Joseph Hillen was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court today for the manslaughter of 53-year-old Martin Mulligan, who was killed at Carnmore, Balriggan, Dundalk, Co Louth, on September 28, 2015. A jury previously found Hillen not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter. Ms Justice Eileen Creedon stated the killing fell in the upper-mid range of such offences, setting a headline sentence of ten years. Considering mitigating factors, including Hillen's offer to plead guilty, his stable employment, lack of previous violent convictions, and expressed remorse, she reduced the sentence to seven years. The final year was suspended on conditions of good behaviour, keeping the peace, and engaging with probation services. Hillen, of Glendasha Road, Forkhill, Co Armagh, was assessed as a moderate risk of re-offending. The court noted the jury accepted his claim of self-defence but found he used excessive force. Outside court, Martin Mulligan's daughter Shauna Mulligan stated the justice system had failed the family, calling the outcome unfair. His wife Grainne described the family as devastated, while his other daughter Sharon noted the family's grief. The family expressed that they felt the legal process did not adequately reflect the severity of the loss.
Michael Maughan, 24, of Hazel Hill, Tallaght, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 21 January 2018 to handling €80,000 worth of stolen jewellery. The items, seized after an accomplice tried to sell them to a cash‑for‑gold shop, were stolen in a burglary in Lucan three days earlier. Garda Redmond O'Leary described a surveillance operation outside Gold Digger Jewellery that led to Maughan's arrest when a Volkswagen Golf stopped and a woman was found carrying two bags of jewellery. The jewellery, weighing one kilogram, included 48 adult bracelets, three baby bracelets, rings, cuff links and earrings, many of which had sentimental value. Maughan's 40 prior convictions included trespass, theft, criminal damage, road traffic offences and failure to appear at court. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a four‑year sentence, suspending the final two years. She noted the jewellery's sentimental value and the fact that some items were permanently damaged.
A 23-year-old man has been sentenced to three and a half years imprisonment, with the final twelve months suspended, following a high-speed car chase across Kildare and Dublin last May. Christopher Prentice, of Tallaght, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to unlawfully using a stolen vehicle and three counts of dangerous driving. The court heard that gardaí observed Prentice driving a jeep reported stolen on the Naas Road and pursued him as he drove at speeds exceeding 180 kilometres per hour, broke red lights, crossed lanes, and forced oncoming traffic to swerve. The chase ended when Prentice lost control, mounted a kerb, and came to a stop on Raphoe Road. Judge Melanie Greally described it as miraculous that no injuries or damage occurred. Prentice was also disqualified from driving for five years. He has thirty-three previous convictions. The sentence was backdated to May.
A Dublin man found guilty of IRA membership will be sentenced next week at the non-jury Special Criminal Court. Conor Metcalfe (28), of Monastery Park, Clondalkin, Dublin 22, was found guilty by the three-judge court in December of membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army (IRA) on November 24, 2015. The court had entered a not guilty plea on Metcalfe's behalf, as he had made no reply when the membership charge was put to him at the start of his trial. The prosecution's case was based on the belief evidence of Detective Chief Superintendent Anthony Howard, who stated he believed Metcalfe was a member of the IRA on November 24, 2015, based on material he had reviewed. This belief evidence was supported by inferences drawn from Metcalfe's failure to answer material questions at interview after gardai had invoked Section 2 of the Offences Against the State Act. Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding, said that the 'combined weight of evidence' was sufficient to establish Metcalfe's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. He noted the 'heavy weight' attached to Metcalfe's failure to answer numerous material questions regarding his activities and those of other convicted IRA members. At today's sentence hearing, Detective Inspector William Hanrahan summarised the facts of the case. Det Insp Hanrahan noted that Metcalfe had 13 previous convictions dating back to 2009, including criminal damage, public order offences, and drunk driving. In mitigation, defence counsel Paul Greene SC asked the court to consider that his client was in a long-standing relationship and had four children. He also highlighted that Metcalfe qualified as a weaver in 2015 and had used his time productively in prison taking various courses. Another mitigating factor was that Metcalfe lost his father in 2006 and was of assistance to his widowed mother. Mr Greene stated this was his client's first serious conviction. During the trial, Det Sgt Padraig Boyce gave evidence that he observed Patrick Brennan walking out of Metcalfe's house following his arrest on November 24. Brennan was jailed for four years for IRA membership in 2005. Prosecuting counsel Anne-Marie Lawlor SC noted that Metcalfe was asked material questions about his meeting with David Nooney in Blanchardstown on August 7, 2015, and about his fingerprint being on a document found at David Murray's home in March 2015. Murray was convicted of IRA membership in 2017 and jailed for four and a half years. Ms Lawlor said that Metcalfe adopted a mantra of 'I am not a member of the IRA' when questions were put to him in these interviews. Mr Justice Hunt, who sat with Judge Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin and Judge Cormac Dunne, remanded Metcalfe in custody to next Friday, when he will be sentenced.
A Sligo man has been found guilty of membership of an unlawful organisation by the non-jury Special Criminal Court. Julian Flohr (37), of Rusheen Ard, Caltragh in Sligo, was found guilty of membership of an unlawful organisation, styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA, on August 14, 2016. The three-judge court had entered a not guilty plea on Flohr's behalf, as he had made no reply when the membership charge was put to him at the start of his trial last November. Evidence was given at trial that Flohr and his former co-accused Damien McFadden were travelling in a car from which gardai recovered an "inert" training mortar inside a "Spiderman" themed backpack. Both men were arrested under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act for possession of an explosive device and for being a member of an unlawful organisation. Delivering judgement today, presiding judge Mr Justice Tony Hunt said the prosecution had closed its case by saying that the court should accept the belief evidence given by Detective Superintendent Tom Maguire that Flohr was a member of an unlawful organisation. The judge said the court was satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that the combined weight of the two strands of evidence was sufficient to establish Flohr's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Mr Justice Hunt, who sat with Judge Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin and Judge Cormac Dunne, remanded Flohr in custody to next Friday when he will be sentenced. Damhan McFadden (29), of Kilmacowen, Ballysadare in Sligo, pleaded guilty on November 28 to knowingly rendering assistance to an unlawful organisation, styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann otherwise the IRA by transporting a training mortar in furtherance of an unlawful object within the State on August 14, 2016. The offence of providing assistance to an unlawful organisation is contrary to section 21A of the Offences Against the State Act, 1939, as amended by section 48 of the Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Act, 2005. McFadden had originally pleaded not guilty at the three-judge court to membership of an unlawful organisation on August 14, 2016 and his trial had been underway since November 15. However, McFadden pleaded guilty to the new count on November 28 and a "nolle prosequi" was entered on the membership charge which the defendant had originally been charged with. This meant the State would not be proceeding with the prosecution in relation to that count. At today's brief sentence hearing, Detective Inspector Raymond Mulderrig summarised the facts of the case and told prosecuting counsel Fiona Murphy SC that McFadden had no previous convictions. Mr McFadden was remanded on continuing bail until next Friday, when he will be sentenced. Damien McFadden, co-accused, was remanded on continuing bail until next Friday, when he will be sentenced.
Paschal Kelly, aged 53, of Cootehill, County Cavan, has been convicted at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of false imprisonment, robbery, and threatening to kill three women during a tiger kidnapping in September 2014. The convictions relate to the abduction of postmistress Susan Lawlor, her daughter Emma Carter, and an Italian student from their Malahide home, followed by a €92,000 robbery at Bayside Post Office in Sutton. Kelly was also found guilty of possessing a stolen vehicle. He had pleaded not guilty to all charges. The trial extended to nine weeks. DNA evidence recovered from items at the scene linked Kelly to the offence. The court heard of his sixty previous convictions, including assault, robbery, and road traffic offences. Sentencing has been adjourned to the following week, with Kelly remanded in custody. The three women's victim impact statements were submitted but their contents were not disclosed in court at their request.
Nathan Foley, a 20‑year‑old "gillie" who assisted a criminal organiser in the 2016 murder of David Douglas, was sentenced to six years' imprisonment by the Special Criminal Court. Foley admitted in November 2017 that he had helped facilitate the murder, an offence under Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006, which carries a maximum penalty of fifteen years. He was found to have driven a Mitsubishi Mirage used in the killing, had scouted the area, placed a petrol can in the getaway car, and supplied phones later discovered in that vehicle. The court noted Foley was not involved in planning but acted as a runner for the main organiser, who had already been dealt with by the court. Mitigating factors included his young age, limited cognitive ability, and guilty plea, leading to a six‑year sentence back‑dated to December 2017.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Noel O'Doherty, aged 28, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and possession of a large kitchen knife with intent to injure Gardaí. The offence occurred on 23 October 2016 when O'Doherty, after punching his girlfriend unconscious, ran at Gardaí while wielding a knife. Gardaí pursued him into his home, where he was found sitting on his hands in a narrow wardrobe. Judge Gerard Griffin sentenced him to two years' imprisonment, suspending the final six months provided he keep the peace, behave well and engage with probation services for three years. The court noted O'Doherty's 11 prior convictions, the injuries inflicted, and his refusal to drop the knife when directed, while also recognising his guilty plea, lack of recent convictions, employment history and remorse. The judge praised the accused's father for allowing Gardaí entry and informing them of children inside the house. The case was heard in Hartstown, Hartstown Road, Hartstown.
Ger Hehir, 58, of Drumcavan, Ruan, Co. Clare, was convicted after a seven‑day retrial in November of four sexual assaults and one rape of a teenage girl between 2010 and 2013. The offences occurred at his home and at horse events across the country. Hehir pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court. Mr Justice Robert Eagar sentenced him to seven years' imprisonment for the rape, suspending the final 18 months on condition of participation in a sexual offender programme and good behaviour for three years after release. He also received five years' imprisonment for each sexual assault, all concurrent and back‑dated to 21 November when Hehir entered custody. The court heard the victim was 16 at the time of the first assault and that she endured repeated sexual contact, including rape, over the period. Hehir had no prior convictions.
Paul Keating, aged 50, was sentenced to six years in prison for the manslaughter of his life‑long friend Mark Richardson, aged 49, who was stabbed on 16 March 2017. The stabbing occurred after an argument while both men were drinking. Keating's single stab wound severed Richardson's main pulmonary artery, causing fatal bleeding. Keating had previously pleaded guilty to manslaughter, a factor the judge considered mitigating. He had a history of alcohol and benzodiazepine dependence, stemming from injuries sustained in his early twenties. The court noted the impact on Richardson's partner, Aisling Kenny, and their children, who suffered emotional distress. Keating expressed remorse and will be required to engage in rehabilitation courses before release. The sentence was back‑dated to the date of the offence.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 24 January 2019, Mark McKenna, aged 29, pleaded guilty to possessing €64,660 of cannabis at his Castlewood, Huntstown home on 20 October 2016. Garda Mark Quill reported that officers found 3 kg of the drug and €150 in counterfeit notes. McKenna had no prior convictions and had admitted to storing the cannabis to offset a drug debt. Judge Karen O'Connor imposed a fully suspended three‑year sentence, provided McKenna keeps the peace, behaves well for three years, engages with the Probation Service for 18 months and completes a residential drug treatment programme. The court noted McKenna was "extremely far down the pecking order" in the drugs trade, was unemployed, and had been in the sphere of influence of serious people.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Jeanette Murray, a 44‑year‑old senior accountant at Brooks Hotel, pleaded guilty to 12 sample theft charges covering September 2003 to November 2008. Over five years she stole more than €200,000, comprising €137,200 in cash and €67,600 in cheques and bank drafts. She spent the cash on personal items and did not lodge the cheques, which were later returned to the hotel. Murray deleted and falsified hotel system records and supplied incorrect audit reports each year to conceal the thefts. The case was brought to court after irregularities were noted in 2009 while Murray was on maternity leave. Judge Melanie Greally remanded her on continuing bail until next May, ordered a Probation Service report on her family situation, and kept all sentencing options open, including a community service assessment.
Sean Ruth, 29, of Rathangan, Co Kildare, pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to possessing a .38 Special Rossi revolver and a 9mm round of ammunition. The court heard that DNA evidence linked Ruth to the revolver found in a blood-stained bag at Greenogue Business Park, Rathcoole, Co Dublin, on January 24, 2017. Prosecution counsel Paul Burns SC stated the maximum sentence for each count is seven years. In mitigation, defense counsel Dominic McGinn SC highlighted Ruth's early guilty plea, which saved the court significant time, and noted that the weapon was not loaded. Mr McGinn also cited support from Ruth's family and courses completed in custody. Mr Justice Paul Coffey, presiding with Judges Gerard Griffin and David McHugh, remanded Ruth in custody until February 8, when he will be sentenced. The matter was adjourned. Jonathan Harding, 45, of Sallins, Co Kildare, and James Walsh, 33, of Clondalkin, Dublin 22, previously 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 in prison with one year suspended, and Walsh was sentenced to nine years in prison with one year suspended.
Brian Rattigan, 38, was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment for the manslaughter of 21‑year‑old Declan Gavin, who was stabbed to death outside an Abrakebabra fast‑food restaurant on Crumlin Road in Dublin on 25 August 2001. Rattigan had previously pleaded guilty to murder in 2009, but that conviction was quashed by the Supreme Court in 2017. He entered a plea to manslaughter on 22 October 2018, and the court accepted the plea, citing the case's frailties and the passage of time. The judge noted aggravating factors, including Rattigan's drug‑ and alcohol‑related state and the fatal nature of the wound, and mitigating factors such as his guilty plea, completion of drug‑awareness courses, and a letter of apology to the Gavin family, which was deemed "too late" to mitigate. The sentence was back‑dated to 1 October 2018.
Michael Connors, aged 25, was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to escaping custody twice in 2017 and 2018. He also admitted unlawfully possessing two stolen cars in April 2018 and was charged with producing a hammer and possessing stolen property. Gardaí found stolen car keys and an RF radio signal jammer at his home. Judge Melanie Greally suspended the last year of a five‑year sentence and disqualified him from driving for six years. Connors had previously escaped custody while being treated for a bitten ear at Tallaght Hospital, slipping his handcuffs and fleeing. He had 38 prior convictions, including burglary, knife possession, endangerment and escaping lawful custody. The court heard he had a troubled background, early school leaving, drug use, and had undergone psychiatric treatment. The judge noted his apology and desire to change.
A 55‑year‑old man pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal to ten indecent assault charges for sexually abusing his younger brother between 1982 and 1985. The abuse involved oral rape, touching the brother's penis and forcing him to masturbate. The accused was aged 18‑21 while the victim was 11‑14. The victim recalled the abuse occurring mainly on Sunday nights, sometimes twice a week, and that it ended in September 1985 when the brother left Ireland. The accused has lived abroad for over 30 years, is married with two children and has no prior convictions. He read a victim impact statement in court, expressing shame and acknowledging the harm caused. A forensic psychologist assessed him as low risk of re‑offending. Judge Melanie Greally remanded him on continuing bail until sentencing in February. The case is set for sentencing next month.
Gary Walsh, aged 32, was jailed for four years after a burglary and assault at a house in Rialto, south Dublin, on 1 July 2018. He admitted to breaking into the home, punching the homeowner Gerry Godley eight times, biting him twice, and assaulting Godley's partner Elish Bul when she tried to stop him. Walsh claimed he had been invited to play Playstation and was intoxicated, but the court found him disoriented and guilty. He was found with a bank card and a bag of the householder's property, though no significant items were taken. The homeowners, including a young daughter, reported nightmares and fear. Judge Melanie Greally noted the lack of premeditation and Walsh's remorse, suspending the final two years of a six‑year sentence on the condition of good behaviour and engagement with probation services for substance abuse and mental health issues.
Sean Ruth, a 29‑year‑old Kildare resident, pleaded guilty in the Special Criminal Court to possessing a .38 Special Calibre "Rossi" revolver and a 9mm round of ammunition between 1 January 2016 and 24 January 2017. The offences contravene Section 2 of the Firearms Act 1925 and Section 27 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006. Ruth had initially pleaded not guilty to unlawful possession of the firearm and ammunition. The court, presided over by Mr Justice Paul Coffey with Judges Gerard Griffin and David McHugh, received the charges under Section 49 of the Offences Against the State Act. After the court was informed of the charges by Detective Garda Brian Johnson and a book of evidence was served, Ruth answered "Guilty" to both counts. He was remanded in custody until Thursday, when sentencing will occur.
A 45‑year‑old man was jailed for seven years after pleading guilty to defilement, sexual exploitation of a child and three sexual assault charges involving a 13‑year‑old girl between September 2014 and August 2015. He had been in a relationship with the girl's mother at the time and had six prior convictions, including a 1993 sexual assault. A relative discovered an inappropriate app on the girl's phone in 2015, containing disturbing pictures and texts, and notified Gardaí. The girl reported that the man initially acted as a father figure but later kissed and touched her, claiming the contact was due to her "hormonal urges." He denied sending sexualised texts, but phone analysis confirmed he had sent such messages, including "Hi, how are you, I'm horny." He admitted the girl performed oral sex on him once but could not detail other incidents because of his alcohol consumption.
A 37‑year‑old man was sentenced to five years' imprisonment, with the last two years suspended, for raping his wife in their Dublin home on 30 August 2015. He was convicted in July 2016 after a trial at the Central Criminal Court. The court found him not guilty of assault causing harm to the woman. He denied all charges but later accepted the jury verdict and apologised to his wife. During the assault he ripped her clothes and covered her face to stop her from screaming. The wife, who lives with their two children and her mother‑in‑law, has repeatedly stated that she forgives her husband and does not want him to go to prison. She has written several statements to the court and Gardaí, expressing forgiveness and regret for bringing the case, and describing her husband as a good father with a good heart. The unnamed man was acquitted.
Andrei Negura, a 36‑year‑old Moldovan, was sentenced to a three‑year prison term that was fully suspended on strict conditions after pleading guilty to assaulting Bohuslav Kalias with a claw hammer and causing criminal damage to a car. Negura claimed a fight with Kalias and denied attacking him, but evidence showed he struck Kalias's arm repeatedly, leaving the victim with a broken arm, 38 stitches, and lasting pain that limits arm movement and affects daily activities. The assault also damaged the victim's car, costing €1,900. Negura had six prior convictions and had addressed heavy drinking. The judge noted his remorse, lack of prior violent convictions, and low re‑offending risk, and accepted the victim's willingness to accept the €1,900 compensation. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, with the judge's decision announced on the day of the hearing.
In a High Court ruling on 21 January 2019, the mother of Nicola Vonkova, a 19‑year‑old murder victim, was permitted to amend her legal challenge against the State's refusal to pay compensation. Magdalena Vonkova, from Prague, had previously argued that the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal's exclusion rule – which bars payment when the offender and victim live together – was inapplicable because she and the offender, Jakub Fidler, were not members of a household in the strict sense. The judge, Mr Justice Senan Allen, allowed an additional ground for the claim, contending that the scheme violated Article 47 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and breached EU law by failing to provide fair compensation for victims of violent international crimes. The amendment was proposed in June 2018, after the action began in April 2017, and the respondents – the Tribunal, the Minister for Justice and the State – opposed it on time‑limit grounds.
Richard Rattigan, 39, of Cooley Road, Drimnagh, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of Zopiclone and Alprazolam for sale or supply at his home on 27 September 2017. Gardaí found 40,344 tablets with a street value of €80,688 after a warrant search. Rattigan admitted owning about 27,000 tablets, paid roughly €2,000 for them, and had no prescription. He claimed the €1,370 cash seized during the raid came from gambling, work and "nixing". He expressed remorse in a letter to the court and described himself as being in a "dark place". Judge Melanie Greally, noting his admissions, guilty plea, and family support, sentenced him to four years' imprisonment. The sentence reflected his lack of prior similar convictions and his current employment and care for his daughters. The case was presented as a step‑up offence for Rattigan.
The High Court ordered the extradition of 23‑year‑old Samuel Joseph Tucker, who was arrested in Mayfield, Cork in August 2018 after a US extradition request. Tucker is wanted in Florida for a 2017 high‑speed crash that killed 22‑year‑old Alyssa Kay Vice. The crash involved a 2017 Maserati Ghibli travelling up to 140 mph, with Tucker's blood alcohol level reported at 0.162 g/dL, double the Florida limit. US charges include two counts of driving under the influence with property damage (maximum one year each) and one count of DUI manslaughter (minimum four years, maximum fifteen). Irish counsel argued the lack of mens rea in the US offence made extradition inappropriate, but Justice McDermott rejected this, stating the offence corresponds to Irish manslaughter. Tucker also claimed threats to his life, but the judge found the evidence insufficient to refuse extradition. The formal order will be made at 4 pm.
Sean Ruth, 29, of Rathangan, Co Kildare, pleaded not guilty at the Special Criminal Court to charges of unlawful possession of a .38 Special Rossi revolver and a 9mm round of ammunition. Prosecutors allege these items were linked to a search at Greenogue Business Park on January 24, 2017, where Jonathan Harding and James Walsh were found. Harding and Walsh previously pleaded guilty to possessing nine revolvers, four pistols, a sub-machine gun, an assault rifle, and ammunition at the site. In January 2018, Harding was sentenced to ten years in prison with one year suspended, while Walsh received nine years with one year suspended. The prosecution contends that DNA evidence recovered from a blood-stained bag containing the revolver, a glove with a 9mm round, and a Ford Focus with a secret ammunition compartment matches Ruth. Counsel stated that Ruth's DNA also matched bloodstains on the car and a radio transmitter. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Paul Coffey, Judge Gerard Griffin, and Judge David McHugh, is ongoing and was adjourned to resume the following day.
Shafiq Quadri, a 49‑year‑old Pakistani national, was sentenced to six years in prison for raping a woman he had invited to his Galway home for dinner. The conviction, delivered by the Central Criminal Court in October 2018, followed the victim's testimony that after a night of food and drinks she was assaulted while intoxicated. Quadri denied the charge, claiming he would have been convicted if he had not shaved his beard. The judge noted the crime was out of character for Quadri, who had no prior convictions, and highlighted the victim's profound distress and post‑traumatic stress diagnosis. Quadri's sentence began in October when he entered custody after the jury verdict. The case underscored the victim's experience of shame, humiliation, and ongoing psychological treatment. The court recorded the victim's impact statement, detailing her trauma and the lasting effects on her life. The sentence will run from the date of conviction.
A 60‑year‑old Limerick man, Desmond Coyle, was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter after stabbing a 58‑year‑old Romanian beggar, Calo Carpaci, to death on 24 May 2017. Coyle stabbed Carpaci in the heart with a single wound while at the beggar's home. He told those who restrained him that he hoped the victim was dead and that he deserved it, and later said that if the beggar had stopped "f***ing annoying me" the incident would not have happened. Coyle had been drinking in pubs before going to the beggar's house, armed with a knife, and entered through an open front door, reemerging within 13 seconds with the fatal wound. He had no prior convictions, had been treated in a psychiatric unit after setting his home on fire, and was a single man living alone.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Tony Carrick, aged 41, received a partially suspended sentence for robbing Aoife O'Reilly at a Finglas petrol station. Carrick demanded the time, seized her wallet, and fled in a car. O'Reilly chased him, ending half inside and half outside the vehicle. The driver shouted threats and punched her, while Carrick threatened to kill her if she left. The driver drove 200 yards with O'Reilly's legs dangling, then forced her out and left. Carrick, already serving a five‑and‑a‑half‑year term for burglaries and an attempted car‑jacking, pleaded guilty to robbery and endangerment on 13 December 2016. Judge Karen O'Connor added the new sentence to run consecutively, bringing his total to eight years, with the final two‑and‑a‑half years suspended. The driver involved in both incidents is now deceased. Carrick's 110 prior convictions include assault, burglary, robbery and unlawful possession of ammunition.
In 2013 a 58‑year‑old man broke into his ex‑partner's home in Cork, armed with a hatchet, and raped her for five hours, threatening to kill her and cutting her hair with scissors. He initially denied the attack but later pleaded guilty. In October 2013 Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan sentenced him to ten years, suspending the last three on the condition of good behaviour for ten years and participation in the "Better Lives" sex‑offender treatment programme. The man has no prior convictions. The DPP applied to the Central Criminal Court to revoke the suspension, arguing he had not fully engaged in the programme. A senior probation officer reported that the offender denied many aspects of his conduct and had not progressed sufficiently in offence disclosure work. Mr Justice Paul McDermott noted the offender had cleared the first stage of the programme but struggled at the next level.
Barry Grogan, a 38‑year‑old truck driver from Kilbarrack, pleaded guilty to careless driving that caused the death of Martina Loughlin on the M50 near Lucan on 11 November 2015. The court found that Loughlin's car had broken down and was stopped on the motorway, and that Grogan's Volvo lorry struck her vehicle, sending it 60 metres forward. A second vehicle collided with Loughlin's car seven seconds later. Loughlin was pronounced dead on 14 November 2015. Grogan was sentenced to one year's imprisonment, the whole term suspended for one year on the condition that he keep the peace and behave well. He was also disqualified from driving for four years, effective 18 March. The judge noted Grogan's guilty plea, cooperation, voluntary statement, lack of prior convictions, good employment record and remorse. No other charges were brought against Grogan.
The Court of Appeal heard a procedural application on Friday concerning John Shaw, aged 73, who has been in custody since 1976. Shaw and another man were convicted of two murders committed in Wicklow and Mayo that year and received life sentences in February 1978. Following a Parole Board recommendation in 2016 that Shaw be granted two days of escorted outings annually, the Minister for Justice declined to support this. Shaw subsequently challenged the decision through judicial review in the High Court. Ms Justice Mary Faherty dismissed the application last March, finding fair procedures had been observed. Shaw is now seeking an extension of time to lodge an appeal against that High Court ruling, an application the State opposes. The Court of Appeal fixed 4 February for hearing the extension application.
A man has been sentenced to eight years in prison at the Central Criminal Court for the attempted murder of his ex-girlfriend in County Roscommon. Gerard Mooney, aged thirty-nine and formerly of Castlerea, pleaded guilty to attempting to shoot the woman in the head on 12th February 2017 at Cartron. He also admitted possessing a sawn-off shotgun, making threats to kill, criminal damage, harassment, and burglary. Justice Michael White imposed a twelve-year sentence on the attempted murder charge, suspending the final four years. The judge noted that Mooney came "within a hair's breadth" of a murder conviction and that his victim survived only due to mechanical failure when the weapon jammed repeatedly. The court heard the accused had made over 250 calls to the victim between 7th and 12th February and had breached court bail conditions prohibiting contact. Justice White identified the case as exemplifying how intimate relationships can become dangerous, citing psychological difficulties and substance abuse as contributing factors. All sentences will run concurrently and were backdated to February 2017.
Michael Connors, aged 25, was sentenced later this month for escaping custody at Tallaght Hospital on 10 November 2017 after a fellow inmate bit him on the ear, and for escaping custody at Tallaght Garda Station on 20 April 2018. He also pleaded guilty to unlawfully possessing two stolen cars on 19 and 27 April last year, and to four counts of producing a hammer and possessing stolen property. Gardaí found stolen car keys and an RF radio signal jammer at his home. Connors had 38 previous convictions, including 13 for burglary, and had a history of drug use and self‑harm. He apologized to the court and expressed a desire to turn his life around and work as a gardener. The case was adjourned for sentencing next Tuesday.
Michael Jones, a 25‑year‑old roofer from Dublin, was found guilty of dangerous driving causing the death of Hong Qing Qu in a collision on Blanchardstown Road on 17 November 2015. Jones had broken a red light and was travelling between 115 km/h and 137 km/h, well above the 60 km/h limit. He pleaded not guilty, but a jury convicted him in December 2016. Judge Patricia Ryan sentenced him to five years' imprisonment, back‑dating the term to 19 December 2015, the day he entered custody, and disqualified him from driving for life. The sentence reflected Jones' admission of driving the Audi, his lack of prior convictions, his young age, his remorse, and the fact that he was injured in the crash. The court also considered the victim impact statement from Mr Qu's widow, who described the loss of her husband and the effect on their children.
In a 2019 assault case, 21‑year‑old Aaron Nolan of The Glen Woodpark, Ballinteer, was charged with assaulting his then‑19‑year‑old girlfriend on 5 November 2017. Garda Ronan Goggin described how Nolan punched, kicked, and dragged the woman across a green area and down laneways, pulling clumps of hair and destroying her handbag. He allegedly acted on a "baseless" belief that she was texting another man, and became increasingly violent when she denied it. The attack left her with a burst eardrum, swollen face, blood‑matted hair, and severe pain, leading to vomiting for a night. The victim, who suffered post‑traumatic stress, depression, neck pain, and hearing loss, did not speak about the incident. Nolan admitted intoxication, expressed remorse, and claimed love for the woman. He was remanded in custody, with the case adjourned to April for a defence plea in mitigation. Aaron Nolan pleaded guilty.
Susan Redmond, a 49‑year‑old mother from Kilbarrack, Dublin, who had worked at Larkhill and District Credit Union for 20 years, admitted to taking out false loans and cashing cheques from members' accounts between 3 July 2003 and 26 April 2013. She pleaded guilty to ten sample theft charges, representing 102 thefts, and the court heard that 40 account holders, all friends and family, were reimbursed by the credit union. The investigation revealed that Redmond's bank account showed money moving in and out, but no evidence of large purchases such as cars or holidays; she claimed the money was spent on day‑to‑day items. A psychologist described her as a vulnerable woman with compulsive buying disorder and severe depression. The judge adjourned the case for Probation Service assessment and remanded her on bail until April.
Geoffrey Cotter, 48, received a suspended two‑year prison sentence after he punched taxi driver David Carey unconscious during a parking dispute in Dublin. Cotter, who was on a lunch break delivering oil, parked in a taxi rank and, when Carey asked him to move, told him to "fuck off" and threatened to punch any taxi driver who clamped him. He then entered Carey's car, removed his top, and began punching the driver, causing bruising and unconsciousness. CCTV footage showed the assault. Cotter admitted assault causing harm and was ordered to pay €3,000 to his solicitor as a token of remorse, to be given to charity if Carey declined. The court noted Carey's recovery and ongoing anxiety, and Cotter's prior convictions for dangerous driving and assault. Judge Martin Nolan described the attack as unprovoked and suspended the sentence on the condition of good behaviour.
The High Court heard an application for the surrender of Samuel Joseph Tucker, a 23-year-old US citizen arrested in Cork in August 2018. US authorities seek his extradition to face charges arising from a June 2017 crash in Florida that allegedly killed passenger Alyssa Kay Vice. The warrant charges Tucker with driving under the influence with a blood alcohol level of 0.15 grams/dL or more resulting in property damage on two counts, each carrying a maximum penalty of one year imprisonment. Count three charges him with driving under the influence manslaughter, carrying a maximum sentence of 15 years. Counsel for the Minister for Justice, Elva Duffy BL, stated the primary charge is count three. Tucker's counsel, Simon Donagh BL, objected, arguing that the US offence lacks the 'mens rea' required for corresponding Irish offences, breaching constitutional rights, and that no formal request was made for count three. Tucker also alleged his life was at risk if extradited. The court heard that Tucker was remanded in continuing custody until the judge delivers his ruling on Monday.
In a High Court hearing on 15 January 2019, the court considered the extradition of Daniel O'Connell, a 65‑year‑old Cork man, to the United Kingdom to serve a custodial sentence related to a multimillion‑euro VAT fraud. O'Connell was arrested in 2017 under a European Arrest Warrant issued by UK authorities. He had previously been sentenced in 2000 to eight years' imprisonment for five offences of knowingly evading VAT, and in 2003 received an additional seven‑year sentence for non‑payment of a confiscation order of almost £6 million. By 2016 the order's balance was nearly £6 million plus £5.5 million in interest. The court heard that the confiscation order remained outstanding, making the extradition necessary to enforce the overall sentence. O'Connell's counsel argued that the 17‑year delay invalidated the order under the European Convention on Human Rights, citing disproportionate penalties and lack of evidence of payment ability.
Alan Behan, 27, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to robbing 87‑year‑old Robert Lynch of €2,500 on 26 August 2016 outside a Bank of Ireland branch in Walkinstown. Lynch had withdrawn the money from an ATM, and Behan seized it as Lynch tried to protect his cash, causing Lynch to fall and suffer a small arm cut. Behan was identified on CCTV and arrested months later. He has 17 prior convictions. The judge, Karen O'Connor, sentenced him to four years' imprisonment, fully suspended. Behan, suffering from bipolar disorder and a manic episode, had not taken his medication and was under the influence of cannabis and other drugs at the time. He apologized to Lynch, who accepted his apology, and agreed to pay €600 in compensation. The court noted Behan's remorse and his living situation in temporary accommodation with his partner and three children. The sentence was suspended in full.
Garrett Hanley, 33, of Oliver Bond House, Dublin, was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to four and a half years' imprisonment for possessing heroin worth €77,301 and cannabis worth €2,100 at his home on 12 May 2015. The heroin was discovered in a gas main after a Garda surveillance operation, while the cannabis was found in a wheelie bin. Hanley had five prior convictions, including a five‑year term for possessing €292,707 worth of heroin in August 2010, from which he was released in February 2013. Judge Karen O'Connor suspended the final 18 months of the sentence, citing that Hanley had not attracted Garda attention since his arrest and that he had held the drugs to repay a debt. She imposed the custodial sentence because Hanley had assisted in supplying drugs to society, and ordered him to engage with the Probation Service and attend any recommended addiction and mental health services upon release. Garrett Hanley pleaded guilty.
Nan Wu, 37, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to controlling and directing prostitution for gain in 2015. Judge Elma Sheahan sentenced her to two years imprisonment, fully suspended for three years on condition of good behaviour. Wu owned massage parlours in Dublin, including one in Olivemount, where a Garda obtained a search warrant and found a naked woman and man in a treatment room. Wu admitted knowledge of sex acts for money and that a second parlour operated similarly. Defence argued no coercion and that Wu believed the acts were legal, with employees learning from others. Wu had no prior convictions, lives with two children, and is originally from Dalian, China. The Criminal Assets Bureau is also pursuing proceedings against her.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Stefan Boyle, aged 31, was sentenced to two and a half years in prison for an aggravated burglary at Ali Hussain House, Milltown Bridge, Dundrum, on 2 November 2016. Boyle, who has 110 prior convictions including 63 for burglary and a history of drug and alcohol addiction, broke into a mosque with a knife, stole two phones from caretaker Ali Yassine's bedroom, and later returned them after a chance encounter. Yassine, who did not realise the theft until after Boyle left, later met Boyle again, who handed back the phones and apologised. Boyle pleaded guilty, and Judge Karen O'Connor noted his chaotic background and failure to complete a residential drug treatment programme. The judge imposed a three and a half year sentence with the final 12 months suspended, citing the Probation Service's inability to supervise him.
Joseph O'Connor, a 58‑year‑old former Garda from west Dublin, was convicted in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of four counts of possession of child pornography. The evidence came from a laptop seized in August 2011 during an investigation of an alleged assault. The laptop's recycle bin contained videos of boys under ten and under 17 being sexually abused, and 16 images of children in sexual situations. A jury acquitted him of a fifth count involving 56 duplicate images. O'Connor, who had served 25 years as a Garda before his 2012 suspension, denied knowing the material and claimed it was corrupted by a visitor. The case was delayed by an unrelated assault investigation. He has been added to the register of sex offenders, and sentencing was adjourned to 15 February to allow a psychologist's report to be considered. The maximum penalty is a €5,000 fine or five years' imprisonment. Joseph O'Connor pleaded not guilty.
