In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 80‑year‑old Desmond Walsh was sentenced to four years' imprisonment for sexually abusing a child aged five to nine between 2011 and 2015. The judge, Martin Nolan, noted the repeated nature of the abuse and the victim's young age as aggravating factors, but also cited Walsh's guilty plea, remorse, lack of prior convictions, long work history and low likelihood of re‑offending as mitigating factors. Walsh had been extradited from Spain after leaving Ireland in 2018 and was returned to face the charges in November 2022. The victim, who remained unnamed, gave an impact statement expressing a desire to return to normal life. The judge urged Walsh to feel ashamed of his actions. The sentence was reduced from an initial headline of eight years to four years, with credit given for time already spent in custody.
Jonathan Byrne, 37, of Woodavens, Clondalkin, was sentenced to two and a half years in prison for assault causing harm after he kicked and stamped his then‑partner over 15 times, causing bruising, swelling and vomiting. The attack occurred on 3 March at the victim's home, where she later described being punched, kicked, stamped and spat on. Byrne left the night before, warned her it was not over, and returned to collect belongings, shouting at a plant. He pleaded guilty, expressed remorse, and cited mental health and addiction issues. Judge Orla Crowe set a headline sentence of five years, imposed three years and six months, and suspended the final year on strict conditions. The victim suffered PTSD, hair loss and ongoing fear, as detailed in her impact statement.
Patrick McGregor, 39, was sentenced to six years' imprisonment after pleading guilty to four counts of demanding money with menaces from two families in North Dublin in November and December 2024, and to theft of a Ring doorbell and acquisition of €5,000 as proceeds of crime. He also pleaded guilty to possessing a heavy‑duty stun gun without a valid certificate. McGregor claimed he had been threatened by men over a drug debt owed by others and that he took it upon himself to collect the money, admitting he had acted in the "wrong way" and was "deeply ashamed". The court heard that he had threatened to burn the families' houses and that a taser gun was seized during a search of his home. He has 101 previous convictions, mainly for traffic offences. The sentence was back‑dated to the date of his arrest.
In a Tallaght District Court hearing on 10 October 2025, Judge Áine Shannon dismissed a Section 6 Public Order charge against 64‑year‑old Míceál MacGiobúin of Belmont Park, Donnybrook. MacGiobúin had pleaded not guilty to allegations that he used threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour with intent to cause a breach of the peace during a protest outside the Russian Embassy on Orwell Road, Rathgar, on 11 October 2024. Garda Sophie Gummerson testified that she saw MacGiobúin walking near the embassy carrying a placard and shouting slogans such as "Nazi war criminal – get out of Ireland and get out of Ukraine" and "Putin will put you in his meat mincer" towards embassy employee Igor Koliara, who reported feeling intimidated. MacGiobúin, who represented himself, claimed his protest was passionate but peaceful and denied any threatening intent. CCTV footage reviewed by the judge showed MacGiobúin walking at a steady pace, not running or lunging.
A man from Castlerea in County Roscommon has received a fully suspended sentence at Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court following what the judge described as a remarkable turnaround in his life. Ernest Ashman, aged 39, pleaded guilty to possession of almost one kilogramme of cannabis, valued at approximately €20,000, for sale or supply at Rathcluain, Kiltimagh, County Mayo on 3 October 2023. He was arrested following a traffic stop after gardaí observed his vehicle being driven erratically through a housing estate. Ashman was handed a two-year suspended sentence and disqualified from driving for six years. Judge Eoin Garavan imposed a headline sentence of three years but reduced it to two years in light of mitigating factors, including Ashman's rehabilitation efforts. The court heard that Ashman has since trained in addiction counselling to Level 7 qualification standard, now works in a community centre, and remains drug-free. He has been instructed to comply with probation supervision for one year and continue mental health counselling.
Laurence Farrell, a former retained firefighter in Meath, lost his statutory complaint for constructive dismissal before the Workplace Relations Commission. Farrell alleged that Meath County Council failed to properly investigate bullying and verbal abuse by a now-retired station officer at Nobber Fire Station, which he described as a 'whitewash.' He claimed he was excluded from training and suffered aggressive treatment, leading him to resign in December 2020 after his sick leave expired. The council denied the allegations, stating the complaints were handled according to its dignity at work policy. Adjudicator Maria Kelly found that the council's HR manager fully investigated the complaints and acted reasonably. She determined that Farrell had not exhausted internal resolution processes by quitting before completing recommended meetings. Consequently, she dismissed the statutory complaint, finding no unfair dismissal. The adjudicator also concluded that reinstatement was not an option. Sheila Broderick, Meath's Chief Fire Officer, testified that no other complaints had been made against the accused officer and that the rank system was a safety measure. The case was concluded with the dismissal of Farrell's claim.
In a Dublin court, a 38‑year‑old woman whose older brother sexually assaulted her between 1999 and 2002 pleaded guilty to sexual assault. She was aged eight to eleven at the time, while the brother was twelve to fifteen. The court accepted the plea on a full facts basis and imposed a two‑year sentence, with eight months suspended on strict conditions. The woman described four incidents of abuse, the last occurring while their mother was downstairs. She said she felt shame, fear of not being believed, and turned to drugs and alcohol, but is now receiving counselling. Her parents disowned her and supported the brother after she complained to Gardaí. She stated that forgiveness is not an option and that she will never forgive him.
Brian Comiskey, aged 46, was first arrested in 2013 after robbing a Texaco service station in Shankill, Co Dublin, on Valentine's Day. The robbery was televised on RTE's Crimecall, and an anonymous tip led to his arrest, but insufficient evidence prevented charges. In 2021, an off‑duty detective spotted Comiskey entering the same service station armed with a hammer, wearing a face covering and latex gloves. He was taken to a Garda station before he could steal anything and claimed he had robbed the station in 2013. That confession was inadmissible. Comiskey pleaded guilty to one count of robbery at the Texaco station and one count of burglary at Centra on the same day, February 14, 2013. He had 45 prior convictions, including robbery, burglary, knife possession and public order offences. Sergeant Bernard Dunne described how Comiskey entered Centra, stole a screwdriver, left, then demanded €700 from a worker at the Texaco station, taking the money and leaving.
A 22‑year‑old man, Martin McAleer, was sentenced to five years and four months in prison, with 18 months suspended, after pleading guilty to dangerous driving, endangerment, criminal damage and possession of false instruments in two separate incidents in 2023. The first incident on 4 January involved McAleer driving a car that struck a civilian vehicle, a Garda car and a parked car, causing €80,000‑90,000 in damage and soft‑tissue injuries to a passenger. The second incident on 31 May saw McAleer driving an Audi A5 in a high‑speed pursuit that resulted in a motorbike collision, injuries to a motorcyclist, damage to six Garda vehicles and two civilian cars, and a broken toe and hand to a Garda. He was on bail at the time of the offences and is already serving a four‑year sentence.
A Tibetan monk, whose identity is protected, appeared before the High Court to challenge the State's refusal to grant him asylum in Ireland. He claims he fled China in April 2016 for political reasons, lived in Nepal until September 2024, and arrived in Ireland in October 2024 where he applied for international protection. His asylum application was rejected in January 2025, and he sought to appeal to the International Protection Appeals Tribunal (IPAT). He alleges that extraordinary circumstances—specifically the bombing of a Sudanese legal secretary's home and the death of a close family friend—caused a delay in filing his appeal within the 15‑day deadline. IPAT denied an extension and later refused to reconsider the appeal, stating it lacked jurisdiction. The monk's legal team argues that significant extenuating circumstances warrant reconsideration, and the case was adjourned to next week for an update.
A Central Bank manager fired forensic investigator Nigar Babayeva after learning she had complained to HR. Babayeva is pursuing claims under the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 and the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977 before the Workplace Relations Commission. The dispute was first disclosed at a public hearing today. The bank's lawyers had sought a closed‑door hearing last year. Ms Babayeva's solicitors filed two complaint forms with different termination dates – July 2023 and July 2024 – which the bank's lawyer, Niamh McGowan, criticised as inconsistent. Babayeva alleges whistleblower penalisation because the bank delayed her probation appeal to allow an internal investigation. The bank argues the manager who fired her had no contractual authority. The case is adjourned, with parties given six weeks to exchange legal submissions before the next hearing.
Stephen Penrose, a 42‑year‑old serving a life sentence for the murder of Philip Finnegan, dismissed his legal team before his scheduled appeal hearing. Penrose had represented himself in the 2021 trial after earlier dropping two legal teams. The jury found him guilty of murdering Finnegan, 24, at Rahin Woods on 10 August 2016, after CCTV and forensic evidence linked him to the crime. Penrose had previously been found not guilty of murder in a 2010 trial for a different killing. Ahead of the appeal, Penrose notified the court of his decision to dismiss his solicitors and counsel, a move confirmed in a video consultation. The Court of Appeal, noting the lack of communication from the former team, adjourned the hearing to 24 October to verify the dismissal and allow a new solicitor to appear. The case remains pending.
A 36‑year‑old man, Jasmin Nasic, was jailed for one year after a jury found him guilty of sexual assault and offensive conduct of a sexual nature for groping a 16‑year‑old girl in a Dublin supermarket. The victim, who was helping her mother shop, said the assault took place when Nasic put his hand on her buttocks and forcefully groped her as he walked past. She described the incident as "opportunistic and demeaning" and said the trial caused her stress, anxiety and sleepless nights. Judge Martina Baxter, after hearing the victim's impact statement and a Probation Service report that Nasic is at moderate risk of re‑offending, sentenced him to two years in prison, suspending the final year on conditions including one year of probation. Nasic has no prior convictions and has worked in Ireland since 2016. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
A married couple, originally from a French-speaking region of Africa, are seeking to have their overturned convictions for female genital mutilation (FGM) declared a miscarriage of justice, a court has been told. The couple was initially convicted in 2020 of FGM and child cruelty on their one-year-old daughter, but their convictions were quashed on appeal due to issues with the translation of their testimony. A retrial in 2023 resulted in a jury being unable to reach a verdict. The charges were subsequently dropped by the Director of Public Prosecutions, who entered a nolle prosequi in July 2024. The 43-year-old man and 33-year-old woman, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the child, pleaded not guilty to one count of FGM and one count of child cruelty on September 16, 2016. Hugh Hartnett SC, representing the man, stated the matter is not an appeal but an application for a miscarriage of justice certificate, citing that the evidence given was incorrect. Counsel for the woman, Giollaíosa Ó Lideadha SC, noted complex medical and procedural issues, including an expert report from December 2023 that found no FGM. The matter was listed for hearing on January 22 and 23 next. FGM has been illegal in Ireland since 2012, with a maximum sentence of 14 years imprisonment.
In a brief arraignment at the Central Criminal Court, 35‑year‑old Muhammed Al Shaker Al Tamimi pleaded guilty to murdering his eight‑year‑old daughter, Malika Al Katib, and attempting to murder her mother, Aisha Al Katib, on 1 December 2024 at Lower William Street, New Ross. Mr Justice Paul McDermott adjourned the case to 15 December for evidence and a statement from Ms Katib and her family. The defendant faces a mandatory life sentence for murder.
A woman accused of murdering two men inquired about borrowing a boat on Lough Sheelin the day before the deceased were last seen alive, the Central Criminal Court has heard. Ruth Lawrence, 45, of Patricks Cottage, Ross, Mountnugent, Co Meath, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Anthony Keegan and Eoin O'Connor between April 22 and May 26, 2014. A landlord told the court that Ms Lawrence asked about taking a boat out on April 21, 2014, and subsequently borrowed an electric engine, which she said was needed because her boyfriend had a bad back and could not manage rowing. The witness stated the engine was returned the following day with minimal battery usage. The prosecution alleges Ms Lawrence and her boyfriend worked together to kill the two men, whose bodies were discovered bound and wrapped on Inchicup Island on May 26, 2014. The trial, before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and a jury, continues.
In a sentencing hearing at the Central Criminal Court, Ms Justice Eileen Creedon imposed a mandatory life sentence on George Turner, 56, for the murder of Emma McCrory, 45, who died in a house fire on 15 December 2022. Turner admitted setting the blaze, claiming he believed Ms McCrory had "no quality of life" and wanted to "take her out of her pain." He also said he hoped the fire would evict her and that she might live with him. The fire started in Ms McCrory's bedroom on Howth Road, Clontarf, and she died from inhaling combustion products. Ms McCrory's mother, Pauline Costello, testified that her daughter was "beautiful inside and out," and that Turner's actions left two children motherless. Turner had 42 prior convictions, including firearms and drug offences, and has been drug‑free since his 2023 arrest. George Turner pleaded guilty.
A man convicted of breaching a safety order under section 33(1) of the Domestic Violence Act 2018 has requested that the District Court of Appeals extend his custodial sentence to allow him to complete prison courses. He was originally sentenced to ten months in custody, the maximum for the offence being twelve months, and has appealed that sentence. The defendant, whose name cannot be disclosed, has 56 prior convictions, including assault and criminal damage. His solicitor, Paddy McGarry, described the request as an "unusual application" and said the client feels prison is a safer environment and wants to "keep his head down" while rehabilitating. Judge Fiona O'Sullivan acknowledged the appeal, noted the mitigating circumstance of an early guilty plea, and postponed a final decision until a psychological report is available, setting a new deadline of 1 December.
In Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Govonor Ogbonnaya, 27, pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply at a Tallaght address on 20 October 2020. He had 52 prior theft convictions. Gardaí obtained a search warrant for a Tallaght home, finding 26.6 g of cannabis in the house and 2,067 g in bags on adjacent bins, totaling €43,854 in seized cannabis. Ogbonnaya admitted to taking the drugs after seeing them stored under a bush, but claimed uncertainty about what to do with them. He presented himself to Gardaí when the house owner was arrested and took responsibility. Judge Martin Nolan, noting mitigation, departed from the ten‑year mandatory minimum and sentenced Ogbonnaya to two years in prison, back‑dated to his custody entry. The sentence reflects the court's view that the defendant deserves custodial punishment while acknowledging his desire to leave that life behind.
Jordan Domican, aged 24, of Collinstown Grove, Clondalkin, Dublin, has been sentenced to seven and a half years imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He pleaded guilty to two counts of facilitating a criminal organisation between May 9 and May 11, 2024. The court heard that Domican procured vehicles used in serious criminal incidents, including an arson attack on a Dublin house and a firearms discharge. Judge Martin Nolan described him as occupying a significant role within the organisation, describing him as "indispensable". Evidence included phone records, CCTV footage showing his vehicle in convoy with those used in the offences, and his involvement in purchasing vehicles under false identities. Domican, who has thirty previous convictions, was credited with a guilty plea and mitigating personal circumstances. He has been remanded in custody since February 2025. Several co-accused remain before the courts regarding the same offences.
Seven men, aged 32 to 55, are on trial at the Central Criminal Court, accused of sexually abusing a deaf woman over a 17-year period from 1996 to 2013. The accused, comprising three uncles and four brothers of the complainant, have all pleaded not guilty to a total of 98 counts. Prosecuting counsel Gerardine Small SC outlined that the allegations are being tried together for convenience but must be considered separately. The complainant, who will be assisted by interpreters and an intermediary, reportedly disclosed the abuse to a social worker in 2017. Accused A (55) faces one count of rape; Accused B (48) faces eight counts including oral and anal rape; Accused C (34) faces 45 counts of rape and anal rape, plus additional charges of sexual assault and rape against two other sisters; Accused D (33) faces 22 counts; Accused E (32) faces 16 counts; Accused F (32) faces five counts; and Accused G (45) faces one count of rape. All defendants deny the allegations. The trial is set down for four months, and the jury was directed to return on Monday to commence evidence.
The Workplace Relations Commission has upheld the dismissal of Valerie McDonagh, a human resources officer at the Society of St Vincent de Paul Council of Ireland. Ms. McDonagh claimed her termination in July 2024 constituted whistleblower penalisation under the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 and unfair dismissal under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977, alleging she was let go after raising concerns about the vetting documentation of a new hire, referred to as 'Mr X'. The adjudicator rejected these claims, finding that the dismissal was based on genuine performance issues during her probation, specifically her communication style. The charity's head of HR, Briona Sheils, testified that Ms. McDonagh's approach was 'too sharp' and lacked the emotional intelligence required for the role. The adjudicator noted that while Ms. McDonagh argued her dismissal was retaliation for highlighting gaps in Mr X's overseas vetting, the evidence indicated the employer had a legitimate basis for the decision unrelated to any protected disclosure. The adjudicator also noted there was no evidence that Mr X posed a risk to children. Ms. McDonagh's complaints, which also included a claim under the Terms of Employment (Information) Act 1994, were dismissed. The decision concludes that the respondent's concerns regarding the complainant's inability to adjust her communication style provided a valid reason for probationary dismissal.
In a sentencing hearing at the Central Criminal Court, 22‑year‑old Josh O'Brien pleaded guilty to attempting to murder his ex‑girlfriend, Niamh Kelly, by stabbing her over 50 times on Firhouse Road, Dublin, on 19 September 2024. The attack, lasting up to six minutes, left Kelly with lifelong injuries, including a fragment of the knife still lodged in her skull. O'Brien, who had no prior convictions, claimed he was influenced by voices and had consumed alcohol that day. He admitted feeling betrayed when Kelly turned her back on him. Kelly, aged 21, described the assault as "ferocious, unwarranted, unjustified and unprovoked," and said her life has changed forever, with permanent loss of sight and paralysis in her left leg. The court postponed finalisation to 20 October 2025.
In a case heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Connor James McCabe, 29, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm and to driving a defective vehicle after a collision on Balbutcher Lane, Ballymun, on 20 February 2023. McCabe admitted that the front tyres of his car were bald and that he had traces of cannabis in his system, but he denied that intoxication contributed to the loss of control. The victim suffered fractures to the arm and leg, a broken nose and a brain bleed, with speech and memory affected. McCabe, who had no prior convictions and was fully insured, was found to have lost control of the vehicle, which was travelling under the speed limit. Judge Martin Nolan, after considering the evidence, imposed an 18‑month suspended sentence and a four‑year driving ban, citing McCabe's early guilty plea, remorse and lack of previous convictions as mitigating factors. The case was adjourned overnight for sentencing.
Ruth Lawrence, a Dublin woman with an address in County Meath, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of two men whose bodies were discovered on Inchicup Island in Lough Sheelin in May 2014. The island straddles the borders of Meath, Westmeath and Cavan. At the opening of the trial at the Central Criminal Court, the State outlined its case that Lawrence and her boyfriend worked "as a unit" to kill Anthony Keegan and Eoin O'Connor between April 22 and May 26, 2014. The prosecution contends Lawrence shot one man, with a follow-up shot delivered by her boyfriend. Both men died from gunshot wounds. The State alleges the accused and her boyfriend discussed the murders and disposal of the bodies openly. Evidence will address a debt owed by one defendant to one of the deceased, and activities at the cottage near the lake following the alleged killings. The trial, before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and a jury, is expected to conclude on November 14.
A 38‑year‑old repeat offender, Vasile Canta, had his four‑month jail sentence for possessing a pointed blade and threatening behaviour overturned on appeal. The original conviction stemmed from an incident at Henrietta House in Dublin 7 on 11 February 2024, where Garda Philip Collins described Canta as "highly aggressive", spitting at officers and swinging his arms. A search revealed a sharp article concealed on his person, and Canta was found to have a nail file in his pocket. He pleaded not guilty in the District Court but was convicted under the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act and the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act. Defence counsel argued that Canta was intoxicated and feared imprisonment, and that he had not brandished the blade. Judge Fiona O'Sullivan fully suspended the four‑month sentence for 12 months, requiring Canta to be supervised by the Probation Service, comply with alcohol‑abuse directives, and attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.
A man caught transporting nearly €500,000 worth of cannabis has been sentenced to three years and three months imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Conor Delaney, formerly of Dublin 15, pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis for sale or supply following his arrest at Larch Hill, Santry on March 25, 2021. Gardaí conducting a surveillance operation observed Delaney receive two boxes from a van driven by co-accused Glen Stankard, who was previously sentenced to six years with the final three and a half years suspended. Analysis of the seized packages revealed 24.8 kilograms of cannabis valued at €496,384. The defence submitted that Delaney, now living in Donegal, had successfully rehabilitated from drug addiction and was drug-free. Judge Martin Nolan acknowledged the defendant's rehabilitation efforts and family support but noted his difficulties stemmed from his own choices. The judge imposed a headline sentence of six years before reducing it to three years and three months.
Thomas Fox, 22, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to a global custodial term of five and a half years after pleading guilty to multiple offences arising from the November 23, 2022 riots. Judge Martin Nolan set a headline sentence of eight years before reducing it to the final term. Fox admitted to committing a riot on Burgh Quay, violent disorder, burglary of Foot Locker on O'Connell Street, interfering with a bus mechanism on O'Connell Bridge, assaulting Sergeant Brendan Eddery causing him harm, and possession of cocaine for sale or supply in his Lord Edward Street hostel. The prosecution accepted the assault charge on the basis of joint enterprise. Fox was identified by two gardaí via CCTV and arrested in July 2024. During the hearing, Sergeant Eddery read a victim impact statement detailing his injuries and the psychological trauma caused by the live-streamed attack, which his family later viewed. The judge acknowledged Fox's sincere remorse and apology, noting his history of drug addiction and homelessness. Despite the significant damage caused by the riots, estimated at €10 million, the court imposed the custodial sentence, concluding with Judge Nolan wishing the sergeant luck.
In a tribunal hearing, Anne Doyle, a call‑centre worker dismissed by phone after 23 years with Applus Car Testing Ltd., secured €13,200 in compensation. Doyle had been absent from work since 4 December 2020 following a fall and subsequent medical investigations that revealed a complex condition involving lower back pain and hand tremors. She had attempted to negotiate a return to work on reduced hours or from home, but the company rejected these options. On 7 February 2024, a human‑resources manager terminated her employment over the phone. Doyle appealed, presenting medical evidence of improvement, but the appeal meeting was dismissed as a "joke." The adjudicator, Catherine Byrne, found that Applus failed to respond to the Workplace Relations Commission's notice and had not appeared at the hearing. She ruled that Doyle's dismissal was linked to her disability, upheld the disability‑discrimination complaint, and awarded €11,000.
A 45-year-old woman with an address in County Meath has pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder at the Central Criminal Court. Ruth Lawrence is charged with the murder of Anthony Keegan and Eoin O'Connor, alleged to have occurred at an unknown location within the State between April and May 2014. The trial commenced before Mr Justice Tony Hunt with a jury of twelve members. The prosecution is led by senior counsel Michael O'Higgins, with the defence represented by Patrick Gageby SC. The trial is expected to conclude by mid-November. Evidence will be heard from members of both deceased's families, forensic specialists, pathologists and mobile phone analysts. The investigation was principally conducted by officers from Kells Garda Station in County Meath, with the missing persons aspect handled by Santry gardaí. Locations of relevance include Ballyjamesduff in County Cavan and an area adjoining Lough Sheelin spanning three counties.
An unnamed father, acting as the appellant, appeared before the High Court to seek orders compelling the State to assist in the return of his three-year-old daughter from Poland. The man alleged that his wife took the child to her homeland without his consent, despite a Polish court order for her return. He accused the Irish government of abandoning his rights and failing to act, describing the situation as one of "direct incompetency." The case is currently at the appeal stage, with the Polish children's ombudsman appealing the return order. The father stated he has been separated from his daughter for 586 days and has made 11 attempts to locate her. He brought the action against the Taoiseach, the Minister for Justice, and the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Ms Justice Mary Rose Gearty described the matter as "extremely sensitive" and an "appalling situation." Counsel for the State, Clare O'Shea BL, noted the Departments of Justice and Foreign Affairs had been involved in various engagements. The court did not conclude the matter; instead, Ms Justice Gearty adjourned the case, fixing October 21 for a full hearing.
Teacher Úna Dunphy, a Waterford City youth worker, secured €55,000 in compensation for unfair dismissal after a 17‑year dispute with the Waterford and Wexford Education and Training Board (WWETB). The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) found that Dunphy had not proven whistleblower penalisation, despite claiming her dismissal was linked to reporting concerns about external funding from 2008. Dunphy had been employed at the Waterford Youth Training and Education Centre (WYTEC) since 2002 and later transferred to the Subla YouthReach centre in 2013, a move she described as temporary and protested. She was dismissed in April 2019 for gross misconduct, following a period of work‑related stress and a protected disclosure to Minister John Halligan. The WRC awarded her €55,000 and an order for four months' pay that had been withheld, citing the employer's failure to provide a fair hearing or consider alternatives to dismissal. The decision was issued after extensive documentation and hearings spanning from 2023 to 2024.
Seven men, aged between 32 and 55, pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court to a combined total of 103 charges of sexually abusing a deaf complainant over a 17-year period. The trial, presided over by Ms Justice Caroline Biggs and an extended jury panel of 15, is estimated to last four months. None of the parties can be named for legal reasons. Accused A (55) pleaded not guilty to one count of rape alleged to have occurred between December 2009 and April 2011. Accused B (48) pleaded not guilty to eight charges, including five counts of rape, one count of oral rape, and two counts of anal rape, alleged between December 2008 and December 2010. Accused C (34) pleaded not guilty to 50 charges, comprising 45 counts against the main complainant (22 rape, 23 anal rape) between February 2001 and December 2013, plus five additional charges against two other complainants. Accused D (33) pleaded not guilty to 22 counts (19 rape, 3 anal rape) between January 2002 and December 2013. Accused E (32) pleaded not guilty to 16 counts (7 rape, 9 anal rape) between April 2003 and December 2011. Accused F (32) pleaded not guilty to five counts (3 rape, 2 anal rape) between December 2007 and April 2010. Accused G (45) pleaded not guilty to one count of rape between December 1996 and December 1997. The jury was informed the complainant requires two interpreters and an intermediary.
Andy Donohue, a 19‑year‑old from Tallaght, was sentenced to six years' imprisonment with one year suspended for throwing petrol bombs at St John's House, a building earmarked for asylum seekers, causing €28,000 in damage. He pleaded guilty to one count of arson on 24 May 2024. At the appeal, his senior counsel argued the headline sentence was excessive and that more of the term should have been suspended. The Court of Appeal, led by Justice Nuala Bulter, found the original judge had erred in suspending only one year and had not fully considered rehabilitation for a very young first‑time offender. The court quashed the original sentence and imposed a new term of six years with two years suspended, keeping the same conditions and adding a requirement for Donohue to attend schooling while in prison.
In a Dublin case, Dean Boland, 37, had his manslaughter conviction quashed by the Court of Appeal after he was found guilty in 2022 of unlawfully killing Ohari Viera, 37, during a 2018 arson following a break‑in. The Court held that while Boland started the fire, Viera's voluntary return to the burning building was an independent act that broke the causal chain. Justice Tara Burns ruled that the fire was not the legal cause of Viera's death, and that the trial judge erred by not withdrawing the manslaughter charge from the jury. Boland remains in custody awaiting a hearing on the other charges. The decision was based solely on the facts presented in the appeal, with no reference to later outcomes or additional evidence. Dean Boland pleaded not guilty.
A 69‑year‑old man was jailed for seven years after a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court jury convicted him of two sexual assault offences against his step‑daughter. The first assault occurred when she was a child; she disclosed it but the case did not progress. The second assault happened when she was 27 and sharing a bed with her own daughter. The man denied the charges and did not accept the verdicts. The court noted the victim's deep trauma, her excessive alcohol consumption, and the aggravating factors of the man's position in her life and the presence of her child during the second assault. The judge imposed a headline sentence of five years for the first offence, reduced to four, and a three‑year term for the second, resulting in a consecutive seven‑year custodial sentence with no suspension. The man has not shown insight into his offending.
James Colton, a 43‑year‑old repeat offender, was jailed for 15 months after a dangerous driving incident in Dublin. In September 2022, a passerby found him unconscious in his car in Crumlin and, after rousing him, Colton drove at high speed, "like a maniac", around Crumlin and Sundrive. He drove over 100 km/h, on the wrong side of the road, and mounted the kerb, narrowly missing a cyclist before crashing into a parked van and causing €11,150 in damage. Colton, who had been disqualified from driving and had 76 prior convictions, pleaded guilty to three counts of dangerous driving, one of driving without a licence, one of criminal damage and one of failing to report the incident. The court noted his long‑standing drug addiction and that he was under the influence of intoxicants on the day. Judge Martin Nolan, taking mitigating factors into account, sentenced him to 15 months' imprisonment and a five‑year driving disqualification.
Mick O'Grady, a former Irish Rail stationmaster, claimed he was forced into early retirement after a 2019 incident where he alleged a senior manager accused him of assaulting him. He said the allegation was false and that he never received an apology. The Workplace Relations Commission rejected his constructive dismissal claim under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977. O'Grady testified that the dispute arose during a meeting on 27 June 2019, when the district manager's email described him as "very hostile" and that he was sent home three weeks later. An internal investigation found no definitive evidence of assault because no other witnesses were present. The WRC concluded that O'Grady's conduct, including refusing a meeting, led to his dismissal and dismissed the complaint. The decision was issued on 7 October 2025.
Two men, Craig Hayes, 27, and Jason Dunne, 35, appeared before Tallaght District Court charged with attempting to murder Thomas McDonnell at Cookstown Cottages, Cookstown Lane, Tallaght, on 3 December 2021. Hayes was arrested at 7am at Cushlawn Park and charged at 9.46am; he made no reply when cautioned. Dunne was arrested at 11.28am, brought to Tallaght Garda Station, and replied "no comment" when charged and cautioned. Both men were remanded in custody to appear before Cloverhill District Court on 14 October via video link.
Ms Justice Caroline Biggs adjourned the sentencing of five defendants to October 22, warning them to prepare for the real risk of imprisonment. Lucia Istokova, who pleaded guilty to withholding information regarding the murder of Ashling Murphy, faces a maximum five-year sentence. Her counsel requested a fully suspended sentence, citing her motivation to protect her children, though the judge noted a probation report stating she initially denied wrongdoing to avoid prison. Prosecution counsel Anne-Marie Lawlor SC confirmed Istokova, along with Marek Puska and Lubomir Puska, faces a maximum five-year penalty for withholding information. The other three defendants, including Jozefina Grundzova and Viera Gaziova, who pleaded not guilty to burning clothes to impede prosecution, face a maximum ten-year sentence. Counsel for the not-guilty defendants highlighted the impact of imprisoning six parents with 14 children and difficulties faced by foreigners in Irish prisons. The court will also hear statements from the Murphy family on the adjournment date. Jozef Puska, convicted of murder, is serving a life sentence.
Sean McGovern, who was extradited from the United Arab Emirates last May to face charges of murder and directing a criminal organisation, has been served with a second book of evidence at the Special Criminal Court. McGovern (39), with a previous address at Kildare Road, Crumlin, Dublin 12, is charged with the murder of Noel Kirwan on December 22, 2016 at St Ronan's Drive, Clondalkin in Dublin. He was served with a book of evidence in relation to this charge earlier this year. Dominic McGinn SC, for the Director of Public Prosecutions, stated that a second book of evidence was now ready to be served, covering further offences with which McGovern is charged, including directing the activities of a criminal organisation in connection with the same murder between October 20, 2016 and December 22, 2016. He is also charged with directing the activities of a criminal organisation in connection with the surveillance of James Gately in preparation for the commission of an indictable offence between October 17, 2015 and April 6, 2017. Another charge alleges that between October 20 and December 22, 2016 he contributed to or participated in activity intending or being reckless as to whether such activity would facilitate a criminal organisation in the murder of Mr Kirwan. He faces a similar charge of facilitating a criminal organisation in a conspiracy to murder James Gately. Seán Guerin SC, for McGovern, raised an issue with disclosure relating to the lawfulness of McGovern's extradition which has been 'outstanding for a while'. He said the prosecution has now indicated that this would be ready by Friday. Mr McGinn requested that the matter be put back for two weeks. Mr Guerin asked that his client appear by video link on that occasion. Ms Justice Karen O'Connor set a further hearing date of Friday, October 17 and directed that McGovern appear by video link on that date.
Terry Maughan, 47, of Balbriggan, Dublin, had a seven‑month jail term for stealing nearly €9,000 of electrical cable and a six‑month concurrent sentence for burglary at Skerries Sailing Club overturned on appeal. The District Court Appeals Court replaced both sentences with a fully suspended sentence for 12 months, conditional on compliance with probation. Maughan was identified on CCTV stealing €8,982 worth of cable from an industrial estate in Santry and later admitted the theft, selling the cable for €535. He was also caught on CCTV removing a €300 barbecue from a concrete shed at the sailing club, which he returned. He has 133 prior convictions, including 15 thefts, and was described by Garda Jake Digney as "massively cooperative" and "deeply sorry.".
In a High Court hearing on 6 October 2025, a man in his 40s, whose name is protected by a Circuit Court anonymity order, applied to have a 43‑page report read by the court. The report, compiled with an artificial‑intelligence tool, was part of his attempt to halt prosecution for harassing his ex‑wife and her parents. Judge Mary Rose Gearty expressed concern that the AI tool could reveal the identity of alleged victims, potentially breaching the anonymity order. The man claimed he had been coerced into pleading guilty and that his former legal team had pressured him. The DPP's counsel opposed the inclusion of the report in the judicial review, arguing it was inappropriate to reopen the case. Judge Gearty agreed to read the report and would decide later in the month whether a new hearing is needed. The case remains at the judicial‑review stage.
In a County Galway housing estate, a 16‑year‑old was convicted of sexual assault and rape of a 13‑year‑old girl he had been dating for weeks. The trial, held at the Central Criminal Court, saw the accused plead not guilty to three charges of oral rape and one of rape. The jury, after three‑and‑a‑half hours of deliberation, found him guilty on all counts. The judge remanded him on continuing bail and adjourned sentencing to 3 November. The case included a video interview with the girl, who described being forced into sexual acts and later realizing the incidents were rape. Forensic evidence noted bruises on her body, including the genital area, and the examiner highlighted the unusual persistence of such bruising. The prosecution presented a Snapchat message from the girl to her mother, confirming the assault.
Robert Carroll, 40, a construction worker from Finglas, Dublin, was sentenced at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for possession of a firearm and ammunition in suspicious circumstances. He pleaded guilty to both charges, with an offence of money laundering taken into consideration. The court heard that on August 16, 2022, Carroll fired two shots from a revolver into the air while experiencing psychosis and not compliant with medication. He was arrested under the Mental Health Act after a 75-minute standoff. Judge Sarah Berkeley initially remanded Carroll into custody in November but released him on bail a week later to allow for further mental health assessments. Today, the judge set a pre-mitigation headline sentence of five years, which was reduced to three years after hearing mitigation. This sentence was suspended in full. The judge noted Carroll's positive probation report, low risk of reoffending, and engagement with psychiatric services. Carroll has 21 previous convictions, with the most recent in 2019. He was found to have a Smith and Wesson revolver, one live round, and €10,050 cash in his home. The judge emphasized his rehabilitation efforts and family support, concluding that custody would be detrimental to his mental health progress.
Joshua Rush, 25, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to unlawfully killing Charles McCaughley on 26 June 2021 at Fairview Strand. He entered a guilty plea when the charge was presented. The court heard that Rush is a young man with a troubled background and has had limited interaction with the criminal justice system. A psychological report is being prepared. Prosecutor Diana Stuart BL noted that members of the deceased's family were present. Judge Orla Crowe ordered a probation report, remanded Rush on continuing bail, and adjourned sentencing to January 2026.
A 61‑year‑old Limerick man failed to overturn a conviction for sexually abusing his partner's daughter over a two‑year period when she was 12 to 14. The Court of Appeal rejected his appeal, upholding the jury's finding of guilt on 31 counts of sexual assault, oral rape, attempted rape and attempted anal rape at various Limerick locations between 1994 and 1997. The man had pleaded not guilty but was found guilty after a one‑week trial in the Central Criminal Court in November 2022, and was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment by Mr Justice Paul McDermott in February 2023. His appeal argued that a statement by the victim's mother, in which he allegedly said "I'm sorry for what I did to the kids", was inadmissible and that a change of dress after remand had prejudiced the jury.
A veteran detention centre worker, diagnosed with Stills Disease in 2008, was denied a senior post in a 2021 promotion competition. He claimed the decision was discriminatory under the Employment Equality Act 1998. The Workplace Relations Commission rejected his lawyers' request to declare the competition null and void, citing the passage of time. The worker had been transferred to the centre's central hub in September 2019 to accommodate his health, a role with minimal human contact. He argued the transfer was a support following a serious assault on his son and that he was fit to return to work in May 2021. The adjudicator found the employer had discriminated by preventing his advancement, awarded €20,000 in compensation, and directed the employer to conduct a risk assessment before future promotions.
Ian Maloney, a former jewel thief turned poet, was sentenced to ten years in prison, with the final eighteen months suspended, after pleading guilty to possession of a 9mm semiautomatic firearm with intent to endanger life. The offence involved firing several rounds into a family home in Crumlin where a child was present. Maloney, aged 37, had 109 prior convictions and had previously been sentenced to 12 years for a 2008 robbery and four years for a 2009 assault. He voluntarily contacted Gardaí to confess, citing guilt and a desire to do the right thing. The judge noted his early plea and self‑reporting as mitigating factors, while also acknowledging his history of anger, substance use and mental health issues. The sentence was back‑dated to account for time already spent in custody.
In the Special Criminal Court, lawyers for 42‑year‑old James Leen argued that mobile phone evidence supports his innocence. Colm Smyth SC requested an adjournment to allow a mobile‑phone expert to examine devices seized by the gardai. Smyth said the prosecution's case hinges on alleged phone conversations linking Leen to three machines that were imported into Ireland, one of which contained the seized drugs. He contended that further analysis would show Leen was involved with only two of the machines and had no connection to the third. The court agreed to postpone the trial to 19 December to give the defence time to compile its report. Leen faces five charges, including directing a criminal organisation, importing crystal meth, and possession of methamphetamine at Ballyseedy Garden Centre. The State alleges the drugs were imported from Mexico, stored at Ballyseedy, and then moved to Cork for export to Australia.