The Workplace Relations Commission ruled it had no authority to decide a discrimination claim lodged by Emily Brady, a hearing‑impaired patron, against the Dublin restaurant 777 on George's Street. Brady alleged that the venue's sound system was "obscenely loud" and that staff refused to lower the volume when she requested it, claiming the music was part of the restaurant's vibe. She filed a complaint under the Equal Status Act 2000, stating she could not converse with friends and had to hand over orders. The restaurant's management, represented by JFR Ltd., denied the allegations, asserting the sound system automatically adjusted to the premises' busyness and would not interfere with conversation. The manager, Pepé Rodriguez, and waitress Christine Noguera denied that Brady had disclosed her disability, contrary to Brady's testimony. The adjudicator, David James Murphy, noted that the Equal Status Act's jurisdiction does not extend to licensed premises, and therefore the WRC could not rule on the matter.
Enterprise, a vehicle‑rental group, was ordered by the Workplace Relations Commission to pay €10,000 to Bernadette Ryan after she claimed gender discrimination. Ryan, who had been promoted to assistant depot manager at ERAC Ireland Ltd (trading as Enterprise Flex‑E‑Rent), was told her salary would be €39,000‑€40,000. She later learned that the actual increase was only 10 %, bringing her pay to just over €34,000, and that her working hours would rise from 28 to 40 per week. Ryan had previously earned €31,000 part‑time. She felt humiliated and forced to return to her old role. The tribunal found that Ryan and two male comparators performed similar work, but the pay difference was not justified except for gender. Enterprise's defence that the comparators had more responsibility was rejected. The adjudicator ordered the company to compensate Ryan €10,000 for the discrimination she experienced.
The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) reported a 201% rise in whistleblower complaints under the Protected Disclosures Act, with 301 cases filed last year compared to 96 in 2022, marking the first time statutory complaints exceeded 100. Amendments effective January 2023 now require private sector organisations with 250 or more staff to establish formal reporting channels, and extend protection to volunteers, trainees, shareholders, board members and job applicants. The law shifts the burden of proof to respondents, who must disprove a link between penalisation and a protected disclosure. The WRC's annual report noted 4,727 inspections, 2,221 breaches, and €1,950,601 in unpaid wages recovered, including €565,409 from food‑service businesses. The WRC's director‑general highlighted the year as the first full year of normal services since 2019 and praised staff for high standards of delivery. The report also highlighted emerging trends that will shape future workplans.
The former president of the Institute of Professional Auctioneers and Valuers (IPAV), Gerry Coffey, has settled a whistleblower protection claim against the organisation. The dispute, which was being heard under the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 at the Workplace Relations Commission, was resolved after hours of talks. A statement released by the parties says that IPAV and Mr Coffey have settled all issues and wish to move past the recent conflict. The hearing, which was reopened at 12.30pm, was declared unnecessary by adjudicator Jim Dolan, who congratulated the parties and noted that "common sense may have prevailed." Both sides confirmed the settlement, and Mr Dolan will keep the file open for three weeks before treating the complaint as withdrawn if no further correspondence is received. The case had previously been scheduled for three full days of hearing, which have now been vacated.
Mark McMorrow, a 27‑year‑old law graduate and former religious youth leader, was sentenced to two‑and‑a‑half years in prison, with the final six months suspended, for defiling and sexually exploiting a 16‑year‑old girl, Sophia Doyle, in Dublin between September and December 2020. McMorrow pleaded guilty to defilement, sexual exploitation and communicating with a child for exploitation. Doyle, now 19, waived anonymity to name him. The court noted McMorrow was 22 when the offences began and that he had been a leader in a faith‑based youth group where Doyle was a member. He had communicated with her via social media and Discord, and had invited her to his home and other locations. Doyle's victim impact statement highlighted McMorrow's position of power and betrayal of trust. The judge imposed conditions preventing McMorrow from contacting Doyle or the Community of Nazareth, and barred him from using Discord. No prior convictions were recorded.
A retired tow‑truck worker, who had been issued a final written warning in July 2023 after towing a vehicle that later revealed a child in the back seat, sought compensation for the stress of the disciplinary process. His representative argued that he was unfairly singled out, citing a handful of similar incidents that had attracted public outcry. The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) had recommended that the warning be removed from the worker's file and that both parties move on, noting that the warning had expired in April 2024 and the worker had retired in February. The WRC also advised that the disciplinary records be deleted from the file. The employer maintained that the incident was serious and could have been avoided if proper procedures had been followed, and that new safeguards had since been introduced. The WRC concluded the dispute was moot and urged both sides to move forward.
Paul Atkinson, an IT engineer at PFH Technology Group, was dismissed in March 2023 after a redundancy consultation that his lawyers claimed was a sham. The company had told him his contract would end in November 2022 and had offered him a four‑day week with a pay cut, which he refused. Atkinson's CV lacked a level 8 honours degree, a requirement for some US clients, and he was told he was unsuitable for alternative roles. The Workplace Relations Commission found PFH had not fully explored viable options or provided an appeal, deeming the redundancy "genuine" but "unfair" because the employer fell short of its legal duties. Atkinson was awarded €17,831.29 in compensation, in addition to his statutory redundancy lump sum and salary paid on a five‑day week up to mid‑March 2023. The decision was made under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977.
Nathan McDonnell, a 43‑year‑old businessman from Ballyroe, Tralee, was charged with possessing more than €13,000 worth of crystal meth for sale or supply under Section 15A of the Misuse of Drugs Act. The alleged offence took place at Ballyseedy Garden Centre between 27 October 2023 and 12 February 2024. McDonnell was arrested after a joint Gardaí and Revenue operation seized 564 kg of methamphetamine, valued at €32.8 million, from a container at Cork Port on 16 February. The drugs were said to have been imported from Mexico, stored at the garden centre, then transported to Cork for export to Australia. He was denied bail in the High Court in April and appealed to the Court of Appeal, which also refused bail because of the high value of the drugs. McDonnell remains in custody awaiting the serving of a book of evidence. If convicted, he faces a minimum of ten years in prison.
A jury in the Central Criminal Court convicted a Kilkenny man of sexually abusing eight boys, including three sets of brothers, over a period from 1995 to 2007. The man, who had pleaded not guilty to 121 charges, was found guilty on 78 counts that covered oral rape, anal rape and sexual assault. The jury deliberated for ten hours and thirteen minutes before returning the verdicts. Justice Eileen Creedon thanked the jury, excused them from duty for seven years, revoked the man's bail and remanded him in custody. She adjourned sentencing to 8 July and ordered victim impact statements from the eight complainants. The case involved allegations that the accused lured boys with cigarettes, then abused them in his home and other local areas. The trial highlighted the prolonged nature of the abuse and the delayed reporting by the victims.
A 54‑year‑old maintenance man was sentenced to four years in prison after he installed hidden cameras in a friend's apartment and secretly recorded her for seven months in 2021. He recorded her during intimate moments, edited the footage by drawing love hearts around her private parts, and repeatedly entered her apartment to change camera positions. When she discovered a camera and tried to cover it, he sent a threatening message telling her not to touch it. He pleaded guilty to one count of harassment, two counts of burglary and five counts of recording without consent. The court imposed a 20‑year no‑contact order and a four‑year custodial sentence, citing the gross invasion of privacy and the aggravating factor of their long friendship. No prior convictions were noted. The victim, a childminder who had moved to Ireland in 2008, reported the incident to Gardaí in December 2021. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Conor McGregor is accused of attempting to delay a High Court hearing over a 2021 damages claim for alleged assault. The plaintiff, a young woman who knows McGregor, seeks damages and has brought the case in 2021. McGregor, who denies all wrongdoing, has requested that the case, already adjourned, be postponed to November, citing a boxing match in the United States. His lawyer, Remy Farrell SC, seeks pre‑trial discovery of materials, including from An Garda Síochána, and has asked the court to hear these motions on 30 May. The judge, Mr Justice Alexander Owens, has agreed to consider the discovery motions but has not yet ruled on the adjournment request, stating that any such application could be dealt with at the next hearing. The case is scheduled for a jury trial in late June, and McGregor's lawyers have previously secured an adjournment.
The High Court declared that Alan O'Neill and June Finnegan are the legal owners of a disputed garage in Portarlington, Co Laois. Mr Justice David Nolan made the declaration on Thursday with the consent of the parties, including Drumgoan Developments Limited, Noel Martin Senior, and Darren Martin. The declaration confirmed that the plaintiffs were not registered as owners due to a mistake and that Drumgoan did not own the property. The couple alleged that the defendants engaged in a 'land grab,' made payment demands, and damaged the garage. They also claimed Mr Martin Senior sent threatening communications and breached a previous injunction restraining him from contacting them. Mr Martin Senior was made the subject of contempt proceedings for alleged breaches of that order. He subsequently apologized to the court and agreed not to contact the plaintiffs. Counsel for the defendants confirmed consent to the declaration and stated there had been no further breach of the injunction. Mr Justice Nolan praised the legal teams for resolving this aspect of the case but noted that Mr Martin Senior was 'not out of the woods yet.' The judge adjourned the contempt proceedings against Mr Martin Senior to a date in June, stating he will rule on whether contempt occurred and any appropriate sanction when the matter returns. Other aspects of the action, including the couple's claims for damages, remain live before the court.
Edward Cruise, 66, was sentenced to six years' imprisonment for repeatedly sexually abusing a girl aged between six and 14 who visited his home from 2009 to 2017. He pleaded guilty to nine counts of sexual assault. The abuse occurred whenever the girl was at his property, often multiple times in a single day, and included inappropriate touching, masturbation and oral sex. Cruise told the victim to keep the abuse secret and once offered her €5 to come to his house. The victim complained to Gardaí in 2020, after which Cruise was arrested and suggested the allegations were fabricated. Judge Martin Nolan noted the abuse took place over a prolonged period, estimating at least 100 incidents, and imposed a global sentence of six years. The court considered Cruise's guilty plea, expressions of remorse, age and lack of violence beyond the acts themselves as mitigating factors, while his prior convictions for similar offences were viewed as aggravating.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 36‑year‑old man was convicted of a single count of sexual assault against his teenage niece, who was aged between 13 and 14 at the time of the offence. The victim, who now uses he/him pronouns, was asleep when the uncle, who had moved in with her family, touched her hand. She later provided a statement after initial reluctance. The defendant voluntarily approached Gardaí and admitted to the incident, claiming he had been masturbating and that the victim had seen him. A victim impact statement was submitted but not read aloud. The victim's mother, who had asked the judge not to jail her brother, was present. Judge Pauline Codd, after considering aggravating and mitigating factors, sentenced the defendant to two years' imprisonment and refused to suspend any portion of the sentence. The case remains at the sentencing stage.
Two British men, Dylan Shears, aged 20, and Ainsley Stevenson, aged 26, were jailed after being stopped at Dublin Airport with €690,000 worth of cannabis destined for the UK market. They pleaded guilty to smuggling over 30 kg of the drug into Terminal 2 on 17 October. Stevenson, from Halifax, was sentenced to five and a half years in prison, while Shears, from Bradford, received a three‑year sentence. Judge Martin Nolan noted that if Stevenson had been an Irish national he would have received a six‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence, and that Shears' younger age warranted a lesser term. The men were caught by customs officers after arriving from Las Vegas, where they had collected the cannabis and planned to transport it via Dublin to Manchester on behalf of an unnamed individual. Neither had prior convictions. Both men cooperated with Gardaí and made admissions.
Le Wang, a 42‑year‑old taxi driver from Dundrum, was found guilty of harassing a Chinese student who had rented a room in his house between December 2022 and March 2023. He secretly filmed her twice in the shower and attempted a third time, hiding his phone in a laundry basket. When she discovered the phone, he threatened to ruin her reputation and harassed her for three months, sending threatening texts and attempting contact via social media. Gardaí seized his phone and found the videos, which were deleted and then restored. Wang pleaded guilty and was given a 16‑month suspended sentence, with a ten‑year prohibition on any communication with the victim. He was remanded in custody for two weeks before the verdict and was released thereafter. No prior convictions were recorded.
Winnifred Lawrence, a 74‑year‑old mother of 14, was sentenced to three and a half years in prison, with the final 18 months suspended, after pleading guilty to three counts of deception for making false personal injury claims between September 2012 and May 2014. She used the false name Margaret Mongan to file six claims, receiving a net total of €23,185.50 from insurance companies. The court noted her previous conviction in 2019, where she received a three‑year suspended sentence for a similar offence. Lawrence's claims included incidents at Tesco Ireland, a bookshop, a bus, and a heater, with payouts ranging from €5,000 to €12,460. The judge highlighted her poor health and the significant amount of money she benefited from, and the sentence was imposed after her guilty plea and lack of further offences.
A takeaway worker who had endured sexual harassment for a year and a half, citing financial pressure, finally quit after a chef slapped her across the breasts on 5 August 2023. She had previously reported the chef's inappropriate behaviour, including sweeping his hand across her breasts and calling her "Big Diddy Mama." The owner, who was present and laughed, admitted no camera evidence of the incident. The Workplace Relations Commission found the worker suffered breaches of employment rights, sexual harassment, and constructive dismissal. The adjudicator awarded €8,000 for sexual harassment, €2,750 for constructive dismissal, and an additional €6,122.75 for unpaid statutory entitlements and other rights breaches, totaling €16,872.75 in compensation. The case highlighted the employer's failure to prevent harassment and maintain proper payroll records.
The Court of Appeal has dismissed the convictions appeals of two men, a 30-year-old maternal uncle and a 51-year-old husband of the victims' aunt, who were jailed for 15 years each in January 2022 for the rape and exploitation of their child relatives. Both men, who pleaded not guilty to all charges, sought to overturn their verdicts based on a letter sent to trial judge Mr Justice McDermott by the jury foreman. Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy ruled that the trial judge had considered all issues with conspicuous care and attention, finding no error in his refusal to investigate the post-conviction letter or grant separate trials. The court also upheld the admissibility of notes used by the child victims during specialist interviews, deeming them permissible for vulnerable witnesses. The appellants were convicted of various sexual offences, including rape and sexual exploitation, following a 2021 trial where five family members were found guilty on most of 78 counts. While the conviction appeals failed, the court noted that both men now intend to appeal the severity of their 15-year sentences. Reporting restrictions regarding the specific nature of the abuse and the juror's letter remain in place to protect the identity of the three children.
Robert Redmond (35) was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court for conspiring to murder Jordan Davis in 2019. Redmond, who is already serving a life sentence for the murder of Barry Wolverson, pleaded guilty to the conspiracy charge. Mr Justice Paul McDermott imposed a seven-year term, which runs consecutively to Redmond's existing 12-year sentence for firearms possession. This results in a total of 19 years' imprisonment to be served concurrently with his mandatory life sentence. The judge rejected defense arguments that the consecutive structure constituted a disproportionate 'quasi-life sentence,' citing Redmond's 'deep involvement' in the 'cold-blooded' killing and his 99 previous convictions. Evidence presented included threatening text messages from Redmond to Davis regarding a €70,000 drug debt and 'tick lists' found at addresses linked to Redmond. Wayne Cooney (33), who was convicted of the actual murder of Davis in July 2022, is currently serving a life sentence. The court noted that Davis was shot while pushing his infant son in a pram near a school in Darndale.
A man has been convicted of unlawfully killing his 88-year-old mother by arson at their shared home in Coolvoy, Doochary, County Donegal on 12 April 2022. Geunter Lohse, aged 63, pleaded guilty to manslaughter at the Central Criminal Court after a charge of murder was withdrawn. The court heard that three fires were deliberately lit inside the house using matches. Firefighters discovered the victim seated in an armchair; she died from inhaling fumes. Lohse admitted starting the fire and told gardaí he had intended to take his own life. He claimed he attempted to move his mother and extinguish the flames but was unsuccessful. Defence counsel indicated Lohse's family suspected he suffered from schizophrenia, though he had never received expert diagnosis or psychiatric treatment. Justice Melanie Greally adjourned sentencing to 29 July to allow consideration of psychiatric and psychological reports. The judge noted that Lohse will require community support upon release, given the absence of family support structures.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Jason O'Connor, 46, of Whitestown Grove, Blanchardstown, was charged with facilitating a criminal gang in murder and drug dealing. O'Connor had previously faced charges for an attempted murder of Charlie Cooper on 5 December 2016, and for possession of a 9 mm firearm and 12 rounds of ammunition with intent to endanger life at the same location and date. The new charges allege that between 2 August 2016 and 7 December 2016, O'Connor, knowing of a criminal organisation, participated in or contributed to activities that could facilitate the commission of a serious offence by that organisation or its members, specifically murder and the sale or supply of controlled drugs. The charges are under Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006. The case is adjourned to 11 June for mention, and O'Connor has been granted free legal aid for the new charges.
A Roscommon farmer's appeal against his conviction for making a false statement to gardaí has been dismissed by the Court of Appeal. Gerard Harrington, of Marian Road, Boyle, was convicted in July 2021 at Tullamore Circuit Criminal Court of reporting ten cattle missing when they were located in a neighbouring farmer's shed. He had been fined €6,500 in October 2021. The Court of Appeal heard 34 grounds of appeal, including claims that oppressive trial conditions and jury seating arrangements during Covid restrictions warranted a retrial. Mr Justice John Edwards rejected these submissions, finding the prosecution case had been sufficiently strong for jury consideration and that the trial judge had appropriately managed evidentiary issues. The court concluded the trial was satisfactory and the verdict was safe, upholding Harrington's conviction.
Joanna McGuinness, 41, pleaded guilty to evading excise duty on over 80,000 untaxed cigarettes and 35 kg of tobacco seized from her Paul Street home in Dublin 7. The loss to the exchequer was €66,881. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, after hearing the case, imposed a three‑year sentence but suspended it entirely, citing the impact imprisonment would have on her children, one of whom has serious health problems. Judge Martin Nolan noted McGuinness's sole care of the children and her previous convictions, including revenue offences, as factors in the decision. The cigarettes and tobacco were confiscated, and a quantity of cash was also seized. McGuinness is now employed and described as being in a stable period of her life. The case was adjourned overnight for sentencing before the final decision was announced.
Conor Carty, 23, was jailed for three and a half years after pleading guilty to three counts of sexual assault on a friend in her bedroom in July 2020. The victim, who wished to remain anonymous, said Carty had been highly intoxicated and had sexually assaulted her three times over 20 minutes while she pretended to be asleep. She later reported the assault to her sister and to a sexual assault treatment unit, where swabs showed male DNA but no full profile. Carty voluntarily contacted Gardaí the next day and was interviewed, claiming he could not remember the assault. He had no prior convictions. The court noted the breach of trust and the victim's ongoing trauma, and imposed a sentence of four years and six months, suspending the final year on strict conditions, including probation supervision and no contact with the victim. The probation officer expressed concern about Carty's lack of memory of the night.
