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Irish Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Man jailed for three years for ramming garda cars in 'Grand Theft Auto' crime
A man who deliberately rammed two garda cars while driving a stolen seven tonne rigid truck and also caused €25,000 in damage to parked cars in a scene which he compared to the video game Grand Theft Auto has been jailed for three years. Cork Circuit Criminal Court previously heard that Istvan Konyari was without previous convictions until November 2023 when he took part in a three-day "crime spree." His offending behaviour only ended when a member of the Armed Support Unit (ASU) fired a single shot through the windscreen of the stolen rigid truck. Det Garda Peter Quinn said that Mr Konyari put lives at risk as he rammed garda cars in the confined car park of Dwyer's Electrical in Forge Hill in Cork city on the morning of November 8, 2023. Mr Konyari, previously of Shandon Street in Cork, put his hands over his head and got out of the truck when the ASU member fired the shot at the windscreen. The Irish Mirror's Crime Writers Michael O'Toole and Paul Healy are writing a new weekly newsletter called Crime Ireland. Click here to sign up and get it delivered to your inbox every week In his garda interview he compared his antics to the video game Grand Theft Auto. Mr Konyari felt that it was a case of "maximum stars" when a member of the ASU fired the single shot through his windscreen to bring his escapades to a halt. In addition to pleading guilty to the ramming offences Mr Konyari also admitted carrying out three burglaries, stealing the truck and previously stealing a van which he used to store the items he had robbed. Stolen items included an antique clock, coal, gas cylinders and toilet rolls. During the course of one burglary in Cork an apartment owner went in to their kitchen where they found Mr Konyari making coffee and eating crackers. He also stopped off at a garage forecourt and stole items from a washing machine. These included a nurse's uniform and children's clothing. When the owners of the uniform approached him and threatened to report him he returned the items to her. Defence barrister Alison McCarthy, BL, told Judge Helen Boyle that her client entered custody in 2023 following the incident. He had led a completely blameless life and worked continuously until 2021 when a large kettlebell fell on his head. Mr Konyari was also seriously injured in an assault in the same year. The court heard that the Hungarian national suffered mood and personality changes following the two incidents. However, he opted not to get help for his injury and instead self-medicated with illegal drugs. Judge Boyle said that she was cognisant of the fact that there was "reduced culpability" in the case arising out of the head injury. She said that she was aware that Mr Konyari was likely suffering from post concussion syndrome at the time of the offence. He was also under the influence of cocaine and cannabis. Mr Konyari wrote a letter of apology to gardai and persons impacted by his offending behaviour. He admitted that he regretted not seeking help for his head injury. Judge Boyle stated that an aggravating factor in the case was the "havoc caused" via multiple thefts including the robbery of two vehicles. "This is all culminated in a serious incident requiring the Armed Support Unit. You (Konyari) did a lot of damage to cars." Factoring in the signed plea in the case, the full co operation and remorse of the accused Judge Boyle jailed him for three and a half years suspending the final six months of the sentence. She also disqualified Mr Konyari from driving for a period of four years. Mr Konyari plans to return to his native country following his release from prison as he no longer has family in Ireland. The prison sentence was backdated to when he first entered custody in 2023.
The Journal
a day ago
- The Journal
Four men charged in connection with seizure of €31m worth of cocaine in Co Cork
FOUR MEN HAVE appeared before a court in West Cork charged in connection with the seizure of €31 million worth of cocaine in Courtmacsherry in west Cork on Tuesday. All four men have been remanded in custody. One of the men has an address in Germany whilst three of the accused are British nationals. Levant Gulay, Mark Doherty, Ben Sandford and Christopher Hibbett appeared before Bandon court charged in connection with the seizure of 440kgs of cocaine. They were brought to the court by members of the Garda National Drug and Organised Crime Bureau. Gardaí were assisted by the Armed Support Unit. Detectives from the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau gave evidence of the arrest, charge and caution of the four accused at garda stations in Bandon in the county and Togher in Cork city. All four men were charged with possession of cocaine and possession of cocaine for sale or supply at Meelmane, Courtmacsherry, Co Cork on 1 July 2025. Detective Garda John McWeeney gave evidence of the arrest, charge and caution of Mark Doherty (40) of Waterfoot Avenue, Glasgow, Scotland. He said that Mr Doherty made no reply when the charges were put to him. Detective Garda Shane Kiely gave evidence of the arrest, charge and caution of Ben Sandford (39) of Woodgreen, Drum Road, Keith, Moray, Scotland. He also made no reply to the charges. Detective Garda Marguerite Reilly gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution in relation to Levant Gulay (31) of Schwabeenstrasse 76, Neu Ulm, Germany. He made no reply to the charges. Advertisement Detective Garda Gavin Curran, gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution of Christopher Hibbett (44) of Lower Park, Trissillian, Truro, England. Detective Garda Curran told the court that Mr Hibbett stated 'I'm fucking sorry, that's it' when he put the possession of cocaine for sale or supply charge to him earlier today at Togher Garda Station. Solicitors Myra Dineen and Plunkett Taaffe, representing Mr Gulay and Mr Doherty respectively, said that their clients were reserving their positions on bail. Both solicitors opted to stand in for Frank Buttimer for Mr Sandford and for solicitor Eddie Burke for Mr Hibbett. They confirmed that they were also not seeking bail for either man at this juncture. Sergeant Tom Mulcahy told Judge Joanne Carroll that gardai were seeking a remand in custody for all four men to Macroom District Court on 9 July. Judge Carroll remanded all four accused to appear in court on that date. Judge Carroll also requested that defence solicitors provide two days notice to gardai if their clients intend to make bail applications on the next occasion. All four men also have to supply statement of means to the court. The men were held under drugs trafficking legislation which allowed gardai to detain them for up to seven days. The arrests occurred as part of a Joint Task Force Drugs Interdiction Operation.
Sunday World
a day ago
- Sunday World
Man charged over seizure of €31m worth of cocaine in Cork says ‘I'm f****ng sorry'
Levant Gulay, Mark Dohery Ben Sandford and Christopher Hibbett appeared before Bandon court charged in connection with the seizure of 440kgs of cocaine. Four men have appeared before a court in West Cork charged in connection with the seizure of €31 million worth of cocaine in Courtmacsherry in west Cork on Tuesday. All four men have been remanded in custody. One of the men has an address in Germany whilst three of the men are British nationals. Levant Gulay, Mark Dohery Ben Sandford and Christopher Hibbett appeared before Bandon court charged in connection with the seizure of 440kgs of cocaine. They were brought to the court by members of the Garda National Drug and Organised Crime Bureau. Gardai were assisted by the Armed Support Unit. Levant Gulay (centre, blue jumper) of Neu Ulm, Germany pictured at Bandon District Court. Pic: Daragh Mc SweeneyCork Courts Limited Detectives from the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau gave evidence of the arrest, charge and caution of the four accused at garda stations in Bandon in the county and Togher in Cork city. All four men were charged with possession of cocaine and possession of cocaine for sale or supply at Meelmane, Courtmacsherry, Co Cork on July 1st 2025. Det Garda John McWeeney gave evidence of the arrest, charge and caution of Mark Doherty (40) of Waterfoot Avenue, Glasgow, Scotland. He said that Mr Doherty made no reply when the charges were put to him. Christopher Hibbett of Truro, Cornwall pictured at Bandon District Court. Pic: Daragh Mc SweeneyCork Courts Limited News in 90 Seconds - Thursday, July 3 Det Garda Shane Kiely gave evidence of the arrest, charge and caution of Ben Sandford (39) of Woodgreen, Drum Road, Keith, Moray, Scotland. He also made no reply to the charges. Det Garda Marguerite Reilly gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution in relation to Levant Gulay (31) of Schwabeenstrasse 76, Neu Ulm, Germany. He made no reply to the charges. Det Garda Gavin Curran, gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution of Christopher Hibbett (44) of Lower Park, Trissillian, Truro, England. Det Garda Curran told the court that Mr Hibbett stated 'I'm fucking sorry, that's it' when he put the possession of cocaine for sale or supply charge to him earlier today at Togher Garda Station. Solicitors Myra Dineen and Plunkett Taaffe, representing Mr Gulay and Mr Doherty respectively, said that their clients were reserving their positions on bail. Both solicitors opted to stand in for Frank Buttimer for Mr Sandford and for solicitor Eddie Burke for Mr Hibbett. They confirmed that they were also not seeking bail for either man at this juncture. Sgt Tom Mulcahy told Judge Joanne Carroll that gardai were seeking a remand in custody for all four men who will appear in Macroom District Court on July 9th. Judge Carroll remanded all four accused to appear in court on that date. Judge Carroll also requested that defence solicitors provide two days notice to gardai if their clients intend to make bail applications on the next occasion. All four men also have to supply statement of means to the court. The men were held under drugs trafficking legislation which allowed gardai to detain them for seven days. The arrests occurred as part of a Joint Task Force Drugs Interdiction Operation.
The Journal
30-05-2025
- The Journal
Son of murder victim Jason Hennessy jailed after series of clashes with gardaí
THE SON OF fatal shooting victim Jason 'Jay' Hennessy Sr has been jailed for a string of violent crimes including an aggressive confrontation with armed gardaí during a tense search of his Dublin home. Jason Hennessy Jr, 28, pleaded guilty before Judge Catherine Hayden, who imposed sentences totalling six months and a two-year road ban. His father was murdered in a gun attack at a steakhouse on Christmas Eve, 2023, in Blanchardstown. Hennessy, of Sheephill Avenue, Blanchardstown, faced 15 charges: violent disorder, dangerous driving, obstructing drug search, and having a passenger with no seatbelt from 2019 to 2022 in the Blanchardstown area. At Blanchardstown District Court, Garda Sergeant Ian Abbey outlined the facts on behalf of nine prosecuting gardaí who had had various interactions with the father of four, resulting in criminal charges. The court heard that on 18 May 2019, gardaí conducted a search operation at his home and brought the Armed Support Unit (ASU). Jason Jr had to be restrained by members of the ASU, resisted the search of the property, and when one officer entered, he stood up in an extremely aggressive stance. He shouted abuse and told an officer to 'Fuck off'. The accused told the officer, 'You won't be searching this house,' but he stood and 'squared up' to the garda, entering his personal space and placing his head close to him. Detective Garda Megan Furey had dealings with him twice on 23 June 2019. The first occurred at Blanchardstown Courthouse, where Hennessy called her a 'fucking tramp' and was arrested under the Public Order Act. At 8.19pm that night, as she and colleagues engaged in a 'covert operation', she observed him driving after another car on the Blakestown road, where he sped 'straight through a red light'. There were male occupants in his car, and armed colleagues were alerted due to the nature of the operation, targetting criminal activity in the area. The vehicle turned back in her direction, travelled towards her at speed, and went back through the junction of Blakestown Road and Blakestown Way 'at high speed on the wrong side of the road'. On 3 April 2020, he drove a car with a young child in the back with no seatbelt. The court heard that at 1am on June 22, 2020, a garda at Blanchardstown Garda Station conducted a routine check on the prisoner in cell number 3. Advertisement Hennessy told the garda, 'You are a blond muppet, turn off the light.' He threw water from the toilet, saying, 'Do you want water? You will have to drag me out'. He then began throwing litter from his meal that day. He had to be removed, as he became very aggressive, acting violently to gardaí, and the cell had to be cleaned. Gardaí spotted him on 8 May 2020, with a group where one of them was 'acting suspiciously' outside the Laurel Lodge shopping centre. The garda retrieved a mobile phone from Hennessy and held it when it received a notification. Hennessy then 'became aggressive and threw the mobile phone on the ground, causing it to break. He became violent and had to be restrained and was arrested for obstruction.' The court heard on 15 February 2020, he was caught parking on a footpath, and on 23 January 2020, he was caught driving at 93 km/h in a 60 km/h zone. He became aggressive and verbally abused a garda on routine patrol on 5 February 2022, at Corduff Shops, taunting, 'You will do well in prison, you little faggot', and making hand gestures where there were young children present at the time. The court heard he was arrested on July 19, 2019, at Aldi Mulhuddart Village, D15, where the defendant engaged in threatening and abusive language toward gardaí. Pleading for leniency, defence solicitor Tertius Van Eeden told the court his client had young children and was in a long-term relationship, was doing well, 'working out and keeping his head down.' The solicitor added that his client was 'in a good place mentally now given the fact his father was brutally murdered in a shooting in a Christmas Eve shooting in 2023″. He had 15 prior convictions for public order offences, hit and run, and also an assault causing harm and violent disorder incident, which resulted in a suspended three- year sentence. He spoke briefly only to confirm a procedural aspect the case and was not required to give evidence. Judge Hayden noted the offences went back several years and took into account his guilty pleas, which saved the court from having to run several hearings. Earlier this week at Dublin District Court, Judge Anthony Halpin ordered the destruction of four XL Bully pit bulls owned by Hennessy's mother, Veronica Maher, 54, after one escaped the family home and terrorised gardaí who feared for their lives. There has been a two-week stay on the order to destroy Oddie, Reggie, their mother, Medusa, and the fourth dog, Joe, pending a possible appeal.
Sunday World
29-05-2025
- Sunday World
Man (20s) arrested following armed robbery at fast food restaurant
The man entered the premises and threatened staff with a shotgun A man in his 20s has been arrested following an armed robbery at a fast-food restaurant this morning. Gardai were called to the scene in Dublin 9 this morning after a man with a shotgun entered the premises and threatened staff at approximately 7.30am. The man stole a sum of cash before fleeing the scene in a vehicle. No injuries were reported, and no shots were fired. Stock image News in 90 Seconds - May 29th Gardai from Ballymun Garda Station, an members of the Armed Support Unit arrested the man a short time later. A car stolen during a prior robbery in Dublin was also recovered during the operation. The suspect is detained at a Dublin Garda Station, and investigations are ongoing. 'Gardaí have arrested a male in his 20s following an armed robbery at a retail premises in Dublin 9, this morning, Thursday, 29th May 2025,' a spokesperson for An Garda Siochana said. 'At approximately 7:30am, Gardaí were alerted after a lone male armed with a shotgun entered a fast-food premises in Northwood, Dublin 9 and threatened staff. He stole a sum of cash before fleeing the scene in a car. 'No injuries were reported and no shots were discharged,' they continued. 'During a follow-up operation, several local Garda units from Ballymun Garda Station, along with the Armed Support Unit (ASU), arrested a male in his 20s in connection with the incident a short time later in the North Dublin area. A car, stolen during a previous burglary in Dublin, was also recovered during the operation. 'The male arrested is currently detained under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act, 1939, at a Garda station in the Dublin region. 'Investigations are ongoing.'
