A Brazilian brothel-keeper, Ilamar Rodrigues Ribeiro, has had his appeal to reduce his prison sentence dismissed by the court. Ribeiro, who operated a brothel network across rural Ireland and laundered €800,000, was arrested at Dublin Airport in 2023 with child abuse material on his phone. He pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including brothel-keeping, money laundering, and possession of child pornography. The child abuse material, which included images and videos of pre-pubescent children, was described as the most serious category. Judge Patricia Ryan imposed a 10-and-a-half-year sentence in 2025, which included consecutive terms. Ribeiro's lawyers argued that the court should have suspended the sentence for the child abuse material due to his lack of prior convictions. However, Mr Justice Paul Burns ruled that the child pornography charge was of a different nature and required a separate sentence. He stated that the court could not ignore the severity of the offence. The investigation into Ribeiro began after two women came forward with trafficking allegations, leading to the identification of multiple properties used as brothels across Ireland.
Three men, Alan Harte, Alan O'Brien, and Darren Redmond, who were found guilty of false imprisonment and intentionally causing harm to Kevin Lunney, have appealed their sentences, arguing they were excessive and out of kilter with comparator cases. Harte was sentenced to 30 years in prison, O'Brien received a 25-year sentence, and Redmond was sentenced to 18 years with the final three suspended. Harte's legal team described his 30-year term as 'a life sentence by a different name,' while O'Brien and Redmond's lawyers suggested the sentences imposed on their clients were too high and failed to properly consider mitigating factors. At the appeal hearing, Harte's senior counsel, Michael O'Higgins, argued that the sentence was 'out of kilter' with other cases and that the Special Criminal Court had set a headline sentence of 30 years without 'very much surrounding structure indicating how that number was arrived at.' O'Higgins also highlighted comparator cases, including that of former Sinn Féin councillor Jonathan Dowdall and former Formula 1 engineer Stefan Schaufler, to support his argument. Counsel for the Director of Public Prosecutions, Garret Baker SC, defended the sentences, stating that the Special Criminal Court had 'met fire with fire' in a lawful way by imposing sentences that reflected the 'depravity and horror' of the attack, which he described as 'animalistic, supremely choreographed and meticulously planned.' The matter was adjourned for further consideration.
A Cavan man, Danny Heyneman, must serve a six-year prison sentence for attempting to murder his father before beginning a life sentence for murdering his mother in attacks of extreme violence within the family home. Mr Justice Tony Hunt ruled that the attempted murder of his father was a separate and extremely serious offence, and that the six-year sentence should be served before the life sentence for the murder of his mother. The judge noted that the most aggravating factor in the case was the breach of trust involved, as the victims were attacked in their own home, which should have been a place of safety. The court heard that the defendant had a history of depression, self-harm, and paranoid ideation, but these factors were not sufficient to explain the violence meted out to his parents. The judge acknowledged the defendant's remorse but said it was a very small drop in a very large ocean of damage and destruction. Danny Heyneman pleaded guilty.
Danny Heyneman, 33, pleaded guilty to murdering his mother, Annie Heyneman, and attempting to murder his father, Henk Heyneman, at their Ballyconnell home on January 11, 2025. The court heard that Annie was stabbed at least 14 times, while Henk sustained 26 sharp force wounds. Mr Justice Tony Hunt stated he would consider imposing consecutive sentences given the vicious and prolonged nature of the attacks. Defence counsel Keith Spencer BL asked the court not to impose consecutive sentences, arguing the offences arose from a single incident underpinned by mental impairment. Heyneman, who has features of depression and a history of substance abuse but no severe mental disorder, read an apology expressing deep regret. The matter was adjourned, with sentencing scheduled for June 2.
A 31-year-old man from Killeshandra, County Cavan, has received a fully suspended two-year sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for sexually assaulting a Ryanair cabin crew member during a flight to Dublin Airport. Aaron Brady pleaded guilty to the assault, which occurred approximately 40 minutes before landing. The court heard Brady had consumed approximately five bottles of wine before boarding and between 12 and 15 mini bottles during the flight. Judge Jonathan Dunphy imposed the suspended sentence on strict conditions, including probation service supervision, offence-focused work, addiction support engagement, and attendance at a residential alcohol treatment programme. Brady has paid €3,130 to cover the woman's out-of-pocket expenses and received a five-year ban from Ryanair, which Judge Dunphy noted should be for life. The woman resigned from her position following the incident and described experiencing severe emotional and psychological consequences in her victim impact statement.
A former accountant pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to theft and deception offences committed over six weeks in early 2025. Michelle Dillon, aged 59 and homeless, stole a bank card and medical card from an elderly patient at a Dublin hospital on 20 February. She subsequently travelled to Cork, Clare, Meath, Westmeath and Wicklow, presenting herself as the legitimate account holder at various banks to withdraw approximately €8,000 in cash. She also made contactless payments totalling €133. Withdrawals occurred in Cork city, Bray, Dublin city centre, Navan, Athlone and Ennis. When presenting at an AIB branch in Navan on 4 March, a warning mark was active on the account, yet she convinced staff she was the genuine holder. She was arrested in October 2025 at Cavan General Hospital after presenting under a false name. The victim's bank refunded all monies. Judge Elma Sheahan described the initial theft as despicable and the subsequent deceptions as planned, premeditated and brazen.
