In March 2018, William McCarthy, 28, was stopped by Gardaí in a Ford Mondeo parked at Monastery Gate Avenue, Clondalkin, where two fully loaded .38 special calibre Smith and Wesson revolvers were found in the glove box. McCarthy, who had 72 prior convictions including drug and traffic offences, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of the firearms. The weapons were in good working condition, each loaded with five bullets. McCarthy claimed he was pressured by a drug debt to acquire the guns, and he expressed remorse, citing his father's illness and his own drug relapse after his daughter's birth. He was sentenced to six and a half years, with the final 18 months suspended on conditions such as engaging with the Probation Service for 12 months upon release. He remains remanded in custody.
Rishi Raj Huree, 37, of Beaumont, Dublin, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to robbing €28,870 from Twenty Two Night Club on 12 June 2018. He stole the money to repay a loan for his mother. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to two and a half years' imprisonment, but suspended the entire term on the condition that he keep the peace and be of good behaviour for two and a half years. Garda Jack McGovern explained that the general manager had tried to open a safe but could not find the key, and Huree initially denied knowing the key before admitting the theft and asking if he could return the money to keep his job. Huree was arrested two days later at Dublin Airport with over €15,000 in his backpack; the rest of the money was found in his house, and €25,660 was recovered by Gardaí.
Chico Makamda, 36, of Viking House, Waterford, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to sexual assault, false imprisonment and robbery committed on April 16, 2018, in Adare Lane, Dublin. He attacked a woman in her early fifties who was relieving herself behind bins, punching her three times, attempting to pull her jeans down, and masturbating in front of her. The victim fell, hit her head, and later discovered her wallet and phone missing. Makamda fled when another man arrived. He was sentenced to seven and a half years for false imprisonment and robbery, with the final two and a half years suspended for two and a half years on the condition he leave the country within 14 days of release. He received a concurrent four‑year sentence for sexual assault, backdated to the day of his first custody. The judge noted the victim's severe trauma and the aggravated nature of the offences.
In March 2019, a 65‑year‑old man from Westmeath was sentenced to eight years in prison by the Central Criminal Court for a series of sexual offences against his niece. The woman, now 40, reported that the abuse began when she was eight and continued until she was 14, including repeated indecent assault, sexual assault and a rape that she estimated occurred when she was 12. She described the uncle's behaviour as controlling and grooming, noting that he would often touch her, masturbate in her presence and force oral sex. The court heard her victim impact report, in which she spoke of lasting trauma, depression and suicidal thoughts. Mr Justice Paul McDermott highlighted the aggravating factor of her age and the abuse's dominance over her childhood. The sentence included three years of post‑release supervision and a prohibition on any contact with the woman or her family. The unnamed 12 year-old pleaded guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Robert Moore (31) pleaded guilty to hijacking a car on Alfie Byrne Road, Clontarf, on 1 March. He also admitted dangerous driving and driving without insurance. The court heard that Moore tried to drive the vehicle off at speed, crashed onto a footpath, and then attempted a U‑turn, causing the car to hit a kerb. Passerby Nicuser Monteanu ran to help, seized the keys, and Eamonn McGrath intervened, pulling Moore from the car. Moore threatened the men, claiming he knew where they lived. The victim, Delia Graham, a visitor from Northern Ireland, was pulled from the car, bruised, and feared being stabbed. She praised the men's kindness and the Garda's support. Judge Elma Sheahan suspended the final 12 months of a four‑and‑a‑half‑year prison term, conditional on probation and substance‑abuse treatment.
Philip Daly, 23, was jailed after he attacked his friend David O'Rourke, who lived with him in a hostel, on 15 December 2017. Daly had repeatedly asked O'Rourke for money, claiming the friend had taken items from his room. He threatened to "kick the shite" out of him if the money was not paid. On the night of the assault, Daly struck O'Rourke with an object, causing a large cut above the eye that required 30 stitches. Daly pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to three‑and‑a‑half years, suspended the last 12 months on condition of offence and victim awareness programmes, and credited him for 10 months already spent in custody. She noted evidence of remorse and efforts to address risk factors.
Former Republican paramilitary Declan "Whacker" Duffy, aged 44, is to be extradited back to Northern Ireland to continue serving a life sentence for the 1992 murder of British army sergeant Michael Newman. Duffy had previously been released on license by a Northern Irish parole board in March 2013 after serving part of his life sentence. He was arrested in December 2015 and, in 2018, sentenced by the Special Criminal Court to six years for falsely imprisoning Martin Byrne and assaulting John Roche. The Under Secretary of State for Northern Ireland revoked his license on 6 June 2016, and a European Arrest Warrant was issued. His lawyers argued that returning him would amount to "double punishment" and cited the Good Friday Agreement, but Justice Aileen Donnelly rejected these claims and ordered his extradition, noting that a licensee remains subject to the original sentence and its conditions.
