Court archive
Court reports mentioning Muinebeag (Bagenalstown), Carlow
2026-07-31 · Carlow
Martin Lyons, a 31-year-old man with 146 previous convictions, has been jailed for three years for threatening to burn down the family home of a Carlow pub owner while armed with a clawhammer. Lyons was on bail at the time of the incident, which occurred in March 2024. He entered the pub claiming that a former employee owed him money and threatened to burn down the owners' home. The court heard that Lyons had significant addiction issues with alcohol and drugs, and had spent time in a residential treatment unit. His defense highlighted his remorse and the support he receives from his family, including his parents and children. The judge set a headline sentence of five years but reduced it to three years, suspending the final 12 months for two years on the condition that Lyons engages with the Probation Service and maintains his sobriety. Martin Lyons pleaded guilty.
2026-05-21 · Carlow
A Carlow man who admitted to storing over €20,000 worth of cannabis in a shed to feed his own addiction has received a three-year suspended sentence. Colm Cody (41) of Augha, Bagenalstown, pleaded guilty at Carlow Circuit Criminal Court to possessing cannabis, MDMA, and cocaine at his home on November 28, 2023. He has no previous convictions. Detective Sergeant Stephen Delaney explained that a warrant was obtained to search Cody's home based on garda intelligence. Cody was not present, but his daughter was, and the gardaí waited for him to return. A small amount of cannabis and MDMA was found in Cody's bedroom, while the larger quantities were discovered in the shed. Cody accepted responsibility at the scene and later told gardaí that the cannabis in his bedroom was for his own use, to help manage stress and depression. He admitted to agreeing to store the cannabis to feed his addiction but denied selling the drugs. His defence argued that he was under threat, with someone warning him that his daughter was at home all day.
2026-05-15 · Carlow
William McCarthy (38) of Carlow pleaded guilty to assaulting an Irish Rail ticket inspector and burglarizing a Carlow GAA club. The assault occurred on September 14, 2024, when McCarthy refused to show his ticket and attacked the inspector on the Waterford/Heuston line. The victim suffered injuries including a broken finger and bruising to his face and was treated in hospital. McCarthy also pleaded guilty to criminal damage and theft from the Éire Óg Clubhouse, where he had previously burgled the premises four times. The damage to the cigarette machine was estimated at €2,000, with €2,830 worth of cigarettes and vapes stolen, along with €1,520 in cash. The victim's impact statement highlighted the emotional and financial toll of the assault, including difficulties paying his mortgage and the need for counseling. McCarthy's defense argued that his actions were driven by addiction and desperation to pay off a debt. The judge remanded McCarthy in custody and adjourned sentencing until next week.
2025-05-01 · Galway
In a High Court case, Mr. James Buckley was warned by Judge Liam Kennedy that he was "perilously close" to being jailed for contempt if he failed to return the racehorse 'Big Time Louie' to Ms. Caroline Teltsch by 5 pm. The court had ordered the Buckleys to pay over €800,000 in damages after they were found to have unjustly enriched themselves with money loaned by Ms. Teltsch, who co‑owns the horse. The horse was to be placed in Ms. Teltsch's care, but Mr. Buckley removed it from the Emerald Equestrian Centre in Glenamaddy, claiming its feet were "rotting" and it could not walk. Judge Brian Cregan adjourned the matter to the following week, emphasizing that continued breach of the order could lead to imprisonment. The Buckleys' appeal of the original ruling was dismissed by the Court of Appeal. The case highlights the court's insistence on compliance with its orders regarding the horse's custody.
2024-07-25 · Carlow
In a High Court ruling on 25 July 2024, Mr Justice Liam Kennedy ordered James Buckley and his wife Paula to pay Caroline Teltsch €800,000 in damages for alleged unjust enrichment. Teltsch, owner of the Emerald Equestrian Centre in Enfield, Co Kildare, claimed she advanced loans to the Buckleys between 2010 and 2018 for purposes such as refurbishing the centre, buying a Jaguar XKR, a Mitsubishi Evo, paying tax and Revenue bills, medical expenses, legal costs, a house deposit, and flights to New York for the couple's wedding. She said she never received any repayment and that the Buckleys used the money for personal and business expenses. Teltsch also sought declarations that land near the centre was held in trust for her and that she was entitled to a stallion named Louis. The Buckleys denied the claims but failed to comply with a court order to disclose documents, leading to their defence being struck out.
2024-07-23 · Carlow
Caroline Teltsch, former owner of an equestrian centre linked to the John Gilligan family, has brought a High Court claim against James and Paula Buckley of Co. Carlow, seeking over €1 million in damages for alleged loan fraud. Teltsch says she advanced multiple loans between 2010 and 2018 to the Buckleys for purposes such as refurbishing the Emerald Equestrian Centre, paying tax bills, purchasing luxury cars, and covering various personal expenses. She claims the Buckleys never repaid any of the money and that they enriched themselves through deceit, confidence trickery and financial exploitation. Teltsch also seeks declarations that land near the centre is held in trust for her and that she is entitled to possession of a stallion named Louis. The Buckleys denied all allegations, were absent from the hearing, and their defence was struck out for failing to comply with a disclosure order. Mr Justice Liam Kennedy will deliver a judgment later this month.
2022-10-28 · Carlow
A supermarket in Bagenalstown, Co. Carlow, was ordered to pay €39,750 to former manager Eamon Murphy after his dismissal was found discriminatory. Murphy, who had a history of alcohol‑related incidents, was sacked following an incident on 24 October 2022 when he brought a large quantity of vodka to work and drank until he became comatose. The Workplace Relations Commission ruled that the dismissal was not justified by a breach of trust because Murphy was an alcoholic, a recognised disability. The tribunal upheld Murphy's complaint, noting that the employer had not provided reasonable accommodation or sought professional addiction support before dismissal. The decision was based on the Employment Equality Act, with the tribunal finding discrimination on the grounds of disability and failure to provide reasonable accommodation. The supermarket was required to pay the full amount of €39,750 to Murphy.
2021-07-30 · Kildare
Caroline Teltsch, a UK businesswoman, has taken the High Court to claim she was defrauded by former business partner James Buckley and his wife Paula. She alleges that between 2010 and 2018 the Buckleys engaged in confidence trickery, emotional manipulation and financial exploitation, causing her to advance over €2 million in loans that were never repaid. Teltsch says the money was used for a range of ventures, including the purchase of Jessbrook Stables (now Emerald Stables) for just under €450 000, refurbishment of stables in Co. Carlow, and personal expenses such as cars, medical bills and flights to New York. She seeks a judgment of just over €1 million, damages for breach of contract, and a declaration that the partnership with the Buckleys has been dissolved. Teltsch also applied for a Mareva injunction to prevent the Buckleys from reducing their assets below €1 million, but the court dismissed the application, noting that the defendants had not yet moved overseas.
2018-02-19 · Carlow
A Carlow publican has received a two-year suspended sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for stealing €8,589 from his former employer at The Porterhouse Central on Nassau Street, Dublin. Brian O'Kane, aged 45 and of Royal Oak, Bagenalstown, admitted to taking between €50 and €60 nightly over a seven-month period from January to July 2015 by voiding till transactions and pocketing customer cash. The court heard O'Kane had experienced three family bereavements and a marriage breakdown preceding his offending. He disclosed he stole to fund alcohol consumption during this difficult period. Garda evidence outlined how stock discrepancies led to an investigation identifying O'Kane as responsible. Judge Gerard Griffin imposed the suspended sentence on three years, crediting O'Kane's early guilty plea, demonstrated remorse, and absence of prior convictions. The defendant has since repaid the full amount and begun working in a public house in Carlow.
2014-05-27 · Westmeath
The President of the High Court, Mr Justice Nicholas Kearns, struck off solicitor David Walsh, formerly of David Walsh and Co in Mullingar and Bagenalstown, following findings by the Law Society Disciplinary Tribunal of multiple counts of professional misconduct between 2004 and 2010. Walsh, who retired in 2012 and is seriously ill, had not practised since and opposed the strike‑off, seeking a lesser sanction. The Tribunal found he failed to keep proper books, honour client undertakings to financial institutions, refund a fee deducted from a client's estate, handle client monies properly, charge for unperformed work, and provide inaccurate information to the Law Society's accountant. The Law Society's Solicitors Disciplinary Committee ordered restitution of €67,000 plus VAT. Mr Kearns, sympathetic to Walsh's medical condition, ruled that no lesser sanction was viable and ordered the solicitor be struck off the Roll of Solicitors.
2013-11-25 · Mayo
A trial date has been set for a man accused of murdering two young boys in Co. Mayo. Sanjeev Chadha, aged 43 and residing in Co. Carlow, is charged with the murder of two children at Rosbeg, Westport on 29 July 2013. The Central Criminal Court fixed the trial to commence on 10 November 2014. During proceedings, the defence counsel requested that recordings of garda interviews with the accused be made available to the defence team ahead of trial.