A Polish man who caused mayhem at Dublin Airport and threatened the garda who arrested him has had his jail term halved on appeal. Robert Filipuk (44), who resides in Newry, Co Down, was originally sentenced to five months in jail with one month suspended for obstructing a garda, intoxication in a public place, and using threatening or abusive language. He later appealed the severity of the sentence. During the appeal, a garda testified that Filipuk was drunk, resisted arrest, and threatened to fight him and 'kick the f**k out of him' while being transported from the airport. He also used a Polish slur against the garda. Filipuk is currently serving a separate sentence from the Circuit Court, with a release date in 2027. His defence counsel, Caroline O'Connell BL, stated that Filipuk is due to be deported and has offered an apology for his actions. Judge Ronan Munro acknowledged the gravity of threatening gardai but reduced Filipuk's sentence to two months, to be served consecutive to his current term. Robert Filipuk was convicted.
A double murderer's conviction has been upheld by the Court of Appeal, despite his claim that expert testimony lacked 'scientific validity'. Jason O'Driscoll, who was convicted of murdering Anthony Burnett and Joseph Redmond in Co Louth in 2012, had his appeal rejected. The court ruled that Andrew Wooller of Acuity Forensics was appropriately qualified to give evidence on vehicle identification. O'Driscoll's lawyers argued that Wooller's expertise lacked scientific validity and that his public tweet after the conviction showed a lack of independence. However, the court found that Wooller's evidence was necessary for the jury to interpret the CCTV footage and that the tweet did not establish a lack of independence. O'Driscoll was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2018 for the murders, which were described as 'callous' and 'brutal'. The prosecution relied on circumstantial evidence, including CCTV footage and the identification of a stolen Mercedes S Class as the getaway car.
The Workplace Relations Commission directed Madhu Foods Limited, trading as Guru Indian Cuisine, to pay Vasantkumar Barot €79,213.72 after his employer entered no defence to his employment-rights complaints. Barot said he paid €15,000 for a work permit and worked more than 90 hours a week, with average hourly pay of €1.61 in 2024. Adjudicator Brian Dalton made awards for wage arrears and working-time breaches, and found that an inference of racial harassment had been raised and not rebutted.
Conor O'Brien, 29, of Kilpatrick, Ardee, Co Louth, was sentenced to 11 years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended, after pleading guilty to importing guns and ammunition. At the Special Criminal Court, Ms Justice O'Connor noted that O'Brien used his dual citizenship to purchase firearms in America for sale in Ireland. He also pleaded guilty to five counts of possessing firearms components in suspicious circumstances, including AR-15 barrels and pistol frames, contrary to the Firearms Act 1964. The court ordered the forfeiture and destruction of these items. Although O'Brien was originally charged with two counts of money laundering involving sums of €7,450 and €9,980, the Director of Public Prosecutions dropped these charges. The State indicated it would not pursue forfeiture of the cash, and the court ordered the funds be returned to O'Brien. O'Brien was part of a criminal organisation led by Mark McCourt, 34, of Edenreive, Newry, Co Down. McCourt was previously sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment by the Special Criminal Court after pleading guilty to facilitating the importation of restricted weapons and possessing firearms components between February 2023 and July 2024. Detective Inspector Shane McCartan stated that O'Brien was central to the organisation, which distributed weapons to gangs in Derry, Armagh, Dublin, and Limerick.
Conor O'Brien, 29, of Kilpatrick, Ardee, Co Louth, was sentenced to 11 years in prison by the Special Criminal Court for facilitating a criminal organisation's importation of restricted weapons and possessing firearms components. O'Brien pleaded guilty to six charges, including participating in the importation of firearms and ammunition between February 2023 and July 2024, and possessing various firearm parts in suspicious circumstances. Ms Justice Karen O'Connor set a headline sentence of 15 years, the maximum penalty, before reducing it to 11 years with the final 12 months suspended for one year, citing his guilty plea as a mitigating factor. The court ordered the forfeiture and destruction of seized firearms and ammunition. The matter regarding the forfeiture of seized cash was adjourned to hear further submissions next week, as money laundering charges against O'Brien are no longer being pursued. His co-accused, Mark McCourt, 34, of Edenreive, Newry, Co Down, was previously jailed for 12 years after pleading guilty to similar charges of facilitating the organisation's efforts to import restricted weapons and possessing firearms components. Detective Inspector Shane McCartan stated that O'Brien played a crucial role in the organisation, which distributed weapons to criminal gangs in Derry, Armagh, Dublin, and Limerish.
Conor O'Brien (29), of Kilpatrick, Ardee, Co Louth, pleaded guilty in the Special Criminal Court to facilitating a criminal organisation's importation of restricted weapons between February 2023 and July 2024, and to five counts of possessing firearms components in suspicious circumstances. The court heard evidence that O'Brien and co-accused Mark McCourt procured military-grade firearms and ammunition in America, which were smuggled into Ireland in component parts for reassembly and distribution to criminal gangs in Derry, Armagh, Dublin, and Limerish. Detective Inspector Shane McCartan stated that O'Brien was vital to the organisation's operations. Defence counsel argued O'Brien acted under pressure and fear. Ms Justice Karen O'Connor, presiding over the non-jury court, adjourned the matter to March 16 for sentence, with O'Brien remanded in custody until then. His co-accused, Mark McCourt (34), of Edenreive, Newry, Co Down, was previously jailed for 12 years by the Special Criminal Court after pleading guilty to facilitating the organisation's efforts to import restricted weapons and possessing firearms components during the same period.
Conor O'Brien, 29, of Ardee, Co Louth, pleaded guilty in the Special Criminal Court to facilitating a criminal organisation's importation of restricted weapons between February 2023 and July 2024, and to five counts of possessing firearms components in suspicious circumstances. The court heard evidence that O'Brien and co-accused Mark McCourt procured military-grade firearms and ammunition in America, which were smuggled into Ireland in component parts for reassembly and distribution to criminal gangs. Detective Inspector Shane McCartan stated that O'Brien was central to the organisation, describing a "symbiotic relationship" with McCourt, who was directing operations. While defence counsel argued O'Brien acted under pressure, the prosecution highlighted communications referencing sales to "Ireland's top criminals" and the discovery of working firearms in a shed rented by O'Brien. O'Brien has no previous convictions. Ms Justice Karen O'Connor, presiding over the non-jury court, adjourned the matter to March 16 for sentence, with O'Brien remanded in custody until that date. His co-accused, Mark McCourt, 34, of Newry, Co Down, was previously sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment after pleading guilty to similar charges of facilitating the importation of restricted weapons and possessing firearms components.
A Northern Irish man has been jailed for 13 years for using his legitimate haulage business to smuggle over €6 million worth of drugs into the country. Padraig Casey (45) was found guilty of five counts related to the seizure of cannabis and cocaine at Dublin Port in 2020. The court heard that Casey, who was the owner and director of a haulage company, used his business to bring the drugs into the country. Judge Elma Sheahan noted that the aggravating factors included the seriousness of the offence, the nature and amount of the drugs, and the fact that Casey used his legitimate business to facilitate the trafficking. In mitigation, the court considered testimonials from Casey's family, his lack of previous convictions for this type of offence, and his long history of employment. Judge Sheahan set a headline sentence of 15 years but reduced it to 13 years, taking mitigation into account. Casey was stopped at Dublin Port upon his return from Rotterdam, where 93kg of cannabis and 60.9kg of cocaine were found in his truck.
Jason O'Driscoll, convicted of the murders of Anthony Burnett and Joseph Redmond in Co Louth in 2012, had his appeal reheard today before a reconstituted Court of Appeal panel. The matter was previously adjourned after it emerged that one of the original judges, Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, had presided over O'Driscoll's 2017 trial. O'Driscoll, who pleaded not guilty and was sentenced to life imprisonment in October 2018, argues that the conviction is unsafe due to flawed expert vehicle identification evidence and a tweet from a prosecution expert's account. Defence counsel Seán Guerin contended that the evidence from Acuity Forensics lacked scientific validity and that the tweet, which congratulated the Gardaí on the conviction, acted as a "marketing tool" undermining the expert's independence. The prosecution, represented by Patrick Gageby SC, maintained that the vehicle identification was part of the circumstantial evidence and that the tweet did not indicate a lack of impartiality. The court has reserved judgment on the appeal.
A Limerick man, Jeremiah O'Brien (55), who is wanted in Europe on a human trafficking charge, has been remanded in custody with consent to bail. He is alleged to have facilitated the transportation of 66 people from an unknown desert place near Nafplio, Greece, to Italy without life jackets. The boat was found stranded on a rocky shore near Gyalia beach. The State opposed his bail application at the High Court, citing concerns that he might abscond. O'Brien's defence counsel, Simon Matthews BL, stated that his client is a member of the travelling community who sells tools and generators across Europe and that the addresses provided were those of family and friends. Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring noted the seriousness of the allegations but emphasized O'Brien's right to be presumed innocent. She granted bail on his own bond of €500 and an independent surety of €15,000, with conditions including surrendering travel documents, living at his Rathkeale address, and maintaining a curfew. O'Brien must also attend all court dates and not apply for travel documents.
Conor O'Brien, 29, of Kilpatrick, Ardee, Co Louth, pleaded guilty to all six charges before the Special Criminal Court. He admitted to facilitating a criminal organisation's efforts to import restricted weapons and ammunition from the US to Ireland between February 2023 and July 2024. He also pleaded guilty to five counts of possessing firearm components in suspicious circumstances, including AR-15 and Anderson AM-15 barrels, Sig Sauer pistol frames, and slides, seized in Ardee in July 2024. The court noted the organisation's function was importing and reassembling restricted firearms for distribution to other criminal groups. O'Brien was remanded on continual bail to appear for sentencing on January 12. His co-accused, Mark McCourt, 34, of Edenreive, Newry, Co Down, was previously jailed by the Special Criminal Court after pleading guilty to similar charges of facilitating the importation of restricted weapons and possessing firearms components. McCourt had offered 10 pipe bombs as a free gift to seal a €75,000 deal to supply smuggled guns and ammunition. The gang leader was jailed for 12 years two weeks prior after being caught in a raid where parts for six weapons and hundreds of rounds of ammunition were seized.
Mark McCourt (34) of Edenreive, Newry, Co Down, was sentenced by the Special Criminal Court today. Having pleaded guilty in July to participating in a criminal organisation's efforts to import restricted weapons between February 2023 and July 2024, and possessing firearms, McCourt was jailed for 12 years for arms smuggling. This sentence was based on a 15-year headline term, reduced by 20% for his early guilty plea. He was concurrently sentenced to 10 years on four firearms possession charges, reduced from 12.5 years on the same basis. The remaining 20 counts on the indictment were taken into account. The court noted McCourt was caught red-handed with military-grade weapons, including parts for six assault rifles and hundreds of rounds of ammunition seized in a Co Louth raid. Det Insp Shane McCartan stated McCourt controlled the importation of firearms components from the USA for reassembly and distribution. McCourt's jail term has been backdated to his arrest on 19 July 2024. The report also notes a separate conviction for criminal damage, where McCourt was jailed for three years, with 18 months suspended, for ramming an off-duty garda's car. No adjournments were recorded; the matter was finalised with sentencing.
The Special Criminal Court heard that Mark McCourt, 34, of Edenrieve, Newry, could receive a sentence of up to 14 years for running a gun‑running ring that smuggled weapons from America to criminal organisations. McCourt had previously pleaded guilty to firearms offences and to aiding a criminal organisation in importing restricted weapons. The Director of Public Prosecutions placed him at the higher end of the sentencing scale, which carries ten to fourteen years. He is remanded in custody and the sentencing is scheduled for 3 November. A senior Garda testified that McCourt controlled a criminal organisation that imported firearms components from the USA, reassembled them into assault rifles and pistols, and distributed them to other groups. Evidence included a raid in County Louth where 82 gun parts were assembled into six rifles and a dozen pistols, and phone data showing McCourt's communications with prospective customers and his trips to Las Vegas.
Mark McCourt, 34, pleaded guilty to firearms offences and participation in a criminal organisation that imported and re‑assembled restricted weapons from the USA. In a Special Criminal Court hearing, a senior Garda testified that McCourt controlled a ring that smuggled gun parts by air, assembling them into assault rifles and pistols. Evidence included seized phone data revealing text messages to prospective buyers, offering a €75,000 cash deal for firearms and a free gift of 10 pipe bombs. McCourt had previously flown to Las Vegas in 2023, where he purchased an AR‑15 rifle and discussed further weapon sales. A raid on a shed in Ardee on 19 July 2024 uncovered 82 gun parts and nearly 900 rounds of ammunition. McCourt has 42 prior convictions and was jailed for three years, 18 months suspended, for a criminal damage incident involving a Garda's vehicle. The court will decide his sentence at a later hearing.
A 34‑year‑old man named Mark McCourt pleaded guilty before the Special Criminal Court to facilitating a criminal organisation in the importation of firearms, ammunition and explosives into the State between 10 February 2023 and 19 July 2024. He admitted that, knowing the organisation existed, he participated in or contributed to activities intended to assist the organisation or its members in committing serious offences, specifically the importation of firearms, ammunition and explosives. McCourt also confessed to unlawfully possessing two .233 Remington calibre barrels from AR‑15 pattern rifles and, on the same date and location, nine 9mm Luger calibre barrels, eight frames for Sig Sauer semi‑automatic pistols, a frame for a Canik semi‑automatic pistol and four slides for a Sig Sauer P320 9mm Luger semi‑automatic pistol, with circumstances indicating he did not have them for lawful purposes.
Two men, Mark McCourt, 34, of Edencrieve, Newry, and Conor O'Brien, 28, of Kilpatrick, Ardee, are set to be tried before the Special Criminal Court on firearms charges. McCourt faces 24 counts for possessing parts for .223 calibre Remington AR‑15 semi‑automatic rifles and various pistol parts, including Lugers and Sig Sauers, along with pistol magazines and ammunition, all at John St, Blackstick, Ardee, on 19 July 2024. O'Brien is charged with 24 similar offences on the same date and location, plus an additional count for aiding a criminal organisation in importing firearms and ammunition between 10 February 2023 and 19 July 2024. He is also charged under the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Act for handling €7,450 and $20 Canadian, and for possessing €9,980 in criminal proceeds at Hazelbrook Square, Dublin. The court will hear the case in June.
A man accused of conspiring to steal vehicles with garda killer Aaron Brady has been refused bail ahead of his retrial at the Special Criminal Court. James Flynn, aged 43, with an address in Newry, County Down, faced objections from gardaí who contended he poses a flight risk. Ms Justice Karen O'Connor, presiding over the three-judge, non-jury court, noted that Mr Flynn holds citizenship of the United Kingdom and the United States and has established businesses in both jurisdictions. The judge cited evidence of his financial capacity to evade justice and rejected submissions that his ties to the Republic of Ireland are sufficiently substantial. Proposed bail conditions, including residence with his mother-in-law in Monaghan, did not allay the court's concerns regarding the seriousness of the charges and the probable sentence upon conviction. The Court of Appeal previously quashed Mr Flynn's conviction on the conspiracy charge and ordered a retrial, finding the Special Criminal Court had breached his constitutional right to natural justice by amending the indictment without consulting legal representatives.
At the Special Criminal Court, Det Inspector Mark Phillips raised concerns about potential witness intimidation if James Flynn (34) is released on bail. He detailed incidents during Aaron Brady's trial for the murder of Det Gda Adrian Donohoe in 2020, including alleged attempts by James Flynn's father, Eugene Flynn Snr, to intimidate witnesses and jurors. Det Insp Phillips also highlighted alleged intimidation by Tony Brady, Aaron Brady's father, and an associate who sent a Snapchat message to a witness. Aaron Brady has pleaded guilty to conspiring with another man to dissuade a vital prosecution witness from giving evidence at his trial. The court heard that James Flynn was extradited from the UK in 2022 and has access to significant funds. He was originally charged with conspiracy to steal cars and participation in the robbery of the Lordship Credit Union, where Aaron Brady killed Det Gda Donohoe. The Special Criminal Court acquitted Flynn of the robbery charge but found him guilty of conspiring to steal a Volkswagen Passat used as a getaway car. The Court of Appeal previously ruled that the amendment of the indictment against Flynn was a breach of his right to natural justice. Defence counsel Bernard Condon argued that there is no evidence linking Flynn to witness interference or flight risk and that Flynn has no connection to Tony Brady. Ms Justice Karen O'Connor adjourned the decision to tomorrow morning.
The Court of Appeal has ordered a retrial for James Flynn, 34, who successfully appealed his conviction for conspiring to steal the getaway car used in a 2013 credit union robbery in which Aaron Brady shot and killed Det Gda Adrian Donohoe. Ms Justice Tara Burns rejected Flynn's argument that a retrial would be unfair given his custody since July 2021, noting he had not fully served his original eight-year sentence. The court quashed his conviction because the Special Criminal Court unlawfully amended the indictment after his trial concluded, breaching his right to natural justice. Although Flynn was acquitted of the robbery charge, the DPP sought a retrial on the original conspiracy count. The court dismissed arguments regarding witness memory and prosecution delay, citing the public interest in a valid final verdict. Flynn, who was in custody pending extradition from the UK, was remanded by Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo for a bail hearing scheduled for April 28th. The matter is adjourned for this bail application, and the retrial has been ordered on the original charges.
The Director of Public Prosecutions has sought a retrial for James Flynn, a 34-year-old appellant, following the Court of Appeal's decision to quash his conviction for conspiring to steal the getaway car used in the 2013 Lordship Credit Union robbery, where Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was killed. The appeal court found that the Special Criminal Court breached Flynn's right to natural justice by amending the indictment to secure a guilty verdict on the conspiracy charge without consulting legal teams. While the DPP argues this results in no verdict and requires a return to the Special Criminal Court, Flynn's counsel, Bernard Condon SC, contended that a retrial would be unfair given he has served 44 months in custody since his 2021 extradition from the UK. Condon also argued the court lacks jurisdiction to order a retrial on the original conspiracy charge, as Flynn was acquitted of that specific count. The three-judge panel, comprising Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, Mr Justice John Edwards, and Ms Justice Tara Burns, reserved their judgment on the proposed disposal. Flynn was originally sentenced to eight years' imprisonment in December 2023 for the conspiracy to steal the Volkswagen Passat, a sentence that remains subject to the current appeal proceedings.
The Court of Appeal quashed the conviction of a 34‑year‑old man who had been jailed for eight years for conspiring to steal the getaway car used in the credit union robbery that killed Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe. The appeal court held that the Special Criminal Court had breached the defendant's right to natural justice by amending the indictment after the three‑month trial had finished and without consulting the prosecution or defence. The amendment added a charge of conspiring to steal a Volkswagen Passat from a property in Clogherhead, a charge that had not been presented to the defendant during the trial. The Court of Appeal did not consider other arguments raised by the defence and will hear whether the defendant should face a retrial on 18 March. The court also dismissed mobile‑phone evidence used to link the defendant to a series of burglaries, finding it insufficient to prove conspiracy beyond a reasonable doubt.
James Flynn, aged 32, was acquitted of taking part in the 2013 robbery of Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgan, Co. Louth, where Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was shot dead. However, the Special Criminal Court later convicted him of conspiring with Aaron Brady to steal a Volkswagen Passat that was used in the robbery. The conviction was based on an amendment to the indictment made after the trial, which narrowed the period and location of the alleged conspiracy and changed the accused person. Flynn's barrister argued that the amendment was made without giving Flynn an opportunity to challenge it, violating fundamental fairness. The Court of Appeal heard arguments about the admissibility of witness Andy Wooller's forensic vehicle identification evidence, which was described as lacking scientific basis. The court adjourned the matter, reserving its judgment. The case remains at the appeal stage, with no further outcome reported.
At a preliminary hearing in Newry Magistrate's Court on 3 July 2024, former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson (61) and his wife Eleanor (58) were remanded on bail to face a series of child sexual offence charges. The judge, Eamonn King, found a prima facie case and asked the couple whether they wished to give a written or oral statement; Mr Donaldson declined, and Mrs Donaldson answered "No." Both were ordered to return on 10 September for their Crown Court trial. Mr Donaldson is charged with one count of rape (1987‑1991), 13 counts of indecent assault on a female child (1987‑1991) and four counts of gross indecency towards a child (2005‑2008). Mrs Donaldson faces charges of aiding and abetting rape (1987‑1991), three counts of aiding and abetting indecent assault on a female child and one count of child cruelty (2004‑2008). They were required to sign bail conditions before leaving the court's cell area.
Sir Jeffrey Donaldson and his wife, Eleanor Donaldson, appeared at Newry Magistrate's Court for a preliminary enquiry to determine whether they should be sent forward for trial on sexual offence charges. The former Lagan Valley MP, aged 61, and his wife, aged 58, both of Dromore, Co Down, face a total of 23 alleged charges. Mr Donaldson is accused of one count of rape, four counts of gross indecency with or towards a child, and 13 counts of indecent assault, with alleged incidents occurring between 1985 and 2006. Mrs Donaldson faces five charges of aiding and abetting rape and aiding and abetting indecent assault, along with two counts of cruelty to a person under 16, alleged to have occurred between 1985 and 2004. Judge Eamonn King was scheduled to consider prosecution statements and depositions to decide if a prima facie case exists. If sufficient evidence is found, the accused would be asked to enter pleas. The matter is currently at the charge or pretrial stage, with no findings, sentences, or finalisations recorded in this report.
James Flynn, a 32‑year‑old former member of a cross‑border crime gang, was granted legal aid to appeal his conviction and eight‑year sentence for conspiring to steal the getaway car used in the 2013 Lordship Credit Union robbery that killed Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe. Flynn had previously been acquitted of the robbery itself but was found guilty of conspiracy to steal a Volkswagen Passat from a house in Clogherhead, Co. Louth. The Special Criminal Court convicted him of conspiracy, noting that the burglary was part of an organised plan to secure a vehicle for the robbery. Flynn fled Ireland after the crime, was extradited from the UK in 2022, and holds UK and US passports but no Irish passport. Court President Mr Justice George Birmingham approved legal aid for his appeal, following the same basis as the trial court. The case was one of 16 legal‑aid applications heard that day.
Peter 'Peadar' Keating, a senior Kinahan cartel member jailed for 11 years in September 2021 for directing a criminal organisation to target James 'Mago' Gately, is awaiting a High Court decision on his extradition to the UK. Keating faces nine alleged offences, including perverting the course of justice and conspiracy to possess firearms, stemming from a botched plot to amass an arsenal to help Thomas 'Bomber' Kavanagh reduce his sentence. Kavanagh, who pleaded guilty to drug trafficking and was jailed for 21 years in England in March 2022, is alleged to have directed the scheme. The UK warrant alleges Keating, using the handle 'short-texture', procured weapons from the Netherlands between January and June 2020. While Keating's counsel argued he was serving a sentence in Ireland and thus outside the UK's jurisdiction, the State's counsel rejected this, stating the warrant clearly indicates the conspiracy occurred while Keating was in the UK. The court will deliver its judgment on the surrender application by April 25. Separately, Imre Arakas was jailed for six years in December 2018 after admitting to conspiring to murder Gately in Northern Ireland in 2017.
The High Court has heard arguments regarding the extradition of Peter 'Peadar' Keating to the UK, where he faces charges including perverting the course of justice and conspiracy to possess firearms. Keating, a senior Kinahan cartel member, was jailed for 11 years in Ireland in September 2021 after pleading guilty to directing a criminal organisation involved in the targeting of James 'Mago' Gately. The UK warrant alleges Keating conspired to source weapons from the Netherlands to assist Thomas 'Bomber' Kavanagh in reducing his sentence. Kavanagh, who pleaded guilty to drug trafficking, was jailed for 21 years in England in March 2022. Counsel for Keating argued that the alleged conspiracy occurred outside the jurisdiction of England and Wales, noting Keating was serving a sentence in Ireland during the relevant period. The court also considered arguments regarding prison conditions in the UK. The hearing before Mr Justice Patrick McGrath was adjourned and continues tomorrow. Separately, Imre Arakas was jailed for six years in December 2018 after admitting to conspiring to murder Gately in Northern Ireland. Stephen Fowler and David Duffy were also jailed for providing logistical support to the plot against Gately.
James Flynn, aged 32, was sentenced to eight years in prison for conspiring to steal a Volkswagen Passat that was used as the getaway vehicle in the 2013 Lordship Credit Union robbery in Bellurgan, Co. Louth. The Special Criminal Court, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, found that Flynn knew the full purpose of the conspiracy and that the theft of the Passat was an integral part of the robbery plan. Although Flynn was acquitted of direct participation in the robbery itself, the court convicted him of conspiracy to steal the Passat. The judge set a headline sentence of nine years, reduced to eight after considering mitigating factors such as family testimonials, and backdated the sentence to 15 July 2021 when Flynn entered custody in the UK pending extradition. Flynn had previously fled Ireland and was extradited from the UK in April 2022.
Garda Emma Brady, who was assaulted while trying to arrest Aiden McKevitt, a 40‑year‑old with 168 prior convictions, said the attack has left her with physical injuries and a loss of enthusiasm for her job. Brady suffered a fractured elbow and wrist, soft‑tissue injuries to her shoulder, neck and chest, a finger injury and a broken tooth. She described ongoing sleep difficulties, fear of further assault and a sense that her life has changed forever. Brady's victim impact statement, read during McKevitt's sentencing, highlighted her emotional distress and the impact on her sporting ambitions. McKevitt pleaded guilty to assaulting a peace officer and obstruction of a peace officer on 9 November 2022 and was sentenced to three years' imprisonment, a sentence back‑dated to his initial custody in February. The court noted Brady's injuries and the effect on her career. The judge imposed a headline sentence of four years, reduced to three years after mitigating factors.
In a February 2023 hearing, Mr. Gavin Guerrine, aged 31, was warned by Mr. Justice Paul McDermott that any further breaches of his probation could lead to the activation of a five‑year suspended sentence. Guerrine had previously been sentenced in 2011 to ten years, with the last five years suspended, for deliberately running over Christopher O'Rourke in 2009. O'Rourke, who was 17 at the time, suffered severe brain injury, fractures and a serious knee injury, and later died in 2010 from a drug overdose. Guerrine's failure to attend probation appointments, attributed to illness, was cited as a breach. The court emphasized the need for Guerrine to engage with probation services, provide required urinalysis, and participate in training and employment programs, or risk re‑activation of the suspended sentence.
In a High Court hearing on 9 February 2023, a Dublin GAA club, Fingallians, denied a mother's claim that her four children were banned from club activities. The mother, Sinead O'Farrell, had sued club officials, including the chairperson, vice chairperson, secretary, juvenile chairperson, children's officer and disciplinary chairperson, seeking an injunction to remove the alleged ban. Barrister Micheál Ó Scanaill SC, representing the club, told Justice Brian O'Moore that there was no evidence the children were banned and that the dispute should be resolved through the GAA's Disputes Resolution Authority rather than the High Court. O'Farrell's counsel argued the children were entitled to participate fully and that the injunction should be heard promptly. Justice O'Moore set the hearing for 17 February, noting the case was unusual and that the injunction application should be considered as soon as possible. The court also heard that the children are paid‑up members and participate in football and hurling.
Sinead O'Farrell, mother of four children aged 10, 8, 6 and 5, has applied to the High Court for injunctions to prevent Fingallians GAA Club from barring her family from club activities. She claims that she, her husband Jason and their children were banned after a dispute over a U‑9 football tournament in Newry last year. The dispute involved the club's head coach, Richie Herity, and led to the removal of volunteer coaches in September. O'Farrell alleges that club officials have communicated that her family should leave the club and that they were asked to refrain from attending until a meeting. She seeks injunctions restraining officials from interfering with her children's right to attend the club and declarations that any ban is unlawful. Mr Justice Brian O'Moore granted short service of the proceedings to several club officials, with a returnable hearing scheduled for the following Thursday.
The Court of Appeal has ruled that a mandatory driving ban is not required for those convicted of careless driving causing death where it constitutes a first offence. The court determined that mandatory disqualification applies only when a person has accumulated at least two previous driving convictions within three years prior to the offence in question. The decision followed a civil appeal brought by Colleen McCann, aged 27, of Drumacon, Castleblayney, County Monaghan, who was convicted of careless driving that resulted in the death of a teenager in July 2012 at Maghernakill, Castleblayney. McCann received a 12-month fully suspended sentence at Monaghan Circuit Court in October 2021. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy said the case would be returned to the Circuit Court for finalisation regarding the matter of any discretionary driving disqualification order.
At the Central Criminal Court, Justice Paul McDermott ordered the release of trial transcripts from the murder case of Aaron Brady to the legal team of Brendan Treanor. Treanor, 34, is charged with participating in the January 25, 2013, robbery at Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgan, County Louth, where Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was killed. The transcripts are intended for use in Treanor's upcoming Special Criminal Court trial. The Director of Public Prosecutions did not oppose the application but emphasized that the documents must not be shared with anyone outside Treanor and his solicitors, citing witness intimidation concerns. James Flynn, 31, of Newry, Northern Ireland, is also accused of the same robbery and conspiracy to steal vehicle keys. Flynn was extradited from the UK last July to face charges in Ireland. He has not applied for the transcripts. In the related Brady case, the defendant pleaded not guilty to the capital murder of Garda Donohoe but was convicted by an 11-to-1 majority verdict in August 2020. He received a mandatory life sentence with a minimum term of 40 years, plus a concurrent 14-year sentence for the robbery.
The President of the High Court, Mr Justice David Barniville, granted an application by Jim Elliott, acting for the family of Corporal James Elliott, to access the Special Criminal Court file from a 1972 trial. The order, issued at the sentence stage of the underlying 1972 proceedings, directs that the Elliott family's lawyers receive the original file and a copy within seven days. The 1972 trial involved Brendan Finnegan and Patrick Lynch, who were convicted of conspiring to commit an explosion and possessing explosives. Finnegan was sentenced to nine months' imprisonment, while Lynch received a 15-month sentence. The family alleges these convictions are linked to the 1972 kidnapping and murder of their father, a part-time Ulster Defence Regiment corporal, by the Provisional IRA. Although other charges, including conspiracy to commit murder, were reportedly dropped, the family has never been informed of the trial until 2005. The court found that providing access to the file supports the legacy process and commitments under the Good Friday Agreement. The application was opposed by no party; the Courts Service, the DPP, the Garda Commissioner, and the Minister for Justice did not object. The judge described the murder as horrendous and ruled that making the file available was in the interests of justice. The matter was not adjourned; the order was finalised with specific directions for file delivery.
An appeal is ongoing in the Special Criminal Court regarding the case of Jonathan Dowdall, who was previously sentenced to 12 years imprisonment and Patrick Dowdall eight years imprisonment for physically and mentally torturing a man they suspected of trying to defraud them. The sentences were later appealed and reduced, with Jonathan Dowdall receiving 10 years imprisonment, 25 months of which were suspended, and Patrick Dowdall receiving seven years, three of which were suspended. Paul Murphy and Jason Bonney are co-accused in the case, but they have not been charged and have pleaded not guilty. Gerard Hutch, who is also a co-accused, denies the murder of Kinahan Cartel member David Byrne. The court heard that a search warrant was obtained for Jonathan Dowdall's home based on the belief that firearms and explosives were being stored there on behalf of the IRA. The matter was adjourned and is not yet concluded.
James Flynn, 31, of Newry, Northern Ireland, was granted legal aid by the Special Criminal Court despite previously offering over £1 million in bail sureties in the UK. Ms Justice Tara Burns noted the 'odd position' of Flynn claiming to have 'absolutely nothing' after offering £185,000 in cash and a £965,000 surety to Westminster Magistrates' Court. Flynn is accused of robbing Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgan, Co Louth, in January 2013, during which Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was murdered. He is also accused of conspiring with Aaron Brady and Brendan Treanor to steal vehicle keys. Flynn was refused bail last week due to flight risk concerns, including evidence that his father told gardai in Boston, 'the boys are gone, you will never get them.' His trial is scheduled for January. Co-accused Brendan Treanor, 34, of Dundalk, is also charged with the robbery and was refused bail in June 2022. Aaron Brady, 31, of Crossmaglen, Co Armagh, was convicted of murdering Det Gda Donohoe by an 11-to-1 jury verdict in August 2020. He was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 40 years, plus 14 years for the robbery, running concurrently. The matter regarding Flynn's legal aid was finalised, but his trial remains pending.
The Special Criminal Court has refused bail to James Flynn, who is accused of the 2013 Lordship Credit Union robbery in which Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was murdered. Ms Justice Tara Burns, delivering the ruling of a three-judge court, determined that Flynn is a significant flight risk, noting he left the jurisdiction shortly after the alleged crime and has resided in the US, UK, and Northern Ireland since. The court cited "very concerning evidence" regarding an incident where gardai travelled to Boston for an interview with Flynn, only to be met by his father, who allegedly stated, "the boys are gone, you will never get them." The judge emphasized that while the case against Flynn is circumstantial, the prosecution's evidence is strong enough to suggest a potential for conviction. Flynn, who holds US and UK passports, was extradited from the UK after his appeal against extradition was dismissed. He faces charges of robbery and conspiracy to steal vehicle keys. Aaron Brady, who was convicted of murdering Det Gda Donohoe by an 11-to-1 jury verdict in August 2020, was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 40 years, plus a concurrent 14-year sentence for the robbery. Flynn's trial is scheduled for January next year, alongside co-accused Brendan Treanor, who was also refused bail in 2022.
Gerard Hutch, 59, of Clontarf, Dublin 3, is standing trial in the Special Criminal Court, where he denies the murder of Kinahan Cartel member David Byrne on February 5, 2016. The defence team, led by Brendan Grehan SC, has raised significant concerns regarding the legality of state surveillance, specifically alleging that gardai may have illegally deployed a tracker device on a vehicle belonging to Jonathan Dowdall while it was in Northern Ireland. Mr Grehan argued that such use would breach the law and sought clarification on how specific CCTV enquiries were initiated. Prosecution witness Sean Gillane SC contended that the defence was conflating issues, while the presiding judge acknowledged the emerging legal arguments. Meanwhile, co-accused Jonathan Dowdall, 44, of Cabra, Dublin 7, pleaded guilty to facilitating the Hutch gang by providing access to motor vehicles. He was sentenced to four years in prison for this offence. Dowdall is currently being assessed for the Witness Protection Program to testify against Hutch. Other defendants, Paul Murphy and Jason Bonney, who also face charges of participating in the murder by providing vehicles, have pleaded not guilty and remain on trial. The court continues to hear evidence from National Surveillance Unit members, whose identities are withheld by order.
The Special Criminal Court has viewed CCTV footage presented by the State, which allegedly shows Gerard 'The Monk' Hutch making two separate journeys to Northern Ireland with former Sinn Fein councillor Jonathan Dowdall shortly after the murder of Kinahan Cartel member David Byrne at the Regency Hotel. The footage also shows Patrick Hutch Senior in the same area of north Dublin as convicted IRA member Shane Rowan a month after the attack. Rowan was stopped with three assault rifles used in the Regency Hotel shooting. Jonathan Dowdall has been jailed by the Special Criminal Court for four years for facilitating the Hutch gang in the murder of David Byrne. Gerard Hutch has pleaded guilty to charges related to the murder of David Byrne, but the matter is still ongoing. County Donegal was jailed for seven and a half years for possession of assault rifles and ammunition and received a concurrent sentence of four years for IRA membership, backdated to March 9, 2016. The trial continues tomorrow before Ms Justice Tara Burns, presiding, sitting with Judge Sarah Berkeley and Judge Grainne Malone.
James Flynn, aged 31 and from Raven's Glen, Newry, Northern Ireland, was extradited from the UK to face a robbery charge at the Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgan, Co Louth, where Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was murdered. The robbery, which took place on 25 January 2013, involved the theft of €7,000 from Pat Bellew's property. Flynn is also accused of conspiring with Aaron Brady, Brendan Treanor and others to enter a residential premises with the intent to steal a motor vehicle's keys between 11 September 2012 and 23 January 2013. The Director of Public Prosecutions applied to transfer the case to the non‑jury Special Criminal Court, and the three‑judge court accepted the application, adjourned the matter to 6 October 2022, and allowed the transfer. Flynn's extradition appeal was unsuccessful, and the case will now be heard at the Special Criminal Court alongside Brendan Treanor's trial.
The Court of Appeal heard argument on whether the law mandates a driving ban for those convicted of careless driving causing death as a first offence. Colleen McCann, aged 27 with an address at Drumacon, Castleblayney, Co Monaghan, was given a 12-month fully suspended sentence for careless driving that resulted in the death of a 17-year-old in July 2012 at Maghernakill, Castleblayney. McCann was deported from the United States in 2017 to face charges relating to the collision. Her legal team argues that a first conviction for careless driving does not constitute a "qualifying offence" under the Road Traffic Act, meaning any driving disqualification remains discretionary rather than mandatory. The State contends that a consequential ban reflects the legislature's intention and is a matter of public safety. The three-judge court reserved judgment.
Keith Lennon, aged 23, was convicted of manslaughter after his 3‑litre Audi, driven at 225 km/h, collided with a Peugeot 108 on the N1, killing Mary (82) and Kevin (58) Faxton and Bryan Magill (24). Lennon had been filming Snapchat videos while driving at 105 km/h above the limit. He pleaded guilty in February 2021 and was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment, a 20‑year driving ban, and a 14‑year custodial term, with the judge describing his car as a "weapon". Lennon appealed the severity of the sentence, arguing the judge had over‑penalised him. The Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice George Birmingham, rejected the appeal, stating the custodial sentence was inevitable and that the Snapchat videos and high speeds made the case particularly reckless. The court upheld the original nine‑year term and the 20‑year driving ban. The decision was delivered on 1 April 2022.
Keith Lennon is appealing the severity of his nine-year prison sentence for three counts of manslaughter at the Court of Appeal. Lennon, of Forest Park, Dromintee, Co Armagh, pleaded guilty at Dundalk Circuit Criminal Court after his vehicle collided with another car on the N1 in Dundalk, Co Louth, on February 29, 2020, killing Mary and Kevin Faxton and Bryan Magill. Judge Marina Baxter sentenced him to nine years' imprisonment in February 2021, stating he had turned his car into a "weapon," and imposed a 20-year driving ban. Lennon's counsel, Patrick Gageby SC, argued the sentence was too severe, noting a lack of comparable cases and that the offense was not one of intention. He also conveyed Lennon's public apology. Conversely, Anne-Marie Lawlor SC, representing the Director of Public Prosecutions, maintained the sentence was fair and within the judge's discretion. She highlighted that Lennon was driving at excessive speeds, was uninsured, and had made two Snapchat videos of the speedometer while driving, which she described as a pivotal factor in his culpability. The court has reserved judgment on the appeal.
A 26-year-old man who pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death has consented to his surrender to Northern Ireland authorities at the High Court. Conor Jeremiah Briody was sentenced to six years imprisonment, with three years suspended, by Newry Crown Court in October 2016 following a high-speed chase in Enniskillen in August 2014. The court heard he was significantly over the drink-drive limit when driving at speeds up to 100mph. A passenger, Vaidas Urbonas, died six days after the crash. After serving three years, Briody was released on licence but breached conditions by relocating to the Republic without probation service approval. A warrant for his arrest was issued in September 2021, and he was apprehended in December. Ms Justice Caroline Biggs granted bail with residence at an Edgeworthstown address, requiring daily reporting to Longford garda station. Briody was remanded pending his surrender within twenty days.
A landlord couple from Crossmaglen, County Down, have been ordered by the Workplace Relations Commission to pay €7,500 to their former tenant following a discrimination complaint. David Paul Smith alleged that Martin and Hillary Shields refused to accept housing assistance payment for a property he rented in Monaghan Town from October 2017, forcing him into significant financial difficulty. Mr Smith claimed he incurred approximately €5,687 in unmet rental costs and fell into arrears on utility bills while attempting to maintain his tenancy. Text messages from July 2020 showed the landlords explicitly declined HAP and allegedly threatened eviction should he pursue the matter further. The defendants did not attend the hearing. Adjudicating officer Breiffni O'Neill found the refusal constituted discrimination under the Equal Status Act, describing it as "at the more serious end of the scale" given its duration and impact on the complainant's family circumstances.
A 43-year-old man from Ballyshannon, Co Donegal, appeared before the High Court on 26 October 2021 to contest his extradition to Northern Ireland on six alleged terrorism offences. The defendant, represented by counsel John Berry, challenges two of the charges, contending they have no equivalent under Irish law. These charges relate to attending a place used for terrorist training and receiving training in explosives manufacture. The State's counsel Karen Nolan argued both offences fall within the scope of the Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Act 2005. The alleged conduct dates from August to November 2014 and centres on discussions about pipe bombs, potential targets, and recruitment strategy, based on covert police recordings. Justice Caroline Biggs indicated she would rule on the legal correspondence issue on 10 November before addressing remaining matters. The defendant was remanded on continuing bail pending that date.
At the Special Criminal Court, William Twomey, 58, was sentenced for his role in the 2017 attack on businessman Edward McAndrew in Omeath, Co Louth. Twomey, who pleaded not guilty, was found guilty of assault causing harm, demanding £50,000 with menaces, and robbing McAndrew of various items including a passport and mobile phones. He was found not guilty of false imprisonment. The judge described Twomey as the initiator of a joint enterprise, noting that the violent outcome exceeded his contemplation. He received a headline sentence of two years for the assault and four years for the robbery and demanding money with menaces. The last year of the robbery and demanding money sentences was suspended for two years, resulting in two years' imprisonment on each charge to be served concurrently. The sentence was backdated to August 29, 2023. Twomey signed a €100 bond upon release. Co-accused Thomas McGuinness, who also pleaded not guilty, was acquitted of all charges on September 30. Separately, Anthony Finglas, 49, pleaded guilty to demanding money with menaces and was jailed for four years and nine months.
At the Special Criminal Court, closing arguments concluded in the trial of two men charged with offences arising from an assault on a Mayo businessman in County Louth in December 2017. Thomas McGuinness and William Twomey deny falsely imprisoning, assaulting, and robbing the victim, as well as demanding money with menaces. The prosecution alleged the businessman was lured to a remote location under false pretences and attacked with iron bars by men demanding £50,000. The defence submitted that Mr McGuinness should be acquitted, arguing the prosecution lacked core evidence and that Mr Twomey had withdrawn from the scheme before the assault occurred. The defence contended Mr Twomey had expressed concerns about the plan's escalation and warned gardaí of potential danger to the victim. A third man, Anthony Finglas, was previously convicted and sentenced to four years and nine months for demanding money with menaces. Closing arguments for the second defendant are to follow.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Asta Dauksiene, wife of Edmundas Dauksa, testified that her husband was deeply devoted to his daughter, describing him as "completely destroyed" after the court placed the child in the deceased's custody. Dauksiene recounted that the child had been in the family's care since infancy, with the mother, Ingrida Maciokaite, returning to work and allowing the child to stay with the family. She detailed the court's abnormal and accelerated decision to transfer custody days before the September 18, 2018, murder. Dauksiene also described Dauksa's emotional state, noting he was upset, crying, and later appeared to have a knife in his hand. The trial, with Dauksa pleading not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, continues before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury.