Latest news with #DaraHayes
Sunday World
11-07-2025
- Sunday World
Woman (36) who took part in robbery of cyclist avoids prison
Amanda Boylan was handed a fully suspended two-year sentence, while three further theft charges were taken into consideration. The case was heard in Dundalk Circuit Court. While two co-accused received custodial sentences, a judge has said that the circumstances were different in the case of a 36-year-old woman who pleaded guilty to robbing a man as he cycled home from work. Amanda Boylan was handed a fully suspended two-year sentence, while three further theft charges were taken into consideration. The defendant, originally from Dublin, had been living in emergency B&B accommodation in Dundalk and has accepted the offer of a local authority house in Beechmount Drive, Cox's Demesne. Judge Dara Hayes said that her life appeared to have stabilised. She had taken steps to rehabilitate. On June 1, 2024, the victim was on his way home from work. As he cycled past two men and two women, one of the males pulled him off the bike. Amanda Boylan and the other female went through his bag and stole a bank card and a small amount of money. They made three purchases with the card. The case was heard in Dundalk Circuit Court. News in 90 Seconds - July 11th The defendant was intoxicated having spent the day drinking and taking drugs. She had nine previous convictions including three for theft. A probation report noted that she displayed remorse. She was assessed at high risk of reoffending. The mother of four boys was born in Co. Dublin. She had a traumatic childhood and lived independently since the age of 16 and later moved to Dundalk. Ms Boylan lost her mother and partner which led to increased substance abuse. She had been in a better place until relapsing when this offending occurred. The defendant co-operated with the Probation Service and engaged with services as directed. She stopped drinking and was on a reduced methadone programme and taking steps to deal with her issues. Judge Hayes said that Amanda Boylan acted as part of a group. A greater role was played by a male co-accused. She had relevant previous convictions and had not come to attention since. An order was made as outlined. Conditions of the sentence, suspended for two years, include 12 months Probation Service supervision. Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme
Sunday World
23-06-2025
- Sunday World
Man found with child sex abuse videos ‘surprised he was not caught sooner'
Ciarán Martin (42), Hurlestone, Ardee, told Gardaí following his arrest that he had been viewing such material for many years A man who had 217 child sex abuse videos and images has been jailed for one year and 9 months. Ciarán Martin (42), Hurlestone, Ardee, told Gardaí following his arrest that he had been viewing such material for many years and was surprised that he hadn't been caught sooner. The defendant, who is single, signed pleas of guilty to six counts on the indictment of possession of child sex abuse videos and images. Handing down a sentence of two years and six months, the final nine months suspended, Judge Dara Hayes said that these were serious crimes 'involving real children and real victims wherever they might be in the world'. Gda Neil O'Malley gave evidence that an investigation stemmed from an upload on January 4, 2022 to a Dropbox account registered to Mr Martin. At 8.40am on the following March 17, his home was searched and twenty-three electronic devices in a mix of a laptop, mobile phone and thumb devices were seized. He was present at the time and admitted all were his. Five were positive for child sex abuse material. A total of 217 images and videos were detected. Gda O'Malley explained that 71 were Category 1, relating to children engaged in or viewing sexual activity; 77 Category 2, children's genitalia visible; and 69 were Category 3, anime-type. The defendant was subsequently arrested by arrangement. He was co-operative, made admissions and accepted responsibility. He told investigators that he had been viewing this type of material for 20 years and was surprised he hadn't been caught sooner. Gda O'Malley said that position changed and it may not have been for 20 years. The accused described it as a 'curiosity'. The imagery was saved across a number of devices. He had obtained it from Kik Messenger. An uncle's anniversary in numerics was his password. There was no evidence of deletion. Following this he was put out of the house by his father and was of no fixed abode, couch surfing and sleeping in his car. He had returned to the family home he shared with his father and brother. There was one previous conviction for no NCT on his vehicle. Defence counsel said that Ciarán Martin was extremely forthright with the Probation Service about his proclivities and submitted that was the first step in addressing the issue. He put himself through DkIT and for the last five years worked full-time constructing panels for data centres. Both his father and brother relied heavily on him. They lived in a rural area. He accepted it was not a victimless crime. He kept the material to himself. The Garda search was an end to this behaviour. Judge Hayes said that there were effectively no previous convictions and no suggestion of distribution of this material by the defendant. The case was heard in Dundalk Circuit Court. News in 90 Seconds - Monday June 23 "These are serious crimes involving real children and real victims wherever they might be in the world, children of particular vulnerability and often of deprivation.' The judge continued that 217 was a considerable quantity. Approximately one-third was of the most serious nature. The children were aged between eight and 13 in the main. This offending was not done on a once-off basis 'but over many years'. Judge Hayes said the need for a general deterrent must weigh heavily in this case. On each of the six charges, concurrent two-year, six-month sentences were imposed, the final 9 months conditionally suspended for two years. Mr Martin must place himself under probation supervision for two years post-release and engage with a sex offenders' programme if suitable. His barrister had sought and was granted a one-day deferral before finalisation for the defendant to remove his car which was parked outside. Judge Hayes remarked it was 'a little bit surprising arrangements were not made'.
Sunday World
21-06-2025
- Sunday World
Man who stabbed father and son at his next door neighbours' party is spared jail
The defendant, aged 17 at the time, pleaded guilty to two counts of assault causing harm stemming from the incident on May 19, 2020 at a Dundalk housing estate. A man who stabbed a father and son after being asked to leave a party taking place next door to his home has avoided imprisonment. The defendant, aged 17 at the time, pleaded guilty to two counts of assault causing harm stemming from the incident on May 19, 2020 at a Dundalk housing estate. A sentence hearing at the circuit court heard that while the accused's initial engagement with the Probation Service had been poor and he had been assessed at high risk of reoffending, he had made progress subsequently during two-and-a-half years' probation supervision. Dundalk Courthouse News in 90 Seconds - June 21st Judge Dara Hayes imposed consecutive one year, nine-month sentences on each charge, conditionally suspended for three-and-a-half years. The defendant had been asked to leave a party next door to his family home. He did so before returning to get cigarette filters. He stabbed the young man hosting the party and during a scuffle when the victim's father attempted to detain him until Gardaí arrived, he stabbed this man too. The younger man required stitches. His father didn't need hospital treatment. Both recovered and neither wanted to make a Victim Impact Statement. Judge Hayes said they were unprovoked attacks. It was a serious matter to go with a knife and then use it. Fortunately, the injuries were not more serious. The accused made some admissions at the time. He had one previous conviction for Section 3 possession of drugs and one for Section 6 public order. His mother died this year and his father in tragic circumstances when he was aged 9. The judge continued that aggravating factors were the use of a knife. The defendant was a child in law at the time. There were two different victims so the sentences should be consecutive. The court noted 'substantial progress towards rehabilitation'. As order was made as outlined.
Sunday World
09-06-2025
- Sunday World
Drug dealer turned chef spared jail after cocaine seized in home
Charlie Maher was described by Judge Dara Hayes as a man who had turned his life around A 25-year-old drug dealer who became a chef has received a three-and-a-half year suspended sentence after Gardaí found almost €6,000-worth of drugs in his home. Charlie Maher, Knockbrack Downs, Drogheda, was described by Judge Dara Hayes as a man who had turned his life around. The defendant's house was searched on May 1, 2020, and in a bedroom officers located cocaine valued €5,747 and cannabis worth €155 as well as €445 cash and a phone with messages indicating drug dealing. It was noted during a sentence hearing at Dundalk Circuit Court that the defendant had been given a two-year suspended term for a similar Section 15 drugs offence which occurred on March 8, 2021, but that there had been no trouble since. Mr. Maher was assessed by the Probation Service as at low risk of reoffending. He had submitted 10 clear urinalysis results and was drug-free. He was working as a chef in a restaurant in Duleek having worked his way up from a kitchen porter and lived with his partner and her two children. The defendant had moved away from a former negative peer group, and engaged well with the Probation Service. Judge Hayes noted that he had not come to adverse garda attention for over four years and had turned his life around. As serious as this case was it was not one which required immediate imprisonment. A three-and-a-half year sentence was suspended for three-and-a-half years. Orders were made for the destruction of the drugs and forfeiture of the cash. Funded by Courts Reporting Scheme.
Irish Independent
09-06-2025
- Irish Independent
Louth drug dealer turned chef spared imprisonment
Charlie Maher, Knockbrack Downs, Drogheda, was described by Judge Dara Hayes as a man who had turned his life around. The defendant's house was searched on May 1, 2020, and in a bedroom officers located cocaine valued €5,747 and cannabis worth €155 as well as €445 cash and a phone with messages indicating drug dealing. It was noted during a sentence hearing at Dundalk Circuit Court that the defendant had been given a two-year suspended term for a similar Section 15 drugs offence which occurred on March 8, 2021, but that there had been no trouble since. Mr. Maher was assessed by the Probation Service as at low risk of reoffending. He had submitted 10 clear urinalysis results and was drug-free. He was working as a chef in a restaurant in Duleek having worked his way up from a kitchen porter and lived with his partner and her two children. The defendant had moved away from a former negative peer group, and engaged well with the Probation Service. Judge Hayes noted that he had not come to adverse garda attention for over four years and had turned his life around. As serious as this case was it was not one which required immediate imprisonment. A three-and-a-half year sentence was suspended for three-and-a-half years. Orders were made for the destruction of the drugs and forfeiture of the cash.
