The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that Bernadette Forde, aged 51, died from a lethal dose of the barbiturate pentobarbital, which she had ordered online from Mexico. The drug is used in capital punishment in the United States and for euthanasia where legal. Gail O'Rorke, 43, a taxi driver from Kilclare Gardens, Tallaght, is accused of assisting Forde's suicide by helping her obtain and take the drug between 20 April 2011 and 6 June 2011 at a Dublin location. O'Rorke denies aiding the suicide by arranging travel to Zurich, arranging funeral arrangements, or procuring the drug. Dr Muna Sabah testified that a lethal concentration of 53 micrograms per millilitre of pentobarbital was found in Forde's system. The trial, expected to last about two weeks, is before Judge Patrick McCartan and a jury of twelve. Bernadette Forde pleaded not guilty. Gail O'Rorke pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, a 43‑year‑old taxi driver, Gail O'Rorke, is accused of aiding the suicide of her 51‑year‑old friend, Bernadette Forde, by helping procure and administer phenobarbital between April and June 2011. O'Rorke denies assisting the suicide, arranging travel to Zurich for Dignitas, or making funeral arrangements. The prosecution presented a recorded last‑words message from Forde, found on a Dictaphone beside her body in Donnybrook, in which she expresses frustration at being forced to act alone and her desire to end her life without implicating others. The trial, presided over by Judge Patrick McCartan, is expected to last about two weeks and involves witnesses including Forde's housing association head and a Garda who found medication and correspondence related to Dignitas. The case remains at the trial stage, with no verdict yet. Bernadette Forde pleaded not guilty. Gail O'Rorke pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin trial, 43‑year‑old taxi driver Gail O'Rorke pleaded not guilty to aiding and abetting the suicide of 51‑year‑old Bernadette Forde. O'Rorke denies helping Forde procure a toxic substance, arranging travel to Zurich, or making funeral arrangements before Forde's death. The prosecution, led by Remy Farrell SC, presented evidence that Forde, suffering from advanced primary progressive multiple sclerosis, had considered assisted suicide after a car crash and the death of her sister. Farrell alleged O'Rorke assisted with travel plans to Zurich and later helped obtain phenobarbital from Mexico, which Forde took. Witnesses, including a resident who found Forde's body and a Garda who discovered medication and a Dictaphone note, testified. The jury was instructed that the trial is not a forum for debating the legality of assisted suicide. The case is scheduled to last two weeks before Judge Patrick McCartan.
During a murder trial in the Central Criminal Court, a taxi driver named John Clarke testified that on 10 October 2013 he witnessed a violent altercation on Main Street, Swords, involving two men and baseball bats. Clarke described one man pulling a bat from a car boot and striking the other, then the second man retrieving another bat and swinging it. He likened the scene to "something out of Star Wars." Another witness, Pearse Fagan, recounted hearing the fight from his phone call, seeing both men swing bats, and noting the victim's head bleeding. Fagan, a first aider, removed his t-shirt to stop the bleeding and photographed the assailant. The accused, Jooda Akanbi, is charged with murdering Taiwo Jamani and with causing serious harm to another man on the same day. Akanbi pleaded not guilty, claiming self‑defence. The trial is ongoing before Mr Justice Tony Hunt with a jury of twelve.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 15 April 2015, Andrew Byrne, aged 29, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for unlawfully seizing the taxi of Feargal MacEoin by force. Byrne pleaded guilty to the offence, to producing a knife, and to driving the vehicle without insurance. He was found to have used a knife to threaten MacEoin after the driver had initially refused a fare. MacEoin, a taxi‑driver who had been threatened with a knife and forced to drive the men to Castleknock, gave a victim impact statement describing the ordeal as "horrific" and noting that he no longer feels safe working. The court noted that the incident had severely affected MacEoin's peace of mind. Byrne's sentence was imposed with no mention of a suspended portion or effective custody beyond the three‑year term. The case also involved co‑accused Ross Cahill, who had previously received a five‑year sentence with two years suspended.
Stephen Dolan, aged 20, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assaulting taxi driver Mohammed Maeem and robbing €90 from The Snuffbox newsagents. On 5 September 2014, Dolan directed Maeem to remote roads outside Finglas, punched him twice in the face, and later robbed the newsagents the day before. Maeem suffered a deep forehead gash, swollen lip, bruising and required stitches; he has since lost a month's earnings. Dolan admitted taking prescription drugs and was described by a newsagent as "an absolute idiot." The court sentenced him to four years, with the final year suspended, citing his 45 previous convictions and attempts to reform. The judge described the assault as sinister and noted Dolan's ADHD and dysfunctional background. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the assault and robbery.
