At the Central Criminal Court, an unnamed 45-year-old man was sentenced for the rape and sexual assault of his young daughter. The defendant pleaded guilty to four charges of rape and eight charges of sexual assault, which the State accepted as sample charges representative of a pattern of abuse occurring in their County Wexford home between January 2022 and June 2024. Mr Justice Paul McDermott imposed a headline sentence of 17 years for each rape count and 10 years for each sexual assault count. In mitigation, the judge noted the defendant's early accountability, lack of previous convictions, and good work history. He was sentenced to 13 years for the rapes and seven years and six months for the sexual assaults, all to run concurrently. The final 12 months of the sentence were suspended for three years, placing the defendant under Probation Service supervision to follow all necessary directions and treatments. The judge ordered no direct or indirect contact with the victim, including via social media, unless written permission is granted by the victim's mother until the victim turns 18, or by the victim herself thereafter. The defendant is also prohibited from unsupervised access to anyone under 18 and placed under post-release supervision for eight years. The court heard victim impact statements from the daughter and her mother, who described the abuse as a profound betrayal.
The Court of Appeal has ruled that a six-month prison sentence for Ben Lawlor for the defilement of a 12-year-old girl was appropriate, as the victim factually, albeit not legally, consented and the defendant genuinely believed she was 16. However, the court found that a 14-month sentence was more suitable for a subsequent sexual assault charge, as Lawlor knew the girl was 14 at the time. The appeal court suspended the unserved portion of this sentence. The victim had reported missing in 2023 and was found at Heuston Station. Lawlor had met the girl on a dating app and had sexual contact with her. He later contacted her via social media and met her again, where they engaged in kissing and touching. Lawlor was sentenced to six months for defilement and 12 months suspended for sexual assault. The DPP appealed, arguing the sentences were too lenient. The court acknowledged the victim's harm but noted the defendant's genuine belief in the girl's age and his vulnerabilities. The unnamed 21-year-old pleaded guilty.
A naturalised asylum seeker has been jailed for one year after being found in possession of child sexual abuse material, which he distributed on WhatsApp. The defendant, who cannot be named, pleaded guilty to possessing and distributing the material between September 2021 and May 2022. His lawyers argued that his background as a victim of extreme sexual violence and attempted murder in his home country affected his reaction to the material. The court heard that the material included Category 1 child pornography and was distributed to 12 recipients. The defendant's defence highlighted his mental health issues and the need for professional counselling. Despite the mitigating factors, the judge imposed a three-year sentence, suspending the final two years for two years. The court noted that the defendant had no previous convictions in Ireland and that he expressed remorse for his actions. The judge ruled that there was no need for a probation supervision order following the man's release from prison.
A judge has spoken out against the toxic masculinity of social media influencers after sentencing a young man to six years in prison for raping a 14-year-old girl. The defendant, who is now 21, pleaded guilty to raping the girl at a house party in Co Clare in July 2024. The victim, who is now 16, was intoxicated and vulnerable when the defendant lured her into a bathroom and raped her. The judge, Mr Justice Tony Hunt, noted that the defendant's actions had a significant impact on the victim's life and warned against the influence of online pornography and toxic masculinity on young men. The judge reduced the initial sentence of 10 years to seven and a half years, taking into account the defendant's guilty plea and expressions of remorse. The sentence was suspended for 18 months, with conditions including no contact with the victim in perpetuity and a ban on sexual offences for 20 years.
Two getaway drivers involved in separate shootings linked to a violent gang feud in Limerick have each been sentenced to six years in prison by the Special Criminal Court. John O'Donovan (19) and Shane Blackhall (21) were third-tier members of the O'Donoghue organised crime group, which has been in a violent feud with the Collins group since 2022. The feud has led to 36 shootings and various attacks using explosives. Blackhall was the driver of a Volkswagen Scirocco used in a drive-by shooting on Hyde Avenue, where a Glock semi-automatic pistol was fired. Blackhall crashed the car into a lampost and was found to have cocaine, heroin, and cannabis in his home. O'Donovan was involved in a separate incident where a Lexus was used to meet a hit team before an Audi was set on fire. Both men pleaded guilty and were sentenced with suspended terms. The judge noted their early guilty pleas and their efforts in prison to rehabilitate.
The High Court adjourned a dispute between Muhammad Amjad and Imtiaz Khan, principal of IMK Law and IMK Property Investment Ltd, to October. Mr Justice O'Connell accepted an undertaking by Mr Cormack SC for non-contact between any party, family member, or associate, either directly or indirectly. The hearing addressed concerns raised by the plaintiff regarding a WhatsApp message sent by consultant Kamal Shah, who stated the contact was personal and unrelated to the case. The court also noted that IMK Law removed photographs from its website due to adverse publicity. Mr Amjad alleged an unlawful eviction, claiming Mr Khan arrived at the property in a threatening manner with eight individuals and a hammer. Mr Khan denied these allegations, stating he attended for a peaceful handover following a lease termination notice and that the property required extensive repairs. The parties had settled the dispute last week, but the matter returned to court due to concerns over potential interference. The judge accepted the non-contact undertaking and adjourned the proceedings.
A Somalian woman, Muna Sharif (47), has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for assisting a fellow national in entering Ireland illegally. Sharif, who works as a healthcare assistant in Birmingham, UK, pleaded guilty to providing a fraudulent Swedish passport and helping Asia Mohammad Ahmed enter the country. The court heard that Sharif and Ahmed had travelled from Düsseldorf, Germany, but disembarked separately at Dublin Airport. Ahmed presented a passport with a mismatched photo and claimed asylum, while Sharif was observed in the baggage hall and seen taking a suitcase with a name matching the passport. Records showed that Sharif had booked and paid for Ahmed's flight using a bank card found on her at her arrest. A WhatsApp thread between Sharif and the genuine owner of the passport was also discovered, in which Sharif offered 1,500 Swedish Krona for its use. Sharif claimed she was helping her sister, Ahmed, escape a forced marriage in Somalia, but there was no DNA evidence to support this.
A High Court judge has ordered that the mother of a child rape victim be brought before him to face allegations that she filmed her daughter's abuser in court and posted it on social media. The woman is alleged to have made a video recording in court of her 17-year-old daughter's rapist and to have posted it on Facebook. The identity of the 30-year-old Carlow defendant cannot be published to protect the statutory anonymity of the victim. The man was jailed for seven years for repeatedly sexually abusing his partner's teenage niece. He had pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assault and one count of orally raping the child. The girl told the court that she was 13 when the defendant started "grooming" her. She said she has struggled with anxiety, depression, trauma, and flashbacks as a result of the abuse. Prosecuting counsel brought the case back before the Central Criminal Court seeking an "attachment order" in relation to contempt of court proceedings. The video post was viewed around 300 times but has since been taken down.
A 62-year-old Dublin man accused of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl at a south Dublin Luas stop has been granted bail, despite Garda objections. The accused, who is legally entitled to anonymity, appeared before Dún Laoghaire District Court charged with the alleged offence. A garda objected to bail under Section 2 of the Bail Act, citing the seriousness of the alleged crime. Gardaí stated they were present at the Luas stop but did not witness the incident. The court heard that gardai had obtained CCTV footage of the alleged incident. The accused was allegedly highly intoxicated at the time and was arrested at his home the following morning. Judge Anne Watkin noted that the alleged assault was at the lower end of the scale of sexual assault offences and that there was insufficient evidence to establish a likelihood of further offending if bail was granted. The accused was granted bail on his own bond of €500, with conditions that he have no contact with the injured party, including through social media.
A 26-year-old man has been jailed for 10 years for raping a 14-year-old girl in Co Meath in September 2022 and later mocking her with degrading social media messages. The man had previously met the girl through social media, where they chatted for about a year before the rape. During the attack, he told the girl that if she had screamed, he would choke her to death. The man also got a tattoo of the safe word they had agreed on, which he used as a reminder of the rape. In messages to an account set up by the girl's then-boyfriend, the man referred to the girl as a "slut" and said the tattoo was a reminder of her weakness. The court heard that the man had a history of consuming violent pornography, which led to distorted expectations around sex. The victim described the experience as a betrayal of trust and said she felt her vulnerability was mocked. She also expressed fear that she would never be loved again. The unnamed 22-year-old pleaded guilty.
Michael Macken, a serial offender with a deep sexual interest in children, was jailed for seven and a half years after being caught in a Facebook sting operation. In August 2024, Macken engaged in highly sexualised conversations with individuals he believed were young girls, but the accounts were operated by adults pretending to be teens. He was charged with nine counts of communicating with a person to facilitate sexual exploitation of a child and six counts of attempting to send sexually explicit material to a child. He pleaded guilty to sample counts. Judge Orla Crowe noted his previous convictions for sexual assaults on young children and described his actions as serious and deeply concerning. She imposed two concurrent sentences of eight years, suspending the final six months on the condition that Macken remains under the supervision of The Probation Service. Detective Garda Keith Alford explained that a vigilante group confronted Macken with evidence of his online activities.
A café manager, Vedrana Miskic, has won €3,500 in compensation after her former employer, Aspenvale Ltd, was found to have engaged in discriminatory harassment. The incident occurred at The Cake Café in Dublin 8, where Miskic claimed her boss, Giulio Takacs, belittled her accent by referring to her as 'Sofía Vergara,' a Colombian-born actress. The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) upheld two employment rights breaches against Aspenvale Ltd. Miskic alleged that Takacs made racist and sexist remarks and created an uncomfortable work environment. She also claimed that Takacs accused her of failing to inform a former employee about payroll changes. Takacs denied making discriminatory comments but admitted to using the nickname. Adjudication officer Catherine Byrne found that Miskic was credible and that Takacs had manipulated WhatsApp messages. The harassment was deemed a breach of the Employment Equality Act 1998, and Miskic was awarded four weeks' wages in compensation. Additionally, Aspenvale Ltd was found to have breached the Terms of Employment (Information) Act 1994 by not providing a written statement of job conditions. The total compensation awarded was €7,524.
