A former Irish rugby international, Brendan Mullin, 58, has been scheduled for a trial on May 7, 2024, after appearing before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on a new mention date. Mullin faces nine theft charges, five false accounting charges and one deception charge, all linked to Bank of Ireland between July 2011 and March 2013. He was remanded on continuing bail. Mullin, who earned 55 caps for Ireland from 1984 to 1995 and played in three Rugby World Cups, is represented by Brendan Grehan SC.
Sean McCarthy, aged in his 60s, lost over €26,000 when a fraudulent email replaced a legitimate invoice from Lauragh Construction, leading him to transfer money to a scammer's account. The fraud involved two young men, Jack Ward (22) and Kelvin Kleinovis (21), who acted as money mules. Ward transferred €9,700 to his account and €9,600 to a third man, while Kleinovis received €26,400 and later transferred €9,700 to Ward. Gardaí traced the transactions, and the bank returned €16,580, leaving McCarthy still short €9,820. McCarthy expressed that the loss delayed his holiday‑home project and that he and his wife no longer trust electronic transfers. Ward was sentenced to an eight‑month prison term, suspended, and Kleinovis received a two‑year term, also suspended, after expressing remorse and attempting restitution. The court noted that neither man was suspected of setting up the bogus email. Jack Ward pleaded guilty. Kelvin Kleinovis pleaded guilty.
David O'Brien, 44, was arrested in June 2017 after Gardaí searched his hostel and discovered a packet of heroin hidden in his back passage. While officers were searching the premises, O'Brien was asked to enter the building; during the search, a string was found coming from his back passage, which he attempted to conceal further up his body. Garda Emmett Brannigan reported that the heroin had a street value of €2,000. O'Brien, who has 35 prior convictions for robbery, drug and public order offences, pleaded guilty to possession of the drugs for sale or supply at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 21 June 2017. He was described as a lifelong drug user and had no fixed abode. Judge Melanie Greally, after considering his admissions and background, imposed a 16‑month sentence, noting that the drugs' presence in a hostel was damaging to other residents. The sentence reflects his cooperation and progress in a methadone maintenance programme.
Leon Travers, 25, was on bail for a 2017 criminal‑damage offence when he bit a garda and threw a fan at another after threatening to kill her. He had earlier pleaded guilty to threatening a garda at a hospital and assaulting a garda at a station in October 2018, and to criminal damage at a service station in September 2017. At the sentencing hearing Judge Martin Nolan noted Travers had no prior convictions and was deemed unsuitable for community service. He was sentenced to nine months imprisonment for each offence, the sentences running consecutively for a total of 18 months, which was fully suspended. The judge highlighted Travers' aggressive conduct in hospital and court, his lack of remorse, and his status as a first‑time offender and father of three. No victim impact statements were made. The suspended sentence means no custodial time is imposed.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, a man charged with unlawful possession for sale or supply of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) on 31 May 2019 is seeking dismissal of the charge. His counsel, Keith Spencer BL, argues that the Irish prohibition on cannabidiol (CBD) oil conflicts with EU free‑trade law. The defendant claims he used CBD oil for health benefits, stating it calmed him, helped his partner with alopecia, and was purchased online from Northern Ireland with a THC content below 0.2 per cent, which he believes makes it legal in both the UK and Ireland. Spencer cites an EU court ruling that allowed the sale of hemp‑derived CBD oil produced in the Czech Republic, asserting that low‑THC CBD is not a narcotic or psychoactive substance and that blanket prohibition lacks health justification.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 45‑year‑old man was discharged from charges of sexually assaulting a 16‑year‑old schoolgirl after Judge Pauline Codd ruled that an informal identification by the victim at a Luas stop was unfair. The man had pleaded not guilty. The judge found that the identification process lacked safeguards: no foils were used, no notes were taken, and the Gardaí present were not neutral. She noted that the victim's detailed description had been given to the Gardaí, but the identification was conducted eight days after the alleged assault, with the Gardaí already aware of the suspect's identity. Consequently, the judge excluded the identification evidence and dismissed the case, stating no prosecution would proceed. The jury was thanked for their service. The case remains closed with no further charges.
In a case heard at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Lee Gannon, a 26‑year‑old Tesco employee, was sentenced to a one‑year suspended term for stealing nearly €6,000 in phone credit from the retailer over July and August 2018. Gannon, who managed rosters and payroll at Tesco Express in Rathmines, was caught when an operations manager noticed discrepancies in mobile phone credit sales. CCTV footage linked the theft to Gannon's store code, and he was seen ringing up the credit in the till before pocketing it. He pleaded guilty to three counts of theft between 24 July and 22 August 2018. Gannon had no prior convictions. He claimed that his ex‑partner's drug debt pressured him into the theft, a claim the prosecution accepted.
