Hani Ali Showky and Nicolina Velic, a married couple from Dun Laoghaire, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to running brothels, organising prostitution, money laundering, and using false instruments in Co Dublin. The court heard the pair operated nine properties with 25 escorts, generating an estimated €5,000 weekly profit. Showky admitted to renting properties using fake bank statements and subletting them to escorts, while also establishing a company to facilitate a money laundering scheme. Judge Pauline Codd sentenced Showky to five years' imprisonment, suspending the final 12 months on strict conditions. She noted his 31 previous convictions but considered his early guilty plea and personal circumstances. Velic, who had no prior convictions, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment, with the sentence suspended in its entirety on strict conditions. The judge acknowledged Velic was less actively involved and under Showky's influence, citing her role as a sole carer for a young child. Both defendants admitted the charges, and the court noted that the escorts were not coerced or trafficked, nor were they illegal immigrants. The matter was finalised with these sentences imposed.
Ioan Lingurar, 35, was sentenced to 17½ years' imprisonment for two separate rape and false‑imprisonment offences that occurred three years apart. In 2016 he raped a woman who woke up in his car, was locked inside and could not escape until later that night. In 2019 he again assaulted a woman in a car, who managed to escape after grabbing the wheel and punching him. DNA from both incidents matched Lingurar's pre‑existing profile from Austria. He had previously been convicted of sexual assault in France (2011) and had other convictions in Ireland. The judge, Ms Justice Tara Burns, noted the offences were aggravated by the victims' isolation, the taking of their phones, and Lingurar's prior convictions. The sentences run consecutively, giving an effective custodial term of 17½ years. The victims' impact statements described lasting psychological harm and fear of strangers. The court did not consider any future outcomes beyond the sentencing. The unnamed woman pleaded guilty.
Christopher Feeney (58) was found guilty at the Central Criminal Court of rape and sexual assault following a trial last September. The offences occurred at his home in Millbrook, Riverside, Sligo on 26 April 2015. The victim, then aged 54, met Feeney through a dating application and accompanied him to his apartment. During an assault lasting approximately one hour, the woman was pinned down and raped. She managed to contact gardaí, who instructed her to hang a towel from the balcony to identify his location. Officers arrived shortly thereafter and arrested Feeney. He was convicted on four counts, including rape and sexual assault, though the jury could not agree on a false imprisonment charge. Mr Justice David Keane indicated an intention to impose a nine-year sentence, with a portion potentially suspended pending a Probation Services report. The matter was adjourned for finalisation on 28 March 2022. Feeney, who had fled Ireland and was subsequently arrested in the UK in 2019, has remained in custody since his return. Christopher Feeney pleaded not guilty.
A 41‑year‑old former GAA coach was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment for a series of sexual and physical offences against a boy he mentored at a local club. The victim, now 30, was abused over six years, from 2004 to 2010, including rape, anal rape, sexual assault, assault causing harm and harassment. The court imposed concurrent sentences totalling ten and a half years, with a headline sentence of 13.5 years, reduced by three years for the defendant's guilty plea, remorse and lack of prior convictions. Two and a half years were set for the sexual assault offences, two years for the assault‑causing‑harm offences and three years for the harassment offence. The final 18 months were suspended on strict conditions, including post‑release supervision for two years and a 10‑year prohibition on contact with the victim.
Alan Ward, aged 54, was found guilty by a unanimous jury of murdering his wife Catherine Ward, aged 41, by stabbing her to death in their Dublin home on 1 March 2019. Ward had claimed that a stroke he suffered in 2017 had substantially diminished his responsibility, but the jury rejected this defence after a little over seven hours of deliberation. The prosecution argued that Ward's behaviour was better explained by intoxication, noting he had drunk a large quantity of vodka before assaulting his wife, and cited his history of violence, including a 2000 conviction for assaulting his wife. Ward was also found guilty by a 10‑to‑1 majority of threatening to kill or cause serious harm to his son Adam Ward and of attempting to stab Adam on the same date. Alan Ward pleaded not guilty.
Kevin Lunney, a director of Quinn Industrial Holdings, gave evidence at the Special Criminal Court detailing his abduction and assault in County Fermanagh in September 2019. Mr Lunney described being forced into a vehicle, transported to a remote farmyard near Ballina, County Mayo, where he was beaten, slashed with a knife, and doused with bleach. He was later discovered on a roadside with a fractured shin, knife wounds, and hypothermia. The trial established that the attack was connected to Mr Lunney's directorship and litigation involvement. Three men were convicted: the court identified one as YZ, aged 40, Alan O'Brien, aged 40, and Darren Redmond, aged 27. Evidence included CCTV footage, mobile phone data, and DNA recovered from a vehicle used in the crime. Luke O'Reilly, aged 68, was acquitted after the court found insufficient evidence he knew the specific nature of the offences, despite ruling he likely provided local assistance. Mr Justice Tony Hunt described Mr Lunney as a decent man subjected to brutal violence intended to prevent him conducting lawful business.
Three men have been sentenced following their conviction for the abduction and assault of Kevin Lunney, a director of Quinn Industrial Holdings, at Drumbrade, Ballinagh, County Cavan on 17 September 2019. At the Special Criminal Court, a man identified as YZ received 30 years imprisonment, Alan O'Brien of East Wall, Dublin 3 was sentenced to 25 years, and Darren Redmond, also of East Wall, Dublin 3, received 18 years with the final three years suspended. Mr Justice Tony Hunt delivered the sentences, stating that life imprisonment was not imposed because the most severe penalties should be reserved for those who finance or benefit from such crimes. The judge noted Mr Lunney's composed testimony and described the assault as premeditated and casual brutality. Evidence showed Mr Lunney was forced into a vehicle, taken to a container where he was threatened, tortured with bleach, beaten, and had letters carved into his chest before being abandoned on a country road.
John Matthews, 42, returned to Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after breaking into a house on Upper Glenageary Road on 5 September 2020, a month after his release from prison on a suspended sentence. He had served half of a nine‑year term for 56 burglaries committed in 16 months; the second half was suspended on conditions including keeping the peace for five years and attending drug treatment. Matthews pleaded guilty to the September burglary, which involved a smashed back window and the theft of small‑value cash, including a 200,000 Thai baht note. The note was later found at Matthews' home. He has 124 previous convictions, 115 of which are burglary convictions. Judge Pauline Codd noted his record is shocking, acknowledged his drug habit, and adjourned the case to 21 February next year to consider his placement on a drug treatment programme. She said he is now facing a substantial amount of time in prison.
Noel Shannon, a 40‑year‑old electrician from Finglas, pleaded guilty to disclosing personal data from a Garda intelligence board that contained information on 108 people. He photographed the board while working on emergency lighting at Kilmainham Garda Station in March 2019, later sending the images to two other electricians. The pictures were subsequently circulated on social media. The case was the first criminal breach of the Data Protection Act 2018 prosecuted on indictment. Judge Melanie Greally found no premeditation or malice, noting the offence was committed while intoxicated. She imposed a headline sentence of three years but, considering mitigating factors such as his early guilty plea, remorse, stable family and work life, she suspended a two‑year custodial term in full for two years. The court recorded that Shannon had four prior convictions, including theft and a public order offence. The prosecution and defence agreed that Shannon had not foreseen the consequences of his actions.
Jessy Feval, 31, was fined €750 after pleading guilty to driving without reasonable consideration when he struck 78‑year‑old Michael Jenkins, who was attempting to cross Rathgar Road on 7 November 2016. Jenkins, aged 83, suffered a fractured leg and a blood clot to his brain, and his wife had to care for him. Feval, who had no prior convictions, remained at the scene, admitted the offence, and cooperated with Gardaí. A breathalyser test was negative for alcohol or drugs. The court noted the incident was "the kind of thing that could have happened to any of us" and that Feval's good character and lack of previous convictions were mitigating factors. Judge Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin imposed the fine and did not disqualify Feval from driving. No further court matters were pending.
The High Court has extended an anonymity order protecting the identity of a man convicted of inflicting serious injuries on businessman Kevin Lunney during a kidnapping in County Cavan in September 2019. Mr Justice Charles Meenan granted a temporary extension of the order until mid-January, allowing the man's legal representatives to pursue judicial review proceedings against the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Special Criminal Court. The man's lawyers argued that publishing his name ahead of separate pending criminal trials could prejudice his right to a fair trial before a jury. The Director of Public Prosecutions opposed the extension, contending that media publication of convicted persons' names is a fundamental constitutional right except in limited circumstances. Mr Justice Meenan acknowledged this principle but found an arguable case for fair trial concerns. The man was convicted by the Special Criminal Court earlier this year alongside two others of false imprisonment and intentionally causing harm to Mr Lunney at Drumbrade, Ballinagh.
In a 2019 murder at Castlecurragh Heath, Mark Whelan, aged 48, stabbed Noel "Noelie" Whelan, aged 22, 18 times while under the influence of a cocktail of drugs. The wounds included eight stab and seven incised injuries to the head and neck, and three to the upper trunk, one severing the carotid artery and another penetrating the lung. A jury found Whelan guilty of murder. In December 2021, Justice Tara Burns sentenced him to the mandatory life term, backdated to the date of arrest. The judge highlighted that Whelan's drug‑induced psychosis was the sole cause of the crime, noting that the case demonstrated the danger of drugs turning a "gentle giant" into a "demonic hulk." The sentence was imposed without hesitation, and the judge expressed sympathy for the bereaved family. The case remains a murder conviction with a life sentence.
Jonathan Kearns, 24, pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis for sale or supply at his Tallaght home on 13 March 2020. Gardaí executed a search warrant, finding 437 g of cannabis in a Tesco bag and a weighing scale. Kearns, who was not present during the search, later admitted the drugs were his and claimed he was forced to hold them to pay a drug debt. The court noted the high value of the drugs (€8,754) and that Kearns had not been in contact with gardaí since his arrest. He is a father of two children, one with a serious illness. The judge, citing mitigating factors such as a difficult childhood, addiction history, and current drug‑free status, imposed a headline sentence of four years. The sentence was reduced to a three‑and‑a‑half‑year suspended term, suspended in full for three years, with conditions of probation supervision for two years and mandatory drug testing.
Kieran Creaven, a 59‑year‑old former RTÉ producer, was sentenced by Judge Melanie Greally to a total of ten years in prison for four counts of child exploitation, two counts of sexual assault of a child and four counts of child pornography. The offences occurred in Ireland, the UK and the Philippines between 2014 and 2017. After his release, Creaven will be supervised for three years, must attend all appointments directed by a Probation Service officer, provide his address and any changes, engage in offence‑focused work and be available for a sex offender treatment programme. He will remain on the sex offender register for life. Judge Greally warned that failure to comply with these conditions would be an offence in its own right. Creaven pleaded guilty, expressed remorse, and has undergone psychotherapy and rehabilitation work for the last two years. He has lost his job, future employment prospects and his marriage.
A Monaghan man has pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to possessing stolen cash linked to coordinated ATM thefts by a cross-border criminal organisation. Stephen Duffy, aged 35, of Tullynahinera, Castleblayney, admitted to possessing cash at Tullypole, Co Meath, on 20 August 2019. He faces charges under Section 73 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006 relating to possession of proceeds for the benefit of a criminal organisation. The case concerns investigations into the theft of an ATM in Castleblayney in April 2019 and an attempted theft in Virginia, Co Cavan, in August 2019. Duffy was remanded on continuing bail until 14 January. He is the second man to admit involvement in the thefts. Last month, Niall Finnegan received a sentence of four-and-a-half years, with eighteen months suspended, for possessing €103,000 from the same operation. Detective evidence indicated the gang stole approximately €790,000 across six incidents in the Cavan and Monaghan region using excavators.
An application to maintain the anonymity of a man convicted of serious offences against businessman Kevin Lunney came before the High Court on Thursday. The man, referred to as YZ, was convicted earlier this year alongside two co-accused of false imprisonment and intentionally causing serious harm to Mr Lunney during an abduction in Ballinagh, County Cavan in September 2019. His legal representatives sought to extend an anonymity order, arguing that publication of his identity could prejudice his fair trial rights in other pending criminal matters before the courts. Counsel indicated the application for leave would be made on notice to the Director of Public Prosecutions, with a hearing expected on Friday. Mr Justice Charles Meenan directed accordingly. YZ and his co-accused are scheduled for sentencing on Monday. The Special Criminal Court previously found YZ was responsible for inflicting most of Mr Lunney's injuries during the incident.
Alan Wilson, aged 42, was sentenced to ten years in prison by Ms Justice Tara Burns of the Special Criminal Court for his role in a 2010 murder conspiracy that led to a shooting outside the Player's Lounge pub. Wilson admitted to conspiracy to murder persons unknown on 26 July 2010, and to possession of a .38 calibre Smith & Wesson revolver and a .32 calibre Zastava pistol between 24 and 26 July 2010, with the inference that he possessed them for an unlawful purpose. He had pleaded not guilty to the attempted murders of Brian Masterson, Wayne Barrett and Austin Purcell, charges that were later dropped. Wilson had previously pleaded guilty to a conspiracy to murder in 2019 and had a six‑year sentence for an earlier conspiracy. He was found not guilty of the 2008 murder of teenager Marioara Rostas.
Michelle O'Leary, aged 31, broke into the home of a 90‑year‑old neighbour in St Peter's Court, Phibsborough, by pretending to be a police officer and demanding money. She produced a knife, took €60 from the victim's pocket, dropped the weapon and fled. The victim identified her and she was arrested at her mother's apartment, where she was not supposed to be staying. O'Leary pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary, production of a knife and making a false statement to Gardaí on 15 April 2021. She has 30 prior convictions for robbery, assault and theft. She has been remanded in custody since the arrest and is scheduled for sentencing in February 2022. The case was adjourned by Judge Melanie Greally to allow time for reports and she remains in custody until the hearing. The victim's family is seeking a nursing home placement for the neighbour. The incident was described as swift and frightening by Garda Kelly Mannion.
A 54‑year‑old man was jailed for two years after sexually assaulting a 16‑year‑old girl who was staying in his family home. He also sent the girl a sexually explicit text message after the assault. The girl showed the message to her mother, who confronted the man. He left the house and attempted suicide at a pier, but was persuaded to return by Gardaí and RNLI. He pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault and a charge of sending an explicit message to a child. Judge Elma Sheahan initially set a headline sentence of four years, citing repeated assault and the insulting text messages as aggravating factors. After considering mitigating factors such as remorse and a psychological report, the sentence was reduced to two and a half years with the final six months suspended on the condition of therapy and treatment.
Alan Wilson, 42, appeared before the Special Criminal Court for sentencing on a conspiracy to murder charge. He pleaded guilty to conspiring to murder persons unknown on July 26, 2010, and to possessing a .38 calibre Smith & Wesson revolver and a .32 calibre Zastava semi-automatic pistol for an unlawful purpose. Charges of attempted murder against Brian Masterson, Wayne Barrett, and Austin Purcell were dropped. Wilson was previously acquitted of the murder of Marioara Rostas in 2014. In 2019, he pleaded guilty to conspiring to murder Gary Hanley and was jailed for six years, with release due in May next year. Defence counsel Padraig Dwyer SC argued that the Rostas accusation caused significant suffering and that Wilson is not a member of the Kinahan gang. Dwyer highlighted Wilson's remorse, his early guilty plea, and his desire to lead an honest life, requesting a suspended portion of the sentence to aid rehabilitation. The court scheduled the sentencing for the current conviction for 2pm that day.
The family of Barry Griffin Junior, who died in a 2020 road collision, has brought a High Court action to challenge the Garda's decision to refer the driver of the Mercedes involved in the crash to the Garda Youth Diversion Programme. The incident involved two cars racing each other; the VW Passat driven by 19‑year‑old Brogan Kelly lost control and collided with the Mercedes, killing 17‑year‑old Griffin. Kelly was prosecuted and sentenced to five years and six months' imprisonment, with 18 months suspended. The Griffin family argue that the decision to divert the Mercedes driver means he will not face criminal prosecution, a move they say was made without their consultation and is irrational and unlawful under the 2001 Children Act. They seek an order quashing the diversion decision and disclosure of the Garda's reasons. The case is set for a February hearing before Mr Justice Charles Meenan. Brogan Kelly pleaded guilty.
After her long‑term partner, the father of her four children, died, Elizabeth Grey was told she had to pay off his €5,000 drug debt. She agreed to keep a portable safe in her home, which was later found to contain almost €20,000 worth of cocaine. When the Gardaí raided her house in 2020, Grey, aged 34, admitted she knew the safe held drugs but claimed she was not stupid and had a good idea of its contents. She pleaded guilty to one count of possessing cocaine for sale or supply. Judge Melanie Greally, recognising the pressure Grey faced and her role as sole caregiver to children aged two to eight, imposed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year custodial sentence, which she suspended in full on a number of conditions. Grey has since begun part‑time work as a cleaner and has not been in contact with the Gardaí again.
Laurence Grocott, aged 38, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for an unprovoked assault at Capel's Bar in Dublin on 12 October 2018. He pleaded guilty to one count of assault causing harm to a man. CCTV footage showed Grocott approaching the victim and his friend, punching the victim several times to the head and face, leaving a one‑inch scar on the victim's jaw. The victim and his friend were drinking when Grocott and his friends offered them drugs; they declined and moved seats, after which Grocott attacked without warning. The victim tried to defend himself and was taken to hospital. Judge Melanie Greally imposed the 18‑month sentence to run concurrently with Grocott's existing nine‑year term for drug offences and a machine‑gun attack, noting he is making progress in custody and is now drug‑free. Grocott has a history of various jobs and is a grandfather.
Stephen Fowler, a grandfather convicted of logistical involvement in a botched Kinahan Cartel plot to murder James 'Mago' Gately, has launched a High Court challenge regarding the Garda's seizure and retention of his car. Fowler, who is serving a sentence in Portlaoise Prison, stated he gave full permission to a friend to use the 2014 Skoda Octavia. The vehicle was detained on October 31 and is currently being retained by the Garda, despite counsel arguing the seizure was irrational and disproportionate. Fowler's legal team, represented by Micheal O'Higgins SC and Brendan Hennessy BL, submitted that the continued detention breaches property rights and constitutes an abuse of authority. They seek orders to quash the refusal to return the vehicle, a declaration of oppressive conduct, and damages. Mr Justice Charles Meenan granted permission to bring the judicial review proceedings on an ex-parte basis. The judge noted the applicants had previously written to the Garda without a meaningful response and asked if a more cost-effective resolution existed. The matter was adjourned to a date in February. Fowler was previously sentenced to six years and nine months in the Special Criminal Court for participating in activities intended to enhance the criminal organisation's ability to commit murder. The last 15 months of his sentence were suspended for three years.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 13 December 2021, Martin Ward, 43, was found guilty of possession of a stolen school safe and possession of burglary articles. Ward, who has 42 prior convictions, was on bail for 11 other offences when he was caught by gardai running down a busy city street with a school safe under his arm. Gardaí had earlier observed him attempting to enter premises using a plastic slip, and on 4 August 2020 he was seen trying to gain entry to an apartment block on Bolton Street. He was apprehended in the foyer before accessing any apartments. The safe, taken from St Declan's school, was returned to the school. Judge Melanie Greally imposed consecutive sentences totalling three years, suspending the final six months to encourage Ward's efforts to address his drug difficulties.
