Ryan Craig, 25, of Shancastle Drive, Clondalkin, appeared at the Central Criminal Court where he entered guilty pleas to the lesser offences of dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm and endangerment. These pleas replaced a previous attempted murder charge relating to an incident on October 20, 2024, at Cloverhill Road, Clondalkin, Dublin 22. Craig admitted to driving a vehicle in a dangerous manner that caused serious bodily harm to Dillon Gilligan, and to intentionally engaging in conduct that created a substantial risk of death or serious injury to Mr Gilligan. The Director of Public Prosecutions confirmed that Craig could be arraigned on the remaining counts on a full facts basis, allowing the previously set trial date for the attempted murder charge to be vacated. Defense counsel Dominic McGinn SC requested an education report and a probation report, the latter specifically to examine restorative justice options. Mr Justice Paul McDermott directed that an education report, probation report, victim impact statement, and any other relevant reports be prepared. The matter was adjourned to October 28 for sentencing.
In the High Court, Anna Thomson-Moore, the wife of applicant Richard Thomson-Moore, testified that the family sold the Barne Estate in County Tipperary to facilitate a move to Australia for their five-year-old son's healthcare needs. She stated that local services were under-resourced, while Australia offered individualised budgets for their son's diagnoses, requiring physical presence. The testimony was given in the case brought by respondent John Magnier, who alleges a handshake agreement was reached in August 2023 for the 751-acre estate at €15 million. Magnier claims the deal was broken when the estate was sold to Maurice Regan for €22.25 million. The Barne defendants, including Richard Thomson-Moore and three IQEQ (Jersey) Ltd companies, deny any such agreement existed, asserting that trustee consent was required and that they ultimately chose to sell to Regan. Ms. Thomson-Moore, a trained lawyer, told the court that she informed Magnier the sale was a family decision involving trustees. The case, heard before Mr Justice Max Barrett, continues with the Magnier side seeking to enforce the purported deal.
In a trial where a mother and her uncle are accused of raping the mother's daughter, the jury paused its deliberations for the weekend. The defendants, all pleading not guilty, face charges of rape and sexual assault. The mother, in her 50s, is charged with 13 counts of sexual assault and one count of rape, while the uncle, in his 40s, faces five counts of rape and one of oral rape. A third man, also in his 50s, is charged with one count of oral rape. The jury will resume on Monday.
A 42‑year‑old man was sentenced to 11 years and six months in prison, with the final six months suspended for one year on strict conditions, after being convicted of two counts of rape and three counts of sexual assault against his goddaughter, who was aged six to nine when the offences occurred between 2009 and 2012 in County Clare. The man, who was in his late twenties at the time, was also married to the victim's aunt and had acted as her godfather. He maintains his innocence. The victim, whose identity is protected, gave a victim impact statement describing the abuse as having stolen her childhood, left her with fear, pain, depression and anxiety, and said she may "never be able to be normal." The judge noted the seriousness of the offences, the victim's age and the multiple incidents, and reduced a headline sentence of 13 years to 11½ years after considering mitigating factors and testimonials about the.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 10 July 2025, Hollie Kavanagh, 22, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after a group of four females attacked an 18‑year‑old girl in The Lawn Park, Ballyfermot, on 27 April 2022. The court heard that Kavanagh shouted at the victim, pulled her by the hair and that the group took turns kicking her in the groin, legs and abdomen. The victim suffered swelling in the pubic area, bruising to her right thigh and left jaw, a bald patch on her head and was left with "crippling anxiety". Kavanagh made admissions during a voluntary interview, brought €1,850 to court as a token of remorse, and a letter of apology was presented. Judge Elma Sheahan ordered a probation report and directed that the €1,850 be handed over to the National Rehabilitation Centre within two weeks, with sentencing to be finalised on 3 November 2025.
Philip Ormond, 43, was sentenced to four years and three months in prison for dangerous driving that caused the death of Kathleen Furlong, an elderly woman, on 8 September 2023. Ormond was driving 18 km/h over the speed limit when he ran a red light at the R136 junction in Tallaght, striking Furlong as she crossed the road. He fled the scene, later changing clothes and covering his car's registration plates with black plastic bags. The court heard evidence that he had a long opportunity to see the red light and that he deliberately chose to drive dangerously. He pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death and leaving the scene. Judge Martin Nolan imposed the sentence, disqualified Ormond from driving for six years, and noted his remorse but highlighted the aggravating factors of speed, failure to obey the light and leaving the scene.
A man in his 30s was jailed for three months after breaching a safety order by calling his former partner and claiming a five‑year‑old girl had dialled the number. He pleaded not guilty under Section 33(1) of the Domestic Violence Act 2018. The woman, who was preparing her children for school when the call rang on 2 July 2024, said she was frightened and left the house. She did not answer the call, but it was enough to create fear. The accused said he had given the phone to a child in the car and that the child had made the call. He had previously deleted the complainant's number but was using a new phone with a SIM that still contained it. Prosecuting solicitor Tom Conlon questioned the plausibility of the explanation, noting the accused's six prior convictions, including assault and three prior breaches of safety and protection orders.
In a High Court settlement, Christopher Miley's family will receive €185,000 after his death on 28 October 2021 when a loader shovel at Behan Quarry in Rathcoole, Dublin, struck and crushed him. Miley, 31, was refuelling vehicles for Shannon Valley Plant Hire while employed by Euro Oil. His partner, Shelly Keating, brought a personal injury claim against five defendants: Shannon Valley Plant Hire Unlimited Company, Laurence Behan Senior, L Behan and Sons Ltd, L Behan Aggregates and Recycling Ltd, and MPM Oil trading as Euro Oil. The claim alleged negligence, breach of statutory and contractual duty, and failure to provide a safe work environment, including inadequate lighting after dark. No defendant admitted liability. The court approved the settlement, waiving claims from Miley's sisters and mother, and expressed sympathy for Keating and the children.
During a Central Criminal Court hearing on 10 July 2025, a witness described how Valeriu Melnic (24) of Calliaghstown Lower, Rathcoole, attempted to protect his head while Ion Daghi (39) of The Close, Sallins Park, held a chair leg and threatened to beat him. The witness, Moldovan Alexandru Beccieu (24), testified that the two men had been drinking heavily, with Melnic allegedly consuming a "colossal amount" of whiskey. Melnic had pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. A pathologist told the jury that Daghi died from a single 13‑cm stab wound to the chest, causing rapid death. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice David Keane, continues with a jury of eight men and four women. The witness's testimony focused on the altercation, the drinking, and the fatal stabbing, without providing any further legal conclusions.
In a tribunal hearing, the University Hospital Limerick (UHL) was found to have taken more than 18 months to apologise to Michael O'Dowd, a disabled patient who alleged that staff laughed at him and made jokes during personal care. O'Dowd, who used a lightwriter to speak, claimed that a nurse and two healthcare assistants made jokes about him on 7 June 2022, that staff failed to listen to his requests, and that he was almost dropped from a wheelchair after 12 days of bed rest. He first complained on 7 July 2022, and the hospital's Patient Advocacy Liaison Service was involved, but he did not receive an investigation report or apology until 16 January 2024. The Workplace Relations Commission ruled that O'Dowd was out of time to pursue a discrimination complaint and that there was no breach of the act regarding the delay.
Karl Hegarty, former principal of Leinster Senior College, lost his unfair dismissal claim after the Workplace Relations Commission found that he had destroyed work diaries during an investigation into a rival grinds business he ran. The WRC held that Hegarty's destruction of the diaries "entirely undermined his credibility" and that he had been dismissed for gross misconduct, including setting up a competing school. Hegarty argued he had permission to provide private career guidance and that his business added to the college's profile, but the school's owner said he had no knowledge of the venture until late 2022. The tribunal noted Hegarty had been suspended on full pay during the investigation and that he offered to cease trading after the suspension. The adjudicator concluded that dismissal was an appropriate sanction and rejected Hegarty's complaint.
A trial has commenced at the Central Criminal Court concerning charges against John Irving of Shanwar, Foxford, County Mayo. The prosecution alleges that Mr Irving, along with Francis Harman of Ballina and John Clarke of Ballina, broke into the home of a pensioner at Doonflynn, Skreen, County Sligo in January 2022 and assaulted him. The victim, then aged 73, sustained severe injuries including head trauma, rib fractures and internal bleeding. He died over twenty months later from complications arising from the assault. A medical witness is expected to testify that the injuries were comparable to those sustained in a serious motor collision. Forensic evidence presented includes DNA and blood located on gloves discovered in the area. Mr Irving denies all charges, including unlawful killing, assault causing serious harm, trespass, and false imprisonment. The trial before Ms Justice Eileen Creedon continues.
Alistair Wright, a 37‑year‑old self‑employed joiner from Crieff, appeared before Judge Anne Watkin at Dún Laoghaire District Court after being caught with one gram of cocaine while attending a stag party in Dublin. Wright had been drinking all day with a group that had booked rooms at the Clayton Hotel in Donnybrook. By 8.30 pm tensions rose, prompting hotel staff to call Gardaí. When the officers arrived, Wright became aggressive, shouted abuse, refused to comply with directions, resisted arrest and was restrained. He pleaded guilty to possessing cocaine and to several public order offences, including threatening and abusive behaviour, failing to comply with Garda directions and resisting a peace officer. He has no prior convictions. The judge expressed no tolerance for cocaine, warned that he would not simply "skip off home" to Scotland, and ordered a probation report and urine analysis, leaving open the possibility of a community service order or custody.
A man now aged 22 pleaded guilty at Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court to possessing child sexual abuse material discovered on his mother's laptop in County Mayo on 6 June 2018. He was 15 when gardaí found the illegal content after he reported to them that his device had been hacked as part of a sextortion attempt. The accused had been engaging in online exchanges with a hacker who subsequently infected the laptop with malware to extort money. Upon opening a video link, the screen displayed warnings and became inaccessible. He informed his mother and reported the matter to gardaí, leading to the laptop's examination by the Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau, which recovered the material from the recycle bin. Judge Eoin Garavan imposed a two-month sentence, suspended on completion of 100 hours community service within six months, citing the accused's age at the time of the offence, social isolation, and low reoffending risk. The case will be finalised on 7 November 2025. The accused was removed from the Sex Offenders' List.
Patrick Cawley, 35, pleaded guilty to assault, theft and robbery at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He was convicted of four offences against three men, including a German tourist in his 60s. Cawley, described by the judge as an "endemic recidivist offender" with 127 prior convictions and a history of drug addiction, was sentenced to five years and three months, with the final 12 months suspended, leaving an effective term of four years and three months. The judge aimed to encourage treatment of his drug problem and reintegration into society. The German victim suffered anxiety, stress and a fear of crowds, and reported an economic loss of €1,100. Another victim sustained a broken jaw that required wiring. A third incident involved a mugging at a Luas stop, but no conviction was recorded for that event. The court noted Cawley's cooperation during the interview.
A Palestinian man living in the West Bank has applied to the High Court for an order to quash a February 2025 Garda decision not to investigate a complaint that Israeli settlers had barred him from his land, built cabins on it, and advertised those cabins for rent on an Irish‑registered website. The man, whose identity was anonymised by the court, is joined by the Palestinian rights group Sadaka – The Ireland Palestine Alliance Limited. The applicants allege that the website's booking of the cabins constitutes a crime, claiming the site is an accessory to transfer, appropriation and money laundering. They argue that the cabins were still advertised online as of May 2025 and that the Israeli Defence Forces had prevented the man from accessing his land since the late 1990s, a situation that continued until 2004 when settlers began construction.
Patrick O'Connor, a 75‑year‑old Peace Commissioner from Ashford, Co Wicklow, forged the signatures of his two co‑directors when filing an A1 form for JP&P Property Limited in October 2022. He claimed he had no time to travel to obtain the signatures and that the co‑directors had consented to the forgery. The forged signatures were discovered by the Corporate Enforcement Authority during an investigation into a separate breach of the Companies Act. O'Connor pleaded guilty to one count of providing false information under the Companies Act. The court imposed a headline sentence of 18 months, reduced to 12 months, which was suspended in full. He was also disqualified from acting as a company director for five years. O'Connor has a small number of prior road‑traffic convictions and had previously worked for the Office of Public Works and ESB. The company never commenced trading.
Valeriu Melnic (24), of Rathcoole, Co Dublin, is on trial at the Central Criminal Court for the alleged murder of Ion Daghi (39) at The Close, Sallins Park, Sallins, Co Kildare, on May 12, 2024. Mr Melnic has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster testified that Mr Daghi died from a single stab wound to the left chest, which measured 13cm in depth and penetrated the heart's right ventricle. She stated that death would have been rapid due to hemorrhage and shock, with 250ml of blood found in the pericardial sac. Dr Bolster noted blunt force injuries to the deceased's hands, consistent with offensive or defensive actions during an altercation, and confirmed that 73mg of ethanol was detected in his system. A knife blade recovered from the scene measured 19.5cm, consistent with the wound. Prosecuting counsel Carl Hanahoe SC alleged that Mr Melnic armed himself with a kitchen knife and stabbed Mr Daghi following a dispute after they spent the night drinking together. The trial continues before Mr Justice David Keane and a jury.
A 53‑year‑old man was sentenced to eight and a half years' imprisonment for subjecting five children in his care to repeated physical and sexual abuse, causing them irreparable psychological damage. He was in a relationship with the children's mother and the biological father of the younger two. The court heard he threatened a child's dog and used violence and intimidation to control the children. He pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual assault of one boy (2004‑2011, ages 11‑18), three counts of sexual assault of a second boy (2006‑2013, ages 12‑19), two counts of child cruelty of a third boy (2013‑2015, ages 12‑14), and sexual assault of two girls (2015, ages 14 and 9). These pleas were representative of 107 charges. Ms Justice Caroline Biggs imposed consecutive sentences totalling 11 years, suspended the final two and a half years on strict conditions, and noted the man's remorse and risk assessment.