Two Dublin men, Eddie Valentine (44) and Mark Kavanagh (40), pleaded guilty to stealing a cash register from Leisureplex, Stillorgan, during a children's birthday party on 4 May 2017. The theft, captured on CCTV, involved €95 in cash and four vending‑machine keys. At a hearing in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Karen O'Connor imposed a headline sentence of three years for each, reduced to two years fully suspended, citing early guilty pleas and chronic drug addiction. Both men were ordered to be supervised by Probation Services for 12 months and to comply with education and drug‑addiction treatment directives. The court noted the incident's aggravating context—children present and a party in progress—and praised a staff member who detained the men. The cash register was never recovered, and the victim impact statement estimated the loss at just under €1,000, including a €500 replacement and €400 for additional security measures.
A man has been sentenced to nine years' imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for a series of robberies committed across Dublin between March and April 2018, with an additional offence in May 2017. Dean Gray, aged 31, of Buttercup Drive, Darndale, Dublin, pleaded guilty to seven robbery offences, attempted robbery, threats to kill, and production of weapons including a knife and screwdriver. The court heard Gray robbed €350 from a shop in Baldoyle after arriving by taxi, which he then tipped before departing. He committed further robberies at retail outlets and a tanning salon within days of each other. A three-year consecutive sentence was imposed for a street robbery committed while on bail. Judge Patricia Ryan suspended the final three years conditional on good behaviour and peace-keeping for three years following release. She ordered engagement with the Probation Service, drug addiction treatment, and employment support. Gray has 69 previous convictions, including 21 robberies. His defence counsel noted his difficult background and stated his aspiration to seek residential drug treatment.
Daniel Delaney, 26, of Mariner's Port, Dublin, pleaded guilty to three burglaries committed while on bail for a prior offence. He was found guilty of breaking into Clonsilla Inn on 8 January 2017, Siam Thai on 21 May 2017 and Monkstown Rugby Club on 20 September 2017. The court sentenced him to a total of eight years, with consecutive terms of three and a half years for the first burglary, one and a half years for the second and three years for the third. Judge Elma Sheahan suspended the final 12 months of the sentence on the condition that Delaney keep the peace and behave well for two years after release. The judge noted that Delaney had committed two of the burglaries while on bail, had 128 previous convictions, and had been identified by CCTV on both occasions. He also highlighted mitigating factors such as his guilty plea, a young child and prior positive community contributions.
In a 2019 court hearing, Gardaí used a sting operation to investigate a series of car thefts by purchasing a stolen jet ski listed on Adverts.ie. The seller, Denis Kaczor Niecko, 30, fled in a van and crashed 200 metres up the road. Niecko later pleaded guilty to handling a stolen Audi A3 in Balscadden, Co Dublin, between 9 and 22 February 2017, and a stolen Nissan Juke in Poppintree, Dublin 11, between 19 April and 11 May 2017. He was arrested when Gardaí found a car key to the Audi in his van and subsequently located the stolen vehicles, both fitted with false registration plates, tax and NCT discs, and certificates. Fingerprint evidence linked Niecko to both cars. He has 23 prior convictions, including handling and possessing stolen property and theft, and has lived in Ireland for about ten years.
Eddie McEvoy, 34, was sentenced to two years in prison for a series of thefts in Dublin's city centre that totalled over €10,000 in goods, including perfume, cosmetics, alcohol and scratch cards. He pleaded guilty to eight thefts and one trespass with intent between 13 October 2017 and 26 January 2018. McEvoy's counsel described the offences as opportunistic and driven by a chronic addiction to crack cocaine, heroin, tablets and benzos, noting he was now drug‑free except for methadone. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a three‑year sentence with the final 12 months suspended, citing the accumulation of 204 prior convictions, up from 145 a year earlier. The court heard that McEvoy had lost a lung in 2016 due to an overdose and that he had been captured on CCTV during several of the thefts, including a €6,000 haul of scratch cards from a Londis staff room.
In a hearing at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Keith McDonnell, aged 29, pleaded guilty to criminal damage to his Mountjoy Prison cell on 21 May 2013. The court heard that McDonnell had been serving a separate sentence for criminal damage at the time of the offence. His former partner, Sarah‑Jane O'Callaghan, said she had died by suicide and that after visiting her in the mortuary McDonnell "lost his head" and went to pieces. A prison officer heard commotion, saw McDonnell shouting and throwing a cup of tea, and after McDonnell threw a television at the ground, the officer left the cell. McDonnell was removed and placed in a special observation cell. The damage to the cell, including a smashed washbasin, broken waste pipes, a 22‑metre glass viewing panel, a modesty screen door, a laminated mirror and a spyhole, cost €1,750. McDonnell has 68 previous convictions, including five for criminal damage, multiple assaults and thefts.
