Latest news with #DaraHayes
Irish Independent
5 days ago
- Irish Independent
Woman avoids jail for violent disorder incident at Louth shop
Karen Woods, McCooey Terrace, Clogherhead, Co. Louth, was sentenced to 150 hours unpaid work in the community in lieu of 18 months' imprisonment. She had pleaded guilty to the offence which occurred at Londis, Castletown Road, Dundalk, on July 2, 2022. Judge Dara Hayes said that she was least culpable of the four people involved. A previous sentence hearing at the circuit court heard from Gda David Woods who said that the parties, the defendant and three men, entered the shop at different times. There was bad blood between two of the males. One swung a bottle of beer. A fight started and continued outside. When it broke up, Ms Woods left with one of the men whom she was going out with at the time. Her actions were mostly outside the premises. Investigators were able to identify each accused from 'good quality' CCTV. Nome of the people involved made complaints to gardaí. This defendant had four previous convictions for drugs offences. Cross-examined by barrister Ronan O'Carroll, instructed by solicitor Fergal Boyle, Gda Woods said it was agreed from her then boyfriend's statement that she was trying to stop the incident. He was sorry for dragging her into it. ADVERTISEMENT Mr O'Carroll submitted that she went from peacekeeper to defender to offender in a short space of time. Ms Woods kicked one man when she wasn't even wearing shoes. She got caught up in the affairs of others. She was a carer and worked 'above and beyond' during Covid-19. She lost her job because of the offending. The mother of one had stopped drugs. Judge Hayes said that customers were present in the shop and what occurred was a frightening experience and upsetting for them. Karen Woods' involvement began as an attempt to intervene. She had not come to garda attention since. The judge said she was the least culpable of the four defendants. In lieu of 18 months imprisonment, she was directed to complete 150 hours' community service within 12 months.
Sunday World
6 days ago
- Sunday World
Man jailed for sexually assaulting young niece he plied with drink and drugs
Her father said to delete the videos and tell no one. He asked her not to call gardaí A 49-year-old man has been jailed for three-and-a-half years for sexually assaulting his niece when she had an overnight stay at her father's house on St. Stephen's Day. The defendant, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the victim, pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault which occurred at his brother's home on December 27, 2022. He rubbed the then 16-year-old's arm, pulled at her top and touched her thighs having given her drink and drugs which made her feel nauseous and 'woozy'. Dundalk Circuit Court heard that the teenager recorded what happened on her phone. The investigating garda said that she viewed 27 video clips during which the young lady could be heard saying 'no' 61 times. Judge Dara Hayes said that what the man did 'can only be described as grooming behaviour' as he imposed concurrent four-year sentences, the final six months conditionally suspended. Det Gda Gemma Crampsie gave evidence that the girl's father allowed her to drink vodka and Coke before he went upstairs to bed. She remained with her uncle. He allowed her more drinks which he made. He also gave her a can of vodka mix and alcohol from a blue bottle. The accused gave her cannabis to smoke. She then handed it back and refused further offers. The young woman told him that she had never taken cocaine. He put some on a key in front of her face a number of times. She felt nauseous and 'woozy'. Det Gda Crampsie said that the victim took videos on her phone. From watching them it was very evident that she was 'extremely intoxicated'. At one stage she vomited on the floor. The defendant cleaned it up. He told her that she was beautiful and had a lovely body. She had to keep correcting him that she was 16 not 17. He asked to see her navel piercing and then her body. He asked about her sexual experience. Det Gda Crampsie said that she viewed 27 videos. A transcript of them was a 'hard read'. It detailed what he wanted to do to his niece and the questions he asked her. She said 'no' 61 times and tried to push him away and shut down the conversation 'in every single recording'. He gave her cocaine and Xanax. The sentence hearing was told that her father came back downstairs and asked what she was still doing up. His daughter took the opportunity to leave the room and eventually went to bed. She watched the videos to confirm what happened to her and the following morning called her mother to pick her up. The victim was crying and hyperventilating. She showed the video of the defendant giving her cocaine. Her father said to delete the videos and tell no one. He asked her not to call gardaí. Her mother realised she was 'under the influence' when she drove her home. They called to Navan Garda Station and the matter was referred to the Protective Services Unit. In a Victim Impact Statement the teen said that her uncle touched her where he shouldn't have. She recorded what happened because she felt unsafe. She regrets ever going to the house. The relationship with her father was ruined. She was more angry at his brother. She was no longer trusting, wanted to be at home and avoided crowds. She suffered panic attacks and anxiety. The young woman continued that she did a good Junior Cert but was no longer interested in school, 'the opposite of the girl I was'. The court heard that the accused gave three 'no comment' interviews to gardaí. The DPP directed summary disposal of the case. The district court refused jurisdiction. Judge Hayes remarked it was 'somewhat surprising' that a direction was given for summary disposal. Stock image News in 90 Seconds - Tuesday, August 5th Defence counsel said that this was a huge breach of trust. The provision of intoxicants were aggravating factors. It was submitted that the physical assaults were 'at the lower end'. The defendant, a father, had written a letter of apology and acknowledged his guilt. He was remorseful and ashamed of what occurred. Judge Hayes said that the conversation the defendant engaged in can only be described as 'pornographic in the extreme'. The language was sexually explicit. The victim was disgusted by his advances. He rubbed her arm, pulled at her top and touched her thighs. The next morning, she thankfully didn't take her father's advice to delete the videos. Judge Hayes continued that the long-term impact cannot be known after sexual offences on children. The defendant had supplied alcohol and drugs to his underage niece. She was a child and highly intoxicated at his hands. "I don't see it in the lower range of offending. All sexual assaults are serious offending.' The victim was not present but her mother was. Judge Hayes said that he was very sorry that she had to be in court and listen to the evidence. What happened should never have happened. The judge wished them both well. Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme
Irish Independent
04-08-2025
- Irish Independent
Louth man jailed for sexually assaulting niece he plied with drink and drugs on St Stephen's night
The defendant, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the victim, pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault which occurred at his brother's home on December 27, 2022. He rubbed the then 16-year-old's arm, pulled at her top and touched her thighs having given her drink and drugs which made her feel nauseous and 'woozy'. Dundalk Circuit Court heard that the teenager recorded what happened on her phone. The investigating garda said that she viewed 27 video clips during which the young lady could be heard saying 'no' 61 times. Judge Dara Hayes said that what the man did 'can only be described as grooming behaviour' as he imposed concurrent four-year sentences, the final six months conditionally suspended. Det Gda Gemma Crampsie gave evidence that the girl's father allowed her to drink vodka and Coke before he went upstairs to bed. She remained with her uncle. He allowed her more drinks which he made. He also gave her a can of vodka mix and alcohol from a blue bottle. The accused gave her cannabis to smoke. She then handed it back and refused further offers. The young woman told him that she had never taken cocaine. He put some on a key in front of her face a number of times. She felt nauseous and 'woozy'. Det Gda Crampsie said that the victim took videos on her phone. From watching them it was very evident that she was 'extremely intoxicated'. At one stage she vomited on the floor. The defendant cleaned it up. ADVERTISEMENT He told her that she was beautiful and had a lovely body. She had to keep correcting him that she was 16 not 17. He asked to see her navel piercing and then her body. He asked about her sexual experience. Det Gda Crampsie said that she viewed 27 videos. A transcript of them was a 'hard read'. It detailed what he wanted to do to his niece and the questions he asked her. She said 'no' 61 times and tried to push him away and shut down the conversation 'in every single recording'. He gave her cocaine and Xanax. The sentence hearing was told that her father came back downstairs and asked what she was still doing up. His daughter took the opportunity to leave the room and eventually went to bed. She watched the videos to confirm what happened to her and the following morning called her mother to pick her up. The victim was crying and hyperventilating. She showed the video of the defendant giving her cocaine. Her father said to delete the videos and tell no one. He asked her not to call gardaí. Her mother realised she was 'under the influence' when she drove her home. They called to Navan Garda Station and the matter was referred to the Protective Services Unit. In a Victim Impact Statement the teen said that her uncle touched her where he shouldn't have. She recorded what happened because she felt unsafe. She regrets ever going to the house. The relationship with her father was ruined. She was more angry at his brother. She was no longer trusting, wanted to be at home and avoided crowds. She suffered panic attacks and anxiety. The young woman continued that she did a good Junior Cert but was no longer interested in school, 'the opposite of the girl I was'. The court heard that the accused gave three 'no comment' interviews to gardaí. The DPP directed summary disposal of the case. The district court refused jurisdiction. Judge Hayes remarked it was 'somewhat surprising' that a direction was given for summary disposal. Defence counsel said that this was a huge breech of trust. The provision of intoxicants were aggravating factors. It was submitted that the physical assaults were 'at the lower end'. The defendant, a father, had written a letter of apology and acknowledged his guilt. He was remorseful and ashamed of what occurred. Judge Hayes said that the conversation the defendant engaged in can only be described as 'pornographic in the extreme'. The language was sexually explicit. The victim was disgusted by his advances. He rubbed her arm, pulled at her top and touched her thighs. The next morning, she thankfully didn't take her father's advice to delete the videos. Judge Hayes continued that the long-term impact cannot be known after sexual offences on children. The defendant had supplied alcohol and drugs to his underage niece. She was a child and highly intoxicated at his hands. "I don't see it in the lower range of offending. All sexual assaults are serious offending.' The victim was not present but her mother was. Judge Hayes said that he was very sorry that she had to be in court and listen to the evidence. What happened should never have happened. The judge wished them both well.
Irish Daily Mirror
03-08-2025
- Irish Daily Mirror
Former soldier who 'used his vehicle as a weapon' to ram motorist is jailed
A former member of the Defence Forces who 'used his vehicle as a weapon' and drove at another male has been jailed. Derek Donegan, 39, left his victim in fear that he was about to be killed in the horror incident that happened in north Louth in April 2021. At Dundalk Circuit Court, the ex-corporal pleaded guilty to endangerment on April 25, 2021 and was handed a two-and-a half year sentence. Judge Dara Hayes ordered him to serve an identical term after he admitted assaulting his partner causing her harm at a friend's house in Dublin in July last year. The court heard Donegan, of Hyde Park in Dundalk, Co Louth, who has 14 previous road traffic convictions, had an alcohol and cocaine problem. He has quit drink and drugs and has reconciled with his partner. The court previously heard that on Sunday, April 25, 2021, a Seat Leon was rear ended by a Ford Connect van driven by the defendant on the Ballymascanlon roundabout in Louth. Both vehicles pulled over and the drivers got out. Donegan apologised for driving too close but showed no concern about the damage. As the victim took photos of the damage and looked for insurance details, Donegan drove at him, hitting him with his van below the knees. The court heard the victim landed on the bonnet but was 'dumped' onto the road and feared for his life. Donegan sped off and the victim drove after him. When he pulled alongside, the thug rammed his car into a ditch. The victim asked bystanders to call gardai and was treated in hospital for cuts and back pain. The Irish Mirror's Crime Writers Michael O'Toole and Paul Healy are writing a new weekly newsletter called Crime Ireland. Click here to sign up and get it delivered to your inbox every week Donegan was arrested and admitted to rear-ending the car but offered no explanation. In the other offence, he and his partner were leaving a friend's house in Erne Terrace in Dublin where they had drinks. An argument broke out and she told him to go back to Dundalk. However, he walked towards her and struck her in the face. She was treated at hospital for pain and shock. The woman then made a statement of withdrawal to gardai and said she and Donegan have reconciled. In sentencing, Judge Dara Hayes said: 'In the endangerment offence he used his vehicle as a weapon and sought to flee after he struck the injured party's car. 'An aggravating factor for the assault is that it was inter-partner violence and Section 40 of the Domestic Violence Act states to take specific account of that and a higher sentence is required than otherwise. He imposed a total of four and a half years for both offences with the final 18 months suspended and banned Donegan from driving for five years. Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.
Sunday World
11-07-2025
- Sunday World
Woman (36) who took part in robbery of cyclist avoids prison
Amanda Boylan was handed a fully suspended two-year sentence, while three further theft charges were taken into consideration. The case was heard in Dundalk Circuit Court. While two co-accused received custodial sentences, a judge has said that the circumstances were different in the case of a 36-year-old woman who pleaded guilty to robbing a man as he cycled home from work. Amanda Boylan was handed a fully suspended two-year sentence, while three further theft charges were taken into consideration. The defendant, originally from Dublin, had been living in emergency B&B accommodation in Dundalk and has accepted the offer of a local authority house in Beechmount Drive, Cox's Demesne. Judge Dara Hayes said that her life appeared to have stabilised. She had taken steps to rehabilitate. On June 1, 2024, the victim was on his way home from work. As he cycled past two men and two women, one of the males pulled him off the bike. Amanda Boylan and the other female went through his bag and stole a bank card and a small amount of money. They made three purchases with the card. The case was heard in Dundalk Circuit Court. News in 90 Seconds - July 11th The defendant was intoxicated having spent the day drinking and taking drugs. She had nine previous convictions including three for theft. A probation report noted that she displayed remorse. She was assessed at high risk of reoffending. The mother of four boys was born in Co. Dublin. She had a traumatic childhood and lived independently since the age of 16 and later moved to Dundalk. Ms Boylan lost her mother and partner which led to increased substance abuse. She had been in a better place until relapsing when this offending occurred. The defendant co-operated with the Probation Service and engaged with services as directed. She stopped drinking and was on a reduced methadone programme and taking steps to deal with her issues. Judge Hayes said that Amanda Boylan acted as part of a group. A greater role was played by a male co-accused. She had relevant previous convictions and had not come to attention since. An order was made as outlined. Conditions of the sentence, suspended for two years, include 12 months Probation Service supervision. Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme
