Court archive
2026-02-27 · Carlow
William McCarthy admitted criminal damage to a wall and cigarette machine and theft of cigarettes and cash at Éire Óg Clubhouse in Carlow. The Carlow Circuit Criminal Court adjourned the case while a victim impact statement and governor's report are prepared; a sentence date is still to be fixed. William McCarthy pleaded guilty.
2026-02-27 · Carlow
Joe Curtin was jailed for 26 months after pleading guilty to one robbery and two attempted robberies in Hanover Park, Carlow. The court heard that three incidents occurred within ten minutes and that Curtin had 75 previous convictions. Judge Mary Morrissey treated the early guilty plea, cooperation and remorse as mitigation while describing his moral culpability as high.
2026-02-27 · Dublin
Raymond Ariwi was sentenced to six months in prison after a jury convicted him of engaging in offensive conduct of a sexual nature. The case concerned an incident in which he followed a woman after she got off a Luas and offered her money for sex. Raymond Ariwi pleaded not guilty.
2026-02-27 · Dublin
Onkar Singh, a 46-year-old Dutch national, pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of cannabis for sale or supply and possession of €3,035, identified as proceeds of crime, on October 11, 2024. He also admitted to possessing a €5 note intended for identification in connection with a drug trafficking offence. Prosecution evidence alleged Singh was a 'mid-level' operative in an €8.5 million cannabis operation, where he was observed moving pallets containing 426kg of cannabis at a Ballymount storage unit. While defense counsel Garret Baker SC argued Singh was not the architect of the scheme and accepted no forensic evidence directly linked him to the drugs, Judge Sinead Ni Chulachain described the case as 'very serious.' The judge noted it was 'hard to understand' how Singh, who has no prior convictions, became involved. Defense counsel submitted that Singh should be permitted to depart from the presumptive mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years, proposing that part of the sentence be suspended on the condition that Singh immediately leaves the jurisdiction. Singh, who has been in custody since his arrest, is described as 'marooned' in an Irish jail far from his family in the Netherlands. The court adjourned the matter until next month for finalisation.
2026-02-27 · Dublin
A safety-order charge against a man in his 50s was dismissed at Dún Laoghaire District Court after Judge Anne Watkin found inaccuracies meant she could not rely on the complainant's evidence. The unnamed accused pleaded guilty.
2026-02-27 · Dublin
Lisa Gannon was granted bail after being charged with theft alleged to involve €256 of clothing from Penneys at The Square Shopping Centre. Her bail requires her to stay away from the shopping centre, and the case was adjourned to the Criminal Courts of Justice.
2026-02-27 · Dublin
Craig Kennedy's four-month sentence after dangerous driving and criminal damage involving a scrambler bike and a garda patrol car was halved on appeal, with two months suspended subject to engagement with Men Overcoming Violent Emotions. Craig Kennedy was convicted.
2026-02-27 · Dublin
Derek Smith received a three-year sentence after pleading guilty to burglary, criminal damage and theft at a Ballymun building site. Judge Orla Crowe suspended the final three months for a year after hearing that the tools had been recovered following a search of Smith's address.
2026-02-27 · Ireland
A 44-year-old Nigerian man, the appellant in this High Court appeal, was rejected in his latest attempt to remain in Ireland after a 16-year process. The court dismissed his challenge to the Minister for Justice's decision to refuse him access to the scheme regularising the status of long-term undocumented people. The appellant argued that his residence card revocation in 2016 rendered him an "undocumented" migrant between January 2018 and January 2022, making him eligible for the scheme. He contended that subsequent temporary permissions were granted solely for appeal purposes and were not independently valid. Ms Justice Nessa Cahill dismissed this claim, ruling that the temporary permissions had expired and were renewed at the Minister's discretion, not by statutory right. She upheld the Minister's finding that the man was lawfully resident during the relevant period. The court noted that his earlier marriage to a Lithuanian woman was found to be a fraudulent "marriage of convenience," leading to the revocation of his residence card. A deportation order issued in February 2020 remains in effect following the dismissal of his appeals. The matter was adjourned for the implementation of the deportation order.
2026-02-27 · Dublin
Jibola Moses Akanni has been refused bail by the Court of Appeal while he awaits a conviction appeal. He was convicted of two rapes and sexual assault involving a 17-year-old at a Dublin city-centre apartment and is serving an eight-and-a-half-year sentence; the court said his appeal issues were wide-ranging rather than clear-cut.
2026-02-27 · Dublin
At a murder trial, Tomas Cypas denied murdering Juris Kokenbergs in Lucan. The jury heard evidence about DNA staining found on Cypas's footwear and heard his account of the confrontation; the trial was due to continue before Mr Justice Paul McDermott. Tomas Cypas pleaded not guilty.
2026-02-27 · Limerick
A former scout leader is appealing five convictions for offences against three young cousins, including rape and sexual assault. His defence argues that an anonymous letter said to be from a juror, a complainant's reference to rape and the prosecution closing speech made the convictions unsafe. Ms Justice Nuala Butler said the court would reserve judgment; the man continues to deny the offences. The unnamed 63-year-old pleaded not guilty and was acquitted.
2026-02-27 · Dublin
The WRC heard that former senior Aer Lingus cabin crew member Alan O'Neill was dismissed for gross misconduct after a dispute with a passenger who wanted to use the toilet during refuelling in Marseilles. Evidence included claims of aggressive and unprofessional conduct, while O'Neill said he felt triggered by swearing. The hearing was adjourned for cross-examination and his evidence.
2026-02-27 · Dublin
Brian Carroll was convicted of exposing his genitals to a customer at a Three store in Nutgrove and received a five-month prison sentence suspended in full for 12 months at Tallaght District Court. Brian Carroll pleaded not guilty.
2026-02-27 · Dublin
Bernard Browne received a consecutive two-year sentence for sexually assaulting and indecently assaulting a boy at a Dublin school between January 1990 and February 1991. The former caretaker was already serving nine years for similar offences against three boys. Judge Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin cited grooming, breach of trust, the age gap and the profound impact on the victim.
2026-02-27 · Dublin
Joseph Lawlor was sentenced to life imprisonment for murdering Michael Ryan in Finglas after a jury rejected his claim that the stabbing was carried out in self-defence.
2026-02-27 · Cavan
Eight Zimbabwean healthcare workers were awarded €30,420 each after a Workplace Relations Commission adjudicator found particularly egregious non-payment of wages by Unity Healthcare Services Ltd, following promised care jobs that never materialised.
2026-02-26 · Dublin
Dziugas Odinas pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and endangerment after a high-speed pursuit involving 12 garda vehicles and the Garda national air support unit. He also pleaded guilty to possession for sale or supply of MDMA, Ecstasy tablets and Alprazolam tablets. Judge Sarah Berkeley adjourned the case to May 11 for finalisation and remanded him in custody.
2026-02-26 · Galway
Adrian Behan was found not guilty by reason of insanity of 23 criminal damage charges and 10 theft counts involving telecommunications sites in Mayo and Galway. A jury at Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court returned the unanimous special verdict after hearing that he had been experiencing an acute psychotic episode caused by schizophrenia.
2026-02-26 · Dublin
Gary Darcy was convicted of trespassing and possessing a stolen grey Cube pedal cycle worth €700. On appeal, Judge Geoffrey Shannon suspended the final six months of his nine-month prison sentence on condition that Darcy continues to engage with probation services.
2026-02-26 · Dublin
Daniel O'Neill was sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty to assaulting a woman causing her harm. Garda Thomas Conneely found O'Neill strangling her outside her home. Judge Orla Crowe suspended the final three months for two years and ordered him to have no contact with the injured party.
2026-02-26 · Carlow
Dion Timmons pleaded guilty to money laundering after €12,374.64 was deposited into her account in 23 transactions connected to a social welfare fraud and other payments. Judge Mary Morrissey adjourned sentence to next Thursday to consider documents submitted on Timmons's behalf; she was remanded on continuing bail.
