Stephen Ennis, 32, of Crumlin, was sentenced to a four‑year prison term for stabbing a foreign‑national doctor at St James' Hospital on 7 March 2020. The original one‑year sentence was quashed and the Court of Appeal, applying a 40 per cent premium for attacks on medical staff, increased the term to four years. The judge reduced the term by one year to account for Ennis' attempts to address his drug addiction after a recent return to custody, and suspended the final six months of the three‑year custodial period. Ennis, who has 72 prior convictions and a history of drug use, was warned that the outcome would depend on probation reports. He had been detained on drugs and shoplifting charges and had suffered a relapse during the intervening period. The doctor, who had moved to Ireland to become an emergency medicine consultant, was left "shattered" by the assault. Stephen Ennis pleaded guilty.
Two US army veterans, Ken Mayers (85) and Tarak Kauff (80), were fined €5,000 each after a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court jury found them guilty of interfering with the operation, safety or management of Shannon Airport. The men, who had cut a hole in the airport's perimeter fence with bolt cutters on St. Patrick's Day 2019, entered the runway area, causing the airport to close for about 40 minutes and delaying flights. They were acquitted of criminal damage to the fence and of trespassing with intent to commit an offence. The court noted their age, cooperation, lack of prior convictions and that they had already spent 13 days in Limerick prison. The fine was imposed as the penalty for the interference charge, with the men required to lodge an additional €2,500 each as a condition of bail. The case highlighted the men's anti‑war activism and their belief that their actions were justified to protect lives. Ken Mayers pleaded not guilty. Tarak Kauff pleaded not guilty.
Two US army veterans, Ken Mayers (85) and Tarak Kauff (80), were tried at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for actions taken during an anti‑war protest at Shannon Airport in 2019. The jury acquitted them of criminal damage to the perimeter fence and of trespassing with intent to commit an offence, but found them guilty of interfering with the operation, safety or management of the airport by entering the runway area and causing the airport to close. The verdict was 10‑to‑2. The men had cut a hole in the fence with bolt cutters, walked onto airport land, and were stopped by an airport officer. Their protest was aimed at inspecting US military aircraft and protesting the use of Shannon as a staging point for Middle East operations. The judge ordered them to return passports and set a sentencing date for the following day. Ken Mayers pleaded not guilty. Tarak Kauff pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, octogenarians Ken Mayers (85) and Tarak Kauff (80) faced six counts of trespass, criminal damage and interference with Shannon Airport's operation after cutting a hole in the fence and walking onto the airfield on 17 March 2019. Both men, former U.S. Army veterans and members of Veterans for Peace, pleaded not guilty and claimed they acted to protest U.S. military use of the airport as a staging point for Middle‑East operations. The prosecution, led by Tony McGillicuddy, argued the defendants had no lawful excuse, citing no evidence of weapons on board or a need to protect anyone, and urged a guilty verdict on all counts. Defendants' counsel, Michael Hourigan and Carol Doherty, emphasised the defendants' sincere, honourable motives and the possibility of a lawful defence under the Criminal Damage Act. The jury deliberated for two hours and twenty minutes before resuming on Tuesday.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, former Shannon Airport fire officer Richard Moloney described Ken Mayers (85) and Tarak Kauff (80) as the most courteous protesters he had met. The men, both U.S. residents, were arrested in March 2019 after allegedly cutting a hole in a perimeter fence and trespassing on airport land. They claimed to be peace protesters checking an American aircraft, holding a banner that read 'US veterans say respect Irish neutrality. American war machine out of Shannon Airport'. The court heard that the airport was shut for 30–40 minutes, delaying two departing planes and a Turkish Airlines cargo aircraft. Both men pleaded not guilty to criminal damage, trespassing and interfering with airport operations. The case remains before Judge Patricia Ryan and a jury.
Two American octogenarians, Ken Mayers (85) and Tarak Kauff (80), have gone on trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, accused of criminal damage and trespass at Shannon Airport on March 17, 2019. Both men, residing in New Mexico and New York respectively, pleaded not guilty to three counts each: criminal damage to a perimeter fence valued at €590, trespassing with intent to commit an offence or damage property, and interfering with airport operations by entering a runway area and causing its closure. Prosecuting counsel Tony McGillicuddy BL alleged the pair, wearing 'Veterans for Peace' vests, broke through the fence using bolt cutters and walked onto a taxiway, forcing a runway closure that delayed an incoming flight. He stated the prosecution case is that both men were involved in the damage and unlawful interference. Defending counsel Michael Hourigan BL and Carol Doherty BL noted their clients admitted to making an opening in the fence and entering the airport lands but maintained they were treated respectfully. The trial is ongoing before Judge Patricia Ryan and a jury.
Richard O'Mara, aged 33, was convicted of two counts of rape against a teenage schoolgirl at his sister's 18th birthday party in 2015. He received a 14‑year sentence with the final two years suspended by Ms Justice Tara Burns. O'Mara appealed to reduce the sentence, arguing it was too long, but the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal. Justice Úna Ní Raifeartaigh noted the appellant had few mitigating factors, no guilty plea, no remorse, and a heart condition, and that the suspended portion had already been considered. The court upheld the original sentence, stating it was within the judge's discretion and not unduly high. O'Mara's barrister argued for a greater reduction, citing his client's good character and lack of prior convictions, but the appeal was rejected. The case remains at the sentencing stage. Richard O'Mara pleaded not guilty.
The Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal by alleged drug dealer John McCormack against a Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) order that several Mid‑West properties were bought with proceeds of crime. The High Court had found that evidence showed McCormack had been involved in serious criminal activity for many years and that the income from that activity likely funded the purchase of the properties at Purcell Park, Cloontra West and Claughan Fort. In 2020 Mr Justice Alexander Owens made orders restraining McCormack and others from dealing with the properties. McCormack appealed to the Court of Appeal, which upheld the findings, and then sought a Supreme Court appeal on the grounds that the case involved matters of general public importance. The Supreme Court, in a written decision, held that McCormack had not established any such issue and that it was not in the interests of justice to allow the appeal.
In a Court of Appeal hearing on 15 February 2022, a senior judge warned Stephen Ennis, 32, that the "ball was in his court" if he wished to avoid a prison term after a one‑year sentence was quashed. Ennis had stabbed a hospital doctor three times in the back with a needle taken from his own arm during the first wave of the pandemic in St James' Hospital, Dublin. The doctor, a foreign national who had moved to Ireland to train as an emergency medicine consultant, was left "shattered" and later gave up that career. Ennis had 72 prior convictions, including violent disorder, drug possession, knife possession, burglary and begging. The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed the original sentence, arguing it was unduly lenient, while Ennis' counsel argued he was a drug‑addicted, mentally detached offender who had been drug‑free for six months. Stephen Ennis pleaded guilty.
In a High Court case, Davy Spillane, a celebrated Irish musician, announced that the proceedings against his former record label, Tara Enterprises Ltd and its subsidiary Tara Music Company Limited, had been amicably resolved. Spillane had sued the companies and their Managing Director, John Cook, alleging breach of contract, misrepresentation and underpayment of royalty fees. He claimed that the label failed to provide adequate accounting information and that he was not receiving all payments due to him. Universal Musical Ireland, which acquired Tara's catalogue in 2019, was added as a defendant. The court granted orders for the settlement, including the striking out of the proceedings and an order that Universal Music Ireland pay Spillane's legal costs. The judge welcomed the settlement and noted that it would have otherwise taken several weeks to hear. The parties agreed that the settlement was confidential and amicable. The case was concluded without further hearing.
In a 2022 Supreme Court decision, a mandatory interlocutory injunction that had forced the McDonagh family and their relatives to vacate council-owned land at Cahercallamore, Ennis, was struck down. The injunction, originally granted by the High Court in 2019 and upheld by the Court of Appeal in 2020, had required Bernard and Helen McDonagh to leave the land immediately pending a full hearing. The Supreme Court, hearing the appeal, ruled that the injunction was not justified. The court noted that the McDonaghs had lived in the area since 1998, first at a traveller development called Ashline, then in rented accommodation, and finally moved their caravans onto the disputed land in 2017. The council had claimed unlawful occupation and unauthorized development, citing the 2000 Planning and Development Act. The court highlighted the vulnerability of the Irish Traveller community and the need to balance planning law with cultural rights, concluding that the injunction was disproportionate and should not be enforced.
In a Court of Appeal hearing on 25 January 2022, the lawyers for Richard O'Mara, aged 33, argued that the 12‑year custodial sentence handed down by Ms Justice Tara Burns for two counts of rape was "very severe". O'Mara had been convicted in April 2019 by a jury at the Central Criminal Court for raping a teenage schoolgirl twice at an 18th birthday party in County Clare. The first assault occurred in a field near the party venue, the second inside the house after guests had left. O'Mara's appeal focuses on the lack of violence or force in the field rape and the absence of mitigating factors, citing his prior good character and lack of previous convictions. The Director of Public Prosecutions maintained that the sentence was appropriate, noting the victim's injuries, the pre‑meditated nature of the first rape, and the violence and humiliation inflicted during both assaults. Richard O'Mara pleaded not guilty.
Kellie Walton, a payroll administrator at Virgin Media Television, stole €872,437 over ten years, beginning in 2009. She pleaded guilty to multiple thefts and false accounting, with the largest single theft exceeding €120,000. Walton's role gave her exclusive access to the payroll system, enabling her to make unauthorised payments to former employees and transfer the money to two bank accounts she controlled. She was arrested in January 2020 and, after a series of interviews, pleaded guilty to sample charges. In December 2021, Judge Melanie Greally considered her circumstances, including her husband's unemployment and her family's financial stress, and imposed a four‑year sentence, suspending the final two years on strict conditions. The court noted Walton's lack of prior convictions and her efforts to mitigate the impact on her children. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
At the Central Criminal Court, a forensic pathologist gave evidence concerning the death of Kevin Sheehy, a five-time Irish boxing champion, who died on July 1, 2019, following a fatal road traffic collision in Limerick city. Dr Allan Cala, testifying via video link from Australia, detailed multiple severe injuries sustained by the twenty-year-old, including a catastrophic skull fracture, extensive skeletal fractures, and profuse internal bleeding. Logan Jackson, aged thirty-one, of Longford Road, Coventry, England, has pleaded guilty to manslaughter but denies murder. Evidence presented included witness testimony describing the vehicle striking Mr Sheehy repeatedly, and forensic findings consistent with the deceased being struck and dragged. The trial, before Ms Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury, continues at the Central Criminal Court.
Kellie Walton, a 40‑year‑old payroll administrator from Kilfenora Road, Kimmage, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to stealing €70,614 in 2019 and €34,961 in 2009 from Virgin Media Television, plus one charge of false accounting between 2009 and 2019. She admitted that the money was transferred to two bank accounts she controlled, with the largest single theft over €120,000 and a total of €872,437. Walton's barrister explained that she did not use the proceeds for a lavish lifestyle but to "soften the edges of family life," citing financial stress and her partner's ill health. Judge Melanie Greally noted the amounts exceeded mere softening and remanded Walton on bail pending sentence, allowing her to spend Christmas with her four children. The case was adjourned to 19 January 2024. The court considered reports, letters and testimonials before deciding on the next steps.
In 2018, Diamrem Ltd lost a High Court challenge to close a temporary carpark operated by Clare County Council across the road from the Cliffs of Moher visitors centre. Diamrem sought Section 160 planning injunctions to prohibit the use of the carpark and require its removal to enable a park‑and‑ride service. The company argued the carpark was an unauthorised development and that the council had failed to comply with conditions attached to the planning permission for the centre. The council and its subsidiary denied this, stating the original proposed carpark was never built and the existing one was approved as a Part 8 development. Justice Mary Faherty dismissed the action, citing the applicant's failure to commence the Section 160 proceedings within the statutory time period. The Court of Appeal, led by Justice Seamus Woulfe, upheld the dismissal, noting the time‑period issue was dispositive and that other matters should be left for a separate case.
Anthony Leddy, 25, was driving a motorbike with passenger Cian Doherty when the bike collided with a car near his home. Leddy fled the scene with the bike, later returning to check on Doherty, who suffered a very serious head injury, required part of his skull removed, and now has life‑long injuries. Leddy pleaded guilty to failing to remain at the scene, careless driving and driving without insurance. He had no prior convictions. The court heard that Leddy was not skilled on the bike and was travelling too fast for the traffic. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to two years imprisonment, suspended in its entirety, with strict conditions of good behaviour and keeping the peace for two years. The sentence was imposed on 8 June 2018, and the case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 6 October 2021.
In 2015, Richard O'Mara, aged 32, raped a 17‑year‑old schoolgirl twice at his sister's 18th birthday party in County Clare. The first assault occurred in a field behind the house; the second took place on a couch inside the house after the party. The victim, who was terrified of seeing O'Mara again, stayed in her bedroom for two months and reported severe physical and psychological trauma. O'Mara pleaded not guilty but was found guilty by a Central Criminal Court jury in April 2019. He was sentenced to 14 years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended on strict conditions. In June 2019, the Court of Appeal dismissed O'Mara's appeal, upholding the conviction and confirming that the evidence and investigative procedures met the required legal standards. No further sentence changes were announced.
Kellie Walton, 39, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to stealing cash worth €70,614 and property worth €34,961 from Virgin Media Television at Westgate Business Park, Ballymount, Dublin, between 1 January and 31 December 2019. She has no prior convictions and has a young family. Her lawyer, Fiona Murphy SC, requested a probation report. Judge Melanie Greally ordered a probation report, remanded Walton on continuing bail, and adjourned her sentencing to 1 December. The case of co‑accused John Murray, 40, was adjourned to an arraignment on 10 November.
A 47-year-old man has received a life sentence at the Central Criminal Court for the murder of a 78-year-old widow in Limerick in December 2017. Alexandru Iordache, originally from Romania, pleaded guilty to the killing of Rose Hanrahan at her home in Thomondgate on or about 14-15 December 2017. The court heard that Iordache observed Mrs Hanrahan entering her PIN at a supermarket checkout on 13 December and subsequently followed her home. She was found dead by family members, having been strangled with a curtain cord and subjected to blows to her head and face. CCTV footage and DNA evidence recovered from the crime scene proved instrumental in identifying the perpetrator. Iordache had travelled to Ireland on 12 December and departed on 21 December. His life sentence was backdated to his extradition date of 16 January 2020. Justice Michael White described the crime as horrific and noted that Mrs Hanrahan had been ruthlessly targeted.
Richard O'Mara, 31, of Tallaght, Dublin, appealed his conviction to the Court of Appeal regarding two counts of rape committed in Co Clare in 2015. O'Mara had previously pleaded not guilty but was found guilty by a Central Criminal Court jury. He was sentenced to 14 years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended on strict conditions, resulting in an effective custody period of 12 years. The appeal, argued by Michael Delaney SC, contended that the trial should have been halted because Gardaí failed to examine the crime scene at Ballymulcashel, Kilmurry, Sixmilebridge. Defence counsel cited a forensic report suggesting semen could have been detected on a sofa nine months after the incident, arguing this missing evidence deprived O'Mara of a realistic defence. The DPP, represented by Maurice Coffey SC, countered that the appellant had not met the necessary legal test for the absence of evidence to warrant a stay. The court, presided over by President George Birmingham, reserved its judgement. The matter was adjourned pending the decision.
A Dublin woman charged with dangerous driving following an alleged chase involving Garda vehicles on the M50 motorway has launched a second High Court judicial review action challenging bail conditions imposed by the District Court. Gemma Greene, aged 24, of Coolock, Dublin, contests conditions including a curfew, requirement to sign on daily with gardaí, and a prohibition on driving mechanically propelled vehicles. She argues the District Court lacked jurisdiction to impose or vary these conditions and claims they breach her presumption of innocence. Ms Greene's legal representatives submitted she had previously complied with initial bail requirements and that gardaí did not seek the driving prohibition. Ms Justice Niamh Hyland granted permission to bring the action on Friday and placed a stay on the contested bail conditions, subject to Ms Greene remaining in the jurisdiction. The Director of Public Prosecutions neither opposed nor consented to the application. This represents Ms Greene's second such action; a separate judicial review concerning earlier bail conditions is also ongoing. Both matters will return before the High Court in June.
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court sentenced Dubliner Derek Ennis to four and a half years imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to attempted robbery at Paddy Power, Seafort Avenue, Sandymount, south Dublin, on February 26, 2020. Judge Martin Nolan noted that the firearm used was likely an imitation due to the "sheer incompetence" of the crime, stating it seemed unlikely a man behaving in such a manner could acquire a real firearm. Prosecution evidence indicated Ennis entered the bookmakers with his hood up but removed it when asked by an employee, making him easily identifiable on CCTV. He pointed a gun at the employee, who fled and activated a panic button; Ennis left without stealing any money. Ennis, of Strandmill Road, Portmarnock, has six previous convictions for robbery, along with other offenses including theft, assault, and drug possession. Defense counsel Emmet Nolan BL described the incident as a "completely incompetent act" and highlighted Ennis's lifelong drug addiction, which he claimed drove the crime. The judge accepted that the enterprise was poorly executed but imposed the custodial sentence. The matter was finalized with this sentence.
The Bunratty Castle Hotel, near Shannon Airport, has lodged a High Court judicial review to overturn a WRC finding that it discriminated against Ms Nora Ward, a Traveller, and was ordered to pay €15,000. The hotel argues the WRC heard the complaint without its representatives present, citing misdirected emails and a failure to notify the hotel of an adjourned hearing. It claims it was denied a first‑instance hearing and that correspondence was sent to an incorrect email address. The WRC's decision, based on Ms Ward's complaint under the Equal Status Act, alleged the hotel was dismissive and failed to engage appropriately. The hotel seeks to quash the decision and have the complaint determined in accordance with law. The case is set to return to court in May.
The Central Criminal Court and Special Criminal Court have adjourned multiple trials due to the pandemic backlog. Inita Romanovska, 34, of Ennis, Co Clare, is charged with the alleged attempted murder of a man she met on Tinder during an incident in Limerick in March 2020. Her trial, previously scheduled for 2021, was adjourned to March 6, 2023. Mr Justice Michael White noted that jury trials will not resume until late March or April 2022, pending safety assessments. Meanwhile, at the Special Criminal Court, the trial of four men accused of abducting and assaulting Quinn Industrial Holdings director Kevin Lunney was adjourned from March 1 to May 31, 2022. The accused are Luke O'Reilly, 66, of Co Cavan; Darren Redmond, 25, of Dublin 3; and Alan O'Brien, 38, of Dublin 1. They face charges of false imprisonment and assault causing serious harm to Mr Lunney in September 2019. Mr Justice Tony Hunt stated that the five-party trial could not proceed in March due to public health restrictions and would run for 12 weeks starting in late May. A fifth unnamed male is also charged with the same offences. All matters remain at the procedural stage of fixing trial dates, with no pleas entered or findings made.
Inita Romanovska, 34, from Latvia, is charged with attempted murder after an incident at a Limerick apartment complex on 11 March 2020. She met the alleged victim on Tinder and they had several dates but were not in a relationship. Romanovska did not attend the Central Criminal Court in Dublin where Mr Justice Michael White had scheduled her trial for 6 March 2023. The trial is delayed for over two years because of a pandemic‑related backlog, with the court prioritising cases where the accused is in custody. She was granted bail last March.
The High Court approved a Personal Insolvency Arrangement for Mr Ciaran O'Neill, a 59‑year‑old construction manager, allowing him to write off almost €3 million in debt. Under the arrangement, Mr O'Neill will contribute €163,000 over six years, making monthly payments between €685 and €1,025. Creditors include Promontoria Aran and Promontoria Scariff DAC, AIB and AIB Mortgage Bank, Bank of Ireland, the Revenue Commissioners, and numerous trade creditors. The PIA permits Mr O'Neill to retain his family home at Rockville, Killegar, Ballybetagh Road, Enniskerry, Co. Wicklow. The court noted that unsecured creditors will receive 2 cents per euro under the PIA, compared with 1 cent per euro in bankruptcy. No objections were raised to the arrangement, though some creditors voted against the proposals. The arrangement was approved by Mr Justice Mark Sanfey on Monday.
Veronica O'Connor, 41, of Bunratty Road, Coolock, was found guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of permitting the sale of controlled drugs from her home on 22 February 2017. The house was raided by gardaí, who discovered heroin worth €2,412 and 48 Diazepam tablets. Two non‑residents and O'Connor's two children were present when the police entered, though O'Connor herself was not in the house; she was found in a car outside speaking with her brother. The court noted that O'Connor had two prior convictions for road traffic offences and was on methadone treatment, having relapsed into heroin use. The judge, Martin Nolan, sentenced her to two years imprisonment, suspending the entire term on the condition that she keep the peace and behave well for two years. The children were removed from her care and placed in state care.
The Court of Appeal has ruled that a €1,500 fine was too lenient for Senan O'Flaherty, a 64-year-old truck driver who pleaded guilty to careless driving causing death and careless driving causing serious bodily harm. The incident, which occurred on the N85 in March 2017, resulted in the death of three-year-old Estlin Wall and serious injuries to her father, Vincent Wall. While the trial judge had fined O'Flaherty €750 per charge and imposed a four-year driving ban, the appellate court found that the lower culpability assessment was erroneous. Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy stated that O'Flaherty's blameworthiness was at the upper end of the scale, noting witnesses observed unusual features in his driving, including crossing the median line to check for overtaking opportunities. The court upheld the €1,500 fine and the four-year driving ban. However, it imposed a 16-month custodial sentence, which was suspended in full on the condition that O'Flaherty be of good behaviour for two years. O'Flaherty entered into the bond for good behaviour and has already paid the fine. The court expressed its sympathies to the Wall family for their loss.
A 48‑year‑old Limerick truck driver, Alyvydus Simkus, was jailed for three and a half years after pleading guilty to unlawfully importing €1.6 million worth of ketamine, MDMA and cocaine into Ireland on 31 March 2018. Gardaí said he was paid £50 to transport the drugs, which were found in three white boxes in the cab of his truck at Dublin Port. Simkus, who had no serious convictions before, denied the offence initially but later admitted he was the only person with the key to the cab unit. He claimed he did not know the contents of the boxes and that he expected more payment. The judge accepted his remorse, noted his otherwise decent life, and suspended the final 18 months of a five‑year sentence on the condition of good behaviour.
Barry McArdle, 34, was formally surrendered to Dutch authorities at the High Court following the lifting of a postponement order. The surrender relates to his conviction for the stabbing and dismemberment of Keith Ennis in 2009. Although McArdle was initially acquitted of the stabbing in 2017, the Dutch public prosecutor successfully appealed that verdict. In 2020, after a Supreme Court ruling upheld the appeal, McArdle was found guilty of the stabbing and sentenced to 13 years. The High Court heard that the balance of his sentence left to serve is 4,514 days. McArdle had previously been convicted of removing or disposing of Mr Ennis' body to conceal the cause of death, a charge for which he had already served his sentence. He was arrested in Galway on July 1 under a European Arrest Warrant issued in April and endorsed by the High Court in June. His legal representative, Ms Leanora Frawley BL, stated that McArdle was no longer seeking a postponement for a medical procedure, having previously requested time for a colostomy consultation. The Minister for Justice's counsel, Ms Caroline Cummings SC, confirmed the warrant details. Detective Garda Eoin Kane noted that McArdle is considered a flight risk with 19 previous convictions, including drug supply offenses. The court proceedings concluded with the formal surrender to the Netherlands.
Barry McArdle, 34, of Drimnagh, Dublin, who had been living in Galway, formally surrendered to Dutch authorities for his role in the 2009 stabbing and dismemberment of Keith Ennis, 29, whose body was disposed of in a canal between Rotterdam and Amsterdam. McArdle had previously been acquitted of the stabbing in the Netherlands but was later found guilty and sentenced to 13 years in 2020 after a Supreme Court ruling upheld the appeal. He had already served two years of a 12‑year, 3‑month sentence imposed in 2018 for dismemberment. The Irish High Court issued an extradition warrant on 22 April, endorsed on 6 June, and McArdle was arrested in Galway on 1 July under a European Arrest Warrant. At the extradition hearing, the court remanded him in custody for 10 days pending surrender to the Netherlands.