A jury of eight women and four men has been sworn in at the Central Criminal Court to hear the trial of a 31-year-old man accused of the unlawful killing of Tom Niland, a 74-year-old from Doonflynn, Skreen, County Sligo. The accused, John Irving of Shanwar, Foxford, County Mayo, has pleaded not guilty to all charges. Mr Niland died on September 30, 2023, more than twenty months after sustaining serious injuries during an alleged home invasion on January 18, 2022. The charges against Mr Irving include unlawfully killing Mr Niland, entering his home as a trespasser, causing him serious harm, and falsely imprisoning him. Justice Eileen Creedon estimated the trial will last approximately two weeks, with proceedings commencing the following day.
Juan Antonio Gallardo Barroso, a 56-year-old Spanish national, pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to conspiring to import controlled drugs worth over €13,000 into Ireland between February 27 and March 14, 2024. Presiding Judge Karen O'Connor adjourned the matter to July 21 for sentencing. On that date, co-accused Mario Angel Del Rio Sanz, Anuar Rahui Chairi, and Aleksandar Milic are also listed for sentencing after pleading guilty to similar charges of conspiring to import drugs. Six other men remain charged in connection with the case: Kiumaars Ghabiri, Ali Ghasemi Mazidi, Sean Curran, Raul Tabares Garcia, Pedro Pablo Ojeda Ortega, and Angel Serran Padilla. The group was arrested by gardai in March 2024 during operations in Tragumna and Leap, near Skibbereen, County Cork. Authorities seized a jeep, camper van, articulated truck, and rigid inflatable boat during the suspected smuggling operation. The court proceedings are currently at the trial stage, with final sentencing pending for the four defendants who admitted their guilt.
In a Tallaght District Court hearing on 9 July 2025, 36‑year‑old Danielle Kavanagh pleaded guilty to driving without insurance and a licence, and to the theft of makeup from Dunnes Stores. The court noted that on 25 August 2024 Garda Shane Whelan stopped Kavanagh on Cloonmore Drive while she was visibly distressed and engaged in a loud phone argument. Gardaí confirmed she had no valid licence or insurance and was already serving a four‑year disqualification imposed in October 2023. The vehicle was seized. Judge William Aylmer fined Kavanagh €100 for driving without insurance and an additional €50 for having no licence, and upheld the four‑year disqualification. The court also dealt with a June 13 incident in which Kavanagh stole makeup worth €331 from Dunnes Stores; she was found to have concealed the items in a buggy. The goods were recovered and suitable for resale.
A 33-year-old man has pleaded not guilty to sexual assault and defilement of a child following an incident in County Mayo in July 2020. The trial, heard this week at Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court, was told the complainant was 16 years old at the time of the alleged offences, while the accused was 28. The defence argued the accused believed the complainant was over 18, citing her appearance, behaviour, and statements she made during a staff party. However, the court heard evidence from a witness who said she informed the accused of the complainant's actual age that night. The complainant testified the accused pressured her for sexual contact after the party. Both prosecution and defence have delivered closing submissions. Judge Eoin Garavan is to sum up to the jury today or tomorrow, after which the twelve jurors will consider their verdict.
Paul Kearney, 47, pleaded guilty at Tallaght District Court for stealing €300 worth of scratch cards from a SuperValu in Firhouse on 8 September 2024. The theft was described as an opportunistic, spur‑of‑the‑moment act captured on CCTV. Kearney admitted being in the footage but denied memory of the act. After a month he returned to the shop, where staff recognised him and alerted Gardaí, but the cards were no longer recoverable. The judge ordered him to complete a restorative justice programme and adjourned final sentencing to 10 October.
In a High Court hearing, Garda Commissioner Kilda Mooney argued that the Dublin District Court's March order to discover documents and costs for 38 non‑national taxi licence applicants was beyond the court's jurisdiction. The Commissioner, acting as the licensing authority, contended that the court was not deciding civil matters but licensing suitability. She noted that voluntary disclosures had already been made by Gardaí to the refused applicants. The High Court granted a stay on the District Court orders and adjourned the case to October. The appeal concerns the 'suitability' of the applicants to hold Small Public Service Vehicle licences, a matter the Commissioner says must consider public safety, character, and immigration status as outlined in the Taxi Regulation Act 2013. The case remains under judicial review.