In 2015 the Court of Appeal heard an appeal by Gary Campion, 31, who had been convicted of two murders in Limerick. Campion denied involvement in the 2002 killing of bouncer Brian Fitzgerald and the 2006 murder of Frank Ryan. He had received two life sentences, one in 2007 and another in 2009. The appeal argued that the trial for Fitzgerald's murder was flawed because the defence could not obtain a psychiatric examination of the key prosecution witness, James Martin Cahill. Cahill's medical notes suggested paranoia and hallucinations, and his testimony was said to be inconsistent. The defence claimed that without a proper medical assessment the trial was unfair. The Director of Public Prosecutions accepted that Cahill's evidence was central but argued that other corroborating evidence, including a taxi driver's account and a witness describing Campion's "joined eyebrows", supported the conviction.
Wayne Donnelly, 28, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, false imprisonment of a taxi driver and unlawful seizure of a car. He was sentenced to a six‑year prison term with four years suspended, conditional on keeping the peace and attending a drug treatment programme. The case involved an attack on a taxi driver who was tied up, robbed of his phone and €250, and had his car taken. Donnelly also assaulted a man in Palmerstown, claiming the man owed money to drug dealers, and threatened to use grenades. He had 26 prior convictions. The judge described Donnelly and a co‑accused as "bullyboys." The sentencing was delivered by Judge Desmond Hogan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The article reports no further legal proceedings beyond the suspended sentence and conditions.
Aaron McCarthy, 22, of Crinan Strand, Dublin 1, was convicted of robbery and taking a vehicle without authority after punching a taxi driver and stealing his taxi, mobile phone and bank cards on 13 August 2011. He also admitted stealing a bicycle that day. A jury at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court found him guilty and sentenced him to five years' imprisonment. McCarthy had been on bail pending an appeal. On 2 March 2015, the Court of Appeal dismissed his appeal on two grounds: the trial judge's handling of a Garda's evidence and a reference to a possible Garda career risk if McCarthy had been acquitted. The judges – Alan Mahon, George Birmingham and Garrett Sheehan – upheld the conviction and McCarthy was returned to prison to serve the remainder of his sentence. He has not yet appealed the sentence's severity. Aaron McCarthy pleaded not guilty.
Ross Cahill, 22, of Portrane, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to the unlawful seizure of a taxi van at Castleknock on May 18 last. Judge James O'Donohoe sentenced him to five years in prison but suspended the final two years, noting that Cahill has since been charged with eight other offences and has 30 previous convictions, including two for robbery. The court heard Cahill was highly intoxicated during the attack, where he encouraged an accomplice to stab the driver, Feargal MacEoin, after a €5 fare. In a separate matter concerning a violent attack on MacEoin in April 2012, James Murphy, 20, and Dean Daly, 19, both of Tallaght, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and robbery of a mobile phone, wallet, and cash. Judge Mary Ellen Ring suspended a three-year prison sentence for both men, citing their youth and lack of previous convictions, while describing the incident as a shocking and unprovoked attack. MacEoin stated the 2012 incident left him with significant mental and physical scarring. The accomplice in the 2013 hijacking remains before the courts.
A 16‑year‑old who hijacked a taxi in Dublin armed with a meat cleaver received a two‑and‑a‑half‑year suspended sentence. The teenager, who cannot be named, pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a BMW, robbery and production of a knife in Terenure on 18 May 2014. At the time of the offence he was 15 and lived in a care home. He had a prior theft conviction. His defence lawyer, Ronan Kennedy BL, noted that he was accompanied by his mother, a social worker and his sports coach, who is a role model. Judge Martin Nolan emphasised rehabilitation, suspending the sentence and warning that failure to change would lead to future custody. Garda Lee Hunt described the incident: the boy demanded money, threatened the driver with a four‑inch meat cleaver, fled, crashed into another taxi, was chased and arrested, and the cleaver was recovered from him.
Michael Whelan, 33, of Lucan, was sentenced to five years in prison for robbing three taxi drivers in July 2013. He admitted carrying out robberies on July 2, 4 and 7 at Croftwood Gardens and Blackditch Road, Ballyfermot. During the incidents he threatened victims with a syringe, used a knife, punched one driver breaking his two front teeth, and stole phones, CDs, a SatNav and cash. Judge Martin Nolan, hearing the case at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, described Whelan as a "menace to society" and noted the vulnerability of taxi drivers. The judge suspended the final 18 months of the sentence, ordered 18 months of probation on release, and allowed credit for time already spent in custody. Whelan has 29 prior convictions, including robberies, and has a history of mental health issues and a childhood in State care. Michael Whelan pleaded guilty.
John Paul Lennon, 34, of St Anthony's Park, Rialto, Dublin 8, will be sentenced on 17 April for a series of offences committed while on bail. He pleaded guilty to two robberies on 31 December 2013 at a Spar shop in Dolphin's Barn and at Basin Street, where he entered wearing a balaclava, threatened staff with a large butcher's knife, and took cash that he later spent on drugs. Lennon also admitted to robbing a taxi driver in Dun Laoghaire on New Year's Day 2014, threatening the driver with a six‑inch knife and a pair of scissors, and to possessing €2,025 of heroin for sale or supply on 23 April 2011, when 13 grams were found concealed between his buttocks. Additionally, he pleaded guilty to an attempted robbery of an Esso garage on 16 April 2014.
Paul Bradley, 34, with 101 prior convictions, was sentenced to 20 months in prison for robbing Hickey's Pharmacy on Harold's Cross Road on 14 December 2013. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The robbery involved Bradley demanding money from the till, smashing the cash registers, and taking €480, while an accomplice stole prescription medication. Garda Paula Burke reported that neither man carried weapons but their hands in pockets caused concern. Both fled the pharmacy and were chased by Gardaí; Bradley was caught in a taxi but escaped through gardens before being arrested the next day. Judge Martin Nolan, who had previously described Bradley as a "gentle giant", noted his long-term drug addiction and his desire to rehabilitate, and accepted his plea of guilty before sentencing. Luigi Rea BL argued for a chance to prove his client's commitment to drug treatment. The sentence reflects the robbery and Bradley's extensive criminal history.
Sean McAuley, 20, pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of Ketamine, MDMA, and cannabis for sale or supply. Following the completion of voluntary work and a positive Probation Report, Judge Dermot Dempsey struck out the case. In a separate matter, John Butterly, 39, pleaded guilty to assaulting Peter Thompson and producing a baseball bat. Lorraine Butterly, 34, is charged with assaulting three individuals and producing a rolling pin. Peter Thompson, 41, pleaded guilty to assaulting John Butterly. All three were remanded on continuing bail until April 13th for a hearing at Swords District Court. Zacheaus Odinga, 45, pleaded guilty to driving without insurance on Drogheda Street in Balbriggan. Judge Dempsey convicted him, fined him €400, and declined to invoke disqualification under special circumstances. The report also notes that David Cummins, 25, is charged with attempting to steal cash and a can of Coke; his case is scheduled for March 30th. Jade Gannon, 32, pleaded guilty to theft and non-payment of a taxi fare, receiving fines of €100 and €75 respectively. Andrea Bunce, 44, is alleged to have stolen stock and cash; she was remanded on continuing bail until February 12th. John Maxwell, 36, is charged with possession of cannabis; his case was adjourned until March 12th for the service of the Book of Evidence.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Lateef Bello, a 42‑year‑old man from Clonee who was originally from the Ivory Coast, was found not guilty by reason of insanity for attempting to murder Adejoke Opesusi. Bello, who had lived in Ireland for nine years, claimed he believed his wife was having an affair and that Opesusi had convinced her to do so. On 19 February 2012, after returning from work as a taxi driver, Bello entered Opesusi's home at 4.30 am, stabbed her repeatedly with two knives and tried to choke her. He fled through a first‑floor bedroom window but was soon apprehended by Gardaí. Prior to the incident, he had threatened his wife Elizabeth that he would stab himself. After a two‑month stay at the Central Mental Hospital in Dundrum, he was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia.
The jury has begun deliberating in the trial of Lateef Bello, a 42‑year‑old Dublin man from Clonee, who has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to attempted murder of Adejoke Opesusi, burglary, criminal damage, endangerment and assault causing harm. The prosecution, represented by Paul O'Higgins SC, presented evidence that Bello, a former taxi driver, believed his wife was having an affair and that he was hearing voices and experiencing religious delusions. He allegedly broke into Mr. Oroleye's house, smashed property, drove his car at Mr. Carrick, and then approached Mrs. Opesusi at Littleplace Close, stabbing and choking her. The defence, led by Michael Bowman SC, described Bello's behaviour on 19 February 2012 as terrifying and mentally unwell, citing a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia and a two‑month stay at Central Medical Hospital. Mr. Justice Paul McDermott instructed the jury of seven men and five women to return a unanimous decision.
Lateef Bello, 42, pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to attempted murder of Adejoke Opesusi and related offences. Bello, originally from Africa and a taxi driver, claimed he believed his wife was being poisoned by a neighbour and that a separate neighbour had influenced her. On 18‑19 February 2012, he used a fire extinguisher to break car windshields, smashed a house front window, and entered Opesusi's home with two knives. He stabbed her, choked her, and also stabbed her daughter. He fled through a bedroom window when police approached but was apprehended. Prior to the incident, Bello had threatened self‑harm and accused his wife of infidelity. Garda investigation and a psychiatric assessment diagnosed him with schizophrenia. The trial is set before Mr Justice Paul McDermott with a jury of twelve.
In a Dublin court, Joseph Robinson, aged 25, was sentenced to four and a half years' imprisonment for the death of his best friend, Alex Doyle, also aged 25, after Robinson, driving a taxi while intoxicated and without a licence, crashed into a pole on 8 June 2014. Witnesses saw Robinson leave the wreck, leaving Doyle, who suffered fatal head injuries and a severed arm, on the ground. Robinson pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death, dangerous driving, criminal damage, drink driving and driving without a licence or insurance. The judge noted Robinson's long criminal history of 58 convictions, including drug and drink‑driving offences, and his disqualification from driving at the time. Robinson was also disqualified from driving for seven years and the sentence was back‑dated to the date of the offence. The court emphasised the tragedy for both families and the need for rehabilitation.
The High Court has struck out a damages action brought by Lorcan Roche Kelly against the State following the murder of his wife, Sylvia Roche Kelly, in December 2007. Ms Roche Kelly, a mother of two, was killed at The Clarion Hotel in Limerick by Gerard McGrath, who was later sentenced to life imprisonment. Mr Roche Kelly had sued the State, the Garda Commissioner, and the Minister for Justice, claiming that McGrath should have remained in custody rather than being granted bail on charges relating to an assault on a taxi driver in County Cavan and false imprisonment in County Tipperary. High Court President Mr Justice Nicholas Kearns dismissed the claim, acknowledging the case's tragic nature but finding it disclosed no reasonable cause of action under existing law. While the judge described the handling of bail procedures by An Garda Síochána as negligent and disgraceful, he concluded that McGrath's actions were not reasonably foreseeable and that no special duty of care towards the deceased had arisen.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, Joseph Robinson, aged 25, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of his best friend, Alex Doyle, also aged 25, after a taxi crashed into a pole on June 8, 2014. Witnesses reported Robinson leaving the wreck and walking away, while Doyle suffered fatal head injuries and a severed arm. Robinson also pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, criminal damage, drink driving and driving without a licence or insurance on the same date. He has 58 prior convictions, including drug offences and drink driving. Robinson was disqualified from driving and was over twice the alcohol limit. The court remanded him in continuing custody pending sentencing next week. The victim's uncle expressed shock and a desire for compassion rather than vengeance. The case highlights the severity of drink‑driving offences and the court's focus on the defendant's past record.
Ruth Barry, 36, of Moy Elta Road, Dublin 3, was convicted in 2012 of cutting journalist Jennifer Bray's face, using a blade, robbery, and assaulting two of Bray's companions on O'Connell Street on 25 June 2010. Barry was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment, with 18 months suspended. She and boyfriend Jonathon O'Brien followed Bray, her companion Sarah Furlong, and Neil Callanan to a taxi; Barry punched Bray, head‑butted Furlong, and bit Callanan. Bray testified she felt a cold object and heard a click before slumping. Barry's counsel argued that a witness, Jakub Gajda, who allegedly saw O'Brien take something from behind his back, was unavailable and that the trial judge had accepted his statement as evidence. The Court of Appeal has been asked to grant a retrial, with the appeal pending a decision date.
The Special Criminal Court has set a trial date for three men—Gareth Mulley (45), David Gallagher (37), and William Burns (38)—charged with possession of explosive devices, including an adapted 50‑litre beer keg, 50 kg of homemade ammonium nitrate, PETN, RDX, an improvised detonation cord, steel booster tube, and time‑and‑power unit. All were arrested in May 2014 by An Garda Síochana's Special Detective Unit during investigations into dissident republican activity. Mulley and Gallagher are also charged with membership of an unlawful organisation, namely Oglaigh na hÉireann (the Irish Republican Army). The court, presided over by Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy, set the trial for 5 July 2016, expected to last two to three weeks, and issued witness orders and instructions on alibi evidence and witness notice. Counsel for Burns sought a variation of bail conditions to allow night taxi work, which the court removed.
At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Karen O'Connor sentenced three men for cultivating cannabis at a grow-house on Commons Road, Clondalkin. Mark Clooney, 40, pleaded guilty to the charge. His brothers, Wayne Burgess, 32, and Jason Burgess, 33, also pleaded guilty to the same offence. The court heard gardaí discovered 77 cannabis plants with a potential value of €61,600, along with cultivation equipment in a sealed tent. Judge O'Connor accepted that the defendants' roles were at the lower end of the scale of criminality, noting they had been offered work watering the plants. She sentenced Clooney and Jason Burgess to two years in prison, suspended in full on the condition that they keep the peace for two years. Wayne Burgess was sentenced to 20 months in prison, also fully suspended, with an order to keep the peace for the duration of the sentence. The judge noted Wayne Burgess had been threatened and that Jason Burgess had lost his plumbing business during the downturn. Clooney, a taxi driver, admitted financial difficulties. The judge stated all three were at low risk of re-offending and had pleaded guilty early, describing the operation as professional but acknowledging the defendants' limited involvement.
Thomas McDonagh, aged 21, was jailed for three years after hijacking a taxi on 27 March 2012 in Dublin. He forced the driver to take him and his 16‑year‑old cousin Bernard McDonagh into the vehicle. The taxi later crashed near Slane Castle in County Meath, killing Bernard hours after the collision. McDonagh suffered serious injuries, including a broken spine and brain damage, and now has epilepsy and other medical problems. He was already on bail for a 2011 robbery and had a six‑year sentence for that offence. Judge Mary Ellen Ring suspended the last two years of a five‑year sentence on the condition that McDonagh engage with Probation Services after release. The sentence runs consecutively to the sentence he is currently serving. The court heard McDonagh apologized and expressed remorse, and noted his history of ten previous convictions, including robbery.
Aaron Black, aged 23, was part of a four‑man gang that robbed a Balbriggan jeweller's shop on 10 May 2013. The gang threatened staff with a claw hammer, smashed display cases and stole €15,370 worth of jewellery. Black was arrested shortly after the robbery when he was seen in a taxi on the M1, changing clothes. He identified himself on CCTV, apologised to the shop owners, the taxi driver and the Balbriggan community, and pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Mary Ellen Ring sentenced him to three years in prison, suspended in full on the condition that he keep the peace for three years. He is now employed, claims to be drug‑free, and has cooperated with probation services. The court noted his moderate risk of re‑offending but that he has not attracted further Garda attention since the robbery. The jeweller's estimated economic loss was €2,800, including loss of business.
Two men have been convicted and sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for their involvement in a series of violent offences. Dylan Smith, aged 22, and Daniel Malone, aged 20, pleaded guilty to charges arising from incidents in August and September 2013. In August, they unlawfully seized a taxi on Tubber Lane, Lucan, and subjected the driver to false imprisonment, robbery, and serious assault. The victim sustained a skull fracture and multiple facial injuries. In September, Smith stabbed a bus passenger in the thigh during a robbery at Kylemore Road, Bluebell, and subsequently forced the victim to withdraw €200 from an ATM. Smith was sentenced to six years imprisonment with the final eighteen months suspended, to run consecutively with a sentence from Roscommon. Malone received four and a half years with the final eighteen months suspended. Smith has fifty-seven previous convictions; Malone had one prior conviction. Both defendants expressed remorse, with Smith having engaged in rehabilitation since entering custody.
At Balbriggan District Court, Tom Maughan pleaded guilty to being intoxicated and using threatening and abusive behaviour. Judge Dermot Dempsey sentenced him to 150 hours of community service work in lieu of a month in prison, following a Probation Service assessment. Stephen Nyantaki, who had previously pleaded guilty to being intoxicated and non-payment of a taxi fare, failed to appear for sentencing, resulting in a bench warrant for his arrest. Niall Skelly, charged with the theft of groceries, was remanded to February 19th and granted bail with a condition to refrain from entering the relevant Tesco supermarket. Thomas Gaffney, alleged to have unauthorisedly taken a car, bicycle, and truckster, and stolen chicken fillet rolls, was remanded on continuing bail to reappear on January 8th for a plea or hearing date. Derek Gildea, charged with unlawful possession of a combat knife, had his case adjourned to December 18th as he was not present in court. Additionally, Brendan Donovan, alleged to be in possession of a stolen Ford Transit van, was granted a hearing date of January 5th at Swords District Court.
Emma Cowley, a 23‑year‑old Montessori worker from Swords, pleaded guilty to assaulting Garda Miriam O'Donovan on 16 August at Swords Garda Station. Cowley was intoxicated, used threatening and abusive language, and struck the Garda on the right side of her face with an elbow, causing a sore jaw. She called the Garda a "dirty lesbian slag" and told her to "go f**k yourself." The incident was reported by a taxi driver who had seen Cowley asleep in the back seat. Cowley appeared late for her hearing at Swords District Court, where Judge Dermot Dempsey postponed the case to Balbriggan District Court. After Cowley paid €500 to the Garda Benevolent Fund, the judge struck the case out, warning her to behave better in the future. The case was dismissed without further proceedings. Emma Cowley had the case struck out.
Balbriggan District Court heard five matters before Judge Dermot Dempsey. Jennifer Jordan pleaded guilty to driving without insurance and an NCT. She was fined €500 and €100 respectively, with disqualification waived under special circumstances. Liam Daly pleaded guilty to threatening behaviour and intoxication, receiving fines of €300 and €100. Kirian Onyeme pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of cannabis; he was convicted, fined €250, and the drugs were ordered destroyed. Jonathan Kendellan pleaded guilty to drink driving. He was convicted, fined €750, and disqualified for six years. Stephen Nyantaki pleaded guilty to intoxication and non-payment of a taxi fare. The matter was adjourned until December 4th for facts to be heard, with continuing bail granted. All defendants were represented by counsel, and recognisances were fixed where applicable.
In 2012, Thomas McDonagh, aged 21, hijacked a taxi on Tyrconnell Road, Inchicore, using force or threat of force. His cousin, Bernard McDonagh, 16, was also in the vehicle. After the hijacking, the taxi crashed into another car near Slane Castle, County Meath. Bernard died from his injuries hours later; Thomas suffered serious injuries, including a broken spine and brain bleeding, and now has epilepsy and other medical issues. The incident was reported to Gardaí, who described the hijackers and the taxi. Thomas was arrested six months later, admitted the hijacking, apologized, and expressed remorse. He has ten prior convictions, including robbery, and was remanded in custody for sentencing on December 9. The court adjourned sentencing to await guidelines on hijacking cases. The case is pending sentencing.
Wayne Donnelly, 28, from Oakcourt Lawn, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm, false imprisonment of a taxi driver, and unlawful seizure of a car. The offences occurred in Palmerstown and Lucan in July and August 2013. Donnelly, who has 26 prior convictions, was part of a group that attacked a taxi driver, tied him up, stole his car, and threw him into a ditch. He also assaulted a man in Palmerstown, threatening him with grenades and physically attacking him. The judge adjourned sentencing to March next year and ordered a probation report. Donnelly's case was presented by Detective Garda Padraig Jennings, with testimony from Garda Caroline Flynn and defence counsel Anne Marie Lawlor. The article reports Donnelly's background, drug use, and claims of remorse, but no sentencing outcome is given.
Trevor Williamson, a 48‑year‑old taxi driver from Carrigaline, Co. Cork, was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment with the final two years suspended by Judge Patrick Moran in the Cork Circuit Criminal Court in May 2014. The sentence followed his conviction for possession of 99 kg of cannabis resin, valued at €594 000, found in nine boxes he had taken from a house during a Garda surveillance operation. Williamson's co‑accused was given a wholly suspended sentence. The Court of Appeal rejected Williamson's appeal, noting that the sentence was not excessive but that there was a significant disparity between his sentence and that of his co‑accused. The judge highlighted that Williamson had recruited the co‑accused and that the quantity and value of the drugs were substantial, justifying the imposed term within the statutory range for the offence. The appeal was dismissed by Mr Justice George Birmingham.
John Joyce, aged 28, was sentenced to five months in prison and disqualified from driving for 15 years after pleading guilty to driving without insurance and without a licence on Templeview Avenue, Clarehall, Dublin 13, on 11 November last year. This was his 13th offence of driving without insurance. Garda Michael McCallion testified that Joyce had been observed driving a Ford Focus, jumped out of the car, and ran into a house, explaining that he had no insurance. Joyce has 80 previous convictions, including 12 for driving without insurance. Defence solicitor Fiona D'Arcy noted that Joyce had been assaulted in June while attempting to rescue a taxi driver from a hijack, sustaining serious leg injuries. She appealed to Judge Dermot Dempsey not to imprison him, citing his role as best‑man at his brother's forthcoming wedding and his leg injury.
Swords District Court heard several matters. Dwaine O'Connell, 26, pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of €3,000 worth of cannabis resin for sale or supply and €350 of cannabis herb. Judge John Coughlan sentenced him to eight months in prison, but O'Connell appealed the sentence after recognisance was fixed. Jandean Hyland, 26, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, but the case was adjourned until December 1st because the victim was not in court and jurisdiction issues needed resolution. David Bennett, 32, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm; his case was adjourned until November 11th for Judge Dermot Dempsey to determine compensation to avoid a prison sentence. Andrew Cooley, 21, pleaded guilty to failing to provide a specimen and was disqualified from driving for four years and fined €75; a separate charge of making off without payment of a taxi fare was struck out. Kevin Harris, 24, is alleged to have driven under the influence of an intoxicant; his case was adjourned until December 22nd for hearing.
In a robbery that took place on 22 January 2012 on Ballymount Road, a back‑seat passenger, Brendan Boylan, 34, held a rope around the neck of a taxi driver while the front‑seat passenger brandished a knife. The driver, fearing for his life, handed over €600 before the men fled. Boylan, who has 16 prior convictions, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He claimed he was forced to participate to repay a drug debt and feared a "bullet or a blade" if he refused. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to two and a half years' imprisonment, deciding not to involve the Probation Service because of Boylan's age. The taxi driver did not submit a victim impact report. Boylan's father argued that his son had been affected by family deaths and had struggled with addiction for many years, offering €500 to the driver and asking the court to consider the debt context.
Paul Roche, 31, from Wicklow, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to taxi driver Francis Mordi on the N11 at Cabinteely on 26 May 2013. The incident began when Roche, who was drunk, could not give directions and threw a €20 note at Mordi after the driver asked for money. Roche then attempted to leave the vehicle, jumped on Mordi, and tried to strangle him, shouting a racial slur. Mordi managed to escape, used a hammer to threaten Roche, and drove to the nearest Garda station. Roche was arrested, refused to give his name, and later settled a civil claim with Mordi. Judge Mary Ellen Ring remanded him briefly, then suspended a two‑and‑a‑half‑year jail sentence on the condition he keep the peace for that period. Roche is employed in financial services and has attended anger‑management and alcohol‑free courses.
Michael Gill, a 57‑year‑old taxi driver from Hillcrest Park, Glasnevin, was found to owe €636,447 in undeclared income tax and penalties after a routine profiling by Revenue. He had previously declared €163,649 from a home maintenance business (2003‑2008) but failed to disclose additional income from a coal delivery business, which increased the total to €636,447. Gill had not informed his tax consultant about two bank accounts where he deposited customer cheques from the coal business. He pleaded guilty to delivering incorrect tax returns between 31 December 2003 and 2007. Judge Mary Ellen Ring, instead of a two‑year prison term, ordered Gill to carry out 220 hours of community service. He has paid over €565,358 to date and is unable to pay the remaining €71,689. Gill has no prior convictions and is now tax compliant with a Tax Clearance Certificate.
At Swords District Court, Jason McDonagh (19) pleaded guilty to being in unlawful possession of €20 worth of cannabis herb and was ordered to make a charitable contribution of €250 by December 17th to avoid a conviction. Nermia Ibrahimovic (40) pleaded guilty to the theft of groceries worth €34.91 and was fined €300 with a warning that her liberty is at risk if she reoffends. James English (22) pleaded guilty to the theft of €130.39 worth of cosmetics and was given the benefit of the Probation Act. Mark Cole (34) faced charges of being in unlawful possession of cannabis herb, cannabis resin and cocaine for sale or supply, and the case was adjourned until November 25th. Amy Bergin (20) was found guilty of driving without insurance, without L-plates displayed, without an NCT, and driving on a provisional licence without a qualified driver, and was fined €750 and disqualified from driving for two years. Ryan Montgomery (18) and Dale Monks (19) pleaded guilty to non-payment of a taxi fare of €43 and were ordered to make a charitable contribution of €250 each by November 25th to avoid a conviction. The case of St Margaret, accused of being in unlawful possession of cannabis herb, cannabis resin and cocaine for sale or supply at his home address on April 3rd, and non-payment of a taxi fare of €43, was adjourned.
Balbriggan District Court heard several matters presided over by Judge Dermot Dempsey. Kieran White pleaded guilty to stealing a bottle of wine from Supervalu. After making a €75 donation to the Molly McNally Trust Fund, the court applied Section 1.1 of the Probation Act. Piotr Boryslawski pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of cannabis found under his car seat. Following a €300 charitable donation, the charge was struck out. Valerie Dalton, alleged to have been drink driving, was remanded on continuing bail to reappear on September 11th. Paul McGee, charged with criminal damage and breach of a protection order, was remanded on continuing bail for a hearing on October 6th. Eddie McDonagh and Patrick McDonagh, both alleged to have stolen a steel tube from a boat, were remanded on continuing bail to reappear on September 4th. McDonagh also faces allegations of careless driving and not paying a taxi fare, while Patrick McDonagh is alleged to have not paid a taxi fare. All these cases remain at the pre-trial stage with no final sentences passed.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 22 May 2014, a 37‑year‑old man named Darren Murphy pleaded not guilty to the murder of 36‑year‑old Olivia Dunlea, whom he had dated for three months. He also pleaded guilty to arson of the deceased's home on the same night. Murphy told the court that a knife was "no sooner in my hands than it was in her neck" after a heated argument. He described how he stabbed Ms Dunlea at the back of the neck, then tried to leave the scene, wiping the knife on a pillow and discarding it in the toilet to stop a ringing phone. A taxi driver, Thomas Farrell, testified that he and Ms Dunlea had been friends and had a one‑night stand months earlier, but had no further contact. The case was set to continue before a jury the following day.
A 37‑year‑old man, Darren Murphy, was accused of murdering Olivia Dunlea, 36, in Passage West, Cork, on 17 February 2013. He pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, and he also pleaded guilty to arson on the victim's home. During the trial, Murphy admitted to handing over a pair of clothes to Gardaí that were not his, claiming they were worn on the night the body was found. He explained that a heated argument in a taxi and at the victim's house led him to stab her twice with a knife he described as a long blade with a red handle. Murphy said he lit the house on fire because he did not want her three children to find her body. He also admitted to suffering from depression and having stopped taking medication. The case was set to continue before a jury the following day.
In 2011, Noel Holland, aged 40, was sentenced to eight years in prison by Mr Justice Paul Carney at the Central Criminal Court for sexually assaulting an 18‑year‑old girl at his home. Holland had invited the victim to his house under the pretense of arranging a taxi, then assaulted and attempted to choke her. The victim later sent text messages to her family while Holland was in the bathroom, and she is now deceased. Mr Justice Carney declared Holland a sex offender, suspended the final three years of the sentence, and imposed five years of post‑release supervision, ordering him to keep away from the victim. Holland appealed the sentence's severity to the Court of Criminal Appeal, which upheld the sentence as entirely appropriate. Noel Holland pleaded guilty.
Michael Fay, aged 22, was sentenced by Swords District Court to an eight‑month suspended custodial term and a ten‑year driving disqualification after pleading guilty to two counts of dangerous driving, non‑payment of a taxi fare, and criminal damage. The dangerous driving incidents occurred on 26 October 2013 at Jugback Lane and involved Fay driving a moped in a dangerous manner, failing to stop for Garda officers, and later driving onto a green area in Castlegrange Estate. Garda Conor Tumbleton and Garda Brian Reidy testified that Fay was pursued on foot after he left a footpath. On 8 December 2013, Fay refused to pay a €17 taxi fare and was abusive; he later urinated in a Garda cell, causing €88.75 of damage. The court imposed a suspended four‑month prison term for each dangerous driving charge, disqualifying Fay from driving for four years and an additional six years, respectively, and fined him €200 for the damage.
Sean Smith, 18, of Dundalk, was convicted at Balbriggan District Court of selling cigarettes without excise duty paid. He pleaded guilty to the charge, which involved displaying various brands at Balbriggan Sunday Market. Judge Dermot Dempsey fined him €350 and ordered the destruction of the cigarettes. In separate matters, James Maguire, 43, of Balbriggan, is alleged to have used threatening and abusive behaviour and obstructed a garda in Skerries. His case was adjourned to March 3rd at Swords District Court, and he was remanded on continuing bail. Jade Gannon, 30, of Skerries, is charged with criminal damage, having no insurance, being intoxicated, using threatening and abusive behaviour, and failing to pay a taxi fare. Her case was also adjourned to March 3rd at Swords District Court, with the court remanding her on continuing bail. All proceedings were heard before Judge Dempsey.
In a Dublin murder trial, Gary Walsh, a 35‑year‑old witness, testified that the accused, Criostoir MacCarthaigh, warned him to keep silent about the night David Whyte was stabbed to death. Walsh, who lived in the same Phibsborough house as MacCarthaigh, described a night of drinking and a taxi ride to a late bar. He recalled seeing a drunken man and later noticing blood where the man had stood. Walsh said MacCarthaigh and another tenant, Simon Griffin, told him to leave but returned, showing deep cuts on MacCarthaigh's hands. MacCarthaigh allegedly threatened Walsh, telling him he would know what they did and that Walsh should keep his mouth shut. The trial is before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy with a jury of seven men and five women. Criostoir MacCarthaigh pleaded not guilty.
The Central Criminal Court heard evidence in the trial of Przemyslaw Trebacz, a Polish national accused of murdering Romanian Costel Catalin Cretu (38) at Connolly Court, Cavan, between October 13 and 14, 2012. Trebacz has pleaded not guilty to the murder charge but pleaded guilty to criminal damage to a door belonging to Brendan Cosgrove at the same address on October 13, 2012. Prosecution witness Gary Malone, a taxi driver and former neighbour of the accused, testified that he was called by Trebacz at approximately 11:00 PM on the night in question. Malone stated that Trebacz and another man entered his vehicle, with Trebacz sitting in the passenger seat. During the journey, Malone heard Trebacz use the phrase 'Soviet attack' and observed him holding a green woolly sock containing a solid object. Malone reported seeing Trebacz kick in a door at Connolly Court before the men left the scene. He further testified that the other man threatened him, stating, 'shut up or you and your family will be next.' Malone subsequently reported the incident to gardai. The court heard that Trebacz had previously mentioned the IRA to Malone. Malone's evidence is ongoing, and the matter remains at the trial stage with no final verdict or sentence recorded.
An unemployed hairdresser, Aine Penrose, aged 29, was found guilty of drink driving at Swords District Court on 4 June. She drove her car with her three children—aged seven, nine and one—while under the influence of alcohol. Penrose claimed she was terrified of her ex‑partner, who is the father of one of her children, and had no phone credit to call a taxi. She said she had gone to the beach with her children and the ex‑partner, had a few drinks, and when returning to his house, her son was bullied by his brother, leading to an argument. Garda Jonathan Kirk observed her swerving and failing to signal at a roundabout; her breath test showed 58 mg/100 ml. The judge found her guilty, disqualified her from driving for two years effective February, and fined her €250.
A Polish national has pleaded not guilty to the murder of a Romanian man at an apartment in Cavan town in October 2012. Przemyslaw Trebacz, aged 35, of Bramble Rise, Killynebber, is accused of fatally stabbing Costel Catalin Cretu during an incident at Connolly Court. The Central Criminal Court heard that Mr Cretu was present in the apartment to supervise two women engaged in sex work. According to the prosecution, Mr Trebacz and another man entered the apartment and left within minutes, with CCTV evidence supporting this timeline. The court was told that Mr Cretu sustained two stab wounds, including a fatal injury to his chest. A neighbour who worked as a taxi driver allegedly transported the accused to the location that night. Mr Trebacz has admitted to criminal damage to a door at the premises but maintains he acted in self-defence. He has pleaded guilty to the criminal damage charge. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Barry White at the Central Criminal Court, continues.
Swords District Court heard three matters. Gary McQuillian, 23, pleaded guilty to being drunk and a source of danger after jumping onto a moving taxi's bonnet. Judge Dermot Dempsey applied Section 1.1 of the Probation Act, meaning McQuillian escaped a conviction. Ronan Healy, 34, pleaded guilty to drink driving after failing to stop at a junction, causing a squad car to brake to avoid a collision. Healy, who has four previous convictions including one for drink driving, was convicted, disqualified from driving, and fined €600. Sam Maughan, 19, pleaded guilty to being intoxicated and using threatening and abusive behaviour at a Debs Ball. Maughan, who has 22 previous convictions, was remanded on continuing bail to appear before Court 5 at the Criminal Courts of Justice on November 21st to have a suspended sentence re-entered. The court noted Maughan had threatened Gardaí and had to be restrained by door staff. All defendants were represented by solicitors, and evidence was presented by Gardaí Brian Morrissey, Lucy Woods, and Daniel Rogers.