Sean Beumer, 19, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Court to assault causing harm after a vicious, unprovoked attack on Mark Kelly, a father of two, at Grace Park Heights, Drumcondra on 15 March. The assault, witnessed by Kelly's wife and family, began when Beumer confronted Kelly outside his home while Kelly was watching a rugby match. Beumer punched Kelly, breaking his lower lip and repeatedly striking him to the head and body, causing Kelly to fall and suffer injuries. Kelly's wife was thrown to the ground and suffered back pain. Beumer, who had 14 prior convictions mainly for traffic offences and one for attempted theft, apologized and claimed self‑defence. Judge Martin Nolan, noting Beumer's remorse and cooperation, imposed a two‑year suspended sentence, ordered one year of Probation and Welfare Service supervision, and declined a custodial term. A co‑accused, Peter O'Reilly, was previously ordered to pay €5,000 to the victim and his wife.
Aaron Weinrib, 37, of Cambridge Villas, Rathmines, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to eight theft and fraud charges for selling bogus package holidays between June and December 2010. He marketed three holiday packages to New York, Las Vegas and Cape Town, claiming to be an agent for "Top Flight". Weinrib admitted he had never worked for Top Flight and that the documents he provided were forged. He stole €27,600 from 20 people, keeping €23,600 and returning €4,000. The court imposed a two‑year suspended sentence and ordered him to repay the remaining €23,600 over two years. The judge noted his cooperation, lack of prior convictions and the psychological report indicating anxiety, stress and a recent bipolar diagnosis. No further convictions or outcomes were mentioned in the article.
Dean Adams, 22, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm after delivering a running kick to Deomid Ryabkov's forehead on 19 February 2012. Ryabkov was attacked while attempting to recover stolen headphones. Adams, who claimed the thief was a friend, later expressed remorse. Judge Mary Ellen Ring imposed a suspended sentence of three and a half years, conditioned on Adams keeping the peace and engaging with Probation Service education and training programmes. Adams has 52 prior convictions, including assault, theft, public order and road traffic offences. He expressed a desire to apologise to the victim and continue drug treatment, noting his problems arise mainly when intoxicated. The court noted the assault was unprovoked and resulted in a severe skull fracture for Ryabkov.
In a 2015 case, 51‑year‑old Rosemary Kane of Willow Vale, Ballybrack, pleaded guilty to impeding the apprehension of a person after a robbery on Wyattville Road, Loughlinstown, on 23 April 2011. The robbery involved two armed men who stopped Kane's car, forced her to drive, and later left with €1,140 in cash. Kane, frightened and nervous, drove to Killiney Shopping Centre, where she took a bag left by the robbers and threw it into a charity clothes bin. Garda Bernard Dunne traced the Mazda used by the robbers to Kane and called her on her mobile; she agreed to wait for the officers at the shopping centre car park. The officers arrested her there. CCTV footage showed her placing the bag in the bin, and investigators later retrieved the knives from the bin. Kane denied concealing evidence, stating she was afraid for her life and did not want to get involved.
Michael McDonald, 44, was arrested after a burglary at a priest's house in Cherry Orchard, Dublin, where he stole a Yankees baseball cap and a Lourdes purse containing €660. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Patricia Ryan imposed a suspended prison term of one year, suspended for three years, conditioned on McDonald keeping the peace and continuing drug treatment with Probation Services, and on his participation in victim empathy programmes. The burglary occurred on 15 August 2013; the priest discovered the front door unlocked and a side‑room window shattered, with the house ransacked. McDonald admitted the theft to Gardaí, apologized to the priest, and was wearing the stolen cap and purse when apprehended. He has 27 prior convictions, including a 2002 sentence of three years for robbery and assault offences. His defence lawyer, Keith Spencer BL, cited his upbringing in the Travelling community and his son's success as a professional footballer.
Rachel Keogh, aged 24, was sentenced to one year in prison for acting as a lookout and participating in a savage unprovoked attack on an elderly homeless man. Keogh kicked the victim at least five times while her co‑accused stamped on the victim's head and chest more than ten times. The pair claimed they stopped the assault when they believed the victim was dead. The attack, recorded on CCTV, took place at the Four Courts building where the victim was sleeping rough. Keogh had previously pleaded guilty to robbery in 2014 and had failed to appear for sentencing in 2014, leading to a bench warrant. She has 13 prior convictions, including theft and handling stolen property. The judge ordered her to cooperate with probation services and submit to urine analysis for 12 months after release.
The Court of Criminal Appeal has dismissed the conviction appeals of two men, aged 22 and 24, who were previously jailed for the attempted rape of a woman in a van. The appellants, who were 16 and 18 at the time of the 2009 incident, had been found guilty by a Central Criminal Court jury in November 2012. The 22-year-old was convicted of attempted rape, sexual assault, and oral rape, while the 24-year-old was convicted of attempted rape and sexual assault. A third accused was acquitted on all counts. Mr Justice Paul Carney sentenced both men to ten years' imprisonment in January 2013. The 22-year-old also pleaded guilty to stealing the victim's car at the outset of the trial. In today's ruling, Mr Justice Alan Mahon, sitting with Mr Justice George Birmingham and Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan, stated that the original trial was conducted in an "exemplary fashion" and that the convictions should stand. The court rejected the appellants' argument that the trial judge erred in law, rendering the convictions unsafe. The men are due to appeal their sentences at a later date.
Darren McKevitt, 26, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to arson of a car, dangerous driving, driving under the influence, driving without insurance, three counts of assault, possession of a stolen Toyota Avensis, a stolen PSV certificate, an Irish driving licence and insurance certificate, and unlawful possession of a stun gun. The offences occurred on 31 October 2014 at Durrow Road, Crumlin, and on 24 November 2014 at Cushlawn Park, Tallaght. A blood sample showed he was five times over the legal alcohol limit. Judge Patricia Ryan imposed a probation bond, requiring McKevitt to work with probation officers, undergo drug rehabilitation and employment training, and to return to court on 1 July 2016. He was arrested after Garda Michael Creegan and Garda Micheal O'Sullivan chased him following the bonfire incident, during which McKevitt assaulted three gardaí and was later taken to Crumlin Garda Station. The court noted his nine previous convictions, including possession of drugs for sale or supply.
A young Wicklow man has been jailed for his part in two armed robberies of school children. During one robbery, Aaron Doyle punched a schoolboy in the face before taking his smart mobile phone. Doyle (19) of Cois Cairn, Old Connaught Avenue, Bray, Co Wicklow pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to robbery and attempted robbery at the Dodder Walkway, Irishtown on May 19, 2014. He also admitted robbery at Marlborough Road, Glenageary, Dublin on the same date. Judge Martin Nolan said Doyle had 'picked on young boys'. He suspended the last 15 months of a three year prison sentence on condition he keeps the peace for that period. Doyle's eleven previous convictions include an offence of handling stolen property for which he is already serving a ten month sentence. The matter was adjourned.
Gary McMenamin, aged 22 and a former Shamrock Rovers scholarship recipient, was given a two‑year suspended sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for possessing a stolen Cartier watch worth €10,000. McMenamin was travelling by boat to the UK to trade the watch when Gardaí stopped him. He first claimed the watch belonged to his girlfriend, then said it had been offered to him by an acquaintance for €1,500. He pleaded guilty to possession of the watch at Stena Line on 9 October 2014. The watch had been stolen in an aggravated burglary in Wicklow in September 2014, though McMenamin was not involved in that burglary. He has six previous road‑traffic convictions and one conviction for failing to comply with Garda direction, all dating back to 2010. Judge Martin Nolan noted that McMenamin had no role in the burglary but must have suspected the watch was stolen before buying it.
The 20‑year‑old ringleader of a "spine chilling" aggravated burglary, robbery and false imprisonment at Botanic Avenue, Dublin 9, was sentenced to six years' detention on 29 March 2012. He was found guilty on 27 April 2011. The Court of Appeal later reduced the term, suspending the final 12 months. The offender, who was 15 at the time of the offence, had 23 prior convictions and was on bail for other robberies. He entered the victim's home with accomplices, threatened the student with a knife, demanded money and the PIN of an ATM card, and forced the student's girlfriend to be held back while the student was "frog marched" to an ATM. The victims withdrew €600, and the offender threatened further withdrawal. The appeal judge noted the offender's young age and the need for rehabilitation, and required a €100 bond for good behaviour during the suspended period and for two years after release.
John Murphy, 31, of New Ross, Wexford, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for theft committed at an address in Foxrock, Dublin, on October 28, 2014. Murphy pleaded guilty to the charge. The court heard that Murphy, posing as a journalist, extorted €1,000 from 82-year-old Patrick Brendan Tiernan by threatening to publish his image alongside sex offender Larry Murphy. Tiernan, who previously pleaded guilty to 14 charges of indecent assault and gross indecency involving nine victims, was targeted for his prior convictions. Judge Desmond Hogan described the act as a "particularly mean offence" and sentenced Murphy to three years in prison, suspended in full for four years. Murphy was ordered to pay €5,500 to the victim, keep the peace and be of good behaviour for four years, and comply with probation services for two years. The judge noted that Murphy acted as the frontman for a sophisticated operation involving surveillance. The matter was finalised with this suspended sentence and associated conditions.
John (Anthony) Kelly, 41, an executive officer with the Revenue, stole nearly €20,000 from the State by pocketing motoring fines for motorists without Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT). He targeted high‑end cars such as Porches and BMWs, stealing a total of €19,350 between March 2005 and January 2006. Kelly pleaded guilty to three counts of theft from the Revenue Commissioners at New Customs House, Dublin, and was sentenced by Judge Desmond Hogan to six years in prison, suspended in full for four years. The judge noted Kelly's financial difficulties and cooperation with Gardaí, and that he had repaid €3,490 to the court, which was ordered to be passed to the Revenue Commissioners. Kelly has since been fired from his position and is now employed elsewhere, having listed the Revenue as a reference when applying for his new job.
Dean Brennan, aged 28, was jailed after sending 13 "grossly threatening" text messages to his ex‑girlfriend Louise Hanna and her new partner Richard Doyle. The texts, sent on 18 and 26 December 2014, included threats to shoot Hanna, blow her head off, burn her house and kill both her and Doyle. Brennan pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Pauline Codd imposed a four‑year prison sentence, suspending the last two years on the condition that Brennan remains drug and alcohol free and continues counselling with Probation Services. She also ordered that he must not communicate with the victims or their families, nor approach within half a mile of their homes or workplaces for seven years. Brennan had been recently released from prison when the texts were sent. The court noted his prior convictions, including robbery and nine public order offences, and his participation in anger‑management and drug‑recovery programmes.
Larry Wapor, 36, of Arbour Hill, Dublin, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to four theft counts after using a stolen Bank of Ireland card belonging to John Burke to pay four separate bills. Wapor claimed a cleric had given him the card and denied the CCTV evidence, later admitting the theft. He was sentenced to a two‑year suspended term, with the judge noting it would be his first and last chance.
A 21‑year‑old Wicklow man, Dylan Keegan Duignan, and an accomplice robbed a 62‑year‑old taxi driver, Leslie Leady, on 14 October 2014. The robbery took place after the driver had taken the men from Dublin's O'Connell Street to St Margaret's Park halting site in Ballymun. Duignan sat in the front passenger seat while the other man sat behind Leady. The accomplice threatened Leady with a sharp object, demanding money, and Duignan then took the car keys. Leady was forced to walk into a field. The robbers fled to the nearest petrol station after the taxi's tank ran empty; they were arrested when they returned with petrol. Duignan pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and was sentenced to two years' imprisonment by Judge Martin Nolan, adding to an existing eleven‑month term for a 2012 robbery. The other accomplice is also before the courts for the same offences.
Stefan Onofrei, a 34-year-old Romanian national from Balbriggan, was sentenced to three years in prison at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to six sample charges of theft. The charges related to the fraudulent claiming of job seeker's benefit, job seeker's allowance, supplementary welfare allowance, emergency means payment, rent property supplement allowance, and family income supplement between January 9, 2009, and February 10, 2015. Prosecution evidence indicated Onofrei used a false identity to claim social welfare payments 463 times, with the State alleging a total loss of €97,207.24, although his defense disputed the figure, suggesting it was closer to €85,000. Judge Martin Nolan described the conduct as a serious fraud committed over a protracted period, noting that Onofrei engaged in a pattern of behavior to deceive the social welfare system. While acknowledging Onofrei's cooperation with the Garda investigation and his status as a hard-working family man, the judge imposed the custodial sentence. The matter was finalized with this sentence, concluding the proceedings.
Joseph Bates, aged 36, appeared at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following a guilty plea to burglary at Milltown Institute on Sandyford Road, Dublin on 21 July 2013. The charges allege that while trespassing in the building, he committed theft and criminal damage. Bates had previously received a three-year suspended sentence from Longford Circuit Court for burglary in County Longford, imposed on condition he keep the peace for five years. The prosecution indicated the matter requires return to the Midlands Circuit, with Judge Desmond Hogan adjourning the case for mention at Tullamore on the following day. The breach of the suspended sentence condition raises the prospect of activation of the earlier custodial term.
Michael Murray, aged 43, was convicted in 2013 of rape, attempted rape, oral rape, aggravated sexual assault, child abduction, threats to kill or cause serious harm, false imprisonment and theft, and sentenced to 15 years in prison. In 2015 he brought a High Court action against the Irish Prison Service and the Minister for Justice, claiming that his solicitors' phone calls had been recorded in prison. The court found that in May and July 2013 some of Murray's calls were indeed recorded, including those to his solicitors, due to an anomaly in the phone system. The recordings were made inadvertently and were not accessed by prison staff or the Gardaí. The judge ruled the recordings were inappropriate but did not amount to a prejudice of Murray's rights, dismissed the application, and awarded costs against him. The case was heard in the Central Criminal Court, and Murray's conviction remains pending appeal.
Michael Byrne, a 25‑year‑old father of two from Kilbarrack, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to stealing €3,000 in coins from a G4S cash services van on 26 March 2014 and to robbing €450 from a Paddy Power shop on 25 April 2014. He admitted the theft after fingerprints were found on the van and that he had been drinking and taking drugs, which he said caused him to forget what he did with the coins. Byrne had previously been convicted of four robberies and 12 criminal damage offences and was already serving a five‑year sentence for robbery and criminal damage. The new five‑year sentence will run after the two‑year term for the earlier offence expires. The court noted that Byrne's use of a replica shotgun during the Paddy Power robbery was treated as a serious offence because it could have been mistaken for a real gun.
Breifne O'Brien, a 54‑year‑old former businessman, is set to appeal a seven‑year prison sentence imposed on 8 October 2014 for deceiving investors into advancing about €8.5 million for bogus property deals between 2003 and 2004. He pleaded guilty to 14 counts of deception at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. His counsel, Patrick McCullough BL, secured an extension to file the appeal, as O'Brien had missed the normal 28‑day filing window by four months, and also applied for legal aid. The Court of Appeal scheduled the hearing for 15 October, with the judge expecting it to last 45 minutes. O'Brien was absent from the procedural hearings in May and on the day of the listing. Solicitor Séamus Cassidy, Head of Appeals at the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, confirmed that the DPP would not object to legal aid if the necessary paperwork is submitted.
In a Luas incident on 14 August 2012, 37‑year‑old David Larkin and 42‑year‑old Suzanne McGowan attacked and robbed Izabela Portyka. Larkin punched Portyka repeatedly, spat at her, and stole her handbag while McGowan shouted abuse. Passengers did not intervene. Larkin and McGowan pleaded guilty to robbery. Larkin, with 30 prior convictions, received a four‑year sentence with the final two years suspended. McGowan, with 24 prior convictions, was remanded on bail pending a probation and welfare services report. The court noted the offence was "out of character" for McGowan, a mother of two. Portyka suffered neck and head injuries, later treated for migraines and psychological issues. The case was heard in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Gavin Carabini, 31, of Dublin, was sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment for his role in a robbery that stole 28 Rolex and 18 Cartier watches worth over €100,000 from Hartmann Jewellers on 28 November 2008. The robbery involved three men armed with a handgun and iron bars who entered the shop at 1.10 pm, threatened staff, smashed a glass cabinet, and fled in a BMW. Carabini was arrested after a Garda search and had 63 previous convictions. The sentencing judge, Rory McCabe, imposed 10 years with the final 18 months suspended, citing the seriousness of the offence and the aggravating factors. Carabini appealed on the grounds of an unduly harsh sentence, but the Court of Appeal, led by Justice Garrett Sheehan, dismissed the appeal, describing the trial judge's approach as exemplary. The appeal was dismissed on 13 November 2013. Gavin Carabini pleaded guilty.
Bernard Flynn, 63, of Cannon Burke Flats, Cabra, Dublin, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for committing €25,000 of social welfare fraud. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to 11 sample charges of stealing from Social Protection at River Valley Post Office, River Valley Swords, between August 2011 and April 2014. The charges represented 123 visits to the post office for job seekers allowance and 13 visits for both job seekers and rent allowance under the name Brendan Flynn. Flynn used a different PPS number and date of birth to claim the benefits. He was caught using facial recognition software when Garda Sergeant Kevin Mention arrested him on 4 April 2014 after he collected both allowances. Flynn had ten previous convictions, including breach of the peace, larceny, careless driving, public order and illegal possession of Garda equipment.
Michael Coleman, 34, a convicted robber, was sentenced to 18 months in custody for an unprovoked assault on two Louth brothers, Christopher and Joseph Lennon, on 26 June 2014. The attack occurred on Camden Street, Dublin, while Coleman was on bail for a prior robbery. He called Christopher a "culchie," punched him, and then joined in attacking Joseph, punching and kicking him while he was on the ground, causing Joseph to lose consciousness. The brothers had been drinking at Flannery's pub and were heading home when the incident happened. Joseph Lennon suffered a broken jaw on both sides, requiring metal plates and still cannot fully open his mouth; he also experiences flashbacks. Coleman had 25 prior convictions, including robbery and firearms offences. He pleaded guilty, and the judge noted his cooperation and attempts to address drug issues. The 18‑month sentence will commence after his current five‑year term ends.
Michael Fagan, 24, was jailed for five years after attempting to rob Collins Food Store on Mount Pleasant Avenue, Dublin 6, on 22 May 2014. While an off‑duty Garda, Brendan O'Toole, was restraining his teenage accomplice, Fagan pointed a replica gun at the Garda's head and threatened to shoot him. O'Toole replied, "I am a Garda, don't shoot," and the threat was not carried out. Fagan was arrested, pleaded guilty to attempted robbery and possession of an imitation firearm with intent to commit robbery, and had 48 prior convictions. The judge noted Fagan's lack of remorse at the time but acknowledged later reflection. The case highlighted the danger posed by realistic replica firearms and the impact on the Garda involved. The teenage co‑accused received a two‑year suspended sentence. The trial concluded with the five‑year custodial sentence for Fagan.
Martin Reilly, a 59‑year‑old former Canada Life agent, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison after pleading guilty to 80 counts of theft. Between 2002 and 2011 he persuaded 18 clients, including a priest, to withdraw money from their Canada Life policies and invest it in non‑existent products. He then deposited the funds into an EBS account in his own name. Reilly's address was West Side Estates, Togher, Cork. He had no prior convictions. Canada Life reimbursed all victims and suffered a €1.2 million loss. Reilly admitted a gambling addiction, confessed to stealing the money, and has since sought treatment with Gamblers Anonymous and spoken about gambling in schools and groups. The judge noted the prolonged pattern of misbehaviour and the pernicious nature of gambling. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the repeated thefts.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Christopher Dunne, aged 27, was sentenced to five and a half years' imprisonment for making a threat to kill Derek Walker in Clondalkin on 15 January 2013. Judge Mary Ellen Ring suspended the last 18 months of the sentence. Dunne, who has 126 prior convictions, also pleaded guilty to criminal damage to Walker's vehicle, possession of a GPS device for use in a crime, and theft of an Audi A4. His brother Aaron Dunne, aged 21, was previously sentenced to two and a half years with 18 months suspended for criminal damage and possession of a baseball bat during the same incident. The trial noted that Walker and a woman were hostile witnesses, and that witnesses were terrified and reluctant to testify. The court recorded that Walker had claimed the Dunne brothers owed him money for a car he had sold.
Patrick Walsh, a 33‑year‑old former Canada Life tied agent from Bruff, was sentenced to two and a half years in prison after pleading guilty to 75 fraud and theft charges. Between February 2010 and November 2011, he created 38 fictitious insurance policies, using names similar to his own, his estranged wife's, or genuine clients, and received commissions and performance bonuses totalling about €265,000. He also stole €90,000 from Canada Life, which paid him for the fake policies, and paid €50,000 in bonuses. The fraudulent policies were worth €75,000, but Walsh profited €215,000, leaving Canada Life with a €230,000 loss. He admitted that the scheme began to finance a house he was building with his former partner, but the scheme spiralled out of control. The court described the conduct as a "long pattern of criminal behaviour" and imposed custodial custody, noting that no genuine policy holders were left out of pocket.
Patrick Walsh, a 33‑year‑old former Canada Life tied agent, admitted to creating 38 fictitious insurance policies between February 2010 and November 2011, generating €215,000 in fraudulent commissions and €50,000 in performance bonuses. He also stole 37 times from Canada Life, receiving commissions on the fake policies. The company suffered a loss of €230,000. Walsh claimed he fabricated policies to fund a house he was building with his estranged wife, but the scheme spiralled as he needed more money to keep the policies from lapsing. He paid €90,000 to produce the policies, which were worth €75,000 when discovered. Walsh also set up direct debits from genuine policyholders' accounts, refunding them from his own account when questioned. He pleaded guilty to 75 fraud and theft charges and is to be sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on Monday.
Paul Clarke, 31, was sentenced to one year in prison for handling stolen goods after a cash box containing €50,000 was found in a garden shed at Marigold Crescent, Darndale. Gardaí discovered the box on 28 April 2014, with a pickaxe protruding and green dye indicating a security device. Clarke, who had green dye on his clothing, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He was arrested alongside Michael Byrne, 25, who had previously received a three‑year sentence for robbery, and Dean Slattery, 25, who was sentenced to four years with two years suspended. Garda Padraig McInerney explained the cash‑in‑transit van was robbed during delivery to AIB Bank, Raheny. Clarke claimed he had no role in the robbery and was only involved in attempting to open the box after the theft. He was known to Gardaí as a heroin addict and had spent most of the last 15 years in prison.
Alan Freeman, aged 34, was convicted of theft for his role in a January 2009 robbery at Carrick on Suir, Tipperary, where more than 40 firearms were taken. He pleaded guilty at Naas Circuit Criminal Court and was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment by Judge Gerrard Griffin on 1 April 2014. The Court of Appeal noted the robbery's significance to the Gardaí and that Freeman had been assisted by experienced counsel. On appeal, Judge George Birmingham reviewed Freeman's earlier suspended sentence of eight years for a bank robbery, of which six years had been reactivated, making a global sentence of 13 years. Applying the principle of totality and proportionality, Birmingham suspended two years of the seven‑year sentence, leaving Freeman with an overall sentence of 11 years. He agreed to a €100 bond to maintain peace and good behaviour during the suspended period.
Eoin Murphy, 19, was jailed for driving a stolen car at Garda Karen Duffy, causing her a six‑centimetre scar on her forehead. The incident occurred on 28 August 2013 when Murphy, allegedly "stoned" on tablets, drove a stolen Nissan Micra at high speed between a patrol car and a parked vehicle. The Micra's passenger door struck Duffy's head as she tried to re‑enter her patrol car, breaking her nose and opening a wound on her forehead that required 30 stitches. Duffy suffered severe bruising, photophobia and was diagnosed with Post‑Traumatic Stress Disorder. Murphy, who had 30 prior convictions including three for car theft, pleaded guilty to reckless endangerment and unlawful use of a car. Judge Mary Ellen Ring sentenced him to three and a half years, suspending the last year due to his good work with Probation Services.
Henry Byrne, a 45-year-old Dublin financial trader, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to stealing €10,000 from Manortown United FC on two separate occasions. The applicant, Comiskey O'Keefe, acted as Byrne's defence counsel. Byrne admitted to withdrawing the first sum in February 2006 to cover a personal property investment shortfall, which he later repaid using funds borrowed from his sister. He subsequently withdrew a second €10,000 in September 2009 to repay his sister. Although Byrne initially claimed the withdrawals were for club facilities or banking errors, he later admitted and apologised for the theft. Sergeant Jonathan Kelly testified that the unauthorised withdrawals were discovered when the club restructured. Judge Martin Nolan acknowledged that Byrne had repaid the stolen amounts before any formal complaints were made and had cooperated fully with the investigation. The judge noted that Byrne, a father of three with no previous convictions, had served as treasurer for 25 years and had already suffered significant public shaming and community ostracism. Judge Nolan stated that imprisonment would be unjust given these mitigating factors. Consequently, he suspended a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence on strict conditions, accepting that the reputational damage constituted a punishment in itself.
Shane O'Brien, a 29‑year‑old Westmeath resident, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to theft from the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation (IBRC) between November 2011 and July 2013. While working in the early arrears team, he took cash payments from four clients in mortgage arrears and pocketed the money instead of passing it on to offset their mortgages. He admitted to stealing a total of €2,886 and to having alerted his employers to the thefts. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a one‑year suspended sentence on the condition that O'Brien repay the full amount within a month. O'Brien had no prior convictions and had not been involved with the Gardaí since the incident. The judge noted that O'Brien claimed he was in great need of the money and that he had never been in trouble before or since.
Titilayo Kilanko, a 38‑year‑old care worker from Carrigmore Lawn, Citywest, Dublin, pleaded guilty to ten counts of theft from Ulster Bank on 22 June 2012. She admitted making 115 fraudulent withdrawals totalling €57,708 from ATMs in Dun Laoghaire, Lower Kilmacud Road, Stillorgan, Main Street, Blackrock and the Beacon Centre in Sandyford. Kilanko claimed the money was used to pay a man to donate a kidney to her father in Nigeria, where he was being treated at University College Hospital in Ibadan and owed €80,000 for treatment and dialysis. She flew to Nigeria with the cash, converted it to naira, and paid a donor €25,000. The court sentenced her to three years' imprisonment with 15 months suspended, noting she had no prior convictions and had cooperated with authorities. The judge expressed regret at sentencing her but stated the repeated theft could not be condoned.
The murder trial of David Cully, 24, continued at the Central Criminal Court before Mr Justice Carroll Moran and a jury. Cully, of Kilshane Road, Finglas West, is charged with murdering his uncle, Edward O'Connor, 41, by shooting him twice at Ballycoolin Road, Finglas West, on December 15, 2013. He has pleaded not guilty to the murder charge, although he admitted manslaughter to gardai, claiming he 'lost it' after a comment regarding a sexual abuse allegation against the deceased. During cross-examination on the fifth day of the trial, witness Darren O'Connor, 24, testified that he saw his cousin shoot their father in the back following an arranged fist fight at the family's grandparents' property. Mr O'Connor denied that there was a 'history of firearms' in the family and stated he was unaware of previous weapons found near their home or in Dunsink. However, he agreed that he is allegedly facing a charge of being in possession of a firearm in the course of a robbery in July 2013. The trial continues this afternoon.
A County Laois resident, Moldovan national Axenia Alexei, aged 30, was sentenced to a two‑year suspended term for fraudulently claiming €15,339 in unemployment benefits. Alexei entered Ireland in 2009, bought a false Latvian passport online, and used the resulting PPS number to work and later to claim Jobseeker's Allowance after losing her job. She pleaded guilty to stealing the benefits between July 2012 and March 2014 and to possessing the fake passport on 15 September 2014. She had no prior convictions. The court found she could have claimed over €7,000 using her real PPS number, and that she had worked part‑time in 2012 with her real number while also claiming benefits with the false number. The judge suspended the sentence for two years, ordered the return of €2,000 to the Department of Social Protection, and gave her an additional two years to repay €6,000.
James Bennett, 22, pleaded guilty to attempted robbery at Leonard's Corner Post office on 17 October 2013. He approached the counter at about 11.30 am, placed a note under the hatch stating "I have a bomb strapped to my body", and then drew a pellet gun. The two female workers fled to the back office and Bennett left. CCTV identified him and he was arrested on Clanbrassil Street; his pellet gun was found in a nearby bin. In a victim impact statement, Geraldine Smith said the incident was "on the lower end of the scale" and that she felt "kind of sorry for the chap". Judge Mary Ellen Ring acknowledged the resilience of the victims and, noting Bennett's willingness to work with the Probation Service and his desire to improve his circumstances, sentenced him to three years in prison, suspended in full. He must remain under probation supervision for 18 months and keep the peace for three years.