Daniel O'Connell, 65, who lives in Clare and Limerick, is appealing to the Supreme Court over his extradition to the UK for failing to pay a confiscation order of almost £13 million. He has argued that extradition would breach his rights under the European Convention of Human Rights and that, as an indigent person, he should not be sent to serve a penalty that a wealthy person would not have to serve. Justice Aileen Donnelly rejected all of his arguments and ordered his extradition, but she put a stay on the order pending a Supreme Court application. O'Connell was convicted in 2000 of five VAT‑evasion offences, jailed for eight years, released on licence in 2003, and was later subject to a confiscation order of almost £6 million. He has paid £354,407.41, leaving a balance of nearly £6 million plus interest.
Barry Keating, 33, of Coolock, Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for drug offences. He pleaded guilty to possession of heroin for sale or supply at Harmonstown Road, Dublin 5, on June 29, 2016, and possession of cocaine for sale or supply at Shonvalley Apartments, Lucan, on August 8, 2016. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a four-and-a-half-year sentence, with the final 18 months suspended. The court noted Keating's 53 previous convictions, drug addiction, and difficult youth circumstances. Prosecution and defence agreed he was effectively "passed from pillar to post" after being abandoned as an infant and acted as a courier under the influence of others. Separately, Gerard Gerard Cleary, 34, pleaded guilty to possessing cocaine for sale or supply. He was sentenced to three years, with the final 18 months suspended, by Judge Karen O'Connor on December 1, 2017. Cleary cooperated with gardaí and made full admissions during interview. The cocaine involved in the Lucan incident had a street value of €138,837, while the heroin in the Harmonstown incident was valued at €16,190. Both defendants were arrested at the scene of the respective incidents.
Lee O'Brien, 32, of Cooley Road, Drimnagh, was sentenced to three‑and‑a‑half years in prison for a high‑speed chase that ended with him crashing into a garda car and a taxi. He pleaded guilty to three counts of endangerment, one count of dangerous driving and one count of driving without insurance. The pursuit began when a garda patrol noticed a red Nissan Micra that sped away, leading to a series of collisions. O'Brien's vehicle collided with a patrol car, then a taxi, causing the taxi to spin and hit a pole. All occupants suffered minor injuries. The judge, Melanie Greally, described the incident as an "extremely serious episode of highly dangerous driving", noted O'Brien's 122 prior convictions, and imposed a ten‑year driving ban upon release. The sentence was back‑dated to May of the previous year. O'Brien admitted the charges, expressed remorse, and was found intoxicated during the incident.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Vasile Marin, aged 24, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for robbing an 81‑year‑old pensioner in Sutton on 10 September 2016. The victim, who had recently had a pacemaker implanted, was robbed of a €300 purse while she was shopping at Eurospar in Bayside. Marin, a father of two living in Foxborough Close, Lucan, pleaded guilty to robbery. He had two prior theft convictions and was motivated by a gambling debt, according to his defence counsel. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a three‑year sentence with the final 18 months suspended, noting Marin's lack of employment history and receipt of disability benefits for depression. The victim, who was terrified and unable to leave her home for six months after the incident, expressed that she had moved on but no longer uses cash and relies on home help for shopping.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, Kelly Simpson, aged 27, pleaded guilty to possessing 177 g of crack cocaine and 329 g of cannabis, valued at €12,417 and €6,588 respectively, after Gardaí searched her apartment following complaints of suspicious activity. The search, conducted with a warrant, revealed a strong smell of cannabis and the presence of Simpson and her three children. Simpson, who had previously been fined for taking drugs into a prison, admitted that she stored the drugs to obtain money for her children, citing financial hardship and lack of support from their fathers. She also disclosed using benzodiazepines to manage panic attacks. Judge Melanie Greally, noting the seriousness of the offence, adjourned sentencing to May, remanded Simpson on continuing bail, and scheduled a defence plea in mitigation for the next hearing.
The opening day of a Special Criminal Court trial saw the prosecution outline its plan to use audio and video footage from a Garda surveillance operation at Riverwood Park, Castleknock, to convict Damien Metcalfe, 33, of membership in the Irish Republican Army. Metcalfe, who declined to plead in court, stated he was "not guilty." Prosecutor Anne‑Marie Lawlor explained that surveillance had captured him entering the premises on several occasions, suggesting IRA activity there. She also highlighted evidence concerning his detention and interview process. Chief Superintendent Cliona Richardson, who authorised the surveillance after receiving information from a "sensitive source," told the court that she claimed privilege to protect the identity of the source. The trial is set to continue the following day before the three‑judge panel.
Patrick Paget, 30, of Ballymun, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to two robberies and an attempted robbery of personal belongings at Abbey Street, Dublin, on January 18, 2017. Judge Patrick Quinn imposed a 20-month sentence, with the final 15 months suspended, and credited any time Paget spent in custody. The judge described the offences as "cowardly" but noted Paget's significant rehabilitation efforts, stating he had done "Trojan work" and remained out of trouble since his last offence. The sentence was suspended on the condition that Paget remains drug and alcohol free and attends NA meetings. Prosecution evidence highlighted Paget's 128 previous convictions, including 25 under the Larceny Act, and an 18-month prison term for burglary in 2015. Defence counsel submitted that Paget has been drug-free for 23 months and has stable accommodation with his partner and child. Co-accused Paul Coady, 27, of Cabra, also pleaded guilty to the same offences on the same date, as well as an attempted robbery at Tesco Express, Aungier Street, on January 20, 2018. Coady, who has nine previous convictions for minor offences, was not sentenced at this stage and will be sentenced in October.
Michael Wall, 18, was found guilty of robbing an unoccupied house in Willowfield, Dublin 4, where he stole cash and jewellery worth €11,310. DNA evidence linked him to the scene after he smashed a bedroom window and left blood on the property. He pleaded guilty to a single count of robbery. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to two and a half years in prison, but the sentence was fully suspended on the condition that he keep the peace and comply with Probation Services supervision for 18 months. Wall had no prior convictions. The victim, who did not submit a Victim Impact Statement, discovered the house was left open and the window smashed. Gardaí noted the thief had injured himself during the break‑in. The case was prosecuted by John Berry Bl and defended by Marc Thompson Bl, who cited Wall's recent bereavement and drug issues. Probation Services assessed Wall as a moderate risk of re‑offending.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 58‑year‑old Greg Gilligan of Avonbeg Gardens, Tallaght, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for possessing cannabis and a small quantity of crack cocaine. The drugs, valued at €71,695, were found in a black hold‑all bag that Gilligan had thrown into a neighbour's garden after a Garda raid on 24 August 2016. Gilligan admitted he had been storing the drugs for a friend who was a drug addict; when the drugs were lost, he incurred a €2,500 debt. He pleaded guilty, and his counsel argued for a fully suspended sentence, citing his caring nature, charitable work for homeless people, and lack of prior convictions. The judge accepted his remorse, noted his drug‑free status, and highlighted his low risk of re‑offending, but imposed the two‑year custodial term.
Michael Shine, an 86‑year‑old retired surgeon, was sentenced by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to four years' imprisonment for one count of indecent assault and 18 months for the remaining 11 counts, all to run concurrently. The charges cover 12 indecent assault offences and one sexual assault committed during medical examinations at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital and two private clinics in Drogheda between 1971 and 1992. A jury found him guilty after just over six hours of deliberation. Judge Martin Nolan noted the seriousness of the pattern of misbehaviour, the victims' vulnerability and Shine's position of trust as aggravating factors, while his age and health were mitigating. Shine denied any improper conduct and claimed no memory of the incidents. The sentence reflects the court's decision to impose the headline term of four years, with the remaining terms running concurrently. The case remains under appeal for previous convictions. Michael Shine pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, retired surgeon Michael Shine, aged 86, was found guilty of 12 indecent assault charges and one sexual assault charge committed during medical examinations between 1971 and 1992. The jury, after just over six hours of deliberation, returned guilty verdicts. Victim Patrick Cusack, who waived anonymity, described the abuse as a "life sentence of pain, hurt, anguish and shame," noting he had not slept properly for 45 years until the verdict. Two other victims also testified that Shine showed no understanding of his actions and that the abuse had eroded their trust in people. The court adjourned sentencing to the following Monday, with Shine remanded on continuing bail. No sentencing outcome was provided in the article.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Michael Rooney Dignam, 38, pleaded guilty to robbery at a Centra shop on 7 May 2017. He entered the shop, threatened a worker with a syringe filled with red liquid, claiming he had "the virus" and demanded the till be opened. The worker saw the syringe, which she believed contained his blood. Rooney Dignam stole €600. He admitted no memory of the incident but later identified himself on CCTV. He has 47 prior convictions, including 18 for robbery and one for manslaughter. He is serving a six‑year sentence, with the final 18 months suspended for three robberies in May 2017, and is scheduled for release on 29 September 2020. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to 18 months' imprisonment, to start today.
The High Court ordered the extradition of Daniel O'Connell, 65, the alleged "controlling mind" behind a £20 million VAT fraud. O'Connell, who lives in Clare and Limerick, had challenged the extradition on grounds of delay, his right to a fair trial and his indigence. Justice Aileen Donnelly rejected all objections, stating no evidence of a real risk to his rights. O'Connell was convicted in 2000 for five VAT evasion offences and sentenced to eight years, released on licence in 2003. A confiscation order of almost £6 million was imposed, with a seven‑year sentence for default. By 2016 the balance was nearly £6 million plus interest. He was arrested in 2017 under a European Arrest Warrant and will appeal the extradition order next Wednesday.
Brian Kavanagh, 33, was jailed after attempting to mug US military policeman Christian Escobar in Dublin using a roll of tin foil that he claimed was a silver bar. Kavanagh, under the influence of drugs, tried to seize Escobar's backpack, leading to a scuffle that caused both men to crash through a shop window, damaging about €2,000 worth of goods. Escobar suffered severe tendon damage to his wrist. Garda Theresa Brady observed Kavanagh behaving violently, head‑butting security guards and a glass partition, and deemed him unfit for interview for six hours. Kavanagh pleaded guilty to attempted robbery, assault causing harm and violent behaviour in a police station. Judge Karen O'Connor, noting 147 prior convictions and failed attempts to address his addictions, sentenced him to two years and nine months' imprisonment, rejecting his offer to engage with Probation Services.
Jorgen Sorensen, a 65-year-old Danish bus driver, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after entering signed guilty pleas to importing and possessing cocaine for sale or supply. The offence occurred on November 1, 2018, at Dublin Airport T2, where customs officers discovered two wrapped packages of cocaine valued at €66,871 in his luggage. Sorensen alleged he had been deceived into transporting what he believed were inheritance documents for a woman he met on Facebook, claiming he was to be paid €800 to deliver them from Brazil to London. He stated he had never inspected the bag and trusted the individuals who organised his travel. Judge Melanie Greally described Sorensen's actions as showing a "huge level of naivety" and "significant level of recklessness," noting the enterprise "reeked of scam." The court accepted that his trusting nature had been exploited, though he remained criminally liable. Judge Greally imposed a three-year sentence, with the final 18 months suspended, resulting in an effective custody period of 18 months. The sentence was backdated to the date Sorensen entered custody. Additionally, the court ordered that he leave the jurisdiction within seven days of his release.
Derek White, 41, of Lucan, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to unlawful possession of cannabis at his home on 11 July 2016. Garda David Sheehy reported that White was stopped while driving and a small amount of cannabis was found in his car; a search of his house uncovered 16 cannabis plants growing in a tent in an upstairs room, valued at €12,800. White cultivated the plants to extract medicinal oil for himself, who suffers from Crohn's disease, and for his autistic son. He claimed he was not selling the cannabis. Judge Cormac Quinn sentenced White to two years' imprisonment, but suspended the entire sentence on the condition that he keep the peace and be of good behaviour for two years. White has four prior convictions, including possession of drugs, cultivation of cannabis and unlawful possession of ammunition.
Lawrence Doyle, a 51‑year‑old taxi driver, was sentenced by Judge Melanie Greally to 180 hours of community service within 12 months instead of an 18‑month prison term for a drink‑fuelled assault on Christopher Darcy. The incident occurred on 15 May 2017 at Mullets Bar, Amiens Street, when Doyle bit off a 3‑cm portion of Darcy's ear after a quarrel. CCTV showed Doyle attacking Darcy, who was struck repeatedly in the chest and attempted to defend himself. Darcy was taken to Mater Hospital, treated for a permanent ear injury, and received a tetanus shot and antibiotics. Doyle pleaded guilty, had no prior convictions, cooperated with Gardaí, and paid €1,000 in compensation. The judge noted the assault was out of character for Doyle and described it as vicious and violent.
A 21‑year‑old Dublin man, Dean Craig, caused pedestrians to run for cover when he sped through a village main street, hitting a speed ramp and launching his car into the air. He was pursued by Gardaí, abandoned the vehicle with two passengers, and fled on foot. Craig pleaded guilty to endangerment and to possession of stolen goods, including a PlayStation console, cash, an iPod, a safe, an imitation revolver, passports, a balaclava, a box cutter, a screwdriver and a torch. He also pleaded guilty to possessing a balaclava, a box cutter, a screwdriver and a torch with intent. Judge Melanie Greally imposed 240 hours of community service in lieu of two and a half years' imprisonment for the possession offences and adjourned his sentence for the endangerment and possession charges for 12 months, allowing him to engage with the Probation Service. He remains on bail until February next year.
Bayo Olanrewaju, 48, was jailed for four and a half years after he was caught carrying nearly €200,000 worth of heroin into Dublin Airport. He had swallowed most of the drugs in pellets and claimed he would meet someone in Dublin and hand them over at a hotel. Olanrewaju said he had agreed to transport the drugs because he needed money to travel to Mozambique for his grandmother's funeral. He had previously borrowed money from people who took advantage of his financial situation. Garda Aoife Cusask reported that customs officials stopped him after his flight from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and found a plastic bag with heroin pellets taped to his inside groin area. He admitted swallowing more drugs and that he would be paid €1,000 once he delivered them. The pellets contained 1,305 g of heroin, valued at €182,700. Bayo Olanrewaju pleaded guilty.
In a 2016 incident on Marigold Avenue, Darndale, Dublin, 36‑year‑old Paul Evans attempted to rob taxi driver Frank Rowan. Evans brandished a 6mm air pistol, claiming it was a "practical joke," and threatened Rowan with the gun. Rowan, fearing a real shot, managed to overpower Evans, who repeatedly ran at him and demanded the gun back. Rowan struck Evans on the head with the gun, causing a small forehead injury. A passerby called the Gardaí, who later arrested Evans, who was wearing a black ski mask. Evans pleaded guilty to attempted robbery and unlawful possession of a realistic imitation firearm. He claimed the pistol belonged to his son and was used for shooting cans. The court noted Evans had no prior violent convictions and adjourned sentencing to 16 May, remanding him in custody until then.
In a robbery on Station Road, Lusk, on 9 March 2016, Folarin Odunlami (22) and an accomplice used a long steak knife to threaten a young man, demanding his phone, wallet and €110. The victim fled to a nursing home, called Gardaí, and later identified the two men at a train station. Gardaí chased them; they fell 15 feet from a footbridge into a carpark and hid. Garda Air Support Unit detected them a short time later, lying under brambles, using thermal imaging from a helicopter. Odunlami pleaded guilty to robbing the victim's phone, wallet and cash. At a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Judge Melanie Greally noted his remorse and lack of further offences, ordering 240 hours of community service. The case highlighted the use of thermal imaging to locate suspects hiding in vegetation.
In 2019, a court heard that Roy Norman Kenyon, aged 64, who had been living in Ireland under the alias Alan McPherson for 15 years, was facing a return to the United Kingdom to continue serving a life sentence for the 1972 murder of Margaret Potts. Kenyon had escaped from HMP Leyhill in 2003 after 31 years of imprisonment, failing to return from a home leave on 29 May 2003. He was arrested in Eyeries, Co Cork, on 2 May 2018. The court was informed that Kenyon had killed Potts on 15 December 1972 after an argument, striking her twice in the head with a poker while she sat in an armchair. Mr Ronan Kennedy, representing the Minister for Justice & Equality, presented evidence of Kenyon's escape and the European Arrest Warrant issued for his return.
Gerard Curtis, 32, was jailed for 28 months after pointing an air gun at three gardaí on a second‑floor balcony in Dublin. While still wearing funeral clothes following his mother's cremation, he threatened the officers, saying he would slaughter them all, and then pointed a BB gun at them twice, causing the officers to retreat. Curtis later admitted he was "whacked out of it" after a cocaine‑fuelled party. He pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm on 14 June 2016. The judge noted the weapon was harmless but would not appear so to those confronted. Curtis had 116 prior convictions and had cooperated with the investigation, showing remorse. The incident was described as serious misbehaviour with potential serious repercussions for both Curtis and the gardaí.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Martin Lumsden, 35, pleaded guilty to robbery and possession of a firearm after stealing from a Mace shop in All Saints Park, Raheny, on 7 May 2018. He had previously pleaded guilty to trespass and theft at Gaelscoil Cholmcille, a primary school, on 18 April 2018, where he and co‑accused John Finn, 32, had thrown a bag of coins over the school's railings, later found to contain €880.78, all of which was recovered. Lumsden stole about €500 from two tills in the Mace shop, none of which was recovered, and the firearm was not recovered. He has 110 prior convictions, including hijacking, false imprisonment, robbery and burglary. Finn has 17 prior convictions. The judge ordered probation reports for both men and adjourned sentencing to 21 May.
Gary Murphy, 38, of Church Road, Dublin 1, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assaulting a taxi driver, Mohammed Naseem, on 28 May 2016. Murphy entered Naseem's taxi early in the morning, distracted him with the horn, verbally abused him and threatened to shoot him, reaching into his trousers as if he had a weapon. Naseem sprayed Murphy with body spray; Murphy then struck him six or seven times, causing cuts and swelling. Murphy was heavily intoxicated at the time and had many prior convictions, none involving assault or violence. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to three and a half years' imprisonment, suspending the final 12 months on the condition that he keep the peace, behave well and comply with the Probation Service for 12 months after release.
A 29-year-old man from Ballysodare in Sligo has received a fully suspended sentence following his conviction at the Special Criminal Court for assisting an unlawful organisation. Damhan McFadden pleaded guilty in November 2019 to knowingly rendering assistance to the IRA by transporting an inert training mortar in a child's backpack in August 2016. Presiding judge Mr Justice Tony Hunt imposed a two-year-eight-month suspended sentence, noting McFadden had engaged in intentional conduct but was entitled to a reduction for his guilty plea and absence of previous convictions. The judge stated McFadden became involved through a "misguided and romanticised notion of republican ideals". McFadden entered a bond of €100 to keep the peace for the suspension period. His co-accused, Julian Flohr, was convicted of membership of the same unlawful organisation and received two years and ten months imprisonment.
A 31-year-old man from County Sligo has been sentenced at the Central Criminal Court to three years imprisonment, with the final year suspended for twelve months, following his guilty plea to the defilement of a child under 15. The offence occurred at an apartment in September 2012. The court heard that the girl, aged 14 at the time, was met by the man by chance and subsequently assaulted sexually against her will. She had informed him of her age and falsely claimed pregnancy in an attempt to discourage him. The man denied knowledge of her age, claiming he believed her to be approximately 18. Justice Tara Burns identified the significant age disparity and the victim's vulnerability as aggravating factors, whilst acknowledging the defendant's guilty plea and admissions to gardaí as mitigation. The suspended portion is conditional on the man maintaining the peace, remaining substance-free, and avoiding contact with minors. He is currently serving a separate sentence for assault causing harm.
In a 2019 case, Arturas Bulksas, 55, was found guilty of stabbing his housemate in the torso, neck and ear during a domestic dispute. The victim, who spent two days in hospital, declined to give a victim impact statement or medical report. Bulksas, who had no prior convictions and had recently arrived in Ireland, pleaded guilty. Judge Melanie Greally, after hearing evidence, ordered 240 hours of community service to replace a two‑year custodial sentence, which she suspended in full. She also required Bulksas to complete the community service within 12 months. The judge noted the injuries were not life‑threatening and that Bulksas had shown remorse and a clean record. No jail time was imposed.
James Jordan, 51, of Castleknock, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to knowingly submitting 16 incorrect VAT returns, six incorrect income tax returns, four incorrect invoices and three false claims of income tax relief. Judge Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin sentenced him to 240 hours of community service in lieu of 18 months imprisonment for one count of submitting an incorrect tax return. He received an 18‑month imprisonment sentence for one count of submitting an incorrect invoice, but the entire sentence was suspended for three years on the condition that he keep the peace, be of good behaviour and comply with an arrangement with Revenue. The arrangement requires Jordan to pay about €5,000 a month for 113 months; he has already paid €57,500. The court noted that Jordan owed €1,236,881 in total, including €162,945 VAT liability, €297,974 capital gains tax, and €775,962 interest and penalties.
A former Christian Brothers teacher, John Gibson (71) of Dun Laoghaire, Dublin, has been found guilty of indecent assault against a 12-year-old girl at a Christian Brother's School in Co. Wexford, between May and September 1983. Gibson pleaded not guilty to the charges, but a jury returned majority guilty verdicts on all three charges after deliberating for just over four hours. The trial, which lasted five days, heard testimony from two complainants who alleged that Gibson molested them while washing them after they had carried out manual work around the school. Judge Elma Sheahan thanked the jurors for their care and attention to the case. She remanded Gibson on continuing bail until his sentence hearing on March 19th, next. She further ordered victim impact reports for that date. Gibson was also ordered to sign on at Dun Laoghaire Garda Station once a week, surrender his passport, and notify authorities of any change in his address. The matter was adjourned and will be finalised at the sentence hearing on March 19th.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Conor Metcalfe, 28, of Monastery Park, Clondalkin, was found guilty of membership in the Irish Republican Army (IRA) and sentenced to four years and six months imprisonment, backdated to 10 December 2018. The court relied on belief evidence from Detective Chief Superintendent Anthony Howard, who asserted Metcalfe was a member on 24 November 2015 based on material reviewed, and on inferences drawn from Metcalfe's failure to answer questions under Section 2 of the Offences Against the State Act. The judge noted Metcalfe's persistent and active membership, though not a high‑level member, and applied a 10% discount for modest mitigating factors. Metcalfe had 13 prior convictions, mainly for criminal damage, public order offences and drunk driving, dating back to 2009. The sentence was imposed by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, with Judges Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin and Cormac Dunne presiding.