued that the sentencing judge failed to adequately consider the difficulties the appellant would face in a women's prison due to her transgender status. He further contended that a greater portion of the sentence should have been suspended to facilitate rehabilitation. The appeal was heard by President Mr Justice George Birmingham, sitting with Ms Justice Aileen Donnelly and Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy. The court reserved its judgment on the sentence appeal, meaning the matter was adjourned and not concluded.
A 59‑year‑old man from Tipperary was sentenced to 18 years in prison for a series of sexual offences against children, including the rape of a six‑month‑old infant and the sexual abuse of four older girls. The offences, which occurred over seven months up to August 2019, involved the man secretly recording the children while they used a bathroom and filming the infant while he performed oral sex on her. He pleaded guilty to two counts of oral rape, one count of attempted oral rape, five counts of sexual assault of the infant, five counts of child pornography production involving the infant and the older children, and four counts of possession of child pornography. The judge imposed a suspended two‑year portion of the sentence, ordered six years of post‑release supervision, and required the defendant to complete sex‑offender treatment programmes and to keep children under 18 out of his care.
David Fortune, 33, of Crumlin, was re‑arraigned on the fifth day of his trial for the murder of his father, Gerry Fortune, 62, on 19 August 2018. He pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The trial judge, Ms Justice Eileen Creedon, adjourned the sentence hearing to allow a psychiatric and forensic psychological assessment, as recommended by probation services. The hearing is scheduled for 26 April. During the trial, witnesses described a day of drinking and drug use in a granny flat, a confrontation with half‑brother Gerard Lambe, and the alleged administration of black‑market diazepam tablets to Fortune. Fortune stabbed his father in the neck with a knife after a quarrel, then fled, hijacked a car, and was arrested after receiving Valium in hospital. The post‑mortem found an 8‑cm stab wound that severed the carotid artery and jugular vein, causing haemorrhage and shock.
Philip Murphy, 40, was scheduled for sentencing for two sexual assaults in Dublin in February 2016, but the hearing was adjourned to 16 April because Midlands Prison is in lockdown after Covid‑positive cases. Murphy had previously served a 10‑year sentence for false imprisonment and was extradited from the UK in 2020. He pleaded guilty to assaulting two women on Jervis Lane and O'Rahilly Parade, describing threats of death and sexual violence. CCTV and witness accounts detail the incidents, including a first victim who was chased by a passer‑by and a second who was pushed into a street and threatened. Murphy denied the offences during a Garda interview, claiming he had received psychological treatment and was no longer attracted to women. The judge noted a lengthy probation period would be required for any sentence. Victim impact statements highlighted lasting psychological harm and loss of confidence.
Milo Stuart, 26, pleaded guilty to criminal damage, assault causing harm and production of an article after breaking into his ex‑girlfriend's Dublin apartment on 6 November 2018. He had psychiatric issues at the time, had refused admission to a psychiatric hospital two days before the incident, and had not contacted the victim since. The court heard that Stuart had no prior convictions and that the victim had worked for a catering company run by Stuart's mother, with whom she had a turbulent relationship. During the incident Stuart broke the victim's door, took her phone, held a knife to her stomach, and forced her into a bathroom where she was injured. Gardaí arrested him after the scene. Judge Martin Nolan, noting Stuart's psychiatric state and guilty plea, ordered 150 hours of community service in lieu of a one‑year prison term.
In a first for Irish courts, Mr Justice Tony Hunt granted an accused the right to attend a criminal trial remotely via video‑link. Ray Kennedy, charged with perverting the course of justice in the murder of Peter Butterly, will be allowed to participate in his Special Criminal Court hearing from March 1, 2021. Kennedy, 40, is accused of destroying a SIM card on the day of Butterly's shooting. The court found Kennedy had exceptional family circumstances: his 35‑year‑old father of two, Peter Butterly, was killed in a car‑park in Gormanston on 6 March 2013, and Kennedy's daughter has a serious congenital condition requiring regular hospital visits. Imelda Kelly, Kennedy's counsel, argued that travel would heighten risk to the child. The three‑judge panel, including Judges Griffin and Brennan, accepted the application, noting no substantive objection from the State. The trial, expected to last four to five weeks, will begin on Monday.
The Central Criminal Court and Special Criminal Court have adjourned multiple trials due to the pandemic backlog. Inita Romanovska, 34, of Ennis, Co Clare, is charged with the alleged attempted murder of a man she met on Tinder during an incident in Limerick in March 2020. Her trial, previously scheduled for 2021, was adjourned to March 6, 2023. Mr Justice Michael White noted that jury trials will not resume until late March or April 2022, pending safety assessments. Meanwhile, at the Special Criminal Court, the trial of four men accused of abducting and assaulting Quinn Industrial Holdings director Kevin Lunney was adjourned from March 1 to May 31, 2022. The accused are Luke O'Reilly, 66, of Co Cavan; Darren Redmond, 25, of Dublin 3; and Alan O'Brien, 38, of Dublin 1. They face charges of false imprisonment and assault causing serious harm to Mr Lunney in September 2019. Mr Justice Tony Hunt stated that the five-party trial could not proceed in March due to public health restrictions and would run for 12 weeks starting in late May. A fifth unnamed male is also charged with the same offences. All matters remain at the procedural stage of fixing trial dates, with no pleas entered or findings made.
Inita Romanovska, 34, from Latvia, is charged with attempted murder after an incident at a Limerick apartment complex on 11 March 2020. She met the alleged victim on Tinder and they had several dates but were not in a relationship. Romanovska did not attend the Central Criminal Court in Dublin where Mr Justice Michael White had scheduled her trial for 6 March 2023. The trial is delayed for over two years because of a pandemic‑related backlog, with the court prioritising cases where the accused is in custody. She was granted bail last March.
Liam Stoneham, a 24‑year‑old master's student, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to recklessly causing serious harm to Adam Ward after punching him in a pub. The assault, described by Judge Martin Nolan as a "one punch assault", left Ward with a fractured skull, traumatic brain injury, loss of smell and ongoing effects. Stoneham was given a four‑year suspended sentence, with the full term suspended on the condition he pays €10,000 to Ward and raises an additional €10,000 within two years if Ward wishes. The court noted Stoneham had no prior convictions, had shown remorse, and was a good student. CCTV evidence showed Stoneham's punch after a dispute in the bar, and the court considered the injury serious but borderline in severity. Stoneham's family supported him, and he had brought the initial €10,000 to court.
In 2019, an 86‑year‑old retired doctor was convicted at the Circuit Criminal Court of 12 counts of indecent assault and one count of sexual assault, all committed during medical examinations from 1971 onward. He was sentenced to four years for one indecent assault count and 18 months for the remaining counts, with all sentences concurrent. The judge had originally suggested that the fact there were seven independent complainants was "compelling" evidence, a point the doctor's lawyers challenged in an appeal. The Court of Appeal rejected 17 grounds of appeal, including arguments that the trial judge should have ended the trial when evidence emerged that the doctor had been struck off the medical register, a civil action had been settled, and an earlier criminal trial had occurred. The court found no substance in these claims and upheld the conviction and sentence. The doctor's lawyers subsequently filed a notice of abandonment, withdrawing the appeal against the sentence. The unnamed 86-year-old pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 24‑year‑old Muslim woman testified that she was sexually assaulted by Mujahed Omer, a 57‑year‑old father of four who was highly regarded in his community. The victim described how Omer lured her into a bathroom under the pretext of removing fittings, then used a toothbrush, acid, and cream to assault her. She reported the incident to Gardaí, her family, and later to a Sexual Assault Treatment Unit. Judge Pauline Codd praised the victim's courage and stated that any blame or shame lay solely with the perpetrator. Omer, who had no prior convictions, was convicted by a jury and sentenced to four years' imprisonment. The judge noted his continued denial of guilt and lack of remorse. The case highlighted the victim's loss of trust in her community and her avoidance of her local mosque. Mujahed Omer pleaded not guilty.
A beauty therapist from Dublin has received a suspended prison sentence following an assault on her ex-partner's mother. Edel Lovett, aged 33, of Raphoe Road, Crumlin, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm at Wainsford Manor Crescent, Terenure on 14 August 2019. Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that Lovett attended the victim's home intending to confront her former partner but encountered the man's 65-year-old mother instead. The assault resulted in the victim being pulled to the ground, struck, kicked and having hair pulled from her head. The victim reported suffering profound effects from the attack and was unable to leave her home for four months thereafter. Judge Elma Sheahan suspended a 14-month prison sentence conditional on Lovett engaging with the Probation Service's mental health and anger management programme. The judge noted mitigating factors including Lovett's psychiatric ill health at the time and her guilty plea. Lovett was ordered to pay €3,000 immediately and a further €5,000 within twelve months, with any remainder after the victim's medical costs to be donated to charity.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Galin Genov, a 54‑year‑old nightclub bouncer, was jailed for a second assault on a drunken customer, Sean McEvoy, during a chaotic night at Dicey Reillys bar. The incident followed a previous assault in September 2015, for which Genov had been convicted in 2018. On the night in question, a third doorman was glassed, and Genov, believing McEvoy had pushed the assailant, punched him three times in the head and face. McEvoy sustained a chipped tooth, facial tissue damage and eye cuts, and later received €30,000 in a civil claim. Genov had continued working as a security officer until the March 2020 lockdown. Judge Elma Sheahan, acknowledging the difficult nature of the job, imposed a 20‑month prison term, suspending the final eight months on the condition of good behaviour. The court noted Genov's prior record and the aggravating factor that the assault occurred in the course of his duties. Galin Genov pleaded guilty.
A 29-year-old man from Castlebar, County Mayo, has been sentenced to fourteen years' imprisonment for the manslaughter of his mother at their home in Derrycrieve, Islandeady, in March 2011. The Central Criminal Court heard that the defendant killed his 46-year-old mother in a frenzied knife attack whilst under the influence of drugs. His original murder conviction was overturned by the Supreme Court in 2019, which found the trial judge's instruction to the jury on intoxication as a partial defence to be inadequate. The Director of Public Prosecutions subsequently accepted a plea to manslaughter on the basis of intoxication. Mr Justice Michael White imposed the sentence on condition that the final two years remain suspended, subject to strict conditions including supervision by the probation service and residence in high-support accommodation upon release. The judge noted the defendant's violent temperament and eight assault convictions against prison staff, emphasising the need for structured community supervision. The unnamed 29-year-old pleaded guilty.
Thomas O'Brien, 49, was jailed for four and a half years after Gardaí found him carrying a bag containing €57,435 worth of cocaine. He was discovered while responding to a call about a man banging on a window in Ballyfermot; O'Brien was intoxicated and acting erratically. Gardaí searched his Dunnes Stores bag and found blocks of cocaine, a knife, weighing scales, plastic bagging, spoons, scissors, gloves and a suspected drugs tick list. O'Brien pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine for sale or supply at Con Colbert Road, Dublin 8, on 1 May 2018. He claimed he had stolen the bag, but his defence argued he had opportunistically taken the drugs after an overdose the night before. Judge Martin Nolan noted O'Brien's remorse and prior convictions, including manslaughter, robbery, burglary and hijacking, and imposed a sentence of four and a half years, recognising the offence's seriousness but departing from the presumptive minimum of ten years.
A 67‑year‑old man, described as a "man of some standing" in his community, lost an appeal against a 2017 conviction for repeated rape and sexual assault of a friend's daughter aged 12 to 14 between 1991 and 1992. The Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal, finding no unfairness in the trial judge's rulings, including the allowance of a majority verdict and late changes to the indictment dates. The jury had convicted the man on six counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault, three counts of oral rape and one count of attempted oral rape, while he was acquitted of 16 other counts. Sentencing, delivered by Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, imposed a nine‑year term with the final 12 months suspended on conditions. The victim, who has suffered ongoing psychological trauma, was not named to protect her identity. The appeal was dismissed by Mr Justice George Birmingham, joined by Mr Justice Brian Murray and Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, defence barrister Cathleen Noctor SC argued that Shauna Kavanagh, a transgender woman formerly known as Sean Kavanagh, is a vulnerable person who will find prison particularly difficult. Kavanagh pleaded guilty to one count of assault causing harm and two counts of assault on James Street, Dublin, on 9 December 2017. She assaulted Thomas Coogan, a family friend, by punching him when he tried to break up a fight outside the Malt House Bar. Coogan suffered a fractured skull and brain bleeding, later died of cancer. Kavanagh had been living in London as a woman before returning to Dublin, where she was suppressing her gender. A psychological report suggested her anger that night stemmed from frustration over her life and suppressed gender. No victim impact statements were presented. The judge adjourned the case to set a sentence date on Monday.
