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.
During a trial in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Pat O'Brien, head of airport police at Shannon Airport, testified that he had never considered the airport a legitimate military target. He described inspecting the perimeter fence after the alleged 2016 incident where Colm Roddy (78) and Dave Donnellan (60) allegedly cut the fence and painted red crucifixes on the runway. O'Brien noted the fence appeared cut and folded back, emergency repairs costing about €300, with total estimated repairs at €3,500. Maintenance manager Mark Reidy explained the costs were estimates because the repair programme was ongoing. O'Brien also mentioned the airport's plans to respond to major incidents such as aircraft crashes, bomb scares, chemical spills and terrorist attacks. The trial continues before Judge Karen O'Connor and a jury. Colm Roddy pleaded not guilty. Dave Donnellan pleaded not guilty.
Two peace activists, Colm Roddy, 78, and Dave Donnellan, 60, were tried in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for criminal damage to the perimeter fence and runway at Shannon Airport on 5 May 2016. They pleaded not guilty. The court heard that Detective Sergeant Con Ryan, now retired, met the men in the terminal after they were brought there by airport police. He reported that Roddy spoke most of the time, complaining about American actions in the Middle East and Syria, and that the pair had entered the airfield by lifting the wire and passing under a gate. Ryan tried to explain the danger of animals or objects on the runway potentially threatening inbound flights, but the men refused to accept these concerns and returned to their comments about US bombings. Roddy told Gardaí that he had a lawful excuse and was trying to prevent a greater illegality at Shannon. The trial continues before Judge Karen O'Connor and a jury.
Abdifatah Nur, 38, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment for possession for sale or supply and unlawful importation of khat, a drug he brought into Ireland worth €10,000. He pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Nur claimed he had purchased the khat in Somalia for €500, where it is legal, and was unaware of its illegality in Ireland. He said he intended to supply the drug at his brother's wedding for the elders' celebration, not for profit. He was stopped by customs at Dublin Airport on 30 November 2019 and found in possession of the drug. The judge, Patricia Ryan, suspended the balance of the sentence on the condition that he keep the peace and be of good behaviour for one year. No prior convictions were recorded. The case was prosecuted by Eoin Lawlor BL and defended by Ciaran O'Loughlin SC.
Colm Roddy (78) of Bayside Walk, Dublin 13 and Dave Donnellan (60) of Reuben Street, Rialto, Dublin have both pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Court to criminal damage of the perimeter fence and runway at Shannon Airport in Co. Clare on May 5, 2016. During the trial, Sergeant Mark Brown, who has over 20 years of experience as part of the airport police, stated that he did not recall receiving any training in international law regarding the presence of the US military at the airport. He acknowledged that Shannon Airport is a legitimate military target under international law but said he had received training to deal with major incidents. Donnellan questioned whether the presence of the US military alongside civilians at the airport without restrictions posed any special security concerns. He noted that he and Roddy were not challenged during their time at the airport and were only stopped when they approached a US military Learjet.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Colm Roddy, 78, and Dave Donnellan, 60, pleaded not guilty to criminal damage charges for allegedly cutting the perimeter fence and runway of Shannon Airport on 5 May 2016. Prosecutor Tony McGillicuddy presented evidence that the defendants used bolt cutters and spray paint to mark red crosses on a substation and the runway, claiming €3,500 in damage. Garda Corporal Thomas Dillon testified that he and colleagues were on duty that night, observing the men near a US aircraft and noting their requests for a search of the plane. Dillon described the men's actions and his own warning of the men's weapons. The defendants questioned the Garda's duty to protect US military aircraft. The case remains before Judge Karen O'Connor and a jury.
Gardai deny abandoning a failed asylum seeker at an Ethiopian airport. The man, deported from Ireland in March, claims he could not board his return flight because Gardai withheld his passport, leaving him to survive on charity and discarded items. He has lived in the terminal since. In court, John Gallagher BL for the Minister presented a sworn statement from a Garda who accompanied the man, asserting that the Garda provided the passport, boarding pass, and personal belongings, and that any failure to board was the man's own. The case is before Mr Justice Charles Meenan in the High Court, where the man seeks judicial review to quash the Minister's requirement that his solicitor obtain a signed authority from him, arguing the requirement is unlawful. The matter is adjourned to allow the parties to consider the Garda's statement, with a return hearing early next month.
