The trial of Eugene Hanratty Snr and Eugune Hanratty Jnr is ongoing at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Both defendants, from Crossmaglen, Co Armagh, have pleaded not guilty to the alleged assault of Martin McAllister causing him harm at Castleblaney, Co Monaghan, on November 24, 2012. The prosecution alleges that the younger accused blocked the victim's car with a jeep, after which his father exited the vehicle and assaulted Mr McAllister. The alleged victim testified that he suffered fractured nose and eye sockets during a sustained attack. Witness Mary McAllister described the senior accused as being in an "absolute mental frenzy," stating he struck her husband repeatedly on the head with fists and feet while she begged him to stop. She claimed the younger accused remained in the vehicle until later intervening to tell his father he had gone too far. Defence counsel characterized the incident as a dispute over shooting rights at a nearby duck sanctuary, suggesting the victim initiated the confrontation. While the defence alleged the victim discharged a pistol, which the accused then destroyed, the witness denied this. Garda witnesses testified that initial reports of a shooting incident were not corroborated by other officers. The matter remains at the trial stage with no verdict or sentence recorded.
Eugene Hanratty Senior and Eugene Hanratty Jnr are standing trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, accused of assaulting Martin McAllister causing him harm at Castleblaney, Co. Monaghan on November 24, 2012. Both defendants have pleaded not guilty to the charges. The trial is currently ongoing before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury, with the matter not yet finalised. Mr. McAllister alleged that the younger accused blocked his vehicle with a jeep, after which the senior accused exited and subjected him to a sustained assault, resulting in fractured nose and eye sockets. He denied striking the first blow or producing a pistol, as suggested by defence counsel Garnet Orange SC. Mr. McAllister stated that commenting on the legitimacy of the senior accused's oil business would be "very dangerous." He also referenced his past, noting he was sentenced to ten years in 1974 for firearms offences, which he described as ancient history. The defence suggested the incident stemmed from a dispute over shooting rights in a duck sanctuary. The trial continues.
The High Court has ordered the extradition of Padraig O'Callaghan to Northern Ireland to serve the remainder of a custodial sentence. In April 2014, O'Callaghan, of Crossmaglen, County Armagh, was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment at Newry Crown Court after pleading guilty to sexually assaulting a 23-year-old woman in Newry on December 11, 2011. He also faced charges of false imprisonment and robbery, for which he has already served time. Counsel for the Minister of Justice and Equality stated that O'Callaghan is sought solely for the rape offence, with three years and ninety days remaining on his sentence. O'Callaghan, who was arrested in May 2016, testified that he had received legal advice and consented to his surrender. Ms Justice Aileen Donnelly confirmed his awareness of the consequences of serving his sentence under Northern Irish conditions. The judge ordered that O'Callaghan be detained for a period not exceeding twenty days to facilitate the extradition. An application for legal aid was subsequently granted.
Eugene Hanratty Senior, aged 57, of Castleblaney Road, Crossmaglen, and Eugene Hanratty Junior, aged 34, of Dundalk Road, Armagh, face charges of assault causing harm to a man in Castleblaney, County Monaghan on 24 November 2012. The trial of the father and son was scheduled to commence this week at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court but could not proceed. Defence counsel cited particular reasons for the adjournment. Judge Sarah Berkeley rescheduled the trial to commence on 25 October, with a pre-trial hearing set for June. Both men were charged following the alleged assault in the Monaghan locality.
In 2015, approximately 350 people were serving life sentences in Irish prisons, with life terms averaging around 18 years. However, a select number of prisoners have served substantially longer. John Shaw and Geoffrey Evans, convicted in 1978 of abducting, raping and murdering two women in 1976 and 1977, received life sentences. Evans died in 2012 after 34 years in custody. Shaw remains imprisoned after nearly 38 years. Jimmy Ennis, now aged 84, is Ireland's longest-serving prisoner, having been incarcerated over five decades for a 1964 murder in County Cork. Noel Callan from Castleblayney, County Monaghan, and Michael McHugh were sentenced to death in 1985 for the killing of Sergeant Patrick Morrissey near Tallanstown, County Louth. Their sentences were commuted to 40 years imprisonment and both were released in 2015 after 30 years. Colm O'Shea and Patrick McCann received death sentences in 1980 for murdering two gardaí during a bank robbery in Ballaghedereen, County Roscommon, later commuted to 40 years. Both were released in 2013 after serving 33 years.
Michael McHugh, convicted of the 1985 murder of Garda Sergeant Patrick Morrissey, has lost a High Court action seeking his immediate release from prison. McHugh, with an address in County Armagh, was sentenced to death for the killing, which occurred following an armed robbery at Ardee Labour Exchange in County Louth. His sentence was subsequently commuted to 40 years penal servitude. McHugh argued he was entitled to credit for five months spent in pre-trial custody between July and December 1985, contending this entitled him to release after 30 years served. Mr Justice Paul McDermott dismissed the action, finding the court had no function in compelling the Minister for Justice to grant further sentence remission or commutation. The judge stated the Minister retained discretion to consider McHugh's claim but was not obliged to do so, and was entitled to consider the gravity of the offence. McHugh has served his sentence at Portlaoise Prison and is due for release in December. A related action remains pending before the High Court.
Michael McHugh, convicted in 1985 of the murder of Garda Sergeant Patrick Morrissey, is seeking immediate release from Portlaoise Prison in High Court proceedings against the Governor, the Minister for Justice, the Irish Prison Service, and the DPP. McHugh was originally sentenced to death, a penalty commuted to 40 years' penal servitude by President Patrick Hillery. He argues that he is entitled to credit for five months of pre-trial custody served between July and December 1985, which would mean his sentence expired on July 1, 2024. The State parties oppose the application, contending that McHugh has no automatic entitlement to this credit and that the authorities lack the power to adjust the sentence given the original death penalty. McHugh's counsel, Micheal Ó Higgins SC, submitted that the decision to ignore those months was wrong and that the failure to grant credit breaches his rights to natural and constitutional justice. He also challenges the rejection of his pre-release programme application. The defendants argue that McHugh does not have the power to take the five months into account as the original court sentence imposed was the death penalty. The hearing before Mr Justice Paul McDermott continues.
A 41-year-old man from Tullyallen, Drogheda has voluntarily surrendered to Northern Irish authorities following his arrest here in June on a European Arrest Warrant. Edward McDonagh appeared before the High Court in connection with 11 alleged offences committed in July and August 2010 across Armagh and Tyrone. The allegations centre on a series of farm burglaries during which a sledge hammer was reportedly used to assault a farmer. A vehicle was also allegedly stolen during the incident. Gardaí in Monaghan observed two men who subsequently crossed the border, leading to arrests at premises in Crossmaglen where false identification was allegedly provided. Two of the charges against McDonagh carry potential sentences of 14 years imprisonment in the North, relating to burglary and concealing criminal property. Mr Justice John Edwards granted the order for surrender, with an application noted to postpone the extradition until after completion of a separate sentence currently being served domestically.
A 34-year-old businessman from Armagh has been charged in connection with an alleged diesel laundering operation worth approximately €9 million annually. The man, a company director with an address in Crossmaglen, was arrested by appointment in Dublin and charged under the Finance Act in relation to an alleged incident at Castleblayney, County Monaghan, in September 2011. Gardaí alleged he was found red-handed at a yard during surveillance, with large quantities of green diesel and laundering equipment present. The operation was said to be capable of processing 18 million litres of diesel per annum, resulting in substantial revenue loss. The Director of Public Prosecutions has directed trial on indictment, meaning the case will proceed to Circuit Court level. Dublin District Court set bail with strict conditions, including a €7,500 personal bond, a €15,000 independent surety, and passport surrender. He was remanded in custody pending a further hearing at Cloverhill District Court on 14 January.