By Declan Brennan and Fiona Ferguson

A raider who pointed a BB gun at the head of a taxi driver and demanded money has been jailed for three years.

Paul Evans (36) later claimed to gardaí it was a practical joke and the driver had overreacted.

In passing sentence, Judge Melanie Greally said that there was an issue for taxi drivers, who are being exposed to “extremely menacing behaviour”.

During the attempted robbery, taxi driver Frank Rowan managed to overpower Evans and take the firearm. Evans repeatedly ran at Mr Rowan and demanded the gun back until the driver struck him on the ….read more

By Brion Hoban

A woman kicked a prison officer in the stomach while refusing to return to the cell where she thought she had “heard her dead child in the walls”, a court has heard.

Michelle McCullough (40) of Regina Coeli Hostel, Morning Star Avenue, Dublin, pleaded guilty to assault at Dóchas Centre, North Circular Road, Dublin, on July 25, 2015.

She was sentenced to four and a half months’ imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on Friday.

Detective Garda Barry Brennan told Eoghan Cole BL, prosecuting, that on the date in question the accused was an inmate in the prison. She received medicine ….read more

By Sonya McLean and Fiona Ferguson

A Dublin man who touched a fellow bus passenger’s shoulder with his penis claimed he had been urinating when the vehicle jerked forward and pushed him towards the woman, a court has heard.

Thomas McMahon (35) of Aideen Avenue, Terenure, today received a suspended sentence after pleading guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to exposure on a Dublin bus in Crumlin on June 28, 2017.

Judge Melanie Greally noted the offence appeared not to be for sexual gratification but occurred while McMahon was inebriated and in need of “relieving himself.”

She noted his long standing drug and alcohol ….read more

By Declan Brennan & Brion Hoban

A man caught with four handguns, a submachine gun and ammunition in a bag after a high speed garda pursuit has been jailed for seven and a half years.

Keith O’Reilly (28) was convicted after a trial in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of possession of the firearms and ammunition, endangerment and four charges of dangerous driving at Priorswood Road, Priorswood, Dublin on April 3, 2018.

O’Reilly, formerly of Bunratty Drive, Coolock, Dublin, had denied the charges.

Judge Karen O’Connor sentenced him to eight and a half years imprisonment for possession of the firearms and ammunition, but suspended the ….read more

(Pictured: Susan Redmond. Credit: Collins)

A credit union employee who stole up to €395,000 over a decade from the lender has been jailed for 18 months.

The court heard Susan Redmond (50) had worked at Larkhill and District Credit Union in Dublin for 20 years and began taking out false loans on members’ accounts in 2003. Redmond completed and signed loan applications and then issued cheques, which she cashed.

Detective Garda Dominic McGrath revealed that Redmond’s colleagues noticed irregularities on accounts while she was on holidays and this launched an extensive investigation.

Redmond, of Thornville Drive, Kilbarrack, Dublin affirmed signed guilty pleas at Dublin ….read more

By Brion Hoban and Declan Brennan

A man who began sexually abusing his step-daughter before her First Holy Communion has been jailed for ten years.

The man (70), who cannot be named to protect the identity of the victim, was convicted by a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of 72 counts of indecent assault which occurred on dates between October 31, 1973 and August 24, 1979.

He was aged 25 and the child was aged six when the attacks began.

Judge Elma Sheahan said it was difficult to overstate the levels of fear and anxiety experienced by a child subjected to this level ….read more