Lawyers for the State defended the use of social media photos showing the Bray Boxing Club shooter holding a gun as evidence in his trial. Gerard Cervi was found guilty of murdering Robert Bobby' Messett and was sentenced to life imprisonment. His appeal argued that Facebook photos and CCTV footage should not have been shown to the jury. The State's counsel, Paul Murray SC, defended the admissibility of the photos, stating they showed Cervi's familiarity with guns. He also addressed concerns about the CCTV footage, noting that the judge gave clear directions to the jury. Cervi's counsel argued that the jury should have been given more warnings about identifying him from the footage. The court reserved judgment on the appeal. Gerard Cervi pleaded not guilty.
A senior Aer Lingus executive, Adrian Dunne, denied giving false evidence at an employment tribunal and rejected the claim by a sacked pilot's lawyer that he is a "bare-faced liar." The tribunal is hearing complaints by former A320 captain Tom O'Riordan, who claims he was penalized for making protected disclosures about alleged toxic fumes on an aircraft. O'Riordan alleges he was poisoned by fumes and suffered brain damage, ending his flying career. His complaints under the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 and other legislation are denied by Aer Lingus. O'Riordan was terminated for breaching the airline's social media policy. His lawyer, David Byrnes BL, accused Dunne of providing false evidence about the airline's reporting obligations. Dunne denied the allegations, stating that the pilot was responsible for ensuring an air safety report was filed. The tribunal is continuing with further legal exchanges and is due to continue later this month.
A 38-year-old man, Gerard Cervi, who was convicted of murdering Robert Bobby' Messett at Bray Boxing Club in 2018, is appealing his conviction. His barrister, John Fitzgerald SC, argues that the trial judge made errors in admitting Facebook photos showing Cervi holding a firearm, as they were irrelevant and prejudicial. He also claims that the jury should have received stronger warnings about identifying Cervi from CCTV footage. Additionally, Fitzgerald contends that surveillance photos of Cervi in his garden and evidence from the Volkswagen Caddy van were improperly admitted. Cervi was found guilty of Messett's murder but acquitted of attempting to murder Pete Taylor and Ian Britton. The appeal hearing continues, with the State's legal team to respond to Fitzgerald's submissions. The trial judge admitted the Facebook photos based on the stance Cervi adopted, which mirrored that described by Pete Taylor. Cervi was sentenced to life imprisonment in December 2023. The unnamed 38-year-old pleaded not guilty.
A 51-year-old man from Baldoyle, Stephen Comiskey, was jailed for two years and four months after being found in possession of 101 files of child sexual abuse material. He had been engaging in explicit conversations with minors over a social media app, and gardaí discovered that he had communicated with several juveniles under the age of 18. Comiskey admitted to the court that he had been conversing with these children and apologized for his actions. He claimed he had no intention of meeting them but acknowledged that children had been abused to create the images found on his devices. The court heard that Comiskey had been attending counseling since November 2024 and is on medication for depression and anxiety. His defense highlighted his difficult childhood and struggles with his sexuality, but the judge emphasized the severity of the offense and the need for protection of children. The sentence was imposed after the court determined that the threshold for custody had been exceeded. Stephen Comiskey pleaded guilty.
An offender who downloaded over 4,500 images and videos of child sexual abuse over an eight-day period before surrendering himself to gardaí has been jailed for 18 months. Aaron Catchpole, 32, admitted to contacting young girls on Instagram and requesting nude pictures. He pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography in September 2020 and has seven previous convictions, including drug possession. His former partner reportedly threatened him with losing contact with his child if he did not confess. Catchpole handed himself into gardaí and admitted to viewing the material. His phone was seized, revealing 4,483 images and 32 videos of child abuse, including infants as young as six months. The court noted that Catchpole had only owned the phone for eight days. A Probation Service report indicated a high risk of re-offending but noted his remorse. Judge Martin Nolan suspended the final year of his sentence on conditions, including probation supervision. Catchpole has a history of drug addiction but has been in custody since last October and is making progress.
A barrister has compared a garda search of a Dublin apartment to the surveillance methods of the East German Stasi, as depicted in the film The Lives of Others. Sinead Warren was present during the 2016 search, where gardai discovered her long-term partner, Detective Garda Joseph Kavanagh, in a bedroom. She claims the search was a ruse to interfere in her personal life and relationship with Kavanagh, alleging that senior gardaí deemed the relationship inappropriate and conducted surveillance and inquiries to investigate it. Warren is seeking damages for breach of constitutional rights, negligence, and deceit, claiming she was falsely labeled as a 'major criminal' in WhatsApp messages. Her brothers were killed in Dublin in 2004 and 2012, but she has no criminal history. Gardai stated the search was for a laptop burglary investigation, and the theft did not involve Warren or Kavanagh. The court heard that the search was part of an investigation into a burglary, and gardai have denied any surveillance of Warren's home or Kavanagh's movements. The judge has reserved his judgment.