Lewis O'Keeffe, 22, of Ballyfermot, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to multiple counts of possessing controlled drugs and nearly €30,000 in cash. Gardaí seized cocaine worth €2,500 inside a house on O'Moore Road and an additional 7.5 kg in a van outside the house, giving a street value of over €527,000. O'Keeffe admitted he did not own the drugs but was aware of them, claiming a drug debt of €31,000. He had removed his tax and insurance discs from his car and placed them in the van. His defence counsel described him as a "patsy" or "fall guy" in the operation, noting his young age and family background. Judge Martin Nolan accepted that O'Keeffe had a low level of culpability and had been under severe pressure, concluding that young people can make bad decisions under pressure.
Oisín Cannon, 33, an IT worker, was jailed for possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Gardaí first searched his home in 2017, finding a laptop with 1,011 images and 102 videos, many Category 1, and a mobile phone with 22 images. Subsequent searches in 2019 and 2020 uncovered further CSAM on an iPad, phone, and other devices, totaling hundreds of images and dozens of videos. Cannon repeatedly denied responsibility, claiming the material entered his devices through pop‑ups, viruses, or third‑party apps, and that he had no interest in child pornography. He pleaded guilty to possession on all three charges. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to three years and nine months in prison, noting his repeated offences and the seriousness of accessing CSAM. The court recorded his background, psychological report, and family support, but did not alter the sentence. The case remains a criminal conviction for possession of child pornography.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 15‑year‑old boy pleaded guilty to raping his younger cousin, aged seven to eight, on 10 to 13 occasions between June 2021 and November 2022. The offences were committed while both children were staying at their grandparents' house. The victim's parents described the impact of discovering the abuse, noting the family's fractured relationships and the child's ongoing therapy. The defendant, who has no prior convictions, admitted he had been abused as a child and was living with his father at the time of sentencing. Justice Caroline Biggs imposed 18 months' detention under Section 151 of the Children Act, with the remaining 18 months under supervision, and ordered the defendant to be placed on the sex offender register for ten years. The court also prohibited any further contact between the defendant and the victim.
Paul Lynch, 56, was jailed after a sting operation revealed he had tried to meet an 11‑year‑old girl but was confronted by an adult decoy livestreaming to Facebook. Lynch had sent a picture of his genitals to the decoy and had asked for a naked photo, which the decoy refused, claiming her camera was broken. He had also offered to give her a phone. The court heard Lynch had previously pleaded guilty to attempted meeting of a child for sexual exploitation in 2018, had a 2019 conviction in Northern Ireland for sexual communication with a child, and a 2023 breach of a sex offences prevention order. He also had seven older convictions for theft and fraud. Judge Orla Crowe described the offence as the "most serious kind" and, after taking mitigation into account, imposed a sentence of two years and three months, back‑dated to his first custody in February.
Michael Crotty (42) was sentenced to two years' imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court for facilitating a serious offence by a criminal organisation. Crotty, a gym owner from Cashel, Co Tipperary, initially pleaded not guilty to facilitating the murder of Noel Kirwan but entered a guilty plea in February to participating in activity reckless as to whether it would facilitate a serious offence. The court found that Crotty bought €20 in phone credit for Sean McGovern, a leading Kinahan cartel member, which was used to coordinate the 2016 murder of Mr Kirwan. Presiding Judge Caroline Biggs set a headline sentence of six years, reduced to two years due to Crotty's guilty plea, lack of prior convictions, and 21 exceptional character references. The judge noted that while Crotty did not intend the credit to be used for murder, its use in the killing was an aggravating factor. This is the fourth conviction related to the case. Previously, Jason Keating (32) was jailed for 10 years for his significant role in the murder. Declan 'Mr Nobody' Brady (57) and Martin Aylmer (37) also pleaded guilty to facilitating or contributing to the murder of Mr Kirwan, though their specific sentences are not detailed in this report. The matter was finalised with Crotty's sentencing.
In a Dublin suburb, 18‑year‑old Jasmine Olaru, then a secondary school student, worked at a Dominos Pizza shop in February 2022. She alleged repeated sexual harassment by colleagues, including propositions for sex, being told to "do OnlyFans", and receiving a badge with her name and a picture of breasts. She also claimed a deputy manager threatened to "spank" her with a pizza‑scooping shovel, asked if he could watch her change, and that she was denied breaks under the Organisation of Working Time Act. Olaru reported the incidents to the Workplace Relations Commission. The tribunal found Remo Foods Ltd had breached the Employment Equality Act and the Working Time Act, awarding her €13,000 for sexual harassment, €3,000 for victimisation, and €3,000 for lack of breaks, totalling €19,000. The company was also ordered to review its anti‑harassment policies. The case was decided in September 2024.
