In a case heard at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Lee Gannon, a 26‑year‑old Tesco employee, was sentenced to a one‑year suspended term for stealing nearly €6,000 in phone credit from the retailer over July and August 2018. Gannon, who managed rosters and payroll at Tesco Express in Rathmines, was caught when an operations manager noticed discrepancies in mobile phone credit sales. CCTV footage linked the theft to Gannon's store code, and he was seen ringing up the credit in the till before pocketing it. He pleaded guilty to three counts of theft between 24 July and 22 August 2018. Gannon had no prior convictions. He claimed that his ex‑partner's drug debt pressured him into the theft, a claim the prosecution accepted.
Conor Kirwan, 27, was sentenced to six years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended, after pleading guilty to multiple offences including robbery, impersonation of a Garda, and producing a syringe. He stole 11 pieces of corned beef from Supervalu in June 2020, three legs of lamb from Dunnes Stores in January 2021, and €30 from a student on Eden Quay in September 2020. In each incident he used threats or a syringe to intimidate victims. Kirwan's crimes were linked to his drug addiction, and he was homeless at the time. The judge noted his positive steps since custody. He has 52 prior convictions, including theft, assault and drug offences. The court emphasised that the suspended portion of the sentence was imposed on strict conditions. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Edmond Cikalleshi, 49, was sentenced to six years' imprisonment for raping a woman he had invited for coffee in a Leinster town on 22 June 2017. He pleaded not guilty to the charge, but the court found that DNA evidence matched his semen to the victim, who had been examined at a sexual assault treatment unit immediately after the assault. Cikalleshi's defence admitted consensual sex but the court held the act was non‑consensual. He has been in custody since August 2019 and will serve the term with a suspended year, subject to strict conditions including probation engagement for three years. The sentence was back‑dated to his initial arrest. The victim's impact statement described profound fear, mental distress, and the lasting effects of the rape on her life and family. The judge noted the severity of the offence and the lack of prior convictions in determining the sentence.
Douglas Glynn, 37, of Dublin 1, was sentenced by the Special Criminal Court to seven years and six months imprisonment for participating in the activities of a criminal organisation. The final year of the sentence is suspended, and the term is backdated to December 31, 2021, when he entered custody. Glynn pleaded guilty to charges relating to the targeting of James 'Mago' Gately between December 7, 2016, and April 6, 2017. The court found that Glynn placed a tracking device on Gately's vehicle, an act that positioned him higher in the criminal hierarchy than co-accused Stephen Fowler and others. Mr Justice Hunt, sitting with Judges Sarah Berkeley and Cormac Dunne, noted the offence arose from an ongoing plan by the Kinahan organised crime group to murder Gately, a member of the rival Hutch group. The judge highlighted that the criminal organisation was serious, well-organised, and well-financed. In mitigation, the court considered Glynn's guilty plea, entered after the trial began, and his previous minor convictions. The sentence reflects the gravity of the offence, which was prevented solely by early Garda intervention. Related proceedings include the 2018 sentencing of Imre Arakas, who was jailed for six years for conspiring to murder Gately, and the 2023 sentencing of Peter Keating, who received 11 years for directing the criminal organisation's activities.
A 53‑year‑old Dublin man was sentenced to five and a half years' imprisonment for raping and sexually abusing girls in the 1980s. He pleaded guilty to one count of rape and six counts of indecent assault committed between 1980 and 1988 at a Dublin town address. The Central Criminal Court noted the victims were aged between 12 and 20 at the time of the offences and that the man was aged between 12 and 20 when the offending began. Mr Justice Paul McDermott considered the man's borderline intellectual functioning, his age at the time of the offences, the repeated nature of the conduct and his guilty plea. He imposed consecutive terms totalling six and a half years, suspended the final year for three years, and imposed strict conditions including no contact with the victims and no contact with anyone under 18 unless accompanied by an adult.
A 47‑year‑old Limerick man was jailed for three and a half years after pleading guilty to sexually assaulting his sister in an apartment on 26 October 2019. He had been heavily intoxicated, drinking alcohol and smoking a joint, and had called his sister by another woman's name before telling her he would have sex with her. He dragged her to the bedroom, hit her, pulled down his trousers and grabbed her breasts. The attack ended when neighbours heard screams and intervened. The man had three prior convictions and had been in custody for two years on this and other matters. He was sentenced by Mr Justice Paul McDermott, who noted the unexpected, humiliating nature of the assault and the victim's vulnerability. The judge imposed a four‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence with the final year suspended for two years, requiring the man to attend rehabilitation, abstain from alcohol and illicit drugs, and receive multi‑agency support.
Jason Finnegan, aged 19, was sentenced to five years in prison, with the final two and a half years suspended, for a series of stabbing offences. He and Mark Pidgeon attacked Kenneth Osbourne in a flat, with Finnegan recording the assault on Snapchat while shouting encouragement such as "lash him out of it." The recording lasted about 90 seconds and was later posted on social media. Osbourne suffered multiple stab wounds, including to his arm, requiring surgery. Finnegan had previously pleaded guilty to two other stabbings in Dublin's inner city and to threatening to kill a woman. The judge noted the aggravating factors of the violence, the encouragement of the attacker, and the use of social media, and imposed the suspended sentence to encourage rehabilitation. The victim, Osbourne, declined to give a victim impact statement and did not identify the attackers. The case highlighted the use of digital evidence in identifying the perpetrators.
A woman, aged in her early 20s, described a violent relationship with former soldier Niall Kennedy (31). She met him on Tinder in December 2016 and they began a relationship that involved constant harassment, unwanted contact, and repeated threats to kill her or her friends. Kennedy was convicted in December 2021 of 12 counts of rape on eleven occasions in August 2017, plus multiple counts of harassment and threats. He denied the charges and refused to accept the verdicts. After his conviction, the state objected to his remand on bail, but he was released under strict conditions, including no contact with the victim, sobriety, and a daily curfew. The victim, who was "on high alert" and feared retaliation, gave a victim impact statement describing the abuse, her fear, and her recovery. The court adjourned his sentence hearing to February 21, 2024, and ordered him to be taken into custody.
Paddy Lynch, 36, a homeless man from Ashlawn Court, Bray, was found guilty of trespassing and criminal damage after breaking into the General Register Office on 9 May 2020. He entered the closed building shortly after midnight, triggered an alarm, broke an electronic gate and damaged an internal security door with a metal object. The damage amounted to €8,000, with the gate alone costing €7,000 to repair. Lynch claimed he was looking for a place to sleep and was intoxicated, with a needle found nearby. He has prior convictions for burglary and theft. A psychological report linked his drug addiction to trauma from the 2015 Carrickmines fire. Judge Melanie Greally, after adjournment for a probation assessment, imposed a fully suspended two‑year sentence, requiring Lynch to keep the peace and continue drug treatment and probation services if needed. No documents were harmed during the incident.
Hazel Byrne, 31, pleaded guilty to possession of articles in connection with drug trafficking after moving a large suitcase of paracetamol and caffeine powder from her mother's Dublin home on 29 May 2018. The powder was used as a bulking agent to cut heroin and cocaine. Byrne's mother, Catherine Byrne, 56, had earlier received a five‑year suspended sentence for holding over €190,000 worth of heroin, cocaine and mixing agents at her home. The court heard that gardaí had stopped a car driven by Catherine Byrne and found a large box with a shotgun, but the judge accepted that the box likely contained drugs. Judge Melanie Greally suspended a two‑year prison term for Hazel Byrne, requiring her to engage with Probation Services for another year, including drug screening and therapeutic work. The sentence was fully suspended, with no custodial time imposed.
Mary Smith, 64, received a suspended three‑year prison sentence after pleading guilty to assault causing harm on her drinking partner during the pandemic lockdown. The victim, in her 60s, suffered two fractured ribs, serious eye damage requiring 21 stitches, and nerve damage in her hand that left her unable to write or lift a cup of tea. Smith, who had no memory of the attack, was described by the court as appalled and horrified by her actions. The judge noted her plea of guilty, remorse, and previous good character, and imposed a suspended sentence on the condition that Smith abstain from alcohol for three years. She was also ordered to pay €1,500 to the victim or a nominated charity within a year. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
A 34‑year‑old health‑care student who drove home drunk from a friend's party with her four‑ and six‑year‑old children may have her child‑neglect charges dropped if she engages with the Probation Service. At a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing in November, her lawyer said it was her first offence in years and that she had arranged to stay overnight with her children. Garda Lee Kelly described how he pulled her over at 4 am on 1 September 2019, found her swerving and smelling of alcohol, and noted her abusive behaviour towards the children and the Gardaí. Tusla investigated and found the incident a case of neglect but no other welfare issues. She pleaded guilty to two child‑neglect charges and one refusal to give a breath‑sample. Judge Melanie Greally, after hearing mitigating factors, set a headline sentence of nine months but indicated a six‑month sentence would be appropriate.
John Jervis, 43, was sentenced to two-and-a-half years' imprisonment for endangerment after he fled in a car while a Garda was holding onto his shoulder. Jervis had been allowed by Gardaí to remove tools from a Land Rover and an Audi that were being seized at his Ballymun address. He then drove away, accelerating aggressively and dragging the Garda along the ground. The Garda narrowly avoided collision with a patrol car. Judge Melanie Greally accepted that high emotions may have been involved but found the offence highly dangerous. The final six months of the sentence were suspended on strict conditions, including abstaining from illicit substances for 12 months after release. Jervis has 105 prior convictions, including unauthorised taking, theft, drug possession and road traffic offences. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Courts. John Jervis pleaded guilty.
Eddie Cawley, 22, pleaded guilty to burglary at a Portmarnock house on 9 March 2020. He and a co‑accused rang the doorbell, knocked, and when no one answered they damaged the front door to enter. The homeowner's son, who was in the bathroom, heard the noise, confronted one intruder on the stairs, and the men fled. Cawley claimed he would not have entered if he had known someone was home and had no weapon, though a claw hammer was used in the confrontation. No items were taken, only door damage. He was arrested after a chase, and the pair were taken into custody. Judge Melanie Greally, considering his guilty plea, past convictions, and personal circumstances, sentenced him to four and a half years, suspending 18 months on strict conditions including 12 months probation supervision. The sentence was imposed in 2022.
A 15‑year‑old boy was found in a tent with two older men preparing €30,000 of drugs for sale. The boy, now 17, pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply in Dublin city on 3 April 2020. Gardaí discovered the tent, a well‑hidden structure in a shrubby field, and saw three people inside through a mesh window. They seized a large amount of drugs, bagging, and paraphernalia, including cannabis, heroin, tablets and cocaine, valued at €32,692. The boy's parents were described as hard‑working and prosocial. The court, after receiving a positive probation report, deferred a two‑year detention order under Section 144 of the Children Act 2001 until the end of July, pending an updated probation report. The judge urged the boy to continue engaging with the probation service and noted his positive changes in education and sports. The two co‑accused received two‑year jail terms.
In a case heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Nsa Okpo, aged 53, was found guilty of careless driving causing serious harm after his car collided with a motorcyclist, Michael Sorahan, on July 11, 2013. Okpo, who was uninsured and had a suspended sentence at the time, failed to keep an adequate lookout while turning right at a junction. Sorahan, an athlete who had represented Ireland in Taekwondo, suffered severe ankle injuries, described as "burst open like a tomato," and has endured ongoing pain and surgery, with doctors stating he will never run again. Okpo's previous convictions included assault, drugs and road traffic offences, and he had served an eight‑year sentence in the UK for grievous bodily harm. Judge Pauline Codd, noting the lack of speed, alcohol or drug evidence, suspended a one‑year prison term and disqualified Okpo from driving for six years. Nsa Okpo pleaded not guilty.
In the Central Criminal Court, a 21‑year‑old rape victim recounted how, after the assault, she lay in bed picturing ways to end her life. The assault occurred at a house party in May 2017, where the accused, also 21, had arrived after midnight, drank heavily, and entered the victim's bedroom. He removed her underwear, penetrated her, and forced her to roll over, continuing the assault until she managed to get up and leave with her sister. The victim reported the incident to Gardaí on 9 May 2017 and was examined at the Rotunda Hospital. The accused, who has no prior convictions, pleaded not guilty but accepted the jury's verdict. He was sentenced to eight years, with the final year suspended, and must engage with the Probation Service for a year upon release. The judge noted the assault's detrimental impact on the victim's mental well‑being and education.
Eddie Johnson, 41, pleaded guilty to intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to his partner in Wolfe Tone Park on 28 April 2020. He was sentenced to six years in prison, with the final 12 months suspended, under strict conditions including probation supervision for two years, participation in anger‑management and intimate‑partner‑violence courses, reporting any new relationships, and drug and alcohol intervention. Johnson has 233 prior convictions, including assault, burglary, robbery, and possession of knives. The victim, who suffered a 12‑cm wound on her forehead and a 5‑cm wound under her right eye, later died from unrelated causes. The judge noted Johnson's guilty plea, remorse, and engagement with drug services, and highlighted the seriousness of the violent act and the risk of re‑offending. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, with evidence presented by Gardaí and a witness video of the attack.
In April 2016, builders Stuart Cromer (43) and Michael Jones (27) attacked a street clamper at Dublin Street Parking Services after Cromer's van was clamped for illegal parking. Cromer, the main instigator, pushed and shoved the worker, threatened to "put a grenade in your mouth," and then allowed the men to empty the van of its tools before leaving. Both men pleaded guilty to assault; Cromer also pleaded guilty to making a threat to kill. Cromer received a six‑month suspended sentence and was ordered to pay €5,000 to the victim, while Jones received a four‑month sentence. Jones is already serving a five‑year sentence for dangerous driving causing death and will be released in September. The court noted Cromer's leadership in the assault and the victim's terror. The other four men involved were not before the courts. The incident was captured on CCTV and reported by staff. The defendants' prior convictions were also mentioned.
The Special Criminal Court delivered a sentence in the case of 'Jimmy' Mansfield, who was found not guilty of conspiring to kidnap former security guard Martin Byrne. The court accepted that on June 9, 2015, a gang led by Dessie O'Hare and Declan Duffy kidnapped Mr Byrne at Keating Park, assaulting him and holding him at The Towers. While the judge found insufficient evidence that Mansfield deliberately lured Mr Byrne for the kidnapping, he was found to have lied about his interactions with the criminals. The court determined that Mansfield was aware of and approved the involvement of New IRA and INLA members in efforts to recover properties lost during the 2008 economic crash, including the Citywest Hotel. Mansfield was also found to have instructed the destruction of CCTV footage linking him to the events. The judgment noted that Mansfield had previously associated with dissident paramilitaries to address debt demands. O'Hare and Duffy, both notorious criminals with prior convictions for serious offenses including murder and false imprisonment, were central to the plot. The court highlighted Mansfield's 'shoddy and selfish' conduct, such as failing to contact his former employee after the incident, but concluded that his lies did not establish guilt for the conspiracy charge. The matter was finalized with this sentencing judgment.
Jim Mansfield Jnr, a property magnate, was sentenced by the Special Criminal Court to two years' imprisonment with the final six months suspended for a period of six months, back‑dated to 17 January 2022. The sentence followed a conviction for attempting to pervert the course of justice by directing Patrick Byrne to destroy CCTV footage that showed Mansfield and former employee Martin Byrne leaving Finnstown House Hotel on 9 June 2015, the day Byrne was later kidnapped by republican terrorists Dessie O'Hare and Declan 'Whacker' Duffy. Mansfield, 54, had ordered the footage destroyed to distance himself from the kidnappers and to hide his association with them. He was acquitted of a separate conspiracy charge for falsely imprisoning Byrne. The court noted his lack of prior convictions, his mild intellectual disability, his role as a carer for his 78‑year‑old mother and his generally good character as mitigating factors. Jim Mansfield Jnr pleaded not guilty.
Jim Mansfield Jnr, a property magnate, faces sentencing at the Special Criminal Court for directing Patrick Byrne to destroy CCTV footage that showed Mansfield and former employee Martin Byrne leaving Finnstown House Hotel on 9 June 2015, the day Byrne was kidnapped by Dessie O'Hare and Declan 'Whacker' Duffy. Defence counsel Bernard Condon SC presented a psychologist's report indicating Mansfield operates at a mild intellectual disability or borderline range. Mansfield, 54, was acquitted of a separate conspiracy charge to falsely imprison Byrne. The court noted Mansfield's involvement with the New IRA and INLA in dealing with threats from traveller gangs and his efforts to recover assets lost in a crash. He has no prior convictions except a traffic offence over ten years ago, complied with bail conditions, and is a carer for his 78‑year‑old mother. The sentencing hearing will determine the final imposed term. Jim Mansfield Jnr pleaded not guilty and was found guilty.
In a case heard on 7 February 2022, Mr Justice Tony Hunt sentenced a 22‑year‑old man to six years and nine months' imprisonment for raping a sleeping woman. The offence occurred in a friend's flat after a night out; the victim woke to find the accused raping her while another man kissed her and told her it was "OK". The judge noted the prevalence of such cases "defies belief" and highlighted the aggravating factors of the victim's sleep, the presence of a third party, and the impact on the victim. He imposed a conditional suspension of the final 15 months, requiring the offender to comply with Probation Service directions for 12 months and to avoid contact with the victim. The victim's impact statement described profound trauma, PTSD, and loss of relationships, and she expressed fear of public disclosure of the incident. The unnamed man pleaded guilty.
Sean O'Neill, a 19‑year‑old from Carton Court, Ballymun, pleaded guilty to assault after refusing a cigarette in a beer garden. On 18 October 2020, outside Lombard's pub on Pearse Street, he approached two men in the smoking area, asked for a cigarette and was refused. He then emptied his beer can, tore it up and used it to cut one man above the eye. CCTV showed O'Neill, heavily intoxicated and unsteady, lunging forward and striking the victim. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court sentenced him to nine months imprisonment, fully suspended under strict conditions.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Damien Gray, aged 25, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after punching a 14‑year‑old boy on James Joyce Street on 28 March 2018. The incident followed a verbal exchange after Gray had attended a friend's funeral earlier that day and had been drinking in a nearby pub. The boy, who was returning to his hotel with his mother, was punched in the face, knocked to the ground and later received stitches at hospital. Judge Melanie Greally noted the assault was not "particularly lengthy" but had a significant physical and psychological impact on the victim. Gray, who has 71 prior convictions, was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment, fully suspended on strict conditions: nine months of probation, compliance with the Probation Service, and payment of €1,200 to the victim or a charity if he declines to accept it.
In a case heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, John Hogan, aged 32, was found in possession of a small quantity of cannabis valued at €70 and a larger quantity of cannabis valued at almost €20,000. Garda Dean Foster observed Hogan acting agitated while entering a taxi on Fonthill Road, Clondalkin, on 9 October 2020. The taxi smelled strongly of cannabis, and an Iceland shopping bag containing two vacuum‑sealed bags of cannabis was discovered. Hogan admitted ownership of the small quantity but refused to identify the owner of the larger quantity, claiming he had been instructed to transport it. He was arrested, questioned, and pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis for sale or supply. Judge Martin Nolan, considering Hogan's early guilty plea and cooperation, sentenced him to three years' imprisonment, suspended in full on the condition of good behaviour and keeping the peace.
Michelle O'Leary, 34, was jailed for six years after she broke into the homes of two elderly men in April 2021. She first forced entry into a 90‑year‑old man's house, brandishing a knife, demanding money, and taking €60 before leaving. The next day she called a 69‑year‑old neighbour, claiming her mother was ill and needed money for a hospital visit. He gave her €70, but later that evening O'Leary and an accomplice entered his home, demanded €100, and tried to walk him to a shop to withdraw the money. The shop manager, recognising the victim, called the Gardaí. O'Leary was arrested at her mother's apartment, pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary, production of a knife, burglary, attempted robbery and false imprisonment, and admitted to 30 prior convictions. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced her to seven years, suspending the final 12 months on strict conditions. The case highlighted the targeting of vulnerable, elderly men living alone.
The Special Criminal Court heard testimony from FBI Agent Alan Goehring regarding John Georgelas, an American Islamic convert who taught Lisa Smith about the Quran. Agent Goehring stated that Georgelas was placed on an Interpol red alert in June 2016 for charges including providing material support to a terrorist organisation. He further noted that in 2006, Georgelas was sentenced to 34 months in prison after pleading guilty to accessing a computer to obtain passwords protecting the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) website. The court also heard from the accused, Lisa Smith, a former Irish soldier from Dundalk, Co Louth. Ms Smith has pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful terrorist group, Islamic State, between October 28th, 2015 and December 1st, 2019. She has also pleaded not guilty to financing terrorism by sending €800 in assistance via a Western Union money transfer to a named man on May 6th, 2015. During interviews with gardai, Ms Smith alleged that Georgelas helped her escape a women's "madaffa" in Syria after five months. She described the facility as a prison and stated she did not carry a weapon or provide military assistance. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, continues.
The High Court adjourned surrender proceedings for Liam Porter and Kane Hull, two British men accused of murder or manslaughter in the 2019 fatal stabbing of Ryan Kirkpatrick in Carlisle. Ms Justice Caroline Biggs deferred both cases to February 17, when she hopes to make an order. The defendants, represented by Michael Bowman SC and Tom Horan BL, argued that the UK warrants lacked clarity, specifically contending that a single factual narrative could not support two distinct charges. Mr Bowman further challenged the additional charge against Mr Porter for assisting an offender, alleging he merely left the scene with Mr Hull, and argued this did not meet the threshold for a corresponding offence under Irish law. The State, represented by Ronan Kennedy SC and Tom McGillicuddy BL, maintained that the warrant was clear and that the manslaughter charge was an alternative to murder, which a UK jury might consider. The warrant notes that murder and manslaughter carry a maximum life sentence in the UK, while assisting an offender carries a maximum of 10 years. The court did not conclude the matter, instead adjourning it to allow time for the judge to determine the appropriate order.
Barry Doyle, 40, was sentenced by Judge Karen O'Connor to a fully suspended 12‑month imprisonment for assault causing harm after he threw Stephen Bradley to the ground and kicked him in the Beacon Hotel bar, Sandyford, on 17 December 2018. Doyle repeatedly offered Bradley a drink, which Bradley declined, and when Bradley tried to stop the offers he showed a pricey whiskey on his phone. Doyle threw the phone back, threatened Bradley, and when Bradley walked into the kitchen and grabbed a ladle, Doyle and a friend tackled him, kicking until staff intervened. Doyle pleaded guilty and has engaged in restorative justice. The sentence was suspended on strict conditions, including a €500 payment to Bradley. Both men were intoxicated and there was no prior animosity. The court noted Doyle's early guilty plea during the pandemic.
A man convicted of his role in a rental deposit scam affecting six potential tenants in Dublin has been ordered to complete community service rather than face imprisonment. Robert Long, with an address in Carndonagh, County Donegal, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to six counts of theft and two counts of deception relating to offences committed between July and August 2017. The scheme involved advertising a Dublin apartment on Daft.ie under false pretences, with victims paying deposits after meeting a man using a false name. Long acted as the sitting tenant during viewings, though gardaí established he was not the primary instigator and did not financially benefit. The court heard nearly €11,000 was obtained from the victims. Judge Melanie Greally imposed 240 hours of community service to be completed within eighteen months, in lieu of a two-year custodial sentence. Long had brought €10,700 to court for victim compensation, with one outstanding payment expected within three months or to be redirected to a homeless charity.
Patrick O'Donnell, 19, was sentenced for assault causing harm after he accidentally reversed into a woman's car at Dundrum Town Centre on 15 December 2020. He offered to pay €100 for the damage but the woman refused and tried to prevent him from driving away. CCTV showed O'Donnell repeatedly struck her while she stood in front of the vehicle, causing injuries. The woman suffered severe bruising, a swollen eye, headaches and worsened depression. O'Donnell pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Melanie Greally remanded him on bail, adjourned the case to 17 May for a Probation Service report, and urged him to seek employment and show remorse. The woman has initiated a civil action for her injuries. O'Donnell has no prior convictions.
In the Central Criminal Court, the Director of Public Prosecutions dropped charges against four extended family members accused of sexually abusing three children in Munster. The accused included the children's 79-year-old grandfather, a 33-year-old uncle, his former partner (37), and a 38-year-old woman. All four had previously pleaded not guilty to sample charges. The grandfather faced three counts of sexually assaulting his granddaughter, one count of sexually exploiting her, and one count of failing to report neglect. The uncle was accused of two counts of sexually assaulting his niece. His former partner faced four counts of sexually assaulting the same girl, two counts of sexually exploiting her, and two counts of failing to report exploitation and child cruelty. The 38-year-old woman was charged with two counts of sexually assaulting two boys and one count of failing to report neglect. These disposals follow last month's sentencing, where the children's father and mother were jailed for 15 and nine years respectively for sexual abuse and wilful neglect. Two uncles, aged 49 and 27, received 15-year sentences, while a maternal aunt (35) was jailed for three years for sexually assaulting two children. Mr Justice Paul McDermott described the parents' actions as a profound breach of trust, noting the children were isolated and subjected to appalling, prolonged abuse.
A 62‑year‑old man was jailed for 12 years after pleading guilty to 15 charges of sexual assault, including oral, anal and vaginal rape, and a single incident of sexual abuse involving a cucumber. The offences occurred between 2018 and 2019 in his Co Kildare home when the victim was aged 13 to 15. He believed the 15‑year‑old girl was his biological daughter, a belief that was disproved by a DNA test after her 2020 birth. The man used emotional manipulation, alcohol and drugs to groom the victim, who had autism. He was ordered to have no contact with the girl or her family, to undergo five years of post‑release supervision, and to never be alone with a child under 18 without supervision. The court noted the victim's strength and the serious harm caused. The sentence was back‑dated to the time of his arrest.
Zara McCabe, 34, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after attacking a homeless man she believed had raped a family member. The assault lasted 30 minutes and McCabe, intoxicated and with poor mental health, claimed she had a blade and hoped to kill the victim. She has 21 prior convictions. The victim was taken to hospital, discharged, and died by suicide a week later. Judge Martin Nolan adjourned the case to assess McCabe for community service. If suitable, he may order 150 hours of community service instead of a two‑year prison term. McCabe's children are in care and she has secured work in a warehouse. The court noted her history of alcohol and addictive problems and her "very unfortunate family life.".
The Special Criminal Court adjourned the sentencing of three brothers, Gerard, Ciaran, and Stephen Duffy, to March 4, remanding them in custody. The defendants, part of a cross-Border gang alleged to have stolen nearly €800,000 from ATMs in Cavan, Meath, and Monaghan between 2018 and 2019, appeared before a three-judge panel. Gerard Duffy pleaded guilty to the attempted theft of an ATM at the Riverfront Bar & Restaurant in Virginia, Co Cavan, in August 2019, contrary to Section 73 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006. Ciaran Duffy pleaded guilty to three offences, including participating in criminal activities in a Toyota Avensis at Tullypole, Moynalty, attempting to steal the Virginia ATM, and possessing cash to facilitate a criminal offence. Stephen Duffy pleaded guilty to possessing cash at The Yard, Tullypole, in association with a criminal organisation. Prosecution evidence detailed the gang's use of stolen diggers and vehicles to rip ATMs from walls, culminating in a failed attempt in Virginia where gardaí rammed a stolen vehicle. Cash totaling over €103,000 was recovered from a vehicle and a lawnmower. Defence counsel highlighted the defendants' remorse, employment histories, and character references. In a related matter, Niall Finnegan was previously sentenced to four-and-a-half years, with the final 18 months suspended, for possessing or handling €103,000 linked to the gang's activities.
In a Dublin Circuit Court hearing on 31 January 2022, Michael Stokes (35), Richard Stokes (26) and Simon Stokes (28) were sentenced to two and a half years' imprisonment each for a violent armed home invasion that took place on 3 June 2015. The three men, all from the same family and living at Kishogue Park, Lucan, entered the home of Michael Ward at Palmer Court, Rush, while Ward was in an upstairs bedroom and his pregnant partner Rachel Tennant was bathing their one‑year‑old child. The attackers shouted "Where is he?" and then assaulted Ward with Stanley knives and a hatchet, striking him with blows and punches. Ward suffered injuries to his arms, face, head and an open tibia fracture, was hospitalised for 12 days and is currently serving time for a separate offence. Michael Stokes pleaded guilty. Richard Stokes pleaded guilty. Simon Stokes pleaded guilty.
In a Dublin case, Colm Doyle, aged 60, was sentenced to six years' imprisonment for sexually abusing his younger adopted sister, Doreen Stamp, over a six‑year period from 1974 to 1979. Doyle began molesting the girl when she was about ten, claiming the abuse was justified because they were not biological siblings and that a priest had told him to practice sex on her. He pleaded guilty to 28 counts of indecent assault and rape, part of an indictment of 103 charges. At sentencing, the judge accepted the victim's impact statement, noting the prolonged nature of the abuse, the victim's young age, and Doyle's role as an older sibling. Doyle was given a 33% reduction for his youth at the time of the offences and a 40% reduction for pleading guilty, resulting in a six‑year custodial term. The court also acknowledged Doyle's remorse and low risk of reoffending.
In a Dublin court, Alan Ward, aged 54, was sentenced to life imprisonment for murdering his wife, Catherine Doyle, 41, on 1 March 2019. The judge described the case as part of a "conveyor belt" of domestic‑violence tragedies. Ward denied the murder, claiming diminished responsibility due to a stroke‑induced mental disorder. A jury rejected this defence after hearing evidence of long‑standing violence, including threats and an attempted stabbing of his son Adam. Ward received concurrent five‑year sentences for those offences. The court heard a family statement praising Doyle as a kind, loving mother. Ward's lawyers highlighted his remorse, while the prosecution noted his history of aggression and alcohol use. The case underscored the court's call for people to seek help in abusive relationships. The unnamed accused was convicted.
Twenty‑three character references were presented to a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 28 January 2022, supporting Vincent Williams (41) of Mountain Park, Tallaght, who had been convicted in October 2021 of five counts of sexual assault against three teenage girls. The references described Williams as a dedicated, honest and trustworthy father of five. A probation report was also read, stating he was at low risk of reoffending. Williams continued to deny the offences. The court heard that the victims, aged 12 to 16, were friends of his daughter and that the assaults occurred during sleepovers at his home in late 2012 and on 29 October 2016. The judge, Pauline Codd, noted the breach of trust and the offering of alcohol as aggravating factors, but also considered mitigating factors such as his lack of prior convictions and good work history. Vincent Williams pleaded not guilty.
Michal Gaszeich, 27, of Tallaght, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and theft at a Dunnes Stores shop in Citywest on 8 November 2020. He head‑butted security guard Sean Murphy, who was trying to stop him from stealing hot food and alcohol. The guard was injured, receiving three stitches above his left eye and a permanent scar. Gaszeich was arrested after a customer intervened and gardaí arrived. He had no prior convictions. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to 12 months imprisonment, fully suspended on strict conditions, including payment of compensation to the victim. The case was originally directed for summary disposal in the District Court, but the judge sent it to the Circuit Court. Gaszeich has since stopped drinking and has been in Ireland for a decade, working continuously since arrival.
Anthony Casserly, aged 25, was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment with the final two years suspended, after pleading guilty to participating in or contributing to the murder of gangster Wayne Whelan, 42, who was shot and left in a burning car on 18 November 2019. Casserly had lured Whelan to a pub under the pretense of watching a soccer match, using their friendship to lower Whelan's guard. The Central Criminal Court heard that Whelan had survived a previous shooting attempt in September 2019 and was cautious about his movements. Casserly's admission of guilt, lack of prior serious convictions and remorse were considered mitigating factors. The judge noted that Casserly's role was an aggravating factor because he used a trusted friendship to facilitate the murder. The sentence was back‑dated to 12 December 2019. The case also involved Christopher Moran, who pleaded guilty to being the getaway driver. The court did not consider any further appeals or subsequent proceedings.
Lee Cunningham, aged 24, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assaulting Garda Ciaran Rogers on 13 July 2020. Cunningham, who had eight prior convictions, had been in a state of intoxication and agitation when he head‑butted a patrol van door with extreme force, prompting Rogers to open the door to stop him. Cunningham then kicked Rogers, breaking a bone in Rogers' right hand. The injury required two screws and further surgery, and Rogers was unable to work for three‑and‑a‑half months, losing about €3,500 in overtime pay. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced Cunningham to two years' imprisonment, fully suspended, with strict conditions including payment of €5,000 in compensation to Rogers. The court noted Rogers' prolonged absence from work and the high cost of his medical treatment. The case was Cunningham's first appearance before the Circuit Court.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 33‑year‑old mother pleaded guilty to two counts of wilfully neglecting her 12‑ and 5‑year‑old sons between September 2017 and November 2018. The court heard that the mother, who admitted she had chosen her drug addiction over her children, was "evidently devoted to the children" despite her addiction. Social workers had observed her slurring and unfocused, and her children's school attendance remained problematic. On one occasion a 16‑year‑old niece was found unconscious in the home, and the 5‑year‑old was left in the house with the niece. The children were removed from her care and placed with their great‑aunt. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced the mother to three months imprisonment, suspended the sentence in its entirety, and imposed strict probation conditions for 12 months.
A Limerick man, Gerard Culhane (43) of Marian Place, Glin, Co Limerick, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to harassing Fine Gael TD Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD at unknown places within the State on dates between January 13, 2020 and March 26, 2020. The charge was admitted, and Culhane entered a plea of guilty. The court heard that the accused had indicated a guilty plea well in advance of the hearing. The defence requested a probation report, and the court agreed to order the report. The matter was adjourned for sentence on May 11, next. Culhane was remanded on continuing bail, with conditions including weekly sign-on at a local Garda station and informing gardaí of any change to his address. At a previous appearance in Dún Laoghaire District Court, Detective Sergeant Rachel Kilpatrick detailed that messages sent via Facebook included sexually explicit content and pictures of Ms Carroll MacNeill, which had already been in the public domain. The public representative and Culhane were not known to each other personally. Judge Watkin noted the incident would have been horrific and frightening for Ms Carroll MacNeill.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 26 January 2022, two men were sentenced to two years' imprisonment each for drug dealing from a tent in a public park. Gardaí, as part of an ongoing operation to disrupt drug activity along the Grand Canal in Clondalkin, located the tent on 3 April 2020. Garda Ciaran O'Neill explained that surveillance had been set up, and a man arriving on a motorbike with a package was followed into a field where the tent was found. Three men fled but were apprehended. The tent contained heroin estimated at €15,000, cocaine worth €4,150, cannabis valued at €13,267 and €40 of Diazepam tablets. Gary Lawlor, aged 24, of Cushlawn Park, Tallaght, and Sean Greene, aged 20, of Lealand Drive, Clondalkin, were charged with possession for sale or supply of drugs exceeding €13,000. Both pleaded guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal hearing, 21‑year‑old Kathleen McDonagh pleaded guilty to three counts of money laundering for the period March 2019 to January 2020. Gardaí seized €23,715 worth of luxury goods, a high‑end car bought for €25,750 in cash, and discovered deposits totalling €98,828.88 in her AIB, post office and credit union accounts between March 2018 and December 2019. McDonagh's only income at the time was her lone parent's allowance. She was not the target of the original investigation and had no prior convictions. The court considered her a direct beneficiary of the illicit proceeds but not the perpetrator of the primary offences. Judge Melanie Greally adjourned sentencing to 4 May to allow a Probation Service assessment, and McDonagh was remanded on bail until that date. The case highlighted her possession of unexplained assets linked to a partner serving a burglary sentence and a European Arrest Warrant.
Trevor Green, 72, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for assault causing harm. Green pleaded guilty to stabbing Stephen Corr near their home in Ballyfermot, Dublin, on August 16, 2020. The accused alleged that he lost his temper after years of harassment by Mr. Corr, who allegedly intimidated Green's elderly partner. Green's partner testified that Mr. Corr was intimidating and that the harassment began in 2007. Detective Garda Michael McNulty noted that Mr. Corr was considered a general nuisance to local residents. Judge Elma Sheahan accepted that the victim had been shouting and intimidating the defendant's partner for many years, stating that Green had come to the end of his tether. The judge acknowledged the seriousness of the offence but noted it was out of character for Green, citing his good character, lack of prior offending, remorse, and cooperation with gardaí. She suspended a prison sentence of 16 months on the condition that Green keep the peace and be of good behaviour for that period. Green had previously been remanded on bail following his guilty plea last October.
A 14‑year‑old boy was found guilty of defiling a 16‑year‑old girl in a public park on 31 December 2019. The victim, now 16, described the assault as a nightmare that she relives each New Year's Eve, saying she cannot trust anyone and fears she will never feel normal again. She told the court that the boy "took advantage of my body and my vulnerability." The boy pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court. Judge Paul McDermott, applying the Children Act 2001, said a detention order should be a last resort and deferred a four‑year detention order, setting a future hearing for 19 December. He remanded the boy on bail with strict conditions, including no contact with the victim, compliance with the Probation Service, and no further offences. The boy denied unlawful sex but admitted other sexual activity, claiming the victim was the instigator and that consent was involved, a view he now rejects.
Janet Agbontaen, 55, a Nigerian woman who arrived in Dublin in 2001 under a false identity claiming to be from Sierra Leone, was jailed for two years after fraudulently claiming more than €100,000 in child welfare and single parent benefits. She used a fake name to obtain about €55,000 in child benefit, €3,000 in early childcare allowance, and €83,700 in one parent family payments. In 2002 she challenged a deportation order and her sworn statements led to charges of perjury and perverting the course of justice. Agbontaen pleaded guilty to nine counts of theft from the Minister of Social Protection, giving false information to a births registrar, and fraudulently obtaining a driving licence. She was described as a victim of domestic violence and coercion by her husband, and the court noted her lack of prior offending when imposing the sentence.