Conor Kirwan, 27, was sentenced to six years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended, after pleading guilty to multiple offences including robbery, impersonation of a Garda, and producing a syringe. He stole 11 pieces of corned beef from Supervalu in June 2020, three legs of lamb from Dunnes Stores in January 2021, and €30 from a student on Eden Quay in September 2020. In each incident he used threats or a syringe to intimidate victims. Kirwan's crimes were linked to his drug addiction, and he was homeless at the time. The judge noted his positive steps since custody. He has 52 prior convictions, including theft, assault and drug offences. The court emphasised that the suspended portion of the sentence was imposed on strict conditions. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, former solicitor Michael Lynn, aged 53, faces 21 theft charges for allegedly siphoning about €27 million from seven financial institutions between October 2006 and April 2007. Lynn denies all allegations. Building society officials testified that they would not have approved a €4.1 million mortgage to Lynn if they had known a second mortgage existed on Glenlion House, Howth. Lynn and his wife Bríd Murphy secured the property, valued at €5.5 million, through multiple lenders: Irish Nationwide Building Society, Bank of Scotland Ireland, ACC Bank, and others. The court heard that Lynn's assets were valued at over €45 million and that he maintained an "immaculate repayment record." The trial, expected to last up to 14 weeks, resumed on Monday before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury. The proceedings focus on the alleged dual mortgages and the resulting financial loss to the banks. Michael Lynn pleaded not guilty.
Paddy Lynch, 36, a homeless man from Ashlawn Court, Bray, was found guilty of trespassing and criminal damage after breaking into the General Register Office on 9 May 2020. He entered the closed building shortly after midnight, triggered an alarm, broke an electronic gate and damaged an internal security door with a metal object. The damage amounted to €8,000, with the gate alone costing €7,000 to repair. Lynch claimed he was looking for a place to sleep and was intoxicated, with a needle found nearby. He has prior convictions for burglary and theft. A psychological report linked his drug addiction to trauma from the 2015 Carrickmines fire. Judge Melanie Greally, after adjournment for a probation assessment, imposed a fully suspended two‑year sentence, requiring Lynch to keep the peace and continue drug treatment and probation services if needed. No documents were harmed during the incident.
Hazel Byrne, 31, pleaded guilty to possession of articles in connection with drug trafficking after moving a large suitcase of paracetamol and caffeine powder from her mother's Dublin home on 29 May 2018. The powder was used as a bulking agent to cut heroin and cocaine. Byrne's mother, Catherine Byrne, 56, had earlier received a five‑year suspended sentence for holding over €190,000 worth of heroin, cocaine and mixing agents at her home. The court heard that gardaí had stopped a car driven by Catherine Byrne and found a large box with a shotgun, but the judge accepted that the box likely contained drugs. Judge Melanie Greally suspended a two‑year prison term for Hazel Byrne, requiring her to engage with Probation Services for another year, including drug screening and therapeutic work. The sentence was fully suspended, with no custodial time imposed.
Mary Smith, 64, received a suspended three‑year prison sentence after pleading guilty to assault causing harm on her drinking partner during the pandemic lockdown. The victim, in her 60s, suffered two fractured ribs, serious eye damage requiring 21 stitches, and nerve damage in her hand that left her unable to write or lift a cup of tea. Smith, who had no memory of the attack, was described by the court as appalled and horrified by her actions. The judge noted her plea of guilty, remorse, and previous good character, and imposed a suspended sentence on the condition that Smith abstain from alcohol for three years. She was also ordered to pay €1,500 to the victim or a nominated charity within a year. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
A 34‑year‑old health‑care student who drove home drunk from a friend's party with her four‑ and six‑year‑old children may have her child‑neglect charges dropped if she engages with the Probation Service. At a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing in November, her lawyer said it was her first offence in years and that she had arranged to stay overnight with her children. Garda Lee Kelly described how he pulled her over at 4 am on 1 September 2019, found her swerving and smelling of alcohol, and noted her abusive behaviour towards the children and the Gardaí. Tusla investigated and found the incident a case of neglect but no other welfare issues. She pleaded guilty to two child‑neglect charges and one refusal to give a breath‑sample. Judge Melanie Greally, after hearing mitigating factors, set a headline sentence of nine months but indicated a six‑month sentence would be appropriate.