In a decision by the Workplace Relations Commission, Hannah Murphy, aged 22, was awarded €10,000 for age‑based discrimination after being told she was "very young" and not ready to manage a salad bar at Freshly Chopped Ltd. Murphy had worked for the chain for just under two weeks in December 2020, training to become a branch manager in Swords. The area manager, who had previously praised her performance, told her on 21 December that she would not take the Swords post and that she was "still very young" and "not ready for the job". Murphy claimed the manager had also suggested she might be better equipped in two years. The company denied the claim, citing a "poor attitude" and alleged misconduct, but the WRC found the manager's statements about her age credible and ruled that age was one of the reasons for her dismissal. The tribunal awarded Murphy €10,000 in compensation for the discrimination.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 14 May 2024, a 45‑year‑old man was sentenced to 20 months' imprisonment for threatening to publish intimate images of his former partner, who was in her 20s, on Facebook and to send them to her mother and social worker. The offence, committed in December 2021 after a brief relationship ended in November, involved the man sending the woman a series of Snapchat voice recordings in which he threatened to distribute the material. He pleaded guilty to the charge of threatening to publish or distribute an intimate image with intent to cause harm, a crime punishable by up to seven years. Judge Martin Nolan, after hearing the case, described it as a serious matter and, noting the defendant's remorse and personal circumstances, imposed a custodial sentence of 20 months with the final 10 months suspended.
A 40‑year‑old Dublin man was jailed for nine months after he attacked his ex‑partner on 14 May 2020. He claimed he had gone to her home to give her money for baby food, but found the 10‑month‑old child severely malnourished and in a very bad state. The woman said they had both been drinking and that the assault stemmed from a dispute over her mobile phone. Neighbours heard her screaming and called the Gardaí, who found the couple still present. The woman suffered a fractured nose, a deviated septum, a black eye and a swollen nose; she and the baby were taken to hospital. The baby was later placed in care. The court heard the couple had been in a relationship from 2012 to 2019 and shared an older child, who has lived with the man's father since 2019.
A 72‑year‑old former Christian Brother, who taught at a primary school in County Kilkenny, was sentenced to six and a half years' imprisonment for indecent assault on six boys between 1976 and 1981. He had been convicted in March on 25 charges, after earlier trials that produced 55 convictions. The new sentence, back‑dated to the March conviction, means he will be released in September 2030. The judge noted that the victims were isolated by the Brother, who targeted those he deemed disadvantaged. The Brother denied wrongdoing and remains in court for other pending matters. The court heard that the victims endured lasting mental‑health harm and that the Brother had cooperated with the Garda investigation. The sentence is consecutive to his earlier terms. The Brother's earliest release date is now September 2030. The unnamed 72-year-old pleaded not guilty.
Adam Rzepka, 39, was released on bail for a €400k money‑laundering offence and was found the next day surrounded by over €1.1 million in drugs hidden in dog food. He pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis worth €1.1 million, to having a car used in drug trafficking, to possessing a mixing agent for drug trafficking and to possessing €33,090 in cash that was the proceeds of criminal conduct. The drugs were seized at Hickey's Yard, The Ward, Co. Dublin, where Rzepka was the only person present and was found in a loft beside vacuum‑packed cannabis. The court imposed a 15‑year global sentence, consecutive to the seven years he is already serving for money laundering, with the final two years suspended on condition of good behaviour. The judge cited the high value of the drugs and the lack of remorse as aggravating factors.
Jason Fogarty, a 48‑year‑old with 27 years in prison, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to a further six years' imprisonment. He pleaded guilty to robbery at a post office on Merrion Row in November 2019 and to an attempted robbery of a B&B on Gardiner Place in May 2023. The judge imposed four years for the 2019 post office robbery, during which Fogarty threatened a cashier with a grenade, and a consecutive three‑year term for the 2023 B&B attempt, of which one year was suspended. The final effective custodial term is five years. Fogarty had been on bail for the first offence when he committed the second. The court noted his extensive criminal record, addiction history and the injuries sustained by the B&B staff member during the attempted robbery. The sentence reflects the seriousness of both offences and the lack of deterrence from prior imprisonment.
Craig Maloney, 28, of Cashel Road, Crumlin, was convicted after a jury trial of wilful obstruction, assaulting a Garda and producing a knife during a dispute at his family home on 11 February 2022. He had 24 prior convictions. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that Maloney did not take reasonable steps to confirm the people at his front door were Gardaí. The officers were conducting a covert search unrelated to Maloney. When the Gardaí approached with breaching equipment, Maloney moved toward them with a large knife, causing one officer to step back. He slammed the door shut, was later apprehended upstairs, and the knife was found broken on the floor. Judge Orla Crowe imposed concurrent sentences of 18 months, three months and three months, all fully suspended, with conditions including good behaviour for three years.