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court sentenced Jordan Ennis, Lucy Ennis, and Aaron Flanagan for violent disorder and assault causing harm at Edenmore Park, Raheny, on September 19, 2015. All three defendants pleaded guilty. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Jordan Ennis to two and a half years' imprisonment, having stated his actions initially merited four years. He suspended the final year of the sentence on conditions that Ennis keep the peace and hand over €14,249 to the victim as a token of remorse. Lucy Ennis received a suspended prison term of 18 months. The judge noted she had likely misinformed her brother but accepted her mental health background and lack of prior convictions. Co-accused Aaron Flanagan was sentenced to a suspended prison term of two years, with a condition of good behaviour for that period. The judge cited Flanagan's age at the time as the primary mitigating factor. The court heard that the attack followed a dispute involving teenage girls, during which Jordan Ennis stabbed the victim multiple times while others assaulted him with crutches. The victim was hospitalised for ten days. The judge described the attack as savage and noted that Ennis acted on his sister's accusations, despite the victim denying any prior aggression.
An appeal has been heard in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court regarding the case of Aaron Flanagan, Jordan Ennis, and Lucy Ennis, who admitted to charges of violent disorder and assault causing harm at Edenmore Park, Raheny on September 19, 2015. The three appellants pleaded guilty to the charges. During the hearing, Judge Martin Nolan remanded the three in continuing custody for sentence tomorrow. The incident involved a 15-year-old victim who was repeatedly stabbed, punched, and kicked by a group of teenagers after he intervened to protect a friend. The victim, now an adult, cannot be identified due to a recent Court of Appeal decision on the identification of juvenile victims of crime. The court heard that the victim was in the park when he saw a group of four teenage girls shouting at another girl, accusing her of making comments on Facebook. The victim attempted to assist the girl, leading to an altercation. The court also heard that Lucy Ennis was the instigator, and her brother Jordan Ennis was involved in the attack. The victim was later assaulted again by Jordan Ennis and others. The court heard that Jordan Ennis had a previous record of being a law-abiding young man and that the attack was out of character for him. The matter was adjourned for sentence.
During a trial in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Pat O'Brien, head of airport police at Shannon Airport, testified that he had never considered the airport a legitimate military target. He described inspecting the perimeter fence after the alleged 2016 incident where Colm Roddy (78) and Dave Donnellan (60) allegedly cut the fence and painted red crucifixes on the runway. O'Brien noted the fence appeared cut and folded back, emergency repairs costing about €300, with total estimated repairs at €3,500. Maintenance manager Mark Reidy explained the costs were estimates because the repair programme was ongoing. O'Brien also mentioned the airport's plans to respond to major incidents such as aircraft crashes, bomb scares, chemical spills and terrorist attacks. The trial continues before Judge Karen O'Connor and a jury. Colm Roddy pleaded not guilty. Dave Donnellan pleaded not guilty.
Two peace activists, Colm Roddy, 78, and Dave Donnellan, 60, were tried in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for criminal damage to the perimeter fence and runway at Shannon Airport on 5 May 2016. They pleaded not guilty. The court heard that Detective Sergeant Con Ryan, now retired, met the men in the terminal after they were brought there by airport police. He reported that Roddy spoke most of the time, complaining about American actions in the Middle East and Syria, and that the pair had entered the airfield by lifting the wire and passing under a gate. Ryan tried to explain the danger of animals or objects on the runway potentially threatening inbound flights, but the men refused to accept these concerns and returned to their comments about US bombings. Roddy told Gardaí that he had a lawful excuse and was trying to prevent a greater illegality at Shannon. The trial continues before Judge Karen O'Connor and a jury.
Stephen Ennis, a 30‑year‑old heroin addict, was sentenced to one year in prison after he stabbed a treating doctor three times in the back at St James' Hospital on 7 March 2020. Ennis had been found collapsed outside a Garda station with a seizure and was brought to the hospital by ambulance. While in the hospital he refused to stay on his trolley, bothered nurses, and eventually withdrew a needle he had taken from his own arm. He held the needle over his head and charged at the doctor, who fled down the corridor. The doctor was not aware of the stabs until a colleague informed him. Ennis pleaded guilty to assaulting a person providing medical care. He has 72 prior convictions, including violent disorder, drug possession, knife possession, burglary and begging. The judge noted that Ennis probably did not intend the assault and that the doctor has made a full recovery.
Colm Roddy (78) of Bayside Walk, Dublin 13 and Dave Donnellan (60) of Reuben Street, Rialto, Dublin have both pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Court to criminal damage of the perimeter fence and runway at Shannon Airport in Co. Clare on May 5, 2016. During the trial, Sergeant Mark Brown, who has over 20 years of experience as part of the airport police, stated that he did not recall receiving any training in international law regarding the presence of the US military at the airport. He acknowledged that Shannon Airport is a legitimate military target under international law but said he had received training to deal with major incidents. Donnellan questioned whether the presence of the US military alongside civilians at the airport without restrictions posed any special security concerns. He noted that he and Roddy were not challenged during their time at the airport and were only stopped when they approached a US military Learjet.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Colm Roddy, 78, and Dave Donnellan, 60, pleaded not guilty to criminal damage charges for allegedly cutting the perimeter fence and runway of Shannon Airport on 5 May 2016. Prosecutor Tony McGillicuddy presented evidence that the defendants used bolt cutters and spray paint to mark red crosses on a substation and the runway, claiming €3,500 in damage. Garda Corporal Thomas Dillon testified that he and colleagues were on duty that night, observing the men near a US aircraft and noting their requests for a search of the plane. Dillon described the men's actions and his own warning of the men's weapons. The defendants questioned the Garda's duty to protect US military aircraft. The case remains before Judge Karen O'Connor and a jury.
David O'Loughlin, aged 33, has lodged a second appeal against his conviction for the murder of Liam Manley, 59, a homeless man who died after being thrown into a 40‑ft rubbish chute at Garden City Apartments in Cork. The appeal was filed on Wednesday, with counsel Michael O'Higgins arguing that O'Loughlin intended a "soft landing" in a bin cushioned by rubbish bags, but the chute was blocked and became a death trap. O'Higgins contended the bags broke the chain of causation and that the act was not designed to inflict injury, though it contained humiliation. He also claimed the trial judge erred by not properly charging the jury on the reliability of witness David O'Mahony and by allowing O'Loughlin's post‑incident statements to Gardaí as evidence. The DPP's counsel, Patrick McGrath, countered that O'Loughlin was fully aware of the chute's danger and that no third‑party act could absolve him.
The appeal in the case of Mark Crawford (43), who is alleged to have murdered Patrick 'Pa' O'Connor (24) at Fitzgerald's Bar, Sexton Street, in Limerick city between July 7 and July 8, 2018, is ongoing. Crawford has pleaded not guilty to the charge of murder. The State has argued that there was nothing to justify the use of force against the deceased, let alone the level of force used, which resulted in six stab wounds, including two fatal ones to the heart and jugular vein. The prosecution has highlighted that Crawford admitted stabbing the deceased to gardai but claimed self-defence. Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster testified that the deceased sustained six stab wounds. The State has also pointed to evidence suggesting Crawford disposed of the flick-knife used in the attack and moved to multiple locations before surrendering to gardai. Defence counsel Patrick McGrath SC has argued that Crawford was genuinely distressed and remorseful, and that the appropriate verdict, if there is doubt about his intention or if he mistakenly believed he was under threat, would be manslaughter. The matter is adjourned for the jury to be charged by Ms Justice Tara Burns.
Brendan Doolin, 37, was found guilty of sending hundreds of abusive emails to six female writers and journalists between May 2012 and February 2018. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and was sentenced to five years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended on the condition that he never contact any of the complainants again. The Court of Appeal upheld the sentence, rejecting the appeal that argued the judge had over‑penalised Doolin and failed to consider mitigating factors such as his guilty plea, lack of prior convictions and psychiatric report indicating he was not a threat. The appeal was dismissed after the court considered the seriousness of the harassment, the number of victims and the impact on the women, who were all female journalists or media figures. The decision was announced by Justice Isobel Kennedy in a virtual hearing attended by Doolin and the victims.
The High Court has ruled that three properties in the west of Ireland owned by John McCormack were purchased with the proceeds of crime. Mr Justice Alexander Owens registered a judgement against the 48-year-old defendant, who denied the accusations. The properties, located at Purcell Park and Cloontara West in Co Clare, and Claughan Fort in Co Limerick, were acquired between 1995 and 2011. The Central Bank of Ireland (CAB) brought the case under the Proceeds of Crime Act 1996, alleging McCormack has led organised criminal activities since the 1990s, including drug importation, stolen goods dealing, and cash-in-transit robberies. The judge noted McCormack was previously convicted and sentenced to three years imprisonment on February 14, 1994. Rejecting McCormack's claim that his income derived from legitimate businesses such as joinery and plant hire, the judge found these were sidelines financed by criminal activity. The court concluded that the only credible explanation for the funding gap was proceeds from serious crime. Consequently, the judge made interlocutory orders under Section 3(1) of the Act regarding the three properties. While the CAB did not claim four further properties in Fuerteventura, the judge noted issues regarding their financing. The matter was finalised with the registration of the judgement and the issuance of these specific orders.
Barry McArdle, 34, of Drimnagh, was arrested in Galway on 1 July under a European Arrest Warrant (EAW) after a High Court decision earlier that year found a previous EAW invalid. McArdle had been sentenced in absentia by the Amsterdam Court of Appeal to 12 years and three months imprisonment for manslaughter in the death of Keith Ennis, 29, in 2017. He had previously served a two‑year sentence for disposing of Ennis's body and was acquitted of the stabbing in Rotterdam in 2009, though that acquittal was later overturned. At the bail hearing, Garda Detective Eoin Kane presented evidence that McArdle had 19 prior convictions, including possession of €1 million of diamorphine, and had previously failed to attend bail and court appointments. Mr Justice Paul Burns found McArdle a flight risk, rejected his bail application, and remanded him in custody until the full extradition hearing on 20 July.
Maura Thornton, 38, from Inverin, Connemara, was sentenced in 2013 to ten years' imprisonment for the manslaughter of her former partner Kevin Joyce, 59, who was stabbed 18 times outside her Salthill apartment on 3 July 2011. Three years of her sentence were suspended on the condition that she address her alcohol problems. In 2020 the Central Criminal Court heard that Thornton had breached this condition by returning to drinking, a relapse she attributed in part to isolation during the Covid‑19 pandemic. She was admitted to hospital on 10 June for detoxification and had been sober for 19 days, taking alcohol deterrent medication, anti‑depressants and other drugs. Her probation officer had urged her to attend a residential treatment centre, which she agreed to, and the case was adjourned to 7 October for a progress update. The court noted that Thornton had recognised her problem and was taking steps to address it.
A detective testified in the Special Criminal Court that he was on first-name terms with Paul Norton (31), accused of possessing a loaded handgun and 31 rounds of 9mm ammunition at Stardust Memorial Park in Coolock, Dublin on October 5th, 2019. Norton has pleaded not guilty. The trial heard that the State's case relied on identification, as there was no DNA evidence. It is alleged that during a high-speed chase, Norton dropped a bag containing a loaded Beretta 92, a full magazine with 15 rounds, and 15 additional rounds. Detective Garda Keith Cassidy stated he could identify Norton due to familiarity with his family and friends, and noted that Norton had nicknamed him 'Paudge' after a character from the TV series 'Red Rock'. During the chase, Norton exited a VW Passat, which had sustained tire damage, and was identified by Cassidy and another detective. The trial continues.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Paul Norton, 31, pleaded not guilty to unlawful possession of a Beretta handgun and 31 rounds of 9mm ammunition found at Stardust Memorial Park on 5 October 2019. The State's case relied on recognition evidence, as no DNA was recovered. The prosecution alleged that during a high‑speed chase, Norton dropped a bag containing a 9mm Beretta 92 with a single round in the chamber, a full magazine of 15 rounds, and an additional 15 rounds. Defence counsel Michael Bowman questioned the forensic evidence, noting that forensic samples from the bags were contaminated and that DNA from a forensic scientist was found. He also highlighted that DNA from two other men, BD and EN, was identified on the Passat and a bottle of Corona beer, respectively.
Richard O'Doherty, 24, of Crumlin, pleaded guilty to a series of knife‑point robberies committed while on bail for earlier offences. He admitted to robberies at Maxol Station, Harold's Cross and Centra on 23 June 2019, a further robbery at Kimmage Road Lower on 8 August 2019, two robberies on 24 and 25 November 2019, and an attempted robbery at Spar on 20 December 2019. Garda reports detail how he entered each shop with a knife, demanded money, and in some cases took cash from tills or forced shopkeepers to hand over money. He had no prior convictions. The court sentenced him to three years for the earliest robbery, two additional years for the later offences, with the sentences to run consecutively. The final 18 months were suspended on strict conditions, giving an effective custodial term of three‑and‑a‑half years.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Paul Norton, aged 31, pleaded not guilty to unlawful possession of a Beretta handgun and 31 rounds of 9mm ammunition found in a black drawstring bag at Stardust Memorial Park, Coolock, on 5 October 2019. Gardaí Detective Jason Flynn recounted a high‑speed chase that began when a navy blue Passat was spotted in a cul‑de‑sac off Bunratty Road. The vehicle collided with a traffic island, and Norton exited the car. Flynn pursued Norton into the park, where Norton dropped the bag while attempting to escape. The bag contained the handgun, a full clip of ammunition, and an additional round in the breech. No forensic evidence linked the weapon or ammunition to Norton, and he was arrested on 13 October 2019. The trial was scheduled to continue the following day.
Paul Norton, aged 31, pleaded not guilty to unlawful possession of a Beretta handgun and 31 rounds of 9mm ammunition after he dropped a bag containing the weapon and ammunition while being chased by Gardaí through Stardust Memorial Park, Coolock, on 5 October 2019. The prosecution, represented by Mr John Byrne JC, argued that the State's case relied on visual identification. Gardaí Jason Flynn and Keith Cassidy pursued a parked Volkswagen Passat that failed to stop, leading to a high‑speed chase of 4.5 kilometres. The occupants fled into the park, where Det Gda Flynn chased Norton on foot for about 160 metres, observed him stumble and drop the bag, and secured it. No forensic or DNA evidence linked the firearm, ammunition or vehicle to Norton; the case was based on visual identification. Detailed maps and photographs of the scene and pursuit route were entered into evidence.