A 32‑year‑old former restaurant owner was jailed for assaulting his wife on 19 October 2022, an incident that took place at their family home. During the attack he spat on her, threatened to kill her, and knelt on her neck, causing her to struggle to breathe. The wife, who was texting her sister at the time, said she feared she would die and that the assault had left her with lasting mental health effects, including PTSD, anxiety, depression and panic attacks. The court, hearing the case under the Domestic Violence Act, imposed a custodial sentence of two years and three months, with the final 12 months suspended on conditions such as completing a programme to help men overcome violence. The husband had no prior convictions and had recently sold his restaurant businesses to focus on family and therapy. The unnamed 32-year-old pleaded guilty.
Daniel O'Connell, 42, pleaded guilty to possession of heroin for sale or supply after a Garda search of his home in Cherry Orchard Park, Ballyfermot, uncovered 113 g of diamorphine worth €15,904. He claimed he was holding the drugs for a third party to reduce a €5,000 debt and said it was the first and last time he would hold drugs. O'Connell, who has 19 prior convictions including three drug offences, voluntarily contacted Gardaí after the search and attended the station the next day. Judge Orla Crowe, noting his efforts to turn his life around and his engagement with addiction treatment, imposed a two‑year suspended sentence, suspended in its entirety for three years, and ordered 12 months of supervision and after‑care support. The court also heard that he has a job offer and has completed an up‑skilling programme.
A 33‑year‑old Limerick man who pleaded guilty to four counts of sexual assault on his 10‑year‑old cousin between 2010 and 2011 was sentenced to four and a half years in prison, with the final six months suspended, by Judge Catherine Staines in November 2022. He appealed, arguing that the headline sentence of six years was too severe and that mitigating factors had not been adequately considered. The Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice Seamus Woulfe, dismissed the appeal, stating that the judge had correctly applied the sentencing range and had taken all mitigating factors into account. The court noted that the offences occurred in the family home while the victim's mothers were unaware, and that the man had entered a guilty plea and written an apology letter. The appeal was rejected, leaving the original sentence in place.
Eoin Hannan, aged 50, appealed a four‑year jail sentence imposed for harassing Ciara Hassett, claiming the punishment was too harsh for a case he described as "mistakenly sending romantic letters to the wrong girl." He was convicted in April 2022 after a trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for repeatedly contacting Hassett between February and August 2020, despite Garda warnings that she did not welcome his behaviour. Hannan also pleaded guilty to a separate charge of harassing Hassett's father between January and February 2021. He argued that his bipolar affective disorder and a psychotic episode in September 2023, which required treatment at the Central Mental Hospital, should have been considered. Hannan presented himself at the Court of Appeal, requesting a commutation or suspension of his sentence, while the State's counsel maintained that the sentence reflected the seriousness of the persistent, non‑violent offence and the impact on the victim. The court reserved judgment on the appeal.
The Court of Appeal dismissed Dr Johnny Ryan's claim that the Data Protection Commission (DPC) had failed to investigate his 2018 complaint about Google's Real Time Bidding system. Ryan, a senior fellow of the Irish Council for Civil Liberties, alleged that Google's RTB system unlawfully processed large volumes of personal data for targeted advertising, breaching GDPR and the 2018 Data Protection Act. The High Court had ruled that the DPC was entitled to conduct its own inquiry into the alleged breach before addressing Ryan's complaint, a decision the DPC has pursued. Ryan argued the High Court erred in applying GDPR provisions and EU case law, but the Court of Appeal upheld the lower court's findings, finding no error in the High Court's decision to defer the complaint. The DPC maintains it opened an inquiry of its own volition in 2019 and will complete it before resuming Ryan's case. Google Ireland was a notice party to the proceedings.
In a June 2024 decision, Judge Dara Hayes sentenced 45‑year‑old Graham Rosarius to 240 hours of community service for assaulting Samson Samuel with a tyre iron, resulting in three facial fractures. Rosarius, who has 11 prior convictions, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm on 15 September 2021. The incident occurred when Rosarius, driving a white van, confronted Samuel, a delivery driver, after a perceived traffic dispute. Rosarius grabbed a tyre iron and struck Samuel on the head, leading to emergency treatment at The Mater Hospital. The judge noted Rosarius's addiction history, recent rehabilitation, and low risk of re‑offending, deciding that custodial imprisonment was unnecessary. The sentence also considered a second count of producing the tyre iron during the dispute. The community service must be completed within two years.