A 32-year-old man from Ballyconnell, County Cavan, has pleaded guilty to murder and attempted murder before the Central Criminal Court. Danny Heyneman admitted to the murder of Annie Heyneman at a family home in Kilnavart on January 11, 2025, and to attempting to murder Henk Heyneman at the same address on that date. Prosecution senior counsel Gerardine Small indicated that victim impact statements would be presented to the court. The defence counsel requested that education and governors' reports be prepared and indicated an intention to rely on psychiatric evidence during sentencing. Mr Justice Paul McDermott adjourned the case to May 19 for sentencing, at which time the court will hear background evidence, victim impact statements, and the prepared reports.
Aaron Brady, 31, of Killeshandra, Co Cavan, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to sexually assaulting a Ryanair cabin crew member on an inbound flight to Dublin Airport. The matter is currently at the charge or pretrial stage. Judge Jonathan Dunphy adjourned the case to June for finalisation to allow Brady to address the victim's expenses outlined in her impact statement. The court directed that €5,000, offered by Brady as a gesture of remorse, be paid within 24 hours for onward transmission to the woman. Judge Dunphy remanded Brady on continuing bail so he could continue working, noting the court's concern regarding the victim's financial losses, which exceeded €3,000 due to sick leave and her subsequent resignation. Brady admitted to consuming significant amounts of alcohol before and during the flight and stated he has no memory of the incident. He has one previous conviction for failing to report a hit and run. The victim described the assault as shattering her sense of safety, leading to her resignation from the job she loved. Brady's defense counsel highlighted his early guilty plea, good work record, and willingness to repay further expenses if given more time. The judge expressed a desire to finalise the case in a manner that allows everyone to move on.
Eduard Hupalov was fined €300 and disqualified from driving for two years after pleading guilty to drink driving on Belgard Road. Gardaí said he had glassy eyes and slurred speech, while testing found 61mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath within three hours of driving. Eduard Hupalov was convicted.
Eight Zimbabwean healthcare workers were awarded €30,420 each after a Workplace Relations Commission adjudicator found particularly egregious non-payment of wages by Unity Healthcare Services Ltd, following promised care jobs that never materialised.
Danny Heyneman, a 32-year-old man from Kilnavart, Ballyconnell, County Cavan, has been charged with the murder of Annie Heyneman and the attempted murder of Henk Heyneman. The alleged offences are said to have occurred at the family home in Kilnavart on January 11, 2025. Heyneman is currently accused of these crimes, and the charges remain alleged or contested. The matter is at the pre-trial stage, with no plea entered, finding made, or sentence imposed. The case is listed for trial at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin on April 13. A mention date has also been scheduled for February 18 at the same court. No finalisation, adjournment, or disposal has been recorded for this procedural stage. All allegations are attributed to the charges brought against the accused, and no conviction has been established. The report reflects the current status of the case as it proceeds toward trial.
A woman from Kingscourt, Co Cavan, has been convicted and fined €750 following an assault at a concert venue in Dublin. Sarah Callan, aged 37, pleaded guilty at Dún Laoghaire District Court to a Section 2 assault that occurred on 20 June 2024 during a Pink concert at the Aviva Stadium. The court heard that Callan punched a 17-year-old attendant, mistakenly believing he was responsible for an earlier incident involving her husband. The teenager sustained facial injuries requiring medical treatment at the scene. Callan made admissions to gardaí on the night and expressed remorse. Her defence counsel submitted the assault was out of character and consisted of a single punch. Judge Conor Fottrell described the circumstances as concerning and alarming, noting the victim had been a minor performing his duties. He convicted Callan and imposed the fine with seven months to pay. Legal aid was granted.
Three men convicted of the kidnap and torture of Quinn Industrial Holdings director Kevin Lunney have had their conviction appeals dismissed by the Court of Appeal. Alan Harte, Alan O'Brien, and Darren Redmond, all from East Wall, Dublin, were found guilty by the Special Criminal Court in 2021 of false imprisonment and intentionally causing harm to Mr Lunney at Ballinagh, Co Cavan on 17 September 2019. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, sitting with two fellow judges, rejected all grounds of appeal, including challenges to the admissibility of DNA evidence from a van used by the kidnappers, phone records obtained via warrant, and CCTV footage. The court found no error in the trial court's decisions on these matters. Harte received a 30-year sentence, O'Brien 25 years, and Redmond 18 years with the final three suspended. All three men confirmed they intend to appeal their sentences, with the matter listed for case management on 13 February.
A firefighter employed part-time with Cavan County Fire Service has been awarded €15,000 by the Workplace Relations Commission following a successful complaint of penalisation under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005. Cian Donohoe alleged that a station officer subjected him to bullying behaviour including removal of personal protective equipment from his locker and derogatory remarks. Mr Donohoe reported concerns to the county's former chief fire officer in April 2022, subsequently taking an eight-month career break. He claimed the behaviour resumed and intensified upon his return, leading to work-related stress and medical absence. Adjudicator Roger McGrath upheld the penalisation complaint, finding the station officer's conduct amounted to coercion and intimidation, and that removal of essential firefighting equipment constituted a material detriment. The adjudicator noted the station officer did not attend the hearing to provide evidence. Mr Donohoe was represented by solicitor Damien Rudden, with the Local Government Management Agency appearing for Cavan County Council.
Ruth Lawrence, a 46-year-old defendant, was sentenced to two mandatory terms of life imprisonment for the murders of Anthony Keegan and Eoin O'Connor. The Central Criminal Court jury had previously found that Lawrence and her boyfriend, Neville van der Westhuizen, acted as a unit to lure O'Connor to their home, where he was shot. The panel also accepted that Keegan was shot by van der Westhuizen and that Lawrence was equally liable for the outcome under joint enterprise. Lawrence had pleaded not guilty to both counts of murder, which occurred between April 22 and May 26, 2014. Justice Tony Hunt handed down the concurrent sentences, backdating them to October 4, 2022, when Lawrence entered custody. The court heard four victim impact statements detailing the trauma suffered by the families, who noted Lawrence's lack of remorse and her decade-long flight to South Africa, where she changed her name and appearance. Van der Westhuizen is currently serving a 15-year sentence in South Africa for separate offenses, with an application to return him to Ireland for trial to be considered upon his release. The judge acknowledged the vindication for the families after a lengthy legal process.
Nobuhle Sibanda, Agapau Munashe Zvihari, Nombeko Hlabangana, Tatenda Ncube, Allen Phillip Ndhlovu, and Nicola Sibanda are applicants in a trial-stage hearing before the Workplace Relations Commission. They allege violations of the Payment of Wages Act 1991 against their former employer, Unity Healthcare Services Ltd. The applicants claim they paid recruitment fees of €2,000 to €3,600 to secure work permits but were left without promised employment or wages. They testified to living in freezing shared accommodation in County Cavan, where they allegedly pooled resources for basic necessities after promised weekly stipends ceased. The company actively disputes these complaints. During the hearing, applicants described threats regarding work permit cancellations and difficulties obtaining letters of no objection to accept alternative employment. The matter was adjourned by adjudication officer Breiffni O'Neill, who will hear evidence from a ninth complainant at a later date. No findings, sentences, or final disposals have been recorded, as the proceedings remain ongoing.
A key witness in the trial of Ruth Lawrence at the Central Criminal Court suffered a heart attack requiring hospitalisation during proceedings, creating significant complications for the case. The witness, who had provided crucial testimony following a garda investigation that began over a decade earlier, was unable to attend court in person. The prosecution successfully applied for his evidence to be delivered via video-link, arguing this had become standard practice. The defence objected strenuously, contending the jury required to see the witness in person given the serious nature of the allegations. The trial judge ruled the application admissible, citing fairness to the accused and the impracticality of further delay. During the case, defence counsel also attempted to introduce evidence relating to the defendant's involvement in charitable work abroad, which the judge deemed irrelevant and excluded. A subsequent application to withdraw one murder charge was rejected, with the judge finding sufficient evidence of joint enterprise to allow the matter to proceed to the jury.
The Central Criminal Court heard evidence in the trial concerning the 2014 disappearances of Eoin O'Connor and Anthony Keegan. The prosecution alleged that the pair went to Ballyjamesduff, Co Cavan, to collect a debt of approximately €70,000 owed by Jason Symes and South African national Neville van der Westhuizen. Testimony from the O'Connor brothers described attempts to locate the missing men at the homes of Symes and his son, Sean, who reported being threatened by a group of men. The court heard that van der Westhuizen was in a relationship with Ruth Lawrence, with whom he lived in Patrick's Cottage near Lough Sheelin. The prosecution described their relationship as symbiotic and alleged a plan was formed in 2013 to rob drugs from O'Connor's house. While the source text details the trial proceedings and witness accounts, it does not contain the final verdict or sentencing for Ruth Lawrence or Neville van der Westhuizen in this specific instance. However, factual records indicate that Neville van der Westhuizen is currently serving a 15-year sentence in Westville Prison in Durban, having been convicted in 2020 on six counts of kidnapping, attempted murder, and murder. The report does not specify a plea, finding, or sentence for Ruth Lawrence, nor does it detail any adjournments or suspended portions of the sentence.
The Central Criminal Court will hear a fifth day of deliberations in the trial of Ruth Lawrence, 46, who is accused of shooting drug dealer Eoin O'Connor and another man, Anthony Keegan, between 22 April and 26 May 2014. Lawrence, originally from Clontarf, Dublin, was extradited from South Africa in 2023 and has pleaded not guilty to both murder charges. The jury, composed of 12 members, has been considering verdicts for 12 hours and may return a majority verdict on one or both counts if at least ten jurors agree. The prosecution, led by Michael O'Higgins SC, argues that Lawrence and her boyfriend Neville van der Westhuizen acted as a unit to lure and murder the victims, while the defence, represented by Patrick Gageby SC, contends that key witnesses, the Symes, are unreliable. The trial continues with the jury scheduled to return on Wednesday morning to finalize their verdicts.
