Giorgi Bazadye, a 50‑year‑old Georgian resident of Dublin, was sentenced to two years in prison after pleading guilty to possessing false Slovakian identity documents. The court heard that he and his adult son had attempted to send a package to Italy containing four high‑quality fake Slovakian national identity cards and four matching driving licences. Gardaí had been alerted by DHL staff who expressed concern about the contents. Bazadye, who moved to Ireland in 2007, has 79 prior convictions, mainly for shoplifting and traffic offences, and his visa was revoked following earlier offences. He is married to a Lithuanian woman and has three young children, the youngest 14 months old. The judge emphasised deterrence and the seriousness of undermining the immigration system when imposing the sentence.
Roman German, a 41‑year‑old fishmonger from Vilinus, Lithuania, was arrested at Dublin Port on 6 December 2022 after a sniffer dog detected a bag containing €420,405 in cash. German had flown into Ireland on 5 December, stayed near Croke Park, then travelled to a security deposit box facility in Dublin 4 where he collected the money. He pleaded guilty to money‑laundering at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Garda Sean Dineen explained that German had no prior convictions in Ireland or Lithuania and that he was acting as a courier, not the owner or beneficiary of the cash, and was to be paid €200 for the service. Defence counsel Michael O'Higgins SC noted German's business had failed and that he had no criminal record. Judge Elma Sheahan, taking into account his guilty plea, family and low re‑offending risk, sentenced him to 18 months' imprisonment, back‑dating the term to the date of his arrest.
Joao Silva Pinto, 25, of Mabbot Lane, Dublin 1, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography on a phone at his address on 18 June 2022. He had downloaded 78 videos, 43 category‑one and 35 category‑two, and 784 CGI anime images, category‑four, from a file‑sharing site and stored them on Google Drive. Gardaí seized his phone and documents during a search, and a warrant had been obtained in February 2022. Judge Martina Baxter, hearing the case in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, noted aggravating factors such as the nature of the material and harm to real child victims, and mitigating factors including his early plea, full cooperation, remorse and family support. She sentenced him to 12 months' imprisonment, suspended in its entirety on strict conditions, and emphasised the need for rehabilitation and deterrence in his sentence structure.
A 26‑year‑old man was jailed for six and a half years after a Central Criminal Court jury convicted him in October of 31 counts of sexual assault, oral rape and attempted anal rape of a boy who lived next door. The offences took place between January 2012 and August 2017, when the accused was aged 14 to 19 and the victim 7 to 10. The court heard that the man touched the boy's penis, forced the boy to touch his, and escalated to oral rape and attempted anal rape. The victim said the assaults were repeated many times and described them as a "complete nightmare." The accused denied the charges and did not accept the verdict. Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo set a headline sentence of 14 years, reduced to eight years, and suspended 18 months on strict conditions. The case was heard in the Central Criminal Court.
Sean Kemp, 29, raided an Applegreen petrol station in Inchicore on 1 October 2020, brandishing a realistic imitation handgun and demanding cash. He forced staff to fill a bag with €315 before leaving. CCTV identified him and he was arrested, admitting the robbery and apologising. Kemp had a history of 73 convictions and was spending up to €70 a day on drugs, including heroin, methadone and crack cocaine. He used the robbery proceeds to pay a drug debt and claimed the offence was out of character. Judge Orla Crowe sentenced him to a headline five‑year term, reduced to three years and nine months, with the final nine months suspended on strict conditions after noting his rehabilitation work. The court highlighted that drugs were a root cause of his offending. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Sean Kemp pleaded guilty.
In a case described as "difficult", a 17‑year‑old Galway teenager pleaded guilty to one count of anal rape and two counts of sexual assault against his nine‑year‑old sister. The court, noting that both the victim and defendant still live in the family home, imposed a fully suspended detention of three years for the rape and one year for each assault. All periods were suspended for two years on strict conditions, including the teenager's continued education and completion of his Leaving Certificate or an equivalent programme. He was placed under Probation Service supervision for 12 months. The judge cited a "positive" report and urged the boy to remain grateful to his sister and family, while acknowledging the family's ongoing trauma and the need to keep the matter behind them. The teenager's mother attended the hearing. The case was handled with sensitivity by the court and involved reports from Tusla, Probation and psychological services.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a woman whose husband of 20 years repeatedly raped her with household objects while she was unconscious revealed her shock upon discovering "perverse, indecent, hideous images" of the assaults on his home computer. She described the moment as "like a bomb went off in my head" and said the abuse had altered her past, present and future. The 49‑year‑old man was found guilty of 11 counts of sexual assault, including penetration with a knife, cheese grater, bottle, carrot, banana, cucumber, tulip, wooden spatula, decanter stopper, part of a shoe and bicycle pump, between January 2005 and September 2014. The verdict followed a retrial after the first jury returned not‑guilty on four counts and could not agree on the rest. The woman, now 50, was unconscious and unable to consent during the assaults. She had a drinking problem and was on medication for depression.
Derek Byrne, 40, was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court to eight years and six months in prison for facilitating the attempted murder of Noel Boylan. The court found Byrne guilty of participating in the activities of a criminal organisation with the intention of facilitating the offence, which occurred between May 27 and June 1, 2019. He was identified on CCTV footage purchasing the Toyota Avensis used to transport the gunman. The judge noted that the shooting only became an attempted murder because the weapon jammed. Byrne, who has a history of drug abuse and 78 previous convictions, was already serving a seven-and-a-half-year sentence for unlawful possession of a firearm, having been in custody since December 3, 2019. The new sentence includes a suspended portion of 12 months for three years, conditional on engaging with probation services. The court determined the new sentence should run concurrently with the existing one. Separately, Alan Graham, 51, was previously jailed for 10 years after pleading guilty to facilitating the attempted murder of Lee Boylan, Noel Boylan's son, in a related incident on March 6, 2019.
Paul Collopy, 48, of Ennis, Co Clare, had a four‑year suspended sentence for money laundering in 2017. He was caught again laundering €67,900 in July 2014, and the suspended term was reactivated after a further offence in November 2020. In that offence, he was observed tampering with a car's bonnet at Carnally House, Clare Castle, and €16,695 was recovered from the vehicle's air filter. Judge Francis Comerford imposed a five‑year, four‑month sentence in October 2023. Collopy also serves a ten‑year sentence from a 2022 conviction for possession of €50,000 worth of cannabis. The court activated two years of the suspended four‑year term, making it consecutive to the 64‑month sentence, after the judge concluded that Collopy had not learned his lesson. Paul Collopy pleaded guilty.
Stephen Cunningham, 55, of Cushlawn Park, Tallaght, was sentenced to three and a half years in prison, with the final 12 months suspended, after pleading guilty to dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm to Paul Sutton, 55, on 25 October 2022. Cunningham reversed his car onto the footpath, striking Sutton who fell to the ground and suffered a shattered knee, requiring two surgeries and six weeks in hospital. The court heard that Cunningham had no evidence of speeding, had been waiting at his home for Gardaí, and had handed over the car keys. He was disqualified from driving for ten years. The judge described the act as a "moment of madness" and noted Cunningham's early guilty plea and previous good character as mitigating factors. No evidence of alcohol or drugs was presented. The incident caused lasting mobility issues for Sutton, who can no longer walk or run.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Lisa Joyce, aged 38, was sentenced to four years in prison on each of two counts of attempted robbery for an incident on O'Connell Street on 21 May 2023. The case involved Joyce dragging a teenage girl by the hair while attempting to rob the girl and her 13‑year‑old cousin. Joyce, who has 100 prior convictions and a history of substance abuse, pleaded guilty and expressed remorse. The judge, Elma Sheahan, set a headline sentence of five years but, after considering mitigating factors such as Joyce's early guilty plea and the impact on the victims, imposed a four‑year term on each count to run concurrently, with no portion suspended. The sentence was back‑dated to the date Joyce entered custody. The court noted that Joyce had no memory of the incident due to intoxication and had expressed depression during detention.
Gheorghita Ilie, 23, pleaded guilty to possession of a realistic imitation firearm after pointing it at a family relative during a dispute over an alleged affair. The incident occurred on June 5, 2021, when Ilie confronted the woman's husband, then returned to his home and produced a black handgun on the steps. The weapon, a 6mm calibre air pistol, was seized and identified as a realistic firearm. Ilie claimed he bought the gun for play and had not worn it on his belt. He apologized, expressed remorse, and acknowledged panic. The court, noting his guilty plea, cooperation, and pro‑social history, imposed a two‑year sentence suspended in full on strict conditions, avoiding custodial time.
Rafik Ben Salah, 36, was taken to Dublin Airport for extradition to Spain. While being escorted by Gardaí and Spanish police, he violently resisted, broke free from his bonds, and fled. Pursued by officers, he was eventually detained after a struggle on the stairs. Spanish police refused to board him and left Ireland. A second extradition attempt on 22 December 2022 failed when Gardaí discovered Salah had defecated himself and had self‑harm cuts; the Spanish police and flight captain refused him boarding, leading to withdrawal of the warrant. Salah, who has no fixed abode and has prior convictions in Ireland and Germany, pleaded guilty to attempting to escape Garda custody. Judge Elma Sheahan sentenced him to eight months in prison, back‑dated to his earlier custody, after a headline sentence of ten months was reduced for mitigating factors. The sentence is to be served in Ireland.
Abdisalan Abdulkadir Yusuf, a 25‑year‑old Somali‑Swedish national, was denied bail by the High Court after he fled Sweden to avoid serving a three‑year prison sentence for violent offences committed during a riot over the burning of the Quran. Yusuf was arrested in Dundalk, Co. Louth, on a European Arrest Warrant issued in April 2022 for gross sabotage of emergency services and attempted gross violence against police. He had travelled to Ireland in August 2023 without a passport, allegedly using a Swedish national identity card, and was found at a petrol station speaking to a sibling. The judge cited his flight risk, the seriousness of the offences, and the length of the sentence left to be served as reasons for refusal. Yusuf remains in custody until a full hearing on his surrender to Sweden on 7 February 2024.
An 84‑year‑old widower was attacked by a couple who robbed him for drug money. The pair, who had 104 prior convictions, stabbed the widower with a clawhammer and a kitchen knife, causing severe injuries and financial loss. The widower, aged 79, survived and described the ordeal as a test of faith. The attackers, Christine Ward (36) and Derek Bewley (48), had previously robbed a visually impaired man on the same day, stealing his wallet, iPhone and car. Ward initially denied involvement but was later identified in CCTV footage. Bewley had 79 prior convictions, Ward 25. The court heard the widower's injuries, PTSD, and the financial impact of the robbery. Ward will be finalized on 29 January, Bewley on 1 February. Christine Ward pleaded guilty. Derek Bewley pleaded guilty.
Craig Mooney, 28, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two counts of possession of a controlled drug for sale or supply. Garda Kevin Kehoe recounted that on 25 January, a taxi driver reported an intoxicated, "obstreperous" passenger who could not be awakened. Gardaí removed Mooney from the taxi; he became abusive and was arrested. A search of the taxi revealed €725 worth of cocaine and 12 benzodiazepine tablets. A subsequent search of Mooney's residence on 2 February uncovered 2.3 g of cocaine (valued at €149) and 145 g of cannabis (valued at €2,914). Mooney has 32 prior convictions, including arson, road traffic offences and criminal damage. He has been in custody since February. Judge Martin Nolan, noting Mooney's intoxication and lack of wealth, imposed an 18‑month sentence back‑dated to February, taking mitigating factors into account.
Zahir Boudahane, 50, of Balbriggan, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to dangerous driving causing serious injury to William Burke, 32, on O'Connell Bridge on 10 June 2022. Boudahane, a professional truck driver with no prior convictions, was travelling in the bus lane on Bachelor's Walk, broke a red light and made an illegal right turn onto O'Connell Bridge. Burke was crossing the road from the Eden Quay direction when Boudahane's vehicle struck him head‑on, dragging him under the front of the truck. Burke's left leg was severely damaged, leading to a below‑the‑knee amputation and his current use of a wheelchair. The court, noting Boudahane's lack of intoxication, low speed (17 km/h), cooperation at the scene, and the loss of his livelihood, imposed a headline sentence of two years but reduced it to a fully suspended 18‑month sentence.
Clinton Byrne, 41, was sentenced to four years in prison for possessing more than €280,000 worth of heroin for sale or supply. He was arrested on 26 April 2023 after Gardaí searched a house in Clondalkin where he was found with €3,985 in cash, a weighing scale, a half‑kilogram block of heroin and a small amount of cannabis. Gardaí also seized three additional packages of heroin weighing just over 1.5 kg in a car parked by the house, bringing the total street value of the seized heroin to €280,630. Byrne pleaded guilty to possession of heroin and cannabis, claiming he was only holding the drugs for a few hours and that it was an "effing set‑up". He admitted an addiction to gambling and cocaine and a debt that had driven him to the offence. Byrne's brother said his brother was in a psychosis at the time.
Kevin Kelleher, 50, manager of a Dublin pub, pleaded guilty to possession of just under three kilograms of amphetamines, valued at €43,000, found in concealed compartments in the ladies' bathroom and a roof area of a store room. Garda Jamie Greville described a surveillance operation triggered by a tip, with Kelleher identified and arrested after CCTV footage showed him moving the drugs. Kelleher claimed duress and that he was forced to store the drugs. He had no prior convictions and no material wealth. The prosecution argued no evidence of payment, addiction, debt repayment or gang involvement. Judge Orla Crowe imposed a headline sentence of four years, reduced to three years, and suspended the entire term on strict conditions, including keeping the peace and good behaviour for five years.
A 54-year-old man has been sentenced to nine years imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court for the rape and sexual abuse of four siblings over a twelve-year period. The offender, who cannot be named, pleaded guilty to eight sample charges relating to one brother, including oral rape, anal rape, and sexual assault committed between 1999 and 2005 when the victim was aged six. He further pleaded guilty to six counts of sexual assault against the brother's older sibling, and to offences against both sisters occurring in 1993 and 1997. The abuse came to light following a complaint to gardaí by one of the victims, whereupon the other siblings disclosed their experiences. The judge imposed a headline sentence of thirteen years, reduced to eleven years in light of the guilty pleas and cooperation with gardaí. The final two years were suspended on strict conditions, with a two-year post-release supervision order imposed. The sentencing heard victim impact statements describing the lasting trauma inflicted on all four siblings.
Noel Robinson, 50, pleaded guilty to possessing 81 Android TV boxes that bypass Sky's subscription system. The boxes, sold from his Ballyfermot home, allowed users to watch Sky without paying the €126 monthly fee. Robinson had no prior convictions and had been a law‑abiding citizen, though he had an alcohol addiction until February 2020. Gardaí seized the boxes after a Sky anti‑piracy investigator identified a listing on Adverts.ie. Robinson cooperated fully during the search and admitted to the offence. The prosecution estimated a potential loss of €102,060 to Sky. Judge Orla Crowe imposed an 18‑month prison sentence, suspended in full for three years on strict conditions. Robinson's profits were €13,625, largely spent on alcohol, and he has two autistic sons and a son who is a chef. The case prompted him to stop drinking.
Joseph Mockler, aged 63, was convicted at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of four counts of indecent assault against two teenage boys aged 14 to 16 between January 1987 and December 1988. The court found that Mockler, a sports coach, had used his position and alcohol to exploit the boys, engaging in repeated inappropriate touching, masturbation and oral sex while they were intoxicated. He was found guilty by a jury of two counts of indecent assault for each boy, though he denied the verdicts. Judge Elma Sheahan imposed a sentence of five years for the first boy and five and a half years for the second, to run consecutively, then reduced the second to three years for proportionality, giving a global sentence of eight years. The final 12 months were suspended on strict conditions, and Mockler will be placed under probation supervision for 12 months after release.
Derek Byrne, 40, of Swords, appeared before the Central Criminal Court at the sentence stage for his role in the attempted murder of Noel Boylan. Byrne pleaded guilty to intentionally facilitating a serious offence by a criminal organisation, specifically the attempted murder of Boylan between May 27 and June 1, 2019, with knowledge of the organisation's existence. He also admitted to participating in the activities of a criminal organisation during a pre-trial hearing. Prosecution counsel Sean Gillane SC noted that Byrne's guilty plea acknowledged his previous false statements to gardai regarding the purchase of a Toyota Avensis used by the gunman. The court heard that the shooter's weapon jammed while pursuing Boylan into a Lidl supermarket, where CCTV captured frightened shoppers, including children, running for cover. Boylan made a full recovery. Byrne, who has 78 previous convictions, is currently serving a seven-and-a-half-year sentence for unlawful possession of a semi-automatic pistol. His defence counsel, Giollaiosa O'Lideadha SC, highlighted Byrne's severe cocaine addiction and requested the court consider backdating the new sentence to his initial custody date. Mr Justice Paul McDermott remanded Byrne in custody until next Monday, when he will be formally sentenced. Separately, Alan Graham, 51, was previously jailed for 10 years in 2021 after pleading guilty to facilitating the attempted murder of Lee Boylan, Noel's son, in a related incident on the same road in March 2019.
Josh Cummins (19) was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for his role in an organised assault on December 30, 2021. Cummins pleaded guilty to intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to Alanna Quinn Idris, violent disorder, production of a hurl, and assault causing harm to Louis O'Sullivan. Judge Pauline Codd sentenced him to five years' imprisonment for the serious harm and violent disorder counts, suspending the final two years on strict conditions. He received a concurrent three-year sentence for the assault causing harm count. The court noted Cummins was 17 at the time, had no prior convictions, and there was no suggestion he struck Ms Quinn Idris, who lost vision in one eye. In March, co-accused Darragh Lyons (19) was sentenced to four and a half years for assault causing serious harm to Ms Quinn Idris, having also pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Mr O'Sullivan and violent disorder. The case relies on joint enterprise principles. Two other accused remain before the courts or unidentified. Ms Quinn Idris described the sentence as disappointing but appreciated the custodial outcome.
Patricia Kelly, 61, widow of the late Paul Kelly, founder of the suicide‑prevention charity Console, pleaded guilty before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to one count of failing to keep books of account as a director of the company, contrary to the Companies Act 1990. She admitted that, other than wilfully, she did not maintain proper records of the company's transactions, which are required to determine its financial position accurately and to allow directors to compile annual accounts and enable proper audit. The offence took place between 6 December 2006 and 21 May 2015. The case was originally scheduled for trial next month, with a potential duration of up to ten weeks, but was adjourned to a sentencing hearing on 20 February 2024, later amended to 22 February 2024, with Ms Kelly remanded on bail until that date.
A former secondary school teacher, Jacintha McSherry O'Connor (63), of the Mullins, Donegal Town, Co Donegal, was found guilty of two counts of indecently assaulting a male student in 1985 following a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial in October. The court heard the abuse occurred while McSherry O'Connor worked as a student teacher at a Dublin secondary school. The complainant, now in his fifties, stated that McSherry O'Connor 'has been like a spectre hanging over me my whole life' and that she 'took my innocence away'. He also mentioned that the truth was close to never coming out, but he was glad he spoke out. The trial also heard allegations of inappropriate sexual relations between McSherry O'Connor and the boy on a holiday in Spain, but no charges were before the jury in relation to these alleged incidents. Marc Thompson BL, defending, described the case as 'highly unusual' and said his client does not accept the verdict. He said the result of the trial had a 'significant impact' on her and that her imprisonment will have a significant impact on her mother, who is elderly. He asked the court to be as lenient as possible. Judge Elma Sheahan adjourned the case for finalisation on January 11, 2024.
Audrey McKeever, 38, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to charges of making threats to kill or cause serious harm and criminal damage at an apartment complex in Crumlin on December 20, 2022. The court heard that McKeever allegedly threatened the victim, a former partner's current girlfriend, shouting that she would kill her and "dance all over her daughter's head." She also kicked the complex's outer door, causing over €1,000 in damage, and posted threatening messages on Facebook. Judge Martin Nolan described the behavior as "nasty" and "frightening." Considering the guilty plea, remorse, and mitigating factors including health issues and detoxification, the judge determined a prison sentence was not warranted. He imposed a sentence of 18 months suspended on strict conditions. McKeever was ordered to pay a further €500 within 15 months to defray repair costs, with her initial €230 token of remorse directed toward the door repair. The judge directed McKeever to have no contact with the victim and explicitly warned her "not to go near" the apartment building.
A 49‑year‑old Dublin man was found guilty of 11 counts of sexually assaulting his wife by penetrating her vagina with various household objects, including a knife, cheese grater, bottle, carrot, banana, cucumber, tulip, wooden spatula, decanter stopper, part of a shoe and a bicycle pump. He had previously been acquitted of one count of raping her with a deodorant bottle, one count of raping her with his finger, and two counts of anally raping her. The alleged abuse took place in the family home between January 2005 and September 2014. After about three and a half hours of deliberation, the jury returned unanimous guilty verdicts on all counts. The woman wept as the verdicts were handed down; the defendant made no reaction. Mr Justice Paul Burns thanked the jury, excused them from duty for seven years, remanded the man in custody and adjourned sentencing for December 18. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
Patrick Stokes, 31, was sentenced to six years in prison for a series of offences including robbery, assault and criminal damage. He was living in a tent near the Dáil and had a long criminal record of 97 convictions. In October 2021 he robbed a homeless man in St Audoen's Park, taking about €400 from the victim's sock after the victim had given him €40. He also assaulted a man on the Liffey Boardwalk in September 2021, punching him to the ground and stamping on him, causing bruising and soft‑tissue damage. In June 2022 he robbed a shop in Dun Laoghaire, threatening the assistant with a knife, and later caused damage during a burglary on Baggot Street. The judge noted Stokes' addiction and history of adversity, and imposed a seven‑year sentence with the final 12 months suspended, to run consecutively with a prior three‑and‑a‑half‑year term. Patrick Stokes pleaded guilty.
The High Court has ordered the extradition of James Meehan, aged 54, to Northern Ireland following his refusal to stay proceedings on the matter. Meehan, with addresses in Derry City and Kells, County Meath, was convicted in 2009 of murdering Jim McFadden in Donegal in May 2007 and sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 14 years. He was released on temporary release in 2022 subject to strict conditions, including a curfew and residency requirements in Limavady. In October 2022, he breached these conditions by absconding. Ms Justice Melanie Greally found clear evidence of breach and rejected arguments that Meehan had served the punitive element of his sentence or was on licence rather than temporary release. The judge expressed concern about frequent bail applications following surrender orders, stating such applications would henceforth be granted only in exceptional circumstances. Meehan remains on bail for a maximum of 25 days pending surrender.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Owen Flood, aged 29, pleaded guilty to two robbery offences committed in February and March 2020. The first involved forcibly taking a Volkswagen Golf car key from a nine‑year‑old boy and driving the vehicle away; the car, valued at about €15,000, was never recovered. The second offence saw Flood and another man rob a man outside a post office in Celbridge, stealing €180 from his social welfare payment; the victim's money was also not recovered. Flood, who has 55 prior convictions and is homeless with drug and mental‑health issues, was sentenced to four years and eight months' imprisonment, with the final eight months suspended to encourage rehabilitation. No victim impact statements were presented, and the court noted Flood's remorse and cooperation with authorities. The case highlights the seriousness of robbery involving a child and the impact of repeated offending.
A 61-year-old man pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to nine sample counts from 69 charges, spanning March 2021 to November 2022, alleging he sexually exploited a girl aged three to five. The accused admitted to five counts of sexually exploiting a child, three counts of producing child pornography, and one count of possessing child pornography. He befriended the victim's father, who lived nearby, and abused the child while caring for her. The court heard of his extensive criminal history, including a 2008 jail sentence for sexually assaulting a minor and a 2014 suspended sentence for possessing child pornography. Although the validated procedural stage is sentence, the matter was adjourned to January 31 for finalisation. Judge Orla Crowe ordered a probation report to assess future risk and requested a structure for the accused's eventual release. The court noted the accused's medical condition, including a recent coronary stent, and his cooperation with gardaí. Victim impact statements highlighted the severe trauma suffered by the child and her parents. The accused expressed remorse, and counsel noted his early guilty plea and history of therapy, though he struggled to control urges. The case remains pending final sentencing.
Killian Grehan, 28, of Templeview Park, Clarehall, Dublin, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for money laundering after €214,800 was found in a concealed compartment of his Hyundai. He pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering in the Coolock area on 26 March 2022. Garda surveillance had observed a vehicle in the Landon Road area on the day in question, and a brown envelope was handed to the driver, who later placed it in the car. The car was stopped in Coolock, searched, and the concealed compartment was discovered. Grehan admitted he was moving the money to pay off a drug debt and that his family had been threatened. He expressed remorse, had no prior convictions, and was deemed at low risk of reoffending.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 68‑year‑old man received a third sentence for sexually assaulting a child who was five years old in 2016. The court heard that the accused filmed himself touching the child's genitals while she lay on a couch, a seven‑second clip that was shown to her mother. The mother, who described her daughter as once joyful and now withdrawn, said the assault had taken away her daughter's innocence and caused nightmares. Judge Orla Crowe imposed a headline sentence of three years, reduced to two years and three months because of the man's age and ill health, and noted his apology. The sentence runs concurrently with an eight‑year sentence for a 2021 anal rape. The man is also barred from contacting either victim permanently. The court did not discuss any further proceedings or outcomes beyond this sentencing.
Fionn Costello, 35, pleaded guilty to publishing a threatening voice note in 2021 that said he would 'throw two social workers over a balcony and cut them up.' The message was sent to a woman who works as a social worker on 13 July 2021, and it also referenced another social worker. Garda Jean McDonald explained that Costello had contacted the woman to bring the message to her attention, but he claimed he had no intention of sending it to either woman. Costello admitted the messages were intimidating but said they were not meant for the recipients. He was arrested on 5 May 2022, pleaded guilty on 4 October, and has prior convictions for drug possession, public order and road traffic offences. Judge Orla Crowe sentenced him to four and a half months' imprisonment, suspended in its entirety, after noting the unusual nature of the case and the lack of intent to send the threats.
A woman standing trial for murder has denied allegations that her housemate died following a fit of jealousy and rage. Nicola Brennan, 33, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Juris Viktorovs, 36, at Ballyconnell, County Cavan, on 10 February 2022. At the Central Criminal Court, the jury heard that Ms Brennan initially told gardaí her boyfriend carried out the attack, later suggesting it may have been the deceased's partner. Forensic evidence presented showed blood belonging to the deceased on the cuff of Ms Brennan's pyjamas. The court also heard testimony regarding fake pink fingernails found at the scene and in garda custody. Ms Brennan maintained she was asleep at the time of the incident and had no reason to harm the deceased, whom she described as a good friend. The trial, before Mr Justice Paul McDermott, continues with a jury of twelve.
The trial of an unnamed 59-year-old accused of sexual offences against six young men continues before Mr Justice Alexander Owens. The defendant has pleaded not guilty to one count of attempted anal rape and eight counts of sexual assault, alleged to have occurred between March 1991 and November 1997 in Co Dublin. He also faces one count of sexual assault regarding the fifth complainant, to which he has also pleaded not guilty. The fifth complainant, now 47, testified that in 1995, while in a pub toilet, the accused allegedly pinned him against a wall and engaged in non-consensual sexual contact. The witness stated he did not consent and was in shock. Earlier, the fourth complainant, who faces one count of sexual assault, was cross-examined regarding alleged consensual encounters and drug use. He admitted to receiving a suspended sentence after pleading guilty to two counts of possession of a controlled drug for sale or supply and cultivation of cannabis plants. Defence counsel Michael O'Higgins SC suggested the complainant had boasted about drug use and that the accused reported this to the school principal. The complainant disagreed with suggestions that the sexual interactions were consensual. The trial is ongoing.
Thomas Kane, 29, of Ard Mor Drive, Tallaght, pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis and cocaine with intent to sell or supply on 10 June 2020. Gardaí searched his apartment following a warrant and found over 30 g of cocaine and 47.5 g of cannabis in a hot press, plus 10 g of cannabis in the kitchen. Two Adidas bags in a bin labelled with his apartment number contained almost 3 kg of cannabis. The total value of the cannabis was €60,946 and the cocaine €2,149. Kane claimed he kept the drugs to protect his brother, an addict with a drug debt, from threats to his life. His defence argued exceptional circumstances and that he was not profiting. Judge Patricia Ryan adjourned the case for finalisation in March pending a probation report.
Silvio Rabbitte, 55, of Castleknock, Dublin, pleaded guilty to one count of impeding the apprehension of his co-accused, Wesley Williams, between September 2012 and July 2014. Williams, 46, of Ratoath, Co Meath, pleaded guilty to one count of fraud. Both men were involved in a €1.4 million money-laundering scheme where funds from German investors were transferred into a shared account. Rabbitte received €350,000, while Williams also received a sum. The defence argued Rabbitte was duped and acted with recklessness, noting he had no previous convictions. Simon Gold, 59, of Athlone, Co Westmeath, was previously found guilty by a jury of money laundering, theft, deception, and control of false instruments, and was jailed for seven years in 2019. Judge Martin Nolan adjourned the matter for finalisation on February 7 next year, stating he would sentence Rabbitte after hearing evidence in Williams' case. Rabbitte was remanded on continuing bail until that date. The court noted that the charge against Rabbitte was only recently offered to him, and that the Criminal Assets Bureau had seized €190,000 from his ill-gotten gains.
Alan Rooney, 54, of Stillorgan, was given a fully suspended 18‑month sentence for a series of offences committed on 18 September 2022 at Dundrum Town Centre. He pleaded guilty to theft, threats to kill, threatening abusive behaviour, breach of the peace, assault causing harm and entering a private kitchen and taking a kitchen knife. Rooney attacked a security guard, struck him five to six times and attempted to bring him to the ground before other security staff intervened. He also threatened a shopper, saying he would "cut the hearts out" of the shopper's wife and children. CCTV footage of the altercation was shown to the court. The judge, citing Rooney's 25 previous convictions, his 10‑year UK prison term for robbery and his moderate risk of reoffending, imposed the sentence on condition of probation, addiction services and victim‑focused work, suspending it in full for three years.
In a dramatic October morning, a Garda pursued David Paget, a 43‑year‑old serial burglar, who had broken into a family home in Dublin. Paget threw a shovel through the front window of the occupied house and attempted to flee. The Garda, Detective Shane Woods, followed him into the Tolka River and later apprehended him hiding behind shrubbery. Paget, who had 57 prior convictions, pleaded guilty to stealing a car and 11 burglaries between September 2020 and October 2023, most of which occurred in Mulhuddart, Dublin 15. Judge Orla Crowe noted that Paget had been on bail for the car theft and for several burglaries when he committed the latest offence. She accepted his cooperation, admissions, remorse, and efforts to address his addiction. The judge imposed consecutive sentences totalling seven and a half years, suspended the final year on strict conditions, and required Paget to engage with the Probation Service for 12 months upon release.
A man has been sentenced to five years' imprisonment following his conviction for rape at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin. Daniel Maymay, aged 31, of Kilmacrennan Road, Letterkenny, Co Donegal, was found guilty of one count of rape committed on 28 January 2019. He had pleaded not guilty to two counts of rape and false imprisonment; the jury acquitted him on the remaining charges. The court heard that Maymay and the woman met online and arranged to meet for coffee. During the encounter at his Letterkenny residence, the woman told him to stop sexual contact, but he continued. Maymay maintained the intercourse was consensual. The complainant did not initially report the incident but later contacted police after confiding in her mother. Justice Paul Burns imposed a six-year sentence with the final year suspended on strict conditions. Maymay has 17 previous convictions, including violent disorder and drug-supply offences, but no prior sexual convictions.
Ian Byrne, 41, was sentenced to 21 months in prison for robbing a post office on Dorset Street, Dublin 7, and for possessing an imitation firearm on 1 November 2022. He also faced a count of attempting to rob a post office in Cabra two days later, which was considered but not charged. Byrne claimed he was coerced by a drugs gang after accruing a cocaine debt following a knee injury. He had previously worked as a forklift driver for Ikea for eight years and had no prior convictions. Byrne admitted to the robbery at a Ballymun Garda station, stating he was under pressure and threatened by the gang. The judge, Martin Nolan, noted Byrne's depression medication and the gang's threats, and said the 21‑month term was the lowest he could impose under the circumstances. Ian Byrne pleaded guilty.
A 51‑year‑old man was sentenced to 11 years and nine months in prison, with a three‑month suspended portion, for a series of sexual and physical abuses against his four daughters. The court heard that the defendant subjected his eldest daughter, now 17, to a "campaign of sexual abuse" from age three to thirteen, including sexual assault, oral rape and child cruelty, and that he also pleaded guilty to child cruelty against each of his other daughters, aged 25, 22 and 15. The abuse took place in the family home in the south‑east of the country. The judge noted the victims' bravery in coming forward and the severe harm inflicted, but also considered mitigating factors such as the defendant's guilty plea, remorse, cooperation with investigators and lack of prior convictions.
The Special Criminal Court adjourned the sentence hearing for Sandra Hehir until January 29, remanding her on continuing bail until that date. Hehir, 56, of Limerick City, pleaded guilty in October to handling €124,055 in cash found in her attic, knowing or believing it was the proceeds of criminal conduct. Prosecution evidence described her as the sister of Christy Keane, identified as the patriarch of the Keane Organised Crime Group, and the mother of Warren Hehir. Sergeant Cathal O'Sullivan stated that gardai considered her a key facilitator in acquiring assets for Kilmurry Court, noting her financial accounts were not in line with her legitimate income from hairdressing and pensions. The court also heard that Warren Hehir (33) and his wife Vicky Hehir (30), both of Castleconnell, Co Limerick, had pleaded guilty to money laundering charges related to €59,000 spent on works at Kilmurry Court. Warren Hehir additionally pleaded guilty to handling a Rolex watch suspected to be criminal proceeds. While the source text mentions a previous sentencing date of January 22 for the Hehir couple, the current procedural stage for Sandra Hehir is an adjournment to January 29. No final sentence was imposed at this hearing.
During a major Garda operation in Limerick, Dermot McManus, a 53‑year‑old claimant of disability allowance, was found to have hidden €28,550 and £11,795 in cash inside socks and a jacket pocket at his home. McManus, who had no tax history and was unemployed, had paid off the mortgage on his house and had 22 prior convictions, including burglary of a solicitor's residence. He pleaded guilty to three money‑laundering charges relating to the cash and to handling a white Mercedes Sprinter van. The Special Criminal Court heard that the cash had been deposited and withdrawn from a credit‑union account, suggesting laundering activity. McManus's partner was charged with possession of the same cash but the charges were later dropped. The court remanded him on bail until January 22, 2024, when sentencing will occur.
Two brothers, Ian (34) and Daniel (43) Connaghan, were sentenced at the Central Criminal Court for a 2019 attack that killed 55‑year‑old Michael 'Mick' Mulvey. The jury found them not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter (Ian) and assault causing serious harm (Daniel). Ian received a nine‑year sentence with the final year suspended for three years; Daniel received five years with the final year suspended for three years. The court described the assault as "savage, cold‑blooded and cowardly," noting that Mulvey was a slight, unarmed victim who offered no resistance. The sentencing judge highlighted the brothers' lack of remorse and the brutal nature of the attacks, while acknowledging mitigating factors such as Ian's lack of prior convictions. No verdict was recorded on the assault charges for either brother.
A 59‑year‑old woman, Kim Ng Swan, pleaded guilty to careless driving causing the death of 36‑year‑old Deliveroo motorcyclist Jose Eduardo Silba Pereira. The incident occurred on Kimmage Road West on 30 December 2021 when Swan turned right and failed to see Pereira's motorbike coming from the opposite direction. The collision threw Pereira from his bike and he died at the scene. The court noted no speeding, distraction or phone use, but that Swan did not see the motorbike within the eight seconds it was visible on her dashcam. Judge Orla Crowe, hearing the case, found no aggravating factors and several mitigating circumstances, including Swan's lack of prior convictions, community work and remorse. She was sentenced to nine months' imprisonment, fully suspended, and disqualified from driving for one year. The sentence reflected the tragic nature of the accident and the absence of animosity from Pereira's family.
Dennis Menton, a 34‑year‑old father of five from Rathcoole, pleaded guilty to possession of 30 kg of cannabis for sale or supply outside his home. He was caught after Garda officers, acting on confidential information, stopped him while he parked a rental car and discovered the drugs in a second vehicle. Menton admitted transporting the drugs on five to six occasions over the past three months, earning €2,000 per job. He had no prior convictions and had been working multiple jobs to meet financial obligations. The court noted his early guilty plea, cooperation, good work record and family responsibilities. The offence carries a mandatory 10‑year sentence, but the judge departed from that and imposed a five‑and‑a‑half‑year term, citing mitigating factors. Menton has expressed remorse, is attending counselling and has considered studying community addiction studies. The court accepted his statements that the drugs were cannabis, a less harmful substance than cocaine or heroin.
Sharon Hickey, 45, of Kilmainham, Dublin 8, pleaded guilty to possessing 2.9kg of heroin for sale or supply outside the Lamplighter pub in Dublin 8 on April 12, 2022. She appeared before Judge Elma Sheahan in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, where she admitted to the charge. Gardaí reported that Hickey was intercepted after receiving a bag containing the drugs and €500 in cash from co-accused Gregory Dunne. During interview, Hickey stated she was instructed to find a hiding place for the drugs to settle a drug debt, for which she was to be paid €500 and have her debt reduced. Her defence counsel highlighted her difficult childhood, addiction struggles, and a certificate in addiction studies, urging leniency. Hickey has one previous conviction for larceny from the 1990s. Judge Sheahan adjourned the case for finalisation on January 12, 2024. Co-accused Gregory Dunne, 39, of Dublin 7, had previously pleaded guilty to the same charge. In October, Judge Sheahan sentenced Dunne to eight years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended on strict conditions.