A man deported from Ireland claims he has lived in an Ethiopian airport terminal since March, after Gardaí allegedly abandoned him. He says he was flown from Ireland to Belgium with Gardaí, then to Ethiopia where he was supposed to catch a connecting flight home. He alleges the Gardaí gave him a boarding pass, took his passport, and left him in the terminal, promising to return. He could not board the flight because he had no passport and was later given his passport two hours after the flight departed. He reports being left without money, a phone, or luggage, and has survived on charity and rummaging through bins. He says his passport was stolen after a week. He has filed judicial review against the Minister for Justice, seeking an order to quash the requirement that his solicitor obtain a signed authority from him and to compel the Minister to respond to his correspondence.
The Court of Appeal rejected the appeal of Samina Sajjad, a 52‑year‑old retired postmistress, against a seven‑year jail term for smuggling 13.69 kg of heroin worth about €1.9 million through Dublin Airport. Sajjad, who had no prior convictions and pleaded guilty, was stopped by gardaí after a flight from Doha. The court found no evidence that the sentencing judge had ignored mitigating factors, noting the headline 10‑year sentence had been reduced to seven years after consideration.
Farah Damji, 53, a former conwoman and daughter of a wealthy property tycoon, was denied bail in Ireland while her extradition case proceeds. Damji fled to Ireland in February 2020 during a trial in which she was convicted in her absence by Southwark Crown Court for breaching a restraining order in 2018. She applied for bail, claiming she had been working as an artist and had no intention of remaining in Ireland permanently. Her counsel supplied medical documents and emails to support her claim, and samples of her artwork were presented. Judge Tony Hunt rejected bail, citing Damji's high risk of absconding, her history of using false documents and aliases, and her previous flight from the UK. He noted that a European Arrest Warrant does not presume bail and that Damji's financial situation was opaque. The judge scheduled her extradition hearing for 21 October. The decision was based solely on the risk assessment and the facts presented in the court.
Farah Damji, a 54-year-old applicant residing at Bachelor's Walk, Dublin 1, appeared before Mr Justice Tony Hunt to apply for bail while awaiting UK extradition proceedings. The State opposed the application, alleging Damji is a flight risk who fled a London trial in February 2024 after being convicted in absentia of breaching a restraining order. Detective Garda Eoin Kane stated Damji faces 27 months' imprisonment in the UK and alleged she entered Ireland using false documents and the name Anna Margaret Vignisdottir. Kane further noted her history of fraud and theft convictions dating back to 1995, and cited a UK psychiatrist report highlighting her "history of forgery" regarding claims of unlawful detention. Damji's counsel, Mr Leo Mulrooney BL, argued she is not a flight risk, citing a PTSD diagnosis and her adherence to previous bail conditions. In her direct evidence, Damji claimed she was suffering from a breakdown and asserted she had an unlawful detention case for 15 months' detention. She denied using false names for rental agreements, stating she did not have one. Mr Justice Hunt questioned the credibility of her claims, noting she disappeared during a trial. The matter was adjourned to Thursday, September 3, for the judge's decision on the bail application.
In the case of Aaron Brady, the defence counsel, Mr Michael O'Higgins SC, argued that a covert recording should be presented to the jury. The recording, allegedly made by a suspect in a robbery, captured Special Agent Matt Katske of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security speaking at Belfast Airport in July 2017. Katske reportedly offered citizenship assistance in exchange for information that could convict Brady. The defence claimed that the agent's remarks suggested a possible campaign to pressure witnesses, including Daniel Cahill, who had testified that Brady had shot a Garda. Mr O'Higgins sought to have the tape played and to question Agent Katske, but Judge Michael White denied both requests, stating the matter was collateral and that no inducements had been offered to Cahill. The court therefore rejected the defence's attempt to introduce the recording before the jury.
A man named Douglas Glynn, aged 36, was granted bail by the Special Criminal Court for his alleged involvement in the attempted murder of James 'Mago' Gately, a target of the Kinahan cartel. The charge, under Section 72(1) of the Criminal Justice Act 2006, alleges that between 7 December 2016 and 6 April 2017, Glynn, knowing of a criminal organisation, participated in activities that would facilitate the murder of Gately, specifically the fixing of a tracking device on Gately's car. Despite objections from Gardaí, who cited Glynn's risk to public safety, the seriousness of the offence, and his flight risk, the judge granted bail. Conditions include daily reporting to Mountjoy Garda Station, residence at a family home, provision of a mobile number, surrender of travel documents, prohibition from leaving the jurisdiction, and no contact with case‑related individuals.
