Megan Coleman, aged 20, pleaded guilty to burglary of Footlocker on O'Connell Street on 23 November 2023, with a second burglary charge of the Asics store considered. Garda Brian Kenny presented evidence that a public appeal for information on 99 persons of interest was part of the Dublin Riots investigation, and that Coleman was named by a member of the public and later formally identified by Gardaí. CCTV footage showed her entering Footlocker three times and Asics once, but did not capture any protest or criminal damage. The court was informed that Footlocker suffered €435,201 in losses and Asics €135,367. Coleman admitted taking items, apologised, and had no prior convictions. Judge Martin Nolan imposed an 18‑month fully suspended sentence, placed her under Probation Services supervision for one year, and noted her youth and lack of previous convictions.
A 28-year-old man has been sentenced to four years imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court for sexually abusing his eight-year-old cousin in County Sligo over a decade ago. The defendant pleaded guilty to five counts of oral rape committed in summer 2012, when he was aged 15. The abuse came to light in 2020 when the injured party disclosed it to her mother. During sentencing, the court heard a victim impact statement describing the lasting psychological harm caused. Mr Justice Paul McDermott imposed a four-year sentence, having considered a nine-year baseline for an adult before reducing it to account for the defendant's age at the time of offending. The judge noted the offending involved grooming and exploitation of trust. The defendant, who has been in custody since voluntarily returning from the United Kingdom in September 2024, intends to relocate abroad upon release.
A former garda has been remanded for sentencing assessment following his guilty plea to assaulting his then wife, also a member of An Garda Síochána, at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Trevor Bolger, aged 48, previously stationed at Ballymun, pleaded guilty to the assault on Margaret Loftus on 25 October 2012. The incident occurred during a family visit to Balla, County Mayo. Judge Martina Baxter adjourned sentencing to allow completion of an intervention program assessment referenced in a probation report, with proceedings to resume on 16 January 2026. Ms Loftus delivered a victim impact statement describing lasting effects of the assault and the subsequent stigma she experienced within the force. Bolger, who has no previous convictions, was represented by defence counsel who highlighted his mental health treatment, compensation of €6,000 offered to the court, and testimonials to his character. The maximum penalty under the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act is six months imprisonment or a fine.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Noel Smullen, 58, of Silverdale, Clara, Co. Offaly, was sentenced to six and a half years' imprisonment for the unlawful importation of 40 kilos of cocaine, worth €2.8 million, hidden beneath a legitimate cargo of Lego toys. Smullen's role was described as lower than that of co‑accused Killian McNay, 40, who received a seven‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence earlier that month. Smullen pleaded guilty to the offence, which occurred at Dublin Port on 22 September 2024, after customs officers detected a concealed metal compartment in his lorry's trailer. He had nine prior convictions, including burglary and possession of stolen property. The judge, Martina Baxter, noted his cooperation, early guilty plea and lack of drug‑dealing convictions, and suspended the last 18 months of his sentence for two years on the condition of good behaviour and engagement with the Probation Service.
In a High Court hearing, Christopher O'Driscoll, a 39‑year‑old from Camp, Co Kerry, who is tetraplegic and unable to speak, announced that his lawsuit against Global Diagnostics (Ireland) Ltd, trading as Medica, and the HSE had been settled. O'Driscoll had claimed that the company failed to diagnose his stroke after a collapse on New Year's Day 2023, that a CT scan at University Hospital Kerry incorrectly reported no blockage, and that he was denied thrombolysis, leading to his locked‑in syndrome. Global Diagnostics denied these allegations, arguing the stroke's severity would have made thrombolysis ineffective. The case, which had been adjourned multiple times, was brought to mediation and concluded with a confidential agreement. Justice Leonie Reynolds approved the settlement and adjourned the matter to December 18, noting the parties' efforts and O'Driscoll's patience. The settlement terms remain confidential.
In a Dublin murder case, Josip Strok and his friend David Druzinec were attacked after a 17‑year‑old boy at a bus stop was denied a lighter. The boy later warned other teenagers, who then boarded a bus and were followed by Mark Lee (44) and Anthony Delappe (19). Lee and Delappe, who had been in Lee's house smoking cannabis, pursued Strok and Druzinec, striking them with a pickaxe handle and a half‑crutch. Strok suffered a fatal brain injury after falling and was pronounced dead four days later. Lee and Delappe pleaded not guilty to murder but were found guilty by an 11‑to‑1 majority. Connor Rafferty (21) was acquitted of murder after claiming he only delivered light smacks. The case was heard in the Central Criminal Court on 30 March 2024. The verdicts were delivered on 30 October 2025.
Two men, Mark Lee (44) and Anthony Delappe (19), were found guilty by a majority verdict of 11–1 of the murder of Josip Strok (31) in Dublin. Both had pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. Connor Rafferty (21) was found not guilty of murder after pleading not guilty. All three pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Strok's friend, David Druzinec (29). The jury heard that on 30 March 2024 Lee had been told of an alleged assault on a teenage boy at a bus stop near his home in Clondalkin and alerted Delappe and Rafferty. The prosecution alleged that Lee and Delappe followed Strok and Druzinec and assaulted them in the street; Strok died four days later from blunt‑force injuries.
Amy McAuley (35) has been sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty to one count of the use of a false instrument through submitting a false death notification form to Wexford County Council on January 19, 2023. She also pleaded guilty to attempting to pervert the course of justice on January 23, 2023, and to a count of forgery of a medical report on November 23, 2022, both at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court at the Criminal Courts of Justice, Parkgate Street. The case is currently at the appeal stage. Judge Orla Crowe imposed a global sentence of four years, with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions for four years. McAuley was also directed to place herself under the supervision of the Probation Services for 12 months post-release. The judge noted that McAuley's actions were a deliberate scheme to pervert the course of justice and involved significant breaches of trust. McAuley has four previous convictions for theft and deception offences. The matter was adjourned for appeal.
Frank Kelly, 40, was jailed for two years and three months after a mess fight with his childhood friend Darren Sherlock escalated into violence. The pair had been socialising and drinking at Kelly's home when Kelly suggested a fight. Sherlock recorded the altercation on his phone. According to the prosecution, the fight began with grappling and shoving but turned darker when Kelly grabbed a bottle of whiskey and struck Sherlock. Garda Diane Byrne reported that Kelly then took a knife and threatened to stab Sherlock. Kelly stabbed Sherlock nine times, causing superficial wounds to the back and a suspected punctured lung. Sherlock later collapsed on the road, was treated in hospital, and has since recovered. Kelly pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and was sentenced by Judge Martin Nolan, who noted the escalation from a "mess fight" to a criminal act.
In a case heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Kevin O'Riordan, 40, of Rathcoole, Moone, Co Kildare, was found guilty of failing to stop at the scene of a collision and of careless driving. The incident occurred on 21 September 2023 when O'Riordan, while turning left onto Meath Street, struck an elderly man who was crossing the road. O'Riordan stopped his car and remained for four minutes before driving away, later telling the gardai that he did not realise he had hit the victim. The court noted that the driver had ample time to see the pedestrian but did not. O'Riordan received a suspended prison sentence of 18 months, was banned from driving for two years, and was required to keep the peace. The victim, who suffered a fractured hip and now requires assistance to walk, has expressed that the incident has severely impacted his independence and mental health.
Anthony Locke, 48, of Ballyfermot, was sentenced to eight years in prison with the last two years suspended after pleading guilty to assaulting a woman and threatening to drown her. The incident occurred in a Dublin flat where Locke, experiencing a psychiatric episode, smashed objects, threatened the victim with "holy water," and dragged her by the wrists. He had previously been jailed for manslaughter in 1998 and had a conviction for impeding the apprehension of a murderer. The victim suffered bruises and bite marks. The judge noted Locke's mental health issues and lack of medication compliance, and warned that he remains a danger to society. The suspended portion of the sentence is conditional on good behaviour and compliance with probation for 18 months after release.
A retired Defence Forces member, aged 78, was sentenced to eight years in prison for raping a teenage babysitter, an incident that occurred in 1981. The victim, then about 13 or 14, was alone in the defendant's home while she was babysitting his children. He pleaded guilty to one count of rape at the Central Criminal Court. The judge described the offence as very serious, noting the defendant's exploitation of the victim's trust and lack of consent. The sentence, reduced from an initial 11 years, includes a two‑year suspended portion and requires the defendant to be supervised by Probation Services and to participate in a sexual offending programme. The victim's impact statement highlighted lifelong trauma, severe PTSD, and ongoing psychological treatment. The defendant has no prior convictions and is considered low risk of re‑offending.
At the Central Criminal Court, a jury heard that drug dealer Eoin O'Connor sent a text message on April 22, 2014, stating "have to go to country… if anything happens to me" before he and Anthony Keegan disappeared. Ruth Lawrence (45), with an address in Co Meath, has pleaded not guilty to murdering both men at an unknown location between April 22 and May 26, 2014. A senior garda intelligence analyst told the court she examined phone records for twelve numbers in the investigation. Cell site data indicated the men travelled from Dublin to Ballyjamesduff, Co Cavan that evening. Ms Lawrence's phone showed activity consistent with travel towards Cavan town after 6.25pm, with her last connection at 7.36pm. The prosecution alleges Ms Lawrence and her boyfriend killed Mr O'Connor over a €70,000 drug debt, with both bodies later discovered bound and wrapped on Inchicup Island, Lough Sheelin. The trial continues.
In a Central Criminal Court case, a jury has begun deliberations over the murder of Croatian national Josip Strok, who died four days after an assault in Dublin. The accused are Mark Lee (44), Anthony Delappe (19) and Connor Rafferty (21). Lee and Delappe have pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, while Rafferty has not entered a plea. All three pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Strok's friend, David Druzinec. The prosecution alleges the trio followed Strok and Druzinec and attacked them, with Lee using kicks and punches, Delappe striking with a plastic pickaxe handle, and Rafferty striking with a crutch. The judge instructed the jury to consider each accused individually, noting that verdicts may differ and must be unanimous. The jury will continue tomorrow.
A man in his 70s, arrested in July, faces 79 alleged historical sexual offences, including 78 indecent assaults on four girls aged eight to 15 between 1971 and 1981 in south Dublin, and one attempted rape. The charges are distributed among the victims: 42 counts against one girl, 34 against another, two against a third, and one against a fourth. He did not attend the short hearing. Defence counsel Karl Monahan BL requested a trial date. Judge Paul McDermott set the trial for 15 June 2026, with disclosure to be completed before the case is heard in January.
DJ Carey, aged 50, was due to be sentenced for 10 counts of dishonestly inducing people to pay him money after fraudulently claiming to have cancer. The sentencing hearing was adjourned to Friday because Carey did not appear in court; he is currently at Portiuncula University Hospital in Ballinasloe, awaiting a bed. He presented a medical note to the court, and Gardaí confirmed his presence but could not verify his inpatient status. The prosecution, led by Dominic McGinn SC, noted that one count of deception was struck out, while the remaining counts, including two for using a false instrument, would be considered by the judge. Carey's case involves 13 complainants and was originally set for a four‑week trial. He has a history of significant health issues, including heart surgery last summer, and has requested legal aid and a psychological report for sentencing. Dj Carey pleaded guilty.
Ryan Craig, a 25-year-old man from Clondalkin, appeared at the Central Criminal Court where he pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm and endangerment. The court heard that on October 20, 2024, Craig struck Dillon Gilligan with his van on Cloverhill Road, dragging him for up to 30 feet. The victim suffered critical injuries, including a fractured skull, arm, chest, pelvis, and ankle, as well as internal bleeding. Evidence indicated the attack was opportunistic rather than pre-planned, arising from a long-standing feud in the Ronanstown area. Craig was arrested at Dublin Port and recorded on CCTV stating he had "smashed" the victim. Although originally charged with attempted murder, Craig admitted to the lesser offences in July. The court noted Craig has four previous convictions and that the victim, who was previously convicted of carrying a firearm, has since left a rehabilitation facility. Mr Justice Paul McDermott adjourned the matter to November 14 for finalisation. Separately, the report references a prior sentencing where Judge Ronan Munro sentenced John Gilligan to six and a half years, with the final 18 months suspended, for offences committed in 2019.
Daniel Ryan, 24, of Clondalkin, was sentenced to three and a half years in prison for two offences. He pleaded guilty to assault causing harm on May 1 2023 after striking Garda Mark Walsh and Garda Grace Lumsden during a stop of a Kia Sportage in Clondalkin. He also pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine for sale or supply on January 8 2019, after fingerprints matched a discarded lunchbox containing 24.6 g of crack cocaine and heroin. Ryan was on bail at the time of the assault and had 36 prior convictions. Judge Pauline Codd imposed a one‑year term for the drug offence and a two‑and‑a‑half‑year term for the assault, to run consecutively, totalling three and a half years. The final 18 months were suspended on strict conditions, including engagement with the Probation Service. Ryan is currently serving five and a half years, with his sentence expiring in November 2028.
In a court hearing on 28 October 2025, Keith O'Neill, aged 38, pleaded guilty to criminal damage after breaking into a car pound in Tallaght to recover his wife's vehicle, which had been seized for unpaid M50 tolls amounting to €5,000–€7,000. O'Neill and his wife had attempted to negotiate the return of the car and its contents on 2 and 3 December 2021, but the car remained in the secure yard. CCTV footage captured O'Neill cutting a lock worth €500 and taking the car that night. The vehicle was later found parked elsewhere. O'Neill, who has prior convictions for criminal damage and road traffic offences, was sentenced to an 18‑month prison term suspended on the condition of good behaviour, and was ordered to pay €750 to the business owner or a charity of his choice.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Jake Emmet, aged 23, was sentenced to five and a half years in prison for a series of violent offences. Emmet pleaded guilty to demanding money with menace on 15 September 2024, assault causing harm on 25 September 2024, and three counts of producing a knife in a manner likely to intimidate. He threatened a woman with a knife, sent her WhatsApp messages, and, with accomplices, attacked her partner with a knife while shouting "kill him, finish him." The court noted that Emmet's threats were ignored and that the victim had called Gardaí. Judge Nolan, citing the intent to seriously harm the victim and Emmet's prior blackmail conviction, imposed the custodial sentence, backdating it to January. The case involved no further appeals or subsequent proceedings as reported.
Romer Huarita, 31, of Dublin 4, was sentenced to 15 months in prison at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to knowingly distributing child pornography material on January 7, 2022, and December 8, 2021. He also admitted to possessing child pornography. Prosecutors stated that 74 images and 45 videos, totaling over three hours, were found on his phone during a March 2022 search. Huarita sent two explicit videos via WhatsApp, later asking the recipient if the children were "too young." He expressed regret to gardai. Defense counsel Eanna Mulloy SC highlighted Huarita's lack of prior convictions, his employment history, and a psychological report indicating low reoffending risk. Judge Martin Nolan acknowledged the mitigating factors of his guilty pleas and work history but imposed the 15-month sentence, noting the maximum penalty for distribution is 14 years. The judge referenced a Court of Appeal ruling regarding non-custodial sentences in the absence of aggravating factors. The matter was concluded with this custodial sentence.
In October 2025, Eric Norton, a 32‑year‑old drug dealer who advertised cocaine and tablets on Snapchat, was sentenced to five and a half years in prison. He pleaded guilty to three counts of possessing drugs for sale or supply and two counts of possession of drugs at addresses in Dublin in October 2020 and March 2021, and to one count of burglary at a Tesco store in Adamstown on 26 March 2023. Norton had 101 previous convictions. An undercover Garda rang him after seeing his Snapchat ad, and the Garda bought drugs from him on three occasions. In February 2021, Gardaí discovered a basement flat leased by Norton containing Diazepam tablets, cannabis, ketamine and documents linked to him. In March 2023, Norton and three men disguised as workmen entered a Tesco store during a fire test, accessed the store through an open shutter, and stole €89,000 worth of mobile phones, razors and cigarettes.
In a Dublin murder trial, Justice Mary Ellen Ring instructed a jury that to secure murder convictions against Mark Lee (44), Anthony Delappe (19) and Connor Rafferty (21), the jury must be convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that each intended to cause serious injury to Josip Strok (31). The judge explained that mere presence at the scene is insufficient; the accused must have acted concretely in the killing and intended serious harm. If intent is not proven, the jury may consider manslaughter, where the accused caused death with intent to cause more than trivial harm. The prosecution alleges the trio assaulted Strok and his friend David Druzinec (29) on Grangeview Way, Clondalkin, on 3 April 2024, with Strok dying four days later from blunt‑force injuries. All three pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter and assault. The judge will give a final charge tomorrow before deliberations begin.
Stradbally Ladders Ltd, Ireland's only ladder factory, was ordered to pay €6,000 in compensation to former administrative assistant Joanne Kennedy for breaching maternity leave protections. The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) adjudication officer, Peter O'Brien, found that while a genuine redundancy situation existed, the company acted in total breach of the Maternity Protection Act by dismissing Ms Kennedy at the end of her protective leave without engaging in alternatives. The firm had made her redundant in July 2024, effective September 2024, after she requested parental leave. The adjudicator noted that the employer's decision not to issue notice before her leave did not eliminate its legal obligation to allow her return to work. Ms Kennedy's solicitors argued she was unfairly selected and denied an independent hearing during her appeal. The company contended that new automated systems rendered the administrative role unnecessary and that they avoided notifying her during her pregnancy-related sick leave. In addition to the €6,000 unfair dismissal award, the adjudicator granted a further €38 in interest compensation. This followed the company's admission of a genuine error under the Minimum Notice and Terms of Employment Act 1973, where they failed to pay two weeks' notice until eight months after the termination. The company had rectified the notice payment with a €1,260 cheque, but the adjudicator awarded interest for the delay.
Jason Desmond, 32, of Donaghmede, was denied bail after being charged with hijacking a taxi, false imprisonment and theft. On 25 July 2025, at about 1.21 am, he allegedly entered a taxi on Malahide Road, demanded to be taken to Circle K, and after the driver stopped, a group entered the shop and stole nearly €1,000 worth of alcohol and energy drinks. Desmond is accused of producing a kitchen knife to intimidate the driver, refusing to pay the €40 fare, and taking the stolen goods to a property in Priorswood, where Gardaí found the men asleep with the items strewn across the apartment. He was arrested at Coolock Garda Station and admitted to theft‑related offences. The judge cited the seriousness of the allegations, strong evidence, potential custodial sentence and risk of further offences, and sent the case to the Circuit Court for trial.
