The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) has rejected an equality claim brought by Mary Dempsey, an assistant professor at the University of Galway, under the Employment Equality Act 1998. Ms Dempsey alleged that the university discriminated against her on the grounds of gender and age when it refused her promotion to a professorship in 2022. She argued that the academic promotions committee ignored the impact of past discrimination, including restrictive contracts and limited research opportunities, on her career trajectory. The university denied these allegations, asserting that Ms Dempsey fell short in teaching, funding, and research output assessments. Adjudicator Peter O'Brien noted that while Ms Dempsey had previously secured €81,000 in compensation for gender and disability discrimination in 2015, she was not entitled to preferential treatment based on that past situation. The adjudicator stated that other candidates should not be disadvantaged by the complainant's history and found that she was not discriminated against in the recent promotion process. Consequently, the WRC dismissed her complaint, upholding the university's decision to reject her bid for the professorship.
In a Tallaght District Court hearing on 9 September 2025, a woman named Cathrina Boyle, aged 65, was accused of drink‑driving on the N81 on 22 December 2023. Garda Paul Byrne stopped her vehicle after noticing erratic driving, observed blood‑shot eyes, slurred speech, and a strong smell of alcohol, and arrested her. Boyle voluntarily gave a blood sample, which was sealed, labelled, and sent to the Medical Bureau of Road Safety. The sample reportedly returned a concentration of 227 mg of alcohol per 100 ml, exceeding the legal limit. Defence counsel Oisín Clarke argued that the chain of custody for the specimen was not proven, citing a recent High Court decision in Ratinskis v DPP that quashed a conviction on similar grounds. Judge Patricia McNamara adjourned the case to 23 October, noting the High Court ruling had not yet formally taken effect. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
In a St Patrick's Day assault case, Mark Kelly (39) of Palmerstown, Dublin, had his two five‑month jail sentences for assault on Garda Linda Crennan and Garda Mark O'Neill replaced on appeal with community service and a peace bond. The District Court Appeals Court found that Kelly, under the influence, had attempted to engage in "banter" with the gardai, which was not well received, leading to a struggle in which he punched and slapped the officers. Garda Crennan suffered a cracked cheekbone and shoulder surgery, and was out of work for 18 months. Kelly pleaded not guilty to two assault counts and a threatening behaviour count; he was convicted and originally sentenced to five months for each assault and a two‑month sentence for threatening behaviour, suspended for two years.
Sean Lennon, 30, of Fairview, Dublin 3, was sentenced to 17 months in jail for carrying a large fishing knife at Tallaght Hospital and threatening gift shop staff with a knuckle duster. On appeal, Judge Jonathan Dunphy suspended the entire sentence for two years, ordering Lennon to keep the peace and be supervised by probation services. Lennon had pleaded guilty in the District Court to multiple offences, including possession of knives contrary to the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act, 1990, and production of an article capable of inflicting serious injury. Garda Brian Kane reported Lennon's discovery of the knife at the hospital on 1 November 2022, leading to a six‑month jail term. Sergeant Stephen Walsh described a 30 November 2023 incident in a gift shop where Lennon threatened staff with a knuckle duster, resulting in a nine‑month sentence.
In February 2024, Jason Cerfas, aged 23, was removed from Swords Courthouse after verbally abusing another man, leading to charges of threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour and failing to comply with a garda's direction under the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994. He was convicted on both counts and sentenced to two months and five months in custody, to be served concurrently. Cerfas appealed, arguing the sentence was too severe. The District Court Appeals Court, hearing the appeal, noted that Cerfas had been directed to leave the courthouse multiple times and that his conduct had "no difficulty tearing down the court system." Judge Jonathan Dunphy, after considering the appeal, suspended the five‑month custodial sentence for two years, provided Cerfas keeps the peace and avoids further garda attention. The appeal did not alter the conviction or the concurrent nature of the sentences. The case remains at the appeal stage, with the suspended sentence in effect. Jason Cerfas pleaded not guilty.
In a District Court case, 38‑year‑old Natasha Tynan was convicted for possessing nail scissors, a prohibited item under Section 9(1)(7) of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act, 1990, and sentenced to three months in custody. The conviction followed a stop and search by Garda David Byrne on 8 October 2024, when he found the scissors in her handbag. Tynan, who has 37 prior convictions, pleaded guilty and later appealed the custodial sentence. On appeal, Judge Jonathan Dunphy replaced the three‑month custodial term with a 12‑month peace bond, citing Tynan's lack of intent to harm, her drug‑related history, and her active participation in counselling and a horticulture employment scheme. The peace bond requires her to keep the peace and continue her treatment and counselling efforts for the year.
The Labour Court warned that the Department of Public Expenditure's blocking of a senior official's reappointment would severely impact its operations, reducing the court to one‑third capacity. Lawyers were told that serious delays would affect the hearing of individual employment rights cases and the resolution of industrial relations disputes from this week. The court normally operates with three divisions—employer, worker, and chair—now down to one division. The statement noted that part‑heard cases might need to be re‑heard entirely if the official is not reappointed, and that the court is identifying affected parties. The Department of Public Expenditure's press office referred queries to the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment, and neither the court nor that department has responded to media questions. Barrister Jason Murray of the Employment Bar Association expressed concern that the reduced capacity could compromise access to justice for litigants in employment and industrial relations disputes.
A 49‑year‑old woman, Olivia Kinsella of Meadowlands Park, Mounttown, Dún Laoghaire, appeared before Dún Laoghaire District Court charged with animal neglect for failing to care for her dog between 1 January and 3 March 2023. The dog was found dead inside her home, described by veterinary evidence as emaciated and in poor condition, with no food or water. Defence counsel argued the Gardaí's entry was unlawful due to a delay, but Judge Anne Watkin rejected this, ruling the entry lawful. The case was adjourned to 9 December for further submissions.
Srdan Keteles, 34, of Waterford, appealed a conviction for careless driving after a "horrific" crash on Oscar Traynor Road, Coolock, Dublin, on 25 September 2019. He claimed he had no memory of the incident, only that he left home on his motorbike and later woke in hospital with serious spinal, neck and pelvic injuries. The District Court found him guilty of driving without due care, including overtaking in a bus lane, and fined him €200 with a six‑month payment period. Keteles' appeal was dismissed by the District Court Appeals Court, which upheld the conviction. The court noted that a forensic accident analysis was not conducted at the scene, and that a witness testified the motorbike overtook him at speed in the bus lane. The judge affirmed the original order, stating the evidence supported a finding of careless driving. The appeal was rejected. Srdan Keteles pleaded not guilty.
Raymond Nevin, a salesman from the Travelling Community, secured €7,500 in compensation from the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) for workplace discrimination at CPF (Profiles) Ltd in Longford. Adjudicator Anne McElduff found that the company maintained a "culture and tolerance" of derogatory terminology towards Travellers. Mr Nevin alleged that during his two-and-a-half-week employment in June 2024, he overheard the managing director use terms such as "pikeys" and "tinkers" in phone calls and make remarks about a Traveller customer. The MD, who was not named in the decision, denied discrimination but admitted he "may" have used the word "pikey" on one occasion, while stating he did not recall the other alleged remarks. The adjudicator also found that the employer had "probed" Mr Nevin's background during his May 2024 interview by asking if he was related to the "Taxi Nevins," a local settled family, to determine his Traveller status. While the MD claimed these questions were to assess worker reliability, the WRC determined his community membership was a consideration in the hiring process. The award, equivalent to nearly 19 weeks' wages, was made under the Employment Equality Act 1998. A separate complaint under the National Minimum Wage Act 2000 was dismissed because Mr Nevin had not sought a statement of his hourly earnings as required by legislation.
In a Carlow Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Declan Carr, 29, pleaded guilty to threatening to kill his partner and to two assault charges. He sent messages on 5 March threatening to kill her, saying she would be "dead and buried" and no one would find her. The victim, who had been in an on‑and‑off relationship with Carr for 12 years, reported being assaulted, including an elbow strike to her face and a blow to the back of her head, though Carr denied the latter. Gardaí found €170 worth of cannabis in his car and he admitted the threats were not intended to be carried out. Carr apologized via video‑link, expressed remorse, and offered to attend domestic‑violence or addiction courses. Judge Sinéad McMullan remanded him on bail pending a sentencing date in November, noting the need for further consideration.
Michael Murphy, 50, of Woodlawn Park, Borris, pleaded guilty at Carlow Circuit Criminal Court to careless driving causing serious harm to Denis Murphy, a hurler and maths teacher, after a hit‑and‑run on 5 December 2022. Murphy was just over twice the legal alcohol limit. Denis Murphy suffered a dislocated elbow, three missing teeth and a traumatic brain injury, requiring nine days in intensive care and a long recovery. The victim impact statement, read into the record, highlighted Denis's gratitude for surviving and his ongoing struggles with memory and brain fatigue. Murphy left the scene but remained within a few miles, was later arrested for driving while intoxicated, and has since undertaken a driver safety course. The court has remanded him on bail until a sentencing hearing in November, where a sentence will be fixed.
Charles Dunne, 48, of Ace Fencing Ltd, was found guilty at Carlow Circuit Criminal Court of possessing stolen power tools and of providing five false invoices to Gardaí to prove ownership. He also pleaded not guilty to attempting to pervert the course of justice. The jury, after almost six hours of deliberation, returned guilty verdicts on the possession charge, five counts of using a false instrument and the charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice, while acquitting him on all other charges. Judge Sinéad McMullan remanded Dunne on continuing bail until a sentencing hearing in November. He was directed to surrender his passport upon return from a family holiday and to sign in once a week at Carlow Garda Station. The case involved a large quantity of tools seized from Dunne's yard in Tullow in January 2019, with Gardaí presenting evidence of the tools' stolen status and the fraudulent invoices supplied by Dunne.