Former solicitor Michael Lynn, aged 53, faces 21 theft charges for allegedly stealing about €27 million from seven banks. Prosecutors say he obtained multiple mortgages on the same properties, misled lenders, and used forged documents. Lynn applied for mortgages from at least two, often several, institutions, each unaware of the others' loans. He presented false statements of affairs and forged letters of undertaking, claiming they were signed by a solicitor and partner at his firm. The prosecution alleges he used these tactics to secure over €11 million for a family home in County Dublin and additional funds for investment properties. Lynn denies all charges. The trial, heard in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, is before a 15‑member jury and is expected to last up to 14 weeks, with over 70 witnesses scheduled. The case involves Ulster Bank, Bank of Ireland Mortgages, Bank of Scotland Ireland, Danske Bank, ACC, Irish Life and Permanent, and Irish Nationwide Building Society.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, the trial of taxi driver Sinead Roche (43) collapsed after Judge Elma Sheahan ruled that evidence was insufficient to convict her of careless driving causing serious bodily harm to 77‑year‑old Margaret Rooney. Roche had pleaded not guilty to the careless driving charge and three related offences – failing to offer assistance, failing to stay at the scene and failing to report to gardaí – after her car struck Rooney on Sundrive Road, Crumlin, on 4 December 2016. Rooney suffered serious head and ankle injuries, was hospitalised, and now has dementia, preventing her from giving evidence. Roche's lawyer argued that no evidence showed she was driving carelessly, that she had her eyes on the road, and that circumstances of the collision were unclear. Judge Sheahan found no evidence of carelessness, directed the jury to find Roche not guilty, and later declared the return for trial invalid, ending the case.
A jury has been empanelled ahead of the trial of former solicitor Michael Lynn at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, which opens tomorrow. Mr Lynn, aged 53 and with an address in County Wicklow, faces 21 charges relating to the alleged theft of approximately €27 million from seven financial institutions between 2006 and 2007. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges. The accused is a native of County Mayo who previously practised as a solicitor. The prosecution alleges the thefts relate to 21 different mortgage applications on properties during the specified period. A jury panel of 15 has been sworn in, with the trial expected to last up to 14 weeks and hear evidence from over 70 witnesses. Judge Martin Nolan instructed jurors that the case must be decided solely on evidence presented in court and warned against any external research.
Eddie Cawley, 22, pleaded guilty to burglary at a Portmarnock house on 9 March 2020. He and a co‑accused rang the doorbell, knocked, and when no one answered they damaged the front door to enter. The homeowner's son, who was in the bathroom, heard the noise, confronted one intruder on the stairs, and the men fled. Cawley claimed he would not have entered if he had known someone was home and had no weapon, though a claw hammer was used in the confrontation. No items were taken, only door damage. He was arrested after a chase, and the pair were taken into custody. Judge Melanie Greally, considering his guilty plea, past convictions, and personal circumstances, sentenced him to four and a half years, suspending 18 months on strict conditions including 12 months probation supervision. The sentence was imposed in 2022.
In a case heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Nsa Okpo, aged 53, was found guilty of careless driving causing serious harm after his car collided with a motorcyclist, Michael Sorahan, on July 11, 2013. Okpo, who was uninsured and had a suspended sentence at the time, failed to keep an adequate lookout while turning right at a junction. Sorahan, an athlete who had represented Ireland in Taekwondo, suffered severe ankle injuries, described as "burst open like a tomato," and has endured ongoing pain and surgery, with doctors stating he will never run again. Okpo's previous convictions included assault, drugs and road traffic offences, and he had served an eight‑year sentence in the UK for grievous bodily harm. Judge Pauline Codd, noting the lack of speed, alcohol or drug evidence, suspended a one‑year prison term and disqualified Okpo from driving for six years. Nsa Okpo pleaded not guilty.
Eddie Johnson, 41, pleaded guilty to intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to his partner in Wolfe Tone Park on 28 April 2020. He was sentenced to six years in prison, with the final 12 months suspended, under strict conditions including probation supervision for two years, participation in anger‑management and intimate‑partner‑violence courses, reporting any new relationships, and drug and alcohol intervention. Johnson has 233 prior convictions, including assault, burglary, robbery, and possession of knives. The victim, who suffered a 12‑cm wound on her forehead and a 5‑cm wound under her right eye, later died from unrelated causes. The judge noted Johnson's guilty plea, remorse, and engagement with drug services, and highlighted the seriousness of the violent act and the risk of re‑offending. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, with evidence presented by Gardaí and a witness video of the attack.
