David Dwyer, 37, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for assaulting his former partner in the presence of her children. Dwyer pleaded guilty to assaulting the woman causing her harm and failing to comply with a direction given by Inspector Woods at Edenmore, Raheny, on May 2, 2020. The court heard that Dwyer punched and kicked the woman after she attempted to end their relationship, leaving her with a busted nose and head injury. Judge Melanie Greally described the incident as violent and noted that Dwyer's intoxication was no excuse for the assault. In mitigation, defense counsel Jennifer Jackson BL highlighted Dwyer's remorse, his efforts to address addiction, and the impact of his father's death on his substance use. Judge Greally acknowledged Dwyer's progress while on remand and his desire to change. She sentenced Dwyer to 18 months in prison, backdating the term to May 4, 2020, when he was remanded in custody. This sentence follows previous convictions, including an 18-month term for threatening gardaí with knives in 2018 and a five-year sentence for arson in 2012, two years of which were suspended. The judge emphasized the seriousness of the violence inflicted on the victim and the distress caused to her children.
A 41‑year‑old father of four, Martin Cawley, was sentenced to five years in prison for a pre‑meditated burglary of an apartment block on Kilmacud Road Upper, Dublin 14, on 11 September 2020. The judge, Melanie Greally, described the offence as an organised, targeted incident intended to extend to several apartments. Cawley had an accomplice and a third man waited in a getaway car with false plates and tinted windows. He was equipped with house‑breaking implements. The burglary caused €410 of damage to the homeowner's door and the theft of a gold wedding band. Cawley pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and had 104 previous convictions. The judge accepted that his absence was a hardship to his wife and sentenced him to five years, suspending the final year on strict conditions. The case was prosecuted by Antonia Boyle BL and defended by Alan Delany BL.
A 19‑year‑old man was remanded in custody after pleading guilty to defiling a 13‑year‑old girl at a house party when he was 16. The offence, which occurred in June 2018, was charged as defilement of a child aged 15 to 17 because the accused believed the girl was 15. The court heard the party was organised by older teenagers and that the girl was alone with the accused in a bedroom where they had sexual intercourse. The girl later informed a relative, leading to the Gardaí's involvement. The accused admitted the act and his belief about the girl's age. He has prior convictions for theft, drugs and public order offences. The judge, citing the seriousness of the offence and the need for reflection, ordered his remand pending sentencing and further reports. The judge warned that his conduct while remanded would influence the eventual custodial term.
In 2021 a 37‑year‑old serial sex attacker appealed his 18‑and‑a‑half‑year jail term for three premeditated attacks on women in a Dublin suburb. The attacks, carried out in 2011, 2015 and 2016, involved a hunting knife, sexual assault and false imprisonment. He pleaded not guilty to nine charges. DNA evidence linked him to the victims and Gardaí found duct tape and cable ties in his van. A jury found him guilty on all counts. Judge Pauline Codd imposed consecutive sentences of eight years, nine and a half years and five years, suspending the final four years on the condition of completing sex‑offender programmes. He will serve nine years of supervision and a curfew after release. He appealed the sentence, arguing the headline sentence for false imprisonment was unduly severe, but the appeal was not yet decided.
Darren Nolan, aged 28, was given a two‑year suspended sentence after pleading guilty to recklessly discharging a firearm and to possession of heroin and cocaine for sale or supply. He also pleaded guilty to making a false statement to gardaí. The case arose when Nolan was found with a handgun and over €16,000 of illegal drugs in his bedroom. He initially told police he had been shot by three men wearing balaclavas, but later admitted he had shot himself in the face with a blank‑firing gun he had purchased online. The judge noted Nolan's vulnerability, his history of alcohol abuse, and his progress in addressing addiction, and ordered him to attend residential treatment as part of the suspended sentence. No further convictions or outcomes were mentioned in the article.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, Margaret Connors, 26, pleaded guilty to handling stolen property on 28 May 2019. She had previously been convicted 12 times for theft, shoplifting and traffic offences. Garda Marguerite O'Reilly, Special Crimes Task Force, informed Connors of the location of high‑end handbags and shoulder bags worth about €11,000 that had been taken in a burglary in County Wicklow. Connors brought the items to a city centre shop, where the owner examined them for about 40 minutes before paying her cash. CCTV captured Connors arriving with a child two days after the burglary. On 14 November, Gardaí raided Connors' home, arrested her and questioned her at Kevin Street Garda Station. She claimed she had bought the items from a person at her Tallaght home and identified herself on shop CCTV.
In June 2017, Jabulani Haltshwayo, aged 23, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of the proceeds of criminal conduct for receiving €29,945 that had been transferred to his Cork bank account from a UK broker who had mistakenly believed he was acting on a client's instructions. The broker had transferred €696,466 to the account, but only a small portion was used by Haltshwayo. He had previously been convicted of false imprisonment and robbery and was serving a three‑year sentence. The court noted his early guilty plea, cooperation, and his desire to serve his time and become a productive member of society. Judge Melanie Greally imposed an 18‑month sentence, which she suspended in full on strict conditions.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 30‑year‑old Jonas Mercado pleaded guilty to a single charge of sexual assault after an incident on Middle Abbey Street on 15 July 2017. According to Garda Colm McCloskey, Mercado approached a woman speaking on her mobile phone, placed a hand on her leg, grabbed her underwear and tried to tear them off. Passersby heard shouts, restrained Mercado and he fled. The victim, who felt "extremely vulnerable and frightened," gave a victim impact statement urging the court to protect other women, noting she still feels uneasy when going out. After the assault she reported the incident to Gardaí at Ballymun Station, where she initially thought the act was a joke. Mercado had previously left Ireland for Australia, where he was convicted of a breaking and entering offence; he returned to Ireland last year and was arrested.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 9 June 2021, Erika Gould, 36, pleaded guilty to assaulting three gardaí in Dundrum on 1 June 2020. The court heard that Gould, after a traffic cone was thrown into the Garda Station car park, threw a bottle of wine at officers, spat and kicked them as they attempted to restrain her, and spat on Garda Brian Hennessy's stomach. She also called a sergeant a "prick" and a "fucking arsehole" and claimed she "had the virus" while trying to spit on officers. A doctor later confirmed she was not ill. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Gould to 18 months' imprisonment, suspended all but five months, and ordered a year's supervision by the Probation Service. The court noted her 118 previous convictions and her abstinence from alcohol for five months prior to the offence. The case was referred for appeal with extended legal aid.
Eamonn Walsh, a 76-year-old chef and former restaurateur, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to six sample charges out of 22 on an indictment. The charges alleged he failed to remit VAT to the Revenue Commissioners and failed to make or made incorrect income tax returns over five years starting in 2009. Prosecutors stated that Walsh charged VAT on invoices for freelance work at trade shows without being registered and did not pass the collected funds to Revenue. He also allegedly failed to declare income ranging from €30,000 in 2009 to €74,000 in 2012, resulting in unpaid taxes totaling €60,618. The court heard that Walsh had paid the outstanding monies via bank draft. Defense counsel highlighted Walsh's lack of professional advisors during a period of financial pressure, his early guilty plea, and his cooperation. Judge Martin Nolan noted that while the amount was significant, he considered Walsh's early plea, co-operation, lack of previous convictions, and low likelihood of reoffending. The judge sentenced Walsh to a three-year suspended sentence on condition of good behaviour, stating it was a close-run decision to avoid custody.
Aaron McGuirk, 23, pleaded guilty to possession of proceeds of criminal conduct after acting as a money mule in an email fraud that laundered €23,747 through his account. He supplied bank details to fraudsters for €1,000, claiming embarrassment over not affording social activities with his girlfriend and friends. The fraud involved a hacked email from a Romanian company's accounts manager, directing a payment to a Thai business, which instead went to McGuirk's account. He withdrew about €13,000 over two days and transferred €10,000 elsewhere; none of the money has been recovered. McGuirk admitted the total gain was €1,000 and expressed remorse. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to two‑and‑a‑half years imprisonment, fully suspended on strict conditions, and ordered €2,000 to be given to the Peter McVerry Trust.
Maura Keogh, 55, pleaded guilty to 42 counts of theft from CS Construction Spares Ltd, stealing €23,366.55 between January and September 2016, and to three counts of producing false accounting documents. She was the accounts manager at the Clondalkin machinery firm until the theft was uncovered. Garda Linda Ryan reported that a discrepancy was found when a colleague noticed that cash and cheques recorded did not match the actual lodgements. A sting operation revealed that the cash had not been deposited. Keogh admitted the theft at a meeting on 16 September 2016, was dismissed four days later, and a Garda investigation commenced. The owner, Joseph O'Reilly, said the breach shattered trust and caused a ripple effect, leading to the closure of the Dublin premises and restructuring that resulted in several colleagues losing their jobs.
Kusika Kudia, a 55‑year‑old taxi driver from Whitechurch Lawn, Ballyboden, was found guilty of sexually assaulting a passenger on 13 February 2020. The victim, who was collecting her bag from the car, described how Kudia wrapped his arms around her, kissed her without consent, and forced his tongue into her mouth. She said she went into "survival mode" and escaped to her home. Kudia admitted to kissing her but denied using his tongue. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Karen O'Connor, citing his lack of prior convictions and early guilty plea, imposed a nine‑month sentence suspended on conditions including 12 months under Probation Service supervision. Kudia remains employed as a taxi driver. The court did not read the victim impact statement. The case was prosecuted by Elva Duffy BL and defended by Keith Spencer BL.
Thomas McDonnell, aged 43, was convicted of hijacking a car on 4 January 2019 at Belgard Square, Tallaght. While in a drug‑induced psychosis, he threw himself over the bonnet of a vehicle whose driver had just dropped his daughter at a creche, demanded the driver exit or he would kill him, and then fled after the car could only travel a short distance. The driver, who had the key, was forced to stop and was later unharmed, though his wife, who was pregnant, was physically ill during the incident. McDonnell had been released from Tallaght Hospital the night before for mental health issues and had recently had a dispute with his girlfriend. He had six prior drug‑related convictions. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to four years, suspending the final 18 months under conditions, after noting the incident was short‑lived and the car was returned undamaged. Thomas McDonnell pleaded guilty.
Jennifer Ithere, a 24‑year‑old expectant mother from Lucan, Dublin, was given a two‑year suspended sentence for money‑laundering after her bank account was used in a banking scam. In 2019 she pleaded guilty to the offence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The scam involved a fraudster who sent her a text message pretending to be from Bank of Ireland, asking her to provide her bank details. The fraudster transferred €8,500 into Ithere's account, which she later admitted she had allowed to be used. The bank froze the account and reimbursed the victim. Garda Derek Brereton noted that Ithere had been pressured with a threat that private photographs would be released if she did not comply. Judge Melanie Greally, hearing the case, imposed a suspended sentence, citing the need for general deterrence and recognising Ithere's young age, full‑time education and pregnancy. The sentence is suspended for two years under strict conditions.
Jonathan Grimes, aged 33, had a six‑year jail term reduced to four years after a Court of Appeal decision. He had 161 prior convictions and was on bail for a burglary at the Irish Whiskey Museum when he stole a €300 tablet. He then committed two burglaries at Bewley's café on Grafton Street, stealing a cash belt and later a bottle of gin and a €1,500 laptop. He pleaded guilty to all three offences. Judge Elma Sheahan had originally sentenced him to four years for the museum burglary and three and four years for the café burglaries, with the last two years suspended, giving a net six‑year term. The appeal argued the museum sentence was too harsh and that mitigating factors such as substance misuse and a 10‑year‑old son had been overlooked.
Trevor Robinson, 30, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assisting an offender and two charges of burglary arising from incidents on April 9, 2018. The court heard that Robinson was in a vehicle with Christina Joyce when she accelerated away while Garda Thomas Gallagher was attempting to seize the car. An eyewitness alleged that Robinson shouted at Joyce to wipe down the vehicle to remove fingerprints as they fled. The pair subsequently broke into the home of a 77-year-old woman and a second apartment to escape Gardaí, with Robinson allegedly kicking down the back door. Robinson, of Ballyfermot, admitted the charges. Judge Melanie Greally adjourned sentencing to October 13, stating that a custodial sentence was unavoidable. She ordered a Probation Service report to assess rehabilitation options. This follows the 2018 sentencing of Joyce, who was jailed for four and a half years by Judge Martin Nolan for endangering and assaulting Garda Gallagher. The garda sustained a dislocated knee and shoulder injuries during the incident. Robinson has previous convictions in Ireland and the UK, mostly for minor offences.
Kelly Noble, 36, pleaded guilty to two violent robberies on South Great George's Street, Dublin, on the night of 24 September 2017. She first robbed a woman's handbag and €20 from a friend after midnight, then, 30 minutes later, attacked a man, punching him and stealing his wallet, which forced the victim to be taken to St James's Hospital. Noble had previously served six years for manslaughter and had 20 other convictions. She appeared in court on a bench warrant for failing to attend a prior sentencing date. The judge, Melanie Greally, noted her avoidance of proceedings and ordered a probation report, a prison governor's report and statements from the services she uses before finalising the sentence on 30 July. The case remains at the sentencing stage.
Kevin Lacey, 31, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after head‑butting Trevor Howard, a 70‑year‑old man celebrating his mother's birthday, at the Magpie Inn in Dalkey on 15 September 2019. The assault left Howard with a nose injury, blood on his face and swollen eyes, and he was taken to hospital. Lacey had a prior conviction for affray in 2009. Garda Ciaran Russell reported that Lacey and Howard had not known each other before the incident and that the altercation occurred shortly after midnight. The court heard that the victim and his family felt the birthday celebrations were "tarnished" by the assault. Lacey was sentenced to 15 months' imprisonment, fully suspended, with strict conditions including payment of €3,000 to the victim within one year. The judge described the incident as unfortunate and noted the victim's reasonable recovery.
Francesco Lampasi, 43, of Belarmine Plaza, Stepaside, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to engaging in offensive conduct of a sexual nature on the southbound Green Line tram on 2 August 2019. A passenger, Mr Martin Smith, observed Lampasi holding his phone down his side while beside a woman and saw a colour on the screen matching the woman's skirt and skin. Smith demanded to see the gallery app; Lampasi complied and was later arrested, with his phone seized. Analysis of the phone revealed extra close‑up photos of women's buttocks and genitals, including images taken the previous day. Lampasi admitted taking the photos was inappropriate and that he had taken advantage of the girl. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a nine‑month suspended sentence, ordering Lampasi to remain of good behaviour and to donate €2,000 to a charity in the Dundrum area. The woman left the tram and has not been traced.
William Fagan, a 29‑year‑old Dublin father, was sentenced to four years in prison for possessing cannabis for sale, a 9mm semi‑automatic pistol with ammunition, and untaxed tobacco. He admitted ownership of the drugs, valued at €35,805, and other illegal substances, and claimed he held them to pay gambling debts. Gardaí found the items at his home on 16 April 2020, recovered tobacco products with a €8,509 loss to the exchequer, and a firearm in good working order with a loaded magazine. DNA evidence linked Fagan to the gun and drugs. He had four prior minor convictions. His defence highlighted his carpentry work, recent fatherhood, stable relationship, and full cooperation. Judge Melanie Greally noted the quantity of contraband and the evidence of active distribution, but also his early plea and compliance, and imposed a five‑year sentence with the final 12 months suspended. William Fagan pleaded guilty.
James Devereux, 34, was sentenced by Judge Melanie Greally at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two years in prison, with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions, and a four‑year driving disqualification. The sentence followed a January 27, 2020 incident on Kyle Road, Ballyfermot, where Devereux rear‑ended a taxi driven by Patrick Gill, ran over Gill's feet while fleeing, drove on the wrong side of the road, and ran a red light. Gill sustained cuts, bruises, and an arm fracture, but has since fully recovered. Devereux pleaded guilty to endangerment, claimed he was distracted by a man linked to a prior dispute involving his sister, and alleged a possible set‑up. Gardaí and the probation officer found no evidence supporting this claim, describing the act as a simple case of road rage. The court noted Devereux's progress in addressing cocaine and alcohol addiction, though he had continued substance use until March 2021.
Remigivsu Piotrowski, a 44‑year‑old Polish national, was given a two‑year suspended sentence after pleading guilty to assaulting his partner, Beata Iwaska, and her friend, Monika Wilt, on 5 October 2019. The attacks occurred at his Walkinstown Park home after he returned drunk from a work function. Piotrowski pushed Iwaska onto a couch, punched her, and pulled her hair; he also punched Wilt in the head after she intervened. Gardaí arrested him at the scene, and he later head‑butted a garda van while being transported to the station. He had no prior convictions. Judge Karen O'Connor accepted that he had lost control that night, noted his remorse, and ordered him to pay €5,000 to Iwaska and the remainder to Wilt. The sentence is suspended on strict conditions, including staying away from both women, engaging with the Probation Service for two years, and completing anger‑management and victim‑focused work as recommended.
Franck Lamour, 53, of Bird Avenue, Clonskeagh, pleaded guilty on 7 April 2020 to producing a knife and threatening to kill or seriously harm his partner, Cecille Doussinault, during an incident that lasted several hours. The court found the offence serious, citing the use of a knife, threat of death, physical violence, controlling language and jealousy. Lamour, diagnosed with bipolar depression 15 years earlier, had been unable to obtain his medication during the COVID‑19 lockdown and had been drinking heavily. Judge Pauline Codd, taking into account his guilty plea, clean record and mental‑health history, imposed a headline sentence of eight years but ultimately sentenced him to five years' imprisonment, fully suspended on condition he keep the peace, engage with the Probation Service for two years and attend psychiatric appointments while residing in Ireland. The court described the incident as an isolated aberration stemming from his mental disorder and pandemic‑related restrictions.
Nathan Duffy, 20, of Ballymun, was jailed after a drug bust in which he attempted to escape on a scrambler bike. Gardaí had observed him and a companion moving cannabis between a box and a bag in a field on St Margarets Road on 28 September 2019. Duffy was caught with €99,226 worth of cannabis herb, pleaded guilty to possession for sale or supply, and was sentenced by Judge Martin Nolan to three years and 11 months in custody. He had spent three weeks in custody before sentencing. The prosecution's psychological report highlighted Duffy's remorse, his past as a talented footballer whose career ended in his teens, his subsequent drug use, family bereavements, and his current drug‑free status, employment, and fatherhood. The judge noted his low risk of re‑offending and his rehabilitation efforts, concluding a lengthy custodial sentence would not benefit him.
In March 2020, 18‑year‑old Alan Clarke of Kilcross Lawn, Sandyford, punched a 19‑year‑old victim, James Coady, on the chin in Dublin city centre, causing Coady to fall and hit his head on the pavement. Clarke, who had taken cocaine and Xanax that day, had no prior acquaintance with the victim. CCTV showed Clarke also aimed a kick at Coady's stomach before punching him. The assault resulted in a skull fracture and brain bleed for Coady, who later suffered two epileptic seizures and was diagnosed with epilepsy secondary to a traumatic brain injury. Clarke pleaded guilty to assault causing harm at O'Connell Street and was sentenced by Judge Martin Nolan to three years' imprisonment. Clarke had seven previous convictions, including robbery and aggravated burglary. The court noted the attack was "cowardly, unprovoked and sudden.".
In a case heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, David Keenan, aged 40, pleaded guilty to possession of four images of child pornography—three on a computer and one on a phone—after German authorities alerted Irish police to an Irish IP address linked to such imagery. Garda Seamus Palmer reported that the authorities passed information to the gardai, who seized Keenan's devices and analysed them. Keenan admitted downloading files from the internet, noting that sometimes unwanted items were downloaded alongside. He accepted the four images were child pornography, described them as "disgusting," and apologized, claiming the files were not his intention. The court considered the low volume of images, absence of prior convictions, and Keenan's cooperation. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a nine‑month sentence, suspended in full, and ordered the destruction of the images.
Gavin Byrne, 47, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after throwing an empty pint glass at a man in Tallaght on 3 February 2019. The glass struck Fiona Norman, 30, who was attending a surprise birthday party, causing her chin to be injured and requiring 12 stitches. Byrne, who had no prior convictions, admitted he had been drinking heavily and felt physically ill when the incident was described. He expressed regret and brought a €10,000 bank draft to court as a symbol of remorse, which the victim accepted. Judge Karen O'Connor, noting the offence's significant impact on Norman's anxiety and sense of safety, ordered Byrne to complete 150 hours of community service within 12 months in lieu of a two‑year prison sentence and to hand over the bank draft within seven days.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 45‑year‑old Jacqueline McElhatton was sentenced for a series of violent offences committed in April and August 2020. In April, she pleaded guilty to assaulting Garda Rachel Corcoran at the Criminal Courts of Justice, assaulting a pharmacy employee at Rathmines Pharmacy, attempting robbery on O'Connell Street, and obstructing a peace officer at College Green. In August, she pleaded guilty to assaulting a Brazilian man on O'Connell Street and to assaulting Garda Tara Brennan at Trinity College. McElhatton had 125 prior convictions. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a 15‑month sentence for the April offences and a four‑year sentence for the August offences, to run consecutively. The final two years of the latter sentence were suspended on strict conditions, leaving an effective custodial term of five years and three months. The court noted that McElhatton was on bail for the April offences at the time of the August incidents.
Sandra Kavanagh, aged 40, was sentenced by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment, with the final 20 months suspended, for receiving €27,079 in rent‑supplement payments from September 2015 to June 2018 after she had vacated the address. She pleaded guilty to four counts of making a gain by deception. The court noted that she had collected 130 payments while no longer residing at the property, and that she had 67 prior convictions, including robbery, theft, knife production, public‑order and traffic offences. The judge highlighted the prolonged duration of the offence and the repeated dishonest acts as aggravating factors, but also considered her difficult personal circumstances, significant medical and mental‑health problems, and the impact of a 2008 accident that left her with serious injuries. The suspended portion of the sentence is subject to strict conditions, including 20 months of supervision by the Probation Service after release.
Two brothers, Karl (27) and Cian (30) Hughes, were sentenced to a combined six and a half years in prison for harassing the Kennedy family in Rathfarnham, Dublin, between April and September 2019. The harassment stemmed from a debt the brothers claimed the family's son, Cormac, owed. The brothers repeatedly visited the Kennedy home, threatened the family, and in some instances physically banged on the door. CCTV footage of the incidents was presented at the hearing. The court found Karl to be the leader and Cian a follower. Judge Martin Nolan imposed four years for Karl and two and a half years for Cian, ordering that neither brother may contact the Kennedy family again. The case highlighted the severe emotional distress caused to the family, who ultimately sold their home and sought increased security measures.
A 17‑year‑old boy, who was 16 when the incident occurred, was remanded in juvenile detention for two years after he struck and killed a 28‑year‑old Deliveroo rider, Thiago Cortes, by driving through a red light at an estimated 79 km/h on North Wall Quay, Dublin. The boy fled the scene, abandoned his car and left with other young passengers. He pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death and to failing to report the incident. The court found no evidence of alcohol in the vehicle. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a two‑year juvenile detention sentence, crediting time already served, and disqualified the boy from driving for five years. The victim's fiancée, Teresa Dantas Oliveira, expressed profound grief and loss in her impact statement, describing the death as an irreversible loss of her future and dreams. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 31 August 2020.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 25‑year‑old Alegranto Kongolo was sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment for assault causing harm, endangerment, driving without insurance and driving without a licence. The incident occurred on 23 October 2019 at Citywest Shopping Centre, Tallaght, when Kongolo drove at a man in a car‑park, pinning him between two cars and breaking his left leg. The two men had been engaged in "verbals" after a falling out over an ex‑girlfriend and Snapchat. The victim was able to escape the initial collision but was again caught between the cars when Kongolo drove at him again. The victim sustained a broken leg and was taken to hospital. Kongolo pleaded guilty, was found to have 12 prior convictions, and was sentenced by Judge Martin Nolan to three years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended and a three‑year driving disqualification.
Michael Talbot, 34, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment after a violent incident on 21 May 2020. He stabbed a woman in her cousin's apartment on Parnell Street, cutting her chest, side, arms and legs with a kitchen knife, then kicked her in the head and stomach. The victim, who had refused to kiss him, was left with eight open wounds and was taken to hospital. Talbot, who was on bail, later damaged vehicles in the underground car‑park, slashing tyres and puncturing a motorbike's airbox. He was arrested, taken to Mountjoy Garda Station, where he threatened to rape and kill officers. He pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, possession of a knife and three counts of criminal damage. Judge Martin Nolan, noting Talbot's 82‑count record and intoxication, imposed the maximum five‑year term for the assault causing harm charge. The sentence was delivered on 19 May 2021.
Owen Shannon, 53, a former security guard and long‑time caregiver for his mother and father, was found with 3,437 images and 56 videos of children as young as five being sexually abused by adult men. He pleaded guilty in December 2020 to one count of possessing child pornography. Judge Melanie Greally imposed an 18‑month sentence, with 12 months suspended, and ordered Shannon to engage with the Probation Service for a year, to be assessed for a sexual offenders treatment programme, and to complete it constructively if suitable. The material was seized after a tip from Russian authorities and analysed the following year. Shannon admitted the content showed girls as young as five, with some as young as three, and expressed remorse, noting his solitary life and caregiving responsibilities. The court deferred the final sentencing until his father was vaccinated against Covid‑19.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Judge Martin Nolan warned that he would begin jailing young people who facilitate money laundering for criminal gangs. He delivered a suspended two‑year sentence to Reece Radford, a 20‑year‑old from Dromcarra Grove, Jobstown, Dublin, who pleaded guilty on 26 October 2018 to possessing the proceeds of crime. Radford had laundered €58,401 that had been transferred to his bank account after a hacking incident involving a car parts supply company. He had been pressured by a local drug dealer, owing €800, to provide his bank details. Radford did not cooperate with Gardaí and was described by his defence counsel as a vulnerable person who had suffered depression and lost friends and family. Judge Nolan told Radford he was "a lucky man" and ordered him to engage with the Probation Service for one year.
Robert Coughlan, 45, was sentenced to eight years in prison for setting fire to his neighbour's top‑floor apartment on 8 August 2020. He poured petrol onto the floor outside the flat, igniting a blaze that caused about €20,000 in damage to a Georgian house containing seven flats. Coughlan, who suffered from mental illness, alcohol addiction and was on anti‑depressants, claimed he had no knowledge that anyone was inside when he lit the fire. He was taken to hospital after burning his hands. The court noted a history of disputes with neighbours, some of whom had tried to help him when sober. Judge Martin Nolan, considering his impaired judgment, imposed an eight‑year sentence with the final four years suspended, citing reduced moral culpability. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Robert Coughlan pleaded guilty.
Gary Murphy, 36, was sentenced to a fully suspended four‑year term after pleading guilty to attempted burglary and production of an article at Bentley House, a homeless care centre in Dun Laoghaire, on 14 March 2019. He had tried twice to force entry, once with a hammer‑bearing accomplice, and had threatened a resident. Murphy, who had 75 prior convictions and a history of alcohol misuse, claimed intoxication and that his intent was to obtain a "straightener" to settle an argument. The court noted his significant addiction issues, his role as a father, and a largely positive Probation Service report. The sentence was suspended on strict conditions, including compliance with Probation Service directions for two and a half years. No custodial time was imposed. The judge emphasised the outrageous nature of his conduct and the need for leniency given his circumstances.