In a decision published on 1 August 2025, an employment tribunal rejected a series of statutory complaints lodged by Colleen Lonergan, a telephonist who had been dismissed from Infosys BPM Ltd. Lonergan claimed unfair dismissal and disability discrimination after she was sacked for using the phrase "what a f***ing b***h" during a call she believed was on hold. The tribunal found that the customer heard the remark and interpreted it as a direct reference to her, and that the language was unacceptable. The tape of the call, reviewed in a company investigation, confirmed the use of the phrase. Lonergan had been allowed to work for a few days while the disciplinary process unfolded, but was ultimately dismissed in early July 2024. The tribunal dismissed her unfair dismissal claim, her disability discrimination claim, and several other statutory complaints, concluding that the conduct constituted gross misconduct and justified dismissal.
Damien Kiely, a bus driver for Airport Hopper Holdings Ltd, received €1,900 in compensation for unpaid wages after the company ceased trading. Kiely earned €190 a day and had been unaware of the closure until a Liveline researcher called him on 10 February 2025. He had received no notice, no payment in lieu of notice, and no pay for six days of 2024 annual leave plus three days accrued in 2025. An email from the employer, sent three days later, cited difficulties meeting obligations to Revenue and lacked the director's signature. The Workplace Relations Commission found the complaint well‑founded and ordered the employer to pay the compensation, twice the amount that should have been paid. The decision was issued by adjudicator Úna Glazier‑Farmer.
Celine Carroll, 46, of Cherry Orchard Avenue, Ballyfermot, was captured on live footage setting fire to a power box on a pole housing a Garda camera and then attempting to ignite a second box. The incident, which caused €25,000 worth of damage, occurred at Cherry Orchard Parade on 18 January 2018. Carroll, who has 39 previous convictions, pleaded guilty to arson. During the arrest she resisted, kicking, spitting and shouting obscenities, and fled the scene before being apprehended after a short foot pursuit. In the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Elva Duffy sentenced her to two and a half years, suspending the final 12 months on strict conditions. The judge noted Carroll's apology, personal circumstances and efforts to address her addiction, and highlighted her deliberate decision to set the fires. The case was delayed after Carroll went to ground and a bench warrant was issued.
Darius Langas, 37, of Ballinasloe, was convicted after a week‑long trial at the Central Criminal Court for raping a woman in a bathroom. He denied the charge on 13 August 2022 but was found guilty. Mr Justice Tony Hunt sentenced him to ten years, with the final twelve months suspended on strict conditions for five years. The victim, who was drinking with Langas and another man before the assault, was pushed into a bathtub and raped from behind. She reported extensive injuries and later provided a victim impact statement detailing anxiety, depression, nightmares, panic attacks, and the loss of her children. Langas admitted the act but claimed it was consensual. The judge noted the seriousness of the offence and imposed the suspended sentence, placing Langas under probation supervision for three years post‑release. The court expressed hope for the victim's recovery.
In a Dublin court, a 17‑year‑old man was sentenced to five and a half years' imprisonment for raping a 16‑year‑old girl and for engaging in a sexual act with a 12‑year‑old. The judge, Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo, noted the defendant's youth and immaturity, and imposed consecutive sentences for the two victims. The total sentence was six and a half years, with the final year suspended for two years on strict conditions aimed at rehabilitation and victim awareness. The court heard that the defendant had communicated with the 12‑year‑old via Snapchat, sent her pictures, and met her at an abandoned house where the sexual act occurred. The 16‑year‑old was raped after the defendant entered her home, and the defendant's brother allegedly threw a condom during the incident. The judge highlighted the defendant's lack of awareness of consent and the significant age disparity with the 12‑year‑old. The unnamed 12-year-old pleaded guilty and was convicted.
The 46‑year‑old man pleaded guilty to producing child pornography after taking 11 photographs of his 16‑year‑old step‑daughter in the shower on 12 April 2018 at a Dublin hostel. Gardaí were called to the hostel on 9 April 2018 after staff reported inappropriate contact. The man left the hostel, moved to another, then returned to the original where staff again contacted police. Gardaí seized his phone and found the images. The judge, citing a breach of trust and self‑serving gratification, set a headline sentence of three years but, after considering his guilty plea, rehabilitation efforts and the fact the images were not distributed, sentenced him to one year in prison, back‑dated to February, for time already spent in custody. The teenage girl, originally from another country, was interviewed and confirmed the photographs were taken while she showered.
The Central Criminal Court will decide in September whether the State should pay the legal costs of Diarmuid Phelan, a law lecturer and farmer who was acquitted of murdering a trespasser on his farm. Phelan, who has assets in the millions, did not apply for legal aid and instructed four counsel and expert witnesses during his 10‑week trial that ended in January. He maintained that he fired three warning shots in self‑defence and that the fatal shot was accidental. The jury agreed with his defence, finding he was entitled to defend himself when threatened on his land. Sean Guerin SC, one of Phelan's senior counsel, argued that the verdict should entitle Phelan to his costs and that the State's suggestion that even those of means should apply for legal aid misrepresents the scheme. John Byrne SC for the DPP countered that an acquittal does not automatically create a presumption in favour of costs. Diarmuid Phelan pleaded not guilty.
The Court of Appeal has dismissed an appeal by Conor McGregor against a jury finding that he was civilly liable for the rape of Nikita Hand in 2018. The original High Court jury awarded Ms Hand €248,000 in damages and ordered McGregor to pay both parties' legal costs, totaling €1.3 million. Co-appellant James Lawrence, who was found not civilly liable for rape, received no costs order because the jury did not accept his evidence and McGregor paid his legal fees. Both men denied the allegations. The appeal court rejected all grounds raised by McGregor, including arguments regarding the admission of his "no comment" responses to gardaí and the wording of the issue paper. Justice Brian O'Moore stated it was "simply unreal" that jurors could have been confused by the term "assault" when the trial judge clarified it referred to rape. Claims of "new evidence" regarding bruising on Ms Hand, based on affidavits from Samantha O'Reilly and Steven Cummins, were withdrawn on the first day of the appeal. The court awarded costs to Ms Hand for both appeals and made no costs order for Lawrence. Ms Hand stated the process re-traumatised her and urged survivors to seek justice.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Joseph Cahill, 46, pleaded guilty to the unlawful killing of 43‑year‑old Gerard Curtin. Cahill admitted striking Curtin four times with a shovel after the victim had repeatedly smashed a window of Cahill's house, threatened to burn it, and demanded money. Cahill claimed he believed he was protecting himself, his property and his children, but the force used was excessive. He called emergency services after the blows, then waited over eight minutes before requesting an ambulance, stating he thought Curtin was dead. The court noted Cahill's history of mental illness, substance abuse and gambling, and that he had no prior convictions. The sentencing hearing was adjourned to 24 November. The article does not disclose the final sentence.
American Kevin Yungman, 32, was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court for raping a 19-year-old woman in June 2018 in an Airbnb on Usher's Quay, Dublin city centre. Yungman pleaded guilty to the single charge of rape, which involved causing the victim to pass out by squeezing her neck. Mr Justice Hunt imposed a six-year prison sentence, with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions. The sentence was backdated to August 2024, when Yungman entered custody in the United States following his arrest and extradition to Ireland. The judge noted that the headline sentence was eight years, reduced due to mitigation including the guilty plea and the difficulty of serving time in a foreign jurisdiction. Aggravating factors included the asphyxiation of the victim. Conditions of the suspended portion include a perpetual ban on direct or indirect contact with the victim. Additionally, Yungman is ordered to leave the jurisdiction upon release and is prohibited from returning for 10 years. The court acknowledged the victim's recovery and the support provided by Yungman's family, who expressed remorse and accountability during the proceedings.
James Varian, 32, was jailed for three years after the Court of Appeal overturned his original fully suspended sentence for sending 2,500 sexually explicit messages to a 15‑year‑old boy and for possessing 7,781 child pornography images, most of which were of prepubescent children under 12. The original judge had imposed four years fully suspended for facilitating the sexual exploitation of a child and two years fully suspended for possession of child pornography. The DPP appealed, arguing the sentence was too lenient, citing the volume of messages, the age gap, Varian's attempt to delete chats, and his risk of reoffending. James Varian pleaded guilty.
The Special Criminal Court heard that Mark McCourt, 34, of Edenrieve, Newry, could receive a sentence of up to 14 years for running a gun‑running ring that smuggled weapons from America to criminal organisations. McCourt had previously pleaded guilty to firearms offences and to aiding a criminal organisation in importing restricted weapons. The Director of Public Prosecutions placed him at the higher end of the sentencing scale, which carries ten to fourteen years. He is remanded in custody and the sentencing is scheduled for 3 November. A senior Garda testified that McCourt controlled a criminal organisation that imported firearms components from the USA, reassembled them into assault rifles and pistols, and distributed them to other groups. Evidence included a raid in County Louth where 82 gun parts were assembled into six rifles and a dozen pistols, and phone data showing McCourt's communications with prospective customers and his trips to Las Vegas.