A Mayo man received a suspended sentence at Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court on 17 October for harassment spanning over a year. Brendan Rowland, aged 30, pleaded guilty to sending 14 malicious greeting cards to a couple in Swinford between December 2018 and December 2019. Judge Eoin Garavan noted that whilst 40 sinister cards were received in total, forensic evidence attributed only 14 to Rowland, suggesting an orchestrated campaign involving others. The cards included Mothers' Day and Christmas greetings, alongside messages signed "Joey" referencing the murder of Joe Deacy, aged 21, whose body was discovered at the recipients' home in August 2017. Judge Garavan imposed an 18-month sentence, suspended in full for two years, citing Rowland's guilty plea, apology, and rehabilitation efforts. Rowland was prohibited from approaching the Byrnes' residence or either individual within 500 metres for ten years. The judge expressed hope the matter would end the distress following Deacy's death.
A 70-year-old farmer from County Mayo has received a suspended sentence of seven months following his guilty plea to careless driving causing death. Martin Cullina was sentenced at Castlebar Circuit Court on Thursday after the three-car collision on the N17 near Claremorris on 16 May 2024 resulted in the death of a 58-year-old woman. Judge Eoin Garavan described the incident as a serious misjudgement on a dangerous stretch of road and told Cullina he had made a grave mistake. The court heard the victim's vehicle was stationary and indicating to turn when struck from behind. Cullina told gardaí he had not observed the brake lights or indicators, though a witness reported seeing both. The judge imposed conditions including an optician visit and completion of a pro-social driving test but declined to disqualify Cullina from driving, citing his isolation on a 20-acre farm eight kilometres from the nearest town. Cullina has no previous convictions and cooperated fully with gardaí.
Alan Tighe, 38, was jailed for five and a half years after authorities seized €700,000 worth of cannabis and cocaine. The drugs were hidden in air compressors and a van. Tighe was arrested when Gardaí, alerted by customs, intercepted a delivery of air compressors and found the cannabis, then later discovered the cocaine in a van. He pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply at Centre Point Business Park on 17 October 2023 and at an underground car park in Tallaght on 18 October 2023. Tighe has prior convictions for road traffic offences. The judge noted his addiction and debt‑related duress, his early guilty plea and family background, and imposed concurrent sentences of five and a half years, deviating from the mandatory 10‑year term. The court heard that Tighe's role was not sophisticated and that he had no signs of wealth. The defence highlighted his addiction, debt, and cooperation.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 70‑year‑old man, William Butler, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment for sexually assaulting a child aged between eight and nine between 2000 and 2002. Butler pleaded guilty to the offence, which involved touching the child's private area both inside and outside her clothing. The court noted that the child's family, who could not be identified, wished Butler to be named. Butler has 21 prior convictions, mainly for larceny and traffic offences, but none for sexual offences. He has suffered threats to burn down his house, assaults, and has spent time sleeping in his car and in cheap hotels. The judge, Martin Nolan, acknowledged Butler's remorse and the mitigating circumstances, but set a headline sentence of six years, reduced to four years after mitigation. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the offence and the impact on the victim.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Valdas Sakinis, aged 40, was sentenced to four years and five months in prison for possession of cannabis and zopiclone tablets for sale or supply. Gardai discovered over €680,000 worth of illegal drugs in a storage unit on Mount Seskin Road, Tallaght. The unit contained 33.4 kg of cannabis, valued at €668,000, and €12,600 of zopiclone tablets. Sakinis was found with €200 of cannabis for personal use, a small amount of ketamine in a hidden compartment, cling film, a key to the unit, and a van. He had no fixed abode, claimed to live in Lithuania, and refused to identify the key owner. He had three prior convictions for theft, criminal damage and trespass dating back to 2011. The court accepted his early guilty plea, cooperation, and a letter from his priest, and noted his lower‑to‑middle offending level and foreign‑national status.
In October 2025, Johnson & Johnson appealed a €944,000 award granted to former Limerick hurler Mark Keane by the High Court for injuries sustained in a 2018 workplace incident. Keane, who was injured while freeing a colleague trapped in a machine at the company's Plassey plant, claimed nerve damage to his right hand and injury to his right shoulder. The High Court had awarded compensation for the hand injury and accepted the shoulder injury as caused by the incident. Johnson & Johnson accepted responsibility for the hand injury but denied the shoulder injury, arguing no substantial complaint was made during treatment and that the first mention of the shoulder problem appeared six years later. The company also challenged the pension, health insurance and future earnings awards as excessive. Keane's counsel maintained that the trial judge's findings were based on cogent evidence and were not reviewable.
A witness at the Central Criminal Court has testified that a fire was burning at a house in Mountnugent, County Meath, the day after two men went missing in April 2014. Vytautis Bitaris told the court he was present at Patricks Cottage on the morning of April 23, 2014, when he observed the fire near the property's outbuildings. Later that evening, the witness said he assisted in loading four large blocks into a vehicle belonging to Neville van der Westhuizen, the boyfriend of Ruth Lawrence, who denies murdering Anthony Keegan and Eoin O'Connor. The trial heard that the two men were last seen on April 22, 2014. A second witness, Marzena Miduchoska, testified that van der Westhuizen asked her to store two tool boxes at her home around midnight in April 2014, stating the items would only remain for one day. When Ms Miduchoska opened one box the following day, she observed foil-wrapped items and a device resembling a tattoo implement. The trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt. Anthony Keegan pleaded not guilty. Eoin O'Connor pleaded not guilty. Ruth Lawrence pleaded not guilty.
A barman at Old Conna Golf Club, James Keegan, has filed an employment rights claim with the Workplace Relations Commission, alleging that several of his female co‑workers have received higher pay and better conditions despite his seniority. Keegan, who has worked part‑time at the club since January 2018, says the club hired three women after him who earned higher wages and had more favourable working hours. He has requested rosters and payscales for these employees and has tried to raise the issue with the club's general manager, former manager and president before taking sick leave in April 2025 due to workplace stress. The club's solicitor said it was unclear why Keegan was comparing himself to groundsmen if his complaint is a gender equality claim. The tribunal adjourned the hearing, with parties to exchange documents, and noted the case is unlikely to be re‑listed before year‑end.
Patrick O'Brien, 18, was sentenced to a suspended nine‑month term after he threw two airsoft grenades in the underground car park of the IBIS hotel in Clondalkin, Dublin, in February. The grenades produced a bang and a flash, and one was thrown toward a man who later reported the incident to Clondalkin Garda Station. The man, after picking up the grenade, wrapped it in tissue and brought it to the station, where the gardaí were instructed to place it on the floor, leading to the station's temporary evacuation and the closure of surrounding roads. Bomb disposal units later confirmed the device was a CO₂ airsoft grenade, safe and used in airsoft games. O'Brien pleaded guilty to possession of the grenade; he had no prior convictions. The judge noted his young age and described the act as "an act of stupidity," and imposed the suspended sentence on conditions set by the court.
In a case brought under the Employment Equality Act 1998, Swylwia Szuba, a Polish care‑home worker, won €1,800 after her line manager at Hazel Hall Nursing Home in Clane made remarks linking her nationality to a supposedly poorer attitude and compared Polish people to Irish people, calling the latter "nicer and kinder." Szuba, then three months into probation as an activities coordinator, complained that the manager's comments were discriminatory. She raised an informal grievance, received an apology, but the matter was closed without any action against the manager. Later, on 8 April 2024, her probationary employment was terminated on grounds of performance issues. The tribunal found the manager's remarks amounted to racial discrimination and ordered the employer to pay compensation and review its dignity‑at‑work policy within six months. The decision was made by adjudicator Elizabeth Spelman.
In the Central Criminal Court, barrister Michael Bowman SC warned a jury that comments made by murder accused Mark Lee (44) about "illegal immigrants" and "invaders" to gardai should not prejudice their verdict. Bowman said Lee's remarks, though "objectionable and unsavoury", must not influence the jury's assessment of the evidence. He noted that the prosecution had alleged Lee and co‑accused Anthony Delappe and Connor Rafferty had known the deceased, Josip Strok, was a foreigner, yet there was no evidence Lee or the others had spoken about foreigners before the assault. Bowman challenged the prosecution's claim that the nature of the assault proved intent to cause serious injury, pointing out that Strok's fatal skull fracture was likely caused by a fall. He urged the jury to consider Lee's guilty plea to manslaughter and to avoid prejudice based on his views, concluding that a manslaughter verdict was appropriate. Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring will charge the jury next Tuesday. Mark Lee pleaded not guilty. Connor Rafferty pleaded not guilty. Anthony Delappe pleaded not guilty.
A man who struck and fatally injured a young pedestrian at a crossing in Ballina, County Mayo, has received a fully suspended sentence at Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court. James Moyles, aged thirty-three, died on February twentieth, two thousand twenty-four, after being hit by a car on Lord Edward Street whilst holding his four-year-old niece's hand. In his final moments, Mr Moyles pushed the child to safety from the oncoming vehicle. Keith O'Brien, aged fifty, of Lowvalley, Crossmolina, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death. He received a suspended sentence of two and a half years and was disqualified from driving for ten years. Judge Eoin Garavan described Mr Moyles' final act as one of great selflessness, whilst characterising O'Brien as a good man who made a terrible error in judgment. The Moyles family issued a statement calling for improved road safety across Ireland.
