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Irish Independent
3 days ago
- Irish Independent
Man (21) who punched his best mate's ex-girlfriend on Louth street warned he could go to jail
Troy Chiduza, College Manor, Hoey's Lane, Dundalk, pleaded guilty to a charge of assault causing harm at Crowe Street on September 30, 2022. The circuit court heard that the victim was left with a small scar and no longer socialises as much following the late night incident. She had accepted €2,000 compensation. Gda James Smith said that earlier in Toale's Bar where the injured woman's ex-boyfriend was present with his new partner, a drink was thrown over her and she 'responded in kind'. Outside in Crowe Street Mr Chiduza approached and punched her over the right side of the head. He ran away. The victim sustained a laceration to her right eye brow. She identified her attacker who was arrested on the following November 30. He told investigators that the woman took one swing at him and he swung back, hitting her once in the face 'as an act of self defence'. In a Victim Impact Statement the injured party said that she felt hot fluid running down her face. There was blood on her hands and the front of her dress. She didn't want to go to hospital. She went to the Louth the next day and got the injury glued. She was signed off work for three days, then three more, and lost a week's wages. She had a black eye. ADVERTISEMENT There was an €85 hospital bill, while a new iPhone cost €1,000. The victim continued that she was still traumatised. She was left with a scar and didn't socialise as much. Mr Chiduza had no previous convictions at the time but has since picked up 11, including one for obstruction. The others are under the Road Traffic Act, among them four for dangerous driving. Cross-examined by barrister Donough McDonough, instructed by solicitor Frank McDonnell, Gda Smith said there was no medical report. He arrived at the scene at 12.40am. An eight-second video showed part of the interaction. The defendant's parents were decent people shocked by what occurred. Mr McDonough said that the accused had pleaded guilty on a trial date. He was 18 at the time of the offence when he foolishly got involved in an argument. Self-defence was not being put forward. It appeared he was pushed and 'completely overreacted'. There was no excuse. He made a previous attempt to apologise. Mr Chiduza's father was in court. His parents, from Zimbabwe, moved to Ireland 25 years ago. He was a recruitment manager in his mother's healthcare business; and bought and sold cars and had registered his own company. His father was a mechanic. The defendant had a strong worth ethic. He was remorseful, and was assessed at low risk of reoffending. Adjourning the sentence hearing to October 14, Judge Dara Hayes said 'the greater likelihood is a custodial sentence'. He added there was substantial mitigation. Troy Chiduza was remanded on the same bail terms. Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme
Sunday World
3 days ago
- Sunday World
Man accused of sexually assaulting woman in public park further remanded in custody
He is accused of two counts of sexual assault at Muirhevnamór Park, Dundalk, on August 1, 2025 A 49-year-old man charged with sexually assaulting a woman in Dundalk last Friday has been further remanded in custody. The defendant, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, appeared via video link from Cloverhill Prison at a vacation sitting of the district court on Wednesday. He is accused of two counts of sexual assault at Muirhevnamór Park, Dundalk, on August 1, 2025. The man had been brought before a special sitting of the district court on Monday night when bail was refused. Sgt John O'Hehir said that DPP directions are awaited. Judge Michael Ramsey remanded the accused in custody to August 20 via video link. Defence solicitor Niall Breen requested that a Malayan interpreter be present the next day. Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme Dundalk Courthouse News in 90 Seconds - August 6th
Irish Independent
5 days ago
- Irish Independent
Former Dublin Bus driver jailed after ‘using car as a weapon' in road crash
Anthony Smyth, Orchard Villas, Newry, Co. Down, who has no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to a charge of dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm. A second count of endangerment was taken into consideration. The collision occurred north of Dundalk on May 18, 2024, between Junctions 19 and 20 of the N1, and the woman told gardaí who attended the scene that it was caused deliberately to kill her. Judge Dara Hayes said that the speed involved of between 100 and 110mph was 'dangerous in the extreme'. It was serious offending. He used his car as a weapon against his ex. He could easily have killed them both. What occurred had a significant and ongoing impact on the victim. The judge continued that he accepted as genuine remorse a letter from Mr Smyth, who appeared at Dundalk Circuit Court via video link. A five-and-a-half year sentence was imposed, the final 18 months suspended, and backdated to May 18, 2024. A 10-year driving disqualification was added. At a previous hearing evidence was given that the accused and the woman had been in a 32-year relationship which ended in 2023. That September he had been allowed back into the family home in Newry because he had nowhere to go. On this occasion the victim had been 'put in' an Audi Q7. She believed he was bringing her to Daisy Hill Hospital in Newry. The vehicle was driven south by Mr Smyth before he collided with the rear wheel of a lorry travelling in the same direction, causing the car to 'flip'. The woman alleged that he crashed deliberately into the lorry at more than 100mph as he tried to kill her. Anthony Smyth, who is originally from Dublin, claimed that it was an accident which occurred when he bent to retrieve a dropped cigarette. Det Gda Brendan Duffy said that gardaí arrived on the scene at 7.15am. Two articulated trucks were parked on the side of the motorway, while a crashed car was in the overtaking lane. The car had been on the outside lane. The woman said the defendant began 'skirting' between two flat bed lorries travelling in the same direction. There was a large bang. Smoke was in the car and there was a burning smell. The woman panicked. She couldn't get the door open. She blacked out for a moment or two. Dashcam footage from one of the lorries was viewed by the judge. In a Victim Impact Statement, the woman said she suffered a traumatic brain injury and was left an emotional wreck, unable to work. She couldn't sleep and had night terrors, leaving her tired and anxious. "He may be the one on remand in prison, I too have been given a sentence with no limit.' Mr Smyth's family had relocated to Newry. He attended Abbey CBS and St Paul's, Bessbrook. In 1992, at age 22 he was among the first at the scene when an RUC vehicle was blown up in mortar attack at The Quays, Newry. A female police constable was killed and another officer lost his legs. Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme
Sunday World
01-08-2025
- Sunday World
Man (29) rammed his BMW into bus several times during ‘appalling incident' on motorway
Kabir Alli, Claddagh Park, Tom Bellew Avenue, Dundalk, was sentenced in the district court to three months' imprisonment and disqualified for two years for dangerous driving at Dromad, Co. Louth. A 29-year-old man who drove a BMW car into a minibus several times on the M1 has been spared jail and instead ordered to complete community service following an appeal. Kabir Alli, Claddagh Park, Tom Bellew Avenue, Dundalk, was sentenced in the district court to three months' imprisonment and disqualified for two years for dangerous driving at Dromad, Co. Louth. He was also fined €200 and disqualified for six years for refusing to provide a sample at Dundalk Garda Station. Judge Dara Hayes said that what occurred on February 5, 2022, was an 'appalling incident of driving'. While Mr Alli had mental health difficulties that didn't entitle him to place others in significant harm. Barrister Ronan O'Carroll, instructed by solicitor Fiona D'Arcy, said it was a traumatic experience for the woman who was behind the wheel of the minibus. Stock image News in 90 Seconds, Friday August 1 A probation report stated that the appellant had not much insight into his wrongdoing. This happened during a period of psychosis. Mr Alli, a carer, was maintaining his medication now. He accepted that his behaviour on the night was indefensible and can never be repeated. Judge Hayes remarked that although the appellant was assessed as suitable for community service, his lack of insight in the probation officer's opinion was of some concern. This was an 'appalling incident of driving' at Junction 20 of the M1 at the Carrickdale Hotel exit. Mr Alli was in a UK-registered car. There was no explanation for this as he has been living in Ireland since childhood, the judge said. He crashed a number of times into a mini bus, causing significant damage to this vehicle including the driver's seat such was the force of the collision. He was arrested 1km away having walked southbound on the hard shoulder. Judge Hayes said that the female driver of the minibus was placed in fear. She was travelling southbound minding her own business when 'struck with considerable force'. She had driven to the Ballymascanlon roundabout and onto the Carlingford Road where she sought assistance. She no longer drove at night as a result of what happened. It was 'appalling driving' by the other man who has previous convictions including for drink driving. He had not come to garda attention since. Judge Hayes varied the district court order, increasing the three-month sentence to six months, 150 hours community service in lieu to be completed within 12 months. The two-year disqualification for dangerous driving was increased to six years. The six-year disqualification on the refusal charge remains and the judge also imposed a six-month sentence, suspended in its entirety for 12 months. A stay was put on the start of the disqualifications to August 29 next. Legal aid was granted. Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme
Irish Independent
31-07-2025
- Irish Independent
Women who laundered money for Louth criminal gang avoid jail
Jade Heeney (27), Castlemanor, Ballymakenny, Drogheda; Annie Julia Smith (28), Candy Lodge, Stamullen Road, Gormanston and Marlena Aleksandrowicz (29), Bridgefield Northwood, Santry, Dublin 9 Cedar Place, Swords; each admitted one count of money laundering through their respective Revolut accounts which they allowed the gang to use. The defendants were described as at the lower scale of a money laundering enterprise for the Boylan Organised Crime Group. None of them profited from it. They had no previous convictions. Keith Boylan was named in court last June as the alleged head of the Boylan OCG and his brother Josh as the alleged second in command. Jade Heeney is the former partner of Keith Boylan, while Annie Julia Smith is the former partner of Josh Boylan. Marlena Aleksandrowicz was a friend of Keith Boylan's girlfriend. Judge Dara Hayes said it was accepted by gardaí that the defendants were at the lower rung of the money laundering enterprise. However, they provided significant assistance to launder the gang's proceeds. They were not naive women. Each knew who they were involved with and the type of criminality they engaged in. Judge Hayes continued that fear of the criminals in question played a role. The three women 'got in over their heads'. They were each involved in serious criminality, albeit at the lower end of that serious criminality. The amounts of money were relatively small. The judge said that the defendants had people who thought well of them. It appeared what happened was an aberration. The court heard previously that as part of an investigation into the gang's activities a large amount of bank and other accounts were probed and each of the three accused were identified as money laundering the proceeds on behalf of the OCG. Between July 10, 2020 and February 27, 2021, €16,348 went into Marlena Aleksandrowicz's Revolut account from associates of the OCG and €14,950 was withdrawn. Gda John Walsh said that between December 20, 2020 and January 31, 2021, €13,033 was transferred by members of the OCG to Jade Heeney's Revolut account and €12,551.37 withdrawn. For approximately four years she had been the partner of Keith Boylan. The relationship had ended by the time of this offending. She had been given €1,000 to put into the account after being directed to download the app and to hand over the card to a person unknown to her. Evidence was given that between June 17, 2020 and June 3, 2021, associates of the OCG put €8,967.50 into Annie Julia Smith's Revolut account and withdrew €5,080. She was the former partner of Josh Boylan between 2018 and December 2020. The relationship ended on bad terms. Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme
