In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Stephen Tormey, 39, pleaded guilty to possession of 9 kg of cocaine valued at €702,702 and €2,900 in cash, believed to be proceeds of crime, after a Garda stop and search in Carpenterstown on 3 February. He had six prior convictions. Judge Elma Sheahan, noting the mandatory minimum of ten years but considering his early guilty plea and cooperation, imposed a headline sentence of eight years. She suspended six months of the sentence, giving a final custodial term of five and a half years, backdated to his arrest. The court considered mitigating factors such as his cooperation, lack of wealth, and his efforts at rehabilitation, while acknowledging the impact on his family. The case was prosecuted by Kate Egan BL and defended by Dominic McGinn SC. The Garda investigation was led by Detective Garda James Doolin, who seized the drugs and cash during the search.
The High Court has granted partial leave for a challenge to a 2022 decision by An Bord Pleanala that approved a motorway service station near Ennis, Co Clare, for businessman Pat McDonagh. Judge Richard Humphreys allowed engineer Michael Duffy to seek to overturn the decision, provided he amends and serves the grounds of the challenge within a few weeks. Duffy argues the development will harm the local environment, citing a lack of an Appropriate Assessment under EU law and no evidence that wastewater would affect Special Areas of Conservation. The court declined leave on other grounds raised in 2022 and dismissed a 2021 judicial review where Duffy challenged Clare County Council's planning permission. Clare County Council and McDonagh are to be notice parties, not respondents. The case will return to court at a later date.
In 2022, Palfinger Ireland Ltd was fined €25,000 for health and safety breaches after a crane supplied by the company was used in an incident that caused the drowning of two stonemasons, Bryan Whelan (29) and TJ O'Herlihy (36), on the River Shannon in 2015. The incident involved a steel cage that fell into the water, and a safety mechanism on the crane failed. The fine was imposed by Limerick Circuit Court, which had unlimited fine jurisdiction. Nationwide Crane Hire Ltd, the operator of the crane, was fined €200,000 for similar breaches. The Court of Appeal heard arguments that the fine for Palfinger was too low, with the Director of Public Prosecutions claiming the sentencing judge erred in not setting a higher headline fine and in treating the missing manual chapter as a mitigating factor. The appeal was reserved for a later decision.
Tony McInerney, a 27‑year‑old former resident of Glenina, Gort Road, Ennis, Co Clare, has admitted to two new offences after previously pleading guilty to attempted murder. He was arraigned on a charge that on 18 January 2020 at Pound Street, Sixmilebridge, Co Clare, he intentionally or recklessly discharged a firearm, creating a substantial risk of death or serious harm to another. He was also arraigned on a charge that between 1 January 2019 and 18 January 2020 at Inis Eagla, Shannon, Co Clare, he threatened to kill or cause serious harm to Daniel Harty Snr, intending Mr Harty Snr to believe the threat would be carried out. McInerney pleaded guilty to both charges. He had previously pleaded guilty to the attempted murder of Daniel Harty Jnr on 18 January 2020 and was jailed for 12 years, later reduced to ten years by the Court of Appeal. The judge set a sentencing hearing for 16 October.
In a High Court application, John and Mary Lyons, who run 'The Hungry Lyons' fast‑food restaurant on Limerick's Ennis Road, allege that Supermac's founder Pat McDonagh is attempting to destroy their business. The couple claim that the premises, owned by Supermacs Ireland Ltd, is leased to them under a 20‑year agreement secured in 2018 that includes a non‑compete clause preventing the landlord from assigning or sub‑letting the adjoining Funworld property to any fast‑food operator. They contend that Supermac's and Mr McDonagh have breached this clause by installing cooking and storage facilities at Funworld and selling fast food from there, including advertising children's birthday parties with Supermac's food. The Lyons seek injunctions to stop the defendants from selling fast food and from letting the property to other fast‑food operators, pending the full hearing. The defendants deny any breach of the lease or planning regulations.
The High Court has refused a pre-trial application to adjourn repossession proceedings brought by Receiver James Anderson, appointed by Pepper Finance Ireland DAC, against Davy Fitzgerald. Ms Helen Fitzgerald, who resides at the property in Co Clare, sought an adjournment until the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) adjudicated on her claim that she holds a valid tenancy and that no termination notice was served. The plaintiffs opposed the application. Mr Justice Garrett Simons rejected the bid, ruling that the High Court, not the RTB, has jurisdiction to determine whether a binding tenancy exists against the plaintiffs. He noted the 2004 Residential Tenancies Act does not grant the RTB exclusive jurisdiction on this matter and directed that his judgment be brought to the RTB's attention. The case is to be readied for hearing. Mr Fitzgerald, who appears on the RTE Television programme Ireland's Fittest Family, has raised separate issues regarding loans from ACC Bank, alleging fraud by former official Jarlath Mitchell and disputing the validity of the loan transfer to Pepper. He also contests a €25,000 interest surcharge demanded by Pepper and argues the case belongs in the Circuit Court. Lawyers for the fund and receiver rejected these criticisms.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 12 June 2023, a 25‑year‑old former male model, Utseoritselaju Uwatse, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment for raping a fellow college student. The victim, who waived anonymity, testified that the offence occurred after a night out in Limerick following a student‑village celebration. CCTV showed Uwatse and the victim hugging before she was taken to a bedroom where he forced sex, claiming it was consensual. She reported that he asked if she was on the pill and that the condom broke. Uwatse was arrested in June 2018 and denied the allegations. The judge, Mr Justice Paul Burns, imposed a headline sentence of four years, noting Uwatse's lack of prior convictions and his "promising future." The court heard the victim's impact statement describing the lasting damage and her feelings of guilt. Uwatse's defence highlighted his background, cooperation with Gardaí, and lack of family in Ireland. The sentence was accepted by the court.
