In January 2023, Marian Calderas, a 39‑year‑old bin‑man employed by Key Waste Management Ltd, was found intoxicated at work on the Greenhills Road, Tallaght. After colleagues discovered he was drinking alcohol, they escorted him to the canteen where he slept. CCTV later showed Calderas, at 2.25 am, using a code to access a bin‑lorry room, then driving a 2017 bin lorry into three other lorries. The collisions caused €87,000, €38,000 and €49,000 in damage, totaling €175,998. Calderas pleaded guilty to three counts of criminal damage. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to three years' imprisonment, suspended in full, and ordered him to pay €5,000 immediately and €7,250 within a year. He was dismissed for gross misconduct and has no prior convictions. The case highlights the impact of alcohol‑related workplace incidents on both the employee and the employer.
A 27‑year‑old former rugby player, Buti Sashi, was sentenced by Judge Martin Nolan in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to four and a half years imprisonment, to run consecutively to his existing ten‑year sentence. The new sentence follows Sashi's guilty pleas to assault causing harm, two counts of aggravated burglary, robbery, false imprisonment and assault causing serious harm on two separate occasions in 2017. In one incident he stabbed a male sex worker seven times, stealing a mobile phone and €200, and in another he stabbed a female sex worker seven times, inflicting potentially life‑threatening wounds and a fractured eye socket. The court noted Sashi's pattern of contacting victims for sex before attacking them, and described the offences as "very serious crimes". The judge reduced the new term from an earlier proposed ten years, citing the totality principle.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 48‑year‑old man, Derek Bewley, was sentenced to eight and a half years in prison for two violent offences committed on the same day. Bewley, armed with a claw hammer, and his 36‑year‑old accomplice, Christine Ward, attacked a 79‑year‑old widower, stabbing him repeatedly and robbing him of €600, his phone, and his car. The widower, now 84, survived the assault and suffered significant physical and psychological harm, including multiple stab wounds, hearing loss, and PTSD. Bewley pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary, possession of a hammer, and theft of a wallet. Ward had previously been sentenced to five and a half years for aggravated burglary, with 18 months suspended. Bewley's sentence was reduced by two years to ten years, with 18 months suspended for three years, and he will be supervised by Probation Services for 18 months after release.
Nicole Doyle, a former administrator at Astronomy Ireland, claims she was stripped of all financial duties after she began questioning the legality of the organisation's operations. She said she earned €538.47 a week for a 37.5‑hour week in 2022‑23 but never received a written contract or statement of terms within the statutory period. Doyle repeatedly requested a contract by email and in person, but was told the solicitor was unavailable. After a phone call about her bank balance, she received a contract that prohibited her from speaking about company matters and altered her hours to 39. She alleges her role was constantly changed and that financial responsibilities were removed because she asked questions. Doyle says the company fired her, and no representative of Astronomy Ireland was present at her WRC hearing. The WRC will issue findings later.
In a decision on 15 February 2024, Judge Martin Nolan ruled that Derek Keane, aged 44, could have his driving licence restored after serving two‑thirds of a five‑and‑a‑half‑year prison sentence imposed in December 2019 for dangerous driving that caused the death of Callum Grimes, a 27‑year‑old man. Keane had been disqualified from driving for six years and had pleaded guilty to the offence and to failing to provide assistance at the scene. The judge noted that Keane had served the required portion of his sentence and described his behaviour as "disgraceful", yet acknowledged his desire to resume normal life. The State objected to the licence restoration, citing the seriousness of the offence and the distress caused to the Grimes family. The judge, while recognising the family's suffering, emphasised that the main part of Keane's sentence had been the prison term and that he had served his time.
Gary Dunne, aged 42, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to fraudulently claiming his dead brother's invalidity pension between September and October 2021, totalling €26,820. The fraud was uncovered after a letter questioned whether the deceased's benefits could be claimed at a local post office, despite the Department of Social Protection having already processed the death certificate and funeral payments. A meeting on 4 October 2021 identified Dunne as the claimant. Gardaí searched his home but found no evidence. Dunne has no prior convictions, but has drug and alcohol issues. He is a father of three and has offered to raise funds to reimburse the State, estimating up to €3,000 in four to six weeks. Judge Martin Nolan described the offence as "devious" and "insidious," noted Dunne's guilty plea and cooperation, and imposed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year prison sentence fully suspended.
A Roscommon man convicted of repeatedly sexually assaulting a teenage girl employed as a babysitter has had his sentence reduced on appeal. Michael King, aged 53 and resident of Warren View, Boyle, was originally sentenced to five and a half years imprisonment by Roscommon Circuit Criminal Court in May 2023 following his conviction on twelve counts of sexual assault. The Court of Appeal has now reduced his term by fifteen months. King had pleaded not guilty but was unanimously convicted by jury of all charges relating to offences against a girl aged 16, committed over a nine-month period ending in September 2005. The Court of Appeal found the trial judge erred in imposing consecutive sentences, determining the cumulative headline sentence of ten and a half years was excessive. The court re-sentenced King to five years imprisonment with the final nine months suspended. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy cited mitigating factors including the passage of time since the offences and King's subsequent pro-social conduct, though noting the absence of a guilty plea.
Saulius Daunaravicius was jailed for two years after pleading guilty to keeping and supplying anabolic steroids without a prescription from his family home in Saggart, Co Dublin. The drugs, valued at an estimated €69,000, were found during a search conducted by HPRA officer Alan Smullen and Gardaí on 23 September 2022. The search uncovered 78,689 tablets and 5,961 vials, including 9,040 tablets and 61 vials in a package addressed to his wife, Kristina Daunaraviciene. Daunaravicius, who had no prior convictions, admitted responsibility and claimed the drugs were for his use and friends. Kristina, also guilty, received a two‑year suspended sentence after a judge noted her cooperation, lack of criminal record, and family responsibilities. The case highlighted the dangers of unregulated anabolic steroid distribution.
The Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal of a 49‑year‑old man who had been convicted of raping his partner's seven‑year‑old son. The appellant argued that the trial was unfair because the child had been given incorrect information that the man had previously been jailed for raping a girl, and that this had influenced the child's initial complaint and interview. The Court found that the alleged erroneous information did not affect the fairness of the trial and that the trial judge had properly exercised her discretion to refuse a directed acquittal. The conviction, obtained at the Central Criminal Court in July 2024, remains in force. The man was sentenced in October 2022 to eight years' imprisonment for rape and three years and six months for sexual assault, to run concurrently, after the judge noted his position of trust and deception of the child. The Court of Appeal upheld the original verdict and sentencing.
In a hearing before the Workplace Relations Commission, John Maguire, chief executive of TripAdmit Ltd, explained that the travel‑technology start‑up, founded in 2019, has cut its workforce from 14 to seven employees due to a lack of investment funding. He said that if further funding cannot be secured, the remaining staff will also be let go. Maguire described the company's financial position, noting that it is loss‑making and that it has no HR department. He stated that Graziano D'Amato, a senior account manager who was dismissed in May 2023, was the first employee to be let go because his sales performance did not meet the company's aggressive targets. D'Amato claimed that the dismissal letter cited poor customer performance rather than his own sales figures. The adjudicator instructed D'Amato to submit evidence of job‑search activity and gave Maguire a deadline to respond. The decision will be issued later.
Erika Gould, 38, with 208 prior convictions, was sentenced to two months' imprisonment for common assault on her mother and harassment of her sister. On 12 May last year, while her mother was driving, Gould threw scrambled egg at her mother's face and punched her left eye. Within 24 hours she sent abusive texts to her sister and later entered the sister's apartment after 1 a.m., threatening and throwing a rock at a window, actions captured on the sister's Ring camera. Gould pleaded guilty to the assault and harassment. She has a serious alcohol problem and a borderline personality disorder diagnosis. She is currently serving a six‑month sentence for violence in a Garda station. The court ordered that she have no contact with her sister for ten years. Judge Martin Nolan noted her extensive offending history and the need to protect society.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, a 55‑year‑old man was found guilty of rape by a unanimous jury after a five‑day hearing. The accused had told Gardaí that he could have penetrated the complainant when he fell on her with his penis out, but later claimed the sex was consensual. He had also stated that the woman had performed oral sex on him while he said "no". The jury heard that the man had given multiple, conflicting accounts to Gardaí and that forensic DNA evidence linked him to the victim. The judge, Mr Justice Tony Hunt, rejected a bail‑continuation application, remanded the accused in custody and indicated that an immediate and substantial sentence would be imposed. The case was adjourned to March 1 for sentencing, with the court to consider mitigation factors such as the accused's lack of prior convictions. The victim's impact statement was also to be prepared.
Shane Cooney, aged 33, of St Anthony's Road, Rialto, Dublin, pleaded guilty to a robbery and a vicious, unprovoked attack on a neighbour on 17 July 2023. The victim was sitting outside his house drinking coffee when Cooney demanded his phone, then pulled him to the ground and repeatedly kicked and punched him. Cooney smashed the victim's phone, urinated on the front of the house and fled. The victim suffered psychological consequences, was afraid to leave his house, and temporarily relocated with his wife. Cooney, who has 117 previous convictions including robbery, attempted robbery and assault, was arrested at the scene and brought to Kilmainham Garda Station. Judge Patricia Ryan sentenced him to six years' imprisonment, suspending the final year on strict conditions, and backdated the sentence to 18 July 2023.
A man with over 60 previous convictions has been sentenced to 18 months in prison at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for making a series of hoax phone calls containing serious threats. Thomas McDonagh, aged 41 and of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to three emergency calls made on 15 August 2019 and a further false report on 26 August that year. The calls included threats to visit the home of a former State Pathologist armed with an AK-47 rifle, claims of explosives at Castlerea Prison and threats against a Ballaghadereen coroner's residence. Judge Martin Nolan stated that whilst the threats may have been implausible, emergency services were obliged to take precautions, which appeared to be McDonagh's intention. The judge noted McDonagh harboured a grievance against the State following his brother's death in custody four years prior. McDonagh made full admissions when interviewed in May 2021, attributing his actions to intoxication and distress around the anniversary of his brother's death. The defence submitted that McDonagh has since secured accommodation and undertaken rehabilitation steps.
In a court hearing on 14 February 2024, Garda David Currivan delivered a victim impact statement after suffering serious spinal injuries when hit by a banned driver, Charanand Flannery, who had 116 prior convictions. Currivan, who was at an M50 checkpoint dealing with a minor traffic infringement, was struck by Flannery's black Toyota Avensis, which accelerated toward him. The collision left Currivan with fractured vertebrae, nerve damage, severe back pain, and ongoing medical treatment, including 102 injections over 18 months. He has been unable to progress in his career and now works on restricted desk duty. Flannery pleaded guilty to reckless endangerment and possession of over €10,000 of cocaine, was sentenced to five and a half years in prison, and was disqualified from driving for five years. The judge described his behaviour as unforgivable and highlighted his long‑standing involvement in drug offences and prior convictions. The sentence also included a concurrent three‑year term for cocaine possession.
Lucy Ewins, a businesswoman who has lived in Ireland for over 30 years, has applied to the High Court for injunctions to stop a financial fund and its receiver from trespassing on or selling her Galway City home at The Rise, Knocknacarra. She alleges that the defendants' agents entered her residence, changed the locks, and are attempting to market the property for auction. Ewins also claims that a representative of the defendants stayed overnight in the sitting room and that the defendants have harassed her for years. She says the property has been her principal private residence since 2014 and that she lives there permanently after her marriage ended. Ewins seeks orders restraining the defendants from selling the property and from any further trespass or interference. The case was adjourned to a later court sitting after the judge allowed her to serve short‑notice proceedings on the defendants.
High Court proceedings brought by Garret Lawn, a driver from Portmarnock, against the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman have been resolved. Mr Lawn, represented by HG Carpendale Solicitors, challenged the Ombudsman's refusal to investigate a complaint regarding Bank of Ireland Mortgage Bank. The complaint alleged that the bank wrongfully commenced possession proceedings against his family home in 2018, causing distress and adversely affecting his credit rating. Although the bank withdrew the action in 2019 and offered compensation, the Ombudsman declined to investigate in April of last year, citing a lack of jurisdiction due to prior court involvement. Mr Lawn argued this was an error, contending the dispute had never been before a court and that the Ombudsman acted unreasonably and outside its powers. Following discussions, the matter was resolved before Ms Justice Niamh Hyland. The Ombudsman consented to an order quashing its decision not to investigate the complaint. The court accepted that the proceedings were resolved on these terms, effectively overturning the initial refusal to probe the alleged wrongful bid to seize the property.
In a High Court hearing on 14 February 2024, the liquidators of PFS Card Services Ireland Ltd (PCSIL) confirmed that the company, owned by the Australian fintech group EML, had been receiving about 20,000 daily calls from customers who could not redeem money from prepaid cards. The creditors, Creacard SA and Klopercom Limited (trading as Veritas), claimed they were owed €15 million and expressed concerns over customers' inability to activate funds and over a purported sale of the company's secure online portal to its shareholder Prepaid Financial Services (Ireland Limited) two days before liquidation. The liquidators, Kieran Wallace and Andrew O'Leary, were appointed provisional liquidators in March and confirmed as official liquidators by Justice Liam Kennedy. They acknowledged the creditors' concerns, began addressing them, and will seek independent advice on the asset sale.
The Workplace Relations Commission ordered Layer Digital Solutions Ltd, trading as Layer, to pay former quality assurance manager Polina Andreeva €21,307.67 for two months' unpaid salary at €6,916.66 a month and a further four weeks' pay in lieu of notice. Andreeva resigned on 29 May 2023 after an "unexplained failure" to pay her salary for the preceding two months, and she was not paid during her four‑week notice period. The adjudicator found the company had made an unlawful deduction from her €1,596.15‑a‑week contracted salary for April 2023 up to 29 May 2023. He awarded €1,730.22 for non‑payment of unused annual leave entitlements, and €6,384.60 for the failure to pay her during the notice period. The total awards against Layer for this claim amount to €21,307.67.
Patrick McDonagh, aged 52, was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of 73‑year‑old neighbour Peter McDonald on 25 July 2020. McDonagh used a machete and a knife to stab, slash and chop McDonald inside his own home on Whitechapel Road, Blanchardstown. The Central Criminal Court judge, Mr Justice Michael MacGrath, described the killing as merciless, ferocious and sustained, noting the shock and trauma to neighbours, paramedics and gardai. McDonagh pleaded not guilty to murder and guilty to manslaughter, claiming diminished responsibility due to a mental disorder. The defence presented psychiatric evidence of schizophrenia, while the Director of Public Prosecutions argued the symptoms were likely due to cannabis use and malingering. A jury unanimously rejected the defence and found McDonagh guilty of murder. The judge imposed a mandatory life sentence, citing the brutality of the attack and the victim's quiet, kind nature.
Lisa Lee, 41, was given a four‑year sentence for discarding a knife used in the fatal stabbing of Isaac Horgan, with two years suspended on the condition of good behaviour for three years after release. She had 17 prior convictions, including an attack on a female Garda, and had been warned to "put her life and house in order." Lee, who has no fixed abode and was formerly at Depaul Homeless Hostel, failed to appear at a Central Criminal Court hearing this morning, breaching the conditions of her suspended sentence. Judge Tony Hunt issued a bench warrant for her arrest, noting that her failure to attend court and alleged breaches of the Criminal Justice Public Order Act and a mobile‑phone theft claim were serious. The judge expressed frustration at what he described as "misplaced sympathy" for Lee, stating he would seek to compel her attendance and that further tolerance would not be extended. Lisa Lee was found guilty.
Megan O'Shaughnessy, a 32‑year‑old academic, was given a three‑month suspended sentence after pleading guilty to careless driving that caused serious bodily harm to a 75‑year‑old man on Emmet Road, Dublin 8, on 27 January 2022. The incident occurred when O'Shaughnessy was driving her Nissan Micra home at about 45 km/h and did not notice the elderly pedestrian crossing. The victim suffered a broken wrist and arm, was treated in hospital for four days, and later re‑admitted for pain and a delusional episode. O'Shaughnessy had no prior convictions, the vehicle was insured and had passed its NCT, and she was not using her phone or speeding. The judge noted her excellent mitigation, describing her as dedicated and exemplary, and accepted her guilty plea and cooperation as "great assistance" to the investigation. The sentence was suspended in full on strict conditions. The court recorded that the victim remains in hospital but is doing well.
James Connors, 35, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment after pleading guilty to offering a 14‑year‑old girl €1,000 for sex in a Dublin suburb on 6 June 2021. Connors approached the girl while she waited for her mother in a hotel, told her he would give her money after they had "made love", and continued to talk to her until she fled. The girl's mother confronted Connors, who then attacked her, punching and kicking her in a nearby park before attempting to escape. Connors was arrested after Garda Amber Dunne and a passerby intervened. He claimed he did not realise the girl's age and that he had only offered money. The court noted his 71 prior convictions and his history of substance misuse. Judge Martin Nolan imposed the custodial sentence, citing Connors' behaviour and the seriousness of the offence.
Stephen O'Reilly, 44, of Upper Churchtown Road, Dublin, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to robbing two garages in May 2021 and attempting to rob a Spar shop in June 2021, and to a public order offence and driving without insurance or a licence in April 2020. Judge Orla Crowe imposed a global sentence of four years and eight months, back‑dated to 21 October 2022, with the final six months suspended on strict conditions. The sentence includes a four‑year driving disqualification. O'Reilly was already in 24‑hour lock‑up at Midlands Prison since June 2021 and is taking significant medication. The judge noted his use of weapons, threats of violence, and the escalation of his offending, while considering his guilty pleas, personal circumstances, attempts to address addiction and expressions of remorse. The sentence reflects the aggravating features of his previous convictions, the impact on victims, and his history of drug use and mental health issues.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 13 February 2024, Michael Quinn, aged 23, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, possession of a hurley, and three counts of assault at Ennafort Roard, Raheny, on 27 June 2018, and to stealing a Google Pixel phone at Harmonstown Dart Station. Quinn, who has 20 prior convictions, was sentenced to three and a half years, with the final 12 months suspended under strict conditions. The court heard that Quinn had repeatedly struck the victim with a child's hurley after refusing to return the stolen phone, causing injuries to the victim's jaw, left arm, and hip. The victim's phone, valued at €730, was not recovered. Quinn was intoxicated at the time and had a history of drug addiction and cognitive impairment. The judge noted Quinn's guilty plea and young age as mitigating factors but imposed a custodial sentence back‑dated to 22 July 2023.
Arthur Batistis, 51, of Skerries, was sentenced to ten months' imprisonment by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for theft and deception. He stole €17,000 in pandemic unemployment payments and €10,000 in jobseeker's allowance between January 2021 and February 2022, despite not being entitled to either. Batistis also fraudulently obtained an American customer's card details over the phone to buy flowers, then processed unauthorised payments as legitimate sales and pocketed the cash. The theft was discovered when the victim reported the card charges, leading Gardaí to uncover his welfare fraud. Arrested in October 2022, Batistis admitted the offences and cooperated with the investigation. He had no prior convictions and a good work history, but the judge described the theft as reprehensible and imposed the prison term. Arthur Batistis pleaded guilty.
A father who had previously lost a discrimination case against his child's school has filed a second claim over the school's policy for opting out of religious education. He rejected the school's offer that two of his children could attend another class during religion lessons, arguing that this contradicted the school's earlier stance that allowing students to leave their base class would breach its fire‑safety policy. The father contends that the school's bespoke arrangements for non‑religious students violate the Education Act's requirement to publish standard opt‑out procedures in the admissions policy. He claims the school treats non‑religious parents less favourably than religious ones. The school's barrister says the father is attempting to re‑litigate a previous refusal and that the school has complied with the law. The Workplace Relations Commission will issue a decision in writing.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, a 55‑year‑old man accused of raping his wife's friend pleaded not guilty to one count of rape. He testified that he and the complainant had consensual sex that night. Prosecuting barrister Sean Gillane SC argued the accused's defence was "obviously untrue", likening it to a horse's kick if whispered. Gillane highlighted the complainant's reluctance to be walked home, her post‑incident washing, and her friend's testimony of trauma as evidence of rape. Defence counsel Dominic McGinn SC urged jurors to view the case dispassionately, noting the accused's admission of lying to Gardaí and his continued contact with the complainant as inconsistent with a violent assault. The jury paused deliberations for the day, to resume the next morning. The case remains at the trial stage.
Samy Taib, aged 22, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended for two years, for a series of offences including assault, coercive control, endangerment and dangerous driving. The court noted that Taib's victim endured significant psychological and physical harm, including permanent damage to her foot. Taib pleaded guilty to two counts of assault causing harm, one count of coercive control, and several traffic offences. He was found to have a history of mental health issues, diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia after the offences, and was taking medication at sentencing. His defence argued that his undiagnosed mental state should have led to a greater reduction in the sentence. The Court of Appeal considered the mitigating factors but did not alter the imposed term, leaving the suspended portion and custodial period unchanged. The case remains at the appeal stage.
Brian Fitzpatrick, a senior Vice President at Bocomm Aviation Leasing Ireland, has filed High Court proceedings against his employer after it demanded he work several days a week from its Dublin office instead of working remotely from his home in Danganbrack, Quin, Co Clare. Fitzpatrick says the company had no prior issue with his remote work and that the demand arose several months ago. He claims the company initiated a disciplinary process in August over his refusal to work from Dublin, labeling it "completely out of the blue." Fitzpatrick also alleges the company wrongfully withheld his annual bonus, generally over €200,000, and has been investigating him over an alleged historical expenses claim. He seeks an injunction to prevent sanctions, to halt the investigation, and to compel payment of salary, benefits, and the bonus. Mr Justice Rory Mulchay granted Fitzpatrick permission to serve short‑notice injunction proceedings, with the case set to return later this week.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Ivan Kelly, aged 17 at the time of the offence, was sentenced to four years and nine months' imprisonment, with the final nine months suspended on strict conditions. The judge noted the rape involved force, the victim's distress from Kelly's extradition, and his 27 prior convictions. Mitigating factors included his youth, personal circumstances and fatherhood. The court imposed a prohibition on any contact with the victim. The victim, who was 23 when she was raped, described the offender's apology letter as "disingenuous" and said he showed no remorse during the trial. She detailed the assault, her subsequent physical injuries, emotional trauma, drug use and the lasting impact on her life. The sentencing hearing was conducted by Mr Justice Michael MacGrath. The sentence was back‑dated to Kelly's entry into custody on 29 June 2022. Ivan Kelly pleaded not guilty.
In a sentencing hearing, Judge Mary Ellen Ring imposed a six‑year jail term on Andrew Lacey, 35, for the fatal stabbing of Derek Reddin, 31, in Loughlinstown. The judge also suspended 18 months of the sentence, citing the impact on Lacey's children, who would be left fatherless during critical developmental years. Lacey had pleaded not guilty to murder but was found guilty of manslaughter by a jury. The Court of Appeal heard arguments from the DPP's counsel, who contended that the suspension constituted an error in principle, and from Lacey's counsel, who defended the judge's discretion. The appeal was adjourned to March 1, with the court reserving judgment on the suspension issue. The case highlights the judge's consideration of family circumstances in sentencing.
Christina Anderson, 41, of Brownsbarn Wood, Kingswood, Dublin 22, was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment for the murder of Gareth Kelly, 38, who she stabbed five times outside her home on 25 February 2020. She had pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, but the Director of Public Prosecutions accepted a plea of guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility due to a bipolar affective disorder. The State also rejected cannabis intoxication as a defence. In the Court of Appeal, the appeal was dismissed. Justice Isobel Kennedy upheld the eight‑year sentence, noting that the original judge had reduced the headline manslaughter term from 20 to 13 years, then to 11 years with a three‑year suspended portion, and that the final sentence reflected Anderson's mental condition and mitigating factors. The appeal court found no error in the sentencing decision.
A crane hire company, Gabriel O'Brien Crane Hire Ltd, was ordered to pay €14,000 to Enda Fox after the Workplace Relations Commission found the dismissal of Fox, who was recovering from a broken pelvis, to be an egregious breach of employment law. Fox, who fell from a crane in June 2022 and was declared fit to return to work, was terminated on 1 August 2022 after he had submitted sick notes and requested a form to claim sick pay. The company's representatives denied all claims of discrimination. The adjudicator noted the company's failure to provide reasonable accommodation and the lack of fair procedures, awarding Fox €10,000 for discrimination and an additional €4,000 for breach of the Terms of Employment Information Act 1994, bringing the total to €14,000. The case highlighted the company's disregard for disability rights and employment obligations.
A 51‑year‑old Offaly man pleaded guilty in the Central Criminal Court to 27 offences, including oral and anal rape and sexual assault, committed against a boy aged 10 to 14 between 2015 and 2019 in 11 locations such as the victim's home, a boat and vehicles. The boy, now 18, gave a victim impact statement describing the abuse, his fear of the perpetrator's guns, and the emotional toll that has left him hyper‑vigilant and angry. The victim's mother also gave a statement, calling the man a monster and demanding justice for the trauma inflicted on her son. The court revoked the man's bail and remanded him in custody pending sentencing on 11 March. The case highlights the prolonged nature of the abuse and the ongoing impact on the victim and his family.
Karl Duggan, 38, was sentenced to six years in prison by Judge Martin Nolan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to two counts of possessing the proceeds of crime, one count of possessing cocaine for sale or supply, and one count of possessing a car fitted with a concealment. The offences, which occurred on January 17, 2021, involved €1.6 million in cash hidden in secret compartments in two vehicles and €11,000 worth of drugs found at his Raheny apartment. Duggan had fled the jurisdiction following his arrest but returned voluntarily after two years. The judge stated that Duggan deserved a severe sentence due to his involvement in money laundering and drug trafficking, noting signs of wealth associated with the criminality. Defence counsel Paul Comiskey O'Keeffe BL highlighted Duggan's lack of previous convictions, his efforts to become drug-free, and personal hardships including the death of his brother and father. The court accepted these mitigating factors but maintained that the severity of the offences warranted a custodial sentence. Duggan was jailed for six years, with no suspended portion or specific conditions detailed in the finalisation.
Sean Mooney, 40, and John Brown, 38, pleaded guilty to possessing drugs with intent to sell or supply on 17 August 2016. Garda investigation found Mooney's fingerprints on a Lidl shopping bag containing 27 g of heroin (value €3,780) and Brown's fingerprints on two drug bags in a shed at a Barry Drive property, one bag holding 122.9 g of heroin (value €17,206) and another a kilo of cannabis (value €20,000). Mooney, who has 34 prior convictions, claimed his defence counsel collaborated with Gardaí to secure a guilty plea. Judge Martina Baxter sentenced Mooney to 2½ years' imprisonment, suspending the final 12 months on strict conditions, and Brown to 4 years' imprisonment, suspending the final 18 months. The judge cited the drug values, prior convictions and community impact as aggravating factors, while noting the defendants' remorse and community standing as mitigating factors.
Sean Downes, 40, pleaded guilty to one count of defilement of a child under 17 at a Dublin address in April 2021. The victim, a 16‑year‑old non‑binary teenager under State care, was intoxicated and later reported the assault. Forensic DNA matched the teenager to a sample from Downes' boxer shorts. Downes had 23 prior convictions. Mr Justice David Keane set a headline sentence of five years, reduced to four years, and suspended the final two years. He imposed a two‑year post‑release supervision order, requiring engagement with the Probation Service and any suitable treatment programmes. The teenager read a victim impact statement, expressing ongoing distress and a desire for the pronoun "he." Downes was ordered to comply with the supervision order and treatment requirements. The case remains at the sentencing stage.
A 28-year-old man pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to two counts of rape and one count of attempted rape committed between January and August 2021. The court heard that the defendant, who had been remanded in custody since August 2021, attacked three women working as escorts at his residence. During the incidents, he allegedly used a rope, hammer, and screwdriver to threaten and assault the complainants. Although originally facing 15 counts, a proposal was made on the first day of the trial, which the Director of Public Prosecutions accepted on the basis that full facts would be outlined during sentencing. The defendant also pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine for sale or supply, for which he received a suspended sentence. Mr Justice Tony Hunt adjourned the case to April 8, when victim impact statements and a plea of mitigation will be heard. The matter was adjourned and is not yet concluded.
Rodney de Khors, a 54‑year‑old former League of Ireland footballer, was sentenced to 16 months in jail after pleading guilty to one count of harassing a man he had never met. Between August 2019 and August 2020, de Khors used the Twitter account IrishSteve@BadboyDublin to post doctored images and false allegations, calling the victim a paedophile, sexual predator and danger to women and children. The victim, who had a child with the woman who encouraged the harassment, said the campaign was a "living nightmare" that caused severe anxiety, depression and PTSD. De Khors claimed he was acting as a "good Samaritan" for the woman, who alleged the victim was not providing adequate child support. The court noted de Khors had no prior convictions and was at low risk of re‑offending. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a three‑year sentence, suspending the final 20 months, and ordered psychiatric care while in custody.
A community group and a Catholic priest have resolved High Court proceedings concerning public access to Castlegoland beach in County Donegal. Save our Beach at Castlegoland CLG and Fr John Moore had challenged works at the Lake House Hotel and Portnoo Golf Club, claiming they obstructed established rights of way to the shore and lacked planning permission. The applicants argued the developments had damaged the scenic amenity and local ecology. The respondents, including businessmen Liam and Paul McDevitt of Knather Acquisitions Unlimited, and hotel owner Midge Holdings Limited, denied wrongdoing. Before Ms Justice Siobhan Phelan, the parties reached an agreed settlement. Public access to the beach has been restored. The respondents agreed to remove electric fencing and monitoring equipment within weeks and to expedite a planning appeal with An Bord Pleanála. Removal of screen berms and a water storage tank is stayed for one year to allow regularisation of their planning status. The hotel has agreed not to open to the public during this period. The applicants recovered their legal costs.
An application seeking Gemma O'Doherty's possible committal to prison for alleged contempt of court has been adjourned for one week by Mr Justice Mark Sanfey in the High Court. The motion, brought by Edel Campbell from Kingscourt, County Cavan, alleges that Ms O'Doherty breached court orders by harassing Ms Campbell and using images of her late son Diego without consent. Ms O'Doherty was absent from proceedings on Monday, with the court informed she is currently out of the jurisdiction. The judge noted she had been made aware of the application through email service of court documents. Ms Campbell's counsel argued there could be no doubt of Ms O'Doherty's knowledge of the proceedings. The adjournment was granted to allow Ms Campbell's legal team to make submissions on whether email service suffices for a motion that could result in committal for contempt. Ms O'Doherty denies the allegations. The case also involves Ms Campbell's underlying claim that Ms O'Doherty unlawfully published her son's image in connection with Covid-19 vaccination claims.
Joseph Hillen, 29, was taken back into custody following an appeal regarding the activation of his suspended sentence. Hillen was originally convicted by a ten-to-two majority jury of the manslaughter of Martin Mulligan in 2018. He was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment with the final year suspended. The State appealed this sentence as unduly lenient, and in November 2019, the Court of Appeal increased the term to nine years, with the final 12 months suspended. Hillen was released from Mountjoy prison on March 30, 2022, after serving five years and 11 months. Two weeks later, on April 14, 2023, he allegedly drove a car at his mother, assaulted her, and committed other offences. He pleaded guilty at Lisburn Magistrates Court to assaulting his mother, criminal damage, dangerous driving, assaulting a police officer, possession of cocaine, driving while unfit, aggravated theft, and driving without a licence or insurance. In July 2023, he received an eight-month fully suspended sentence. The State subsequently applied to activate the suspended portion of his manslaughter sentence under Section 99 of the Criminal Justice Act. On January 29, 2024, Ms Justice Creedon activated nine months of the 12-month suspended sentence, resulting in Hillen being taken back into custody.
In February 2021, former Terenure College rugby coach John McClean, aged 79, was convicted of sexually abusing 23 pupils and sentenced to four years. In February 2023, he was convicted of further abuse of 22 pupils and received an additional four‑year sentence, to run consecutively, making a total of 12 years. The State argued that a concurrent sentence would not reflect the suffering of the 22 new victims. McClean's sentences were imposed by Judge Pauline Codd and Judge Martin Nolan, respectively, with the second term set to begin after the first term ends in February 2027. McClean will be about 84 upon release. The case involved indecent assault and sexual assault between 1971 and 1993 while he was a teacher and rugby coach at Terenure College. The Court of Appeal was urged to consider whether the consecutive sentences were fair and just.
Patrick McDonagh, aged 52, was found guilty of murder after a two‑week trial at the Central Criminal Court. He stabbed, slashed and chopped 73‑year‑old Peter McDonald with a machete and a knife, leaving the victim so badly injured that he was identified by dental records. A jury unanimously rejected McDonagh's defence that an acute episode of schizophrenia substantially diminished his responsibility. The prosecution argued that any mental abnormality would likely be due to cannabis use and that McDonagh's symptoms were malingering. McDonagh had pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. He will be sentenced to life imprisonment by Mr Justice Michael MacGrath on Wednesday. Witnesses described McDonald as a gentle man who kept to himself and lived with cats. The trial included testimony from two psychiatrists with differing views on McDonagh's mental state.
A 39‑year‑old man was sentenced to seven years in prison, with the final 12 months suspended, for raping an international protection applicant at an accommodation centre in Leinster. The offence occurred on the night of 6 June 2022, after a birthday party where the victim, aged 26, was intoxicated. She woke in a different bedroom with the man, discovered semen and other evidence of sexual activity, and later testified that she had not consented. The defendant pleaded guilty, admitted the lack of consent, and made a full apology in court. The judge, Ms Justice Eileen Creedon, noted the victim's profound negative impact, stigma, and isolation, and highlighted the breach of trust in their friendship. The defendant had no prior convictions and was assessed as low risk of re‑offending. The sentence was back‑dated to 10 June 2022 when he entered custody.
Adam Murphy, aged 22, pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Ian McDonnell on 23 January 2022. Murphy and co‑accused Keith McCormick Smith, also 22, were involved in a spree of vehicle thefts. On the day in question, Murphy stole McDonnell's car while he was at work, drove off with McDonnell on the bonnet, and threw him from the bonnet onto the road where he died shortly after. The court heard CCTV footage of the incident and the subsequent disposal of McDonnell's vehicle. Judge Dara Hayes sentenced Murphy to 12 years' imprisonment, suspending the final 2½ years on strict conditions, and disqualified him from driving for 12 years. McCormick‑Smith received a three‑year, two‑month sentence, with the final 12 months suspended, and a seven‑year driving disqualification.
An agency social worker, Jonathon Joyce, claimed he lost a job offer after a Health Services Executive (HSE) manager gave an adverse reference to a recruitment agency. He said the reference led to him being unable to work as a social worker and forced him to take lower‑paid work as a healthcare assistant. Joyce worked for the HSE's Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) on a series of contracts from March 2021 to December 2022, resigning in June 2022 and returning as maternity cover. He alleged that his manager accused him of putting patients at risk for not attending work, gave him one week's notice of dismissal in December 2022, and that the reference contained negative comments about his performance and team relationships. The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) found Joyce had less than the 12 months of continuous service required for the Unfair Dismissals Act to apply, and rejected his claim on jurisdictional grounds.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 9 February 2024, a 55‑year‑old Dublin man denied that he had a "sexual fixation" on the woman he is accused of raping. He told the jury that he and the complainant had consensual sex that night, describing a series of events that included kissing, flirting and oral sex. He said the woman had taken his penis in her mouth and that they had later had consensual intercourse. The accused admitted giving Gardaí multiple versions of the events, some of which were false, and that he had lied about not remembering the sex. He claimed he was panicked and embarrassed, and that he and the complainant had agreed to keep the incident private. The trial continues. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 9 February 2024, Cal Redmond, aged 26, pleaded guilty to reckless endangerment and dangerous driving for incidents on 24 July 2018 in Foutunestown Way and Bawnlea Avenue. Redmond had 15 prior convictions, two driving bans and a suspended sentence at the time. A Garda patrol car, en route to a stabbing incident, was diverted when Redmond was observed driving 80‑100 km/h, making a sudden left turn that forced two children to jump out of the way, driving on the wrong side of the road and through red lights. He was arrested after stopping in Bawnlea Avenue and running into a garden. The court noted his mental health difficulties and ADHD, and that he was attempting to turn his life around.