A former chef, Keith McCarthy, 38, will be sentenced next year for robbing a Tallaght post office. On 9 May 2013 he stood at the door while an armed accomplice threatened a cashier with a lump hammer and forced her to open cash drawers, taking €10,351. The post office was crowded with 40‑50 customers and staff; parents asked a staff member to hide children behind her desk. McCarthy, who had relapsed into drug use after a decade of sobriety, was remanded in custody until 23 January next year. He pleaded guilty to robbery at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and had 15 prior convictions. The robbery was investigated by Garda Kieran Kilcoyne, who identified McCarthy from fingerprints on the getaway bike. The money was never recovered. The court noted McCarthy's history as a chef, drug counsellor, and his recent relapse into street methadone. He is on a waiting list for Tiglin treatment centre.
Thomas O'Donnell, 22, of Ballyfermot, pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis for sale or supply at his home on 8 June 2012. Garda Michael Noone reported that 3.34 kg of cannabis was found in a holdall in a converted shed at the back of the house, with a smaller amount in O'Donnell's bedroom. O'Donnell claimed he had discovered the drugs on a wall two weeks earlier and left them in his brother's room, insisting he owed no money and had no drug debt. The drugs were later valued at €20,552.88. Defending counsel Luigi Rea argued that O'Donnell's brother had no involvement and that O'Donnell had agreed to hold the drugs as a weekly allowance for his own use. Judge Mary Ellen Ring imposed a three‑year suspended sentence on strict conditions, noting that O'Donnell had no prior convictions and was not charged with a more serious offence. If he reoffends within three years, he will face prison.
Wayne Donnelly, 28, from Oakcourt Lawn, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm, false imprisonment of a taxi driver, and unlawful seizure of a car. The offences occurred in Palmerstown and Lucan in July and August 2013. Donnelly, who has 26 prior convictions, was part of a group that attacked a taxi driver, tied him up, stole his car, and threw him into a ditch. He also assaulted a man in Palmerstown, threatening him with grenades and physically attacking him. The judge adjourned sentencing to March next year and ordered a probation report. Donnelly's case was presented by Detective Garda Padraig Jennings, with testimony from Garda Caroline Flynn and defence counsel Anne Marie Lawlor. The article reports Donnelly's background, drug use, and claims of remorse, but no sentencing outcome is given.
Trevor Williamson, a 48‑year‑old taxi driver from Carrigaline, Co. Cork, was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment with the final two years suspended by Judge Patrick Moran in the Cork Circuit Criminal Court in May 2014. The sentence followed his conviction for possession of 99 kg of cannabis resin, valued at €594 000, found in nine boxes he had taken from a house during a Garda surveillance operation. Williamson's co‑accused was given a wholly suspended sentence. The Court of Appeal rejected Williamson's appeal, noting that the sentence was not excessive but that there was a significant disparity between his sentence and that of his co‑accused. The judge highlighted that Williamson had recruited the co‑accused and that the quantity and value of the drugs were substantial, justifying the imposed term within the statutory range for the offence. The appeal was dismissed by Mr Justice George Birmingham.
Swords District Court handed down sentences to four defendants. Adam Errity, 21, pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of cannabis herb for sale or supply. Judge Dermot Dempsey sentenced him to three months in prison, noting his 21 previous convictions. Robert Nolan, 46, pleaded guilty to a hit and run, failing to report the incident, and failing to remain at the scene. He was convicted and fined €100, avoiding disqualification. Ehigie Omoruyi, 44, pleaded not guilty to breaching a safety order and stabbing his ex-partner in the right arm. The court convicted him and suspended a six-month prison sentence. Martin Power, 58, pleaded not guilty to drink driving. Judge Dempsey convicted him, fined him €400, and disqualified him from driving for two years. All matters were finalised at the sentencing stage.
Gary Broderick, aged 42, pleaded guilty to an attempted robbery at Ulster Bank on College Green on 9 January 2012. The court found he was homeless, drug‑ and alcohol‑addicted, and living a chaotic life at the time of the offence. A woman in the bank saw him enter, screamed, and called 999; Garda Paul Burke later identified him and he was arrested. An imitation firearm was found abandoned at the bank door, and CCTV footage captured his approach. Broderick claimed he wanted to discuss a money issue with bank officials and had been to a drug clinic en route, making him unfit for interview. He has 79 prior convictions, including traffic offences and court appearances. Judge Mary Ellen Ring sentenced him to three years, suspended in full for 18 months, and directed him to continue housing, drug counselling, urine analysis and Probation Services for 18 months.