Michael Lynn, aged 53, pleaded not guilty to 21 charges of stealing approximately €27 million from seven banks between 2005 and 2007. The banks named are Ulster Bank, Bank of Ireland Mortgages Bank Ltd, Bank of Scotland Ireland Ltd, Danske Bank trading as National Irish Bank, ACC, Irish Life and Permanent trading as PTSB, and Anglo Irish Bank. Lynn also pleaded not guilty to a single count of stealing €2,742,000 from Bank of Ireland Mortgages Bank Ltd on 13 December 2006. Prosecutor Patrick McGrath SC told the jury that the alleged thefts involved Lynn applying for multiple mortgages on the same properties. The trial, set to last 12–14 weeks, will hear from 70 witnesses and requires a 15‑member jury; 11 jurors were empanelled today. Judge Martin Nolan adjourned the case to allow the remaining jurors to be empanelled and warned that jurors must not seek information about the case online.
Sean O'Neill, a 19‑year‑old from Carton Court, Ballymun, pleaded guilty to assault after refusing a cigarette in a beer garden. On 18 October 2020, outside Lombard's pub on Pearse Street, he approached two men in the smoking area, asked for a cigarette and was refused. He then emptied his beer can, tore it up and used it to cut one man above the eye. CCTV showed O'Neill, heavily intoxicated and unsteady, lunging forward and striking the victim. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court sentenced him to nine months imprisonment, fully suspended under strict conditions.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Damien Gray, aged 25, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after punching a 14‑year‑old boy on James Joyce Street on 28 March 2018. The incident followed a verbal exchange after Gray had attended a friend's funeral earlier that day and had been drinking in a nearby pub. The boy, who was returning to his hotel with his mother, was punched in the face, knocked to the ground and later received stitches at hospital. Judge Melanie Greally noted the assault was not "particularly lengthy" but had a significant physical and psychological impact on the victim. Gray, who has 71 prior convictions, was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment, fully suspended on strict conditions: nine months of probation, compliance with the Probation Service, and payment of €1,200 to the victim or a charity if he declines to accept it.
In a case heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, John Hogan, aged 32, was found in possession of a small quantity of cannabis valued at €70 and a larger quantity of cannabis valued at almost €20,000. Garda Dean Foster observed Hogan acting agitated while entering a taxi on Fonthill Road, Clondalkin, on 9 October 2020. The taxi smelled strongly of cannabis, and an Iceland shopping bag containing two vacuum‑sealed bags of cannabis was discovered. Hogan admitted ownership of the small quantity but refused to identify the owner of the larger quantity, claiming he had been instructed to transport it. He was arrested, questioned, and pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis for sale or supply. Judge Martin Nolan, considering Hogan's early guilty plea and cooperation, sentenced him to three years' imprisonment, suspended in full on the condition of good behaviour and keeping the peace.
A 43‑year‑old taxi driver, Sinead Roche, denies careless driving after her car struck an elderly woman on December 4, 2016, at Sundrive Road, Crumlin. She is charged with careless driving causing serious bodily harm, failing to offer assistance, failing to remain at the scene and failing to report to Gardaí. Roche pleaded not guilty to all four counts. The trial heard that at about 7.15 am she was carrying a passenger when a bang was heard; she claimed to have slowed, looked in the rear‑view mirror and saw nothing. She continued to the passenger's destination, then returned to the scene, where she found a woman lying on the road and other people nearby. Roche later approached Gardaí, stating she panicked and did not know what had happened. The prosecution argued she drove without due care and failed to stop after causing injury.
Michelle O'Leary, 34, was jailed for six years after she broke into the homes of two elderly men in April 2021. She first forced entry into a 90‑year‑old man's house, brandishing a knife, demanding money, and taking €60 before leaving. The next day she called a 69‑year‑old neighbour, claiming her mother was ill and needed money for a hospital visit. He gave her €70, but later that evening O'Leary and an accomplice entered his home, demanded €100, and tried to walk him to a shop to withdraw the money. The shop manager, recognising the victim, called the Gardaí. O'Leary was arrested at her mother's apartment, pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary, production of a knife, burglary, attempted robbery and false imprisonment, and admitted to 30 prior convictions. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced her to seven years, suspending the final 12 months on strict conditions. The case highlighted the targeting of vulnerable, elderly men living alone.
Barry Doyle, 40, was sentenced by Judge Karen O'Connor to a fully suspended 12‑month imprisonment for assault causing harm after he threw Stephen Bradley to the ground and kicked him in the Beacon Hotel bar, Sandyford, on 17 December 2018. Doyle repeatedly offered Bradley a drink, which Bradley declined, and when Bradley tried to stop the offers he showed a pricey whiskey on his phone. Doyle threw the phone back, threatened Bradley, and when Bradley walked into the kitchen and grabbed a ladle, Doyle and a friend tackled him, kicking until staff intervened. Doyle pleaded guilty and has engaged in restorative justice. The sentence was suspended on strict conditions, including a €500 payment to Bradley. Both men were intoxicated and there was no prior animosity. The court noted Doyle's early guilty plea during the pandemic.
A man convicted of his role in a rental deposit scam affecting six potential tenants in Dublin has been ordered to complete community service rather than face imprisonment. Robert Long, with an address in Carndonagh, County Donegal, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to six counts of theft and two counts of deception relating to offences committed between July and August 2017. The scheme involved advertising a Dublin apartment on Daft.ie under false pretences, with victims paying deposits after meeting a man using a false name. Long acted as the sitting tenant during viewings, though gardaí established he was not the primary instigator and did not financially benefit. The court heard nearly €11,000 was obtained from the victims. Judge Melanie Greally imposed 240 hours of community service to be completed within eighteen months, in lieu of a two-year custodial sentence. Long had brought €10,700 to court for victim compensation, with one outstanding payment expected within three months or to be redirected to a homeless charity.
Patrick O'Donnell, 19, was sentenced for assault causing harm after he accidentally reversed into a woman's car at Dundrum Town Centre on 15 December 2020. He offered to pay €100 for the damage but the woman refused and tried to prevent him from driving away. CCTV showed O'Donnell repeatedly struck her while she stood in front of the vehicle, causing injuries. The woman suffered severe bruising, a swollen eye, headaches and worsened depression. O'Donnell pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Melanie Greally remanded him on bail, adjourned the case to 17 May for a Probation Service report, and urged him to seek employment and show remorse. The woman has initiated a civil action for her injuries. O'Donnell has no prior convictions.
Zara McCabe, 34, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after attacking a homeless man she believed had raped a family member. The assault lasted 30 minutes and McCabe, intoxicated and with poor mental health, claimed she had a blade and hoped to kill the victim. She has 21 prior convictions. The victim was taken to hospital, discharged, and died by suicide a week later. Judge Martin Nolan adjourned the case to assess McCabe for community service. If suitable, he may order 150 hours of community service instead of a two‑year prison term. McCabe's children are in care and she has secured work in a warehouse. The court noted her history of alcohol and addictive problems and her "very unfortunate family life.".
Conor Kirwan, aged 27, pleaded guilty to several offences in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He admitted to stealing three legs of lamb from a Dunnes Stores supermarket in January 2021, intending to sell them on the street to raise money for drugs, and to threatening a security guard with an uncapped syringe while pointing it at the guard. He also pleaded guilty to a robbery at Supervalu in June 2020, where he stole 11 pieces of corned beef, and to impersonating a garda at Eden Quay in September 2020, during which he forced a student to remove shoes and socks, demanded identification, and stole €30 from the student's wallet. Kirwan has 52 prior convictions, including theft, assault and drug offences, and is currently in custody. The court adjourned the case for finalisation on 14 February.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, two 19‑year‑old teenagers, Andrew Hillick and Michael Matthews, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and robbery after attacking a 31‑year‑old taxi driver outside a Garda station on 17 November 2020. The court heard that the teenagers broke the taxi's glass partition, punched and kicked the driver, and stole €60 in cash and his mobile phone. The driver sustained a broken nose, blood on his shirt, and damage to his glasses. Both accused were arrested shortly after the incident; Matthews was found with a broken bottle. The judge noted their lack of prior convictions and significant adversity in their lives, and remanded them on continuing bail until 10 February. The case remains at the pleading stage, with no sentencing yet announced.
Twenty‑three character references were presented to a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 28 January 2022, supporting Vincent Williams (41) of Mountain Park, Tallaght, who had been convicted in October 2021 of five counts of sexual assault against three teenage girls. The references described Williams as a dedicated, honest and trustworthy father of five. A probation report was also read, stating he was at low risk of reoffending. Williams continued to deny the offences. The court heard that the victims, aged 12 to 16, were friends of his daughter and that the assaults occurred during sleepovers at his home in late 2012 and on 29 October 2016. The judge, Pauline Codd, noted the breach of trust and the offering of alcohol as aggravating factors, but also considered mitigating factors such as his lack of prior convictions and good work history. Vincent Williams pleaded not guilty.
Michal Gaszeich, 27, of Tallaght, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and theft at a Dunnes Stores shop in Citywest on 8 November 2020. He head‑butted security guard Sean Murphy, who was trying to stop him from stealing hot food and alcohol. The guard was injured, receiving three stitches above his left eye and a permanent scar. Gaszeich was arrested after a customer intervened and gardaí arrived. He had no prior convictions. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to 12 months imprisonment, fully suspended on strict conditions, including payment of compensation to the victim. The case was originally directed for summary disposal in the District Court, but the judge sent it to the Circuit Court. Gaszeich has since stopped drinking and has been in Ireland for a decade, working continuously since arrival.
Lee Cunningham, aged 24, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assaulting Garda Ciaran Rogers on 13 July 2020. Cunningham, who had eight prior convictions, had been in a state of intoxication and agitation when he head‑butted a patrol van door with extreme force, prompting Rogers to open the door to stop him. Cunningham then kicked Rogers, breaking a bone in Rogers' right hand. The injury required two screws and further surgery, and Rogers was unable to work for three‑and‑a‑half months, losing about €3,500 in overtime pay. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced Cunningham to two years' imprisonment, fully suspended, with strict conditions including payment of €5,000 in compensation to Rogers. The court noted Rogers' prolonged absence from work and the high cost of his medical treatment. The case was Cunningham's first appearance before the Circuit Court.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 33‑year‑old mother pleaded guilty to two counts of wilfully neglecting her 12‑ and 5‑year‑old sons between September 2017 and November 2018. The court heard that the mother, who admitted she had chosen her drug addiction over her children, was "evidently devoted to the children" despite her addiction. Social workers had observed her slurring and unfocused, and her children's school attendance remained problematic. On one occasion a 16‑year‑old niece was found unconscious in the home, and the 5‑year‑old was left in the house with the niece. The children were removed from her care and placed with their great‑aunt. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced the mother to three months imprisonment, suspended the sentence in its entirety, and imposed strict probation conditions for 12 months.
A Limerick man, Gerard Culhane (43) of Marian Place, Glin, Co Limerick, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to harassing Fine Gael TD Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD at unknown places within the State on dates between January 13, 2020 and March 26, 2020. The charge was admitted, and Culhane entered a plea of guilty. The court heard that the accused had indicated a guilty plea well in advance of the hearing. The defence requested a probation report, and the court agreed to order the report. The matter was adjourned for sentence on May 11, next. Culhane was remanded on continuing bail, with conditions including weekly sign-on at a local Garda station and informing gardaí of any change to his address. At a previous appearance in Dún Laoghaire District Court, Detective Sergeant Rachel Kilpatrick detailed that messages sent via Facebook included sexually explicit content and pictures of Ms Carroll MacNeill, which had already been in the public domain. The public representative and Culhane were not known to each other personally. Judge Watkin noted the incident would have been horrific and frightening for Ms Carroll MacNeill.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 26 January 2022, two men were sentenced to two years' imprisonment each for drug dealing from a tent in a public park. Gardaí, as part of an ongoing operation to disrupt drug activity along the Grand Canal in Clondalkin, located the tent on 3 April 2020. Garda Ciaran O'Neill explained that surveillance had been set up, and a man arriving on a motorbike with a package was followed into a field where the tent was found. Three men fled but were apprehended. The tent contained heroin estimated at €15,000, cocaine worth €4,150, cannabis valued at €13,267 and €40 of Diazepam tablets. Gary Lawlor, aged 24, of Cushlawn Park, Tallaght, and Sean Greene, aged 20, of Lealand Drive, Clondalkin, were charged with possession for sale or supply of drugs exceeding €13,000. Both pleaded guilty.
Trevor Keyes, 48, was sentenced for transporting almost €100,000 of cannabis, but the sentencing was adjourned to allow him to undergo brain surgery. Keyes had borrowed money from a group and tried to repay it, only to be told the group wanted him to do a job instead. He had previously helped apprehend a man who stabbed a 60‑year‑old woman in 2010, an act for which he was commended by the Circuit Court judge. Keyes suffered a brain aneurysm that has left him unable to work, and he is scheduled for surgery in February. The court heard that the drugs were hidden in the boot of a red Toyota Avensis taxi on Harold's Cross Road, where 10 vacuum‑packed bags of cannabis worth €99,200 were found. The judge ordered a report from the Probation Service and remanded Keyes on continuing bail until 27 July. Trevor Keyes pleaded guilty.
Trevor Green, 72, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for assault causing harm. Green pleaded guilty to stabbing Stephen Corr near their home in Ballyfermot, Dublin, on August 16, 2020. The accused alleged that he lost his temper after years of harassment by Mr. Corr, who allegedly intimidated Green's elderly partner. Green's partner testified that Mr. Corr was intimidating and that the harassment began in 2007. Detective Garda Michael McNulty noted that Mr. Corr was considered a general nuisance to local residents. Judge Elma Sheahan accepted that the victim had been shouting and intimidating the defendant's partner for many years, stating that Green had come to the end of his tether. The judge acknowledged the seriousness of the offence but noted it was out of character for Green, citing his good character, lack of prior offending, remorse, and cooperation with gardaí. She suspended a prison sentence of 16 months on the condition that Green keep the peace and be of good behaviour for that period. Green had previously been remanded on bail following his guilty plea last October.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Suzanne Danker, 48, was found guilty of deception and theft for ruining a young couple's wedding in Spain in September 2012. Danker's company, Spanish Dream Weddings, had run out of money in September 2012, yet she continued to ask the couple, Sarah Foran and Colm Moriarty, for payments. The couple had paid about €10,000 for the event, but none of the contractors—florist, DJ, videographer, singer, flamenco troupe, and church fees—were paid. Danker's chaotic management and failure to communicate left the couple in debt and emotionally distressed. She received a suspended three‑year prison sentence, with a €9,500 payment to the victims and an additional €5,000 to be paid within two years. The court noted her remorse and unlikely re‑offending.
Janet Agbontaen, 55, a Nigerian woman who arrived in Dublin in 2001 under a false identity claiming to be from Sierra Leone, was jailed for two years after fraudulently claiming more than €100,000 in child welfare and single parent benefits. She used a fake name to obtain about €55,000 in child benefit, €3,000 in early childcare allowance, and €83,700 in one parent family payments. In 2002 she challenged a deportation order and her sworn statements led to charges of perjury and perverting the course of justice. Agbontaen pleaded guilty to nine counts of theft from the Minister of Social Protection, giving false information to a births registrar, and fraudulently obtaining a driving licence. She was described as a victim of domestic violence and coercion by her husband, and the court noted her lack of prior offending when imposing the sentence.
Padraig Shortt, 42, of Templeogue, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of child pornography on 17 March 2016. He was found with 4,072 images and 200 videos, including 22 videos of sexual abuse and 178 images of exposed genitals. Shortt had no prior convictions. Judge Pauline Codd sentenced him to three years imprisonment, fully suspended, with strict conditions including compliance with Probation Service directions for two years. The judge noted his memory disturbance, isolated social life after a road‑traffic collision, and that he had begun psychotherapy. Shortt expressed genuine remorse and was described as psychologically vulnerable. Gardaí had seized computers, phones and hard drives during a search of his home, and Shortt admitted accessing the material but denied knowingly distributing it. The case was prosecuted by Fiona McGowan BL.
Peter McCormack, 59, of Ballinakill, Moate, pleaded guilty to harassing Mary Farrell, a woman he met on Plenty of Fish, between March and September 2020. He made threats to kill her, left voicemails, sent flowers, and placed a €1,000 cheque in her letterbox. He also damaged a Garda cell by smearing blood on the walls. The court heard that his harassment decreased during early pandemic restrictions but resumed in August 2020, culminating in his arrest on 9 September 2020. Judge Elma Sheahan imposed a concurrent sentence of two years and eight months, suspended in full for five years and six months, with conditions that McCormack must not contact Farrell, must continue psychiatric treatment, and must allow his doctors to notify Gardaí if he fails to comply. The sentence was suspended to protect the victim. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Lihlumelo Kanuka, 21, pleaded guilty to money laundering at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for using her bank details in an invoice‑redirection fraud that transferred €51,399 into her AIB account and then to other accounts. She claimed she was in a short‑lived coercive relationship with the third party who pressured her to continue the scheme after she discovered its nature. Kanuka attempted to cancel her bank cards but feared the man, who allegedly screamed at her. The judge, Melanie Greally, noted her vulnerability, the recklessness of her actions, and her remorse, and imposed a two‑year suspended sentence. Kanuka had no prior convictions and was assessed as low risk of reoffending. The case highlighted the impact of coercive relationships on young people's legal outcomes.
