By Eimear Dodd

A serial offender who threatened shop workers while carrying out a spate of robberies has been handed a five-year prison sentence.

Raymond Boyle (51) pleaded guilty to three counts of robbery at shops in the Finglas area in August 2021 and March 2022. Boyle of Clearstream Court, McKee Avenue, Finglas has 14 previous convictions including two for robbery, which date back to 2012.

Imposing sentence today, Judge Codd said this was “criminality of an egregious level”.

She said these incidents would have been “terrifying” for the victims, who “work on the frontline dealing with the public, handling cash”.

“These people have to ….read more

By Eimear Dodd

A violent criminal with 153 previous convictions who threatened to kill a woman with a sword after attacking her has been jailed for five years.

Sean McDermott (37) of Raheen Drive, Ballyfermot, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and making threats to kill at the same address on December 17, 2019. He has 153 previous convictions including three for assault.

Imposing sentence today, Judge Pauline Codd said McDermott had assaulted “an innocent party” and then made threats to kill her. This would have been a “terrifying experience” for the victim, Judge Codd said.

At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Detective Garda ….read more

By Eimear Dodd

Double killer Stephen Penrose, a garda’s son who was sentenced to life imprisonment for murdering his friend last year, has been handed a concurrent sentence for trying to take possession of a drugs and phone package while in Mountjoy Prison.

Penrose (39), who is now currently incarcerated at Cloverhill Prison, pleaded guilty to a count of possession of diamorphine for sale and supply at Mountjoy Prison on January 29, 2020.

In December last year Penrose, last of Newtown Court, Malahide Road, Coolock, Dublin 17 was jailed for life having been found guilty by unanimous jury verdict of murdering Philip ….read more

By Eimear Dodd

A former head of finance at Our Lady’s Hospice has been handed a prison sentence for his role in a “devious” scheme where a Spanish property left to the charity was sold at the “grossly undervalued” price of just €37,500.

Denis Maguire (65) of Ballybrack Road, Glencullen, Co Dublin pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to one count of deception, dishonestly inducing Our Lady’s Hospice (OLH) to sell a property at a loss on or around March 5, 2015. Maguire has no previous convictions.

As part of his role, Maguire was responsible for managing properties left to OLH and ….read more

By Isabel Hayes and Claire Henry

A “extremely vulnerable” maths book proofreader who was caught with over €60,000 worth of cannabis and €20,000 in proceeds of crime has been given a fully suspended sentence due to his exceptional circumstances.

Barry O’Driscoll (40) of Cloonlara Square, Phoenix Park, Dublin, was spotted by gardaí with just under €40,000 worth of cannabis in a carpark on Blackhorse Avenue in April last year. His home was then searched and a further €19,352 of cannabis, some LSD tablets and just over €19,000 in cash was seized.

O’Driscoll pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing drugs for sale or ….read more

(Pictured: Marlies Walsh. Photo: Collins)

By Eimear Dodd

A Cork woman who harassed a doctor at her son’s hospital for over two years has walked from court after being handed a suspended prison sentence.

Marlies Walsh (50) of Pedlers Cross, Clonakilty, Co Cork pleaded guilty to one count of harassment at Temple Street Hospital, Dublin. She has no previous convictions.

Walsh contacted the doctor and others at the hospital by phone and email over a period between December 2017 and August 2020 as she wanted to work as a patient advocate. Her son, now 20, was a transplant patient at the hospital.

Judge Elma ….read more

By Claire Henry

A 41-year-old Dublin woman has been remanded in custody pending sentencing for an attack on a female garda earlier this year, during which she pulled out clumps of the young officer’s hair.

Lisa Lee (41), with an address at Annalivia Apartments, James Street, Dublin 8, pleaded guilty to assaulting Garda Caoimhe Reilly causing her harm on January 9 last.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that gardaí were called to a domestic incident at Lee’s home at 3am on the night in question.

When gardaí arrived, they found Lee outside with a bleeding lip and blood on her nose. Lee went into ….read more

By Eimear Dodd

A man who attempted to join the French Foreign Legion after breaking into a garda station armed with a curtain pole and damaging a patrol car will be sentenced next month.

The court heard that Ross Gaffney (20) has been under psychiatric care since he was a teenager and was admitted to a psychiatric unit during 2020.

Gaffney, of Hamilton Terrace, Balbriggan pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary and criminal damage at Balbriggan Garda Station on October 15, 2020. He has no previous convictions and is in custody on this charge alone.

At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court today, Judge Orla Crowe said ….read more

By Eimear Dodd

A controlling man who repeatedly beat his former partner and admitted running her over with his car, leaving her with a permanent injury, will be sentenced early next year.

Samy Taib (21) with addresses at Drumcairn Avenue, Tallaght and Meile An Rí Road, Balgaddy, Lucan pleaded guilty to two counts of assault causing harm and one count of coercive control on dates between May 9, 2018 and June 19, 2019 at an address in Lucan.

Taib also pleaded guilty to endangerment, driving without a licence and insurance at Fettercairn Ring Road, Tallaght and dangerous driving at Main Street, Celbridge, Co ….read more