Brian Meehan, aged 47 and serving a life sentence in Portlaoise prison for the 1996 murder of journalist Veronica Guerin, has applied to quash his 1999 conviction on the grounds of a miscarriage of justice. The appeal is based on new evidence that emerged during the 2001 Special Criminal Court trial of John Gilligan, who was acquitted of Guerin's murder but convicted of cannabis importation. Meehan's case, brought under Section 2 of the Criminal Procedures Act, argues that the new facts disclosed in Gilligan's trial demonstrate that his conviction was wrongful. The Director of Public Prosecutions had previously sought to dismiss the application, but the Court of Criminal Appeal refused that motion earlier this year. Submissions for Meehan's appeal are nearly complete, and the Court of Appeal has listed the case for mention again on December 15, with a hearing date to be fixed thereafter. The appeal remains pending, and no further outcome has been announced.
Luke Dunne, 21, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Court to assault causing serious harm after a random unprovoked attack on Joseph Nolan, 24, at Fortlawn Park, Blanchardstown on 9 June 2012. Nolan suffered a life‑threatening skull fracture, a brain clot, severe facial palsy, nerve damage, and hearing loss in one ear, preventing him from working as a DJ. He was left unconscious, choking on his own blood, with his left ear nearly torn. The court sentenced Dunne to five and a half years, suspending the final 12 months. Judge Mary Ellen Ring cited Dunne's admission at arrest and lack of prior convictions as reasons for the suspended portion, noting that his cooperation relieved Nolan of additional trauma. Nolan's victim impact statement highlighted the lasting effects on his health, work, and personal relationships. The case involved a gang of youths, a bottle‑throwing incident, and subsequent drug‑related admissions by Dunne.
Deirdre Griffin, aged 25, was found in possession of a bar of cannabis resin worth €1,476 after her ex‑boyfriend could not pay for diesel he had added to his van. She was living in her car at the time of the offence and had a history of six road‑traffic convictions. Griffin pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and was given an 18‑month sentence, which the judge suspended in full on strict conditions. The judge noted her efforts to turn her life around, her stable relationship with a new partner, and her drug‑free status. Her former partner, Christopher O'Toole, received a five‑year suspended sentence for possession of €26,000 of the controlled drug PVP ("snow blow") found in the van, of which Griffin had no knowledge. The court considered the circumstances of her living situation and her past caregiving role for her mother, who died of cancer in 2004.
Lucky Osaseyi, a 36‑year‑old father of one from Ashford Place, Dublin 7, had previously served three years of a ten‑year sentence in Dubai for drug possession and was deported back to Ireland in 2011 because of a serious medical condition. In Dublin, he was charged with transporting 304 g of cocaine worth €21,284 at Terminal 1 of Dublin Airport on 28 April 2013. Osaseyi admitted swallowing 23 plastic‑wrapped cocaine pellets to obtain €980, claiming he needed the money. He pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Patricia Ryan imposed a five‑year prison sentence, suspending the last two years on the condition that he keep the peace for three years after release. The case was prosecuted by John Quirke BL and defended by Gerardine Small BL, who noted that Osaseyi's early guilty plea and full co‑operation were beneficial, avoiding a trial.
A Lithuanian national has failed in his appeal against a six-year custodial sentence imposed for cannabis cultivation offences in Donegal. Andrias Gruodis, aged 35, with an address in Ballybofey, had pleaded guilty in Letterkenny Circuit Court to possession of drugs for sale or supply and cultivation of cannabis. Judge John O'Hagan imposed concurrent six-year terms in July 2011 for the operation of a "grow house" where drugs valued at less than €24,000 were produced. The Court of Appeal heard that Gruodis had fully cooperated with gardaí and submitted that duress had played a role, with an undesirable element pressuring his sister. His barrister argued for a suspended sentence and voluntary deportation. The Director of Public Prosecutions countered that the offence was inherently serious, premeditated, and involved deliberate measures to evade detection. Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan, sitting with the President and two colleagues, found the sentence proportionate and dismissed the application.
Desmond Mulvey, aged 34, was jailed for two years after pleading guilty to possession of nearly €200,000 worth of cannabis, part of a €2 million drug operation. Mulvey admitted that a €300 payment had enticed him to participate, citing a €1,700 debt from his own drug use. He had three prior convictions for minor offences. Judge Mary Ellen Ring had earlier imposed a five‑year sentence, suspending the last three years on the condition of one year of Probation Services. The operation involved three men—Mulvey, Terry O'Donoghue (50) and Michael Lawlor (40)—who were caught after Garda surveillance at the Cookstown Enterprise Unit in Tallaght. The total street value of the seized cannabis was estimated at €2 million. O'Donoghue and Lawlor received ten‑year and seven‑year sentences respectively, with the final year suspended on each. The court noted that the men were exploited by others to play an essential role in the drugs operation.
In Balbriggan District Court, Clinton McCahey, aged 31, pleaded guilty to blackmail and extortion after sending threatening letters to his ex‑girlfriend's grandmother, Mrs. Eileen Reynolds, demanding €10,000 on 7 and 8 May. McCahey admitted he wrote the letters while "off his head on drink and Valium" and denied any intention to carry out the threats. He has since visited Mrs. Reynolds' home, offered an apology, and shared a cup of tea with her. The court noted that the second letter was accidentally posted by McCahey's mother and that a mobile phone used to contact Mrs. Reynolds was found during a search of his house. McCahey is currently undergoing drug rehabilitation at North Dublin Community Care and the case was adjourned to 22 January for a Probation and Welfare Report and submission of the letters to the court.
A man from Killeshandra in County Cavan has had his sentence reduced by three years following a successful appeal at the Court of Appeal. Malachy Boyle, aged 45, was originally sentenced to ten years imprisonment with three years suspended in July 2010 for transporting cannabis valued at over €400,000 from England to Ireland in his lorry. He had pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing 47 kilograms of cannabis resin and 10.7 kilograms of cannabis herb discovered at Airside Retail Park in Swords, County Dublin in October 2009. The Court of Appeal found the original sentence excessive and disproportionate. The presiding judge noted that Boyle had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity, displayed significant remorse, and was a man of good character who had been on temporary release since December 2013, working in the community. The court imposed a new sentence of seven years with two years suspended, dating from July 2010.
A Waterford resident, Zilvinas Antanovas, aged 27, was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after biting two Gardaí who were attempting to arrest him for drug offences. Antanovas pleaded guilty to possession of heroin on Exchange Street Lower, Dublin, on 18 January 2014, to assaulting two Gardaí, and to possession of the synthetic drug M‑CAT. He claimed he had been lured to Ireland by Eastern European gangsters who seized his passport and forced him into drug dealing. Garda Gerard Reddy described the incident, noting that Antanovas threw away a plastic bag containing €300 worth of M‑CAT, resisted arrest violently, and required pepper spray to subdue him. The judge remanded him in custody until December, when a final sentence will be imposed. The State is considering an application to deport Antanovas.
Debbie O'Reilly, 35, was arrested in August 2013 for selling cannabis from her home in Maple Avenue, Ballybrack. Police seized a kilogram of cannabis worth €21,920, 8 g of PVP worth €312, €8,200 in cash, a digital scale and an iPhone with drug‑dealing evidence. She pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis for sale or supply. O'Reilly had no prior convictions. After the raid she was interviewed by the county council for anti‑social behaviour, voluntarily surrendered her house keys and was subsequently made homeless. She and her 15‑year‑old son now live in sheltered accommodation. The court, noting her cooperation and progress in addressing her addiction, adjourned the case to July 2015 to protect her son from further disruption. The case remains pending for sentencing.
Christopher O'Toole, 39, was arrested after Gardaí discovered over €26,000 worth of drugs in his van following an accidental over‑fill of diesel at a petrol station. Garda Stephen Hughes reported finding a trail of white substance leading to a radio, where a large bag of white powder and a cannabis resin bar were located. The powder was identified as the controlled drug PVP. Additional PVP was found in the engine bay and a black laptop bag, with a total street value of €26,000, and cannabis valued at €1,476. O'Toole pleaded guilty to possession of over €13,000 worth of a controlled substance for sale or supply. He has 31 prior convictions, including drug dealing and possession. Judge Mary Ellen Ring imposed a five‑year suspended sentence, conditional on O'Toole keeping the peace, maintaining good behaviour for four years, and remaining under Probation Supervision for 12 months. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Keith Meehan, aged 36, was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment with the final three years suspended for five robberies, one attempted robbery and six counts of possessing imitation firearms between 2010 and 2011. The Court of Appeal rejected his appeal, finding the sentence imposed by Judge Martin Nolan appropriate. Meehan's convictions included robbery, attempted robbery and possession of imitation firearms, with 61 prior convictions, 16 of which were for robbery. He had entered a service station, an off‑licence, a shop, a bookmaker's and two pharmacies with imitation firearms, robbing a pharmacy of 700 tablets and €900, a service station of €900, and a shop of cigarettes and €600. He also attempted to rob a pharmacy in April 2011, but the owner triggered an emergency alarm. Meehan's early guilty plea was noted to have saved the State three trials with 53 witnesses. The court noted his serious drug addiction at the time of the offences.
Stephen Geraghty, aged 50, was sentenced in 2011 to 12 years' imprisonment for possession of over €4 million worth of cannabis and €350 000 worth of cocaine. In 2014 the Court of Appeal reserved judgment on an issue concerning the Misuse of Drugs Act as amended by the Criminal Justice Act 2007. The question was whether a person could be convicted of a second offence under the Act when no prior conviction under the Act existed. Geraghty had not been convicted of the first offence and was on bail when the second offence was committed. He had absented himself from jurisdiction in September 2004, turned himself in in 2009, and was arraigned on both charges on 2 February 2010, pleading guilty.
Christopher McDonagh, aged 30, was remanded in custody pending sentencing in February after pleading guilty to possession of 471.3 grammes of heroin worth €70,695. He admitted holding the drugs for a week at his home in Mulhuddart, following instructions from his dealer who supplied prescription drugs. McDonagh claimed he was holding the heroin to pay off a €2,500 debt and that he had an anti‑heroin stance at the time, having tried to help friends quit. Garda Anton Keating noted McDonagh's fear for his safety and his role as caretaker of the drugs. The court found he had 10 prior convictions. Judge Mary Ellen Ring revoked his bail, remanded him in custody, and ordered a Probation Service report and urine analysis. No sentence was imposed at this stage.
Paul Molloy, 41, of Cabra, was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for possessing €34,752 of cannabis resin, about 5.8 kg, for sale or supply. He admitted the drugs were stored in a locked shed at his mother's home and that he had sold them to support his family after losing his job as a dump truck driver. Molloy had previously been caught with €12,000 of cocaine in 2007 and served a three‑year sentence in 2008. He pleaded guilty, acknowledging he was a drug dealer and that he was not a drug user. The judge, refusing to suspend any part of the sentence, noted his prior conviction and the fact that he had returned to the same position in 2013. The court found no mitigating circumstances and imposed the full custodial term.
Swords District Court heard five matters presided over by Judge Dermot Dempsey. Keith McNamara, 22, pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of €1,100 worth of cannabis herb and a further possession charge. The judge described the alleged sales as a 'commercial enterprise' and remanded McNamara on continuing bail until December 8th for a restorative justice report. Donal O'Hara, 22, pleaded guilty to threatening and abusive behaviour towards gardaí; he was convicted and fined €300. Peter Lumsden, 53, pleaded guilty to trespassing in a manner likely to cause fear at his ex-girlfriend's home. He was convicted and sentenced to five months in prison, suspended for three years, with a condition prohibiting any direct or indirect contact with the victim. Mark O'Toole, 26, pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of cannabis for sale or supply. The case was adjourned until December 8th to hear the facts, and O'Toole was remanded on continuing bail. Michael Casey, 44, was found guilty of driving under the influence of cannabis and Xanax. He was convicted, fined €750, and disqualified from driving for four years, with the disqualification postponed until February 28th.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, 42‑year‑old Francis McGowan received a three‑year suspended sentence for robbing a Tesco Express store in Cabinteely on 25 June 2013. McGowan, a drug addict, had persuaded his old school acquaintance Alan Kane to give him a lift to the shop, asking only two euros for chewing gum. He entered the store wearing a high‑visibility jacket, sunglasses and a luminous bag, and pointed a plastic gun at the cashier to steal €300. McGowan tried to have Kane drive fast and break a red light, but Kane refused and McGowan left the car a short distance away. McGowan pleaded guilty, admitted the robbery was planned with a BB gun bought in Spain, and apologized. Judge Mary Ellen Ring noted his long‑term drug addiction and lack of recent Garda attention, suspended the sentence for three years, and ordered 12 months of Probation Service supervision.
Patrick Ryan, a 50‑year‑old drug addict, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assaulting and threatening James and Sally Mountaine, stealing US$4,000 and jewellery, and threatening to burn and kill them. Ryan was part of a masked gang that raided the elderly couple's home on 3 February 2010. The gang tied the Mountaines, beat them, threatened to set Sally on fire, and forced James to reveal the location of money. The Mountaines were in their mid‑70s and were preparing to leave for the morning when the raid occurred. Ryan was sentenced to five years' imprisonment, with the judge suspending the last two years of a seven‑year sentence. The court noted the threat to set the woman on fire as an aggravating factor. The case involved 38 previous convictions for Ryan, including nine years for larceny and four for robbery. The stolen property, apart from US$2,000, was recovered.
Christopher Tuohy, aged 22, was given a suspended two‑year sentence after a drink‑and‑drug‑fuelled rampage at Clondalkin Sports Centre on 14 November 2012. He pleaded guilty to trespass and criminal damage, and the court noted that he had 16 prior convictions for public order, trespass and theft offences. Gardaí caught him leaving the centre in his boxers, carrying a fire extinguisher, after CCTV recorded him and a friend "trashing" the reception, crèche, pool and café. The centre suffered €14,000 in damage, including broken glass, destroyed computers and emptied fire extinguishers. The judge suspended the sentence in full, citing Tuohy's progress in a training programme and his efforts to stay away from drugs. The court also highlighted that the people of Clondalkin were the main injured parties, as they were deprived of the use of the centre during the incident.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, James Mooney, aged 22, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after punching and biting off part of victim James Ferrari's ear at a GAA club in Ringsend on 1 April 2013. The judge adjourned sentencing to January and ordered an assessment of Mooney's suitability for restorative justice and community service. A victim impact report described Ferrari's ongoing worry, depression, nightmares, job difficulties and social withdrawal following the attack. Ferrari's father expressed hope to come to terms. Mooney was diagnosed by consultant psychiatrist Dr Sean O'Domhnaill with adult ADHD, described as impulsive and overactive, and linked to cannabis use. Mooney claimed he was not conscious of biting the ear and had no intention to remove it. Ferrari suffered €1900 in lost earnings and €350 in medical and counselling costs.
In a 2014 case, a 32‑year‑old man who had previously been declared a sex offender pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a young woman at a Dublin home in early 2013. The victim, who had gone to bed after a party, was approached by the accused, who admitted he had entered the bedroom to get a blanket, then kissed and touched her, and digitally penetrated her. He claimed he hoped she would think he was her partner. The court heard he had five prior convictions, including drug dealing. The victim rejected a €2,000 compensation offer from the accused and requested the money be donated to the Rape Crisis Centre. Judge Catherine Murphy adjourned sentencing to 10 December, ordered a probation report, and directed the accused's solicitor to pay the charity. The accused expressed remorse and said he would live with his actions for the rest of his life. The case remains at the sentencing stage.
Aisha Ahmed, 49, was remanded in custody by the High Court on a European Arrest Warrant issued by Italian authorities for suspected drug importation. The warrant accuses her of being a promoter, leader and organiser of an association that imported, sold, distributed and traded large quantities of cocaine in Italy between September 1999 and June 2000. Ahmed was convicted in absentia in 2005 and sentenced to 20 years in prison by the Court of Naples. She denies the allegations, claiming she has never been to Italy and that the name and date of birth on her Irish passport are incorrect. The court relied on fingerprint evidence that matched the prints supplied by Interpol, and Mr Justice John Edwards adjourned the case to 18 November, remanding Ahmed in further custody. Her husband, Yemi Moshood Olatunde, was also arrested under similar circumstances and claims mistaken identity. The case remains pending.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Amanda Murphy, 28, pleaded guilty to two charges of aiding the escape of robbers who had committed an attempted robbery and a robbery on 8 October 2011. The case involved two men who entered a convenience store in Harolds Cross, fled with a getaway car, then robbed a Centra Store on Lower Kimmage Road, and later mugged a woman in Ballsbridge. Garda Paul O'Hanlon described how officers found a Ford Focus with an imitation firearm and a balaclava, and that Murphy was the driver. She had no prior convictions and was described as vulnerable due to drug addiction. After attending all probation appointments and entering a methadone maintenance programme, Judge Ring suspended a two‑and‑a‑half‑year jail term on strict conditions, including probation supervision, rather than imposing custodial time. The two men received a partly suspended three‑year term and an 18‑month suspended sentence respectively.
Swords District Court heard several matters. Dwaine O'Connell, 26, pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of €3,000 worth of cannabis resin for sale or supply and €350 of cannabis herb. Judge John Coughlan sentenced him to eight months in prison, but O'Connell appealed the sentence after recognisance was fixed. Jandean Hyland, 26, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, but the case was adjourned until December 1st because the victim was not in court and jurisdiction issues needed resolution. David Bennett, 32, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm; his case was adjourned until November 11th for Judge Dermot Dempsey to determine compensation to avoid a prison sentence. Andrew Cooley, 21, pleaded guilty to failing to provide a specimen and was disqualified from driving for four years and fined €75; a separate charge of making off without payment of a taxi fare was struck out. Kevin Harris, 24, is alleged to have driven under the influence of an intoxicant; his case was adjourned until December 22nd for hearing.
In a robbery that took place on 22 January 2012 on Ballymount Road, a back‑seat passenger, Brendan Boylan, 34, held a rope around the neck of a taxi driver while the front‑seat passenger brandished a knife. The driver, fearing for his life, handed over €600 before the men fled. Boylan, who has 16 prior convictions, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He claimed he was forced to participate to repay a drug debt and feared a "bullet or a blade" if he refused. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to two and a half years' imprisonment, deciding not to involve the Probation Service because of Boylan's age. The taxi driver did not submit a victim impact report. Boylan's father argued that his son had been affected by family deaths and had struggled with addiction for many years, offering €500 to the driver and asking the court to consider the debt context.
Karl Zambra, aged 27, was arrested under Operation Marshall for dealing heroin and cocaine in the St Teresa Gardens flats. He pleaded guilty to possession of heroin and cocaine for sale or supply on 13 and 23 July 2010. During the operation, undercover gardai posed as drug addicts and approached Zambra, who claimed ignorance of their identity and offered them drugs. He directed them to a stairwell where drugs were hidden and later sold three packages of heroin to them for €50 each. The court noted Zambra had 73 prior convictions, including drug dealing, possession, and burglary. Despite this history, he received a suspended jail term, avoiding immediate imprisonment. The case was heard in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, with the prosecution led by Fiona McGowan BL and defense by Dominic McGinn SC. The sentence was a suspended jail term, with no immediate custodial time imposed.
In October 2013, Shane Cooney, aged 24, attacked Father Diarmuid Byrne, 70, in the priest's Rialto home with an iron bar, leaving him with a fractured skull and numerous facial wounds that required 26 stitches. Gardaí found blood‑stained iron bar and other items near the house after neighbours reported a disturbance. Cooney was arrested in an intoxicated state, pleaded guilty to burglary and assault, and was remanded on bail pending sentence. Judge Mary Ellen Ring set conditions for his bail, including residence at Tiglin, Wicklow, where he is to continue a 16‑month residential drug treatment programme. The case was adjourned to December to monitor his progress. The priest, who had been living alone, was initially confused and covered in blood when gardaí arrived at 1.30 a.m., and the house was ransacked but no items were taken. The court received a victim impact report and a medical report, though they were not read out.
At Swords District Court, Jason McDonagh (19) pleaded guilty to being in unlawful possession of €20 worth of cannabis herb and was ordered to make a charitable contribution of €250 by December 17th to avoid a conviction. Nermia Ibrahimovic (40) pleaded guilty to the theft of groceries worth €34.91 and was fined €300 with a warning that her liberty is at risk if she reoffends. James English (22) pleaded guilty to the theft of €130.39 worth of cosmetics and was given the benefit of the Probation Act. Mark Cole (34) faced charges of being in unlawful possession of cannabis herb, cannabis resin and cocaine for sale or supply, and the case was adjourned until November 25th. Amy Bergin (20) was found guilty of driving without insurance, without L-plates displayed, without an NCT, and driving on a provisional licence without a qualified driver, and was fined €750 and disqualified from driving for two years. Ryan Montgomery (18) and Dale Monks (19) pleaded guilty to non-payment of a taxi fare of €43 and were ordered to make a charitable contribution of €250 each by November 25th to avoid a conviction. The case of St Margaret, accused of being in unlawful possession of cannabis herb, cannabis resin and cocaine for sale or supply at his home address on April 3rd, and non-payment of a taxi fare of €43, was adjourned.
James O'Driscoll, 33, of Dublin 1, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to three offences. He admitted to producing a knife and threatening to kill Garda Neil Cepeda at an East Wall apartment complex on February 18, 2012. He also pleaded guilty to assaulting Garda James King at the Mater Hospital on June 29, 2012, and assaulting Garda Shona Moran in Crown Alley on July 5, 2012. Judge Mary Ellen Ring, who had previously adjourned the case to allow O'Driscoll to continue drug rehabilitation, noted that Probation Service reports were favourable. The court heard that O'Driscoll is now drug-free, working as a catering assistant, and fully cooperated with the Restorative Justice Programme. Judge Ring suspended a three-year term on strict conditions. She ordered a report from the Probation Service to ascertain his suitability for the Restorative Justice Programme, which he subsequently completed. The judge described O'Driscoll as reaching a fork in the road, contrasting his significant prior convictions with his current law-abiding path. O'Driscoll, who has 74 previous convictions, was on bail for the first offence when committing the other two. The court accepted that while he over-reacted to a dispute, the incidents did not deter the officers from continuing their duties.
Aisha Ahmed, 49, was arrested at her Dublin home on suspicion of being a fugitive drug importer in Italy, where she is wanted to serve a 20‑year sentence imposed in her absence. She was brought before the High Court on a European Arrest Warrant issued by Italian authorities, who have been looking for the Nigerian native for several years. Ahmed was identified by the Garda Extradition Unit as Gloria Aro, with a date of birth in December 1967, and she denied being known as Aisha Ahmed or by the alias Linda. She also denied having ever been to Italy. Detective Sergeant Jim Kirwan presented a photograph of Ahmed from Interpol in Rome and said the woman's fingerprints matched those sent by Interpol. The court heard that the fingerprints were from the same person.
A 26-year-old man born in Sligo pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to trespassing with intent to commit an offence at an ESB substation on the Ninth Lock Road, Clondalkin on 3 November 2013. Jamie Gordon suffered severe burns to his hands and feet after being electrocuted while attempting to steal copper wiring and lead flashing. He sustained entry wounds to his palms and exit wounds to his feet, with one foot left with 70 per cent third degree burns. The incident caused over €10,000 damage to the substation and left approximately 4,000 homes without power for up to one minute. Judge Mary Ellen Ring suspended a three-year jail sentence on condition Gordon keep the peace for five years. The court heard Gordon has 21 previous convictions and struggles with drug addiction, which motivated his criminal activity.
The High Court judge confirmed that the arrest of Yemi Moshood Olatunde, a 47‑year‑old Nigerian resident of Sundale Parade, Tallaght, was valid under a European Arrest Warrant issued by Italian authorities. Olatunde had been sentenced in Italy to 20 years' imprisonment for drug trafficking offences, including possession and sale of large quantities of cocaine, and was identified as a leader of the criminal organisation. Judge John Edwards stated that the person arrested matched the name in the warrant and that the court would consider any points of objection filed by counsel before the next hearing.
Kevin Roland, 62, a long‑distance lorry driver, and Seamus O'Hara, 29, a sales assistant, were sentenced to a combined eight years in prison for transporting €442,000 worth of heroin. Roland claimed he had picked up the drugs in Brussels from a Belgian or Dutch man, expecting €4,000 for transport, and planned to drop them off in an unlocked car in Ashtown, Co. Dublin. O'Hara was to drive the car to a business premises in Rialto. After stopping at a petrol station on the Navan Road, O'Hara drove to his Dublin city centre home and left white plastic bags of heroin at his front door. Both men pleaded guilty to possession of three kilos of heroin for sale or supply at Navan Road on 13 September 2012.
Anthony Harte, 24, of Inchicore, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to violent disorder at Morrisey's Pub in January 2013 and handling three stolen motorbikes in February 2012. Judge Mary Ellen Ring, who had previously adjourned sentencing to assess his suitability for community service, accepted a favourable probation report. She sentenced Harte to two years in prison but ordered him to carry out 220 hours of community service in lieu of custody, to be completed within one year. Richard O'Reilly, 29, also pleaded guilty to handling stolen goods during the same 2012 incident. Judge Ring ordered him to perform 160 hours of community service in lieu of a two-year prison term. Darren Foster, 35, who pleaded guilty to the same handling offence, received a two-year suspended sentence from Judge Ring last July. The court heard that Harte and Foster collected the bikes from a dealership, while O'Reilly assisted with the van. Prosecution evidence alleged Harte punched and kicked a victim during the pub altercation, though the victim and pub manager refused to make formal complaints. Defence counsel noted Harte had ceased drug use and that his prior convictions were for minor offences.
Edward McDonagh, a 35‑year‑old father of six from Lucan, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to 15 charges of theft of property from the Health Service Executive and the Department of Social Welfare for the period August 2008 to April 2011. He used the false names Matthew Patterson and John Paul Ward to claim €22,193.80 and €21,789.44 respectively, while also claiming legitimate disability allowance. McDonagh admitted to using the same photograph on identification cards and to having been instructed by an unnamed person on how to obtain birth certificates and PPS numbers. He also confessed to excessive drinking, cocaine use and a heart attack at a young age. Judge Mary Ellen Ring adjourned sentencing to December, taking into account his attempts to repay the fraudulently claimed money and ordering a Probation Service report to assess suitability for community service. The case remains pending, with McDonagh remanded on bail awaiting sentencing.
Leonard Dumbrell, 26, from Wexford, led Gardaí on a high‑speed chase through Dublin's city centre after stealing a car in Ballsbridge. He drove the vehicle at speed, up the wrong way on one‑way streets, and crashed it at Temple Bar Square. The court heard he nearly knocked over pedestrians on O'Connell Bridge while evading police. Dumbrell pleaded guilty to car theft in Dublin 4 and two counts of dangerous driving in Dublin city centre on 2 January 2013. He has 108 prior convictions, including car thefts, assaulting a Garda and violent disorder. Judge Mary Ellen Ring remanded him in custody until sentencing but granted bail to attend an eight‑week residential drug treatment programme, with a four‑week after‑care programme to follow. The court warned that any breach of the bail bond would result in remand in prison. The case highlights the Gardaí's pursuit of a repeat offender with a serious drug problem.
James Noonan, aged 21, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment after being caught with nearly €37,000 of heroin in a 10‑litre mayonnaise bucket. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing heroin for sale or supply at Balgaddy fields, Ronanstown, on 17 April 2012. Noonan lives with his grandparents and works full‑time as a carer for his grandmother, who suffers from liver disease and dementia. Judge Mary Ellen Ring heard the case in January and, after a delay to benefit the grandmother, imposed the sentence. She suspended the last three years on strict conditions, requiring Noonan to keep the peace, behave well for three years and remain under Probation Service supervision for 12 months after release. Noonan had no prior convictions, and a probation report placed him at low risk of re‑offending. The court noted that he had been drinking and using a small amount of drugs at the time of the offence.
Swords District Court heard several matters before Judge Dermot Dempsey. Brian Clarke, 28, pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage to Swords Educate Together School. He was convicted and sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for two years. The court ordered him to reside at his sister's address, notify gardai of any change, and pay €200 compensation by February. Dean Whelan, 27, pleaded guilty to theft from a shop. The case was adjourned until December 15th for a Probation report and urine analysis; the judge warned of custody if the report is unsatisfactory. Tracey Brookes and Karen Dooley, accused of theft from three stores, elected trial by jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. They were remanded on continuing bail to re-appear on December 2nd for service of the Book of Evidence. Adam Meehan, 21, pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of cocaine and methoxyphenamine tablets. The case was struck out after he complied with an order to pay €400 to charity and complete 240 hours of voluntary work, avoiding a conviction. David Lawrence, 19, charged with intoxication and threatening behaviour, had his case adjourned until November 17th pending receipt of CCTV footage.
Thomas Stokes, 32, a father of seven, was sentenced to four years in prison for a series of robberies committed while under the influence of a head shop drug. He admitted to robbing Austrian tourist Elzbieta Steplewski (55) in Clonee on 2 July 2013, and to robbing Lea Giannone (51) and driving under the influence at the Regency Hotel in Whitehall on 29 July 2013. Stokes also stole from a Maxol Service Station on 2 July 2013. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, where Judge Martin Nolan imposed a consecutive term of four years, suspending the final two years on strict conditions. The court noted Stokes had 14 prior convictions for traffic offences and had no violent convictions since July. The sentencing followed his confession to the Gardaí and the testimony of witnesses who tracked his getaway car and provided vehicle registration details.
Paul O'Shea, aged 26, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to five years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended, for threatening to kill former partner Louise Jackson and her colleague Stephen Preston on 2 January 2013 at Owensilla, Ballymun. He was also ordered to stay away from both victims for 20 years. O'Shea pleaded guilty and had 48 prior convictions, including indecent telephone messages, assault, robbery, theft and burglary. He was addicted to drugs at the time of the offences. The sentence runs consecutively to a two‑and‑a‑half‑year term he is currently serving for sexually assaulting a female student nurse. O'Shea had been in a relationship with Jackson for six years and they have a child. Jackson had broken up with him after he was charged with sexual assault. She had tried to leave his house but he threatened to "punch the head off her" and later to "slit her throat" with a knife.
Sunny Idah, a former CIE bus driver, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to soliciting another person to unlawfully import cocaine between September 14 and 19, 2010. The plea was entered a week after his trial commenced. Judge Catherine Murphy remanded Idah in custody for sentencing in December. Prosecutors alleged that Idah, using the alias Mr T, recruited two undercover gardaí posing as Polish nationals to swallow one kilogram of cocaine each in Brazil and smuggle it to Ireland. He offered each €5,000 for the transport of drugs with an estimated street value of €140,000. Idah was arrested the day the men were scheduled to depart. Idah had previously been sentenced to 13 years imprisonment for this and another drug trafficking offence, but that conviction was overturned by the Court of Criminal Appeal due to issues with the authorisation of secret recordings. Defence counsel Noel McCarthy SC noted Idah's remorse and lack of violent history, stating he had been in custody for four years. The matter was adjourned for sentencing in December.
John Humphrey, a 28‑year‑old Yorkshire man, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison after pleading guilty to possession of cannabis for sale or supply. He had attempted to import €300,000 worth of cannabis herb into Ireland via Dublin Port, with customs officers discovering 15 kg of the drug concealed under the floor of a Renault van he drove from Holyhead. Humphrey, who had no prior convictions, claimed financial hardship and said he was paid €1,500 for driving the van. He admitted to travelling between Ireland and the UK to buy and sell horses and acknowledged that something "dodgy" was happening. Defence counsel presented letters from his wife and family, expressing shock and remorse, and argued that Humphrey was under severe financial pressure and did not know the full amount of drugs involved. The judge, taking into account his UK nationality and limited prison visits, imposed the four‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence.
Balbriggan District Court heard multiple matters. Keith Daly pleaded guilty to handling stolen property but was remanded on continuing bail pending a probation report, with the case adjourned to December 11. Lorna Daly, John Scott, and Grainne Kealy were remanded on continuing bail; Daly faces alleged charges of making off without paying and using a false plate, while Scott and Kealy face alleged dangerous driving and careless driving charges, with their cases adjourned to December 11. Denise Creagh pleaded guilty to theft and was convicted, fined €100, and warned of potential custody for future offences. James Whelan pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis and failing to display L-plates; the unaccompanied driving charge was struck out, and he was fined €175. Roberts Trascenko pleaded guilty to drink driving, was convicted, fined €400, and disqualified for two years. Chris Lyaba pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage, and his case was adjourned to January 22 to allow time for compensation. Genadijs Ogurcovs was charged with theft from two shops, and his case was adjourned to October 23 for a plea or hearing date.
Balbriggan District Court heard several matters presided over by Judge Dermot Dempsey. Kieran White pleaded guilty to stealing a bottle of wine from Supervalu. After making a €75 donation to the Molly McNally Trust Fund, the court applied Section 1.1 of the Probation Act. Piotr Boryslawski pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of cannabis found under his car seat. Following a €300 charitable donation, the charge was struck out. Valerie Dalton, alleged to have been drink driving, was remanded on continuing bail to reappear on September 11th. Paul McGee, charged with criminal damage and breach of a protection order, was remanded on continuing bail for a hearing on October 6th. Eddie McDonagh and Patrick McDonagh, both alleged to have stolen a steel tube from a boat, were remanded on continuing bail to reappear on September 4th. McDonagh also faces allegations of careless driving and not paying a taxi fare, while Patrick McDonagh is alleged to have not paid a taxi fare. All these cases remain at the pre-trial stage with no final sentences passed.