Stephen Clinch, a film actor who starred in the Love/Hate TV series, has been sentenced to four and a half years in prison after admitting to possession of a firearm with the intention to commit robbery and to the robbery of €50,730 at The Gate Hotel, Parnell Street, Dublin on May 11, 2015. Clinch (49) of Millbrook Grove, Kilbarrack, Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The court heard that Clinch had a history of heroin addiction and previous convictions for 17 robberies and 13 burglaries dating back to 2004. Character referees, including singer Damien Dempsey, Love/Hate producer Stuart Carolan, and film director Mark O'Connor, described Clinch as a friendly and reliable worker who had given back to his local community. The incident involved Clinch holding a loaded semi-automatic pistol to the head of a security worker, Michel Cieslik, and demanding cash. Maintenance worker Barry Smith attempted to block the robbers' escape but was punched by Clinch. Garda Niall McCormack stated that the gun had been altered to discharge live ammunition, but the rounds found were not suitable for use in the pistol. Judge Martin Nolan described the incident as 'incredibly frightening' and noted the victim's fear for his life. Clinch claimed he did not know the gun was loaded and that he committed the robbery due to a debt of €8,000 from hiding a consignment of drugs. The matter was finalised at the sentence stage.
Derek McCann, 35, of Walkinstown Park, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to robbing two young boys of their mobile phones at knifepoint on 29 September 2014. He had 31 prior convictions for robbery, burglary, assault and firearm possession. The boys, aged 12 and 14, handed over their phones and €6 each; McCann returned the money before demanding silence. He expressed shame and wrote apology letters. Judge Patricia Ryan imposed a four‑year sentence, suspending the final two years under strict conditions. McCann is currently serving the reactivated two‑year term, which will begin anew in April. The case highlighted the boys' fear and the older boy's maturity in calming his younger brother during the robbery.
Derek Lynch, 38, was jailed for nine years for robbing the Friar's Road Post Office in Cork on 20 May 2012, with the final year suspended. He was convicted of robbery and possession of a firearm. The conviction was overturned by the Court of Appeal because evidence that he owned the motorcycle used in the robbery was taken from the Garda PULSE system and was deemed hearsay. The Court held that the PULSE system requires human input and therefore could not be admitted as evidence of ownership. The judge noted that the robbery involved a raider who used a sledgehammer to break into the cashier area, stole about €2,000, and fled on a motorcycle. The Court quashed Lynch's conviction and ordered a retrial, remanding him on bail with conditions to the Cork Circuit Criminal Court. Derek Lynch pleaded not guilty.
Trevor O'Sullivan, 40, of Curraheen Drive, Bishopstown, Cork, pleaded guilty to attempted aggravated burglary at the home of businessman Pat Glavin in Glanmire on 11 August 2013. He was sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment, with the final three years suspended, by Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin on 25 February 2014. O'Sullivan's appeal against the severity of the sentence was dismissed by Mr Justice George Birmingham in the Court of Appeal. Birmingham noted that the offence involved an intended invasion of a family home by armed men, that Gardaí had been forewarned and had observed a reconnaissance operation on 29 July 2013, and that a Remington shotgun was recovered with live ammunition. O'Sullivan had prior convictions for public order offences, criminal damage and a drug‑related offence. The judge upheld the sentence as severe but necessary. The appeal was dismissed.
Paul Zambra, 39, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of a Ruger revolver and a semi‑automatic pistol with intent to endanger life at Clonshaugh Avenue, Coolock on 29 May 2015. He also pleaded guilty to driving without insurance on the same occasion. Judge John Hannon remanded him in custody until his sentence date on 10 March, when full facts will be heard.
In a Special Criminal Court out‑of‑hours sitting, John Costello, 59, of Glenashrone, Abbeyfeale, was charged with possession of more than 700 rounds of ammunition. Gardaí arrested him in Abbeyfeale on 21 February after finding 450 rounds of .38 special calibre and 329 rounds of 9mm calibre ammunition on Main Street, and an additional three rounds of 9mm calibre at his home on 22 February. Detective Garda Michael Herlihy formally arrested Costello, explained the reasons for his arrest, and warned him that he would be brought before the Special Criminal Court. Costello was transported to the court, given a copy of the charge sheet, and read the charges while wearing a purple jumper. His counsel, Mr Dean Kelly BL, requested a mention and possible bail application for 1 March at 11 a.m. The presiding judge, Mr Justice Paul Butler, with Judges Flann Brennan and William Hamill, remanded Costello in custody until Tuesday morning.
