Damien Clarke, 40, of North Strand, Drogheda, was sentenced to two and a half years in prison for threatening to kill or seriously harm prison officers at Cloverhill Prison on 3 January 2022. He pleaded guilty to two counts of making such threats. Judge Orla Crowe noted that prison officers perform an important function and that threatening one during work is a serious offence. The judge accepted Clarke's early guilty plea and his mental health and poly‑substance abuse issues at the time. Clarke received a three‑year sentence with the final six months suspended, subject to strict conditions including engagement with the Probation Service for two years after release. He had 44 prior convictions, including theft, public order offences and assault, and was on remand at the time of the incident.
Lesley Dyer, 40, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two thefts totalling €1,050 from an elderly woman she cared for in Bray, Co Wicklow, on 18 June 2022 and 13 August 2022. The victim, suffering from dementia, had left €1,000 in a handbag and later discovered the money missing; CCTV later showed Dyer taking €50 from a card. Dyer admitted the thefts, citing financial pressure and a recent split with her partner. Judge Orla Crowe described the offences as a "really serious breach of trust" and adjourned the case to allow a Probation Service assessment for suitability for community service. If deemed suitable, Dyer may be ordered to complete 240 hours of community service in lieu of an 18‑month prison term. The case is set for a hearing on 3 November 2023.
An Irish man aged 46 was sentenced to 11 years' imprisonment for repeated rape and sexual assault of a girl aged 8‑11 between August 2014 and August 2017. The offences, committed at his Wexford home, included eight counts of rape, nine of anal rape, eight of oral rape and nine of sexual assault. The court noted a particularly violent incident in which he tied the victim to a bed and held a knife to her throat, threatening her. He was found not guilty of three other rape counts. The judge imposed concurrent sentences of nine years and seven months for the anal and oral rape counts and four years and ten months for the sexual assault counts, with a two‑year post‑release supervision order. The sentence was back‑dated to the date he entered custody after the trial.
Dean Synnott, aged 28, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended on strict conditions, after pleading guilty to two counts of assault causing harm for a serious, determined attack on his partner on 14 October 2017. The court heard that Synnott repeatedly punched and choked the victim, shouted threats such as "Silly little bitch, I'm going to kill you," and attempted to strangle her while she tried to leave the house. He also followed her onto a road, punched her again, and told her that no one would help her when she screamed for assistance. The victim sustained a head injury, bruises, and a cut on her lip; she reported panic attacks and difficulty sleeping as a result of the incident. Synnott had nine prior convictions, all at the District Court, and was described as intoxicated during the attack.
Michael Dunne, aged 50 and a long‑time drug addict, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 12 July 2020 to criminal damage after he threw blue paint on a Luke Kelly statue. He had 51 prior convictions, including five for criminal damage, dating back to 1986. Garda David Kelly discovered the damage and used nearby CCTV footage to identify Dunne, who was arrested but no further action followed the initial garda interviews. The defence, led by Katherine McGillicuddy, argued that Dunne was vulnerable, had no intention to damage the statue, and received drugs as a reward for the act. The court heard that the paint caused €240 in damage. Judge Orla Crowe adjourned the case to 12 October for sentencing, allowing time for the preparation of various reports.
The High Court has quashed a condition imposed on Fiona O'Leary, a campaigner against pseudoscience, following the resolution of her judicial review proceedings against the Director of Public Prosecutions. In January, at Bandon District Court, Judge James McNulty sentenced Mrs O'Leary to 60 days imprisonment, suspended for two years, after she pleaded guilty to an offence contrary to Section 13 of the 1994 Criminal Justice Act (Public Order) Act. She was charged with trespassing on a property at the Priory, Maulatanvally, Reenscreena Rosscarbery, Cork, in a manner likely to cause fear. The prosecution case relied on a statement from Fr Giacomo Ballini and alleged that Mrs O'Leary uploaded video footage of the premises to social media. As part of the sentence, the judge imposed conditions requiring her to keep the peace and refrain from engaging in abusive or offensive behaviour in any public place or forum, including social media, for the two-year suspension period. Mrs O'Leary, represented by Bernard Condon SC and Conor McKenna BL, challenged this condition in the High Court, arguing it breached her right to freedom of expression. On Tuesday, Mr Justice Charles Meenan was informed that the action had resolved and the DPP consented to an order quashing the specific condition. Mrs O'Leary stated that she requires social media access for her activism against misinformation, while maintaining she does not intend to be abusive.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 23‑year‑old man pleaded guilty to raping his 16‑year‑old girlfriend in April 2019 while she was napping at her Dublin home. The victim was taking Prozac, which caused her to go in and out of consciousness, and she later reported that her boyfriend knew about the medication. She had told friends and a counsellor about the assault and eventually reported it to gardaí in April 2020. The accused admitted the rape on Instagram after the victim posted her name and called him a rapist. He was 18 at the time of the offence and had no prior convictions. Mr Justice Paul McDermott sentenced him to four years and six months, suspending the final two years on conditions including cooperation with probation and therapeutic assessment. The court noted the defendant's remorse, mental health difficulties, and the victim's forgiving attitude.
A 27-year-old man from Donegal has been sentenced to 18 months in prison by the Central Criminal Court for sexually assaulting his partner's teenage sister in June 2017. The assault occurred while the victim slept in the accused's bed alongside her older sister. He initially claimed the encounter was consensual, a position he has since abandoned. The victim outlined the profound impact of the offence and the subsequent five-year delay in the case, describing how she lost family support and endured significant psychological harm. Mr Justice Paul McDermott noted that the initial false account compounded the damage to family relationships. The judge acknowledged the accused's guilty plea, his lack of relevant convictions, and expressions of remorse as mitigating factors. He imposed a three-year sentence with the final 18 months suspended on condition that the defendant engage in assessment for relevant programmes. A contact ban was also imposed.
Francie Stokes, 23, of Lucan, pleaded guilty to possessing €52,355 as proceeds of crime in his AIB account. The money was fraudulently transferred from a German aviation company. Stokes had a prior money‑laundering conviction for €3,000 in 2020 and a one‑month probation in 2021. AIB recovered €28,000; about €24,000 remains withdrawn. Gardaí noted multiple ATM and internet withdrawals, but CCTV showed none of the accused. Stokes was arrested on suspicion of money laundering, had no legitimate source for the €52,000, and had been receiving pandemic unemployment payments. Judge Martin Nolan, after Probation Services' assessment, sentenced Stokes to 150 hours of community service instead of 18 months' imprisonment. The sentence reflects Stokes' reckless conduct, his family responsibilities, and his prior record of money‑laundering.
The Workplace Relations Commission upheld Mark Hosey's unfair dismissal complaint against Mark Johnson Motors under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977, but did not order the employer to pay the €8,650 loss claimed by Hosey. Compensation was limited to eight weeks' pay for breaches of employment rights. The tribunal heard that Hosey was dismissed after a dispute over parts invoicing and a death threat incident in August 2019 when a customer of his nixer business produced a gun. Hosey denied charging €400 for a repair, citing unpaid parts and a lack of proof of payment. The employer argued that Hosey could not prove he paid for parts and that the gun incident was not a cause for dismissal. The adjudicating officer ruled the dismissal unfair on procedural grounds, awarded four weeks' pay for a rights breach, and ordered weeks' pay in lieu of notice, totaling €6,280 in orders against the garage.
David Gregan, 43, was sentenced to 150 hours of community service instead of 18 months' imprisonment after pleading guilty to making a false statement to a solicitor. In 2017 he claimed he had been injured in a collision between a bus and a car in Dublin city centre, alleging soft‑tissue injuries to his shoulders. The incident involved Dublin Bus and a car registered to Trinity College. An anti‑fraud investigator reviewed CCTV footage and found Gregan, though on the footpath, was not close enough to be struck by the vehicles. He withdrew the claim in 2018 and no payment was made, but the parties incurred €9,000 in legal fees. Gregan has no prior convictions, has worked in security for 25 years, and has a history of mental‑health difficulties. Judge Martin Nolan noted that Gregan had "succumbed to the temptation of easy money" and therefore did not impose a custodial sentence.
The Irish branch of engineering consultancy Ove Arup was fined €750,000 after the death of 62‑year‑old John McCann, a father of seven, who fell 24 metres from a ventilation shaft on 23 September 2019. McCann was supervising fibre‑optic cabling when he stepped onto a fragile, lightweight fire‑insulation surface that gave way. An HSA inspector criticised the company's "laissez‑faire" approach to health and safety, noting inadequate signage, a failure to follow through on risk assessment and poor communication between departments. Ove Arup pleaded guilty to two breaches of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005, admitting it had failed to ensure the safety of non‑employees and to maintain a safe work environment. Judge Orla Crowe imposed the fine and awarded the HSA costs of just under €7,500. The company accepted responsibility, offered a charitable donation and sent letters of condolence to McCann's family.
A 68‑year‑old woman, Josephine McMahon, was sentenced to three and a half years in prison for sexually assaulting two brothers in Kerry between 1992 and 1996. The younger brother, aged four or five at the time, was abused in the house's bathroom with a wooden spoon, while the older brother, aged eight to twelve, was assaulted on several occasions, including being threatened with a wooden spoon and exposed to the perpetrator's genitals. McMahon pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court. The judge, Ms Justice Karen O'Connor, noted the maximum sentence for the offence at the time was five years and imposed a suspended 12‑month period, ordering McMahon to remain under probation supervision for a further year after release. The sentence reflected mitigating factors such as her deteriorating health, diabetes and kidney disease, and the need for dialysis. The court heard the victims' impact statements, describing lasting depression, anxiety, addiction issues, and family effects.
Killer Farmer Michael Scott, who drove over his elderly aunt Christina 'Chrissie' Treacy (76) outside her home in Derryhiney, Portumna, Co Galway on April 27, 2018, has been jailed for six years. The judge, Ms Justice Caroline Biggs, noted that Scott showed 'no compassion' to his aunt in the immediate aftermath of the killing and told 'fundamental, self-preserving lies' about their relationship. Following a trial earlier this year, a jury found Scott not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter on the basis of gross negligence. The prosecution case was that Scott deliberately reversed over Ms Treacy following a long-running dispute over land. The judge set Scott's headline sentence at eight years but reduced that to six years having taken into account a number of mitigating factors. Scott had pleaded not guilty to murdering his aunt. The judge also noted that Scott has more recently expressed genuine remorse and reports from the probation services suggest he has insight into the impact the killing has had. He had no previous convictions and the judge described him as a hard-working family man who was responsible in his business affairs. The judge also noted that Scott has indicated that he accepts the jury's verdict.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Jordan Cawley, aged 25, was sentenced to 18 months in jail for assaulting a vulnerable young woman twice with a closed fist over a €20 drug debt. The incident began when the woman claimed the drugs had a bad effect on her, leading to a confrontation that escalated into physical violence. Cawley, who has 37 prior convictions, was described by Judge Martina Baxter as "very imposing" and lacking regard for safety. He struck the petite, defenseless woman twice, knocking her to the ground, and later repeated the assault inside a local tyre business. The judge noted Cawley's history of drug use and trauma, and imposed a suspended six‑month period with strict conditions, including post‑release supervision to address his rehabilitation needs. The woman and her brother were considered vulnerable and less strong than Cawley, and she did not file a complaint or victim impact statement. Jordan Cawley pleaded guilty.
Luke McNamee, a 20‑year‑old Leaving Cert student from Loughlinstown Road, Celbridge, was recruited by a Snapchat user named "R Boogie" to act as a money mule for pandemic unemployment payments. McNamee, then 18, gave his bank details and received €4,700 in PUP funds, which he was instructed to transfer to other accounts or use to buy goods for resale. He later admitted the scheme, presented his story to Gardaí with his parents, and cooperated fully. The court found him guilty of possessing the proceeds of crime in his AIB account between 18 May and 30 July 2021. Judge Orla Crowe applied Section 100 of the Criminal Justice Act, deferring sentencing and imposing conditions until 14 December, with a possible 12‑month sentence if he fails to comply. She ordered McNamee to repay €1,500 he gained and to keep the peace, noting his lack of prior convictions and his cooperation.
Patrick O'Reilly, 36, of Newcastle, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing €269,280 in cash found in his home and a breakfast cereal box in his work van on 14 June 2022. He also admitted a small quantity of cocaine and the use of the Signal app to facilitate money‑laundering. Gardaí said he claimed to owe a debt, but the judge noted he had €20,000 in savings, making the debt claim "hard to square." O'Reilly was one of six arrested in a West Dublin organised‑crime investigation involving drug importation and distribution. The court set a headline sentence of four years, reduced by one year for early plea, cooperation and first‑time offence, and ordered confiscation of the cash. The case was heard by Judge Orla Crowe, with the prosecution led by Edward Doocey BL and defence by John Berry BL.
Stephen McMullen, 25, of Rowlagh Gardens, Clondalkin, pleaded guilty to assault and intimidation of a witness after attacking a man outside his home on 19 August 2021. He was on bail for three offences and had 92 prior convictions. Gardai were called to the scene, where McMullen and a group of men assaulted the victim, who managed to escape to his house and call for help. McMullen later phoned the victim, asking what the gardai were doing, and sent a threatening text. DNA evidence linked him to the scene. Judge John Martin sentenced him to two years for assault and two and a half years for intimidation, with 18 months suspended, and imposed strict supervision and no contact with the victim. The sentence was consecutive and included conditions of good behaviour and probation supervision. The court noted McMullen's remorse and his desire for rehabilitation.
Kayode Falade, 37, of Phibsboro, Dublin 7, pleaded guilty to five counts of money laundering committed between June 27 and 29, 2017. The charges include converting proceeds of crime into Nigerian currency at a Blanchardstown post office, possessing up to €5,000 in proceeds from ATMs in north Dublin, and transferring proceeds into a bank account. The court heard that hackers intercepted a €125,702 invoice payment intended for Cobec Engineering, diverting it to an EBS account linked to Falade. Although €114,621 was recalled, IPUT suffered an unrecovered loss of €11,091. Falade, who has 31 previous convictions, was arrested in March 2018. Defence counsel Simon Matthews BL stated Falade was not involved in the hacking and was easily identified via the bank account. He noted Falade works full-time, pays maintenance for a son, and has complied with bail conditions. Judge Orla Crowe adjourned sentencing until Friday, June 23.
In a High Court hearing, Ms Justice Karen O'Connor addressed a 17‑year‑old rape victim who had been assaulted at a party in 2018. The victim, now 26, read her impact statement, describing how she fell asleep in a bedroom, was later raped by a man who had previously assaulted her, and how the defendant denied responsibility. The defendant, a 26‑year‑old convicted sex offender with six prior convictions, pleaded guilty to the rape and received a five‑month sentence, later reduced to 120 hours of community service. The judge encouraged the victim to speak out, saying her testimony could help others realise they are not alone, and wished her well as she seeks to resume her studies. The case was adjourned to 29 June for finalisation, with the defendant remanded in custody until that date.
Gerald O'Donnell, 45, was sentenced to five years in prison at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after being found with €260,000 worth of cannabis in his Lusk home. He pleaded guilty to possession of the drug in herb and resin form. O'Donnell, who had no addiction issues, began dealing drugs after falling ill with ankylosing spondylitis in 2009, which forced him to leave his job as a manufacturing technician. He claimed dealing was a way to avoid dependence on others. Gardaí seized 12.5 kg of cannabis herb, 1.4 kg of resin, and €5,195 in cash, the proceeds of crime. The judge, after considering mitigating factors such as early plea, cooperation, and medical condition, reduced the headline sentence from seven to five years, back‑dating it to 3 May. O'Donnell has one prior driving offence and had never been on the Garda radar before this offence.
Darren Gilligan, 47, son of convicted drug dealer John Gilligan, has agreed to surrender to Spanish authorities after a High Court hearing. He faces up to four years' imprisonment in Spain for alleged trafficking of cannabis, sleeping pills and participation in a criminal organisation. The European Arrest Warrant, issued by Murcia police, accuses him of shipping hashish, cannabis and unlicensed sleeping tablets (Datolan, Zoplicone, Limovan) to Ireland via parcel services, and of sending packages of cannabis and sleeping pills from various Spanish post offices in late 2020. Spanish investigators also seized marijuana buds and a vacuum‑packaging machine at a Spanish address linked to Gilligan. At the High Court, Gilligan confirmed his decision to surrender after legal advice, and the judge set an extradition date within 20 days, with Gilligan remaining on bail until departure. The High Court had previously granted him bail despite Garda objections. The case remains at the extradition stage.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Judge Orla Crowe praised the bravery of a group of Dubliners who aided a robbery victim and pursued the attacker, Shane O'Connor, 41, in broad daylight. O'Connor, who was on bail, had robbed a woman on St Peter's Lane on 20 August 2022, pulling her handbag with force that broke the strap and leaving her bloodied. The victim, who had been walking her dog, chased him and was joined by bystanders who eventually caught him in a laneway. O'Connor handed back the bag and the victim's phone, but the woman's wallet was not recovered. The judge noted O'Connor's 52 prior convictions, his current four‑year sentence, and the impact on the victim, who now must replace documents lost in the robbery. She was commended for her courage. Judge Crowe imposed an additional three‑year sentence, consecutive to his existing term, and suspended the final 18 months on strict probation conditions. Shane O'Connor pleaded guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 20 June 2023, Judge Martin Nolan sentenced 44‑year‑old taxi driver Richard Askin to a three‑year suspended prison term for possession of cocaine for sale or supply. Askin had pleaded guilty to the offence, which stemmed from a May 2021 Garda search of his home that uncovered 97.3 g of cocaine, a Nokia phone and weighing scales. Garda surveillance had recorded Askin handing a package to a cyclist on 29 April 2021 and to a known cocaine user two days later. Askin, who has seven prior traffic convictions, denied any trouble with Gardaí and claimed he was a low‑level dealer for another individual to service a drug debt. Defence counsel highlighted his addiction and lack of prior similar convictions. Judge Nolan warned that a repeat offence would result in custodial imprisonment and urged Askin to take the "considerable chance" he had been given.
Christina Anderson, aged 41, was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment by the Central Criminal Court for the murder of Gareth Kelly, aged 38, who was stabbed five times on 25 February 2020 while attempting to start his car outside her home. Anderson was diagnosed with schizo‑affective disorder and had been in the Central Mental Hospital since shortly after the stabbing. She pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, but the Director of Public Prosecutions accepted a plea of guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility due to a mental disorder. The judge, Justice Karen O'Connor, noted that Anderson's responsibility was diminished by her mental condition and that her actions were "highly dominated by her mental condition." The sentence was reduced from a headline of 13 years to 11 years, with the final three years suspended for four years on the condition that Anderson remain under probation supervision, comply with psychiatric treatment, and refrain from drug and alcohol use.
Two survivors of sexual abuse by Patrick Killally, aged 45, told the Central Criminal Court how they spoke out to protect children and encourage others to come forward. One survivor was between six and nine years old when abused; the other was between 12 and 14. Killally was a teenager when he assaulted the first boy and an adult when he abused the second boy over two years. He was convicted of three counts of sexual assault of the first boy (1992‑1996) and 40 counts of sexual assault, attempted anal rape, oral rape and anal rape of the second boy (2005‑2007). The survivors described the long‑term emotional burden, fear of speaking out, and their decision to testify after the trial ended in May 2023. Killally maintains his innocence; the court remanded him in custody and adjourned sentencing to 10 July.