The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) ruled that it had jurisdiction to hear a complaint by former Kuwaiti Embassy staff member Fozia Rafiq under the Protection of Employees (Fixed‑Term Work) Act 2003. Rafiq, who worked as an administrator for Kuwaiti students in Ireland from 4 February 2020 to 3 February 2021, claimed she was treated less favourably because her contract was not renewed. The embassy sought to invoke sovereign immunity, arguing Rafiq was a consular officer and that the WRC lacked jurisdiction. The embassy's barrister cited a 1992 Supreme Court decision on a Canadian ambassador's chauffeur, while Rafiq's solicitor argued that she was a low‑paid, routine administrative employee with no managerial discretion. The WRC's adjudicating officer, Máire Mulcahy, noted that the case law cited by Kuwait had been overtaken by the 2004 UN Convention on Jurisdictional Immunities and that Ireland was bound by customary international law.
The Workplace Relations Commission ordered Clare county coroner Isobel O'Dea to pay over €8,000 in compensation to former legal secretary Mary McInerney for unfair dismissal, in addition to a statutory redundancy lump sum. McInerney had worked for O'Dea since 2008, receiving a day rate of €120 for seven hours, and was placed on layoff in April 2020 during the Covid‑19 pandemic. She claimed she was not asked to return to work and that she had only been offered a redundancy package in October 2021, which she accepted because she felt she had no other option. O'Dea denied that McInerney had requested redundancy, stating she had facilitated it. The tribunal found that O'Dea made no effort to consult McInerney about her role, presented redundancy as a fait accompli, and that McInerney was unfairly dismissed under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977.
Inita Romanovska, 36, was due before the Central Criminal Court for a sentencing hearing after pleading guilty to attempting to cause serious harm to Stephen O'Flaherty, whom she met on Tinder. The alleged incident occurred on 11 March 2020 at an apartment complex on Henry St, Limerick. Romanovska, residing at Cahercalla, Kilrush Road, Ennis, Co Clare, had originally been charged with attempting to murder O'Flaherty. Her lawyer, Michael Bowman SC, confirmed she did not attend the hearing and was unreachable by phone. Ms Justice Eileen Creedon issued a bench warrant and postponed the sentencing hearing.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Judge Martin Nolan imposed a new three‑year sentence on Brendan Doolin, 41, for a single count of harassment committed between August 2018 and August 2019. The sentence was suspended for three years on strict conditions and will run consecutively with the suspended portion of his earlier five‑year sentence, which had two years suspended. Doolin had previously been jailed in November 2019 for harassing six female journalists, sending them hundreds of abusive online messages from May 2012 to February 2018. He admitted breaching bail conditions by contacting the victims and was warned that any further breach would bring him back before the court and result in prison time. The court noted Doolin had not reoffended since his release in December 2021 and that the new sentence would take effect in December. The hearing heard that the victims had submitted impact statements but were not present in court.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Brendan Doolin, aged 41, was found to have breached bail conditions by continuing to harass six female journalists while awaiting trial. Doolin, previously jailed in 2019 for five years with two years suspended, had admitted sending hundreds of abusive online messages to Sarah Griffin, Kate McEvoy, Sinead O'Carroll, Christine Bohan, Roe McDermott and Aoife Barry between May 2012 and February 2018. While on bail, he posted harassing content from email addresses mimicking the victims' names, accessed their social media accounts, and sent threatening messages. Gardaí discovered a laptop and a concealed smartphone containing photos of the victims. The victims, who were not present, submitted impact statements expressing a wish for Doolin to receive help. The judge noted Doolin's guilty plea, cooperation and remorse, but also highlighted the severity and persistence of his harassment. The decision was adjourned for a later hearing.
