Balbriggan District Court heard three matters before Judge Dermot Dempsey. Jonathan Fitzpatrick, 26, of Balbriggan, pleaded guilty to using threatening and abusive behaviour on Drogheda Street in October last year. He was convicted and fined €200. The judge warned Fitzpatrick that he is sailing close to a custodial sentence and that further convictions would result in custody. Fitzpatrick claimed he could not remember the incident due to intoxication, though the judge noted no apology was recorded in garda files. Alan Boardman, 31, of Lusk, is alleged to have been in possession of cannabis for sale or supply, valued at over €13,000, and to have unlawfully possessed cannabis and PVP in Lusk last August. The Director of Public Prosecutions has directed trial on indictment. The matter was adjourned until April 9th for the service of the Book of Evidence, with Boardman remanded on continuing bail. Nicholas Hampson, 43, of Liverpool, is alleged to have assaulted Edward Connolly causing harm on New Year's Day in Lusk. The State is awaiting medical records to determine DDP directions. The matter was adjourned until April 9th, with Hampson remanded on continuing bail.
John Paul Lennon, 34, of St Anthony's Park, Rialto, Dublin 8, will be sentenced on 17 April for a series of offences committed while on bail. He pleaded guilty to two robberies on 31 December 2013 at a Spar shop in Dolphin's Barn and at Basin Street, where he entered wearing a balaclava, threatened staff with a large butcher's knife, and took cash that he later spent on drugs. Lennon also admitted to robbing a taxi driver in Dun Laoghaire on New Year's Day 2014, threatening the driver with a six‑inch knife and a pair of scissors, and to possessing €2,025 of heroin for sale or supply on 23 April 2011, when 13 grams were found concealed between his buttocks. Additionally, he pleaded guilty to an attempted robbery of an Esso garage on 16 April 2014.
Paul Carabini, aged 48, was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment with three years suspended for a series of armed robberies in Dublin. He pleaded guilty to the robbery of €3,050 at Permanent TSB in Phibsboro on 16 November 2012, to €300 from Mr Sims Shop on 13 June 2013, and to €280 and four pairs of shoes from Shoe Rack on 4 December 2013. He also pleaded guilty to attempted robberies at Hamilton Pharmacy, Dowling's Pharmacy and McDonald's in Phibsboro. During the TSB robbery he held a knife to a pregnant bank worker's stomach while demanding €10,000, and he held a knife to a shop worker's torso at Mr Sims. The court noted his history of 21 prior convictions, heroin addiction since age 16, and lack of formal education. Judge Martin Nolan described him as a "menace to society who caused fear and terror.".
Jeffery Smith, 42, was sentenced to five years in prison at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for possession for sale or supply of €108,114 worth of cannabis resin and €1,269 of diazepam, found in his home on Donomore Avenue, Killinarden, Tallaght. Smith admitted owning two stolen laptops and a stolen iPad, also discovered in his house. He claimed the drugs were held to pay a €25,000 debt incurred after becoming dependent on valium following a 2003 back injury. Smith denied being a dealer. The judge noted his modest criminal record and that he should have known the seriousness of his actions. Smith, with 20 prior convictions, did not reveal who he was holding the drugs for, citing fear of being shot. Defence counsel described Smith as having gotten involved in a situation far beyond his control.
A Dublin man has gone on trial at the Central Criminal Court charged with the murder of Emmett Connolly at a house in Cootehill, County Cavan on 29 September 2013. Kevin Moran, aged 30, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, a plea the Director of Public Prosecutions did not accept. The court heard that gardaí discovered Mr Connolly with stab wounds to his chest, shoulder and back at the property. The prosecution alleges Mr Moran used excessive force during an altercation between the two men, who had not previously known each other. Mr Moran's account suggests the confrontation arose over drugs and that he acted in self-defence with a kitchen knife. A witness who was present at the house stated the two men appeared to get on well before he retired to bed. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul Carney and a jury.
Swords District Court heard four matters. Gary Daly, 25, pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of PVP. He was deemed suitable for 240 hours of community service in lieu of a prison sentence and is currently engaging with the Probation Service. Ann Gavin, 45, pleaded guilty to theft of clothes and theft of perfume and hair dye. Judge Dermot Dempsey convicted her and sentenced her to four months in prison. Babatunde Eyinola, 41, pleaded guilty to driving without insurance and driving without a driving licence. Judge Dempsey convicted him, fined him €400, and disqualified him from driving for one year for the insurance offence, taking the licence charge into consideration. Ailish Hammond, 38, pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis herb. Judge Dempsey ordered a probation report to assess her suitability for 240 hours of community service in lieu of a three-month prison sentence. The matter was adjourned until April 20th.
Paul Bradley, 34, with 101 prior convictions, was sentenced to 20 months in prison for robbing Hickey's Pharmacy on Harold's Cross Road on 14 December 2013. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The robbery involved Bradley demanding money from the till, smashing the cash registers, and taking €480, while an accomplice stole prescription medication. Garda Paula Burke reported that neither man carried weapons but their hands in pockets caused concern. Both fled the pharmacy and were chased by Gardaí; Bradley was caught in a taxi but escaped through gardens before being arrested the next day. Judge Martin Nolan, who had previously described Bradley as a "gentle giant", noted his long-term drug addiction and his desire to rehabilitate, and accepted his plea of guilty before sentencing. Luigi Rea BL argued for a chance to prove his client's commitment to drug treatment. The sentence reflects the robbery and Bradley's extensive criminal history.
Christopher McDonagh, aged 30, was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to five years' imprisonment, with the final three years suspended, for possessing 471 grammes of heroin worth €70,695. He admitted to holding the drugs for a week after being instructed by his dealer, who supplied him with prescription medication. McDonagh had previously pleaded guilty to the offence on 24 February 2013 and had ten earlier convictions. Garda Anton Keating, who agreed with the defence counsel, noted that McDonagh, though addicted to medication, had an anti‑heroin stance and had tried to help friends quit. He was found to have been in fear of the man to whom he owed money. The judge, Mary Ellen Ring, accepted his full responsibility, noted his cooperation with Gardaí, and back‑dated the sentence to 11 November 2014, ordering him to comply with probation services for 18 months upon release.
Christopher Coakley, a 23‑year‑old heroin addict, pleaded guilty to unlawfully seizing a woman's car with her child in the back seat on 5 August 2012. He was sentenced to three years' imprisonment by Judge Desmond Hogan on 25 February 2013. The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed, arguing that the judge had not adequately considered Coakley's 92 prior convictions and the fact that he had previously received a fully suspended five‑year sentence. The Court of Appeal, led by Justice Seán Ryan, agreed that the original sentence was unduly lenient and ordered a new sentence to be imposed on 27 March. Coakley has been a heroin addict since age 13 and has spent most of his life in custody since age 14. He has been drug‑free since September, according to his mother, Paula Johnston. The Court of Appeal has remanded him in custody pending the new sentence.
In February 2015, Joseph O'Toole, aged 19, avoided a jail term after pleading guilty to two counts of robbery at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The court, led by Judge Mary Ellen Ring, sentenced him to three years in prison but suspended the sentence in full, citing his efforts to address drug addiction. O'Toole was involved in two separate attacks on Church Road, Mulhuddart. The first, an assault on a pensioner named Fred Mulligan, involved a bicycle strike, kicking, and a demand for money, resulting in Mulligan receiving €100 and hospital treatment. The second attack targeted Isabella Szyrajew, who was cycling with groceries; O'Toole and a co‑accused knocked her off her bike, beat her, dragged her by her rucksack, and stole €50 worth of goods. Garda Alan Gordon witnessed the second assault and later arrested O'Toole after a violent struggle.
Adam O'Mara, aged 20 and resident in County Louth, received a suspended sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following a high-speed pursuit on the N1 Motorway near Drogheda on 8 February 2012. O'Mara pleaded guilty to unlawful use of a stolen white Toyota Dyna, dangerous driving, and driving without insurance. During the 40-minute chase, the then 17-year-old attempted to ram a garda vehicle on four occasions whilst weaving through traffic and overtaking dangerously. He also threw objects from the vehicle before it came to a stop due to mechanical failure. Judge Mary Ellen Ring imposed a two-and-a-half-year custodial sentence, wholly suspended, and disqualified him from driving for four years. In mitigation, the court noted O'Mara's completion of a welding course and his engagement with drug treatment services since the offence. He was ordered to comply with probation supervision and maintain good behaviour for the period of the suspended sentence.
Sean McAuley, 20, pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of Ketamine, MDMA, and cannabis for sale or supply. Following the completion of voluntary work and a positive Probation Report, Judge Dermot Dempsey struck out the case. In a separate matter, John Butterly, 39, pleaded guilty to assaulting Peter Thompson and producing a baseball bat. Lorraine Butterly, 34, is charged with assaulting three individuals and producing a rolling pin. Peter Thompson, 41, pleaded guilty to assaulting John Butterly. All three were remanded on continuing bail until April 13th for a hearing at Swords District Court. Zacheaus Odinga, 45, pleaded guilty to driving without insurance on Drogheda Street in Balbriggan. Judge Dempsey convicted him, fined him €400, and declined to invoke disqualification under special circumstances. The report also notes that David Cummins, 25, is charged with attempting to steal cash and a can of Coke; his case is scheduled for March 30th. Jade Gannon, 32, pleaded guilty to theft and non-payment of a taxi fare, receiving fines of €100 and €75 respectively. Andrea Bunce, 44, is alleged to have stolen stock and cash; she was remanded on continuing bail until February 12th. John Maxwell, 36, is charged with possession of cannabis; his case was adjourned until March 12th for the service of the Book of Evidence.