Carley Hopkins, 35, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to endangerment, theft and production of an article for stealing €246 worth of clothing from Dundrum Town Centre on 12 February 2023. She fled with a security officer clinging to her car's bonnet, driving off while the officer held onto the bonnet until she reached the barrier. Hopkins admitted the offence at the scene and in a Garda interview, expressed remorse, and handed over her car keys. She is a part‑time cleaner, suffers mental health difficulties, and cares for her mother, cousin and teenage child. Judge Patricia Codd sentenced her to two and a half years for endangerment and 18 months for theft, both concurrent, and suspended the entire sentence for three years. The production of an article charge was also considered.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Karl Keogh, 38, admitted using forged documents—including a fake Virgin Media bill, counterfeit pay slips and a counterfeit Irish driving licence—to open an account at Ballygall Credit Union in Ballymun and borrow €19,000. The loan was never repaid, and the account fell into arrears. Keogh pleaded guilty to theft and fraud offences on 4 and 8 April 2021. The court, noting his severe gambling problem, imposed a 20‑month prison sentence.
In a case heard on 23 October 2025, Nafisa Xussein, aged 57, was sentenced to a nine‑month term of imprisonment for careless driving causing serious bodily harm after she collided with a motorbike on the M50 northbound at junction 6, Blanchardstown. The collision left the motorcyclist with a broken wrist, fractures to his collarbone, ribs and pelvis, and bruising to his right lung and pelvis area. The victim, a semi‑retired diving instructor, described the injuries as having "irrevocably changed" his life, requiring four weeks in hospital, three surgeries and extensive physiotherapy. Xussein pleaded guilty to the single count of careless driving, had no prior convictions, and cooperated fully with Gardaí. The judge, Jonathan Dunphy, accepted her apology and mitigating circumstances, including her role as a single mother, and imposed a nine‑month sentence suspended for 12 months, with no driving disqualification. The sentence was delivered in the presence of the victim's impact statement.
Chesing Wan, 37, of Tallaght, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to handling €64,195 and £2,180 sterling, alleged to be proceeds of crime found at his home on July 16, 2023. Judge Orla Crowe noted that Wan was "clearly trusted" in storing the considerable amount of cash. Detective Garda Mark Berigan testified that a search warrant was executed following confidential information, revealing Wan had used WhatsApp to arrange meetings for collecting cash, verified by photographs of a €20 note. The court heard that Wan, a father of four with a history of drug addiction and depression, has four previous minor convictions. Judge Crowe acknowledged mitigating factors including his guilty plea, mental health difficulties, and character references. She determined the offence warranted a custodial sentence, noting the maximum available penalty was fourteen years. Wan was sentenced to eighteen months in prison, with the final nine months suspended for two years. He was also placed under the supervision of probation services for one year post-release. The probation report placed him at a "moderate" risk of re-offending.
In a Dublin Circuit Court hearing, a 31‑year‑old man pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and contravening a protection order after an incident in May 2022. The victim, a 31‑year‑old woman, had a protection order against him and described the assault as a "blessing in disguise" that led him to address his addiction and mental health issues. Judge Jonathan Dunphy imposed a suspended prison sentence of two years and six months, suspended for four years under strict conditions, citing the woman's plea for leniency and the potential impact on their family. The court noted the man's remorse, his engagement with addiction and mental health services, and his low risk of re‑offending. The couple are now engaged and the man remains under probation supervision for 18 months.
A key witness has told the Central Criminal Court that he feared Ruth Lawrence, who is accused of murdering two men in April or May 2014. The 45-year-old from Mountnugent in Co Meath has pleaded not guilty to killing Anthony Keegan and Eoin O'Connor. Jason Symes gave evidence via video-link, stating he witnessed Lawrence carrying a firearm on multiple occasions. He recalled that on Good Friday 2014, Lawrence and her boyfriend Neville van der Westhuizen borrowed his daughter's car while he waited in Dublin. Upon their return to Patrick's Cottage in Meath, Symes said the couple removed numerous bags from the vehicle. He testified that he later heard Lawrence mention a headlock and a twist in connection with the deceased men. Symes said he fled Ireland fearing for his family's safety but returned to provide testimony. The trial continues before Justice Tony Hunt and a jury.
Joyce Holleran‑Whelan, a former manager at Headford Co‑operative Mart, won €26,000 after a Workplace Relations Commission tribunal found the co‑op failed to investigate her bullying complaints. She alleged she was excluded by colleagues, attacked with a cattle prod, and subjected to intimidation and verbal bullying. The tribunal rejected her claim of whistleblower penalisation, stating that her financial and governance concerns were not sufficiently connected to her termination in 2023. The tribunal noted the co‑op did not provide her with computer passwords or contact details, and that staff refused to work with her. It also found the co‑op had not complied with the national code of practice on investigating workplace grievances, and that it failed to offer her the interim manager role when it became vacant. The decision awarded her losses of €26,250 for unfair dismissal.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 41‑year‑old serial burglar, Thomas Redmond, received a five‑year prison sentence for breaking into a house in Clonskeagh, Dublin 14, where a mother and her infant were present. Redmond, who had previously lived in Ard Donagh, Ennistymon, Co Clare, had been on bail for a 2022 trespass offence in Stillorgan, Co Dublin, when he committed the 2024 burglary. He admitted that his typical method involved cycling around estates, checking for unoccupied houses, and then entering to steal and leave. When he realised occupants were present, he fled. The victim, a mother asleep with her baby, heard a loud doorbell and noise, saw Redmond running up the stairs, and pursued him to protect her child. She later described the psychological impact of the intrusion. Judge Martin Nolan accepted that Redmond's intent was to target empty houses and, upon discovering people inside, he attempted to escape. Thomas Redmond pleaded guilty.
On 23 October 2025, the High Court refused Dr Cora Stack's last‑minute application for a judicial review of the presidential nomination process. The court found her claims to be "entirely baseless" and "unstateable". Dr Stack, a maths lecturer, had alleged that political parties unlawfully blocked independent candidates, including herself, from contesting the election, and had sought a declaration that Tánaiste Simon Harris's instruction to Fine Gael councillors to block independent nominations was unlawful. She also requested an injunction to compel a "fair, lawful and constitutional" nomination process. Mr Justice Mark Heslin rejected all of her submissions, noting that she had failed to provide evidence of any attempt to secure 20 Oireachtas nominations or of any councillor's support. He dismissed her allegations that council meetings were "unprecedentedly clustered" or that she was denied a fair opportunity, calling them baseless.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, the Director of Public Prosecutions asked a jury to consider whether a statement made by accused Mark Lee to Gardaí—claiming it was "terrible the way the homeless are treated" while illegal immigrants "run amok"—constituted a motive or justification for the attack on Croatian national Josip Strok. The prosecution alleged that Lee, Anthony Delappe and Connor Rafferty jointly assaulted Strok on 3 April 2024, using a pickaxe handle, a crutch and kicks, causing fatal blunt‑force injuries. Lee and Delappe pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter; Rafferty pleaded not guilty to murder and guilty to assault. Defence counsel argued that the evidence did not prove intent to cause serious injury and urged a manslaughter verdict for each accused. The case remains at the jury stage, with the prosecution's closing speech pending.
In a Workplace Relations Commission ruling, William Gallagher, a tenant in County Kildare, was awarded €23,000 after landlords Jenny Brennan and Matthew Hannigan unlawfully refused to sign the State housing assistance payment (HAP) form. Gallagher had been denied HAP, which the council had approved in December 2023, and had paid €15,000 of rent out of pocket. He sent a formal discrimination notice under the Equal Status Act, after receiving eviction notices eight days later. The tribunal found the landlords' refusal and delay constituted serious housing‑assistance discrimination, awarding Gallagher €15,000 for loss and €8,000 for penalisation, totaling €23,000. Gallagher's evidence was deemed credible, and the landlords were ordered to pay the compensation. The case highlights the legal protection against discrimination in housing assistance.
A 55‑year‑old taxi driver, Feliks Andrianov, appealed his conviction for assaulting a security guard at a McDonald's restaurant near Dublin Airport. He argued that the jury's subsidised lunch created a "psychological relation" with the State, biasing the verdict, and that the trial judge was biased by questioning the jury about their meal. Andrianov claimed his defence team failed to present a legitimate defence, that CCTV footage was admitted without verification, and that he was denied the right to finish his testimony. He also alleged misdirection regarding the offence under the Non‑Fatal Offences Act and that his counsel had not followed his instructions. The Director of Public Prosecutions countered that the judge's rulings were justified and that the evidence was admissible. The court will reserve judgment on the appeal.
A 19‑year‑old teenager received a 12‑month suspended prison sentence for threatening to kill a former partner. The conviction followed an earlier acquittal of rape at the Central Criminal Court. The judge, Mr Justice Paul Burns, noted the victim's significant fear and set a headline sentence of two years for an adult, reduced to 12 months because the offender was 16 at the time of the offence. The sentence was suspended for three years under strict conditions, and the offender was directed to place himself under Probation Services supervision. The court could only sentence on the count where a guilty verdict was returned and could not consider other alleged offences. The victim's impact statement described fear, illness, and isolation, while the defence counsel accepted the verdict and offered an apology. The offender had no prior convictions and was a first‑time offender.