In 2014, 29‑year‑old Darren Byrne, then struggling with a chronic drug addiction, pointed a knife at two 17‑year‑old girls on Trinity Street, demanding their belongings. He pressed the knife to one girl's throat, took a handbag with cash and an iPod, and fled. The girls were later apprehended by Gardaí. Byrne admitted the robbery, claiming he was under the influence of tablets. He was charged with robbery and pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The court noted his prior convictions for robbery and theft, his escape to the UK, and his subsequent return to Dublin where he secured employment. Judge Pauline Codd, acknowledging his rehabilitation and remorse, imposed a suspended sentence of three and a half years, conditional on maintaining peace. The co‑accused received a suspended two‑year sentence. The case highlights Byrne's significant turnaround from drug use to stable employment and community involvement.
Stephen Byrne, 46, of Tallaght, was jailed for 18 months after pleading guilty to burglary at Pandora Jewellers on 3 March 2019. Garda James O'Donnell reported that a staff member saw Byrne stooped over a safe in the back office, claiming he was looking for tissues. Byrne denied this and said he had taken tablets and blacked out. No items were taken. Byrne has 108 prior convictions, including 53 burglaries, 16 thefts and two robberies. He has a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia and a long history of drug addiction. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence, suspending the final year on strict conditions, including compliance with his probation officer and mental health team. The sentence aimed to break his cycle of offending.
Giovanni Protacio, 49, a former respected nurse with two decades of experience, was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to a nine‑month prison term that was fully suspended. Protacio had worked at Clonmethan Lodge nursing home in north County Dublin since November 2015. In that month a patient struck him on the head with a metal bar, causing soft‑tissue injury. To cope with the pain he began taking painkillers and sleeping tablets, becoming severely addicted. He used his access to locked medical cabinets to steal sleeping tablets and forged prescriptions. The thefts were uncovered in May 2017 when a pharmacist noticed a suspicious prescription linked to the nursing home. CCTV identified Protacio bringing the prescription in, and Gardaí searched his home in Lusk, finding stolen blank prescriptions and various brands of sleeping tablets. He pleaded guilty to one count of forgery of a prescription and three counts of theft of medicines and blank prescription sheets.
Ciaran Wolverson, 53, of Edenmore Crescent, Raheny, was charged with permitting his home to be used for the sale or supply of controlled drugs after local drug dealers threatened to smash his house following his mother's death. He admitted that youths would come to his house, enter a back room while he stayed elsewhere, and mix and bag drugs, leaving him a small piece of heroin. Gardaí, acting on confidential information, searched his home on 5 October 2017 and seized eight bags of cocaine (worth about €17,000) and heroin (about €740). Wolverson pleaded guilty. Judge Melanie Greally, after hearing evidence, placed him on one year's probation, noting his cooperation, family support and efforts to address his long‑standing heroin habit. She imposed a four‑year sentence suspended for four years and ordered an additional 12 months of probation supervision. No prison time was imposed.
In February 2020, Gerard Dunne, aged 32, was jailed for four years after he hurled an ignited petrol bomb toward Garda Karl Kelly, who was waiting for a vehicle to be towed on the Link Road, Darndale, Dublin. Dunne, who had been cycling on a pink and white bike, threw the device across the road; it struck a curb, exploded, and produced a flame. Garda Kelly narrowly avoided injury by moving out of the way. Dunne was arrested, shown CCTV footage of the incident, and later pleaded guilty to endangerment and possession of a petrol bomb. He denied intent to target the Garda but admitted the possibility after being named a suspect. The court noted his 97 prior convictions and his heroin addiction, and sentenced him to four and a half years, suspending the final six months for 12 months on strict conditions.
An IT specialist, Alexander Jones, 33, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to dishonestly operating a computer with intent to gain at Eircom. Between 4 February and 24 April 2014, while employed by a tech‑support firm for Eircom, Jones accessed confidential data, claiming it was through system vulnerabilities. Investigations found he copied data onto his personal laptop, including customer telephone conversations and insurance claims. The court described the offence as unusual, noting it caused worry for the company. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a suspended three‑year sentence, ordering Jones to pay €15,000 to injured parties within a month and an additional €20,000 in a year. Jones, who had no prior convictions, had previously generated unauthorised Xbox discount codes and had been subject to a European arrest warrant. The case highlighted the misuse of IT skills for personal gain.
Adil Muhammad, 32, of Ankers Court, The Bower, Athlone, Westmeath, was ordered by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to complete 240 hours of community service instead of a four‑year prison term for his role in a human‑trafficking operation. He pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of false passports on 15 January 2018, having supplied fake Indian passports to six Afghan nationals who entered the State as Afghan Sikhs. Muhammad, originally from Pakistan, claimed he had no payment for his involvement and that he was persuaded by a family friend. Judge Martin Nolan noted the case was troubling and that Muhammad had become involved after a friend's request, but found no evidence of profit. The judge warned that failure to carry out the community service would result in a four‑year prison sentence. The six individuals were linked to a criminal group that trafficked them from Afghanistan to Europe, with the final leg of the journey to Ireland.
David Murphy, 29, of Belfry Green, Tallaght, was sentenced to nine months in jail after pleading guilty to assault causing harm at Slade Road, Saggart, on 21 March 2015. The incident involved Murphy breaking a beer bottle over a taxi driver's head and threatening the driver with a knife. Murphy had previously been convicted 41 times, including assault, violent disorder and criminal damage. He failed to attend a victim awareness course and is considered a medium risk of re‑offending. The judge, Pauline Codd, imposed a three‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence, suspending the final two years and nine months, leaving Murphy with a nine‑month custodial term. The assault left the taxi driver cautious and caused him to lose about €800 in earnings. The court noted Murphy's plea of guilty and his personal circumstances, including a history of homelessness, sobriety, drug‑free status and employment.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 56‑year‑old man was sentenced to eight and a half years for 55 counts of sexual assault of his daughter between 1995 and 2001. The victim, who first disclosed the abuse at age nine, was beaten and isolated in a bedroom for days, and later forced to write a letter withdrawing her allegations. She testified that the abuse continued regularly until she was 15, describing physical abuse, threats, and isolation. The judge, bound by the then‑maximum penalty of five years per offence, imposed four and a half years for the first fifty counts and a consecutive four‑year sentence for the final five counts, citing aggravating factors such as breach of trust, the victim's young age, and the lasting impact. The man denied all charges and was later registered as a sex offender. The court noted his cooperation and prison work as mitigating factors. The unnamed 15-year-old was convicted.
In a 2019 incident on Clogher Road, Dublin, 39‑year‑old Derek McCann attempted to rob a taxi driver by presenting an imitation firearm. The driver braked abruptly, wrestled the plastic gun from McCann, and the two struggled outside the vehicle. A second taxi driver intervened, kicking the gun away and alerting the Gardaí. McCann was arrested, pleaded guilty to attempted robbery, and was sentenced to five years in custody, backdated to June 2019. He had a suspended sentence for prior offences and may face reactivation of that portion. The judge noted McCann's drug addiction, family support, and progress in custody, and credited his guilty plea and cooperation. The case was adjourned for a later hearing. The incident left the driver unable to work nights due to its impact.
Anthony Sweeney, 37, pleaded guilty to multiple robberies, including two at a McDonald's in Clondalkin, while on High Court bail. He first robbed the McDonald's on 5 August 2019, wearing a wig and sunglasses, and was chased by Gardaí; the wig, glasses and €450 were recovered. A month later he returned to the same branch, threatening staff with an iron bar and was identified on CCTV and arrested. Earlier that year he had robbed a beauty salon and a pedestrian on a footbridge, and had a history of 25 convictions for firearms, robbery and possession of an article with intent to cause injury. Gardaí and the prosecution agreed he was in the throes of a drug addiction and highly intoxicated at the time of the offences. Judge Melanie Greally ordered a probation report and adjourned sentencing to 21 April, when a full plea in mitigation will be presented by his legal team.
Contantin Dirlescu, 31, of Dawson House, Patrick Street, Dublin 8, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to six counts of using false passports to open bank accounts and four counts of operating accounts for money laundering between January and July 2019. Garda Shane Fitzsimons explained that the accounts, opened with false Danish passports, were linked to Dirlescu's address and were used by a Romanian criminal organisation involved in money laundering and cyber fraud. Dirlescu said he was paid €1,300 for opening four accounts and €400 for each subsequent account, plus 5 % of withdrawals, and that he had been instructed by Romanian associates to open accounts for them. He had prior convictions for larceny in Spain (2015) and receiving stolen goods in Italy (2009). Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to three‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment, back‑dated to his first custody date, August 2 2019.
In a 2018 incident, 25‑year‑old Shane Halpin of Lusk was found unconscious and vomiting on the side of the road. Garda Derek Dalton, who had driven Halpin home, was attacked when Halpin, intoxicated, bit him on the hand and later on the knee. Dalton suffered a fractured hand bone, two bites and a groin injury, and was unable to return to duty for six months. Halpin pleaded guilty to assaulting Dalton at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Melanie Greally described the event as a serious assault carried out by a young man unlikely to reoffend, imposed an indicative sentence of two years imprisonment, deferred it until April 1, and directed Halpin to pay €3,000 to Little Blue Heroes, a charity nominated by Dalton. The sentence was contingent on Halpin's compliance with a bond to keep the peace until that date.
A 34‑year‑old man, David Allen, was on bail for robbery when he knocked an 89‑year‑old woman, Nina MacAuley, to the ground outside a Dublin hairdresser and stole her handbag. MacAuley suffered head and arm injuries and later described the incident in a victim impact statement, noting her difficulty sleeping and feeling vulnerable at her age. Allen, who has 25 prior convictions, had pleaded guilty to two earlier robberies in July and February 2019. He admitted to being "strung out" on heroin during the February robbery and claimed he used a pen to make a taxi driver think it was a knife. The court, hearing his apology and shame, ordered a probation report and remanded him in custody until May 5, with a lengthy custodial sentence expected.
A 29‑year‑old man, unnamed for legal reasons, appeared before the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court charged with 23 counts of sexually assaulting four girls in a Leinster creche between February 2015 and December 2016. He pleaded not guilty to all charges. The alleged offences occurred in various creche locations and on a creche bus. The trial is expected to last three weeks. Judge Pauline Codd instructed the jury of seven men and five women not to disclose any information about the parties involved outside court, warned against seeking information online or elsewhere, and cautioned that such actions could be contempt of court and jeopardise the trial. She also urged the jury not to be influenced by media reports, describing them as only one version of events. The jury will return on Thursday to continue the proceedings.
Slaven Tokic, 41, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after an incident at Dublin's Portobello Bar on 26 May 2018. He claimed the victim, Andy Lynch, had laughed at his penis while Tokic was urinating, and that the victim had pointed at him. Tokic punched Lynch as they left the bathroom, knocking out Lynch's two front teeth and splitting his lip. CCTV showed Tokic swinging twice, with one punch connecting. Lynch suffered pain, headaches, and required stitches and dental treatment. Tokic had no prior convictions. At sentencing, Judge Melanie Greally imposed a two‑year prison term, fully suspended on strict conditions, including payment of €4,000 compensation to Lynch within 48 hours. The court noted Tokic's cooperation and the victim's acceptance of the settlement. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
John Farrell, 47, of Ballymun, Dublin, pleaded guilty to criminal damage after smashing 28 television screens at Boyle Sports in September 2016. He claimed he was owed winnings from a bet he believed had been processed incorrectly and placed on the wrong race. The staff member explained that the first horse on his ticket had not won, making the bet a loss. Farrell returned later with a hammer and smashed the screens, causing €10,450 in damage. He had 25 prior convictions, the most recent in 2001 for handling stolen property. In court, he admitted the act, expressed remorse, and was receiving treatment for an aggressive form of cancer. Judge Melanie Greally, noting the incident was out of character and influenced by his circumstances, imposed a four‑year suspended sentence.
Breda Holmes, 67, a former self‑employed courier who believed she was an employee of GT Transport, failed to file about €70,000 worth of tax returns. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court found her liability to Revenue, including interest and penalties, at €228,000, of which she has repaid €13,328. She pleaded guilty to eleven VAT offences totalling €67,829 between 2006 and 2014 and three income‑tax offences totalling €21,365 between 2005 and 2013. Judge Martina Baxter, recognising Holmes' naivety and lack of wealth, suspended an 18‑month prison sentence on the condition she continues to cooperate with bankruptcy proceedings. Holmes, now living on a pension and working to service her debts, has no prior convictions and is fully compliant with tax obligations. The court noted her "hand‑to‑mouth" existence and her willingness to cooperate with the Revenue Commissioners.
The Court of Appeal has adjourned the finalisation of Garret Hevey's appeal, increasing his sentence from five years to six years imprisonment. Hevey, who pleaded guilty to dishonestly inducing investment in Arden FML and three counts of inducing payments by deception, was originally sentenced by Judge Melanie Greally. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, sitting with President George Birmingham and Mr Justice Brian McGovern, found the original sentence unduly lenient, describing the company as an "engine of fraud" that sold the same forests repeatedly. The court determined that no portion of the new six-year sentence should be suspended. Hevey's co-accused, David Peile, also known as David Marshall, pleaded guilty to similar charges and was sentenced to four years imprisonment with the final year suspended. No appeal has been lodged regarding Peile's sentence. The appeal process for Hevey is now complete with the revised sentence imposed, while Peile's case remains unchanged.
Darren Kershaw, 45, of Cherry Orchard Park, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing serious harm, failing to remain at the scene, and driving over the legal alcohol limit after striking Ranyfrancia DaSilva, a Brazilian national, on Landen Road, Ballyfermot, on 19 June 2018. The incident occurred when Kershaw attempted a U‑turn before a Garda checkpoint on Sarsfield Road, collided with a set of traffic lights, and then struck DaSilva, who was walking home from a restaurant. DaSilva suffered multiple skull fractures, back injuries, and has endured ongoing dizziness, headaches, and disturbed sleep, losing her job and incurring €27,000 in medical expenses. Kershaw was sentenced to four‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions, including remaining drug and alcohol free. The court noted his guilty plea, cooperation, remorse, and efforts to rehabilitate, including abstaining from alcohol and drugs.
Liam Sheridan, aged 40, was sentenced to three years in prison for endangerment after he struck an elderly woman with a stolen car on Mountjoy Street, Dublin, on 31 August 2016. The incident occurred when Sheridan, who had lost his car key, was approached by four young men who had found the key and urged him to steal the vehicle. While the woman and her male companion, both in their 70s, were searching for the key, Sheridan drove the car in reverse, causing the woman to fall and sustain two leg fractures. She was hospitalized and continues to receive care. Sheridan pleaded guilty, expressed remorse, and claimed he was under the influence of drugs and alcohol at the time. Judge Elma Sheahan suspended the final nine months of a 3‑year, 9‑month sentence, requiring him to keep the peace and engage with the Probation Service upon release. Sheridan's prior convictions include theft and drug‑dealing offences.
A 23‑year‑old mother from Co. Wicklow pleaded guilty to two counts of allowing her two‑year‑old son to be ill‑treated, causing unnecessary suffering. The abuse occurred in an unknown location between 10 and 13 February 2017 and on 14 February 2017. Medical staff at Tallaght Hospital discovered extensive bruising on the child's face, ears, back, buttocks, thighs and genital area when the mother brought him in February 2017. The mother repeatedly lied about the cause of the injuries, claiming a fabricated visit from the boy's biological father and that he had fallen on a table or a slide. The child was removed from her care and is now raised by his maternal grandparents. The mother, a drug addict, is hoping to enter rehabilitation; her sentence was adjourned to 16 October to allow this. The man she was living with has been charged and is expected to stand trial later.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Christopher Sherry, aged 22, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to a 17‑year‑old boy outside the Wright Venue in Swords on 17 March 2017. Sherry, together with another teenager and a third man, attacked the victim after he was denied re‑entry to the nightclub. The victim was kicked to the shoulder and chest by Sherry and repeatedly kicked in the head by the other teenager. The attackers then took the confused victim to a nearby McDonald's, claiming to help him. The boy suffered multiple jaw fractures, required surgery with two metal plates, and incurred about €8,000 in dental damage. The court heard CCTV footage of the pursuit and the assault. The teen attacker was dealt with through the Garda Juvenile Diversion Programme. Sherry has no prior convictions and will be sentenced on 20 March.
Michael Fagan, 48, was jailed for two years after a bench warrant was issued for a 2010 burglary of McCormack Jewellers, Grafton Street, where jewellery worth €64,000 was taken. Fagan had lived in the same area and signed on weekly at his local post office, giving gardai his brother's name when stopped. He had 62 convictions before 2012 and had been off the radar since a bench warrant was executed in December 2012. Garda Aidan Larkin presented CCTV footage from Crimecall and evidence that Fagan had sold the jewellery for €3,000 to a third party. Fagan pleaded guilty, claimed he had overcome drug addiction, and was described by his lawyer as a "desperate man" who had been clean for eight years. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a four‑year sentence with the final two years suspended, noting the damage to the shop and the rapid dissipation of the stolen goods.
Kevin Maguire, 29, of The Hedgerow, Foxrock, Dublin, was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment for possessing over 4,300 images of child pornography and for distributing a video of a child being sexually abused. He sent an email with a seven‑minute video of an approximately 10‑year‑old girl being orally raped by an adult to two separate addresses. Maguire pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography at Castlefarm, Shankill, on 7 May 2015 and to distribution of child pornography at the same address between 2 August 2011 and 22 October 2011. Judge Melanie Greally noted the volume of material was "very substantial" and that it had been accumulated over a four‑year period. She imposed a two‑year custodial sentence, suspending the final six months on strict conditions.
