Robert Kinlan, aged 35, was convicted of aggravated burglary after he armed himself with a six‑inch knife and forced entry into the apartment of a 69‑year‑old retired soldier on Ballygall Road, Glasnevin, on 25 August 2019. The victim answered the door and attempted to escape, but Kinlan seized him, pushed him to the floor, and used electric cables to bind him. He then locked the man inside a wardrobe, using a chair to keep the door shut, and placed a mattress against the door to keep it closed. During the 35‑minute confinement, Kinlan ransacked the flat, taking €600, an iPhone, a laptop and two old Nokia phones, and left the victim still imprisoned in the wardrobe. The soldier later escaped, raised the alarm and was treated for two fractured ribs and cuts to his elbows. Gardaí recovered CCTV footage that identified Kinlan, who was arrested the following month. Robert Kinlan pleaded guilty.
Iancu Nicola, 30, was remanded in custody pending sentence after mugging a 73‑year‑old woman who had just won €23,000 at a city‑centre casino. Nicola, who had previously pleaded guilty to robbery in 2016, was joined by accomplice Declan Connolly, 41, and spotter Brian English, 32. Connolly was sentenced to five years' imprisonment with the final two and a half years suspended; English received a three‑year suspended sentence. Nicola was remanded for a further sentence, with his counsel requesting a Probation Service report. Gardaí used extensive CCTV footage to link the trio to the crime, noting that the getaway vehicle had false plates and was registered to Connolly. The victim was dragged down an embankment, sustaining severe bruising and cuts. No admissions were made by the accused during Garda interviews. The case remains pending further sentencing.
Youcef Madani, an Algerian national, was remanded on continuing bail today until his extradition hearing scheduled for June 24 at the High Court. Madani, 53, is wanted in France to serve a six-year prison sentence following a 2001 conviction in his absence for making false documents relating to facilitating terrorism and weapons trafficking. He was arrested in Dublin last September after being stopped while driving under the alias Abderrahmane Yahiaoui, a name linked to him via the Schengen Information System. Detective Garda Robert Comerford of the Extradition Unit opposed bail, citing Madani as a flight risk who fled France during his legal proceedings and possessed skills in creating false paperwork. Despite these objections, Mr Justice Paul Burns granted bail with reluctance. Madani's counsel, Maria Brosnan BL, argued he was not a flight risk, noting his family ties in Ireland, his surrender of his passport, and his receipt of medical disability benefits for partial blindness. The court noted that Madani had been in the process of becoming an Irish citizen. The matter was adjourned to June 24, when legal submissions are expected to be ready for a half-day hearing before Mr Justice David Keane.
A 68-year-old former solicitor from Claremorris, County Mayo, has been remanded on bail pending sentencing in November following his admission to four counts of theft. David Doyle pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to stealing cash totalling over €53,000 from a number of individuals between April 2009 and November 2016. The prosecution indicated that further guilty pleas would be sought. Judge Melanie Greally adjourned sentencing to 10 November, when evidence and victim impact statements will be heard. Doyle remains on continuing bail in the interim.
James Mohite, 23, pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering after a Dublin company mistakenly paid €6,370 and two smaller sums into his bank account when it was believed to be a supplier's. The company's owner discovered the error, contacted Gardaí, and provided bank documents. A search of Mohite's Balbriggan home revealed a bank document linking him to the fraudulent account. Mohite admitted his account had been hacked and that he had supplied his details to a third party, who promised €1,000. He had no prior relevant convictions except for driving without insurance. Judge Elma Sheahan, after considering mitigating factors such as his early guilty plea and family background, imposed a two‑year prison sentence suspended in full for two years, conditional on Mohite keeping the peace and behaving well.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Nigel McEvoy, 46, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to former GAA star Paddy Keogh, 74, after Keogh asked him to leave his daughter alone. McEvoy, who has 14 prior convictions including nine public order offences, attacked Keogh at Mercantile Bar on 24 November 2018. The assault involved McEvoy grabbing Keogh from behind, punching him, and then placing his foot on Keogh's neck, causing severe injury. Keogh, who has early onset dementia and lives in a nursing home, suffered cuts, swelling, and a knocked‑out tooth. McEvoy, diagnosed with schizophrenia, was remanded on bail pending sentencing on 5 October. The judge described the attack as "shocking" and noted its extremely severe impact on Keogh.
The High Court heard that the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) is still trying to serve papers on Daniel Kinahan, who remains in Dubai, in its attempt to seize a luxury property in Dublin linked to Kinahan and jailed businessman Jim Mansfield Jnr. CAB's solicitor, Shelley Horan BL, said she will update the court on June 21 as the bureau continues its inquiries. She also reported that Thomas 'Bomber' Kavanagh, a senior Kinahan cartel associate currently in Belmarsh Prison, was served papers by pushing them under his cell door; Kavanagh declined to participate in the proceedings. Horan noted that the bureau has not yet found an appropriate address for Kinahan and may seek a substitute on the next hearing. The case remains at the stage of attempting to serve papers before any property seizure order can be made. The proceedings were adjourned to June 21.
A 19‑year‑old woman with a mild intellectual disability was raped three times and falsely imprisoned by Costel Pirvu, a 38‑year‑old former Loughrea resident, after a night out. The offence occurred early on 4 February 2018 in a town. Pirvu forced the victim into a black jeep, removed her pants, and raped her while she struggled, leaving scrapes and bruises on her arms, legs, back, face, breasts, and a 2 mm laceration to her urethra. He then threatened her, held her against his apartment, and raped her a further two times before releasing her the next morning. The victim, who now suffers PTSD, flashbacks, and depression, described feeling "like a piece of meat" and that her life was broken. Pirvu maintains his innocence; his sentencing was adjourned pending a prison report. The case is still pending at the Central Criminal Court. Costel Pirvu was found guilty.
Aaron Reilly, 27, of Harelawn Park, Clondalkin, was jailed for 12 months, with the last four months suspended, after pleading guilty to money laundering. He had received over €8,000 that was fraudulently misdirected from a Turkish company to his account, which he withdrew for personal use. The company tried to recall the money; Reilly's account was frozen with only €41 left. He had 20 prior convictions, including two for theft. Judge Melanie Greally noted his guilty plea, personal adversity, employment history, and desire to return to work. She highlighted that the offence involved no significant personal gain and that a custodial sentence was not necessarily appropriate, but she imposed the sentence with a suspended portion. The case was prosecuted by Rónán Prendergast BL, who cited the AIB bank referral and the fact that Reilly was not the intended recipient. The Gardaí believed he was recruited to facilitate the transfer but seized the opportunity to withdraw money for himself.
Stephen Phelan, 37, was jailed for two and a half years after threatening to kill his female neighbour with a knife and attempting to break her door down in August 2021. He pleaded guilty to making a threat to kill, producing a knife and trespassing likely to cause fear. Phelan had previously been convicted 67 times, including aggravated sexual assault with a knife, multiple assaults and violent disorder. He had been in custody since the incident. The victim, who now lives with her mother, said she had to leave her home and lives in constant fear. Phelan had been watching her for three years and claimed she had "set him up." He was sentenced by Judge Martin Nolan to four years, with the last 18 months suspended and conditions preventing contact with the victim for ten years and restricting his residence within a mile of her address.
In a case heard in the Central Criminal Court, a 15‑year‑old boy sexually assaulted a 14‑year‑old girl in a field in County Tipperary in July 2019 after both had consumed alcohol. The boy pleaded guilty to the assault and, at the time of sentencing, was 18 with no other convictions. The victim, whose identity is protected, described the assault as a betrayal of trust and expressed fear of the perpetrator. The court considered the boy's cooperation, early plea, remorse, and participation in a youth diversion programme as mitigating factors, while noting the seriousness of the offence and breach of trust. Justice Paul McDermott imposed a sentence of two years' detention suspended for 12 months, with strict conditions including probation appointments, engagement with a sexual consent course, and a prohibition from approaching the victim. The boy must comply with all conditions to avoid future custodial detention.
Aaron Brady, a former Garda convicted of murdering Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe in 2013, and Dean Byrne are to stand trial at the Special Criminal Court on charges of conspiring to pervert the course of justice during Brady's 2020 trial. Brady, aged 31, and Byrne, aged 29, are accused of attempting to persuade prosecution witness Daniel Cahill not to testify between 8 April and 22 June 2020, and of recording a video interview with Ronan Flynn that allegedly could influence the trial. The cases were moved to the Special Criminal Court after a successful application by State solicitor Susan Hudson, citing the need for a non‑jury court to secure effective administration of justice. The court, comprising Justice Tony Hunt, Judge Marie Keane and Judge Sarah Berkeley, adjourned the matter for a hearing on 2 June 2024. The trial will address the alleged conspiracy to pervert justice during Brady's murder trial.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, the sentencing of 38‑year‑old RTE journalist Mícheál Ó Leidhin was adjourned to 27 July 2022 while the court considered the weight of his remorse. Ó Leidhin, convicted in April 2022 of sexual assault at his former home in south Dublin, had denied the offence but now accepts the jury verdict. The judge noted that evidence had been challenged and a narrative presented to the jury. The complainant, who remains anonymous, reported that after a night of drinking and kissing, she fell asleep and later found Ó Leidhin on top of her, groping her breasts. She told him to stop; he apologized. She later expressed annoyance and the pair agreed to "differ" on the events. The court heard that Ó Leidhin had no prior convictions and had cooperated fully with investigators. The judge will decide how much weight to give to his remorse before sentencing.
The Central Criminal Court heard that the Peter McVerry Trust has offered addiction counselling to Jonathan Reid, 28, who stabbed his mother's partner, Greg Shiels, in the neck during a drug‑induced psychosis on 6 March 2020. Reid was originally charged with attempted murder but the Director of Public Prosecutions dropped that charge after he pleaded guilty to intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to Shiels and to possession of cocaine and cannabis. The court noted Reid's history of mental health problems and that the psychosis was triggered by drug use rather than a clinical disorder. Seamus Clarke SC suggested the court could require Reid to attend counselling upon release. Mr Justice Paul McDermott said he would consider a 17‑page psychiatric report before passing sentence on 30 May. The hearing highlighted that Shiels fully supports Reid's recovery and that Reid has performed well in prison with no current symptoms. The case remains at the sentencing stage.
Jamie Lynch, 30, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to bar manager David Crowe at the Living Room Bar in Dublin on 6 August 2018. He hurled a glass while extremely drunk, knocking out three of Crowe's teeth and causing serious injuries that required stitches, surgery and a month‑long dental treatment. The assault also had a lasting psychological impact, leading Crowe to leave a job he had enjoyed. Judge Melanie Greally, hearing the case at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, described the attack as very serious and noted that it was out of character for Lynch, who had no prior convictions. Lynch brought €5,000 to court as a gesture of remorse, which was accepted by Crowe. In lieu of a two‑year prison sentence, Lynch was ordered to complete 240 hours of community service. Crowe reported that the incident had affected his sporting lifestyle and that he still had to be careful about what he ate.
In a Dublin case, James Cullen, aged 33, was sentenced to three and a half years in prison for holding over €46,000 worth of drugs after claiming he was threatened. Gardaí from the Clontarf Drug Unit searched Cullen's home in Baldoyle on 3 March 2021, seizing €46,000 of cannabis, €1,799 of cocaine, €9,495 in cash, a weighing scale and a taser gun. Cullen admitted to holding the drugs and occasionally cutting them for supply, stating the cocaine was for personal use and that he was addicted. He said he found the taser on the street. At the time of the search he lived with his mother and brother; he now resides in homeless accommodation. Cullen had two prior convictions and was not selling the drugs. The court noted his cooperation, fear of providing information, and mitigating circumstances, including a difficult upbringing and mild mental health issues, before imposing the sentence.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 13 February 2021, William Gaynor, aged 56 and without a fixed abode, was convicted of armed robbery after he twice targeted Medipharm pharmacy on North Frederick Street. In the first incident, Gaynor entered the shop with a knife, demanded Xanax and €300, and left after the staff complied. He later claimed the robbery was an act of "euthanasia" because he was ill and could not eat or sleep. Four months later he returned armed with a corkscrew, demanded cash and Valium, and left with €300 and 150 Valium tablets. Gaynor admitted guilt at the earliest stages of both cases. The judge cited the repeated targeting of the same pharmacy and prior convictions as aggravating factors, but noted early guilty pleas and medical conditions as mitigating. He was sentenced to four years' imprisonment, back‑dated for time already served.
Lorna Palmer, 35, was found with nearly €100,000 in cash at her Dublin home. Gardaí seized two envelopes of €700 and €2,000 and discovered the money in safes and a money box. Palmer admitted she did not know the amount or the owners and said she did not know why people were posting money through the door. She pleaded guilty to possession of the proceeds of criminal conduct on 21 April 2017. The court heard that drug‑related offences were ongoing at the time of the seizure and that Palmer's partner, who was in custody for a drug offence, was present. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced Palmer to 18 months' imprisonment, suspending the final three years, and noted her remorse, cooperation with the Probation Service and low risk of re‑offending. No prior convictions were recorded.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 17 May 2022, Thomas Greene, aged 29, was sentenced to 80 months in prison, with the final 12 months suspended, for a violent hijacking of a pizza delivery man's car on 8 August 2020. Greene punched, kicked and dragged the driver from his vehicle, knocked him unconscious, stole the car and stole cash. He was assisted by a group of men, one of whom acted as a lookout on a horse. The delivery driver suffered two broken wrist bones and required surgery. Greene, who has 69 prior convictions and is already serving a 2½‑year sentence for affray, pleaded guilty and expressed remorse. The judge noted drug use as a major factor and considered his engagement with drug counselling and rehabilitation services when imposing the sentence.
John Kelly, 36, of Cherrywood Villas, Clondalkin, pleaded guilty to cultivating cannabis at Old Farm Yard, Johnstown Kennedy, Rathcoole, Co Dublin, on 26 November 2018. He was remanded in custody pending sentence. Kelly, who has 89 prior convictions mainly for road traffic offences, had been supervising a grow‑house set up in a derelict farmyard. The landowner noticed a rise in electricity bills and flashlights near the buildings, prompting Garda Donal Donoghue to obtain a search warrant. Gardaí found three grow tents containing 140 cannabis plants and saplings. If all were mature females, the potential street value would have been €112,000; the agreed valuation for sentencing purposes was €60,000. Kelly was arrested, interviewed five times with no information emerging, and later entered a guilty plea. He is a legitimate businessman in the horse industry and owns a stud with 35 stables. The case was adjourned to 19 October, with Judge Melanie Greally remanding him in custody.
In a case heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Dawood Aziz, aged 37, pleaded guilty to possession of €300,360 worth of ketamine and possession of a mobile phone used in connection with a drug trafficking offence. The drugs were seized from his van after Garda surveillance revealed him moving items from a premises to the vehicle. Aziz claimed the ketamine was handed to him by someone else and that he had become involved to clear a debt incurred from a failed business venture. Garda Detective Eamonn Tighe noted that the mobile phone was commonly supplied by individuals in the drug industry to maintain secrecy. The judge remanded Aziz on continuing bail pending a Probation Service report, with a custodial sentence deemed inevitable. The defence highlighted Aziz's background as a hard‑working immigrant who had built a successful catering business before the debt arose. The case remains pending further proceedings.
Marius Radu, 44, a repeat offender, was given a fully suspended two‑year sentence for two counts of criminal damage to ATMs and six counts of theft between January 27 and February 3, 2016. He had previously been jailed for two years in 2016 for stealing a visa card and spending over €17,000 in Argos shops. Radu pleaded guilty to the 2016 ATM card‑trapping offences, which involved inserting devices that swallowed cards, retrieving them, and withdrawing cash. Garda Derek Gibney described incidents at Mobhi Road, Glasnevin, and Phibsborough, where Radu's device caused withdrawals of €500, €100 and €40, and he later spent €110 and €110.50 in Tesco, Tallaght. The damage to the ATMs cost €220 and €1,708. Radu was arrested in July 2016, sentenced in October 2016, and now lives in Slough, UK, where he studies and works as a driver.
Mícheál Ó Leidhin, 38, a journalist with RTÉ, was convicted of sexual assault for an incident that occurred on the night of 13 May 2018. The alleged assault took place at his former home in south Dublin after the victim, who was drinking with a friend, met Ó Leidhin at a pub. They travelled to his flat, where they kissed and engaged in consensual foreplay. The victim later fell asleep; Ó Leidhin allegedly attempted to continue sexual activity while she was unconscious, groping her breasts and positioning himself on top of her. She reported the assault to Gardaí in April 2019. Ó Leidhin denied the offence initially but has now accepted the jury verdict. He has no prior convictions and was suspended from RTÉ. The victim's impact statement described lasting trauma, depression, and suicidal thoughts. The court adjourned sentencing to the following Monday and remanded Ó Leidhin on continuing bail.
In a case heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Patrick O'Brien, a 70‑year‑old resident of Oakwood Grove, Clondalkin, pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography. Gardaí discovered over 300 sexually explicit images on his mobile phone during a June 2020 investigation. The images included 200 of children in explicit poses, 55 of naked children, and 75 depicting children as young as three being abused by adults. O'Brien admitted downloading the material and had not shared it. The judge, Melanie Greally, described the case as "borderline" yet serious, noting O'Brien's early guilty plea, remorse, age, and family circumstances. She imposed a 20‑month sentence, fully suspended for 20 months, and ordered 12 months of probation supervision, offence‑focused work, and potential participation in a sex‑offender treatment program. O'Brien will be registered as a sex offender and must accept the associated stigma.
A 27‑year‑old man was sentenced to three and a half years' imprisonment for raping a 21‑year‑old woman he described as his best friend and "like a brother." He was charged on 7 November 2018, convicted on 15 November 2021, and pleaded not guilty. At sentencing, he maintained he was unaware the victim had not consented. The victim's impact statement described him as a confidant and protector, noting a loss of trust and increased wariness of others. Justice Deirdre Murphy highlighted the breach of trust and the victim's altered worldview, noting the man's prior good character and potential for rehabilitation. She imposed a seven‑year sentence, suspended the final three and a half years, and required probation, offence‑focused work, and assessment for sex‑offender and alcohol treatment programmes. The sentence was back‑dated to the previous November.
In a High Court decision on a teenage boy's adoption application, Mr Justice Max Barrett criticised the use of the word "abandonment" in adoption law for causing unnecessary hurt. He noted that the boy, who has lived with a foster family since infancy, wished to be adopted by that family, which the Adoption Authority supported. The boy's birth parents had limited contact, and his natural mother neither objected nor consented, fearing the boy would feel abandoned. Barrett argued that terms such as "non‑performance of parental duties," "disavowal," or "relinquishment of parental rights" would be less hurtful. He emphasized that the judge's remarks were made in the context of the boy's best interests and that the adoption should proceed with the foster parents' agreement to facilitate access to the birth parents if desired. The decision highlighted the impact of language in family law statutes.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Robert Byrne, 47, was sentenced to three years in prison for possession of controlled drugs for sale or supply. The sentence included a six‑month suspended portion, conditional on good behaviour and keeping the peace for three years after release. Byrne's home on Melville Way, Cityside, Finglas, was searched on 3 December 2019 following a warrant issued on confidential information from Gardaí. The search seized cannabis, cocaine and ketamine worth over €95,000. Byrne admitted he had a drug debt of €20,000 to €25,000 and allowed his house to be used to store drugs, claiming threats against him and his family pressured him into this role. He had no prior convictions, pleaded guilty, and expressed regret. A urine test showed he was drug‑free, and a Probation Services report indicated a low risk of reoffending.
In a Dublin family home, a 32‑year‑old man was remanded in custody after assaulting his pregnant partner and son on 29 November 2020. Gardaí were called when the children reported the father attacking their mother. Officers found the mother unconscious, bleeding heavily, and a five‑month‑pregnant infant crying in her cot with a Babygro covered in blood. The father had thrown the son against a metal bed frame and struck the mother, who feared he would kill her and the baby. The mother was treated in hospital and the children were placed in state care before being returned to her. The man pleaded guilty to assaulting his partner and son; the court adjourned the case to 14 October 2022, ordering a probation report and noting the ongoing relationship and lack of a victim impact statement. The mother expressed hope her partner would be released from prison and that her children were excited to see him.
John Murphy, 61, a former Garda Superintendent, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court via video link from Cloverhill Prison to possessing a large amount of cannabis for sale or supply at his North Dublin home on 29 September 2021. The cannabis was valued at over €13,000. He was remanded in continuing custody until 4 October 2022 for sentencing. The court did not read his address due to security concerns.
At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, a 21-year-old student pleaded guilty to handling the proceeds of crime and money laundering following a fraud scheme in which victims' emails were hacked and their money redirected to his bank account. The defendant allowed his Bank of Ireland account to be used by an unknown third party between 2020 and 2021. A recently retired woman from the south-west had her pension fund of €71,892.41 transferred into the account in May 2020, but it was recovered within four days. However, other victims lost money that was never returned: a water filtration company shareholder lost €5,000, a Kinsale restaurant owner lost €1,339, a midlands pharmacist lost €3,251, and a Donegal construction company lost €1,100. Judge Pauline Codd adjourned sentencing to October 7 to allow for a probation report and to give the defendant time to raise additional compensation funds. He had lodged €500 in court.
In a High Court hearing on 10 May 2022, Sandra O'Brien, mother of four, was warned that she could be jailed for contempt if she failed to remove her caravan from the Church Hill estate in Tullamore, Co Offaly. The estate is managed by a NAMA‑appointed receiver, Aiden Murphy, who had obtained orders in 2016 requiring trespassers to vacate. O'Brien had previously complied but her caravan had returned, prompting attachment and committal proceedings. She pledged to vacate by 17 May, citing that her family had no alternative accommodation and feared for their safety if forced to live on the road. Judge Nuala Butler reminded her that the receiver had no duty to provide housing and that any housing issues were the responsibility of the local County Council. The matter was adjourned for a week.
Alan Downey, aged 40, was sentenced to seven‑and‑a‑half years in prison for a violent burglary that took place in the home of a 73‑year‑old neighbour. The offence occurred while Downey was on bail for three earlier attempted robberies. He and a co‑perpetrator entered the victim's house after the victim recognised Downey, demanding €6,000. Downey was armed with a screwdriver, the other man with a knife. The victim was dragged, had his walking stick broken, and was left in a state of terror. Downey pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary and was given consecutive sentences totalling seven and a half years. The judge suspended the final 22 months, imposing strict conditions including 18 months of probation and two years of good behaviour. The sentence reflects Downey's prior convictions, drug difficulties, and the seriousness of the assault on the victim.
Dylan Mooney, 26, a cystic‑fibrosis sufferer, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of cannabis resin, cannabis herb, a semi‑automatic pistol and two charges of handling stolen property. He had accrued a €15,000 gambling debt and agreed to hold the gun, ammunition, €20,600 worth of cannabis and two motorbikes to settle it. Judge Melanie Greally, after considering his medical condition and lack of prior convictions, imposed a four‑year prison sentence, suspended in full, with conditions of good behaviour, peace‑keeping and 18 months' engagement with the Probation Service. Mooney had not attracted Garda attention since May 2019 and had cooperated with the investigation, including admitting responsibility for the firearm and drugs found in a safe in his grandfather's attic. The motorbikes, each valued at about €1,750, were also seized. The case was adjourned in 2019 to allow for a probation report and to assess the risk of infection in custody.
Michael Joyce, aged 24, was sentenced to seven and a half years' imprisonment for assault causing serious harm to his cousin Christopher McDonagh, aged 35, on 24 January 2021. The incident occurred after Joyce and another man, both settled Travellers, had been drinking while watching a Conor McGregor fight. Video evidence showed Joyce repeatedly punching, kicking and stomping on McDonagh, who lay on the ground, before striking him with a fire extinguisher. McDonagh suffered dental and facial injuries, a serious brain injury and ongoing cognitive issues. Joyce pleaded guilty to one count of assault causing serious harm and had 38 prior convictions, including assault. The judge noted Joyce had taken drugs that night and became furious, describing the attack as prolonged and intentional. The sentence was back‑dated to the date Joyce entered custody for the offence.
Abubaker Bello, 46, of Fr Peter McVerry Homeless Shelter, was found guilty of assault causing harm to Catherina White in Tallaght on 20 January 2021. The court heard that Bello approached White while she was walking with headphones, pulled her handbag, punched her face, pushed her to the ground and repeatedly punched her face. Witnesses stopped their cars and assisted White, who later received treatment at Tallaght Hospital for a fractured nose, swollen eyes and blurred vision. Bello was arrested at Tallaght Garda Station after refusing to cooperate. He denied the offence during an interview, was shown CCTV footage but did not identify himself, and has 21 prior convictions, including two for assault. He expressed remorse and presented a letter of apology. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to three and a half years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended, subject to good behaviour and one year of probation supervision.
Paul Mangan, 42, was arrested for stealing children's clothes from a Next shop in Dublin. During a search of his home, Gardaí discovered seven vacuum‑packed bags of cannabis valued at €135,762. Mangan pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis for sale or supply, theft, and possession of a tinfoil‑lined bag intended for use in a theft. He has 51 prior convictions, including drug possession and theft. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to five years' imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended, taking into account his mental health difficulties and efforts to overcome addiction. The case involved a search warrant issued on the day of the theft, and Garda Kelly McKiernan reported that Mangan was found near the shop after the theft. The prosecution noted he was not a drug dealer and had denied that his DNA was on the packages.
In a 2020 incident, Charlene Lynham, 38, knocked on her former partner Colm Black's apartment door while intoxicated and stabbed him in the torso with a knife. The attack left a small wound; Lynham later claimed she had stabbed him "good enough." The struggle caused Lynham to wound her own hand when others wrestled the knife away. She pleaded guilty to assault causing harm. Black, who refused medical treatment and later recovered fully, did not provide a victim impact statement. Lynham had no prior convictions. The court considered her intoxication and lack of criminal history, and Judge Martin Nolan imposed a suspended two‑year sentence and ordered her to pay Black €2,000 within a year. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
In a case heard by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Mohamed Saleh Zayed, a 72‑year‑old taxi driver from Dublin, was sentenced to two and a half years' imprisonment for fraudulently claiming over €345,000 in social welfare payments between March 2003 and November 2015. Zayed pleaded guilty to six counts of fraud and six counts of deception, using a second PPS number to obtain disability, rent and dietary allowance payments for which he was not entitled. He had been working as a taxi driver throughout the period and had no financial need to commit the offences. The judge noted that Zayed had repaid a substantial amount of the money and had an arrangement to reduce the State's loss to €159,118. He was ordered to exhibit good behaviour for 12 months after release and was placed in a low‑security prison at his request. The case was aided by facial‑recognition technology used by Gardaí.
Zohaib Ahmed, 36, a Pakistani national, was sentenced by Judge Martin Nolan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to a fully suspended two‑year prison term and ordered to leave Ireland within a month. Ahmed pleaded guilty to two counts of harassment after sending over 150 threatening, pornographic and racist emails to a female colleague and to Garda Peter Guinan. The harassment began after the colleague sent a routine email about clock‑in procedures; Ahmed then sent more than 120 emails containing explicit and threatening content, including a phone call in which he called her an "Irish whore" and made remarks about her mother. He was also found guilty of harassing Garda Sergeant David O'Leary, who received 52 of the emails. The court warned Ahmed not to contact either complainant for 30 years and imposed a three‑year good‑behaviour order. The victim's impact statement described the emails as a "living hell" that left her feeling unsafe in social situations.
Two men, aged 27 and 26, were sentenced to 11 years in prison for raping a 14‑year‑old girl on the night of 22 April 2017. The judge described the offence as "cynical and calculated" and noted that the men had taken the girl to an isolated area, given her more alcohol and raped her in succession, robbing her of her innocence in extremely degrading circumstances. Both men denied the rape, claiming the girl was 16 and that they were victims. The 27‑year‑old was convicted on a single count of rape; the 26‑year‑old was convicted of rape and an additional charge of sexual assault, the latter carrying an eight‑year sentence to run concurrently. The judge suspended the final year of the 12‑year sentences and ordered both men to comply with probation supervision and attend offence‑focused work and support services.
A 56-year-old man pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to 14 charges of rape, two charges of oral rape, and one charge of sexual assault committed between February 2009 and December 2015. The defendant, who has no previous convictions, admitted to these sample charges regarding the abuse of his foster daughter, who was aged 11 to 18 at the time. Prosecuting counsel Anne Rowland SC stated that the Director of Public Prosecutions classified the case as falling into the "exceptional category" due to the victim's extreme vulnerability, the abuse of trust, and the frequency of offending. Consequently, the DPP suggested a headline sentence of between 15 years and life imprisonment. The victim, now 24, read a statement describing the long-term impact of the abuse, stating she was raped multiple times weekly. Defense counsel Ronan Munro SC noted the defendant's remorse and mental health concerns. Mr Justice Paul McDermott remanded the man in custody and adjourned the case for finalisation this coming Friday.
Martin Cunningham, 27, was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court for assault causing harm and producing a machete. He pleaded guilty to these charges after the DPP dropped an initial attempted murder allegation. Ms Justice Eileen Creedon set a headline sentence of five years but reduced it to four years, citing Cunningham's remorse and early plea. The final 12 months were suspended for two years, with conditions including regular urinalysis and attendance at Probation Services programs. Cunningham, who has been in custody since April 2019, has already served more than three years. The court heard the attack on Kenneth Fitzsimons occurred near Finglas Garda Station and was part of a broader feud between rival gangs. Fitzsimons, who is serving a five-and-a-half year sentence for possession of a firearm, suffered severe injuries requiring four litres of blood. The judge noted Cunningham remains at risk of violent reoffending and must address anger management issues. Cunningham was on bail at the time of the offence and was subsequently fined for driving offences while on remand. He also has previous convictions for driving without insurance, possession of drugs, assault, and making threats while in custody.
A 22‑year‑old volunteer paramedic, Defendant A, was jailed for five and a half years after pleading guilty to aiding and abetting the sexual assault of a child and to producing child pornography. The offences occurred in May 2018 when Defendant A filmed a boy being orally raped after the boy was rendered unconscious with a pain‑relief drug, Penthrox, administered by a 31‑year‑old co‑accused, Defendant Z. Defendant Z had previously received an 11‑year sentence with 18 months suspended for similar offences. The court noted that Defendant A had no role in administering the drug or in the assault, but that he recorded the acts and was aware of the wrongdoing. The judge imposed consecutive sentences totalling seven and a half years, suspended the final two years, and ordered no contact with the victims. The case highlighted the abuse of trust within a voluntary paramedic organisation.
In a 2020 home invasion, 25‑year‑old Gerry Connors and his 25‑year‑old brother Myles attacked Edward Babos, punching him, threatening with scissors, cutting his hair, and forcing him to strip. They searched Babos, took his car keys, and drove him in his own car, kicking and damaging it. Connors threatened Babos that police would kill him, yet Babos escaped to his home and called Gardaí. Connors later admitted the crime, travelled to the UK for three days, and returned to give a full confession. He pleaded guilty to a 2018 robbery and was sentenced to two years for robbery and four years for false imprisonment, with 18 months suspended, under probation supervision. Myles Connors received a five‑year sentence for assault, false imprisonment, and robbery. The court highlighted Connors' remorse and efforts at rehabilitation. The case underscores the severity of violent offences and the court's dual aim of punishment and deterrence.
David O'Brien, a 70‑year‑old former scout leader, was sentenced to 16 months' imprisonment for indecently assaulting a nine‑ or ten‑year‑old boy during a scouting trip in 1981. O'Brien, who has 22 prior convictions for indecent assault and has admitted abusing more than 40 children between 1975 and 1983, is already serving sentences that include an eight‑year term and a six‑year term, with release not expected until February 2025. The court heard that the boy, who was sleeping with other cubs, was approached by O'Brien who fondled his genitals and anus while the boy was frozen and in shock. The boy later reported the abuse after media reports on sexual abuse in Scouting Ireland. O'Brien pleaded guilty, acknowledged his paedophilic nature, and expressed remorse. Judge Melanie Greally noted the boy's lasting harm and the breach of trust, and imposed the 16‑month sentence.
A former priest and Irish Times columnist has been sentenced to four years imprisonment following conviction for multiple sexual assaults on a schoolboy in the late 1990s. Barry Fergal Jennings, aged 56, of Cloonkeerin, French Park, County Roscommon, was unanimously convicted by jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in March of six counts of sexual assault committed between September 1998 and December 1999. At the time, Jennings served as chaplain at a Dublin community school. The court heard evidence that the assaults occurred at various locations, including the victim's home and within the school premises. In her victim impact statement, the man described severe and lasting trauma, including suicide attempts, substance abuse, and diagnosed PTSD. Judge Patricia Ryan noted the serious abuse of trust inherent in the offence and the significant age disparity involved. She acknowledged mitigating factors including Jennings' previous good standing but determined that a custodial sentence was unavoidable. The sentence was backdated to account for time already served.
A 34‑year‑old health‑care student, who had driven home drunk from a friend's party with her four‑ and six‑year‑old children in the back seat, faced two child‑neglect charges and a refusal‑to‑give‑sample charge. Garda Lee Kelly stopped her car at about 4 a.m. on 1 September 2019 after noticing swerving and alcohol smell; she became abusive, shouted at her children, and refused a breathalyser. Tusla investigated and deemed the incident neglectful but found no other welfare issues; the children remained with her. She pleaded guilty to the neglect charges. Judge Melanie Greally, after hearing mitigating evidence, set a headline sentence of nine months but indicated a six‑month sentence would be appropriate.
Kevin Joyce, aged 25, of Skerries, Co Dublin, was sentenced by Judge Melanie Greally at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to eight years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended. The sentence covers six unprovoked violent offences committed between May 2017 and January 2021, including a sustained sexual assault. Joyce pleaded guilty to attacks on friends and strangers, such as striking a friend in May 2017, punching Ronan Murphy in August 2017, assaulting three young people while on bail, and attacking a woman in a public park. He also punched a man on Grafton Street in March 2020, breaking the man's jaw, and used a bottle to knock a friend unconscious in January 2021. The judge noted Joyce's remorse, his placement on the Sex Offenders' Register, and ordered him to attend programmes for sexual offending and addiction, and to engage with probation services for two years upon release. The sentence was back‑dated to January 2021.
An 84‑year‑old man was sentenced to 21 months' imprisonment for sexually abusing his granddaughter, who was aged between seven and eight at the time of the assaults in summer 2014. The attacks occurred in the grandfather's home, a shed and his car while the child's grandmother was away. The court heard that the victim, now 16, had made a voluntary statement in 2018 and had not denied the accusations. He pleaded guilty in December 2021 to one count of sexual assault of a minor. Judge Martin Nolan described the case as "pretty sad" and noted the repeated nature of the misconduct, the victim's courage, and the defendant's acceptance of responsibility. The sentence was imposed after the judge considered the man's age, cooperation with Gardaí, and the likelihood of re‑offending. The defendant is now isolated from his family.
In a Dublin court on 5 May 2022, Karl Smith, aged 25, was sentenced to two and a half years in prison for an unprovoked assault on the mother of his children. The victim was walking near her home in Clondalkin when Smith ambushed her, punched her in the face, dragged her by the arm and shouted at her. He also stole €10 and her Leap card, preventing her from using the bus. After the attack, Smith removed his t-shirt and told the woman to clean the blood off her face. The victim, who had swollen eyes and a cut lip, eventually escaped his grip and was rescued by her mother and a relative. Smith had pleaded guilty to assault causing harm on 3 November 2021. The judge, Martin Nolan, considered Smith's early guilty plea, his attempts at rehabilitation while in custody, and his remorse, but also noted his history of violence.