Cian Johnston, a 19‑year‑old Dublin student, received a four‑year suspended sentence after pleading guilty to possession of almost 1,800 ecstasy tablets. Gardaí found 980 tablets in his backpack and 802 at his home, with the drugs valued at €17,820. Johnston claimed he was paid €300 to transport the tablets to a Luas stop at the Point Theatre, stating he had no intention of using them and was merely "minding and transporting" them for money. He was nervous and reluctant to name the individuals who hired him, fearing retribution. His defence highlighted his lack of prior convictions, his cooperation with police, and his law‑abiding family background. Judge Martin Nolan noted Johnston's age and cooperation, and imposed a suspended four‑year sentence, warning that future offences could lead to imprisonment.
Istvan Hatos, 31, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to cultivating cannabis at his home to treat sleep apnoea. Gardaí raided his house on 17 February 2014 and found 32 mature plants in two tents upstairs, 10 immature plants in a downstairs bathroom, and dried leaves on a bedroom door. Hatos said he bought seeds online, learned growing from YouTube, and had not intended to sell the crop, hoping instead to have a year's supply for his condition. He had previously been convicted of using a false instrument to claim welfare. Judge Martin Nolan noted the unexpected success of the cultivation, Hatos' cooperation, and lack of intent to sell, and sentenced him to 18 months in prison, suspended on strict conditions.
In August 2013, 33‑year‑old Mark Pierce was caught stealing from a church poor box in Inchicore. While being restrained by Father William Fitzpatrick (67) and John McShane (47), he threatened the priest with an uncapped syringe, saying he would gouge him, and then urinated on himself. Pierce, a father of four, pleaded guilty to theft and threatening to injure a priest. He had prior drug convictions. Judge Martin Nolan described the theft as "a pretty offensive crime but not a serious one" and noted the frightening nature of Pierce's behaviour. The priest and McShane had to use all their strength to restrain him. Pierce later admitted he had used the syringe earlier that day and was attempting to fish coins from the poor box to fund his €40‑a‑day drug habit. He was sentenced to one year in prison.
A new judge will be assigned to hear the extradition case of Gary Davis, a 26‑year‑old Wicklow man, who is wanted in the United States to face charges of conspiracy to distribute narcotics, conspiracy to commit computer hacking and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Davis is alleged to have acted as an administrator on the underground website Silkroad, using the name "Libertas," a site described by U.S. authorities as a "sprawling black market bazaar" where drugs, firearms and counterfeit money were sold. He was first arrested on a warrant issued by the High Court in January and is currently on bail. Counsel for the Attorney General, Ronan Kennedy BL, asked the High Court whether it could assign a new judge to the case, citing little progress.
Adam Nevin, 27, of Clondalkin, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to three charges of possessing MDMA for sale or supply at Sin Nightclub, Clondalkin Community Centre and Clondalkin Shopping Centre in September 2012. He had 23 prior convictions, including two drug‑dealing offences dealt with in the District Court. Nevin had approached an undercover Garda at a nightclub, offered to sell ecstasy tablets, and the officer paid €20 for four tablets, then €60 for ten tablets, and later €300 for a bag of tablets. Nevin was arrested after discarding the bag, which was recovered and tested as MDMA. Judge Martin Nolan revoked Nevin's bail and remanded him in custody until his sentence on 17 February. Nevin's defence counsel argued that he had secured work in Norway and was working to overcome his addiction, requesting the court not to imprison him. The case remains pending sentencing.
In the Swords District Court, several cases were heard. Keith McNamara, 22, pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of €1,100 worth of cannabis and to its sale. Judge Dermot Dempsey offered him a chance to avoid conviction if he donates €500 to charity, provides drug‑free urine tests, and submits an updated probation report, with the case adjourned to 8 September. Michael Gibbons, 32, was fined €400 and given a three‑year driving ban after being caught driving erratically while heavily intoxicated; he had a blood alcohol level of 210 mg/100 ml. Christopher Kane, 30, pleaded guilty to intoxication and was fined €250. Michael Reilly, 21, stole a remote‑controlled car worth €34.99; he may avoid conviction if he donates €250 to charity, with the case adjourned to 9 March. Fergal Reilly, 33, was convicted and fined €100 for intoxication that made him a danger to himself and others. All decisions were made by Judge Dermot Dempsey.
Michael Fogarty, a 50‑year‑old Dublin drug addict and award‑winning poet, was spared a new prison term for robbing Hickey's Pharmacy in Tallaght on 2 March 2014. He pleaded guilty to stealing prescription tablets and about €100 cash. Fogarty had previously served 12 years for attempted murder in London. At the pharmacy he left a handwritten threat note, used a knife, and was stopped by a security guard before being taken to Tallaght Hospital where he was treated after swallowing a large quantity of the stolen tablets. His lawyers argued he was suicidal and had mental health difficulties that day. Judge Martin Nolan, noting Fogarty's prior 12‑year sentence, imposed a two‑year sentence and suspended it in total for two years. All recovered cash was returned. The case was heard in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Terence Weldredge, 43, was sentenced to 18 months in jail for sending explicit photographs of his penis and menacing messages to a 13‑year‑old girl between September 2011 and January 2012. He attempted to contact her 273 times over two days, asking for sex and sending a photo of a man in a balaclava with a gun. The victim reported being harassed "24/7", suffering depression, and attempting suicide. Judge Mary Ellen Ring suspended the final 18 months of a three‑year sentence on the condition that Weldredge attend psychotherapy or other services directed by Probation Services. He also admitted attempting suicide after being caught and has mental health difficulties linked to drug abuse. The court noted his cooperation with Probation Services and his efforts to address substance abuse issues. Terence Weldredge pleaded guilty.
Robert McLoughlin, aged 66, was arrested after gardaí received an anonymous tip and searched his Marino home. The search revealed seven cannabis plants in his attic, heat lamps, and cultivation paraphernalia worth €5,600. McLoughlin pleaded guilty to cannabis cultivation on 3 October 2012. He claimed the plants were for treating his back pain, a condition caused by a car crash in the United States 25 years earlier. The court noted his medical problems, cooperation with authorities, and guilty plea. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year suspended sentence, citing personal circumstances and the fact that the house had since burned down, with an ongoing arson investigation. The sentence was suspended, with no custodial term imposed. The case highlighted the complexities of cannabis cultivation laws before legislative changes.
A 32-year-old carpenter from Longford has avoided a custodial sentence following his admission to permitting the supply of heroin within his vehicle. Robert Nevin pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to an offence relating to a controlled substance found in a van he was driving on August 15, 2012. Gardaí stopped the white Ford Transit after observing a red light breach and discovered approximately 120 grammes of heroin, valued at over €18,000, concealed within the vehicle. Nevin had travelled from Mullingar to Dublin with another man to collect the drugs. Judge Martin Nolan suspended a three-and-a-half-year sentence. The defence outlined that Nevin, who had previously operated a carpentry business serving Donegal and Sligo, developed a heroin addiction following personal difficulties and his mother's death in 2007. His co-accused received a similar sentence with a portion suspended.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 28 January 2015, Jason Kirwan, aged 28, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for his role in a burglary at Buttercup Park, Darndale, on 3 October 2011. Garda Kevin Hinde presented evidence that Kirwan was linked to the break‑in through blood drops found on the stairs, after four men had smashed a door to gain entry. The men had previously threatened a doorman who had asked people to leave a pub, claiming they knew where he lived. The burglary involved the theft of military uniforms belonging to Corporal Michael O'Shea. Kirwan's 80 prior convictions included 72 road‑traffic offences, one robbery and a drug‑dealing conviction. The judge noted the burglars appeared to be seeking vengeance against the doorman, who was believed to be living at the former residence. The court imposed a three‑year sentence, reflecting the seriousness of the offence and Kirwan's extensive criminal record. Jason Kirwan pleaded guilty.
John Paul Gantley, a 31‑year‑old drug addict from Crumlin, was sentenced to two years in prison for two smash‑and‑grab robberies at newsagents in Dublin. In the first incident, on 2 February 2014 at Loughlinstown, he pretended to buy a Cadbury's Creme Egg, persuaded the shop staff to open the till, and then stole €105. In the second, on 18 February 2014 at Cardiffsbridge Road, Finglas, he entered a Spar, paid for a Creme Egg with a single euro, and while the sales assistant was giving him change, he grabbed cash from the till. He was caught shortly after with the stolen €105. Gantley pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a three‑year sentence, suspended the final year on the condition that Gantley engage with Probation Services for one year after release.
Alan Boggans, aged 39, appealed a 13‑year imprisonment sentence for possessing €1.9 million worth of cannabis resin. He argued that the warrant used to enter the premises at Celtic Truck Wash was issued after the search had begun, rendering the operation unlawful, and that the warrant was issued by a Garda who had been involved in the investigation, violating the independence requirement set out in the Supreme Court's Damache ruling. Boggans' counsel also contended that the trial judge failed to allow cross‑examination of a Garda who claimed to have seen Boggans run across a Mercedes van containing the drugs, and that the CCTV evidence was not fully disclosed. The Director of Public Prosecutions countered that the warrant was issued in an urgent situation and that all relevant evidence had been properly disclosed. The Court of Appeal reserved judgment for a February hearing. Alan Boggans pleaded not guilty and was found guilty.
In 2011, George Arundel, 27, was found guilty of attempted rape, sexual assault, rape and false imprisonment at Tinker's Field, Cork, and sentenced to ten years' imprisonment in 2012. He appealed to the Court of Appeal, arguing that the jury's verdict was perverse and that inconsistencies in the victim's testimony undermined the conviction. The Court of Appeal dismissed his appeal, stating that any inconsistencies were matters for the jury and that the evidence was substantially consistent. Arundel also appealed his sentence on the basis of mitigating circumstances, including his age and drug addiction, but the Court of Appeal upheld the original sentence, finding no error in the sentencing process. The appeal was dismissed, and Arundel remains in prison to serve the remainder of his term. George Arundel pleaded not guilty.
A 22‑year‑old Meath man, Graham McGuinness, was sentenced to four years in prison for driving a stolen car into a crowded viewing area at Dublin Airport. He pleaded guilty to unlawful use of a car and a second charge of dangerous driving. McGuinness, who had been disqualified from driving for ten years, drove recklessly up an embankment, jumped out of the moving car, and caused a large crowd of plane‑spotters to scatter. The judge, Martin Nolan, noted that McGuinness had "put the fear of God" into bystanders and suspended the final year of the sentence, citing his youth and potential for rehabilitation. McGuinness had 41 prior convictions, including criminal damage, theft, burglary, drug offences and threats to kill, and had struggled with alcohol and drugs. The court heard he had been in care from age 12 to 17 and had a very difficult, unsettled life with little stability.
Swords District Court heard several matters involving defendants Emmet Fitzsimons, Antons Marchinkevics, and Gillian O'Donnell. Fitzsimons, 21, pleaded guilty to being intoxicated and using threatening and abusive behaviour in Swords. Judge Dermot Dempsey struck out the case after Fitzsimons paid €250 to the Garda Benevolent Fund, noting the defendant had apologised and completed a security course. In a separate matter, Antons Marchinkevics, 33, pleaded guilty to drink driving and driving without insurance following a crash in Rush. He was disqualified for three years for drink driving and two years for lack of insurance, and fined €400 for each offence. Marchinkevics provided a breath sample of 72mg/100ml. Regarding Gillian O'Donnell, 38, the court issued a bench warrant for her arrest after she failed to appear. She is alleged to have stolen footwear from Tesco Express in Balbriggan and to be in unlawful possession of cannabis. The matter remains at the pre-trial stage with no plea entered or finalisation recorded. Additionally, Caroline Joyce was granted a hearing date of March 23rd for alleged criminal damage and breach of a protection order, though she is not a validated subject in this summary.
In a Dublin court, Joseph Robinson, aged 25, was sentenced to four and a half years' imprisonment for the death of his best friend, Alex Doyle, also aged 25, after Robinson, driving a taxi while intoxicated and without a licence, crashed into a pole on 8 June 2014. Witnesses saw Robinson leave the wreck, leaving Doyle, who suffered fatal head injuries and a severed arm, on the ground. Robinson pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death, dangerous driving, criminal damage, drink driving and driving without a licence or insurance. The judge noted Robinson's long criminal history of 58 convictions, including drug and drink‑driving offences, and his disqualification from driving at the time. Robinson was also disqualified from driving for seven years and the sentence was back‑dated to the date of the offence. The court emphasised the tragedy for both families and the need for rehabilitation.
Gareth Byrne, 32, was arrested after pouring petrol on himself outside Clontarf Garda Station and threatening to set himself and the station on fire. He had been stopped during a routine traffic check, his car seized for lack of proof of insurance, though it was later found to be insured. After the seizure, Byrne became irate, returned to the station, and declared he would burn it down. He bought petrol, returned, poured it on himself, and held a lighter above his head for about a minute before the gardaí persuaded him to drop it. He pleaded guilty to reckless endangerment. Judge Desmond Hogan imposed a two‑year suspended sentence, ordered 240 hours of community service, and required 12 months of supervision by the Probation Service. Byrne has 41 prior convictions, including road traffic offences, drug possession and knife possession.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, Joseph Robinson, aged 25, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of his best friend, Alex Doyle, also aged 25, after a taxi crashed into a pole on June 8, 2014. Witnesses reported Robinson leaving the wreck and walking away, while Doyle suffered fatal head injuries and a severed arm. Robinson also pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, criminal damage, drink driving and driving without a licence or insurance on the same date. He has 58 prior convictions, including drug offences and drink driving. Robinson was disqualified from driving and was over twice the alcohol limit. The court remanded him in continuing custody pending sentencing next week. The victim's uncle expressed shock and a desire for compassion rather than vengeance. The case highlights the severity of drink‑driving offences and the court's focus on the defendant's past record.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Gerard O'Neill, a 35‑year‑old former "delivery boy" in the drugs trade, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended on strict conditions. O'Neill pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis herb for sale or supply at three locations in 2011, with a total value of €64,928. He had previously been involved in the trade to repay a significant drug debt and had four prior convictions, including a 2004 drugs offence. O'Neill was also a victim of shootings in 2012 and 2013, which left him with physical and psychological injuries, and he has since been in a coma for three weeks after the second shooting. The judge ordered forfeiture of the cash recovered at the scene, O'Neill's van, and the destruction of the drugs. The case was prosecuted by Cormac Quinn BL and defended by Caroline Biggs SC.