A High Court judge, Mr Justice Michael Quinn, said he was minded to approve a survival scheme for the Dublin‑based regional airline CityJet, allowing it to exit examinership as a going concern on a slimmed‑down basis. The scheme, supported by a majority of creditors and shareholders, would write off tens of millions of euros of debt and retain over 140 jobs. CityJet had entered examinership in April, citing insolvency exacerbated by Covid‑19 grounding of aircraft and the interruption of a planned merger. The judge noted that creditors would fare better under the examiner's proposals than if the airline were liquidated. He adjourned the matter to a mid‑August date pending finalisation of arrangements with certain creditors and changes to the airline's constitution. The scheme would see most creditors receive small dividends of 1.5% to 1.25%, a better outcome than liquidation.
The High Court approved a scheme of arrangement for Nordic Aviation Capital DAC, an Irish aircraft lessor, to continue operating amid the Covid‑19 pandemic. Judge David Barniville granted the order after over 90% of creditors, both secured and unsecured, voted in favour. The scheme will suspend millions of euros in principal and interest payments due over the next six to twelve months on more than €5 billion of debt. It also requires shareholders to inject US$60 million, cuts non‑essential spending, and defers a US$1.5 billion committed capital programme while eliminating a US$5.7 billion uncommitted programme. Delivery of new aircraft is reduced from 21 to eight. The arrangement was presented by counsel Lyndon MacCann SC and supported by all creditor groups, with no objections recorded. The court noted that without the scheme the company feared running out of cash by the end of July.
A 40‑year‑old male model, Mark Adams, was stopped at Belfast International Airport on 9 May 2018 with €180,000 in two brown envelopes in his hand luggage. Northern Irish authorities allege he concealed the money, attempted to remove it from Northern Ireland on that date, and knew or suspected it was proceeds of crime. They seek his extradition on charges of concealing the money and attempting to remove criminal property, with each offence carrying a maximum penalty of 14 years' imprisonment. The High Court, hearing the case on 16 July 2020, found that Adams had failed to provide evidence that surrender would breach his fundamental rights. Mr Justice Paul Burns ordered his surrender to the UK, but postponed it until a later date and remanded him in custody until 19 July 2021, pending domestic proceedings in Dublin. Mark Adams was convicted.
Ms Estefany Carolina Alquinta Gonzalez, a 33‑year‑old Chilean student, was detained at Dublin Airport on 2 July after immigration officials refused her entry, citing that she posed a real and immediate threat to the State's fundamental policy interests. She had arrived to begin a six‑month English course at a Dublin‑based language school. The State did not contest an inquiry into the legality of her detention under Article 40 of the Constitution. On 14 July, Mr Justice Charles Meenan, following a hearing with counsel Rosario Boyle SC, ordered her release from custody and awarded her legal costs. Ms Gonzalez had been held in solitary confinement in the female section of Mountjoy Prison, isolated from other prisoners due to Covid‑19 regulations, and had tested negative for the virus. The Minister for Justice intends to review a separate decision that denied her permission to remain in the State.
A High Court judge has ordered an inquiry into the detention of a 33-year-old Chilean student held in the Dochas Centre at Mountjoy Prison. Ms Estefany Carolina Alquinta Gonzalez arrived in Dublin on 2 July to begin an English language course at a Dublin school. She was refused entry at the airport on grounds that she posed a threat to the State's fundamental policy interests, and was subsequently placed in solitary confinement. Ms Gonzalez, represented by Rosario Boyle SC and Aoife McMahon BL, denies posing any security or public policy risk. Evidence presented to Mr Justice Charles Meenan indicated she had pre-arrival contact with the Department of Foreign Affairs regarding entry requirements. Ms Gonzalez claims she held all required documentation, including her passport, proof of funds, and accommodation details in County Roscommon. The judge directed the inquiry under Article 40 of the Constitution on Monday and adjourned the matter to Tuesday.
Barry McArdle, 34, of Drimnagh, was arrested in Galway on 1 July under a European Arrest Warrant (EAW) after a High Court decision earlier that year found a previous EAW invalid. McArdle had been sentenced in absentia by the Amsterdam Court of Appeal to 12 years and three months imprisonment for manslaughter in the death of Keith Ennis, 29, in 2017. He had previously served a two‑year sentence for disposing of Ennis's body and was acquitted of the stabbing in Rotterdam in 2009, though that acquittal was later overturned. At the bail hearing, Garda Detective Eoin Kane presented evidence that McArdle had 19 prior convictions, including possession of €1 million of diamorphine, and had previously failed to attend bail and court appointments. Mr Justice Paul Burns found McArdle a flight risk, rejected his bail application, and remanded him in custody until the full extradition hearing on 20 July.
The Court of Appeal has dismissed an appeal against the severity of the sentence imposed on Donal Billings, a 70-year-old pensioner from County Longford. Billings was found guilty by the Special Criminal Court in 2016 of possessing an explosive substance at Longford railway station car park on May 16, 2011, during Queen Elizabeth's state visit. He was also convicted of making false reports that bombs had been placed at Busáras, Sinn Féin's headquarters, Cork airport, and Dublin Castle. The court upheld his eight-and-a-half-year sentence, describing it as "very lenient." Presiding Judge George Birmingham, sitting with Justices Marie Baker and Patrick McCarthy, stated there was no merit in the appeal and declined to increase the term. Billings, who attended remotely from Portlaoise Prison, had previously lost an appeal against his conviction regarding Irish language rights. His barrister, Gerard Humphreys SC, cited his client's age, health difficulties, and cooperation during the trial. The court noted that the explosive device, comprising gunpowder and petrol, was placed on a public transport vehicle, recklessly exposing passengers to significant risk. The judges concluded that while the sentence was lenient, they would not intervene to increase it. The matter was not adjourned; the appeal was dismissed.
The Court of Appeal has increased the sentence of a 39-year-old man who pleaded guilty to multiple counts of rape, sexual assault, and sexual exploitation of his eight-year-old niece. The offences, which occurred between November 2018 and January 2019, involved grooming and were described by the court as heinous, cold, and premeditated. The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed against the original eight-year effective custodial term, arguing it was unduly lenient for abuse of the most depraved kind. The man's counsel argued that his surrender to gardai at Dublin Airport and lack of physical violence warranted the original discretion. Justice Kennedy, sitting with Justices Birmingham and McCarthy, found that the sentencing judge had erred. The court quashed the previous sentence, determining that the appropriate starting point was 15 years. However, considering mitigation factors including his guilty plea, remorse, and previous good character, the court reduced the total sentence to 10 years. Unlike the previous ruling, no portion of this sentence was suspended. The court also ordered five years of post-release supervision. The matter was concluded with this finalised appellate decision.
Larry McCarthy Jr., 43, of Tower Lodge, Old Cork Road, Limerick, was denied bail by the Special Criminal Court on 1 July 2020. He is charged with providing a vehicle to the McCarthy‑Dundon gang for the attempted murder of Christy Keane at the University of Limerick car park on 29 June 2015. The court heard that the State, represented by State barrister Ms Anne‑Marie Lawlor SC, objected to bail on the grounds that McCarthy could commit a serious offence while on bail, was a flight risk, and might interfere with witnesses. Garda evidence from Detective Garda Donnacha Coakley and Chief Superintendent Gerard Roche cited Sections 2 and 2(A) of the Bail Act. Judge Mr Justice Alexander Owens refused bail and remanded McCarthy in custody until 14 September. Two co‑accused, Noel Price, 42, and John Costello, 39, were also remanded to the same date.
Jagpal Alsingh, a 50‑year‑old from Glasgow, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for attempting to lodge a counterfeit €568,100 bank draft. The court heard that Alsingh had created a Bank of Ireland account in February 2019 using a forged utility bill to supply an address. On 2 September 2019 he was arrested at the Bank of Ireland on O'Connell Street after a teller noticed the draft was not genuine – it lacked a hologram and used incorrect ink and colour. He had also tried to lodge a similar draft at Dublin Airport on 14 May 2019, which was flagged and retained by the bank, causing no loss. Alsingh pleaded guilty, admitted setting up the account with false documents, and claimed he was unaware the drafts were fake.
Mark Adams, 40, of Castleheath, Malahide, was stopped at Belfast International Airport on 9 May 2018 with €180,000 in two brown envelopes. Northern Irish authorities seek his extradition on money‑laundering charges, alleging he concealed the money in his hand luggage and attempted to remove it from Northern Ireland, knowing or suspecting it to be proceeds of crime. He also faces charges for arranging the removal of criminal property between 13 May 2013 and 10 May 2018. The High Court heard an application for an extradition order and postponement. Counsel Paul Comiskey O'Keeffe argued that extradition could infringe Adams' right to a fair trial under the UK‑EU withdrawal agreement, as a future trial in Northern Ireland might occur outside the EU. The State's counsel, Aoife Carroll, applied for surrender and postponement, stating the warrant was valid and Brexit did not affect the case. Mark Adams was convicted.
The Special Criminal Court heard that DNA was extracted from items used by David Hunter, a 41‑year‑old UK man extradited from the UK, during his flight back to Ireland. Hunter is accused of murdering Michael Barr, 35, the bar manager of the Sunset House pub in Dublin, on 25 April 2016. Hunter pleaded not guilty and his barrister formally objected to the court's jurisdiction. Prosecutor Dominic McGinn described the shooting: two armed men in rubber masks entered the pub around 9 pm, shot Barr seven times, and fled. Evidence included a silver Audi A6 that was set on fire, a Ford Mondeo, and weapons and masks found in the vehicles. A phone found near a bullet had no fingerprints. DNA from an apple, ear‑plugs, a cigarette butt, and clothing seized at Bridewell matched a mixed profile from a rubber mask and a ski mask. The trial is expected to last four to five weeks.
The High Court has authorised Nordic Aviation Capital DAC, a leading aircraft lessor headquartered in Limerick, to pursue a scheme of arrangement with its creditors. The court heard that the Covid‑19 pandemic has severely impacted the company's business, with a sharp decline in cash collections—only 20% of expected payments were received in April—and a projected cash shortfall by July. The proposed scheme would grant a six‑to‑twelve‑month standstill on approximately €5 billion of debt, covering principal and interest, and would allow the group to continue operating its fleet of about 500 aircraft. Additional measures include a US$60 million injection from shareholders, a reduction of non‑essential spending, elimination of a US$5.7 billion uncommitted capital programme, deferral of a US$1.5 billion committed programme, and a cut in new aircraft deliveries from 21 to eight.
Alfa So, 31, a Portuguese national, was arrested at Dublin Airport on 3 July 2019 after customs officers discovered over €51,000 worth of cocaine in a wine box he carried. The drugs, 70% pure, were packed into 73 pellets with the intention of ingestion, but So admitted he could not swallow them and instead concealed them in the wine box. He pleaded guilty to one count of importing drugs, claiming he bought them from a friend in Africa and intended to sell them to buy a farm in Portugal. So had no prior convictions and expressed remorse. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court sentenced him to two years' imprisonment, a term backdated to his arrest, citing his foreign status and the difficulty of his custody conditions. The sentence was imposed after he pleaded guilty early and was found to be remorseful.
Ruth Ben Haim, a 19‑year‑old from Tel Aviv, was stopped at Dublin Airport after arriving from Finland with nearly €20,000 worth of the plant stimulant khat. The plant, legal in Israel in its natural form, is a controlled substance in Ireland. Ben Haim pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply. She was dealt with by the Garda Juvenile Liaison and returned to Israel without charge, having spent a week in custody and then released on bail. The court, noting her age and lack of prior convictions, imposed a fully suspended one‑year sentence, requiring her to keep the peace and behave well for one year. The case was heard by Judge Martin Nolan, with counsel for the prosecution and defence present. The other girl on the flight was also found with a similar amount of khat. The court heard that the plant is widely used in north‑east African countries such as Somalia.
Anthony McGurk, a 29‑year‑old father of five, was found to have smuggled nearly €60,000 worth of MDMA crystal powder into Ireland after a panic attack at Dublin Airport. He had just returned from a flight from Amsterdam, where he had purchased the drugs with the intention of selling them in Belfast. McGurk initially denied ownership, claiming the drugs were planted, but later confessed to buying them and to possessing them for sale or supply. He pleaded guilty to one count of possession for sale or supply. The court, noting his lack of prior convictions, his work as a chef, and his mental health difficulties, sentenced him to two and a half years in prison. He is currently working in the prison kitchen. The case highlighted his strained relationships and the impact on his family's housing situation.
The Court of Appeal granted leave to appeal to Eamon Ronald Harrison, who is pending extradition to the UK to face 39 counts of manslaughter and one count of conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration. UK authorities have withdrawn a separate charge of conspiracy to commit human trafficking against Harrison, which is expected to shorten his appeal hearing scheduled for May 7. In a related development, Maurice Robinson, 25, of Craigavon, Co Armagh, admitted 39 counts of manslaughter at the Old Bailey in London. He had previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration and acquiring criminal property, while denying a further charge of transferring criminal property. Robinson will be sentenced at a later date. These proceedings follow the discovery of 39 migrants dead in a lorry container in Essex. Ronan Hughes, alleged to be the ringleader, was refused bail by the High Court and remanded in custody until May 15 for his full extradition hearing. The court found him a probable flight risk, noting his international haulage business and access to funds. The High Court judge stated that the prosecution met the burden of proof regarding the risk of absconding, despite Hughes' ties to the jurisdiction.
The High Court confirmed Kieran Wallace of KPMG as examiner for CityJet DAC, giving him up to 100 days to draft a scheme of arrangement with creditors that, if approved, would allow the airline to survive. CityJet, which flies routes for SAS and Aer Lingus and employs 1,175 people, has become insolvent after its fleet of over 30 aircraft was grounded by the Covid‑19 outbreak, which also disrupted a planned merger and a private restructure. The judge noted the company's reasonable prospect of survival if certain steps are taken, citing an independent expert's report and the support of its main customer SAS. Revenue Commissioners were made a notice party, and the court heard that CityJet disputes a €23 million tax demand for 2016‑2018, which it has appealed to the Tax Appeals Commission. The airline's debts total €500 million, with a net deficit of €186 million on a going‑concern basis.
Mr Justice Paul Burns is scheduled to deliver a decision tomorrow at 10:30 am on bail applications for Luke O'Reilly (66) and Darren Redmond (25), who are charged with false imprisonment and assault causing serious harm to Quinn Industrial Holdings Director Kevin Lunney. The alleged offences occurred on September 17, 2019, at Drumbrade, Ballinagh, Co Cavan. The State opposed bail, citing risks of interference with justice and flight, while defence counsel argued there was no evidential basis for refusal. Both men were sent forward for trial to the Special Criminal Court on March 26, with proceedings potentially beginning in January 2021. Separately, Alan O'Brien (39), of East Wall, is also charged with false imprisonment and assault causing serious harm to Mr Lunney on the same occasion. A fourth accused, who cannot be named for legal reasons, faces similar charges. All four men are to be tried at the non-jury Special Criminal Court. Last week, Mr Justice Tony Hunt indicated the trial could last eight to 12 weeks and transferred the case to Court 2 for a mention on June 10. The current procedural stage involves the pending bail determination for O'Reilly and Redmond, while the broader case remains in pre-trial preparation.
Paula Dos Santos, an Italian national aged 22, was sentenced to 18 months in prison, with the final six months suspended, for escorting three illegal immigrants onto two flights from Italy to Dublin. She acted as an escort for an Albanian man and his fiancée, who had been issued with bogus Italian identity cards, and also for another Albanian man who arrived under similar circumstances three months earlier. Dos Santos pleaded guilty to three charges of knowingly facilitating the entry of persons she knew or had reasonable cause to believe were illegal immigrants or asylum seekers. She had no prior convictions and was on remand since her arrest at Dublin airport in August of the previous year. The judge acknowledged her cooperation and lack of previous convictions, and noted that she was motivated by financial strain, receiving €500 for her role. The sentence was back‑dated to August of the previous year.
In a High Court hearing on 16 March 2020, Mr Justice Donald Binchy announced that he would postpone issuing extradition orders for most cases until after the Easter break, except for the most serious offences. He explained that early orders could encourage flight and create problems in the prison system, including uncertainty about whether the 25‑day surrender period could be met and the risk of committing individuals to prison. Binchy clarified that he was not calling for a full adjournment of all cases, as that could cause a backlog, and he preferred hearings to proceed with judgments delivered when necessary. He noted that only a small number of cases involve surrender arguments and suggested reducing court attendance and exchanging documents electronically. At the time, eight applications were listed to endorse incoming European Arrest Warrants, five to issue outgoing warrants, and 17 for case management. All extradition requests in Ireland are handled by the High Court in Dublin.
Shaeed Adeola Ishola, a 44‑year‑old convicted drug dealer, lost a High Court challenge to a deportation order. He was jailed in 2012 for seven years after pleading guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply, following the discovery of €1.4 million worth of cocaine in a fake diplomatic bag at Dublin Airport. Released in 2016 after enhanced remission, he had lived in Ireland without incident. In August 2019 the Minister for Justice ordered his deportation, citing the seriousness of the offence and a fraud conviction in the UK. Ishola and his family argued the decision was delayed, disproportionate, irrational and breached their constitutional and privacy rights under the European Convention of Human Rights. The Minister's lawyers said all relevant information had been considered. Mr Justice Max Barrett upheld the Minister's decision, rejecting the application and finding no breach of rights, and declined to set aside the deportation order.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, two men, William Twomey (56) and Anthony Finglas (49), were charged with luring Edward McAndrew to a Louth farmhouse, assaulting him with iron bars, placing him in a car boot, and demanding £50,000. The alleged assault also involved contacting McAndrew's daughter and setting his home on fire. The men face robbery charges for taking McAndrew's phones and passport. The court considered bail applications, with the prosecution seeking financial information to assess flight risk. Twomey has been in custody since last week, while Finglas is awaiting a hearing. The court remanded both men in custody, with a further hearing scheduled for next Tuesday. The case remains at the bail stage, with no trial or sentencing yet.
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.
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.
A High Court judge struck out an injunction application brought by Barbara Sloan, a sister‑in‑law of the late Cyril McGuinness, who died after a police raid in the UK. Sloan had travelled to the UK with McGuinness's widow, Mary, when they were removed from a flight at Dublin Airport and held by Garda detectives for two hours. Two mobile phones were seized. Sloan sought the return of the phones, claiming they contained private and business information. The judge noted the phones were taken in early November and said there was no urgency to the matter, suggesting an application under the 1897 Police Property Act would be more appropriate. The injunction was struck out and the Commissioner was awarded legal costs. Sloan may appeal the decision to the Court of Appeal, and her claim for damages remains pending.
A 26‑year‑old Brazilian named Dogulas Fernades Ferreira was jailed for three years after swallowing more than 60 pellets of cocaine to smuggle the drug into Ireland. Customs officers at Dublin Airport had flagged his travel route – from São Paulo to Dubai to Dublin – as the same used in 36 previous importation cases. Ferreira was flown on the same itinerary and was on the authorities' radar before arrival. He initially claimed to be studying gastronomy and visiting restaurants, later saying he had come to work as a male prostitute. When traces of cocaine were found on his clothing, he admitted swallowing 50 pellets. He was taken to hospital, monitored for two days, and passed around 60 pellets. The drugs weighed about 500 g, worth an estimated €41,000. He pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply on 2 July.
A 26‑year‑old Brazilian mother, Hyonaru Moreno, was sentenced to two and a half years in prison after she was found to have smuggled more than 1.5 kilos of cocaine into Ireland by concealing it inside her body. The drugs were discovered when customs officers at Dublin Airport, who were profiling passengers from Brazil, noticed Moreno's suspicious behaviour. She read a prepared statement about her planned stay in Ireland, which raised further suspicion and led to Gardaí being called. Moreno was taken to Beaumont Hospital, where X‑ray imaging revealed foreign objects in her body, including packages containing €37,000 worth of cocaine. She pleaded guilty to one count of possessing cocaine for sale or supply and one count of importing cocaine at Dublin Airport on 8 June. The court noted she had no prior convictions and described the offence as a "desperate escapade" for financial reward.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Owen Cummins, 40, who pleaded guilty to possessing a Beretta handgun and silencer, withdrew his request to attend his 19‑year‑old son's funeral mass after a Garda risk assessment concluded it would be impossible to ensure public and Garda safety if he attended the church service. Cummins had previously sought a compassionate bail application to attend the funeral, but the court allowed him to attend the funeral home only. The court expressed deep sympathy for his loss. Cummins explained he wanted to pay his last respects, but the prosecution argued he was a flight risk. Garda evidence highlighted Cummins' involvement in a feud‑related "hit team" operation and potential access to false documents. The case remains pending sentencing on 20 January 2020.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Owen Cummins, 40, awaiting sentencing for possession of a Beretta handgun and silencer, was granted temporary bail to attend his 19‑year‑old son's funeral. The court, presided over by Mr Justice Paul Coffey, considered the application under "unusual and very tragic circumstances." Cummins, who pleaded guilty to the firearms offence last year, expressed a desire to attend the funeral mass to pay his last respects. The prosecution argued he was a flight risk and that security concerns would arise if he attended the church. Garda evidence highlighted Cummins' involvement in a feud‑related operation and potential access to false documents. The judge approved the bail with conditions that Garda escort would have discretion over Cummins' seating and could remove him if any danger was perceived. Cummins entered a €100 bond. The sentencing is scheduled for January 20, 2020.
In a High Court hearing on 3 December 2019, Ryanair's chief operations officer Peter Bellew faced a claim from the airline that his employment contract contained a 12‑month non‑compete clause preventing him from working for a rival after leaving. Bellew, who had agreed to become chief operating officer at EasyJet, denied breaching the contract and argued the clause was unenforceable because he was not included in Ryanair's share‑option scheme, which he said was a precondition for the clause. Ryanair's CEO Michael O'Leary testified that senior managers, known as "Zs", are bound by such clauses, receive share options, and have access to commercially sensitive information. O'Leary also highlighted Bellew's role in flight operations, engineering, and pilot training, and his salary of €550,000 plus a potential €500,000 bonus. The case, heard before Mr Justice Senan Allen, seeks an injunction to enforce the non‑compete and prevent Bellew from acting contrary to the post‑termination restrictions.
A jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court found a married couple guilty of female genital mutilation (FGM) and child cruelty for an act carried out on their one‑year‑old daughter on 16 September 2016. The 37‑year‑old man and 27‑year‑old woman, both of African origin, pleaded not guilty to both counts. The jury delivered unanimous guilty verdicts after almost three hours of deliberation. Judge Elma Sheahan remanded the accused in custody pending sentencing on 20 December. Detective Inspector Danny Kelly opposed bail, citing the seriousness of the charge and a potential flight risk; a deportation order for the man is under appeal, while the woman is an Irish citizen. The couple's three children, including the victim, are currently under the care of the woman's sister, with arrangements to remain with the aunt if Tusla is satisfied.
Richard Bourke, aged 36, was sentenced to eight years in prison for arson after setting fire to the front door of Detective Garda John Griffin's house in Finglas. The incident occurred on 26 February 2019, when Bourke first lit a small flame and then threw petrol, creating a fireball that forced the Griffins to call 999. The attack caused smoke damage to the hall and required the front door to be replaced. Bourke pleaded guilty to two counts of arson at two Finglas locations and to stealing petrol from a Circle K station. He also admitted setting fire to a derelict building near the airport. The court noted premeditation, the occupied nature of the house, and Bourke's history of bipolar disorder and drug abuse. The sentence was 11 years with the final three years suspended, resulting in an eight‑year custodial term. The Griffins suffered an "indelible scar" and increased security measures following the attack.
The Special Criminal Court heard evidence in the ongoing trial of Laurence Murphy and Ray Kennedy, who have pleaded not guilty to IRA membership charges dated March 6, 2013, and April 2010. Mr. Kennedy also faces a charge of perverting the course of justice by destroying a SIM card. Prosecution witnesses described a meeting at Bewleys Hotel, Dublin Airport, on May 22, 2010, where Mr. Murphy was observed with Marian Price, Alan Ryan, and Anthony Ryan. The group entered a private function room, though the Ryans did not. Other testimony detailed Mr. Kennedy's presence at a 2011 meeting in Mulhuddert and at a 2012 bail hearing. The court also heard about a 2012 funeral for Alan Ryan, where three shots were fired over the coffin. While four men have already received life sentences for the murder of Peter Butterly, and Michael McDermott and Frank Murphy have been jailed for their roles in the killing, the current proceedings against Murphy and Kennedy remain at the trial stage. The matter was adjourned and continues before Justice Tara Burns, Judge Sarah Berkeley, and Judge Michael Walsh.
Ryanair has brought a High Court action against its former Chief Operations Officer Peter Bellew, who left the airline in December to become chief operating officer of rival Easyjet. The case, which began in August, alleges that Bellew's contract contains a 12‑month non‑compete clause that bars him from working for a competitor after his employment ends. Bellew denies the claim, citing his prior senior positions, including as Malaysian Airline's chief executive and Ryanair's director of flight operations. Both parties have agreed to an expedited hearing, which is scheduled for next week and is expected to last several days. Ryanair also filed a pre‑trial motion for interrogatories, which the judge declined to hear separately and instead directed to be considered alongside the main hearing. The court has adjourned the motion and will address the case in the upcoming session.
Patricia Rea Suarez, a 40‑year‑old Bolivian mother, was jailed for one year after swallowing 41 pellets of cocaine, weighing more than 1.3 kg, before boarding a flight from São Paulo to Dublin via Lisbon. She was arrested at Dublin Airport on 22 May and spent five days in hospital, where doctors feared the pellets might burst inside her. Suarez pleaded guilty to possessing drugs for sale or supply and to importing illegal drugs. Judge Martin Nolan accepted that she ingested the drugs in exchange for €2,000 cash, citing her poverty and desperation. He noted her remorse, cooperation with Gardaí, lack of prior convictions, and that she would not return to Ireland after release. The one‑year sentence was back‑dated to the day she entered custody, with the judge suggesting she would be released shortly after Christmas.
A 19‑year‑old Brazilian model, Jhennifer Garcia De Araujo, was sentenced to six years' imprisonment, with five years suspended, after pleading guilty to importing cocaine and possessing it at Dublin Airport. She claimed an armed man forced her to swallow 51 pellets of the drug, which had a street value of €49,203. Garcia De Araujo said she believed she was meeting a man to discuss a modelling contract but was threatened with a gun and told to ingest the drugs. She denied receiving payment and stated she was not an addict. The judge noted the social harm of drugs and praised Gardaí and customs for their work. The case was heard in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, and the sentence was imposed by Judge Pauline Codd.