Patrick Dunne, 30, of Santry Lodge, Ballymun, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to robbing Briarswood Stores in Blanchardstown on 29 September 2017. He entered the shop with a scarf over his face and two five‑inch screwdrivers, demanding the cashier open the till. He took €195 in coins from the till. Garda Brendan O'Hora identified him from CCTV and fingerprints. Dunne has 95 previous convictions, including theft, burglary and criminal damage, and was already serving a four‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence for brandishing an imitation firearm in Ballymun. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a two‑year prison sentence, noting Dunne's drug addiction and the possibility of a positive change. The judge said he would not extend Dunne's custody beyond the sentence, hoping he will "turn the corner.".
During the Central Criminal Court hearing of 37‑year‑old Tadhg Butler, accused of murdering 25‑year‑old Michael O'Dwyer on 10 January 2014, his nephew Tony O'Grady testified that he has no memory of the night of the murder or of any statement he may have given to Gardaí. O'Grady, who lives in The New Houses, Bishop's Birch, said he was a drug addict at the time and had been in and out of mental hospitals, taking heavy medication and being sectioned several times. He claimed he could not remember the past six years, including the night of the stabbing, and that he was "always blanking out" due to his drug and alcohol addiction. The judge excused the jury to return later that afternoon for the remainder of the trial. Tadhg Butler pleaded not guilty.
Stephen Sarsfield, 39, was jailed for seven years after admitting possession of over €4 million worth of drugs. Gardaí discovered 188 kg of cannabis herb and 2.9 kg of cocaine in a garage in New Street Gardens, Dublin 8, where a large‑scale drug distribution hub had been operating. The garage also contained a money‑counting machine, two plastic bag sealers, three stun guns and weighing scales. Sarsfield, who had four minor previous convictions, pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply. He admitted using cocaine three or four times a week and having a gambling debt, but gave no details of his role in the operation. The court found ample evidence against him, noting his involvement was likely driven by debt and that he was a small but important part of a larger scheme. The judge highlighted his good standing in the community and his vulnerability to exploitation.
Jonathan Conway, 36, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for stealing a BMW that had been left with its keys inside by the owner. He drove the vehicle in a highly dangerous manner, losing control at a roundabout, briefly becoming airborne and crashing into a lamppost and the wall of a pub. Two female passengers suffered minor injuries. Conway had 120 prior convictions, mainly for traffic and public order offences, theft and court‑appearance failures. He pleaded guilty to taking possession of a car without consent, dangerous driving, driving without insurance and refusing a sample. The judge imposed a five‑year driving ban and noted Conway's limited cooperation with Gardaí, his guilty plea and rehabilitation efforts. He was also in custody on other district court matters. The court heard he had lost a local‑authority accommodation in Blanchardstown. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court by Judge Melanie Greally.
In March 2018, the High Court in Dublin refused to allow Fair Trial Europe, an NGO that defends the right to a fair trial, to join proceedings as an amicus curiae in a case involving the extradition of Artur Celmer to Poland on drug trafficking charges. The case had been referred to the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) by Judge Aileen Donnelly after she concluded that recent Polish legislative changes had "systematically damaged" the rule of law in Poland. Fair Trial Europe had applied to assist the court with questions for the CJEU, but Judge Donnelly ruled that the NGO's late intervention would not aid the efficient conduct of the proceedings and that the parties' own submissions already covered the necessary issues. Consequently, the NGO was denied permission to participate, and Celmer remains remanded in custody until a decision from the CJEU.
Mark McCarthy, aged 32, had his nine‑year prison sentence for the tiger kidnapping of the Nawn family increased to 15 years after the Director of Public Prosecutions appealed. The kidnapping, which took place on 1–2 August 2011, involved the abduction of Warren and Jean Marie Nawn and their 10‑week‑old baby in County Louth and County Dublin. McCarthy was found guilty of false imprisonment and the theft of €661,125 from the Post Office in Drogheda, an amount that has never been recovered. The Court of Appeal described the original sentence as "unduly lenient" and, after considering mitigating factors such as alleged duress and a drug debt, imposed a 15‑year term. The decision was made by a three‑judge panel headed by Mr Justice George Birmingham. The case remains a rare example of a tiger kidnapping in Ireland.
In a High Court hearing, an Irish man who claims he was a paid Garda informer (CHIS) seeks to prevent his extradition to France on a 17‑year‑old drug‑trafficking conviction. He argues that the Gardaí failed to protect him after his arrest in France, and that they had promised him safety, confidentiality and immunity from prosecution. He wants documents he obtained from the Gardaí to be used in his claim against the Garda Commissioner, the Attorney General and Ireland for alleged negligence, breach of contract and misrepresentation. The State denies that any protection was promised and argues that handing over the documents would risk operational security. The court has adjourned the case to allow further submissions before deciding whether to allow the documents to be presented to an English court.
John Matthews, aged 38, was sentenced by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to four and a half years imprisonment for 56 burglaries committed over a 16‑month period, 33 of which occurred while he was out on bail. The judge suspended an additional four and a half years on the condition that Matthews keep the peace for five years after release and attend drug treatment programmes. Matthews, from Desmond Avenue, Dun Laoghaire, had 124 previous convictions, 115 of them for burglary. Prosecutor Marie Torrens BL described how Matthews would knock on doors, check for occupants, then break in by smashing windows or door glass. Victims reported loss of jewellery, a wedding ring, Christmas presents, and €20 in loose change, and one elderly victim incurred €30 in window repair costs. Matthews pleaded guilty to sample counts of burglary between 19 January 2015 and 22 April 2016 at locations in south Dublin, including Rathfarnham and Dun Laoghaire.
Noel Coleman, 36, a chronic heroin addict, was arrested after a CCTV‑recorded incident in which he waved two knives at Gardaí and threatened to stab them. He was approached by officers after a live bench warrant was issued for his arrest. When questioned, he became agitated, produced the knives, and shouted, "I'll fucking kill you." Garda Brian O'Reilly and a colleague sprayed pepper spray, but Coleman fled. Gardaí pursued him, and when he was told an armed unit was on the way, he replied, "They will have to fucking shoot me." He was eventually subdued by Tasers, threw the knives to the ground, and was taken into custody. Coleman had previously pleaded guilty to robbery on 17 May 2017 and to threatening to kill or cause serious harm to Garda O'Reilly on 20 May 2017. He was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for these offences.
Joseph Kiernan, aged 34, was deported from the Netherlands after serving a partially suspended three‑year robbery sentence. He was then jailed in Ireland for six years for a series of driving and drug offences. In November 2014 he pleaded guilty to unlawful use of a stolen Ford Mondeo and possession of €648 of cannabis near Dublin Airport. In January 2015 he pleaded guilty to unlawful use of a stolen BMW and dangerous driving around Gormanston, Meath. In May 2015 he pleaded guilty to possession of €3,566 of cannabis at a premises he shared with his partner on Gardiner Street, Dublin. The court imposed a four‑year sentence for the earlier drugs charge, consecutive to another four years for the later drugs offence, with the final two years suspended. Kiernan was banned from driving for 20 years. He had 55 prior convictions, including robbery, vehicle theft, burglaries and possession of stolen property.
In a High Court hearing on 21 March 2018, an Irish judge referred a case involving Artur Celmer to the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) to determine whether mutual trust still exists between Poland and other EU Member States for extradition. Celmer, arrested in Ireland under a European Arrest Warrant, faces drug‑trafficking charges in Poland. The judge, Ms Justice Aileen Donnelly, cited recent Polish legislative changes that she said had "systematically damaged" the rule of law. A representative of the Polish Embassy in Dublin attended. Fair Trial Europe, an NGO, applied to join the proceedings as an amicus curiae to assist the CJEU with its questions, but counsel for the Minister for Justice argued the NGO's late application and lack of a unique perspective made its participation inappropriate. The judge promised to conclude all matters by the end of the week and to send the referral to the CJEU promptly.
Stephen McCullagh, aged 38, fell through a skylight at a vehicle glass repair shop, sustaining arm injuries that nearly caused him to bleed to death. Blood trails led from the skylight to various offices and drawers he had rummaged through. Gardaí were alerted by Dublin Fire Brigade members, and medical staff forced shutters open and unlocked the building to reach him. McCullagh, who had previously been told he might have bled to death but survived due to air bubbles in his heart, pleaded guilty to criminal damage on 4 June 2017. He has 69 prior convictions, including burglaries, thefts, drug possession and traffic offences. In court, he showed scars and described numb fingers; counsel noted his physical punishment. Judge Martin Nolan accepted the near‑fatal incident, described McCullagh as a "sad case", and imposed a two‑year suspended sentence.
Secora Kavanagh, 50, of North Great Charles Street, pleaded guilty to permitting the preparation of 178 g of heroin and 2 g of cocaine at her home on 11 March 2017. She had let her boyfriend's cousin stay at the flat while she was on holiday. The cousin had called her minutes before Gardaí arrived, telling her to move the drugs. Kavanagh told officers she had suspicions but had turned a blind eye. Garda Emmett Brannigan said the police obtained a search warrant after witnessing a drug transaction on the street. During the search officers found a bag of heroin and cocaine in a navy bag under the stairs, a tick list and other evidence. Kavanagh had no previous convictions. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a two‑year suspended sentence, suspended for two years.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 16 March 2018, Darren Rowe (22) and Eoin Greene (23) pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after punching, kicking and knocking down a female wheelchair user, Mandy Kennedy, outside her home on 21 November 2017. The judge, Karen O'Connor, described the attack as gratuitous violence against a vulnerable person and said the men acted out of a misplaced sense of loyalty to each other amid a dispute with Kennedy's son. Kennedy, who became a wheelchair user after a spinal injury, suffered a fractured eye socket and ongoing psychological distress. O'Connor noted both men's drug addictions and past convictions—Rowe 26, Greene 34—and sentenced Rowe to 3½ years with 12 months suspended, and Greene to 2½ years in prison. The judge urged them to choose rehabilitation over further prison time.
James Farrell, 35, of Ballyfermot, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to robbing a Spar shop in Chapelizod on 24 March 2017, to unlawful possession of a knife during that robbery, and to the unauthorised taking of a car. He had 67 prior convictions, including robbery and burglary. Farrell brandished a silver steak knife, held it to a shop assistant's throat, demanded the till be opened, and received €175 before leaving. Gardaí identified him from CCTV, and the car he used was later found abandoned and previously stolen. He was arrested that same day. Judge Patrick Quinn sentenced Farrell to three years' imprisonment, suspending the final two years on condition of attending probation appointments, completing a drug programme, and refraining from illicit drugs. The sentence was back‑dated to 27 March of the previous year.
Paul Carew, a 41‑year‑old Dublin man, was sentenced to eight years in prison for three money‑laundering offences involving over €600,000. On 27 August 2016 he was caught transporting €191,160 of criminal proceeds in a van at Liffey Valley Shopping Centre; two months earlier, on 24 June 2016, he was arrested at Dublin Auto Prestige Car Wash after placing a €350,000 cash box into a van. Carew had previously received a suspended sentence in 2014 for possessing almost €68,000 of criminal proceeds. He pleaded guilty to all three charges. Judge Martin Nolan, hearing the case at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, noted Carew's "blameless life" before his first offence and his willingness to reform, and set the sentence at eight years, back‑dated to 24 June 2017. The court heard that the money largely came from drug dealing and that Carew was described by Gardaí as a "trusted" courier within an organised crime cartel.
A 20‑year‑old bioscience student, Dayo Awosanya, received a three‑year suspended sentence after his mother discovered nearly €19,000 worth of cannabis in his wardrobe. She called Garda Alan Barry, who had never seen a drug bust in such circumstances. Awosanya pleaded guilty to possession on 12 June 2017 and had no prior convictions. He claimed he was holding the drugs for a friend and was to be paid, and that he had underestimated the value, thinking it was worth about €1,000. He admitted spending €50 a week on cannabis for personal use and said he had started using it recreationally to cope with his mother's cancer diagnosis. Garda Barry and the prosecution agreed he had cooperated fully and expressed remorse. Judge Martin Nolan praised his mother's courage, noted Awosanya's clean record, early guilty plea, cooperation, and good career prospects, and therefore suspended the sentence for three years.
A 22‑year‑old Dublin man, Karl Proudfoot, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison for a series of violent offences. He pleaded guilty to slashing a drug addict on the back of the head with a Stanley knife on Arran Street East on 16 June 2017, an act captured on CCTV that showed him striking the victim "out of the blue." Proudfoot also admitted to two phone‑robberies: one at Fingal Place on 17 June 2017, where he left the victim with a nasal fracture and facial bruising, and another at Phoenix Park on 24 June 2017, where he beat a Moldovan woman and stole her phone. The court noted the assaults were "extremely nasty and senseless" and that Proudfoot had never been in custody before. Judge Martin Nolan, after considering the young man's age, remorse and lack of prior convictions, imposed the sentence, warning it could have been longer without those mitigating factors.
A Dublin man, Pat Gillespie, aged 48, was sentenced to 18 months in jail for holding over £100,000 for criminals to settle an old drug debt. Gillespie admitted to a €5,000 debt from his own cocaine use, which had risen from an initial €2,000. Gardaí searched his home after a tip, expecting drugs, but found £104,815 vacuum‑packed in a suit carrier. They examined his phone and accepted his explanation that he did not own the cash. Gillespie pleaded guilty to possession of the proceeds of crime at his Cherry Orchard Crescent home on 28 October 2016. He has ten prior convictions, mainly traffic offences. The judge, Martin Nolan, imposed the custodial sentence, noting the seriousness of the offence and the potential impact on his family. Gillespie is a full‑time carer for his son and expressed remorse, claiming the arrangement was a way to escape his debt.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 47‑year‑old Somali‑born woman, Sujuur Abdullahi Mohamed, received an 18‑month suspended sentence for importing the East African drug khat. Mohamed, who lives in London, pleaded guilty to possession and importation after being stopped at Dublin Airport on 30 December 2017. She had been offered €1 000 to bring two suitcases of khat into Ireland. Garda David Jordan explained that only the leaves of the plant are considered drug, and that the 31.6 kg of material she carried had deteriorated before it could be weighed or valued. He estimated a street value of about €500, though the judge noted the value could be as high as €10 000. Judge Martin Nolan accepted that Mohamed was uncertain whether khat was illegal in Ireland and, after considering the circumstances, imposed a suspended sentence rather than custodial time. The court also noted that Mohamed had no prior convictions.
David Radford, aged 21, was sentenced by Judge Martin Nolan to three and a half years' imprisonment, with the final 15 months suspended, for assaulting a 14‑year‑old girl on 5 and 6 September 2017. Radford had previously been jailed for two and a half years in November 2015 for sexually assaulting a teenage girl, and he has three earlier convictions for sexual assault of women dating back to 2010. The court found that Radford attacked the girl for no apparent reason, noting a "propensity towards violence". Radford pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing the girl harm at Washington Lane, Rathfarnham. He was described as effectively homeless at the time, with difficulties in literacy, numeracy and drug use. The sentencing followed the court's statement that Radford had no welcome in his family's home and had been involved in repeated violent incidents.
Gavin O'Reilly, 36, was given a two‑and‑a‑half‑year suspended sentence after he drove a jeep in front of John and Amanda Martin's car, stopped, took an axe from the vehicle and swung it over the Martins' heads, threatening to kill them. O'Reilly had previously been in a relationship with the Martins' daughter and had two children with her. He pleaded guilty to threatening to kill Mr. Martin in Deansgrange on 13 February 2017. He had one prior conviction for possession of drugs. The court heard that the Martins were left traumatised, with their wife losing confidence in going out alone and their daughter experiencing anxiety at school. O'Reilly's actions were described as reprehensible and unjustified, and the judge suspended the custodial term on the condition that he does not contact the Martins.
Robert Bayly, a former Leeds United and Republic of Ireland youth team footballer, was sentenced to two and a half years in prison after he was caught transporting almost €200,000 worth of cannabis. Bayly, aged 30, admitted to possessing the drugs for sale or supply at Cherry Orchard Drive, Ballyfermot, on 12 May 2017. Gardaí stopped his Nissan Almera and found a strong smell of cannabis; Bayly confirmed there was "weed in the boot" before officers discovered ten small packages with an estimated street value of €194,284. He claimed he agreed to transport the drugs to reduce a €6,500 gambling debt, citing fear for his life, his daughter and girlfriend. The court noted Bayly had no prior convictions and was described by his barrister as a "child prodigy" who fell into gambling after moving to Leeds at 14. Robert Bayly pleaded guilty.
Michael Rooney Dignam, a 37‑year‑old Dublin resident, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison for robbing three shops over four days in May 2017. He pleaded guilty to stealing €1,200 from Spar, €662 from a Londis shop, and €1,135 from Centra, each time entering with a blood‑filled syringe, threatening staff and demanding money from the tills. Gardaí identified him from CCTV footage. Rooney Dignam had 15 prior robbery convictions and a conviction for his brother's manslaughter in 1999. He has a long history of drug addiction, reportedly since age ten, and has spent much time in jail, described as "largely institutionalised." The court noted his early guilty pleas and the fact that he was on bail when committing the last two robberies, requiring consecutive sentences. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a six‑year sentence with the final 18 months suspended, acknowledging his troubled upbringing and repeated re‑offending.
Patrick Farrelly, 26, of Stag Park, Mitchelstown, Cork, was found with about €70,000 worth of cannabis over five months. He pleaded guilty to possessing €66,000 of drugs for sale or supply on 26 November 2016 and to possessing €3,692 of cannabis five months earlier. The Cork Circuit Criminal Court sentenced him to three‑and‑a‑half years, with 18 months suspended, and a concurrent 12‑month sentence for the lesser offence, leaving a net two‑year term. The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed, arguing the sentence was too lenient. In the Court of Appeal, Mr Justice Alan Mahon increased the sentence for the more serious charge to five years, with 18 months suspended, while the 12‑month sentence remained unchanged. The new five‑year term runs concurrently with the 12‑month term, which was likely already served.
Sean Thackaberry, aged 24, was sentenced to seven‑and‑a‑half years in 2013 for an aggravated sexual assault on Michelle Hennessey, who later took her own life. He was released in June 2017 but failed to attend 12 probation appointments, citing holidays and property viewings, and moved to an unapproved address near Hennessey's family, breaching the Sex Offenders Act. In December 2017 the suspended portion of his sentence was activated, adding three months for an assault committed in custody. Judge Patrick McCarthy noted Thackaberry's drug use and lack of community supervision, deeming further release unsafe. The court therefore imposed the suspended term, effectively extending his custodial period while allowing a chance for rehabilitation. The case highlights the court's decision to protect the community and enforce probation conditions. Sean Thackaberry pleaded guilty.
A man who says he was a Garda informer is suing the State for failing to protect him after he was arrested in France for drug trafficking more than 17 years ago. He is currently in UK custody awaiting extradition from France, where he was sentenced to four years in prison for drug trafficking offences in 2000. In 2006 he brought proceedings against the Garda Commissioner and the Attorney General, claiming negligence, breach of duty, breach of contract and misrepresentations, and alleging that his constitutional rights and European Convention on Human Rights were breached. He says that in the late 1990s he entered an agreement with the Gardai to act as an informant and that the Gardai were to safeguard his safety, keep his identity confidential and protect him from prosecution. He claims the Gardai failed to intervene with French authorities after his arrest and conviction. The State denied the claims.
Martin Keenan, aged 20, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Wesley Mooney, aged 33, at St Joseph's Park, Dunsink Lane, north Dublin, on 5 June 2016. He claimed that on arriving home at about 11.45 pm he found a 'junkie' in his bedroom, who attacked him. Keenan said he struck the man with a garden shears tool, hitting him twice, after which the man fell. He later showed the Gardaí the shears he used. The jury heard that Mooney suffered two stab wounds and a broken shin. Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis reported a deep stab wound below the left armpit that pierced both lungs and major vessels, a second wound below the left knee, and a spiral fracture of the left shin. He found modest alcohol and drugs in Mooney's blood and urine, and identified the chest stab as the main cause of death.
In March 2018, a Dublin man, Michael Doyle, 27, was jailed for six years after breaking into a neighbour's house, holding a knife to the homeowner's throat while heavily intoxicated on alcohol and prescription drugs. Garda Michael McGuinness reported that Doyle's intoxication made him "impossible to put down" when officers used pepper spray and batons. The pepper spray had no effect; Doyle fought and threatened five officers, resisted arrest, and threatened to kill the homeowner. He had previously pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary and threats to kill in May 2017. Doyle had 45 prior convictions, including assaults and public order offences. He was found unfit for interview for six hours but later presented as a "different person" after sobering up. The court accepted that his extreme intoxication contributed to the incident and imposed a six‑year custodial sentence, back‑dated to his arrest in May 2017.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Keith Tiswell, aged 33, was sentenced to three and a half years' imprisonment for possessing over €124,000 worth of cannabis and cocaine. The drugs were seized during a surveillance operation at an apartment in Clondalkin, where Gardaí observed Tiswell drive a black BMW into an underground car park, exit 20 minutes later, and admit to having "cannabis in the boot" before handing over a cocaine package. Tiswell pleaded guilty to possessing 5.9 kg of cannabis valued at €119,600 and 67.5 g of cocaine worth €4,725. He has 57 prior convictions, mainly for road traffic offences. The judge, considering his guilty plea, cooperation, and character, imposed the sentence backdated to his May 2017 custody entry. The case highlighted the Gardaí's use of CCTV evidence and the defendant's stated drug debt and mental health issues. The sentence was confirmed by Judge Martin Nolan.
A Garda investigation led to the break-up of a €3.5 million drugs and firearms operation, resulting in the sentencing of four individuals at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Jason Hughes (35) was jailed for six years after pleading guilty to possession of €757,280 worth of cannabis resin and €603,000 worth of MDMA on April 17, 2014. Ivan Tihon (35), a Moldovan national, was jailed for eight years for possession of €1.6 million worth of drugs, as well as guns and ammunition. Two Polish brothers, Slawomir Syzmala (40) and Marcin Syzmala (32), were each jailed for 10 years in March 2015 after admitting to possession of €3.5 million worth of cannabis and cannabis resin. The operation was uncovered following a surveillance operation by the Garda National Drugs Unit, during which €3.489 million worth of drugs were seized. Hughes, who had no previous convictions, claimed he was unaware of the drugs in the van he was transporting and stated he was acting on behalf of others. Judge Martin Nolan noted Hughes' role in the operation was to transport the drugs for some form of reward and stated he was part of a large drug dealing operation.
The Court of Appeal has adjourned the matter following an appeal by the Director of Public Prosecutions seeking to increase the sentence of Mark McCarthy. McCarthy, a 32-year-old from Ballyfermot, pleaded guilty to the false imprisonment of Warren and Jean Marie Nawn and their ten-week-old baby in County Louth between August 1st and 2nd, 2011. He was originally sentenced to nine years' imprisonment by Judge Patricia Ryan on May 19, 2017. The DPP argued the sentence was unduly lenient, contending that the starting point should have been significantly higher than the 15 years fixed by the trial judge before mitigation. Prosecutors highlighted the severity of the ordeal, including threats to the infant and the use of surveillance equipment, comparing it to the aggravated burglary case of DPP v Dean Byrne. Defence counsel Derek Cooney BL countered that McCarthy acted under duress due to a drug debt and credible threats to his life, factors absent in the comparative case. The bench, comprising Mr Justice George Birmingham, Mr Justice Alan Mahon, and Mr Justice John Hedigan, heard submissions on whether a headline sentence of 25 years to life would have been appropriate. The court reserved its judgement, meaning the appeal is not yet concluded and the original sentence remains in effect pending the final decision.
