A Somali man who used diplomatic passports to illegally bring several women into the State has been jailed for four and a half years. Abdallatif Mohamed (40), who had no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to four counts of assisting in the unlawful entry of persons into the State. The court heard that Mohamed used genuine Somali diplomatic passports to bring two women into the country at Dublin Airport in 2024. The women were not the same as those depicted in the passports, and Mohamed was found with their genuine passports and a significant amount of cash. The women confirmed that they had paid Mohamed to bring them to the country, with one paying $14,000 and the other $15,000. Mohamed claimed he was acting under pressure to help his family, but the court found no evidence to support this. Judge Dara Hayes noted that the use of diplomatic passports was an aggravating factor and that the operation was for profit.
A mentally ill passenger who aggressively wielded a bible and assaulted a garda at Dublin Airport will be released from custody after his prison sentence was suspended. Gavin Risden (48), of no fixed abode in the United Kingdom, pleaded guilty to assaulting Garda Conor Neill on June 3 last. Air traffic control had alerted gardai to an unruly passenger on a transatlantic flight from Newark. Risden was aggressive, waving a bible and claiming to be royalty with royal blood. When gardai asked him to step off the plane, he refused and punched the garda eight times, causing him to be dazed and suffer facial bruising. Another garda pepper sprayed Risden, but this was deemed a suboptimal approach as it occurred inside the plane. Some passengers were also affected by the spray. Risden escaped initially but was eventually arrested in Terminal 2. He has no previous convictions and has been in custody since the incident. His defence highlighted his mental health issues and lack of medication.
A man was jailed for two years after being caught with nearly €400,000 worth of cannabis at Dublin Airport. Aidas Bauraitis, 25, pleaded guilty to importing cannabis for sale or supply in April 2025. Customs officers noticed Bauraitis acting suspiciously and found 19.9kg of cannabis in his bag. Bauraitis admitted collecting the bag in Bangkok and said he was in financial difficulty, supporting his family. His defense highlighted his cooperation, remorse, and lack of previous convictions. The judge noted the value of the drugs as an aggravating factor but considered Bauraitis's financial pressure and his position on the lowest rung of the drug ladder. He was given a six-year sentence with four years suspended. Bauraitis intends to return to Lithuania after his release.
A tribunal hearing involving Aer Lingus pilot Declan McCabe, who was demoted from captain to first officer following an incident on 8 June 2023, has been adjourned to the new year by Adjudicator John Harraghy. McCabe is contesting statutory complaints brought under the Protected Disclosures Act 2014, the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005, and the Payment of Wages Act 1997 at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC). McCabe claims the incident, which involved a failure to link up with a navigation beacon on approach to Dublin airport, was a 'non-event' and that the use of the word 'apologies' by his first officer was a reflection of his 'manners' as a 'well-educated, posh Belvedere boy'. Aer Lingus denies the complaints and has argued that McCabe failed to submit a timely air safety report and provided 'inaccurate information' to air traffic control. McCabe alleges the demotion was part of a 'predetermined' process aimed at penalising him, linked to a 2011 dispute over fatigue. The matter was adjourned and will resume in the new year.
A Brazilian woman who claimed she was threatened and felt forced to bring more than €65,000 worth of cocaine into Ireland has been jailed for two years. Cleoviany Pedrosa (26) carried 35 pellets of cocaine in her luggage but also swallowed over 60 pellets of the drug. She told gardaí that she had initially agreed to transport the drugs because she was under financial pressure but when she tried to change her mind, she was threatened and forced into delivering the drugs. She was promised €3,000 for her role, and her flights and hotel stay were paid for. Pedrosa pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to having cocaine for sale or supply on March 16, 2025. She is a mother of six with no previous convictions. The court heard that customos officers felt Pedrosa was acting suspiciously and stopped her after she got off a flight from São Paulo. Officers found 35 pellets of the drug in her suitcase.
Adjudicator John Harraghy has adjourned overnight the Workplace Relations Commission hearing involving Aer Lingus pilot Declan McCabe, who is pursuing statutory complaints under the Protected Disclosures Act 2014, the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005, and the Payment of Wages Act 1997. Aer Lingus contests these claims. Mr McCabe alleges he felt "under duress" during a safety investigation into a June 2023 navigation incident to attribute the issue to human error rather than a "technical difficulty with the aircraft." He denies management findings that he failed to submit a timely safety report and provided inaccurate information to Air Nav Ireland. Cross-examination focused on whether the aircraft was establishing for the wrong runway and whether this constituted a reportable matter. Mr McCabe stated that evidence pointing to multi-mode receiver issues was withheld from him. He was demoted from captain to first officer in January 2024, a sanction he alleges was predetermined penalisation linked to a 2011 fatigue dispute. The matter was adjourned overnight, with hearings scheduled for two more days this week.
