A 72‑year‑old man was sentenced to 18 years' imprisonment for raping and sexually abusing three of his nieces over a decade. He pleaded guilty to 16 counts of rape, attempted rape, sexual assault and indecent assault committed between 1985 and 1995 at various locations in Cork and Kerry. The judge, Mr Justice Tony Hunt, described the offender as a "voracious sexual predator" who masqueraded as a kindly uncle. He set a headline sentence of 25 years, reduced to 20 years because of the defendant's age, and suspended a further two years permanently. The sentence includes two years of post‑release supervision if released. The court heard victim impact statements describing the abuse as repeated, prolonged, humiliating and degrading, and noted the defendant's advanced age may affect his survival of the sentence.
The Central Criminal Court sentenced Sam Archbold, 37, to 12 years in prison with two years suspended for the attempted murder of Andrew O'Brien on 8 April 2022. Archbold, who had failed to repay a €2,000 debt, shot O'Brien twice in the head while he was in his car, leaving O'Brien with shattered teeth, a throat hole and lasting speech difficulties. Archbold was homeless at the time of arrest and had a history of crack cocaine addiction. He pleaded guilty in March 2023, a factor the judge cited as mitigating. The judge described the offence as "organised and deliberate" and placed it in the egregious category, imposing a headline sentence of 16 years before reducing it to the final 12‑year term. A one‑year supervision order was also imposed. The case highlighted the severe consequences of drug‑related criminality.
Two men have been acquitted of robbery in connection with the 2013 Lordship Credit Union heist in Bellurgan, County Louth, during which Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was killed. Following a three-month trial at the Special Criminal Court, judges found insufficient evidence to convict Brendan Treanor of carrying out the robbery itself, though the court noted his association with the criminal gang involved. James Flynn, from South Armagh, was cleared of direct participation in the robbery but convicted of conspiracy to steal the getaway vehicle used in the raid. The three-judge panel, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, determined that while evidence established both men's involvement with the crime's planning and execution, the prosecution had not proven beyond reasonable doubt that either was among the four men who entered the credit union car park. Flynn will be sentenced on November 13th. Aaron Brady, separately convicted of Detective Donohoe's murder, is serving a life sentence and pursuing an appeal. Brendan Treanor pleaded not guilty.
The Special Criminal Court has convicted James Flynn, an Armagh man, of conspiring with garda killer Aaron Brady to steal a Volkswagen Passat on 22 and 23 January 2013 at locations in County Louth. The vehicle is alleged to have been used in the robbery of Lordship Credit Union near Dundalk two days later, during which Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was murdered. Presiding Judge Tony Hunt, sitting with Judges Sarah Berkeley and Alan Mitchell, found the prosecution case consistent with the conspiracy charge, citing CCTV evidence and communication timings as circumstantial support. Flynn's co-accused, Brendan Treanor, was acquitted of conspiracy to commit burglary, the court determining insufficient evidence for conviction. The judges continue to deliver verdicts on the separate robbery charge against both men, who deny all allegations. Both defendants face charges relating to the €7,000 Lordship robbery and the wider conspiracy involving car thefts between September 2012 and January 2013. Brendan Treanor pleaded not guilty.
The jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict for Noel Long, a 74‑year‑old former British Army soldier, in the oldest murder prosecution in Irish history. Long, who has prior sexual and assault convictions, was found guilty of murdering 42‑year‑old Nora Sheehan in June 1981. The jury accepted the State's case that DNA from semen found on Sheehan's body matched DNA from Long's clothing, and that fibres and paint fragments from the victim matched those from Long's car. The defence argued that the State failed to prove intent and that the case could be manslaughter, but the jury rejected this. The verdict was reached after 5 hours and 32 minutes of deliberation. The judge thanked the jurors and indicated that a mandatory life sentence would be handed down shortly. The Sheehan family was expected to address the court about the impact of the loss. Noel Long pleaded not guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 67‑year‑old man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was sentenced to eight years and three months' imprisonment, with the final year suspended on strict conditions. He pleaded guilty to one count of anal rape of a nine‑year‑old girl in June 2021. The victim, who was the granddaughter of the man's distant relative, was living in the same house as the defendant and her mother until 2020. She disclosed the abuse to her mother on 16 July 2021, who called the Gardaí. The defendant was arrested in September 2021 after a Gardaí interview in which he admitted living at the address but denied the assault. He has two prior non‑sexual convictions and is due to appear later this year on a separate charge. The judge noted the aggravating factors of the victim's age and the breach of trust, and the mitigating factor of the defendant's guilty plea.
