In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, John Maughan (31) and Terrence Maughan (25) were sentenced to two years' imprisonment for assaulting their first cousin, Edward McDonagh, at a Clondalkin Post Office on 27 February 2013. The brothers attacked McDonagh with knives, slashing his face and repeatedly beating and kicking him. McDonagh, who was returning to the post office with documents, was left with blood‑covered wounds that required stitches and staples. The Maughans had a history of convictions – John with six, including theft and drug offences, and Terrence with eight, including public order incidents and thefts. Garda Sheila Kenny reported that the brothers' wives had removed the knives before police arrived. The judge, Martin Nolan, noted the attack was not pre‑meditated but deemed it a very serious crime, leading to the custodial sentences. John Maughan pleaded guilty. Terrence Maughan pleaded guilty.
Jonathan McLoughlin, 34, of Sheephill Park, Blanchardstown, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to aiding and abetting an unknown person in a deception offence in August 2013. He had previously been convicted of criminal damage and possession of a knife. McLoughlin admitted that he had been receiving small amounts of cannabis and that he had provided his bank card and account details to an unknown man. The scam involved advertising tickets for the Electric Picnic on the Donedeal website and a man who had posted an ad for a car engine. A total of €2,630 was transferred to McLoughlin's account, most of which was withdrawn from ATMs. Gardaí stopped the account after the victims reported it, and the balance of €1,845 was frozen. McLoughlin was not arrested until February 2014, when he made admissions. The case was adjourned to January to allow a Probation Service report.
Christiane Moringa Fortis, 28, of São Paulo, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to importing €64,000 worth of cocaine at Dublin Airport on 14 May 2014. She was originally sentenced to four years' imprisonment on 16 December 2014. On appeal, the Court of Appeal found the sentencing judge had erred in his approach. The three‑judge panel, led by Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan, imposed a new sentence of four years' imprisonment with the final 18 months suspended. Fortis had admitted possession of the drug, revealing 10 pellets in her vagina and additional pellets in her bra, underwear and sanitary towels. She claimed she was motivated by a need for money to pay legal fees to regain custody of her seven‑year‑old child in Brazil. She had no prior convictions and expressed remorse. The appeal concluded that she must serve a sentence to act as a deterrent, but the suspended portion was applied.
Jason Campbell, 35, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to four years in prison for offences committed on February 24, 2015. Campbell pleaded guilty to two charges of stealing by using force or putting someone in fear that force would be used, and one charge of attempted robbery. Judge Martin Nolan suspended the final 18 months of the sentence on strict conditions, requiring Campbell to co-operate with the Probation Service for that period. The court heard that Campbell, armed with a hatchet, raided Glenview Post Office in Tallaght, where he allegedly terrified customers into handing over €45, before robbing €2,200 from a doctor's surgery on Old Bawn Way. Garda Stephen Murray testified that Campbell was arrested after evading initial capture by hiding under a parked truck. The judge noted Campbell's long history of serious convictions, including a 13-year sentence for armed robbery in May 2005, from which he was released early after serving ten years. Despite defense counsel Sarah-Jane O'Callaghan's arguments that Campbell was a long-term addict motivated to change and had become drug-free, the judge refused bail for treatment due to his criminal record. The matter was finalized with this sentence.
A 23‑year‑old Tipperary man was sentenced to four years' imprisonment for having sex with a 14‑year‑old babysitter while walking her home on 3 February 2013. He pleaded guilty to the sexual act but was acquitted of rape by the trial judge. The court noted he had 21 prior convictions, including burglary, theft, criminal damage and drug offences. The incident occurred around 11.30 pm, with the sexual intercourse taking place briefly in an alley before he escorted the girl home. The victim's impact statement described profound unhappiness and hatred, yet she reported progress in 2015 and a supportive family. The judge, considering the early guilty plea and remorse, imposed a four‑year term with the final 18 months suspended, ordered registration as a sex offender and required probation‑based treatment upon release.
Carol Murray, a 29-year-old single mother from Baldoyle, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing 4.1kg of cannabis herb worth just under €84,000. The drugs were found at her former Merchant Court premises in Baldoyle on October 4, 2014. Gardaí discovered the cannabis packages inside and on top of a pink suitcase after obtaining a search warrant, following the arrest of her co-accused near Newlands Cross. Murray has no previous convictions. Her defense counsel, Caroline Biggs SC, argued that Murray was "coerced" and "naive," having been influenced by her male friend, who was jailed for three years for his role in the offence. The co-accused admitted in interview that he had pressured Murray to store the drugs due to a gambling debt. Judge Martin Nolan accepted that Murray was at the lowest possible level of involvement and that her co-accused was the "primary mover." However, the judge noted the seriousness of the crime. Taking into account that Murray is a hard-working mother and unlikely to reoffend, Judge Nolan suspended a three-year sentence for three years. The matter was finalized with this suspended sentence.