The High Court has refused a pre-trial application to adjourn repossession proceedings brought by Receiver James Anderson, appointed by Pepper Finance Ireland DAC, against Davy Fitzgerald. Ms Helen Fitzgerald, who resides at the property in Co Clare, sought an adjournment until the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) adjudicated on her claim that she holds a valid tenancy and that no termination notice was served. The plaintiffs opposed the application. Mr Justice Garrett Simons rejected the bid, ruling that the High Court, not the RTB, has jurisdiction to determine whether a binding tenancy exists against the plaintiffs. He noted the 2004 Residential Tenancies Act does not grant the RTB exclusive jurisdiction on this matter and directed that his judgment be brought to the RTB's attention. The case is to be readied for hearing. Mr Fitzgerald, who appears on the RTE Television programme Ireland's Fittest Family, has raised separate issues regarding loans from ACC Bank, alleging fraud by former official Jarlath Mitchell and disputing the validity of the loan transfer to Pepper. He also contests a €25,000 interest surcharge demanded by Pepper and argues the case belongs in the Circuit Court. Lawyers for the fund and receiver rejected these criticisms.
A 67-year-old man from Donegal has been sentenced to twenty years imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court for the rape and sexual abuse of four girls spanning a twenty-six-year period from 1982 to 2008. The defendant pleaded guilty to six counts of rape, one count of attempted oral rape, nine counts of attempted rape, five counts of indecent assault, and twenty-nine counts of sexual assault. Justice Ellen Ring described him as a "committed long-term child abuser" who breached the trust of his victims and their families. The court heard the abuse occurred in various locations including his home and vehicle. The offences involved family members, including his sister-in-law and three nieces, who were aged between five and sixteen at the time. The defendant was assessed as presenting medium to high risk of re-offending with deviant sexual interest in children under sixteen. Justice Ring imposed consecutive sentences for the most serious offences while noting the defendant's guilty pleas and work history.
The Central Criminal Court heard that a 43‑year‑old man pleaded guilty to indecent assault and multiple sexual assault charges against his sister, who was abused from age three to ten. The abuse began when she was three, continued after she reported it to her parents at four and to a GP in July 1991, and persisted for five more years. The court noted that the family had attended one counselling session before the father decided not to return. The judge highlighted the sister's forgiveness and lack of desire for imprisonment, her remorse, and her efforts to rebuild her life, including studying psychology. The man was sentenced to two and a half years' imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions. The hearing focused on the ongoing abuse, the sister's impact statement, and the man's admissions and cooperation with investigators.
In a Westmeath case, a 33‑year‑old man was convicted by a Central Criminal Court jury of raping a 15‑year‑old girl in an unoccupied apartment on 20 January 2019. The victim, aged 15‑half at the time, was invited to the apartment with a friend, where the accused entered through a window. After refusing a kiss, the man touched her, pulled down her leggings, pushed her onto a couch and raped her while she shouted for him to stop. He used abusive language and later left for the toilet. The girl did not give a victim impact statement and only later sought medical treatment for a hymen laceration, after which the matter was reported to Gardaí. The accused denies sexual contact. He has prior convictions for assault, disorder and traffic offences but none of a sexual nature.
The High Court has adjourned proceedings concerning Imre Arakas, a 63-year-old Estonian national currently in Lithuania, who is seeking to instruct legal representation. The Minister for Justice informed Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo that Lithuania requested to prosecute Arakas for offences other than those for which he was surrendered under a European Arrest Warrant. Arakas was previously extradited to face trial for the alleged murder of Deimantas Bugavicius in November 2015, along with firearms and conspiracy charges. While an eyewitness stated Arakas was not present at the scene, Lithuanian authorities allege he conspired in the killing. Arakas, who told gardai he was in Spain during the relevant dates, has a prior conviction in Ireland. In December 2018, the Special Criminal Court jailed him for six years after he admitted conspiring to murder James 'Mago' Gately in Northern Ireland in 2017. The court noted a 30-day time restraint for the new prosecution request. Ms Aoife O'Leary BL, who previously represented Arakas, stated she lacked instructions to act on the current matter and was unsure if he wished to engage Ferrys Solicitors. The judge agreed to adjourn the case for one week to allow the respondent to instruct a firm of solicitors, ensuring his interests are represented.