The Central Criminal Court heard evidence that a 58‑year‑old man from Munster recorded videos of himself orally raping his partner's six‑month‑old niece and produced explicit images of four other children aged five to twelve. The abuse occurred over seven months up to August 2019. An anonymous envelope containing a memory card and a handwritten note was delivered to a Garda station on 14 August 2019, alleging the card held a clip of an infant being sexually abused and urging arrest. Examination of the card revealed 20 three‑minute clips, including footage of the defendant masturbating on the infant and performing oral sex on her. The defendant had pleaded guilty to two counts of oral rape, one attempted rape, five counts of sexual assault of the infant, five counts of child‑pornography production, and four counts of possession of child pornography. He was remanded in custody until 26 February, when sentencing will occur.
A 32-year-old man from Castlefin, County Donegal, has been sentenced to four years imprisonment following his conviction for rape at the Central Criminal Court. The man pleaded guilty to entering an apartment through an unlocked door and sexually assaulting a sleeping woman in October 2016. The woman woke during the assault and the perpetrator fled after a struggle. DNA evidence linked him to the offence. Mr Justice Alex Owens noted the man's significant intellectual impairment in sentencing, reducing the headline sentence from ten years to four years. The judge rejected the defendant's claims that he believed the woman was engaged in sex work, describing such assertions as demonstrating lack of remorse. A post-release supervision period of four years was also imposed. The victim provided a statement describing lasting psychological impact and altered behaviour in her own home.
In a case heard at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Michael Joyce, aged 23, was found guilty of assault causing harm to his then partner Katelyn Stevenson, criminal damage to her iPhone, and theft of two mobile phones. The incident occurred on 24 May 2020 in the bedroom of Joyce's sister Elizabeth's home. Joyce, who was under the influence of cocaine, became enraged when Stevenson questioned his fidelity. He seized her phone, smashed it, pushed and slapped her, and later punched her sister twice. The sister's daughter, present in the room, pleaded with her mother not to be hit. Joyce also struck the sister a third time before leaving. He was sentenced to an 18‑month prison term, suspended for three years, with a condition of good behaviour. The court noted his prior record of 27 convictions, including criminal damage and violence, and his remorse expressed to Gardaí.
Craig Courtney and Kane Duffy, both of Tallaght, were sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for offences committed on April 6, 2017, at Centra, Old Bawn Shopping Centre. Courtney pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Roberta Rodriguez Brasil and violent disorder, while Duffy pleaded guilty to violent disorder. Both defendants admitted to committing these offences after being released from custody. Judge Patricia Ryan noted that in a "perfect world," Courtney would have been sentenced for this offence concurrently with his money laundering conviction. The court heard that Courtney accidentally struck Ms Brasil with a hurley stick while she was used as a human shield during an incident described as "extreme lawlessness." Courtney later returned to the shop with flowers, chocolates, and an apology. Judge Ryan sentenced both men to two-and-a-half years imprisonment, but suspended both sentences in their entirety on strict conditions. The judge ordered that €4,000 in compensation, comprising €3,000 from Courtney and €1,000 from Duffy, be handed over to the garda to be forwarded to the injured party.
