A mechanic who struck a man with his car and then reversed over him, causing serious and permanent head injuries, has been jailed for ten days pending sentencing.

Ian Kelly (36) of Castle Terrace, Phibsboro, Dublin was remanded in custody at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court until June 3 when he will be sentenced.

Judge Martin Nolan warned Kelly that he will face a substantial term of imprisonment over the offence, which he said had left the victim with “devastating injuries”.

Kelly pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing serious injury to Keith Lawless at the Topaz Garage in Hartstown, Dublin on March 24, 2012.

“Mr ….read more

A man who witnessed the killing of Mountjoy inmate Gary Douch has been re-imprisoned for four years for smashing up a jewellers’ shop with a sledgehammer and robbing over €15,000 worth of goods.

William O’Neill (27), of Durrow Road, Crumlin, Dublin 12, told gardaí he robbed the Balbriggan premises along with three others because he was “in a panic and needed a few bob”.

O’Neill pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to robbing Goldsmiths’ Jewellers, Drogheda Street, Balbriggan, Co Dublin on May 10, 2013.

He further admitted to attempted robbery at Rush Newsagents, Keeper Road, Drimnagh, on November 10, 2013, and to ….read more

A homeless man is to be sentenced later after he was caught with several fake travel passes, including one in the name of Brad Pitt.

Clive Keogh (40) was formerly a successful businessman and graphic designer who ran his own printing firm, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard.

However the father-of-one lost everything and ended up divorced and homeless when the recession hit and he took to drink, his counsel explained.

Keogh, of no fixed abode but with a former address at Brookhaven Drive in Blanchardstown, was caught after a garda stopped to chat to him on Parnell Street on November 7, 2013.

Garda Donal ….read more

A youth who endangered the lives of a large number of people when he drove recklessly through rush-hour traffic in Dublin’s Northside has been sentenced to three and a half years in prison.

Martin Cash (20) cut across a six-lane junction, drove in bus lanes and mounted footpaths, causing cars and buses to swerve to avoid him. He also drove dangerously at a green area, endangering children who were playing there.

The father-of-one was being chased by gardaí at the time after he had stolen jewellery worth almost €2,000 from a private house.

Cash, of Hazel Hill, Tallaght, Dublin 24, pleaded guilty at ….read more

A talented Dublin boxer who won gold for Ireland at EU level has been sentenced to two years in prison for a “prolonged and vicious” attack on a tyre fitter.

A court heard that Thomas Finnegan (26) “thought he was in the ring” when he rained punches at Mr Mantis Viknius’ face, after a row over a tyre.

Finnegan, of Bawnlea Drive, Tallaght pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm at Cookstown Industrial Estate in Tallaght on May 15, 2013.

The victim was left with a fractured eye socket, a broken nose, nerve damage and diminished memory.
Passing sentence at ….read more

A man who acted as a “gilly” or a pawn in the drug trade has been sentenced to six years in jail after gardaí found him with a handgun and cannabis worth over €285,000.

Keith Donovan (30), of Offaly Road, Cabra in Dublin, was arrested just over a year ago following a major surveillance operation by the Garda National Drugs Unit.

The father-of-one admitted possessing 14.2 kilos of cannabis herb at a rented premises in Arbour Hill, Dublin on April 17, 2014. He also pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing a handgun and three rounds of ammunition on the ….read more

A man described by a judge as a “fully reformed gambler” has been sentenced to four and a half years in jail for storing cannabis worth over €64,000, along with guns and ammunition.

Christian Coffey (38) had gambling debts of over €50,000 when he agreed to act as a “store man” for others by keeping illegal items at a rented premises in north County Dublin.

Judge Martin Nolan said the father-of-two, with an address at St Catherine’s Park in Rush, Co Dublin was a “remarkably decent man” who had been “laid low by gambling”.

Coffey pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to ….read more

Ulster Bank have issued criminal proceedings against people who failed to pay back money withdrawn fraudulently while the bank was experiencing a software failure, a court has heard.

The details of the other investigations emerged during the sentencing of a care worker who stole over €57,000 from various ATMs across Dublin.

Titilayo Kilanko (38) pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to ten counts of theft from Ulster Bank on June 22, 2012. She told gardaí she used the money to pay for her father’s kidney transplant in Nigeria.

Kilanko admitted stealing a total of €57,708 by making 115 fraudulent withdrawals from ATMs ….read more

A Dublin taxi-driver whose cab was hijacked by two men in the early hours of the morning said he no longer feels safe working but is too old to change profession.

In a victim impact statement, Feargal MacEoin said he was subjected to an “horrific ordeal” when he decided to take one last fare coming off the M50 at 2:20am on May 8, 2014.

Mr MacEoin said he was “totally shaken and terrified” when two passengers, one armed with a knife, threatened to stab him after he drove them to Laurel Lodge in Castleknock, Dublin.

Andrew Byrne (29), with an address at Fortlawn ….read more