In a Court of Appeal hearing on 14 May 2024, a 58‑year‑old man, whose name is withheld to protect his nine‑year‑old daughter, argued that the failure to disclose a family WhatsApp conversation during his 2022 Central Criminal Court trial made his 14‑year jail sentence for 11 offences—including rape, sexual assault and threatening to kill—unsafe. His counsel, Garnet Orange SC, claimed the trial judge erred by refusing to stop the trial after the prosecution's case and by not ordering immediate disclosure of WhatsApp or Viber messages that later emerged during cross‑examination of a family member. He also argued the judge should have allowed cross‑examination of the victim's medical examination and issued a corroboration warning. The State, represented by Lorcan Staines SC, rejected these grounds, stating the WhatsApp evidence was "news to everyone" and that no disclosure order was needed. The unnamed 58-year-old was convicted.
Eamon Larkin, a 69‑year‑old man from Kilcock, was found guilty of possession of cocaine for sale or supply on 12 June 2023. Gardaí stopped a Skoda in Ashbourne, discovering six kilos of cocaine in the boot, valued at €420,000. Larkin admitted he was approached in a pub and offered €200 to transport the drugs, though he claimed he did not know the type of drug. CCTV showed him swapping vehicles with another man at a petrol station an hour before the Skoda was seized. He has six prior road‑traffic convictions and has been living in Portugal. The court noted his poor physical and mental health, financial pressure, and long work history. Judge Martin Nolan accepted the guilty plea and mitigation, sentencing Larkin to two years' imprisonment. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the offence while considering his health and cooperation.
Leanne Kelly, 32, was jailed for two and a half years after assaulting a 63‑year‑old hospital worker on her way home from the Mater Hospital on 28 April 2022. Kelly pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to a woman outside the hospital. The victim, who had finished her shift and was collecting her bicycle, was struck on the side of her head by Kelly, who shouted abusive remarks before punching her. The blow caused the victim to fall onto the road, lose her sunglasses, and suffer bruising to her jaw and back of her head. She was taken to Mountjoy Garda Station and then to the Mater Hospital for treatment and overnight observation. Kelly had 64 prior convictions, including assault, robbery, theft and public order offences. She had previously been sentenced to two years' imprisonment with the final six months suspended in 2017. The court noted Kelly's extensive addiction history and trauma background.
A 40-year-old man from Leitrim Street, Cork City, has had his prison sentence increased by two years following an appeal by the Director of Public Prosecutions. David Long pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, burglary, and producing a hatchet during an attack on Middle Glanmire Road on January 18th, 2022. The Court of Appeal found the original six-year sentence, with the final year suspended, to be unduly lenient. Long's victim sustained a fractured skull, broken teeth, and facial fractures during the assault. The appellate court, presided over by Mr Justice George Birmingham, noted Long's significant criminal history, including previous convictions for aggravated burglary and robbery. The court determined that excessive mitigation had been granted at first instance. Long has been re-sentenced to eight years' imprisonment with the final twelve months suspended. His then-girlfriend received a three-year sentence with the final six months suspended for her involvement in the targeted attack.
In a High Court judicial review, trainer Tony Martin seeks to overturn a three‑month suspension imposed by the Irish Horse Racing Regulatory Board (IHRB) for breaching anti‑doping rules. The suspension, set to take effect tomorrow, follows an Appeals Panel decision that reduced his original six‑month licence suspension to three months. Martin argues the appeal was conducted unlawfully because the IHRB used a barrister not qualified to practise in Ireland, violating the 2015 Legal Services Regulation Act. He requests a stay of the suspension pending the review and an order quashing the penalty. The IHRB, represented by Ronan Kennedy SC, denies the claim and maintains that the barrister was qualified in England and Wales. Mr Justice Rory Mulcahy has reserved judgment on the applications and will decide on Thursday, while a temporary stay has been granted to allow Martin's horses to race on Wednesday.
In a Court of Appeal decision on 14 May 2024, a 36‑year‑old man convicted of assault, false imprisonment, and threatening to kill his former partner had his original two‑year sentence increased to three years and six months, with the final six months suspended for 18 months. The appeal was brought by the Director of Public Prosecutions, who argued the original sentence was too lenient, particularly regarding the false imprisonment and domestic setting. The appellate judges agreed, substituting a longer term and suspending the final six months. The case stemmed from a 2019 incident in which the defendant, while not in a relationship with the victim at the time, punched her, threatened her with a bottle, and held her in his home. He was also found not guilty of four rape counts and the jury could not agree on the remaining charges.
