Latest news with #DundalkCircuitCourt
Irish Independent
14-06-2025
- Irish Independent
Louth men attacked Gardaí to facilitate driver's escape
Jack Dawson (22), Rowan Heights, Marleys Lane, Drogheda, and Johnny Kelly (23), St Finian's Park, Drogheda, appeared before Dundalk Circuit Court having pleaded guilty. Evidence was heard previously that on December 31, 2021, Gardaí were after a stolen car driven by another man. When they attempted to apprehend this person they were surrounded by a group of youths. Jack Dawson punched and kicked an officer and shouted in his face, while Johnny Kelly got between a guard and the car driver and told the driver to run. He ripped the Garda's stab vest. Mr Dawson had 13 previous convictions, including four for assaulting Gardaí. He was described as 'a public order menace with a bad attitude to Gardaí'. The court had been told that he had changed and was working full-time as a scaffolder. He had been assessed at moderate risk of offending. He was drug-free and there has been a positive change in his attitude to Gardaí. The judge continued that this had been an attack on Gardaí to facilitate another man's escape from lawful custody. The guards were protecting the people of Drogheda from this car. Mr Dawson received 240 hours community service in lieu of three years imprisonment on a charge of violent disorder. For assaulting a peace officer in the execution of his duty a three-year sentence was imposed, suspended in its entirety with conditions. ADVERTISEMENT Mr Kelly was also before the court for sentencing on a separate incident of violent disorder which occurred at Wellington Quay on January 30, 2022 when three friends on their way home after a night out were set upon by another group of people in an unprovoked manner. He struck a male in the back of a head with a fish slice. The defendant had no previous convictions at the time. He now had five, four for Road Traffic matters, and none for offences of violence. The Probation Service had assessed him at moderate risk of reoffending. He lived at home and was long-term unemployed. Judge Hayes said he would deal with both incidents globally in respect of Mr Kelly. A sentence of four-and-a-half years was imposed, conditionally suspended for four-and-a-half years, on the same charges as Jack Dawson. For violent disorder at Wellington Quay, Johnny Kelly was ordered to complete 240 hours community service in lieu of four-and-a-half years imprisonment. Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme
Irish Independent
10-06-2025
- Irish Independent
Louth mother who smashed glass over man's head sent to prison
Danielle Dullaghan, Simon Community, Barrack Street, Dundalk, has been in custody since April 8 last when her bail was revoked. She committed the robbery while on bail and for that offence received 21 months consecutive to two years for assaulting a male causing him harm, a total of 3 years and nine months. Judge Dara Hayes conditionally suspended the final 18 months and backdated the sentences to when the defendant went into custody. Evidence was heard previously that on April 3, 2022, a man had been out socialising. After 1am he went to Golden Chopsticks, Park Street and ordered food. Ms Dullaghan and another female came in while he was waiting. The man made a comment about the clothes one of them was wearing which was well received. However, the defendant than lunged at him and broke a glass over his head. He was pumping blood. An employee of the takeaway saw her strike the victim with the glass a number of times. The man was terrified. He sustained injuries to his forehead and scalp. Gardaí stopped Ms Dullaghan outside The Rum House further along Park Street. There was blood on her companion's jacket. She was arrested and made admissions. A knife was found on her. She was charged two days later. There was no Victim Impact Statement from the man who was left with 'minor residual scarring'. ADVERTISEMENT Ms Dullaghan had no previous convictions at the time but has since picked up convictions for public order and theft. Regarding the robbery, Dundalk Circuit Court heard that on June 1, 2024, a man was cycling home from work when two men and two women passed him on Avenue Road. One of the males pulled him off his bicycle. Money was demanded from him. The defendant was one of the two females who went through his bag. They took a small amount of money and a bank card which they used to make small purchases. It was accepted by Gardaí that a male co-accused was the main antagonist. As in the previous incident she was intoxicated at the time. Probation reports outlined that Danielle Dullaghan had been homeless after being asked to leave emergency accommodation. She had a chaotic upbringing and drank alcohol to cope with her father's death. She used cannabis as a teenager and for a short period took heroin and 'Crack'. The defendant was assessed at high risk of reoffending. She wanted to deal with issues and reengage with her children. In custody she was on methadone. She was attending school and working in the prison laundry. Judge Hayes said that the assault was unprovoked. A man had a glass smashed on his head. Ms Dullaghan acted in a group during the robbery which occurred while she was on bail. That was an aggravating factor. Sentences were imposed as outlined with other charges taken into consideration. Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme
Irish Independent
09-06-2025
- Irish Independent
Gardaí were waiting when Dublin man arrived to collect €1m drug consignment
Lee Corrigan, Chapel Gate, Aylesbury, Tallaght, Dublin 24, was sentenced to five years imprisonment, the final two-and-a-half years suspended. He pleaded guilty to attempting to possess 49kgs of cannabis valued €998,100, for sale or supply at Toolfix, Ecco Road, Dundalk, on January 4, 2023. The defendant did the job for "a few days' pay' because he was under pressure over a drugs debt. He said he was asked to collect something. He was shocked to discover the value of the consignment. Dundalk Circuit Court heard that the day before a pallet had been delivered to the premises. It was not addressed to Toolfix but had its eircode. The managing director was not familiar with the company the delivery had come from. Also, it was for a brand of tools they didn't stock. He opened the boxes and hidden inside were clear plastic vacuumed-packed bags of what looked like cannabis. He contacted Gardaí. Toolfix later received a call from a man saying that a pallet had been incorrectly delivered to them and that he would send someone to pick it up. When Mr Corrigan arrived in a Ford Transit van Gardaí were waiting and arrested him. Inside the vehicle investigators found a letter purportedly to be from FedEx stating that it had incorrectly made a delivery to Toolfix instead of another commercial premises. The document was of poor quality containing grammatical mistakes. Gda Ashley McEvoy continued that Mr Corrigan told Gardaí he smoked 1g of cannabis every couple of days. ADVERTISEMENT He admitted being caught red-handed. He was asked to collect something and suspected it was around €1,000 of cannabis. He was shocked at the amount of cannabis A man had sent him a screenshot of Toolfix. The defendant added that he 'stressed out' and in debt for 'a couple of thousand'. He had previous convictions for possession and possession for sale or drugs and had been fined €400 for each offence in the district court. Gda McEvoy said it had not been indicated to Gardaí that a threat had been made to Mr Corrigan's family. It was stated on his behalf that he was in a 12-year relationship and that his daughter had been born shortly before this incident. Mother and child were still in hospital at the time. It had been a difficult pregnancy. He was under a cocaine debt and made a decision to collect these drugs. Mr Corrigan was employed in a mechanics firm where he was well regarded and had been promoted. He had missed his sister's wedding in Liverpool because of the bail conditions. Judge Dara Hayes said that the previous offending was of an entirely different magnitude. It was of concern that the defendant minimised his role to the probation officer. It was the recommendation of the Probation Service to finalise the matter. Mr Corrigan had mental health difficulties and was assessed at low risk of reoffending. He was clearly much loved by his family. He had taken steps to put things right in his life. However, the judge added that to be entrusted with the responsibility of collecting this amount of cannabis was a significant involvement in serious criminality. A five-year sentence was imposed, the final two-and-a-half years suspended on condition the defendant places himself under Probation Service supervision for 12 months post release. A destruction order was made for the drugs. Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme
Irish Independent
09-06-2025
- Irish Independent
Louth woman had role in ‘vicious assault' which occurred after break-in
Lisa Smith (34), with an address at the time of Doolargy Avenue, Muirhevnamór, Dundalk, pleaded guilty to assaulting another female causing her harm. A burglary charge was taken into consideration. Dundalk Circuit Court heard that the defendant and a male co-accused entered the house at a different address in Doolargy Avenue on March 5, 2022. The man had previously been in a relationship with the 32-year-old victim. Gda Stephen Kilgannon said that Gardaí were alerted at 8.30am and when they arrived the woman was being treated by ambulance personnel. She was bleeding at the back of her head and was confused and distressed. She identified Ms Smith as one of her attackers. CCTV footage obtained by investigators showed the defendant entering the house. The victim had clumps of her hair pulled out, bruising to her neck, shoulders and around her eyes. Photos of the injuries were in the book of evidence. The woman did not make a Victim Impact Statement. Ms Smith co-operated with Gardaí. She admitted going into the house and pulling the woman's hair out. She had no excuse other than assisting her friend. Gda Kilgannon said that the she had no previous convictions nor had there been any trouble since. She was generally quite pleasant to deal with and 'appears somewhat of a good mother'. She had abided by onerous bail conditions. Counsel for Ms Smith said that this was at the higher end of Section 3 assault. The defendant accepted responsibility from the beginning. She wanted to apologise. ADVERTISEMENT A volunteer with a homeless charity, she was under the influence of the co-accused. It was a joint enterprise of an 'horrific assault'. Judge Dara Hayes said that the victim had been attacked in her own home and sustained serious injuries. The other person appeared to have greater culpability. There was a plea of guilty which would have been of greater value had it come earlier. The defendant took a role in a vicious assault and unprovoked attack. It may not have been the dominant role. The Garda evidence was that she got caught up in this at the behest of the co-accused and was the lesser party. Judge Hayes continued that the victim had resumed her relationship with this man. Ms Smith was remorseful and had taken neither drink nor drugs since. A two-year five-month sentence was imposed, suspended in its entirety for that period. Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme
Irish Independent
05-06-2025
- Irish Independent
Juvenile Louth arsonist among gang of five who caused €81,000 damage to local authority home
A jury found the defendant guilty of arson and the case was back before Dundalk Circuit Court for sentencing. He was one of five co-accused who caused more than €81,000 damage to a local authority house in Rathmullan Park on July 3, 2019. The house was effectively gutted. There was no evidence as to who ignited petrol to start the blaze. The front and back doors had been set alight to make escape more difficult. An adult male was awake downstairs and two teenagers upstairs. He raised the alarm and everyone got out. The householder was not present at the time. She was left with only the clothes on her back and lost items of great sentimental value. Using CCTV from various points throughout Drogheda investigators were able to track the movements of the five accused. The defendant was recognised by Gardaí. Petrol and a lighter were bought at one stage. There was no CCTV of the incident. The defendant had no previous convictions nor had he come to adverse attention since. The court heard that he had a difficult childhood and been taken into care. His mother left and he had no contact with her. He had been misusing drugs. It was the view of the Probation Service that he was at low risk of re-offending and that further supervision was not required. Judge Dara Hayes said this was an attack on an occupied family home. Fortunately, the alarm was raised otherwise the consequences could have been more serious or fatal. It was a joint enterprise of arson, a very serious offence. The defendant was a child at the time. He was now employed and in a stable relationship. Two of the co-accused had received custodial sentences, and two non-custodial. The judge continued that an immediate custodial sentence was not appropriate in this case. A five-year sentence was imposed, suspended for five years. The defendant must provide three further clear urinalysis tests. Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme
