In the trial of Aaron Brady, accused of the capital murder of Garda Adrian Donohoe, the jury was shown a photograph taken by Detective Garda Eoin Conway of Donohoe's gun still clipped into its holster while he lay on the ground after being shot. Conway also photographed the scene hours after the shooting, including a spent shotgun cartridge, a Samsung mobile phone, cigarette butts, drink cans, keys, and three cars in the car park. Brady, 28, pleaded not guilty to the murder and to a charge of robbing approximately €7,000 in cash and cheques at the same location. The trial is proceeding before Mr Justice Michael White with a jury of eight men and seven women. The case also involves forensic evidence from a burnt-out vehicle and statements from crime scene investigators regarding potential evidence collection. The proceedings remain ongoing.
In the capital murder trial of Adrian Donohoe, Judge Michael White instructed the jury to set aside emotion and sympathy while assessing the evidence. He described the case as complex and difficult, noting that the jury might feel strong feelings for the deceased. White reminded them of their oath to judge the facts based on evidence. The defendant, Aaron Brady, 28, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Garda Adrian Donohoe, who was on duty on 25 January 2013 at Lordship Credit Union, Bellurgan, County Louth, and also to a charge of robbing about €7,000 in cash and cheques at the same time and place.
The trial of Aaron Brady, 28, from Crossmaglen, Co Armagh, is ongoing at the Central Criminal Court before Mr Justice Michael White. Brady has pleaded not guilty to the alleged capital murder of Det Gda Adrian Donohoe and the robbery of approximately €7,000 in cash and cheques at Lordship Credit Union, Bellurgan, Co Louth, on January 25, 2013. Prosecution counsel Brendan Grehan SC opened the case, alleging that a gang of four raiders targeted the Garda escort for a "base criminal motive" driven by money. He stated that one raider allegedly shot Det Gda Donohoe in the face with a shotgun, killing him instantly, while another threatened Det Gda Joe Ryan with a handgun. The prosecution contends the operation was highly organized, with the getaway car later found burnt out in South Armagh. Grehan argued that Brady was under financial pressure and allegedly lied about his whereabouts. Evidence will include CCTV, mobile phone data showing a "telecommunications blackout" during the incident, and conversations Brady allegedly had after moving to New York. The jury of 15 is hearing the prosecution's case, which relies on circumstantial evidence to link Brady to the crime. The trial continues.
Three newly sworn jurors for Aaron Brady's capital murder trial have declared they cannot serve. Mr Justice Michael White instructed the jury of eight men and seven women to elect a foreman before the trial's opening. Brady, 28, from Crossmaglen, Armagh, pleaded not guilty to the capital murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe, who was on duty on 25 January 2013 at Lordship Credit Union, Bellurgan, Louth, and also to a robbery charge of about €7,000 at the same place and time. The trial continues.
A 15‑person jury was sworn in to hear the trial of Aaron Brady, charged with the capital murder of Garda Adrian Donohoe on 25 January 2013 at Lordship Credit Union, Bellurgan, Co. Louth. Brady, 28, also faced a charge of robbing about €7,000 from Mr Pat Bellew at the same location and date. Mr Justice Michael White of the Central Criminal Court explained that the trial would be lengthy, expected to finish on 28 May, with a two‑week break at Easter and no sitting on St. Patrick's Day. He warned jurors against any difficulty in serving and urged them to remain impartial, avoiding social media or internet research. The jury would ultimately consist of 12 members, with 15 sworn in to allow for possible withdrawals. The trial was set to open the following day.
Mr Justice Donald Binchy indicated he will order the extradition of Eamon Harrison, a 23-year-old from Mayobridge, Co Down, to the UK to face 39 counts of manslaughter, conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration, and conspiracy to commit human trafficking. These charges relate to the discovery of 39 dead Vietnamese nationals in a lorry trailer in Essex. The judge stated that submissions from both Harrison's legal team and the Department of Justice did not preclude surrender, noting the circumstances meet legal requirements. Although the judge signaled his decision, he deferred making the formal order until Tuesday, February 4th, 2020, at 10am, adjourning the matter to that date. Harrison's counsel requested the delay to allow time to consider an appeal, noting Harrison is already in custody. The Minister for Justice's counsel urged finalisation as soon as possible. It is alleged that Harrison transported the refrigerated trailer, which was later collected in Essex by Maurice Robinson, a 25-year-old from Craigavon, Co Armagh, who was arrested at the scene. Harrison, a dual Irish-British citizen, was arrested in Ireland under a European Arrest Warrant. While the prosecution alleged Harrison was integrally involved in trafficking, his defense argued there were critical missing facts regarding who placed the victims in the trailer.
