Mazin Albaqir, 51, was sentenced to four years in prison with the final two years suspended after pleading guilty to seven counts of stealing €178,000 in social welfare payments between February 2002 and December 2009. He failed to disclose a property in the UAE valued at about €110,000 and savings of €47,500. Albaqir, an Irish citizen originally from Iraq, had lived in Ireland since 1999 and is a married father of three. He used part of the stolen money to fund a master's degree and has repaid €56,000, leaving a debt of just under €123,000. The court noted his cooperation, guilty plea, and lack of prior convictions, and accepted that he is not a risk of re‑offending. Judge Pauline Codd highlighted that welfare fraud undermines fairness and social solidarity. The suspended portion reflects his remorse and cooperation. The case also mentioned his recent hospital admission for suicidal ideation and separation from his wife.
Michai Wisniewski, a 36‑year‑old Polish national with no fixed abode, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to robbing two mobile phones from Pizza Macs in East Wall on 30 August 2017. He entered the restaurant visibly intoxicated, carrying a bottle of whiskey, attempted to order food but could not speak English, drank the bottle, and spat the remaining whiskey onto the floor. During a commotion that followed when another man entered, Wisniewski assaulted a staff member and fled with two phones, one of which was later recovered. He was on bail at the time, having previously received a nine‑month suspended sentence for public‑order offences. Judge Martina Baxter sentenced him to 18 months imprisonment back‑dated to 29 October 2017, suspended the balance of the sentence on the condition of good behaviour, and noted his early guilty plea, remorse, cooperation with Gardaí and the difficulty of imprisonment for a foreign national.
David McDermott, 43, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm after a dispute over a garden. He entered his stepson Daniel Conlon's house, punched him in the eye, repeatedly struck him in the head, kicked him in the torso and threatened to slit his throat. Conlon, 23, recorded the assault and later presented the audio to Gardaí. McDermott initially denied the assault and the threat, claiming he had only urged Conlon to get a job and that he loved him. He admitted to drinking heavily before the incident. The court noted McDermott's lack of prior convictions, his relationship with Conlon's mother, his four children, his health issues and his father's critical condition. Judge Martina Baxter sentenced him to two and a half years imprisonment, fully suspended on the condition of good behaviour and peacekeeping. The sentence was imposed after McDermott's early guilty plea and other mitigating factors. Conlon was commended for not retaliating.
Alan Jackson, 32, a homeless man with no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to criminal damage by arson at Patricia Martin's flat in Rathmines on 21 August 2017. The fire caused over €29,000 in damage and forced Martin and her daughter to leave their 17‑year home. Jackson was sentenced by Judge Martina Baxter to six years' imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended for 18 months on condition he engage with Probation Services after release. He had 50 prior convictions, including burglary, threats to kill, and robbery, and had recently received a four‑year suspended sentence for robbery. The court noted Jackson's early guilty plea, troubled family background, drug addiction history and remorse as mitigating factors. The sentence was back‑dated to 23 August 2017, the day he entered custody.
Warren Nolan, 22, of Rowlagh Park in Clondalkin, was found guilty by a jury at the Central Criminal Court of murdering Alan O'Neill and setting fire to a vehicle. The jury returned a majority verdict of eleven to one on the murder charge and a unanimous verdict on the arson charge. Nolan had pleaded not guilty to both counts. The court heard that O'Neill was shot dead in the driveway of his home in Tallaght on May 27, 2015, in front of his partner, Michelle Usher. Prosecution evidence included CCTV footage, forensic analysis of firearms residue on gloves, and petrol traces on Nolan's clothing. Mr Justice Paul McDermott thanked the jurors for their service in a difficult trial and exempted them from jury service for ten years. Maddie Grant BL, for the prosecution, stated that O'Neill's family will make a statement to the court on January 14. On that date, Mr Justice McDermott will sentence Nolan to the mandatory term for murder of life imprisonment. The matter is currently at the sentencing stage, with the final disposal scheduled for January 14.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 7 December 2018, Judge Melanie Greally praised an 84‑year‑old woman for her "great resilience" after a burglary at her home in Temple Cottages, Broadstone, Dublin 7, two years earlier. The woman, who had lived in the house since 1958 and lived alone since her husband's death, was shocked when burglar Wayne Murphy, a 43‑year‑old from North Frederick Street, entered through an open kitchen window. She screamed, tried to grab him, but he fled with her wallet and €125. Neighbours helped, and Murphy was arrested. The judge noted the victim's stoic attitude, her increased security measures, and her refusal to let the event affect her life. Murphy pleaded guilty to trespass and theft, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment with the final 12 months suspended, and is due for release next year.
Barry Watters, aged 42, was sentenced to six years in prison for two counts of indecency and possession of child pornography. He pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in December 2014 and October 2016. Watters had previously been convicted six times, mainly for child pornography, and once for criminal damage. In December 2014, children on their way to school witnessed him exposing himself on a Dublin street; a youth worker and several children reported the incident the following day. In October 2016, Gardaí observed him in an internet café, where he accessed a USB containing 23 illegal child‑pornographic images and 422 images of pre‑teens in various states of undress. The judge imposed a seven‑year sentence with the final 12 months suspended for two years on strict conditions, including completion of sexual offender treatment, no contact with children, and supervision when using internet‑enabled devices.
Paschal Kelly, aged 53, with an address in Cootehill, County Cavan, has been convicted of tiger kidnapping, false imprisonment and robbery at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The offences occurred on 25 September 2014, when a postmistress, her daughter and an Italian student were abducted from their home in Malahide, Dublin. The three were taken from the residence by masked intruders and driven to multiple locations before being brought to Bayside Post Office in Sutton, where cash was stolen. The jury returned unanimous guilty verdicts on all charges following one hour and forty minutes of deliberation. Kelly pleaded not guilty to all charges throughout the trial, which extended to nine weeks. A jury of seven men and five women heard evidence that included witness testimony and DNA analysis. Kelly has been remanded in custody pending sentencing in January 2019. Judge Karen O'Connor directed that victim impact statements be prepared for the three persons injured by the offences.
In Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 6 December 2018, a 64‑year‑old former soldier was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for sexually assaulting his niece and nephew. He pleaded guilty to three counts of assaulting a nephew aged five to seven between 1992 and 1994, and to three counts of assaulting a niece aged seven to nine between 1996 and 1998. The court heard the abuse occurred about twenty times a year while the victims stayed overnight at their grandmother's home, where the accused also lived. The sentence runs concurrently with a seven‑year term, 12 months suspended, that he had already received for the repeated rape of a different niece and great‑nephew. The judge condemned the "relentless regularity" of the abuse and noted the grooming, the long period over which the offences were committed, and the severe impact on the young victims.
A jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has begun deliberations in the trial of Paschal Kelly, aged 53, from Cootehill, Co. Cavan, who has pleaded not guilty to charges arising from an incident on September 25, 2014. The charges include trespass, false imprisonment of three women at a property in Malahide, robbery of cash from a post office in Sutton, threats to kill, and unlawful possession of a vehicle. Before directing the jury to consider verdicts, Judge Karen O'Connor issued a cautionary direction regarding identification evidence, noting that responsible witnesses have previously made identifications later proven erroneous. The judge advised the jury to exercise particular care when assessing identification evidence and to consider all surrounding circumstances, including the time of day and conditions prevailing during observations. She also instructed them that photofits are limited in evidential value and that DNA presence alone at a crime scene does not establish guilt beyond reasonable doubt. The jury of five women and seven men is expected to resume deliberations the following day.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Keith Mooney, aged 27, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment for assault causing harm and possession of a rock during an attack on Derek Curran at St Enda's Park, Rathfarnham, on 26 June 2017. Mooney struck Curran's face with a rock, causing multiple facial fractures, a dislocated eye socket, fractured ribs and a broken cheekbone, and left him unconscious. The judge, Melanie Greally, described the assault as "particularly violent and brutal" and noted that Curran was traumatised and his mental health severely affected. Mooney's sentence was the maximum five years, with the final 18 months suspended, taking into account his guilty plea, family background and substance‑use history. The case highlighted the severity of the offence and the impact on the victim.
At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, the defence barrister in a tiger kidnapping trial has submitted that the State's case against Paschal Kelly, aged 52 and with an address in Cootehill, County Cavan, is fundamentally flawed. Martin O'Rourke SC argued that gardaí investigating the matter had adopted a fixed view of his client and ignored a potentially fruitful line of inquiry into another man who could have participated in the offence. Mr Kelly has pleaded not guilty to charges including false imprisonment of a postmistress, her daughter and an Italian lodger at a property in Malahide on 25 September 2014, and to robbery from Bayside Post Office in Sutton the same day. The defence contended that no identification parade was conducted and that up to twelve civilian witnesses with relevant descriptions were not called to give evidence. Mr O'Rourke submitted that the DNA evidence was equivocal and invited the jury to return not guilty verdicts on all counts.
Barry Keating (33) of Ferrycarrig Drive, Coolock, Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of heroin for sale or supply on Harmonstown Road, Dublin 5, and possession of cocaine for sale or supply at Shonvalley Apartments, The Grange, Lucan on August 8, 2016. He has 53 previous convictions, including some for drug offences. Gerard Gerard Cleary (34), who lived at Shonvalley Apartments, was also arrested at the scene and pleaded guilty to possessing the cocaine for sale or supply. Cleary was sentenced to three years with the final 18 months suspended by Judge Karen O'Connor on December 1, 2017. Keating's case was adjourned to February 27 next, and Judge Melanie Greally ordered a report from the Probation Service to assist in structuring a sentence that will help Keating deal with his drug habit. The matter was adjourned and never described as concluded or finalised.
Nathan Foley, 20, of Rosary Road, Maryland, Dublin 8, was sentenced at the Special Criminal Court for participating in or contributing to activity intending to facilitate the murder of David Douglas. The court heard that Foley acted as a 'foot soldier' and 'runner' for a criminal organisation, driving one of four vehicles used in the killing. Mr Douglas, 55, was shot six times at his partner's shop in Bridgefoot Street on July 1, 2016. Foley admitted to the charge under Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006, which carries a maximum penalty of 15 years. The court noted his early guilty plea and mitigating factors, including a mild intellectual disability and vulnerability, though the judge described his role as significant. Frederick 'Freddie' Thompson, 37, was previously found guilty of Mr Douglas's murder and sentenced to life imprisonment. The source text indicates Foley was remanded in custody until January 25 for sentencing, but the validated procedural stage is sentence. The report details the coordinated use of stolen vehicles, including a Mercedes and a Mitsubishi Mirage driven by Foley, and the subsequent recovery of evidence linking him to the scene. The court acknowledged his 32 previous convictions, including a concurrent sentence for cocaine possession.
In December 2010, Eoin Kennedy, a 41‑year‑old computer systems administrator, was found in possession of 577 images and 31 videos depicting child abuse, including sexual acts involving children as young as three. Gardaí traced the files to an Internet Protocol address at his workplace, linked by Interpol to child pornography downloads. Kennedy admitted the downloads and allowed a search of his home in Co Offaly, where additional files were discovered on two laptops and two home‑built computers. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Over the following eight years, Kennedy attended intensive psychological therapy, which the judge described as lengthy and effective in reducing re‑offending risk. Judge Melanie Greally, acknowledging his remorse and cooperation, suspended a two‑year custodial sentence on the condition of peacekeeping for that period and ordered the destruction of all seized computer equipment. Kennedy had no prior convictions and had not attracted Garda attention since the offences.
At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, prosecution counsel has outlined what it characterises as compelling evidence linking Paschal Kelly, aged 52, from Cootehill, Co. Cavan, to a tiger kidnapping at Malahide in September 2014. Mr Kelly has pleaded not guilty to charges including false imprisonment of a postmistress and two other persons, robbery from Bayside Post Office, threats to kill, trespass, and unauthorised use of a vehicle. The prosecution submitted that physical descriptions provided by the victim matched the accused, that mobile phone tracking placed a getaway driver at the crime scene, and that DNA evidence recovered from discarded clothing and items found in gardens corresponded with Mr Kelly's profile. Counsel argued the combination of eyewitness descriptions, CCTV footage, forensic evidence, and witness testimony created a case leaving no reasonable doubt as to guilt. The trial before Judge Karen O'Connor is continuing, with defence submissions to follow.
In December 2018, a 49‑year‑old man from Clare raped his 17‑year‑old stepdaughter after deceiving her as an online stranger who claimed to possess compromising information. He threatened her with a sexually explicit video, demanded she produce more videos, and insisted she have sex with him. He pretended to help her by sending a video of himself masturbating, then threatened to expose his abuse unless she complied. The stepdaughter, fearing jail for her stepfather and wanting to protect her mother, pleaded to allow the sexual act, leading the man to rape her under the pretense of the threats. He pleaded guilty to rape in 2010 and to harassment from 2009 to 2010. The court imposed a ten‑year sentence, suspended the last two years, and required participation in a sex‑offender treatment programme. The stepdaughter, a foreign national, was placed in foster care after the abuse was revealed.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 5 June 2018, William Connors, aged 29, pleaded guilty to possession of two stolen rings found in a sock at Dom Marmion car park, Dundrum. The rings—a 13‑carat gold ring worth €2,000 and a second ring worth €200—had been stolen earlier that day from a house. Connors was caught after attempting to flee, having removed a sock from his pocket and discarded it. He has 62 prior convictions, including burglary, possession of stolen property, criminal damage and traffic offences. Judge Cormac Quinn sentenced him to two years' imprisonment, backdating the term to the day of his initial arrest. The sentence was mitigated by Connors' early guilty plea, personal circumstances, tragic family background and age, while the aggravating factor was the impact on the victim, who was deeply shaken and distressed upon discovering her bedroom had been upended.
A man in his twenties has been sentenced to seven years imprisonment in absentia at the Central Criminal Court following his conviction for sexually abusing a young relative in Dublin. He was found guilty by unanimous jury verdict on fourteen counts of sexual assault occurring between 2008 and 2011, when the victim was aged five to eight years old. The defendant absconded just before the jury delivered its verdict in May and has remained at large since. A bench warrant for his arrest was issued, but gardaí have been unable to locate him. During sentencing proceedings last week, the court heard a victim impact statement from the now teenage complainant, describing ongoing psychological effects including sleep disturbance and difficulty attending school. The defendant, who had been arrested in Cavan on the allegations but made no admissions during interview, is believed to be homeless in Dublin city. Mr Justice Michael White noted the breach of trust involved and that the offences spanned several years, though acknowledged the defendant's youth as a mitigating factor. The unnamed 24-year-old pleaded not guilty.
Greg Walsh, a 70‑year‑old former charity director from Castleknock, was brought to court after pleading guilty to 119 thefts totalling €998,476, including €280,000 from Carline Learning Centre and €150,000 from Bank of Ireland. He admitted misappropriating charity funds to pay tax bills and diverting money from friends and family, who had invested with him or used him as a tax agent. Walsh's actions caused losses to several parties, including a nephew who lost €10,000 and a man who lost €14,138. He also owed a €150,000 business debt to two brothers, which he paid by transferring funds from a business account to a personal account. Walsh was rushed to hospital on Sunday, examined by a cardiac team, and the case was adjourned pending a medical report, with sentencing expected next week. The court noted he had no prior convictions and had lost his family home, now living on a state pension.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, the family of 53‑year‑old Martin Mulligan, who was stabbed and left to die on a road in Dundalk on 28 September 2015, delivered impact statements describing him as hardworking, caring, loving, patient, intelligent, amusing and affectionate. They recalled his role as a family bond, his support and encouragement, and his kindness to neighbours. The youngest daughter, Shauna, said he was "brutally, viciously and inhumanely killed for no fault of his own" and that his death left her vulnerable and afraid. The eldest daughter, Sharon, remembered his self‑lessness and how he cared for a neighbour's son. The wife, Grainne, recalled their long marriage and the last intimate moment they shared. The court heard that Joseph Hillen, 24, was found guilty of manslaughter by a jury in October and will be sentenced on 28 January.
Anthony Graham, 28, of Finglas, was sentenced to three years in prison, with 18 months suspended for 24 months, after pleading guilty to robbing 81‑year‑old Rita Murphy of her handbag on St Margaret's Road on 6 January 2018. The handbag contained pension money, reading glasses, keys and groceries. Graham had previously been convicted of robbery offences involving a 19‑year‑old woman's purse and a 48‑year‑old woman's handbag. Judge Martina Baxter described the robbery as a "cowardly, exploitative and opportunistic offence" and noted that Graham, a father of one, left Murphy "helpless on the ground". Garda Michael Costello recounted how he heard screams, saw the victim on the ground, and later pursued Graham, who admitted the robbery and discarded items from the bag. The judge took into account Graham's early guilty plea, cooperation with the investigation, and personal circumstances, and imposed the suspended sentence.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Geraldine Saunders, mother of 21‑year‑old Jason Saunders, spoke after Judge Martina Baxter sentenced Paul Brannigan, 27, for assault. Brannigan was convicted of striking Saunders with a golf club; the jury acquitted him of a head‑butt assault claimed to be self‑defence and could not reach a verdict on manslaughter. Brannigan pleaded not guilty to manslaughter and two assault charges. The judge imposed a three‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence, suspended the last eight months, and credited 22 months already served. Saunders, who lost her son in a street altercation on 18 March 2014, described the loss as devastating, saying she feels she has "lost everything" and struggles to leave her home. The court noted Brannigan's lack of remorse toward the family.
A 31-year-old homeless man has been jailed for three years at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following his guilty plea to demanding money with menaces. Brendan Glynn, originally from Sligo, handed a typed note into a Spar shop on The Stiles Road, Clontarf on 16 July 2017, demanding €20,000 with subsequent weekly payments of €2,000. The note contained threats to burn down the premises and warned the owner against contacting gardaí. The shop owner alerted police, and Glynn was arrested two days later after being identified on CCTV. Judge Melanie Greally acknowledged the offence was not sophisticated and was committed during a period of addiction and homelessness, but noted the letter's content would cause extreme fear. Glynn received a four-year sentence with the final twelve months suspended. He was ordered to comply with the Probation Service and address his addictions.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, former Waterford County Council worker Bartholomew Prendergast was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment for rape and indecent assault of three women, including sisters Stephanie Hickey (aged 12‑15 at the time of the offences) and Deirdre Fahy (aged 13‑14). He pleaded guilty to two counts of rape and thirteen counts of indecent assault against Hickey between 1983 and 1987, one count of indecent assault against Fahy between 1979 and 1981, and two counts of indecent assault against a third woman (now 39) between 1988 and 1991. The judge suspended the final 18 months of the sentence on strict conditions, requiring Prendergast to undergo a sex‑offender treatment programme and be supervised by the Probation Service for 18 months. The hearing highlighted the prolonged abuse that continued despite family intervention and a priest's counselling, and the profound impact on the victims' lives.
Michael Ferris, 63, was jailed for five years at the Central Criminal Court for manslaughter after repeatedly driving a teleporter into his neighbour Anthony O'Mahony, 73, during a long‑standing dispute over a noisy bird‑scaring device. The jury found Ferris not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter by a 10‑to‑two majority. At the sentence hearing, Justice Carmel Stewart imposed a six‑year prison term with one year suspended, back‑dated to the day of the offence. The judge cited Ferris's admission of guilt, his remorse, lack of prior convictions and his age as mitigating factors. The family of the deceased, led by niece Ann O'Carroll, expressed that they believed justice was not served, arguing the sentence was too lenient and that the case exemplified victim blaming in Irish courts. The judge noted the severity of the injuries inflicted and the impact on the victim's family.
David Berney, 37, of Suncroft Park, Tallaght, pleaded guilty to burglary of a Centra store in Jobstown on 2 March 2018 during Storm Emma. He was already on bail for a 2014 burglary of a private home in Stepaside, for which he had also pleaded guilty. Berney admitted that his offences were driven by a drug habit, citing cocaine use at the time of the shop looting. He has prior convictions for robbery, assault, burglary and threats to kill. Judge Cormac Quinn sentenced him to two years for the 2014 burglary and an additional 18 months for the 2018 looting, suspending the latter on the condition of keeping the peace and engaging in addiction and social reintegration services. The court noted Berney was found hiding in the shop's cash room, and a sledgehammer was used by accomplices to break into the back offices. The case remains under the jurisdiction of the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
In a 2018 hearing, Gardaí used thermal imaging from a helicopter to locate Folarin Odunlami (22) and Arnaud Farel (20) after they robbed a young man on Station Road, Lusk, on 9 March 2016. The pair had stolen a phone, wallet and €110, and the victim fled to a nursing home and called the police. Gardaí chased them, who fell 15 ft from a footbridge into a carpark and hid under brambles. Thermal imaging detected them, and Gardaí recovered the victim's items and the men's driving licence. Farel received a three‑year sentence with 18 months suspended, to run consecutively with a six‑year sentence for a prior assault. Odunlami's sentencing was adjourned pending a suitability assessment for community service. The court heard Odunlami had two prior minor convictions and was studying computer systems in Dundalk. The case was heard by Judge Melanie Greally. Folarin Odunlami pleaded guilty. Arnaud Farel pleaded guilty.
Andrew Shannon, 54, of Dublin, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for possessing a stolen oil painting by Frederick Goodall, valued at €5,000. The painting, a desert scene dated 1892, had been taken from Bantry House in Cork in March 2006. Gardaí discovered the artwork during a 2014 search of Shannon's home for an unrelated matter. He was charged in September 2016, released on bail, but violated bail by travelling to the UK, prompting a European Arrest Warrant. A jury convicted him on 28 November 2018 after a two‑day trial. The sentence was back‑dated to 20 February 2018, the day he first entered custody on these matters. Shannon has 51 prior convictions, including theft, burglary and handling stolen property, and had previously received a six‑year sentence for damaging a Monet painting worth €10 million. He has ongoing health problems, including a quadruple bypass heart surgery in 2013, and is a student at Mountjoy Education Centre.
Ex-wrestler Imre Arakas, a former Estonian separatist who was 'scarred deeply' by imprisonment in Russia, was remanded in custody until December 12 for sentencing. Arakas admitted to conspiring with others not before the court to murder James Gately in Northern Ireland between April 3rd and April 4th last year, contrary to Section 71 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006. The court heard that Arakas purchased a wig in Dublin and used an encrypted Blackberry phone to receive information about Gately's movements. Gardai began an intelligence-led investigation after receiving confidential information about the targeting of Gately by individuals involved in organised crime. Arakas was placed under surveillance upon his arrival in Dublin on April 3, 2017, and was followed to Blakestown Cottages in Dublin 15, where he was arrested the following day. A Blackberry phone, a piece of paper with Estonian writing and the name 'James Gately…in Newry' in English, a mirror, and cash were found at the scene. The Blackberry phone was encrypted and password protected, and messages were found on it that detailed plans to target Gately. The messages were almost instantly deleted after Arakas' arrest, but a garda managed to photograph the open messages before they were removed. The court heard that Arakas had four previous convictions, including causing deliberate bodily harm, escaping from prison, and unlawful handling of firearms. The matter was adjourned and will be sentenced on December 12.
In a case heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Fernando Codreanu, aged 23, was sentenced to one year in prison for possessing 16 counterfeit ATM cards. The cards were Argus gift cards whose magnetic strips had been altered to link to various debit accounts, mainly in the UK and some in France. Each card bore a four‑digit sticker that served as the PIN for the corresponding account. Codreanu admitted guilt to five charges of possession of altered cards. The judge noted the technical skill required to modify the cards but accepted a defence that Codreanu was influenced by older men present at the time. Garda John Duffy recounted spotting Codreanu and two other men approaching cash machines; after a struggle, Codreanu was arrested. The judge imposed a 12‑month sentence, stressing the need for deterrence in such offences. Fernando Codreanu pleaded guilty.
In the Central Criminal Court, a 60‑year‑old Limerick man, Desmond Coyle, pleaded not guilty to the murder of 58‑year‑old Calo Carpaci on 24 May 2017. The prosecution presented a paramedic's statement: Mary O'Brien, who arrived at the scene at 1.40 pm, observed a single chest wound slightly left of centre on the victim, who was unresponsive and had no pulse. No other injuries were noted on a head‑to‑toe examination. Additional evidence included statements from a post‑office clerk, a neighbour, and CCTV footage showing Coyle's movements from his home to Roches Row, his brief entry into the victim's residence, and his likely alcohol influence. The defence acknowledged the legality of Coyle's arrest and detention, noting he was intoxicated and unfit for questioning. The trial was scheduled to continue the following day before a jury of twelve.
A 60‑year‑old man, Desmond Coyle of Davis Street, Limerick, has gone on trial at the Central Criminal Court for the murder of 58‑year‑old Calo Carpaci at Roches Row on 24 May 2017. Coyle pleaded not guilty. Prosecutor Anthony Sammon SC said the case will hinge on CCTV footage showing Coyle leaving his flat, the route he took to Roches Row, and a brief entry into Carpaci's residence. Sammon argued that Coyle was under the influence of alcohol, a factor he claimed would not negate intent. Witness statements, evidence of Coyle's arrest, detention and Garda interviews will be presented. Defence counsel Mark Nicholas SC will make admissions under section 22 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984, which may shorten the trial. The hearing is before Justice Michael White and a 12‑person jury and is expected to last two weeks.
The Special Criminal Court trial of Kevin Braney, 44, of Tallaght, Dublin 24, continued before Mr Justice Paul Coffey. Braney has pleaded not guilty to the murder of dissident republican Peter Butterly in March 2013 and the unlawful possession of a semi-automatic pistol. Protected witness David Cullen, who turned State's evidence after his murder charge was dropped, was cross-examined regarding his credibility. Cullen admitted to past dishonesty, including retaining WPP rent allowance and avoiding prosecution for harassment of an ex-girlfriend, which he denied. The court heard that Cullen was sentenced on July 2, 2014, to seven years in prison for unlawful possession of a firearm, with three and a half years suspended. The trial remains ongoing, with the defence challenging the witness's reliability and the prosecution presenting evidence of the shooting at The Huntsman Inn in Gormanston.
In a Dublin bus incident, Thomas McMahon, 35, admitted to touching a fellow passenger's shoulder with his penis while attempting to urinate after the vehicle jerked forward. McMahon claimed alcohol and drug addiction impaired his judgment and that he had no sexual intent. He expressed remorse and stated he had taken steps toward rehabilitation. Garda Conor O'Neill and counsel David Staunton noted McMahon's mental health issues and lack of recollection. The victim, who was traveling to town, reported the contact, screamed, and alerted the driver, who called the Gardaí. The incident was captured on CCTV, leading to McMahon's arrest and cooperation with the investigation. He faces a maximum two‑year sentence at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, with the case adjourned to March 13 for sentencing and a psychiatric report. McMahon has ten prior convictions for public order and assault offences. Thomas McMahon pleaded guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, Paul O'Brien (36) and Niall Sheil (40) were found guilty of robbing Dympna's Clairvoyant in Crumlin on 6 January 2015. O'Brien entered first, claiming he wanted an appointment, while Sheil arrived armed with a steel bar. Both men stole cash, purses and phones from the clairvoyant and customers. O'Brien had previously pleaded guilty to two robbery counts and had been granted a suspended sentence in 2015, but the judge noted he had relapsed and failed to commit to rehabilitation. Judge Melanie Greally, after considering O'Brien's drug‑addiction history, sentenced him to four years' imprisonment with the final 12 months suspended, stating the court had exhausted all other options. Sheil received a four‑year suspended sentence in 2015. The robbery involved two staff members and two customers; €400 was taken from the reception, and all other items were recovered.
In November 2015 a 46‑year‑old Limerick man, who had molested a girl aged six to nine over three years, contacted her again on Instagram. The girl, now 16, screamed that he was back, prompting her parents to notify Gardaí. The man had pleaded not guilty to 19 counts of sexual assault between 2009 and 2012. At the Central Criminal Court he was convicted of six counts of sexual assault and two of sexual exploitation. Justice Tara Burns described the abuse as extremely serious, noting the man had gained the victim's trust through domestic help and teaching her to ride a bicycle. She imposed a seven‑year prison term for the most serious assault, concurrent six‑year and four‑year sentences for other assaults, and a two‑year sentence for exploitation. The judge praised the victim's courage and highlighted the lasting impact on her trust and innocence.