Jason Owens, 34, of Oak Grove, Royal Oak, Santry, Dublin 9, pleaded guilty to assaulting Conor Kelly at the Cock and Bull pub in Coolock on 1 January 2020. Owens, a former Taekwon‑Do international, struck Kelly with a savage, powerful punch in the pub toilets, causing life‑threatening injuries. CCTV showed the punch was extraordinarily effective, and Owens also kicked Kelly once in the head before leaving. Kelly suffered haemorrhaging to the brain, a fracture, and required 18 days in intensive care and four surgeries. Owens was sentenced by Judge Martin Nolan to three and a half years, with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions. The judge noted Owens' lack of intent to cause such injuries but highlighted the reckless nature of the attack. No prior convictions were recorded for Owens.
Craig Lynham, aged 23, was sentenced to 16 months in prison by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for four counts of sexual assault committed against a 14‑year‑old girl during a sleepover in February 2020. The victim, who wishes to remain anonymous, was present at a gathering where Lynham, then 19, sat beside her on the sofa while they watched television. Over the course of the night, he inappropriately touched her on four separate occasions, causing her to freeze and not move. She reported the incident to her boyfriend the following day, who informed her father, leading to a complaint to the Gardaí. Lynham has 11 prior convictions, including possession of stolen property and drug offences, and is already serving a sentence for another matter. He has expressed remorse and accepted the jury's verdict. Craig Lynham was found guilty.
A 23‑year‑old woman was raped by Albert Crowley, 68, in his Dublin home on 8 March 2019. She awoke to sexual moaning, saw Crowley, slapped him and fled. Crowley later claimed she had consented. The woman, intoxicated and asleep, suffered severe trauma, including PTSD, self‑harm attempts and depression, and has struggled to care for her two‑year‑old daughter. She testified that she overdosed and was hospitalised for five days after seeing Crowley at trial. Crowley pleaded not guilty to rape and five sexual assault charges, was convicted on all charges, and was sentenced to six years' imprisonment with the final six months suspended. He must engage with the Probation Service for two years upon release. The case highlighted a breach of trust and a 40‑year age gap between the parties. The woman was described by the judge as brave and courageous, yet profoundly affected by the assault.
Anthony Byrne, 40, used a fake name and doctored a letting contract to defraud four victims, each paying €3,000 for a rental deposit that never existed. He advertised the property on daft.ie, claiming to be a letting agent named Stephen Cummings, and demanded cash payments. Gardaí traced the scheme after a woman reported the fraud; they found the doctored contract and evidence linking Byrne to the false persona. Byrne pleaded guilty to four charges of deception and use of a false instrument at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He repaid the €12,000 to the victims and, after early guilty pleas and expressions of remorse, was sentenced to a two‑year term suspended in full for two years. The judge noted the financial loss was made good and considered Byrne's difficult family and financial circumstances. The victims suffered significant hardship and emotional distress.
Barry Young, aged 38, has been sentenced to eleven years' imprisonment at the Special Criminal Court for directing a criminal organisation. Mr Justice Tony Hunt imposed the custodial term following Young's guilty plea to the charge, which carried a maximum of sixteen years. The judge described Young's activities as a "scourge" on the Sligo community over several years, though acknowledged his gang was smaller in scope than other organised crime groups. Young operated a drug distribution network with hierarchical command structures involving at least twenty members across the northwest. Gardaí seized over €628,000 in drugs linked to the gang and €40,000 in cash from Young's accounts, despite his stated income being social welfare payments. The investigation, initiated following Young's arrest at Dublin Airport in January this year whilst attempting to travel to Spain, uncovered thousands of communications detailing drug sales, debt enforcement involving intimidation, and cash movements. Young's sentence was reduced to twelve years to reflect his early guilty plea and mitigating circumstances.
A 51‑year‑old man from Galway was sentenced to nine years and a half in prison, with the final six months suspended, for the sexual exploitation and rape of his teenage nephew between 2016 and 2017. He pleaded guilty to one count of anal rape, one count of sexual assault and one count of sexual exploitation. The victim, aged 14 or 15, was abused at several locations including the defendant's home, car, a horsebox and the victim's home. The abuse involved inappropriate touching, masturbation, oral and anal rape, and a threat to report the abuse. The victim's behaviour changed from "happy‑go‑lucky" to misbehaving, and he eventually reported the abuse after his sister's encouragement. The court heard the victim's impact statement, noting mental health and family relationship effects. The judge, Ms Justice Karen O'Connor, acknowledged the victim's reaction and the support of family members.