Michael Jones (25), a roofer from Whitestown Drive, Dublin, pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of Hong Qing Qu at Blanchardstown Road South on November 17, 2015. The jury returned a guilty verdict on day nine of his trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court last December 19, after deliberating for just over two and a half hours. In her victim impact statement, Mr Qu's widow expressed the profound impact of her husband's death on her family, including her children who are too young to understand death. She stated that her husband's parents had not seen their son in ten years by the time they saw him lying dead in the hospital. She asked the court to picture an old man shouting and screaming at his son to wake up. She said she wanted justice and for the law in Ireland to be seen as truthful, with the person who made the mistake taking responsibility. After reading her statement, she held up a photo of her husband to Jones and shouted that she wanted him to see how young Mr Qu had been at the time of his death. Sergeant Stephen Byrne told Dominic McGinn SC, prosecuting, that Mr Qu was driving home from work when his car was struck by an Audi A3 driven by Jones. Mr Qu sustained serious injuries and was brought to James Connolly Hospital in Dublin where he was pronounced dead. Sgt Byrne said that gardaí were able to determine that Jones had driven through a red light and had been travelling between 115km/h and 137km/h at the point of collision. The speed limit of roads in the area was 60km/h, the court heard. Jones was taken from the scene by men who put him into a Volkswagen Passat and drove him to a hospital, where they left him lying on the ground. Jones gave a false name and said he had injured his leg in a fall. Padraig Dwyer SC, defending, said his client wished to express his remorse for his actions. Mr Dwyer submitted that this case fell in the medium range of offending and that a term of imprisonment of four or five years would be appropriate. Jones has no previous convictions. Judge Patricia Ryan adjourned the matter for finalisation this Thursday, January 17.
A 50‑year‑old man was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment, with the final six months suspended, for 22 offences of sexual abuse, oral rape, child sexual exploitation and attempted rape committed between October 2009 and July 2011 in his Dublin family home. The victim, aged 13 to 15 at the time, was abused for three years while a young teenager. She testified that the abuse left her feeling "killed inside" and described ongoing psychological harm. The judge noted the man's manipulation, control and failure to fulfil his paternal duties, and ordered him to engage with the Probation Service for six months upon release. The man denied all allegations, claimed the victim fabricated the story, and has not expressed remorse. He has prior convictions for handling stolen property and fraud and has been in custody since 2017. The court suspended the final six months of the term, taking into account his good work history.
Warren Nolan, 22, was sentenced today by Mr Justice Paul McDermott to the mandatory term of life imprisonment for the murder of Alan O'Neill. Nolan was found guilty of this charge by a majority jury verdict in December. He was also found guilty by unanimous verdict of setting fire to the car used in the attack. For the arson, the judge imposed a six-year sentence, noting that while an appropriate range was seven to ten years, he considered Nolan's young age and mitigating factors. Both sentences were backdated to September 2017. The court heard from Doris O'Neill, the victim's mother, who described her son as a "gentle giant" and stated she would never understand his murder. Counsel for Nolan highlighted his difficult background and low intellectual ability, while the prosecution noted his 24 previous convictions, including a recent firearms offense. Evidence indicated the shooting was planned, with the stolen vehicle stalking the victim prior to the attack. Nolan was arrested near a burning car and denied involvement in the murder during interviews, claiming he only set the vehicle alight. The judge's sentencing concluded the procedural stage for these proven charges.
A 24‑year‑old man, Gareth Brophy, has been ordered to appear before the Special Criminal Court for a non‑jury trial. The court, composed of Judges Tony Hunt, Patricia Ryan and Ann Ryan, granted the Director of Public Prosecutions' application under Section 49 of the Offences Against the State Act, stating that ordinary courts were inadequate to secure effective justice. Brophy is accused of murdering 55‑year‑old David Douglas, who was shot six times on July 1, 2016, while taking a meal break at his partner's shop in Shoestown, Bridgefoot Street, Dublin 8. The case follows two other men who have already faced court over the killing: Frederick "Freddie" Thompson, found guilty and sentenced to mandatory life imprisonment in August, and Nathan Foley, who admitted in November to driving one of the four cars used in the murder and will be sentenced on January 25. Brophy was excused from the brief hearing held today.
Former INLA member Dessie O'Hare, known as 'The Border Fox', has pleaded guilty at the non-jury Special Criminal Court to charges of assault and false imprisonment in Dublin. O'Hare, 62, of Slate Rock Road, Newtownhamilton, County Armagh, admitted to assaulting John Roche, causing him harm, at The Towers, Garter Lane, Saggart, County Dublin on June 9th, 2015. He also pleaded guilty to falsely imprisoning Martin Byrne at Rathcoole and Saggart on the same date. The charges were admitted by O'Hare, who responded 'guilty' to both counts when asked by the registrar. Sean Guerin SC, defending, stated that a trial would not be required and that O'Hare could be arraigned on two of the counts. The defence indicated a desire to take two other counts into consideration at the appropriate time. The defence also mentioned that O'Hare has engaged with 'professionals' and requested up-to-date professional assistance for the sentence hearing. Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding, sitting with Judge Patricia Ryan and Judge Ann Ryan, remanded the defendant on continuing bail with the same terms and conditions until April 3, when he will be sentenced.
A 24‑year‑old man, Gamiya Muftau, will be sentenced later for his role in a €350,000 fraud that stole money from Maynooth University. In summer 2015, university staff paid a contractor, Rhatigans, into a fraudulent account after a phone call from someone claiming to be from the firm. The university transferred €362,810 to the fake account, which was then moved through 15 transactions to several accounts, one belonging to Muftau. He pleaded guilty to possessing €18,100 as proceeds of crime at AIB, Capel Street, on 25 August 2015. Muftau was arrested in December 2016, gave false addresses, and later admitted he was squatting. He claimed he was unaware the money was stolen and had no access to it. He has seven prior convictions, mainly traffic offences. Judge Melanie Greally ordered a probation report and adjourned sentencing to 14 March.