Latest news with #DublinCircuitCriminalCourt
Sunday World
2 hours ago
- Health
- Sunday World
Chef admits to bringing over €400k of drugs in suitcase to Dublin Airport
There was €404,520 of cannabis, weighing slightly less than 22.5kg, found in 45 vacuum-sealed packets in this suitcase. Gardaí came across Kyle Lawrence (19) when they were investigating a report of trespassing in a car park at Dublin Airport A chef caught with €400,000 of cannabis at Dublin Airport told gardai he was under pressure due to a drugs debt of €15,000. James Fuery (32) of Brookview Grove, Tallaght, Dublin 24, pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis for sale or supply on September 25, last. He has eight previous convictions at the District Court for road traffic, theft and public order offences. Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard evidence that customs officers at Dublin Airport stopped Fuery, who had arrived on a flight from Ibiza, after a drugs detection dog showed interest in the suitcase he was carrying. €404,520 of cannabis, weighing slightly less than 22.5kg, was found in 45 vacuum-sealed packets in this suitcase. Fuery was cooperative and identified the suitcase as the one he'd brought to the airport. He told gardai that this was the first time he had brought drugs into the country. Gardaí came across Kyle Lawrence (19) when they were investigating a report of trespassing in a car park at Dublin Airport News in 90 Seconds - 3rd June 2025 Fuery outlined to gardai his difficulties with cocaine and cannabis, and how he had relapsed into addiction. He said he built up a drug debt of €15,000 and was under pressure. The investigating garda agreed with Gerardine Small SC, defending, that her client was co-operative, entered an early guilty plea and has no previous convictions for drug offences. It was further accepted that Fuery told gardai that he realised bringing the suitcase was wrong and that he was scared. The garda agreed that Fuery said he was told that he had to have the money in 24 hours or go and get the suitcase and was apologetic. It was also accepted that Fuery had no proprietary interest in the drugs and had no trappings of wealth. Ms Small told the court her client had previously experienced homelessness due to his addiction issues and underwent rehabilitation. Fuery later relapsed into addiction and built up a debt, when he was asked to take this suitcase. Counsel said Fuery was genuinely concerned for himself and his family A number of references were handed in, and members of Fuery's family were in court to support him. Fuery has a good work history and is working as a chef while in custody A governor's report was handed to the court. Counsel noted that urine analysis had been requested but was not before the court. Ms Small asked the court to take into account her client's early guilty plea, noting that his previous convictions are of a different nature, and to show as much leniency as possible for her client. Remanding Fuery in custody, Judge Elma Sheahan directed urine analysis and adjourned the case for finalisation to July 7 next.
Sunday World
4 days ago
- Sunday World
‘Neighbour from hell' caught attacking woman and pulling out her hair avoids jail
'evil unleashed' | In a victim impact statement, which she read out at a previous hearing, the injured party told the court Belinda Daly (60) was 'a neighbour from hell'. Dublin Central Criminal Court. Belinda Daly (60) pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to one count of assault causing harm to her neighbour at her home on Windmill Avenue, Crumlin on February 28, 2021. The court heard there had been a longstanding disagreement between the neighbours over a minor falling out between other members of their families, but that the assault by Daly was 'a significant escalation in this dispute'. In CCTV footage taken from her own home on the day in question, Daly can be seen standing in her garden beside her neighbour's window until the woman came out of her home. Daly then reached over the wall, grabbed her neighbour's hair and held onto it, leaving the woman immobile against the wall before she eventually managed to escape her grip. Daly has no previous convictions, Marc Thompson BL, prosecuting, told the court. A trial date was taken in the case, before Daly entered a guilty plea earlier this year. Dublin Central Criminal Court. News in 90 Seconds - May 30th In a victim impact statement, which she read out at a previous hearing, the injured party told the court Daly was 'a neighbour from hell'. 'Even today, I'm still terrified, afraid of being attacked again,' she said, adding that she had frequent thoughts of 'the evil unleashed on me that she had planned.' The woman outlined a number of medical issues she had suffered as a result of the attack, with a medical letter also handed into court. The court heard she suffered alopecia of the scalp, with hair loss extending to seven centimetres across her head due to 'the ferocity of the attack', her GP wrote. She has to have regular nerve-blocking injections to her neck, suffers from frequent headaches and migraines, has PTSD, severe anxiety and intermittent nose bleeds. She is on daily pain medication. Brian Storan BL, defending, said his client wished to express her regret and remorse for her behaviour, which she takes full responsibility for. He said Daly had reached the age of 60 without ever being on the garda radar, and she is 'properly ashamed of this violent assault on her neighbour'. The court heard Daly has two adult children and a grandchild. She has worked in a number of areas, including domestic violence shelters. The conviction will have a significant impact on her employment, the court heard. Defence counsel said Daly was struggling with anxiety issues related to her work at the time of the assault. 'She doesn't blame the victim in this case at all,' he said. Read more Sentencing Daly today, Judge Orla Crowe said there was clearly a long history between the parties with "a lot of bad blood.' But she said this was a very significant outbreak of violence, and no matter what was going on, nothing justified what Daly did on the day. She noted the parties are no longer neighbours, with the victim's house having gone on the market prior to the assault. She noted that whatever difficulties there had been between the parties were going to be coming to an end. Judge Crowe said neighbours frequently don't get on and matters can escalate, but they should not escalate to this level. She said it was a terrifying incident and shameful behaviour. She said Daly had a long work history in the voluntary sector and in domestic violence services. She said this was very useful and valuable work, and the conviction will have a knock-on effect on her employment. She noted Daly has attended psychotherapy and has medical issues. She said a work-related issue at the time of the assault was outlined not as an excuse, but as some explanation. The judge said in relation to the assault that Daly had 'lain in wait' and that the assault had a terrible impact on the injured party. She said the level of force used was noteworthy. Judge Crowe took into account the mitigation factors, including her lack of convictions, remorse and good work history. She set a headline sentence of two years and six months. After taking all matters into account, she imposed a sentence of two years, which she suspended in full for three years. Judge Crowe set a number of conditions, including that Daly should have no contact physically, electronically or digitally with the injured party.
Sunday World
5 days ago
- Sunday World
Driver (25) to be tried over alleged hit-and-run that left boy (8) with broken leg
Dennis Dunne (25) allegedly drove off after he struck and injured the boy, who had been out playing with his friends. A driver accused of knocking down an eight-year-old boy and breaking his leg has been sent forward for trial. Dennis Dunne (25) allegedly drove off after he struck and injured the boy, who had been out playing with his friends. Gardaí alleged the accused was travelling 'at speed' on a Dublin street at the time of the incident. Mr Dunne was served with the book of evidence when he appeared before Blanchardstown District Court. The accused, with an address at Kilmahuddrick Lawns, Clondalkin, is charged with dangerous driving causing bodily harm on May 25, 2023. A state solicitor said that the book of evidence had been served on the accused, who goes forward to the present sittings of Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge David McHugh gave Mr Dunne the formal alibi caution. The court previously heard that the DPP had directed summary trial in the district court, but Judge McHugh refused jurisdiction to deal with the matter. Outlining the allegation, Garda Sean Birkby previously said gardaí were dispatched to a street in west Dublin on May 25, 2023. It was reported a young male had been knocked down while he was out playing with his friends on bikes on the road. It was alleged a Volkswagen Golf driven by the accused struck the boy, causing serious injury. He suffered a broken bone in his lower leg which prompted immediate medical attention by members of Dublin Fire Brigade. According to gardaí, Mr Dunne did not stop and drove off and did not return.
Sunday World
7 days ago
- Sunday World
Man (20) admits to starting fire on a Luas which caused €5m of damage during Dublin riots
Evan Moore was spotted by gardaí at another anti-immigration protest the following May and admitted immediately that he had been at the Dublin riots. Workers clean up after the Dublin riots in 2023 A man who started a fire on a Luas during the Dublin riots has been remanded in custody pending sentence next October. Evan Moore (20) of Grangemore Road, Donaghmede, Dublin 13, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to rioting, damaging a Luas by fire and damaging the windows of a Luas tram on November 23, 2025. The riot broke out after a five-year-old girl was severely wounded in a stabbing at Parnell Square earlier that day, where two other children and a creche worker were also injured. The court heard that the Luas service was suspended for 24 hours and the tram damage was estimated at just under €5m after seats and wiring was damaged. The estimated cost of the clean-up by council workers after the riot was €159,000 and €115,000 worth of damage had been caused to property in the area. A 12-minute video – a compilation of CCTV footage and videos on social media from the day – was played to the court. This demonstrated that Moore's involvement in the riot lasted from 7.05pm to 7.40pm that evening. He could be seen moving a bin that was alight and bringing it onto the Luas before damaging windows on the tram. Detective Inspector Ken Hoare accepted in cross-examination by Seoirse Ó Dúnlaing SC, defending, that subsequent analysis of Moore's phone found conversations with his mother in which she was asking her son to return home. 'Scumbags wrecking their own city,' Moore's mother messaged followed by a message a minute later: 'Get out before it is too late and something happens.' Then finally she messaged him: 'Please, please leave Evan …. my heart is racing.' Det Insp Hoare agreed with Mr Ó Dúnlaing that Moore's parents found it 'abhorrent' that their son was in the city that day and the messages found on his phone 'were reflective of his family's attitude to him being there'. Det Insp Hoare told Stephen Montgomery BL, prosecuting, that a group of anti-immigrant protesters had gathered at the Garden of Remembrance around 3.30pm following the earlier incident at Parnell Square. A hostile crowd gathered at around 4pm on Cavendish Row, at the bottom of O'Connell Street and the Luas line was blocked there by the gathering. A total of 600 gardaí were deployed to deal with the riot and it was estimated that at its height, 500 rioters were involved. Det Insp Hoare confirmed that the riot began with the burning of a garda vehicle. Workers clean up after the Dublin riots in 2023 News in 90 Seconds - May 28th A Luas tram was initially blocked at 4.40pm by around 10 protesters preventing it from passing onto O'Connell Street. The passengers got off the Luas but the driver remained on it until the violence escalated. He was then removed for his own safety and the tram was locked. Det Insp Hoare said the footage showed Moore damaging widows on the Luas at around 7.30pm before he and others brought materials from a bin that had been set on fire onto the tram. He agreed that he had got 'caught up in the moment' and that he was ashamed of his behaviour and regretted his involvement Gardaí viewed 17,000 hours of CCTV footage and identified over 100 suspect rioters. Moore was spotted by gardaí at another anti-immigration protest the following May and admitted immediately that he had been at the Dublin riots. His home was later searched and his phone seized for analysis. He was arrested on May 14 last year and during interview, Moore identified himself on footage. He agreed that he had got 'caught up in the moment' and that he was ashamed of his behaviour and regretted his involvement. Det Insp Hoare confirmed that Moore has no previous convictions and was 18 years old at the time. He agreed with Mr Ó Dúnlaing that the riot was 'one of the most shameful acts in Irish history'. He acknowledged that Moore made immediate admissions when he was stopped by gardaí during the May protest. Det Insp Hoare agreed that there were different levels of criminality involved in the riot that day which had started on the back of 'a horrific attack on a child'. Judge Orla Crowe said a probation report would be of assistance, adding that there were 'particularly troubling aspects in the case'. She revoked Moore's bail and remanded him in custody until October 13 next for sentence and ordered the preparation of a report from the Probation Service.
Sunday World
26-05-2025
- Sunday World
Suspended sentence for Dubliner caught with over 900 child sex abuse images
Imposing sentence, Judge Martin Nolan said, 'unfortunately, this is a well-trodden crime in these courts' A man found in possession of over 900 images of child sexual abuse material told gardai it became a challenge to access this material. Joseph Doyle (68) of Vesey Mews, Monkstown, Co. Dublin pleaded guilty to possession of child sexual abuse material, known in law as child pornography, on May 27, 2019. He was handed a two-year sentence, suspended in full on strict conditions. Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that the Garda Online Child Exploitation Unit were notified by international colleagues about a particular IP address linked to Doyle's address. Doyle was present when gardai searched his home. He was co-operative, made admissions after caution to gardai and provided usernames and passwords. Two laptops, two external hard drives and a desktop PC were among the devices seized by gardai. An investigating garda told Caroline Latham BL, prosecuting, that 954 images of child sexual abuse material were found on two devices – a laptop and a PC. The court heard that 220 of the 954 images were in the most serious category of a child sexual nature. 580 images were categorised as child exposure, and 216 were of child anime. Doyle was arrested by arrangement. During interview, he told gardai that he had an issue with pornography, as well as problems with drugs and drink. He described having an 'inquisitive nature' and said it became a 'challenge' as it was very difficult to access this type of material. Doyle said he was shocked when they arrived but felt some relief and apologised. He has no previous convictions and has not come to garda attention since. The garda agreed with Justin McQuaid BL, defending, that his client was co-operative, entered an early guilty plea, and expressed remorse during interview. The garda agreed that it had been almost six years between the date of the offence and the sentence hearing. It was also accepted that there is no suggestion of distribution or sharing of the material. Imposing sentence, Judge Martin Nolan said, 'unfortunately, this is a well-trodden crime in these courts'. He noted the evidence was that the defendant 'expanded quite a lot of energy to get these images' and that 'thankfully', it is 'not easy to acquire' with the defendant having to 'expand time and energy' to access the material. Dublin Circuit Criminal Court News in 90 Seconds - May 26th 2025 Judge Nolan noted the precedents of the Court of Appeal, which indicate that a non-custodial sentence should be considered in the absence of aggravating factors including distribution. The court heard Doyle is retired and has a long work history. Letters from Doyle, One in Four and a testimonial were handed to the court. Mr McQuaid asked the court to take into account his client's admissions, co-operation, and efforts towards rehabilitation. He suggested that his client had 'perfect mitigation,' and his letter demonstrated his remorse, insight and personal responsibility for his wrongdoing. Mr McQuaid asked the court to take into account the public odium associated with this offence, the time taken for the case to come to court and that his client will be on the sex offenders' register.