A 14‑year‑old boy, now 17, was convicted of oral rape and rape after he drank alcohol for the first time and assaulted a 15‑year‑old girl who was too intoxicated to consent. The jury found him guilty in May, and the case was heard in the Central Criminal Court on 28 July. The victim's impact statement described severe psychological harm, nightmares, depression and self‑harm, and she said the boy "took something from me that can never be returned." Defence counsel argued that the boy's youth, lack of sexual education and first‑time drinking should be considered mitigating, and that he should not be labelled a rapist. The judge, after considering probation reports and the boy's acceptance of the verdict, imposed a fully suspended sentence of 106 days of detention, with conditions to attend probation, drug and alcohol counselling and maintain good behaviour. The sentence was limited to the period before the boy's 18th birthday. The unnamed 14-year-old pleaded not guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Robert Dunne, 27, pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault against a 24‑year‑old woman in Dublin. The assault occurred on 7 May 2018 at Island Bridge, when Dunne and the victim had alcohol and cocaine, followed by consensual sex that turned violent. Dunne repeatedly penetrated the victim while she pretended to be asleep, and she fled to a hotel where Gardaí were called. The victim's impact statement described lasting trauma, including thoughts of self‑harm and ongoing emotional distress. Dunne had no prior convictions and had shown remorse, including apologies and a letter to the victim. The judge, Justice Paul McDermott, imposed a headline sentence of four years, sentencing Dunne to three years on each count to run concurrently and suspending the final 18 months for two years under strict conditions. The sentence reflected the seriousness of the assaults and the victim's impact.
An 18‑year‑old was sentenced to seven years in prison at the Central Criminal Court for filming himself raping a ten‑year‑old boy and for seeking to trade child‑abuse material. The court heard that the defendant's devices contained videos and images of adult men with boys aged five to fourteen, some showing children bound and distressed, and that 18,000 instant‑message conversations were found in which he asked for pictures or videos to trade. He pleaded guilty to one count of anal rape, five counts of sexual assault and one count of producing child pornography. The judge set a headline sentence of fourteen years, but the final year was suspended, leaving an effective custodial term of thirteen years. The defendant was ordered to remain in prison for eight years on the rape count, with the last year suspended, and to comply with strict post‑release supervision and internet restrictions.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Judge Mary Ellen Ring sentenced Andrew Lacey, 35, to seven years and six months' imprisonment, with an 18‑month suspended portion, for the fatal stabbing of Derek Reddin, 31, on 14 October 2019. Lacey, a long‑time parks officer, was found guilty of manslaughter after a jury acquitted him of murder. The judge noted that Lacey's knife was used after Reddin attacked him with a baseball bat, and that Lacey's initial denial of the knife's ownership indicated an attempt to evade responsibility. The sentence was reduced from an initial eight years and six months due to mitigating circumstances, and the suspended period is conditional on good behaviour for three years. The ruling highlighted that seven children are now father‑less, two permanently and five temporarily, as a consequence of the incident. The sentence was back‑dated to 15 June to account for time already served. Andrew Lacey pleaded not guilty.
Thomas Phoenix, 61, of Saint Anne's Square, Blackrock, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for a series of harassing and threatening offences. He pleaded guilty to harassing a woman at a pub in Blackrock in June 2019, to harassing a neighbour between 18 and 26 March 2022, and to making threats to kill or cause serious harm. Phoenix also threatened a shop manager on 26 March 2022. The court heard that he had sent about 60 threatening WhatsApp messages to a neighbour, had thrown eggs at a family, and had threatened to kill a partner. He had previously served 13 convictions, including threats to kill. Judge Pauline Codd imposed a four‑year term, with the final 18 months suspended for the shopkeeper case, and an additional consecutive 18‑month term for the harassment of the woman, for a total effective custodial period of four years under strict probation conditions.
Three men have been sentenced to fifteen years' imprisonment following their conviction on fifteen charges relating to an armed attack on security personnel at a repossessed farmhouse near Strokestown, County Roscommon on 16 December 2018. Martin O'Toole, PJ Sweeney and Paul Beirne were found guilty of aggravated burglary, violent disorder, false imprisonment, assault causing harm, arson and animal cruelty. A fourth defendant, David Lawlor, was acquitted of all charges. At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Martina Baxter described the incident as a "well-executed plan" involving approximately thirty armed men who arrived in the early hours to terrorise the security guards. The judge noted the attack demonstrated "extensive planning and pre-meditation" and included "calculated cruelty". Sentencing to run concurrently, Judge Baxter stated there was no excuse for such lawlessness and declined to suspend any portion of the sentences. All three men are to be backdated to when they entered custody.
Angela Manning, 59, of Ballinteer, pleaded guilty to seven charges of stealing over €122,000 from the joint account of an elderly couple, Ms Laetitia Lynam and her husband Enda O'Regan, during the Covid‑19 pandemic. She had been hired as a carer, given an ATM card and pin by Ms Lynam, and withdrew the money after falling for a Facebook romance fraud involving a fictitious US soldier named Sam. The court heard that Manning believed the money was a loan to be repaid and that she had no personal benefit from the theft. Judge Pauline Codd sentenced her to a fully suspended three‑year prison term, suspended for four years, and ordered her to undergo two years of therapy and to make efforts to repay the victims. The couple's home deeds were transferred to them, and Manning's husband had to return to work after her taking his retirement savings.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Thomas Neville, 59, was found guilty of one count of rape, one count of child exploitation and 20 counts of sexual assault against a girl who was 14 at the time of the first offence. The offences occurred in Dublin between 2010 and 2020. Neville, who has 35 prior convictions, including 34 for traffic offences and one for sexual assault, denied the allegations. The court heard that Neville gave the victim cocaine and took cocaine in her presence, and that he performed a range of sexual acts including placing his finger in her anus, touching her breasts, humping her, blindfolding her, forcing her to guess a food item, and making her mouth contact his penis and tongue. The victim, who has struggled with mental health issues, gave a victim impact statement. The case was adjourned for finalisation on 23 October.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Stephen Tormey, 39, pleaded guilty to possession of 9 kg of cocaine valued at €702,702 and €2,900 in cash, believed to be proceeds of crime, after a Garda stop and search in Carpenterstown on 3 February. He had six prior convictions. Judge Elma Sheahan, noting the mandatory minimum of ten years but considering his early guilty plea and cooperation, imposed a headline sentence of eight years. She suspended six months of the sentence, giving a final custodial term of five and a half years, backdated to his arrest. The court considered mitigating factors such as his cooperation, lack of wealth, and his efforts at rehabilitation, while acknowledging the impact on his family. The case was prosecuted by Kate Egan BL and defended by Dominic McGinn SC. The Garda investigation was led by Detective Garda James Doolin, who seized the drugs and cash during the search.
Kevin Kletzander, a former Trinity College student, was sentenced to three and a half years' imprisonment for sexually assaulting nine women in daylight attacks across Dublin city centre in August 2021. The sentence, back‑dated to August 2021, allows a maximum of 18 months' custodial time. The court heard that Kletzander, who had no fixed abode, was arrested after slapping a female Garda at Store Street Garda Station. He pleaded guilty to nine counts of sexual assault at locations including Grafton Street, St Stephen's Green, Aston Quay, Usher's Island, the Ilac Shopping Centre and the Garda station. Victim impact statements described the assaults as humiliating and shocking, with one woman unable to socialise afterwards. Kletzander's mother attended court, offering to pay for a private psychological assessment but not for accommodation upon release. The judge ordered good behaviour for four and a half years and compliance with probation and mental‑health treatment directives.
Ovidiu Raducanu, aged 38, was extradited from the UK and jailed for stealing more than €8,500 from 11 AIB ATMs in Dublin between 6 and 10 January 2020. He used a "transaction reversal fraud" scheme, inserting a genuine card to withdraw a small amount, placing a trapping device, then inserting a gift or loyalty card to withdraw the maximum amount, which was manually removed. The device triggered a re‑credit of the original card, leaving the bank account unchanged on the statement. Gardaí traced the thief and his accomplice's movements using GPS data from rented Go‑Cars and CCTV footage. Raducanu caused €5,800 of damage to the machines, and AIB suffered a total loss of €14,343. He pleaded guilty to 32 offences, including 15 thefts, 7 attempted thefts and 10 criminal damage.
A Limerick man has been sentenced to seven and a half years imprisonment, with the final year suspended, by the Special Criminal Court for assisting the McCarthy-Dundon organised crime group in the attempted murder of drug dealer Christy Keane in June 2015. Noel Price, aged 45, of Kileely Road, Limerick, pleaded guilty to making a vehicle available to the criminal organisation with knowledge of its intended use. The court heard that Price travelled to Dublin with a senior member of the gang, collected a white Volvo, and drove it back to Limerick in convoy. The vehicle was later used as a getaway car following the shooting of Keane at the University of Limerick, where he sustained three gunshot wounds but survived. Presiding Judge Alexander Owens noted Price's extensive criminal history and applied a 25 per cent reduction to the headline ten-year sentence to account for his guilty plea and addiction issues. Price has been in custody since his charging in June 2020.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, Andrew Lacey, aged 35, was acquitted of murder but convicted of manslaughter in the fatal stabbing of Derek Reddin, aged 31, on Loughlinstown Drive. The case centred on a feud between the families that escalated after a drunken row, not involving organised crime or drugs. Lacey claimed he was attacked by Reddin, who had a metal baseball bat, and that he used a knife he carried for work to defend himself. The jury found Lacey guilty of manslaughter, with a maximum penalty of life imprisonment, but the judge noted his culpability fell in the middle of the four‑to‑ten‑year range. Lacey's defence argued his moral culpability was at the low end of that bracket, citing his lack of prior convictions and character references from family, friends and colleagues. The sentencing hearing will consider the impact on Reddin's family, including his two sons, and Lacey's own children.
Nikiwe Dube, 41, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to four charges of using a false instrument and two counts of deception. Judge Elva Duffy stated that Dube, who admitted to the offences, had posed as a child psychologist without the required academic qualifications, abusing the trust of vulnerable children and adolescents. The court heard that Dube used forged documents, including a psychological transcript with a false garda stamp, a fake PSI identification badge, and a false medical certificate, to secure employment. He dishonestly induced TTM Healthcare to place him on their books of employment between August 15, 2021, and September 9, 2021, causing a loss, and induced the HSE to give him an interview for employment on August 18, 2022. Dube received €172,000 in wages and expenses while working for Gateway Residential Care in Sligo. Judge Duffy noted that gardaí have not been able to confirm Dube's true identity, which is of concern to the court. While acknowledging mitigation factors such as his immediate admissions, remorse, and lack of previous convictions, the judge determined the case warranted a headline sentence of five and a half years. The final sentence of four years was backdated to August 5, 2022, when Dube first went into custody.
Stephen Carberry, 45, of Sandymount Avenue, Dublin 4, was found guilty of possessing over €1.5 million worth of cocaine and ecstasy in a decade‑old drugs operation. He was convicted on five counts of possessing cannabis and ecstasy for sale and supply at The Strand, Donabate, on 23 May 2013. The trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in April led to a headline sentence of 11 years, later reduced to nine years with the final 12 months suspended. Judge Elma Sheahan credited Carberry for over 360 days already served and back‑dated the sentence to April of the current year, giving a total custodial term of about six years and ten months. Carberry had 62 prior convictions, mainly for traffic offences, and had spent just under a year in custody before release. He was re‑charged in 2014, refused bail, and has remained in custody since the trial's conclusion.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 25 July 2023, a 16‑year‑old boy pleaded guilty to one count of anal rape and two counts of sexual assault against his nine‑year‑old sister. The offences occurred between November 2019 and January 2020, with the anal rape around 12 August 2020. The boy and his sister continue to live in the family home. The case was brought to light when the sister disclosed the abuse to her mother in September 2020, leading to Gardaí, Tusla and a social worker involvement. The boy was taken to hospital for mental health concerns and later returned to the home under a safety plan. He has no prior convictions, is attending a treatment programme for young offenders, and is assessed as low risk of re‑offending. The court adjourned the case to 2 October, noting the need to consider detention carefully and to avoid custodial measures where possible.
Anthony Donnellan, 26, pleaded guilty to unlawfully taking a 2006 Toyota and possessing stolen property after breaking into a man's home in Glentworth Park, Coolock, on 12 October 2018. The victim, who was downstairs at 8:30 am, saw Donnellan attempting to start the car and, with two neighbours, removed him from the vehicle. A citizen's arrest was made before Gardaí arrived, who confiscated a steak knife and found a bag of stolen items in the car, including laptops, jewellery, alcohol, medication and a Chromecast. Donnellan, who had eight prior convictions and was heavily intoxicated, had written an apology letter and was undergoing treatment for drug addiction. Judge Martin Nolan fully suspended a two‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence, requiring one year of probation and good behaviour. The victim expressed being shaken and hoping for Donnellan's rehabilitation.
John Paul McDonagh, 41, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for a series of threats against Gardaí. While on bail, he barricaded himself in a house armed with a hatchet and knife, and repeatedly threatened to kill a named female Garda and a male Garda, calling the female a "dirty slut." He also threatened another officer, saying he would deal with them when he got out. McDonagh pleaded guilty to producing threatening articles in Howth on 27 and 28 March 2020, and to making threats to kill or cause serious harm to Gardaí at the same location and date. He has 131 previous convictions, including threats to kill, assault, weapons possession and witness intimidation. The judge imposed two concurrent three‑year terms for the threats, with the final 18 months suspended and a requirement for alcohol‑use treatment. The sentence will commence in April 2024 after his current term is completed.
The Central Criminal Court heard Andrew O'Brien's victim impact statement after an attempted murder on 8 April 2022. O'Brien, aged 36, was shot twice in the face from close range while seated in his car, leaving him with shattered teeth, a throat hole, a burn scar and speech difficulties. The gunman, Sam Archibald, 36, was a passenger in O'Brien's car and later walked to another vehicle, shooting O'Brien through the open passenger side window. Archibald fled the scene, was later arrested on 11 April, and has pleaded guilty to the attempted murder. He also faces charges under the Firearms Act for possession of a .38 calibre revolver and ammunition. O'Brien was hospitalised with non‑life‑threatening injuries and remains depressed, with his father describing the psychological impact. Archibald is remanded in custody until 2 October, when he will be sentenced.
A 20‑year‑old man from Laois was sentenced to three years in prison, with the final six months suspended, for raping a teenage friend on a wasteland on Halloween 2019. The victim, now 19, testified that she resisted and asked him to stop, but he turned her around and raped her. He had previously claimed the encounter was consensual and had warned authorities that the girl would file a false allegation. The court heard that the victim had suffered isolation, loss of friends, and difficulty returning to school, and that she had sought counselling. The judge, noting the defendant's youth and lack of prior convictions, imposed a headline sentence of four years but ultimately imposed a three‑year term with a suspended six months and strict probation conditions, including a consent‑education course. The defendant was also ordered to register as a sex offender. The unnamed 20-year-old pleaded not guilty.
A man from Buncrana, County Donegal, has been sentenced to ten and a half years imprisonment following his conviction at the Central Criminal Court for the rape and sexual abuse of his daughter. Michael Carter was found guilty last month of one count of rape and 25 sample counts of sexual assault committed between June 2010 and June 2014, when the victim was aged nine to twelve years old. Justice Karen O'Connor imposed a sentence of eleven years for the rape charge, with the final six months suspended for twelve months, and eight years for the sexual assault counts, to run concurrently. The judge noted aggravating factors including the breach of trust, the victim's young age, the duration of the offending, and that abuse occurred in Carter's home. Carter has not expressed remorse and maintains his innocence. The victim, now 22, waived her anonymity and delivered a victim impact statement to the court.
Five men were sentenced to suspended prison terms for a violent assault on three friends in Dublin. The men—Vasilii Birca (32), Ion Mustesta (19), Gheorge Onila (32), Nicanor Ionas (29) and Ion Soponari (24)—had believed they were helping a friend who had been misled into thinking he was the victim of an assault. They pleaded guilty to one count each of affray on Golden Lane on 3 April 2022. All had no prior convictions. The court heard they offered €26,000 in compensation and sincere apologies to the injured parties, and that probation reports placed them at low risk of reoffending. Judge Pauline Codd imposed headline sentences of two and a half years for each, suspended in full for 18 months (Birca, Onila, Ionas), 12 months (Musteata), and 16 months (Soponari). The men were ordered to keep the peace and behave well during the suspension period. The sixth man involved remains before the courts.
Derek Coady, a father of three, pleaded guilty to endangerment at the Central Criminal Court, having originally been charged with the murder of Alan Hall. The State accepted the plea, and the DPP indicated it would drop the murder charge. Coady admitted punching Hall in the stomach, causing minor harm, but denied involvement in the subsequent head injuries, strangulation, or the attempted arson that led to Hall's death from smoke inhalation. His co-accused, Conor Curran, has since died. Coady, who has 46 previous convictions including a three-year suspended sentence for assault, was remanded in custody by Mr Justice Hunt until a sentencing hearing on October 2. The judge stated there would have to be "some element of custody." The maximum penalty for the endangerment offence is seven years. Coady's counsel highlighted his two years of sobriety and deep regret, while noting reports of difficulties with his drinking problem. The court heard that the prosecution could prove Coady's presence but not that he caused serious harm or started the fire.
A 15‑year‑old boy, who had previously been convicted of assault, robbery and drug offences, attacked a man who had confronted a group of youths after a ball struck his car. The boy struck the man once on the right side of his face, knocking him unconscious and causing a serious head injury that has prevented the man from returning to work. The boy fled the scene by train, but was identified through Irish Rail CCTV and admitted to the assault. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 21 March 2021. Judge Orla Crowe noted the boy's early guilty plea, remorse, maternal support and an ADHD diagnosis, and considered the impact of the Covid pandemic and his negative peer group. She imposed a 12‑month probation supervision order and required an updated probation report for the year. The boy is now 17 years old and remains unnamed as a juvenile.
A 22-year-old woman from Buncrana, County Donegal, has delivered a powerful victim impact statement at the Central Criminal Court following her father's conviction on charges of rape and sexual assault. Michael Carter, aged 55, was found guilty last month of one count of rape and 25 counts of sexual assault against his daughter between 2010 and 2014, when she was aged nine to twelve years old. During sentencing proceedings, the woman described her journey from shame and isolation to acceptance and survival. She expressed hope that her decision to waive anonymity would encourage others in similar circumstances to come forward. Carter maintains his innocence and does not accept the jury verdict. Ms Justice Karen O'Connor adjourned the case to determine the final sentence, with the Director of Public Prosecutions recommending a headline sentence of ten to fifteen years due to the age disparity, breach of trust, and pattern of offending.
