A 35‑year‑old man was sentenced to four years in prison for a series of violent and harassing acts against his partner. He admitted to attacking her, fracturing her eye socket, threatening to kill her, and making over 1,000 abusive phone calls between December 2020 and January 2021. He also threatened to set her on fire and sent threatening messages on Facebook. The judge described the videos of his conduct as "disturbing, terrifying and frightening to watch" and noted his long history of offending, drug and alcohol abuse, and poor engagement with probation. He pleaded guilty to harassment, threats to kill, and assault. The court imposed a four‑year sentence, suspended the final year of a five‑year term, and banned him from contacting the victim, while also binding him over to keep the peace for two years after release.
A 42‑year‑old Garda, whose name is withheld for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to a charge of coercive control in a former relationship with a woman in the State. The offence covers the period from 1 January 2019 to 30 November 2020. The plea was made on a without‑prejudice basis. The accused had been suspended from duty and was transferred from the district court to the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. A trial scheduled for July was cancelled, and the judge set a sentencing date of 25 July, when the full facts will be heard.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, former solicitor Michael Lynn, aged 53, faces 21 counts of theft involving about €27 million from seven banks. The prosecution alleges Lynn secured multiple mortgages on the same properties without the banks' knowledge, using the funds for overseas property developments. Lynn maintains that the banks were aware of his multiple loans and that such arrangements were customary among bankers during the Celtic Tiger era. He claims he had "secret deals" with several bankers, including a profit‑share agreement with former Irish Nationwide chief executive Michael Fingleton for a Portuguese development. Defence counsel argues that Lynn made monthly repayments and that the banks had no complaints until a solicitor, Fiona McAleenan, contacted the Law Society in 2007. Judge Martin Nolan directed the jury to acquit if they find Lynn had the banks' permission to use the loans, and to consider the State's case only if they cannot prove deception beyond a reasonable doubt.
During the trial of 29‑year‑old truck driver David Morrissey, the court heard that he was in a distressed state when Gardaí arrived at the N11 accident site where 19‑year‑old cyclist Harry Boland was killed. Morrissey, who drives an eight‑wheel truck on round trips between quarries and construction sites, claimed he had checked his mirrors, moved into the left lane, and turned left at a red light that turned green. He stopped, jumped out, and saw Boland severely injured. Boland suffered a cardiac arrest at the scene and died at St Vincent's Hospital. The truck and bicycle were found defect‑free. A forensic collision analyst noted grind marks on the road from the bike's handlebars and wheels. The trial continues tomorrow. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial of former solicitor Michael Lynn, aged 53, is a multi‑million‑euro theft case. Lynn is accused of stealing about €27 million from seven banks between October 2006 and April 2007, and has pleaded not guilty to 21 theft counts. Prosecutor Patrick McGrath argues that Lynn obtained multiple mortgages on the same properties while banks were unaware of other lenders, and that he fabricated evidence of "secret deals" with bankers. He claims Lynn deliberately introduced a third server to confuse the case and that no emails or payments supporting the alleged deals exist. Lynn's defence, led by Paul Comiskey‑O'Keeffe, maintains that the banks were aware of his loan usage, that the evidence is incomplete, and that Lynn acted within a custom of the Celtic Tiger banking system. The trial continues with the jury to decide on each count.
Robert Kinlan, aged 35, was convicted of aggravated burglary after he armed himself with a six‑inch knife and forced entry into the apartment of a 69‑year‑old retired soldier on Ballygall Road, Glasnevin, on 25 August 2019. The victim answered the door and attempted to escape, but Kinlan seized him, pushed him to the floor, and used electric cables to bind him. He then locked the man inside a wardrobe, using a chair to keep the door shut, and placed a mattress against the door to keep it closed. During the 35‑minute confinement, Kinlan ransacked the flat, taking €600, an iPhone, a laptop and two old Nokia phones, and left the victim still imprisoned in the wardrobe. The soldier later escaped, raised the alarm and was treated for two fractured ribs and cuts to his elbows. Gardaí recovered CCTV footage that identified Kinlan, who was arrested the following month. Robert Kinlan pleaded guilty.
Iancu Nicola, 30, was remanded in custody pending sentence after mugging a 73‑year‑old woman who had just won €23,000 at a city‑centre casino. Nicola, who had previously pleaded guilty to robbery in 2016, was joined by accomplice Declan Connolly, 41, and spotter Brian English, 32. Connolly was sentenced to five years' imprisonment with the final two and a half years suspended; English received a three‑year suspended sentence. Nicola was remanded for a further sentence, with his counsel requesting a Probation Service report. Gardaí used extensive CCTV footage to link the trio to the crime, noting that the getaway vehicle had false plates and was registered to Connolly. The victim was dragged down an embankment, sustaining severe bruising and cuts. No admissions were made by the accused during Garda interviews. The case remains pending further sentencing.
A 68-year-old former solicitor from Claremorris, County Mayo, has been remanded on bail pending sentencing in November following his admission to four counts of theft. David Doyle pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to stealing cash totalling over €53,000 from a number of individuals between April 2009 and November 2016. The prosecution indicated that further guilty pleas would be sought. Judge Melanie Greally adjourned sentencing to 10 November, when evidence and victim impact statements will be heard. Doyle remains on continuing bail in the interim.
In the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, former Irish Nationwide senior officer Brian Fitzgibbon testified that he never met or spoke to Michael Lynn, contradicting Lynn's claim of a friendly relationship with former Irish Nationwide chief executive Michael Fingleton. Fitzgibbon, who managed home loans, stated that he had no knowledge of Lynn's alleged secret deals or any special arrangements with Fingleton. He described Irish Nationwide as an asset‑backed lender that required a legal charge on properties and that Fingleton could amend loan terms but never lend without an asset. Fitzgibbon also said he was uncomfortable with a €5.5 million loan for Lynn's Howth property and sent it to Fingleton for approval. Two other bankers, Micheál McHugh and Gerry O'Gorman, also denied meeting Lynn. The trial, which involves 21 counts of theft, will resume on Thursday. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
James Mohite, 23, pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering after a Dublin company mistakenly paid €6,370 and two smaller sums into his bank account when it was believed to be a supplier's. The company's owner discovered the error, contacted Gardaí, and provided bank documents. A search of Mohite's Balbriggan home revealed a bank document linking him to the fraudulent account. Mohite admitted his account had been hacked and that he had supplied his details to a third party, who promised €1,000. He had no prior relevant convictions except for driving without insurance. Judge Elma Sheahan, after considering mitigating factors such as his early guilty plea and family background, imposed a two‑year prison sentence suspended in full for two years, conditional on Mohite keeping the peace and behaving well.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Nigel McEvoy, 46, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to former GAA star Paddy Keogh, 74, after Keogh asked him to leave his daughter alone. McEvoy, who has 14 prior convictions including nine public order offences, attacked Keogh at Mercantile Bar on 24 November 2018. The assault involved McEvoy grabbing Keogh from behind, punching him, and then placing his foot on Keogh's neck, causing severe injury. Keogh, who has early onset dementia and lives in a nursing home, suffered cuts, swelling, and a knocked‑out tooth. McEvoy, diagnosed with schizophrenia, was remanded on bail pending sentencing on 5 October. The judge described the attack as "shocking" and noted its extremely severe impact on Keogh.
Aaron Reilly, 27, of Harelawn Park, Clondalkin, was jailed for 12 months, with the last four months suspended, after pleading guilty to money laundering. He had received over €8,000 that was fraudulently misdirected from a Turkish company to his account, which he withdrew for personal use. The company tried to recall the money; Reilly's account was frozen with only €41 left. He had 20 prior convictions, including two for theft. Judge Melanie Greally noted his guilty plea, personal adversity, employment history, and desire to return to work. She highlighted that the offence involved no significant personal gain and that a custodial sentence was not necessarily appropriate, but she imposed the sentence with a suspended portion. The case was prosecuted by Rónán Prendergast BL, who cited the AIB bank referral and the fact that Reilly was not the intended recipient. The Gardaí believed he was recruited to facilitate the transfer but seized the opportunity to withdraw money for himself.
In a Dublin park, 21‑year‑old Gary Foy, riding a borrowed scrambler bike, collided with a stationary quad bike that a mother and her two‑year‑old baby were sitting on. The infant sustained serious injuries, including a traumatic brain injury, and was treated by a medical professional who described him as the most severely injured two‑year‑old he had treated who survived. Foy, who had been riding scramblers for ten years, pleaded guilty to careless driving causing serious bodily harm, driving without insurance, and driving under the influence of cannabis. No vehicles were permitted in the park's green area. The court adjourned the case to October to prepare a probation report, noting the high risk of the activity and the public park setting. No victim impact statement was presented. The child has since been discharged but will need ongoing rehabilitative services. The case remains pending.
Stephen Phelan, 37, was jailed for two and a half years after threatening to kill his female neighbour with a knife and attempting to break her door down in August 2021. He pleaded guilty to making a threat to kill, producing a knife and trespassing likely to cause fear. Phelan had previously been convicted 67 times, including aggravated sexual assault with a knife, multiple assaults and violent disorder. He had been in custody since the incident. The victim, who now lives with her mother, said she had to leave her home and lives in constant fear. Phelan had been watching her for three years and claimed she had "set him up." He was sentenced by Judge Martin Nolan to four years, with the last 18 months suspended and conditions preventing contact with the victim for ten years and restricting his residence within a mile of her address.
In the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, former solicitor Michael Lynn faces 21 counts of theft, accused of stealing about €27 million from seven banks between October 2006 and April 2007. Lynn maintains he had "custom and practice" among bankers to obtain multiple mortgages on the same properties and claims he had secret deals allowing loan money to be used for overseas property developments. Bankers, including Stephen McCarthy of Ulster Bank and Ciaran Farrell of Irish Life and Permanent, testified that the loans were strictly for the 11 residential investment properties and that no alternative use was permitted. Both McCarthy and Farrell denied any special arrangements or receipt of money from Lynn. The trial continues with Judge Martin Nolan and a jury hearing the prosecution's case and rebuttal evidence. Michael Lynn pleaded not guilty.
Jamie Lynch, 30, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to bar manager David Crowe at the Living Room Bar in Dublin on 6 August 2018. He hurled a glass while extremely drunk, knocking out three of Crowe's teeth and causing serious injuries that required stitches, surgery and a month‑long dental treatment. The assault also had a lasting psychological impact, leading Crowe to leave a job he had enjoyed. Judge Melanie Greally, hearing the case at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, described the attack as very serious and noted that it was out of character for Lynch, who had no prior convictions. Lynch brought €5,000 to court as a gesture of remorse, which was accepted by Crowe. In lieu of a two‑year prison sentence, Lynch was ordered to complete 240 hours of community service. Crowe reported that the incident had affected his sporting lifestyle and that he still had to be careful about what he ate.
A 40‑year‑old father was convicted of sexually assaulting his nine‑year‑old daughter while she slept in his bed, a conviction that was quashed on appeal. The conviction had been obtained after a jury trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, where the man was sentenced to three years and four months' imprisonment. His lawyers argued that the jury had not been properly directed to consider the lack of evidence of intent and that the trial judge had allowed the jury to convict solely on the complainant's testimony without requiring corroboration. The Court of Appeal, after reviewing the case, found that the jury had not been given sufficient guidance on whether the accused was awake or asleep, a factor of central importance, and therefore quashed the conviction. The State has requested a retrial, and the defendant remains remanded on bail with a condition that he not contact the complainant. The unnamed man pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 13 February 2021, William Gaynor, aged 56 and without a fixed abode, was convicted of armed robbery after he twice targeted Medipharm pharmacy on North Frederick Street. In the first incident, Gaynor entered the shop with a knife, demanded Xanax and €300, and left after the staff complied. He later claimed the robbery was an act of "euthanasia" because he was ill and could not eat or sleep. Four months later he returned armed with a corkscrew, demanded cash and Valium, and left with €300 and 150 Valium tablets. Gaynor admitted guilt at the earliest stages of both cases. The judge cited the repeated targeting of the same pharmacy and prior convictions as aggravating factors, but noted early guilty pleas and medical conditions as mitigating. He was sentenced to four years' imprisonment, back‑dated for time already served.
Lorna Palmer, 35, was found with nearly €100,000 in cash at her Dublin home. Gardaí seized two envelopes of €700 and €2,000 and discovered the money in safes and a money box. Palmer admitted she did not know the amount or the owners and said she did not know why people were posting money through the door. She pleaded guilty to possession of the proceeds of criminal conduct on 21 April 2017. The court heard that drug‑related offences were ongoing at the time of the seizure and that Palmer's partner, who was in custody for a drug offence, was present. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced Palmer to 18 months' imprisonment, suspending the final three years, and noted her remorse, cooperation with the Probation Service and low risk of re‑offending. No prior convictions were recorded.
During his trial for 21 counts of theft, former solicitor Michael Lynn, aged 53, denied stealing any money from Irish banks. He claimed the alleged €27 million theft was incorrect and that he had not forged or misrepresented any undertakings. Lynn said he had a long history of lending with the banks and that they were aware of his intended use of the loans. He argued that the banks' different system of undertakings was not a factor in any alleged fraud. Lynn also stated he had served five years in prison in Brazil and was fighting the charges because he believed the banks knew what was happening. Judge Martin Nolan noted that Lynn was not legally obliged to remain in Ireland when he travelled abroad. The trial continues. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 17 May 2022, Thomas Greene, aged 29, was sentenced to 80 months in prison, with the final 12 months suspended, for a violent hijacking of a pizza delivery man's car on 8 August 2020. Greene punched, kicked and dragged the driver from his vehicle, knocked him unconscious, stole the car and stole cash. He was assisted by a group of men, one of whom acted as a lookout on a horse. The delivery driver suffered two broken wrist bones and required surgery. Greene, who has 69 prior convictions and is already serving a 2½‑year sentence for affray, pleaded guilty and expressed remorse. The judge noted drug use as a major factor and considered his engagement with drug counselling and rehabilitation services when imposing the sentence.
John Kelly, 36, of Cherrywood Villas, Clondalkin, pleaded guilty to cultivating cannabis at Old Farm Yard, Johnstown Kennedy, Rathcoole, Co Dublin, on 26 November 2018. He was remanded in custody pending sentence. Kelly, who has 89 prior convictions mainly for road traffic offences, had been supervising a grow‑house set up in a derelict farmyard. The landowner noticed a rise in electricity bills and flashlights near the buildings, prompting Garda Donal Donoghue to obtain a search warrant. Gardaí found three grow tents containing 140 cannabis plants and saplings. If all were mature females, the potential street value would have been €112,000; the agreed valuation for sentencing purposes was €60,000. Kelly was arrested, interviewed five times with no information emerging, and later entered a guilty plea. He is a legitimate businessman in the horse industry and owns a stud with 35 stables. The case was adjourned to 19 October, with Judge Melanie Greally remanding him in custody.
In a case heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Dawood Aziz, aged 37, pleaded guilty to possession of €300,360 worth of ketamine and possession of a mobile phone used in connection with a drug trafficking offence. The drugs were seized from his van after Garda surveillance revealed him moving items from a premises to the vehicle. Aziz claimed the ketamine was handed to him by someone else and that he had become involved to clear a debt incurred from a failed business venture. Garda Detective Eamonn Tighe noted that the mobile phone was commonly supplied by individuals in the drug industry to maintain secrecy. The judge remanded Aziz on continuing bail pending a Probation Service report, with a custodial sentence deemed inevitable. The defence highlighted Aziz's background as a hard‑working immigrant who had built a successful catering business before the debt arose. The case remains pending further proceedings.
During a trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, former solicitor Michael Lynn, aged 53, admitted that he moved to Brazil on 13 June 2011 without informing Gardaí, despite prior arrangements for interviews between 2008 and 2011. The court heard that Lynn had agreed to several Garda interviews, all of which were cancelled or did not occur, and that he had not notified Gardaí of his relocation to Brazil. Lynn also denied that he had instructed former legal executive Liz Doyle to forge accountant signatures on statements of affairs used in loan applications. He claimed he was unaware of forged signatures or stamps on documents submitted to banks, and that any omissions were due to oversight by others. The trial continues with these allegations and denials in focus. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
Marius Radu, 44, a repeat offender, was given a fully suspended two‑year sentence for two counts of criminal damage to ATMs and six counts of theft between January 27 and February 3, 2016. He had previously been jailed for two years in 2016 for stealing a visa card and spending over €17,000 in Argos shops. Radu pleaded guilty to the 2016 ATM card‑trapping offences, which involved inserting devices that swallowed cards, retrieving them, and withdrawing cash. Garda Derek Gibney described incidents at Mobhi Road, Glasnevin, and Phibsborough, where Radu's device caused withdrawals of €500, €100 and €40, and he later spent €110 and €110.50 in Tesco, Tallaght. The damage to the ATMs cost €220 and €1,708. Radu was arrested in July 2016, sentenced in October 2016, and now lives in Slough, UK, where he studies and works as a driver.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 16 May 2022, former solicitor Michael Lynn, aged 53, denied that he had lied to the jury about alleged secret deals with senior Irish bankers. He was on trial for 21 counts of theft, accused of stealing about €27 million from seven financial institutions between October 2006 and April 2007. Lynn claimed the banks knew he had taken multiple mortgages on the same properties and that this was "custom and practice" in Celtic Tiger Ireland. He said he had a "secret profit deal" with former Irish Nationwide chief executive Michael Fingleton, who allegedly would profit from a property development in Portugal. Lynn also alleged that bank officials from Irish Life and Permanent, Bank of Ireland, Bank of Scotland Ireland, Ulster Bank and National Irish Bank had met with him or his company to facilitate these arrangements. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
In a case heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Patrick O'Brien, a 70‑year‑old resident of Oakwood Grove, Clondalkin, pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography. Gardaí discovered over 300 sexually explicit images on his mobile phone during a June 2020 investigation. The images included 200 of children in explicit poses, 55 of naked children, and 75 depicting children as young as three being abused by adults. O'Brien admitted downloading the material and had not shared it. The judge, Melanie Greally, described the case as "borderline" yet serious, noting O'Brien's early guilty plea, remorse, age, and family circumstances. She imposed a 20‑month sentence, fully suspended for 20 months, and ordered 12 months of probation supervision, offence‑focused work, and potential participation in a sex‑offender treatment program. O'Brien will be registered as a sex offender and must accept the associated stigma.
During his trial for a €27 million theft case, 53‑year‑old former solicitor Michael Lynn described his experience in a Brazilian prison where he was held awaiting extradition. He said the jail was next to a large dump, that inmates ran the facility, and that there were 1,800 prisoners and only 10 guards. Lynn recounted being moved to a section for educated inmates, where some were given guns and large swords. He claimed to have witnessed violence, including the beheading of a young man who was gay, and described the environment as "like something from Game of Thrones." Lynn also explained that he had been arrested in Recife in August 2013, had resisted extradition to allow his wife to give birth, and that conjugal visits were permitted in the prison. The trial continues. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Robert Byrne, 47, was sentenced to three years in prison for possession of controlled drugs for sale or supply. The sentence included a six‑month suspended portion, conditional on good behaviour and keeping the peace for three years after release. Byrne's home on Melville Way, Cityside, Finglas, was searched on 3 December 2019 following a warrant issued on confidential information from Gardaí. The search seized cannabis, cocaine and ketamine worth over €95,000. Byrne admitted he had a drug debt of €20,000 to €25,000 and allowed his house to be used to store drugs, claiming threats against him and his family pressured him into this role. He had no prior convictions, pleaded guilty, and expressed regret. A urine test showed he was drug‑free, and a Probation Services report indicated a low risk of reoffending.
In a Dublin family home, a 32‑year‑old man was remanded in custody after assaulting his pregnant partner and son on 29 November 2020. Gardaí were called when the children reported the father attacking their mother. Officers found the mother unconscious, bleeding heavily, and a five‑month‑pregnant infant crying in her cot with a Babygro covered in blood. The father had thrown the son against a metal bed frame and struck the mother, who feared he would kill her and the baby. The mother was treated in hospital and the children were placed in state care before being returned to her. The man pleaded guilty to assaulting his partner and son; the court adjourned the case to 14 October 2022, ordering a probation report and noting the ongoing relationship and lack of a victim impact statement. The mother expressed hope her partner would be released from prison and that her children were excited to see him.
A 40‑year‑old father was convicted of sexually assaulting his nine‑year‑old daughter between 1 January and 30 April 2017, after a trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He was sentenced to three years and four months' imprisonment. The conviction was based on the daughter's allegation that he had placed his hands on her front and back, touching her vagina and anus, while she slept. The father denied the allegation, claiming he did not remember any incident. He appealed, arguing that the court had not established intent and that the judge should have directed a not‑guilty verdict. The Court of Appeal, led by Justice George Birmingham, quashed the conviction, citing uncertainty about whether the father was awake or asleep and the lack of corroboration. The case was adjourned for a week to allow the State to consider its position, and the father was remanded on bail with a restriction on contacting the complainant. The unnamed man pleaded not guilty.
John Murphy, 61, a former Garda Superintendent, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court via video link from Cloverhill Prison to possessing a large amount of cannabis for sale or supply at his North Dublin home on 29 September 2021. The cannabis was valued at over €13,000. He was remanded in continuing custody until 4 October 2022 for sentencing. The court did not read his address due to security concerns.
Michael Lynn, aged 53, is on trial in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for 21 counts of theft involving about €27 million from seven financial institutions between October 2006 and April 2007. He has pleaded not guilty. During the third day of evidence, Lynn described himself as greedy and driven but not a thief, claiming that banks were "confederates" and that they had lent him money for a property called Glenlion in Howth, which he says was actually used for a development in Portugal. He alleged that loans were rolled over verbally and that banks were aware of the practice. Lynn also recounted that in 2007 his accounts were frozen by the High Court and that he sought "breathing space" from senior bankers, including Michael Fingleton and Sean FitzPatrick, to repay the debts. The trial is proceeding before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury.
During a 2022 sentencing hearing, Fine Gael TD Jennifer Carroll MacNeill recounted how 43‑year‑old Gerard Culhane sent her thirteen messages, including three sexually explicit videos, between January and March 2020. She described feeling a "cold sense of dread" and fearing for her safety amid the general election campaign. The videos were downloaded from a pornographic website and sent from a Facebook account named "Kevin Walsh." Carroll MacNeill expressed that the harassment disrupted her campaign work and personal life, and she declined to respond to the messages. Culhane pleaded guilty to harassing her at unknown locations in the State. The court adjourned the case to October 21 pending a probation report, and Culhane remained on continuing bail until then. The case highlighted the impact of unsolicited sexual content on a public figure's safety and professional duties.
At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, a 21-year-old student pleaded guilty to handling the proceeds of crime and money laundering following a fraud scheme in which victims' emails were hacked and their money redirected to his bank account. The defendant allowed his Bank of Ireland account to be used by an unknown third party between 2020 and 2021. A recently retired woman from the south-west had her pension fund of €71,892.41 transferred into the account in May 2020, but it was recovered within four days. However, other victims lost money that was never returned: a water filtration company shareholder lost €5,000, a Kinsale restaurant owner lost €1,339, a midlands pharmacist lost €3,251, and a Donegal construction company lost €1,100. Judge Pauline Codd adjourned sentencing to October 7 to allow for a probation report and to give the defendant time to raise additional compensation funds. He had lodged €500 in court.
Alan Downey, aged 40, was sentenced to seven‑and‑a‑half years in prison for a violent burglary that took place in the home of a 73‑year‑old neighbour. The offence occurred while Downey was on bail for three earlier attempted robberies. He and a co‑perpetrator entered the victim's house after the victim recognised Downey, demanding €6,000. Downey was armed with a screwdriver, the other man with a knife. The victim was dragged, had his walking stick broken, and was left in a state of terror. Downey pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary and was given consecutive sentences totalling seven and a half years. The judge suspended the final 22 months, imposing strict conditions including 18 months of probation and two years of good behaviour. The sentence reflects Downey's prior convictions, drug difficulties, and the seriousness of the assault on the victim.
Dylan Mooney, 26, a cystic‑fibrosis sufferer, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of cannabis resin, cannabis herb, a semi‑automatic pistol and two charges of handling stolen property. He had accrued a €15,000 gambling debt and agreed to hold the gun, ammunition, €20,600 worth of cannabis and two motorbikes to settle it. Judge Melanie Greally, after considering his medical condition and lack of prior convictions, imposed a four‑year prison sentence, suspended in full, with conditions of good behaviour, peace‑keeping and 18 months' engagement with the Probation Service. Mooney had not attracted Garda attention since May 2019 and had cooperated with the investigation, including admitting responsibility for the firearm and drugs found in a safe in his grandfather's attic. The motorbikes, each valued at about €1,750, were also seized. The case was adjourned in 2019 to allow for a probation report and to assess the risk of infection in custody.
Michael Joyce, aged 24, was sentenced to seven and a half years' imprisonment for assault causing serious harm to his cousin Christopher McDonagh, aged 35, on 24 January 2021. The incident occurred after Joyce and another man, both settled Travellers, had been drinking while watching a Conor McGregor fight. Video evidence showed Joyce repeatedly punching, kicking and stomping on McDonagh, who lay on the ground, before striking him with a fire extinguisher. McDonagh suffered dental and facial injuries, a serious brain injury and ongoing cognitive issues. Joyce pleaded guilty to one count of assault causing serious harm and had 38 prior convictions, including assault. The judge noted Joyce had taken drugs that night and became furious, describing the attack as prolonged and intentional. The sentence was back‑dated to the date Joyce entered custody for the offence.
Abubaker Bello, 46, of Fr Peter McVerry Homeless Shelter, was found guilty of assault causing harm to Catherina White in Tallaght on 20 January 2021. The court heard that Bello approached White while she was walking with headphones, pulled her handbag, punched her face, pushed her to the ground and repeatedly punched her face. Witnesses stopped their cars and assisted White, who later received treatment at Tallaght Hospital for a fractured nose, swollen eyes and blurred vision. Bello was arrested at Tallaght Garda Station after refusing to cooperate. He denied the offence during an interview, was shown CCTV footage but did not identify himself, and has 21 prior convictions, including two for assault. He expressed remorse and presented a letter of apology. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to three and a half years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended, subject to good behaviour and one year of probation supervision.
Paul Mangan, 42, was arrested for stealing children's clothes from a Next shop in Dublin. During a search of his home, Gardaí discovered seven vacuum‑packed bags of cannabis valued at €135,762. Mangan pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis for sale or supply, theft, and possession of a tinfoil‑lined bag intended for use in a theft. He has 51 prior convictions, including drug possession and theft. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to five years' imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended, taking into account his mental health difficulties and efforts to overcome addiction. The case involved a search warrant issued on the day of the theft, and Garda Kelly McKiernan reported that Mangan was found near the shop after the theft. The prosecution noted he was not a drug dealer and had denied that his DNA was on the packages.
In a 2020 incident, Charlene Lynham, 38, knocked on her former partner Colm Black's apartment door while intoxicated and stabbed him in the torso with a knife. The attack left a small wound; Lynham later claimed she had stabbed him "good enough." The struggle caused Lynham to wound her own hand when others wrestled the knife away. She pleaded guilty to assault causing harm. Black, who refused medical treatment and later recovered fully, did not provide a victim impact statement. Lynham had no prior convictions. The court considered her intoxication and lack of criminal history, and Judge Martin Nolan imposed a suspended two‑year sentence and ordered her to pay Black €2,000 within a year. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
In a case heard by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Mohamed Saleh Zayed, a 72‑year‑old taxi driver from Dublin, was sentenced to two and a half years' imprisonment for fraudulently claiming over €345,000 in social welfare payments between March 2003 and November 2015. Zayed pleaded guilty to six counts of fraud and six counts of deception, using a second PPS number to obtain disability, rent and dietary allowance payments for which he was not entitled. He had been working as a taxi driver throughout the period and had no financial need to commit the offences. The judge noted that Zayed had repaid a substantial amount of the money and had an arrangement to reduce the State's loss to €159,118. He was ordered to exhibit good behaviour for 12 months after release and was placed in a low‑security prison at his request. The case was aided by facial‑recognition technology used by Gardaí.
Zohaib Ahmed, 36, a Pakistani national, was sentenced by Judge Martin Nolan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to a fully suspended two‑year prison term and ordered to leave Ireland within a month. Ahmed pleaded guilty to two counts of harassment after sending over 150 threatening, pornographic and racist emails to a female colleague and to Garda Peter Guinan. The harassment began after the colleague sent a routine email about clock‑in procedures; Ahmed then sent more than 120 emails containing explicit and threatening content, including a phone call in which he called her an "Irish whore" and made remarks about her mother. He was also found guilty of harassing Garda Sergeant David O'Leary, who received 52 of the emails. The court warned Ahmed not to contact either complainant for 30 years and imposed a three‑year good‑behaviour order. The victim's impact statement described the emails as a "living hell" that left her feeling unsafe in social situations.
During a multi‑million euro theft trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, former solicitor Michael Lynn, aged 53, testified that he had obtained permission from banks to use mortgage loan money for property developments abroad. He claimed the banks understood the funds were to purchase specific sites and repay the loans, and that similar arrangements dated back to 2003 with the Bank of Ireland. Lynn said he had emailed bankers about these arrangements, but no copies of the emails remain. He was accused of stealing about €27 million from seven financial institutions and pleaded not guilty to 21 counts of theft between October 2006 and April 2007. The prosecution alleges he secured multiple mortgages on the same properties without the banks' knowledge of other lenders. Lynn maintained that he conducted all business via a Kendar email address and that the banks facilitated his transactions. The trial is ongoing before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury.
David O'Brien, a 70‑year‑old former scout leader, was sentenced to 16 months' imprisonment for indecently assaulting a nine‑ or ten‑year‑old boy during a scouting trip in 1981. O'Brien, who has 22 prior convictions for indecent assault and has admitted abusing more than 40 children between 1975 and 1983, is already serving sentences that include an eight‑year term and a six‑year term, with release not expected until February 2025. The court heard that the boy, who was sleeping with other cubs, was approached by O'Brien who fondled his genitals and anus while the boy was frozen and in shock. The boy later reported the abuse after media reports on sexual abuse in Scouting Ireland. O'Brien pleaded guilty, acknowledged his paedophilic nature, and expressed remorse. Judge Melanie Greally noted the boy's lasting harm and the breach of trust, and imposed the 16‑month sentence.
Michael Lynn, a former solicitor aged 53 from Red Cross, County Wicklow, gave evidence in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in the thirteenth week of his trial on charges of theft. Mr Lynn pleaded not guilty to 21 counts of theft totalling approximately €27 million from seven financial institutions between October 2006 and April 2007. The prosecution alleges he obtained multiple mortgages on identical properties without the knowledge of lending institutions. Under questioning from his defence barrister, Mr Lynn outlined his career progression from a Mayo farming background through Trinity College education to establishing his own legal practice in 1997. He described expanding his Blanchardstown-based firm and concurrent involvement in property development and overseas ventures through his company Kendar Holdings Limited. Mr Lynn testified that between late 2005 and October 2007, he was not involved in day-to-day management of his legal practice, stating he was travelling constantly during this period. The trial, which resumed following Mr Lynn's Covid-related absence, continues before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury.
A former priest and Irish Times columnist has been sentenced to four years imprisonment following conviction for multiple sexual assaults on a schoolboy in the late 1990s. Barry Fergal Jennings, aged 56, of Cloonkeerin, French Park, County Roscommon, was unanimously convicted by jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in March of six counts of sexual assault committed between September 1998 and December 1999. At the time, Jennings served as chaplain at a Dublin community school. The court heard evidence that the assaults occurred at various locations, including the victim's home and within the school premises. In her victim impact statement, the man described severe and lasting trauma, including suicide attempts, substance abuse, and diagnosed PTSD. Judge Patricia Ryan noted the serious abuse of trust inherent in the offence and the significant age disparity involved. She acknowledged mitigating factors including Jennings' previous good standing but determined that a custodial sentence was unavoidable. The sentence was backdated to account for time already served.
A 34‑year‑old health‑care student, who had driven home drunk from a friend's party with her four‑ and six‑year‑old children in the back seat, faced two child‑neglect charges and a refusal‑to‑give‑sample charge. Garda Lee Kelly stopped her car at about 4 a.m. on 1 September 2019 after noticing swerving and alcohol smell; she became abusive, shouted at her children, and refused a breathalyser. Tusla investigated and deemed the incident neglectful but found no other welfare issues; the children remained with her. She pleaded guilty to the neglect charges. Judge Melanie Greally, after hearing mitigating evidence, set a headline sentence of nine months but indicated a six‑month sentence would be appropriate.
Kevin Joyce, aged 25, of Skerries, Co Dublin, was sentenced by Judge Melanie Greally at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to eight years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended. The sentence covers six unprovoked violent offences committed between May 2017 and January 2021, including a sustained sexual assault. Joyce pleaded guilty to attacks on friends and strangers, such as striking a friend in May 2017, punching Ronan Murphy in August 2017, assaulting three young people while on bail, and attacking a woman in a public park. He also punched a man on Grafton Street in March 2020, breaking the man's jaw, and used a bottle to knock a friend unconscious in January 2021. The judge noted Joyce's remorse, his placement on the Sex Offenders' Register, and ordered him to attend programmes for sexual offending and addiction, and to engage with probation services for two years upon release. The sentence was back‑dated to January 2021.
An 84‑year‑old man was sentenced to 21 months' imprisonment for sexually abusing his granddaughter, who was aged between seven and eight at the time of the assaults in summer 2014. The attacks occurred in the grandfather's home, a shed and his car while the child's grandmother was away. The court heard that the victim, now 16, had made a voluntary statement in 2018 and had not denied the accusations. He pleaded guilty in December 2021 to one count of sexual assault of a minor. Judge Martin Nolan described the case as "pretty sad" and noted the repeated nature of the misconduct, the victim's courage, and the defendant's acceptance of responsibility. The sentence was imposed after the judge considered the man's age, cooperation with Gardaí, and the likelihood of re‑offending. The defendant is now isolated from his family.