Former Sinn Fein County Councillor Toiréasa Ni Fhearaiosa has brought a High Court challenge against the Minister for Education and an appeal committee regarding the refusal of incremental salary credits. Dr Ni Fhearaiosa, a full-time law teacher at Kerry Education and Training Board, applied under a scheme recognizing past employment for credits related to roles including an accounts assistant, a legal intern, a Sinn Fein advice clinic manager, and her tenure as an elected member of Kerry County Council. The initial application was refused on grounds that some roles were unpaid or not under full-time contracts, while no reference was made to her time at a US law firm that no longer exists. An appeal committee upheld the refusal in March 2024, deeming its decision final. Dr Ni Fhearaiosa claims the committee's decision was flawed, irrational, and breached fair procedures, arguing it failed to provide adequate reasons and properly consider her submissions. She further contends the scheme is unlawful for excluding public office periods and employment with deceased or defunct entities. Kerry Education and Training Board is a notice party to the proceedings. Represented by Mark Harty SC and James Kane BL, the applicant seeks orders quashing the decision and declaring parts of the scheme unlawful. The matter came before Ms Justice Niamh Hyland, who granted permission to bring the challenge on an ex-parte basis. The case was adjourned and will return before the court in July.
Wade O'Brien, 32, of Wicklow, was sentenced to three years in prison for his central role in a savage attack on a homeless man at Rathsallagh Park, Shankill, on 5 April 2021. O'Brien pleaded guilty to affray, and the court accepted the plea based on full facts. CCTV footage showed O'Brien entering the victim's house, beating him with a baseball bat, and then bundling him into the boot of a car that had been pre‑arranged with the boot open. The victim was later found bleeding heavily and required medical treatment for a fractured wrist and severe bruising. O'Brien's 172 prior convictions, including 42 for road traffic offences, were noted. The judge set a headline sentence of five years, reduced to four, with the final year suspended on strict conditions, including remaining drug and alcohol‑free for the term. The case highlighted the victim's lack of cooperation and the strong evidence presented by the prosecution.
Chantal Johnston, 37, of Crumlin, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and dangerous driving after she attacked a Domino's Pizza delivery driver on 9 July 2022. The victim, a health and safety officer who also worked part‑time for Domino's, described the assault as "like a vicious animal" and said Johnston called him a "bloody foreigner" and a "little Paki". Johnston bit the man's leg, drove her car toward him, and threatened to kill him. The court heard she had taken large amounts of anti‑depressants and was under the influence. Judge Orla Crowe sentenced her to 18 months, suspended for three years, and imposed a mandatory driving disqualification. Johnston also agreed to pay €1,000 to the victim as a token of remorse. No prior convictions were recorded. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 46‑year‑old Greek pizza delivery driver Georgious Nikolas pleaded guilty to importing 13.8 kg of cannabis, valued at about €276,000, after customs officials discovered the drugs in his luggage on 19 October. Nikolas had believed he was transporting tax documents for a business, not drugs, and was shocked, angry and upset when told the contents. He admitted to the customs officers and later to Gardaí, claiming he wanted extra money for his son's education and had been offered €500 by an acquaintance. He had no prior convictions in Ireland or elsewhere. The judge, citing his cooperation, early guilty plea, lack of previous convictions and personal circumstances, imposed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence, back‑dated to his arrest, and suspended the final 18 months, leaving him in custody for the remaining 18 months.
Templeogue College was ordered to pay €39,912 to teacher Jenny Clancy after the Workplace Relations Commission found that she was penalised for signing a collective staff grievance. The commission ruled that Clancy was intimidated by principal Niamh Quinn during an August 2022 meeting, had her working hours altered, and faced disciplinary proceedings. The award, equivalent to 15 months' salary, was based on Clancy's complaint under the Protected Disclosures Act 2014. The school closed its case without presenting witness evidence, and its lawyers had said Quinn would deny the allegations. The adjudicator noted that Clancy was the only job‑sharing teacher who signed the grievance and that the other signatories were not penalised. The decision was made after Clancy's appeal panel, which included representatives from the ASTI, the Joint Managerial Body and independent chair Eamon Stack, was heard by the WRC. The award was granted on the basis of multiple and sustained acts of penalisation.
A 37-year-old truck driver from County Fermanagh has been granted bail on appeal to the High Court following his arrest in a West Cork garda drugs operation. Sean Curran, with an address at Carrickyheenan, Aughnacloy, Enniskillen, was charged with conspiracy to import drugs valued at €13,000 or more under the Criminal Justice Act 2006. He was among ten men arrested in Cork in March 2024 during an investigation into an alleged sophisticated drugs trafficking operation. Mr Justice Karen O'Connor had refused his bail application in April, but Mr Justice Michael MacGrath overturned that decision on appeal today, finding the trial judge ought to have assessed Mr Curran's circumstances separately from his co-accused. Bail was granted subject to conditions including residence at a Monaghan address, daily signing at a local garda station, surrender of travel documents, provision of €15,000 independent surety, and a prohibition on leaving the State.
Stephen Lane, aged 52, was convicted of repeatedly sexually abusing a girl aged five to seven between February 1986 and June 1988. He pleaded guilty to five counts of indecent assault, with eighteen additional counts considered at sentencing. The abuse occurred at several locations, including the victim's home, and stopped after her father discovered it. The victim, who remains anonymous, filed a complaint in June 2019 and later gave a victim impact statement describing the long‑term trauma and the way Lane had manipulated her into believing the abuse was normal. Judge Eileen Creedon, noting Lane's juvenile status, imposed a headline sentence of six years but reduced it to a final term of two and a half years, with the last six months suspended on strict conditions. Lane was also placed on the sex offenders' register for three years. The court considered his guilty plea, psychological reports, and work history in determining the sentence.
Shem Maher, 26, was sentenced to three years in prison for a violent robbery at Usher Street, Dublin 8, on 27 October 2021. He attacked a young woman, knocking her to the ground, punching and kicking her, ripping her bra and grabbing her breasts while shouting "Where's my drugs?" Forensic DNA evidence linked him to the bra. Maher denied the offences but pleaded guilty to two counts of robbery. He had seven prior convictions and had been in custody since March. The court noted the victim's fear of rape and her attempt to flee, as well as the presence of a second injured party who was also frightened. Judge Jonathan Dunphy imposed a headline sentence of six years, reduced to four years concurrent sentences, suspended the final year, and credited Maher for time served. The case involved a robbery with invasive search and physical assault, with no evidence that either victim had drugs.
A 66-year-old man from Arva, County Cavan, appeared before the High Court today following his arrest at Dublin Airport on an extradition warrant issued by Northern Ireland authorities. James Donegan is wanted in connection with the murder of a part-time Ulster Defence Regiment member in County Armagh in June 1979. He faces three charges: murder, unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition with intent to endanger life, and membership of a proscribed organisation. Upon arrest, Mr Donegan stated he was an innocent man. Mr Justice Patrick McGrath granted bail in the sum of €15,000 with independent surety, imposing conditions including residence at Garvagh, County Cavan, and three weekly sign-ins at Cavan Garda Station. Mr Donegan was remanded on continuing bail until 4 July. The case concerns events alleged to have occurred between 22 and 25 June 1979.
The Special Criminal Court has fixed a trial date of January 13, 2025, for eight men accused of involvement in the seizure of 2.25 tonnes of cocaine from the MV Matthew in September 2023. The accused are Vitaliy Lapa, Mykhailo Gavryk, Vitaliy Vlasoi, Jamie Harbron, Soheil Jelveh, Harold Estoesta, Saeid Hassani, and Cumali Ozgen. Lapa and Harbron face alleged possession of drugs and contributing to criminal organisation activity. Gavryk, Vlasoi, Jelveh, Estoesta, Hassani, and Ozgen are accused of contributing to criminal organisation activity, illicit traffic by sea, and misuse of drugs. All charges are alleged or contested, with no pleas entered or findings made at this procedural stage. Mr Justice Tony Hunt stated that a guilty plea would only be considered early in mitigation if entered before December 13. The matter was adjourned to October 21 for a video-link mention. The case was transferred to the non-jury court by the State, citing the complexity of the organised crime allegations.
A Defence Forces Tribunal, opened by Ms Justice Ann Power on 24 June 2024, is investigating how the Defence Forces handle abuse claims, including sexual assault, torture, bullying and harassment. The tribunal invites members, civilians and civil servants to submit written statements by 16 August. It will gather statements, assess evidence, notify affected parties, and hold oral hearings where witnesses may be cross‑examined. The tribunal is inquisitorial, not adversarial, and will not make findings of fact or criminality. It aims to establish the truth about the complaints process and the culture surrounding complaints, and will report to the Taoiseach within three years. The tribunal also examines the forces' response to hazardous chemical use at Casement Aerodrome. Submissions can be emailed, called or mailed to the tribunal's address.
At the Special Criminal Court on 24 June 2024, 46‑year‑old Jason 'Jay' O'Connor of Whitestown Grove, Blanchardstown, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to murder Charlie Cooper, who was shot at his home in Mulhuddart on 5 December 2016. O'Connor had previously been accused of the attempted murder of Cooper and of possessing a 9 mm firearm and 12 rounds of ammunition with intent to endanger life at the same location and date. He also faced a charge of facilitating a criminal organisation in the commission of serious offences, namely murder and the sale or supply of drugs. During the hearing, O'Connor answered "guilty" to the charges of conspiracy to murder and of participating in or contributing to activities that could facilitate a serious offence by a criminal organisation. The case was adjourned to 30 July for further proceedings. The court did not yet impose a sentence.
A mixed-race worker has been awarded €5,000 in compensation for racial harassment following a complaint under the Employment Equality Act 1998. The adjudicator, Orla Jones, found that comments allegedly made by a supervisor, identified as Ms H, in a work canteen on 19 July 2023 created an intimidating and offensive environment for the complainant. The worker alleged that Ms H made hateful remarks regarding immigrants, stating they were 'mixing with us.' While the employer's investigation could not confirm or deny the comments, and Ms H denied making them in that context, the tribunal was satisfied the remarks had the effect of harassment. The decision was anonymised due to overlapping matters under an Industrial Relations Act claim. Ms Jones ruled the complaint well-founded, noting it was unsatisfactory that the employer failed to engage further on a transfer request, which she deemed a failure to reverse the effects of harassment. However, she rejected claims of less favourable treatment regarding the transfer refusal and any allegation that the worker was penalised for making the complaint. The case was concluded with the award of compensation.
Brothers Glen Ward (31) and Eric O'Driscoll (22) are accused of discharging an assault rifle in a Dublin residential area and are to apply for bail at the Special Criminal Court. Both are charged with possession of firearms and reckless discharge on dates in January 2022 in the Finglas area of north Dublin. One charge alleges that Mr O'Driscoll was in possession of a military submachine gun. Mr Ward is charged that on 1 January 2022 at Ratoath Drive in Finglas he had in his possession or control a .223 Remington AR‑15 semi‑automatic rifle and that he discharged it recklessly. Mr O'Driscoll faces two charges identical to those against Mr Ward plus three further charges, including possession of a .223 Remington AR‑15 on 9 January 2022 and possession of a .380 ACP calibre Ingram M11 submachine gun on the same date. The offences contravene the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act 1990 and the Firearms Act 1964.
Declan 'Mr Nobody' Brady, a former senior Kinahan cartel member, was sentenced at the Special Criminal Court to a nine-year prison term for facilitating the murder of Christopher Kirwan. The court found that Brady attached a tracker device to Kirwan's vehicle, aiding the gang in the December 2016 killing of the innocent man, who was shot after being photographed attending a funeral. Mr Justice Tony Hunt described the act as a pre-planned, execution-style murder and noted Brady's status as a trusted operative. Brady pleaded guilty to the single charge of participating in a criminal organisation to facilitate a serious offence. The judge fixed a 13-year headline sentence, reduced by three years for the guilty plea, resulting in a ten-year term with the final year suspended conditional on dissociation from the Kinahan group. This sentence runs concurrent to previous convictions: an 11.5-year term for supervising a firearms arsenal and an eight-year, three-month term for laundering over €400,000, both with suspended portions. The court also referenced Michael Crotty, who admitted buying phone credit for Sean McGovern, an act deemed reckless as to whether it facilitated the Kinahan organisation in the murder. Crotty's case is distinct from Brady's sentencing, which was backdated to April 30 last year.
The Court of Appeal has referred a case to the CJEU concerning a man who obtained Irish citizenship after entering a marriage of convenience with a non‑Irish EU national in 2010. He was granted a residence card in October 2010 and naturalised in 2016. In 2018 he divorced his wife, and a year later a third‑party non‑EEA national applied for residence on the basis of being the mother of his Irish‑citizen child. This triggered an investigation into the 2010 marriage. The Minister concluded that the marriage was a convenience, that the man had submitted false or misleading information to obtain residency, and that the status conferred under the EU directive was withdrawn from the outset. The man challenged the Minister's decisions in the High Court, which dismissed his appeal. He then appealed to the Court of Appeal, arguing that the 2015 Regulations did not give the Minister power to make such a determination.
An application by barrister Una McGurk SC to obtain a High Court injunction that would delay any vote in the Dáil or Seanad on measures from the EU migration pact was found not properly issued. Judge David Nolan ruled that the motion was not correctly before the court, so it could not be considered on Friday. The court said the action must be re‑issued in the normal way and will be scheduled for a future hearing, unlikely to be before the court in the short term. The petition sought orders to postpone any vote until a referendum could decide the constitutionality of ceding sovereignty. The defendants – the clerks of the Dáil and Seanad, the Minister for Justice and the Attorney General – argued the action was non‑justiciable and lacked substance, noting that a vote on the measures had already taken place.
Two social care workers, Mr X and Ms Y, lost claims for sexual harassment and discrimination after a child's unsubstantiated allegation that they had sex on night duty at a residential home. The boy, Boy YP, reported hearing the workers and later contacted Ms Y's girlfriend, alleging a relationship between the workers. Mr X said the allegation was a rumor spread by a former colleague, Mr CD, who he claimed had coerced the boy. Ms Y said she was subjected to intrusive questioning about her sexuality by managers and that the company's policy on pay during investigations was changed after her complaint. Both workers were suspended without pay, later resigned, and the Workplace Relations Commission found that the investigation meetings were stressful and that the workers had not established discrimination on the grounds of gender, sexual orientation or family status.
Ryan Kearney, 38, of Loughnamona Drive, Leixlip, Co Kildare, is charged with murdering 50‑year‑old Jeffrey Jackson in an apartment on The Lamp, School Street, Kilcock, Co Kildare, on 8 February. The Central Criminal Court will hear the case on 18 June 2025, with a trial expected to last two weeks. The case was listed for case management on 25 October.
The High Court dismissed separate challenges by Reddit and Tumblr against An Coimisiún na Meán's decision to list them as video‑sharing platforms under the new online safety code. Justice Siobhan Phelan refused to set aside the decision and rejected all arguments. Reddit, a U.S. company, claimed it did not meet the definition of a video‑sharing platform under the EU Audio Visual and Media Services directive and argued it was outside Irish jurisdiction. The court found no ambiguity in the regulator's interpretation and that sufficient material supported the designation. Tumblr argued its video content was minor and that the regulator had misinterpreted data on video volume. The judge held that the regulator properly applied the directive's criteria and that no error had been made in designating Tumblr as a video‑sharing platform. Both applications to refer the matter to the EU Court of Justice were dismissed.
A 44-year-old man from Derry has been ordered surrendered to UK authorities by the High Court in Dublin following an extradition hearing. Stephen Andrew McLaughlin faces extradition for breaching the terms of his release after serving a sentence for human trafficking conspiracy. He was convicted in 2015 of conspiracy to facilitate illegal entry into Britain in a scheme involving Afghan migrants, one of whom died during transport in 2014. UK authorities are also pursuing charges against McLaughlin in Northern Ireland, including attempted murder, making a threat to kill, criminal damage and assault, allegations arising from an incident in September 2022. Mr Justice Patrick McGrath determined that the UK and Northern Irish matters were substantially more serious than domestic charges pending before Buncrana District Court and proceeded with the extradition order. McLaughlin has been remanded in custody pending his surrender within 25 days.
In a case before the Workplace Relations Commission, telehandler driver Mark John Power was awarded €5,000 for an unfair dismissal by BPH Construction Limited (Blueprint Homes). Power denied ever smoking cannabis on site, a claim made by a supervisor who alleged a smell of cannabis in the cab of a machine he operated and that a bag of cannabis was found in the vehicle on a separate occasion. Power said no such allegations were ever presented to him before his dismissal on 8 September. He argued that other factors, including complaints of verbal abuse and heavy drinking by colleagues, contributed to his termination. The employer admitted it dismissed him without investigation or procedures, though it paid all outstanding wages. The adjudicator found the dismissal unreasonable and ordered the compensatory sum, reflecting about six weeks' wages. The decision was based solely on the evidence presented in the complaint.
Charles Santos, a 30‑year‑old Deliveroo rider from Adelaide Road, Dublin, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of cannabis, cannabis resin, cocaine and MDMA after a Garda search of his bedroom on 15 February 2023. The search, conducted under a warrant, uncovered €9,328.60 worth of drugs in shoe boxes and a chest of drawers. Santos admitted to using cannabis and buying large amounts with friends, but denied knowledge of the remainder of the drugs. He claimed the shoe boxes were left in his room after a trip to Brazil. The court noted that the house, a six‑bedroom dwelling, appeared "riddled with drugs from top to bottom." Santos had no prior convictions and was cooperative. Judge Pauline Codd, considering his early guilty plea and lack of previous offences, imposed a ten‑month prison sentence, suspended in full for two years, and required him to remain drug‑free during that period.
Paul Olunaike, a 34‑year‑old professional dancer and father of four, pleaded guilty to possessing €13,738 as proceeds of crime in his bank account on 25 August 2020. He had used €13,000 of laundered money to buy a €609 juicer, a €404.99 food processor and an oil extractor machine. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, after noting his significant shame and remorse, ordered him to complete 240 hours of community service within two years in lieu of an 18‑month sentence. Olunaike transferred €4,000 of the laundered money to his mother and gave €2,000 to the prosecuting Garda as a contribution toward losses. He has no further contact with Gardaí since the incident, and the court described him as a hardworking man and a father with many responsibilities. The juicer and food processor were to be donated to a local charity or refuge.
A High Court judge welcomed the return of a vulnerable elderly woman to the nursing home from which her son had unlawfully removed her. Mr Justice David Nolan said the son had manipulated his mother for his own satisfaction and failed to comply with a court order obtained by the woman's daughter to return her to the facility. The judge described the son's non‑compliance as contempt of court and warned that, unless he returned his mother to the nursing home staff, he would be jailed for contempt. The son, represented in court, claimed he had attempted to return her over the weekend and that she was vehemently opposed to staying in the facility. The judge accepted that the woman had been returned and was prepared to extend orders restraining the son from removing her or interfering with her care.
Joseph Doyle, 42, of Queen Street, Dublin 7, was sentenced to five years in prison for robbery and assault causing harm after attacking a 39‑year‑old man in Haymarket, Smithfield. The victim was left unconscious with a skull fracture and facial fractures. CCTV showed Doyle punching the victim, stealing his phone and wallet, and leaving him on the ground. Doyle pleaded guilty in the District Court and later admitted the attack to Gardaí, though he had no memory of it. The victim suffered significant physical and psychological injuries, including loss of hearing, blurred vision, headaches, depression, and anxiety. Judge Pauline Codd imposed a six‑year sentence, suspended one year on strict conditions, and noted Doyle's cooperation and remorse. Doyle has been in custody since the incident.
The High Court has been asked by barrister Una McGurk SC to issue orders that would stop the Dáil and Seanad from voting on parts of the EU migration and asylum pact until a referendum is held. The application was presented to Mr Justice David Nolan on Wednesday. The pact includes measures such as enhanced screening, faster asylum processing, efficient returns for unsuccessful applicants, and a mechanism for financial contributions or relocation of asylum seekers. Ms McGurk seeks injunctions that would delay any vote in either house of the Oireachtas until a referendum determines the constitutionality of any ceding of sovereignty. The judge noted that the application had not been notified to the defendants in advance and said he would not make orders without hearing from the other sides. He was prepared, on an ex‑parte basis, to allow the applicant to serve short notice of the proceedings on the defendants.
In an appeal-stage procedural matter, the Central Criminal Court addressed the sentencing of an unnamed 18-year-old defendant who pleaded guilty to sexual assault committed on June 19, 2021, in the north-east of the country. At the time of the alleged offence, the defendant was 15 and the victim was 16. Mr Justice Paul McDermott imposed a two-year sentence, fully suspended for three years on strict conditions. These conditions require the defendant to avoid direct or indirect contact with the victim, engage with Probation Services, continue a sexual offending treatment programme, and develop social skills. The judge emphasized that a "huge degree of oversight" is required for the defendant's welfare and public protection. However, citing a recent Court of Appeal decision, Mr Justice McDermott noted that conditions on suspended sentences cannot be enforced once a juvenile turns 18. Consequently, the finalisation of the sentence was adjourned until after the defendant's 18th birthday to ensure the conditions remain enforceable. The judge highlighted the court's obligations under the Children Act and acknowledged the difficulties faced by both parties, while noting that a more serious penalty would apply to an adult. The matter was adjourned, not concluded.
At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Elma Sheahan sentenced four men for their roles in a violent incident in East Wall, Dublin, where a drug buyer sustained a traumatic brain injury after reversing his car at a group. Daryl Donnery (23) pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and affray, receiving a two-year, nine-month sentence with the final 12 months suspended. Dylan Martin (21) pleaded guilty to affray and was sentenced to two years, suspended in full on strict conditions. Josh Doran (23) and Brandon Leech (25) both pleaded guilty to affray and production of an article, respectively. The judge set headline sentences of three years for both, reduced to two years after considering mitigating factors. The matter for Leech and Doran was adjourned for 12 months to allow engagement with probation services. The court noted that none of the four were involved in the drug transaction that precipitated the violence. Donnery has five previous convictions, while Leech, Doran, and Martin each have 15. The injured man, who is now the subject of a European Arrest Warrant, discharged himself from hospital against medical advice after nine days.
Tom Clayton, Group Corporate Finance Executive of Novum Overseas Limited, has filed a High Court action alleging that his employer is conducting a "sham redundancy" to remove him from the firm. Clayton, who previously served as CFO of Forfas, began his €135,000‑per‑year role with Novum last year. He claims that weeks ago the company informed him, without explanation, that he was being temporarily laid off for six to eight weeks and instructed him to apply for Job Seekers Allowance. Clayton says the lay‑off has left him without salary, in financial distress, and has damaged his reputation. He also alleges that his role was downgraded after he accepted the position, constituting a fundamental rollback of his employment terms. Clayton seeks orders to end the lay‑off, restore his paid employment, compel the employer to pay all contractual entitlements, and prevent any extension of the lay‑off period.
Six men and a teenager, all aged 18 to 26, were charged in connection with the murder of gunman Tristan Sherry, who was killed on 24 December 2023 at Browne's Steakhouse in Blanchardstown. The State solicitor applied for the cases to be transferred to the Special Criminal Court under Section 49(1) of the Offences Against the State Act. The court, composed of three judges, granted the order, and all seven cases were adjourned to 1 July. The men charged with Sherry's murder are Noah Musueni (18), Wayne Deegan (26), David Amah (18) and Michael Andrecut (22). Jonas Kabangu (18) and an unnamed juvenile are charged with violent disorder at the same location. Jaures Kumbu (18) is charged with possession of a submachine gun. The Special Criminal Court handles cases where ordinary courts are deemed inadequate for effective justice and public peace. The murder occurred after Sherry shot and fatally injured Jason Hennessy Senior, who died 11 days later.
Tech firm Wix admitted it had unfairly dismissed Irish worker Courtney Carey after she posted on social media criticising Israel. Carey, a former manager, says she lost her apartment and has only found lower‑paid temporary work since her dismissal in October. She claims Wix treated her as a supporter of terrorism, citing tweets and LinkedIn posts that she says were false. Her claim under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977 was brought before the Workplace Relations Commission. Wix's lawyer conceded procedural unfairness and said the case would now focus on compensation. Carey's barrister noted her gross pay fell from €40,000 to €25,567 after months of unemployment. The tribunal heard that she applied for about 60 jobs, was denied many, and now works as an An Post clerk on a temporary contract. The hearing concluded with the adjudicator saying she would issue a decision in due course.
Two men resident in the Republic are contesting extradition proceedings at the High Court in connection with charges arising from the 1975 murder of an RUC constable in County Derry. John Edward McNicholl, aged 72, of Newmills, Letterkenny, and Seamus Christopher O'Kane, aged 73, of Scalestown, County Meath, face allegations relating to the death of Constable Robert John McPherson on 26 July 1975 and the attempted murder of a second officer. McNicholl is charged with murder and attempted murder, while O'Kane faces charges of firearms possession, including a weapon taken during the incident. Legal representatives for both men indicated they will argue the extradition request constitutes an abuse of process. Counsel for McNicholl emphasised that his client has resided in Ireland since 2003, with authorities making no previous surrender attempt until this year. The High Court adjourned proceedings to 10 July to allow time for comprehensive objections to be prepared. Both men remain on bail pending further hearing.
Eamon Stack, a former chief inspector of schools now an independent education consultant, denied that the rejection of a grievance appeal by former Templeogue College teacher Jennifer Clancy was a "done deal" with the Joint Managerial Body (JMB). Stack was questioned at the Workplace Relations Commission after Clancy's lawyers produced emails he sent to the JMB around the time he chaired the November 2022 appeal panel. Clancy, a part‑time Spanish teacher, alleged she was penalised for raising a collective staff grievance about management, health and safety, loss of facilities, student discipline, an assault on a teacher and the secret filming of a female teacher's backside. She claimed the school's principal, Niamh Quinn, acted unsavourily, changed her timetable against a childcare arrangement, and then served her with disciplinary notice without specifying the charge. The appeal panel comprised a trade‑union nominee, a JMB nominee and Stack as independent chair. Stack's emails, opened at the hearing, were used as evidence.
During a Workplace Relations Commission hearing, Brendan Ogle's legal representative, Mary‑Paula Guinness BL, argued that Ogle would still hold a full role at Unite the Union if not for his cancer diagnosis. Ogle, who returned to work as Unite's senior officer for the Republic of Ireland after treatment for aggressive throat cancer, claims he was discriminated against because of his disability. Guinness cited evidence that a union employee stopped sending work to Ogle, though she said no one instructed her to do so. Unite's counsel, Mark Harty SC, contended that Ogle had refused available roles upon his return and that the evidence was being mischaracterised as a disability claim. Ogle's allegations include failure to provide reasonable accommodation, victimisation and harassment, and he has accused the union of excluding him from a new strategic plan for Ireland. The tribunal has heard conflicting accounts from Ogle and Tom Fitzgerald, who was promoted during Ogle's sick leave.
Emmanuel Foley and Jeanette Afi Aboni, applicants residing at Cruise Park, Tyrrelstown Dublin, have brought a High Court action against Dublin City Council (DCC) regarding Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) contributions. The family, who have lived at the property for nearly four years, alleges that DCC reduced its monthly payment to the landlord, Orkstake Limited, from approximately €2,000 to just over €1,640. This reduction was implemented because DCC refused to cover €300 for a car parking space and €85 for service charges, which are included in the lease. The applicants claim DCC acted unlawfully and unreasonably, asserting that the council was aware of the lease terms in 2020 and that the charges are non-severable. Following a notice of termination issued by the landlord in April due to alleged arrears of over €1,300, the family fears homelessness. The applicants seek orders quashing DCC's decision to limit payments and compelling the council to pay the full HAP amount. They also seek declarations that DCC's actions were unlawful and that the family has a legitimate expectation of full payment. The matter was heard on an ex-parte basis by Ms Justice Niamh Hyland, who granted the applicants permission to bring the action. The case is at the pre-trial stage and was adjourned, with the matter set to return before the court next month.
A man from Wicklow has been sentenced to six and a half years in prison after pleading guilty to drug trafficking offences at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Ryon Fitzpatrick, aged 34 and with an address in Enniskelly, was arrested in October 2020 as he accompanied a van containing approximately 304 kilograms of cannabis concealed in shoeboxes near Swords, County Dublin. The drugs, imported from Spain, had an estimated street value of €6.08 million. Fitzpatrick, who was driving a lookout vehicle, fled to Spain following his initial arrest and questioning but was apprehended there last year and extradited to Ireland in December. Judge Pauline Codd imposed a headline sentence of eleven and a half years, reduced to nine years following mitigation, with the final two and a half years suspended on conditions. Two co-accused, Anthony Kinghorn and Mark Nesbitt, both from England, were separately convicted and received eight-year sentences in 2021 and 2022 respectively.
David Weir, 49, of Eastham Park, Bettystown, was found guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of possession of cannabis for sale or supply in his home and in Raheny on 22 February 2021. He admitted possession of an air rifle and had seven prior convictions, including drug and traffic offences. Weir was arrested after handing a large black bag of cannabis to taxi driver Mark Byrne, the target of a Garda surveillance operation. Gardaí seized 5 kg of cannabis at Byrne's home and 2.7 kg at Weir's Bettystown home, along with an air rifle, weighing scales and a vacuum packaging machine. Judge Pauline Codd sentenced Weir to seven years, suspended the final two and a half years on the condition of good behaviour, and imposed a five‑year custodial term. The judge noted Weir's advanced lung disease and mental health history, and considered these factors in the sentencing. The case highlights the role of a "gillie" in drug distribution.
Jordan Cunningham, 31, was sentenced to six years in prison after a judge reinstated part of a four‑year suspended sentence for a burglary he had breached. He had previously pleaded guilty to threatening to kill a female worker at Paddy Power on James' Street on 5 July and to attempting to rob Harcourt Launderette and Dry Cleaners on 4 November. In the betting shop incident, he entered at about 5 pm, shouted at the lone employee, kicked the counter, spat at the perspex screen, smashed the credit‑card machine, and threatened to slash the employee's face. A customer intervened and the employee called 999; CCTV identified Cunningham. In the launderette, he entered at 11:30 am, demanded payment, became aggressive, attempted to access the till, and was pushed out by staff.
In a High Court hearing on 17 June 2024, former solicitor John Tobin was formally discharged from bankruptcy after seven years of proceedings that began with a €405,000 judgment secured by Revenue in 2017. Tobin had been declared bankrupt in 2017 and was set for discharge in 2018, but the Official Assignee (OA) sought an extension in 2021, citing Tobin's alleged failure to fully cooperate with the OA regarding his assets. The OA obtained an interim extension order and also appealed the 2017 adjudication, but both the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court dismissed his appeals. The case was heard by Mr Justice Mark Sanfey, who was informed by Edward Farrelly SC that the parties had reached a settlement after extended out‑of‑court discussions. The settlement included Tobin making a financial contribution to his bankruptcy estate and providing additional documentation to the OA.
A 27‑year‑old father of four was jailed for more than five years after attempting to attack his former partner and her mother with a knife in their Foxrock home while two of his children slept. He pleaded guilty to assault causing harm on 31 August 2021 and 5 September 2021, to threatening to damage the former partner's home, and to threatening to breach a safety order while on bail on 24 September 2022. The court noted 15 prior convictions, including assault, and that the offences were committed while he was on bail. Judge Martina Baxter sentenced him to 3½ years for the August assault, 3 years for the September assault, 2½ years for the bail‑related threats, and 8 months for the safety‑order threat, back‑dated to May. The final 18 months were suspended on conditions including participation in the Men Overcoming Violent Emotions group.
A 23‑year‑old American woman, Tamia Forbes, was found guilty of possession of cannabis for sale or supply after she transported a locked suitcase containing 27 vacuum packs of cannabis worth €260,000 into Dublin Airport. Forbes claimed she believed the drugs were legal in Ireland and said she had financial difficulties. She pleaded guilty and had no prior convictions. The court, mindful of the impact of drug trafficking, imposed a headline sentence of eight years but, considering her youth, guilty plea, character references and mitigating circumstances, reduced the sentence to five years with the final two and a half years suspended. The suspended portion is conditional on Forbes leaving the jurisdiction within three weeks of her release. The case was heard in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 17 June 2024.
Victoria Dalton, 28, pleaded guilty to theft at a Circle K petrol station in Dundrum on 24 March 2020. She entered the shop at about 9:15 pm, asked for children's medicine, and was then approached by a man who held a knife to her throat and demanded €120 from the till. The staff, fearing for their safety, complied. Dalton later claimed she had been acting as a victim and denied participation in the robbery. Judge Orla Crowe sentenced her to 18 months' imprisonment, suspending the final nine months, and directed her to probation supervision for two years. The sentence was back‑dated to 30 March 2020, when she entered custody. Dalton has a history of drug addiction and a prior conviction for possession of drugs for personal use in March 2022. She is currently receiving treatment and intends to attend a residential drug programme after release.
A 21‑year‑old man pleaded guilty to six counts of oral rape of his older sister between 2014 and 2016, when the sister was eight to ten and the accused was twelve to fourteen. He also faced two counts of sexual assault of his younger sister, who was eight to eleven at the time. The abuse occurred every second weekend during the girls' visits to their father's house. The older sister, now 17, gave a video interview; the younger sister declined. The accused admitted the abuse, said he did not want to put his sisters on the stand, and had no prior convictions. The court heard victim impact statements describing the sisters' trauma and the defendant's cooperation. The case was heard on a full‑facts basis, with the judge to sentence on 22 July. The defendant is currently in a hostel and has no work. The court considered his age, maturity, and psychological reports in determining the sentence.