In a shocking incident on 6 September 2021, Darren Brennan, 30, of Whitechurch Road, Ballyboden, Dublin, approached two toddlers in a buggy outside their home and used a mini blowtorch to burn the cheek of a two‑year‑old boy. Brennan, who was high on magic mushrooms and taking anti‑psychotic medication, was captured on CCTV and later identified by Gardaí. He denied harming the child at first, claiming he had merely intended to pat the boy, but later admitted the attack to his psychiatrist. The boy's parents gave emotional victim impact statements, describing the event as a "dark" day that left their son traumatised, fearful of strangers, and with ongoing sleep difficulties. Brennan pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and was sentenced by Judge Martin Nolan to three years' imprisonment, with the final 16 months suspended under conditions. The case highlighted the severe emotional impact on the family and the child's ongoing recovery.
Keelan Lanigan, 30, was found in possession of child pornography on a laptop at his former home in Springfield Park, Foxrock, Dublin, after Gardaí searched his residence following online conversations. He admitted to viewing approximately 20 images and two videos depicting pre‑pubescent girls, including a girl masturbating with a hairbrush and another undressing. Lanigan claimed the images were about 10‑11 years old and that he had never shared them. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Elma Sheahan, noting Lanigan's early guilty plea, cooperation, lack of prior convictions, and psychological difficulties, imposed a 12‑month prison sentence suspended in full on strict conditions. The conditions require Lanigan to engage with the Probation Service for 18 months and undergo any recommended treatment. The court also acknowledged that the case involved a lower level of offending compared to similar cases and that Lanigan had not circulated or created the material.
Two brothers, Dean Riordan, 28, and Luke Riordan, 25, were convicted in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for possession of cannabis for sale or supply and for possession of a grenade and shotgun cartridges. The brothers were found with €43,310 worth of cannabis and smaller amounts of drugs, including cocaine, at two houses in Finglas. Dean also possessed firearms, a grenade, and other weapons, while Luke had a small amount of cannabis. Both were arrested on March 4, 2019, after warrants were secured to search the houses. Dean had one prior traffic offence; Luke had 11 prior convictions, including drug offences. Judge Elma Sheahan sentenced Luke to 3 years 4 months, with the last 4 months suspended for 12 months, and Dean to 4 years 2 months, with the last 6 months suspended for 12 months, both on strict conditions. The brothers' actions were linked to paying off drug debts. The court noted their efforts to rehabilitate. Dean Riordan pleaded guilty. Luke Riordan pleaded guilty.
Darren McDonnell, 38, was caught at a rehabilitation centre after attempting to bring a stolen shotgun concealed in his trousers. He had been at the centre for two days before disappearing from the grounds and burglarising a home in Curraheenduff, Thurles, on 4 November 2020. An employee noticed the shotgun when he returned, and McDonnell admitted the burglary and surrendered the weapon, its cartridges and a stolen tablet. He was later arrested in Dublin for a knife‑point robbery at a Spar shop in Coolock on 9 November 2020, where he stole €280 before being apprehended. McDonnell has over 40 prior convictions, including robbery and unauthorised vehicle taking. He was remanded in continuing custody, with the case scheduled for finalisation on 14 June. The court heard that he was declared unfit for interview due to drug use and that his rehabilitation stay had been largely unsuccessful. The matter remains pending. Darren McDonnell pleaded guilty.
Aaron Carey, aged 30, was sentenced to seven‑and‑a‑half years in prison for a series of offences committed during the Christmas period of 2019 and early 2020. The court heard that he attempted burglary at a nursing home on 23 December 2019, robbed a Spar shop and attempted robbery of a service station on 24 December 2019, and damaged a patrol car and two other cars on 7 February 2020. He also pleaded guilty to robbery of a Pizza Hut, attempted burglary of a family home, and other offences. Carey's defence cited psychiatric difficulties, including a recent diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder, ADHD and other conditions, and drug addiction. The judge noted the lack of violence but the high risk of reoffending, and suspended the final 18 months of the sentence on strict conditions. No residential treatment facilities were available, so the sentence was imposed with a probationary period thereafter.
Gerry O'Brien, 41, was sentenced to five years in prison at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to two counts of stealing by deception. He admitted to stealing €107,286 in cash and cheques from a 77-year-old Dublin woman between July 2017 and November 2018, and €27,254 from a 73-year-old Dublin woman between August and November 2018. Judge Pauline Codd described the offences as despicable, noting O'Brien's psychological manipulation of the elderly victims. His wife, Joanne O'Brien, 39, pleaded guilty to two counts of theft from the first complainant, totalling €900. She was given a suspended nine-month sentence on conditions. The court heard that Gerry O'Brien used fabricated sob stories and a fake solicitor to convince the women he would repay them from a fictitious insurance payout. He has 68 previous convictions, while Joanne O'Brien has 28, mostly for road traffic offences. Defence counsel for Gerry O'Brien highlighted his remorse, though the judge noted his letter focused on his own woes rather than the victims. Joanne O'Brien's defence noted she had repaid the stolen money. The matter was finalised with these sentences handed down.
In a case heard at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Jaroslav Nowakowski, a 36‑year‑old resident of Kildare, pleaded guilty to assaulting Noel Conway on Moore Street in Dublin on 3 November 2019. Nowakowski claimed he had mistaken Conway for a bike thief, believing he was stealing his bicycle. The court found Conway to be completely blameless and merely going about his business when the attack occurred. Nowakowski's defence, represented by Gerardine Small BL, argued that his reaction was a split‑second decision and that he had remained at the scene, showing genuine concern for the victim. The court accepted that the incident was isolated and that Nowakowski was unlikely to reoffend. Judge Karen O'Connor imposed an 18‑month suspended sentence, noting the defendant's remorse and his willingness to offer €1,000 to the victim, who had agreed to accept the payment. The sentence was suspended on a number of conditions.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Derek Moore, 48, admitted stealing just over €92,700 from his employer, Energy Saver Insulations Ltd, over a period from February to November 2018. He also pleaded guilty to falsifying company accounts on 15 February 2018. Moore claimed he collaborated with three customers who paid cash for discounted materials, which he deposited into his personal account. He said the theft was to fund his child's scoliosis operation, citing a US cost of €30,000 and travel expenses, though the child was ultimately treated in Ireland. He has repaid €33,000 and used some of the proceeds for medical costs. No charges were brought against the customers, though civil cases remain pending. The judge adjourned the case to 26 July for finalisation.
During the first lockdown in April 2020, 20‑year‑old Edward Illes, a passenger in a car with flashing blue lights, pretended to be a Garda and attacked a pedestrian on Luttrellstown Road, Castleknock. Illes demanded identification, shouted at the man, and after the man called emergency services, he ran at him, punched him five or six times, and tried to take his phone before fleeing. He also approached other pedestrians, claiming to be a Garda, and was involved in a bus incident where he attempted to inspect the bus. Illes pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and impersonating a Garda. He received a fully suspended two‑year sentence, with strict conditions including payment of €1,000 and an additional €4,000 within one year. The court noted his prior four traffic convictions and that the driver of the car had not appeared in court.
Gerard Donnelly, a 45‑year‑old truck driver from Omagh, was sentenced to eight‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment for importing €2.2 million worth of cannabis into Ireland. On 27 September 2017, a trailer he was driving was inspected at Dublin Port; a drug‑detection dog alerted customs officials, and an X‑ray scan revealed 342 kg of herbal cannabis and 8 kg of cannabis resin hidden in pallets at the rear of the trailer. Donnelly pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He claimed he was merely a courier, having been directed to transport the load for a customer of his employer, and that he was unaware of the quantity of drugs. The court accepted that he had no prior convictions, had been on bail, and had voluntarily entered custody after pleading guilty. Judge Martin Nolan imposed the sentence, back‑dating it to the date he first entered custody on 1 March.
Joseph Behan, 45, of Edenmore Park, Raheny, was convicted in February 2020 of robbery, attempted robbery, assault causing serious harm, assault causing harm, possession of a firearm and reckless discharging of the firearm after he shot two workers at Mizzoni's Pizza on New Year's Day 2019. He was sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment for assault causing harm. Behan now appeals his conviction, arguing that the search warrant for his house was not lawfully obtained and that a glove found with firearms residue was unconstitutionally seized. His barrister, Ronan Munro SC, contends that the warrant was issued by Detective Superintendent Paul Scott, who was involved in the investigation, and therefore was not independent. The Court of Appeal has reserved its judgement. The appeal focuses solely on the alleged unlawful search and seizure, not on the trial findings or sentencing.
Former RTÉ producer Kieran Creaven, aged 58 and resident of Adelaide Street, Dun Laoghaire, pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting and exploiting children. He admitted to exploiting three children at an Irish address between 26 May and 10 July 2017, assaulting two children in the Philippines in October 2014, and exploiting another child via a Skype conversation in the Philippines on 24 July 2017. Creaven also pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography, with offences involving three videos on an SC card, one video on a mobile phone, and a video and image on a disk, all linked to an unknown location in England on 18 November 2017, and to possession of child pornography at an Irish address on 20 November 2017, related to a Skype conversation. He appeared via video‑link before the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, where his lawyer, Lorcan Staines SC, noted that Creaven is undergoing psychological assessment and may not need to attend the sentencing hearing.