Latest news with #Finan
The Journal
4 days ago
- The Journal
Rogue gardener pleads guilty to conning woman out of €2,000 for work he never carried out
A ROGUE GARDENER in Dublin conned a woman online out of €2,000 for work he never carried out, a court has heard. Father of two, Gavin Smith, 35, of Huntstown Wood, Dublin 15, pleaded guilty to deception today. Dublin District Court heard that Smith, a convicted money launderer, was contacted by the unsuspecting victim through the website on 3 September 2021. She asked him to work on her back garden, was quoted a fee and paid a €2,000 deposit, but Judge Michele Finan heard Smith 'failed to carry out the work'. After several weeks, he refunded her half the money, but never paid the rest back. Advertisement Smith, with 18 prior criminal convictions, including money laundering, was jailed last year and will remain in custody until next year. He was not charged with the offence until May this year. Defence solicitor Daniel Hanahoe told Judge Finan his client's mother had died shortly beforehand. He also began using cocaine. Hanahoe submitted a letter from his client about his progress since the offence. The judge described it as 'excellent', adding that it should be forwarded to the victim, who did not have to attend the hearing. Judge Finan said the offence was at the more serious end of the scale and noted Smith 'interacted with someone, made a promise and took money'. Noting his guilty plea and efforts at rehabilitation, she imposed a five-month sentence backdated to 2 May, when he was charged, sparing him additional prison time.
Sunday World
08-05-2025
- Sunday World
Garda facing trial after delivery driver's leg severed on M50 in Dublin
The accused garda has not indicated a plea and his barrister asked for disclosure of prosecution evidence. A garda faces trial after a Brazilian delivery driver's leg was severed by a car on the M50 in Dublin in 2023. João Henrique Ferreira, 24, who had lived in Ireland for five years, suffered serious injuries as he had been assisting friends in locating a stolen bicycle. When the incident allegedly occurred, he was at a slip road to the motorway in Tallaght. Following a probe by Fiosrú, the police ombudsman (formerly GSOC), criminal proceedings have commenced. Joao Henrique Ferreira (23) Garda Neil Doyle, of Dundrum station, was summonsed to appear at Dublin District Court today on a charge of dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm at Junction 11 north, at the M50 on October 28, 2023. The garda, dressed in a suit and tie, stood forward when the case was called, but did not address the court. The prosecution told Judge Michele Finan that this was the first listing of the case. Lawrence Masterson BL, instructed by solicitor Daniel Hughes, representing Mr Ferreira, said his client had travelled back from Brazil solely for the proceedings and "was anxious for the court to hear from him about the seriousness of the injuries". Garda Neil Doyle. Photo: Collins Courts News in 90 seconds - 8th May 2025 Judge Finan noted that the Director of Public Prosecutions had authorised the case to stay in the District Court if the accused pleaded guilty. Otherwise, it would have to go to the Circuit Court, which has wider sentencing powers. Judge Finan held off on hearing an outline of the allegations. The accused has not indicated a plea and his barrister asked for disclosure of prosecution evidence. Judge Finan noted that Mr Ferreira was set to go back to Brazil for further prosthetic surgery in two weeks. The prosecutor sought a four-week adjournment, which the judge granted. She also ordered the prosecution to provide the defence solicitor, Liz Hughes, with disclosure of evidence "as soon as possible" so the garda's legal team can "consider his position" and his plea. She told Garda Doyle he must return on June 12 to indicate a plea, and for the court to consider jurisdiction, and confirm his trial venue.
The Irish Sun
08-05-2025
- The Irish Sun
Garda faces trial for dangerous driving causing serious harm after Brazilian delivery driver's leg severed by car on M50
A GARDA faces trial after a Brazilian delivery driver's leg was severed by a car on the M50 in Dublin in 2023. Joao Henrique Ferreira, 25, who had lived in 2 Joao Henrique Ferreira's leg was severed by a car on the M50 in Dublin in 2023 Credit: Collins Photo Agency 2 Garda Neil Doyle is set to face trial Credit: When the incident allegedly occurred, he was at a slip road to the motorway in Following a probe by Fiosru, the police ombudsman (formerly Gsoc), criminal proceedings have commenced. The garda, dressed in a suit and tie, stood forward when the case was called, but did not address the court. Read more on News The prosecution told Judge Michele Finan that this was the first listing of the case. Lawrence Masterson BL, instructed by solicitor Daniel Hughes, representing Mr Ferreira, said his client had travelled back from Judge Finan noted that the Director of Public Prosecutions had authorised the case to stay in the District Court if the accused pleaded guilty. Otherwise, it would have to go to the Circuit Court, which has wider sentencing powers. Most read in Irish News Judge Finan held off on hearing an outline of the allegations. The accused has not indicated a plea and his barrister asked for disclosure of prosecution evidence. FURTHER SURGERY PLANNED Judge Finan noted that Mr Ferreira was set to go back to Brazil for further prosthetic surgery in two weeks. The prosecutor sought a four-week adjournment, which the judge granted. She also ordered the prosecution to provide the defence solicitor, Liz Hughes, with disclosure of evidence "as soon as possible" so the garda's legal team can "consider his position" and his plea. She told Garda Doyle he must return on June 12 to indicate a plea, and for the court to consider jurisdiction, and confirm his trial venue.