Darren Magee, a 33-year-old man from Newry, County Down, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of child pornography at Store Street Garda Station on August 27, 2015. Prosecuting Detective Inspector Mark Jordan stated that Magee voluntarily attended the station and handed over two mobile phones, which were subsequently analysed. The analysis revealed three images of child pornography, including one depicting a sexual act between an adult male and a young boy, and two images of child exposure. The prosecution noted that the images were discovered following a report from a mother concerned about contact between her son and the accused. Defending counsel Bernard Condon SC submitted that there was no evidence of trading, commercial purpose, or creation of the images by the accused, suggesting they arrived via a conversation on the Grindr app. He highlighted that Magee had no previous convictions and was receiving therapeutic support. Judge Martin Nolan, noting Court of Appeal decisions regarding non-custodial sentences in the absence of aggravating factors such as prior records or distribution, sentenced Magee to one year imprisonment. This sentence was suspended in full. The Judge declined to impose probation, observing that the accused had taken independent steps toward rehabilitation and reform.
In a High Court hearing in Dublin, the court considered evidence that recordings on mobile phones found in a refrigerated trailer in Essex, where 39 migrants were later discovered dead, suggested that some of the victims may have been alive after entering UK territorial waters. The case involves Eamon Harrison, 23, who is sought by British authorities on 39 counts of manslaughter, conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration and conspiracy to commit human trafficking under the UK's Modern Slavery Act. Harrison, a dual Irish‑British citizen, allegedly transported the trailer from a Belgian port to the Port of Purfleet, Essex, where it was collected by Maurice Robinson, 25. Harrison was arrested in Ireland under a European Arrest Warrant and is contesting extradition in the Irish High Court.
In a High Court hearing, lawyers for Eamon Harrison, a 22‑year‑old from Mayobridge, Co Down, challenged the validity of a UK extradition warrant that seeks to bring him to face 39 counts of manslaughter, conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration and conspiracy to commit human trafficking under the UK's Modern Slavery Act. Harrison is alleged to have delivered a refrigerated trailer containing 39 migrant bodies from a Belgian port to the UK. The warrant, which refers to him as a British citizen, is said by counsel Siobhán Stack SC to be fundamentally defective due to an extreme lack of information and the fact that the required details were supplied by the Crown Prosecution Service rather than the issuing judicial authority, Chelmsford Magistrate's Court. The High Court, presided over by Mr Justice Donald Binchy, has requested further information from UK authorities and may require a new warrant before proceeding. The case is ongoing.
The Court of Appeal quashed the money‑laundering conviction of Henry Alinta, 44, owner of Aligreen Recycling Limited, after a trial judge's instructions were found to have confused the jury about the presumption of innocence and the burden of proof. Alinta had been stopped at the M1 Toll Plaza outside Drogheda, where Gardaí found €127,000 and £146,940 in his BMW X6. He claimed the cash was collected on instructions from a Nigerian friend, Sanni, and that he did not know the amount. A jury convicted him after 27 minutes of deliberation and sentenced him to four years' imprisonment, 18 months suspended. The Court of Appeal held that the judge's explanation created "confusion" that was fatal to the trial's integrity, and the conviction was therefore quashed. The case will be reviewed for a possible retrial. Henry Alinta pleaded not guilty.
Joseph Hillen, aged 25, was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended, after the Court of Appeal found his original six‑year term too lenient. Hillen admitted stabbing taxi driver Martin Mulligan, aged 53, in a rural area near Dundalk on 28 September 2015, but denied murder. He was found guilty of manslaughter by a jury and originally sentenced to seven years, with one year suspended. The appeal, brought by the Director of Public Prosecutions, led to a new sentence of nine years, again with the final year suspended. Hillen's case involved two serious stab wounds, a 22.5‑cm abdominal wound and a through‑and‑through thigh wound. He had previously been convicted of dangerous driving while on bail for the killing and had 15 prior convictions, none for violence. The court noted his role as a father of two children and the impact on the Mulligan family.
In a High Court hearing on 21 November 2019, it was revealed that Eamon Harrison, a 22‑year‑old from Mayobridge, Co Down, was travelling on an Irish passport when he allegedly delivered a refrigerated trailer that contained the bodies of 39 migrants found dead in Britain. British authorities seek his surrender under a European Arrest Warrant, charging him with 39 counts of manslaughter, conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration and conspiracy to commit human trafficking under the UK's Modern Slavery Act. The warrant refers to Harrison as a "British Citizen", a point contested by his counsel, who argued that his Irish nationality could affect extradition. The court noted ambiguities about where the alleged offences occurred and requested further information from UK authorities. A resumed hearing was scheduled for 12 December, with Harrison remanded in custody.
Joseph Hillen, aged 25, was found guilty of manslaughter for stabbing taxi driver Martin Mulligan, aged 53, near Dundalk on 28 September 2015. Hillen admitted stabbing Mulligan after an altercation but denied murder. He was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended, by Ms Justice Eileen Creedon on 28 January 2019. The sentencing judge noted the jury's view that Hillen believed he was acting in self‑defence. The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has appealed, arguing the sentence was unduly lenient, citing the brutality of the attack, Hillen's prior convictions, and his lack of honesty. The Court of Appeal will consider the appeal, with no decision yet announced. The case remains at the appeal stage. Joseph Hillen pleaded not guilty.
The trial of Aaron Brady, 27, accused of murdering Garda Adrian Donohoe in 2013, was postponed until January 2020 for logistical reasons. Brady, who lives on New Road, Crossmaglen, was due to begin on Monday but a defence application delayed the start. The judge, Mr Justice Michael White, said a jury could not be sworn in as planned and a new trial date would be set. He also announced that the court would actively address outstanding issues and arrange for an enlarged 15‑person jury. The pre‑trial hearing will continue, and the court aims to resolve all matters before the new start date. The trial was originally scheduled for October 8 and then November 11, each postponed to handle pre‑trial matters.
An Armagh man, Adrian Grant, 48, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to three counts of dishonestly by deception. He used false documentation bearing the name "Gerard Grant" to submit two mortgage applications in 2011 and 2014 and a hire‑purchase application to Volkswagen Bank in 2013. The mortgage applications for a property in Kells failed, but he obtained €18,000 in car finance, which he has since repaid. Grant had a prior conviction in Northern Ireland for selling counterfeit washing powder. He explained that he had lost two properties after being let go from construction work and was under severe financial pressure, caring for a seriously ill wife. The court noted his cooperation with Gardaí and the absence of victims. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a three‑year sentence, suspended in full.
The Special Criminal Court has acquitted Darren Weldon of membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Óglaigh na hÉireann, otherwise the IRA on October 14, 2014. Weldon, who pleaded not guilty, was previously convicted of the same offence in January 2017 and sentenced to five years imprisonment with the final year suspended. That conviction was overturned by the Court of Appeal in June 2018, resulting in the current retrial. The prosecution's case relied primarily on the belief evidence of Detective Chief Superintendent Anthony Howard, supported by alleged independent strands including a DNA match to a number plate from the 2010 Newry courthouse bombing, an image of Alan Ryan on Weldon's phone, and adverse inferences from interviews. The court found that the integrity of the number plate was not properly preserved, rendering the DNA evidence unreliable. It also could not draw inferences regarding the phone image or the interviews, as the solicitor's objections to the arrest's lawfulness were reasonable. Consequently, the court found the belief evidence unsupported by independent evidence and acquitted Weldon. This decision follows the procedural stage of an appeal that overturned the prior conviction.
A 56-year-old mechanic from Castleblayney, Co. Monaghan, has been sentenced to four years imprisonment by the Special Criminal Court following his conviction for membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army. James Joseph Cassidy of Tullycollive was found guilty in March of the charge relating to September 21, 2016. He had denied the allegation. During the trial, gardaí gave evidence of discovering a booster tube in a shed on Cassidy's premises during a search. Detective Inspector William Hanrahan testified that the device was consistent with similar tubing found in relation to other IRA operations. Presiding judge Mr Justice Tony Hunt stated that Cassidy's membership had been persistent and active, and noted that no actual harm occurred due to timely intervention by gardaí. The defendant had no previous convictions. The sentence was backdated to February 14, 2019, when Cassidy entered custody.
Jeanette Murray, a 44‑year‑old mother of two from Knockdarragh, Newry, was found guilty of stealing more than €200,000 from Brooks Hotel in Dublin while she worked as a senior accountant. Over a five‑year period she took €137,200 in cash and €67,600 in cheques and bank drafts, spending the cash on personal items and failing to lodge the cheques, which were later returned. She pleaded guilty to 12 theft charges covering September 2003 to November 2008. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a fully suspended sentence of three and a half years, requiring Murray to keep the peace, be of good behaviour, transfer €70,000 to the hotel owners, and complete 240 hours of community service within 12 months in lieu of two years imprisonment. The court noted her guilty plea, cooperation, remorse, and the impact on her young children as mitigating factors, while the large value and prolonged nature of the theft were aggravating factors.
A 56-year-old mechanic from Castleblayney, County Monaghan, convicted of membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, will be sentenced at the Special Criminal Court next month. James Joseph Cassidy of Tullycollive was found guilty in March following a trial before three judges. During the proceedings, gardaí gave evidence of discovering a metal pipe with drilled holes in a shed on his property in September 2016, which was identified as a booster tube similar to items seized in a separate investigation nearby. The court accepted the belief evidence of a chief superintendent regarding Cassidy's membership of the organisation and determined the presence of the device on his remote, family-owned premises to be significant. The defence counsel urged leniency, highlighting Cassidy's minimal previous convictions and age. Cassidy was remanded in custody pending sentencing on 27 May.
An appeal has led to an increased prison sentence for Donal O'Hara, who was involved in a violent attack led by Dessie O'Hare. O'Hara, 27, of Glin Park, Coolock, pleaded guilty to assaulting John Roche, causing him harm, and falsely imprisoning Martin Byrne on June 9, 2015. He was initially sentenced to three years imprisonment with the final year suspended on July 31, 2018. However, the Court of Appeal found the sentence 'unduly lenient' and re-sentenced O'Hara to four years imprisonment with the final year suspended, increasing his jail term by 12 months. Dessie O'Hare, 62, of Slate Rock Road, Newtownhamilton, County Armagh, also pleaded guilty to the same offences and was jailed for seven years. Daniel Kane, 29, of Hollycourt, Ballybrack, County Dublin, pleaded guilty to the same offences and was sentenced to five years imprisonment with the final year suspended on April 27, 2018. Hannover Street West, also pleaded guilty to the same offences and was sentenced to six years imprisonment on January 29, 2018. The appeal was brought by the Director of Public Prosecutions, who argued that the original sentence was too lenient given the severity of the offences and the context of the attack.
In 2019, a journalist recalled the 1988 trial of Dessie O'Hare, who had been sentenced to 40 years for the kidnapping and torture of dentist John O'Grady. The article describes a 2019 sentencing hearing where O'Hare, still in court, was given a ten‑year term with three years suspended for false imprisonment and a concurrent three‑year assault sentence. The judge noted that O'Hare's threat to society had not fully abated and cited his past violent offences as aggravating factors. O'Hare had pleaded guilty to a violent assault. The piece also recounts his 1988 speech from the dock after his 40‑year sentence, where he denounced Irish authorities, called for violence, and threatened war against British and Irish forces. The article ends with his being escorted to prison after the speech.
Former INLA member Dessie O'Hare, known as "The Border Fox", was sentenced by the Special Criminal Court to seven years' imprisonment. The court accepted his guilty pleas to assaulting John Roche and falsely imprisoning Martin Byrne at Rathcoole and Saggart on June 9, 2015. O'Hare was jailed for three years for the assault and ten years for the false imprisonment, with three years suspended for life. The sentences run concurrently and were backdated to April 3, 2019. Mr Justice Tony Hunt described the assault on Roche as "disturbingly violent" and noted O'Hare's "appalling record" as an aggravating factor. The judge rejected a non-custodial sentence, stating the offending was too serious and premeditated. O'Hare entered a bond to be of good behaviour for life. The court also noted that former Republican paramilitary Declan "Whacker" Duffy was previously sentenced to six years for his role in the same incident. The Byrne family, who were evicted from their home, are now in the Witness Protection Programme.
Former INLA member Dessie O'Hare, known as "The Border Fox", was remanded in custody until April 11 for sentencing by the Special Criminal Court. O'Hare (62), of Newtownhamilton, County Armagh, pleaded guilty to assaulting John Roche, causing him harm, and falsely imprisoning Martin Byrne at Rathcoole and Saggart on June 9, 2015. The court was asked to take two further counts of false imprisonment concerning Byrne's wife and son into consideration. Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding with Judges Patricia Ryan and Ann Ryan, stated that despite a "thought-provoking" plea in mitigation, a non-custodial sentence was an "unlikely outcome". O'Hare told gardai he was employed by Jim Mansfield Junior to evict Byrne and his family. He has four previous convictions, including a 40-year sentence in 1988 for false imprisonment and assault causing grievous bodily harm, from which he was released in 2008. In a related matter, former Republican paramilitary Declan "Whacker" Duffy was sentenced to six years imprisonment last year after pleading guilty to the same assault on Roche and false imprisonment of Byrne. Three other men have also been jailed for the attack.
A 55-year-old mechanic from Castleblayney, County Monaghan, has been convicted of IRA membership by the Special Criminal Court. James Joseph Cassidy of Tullycollive was found guilty of membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army on September 21, 2016. The three-judge court heard evidence that gardaí discovered a metal tube with drilled holes during a search of his property and adjoining lands. Detective Inspector William Hanrahan identified the item as a booster tube used in explosive devices, similar to one previously seized at Kilcurry. The prosecution argued that Cassidy's false denials to gardaí concerning the tube, combined with evidence of mobile phones and a USB key, demonstrated a pattern of behaviour consistent with IRA membership. Mr Justice Tony Hunt rejected the defendant's claim that others had access to the remote shed, stating the likelihood of someone else placing the device was "so remote and fanciful" as to be dismissed. Cassidy was remanded in custody pending sentencing on April 29.
The Court of Appeal has reserved its judgment in an appeal by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) regarding the sentence of Donal O'Hara. O'Hara, 26, pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to assaulting John Roche and falsely imprisoning Martin Byrne at The Towers, Saggart, on June 9, 2015. He was sentenced to four years imprisonment, with the final two years suspended. The DPP argues this sentence is "unduly lenient," with counsel Shane Costelloe SC describing the incident as a "gang of thugs accosting" the victim and characterizing O'Hara as "muscle." Defense counsel Michael O'Higgins SC argued that O'Hara's prompt guilty plea warranted elevated status and distinguished his role from other participants. Those included Dessie O'Hare, who pleaded guilty to the same offences and is awaiting sentence; Declan Duffy, who pleaded guilty and was sentenced to six years imprisonment; and Daniel Kane, who pleaded guilty and received five years imprisonment with the final year suspended. The court, presided over by Mr Justice George Birmingham, heard that Duffy's sentence was "capped" at six years. The matter remains adjourned pending the court's decision on whether to increase O'Hara's term.
Kevin Braney, the Dublin leader of the New IRA, was convicted of murder for the killing of dissident republican Peter Butterly. The New IRA, formed in 2012 from remnants of the Real IRA, Republican Action Against Drugs, former Provisional IRA activists and criminal elements, is regarded by the gardai and PSNI as the biggest terrorist threat in Ireland. Braney's conviction followed extensive garda operations involving the Special Detective Unit, Garda Security and Intelligence and the National Surveillance Unit (NSU). NSU members observed Braney's movements before, during and after the murder, and provided evidence in court, though the public were excluded from the proceedings. Braney was also convicted of IRA membership in 2022 and is serving a four‑year sentence in Portlaoise Prison. The New IRA remains a primary target of Garda Security and Intelligence, with about 50 active members and several hundred sympathisers across the island.
A 55-year-old mechanic from Castleblayney, County Monaghan, is standing trial at the Special Criminal Court on a charge of membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself as the Irish Republican Army. James Joseph Cassidy of Tullycollive has pleaded not guilty to the allegation relating to September 21, 2016. During evidence, Detective Sergeant Padraig Boyce told the court that republican posters were discovered in a television unit during a search of the accused's premises. The posters carried a slogan referencing the Police Service of Northern Ireland and a website address for Republican Unity. Under cross-examination, the detective agreed that Republican Unity is not a proscribed organisation. A black metal pipe approximately 40 centimetres long, featuring drilled holes, was also recovered from a shed on the property. Detective Inspector William Hanrahan testified he had previously encountered similar tubing in relation to other IRA operations, describing it as a booster tube. The trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and two other judges.
A 55-year-old mechanic from Castleblayney, County Monaghan, has pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself as the Irish Republican Army at the Special Criminal Court. James Joseph Cassidy of Tullycollive faces the charge relating to September 2016. The prosecution outlined that gardaí discovered a metal tube during a search of his property in the remote border area, which they allege forms part of an improvised explosive device. The tube was located in a cow shed on the gated property, which featured extensive security measures. Prosecutors indicated evidence would include three mobile phones and items of Republican material recovered at the scene, alongside alleged associations with convicted IRA members. A garda witness testified to photographing the cylindrical metal object at the property. The defence suggested the item was visible rather than hidden and queried whether other metal found at the location could be definitively identified. The trial continues before Justices Tony Hunt, Patricia Ryan, and Ann Ryan.
Joseph Hillen was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court today for the manslaughter of 53-year-old Martin Mulligan, who was killed at Carnmore, Balriggan, Dundalk, Co Louth, on September 28, 2015. A jury previously found Hillen not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter. Ms Justice Eileen Creedon stated the killing fell in the upper-mid range of such offences, setting a headline sentence of ten years. Considering mitigating factors, including Hillen's offer to plead guilty, his stable employment, lack of previous violent convictions, and expressed remorse, she reduced the sentence to seven years. The final year was suspended on conditions of good behaviour, keeping the peace, and engaging with probation services. Hillen, of Glendasha Road, Forkhill, Co Armagh, was assessed as a moderate risk of re-offending. The court noted the jury accepted his claim of self-defence but found he used excessive force. Outside court, Martin Mulligan's daughter Shauna Mulligan stated the justice system had failed the family, calling the outcome unfair. His wife Grainne described the family as devastated, while his other daughter Sharon noted the family's grief. The family expressed that they felt the legal process did not adequately reflect the severity of the loss.
An autistic man, Alyn Maginn, 41, was caught with over €600,000 worth of heroin and cocaine in a car park at Dublin Airport. He pleaded guilty to one count of possession on 7 July 2017. Judge Martin Nolan, after noting Maginn's autism and the unclear benefit he derived from the drugs, imposed a wholly suspended five‑year sentence on 23 February 2018, deeming it unjust to jail him. Maginn had already spent seven months in custody before sentencing. The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed, claiming the sentence was unduly lenient, but the Court of Appeal, led by Justice George Birmingham, upheld the judge's decision. Birmingham highlighted the unusual circumstances, including Maginn's difficulty in interviews, his emotional state, and the fact that the drugs were ultimately claimed by a friend who received a seven‑year sentence. The appeal was dismissed, leaving the suspended sentence in place.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Jeanette Murray, a 44‑year‑old senior accountant at Brooks Hotel, pleaded guilty to 12 sample theft charges covering September 2003 to November 2008. Over five years she stole more than €200,000, comprising €137,200 in cash and €67,600 in cheques and bank drafts. She spent the cash on personal items and did not lodge the cheques, which were later returned to the hotel. Murray deleted and falsified hotel system records and supplied incorrect audit reports each year to conceal the thefts. The case was brought to court after irregularities were noted in 2009 while Murray was on maternity leave. Judge Melanie Greally remanded her on continuing bail until next May, ordered a Probation Service report on her family situation, and kept all sentencing options open, including a community service assessment.
Former INLA member Dessie O'Hare, known as 'The Border Fox', has pleaded guilty at the non-jury Special Criminal Court to charges of assault and false imprisonment in Dublin. O'Hare, 62, of Slate Rock Road, Newtownhamilton, County Armagh, admitted to assaulting John Roche, causing him harm, at The Towers, Garter Lane, Saggart, County Dublin on June 9th, 2015. He also pleaded guilty to falsely imprisoning Martin Byrne at Rathcoole and Saggart on the same date. The charges were admitted by O'Hare, who responded 'guilty' to both counts when asked by the registrar. Sean Guerin SC, defending, stated that a trial would not be required and that O'Hare could be arraigned on two of the counts. The defence indicated a desire to take two other counts into consideration at the appropriate time. The defence also mentioned that O'Hare has engaged with 'professionals' and requested up-to-date professional assistance for the sentence hearing. Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding, sitting with Judge Patricia Ryan and Judge Ann Ryan, remanded the defendant on continuing bail with the same terms and conditions until April 3, when he will be sentenced.
An autistic man, Alyn Maginn, 41, pleaded guilty to possessing over €600,000 worth of heroin and cocaine at Dublin Airport on 7 July 2017. He was found in a car park, having arrived from Malaga, Spain, and was arrested after a customs officer searched his vehicle. The drugs, valued at €591,752 for heroin and €16,833 for cocaine, were seized. Maginn had not imported the drugs; they were already in the car. A co‑accused, Martin Gilroy, 34, owned the drugs and received a seven‑year sentence. Judge Martin Nolan, on 23 February 2018, imposed a wholly suspended five‑year sentence on Maginn, citing his autism, borderline cognitive ability and the claim that he was manipulated by Gilroy. The Director of Public Prosecutions is seeking a review, arguing the sentence was unduly lenient, while the Court of Appeal has reserved its judgement. The case remains at the appeal stage.
Lawyers for Henry Alinta, 44, who was found guilty of money laundering under Section 7.1 of the Criminal Justice Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing Act 2010, have asked the Court of Appeal for guidance on how the complex legislation should be explained to juries. Alinta was convicted by a jury at Trim Circuit Criminal Court after 27 minutes of deliberation and sentenced to four years' imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended by Judge Michael O'Shea. He was released early from serving his sentence. Alinta is appealing on the grounds that the trial judge allegedly confused the jury on the presumption of innocence and the burden of proof, and that the verdict was perverse given the dense, difficult language of the legislation. His barrister, Pauline Walley SC, argued that the judge failed to bridge the distinction between the burden of proof and the shifting presumptions, and that the legislation is widely drafted and complex. Henry Alinta pleaded not guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, the family of 53‑year‑old Martin Mulligan, who was stabbed and left to die on a road in Dundalk on 28 September 2015, delivered impact statements describing him as hardworking, caring, loving, patient, intelligent, amusing and affectionate. They recalled his role as a family bond, his support and encouragement, and his kindness to neighbours. The youngest daughter, Shauna, said he was "brutally, viciously and inhumanely killed for no fault of his own" and that his death left her vulnerable and afraid. The eldest daughter, Sharon, remembered his self‑lessness and how he cared for a neighbour's son. The wife, Grainne, recalled their long marriage and the last intimate moment they shared. The court heard that Joseph Hillen, 24, was found guilty of manslaughter by a jury in October and will be sentenced on 28 January.
Ex-wrestler Imre Arakas, a former Estonian separatist who was 'scarred deeply' by imprisonment in Russia, was remanded in custody until December 12 for sentencing. Arakas admitted to conspiring with others not before the court to murder James Gately in Northern Ireland between April 3rd and April 4th last year, contrary to Section 71 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006. The court heard that Arakas purchased a wig in Dublin and used an encrypted Blackberry phone to receive information about Gately's movements. Gardai began an intelligence-led investigation after receiving confidential information about the targeting of Gately by individuals involved in organised crime. Arakas was placed under surveillance upon his arrival in Dublin on April 3, 2017, and was followed to Blakestown Cottages in Dublin 15, where he was arrested the following day. A Blackberry phone, a piece of paper with Estonian writing and the name 'James Gately…in Newry' in English, a mirror, and cash were found at the scene. The Blackberry phone was encrypted and password protected, and messages were found on it that detailed plans to target Gately. The messages were almost instantly deleted after Arakas' arrest, but a garda managed to photograph the open messages before they were removed. The court heard that Arakas had four previous convictions, including causing deliberate bodily harm, escaping from prison, and unlawful handling of firearms. The matter was adjourned and will be sentenced on December 12.
In the trial of Joseph Hillen, a 24‑year‑old from Forkhill, the jury found him not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter for the death of taxi driver Martin Mulligan, 53, at Carnmore, Dundalk, on 28 September 2015. Hillen admitted to stabbing Mulligan but claimed the driver had pulled a knife on him and that he acted in self‑defence after a confrontation over alleged illegal dumping. Forensic evidence, including blood on the road and DNA on a glove, placed Hillen at the scene. The jury, after five hours and 29 minutes of deliberation, reached a majority verdict of ten to two. Justice Eileen Creedon thanked the jury and scheduled a sentencing hearing for 3 December. The case highlighted conflicting statements about the knife in Mulligan's car and the nature of the wounds, with the pathologist noting the unusual lower‑body stabs that caused rapid death.
Brendan Cummins, a 23‑year‑old former Leinster boxing champion, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for punching a prison officer at Portlaoise Prison on 20 February 2017. Cummins had 97 prior disciplinary sanctions and 11 previous assault convictions, including an earlier assault on a prison officer at Cloverhill Prison on the same date. The attack, described as unprovoked, broke the officer's nose and cut his inner lip, causing the officer to suffer headaches and a loss of smell. Cummins pleaded guilty to assault causing harm. Judge Patricia Ryan imposed a three‑year sentence, suspending the final year due to his age, and ordered that he have no contact with the officer or his family for 25 years. The court noted Cummins' plea and the prison punishments already imposed, including a year of solitary confinement.
A jury will return to the Central Criminal Court tomorrow to decide the verdict in the trial of 24‑year‑old Joseph Hillen, who admits stabbing but denies murdering taxi‑driver Martin Mulligan (53). Hillen pleaded not guilty to murder after a dispute over alleged illegal dumping. Justice Eileen Creedon explained the three possible verdicts: guilty of murder, not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter, or not guilty. The jury had spent 3 hours 21 minutes deliberating and had not yet reached a verdict. They were asked to return Thursday.
In the trial of 24‑year‑old Joseph Hillen, the jury has begun deliberating a verdict for the murder of 53‑year‑old Martin Mulligan, a taxi driver killed on 28 September 2015. Hillen admits stabbing Mulligan but denies murder, claiming he acted in self‑defence after a dispute over alleged illegal dumping. Justice Eileen Creedon explained that the jury may find him guilty of murder, guilty of manslaughter, or not guilty. The prosecution, led by Patrick Treacy SC, argues Hillen intended to kill or seriously injure Mulligan and that his self‑defence claim is uncredible, citing Hillen's earlier false statements to gardai. Defence counsel Brendan Grehan SC contends Hillen's account is the only one supported by evidence, noting the pathologist's observation that the wounds were low on the body and would have caused death quickly. The jury will return to the Central Criminal Court tomorrow to continue deliberations.
In the trial of Joseph Hillen, a 24‑year‑old from Forkhill, the jury is asked to decide whether he acted in self‑defence or is guilty of murder after stabbing taxi driver Martin Mulligan, aged 53, to death in Dundalk on 28 September 2015. Hillen denies murder, claiming he stabbed Mulligan to protect himself during a dispute over illegal dumping. Prosecutor Patrick Treacy SC argues Hillen lied to Gardaí and that his self‑defence claim is not credible, citing the depth and nature of the wounds and Hillen's failure to call for help. Defence barrister Brendan Grehan SC maintains Hillen's account is supported by evidence, noting the pathologist's remarks on the injuries and the possibility of a sewer rod causing head lacerations. The jury must weigh whether Hillen intended to kill or merely used excessive force, or if he acted in genuine self‑defence. The case is before Justice Eileen Creedon. The unnamed 24-year-old pleaded not guilty. Joseph Hillen pleaded not guilty.
In the Central Criminal Court, the family of the stabbed victim left before a jury saw the taxi driver's heavily blood‑stained jumper and t‑shirt. Prosecutor Patrick Treacy SC warned that the clothing could be distressing. Joseph Hillen, 24, of Forkhill, Co. Armagh, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Martin Mulligan, 53, at Carnmore, Dundalk, on 28 September 2015. Hillen admitted he inflicted the fatal knife wounds but claimed he did so to protect himself. Forensic scientist Sandra McGrath showed the jury the heavy blood staining on the jumper and t‑shirt, a 19.5 cm cut and tear at the V of the jumper's neck, and a glove with Hillen's DNA on its inside and back. She also identified 18 blood drops at the scene, two matching Hillen's DNA and the rest matching Mulligan's. Garda James Doherty reported Hillen was interviewed on 23 May 2016 after his car was seen driving erratically that night.
In the murder trial of Joseph Hillen, the wife of the stabbed taxi driver, Grainne Mulligan, denied that her husband kept a kitchen knife in his car. She stated that Hillen, a 24‑year‑old coal delivery man turned taxi driver, kept a bar on the floor of the taxi for protection and a small Swiss Army knife. She also admitted that she had previously claimed he kept a kitchen knife in the taxi, but later corrected that the knife was in his coal lorry. Mulligan described Hillen as a formidable man who would not back down in a confrontation. She said he kept the bar as a weapon if needed. The trial continues before a jury and Justice Eileen Creedon. Joseph Hillen pleaded not guilty. Grainne Mulligan pleaded not guilty.
During a murder trial, Gardaí recounted a car‑chase involving the accused, 24‑year‑old Joseph Hillen, hours before he stabbed taxi driver Martin Mulligan to death. Hillen, who pleaded not guilty, admitted stabbing Mulligan but claimed he did so to protect himself. The chase began shortly after midnight in Dundalk town centre, when Sergeant Michael Kermath and Garda Damien Fanning spotted a Toyota Avensis spinning its tyres outside Ridley's nightclub. They pursued the vehicle with blue lights, but the Avensis accelerated erratically, broke two traffic lights, and fled toward Marsh's Shopping Centre. The patrol car followed until the pursuit became too dangerous, and the officers believed they would not catch the driver before the border with Northern Ireland. CCTV footage of the chase was shown to the jury, and the trial continues before Justice Eileen Creedon.
In a murder trial, 24‑year‑old Joseph Hillen of Forkhill, Co. Armagh, pleaded not guilty to the stabbing death of 53‑year‑old Martin Mulligan in Dundalk on 28 September 2015. Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis testified that Mulligan suffered three blunt‑force lacerations to the top of the head, 30 other minor injuries to head, arms, chest and legs, and two fatal knife wounds. One wound cut the abdominal aorta, the other severed the femoral artery in the thigh, both causing rapid blood loss. Dr Curtis explained that a sewer rod could account for the head injuries and that the knife wounds were consistent with Hillen's account of a "backhanded" motion while kneeling. Hillen admitted stabbing Mulligan but claimed he acted to protect himself. The trial continued before Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 2 October 2018, 36‑year‑old Jason O'Driscoll was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murders of 31‑year‑old Anthony Burnett and 25‑year‑old Joseph Redmond. The jury had convicted him on circumstantial evidence after a trial that lasted more than seven hours. O'Driscoll, who had been arrested in June 2016, told the judge that the jury had "got it wrong" and insisted he was innocent. The judge, Michael White, imposed the mandatory life sentence on each count, back‑dated to the date of O'Driscoll's arrest. Victim impact statements were read by the prosecution, describing the loss and devastation felt by the families of Burnett and Redmond. The judge refused a certificate of leave to appeal and the court ended the hearing without further commentary. The case was closed with O'Driscoll being led away to begin his life sentence.
In a murder trial held in Dundalk, 24‑year‑old Joseph Hillen pleaded not guilty to the killing of taxi driver Martin Mulligan, 53, who was found dead near his taxi on 28 September 2015. Hillen admitted stabbing Mulligan twice, claiming he acted in self‑defence after an altercation that began when Mulligan allegedly punched him and a wrestling match ensued. Hillen also described a struggle over a stainless steel kitchen knife, during which he cut his own hand and stabbed Mulligan. An autopsy revealed two stab wounds and numerous blunt‑force injuries, with the abdominal wound severing an artery and killing Mulligan within 30 seconds. Hillen's statements to Gardaí in July 2018 acknowledged driving a Toyota Avensis that night, and he admitted to chasing Mulligan before the fatal encounter. The jury, hearing the prosecution's case, will decide whether Hillen's actions were self‑defence or murder. The trial continues before Justice Eileen Creedon.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 2 August 2018, a jury convicted 35‑year‑old Jason O'Driscoll of murdering 31‑year‑old Anthony Burnett and 25‑year‑old Joseph Redmond, two car thieves whose bodies were found fused together in a burned‑out Volkswagen Golf. The jury, after more than seven hours of deliberation, returned a verdict by a ten‑to‑two majority. O'Driscoll, who had pleaded not guilty, reacted angrily, claiming no evidence and calling the verdict a "fucking crook." The judge thanked the jury and exempted them from further duty for 15 years. Mr Justice Michael White was scheduled to impose a mandatory life sentence on 2 October, after the prosecution requested time to read impact statements from the victims' families. The case was based largely on circumstantial evidence, including CCTV footage, mobile phone records, and expert testimony linking O'Driscoll to the crime scene and the vehicles involved.
The jury has begun deliberating in the trial of a 35‑year‑old man charged with murdering two fellow Dubliners, who had planned to sell him a stolen car. Jason O'Driscoll, of Richmond Avenue, Fairview, has been on trial at the Central Criminal Court for the past month. He has pleaded not guilty to murdering 31‑year‑old Anthony Burnett and 25‑year‑old Joseph Redmond in Co Louth on 7 March 2012. Firefighters were called to a burning car in Ravensdale Forest Park shortly before 11 o'clock that night. The bodies of the two men were discovered fused together inside the Volkswagen Golf they had stolen that morning. They had been shot in their heads. The State's case is that Mr O'Driscoll was involved in the murder, travelling to and from the scene in a stolen silver Mercedes S Class. The prosecutor told the jury that it could rely on circumstantial evidence to convict him.
In July 2018, a 35‑year‑old man, Jason O'Driscoll, stood trial at the Central Criminal Court for the murders of 31‑year‑old Anthony Burnett and 25‑year‑old Joseph Redmond, who had planned to sell him a stolen car. The prosecution alleged that the men were shot in their heads inside a Volkswagen Golf that was later set on fire in Ravensdale Forest Park on 7 March 2012. O'Driscoll pleaded not guilty. Defence counsel Vincent Heneghan SC argued that the prosecution's theory was implausible, likening it to a James Bond film, and questioned the feasibility of two shots being fired within two minutes inside a cramped car. He highlighted alleged gaps in Garda evidence, the lack of forensic links between O'Driscoll and the silver Mercedes cited by the State, and the absence of proof that the victims were shot inside the vehicle.