A Cavan man previously imprisoned for handling 117 stolen bicycles has received a suspended sentence for money laundering linked to the same offence. Dinas Bimbiras, aged 50, of Maple Drive, Drumgola Wood, Cavan, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing the proceeds of crime. Following his earlier conviction in October 2022, when he was sentenced to two years' imprisonment, gardaí examined his bank accounts under warrant. Analysis revealed a discrepancy of €71,141 between his legitimate income and lodgements, which prosecutors contend represents proceeds from the bicycle operation. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a two-year custodial sentence but suspended it in full, determining that a further jail term would be unjust given Bimbiras's conduct since his release in February 2024 and his return to full-time employment. The judge noted the money laundering charge could have been heard concurrently with the original handling matter. He ordered forfeiture of the €71,141 to the State. Bimbiras, a Lithuanian resident in Ireland since 2001, maintains he purchased bicycles at Dublin markets intending to refurbish and resell them.
The jury in the trial of Ruth Lawrence, accused of shooting drug dealer Eoin O'Connor and murder suspect Anthony Keegan, has been allowed to return a majority verdict. The panel of four men and eight women began deliberations on Thursday and have spent eight hours and 21 minutes over three days. Lawrence, 46, pleaded not guilty to both murder charges. The judge, Mr Justice Tony Hunt, explained that a majority verdict could be accepted if at least ten jurors agreed, and that an alternative verdict of "guilty of assisting an offender" could be used only if the jury found her not guilty of murder. The trial has heard statements from protected witnesses Jason and Stacey Symes, who claimed Lawrence told them she had shot O'Connor and that Neville van der Westhuizen, a South African national, was involved.
The jury in the trial of Ruth Lawrence, accused of shooting drug dealer Eoin O'Connor and working with her boyfriend Neville van der Westhuizen to murder him and Anthony Keegan, has paused deliberations for the weekend and will resume on Monday. The trial, which began five weeks ago, has heard that Lawrence, 46, was extradited from South Africa and pleaded not guilty to the two murder charges. Two protected witnesses, Jason and Stacey Symes, testified that Lawrence told Stacey she had shot O'Connor but that Neville finished the killing, and that they were asked to move the bodies. The judge explained that the jury can return three verdicts for each murder: guilty, not guilty but guilty of assisting an offender, or not guilty. He emphasized that a conviction requires proof beyond reasonable doubt that Lawrence was part of a joint enterprise to kill the men.
In the Central Criminal Court, a jury of 12 deliberated for 1 hour 22 minutes on the second day of the trial of Ruth Lawrence, aged 46, accused of murdering drug dealer Eoin O'Connor (32) and drug dealer Anthony Keegan (33) between 22 April and 26 May 2014. Lawrence, extradited from South Africa in 2023, pleaded not guilty. The prosecution alleged that Lawrence and her boyfriend Neville van der Westhuizen acted as a "unit" and "tag team", luring O'Connor to their home and shooting him, and that van der Westhuizen also shot Keegan. Two protected witnesses, Jason and Stacey Symes, testified that Lawrence told Stacey she had shot O'Connor but that Neville "took over", and that they were asked to move the bodies.
The jury has begun deliberations in the trial of Ruth Lawrence, 46, accused of shooting drug dealer Eoin O'Connor and killing drug dealer Anthony Keegan with her boyfriend Neville van der Westhuizen. The case, heard at the Central Criminal Court after a five‑week trial, relies on statements from protected witnesses Jason and Stacey Symes, who claim Lawrence told them she shot O'Connor but that Neville finished the act, and that they were asked to move the bodies. The judge explained that Lawrence could be found guilty of murder on the basis of joint enterprise only if she assisted in a concrete way and had a purpose to help the killings. The jury may return a verdict of guilty of murder, guilty of assisting an offender, or not guilty for each murder charge, and must decide unanimously.
In the trial of Ruth Lawrence, Mr Justice Tony Hunt explained that the jury may return an alternative verdict of assisting an offender if they are not satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that she participated in a joint enterprise to murder drug dealer Anthony Keegan and his friend Eoin O'Connor between 22 April and 26 May 2014. He clarified that for a murder conviction on joint enterprise, the accused must have assisted in a concrete way and had a purpose to deliberately assist in the killings. The judge noted that the two murder counts must be considered separately and that a conviction on one does not automatically imply a conviction on the other. He warned the jury to assess the reliability of the Symes witnesses, who are in the Witness Protection Programme, and to consider the impact of any benefits they receive on their testimony. Ruth Lawrence pleaded not guilty.
A man has been sentenced to fifteen months in prison at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for two counts of animal cruelty connected to protests against asylum seeker accommodation at Thornton Hall in north Dublin. In June 2024, security personnel discovered two pigs with severe stab and slash wounds on the site, one of which was also missing a limb. Both animals were subsequently euthanised, while two others brought to the location were rehomed. Darren Jackson, aged forty and from Rivermeade in County Dublin, admitted to transporting four pigs from a County Cavan farm to the facility but maintained that an associate inflicted the injuries using a scalpel. The court heard evidence that Jackson recorded video footage while driving the animals and that some individuals involved believed introducing pigs would deter Muslim people from the site due to religious observance. Following his arrest, Jackson engaged with local community representatives and attended a mosque for discussions regarding radicalisation. Judge Martin Nolan accepted Jackson was not the primary architect of the scheme but had participated substantially. Darren Jackson pleaded guilty.