Stephen Hendrick, 49, of Ballymun, was sentenced by the Special Criminal Court to eleven years' imprisonment for possession of firearms, ammunition and explosives. In July 2013 he pleaded guilty to holding 59 rounds of ammunition at Furry Park. In November 2014 he pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a 7.62 mm Kalashnikov rifle, components for Glock pistols, 125 rounds of rifle ammunition, five shotgun cartridges and a flexible PETN explosive tube, all found at his Ballymun home. The court noted that these offences were committed while he was on bail for the earlier charge. The judge, Mr Justice Paul Butler, described the items as an "arsenal" and imposed a sentence of eight years for each of the three counts, with each term running concurrently and consecutive to the first prison term. The total sentence was eleven years' imprisonment.
Ian Quinn, 34, of St Aongus Park, Tallaght, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to attempted robbery of Kilnamanagh Post Office on 6 June 2015 and to possession of a Crossman C11 firearm at his home on 1 October 2015. Judge Melanie Greally remanded him in continuing custody until 8 March, when evidence will be heard.
In February 2016, a 44‑year‑old man named Jeffrey Mitchell was sentenced to three years in prison for an unprovoked assault on a woman walking home alone from a night out. The incident occurred on 8 February 2013 at Crossguns Bridge, Phibsboro, where Mitchell dragged the woman backwards from the footpath, threatening to throw her into the canal if she moved. He had consumed up to 30 vodkas that night and had a history of 70 convictions, including assault, robbery, firearm possession and stolen property. The woman, who was later reported to suffer ongoing anxiety and flashbacks, managed to escape and seek help from a taxi driver. The judge, Martin Nolan, noted the seriousness of the offence and Mitchell's extensive criminal record before imposing the sentence. The case was prosecuted by Seamus Clarke BL and investigated by Detective Garda Niamh Coates. The incident lasted only a few seconds but left the victim with lasting psychological effects. Jeffrey Mitchell pleaded guilty.
A book of evidence has been served on two men following their arrest in County Longford in June 2015 as part of investigations into dissident republican activity. Paul Dodd, aged 29, of St Matthews Park, Ballymahon, faces charges of membership of an unlawful organisation, possession of component parts of an improvised explosive device, and possession of approximately 30 assorted shotgun cartridges. Brendan Hope, aged 49, of Springfield Cottages, Mullingar, County Westmeath, is charged with membership of an unlawful organisation and possession of an improvised explosive device. Both men appeared before the three-judge Special Criminal Court. Mr Justice Paul Butler remanded Mr Hope in custody and granted Mr Dodd bail. Both cases have been adjourned to 15 March, when a trial date is expected to be set.
Gary Flynn, aged 31, was arrested in a silver Nissan Primera shortly after the March 13, 2009 shooting that killed Seamus 'Shay' O'Byrne at Tymon Park North, Tallaght. Detective Garda Mary Moore, of the NBCI, stopped the car in Kimmage, noting it matched the description of a vehicle the Gardaí were seeking. She reported that Flynn was seated in the front passenger seat and that three people were inside the vehicle. Flynn was handcuffed and evidence bags were placed over his hands to preserve any firearm residue. Garda Alan Curry examined the car, noting it lacked a tax disk, had an out‑of‑date NCT, and contained a mobile phone and McDonald's wrappers. Additional evidence was seized from a Ford Transit van, including a mismatched chassis number and fingerprints. The case is pending before Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury. Gary Flynn pleaded not guilty.
Owen McCann, a 35‑year‑old from Annaloughan, Jenkinstown, Dundalk, Co. Louth, was arrested on 18 December 2015 on charges of membership in the unlawful organisation Oglaigh na hEireann (the IRA) and possession of firearms, including a rifle, a pistol conversion kit and ammunition. He was taken into custody by the Special Detective Unit last Friday. On 22 December 2015 the Special Criminal Court in Dublin released him on bail. The court, presided over by Justice Paul Butler with Judges John O'Hagan and Anne Ryan, accepted the Department of Public Prosecutions' lack of objection to the bail application. Mr McCann agreed to the conditions set by State Solicitor Michael O'Donovan: he must remain in Dundalk, sign daily at the Dundalk Garda Station, observe a curfew from 11 pm to 7 am, provide a mobile phone number, surrender his passport and all travel documents, stay within the jurisdiction, avoid Northern Ireland, refrain from associating with anyone charged with a scheduled offence.
