Patrick (27) and Anthony (29) Boyle were charged with possession of three stolen aluminium coils valued at €9,000. They had received €2,386 in cheques, which they cashed in a shop, and later repaid the shopkeeper after the cheques were cancelled. The brothers were not alleged to have been involved in the original theft of the coils. They pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 24 March 2018. Judge Martin Nolan noted that the original owner had recovered the metal and that no loss had been suffered. He acknowledged the boys' remorse and the fact that they had brought €2,000 to court. The judge imposed a two‑year sentence on each, suspended in full, and the brothers avoided jail.
Peter Little, 42, of Drumcairn Parade, Tallaght, pleaded guilty to criminal damage after he splattered a launderette at Alexander House with his own blood during a failed attempt to steal cash for drugs. The incident occurred overnight on 24 and 25 September 2020 at an automated laundromat. Garda Andrew Gibbons reported that a cleaner found smashed glass, damaged photo booth and payment machines, and blood throughout the area. Cleaning and repairs cost €730.52. Little, who has 24 previous convictions including ten for theft, was arrested after blood analysis linked him to the scene. He was sentenced by Judge Martin Nolan to one year imprisonment, with a prior concurrent three‑year sentence having a suspended final year. Wicklow District Court will consider reactivating the suspended portion on 18 May 2024.
Surenkhor Ulambayar, a 49‑year‑old Mongolian national, paid €25,000 for a forged naturalisation certificate and used it to apply for an Irish passport. The passport application was rejected after the Passport Office discovered the certificate was false. Ulambayar recovered about €7,300 of the money when the application was denied. He pleaded guilty to providing false documentation in November 2015. The court found the €25,000 came from the sale of a home in Mongolia. Ulambayar had no prior convictions and had lived in Ireland for 15 years with his family. He cooperated with the investigation and admitted the offence. Judge Pauline Codd sentenced him to 18 months imprisonment, fully suspended on strict conditions, citing his guilty plea, cooperation, and personal circumstances as mitigating factors.
Marek Gradzki, 51, of Magenta Hall, Santry, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to permitting a unit at Collinstown Cross Industrial Estate to be used for a sophisticated cannabis cultivation operation. He had sub‑let the premises to three Polish men who operated the cultivation in two concealed rooms and also had cannabis plants in a van outside. Gardaí obtained a search warrant and found 35 plants valued at €28,000. Gradzki denied knowing the plants were there and claimed he was only paid €500 for renting the unit. He had no drug convictions, but the judge found he knew a drug operation was taking place and had allowed it. He was sentenced to three years imprisonment, fully suspended on strict conditions.
James Fagan, 28, was jailed for assault causing harm and three counts of making threats to kill or cause serious harm after punching a security guard at Red Cow LUAS Stop on 28 July 2019. He had previously been convicted of assault causing harm and was serving a five‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence with the final 18 months suspended. Judge Melanie Greally added a consecutive two‑year term, suspended the final 12 months of that term, and imposed strict conditions including engagement with the Probation Service for 12 months upon release. Fagan, who claimed to be part of a well‑known crime group, threatened to kill the guard and others, and was described as intoxicated and having taken ecstasy and cocaine before the incident. The court heard that he had violent tendencies for a significant period and that he was a father of three children. The judge increased his time in prison by a year. James Fagan pleaded guilty.
Anthony McDonald, 22, was arrested after customs officials intercepted a €24,000 cannabis package he had ordered online under the alias "Mr Smith." The package, sent from the United States, was delivered to his former address on a controlled delivery set up by Garda Peter Morris. McDonald admitted ordering the drugs and intended to sell them for €7,000. He had no prior convictions. After the offence, his mother evicted him, leaving him homeless for a period before he moved into hostel-type accommodation. At sentencing, Judge Pauline Codd noted McDonald's first conviction, his full admissions, and his efforts to engage with the Probation Service and seek residential treatment. She suspended a three‑and‑a‑half‑year jail term, requiring 18 months of probation. The sentence reflects McDonald's rehabilitation efforts and his relationship with his mother, who attended the hearing in support of him. Anthony McDonald pleaded guilty.
Richard Walker, a 33‑year‑old GAA player, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after punching an opponent's face during a match at St Mary's GAA Club on 15 July 2018. The punch fractured the victim's jaw in two places, caused nerve damage and required surgery with three plates, costing €4,400. Walker was sent off with a black card and later banned from playing for eight weeks. He paid €3,000 to the victim and agreed to pay the remaining medical costs. Judge Martin Nolan, noting Walker's lack of prior convictions and the circumstances, imposed a fully suspended two‑year sentence, ordering Walker to hand over the €3,000 to the prosecuting Garda and to raise an additional €5,000 within one year. The court deemed imprisonment unnecessary and unlikely to be required again. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Joseph Daly, aged 54, was sentenced to nine years in prison after he fled to Spain in 2007 following a guilty plea to possessing nearly €1 million worth of cocaine and heroin. The drugs were found during a Garda raid on his Carrickmines home, where a small amount of cocaine was discovered in a CD case and larger quantities were located in a hot press, a hold‑all, and a garden shed. Daly had previously been charged with drug possession and had failed to attend a sentence hearing, prompting a bail‑skipping offence. He spent three years in a Spanish jail for cannabis possession before being extradited to Ireland in April 2021. The court, citing the substantial drug value, imposed the nine‑year term, noting his cooperation and the seriousness of the offence. The sentence reflects the amount of drugs involved and the breach of bail conditions.
Cian McEvoy, 26, was found with a shopping bag containing nearly €20,000 of cannabis and, after surrendering, admitted to carrying 10 deals of cocaine in his underwear, valued at just under €600. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of cannabis and cocaine for sale or supply at Avonbeg Field, Tallaght, on 14 March 2020. McEvoy had no prior convictions. Garda Edward Walsh, on mobile patrol, observed McEvoy and the bag, which he discarded as officers approached. McEvoy voluntarily disclosed the cocaine, and the Garda agreed with his counsel that he was not a main player but was carrying the drugs to pay a debt incurred by his addiction. Judge Melanie Greally accepted his remorse and the severity of his addiction, and, considering his youth and circumstances, she imposed a fully suspended three‑year sentence on strict conditions, including 12 months of Probation Service supervision. The sentence was suspended in its entirety.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 26‑year‑old Sam Maughan pleaded guilty to causing serious harm to 43‑year‑old Mark Burke on 1 August 2018. Maughan and three other men held Burke in his Whitefriars Gardens flat for six hours, stabbing him and repeatedly cutting his right ear with scissors. The men also struck Burke with a bottle, forced him into a bathtub, broke a mirror over his head, and used a phone‑charger lead as a weapon. Burke was found collapsed outside his flat at 10 am, taken to St James's Hospital with extensive cuts and a largely severed ear. Maughan, who had 88 convictions and was homeless, was the only one to plead guilty; the other three are awaiting trial. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Maughan to seven‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment, noting his remorse and lack of psychopathy. The case was described as a "deeply disturbing" ordeal.
Calin Scintei, aged 28, was sentenced to four and a half years' imprisonment by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for his role in a €1.5 million money‑laundering scheme run by a Romanian organised‑crime gang. He pleaded guilty to 25 charges covering the period August 2018 to January 2020, including participation in organised crime, fraud, criminal damage, theft and possession of the proceeds of crime. Scintei helped defraud Tesco of €12,400 through a gift‑card scam and caused €18,000 of damage to AIB ATMs while stealing €7,690 in cash. He also set up 27 bank accounts with false documents and five fake companies, laundering about €780,000. The court noted he was paid a modest reward and was not a master criminal, but a busy participant in the gang's operations. The judge, Martin Nolan, considered mitigating factors before imposing the sentence. The case involved 12 prior convictions for theft and fraud.
Noah Abdurahmanov, 25, originally from Chechnya, sold his bank card and details for €200, which he used to purchase flights back to Chechnya. The account was then used to launder €10,000. He pleaded guilty to possession of the proceeds of criminal conduct on 12 July 2018. Judge Martin Nolan remanded him in custody until the sentencing hearing, where he was given a suspended two‑year sentence. The judge noted that money laundering is not a victimless crime and that Abdurahmanov's actions benefited serious criminals. The €10,000 was transferred to the accused's account and then withdrawn via ATMs and sent to three other accounts; the money has not been recovered. Abdurahmanov admitted he was reckless and that he knew the card would be used in this manner. The case was prosecuted by Noel Devitt BL and defended by Kieran Kelly BL.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 10 May 2021, Joseph Brady, aged 30, was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment for possession of heroin and cannabis for sale or supply. Brady, who had previously been dealt with leniently, was found to have dropped a yellow bag containing €211,708 of heroin after spotting Gardaí on patrol in Priorswood. He fled but was caught, and further heroin and €1,325 in cash were found on him. A search of his home uncovered an additional €2,800 in cash and cannabis worth €5,404. Brady pleaded guilty to the charges and had four prior convictions, including a 240‑hour community service sentence for cannabis possession. The judge noted his active role in drug dealing and his drug‑free status since imprisonment. The final 12 months of the sentence were suspended on strict conditions, including compliance with the Probation Service for 12 months post‑release.
A 45-year-old man from Carndonagh has received a suspended sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to unlawful possession of firearms. Stephen O'Connor was convicted of holding two semi-automatic pistols and ammunition concealed in a Henry Hoover vacuum cleaner at his home on 7 September 2019. During sentencing, the court heard that O'Connor, described as vulnerable and struggling with mental health difficulties, had been approached repeatedly by a criminal acquaintance and agreed to store the weapons to "get them off his back". A search of a van behind his residence uncovered the loaded handguns, which were found to be in working order. Judge Elma Sheahan imposed a four-year sentence, suspended in full for four years, subject to strict conditions. The judge acknowledged O'Connor's vulnerabilities and lack of previous convictions while noting the offence occurred during significant gangland activity in Dublin. He was ordered to sever all contact with persons involved in criminal activity.
John Kelly, aged 29, was found with €452,000 worth of cocaine and heroin hidden in his bedroom wardrobe and 17 shotgun cartridges concealed in a sock. He admitted to possessing the drugs for sale or supply and to possessing ammunition. Gardaí had placed his home under surveillance after a confidential tip and discovered the drugs during a search. Kelly claimed he had a drug debt of about €1,000 and was pressured into holding the drugs, believing their value to be around €20,000. His defence argued he was under duress following a recent road accident that increased his cannabis use and that he had no knowledge of the drugs' value. The court accepted his difficult circumstances but noted his involvement with known drug dealers. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to four and a half years in prison. John Kelly pleaded guilty.
Two directors of a real estate company have been imprisoned at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following guilty pleas to defrauding clients. Sean Boylan, aged 72, of Cootehill, County Cavan, and Colin Horan, aged 38, of Dun Laoghaire, County Dublin, were convicted of carrying on the business of a company with intent to defraud creditors between June 2012 and July 2015. The company operated by selling properties in Bulgaria and Turkey to Irish clients, but failed to remit sale proceeds. Of fourteen victims, all but one had their properties sold without receiving payment. Boylan received a three-year sentence with the final six months suspended, while Horan received two years and eight months with the final six months suspended. The court heard that approximately €670,000 remained owed to victims, with Horan having reimbursed over €100,000. Judge Elma Sheahan described the accounting practices as chaotic and haphazard, noting the offending had caused lasting harm to complainants beyond monetary loss.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Alexander Cribbin, aged 21, was found guilty of possession of the proceeds of criminal conduct after an €18,000 sum was fraudulently transferred into his account via a compromised email chain. Cribbin had given his bank details to a friend but, upon noticing the illicit transfer, refused to use the money and remained in Paris. Because he did not access the funds, the bank successfully recalled the amount and returned it to the doctor who had originally sent it. Cribbin pleaded guilty on 1 November 2019 and had no prior convictions. Judge Nolan, citing Cribbin's refusal to withdraw the money, granted leniency, imposing a €100 fine and a deferred sentence, with a condition of good behaviour until 9 December, after which a six‑month imprisonment could be imposed if the condition was breached.
Michael Hoolohan, 42, was jailed for three-and-a-half years after he fired a handgun at four youths in a Dublin housing estate on 16 April 2020. Gardaí were alerted by residents hearing the shots and later recovered spent shell casings and ammunition from the scene. CCTV footage linked a Toyota Hiace van, parked outside Hoolohan's home, to the shooting, and forensic analysis found firearms residue in the vehicle. Hoolohan pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm and reckless discharging of a firearm. He had 11 prior convictions for road traffic and public order offences. The court accepted that he did not intend to harm the youths but had fired to frighten them, describing the incident as a disproportionate parental reaction. The judge noted Hoolohan's family responsibilities and community involvement but imposed the custodial sentence. The youths involved made no complaint. The case was presented as a moment of madness by the defence.
Herbert Kilcline, a 60‑year‑old solicitor, was found guilty of fraudulently claiming over €120,000 in social welfare payments between 1996 and 2010. He admitted that he had been excluded from the Thalidomide compensation scheme and believed he was entitled to disability allowance payments, despite having been legally granted the allowance and failing to report changes in his income. Kilcline cooperated with Gardaí, surrendered documentation, and repaid the full amount of €129,293. Judge Karen O'Connor, noting the long period of offending, premeditation, and significant loss to the exchequer, imposed a three‑year sentence with one year and three months suspended. The court acknowledged Kilcline's remorse, cooperation, and low risk of reoffending, and highlighted his ongoing physical and psychological difficulties stemming from Thalidomide. The sentencing was deferred by one week to allow Kilcline to settle his affairs.
Thomas Doyle, 26, was arrested after a high‑speed chase in Crumlin where he drove a disqualified vehicle, smashed a Garda patrol car's windscreen, and punched Garda John Ryan in the face. Doyle accelerated away from the patrol car, causing smoke from the rear wheels, and later tried to ram the vehicle. The chase ended when Doyle pulled over outside his home on Cashel Avenue, smashed the windscreen, and attempted to block the patrol car's driver from exiting. He then fled back into his house, returned with a bicycle tyre, and struck Garda Ryan, who was then treated for broken teeth at St James's Hospital. Doyle pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and assaulting a Garda on 8 August 2018. He was sentenced to 16 months' imprisonment, with a five‑year driving disqualification and a suspended portion of the sentence. The court noted his 66 prior convictions, primarily for traffic offences, and his low cognitive functioning.
In February 2020 a 17‑year‑old, with a friend, violently robbed his social worker's car in Sallynoggin, County Dublin. The teenager used force to remove the woman from the vehicle, unbuckling her seatbelt and dragging her out, though she managed to grab her handbag before the pair fled. The car was later found crashed and abandoned in County Carlow, with €7,500 of damage. The defendant pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Martin Nolan deferred a three‑year detention for a year, ordered a probation report and said that if the report was favourable the sentence could be suspended. The case was adjourned to May 5, 2022. The court described the offence as a "particularly nasty crime" and noted the planning involved. The defendant's background, including time in an orphanage in Russia and anger‑management issues, was mentioned by his counsel. The social worker did not give a victim impact statement.
Keith Devine, 26, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment for assault causing harm after he repeatedly stamped on the head of an unconscious homeless man and knocked out the victim's false teeth. The incident occurred in a laneway at Glovers Alley, Dublin 2, on 4 June 2020. Devine punched the victim eight times, stamped on his head five times, and then went through his pockets, though he did not steal anything. The victim was taken to hospital for a head wound and later discharged. Devine pleaded guilty and had 28 prior convictions, including drug possession and public order offences. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a four‑year sentence, suspended the final 12 months on strict conditions, and back‑dated it to June 2020. The sentence requires Devine to comply with Probation Service directions for 12 months after release. The case was prosecuted by Katherine McGillicuddy BL and defended by Keith Spencer BL.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Xolani Mdakani, aged 21, was sentenced to three years and nine months imprisonment for assaulting a woman in a city centre laneway on 9 February 2018. Mdakani, who has 36 prior convictions including assault, theft, burglary and trespass, pleaded guilty. He had previously lived in Finglas and had a history of violent offences as a child. The judge, Melanie Greally, noted his youth and the possibility that repatriation to South Africa might help him address his difficulties. The final nine months of the sentence were suspended on strict conditions. Mdakani was identified by CCTV footage, admitted the assault, and expressed remorse. He intends to seek assistance from the International Organisation for Migration to return to South Africa after his sentence. The victim did not submit a victim impact statement.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Vlad Pintea, 35, pleaded guilty to money‑laundering offences linked to a Romanian organised crime gang that used his bank account to launder €57,000 of fraud proceeds. Pintea sold the account for €500 in 2016, believing it would help him financially, but the account was also used to obtain loans and credit cards, leaving him with a toxic credit rating. Judge Martin Nolan, after hearing evidence, imposed a two‑year sentence, suspending 18 months on condition of good behaviour. The court warned that custodial sentences for similar activity would likely be longer. Garda investigations revealed over 70 accounts used by the gang, with Pintea's account among them. Pintea has since lost financial independence and now works full time, with wages deposited into a friend's account. He submitted an apology letter expressing shame and regret.
Kyle Rafferty, 23, of Clondalkin, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of 1 kg of cocaine for sale or supply. He was found with a paper bag containing €70,000 worth of cocaine, which he admitted was "coke in the bag" and that he was holding it for someone to collect to pay a drug debt. Rafferty has 11 prior convictions, including traffic offences, assault and public order. He was arrested after a Garda tip‑off and surveillance of a house. The court accepted his guilty plea, his cooperation and the fact that he had a drug problem, and sentenced him to three years' imprisonment. The judge noted that Rafferty had not attracted Garda attention since his arrest and was "keeping away from criminality.".
A Dublin court heard that Rene Cifra (34) and his wife, Olga Cifrova (31), falsely claimed they had been injured in a car accident after Cifra reversed into a van driven by an off-duty garda on Griffith Avenue, Dublin, on May 27, 2019. Both pleaded guilty to making a false and misleading personal injuries claim on dates between August 2019 and January 2020. The couple, who are originally from Slovakia and reside in Watermint Court, Royal Canal Park, Ashtown, admitted to fabricating the claims, with Cifra initially admitting fault at the scene and later filing a false claim against the van owner's insurance company, Liberty Insurance. The matter was adjourned for sentencing on July 27 following Judge Karen O'Connor's order for a probation report into the couple. Neither Cifra nor Cifrova have previous convictions, and they are the parents of two young children. The court heard that Cifra has been living in Ireland since 2008 and that both have worked minimum wage jobs. The case was brought by the Personal Injuries Assessment Board and Four Courts, with the couple's false claims being discovered after the van owner informed his insurance company of the discrepancy.
In a Dublin city‑centre incident on 11 July 2020, 41‑year‑old Alan Brennan punched a woman in the face, causing her to fall. The woman's partner then attacked Brennan, stabbing him 11 times with a broken glass bottle, stamping and kicking him while he lay unconscious. Brennan, who was on crutches and had a history of drug addiction and homelessness, pleaded guilty to one count of violent disorder. CCTV footage showed the parties and other witnesses near Wellington Quay. Brennan was taken to hospital for lacerations. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to 22 months' imprisonment, suspending the final 10 months on conditions. The woman remains before the courts for her alleged role in the attack.
Donal Fallon, a 31‑year‑old historian from Palmerstown, pleaded guilty to violent disorder at the Living Room pub in Dublin on 6 February 2016, after an anti‑racism march against PEGIDA. He claimed his group felt "under siege" when men he believed were shouting Nazi slogans entered the bar. CCTV suggested Fallon's arm moved, and Gardaí considered he may have thrown an item, but no evidence showed he struck anyone. The judge noted Fallon's cooperation, admissions, lack of prior convictions, and that he had not repeated the behaviour in five years. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a €500 fine and conditions, including gathering €2,000 within six months, and a deferred nine‑month sentence if conditions were not met. The court applied section 100 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006 to avoid a conviction on Fallon's record. No further charges were brought.
Teslim Bolarinwa, 34, of North Circular Road, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing cannabis for sale or supply at a Dublin location on 17 January 2019. He had been instructed by a third party to take delivery of a parcel that contained 2.2 kg of cannabis valued at €44,000. Bolarinwa and another man opened the parcel and used the cannabis for about a month until Gardaí arrived. Judge Martin Nolan noted that Bolarinwa had no intention to distribute the drugs and that the third party had failed to retrieve the parcel. He described the case as "highly unusual", cited Bolarinwa's guilty plea, cooperation and lack of prior record, and imposed a three‑year suspended sentence, with no custodial term. The prosecution had presented the evidence of the parcel and the amount of cannabis found. The defence highlighted the limited scope of the supply and the absence of harm to others.
A serving Garda, aged 56, was acquitted by a jury of three counts of indecent assault on a boy aged 6 or 7 between 1979 and 1982. The complainant, now 46, alleged the Garda had assaulted him in a Dublin address and in a green area, including touching his penis and a third incident involving a bike ride and chocolate. The Garda denied all allegations, claiming they never occurred. The defence highlighted inconsistencies, such as the bedroom layout and the presence of childminders, and argued that memory could have faded over the decades. The prosecution presented the complainant's testimony as clear and compelling. After a two‑week trial at Croke Park, the jury returned not‑guilty verdicts on all three counts following a four‑hour deliberation. Judge Karen O'Connor thanked the jury for their service. The unnamed 56-year-old pleaded not guilty.
Elvis Chiriac, 35, pleaded guilty to 15 counts of theft after stealing over €8,500 by tampering with 22 ATMs in Dublin between 8 and 10 January 2020. He used a "Transaction Reversal Fraud" technique, inserting a card, withdrawing a small amount, then using a metal or plastic clip to prevent the ATM door from closing, allowing him to remove cash while the machine recorded no withdrawal. AIB identified the cards, including those from Macedonia, Abu Dhabi, and a Revolut card linked to Chiriac's niece. CCTV from a Centra shop and GPS from a rented GoCar traced his movements. The theft caused damage to the machines and the total loss to AIB was €8,520. None of the stolen funds have been recovered. Judge Melanie Greally remanded Chiriac on continuing bail, with a mitigation hearing scheduled for 8 June.
Jason Finlay, 49, was sentenced to 10 months' imprisonment after pleading guilty to theft at Lifestyle Sports on 4 May 2020. He had stolen €13,020 worth of sports clothing, but when a Garda public‑order van approached he "ditched" the items on a street, where €770 worth were later recovered in saleable condition. The remaining goods were never found. Finlay, who has 54 prior convictions, was arrested at Peter McVerry Hostel after Gardaí received an anonymous tip and CCTV footage linked him to the robbery. He was intoxicated at the time of the offence and has expressed a desire to leave drug use. The judge noted his opportunistic offence and his ambition to reform, sentencing him to 10 months' custody as the best possible outcome.
In a case that unfolded in Dublin, a mother‑of‑four named Julie McMahon, aged 47, was apprehended by Garda Darrgh Frewen after the officer noticed suspiciously inexpensive clothing being advertised online. The Garda traced the adverts to McMahon's account and obtained a warrant to search her residence at O'Brien Hall, Gardiner Street. The search uncovered a large quantity of stolen apparel from retailers such as Zara, River Island and H&M, some still bearing their security tags. McMahon could not produce receipts, and store managers confirmed the items had been stolen. She pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of stolen property valued between €1,142 and €2,000. The court remanded her on continuing bail, with the case adjourned to May 7 to address a pending District Court offence. During the proceedings, McMahon admitted to the offence, and a small amount of cash and cannabis were also seized.
Alice Connors, 27, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to two robberies and one attempted robbery committed in Dublin City centre on October 2 and 3, 2020. She also admitted to two counts of criminal damage at Kevin Street Garda Station on October 7, 2020. Prosecution evidence alleged that Connors and a co-accused used a knife and a broken bottle during the offences, which included dragging victims to the ground. Connors, who was residing at Times Hostel, College Street, Dublin 2, had previous convictions for theft and road traffic offences. Defence counsel highlighted her homelessness, drug abuse, and mental health difficulties, including auditory hallucinations. Judge Martin Nolan noted that Connors was equally culpable as her co-accused, who had previously received an effective five-year sentence with two-and-a-half years suspended. Judge Nolan sentenced Connors to five years imprisonment, suspending the final two-and-a-half years on strict conditions. The matter was finalised at the sentencing stage.
Anthony Wills, 63, was arrested after Gardaí found a 10‑minute video of him molesting a young boy. The footage, recorded on a camcorder seized during a search of his home in Tallaght, shows Wills naked, fondling the child and briefly performing oral sex before masturbating in front of the boy. The search also uncovered 34 images of children exposing themselves and 21 images of sexual activity, plus graphic text messages. Wills pleaded guilty to sexual assault of a male child, two counts of knowingly producing child pornography, and possession of child pornography from 2004 to 2019. He had no prior convictions. The court, acknowledging his cooperation, remorse and lack of previous offences, sentenced him to a four‑year term, suspended 18 months, with strict conditions including probation engagement for 18 months after release. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the video production and the depraved nature of the acts.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Jackson Sije, a 31‑year‑old business graduate, received a fully suspended two‑year imprisonment sentence for money‑laundering after allowing his bank account to be used to move €21,538.30 stolen in a phishing scam. Sije claimed he was helping a fellow student receive money for tuition and living expenses, but evidence showed the funds were the proceeds of a scam uncovered by an Irish company. Gardaí found a laptop and a Nigerian passport in his rented accommodation, and Sije admitted to withdrawing the money in Dublin and transferring it to an account in Germany. He pleaded guilty to possession of the proceeds of criminal conduct. The court noted he could not repay the defrauded business and that his actions were reckless. The suspended sentence requires him to keep the peace and exhibit good behaviour for two years.
In a Dublin school corridor, an 11‑year‑old boy was struck by his father after the child was called to the school. CCTV footage showed the father punching the boy and striking him with a school bag while teachers intervened. The father, 34, called the child a "scumbag" and a "waster" and threatened him, saying he would "get it" when he went home. The boy later told teachers he felt "dead." The father, who has prior convictions, later apologized to the Gardaí, claiming he was trying to prevent his son, who has behavioural issues, from going down the wrong path. He pleaded guilty to child cruelty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Martin Nolan, noting the father's frustration and the child's fear, imposed a one‑year suspended sentence on strict conditions and directed the Probation Service to work with TUSLA to develop a suitable programme for the father.
At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Edward Maguire and Suzanne Maguire pleaded guilty to attempting to induce Axa Insurance to pay out on a false claim dated September 22, 2017. The defendants alleged an elderly motorist reversed into their vehicle, causing damage and spilling hot coffee, but CCTV footage proved no impact occurred and Edward Maguire was not in the car. Judge Pauline Codd sentenced Edward Maguire to two years in prison, suspended in full on strict conditions requiring him to engage with the Probation Service for two years. She described the conduct as a nasty offence against an elderly man, noting he followed through on the claim despite the plan's flaws. Suzanne Maguire's case was adjourned to October 11 to allow her time to complete a drug rehabilitation course, with the court accepting she is making progress with her addiction. She was remanded on continuing bail until that date. The judge stated she was giving Suzanne an opportunity to address her addiction but made no guarantees. Both defendants have extensive prior convictions, including theft and public order offences, though neither had previous Circuit Court convictions. Defence counsel highlighted their difficult upbringings and recent efforts to address addiction and maintain stability.
In the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, construction owner Colin Wendel (38) and his company, Colin Wendel Development Ltd, were fined €5,000 and €40,000 respectively for failing to ensure a scaffold was safe. The scaffold, used in renovation works on a Rathgar property, was found to be defective, not compliant with regulations, and "unsafe." On 24 October 2016, worker Andezej Buraczewski fell from the fourth level of the scaffold and died instantly. Wendel pleaded guilty to one count of failing to protect employees, and the company pleaded guilty to a related count. The court heard that the scaffold's guard rails were too low and the platform was higher than standard. The judge described the incident as a "pure accident," accepted Wendel's remorse, and ordered the fines and a €20,000 payment to Buraczewski's widow. The case highlights the importance of scaffold safety compliance.
Robert Wynne, 37, a legitimate nutrition supplements supplier, was jailed for 21 months after pleading guilty to possession of prescription‑only steroids—Metogen, TrenaGen, Clenbuterol and Enegen—without a prescription. He had bought the substances in Northern Ireland and supplied them to friends and acquaintances from his home and two business premises. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court noted his prior convictions for assault and endangerment, for which he had received suspended sentences, and emphasised that the drugs were dangerous and required proper supervision. Judge Martin Nolan highlighted Wynne's lack of qualifications to advise on the substances and his deep involvement in the illicit enterprise. The court ordered the forfeiture of €20,000 found in a locked cash box, and Gardaí seized small amounts of cocaine, zopiclone, and a mix of steroids valued at about €10,000, along with €15,710 of muscle‑bulking and fat‑burning drugs across all locations.
During a sentencing hearing in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Martin Nolan warned that young people who allow criminal proceeds to be laundered through their bank accounts could face jail. He spoke about Arina Jersova, who was 18 when €11,000 of illicit money was transferred into her account. Jersova was allegedly recruited by criminals via social media, taken to three locations to withdraw the money, and her bank card was later found by Gardaí. She pleaded guilty to laundering €11,098 at Bank of Ireland Main Street, Blanchardstown, on 9 April 2018. Jersova, now 21, had no prior convictions, cooperated fully, and had saved €8,000 to repay the defrauded company. Judge Nolan said he would consider custodial sentences for such offences and imposed a two‑year suspended sentence on Jersova, warning that future cases could lead to prison.
In a case heard at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, 64‑year‑old Colm Dowling pleaded guilty to arson at Whitechurch Shopping Centre, Ballyboden, on 27 July 2020. He set fire to an empty commercial unit he believed belonged to a woman he knew, thinking that damaging the property would help her with her inheritance. Dowling admitted he had been drinking and taking medication that night, citing an alcohol problem that had resurfaced after his brother's death in 2018. Garda John Dalton reported that the fire spread from the empty unit to an adjoining Centra shop, causing about €200 in damage to the unit and €2,500 to the shop. Dowling, who has three prior convictions, was identified on CCTV and arrested the following day. The judge, Elma Sheahan, noted his remorse and his efforts to address his alcohol dependence, but required further proof of sobriety.
A 15‑year‑old boy stabbed his friend twice during a pre‑arranged fight called a "straightener" to settle a dispute between their girlfriends. The boy, who cannot be named, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and production of an article in a dispute. He had no prior convictions. The fight lasted about two minutes; the boy had a knife and stabbed the victim, who fled to his home. The boy had earlier lit toilet paper on fire and placed it on the victim's car to lure him outside, but the fire was extinguished by wind. He claimed he was smoking weed and was "stoned" at the time. The court remanded him on bail with strict conditions, including curfew, school attendance and counselling, and ordered a 28‑day stay in Oberstown detention to engage with the Probation Service. The judge urged him to keep the experience in mind.
Kevin Brosnan, aged 40, was sentenced to four‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment for a knife‑point robbery at Centra, Old Bawn Shopping Centre, Tallaght, on 2 April 2020. During the robbery he removed his mask, shouted "Coronavirus" at a security guard, threatened to kill the guard and used a racial slur. He demanded the till be opened, claiming to be HIV positive, and threatened the guard again as he fled. Brosnan was found with €630, which was returned to the shop. He pleaded guilty to the robbery and had 82 prior convictions, including burglary, theft, possession of knives and affray. The judge, citing his difficult background, chronic addiction and homelessness, suspended the final 18 months of the sentence on strict conditions, including participation in a programme on racist behaviour. Brosnan had previously pleaded guilty to a robbery at Mace, Killinarden Way, Tallaght, in October 2019, where he and an accomplice threatened a shop assistant with a knife.