A man in his 20s was denied bail after he allegedly breached a protection order by assaulting his former partner at the Longitude music festival in Dublin's Marlay Park on 24 June. The incident, described by Sergeant Ruth Finnegan, involved the man approaching the woman, becoming aggressive, striking her jaw, putting his hands around her neck and leaving bruises on her left face. Witnesses saw the event and the man was arrested on site. He is currently prohibited from contacting his child under existing court orders. Gardaí opposed bail, citing the seriousness of the allegations. The man's solicitor offered to sign daily, provide a fixed address and stay away from the woman and child, but Judge Patricia McNamara refused bail. He was remanded to Cloverhill Prison and will appear again via video link on 9 July.
Gwen Doyle, a receptionist at Athboy Family Practice, claims she was constructively dismissed in October 2024 after a colleague repeatedly called her a "lazy b***h." She says the apology she received from the colleague and the practice manager was not genuine, but rather dictated. Doyle alleges the clinic's management failed to investigate her formal grievance and did not address the toxic work environment, leaving her with no other option. Her union, Siptu, presented the case to the Workplace Relations Commission, arguing the employer's efforts were insufficient. The employer's solicitor, Terry Gorry, contended that "strenuous efforts" were made to resolve the issue. The WRC hearing is adjourned to later in the summer for further cross‑examination.
A jury has begun deliberating in a trial involving a mother, her uncle, and a third man, all of whom deny the allegations. The mother, in her 50s, faces 13 counts of sexual assault and one count of rape for facilitating her daughter's rape by the uncle. The uncle, in his 40s, is charged with five counts of rape and one of oral rape. The third man, also in his 50s, faces one count of oral rape. All defendants plead not guilty. The jury paused deliberations for the day after a brief session.
In a murder trial, a 24‑year‑old man, Valeriu Melnic, was charged with the fatal stabbing of Ion Daghi, 39, at The Close, Sallins Park, Kildare, on 12 May 2024. Melnic pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, a plea rejected by the Director of Public Prosecutions. The case was heard by a jury of eight men and four women. The prosecution, represented by Carl Hanahoe SC, recounted that Melnic and his friend Alexandru Beccieu had spent the night drinking at Daghi's house, arriving at 8 pm and consuming three bottles of whiskey. Around 3 am a dispute arose between Melnic and Daghi, escalating into a physical altercation involving Beccieu. Melnic allegedly armed himself with a kitchen knife, entered the kitchen, and stabbed Daghi once in the chest. A pathologist is expected to confirm a single stab wound to the left side of the chest, causing rapid death.
A 24-year-old man from St Catherine's Park, Rush, Co Dublin, has been remanded in custody pending sentence next October following his guilty plea to criminal damage on March 31, 2024, and assault causing harm to a woman on April 3, 2024. John Hoey admitted to the charges during a hearing at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The prosecution outlined that the woman, who is pregnant, sustained injuries including a black eye and a cut to her head. Garda Niamh Owens detailed that Hoey had been accessing her Snapchat and accused her of cheating, leading to a violent incident where he pushed her head under water during a bath, threatened her with a Stanley knife, and grabbed her by the throat, causing her to pass out. The woman managed to escape the house with assistance from passersby. Hoey's defence acknowledged his client's history of anger management issues and his attendance at counselling since the incident. The court heard that Hoey and the woman are still in a relationship, and their child was born late last year. The woman did not complete a victim impact statement. Ms Cummings informed the court that if the defence wished to adjourn the case for a probation report, the State would request Hoey's bail be revoked and he be remanded in custody. Judge Orla Crowe adjourned sentence to next October and instructed Hoey to engage with The Probation Service and undergo domestic violence courses.
The High Court ordered the extradition of former priest Oliver O'Grady, aged 80, to Portugal to serve a one‑year prison sentence for possession of more than 9,000 images and 29 videos of child sexual abuse. O'Grady was arrested on 21 January 2025 under a European Arrest Warrant issued by a Faro court, which had convicted him in absentia on 7 May 2024 for possession of "pornography of minors." He contested the extradition, claiming his fair‑trial rights were not protected, that he could not contact a lawyer, and that he faced a risk of inhuman or degrading treatment in Portuguese prisons. The judge found his claims to be disingenuous and self‑serving, noting that O'Grady had tried to control proceedings and had failed to attend his trial. The judge also rejected concerns about prison conditions, stating assurances from Portuguese authorities that no such risk existed.
Neil Murray, 47, of Kilnamanagh, pleaded guilty to producing a hammer in a manner likely to intimidate under Section 11 of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act, 1990, after an alleged altercation involving his son. He brought the hammer to a house on 3 July 2024, claiming it was a reaction to his son being assaulted by a boy who was not yet an adult. Garda David Dunne reported that Murray was fully cooperative with police. Murray's solicitor, Kevin Tunney, described him as a construction worker who overreacted out of concern for his son and now accepts that his response was wrong. He has a prior conviction for knife possession in 2005. Judge Vincent Deane asked him if he had ever heard of the Guards, questioned his future conduct, and secured a sworn promise not to repeat the offence. Murray paid €300 to the Little Blue Heroes charity.
Rokas Kalytis, 24, pleaded guilty to criminal damage for graffitiing rail carriages and an underpass between January 2020 and May 2022. Irish Rail spent €26,000 on repairs. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court ordered him to complete 240 hours of community service instead of a two‑year prison term. CCTV footage showed him using permanent markers on carriage panels and an underpass at Connolly Station. His home was searched, and items were seized. Kalytis had previously moved to the Netherlands but returned in August 2023 and voluntarily met with Gardaí. He has nine prior convictions, including criminal damage, and had a previous community service order that was struck out. He is currently working, has a construction work‑safe pass, and a forensic report indicates low risk of re‑offending. The judge warned that failure to comply with the community service could result in the two‑year prison term.
An 18‑year‑old Dubliner, who was a minor when he first appeared before the courts, was sentenced by the Special Criminal Court to an additional three years and eight months in prison for burying a sawn‑off shotgun, ammunition and drugs worth more than €55,000 for the Hennessy crime gang. He had previously pleaded guilty to possession of a side‑by‑side shotgun, cannabis, diamorphine and Phenacetin, and to possession of 15 rounds of 9 × 18 mm Makarov ammunition and ten 12‑Gauge ELEY cartridges. The judge imposed a headline sentence of seven and a half years for the shotgun offence, but, after suspending one year and four months, the final term was three years and eight months, to run consecutively with his existing 28‑month sentence for violent disorder at Browne's Steakhouse. Additional concurrent sentences of 20 months for Phenacetin, 18 months for cannabis and three years and four months for diamorphine were also imposed.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a young woman testified that she was raped and sexually assaulted by her mother, her uncle and a third man. The prosecution, represented by Anne‑Marie Lawlor SC, argued that the complainant's statements were consistent and unembellished, urging the jury to consider her reliability. The defence counsel for each defendant highlighted the passage of time, the lack of corroborating evidence, and questioned the complainant's memory of events that occurred when she was very young. The mother, aged in her 50s, pleaded not guilty to 13 counts of sexual assault and one count of rape, while the uncle, in his 40s, pleaded not guilty to five counts of rape and one of oral rape. The third defendant, also in his 50s, pleaded not guilty to one count of oral rape. The case remains before Justice Eileen Creedon and the jury.
James Fuery, 32, of Tallaght, pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis for sale or supply after a sniffer dog at Dublin Airport flagged a suitcase he had brought from Ibiza. Customs officers seized €404,520 of cannabis, weighing just under 22.5 kg, in 45 vacuum‑sealed packets. Fuery admitted it was his first time bringing drugs into the country and explained that he had relapsed into addiction, built a €15,000 drug debt, and was under pressure. Judge Elma Sheahan, noting the seriousness of the offence and Fuery's early plea, imposed a headline sentence of four and a half years. The court set a three‑year custodial term, suspended the final 12 months on strict conditions, including drug treatment. Fuery is a chef with a pro‑social family and has no prior drug convictions. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
A 19‑year‑old, who was 18 at the time of the offence, was sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment for the murder of Aaron Keating, 43, on 13 June 2023. The judge, Mr Justice Paul McDermott, noted that the teenager stabbed Keating after an altercation in a public street in Dublin 15. The killing was described as a "drug rage" and the defendant had pleaded guilty. The sentence was reduced from an initial 25‑year headline to 21 years and then to 15 years, with the final two years suspended for two years on conditions including peace‑keeping, drug rehabilitation and mental‑health treatment. The court highlighted the defendant's history of drug use, lack of maturity and the need for rehabilitation. The case was heard in the Dublin District Court.
Michael Kearns, 58, was found guilty of possessing 207 images and 164 videos of child sexual abuse, depicting boys and girls aged five to fifteen, on his home computer. Gardaí searched his residence in April 2019 after an international organisation tipped off the Online Child Exploitation Unit. Kearns pleaded guilty to child pornography offences that occurred between April 2017 and April 2019. Judge Pauline Codd, noting the material's severity and the "significant level of depravity," imposed a six‑month jail term, suspending the final 18 months of a two‑year sentence. She highlighted Kearns' cooperation, guilty plea, and personal trauma, including cancer diagnoses, as mitigating factors. The judge emphasised the need to protect children and stated she had to "send a message out" by sentencing him to custodial time. The case concluded with Kearns expressing remorse and shame for his actions.
A 24‑year‑old man, Valeriu Melnic, will be tried for the killing of Ion Daghi, 39, in Kildare on 12 May 2024. Melnic admits he killed Daghi but denies murder, pleading not guilty to murder and guilty to manslaughter. The Director of Public Prosecutions rejected the plea, and Mr Justice David Keane has sworn a jury of eight men and four women to hear the case. The trial will start tomorrow afternoon and is expected to continue until the end of next week.
A 42-year-old Ballinrobe woman has admitted assaulting two gardaí at Claremorris Garda Station during an incident in June 2022. Rosemary Sweeney, of Bridge Street, pleaded guilty to two counts of assault causing harm at Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court. She is remanded in custody pending sentencing, which is scheduled for July 16. Judge Eoin Garavan ordered the preparation of a prison governor's report ahead of the sentencing hearing.
In a Central Criminal Court murder trial, Judge Karen O'Connor discharged a jury of five women and seven men after two weeks of proceedings, citing "matters beyond my control" and expressing regret that the trial could not continue. The case involved Joseph Lawlor, 39, who pleaded not guilty to the murder of Michael Ryan, 51, outside Lawlor's home in Finglas on 20 June 2024. The prosecution had presented evidence that the two men had been drinking together, with CCTV and neighbour recordings capturing a series of fights that culminated in a fatal stabbing shortly after midnight, leaving Ryan with a single neck wound that severed an artery. The judge thanked the jury for their attentiveness, exempted them from further duty for five years, and postponed the matter to a new trial date of 22 July 2025.
A man from the Glenties area of Donegal has been sentenced to a total of 15.5 years in prison following his conviction at the Central Criminal Court for facilitating a gangland shooting in Dublin. Patrick Fitzgerald, aged 48, was convicted of participating in activities of a criminal organisation between November 2021 with intent to facilitate a serious offence. He provided getaway vehicles used in an attempted murder of Dublin criminal Gary Carey on 17 November 2021. Justice Eileen Creedon imposed a seven-year sentence to run consecutively with an existing 7.5-year sentence for aggravated burglary. The court heard Fitzgerald purchased two vehicles through an online platform and provided them as escape cars following the shooting at Ballyfermot Crescent. Mr Carey sustained gunshot wounds and subsequently relocated his family abroad. The judge noted the case involved a national and international drug smuggling gang and considered the profound impact on the victim's family. Fitzgerald has 72 previous convictions.
The Central Criminal Court has adjourned the sentencing of four family members convicted in connection with the murder of Ashling Murphy to October 7. Ms Justice Caroline Biggs set the date after hearing that the defendants accept the jury's verdict and will not appeal their convictions. Lubomir Puska Jnr and Marek Puska, who pleaded not guilty, were found guilty of withholding crucial information from gardai. Their wives, Viera Gaziova and Jozefina Grundzova, also pleaded not guilty and were convicted of burning bloodstained clothes to impede the prosecution. Lucia Istokova, Jozef Puska's wife, pleaded guilty to withholding information. Counsel for the appellants confirmed their clients now accept the verdicts and have engaged with Probation Services. Ms Justice Biggs extended legal aid to facilitate the preparation of psychological reports, noting she could handle sentencing in one stage or two. She opted for a single date to ensure all probation and psychological reports are available. The matter was adjourned to October 7 for sentence, where the court hopes to have all necessary reports in hand. Jozef Puska, who murdered Ms Murphy in January 2022, is serving a life sentence. The four family members were living with him and their children in Co Offaly at the time of the offences.
Olesja Hertova, 49, of Balbriggan, pleaded guilty to the unlawful killing of her partner James Ryan, 69, after she forcefully pushed him on 11 August 2024. The incident occurred after a dispute at their home following a night out. Hertova claimed she was trying to stop him from driving. CCTV footage showed her returning to the house and staying with Ryan until emergency services arrived. Ryan suffered a blunt‑force head injury, was transferred to Beaumont Hospital, and died the next day. Hertova had no prior convictions and expressed remorse during her interview. The court, considering her early guilty plea and lack of previous offences, imposed a headline sentence of five years, reduced to two years and nine months, back‑dated to her August 2024 arrest. The sentence was based on the single push that caused Ryan's death.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 4 July 2025, Stefano Gianluca Macari, 24, pleaded guilty to robbery and assault causing harm after he and two co‑accused attacked an American doctor in his 40s on 27 April 2023. Macari, a member of the Macari takeaway family, was caught by Gardaí with the victim's wallet and bank cards and had been in custody since June. He kicked the victim several times in the head while the trio stole cash and the wallet before fleeing. The victim suffered lacerations and bruising, declined hospital treatment, and was treated with temporary stitches. Macari's co‑accused received four‑ and five‑year sentences. The court noted Macari's 27 prior convictions and ordered a probation report, Governor's report and urine analysis for November, with the matter to be finalised then.
Jordan Mallon, 26, was sentenced by Judge William Aylmer at Tallaght District Court to eight months' imprisonment for assaulting Garda James Cullen on 14 October 2024. Mallon, who had previously pleaded guilty to five charges including violent behaviour in a garda station, criminal damage to a bus stop, and two public‑order offences, spat saliva into Cullen's eye while in custody. The judge noted the incident was highly distressing, though no lasting harm occurred. Mallon's 38‑count criminal record, with recent convictions in March and June 2025, was cited. The sentence, imposed under Section 19 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994, was reduced from nine to eight months for the early guilty plea. Four months were suspended for 12 months, conditional on full engagement with the Probation Service, participation in a Restorative Justice programme, and addressing alcohol misuse. Mallon was also ordered to enter a €300 peace bond.
The Workplace Relations Commission rejected Vitor Oliveira's equality claim that St Vincent's Hospital's requirement for an Irish‑recognised accountancy qualification was discriminatory. Oliveira, who had worked at the hospital from 2017 to 2024, applied for a senior finance manager role in April 2024 but was not shortlisted because the job specification listed only the ACA, ACCA or CIMA qualifications. He argued that this barred candidates with equivalent non‑Irish qualifications, citing his Brazilian qualification and its international recognition. The tribunal found the requirement was objectively justified to meet specific regulatory needs at a senior accountant level and that the hospital had provided support for Oliveira's studies. Consequently, the tribunal concluded that no discrimination on the basis of race had occurred. The decision was published on 4 July 2025.
In a case heard in May 2024, Judge Sarah Berkeley sentenced 26‑year‑old Martin Awoke to a two‑year suspended sentence after he fully repaid students who were defrauded of €9,820 for accommodation in Limerick. Awoke, who had no prior convictions, had allowed his bank account to be used in the scheme but did not participate in its planning. He pleaded guilty to handling the proceeds of crime on 12 August 2022. The court noted that Awoke had previously saved €10,000, spent €3,000 on bills, and had been directed to pay €7,000 to the investigating Garda. After a job interview and a commitment to raise the remaining balance, Awoke repaid the full amount, submitted apologies, and requested time to arrange compensation with family support. Judge Berkeley declined to remove the conviction, citing the impact on the victims, and imposed the suspended sentence under strict conditions.
Mr Justice Tony Hunt adjourned the sentencing of Lorenzo Cantaragiu and Robert Burns to July 30 for finalisation. Both men were convicted of impeding the prosecution or apprehension of Mahamud Ilyas's murderers, Viorel Doroscan and Otniel Richardo Clejan, who were sentenced to life imprisonment on June 23 for the murder of Mr Ilyas on December 9, 2022. Cantaragiu, who pleaded not guilty but was unanimously convicted by a jury in May, is alleged to have driven the perpetrators to a remote area in Co Meath. His defence counsel, Michael Lynn SC, highlighted that Cantaragiu has been attacked in prison, labelled a "rat," and placed in 23-hour protective custody. Counsel argued that Cantaragiu, who was 19 at the time, provided assistance to gardaí and abandoned the perpetrators. Burns, who pleaded guilty during the trial to cleaning blood from the crime scene, was represented by Lorcan Staines SC, who requested a non-custodial sentence, citing Burns' fear, age, and role as a primary carer. The court heard that Burns had previous convictions and a medium risk of generic reoffending due to cannabis use. The matter remains adjourned pending finalisation.
Ryan Kearney, aged 39, was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter after stabbing Jeffrey Jackson, aged 50, 15 times in what he claimed was self‑defence. The Central Criminal Court jury rejected the prosecution's case that Kearney intended to kill or cause serious injury, accepting the defence that he acted to protect himself from Jackson's alleged violence. The jury considered the force used and the partial defence of provocation, concluding that the killing was not murder. Kearney was described as an alcoholic but not violent. The judge remanded him in custody pending a sentencing hearing on 28 July. The case involved 16 knife wounds, with the pathologist noting Jackson was heavily intoxicated. The trial also heard testimony from Jackson's partner and family about his violent behaviour. The judge directed a psychologist and governor's report on Kearney.