In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Daniel Cashen, a 12‑year‑old victim in 2004, recounted how Anthony Lynch, 75, repeatedly abused him at Lynch's Rathsallagh Park home. Lynch, already serving a long sentence for similar offences, was found guilty of anal rape, oral rape and two sexual assault counts between 2004 and 2007. Cashen, who has since struggled with trust, friendship, and substance addiction, gave a victim impact statement describing Lynch's ongoing psychological torment. The judge, Mr Justice Tony Hunt, imposed a global headline sentence of 12 years, but ruled Lynch would serve an additional three years consecutively to his current term, extending his release to 2033. Lynch was also ordered to be supervised by the Probation Service for two years after release. The sentencing considered Lynch's age, medical conditions, and lack of a guilty plea.
The Court of Appeal has reserved its judgment in an appeal brought by the State against a High Court decision regarding an action filed by Independent Senator Gerard Craughwell. Sen Craughwell alleges that a secret international agreement exists allowing the RAF to intercept rogue aircraft in Irish airspace, claiming such an arrangement is unconstitutional unless approved by referendum. The State, represented by Brian Kennedy SC, argued that the claims are political rather than legal and therefore not justiciable. Counsel for the State contended that the plaintiff's pleadings contained only "bare assertions" without sufficient factual basis to meet the threshold for trial, noting that the State could neither confirm nor deny the alleged security arrangements due to sensitive policy. Conversely, Gerard Humphreys, counsel for Sen Craughwell, argued that the existence of an arrangement requiring constitutional approval was evident from previous Dáil statements by then-Taoiseach Bertie Ahern. He maintained that the Government's failure to control airspace breached the Constitution and requested the court to force the State to admit or deny the existence of a treaty. The three-judge panel, including Mr Justice Charles Meenan, heard these arguments on the preliminary issue of justiciability. If the State succeeds, the case will fall before a full hearing. The court has reserved its judgment on this appeal.
Declan Culliton, a plant hire manager at HSS Hire Ireland Ltd, claims he was forced to approve inflated machinery hire prices as part of a price‑fixing scheme and was demoted for raising concerns. He is filing a complaint under the Protected Disclosures Act 2014. HSS denies any protected disclosure or collusion. The case involves three companies: Laois Hire Services Ltd, HSS Hire Ireland Ltd, and Briggs Equipment Ireland Ltd. Culliton alleges that Michael Killeen, former Laois Hire founder and then HSS director, instructed him to raise prices at a Costa Coffee meeting in Naas in July 2022. When Culliton questioned the instruction, he was told it came from Killeen. He claims the price increases proceeded, inflating cross‑hire costs. Culliton subsequently raised protected disclosures in management meetings and to HSS's UK HR director, after which he was isolated, threatened with demotion, and removed from a senior role.
Martin Burke, 28, of Ballinorig Estate, Tralee, was on bail when he strangled a woman at 3 am on 18 December 2022 and then repeatedly raped her. He pleaded guilty to four counts – rape, oral rape, anal rape and sexual assault – and was sentenced by the Central Criminal Court to 17 years, with the final two years suspended. The sentence was reduced from an initial headline of 22 years after mitigation. Burke is to remain under Probation Services supervision for five years post‑release, must keep the peace and be of good behaviour, and is prohibited from any contact with the victim. The victim, who wishes to remain anonymous, described the attack as an unspeakable ordeal and expressed ongoing fear and trauma. The judge noted Burke's history of 17 prior convictions and that he was on bail for similar offences at the time of the attack.
A 53‑year‑old Dublin man was sentenced to five and a half years' imprisonment for raping and sexually abusing his younger sister between January 1987 and August 1991. The court heard that the victim was about seven when the defendant, then 15, began forcing her to perform oral sex and touch him inappropriately in their family home, a laneway and a field in County Dublin. He pleaded guilty to nine counts, including indecent assault and two oral rapes. The judge imposed a global sentence of six years and six months, with the final 12 months suspended for two years on strict conditions. The victim, whose name is withheld, said the abuse destroyed her childhood, caused ongoing shame, nightmares and mental health problems, and that she had finally come forward after years of silence. The court noted the defendant's young age at the time of the offences, his health issues and his willingness to engage in therapeutic programmes.
Brian Keane, 41, pleaded guilty on 3 February 2024 to possession of a Makarov 9mm semi‑automatic pistol in suspicious circumstances, an offence that carries a maximum sentence of 14 years. A search of his Finglas home uncovered the pistol, 13 rounds of Makarov calibre Seller and Bellot ammunition and a silencer. Keane told Gardaí that he had a €5,000 drug debt and was asked to hold a package, unaware it contained a firearm. Defence counsel Mark Lynam argued Keane was not the end user but a person who could be leaned upon to store the weapon, citing his vulnerabilities and a turbulent situation. The court accepted that Keane was holding the weapon under duress and that he had a good work history with only minor prior convictions. Judge Martin Nolan set a headline sentence of six to seven years but, after considering mitigating factors, imposed a three‑year sentence.
Andrzej Slyk, a 40‑year‑old informal courier from Poland, was arrested in Dublin after Gardaí found €140,000 in cash in his rucksack during a raid described as a "tornado." The cash was discovered while the officers were searching for cannabis. Slyk initially claimed he had found the bag on a ferry from Poland but later admitted it was given to him by two people he met in the city centre. He pleaded guilty to possessing the proceeds of crime on 31 August 2023, an offence punishable by up to 14 years. His defence argued he was reckless, not knowing the contents until the Gardaí arrived, and had not performed due checks. The court accepted his recklessness, noted his lack of prior convictions, and imposed a 33‑month sentence, reduced from a headline six‑year term, after considering mitigating factors. Slyk is now barred from leaving the country and from operating as a courier.
The trial of Alan Vial and Nikita Burns at the Central Criminal Court has been adjourned for ten days to allow legal representatives to address an outstanding matter. Both defendants deny murdering Robert Robin Wilkin, whose body was discovered in the sea below Sliabh Liag in Donegal in July 2023, eight days after his alleged death on 25 June. Mr Justice Paul McDermott informed the jury of twelve that proceedings will resume on 24 February. The trial, which commenced on 17 January, had been anticipated to conclude this week or next. Vial, aged 39, of Drumanoo Head, Killybegs, and Burns, aged 23, of Carrick, both deny the murder charge. State Pathologist Dr Margot Bolster identified depressed fractures to the deceased's skull inconsistent with injuries sustained from a cliff fall. A rock found at the cliff top, bearing blood and DNA matching the deceased, was presented as potentially consistent with causing those injuries. Alan Vial pleaded not guilty. Nikita Burns pleaded not guilty.
A 43‑year‑old man who organised a charity sports event to raise money for his daughter's cancer treatment was found to have stolen about €25,000 from the event. He pleaded guilty to theft for an offence committed between January and June 2020. The court heard that he had paid €9,400 to the child's mother and had since repaid €20,000, leaving €5,000 outstanding. He admitted that he had spent the majority of the money on drugs, claiming a cocaine binge and a drug problem at the time. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a four‑year sentence, suspended in full, and ordered the remaining €5,000 to be paid over nine months. The judge noted the defendant's partial repayment, his drug addiction, and the aggravating factor that he used his daughter to facilitate the theft.
A second jury failed to reach a verdict in the trial of Ciara Kelleher (53), the former senior portfolio relationship manager of Custom House Capital Ltd (CHC), who was accused of conspiring with others to defraud investors, clients, and customers of CHC by intentionally misleading them as to where or how their assets had been placed between October 2008 and July 2011. Kelleher, of Blackhorse Avenue, Dublin 7, denied the charge. The case was adjourned to February 27 for the prosecution to obtain further directions, with Kelleher remanded on continuing bail to that date. Meanwhile, CHC's former CEO Harry Cassidy (69), along with former head of private clients John Whyte (55), former head of finance Paul Lavery (49), and non-executive director John Mulholland (75) had previously pleaded guilty to related charges. Cassidy was sentenced to six years and ten months, Whyte to four years, Lavery to three years, and Mulholland to 12 months at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court almost two years ago. The court heard that €56 million of client money had been inappropriately transferred to property investments, with €61 million found to have been misappropriated, of which €39 million has been recovered as of March 2023.
Elaine White, 41, of Griffith Road, Finglas, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to six theft counts and one unlawful computer use count for stealing €13,416 from her former employer between March 2019 and January 2020. The court heard that €3,813 was recovered by Revenue, leaving €9,603 still owed. White transferred some of the money to her personal account and created an "uninformed invoice" while adjusting her tax credit. She voluntarily admitted the theft, revealed a gambling addiction, and cooperated fully with Gardaí, leading to her dismissal. Judge Martin Nolan noted her early guilty plea, cooperation, and lack of prior convictions, and sentenced her to 21 months suspended in full, ordering repayment of the remaining debt within three months. White is currently employed and intends to repay the balance by the end of March.
Michael McDonagh, 58, of Ballyfermot, pleaded guilty to stealing a handbag containing €2 from a 78‑year‑old woman outside an Applegreen service station in Dublin 8 on 9 November 2020. The victim, who had been on her way home after a doctor's appointment, was shocked and unable to give a statement. CCTV and a description of two men led to McDonagh's arrest minutes later. He was intoxicated at the time of arrest and had been a chronic alcoholic, but his lawyer said he had since undergone treatment and was now a "changed man". McDonagh had 83 prior convictions and had been homeless for 10–15 years. Judge Martin Nolan noted his remorse and the absence of violence, yet sentenced him to 15 months in prison, citing his long history of offending and homelessness. The court did not accept the claim that he had been provided housing or support workers at the time of the offence.
Shane Susa, 19, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after striking a man with a pickaxe about ten times during an attack on July 6, 2023. The victim was taken to St James Hospital and remained there for several days. Susa, who had no prior convictions and was 17 at the time of the offence, was found to have mental health difficulties. Judge Martin Nolan, after hearing the facts, sentenced Susa to a suspended term of three and a half years, with the entire sentence suspended. He ordered Susa to pay €4,000 to the victim over three months. The court noted Susa's cooperation, remorse, and the absence of any further garda attention since the incident. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
The Special Criminal Court trial of Saeid Hassani and Harold Estoesta, who are alleged to have possessed 2.25 tonnes of cocaine on the MV Matthew, continued with evidence regarding the vessel's navigation systems. Both defendants, who pleaded not guilty to three charges including possession for supply and participation in a criminal organisation, are accused of disguising the ship's true position. Expert witness Gary Delaney testified that the vessel's Automatic Identification System (AIS) broadcasts were manipulated, including a period where the ship reported a simulated position off Guyana while actually being off Venezuela. Delaney noted that messages in a WhatsApp group indicated awareness of these efforts to conceal the vessel's route. The prosecution alleges the defendants directed the transfer of drugs to a fishing boat. While Hassani and Estoesta face trial before Justice Melanie Greally, four co-accused—Mykhailo Gavryk, Vitaliy Vlasoi, Soheil Jelveh, and Cumali Ozgen—previously pleaded guilty to similar offences connected to the seizure. The trial was adjourned and is scheduled to continue next Tuesday.
The jury in the trial of Brian McHugh, a 40‑year‑old man, continues to view a CCTV montage that the prosecution says shows McHugh's movements after the killing of Lisa Thompson, aged 52, on 9 May 2022. McHugh, who lives in Ballymun, has pleaded not guilty to the murder. In his opening speech, counsel for the Director of Public Prosecutions, Fiona Murphy SC, described Thompson's body as found inside her home with multiple stab wounds to the chest and a blind cord wrapped around her neck, and said a mixed DNA profile was found on the cord that could not exclude McHugh as a minor contributor. The prosecution has presented witness evidence that Thompson was dealing prescription drugs from her home and that her death was caused by a combination of ligature strangulation and multiple stab wounds.
Two teenage boys, aged 14 at the time of the attack, were sentenced to 32 and 26 months in detention for assault causing serious harm and violent disorder after viciously kicking and punching US tourist Stephen Termini on 19 July 2023 in Dublin city centre. Termini suffered serious brain injuries, skull, orbital and cheek fractures, and required emergency surgery to save his sight, followed by two weeks of specialist intensive care. He has ongoing cognitive issues, PTSD, constant pain, trouble sleeping, and mobility problems. Termini's victim impact statement highlighted over €103,000 in medical expenses and his desire for restitution. The court noted the attackers' actions were "vicious and unprovoked", with no weapons used, and that the injuries were foreseeable. The sentences reflect the severity of the assault and the lasting impact on Termini's life. The third boy, now 17, pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of assault causing harm and will be sentenced on 26 February.
A 55-year-old man has appealed to the Court of Appeal against a High Court decision that he should face trial for a single count of alleged indecent assault committed between January 1987 and December 1988. The appellant, represented by Michael O'Higgins SC, argued that the delay in prosecution caused prejudice due to deceased witnesses and that his severe anxiety and suicidal ideation constituted exceptional circumstances preventing a fair trial. He contended that the High Court judge, Ms Justice Marguerite Bolger, erred in preferring a GP report over a psychological report that documented his suicidal ideation and a plan to crash his car. The State, represented by Kieran Kelly BL, countered that the trial court was the appropriate forum to assess fairness and noted that the appellant's anxiety was linked to other factors. Presiding Judge John Edwards highlighted inconsistencies between the reports regarding the suicidal ideation. The Court of Appeal has reserved its judgment, meaning the matter was adjourned and remains unresolved.
During the Central Criminal Court hearing, Daniel Blanaru (37) denied murdering his partner, Larisa Serban (26). A witness, Adriana Kovaciu, testified that she overheard Blanaru on a phone call with his brother, claiming he had caught Serban in bed with another man and stabbed her. She and her family rushed to the Athboy house where Serban lived, finding her on the floor with a large blood pool and a chest cut. Serban was declared dead after no pulse was found. Kovaciu also recalled a prior argument where Serban had a bruised elbow and was frightened. Blanaru has pleaded not guilty to the murder, and the trial continues before Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury. The prosecution maintains that Blanaru intended to kill or seriously injure Serban.
At the High Court, counsel for Nikita Hand alleged that Conor McGregor is in breach of a court order regarding the dissemination of CCTV footage from their civil trial. Mr Justice Alexander Owens adjourned the matter to March 6 to allow time to consider an affidavit sworn by Mr McGregor. The judge had previously ordered Mr McGregor to destroy or hand over all case materials and directed him to ensure his business associate, Gabriel Ernesto Rapisarda, also refrained from sharing the footage. Hand's counsel, John Gordon SC, described Mr McGregor's affidavit as "entirely inadequate" and raised concerns about his bona fides, while reserving the right to apply to cross-examine him. Remy Farrell SC, for Mr McGregor, did not object to the adjournment. This follows a November ruling where a jury awarded Ms Hand €248,000 in damages, finding Mr McGregor liable for rape. The jury found co-accused James Lawrence not liable for the assault. The court ordered interim payments of €100,000 in damages and €200,000 in costs to Ms Hand, with the remainder stayed. The judge noted the civil trial was over and the jury had conclusively determined the verdict.
The Football Association of Ireland has reached a principle agreement with its press officer Cathal Dervan regarding a workplace rights claim. The case was scheduled to open at the Workplace Relations Commission but was adjourned. Dervan's solicitor, John Connellan, requested a four‑week postponement, noting that five weeks might be needed. Adjudication officer Brian Dalton granted the adjournment and offered six weeks to facilitate implementation. The hearing at Lansdowne House did not disclose the complaint's particulars or the statutes invoked. Dervan has served as the FAI's director of communications and public relations since 2019.
The jury in the trial of Brian McHugh, a 40‑year‑old man from Ballymun, is watching a CCTV montage that the prosecution says shows his movements near the home of Lisa Thompson, a 52‑year‑old mother of two, on the night of her murder in May 2022. McHugh has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Ms Thompson, who was found inside her home with multiple stab wounds and a blind cord around her neck. The prosecution alleges a mixed DNA profile on the cord that could not exclude McHugh as a contributor. Witnesses have testified that Ms Thompson was dealing prescription drugs from her home and that her death was caused by ligature strangulation and multiple stab wounds. The trial is proceeding before Justice Karen O'Connor with a jury of four men and eight women.
Alan Vial, aged 39, of Drumanoo Head, Killybegs, County Donegal, denied during cross-examination at the Central Criminal Court that he fabricated allegations against his co-accused to evade responsibility for the death of Robert Robin Wilkin, aged 66. Mr Vial, who has pleaded not guilty to murder, maintains he did not strike the deceased with a rock. He claims his co-accused, Nikita Burns, aged 23, of Carrick, County Donegal, struck Mr Wilkin twice on the back of the head with a rock during an altercation in a vehicle near Roshine on 25 June 2023. Ms Burns has also pleaded not guilty to murder. During cross-examination, Mr Vial acknowledged providing false accounts to gardaí during interviews but insisted his current testimony is truthful. He confirmed wading into Teelin Pier to wash blood from his clothing but denied this indicated culpability. The trial continues.
The trial of Filipino Harold Estoesta (31) and Iranian Saeid Hassani (39) continues in the Special Criminal Court, where both defendants have pleaded not guilty to three charges including possession of cocaine for sale or supply and participation in a criminal organisation. The prosecution alleges the pair were involved in the seizure of 2.25 tonnes of cocaine, valued at €157 million, from the MV Matthew. Counsel for the State outlined evidence of messages sent to the vessel's bridge instructing the crew to set a course for Africa at full speed and to burn the drugs if intercepted by a helicopter. The State contends that Estoesta was alone on the bridge during the pursuit, placing him in control of the cargo, and that he actively suggested methods to evade law enforcement, including preparing gasoline to burn the contraband. Evidence also highlighted discrepancies in the ship's navigation data and the failed rendezvous with the fishing vessel The Castlemore. While the trial for Estoesta and Hassani is ongoing, four co-accused—Ukrainians Mykhailo Gavryk and Vitaliy Vlasoi, Iranian Soheil Jelveh, and Dutch national Cumali Ozgen—previously pleaded guilty to similar offences connected to the seizure. The matter remains at the trial stage, with proceedings expected to last approximately six weeks under the presiding judge.
An arsonist, David Fannin, 29, was jailed for 16 months after setting fire to a house in Ballymun on 24 September 2020 while a woman and her two young children were inside. Fannin admitted he had been instructed by another man, to whom he owed money, to carry out the arson. He smashed the back door and a back window, which a child was wounded by broken glass while escaping. The court heard that the woman's ex‑partner was the co‑accused who has fled the country. Judge Martin Nolan noted the seriousness of arson and that Fannin was "inveigled" by the other man, but that he knew his actions were wrong. He was given a four‑year sentence, with the final 32 months suspended on strict conditions. The case highlighted the danger of arson and the need for punishment. David Fannin pleaded guilty.
Danny Povey, a 43‑year‑old British scaffolder living in London, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to possession of cannabis for sale or supply. He was caught at Dublin Airport on 4 September 2024 with 29 kg of cannabis valued at €596,000, after customs detected anomalies in his luggage. Povey claimed he believed he was transporting gold or watches, saying he had been paid by a third party and that the suitcases were locked with combination locks. He had travelled to Thailand with his girlfriend, who was also stopped with a similar amount of cannabis. Povey had no prior convictions, cooperated with investigators, and entered an early guilty plea. The judge, citing his work history, single child, and the circumstances of the offence, imposed the custodial sentence, backdated to his September 2024 arrest.
A tribunal upheld the dismissal of Gerard Carey, a senior Dublin Airport executive, after he was sacked for gross misconduct following his arrest over allegations of theft from terminal shops. The Workplace Relations Commission rejected Carey's complaint under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977. Carey, who had worked at the airport since 1998, was arrested on 29 June 2023 for alleged theft but was not convicted in ordinary courts. The airport argued that airside staff must maintain the highest trust and confidence, and that Carey's role as a senior executive in a highly regulated safety position made dismissal necessary. Carey's appeal, heard by Ms M, was dismissed as a rubber‑stamping of the disciplinary decision. The tribunal found that natural justice had been observed and that the complaint failed, also dismissing a secondary claim for statutory notice pay.
Gemma Greene, 27, of Bunratty Road, Coolock, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to endangerment for recklessly driving toward a Garda on the M50 on March 1 2021, forcing the officer to take evasive action. The incident, which was live‑streamed on social media, involved a car chase at junction 9 northbound. Prosecutor Maddie Grant said the State accepted the plea on the basis of recklessness. Defence counsel Gregory Murphy noted the client had not attracted Garda attention since and was experiencing personal difficulties at the time. Judge Martin Nolan set a sentencing date of March 19.
Mark Langham, a former senior executive earning €160,000 a year at Skyline View Ltd, a subsidiary of JMK Hospitality Group, has filed a complaint under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977 claiming he was made redundant as head of operations in Ireland in June 2023. Langham alleges the redundancy was due to a "personality clash" with Sonia Kajani, the daughter of the parent firm's founder. The WRC was told that the Holiday Inn at Dublin Airport, one of JMK's four Irish hotels, had been contracted to the State's International Protection Accommodation Services as a direct provision centre for asylum seekers, a contract worth €20‑23 million a year.
Tracy Kelliher, 49, of Tralee, pleaded guilty to three counts of theft for withdrawing €56,217 from her deceased mother's Department of Education pension between 2014 and 2016. Her mother, a retired teacher, died in January 2014, but Kelliher failed to inform the Department, allowing the pension to continue until June 2016. The judge noted that Kelliher had previously withdrawn money with her mother's consent for funeral costs and that she had no lavish lifestyle or other income. Kelliher had no prior convictions and was described as a pro‑social person who expressed remorse. The court directed her to complete 120 hours of community service within one year, imposed concurrent 18‑month sentences suspended for three years on strict conditions, and required her to be supervised by Probation Services for six months. The order was intended to allow her to repay some value to the community and to address her financial difficulties.
David Nally, 43, of Balbriggan, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to six charges for scamming two men out of over €900,000 through a fictitious cattle and machinery scheme between 2014 and 2016. He promised to buy livestock from a bank after farm repossessions and sell them at a profit. The victims invested more than €700,000 and €218,000 respectively. Nally returned some money, but the first victim remains owed about €390,000 and the second has lost €175,000. Gardaí found he never purchased cattle from a bank; the maximum he bought was 230 animals, not the claimed 3,000. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a six‑year custodial sentence, suspended the final 18 months, and ordered Nally to hand over €300,000 to be distributed to the victims within three months. The case is now before the High Court.
Paul Craven, 55, a former manager of Daughters of Charity family centres, was sentenced to a global term of four years in prison for sexually abusing his nephew, Alan Jenkins, between 1989 and 1999. Judge Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court convicted Craven of 11 counts, including sexual assault and indecent assault. The judge noted that Craven breached the trust of a vulnerable boy aged six or seven, using his position as a youth worker to groom and isolate the victim. Aggravating factors included the abuse occurring in the victim's home and the significant age disparity. Although Craven received glowing references and had no previous convictions, the judge highlighted that he did not accept guilt or express remorse. Mr Jenkins, who waived his anonymity, described the abuse as taking away his childhood and criticized a previous Tusla investigation that found his allegations unfounded. He stated that Craven continued working with vulnerable children until 2022. Defence counsel Kathleen Leader SC argued that the offences were not at the top of the scale and highlighted Craven's long history in youth work. Craven was remanded on bail following a previous hearing to sign contracts for a house purchase, which defence counsel confirmed had been completed. The matter was adjourned for the purpose of this bail arrangement prior to the final sentencing.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 11 February 2025, Jamie Reid, aged 33, pleaded guilty to endangerment, dangerous driving, driving without insurance and without a licence after he jumped into an idling council litter van on Parliament Street and drove it at high speed through the capital. Reid, who later admitted he was a "cokehead", drove erratically, broke red lights, and pursued by gardaí. The pursuit ended when the van crashed through a level‑crossing barrier at Sutton, striking a woman who was running and causing her leg injuries. Reid himself also suffered leg injuries. He has 39 prior convictions and was sentenced to three years and nine months' imprisonment, with a five‑year driving disqualification, and the sentence was back‑dated to July 2024. No serious injuries were reported among the gardaí involved.
In February 2025 a Tunisian man, Sami Skhiri, aged 35, was found guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of assault causing harm and possession of a broken glass shard after he attacked a woman outside her home during a psychotic episode. He held a shard of glass to her throat, slashed her face with a 9‑cm shallow cut that did not require stitches, and continued a stabbing motion before being stopped by bystanders. Skhiri resisted arrest but was handcuffed and searched, where a scissors, a large stone and a broken shard of glass were seized. He was remanded in custody and later sentenced to three years, with the final year suspended on the condition that he leave Ireland upon release and live with his brother in Germany. The court noted his mental illness and medication lapse as mitigating factors, but stressed he must continue his treatment to protect himself and society.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 29‑year‑old man pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after attacking his former partner and her 15‑year‑old brother. The assault took place at the woman's home in November 2020, when the man, who had a barring order, forced entry, choked the pregnant woman, punched her, and threatened to kick her unborn child out. The victim's brother was also struck. The woman escaped through a window and reported the incident. The court noted that neither she nor her brother gave a victim impact statement and that the child has since been safely delivered. The man has ten prior convictions. He is now the sole carer of the children, who would enter State care if he were imprisoned. The judge, after considering the children's welfare, imposed a two‑year prison sentence suspended in full on strict conditions, citing the seriousness of the assault but the need to protect the children.
In a murder trial in County Meath, the State presented a case that Daniel Blanaru, 37, stabbed his partner Larisa Serban, 26, to death on 12 August 2022. Prosecutor Eilis Brennan described the relationship as turbulent, jealous and controlling, citing a violent incident on 31 July 2022 at a house in Balbriggan where Serban called emergency services. Brennan said Serban was found early that morning with heavy bleeding from a chest laceration and that a stab wound caused fatal injury to her heart, lung and aorta. She noted that Blanaru's Gardaí interview was confusing and that blood at the scene could link to him. The trial will continue before Justice Eileen Creedon and an enlarged jury. The prosecution maintains that Blanaru intended to kill or seriously injure Serban. Daniel Blanaru pleaded not guilty.
In a High Court hearing, a stay was granted on the conviction of a Dublin man, Jason Malone, who was sentenced to nine months' imprisonment for possession of cocaine and heroin in July 2022. Malone, aged 42, challenged the admissibility of forensic evidence presented by a Forensic Science Ireland employee, arguing that the certifying officer had no direct involvement in the analysis of the substances. His lawyers contended that the absence of "essential proofs" and the lack of the officer's first‑hand knowledge rendered the certificate inadmissible under the hearsay rule, thereby undermining the court's basis for conviction. The High Court, presided over by Ms Justice Mary Rose Gearty, described the case as "very interesting" and adjourned it for mention on March 11, following the grant of a stay on the conviction order. The case remains pending review of the legal issues raised by Malone's counsel.
Judge Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin rejected a probation report that described Liam McGrane, 59, as "open and honest" and at low risk of re‑offending. The judge noted that the full record of McGrane's previous convictions was not supplied to Probation Services and that the court was not satisfied with the report's assessment. McGrane pleaded guilty to two counts of robbery at Dublin hotels in December 2018 and August 2019, where he took €1,500 and €1,800 respectively from escort clients. He had earlier admitted to similar offences and had no current employment, with financial pressure cited as a factor in his past crimes. The judge sentenced him to four years' imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended on strict conditions, and warned that any change in his circumstances could increase the risk of re‑offending.
Christine Ward, 37, and her former partner Derek Bewley, 49, were convicted of violent robbery and burglary in Artane on 2 November 2018. Ward was sentenced to eight and a half years in prison, with 18 months suspended, after a judge described the offences as "most serious". Bewley received the same custodial term. Ward appealed, arguing that her previous convictions were not violent and that a psychological report on her mental health and drug use should have been considered. Counsel also claimed Ward was a better rehabilitation candidate than Bewley. The Court of Appeal rejected the appeal, stating that the original judge had treated the offenders similarly and that no error in principle had been proven. Ward's appeal was dismissed, leaving her eight‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence intact. Derek Bewley pleaded guilty.
Alan Vial, 39, and Nikita Burns, 23, are on trial accused of murdering 66-year-old Robert 'Robin' Wilkin and disposing of his body over the cliffs at Sliabh Liag in Donegal. In his direct evidence, Mr Vial admitted to lying to gardai in 2023 regarding the circumstances of Mr Wilkin's death. He accepted that he and Ms Burns fabricated a story claiming the deceased had sexually assaulted Ms Burns, a narrative he initiated to protect her. Mr Vial denied striking Mr Wilkin with a rock, instead alleging that Ms Burns struck the deceased on the back of the head twice during a fight in a car on Roshine Road. He stated he drove to Sliabh Liag with the deceased in the vehicle and placed him over the cliff. Mr Vial also admitted to washing blood from his clothes at Teelin Pier and discarding a blue shirt at sea to destroy evidence, confirming that the shirt found by searchers was his. He rejected suggestions that he had carefully constructed lies to disguise a premeditated killing. The trial is ongoing; the jury was informed that a legal issue has arisen which will delay proceedings, and they are scheduled to return tomorrow.
In February 2023, Nkemka Patrick Okachi, a supervisor at Sodexo Ireland Ltd, was dismissed after a client‑company receptionist alleged sexual harassment. The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) found Sodexo had breached the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977 by relying on flawed procedures and hearsay evidence, noting that none of the senior managers who made decisions had seen the CCTV footage of the incident. Okachi claimed he had not seen the woman since before the pandemic, that their conversation was jovial, and that he had only given a one‑shoulder hug because she was in gym clothing. He denied any sexual intent. The WRC ruled the dismissal was unfair, ordered his reinstatement on the same terms as before, and highlighted the lack of objective evidence and the client's refusal to provide CCTV as serious procedural failures. The decision was made in a hearing held in February 2025.
A 24‑year‑old man was sentenced to 15 months' imprisonment for defiling his 16‑year‑old cousin and infecting her with chlamydia after offering her cocaine. He pleaded guilty to the first offence on 9 May 2021 at a flat he shared with his mother and a second offence in July 2021 at the same location. The court heard that he was 21 when the offences were committed. The victim, who was visiting her aunt, was offered drugs and a bottle of vodka at the early hours, then taken to the defendant's flat where they had sex. She later reported the incident to Gardaí, was examined at the Rotunda, and confirmed she had chlamydia. The defendant had no prior convictions and was found to be at moderate risk of reoffending. Judge Martin Nolan noted the aggravating factor of the second offence and the victim's age, and imposed the 15‑month sentence.
Eugene O'Sullivan (62) of Dorset Street Upper, Dublin 1, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two counts of the possession of child pornography at his home on November 19, 2018. During a previous hearing, Detective Garda Sean Harrington stated that a warrant was issued for O'Sullivan's home following confidential information, where a USB stick and a folder of printed images were recovered. The USB contained 160 images of child sexual abuse material, all described as 'category one' images, while the folder contained 170 printed images, with around 25 also described as 'category one'. O'Sullivan was cooperative with gardai and made some admission at the scene. He was not arrested until 2023, after which he made a voluntary statement and was charged. O'Sullivan's defence counsel, Fiachra Treacy BL, stated that O'Sullivan had a difficult childhood and has suffered from chronic anxiety for the past 14 years. He also noted that O'Sullivan is at a high risk of suicide and that prison would be very difficult for him. Judge Dara Hayes noted that the creation of such images involves the sexual abuse of children, an aggravating factor, and that a 'reasonably significant quantity' of images in O'Sullivan's possession fell within 'category one'. He also noted O'Sullivan's guilty plea, co-operation, and efforts to rehabilitate. However, the judge stated that a wholly suspended sentence was not appropriate in this case, as it was not at the lowest level of seriousness. He imposed an 18-month custodial sentence with the final six months suspended on strict conditions. The matter was adjourned for the purposes of appeal.
A 77‑year‑old De La Salle Brother, originally from Northern Ireland, was convicted at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in November 2024 of five counts of sexual assault against a boy who was about 12 at the time, occurring between April and July 1991 and April and December 1992. The brother, who had been a teacher and a local GAA club member, abused the boy by touching him inappropriately while visiting the family home, sometimes bringing him to football matches and gifting him football gear. The boy tried to resist and later denied the abuse to his father. The court heard the brother's long‑term relationship with the family, his role as a trusted figure, and the boy's emotional and educational impact. Judge Dara Hayes imposed a sentence of two years and three months, with nine months suspended, and directed the brother to probation for 12 months after release. The brother accepted the verdict and will not appeal.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Sean Howard, 38, pleaded guilty to a robbery on Dame Street on 13 April 2024. Howard, who has 151 prior convictions for theft, burglary, criminal damage, drug and traffic offences, was sentenced by Judge Orla Crowe to a headline term of six years, reduced to four and a half years with the final six months suspended. The sentence was back‑dated to 13 April 2024 to credit time spent in custody. Howard's attack on a foreign doctor was described by the judge as a "vicious, unprovoked" assault, during which he stamped the doctor's head 151 times and kicked him. The doctor suffered a swollen eye, back pain and knee pain, and was unable to use public transport for two weeks. Howard admitted the offence and expressed remorse, while the prosecution noted the victim's impact statement of fear walking around the city centre for months.
Gareth McGrath, 35, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison for a series of violent offences against his then‑girlfriend. The court heard that the couple met while attending residential addiction treatment and that their relationship quickly turned violent. McGrath pleaded guilty to assault causing harm on 29 July and 8 August 2023, to threatening to kill her on 8 August 2023, and to intimidating a person assisting Gardaí in the investigation of an offence in August 2023. He had 15 previous convictions. The victim's impact statement described repeated unprovoked assaults, a forced attempt to withdraw her Garda complaint while she was in hospital, and lasting psychological effects. Judge Pauline Codd noted McGrath's history of violence and intimidation, commended the victim's resilience, and imposed a concurrent sentence of five and a half years with the final year suspended, subject to conditions including no contact with the victim and engagement with services.
Too Tian Yng, 32, of Kuala Lumpur, was sentenced to three and a half years in prison after pleading guilty to importing €340,000 worth of cannabis into Ireland from Thailand. He admitted to smuggling the drugs at Dublin Airport on 4 June 2024, following an X‑ray of his suitcase that led to a search by customs and excise officers, who found 17 kg of cannabis. Yng claimed he had taken the suitcase from an airport in Bangkok and that he had been coerced, but he did not elaborate on the source of the coercion. He said he was scared of something or someone, but did not identify any names or sources. Yng had no prior convictions and was not known to Malaysian authorities. The court accepted that he acted as a courier, not as a criminal mastermind, and sentenced him accordingly.
A 39-year-old man accused of murder has testified at the Central Criminal Court that his co-accused struck the alleged victim with a rock, causing the pensioner's death. Alan Vial, of Drumanoo Head, Killybegs, County Donegal, told the court he was physically struggling with Robert Robin Wilkin when Nikita Burns hit Mr Wilkin on the back of the head with a rock. Mr Vial admitted he subsequently drove to Sliabh Liag to dispose of the body, which he and Ms Burns then placed over a cliff. He stated he had lied in garda interviews to protect Ms Burns, with whom he was in a relationship. The 66-year-old's body was recovered from the waters below Sliabh Liag eight days after his death on 25 June 2023. A post-mortem examination identified skull fractures inconsistent with injuries from a fall. Both Mr Vial and Ms Burns, of Carrick, County Donegal, have pleaded not guilty to murder. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury.
Damien Donnan, serving a life sentence for the manslaughter of his mother Jennifer in 2000, is seeking to quash a decision that refused him parole. Donnan, who was 18 at the time of the offence, was convicted after a trial in February 2002. He had originally been charged with murder but was found guilty of manslaughter. The offence involved a dispute over a cigarette, during which Donnan broke his mother's neck and strangled her. In 2006 he received a suspended life sentence, but the suspension was removed in 2007 after he failed to comply with medication and drug‑abuse conditions. The High Court is hearing his application to overturn the parole board's refusal, which was made in September 2024. Donnan's lawyers argue that the board conflated Sections 13 and 30 of the Parole Act, creating an error in law. The court has adjourned the application for leave to seek judicial review to the following month.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, William Ryan, a 41‑year‑old Garda, was sentenced to six years' imprisonment for three counts of sexual assault and one count of false imprisonment. The offences occurred on 29 September 2020 at Aughrim Garda Station, where Ryan prevented a woman from leaving the station, sexually assaulted her on multiple occasions, and held her captive. The victim, whose identity is protected, described feeling "broken" and "degraded" during the trial and testified that Ryan's version of events was false and "badly‑written erotica." Ryan admitted guilt, resigned from the force, and had no prior convictions. Judge Elma Sheahan set a headline sentence of eight years, reduced to six years after mitigation, and backdated it to the time Ryan entered custody. The sentence reflects the breach of trust inherent in the offence. The court heard the victim's impact statement, detailing long‑term psychological harm and the effect on her family.
A jury has been empanelled to hear the trial of Daniel Blanaru, 37, who is accused of murdering his partner, 26‑year‑old Larisa Serban, in Rathmore, County Meath, on 12 August 2022. Blanaru pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court. The trial will begin tomorrow before Justice Eileen Creedon, with a jury of seven men and five women. Counsel for the Director of Public Prosecutions is Eilis Brennan SC, and Blanaru's counsel is Giollaíosa Ó Lideadha SC.