A 35‑year‑old Louth man, Owen McCann, appeared before the Special Criminal Court on a Sunday hearing. He was charged with membership of the Irish Republican Army, an unlawful organisation, and with two counts of possessing firearms, including a rifle, a pistol conversion kit and ammunition. McCann was arrested on 18 December 2015 by the Special Detective Unit in Dundalk as part of an operation targeting dissident republican activity. He was taken to Dundalk Garda Station, given his rights and then brought to the court. Wearing a navy jumper, he stood when the charge was read. Counsel Conan Fegan applied for legal aid and a bail application was scheduled for the following Tuesday at 10 a.m. The presiding judge remanded McCann in custody until that hearing. The case is still pending at the time of the report.
Joseph Finnegan, 54, of Cullenstown, Readypenny, Dundalk, County Louth, was charged before the Special Criminal Court on 11 July 2015 with membership of the Irish Republican Army and possession of two stolen cars, a Ford Focus and an Audi A4. He was also charged that same month with possession of an 8mm blank‑firing pistol and seven rounds, a double‑barrel shotgun and three cartridges. The court was informed of the charges by Detective Garda Graham Dunne, who handed Finnegan a copy of the charge sheet. He was remanded on bail until 26 January next year.
Stephen Hendrick, 47, of Balbutcher Drive, Ballymun, pleaded guilty in April 2015 to possessing 59 rounds of ammunition at Furry Park, Turnapin Great, Old Airport Road, Cloghran. He had previously been granted bail by the Special Criminal Court, but while on bail committed the offence for which he pleaded guilty. He applied for five days' temporary bail to spend Christmas with his family, but the State objected. Mr Justice Paul Butler, with Judges John O'Hagan and Ann Ryan, refused the application, citing the risk of disrepute. Hendrick will be sentenced on 12 February 2016.
Michael Finlay, 36, was granted temporary bail by the Special Criminal Court from 24 to 31 December. He faces charges of IRA membership and unlawful possession of a 9x18mm Makarov pistol and ammunition. The court imposed conditions including a daily curfew, daily sign‑in at Crumlin Garda Station, surrender of his passport, prohibition from associating with convicted or charged persons, and restriction on contacting witnesses. He must also provide a mobile number and is secured by a €6,000 surety.
Daniel Ennis, aged 20, was sentenced to six years in prison after a series of violent incidents in Ballyfermot, Dublin. In January 2014 he threatened to kill or seriously harm Garda Ryan and Garda Doyle when they searched his back garden for a stolen postbag and bike. He also threatened to kill or seriously harm Linda Carrie and Lena Tims, to damage property, and was found in possession of a firearm on 8 May 2015. Ennis threw a small dog, a paving slab and a bike at four Gardaí, threatened to ram a patrol car, and shouted from an upstairs window that he was armed with a knife. Over a year later, while on bail, he fired shots at a house on Oranmore Road, where a woman was sleeping after being released from hospital, after threatening to blow the occupants' heads off and to burn the house down. Daniel Ennis pleaded guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Daniel Ennis, aged 20, pleaded guilty to threatening to kill or cause serious harm to Garda Linda Ryan and Garda Michelle Doyle during a search of his back garden for a stolen postbag. He also pleaded guilty to threatening to kill or cause serious harm to Ms. Carrie and Ms. Tims, threatening to damage property, and possession of a firearm on Oranmore Road. Ennis had previously fired shots at a house on Oranmore Road, where a woman was sleeping, and had threatened the occupants. He had also thrown a small dog and a paving slab at four gardaí who were searching his garden, and had tried to throw a bike and threatened them with a shovel. The judge remanded Ennis in continuing custody until sentencing. No injuries were reported. The case involved no further convictions or outcomes beyond the guilty pleas.
Michael Doran, aged 29, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended, for a series of offences committed in 2009. He pleaded guilty to two robberies, one hijacking, one car theft and one theft of car keys in the Dundrum area of south Dublin. On 12 March 2009 he mugged David Morgan, taking his ATM card, €10 and PIN, and threatened him with a knife, claiming a friend would follow him with a sniper rifle to prevent him from calling the Gardaí. Three days later he was involved in the theft of a car belonging to Caroline Caffrey, using stolen keys. He also participated in a hijacking of a pizza delivery man's vehicle. Doran had 11 prior convictions and had recently completed a four‑year sentence in England for a car‑theft offence. The judge cited his efforts at rehabilitation and his time spent in UK prison as reasons for suspending part of the sentence.
In a 2015 armed robbery at a Spar on Stiles Road, Dublin, Christopher Coakley (24) and an accomplice forced the manager to give them the shop keys, dragging her along the aisles while an imitation gun was held to her head. The robbery involved the alarm being triggered and the victim being held by the neck and pulled to deactivate it. Coakley pleaded guilty to robbery, possession of an imitation firearm and criminal damage, and received a six‑year sentence. He also admitted to assaulting Gardaí, threatening a woman named Anne Walsh, and threatening to damage her property, for which he was sentenced to two and a half years and three and a half years, concurrent with the robbery term. The court noted the victim's ongoing distress and the €4,500 damage to the shop shutters. Coakley has 94 prior convictions and is currently serving a separate sentence for hijacking, due for release in July 2017.
A man serving a life sentence for his role in a dissident republican murder in Donegal in 2008 has lodged an appeal against conviction at the Court of Appeal. Martin Kelly, aged 41, from Strabane in County Tyrone, was found guilty by the Special Criminal Court in January 2012 of the murder of Andrew Burns, who was shot dead in a church car park at Donnyloop, Castlefin, on 12 February 2008. Kelly had pleaded not guilty to the charge. The three-judge court also convicted him of unlawful possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, imposing a mandatory life sentence for murder and eight years for the firearms offence. Kelly's barrister submitted that statements made during gardaí interviews should be ruled inadmissible, arguing they were not voluntarily given and that fair procedures were breached. Counsel also contended that the trial court should have considered whether the actions taken departed fundamentally from what was planned in the alleged joint enterprise.
Patrick Ryan, 37, a Dublin crystal‑meth addict, was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment for 16 robberies committed between January 2014 and January 2015. He admitted to stealing cash ranging from €136 to €1,400 from shops, petrol stations and businesses, as well as phones and cash from individuals. Ryan's crimes involved knives, syringes and an imitation firearm, and victims' ages ranged from young to 79‑year‑old. He had 129 prior convictions, including 12 robberies, 18 aggravated burglaries and two false imprisonment offences. Judge Martin Nolan, noting Ryan's guilty pleas and "sad" background, imposed a 10‑year sentence with consecutive elements and suspended the final two years. Ryan claimed he had been drug‑free for two years before the offences and that his drug habit had driven the robberies. The court accepted his admissions and the evidence presented by Gardaí and the prosecution.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, 27‑year‑old Dean Moran of Emmet Square, Blackrock, pleaded guilty to possession of a realistic imitation firearm after threatening Irish Water workers with a plastic handgun model hidden in his tracksuit. The court found Moran had deliberately frightened the workers, who were installing water meters nearby, and had shouted threats such as "If you come near my house you will get this." Judge Martin Nolan, noting Moran's guilty plea and the seriousness of the threat, imposed a suspended sentence of two and a half years. The sentence was suspended, and Moran was ordered to raise €1,000 for a charity chosen by Garda Gordon Woulfe within 12 months. No custodial term was imposed, and the case was closed with the suspended sentence and community service requirement.
In 2011, Nicholas Kendall, aged 25, was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment by the Special Criminal Court for possessing a range of explosive materials, including Semtex components, mortar bomb fusing parts, improvised timing units, explosive propellant powder, and clothes pegs modified as electro‑mechanical switches. He also pleaded guilty to holding a 9mm Smith & Wesson semi‑automatic pistol and a component of a timing power unit. The offences were uncovered during raids on his parents' rural home in Wexford and a house in Louth on 8 October 2010. On appeal, Kendall argued the sentence was unduly excessive. The court agreed, reducing the sentence to two consecutive five‑year terms with the final 21 months suspended, thereby establishing an effective custodial term of ten years and one month. The decision was based on the seriousness of the offences, the lack of prior convictions, and the plea of guilty.
Timothy Fogarty, 55, of Gurtnaskeha, Tour, Co Tipperary, was found guilty of possession of an electric‑powered air rifle with intent to unlawfully intimidate Fiona Ryan, the female owner of a local pub, on 20 June 2011. He had pleaded not guilty. The jury sentenced him to four years' imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended, on 27 June 2014. Fogarty appealed on the basis that the sentencing judge had placed the offence at the most serious end of the range. The Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan, agreed that the incident was momentary and that Fogarty's reduced cognitive functions warranted mitigation. The appeal was successful and the sentence was reduced to three years' imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended for two years post‑release, on condition that he keep the peace, be of good behaviour and have no dealings with the injured party or her family.
Three men—Conor Hughes (38), Darren Fox (26) and Jamie Smithers (36)—were charged with membership of the Irish Republican Army and firearms offences. They were arrested early on Halloween morning by the Special Detective Unit in County Limerick. The charges include unlawful possession of a Winchester 12‑gauge shotgun and two 12‑gauge cartridges. The State objected to their bail applications, but Mr Justice Paul Butler of the Special Criminal Court granted bail. Conditions require the men to stay at home, observe a curfew from 11 pm to 7 am, sign daily at a local Garda station, remain available on a mobile phone, and avoid contact with anyone charged with a scheduled offence or with each other. Hughes and Fox must not leave County Dublin; Smithers must not leave Carlow or Wexford.
Two Dublin men, David Crowley (38) and Alan Wilson (36), were convicted of trespassing and assault causing harm after breaking into a home in Blanchardstown on 3 June 2009 and attacking the victim with a meat cleaver. Crowley was also charged with unlawful possession of a firearm. A jury found them guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, and Judge Desmond Hogan sentenced Crowley to eight years' imprisonment and Wilson to seven years' imprisonment on 12 April 2013. Both men appealed their convictions. The Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice George Birmingham, dismissed the appeals. Birmingham rejected arguments that a jury member's request for a lighter and the admission of evidence that Wilson was wearing a bulletproof vest were improper, and upheld the trial judge's handling of witness statements and the evidence that the cleaver was brought to the house. Wilson's sentence appeal will be considered separately. David Crowley pleaded not guilty. Alan Wilson pleaded not guilty.
Kenneth Cummins (28) and Sabrina Cummins (37), both of Ringsend Park, Dublin 4, are on trial at the Central Criminal Court, having pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Thomas Horan (63) at Cambridge Court, Ringsend, on January 6th last year. During the trial, Sabrina Cummins gave evidence for the defence, describing the deceased as a "very nice man" who was "like a Dad" to her. She detailed her childhood background, including her father's alcoholism and domestic violence, which led to her placement in foster care. Ms Cummins also recounted a violent relationship with an Albanian man that resulted in a near-fatal injury. She stated she met Mr Horan through her sister, Breda, and maintained a long friendship with him. The court heard that Breda was murdered by her ex-partner in May 2013. Two weeks after Breda's burial, Sabrina Cummins alleged that five detectives held her and her partner at gunpoint, claiming Kenneth Cummins had reported they possessed a firearm intended to kill Breda's murderer. She denied these claims, stating her vehicle and home were searched. The trial continues.
Three men—Conor Hughes (38), Darren Fox (26) and Jamie Smithers (36)—appeared before the Special Criminal Court on 2 November 2015. They were charged with membership of the Irish Republican Army, an unlawful organisation, and with possession of a Winchester 12‑gauge shotgun and two 12‑gauge cartridges. The arrests were made early on 31 October 2015 by the Special Detective Unit in County Limerick. The court heard that the men did not reply to their arrest or caution. No bail applications were made. The judge remanded the men to custody to appear again on Friday. The proceedings were conducted in the non‑jury Special Criminal Court, with each accused represented by counsel. No further details of the case were disclosed in the article.
Eamon McNamee, 34, of Larkfield Square, Lucan, County Dublin, was granted bail at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin. He is charged with possession of a firearm with the intent to commit an indictable offence, namely assault causing harm, allegedly at Fairgreen, Saggart, Co Dublin on January 19th, 2013. The three-judge court approved his application for bail, releasing him on his own bond of €1,000 and an independent surety of €20,000. McNamee must surrender his passport and refrain from travelling outside Ireland or to Northern Ireland. He is required to sign on daily at Lucan garda station between 9am and 9pm and observe a curfew from 12am to 7am. Additionally, he must not associate with anyone convicted or charged with a scheduled offence, maintain good behaviour, and provide a mobile phone number to gardai. The matter remains at the pre-trial stage, with the charges alleged and contested.
Richard Daly, 55, was arrested at Huntsman's House in Clondalkin after a customs officer detected cannabis during a random spot check. Gardaí found an "Aladdin's cave" of drugs worth €522,952, including cannabis herb, resin, heroin, amphetamines and cocaine, as well as 93 rounds of ammunition, 129 stolen NCT certificates, 98 stolen FBD insurance certificates, a stolen Garda uniform with accessories, and camera equipment belonging to a filming company. Daly pleaded guilty to five counts: possession of drugs for sale or supply, unlawful possession of ammunition, possession of a stolen Garda uniform, and possession of other stolen goods. Judge Desmond Hogan imposed concurrent sentences totalling ten years, suspending the final five years. The five‑year term for the new offences will run consecutively to Daly's current four‑year term, which was reactivated after being fully suspended at the outset. Daly has 20 prior convictions and was described by his defence as having cooperated with authorities.
Eamon McNamee, 34, of Larkfield Square, Lucan, County Dublin, appeared at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin, where he was charged with possession of a firearm with the intent to commit an indictable offence, namely assault causing harm. The alleged incident is said to have occurred at Fairgreen, Saggart, Co Dublin, on January 19, 2013. Detective Garda Graham Dunne of the Special Detective Unit informed the court that he arrested Mr McNamee under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act at 7:21 am. The court heard that Mr McNamee made no reply when cautioned and also made no reply when shown a copy of the original charge sheet at the Special Criminal Court. Mr Justice Paul Butler, presiding at the three-judge, non-jury court, remanded Mr McNamee in custody until tomorrow morning, when a bail application is expected to be made. The matter was adjourned and has not been concluded or finalised.
Niall Fitzpatrick, 48, from Corrin Close, the Glen, Cork, faces a retrial after successfully appealing his conviction for attempted aggravated burglary and the possession of a pump action shotgun and ammunition at the home of Patrick Glavin in Glanmire on August 11, 2013. Fitzpatrick had pleaded not guilty at Cork Circuit Criminal Court. Following a three-week trial, a jury found him guilty, and Judge David Riordan sentenced him to 14 years imprisonment on November 13, 2014. On appeal, counsel Brendan Nix SC argued that the trial was compromised by the judge's failure to properly discharge a juror who sought to be excused. Nix SC stated that the Court Registrar entered the jury room to resolve the matter privately, a process that deprived both parties of input. The appellate court, comprising Mr Justice George Birmingham, Mr Justice Alan Mahon, and Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan, agreed that this procedure was unsatisfactory. Mr Justice Birmingham noted that Fitzpatrick may have been left with an understandable sense of grievance due to the lack of public administration of justice in that instance. Consequently, the court quashed the conviction and ordered a retrial. Fitzpatrick was remanded in custody to appear before Cork Circuit Criminal Court on October 28.
Mark Sheridan, 25, of Railway Road, Clongriffin, Dublin, was convicted of threatening to kill Mark Jones, an acquaintance, on 20 October 2013. He pleaded not guilty to the threat and to charges of firearm possession and harassment between 1 July and 19 October 2013, but was acquitted of the latter offences. The jury found him guilty of the threat after a four‑day trial. At sentencing, Judge Mary Ellen Ring imposed a three‑year suspended sentence and ordered Sheridan to raise €5,000 for a charity nominated by Jones by September. Sheridan must have no contact with Jones, including via social media. The judge noted that Sheridan had not attracted Garda attention since the offence and that the seriousness of the crime could not be overlooked. Jones had previously stated he did not wish to receive compensation.
Stephen Hendrick, 47, of Ballymun, pleaded guilty in the Special Criminal Court to unlawful possession of a 7.62 mm Kalashnikov assault rifle, Glock pistol components, and a flexible PETN‑filled tubing explosive at his home on 15 November 2014. He also admitted possession of 59 rounds of ammunition at Furry Park, Cloghran, on 3 July 2013. The judge granted an adjournment of the sentencing hearing to 8 December 2015 at the request of counsel.
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.
A 53‑year‑old Louth man, Joseph Finnegan, was arrested on 11 July 2015 by the Special Detective Unit and charged with possession of an 8mm Valtro Model 85 pistol and seven rounds of ammunition, and a 12‑gauge Eibar shotgun with three cartridges. The Special Criminal Court granted him bail on a €100 personal bond and a €10,000 independent surety. He must sign daily at Dundalk Garda Station, observe a 11 pm‑6 am curfew, surrender his passport, avoid contact with convicted or charged persons, and remain within the jurisdiction until 23 October 2015.
A 53‑year‑old Louth man, Joseph Finnegan, appeared before an out‑of‑hours Special Criminal Court on 13 July 2015. He was charged with possession of an 8mm Valtro Model 85 combat pistol, seven rounds of 8mm ammunition, a 12‑gauge Eibar shotgun and three shotgun cartridges, all seized at his home in Cuillenstown, Readypenny, Dundalk. Finnegan made no reply to his arrest or caution. His counsel requested the matter be listed for 16 July, when a bail and legal aid application is expected. The judge remanded him in custody for that hearing.
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.
A 22-year-old man from Clonmel, County Tipperary, has been granted bail by the Special Criminal Court ahead of trial scheduled for October. Dylan Cahill faces charges of membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, alleged to have occurred on 13 May 2015. He is also charged with possession of a .380 calibre semi-automatic pistol and four rounds of matching ammunition at Sradrine, Glefame, County Leitrim on the same date, in circumstances giving rise to reasonable inference the items were not lawfully held. Additionally, Mr Cahill is charged with possession of two improvised explosive devices at the same location. Detective Garda Mark Benson told the court that Mr Cahill was arrested at Manorhamilton, County Leitrim, on 15 May and made no reply to the charges. An independent surety of €20,000 was frozen in a bank account. Trial is set for 16 October 2015.
In a Dublin murder trial, forensic scientist Dr. Thomas Hannigan testified that ballistics tests fired at tea towels suggested the accused, David Cully, shot his uncle Edward O'Connor from about eight feet, not the 30 feet he claimed. The tests used cotton sheets and a pistol and ammunition similar to those used in the killing, as the original firearm was not recovered. Lead residue was stronger on the tea towel shot from eight feet and on the victim's jumper, supporting the shorter distance. Cully, 41, admitted killing O'Connor, who died from two gunshot wounds to the back, but pleaded not guilty to murder and guilty to manslaughter. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Carroll Moran, continues with a jury of twelve.
Michael Fagan, 24, was jailed for five years after attempting to rob Collins Food Store on Mount Pleasant Avenue, Dublin 6, on 22 May 2014. While an off‑duty Garda, Brendan O'Toole, was restraining his teenage accomplice, Fagan pointed a replica gun at the Garda's head and threatened to shoot him. O'Toole replied, "I am a Garda, don't shoot," and the threat was not carried out. Fagan was arrested, pleaded guilty to attempted robbery and possession of an imitation firearm with intent to commit robbery, and had 48 prior convictions. The judge noted Fagan's lack of remorse at the time but acknowledged later reflection. The case highlighted the danger posed by realistic replica firearms and the impact on the Garda involved. The teenage co‑accused received a two‑year suspended sentence. The trial concluded with the five‑year custodial sentence for Fagan.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, Mark Sheridan, aged 25, was convicted of threatening to kill Mark Jones on 20 October 2013. Sheridan denied the charge and also denied having a firearm and harassing Jones between 1 July and 19 October 2013, but the jury acquitted him of those offences. The jury heard that Jones was stopped at traffic lights, with Sheridan behind him in a blue Honda Accord. Jones described Sheridan kicking the driver's door, punching the window, and shouting "You're dead. You're a rat." He also recalled a shout of "You're dead. Get out of the car" and a mention of a pipe bomb. After the verdict, Judge Mary Ellen Ring remanded Sheridan on continuing bail, adjourned sentencing to 24 July, and ordered a victim impact report. The case was heard over four days and concluded with Sheridan's conviction for the threat of death.
David Cully, 24, was tried for the murder of his uncle, Edward O'Connor, 41, who was shot in the back after a fist fight. Cully initially told Gardaí that a gunman had appeared "out of nowhere" and shot his uncle, but later admitted he had brought a gun to the fight and shot O'Connor himself. He claimed he fired in the heat of the moment after O'Connor made a comment about a sexual‑abuse allegation against him. Cully denied premeditation, stating he had never held a firearm before and had only watched shooting films. Gardaí argued the act was pre‑orchestrated and intended to kill. The case is before Mr Justice Carroll Moran with a jury of seven women and five men. The trial is ongoing. The unnamed 24-year-old pleaded not guilty.