Albert Redmond, 45, was sentenced to 12‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment with four‑and‑a‑half years suspended for a spree of burglaries, criminal damage, credit‑card fraud and theft between October 2019 and March 2020. He appealed, arguing the judge had mis‑classified the severity of his offences and had not given enough weight to his personal circumstances. The Court of Appeal quashed the original sentence but upheld the appeal, ruling that Redmond must still serve eight years in prison. In a written judgment, Mr Justice John Edwards explained that the original sentence was structured with a mixture of consecutive and concurrent terms totalling nine years, with the final year suspended for 12 months. The judge noted Redmond's "appalling track record" and the risk of re‑offending, and acknowledged his expressed intention to move away from crime. The decision left Redmond's custodial term unchanged at eight years, with the suspended portion remaining in place. Albert Redmond pleaded guilty.
John Greene, 24, was sentenced to two years in prison for dangerous driving during a high‑speed Garda chase on June 5, 2019, near the old Naas road. He pleaded guilty to two counts of dangerous driving, criminal damage to a road sign, resisting a police officer, driving without insurance and without a licence. Greene drove over 90 km/h in a 50 km/h zone on wet roads, repeatedly used handbrake turns, skidded across traffic lanes and Luas lines, and at one point spun 180 degrees before colliding head‑on with a patrol car in pursuit. He later crashed into an electronic road sign, after which Garda officers used an ASP baton to break his window, removed his keys, and restrained him, with pepper spray deployed. A warrant was found for his arrest; his real address was in Bluebell, Dublin. John Greene was convicted.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, four men—Rabah Rabai (20), Ibrahim Ouadria (21), Ishak Djebbari (22) and Hamen Guernane (21)—were found to have attacked a 16‑year‑old teenager who had witnessed the unlawful killing of their friend in May 2019. The victim was kicked and stamped on the head while on the ground, resulting in unconsciousness and injuries treated in an ambulance. The court noted that the teenager had previously testified as a witness in the 2020 trial of the unlawful killing and that three of the four accused were also witnesses to that death. All four pleaded guilty to violent disorder at Sandyford Luas Stop on 22 June 2019. None had prior convictions. The judge remanded them on continuing bail, adjourned the case for finalisation on 28 April, and suggested the accused pay the victim a compensation of around €10,000.
Karl Hughes, a 28‑year‑old prospective art student, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment in May 2022 for harassing the Kennedy family in Rathfarnham over an €8,500 drug debt owed by their son. CCTV footage showed Hughes repeatedly banging on the family's front door, shouting threats and kicking the door, and he threatened to kill the son unless the debt was paid. The harassment began after the family had paid €15,000 to a man following a threat from the son. Hughes pleaded guilty to harassment at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. On appeal, Court President Mr Justice George Birmingham, with Mr Justice John Edwards and Ms Justice Una Ní Raifeartaigh, suspended the final year of the sentence, citing Hughes' mental health issues, his treatment, and an offer of employment and a place at the National College of Art and Design. The decision was made to encourage rehabilitation. Karl Hughes was convicted.
In January 2022, a 49‑year‑old Dublin man was sentenced to four‑and‑a‑half years in prison for sexually exploiting four teenage girls, including his step‑daughter, between 2010 and 2013. He posed online as a teenage boy, tricking the girls into sending sexual images and videos. He secretly installed hidden cameras and remote‑control software in his step‑daughter's home, producing videos of her in various states of nudity and capturing her in semi‑nude poses. The offence was discovered when a UK mother reported her daughter's sexualised images, leading police to trace the fake account to the defendant's Dublin home. He pleaded guilty to possession and production of child pornography under the Child Pornography Act 1998, and to sexual exploitation of a UK victim. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to five‑and‑a‑half years for the child‑pornography offence, suspending the final year on conditions including probation and sex‑offender treatment.
Two men have been jailed at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following their conviction for transporting a sawn-off shotgun in the Balbriggan area on 25 September 2020. Thomas McDonagh, aged 36, of Oldcastle Drive, Clondalkin, and William Ward, aged 25, of Owendoher Haven, Ballyboden, both pleaded guilty to possession of the firearm. The men attempted to flee at high speed after gardaí signalled them to stop, prompting a pursuit during which two children were forced to take evasive action. Armed gardaí ultimately apprehended both defendants following a foot chase. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a sentence of three-and-a-half years imprisonment on McDonagh, noting he was conveyed the firearm by a relative. Ward received two-and-a-half years imprisonment, with the judge taking account of his age and mental health difficulties. Both men's early guilty pleas allowed the judge to depart from the mandatory minimum sentence of five years. The court heard there was no evidence the defendants intended to use the weapon.