A 24-year-old man, Gavin Lawlor, who repeatedly assaulted and coercively controlled his teenage girlfriend, including punching her for 'liking' a TikTok video, has had his original sentence tripled by the Court of Appeal. Lawlor, from Wexford, pleaded guilty to eight counts of assault causing harm and one count of coercive and controlling behaviour between March 2021 and March 2022. In April 2025, he was sentenced to two years in prison with the final 12 months suspended. However, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) argued the sentence was unduly lenient. At the appeal hearing, the Court of Appeal agreed, overturning the original sentence and imposing a new jail term of four years with the final 12 months suspended. The court also directed Lawlor to pay €2,000 to his victim. The judge noted the repeat nature of the offending, the escalation in seriousness, and the coercive control, including removing the victim's phone SIM card and monitoring her movements. The court highlighted that Lawlor committed the second set of offences while on bail, which is an aggravating factor.
The Supreme Court has ruled that TikTok can continue operating in Ireland while it appeals a €530 million fine imposed by the Data Protection Commission (DPC) for alleged breaches of privacy laws. The DPC had accused TikTok of allowing user data to be accessed by engineers in China, violating EU data protection rules. TikTok, owned by Chinese company ByteDance, had appealed the fine in the High Court, which granted a stay on the orders requiring the company to pay the fine and stop making user data accessible in China. The Supreme Court dismissed the DPC's appeal, stating that the test regarding the stay was a matter of national law, not EU law. The court emphasized the need to balance the potential irreparable harm to TikTok if the stay was not imposed against the public interest. The case is now set to proceed with the substantive appeal, with TikTok Technologies UK Ltd ultimately responsible for any fine. TikTok claims the DPC breached fair procedures in its decision.
A woman who participated in a €27,500 smishing scam after being contacted on Facebook has been given a suspended sentence and ordered to take part in restorative justice. When gardai asked Facebook to assist in the investigation, they were met with resistance. Mary Maughan pleaded guilty to processing the proceeds of crime through her bank account. The victim was scammed after clicking a link in a text message that appeared to be from An Post. The money was transferred into Maughan's account, and she was asked to make cash withdrawals with two men. She felt intimidated but did not face any threats. Facebook was said to have not assisted gardai in their inquiries. The judge noted the need for deterrence in such cases and sentenced Maughan to 12 months, suspended on conditions, taking into account her cooperation with gardai and genuine remorse.
Imad Qazi pleaded guilty to harassing a solicitor and a legal executive through calls, emails, social media posts and abusive leaflets over dates between September 2019 and January 2024. Dublin Circuit Criminal Court imposed a four-year sentence suspended in full, with probation supervision and a five-year no-contact order.
Christopher Judge, 42, of Pairc na Dara, Clonard, Co Wexford, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to the murder of 27-year-old Stephen Ring on October 15, 2024. Mr Justice Paul McDermott adjourned the matter to March 27 for sentencing, where the mandatory life imprisonment will be imposed. The court also vacated a previously set trial date of April 13. In a related finalisation, Jane Corcorcan, 34, also of Pairc na Dara, was sentenced to six years' imprisonment after pleading guilty to impeding Judge's apprehension or prosecution. She admitted helping move Ring's remains from her home and assisting Judge by telling falsehoods to gardai. Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo noted that Corcoran lied about the circumstances of Ring's death, falsely accused another man of assault, and wasted police resources. CCTV showed Corcoran moving Ring's remains, wrapped in a blanket, to her car boot before driving to Carrigfoyle Quarry, where the body was dumped in the water. Ring's body, which had been in the quarry for 13 days, was discovered by children fishing. His mother, Linda Ring, stated that while the body lay in the quarry, Corcoran posted on Facebook hoping he would return home safely.
TikTok has been granted permission by the High Court to redact sensitive information from confidential documents used in its appeal against a €530 million fine imposed by the Data Protection Commissioner (DPC) over Chinese access to user data. The court heard that both parties had agreed on categories of information to be redacted, which included commercially, technically, and financially sensitive details. The appeal involves 6,000 pages of documentation, and the redactions are intended to protect TikTok from competitive and security risks. The DPC has been granted the right to apply to the court if they have future objections to the redactions. The court has maintained a stay on the fine, with the appeal set to proceed on March 3. The DPC's fine was based on the company's failure to prevent Chinese engineers from accessing user data, despite assurances that data from the European Economic Area is not stored in China. TikTok argues that the DPC breached fair procedures in its decision and failed to consider key evidence.
Meta and WhatsApp have been granted permission by the High Court to challenge the €12 million levy imposed on them by Coimisiún na Meán. The companies argue that the commission's calculation of the levy lacks transparency, particularly regarding how the supervisory fee payable to the European Commission under the Digital Services Act was taken into account. Meta and WhatsApp claim they were not provided with any explanation of how the total amount was calculated and were only issued with invoices instead of appropriate notices. The companies are seeking an order to quash the statutory instrument under which the levy was issued and a declaration that the commission acted unlawfully and beyond its power. The applicants argue that the commission has a discretion to impose a levy but must provide transparency on incurred levies. The case was adjourned to April for further proceedings. The companies claim that the levy imposed on them collectively amounts to €12,921,438 and that they had no way to verify the correct formula used in calculating the levy.
A 25-year-old man from Donegal has been sentenced to eighteen months imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court following his guilty plea to the defilement of a teenager. The man, who cannot be identified to protect the victim's privacy, was originally charged with rape but pleaded guilty to defilement on the basis that he may have been unaware or reckless as to consent. The offence occurred in May 2021 when the victim was sixteen years old and the defendant was twenty-one. The court heard the man, who was an acquaintance of the girl's family, initiated contact with her via social media before arranging to meet her. He subsequently drove her to a secluded location where the incident took place. Mr Justice Paul McDermott imposed a two-year-and-six-month sentence, suspending the final twelve months on strict conditions. He noted the significant age difference and breach of trust involved. The man was directed to comply with Probation Services supervision and maintain no contact with the injured party upon release.
A retired detective has expressed shock at discovering a Garda in the bedroom of a woman's apartment during a search warrant execution in a burglary investigation. Sinead Warren, who lived in Dublin 8 in 2016, alleges that gardaí falsely branded her as a 'major criminal' and a 'serious female gouger' in WhatsApp messages. She is seeking damages for breach of her constitutional rights, negligence, and deceit. The High Court is hearing her case against the Commissioner of An Garda Síochána, the Minister for Justice, and the Attorney General. Ms Warren and Det Gda Joseph Kavanagh are described as 'law-abiding citizens of impeccable character.' The search was for a pair of yellow shorts linked to the burglary, and the presence of Det Gda Kavanagh in the bedroom was unexpected. Det Gda Mark Kelly, who was present during the search, stated he was shocked and felt obliged to inform his superior. Ms Warren's barrister questioned the inclusion of personal details in the search report, including the names of her deceased brothers.
A woman described as a 'law-abiding citizen of impeccable character' has claimed in the High Court that she was wrongly branded a 'major criminal' and a 'serious female gouger' after her relationship with a garda became known. Sinead Warren alleges that following a search of her home, messages circulated on WhatsApp suggested that her long-term partner, Gda Joseph Kavanagh, had been 'caught in the scratcher' with her. She claims that Gda Kavanagh was removed from a Special Crime Task Force and faced intimidation and harassment from his superiors. Ms Warren is seeking damages for breach of her constitutional rights, negligence, and deceit. She alleges that the search of her home was an interference in her personal life and that senior gardaí deemed the relationship inappropriate and set out to interfere. The State denies these allegations. Ms Warren claims that Gda Kavanagh was 'intimidated' and 'harassed' by superiors and that he was informed he 'needed time away from his position'. The non-jury trial continues at the High Court.
A woman who helped dump a man's body in a quarry and later expressed concern for his wellbeing on social media has been jailed for six years. Jane Corcoran (34) lied to gardai about the circumstances surrounding the death of Stephen Ring in 2024. She falsely accused another man of assaulting Mr Ring and wasted garda time. His body was found in Carrigfoyle Quarry 13 days later, decomposed and partially eaten by fish. Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo said Corcoran lacks insight into her offending and has engaged in victim blaming. Corcoran was caught on CCTV helping move Mr Ring's remains to her car and then to the quarry. A probation officer noted she appears emotionally detached from the offence and is at high risk of reoffending. The judge set a headline sentence of nine years, which was reduced to six years and nine months after considering mitigation. Corcoran's guilty plea was noted, but her lack of remorse and victim blaming reduced its value. The judge suspended the final nine months of the sentence for two years on conditions.
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has appealed the leniency of the three-year sentence given to Aaron Brady for conspiring to pervert the course of justice during his capital murder trial. Brady is already serving a life sentence for the murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe. The DPP's legal team argued that the case raised an important issue of principle, as deterrence is crucial in such circumstances. During the appeal, the judge noted Brady was carrying a water bottle, which could be used as a weapon. Brady was sentenced to three years in prison for perverting the course of justice, but this will not affect his existing life sentence. Brady admitted to recording footage of an interview between gardai and Ronan Flynn, a witness who claimed he heard Brady admit to shooting Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe. The footage was later posted on social media, which the judge described as the most outrageous contempt of court. Brady also sent photographs of portions of Daniel Cahill's statement to Dean Byrne, a violent criminal in prison, in an attempt to intimidate witnesses.
A sushi chef who was dismissed while on sick leave following a miscarriage has been awarded €8,000 in compensation for unfair dismissal. Beacon Sushi Ltd, which operates Michie Sushi in Dublin, was found to have breached the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977 following a complaint to the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC). The chef was terminated just days after suffering a miscarriage on 8 December 2024. The company's managing director, Michael Piare, sent a message of condolence but later terminated her employment via WhatsApp. The tribunal found that the company's stated reason for dismissal—breaches of absence reporting policy—was not reasonable given the employee's miscarriage. The adjudicator ruled the dismissal unfair and awarded the worker €8,000 for her losses.
An online Workplace Relations Commission hearing into an Unfair Dismissals Act complaint by Donna Ashe against Skerries Golf Club was adjourned for a written decision. Adjudication officer Conor Stokes warned the club's honorary secretary, Donnacha Neary, of potential perjury prosecution after Neary attempted to swear a religious oath using a book that was not the Holy Bible. Neary subsequently gave evidence under a secular affirmation. Neary testified that a finance subcommittee identified a potential annual saving of €7,500 by outsourcing cleaning services, characterizing the dismissal as a genuine redundancy arising from a structural business decision. He denied that performance issues triggered the dismissal, despite a May 2024 WhatsApp message from a committee member complaining about cleaning standards and threatening new hires. Ms. Ashe, a part-time cleaner earning €12.70 an hour, was dismissed in October 2024. Her barrister, Christian Douglas, argued the redundancy was a sham and the process grossly unfair, noting Ms. Ashe was not offered reduced hours. The tribunal heard details of two meetings in September 2024, including a five-minute final meeting where the decision was communicated. Stokes is to deliver his decision in writing at a later date.
Meta has been granted permission to challenge a potential fine of up to €430 million from the Data Protection Commission (DPC) over data processing issues. The company argues that the DPC acted outside its powers by expanding the investigation beyond the original complaint to all Facebook users. Meta Platforms Ireland Ltd applied for judicial review, and the court granted a stay on the fine until next year. The case stems from a 2018 complaint about access to personal data stored in a 'Hive' digital warehouse. Meta claims the DPC overstepped by suggesting the complainant's request had a 'general application' for other users. The court will hear the case again in January. Meta seeks a declaration that the DPC acted beyond its powers and a quashing of the draft decision. The judge ruled in favor of Meta, putting a stay on the DPC's findings pending the outcome of the case.
A woman who posted on Facebook expressing hope for the safe return of a missing man, while she had in fact helped dump his body in a quarry, was described as 'pure evil' by the victim's mother during a sentencing hearing. Linda Ring detailed the devastation her family faced after her son Stephen Ring was killed and his body was discarded in Carrigfoyle Quarry. Jane Corcoran, who had pleaded guilty to impeding the apprehension of another individual and assisting in moving the remains, was sentenced to be heard again in February. The court heard that Corcoran had posted on social media while knowing the victim was dead and had lied to gardai. The victim's mother expressed deep anger and sorrow, stating that Corcoran's actions were unforgivable and that she would be haunted by what she did. Corcoran had a previous conviction for theft and faces a maximum sentence of ten years. The victim's family described Stephen as a loving and generous individual, and his death has left them in deep grief.
Ramon Terrobias, a 62-year-old defendant, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) on March 13, 2021. The matter was heard at the appeal stage, where Judge Martin Nolan imposed a two-year sentence, suspended in full on strict conditions. The court noted that Terrobias was found in possession of 296 files of CSAM, comprising 144 images and 152 videos, seized from his home in Finglas, Dublin 11. During the search, Terrobias made admissions and pointed to the devices containing the material. He told gardai that another member of a Facebook group forwarded him the material, and he claimed he saved it to investigate who was victimising children, rather than for personal gratification. The prosecution acknowledged there was no evidence of distribution or prior offending. Defence counsel highlighted Terrobias' social isolation, describing him as living "effectively as a hermit," and noted his low risk of re-offending. The judge accepted that there were no aggravating features such as distribution or previous convictions. Citing a Court of Appeal precedent favouring non-custodial sentences in the absence of such aggravating factors, the judge imposed the fully suspended sentence based on the mitigation and the defendant's personal circumstances.
A judge in the Central Criminal Court emphasized the need for more conversations about consent on social media, stating that the days of justifying sexual misconduct by claiming the victim did not fight back have passed. The judge, Ms Justice Mary-Ellen Ring, imposed a three-year sentence on a 21-year-old man for oral rape, attempted rape, and sexual assault committed when he was 17. The victim, who was also 17 at the time, described the incident as occurring in a poorly lit corner of a skatepark. The judge noted the lack of understanding of consent and the impact of the crime on both the victim and the offender. The victim's victim impact statement highlighted the trauma and delays in the legal process. The judge reduced the sentence from six years to three, considering the defendant's youth and lack of prior convictions. The case underscores the importance of consent and the need for better education on the topic.
Gardai investigating a €27,000 'smishing scam' encountered resistance from Facebook, according to court proceedings. Mary Maughan (39) of Dun Laoghaire pleaded guilty to processing the proceeds of crime through her Bank of Ireland account in August 2022. The scam involved a text message from An Post, leading the victim to a fake website where her bank details were stolen. The money was transferred to Maughan's account, with €20,000 lost before the bank intervened. Maughan admitted to being approached by a man on Facebook who promised €400 for using her account. She was later forced to make cash withdrawals with two men, though she did not receive any payment. Detective Garda Cliff Singleton noted Facebook's resistance to garda inquiries. Maughan, who was in financial stress, expressed remorse. Judge Martina Baxter emphasized the need for deterrence in such cases and ordered a Probation Service report for community service and restorative justice.
A man who was caught with almost 1.5 million images and videos of child sexual abuse after he began accessing such material as a 13-year-old boy has been jailed for 27 months. Stephen Byrne (26) pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of the images, termed child pornography in law, at his rented home in Terenure, Dublin 6, on March 2, 2022. Detective Garda Mairead McKinney confirmed that 1,440,675 images and videos were found, depicting children in sexually explicit interactions. Byrne admitted accessing such material from the age of 13 through the Dark Web and social media. His defence highlighted his cooperation with gardaí and his attendance at counselling. Judge Martin Nolan noted the significant aggravating factor of the number of images and the length of time Byrne had been offending. He imposed a sentence of 27 months, taking into account Byrne's co-operation and his admissions of guilt, despite acknowledging the severity of the offence.
A 24-year-old Slovenian man who met a 15-year-old girl through the online game Roblox and later harassed her by threatening to leak her sexualised images has been jailed for two and a half years. The man, who cannot be named to protect the victim's identity, communicated with the girl through various social media platforms, during which he convinced her to send him explicit images and videos. He then blackmailed her by threatening to share these images with her family and friends if she did not comply with his demands, including regular phone calls, sharing photos, and allowing him to watch her sleep. The victim described feeling like an object controlled by the man and expressed that the memories of the ordeal would haunt her forever. The man pleaded guilty to harassment and possession of child sexual abuse images, which were found on his phone after his arrest. A psychologist's report indicated that the man had mental health issues, including emotional unstable personality disorder, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia, though he was not formally diagnosed with these conditions.
Lucas Valadares, a 42-year-old man, was jailed for 15 months after distributing and possessing child abuse material. Valadares pleaded guilty to one count of distribution and possession of child sexual abuse material. An investigation in 2018 led to the seizure of devices containing over 5,300 images and videos, including child exposure and sexually explicit content. Messages in a WhatsApp group revealed Valadares shared the material with others. He was arrested in 2021 but was not charged until 2024 due to delays in the investigation. Valadares has no previous convictions and moved to Ireland from Brazil over 20 years ago. Judge Martin Nolan emphasized the seriousness of the offence and noted the delays were partly due to limited garda resources. He imposed a 15-month sentence, considering Valadares' lack of sophistication in the crime and his steady work history.
A Portuguese dentist, Andreia Funicio, was jailed for a sustained campaign of harassment against her ex-partner, which included creating fake online dating profiles and Instagram accounts in her name. This led to numerous men contacting the victim, causing significant distress and trauma. Funicio admitted to harassment between December 2022 and March 2023. Judge Martin Nolan described the harassment as calculated and intense, resulting in the victim experiencing suicidal thoughts. Funicio received a two-year and three-month suspended sentence, reduced from four and a half years, due to her guilty plea and caregiving responsibilities. The court ordered her to have no further contact with the victim for 20 years. The victim detailed the emotional and psychological impact of the harassment, including feeling targeted in a narcissistic smear campaign and struggling with her mental health. Funicio's actions were found to be premeditated and aimed at damaging the victim's reputation and sense of safety.
A non‑national defendant, whose name is withheld for legal reasons, had an 11‑month jail sentence for breaching a safety order replaced with a fully suspended term on appeal. The defendant had previously posted an animated Facebook video featuring his ex‑wife's distorted voice and a second video showing cropped images of her family and current partner. He pleaded not guilty to two counts of breaching a safety order under section 33(1) of the Domestic Violence Act 2018. The District Court convicted him of ten months and eleven months in custody, to run concurrently, and he appealed the severity of the sentence. The District Court Appeals Court, after hearing the defendant's counsel, decided to fully suspend the ten‑ and eleven‑month terms for a maximum period of 24 months, ordering the defendant to be supervised by probation services and to comply with all related orders.
Shane Cowzer, 31, of Lower Gardiner Street, Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for assault causing harm. The defendant pleaded guilty to the charge, which relates to an incident on January 28, 2023. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a 15-month custodial sentence. The judge noted that Cowzer threw a phone at the victim, grabbed her by the neck twice, and bit her on the face. Prosecution evidence indicated Cowzer had threatened the victim and later threatened to visit her workplace via Instagram after she ended their relationship. The victim stated she felt unsafe and required counselling and medication. Defence counsel Luke O'Higgins BL submitted that Cowzer had been homeless and abusing substances at the time but has since become employed, engaged in drug treatment, and entered a committed relationship. He offered a €1,000 compensation payment, contingent on a non-custodial outcome, which was not accepted. The court rejected the mitigation, finding that a custodial term was appropriate for the misbehaviour. The matter was finalised with the imposition of the 15-month sentence.
