Latest news with #ProbationServices
Sunday World
25-07-2025
- Sunday World
Tattoo artist (34) who sexually assaulted woman he met on dating app avoids jail
The judge noted that 'his actions and attitude are less than encouraging'. A Central Criminal Court Judge has told a Dublin tattoo artist that 'his actions and attitude are less than encouraging' after he was found guilty of sexual assault in 2016. The court heard that Henrique Pereira (34) of Saint Patrick's Road, Drumcondra, Dublin, was found guilty of sexual assault at an apartment on Phibsborough Road, Dublin, on October 19, 2016. He has no previous convictions. At a previous hearing, a victim impact statement was read to the court on behalf of the injured party in this case. It outlined the flashbacks she has, which she described as 'debilitating' and 'vivid.' She said, 'The flashbacks were as vivid today as when they first happened.' Stock image News in 90 Seconds - July 25th She outlined that the sexual assault happened while she was in college, and she tried to go to lectures, but would have to leave as she would start to cry. She struggles with being in small spaces and said the assault has 'made me feel very unwell and unsafe'. Passing sentence yesterday, Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring began by wishing the injured party in this case well in the future and that the conclusion of this case may now bring her some closure. Ms Justice Ring said Pereira has no memory of meeting the injured party in this case and said, 'it seems that he was engaging in a conveyor belt of dating at the time.' She said Pereira 'needs to understand that a woman is entitled to change their mind'. The judge said, 'The impact has been significant, and Pereira is responsible for that impact.' She also noted that 'his actions and attitude are less than encouraging'. She set a headline sentence of three years and six months. The judge noted that the mitigating factors in this case included his lack of a previous conviction in Ireland or any other jurisdiction. She noted that he is a small business owner and has family obligations. After considering the mitigating factors, Ms Justice Ring sentenced him to two and a half years in prison but suspended it in full for two and a half years. She also placed Pereira under the supervision of the Probation Services for 18 months and told him that he must carry out all directions deemed necessary by his probation officer. Garda Aoife Moroney told Conor Devally SC, prosecuting, that Pereira and the woman met on a dating website and arranged to meet at a restaurant in Dublin for a meal. After the meal, they decided to go for a drink, and Pereira wanted to visit a certain pub, rather than one local to where they had just eaten. While they were having a drink, they shared a kiss, and Pereira suggested they might have sexual intercourse later, but the injured party made it clear that this would not happen. The court heard that the injured party declined an offer to go back to Pereira's apartment. He then stood in a doorway and opened a door. A cat appeared, and the injured party stood in the doorway to stop the cat from getting out. Pereira again invited her to come upstairs and she did but did not sit down or take her jacket off. The woman was about to leave, but Pereira stopped her. He kissed her, and she went down the stairs of his apartment to leave, but she was unable to open the front door. Pereira then sexually assaulted the woman by touching her around her genital area. She managed to push him away, and he stopped. The woman maintained a 'friendly manner' with Pereira out of fear, and he walked her to the bus stop, where she gave him the impression that they would meet again. Gda Moroney said the woman contacted her friend and later the gardaí. When Pereira was questioned by the gardaí, he said he did not know who they were talking about, as he had seen many women from the dating app over that period of time. He told the gardaí that he did not, and would not, do anything untoward. In April 2023, Pereira was stopped at a border check in Spain, and he later presented to the gardai in Ireland. Timothy O'Leary, SC, defending, stated that his client has wanted to be a tattoo artist since the age of seven. In 2018, he opened his own tattoo shop in Ireland, employing several people. Counsel said his client will now be placed on the sex offenders register, and this will have an effect on his travel. He also noted that his client now accepts the jury's verdict. The court was informed that Pereira wished to give evidence on his own behalf before sentence. He told the court, 'I would like to say that I am sorry for everything that happened'. Mr O'Leary put it to his client, 'Do you understand that you have a lot of work to do between men and women and consent?' to which he said he did and that he would carry out any courses deemed necessary. Counsel asked him if he understood the impact that what he did had on the injured party in this case, to which he said 'yes.' Pereira apologised to the court for his existence and later for his behaviour. Mr O'Leary asked the court to consider a suspended sentence.
Irish Daily Mirror
10-07-2025
- Irish Daily Mirror
Man pleads guilty to killing bride-to-be in crash on day she shopped for dress
A man has pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of a young woman in Lifford in 2021 - hours after she had been 'window shopping' for wedding dresses. Sean Connaughton appeared at Letterkenny Circuit Court, where he pleaded guilty to a single charge arising out of a hit-and-run incident at Townparks, Lifford, Donegal on July 11, 2021. Ms Laura Connolly, a 34-year-old pedestrian, was taken from the scene to University Hospital Letterkenny, where she was later pronounced dead. Ms Connolly had been earlier shopping for a wedding dress with friends as she had been due to marry her partner, Joe McCullagh, in 2022. Father-of-two Connaughton, a native of Donegal but with an address in Co Louth, spoke only to plead guilty when he appeared in court. The charge is contrary to section 53 (1) of the Road Traffic Act. A number of members of the late Ms Connolly's family were present in court for the brief hearing at Letterkenny courthouse. Barrister for Connaughton, Mr Peter Nolan, led by Mr Colm Smyth SC, and instructed by solicitor Mr Frank Dorrian, said other matters will be dealt with in due course. He said his client has now been on bail for four years and has complied with all bail conditions to date. He told Judge Roderick Maguire that apart from one road traffic matter some time ago, his client had no previous convictions. Mr Nolan said he was anxious that a probation and welfare report be obtained for his client. He said he appreciated all that Ms Connolly's family had been through but added that his client had also been suffering from great stress and anxiety since the incident. Mr Nolan asked for a psychiatric report and also a GP's report to allow for medication for various other matters. Ms Fiona Crawford BL, barrister for the State, said there was no objection to Connaughton being granted bail. Judge Maguire said he would adjourn the case until the October sessions of the circuit court for sentencing but warned that due to great pressure on the Probation Services, a report may not be ready by then. If that is the case, he informed the Connolly family that sentencing may regrettably have to be adjourned until February, 2026. Judge Maguire also offered his sympathies to members of the Connolly family in court. 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
Irish Daily Mirror
07-07-2025
- Irish Daily Mirror
Brothers of Ashling Murphy murderer Jozef Puska 'accept jury verdict'
Jozef Puska's two brothers, who were last month convicted of withholding crucial information about the murder of school teacher Ashling Murphy, and their wives – who burned the killer's bloodstained clothes – now accept the jury's verdict and will not appeal their convictions, the Central Criminal Court has Puska Jnr (38) and Marek Puska (36), along with their wives Viera Gaziova (40) and Jozefina Grundzova (32) appeared before the court today, where Ms Justice Caroline Biggs fixed a date of October 7 for sentencing in the Puska (35) murdered Ms Murphy (23) on January 12, 2022, by repeatedly stabbing her in the neck after attacking her while she exercised along the canal towpath outside Tullamore, Co Offaly. He was later convicted of murder and is serving a life four family members were found guilty on June 17 this year, after a jury accepted the prosecution's case that Lubomir Jnr and Marek misled gardai by failing to disclose crucial and vital information when they gave witness statements, while their wives - Gaziova and Grundzova - burned Jozef's clothes to impede his arrest or the defendants had pleaded not guilty to all of the charges during the four-week trial. Lubomir Jnr however, had admitted to gardai that he lied in his initial statement, while his wife Viera and sister-in-law Jozefina told gardai that they had burned clothes. 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 At the Central Criminal Court today, Karl Finnegan SC, representing Marek Puska, said his client now accepts the verdict of the jury and will not be appealing the decision. He said Marek has engaged with the Probation Services and has further meetings scheduled in the coming month.A barrister representing Lubomir Jnr said her client also accepts the verdict of the jury and is due to meet with the Probation Services on July Colgan SC, for Gaziova, said it is his understanding that in his client's case, the verdict is also accepted. He said a social worker is now involved under the auspices of another agency. He said this was going to take some time and asked for a sentence date in October. Paul Murray SC, for Grundzova, confirmed his client has met with the Probation Services. He said she also accepts the verdict.A barrister representing Lucia Istokova, Jozef Puska's wife, said her client had pleaded guilty before the commencement of the (36) had admitted to withholding information from gardai investigating the murder after a pre-trial Justice Biggs said she would extend legal aid for the purpose of preparing psychological reports for any of the defendants, if this was deemed appropriate by counsel. She said in circumstances where reports were awaited, she could either deal with matters 'in one fell swoop' or in two Murray told the court he thought it would be more expedient to have the matter dealt with in one day. Ms Justice Biggs adjourned the matter to October 7 for sentence. She said at that point, she hoped to have probation reports, any potential psychological reports and any other reports that are available. It was the State's case that the two brothers misled gardaí and withheld 'crucial, relevant and significant' information when they gave voluntary interviews in Tullamore two days after Ms Murphy's included information that Jozef Puska returned home on the night of the murder with visible injuries, admitted to killing or seriously injuring a woman with a knife and subsequently travelled to four family members were living with Jozef Puska, his wife Lucia, and 14 children at Lynally Grove, Mucklagh, Co Offaly when the offences occurred in January 2022.
Sunday World
26-06-2025
- Sunday World
Man who raped drunk teenage girl (17) in Drogheda jailed
BREAKING | Jibola Moses Akanni (27) has 28 previous convictions from both Ireland and the UK relating to road traffic matters, as well as convictions for theft, public order, and handling stolen property. The Central Criminal Court (stock photo) The Central Criminal Court heard that that Jibola Moses Akanni (27) of St Laurence Drive, Drogheda, Co Louth, was found guilty of two counts of rape and one count of sexual assault at an apartment on Middle Abbey Street, Dublin 1, on February 15, 2018. He has 28 previous convictions from both Ireland and the UK relating to road traffic matters, as well as convictions for theft, public order, and handling stolen property. Passing sentence today, Mr Justice David Keane commended the injured party in this case in the manner in which she conducted herself through the trial and wished her well for the future. Judge Keane said the aggravating factors in this case were the extended nature of the ordeal while the injured party was barely conscious, the disparity in the age of both parties and that she was an intoxicated and vulnerable person at the time. The judge set a headline sentence of nine years for each of the rape charges and four years for the sexual assault charge. The judge said that a limited amount of mitigation can be granted for Akanni's cooperation with the gardaí, and with regard to his previous conviction, 'the best that can be said is that they are not for this type of offending.' The Central Criminal Court (stock photo) News in 90 Seconds - June 26th He stated that 'no credit can be given for a guilty plea, as none was forthcoming, and he does not accept the jury's verdict, nor has remorse been shown.' Judge Keane noted that the probation report placed Akanni at high risk of sexual or violent reoffending. He accepted letters handed to the court by Akanni's parents, who spoke of his good and finer qualities. Judge Keane sentenced Akanni to eight and a half years on each of the two rape counts and three and a half years for the charge of sexual assault all of which are to run concurrently and backdated to November when he went into custody. With regards to rehabilitation, the judge said, 'There is no prospect of his engagement in sexual offending courses and there is no realistic hope of promoting rehabilitation, so I will not suspend any part of the sentence.' The judge said, 'In order to protect the public from the risk of him sexually reoffending, I will place him under the supervision of the Probation Services for two years post-release.' He instructed that Akanni carry out all directions that the Probation Services deemed necessary. Read more At a previous hearing, Garda Orla Cashel told Rebecca Smith, BL, prosecuting, that the injured party travelled to Dublin to attend a concert. When she arrived at the venue with her friends, she was refused entry as she was underage. While she was waiting outside the venue, she met a male whom she had met before. He invited her and her two friends to an apartment where he was staying, which was next door to the venue. Here she met Akanni. The group listened to music and drank. The court heard that the injured party attempted one more time to enter the venue but was again refused. She did not want to ruin the night for her friends and told them to go to the concert and that she would wait in the apartment. The injured party was upset that she could not get into the venue, and Akanni held a bottle of alcohol to her lips and told her to drink. The injured party said she was tired and was going to go to sleep. She complained that she was lightheaded, and again Akanni held the bottle to her lips, and he then turned off the lights in the bedroom where she was. Gda Cashel said that Akanni then asked her what she had done sexually and if she had had sex with her boyfriend, to which she said 'no' and stated that she was 'only 17'. At this time, she was fully dressed and unable to keep her eyes open and was not able to speak. Akanni then put his penis in her mouth. He then removed her trousers and underwear and put his mouth on her genital area. A short time later she felt pressure and pain in her vagina. The court heard that the woman's next memory was of being taken to the Emergency Room in an ambulance by her friends. They had returned to the apartment and noticed that her trousers were on inside out. The girl also began to vomit and was unable to stand up. Her friends brought her to the bathroom and then noticed that her underwear was also on incorrectly and stained. She was examined in a sexual assault treatment unit. Akanni was identified using CCTV and documents relating to the rented accommodation where he had stayed. He was arrested and interviewed four times, but nothing of value was obtained. Gda Cashel agreed with Ciaran O'Loughlin, SC, defending, that his client has no previous convictions for this type of offending. Mr O'Loughlin said Akanni came to Ireland when he was two years old and is now 27 years of age. Counsel said there was no violence or threats made; only the act itself.
The Irish Sun
21-06-2025
- The Irish Sun
Monster who raped victim while her son was in other room due back on Irish streets as 14 sex offenders released
A MONSTER who raped his victim while her son was in another room will be freed from prison this weekend. The Irish Sun can reveal Connors is being freed after completing a 10-month sentence he received for failing to notify Gardai of his address when he left Under the terms of his release, he has to notify Gardai of his whereabouts. But as he prepares for his release this weekend we can also reveal that he's still classified as having 'no fixed abode'. It's understood the Probation Services are working to find him a suitable place to live. READ MORE IN IRISH NEWS As part of his release conditions, he will also be placed on the He's also banned from trying to contact his innocent victim or any of her relatives. Although he received a 14-year sentence in 2009 for a brutal rape, he's also classified by Gardai as a 'serial thief'. He was released from prison in 2024 after serving a sentence for a series of thefts he committed in 2022. MOST READ IN THE IRISH SUN A senior prison source said: 'Connors is a serial offender and was behind a lot of thefts when he was released from his rape conviction. 'He's due out in a matter of days but still hasn't provided Gardai with any address. Moment evil soldier who raped woman in town centre is caught cowering in toilet 'He always returns to Wexford each time he's released from prison but it's possible he could go somewhere else. 'Connors is a very difficult prisoner and he will probably end up in prison again because he just can't help himself.' Connors raped his victim in 2006 along with another man before he was caged in 2009. They targeted the woman after calling to her BRUTAL ATTACK At their trial in December 2008, their victim recounted how the two men forced their way into her home. Her young She was pushed onto the bed and a piece of rope that was on the floor was wrapped around her neck. The two men denied the rapes in court but were both unanimously convicted by a jury in the Central Criminal Connors was released in 2019 with residents objecting to his return to Enniscorthy in a series of protests. 1 Monster John Connors is set to be released from prison in just days
