Latest news with #DaraHayes
Sunday World
15 hours ago
- Sunday World
Drug dealer turned chef spared jail after cocaine seized in home
Charlie Maher was described by Judge Dara Hayes as a man who had turned his life around A 25-year-old drug dealer who became a chef has received a three-and-a-half year suspended sentence after Gardaí found almost €6,000-worth of drugs in his home. Charlie Maher, Knockbrack Downs, Drogheda, was described by Judge Dara Hayes as a man who had turned his life around. The defendant's house was searched on May 1, 2020, and in a bedroom officers located cocaine valued €5,747 and cannabis worth €155 as well as €445 cash and a phone with messages indicating drug dealing. It was noted during a sentence hearing at Dundalk Circuit Court that the defendant had been given a two-year suspended term for a similar Section 15 drugs offence which occurred on March 8, 2021, but that there had been no trouble since. Mr. Maher was assessed by the Probation Service as at low risk of reoffending. He had submitted 10 clear urinalysis results and was drug-free. He was working as a chef in a restaurant in Duleek having worked his way up from a kitchen porter and lived with his partner and her two children. The defendant had moved away from a former negative peer group, and engaged well with the Probation Service. Judge Hayes noted that he had not come to adverse garda attention for over four years and had turned his life around. As serious as this case was it was not one which required immediate imprisonment. A three-and-a-half year sentence was suspended for three-and-a-half years. Orders were made for the destruction of the drugs and forfeiture of the cash. Funded by Courts Reporting Scheme.
Irish Independent
a day ago
- Irish Independent
Louth drug dealer turned chef spared imprisonment
Charlie Maher, Knockbrack Downs, Drogheda, was described by Judge Dara Hayes as a man who had turned his life around. The defendant's house was searched on May 1, 2020, and in a bedroom officers located cocaine valued €5,747 and cannabis worth €155 as well as €445 cash and a phone with messages indicating drug dealing. It was noted during a sentence hearing at Dundalk Circuit Court that the defendant had been given a two-year suspended term for a similar Section 15 drugs offence which occurred on March 8, 2021, but that there had been no trouble since. Mr. Maher was assessed by the Probation Service as at low risk of reoffending. He had submitted 10 clear urinalysis results and was drug-free. He was working as a chef in a restaurant in Duleek having worked his way up from a kitchen porter and lived with his partner and her two children. The defendant had moved away from a former negative peer group, and engaged well with the Probation Service. Judge Hayes noted that he had not come to adverse garda attention for over four years and had turned his life around. As serious as this case was it was not one which required immediate imprisonment. A three-and-a-half year sentence was suspended for three-and-a-half years. Orders were made for the destruction of the drugs and forfeiture of the cash.
Irish Independent
5 days ago
- Irish Independent
Juvenile Louth arsonist among gang of five who caused €81,000 damage to local authority home
A jury found the defendant guilty of arson and the case was back before Dundalk Circuit Court for sentencing. He was one of five co-accused who caused more than €81,000 damage to a local authority house in Rathmullan Park on July 3, 2019. The house was effectively gutted. There was no evidence as to who ignited petrol to start the blaze. The front and back doors had been set alight to make escape more difficult. An adult male was awake downstairs and two teenagers upstairs. He raised the alarm and everyone got out. The householder was not present at the time. She was left with only the clothes on her back and lost items of great sentimental value. Using CCTV from various points throughout Drogheda investigators were able to track the movements of the five accused. The defendant was recognised by Gardaí. Petrol and a lighter were bought at one stage. There was no CCTV of the incident. The defendant had no previous convictions nor had he come to adverse attention since. The court heard that he had a difficult childhood and been taken into care. His mother left and he had no contact with her. He had been misusing drugs. It was the view of the Probation Service that he was at low risk of re-offending and that further supervision was not required. Judge Dara Hayes said this was an attack on an occupied family home. Fortunately, the alarm was raised otherwise the consequences could have been more serious or fatal. It was a joint enterprise of arson, a very serious offence. The defendant was a child at the time. He was now employed and in a stable relationship. Two of the co-accused had received custodial sentences, and two non-custodial. The judge continued that an immediate custodial sentence was not appropriate in this case. A five-year sentence was imposed, suspended for five years. The defendant must provide three further clear urinalysis tests. Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme
Irish Independent
5 days ago
- Irish Independent
Juvenile Louth arsonist amongst gang of five that caused €81,000 damage to local authority house
A jury found the defendant guilty of arson and the case was back before Dundalk Circuit Court for sentencing. He was one of five co-accused who caused more than €81,000 damage to a local authority house in Rathmullan Park on July 3, 2019. The house was effectively gutted. There was no evidence as to who ignited petrol to start the blaze. The front and back doors had been set alight to make escape more difficult. An adult male was awake downstairs and two teenagers upstairs. He raised the alarm and everyone got out. The householder was not present at the time. She was left with only the clothes on her back and lost items of great sentimental value. Using CCTV from various points throughout Drogheda investigators were able to track the movements of the five accused. The defendant was recognised by Gardaí. Petrol and a lighter were bought at one stage. There was no CCTV of the incident. The defendant had no previous convictions nor had he come to adverse attention since. The court heard that he had a difficult childhood and been taken into care. His mother left and he had no contact with her. He had been misusing drugs. It was the view of the Probation Service that he was at low risk of re-offending and that further supervision was not required. Judge Dara Hayes said this was an attack on an occupied family home. Fortunately, the alarm was raised otherwise the consequences could have been more serious or fatal. It was a joint enterprise of arson, a very serious offence. The defendant was a child at the time. He was now employed and in a stable relationship. Two of the co-accused had received custodial sentences, and two non-custodial. The judge continued that an immediate custodial sentence was not appropriate in this case. A five-year sentence was imposed, suspended for five years. The defendant must provide three further clear urinalysis tests. Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme
Sunday World
02-05-2025
- Sunday World
Woman tells uncle ‘you stole my innocence' as he is jailed for sex abuse
The woman said that she couldn't sleep and suffered with anxiety and male intimacy issues. A woman who was sexually assaulted by her uncle between the age of 7 and fourteen has told a sentence hearing at Dundalk Circuit Court how he took seven years of her life and childhood. She said to her abuser, 'You stole my innocence. I can never forgive that.' Last October the defendant was found guilty by a jury of nine counts of sexual assault which occurred between 2009 and 2017. He has been in custody since awaiting sentence. The man who used babysit the victim and her siblings at their grandmother's house where he lived is now aged 30. He is eight years his niece's senior. What occurred came to light in April 2017 when the woman told her mother about what her mum's brother had done to her. She said it caused a rift in the family which added to her suffering. Some family members stopped talking to her and called her a liar. All but one of the nine incidents in question occurred at her grandmother's house. The other was in the victim's own home. On one occasion he attacked her while she lay on her gran's bed drawing, while on another she had gone to the house after leaving school early because she was ill. The last assault occurred on March 16, 2017, when the teenager was trying on outfits for a St Patrick's Day Parade. She told her mother the following month and they went around to her grandmother's house to confront him. His reaction was that he couldn't remember. The next morning they went to the garda station. A specialist interview was set up. The accused was arrested by arrangement on July 11, 2018. He denied any abuse. He was released and later charged. There were no previous convictions. The case was heard in Dundalk Court. Today's News in 90 Seconds - Friday May 2 _duplicated Reading from her Victim Impact Statement, the woman said that she couldn't sleep and suffered with anxiety and male intimacy issues. It took her five years to realise what he did was wrong. She no longer liked to go out on her own. An uncle who should have been there to protect to her, did 'vile and disgusting' things. It would affect her for the rest of her life. She didn't get to see her gran for four years. The defence requested time to get a medical report on the accused who is suffering from cancer, and asked for an updated probation report. Judge Dara Hayes adjourned sentencing to June 30, remanding the defendant in custody. He noted a mixed probation report and 'with some reluctance' asked for an updated report.
