Saturday 31 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 17976People smuggling (assisting unlawful entry) · Co. Dublin · 23 Apr 2023

Italian woman cleared of people smuggling at Dublin District Court

Manjola Cuni, a 47-year-old Italian woman, was found on 23 April 2023 at Dublin Airport with the real Albanian passport and documents of another woman, who had been using a fake Italian passport, in her luggage. She was charged under the Criminal Justice (Smuggling of Persons) Act 2021, spent two months on remand before making bail, and pleaded not guilty at Dublin District Court before Judge Mark O'Connell. She said she was helping a pregnant woman because that woman would be killed. The judge accepted the actions were for humanitarian purposes and not for financial gain, and dismissed the charge, a outcome reported on 8 March 2024.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Acquitted8 Mar
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Manjola Cuni, a 47-year-old Italian woman, pleaded not guilty to assisting unlawful entry into, transit across or presence in the State.
Where
  • The incident took place at Dublin Airport.
  • The case was heard at Dublin District Court before Judge Mark O'Connell.
When
  • The incident occurred on 23 April 2023.
  • The District Court outcome was reported on 8 March 2024.
Cause
Cuni said she was helping the pregnant woman because she would be killed.
Investigation
Gardaí found the other woman's real Albanian passport and documents in Cuni's luggage.
Other details
  • The other woman was using a fake Italian passport, fell to the ground when questioned and absconded.
  • Cuni spent two months in custody on remand before making bail.
Charges
Cuni was charged under the Criminal Justice (Smuggling of Persons) Act 2021.
In court
The judge accepted the actions were for humanitarian purposes and not for financial gain.
Sentence
The judge dismissed the charge.
10 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatCuni pleaded not guilty to assisting unlawful entry into, transit across or presence in the State. (thejournal.ie)
  • whereThe case was heard at Dublin District Court before Judge Mark O’Connell. (thejournal.ie)
  • whenThe incident occurred on 23 April 2023 at Dublin Airport. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationGardaí found the other woman's real Albanian passport and documents in Cuni's luggage. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeThe charge was under the Criminal Justice (Smuggling of Persons) Act 2021. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe judge accepted the actions were for humanitarian purposes and not for financial gain. (thejournal.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge dismissed the case. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe other woman, who was using a fake Italian passport, fell to the ground when questioned and absconded. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherCuni said she was helping the pregnant woman because she would be killed. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherCuni had spent two months in custody on remand before making bail. (thejournal.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 8 Mar2024
    Acquittedthejournal.ie, first report
    Italian woman cleared of people smuggling after judge rules she acted on ‘humanitarian’ grounds

    Reports the District Court outcome: the judge accepted a humanitarian defence under the Criminal Justice (Smuggling of Persons) Act 2021 and dismissed the charge. No existing case in the list matches this incident.

    accused, Manjola Cuni, 47, female, Italian, named, non-irishManjola Cuni