In a case heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Keith Bride, aged 34, was sentenced to one year in prison with the final six months suspended, after pleading guilty to assaulting Garda Ruth Molloy on 1 June 2016. The incident occurred when Bride attempted to destroy a car that the Garda was seizing, jumping onto the bonnet and smashing the windscreen. He had earlier tried to pull the car doors off and damaged the glove compartment. During the confrontation, Bride broke free and fled to a shopping centre, later being found in Mount Olive Park. Garda Molloy sustained two small cuts, bruising and pain in her thumb, and reported being unable to ride a mountain bike for some time. Bride has 80 prior convictions, including one for obstruction of gardai, and the judge noted his bad temper and intemperance. He expressed remorse and apologised, and the judge considered his family background and potential community contribution.
Patrick Scanlon, a 42‑year‑old former paratrooper and Legionnaire, was found to have PTSD when he stole a €25 Buddha‑style garden statue from a hardware shop in Finglas, Dublin. He had been walking past the shop when he saw the statue on the ground and picked it up. The next day Garda Niamh Corrigan stopped him on Wellmount Avenue after spotting a sharp knife in his pocket and arrested him for unlawful possession of a knife. Scanlon admitted the statue was stolen and pleaded guilty to theft from James Malone at Finglas DIY on 17 February 2019. He had 27 prior convictions, most of them thefts from 2019. His defence lawyer, Mark Lynam, argued that Scanlon was out of control and self‑medicating, and that he was now dealing with PTSD with social services.
James Daly, a former tax inspector aged 62, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment by Judge Melanie Greally at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He pleaded guilty to submitting an incorrect income‑tax return in 2005 and to failing to file returns for 2006, 2007 and 2008. Daly had worked for the Office of Revenue Commissions for about eight years before starting his own tax‑consultancy business. The judge rejected the defence of ignorance or incompetence, citing Daly's professional experience and the absence of any explanation for his conduct. She described the offences as a grave breach of trust, noting dishonesty and strategic, financially motivated behaviour. The sentence was imposed after Daly's guilty plea, which avoided a trial, and took into account his lack of prior convictions, professional credentials and the lack of remorse or cooperation with Revenue.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 15‑year‑old boy pleaded guilty to possession of a loaded semi‑automatic pistol found in a schoolbag under his bunk beds on 3 December 2018. The gun, loaded with 11 rounds, had been given to him by an older man who had asked him to hold it for a few days. The boy later attempted to dispose of the weapon after the man failed to retrieve it. Gardaí were alerted by a tip, searched the home, and disarmed the firearm. The boy, who has no prior convictions, was placed on a 12‑month probation bond. The court noted his low risk of re‑offending and advised him that compliance with probation conditions would likely prevent imprisonment. The case was adjourned to 22 January 2021.
In a case heard at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Pauline Codd sentenced 49‑year‑old Jonathan Dargan to six years' imprisonment, with the final six months suspended, for the manslaughter of 56‑year‑old Patrick Mullally. The incident occurred on 6 March 2016 at Harold's Cross Road when Dargan, a Taekwondo instructor and former nightclub doorman, attacked Mullally and his friend Shane Cunningham after a drunken altercation. Dargan struck Mullally with a punch that shattered his jaw and caused a subdural haemorrhage; Mullally died the following day. Dargan denied unlawful killing and claimed self‑defence, but the court found his martial‑arts training and intoxication made the assault an aggravating factor. The jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict on manslaughter and a majority verdict on assaulting Cunningham; the assault charge against Mullally's niece was withdrawn. Dargan's remorse and previous clean record were noted in mitigation.
Joseph O'Connor, a 58‑year‑old retired Garda from west Dublin, was convicted of possessing child pornography. He pleaded not guilty to five counts of possession of images and videos of children being sexually abused, which were found on his laptop in the "recycle bin" and included boys as young as ten and under 17. O'Connor denied ever seeing or downloading the material, claiming a man who had visited his home days before the laptop was seized had made false allegations and "corrupted" his computer. He was acquitted on one count but found guilty on the remaining four by a jury and sentenced to two years' imprisonment on 15 February 2019. He appealed the conviction, arguing the search was unlawful because it was based on an assault allegation that the Gardaí did not believe. The Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal, affirming the conviction and the legality of the search and warrant.
Mareks Treinovskis, 34, was found guilty of stealing electric toothbrushes from Boots on Grafton Street on 29 June and 22 July 2019. He had previously been convicted of the same offence at the same store, with nine earlier convictions for the same thefts. The Garda identified him via CCTV footage and he was released on bail. In June 2018 he received a nine‑month sentence for nine thefts of electric toothbrushes from the same shop. Judge Melanie Greally, hearing the case, noted that the offences were not particularly serious in isolation but were "very concerning" given the repeat nature. She sentenced him to six months for the earlier theft and 12 months for the later theft, to run consecutively, and then suspended the entire 12‑month sentence on strict conditions, including a prohibition on entering any Boots store in Dublin for 12 months.
Maja Kajuka, a 58‑year‑old Latvian woman with mental health difficulties, was found at Dublin Airport carrying €183,000 worth of cocaine concealed in laminated photographs. She had travelled to Brazil on a work assignment for a design company, delivered the photographs to a contact, and was told to meet another Brazilian man at the airport to hand over the photographs and receive her return ticket. After losing her phone, she wandered the airport landside, unaware of the drugs. She pleaded guilty to possession of 2.6 kg of cocaine on 13 July 2019. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced her to four and a half years in prison, suspending the balance on the condition that she leave Ireland and return to Latvia within two weeks, with release contingent on firm arrangements to return. The judge noted her low moral culpability and that she had been used by others.
Eoin McKinley, aged 22, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm after smashing a glass into Andris Slalina's face at Weatherspoon's, Westend Retail Park, on 30 May 2016. The incident followed Slalina's criticism of a group's loudness, which McKinley overheard. McKinley threw a glass that struck a fence and later struck Slalina's face, leaving a broken nose and a scar on his left eyebrow. Slalina suffered €1,000 in medical and lost‑wage costs. McKinley, who had no prior convictions and was 19 at the time, had paid €2,700 in compensation. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to 240 hours of community service within 12 months, replacing a two‑and‑a‑half‑year prison term. The court noted McKinley's intoxication and the alleged involvement of cocaine, though no drug charges were brought. The case was prosecuted by Diarmuid Collins BL and defended by Mark Lynam BL.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, Jonathan Dargan, 49, was found guilty of manslaughter after he struck Patrick Mullally, 56, with a punch during an altercation on Harold's Cross Road on 6 March 2016. Mullally, who was celebrating his retirement from Guinness, was knocked to the ground, sustaining a shattered jaw and cheekbone that caused a subdural haemorrhage and brain trauma, leading to his death the following day. Dargan, a Taekwondo instructor and former nightclub doorman, claimed he acted in self‑defence after being surrounded by Mullally, Shane Cunningham and others. He denied unlawful killing and assault on Cunningham and on Mullally's niece. The jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict on manslaughter and a majority verdict on assaulting Cunningham. The case was adjourned for sentencing. The trial highlighted the profound impact on Mullally's family, who described the death as "brutal" and expressed deep grief and anger.
Ben O'Reilly, a 21‑year‑old former youth rugby player, was convicted of assaulting Fernanda de Freitas, a transgender escort, at her home on 20 May 2017. The trial, held in December 2019 at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, found him guilty of assault but acquitted him of robbery. Judge Elma Sheahan sentenced him to two years' imprisonment, fully suspended on the condition he pays €10,000 in compensation to Ms de Freitas within 12 months. The judge noted the seriousness of the offence, the loss of support from family and friends, his suspension from the rugby club, and his good character and youth as mitigating factors. O'Reilly had no prior convictions and had been enlisted in the UK army, where a custodial sentence would have led to discharge. The case involved a dispute over payment for escort services, an initial payment of €150, and a subsequent assault after the victim demanded the remainder of the agreed €500. Ben O'Reilly pleaded not guilty.
A married couple has been sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in the first FGM conviction in Irish history. The 37-year-old man and 27-year-old woman, who pleaded not guilty, were convicted by a jury of carrying out an act of FGM on their one-year-old daughter and child cruelty on September 16, 2016. Judge Elma Sheahan described the premeditated act as a severe breach of trust, noting the lack of remorse. The male accused was sentenced to five and a half years imprisonment for FGM, with a concurrent three-year sentence for child cruelty. The female accused received four years and nine months for FGM, with a concurrent two-year, nine-month sentence for child cruelty. All sentences were backdated to the date of their initial custody. Both accused have been remanded in custody since their conviction. The court noted the victim is in the care of a relative, and the man faces a deportation order under review. Detective Chief Superintendent Declan Daly stated the sentence sends a strong message that FGM is a criminal offence not tolerated in Ireland.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 56‑year‑old man was convicted of 55 counts of sexual assault against his daughter, who first disclosed the abuse at age nine. She was beaten and isolated in a bedroom for several days, denied access to the bathroom, and later forced by her father to withdraw her allegations. The abuse, which continued until she was 15, involved repeated touching of her breasts and genital area and forced sexual contact. She reported that her father called her a liar and punished her by isolation. The court heard her victim impact statement, describing the lasting psychological harm and her decision to speak out. Judge Karen O'Connor praised her courage and adjourned sentencing to February 10. The case highlighted the father's denial of charges and his subsequent registration as a sex offender.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, a 59‑year‑old man was found guilty of sexually assaulting a four‑year‑old girl he had been caring for. The jury returned unanimous guilty verdicts on two charges after deliberating for over five hours. The man had pleaded not guilty. The trial revealed that the child's mother and the accused's family had been friendly for years, and the child had been cared for by the man's daughter and wife from age one. The child testified that the accused placed his hand under her shorts, rubbed her "bum" (later clarified as her vagina), and licked her "bum" multiple times. Forensic scientist Dr. Charlotte Murphy presented DNA evidence linking the accused's saliva to the child's underwear, with a 1 in 6,700 chance of a coincidental match. The accused denied all allegations, claiming he was never alone with the child and that the DNA could have come from a toilet visit.
A 37‑year‑old mother was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for repeatedly assaulting, ill‑treating and neglecting her three children between 14 March 2015 and 18 April 2016. The trial, held in October 2019, found her guilty on all charges. She denied responsibility and showed no remorse. The judge described the abuse as physical and verbal, with the children locked up for long periods, exposed to drug use, poor hygiene and deprivation of food. The mother was undergoing a marital breakdown, personal crisis and regular drug abuse, and had an antisocial peer group. She had 32 prior convictions, all traffic offences. She is now barred from contact with the children unless authorised by the Child and Family Agency or the father. The sentence imposed was three years with the final 12 months suspended. The unnamed woman pleaded not guilty.
Radu Agapie, 28, a Romanian national, was convicted in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for five counts of controlling fake Polish and Hungarian ID cards, four counts of using fake documents to open bank accounts, and three counts of money laundering between July 2018 and July 2019. He had ten prior convictions in Finland for falsification and laundering. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a concurrent sentence of six years, suspending the final 18 months on the condition that Agapie leave Ireland and not return for ten years. The case stemmed from a Europe‑wide police investigation into money laundering by criminal organisations, during which Gardaí seized a toolkit for forging documents, five fake identity cards bearing Agapie's photo, and evidence of €79,564 in three bank accounts, of which €65,660 was withdrawn. Agapie was described as having a cocaine addiction and was said to have used his time in custody productively. Radu Agapie pleaded guilty.
The jury has begun deliberating in the trial of a 59‑year‑old man accused of sexually assaulting a four‑year‑old girl who was being mind‑ed by his wife in their family home. He pleaded not guilty to two charges of sexual assault for incidents between 27 July 2016 and 11 July 2017. The trial will continue tomorrow as the jury recommences deliberations.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 19‑year‑old woman named Tia Byrne pleaded guilty to two counts of unlawful possession of firearms. Gardaí discovered a handgun wrapped in socks and five live .38 Smith and Western rounds in a drawer while executing a drug search warrant. Byrne admitted that a man had left the gun after delivering cannabis and claimed she was under pressure and felt threatened. She handed two handwritten notes to officers stating she was scared for her family. The court noted Byrne's age, lack of maturity, and a dysfunctional family background. Judge Martin Nolan suspended a three‑year prison sentence, requiring good behaviour and engagement with Probation Services. The case highlighted concerns about vulnerable individuals being exploited by serious criminals in Dublin's inner city.
In a north Dublin retail park, a Starbucks coffee shop was forced to close after a series of break‑ins. The court heard that the shop could not renew its insurance because of multiple robbery and burglary incidents. The business shut down in July. Earlier, Jason Brady, 34, used a claw hammer to break into the shop, causing over €1,300 of damage. Brady pleaded guilty to burglary of the Starbucks and of the adjoining "Star Buys" discount shop on the night of 22 June 2019, and admitted criminal damage and possession of a claw hammer. He was not a suspect in other raids. Brady's lawyers said he had smoked crack cocaine before the burglaries and that he was committing crimes to feed an "out of control" drug habit. CCTV footage showed him using a crowbar to try to open a staff toilet and later pulling the disabled toilet alarm off the wall.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, a 59‑year‑old man faced two charges of sexually assaulting a four‑year‑old girl between July 2016 and July 2017. The child had been cared for by the accused's wife and daughter since age one, and the accused's family had maintained a friendly relationship with the child's mother for years. Prosecutor Pauline Walley urged the jury that the case was not a "beauty contest" and that they should not base their decision on the accused's appearance. She highlighted that the child's statements about being assaulted were consistent with other evidence, including DNA found in the child's underwear, which the accused claimed was due to the child's hand in his mouth. A forensic scientist testified that saliva on the inside gusset would be unlikely in that scenario. Walley argued that a "cold, clinical" assessment would lead to a conviction for sexual assault involving rubbing and licking the child's vagina. The unnamed 59-year-old pleaded not guilty.
Wayne Kelly, 32, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to endangerment at Ninth Lock Road, Clondalkin, on May 24, 2017. The prosecution alleged that Kelly drove his truck directly at pedestrian Peter Adams following a verbal exchange, exposing him to danger on a path and later chasing him into traffic. Kelly admitted the charge but maintained he intended to return to speak with Adams, denying any attempt to strike him. Judge Melanie Greally described the driving as "an absolute outrage," noting that Adams was fortunate not to be struck by Kelly or another vehicle. While acknowledging defense counsel's suggestion that medication withdrawal may have contributed to Kelly's anger, the judge cited his nine previous convictions, including assault and criminal damage, as mitigating factors against that explanation. Kelly presented a €500 apology, which the judge deemed "somewhat derisory," suggesting he should multiply that figure by ten. The matter was adjourned to April 28 for sentencing. Judge Greally ordered a probation report to assess Kelly's suitability for the restorative justice programme and remanded him on continuing bail pending that date.
During the Beatyard music festival in Dun Laoghaire on 4 August 2018, 30‑year‑old Jason Hodgkins was caught by Garda Desmond Molloy carrying a drug tablet. Hodgkins complied with a search but became agitated and argued with the officer. A scuffle broke out, and Hodgkins climbed onto the Garda, punching him six times in the head and attempting to bite him. The officer was pepper‑sprayed in the process. Hodgkins was later subdued and pleaded guilty to one count of assault causing harm and three counts of possession of small amounts of drugs, including cannabis and a 2CB tablet. He paid €1,500 as a token of remorse, and the Garda suggested the payment go to Down Syndrome Ireland. Judge Melanie Greally ruled that Hodgkins should be assessed for community service, with the matter to be finalized on 24 March.
Florin Ciurariu (31), of Forest Fields Road, Swords Dublin, has been sentenced to three years in custody for one count of assault causing harm to Ms Anete Senere and one count of breaching a safety order. The assault occurred on June 2 last year at Ms Senere's apartment in Clontarf, Dublin, where she was found unconscious in a pool of blood with severe facial injuries, including two black eyes, broken teeth, and bruising. Ciurariu pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The safety order had been issued following a previous assault by Ciurariu on Ms Senere. Judge Melanie Greally noted the violence of the attack and Ciurariu's history of multiple convictions, including breaches of domestic barring orders and assault. A four-year sentence was imposed, with the final 12 months suspended on conditions. The sentence was backdated to June last year when Ciurariu entered custody. The judge ordered Ciurariu to have no contact with Ms Senere for five years. Garda Clodagh Sharkey detailed the incident, including Ciurariu's uninvited visit, the assault during a football match, and his subsequent flight from the scene. Ciurariu was later found by gardaí with dried blood on his hands. Ms Senere was hospitalized and remains shaken from the attack. She did not attend court or make a victim impact statement. Ciurariu's defense apologized on his behalf, noting the relationship had ended. The Department of Justice is seeking his deportation due to his criminal history, which could have significant consequences for him.
David Galloway, 54, of Crumlin, Dublin, faced seven charges of unlawfully applying trademarks of washing‑powder brands Persil, Ariel, Fairy, Daz and Bold to buckets, and fourteen charges of possession of buckets, labels and boxes bearing those trademarks. He pleaded not guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The alleged offences mainly took place at a premises in Greenogue Business Park, Rathcoole, on 7 June 2014. A legal issue caused Judge Karen O'Connor to discharge the jury, and the case was sent back for a new hearing.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, a 59‑year‑old man pleaded not guilty to two charges of sexually assaulting a four‑year‑old girl between 27 July 2016 and 11 July 2017. The prosecution case had closed. On the sixth day of the trial, Garda Eoin Mulvaney informed the prosecuting counsel that after forensic analysis, he had interviewed the accused on 13 April 2018. The Garda asked the accused to explain why his DNA was found in saliva on the child's underwear. The accused could not give a clear explanation and suggested that the child had put her hand in his mouth, nose and ears on several occasions, including three times on the last day she was at his house. He also claimed memory loss due to drinking unpasteurized milk in the 1970s. The trial was proceeding before Judge Elma Sheahan and a jury.