In a double‑murder trial, defence counsel Patrick Gageby SC argued that the State's case against 46‑year‑old Ruth Lawrence was weak, relying mainly on two protected witnesses, father and daughter Jason and Stacey Symes. Gageby said the Symes had downplayed their own roles and could not be trusted to convict Lawrence, who was extradited from South Africa in 2023 after the bodies of Anthony Keegan (33) and Eoin O'Connor (32) were found on a lake island in 2014. He claimed the Symes' statements about Lawrence shooting O'Connor and her boyfriend Neville van der Westhuizen taking over were unreliable, and that phone evidence did not link Lawrence to the killings. Gageby urged jurors not to convict Lawrence, describing the prosecution's case as "slim" and "shaky.". Ruth Lawrence pleaded not guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, prosecution barrister Michael O'Higgins SC argued that Ruth Lawrence (46) and her South African boyfriend Neville van der Westhuizen acted as a "unit and tag team" to lure drug dealer Eoin O'Connor (32) to their home at Patricks Cottage, Ross, Mountnugent, and murder him. O'Higgins said Lawrence shot O'Connor in the stomach with intent to kill, but she did not act alone; van der Westhuizen allegedly finished him off, possibly by grappling and shooting him in the head. The prosecution also claimed that the couple killed Anthony Keegan (33) and that both bodies were later found bound and covered on Inchicup Island, Lough Sheelin. Witnesses Jason and Stacey Symes testified that Lawrence told them she had shot O'Connor but it "went wrong" and that van der Westhuizen took over. The case presented evidence of a planned, highly calculated double murder, with Lawrence and van der Westhuizen equally liable under the law. Ruth Lawrence pleaded not guilty.
A Workplace Relations Commission adjudicator has ordered a Cavan takeaway business to pay €154,828 in compensation to a Chinese national for serious employment rights violations sustained over two years. The worker, employed at Lam's Asian Cuisine and Eskimo Pizza in Ballyjamesduff, was found to have worked between 68 and 73 hours weekly while earning as little as €3 per hour. The adjudicator upheld all 14 complaints filed, including breaches of working time legislation, minimum wage requirements, and equality law. The employer had required repayment of approximately €31,000 in recruitment fees through wage deductions. Adjudicator Shay Henry found the complainant's vulnerable immigration status rendered him susceptible to exploitation and determined no legitimate loans existed. The largest award of €60,000 addressed discrimination on racial grounds. The respondent business director failed to attend hearings, citing stress.
Ruth Lawrence, aged 46 and originally from Clontarf, Dublin, is on trial in Ireland for the murders of Anthony Keegan (33) and Eoin O'Connor (32). She was extradited from South Africa nearly a decade after the bodies were found on Lough Sheelin. Lawrence denies the charges. Her defence cites testimony from Pastor Robert Roger Brazelle, who says Lawrence worked in safehouses for trafficking victims in Pretoria and Bloemfontein, and Pastor Andre Lombard, who confirms her involvement in feeding schemes for the poor. The prosecution alleges that Lawrence shot O'Connor and, with boyfriend Neville van der Westhuizen, killed both men. Van der Westhuizen is serving a 15‑year sentence in South Africa for kidnapping, attempted murder and murder; extradition to Ireland is pending after his sentence ends. The trial is before Mr Justice Tony Hunt with a jury of twelve.
At the Central Criminal Court, a jury heard that drug dealer Eoin O'Connor sent a text message on April 22, 2014, stating "have to go to country… if anything happens to me" before he and Anthony Keegan disappeared. Ruth Lawrence (45), with an address in Co Meath, has pleaded not guilty to murdering both men at an unknown location between April 22 and May 26, 2014. A senior garda intelligence analyst told the court she examined phone records for twelve numbers in the investigation. Cell site data indicated the men travelled from Dublin to Ballyjamesduff, Co Cavan that evening. Ms Lawrence's phone showed activity consistent with travel towards Cavan town after 6.25pm, with her last connection at 7.36pm. The prosecution alleges Ms Lawrence and her boyfriend killed Mr O'Connor over a €70,000 drug debt, with both bodies later discovered bound and wrapped on Inchicup Island, Lough Sheelin. The trial continues.
A witness at the Central Criminal Court has testified that a fire was burning at a house in Mountnugent, County Meath, the day after two men went missing in April 2014. Vytautis Bitaris told the court he was present at Patricks Cottage on the morning of April 23, 2014, when he observed the fire near the property's outbuildings. Later that evening, the witness said he assisted in loading four large blocks into a vehicle belonging to Neville van der Westhuizen, the boyfriend of Ruth Lawrence, who denies murdering Anthony Keegan and Eoin O'Connor. The trial heard that the two men were last seen on April 22, 2014. A second witness, Marzena Miduchoska, testified that van der Westhuizen asked her to store two tool boxes at her home around midnight in April 2014, stating the items would only remain for one day. When Ms Miduchoska opened one box the following day, she observed foil-wrapped items and a device resembling a tattoo implement. The trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt. Anthony Keegan pleaded not guilty. Eoin O'Connor pleaded not guilty. Ruth Lawrence pleaded not guilty.
