Rita Ryan, aged 69, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two charges of indecent assault against an 11‑year‑old girl she abused while working as a care assistant at an orphanage in the early 1970s. The abuse, which began with a question about "French kissing" and escalated to mutual masturbation and oral sex, continued for over a hundred occasions until the victim left Ireland. Ryan accepted the court's suggestion that her conduct was a "romantic" or "intimate" relationship and acknowledged it was sexual abuse. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a two‑year custodial term, fully suspended, and ordered Ryan to pay €15,000 to the victim as a token of remorse, with a further €15,000 within a year. The judge noted Ryan's admissions, lack of prior convictions, and community contributions as mitigating factors, while emphasising the prolonged nature of the abuse and the age disparity between the parties.
David Saunders, 29, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to creating a substantial risk of death or serious harm to others on September 23, 2018. He also admitted damaging two cars on the same date. The court heard that Saunders, who was allegedly under the influence of alcohol and cocaine, stripped naked on his roof in Cabra and threw slates at gardaí, one of which narrowly missed a garda's head. A negotiator eventually persuaded him to come down. Garda Adrian Kildea told the court that Saunders was serving a six-month suspended sentence for property damage when he committed these current offences. He also has previous convictions for hijacking a car and intimidation of a witness. Defence counsel highlighted Saunders' struggle with drug addiction and his successful rehabilitation efforts. Judge Patricia Ryan adjourned sentencing to Friday next. The matter was adjourned and not concluded.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Ross Maher, aged 22, was fined €25 after he swung a 12‑inch carving knife at Gardaí while topless and covered in blood. The incident occurred on May 23 at Ross Road near Christchurch Cathedral, where Maher had been drinking and taking pills. He repeatedly refused Garda commands to drop the knife, prompting a Garda to draw his firearm. Maher's father intervened, and the officer used pepper spray to compel him to surrender the weapon. Maher was arrested, treated at St James's Hospital, and pleaded guilty to possessing a large carving knife in the course of a dispute. He has no prior convictions, has since entered rehabilitation, and is now drug‑free. The judge, citing the event as a one‑off, sentenced him under the Probation Act, ordering the €25 fine.
Jason Murtagh, a 41‑year‑old former film actor known for roles in The Commitments, The Snapper, The Boxer and In The Name Of The Father, was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to three years in prison for robbing a Costcutters convenience store on 13 March 2017. Murtagh, who has 126 prior convictions and is a homeless crack cocaine addict, pleaded guilty to the offence. He and an accomplice entered the shop at about 6 a.m., armed with knives, forced a female shop assistant to open the tills, and stole €200 in cash. The store manager, who spotted them on CCTV, pursued them and saw them flee to a nearby flat complex. Murtagh requested custody to aid his rehabilitation, and Judge Pauline Codd imposed a four‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence, suspending the final 18 months to facilitate his rehabilitation. The judge praised the shop assistant and manager for their courage during the incident.
The jury in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial of a 52‑year‑old man accused of coercive control and assaulting his former partner will continue deliberating into next week. He faces charges of coercive control, intimidation, endangerment and multiple assaults. He pleaded not guilty to one count of coercive control covering January to September 2019, and to 13 assault counts, one endangerment count and one intimidation count covering May 2018 to January 2020. The endangerment charge involves an alleged incident on a Dublin bridge where he pushed the woman toward the railings. The trial resumes next Tuesday.
A 24‑year‑old mother was given a suspended three‑year sentence after pleading guilty to two counts of allowing her two‑year‑old son to be ill‑treated. The offences occurred in February 2017, when the child suffered extensive bruising that was discovered by hospital staff at Tallaght Hospital. The mother repeatedly lied about the injuries, claiming the boy was a "clumsy child" and later fabricated a visit from a biological father. She failed to seek medical attention and allowed the child to remain in a dangerous environment. The judge noted the seriousness of the assault and the mother's lack of prior convictions. The sentence is suspended on conditions that include continued engagement with relevant services. The child has been removed from her care and is now raised by his maternal grandparents.
Qiuping Chen, 35, pleaded guilty to managing a brothel at Jasmine Massage Parlour on Dorset Street, Dublin, from January 2016 to July 2017. Garda Pauline Treanor warned her on three visits that providing "happy endings" – a sexual act ending in climax – was illegal. Despite the warnings, Chen admitted the practice continued in October 2016 and April 2017. In July 2017, a warrant search found seven vibrators, four bottles of lubricant, a ledger of customers and CCTV footage of Chen and another person in a shower. Chen denied responsibility for the sexual acts, claiming she employed people for massages. Counsel noted no evidence of exploitation or trafficking, and that Chen had cooperated with Revenue and the Criminal Assets Bureau. The case was adjourned to sentencing on 27 November.
A 34‑year‑old man with an acquired brain injury was found unfit to stand trial for several alleged assaults. He faced charges for assaulting a nurse manager at a hospital A&E in November 2015 and for unprovoked attacks on pedestrians in Dublin city centre, where he allegedly struck a man in February 2017 and a woman in March 2017. Judge Karen O'Connor, after hearing medical reports from two consultant psychiatrists, declared the defendant unfit to plead. The judge imposed an interim order preventing publication of his identity until his status as a ward of the court was clarified, to be reviewed in four weeks. The court noted the defendant's memory loss, lack of understanding of court proceedings, and the need for long‑term assessment and support. The prosecution acknowledged the complainants' awareness of the proceedings and their appreciation of the defendant's position.
Steven Smith, a 44-year-old former resident of Dundalk, Louth, appeared at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on appeal regarding his conviction for possession and unlawful importation of cocaine. Smith pleaded guilty to concealing 49 pellets of cocaine, valued at €42,920, internally while arriving at Dublin Airport from Brazil via Amsterdam on November 21, 2013. He had previously left Ireland on High Court bail in 2014 but was returned from the United Kingdom in June following a Crime Watch appeal. Judge Martin Nolan noted that Smith, a drug user at the time, acted for reward or debt alleviation and was likely at the lowest level of the trafficking operation. The judge acknowledged Smith's cooperation and admissions. Judge Nolan imposed a sentence of three years and three months, backdated to June to reflect time already spent in custody. Defense counsel Dominick McGinn SC highlighted Smith's history of moving to Canada, his subsequent downward spiral, and his recent efforts to reform, including ending drug use and gaining employment in the UK. The court accepted that the method of importation indicated desperation rather than high-level criminal enterprise. Smith has prior convictions in Canada, the UK, and Ireland for various offences, including assault and theft.
In Lusk, Co Dublin, Declan Turner, aged 23, was sentenced to six years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended, for a string of hold‑ups that took place over a ten‑minute period within 500 metres of each other. The offences, committed on 15 November 2019, included an attempted robbery at Supervalu, a robbery at Gino's takeaway, and an attempted robbery at Orlynn Park. Turner was identified by CCTV, arrested the following day and has been in custody since. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, admitted a drug problem and expressed remorse. The judge, on condition of keeping the peace for the suspended period, required Turner to cooperate with the Probation Service for 18 months and to engage in residential drug treatment if directed. Turner has 33 previous convictions and a history of mental health issues. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the repeated armed robberies.
Anthony Dwyer, aged 28, pleaded guilty to robbery at Manor Pharmacy in Dublin 7 on 28 May 2020. He entered the pharmacy an hour before the robbery, asking about job vacancies and about foot cream. He returned later with a hood on, pulled a screwdriver, demanded a female employee open the till, but she refused and fled. Dwyer opened the till himself and stole €275. He was identified from CCTV footage and arrested. In police interviews he admitted the robbery, claimed he used a pen instead of a screwdriver, and said he had taken crack cocaine that morning. He stated he stole the money to "bribe" his girlfriend to allow him to see his children. He was on bail at the time of the offence. Judge Elma Sheahan sentenced him to three‑and‑a‑half years imprisonment. The court noted his 110 previous convictions, including robbery, attempted robbery and burglary.
A jury has begun deliberations in a trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court involving a 52‑year‑old man accused of coercively controlling and assaulting his former partner. The defendant is charged with coercive control, intimidation, endangerment and multiple assaults. He pleaded not guilty to one count of controlling behaviour at various locations between 1 January 2019 and 22 September 2019, and to 13 counts of assault, one count of endangerment and one count of intimidation between May 2018 and January 2020. The endangerment charge concerns an incident at a Dublin bridge where the man allegedly pushed the woman toward the railings, creating a substantial risk of death or harm. The assault allegations include burning her foot with a cigarette, pushing her down stairs, head‑butting, punching, standing on her head, stamping on her arm and strangling her.
Christopher Prentice, 25, of Tallaght, Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for two armed carjackings committed on February 6, 2020. Prentice pleaded guilty to two counts of seizing control of a vehicle by force in south Dublin. He also admitted to dangerous driving in Clondalkin and assaulting two gardaí during a high-speed chase that ended when he rammed their patrol car. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Prentice to six and a half years in prison and disqualified him from driving for ten years. The judge noted that Prentice was serving the suspended portion of a January 2019 sentence for dangerous driving of a stolen car when these offences occurred. Prentice had previously been convicted of a carjacking in December 2014. In mitigation, his defense counsel, James Dwyer SC, highlighted Prentice's remorse and his claim that he was grieving the recent death of a cousin while under the influence of alcohol and cannabis. Victims described severe trauma, with one female driver stating she could no longer work in sales due to anxiety, and a taxi driver wishing to leave the profession. The court acknowledged the vulnerability of the victims and the traumatic nature of the attacks.
In June 2018, James Byrne, an experienced welder, was killed when a six‑metre steel column fell on him while he was using a blow torch to dismantle a steel hopper at the Doyle Shipping Group's Ocean Pier yard. The Health and Safety Authority investigated and charged the company for failing to manage the work safely, specifically the dismantling of the hopper. Byrne had been working on the hopper since April 2018 and had previously dismantled a similar hopper in Drogheda. On the day before the accident he had removed two 6‑metre uprights from a 10‑metre lattice; the next day he was cutting a third upright when the column fell. Co‑workers could not lift the bar, and Byrne suffered catastrophic internal injuries, including heart damage. The company pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, and the case was adjourned for finalisation.
James Tracey, 31, a former painter who lost his job in December, held up a cash‑in‑transit van on 6 January 2020 using an imitation firearm. He pointed the realistic pistol at the driver, shouted "drop the box", and the driver froze, then fled. Tracey escaped in a getaway car parked near the M3 motorway, where Garda Emergency Response Unit officers arrested him and a co‑accused. The €27,000 cash box was recovered intact. In court, Tracey pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm with intent to commit robbery and to robbery of a cash box. He claimed he had a drug debt and needed money, but the detective superintendent found no evidence of a drug problem. The judge adjourned finalisation to 8 February 2021. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
In a coercive control trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, a 52‑year‑old accused faces charges of coercive control, intimidation, endangerment and multiple assaults against his former partner. He pleaded not guilty to one count of controlling behaviour between 1 January and 22 September 2019, and to 13 assault counts, one endangerment and one intimidation between May 2018 and January 2020. The endangerment charge involves an incident at a Dublin bridge where the accused allegedly pushed the woman toward the railings, creating a serious risk of death or injury. Assault allegations include burning her foot with a cigarette, pushing her down stairs, head‑butting, punching, standing on her head, stamping on her arm and strangling her. Prosecutor Kerida Naidoo argued that the evidence shows a clear picture of ongoing violence and persistent abuse, while defence counsel Seamus Clarke described the relationship as toxic and dysfunctional, arguing for not guilty verdicts.
A 77-year-old man was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to one count of sexually abusing his granddaughter on a date unknown between February 1, 2002, and December 31, 2003. The victim, who was aged between five and seven at the time, alleged the abuse occurred in the kitchen of the defendant's home. Two further charges were taken into consideration during sentencing. Judge Martin Nolan jailed the defendant for one year, noting that had the man been ten years younger and in better health, the sentence would have been longer. The judge acknowledged the defendant's age, health issues, and remorse, but emphasized that a prison sentence was necessary despite these factors. The court heard that the defendant's wife had told the child he was her uncle, while the mother believed he was not present. The defendant, a convicted child rapist with prior convictions for indecent assault and rape, is currently living in sheltered accommodation. His defense counsel highlighted his isolation and previous suicide attempts, while the prosecution noted his failure to comply with sex offender registration. The matter was finalized with the imposition of the one-year custodial sentence.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 44‑year‑old truck driver Noel Purcell was remanded in custody pending sentencing after being found with €1,287,700 in cash in his cab. Purcell admitted he had agreed to transport the money to Holland after meeting a man on a boat, who offered him €4,000 to do so. He claimed he was struggling with mortgage and credit card debt and was "vulnerable" and "easily‑led". Gardaí had pulled him over on Naas Road following a surveillance operation and discovered two large bags of cash wrapped in duct tape. Purcell pleaded guilty to one count of possessing cash that was the proceeds of a crime. He has no prior convictions and was described by his defence as anxious and financially stressed. Judge Melanie Greally noted the high amount and the need for a custodial sentence, remanding him to await a Probation Services report before sentencing on 19 January 2025.
A banned repeat driving offender, Brian Reilly, 24, with 126 prior convictions, drove on the wrong side of the M50 to evade Gardaí before crashing into the car of an elderly couple, John and Ellen Armstrong, who were stopped at a red light at Kilshane Cross, Finglas, in January. The collision caused significant injuries to Ellen, including multiple rib fractures and the amputation of the tip of her right thumb, leaving her dependent on others for basic care. John suffered a head wound and a seizure. Reilly, who was disqualified from driving, fled the scene but was later found by Gardaí. He has pleaded guilty to endangerment, dangerous driving causing serious harm, refusing a blood or urine sample, and driving without insurance. He remains in custody and will be sentenced in December, with a Probation Services report ordered and the matter adjourned for finalisation on December 21.
Olusegun Olusanya, aged 24, was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to an 18‑month suspended sentence for his role in a €10,000 transfer that was part of a larger $950,000 phishing fraud. He was 19 when he allowed his bank account to be used by others to receive €10,000, which he then withdrew in six transactions and handed to two individuals. Olusanya pleaded guilty to converting, transferring, handling, acquiring or possessing the €10,000, which was the proceeds of crime. He admitted he was not the organiser of the fraud and that he had been asked by someone staying with him to use his account. The judge noted he had no prior convictions and that he had been offered money, but he had not profited greatly. The court imposed an 18‑month suspended sentence as his first and last chance.
Frederick Hunt, 74, of Ballinteer Court, Dublin, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to knowingly distributing child pornography by email on 14 June 2011. Judge Martin Nolan set a sentencing date of 18 January 2021, when the full facts will be heard.
In a coercive control trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, a 52‑year‑old man charged with intimidation, endangerment, assault and coercive control pleaded not guilty to 13 assault counts, one endangerment count and one intimidation count. The alleged endangerment involved pushing the 43‑year‑old woman toward a bridge rail in Dublin, creating a risk of death. Assault allegations include burning her foot with a cigarette, pushing her down stairs, head‑butting, punching, standing on her head, stamping on her arm and strangling her. The woman denied that injuries she claimed were self‑harm, rejecting counsel's suggestion that the bridge incident and neck marks were self‑inflicted. She admitted self‑harm between 2002 and 2012, including burning her arm with a cigarette, but insisted the accused inflicted the injuries. The trial continues before Judge Elma Sheahan and a jury.
Paul Keating, aged 25, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for unlawful possession of firearms, with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions. He pleaded guilty on 27 October 2017 to possessing broken shotgun parts that could not be assembled or fired. Gardaí found the parts during a drug search for cocaine at his home in Brookhaven Grove, Blanchardstown, Dublin. Keating had agreed to hold the parts in exchange for a €1,000 reduction of a €2,000 drug debt, which he later paid off with family help. He claimed he had not used the parts or attempted to fire them between February and October 2017. The court noted he had not reported the offence to the Probation Service and had subsequent convictions for road traffic and theft offences. The judge emphasised the seriousness of the offence and urged Keating to be ashamed of his actions.
Peter Brazil, 41, was convicted of stealing six kegs of beer from The Great Wood Wetherspoons Pub in Blanchardstown on 7 September 2016. The stolen goods, valued at €800, were not recovered. Brazil, who has 268 prior convictions, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Pauline Codd, after hearing evidence in July, sentenced him to 18 months in prison, suspended in full for two years on the condition that he engage with the Probation Service. The judge noted Brazil's long‑term drug addiction and its impact on his health, stating that continued thieving must stop. Garda Terrance Nevin had identified Brazil from CCTV footage showing him driving a white transit van that carried the kegs. Keith Spencer BL defended Brazil, noting his client's efforts to address his drug addiction. The case was adjourned to allow Brazil time to work with the Probation Service.
Jamie Nulty, aged 22, pleaded guilty to burglary at Sarah Kearney's home in Clonee on 15 July 2017, when he was 19. He broke in through a downstairs window, armed with a screwdriver, demanded money, and held Kearney at gunpoint, throwing her onto the bed and threatening her. The court heard he also pleaded guilty to dangerous driving in February 2017. Judge Karen O'Connor sentenced him to five years and nine months, back‑dating four years and seven months to credit time already spent in custody, and suspended the final 14 months on conditions. The sentence reflected mitigating factors such as his youth, homelessness and drug addiction. Kearney suffered post‑traumatic stress, loss of €1,000 in earnings and therapy costs, and remains fearful of being alone in the house. Nulty has 23 prior convictions and has not been in contact with Gardaí since the offence.
Gerry Wall, 27, of The Laurels, Bluebell, Dublin, was sentenced to four years and three months in prison for burglary at a Walkinstown home on 1 February 2016. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and had 26 prior convictions. Garda Aidan Devaney reported that the elderly woman's son returned to find the house in a chaotic state, with clothes and belongings scattered. CCTV footage showed Wall leaving with a suitcase and two bags. Items missing included jewellery, saris, coins and flags, valued at €32,450, many of which were irreplaceable family heirlooms. Judge Karen O'Connor noted the violation of a family home and the financial and sentimental loss. She imposed a five‑year, three‑month sentence, suspended the final year, and backdated it to July when Wall entered custody.
John McClean, aged 75, a former rugby coach and teacher at Terenure College, admitted to sexually abusing 23 boys over a 17‑year period from 1973 to 1990. He pleaded guilty to 27 charges of indecent assault in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The charges are organised into three separate books of evidence. McClean was due to stand trial but entered guilty pleas before the court. Judge Pauline Codd remanded him on continuing bail and scheduled a sentence hearing for March 9, 2021, where all evidence will be considered over two days. Prosecutor Paul Murray noted that some complainants were present in court and others observed via Zoom, and that victim impact statements may be read during the hearing. Defence counsel Sean Guerin requested a later sentence date, citing a forthcoming trial expected to finish in early March. A mention date of January 18 was set for any necessary documentation to be submitted before the sentence hearing.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Judge Pauline Codd fined 53‑year‑old Karen Cohalan €4,000 and imposed a four‑year driving disqualification after she pleaded guilty to careless driving causing serious bodily harm to 25‑year‑old Aengus Cunningham. Cohalan, a chartered accountant and mother of two, had a "momentary lapse" when she turned right at a busy junction on South Lotts Road, Ringsend, on 20 March 2019, without indicating and failing to look out for a cyclist travelling in the same direction. The collision left Cunningham with a head injury, 50 % deafness in one ear and loss of smell. Judge Codd noted the incident was a split‑second lapse, considered Cohalan's impeccable character and genuine remorse, and said the sentence served a general deterrent by urging motorists to "take that second look" for cyclists. The court heard Cohalan accepted full responsibility, and Cunningham's victim impact statement described the life‑changing effects of the injuries.
In March 2016, 48‑year‑old Boguslaw Szbisty, a contract worker for Key Waste Management, was crushed by a Manitou Telehandler while sorting waste at the company's Dublin site. The incident occurred after the telehandler driver mistakenly believed the workers had finished and began reversing. CCTV footage showed the vehicle operating close to the workers and colliding with Szbisty, who was later pronounced dead. An investigation by the Health and Safety Authority found Key Waste had failed to segregate pedestrian workers from the telehandler, and the vehicle lacked side and rear‑view mirrors and had an expired safety certificate. The company pleaded guilty to one count of failing to ensure employee safety at its Greenhills Road site. On 30 October 2020, the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court fined Key Waste €60,000, a fraction of the €3 million maximum, after the directors Mark Butler and Neville O'Boyle appeared for sentencing.
Tracey McManus, 47, was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment for a rent‑relief fraud that left her owing over €73,000 to Revenue. She pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two counts of claiming relief from income tax for periods in 2009 and 2012, and to two counts of producing false receipts for medical and dental treatments she had not undergone. McManus had submitted receipts claiming €12,000 for IVF and €4,700 for dental work, and a claim for rent relief for an address she did not occupy between 2005 and 2008. She had also made a legitimate rent‑relief claim for 2009. Revenue Inspector Bernadette Dorigan said McManus was identified after a random spot check. The judge described her conduct as an orchestrated, pre‑meditated campaign for personal enrichment, suspended the final six months of the sentence on strict conditions, and noted the debt remains outstanding.
Mark Adams, a 41‑year‑old former airport policeman and male model, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for laundering over €1 million. He pleaded guilty to handling €582,045 of criminal proceeds at Dublin Airport on 11 September 2015 and to laundering €227,130 at Bank of Ireland, €298,280 at PTSB, Malahide and €78,990 at Bank of Ireland Credit Card Centre between January 2012 and March 2017. Customs officials intercepted him at the airport with a concealed sum of cash, and a subsequent investigation uncovered €604,400 deposited into three accounts linked to Adams. He had no prior convictions, was a father, and was on a waiting list for treatment for drug and gambling dependencies. Judge Martin Nolan imposed the five‑year term without suspension, citing the seriousness of money laundering and Adams' capacity for reform. The court noted he had not used his former policing role to facilitate the offences.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, a 46‑year‑old man was convicted of 15 counts of sexually assaulting his niece between 1991 and 1994 and four counts of indecent assault between 1988 and 1991. The jury could not reach verdicts on 20 counts of assault against the niece's sister from 1992 to 1995. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced the defendant to seven years' imprisonment, describing the abuse as "in the most grievous way" and estimating over 100 occasions of abuse. The defendant appealed, arguing that the trial judge failed to warn the jury about the lack of corroborating evidence and the possibility of collusion between the two complainants, who had shared notebooks. The appeal was heard by the Court of Appeal, with the judges reserving judgment. The appeal does not alter the conviction or sentence.
Michael Sheeran, 68, a retired council engineer, pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography at his Dublin home on 17 May 2016. An investigation began in 2016 after FBI information identified Irish users on the hidden file‑sharing site Playpen. Sheeran registered in November 2014 and was linked to 57 discussion threads containing images and video clips of child abuse. Gardaí seized his computer equipment and, after a backlog, retrieved 645 image files and 136 video files showing children being sexually abused. Sheeran began therapy after the raid and has undertaken steps to understand his behaviour. Judge Pauline Codd, noting his remorse and family support, suspended a three‑year prison term on the condition of continued therapeutic rehabilitation, two years of probation and registration on the sex offenders' registrar.
In a coercive control trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, a 52‑year‑old Dublin man is charged with coercive control, intimidation, endangerment and multiple assaults against his former partner. He pleaded not guilty to one count of controlling behaviour between 1 January and 22 September 2019, and to 13 assault counts, one endangerment and one intimidation count covering May 2018 to January 2020. The endangerment charge involves an alleged incident on a Dublin bridge where the man pushed the woman toward the railings, creating a serious risk of death or injury. Assault allegations include burning her foot with a cigarette, pushing her down stairs, head‑butting, punching, standing on her head, stamping on her arm and strangling her. A medical witness presented 12 reports, the latest dated 12 September 2019, detailing bruises, scratches, strangulation marks on the neck, fractured noses, swelling, and a 6‑cm cut on the back of her head that required seven stitches.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, David Keena, aged 21, was sentenced to six and a half years' imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended, for his role in a 2015 arson attack on Ciarán Murphy, a low‑level drug dealer in Offaly. Keena, who was 17 at the time, pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm and criminal damage by arson. He was found to have stabbed Murphy 16 times and poured petrol over him, resulting in 96 % burns and multiple stab wounds, including to the heart. Murphy survived but suffered life‑threatening injuries and permanent physical and mental trauma. Keena's sentence runs consecutively with a previously imposed six‑year term for a drug‑dealing offence. The court noted Keena's youth, lack of prior convictions and drug use as mitigating factors. The case involved a false rumour that Murphy was a Garda informant, spread by his former girlfriend, which the court found to be untrue.
In a coercive control trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, a 52‑year‑old man pleaded not guilty to a range of charges involving his former partner. He faced one count of coercive control, one count of intimidation, one count of endangerment and 13 counts of assault causing harm, with the assault allegations spanning from May 2018 to January 2020. The endangerment charge stemmed from an incident at a Dublin bridge where the accused allegedly pushed the woman toward the railings, creating a substantial risk of death or harm. The assault accusations included burning her foot with a cigarette, pushing her down stairs, headbutting, punching, standing on her head, stamping on her arm and strangling her. A Garda witness reported that the accused was arrested on 22 September 2019, charged the following day, and that he repeatedly declared "not guilty." The case is proceeding before Judge Elma Sheahan and a jury.
Darren King, a 34-year-old father of five from Ballyfermot, Dublin, appeared at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court where he confirmed signed pleas of guilty to possessing drugs for sale or supply. The charges relate to incidents on April 23, 2019, at locations including Ballyfermot Road, Cole Park Road, and his home. Prosecution evidence alleged that gardaí intercepted King during a handover involving a bag containing five kilogrammes of cannabis valued at €102,000. Subsequent searches allegedly revealed a further 29kg of cannabis worth €590,000 and 209g of cocaine valued at €15,000 in a vehicle at his residence, along with cash. King made admissions to possessing the drugs for sale or supply. Detective Garda Val Russell noted that King previously received a suspended sentence for robbery but acknowledged his cooperation with the investigation and his claim that he began using drugs after a back injury. Judge Pauline Codd remanded King on continuing bail and adjourned sentencing to January 29. She ordered an updated probation report and urine analysis for that date. The matter was adjourned and is not yet concluded.
Two peace activists, Colm Roddy (78) and Dave Donnellan (60), were charged with unlawful criminal damage after allegedly cutting through the perimeter fence of Shannon Airport, walking onto the runway for about 45 minutes, and spray‑painting red crucifixes on the runway. They claimed their actions were a protest against the use of the airport by US military aircraft, arguing that such presence violated Irish neutrality and made the airport a legitimate target under international law. Both men pleaded not guilty. The case was heard in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court over nine days. A jury of eleven men and one woman returned unanimous not‑guilty verdicts on the two charges. Judge Karen O'Connor thanked the jurors, the defendants, and their lay legal advisors for their conduct during the trial. The trial focused on whether the defendants' belief that their actions were justified could constitute a lawful excuse for the alleged damage.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 5 May 2016, 78‑year‑old Colm Roddy and 60‑year‑old Dave Donnellan were charged with criminal damage for cutting a perimeter fence and painting crucifixes on a runway at Shannon Airport. The judge, Karen O'Connor, explained that a defendant's belief that their actions were lawful does not need to be justified if it is honestly held. She told the jury that the defendants claimed their protest was to oppose the use of the airport by US military, arguing that such presence made the airfield a legitimate target under international law. The judge instructed jurors to decide whether the defendants' belief was honestly held and whether their actions were reasonable in the circumstances they perceived. The prosecution was required to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendants' excuse was not lawful. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
During the eighth day of a trial in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Colm Roddy (78) and Dave Donnellan (60) defended their actions of cutting a perimeter fence and painting crucifixes on a runway at Shannon Airport on 5 May 2016. They pleaded not guilty to criminal damage without lawful excuse. Roddy argued that the US military's use of the airport as a forward operating base for 17 years, with 2.5 million troops transiting, made him complicit in "destruction and torture" and that his protest was a lawful excuse to raise awareness. Donnellan claimed that the breach of neutrality and the transformation of the airport into a legitimate military target were not measurable in millimetres, and that his actions aimed to protect human life. Judge Karen O'Connor reminded the jury that the prosecution must negate any defence of lawful excuse. The trial continues at Kings Inns.
Jordan Duffy, 23, of Glin Road, Coolock, pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine for sale or supply at his home on 2 May 2019. Gardaí searched the house with a warrant, finding a small quantity of cocaine, weighing scales and a safe. When asked to open the safe, Duffy revealed more cocaine and €350 in cash. He claimed he was holding the drugs for someone else to repay a debt, but the court found this explanation uncredible, noting the presence of scales and cash indicated dealing. Duffy had no prior convictions, worked as a gym instructor, and had recently begun a four‑year electrician apprenticeship. Judge Pauline Codd sentenced him to 18 months, suspended in full, and ordered 18 months of probation supervision. The sentence was imposed on 22 October 2020.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, a 52‑year‑old man is charged with coercive control, intimidation, endangerment and multiple assaults against his former partner. He pleaded not guilty to one count of controlling behaviour between 1 January and 22 September 2019, and to 13 assault counts, one endangerment and one intimidation between May 2018 and January 2020. The endangerment charge involves an incident at a Dublin bridge where the accused allegedly pushed the woman toward the railings, creating a substantial risk of death or harm. Assault allegations include burning her foot with a cigarette, pushing her down stairs, head‑butting, punching, standing on her head, stamping on her arm and strangling her.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, a 52‑year‑old man charged with coercive control, intimidation, endangerment and multiple assaults against his former partner pleaded not guilty to 14 counts. The charges cover incidents from May 2018 to January 2020, including an alleged endangerment at a Dublin bridge where he pushed the woman toward railings, and assault allegations such as burning her foot with a cigarette, pushing her down stairs, head‑butting, punching, standing on her head, stamping on her arm and strangling her. A civilian witness, a former colleague of the complainant, testified that the woman always had bruises when she saw the accused with his partner, a condition absent while they worked together. She described the woman's physical injuries and emotional state after a night out, and noted the accused's harsh remarks. The trial is proceeding before Judge Elma Sheahan and a jury.
Ross Kenny, 28, of St Anthony's Road, Rialto, Dublin, pleaded guilty to possession of a handgun on Reuben Walk on 12 March 2019. Gardaí saw him on CCTV carrying what appeared to be a handgun; on arrival they found he was intoxicated and holding a plastic airsoft pistol. Kenny claimed he had taken the weapon from youths who had thrown snowballs at him and was "messing" with it. Garda Colm Reynolds described his behaviour as reckless and "acting the cowboy". Kenny had 25 prior convictions, mainly for public order and drug offences, and one for possession of a stun‑gun. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to one year imprisonment, fully suspended on strict conditions, after noting that the people of Reuben Walk would have been greatly alarmed had they seen him with the weapon.
In a case heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Samantha Otto, a 58‑year‑old Filipino woman, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after she poured boiling water over a man's face at Empire Casino on 27 April 2019. The court found that Otto had harassed the victim for months, sending sexual text messages and demanding he unblock her phone. When the victim refused to speak to her, Otto pushed him, called him an "asshole" and then poured boiling water onto his face, causing burns to his face, neck, shoulders and chest. Otto had no prior convictions. The judge, citing the unprovoked nature of the assault and the period of harassment, imposed a three‑year custodial sentence but suspended it in full on strict conditions, taking into account Otto's good character and life difficulties. The victim has fully recovered from his injuries. The case was concluded with the suspended sentence.
An uncle, aged 17 when he first began sexually abusing a six‑year‑old girl while babysitting, was jailed after the abuse continued for two years. The child, then nine, told him, "I don't like this and it has to stop," after which the abuse ceased. The court noted the uncle's role as a trusted caregiver and that he was a minor at the time of some offences, with the offences extending beyond his minority. He was assessed by the Probation Service as a moderate risk of re‑offending. Judge Pauline Codd sentenced him to five years' imprisonment, suspending the final two years on strict conditions, including compliance with Probation Service directions for two years after release. The victim, now 12, testified that the abuse made her feel blamed, unsafe around men, and that she uses clothing to cover herself. The unnamed 25-year-old pleaded guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 20 October 2020, Judge Martin Nolan expressed concern over Paul Rooney, a 30‑year‑old with an acquired brain injury sustained in 2003, who had repeatedly committed crimes. Rooney had attacked Garda Patrick Barker in January 2019 after attempting to steal a bike on Beaver Street, punching the officer five to six times and cutting his nose. Rooney's mother and brothers were present and his mother administered medication to calm him. Rooney pleaded guilty to one count of assaulting a Garda and had 37 prior convictions, including criminal damage, theft and handling stolen property. The judge accepted the defence's argument that Rooney's brain injury was significant but noted his recent escalation in offending. He questioned the court's role, said only one tool remained, and adjourned the case to 25 March 2021, ordering immediate return if Rooney commits further offences.
On 7 March 2020, Raymond Neeson (44) and Francis Duffy (43) were caught breaking into Central Park Apartments in Leopardstown. Neeson assaulted three residents, spat blood in a Garda car, broke a wing mirror and defecated in a Garda cell, while Duffy tried to hand Neeson a shatter hammer and fire extinguisher before both were restrained by the residents. Neeson pleaded guilty to burglary, three counts of assault causing harm, a threat to kill or cause serious harm to a Garda, and criminal damage to a squad car. Duffy pleaded guilty to burglary. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Neeson to four and a half years' imprisonment and Duffy to two and a half years' imprisonment, noting Neeson's more serious conduct and Duffy's lesser role. Both men have numerous prior convictions. The case was heard at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
During the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, Colm Roddy (78) and Dave Donnellan (60) pleaded not guilty to criminal damage for cutting a perimeter fence and painting crucifixes on Shannon Airport's runway. The defendants claimed their actions were driven by a moral and legal duty to oppose the use of the airport by the US military, citing human rights abuses in Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria. Donnellan said he carried a wooden cross and a banner reading "US Military and CIA out of Shannon Airport" to protest the airport's role in facilitating military operations. Roddy asserted that he had protested for 14 years and sought to have the US Airforce Learjet searched for "murderous machinery." Gardaí questioned the legality of their claims, noting that the defendants' actions could have caused serious harm and that no one was injured. The trial remains ongoing.
Devin Walker, 35, was given a suspended three‑year sentence after pleading guilty to cultivating cannabis at a derelict farmyard in Johnstown Kennedy, Rathcoole. He was discovered when the landowner noticed a rise in electricity usage and flash lights, prompting Garda Donal Donoghue to obtain a search warrant. At the site, Walker was seen leaving a shed with a bucket of water and was later found inside with three grow tents holding 140 cannabis plants and saplings. Garda estimates suggested a potential street value of €112,000 if all plants were mature females. Walker, originally from the Caribbean and recently arrived from Birmingham, had no prior convictions and was considered a low‑level operative. Judge Martin Nolan accepted his guilty plea, noted he had not profited, and imposed a suspended sentence. The court highlighted that Walker's involvement was limited to irrigation and feeding the plants. The sentence was suspended in full.