James Fagan, aged 28, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm and three counts of making threats to kill or cause serious harm after an incident at Red Cow Luas Stop on 28 July 2019. He had punched a security guard who had tried to restrain him following reports of passenger abuse on a tram. While restrained, Fagan threatened to kill the guard and a colleague, claiming affiliation with a "well‑known crime group." He was found intoxicated, having taken ecstasy and cocaine, and had used a tin can as a weapon. Fagan's prior conviction for assault causing harm is currently serving a five‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence with the final 18 months suspended. The court adjourned the case for finalisation to 12 May, ordering a Probation Service report. The defence described Fagan as a young man attempting to change his ways, noting his violent tendencies and personal background.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Simon Quilligan, aged 38, was found not guilty of attempting to murder John McDonagh and of discharging a firearm that posed a substantial risk of death or serious harm. He was, however, found guilty of possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life, making threats to Melissa Cowman, Sandra O'Brien and Victoria Doherty, and damaging a caravan window. Quilligan had fled to the UK after the 2018 incident at a halting site in Tullamore, where he fired a weapon at the McDonagh family and threatened others. He was extradited back to Ireland, arrested in Athlone, and has been in custody since December 2019. The court noted his 38 prior convictions and the feud between the Quilligan and McDonagh families, which the defendant claims is now over. The judge remanded him in custody until March 9 for sentencing.
The Special Criminal Court has sentenced a man to twenty years imprisonment for his role in an attempted murder conspiracy linked to organised crime. Caolan Smyth, aged twenty-nine, of County Meath, was found guilty in January of attempted murder and firearm offences following an attack on James Gately at a filling station in north Dublin on tenth May two thousand seventeen. The victim was shot five times but survived. Presiding Judge Tony Hunt noted that others were equally or more culpable than Smyth, describing him as ruthless and dangerous. A second defendant, Gary McAreavey, aged fifty-three, of County Louth, received four years imprisonment, with the final year suspended, for his role in burning out the getaway vehicle. The court heard evidence of surveillance, mobile phone tracking, and CCTV footage establishing the conspiracy's organised nature. Judge Hunt acknowledged that fortuitous circumstances alone had spared the victim's life. Gary McAreavey pleaded not guilty. Caolan Smyth pleaded not guilty.
Naoufal Fassih, a Dutch gang leader with alleged links to the Kinahan cartel, has appealed a High Court decision permitting his trial in the Netherlands for murder and incitement to murder. Fassih, a 40-year-old Dutch citizen of Moroccan origin, was surrendered to Dutch authorities in 2017 under a European Arrest Warrant (EAW) for alleged attempted murder, assault, possession of false documents, and money laundering. He was subsequently convicted in the Netherlands of all these charges and sentenced to 18 years in prison. In 2020, Dutch authorities sought Irish permission to prosecute him for further murder-related offences. The High Court granted this permission in July last year. However, counsel for Fassih argued before the Court of Appeal that the original EAW was issued by a Dutch public prosecutor, which the Court of Justice of the European Union later ruled is not a recognised "judicial authority." Consequently, they contended the High Court lacked the legal basis to allow further prosecution. Counsel for the Minister for Justice countered that if this argument succeeded, it would cast doubt on all surrenders to the Netherlands between 2003 and 2019. The three-judge Court of Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice George Birmingham, reserved its judgment, noting it had "quite an amount to consider." The matter remains adjourned pending the court's decision.
John Gossan, 40, of Castlegrange Hill, Swords, pleaded guilty to sexual assault at Wright's Cafe Bar, Malahide Road, Swords, on 22 February 2019. The court found he was in a drunken state when he grabbed a young woman's breasts and nether area over her clothes. Judge Martin Nolan described the act as shameful and frightening, noting it was a short encounter with no aggravating factors. Gossan received a fully suspended sentence of one year imprisonment, with strict conditions to keep the peace and be of good behaviour for one year. He was ordered to hand over €2,000 to the prosecuting Garda, which may be given to charity if the victim declines. Gossan has a prior 2010 drug‑dealing conviction for which he served four years. The sentencing took place at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
The 52‑year‑old father was convicted by a Central Criminal Court jury of 22 counts of sexual abuse, oral rape, child sexual exploitation and attempted rape between October 2009 and July 2011, when his daughter was aged 13 to 15. He denied sexual abuse but admitted physical abuse, especially towards the mother. On 14 January 2019 he was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment, with the final six months suspended. He appealed, arguing the case was exceptional because the daughter claimed no visible implants in his penis, while he had implants. The Court of Appeal found the daughter could not have noticed the difference. His barrister argued the 12‑year sentence for attempted vaginal rape was excessive compared with the ten‑year sentence for oral rape, citing the lack of penetration and his apology to the family. The appeal was dismissed, and the sentence was upheld. The father has not expressed remorse.