A 24‑year‑old man was sentenced to four years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended, for assault, threats to kill, coercive control and threatening to publish intimate images of a 20‑year‑old woman. He moved into her rented home within weeks of meeting her, forced her younger brother to leave, and controlled her food, clothing, money and communications. He sent almost 5,000 abusive text messages over a four‑day period, threatening to cut her head off, to show her vagina on Facebook and to publish intimate images. He also threatened to dance on her face and to "fuck her up". The judge noted his guilty plea, cooperation with Gardaí, apology letter and a reference from an employer, but the victim declined to accept the apology. A probation report placed him at high risk of re‑offending for emotional abuse and coercive control. The case was heard in the Circuit Court.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Jake Emmet, aged 23, was sentenced to five and a half years in prison for a series of violent offences. Emmet pleaded guilty to demanding money with menace on 15 September 2024, assault causing harm on 25 September 2024, and three counts of producing a knife in a manner likely to intimidate. He threatened a woman with a knife, sent her WhatsApp messages, and, with accomplices, attacked her partner with a knife while shouting "kill him, finish him." The court noted that Emmet's threats were ignored and that the victim had called Gardaí. Judge Nolan, citing the intent to seriously harm the victim and Emmet's prior blackmail conviction, imposed the custodial sentence, backdating it to January. The case involved no further appeals or subsequent proceedings as reported.
Romer Huarita, 31, of Dublin 4, was sentenced to 15 months in prison at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to knowingly distributing child pornography material on January 7, 2022, and December 8, 2021. He also admitted to possessing child pornography. Prosecutors stated that 74 images and 45 videos, totaling over three hours, were found on his phone during a March 2022 search. Huarita sent two explicit videos via WhatsApp, later asking the recipient if the children were "too young." He expressed regret to gardai. Defense counsel Eanna Mulloy SC highlighted Huarita's lack of prior convictions, his employment history, and a psychological report indicating low reoffending risk. Judge Martin Nolan acknowledged the mitigating factors of his guilty pleas and work history but imposed the 15-month sentence, noting the maximum penalty for distribution is 14 years. The judge referenced a Court of Appeal ruling regarding non-custodial sentences in the absence of aggravating factors. The matter was concluded with this custodial sentence.
Chesing Wan, 37, of Tallaght, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to handling €64,195 and £2,180 sterling, alleged to be proceeds of crime found at his home on July 16, 2023. Judge Orla Crowe noted that Wan was "clearly trusted" in storing the considerable amount of cash. Detective Garda Mark Berigan testified that a search warrant was executed following confidential information, revealing Wan had used WhatsApp to arrange meetings for collecting cash, verified by photographs of a €20 note. The court heard that Wan, a father of four with a history of drug addiction and depression, has four previous minor convictions. Judge Crowe acknowledged mitigating factors including his guilty plea, mental health difficulties, and character references. She determined the offence warranted a custodial sentence, noting the maximum available penalty was fourteen years. Wan was sentenced to eighteen months in prison, with the final nine months suspended for two years. He was also placed under the supervision of probation services for one year post-release. The probation report placed him at a "moderate" risk of re-offending.
A man accused of repeatedly breaching a protection order by contacting his former partner on social media was granted bail by Judge Alan Mitchell at Cloverhill District Court. He faces six charges under the Domestic Violence Act 2018 for alleged Facebook messages and an Instagram follow request between June and July. The complainant, who shared a home with him and is the mother of his children, said she feared him and had to cancel her child's birthday party. She claimed he had contacted neighbours and could appear unexpectedly. Defence counsel argued the messages contained no physical threats and that the man had not been arrested until late October. Judge Mitchell noted the alleged breaches dated back to June and July but the man had only been charged on 20 October, with no contact since. He said the order allowed no contact except text, and the alleged communications were not prohibited.
Craig Fitzsimmons, aged 51, had a two‑month jail term for sending "grossly offensive" messages replaced by a fully suspended sentence on appeal. He was convicted in the District Court for two counts of sending threatening or grossly offensive communication under the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act 2020. The original sentence was two concurrent four‑month terms with two months suspended. Fitzsimmons appealed, arguing that he was "hated by people connected with Antifa" and that prison would be a hazardous environment due to alleged threats against his life. Defence counsel Edmund Shanahan said Fitzsimmons had received a barrage of threats and that the judge should have made special provisions. Judge Fiona O'Sullivan suspended the entire four‑month sentence for six months, conditional on Fitzsimmons keeping the peace and not contacting the injured party by any means, including social media. Craig Fitzsimmons pleaded not guilty.
Evan Moore, aged 20, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to rioting, setting fire to a Luas tram and damaging its windows on 23 November 2023. The incident followed a stabbing of a five‑year‑old in Parnell Square and led to a 24‑hour suspension of Luas services and an estimated €5 million in tram damage. Court hearings revealed CCTV footage of Moore's involvement from 7.05 pm to 7.40 pm, including moving burning material onto the tram. Moore, who had no prior convictions and was 18 at the time, was found to have been influenced by anti‑immigrant sentiment and social media. Judge Orla Crowe imposed a headline sentence of eight years, reduced to four years with the final year suspended, requiring good behaviour and probation supervision. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the riot and the damage caused.