Farah Damji, 55, a conwoman wanted in the UK for fleeing a trial, failed to secure a further postponement of her extradition decision. She fled to Ireland in February 2020 during her UK trial, where she was convicted in absentia by Southwark Crown Court for breaching a restraining order twice in 2018. In September 2020 her application for bail was refused due to high risk of absconding, but in March she obtained bail at the High Court despite Garda objections. Her lawyer, Joanne Williams, applied for an adjournment to the New Year, arguing that if extradited she would return to the same prison to serve the remaining 40 days of her sentence, potentially breaching her human rights if her civil case on alleged misdiagnosis succeeded. The High Court, hearing the request, adjourned the case to 20 December for judgment.
A Limerick man, Keith Anthony McCarthy (41), has consented to his extradition to the UK after being charged with murder and grievous bodily harm. The charges stem from an incident on 15 April 2020 in Harwich where McCarthy allegedly ran over scooter rider Kerrin Repman (29) with his BMW, killing Repman, and also struck a 79‑year‑old pedestrian, causing multiple broken limbs. The High Court hearing on 13 December 2021, presided over by Fiona Murphy SC, confirmed McCarthy's consent to surrender under two European Arrest Warrant (EAW) warrants. The court noted that both charges carry a maximum life sentence. McCarthy is currently in custody in Ireland, where he is serving a separate sentence, and the extradition is scheduled for after Christmas, with the matter adjourned to 17 January 2022. The court also considered legal questions about the applicability of the EAW post‑Brexit and the potential impact of time already served.
The Special Criminal Court has extended an order protecting the identity of a man convicted of inflicting the most severe injuries on businessman Kevin Lunney during a 2019 kidnapping in Cavan. The anonymity order, which was due to expire on 13 December, has been extended until 20 December to allow the defendant's legal team time to seek a High Court order for continued anonymity pending other outstanding legal matters. The defendant and two co-accused are scheduled to be sentenced on 20 December for their roles in the abduction and assault of Mr Lunney at Ballinagh on 17 September 2019. All three men were convicted of false imprisonment and intentionally causing serious harm. During trial, the court heard evidence that the defendant drove Mr Lunney to a remote farmyard where he was subjected to severe violence including being struck with a baseball bat and cut with a Stanley knife. The presiding judge noted the defendant was heavily involved in the crimes and responsible for inflicting most of the victim's serious injuries.
Conor Clarke, 29, was sentenced to four-and-a-half years' imprisonment for unlawful seizure of a vehicle, attempted seizure, assault and threats to kill, following an incident on Hazelhatch Road, Newcastle, Co Dublin, on 15 February 2019. The case involved Clarke emerging from an overturned car, punching John Daly and attempting to seize a second car. Clarke's plea of guilty, his history of 55 convictions, and a probation report indicating a high risk of reoffending were weighed against mitigating factors such as his early guilty plea, difficult upbringing and recent relationship break‑up. The judge imposed a 12‑month suspended period, requiring Clarke to attend anger‑management classes, follow drug and alcohol treatment plans, and submit to random urine tests. He will also be supervised by the Probation Service for 12 months after release. The court noted Clarke's remorse, his depression and anxiety, and his role as a father of three young children. The sentence was delivered by Judge Elma Sheahan.
Michael O'Donoghue, aged 43, was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended, for raping and sexually abusing his 19‑year‑old daughter, Aimee Foley, over a six‑year period. The Central Criminal Court heard that O'Donoghue supplied Foley with alcohol and drugs, including cannabis and cocaine, before sexually assaulting her during access visits to his home. He pleaded guilty to 31 counts of sexual assault, one count of rape and one count of producing child pornography. Foley, who was aged between 12 and 17 at the time of the abuse, gave a victim impact statement in which she described the emotional and physical abuse she endured. The judge noted mitigating factors such as O'Donoghue's early admission to Gardaí and his current low risk of re‑offending. The sentence was back‑dated to his arrest in April 2019.
A 20‑year‑old woman, who was sexually assaulted by her mother's partner, Dean Hurley, when she was 12, has begun training as a police officer in the UK. She gave permission for Hurley's name to appear in the sentencing report but asked that she not be named. She disclosed the abuse a year later after learning about sexual abuse in school, left the family home, and has lived with her father in England since. Hurley, 51, was jailed for three years after a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court convicted him following a three‑day trial in October. He pleaded not guilty to the assault that occurred between 1 and 30 October 2013. The woman's victim impact statement described the abuse, her mental health struggles, and her hope to help other abused children through her future policing work.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, 19‑year‑old Katilyn Butler testified that her life was "changed forever" after her mother informed her that her father, John Butler, had died from injuries sustained in a fight with her brother, Stephen Butler. Katilyn, who still loves her brother but says she can never fully forgive him, described the shock of learning of her father's death at 4 a.m. at University Hospital Waterford, two hours after the altercation. She recounted the emotional impact, her anger toward Stephen, and her hope to rebuild their relationship. The court also heard a victim impact statement from Stephen's brother, William Butler, who lamented the loss of a family member. Stephen Butler, aged 23, had pleaded not guilty to murder but admitted manslaughter; the jury found him not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter, and he was remanded for sentencing. Mr Justice Paul Burns adjourned the sentencing until 24 January.
Stephen Penrose was sentenced to the mandatory term of life imprisonment for the murder of Philip Finnegan at the Central Criminal Court. The sentence was backdated to May 17, 2017, when Penrose entered custody. Penrose, who had pleaded not guilty, was found guilty by a unanimous jury verdict. He represented himself during the trial after dismissing his legal teams, an action the judge described as a serious abuse of the legal system. In a victim impact statement, Angela Finnegan, the victim's mother, condemned Penrose for cross-examining her in the witness box, stating no mother should be questioned by the man who murdered her son. She described the trauma of finding her son's decapitated remains in Rahin Woods, Co Kildare, three weeks after he went missing. Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster testified that Finnegan died from multiple stab wounds, including fatal injuries to his liver and aorta. Superintendent Brian O'Keeffe informed the court of Penrose's previous convictions, including the manslaughter of David Sharkey in 2010, for which Sharkey was sentenced to nine years in prison. Penrose's other prior offenses included possession of firearms, a hit-and-run, and assaults on prison officers. The judge noted that Penrose had been continually in custody since May 2017. The court rejected Penrose's defense that he was attacked by others, accepting the prosecution's case that he inflicted a gruesome death on Finnegan.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court has convicted a UK man of the murder of Kevin Sheehy, a five-time Irish boxing champion, who was struck and run over multiple times by a jeep on Hyde Road in Limerick city on 1 July 2019. Logan Jackson, aged 31, of Longford Road, Coventry, England, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The jury unanimously rejected his defence of provocation after deliberating for two hours and thirty minutes. Jackson was also found guilty of endangerment. The court heard that Sheehy, aged 20, attempted to rise from the ground after the initial impact but was run over twice more at speed. Jackson claimed he felt intimidated after an altercation outside a house party, though he admitted to gardaí he was not under threat when he drove the vehicle and was angry and drinking. The judge will impose a mandatory life sentence next Tuesday. Sheehy's family will have the opportunity to address the court regarding the impact of his death.
Gavin Challenger, 27, of Sillogue Green, Ballymun, pleaded guilty to criminal damage and unlawful intimidation after damaging a white Renault Master van and attacking its owner, Jason O'Byrne, with a hatchet on 21 March 2020. CCTV showed Challenger and a co‑accused, a lifelong friend, causing the damage and threatening O'Byrne. Challenger admitted taking "tablets" that day and had 71 prior convictions. He was on bail for 14 months for a drug offence and had previously served a sentence in Mountjoy. Judge Pauline Codd, noting his guilty plea, remorse and potential for rehabilitation, sentenced him to three years' imprisonment with the final two years suspended for the damage charge, and two years for intimidation with the final year suspended, both running concurrently. The suspended periods are conditional on good behaviour, supervision and drug testing upon release.
The High Court heard challenges to An Garda Siochana's alleged policy of refusing station bail to persons accused of breaching domestic violence orders. Lawyers argue that the 2017 Domestic Abuse Intervention Policy, which underpins the refusals, violates constitutional rights to justice and presumption of innocence. They claim the policy forces them to seek bail before District Court sittings after Garda custody. The court noted that the 1967 Criminal Procedure Act does not list domestic violence breaches as offences requiring Garda refusal of bail. Two cases were presented: a woman who was denied bail after a protection order was issued and later arrested for alleged breaches, and a man who was denied bail after a complaint of order breach. Both denied the charges. The applicants seek orders quashing the Garda decisions, declarations that the refusals are unlawful, and that the Commissioner's policy exceeds his powers. Mr Justice Charles Meenan granted ex‑parte permission for the challenges, with hearings adjourned to January.
Michael Keogh, a 40‑year‑old resident of Harelawn Crescent, Clondalkin, was found by Gardaí holding nearly €100,000 in cash that had been seized during a search on 2 December 2020. The cash was discovered in four bundles in the master bedroom drawer, a sealed vacuum pack in another bedroom wardrobe, and a small amount of cannabis in the kitchen boiler press. Keogh told the Gardaí he was holding the money for an unidentified third party, later claiming it was to pay a drug debt, but he did not mention this during his arrest interview. He pleaded guilty to laundering money under the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Act 2010. Judge Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin sentenced him to 180 hours of community service instead of an 18‑month custodial term, noting his cooperation, drug‑free urine tests, and that his five prior convictions were for traffic offences and a casual trading act.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Dennis McAuliffe, 51, a site foreman for McAleer & Rush Ltd, was fined €12,500 for failing to notify two staff members about asbestos on a city centre building site. The incident occurred on 23 June 2016 at Findlater House, Cathal Brugha Street, where a subcontracting team had discovered an asbestos warning sticker under roof tiles. McAuliffe had not informed his own staff after the subcontractors left, and two men began cleaning the site without direction. The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) had sealed the area and investigated, confirming asbestos presence. McAuliffe pleaded guilty, had no prior convictions, and cooperated fully with the HSA. Judge Pauline Codd set a headline fine of €30,000, reduced to €12,500 after mitigating factors, to be paid within 12 months. The case highlighted the importance of proper asbestos notification and site closure procedures.
Harry O'Brien, 22, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to the importation of cannabis and possession of cannabis and Ketamine for sale or supply at Trinity Halls, Rathmines, on March 13, 2019. Judge Melanie Greally set an indicative sentence of 16 months imprisonment but deferred its imposition under Section 100 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006. The court ordered O'Brien to pay a €500 fine, complete three months of voluntary work for St Vincent de Paul, and keep the peace and be of good behaviour during the adjourned period. If these conditions are met, the judge stated she would discharge him from the indictment. The matter was adjourned to March 21, 2022. O'Brien, who has no previous convictions, admitted to purchasing the drugs via the dark web for personal use, denying he was a dealer. The court noted his mental state was precarious at the time of the offence but acknowledged his subsequent academic success and founding of a disabled students' advocacy group.
A 37‑year‑old London native, Mark Nolan, appeared by video‑link from Midlands Prison at the High Court to hear that his extradition to Ireland had been postponed. He had previously consented to surrender to answer alleged offences, including a 2019 assault in London, and was now charged with five new offences in Ireland: four counts of possessing firearms in suspicious circumstances and one charge of possessing material contrary to Section 7 of the Offences Against the State Act. The court was asked to consider the postponement in light of these new charges. The judge agreed, remanding Nolan in custody until 21 February. The extradition process follows the EU‑UK Trade and Co‑operation Agreement, and the new charges relate to possession of firearms and state‑related material. No further details of the alleged offences were provided in the article.
Jacob Breaw, aged 24, was sentenced by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to five‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment for robbery and possession of over €29,000 of cannabis. Breaw's lawyers explained that in an 18‑month period he fell from a law‑abiding life into drug addiction and crime. In May 2019 he was found with a school bag of cannabis in his mother's bedroom during a Garda search; he pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis for sale or supply. In November 2019 he robbed a victim at Cherbury Park, armed with a knife; he pleaded guilty to robbery. Breaw has four prior convictions, including knife possession and public order offences. Judge Melanie Greally noted his remorse, his commitment to drug treatment, and the support of his family. She suspended the final two years of the sentence on the condition that he remain law‑abiding and engage with the Probation Service.
Dubliner Glen Concannon (24) was sentenced at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for his role in a 'vicious' assault outside Ballymun Garda Station on August 23, 2020. Concannon admitted to assault causing harm, and the court accepted his plea of guilty. The attack occurred after Concannon believed the victim, Aaron Tyrell, had assaulted a member of his family a week earlier. Concannon was in a car while others chased Mr Tyrell until they caught him outside the garda station, where the group punched and kicked him. The victim was hospitalised but did not engage with the investigation. Judge Melanie Greally described the assault as planned and extremely violent, noting the victim faced a risk of serious injury. She accepted testimonials from employers, family members, and a local youth project, which highlighted Concannon's character as a 'hard working, diligent employee and a caring responsible partner'. She noted his genuine remorse, early guilty plea, lack of previous convictions, and low risk of reoffending. The court suspended a two-year prison sentence on condition that Concannon keep the peace and be of good behaviour for that period.
In a Dublin apartment on 21 August 2017, a 41‑year‑old Albanian man raped a 15‑year‑old girl who had been invited to stay with him after a night out. The victim, who was fully clothed when she fell asleep, woke to find the man on top of her and he covered her mouth while she screamed before raping her. She later told the Central Criminal Court that she had been "killed" that night and that she had not been alive since. The jury found him guilty of rape and sexual assault; he was acquitted of a single count of false imprisonment. He has a prior conviction for serious drug dealing. On 8 December 2021, Mr Justice Paul McDermott sentenced him to nine years' imprisonment, refusing to suspend any portion of the sentence.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Richard Power, a 35‑year‑old former letting negotiation manager for Wyse Property Management Ltd, pleaded guilty to stealing €69,530 in tenant deposits over a two‑year period. Power accessed the company's system and altered tenant bank details to redirect refunded deposits to his own account, then reverted the changes before detection. The theft, uncovered during an audit prompted by a supervisor's notice of missing refunds, was linked to Power's gambling addiction. He admitted manipulating accounts and confessed to ongoing counselling for the addiction. Power has no prior convictions, is currently unemployed, and lives in a parent‑owned property while receiving pandemic unemployment payments. He has lost his property management licence, was fined €5,000, and the court adjourned sentencing to February 1. The case highlights the misuse of employee access to client funds for personal gambling expenses.
Thomas Doran, 29, with 64 prior convictions, was jailed for six years after driving the wrong way on the N7 dual carriageway in the early hours of 21 September 2020. Doran, who was on bail and disqualified from driving for ten years, drove 700 metres against traffic before colliding head‑on with a Toyota Yaris. The collision killed driver Anatolie Butucel and seriously injured passenger Serghei Grigoras and Doran's uncle Patrick Connors. Doran was uncooperative at the scene, refusing to give details and telling Gardaí to "fuck off." He was found guilty of dangerous driving causing death and serious bodily harm. The judge set a headline sentence of eight years but, after considering Doran's guilty plea, remorse, €1,500 payment to Grigoras, and his poor mental health, imposed a final sentence of six and a half years with the last six months suspended on strict conditions, and a 20‑year driving disqualification.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Joseph O'Brien, aged 35, was found to have robbed a victim on James Street on 21 January 2019. O'Brien struck the victim twice on the back of the head with a glass bottle, then kicked him 20 to 30 times while he lay on the ground before stealing his phone. The victim suffered a laceration requiring stitches, heavy facial bruising, black eyes and a broken tooth. Witnesses saw O'Brien use the bottle and a woman also kicked the victim two or three times. O'Brien had previously committed a pharmacy robbery two days earlier, where he forced a staff member to open the till and stole about €300. He has 56 prior convictions, including robbery, burglary, assault and drug‑related offences. The court noted his history of drug addiction and homelessness, and Judge Melanie Greally ordered a Probation Service report and adjourned sentencing to 29 March, indicating a likely lengthy sentence. Joseph O'Brien pleaded guilty.
Gary O Hare, 49, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after a tussle with his brother on 3 November 2019. The incident began when O Hare objected to his brother bringing his partner to the family home. He struck his brother's partner with a glass, which accidentally hit the brother's face, causing a laceration below the left eye that required stitches. The victim, who had moved out of the house but was looking to return, said he believed the offence did not warrant a prison sentence and that the family had endured enough. O Hare, who has no prior convictions and is the primary carer for his father, was described by the judge as having behaved very aggressively and used derogatory language. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to 16 months imprisonment, suspended in its entirety on strict conditions, citing the incident as an isolated act of violence and aggression.
Thomas Rooney (52), of Betaghstown, Co Meath, pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to three charges under Section 7 of the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing) Act 2010. He admitted possessing €289,770 and £65,025 in a blue Nike holdall, €254,840 in a black holdall, and €7,650 at North Road, Drogheda, all on May 11, 2020. The court heard allegations that Rooney, described as a "mid-to-high" level member of an international crime gang, organised the transaction and used an encrypted Aquarius phone. Jason Reed (40), of Dunshaughlin, also pleaded guilty to possessing the cash in the blue Nike bag and to holding €32,330 and £441 at his home. In a related May finalisation, Catherine Dawson (44), Rooney's then-partner, received a fully suspended sentence of three years and nine months for moving the gang's money, suspended on good behaviour for five years. Mr Justice Tony Hunt stated he could not see a non-custodial sentence for Rooney. Despite no Garda objection to bail, Rooney was remanded in custody until January 14 for sentencing. The matter was adjourned to that date.
Liam Vickers, aged 24, was given a two‑year suspended sentence in January 2021 for a knife attack on an escort. The sentence was reactivated in March 2021. In February 2021 he sexually assaulted a 21‑year‑old woman while she was running near her home. Gardaí identified him through CCTV and local witnesses. Vickers pleaded guilty to the assault and was sentenced by Judge Elma Sheahan to a three‑year term, consecutive to the two‑year suspended sentence. The judge noted Vickers' prior leniency, his traumatic childhood, cooperation at arrest, and expressed desire for rehabilitation, but also cited his low risk of reoffending as a mitigating factor. The new sentence will run consecutively to the existing two‑year term, adding three years of imprisonment to his custodial period. The case highlights the court's consideration of both past conduct and mitigating circumstances in sentencing.
Michael McDonagh, aged 23, was convicted of three armed robberies in Dublin 8 on 10 and 11 January. He used a firearm, a balaclava, gloves and a weapon that victims believed to be real, threatening staff and customers, including a pregnant woman. The robberies took place at an Applegreen, a Centra and a Eurospar, where he stole €700, €1,500 and a large quantity of cigarettes and tobacco. CCTV footage of him on a distinctive black bike led to his arrest. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to five-and-a-half years' imprisonment, with the sentence backdated to January. The court noted his seven prior convictions and his ongoing drug‑free progress in custody. The case was adjourned to March to address post‑release supervision.