A 29-year-old man from Ballysodare in County Sligo has pleaded guilty before the Special Criminal Court to assisting an unlawful organisation by transporting a training mortar. Damhan McFadden admitted knowingly rendering assistance to the Irish Republican Army by transporting the device on 14 August 2016, contrary to the Offences Against the State Act 1939. McFadden had initially pleaded not guilty to a membership charge, but the State entered a nolle prosequi on that count following his guilty plea to the assistance charge. The three-judge court, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt alongside Judge Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin and Judge Cormac Dunne, remanded him on continuing bail pending sentencing on 25 January. The trial of his former co-accused, Julian Flohr, also from Sligo, continues on a separate membership charge relating to the same date.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Joseph Fraser, 42, was sentenced to four years for violently assaulting his girlfriend. Fraser, who had been dating the woman for a few months, drove to her home drunk and, after she hid his car keys, began punching her in the ribs, face and head. The attack continued through the hallway, kitchen and back garden, where Fraser dragged her by the hair, slammed her face against sliding doors and kicked her head with a steel‑toe shoe. Fraser pleaded guilty to assault causing harm. Judge Melanie Greally noted the extreme violence, imposed a four‑year sentence with the final 18 months suspended, and required Fraser to complete victim‑focused work and engage with MOVE. The victim's impact statement described lasting physical injuries, flashbacks, and the effect on her children and parents. The case highlighted Fraser's prior convictions for drunk driving and his recent efforts to address alcohol problems.
The Special Criminal Court trial of Kevin Braney, 44, of Tallaght, Dublin, continues before a three-judge panel. Mr Braney, who has pleaded not guilty to the murder of dissident republican Peter Butterly and the unlawful possession of a semi-automatic pistol and ammunition, faces evidence from protected witness David Cullen. Cullen, who turned State's witness after his murder charge was dropped, testified that he was asked to pick up a gun. He described an evening in March 2013 when Edward McGrath and Mr Braney visited his Balbriggan home, with Mr Braney allegedly stating, "Make sure this is done right and he doesn't get away." Cullen identified a silver Toyota Corolla used in the operation and stated that Dean Evans and McGrath stayed at his apartment the day before the shooting. He further testified that Sharif Kelly dropped him near the scene, where a gun was thrown from a vehicle, leading to his arrest. In related proceedings, Michael McDermott admitted to assisting an unlawful organisation in the murder. Frank Murphy pleaded guilty to impeding the prosecution of Cullen. Meanwhile, Edward McGrath, Sharif Kelly, and Dean Evans have all received life sentences at the Special Criminal Court after being convicted of Mr Butterly's murder. The trial of Mr Braney is ongoing.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 19‑year‑old Clayton Brennan pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after a "completely unprovoked attack" on Mexican national Jose Mondragon on Bachelors Walk on 27 April 2016. Brennan, who was 16 at the time, sat beside Mondragon on a boardwalk outside The Arlington Hotel, struck him in the temple, causing him to fall and hit his mouth on a tree pot. Brennan repeatedly pushed Mondragon to the ground until the victim escaped by jumping over a wall. Mondragon lost half of his front teeth, with repair costs estimated at €4,205. Brennan, who has eight prior convictions including assault and violent disorder, is serving a five‑year sentence with the final two years suspended and will be released on 30 January 2020, remaining under probation supervision for 18 months. The judge adjourned the case to 4 February 2019.
Patrick Nevin, 37, was sentenced to five and a half years in prison for sexually assaulting a Brazilian student he met on Tinder in July 2014. The victim, a language student, had been repeatedly asked by Nevin to meet and send photos, and after a series of text exchanges she agreed to meet for coffee. Nevin drove her to a secluded spot on the UCD campus, where he forced her to kiss her, punched her on the back of her head, and left her distressed. The court found him guilty of assaulting the student on UCD campus on 23 July 2014. Nevin denied the charge. Judge Cormac Quinn noted the victim's lack of English and the use of force, and imposed a post‑release supervision period of two years, prohibiting Nevin from using the internet to contact unknown persons. The sentence was back‑dated to September 2014, the month of Nevin's arrest.
Patricia Donoghue, 61, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to forging a driver's licence to open an AIB account in 2007 and to taking out loans under a false name to buy cars in 2009 and 2011. She used the forged licence in the name of Anne Marie Kearney, a real person who had left Ireland in the early 1980s, and also attempted to insure a car in the name of Leon Rossiter with another fake licence. Donoghue paid off the €8,250 loan in full and was making payments on the €15,000 loan when arrested. She was sentenced to two years' imprisonment, suspended for two years on the condition of good behaviour. The court noted her early plea, cooperation, good character, poor health and the seriousness of the offence as mitigating and aggravating factors respectively.
John Fitzgerald SC defended Emmet Fogarty, 47, a former pub owner who had been drawn into an almost €1.4 million drugs operation to offset gambling debts. Fogarty had been unaware of cheques written against his pub, leading to tax trouble and an alcohol and gambling addiction. After spending time abroad, he returned to Ireland and joined the drug enterprise. He pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of cocaine, cannabis herb and resin worth €1,398,714, as well as various ammunition. Garda Ivor Scully found 15 blocks of cocaine, cannabis herb, resin, ten firearm magazines, ammunition and tracking devices at a lock‑up unit leased by Fogarty. Fogarty's home address was linked to the premises via receipt, DNA and fingerprints. Judge Melanie Greally, considering Fogarty's circumstances, imposed a seven‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence, suspending the final two‑and‑a‑half years. The sentence reflected the seriousness of the drug offence and the firearms offence.