John McMahon, 40, was sentenced to three and a half years' imprisonment after he attacked Christina Joyce at a Dublin methadone clinic. While waiting in line, Joyce was struck in the face and then had her arms and hands slashed with a blade. McMahon pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and possession of a pointed blade. The judge described the attack as vicious, noting Joyce required emergency surgery to save a severed artery and now bears serious disfiguring scars, loss of sensation in two fingers, and ongoing psychological distress. McMahon's 23 prior convictions were mainly for public‑order, drug and traffic offences. The sentence was back‑dated to his initial remand in December 2012. The court accepted his guilty plea as a substantial value to the State, given the difficulty of prosecuting such incidents in methadone clinics. The case highlighted the severe impact on Joyce's life and the challenges of securing witnesses in this setting.
Declan Doran, 23, of Ballyfermot, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of €6,806 worth of cocaine for sale or supply at his home on 2 February 2012. Garda Andrew Lyons reported that a warrant was obtained to search the house, where 83 g of a white powder was found in the shed. The substance was tested and found to contain 26 % cocaine purity, which Doran said was average for the market. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a four‑year suspended prison sentence, conditional on good behaviour.
In January 2014, Thomas Greene McDonagh, a 22‑year‑old drug addict from Mullingar with no fixed address, robbed Darragh Losty, a 22‑year‑old man with Freidreichs Ataxia who has a mental age of about 12. McDonagh approached Losty on O'Connell Street while he was heading to the Central Remedial Clinic, offered drugs, and lured him into a secluded area. He then threatened Losty, seized his coat, hat, mobile phone and bus pass, and forced him to stay put. Losty later managed to escape and called his mother for help. Garda John Saunderson presented evidence that the robbery occurred on the first day Losty was attempting independent travel to the clinic. McDonagh pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and was sentenced to four years' imprisonment, back‑dated to the date of his arrest. The sentence was imposed by Judge Martin Nolan, who noted that Losty's special needs were obvious to anyone.
In 2010, Douglas Ward, 38, of Louth, killed 18‑year‑old Niall Dorr in a prolonged assault on Castle Road, Dundalk. Ward pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was originally sentenced to 16 years' imprisonment, with three years suspended, by Mr Justice Paul Carney in 2012. The Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice Seán Ryan, found the sentence excessive, citing Ward's lack of pre‑meditation, no serious prior convictions, and his efforts to address alcohol and drug problems. The appeal court reduced the sentence to 13 years' imprisonment, again with three years suspended. The decision was based on the violent nature of the attack, the severity of injuries, and the absence of provocation or prior conflict involving Dorr. Ward expressed remorse for the killing. The case remains a manslaughter conviction with a reduced custodial term.
In a 2015 Court of Appeal decision, Edward Rooney, 65, and Des Ryan, 55, were sentenced to three years' imprisonment for possessing €1.2 million worth of drugs. The appeal followed a 2013 conviction where both men received 10‑year suspended sentences for holding 4.5 kg of heroin and 227 g of cocaine. The Court of Appeal found the original suspended terms too lenient after a successful appeal by the Director of Public Prosecutions. The court noted the men's financial pressure and the serious nature of the drugs, and applied a maximum mitigation to reduce the sentence to three years. The men were arrested after a Garda surveillance operation in Finglas, where a black hold‑all bag containing nine plastic bags of heroin and a bag of cocaine was recovered. The case highlighted the Court's willingness to impose imprisonment when the offence was serious and the value of the drugs substantial. The unnamed man pleaded guilty.
Ronald Walsh, 61, of Limerick, pleaded guilty to possession of €215,000 of cocaine and cannabis herb for sale or supply at Heuston Station, Dublin, and St Patricks Road, Limerick, on 2 February 2013. He admitted carrying €140,000 worth of cocaine on a train to Dublin to pay off a drug debt. Walsh said he began taking heroin in his forties to relieve back pain after other treatments failed, and that he had been a controlled heroin addict for five years before the addiction spiralled. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, presided over by Judge Desmond Hogan, gave Walsh a ten‑year suspended sentence, noting the drug value and the lack of custodial purpose. He will be supervised by probation for 12 months and must undergo drug counselling.
Leslie Hunt, 37, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison for possessing €29,763 worth of heroin in 2013. He had a history of drug dealing in Dublin's Darndale area and 41 prior convictions, 13 of which were drug offences. Hunt had entered a residential drug treatment programme in April 2014 and claimed to have turned his life around, describing himself as a "beacon of light" for the community. His defence argued that his rehabilitation should be considered, but Judge Martin Nolan noted the seriousness of the offence, Hunt's record and age, and imposed the custodial sentence. Hunt, a father of three, expressed remorse and commitment to ongoing treatment, while his partner also began a drug treatment programme. The prosecution highlighted Hunt's long‑term heroin use beginning at age 15. Leslie Hunt pleaded guilty.
Robert Canning, 31, was jailed for 33 consecutive months after pleading guilty to robbery and handling stolen vehicles. Gardaí first noticed him near a petrol station in the rain and later saw him running with a plastic bag. Officers chased him to an estate where he was hiding; they found a large kitchen knife, money, and notes in his pockets. The knife was used to threaten a heavily pregnant staff member at a Maxol Service Station, who later reported that Canning had taken €450 from the till. Canning had previously pleaded guilty to handling a stolen Nissan Qashqai, BMW, and Nissan Primastar van, each worth €7,000 to €11,000, and to the robbery of the service station. He had 62 prior convictions, including 50 traffic offences and drug‑related offences. The judge cited his drug problem and debt as factors in sentencing.
Swords District Court heard five cases presided over by Judge John Coughlan. Karl Dempsey pleaded guilty to being intoxicated and using threatening and abusive behaviour on a bus. He was convicted and fined €75. Winnie Joyce pleaded guilty to theft from TK MAX. She was convicted and fined €500. Stephen Wynne, who did not appear, was charged with unlawful possession of cannabis. The court proceeded in his absence, resulting in a conviction and a €300 fine. Drew Lynch pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of Ecstasy tablets. As his third drugs offence, he was convicted and fined €1,200, with recognisance fixed for appeal. Jill Devine pleaded guilty to theft from three shops. She was convicted and fined €200. All defendants were sentenced in this round-up.
Robert Melia, aged 48, was sentenced to eight years in prison after pleading guilty to false imprisonment, assault causing harm and making threats to kill. The case stemmed from an incident on 19 May 2013 at the Caulfields Hotel, where Melia forced a drug‑addicted woman to jump from a first‑floor window, threatened to take her to the mountains and chop her up, and strangled her. He had previously been convicted of rape in 1987 and had three other violent sexual assault convictions in October 1997. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a ten‑year sentence, suspending the last three years on the condition of good behaviour for three years. The court noted Melia's pattern of extreme hostility and violence towards women. The victim suffered fractures, bruising and ongoing psychological trauma, but did not attend the hearing as she was in a drug treatment programme. The case was prosecuted by Ronan Kennedy BL.
An off‑duty Garda, Detective Paul Johnson, used a traffic cone to stop and apprehend two robbers, Kevin Penrose (49) and Larry Brazil (52), after a raid at a Centra store on Westland Row. Brazil, a father of five from Cappagh Avenue, Finglas, pleaded guilty to robbery of €2,288 and possession of a knife, receiving a four‑year suspended sentence. Penrose, a father of three from Casement Road, Finglas, pleaded guilty to robbery and was jailed for four years, currently serving a six‑year term for a May 2014 robbery. Brazil had 82 prior convictions, including theft and drug offences, and had not committed a violent crime since 2003. Penrose had 79 prior convictions. Judge Martin Nolan praised Johnson's actions, the public's assistance, and Brazil's rehabilitation, noting he was now methadone‑free and seeking reform. The case highlights the Garda's proactive intervention and the judicial consideration of personal circumstances.
Swords District Court sentenced four defendants. Jamie Cunningham (18) of Balbriggan, who pleaded guilty to failing to comply with a garda directive, was sentenced to one month in prison after failing to complete a previous 100-hour community service order; a second charge of obstructing the Gardai was struck out. Genadijs Ogurcous (45) of Lusk pleaded guilty to theft after cutting security tags from items in a Swords department store and received a six-month suspended sentence. Ishtiag Ahmad (33) of Coolock, who pleaded not guilty to permitting a child under three to travel without appropriate restraint, was convicted after Judge Dermot Dempsey accepted garda evidence over his defence; he was fined €150. Kevin Harris (24) of Clarehall, who pleaded not guilty to driving under the influence of cannabis, was found guilty following a collision at Hearse Road; the court imposed a four-year driving ban and a €1,000 fine. All matters were finalised at the sentencing stage.
A 25‑year‑old Dublin man, Ross O'Leary, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to entering a house on East Road, East Wall, Dublin 3 with intent to assault and to assaulting John Shannon on 1 October 2011. O'Leary used a small knife, struck Shannon, who defended himself, and then fled. Gardaí were alerted and Shannon was taken to hospital, where he spent 14 days, including intensive care, and suffered a fractured skull, lacerations, seizures and ongoing medication. O'Leary had 16 prior convictions. Judge Martin Nolan described the offence as very serious, imposed a five‑year sentence and ordered credit for time already served. The case noted that O'Leary and his girlfriend had broken up about nine weeks earlier, and that O'Leary had been living a chaotic lifestyle. O'Leary expressed remorse, submitted a letter of apology, and had previously been granted bail to attend residential drug treatment.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Joseph Morgan, aged 31, received a suspended three‑year prison sentence for stealing from the parochial house of Fr Joseph McLoughlin in Blanchardstown on 7 July 2012. The judge, Mary Ellen Ring, suspended the sentence in full on the condition that Morgan be supervised by probation services for 18 months and comply with drug treatment, rehabilitation, training and employment directives. Morgan had previously failed to appear at a court date, leading to a bench warrant, but the court noted that probation services remained willing to work with him. He had been found in possession of stolen items, including a box of tablets and foreign‑currency notes, and had a history of 65 prior convictions, including two burglaries. The judge warned Morgan that he was "running a fine line" and urged strict adherence to the terms of his sentence. Joseph Morgan pleaded guilty.
Dean Slattery, aged 24, pleaded guilty to robbery at Raheny shopping centre on 8 April 2014, where he and two other men in balaclavas attempted to steal about €50,000 from a cash‑in‑transit van. Slattery remained in the rear of the Ford Focus during the robbery, which involved a failed attempt to open the cash box that was later recovered with a pick axe protruding. He was sentenced by Judge Melanie Greally to four years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended on strict conditions. The court noted the gravity of the offence and the fact that Slattery had admitted the robbery was to repay a heroin debt. He has 16 prior convictions, including theft, handling stolen property and possession of knives, and his defence argued he had made genuine efforts to address his drug addiction. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the robbery and the circumstances surrounding it.
Jonathan Byrne, a 33‑year‑old former national cycling champion from Tallaght, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for possession of cocaine. He pleaded guilty to possessing the drug for sale or supply at Belgard Heights on 31 October 2013. The court found him caught red‑handed, with Gardaí discovering two bags of cocaine, a suspected tick list and two weighing scales during a search of his rented accommodation. Byrne admitted selling the drugs to a few people but claimed he made no money and used most of it himself. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a two‑year sentence, suspending the last 18 months on the condition that Byrne remains drug‑free and keeps the peace for two years. He was also found to have a substantial drug debt of €15,000 and had previously received a six‑year sentence with two years suspended for an arson offence.
Owen Comerford, 27, of Dublin 1, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for multiple theft and robbery offences committed between April 2, 2012, and January 9, 2013. He pleaded guilty to charges including robbing Slovak Point on Arran Quay twice in April 2012 and stealing from Decobake on Bachelor's Walk. Judge Mary Ellen Ring noted that six offences occurred while he was on temporary release from Mountjoy Prison. Comerford also admitted to robbing €200 from The Butler's Pantry in Sandycove on May 8, 2012, alongside co-accused Shane Pollard, 41. Pollard, who has 29 previous convictions, received a three-year sentence with the final two years suspended, consecutive to a four-year term he is serving for another robbery. Comerford, who has 131 previous convictions, was also charged with escaping from lawful custody at Donnybrook Garda Station in July 2012 and was rearrested on August 9, 2012. His final offence involved robbing a pharmacy at Summerhill Parade on January 9, 2013, where he brandished a knife. Judge Ring imposed a seven-year sentence on Comerford, with one year suspended. Defence counsel Michael Bowman SC highlighted Comerford's severe drug addiction and requested an adjournment to secure a treatment bed at Tiglin Residential Treatment Centre, but the court proceeded to sentence him.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, French musician Serge Elmalem, aged 57 and without a fixed address, was convicted of simple possession of cocaine and two related charges of having the drugs for sale or supply at Dublin Airport on 11 February 2014. The court found that 1.84 kg of cocaine, valued at €123,000, had been hidden in a false bottom of his suitcase, discovered when customs officers x‑rayed him upon arrival from Madrid. Elmalem had previously denied any knowledge of the drugs, claiming a woman had handed him the bag in São Paulo, but he admitted the cocaine was in his possession. He had no prior convictions and had been remanded since the arrest. Judge Patricia Ryan, taking into account his serious health problems, sentenced him to eight years' imprisonment with the final four years suspended, back‑dating the sentence to his initial custody date.