Christopher Coakley, 31, with 124 prior convictions, was sentenced to eight years in prison for a pre‑meditated, brutal attack on a doctor in Dublin's north inner city. Coakley approached the doctor, who was travelling on a motorised scooter, and stabbed him repeatedly with scissors, targeting the head, neck, chest and stomach. The victim, a doctor who had never met Coakley, sustained penetrating wounds and required hospital treatment and physiotherapy. CCTV and DNA linked Coakley to the scene, and he was arrested in June 2021. The judge, Mr Justice Paul Burns, noted Coakley's history of drug addiction and early criminal record, reduced the headline sentence of 11 years to nine years with a 12‑month suspended portion, and imposed conditions of medical compliance and probation supervision. The case was originally charged as attempted murder but the charge was dropped after Coakley pleaded guilty to causing serious harm.
Noel Lennon, 49, was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court for the manslaughter of Isaac Horgan, 52, who died after being stabbed in the leg at his home in Dublin 2 on March 29, 2021. Originally charged with murder, Lennon pleaded not guilty to that charge but guilty to manslaughter, a plea accepted by the State. Mr Justice Tony Hunt imposed a headline sentence of nine years, reduced by 18 months to seven and a half years. The final year of the sentence was suspended for a post-release period of four years, with the judge warning that any breach would result in immediate custody. The sentence was backdated to March 30 last year. The court noted Lennon's high risk of re-offending and his 12 previous convictions. Aggravating factors included the impact on Horgan's nine-year-old son and the fact the victim was killed in his own home. A co-accused, Lisa Lee, was previously convicted by a jury of discarding the knife used in the attack. Lee, of no fixed abode, was jailed for two years last December. The report also notes that Horgan had previously been acquitted of the 2002 manslaughter of Douglas McManus, having pleaded not guilty to murder and assault charges in that earlier case.
Stephen Penrose, 40, serving a life sentence for murder, was given a concurrent two‑year sentence for threatening to burn down the home of a prison officer at Cloverhill. He admitted saying the words but claimed no intention to act on them. Penrose had prior convictions for manslaughter, assaults on prison officers and a threat to an officer. The threat was made on 4 March 2018 after an alleged complaint by the officer, who was absent from work the next day. Penrose told staff the officer should drop the complaint and threatened to pour petrol through the officer's letterbox. He pleaded not guilty, represented himself, and asked for a backdated sentence and a transcript. Judge Elva Duffy noted his admission of the threat but lack of intent, imposed the two‑year term, and granted credit for time already spent in custody.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Dylan Crowley, 18, received a two‑year suspended sentence for assault causing harm and robbery of a food delivery rider on 2 February 2021. The victim, struck with a wooden stick and later with a blow to the arm, suffered a compound fracture requiring two surgeries, a metal plate, and a year out of work. Crowley, who was 16 at the time of the offence, pleaded guilty. Judge Orla Crowe described the assault as "very serious" but noted his youth, sentencing him to two years in prison with the sentence suspended in full for three years and ordering 18 months of probation supervision. The court also considered the robbery and the victim's impact statement, noting the rider's loss of "everything.".
In a June 2023 sentencing, a 37‑year‑old man was jailed for five years for sexually abusing a boy who was four to eight years old between 1999 and 2002. The defendant, aged 13 to 17 at the time of the offences, pleaded guilty to oral rape and sexual assault, involving insertion of fingers into the boy's anus at the boy's home. He had no prior convictions. The victim, now 28, gave a victim impact statement describing long‑term depression, anxiety, nightmares and fear, and praised the judge for encouraging others to speak out. Judge Mary Ellen Ring noted the defendant's lack of maturity and the absence of a risk assessment, imposed concurrent sentencing, and ordered 18 months of post‑release supervision. The case highlighted the abuse's occurrence while the defendant was a minor and the victim's decision to disclose the abuse after a two‑year period of uncertainty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Julie Ann Stokes, 43, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and weapon production after slashing a homeless woman up to 40 times with a broken bottle at a Spar on Dame Street on 20 September 2022. Stokes, who has 212 prior convictions including theft, assault, threats to kill, knife possession, drug misuse and public order offences, was sentenced to two years and nine months in prison, with the final six months suspended under strict conditions. The judge noted the attack occurred in a public place at night, was captured on CCTV, and that Stokes had a drug problem, primarily crack cocaine. She must remain under Probation Service supervision and comply with all directed actions. The sentence was backdated to September 2022 when she entered custody. The victim, also homeless, refused a hospital visit and did not cooperate with Gardaí. The court considered Stokes' progress in prison and her efforts to address addiction.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 15 June 2023, Jaroslow Kilian, a 39‑year‑old Polish national with 27 prior convictions in Ireland, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for violently attacking five bus passengers on the C4 route from Dublin to Celbridge. Kilian, who had been deported in December 2021 and illegally returned to Ireland in February 2022, was found intoxicated and suffering from schizophrenia. He slapped, punched and kicked passengers, causing concussions to two men and lasting PTSD to a woman who was punched full‑force in the face. Kilian also threatened Gardaí who arrived to arrest him. He pleaded guilty to two counts of assault causing harm and one count of assault, with three further counts considered. The court set a headline sentence of three years, reduced to two years on mitigating factors, and backdated it to 27 August 2022 when he was taken into custody.