In May 2024, a 46‑year‑old woman from Cork lost her appeal against a conviction for wilful neglect, sexual assault and sexual exploitation of her toddler son. The conviction, obtained by a jury in June 2022, covered neglect from September 2010 to June 2015 and sexual offences between September 2013 and June 2015. The woman, described as having very limited cognitive functioning, argued that the neglect charge was vague and that the delay in trial had erased the child's memory of the abuse. She also claimed the trial was unfair because her lawyers could not fully cross‑examine the child. The Court of Appeal rejected both grounds, noting that the evidence from video‑recorded interviews and the child's foster‑care testimony supported the charges. The Director of Public Prosecutions now intends to appeal the suspended sentence, arguing it was unduly lenient. The case remains at the appellate stage, with no further outcome reported.
The Court of Appeal refused to quash the acquittal of a 75‑year‑old Catholic priest who faced 13 counts of gross indecency for alleged abuse of a teenage boy between 1977 and 1979. The priest was acquitted on 28 April 2023 after the trial judge, Pauline Codd, directed a not‑guilty verdict following the complainant's direct evidence. Justice Birmingham, with Justices Kennedy and Burns, found that the defence's application for a directed acquittal was unjustified and misconceived, and that the trial judge had erred in granting it. The Court held that the interests of justice did not warrant quashing the acquittal or ordering a retrial, and therefore upheld the acquittal. The case involved the complainant's testimony about early encounters with the priest, the lack of specific dates, and the prosecution's failure to clarify the timeline of alleged offences. The Court noted that the prosecution counsel had acted properly and that the defence counsel's submissions were inaccurate.
Setanta Landers of Setanta Solicitors appeared before the Workplace Relations Commission on behalf of applicant Nico Holloway, who has brought complaints against Citi Bus Ltd, trading as Dublin Coach, under the Protected Disclosures Act 2014, the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977, and the Employment Equality Act 1998. The applicant alleged that the respondent operated defective and dangerous public vehicles and that he was penalised for raising these concerns. Mr. Landers described the allegations as a matter of grave public importance, noting that the applicant had recovered photos and video footage from a broken mobile phone. The respondent's counsel, Ray Ryan BL, applied for an adjournment, arguing that the applicant had submitted a booklet of evidence, including defect notifications, on the afternoon prior to the hearing. Mr. Ryan stated that the respondent would be seriously prejudiced if the hearing proceeded without time to take instructions. Mr. Landers opposed the application, asserting that the documents were the respondent's own internal records and that no new allegations were being made. Adjudicator David James Murphy granted the adjournment, deeming it extraordinary to force the respondent to proceed given the late submission of documents. The matter was adjourned pending the fixing of a new date, with the applicant given one week to make further submissions and the respondent three weeks to reply.
Thomas O'Neill, 47, was jailed for two years after pleading guilty to one count of deception in a fraudulent insurance claim that involved a staged car crash in Rathfarnham in 2013. The incident, which was a low‑velocity collision between a white Toyota and a Mazda at Ballycullen Roundabout, was orchestrated to obtain more than €35,000 from AXA Insurance. O'Neill, who has 70 prior convictions for road traffic offences and handling stolen property, was an active participant in the fraud. His partner, Ann Wilson, 44, and his sister, Deirdre Mellor, 54, were also involved. Wilson was scheduled for sentencing the following day, while Mellor received a fully suspended two‑year sentence for attempted deception. The court noted that Wilson had received €21,595 in personal injury awards and that no claim was made by O'Neill. The case highlighted the parties' connections revealed through social media and the lack of any personal gain for Mellor.
A 21‑year‑old man from Co Cork was jailed for 18 months after pleading guilty to sexually assaulting two girls when he was 12 and 14. The first assault occurred in 2015 when he was 12 and the victim was nine; the second in 2017 when he was 14 and the victim was 13 or 14. The offences were discovered in 2020 after the first victim disclosed the assault in school, leading to investigations by Tusla and the Gardaí. The accused admitted the acts were not consensual and expressed remorse. In court, the judge noted the serious impact on the victims' mental health and, after considering the defendant's age and remorse, imposed concurrent sentences of two years, suspending six months on strict conditions, and ordered registration as a sex offender for two years.
A female Garda has taken her case to the High Court after she alleged sexual harassment by a male sergeant and claimed she was then victimised by a female superior. She says the sergeant behaved inappropriately at a mortuary, sent her phone a suggestive message, and made sexual comments. She reported this to a female superior, who she says disclosed the complaint to the sergeant. The Garda claims the superior was unhappy with the formal complaint and interfered with the process. The court heard that the sergeant was suspended and the superior stripped of duties. The Garda was later found to have breached Garda discipline for alleged unacceptable conduct with her superior and for posting Garda matters on social media. She appealed unsuccessfully and now seeks to overturn the disciplinary findings, arguing the process was flawed and unfair. The case is set to return to court next month.