The sentencing of sports journalist Tom Humphries for the sexual exploitation and defilement of a child has been adjourned to October.

Humphries (54) of Corr Castle, Sutton, Dublin appeared briefly in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court today.

The former Irish Times journalist pleaded guilty last March to six sexual offences against a girl under the age of 17.

He pleaded guilty to two counts of defilement of a child in Dublin between December 5th 2010 and February 19th 2011 and of four counts of inviting a child to participate in a sexually explicit, obscene or indecent act between January 2010 and March 2011.

He was ….read more

A young mother who facilitated the running of a student accommodation scam has avoided a jail sentence.

Shamaine McNulty (23) used a fake electricity bill to open up a bank account in Drogheda and made two withdrawals for a man who scammed two international students out of over €2000 through false online ads for rental accommodation.

McNulty pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to one count of using a false instrument to open a bank account on March 23, 2015 in Drogheda and one count of handling stolen property between March 23 and October 10, 2015.

McNulty, formerly of Swiftbrook Close, Tallaght, ….read more

(Pictured: Patrick McClean. Credit: Collins)

A 72-year-old pensioner who sent a series of threatening “poison pen” letters to a female garda after she issued him with a penalty points notice has avoided a jail sentence.

Patrick McClean, a retired seaman, felt aggrieved after he was issued a fixed fine notice by Garda Claire McGuigan last year. He went home and wrote six “vile” and “odious” letters that he then sent to her at Raheny Garda Station, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard today.

McClean, of Thornville Drive, Kilbarrack, Dublin pleaded guilty to harassing Gda McGuigan at Raheny garda station between August 4 and September ….read more

(Pictured L-R: Michael Murphy (53), Kieran Mahon (37), Michael Banks (46), Frank Donaghy (71), Scott Masterson (34) and Paul Murphy TD (33). Credit: Collins)

There were jubilant scenes in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court today after the six men accused of falsely imprisoning Joan Burton and her adviser were found not guilty of all charges.

Solidarity TD Paul Murphy and South Dublin County Councillors Michael Murphy and Kieran Mahon were, along with co-accused Scott Masterson, Frank Donaghy and Michael Banks, on trial for 40 days.

They had pleaded not guilty to falsely imprisoning Ms Burton and her adviser Karen O’Connell by restricting their personal ….read more

(Pictured: Joan Burton TD. Credit: Collins)

Nine weeks after the Jobstown protest trial opened in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court it took a jury just three hours and ten minutes to return unanimous verdicts of not guilty.

During the trial, the prosecution argued that the men were “plainly involved in the restriction of liberty” of the two women, who were trapped in garda cars for three hours after they left a graduation ceremony at Jobstown.

The trial heard that when Ms Burton attended the church ceremony that day, eggs and water balloons where thrown at her. She was advised by gardaí to leave in ….read more

The jury in the trial of six men accused of falsely imprisoning former Tánaiste Joan Burton has asked to watch garda air support video footage taken on the day of the Jobstown protest.

As the jury returned to Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to resume deliberations this morning, the jury foreman said they wished to view aerial video footage of the jeep on Fortunestown Road to see if it could reverse.

The jury of seven men and four women deliberated for one hour and 53 minutes yesterday. One juror was discharged earlier in the trial.

In her initial charge to the jury on Monday, ….read more

(Pictured: Judge Melanie Greally. Credit: Collins)

The jury in the trial of six men accused of falsely imprisoning former Tánaiste Joan Burton will continue deliberations tomorrow.

The jury of seven men and four women deliberated for a total of one hour and 53 minutes in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial today without reaching any verdict. Judge Melanie Greally sent the jurors home for the evening.

She issued the usual warnings including that they should not discuss the case outside the jury room.

“It is very very important that you confine your discussions of the case to your jury room even when you’re with ….read more

A man who robbed a McDonald’s restaurant and held a knife to a woman’s stomach in front of customers and children will be sentenced next week.

James Barry (33) fled the Rathmines restaurant with €330 in cash and jumped into the Dodder river to evade gardaí, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard today.

He was operating under the delusion the water would ensure his body temperature wouldn’t be picked up by any pursuing garda helicopter, Garda Brian McLoughlin told Noel Devitt BL, prosecuting.

Barry of Goatstown Close, Goatstown, Dublin pleaded guilty to robbing McDonald’s restaurant on Lower Rathmines Rd on February 2 this year.

He ….read more

(Pictured: Accused Paul Murphy TD. Credit: Collins)

The jury in the trial of six men accused of falsely imprisoning former Tanaiste Joan Burton is expected to resume deliberations tomorrow.

The jury of seven men and four women retired to consider its verdict on Monday afternoon. They deliberated for 50 minutes before they were told further legal argument was to take place and deliberations were suspended.

Legal argument took place today and the jury will return tomorrow morning.

Solidarity TD Paul Murphy and five other men have pleaded not guilty to falsely imprisoning Ms Burton and her adviser Karen O’Connell by restricting their personal liberty ….read more