2026-02-26 · Ireland
The Workplace Relations Commission found that a young Traveller girl was discriminated against after staff at an open farm questioned whether she had paid for sweets. Adjudicator Gaye Cunningham rejected the business's defence and awarded €8,000 in compensation under the Equal Status Act 2000.
2026-02-26 · Dublin
The murder trial of Tomas Cypas heard his 999 call for an ambulance after he found his friend Juris Kokenbergs cold and not breathing. Cypas has pleaded not guilty to murdering Kokenbergs at Old Bridge Park, Lucan. The jury heard that Cypas admitted hitting him and will consider his intent; the trial continues before Mr Justice Paul McDermott.
2026-02-26 · Cork
The Court of Appeal has refused bail to four accused individuals linked to an alleged Lithuanian organised crime group, rejecting their appeals against a High Court decision. Jonas Pavillions, Alexandres Kuznecovas, and Stacey Walsh are charged under section 73 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2006, with committing serious offences for the benefit of a criminal organisation. Ausra Motriuk faces charges of money laundering under section 7 of the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Act, 2010, and participating in an organised crime group under section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2006. Pavillions is additionally charged with drug possession, supply, and two counts under section 9(1) of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act regarding two billhooks and a machete. Kuznecovas is also charged with drug possession and supply. Counsel argued that the appellants were not flight risks, noting Motriuk's passport is with the Gardaí and Pavillions offered a Carlow address. The State contended that the alleged offences carry penalties of up to 15 years and that the group's access to false documents posed a risk. Delivering the judgment, Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy stated the Court of Appeal found no error in the High Court's refusal of bail. Consequently, the appeal was rejected, and the four accused remain remanded in custody.
2026-02-26 · Laois
Henry McGowan has been committed to the Central Mental Hospital after a jury found him not guilty of murdering his father by reason of insanity. The court heard that he continues to have schizoaffective disorder and needs specialist inpatient care. The murder of John McGowan occurred at Ballyfin Demesne after the father travelled from the US to help his son.
2026-02-26 · Dublin
Nicolae and Florin Mazarache have been ordered to pay the State's legal costs after losing their appeal over Covid-era fixed penalty notices issued after they travelled to Dublin Airport. The Court of Appeal held that questions about the notices and any prosecution belonged in the District Court; Ms Justice Nuala Butler made the opposed costs order.
2026-02-26 · Ireland
Séamus Clinton, a Workplace Relations Commission adjudicator, brought a case against the State under the Employment Equality Act 1998, the Protection of Employees (Provision of Information and Consultation) Act 2006, and the Protected Disclosures Act 2014. He alleged gender discrimination after failing to secure an interview for three regional manager posts, all of which were subsequently filled by women. Clinton claimed he suffered detriment linked to acting as a staff representative and reporting wrongdoing, while the State dismissed the claims as "sour grapes." Counsel for Clinton submitted that comments were relayed to his client that the WRC director-general held a negative attitude toward him and colleague Andrew Heavey, stating they would not receive further interviews. The State denied these allegations and sought a witness summons for the official who allegedly relayed the comments. Clinton also alleged penalisation for raising a discrimination complaint and a data breach accusation that terminated his access to internal systems. The tribunal heard evidence regarding the recruitment process and the applicants' backgrounds. The matter was adjourned until March 6th, when Mr Clinton is to be cross-examined, and Mr Heavey is expected to give his evidence.
2026-02-25 · Mayo
Adrian Behan pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to 23 criminal damage charges and 10 theft counts concerning alleged incidents at telecommunications sites in Mayo and Galway. The trial heard that cables, wiring, antennae and electrical equipment were damaged or stolen. The case continued before Judge Eoin Garavan.
2026-02-25 · Ireland
Elon Musk's X brought a High Court challenge against Comisiún na Meán over the handling of information from user complaints and possible future systemic investigations. X applied for a stay; the Commission opposed it. Mr Justice Cian Ferriter said he would deliver his decision on the stay application the following week.
2026-02-25 · Ireland
The Central Criminal Court trial of seven men accused of familial abuse has heard that the primary complainant, who is deaf, first made allegations after attending a health promotion course in 2017. The accused, aged between 32 and 55, face a combined total of 103 charges, with 98 counts pertaining to the main complainant. They are her four younger brothers and three uncles, all of whom deny wrongdoing. One man is further accused of abusing two of his younger sisters. An organiser of the course testified that the complainant asked to speak to him to report being harmed by several people. In cross-examination, he agreed she did not make allegations regarding three specific accused: her 55-year-old uncle (Accused A), her 45-year-old uncle (Accused G), and her 32-year-old brother (Accused F). Accused A is accused of one count of rape; Accused G of one count of rape; and Accused F of three counts of anal rape and two counts of rape. Accused B (48) is accused of eight counts of rape, oral rape, and anal rape. Accused C (34) faces 45 counts of rape and anal rape against the main complainant, plus one count of sexual assault and three counts of rape and anal rape against a second sister. Accused D (33) pleaded not guilty to 19 charges of rape and three counts of anal rape. Accused E (32) denied nine counts of anal rape and seven counts of rape. The trial continues before Ms Justice Caroline Biggs.
2026-02-25 · Dublin
Shane Flynn, 46, of Markievicz House, Dublin 2, pleaded guilty to possessing cocaine, heroin, cannabis and tablets worth €396,441 for sale or supply. He was on bail for a similar offence when the drugs were found in a van and a Glasnevin house. Judge Orla Crowe imposed a consecutive three-and-a-half-year sentence.
2026-02-25 · Dublin
Robert Gaffney, 27, of Pinewood Green Road, Balbriggan, Dublin, pleaded guilty to two money-laundering charges involving a bank account and a Revolut account. The court heard that more than €44,000 moved through the accounts while he had no legitimate income. Judge Orla Crowe imposed a three-year sentence with the final six months suspended.
2026-02-25 · Dublin
Patrick Maughan, 38, of St McCullen's Park, Balbriggan, Dublin, lost an appeal against a four-month sentence for handling stolen tools worth €6,120 at Balbriggan Sunday Market. The District Court Appeals Court heard he had 46 previous convictions. Judge Sarah Berkeley affirmed the original order and Maughan was taken into custody. Patrick Maughan pleaded guilty.
2026-02-25 · Dublin
Stephen Connolly, 67, of Hampton Wood Drive, Finglas, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to having a kilogramme of cocaine worth €70,000 and €129,930 in criminal proceeds. The court heard he stored and moved drugs and cash after forced retirement. Judge Orla Crowe imposed a five-year prison sentence.
2026-02-25 · Dublin
Shawndell Gaston, 31, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to importing cannabis at Dublin Airport after travelling from New York with his mother. The court heard 48 packets worth €424,000 were found in their suitcases. Judge Martin Nolan jailed Gaston for four years; Hellasha Tingman is due to be sentenced separately.
2026-02-25 · Dublin
Tomas Cypas pleaded not guilty to murdering Juris Kokenbergs at Old Bridge Park, Lucan, Co Dublin. The prosecution case is that Kokenbergs died from stomping on the head. Cypas admits hitting Kokenbergs over the weekend, while the jury must decide his intent; the trial continues before Mr Justice Paul McDermott.
2026-02-25 · Dublin
A 22-year-old man who cannot be named for legal reasons received a three-year term for a knife robbery at Dean Swift Square, Dublin 8. The court heard he and others assaulted a man, stole his phone and wallet, and left him with a deep calf wound. The term is consecutive to a nine-year sentence for a separate attack on a woman, with the final 12 months suspended. The unnamed 22-year-old pleaded guilty.
2026-02-25 · Dublin
Evidence at the Workplace Relations Commission heard that senior Aer Lingus flight attendant Alan O'Neill allegedly refused a passenger access to a toilet during a delayed Marseilles-to-Dublin flight. Witnesses differed on the delay, but one said the passenger was crying when he eventually used the lavatory. The evidence arose during O'Neill's unfair-dismissal complaint, which remains ongoing.
2026-02-25 · Dublin
Michael Doran, 39, of Whitechurch Way, Ballyboden, Dublin 16, was refused bail after being accused of trying to take a car at a Circle K garage. He faces charges of unauthorised taking, driving without insurance, driving without a licence and criminal damage. Judge Áine Clancy ordered him into custody pending a Cloverhill District Court appearance.
2026-02-24 · Dublin
Owen Maughan, a 40-year-old appellant from Castlerea, Co Roscommon, has withdrawn his appeal against the severity of his sentence following a hearing in the District Court Appeals Court. Maughan was previously convicted in the District Court of 12 charges of theft, contrary to section 4 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act, 2001, for stealing over €1,498 worth of alcohol, groceries, and meat products. The offences occurred between July 8, 2024, and April 15, 2025, with seven incidents specifically at an Aldi store in Terenure, Dublin. He was sentenced to consecutive terms totalling 18 months, with the final three months suspended. During the appeal, a garda sergeant detailed Maughan's 54 previous convictions and his pattern of repeat offending at the same location. The defence argued that Maughan struggled with alcohol and drug addictions and had been clean in custody. Judge Martina Baxter initially described the offending as "prolific" and adjourned the matter to await a urine analysis report. However, the case was subsequently recalled, and Maughan's solicitor informed the court that the appeal was being withdrawn. Judge Baxter vacated her order for the urine analysis and affirmed the original District Court order.
2026-02-24 · Sligo
A man convicted of raping and sexually assaulting his younger sister over seven years has appealed his conviction at the Court of Appeal in Dublin. Kyle Jinks, aged 32, of Slievemore, Ballytivnan, County Sligo, was found guilty at the Central Criminal Court of twenty-one counts of rape and four counts of sexual assault between 2008 and 2014. He received a twelve-year sentence in February 2025. The appeal centres on whether the trial judge correctly instructed the jury that the defendant's silence when confronted by his mother about the allegations could amount to corroboration of the victim's account. The defence argues that silence alone cannot constitute corroboration without additional conduct. The Director of Public Prosecutions contended that the context made the defendant's lack of response meaningful. The three-judge court reserved judgment pending a later date.
2026-02-24 · Ireland
The Supreme Court will hear the appeal of a Romanian woman who was denied a carer's allowance for looking after her grandsons with serious special needs. The woman, who moved to Ireland in 2021, was refused the allowance because she was not considered an habitual resident and was deemed likely to become an unreasonable burden on the State. The case has been deemed of public importance due to its implications for EU law and the interpretation of what constitutes a worker. The woman's appeal hinges on the argument that it is unfair to deny an EU citizen the allowance when she provides 35 hours of weekly care in return for board and lodging, unlike an Irish citizen in the same situation. The Supreme Court has agreed to hear the case directly from the High Court, acknowledging the potential broader implications for EU citizens in Ireland.
2026-02-24 · Dublin
Brandon Gavin's appeal against his murder conviction was heard before the Court of Appeal, where his legal team argued that evidence of his Tinder activity and messages to a third party was prejudicial and inadmissible. Gavin, of Swords, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Marius Mamaliga (19) at Forest Court, Swords, on February 23, 2023, but was convicted by a Central Criminal Court jury in November 2024. He was subsequently sentenced to the mandatory term of life imprisonment by Ms Justice Eileen Creedon. The defence contended that the admitted material cast Gavin in an unfavourable light and suggested a propensity for criminal conduct unrelated to the charged offence. Conversely, the State argued the evidence was probative in refuting Gavin's claim of self-defence, which he alleged was necessitated by a €2,500 drug debt and threats from the deceased. The prosecution maintained the killing was premeditated, noting Gavin searched for prison sentences for murder the day prior and interacted with Tinder minutes before the attack. The trial jury had unanimously rejected the self-defence argument as "self-serving nonsense." The three-judge appeal panel, presided over by Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, reserved judgment on the matter, meaning the appeal has not yet been concluded.
2026-02-24 · Dublin
Dean Paget, 37, of Carnlough Road, Cabra, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for a robbery committed on December 3, 2020. Paget pleaded guilty to one count of robbery at Castleknock Road. A count of assault causing harm was struck out, while two counts of making a threat to kill and production of an article were taken into consideration. Judge Orla Crowe imposed a four-and-a-half-year jail term, which dates from his guilty plea in January. As Paget is currently serving a 13-year sentence for the attempted murder of his former partner, he will not serve additional time for this offence. Prosecution evidence alleged that Paget and co-accused Megan Creighton attacked a man recovering from hip surgery near the Dublin canal. Creighton, 37, of Blanchardstown, was jailed for three years in 2022. The victim reported a bite mark to his nose and abrasions, stating he believed he was going to die. Defence counsel Anne-Marie Lawlor SC highlighted Paget's remorse and the delay in bringing charges. Judge Crowe described the incident as a sustained, physical, violent robbery, setting a headline sentence of six years before reducing it to four and a half years based on mitigating factors.
2026-02-24 · Dublin
Bakuani Diasivi, 26, of Cardy Rock Crescent, Balbriggan, Co Dublin, pleaded guilty to affray after punching an 11-year-old boy on a Dart while on bail. Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard Diasivi had 24 previous convictions but no previous convictions for violence. Judge Orla Crowe imposed an 18-month sentence suspended on strict conditions and directed a €1,000 payment to the boy's family.
2026-02-24 · Dublin
A bus driver who ran a red light and knocked down an e-scooter rider has asked the court not to disqualify him from driving, as his career depends on his license. Svetoslav Trifonov (46) was driving along Malahide Road when he hit Fiona Pekaar (32), who suffered multiple injuries and required two surgeries. Trifonov pleaded guilty to careless driving causing serious harm and has no previous convictions. His defense highlighted his impeccable driving record and the impact a disqualification would have on his career and family. The court heard that the victim still suffers physically and emotionally from the incident. Judge Orla Crowe adjourned the case to March 4 for finalisation, as she considers whether to disqualify Trifonov from driving.
2026-02-24 · Dublin
Lawyers for the Director of Public Prosecutions have informed the High Court that there is a reasonable degree of urgency in the case of a convicted child rapist who is alleged to have breached the conditions of his release. The man, who was sentenced to 15 years in 2009 with the final two and a half years suspended, was required to undergo counselling and be supervised by the Probation Service for 10 years after his release. The case was listed for mention before the Central Criminal Court, and the court was informed that the defendant may have breached his release conditions. Prosecuting counsel requested that the case be listed again to clarify jurisdictional matters. The court agreed to list the case for mention on March 10, noting the urgency of the matter. The unnamed man pleaded guilty.
2026-02-24 · Dublin
A scaffolder is set to face trial tomorrow, accused of murdering a man in west Dublin in 2024. Tomas Cypas (35), who resides at Foxborough Road, Lucan, Co Dublin, was arraigned before the Central Criminal Court this afternoon. He has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Juris Kokenbergs (49), who was killed at Old Bridge Park, Lucan, Co Dublin on October 28, 2024. Ms Justice Eileen Creedon informed the jury panel that the accused is a resident of Dublin and works in the scaffolding trade. The judge swore in a jury of eight men and four women to hear the trial, which will begin tomorrow before Mr Justice Paul McDermott. The trial is expected to last two weeks. The court proceedings will focus on the circumstances surrounding the alleged murder and the evidence presented by the prosecution.
2026-02-24 · Dublin
A man has been sentenced to seven years in prison at the Central Criminal Court after pleading guilty to conspiracy to murder. Joseph Richards, aged 35 and from Lanesborough Square in Finglas, was convicted in connection with the death of Robert Sheridan, 45, who was shot at his front door in Ballymun on 5 October 2018. Mr Justice Paul McDermott found the killing was meticulously planned and involved considerable coordination to lure the victim to answer the door. Richards, who initially faced a murder charge, will serve the seven-and-a-half-year sentence, with six months suspended, after completing his current prison term, resulting in an effective sentence exceeding twelve years. The judge noted Richards has ninety-nine previous convictions and acknowledged his guilty plea and efforts to address drug addiction while imprisoned. The victim's family delivered impact statements describing the lasting trauma caused by his death.