Paschal Kelly, aged 57, has failed in his appeal against conviction for a €92,000 post office robbery committed in September 2014. The Court of Appeal dismissed his challenge on all grounds, upholding his 18-year sentence imposed by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in 2018. Kelly, with last addresses in Cootehill, County Cavan, and Castlepollard, County Westmeath, was convicted of offences including false imprisonment, robbery, burglary and threatening to kill three women during the crime. The gang entered the home of postmistress Susan Lawlor in Malahide, bound her, her daughter and a student guest with cable ties, and transported them to Bayside Post Office in Sutton where the robbery occurred. Mr Justice John Edwards upheld the trial judge's admission of CCTV evidence and garda identification testimony, finding the evidence reliable and the conviction safe. Kelly's legal team indicated a sentence appeal remains pending. He has 60 previous convictions including robbery and assault.
An Bord Pleanála has conceded a High Court challenge to its decision permitting Abbott Ireland to extend its manufacturing facility near Dromore, Co Monaghan. The board's approval, which allowed the company to add approximately 2,661 square metres of laboratory, office, car park and warehouse space, has been quashed. John Morehart, owner of Bellamont Castle and surrounding lands near Cootehill, Co Cavan, sought judicial review on environmental grounds. He contended the board failed to properly assess the development under EU Environmental Impact Assessment requirements, noting the facility processes over 100 tonnes of raw material daily. Mr Morehart also claimed the board breached EU Habitats Directive obligations. Monaghan County Council had initially granted permission, which was appealed by both Mr Morehart and An Taisce. The High Court granted a formal order quashing the board's decision after it conceded the proceedings this week before Mr Justice Charles Meenan.
A man from County Cavan is appealing his conviction for a post office robbery in Dublin during which three women were tied up and abducted. Paschal Kelly, aged 56, was convicted in 2018 of robbery, false imprisonment, threatening to kill, and other offences relating to a €92,000 theft from Bayside Post Office in Sutton in September 2014. He was sentenced to 18 years. The Court of Appeal heard arguments on the strength of evidence against him. The State's counsel cited DNA evidence recovered from discarded clothing found at the scene and a bottle in the getaway vehicle, alongside CCTV footage and garda identifications of the driver. The defence challenged the quality of CCTV footage, arguing the jury should have been instructed not to make visual identifications themselves and questioned the reliability of mixed DNA profiles as evidence of guilt. The Court of Appeal reserved judgement.
Paschal Kelly, a convicted criminal with 60 previous convictions, opened an appeal at the Court of Appeal against his 2018 conviction and 18-year sentence for a 2014 post office robbery in Sutton, Dublin. Kelly was convicted of trespass, false imprisonment, robbery, threatening to kill, and possession of a stolen vehicle. The charges relate to the abduction of postmistress Susan Lawlor, her daughter Emma Carter, and student Gabriella Saisa, who were bound and held overnight before being taken to the Bayside Post Office. Kelly denied all charges. His counsel, Martin O'Rourke KC, submitted ten grounds challenging the conviction and four against the sentence, arguing the trial judge erred in admitting CCTV identification evidence. O'Rourke contended the footage did not positively identify Kelly and that Garda witnesses failed to provide a specific description of the driver during initial interviews. The appeal, heard by Mr Justice John Edwards, Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, and Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, was adjourned to December 19. On that date, State counsel Roisin Lacey SC is scheduled to reply to the appellant's submissions. The matter remains pending and has not been concluded.
John Moreharte, owner of Bellamont Castle and Dromore Lake in Cootehill, Co Cavan, has brought a High Court judicial review challenging An Bord Pleanala's decision to grant planning permission to Abbott Ireland. The applicant seeks to quash the board's March 14 decision, which allowed Abbott to extend its Dromore, Co Monaghan facility by 2,661m2 to increase laboratory, office, car park, and warehouse space for infant milk products. Mr Moreharte, represented by Evan O'Donnell BL, alleges the board failed to consider its obligations under the EU Environmental Impact Assessment, arguing an EIA was required given the facility processes over 100 tonnes of raw material daily. He further claims the board acted contrary to the EU Directive on Habitats. Monaghan County Council originally granted the permission, which was appealed by both Mr Moreharte and An Taisce. Abbott Ireland and Monaghan County Council are notice parties to the proceedings. The matter was mentioned before Mr Justice Charles Meenan at the High Court on Monday, who adjourned the matter to a date later this month.
Two directors of a real estate company have been imprisoned at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following guilty pleas to defrauding clients. Sean Boylan, aged 72, of Cootehill, County Cavan, and Colin Horan, aged 38, of Dun Laoghaire, County Dublin, were convicted of carrying on the business of a company with intent to defraud creditors between June 2012 and July 2015. The company operated by selling properties in Bulgaria and Turkey to Irish clients, but failed to remit sale proceeds. Of fourteen victims, all but one had their properties sold without receiving payment. Boylan received a three-year sentence with the final six months suspended, while Horan received two years and eight months with the final six months suspended. The court heard that approximately €670,000 remained owed to victims, with Horan having reimbursed over €100,000. Judge Elma Sheahan described the accounting practices as chaotic and haphazard, noting the offending had caused lasting harm to complainants beyond monetary loss.
Former publican Charles Coyle (59), of Bough, Cootehill, was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to possession of cocaine for sale or supply in Lusk on April 24, 2020. Judge Martin Nolan imposed the sentence, declining to depart from the mandatory minimum of ten years despite defense counsel John Peart SC's submissions that Coyle had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity and made full admissions regarding his role. The court found that Coyle acted as a transporter at the directions of others, rather than as the owner of the drugs. Coyle was caught after gardai, acting on confidential information, observed him take three boxes from a truck driven by Dmitrijs Venskovics (45) at a Dublin service station. Venskovics, who was convicted last November, was also jailed for eight years. During the search of Coyle's van, gardai seized one kilogram of cocaine under the front passenger seat and a further 35kg in a rear security compartment. Coyle, who has 20 previous convictions, claimed he was paid €2,000 to transport the items, which he described as vegetables and hand sanitisers. The judge noted that Coyle's actions represented a grievous error of judgement, particularly given his age and experience.
Michael McCarville, a 53-year-old farm labourer, is set to appeal his 20-year prison sentence at the Court of Appeal. The Monaghan native, residing in Cootehill, Cavan, was charged with 187 counts of indecent assault and sexual assault involving seven children from the same family between 1982 and 1999. The alleged abuse, which reportedly began when McCarville was 15 and the victims were as young as seven, took place in farm sheds, outhouses, and fields. In December 2016, McCarville pleaded guilty to 52 sample charges of indecent and sexual assault. He was subsequently sentenced in March 2017 to 20 years in prison. The seven victims, who agreed to McCarville being named in the media while retaining their anonymity, have not waived their right to privacy. At the Court of Appeal today, Mr Justice George Birmingham set a date of Monday, 9th November, for the hearing of McCarville's appeal against the sentence. The matter is currently at the appeal stage, with the specific procedural step being the scheduling of the appeal hearing rather than a final determination of the case.
A jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has acquitted Patrick Carroll on all charges relating to a €90,000 post office robbery in September 2014. The 54-year-old from Swords had pleaded not guilty to charges of trespass, false imprisonment, robbery and threats to kill in connection with an incident at a property in Malahide and Bayside Post Office in Sutton. During the eight-week trial, the prosecution alleged that DNA evidence linked Carroll to the crime, but his legal team submitted there was an innocent explanation for its presence. Following deliberations lasting over eleven hours, a jury of four men and eight women returned not guilty verdicts on all counts. Paschal Kelly, a 54-year-old with addresses in Cootehill and Ballyjamesduff, County Cavan, was previously convicted of the robbery and kidnapping and received an eighteen-year sentence in late 2018.
A man from Cootehill, County Cavan, has been sentenced to eighteen years imprisonment following his conviction on multiple charges related to a tiger kidnapping at a post office in north Dublin. Paschal Kelly, aged fifty-three, was convicted of false imprisonment, robbery, threatening to kill, and possession of a stolen vehicle. The offences occurred on 25 September 2014, when Kelly and two accomplices entered the home of a postmistress in Malahide, bound three women with cable ties, and transported them to Bayside Post Office in Sutton. During the incident, Kelly threatened to set the women alight. At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Karen O'Connor commended the three women for their courage and resourcefulness, noting that one victim's quick thinking enabled gardaí to intervene and recover approximately €92,000. The judge found the offence premeditated and aggravated by the violation of the home, use of firearms, and threats made. Kelly's conviction followed a nine-week trial. Credit for time already served in custody has been applied to the sentence.
Paschal Kelly, aged 53, of Cootehill, County Cavan, has been convicted at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of false imprisonment, robbery, and threatening to kill three women during a tiger kidnapping in September 2014. The convictions relate to the abduction of postmistress Susan Lawlor, her daughter Emma Carter, and an Italian student from their Malahide home, followed by a €92,000 robbery at Bayside Post Office in Sutton. Kelly was also found guilty of possessing a stolen vehicle. He had pleaded not guilty to all charges. The trial extended to nine weeks. DNA evidence recovered from items at the scene linked Kelly to the offence. The court heard of his sixty previous convictions, including assault, robbery, and road traffic offences. Sentencing has been adjourned to the following week, with Kelly remanded in custody. The three women's victim impact statements were submitted but their contents were not disclosed in court at their request.
Paschal Kelly, aged 53, with an address in Cootehill, County Cavan, has been convicted of tiger kidnapping, false imprisonment and robbery at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The offences occurred on 25 September 2014, when a postmistress, her daughter and an Italian student were abducted from their home in Malahide, Dublin. The three were taken from the residence by masked intruders and driven to multiple locations before being brought to Bayside Post Office in Sutton, where cash was stolen. The jury returned unanimous guilty verdicts on all charges following one hour and forty minutes of deliberation. Kelly pleaded not guilty to all charges throughout the trial, which extended to nine weeks. A jury of seven men and five women heard evidence that included witness testimony and DNA analysis. Kelly has been remanded in custody pending sentencing in January 2019. Judge Karen O'Connor directed that victim impact statements be prepared for the three persons injured by the offences.
A jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has begun deliberations in the trial of Paschal Kelly, aged 53, from Cootehill, Co. Cavan, who has pleaded not guilty to charges arising from an incident on September 25, 2014. The charges include trespass, false imprisonment of three women at a property in Malahide, robbery of cash from a post office in Sutton, threats to kill, and unlawful possession of a vehicle. Before directing the jury to consider verdicts, Judge Karen O'Connor issued a cautionary direction regarding identification evidence, noting that responsible witnesses have previously made identifications later proven erroneous. The judge advised the jury to exercise particular care when assessing identification evidence and to consider all surrounding circumstances, including the time of day and conditions prevailing during observations. She also instructed them that photofits are limited in evidential value and that DNA presence alone at a crime scene does not establish guilt beyond reasonable doubt. The jury of five women and seven men is expected to resume deliberations the following day.
At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, the defence barrister in a tiger kidnapping trial has submitted that the State's case against Paschal Kelly, aged 52 and with an address in Cootehill, County Cavan, is fundamentally flawed. Martin O'Rourke SC argued that gardaí investigating the matter had adopted a fixed view of his client and ignored a potentially fruitful line of inquiry into another man who could have participated in the offence. Mr Kelly has pleaded not guilty to charges including false imprisonment of a postmistress, her daughter and an Italian lodger at a property in Malahide on 25 September 2014, and to robbery from Bayside Post Office in Sutton the same day. The defence contended that no identification parade was conducted and that up to twelve civilian witnesses with relevant descriptions were not called to give evidence. Mr O'Rourke submitted that the DNA evidence was equivocal and invited the jury to return not guilty verdicts on all counts.
At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, prosecution counsel has outlined what it characterises as compelling evidence linking Paschal Kelly, aged 52, from Cootehill, Co. Cavan, to a tiger kidnapping at Malahide in September 2014. Mr Kelly has pleaded not guilty to charges including false imprisonment of a postmistress and two other persons, robbery from Bayside Post Office, threats to kill, trespass, and unauthorised use of a vehicle. The prosecution submitted that physical descriptions provided by the victim matched the accused, that mobile phone tracking placed a getaway driver at the crime scene, and that DNA evidence recovered from discarded clothing and items found in gardens corresponded with Mr Kelly's profile. Counsel argued the combination of eyewitness descriptions, CCTV footage, forensic evidence, and witness testimony created a case leaving no reasonable doubt as to guilt. The trial before Judge Karen O'Connor is continuing, with defence submissions to follow.
A detective has testified at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court that he holds the view a man accused of involvement in a €90,000 tiger kidnapping in 2014 has connections to organised crime. Paschal Kelly, aged 52 and from Cootehill, County Cavan, has pleaded not guilty to multiple charges arising from an incident at Malahide, Dublin, on 25 September 2014. The charges include trespass, false imprisonment of a postmistress and two other individuals, robbery from a post office, making threats to kill, and unlawful possession of a vehicle. During cross-examination by the defence, Detective Garda Domhnall O'Connell confirmed his belief regarding Mr Kelly's alleged links to organised crime. He explained to the court that gardaí did not conduct an identity parade due to the accused's significantly altered appearance since the alleged offence. The trial before Judge Karen O'Connor and a jury continues.
A man from Cootehill, County Cavan, has pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to charges arising from an alleged tiger kidnapping in September 2014. Paschal Kelly, aged 52, faces charges of trespass, false imprisonment of a postmistress and two others at a property in Malahide, robbery from a post office in Sutton, threats to kill, and unlawful possession of a vehicle. During the trial before Judge Karen O'Connor, a Detective Chief Superintendent gave evidence that two gardaí identified Mr Kelly as the driver of a vehicle used in the incident after reviewing CCTV footage. Defence counsel raised concerns that the two detectives had participated in Mr Kelly's arrest three weeks prior to viewing the footage. The witness rejected suggestions that gardaí had sought to conceal this prior involvement. The court heard that an identity parade had been discussed but was not conducted. The trial continues with evidence before the jury.
The trial of Paschal Kelly, aged 52 and from Cootehill, Co. Cavan, has entered its seventh week at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Mr Kelly has pleaded not guilty to charges including trespass, false imprisonment of three people at a premises in Malahide, Dublin on September 25, 2014, robbery from a post office in Sutton, and making threats to kill. He has also denied unlawful possession of a vehicle in connection with the same date. The trial commenced in mid-October and was originally estimated to conclude within six weeks. Proceedings are now anticipated to continue for at least a further week. A juror's absence on the date in question prevented evidence from being heard, and the court has previously adjourned for legal submissions outside the jury's presence. Judge Karen O'Connor addressed the jury regarding compensation for shortened sitting days before directing them to return the following day.
A garda fingerprint expert has told Dublin Circuit Criminal Court that examination of a vehicle used in a €90,000 tiger kidnapping yielded no evidential value. Garda Frank Doyle said he found nothing of relevance during internal and external inspection of a Volkswagen Golf, nor did he recover relevant fingerprints from items within the car or from the home of postmistress Susan Lawlor, who was among three people abducted in the incident four years ago. Paschal Kelly, aged 52, from Cootehill, Co. Cavan, has pleaded not guilty to charges including false imprisonment of Ms Lawlor, her daughter, and an Italian student at a Dublin location on 25 September 2014. He has also denied robbery and threats to kill, as well as unlawful vehicle possession. Defence counsel questioned the expert regarding fingerprint contamination on surfaces and noted that third-party prints were found on CDs recovered from the car. The trial continues before Judge Karen O'Connor and a jury.
A jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has heard evidence regarding garda procedures at a crime scene in a tiger kidnapping trial. Paschal Kelly, aged 52 and from Cootehill, County Cavan, has pleaded not guilty to charges of trespass and false imprisonment of a postmistress and two others at a property in Malahide on 25 September 2014. He has also pleaded not guilty to robbery at Bayside Post Office in Sutton and threats to kill the three individuals, as well as unlawful possession of a vehicle on the same date. On the twenty-second day of proceedings, three gardaí provided testimony concerning the preservation of the Bayside Post Office scene. Garda Daniel Rogers told the court that he maintained security of a Nissan Qashqai during technical examination and confirmed no unauthorised access occurred whilst he was on duty. The trial before Judge Karen O'Connor continues.
A detective gave evidence on day 21 of the trial of Paschal Kelly at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, describing the discovery of an additional licence plate during examination of a vehicle alleged to have been used in a tiger kidnapping. Mr Kelly, aged 52 and from Cootehill, County Cavan, has pleaded not guilty to charges including false imprisonment, robbery and threats relating to an incident at Malahide and Bayside Post Office on 25 September 2014. Detective Garda Seamus O'Donnell told the court he found a Meath licence plate in the boot of a grey Volkswagen Golf bearing Dublin plates. He collected DNA samples from items in the vehicle and noted damage to the passenger door and wing mirrors. The defence questioned whether DNA contamination may have occurred during handling, though the detective stated he changed gloves regularly. The trial continues before Judge Karen O'Connor and a jury.
A witness has testified at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in the ongoing trial of a man charged in connection with a €90,000 tiger kidnapping that occurred in September 2014. The witness described how his vehicle was struck by another car near McAllister's Garage in Malahide, following which two men fled the scene on foot. Paschal Kelly, aged 52 and from Cootehill, County Cavan, has pleaded not guilty to charges including falsely imprisoning three women at a property in Malahide, robbery at Bayside Post Office in Sutton, and making threats to kill. He also denies unlawful possession of a vehicle. The witness told the court that one man ran towards nearby woodlands whilst the driver departed in the direction of Swords Road. He noted the driver appeared frightened. Gardaí arrived within seconds of the men leaving the vehicle. The trial, now on its seventeenth day, continues before Judge Karen O'Connor and a jury.
A man from Cootehill, County Cavan, has died by suicide since his arrest on the morning of a tiger kidnapping, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has heard. Paschal Kelly, aged 52, has pleaded not guilty to charges including false imprisonment of a postmistress and her daughter at a property in Malahide on 25 September 2014, as well as robbery from Bayside Post Office in Sutton and threats to kill. He also denies unlawful possession of a vehicle. During the sixteenth day of the trial, gardaí gave evidence that Kelly was arrested while fleeing a suspect vehicle at traffic lights in north Dublin that morning. A garda subsequently attended his death at a city-centre premises in June 2016, an inquest finding nothing of suspect nature. The trial heard how the postmistress and her daughter were discovered bound with ties at the post office, visibly distressed. The case continues before Judge Karen O'Connor and a jury.
At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, a garda detective testified on the fifteenth day of trial that he discharged two shots at a suspect during an armed chase because he feared for his life. The officer said he believed he saw a firearm in the suspect's hand as the man turned towards him in a field near Malahide on September 25, 2014. Paschal Kelly, aged 52 and from Cootehill, County Cavan, has pleaded not guilty to charges including falsely imprisoning a postmistress and her daughter, along with an Italian student, at a property in Dublin. He also denies robbery at Bayside Post Office and threats to kill, as well as unlawful possession of a vehicle. The detective told the court he identified the suspect after pursuing him on foot for approximately 500 metres. During cross-examination, the defence suggested the officer's description relied on information from other agencies and CCTV footage, a claim he rejected. The trial before Judge Karen O'Connor and a jury remains ongoing.
The trial of a man charged in connection with a tiger kidnapping in 2014 has continued at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court with technical evidence relating to phone records. Paschal Kelly, aged 52 and resident in Cootehill, County Cavan, has pleaded not guilty to charges of trespass and false imprisonment arising from an incident at a residential address in Malahide on September 25, 2014. He has also denied robbing a post office in Dublin on the same date and making threats to kill. Additional charges of unlawful possession of a vehicle have been denied. The trial, which is proceeding before Judge Karen O'Connor and a jury, continues to hear evidence as the defence contests the allegations.
The trial of a man charged in connection with a tiger kidnapping in 2014 has continued with legal argument held in the jury's absence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Paschal Kelly, aged 52 and from Cootehill, Co. Cavan, has pleaded not guilty to charges including false imprisonment of a postmistress and two other individuals at a property in Malahide on 25 September 2014. He also denies robbery of cash from a post office in Sutton and making threats to kill the three parties at an unknown location within the State. Mr Kelly has further denied unlawful possession of a vehicle in relation to the same date. The prosecution alleges three men were involved in the incident, which lasted approximately seven hours and resulted in the taking of approximately €90,000. Proceedings before Judge Karen O'Connor continue in legal argument, with the jury expected to return on the following Tuesday.
The trial of Paschal Kelly (52), from Cootehill, County Cavan, has continued at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court with legal argument conducted in the jury's absence. Mr Kelly has pleaded not guilty to charges of trespass, false imprisonment, robbery and threatening behaviour arising from an incident at Malahide and Sutton in Dublin on 25 September 2014. He is accused of involvement in a tiger kidnapping in which approximately €90,000 was allegedly taken during an incident lasting seven hours. The prosecution has alleged that three men were involved in the offence. The trial is proceeding before Judge Karen O'Connor and is expected to last six weeks. The jury is anticipated to return to court within the coming days as legal argument continues.
Paschal Kelly, aged 52, from Cootehill, County Cavan, stands trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for charges arising from an alleged tiger kidnapping in September 2014. He has pleaded not guilty to trespassing and falsely imprisoning a postmistress, her daughter, and an Italian student at a property in Malahide, Dublin. Mr Kelly also denies robbing approximately €90,000 from Bayside Post Office in Sutton and making threats to kill the three individuals. A further charge of unlawful vehicle possession is denied. Prosecution counsel indicated three men were allegedly involved in the incident, which lasted approximately seven hours. During evidence, the postmistress described being cable-tied and placed in her vehicle by two men in black, with a third raider joining them later at a field north of Dublin. She recounted deliberately leaving physical evidence at the scene. The trial, proceeding before Judge Karen O'Connor and a jury, is expected to last six weeks.
At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, a detective gave evidence in the trial of a man accused of tiger kidnapping. Detective Garda Eamon Keane described observing a Volkswagen car driven by a man wearing a ski mask near the home of postmistress Susan Lawlor in the early hours following her alleged abduction on September 25, 2014. The vehicle braked sharply before turning onto her street in Malahide, Dublin, and departed within thirty seconds. Det Gda Keane noted the house displayed activated alarm lights and open upstairs curtains with lights on. Paschal Kelly, aged 52, from Cootehill, County Cavan, has pleaded not guilty to charges of false imprisonment, robbery at Bayside Post Office in Sutton, threats to kill, and unlawful vehicle possession. During cross-examination, the defence highlighted that the detective did not record his observations for approximately five days and that a colleague had recorded an incorrect registration number. Evidence was also heard from a Chubb Ireland monitoring centre employee and an An Post crime prevention manager regarding emergency calls received on the tiger kidnapping helpline.
An Italian language student giving evidence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has described the moment armed raiders entered the bedroom where she was sleeping during an alleged kidnapping in 2014. The witness, who was staying in the north Dublin area while studying English, told the court she felt terrified when a man dressed in black appeared at her bedside and restrained her with cable ties. She stated that during a subsequent car journey in the early hours, she believed the raiders intended to cause her serious harm. The witness further described being taken to a post office in the company of two other captives, where she said raiders removed approximately ninety thousand euros from a safe. Paschal Kelly, aged 52 and from Cootehill, County Cavan, has pleaded not guilty to charges of false imprisonment, robbery, threatening behaviour, and unlawful vehicle possession relating to the incident on 25 September 2014. The trial before Judge Karen O'Connor continues.
Paschal Kelly, 52, of Cootehill, Co. Cavan, is on trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, where he has pleaded not guilty to alleged offences committed on September 25, 2014. The defendant is charged with trespass and falsely imprisoning postmistress Susan Lawlor, her daughter Emma Carter, and Italian student Gabriella Saisa at Seabury Drive, Malahide, Dublin. He also faces charges of robbing Ms. Lawlor of cash at Bayside Post Office, Sutton, Dublin, and threatening to kill the three women at an unknown location in the State. Additionally, he denies unlawful possession of a vehicle. During testimony, Ms. Lawlor described a "tiger kidnapping" in which intruders demanded post office keys and cash, threatening violence if she contacted authorities. She stated she was driven to the post office, where the safe was opened, before she activated a panic button. Ms. Carter corroborated the account, describing the intruders as terrifying. Both women testified that gardaí did not request an identification parade, and Ms. Carter stated she could not identify the raiders. The trial continues before Judge Karen O'Connor and a jury.
A man with an address in Cootehill, County Cavan, has pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to charges arising from an alleged "tiger kidnapping" at a post office in north Dublin four years ago. Paschal Kelly, aged 52, faces counts of trespass, false imprisonment, robbery and making threats to kill in connection with an incident on 25 September 2014. Prosecution counsel told the jury that two men allegedly broke into a home in Malahide, restrained three women, and drove them to Bayside Post Office in Sutton, where one victim provided access to a safe. Approximately €90,000 was taken during the incident, which lasted several hours. The prosecution indicated that gardaí responded quickly after an emergency call was made from the home, though the caller did not speak. One man was arrested near the post office shortly after; two others fled on foot and were later apprehended. The trial before Judge Karen O'Connor continues with a jury present.
At the Central Criminal Court, Michael McCarville, aged 49, from Longfield, Lisboduff, Cootehill, County Cavan, has been sentenced to 20 years imprisonment for the sexual abuse of seven siblings over an 18-year period beginning in 1982. McCarville pleaded guilty in December to 52 sample charges including rape and indecent assault, arising from a total of 187 counts. The offences occurred on a family farm where he worked as a labourer, with victims aged between seven and thirteen at the time of initial abuse. The attacks continued until 1999 and took place in various locations including farm buildings and the family home. During sentencing at the Central Criminal Court, Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy noted the seriousness of the crimes, describing them as a grave breach of trust, though he credited the guilty plea. Five of the seven adult victims presented impact statements to the court. McCarville has been ordered to complete five years post-release supervision following his sentence.
The Court of Appeal has overturned a Circuit Court ruling that a man was unfit to stand trial for dangerous driving causing death. Robert Harrison, aged 25, of Shantonagh in Monaghan, faces charges relating to a collision at Drung, Cootehill, County Cavan in November 2009, in which a passenger died and another was seriously injured. Judge Pauline Codd had determined in July 2014 that Mr Harrison was unfit to be tried. The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed that determination. Mr Justice John Edwards, delivering judgment, found the original ruling was erroneous in principle. He stated that the trial judge had conflated the question of fitness to plead with whether a fair trial could be afforded, and that the public interest in prosecution had not been properly weighed against the defendant's trial rights. The court indicated the case should proceed to trial, with the trial judge to review its viability. Mr Harrison was remanded on bail pending the next sitting of Cavan Circuit Criminal Court in November.
The Director of Public Prosecutions has appealed a Circuit Criminal Court ruling that a man charged with dangerous driving causing death is unfit to stand trial. Robert Harrison, aged 25, from Shantonagh in Monaghan, faces charges relating to a collision at Drung, Cootehill, County Cavan in November 2009, in which a 19-year-old passenger died and another passenger was seriously injured. Judge Pauline Codd determined in July 2014 that Mr Harrison was not fit to be tried. The DPP's counsel argued before the Court of Appeal that psychiatric evidence supported Mr Harrison's fitness to proceed if special trial provisions were implemented, including regular recaps of evidence. Defence counsel contended the DPP sought to create an unprecedented trial arrangement and that Mr Harrison remains unfit due to brain damage sustained in an earlier accident. The Court of Appeal, comprising Justices George Birmingham, Garrett Sheehan, and John Edwards, reserved judgement.
At the Central Criminal Court on April 13th, Kevin Moran was sentenced to twelve years imprisonment, with the final two years suspended, for the manslaughter of archaeologist Emmett Connolly. The thirty-year-old from Lodgeview, Cootehill, County Cavan, pleaded guilty to manslaughter following a jury finding in February that he was not guilty of murder. Mr Connolly, aged thirty-two from Rockcorry, County Monaghan, died from seventeen stab wounds sustained on September 28th, 2013. Mr Justice Paul Carney imposed the sentence on condition that Moran maintain a bond of one thousand euro and remain away from the deceased's family. The court heard evidence regarding the gravity of the attack and its impact on those bereaved. The Connolly family released a statement expressing relief that proceedings had concluded whilst acknowledging their ongoing grief. Moran was remanded in custody from December 7th, 2013.
Kevin Moran (30) of Cootehill, County Cavan, was convicted of manslaughter at the Central Criminal Court following a six-day trial concluding in February 2015. He had pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter in connection with the death of Emmett Connolly (32) from Rockcorry, County Monaghan, on 29 September 2013. The court heard that Mr Connolly was stabbed seventeen times following an argument at Lodgeview, Cootehill. A jury found Moran guilty of the lesser charge. Evidence indicated Mr Connolly, an archaeologist who had recently returned from Australia, sustained multiple wounds primarily to his shoulder and upper back region. Sentencing was adjourned to 13 April. During proceedings, the victim's father delivered an impact statement describing the family's transition from ordinary life to what he characterised as a "journey to hell" following the fatal incident.
A Dublin man has been convicted of manslaughter but acquitted of murder following a five-day trial at the Central Criminal Court. Kevin Moran, aged 30, was charged with the murder of archaeologist Emmett Connolly, 32, at Lodgeview in Cootehill, Co Cavan on 29 September 2013. The jury returned a majority verdict of 10 to 2, finding Moran guilty of manslaughter and not guilty of murder after five hours and eleven minutes of deliberation. Evidence presented during the trial outlined that the deceased sustained 17 stab wounds following an alcohol-fuelled altercation. The court heard testimony regarding Moran's statements to gardaí, in which he described both panic and rage as motivations. Moran was remanded in custody pending sentencing on 9 March. Mr Justice Paul Carney directed the jury to consider provocation as a potential partial defence to the charge.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court has been discharged for the weekend in the trial of a man accused of murdering archaeologist Emmett Connolly. Kevin Moran, aged 30, from Cootehill, County Cavan, is charged with the murder of Mr Connolly at Lodgeview, Cootehill on 29 September 2013. Mr Moran has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, a plea not accepted by the Director of Public Prosecutions. Over five days of evidence, the jury of seven men and five women heard that the deceased was stabbed 17 times following a drink-fuelled argument on 28 September 2013. The court was told Mr Moran gave conflicting accounts to gardaí, initially stating he panicked during a fight before later claiming he acted in a rage. The jury began deliberations this morning and sat for four hours and 43 minutes before Mr Justice Paul Carney adjourned proceedings. Deliberations will resume Monday at 11am.
A murder trial at the Central Criminal Court heard that archaeologist Emmett Connolly sustained 17 stab wounds during an incident at a house in Cootehill, County Cavan on September 28, 2013. Kevin Moran, aged 30, of Lodgeview, Cootehill, is charged with Mr Connolly's murder. He pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, a plea the Director of Public Prosecutions did not accept. Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis gave evidence describing the fatal injuries, predominantly to the deceased's left shoulder, arm and upper back. Several wounds penetrated deeply, with one reaching 12 centimetres and damaging the left lung. Dr Curtis stated the cause of death was multiple stab wounds. The court heard Mr Connolly, aged 32, an archaeologist who had recently returned from Australia, had high levels of alcohol in his system. The prosecution argued the evidence pointed to murder, while the defence submitted circumstances surrounding Mr Moran's personal loss were relevant to the case. The trial was continuing.
A man charged with murdering an archaeologist has been presented to the Central Criminal Court with evidence of his changing accounts to gardai following the death. Kevin Moran, aged 30, of Lodgeview in Cootehill, County Cavan, has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The charge relates to the death of Emmett Connolly on 29 September 2013 at the same address. During the trial before Justice Paul Carney, the jury heard that Moran initially told gardai from Bailieborough station he had stabbed Mr Connolly in panic during a fight, but subsequently claimed he had acted in a rage. Prosecution counsel presented evidence of a seven-inch kitchen knife recovered at the scene and pathology findings indicating eighteen stab wounds primarily to the victim's back and left arm. Forensic evidence suggested the injuries were inflicted whilst the deceased was in a seated position on the floor. The trial continues.
A Dublin man has gone on trial at the Central Criminal Court charged with the murder of Emmett Connolly at a house in Cootehill, County Cavan on 29 September 2013. Kevin Moran, aged 30, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, a plea the Director of Public Prosecutions did not accept. The court heard that gardaí discovered Mr Connolly with stab wounds to his chest, shoulder and back at the property. The prosecution alleges Mr Moran used excessive force during an altercation between the two men, who had not previously known each other. Mr Moran's account suggests the confrontation arose over drugs and that he acted in self-defence with a kitchen knife. A witness who was present at the house stated the two men appeared to get on well before he retired to bed. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul Carney and a jury.
A man has been sentenced to eight years imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court for the manslaughter of an elderly patient at a County Cavan psychiatric hospital. Ian Harman, aged 50, of Carrickallen near Cootehill, initially pleaded not guilty to murder in connection with the death of Michael Treanor, aged 82, at the Psychiatric Unit of Cavan General Hospital on 27 June 2011. During trial, Harman changed his plea to guilty of manslaughter on grounds of diminished responsibility under the Criminal Law Insanity Act. Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan imposed a ten-year sentence with the final two years suspended, backdated to 28 June 2011. The judge cited mitigating factors including Harman's guilty plea, remorse, cooperation with gardaí and psychiatric services, and his engagement in rehabilitation programmes while in custody. The court ordered post-release supervision for two years and participation in an integrated sentence management programme.
A man pleaded guilty to manslaughter following the death of an elderly patient at Cavan General Hospital's psychiatric unit in June 2011. Ian Harman, aged 50, from Cootehill, County Cavan, initially denied murdering Michael Treanor, aged 82, but accepted the lesser charge at the Central Criminal Court in July 2014 on grounds of diminished responsibility under the Criminal Law Insanity Act. The prosecution established that Harman used a belt and pillow to kill Mr Treanor, who suffered from dementia. The defence argued that abrupt withdrawal of anti-psychotic medication caused Harman to experience a mental disorder affecting his culpability. At a sentencing hearing in October 2014, the deceased's nephew delivered a victim impact statement expressing concern that the legal system had favoured the defendant. Justice Garrett Sheehan remanded Harman in custody pending sentencing. Ian Harman pleaded not guilty.
A man accused of murdering an elderly patient at Cavan General Hospital has pleaded guilty to manslaughter at the Central Criminal Court. Ian Harman, aged fifty, of Carrickallen, Mountain Lodge, Cootehill, changed his plea during trial proceedings regarding the death of Michael Treanor, an eighty-two-year-old man, on June 27th, 2011 at the hospital's psychiatric unit in Lisdarn. The Director of Public Prosecutions accepted the manslaughter plea under Section 6 of the Criminal Law Insanity Act, which permits a finding of manslaughter on grounds of diminished responsibility. Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan discharged the jury and remanded Harman in custody pending sentencing scheduled for October 6th. The defence had argued Harman was suffering from a mental illness following the abrupt withdrawal of anti-psychotic medication after his admission as a voluntary patient. Medical evidence was presented regarding whether this withdrawal caused a psychiatric condition affecting his culpability for the killing. Ian Harman pleaded not guilty.
Closing speeches are scheduled to take place in the trial of a man accused of murdering a pensioner at a psychiatric unit in Co. Cavan. Ian Harman, aged 50, of Carrickallen, has pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court to the murder of Michael Treanor, aged 81, at the Psychiatric Unit of Cavan General Hospital on 27 June 2011. The defence has submitted that the accused accepts he caused the death but argues his responsibility was severely diminished due to akathisia, a condition allegedly resulting from the abrupt withdrawal of anti-psychotic medication while he was an inpatient. Expert witnesses for the defence have testified that this inner restlessness affected his mental state and behaviour. The prosecution's consultant psychiatrist disputed this assertion, stating there is no evidence that the medication's withdrawal causes akathisia. The court heard the trial is now in its final stages, with both legal teams due to present closing arguments.
At the Central Criminal Court, a defence psychiatrist has testified that a man charged with murdering an elderly patient at Cavan General Hospital was unable to refrain from killing due to the withdrawal of anti-psychotic medication. Ian Harman, aged fifty, from Carrigallen in County Cavan, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Michael Treanor at the psychiatric unit on 27 June 2011. Consultant psychiatrist Dr Bob Johnson told the court that Mr Harman's olanzapine medication was discontinued upon admission, causing akathisia, a distressing condition characterised by severe restlessness. Dr Johnson stated that Mr Harman's responsibility for the killing was not merely diminished but destroyed. A clinical pharmacologist also gave evidence for the defence, asserting that Mr Harman should not have been prescribed the medication in the first place. The prosecution challenged these assertions during cross-examination. The trial before Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan continues.
At the Central Criminal Court, a psychiatric nurse testified that Ian Harman (50), from Carrickallen, Co Cavan, appeared calm and composed following an incident at Cavan General Hospital's psychiatric unit. Harman has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Michael Treanor on June 27, 2011. Nurse Ciaran Boyle told the court that when he encountered Harman in the smoking room after discovering the elderly patient deceased, Harman stated he had killed Treanor "because he was an easy target". Boyle described Harman's demeanour as "quite nonchalant and relaxed". A second nurse, Laura Owens, testified that Treanor, who suffered from Alzheimer's dementia, was found in his room with a pillow removed from his head, and that CPR proved unsuccessful. The defence has indicated Harman accepts responsibility for Treanor's death but contests his state of mind at the time. The trial before Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan continues.
A psychiatric registrar at Cavan General Hospital told the Central Criminal Court that he had worked 77 hours when he was alerted to a death on the psychiatric unit on 27 June 2011. Dr Akindele Serinmade said his shift, which began on 24 June, was nearing completion when he was informed of the incident. He gave evidence that he had prescribed sleeping medication to the accused over the telephone after nursing staff reported concerns about the patient's distress and insomnia. Dr Serinmade described a brief consultation with the accused at 10.35pm on 26 June, noting that the patient's previously prescribed anti-psychotic medication had been recently discontinued. The doctor said he prescribed an alternative sleeping tablet before returning to rest. He was contacted at 6.44am the following morning to inform him of the alleged killing. Ian Harman, aged 50, of Carrickallen in County Cavan, has pleaded not guilty to murder at the Central Criminal Court.
At the Central Criminal Court, the wife of Ian Harman (50), from Carrickallen, Co Cavan, testified that her husband had been in a "dark place" and drinking heavily before his admission to a psychiatric unit. Harman has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Michael Treanor (82), from Co Monaghan, at the Psychiatric Unit of Cavan General Hospital on 27 June 2011. Mary Harman described her husband as "loveable" and well-liked in the community, though he had previously received treatment for depression and alcohol misuse. The court heard that on the day before the alleged killing, Harman complained of insomnia and paced his ward for twelve hours. CCTV footage showed him continuously walking around the secure unit. State pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy concluded the cause of death was asphyxia by smothering or suffocation. The defence has acknowledged that Harman caused Treanor's death. The trial before Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan continues.