Eoin Daly, aged 29, was sentenced to five and a half years in prison for a series of burglaries committed between July and September 2013 across Dublin suburbs and Leixlip. He pleaded guilty to five counts of burglary, one of trespass and attempted theft. The judge noted that Daly had been granted bail repeatedly after each arrest, questioning why he was not remanded earlier. Daly's lawyer described him as a "one‑man crime wave" linked to chronic heroin addiction. The judge suspended the final 18 months of the sentence on the condition that Daly cooperate with the Probation Service upon release. Daly had 30 prior convictions, including burglary, robbery, firearm possession and threats of killing. The sentence reflects the judge's concern that, if he does not change, he will spend his thirties in court and prison.
The 20‑year‑old ringleader of an attack in which a student was forced to withdraw money from an ATM and threatened that his girlfriend would be raped by two accomplices has won an appeal against his sentence. He had pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary, robbery and false imprisonment at Botanic Avenue, Dublin 9 on 27 April 2011 and was sentenced to six years' detention by Judge Martin Nolan on 29 March 2012. The Court of Appeal heard that the offender, who was 15 at the time of sentencing, held a knife to the student's throat, demanded €40 and later €600, and threatened to harm the student's girlfriend if the PIN was not supplied. The Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan, found that the judge had not given sufficient regard to the Children's Act and that rehabilitation should have been considered.
Bianca Maria Birtas, a 25‑year‑old former cash handler, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to stealing €9,520 on 18 September 2014 and an additional €6,010 on 19 September 2014 from G4S Cash Services Ireland Ltd. CCTV footage showed her stuffing money into her sleeves as she counted notes into bundles. The cash was destined for destruction at the Central Bank, and the total missing amount was €15,530. Garda investigations revealed that Birtas had deposited €6,005 of the stolen money in her accounts and that an additional €7,840 was found in her home. She claimed she was worried about paying for her wedding and had no previous convictions. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a suspended sentence of two and a half years, noting that she was unlikely to re‑offend and that the offence could be treated as a one‑off. The stolen cash was to be returned to the Central Bank.
In a 2013 robbery of a Tallaght post office, former chef and drug counsellor Keith McCarthy (38) participated after relapsing into drug use. He and an accomplice stole €10,351, escaping on a bicycle with one rider on the crossbar. The accomplice, armed with a lump hammer, was never charged and died shortly after. McCarthy, who had been drug‑free for ten years, pleaded guilty to robbery at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Mary Ellen Ring suspended a four‑year jail term, noting he had not offended since and was engaged in drug treatment and victim awareness work. The stolen money was never recovered. McCarthy's fingerprints on the getaway bike led to his arrest two weeks after the raid. The case highlighted his prior 15 convictions and his recent relapse after family difficulties. The court emphasized his commitment to remain drug‑free and comply with the suspended sentence conditions.
Lewis Smith, 18, previously of Glenshane Grove, Tallaght, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to burglary in Tallaght on September 2, 2014. He is accused of breaking into the home of a profoundly deaf woman with a 17-year-old co-accused, who also pleaded guilty to the same charge. The teenagers allegedly stole a computer tablet, a mobile phone, and a television. Garda Jennifer Grogan stated that the homeowner later discovered a message written on the sitting room wall. Smith has previous convictions for criminal damage and stealing a car. Judge Martin Nolan adjourned the case to July 30 next to allow for the preparation of a probation report to assess Smith's suitability for community service. The judge remanded Smith on continuing bail until then, imposing conditions that he live with his grandmother in Saggart, adhere to a curfew from midnight to 8am, and sign on three times a week at Tallaght Garda Station. Judge Nolan noted that while the woman's peace of mind was greatly affected, it was highly unlikely the teenagers knew she was deaf. Defense counsel George Burns BL stated that Smith had written letters of apology to the victim and the court and expressed remorse.
David Bradshaw (33) and Patrick O'Dowd (30) pleaded guilty to handling a stolen Mercedes Benz in November 2013. They claimed they bought the vehicle for €6,000 from a woman named Alex, who said it was her husband's car, and later sold it online for €5,000 to an Irish buyer. They could not provide details about Alex, the buyer or the men who collected the car. The court found the men had been reckless about the vehicle's status and had not reported it. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year suspended sentence on each, requiring them to raise €5,000 within a year to pay the original owner. The car, valued at €20,000, was never recovered, and the owner continues to repay the loan. Bradshaw had 17 prior convictions, while O'Dowd had two.
A judge has made the final orders in the judicial review of an Algerian-born Irish citizen, Ali Charaf Damache, whose extradition was refused last month in the High Court. Ali Charaf Damache was wanted in the United States on two alleged terrorism-related offences. On May 21, High Court judge Ms Justice Aileen Donnelly delivered her judgement refusing the State's application for the extradition of Mr Damache at the request of the United States of America. Ms Justice Donnelly stated that in the event that the State successfully appeals the refusal of extradition, she will grant orders quashing the decision of the DPP not to prosecute and the later decision not to revisit that decision in light of the fact that an extradition request has been made. Legal aid was also granted by the judge to cover both sets of proceedings. The main points of objection to his extradition include grounds related to the conditions of detention, the sentencing procedure under U.S. Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the plea bargaining system, and the nature and length of the sentence he would be bound to receive. In separate proceedings, Mr Damache sought to review the decision of the DPP not to prosecute him in this jurisdiction arising from the factual allegations underpinning the extradition request and the failure of the DPP to give her reasons for her decision. The 50-year-old man has been living here for a decade and is wanted in the United States to face charges relating to conspiracy to provide material support for terrorists and attempted identity theft to facilitate an act of international terrorism. Last December was the second time his extradition case had been heard. In November 2014, Mr Damache won a Supreme Court appeal against a High Court judge's refusal for leave to seek judicial review of the decision of the Director of Public Prosecutions not to prosecute Mr Damache here. The Supreme Court unanimously ruled Mr Damache was entitled to apply for judicial review on two issues: whether the DPP's March 2011 refusal to prosecute him here is reviewable, and whether the DPP was entitled to refuse to give reasons for her refusal. If Mr Damache had been convicted in the US, he could have faced up to 45 years in jail, a term his lawyers said would be 'a lot more' than would be imposed here in Ireland. In her judgement last month, Ms Justice Donnelly said there was no meaningful judicial review available in the US of the conditions of detention and the necessity for same. The High Court previously heard the US alleges it has evidence that Mr Damache conspired with American woman Colleen LaRose – who used the online name 'Jihad Jane' – and others to create a terror cell in Europe capable of targeting both US and western European citizens. It is alleged Mr Damache – who went by the username 'Theblackflag' – also participated in a conspiracy to transfer a passport stolen from a US citizen to an individual in Pakistan whom the conspirators believed to be a member of Al Qaeda. It is contended that part of the alleged conspiracy was to recruit women whose appearance would allow them access to and the ability to travel around Europe. In January of 2014 LaRose was jailed for ten years by a Philadelphia judge, having admitted her involvement in a plot to murder Swedish cartoonist Lars Vilks, who sparked an international controversy by depicting the Prophet Mohammed on the head of a dog.
Lee McDonnell, 23, of Ballyfermot, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of an imitation firearm with intent to commit robbery at Sarsfield Service Station on 21 January 2012, and to robbery of cigarettes, a sunglass case and a shop assistant. He was originally sentenced to six years imprisonment, three of which were suspended. The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed, arguing the sentence was too lenient. The Court of Appeal set a new effective sentence of six years imprisonment with the final year suspended, and a concurrent four‑year sentence for the robbery charge. The new sentences run concurrently with a five‑year sentence for a burglary committed in 2011, and McDonnell is already serving a nine‑year sentence with two years suspended for aggravated burglary. The appeal was heard by a three‑judge panel, and the court noted McDonnell's 111 prior convictions at the time of sentencing.
Ian Gibbons, 39, of Emmet Road, Inchicore, Dublin, turned himself in after robbing Shoezone on Ballyfermot Road on 14 August 2014. He pleaded guilty to one count of robbery. Susan O'Brian, who was working in the shop, said Gibbons threatened to stab her if she did not open the register. He opened it and took €114 in cash and coins. Gibbons initially refused to be interviewed but returned sober the next day and confessed, expressing remorse and describing the stress he had caused the woman. He denied threatening to stab her and claimed he was not carrying a weapon. He explained that he had been coerced by violent people who had forced him to return a stolen bicycle or pay €1,500. Gibbons has 20 previous convictions, mainly for drug and road traffic offences. Judge Terence O'Sullivan imposed a two‑year suspended sentence, noting Gibbons' remorse and the unusual nature of his voluntary admission.
In a 2015 court hearing, former Anglo Irish Bank executive William McAteer, aged 63, was granted legal aid for two upcoming criminal trials. The court noted that an enlarged jury panel would be required for the trial involving McAteer and three co‑accused: John Bowe (50), former head of capital markets at Anglo Irish Bank; Denis Casey (54), former chief executive of Irish Life and Permanent; and Peter Fitzpatrick (61), former director of finance at IL&P. The co‑accused are charged with conspiring to mislead investors by transferring €7.2 billion to inflate the bank's value between March and September 2008. McAteer and Bowe also face separate charges of falsifying accounts under the Theft and Fraud Act. McAteer is also set to stand trial in January 2017 for fraudulently obtaining a loan from Anglo Irish Bank to repay a personal loan with Bank of Ireland in September 2008. William McAteer was convicted.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 5 June 2015, Niall Flynn, aged 31, was given a suspended sentence of 18 months for two counts of attempted robbery and one count of robbery. Flynn, who has 23 prior convictions, attempted to rob a Boylesports shop on Mary Street on 30 August 2014 by brandishing a large golf umbrella as a weapon. He entered the shop for about 60 seconds, demanded money, and was stopped by staff who triggered the panic alarm. Later that day he entered a Ladbrokes bookies with an iron bar and also robbed €40 from a premises opposite Kevin Street Garda station, threatening a worker with a knife. Flynn was arrested at his hostel, pleaded guilty, and later admitted the charges after reviewing CCTV footage.