Patrick McCarthy, 56, a taxi driver from Dublin, pleaded guilty to two charges of possessing drugs for sale at his home and taxi. Gardaí seized €23,000 worth of cocaine, including €8,000 in the taxi, €4,550 in the vehicle, and €15,000 in a safe in his bedroom. McCarthy admitted transporting drugs in his taxi to pay off debts from his own addiction, and that he had used the proceeds to buy more cocaine. He had no prior convictions and had led a blameless life before the arrest. Judge Martin Nolan, citing McCarthy's cooperation and the absence of a custodial sentence, imposed a three‑year suspended sentence. The court noted McCarthy's past industrial school detention and his recent engagement in drug treatment, concluding he would not re‑appear in court.
Wenzi Wang, 38, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to charges including providing a false birth certificate for a passport application in Co Donegal in May 2009, six counts of deception in Co Dublin and Co Meath between 2010 and 2017, two counts of giving false information to a registrar in Co Dublin, and possession of an air rifle, ammunition, and Garda Síochána-resembling apparel at his address in November 2017. Prosecution evidence alleged Wang lived under the false name Sau Kee Lee for eight years after purchasing another person's Northern Irish birth certificate to obtain an Irish passport and other documents. Defence counsel submitted that Wang was a model citizen who paid taxes and committed no other offences while using the alias. The court heard that an investigation began after Wang registered his second child's birth under his real name, leading to a search of his home where false documentation and the disputed items were found. Wang admitted to gardaí that he bought the apparel for a Halloween costume and the air rifle from a friend, never using it. Judge Pauline Codd ordered a report from the Probation Service and adjourned the matter for finalisation to July 5. The matter was adjourned and not concluded.
In a high‑speed pursuit on the M11, 21‑year‑old Jordan Carroll, of Lindisfarne Vale, Clondalkin, threw a leaf blower, hedge clippers and drills out of the front passenger window of a stolen Toyota Land Cruiser. The vehicle, driven by Carroll and co‑accused Joseph Bonass (18) of Lindisfarne Park, Clondalkin, was later driven into two Garda patrol cars after attempting to exit the N7. Both patrol cars sustained damage, as did a third Garda car that ran over a leaf blower, and the stolen car was written off. Carroll pleaded guilty to endangering traffic, criminal damage and allowing himself to be carried in a stolen vehicle on 16 and 17 June 2020, and was sentenced to four and a half years' imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 20 April 2021, Judge Martin Nolan announced that he would begin issuing indicative sentences, to be formally imposed at a later date, because prison officers were on industrial action and had not arrived at court by the scheduled time. The Prison Officers' Association had directed staff to focus on prison duties amid a dispute over Covid‑19 vaccination timing, leading to delays in escorting prisoners for court appearances. Eight sentences originally scheduled for the morning were adjourned to later in the month. Judge Nolan said he would first address bail cases and then hand down indicative sentences in cases where the Prison Service was unavailable, noting that the situation was unlikely to improve and might worsen. He postponed the formal sentencing for several weeks, citing the ongoing strike and the absence of prison officers.
Samuel Pop, aged 27, from Charnwood Court, Clonsilla, Dublin, has been sentenced to four years imprisonment following a conviction for false imprisonment and robbery at the Clayton Hotel, Dublin 4, on 6 November 2019. Pop pleaded guilty to his involvement in an attack on an escort in her hotel room, during which he and a co-accused, who has since died in custody, restrained and robbed the victim of cash, a phone and passport. Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that Pop's co-accused was the primary aggressor in the incident. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a sentence of five-and-a-half years with the final 18 months suspended, subject to strict conditions including payment of €5,000 compensation to the victim. Pop has previous convictions relating to a similar incident in Roscommon in October 2019.
John Corr, 55, owner of five pharmacies, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to seven counts of dishonestly inducing the HSE's Primary Care Reimbursement Service to make duplicate reimbursements at his pharmacies in County Dublin and County Louth between 15 and 30 July 2016. Duplicate claims were identified at five locations, including Clonskeagh, Clarehall, Clogherhead, Blackbull and Mell. Ninety‑four patients were affected, and the total duplicate reimbursement was €8,075.37, with Corr charged with obtaining €3,988.79 by deception. Detective Garda Darren Hughes noted that the investigation began after above‑average payments were observed at Mell. Full restitution was made, and Corr lost his community pharmacy contract with the HSE, effectively ending his business. Judge Martin Nolan, noting Corr's 31‑year pharmacy career, ordered that Corr complete 240 hours of community service in lieu of a two‑and‑a‑half‑year prison term, with the matter adjourned to 23 June for Probation Service assessment.