A key witness has told the Central Criminal Court that he feared Ruth Lawrence, who is accused of murdering two men in April or May 2014. The 45-year-old from Mountnugent in Co Meath has pleaded not guilty to killing Anthony Keegan and Eoin O'Connor. Jason Symes gave evidence via video-link, stating he witnessed Lawrence carrying a firearm on multiple occasions. He recalled that on Good Friday 2014, Lawrence and her boyfriend Neville van der Westhuizen borrowed his daughter's car while he waited in Dublin. Upon their return to Patrick's Cottage in Meath, Symes said the couple removed numerous bags from the vehicle. He testified that he later heard Lawrence mention a headlock and a twist in connection with the deceased men. Symes said he fled Ireland fearing for his family's safety but returned to provide testimony. The trial continues before Justice Tony Hunt and a jury.
During a Central Criminal Court trial on 22 October 2025, key witness Stacey Symes (32) testified that Ruth Lawrence (45) claimed she had shot drug dealer Eoin O'Connor (32) but that the attempt failed, and that her boyfriend Neville van der Westhuizen "took over" and killed O'Connor and Anthony Keegan (33). Symes said she and her father visited Patrick's Cottage on 22 April, where Lawrence allegedly said she had shot O'Connor. Cross‑examination by Patrick Gageby SC challenged Symes, who insisted Lawrence had spoken of shooting. Gageby suggested Neville was the one who shot, but Symes maintained Lawrence's statement. Lawrence, originally from Clontarf, Dublin, pleaded not guilty to the murders of Keegan and O'Connor, which occurred between 22 April and 26 May 2014. The case proceeds before Mr Justice Tony Hunt with a jury of four men and eight women, and Symes' father Jason is scheduled to give direct evidence.
A witness has told the Central Criminal Court that Ruth Lawrence, the accused in a double murder trial, admitted to shooting drug dealer Eoin O'Connor but said the killing "went wrong" and her boyfriend "took over". Stacey Symes testified that Lawrence said Anthony Keegan died for O'Connor "because they were friends". Ms Symes, who grew up in Ballyjamesduff, Co Cavan, said she and her father were asked to help move the bodies of both men. Lawrence, aged 45, with an address at Patricks Cottage, Ross, Mountnugent, Co Meath, has pleaded not guilty to murdering O'Connor and Keegan between 22 April and 26 May 2014. The court heard the bodies were later discovered on Inchicup Island on Lough Sheelin. The trial before Mr Justice Tony Hunt continues, with the defence due to cross-examine the witness.
Ruth Lawrence, 45, is on trial for the alleged murder of Anthony Keegan, 33, and Eoin O'Connor, 32, at an unknown location in the State between April 22 and May 26, 2014. Ms Lawrence has pleaded not guilty to both charges. The trial is currently ongoing before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and a jury. In evidence, former Chief State Pathologist Professor Marie Cassidy testified regarding the post-mortem examination of Mr O'Connor, whose remains were found wrapped in nylon on May 27, 2014. She identified three gunshot wounds: one to the head, one to the abdomen, and one to the left hand. Cassidy stated the head wound was the cause of death, while the abdominal injury was potentially fatal. She opined it was likely the abdominal shot occurred before the fatal headshot. Separately, retired Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis testified that Mr Keegan died from two gunshot wounds to the head and neck. The prosecution alleges Ms Lawrence shot Mr O'Connor and acted with her boyfriend, Neville van der Westhuizen, to kill both men. The trial continues.
A retired Deputy State Pathologist has testified at the Central Criminal Court that a Dublin man whose remains were discovered on an island in Lough Sheelin, County Cavan, died from two gunshot wounds to the head and neck. Dr Michael Curtis conducted a post-mortem examination on Anthony Keegan's decomposed remains in May 2014, found concealed beneath coal sacks and tarpaulin on Inchicup Island. He told the court that one gunshot wound to the right temporal region of the head proved instantaneously fatal, with the bullet traversing the skull and exiting the left jaw, while a second wound to the back of the neck caused catastrophic fractures to vertebrae. Ruth Lawrence, aged 45, with an address in County Meath, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Mr Keegan and Eoin O'Connor between April and May 2014. The prosecution alleges Ms Lawrence and her boyfriend shot the two men and concealed their bodies. The trial before Mr Justice Tony Hunt continues.
At the Central Criminal Court, a dog handler has testified in the double murder trial of Ruth Lawrence that his specially trained German Shepherd gave an indication at a tarpaulin-covered area on Inchicup Island in Lough Sheelin, where two decomposing bodies were subsequently discovered. Garda Paul Conroy said the dog immediately went into dense undergrowth upon landing on the island on 26 May 2014 and stared at a particular spot. When a scenes of crime officer cut open the tarpaulin, an arm with clothing fell out. A fisherman also told the trial he had noticed a strong smell he associated with decomposing flesh coming from the island approximately one month after the men went missing. Lawrence, with an address in Mountnugent, County Meath, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Anthony Keegan and Eoin O'Connor between 22 April and 26 May 2014. The trial continues before Justice Tony Hunt and a jury.
