Michael Smullen, a 31‑year‑old Dublin taxi driver and father of two, was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment for possessing drugs in a €3.5 million operation. Gardaí observed him taking two bags from a lock‑up facility, driving a short distance and handing them to another man. The bags contained cannabis and cocaine worth over €114,900. Investigators later found 18.5 kg of cocaine, heroin, ketamine, cannabis herb and resin, and €51,000 of MDMA in the lock‑up, behind boxes of dried flowers, with a total drug value of €3,592,374. Smullen pleaded guilty to two possession charges at St Joseph's Avenue and St Columba's Road Lower, Drumcondra, on 20 December 2017. He had no prior convictions except minor traffic offences. His counsel argued that Smullen had taken on his cousin's debt to dealers under pressure and that he had a tendency to assume other people's problems.
Eddie Valentine, 44, and Mark Kavanagh, 40, both from Rathfarnham, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to stealing a cash register from Leisureplex in Stillorgan on 4 May 2017. Judge Karen O'Connor remanded them in custody and adjourned sentencing to 1 March next month.
Sean O'Kelly, 24, was sentenced to six years in jail for arson that endangered an elderly woman, her granddaughter and a ten‑week‑old great‑grandson. He set two cars on fire in a driveway, melting the front door and forcing the family to seek refuge in the back garden. The court heard that the blaze could have spread, posing catastrophic risk. O'Kelly also vandalised six other cars, stole items, and was convicted of robbery, burglary and criminal damage on the same night. He admitted to arson in an underground carpark, causing an estimated €90,000 in damage, later settled for over €76,000. He has 24 prior convictions, including theft and firearms offences. The judge imposed consecutive sentences totalling 12 years, suspended the final six years on strict conditions, citing his rehabilitation efforts and lack of offences since 2017. The court considered his drug addiction, his apology letters, and the testimonies in his favour. Sean O'Kelly pleaded guilty.
Liam Deegan, 27, an escaped prisoner from Mountjoy, was sentenced to five years after a night‑time chase on the M50. He abandoned his Volkswagen Passat in a garage forecourt, then pulled over at 2 am when Garda John Ryan ordered him to stop. Deegan reversed, performed a U‑turn across three lanes, and drove the wrong way down the motorway. A Garda helicopter detected heat from a wheelie bin where Deegan hid. He was arrested and pleaded guilty to endangerment between junctions 7 and 9 on the M50. The court noted his 39 prior convictions and his apology to Gardaí. Judge Melanie Greally suspended the final 18 months of the sentence on strict terms, requiring Deegan to engage with the Probation Service for 12 months upon release. No injuries occurred during the pursuit. The case was prosecuted by Garret Baker BL and defended by Niall Storan BL.
Ciaran Wolverson, 53, of Edenmore Crescent, Coolock, Dublin, was found to have allowed drug dealers to mix and bag hard drugs in his home after his mother's death. He received a threatening text warning that houses in the area were being smashed and his could be next. Wolverson admitted that a number of youths would come to his house, he would retreat to a back room while they handled the drugs, and that they would leave him a small piece of heroin for personal use. Gardaí, acting on confidential information, searched his home on 5 October 2017 and seized eight bags of cocaine in a Gucci bag and cocaine and heroin in a plastic freezer bag, valued at about €17,000 and €740 respectively. He pleaded guilty to permitting his home to be used for the sale or supply of controlled drugs.
A Clare man, Robbie Walsh, 23, was acquitted of murder but found guilty of manslaughter after stabbing Karl "Gobbo" Haugh, 25, at Marian Estate, Kilkee, on 6 August 2017. The jury, after more than three hours, returned a unanimous verdict of not guilty of murder and guilty of manslaughter. Judge Carmel Stewart explained that a guilty verdict requires proof beyond reasonable doubt that the accused intended to kill or cause serious harm, and that if the intention was primarily self‑defence, the killing would be manslaughter. Walsh admitted to stabbing Haugh in the back, claiming he had no intention to kill and that he had only wanted to smash a few windows. He was remanded in custody pending sentencing. The trial included testimony from Walsh's Garda interviews, witness accounts of the fight, and medical evidence that Haugh died from a single stab wound puncturing his lung and causing massive bleeding.
A former construction worker, Noel Ryan, 42, was jailed for breaking into a basement flat on North Strand Road on 7 March 2018. Ryan, who had relapsed into heroin addiction after losing his job, told the court he believed the basement was an unoccupied office and hoped to find a cash box. The flat belonged to a dentist who ran a clinic on the ground floor, and Garda Jun Han confirmed there was no indication the basement was residential. Three college students were left traumatised; two hid in the back garden and one in her bedroom. When Ryan entered, he was caught by Garda Han and arrested. Ryan pleaded guilty to burglary. Judge Melanie Greally suspended the last 18 months of a five‑year sentence on the condition he engages with addiction services in prison. The case was heard in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Mudassar Khan, 27, was arrested at Dublin airport after customs officers discovered 13 kg of heroin in a suitcase he had brought from Dubai. He was stopped when attempting to enter the EU "blue channel" and was subsequently detained by Gardaí. In court, Khan pleaded guilty to importation and possession for sale or supply of heroin. He admitted living in the UK, being a drug addict with a £2,500 debt, and claimed he had agreed to transport a package he thought contained cigarettes. When questioned about the source of the drugs, he refused to name anyone, citing fear of retaliation. The judge noted his lack of knowledge of the contents did not excuse the reckless transport of a large quantity of contraband. He was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment, with the court taking into account his remorse and the pressure he faced. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
In a 12 February 2019 High Court decision, Mr Justice Max Barrett upheld the lawful detention of anti‑eviction activist Ben Gilroy at Dublin's Mountjoy Prison. Gilroy had sought an inquiry under Article 40 of the Constitution, arguing that his imprisonment for failing to complete an 80‑hour community service order was unlawful. The judge rejected his claims, stating that the order was not flawed and that the court was compelled by law to find the detention lawful. Consequently, Gilroy's bail was revoked and he was ordered to return to Mountjoy to serve the remainder of a three‑month term. The ruling was delivered in Court 2 of the Four Courts, where about 40 supporters and friends of Gilroy were present and expressed disapproval. Gilroy's earlier conviction for criminal contempt, related to a sworn statement in a €3.2 million judgment case, had led to the original three‑month sentence imposed by Mr Justice Brian McGovern.
A 25‑year‑old UK resident was sentenced to five years' imprisonment, with the last six months suspended, for repeatedly travelling to Dublin to have sex with a 16‑year‑old girl he claimed to love. The court found the relationship was exploitative and pre‑meditated, with the defendant controlling, possessive and manipulative. He pleaded guilty to eleven counts of serial defilement of a minor, two counts of travelling with the purpose of exploitation of a child and one count of production of child pornography. The judge noted the defendant's youth, lack of prior convictions and remorse, and imposed a three‑year post‑release supervision order. The sentence was back‑dated to 15 July 2017. The court also ordered the destruction of the defendant's mobile phone, which had been used to record child‑pornographic material. The victim's impact statement described the defendant as persuasive and demanding, and she expressed difficulty trusting others after the abuse.
Brendan Treacy, 35, will be sentenced in July for making a false emergency call that a gangland member had been shot at Peadar Kearney House, Railway Street, Dublin. The call prompted 11 Garda units, a fire brigade truck and an ambulance to respond, and the emergency operation lasted 24 minutes before being called off. Treacy admitted the call was a "moment of madness" while heavily intoxicated on tablets and vodka. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to making a false report at an unknown location in Dublin 1 on 23 August 2017. Treacy has 40 previous convictions, including theft, road traffic and drug offences. He has since detoxed from tablets, is methadone and heroin free, and seeks treatment at a residential centre. Judge Martina Baxter adjourned the case to allow Treacy to access treatment, warning that such conduct is unacceptable in a democratic society.
In a Dublin case, Liam Byrne, aged 37, chased a former partner into a community centre with a broken brush handle and attacked her in front of children. He had earlier pulled a knife from a kitchen drawer and threatened to kill her after inviting her to his home. Garda Louise Moran reported that Byrne's mother intervened twice, causing him to leave the scene. The victim escaped to a nearby community centre dressing room where Byrne struck her and threatened her again. Byrne pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and threats to kill on 16 May 2018. He was sentenced to 21 months imprisonment, fully suspended for 21 months on the condition of keeping the peace, good behaviour and engaging with probation services. The victim declined a victim impact statement and expressed willingness to forgive Byrne if he stays on the right path. The judge noted Byrne's mental health difficulties and drug use as factors but upheld the suspended sentence.
In a 2019 Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 23‑year‑old Ryan McLoughlin was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for stabbing Scott Byrne in the stomach and buttock on the Tallaght Bypass on 26 May 2013. McLoughlin, who had previously been convicted of two drug offences and traffic matters, inflicted a serious injury on his own left hand during the attack, slashing an artery. He pleaded guilty and was given a suspended final 12 months, conditional on complying with probation directions for 12 months and distancing himself from "negative peers". The court noted McLoughlin's youth, intoxication, family responsibilities and self‑injury as mitigating factors, while the prosecution highlighted delays in the case's arrival to court and the lack of cooperation from McLoughlin during police interviews.
A 52‑year‑old man from Co Kildare, Declan Brady, pleaded guilty to possessing fifteen lethal firearms and over 3,000 rounds of ammunition at a Dublin business park in 2017. The firearms included nine revolvers, four semi‑automatic pistols, a sub‑machine gun and an assault rifle. Brady admitted to holding a .357 Magnum Zastava M83/02, two .38 Smith & Wesson Model 37s, a Rossi revolver, an Ingram M11 sub‑machine gun, a 9mm Smith & Wesson semi‑automatic pistol, a Ruger revolver, a Taurus revolver, a Remington Taurus, a Beretta Model 70, a VZ 58 assault rifle, an Amadeo Rossi revolver, a Glock Model 26, a Colt semi‑automatic pistol and a Kaleshnikov pattern magazine.
A High Court judge ordered an unnamed man and woman to pay €60,000 in legal costs on a solicitor-client basis following injunction proceedings. Shawl Property Investments Ltd, which purchased the South Dublin property from a receiver, secured temporary injunctions after the pair re-occupied the residence, forcing out eight occupants. Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds ruled the defendants must cover the costs of the injunction application, describing the actions as wholly illegal. The judge refused to place a stay on the costs order but adjourned Shawl's request for an interim payment. The case was adjourned for one month to allow parties to discuss a timetable for the full hearing of the action. The defendants intend to defend allegations and bring a counterclaim. Shawl alleges the man and accomplices broke into the Dublin 6 property, changed locks, and forced out occupants, with the woman and her daughters entering later that evening. The woman had previously been jailed for contempt in May for refusing to comply with orders granting the receiver possession, though she was released in August after giving undertakings to vacate. The property was sold by a receiver after EBS secured a €9.4m judgment against the man in 2011. The matter remains ongoing, with the full action yet to be determined.
A 21‑year‑old man who endured repeated rape and sexual assault by his half‑brother, who was ten years older, was praised by Mr Justice Michael White at a Central Criminal Court sentencing hearing. The victim was first abused at age seven or eight and was assaulted weekly for seven years until he moved at age eleven. The half‑brother, aged 31, pleaded guilty to 18 counts covering 63 offences of rape and sexual assault between September 2005 and September 2012, and to one count of possessing child pornography. The judge imposed a nine‑year sentence, suspending the last two years, and ordered the defendant to attend sex‑offender treatment programmes. The judge expressed hope that the court's words would comfort the victim, who had only recently attended his first counselling session at the Rape Crisis Centre. The case was brought to light when a work colleague reported the defendant's viewing of child pornography on a work computer.
In 2016, an English tourist and a Finnish woman were attacked at Dublin's Generator Hostel when a man struck them with a pool cue. The tourist, Paul Maguire, suffered a deep 4‑cm wound to his chin, while the woman received a scar on her forehead. Both were taken to Mater Hospital; the tourist required stitches and endured pain for days. Maguire, aged 32, pleaded guilty to two counts of assault causing harm. He had 26 prior convictions. The court accepted his offer of €5,000, to be donated to Temple Street Children's Hospital, as a mitigating factor, though the victims declined the money. The case was adjourned to May 9 for sentencing pending a probation report. The judge described the assault as an "outrageous outburst of impatience and anger" toward unsuspecting tourists. The incident left the tourist's view of Ireland tainted and made him apprehensive about returning. The woman's scar caused her embarrassment.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a woman, who remains unnamed to protect her anonymity, stated that she had forgiven her former partner, a 59‑year‑old Wicklow man, for raping her while she slept. The man, convicted by a jury in December of a single rape charge that occurred on 5 November 2015, had denied the allegation and had no prior convictions. Justice Carmel Stewart imposed a seven‑year sentence, suspending the final 18 months. The court noted the woman's "heartfelt" victim impact statement and her brave admission of forgiveness. The judge wished her well and a full recovery. The case involved a brief relationship that ended in 2015, a subsequent new relationship, and an alleged assault that the man claimed was consensual. The woman described the assault, the medical examination, and her ongoing mental‑health struggles. The defense highlighted the man's good character and parenting record.
Sean Ruth, 29, of Rathangan, Co Kildare, was sentenced at the Special Criminal Court for possession of a .38 Special Rossi revolver and a 9mm round. He pleaded guilty to charges under the Firearms Act, 1925. Presiding Judge Paul Coffey, sitting with Judges Gerard Griffin and David McHugh, accepted that these items were unconnected to the larger arsenal recovered from Greenogue Business Park on January 24, 2017. The court noted the firearm and ammunition were incompatible and unused. Considering Ruth's 29 previous convictions as an aggravating factor, the headline sentence was set at four and a half years. This was reduced to three and a half years due to his guilty plea. The final six months of the sentence were suspended on the condition that Ruth enter a peace bond. The sentence was backdated to May 17, 2017, when he entered custody. The court also referenced the convictions of Jonathan Harding and James Walsh, who pleaded guilty to possessing nine revolvers, four pistols, a sub-machine gun, an assault rifle, and ammunition magazines at the same location. In January 2018, Harding was sentenced to ten years with one year suspended, while Walsh received nine years with one year suspended.
The leader of the so-called New IRA in Dublin, Kevin Braney (44), was today jailed for life for the murder of Peter Butterly (35) almost six years ago. Braney was found guilty by the Special Criminal Court last Monday of the 'premeditated' murder of Mr Butterly, who was chased and shot dead outside The Huntsman Inn, Gormanston, Co Meath, on March 6, 2013. Braney had pleaded not guilty to murdering Mr Butterly. Mr Justice Paul Coffey, presiding, said the court was driven 'irresistibly' to the conclusion that Braney was involved in the organisation and planning of Mr Butterly's murder beyond a reasonable doubt. In 2018, Braney was sentenced to four years and six months after he was found guilty of IRA membership by the Special Criminal Court. Mr Justice Coffey, sitting with Judge Martin Nolan and Judge James Faughnan, then sentenced Braney to the mandatory term of life imprisonment, backdated to when he first went into custody for this matter on September 14, 2017. Ms Caroline Cummings BL asked the court that a 'nolle prosequi' be entered on the outstanding count of membership, meaning the State will not be proceeding with the prosecution in relation to this count. Edward McGrath (37), Sharif Kelly (49), and Dean Evans (27) have all received life sentences at the Special Criminal Court after they were convicted of Mr Butterly's murder. The court found that Braney had been involved and participated in Mr Butterly's murder.
Alan McDonagh, 33, was jailed for four years after stealing a rental car fitted with a tracking device. He pleaded guilty to burglary and unauthorised taking of a car on September 8, 2017, and was tracked by gardaí to the N7. McDonagh, who has 173 previous convictions including 31 for burglary, has spent more than half his life in custody and became addicted to heroin at 16. The court accepted his desire to become drug‑free and suspended the last year of a five‑year term on the condition he keep the peace, engage with the Probation Service for 12 months and remain drug‑ and alcohol‑free. He also admitted robbing a woman at St Stephen's Green on November 3, 2017, for which a concurrent sentence was imposed. All sentences are back‑dated to July 18, the day he entered custody.
During a five‑day trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Barry O'Donoghue, aged 38, was convicted of assaulting and threatening to kill his former partner at his Drimnagh home on 20 and 21 October 2016. The victim testified that O'Donoghue knocked her to the ground, punched and kicked her in the eye, and told her he had been planning to hurt and kill her for two years. She also said he threatened to shoot her in the face so her mother would not be able to have an open casket. O'Donoghue was acquitted of falsely imprisoning her and of a separate threat to kill or seriously harm another woman at the same location and dates. He denied all charges and has no prior convictions. Judge Elma Sheahan remanded him in custody pending sentencing in April and ordered a psychologist report.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 31‑year‑old Michael Smullen pleaded guilty to two charges of possessing cannabis and cocaine. Gardaí had seen him take two bags from a lock‑up facility, drive a short distance and hand them to another man. The bags contained drugs worth over €114,900, and investigators later found 18.5 kg of cocaine, heroin, ketamine, cannabis herb and resin, and €51,000 of MDMA in the lock‑up, bringing the total value of all drugs to €3,592,374. Smullen, a father of two living on Oak Park Avenue, Royal Oak, Santry, claimed he had taken over his cousin's debt to dealers and was under pressure. His lawyer argued a psychologist report showed a tendency to take on others' problems and presented character references. The court remanded him in custody pending sentencing. The other man involved received a six‑year sentence with two years suspended for possession of the bags.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Garda Richard O'Donnell was punched in the face by Willie Connors (42) while attempting to escort him into court. O'Donnell was knocked to the floor, suffered a permanent scar on his upper lip, and was unable to work for a week. The assault, the second in two weeks, prompted his wife to advise him to leave the job and avoid front‑line duties. O'Donnell expressed guilt for putting himself in danger and reported a loss of confidence in hostile situations, raising personal safety concerns for his family. Connors, from Bachelors Walk, pleaded guilty to assault on 10 October 2017. Judge Melanie Greally suspended the final 18 months of a three‑year sentence, conditional on anger‑management and victim‑focus work, and backdated the sentence to April 2018. The court noted Connors' 141 prior convictions and his history of drug abuse. The hearing focused on the assault and the sentencing decision.
A 55‑year‑old man pleaded guilty to ten charges of indecent assault against his younger brother, aged 11‑14, between September 1982 and October 1985. The court heard the abuse involved oral rape, touching the brother's penis and forcing him to masturbate. The assaults were habitual, occurring weekly or twice weekly in the family home while other members were present. The victim lived in dread and anxiety, especially after the final assault in October 1985, which he linked to the death of actor Rock Hudson. The judge, Melanie Greally, noted mitigating factors such as the accused's early guilty plea, remorse, and current responsible family life, and reduced an eight‑year headline sentence to a six‑year suspended sentence. The court recorded that the accused had no prior convictions and had lived abroad for over 30 years. The victim's impact statement described the lasting damage to his life and family.
Aaron Doran, a 32‑year‑old taxi driver, was sentenced to one year in prison for sexually assaulting a friend of his fiancée at the engagement party on 21 June 2015. The assault took place at Kilcarraig Close, Tallaght, after a night of heavy drinking. Doran entered the victim's bedroom, touched her vagina and demanded she show him her clit before leaving. The victim, who had waived anonymity, described the incident as traumatic and a betrayal of trust. Doran pleaded not guilty, claiming he was drunk and had mistaken the victim for his girlfriend. The judge noted his lack of acknowledgement of wrongdoing and the breach of trust, but suspended the final 18 months of a 2½‑year sentence, citing his good character and employment history. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Aaron Doran was convicted.
Slaven Tokic, 40, was arrested after he punched Andy Lynch in the face at Dublin's Portobello Bar, claiming Lynch had laughed at his penis while he was urinating. Tokic said Lynch had pointed at him and laughed, and that they were both leaving the bathroom when the incident occurred. Lynch reported that Tokic punched him, knocking out two front teeth and splitting his lip. Tokic pleaded guilty to assault causing harm at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He has no prior convictions. The case was adjourned to February next year, with Tokic remanded on continuing bail. The judge considered a potential settlement of €4,000 with the victim and discussed future dental costs. Tokic is a Croatian national living in Ireland for five years, recently married, with an eight‑month‑old daughter and a new house. The court played CCTV footage showing Tokic swinging twice at Lynch, with one punch connecting with the face.
Glen Carolan, 21, pleaded guilty to robbing a McDonald's in Santry on 1 May 2018, claiming he was forced to do it or be killed. He admitted using a knife to threaten staff and taking €513, along with his clothes and the knife, to the people who instructed him. Carolan said he had accumulated debt from drug addiction and gambling and was told his family home would be "smashed up" if he did not pay. He apologized to the staff and to Gardaí, describing the situation as a "do or die" one. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, where Judge Melanie Greally noted his lack of prior convictions and the high level of threat used. She remanded him on continuing bail until 8 May to allow time for engagement with the Probation Service and to attend all appointments.
In February 2017, Dean Fitzpatrick, 26, assaulted David Curran on Grafton Street, causing a broken nose, three jaw fractures and a fracture above his eye. Curran required surgery, multiple stitches and spent seven months recovering, suffering nerve damage and losing several teeth. The assault left him traumatised, leading to a drop‑out from college and loss of his degree. Curran's victim impact statement, read by Antonia Boyle BL, detailed his mental health decline, social life disruption and ongoing physical injuries. Fitzpatrick pleaded guilty to assault causing harm at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Melanie Greally adjourned the case to 25 July to allow Fitzpatrick to complete a residential drug treatment programme and ordered a probation report. Garda Paul Jordan recounted finding Curran with blood from nose and mouth, and that the incident followed a night out at a nightclub and McDonald's. Fitzpatrick's 70 prior convictions include assault, theft, public order and road traffic offences.
Catherine Gaffney, 52, was ordered by the High Court to be extradited to Northern Ireland for alleged thefts. The warrant alleges she stole six Mulberry handbags valued at £6,000 from House of Fraser in Belfast between July and November 2016, and attempted to steal a seventh bag and purse in December 2016. She also faces a charge of obstructing a constable. Gaffney opposed surrender on Article 3 and 8 grounds, alleging sectarian mistreatment at Hydebank Prison and health risks. Ms Justice Donnelly rejected these objections, finding the alleged thefts planned and high-value. The court directed her surrender. Gaffney is currently serving a sentence with an anticipated release date of August 24, 2024, and is in custody for pending Circuit Court matters. The matter was adjourned until July 22, and she was remanded in custody until that date. In 2018, Gaffney was jailed for a year after being found guilty by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of stealing three Chanel handbags from Brown Thomas in 2015.
Tony Ward, 40, of Castlecurragh Park, Mulhuddart, Dublin, was convicted at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for endangerment, dangerous driving, assault causing harm and unlawful seizure of a vehicle. The offence occurred on 29 August 2017 between Dublin city centre and Finglas when Ward hijacked a taxi, threatened the driver with a knife, and forced the vehicle into a high‑speed chase that ended with the taxi colliding with two Garda cars. Garda Ciaran Garry was injured, suffering a large wound to his left arm that required 30 stitches. Ward pleaded guilty, was sentenced to three and a half years' imprisonment, with the final 21 months suspended on the condition of good behaviour and compliance with probation for 12 months. He was also disqualified from driving for two years and credited for time already spent in custody.
In a case heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Daniel Mazur, aged 20, pleaded guilty to possession of a black gas‑powered revolver handgun and six brass bullets containing ball bearings, which he had found on Firhouse Road on 9 June 2017. The court noted that Mazur had 14 prior convictions, including burglary and possession of knives. Judge Melanie Greally had adjourned sentencing to allow for a Probation Service report and psychiatric and psychological assessments. She later sentenced Mazur to three and a half years' imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended. The judge highlighted that Mazur's possession of the weapon posed a danger to motorists, that he had no family support, was homeless, and lived a chaotic lifestyle. The reports concluded he had psychological issues but no mental disorder.
Gerard O'Neill, 66, was arrested in March 2018 after 225 child‑pornography videos were found on a laptop, hard drive and two CDs seized from his Dublin home. The items were searched in May 2015 following reliable information. O'Neill pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing and distributing child‑pornography videos between 15 April and 13 May 2015. Of the videos, 214 showed pre‑teen boys with other pre‑teen boys or adults, and 11 showed pre‑teen boys with exposed genitalia. A chat conversation in which a video was shared was also recovered. O'Neill's home was attacked by a large group when his criminal behaviour became public, and he later sold the property at a significant loss. He is now living in hostel accommodation. Judge Melanie Greally remanded him on continuing bail and adjourned sentencing to 1 May 2019, with a probation report ordered for the next date.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 4 February 2019, 22‑year‑old Dillon Harris pleaded guilty to several offences. He admitted spraying "blood, phlegm and saliva" into the faces of Garda Gerard Whelan, Garda Peter Byrne and Dublin Fire Brigade Sub Officer Peter Fitzgerald on 21 November 2017, after a stolen Volkswagen Estate crashed into a wall. Harris also pleaded guilty to driving a vehicle without the owner's consent and to reckless endangerment on the same date. He caused €3,456 of damage to an Opel Corsa and was deemed unfit for interview after arrest, later consenting to a blood sample. The court heard he had no prior convictions, was not involved in the theft, and was dealing with addiction problems. The judge remanded him on continuing bail until later this year, when sentencing will occur.
Keith Harris, 42, of Seville Place, Dublin, was convicted of assault causing harm after stabbing his former partner's 18‑year‑old son, Darrell Hutch, in the stomach during an argument over drinking. The incident occurred on the morning of 30 August 2016 when Harris, who was heavily intoxicated, entered the home, shouted at the son, and then pulled a knife from his tracksuit and jabbed it near the belly button. He fled and was later found asleep in a nearby flat. Harris pleaded not guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court but was found guilty by a jury on 21 November 2018. Judge Pauline Codd sentenced him to four and a half years' imprisonment, suspending the final six months on the condition that he keep the peace, behave well, and follow probation directions for six months after release. The case highlighted Harris's 18 prior convictions, none of which were for violent crime.
Kevin Braney, 44, of Tallaght, Dublin, was found guilty by the Special Criminal Court of the premeditated murder of dissident republican Peter Butterly. The three-judge panel, presided over by Mr Justice Paul Coffey, concluded beyond reasonable doubt that Braney was involved in the organisation and planning of the killing, which occurred outside The Huntsman Inn, Gormanston, Co Meath, in March 2013. Mr Butterly, 35, was chased and shot dead in view of students waiting for a school bus. Braney had pleaded not guilty to the murder charge. The court accepted evidence from State's witness David Cullen, who testified that Braney attended a meeting at Cullen's Balbriggan flat the night before the shooting, where the plan was discussed. Circumstantial evidence further linked Braney to the location and the other perpetrators. The court noted that Edward McGrath, Sharif Kelly, and Dean Evans have already received life sentences for the same murder. In a separate 2018 proceeding, Braney was sentenced to four years after being found guilty of IRA membership by the Special Criminal Court. Following today's verdict, the convicted man was remanded in custody until Friday, when he will be sentenced.
In a High Court hearing on 1 February 2019, a judge warned a woman and her former partner that they could face serious legal consequences if they breached an injunction preventing them from interfering with or trespassing on a property in Dublin 6 that had been sold to Shawl Property Investments Ltd. The couple had re‑entered the house on 27 January, forcing eight occupants out, and had previously been found in contempt of court for failing to vacate the premises. The judge, Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds, noted that the woman had spent over 100 days in prison for a prior contempt order and warned that any further breach could lead to imprisonment for both parties. She also expressed concern that the couple's teenage daughters were being used as pawns in the dispute and that disturbing social‑media posts about Shawl's directors might need to be addressed.
Michael Ward, 19, of Co Longford, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to criminal damage, assault causing harm, and assault while attempting to commit theft at Oberstown Children's Detention Campus in Lusk, Co Dublin, on May 29, 2017. The court heard that Ward is currently serving a four-year sentence, with the final 12 months suspended, for prior criminal damage offences at the same facility. Prosecution evidence alleged that Ward assaulted a staff member, barricaded himself in an office with other youths, and struck Campus Director Pat Bergin in the head with a metal bar. Ward and two others allegedly used an angle grinder to cut through the campus fence to escape, causing €17,135 in damage. Ward has 56 previous convictions. Judge Patricia Ryan noted that Ward minimised his actions and ordered a governor's report and a probation report to be prepared. The matter was adjourned for sentencing to March 22 of this year.
Ian Kidd, 52, pleaded guilty to one count of criminal damage after pouring diesel inside St Agnes' Church in Crumlin on 26 July 2017. The diesel was spilled on the altar, a Carrara marble surface, and damaged a monstrance, a crucifix and a Paschal candle that belonged to Father Paul Tyrell. The damage is estimated at €100,000. Kidd appeared before the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, where Judge Melanie Greally adjourned sentencing to 12 April and ordered a victim impact statement for that date.
Brendan Heaney, 51, was sentenced to 16 months in prison after a Garda search of his Kimmage home uncovered a large quantity of drugs, including 395 g of heroin and various prescription tablets. He admitted to storing and supplying these drugs for a Finglas-based gang after his daughter, a recovering crack cocaine addict, was threatened by dealers who said they would kill her. Heaney claimed he was forced into the activity to protect his daughter, who had accrued €26,000 in debt to the gang and had been threatened with violence. He had previously received a five‑year sentence in the UK for drug possession. Judge Martin Nolan, acknowledging Heaney's circumstances and his lack of profit from the operation, reduced the mandatory minimum of ten years to a 16‑month custodial term. The sentence was deferred until early this year at the request of his defence counsel. Brendan Heaney pleaded guilty.
James Jordan (51) of Laochfail, Outfarm Lane, Castleknock, Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to knowingly and wilfully 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 expressed concerns regarding a report on Jordan's fitness for community service, noting that Jordan presented his fraudulent claims as an "oversight" and attributed responsibility to certain employees. The judge questioned whether Jordan accepts responsibility for his offences. Séamus Clarke SC, defending, submitted a signed agreement between Jordan and Revenue, under which Jordan will pay approximately €5,000 per month. Jordan has already made payments totalling €57,500. The court heard that Jordan came to the attention of a special Revenue unit due to his large property portfolio in the 2000s. Former Revenue Officer Elizabeth Keane testified that Jordan failed to pay capital gains tax on the sale of five properties between 2004 and 2010. Jordan also submitted four incorrect invoices which lowered his VAT liability. Judge Ní Chúlacháin noted that Jordan failed to pay tax on rental income and waived a tax exemption he was entitled to. She also highlighted that Jordan made false claims for Income Tax relief for properties not registered to the PRTB. The total figure owed by Jordan, including interest and penalties, was €1,236,881. Jordan has one previous conviction from 2017 for failure to file an income tax return. Mr Clarke stated that Jordan runs a carpet business and that people would lose their jobs if he received a custodial sentence. Judge Ní Chúlacháin ordered an updated probation report and adjourned the matter for sentencing on February 18, of this year.
A man from Cootehill, County Cavan, has been sentenced to eighteen years imprisonment following his conviction on multiple charges related to a tiger kidnapping at a post office in north Dublin. Paschal Kelly, aged fifty-three, was convicted of false imprisonment, robbery, threatening to kill, and possession of a stolen vehicle. The offences occurred on 25 September 2014, when Kelly and two accomplices entered the home of a postmistress in Malahide, bound three women with cable ties, and transported them to Bayside Post Office in Sutton. During the incident, Kelly threatened to set the women alight. At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Karen O'Connor commended the three women for their courage and resourcefulness, noting that one victim's quick thinking enabled gardaí to intervene and recover approximately €92,000. The judge found the offence premeditated and aggravated by the violation of the home, use of firearms, and threats made. Kelly's conviction followed a nine-week trial. Credit for time already served in custody has been applied to the sentence.
Trevor Walsh, a 53‑year‑old taxi driver, was sentenced to two years in prison for stealing €75,000 from the bank account of 83‑year‑old Pamela O'Brien, who suffers from dementia and now resides in a nursing home. Walsh used O'Brien's bank card and forged her signature on documents to open a new account and transfer funds from her old EBS account. He also withdrew cash up to €500 and paid utility bills using her card. The thefts, uncovered after friends reviewed her statements, spanned 21 months and included five admitted counts out of 21 charges. Walsh admitted the thefts, cited a drinking problem, and offered €4,000 to the victim. Judge Pauline Codd noted the breach of trust and the vulnerability of the victim, suspended the last year of a three‑year term on the condition that Walsh attend alcohol‑addiction programmes under the Probation Service.
A 25‑year‑old Dublin man, John Keogh, was arrested while attempting to move a stolen Ford Mondeo. Keogh claimed he had been asked to collect the vehicle as a favour for third parties and that he had received the key earlier that day from "some fellas." He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of a stolen vehicle at the Louis Fitzgerald Hotel in Clondalkin on 24 March 2017. The car had been reported stolen from Laytown, Co. Meath, ten days earlier and was found parked outside the hotel with false number plates. Gardaí had set up surveillance after receiving confidential information about its location. Keogh tried to discard the key when approached by Gardaí and was arrested after a brief struggle. He admitted the facts during the interview. The judge, after considering his 29 previous minor convictions and his family background, imposed a three‑year suspended sentence.
The High Court has granted Shawl Property Investments Ltd a temporary injunction against an unnamed woman and her former partner, who are accused of unlawfully occupying a Dublin 6 property. Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds issued the ex-parte order on Wednesday, requiring the pair to vacate the residence and prohibiting them from harassing the company or engaging in intimidation. The court heard that the defendants allegedly broke into the property, changed the locks, and forced the company's directors and tenants onto the street. Counsel for the plaintiff stated that the woman was jailed for contempt last May for refusing to comply with possession orders and was released in August after giving undertakings to vacate. The judge expressed concern that the woman's teenage daughters were being used as pawns and directed that the Child and Family Agency be made aware of the proceedings. She also directed that Gardaí accompany the service of proceedings. The matter was adjourned and will return before the Court on Friday.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Mark Doyle (34) and Patrick Farrelly (32) were given suspended prison sentences after they damaged The Village Inn in Clondalkin. The pair had been thrown out for drunkenness, refused to leave, and then returned to the pub, smashing heaters, picture frames and vodka bottles. Farrelly punched bar staff member Patrick McCarthy, breaking his jaw, while Doyle assaulted pub manager Alan McKenzie. Both men pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and criminal damage on 9 September 2012. Judge Melanie Greally suspended an 18‑month term for Doyle, noting his remorse, and a two‑year term for Farrelly, citing his alcohol abuse but efforts to address it. Each man paid €2,200 as a token of remorse. No further Garda attention has been reported since the incident.
Jason Tuite, aged 20, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of a knife with intent to cause injury after providing a flick knife to his cousin, Alan Tuite, who used it to slash a Luas passenger, Sebastian Rostas, at Rialto Luas Stop on 3 July 2017. Tuite also faced an additional assault charge. He received a two‑year prison sentence, with the final two and a half years suspended under strict conditions, including 12 months of Probation Service supervision upon release. Alan Tuite, aged 28, was sentenced to five years, with 18 months suspended, for assault and knife production. The court noted Tuite was 17 at the time and acted under his cousin's influence. The case involved CCTV evidence of the attack and the subsequent arrest of Alan Tuite. The victim incurred significant medical costs and ongoing anxiety. The judge highlighted the distinction between the two men and the role of the knife provision.
The High Court has allowed an unnamed Algerian man in his fifties to amend his legal challenge against the Minister for Justice's refusal to revoke a deportation order. Mr Justice Richard Humphreys dismissed the man's current arguments but adjourned the case to permit an amendment regarding reports of incommunicado detention in Algeria. The judge noted an error in the Minister's analysis concerning secret detention facilities, identifying a prima facie issue that required addressing. The man, who denies terrorism links and claims a risk of torture, was convicted of terrorism offences in Algeria and France. He had previously used multiple identities and was jailed in Ireland for attempting to travel on a false passport. In the 1990s, he received three life sentences and two death sentences in Algeria for forming an armed terrorist group and possessing prohibited weapons. Additionally, he was jailed for eight years in France in 2002 after being found guilty of membership of a criminal organisation preparing an Act of Terrorism. The Minister issued the deportation order in 2016, citing security concerns. This ruling follows three previous applications where the Supreme and High Courts ruled in the man's favour, remitting the refusal to the Minister for fresh consideration.
Liam O'Dwyer, 45, of Capparoe, Adare, Co. Limerick, was sentenced to 11 years' imprisonment for eight counts of sexual assault, four counts of rape and one count of oral rape after a retrial. The offences occurred in his then partner's bedroom between October 1996 and December 2001, when the victim was aged 12 to 17. O'Dwyer denied the charges. Witnesses described him as obsessed with the girl, calling the house repeatedly and insisting on knowing her whereabouts. The victim, who later struggled with drug addiction and PTSD, gave a victim impact statement describing ongoing fear and trauma. The judge noted O'Dwyer was groomed into submission and, despite his denial, imposed the sentence and ordered three years of post‑release supervision. The court heard he had six prior convictions, including assault and false imprisonment. The victim's partner remains supportive of O'Dwyer's innocence.
Desmond Coyle, 60, was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment for the manslaughter of 58‑year‑old Calo Carpaci, an "annoying" Romanian beggar, on 24 May 2017. Coyle left his Limerick home, drank at two pubs, then armed with a knife sought Carpaci. Unable to find him, Coyle entered Carpaci's home, stabbed him in the heart, and fled. CCTV captured the 13‑second assault. Coyle later told authorities he believed Carpaci deserved the death and that Carpaci had "stopped f***ing annoying me." Judge Michael White described the killing as "entirely needlessly" and "at the upper end of the scale" for manslaughter. Coyle had no prior convictions, had pleaded guilty to manslaughter before trial, and expressed remorse. The judge noted Coyle's civil demeanour but imposed the sentence for the serious nature of the crime. The eight‑year term is effective from 12 December 2018.