An ESB worker has been ruled out of time to pursue a claim for €42,000 in alleged unpaid overtime, according to a tribunal. The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) found that Peter Lavelle, a training officer, was too late to challenge a 2023 pay policy change at ESB Networks DAC under the Payment of Wages Act 1997. Lavelle's union, Connect, argued that he was short by €42,000 between November 2023 and July 2025 due to a decision to stop paying overtime for travel time. Lavelle had previously received overtime payments for travel to training sites, but this changed in November 2023. ESB management claimed the figures were exaggerated and that the overnight arrangements significantly reduced the need for travel. The tribunal ruled that Lavelle's complaint was out of time and outside its jurisdiction, noting that the ESB had clearly communicated the decision to stop overtime payments for travel in November 2023.
Mary Kenneally, a seamstress who worked for 17 years at a Cork shop, has won over €76,000 in redress after being unfairly dismissed by her employer. The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) ruled that Carr Sewing Machines Limited had breached her employment rights by cutting her hours and forcing her out of her job. Kenneally, who was 67 years old, had been offered a full-time position elsewhere but was only given one day a week by the new employer. The tribunal found that the company had no mandatory retirement age and that Kenneally had been treated exceptionally poorly. The WRC awarded her €67,000 in compensation for unfair dismissal and additional sums for breaches of the Payment of Wages Act, the Terms of Employment (Information) Act, and the Organisation of Working Time Act. The case highlighted the employer's failure to provide proper working conditions and the impact of the dismissal on Kenneally's ability to find new employment.
A barman, Sean Murphy, has been awarded €10,000 in compensation after a ruling by the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) found that a remark made by his boss, Barry Hennessy, violated his dignity at work. The incident occurred during a busy shift in February 2025 at the Hunted Hog bar in Castlemartyr, Co Cork, when Mr Hennessy reportedly told a customer, "Ah never mind him, he doesn't be with it half the time." Mr Murphy, who has diabetes, described the comment as "humiliating" and damaging to his dignity. He had been working for over five hours without a break, and the remark was made openly in the restaurant. Mr Murphy claimed that the working conditions at the bar were unsuitable for his health and that the comment, along with the broader working environment, amounted to discrimination on age and disability grounds. Mr Hennessy denied that the remark was intended to belittle Mr Murphy, stating it was made in a "jovial, lighter manner" to manage customer expectations.
A former accountant pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to theft and deception offences committed over six weeks in early 2025. Michelle Dillon, aged 59 and homeless, stole a bank card and medical card from an elderly patient at a Dublin hospital on 20 February. She subsequently travelled to Cork, Clare, Meath, Westmeath and Wicklow, presenting herself as the legitimate account holder at various banks to withdraw approximately €8,000 in cash. She also made contactless payments totalling €133. Withdrawals occurred in Cork city, Bray, Dublin city centre, Navan, Athlone and Ennis. When presenting at an AIB branch in Navan on 4 March, a warning mark was active on the account, yet she convinced staff she was the genuine holder. She was arrested in October 2025 at Cavan General Hospital after presenting under a false name. The victim's bank refunded all monies. Judge Elma Sheahan described the initial theft as despicable and the subsequent deceptions as planned, premeditated and brazen.
A car salesman accused of theft for buying a customer's trade-in for a higher price in an "around the corner" deal has won €10,000 for unfair dismissal. The employee, Alex Collins, was fired in November 2024 by Cork City motor dealership Kevin O'Leary Silversprings Ltd, trading as the Kevin O'Leary Group. His complaint under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977 was upheld by the Workplace Relations Commission in a decision published today. Mr Collins considered himself "a high-performing employee", as he had passed probation after joining in August 2023 and earned around €60,000 in 2024 prior to his dismissal – roughly doubling his basic annual salary of €30,000 with what he made on commission. Mr Collins came under scrutiny after a customer complained that he had been asked to park a car he intended trade-in "around the corner", company sales manager Dermot O'Sullivan said in evidence. The customer had called it "an unusual way of doing business", Mr O'Sullivan said. He said it "raised concerns about deviations from standard procedures".
A software salesman who was dismissed from his high-paying job and later resorted to fast food deliveries has lost his case against his former employer, Solarwinds Software Europe DAC, over alleged retaliation for reporting corruption. Ali Izzy was fired in 2024 after revoking a €500,000 discount on a software deal with the Saudi Arabian government, which he claimed was part of a corrupt side deal. His complaints under the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 and the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977 were dismissed by the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC). The tribunal found that while Izzy had a reasonable belief in wrongdoing, his actions in blocking the deal constituted misconduct, justifying his dismissal. Izzy alleged that his former boss, Abdul Rehman, had a history of corruption and had attempted to bribe him. However, Rehman denied these claims, and the WRC did not rule on the truth of Izzy's allegations. The tribunal concluded that Izzy's actions were not protected under whistleblower laws and that his dismissal was not retaliatory.
A cleaning supervisor, Edel Kelly, has been left jobless after being banned from a PepsiCo factory in Carrigaline, Cork, following a dispute over hygiene. Kelly, who worked for Mount Charles, a contract cleaning firm, was banned in April 2025 after flies were found during an audit. She claimed the audit was not properly explained to her and that the site ban was unjustified. Kelly had worked at the factory for three years and said there were no prior issues with her team's work. She argued that the site ban effectively ended her employment as Mount Charles had no alternative roles for her in Belfast. Kelly is also pursuing a separate complaint under the European Communities (Protection of Employees on Transfer of Undertakings) Regulations 2003, alleging that Bidvest Noonan, the new cleaning contractor, breached the regulations by refusing to transfer her into its employment. The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) hearing heard that PepsiCo's human resources lead confirmed Kelly was an employee of Mount Charles and that she had no appeal process with Pepsi to clear her name.
A tribunal has ruled that the 'beep test' used by Cork Fire Brigade to assess aerobic fitness for prospective firefighters discriminates against women and benefits younger candidates. The test, which has been in use for 40 years, was challenged by Terézia Foott, a part-time firefighter in her 40s who failed to advance in a recruitment competition for a full-time position in November 2023. Ms Foott, a qualified sports therapist and personal trainer, passed all other elements of the fitness test but did not meet the required score on the beep test. The tribunal found that the test's 'one-size-fits-all' standard was indirectly discriminatory against women and gave younger candidates an advantage. Ms Foott argued that she met the required standard for her age and gender, and she later achieved a higher VO2 max score in a separate test. The tribunal ruled that the use of the beep test without adjusting for age and gender was discriminatory and ordered Cork Fire Brigade to pay €8,000 in compensation, €4,000 for gender discrimination and €4,000 for age discrimination.
Ionut Cosmin Nicolescu, a chef convicted of the murder of Frankie Dunne, has appealed his conviction to the Court of Appeal. Nicolescu, who pleaded not guilty to the murder of Dunne at Castle Greine House, Cork, between December 27th and 28th, 2019, was found guilty by a jury and sentenced to life in prison in April 2023. His legal team argues that the trial judge's Section 10 corroboration warning regarding an uncorroborated confession was improper, describing it as a "bullet-point presentation of the prosecution case" rather than a neutral instruction. The prosecution case alleged that Nicolescu violently killed Dunne and subsequently dismembered him, hiding the remains in the property's grounds. While Nicolescu initially accepted the verdict, he later exercised his right to appeal. The defence contended the judge exceeded the narrow scope of the warning by reciting the prosecution's best points. In response, the Director of Public Prosecutions argued the case did not rely solely on the confession and that the judge's instruction was necessary given the confession's retraction. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice John Edwards, reserved judgment on the appeal.
The owner of a Dublin city head shop caught selling cannabis herb had a "mistaken belief" she wasn't breaking the law, a court has heard. Charlene Flynn (37) was present during the search and told gardai she was the owner of the shop, which was part of a franchise that also operated a premises in Cork city. She was arrested in September 2022 and interviewed. She told gardai that cannabinoid oil and CBD products, which she said were regulated under EU food law, were seized by gardai on the day of the search. Ms Flynn said that the products had a level of THC, the principal psychoactive constituent of cannabis, of under 0.2 per cent and said that "to my knowledge the products are within the legal requirements". Flynn of Hollytree Square, Ballymun later pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of drugs for sale or supply at 'Funky Skunk' on June 2, 2022.
The Court of Appeal has adjourned sentencing appeals for two defendants convicted of murder while under 18, following a Supreme Court ruling restricting life sentences for child offenders. In the first case, a 19-year-old man was found guilty by a jury in 2022 of murdering Urantsetseg Tserendorj in Dublin in 2021, after pleading guilty to manslaughter. His counsel argued the case lacked the 'exceptional circumstances' required for a life sentence, citing lack of premeditation. The DPP countered that the attack was intentional and brutal. In the second case, a defendant who was four months shy of 18 pleaded guilty in 2020 to the murder of Cameron Blair in Cork. His lawyer argued his immaturity and lack of planning precluded a life sentence, while the DPP highlighted the use of a large knife. The Supreme Court previously ruled that life sentences for children are only appropriate in exceptional cases and that part-suspended sentences are permissible if detention continues past age 18. The three-judge court reserved judgment in both matters, meaning the appeals were adjourned rather than concluded.
The President of the Court of Appeal, Ms Justice Caroline Costello, noted that several cases involving young offenders sentenced to life for murder are likely to be reviewed following a Supreme Court ruling that life sentences for child killers should only be imposed in exceptional circumstances. Two 17‑year‑olds have applied for extensions to challenge their sentences. Giollaíosa Ó Lideadha SC seeks more time for his client, who received a life sentence for the 2018 murder of Adam Muldoon, stabbed 183 times. Mr Ó Lideadha said many similar applications exist, but the DPP will advise the court. Solicitor Patrick Geraghty, representing the DPP, explained that the Supreme Court held life sentences with review are not recognised in law and that the DPP is examining cases where a review is possible. Mr Geraghty cited the case of a teenager convicted for the murder of Cameron Blair, noting it has been adjourned to December 5 for further consideration. The unnamed accused pleaded guilty.
The High Court has agreed to hear a judicial review brought by Angela Redic, who claims a State "cover up" in the death of her 25‑year‑old daughter, Mary. Redic says the inquest into Mary's death, found in her Cork apartment in September 2024, was not conducted lawfully and that she is entitled to documents withheld by the State. She is suing the Commissioner of An Garda Síochána, Cork City Coroner, Cork City Council, Sophia Housing Association and Cantillons Solicitors. Redic argues the coroner's short inquest in May was based on unverified facts and that Gardaí were negligent. The case will be heard over two days, with a hearing set for December 4, 2025.
In a High Court personal injury case, the wife of Dr Martin Lawlor, a 49‑year‑old consultant psychiatrist who died after being hit by a taxi on 15 December 2018, secured a settlement. The case was brought against taxi driver Denis McSweeney, who had been convicted of hit‑and‑run and sentenced to four years' imprisonment, later reduced on appeal. McSweeney, now deceased, was replaced by Axa Insurance in the proceedings. Judge Emily Egan ordered the settlement, struck out the case, and awarded costs to the plaintiff. Dr Helen Murphy Lawlor, represented by senior counsel, alleged that McSweeney knowingly collided with her husband, left the scene recklessly, and showed no concern for his condition. The judge described the matter as "very, very sad" and expressed condolences to the Lawlor family. The case was resolved with the settlement and the striking out of the action.
Ali Izzy, a former software salesman for Solar Winds Software Europe DAC, testified to the Workplace Relations Commission in Cork on 17 September 2025. He claimed that his ex‑boss, Middle East regional sales director Abdul Rehman, had arranged a "side deal" with a distributor known for corruption and approved a 62% discount—amounting to more than €500,000—on a technology licence for the Saudi government. Izzy said the discount was "crazy" and "unnecessary", and that Rehman had no authority to grant it. He alleged that a distributor had tried to bribe him in 2021 and that Rehman had been aware of the attempt. Izzy was dismissed on 22 July 2024 after a disciplinary process over his revocation of the discount. He has since applied for over 100 jobs and claims his reputation has been ruined. Solar Winds confirmed his annual salary was €197,062 at dismissal. The tribunal will hear closing submissions later.
During the Richard Satchwell murder trial, Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster explained that Tina Satchwell's cause of death could not be determined because her remains were skeletal. The remains were found buried beneath the couple's Cork home, in a grave under the stairs, after an invasive search in October 2023. Dr Bolster described the body's condition: a dressing‑gown belt knotted over the front of the chest, a gold purse labelled 'Playboy' removed from the left pocket, and skeletal remains with no fractures or bruising. She noted the belt's unusual position, often used to move a body, and that the body had been wrapped in a soiled sheet. No evidence of trauma to the hyoid bone or other bones was found, and the post‑mortem interval was very long, preventing determination of the cause of death. Tina Satchwell pleaded not guilty.
During a Central Criminal Court hearing, Gardaí told Richard Satchwell that his description of his wife Tina's death was "most likely a physical impossibility" and "didn't make sense". Satchwell, aged 58, said he had tried to explain the events of March 19‑20, 2017, when Tina, aged 45, disappeared and was later found buried under their stairs in a grave dug in October 2023. He claimed he had held her by the belt of her bathrobe, that the belt may have strangled her, and that he had buried her in a "final goodbye" after lifting her body into the hole. Gardaí questioned the plausibility of his account, noting no evidence of a belt around her neck and that the scene did not match his narrative. Satchwell stated he would plead guilty and that there would be no jury. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul McDermott with a jury of five men and seven women. Richard Satchwell pleaded not guilty.
The Court of Appeal has dismissed the appeal by Damien Long, 44, of Ard Bhaile, Mayfield, Cork, against his sentence for the robbery of a 93-year-old woman on 9 November 2022. Long, who was on bail at the time of the offence, had previously pleaded guilty at Cork Circuit Court. He was sentenced to ten years in prison, with the final year suspended, for the robbery at Charlemont Terrace, Wellington Road, Cork. His co-accused, Damian Fitzgerald of Inniscarra Road, Fairhill, Cork, was sentenced to nine years in prison. The victim suffered life-changing injuries, including multiple pelvic fractures, after being dragged along the road while resisting the theft of her handbag. Mr Justice Michael McGrath, delivering the judgment, stated that the sentencing judge had acted within her discretion by placing the offence in the highest category. He noted that the attack was premeditated and targeted an elderly, isolated woman, making injury foreseeable. The court rejected defence arguments that Long's role was minor, noting he was on a suspended sentence for a previous robbery at the time. The judge also chose not to activate any portion of Long's suspended sentence for that other offence. The appeal was refused, and Long will continue to serve his nine-year effective jail term.
Wayne Higgins, 27, was convicted of raping a woman in Cork city on 28 August 2019. The victim, who was intoxicated, had asked Higgins to escort her to a bus stop after drinking with him. While stopped in a laneway, Higgins raped her in broad daylight. Neighbours shouted at him and threatened to call the Gardaí, but he replied, "It's just sex," and fled. The victim later testified that she could not identify him at the time and that DNA evidence linked him to the assault. Higgins, who had a history of drug, robbery, stalking, harassment and breach of a barring order convictions, was sentenced by Mr Justice Paul Burns to ten years' imprisonment. The final year was suspended for three years on the condition that he engages with the Probation Service and has no contact with the victim. The court noted his moderate risk of re‑offending and his significant alcohol addiction. Wayne Higgins pleaded guilty.
Kenneth Walsh, a visually‑impaired man, was denied boarding a Bus Éireann coach with his guide dog on 26 June 2023, forcing him to take a taxi to a medical appointment. The driver, who had mistaken the coach for a double‑decker, claimed no space for the dog and told Walsh that it was not his problem. Walsh's bus was almost empty, and he had to leave the vehicle after the driver refused to accommodate him. The taxi lacked card facilities, so Walsh had to withdraw cash from an ATM, giving his PIN to the driver, which he described as extremely stressful. The Workplace Relations Commission found the driver's conduct unreasonable and discriminatory. Bus Éireann apologized, offered reimbursement, and the tribunal awarded Walsh €4,000 in compensation for the distress and inconvenience caused.
Karen Harrington, who argued that her privacy rights were breached during the investigation into the murder of two-year-old Santina Cawley, is to remain serving her life sentence after failing in a bid to have her conviction overturned at the Court of Appeal. Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy stated that the court has consistently held that individuals do not have an expectation of privacy while moving through public spaces. The CCTV footage from Clanrickarde Estate, which was central to the trial, was deemed relevant and admissible. Ms Justice Kennedy noted that no issue was raised at trial regarding the admissibility of memoranda of interview and that the defence had sought specific extracts of the footage to be played to the jury. The court dismissed the appeal, stating that the footage was harvested from commercial and private sources and did not concern the mass retention of data. The matter was adjourned and never described as concluded or finalised. Santina Cawley, who is to remain serving her life sentence after failing in a bid to have her conviction overturned, was the victim of the murder. Elaine O'Hara, who is an applicant in the case, has no charges, plea, finding, sentence or finalisation associated with her in this case.
A 40-year-old man from Leitrim Street, Cork City, has had his prison sentence increased by two years following an appeal by the Director of Public Prosecutions. David Long pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, burglary, and producing a hatchet during an attack on Middle Glanmire Road on January 18th, 2022. The Court of Appeal found the original six-year sentence, with the final year suspended, to be unduly lenient. Long's victim sustained a fractured skull, broken teeth, and facial fractures during the assault. The appellate court, presided over by Mr Justice George Birmingham, noted Long's significant criminal history, including previous convictions for aggravated burglary and robbery. The court determined that excessive mitigation had been granted at first instance. Long has been re-sentenced to eight years' imprisonment with the final twelve months suspended. His then-girlfriend received a three-year sentence with the final six months suspended for her involvement in the targeted attack.
Mr Justice George Birmingham, President of the Court of Appeal, announced his retirement at the end of July after a long career that included service as a High Court judge from 2007, a Fine Gael TD for Dublin North Central from 1981 to 1989, and a Minister of State from 1982 to 1987. He was called to the bar in 1976. Tributes were paid by colleagues, including Mr Justice John Edwards, who described him as a caring, supportive, and people‑oriented judge who had a special affection for Cork and Munster. Judge Helen Boyle highlighted his pioneering work on child sexual abuse investigations in the Catholic Church. Birmingham noted his personal connection to Cork and Munster through his grandparents' origins and thanked everyone for their kind words before concluding his remarks with a modest, humorous note. The Court of Appeal sat at Anglesea Courthouse in Cork City during the announcement.
Ian Horgan, a convicted rapist and killer, had his jail term increased from eight and a half years to 11 years and three months by the Court of Appeal for the assault causing serious harm on Hassan Baker. The appeal considered video evidence of the hammer attack on March 26, 2022, at McCurtain Villas, Cork, where Horgan used a claw‑hammer to strike Baker, choke him, and then continue striking him, causing severe injuries. Horgan also attacked Baker's mother, Mary O'Callaghan, breaking her wrist. The Court of Appeal found the original sentence too lenient, citing Horgan's history of violence and the extreme nature of the attack, and imposed the increased term with no portion suspended. The assault causing harm sentence for O'Callaghan was not altered. The decision was based on the evidence presented in the appeal hearing. Ian Horgan pleaded guilty.
Two men, aged 29 and 28, were convicted of gang‑rape of a 14‑year‑old girl who was comatose with alcohol on 22 April 2017. They were sentenced to 11 years in prison each, with a headline sentence of 13 years. The men appealed, arguing the headline was too high and that insufficient discount had been applied for mitigating factors. The Court of Appeal in Cork dismissed the appeal, confirming the 13‑year headline and the 11‑year custodial term. The judge said the case involved a high level of degradation and that the victim was vulnerable. The men had denied the offences and had no guilty plea. The appeal was rejected, and the men must serve the full sentences. The complainant remains traumatised by the assault.
Child-killer Karen Harrington, who is serving a life sentence for the murder of two-year-old Santina Cawley, has launched an appeal to overturn her conviction, arguing that CCTV footage of her home breached her privacy rights. The appeal was heard at the Court of Appeal in Cork, where Jane Hyland SC for the appellant claimed that the footage from Clanrickarde Estate, which captured both the exterior and interior of Harrington's dwelling, was highly prejudicial and should not have been admitted into evidence. Ms Hyland argued that the footage violated Harrington's right to privacy under the Irish Constitution, EU law, and the European Convention on Human Rights. She also referenced the Data Protection Act 2018 and the case of Graham Dwyer, who is serving a life sentence for the murder of Elaine O'Hara, to support her argument. Sean Gillane SC for the State countered that the issue of CCTV had been addressed during the trial, with the footage being truncated and examined by the jury. The court reserved its judgment in the matter. The appeal is currently under consideration, and no finalised decision has been made.
In a January 2024 Employment Equality case before the Workplace Relations Commission, the adjudicator, Ms Lefre de Burgh, rejected all claims made by Ms Nicole Reekie against Liani Ltd. Ms Reekie, an Australian national who had worked as a deli assistant at the Cork City convenience store from 15 June 2022 for six weeks, alleged discrimination on civil status grounds, harassment, and a pay claim. She had requested Portuguese and Spanish interpreters, but the adjudicator deemed the request inappropriate because all parties spoke English and cited the cost to public funds. Ms Reekie claimed her civil status was "homeless" and that she was a single, older, foreign woman, but the tribunal found homelessness was not a protected status under the Equality Act. She also alleged racial discrimination because she was Australian, but the adjudicator held that the complaint could not change as the respondent responded.
Daniel Sheehan, aged 24, pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to possessing 263 rounds of ammunition in suspicious circumstances on 3 June 2022. He admitted to the ammunition and a replica Beretta pistol found in a laptop bag during a search of his home, which was part of a misuse‑of‑drugs investigation. The search also uncovered a small amount of cannabis, a laptop bag, and Republican literature. Sheehan had previously been charged with membership of the Irish Republican Army but that charge was dropped. He has three prior convictions for drug possession and public order. The DPP noted the offence falls in the lower range of offending, with a maximum penalty of 14 years and a presumptive mandatory minimum of five years if no exceptional evidence is presented. The case was adjourned to 8 April to allow a probation report to be prepared.
In a landmark Court of Appeal judgement, the court ruled that Section 93 of the Children Act applies only to a child, defined as a person under 18. The decision means that a child who turns 18 during proceedings or before an appeal can no longer be protected by anonymity. The case concerned a 21‑year‑old who was 17 when he pleaded guilty to the murder of Cameron Blair. The court held that reporting restrictions do not extend to those who age out before proceedings conclude. Justice Isobel Kennedy emphasised that the Act's language is clear and that extending anonymity would require rewriting the legislation. Mr Justice George Birmingham announced a stay on lifting reporting restrictions to allow a potential appeal to the Supreme Court. The ruling will affect child defendants who turn 18 before their trial or sentence is completed.
The State argues that child offenders who become adults before their appeal is heard should not retain anonymity. The Court of Appeal will decide whether the 21‑year‑old who murdered student Cameron Blair can be publicly identified after appealing his sentence post‑turning 18. Mr Justice George Birmingham requested submissions from the Director of Public Prosecutions and the defendant's counsel. The defendant, aged 17 when the murder occurred, pleaded guilty and was sentenced just before his 18th birthday. The Children Act prohibits publishing anything likely to identify a child in court proceedings. Karl Finnegan SC contended that naming the young offender on appeal would violate the Act's spirit, while Anne Rowland SC argued that the Act's literal wording does not extend anonymity beyond 18. Mr Justice Birmingham noted a subsection of the Act that applies to appeal proceedings, questioning its purpose if anonymity is not preserved. The court will rule later.
In a 2023 Court of Appeal decision, a 17‑year‑old who stabbed 20‑year‑old Cameron Blair to death was denied a review to reduce his life sentence after 13 years. The court found the trial judge had properly considered the defendant's lack of maturity, set a proportionate sentence and taken mitigating factors into account. The appeal also rejected the claim that the 13‑year review deprived the defendant of the right to apply for parole after 12 years, noting the parole board would still consider eligibility. The judge highlighted the defendant's deliberate and callous conduct, including displaying a knife and tapping it on his leg before the fatal blow, and described the offence as "shocking and deliberate." The Court of Appeal will later decide on the anonymity of the accused, who is now 21 and no longer a minor. Cameron Blair pleaded guilty.
In November 2023, a 17‑year‑old who stabbed 20‑year‑old Cameron Blair at a Cork house party appealed his life sentence, arguing the judge failed to weigh his immaturity and dysfunctional background. The Central Criminal Court had sentenced him to life detention in 2020, with a review after 13 years and an earliest release date of January 2023. The appeal court noted that a juvenile can only be sentenced to detention, not imprisonment, and that once the offender turns 18 he is transferred to an adult prison. Counsel for the appellant claimed the judge focused on age rather than maturity, and that the offence lacked aggravating factors such as premeditation or a callous attitude. The DPP countered that the judge had considered mitigating factors, including the offender's early guilty plea and lack of prior convictions. The Court of Appeal reserved judgment, with a hearing scheduled for December 5, and parties were invited to discuss the appellant's anonymity.
A 23‑year‑old man from Churchfield, Cork, pleaded guilty before the Special Criminal Court to a single charge of possessing 263 rounds of ammunition in suspicious circumstances on 3 June last year. The court found that the circumstances suggested he did not have the ammunition for a lawful purpose at Churchfield Avenue. He was also charged with membership of an illegal organisation, the Irish Republican Army, at a State location on the same date. The State's counsel said the plea would meet the case, and the judge adjourned sentencing to 22 January.
County Clean Recycling Unlimited Company has secured High Court permission to challenge An Bord Pleanála's 2021 refusal to grant planning permission for a waste transfer station at Courtstown Industrial Estate, Little Island, Co Cork. The applicant, represented by Oisin Collins SC, alleges a reasonable apprehension of bias due to the involvement of Deputy Chairperson Paul Hyde, who has a family connection to the area. The company claims Hyde failed to declare a conflict of interest, noting that many local objectors were likely known to him. This alleged bias is compounded by Hyde's recent conviction; he pleaded guilty in June to two offences under Section 147 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 and received a two-month jail sentence earlier this year for breaches of planning laws. The applicant seeks orders quashing the refusal, extending time limits, and compelling the board to disclose relevant documentation. Ms Justice Niamh Hyland granted the ex-parte application for leave to bring the judicial review. The matter was adjourned and will return before the court in December. Separately, Hyde's appeal against his two-month sentence is scheduled for November. He resigned from the board last year after serving as a member since 2014.
In early summer 2023, Noel Long received a call from Detective Inspector Eamonn Brady about new evidence in the 1981 murder of Nora Sheehan. Long declined to meet with Gardaí or discuss the evidence, stating he wanted no involvement. The article recounts the 1981 discovery of Sheehan's body in Shippool Woods, describing the scene, the victim's injuries, and the forensic work that linked fibres and paint from Long's 1981 Opel Kadett to the victim. It details the 2008 DNA review that produced a partial male profile from a semen sample, later matched to DNA on a beanie hat taken from Long in 2021. The article also notes the defence's challenge to the reliability of the Low Copy Number DNA method and the State Pathologist's statement that Sheehan's cause of death was unascertained.
A 29‑year‑old Brazilian man, Miller Pacheco, is charged with the murder of 28‑year‑old Bruna Fonseca, a qualified librarian who had moved to Cork in September last year and worked as a cleaner at Mercy University Hospital. Fonseca was found dead in a bedsit flat on Liberty Street on New Year's Day, just hours after she had gone out to celebrate New Year's Eve in Cork city centre. Justice Melanie Greally has set a trial date of 24 June 2024 at the Central Criminal Court, with case management scheduled for 24 November.
Daniel Sheehan, a 23-year-old man from Cork, appeared before the Special Criminal Court on a trial basis. He is charged with membership of the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Óglaigh na hÉireann, at a location within the State on June 3, 2022. Additionally, he is accused of possessing 263 rounds of ammunition in a shed at Churchfield Avenue, Cork City, on the same date, in circumstances giving rise to a reasonable inference that he did not have it for a lawful purpose. Detective Garda Geraldine Daly provided evidence regarding the arrest, charge, and caution, stating she identified herself to Mr Sheehan at 10.41am on Anglesea Street, Cork. She arrested him under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act and Section 27(A) of the Firearms Act. The DPP's solicitor, Michael O'Donovan, indicated consent to bail subject to conditions. Defence counsel Patrick McCullough BL applied for legal aid, which was granted. Mr Justice Alexander Owens remanded Mr Sheehan in custody with consent to bail. The matter was adjourned, with Mr Sheehan ordered to appear again before the court on October 9.
In a cold‑case trial, forensic scientists presented evidence that Nora Sheehan, who vanished in 1981 and was later found dead in Shippool Woods, had been in a car driven by Noel Long. Fibres from Sheehan's clothing matched those from the carpet of a blue Opel Kadett linked to Long, and paint fragments from her garments corresponded to paint on the vehicle. Dr Maureen Smith, Dr Sheila Willis, and Dr Amanda Lennon all confirmed the strong support for the view that Sheehan was in the Kadett. The trial also heard that Long, aged 74, has pleaded not guilty to her murder. The proceedings are ongoing before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury. The case remains at the evidence‑presentation stage.
In a cold‑case murder trial, the accused, Noel Long, 74, pleaded not guilty to the killing of 54‑year‑old Nora Sheehan, whose body was found in Shippool Woods, Cork, in 1981. The pathologist, Dr Robert Dermot Coakley, who performed the post‑mortem, died on 5 August 1981, weeks after the examination. Coakley testified that he visited the woods on 12 June 1981, saw the body, and began the post‑mortem that evening. He described the body's condition, including bruising, scratches, and the presence of spermatozoa. Witnesses, including Joan Holland and retired Garda officers, gave testimony about Sheehan's movements and the alleged involvement of Long. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Paul McDermott, continues with a jury of eight men and four women. The case remains at the trial stage.
In a cold‑case murder trial, a jury heard evidence that a 74‑year‑old man, Noel Long, is alleged to have had sex with and murdered 54‑year‑old Nora Sheehan in 1981. The prosecution presented forensic DNA evidence linking semen recovered from Sheehan's vagina to Long's DNA, and trace evidence from Long's car that matched items found at the scene. Witnesses described Sheehan as a vulnerable, eccentric woman who was last seen alive on 6 June 1981 and whose naked, bruised body was discovered by forestry workers in Shippool Woods six days later. The State argued that the forensic findings and witness testimony together lead to an "irresistible conclusion" that Long committed the murder. Long has pleaded not guilty. The trial is scheduled to continue before Mr Justice Paul McDermott.
Kevin Coade, 44, was found guilty of trespassing and theft at an 81‑year‑old neighbour's house on 25 July 2018. He was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment, with the last two years suspended, by Judge Sean Ó Donnabháin. Coade appealed, arguing that the trial judge erred by allowing the identification evidence of the then Lord Mayor of Cork, Councillor Michael Finn, and other witnesses, including CCTV footage from a local pub, to be presented to the jury. The Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice George Birmingham, rejected the appeal. Birmingham held that the identification evidence was not inferior to a formal parade and that the judge had discretion to admit it. He also dismissed the claim that the jury should have been warned about possible false statements by Coade, concluding that no lies had been proven. The appeal was dismissed, leaving the conviction and sentence intact. Kevin Coade pleaded not guilty.
In a 2023 Court of Appeal decision, the three‑judge panel ruled that if a juvenile sentencing error is found, the appeal court cannot impose a new sentence once the offender turns 18. The case concerned a 20‑year‑old man who had been sentenced to life detention with a 13‑year review after pleading guilty to the murder of 20‑year‑old student Cameron Blair. The judge, Mr Justice Paul McDermott, had sentenced him in April 2020 when he was just shy of 18. The appeal court can only quash the original sentence or impose a sentence that could have been given at trial, but it cannot order detention for an adult or imprisonment if that was not an option at sentencing. The court noted that the offender would be transferred to an adult prison after 18, and that the appeal court is constrained by the options available at the trial court.
A 40‑year‑old man, Christopher O'Sullivan, pleaded guilty to the unlawful killing of 53‑year‑old Timothy Hourihane, who died from injuries after an assault at a tented village in Cork City on 13 October 2019. O'Sullivan was arraigned before the Central Criminal Court on Friday, where he answered "guilty" to the charge of unlawful killing. The court accepted the plea to manslaughter and ordered that the matter be sent for sentencing on 30 January in Cork, with a governor's report to be prepared.
Patrick O'Sullivan, aged 76, pleaded guilty to a vicious, unprovoked stabbing of 57‑year‑old Cormac Daly outside a Cork pub on 20 July 2020. The original ten‑year sentence imposed by Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin at Cork Circuit Court in September 2021 was based on a headline of 12 years. O'Sullivan appealed, arguing the judge failed to consider his age and mitigating factors. The Court of Appeal, hearing the case on 18 October 2022, reduced the sentence by two years, from ten to eight. The three‑judge panel, led by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, found the original judge had erred in not giving sufficient weight to O'Sullivan's age. The reduction was deemed within the permissible 15‑30% range, and the court noted the guilty plea and the fact that the case was resolved in under a year.
John O'Leary, 52, of Churchfield Garden, Cork, was convicted in December 2020 of possession of heroin for sale or supply at his former address on Knapp's Square, Redmond Street. Gardaí found about €22,000 worth of heroin, a €1,665 sum and electronic scales at his home while he was lying in bed. He received a nine‑year sentence in June 2021, with the final two years suspended and a three‑year probation order. In October 2022 the Court of Appeal heard that O'Leary is seriously ill with cancer and that he had never before appeared in the Circuit Court, though he had a prior sale or supply conviction at district level. The appeal argued the headline sentence of 12 years was too harsh. The Court of Appeal quashed the original sentence and re‑sentenced him to seven years' imprisonment, suspending the final year for two years, citing his serious illness and personal circumstances. John O'Leary pleaded guilty.
In Cork Circuit Court in November 2020, Tyler Lewis, then 20, was sentenced to six years in jail for possession of a 15‑cm knife, unlawfully seizing a vehicle and falsely imprisoning a female. The offence occurred in July 2020 when Lewis, armed with a knife and yellow gloves, forced a woman into a car, threatening to stab her boyfriend if she did not comply. The woman faked a panic attack and Lewis fled. Lewis had 31 prior convictions and a history of drug abuse. The judge described his conduct as violent, dangerous and bizarre. Lewis appealed to the Court of Appeal, arguing that no actual violence was used and that the incident was brief. Justice Isobel Kennedy rejected the appeal, stating the incident was violent and that Lewis had pre‑meditated the crime by buying the knife and gloves earlier that day. The appeal was dismissed, leaving the six‑year sentence intact.
The Court of Appeal has quashed the fully suspended sentence of Darren Rice, a convicted person, following an appeal by the Director of Public Prosecutions on grounds of undue leniency. Rice, aged 32, was originally convicted in September 2021 at Cork Circuit Criminal Court of robbery and three attempted robberies committed in March 2021 while on bail. The trial judge, Judge Helen Boyle, had imposed a three-year suspended sentence to run consecutively to a separate three-year term he was already serving. The DPP argued that this resulted in effectively no additional punishment for the new offences. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, presiding, agreed the original sentence was unduly lenient. He quashed the suspended sentence and imposed a new sentence of four years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended for two years. This new term is to run consecutively to the three-year sentence Rice is currently serving. The court noted Rice's responsible approach in not contesting the application and his positive conduct in prison. His brother, Eugene Rice, who was also convicted of the same offences, received a two-year sentence with the second year suspended, running consecutively to a one-year term he was already serving. The appeal focused solely on Darren Rice's disposal.
The Supreme Court has agreed to directly hear an appeal by the Save Cork City Community Association CLG (SCCCA) against the High Court's refusal to overturn An Bord Pleanála's permission for flood relief works in Cork city. Last year, Mr Justice Richard Humphreys found that the SCCCA had not made out grounds for an order quashing the permission granted to Cork City Council for the works. He also ruled that the group is not entitled to a stay on the works being carried out. In his judgement, the judge found that the group was entitled to a declaration that the council did not comply with public participation obligations under the planning acts to ensure members of the public could inspect or purchase a Natura Impact Statement concerning the works. The group applied to the Supreme Court for a direct or 'leapfrog' hearing of its appeal against the High Court's decision. It also claimed that the case raises an important issue concerning Environmental Impact Assessment screening. In a determination, a Supreme Court panel comprised of Ms Justice Elizabeth Dunne, Mr Justice Seamus Woulfe and Mr Justice Gerard Hogan said that exceptional circumstances of public importance exist in this case which required the appeal to be determined by the court. In its action, the group challenged the board's decision of June 17, 2020 to grand permission for remedial works to the existing quay walls in Cork city and construction of improvement works and flood defence works between Parliament Bridge and Parnell Bridge along Morrison's Quay and Fr Matthew Quay, and a short section along Union Quay close to Trinity footbridge at Morrison's Island. The group alleges the permission involved impermissible "project splitting" within the meaning of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Directive of the Lower Lee Flood Relief Scheme (LLFRS), the overall flood relief scheme for the city. Its concern was that part of a project for the purposes of the directive may now be given consent without the project as a whole being made subject to an EIA. The case was taken against the Board, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the State. In its decision granting a leapfrog appeal, the Supreme Court accepted that the group had raised a point of general, public importance that requires a determination by it. The issue raised relates to whether the power to conduct an EIA screening can be implied in the relevant section of the 2000 Planning and Development Act, particularly where it is said that there is no provision for such a procedure when an EIA report is required. The group argues that the High Court decision has profound implications for legal certainty in local authority development, not least because the relevant law does not specify what should happen if Environmental Impact Assessment is required. The Supreme Court said it would not hear arguments in relation to the second point raised by the group, as to whether the High Court applied an incorrect test of "practical interpretation" to the concept of project splitting under the EIA Directive. That point had been dealt with in another case ruled on by the Supreme Court, the three-judge panel determined. The Supreme Court will fix a date for the hearing of the appeal at a later stage.
In October 2019, a 28‑year‑old man named James Brady, together with an unnamed accomplice, attacked and killed 53‑year‑old Timothy 'Timmy' Hourihane, a former chef, at a homeless camp in Cork city centre. The assault was unprovoked, brutal and fueled by alcohol and drugs. Witnesses testified that Brady repeatedly stamped on Hourihane's head and body and kicked him in the groin, leading to a collapsed lung, severe facial and head trauma, and death by inhalation of blood and cardiac arrest. After a four‑week trial, Brady was convicted of manslaughter, not murder, and sentenced to 13 years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended. The judge noted Brady's prior convictions and the impact of the crime on Hourihane's family, including his son Elliot and brother Denis, who expressed profound grief and a desire for justice. The case highlighted the dangers faced by homeless individuals in the area. The unnamed 28-year-old pleaded not guilty.
In 2022, the Court of Appeal increased the jail term of Scott O'Connor, 20, who brandished a large knife outside a house party where 20‑year‑old Cameron Blair was stabbed to death. O'Connor had pleaded guilty to violent disorder and to producing a weapon capable of serious injury. The original sentence of five years with a three‑year suspended portion was deemed too lenient. The appellate court reduced the suspended period to two years, thereby extending the custodial term to two years. The decision was based on O'Connor's role as the instigator of the violence, his armed conduct, and the lack of any threat to him. The court noted that Blair had no involvement in the violence and that the death was tragic and unexpected. The appeal was brought by the Director of Public Prosecutions, who argued the original suspension was unduly lenient. The judgment was delivered by Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, with Mr Justice John Edwards presiding.