At the Central Criminal Court, families of two men missing since 2014 provided testimony in the murder trial of Ruth Lawrence. The 45-year-old, from Mountnugent in County Meath, has pleaded not guilty to the murders of Anthony Keegan and Eoin O'Connor, whose remains were discovered on an island in May 2014. Karen Roche, Mr O'Connor's former partner, told the court that he received an unsettling phone call on 22 April 2014 and departed their home shortly after, never to return. Rory O'Connor, the victim's brother, spoke to Eoin by telephone that evening but received no further contact after 8.45pm. The prosecution alleges Mr O'Connor was a drug dealer and that financial disputes over approximately €70,000 provided motive. The trial, before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and jury, continues. The State argues the accused woman and her boyfriend acted together in the killings.
In a double‑murder trial, the jury was sent home until Thursday morning after the judge learned that a key witness was in a medical situation. The case involves Ruth Lawrence, 45, who is accused of killing Anthony Keegan, 33, and Eoin O'Connor, 32, between 22 April and 26 May 2014. Mr Justice Tony Hunt told the 12 jurors that the witness's condition was significant to both sides and that the parties would need to decide whether the trial could proceed without the witness. He said he would return with further information on Thursday. The prosecution, led by Michael O'Higgins SC, argued that Lawrence shot O'Connor and that she and her boyfriend, South African national Neville van der Westhuizen, worked together to kill the men and dispose of their bodies, which were later found bound and covered on Inchicup Island. The judge urged the jury not to speculate until more details were available. Ruth Lawrence pleaded not guilty.
A woman accused of murdering two men inquired about borrowing a boat on Lough Sheelin the day before the deceased were last seen alive, the Central Criminal Court has heard. Ruth Lawrence, 45, of Patricks Cottage, Ross, Mountnugent, Co Meath, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Anthony Keegan and Eoin O'Connor between April 22 and May 26, 2014. A landlord told the court that Ms Lawrence asked about taking a boat out on April 21, 2014, and subsequently borrowed an electric engine, which she said was needed because her boyfriend had a bad back and could not manage rowing. The witness stated the engine was returned the following day with minimal battery usage. The prosecution alleges Ms Lawrence and her boyfriend worked together to kill the two men, whose bodies were discovered bound and wrapped on Inchicup Island on May 26, 2014. The trial, before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and a jury, continues.
Ruth Lawrence, a Dublin woman with an address in County Meath, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of two men whose bodies were discovered on Inchicup Island in Lough Sheelin in May 2014. The island straddles the borders of Meath, Westmeath and Cavan. At the opening of the trial at the Central Criminal Court, the State outlined its case that Lawrence and her boyfriend worked "as a unit" to kill Anthony Keegan and Eoin O'Connor between April 22 and May 26, 2014. The prosecution contends Lawrence shot one man, with a follow-up shot delivered by her boyfriend. Both men died from gunshot wounds. The State alleges the accused and her boyfriend discussed the murders and disposal of the bodies openly. Evidence will address a debt owed by one defendant to one of the deceased, and activities at the cottage near the lake following the alleged killings. The trial, before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and a jury, is expected to conclude on November 14.
A 45-year-old woman with an address in County Meath has pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder at the Central Criminal Court. Ruth Lawrence is charged with the murder of Anthony Keegan and Eoin O'Connor, alleged to have occurred at an unknown location within the State between April and May 2014. The trial commenced before Mr Justice Tony Hunt with a jury of twelve members. The prosecution is led by senior counsel Michael O'Higgins, with the defence represented by Patrick Gageby SC. The trial is expected to conclude by mid-November. Evidence will be heard from members of both deceased's families, forensic specialists, pathologists and mobile phone analysts. The investigation was principally conducted by officers from Kells Garda Station in County Meath, with the missing persons aspect handled by Santry gardaí. Locations of relevance include Ballyjamesduff in County Cavan and an area adjoining Lough Sheelin spanning three counties.
Alan Harte, aged 43, is serving a 30-year sentence imposed by the Special Criminal Court for the kidnapping and torture of Quinn Industrial Holdings director Kevin Lunney at a yard in Ballinagh, County Cavan in September 2019. At the Court of Appeal, Harte's legal team argued that his conviction by the non-jury court was unconstitutional on two grounds: whether the Special Criminal Court can deliver a majority verdict, and whether it may withhold disclosure of whether a verdict was unanimous or split. Counsel submitted that transparency regarding verdict unanimity is essential when restricting liberty, and that judges sitting on the Special Criminal Court exercise the same function as jurors. The State's counsel countered that the Special Criminal Court comprises judges rather than a representative cross-section of society, rendering it fundamentally different from a jury trial. The Court of Appeal reserved judgement.
A 63-year-old former Defence Forces member has been sentenced to ten years imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court for five counts of sexual assault committed against a child in Cavan between September 2007 and June 2010. Mr Justice David Keane remarked that the defendant was "extremely fortunate" the Director of Public Prosecutions accepted guilty pleas to sexual assault, as the offences could have been prosecuted as rape, which carries a maximum life sentence. The judge noted significant aggravating factors including the substantial age disparity and severe impact on the victim. Evidence detailed a pattern of calculated abuse involving grooming and isolation. The victim, aged eleven to fourteen at the time, experienced lasting psychological harm, including damaged relationships and suicidal ideation. The defendant denied responsibility during interview and demonstrated no empathy during probation assessment. A two-year post-release supervision order was imposed. The sentence was backdated to October of the previous year.
An appeal has been heard in relation to the convictions of Andrew Noonan and Keith Quinn for their roles in a €2.769 million heroin importation enterprise. Andrew Noonan, a former football manager and League of Ireland player, was convicted of three drugs offences in relation to the possession, sale and supply of heroin at Rosemount Business Park, Dublin 11, on August 5, 2020. He was also convicted of possession of a phone with an encrypted application, Enigma, giving rise to a reasonable inference that it was to be used in connection with a drug trafficking offence. He was acquitted of possession of a signal blocker. Noonan denied any role in the drugs and claimed he was facilitating a friend in relation to storage of equipment for a sick child. Keith Quinn, a former professional footballer, pleaded guilty in relation to his own role and received a seven and a half year sentence with the final three and a half years suspended in 2021. This was later increased by the Court of Appeal to eight years imprisonment with 18 months suspended. Quinn gave defence evidence during Noonan's trial that Noonan had no responsibility for the drugs and that he had lied to Noonan about the parcel contents when he asked to use the office for storage. Quinn's sentence hearing heard how he became involved in the offence due to gambling debt, that he was under pressure and was carrying out the offence to get himself out of debt. The matter was adjourned.
The Court of Appeal has dismissed an appeal by a serving member of An Garda Síochána and his partner against a High Court order requiring them to vacate a property in Co Cavan. The couple had occupied the house at Lock Eala, Loch Gowna since 2012 under an arrangement with the previous landlord. However, businesswoman Sylvia Fox purchased the property at auction in March 2024 following the developer's insolvency. Ms Fox obtained a High Court injunction in February 2025 after claiming she had been intimidated when seeking vacant possession. The defendants argued their lease agreement with the former owner should remain valid, contesting Ms Fox's registered ownership at that time. Mr Justice Donald Binchy dismissed the appeal, finding Ms Fox now held clear title to the property as the registered owner. A four-week stay on the order was granted. The defendants' legal representatives indicated an intention to seek leave to appeal to the Supreme Court.
A chef employed at restaurants in Ballyjamesduff, County Cavan has lodged multiple employment rights complaints at the Workplace Relations Commission against a businessman and his limited company. The worker, a Chinese national, alleges he was subjected to excessive working hours, sometimes exceeding seventy hours weekly, between August 2022 and August 2024, while substantial deductions were made from his wages purportedly to repay recruitment fees of approximately €31,000. He claims these deductions breached employment law and left him earning below the statutory minimum wage. The respondent's wife, appearing as a witness, declined to address questions about wage deductions and working time compliance, stating such matters required her accountant's input. The respondent's legal representative denied the recruitment fees constituted unlawful deductions and characterised the dispute as a contractual matter between parties whose relationship had deteriorated. Adjudicator Shay Henry refused an adjournment request and heard the case over two days. The worker seeks back pay, compensation for unlawful deductions, and damages for breaches of working time and related employment legislation. The adjudicator reserved his decision.
The Supreme Court has declined to hear an appeal by a 67-year-old man from Arva, County Cavan, against an extradition order to Northern Ireland. James Donegan is wanted to stand trial for the murder of Joseph James Porter, a member of the Ulster Defence Regiment, at Mountnorris in County Armagh on a date between 22 and 25 June 1979. Mr Donegan faces additional charges relating to possession of a firearm and ammunition with intent to endanger life, and membership of a proscribed organisation. His legal representatives argued the extradition warrant lacked sufficient specification of his alleged degree of involvement. The Supreme Court determined the case raised no issue of general public importance meeting the threshold for appeal, characterising the complaint as one of insufficient warrant detail rather than a substantive legal question concerning the correspondence between alleged conduct and Irish murder law.
A 54-year-old Brazilian man has been sentenced to nine years imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following his conviction on multiple charges related to operating a brothel network across rural Ireland. Ilamar Rodrigues Ribeiro pleaded guilty to 19 sample counts, including brothel-keeping, using false instruments, and possession of proceeds of crime totalling €788,982 across multiple bank accounts. He also admitted possessing child sexual abuse material on his mobile phone when arrested at Dublin Airport in November 2023. The investigation, led by the Garda Human Trafficking and Co-ordination Unit, identified ten rental properties used as brothels in locations including Longford town, Ballyconnell, Ballymahon, Carrick-on-Shannon, and Ballaghadereen. Judge Patricia Ryan noted the offences involved elaborate planning and premeditation. She imposed a global sentence of ten and a half years, suspending the final eighteen months on strict conditions, with the term backdated to his arrest date.