Tony McInerney, 27, a former drug dealer from Glenina, Gort Road, Ennis, admitted to attempting to murder Daniel Harty Jnr on 18 January 2020 at Pound Street, Sixmilebridge, Co Clare. He pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court. McInerney had previously been convicted of running a cocaine factory and was sentenced to 12 years in prison in May 2021, a term later reduced by two years on appeal. He also pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine for sale or supply and to possessing crime cash on 23 September 2020. The judge described him as "at the top of the pyramid" of the Clare drug scene and noted his status as a target of the divisional drugs unit. The case is set for mention on 10 July, with McInerney remanded in custody. Ms Justice Eileen Creedon ordered a victim impact statement to be prepared by that date.
Tony McInerney, a 27‑year‑old drug dealer from Ennis, was sentenced to 12 years in prison in May 2021 for possession of cocaine for sale and for possessing €4,500 in proceeds of crime. The judge imposed an 11‑year term for the drug offence and a three‑year term for the cash offence, with the final two years of the cash sentence suspended. McInerney was caught "red‑handed" at a property in Kilfilum where he was mixing cocaine, wearing orange gloves and holding a bag of the drug. Gardaí seized mixing agents, a weighing scale, a knife, a blender, €2.5K in cash and an estimated €50K worth of cocaine. In September 2020, he pleaded guilty to both charges. On appeal, the Court of Appeal quashed the original sentence and re‑sentenced him to a total of 10 years' imprisonment, with no portion of either sentence suspended, back‑dated to the date of his first arrest.
Former US President Donald Trump has been invited by the Irish environmental group Friends of the Irish Environment (FIE) to attend a High Court case concerning alleged sand trap fencing at his resort in Doonbeg, Co Clare. FIE has brought proceedings against the Trump International Golf Links & Hotel for constructing a fence at the base of the dunes using large wooden pallets and nylon mesh. The fence was removed after a warning letter from Clare County Council and a case under Section 160 of the Planning Acts, but FIE claims a network of fences remains along the top of the dunes and seeks court‑ordered removal. FIE's Director Tony Lowes wrote to Trump urging him to stay in Ireland until 15 May, when the case is due before the Irish High Court, and to attend the hearing in Dublin's Four Courts to learn about environmental concerns and conservation.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Nathan O'Neill, aged 24, was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment for the manslaughter of Jamie Higgins, who was stabbed five times in a nightclub fight in Shannon on 18 March 2018. O'Neill had previously pleaded guilty to manslaughter and to causing serious harm to Michael Shannon, for which he received a seven‑year sentence. Both sentences run concurrently and are back‑dated to 1 April 2022. The judge noted O'Neill's prior convictions for threatening to kill, possession of a knife and criminal damage, and his earlier guilty plea and cooperation with Gardaí, which led to a reduction from the headline 14‑year sentence. O'Neill admitted the knife was taken from a car after an earlier altercation and that he feared further violence. The court heard victim impact statements from Higgins's family, describing the profound loss and the family's grief. O'Neill expressed remorse and apologised to the family.
Four speed‑van operators claimed they were denied shift breaks because they had to constantly monitor camera systems. Their union representative argued that the vans lacked toilets or canteens and that tight scheduling left no time for lunch or welfare breaks. The operators, Niall Walsh, Tony Roche, Richard Free and Kevin O'Brien, filed complaints under the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997. The Workplace Relations Commission tribunal rejected the claims. In the hearing, Mr Walsh testified that he had to monitor weather conditions to adjust photo clarity, making a 15‑minute break impossible, and that he tried to take breaks between surveillance sessions but found it extremely difficult. The company's barrister, Kevin Bell, noted that operators were not required to watch weather conditions and that speed detections were carried out by the apparatus. The company's general manager, Pat McGuire, said operators only had to occasionally check the equipment and that technology took over once set up.
At a sentencing hearing on 13 March 2023, Sharon Higgins, mother of 19‑year‑old Jamie Higgins, spoke of the pain of knowing that his killer, Nathan O'Neill, had remained free for more than four years after the 2018 nightclub stabbing. Higgins described her son as a loving, generous father and expressed her ongoing grief and health struggles. O'Neill, aged 24, had been tried twice for murder, was acquitted on the first trial and found guilty of manslaughter and causing serious harm to Michael Shannon on the night of 18 March 2018. The court heard that O'Neill had previous convictions for knife possession, threatening a security guard and criminal damage. O'Neill admitted responsibility, expressed remorse, and said he would never forget the impact on the family. Judge Paul Burns adjourned sentencing until 24 April.
Inita Romanovska, a 36‑year‑old single mother from Latvia living in Ennis, was charged with attempting to murder Stephen O'Flaherty after an incident at an apartment complex on Henry Street, Limerick, on 11 March 2020. The original indictment included a charge of attempted murder, but at the court's mention she pleaded guilty to the lesser offence of intentionally trying to cause serious harm. The case had been delayed for over two years due to a pandemic‑related backlog. Her defence barrister, Mr Michael Bowman SC, informed Judge Paul McDermott that Romanovska could be arraigned on the second count of the indictment. The judge accepted a request for a pre‑sentence report and directed a victim impact report. Romanovska remains on bail, with her trial date vacated and a sentencing hearing scheduled for 23 May. The incident involved a man she had met on Tinder, and they had gone on several dates but were not in a relationship.
Ross Donoghue, a 31‑year‑old former resident of Northway Estate in Finglas, pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted robbery in the Malahide area on 28 June 2020. He tried to rob a 16‑year‑old girl and a 64‑year‑old man on the same morning. The girl was forced to remove her earphones when Donoghue demanded her phone and threatened to stab her; she escaped after Donoghue fell. The man, Robert Ennis, was tackled by Donoghue, who kicked him several times. Ennis suffered facial bruising and mild orbital swelling. Donoghue had a long record of convictions for assault, criminal damage, attempted robbery, drug possession and obstruction, and was on bail at the time of the offence. Judge Martin Nolan, after noting Donoghue's remorse and admissions, imposed a custodial sentence of 21 months, consecutive to his current term, citing his long‑standing addictions and prior convictions as aggravating factors. The sentence was delivered on 15 February 2023.
The Workplace Relations Commission ruled that the Irish Aviation Authority must pay €2,815 in compensation to Anne Millar, a cleaner who had worked for 27 years at the Shannon aviation radio station. The commission found that Millar's dismissal was unfair because procedural defects marred the disciplinary process. The key unfairness was that the line manager and supervisor of Millar, Mr Winship and Mr Whitsell, carried out the entire process, including the decision to dismiss, without proper separation of duties. The commission also noted that Millar was the last cleaner directly employed by the IAA under a public‑sector contract that had been in place since 2002, and that she had been aware of her underperformance. The IAA had argued the dismissal was lawful on grounds of underperformance, but the tribunal found that the complaints came from a subcontractor cleaner with a vested interest.
Two peace activists, retired soldier Edward Horgan (78) and civil servant Dan Dowling (39), were found guilty of trespassing on a taxiway at Shannon Airport. They had previously been acquitted of criminal damage for marking an American naval plane. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, after a ten‑day trial, returned guilty verdicts on the summary trespass charges. Judge Martina Baxter, who praised their conduct, imposed no custodial sentence but ordered each to pay €5,000 to the Clare Haven Refuge for women within 12 months. She also required them to maintain good behaviour and keep the peace for a year. The judge highlighted their lack of prior convictions and good work histories, and noted their intention to protest peacefully. The men accepted the verdict. No further penalties were imposed.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 21 December 2022, Brendan Murray, aged 63, was remanded to the Central Mental Hospital pending a psychiatric report due on 28 December. The court, after a jury found him not guilty of murdering his 88‑year‑old mother, Neasa Murray, by reason of insanity, directed that he remain detained until the report. Counsel for Murray noted that the court could extend the committal period up to six months. The trial had heard that Murray claimed the Holy Spirit commanded him to punch, choke, and sexually assault his mother, though no evidence of sexual assault was found. Forensic psychiatrist Dr Brenda Wright testified that his schizoaffective disorder prevented him from understanding the wrongfulness of his actions. The jury's verdict was not guilty by reason of insanity. The court will not retain jurisdiction without due cause. The case remains pending the psychiatric assessment.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 63‑year‑old Brendan Murray was found not guilty by reason of insanity for the murder of his 88‑year‑old mother, Neasa Murray. The jury, after less than 30 minutes, accepted the defence's argument that Murray was undergoing a psychotic episode of schizo‑affective disorder and therefore lacked the capacity to understand that his actions were wrong. The prosecution had presented evidence of Murray's mental illness, including testimony from psychiatrist Dr. Brenda Wright, who confirmed that he believed he was directed by God or the Holy Spirit. The judge, Ms Justice Eileen Creedon, directed that Murray be committed to the Central Mental Hospital pending a psychiatric assessment. No other charges or convictions were discussed in the article. The case concluded with the jury's verdict and the court's commitment order.
In a trial at Kincora Court, Dublin 3, Brendan Murray, aged 63, pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity for the murder of his 88‑year‑old mother, Neasa Murray. He told Gardaí that the Holy Spirit commanded him to punch, choke and sexually assault her, though no evidence of assault was found. The Central Criminal Court heard that the prosecution had no dispute over the facts of the incident, only over whether Murray met the criteria for insanity. Defence counsel Anne‑Marie Lawlor SC will present psychiatric evidence from Dr Brenda Wright, who will argue that Murray suffered from schizoaffective disorder and did not understand the wrongfulness of his actions. The case is set to continue before Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury of eight men and four women. The trial focuses on Murray's mental state at the time of the killing.
GAA star David Fitzgerald raised questions before the Deputy Master of the High Court regarding the alleged sale of his ACC Bank loan to a 'vulture fund'. The proceedings were brought by Pepper Finance and receiver James Anderson against Fitzgerald, the Waterford Senior Hurling Manager, seeking possession of a house in Co Clare. Fitzgerald opposes the application, arguing that Pepper may not own the loan and that he has received insufficient information about the purported transfer to entities named Newgrange Acquisition DAC and Otterham. His counsel, Ronnie Hudson, also challenged the proportionality of the receivers' fees, noting that a Deloitte chartered accountant was appointed for a single property. Fitzgerald claims he wishes to redeem the mortgage of over €200,000 but is blocked by a disputed €25,000 interest surcharge. The Deputy Master, Mr John Glennon, stated that these issues are for a High Court judge to determine. He indicated an intention to list the case before a judge but granted an adjournment to allow Fitzgerald to swear an affidavit in reply to the applicant's claim. The matter was adjourned and will return before the Deputy Master later this month. Fitzgerald also linked these proceedings to separate claims against former ACC Bank official Jarlath Mitchell and ACC Bank, alleging fraud involving false mortgage documentation in Portugal.
Elaine Sadlier, 55, is to be extradited to the UK on suspicion of assisting Michael Foran, who pleaded guilty to the 2018 murder of Katie 'June' Jones in West Bromwich. Foran was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 17 years. Keith O'Dwyer also pleaded guilty to assisting Foran and was sentenced to 16 months in jail. Sadlier, of Co Limerick, faces charges under Section 4 of the Criminal Law Act 1967 for allegedly helping Foran leave the scene and arrange accommodation. At the High Court, Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo ordered her extradition, rejecting humanitarian objections based on her role as sole carer for a person with epilepsy and an intellectual disability. The judge noted that while the surrender would cause separation anxiety, the individual could be cared for by a qualified professional. Although the court ordered extradition, the matter was adjourned to January 16, 2023, to allow time for alternative care plans to be organized. An affidavit regarding the care plan update is due by November 30. The maximum penalty for the alleged offence in the UK is 10 years' imprisonment.
Daniel Kerins, 26, pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine for sale or supply in St Ronan's Crescent, Clondalkin, on 25 November 2019. He had previously been convicted three times for drug possession. Gardaí, acting on confidential information, set up a surveillance operation in Donomore, Tallaght, on the day of the offence. Kerins was seen entering a taxi, travelling to St Ronan's Crescent, exiting with a package, and then entering another vehicle with a co‑accused. Both were arrested and the package contained €69,993 of cocaine. Kerins' role was to transport the drugs to pay a €7,500 drug debt; the co‑accused was to break down and sell them. The court heard Kerins was in the throes of drug addiction, had attended residential treatment, and had not reoffended since the offence. Judge Melanie Greally, satisfied that Kerins had been pressured to act as a courier, imposed a suspended three‑year sentence.
Elaine Sadlier, 55, appeared before the High Court to object to her extradition to the UK, where she is accused of assisting Michael Foran after the 2018 murder of Katie 'June' Jones in West Bromwich. Foran pleaded guilty to the murder and was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 17 years. Keith O'Dwyer also pleaded guilty to assisting Foran and received a 16-month jail sentence. Sadlier, of Co Limerick, is accused of helping Foran leave the scene and arranging his stay in a Liverpool hostel. Her legal team argued that surrendering her would violate Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, as she is the sole carer for a fully dependent disabled person. The Minister for Justice's counsel noted that the maximum UK penalty for assisting an offender is 10 years. Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo described the case as "very sad" and noted a recent bereavement in Sadlier's family. The court was told that if surrender is ordered, an application for postponement will be made. Mr Justice Naidoo adjourned the case to November 9, when he will rule on the matter of Ms Sadlier's possible surrender.
In a High Court appeal-stage matter, Davy Fitzgerald, represented by Ronnie Hudson BL and solicitor Max Mooney, contested proceedings brought by Pepper Finance and receiver James Anderson against him and his sister Helen Fitzgerald. The plaintiffs sought possession of a property in Sixmilebridge, Co Clare, where Helen resides. Fitzgerald claimed he was a victim of fraud by former ACC Bank official Kevin Jarlath Mitchell, who was jailed in April 2013 after pleading guilty to theft, obtaining cash and a cheque under false pretences, and falsifying a DIRT compliance certificate between January 1993 and February 2012. Mitchell's four-year sentence was later halved on appeal. Fitzgerald alleged Mitchell falsely added his name to Portuguese mortgage documents and that €45,000 in deposits is unaccounted for. He argued that Pepper Finance, described as a vulture fund, was preventing him from redeeming a €200,000 mortgage by demanding an unjustified €25,000 interest surcharge. Deputy Master John Glennon initially struck out the case due to the plaintiffs' non-appearance. However, after the plaintiffs requested reinstatement, citing a brief delay, and Fitzgerald's counsel opposed, Glennon stated he lacked the power to reverse the decision without party consent. He noted the matter would likely be reinstated on appeal or re-issued, effectively leaving the case unresolved and subject to further procedural steps.
The Workplace Relations Commission ordered the Garda Representative Association to appoint Tara McManus to the assistant to the general secretary role after the association's central committee repeatedly failed to ratify her candidacy. McManus had claimed gender‑based discrimination, alleging an "old boys club" within the GRA leadership. The tribunal found that she was victimised by a committee member before the ratification process, but found no evidence of discrimination in the voting itself. The commission rejected the claim of discrimination but upheld the victimisation finding. It directed the GRA to appoint McManus within six weeks of 5 October, with the appointment to be supernumerary if no vacancy existed, and required the general secretary to assure her that no negativity would be shown to her upon appointment.
Ruth Ennis, 46, of Clondalkin, was sentenced to 18 months in prison after she attacked her neighbour Daniel Casey with a screwdriver during a dispute over a borrowed Dyson vacuum cleaner. The incident occurred on 19 September 2021 when Ennis, who had charged the vacuum's battery and wanted to use it, confronted Casey at his home. Ennis swiped at him with a screwdriver, inflicted wounds on his arm and elbow, and later struck him with a steel trim from the kitchen floor. She was intoxicated during the attack. Ennis pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, property damage and possession of a screwdriver in a dispute. She had 11 prior convictions, including theft and robbery, and had completed an "alternatives to violence" course while in custody. The judge, citing her guilty pleas and apology, backdated the sentence to the day of the assault.
Graham Keating, 23, pleaded guilty to affray after a fight that spilled into the lobby of the Clayton Hotel, Santry, on 1 January 2020. He was sentenced to nine months' imprisonment by Judge Martin Nolan, who noted Keating's history of 18 prior convictions, mainly for minor public‑order offences, and his severe difficulty with alcohol. Garda Jessica Hardington reported that Keating moved from a bus shelter outside the hotel toward a group of four men, then followed them, pushing, shoving and punching. The altercation escalated to eight men, and Keating entered the crowded lobby, where he shouted threats and attempted to grab a stick. He fled before Gardaí arrived, was arrested, and admitted to being intoxicated. Keating claimed he had gone to the hotel for safety and was remorseful, with his defence citing intoxication as a mitigating factor. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the offence and Keating's prior record.
Three members of the Hehir family appeared before the Special Criminal Court on 10 October 2022. Sandra Hehir (54) was charged with nine non‑scheduled offences, Vicky Hehir (29) with four, and Warren Hehir (32) with two, all under Section 7 of the Criminal Justice Act 2010 for money laundering and terrorist financing. The alleged offences involved handling, acquiring or possessing cash totalling €59,000, and in Sandra's case an additional €124,055, between 1 January 2017 and 18 June 2020. She was also charged with unlawful possession of cannabis for sale. Vicky and Warren were charged with handling or possessing Rolex watches. The court received three books of evidence, the accused were granted legal aid, and Sandra's bail terms were altered to three days a week. All three were remanded on continuing bail until 14 November for a further mention.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 7 October 2022, PJ Bennett, father of 29‑year‑old Sharon Bennett, delivered a victim‑impact statement after Patrick Ballard was sentenced to a mandatory life term for murdering his girlfriend. Bennett described the murder as a "nightmare" that has devastated his family, noting that Sharon was a loving daughter and mother of two girls. He expressed remorse for not protecting her and stated he does not blame the Ballard family, only Patrick. Bennett recounted the difficulties caused by Covid‑19 restrictions, which prevented him from seeing Sharon in intensive care for five days and from holding a proper funeral. The judge, Mr Justice Paul Burns, highlighted the brutality of the attack, the victim's blamelessness, and the impact on her children. Ballard, 35, had pleaded guilty to murder and had a history of 140 convictions, including assault and theft. The sentencing was back‑dated to 28 January 2021, when Ballard entered custody. Sharon Bennett pleaded not guilty.
Patrick Ballard, aged 35, pleaded guilty to murdering his former partner, Ms Bennett, aged 29, in a public toilet in County Clare on 28 January 2021. Ballard had initially pleaded not guilty but, two days into his trial at the Central Criminal Court, admitted that his kicking and stamping caused Bennett's death. Witnesses, including Hussein 'Jamesie' Abdullah, testified that Ballard attacked Bennett in the toilet, pushing her onto a metal floor and repeatedly stamping and kicking her head. Bennett was taken to hospital in Limerick, where she died on 10 February 2021. Ballard was re‑arrested on 24 March 2021 and charged with murder. The trial, expected to last two weeks, was adjourned to hear a victim impact statement, with the mandatory sentence for murder being life imprisonment.
An Irish woman, Elaine Sadlier, 55, is being sought in the UK on suspicion of assisting Michael Foran in the murder of his ex‑partner, Katie 'June' Jones, whose body was found in a bathtub in West Bromwich in 2018. Sadlier appeared at the extradition court in Birmingham, objecting to surrender under the post‑Brexit Trade and Co‑operation Agreement. A warrant issued on 14 June 2021 accuses her of aiding Foran, who pleaded guilty to the murder and received a life sentence with a minimum of 17 years. Another man, Keith O'Dwyer, was also convicted of assisting Foran and sentenced to 16 months. The court noted CCTV evidence of Sadlier and others transporting luggage in a Range Rover to Liverpool, then to a ferry to Ireland. The matter is adjourned to 27 October, with a submission deadline of 17 October.
In a murder trial in Ennis, a 35‑year‑old man, Patrick Ballard, is accused of killing his partner, 29‑year‑old Sharon Bennett, by repeatedly kicking and stamping on her head in a public toilet. Ballard, formerly of Ashford Court Hotel, admitted that his actions caused Bennett's death and accepted that the killing was unlawful, but pleaded not guilty to murder. The prosecution, led by Dominic McGinn, outlined that the fatal assault occurred after an argument in a covered car park, witnessed by others and captured on CCTV. Ballard allegedly pushed a third man out of the toilet, continued the assault, and left the scene before an off‑duty guard arrived. Bennett was taken to hospital, survived initially, but died on 10 February 2021. The trial will focus on Ballard's intent and the unlawful nature of his violence. The hearing is scheduled to last two weeks.
Patrick Ballard, 35, of Ashford Court Hotel, Ennis, is set to stand trial for the murder of Sharon Bennett, 29, in Ennis's Market area on 10 February 2021. He was arraigned at the Central Criminal Court and pleaded not guilty. The case stems from an incident on 28 January 2021, after which Bennett died weeks later. Mr Justice Paul Burns informed the jury that both parties lived in Ennis and that the matter was investigated by Garda officers from Shannon and Ennis. The trial will last two weeks.
In a Central Criminal Court sentencing hearing, mother Catherine Martin recounted the death of her son Eoin Boylan, 32, who was stabbed to death by Nassar Ahmed, 41, on 14 April 2020. Martin described how Ahmed, who had been living with Boylan's partner Susan O'Doherty, entered the house during a lockdown argument, lunged at Boylan with a knife and stabbed him three times. CCTV footage showed the attack, and the jury convicted Ahmed of murder after two hours. Justice Eileen Creedon imposed a mandatory life sentence. Martin's testimony highlighted the personal grief and the impact of Boylan's death on his family, while the prosecution argued the attack was a deliberate "sneak attack" and not self‑defence. The defence acknowledged the moral culpability of the act but maintained that Ahmed's fear justified his use of force.
Daniel Belling, a 49‑year‑old German national living in Dublin, was sentenced in his absence in Italy to a three‑and‑a‑half‑year suspended term for one count of dishonestly inducing the Bank of Ireland to grant a €112,500 mortgage on 13 March 2014. He used falsified documents—including a German ID card with an incorrect birth date, overstated payslips, altered bank statements and a P60—to apply for loans between 1 July 2013 and 27 January 2015. The court described the offence as a "classic white‑collar crime" and noted Belling's wife, missing since 2017, was alleged to have driven the scheme. Belling pleaded guilty, exercised his right to silence in 2018, and has no prior convictions. He is a primary carer for his two sons, aged nine and ten, and has been unemployed since 2017. The judge fully suspended the sentence, deciding not to imprison him.
Three Spanish men – Jonay Saiz Gallo (25), Luis Garcia Diaz (30) and Francisco Jose Jiminez Espinosa (27) – pleaded guilty to criminal damage after spray‑painting four Dart carriages at Fairview Dart Depot on 10 October 2021. The vandalism caused €12,193 in damage to the carriages and €6,494 in lost revenue for Irish Rail, totalling over €18,700. Garda evidence showed the men were caught on CCTV, with Gallo recording the others on his phone. All three were apprehended by Gardaí, while a fourth escaped. Judge Pauline Codd sentenced each man to a suspended term – Gallo two and a half years, Diaz two years, Espinosa two years – and ordered them to pay €1,200, €2,500 and €1,700 respectively to Irish Rail within 12 months. The court noted the men had no prior convictions and had pleaded guilty early, expressing remorse and offering compensation. The sentences were suspended on the condition that each man keeps the peace.
A catering worker with 18 years of service at the Roche factory in Clarecastle, Co Clare, has been awarded a redundancy payment of over €15,000 after the Workplace Relations Commission ruled it was reasonable for her to refuse a transfer that would have required a lengthy commute by bus. Niamh Ryan's claim under the Redundancy Payments Act was upheld, with the commission finding that the proposed move would have involved significant extra travel time, costs, and disruption to her personal life. The company, Corporate Catering Services Ltd, argued that Ms Ryan unreasonably refused two offers of alternative employment, including a role in Bunratty and a position working across two sites. However, the adjudicating officer noted that the new location would have required significant extra travel time, possibly different shifts, and disruption to her personal life, with no compensation offered for the inconvenience.
Patrick Ballard, 35, of Ashford Court Hotel, Ennis, faces a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court on 4 October. He is accused of killing Sharon Bennett, 29, a mother of two, in Ennis's Market area on 28 January 2021. Initially charged with assault causing harm, the charge was withdrawn in March 2021 and replaced by a murder charge. Bennett died 13 days later at University Hospital Limerick. Ballard and Bennett were in a relationship at the time of the alleged murder. The Director of Public Prosecutions has confirmed the case is ready for trial.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, Nassar Ahmed, aged 41, was found guilty of murder by a unanimous jury after stabbing Eoin Boylan, 32, three times in a "sneak attack" at Gordon Drive, Cloughleigh, Ennis. Ahmed had invited Boylan to a fist fight while concealing a knife, then stabbed him as Boylan was retreating. CCTV footage showed the attack, and Ahmed claimed self‑defence, but the jury rejected this, concluding he was the aggressor. The judge remanded Ahmed in custody pending sentencing on 26 July, when Boylan's family may address the court. Ahmed faces the mandatory life sentence for murder. The trial also noted Ahmed's prior plea of not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter of Boylan in 2020, and his history of a failed marriage to Susan O'Doherty, who later dated Boylan. The case highlighted the jury's swift two‑hour deliberation and the prosecution's emphasis on Ahmed's lies to Gardaí about the weapon used.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, 42‑year‑old Nassar Ahmed was accused of deliberately stabbing his former partner's boyfriend, Eoin Boylan, during a "sneak attack" at Gordon Drive, Cloughleigh, Ennis, on 14 April 2020. Prosecutor Lorcan Staines argued that Ahmed invited Boylan to a fist fight while concealing a knife, then stabbed him three times while Boylan was in manifest retreat. Staines described the stabbings as intentional, deliberate and repeated, noting that the wounds were precise and that Ahmed's actions were not self‑defence. He also highlighted that Ahmed repeatedly lied to Gardaí about the weapon used, calling the lies "borderline laughable." The prosecution maintained that the case involved an intentional attack, not a defensive response, and that the alleged self‑defence claim was untenable. The trial was set to continue before Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury. Nassar Ahmed pleaded not guilty.
Nassar Ahmed, 42, was accused of murdering Eoin Boylan, 32, on 14 April 2020. Ahmed denied any bad intentions and claimed he acted in self‑defence, saying he grabbed a sharp object and stabbed Boylan after Boylan approached him. CCTV footage showed Boylan backing away after the first blow. Ahmed could not recall the object or where he threw it. He pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. Witnesses described a confrontation between Ahmed, wearing a red baseball hat, and Boylan, noting a sharp metal object in Ahmed's hand. Ahmed's statements to Gardaí and a friend confirmed he believed he was defending himself. The case was set for trial before Justice Eileen Creedon with a jury of twelve.
In the Central Criminal Court, the jury heard that Nassar Ahmed, 41, accused of murdering Eoin Boylan, 32, had called Boylan's former partner a "whore" moments before the fatal confrontation. Ahmed pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. Witness Catherine Martin testified that Ahmed was angry and shouted at her son, who tried to intervene. She described Ahmed standing on his toes and lunging at her son, who was then struck and later died from stab wounds. Ahmed claimed he had picked up a sharp object to defend himself after Boylan tried to fight him. Garda testimony noted Ahmed's arrest on suspicion of assault causing harm. The trial continued with the issue of self‑defence to be considered by the jury.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, the prosecution told a jury that 41‑year‑old Nassar Ahmed, who pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, killed Eoin Boylan, 32, in Ennis on 14 April 2020. Ahmed, originally from Sudan, had lived in Ennis since the mid‑2000s, married a local woman in 2007, and had three children. The marriage ended in November 2018. In late 2019, Ahmed's former partner met Boylan and they began a relationship, with Boylan moving into the partner's house shortly thereafter. On the day of the incident, a dispute arose when Ahmed called the partner to come to the house. Witnesses and partial CCTV footage showed Ahmed striking Boylan three times, after which Boylan fell and suffered stab‑like injuries. A pathologist concluded Boylan was stabbed to death. The prosecution will argue that the issue of self‑defence must be considered by the jury.
In a case brought by former employee Fozia Rafiq against the Kuwait Cultural Office in Dublin, the Kuwaiti diplomatic mission argues that the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) lacks jurisdiction because the office enjoys diplomatic immunity. Rafiq, employed on a fixed‑term contract from 4 February 2020 to 3 February 2021, claims she was treated less favourably and that her contract was non‑renewed without due process after disciplinary warnings. The mission's lawyers, led by Kiwana Ennis BL, cite sovereign immunity and the precedent of Government of Canada v Employment Appeals Tribunal, asserting Rafiq's role as an accountant does not involve public business of the State of Kuwait. Solicitor Barry Crushell for Rafiq counters that the Labour Court had ruled Kuwait could not rely on sovereign immunity to block a complaint under the Unfair Dismissals Act. Adjudicating officer Máire Mulcahy reserved judgment on jurisdiction and heard Rafiq's evidence, noting her contract allowed non‑renewal with two months' notice.