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, an 18‑year‑old teenager was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for assault causing harm after he threw a stone at a fellow teen's head during an incident on 17 July 2016. The victim, a young actor, sustained a permanent facial scar above his right eye, requiring 11 stitches, and has since lost acting opportunities in Belgium because of the injury. The judge described the assault as "extremely nasty" with "undertones of homophobia," noting that the accused denied the homophobic aspect but the victim heard slurs such as "a fag." The sentence was suspended for two years, with the first year to be served, citing the defendant's remorse and the fact that he was 15 at the time of the offence. The court highlighted the defendant's unstable upbringing, multiple prior convictions, and ongoing issues with cannabis and ADHD. The unnamed 18-year-old pleaded guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 36‑year‑old Graham Stafford was found guilty of false imprisonment after breaking into a terminally ill woman's home in the early hours of the morning. Stafford, who had previously been convicted of minor drug and public order offences, entered the house believing a family member owed him €3,000. He repeatedly struck the 32‑year‑old male occupant, who was the son of the ill woman, for over four hours. Stafford kicked, hit, and used a kitchen knife to threaten the man, and struck him with a Yankee Candle. The victim sustained a cut to his left eye, head lumps, and mouth wounds, and reported dizziness and headaches afterwards. Stafford was remanded in custody pending sentencing, with a Probation Service report to be submitted before the April hearing. The court did not read the victim impact statement.
Joseph O'Connor, a 58‑year‑old former Garda from west Dublin, was convicted in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of possessing child pornography. He pleaded not guilty to five counts of possession of images and videos of children in sexual acts. Evidence seized from his home in August 2011 included a laptop with videos in the recycle bin depicting boys under ten and under 17 in sexual acts, and 16 different images of children exposed or involved in sexual acts. A jury convicted him of four counts and acquitted him of one count involving duplicate images. Judge Elma Sheahan sentenced him to two years' imprisonment, citing the severity of the material and his Garda position. The maximum custodial sentence for the offences is five years. O'Connor's conviction was upheld despite his denial of responsibility and claims of bad faith prosecution. The case highlighted the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission's involvement in a related assault complaint.
James Redmond, aged 25, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for mugging his 92‑year‑old neighbour, Deirdre Tobin, in Monkstown, Dublin. Redmond admitted to owing money to drug dealers and said he targeted Tobin because she was an easy victim. On 9 March 2018, after Tobin had collected her pension at the post office, Redmond waited for her at home, grabbed her bag from behind, causing her to fall, and stole €487 in cash. Garda Tony Corcoran described the victim lying on her back when he arrived. Redmond was identified from CCTV footage, arrested at his home, and pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Melanie Greally noted that Redmond had cooperated with police, expressed remorse, and that Tobin was a vulnerable woman who had since entered a nursing home. The court considered the victim's age and vulnerability in sentencing.
A 26‑year‑old Dublin man, Keith Gilroy, was sentenced to five years in prison for transporting a loaded Smith & Wesson .357 Magnum revolver and 11 rounds of ammunition, after being on bail for drug offences. He had previously pleaded guilty to possessing €2,590 of cocaine and over €40,000 of cannabis and crack cocaine, and to laundering €4,415. Gilroy admitted to holding drugs for others to offset a debt of €30,000 and to supplying "grass" to creditors. Gardaí found him lying in bed at the Sean O'Casey Avenue address, where they seized €15,347 of cannabis, crack cocaine worth €25,309 and €4,415 in cash. He was also intercepted in a taxi with a shoebox containing the loaded revolver and ammunition in July 2018. Judge Melanie Greally, noting his candid admissions and early guilty pleas, imposed an eight‑year sentence with the final three years suspended, and ordered 12 months of post‑release supervision.
Mark Connolly, 44, a father of three, was sentenced to five years in prison, with two-and-a-half years suspended, after pleading guilty to possessing €311,000 that he believed was the proceeds of drug dealing. He admitted to collecting the cash to pay off a €4,000 cocaine debt, having been paid €300 for each of six runs. Gardaí found €291,790 hidden behind a panel in a wardrobe in a rented Dublin apartment, plus an additional €19,950 in a rucksack. Connolly had been given keys, a phone and instructions on where and when to collect the money. He acknowledged the money likely came from drugs, but claimed he had not transported drugs himself. The court noted his cooperation, guilty plea, financial pressure and low risk of re‑offending, and gave him credit for his post‑arrest conduct and counselling. The sentence was imposed by Judge Melanie Greally at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.