A Workplace Relations Commission adjudicator rejected cleaner Donna Ash's unfair dismissal complaint against Skerries Golf Club after finding the redundancy was genuine. The decision said honorary secretary Donnacha Neary's credibility was somewhat undermined when he initially tried to swear an oath using a work diary instead of a Bible. Despite shortcomings in the process, the club showed a sizeable saving from outsourcing its cleaning function.
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.
An online Workplace Relations Commission hearing into an Unfair Dismissals Act complaint by Donna Ashe against Skerries Golf Club was adjourned for a written decision. Adjudication officer Conor Stokes warned the club's honorary secretary, Donnacha Neary, of potential perjury prosecution after Neary attempted to swear a religious oath using a book that was not the Holy Bible. Neary subsequently gave evidence under a secular affirmation. Neary testified that a finance subcommittee identified a potential annual saving of €7,500 by outsourcing cleaning services, characterizing the dismissal as a genuine redundancy arising from a structural business decision. He denied that performance issues triggered the dismissal, despite a May 2024 WhatsApp message from a committee member complaining about cleaning standards and threatening new hires. Ms. Ashe, a part-time cleaner earning €12.70 an hour, was dismissed in October 2024. Her barrister, Christian Douglas, argued the redundancy was a sham and the process grossly unfair, noting Ms. Ashe was not offered reduced hours. The tribunal heard details of two meetings in September 2024, including a five-minute final meeting where the decision was communicated. Stokes is to deliver his decision in writing at a later date.
The Court of Appeal has upheld the murder conviction of Lee Canavan, who was jailed for life by the Special Criminal Court in June 2021 for his role in the 2016 killing of David 'Daithí' Douglas. Canavan, who pleaded not guilty, was found to have participated in a joint enterprise to murder Mr Douglas at Shoestown, Bridgefoot Street, Dublin 1, on July 1, 2016. The appellate court dismissed his argument that the prosecution wrongly relied on him being the triggerman, ruling that the case was properly based on common design. Canavan was also concurrently sentenced to five years for criminal damage to a getaway vehicle. This appeal follows earlier convictions in the case: Frederick 'Fat Freddie' Thompson was sentenced to life in 2018; Nathan Foley pleaded guilty to assisting a criminal organisation and received six years in 2019; and Gareth Brophy was jailed for ten years in 2020 for acting as a getaway driver. The court affirmed that Canavan's involvement in the meticulously planned execution was established by evidence of his movements with four vehicles and his participation in the attempted arson of a stolen Suzuki Swift.
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.
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.
A Workplace Relations Commission hearing in Cork, presided over by Adjudicator Tom O'Driscoll, has been adjourned overnight. The case involves statutory complaints under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977 and the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 brought by former salesman Ali Izzy against Cork-headquartered Solar Winds. Izzy alleged he was dismissed in summer 2024 following a company probe into his management of business with clients in Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and Bahrain. He claimed a middle-man for a distributor offered him a €10,000 bribe related to a contract with an Arab government ministry, where a significant discount was allegedly applied. Solar Winds defended the dismissal, citing complaints of insubordination from former Middle East sales director Abdul Rehman. Rehman testified that Izzy refused to process an approved discount and revoked quotes, stating he had not received written proof of any bribe offer. Solar Winds' disciplinary officer Samantha Bengston stated the decision was based on Izzy overriding senior management directives. Counsel for Izzy argued that Rehman was aware of improper actions by the middle-man and that the discount was improperly large. The tribunal heard evidence regarding the financial details of the deal and the internal disciplinary process. No final decision was reached, and the matter was adjourned overnight.
James Varian, 32, was jailed for three years after the Court of Appeal overturned his original fully suspended sentence for sending 2,500 sexually explicit messages to a 15‑year‑old boy and for possessing 7,781 child pornography images, most of which were of prepubescent children under 12. The original judge had imposed four years fully suspended for facilitating the sexual exploitation of a child and two years fully suspended for possession of child pornography. The DPP appealed, arguing the sentence was too lenient, citing the volume of messages, the age gap, Varian's attempt to delete chats, and his risk of reoffending. James Varian pleaded guilty.
A Camile Thai franchisee, Santry Food Services Ltd, was found liable for repeated breaches of working time and wage laws and ordered to pay a migrant worker, Sujeer Thayyil, nearly €39,000 in compensation. Thayyil, hired in 2019 as a chef de partie under a work permit, claimed he was denied breaks, rest periods, statutory sick pay, and worked an average of over 58 hours per week. He also alleged a sudden transfer to Dublin without explanation, a pay cut, and threats of disciplinary action and Gardaí involvement when he refused a position change. The Workplace Relations Commission adjudicator, Breiffni O'Neill, rejected the company's dismissal claim, found multiple sustained breaches of the Organisation of Working Time Act, and awarded €12,742 for excessive hours and the same amount for lack of breaks, totaling €38,811.57 including unpaid wages. The decision highlighted the company's failure to provide Sunday premiums, public holiday pay, annual leave, and adequate rest breaks.
Lee Canavan, 36, has appealed his conviction for the murder of David 'Daithí' Douglas, who was shot at Shoestown in Dublin 1 on July 1, 2016. Canavan, who pleaded not guilty, was convicted by the Special Criminal Court on June 3, 2021, and sentenced to life imprisonment. He was also jailed for five years for criminal damage to a getaway vehicle. His counsel argued the trial court erred by relying on 'general association' with co-accused to infer guilt, noting the prosecution initially alleged he was the shooter. The State countered that the case was always based on joint enterprise. The Court of Appeal reserved its judgment. Canavan is the fourth person jailed for the killing. Frederick 'Fat Freddie' Thompson was jailed for life in 2018. Nathan Foley pleaded guilty to assisting a criminal organisation and received six years in 2019. Gareth Brophy was jailed for ten years in 2020 for acting as a getaway driver.
A remote worker from Monaghan brought a complaint to the Workplace Relations Commission against her employer, PFH Technology Group Ltd, regarding her redundancy payment. The complainant, who had worked as a scheduler and administrative assistant since October 2018 and was based remotely, received notice in April 2024 requiring her to relocate to the company's Cork office within four weeks. She stated this was impossible given her Monaghan residence and that no alternative arrangements were discussed. She subsequently took stress leave, and in July was presented with a termination agreement described as a gesture of goodwill. The employer's representative confirmed that a statutory redundancy payment of €7,788 had been correctly calculated and paid in September 2024, and submitted that other grievances fell outside the scope of redundancy legislation. Adjudicating officer Una Glazier-Farmer said she would issue her decision by email in due course.
The EU Courts have been asked to decide whether the human rights of Seán Walsh, a 57‑year‑old alleged IRA member wanted in the UK for directing terrorism, would be violated by changes to sentencing law introduced in Northern Ireland three years ago. Walsh faces four charges – membership of the IRA, directing terrorist activities, conspiracy to direct terrorist activities and preparing to commit acts of terrorism – each carrying a maximum life sentence. He denies the allegations. The offences are alleged to have been committed in July 2020 in Omagh, Co. Tyrone. The High Court in Ireland ordered his surrender to UK authorities in October 2022, and he was granted leave to appeal. Walsh's lawyers argued that the new UK law would impose a heavier penalty than that applicable at the time of the alleged offence.
During a Workplace Relations Commission hearing on a disability discrimination complaint by Brendan Ogle against Unite, senior Unite officer Tom Fitzgerald testified that including Ogle's name in an organisational chart would have been "controversial" because it could be seen as suggesting his duties. Fitzgerald explained that he had been promoted to regional coordinating officer while Ogle was on sick leave and that he had been told by line manager Jackie Pollock that Ogle did not want to work in Dundalk. Fitzgerald said he understood Ogle would remain a regional industrial officer but work from Dublin. He denied that Ogle had been told by Unite's general secretary Sharon Graham that he was excluded from a Republic of Ireland plan, and stated that the organisational chart presented on 20 December 2022 did not include Ogle. The hearing concluded with the case adjourned for closing arguments on 18 June.
In a Workplace Relations Commission hearing, a witness alleged that senior Unite officials sought to negotiate an exit package with Brendan Ogle to prevent his promotion to regional secretary for the Republic of Ireland. The witness claimed that Peter Hughes, Unite's Welsh secretary, suggested a deal after Ogle applied for the position, and that Ogle was told the role was no longer needed. Ogle had previously complained of being sidelined after returning from cancer treatment in 2022. He also alleged that the union's former chairman, Tony Woodhouse, was excluded from an interview panel due to a defamatory speech. The case was scheduled to proceed but the dates were vacated, and the witness noted that Ogle's concerns included losing a death-in-service policy worth five times his salary. The hearing focused on the alleged internal negotiations and Ogle's grievances.
Fintan Tindley, a 50‑year‑old former HSE worker from Cork, pleaded guilty to a series of post office robberies and an attempted robbery in November 2022. He used a knife to threaten customers and postmistresses at South Douglas Road and Ballintemple post offices, taking €2,380 and €1,300 respectively, and later attempted a third robbery at South Douglas Road but fled empty‑handed. Tindley had sent about €19,000 to his fiancée Skye in the United States, money that included proceeds from the first two robberies; she was unaware of the source. He had also borrowed money from a credit union, An Post, and from two pensioners. The Court of Appeal dismissed the State's application for a higher sentence, upholding the trial judge's decision of five years' imprisonment with the final 12 months suspended, after a detailed review of mitigating and aggravating factors.
David Douglas, 65, from Belfast, was jailed for a year after pleading guilty to two charges of masturbating in a public place at Dundrum Town Centre in March 2022. He admitted playing an "eye contact game" for about 20 years, focusing on young girls. An off‑duty Garda and her 11‑year‑old daughter reported that Douglas sat close to them in the food court, looking at them, and later ran when security alerted the Gardaí. CCTV showed Douglas masturbating outside his clothing near where girls were seated, and he claimed he used alcohol to reduce inhibitions. He has 33 prior convictions, including road traffic offences and sexual offences, but none involving physical contact. Judge Orla Crowe sentenced him to 15 months' imprisonment, suspended the final three months, and imposed 12 months of probation on release.
During the Stardust inquest, Detective Superintendent John Courtney presented evidence that, after reviewing over 1,600 statements from the night of the February 14, 1981 fire that killed 48 people, he found no evidence that the blaze was started maliciously. He explained that all 841 attendees and staff were interviewed, and that the four youths seen on the roof had no connection to the fire. Courtney also described the investigative process, noting that statements from those in the curtained area were checked and eliminated as suspects, and that no credible allegations of deliberate arson emerged. He read his testimony and 1981 Garda statements into the record, while other witnesses, including fire officers and survivors, provided accounts of the emergency response and the chaotic evacuation. The inquest will continue tomorrow.
An ACC Bank fraud officer has given evidence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in the ongoing theft trial of Michael Lynn, a former solicitor. Mr Lynn, aged 55 and resident in County Wicklow, faces 21 counts of theft relating to alleged offences between October 2006 and April 2007, with a total value of approximately €27 million across seven financial institutions. The prosecution alleges Mr Lynn obtained multiple mortgages on identical properties without the lenders' knowledge. The witness confirmed that a €3.7 million loan provided by ACC to Mr Lynn in 2007 for the purchase of Glenlion House in Howth was classified as a private residential mortgage and not a commercial facility. He stated the bank would not have advanced funds had it been aware that the Irish Nationwide Building Society and Bank of Scotland Ireland had simultaneously provided loans totalling over €8 million for the same property. The trial, before Judge Martin Nolan, continues. Michael Lynn pleaded not guilty.
In a Workplace Relations Commission hearing, Brendan Ogle, a senior Unite official in Ireland, alleges discrimination and whistleblower penalisation by the union. He claims exclusion from promotion due to his cancer, discriminatory harassment, failure to provide reasonable accommodation, and penalisation for protected disclosures under the Protected Disclosures Act 2014, Health Act 2004 and Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2004. The union denies all allegations. The case is scheduled for eight days of evidence and pleadings, with over a dozen witnesses, including Unite's general secretary Sharon Graham, former general secretary Len McCluskey, former ICTU president John Douglas, and others. Ogle's legal team seeks time to submit a 16‑page legal submission and additional documents. The adjudicator has adjourned the hearing to a three‑day block in the new year, anticipating a lengthy process. Ogle is accompanied by his wife and supporters.
Noel Lennon, 49, was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court for the manslaughter of Isaac Horgan, 52, who died after being stabbed in the leg at his home in Dublin 2 on March 29, 2021. Originally charged with murder, Lennon pleaded not guilty to that charge but guilty to manslaughter, a plea accepted by the State. Mr Justice Tony Hunt imposed a headline sentence of nine years, reduced by 18 months to seven and a half years. The final year of the sentence was suspended for a post-release period of four years, with the judge warning that any breach would result in immediate custody. The sentence was backdated to March 30 last year. The court noted Lennon's high risk of re-offending and his 12 previous convictions. Aggravating factors included the impact on Horgan's nine-year-old son and the fact the victim was killed in his own home. A co-accused, Lisa Lee, was previously convicted by a jury of discarding the knife used in the attack. Lee, of no fixed abode, was jailed for two years last December. The report also notes that Horgan had previously been acquitted of the 2002 manslaughter of Douglas McManus, having pleaded not guilty to murder and assault charges in that earlier case.
Anthony Glynn, a 52‑year‑old Dublin man, was sentenced by the Special Criminal Court to six years' imprisonment for his role in a large Kinahan Cartel drugs and ammunition operation. Glynn pleaded guilty to possessing €1.4 million in drugs—cocaine and cannabis—and 335 rounds of ammunition, including .44 Remington Magnum, .357 Magnum, .45 ACP and .22 LR rounds, between 25 January 2017 and 12 April 2017. The court described him as a "conduit" who passed information between Douglas Glynn and Emmet Fogarty. The judge imposed a six‑year term with the final year suspended for three years, and ordered a Section 26 monitoring order for the same period. Glynn had no prior convictions and had worked as a porter at Mater Hospital before the offence. The sentence was intended to encourage him to abandon criminal activity.
Anthony Glynn, a 52‑year‑old Dublin man, pleaded guilty to two serious offences for the benefit of the Kinahan Organised Crime Group. He admitted possessing €1.4 million in drugs—cocaine and cannabis—and 335 rounds of ammunition between 25 January 2017 and 12 April 2017. Glynn acted as a conduit, relaying messages from his brother Douglas Glynn to Emmet Fogarty, who managed the business premises at Mount Dillon Business Park where the drugs were seized. The court noted Glynn's cooperation and lack of prior convictions, but also his role in the industrial‑scale operation. He will be sentenced at the Special Criminal Court on 19 May, with the maximum penalty for each offence being 15 years' imprisonment. The article reports only the charges and the forthcoming sentencing date, without any outcome or further legal developments.
The Court of Appeal has reserved its judgment in the appeal by 'Fat' Freddie Thompson against his 2018 life sentence for the 2016 murder of David 'Daithí' Douglas. Thompson, who pleaded not guilty, argued that his conviction should be overturned due to procedural failures in how gardaí identified him from CCTV footage. His counsel contended that no records were kept of the identification process, preventing effective cross-examination, and cited UK protocols as a standard for such procedures. The State argued that the UK code did not apply in Ireland and that the conviction remained safe even without the CCTV evidence, noting that the footage was of sufficient quality for the trier of fact. The court heard that Thompson was driving a Ford Fiesta involved in the plot, while other vehicles, including a Mercedes Benz, Suzuki Swift, and Mitsubishi Mirage, were part of the convoy. Thompson is one of four men jailed for the murder. Lee Canavan was sentenced to life in 2021 for his role in the joint enterprise, though the court did not find he fired the shots. Nathan Foley pleaded guilty to assisting a criminal organisation and received a six-year sentence, while Gareth Brophy was jailed for ten years as the getaway driver.
Douglas Glynn, a manager for the Kinahan cartel, was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment by the Special Criminal Court for managing an industrial-scale drugs warehouse. Mr Justice Tony Hunt described Glynn as "cannon fodder" used by higher-level members. Glynn pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess 335 rounds of ammunition and to conspiracy to possess cocaine and cannabis worth over €13,000. The judge fixed a headline sentence of 12 years for the drugs charge, discounted by 25% for his early plea, with the final year suspended for four years under probation supervision. He was also sentenced to four years for the ammunition charge to run concurrently. These sentences run from February 20, when he entered his first plea. Glynn is already serving a seven-and-a-half-year sentence, with the final year suspended, for his role in a foiled plot to murder James 'Mago' Gately. His brother, Anthony Glynn, pleaded guilty to possessing the ammunition and drugs for the gang and was sentenced in February of last year to seven-and-a-half years' imprisonment with the final year suspended. Emmet Fogarty, alleged to be responsible for the unit, was jailed for five years in November 2018 after pleading guilty to possession of the drugs and ammunition. The matter was concluded with these sentences.
Douglas Glynn and his brother Anthony Glynn pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to charges related to the possession of ammunition and drugs for an organised crime gang. Douglas Glynn admitted to conspiracy to possess 335 rounds of ammunition and various calibres of ammunition, as well as conspiracy to possess cocaine and cannabis valued over €13,000 for sale or supply. Anthony Glynn pleaded guilty to possessing the ammunition and drugs for an organised crime gang. The court heard that gardaí seized 20kg of cocaine, cannabis, and ammunition from a Dublin 15 business park in March 2017. Evidence included encrypted phone messages using code words for drugs and firearms, which identified Douglas Glynn as a manager of the operation. Douglas Glynn is already serving a six-and-a-half-year sentence for his role in a foiled Kinahan Cartel plot to murder James 'Mago' Gately, for which he was sentenced to seven-and-a-half years with the final year suspended. Mr Justice Hunt adjourned the matter to March 16 for sentence finalisation.
Douglas Purcell, aged 40, pleaded guilty to a single count of making a threat to kill or cause serious harm after threatening to shoot a garda's wife and children. The incident occurred on 20 August 2017 at Ballyfermot Garda Station, where Purcell, who had been arrested on a separate charge, approached the injured party, threatened to follow him home and shoot his family, and performed push‑ups on the ground. He was arrested on 11 September 2017, interviewed once, and made no admissions. A victim impact statement was read, describing the victim's paranoia, installation of CCTV, and poor sleep. Purcell apologized for calling names but denied making threats, and his defence counsel highlighted his mental health issues, drug addiction, and previous convictions for theft and criminal damage. Judge Orla Crowe adjourned the case to April, ordered Purcell to engage with the Probation Service, and directed the prosecution to contact the victim regarding the expression of remorse.
A Cork golf course was ordered to pay €4,000 to a greenkeeper, Gary O'Sullivan, after he was dismissed following a dispute with owners over Covid‑19 safety. The owners, Colman and Michael Ryan and their mother Margaret, argued that the greenkeeper should be made redundant when the driving range was reduced because "young bulls of golfers" were sending balls off course, damaging property and injuring a victim. O'Sullivan claimed the dismissal was triggered by a heated argument on 29 July 2020, when he was asked to hold a bolt while the owners repaired a malfunctioning dispenser. He said he was told to take holiday pay and received no notice of redundancy until August. The WRC found the dismissal unfair, noting the employer failed to follow proper redundancy procedures, and ordered the Ryans to pay compensation equivalent to about eight weeks' pay in addition to the €16,000 redundancy payment already made.
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.
Sadie Douglas, 39, of Rathsallagh Drive, Shankill, was acquitted of wilful neglect of her two‑year‑old daughter Heidi, who died after ingesting methadone in their home. The trial, held at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, lasted five days and concluded in just over an hour. Judge Orla Crowe thanked the jurors and discharged Douglas from the indictment, noting no other pending charges. Her partner, Christopher O'Reilly, pleaded guilty to the same charge and received a three‑and‑a‑half‑year prison sentence. The court heard that O'Reilly, a recovering heroin addict, took daily methadone doses prescribed weekly, and a cup with traces of the drug was found in the house. Douglas claimed she was unaware of the methadone cup and that she had been emotionally distressed after the death of her older daughter Sophie. The post‑mortem concluded that Heidi's death was most likely caused by methadone ingestion, resulting in acute brain inflammation. Sadie Douglas pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, Sadie Douglas, 39, pleaded not guilty to wilful neglect of her two‑year‑old daughter, Heidi, who died in April 2016 after ingesting methadone. The post‑mortem concluded acute brain inflammation caused by methadone ingestion. The prosecution argued Douglas failed to supervise Heidi, misled paramedics about methadone in the house, and did not provide crucial information. Evidence included a cup with methadone residue, DNA traces of Douglas's partner Christopher O'Reilly, and multiple methadone bottles with childproof lids. O'Reilly, a recovering heroin addict on daily methadone, pleaded guilty to the same charge. The trial highlighted Douglas's grief after the earlier death of her four‑year‑old daughter, Sophie, and the emotional difficulty of the case. The judge instructed the jury to deliberate on the evidence presented.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Sadie Douglas, 39, pleaded not guilty to child neglect leading to the death of her two‑year‑old daughter Heidi Douglas, who died on 19 April 2016 after ingesting methadone. The post‑mortem found acute brain inflammation most likely caused by methadone. Douglas's partner, Christopher O'Reilly, had pleaded guilty last July to the same charge. O'Reilly, a recovering heroin addict, was taking daily methadone prescribed by a local chemist. The court heard that Douglas was grieving her four‑year‑old daughter Sophie, who had died earlier that year from a brain haemorrhage. Douglas described being in a "little world" and emotionally distressed. DNA evidence linked O'Reilly to a measuring cup containing methadone residue, and a large plastic bottle of methadone was found in the house. The trial continues before Judge Orla Crowe and a jury.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, the neglect trial of Sadie Douglas, charged with wilful neglect leading to the death of her two‑year‑old daughter Heidi, was presented with evidence that Heidi suffered a severe brain injury after ingesting methadone. Chief State Pathologist Dr Linda Mulligan testified that a scan taken two days after Heidi was admitted to Our Lady's Children's Hospital in Crumlin on 14 April 2016 showed a "devastating brain injury" with swelling that pressed onto the spinal column. Dr Mulligan concluded, based on a post‑mortem, that acute cerebellitis—most likely caused by methadone ingestion—led to Heidi's death on 19 April 2016, after she had been clinically dead for several days. The trial also noted that Heidi's partner, a recovering heroin addict, was taking daily methadone doses from a local chemist, with the medication supplied in a child‑proof bottle and a warning that 5 ml could kill a child. Sadie Douglas pleaded not guilty.
Sadie Douglas, aged 25, stood trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for wilful neglect after her two‑year‑old daughter, Heidi, died on 14 April 2016 from methadone toxicity. Heidi, born 8 August 2013, was found unconscious in the bed at the family home on Rathsallagh Drive, Shankill, Co. Dublin. Douglas and her partner had stayed up late on 13 April, looking at photographs on an old phone. On 14 April, Douglas allegedly placed Heidi beside her on the bed and fell asleep, while the father slept at the foot of the bed. Heidi ate crackers with her brother, then remained in bed until discovered unconscious. An ambulance took her to Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children, where she died. A state pathologist found methadone in Heidi's system, concluding death was due to methadone poisoning. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
A driving range in Douglas, Co Cork, has been forced to downsize due to stray golf balls caused by 'young bulls' – strong, physically powerful players – leading to damage to neighboring properties. The owners, Colman and Michael Ryan, along with their mother Margaret Ryan, trading as Frankfield House, are defending a complaint under the Unfair Dismissals Act by their former employee, Gary O'Sullivan, who was made redundant in August 2020. Michael Ryan testified that the golf range had to reduce its size significantly, leading to the redundancy of Mr O'Sullivan, as the family could manage the outdoor work themselves. He claimed the redundancy was due to safety concerns and the high cost of fencing the property. Mr O'Sullivan, however, alleges that his redundancy was not genuine, citing a row with Colman Ryan during a thunderstorm in July 2020, which led to tension and his eventual dismissal. The adjudicating officer, Michael McEntee, adjourned the hearing to consider his decision, which is expected to be delivered in the next seven to eight weeks.
Douglas Glynn, 37, of Dublin 1, was sentenced by the Special Criminal Court to seven years and six months imprisonment for participating in the activities of a criminal organisation. The final year of the sentence is suspended, and the term is backdated to December 31, 2021, when he entered custody. Glynn pleaded guilty to charges relating to the targeting of James 'Mago' Gately between December 7, 2016, and April 6, 2017. The court found that Glynn placed a tracking device on Gately's vehicle, an act that positioned him higher in the criminal hierarchy than co-accused Stephen Fowler and others. Mr Justice Hunt, sitting with Judges Sarah Berkeley and Cormac Dunne, noted the offence arose from an ongoing plan by the Kinahan organised crime group to murder Gately, a member of the rival Hutch group. The judge highlighted that the criminal organisation was serious, well-organised, and well-financed. In mitigation, the court considered Glynn's guilty plea, entered after the trial began, and his previous minor convictions. The sentence reflects the gravity of the offence, which was prevented solely by early Garda intervention. Related proceedings include the 2018 sentencing of Imre Arakas, who was jailed for six years for conspiring to murder Gately, and the 2023 sentencing of Peter Keating, who received 11 years for directing the criminal organisation's activities.
Douglas Glynn (37) of Fitzgibbon Court, Dublin 1, was re-arraigned on November 17 and pleaded guilty to participating in activities of a criminal organisation, contrary to Section 72 (1) (A) of the Criminal Justice Act. The charge relates to his involvement between December 7, 2016, and April 6, 2017, in activities connected with the targeting of James 'Mago' Gately. Glynn had previously pleaded not guilty at his first arraignment on November 9. Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding at the non-jury court, remanded Glynn in custody until February 11, when he will be sentenced. In a related case, Caolan Smyth (30) of Cuileann Court, Donore, Co Meath, was sentenced to 20 years at the Special Criminal Court for the attempted murder of Gately and for possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life. Smyth had denied both charges. Gary McAreavey (53) of Gort Nua, Station Road, Castlebellingham, Co Louth, pleaded not guilty to acting to impede an apprehension or prosecution by purchasing petrol and assisting in the burning out of the vehicle, a black Lexus, used in the attempted murder at Newrath, Dromiskin, Co Louth on the same day. He received a four-year jail term with the final year suspended. Estonian hitman Imre Arakas (63) was jailed by the Special Criminal Court for six years in December 2018, after he admitted to conspiring with others to murder Gately in Northern Ireland between April 3 and 4, 2017. Stephen Fowler (62), of Blakestown Cottages in Clonsilla, Dublin 15, has already been jailed for providing logistical support to the plot to murder Gately. The court heard that Gately had been warned by gardaí of a threat to his life from criminals who believed him to be involved in the Regency Hotel murder of Kinahan Cartel associate David Byrne in February 2016. The court has heard in previous related cases that there was 'ongoing targeting' of Gately in the context of a feud between the Hutch and Kinahan crime groups.
The High Court heard that several challenges to new personal injury guidelines are creating real difficulties in processing claims. The challenges, aimed at setting aside guidelines adopted by the judicial council in March 2021, are opposed by the State and the Personal Injuries Assessment Board (PIAB). The lead case, brought by Ms Bridget Delaney, was deemed the first to be heard. Eoin McCullough SC for the State argued that the challenges affect thousands of claims and called for an early trial date. Douglas Clarke SC for PIAB supported the State's request, while Feichin McDonagh SC for Ms Delaney said a date would be premature given outstanding pre‑trial matters. Justice Charles Meenan noted a mismatch between judges and workload, adjourned the cases to January, and directed an exchange of pleadings to expedite matters. Ms Delaney seeks to quash PIAB's assessment and the judicial council's adoption of the guidelines, alleging procedural and constitutional violations.
Douglas Glynn (37) of Fitzgibbon Court, Dublin 1, changed his plea to guilty at the Special Criminal Court, admitting to participating in the activities of a criminal organisation between December 7, 2016, and April 6, 2017. The charge alleged he placed a tracker device on James Gately's car in Belfast to facilitate a murder plot. Glynn had previously pleaded not guilty. Presiding judge Mr Justice Tony Hunt adjourned the case to January 14, 2022, for a sentence hearing; the matter was adjourned and not concluded. Glynn is the fifth person convicted in cases relating to the failed bid to murder Gately. Peter Keating (40) was jailed for 11 years after pleading guilty to directing a criminal organisation targeting Gately. Stephen Fowler (62) and David Duffy (33) were jailed for providing logistical support. Imre Arakas (63) was jailed for six years in December 2018 after admitting to conspiring to murder Gately. Caolan Smyth (30) was sentenced to 20 years for the attempted murder of Gately and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life. Gary McAreavey (53) pleaded not guilty to impeding a prosecution and received a four-year jail term with the final year suspended.
Convicted murderer Freddie Thompson, also known as 'Fat Freddie', brought a High Court action against the Governors of Limerick and Portlaoise Prisons, the Irish Prison Service, and the Minister for Justice. Thompson, who received a life sentence in 2018 after being found guilty of the 2016 murder of David Douglas, alleges that prison authorities failed to respond to his solicitors' questions regarding his detention conditions. He claims his transfer to Limerick Prison, where he was reportedly confined to a padded cell without clothing, constitutes a punishment without a disciplinary hearing or formal sanction paperwork. Thompson further alleges that previous complaints about mistreatment in Portlaoise, including sleep deprivation and excessive searches, were upheld but the investigator's report was never provided to him. His legal team argues that the failure to update him on complaint statuses and answer queries regarding his detention is contrary to law, the Prison Rules, and natural justice. They seek an order compelling the respondents to reply to their questions and declarations that the authorities have a legal duty to respond to concerns about a prisoner's detention. The matter came before Mr Justice Anthony Barr, who granted Thompson permission to bring the action on an ex-parte basis. The matter was adjourned and will be mentioned before the court in late December.
The Special Criminal Court has adjourned the trial of Douglas Glynn (37) until Tuesday for the production of additional photographs, following a disclosure issue. Glynn, of Dublin 1, pleaded not guilty to placing a tracker device on James "Mago" Gately's car in Belfast in April 2017. The prosecution alleges this was part of an ongoing plan by a criminal organisation to target Gately. Presiding Judge Mr Justice Tony Hunt, sitting with Ms Justice Sarah Berkeley and Mr Justice Cormac Dunne, refused a Garda application to ban media from court during covert evidence, ruling that media presence was acceptable provided National Surveillance Unit officers were not identified. The judge warned that the failure to disclose all relevant photos "cannot happen again." In related convictions, Imre Arakas (63) was jailed for six years in December 2018 after admitting to conspiring to murder Gately. Additionally, Peter Keating (40) was jailed for 11 years after pleading guilty to directing a criminal organisation's activities relating to the targeting of Gately between December 2016 and April 2017.
The trial of Douglas Glynn (37) opened at the Special Criminal Court, where he pleaded not guilty to assisting in a plot to murder James Gately by placing a tracker device on his car. Prosecutors allege Glynn participated in directing the activities of a criminal organisation between December 7, 2016, and April 6, 2017, to target Gately. The State's case relies on circumstantial evidence, including CCTV, mobile phone data, and tracking devices. It is alleged that Glynn travelled to Belfast with Peter Keating and David Duffy on March 30, 2017, to place the device on Gately's vehicle. Keating (40) previously pleaded guilty to directing the activities of a criminal organisation relating to the targeting of Gately and was jailed for 11 years. Imre Arakas (63) was jailed for six years in December 2018 after admitting to conspiring to murder Gately in Northern Ireland between April 3 and 4, 2017. Stephen Fowler (62) and David Duffy (33) have also been jailed for providing logistical support to the plot. The trial, presided over by a three-judge panel, is expected to last three weeks.
Craig O'Donoghue, 20, was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court for contempt of court after failing to attend the trial of a teenager charged with violent disorder at the Cameron Blair murder scene. O'Donoghue, a witness who had been served with a witness order, booked a holiday to Ayia Napa, Cyprus, and refused to return despite police contact. He was arrested at Dublin airport upon his return. Justice David Keane described the conduct as "premeditated, flagrant and persistent," noting O'Donoghue's high culpability and disdain for the law. The judge imposed a headline sentence of three months in prison, reduced by one month to an effective two-month term, citing mitigation including O'Donoghue's remorse and previous good character. He was also fined €1,000, payable within nine months. O'Donoghue has been in custody since his arrest. His co-accused, Darragh O'Connor, 20, was sentenced for a similar contempt last week. The underlying trial involved a teenager who pleaded guilty to Mr Blair's murder and received a life sentence, while another teenager's trial ended after the defence accepted possession of a butter knife, leading the DPP to discontinue the knife possession charge.
Convicted murderer Freddie Thompson has brought a High Court action challenging the Legal Aid Board's refusal to pay his legal costs for a 2019 case regarding his detention conditions. Thompson, serving a life sentence in Portlaoise Prison for the 2018 murder of David Douglas, previously sought judicial review over conditions in the prison's A4-wing. That 2019 action was withdrawn in November 2019 after he was moved to the mainstream population, a move the respondents attributed to security concerns rather than the legal action. Following the withdrawal, a High Court judge recommended Thompson's fees be covered under the Legal Aid (Custody Issue) Scheme. However, the Legal Aid Board refused this in August 2020, a decision repeated in March 2021, citing that Thompson did not qualify because he had already been convicted, sentenced, and lost his liberty. Thompson claims this refusal is an error in law and unreasonable, arguing the Board failed to interpret the scheme consistently with High Court judges. Represented by Micheal O'Higgins SC and Keith Spencer BL, Thompson seeks to quash the Board's refusal and obtain declarations that the decision breached fair procedures, constitutional rights, and the ECHR. He further claims the scheme is constitutionally deficient. Mr Justice Charles Meenan granted permission to bring the action on an ex-parte basis on Monday, with the matter made returnable to a date in October.
The Special Criminal Court has sentenced Lee Canavan to life imprisonment for his role in the murder of David 'Daithí' Douglas, who was shot at Shoestown in Dublin 1 on July 1, 2016. Canavan, who pleaded not guilty, was found guilty of murder based on his active participation in a shared intention to kill, though the court did not find sufficient evidence to conclude he was the triggerman. He was concurrently sentenced to five years for criminal damage to a stolen Suzuki Swift used as a getaway vehicle. Both sentences were backdated to May 2020, when Canavan was taken into custody following a European Arrest Warrant. The court noted that Canavan's prior drug possession convictions were not aggravating factors. This conviction marks the fourth individual jailed in connection with the killing. Previously, Frederick 'Fat Freddie' Thompson was jailed for life in 2018; Nathan Foley pleaded guilty and received six years in 2019; and Gareth Brophy was jailed for ten years in 2020 for acting as a getaway driver. The judge extended free legal aid to cover any potential appeal.
The Special Criminal Court has found Lee Canavan guilty of the murder of David 'Daithí' Douglas, who was shot at Shoestown, Bridgefoot Street, Dublin 1, on July 1, 2016. Canavan, 31, had pleaded not guilty to the charge, alleging he was part of a joint enterprise to murder Mr. Douglas, who died from injuries to his chest, neck, back, torso, elbow, and jaw. The court ruled that while it could not be satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that Canavan was the gunman, he was guilty due to his active participation in the shared intention to kill. He was also found guilty of criminal damage to a Suzuki Swift on July 4, 2016, an act intended to destroy evidence. The prosecution, led by Sean Gillane SC, argued the murder was meticulously planned and that Canavan's actions were inextricably linked to those of co-defendants. Frederick 'Fat Freddie' Thompson was previously jailed for life for the murder. Nathan Foley pleaded guilty to assisting a criminal organisation and was jailed for six years. Gareth Brophy was jailed for ten years for his role as a getaway driver. The court emphasized the coordinated use of four vehicles and the removal of the pistol's serial number. Canavan's conviction completes the prosecution of the entire group involved in the killing.
Daniel O'Brien, a 28‑year‑old banned driver, was found guilty of endangering a Garda and a mother with a newborn when he drove disqualified at a checkpoint in Cork City and later sped through a red light. He swerved at speed toward Garda Ryan Dillon, who feared for his life and was clipped by O'Brien's wing mirror. O'Brien then overtook a vehicle at a red light, narrowly missing a mother and her baby in a buggy, forcing them to retreat to the footpath. He had previously been sentenced in December for two counts of reckless endangerment and had 44 prior convictions, including an 18‑month prison term for slashing a man. Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin imposed a four‑year jail term and a 12‑year driving ban. O'Brien appealed to the Court of Appeal, but the appeal was dismissed, with the judges finding no error in the original sentencing.
David Duffy, 33, of Clondalkin, pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to having knowledge of a criminal organisation and contributing to activities connected with the attempted murder of James Gately. The court heard that Mr Gately was shot multiple times in his car on Clonshaugh Road in May 2017. Duffy admitted to participating in these activities with the intention of enhancing the organisation's ability to commit serious offences between December 2016 and April 2017. Presiding Judge Tony Hunt, sitting with Judges Sarah Berkeley and David McHugh, remanded Duffy on continuing bail until June 21 for a sentence hearing. Three other men remain charged with involvement in the attempted murder: Peter 'Peadar' Keating, 39, of Clondalkin; Stephen Fowler, 61, of Clonsilla; and Douglas Glynn, 35, of Dublin 1. Mr Keating is additionally alleged to have directed the activities of a criminal organisation between December 2016 and April 2017. All four defendants face charges under Section 72(1A) of the Criminal Justice Act 2006, with Mr Keating also facing a charge under Section 71. The matter regarding Duffy was adjourned for sentencing, while the cases of the co-accused remain ongoing.
The Special Criminal Court has remanded Lee Canavan in custody until May 20, when judgment will be delivered on his case. Canavan, 31, pleaded not guilty to the murder of David Douglas, who was shot six times at Shoestown, Bridgefoot Street, Dublin 1, on July 1, 2016. He also denies a second charge of criminal damage to a Suzuki Swift vehicle at Strand Road, Sandymount, on July 4, 2016. Prosecution counsel Sean Gillane SC argued that Canavan was the gunman who "executed" Douglas and was "up to his neck" in the meticulously planned enterprise. The State alleged that Canavan's actions could not be divorced from those of Frederick 'Fat Freddie' Thompson, Gareth Brophy, and Nathan Foley, all of whom have been jailed in connection with the murder. Thompson was jailed for life in 2018 for the murder. In 2019, Nathan Foley pleaded guilty to assisting a criminal organisation by driving one of four cars and buying mobile phones used in the offence, receiving a six-year sentence. Gareth Brophy was jailed for ten years in February 2020 for his role as getaway driver. The defense, led by Michael Bowman SC, challenged the identification evidence, arguing that the prosecution relied heavily on the accused wearing a red top and that DNA on the pistol grip belonged to another man. The court, presided over by Mr Justice Michael MacGrath alongside Judges Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin and Dermot Dempsey, adjourned the matter for judgment.
The Special Criminal Court has ruled that key identification evidence is admissible in the ongoing trial of Lee Canavan, who is accused of murdering David Douglas. Mr. Canavan, 31, of Rathfarnham, Dublin 14, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Mr. Douglas (55), who was shot six times at Shoestown, Bridgefoot Street, Dublin 1, on July 1, 2016. He also denies a charge of criminal damage to a vehicle. The prosecution alleges Canavan was the triggerman in a planned assassination. Judge Michael MacGrath, presiding with Judges Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin and Dermot Dempsey, rejected the defence application to exclude CCTV footage and Garda identification evidence, finding no breach of constitutional privacy rights. The State contends Canavan was linked to Frederick 'Fat Freddie' Thompson, who was jailed for life for the murder in 2018. Gareth Brophy, jailed for ten years in 2020, and Nathan Foley, jailed for six years in 2019 after pleading guilty to assisting a criminal organisation, are also connected to the case. The trial continues with closing speeches expected.
The trial of Lee Canavan (31), who has pleaded not guilty to the murder of David Douglas (55) and criminal damage, continues before the Special Criminal Court. Mr Douglas was shot six times at Shoestown, Bridgefoot Street, Dublin 1, on July 1, 2016. The State alleges Canavan was the triggerman in a meticulously planned assassination involving four vehicles. Prosecution counsel Sean Gillane SC stated that evidence would link Canavan to two cars via fingerprints and DNA. Forensic scientist Sarah Fleming testified that a DNA profile from a cigarette butt in a Ford Fiesta matched Canavan. Amanda Lennon provided evidence supporting a collision between a Mitsubishi Mirage and a Suzuki Swift. Detective Garda Raymond Kane testified that two fingermarks from Canavan's left thumb were found on the rearview mirror of the Ford Fiesta. Canavan also denies damaging a Suzuki Swift at Strand Road, Sandymount, on July 4, 2016. Previously, Frederick 'Fat Freddie' Thompson (41) was jailed for life for the murder. Nathan Foley (22) pleaded guilty to assisting a criminal organisation and was jailed for six years. Gareth Brophy (26) was jailed for ten years for acting as a getaway driver. The case is adjourned to Monday afternoon before Mr Justice Michael MacGrath, Ms Justice Sinead Ní Chúlacháin, and Mr Justice Dermot Dempsey.