A Commercial Court case involving former Morgan Stanley broker Jeffrey Leo has been adjourned to the end of the month after the plaintiffs' lawyers attempted to remove Wenning Holdings Ltd from the proceedings. The case centres on allegations that Leo misappropriated US$60m (€58m) given by American couple Mary and James Wenning to invest in a portfolio of Irish properties, including Dundrum House Hotel, Pillo Hotel, Tullamaine Castle, Golden Vale Hotel, Drumonna House, Celbridge Manor and Powerscourt Arms Hotel. The Wenning couple claim the money was advanced as a loan or in exchange for equity, while Leo denies the claims. Liquidator Kieran Wallace seeks orders making Leo personally liable for Wenning Holdings' debts, against former auditor Colm Malone, and against Leo Financial Investments Ltd and Steelworks Investments Ltd. The court noted that the removal of Wenning Holdings was part of a "narrowing" of proceedings that did not prejudice the defence.
David Slattery, a 50-year-old married man from Celbridge, Co Kildare, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He pleaded guilty to one count of obtaining a child for sexual exploitation and one count of possessing child sexual abuse material, known in law as child pornography, on dates in 2023. The court heard that Slattery befriended a 16-year-old girl on Snapchat, providing her with money, alcohol, and drugs in exchange for sexual favours, including taking her to hotels on two occasions. Additionally, gardaí discovered two images and two videos of a 13-year-old child on his device during a search. Slattery claimed he believed both victims were 17. Judge Martin Nolan noted the defendant's remorse and mitigation, including his rehabilitation from a cocaine addiction, but stated that Slattery "must suffer a prison term for what he did." The judge imposed a sentence of three years. The victim, who attended the hearing, read a statement describing the lasting trauma and loss of trust she experienced. Slattery has three previous convictions for minor road traffic offences. The matter was finalised with the imposition of this custodial sentence.
Oisin Mullen, 25, of Rush, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after an unprovoked road‑rage incident on Upper Main Street, Rush, on 25 May 2023. While a passenger in a Volkswagen Golf, he repeatedly punched, kicked and stomped on a female driver who had made a U‑turn at a designated spot. The driver's two children witnessed the assault and shouted at Mullen to stop. Mullen claimed self‑defence, but the court heard he had no prior convictions and that the victim suffered head injuries and abrasions. Judge Martin Nolan described the attack as unprovoked, noted Mullen's anger‑management issues, and imposed a two‑year suspended sentence with strict conditions. Mullen was ordered to pay €3 000 to the Gardaí and an additional €500 within three months, with the total offered to the victim or to charity if declined. No jail time was imposed.
Amy McQuaid, 30, was arrested at Dublin Airport on 4 September 2024 after X‑ray revealed 29.8 kg of cannabis worth €597,000 in her luggage. She claimed she believed the bags contained gold and watches, a statement her barrister described as "patent nonsense". McQuaid accepted that the bags were in her control but insisted they were not hers. She had travelled to Thailand with her then‑partner, who was later jailed for four and a half years for a similar offence. McQuaid was interviewed three times and said she was paid £4,000 and given a holiday in Thailand. The court found her explanation to be "transparent and stupid" and, after considering mitigating factors, imposed a sentence of four years and three months, back‑dated to her arrest. The sentence is to be served in a foreign jurisdiction.
A 22‑year‑old man, Mahamud Ilyas, was found dead in a field on 10 December 2022 after a fight over a stolen bag of cannabis. Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster testified that Ilyas sustained depressed skull fractures typical of hammer blows, along with multiple lacerations, bruises and scratches consistent with blunt‑force trauma. She noted extensive bruising to the face and body, and that the body was likely dragged after death. No evidence of sharp injuries or intoxication was found. The cause of death was blunt‑force trauma to the head. The accused, Viorel Doroscan (23) and Otniel Richardo Clejan (24), plead not guilty to the murder charge. The trial, held in the Central Criminal Court, continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and a jury. Lorenzo Cantaragiu (21) faces separate charges and also pleads not guilty.
Masood Ur Rehman, a tandoori chef who worked for nearly fourteen years in a Dublin‑based restaurant without paid holidays, won a €55,000 award from the Workplace Relations Commission. The decision, dated 26 March, followed the restaurant's closure in January 2021. Shonagh Byrne of Siptu represented Mr Rehman at hearings in 2022 and 2023, arguing that despite the restaurant's name changing repeatedly, he was employed by the same person at the same location throughout. Mr Rehman provided evidence, with an Urdu interpreter, that he worked for the same family through a series of different companies. Adjudicator Conor Stokes found the evidence credible and ruled that Mr Rehman had continuous employment for over thirteen years.
Jason Wosser, also known as Jason Bonney, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to a number of charges including robbery, attempted robbery, and threats to kill or cause serious harm. Judge Elma Sheahan imposed a 10-year sentence but suspended the final year on strict conditions. Prosecution counsel Fiona Pekaar BL alleged that Wosser robbed two taxi drivers on separate occasions, threatening one with a knife and punching another in the face. He was also accused of kicking a man in Smithfield Square and robbing a student of his phone in Merchant's Arch. Wosser has 96 previous convictions. Defence counsel Ian Woodland BL described the defendant as deeply apologetic, citing a drug addiction that began at age 12 following his brother's death in a house fire, as well as ADHD and dyslexia. Judge Sheahan noted that two prior robberies involved vulnerable young men and gratuitous violence. She identified aggravating factors, including the seriousness and repeated nature of the offending, the fact that Wosser was on bail, and the harm caused to the injured parties. The judge acknowledged the value of the early plea to the victims and noted the defendant's desire to seek employment upon release, though she had no discretion over his place of imprisonment.
Daniel Mofiyinfoluwa Kotun-Akinbode, a 24-year-old from Balbriggan, Co Dublin, appeared before the District Court Appeals Court to challenge a one-year driving disqualification. He had been convicted in his absence at Balbriggan District Court for holding a phone while driving, contrary to section 3(1) of the Road Traffic Act 2006, and was sentenced to a one-year ban and a €300 fine. The appeal arose after Kotun-Akinbode was stopped by Garda Cian O'Connor in Balbriggan on April 13, 2024, for an unrelated matter. While the vehicle was parked with the engine running, the appellant allegedly took out his phone to record the interaction. Garda O'Connor stated he informed the driver twice that using a phone was an offence even if the car was not in motion. Defence counsel Richard Brady BL accepted that the vehicle did not need to be in motion for the law to be breached but appealed on the severity of the sentence alone, arguing the punishment was disproportionate. Judge Fiona O'Sullivan affirmed the District Court's conviction and the €300 fine but lifted the one-year disqualification from driving.
A Nigerian woman has been sentenced to three years' imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to making false statements to gardaí. The 34-year-old woman arrived at Store Street Garda Station in October 2019 claiming she had been trafficked to Ireland and forced into prostitution. Over subsequent months, she provided five statements detailing her alleged captivity in Balbriggan. Gardaí conducted an extensive investigation spanning hundreds of hours, including searches of the area and CCTV analysis. Investigation ultimately revealed the account was fabricated. Handwriting experts linked documentation found in her hostel accommodation and a discovered diary to the woman. Evidence from bank records and CCTV footage contradicted her narrative. The woman, previously resident in Carrickmacross, Monaghan, pleaded guilty to three counts of knowingly making false statements between October 2019 and December 2020. Judge Ronan Munro described her actions as premeditated and calculated, noting they diverted resources from genuine victims and undermined legitimate trafficking complaints.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court convicted 23‑year‑old Brian Ibe of murdering 65‑year‑old Peter Kennedy and assaulting Garda Brendan O'Donnell. Ibe had pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to both charges. The jury found him guilty after deliberating for just under seven hours. The trial described how Kennedy had taken Ibe and his mother into his home after learning of their homelessness, and how Ibe had allegedly stabbed Kennedy with a knife while Kennedy was in his bedroom. Ibe's defence presented psychiatric evidence that he suffered from schizophrenia and was psychotic at the time of the assault, while the prosecution argued he had a dissocial personality disorder and that his actions were goal‑directed. The judge, Justice Melanie Greally, instructed the jury to apply healthy skepticism to expert testimony. Ibe remains remanded in custody awaiting sentencing, where he faces a mandatory life sentence.
In a Galway Circuit Criminal Court trial, a 26‑year‑old man charged with human trafficking, the organisation of prostitution and coercive control was told to the jury that he lived off his partner as a "cash cow". The prosecution, led by Patricia McLaughlin SC, described the complainant as an escort and lap dancer who worked from 11 am until midnight, earning money that the accused controlled. She claimed the accused did not seek employment and instead relied on her earnings, which were deposited in his bank account. The defence, represented by Delia Flynn SC, argued that the complainant's allegations lacked evidence and that she was aware of her rights and conducted her business voluntarily. The trial, presided over by Judge Brian O'Callaghan, continues with the jury to decide the man's guilt. The unnamed 26-year-old pleaded not guilty.
Jonathan Leonard, 48, was brought before Dún Laoghaire District Court on Wednesday for an alleged armed robbery at Ballybrack Medical Hall on 8 April. He is accused of entering the pharmacy at about 5:30 pm, wearing dark clothing, a black snood, gloves and a black puffer jacket, and of demanding money from staff with a flick knife. CCTV footage shows him leaving the pharmacy, walking through Ballybrack village and into Daleview Park, where he was seen removing the snood, and later returning to a nearby hostel. Gardaí recovered a black puffer jacket but the gloves, snood and knife remain missing. They also found €420 in cash, three bags of crack cocaine and a crack pipe on Leonard. He faces robbery charges under Section 14 of the Criminal Justice Act and drug offences under Section 3 of the Misuse of Drugs Act.
Erika Gould, 39, of Kilmacud, was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to three years' imprisonment, with the final two and a half years suspended on strict conditions. The sentence follows her guilty plea for harassing a neighbouring couple from June 2020 to May 2023, during which she shouted threats from her back window, brandished a phone, threatened to petrol‑bomb the house, and made threats against the couple's children. She also threw empty bottles and sticks into their garden and called the fire brigade falsely. Gould has 209 prior convictions, including assault, threats to kill and criminal damage, most of which were alcohol‑related. She was previously jailed in June 2021 and released in October 2021, after which she continued to make threatening calls. The court noted her acute mental‑health diagnosis and ordered her to be supervised by the Probation Services upon release. The sentence reflects her history of harassment and the impact on the victims.
Egidijus Stasaitis, 41, of Mount Drynam Avenue, Kinsealy, Swords, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing serious harm after illegally turning across a junction at Pinnock Hill on 25 September 2023. He struck a motorcyclist who suffered a broken pelvis, wrist, ankle and finger, and was still in rehabilitation two and a half months later. Stasaitis was travelling from the opposite direction, made an illegal right turn across a double white line in a 60 km/h zone, and hit the rider who had entered the bus lane. CCTV showed Stasaitis's BMW was written off. Garda Mark Gandola, who witnessed the crash, testified that the rider was travelling at excessive speed and that Stasaitis had no intoxication. Judge Martin Nolan acknowledged the rider's serious injuries and Stasaitis's lack of prior convictions, noting his temporary lapse of judgement. He imposed a 20‑month sentence, suspended in full on strict conditions. The court did not hear the speeds of either party.
Barry O'Brien‑Lynch, an estate agent, claimed he was unfairly dismissed by ES Reilly Estates Ltd (Sherry Fitzgerald Reilly). The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) found it more likely than not that he had resigned during a phone call with his boss, Ed Reilly, on 17 February 2023. O'Brien‑Lynch said he had said, "I don't feel like going into work today. I'm going to turn around and go home," and later added, "I've enough of this. I'm done, I'm outta here." Reilly described the conversation as operational and said O'Brien‑Lynch had left the job. O'Brien‑Lynch did not attend work the following Monday, and the company did not expect him to return. The WRC concluded he had resigned, not been dismissed, and dismissed his claim for unfair dismissal. The decision was made by adjudication officer David James Murphy. The case involved no further legal outcomes beyond the WRC ruling.
Luke McKee, aged 23, had a six‑month jail sentence overturned on appeal after he pleaded guilty to producing a knife contrary to section 11 of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act, 1990. McKee, who had completed his Leaving Certificate while living in a homeless hostel and was due to start an apprenticeship, was found with an unopened Stanley blade on a Centra shop floor in Dublin 2 on 1 December 2022. He entered the shop to break up a fight between two men, briefly produced the blade, but did not use it or wave it. The District Court Appeals Court, hearing the case, fully suspended the nine‑month sentence (three months suspended) for 18 months, requiring good behaviour and an anger‑management course. A €300 payment was made to the injured party. The case was heard in the District Court Appeals Court.
In a case heard in Tallaght District Court, a clothes shop owner was charged under Section 45 of the Criminal Justice (Sexual Offences) Act for allegedly lifting a woman's skirt and making a sexually explicit remark about her "beautiful pussy" while also making a suggestive hand gesture. The incident, reported to have occurred on 7 January 2022 in a Dublin shop, involved no physical contact. Garda Sergeant Ruth Finnegan presented the evidence, noting the alleged lifting and comment. The accused, represented by solicitor Michael Hennessy, pleaded not guilty and requested that the case be heard in a higher court with a judge and jury, arguing that the act was part of his job in alterations. Judge John Brennan denied this request, ruling that the offence was too minor for a higher court and that the State should not incur undue expense.
Levi McCarthy, 33, was sentenced to six and a half years in prison for a campaign of violence against his partner, Victoria Keogh, between July 2021 and July 2023. The court found him guilty of coercive control, assault causing harm, making threats to kill or cause serious harm, perverting the course of justice and robbery. McCarthy had previously been convicted of burglary of Keogh's parents' home and other offences, including a French conviction for threatening a former partner. During the period of coercive control, he repeatedly beat Keogh, threatened to knife her dead, and put a bullet in her head. He also sent intimidating letters to Keogh and her parents while on remand. The judge imposed a headline sentence of nine years, a four‑year term for coercive control, and a consecutive two‑and‑a‑half‑year term for assault, and ordered a 15‑year prohibition on contact with Keogh and her family.
A 63‑year‑old man who sexually abused and coerced his two daughters over ten years was originally sentenced to four and a half years in prison. The State appealed, arguing the sentence was too lenient. The Court of Appeal quashed the original term and re‑sentenced him to a global term of 12 years. The man pleaded guilty to 20 of 74 counts of sexual assault. The younger daughter was abused from age six to thirteen; the older from age ten to around sixteen, with abuse escalating to oral sex and physical coercion. The court found the original judge had imposed disproportionate sentences of three years and 18 months, respectively, and that the judge had failed to impose a proportionate sentence. The new sentence of 12 years is to run consecutively for both victims, with each victim's portion reduced to six years after mitigation and totality considerations.
In April 2025 a safety manager at an unnamed cross‑border slaughterhouse won €48,000 compensation after the Workplace Relations Commission found the company had penalised her for making a complaint. The manager, who began work in 2018, said she was subjected to sexist remarks and demeaning behaviour, including being called a "prostitute" and "doll" and being filmed making sexual gestures by a male colleague at a Christmas party in 2021. She also reported that a government employee, identified only as "XY", threatened her, used aggressive language, and insisted on controlling access to the women's bathroom. The company's internal investigation was deemed biased, and the manager was disciplined and pressured to attend meetings while on sick leave. The adjudicator ruled the firm breached the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 and awarded her a year's salary in compensation for the penalisation.
Tom Colton, 49, of Celbridge, was given a suspended nine‑month sentence after pleading guilty to acting as director of Grá agus Solas ULC, a spiritual wedding and funeral business, between August 2016 and May 2018. He had been automatically disqualified from company directorship on 5 December 2014 following a 2014 theft conviction that carried a four‑year prison term with 18 months suspended for the theft of €322,000. Colton used his Irish name, Tomás Mac Cultan, to file company documents and was unaware of his disqualification until 2018, when he resigned. The court noted no system informs defendants of automatic disqualifications. He also had a prior Companies Act conviction for acting as a statutory auditor without approval. The judge imposed a 10‑year disqualification under the Companies Registration Act and suspended the nine‑month sentence in full.
Martin O'Flaherty, aged 73, was convicted at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of 14 counts of indecent assault and one attempted indecent assault against seven boys who were his pupils between 1978 and 1981. He had previously been tried five times since 2022 and had 103 convictions for indecent assault of 22 other boys. He is serving an effective sentence of eight years, two months and three weeks, with an earliest release in August 2028. Reporting restrictions were lifted as no further matters are pending. Judge Elma Sheahan imposed a global five‑year sentence for the seven victims in this case, bringing his total convictions to 29 boys. The court heard that O'Flaherty denied the allegations, cooperated with the investigation, and does not intend to appeal. The judge noted his age, health, and past service as mitigating factors but also cited the seriousness of the offences and the breach of trust as aggravating factors.
A 36-year-old man has been sentenced to two years in prison for sexually assaulting his daughter's 13-year-old friend. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court jury convicted the appellant last November after he pleaded not guilty to a charge of sexual assault committed at his Dublin home on April 10, 2021. Although the man does not accept the victim's evidence, he has stated he will not appeal the conviction. Judge Dara Hayes described the conduct as a serious breach of trust with a considerable impact on the teenager. The judge set a headline sentence of four years, reduced it to three years and three months, and suspended the final 15 months on strict conditions, including engaging with the Probation Service for two years upon release. The sentence was backdated to when the man was first remanded in custody last November. He was registered as a sex offender. The court heard the victim reported the incident to gardaí the same day, alleging the man touched her buttocks, hips, waist, and chest while asking if she had a crush on him. The man claimed he only spoke to her about her clothing. A victim impact statement detailed the teenager's ongoing trauma, including paranoia and trust issues. The Probation Service assessed the man as low risk and willing to work with the service.
In the Central Criminal Court, a 20‑year‑old Dublin woman pleaded not guilty to 11 counts of sexual assault and one count of section 4 rape involving her younger cousin aged 10‑11 between July 2017 and July 2019. She is accused of penetrating the girl with a hairbrush. The prosecution alleges the abuse began before the accused turned 12, with the girls allegedly sleeping over in each other's homes or a mutual aunt's house. Family members of both parties testified that the girls were not close friends and that no sleepovers occurred in the grandmother's house. The grandmother, aunts, uncles, and the accused's mother all denied the alleged sleepovers and stated the girls were different and not particularly friendly. The trial continues before Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo and a jury.
Radu Budai, 40, of Lucan, was found guilty of Revenue offences for selling untaxed Romanian cigarettes and alcohol in his shop on Upper Dorset Street. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 7 March 2023. Revenue officers, led by Marie Treacy, entered the shop and discovered bottles of wine without Irish tax stamps, boxes of brandy and wine, and homemade alcohol in large plastic containers. A female employee showed officers a Romanian identity card and was interviewed. Budai was present during the search but was not questioned. The court heard that the goods were seized. In mitigation, his defence counsel argued that Budai was trying to compete with larger shops, had family responsibilities, and had health issues including sleep apnoea and a gastric balloon surgery. Judge Martin Nolan acknowledged Budai's family situation but noted the profit motive and the €27,000 loss to Revenue.
Thomasz Pysz, 46, of Clonee, Dublin, was found guilty of four counts of theft from the Department of Social Welfare between 2019 and 2021. He used the PPS number of a relative who had left Ireland in 2016 to claim benefits while working under a different PPS number. Pysz received €9,235.50 in Disability Allowance and €16,303 in Pandemic Unemployment Payments through this scheme. Garda Stephen Byrne reported that the relative's bank account was used for wages and that the relative was not charged with any offence. Pysz repaid part of the money and has an outstanding debt of €21,814. He pleaded guilty, citing mental health issues and marital breakdown. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a 20‑month suspended sentence, requiring the freezing and transfer of €10,917 from Pysz's account to the Department of Social Welfare and noting a separate payment agreement with the Department.
During the sentencing of a 26‑year‑old man who had orally raped and defiled a 14‑year‑old girl in 2020, Judge Melanie Greally told the survivor that the legal system had failed her. The judge noted that the case had loomed over the victim for far too long and that new protocols now exist to prevent such delays. The man, who was 21 at the time of the offence and whose name is withheld to protect the victim, pleaded guilty to oral rape, defilement and sexual assault. He had no prior convictions. The judge set a headline sentence of 8.5 years, imposed a six‑and‑a‑half‑year term with the final year suspended, and ordered two years of post‑release supervision, prohibiting any occupation that would bring him into contact with underage females.
A seven‑year‑old girl with Down Syndrome has been granted permission by the High Court to challenge the Health Service Executive's decision not to carry out an assessment of her needs. Derek Shortall SC, acting for the mother, applied for a judicial review and obtained a ruling from Ms Justice Marguerite Bolger that the case could proceed. Shortall argued that the HSE's position that it would not conduct an assessment was a refusal to meet statutory obligations. He noted that the child, who has health, developmental, psychological and intellectual issues, has received some services since 2018 but has not had a complete assessment that would trigger a service statement. The court allowed the review and adjourned the matter to May, recognising the seriousness of the alleged breach of procedure. The case remains pending.
In a major drug‑seizure case, eight men have been convicted for their roles in a 2.25‑tonne cocaine haul that was seized from the MV Matthew, a Panamanian‑registered bulk carrier. The shipment, valued at over €157 million, was intercepted by Army Rangers in September 2023. The defendants—Ukrainians Mykhailo Gavryk (32), Vitaliy Vlasoi (32) and Vitaliy Lapa (61); Iranians Soheil Jelveh (51) and Saeid Hassani (39); Dutch national Cumali Ozgen (49); Filipino Harold Estoesta (31); and Jamie Harbron (31)—were charged under the Misuse of Drugs Act. Six pleaded guilty to possessing cocaine for sale or supply on the MV Matthew between 24 and 26 September 2023, with a market value exceeding €13 000. Lapa and Harbron pleaded guilty to attempting to possess cocaine for sale or supply between 21 and 25 September 2023. The Special Criminal Court will sentence the men on 3 and 4 June.
Aidan Fitzgibbon, a 15‑year‑old social care worker at Autism Initiatives, was dismissed in January 2022 after an alleged "not my monkey, not my circus" remark and leaving work when an alarm sounded. The company cited gross misconduct for "unprofessional, discriminatory, de‑humanising, and flippant" language, including a comment that service users were "still autistic." Fitzgibbon denied the remarks, claiming they were taken out of context and made in jest. The disciplinary officer found the remarks credible and that Fitzgibbon's departure during an alarm indicated disrespect. Fitzgibbon represented himself before the Workplace Relations Commission, arguing the investigation lacked procedural rigour and that the employer failed to interview key witnesses. The adjudicator, Conor Stokes, upheld the complaint under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977, finding the dismissal procedurally unfair and awarding €12,500 for loss of earnings. The decision rejected Fitzgibbon's request for reinstatement.
The Court of Appeal has dismissed the appeal by Shane Noonan against his sentence for the rape of Ciara Mangan. The offence occurred at an address in Castlebar, Co Mayo, on May 11, 2013. Noonan, who was 18 at the time, pleaded guilty to the charge. At his sentencing in July 2023, Ms Justice Eileen Creedon imposed a headline sentence of eight years in prison, with the final 12 months suspended, resulting in an effective custody period of seven years. In his appeal, counsel for Noonan argued that the sentence was too high given his lack of prior convictions and the late entry of his guilty plea. However, the Director of Public Prosecutions contended that the plea was entered on the day of the trial and that the suspension period appropriately reflected mitigating factors. Mr Justice Michael McGrath, delivering the judgment, stated that Noonan's culpability was high and the harm to the victim was great. Consequently, the court ruled that the sentence was appropriate in the circumstances and dismissed the appeal. Ms Mangan, who waived her anonymity, stated that the 22-month wait for the appeal decision had delayed her healing, but she expressed relief that the process had finally concluded.
Eight defendants have been scheduled for sentencing before the Special Criminal Court on June 3 and 4, following their guilty pleas in connection with the seizure of 2.25 tonnes of cocaine aboard the MV Matthew. The vessel, a Panamanian-registered bulk carrier, was boarded by Army Rangers in September 2023, resulting in what is described as the largest cocaine seizure in Irish history, with an estimated value exceeding €157 million. Mykhailo Gavryk, Vitaliy Vlasoi, Soheil Jelveh, Saeid Hassani, Harold Estoesta, and Cumali Ozgen pleaded guilty to possessing controlled drugs for the purpose of sale or supply between September 24 and 26, 2023, while on board the vessel outside the State. Ukrainian national Vitaliy Lapa pleaded guilty to attempting to possess cocaine for sale or supply at a location within the State between September 21 and 25, 2023. Jamie Harbron, of the UK, also pleaded guilty to attempting to possess cocaine for sale or supply during the same period. The court heard evidence that the ship, owned by a Dubai-based company, used its Automatic Identification System to simulate a false position while sailing from Curacao. It was intended to meet a fishing boat named The Castlemore for the physical transfer of the drugs. The matter is now at the sentencing stage, with specific dates set for the disposal of these cases.
A jury has begun deliberating on the case of Brian Ibe, 23, who was accused of murdering 65‑year‑old Mr Kennedy after the victim had taken Ibe's mother into his home. Ibe pleaded not guilty to murder by reason of insanity. Two defence psychiatrists, Dr Stephen Monks and Dr Gaurav Malhan, diagnosed him with schizophrenia, stating he could not control his actions and did not understand their nature. The prosecution's psychiatrist, Dr Mary Davoren, disagreed, diagnosing a dis‑social personality disorder and asserting Ibe met the criteria for the special verdict. The trial also covered Ibe's assault on Garda Brendan O'Donnell, for which he pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. Justice Melanie Greally instructed the jury to apply a "healthy skepticism" to the conflicting expert evidence and to consider diminished responsibility if the schizophrenia diagnosis is accepted but the disorder did not fully impair his control.
A 43‑year‑old learner driver, Jijo George, was found guilty of dangerous driving after he ran a stop sign on Drogheda Street, Balbriggan, on 29 January 2023. Garda Joanne McGinn, who was on patrol at the time, observed the vehicle fail to stop, nearly colliding with her patrol car and a child on a bicycle. She noted a strong smell of alcohol and performed a breath test that returned clear. George was driving on a learner's permit without L plates or an accompanying driver. He was charged under Section 53 of the Road Traffic Act 1961 and Section 69 for failure to produce insurance. The court upheld the conviction, imposing a two‑year disqualification and a €250 fine. The judge accepted all evidence presented by the Garda. Jijo George pleaded not guilty.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 7 April 2025, Eric O'Driscoll, aged 23, was sentenced to six years' imprisonment for possessing a .223 calibre Remington AR‑15 semi‑automatic rifle in Finglas on 1 January 2022. The final 12 months of the sentence were suspended, and the court imposed a one‑year restriction on O'Driscoll's association with six named individuals. The judge noted O'Driscoll's youth, lack of prior convictions, and his willingness to cooperate with probation. The case stemmed from video evidence on O'Driscoll's phone showing him and his brother Glen Ward, aged 32, firing the rifle from the back door of a house in Finglas. Ward pleaded guilty to the same offence and faces sentencing later in 2025. Ward has 20 prior convictions, mainly for traffic offences, and one for assault and criminal damage. The court described the videos as a "display of strength" intended to intimidate. The hearing was presided over by Ms Justice Melanie Greally.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 7 April 2025, 30‑year‑old Robert Broughan was sentenced to a mandatory life term for the murder of his best friend, Roy Hopkins, 34, who was beaten to death with a baseball bat on 31 July 2020. Broughan admitted to striking Hopkins on the forehead, side of the head and nose, intending to make his head "explode" and to kill him. He claimed no prior conflict, stating the friendship had never involved a "cross word". Broughan also confessed to having put petrol on the bat and to having taken Solpadeine tablets before the attack. The court noted his previous convictions for criminal damage and public order offences, and his history of substance misuse. Hopkins' mother delivered a victim impact statement describing the tragedy and the lasting pain inflicted on her family. The sentence was back‑dated to 1 August 2020, when Hopkins died after being taken to Naas General Hospital.
In a Court of Appeal hearing on 7 April 2025, Judge John Edwards upheld the six‑year‑ten‑month jail sentence imposed on Harry Cassidy, former Custom House Capital boss, for a €61 million conspiracy to defraud investors. The court rejected Cassidy's claim that his motive was to borrow "from Peter to pay Paul" and found no credibility in his argument that the offence was not solely for personal gain. The offences, committed between 1 October 2008 and 15 July 2011, involved misleading investors and clients about the placement of their assets, contrary to common law. The court described the conduct as "truly egregious" and an abuse of trust, especially towards elderly clients. Harry Cassidy pleaded guilty.
In a Tallaght District Court hearing, Judge Patricia McNamara sentenced Dumitru Lupu, a 30‑year‑old cleaning‑company owner from Boherboy, Saggart, to pay €150 for criminal damage and €100 to a garda charity after he urinated all over a garda cell while intoxicated. Lupu, who has no prior convictions except for traffic offences, was arrested following a verbal altercation at his home on 30 September 2022. Garda officers described him as unsteady, aggressive and abusive, and he laughed when informed of the damage. The judge noted that, given his occupation, Lupu "would have been in a good position to clean up his own mess" but that it was too late. He was ordered to complete 80 hours of community service pending a probation report on 12 May. The court also ordered a €100 donation to Little Blue Heroes, a charity for children with disabilities. Dumitru Lupu pleaded guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Noel Ryan, 48, pleaded guilty to hijacking a car and abducting a child. He took a vehicle in Mountjoy Square on 23 September 2024, leaving a five‑month‑old baby alone for almost three hours while the mother struggled to stop him. CCTV showed the mother holding the door as Ryan drove away, and the baby's tears were captured. Ryan used the mother's credit card 12 minutes after the theft. He was arrested the next day and admitted he did not know a child was in the car. The court heard victim impact statements from the mother and father, describing terror and lasting trauma. Judge Martin Nolan, noting Ryan's addiction and early guilty plea, imposed a headline sentence of nine and a half years, reduced to seven years in prison, back‑dated to his custody date.
William Kiely, aged 52, was sentenced to six years' imprisonment after pleading guilty to three counts of dishonestly appropriating money from Barrington Capital Ltd's accounts between 2007 and 2010. The court found that he had transferred about €2 million of investors' funds into unauthorised stock‑market trades, losing roughly $1.47 million USD and €700,000 in the process. Kiely also pleaded guilty to operating the company with intent to defraud creditors from July 2008 to February 2010 and to falsifying a financial statement on 12 March 2010. He had set up Barrington Capital as a legitimate investment vehicle to buy U.S. commercial property, but after the 2008 crash he diverted the money to the stock market and used it for lifestyle expenses and personal payments. No investors received any restitution, and the court noted the significant financial and emotional harm suffered by the victims. Kiely is also disqualified from serving as a company director for five years.
Nathan Robinson, 30, of Dublin 7, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of stolen property after selling a Live U600 electronic transmission device, valued at €25,000, for €50. The device had been stolen from an RTE cameraman's car and was tracked via an Apple AirTag to an electronic hardware store where Robinson was seen on CCTV entering, opening a rucksack, and taking the equipment. Garda Conor Flynn obtained a search warrant for Robinson's home, seizing clothing matching the footage. Robinson, who has prior burglary convictions and a history of handling stolen property, admitted possession and was cooperative. No victim impact statement was presented. Judge Martin Nolan, noting Robinson's drug addiction and cooperation, sentenced him to a fully suspended 20‑month prison term, with the sentence suspended in full.
Les Byrne, 49, of Shancastle Park, Clondalkin, was found with four pipe bombs in the back of his van during a Garda search on 24 March 2024 after an overwhelming cannabis smell was detected. Byrne pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession or control of the devices, which were later confirmed to be effective bombs. He has 24 prior convictions. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to six and a quarter years, noting Byrne acted under instructions from third parties but played a vital role in the operation. The judge highlighted Byrne's guilty plea, cooperation, family responsibilities, and the fact that he was a low‑rung member of an organised crime group involved in a feud that has escalated with arson, intimidation and attacks on homes. The case involved text‑message evidence showing Byrne's reluctance to keep the bombs and his desire to dispose of them.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Eric Thomas, 49, was found guilty of false imprisonment and sexual assault of a teenage boy aged 14 or 15 between January 2004 and July 2006. Thomas, who has 34 prior convictions including ten for sexual assault, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended for two years under Probation Services supervision. The victim, who was a happy, class‑clown teenager, described feeling sick, dirty and scared after the assault, and said the incident changed his life, leading to aggression, drug use and a desire to leave. Thomas denied the allegations and claimed he had never known the victim. The court noted Thomas's history of mental health issues, rehabilitation efforts in prison, and his acceptance of the verdict. The judge highlighted the seriousness of the offence and the victim's profound impact. The sentence reflects both aggravating and mitigating factors.
The trial of Brian Ibe, 23, accused of murdering Peter Kennedy, a 65-year-old 'Good Samaritan', is ongoing before Ms Justice Melanie Greally. Ibe has pleaded not guilty to murder by reason of insanity and not guilty by reason of insanity to a charge of assault causing harm to Garda Brendan O'Donnell. The defence, led by Conor Devally SC, argued that Ibe was suffering from schizophrenic psychosis at the time of the alleged offence, citing evidence from two psychiatrists. Conversely, the prosecution, represented by Paul Carroll SC, presented Dr Mary Davoren, who diagnosed Ibe with a dis-social personality disorder and contended he understood the nature of his actions. The jury heard conflicting expert opinions regarding Ibe's mental state, with the defence highlighting prior behavioural evidence of psychosis and the prosecution pointing to deliberate, complex actions such as taking a taxi to the scene. The matter remains at the trial stage, with the judge set to begin her charge to the jury on Monday. No verdict, sentence, or finalisation has been recorded; the case is currently awaiting the jury's decision.
Paul McGrath, 66, of Dublin 1, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment for laundering nearly €150,000 in crime cash. He pleaded guilty to concealing the source of property, knowing it was proceeds of crime, at the Coachman Inn on 4 October 2024. Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau had received confidential information about a man suspected of receiving large sums from criminal gangs and laundering them for a fee. McGrath met the third party at the Inn, handed a plastic bag containing €146,950 to the other man, and was later stopped by Gardaí. A hidden compartment in his Volkswagen Passat, opened with an electronic fob, was found to contain the cash. Two phones were seized from McGrath's vehicle and 17 unused phones from his home; Gardaí believed they were used for criminality. McGrath, who has 42 prior convictions, claimed he owed money for an "ounce of green" and had a dependency on alcohol and cannabis.
In a trial held in Dublin, Deirdre Arnold, a 42‑year‑old HSE addiction counsellor, is charged with assisting Brian McHugh, who murdered a mother‑of‑two, by driving him away from the scene of Lisa Thompson's murder on 9 May 2022 and later checking him into a hotel. The prosecution argues that Arnold knowingly helped McHugh evade arrest, citing her presence at the victim's home, her fingerprints on a jewellery valuation certificate, and text messages sent to McHugh after the murder. Arnold's defence contends that the prosecution has not proven she knew McHugh had committed murder and that she was merely a reluctant driver. She maintains that she was fearful of being strangled and that McHugh was the one in control of the vehicle. The case is before Mr Justice Patrick McGrath with a jury of eleven, and Arnold has pleaded not guilty to both counts of aiding and abetting and perverting the course of justice.
Kate Brennan, a former executive officer at Trinity College Dublin, won an unfair dismissal claim and was awarded €15,000 in compensation by the Workplace Relations Commission. Brennan's dismissal on 30 August 2023 was deemed unfair because the college had effectively met the minimum service requirement of the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977, making the termination date 29 September 2023. Brennan was out of work until 29 April 2024, when she accepted a new role with a 25% lower salary. The tribunal found that Brennan had turned down a higher‑paid offer from another employer and had not made a sufficient effort to secure alternative employment, citing her limited job search strategy. Consequently, the tribunal reduced her award, granting no compensation for prospective financial loss while upholding the €15,000 award for the unfair dismissal itself.
The High Court refused a 31‑year‑old Georgian man's request to challenge the International Protection Office's refusal to grant him asylum. He had claimed that if returned to Georgia he would face religious persecution as a Jehovah's Witness. The IPO found his knowledge of the faith lacking, citing incorrect answers about baptism, the archangel Michael, the 144,000, and other doctrinal points. The IPO also deemed his claims of threat and assault unsubstantiated. He appealed to the International Protection Appeals Tribunal, which rejected his appeal, citing his substantial lack of knowledge and lack of explanation for it. He then sought judicial review, arguing the Tribunal had erred in its interpretation of the religion and had omitted relevant material. Justice Siobhán Phelan dismissed the application, describing the complaints as trivial and tenuous and refusing leave to pursue the challenge. The case remains at the High Court level with no further action granted.
Marius Elisei, 47, of Whitworth Road, Drumcondra, was sentenced to 20 months' imprisonment for assault causing harm after striking an off‑duty Garda with a bottle outside Heuston Station. The incident occurred on 25 September 2023 when the Garda, who had just disembarked from a train, confronted Elisei for drinking in public. Elisei, holding a beer bottle, raised it and hit the Garda on the forehead, causing a gash that required three stitches. The Garda was off work for 15 days following the attack. Elisei, a repeat offender with 22 prior convictions, including 16 public order offences, pleaded guilty. He was in custody since 21 January after a bench warrant was executed. The judge, citing Elisei's history of alcohol‑related aggression, imposed the 20‑month sentence backdated to 25 January. The Garda declined to give a victim impact statement. The court noted Elisei's remorse and his difficulty being away from family. The sentence was imposed by Judge Martin Nolan.
Stephen Connolly, a 40‑year‑old businessman from Rath Gael, Clondalkin, was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to four years' imprisonment for laundering €291,790 that he claimed was the proceeds of a drug offence. The money was found rolled and in separate bags during a planned search at Beacon South Quarter, Sandyford, on 4 May 2017, and Connolly's fingerprints were on the cash. He admitted possession of the money and that he had stored and counted it with his brother, Mark Connolly, who had previously received a two‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence for his role. Connolly's defence counsel, Dominic McGinn SC, argued that his client was a family man with mental health issues and was not directing the operation, and presented a heartfelt apology. Judge Martin Nolan noted Connolly's responsibilities as a business owner and family provider before imposing the four‑year term. Stephen Connolly pleaded guilty.