Three men, Anas Altahlh (40), Issa Al Aboud (43), and Mohamad Alsourani (43), were jailed for three years after being found in possession of over €345,000 in cash. The men arrived in Dublin from Denmark and were en route to Istanbul when Gardaí intercepted them on the Drumcondra Road. During the search, Garda Shauna Ferncombe discovered two suitcases containing €206,000 and €135,000, along with an additional €4,900 in a backpack. The men, who are originally from Syria and now reside in Sweden, claimed they were visiting as tourists and to look for work. They had no previous convictions and were assisted by interpreters during the hearing. The court heard that the men were likely acting as couriers for the illicit funds. Judge Martin Nolan stated that the men must have known they were handling illegal money and imposed a three-year sentence, backdated to the date they were taken into custody.
Ruth Lawrence, a 46-year-old defendant, was sentenced to two mandatory terms of life imprisonment for the murders of Anthony Keegan and Eoin O'Connor. The Central Criminal Court jury had previously found that Lawrence and her boyfriend, Neville van der Westhuizen, acted as a unit to lure O'Connor to their home, where he was shot. The panel also accepted that Keegan was shot by van der Westhuizen and that Lawrence was equally liable for the outcome under joint enterprise. Lawrence had pleaded not guilty to both counts of murder, which occurred between April 22 and May 26, 2014. Justice Tony Hunt handed down the concurrent sentences, backdating them to October 4, 2022, when Lawrence entered custody. The court heard four victim impact statements detailing the trauma suffered by the families, who noted Lawrence's lack of remorse and her decade-long flight to South Africa, where she changed her name and appearance. Van der Westhuizen is currently serving a 15-year sentence in South Africa for separate offenses, with an application to return him to Ireland for trial to be considered upon his release. The judge acknowledged the vindication for the families after a lengthy legal process.
Declan McCabe, an Aer Lingus pilot, is contesting statutory complaints brought by the airline under the Protected Disclosures Act 2014, the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005, and the Payment of Wages Act 1997 at the Workplace Relations Commission. The tribunal heard that Mr McCabe was demoted from command responsibility following a disciplinary finding that he failed to file a timely air safety report regarding an incident on 8 June 2023. On that date, the aircraft he was flying in command from Munich initially failed to pick up a radio navigation beacon at Dublin Airport, though it landed safely after he adjusted its heading. Mr McCabe described the incident as a "non-event" and alleged his demotion was penalisation linked to a 2011 dispute where he reported fatigue. He stated the process was "humiliating" and claimed he filed the report within half an hour of being directed to do so, noting he had delayed due to fear of retribution. Aer Lingus's barrister argued Mr McCabe did not accept his errors. Adjudication officer John Harraghy adjourned proceedings, with hearings set to continue next week, starting with cross-examination of the complainant.
A 24-year-old man, Lucas Calvert, has been jailed for four years and nine months after being found with 30 kilogrammes of cocaine in his suitcase at Dublin Airport. Calvert, who was homeless at the time, claimed he had no choice but to transport the drugs to pay off a drug debt. He admitted to gardaí that he knew what was in the bag and took full responsibility for it. Calvert had previous drug convictions from the UK and had been remanded in custody since his arrest in June. Judge Martin Nolan noted Calvert's previous convictions and the large quantity of drugs he was caught with. He accepted that Calvert entered early guilty pleas and was a young man, but stated that he deserved a custodial term for his actions.
Aer Lingus pilot Declan McCabe, 53, testified at a tribunal that he delayed reporting an incident where his aircraft failed to pick up a navigation beacon due to fear of retribution from senior staff. McCabe was demoted after the June 2023 incident and is pursuing complaints against the airline under various acts. He explained that the situation did not involve a 'false localiser capture' as per the manual and that he believed safety was not compromised. McCabe claimed he feared retaliation from senior pilot Colm Wynne, who had previously disciplined him over fatigue issues. He later filed an internal safety report, stating he delayed it due to fear of retribution. The tribunal heard that Aer Lingus maintains safety was its priority and that McCabe's decision not to report the incident was his own.
A Brazilian national who swallowed about half a kilo of cocaine pellets before boarding a flight to Ireland has been jailed for 21 months. Antonio Bezerra Dos Santos pleaded guilty to importing drugs into the country at Dublin Airport. She was arrested by customs officers and taken to Beaumont Hospital, where she passed 47 pellets of cocaine over three days. An estimated 400-500g of cocaine with a street value of €32,000 was recovered. Dos Santos claimed she was forced to carry out the drug importation by a criminal organisation in Brazil. She has no previous convictions and was referred to as she/her in court. Her defence highlighted that she struggled to swallow all the pellets and was given a small reward. The judge noted that she is unlikely to re-offend and set a sentence of 21 months, backdated to when she went into custody.
A 70-year-old German pensioner, Joachim Ruckweld, was sentenced to two years and three months in prison for importing over €280,000 worth of cocaine into Ireland. Ruckweld pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to importing the drugs at Dublin Airport in November 2024. Garda evidence revealed that 20 packages containing 4kg of cocaine were found in his luggage after an X-ray detected an anomaly. Ruckweld claimed the suitcase belonged to him and contained coffee beans, but he admitted he did not know what was inside. He stated he was instructed to meet someone in Ireland and had no prior criminal record. The court noted that while Ruckweld was naïve, he was aware of the wrongfulness of his actions. Judge Dara Hayes emphasized the negative impact of the drug trade and imposed a sentence with six months suspended on strict conditions.
Lukas Kaunietis, a Lithuanian man, has received a one-year jail sentence for causing thousands of euros in damage at Dublin Airport after missing his flight. Kaunietis pleaded guilty to three counts of criminal damage and one count of using threatening behavior. The court heard that he smashed computers, glasses, and a metal barrier post at Terminal One. Stills from CCTV footage showed over €9,452 in damage. Kaunietis was arrested by gardai and was co-operative during the incident. Judge Martin Nolan noted that Kaunietis was upset about missing his flight and lost control, causing significant damage and inconvenience. Kaunietis has no previous convictions and entered an early guilty plea. His defense counsel stated that he is a construction worker who had been employed in Belfast and intended to return to Lithuania upon release. The sentence was backdated to March 17 last year, and Kaunietis has been in custody since that date.
A Californian gambling addict has been jailed for four years after being caught trying to smuggle nearly €300,000 worth of cannabis through Dublin airport. Jacob Napolitano (28) arrived in Ireland on an Aer Lingus flight from Los Angeles last May when a customs officer became suspicious of his behaviour. An X-ray scan of his bags revealed multiple vacuum-packed packages containing cannabis, with a total weight of just over 17 kilos. The estimated street value of the drugs was €288,842. Napolitano pleaded guilty to the charge of unlawful importation of a controlled substance. He told gardai that he had a gambling problem and had accrued a US$10,000 debt. He claimed he did not pack the bag but knew it contained cannabis. His defence highlighted that he came from a good family and that his parents and siblings had travelled from California for the sentence hearing.
Omar Ahmed, 30, was sentenced to four years in prison after a court found him in possession of 23.1 kg of cannabis worth €420,080 at Dublin Airport. Ahmed arrived on a flight from Doha on 7 July and was arrested when the drugs were discovered in his luggage. He pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply and admitted responsibility for the suitcase, though he claimed he believed it contained phones and gold. Ahmed has three prior convictions in the United Kingdom and had been in custody since his arrest. His defence argued he had no financial interest in the drugs and was acting under financial duress, but the judge accepted that he was transporting the drugs for a financial reward. The judge departed from the mandatory minimum of ten years, citing Ahmed's guilty pleas and mitigation, and imposed a four‑year sentence backdated to the time he entered custody.
In a Dublin Airport Garda Station incident on 15 October 2022, Stuart Kelly, 36, was found guilty of assaulting two female gardai. He pulled a clump of hair from one garda's head, causing pain and a missing hair strand, and shoved another garda against a wall, resulting in soft‑tissue injuries. Kelly, who had just returned from the UK and was intoxicated, resisted arrest and struggled to be confined. He pleaded guilty to one count of assault causing harm and one count of common assault. The court, noting his prior convictions and the distress he was in, imposed an 18‑month suspended prison sentence with strict conditions. He was directed to pay €800 to the first victim and €200 to the second, or to charity if they declined. The judge praised the gardai for their assistance during the incident.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Johan Monzon, a 35‑year‑old Venezuelan, was sentenced to two years in prison for possession of cocaine for sale or supply at Dublin Airport on 20 May 2025. Monzon had been on a flight from Spain when he suffered severe seizures, leading to a diversion to Dublin where he was admitted to Beaumont Hospital. He had swallowed 48 cocaine pellets, one of which ruptured, and remained hospitalised for five weeks until 1 July. A garda witness estimated the street value of the drugs at €40,768. Monzon admitted to ingesting the pellets in Colombia, Brazil, France and Spain, and claimed he had not received the promised $3,000 payment. The judge back‑dated the sentence to the date of his arrest, noting his lack of family ties in Ireland and his financial desperation. The court did not discuss any further legal proceedings.
In a case heard at the District Court, Amer Alhajj Ahmed, a 27‑year‑old Norwegian citizen of Syrian origin, was found in possession of €201,860 in cash at Dublin Airport on 2 April. He admitted that the money had been given to him by a Syrian man he met at a mosque and that he intended to transport it to Istanbul to purchase Bitcoin. Ahmed claimed he was in financial difficulty due to health problems and had agreed to the arrangement after being approached in Dublin. The court accepted his early guilty plea and remorse, noting his good work history and personal circumstances. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Ahmed to three years and four months' imprisonment, emphasising that he must have known the money was illicit and that his decision was reckless. The judgment highlighted that the transporters of the money had chosen Ahmed as a low‑risk intermediary.
A 25‑year‑old Brazilian national, Gilson Da Costa Santos, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment for importing nearly €200,000 worth of cocaine into Ireland. He pleaded guilty to the offence at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after being stopped at Dublin Airport on 7 May 2025, where 2.85 kg of cocaine was found in his suitcase. Da Costa Santos admitted the importation and claimed he had swallowed drugs, but no evidence of ingestion was found in a hospital scan. He said he was acting under threat and that his family had been threatened, prompting his travel to Ireland with the drugs. The judge accepted his signed pleas and his role as a transporter, and backdated the sentence to the date he entered prison in May. The case was prosecuted by Fergal Foley BL and defended by Marc Thompson SC.
A 22-year-old UK national has been sentenced to three and a half years in prison at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for importing cannabis from Thailand destined for Donegal. Jamie Kearns of Coventry entered signed pleas to possession of drugs and drug importation following his arrest at Dublin Airport on 12 February 2025. Gardaí recovered 24.472 kilograms of cannabis, valued at €489,440, from vacuum-packed bags in his luggage. The court heard Kearns had been approached whilst backpacking in Thailand and asked to transport the drugs to settle a personal drug debt of €4,551.46. Judge Martin Nolan noted the defendant's early guilty plea, lack of previous convictions, and youth at the time of the offence as mitigating factors, departing from the mandatory ten-year minimum sentence. The sentence was backdated to his date of custody.
A 52‑year‑old man, Kasonga Mbuyi, was given a fully suspended sentence of two‑and‑a‑half years for repeatedly stabbing a German passenger at Dublin Airport. The attack was described as unprovoked and random, with the victim sustaining eight superficial wounds that required 12 stitches. Mbuyi, who was barefoot and behaving erratically, had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and had a history of cannabis misuse. He pleaded guilty after being deemed fit to plead following almost two years in custody. The judge noted his mental illness and cooperation with the investigation, and imposed strict conditions including 18 months of probation supervision, attendance at offence‑related interventions, and engagement with health and vocational services. The sentence was suspended to encourage continued rehabilitation. The victim's impact statement highlighted the profound effect on his life and family.
A 55‑year‑old taxi driver, Feliks Andrianov, appealed his conviction for assaulting a security guard at a McDonald's restaurant near Dublin Airport. He argued that the jury's subsidised lunch created a "psychological relation" with the State, biasing the verdict, and that the trial judge was biased by questioning the jury about their meal. Andrianov claimed his defence team failed to present a legitimate defence, that CCTV footage was admitted without verification, and that he was denied the right to finish his testimony. He also alleged misdirection regarding the offence under the Non‑Fatal Offences Act and that his counsel had not followed his instructions. The Director of Public Prosecutions countered that the judge's rulings were justified and that the evidence was admissible. The court will reserve judgment on the appeal.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Lucas Andre Alves, a 26‑year‑old Brazilian from Rio de Janeiro, pleaded guilty to possession of 100 pellets of cocaine worth €57,342 for sale or supply at Dublin Airport on 8 September 2024. Alves, who had lost his job in Brazil, admitted ingesting the pellets before travelling to Ireland, describing the act as a "crime of desperation." He has no prior convictions and has been in custody since his arrest. Judge Martin Nolan, noting Alves' guilty plea, good work history and the circumstances of the offence, imposed a two‑year and nine‑month sentence, back‑dated to September 2024, and departed from the ten‑year mandatory minimum. Garda Peter Elliot reported that Alves was stopped at customs, admitted to ingesting the pellets, and that he had been pressured by others to pay for his travel and documents.
An Indian national, Ayyappan Govindaraj, 41, was sentenced to 20 months' imprisonment for unlawfully assisting two other men to enter Ireland. The court heard that on 7 June 2024, an immigration officer at Dublin Airport was approached by the two men who claimed to have lost their passports. Govindaraj presented an Indian passport and a genuine seaman's book, claiming he was to join a vessel, but the officer found no evidence of such a ship and noted the men had no return flight. The men were initially denied entry but were later allowed to apply for international protection; however, they have not been seen since leaving the airport and did not apply for protection. The judge, Patricia Ryan, noted no financial gain or coercion and backdated the sentence to the arrest date. The case is one of the first prosecuted under the Immigration Act's section 4. Ayyappan Govindaraj pleaded guilty.
Jonathan Vieira, a 31‑year‑old Brazilian, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for importing cocaine into Ireland by swallowing 90 pellets of the drug. He pleaded guilty to possession for sale, possession of cocaine and importation of cocaine at Dublin Airport on 16 March 2025. Garda Avril Owens reported that Vieira was stopped by customs after flying from Brazil because he was deemed suspicious. He admitted swallowing 90 pellets, passing 71 while in custody, and that the pellets were worth an estimated €48,825 on the street. Vieira claimed he was an Uber driver who had borrowed €2,000 from a debt collector to buy a vehicle, and that he was forced to transport the cocaine to repay the debt within three days. He acknowledged that his actions were illegal but said he felt pressured.
A Workplace Relations Commission adjudicator has dismissed a discrimination complaint filed by Ryanair flight attendant Fernando Oliveira against Ryanair DAC, finding the claim to be an abuse of process. Mr. Oliveira, a Portuguese national, alleged race and family status discrimination under the Employment Equality Act 1998, seeking €170,000 in compensation, the expungement of disciplinary records, and mandatory training for management. Ryanair denied the allegations, noting that Mr. Oliveira had received a final written warning and paid suspension following an investigation into complaints from other crew. The adjudicator, Patricia Owens, rejected the claim, stating that Mr. Oliveira failed to establish an inference of discrimination or provide cogent evidence for his claims of victimisation, harassment, or sexual harassment. The decision highlighted that Mr. Oliveira's legal submissions were rife with irrelevant, misquoted, and non-existent citations, including references to phantom determinations. Although Mr. Oliveira initially dismissed suggestions that he used artificial intelligence to generate his papers as a baseless attack, he later acknowledged he may have used AI. The adjudicator concluded that his reliance on these inaccurate citations wasted considerable time for the respondent and the tribunal, constituting an egregious abuse of process. Consequently, the complaint was denied, and no compensation or other remedies were awarded.
Kieran O'Dea, aged 40, was sentenced to four years and nine months in custody after pleading guilty to possession for sale or supply of cannabis at Dublin Airport on 18 August 2024. He travelled to Thailand to collect drugs to repay a debt of €8,000 and was told by creditors that failure to comply would have consequences. O'Dea claimed he believed the bag contained clothing and a small amount of cannabis, but customs officers found 24 kg of cannabis, worth an estimated €480,000. He had a history of drug addiction since 2017, had previously been convicted of drug dealing and possession, and had attempted rehabilitation. The judge noted his efforts to overcome addiction but highlighted the substantial quantity of drugs involved in this offence.
In a WRC hearing, Aer Lingus's safety director Conor Nolan defended the airline's handling of a safety report linked to veteran pilot Tom O'Riordan, who claimed he was poisoned by toxic fumes during a repositioning flight in June 2023. O'Riordan spent five days in Beaumont Hospital and was dismissed in September. He alleged the report, submitted to the Irish Aviation Authority on 7 June, was falsified and that his name was inappropriately attached. Nolan explained that the aircraft had taxied to the gate when O'Riordan felt unwell, paramedics were called, and a triage process began. He said staff could create reports under crew members' names and that the airline had a 72‑hour window to notify the Authority. Nolan maintained the airline acted reasonably, expecting O'Riordan's later participation, and that the report's authorship was a procedural matter. The case was adjourned for the night.
Damien Kiely, a bus driver for Airport Hopper Holdings Ltd, received €1,900 in compensation for unpaid wages after the company ceased trading. Kiely earned €190 a day and had been unaware of the closure until a Liveline researcher called him on 10 February 2025. He had received no notice, no payment in lieu of notice, and no pay for six days of 2024 annual leave plus three days accrued in 2025. An email from the employer, sent three days later, cited difficulties meeting obligations to Revenue and lacked the director's signature. The Workplace Relations Commission found the complaint well‑founded and ordered the employer to pay the compensation, twice the amount that should have been paid. The decision was issued by adjudicator Úna Glazier‑Farmer.
The Court of Appeal has granted bail to Brendan O'Mara, a former Ryanair pilot, after overturning a High Court decision that had denied him release. O'Mara, 62, is charged with possessing cannabis for sale or supply at his home address in Meelick, Co Clare, on May 7 this year. Gardaí and Customs officers allegedly discovered pallets containing 502kg of cannabis, with an estimated street value exceeding €10 million. In the High Court, Ms Justice Eileen Creedon refused bail, citing concerns that O'Mara was a flight risk due to his commercial pilot status and access to airfields. Defence counsel Michael Bowman SC argued this evidential basis was lacking, noting O'Mara does not hold membership at any airfield. He offered an independent surety of €150,000 from O'Mara's sister and proposed that O'Mara surrender his pilot's licence and all documentation. Counsel for the State, Roisin Lacey SC, countered that O'Mara had significant industry contacts and had recently arranged to emigrate to the United States. Mr Justice John Edwards acknowledged the charge was very serious, carrying a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, and noted the theoretical possibility of O'Mara procuring an aircraft to avoid justice. However, the court concluded that while flight risk concerns existed, they were not sufficient to deny bail absolutely. As a condition of his release, O'Mara must surrender his pilot's licence.
Mohamed Abdallatif Hussein, a Somali diplomat accredited to Saudi Arabia and attached to the Somali embassy in Riyadh, was arrested at Dublin Airport on 26 November 2024. Gardaí charged him with eight alleged people‑smuggling offences under the Criminal Justice (Smuggling of Persons) Act 2001 and 2021, all purportedly occurring at Terminal 1 or Terminal 2 of the airport. He has not entered a plea. On 8 January 2025, at Cloverhill District Court, he was further charged with four additional counts. On 28 July 2025, his lawyer, Faisal Sadiq Khan, filed an ex‑parte High Court application seeking his release from Cloverhill Prison on the basis of diplomatic immunity. Mr Ward SC argued that Hussein was travelling under a diplomatic passport and was unlawfully detained. The application challenges the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Governor of Cloverhill Prison, and the case is set to return to the High Court the following day.
Anthony Matheus Rosas De Souza, 29, was jailed for importing cocaine after being stopped at Dublin Airport. He claimed he was visiting Ireland as a fan of Conor McGregor and Irish pubs, and that he had heard Irish beer was good. De Souza admitted he was forced to transport the drugs from Brazil because he owed money to a loan shark, who threatened his mother and promised to write off his debt if he brought the suitcase into Ireland. He was on remand since his arrest. At the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court he pleaded guilty to importing cocaine on 1 November 2024. Six packages weighing 2.88 kg, worth an estimated €201,600, were found in the suitcase. Judge Orla Crowe accepted that he acted as a drug mule and imposed a sentence of three years, backdated to his first entry into custody last November. The sentence was set after the court noted the damage caused by the drug trade.
An English man, Alexander Kay, 26, was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison for importing almost €50,000 worth of cannabis into Ireland. Kay initially claimed he was bringing the drugs home from Thailand because they were cheaper, but later admitted the cannabis was not for his own use. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to the offence of importation at Dublin Airport on 21 November 2024. Customs officers found the drugs in his luggage while he was transiting through Dublin from Abu Dhabi on his return from Thailand. Kay had no prior convictions. His defence counsel argued that Kay was acting to clear a drug debt and had cooperated with authorities, citing his early guilty plea and personal circumstances. Judge Martin Nolan set a headline sentence of five years but imposed the reduced term, noting substantial mitigation.
James Duffy, a part‑time taxi driver and pensioner from Finglas, has pleaded not guilty to a charge that he brought 14,000 cigarettes into Ireland without paying excise duty. The alleged offence, which would amount to over €11,000 in duty, is said to have occurred on 26 April 2024 at Dublin Airport. Duffy's lawyers applied to the High Court for a judicial review of the summons issued to him, arguing that the summons lacked written information on his procedural rights under EU regulations. They contend that this omission prevented Duffy from making an informed decision when he represented himself and entered a not‑guilty plea. The High Court granted permission for the challenge, stayed the Circuit Court proceedings, and adjourned the matter to October, with a trial date set for next April. The case remains pending in the Circuit Court.
Keith Macken, aged 44, was sentenced to nine years in prison for assaulting Lisa Lynch, a grandmother, with a wheel brace outside Dublin Airport. The attack left Lynch choking on her own blood, requiring emergency surgery to remove a ruptured spleen and resulting in serious injuries including a fractured rib, lacerated liver and spleen. Lynch suffered flashbacks and panic attacks, describing a changed relationship with men and a withdrawal from socialising. Macken had previously pleaded guilty to a burglary in Swords, for which he received an 18‑month sentence. The court imposed a total of 10½ years, nine years for the assault and 18 months for the burglary, to run consecutively. The case highlighted the severity of the assault and the impact on the victim's health and wellbeing. Keith Macken pleaded not guilty.
James Fuery, 32, of Tallaght, pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis for sale or supply after a sniffer dog at Dublin Airport flagged a suitcase he had brought from Ibiza. Customs officers seized €404,520 of cannabis, weighing just under 22.5 kg, in 45 vacuum‑sealed packets. Fuery admitted it was his first time bringing drugs into the country and explained that he had relapsed into addiction, built a €15,000 drug debt, and was under pressure. Judge Elma Sheahan, noting the seriousness of the offence and Fuery's early plea, imposed a headline sentence of four and a half years. The court set a three‑year custodial term, suspended the final 12 months on strict conditions, including drug treatment. Fuery is a chef with a pro‑social family and has no prior drug convictions. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Patrick Kelly, 63, of Moneymore, Drogheda, County Louth, was arrested at Dublin Airport in January 2025 after customs officers noted his suspicious behaviour. A search of his luggage revealed just under 20 kg of cannabis, valued at about €398,680. Kelly admitted in a Garda interview that he had acted as a "suicide mission" and "complete madness", and pleaded guilty to importation of cannabis and possession for sale. He had minor prior traffic convictions and had been remanded since his arrest. Prosecutor Antonia Boyle said Kelly, who retired in November 2023, had been living "hand to mouth" on his pension and was depressed over not being able to buy Christmas presents for his two grandchildren. He claimed he was approached by someone who knew of his financial hardship and offered money to transport the drugs from Thailand.
Beatriz Carvalho, 23, a Brazilian national with no fixed abode, was stopped at Dublin Airport on 17 November 2024 after travelling via Paris. Immigration officers suspected her because she travelled alone. When questioned, she admitted swallowing about 50–60 cocaine pellets and storing more in her body. She had €1,345 in cash and claimed she was paid the Brazilian equivalent of €2,000 to bring the drugs to Ireland. While at the airport, she passed seven pellets in a bathroom and later retrieved 30 from her body. A total of 110 pellets, worth €86,763, were recovered. Carvalho pleaded guilty to one count of importing drugs. She has no prior convictions in Brazil and was in custody since her arrest. Judge Orla Crowe sentenced her to three years' imprisonment, reduced from an initial six‑year sentence, taking mitigating factors such as her early admission and cooperation into account. The sentence was back‑dated to the date of her arrest.
Ainsley Stevenson, a British national from Halifax, has withdrawn his appeal against a five-and-a-half-year prison sentence imposed at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in May 2024. Stevenson pleaded guilty to smuggling over 30kg of cannabis into Terminal 2 of Dublin Airport on October 17, 2023. He was apprehended alongside co-accused Dylan Shears, of Bradford, after customs officers questioned them regarding suspect suitcases arriving from Las Vegas. Gardaí discovered 64 vacuum-packed packages of cannabis valued at €690,000. The sentencing judge, Judge Martin Nolan, noted that Stevenson would have received a six-and-a-half-year term had he been an Irish citizen, while Shears received a three-year sentence due to his younger age. Neither accused had previous convictions. When the matter was called before the Court of Appeal, Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy warned counsel that the court possessed the power to increase the sentence. Following this warning, counsel for Stevenson, Giollaíosa Ó Lideadha SC, sought time to confer with his client. Upon recall, Mr Ó Lideadha stated he had been instructed to withdraw the appeal. Mr Justice McCarthy granted permission to withdraw, noting that Stevenson had adopted a prudent course and should recognize the seriousness of the charges. The matter was adjourned with the appeal withdrawn.
An airline was ordered to pay €7,500 to a passenger who was denied an exit‑row seat he had booked for extra legroom after disclosing his autism. The Workplace Relations Commission found the airline had discriminated against him under the Equal Status Act and had harassed him by repeatedly asking him to explain his disability in front of other passengers. The passenger had requested special assistance in advance, citing difficulties with queuing and the need for space for his sleep‑apnea machine. When he arrived to check in for his return flight, the airline moved him out of the exit‑row seat, citing his disability. He was placed in the second row and could not move his legs freely. The airline's lawyers argued that safety regulations barred passengers with disabilities from exit‑row seats, but the tribunal concluded the regulations only restrict seating when a passenger's mobility poses a safety risk.
James Fuery, 32, pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis for sale or supply after customs officers at Dublin Airport seized €404,520 of cannabis in a suitcase he had brought from Ibiza. The drugs, weighing just under 22.5 kg, were found in 45 vacuum‑sealed packets. Fuery claimed he was under pressure from a €15,000 drug debt and that this was his first time bringing drugs into the country. He described difficulties with cocaine and cannabis, a relapse into addiction, and previous homelessness due to addiction. He has eight prior convictions for road traffic, theft and public order offences but none for drug offences. The court accepted his early guilty plea, noted his cooperation and lack of wealth, and remanded him in custody while ordering a urine analysis. The case was adjourned for finalisation on 7 July.
Dan Dowling, a 41‑year‑old civil servant, and retired soldier Edward Horgan, 80, were tried in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for trespassing on a taxiway at Shannon Airport on 25 April 2017. They were found not guilty of criminal damage after writing "Danger, danger, don't fly" on American naval planes, but were convicted of trespass. Judge Martina Baxter ordered each to pay €5,000 to a women's refuge in County Clare. Dowling has appealed his conviction, arguing that his actions were necessary to prevent the transport of ammunition through Ireland and to protect others from an alleged "irreparable evil." Defence counsel Mark Lynam claimed the defence of necessity applied, while the Director of Public Prosecutions said there was insufficient evidence for such a defence. The Court of Appeal will reserve judgment.
Bruna Alves De Campos, a 35‑year‑old mother of four from Brazil, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to importing 109 cocaine pellets worth €63,653 on 2 November 2024 at Dublin Airport. She admitted ingesting the pellets to finance the care of her ill parents, who had since passed away, and claimed she was a drug mule. Garda Anthony Boyle described her arrival at customs as suspicious, noting photographs of the pellets on her phone and her admission of ingestion. De Campos was taken to hospital, arrested, and later cooperated with investigators by providing phone numbers and email addresses, though she did not name the recipient, citing fear. She had no prior convictions. Judge Orla Crowe sentenced her to three years' imprisonment, to be served in full, citing the role of drug mules in drug importation and the hardship of her situation.
Andrerson Lana, 46, a Brazilian without fixed abode, was jailed for two and a half years after pleading guilty to possessing €280,119 worth of cocaine at Dublin Airport on 4 November 2024. He admitted that he had carried the drugs in his luggage from Brazil to Amsterdam and then to Dublin, with an accomplice holding an Italian passport who helped him pass customs. Garda David Walsh explained that Lana had been pressured by loan sharks, owing just over €100,000 after friends defaulted on loans taken in his name. He agreed to transport the drugs to reduce the debt. The court accepted his full admission and cooperation, noting his lack of prior convictions and vulnerability. Judge Pauline Codd imposed a seven‑year sentence, suspending the final four and a half years on strict conditions and ordered Lana to leave Ireland within a month of release.
A long‑serving Aer Lingus pilot, Declan McCabe, was demoted from captain to first officer after the airline said he tried to cover up an alleged error during a training flight on 8 June 2023. McCabe claims the demotion was whistleblower penalisation and is challenging the sanction under the Protected Disclosures Act 2014, the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 and the Payment of Wages Act 1997. He alleges that the airline's operating procedures did not require a mandatory safety report to Air Nav Ireland for the incident, which involved a non‑intercept between aircraft and ground navigation systems. McCabe's lawyers argue that any disclosure he made was protected, while Aer Lingus contends the matter is still under investigation. The Workplace Relations Commission will hold hearings in autumn, with a preliminary hearing convened today and a possible resumption in September or October. The case remains at the disciplinary stage, with no final outcome yet.
Nko Mpase, 62, of Rush, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to smuggling a Congolese national into Ireland. On 16 May 2020 she and the woman arrived at Terminal One on a Ryanair flight from Paris Beauvais, used the same immigration booth, and the woman presented a travel document that did not match her appearance. Garda Sean McGlynn noted that WhatsApp messages and a ticket photo on Mpase's phone linked the two women, and CCTV showed them together on the plane. Mpase admitted travelling with the woman from Paris but made no further admissions. She had two prior convictions for minor traffic offences and one for threatening behaviour. The court heard she had no financial gain and had visited family in Paris for five days. The maximum sentence for the offence is 10 years imprisonment. Judge Patricia Ryan adjourned sentencing to 25 July and ordered a probation report and further documentation of Mpase's educational and work history.
Aaron Lee Kinsella Kelly, 23, pleaded guilty in the District Court to assault under section 3 of the Non‑Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, 1997, after punching his then‑partner in the face at the Clayton Hotel, Dublin Airport, on 5 February 2024. The victim had a swollen and bruised face and claimed Kelly had accused her of flirting with another man. The District Court sentenced Kelly to one month in custody. On appeal, Judge Catherine White increased the sentence to six months imprisonment but fully suspended it for 12 months. She also ordered Kelly to pay €500 to a nearby women's refuge and to avoid the road where the victim lives. The appeal was based solely on the severity of the original sentence. No further legal actions or outcomes are mentioned in the article.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, the court was told that Kasonga Mbuyi, 52, who stabbed a German passenger at Dublin Airport, was acting out in a "cry for help". Mbuyi had been seen behaving erratically and was not wearing shoes. He had a paranoid delusion and was later diagnosed with schizophrenia, with a history of cannabis misuse. He had been arrested on September 17, 2023, for assault causing harm and production of a pen knife. The victim suffered eight superficial wounds and required 12 stitches. Mbuyi had been homeless, living in a hostel after his Limerick accommodation was sold, and had recently been treated for a broken foot and dislocated knee. He accepted responsibility and said he was trying to get help. The case was adjourned to July, with a probation report, governor's report and urine analysis to be prepared.
In a High Court case, Nicolae and Florin Mazarache, residents of Lealand Meadows, Clondalkin, appealed a ruling that allowed their prosecution for allegedly breaching Covid‑19 travel restrictions by travelling to Dublin Airport on 17 April 2021. The pair were stopped by a Garda and issued fixed‑payment notices under the Health Act, 1947, which offered a €2,000 fine to avoid prosecution or risk prosecution if unpaid. The notices failed to specify the exact regulation breached, a point the High Court found violated statutory requirements. The Mazaraches chose not to pay the fines and instead sought judicial review, which was dismissed by Ms Justice Nuala Jackson on 17 January 2023. They now appeal to the Court of Appeal, arguing that the District Court lacks jurisdiction to prosecute because the notices were unlawful. Counsel for the State countered that the error does not remove the District Court's authority. The Court of Appeal will reserve judgment.