Ahmad Majeed, 26, pleaded guilty to violent disorder and possession of weapons at a 2019 brawl outside Love Lane nightclub. He admitted bringing a hatchet, hammer, wheel brace, and a towing eye from a Brown Thomas shopping bag, and a rucksack containing two petrol bombs. CCTV showed him gathering with about 20 men on Clarendon Street, passing the bag to another, then retrieving it before heading to the club. He also moved a traffic cone to reveal the rucksack. The mob, about 30 masked men, attempted to force entry, injuring a doorman who was punched and kicked. Majeed denied involvement in the assaults and claimed ignorance of the bombs, stating he would have stayed home if he had known. The court adjourned sentencing to March 12 and remanded him on bail.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Jordan Murray, aged 23, was sentenced to four-and-a-half years imprisonment for possession of a firearm and ammunition. The case stemmed from a police search of a taxi that stopped at Neilstown Road, Clondalkin, on 31 July 2020. Gardaí discovered a Glock 9mm handgun, 12 rounds of 9mm ammunition, and a small amount of cannabis in the vehicle. The handgun's serial number had been filed off, and Murray offered no explanation for its presence. He had previously pleaded guilty to the firearm offences and had nine prior convictions for public order offences and theft. The judge noted that the detective's suggestion that Murray had obtained the gun for revenge after a prior assault could not be relied upon, and he emphasized that the gun could have been used to threaten, injure, or kill. Murray's record was considered, but the judge highlighted his apparent willingness to reform while in custody.
A special needs school in County Meath has initiated High Court judicial review proceedings challenging a Department of Education directive to readmit a pupil who was expelled in September 2020. The board of management at Stepping Stones Special School, Harristown, Kilcoon contests the decision following allegations that the student engaged in multiple violent incidents towards staff and other pupils, causing injury and property damage. The school argued the pupil presented a health and safety risk. Following the parents' appeal, a departmental committee allowed the appeal and recommended readmission after a suspension period to enable support measures. The school contends the committee's findings were irrational, focusing inappropriately on the school's response rather than the pupil's violent conduct, and that the department's subsequent readmission direction contradicted the committee's own recommendation. The board seeks orders quashing both the committee's findings and the departmental direction, and requests constitution of a new committee. Mr Justice Charles Meenan granted permission to proceed on an ex-parte basis and imposed a stay on the readmission directive pending further hearing in mid-March.
Dylan King, 27, of Longdale Terrace, Ballymun, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after a road‑rage incident on 5 March 2019. King performed a u‑turn to follow victim Gary O'Donovan, opened the victim's car door, and punched him once in the face, breaking his nose and fracturing the area above his right eye socket. O'Donovan required surgery. King had previously been convicted of road‑traffic offences. In court, King admitted the assault and explained that a dispute with his mother over debts owed to the city council had triggered his "road‑rage" reaction. He was described as remorseful and was said to be attending local mental‑health services. Judge Melanie Greally noted King's chaotic upbringing, the recent violent death of his father, and his potential for rehabilitation. She imposed a two‑year prison sentence, fully suspended on strict conditions, with no custodial time imposed. The sentence was delivered at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
A 60‑year‑old former Garda, whose name is withheld to protect the victim, has appealed his conviction for sexually assaulting an 11‑year‑old girl and for possession of child pornography. He will be released from custody on Friday after serving a three‑year sentence. In the Court of Appeal he argued that the child‑pornography evidence should not have been tried alongside the assault charge and that the three‑year post‑release supervision was disproportionate. His counsel said the DVD was unrelated to the assault and that it had been created at least eight years earlier. The Director of Public Prosecutions countered that both offences were sexual and involved children, justifying joint trial. The court has reserved judgment.