The Journal
08-05-2025
- The Journal
Garda faces trial after delivery driver's leg was severed by a car on M50 in 2023
A GARDA FACES trial after a Brazilian delivery driver's leg was severed by a car on the M50 in Dublin in 2023. João Henrique Ferreira, 24, who had lived in Ireland for five years, suffered serious injuries as he had been assisting friends in locating a stolen bicycle. When the incident allegedly occurred, he was at a slip road to the motorway in Tallaght. Following a probe by Fiosrú, the garda ombudsman, criminal proceedings have commenced. Garda Neil Doyle, of Dundrum station in Dublin, was summonsed to appear at Dublin District Court today on a charge of dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm at Junction 11 north, at the M50 on 28 October 2023. The garda, dressed in a suit and tie, stood forward when the case was called, but did not address the court. The prosecution told Judge Michele Finan that this was the first listing of the case. Advertisement Lawrence Masterson BL, instructed by solicitor Daniel Hughes, representing Mr Ferreira, said his client had travelled back from Brazil solely for the proceedings and 'was anxious for the court to hear from him about the seriousness of the injuries'. Judge Finan noted that the Director of Public Prosecutions had authorised the case to stay in the District Court if the accused pleaded guilty. Otherwise, it would have to go to the Circuit Court, which has wider sentencing powers. Judge Finan held off on hearing an outline of the allegations. The accused has not indicated a plea and his barrister asked for disclosure of prosecution evidence. Judge Finan noted that Ferreira was set to go back to Brazil for further prosthetic surgery in two weeks. The prosecutor sought a four-week adjournment, which the judge granted. She also ordered the prosecution to provide the defence solicitor, Liz Hughes, with disclosure of evidence 'as soon as possible' so the garda's legal team can 'consider his position' and his plea. She told Doyle he must return on 12 June to indicate a plea, and for the court to consider jurisdiction, and confirm his trial venue.
Irish Daily Mirror
29-04-2025
- Irish Daily Mirror
Man, 83, recovered deleted photos from woman's phone and used them for blackmail
A Dublin pensioner recovered deleted "sensitive" personal data and photos from a woman's old phone and used it to "blackmail" her years later, a court heard. Anthony Nolan, 83, of Richmond Road, Fairview, was charged with harassment of a named woman from May 8, 2021, until May 10, 2022, under section 10 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act. He appeared at Dublin District Court for a ruling on his trial venue, where Judge Michele Finan was first required to hear an outline of the prosecution case. The court was told it was alleged that the woman, who has a family connection to the accused, gave the pensioner her old phone in 2009, but "before she handed it over, "she wiped the phone clean of personal data". The court was told she had used it for several years before giving it to the accused. It was alleged Mr Nolan managed to retrieve this data, which was "of a sensitive nature" and included "messages, emails and photos that were very sensitive". The evidence against him also included a claim that having discovered the messages and images, he refused to give the phone back and "tried to blackmail the injured party". Judge Finan heard it would be alleged the complainant tried to "block" him, but he continued to harass her by electronic means and with messages. The woman was not present for the hearing or required to give evidence at this stage, a preliminary hearing to consider whether the case should remain in the District Court or be sent on to the Circuit Court, which has wider sentencing powers. Judge Finan accepted jurisdiction for the case to stay in the District Court. The accused, who remains on bail, was ordered to appear again in July to enter a plea. Mr Nolan did not address the court. Following a request by his solicitor, Brian Tunney, Judge Finan granted a disclosure order compelling the Gardaí to hand over copies of prosecution evidence to the defence before the next hearing.