At the Central Criminal Court in Carrick-on-Shannon, County Leitrim, two brothers have been convicted of sexually abusing their young cousin between 1999 and 2003. Aidan Gallagher, aged 40, of Dadreen, Westport, was convicted of six counts of oral rape. Thomas Gallagher, aged 38, of Cuttenty, Annaghdown, was convicted of one count of rape and seven counts of sexual assault. The complainant, who waived anonymity, provided a victim impact statement describing how the abuse shaped her life, leading to substance misuse and mental health difficulties, though she has since achieved sobriety and recovery. Mr Justice David Keane noted that Thomas Gallagher was diagnosed with Motor Neurone disease in October 2022 with a life expectancy of less than two years, describing it as a unique sentencing situation. The judge remanded both men in custody pending sentencing on 9 October and directed the Prison Service to report on facilities for managing the defendant's terminal illness.
Michael O'Reilly, aged 29, was sentenced by the Central Criminal Court to nine years' imprisonment, with an 18‑month suspended portion, for raping a 13‑year‑old girl in Dublin on 11 April 2021. He pleaded guilty and claimed he "honestly did not know" the victim's age. The judge noted the victim's prior self‑harm and trauma, her refusal to consent, and the defendant's lack of prior sexual convictions. O'Reilly's early guilty plea, apology letter, and absence of a pattern of offending were considered mitigating factors. He was also registered as a sex offender and his sentence was back‑dated to the time he entered custody. The court ordered him to remain under Probation Services supervision for 18 months following release. The case was heard at the Central Criminal Court on 24 July 2023.
John Titiloye, aged 28, was sentenced to ten years in prison with the final year suspended for two years, backdated to his arrest on 11 August 2021, after being found guilty of murdering his 25‑year‑old friend Ademola "Dizzy" Giwa. The killing occurred on 10 August 2021 in Tallaght, following a dispute over a €100 debt and a stolen scooter. Titiloye stabbed Giwa in the neck with a knife he had bought that afternoon, an act described by the judge as a rapid, spontaneous response triggered by the defendant's perception that his father had been attacked. The court noted that Titiloye had 23 prior convictions, mainly for minor traffic offences and some drug offences, and that he had attempted to justify his actions to the probation service. The judge highlighted the disproportionate use of force and the fact that the victim's father was also assaulted during the altercation. John Titiloye pleaded not guilty and was acquitted.
At the Special Criminal Court, Robert Redmond (35) and Jamie Gray (27) were sentenced for possessing a RAK PM-63 submachine gun at M11 Southbound, Shankill, Dublin, on May 7, 2020. Both pleaded guilty to charges under Section 27A(1) of the Firearms Act 1964. Mr Justice Paul Burns sentenced Redmond, who is serving a life sentence for murder, to six years imprisonment. This sentence runs from October 5, 2021. Gray received a sentence of five years and three months, with the final year suspended for three years, running from July 10, 2023. The judge noted the weapon was in poor condition, missing components, and had an erased serial number. Redmond has 97 previous convictions, while Gray has 91, mostly for road traffic offences. The court acknowledged both men sourced the weapon for others without intent to use it. Separately, Bernard Fogarty (34) was previously sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Barry Wolverson and jailed for five years in 2020 for possessing a similar firearm on March 7, 2020. Fogarty was involved in the initial handover of the weapon in Clondalkin. The judge described the prevalence of such firearms as a dangerous scourge on society.
A 23‑year‑old man with 41 prior convictions was sentenced to three and a half years in prison for his role in a gang attack on a man who was held in his own home for six hours. The victim was stabbed repeatedly, suffered a 10‑15 cm laceration to the scalp, was hit with a vodka bottle, had most of his right ear almost severed and was told he would be killed. The judge noted the severity and sustained nature of the assault, the victim's lifelong injuries and the fact that the attackers took turns cutting the ear. The offence was placed at the upper end of the scale, with a headline sentence of five years. The court imposed a three‑year‑six‑month sentence, suspended the final six months for two years, and required the offender to remain under probation supervision for one year after release. The unnamed 23-year-old pleaded guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 21 July 2023, 45‑year‑old Wesley McGill pleaded guilty to one count of possession of cannabis for sale or supply. The offence stemmed from a mistaken search warrant that was actually for a stolen electric bike. McGill opened the door, led Gardaí to two cardboard boxes containing 2,800 g of cannabis valued at €256,000, which he claimed he was holding for someone else, and a small amount of cocaine worth €81. He had borrowed €5,000 from moneylenders to renovate his house and could not repay the debt. McGill, who began using cannabis at 16, expressed remorse and provided character references, including one from his son. Judge Martina Baxter sentenced him to five years' imprisonment, suspending the final two years on strict conditions, and ordered 12 months' probation supervision post‑release.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 21 July 2023, Karl Core, aged 34, was sentenced to two years in prison for an unprovoked knife attack on his friend David Fox on 19 June 2021. Core, who was high on crack cocaine at the time, swung a 15‑inch kitchen knife over a garden gate and stabbed Fox's right cheek, creating a hole that penetrated into Fox's mouth cavity. Fox was treated at hospital and received stitches. Core pleaded guilty to one count of assault causing harm. Judge Orla Crowe described the assault as very serious, noting the severe facial injury and potential lifelong scarring. She imposed a headline sentence of four years, then reduced it to three years with a 12‑month suspended portion, and ordered Core to remain under probation supervision for 12 months after release. Core's guilty plea, family support, adherence to bail conditions, and prior minor convictions were considered mitigating factors.
Andrew Nash, 43, was sentenced to 14 years in prison, with the final 12 months suspended for two years, after pleading guilty to manslaughter for the death of John Ustic, 51, on 24 or 25 September 2023 in Skibbereen. Nash, a father of five, had repeatedly dropped a couch on Ustic's head during a "vicious and sustained" assault, causing blunt‑force trauma to the head, chest and neck. The victim was reportedly in a comatose state and heavily intoxicated, which limited his ability to defend himself. Nash apologized to Ustic's family, the court, gardai and ambulance crew, expressing deep shame and remorse. The judge noted Nash's efforts to address alcoholism and his desire to work and be a better family person upon release. The sentence reflects the high culpability and violence of the attack.
In a Circuit Court hearing on 21 July 2023, a 52‑year‑old man, David Mullen, pleaded guilty to possession of an imitation firearm after brandishing a 6mm green gas‑operated air pistol that resembled a Glock in a residential estate on a summer evening. Gardaí responded at 9 pm, evacuated the surrounding houses, and requested armed assistance. Mullen, intoxicated with whiskey and Valium, was arrested within ten minutes of the gardaí's arrival. The air pistol was seized and sent to the Ballistic Technical Bureau. Judge Martina Baxter sentenced Mullen to 15 months in prison, suspended in full for 15 months under strict conditions, and ordered him to remain under probation supervision for one year, with random urine analysis and addiction counselling. The judge highlighted Mullen's remorse, his role as his mother's carer, and the aggravating factors of the weapon's appearance and the public setting. The court commended the gardaí for their swift and careful action.
Gigi Birsan, 33, of Dundalk, pleaded guilty to 103 thefts and 33 attempted thefts between late 2016 and late 2017, stealing over €3,000 from colleagues and housemates to fund online poker. He returned the full amount, €3,164, and has addressed his gambling addiction. Judge Orla Crowe set a headline sentence of three years but imposed an 18‑month suspended sentence, ordering Birsan to keep the peace and behave well for that period. The case arose after staff at the Drury Buildings restaurant noticed small deductions from bank accounts, leading to an investigation that traced a PokerStars account linked to Birsan. He was arrested in Romania under a European Arrest Warrant and admitted all transactions. Birsan has no prior convictions and has shown remorse, writing a letter to the judge and claiming rehabilitation. The court noted his low risk of reoffending and stable relationship with his wife.
Alan Bohan, 53, of Santry, pleaded guilty to unlawfully possessing 375 rounds of .22 calibre ammunition found in a shed during an unrelated search. He claimed he had forgotten the bullets after handing over his rifles when his licence expired. The court noted he had no prior convictions and used the rifles for shooting vermin. Judge Orla Crowe accepted the exceptional circumstances and set a headline sentence of three years but imposed an 18‑month suspended sentence. Bohan was not living at the family home where the search was executed; he had access only to a shed used for car repairs. He had previously surrendered his firearms voluntarily. The court heard he intends to recover his guns and that he is a mechanic on disability. No further legal actions were described.
A 52‑year‑old man was jailed for two years after a Central Criminal Court jury found him guilty of three counts of indecent assault and three counts of rape against a seven‑year‑old girl he was babysitting in 1985. The victim, now 45, reported the abuse to Gardaí in 2018 and gave a victim impact statement in court, describing the lasting psychological harm. The defendant, who was 14 at the time, denied the allegations and has no convictions for the 1985 offences. The judge, Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring, noted the passage of 38 years and the defendant's subsequent law‑abiding life, but also the enduring impact on the victim. She imposed a sentence of two years for each indecent assault charge, suspended the final two years, and set all sentences to run concurrently, back‑dated to the date of his custody.
A 44‑year‑old Dublin man was jailed for 12 months after pleading guilty to threatening to kill his former partner in June 2019. He sent dozens of abusive messages, including the threat "I am going to f**king murder you." The judge described his conduct as "reprehensible and vulgar" and ordered him to have no contact with the victim for ten years, stay away from her home, and remain under probation supervision for 12 months after release. He received an 18‑month sentence with the final six months suspended. The victim, who suffered post‑traumatic stress and panic attacks, said the threats caused her great suffering and forced her to leave her job. The defendant, who has 71 prior convictions, was also ordered to engage in offence‑focused programmes. The judge noted his behaviour had harmed both the victim and her child.