John Ginnelly, 52, was jailed after a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 15 June 2023 for openly using his home in Ringsend to traffic drugs while children were present. Gardaí entered the house on a search warrant and found over €60,000 worth of cannabis, cocaine and benzodiazepine tablets, as well as €14,230 in cash proceeds. Ginnelly pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis resin, cannabis herb, cocaine and benzodiazepine tablets, and to possession of cash. He admitted to preparing drugs for distribution in his kitchen and had been involved in the trade at a "trusted level." The judge set a headline sentence of five years, reduced to three years and nine months because of his early plea and cooperation, and added a concurrent two‑year sentence for money‑laundering. The sentence was back‑dated to 8 June, the day he entered custody.
An HSA inspector criticised Ove Arup's Irish branch for a "laissez‑faire" health and safety approach after John McCann, 62, died falling 24 metres into a ventilation shaft at their Dublin office on 23 September 2019. McCann, subcontracted to supervise fibre‑optic cabling, stepped onto a fragile, fire‑insulation floor that gave way. The inspector said the company failed to follow risk assessment, lacked adequate signage, and did not communicate concerns raised 13 months earlier. Ove Arup admitted two breaches of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 and accepted responsibility, apologising to McCann's family. The company plans a €40,000 donation to a charity supported by McCann. The case is set for sentencing on 26 June, with a maximum fine of €3 million. The court adjourned the finalisation of the sentence. The unnamed man pleaded guilty.
Eamon Savage (36) of Emmet Road, Inchicore, was sentenced to three years in prison at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for witness intimidation of Lyndsey Byrne at Merchants Quay, Dublin 8 on November 18, 2021. Savage pleaded guilty to the charge and admitted to threatening Ms Byrne, who was at the centre of a violent false imprisonment ordeal, to withdraw her statement or she would be murdered. The court heard that Savage was part of a group who conveyed a message to Ms Byrne from one of Paul Clarke's associates, who was described in court as the 'main man' in the assault. Judge Orla Crowe noted that Savage had made specific and detailed threats against Ms Byrne, which caused her to fear for her life. She also highlighted that Savage had a large number of previous convictions and was deemed to be at very high risk of re-offending by the Probation Service. The sentence was backdated to January 1, 2022, and a defence application to suspend a portion of the prison sentence was declined. Paul Clarke (29) of Clonard Road, Dublin 12 was sentenced to four years and three months in prison for his role in the attack. Co-accused Craig Kelly (38) of Dowland Rd, Walkinstown, was sentenced to five months in prison for his role in one of the attacks. A third man, Josh Conlon (19) of Meath Place, Thomas Street, received a suspended sentence.
Tony Byrne, a 66‑year‑old former RTÉ cameraman, was sentenced to 14 months' imprisonment, with the last two months suspended, for sexually assaulting his teenage step‑daughter, Donna McCarthy, on 10 May 1992. The assault took place at their family home in Firhouse, Dublin, when McCarthy was 16. Byrne denied the charge during the trial but accepted the jury's verdict and apologized to McCarthy the day after the incident. McCarthy, who had previously waived anonymity, testified that Byrne, whom she believed to be her father, had put his arm around her and touched her in the area of her vagina and breasts while she was in bed. The judge described the offence as an "egregious breach of trust" and noted McCarthy's lasting emotional harm. Byrne's sentence was reduced from an initial 18‑month headline to 14 months after mitigation factors such as remorse, family support and his work history were considered. Tony Byrne was found guilty.
Thomas Headon, 40, was jailed for nine months after sexually assaulting a sleeping woman in a Dublin hotel on 28 April 2013. The woman had told him she did not want to continue after earlier consensual activity. Headon pressed himself against her, removed her tracksuit bottoms and touched her without consent while she slept. She woke, punched him, shouted "no" and pushed him off the bed, throwing a chair. Headon was charged in August 2022, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, and Judge Orla Crowe imposed an 18‑month sentence, suspending the final nine months on strict conditions. The judge noted the woman's clear refusal, the lack of consent, and Headon's remorse. The case highlighted the impact on the victim and the offender's record, which included only a prior traffic offence. The court considered Headon's unblemished record and the victim's long‑term trauma.
Owen Healy, 23, pleaded guilty to one count of endangerment regarding an incident at Whitefriar Gardens, Dublin 8, on August 1, 2018. The defendant, who has 41 previous convictions, was 18 at the time of the alleged assault. Prosecuting counsel Sinead McMullan BL stated that another man was previously jailed for seven-and-a-half years for his role in the attack, while the main instigator is set to be sentenced later this year. The court heard that the victim was held in his home for six hours, stabbed multiple times, and had his right ear nearly severed. Detective Garda Sarah Keogh detailed how the victim was attacked after asking a group of men to leave his home. Healy was seen covered in blood at a homeless hostel shortly after the incident. Defending counsel Michael Bowman SC noted his client was 18 and requested an adjournment to allow for the finalisation of a Probation services report. Judge Orla Crowe adjourned the matter to July 21, when a plea of mitigation will be heard. The case was not concluded at this stage.
In a 20‑second raid, 51‑year‑old Jason Finlay, who had been homeless for about 14 years and had just received keys to a flat from the Fr McVerry Trust, robbed Dawson Jewellers in Dublin's city centre. He and a second man entered after a diamond seller had been "buzzed in" through the security doors, snatched two trays of Cartier watches worth over €120,000, and fled. Two trays containing 22 watches were recovered under a bush in St Stephen's Green and another watch was found in a box on Finlay; a final watch valued at €4,900 was not recovered. Finlay pleaded guilty to the robbery of 24 Cartier watches, had 83 previous convictions, and admitted a drug debt. Judge Elva Duffy sentenced him to three years, suspended the final 12 months, and noted his cooperation, apologies, and steps toward addressing addiction.
Robert Duffy, 50, was convicted in 1996 of murdering John Gibson in Belfast in 1993 and sentenced to life imprisonment. He was released after four years under the Good Friday Agreement (GFA) in July 2000. In March 2007 he attempted to murder Colin O'Neill at the Emerald Bar in Dundalk by firing a shotgun into O'Neill's face at point‑blank range, for which he was again sentenced to life imprisonment after pleading guilty. The High Court heard that Duffy is now being considered for parole in this jurisdiction, while Northern Irish authorities seek his extradition to serve a life sentence for breaching the GFA release terms by attempting the murder. Ms Justice Caroline Biggs heard that Duffy has engaged well with probation services, is a trusted prisoner, is considered at a moderate to low risk of re‑offending, and no longer affiliates with any paramilitary organisation.
Vadim Veste, a 28-year-old dual Moldovan-Romanian national from Fermoy, Co Cork, was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court for aggravated sexual assault. He pleaded guilty to the November 7, 2021, attack on a woman in her 50s at St Colman's Park. Mr Justice Paul McDermott described the incident as shocking, brutal, and cowardly, noting the victim sustained injuries and that Veste used a hat as a gag. The judge highlighted Veste's history, including a previous three-year prison sentence for the rape of a 14-year-old in Eastern Europe in July 2016, from which he was released just 18 days before the current offence. Although a headline sentence of nine years was set, the judge reduced the term due to Veste's expression of remorse, despite a Probation Service report indicating a lack of insight. Veste was sentenced to six years and six months in prison, with the final six months suspended for two years on strict conditions, including attending treatment deemed appropriate by the Probation Service. The court also ordered that Veste not approach the victim or her family, prohibited unsupervised access to children, and imposed a six-year post-release supervision order to protect society and prevent future offending.
Carl Scully, aged 34, was driving in a bus lane on Finglas Road at 132 km/h before slowing to 53.3–63.8 km/h and entered the lane five metres early. He struck Anthony Hanney, 61, who was crossing the road toward his home with groceries. Hanney died instantly. Scully pleaded guilty to careless driving causing death. The court noted his 15 prior District Court convictions and two earlier traffic offences. Judge Pauline Codd imposed a headline sentence of 10 months, suspended for six months, and ordered Scully to keep the peace for one year. He received an 18‑month driving disqualification, though he had already voluntarily stopped driving. The decision reflected Scully's remorse, the lack of emergency braking, and the absence of intoxication or phone use at the time of the collision. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 12 June 2023.
A 51‑year‑old Galway man pleaded guilty to one count of anal rape, one count of sexual assault and one count of sexual exploitation of his teenage nephew, aged 14‑15, between June 2016 and June 2017. The offences occurred at the defendant's home, a horsebox, his car and the victim's home. The abuse began with inappropriate touching and masturbation, escalating to oral and anal rape. The nephew's behaviour changed from "happy‑go‑lucky" to misbehaving, prompting his family to notice the abuse in 2017. The man voluntarily admitted to the Gardaí and was arrested in November 2018. He pleaded guilty in March 2024 after a jury was empanelled. He has no prior convictions. The court heard a victim impact statement describing the abuse's effect on the nephew's mental health and family relationships. The judge thanked the victim for his statement and noted the nephew's support network.
In a High Court decision on 12 June 2023, the eight‑month prison sentence imposed on 25‑year‑old Manuela Lacatus for stealing €233 worth of groceries from a Lidl store in Naas was quashed. Lacatus, who was pregnant with her fifth child at the time of the offence, had admitted the theft and had three prior convictions for theft and handling stolen goods. The sentence had been upheld by the Circuit Court in November 2021, with a three‑month stay due to the age of her unborn child and a further stay pending the High Court action. Lawyers argued that the sentence was extreme, based on a "fixed policy" that treated all repeat shoplifters the same, and that it failed to consider individual circumstances. Justice Niamh Hyland ruled that the Circuit Court's approach was impermissible, rejected the claim of a constitutional breach, and ordered the sentence to be set aside.