The Workplace Relations Commission ordered Tesco Ireland Ltd to re‑employ Cathal Hussey, a warehouse operative who had been dismissed in November 2023 after calling his line manager Martynas Bajarunas "useless" during a performance review. The tribunal found that Tesco had over‑reacted, upgrading a final written warning to summary dismissal without sufficient justification. SIPTU argued that Hussey's remark was part of a legitimate grievance about management's handling of concerns, and that the dismissal was a crude exercise of power. The tribunal noted that the 12‑page document Hussey produced was deemed "unreasonable, disrespectful and improper" by the investigator, but that the escalation to dismissal was not justified. Adjudicator Eileen Campbell upheld Hussey's complaint, rejected a full reinstatement remedy, and directed Tesco to re‑engage him by mid‑August with the warning remaining on file for a year and the dismissal period treated as unpaid suspension.
Christopher O'Grady, 34, formerly of Dundalk, was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court for raping a 19-year-old Spanish tourist on January 1, 2019. Following a trial last March, the jury found him guilty of one count of rape. Ms Justice Caroline Biggs imposed a seven-year sentence, with the final six months suspended. The court noted aggravating factors, including the victim's intoxication and the predatory nature of the offence, which left her with PTSD and depression. Although the hearing was initially adjourned to explore restorative justice, the Probation Service advised the court that such measures were not feasible due to O'Grady's conduct during an interview. O'Grady, who has 65 previous convictions and was homeless at the time of the offence, accepted the verdict and expressed remorse. He had been in custody since August 2024 after breaching bail conditions. The judge acknowledged his chaotic upbringing but emphasized the severe impact on the victim, who described feeling 'like a doll' during the incident. The suspended portion of the sentence is intended to encourage rehabilitation, with O'Grady agreeing to work with the Probation Service.
Ryan Watson, 32, of Glasgow, pleaded guilty before the Special Criminal Court to conspiring to import controlled drugs worth over €13,000 between 18 December 2024 and 15 January 2025, both inside and outside the State. The case is scheduled for mention on 20 October, when the court will review a probation report, a governor's report, an education report and a urinalysis. Conor Costello, 31, of Derry, also pleaded guilty to the same charge earlier this month. Other defendants include Gary Monks, 40, Miljan Koprivica, 45, and three Filipino men: Hanz Pangahin, 36; Christopher Ampo, 44; and Feljon Lao, 62.
Ryan Kearney, 39, was sentenced to ten years in prison with one year suspended for three years, following a nine‑year custodial term that was reduced by mitigation. The sentence was imposed after a jury found him guilty of manslaughter, not murder, for stabbing Jeffrey Jackson, 50, 16 times in a "frenzied knife" attack on 8 February 2024. Kearney claimed he acted in self‑defence, citing a dispute over alcohol and Jackson's intoxication. The judge described the violence as extreme and sustained, noting Kearney's 152 prior convictions, including a 10‑year drug‑supply sentence with three years suspended. Victim impact statements highlighted the brutality of the attack and the lasting pain felt by Jackson's family. The court emphasised that the defendant's alcohol‑related history and lack of remorse were factors in the sentencing decision. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty and was acquitted.
In a High Court hearing on 30 July 2025, construction magnate Maurice Regan, who outbid John Magnier for the Barne Estate in Tipperary, admitted to sending a WhatsApp message in October 2023 to a third party hoping a newspaper article would give Magnier a "heart attack". Regan appeared before Mr Justice Max Barrett and was questioned by Paul Gallagher SC, who represented Magnier. Regan said the message was a "light humour" remark and that he had no knowledge of an exclusivity agreement that had been in place between 31 August and 30 September 2023. He denied funding the Thomson‑Moore defence, claimed he had been blocked from bidding, and said he had never been told of the exclusivity clause. The court heard that Magnier seeks to enforce a €15‑million handshake deal he alleges was signed with Richard Thomson‑Moore, while the estate trustees and Thomson‑Moore deny any such agreement existed. The dispute remains ongoing.
Clodagh Byrne, 32, of Castlederg, pleaded guilty to theft at Marks & Spencer in Dublin on 24 July. She admitted taking items worth €223.70, claiming she acted in a "moment of madness" after seeing images of suffering in Gaza. Byrne said she believed the store was funding genocide and supporting Zionists, and that her theft was a reaction to those scenes. Judge Anne Watkin rejected this as an abuse of people suffering, stating it was not a valid excuse for shoplifting. The judge suggested Byrne avoid the store if she felt that way and questioned her self‑employment as a therapist. Byrne was fined €500, with a six‑month payment period. The case was heard under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act. The court did not impose any custodial sentence.
On 1 April 2021, Maria Mohan, 36, of Belfry Green, Citywest, Dublin 24, entered Springfield Pharmacy in Tallaght and became agitated when informed her prescription had expired. She struck a protective Covid screen that was part of the till area, causing the entire structure to shatter and damaging cosmetics and surrounding property. The damage was estimated at €1,000, but no compensation was paid. Mohan pleaded guilty to criminal damage, possession of cannabis (from an arrest on 18 April 2019) and threatening behaviour at Tallaght Garda Station on 10 October 2023. At Tallaght District Court, Judge Patricia McNamara imposed a five‑month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, for the criminal damage, and fined her €300. She was also fined €250 for the public‑order offence, both payable within five months, and entered into a peace bond. The court noted her mental‑health conditions and her engagement with a restorative justice programme.
Christopher Ryan, 33, pleaded guilty to rape, sexual assault, assault causing harm and criminal damage at the Central Criminal Court. He was sentenced to 11½ years for rape, five years for sexual assault, four years for assault causing harm and two years for criminal damage, all concurrent. A 12‑month portion of the total term was suspended on the condition that he engage with the Probation Service. He was ordered to have no contact with Kerrie Keane for the duration of his imprisonment and the suspended period. Keane, who was raped and assaulted by Ryan in her Galway home on 11 November 2023, moved into emergency accommodation with her daughter after the attack. She gave a victim impact statement describing ongoing fear, anxiety, nightmares and depression, and expressed gratitude for police support. Ryan's previous conviction was for theft. The case was prosecuted by Marc Thompson BL and heard by Justice Mary Ellen Ring.
Matthew O'Connell, aged 75, was sentenced to 12 years in prison for 42 counts of rape committed between July 1979 and June 1987. The victim, who was 13 when the first assault occurred, described how O'Connell groomed her from age ten and raped her repeatedly, often twice a week, in various locations including his home, a mobile home and a vehicle. She kept the abuse secret for decades, only disclosing it to family in the 1990s and to Gardaí in 2021. O'Connell denied the charges and was remanded after conviction. The judge noted the serious impact on the victim, the breach of trust, and the age disparity, setting a headline sentence of 15 years but ultimately imposing a 12‑year term. The case highlighted the prolonged nature of the abuse and the victim's struggle to come forward.
Five men were sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for the false imprisonment and assault causing harm of Natalie Ennis at Henrietta House, Dublin 7, on September 26, 2024. All defendants pleaded guilty to the charges, with additional counts taken into consideration. Judge Pauline Codd described the incident as sadistic and cruel, noting the victim was beaten, burned, cut, and threatened. Braxton Rice, identified as the main ringleader, received a 15-year sentence, with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions. Sean Conroy, described as a main mover, was sentenced to 13 years, with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions. Mark McMahon, who facilitated the offence by providing his flat, received a 12-year sentence. His son, Mark Keogh, was jailed for nine years. Kian Walshe, who transported the victim and shared a recording of the attack, received an 11-year sentence, with the final two-and-a-half years suspended on strict conditions. The judge backdated all sentences to the date each man entered custody. She highlighted the aggravating factors, including the premediated nature of the attack and the defendants' bail status, while acknowledging their guilty pleas and personal circumstances.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 16‑year‑old was convicted of assault causing harm after striking a victim with a claw hammer in a public park on 19 May 2020. Witnesses saw the teenager hit the victim's head about five times while the victim was seated on another youth. The victim suffered two depressed skull fractures and five open wounds requiring up to 30 stitches, and was advised to stop contact sports. The defendant, now 21, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to a term of three years and four months, with the final 12 months suspended, giving a custodial period of two years. The judge noted the defendant's prior convictions, his family support, and his engagement with community programmes, while emphasising the impact on the victim's future sporting and personal life. The sentence was imposed before the suspended portion was activated.
The Workplace Relations Commission heard a statutory complaint under the Equal Status Act 2000 brought by Pauline McDonagh, former treasurer of the All-Ireland Schnauzer and Pinscher Association, against the Irish Kennel Club (IKC). McDonagh alleged disability discrimination after the IKC suspended her membership in October 2023 for refusing to submit the 2023 annual accounts and treasurer's report. She claimed the board made a decision without investigating facts and that her grievance and subsequent equality claim were ignored. The IKC's counsel, William John Kelly BL, explained that McDonagh's failure to provide the required documents led to her suspension, and that the board had deemed her complaint inadmissible. McDonagh also complained that the 2022 AGM of the ASPA did not follow proper procedure. The WRC adjourned the case for further discussions between the parties.
The 24‑year‑old man was convicted of attempted oral rape, sexual assault and engaging in a sexual act with a child under 15 after a Central Criminal Court trial. He met the 14‑year‑old victim on social media, arranged a meeting in Dublin, and the next day engaged in sex at his apartment, where he also attempted to rape her orally. The judge sentenced him to six‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment, with the final six months suspended on strict conditions. The man had no prior convictions. He pleaded no‑guilty, was not allowed to claim the most significant mitigating factor, and was found guilty. The judge noted the age disparity and the victim's intellectual difficulties as aggravating factors. The sentence was imposed at the trial, with no further outcome reported.
Bradford Meehan, a 54-year-old serial offender with 116 previous convictions, had his five-month prison sentence suspended on appeal. Meehan was convicted in the District Court of burglary contrary to section 12(1b)(3) of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act, 2001, after allegedly causing €5,000 worth of damage to an apartment complex on Bonham Street, Dublin 8, in July. He was originally sentenced to five months consecutive to a 42-month sentence he is currently serving for a different matter. Meehan appealed against the severity of this sentence. Defence counsel Seosaimhín Ní Chathasaigh BL argued that Meehan's reoffending was driven by a chronic drug addiction and that he is now a model prisoner in Mountjoy Prison, free of illicit substances. Judge Christopher Callan acknowledged that seeking a suspended sentence was "a stretch" given Meehan was on release from prison when the alleged crime occurred and had succumbed to addiction again. However, the judge decided to suspend the five-month sentence for two years. The conditions require Meehan to keep the peace and come under the supervision of the probation service upon release. Additionally, the judge directed that Meehan remain on the enhanced privilege regime while in custody.
The Court of Appeal rejected Paul Bourke's appeal against his ten‑year prison sentence for drug offences. Bourke, aged 57, pleaded guilty to eight counts including possession of €1.7 million worth of cocaine, €18,100 in cash, and three Glock 17 pistols. The offences occurred at his Kilkenny home, a Ballygall Parade address, and locations in Tallaght and Ashbourne. The sentencing judge had reduced the headline 15‑year sentence by one‑third to ten years, citing Bourke's personal circumstances. Bourke's defence argued that incarceration would be too difficult due to psychological issues, but the court found no formal diagnosis and noted the presence of firearms and large drug quantities. The appeal was dismissed, and the ten‑year sentence stands. The court emphasised the gravity of the offence and the extent of Bourke's involvement in the drug supply chain.
The Court of Appeal has granted bail to Brendan O'Mara, a former Ryanair pilot, after overturning a High Court decision that had denied him release. O'Mara, 62, is charged with possessing cannabis for sale or supply at his home address in Meelick, Co Clare, on May 7 this year. Gardaí and Customs officers allegedly discovered pallets containing 502kg of cannabis, with an estimated street value exceeding €10 million. In the High Court, Ms Justice Eileen Creedon refused bail, citing concerns that O'Mara was a flight risk due to his commercial pilot status and access to airfields. Defence counsel Michael Bowman SC argued this evidential basis was lacking, noting O'Mara does not hold membership at any airfield. He offered an independent surety of €150,000 from O'Mara's sister and proposed that O'Mara surrender his pilot's licence and all documentation. Counsel for the State, Roisin Lacey SC, countered that O'Mara had significant industry contacts and had recently arranged to emigrate to the United States. Mr Justice John Edwards acknowledged the charge was very serious, carrying a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, and noted the theoretical possibility of O'Mara procuring an aircraft to avoid justice. However, the court concluded that while flight risk concerns existed, they were not sufficient to deny bail absolutely. As a condition of his release, O'Mara must surrender his pilot's licence.
Two men, Robert Burns (59) and Lorenzo Cantaragiu (22), were sentenced by Mr Justice Tony Hunt at the Central Criminal Court for aiding the murder of Mahamud Ilyas (22). Burns provided a house for drug dealing and allowed the killers to use it; he also cleaned blood from the premises. Cantaragiu drove the killers from the scene to Belgree Lane in Co Meath, where Ilyas was left to die, and later cleaned the car. Both were given four‑year prison terms with the entirety suspended, meaning they walk free today but must remain of good behaviour for four years or risk serving the term. They also face a one‑year probation bond and must attend programmes recommended by the probation service. The judge warned them to avoid further criminal activity and to address Burns' cannabis use, which he said had drawn the killers into his life. Lorenzo Cantaragiu was convicted.
In a High Court hearing on 29 July 2025, trustees of the Barne Estate in Tipperary rejected a sale to John Magnier after he sent two brown envelopes containing €50,000 to the estate's chief beneficiaries. Magnier claims a €15 million 'handshake deal' was sealed with heir Richard Thomson‑Moore on 22 August 2023, but the trustees say no formal agreement was reached. The trustees had initially preferred Magnier's bid over that of construction magnate Maurice Regan, who offered €5 million more. After the exclusivity period ended in September 2023, the trustees chose Regan's €22.25 million offer, citing concerns over the cash envelopes as a potential inducement and the need for due diligence on Regan's higher bid. Magnier has sued the trustees and related companies to enforce the alleged deal, while the trustees maintain no agreement existed. The case remains before Mr Justice Max Barrett.
A 72‑year‑old man from Ardrahan, Pat Howley, was sentenced by the Galway Circuit Criminal Court to four and a half years in prison, with the final 18 months suspended for three years. He pleaded guilty to four counts of sexual assault committed against a teenage girl aged 13‑14 between February and December 2006. The court noted a 40‑year age gap, the breach of trust, the nature of the conduct and the trauma inflicted. Howley's guilty plea, long working life, voluntary Civil Defence work and health issues were considered mitigating factors. He has no prior convictions and is deemed low risk of re‑offending. He will be supervised by the Probation Service for 12 months after release and must comply with all directions given by them. The sentence was imposed by Judge Brian O'Callaghan.
Robert Clinch, aged 43, received a seven‑year sentence for two robberies of a Coolock pharmacy in February and July 2023, with the final three years suspended. The court noted his 189 prior convictions and his status as a long‑time drug addict who had been released during Covid without support. Clinch pleaded guilty, claiming a desire to rehabilitate and become drug‑free. Judge Elma Duffy highlighted that he targeted the same shop and victims twice, and that he had been described as a "pathetic figure" driven by a need to feed his habit. The judge imposed consecutive sentences, suspended the last three years on strict conditions, and required assessment by the probation service before release. The court heard that Clinch had entered the pharmacy armed with a knife, demanded €150 and 300 tablets, and had been identified by CCTV.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 29 July 2025, 48‑year‑old Richard Manson pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm after a one‑punch attack on Patrik Hudacek outside Pilsner Bar on 3 December 2023. Manson, who had previously been involved in a brawl that lasted about 90 seconds, struck Hudacek in the face, knocking him to the ground and rendering him unconscious. Hudacek suffered a serious head injury that required five hours of brain surgery and five weeks in a medically induced coma. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a four‑year sentence, suspending the final 18 months on strict conditions, and ordered Manson to pay €20,000 to Hudacek's family within one month. The court noted Manson's prior convictions and his expressed remorse, but emphasised the seriousness of the injury sustained by Hudacek.
Michael Murray, 54, was convicted in 2021 of making death threats against two barristers and of harassing his rape victim by advertising her online as a prostitute. He had previously been sentenced to 19 years for rape in 2013, a sentence later increased to 19 years by the Court of Appeal. In July 2021, Judge Karen O'Connor imposed a nine‑year sentence for the threat to Dominic McGinn and a seven‑year sentence for the threat to Tony McGillicuddy, to be served consecutively, giving an effective 16‑year term for these offences. The judge also imposed four years for harassment of McGinn and the female defence solicitor and five years for possession of a mobile phone in prison. Murray's barrister, Barry White SC, argued that the totality principle was not applied and that the combined 35‑year sentence was wrong, while the Director of Public Prosecutions' counsel maintained that the consecutive sentences were appropriate and proportionate. Michael Murray pleaded not guilty.
A man in his 30s was refused bail after a judge described the alleged incident as "very violent and serious behaviour". He is accused of holding a carving knife to a makeup‑artist escort's throat and robbing her of two iPhones, a black handbag and €1,340 in cash. The assault took place at his apartment in South Dublin on the early hours of Sunday, 27 July. The woman, who had travelled from England to earn extra money, was left with a deep laceration between thumb and forefinger and significant blood loss. CCTV footage shows the man dragging her while holding the knife. He is charged with robbery, production of an article and offences under the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act. He was remanded in custody and will appear via video link at Cloverhill District Court on 31 July.
A 42‑year‑old man named Matthias Kelly, who has an acquired brain injury, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to attempting to murder Fiona Timmermans on 7 September 2024 at Newbury Lawns, Clonshaugh. He also admitted trespassing on the same day, committing an arrestable offence, and producing a serrated kitchen knife in a manner likely to intimidate. Kelly further confessed to threatening Ms Timmermans on 1 September 2024 at an unknown location, intending the threat to be carried out. He pleaded guilty to damaging property, specifically the sitting‑room and front‑bedroom windows of Jennifer Barror on 6 September 2024. Defence counsel informed the judge that Kelly's brain injury was operative at the time of the offences and requested legal aid for a medical report. The court adjourned the case to 10 November for a sentence hearing, with victim impact evidence to be presented then.
Jack Cummins, 22, was sentenced to six years in prison for procuring the commission of assault causing serious harm to Alanna Quinn Idris on Ballyfermot Road on December 30, 2021. Judge Pauline Codd stated that Cummins instigated the pre-meditated violence by phoning his cousin, Josh Cummins, leading to an attack by four youths. Cummins pleaded guilty to procuring the assault, violent disorder, and assault causing harm to Louis O'Sullivan. The judge set a headline sentence of 11 years, reduced to seven years for mitigation, with the final year suspended. All sentences run concurrently. Josh Cummins, 20, previously pleaded guilty to intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to Ms Quinn Idris, violent disorder, production of a hurl, and assault causing harm to Mr O'Sullivan. He received a five-year sentence in November 2023, with the final two years suspended. Darragh Lyons, 21, pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm to Ms Quinn Idris, assault causing harm to Mr O'Sullivan, and violent disorder. He was sentenced to four and a half years in March 2023. Ms Quinn Idris suffered permanent blindness in her right eye and facial disfigurement. The court noted Cummins had no previous convictions and expressed remorse. The matter was adjourned to July 29 for finalisation, and Jack Cummins was remanded on continuing bail.