Noel Darby, 42, was sentenced to a suspended three‑and‑a‑half‑year term for robbing a mobile phone from a man at a bus stop on Malahide Road, Coolock, on 9 February 2015. The robbery was the first serious offence in 13 years. Darby, who had previously been convicted of firearm possession, drug offences and robbery, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He had been identified by the victim as a former subject of the documentary "Darndale: The Edge of Town," where Darby had spoken about his desire to overcome drug addiction. Garda Liam Wright described how Darby approached the victim, seized the phone, and fled, later being pursued. The victim, who recognised Darby from the programme, confirmed the identity after watching an episode on YouTube.
The Central Criminal Court trial of Rihards Lavickis, 25, ended without a verdict after the jury failed to reach a decision on the death of Akadiusz 'Arek' Czajkowski. Lavickis, of Annaly Court, Longford, had pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter for the stabbing at Rue Noyal Chatillon, Townspark, on November 1, 2016. The prosecution alleged Lavickis was a deliberate killer who lured the deceased with a knife, while the defense argued he acted in a 'tumult of emotion' after prior hostility. Following four hours of deliberation, the foreman reported the jury could not reach a unanimous or majority verdict. Justice Una Ni Raifeartaigh discharged the jury and noted that a retrial may be ordered at the discretion of the Director of Public Prosecutions. The matter was adjourned to the next list to fix a date for another trial.
John Paul Mulready, aged 40, was sentenced to two and a half years' imprisonment by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for stabbing and biting his upstairs neighbour, Dermot Byrne, after an alleged "incessant" recitation of poetry. Mulready entered Byrne's flat with a serrated knife, shouted about music, and after a brief standoff in which Byrne brandished a frying pan, Mulready tackled him to the ground, stabbed him in the leg and bit him on the face. Byrne, a poet, defended himself with a vodka bottle and was helped by another neighbour. Mulready pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary with a knife in 2015 and has 116 prior convictions, including drug offences, knife possession, assault and criminal damage. He admitted the attack was triggered by the upstairs poetry. The court noted his history of offending and his recent drug‑ and alcohol‑free status at a residential treatment centre, but deemed the crime too serious for a suspended sentence.
Michael Cummins, 32, was jailed for two years after a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court found him guilty of falsely imprisoning and threatening two teenage boys during a drug‑induced paranoid episode in Swords in August 2017. Cummins, who had 230 prior convictions, approached a 13‑year‑old and a 15‑year‑old from across the street, demanding they look him in the eyes and threatening to pour what he claimed was acid into their eyes and to blow up their house. He struck the younger boy twice, forced the older boy to delete pictures from his phone, and entered the boys' home, where he also stole a wallet and an iPhone. Gardaí recovered the stolen items and the boys later reported increased fear and distress. Cummins pleaded guilty to theft, burglary, false imprisonment, assault and a threat to kill, and the court accepted his remorse, noting his drug‑induced paranoia but holding him fully liable for his actions.
In February 2018, Christopher Dunne, a 27‑year‑old Kildare resident, was sentenced to five and a half years in prison after the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court found him guilty of possessing 19 kg of cocaine worth €1.3 million and under 1 kg of heroin worth €170 000. Dunne had rented a flat on his own name for third parties and broke down bulk drugs arriving at the premises into smaller packages. He claimed he had lost his job at Intel, became depressed and spent thousands of euros a week on cocaine, and that he was involved to offset a substantial drug debt. The case began when a caretaker mistakenly entered the flat, saw white powder, and reported it to the letting agent, who then called Gardaí. Gardaí found the flat empty but containing eight wrapped packages of cocaine, a digital weighing scale, loose white powder, a black hold‑all bag and a wooden spoon.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court has begun deliberating in the trial of a 25-year-old Longford man charged with murder. Rihards Lavickis, of Annaly Court, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Akadiusz Czajkowski at Rue Noyal Chatillon, Townspark, on November 1, 2016, but guilty to manslaughter. The court heard that Mr Lavickis admits to stabbing the 31-year-old. He claimed the deceased had previously demanded repayment of a drug debt and assaulted him, and that he armed himself with a knife intending only to frighten Mr Czajkowski after discovering his windows had been smashed. Mr Lavickis told the trial he experienced a loss of control upon seeing the deceased. Justice Una Ní Raifeartaigh directed the jury that provocation could reduce a murder conviction to manslaughter. Deliberations commenced this morning, with jurors having spent approximately one hour and 33 minutes considering the evidence by lunchtime.
Keila Pineda Lopez, 29, was caught at Dublin Airport with 20 shirts soaked in cocaine, valued at €179,550. She pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine for sale or supply. Gardaí said the shirts could be chemically processed to extract the drug at the destination, but Lopez had no knowledge of this. She claimed she was offered €3,000 to transport the drugs from Brazil and that she faced threats. Garda Michael Higgins noted a mix of inducement and coercion. Lopez cooperated fully, admitted guilt, and expressed remorse. Her defence highlighted her role as a young mother, limited English, and coercion. Judge Melanie Greally, considering her plea, cooperation, and circumstances, imposed a three‑year custodial sentence, deviating from the typical ten‑year minimum for the offence. The sentence is to run from the date she entered custody.
An autistic man, Alyn Maginn, 41, was caught with over €600,000 of heroin and cocaine in a car park at Dublin Airport. He pleaded guilty to one count of possession. The drugs were found in a Seat Ibiza after customs profiling. Maginn had not imported the drugs; they had been in the car already. The drugs were owned by a co‑accused, Martin Gilroy, who had previously been jailed for seven years. Maginn had no prior convictions and cooperated with Gardaí. A psychological report showed Maginn had borderline cognitive ability, was on the autism spectrum, and was easily led. Judge Martin Nolan, citing Maginn's psychological make‑up and low moral culpability, imposed a suspended five‑year sentence, stating it would be unjust to jail him for this crime.
Gareth Carroll, 36, was jailed for one year after he brought heroin, Valium and Xanax into Mountjoy Prison on a temporary release. He was told by inmates that if he refused, his brother's leg would be broken. Carroll returned to the prison and officers found drug paraphernalia in his cell; the drugs fell out of his underwear when he was searched. He pleaded guilty to possession of €1,497 of heroin, €768 of diazepam and €286 of alprazolam on 10 May 2015 while serving a drug offence sentence. Both he and his brother were in Mountjoy at the time. The court noted Carroll's long history of drug abuse and the credible threat to his brother. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a two‑year sentence, suspending the final 12 months, and highlighted the seriousness of bringing drugs into prison.
In a Darndale incident, 37‑year‑old Jonathan Hopkins broke into an elderly couple's home, claiming to be under attack and shouting about a gun. He was found on a shed roof, shouting, punching the air and hallucinating, and had also damaged two parked cars. Gardaí used pepper spray to subdue him. Hopkins pleaded guilty to trespass and criminal damage at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He had been hospitalised in intensive care for a month after the incident. Judge Patrick Quinn, noting Hopkins' extreme intoxication, described his conduct as almost unforgivable but considered his context. The judge praised Hopkins' efforts to seek employment, address addiction, and compensate victims, and noted a character reference supporting his progress and potential as a drug‑treatment counsellor. No jail sentence was imposed.
A 30‑year‑old man from Kilcarrig Green, Fettercairn, Tallaght, Glen Fitzpatrick, who had suffered severe domestic violence in childhood and used alcohol and drugs to black out, was jailed for one year after pleading guilty to three robberies and an attempted robbery. He admitted stealing €420 from a Centra shop on Thomas Street in November 2016, and later robbing a Dwarf Jar shop on Wellington Quay and attempting to rob a Centra on Wicklow Street in June 2017. He had 36 prior convictions, mainly for traffic offences. After a binge he found unexplained money in his pockets and voluntarily turned himself in to a Garda station in a distressed state. The judge, Martin Nolan, imposed consecutive sentences totalling two years, suspended the final year on conditions, and noted Fitzpatrick's remorse and drug‑free status since August 2017. The case highlighted his ongoing rehabilitation efforts at Coolmine and his willingness to cooperate with authorities.
A 36‑year‑old labourer, Aidan O'Hara, was sentenced to 27 months' imprisonment for assaulting his ex‑girlfriend, Jessica Ayodeji, in their car while driving around Dublin. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that O'Hara, of Hand Caravan Park, dragged Ms Ayodeji back into the vehicle after she tried to escape at traffic lights, and that he had also pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and failing to remain at the scene of a collision on the same day. The court noted that O'Hara had 14 prior convictions, including assaults, drug offences, burglary and criminal damage, and that he had a history of violent conduct toward partners. He was also banned from driving for two years. The judge highlighted that O'Hara had cooperated with Gardaí, shown remorse, and completed an alternative to violence course while in custody. The sentence was back‑dated to the time he entered custody in July 2017.
A 17‑year‑old Dublin teenager pleaded guilty to a series of violent offences, including assaulting street magician Mark Beltran, stabbing Waterford resident Gavin Keoghan, and robbing a 16‑year‑old's phone. He also admitted to assaulting a homeless man, Martin Goth, and participating in violent disorder at Smithfield Square. The court heard that the attacks followed the theft of a stolen amp from Beltran's street performance. The teenager was sentenced to three years' detention by Judge Martin Nolan, who noted his early guilty plea, young age and rehabilitation efforts. The sentence was imposed despite the absence of victim impact statements in the cases involving Goth and Keoghan. The judge highlighted the teenager's lack of further offences since the convictions. The case involved co‑accused Luke Byrne, who received nine and a half years' imprisonment for a separate attack and robberies. The court also considered the teenager's drug use and subsequent counselling.
Modh Nordin Bin Modh Hassan, a 31‑year‑old Malaysian elevator technician, was sentenced to three years in prison for transporting 11 kg of cannabis worth €224,000 into Ireland. He admitted to the offence after claiming that threats against his wife had compelled him to act. Hassan told Gardaí that a friend he met in Spain had given him the drugs and instructed him to bring them to Ireland, and that he had not been in financial difficulty. He had no prior convictions and had only recently obtained a passport. The court accepted his early guilty plea, full cooperation, and the fact that he was a foreign national with no previous record. The sentence was back‑dated to the date he entered custody in September 2017. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court by Judge Martin Nolan, with Dominic McGinn SC defending Hassan and Tony McGillicuddy BL prosecuting.
Raymond Molloy, a 55‑year‑old former equestrian centre manager from Hollywood, Co Wicklow, pleaded guilty to possession of over €6 million worth of cannabis resin for sale or supply in Dublin. He had spent 11 years on the run in the Isle of White before being extradited to Ireland. Gardaí recovered 498 kg of cannabis resin from a van he drove in Coolock during a surveillance operation. In May 2017 he was sentenced to six‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment. On appeal, his barrister argued that Molloy's involvement was limited to 30 minutes, that he had no financial gain, and that he had shown deep remorse and had no prior convictions. The Court of Appeal, after reviewing mitigating factors such as his guilty plea, mental‑health difficulties and cooperation, reduced the sentence to five years' imprisonment, with no part suspended. The decision was made by a three‑judge panel headed by Mr Justice John Edwards.
Thomas O'Driscoll, 35, was arrested after a Garda saw him walking down a city centre street with a stolen mountain bike still locked to a railing. The bike was later identified as stolen property. O'Driscoll, who has 193 convictions, pleaded guilty to possessing the stolen bike, to stealing €1,300 worth of clothing from Urban Outfitters, to possessing a stolen ladies coat, and to trespassing and theft at a holiday apartment letting office in Temple Bar. He was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in jail, backdated to September of the previous year when he entered custody. The judge noted his prolific shoplifting record. Garda Carl Bolger reported CCTV footage of O'Driscoll taking clothes, and he was later found with a stolen coat from Marks and Spencer. O'Driscoll's defence highlighted his troubled background, drug addiction, and attempts at rehabilitation. The court also noted his father's murder when he was 11, his early school leaving, and his ongoing methadone programme in custody.
Mark Dwyer, 41, pleaded guilty to one count of robbing Christine Pollard at Dolphin's Barn on October 1 last year. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that Dwyer smashed the window of Ms Pollard's car, grabbed her handbag containing €920 in cash, and broke her ring finger during a struggle. A witness identified Dwyer, and his DNA matched blood found on the vehicle. The total value of stolen goods was €990, none of which were recovered. Ms Pollard, who required a splint for 16 weeks, stated she now feels vulnerable in her car. Dwyer, who has 106 previous convictions including a 2013 three-year jail term for firearm possession, has been in custody since the robbery. Defence counsel Michael Hourigan BL cited Dwyer's long-standing drug addiction and recent relapse following pneumonia as mitigating factors, noting he had been using his time in custody well. Judge Martina Baxter described the offence as serious and noted Dwyer's extensive criminal record. Although the validated procedural stage is listed as sentence, the court did not impose a penalty at this hearing. Instead, Judge Baxter ordered a number of reports and adjourned the matter for sentence on July 30.
A murder trial at the Central Criminal Court heard that a 25-year-old man from Annaly Court, Longford fatally stabbed another man following escalating disputes over a €300 cannabis debt. Rihards Lavickis has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter in connection with the death of Akadiusz Czajkowski on November 1, 2016 at Townspark, Longford. The State rejected the manslaughter plea, and the trial proceeded. Detective Garda evidence outlined how Lavickis told gardai he armed himself with a knife after his home window was smashed, intending to confront Czajkowski. The accused stated he encountered Czajkowski near Longford Shopping Centre and pursued him with the knife, saying he intended only to frighten him but decided to use it when the opportunity arose. The fatal wound penetrated Czajkowski's chest and heart. The trial continues before Justice Una Ní Raifeartaigh and a jury.