Frank Murphy, 58, pleaded guilty in the Special Criminal Court to impeding the apprehension or prosecution of State witness David Cullen, who had previously pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a semi-automatic pistol. Murphy had originally pleaded not guilty to the murder of Peter Butterly, a trial underway since October, but the DPP directed that he be recharged under Section 7(2) of the Criminal Law Act, 1997. Prosecution counsel confirmed the DPP would not proceed with the original murder charges against Murphy. Co-accused Michael McDermott, 59, pleaded guilty last Friday to assisting an unlawful organisation in the murder of Mr Butterly. Both men were remanded in custody by Mr Justice Paul Coffey, sitting with Judges Martin Nolan and James Faughnan, until January 28, 2019, for sentencing. Kevin Braney, 43, who pleaded not guilty to the murder and related firearm charges, remains in the trial. The court refused Braney's application for the judges to discharge themselves. The trial against Braney continues.
Catherine Gaffney, aged 52, was found guilty by a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court jury in June of stealing three Chanel handbags from Brown Thomas on Grafton Street on 28 March 2015. The handbags, valued at €10,150, were discovered missing during a stock take and CCTV footage showed Gaffney hiding them in her own bag. She was arrested after Gardaí identified her as a suspect. Gaffney had 35 prior convictions for shop‑lifting offences and six for larceny, and was on bail for another offence at the time of the theft. She had previously been convicted of further crimes. Her defence lawyer noted her family responsibilities and her efforts to address an alcohol problem. Judge Cormac Quinn sentenced her to two years in prison, suspending the final year of that term.
During a two‑week trial in Tralee, dairy farmer Michael Ferris (63) was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter for the death of neighbour Anthony O'Mahony (73) on 4 April 2017. Ferris admitted to blocking a small road with a New Holland teleporter and driving it at O'Mahony's car, causing catastrophic injuries that killed him. The victim impact statement, read by O'Mahony's brother Seamus, described the brutal nature of the attack and the emotional toll on the family, who feel their brother's good character was unfairly attacked in court. Seamus expressed fear that Ferris might "snap again" and that the family will live in fear of encountering him on the road. The statement highlighted the family's isolation and the lasting pain of the incident. The court has remanded Ferris in custody until his sentencing on 3 December.
In a sentence hearing at the Central Criminal Court, Kerry farmer Michael Ferris, aged 63, was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter for the death of neighbour Anthony O'Mahony, aged 73. The case stemmed from a long‑standing dispute over a noisy bird‑scarer. On 4 April 2017 Ferris blocked a small roadway in Rattoo with a New Holland teleporter and drove its prongs into O'Mahony's Peugeot, repeatedly stabbing him. O'Mahony suffered catastrophic injuries, including five penetrating wounds, and died immediately. Ferris admitted to the attack, stating he had been frustrated by the bird‑scarer for 30 years and believed the only solution was to block the road. He had no prior convictions and had been in custody since the incident. The hearing focused on the facts and Ferris's admissions, with no further verdicts announced.
A 26‑year‑old Limerick man pleaded guilty to raping a 19‑year‑old woman on 5 November 2015. The victim had ended a brief relationship with the defendant's brother a few weeks earlier and had agreed to go to the defendant's house, where she was raped. The defendant also faces charges of intimidation and perverting the course of justice. After the rape, the defendant sent threatening Facebook messages to the victim's sisters, demanding they drop charges. The victim's sister reported the messages to Gardaí. In a victim impact statement, the woman said the rape altered her life, eroding her trust and leaving her fearful. Mr Justice White adjourned sentencing to 22 February, ordered a probation report, and imposed a condition that the defendant keep away from the victim's residence and have no contact with her by any means.
Two Dubliners, Stephen Tynan (41) and Raymond Fitzgerald (37), were found guilty of murdering Andrew Guerrine, a cousin of Tynan, who was discovered with 20 stab wounds on Steelstown Lane in Rathcoole on 23 May 2015. The trial, held in the Central Criminal Court, relied on circumstantial evidence including phone records, CCTV footage of a black Peugeot 307, and testimony from a neighbour and a taxi driver. No murder weapon or DNA evidence linked the accused directly to the killing, but the prosecution argued the evidence proved pre‑planned intent. Both men pleaded not guilty, and their lawyers sought acquittal, arguing they were merely accessories after the fact. The jury, after 10½ hours of deliberation, returned a verdict of guilty by a 10‑to‑two majority. Sentencing was adjourned to 19 December to allow a victim impact statement.