Two men appeared before an out-of-hours sitting of the Special Criminal Court on 26 June 2015, charged with membership of an unlawful organisation and explosives offences. Paul Dodd, aged 29, of St Matthews Park, Ballymahon, Co Longford, faced charges of IRA membership and possession of component parts of an improvised explosive device, including shotgun cartridges and related materials, discovered at his home on 24 June. He was also charged with possession of approximately 30 assorted shotgun cartridges at the same address. Brendan Hope, aged 49, of Springfield Cottages, Mullingar, Co Westmeath, was charged with IRA membership and possession of an improvised explosive device containing shotgun propellant powder, a 12-gauge cartridge, and other materials, found in Ballymahon on 24 June. Both men were arrested by members of the Special Detective Unit as part of investigations into dissident republican activity. Neither made any reply upon arrest. Both defence representatives indicated they would seek bail applications at a subsequent hearing. The court remanded both men in custody to appear on 1 July.
Niall Fitzpatrick, 48, from Corrin Close, Glen, Cork, was convicted of attempted aggravated burglary and possession of a pump‑action shotgun and ammunition at Patrick Glavin's home in Glanmire on 11 August 2013. He pleaded not guilty at Cork Circuit Criminal Court. After a three‑week trial, a jury found him guilty and Judge David Riordan sentenced him to 14 years' imprisonment on 13 November 2014. On 16 June 2015 Fitzpatrick lodged an appeal on 16 grounds, alleging the judge failed to discharge the jury on several matters. His counsel, Brendan Nix SC, argued that evidence from Garda Dan Lucey was prejudicial and that a juror had been improperly excused after the judge allowed the Court Registrar to enter the jury room and discuss the case. Mr Nix said the registrar's conversation was not publicly recorded and that justice must be administered in public.
The Court of Appeal will consider whether to set sentencing guidelines for cases of dangerous driving causing death. The suggestion was made by Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan in the case of Seán Casey, 27, of Cooragannive, Skibbereen, who was jailed last year for seven years for dangerous driving that caused the death of a 22‑year‑old woman and the paralysis of her friend. Casey was driving at 80 km/h, four times the legal limit, when he entered a roundabout. His barrister, Tom Creed SC, argued that the sentencing judge had placed Casey's offence "at the apex" of dangerous‑driving‑causing‑death cases before mitigation was applied. The maximum sentence for the offence is ten years imprisonment. Mr Justice Sheehan said the three‑judge court would consider setting guidelines, following the precedent of the Fitzgibbon guidelines for assault causing serious harm and the Ryan guidelines for possession of a firearm.
The murder trial of David Cully, 24, continued at the Central Criminal Court before Mr Justice Carroll Moran and a jury. Cully, of Kilshane Road, Finglas West, is charged with murdering his uncle, Edward O'Connor, 41, by shooting him twice at Ballycoolin Road, Finglas West, on December 15, 2013. He has pleaded not guilty to the murder charge, although he admitted manslaughter to gardai, claiming he 'lost it' after a comment regarding a sexual abuse allegation against the deceased. During cross-examination on the fifth day of the trial, witness Darren O'Connor, 24, testified that he saw his cousin shoot their father in the back following an arranged fist fight at the family's grandparents' property. Mr O'Connor denied that there was a 'history of firearms' in the family and stated he was unaware of previous weapons found near their home or in Dunsink. However, he agreed that he is allegedly facing a charge of being in possession of a firearm in the course of a robbery in July 2013. The trial continues this afternoon.
Eoin Daly, aged 29, was sentenced to five and a half years in prison for a series of burglaries committed between July and September 2013 across Dublin suburbs and Leixlip. He pleaded guilty to five counts of burglary, one of trespass and attempted theft. The judge noted that Daly had been granted bail repeatedly after each arrest, questioning why he was not remanded earlier. Daly's lawyer described him as a "one‑man crime wave" linked to chronic heroin addiction. The judge suspended the final 18 months of the sentence on the condition that Daly cooperate with the Probation Service upon release. Daly had 30 prior convictions, including burglary, robbery, firearm possession and threats of killing. The sentence reflects the judge's concern that, if he does not change, he will spend his thirties in court and prison.
Robert Murphy, 32, was convicted of possessing a knife, discharging a firearm, and arson. He had previously pleaded guilty to these offences in 2012 and 2013. Judge Desmond Hogan originally sentenced him to nine years with five suspended, effective eight years. The Court of Appeal, after reviewing the case, found the sentence unduly lenient and imposed a new sentence of 11 years with three suspended, effective eight years. The appeal highlighted that Murphy, a known heroin addict and "career criminal" with 60 prior convictions, had set fire to a house occupied by a mother and child, forcing them to escape through a bedroom window. The court noted that the arson was the most serious offence and that the new sentence was intended to reflect the severity of the crime. The final effective term remains eight years imprisonment.