Mark Egan, 36, a homeless Dublin drug addict, was jailed for four and a half years for aggravated burglary and robbery. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to burglary on Kildare Road, Crumlin, on 24 May 2014, and robbery at Smock Alley Theatre on 16 June 2014. His prior convictions include six burglaries, drug offences, possession of knives, a blood‑filled syringe and robbery. The burglary involved a break‑in at Gerard Byrne's home, where Egan struck Byrne with a claw hammer and was dragged into the utility room until Gardaí arrived. Byrne suffered a head cut and wrist injury. At the theatre, Egan used a kitchen knife to take €200 and cards from a cash box, returned the phone, and left the scene. Garda testimony and CCTV footage supported the charges. The judge noted Egan's drug addiction, homelessness, and prior attempts at reform, and imposed the sentence back‑dated to August 2014.
Sebastian Charzynski, a 30-year-old man from Crumlin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of cannabis with an estimated value of €77,600 and cultivation of plants at an apartment on October 25, 2014. The case reached the sentence stage before Judge Martin Nolan. Prosecution evidence indicated that gardaí detected the odour of cannabis on Aungier Street, traced it to the Grafton Hall complex, and entered the flat with a warrant. They discovered 45 plants in a tent in the sitting room and 51 mature plants in another room, along with ventilation equipment. Charzynski admitted to the charges. Judge Nolan noted there was no evidence the drugs were prepared for distribution or that the defendant profited from dealing. The judge stated it would be unjust to jail the man on that basis. He sentenced Charzynski to four years in prison, which was suspended in full on strict conditions. The defence, represented by Diarmaid McGuinness SC, submitted medical reports citing a dislocated vertebrae and claimed the defendant grew the cannabis for medical problems following a 2010 road traffic accident. The prosecution accepted that none of the drugs were bagged up and that the defendant was in the process of harvesting older plants.
Liam Dowling, 44, of Fitzgibbon Court, was found guilty of killing a protected Jack Russell dog at Clonliffe College on 19 August 2014. Witnesses saw him swing the dog overhead up to 30 times, put his foot on its head, and pull the lead tight. A vet found the dog died from repeated blunt‑force trauma. Dowling claimed the nine‑year‑old pet had been ill for up to five months and he could not afford veterinary care. He pleaded guilty and admitted killing the animal. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, after a Probation Service assessment, imposed 200 hours of community service instead of a two‑year prison term. Judge Martin Nolan declined to ban Dowling from keeping dogs, citing his role as a caring parent and his lack of a cruelty history. Dowling has 12 prior convictions, including a four‑and‑a‑half‑year drug sentence.
Stephen Reddington, 32, of Wheatfield Avenue, Clondalkin, Dublin, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of heroin for sale or supply after a search of his garden shed on 21 November 2011 revealed over €1.2 million worth of drugs in cylindrical containers and mixing agents. Gardaí had initially found no drugs in the house but were directed to the shed, where fingerprints were found on some items. Reddington had 28 prior convictions and had worked as a painter and decorator. The case was first dismissed in 2013 by Judge Mary Ellen Ring because the search warrant was not lawfully granted, but the Court of Appeal reinstated it. Judge Melanie Greally accepted the seizure as high‑value, noted Reddington's history of cocaine abuse but not severe addiction, and imposed an eight‑year sentence with the final three years suspended. She also acknowledged his efforts to address personal issues and his willingness to move on.
Abraham Turner, 47, of Cherry Grove, Walkinstown, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to burglary of cash and gold at Hatton Goldsmiths, Citywest Shopping Centre, on 16 January 2014. CCTV footage showed him jumping over the stall counter, prying a locked press open with a screwdriver and removing €1,050 in cash, gold worth €2,156 and two cheques totalling €750. Turner initially denied involvement but later admitted the burglary, saying he used the proceeds to pay a €1,500 drug debt from his heroin addiction. He has 106 previous convictions, including a 1991 manslaughter sentence and a 2004 drug supply conviction. He has been waiting six weeks for a place at the Tiglin residential drug treatment centre. Judge Melanie Greally adjourned his sentencing to 16 December 2015 so he can secure a treatment place.
Rory Monaghan, 48, of Clondalkin, Dublin, was sentenced to four years in prison at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to possession of €200,000 worth of cannabis. The drugs were discovered in 19 bags inside a garden shed at his home on February 22, 2014. Monaghan admitted to gardaí that he had agreed to store the cannabis to pay off a drug debt, a claim supported by his defence counsel, Padraig Dwyer SC. Judge Martin Nolan accepted that Monaghan acted solely to settle this debt and noted his immediate admissions, lack of previous convictions, and good family and work history. The judge described the incident as a "huge error of judgement" by a man of mature years who had been taken advantage of. Monaghan, a trained chef and former truck driver, stated he no longer associates with the individuals involved in the offence. His eight and 14-year-old children were at home alone when gardaí forced entry, though one officer remained with them during the search. The court imposed a custodial sentence of four years, reflecting the severity of the offence while acknowledging mitigating factors.
A Dublin man, Peter Harte, aged 26, received a three‑year suspended sentence for a ten‑minute violent attack on two passengers, Pedro Mendez and Gabriella Leon, on a bus in July 2014. Harte, who had 11 prior convictions mainly for alcohol‑related offences, launched the assault after a disagreement over a seat. The attack involved head‑butting, kicking and punching, and Harte threatened to kill Mendez. The victims suffered bruising, blurred vision and other injuries. Judge Desmond Hogan imposed 240 hours of voluntary community work, participation in the Restorative Justice Programme, and possible drug, alcohol and anger‑management programmes. Harte was also ordered to transfer €1,500 he had raised as a token of remorse to the victims. The sentence was suspended, with no custodial time imposed. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Peter Harte pleaded guilty.
Alison Wilkins, 48, of Balcurris Park West, Ballymun, received a three‑year suspended sentence after pleading guilty to nine theft charges for stealing over €30,000 from Rita Keogh, a 78‑year‑old widow with dementia. Wilkins had become Keogh's sole carer, gaining access to her debit card and PIN after earning the victim's trust. Between July 2013 and March 2014, Wilkins carried out 57 unauthorised transactions, leaving Keogh's bank balance reduced from €33,000 to €13,900. The court ordered Wilkins to return €1,500 already recovered and to repay €28,500 to Keogh's family over four years, to complete 240 hours of community voluntary work, to undergo 12 months of probation supervision and to finish any recommended drug‑treatment programme. She was also directed to hand over the money she had raised so far.
Brendan Mangan, 43, of Wellington Walk, Mornington Park, Co Meath, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of €2.3 million worth of cannabis for sale or supply at two locations in Dublin on 27 March 2014. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to six‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment on 23 April 2015. Mangan, described as "gullible and easily led", had been intercepted by Gardaí in a car on the date in question, where half‑a‑million‑euro worth of cannabis was found. A subsequent search of his rented dwelling on Tonlegee Road, Coolock, seized €1.8 million worth of the drug. On appeal, Judge George Birmingham, sitting with Justices Garrett Sheehan and Alan Mahon, suspended the final 15 months of the sentence. Mangan must post a €100 bond and remain of good behaviour for the suspended period.
Darren Byrne, 34, of Harelawn Avenue, Clondalkin, was convicted of assaulting a man at The Village Inn, Clondalkin, on 23 June 2012. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and was sentenced to three years' imprisonment by Judge Martin Nolan on 24 February 2015. Byrne's appeal against the severity of the sentence was dismissed by Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan on 8 October 2015. Sheehan noted that CCTV showed the victim speaking to Byrne before Byrne punched him, and that the victim was later grabbed by the neck and had part of his ear severed. The victim suffered ongoing anxiety, depression and career impacts. Byrne had no prior violent convictions, had been on medication for depression, and had a history of heroin use and mouth cancer. The Court of Appeal found no error in the sentencing decision and upheld the three‑year term.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Shane O'Connor, aged 34, pleaded guilty to assaulting a prison officer while attempting to throw warm water at a fellow inmate. The incident occurred on 25 September 2013 at Mountjoy Prison when Officer Leon Maguire was refilling jugs of hot water for inmates. O'Connor rushed past Maguire, aiming to throw the water at prisoner Keith Hughes, with whom he had a prior disagreement. Maguire tried to restrain O'Connor and was struck on the forehead by the water jug, sustaining a laceration that required one stitch at Mater Hospital. O'Connor, who was serving a four‑year robbery sentence, had 29 prior convictions including assault, criminal damage, knife possession, robbery and theft. He was undergoing drug rehabilitation at Tiglin Centre and was complying with its conditions. The judge adjourned the case to January 2016 for a probation report.
Craig Boothman, 23, was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to a total of three years for a series of offences. He pleaded guilty to robbery at Shay's Pharmacy, a robbery of a Spar shop, criminal damage and burglary of an off‑license in Irishtown, and assault causing harm and criminal damage to a taxi. Each offence was committed while he was on bail for the previous one. Boothman had 27 prior convictions, including burglary, theft, assault and drug possession, dealt with at District Court level. The judge noted Boothman's violent behaviour when intoxicated but also his prospects if he remained clean. Boothman was arrested less than a week after the pharmacy robbery, where he used a knife to threaten a cashier and fled with the tills. He has been clean of drink and drugs since entering prison in March and has a job waiting for him in his grandfather's pub upon release.
Gerardo Martinez Rodriguez, a 34‑year‑old Spanish national, was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment for possessing and importing 1,029.9 g of cannabis resin, worth €6,179, into Ireland. He had swallowed 107 pellets of the resin over several days before travelling to Dublin, and was arrested at Dublin Airport Terminal 2 on 24 July 2015. Garda Tanya Shinkins reported that Rodriguez was escorted to Beaumont Hospital shortly after his arrest because the authorities feared the drugs might rupture his insides. He pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and admitted that he had concealed the resin internally. In his defence, his lawyer argued that Rodriguez had no prior convictions, had been unemployed for three years, and had intended to sell the drugs for €1,000 to help his sick mother.
Michael Cahill, aged 46, was jailed for two and a half years for drug dealing after failing to attend his sentence hearing in June 2008. He had pleaded guilty to possession of €23,200 worth of heroin for sale or supply at his home on Synge Place, Dublin, on 21 August 2006. Cahill's partner, the mother of his two children, died after he had pleaded guilty. He had not appeared for sentencing, leading to a bench warrant. He was arrested in Dublin last month after returning from the UK with his children. The judge, Martin Nolan, acknowledged Cahill's past heroin addiction and his attempts to manage it. Garda John O'Connell reported that heroin was found in carrot jars and a plastic container, along with a weighing scale, €2,210 in cash and other drug‑dealing paraphernalia.
The High Court has requested further information from Italian authorities regarding Aisha Ahmed (49), AKA Gloria Anwulika Aro (47), a mother-of-six suspected of being a drug importer in Italy, who faces a 20-year prison sentence imposed in her absence. Ahmed was arrested in Dublin 24 last year under a European Arrest Warrant issued by Italian authorities, which alleges she was the 'promoter, leader and organiser' of an association that imported, sold, distributed and traded 'remarkable quantities' of cocaine in Italy between September 1999 and June 2000. Her separated husband, Yemi Moshood Olatunde (47), AKA Roy Yemmy Andrew Aro, was also arrested in October. Olatunde AKA Aro, a taxi driver until he went into custody last year, was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment in Italy because he allegedly associated with other persons in order to commit offences concerning the purchase, transfer, distribution, trade and unlawful possession of large quantities of cocaine. Extradition proceedings involving Olatunde are still ongoing. Ms Justice Aileen Donnelly sought further information from the Italian judicial authorities concerning Ahmed's awareness of certain judicial procedural matters at certain times. The formal questions could not be agreed between lawyers for Ahmed and for the Minister for Justice and will be formalised before the court tomorrow. Counsel for Ahmed, John Noonan Bl, submitted that his client had not been made aware of an alleged scheduled trial. The question was whether she had actual notice of a scheduled trial, Mr Noonan said, and 'it appeared she did not have notice'. Notice was served on her defence lawyer and that fell short of the requirements for extradition, Mr Noonan said. Ahmed had dealt with lawyers initially while she was in custody for 10 days, Mr Noonan said, but swore she did not give a mandate to lawyers. Once she was released from custody in Italy, she came to Ireland and had no further dealings with the lawyer, Mr Noonan said. Ms Ahmed was 'a fugitive' in the words of the Italians, counsel for the Justice Minister, Anne-Marie Lawlor said. Ahmed had been charged 'with the contents of wiretapping' and was fully aware there were proceedings in being against her. She then 'fled the country'. Ms Lawlor reminded the judge that Ahmed had previously pursued an argument that she was not Ahmed and had 'lied to the court'. She was now asking the court to believe, contrary to everything the Italians were saying, her instructions to lawyers ended in circumstances where she believed she was free to walk away from Italy, Ms Lawlor said. Questions regarding Ahmed's knowledge at certain times during the process will be formalised before the High Court tomorrow.
Christopher Wiggins, a British citizen residing in Spain, has lost his appeal against a conviction for possession of cocaine for sale or supply. Wiggins pleaded guilty at Cork Circuit Criminal Court in November 2008 after 1.9 tonnes of cocaine, valued at over €400 million, were discovered on the vessel 'Dances With Waves' 250km off the Irish coast. He was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment by Mr Justice Carroll Moran on May 8, 2009. In May, Wiggins, representing himself, moved to appeal his conviction. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice Seán Ryan alongside Mr Justice Gerard Hogan and Mr Justice Alan Mahon, dismissed the appeal. The court held that Wiggins could not reopen his guilty plea, which he entered with full legal advice and in exchange for a reduced sentence. Mr Justice Ryan noted that Wiggins had not demonstrated that his plea was invalidated by erroneous advice, failing to surmount the high threshold required. The judge acknowledged the case's complexity, including potential legal issues regarding the vessel's boarding, but ruled that Wiggins had waived the possibility of acquittal by pleading guilty. Co-accused Philip Doo, a British citizen from Devon, withdrew his appeal before proceedings commenced. The matter was concluded with the dismissal of Wiggins' appeal.
Warren Bowen, a 48‑year‑old South African man living in The Palms, Kinvara, was found guilty of possessing €37,100 worth of cannabis for sale or supply at his home on 19 October 2011. He pleaded guilty at Galway Circuit Criminal Court and was originally given a wholly suspended four‑year sentence on 27 February 2014 by Judge Rory MacCabe. The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed, arguing the sentence was "unduly lenient". The Court of Appeal, hearing the case on 30 July 2015, imposed a new two‑year sentence but suspended it in full. Judge John Edwards cited Bowen's continued good behaviour, the stressful waiting period for the appeal decision, and the re‑establishment of his relationship with his 13‑year‑old daughter as reasons for the suspension. Bowen was required to enter a €100 bond to keep the peace during the suspended period and confirmed he would comply.
Leonard Dumbrell, aged 26, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for leading Gardaí on a high‑speed chase through Dublin city centre in a stolen car. He stole the vehicle in Ballsbridge, drove it at speed and in the wrong direction, nearly knocking over pedestrians on O'Connell Bridge before crashing it at Temple Bar Square. The court noted he had 108 previous convictions, including car thefts, assaulting a Garda and violent disorder, and that he had previously been allowed out on bail for drug treatment but failed to appear. Judge Mary Ellen Ring imposed concurrent sentences totalling three years, ordered that time already spent in custody be taken into account, and disqualified him from driving for five years. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, where the court considered the evidence of the chase and the subsequent crash. Leonard Dumbrell pleaded guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Christopher Murphy, aged 23, pleaded guilty to assaulting Sabrina Quinn on 9 December 2012, leaving her with a fractured jaw, a broken tooth and severe injuries. The judge sentenced him to three years, with the last 18 months suspended, and imposed strict conditions. Murphy's previous convictions involved drug and road traffic offences. Ms Quinn described the attack as "everything went black", and she later required hospital treatment, including stitches, tooth removal and a steel brace that forced her to eat only blended foods for months. The brace later snapped, necessitating further surgery. The court accepted evidence of Murphy's remorse, including letters from family, and noted his history of anger issues and counselling at Pieta House. The case highlighted the seriousness of the assault and the court's decision to suspend part of the sentence under strict conditions.
James Byrne, 43, of Crumlin, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to burglary of Drimnagh Castle Primary School, St Agnes Church, Assumption Church, and St Mark's Junior School between 3 and 13 October 2014, and to criminal damage at St Mark's Junior School. He was already serving a suspended sentence for earlier burglaries when these offences occurred. Judge Catherine Murphy imposed a one‑year jail term, suspending the final year of a two‑year sentence on the condition that Byrne keeps the peace and engages with drug‑addiction services. Byrne admitted stealing €56 from St Agnes Church, €200–€300 from Assumption Church, and causing €3,500 of damage at St Mark's Junior School, but claimed he took no items during the burglaries. He apologized for locking an 80‑year‑old man in the church. The court noted his 26 previous convictions, including five burglaries and three aggravated burglaries.
Dean Furlong, 45, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to handling €12,000 of stolen cash from a cash‑in‑transit robbery on 12 April 2012 and €30,000 from a robbery on 16 August 2012, and to supplying prescription tablets without a prescription and possessing drugs for sale in Tallaght on 13 October 2011. He admitted possession of 178,000 Zopiclone tablets and 19,000 Dalmane tablets, valued at €430,000, found in his van in November 2011. Furlong also admitted taking responsibility for €11,885 of cash found in an orange bag in April 2012, which had been taken during a robbery of a cash‑in‑transit van in Terenure the week before. Judge Mary Ellen Ring, after noting his completion of a drug‑addiction treatment programme and enrolment in an addiction studies course, suspended a seven‑year sentence, wishing him good luck.
Mark Kelly, 36, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to two offences of assault causing harm at The Schoolhouse Hotel, Ballsbridge, on 24 February 2014. Judge Mary Ellen Ring imposed a two-and-a-half-year sentence for these assaults, ordered to run consecutively to a three-year sentence for a burglary at Kincora Road, Clontarf, on 23 February 2012. The burglary sentence was backdated to July 2013. Kelly also received a two-year sentence for admitting to taking part in a robbery of an iPhone and wallet on Harcourt Street on 23 July 2012. Additionally, a four-year jail sentence for aggravated burglary, originally suspended in 2012, was activated in October 2013. The court noted Kelly has 34 previous convictions, including burglary and robbery, and has spent over 13 of the last 15 years in custody. During sentencing, Kelly apologized and stated he was taking cocaine at the time of the burglary. His defense counsel highlighted his history of heroin addiction, noting he stopped abusing the drug in 2006. The matter was finalized with the imposition of these consecutive and concurrent sentences.
Corporal Damian Flood, 39, was arrested on 15 March 2013 near Nutgrove, Dublin, with €9,814 worth of cannabis herb. He initially claimed the drugs were to pay a €40,000 debt but later explained he had purchased them after researching that juiced cannabis could relieve pain. Flood said he intended to use the substance to ease the suffering of his wife, who was terminally ill with breast cancer and died about five months later. He pleaded guilty to possessing the drug for sale or supply, apologized, and described the act as a moment of madness. Judge Mary Ellen Ring, considering Flood's long service, financial pressure and good character, applied the Probation Act instead of imprisonment, resulting in no conviction being recorded. The case highlighted Flood's three‑year‑old retirement plan and the potential financial impact of a prison sentence.
Dean Adams, 22, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm after delivering a running kick to Deomid Ryabkov's forehead on 19 February 2012. Ryabkov was attacked while attempting to recover stolen headphones. Adams, who claimed the thief was a friend, later expressed remorse. Judge Mary Ellen Ring imposed a suspended sentence of three and a half years, conditioned on Adams keeping the peace and engaging with Probation Service education and training programmes. Adams has 52 prior convictions, including assault, theft, public order and road traffic offences. He expressed a desire to apologise to the victim and continue drug treatment, noting his problems arise mainly when intoxicated. The court noted the assault was unprovoked and resulted in a severe skull fracture for Ryabkov.
During a Central Criminal Court hearing, Wayne Kennedy, 33, pleaded not guilty to murder and serious harm charges. The prosecution presented evidence that Kennedy threw a rock at the head of Sean Turner, 24, an amateur boxer, during a confrontation at David Spain's house on 26 December 2013. Turner had previously given Gardaí statements about his alcohol and drug consumption, which the defence highlighted. Witness testimony described Turner's claim that Kennedy had approached him alone, that Turner had no intention of a "straightener" (fight), and that he had thrown a rock at Kennedy's head. Kennedy allegedly responded by using a knife. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, was scheduled to continue on Monday at 2 pm. The court heard no further developments beyond the rock‑throwing incident.
Robert Spratt, 31, of Finglas, was jailed for two and a half years after pleading guilty to possessing 1,487 g of cannabis worth €29,758. He was caught at Finglas Garda Station on 25 November 2011, where a smell of cannabis was detected by Garda David McKenna. Spratt admitted he had been hired to transport the drug to settle a past debt and that he had been pressured by a €300‑weekly drug habit. He had 40 prior convictions, mainly for traffic offences, and was found to have a difficult upbringing.
Michael McDonald, 44, was arrested after a burglary at a priest's house in Cherry Orchard, Dublin, where he stole a Yankees baseball cap and a Lourdes purse containing €660. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Patricia Ryan imposed a suspended prison term of one year, suspended for three years, conditioned on McDonald keeping the peace and continuing drug treatment with Probation Services, and on his participation in victim empathy programmes. The burglary occurred on 15 August 2013; the priest discovered the front door unlocked and a side‑room window shattered, with the house ransacked. McDonald admitted the theft to Gardaí, apologized to the priest, and was wearing the stolen cap and purse when apprehended. He has 27 prior convictions, including a 2002 sentence of three years for robbery and assault offences. His defence lawyer, Keith Spencer BL, cited his upbringing in the Travelling community and his son's success as a professional footballer.
Kirsty Doyle, a 25-year-old woman from East Wall, Dublin, was sentenced to nine months in prison for smuggling a mobile phone into Mountjoy Prison. At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Doyle pleaded guilty to bringing a prohibited item into the facility on September 9, 2013. The court heard that she agreed to transport the phone internally in exchange for €500, a decision attributed to her heroin and crack cocaine addiction and homelessness at the time. Gardaí reported that Doyle initially denied carrying contraband when a metal detector was activated but subsequently handed over a phone wrapped in a condom, which she had removed from her underwear. She refused to identify the individuals who requested the delivery or the intended recipient, citing fear. Judge Martin Nolan acknowledged Doyle's guilty plea and co-operation but determined that a custodial sentence was warranted. In mitigation, her defence counsel highlighted her history of drug addiction, previous trauma, and current sobriety, describing her as a pawn in the scheme. The court also noted her 29 previous minor convictions for offences including shoplifting and common assault. The nine-month term represents the effective custody imposed by the judge, with no suspended portions or specific conditions detailed in the finalisation.
Darren McKevitt, 26, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to arson of a car, dangerous driving, driving under the influence, driving without insurance, three counts of assault, possession of a stolen Toyota Avensis, a stolen PSV certificate, an Irish driving licence and insurance certificate, and unlawful possession of a stun gun. The offences occurred on 31 October 2014 at Durrow Road, Crumlin, and on 24 November 2014 at Cushlawn Park, Tallaght. A blood sample showed he was five times over the legal alcohol limit. Judge Patricia Ryan imposed a probation bond, requiring McKevitt to work with probation officers, undergo drug rehabilitation and employment training, and to return to court on 1 July 2016. He was arrested after Garda Michael Creegan and Garda Micheal O'Sullivan chased him following the bonfire incident, during which McKevitt assaulted three gardaí and was later taken to Crumlin Garda Station. The court noted his nine previous convictions, including possession of drugs for sale or supply.
In July 2015 a Dublin teenager, Scott Cunningham, 18, was sentenced to four and a half years for burglary and assault. He pleaded guilty to breaking into a student's house on Beaumont Road, removing a patio door, and taking a mobile phone. He also pleaded guilty to assaulting Felipe Loughran on Westmoreland Street, where he repeatedly stood on Loughran's head and stamped on it three times. Witnesses described Cunningham as "dancing" on the victim's head while another shouted "kill him, kill him". Cunningham had 15 prior convictions, including burglary. Judge Martin Nolan suspended the final 18 months of the sentence, describing the assault as vicious and noting Loughran's injuries. The court heard Cunningham was not the ringleader of the burglary. The case involved a co‑accused, Calvin Cunningham, who was to be sentenced separately. The article reports Cunningham's background, including long‑term medication for ADHD and drug use. The sentencing took place at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
In 2008, Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin sentenced Perry Wharrie, 56, to 30 years' imprisonment for his role in the €440 million drug seizure at Dunlough Bay, the largest in Irish history. Wharrie, who pleaded not guilty to possession for sale, was found guilty by a Cork Circuit Criminal Court jury. Two accomplices received 30 and 25 years, while a fourth who pleaded guilty was jailed for ten years. The Court of Criminal Appeal, led by Justice John McMenamin, ruled that the judge erred in imposing the 30‑year sentence and granted Wharrie the opportunity for a fresh sentencing hearing, possibly in October. The appeal decision will be detailed later, but the court has not yet altered the sentence. The case highlights the severity of the original penalty and the appeal's focus on procedural error.
John Flaherty, 29, of Ferrybank, Waterford, was convicted of manslaughter for killing Patrick Murphy, 27, on 20 June 2010. The Central Criminal Court found him not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter, sentencing him to 10 years' imprisonment with the final 2½ years suspended. The Court of Appeal heard that Flaherty had entered the house of his former girlfriend, the mother of his child, at 5 am, found her in bed with a naked heroin addict, and that a child and €500 worth of heroin were present. He had recently been released from custody for slitting another man's face. Flaherty's appeal, arguing that the judge failed to credit 17 months spent in custody, was dismissed by Mr Justice Alan Mahon, who upheld the 10‑year sentence and the suspended portion. The appeal was heard by a three‑judge panel.
Darren Raymond, 45, of Ballyfermot, Dublin, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment after pleading guilty to possession of cannabis for sale or supply and shotgun cartridges. Gardaí seized over €88,000 worth of cannabis and 25 34‑gauge cartridges from his home following a surveillance operation. A smaller quantity of cannabis, worth €820, was later found in his work van. Raymond admitted he had been paid €700 a week to break the cannabis into deals and store it at his house, claiming financial pressure and a prior car accident had influenced his actions. He denied naming the parties he worked for, citing fear. The court noted his role was to prepare the deals for distribution, that third parties ran the operation, and that he had cooperated with police. Judge Martin Nolan described him as a good family man who had been remiss, and imposed the prison sentence accordingly.
In December 2014, a Dublin man, Graham Rosarius, 36, was found to have a Volkswagen Polo packed with cocaine, heroin and bagging equipment, totalling €79,930. The car was seized by Gardaí after a smashed rear side window prompted a search. Rosarius, of Glenhill Avenue, Finglas, later presented himself at Finglas Garda Station on 12 December, admitting ownership of the vehicle and the drugs, claiming he was holding them to offset a drug debt of up to €7,000. He had been in and out of rehabilitation clinics and had six previous convictions for minor offences. Rosarius pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The judge, considering his cooperation, guilty plea, and the circumstances of the drugs, sentenced him to three and a half years in prison. The case highlighted the Gardaí's role in detecting drug‑laden vehicles and the court's willingness to consider mitigating factors.
Dean Brennan, aged 28, was jailed after sending 13 "grossly threatening" text messages to his ex‑girlfriend Louise Hanna and her new partner Richard Doyle. The texts, sent on 18 and 26 December 2014, included threats to shoot Hanna, blow her head off, burn her house and kill both her and Doyle. Brennan pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Pauline Codd imposed a four‑year prison sentence, suspending the last two years on the condition that Brennan remains drug and alcohol free and continues counselling with Probation Services. She also ordered that he must not communicate with the victims or their families, nor approach within half a mile of their homes or workplaces for seven years. Brennan had been recently released from prison when the texts were sent. The court noted his prior convictions, including robbery and nine public order offences, and his participation in anger‑management and drug‑recovery programmes.
The High Court refused to surrender Yemi Moshood Olatunde, a 48‑year‑old taxi driver from Tallaght, who is wanted in Italy on a European Arrest Warrant for alleged offences involving large quantities of cocaine. Olatunde was arrested in October last year by gardai after the warrant was issued. In Italy he had been sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment for allegedly associating with others to purchase, transfer, distribute, trade and unlawfully possess large amounts of cocaine. Olatunde denied being the person named in the warrant. Justice Aileen Donnelly adjourned the case in June to obtain further information from Italian authorities about trial in absentia, which had not been provided. She ruled that the warrant was incomplete and that surrender was prohibited, noting that Olatunde had not been informed of the trial date or had a lawyer present. The court therefore declined to surrender him to Italy.
Aaron Byrne, aged 22, was sentenced to eight years in prison for stabbing a 15‑year‑old in Naas, County Kildare, after a dispute over a €250 cannabis debt. Byrne had previously demanded the money at the victim's home and had given €100 the day before the stabbing. On 12 April 2014, he met the teenager at a service station and later at a housing estate, where a confrontation escalated. Byrne stabbed the boy under the rib cage, penetrating the chest wall and left lung, causing a major bleed that required immediate surgery. The victim recovered after five days in hospital and returned to school and sport. Byrne pleaded guilty to intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm. Judge Martin Nolan imposed an eight‑year term, suspended the final three years, and ordered 18 months of probation. The case highlighted the seriousness of the assault and the victim's recovery.
The United States has requested the extradition of Gary Davis, 27, of Johnstown Court, Kilpedder, Co Wicklow, who is alleged to have been an administrator of the Silk Road website under the name 'Libertas'. The U.S. authorities charge him with conspiracy to distribute narcotics, conspiracy to commit computer hacking and conspiracy to commit money laundering, offences that could carry a life sentence if he is convicted in the United States. Davis's counsel, John O'Kelly SC, argues that extradition would expose him to inhuman and degrading conditions in a medium‑security U.S. prison, citing his Asperger's Syndrome and depression. The request is being heard before Mr Justice Paul McDermott under the 1965 Act. The U.S. case relies on evidence seized from the Silk Road, including servers and undercover purchases, and claims Davis had explicit knowledge of the drugs and hacking software sold on the site between June and October 2013. The hearing is expected to last several days.
Mrs Hong Thi Nguyen and Mr Phuc Nguyen Le successfully appealed their prison sentences at the Court of Appeal. Both had previously pleaded guilty to cultivating more than €1 million worth of cannabis at an industrial unit in Kells Business Park, Co Meath, on April 13, 2013. At Trim Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Michael O'Shea had sentenced Mrs Nguyen to 10 years imprisonment with the final four-and-a-half years suspended, and Mr Le to 10 years with the final three years suspended. The appellate panel, led by Mr Justice Alan Mahon, found an error in principle, noting the sentencing judge failed to account for the appellants' limited roles as workers or 'gardeners' who were brought into the country for that purpose. The court heard they had no involvement in the operation's setup, planning, or financing. A new sentence of five years imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended, was imposed on Mr Le. Mrs Nguyen received a new sentence of three-and-a-half years imprisonment, with the final six months suspended. The court noted Mr Le had a relevant previous conviction in the UK in 2007, while Mrs Nguyen had none. As both had been in custody since their arrest in 2013, the court heard that Mrs Nguyen's new sentence had effectively been served.
Michael Byrne, a 25‑year‑old father of two from Kilbarrack, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to stealing €3,000 in coins from a G4S cash services van on 26 March 2014 and to robbing €450 from a Paddy Power shop on 25 April 2014. He admitted the theft after fingerprints were found on the van and that he had been drinking and taking drugs, which he said caused him to forget what he did with the coins. Byrne had previously been convicted of four robberies and 12 criminal damage offences and was already serving a five‑year sentence for robbery and criminal damage. The new five‑year sentence will run after the two‑year term for the earlier offence expires. The court noted that Byrne's use of a replica shotgun during the Paddy Power robbery was treated as a serious offence because it could have been mistaken for a real gun.
Brian Meehan, 47, from Crumlin, is serving a life sentence in Portlaoise prison for the 1996 murder of journalist Veronica Guerin. He was convicted in a 31‑day trial before the Special Criminal Court in July 1999 and also jailed on drugs and firearms charges. Meehan has applied to have his 1999 murder conviction quashed on the basis of new evidence that emerged during the 2001 Special Criminal Court trial of John Gilligan. The Court of Appeal scheduled his application for hearing on 19 and 20 November. The DPP's counsel, Paul Anthony McDermott, said the State needed two more weeks to prepare submissions, citing the volume of material since the murder. The DPP's motion to dismiss Meehan's application was refused last year, and the Court of Appeal will now consider whether the case should proceed. The hearing will focus on whether the new evidence constitutes a miscarriage of justice.
Simon O'Donnell and Francis O'Donnell were sentenced to two years in prison each at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to the unlawful possession of 244 cannabis plants valued at €195,000. The plants were found at a house in Meakstown Close on June 21, 2014. Gardaí discovered the defendants clipping branches from mature plants in a boarded-up house, alongside 65 plants in early growth stages, fans, lights, and plant food. Judge Martin Nolan noted that the brothers, who are volunteer boxing coaches, were "lower cogs in the drug producing enterprise" who were rewarded for harvesting the cannabis. Defence counsel highlighted that Simon, a father of six, was dependent on cannabis and medication, while Francis, an All-Ireland boxing medalist and father of three, used drugs recreationally following his father's death. Both men claimed they were paid an ounce of cannabis per hour of work. The court accepted that the defendants did not hold keys to the property. Judge Nolan acknowledged that the men are well-regarded in their community before imposing the two-year custodial sentences.
In a Luas incident on 14 August 2012, 37‑year‑old David Larkin and 42‑year‑old Suzanne McGowan attacked and robbed Izabela Portyka. Larkin punched Portyka repeatedly, spat at her, and stole her handbag while McGowan shouted abuse. Passengers did not intervene. Larkin and McGowan pleaded guilty to robbery. Larkin, with 30 prior convictions, received a four‑year sentence with the final two years suspended. McGowan, with 24 prior convictions, was remanded on bail pending a probation and welfare services report. The court noted the offence was "out of character" for McGowan, a mother of two. Portyka suffered neck and head injuries, later treated for migraines and psychological issues. The case was heard in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Jimmy Cash, 25, was convicted in February 2013 of endangerment, dangerous driving, driving while disqualified and no insurance after driving the wrong way up the M50, crashing into cars. He received a six‑year sentence with the final 18 months suspended. In March 2014 Judge Patricia Ryan imposed the sentence. Cash appealed against the sentence, but in July 2015 Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan dismissed the appeal, noting that the court had seriously considered increasing the sentence in light of Cash's prior convictions and subsequent offences. The court also considered the circumstances of the M50 incident, including the police response and the injuries Cash sustained. The appeal was rejected, and no additional jail time was imposed. The case remains at the sentencing stage, with no further outcome reported. Jimmy Cash pleaded guilty.